Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
Sade Olutola
Origami Around
Kaledo Art
if i look back, i am lost
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
One Nice Bug Per Day
JVL
occasionally subtle
trying on a metaphor
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
Three Goblin Art
will byers stan first human second
Xuebing Du
Andulka
Keni
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
Show & Tell
art blog(derogatory)
seen from Indonesia
seen from Puerto Rico
seen from Malaysia
seen from Malaysia
seen from Mexico
seen from Malaysia
seen from Brazil
seen from United States
seen from Brazil
seen from Brazil
seen from Brazil
seen from United States
seen from United Arab Emirates
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
@jack-0neal
"If I tell, you might as well tell someone else and then it won’t work. Wouldn’t want to risk that, eh?"
"Can't promise anything, but I'm not one to share much. Besides, I'm not an idiot; you tell me, I keep it quiet. Why risk a chance for me to get out too?"
“It is a job, so my expectations weren’t really to enjoy myself, but thank you. And yes, it is. Maybe you could explain this place on the way there?”
"There's not much I can explain, but sure. I've only been here for a little over a week, so... don't be too reliant on what I say, okay?"
"It’s how I always say… Best sedated than shot, right?"
"Never heard that one before, but... Sure? Better to go willingly than sedated, though, wouldn't you say?"
"Well, this certainly isn’t the first shift I hoped for. Can anybody show me where the refectory is?”
"Sure, but I can't promise you'll enjoy yourself. New to the staff, I'm guessing?"
"Should I run away and live a free life from there or should I stay and expand my social connections? Decisions, decisions, decisions. Where’s a daisy when you need one, eh?"
"Depends-- how do you plan on getting out, exactly? 'Cause if you don't have a plan, you're stuck here, kid."
❝Look, I get it. An overcrowded room is no one’s dream but rules are rules.❞
"Couldn't they at least give us another room or two? I mean, what if one of us freaks out? You don't want us to go batshit crazy again do you?"
She smiled softly as she saw him, grateful it was Jack and not someone she didn’t know. “Jack sparrow. If I go in there I won’t be able to leave. Shouldn’t you?”
"If I go in there'd be too many people. Not really a fan of spaces full of strangers." Jack leaned against the wall facing the stairwell, keeping an eye on the door as he spoke.
Alice sat down in what she thought was an empty stairwell, pulling out a cigarette from her case hidden in her boot and lighting it.
As he was heading to the rectory, Jack thought there might be no better time to explore, seeing as everyone would be out of the hallways and he'd be free to go where he pleased. Entering a stairwell, Jack spotted the cigarette smoke and noticed Alice before saying a quick hello. "Shouldn't you be with everyone else?"
"Try to remain calm guys, I’m sure this little problem will be over in no time. I don’t wanna have to sedate anybody… But I will.”
"Make sure you've got enough for everyone, just in case. Can't be too sure, right?"
"What are you? Some kind of food nut. I’m not hungry."
"Just trying to be helpful, kid, sorry. Anything you do want?"
"Am I that repulsive that you don’t even want to be around me? Color me disappointed."
"Not repulsive, but sorry to disappoint. I'm just not really in the mood to bullshit people very much today. Plus, you don't seem like one that wants to make friends, just.. resources."
He has drawn himself so exceedingly close to her, it admittedly perturbs her. Her cobalt oculars expand almost inconspicuously as they do their best to assess the mercurial enigma before her. He is once again penetrating her personal space, she notes. However, she abstains from retaliating. Though she is momentarily disoriented, rendered speechless by his persistence, she is adamant about deciphering the situation before she makes her determination. If he does attempt to physically demonstrate his dominance, she is more than prepared to defend herself. And if he’s too physically demonstrative, she is resourceful enough to incapacitate him. Something tells her such knowledge will not be necessary, but she finds solace in it anyway.
Something akin to a subjugated smile cascades across her porcelain features, illuminating her physiognomy despite its lacking quality. A subtle form of acquiescing to his proposal. She hoists herself to a standing position, awaiting his next move.
”I don’t smoke. Smoking is fruitless. However, I do eat.”
She unobtrusively gauges his reaction.
”I’ll make a deal with you —— you show me to the cafeteria and I’ll reset that arm as painlessly as I know how.”
Jack noted her hint at a smile, giving a small nod at her comment. "It is a bit fruitless, but it's a good use of time.." As he listened to her comment, he looked down to the floor, weighing his options. "I... sure. Just-- do it quick, okay? Last time I had it reset it didn't go too well." Nostalgia flooded his mind, making Jack shudder at the reminder of the past pain he'd felt. "We should probably find a sling and ice or something, just so it doesn't heal poorly or anything, you know?"
Glancing around the hallway, he ran over the floor-plan to the cafeteria, hoping that he didn't screw up again. Didn't want to get another dislocated shoulder or a broken leg. Quickly after he finished talking, he continued, adding on a couple sentences paired with a smile.
"Do you think that you could just.. explain what you're going to do? Because I know how, but it'd be a little comforting to know that you aren't going in blind with this."
open para
"Like I said, I was sleepwalking. I don’t know who decided to leave the door open, but you know some of the nurses here are idiots." Leonardo replied, shrugging his shoulders. He sighed, as he looked down at his feet, his voice becoming a whisper. "I should ask you the same thing, Jack O’Neal. I mean,you could get in serious trouble for this, being out after curfew. We both could. That isn’t a risk we should take." He offered, in a nervous tone.
He turned his head a bit, as his eyes finally met Jack’s. “Though, I suppose the dimwitted guards are sleeping at this hour, and the nurses are just the nurses. They’re probably off laughing somewhere, about how mentally unstable we are, how they sacrifice their lives to get a paycheck, how they’re such heroes.” Leonardo continued, rolling his eyes. “A part of me wants to question authority and get away from my snoring room mate who also seems to speak in tongues whilst he’s sleeping, to visit the library, walk down the hallway. Part of me wants to do anything to get away from that prison.”
Leonardo then breathed in and out, closing his eyes. “That would make me the idiot. I’d be forced to endure electroshock therapy… if I’m lucky… if the staff feel like taking it easy on their mentally unstable patient. You know what, Jack O’Neal? What would you say to a four am stroll to the library? I’m feeling adventurous.” HIs lip curled upwards. “Like someone from one of the great adventure novels. I could be Holmes, and you could be my Watson! We could solve a crime for the greater good! Both of us need to get away from our ridiculous roommates.”
Leonardo knew that Jack’s response was going to be negative, but he didn’t want to be soft-spoken and passive for once. There was a possibility that his daydreams were telling him to live more, to get out of his shell, to make friends in the Hell of which he lived. Leonardo wanted to live on the edge, just like his favourite fictional characters. He wanted to question authority, do wrong for right reasons! Leonardo wouldn’t succumb to his sensible side.
Shifting on his feet, Jack thought about his answer for a moment. "I needed a bit of air and felt like stretching my legs.. plus my roommate was asleep, so I couldn't really chat with him all that much. It's a risk, yeah, but... Sort of necessary, you know?" While Leo's voice had gone quiet, Jack kept his at a normal volume, unafraid of being caught. At that point, he didn't really care too much; it was late, he was tired, and if he was found, he could probably work his way out of a punishment one way or another. Standing with his arms crossed, Jack leaned against the wall nearby and continued.
"Most everyone's asleep, but a few nurses are awake but seem to be working. Not sure about them laughing though... Just sort of doing their jobs, you know? I'm not really sure that anyone wants to be in a place like this; they just want a steady income, I guess. Makes sense, really," he said with a shrug, thinking it over. It seemed like that's what most of the employees at the institution were there for-- at least from what he had observed. Sure, a few wanted to help, but wasn't most of their determination for the check at the end of each month?
"I doubt electroshock therapy would be the first thing.. probably some intense one on one sessions. But that's only if you haven't done anything else to get them on your tail." At his question, Jack debated how to respond, thinking that to deny the trip would be for the best. He had come out to just wander; why stray away from that? But Leonardo had completely shifted from his withdrawn state, and it felt wrong to deny him something that seemed to excite the man so much.
Jack nodded, a grin spreading onto his facial features. "Sure, Leo, why not? What kind of crime are you thinking?" It seemed easy enough to play along, after all, it was just a game. Just a type of entertainment for them to have while neither wanted to sleep. "Take your pick, Holmes, because it's all on you."
Worried —— he gravely overestimates her ability to empathize. It’s difficult to place oneself in another’s shoes when one isn’t even certain of their own. Brooding is impractical, and therefore unworthy of her time. Her precarious sense of self does not permit such inconveniences, for if it did, survival would be practically inconceivable. Besides, this predicament in which he’s found himself is his own doing. After all, he initiated contact. One must assert themselves in these situations or people will take advantage of you —— something of which Sage is more than just acutely aware. She does not make an endeavor to ease his whetted thoughts, to dispute such illegitimacy, or even relieve the thick billow of tension that obscures the condition of the current situation. Instead, she retorts with her loudest response of all —— she subjugates every thought regarding the situation, and resigns to her deafening quietude.
"Look-- I'll leave now. Say the word and I'm gone. Just wanted someone to share a smoke with was all, and I'm sorry I almost lost it and that shitstorm had to go down, but the offer still stands. If you don't smoke, we could grab something to eat? I just.. I'm sorry. Won't happen again." His voice sincere, Jack shifted so he could balance on his toes, crouched down in front of her. Pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, he held them out in one hand, resting the arm with the dislocated shoulder on a knee, his face smile-free. "I'm not trying to pull a fast one on you, I promise. I'm not one for doing that, and besides, I'd rather that not happen again. Only got one good arm left," he said with a quiet laugh, hoping she would go with him rather than dismiss him. A distraction was good, and, if left up to him, he wouldn't go to a nurse; he'd head straight to bed, reset his shoulder, and probably wake up later feeling even worse. At least if he was with someone, maybe a doctor would see him and help him so it all could be over.
"N-not hungry, but uh.. thanks."
"You sure? Maybe you could grab something for later, then? That way if you're too tired to get up you can just reach over and bam, you've got energy."
"I’ll tell you how it works. I can be the sweetest girl you’ll ever meet if you go my way and listen to what I’m saying. If you decide to become some sort of rebel and play it all alpha male when you’re around me then I can become your living nightmare, pretty face. Girls like me are hard to be around with so either you’re with me or you’re against me."
"I'll listen, but I'm not going to really follow you. So let's say I'm on the fence, yeah? Think of it like a compromise. You get to be queen of whatever, and I carry on my merry little way."
