caughtinanetwork

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[The video turns on to bright, light grey, clouds; the only barrier between the sun and the beach. Raindrops fall onto the camera, but they're wiped off by the owner of the SFC, one vampire who's currently standing dressed only in an open button-down and loose, low-hanging jeans that are rolled up to above his knees, calf-deep in the ocean as the rain falls steadily from the sky.

Apparently, he likes to live on the edge with those clouds.]

“Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.” Charles Dickens, Great Expectations.

Back home, I've heard it said that God is in the rain just as He is in the sun's rays...

[So, then, why is it only the sun that burns?]

Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life...and yet, people hide away from the rain and seek shelter inside and curse nature for ruining their bright and sunny day. Why?

[Finally he turns a small, vaguely sad, smirk to the camera.]

What about all of you? What are your qualms with the rain? Does it have any sort of significance for you personally or back home? Or is it just the thing that hides the sun from your face~?

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That's the problem, you idiot! What if the sun comes out?!

[The Hylian frowns mightily at his matesprit's face on the feed before the picture starts to bob, Sola obviously moving somewhere as he sighs heavily.]

You're so dumb sometimes. And all wet too! I'm going to get you.

[Really he should just tell Johnny to go home. The man's a adult, he can handle something that simple on his own, right? But that smile is so wrong, so off, that Sola would rather see the vampire in person to find out what's wrong. Because there's definitely something wrong.]

Mmm...that would certainly put a damper on this already damp day.

[Oh yeah, he's funny. But that smile doesn't change, if anything it turns slightly self deprecating.]

Will you do that, Sola? Will you come get me? Save me from the sunlight~

[He reaches for something off camera and then brings it to his lips to drink.]

I seem to always be doing something dumb, don't I? Even before I came here.

You're kind of scaring me...

[Alcohol isn't something Sola has any knowledge of and so he doesn't equate his matesprit's behavior with the bottle. Instead, he simply picks up the pace, starting to breathe a little harder as he approaches the elevator at a run and hops inside.]

It doesn't matter what you did before but you shouldn't be on the island during the day. I don't want you to get hurt.

I scare myself sometimes~

[His smile grows but now it's completely fake and he looks up at the sky.]

I can't get hurt, really. Besides, none of this is all that big of a deal~

[He was just a vampire, after all.]

Aah~ But I'll await my prince with baited breath as he comes to save me from a fiery doom~

Goddesses, why are you so dumb? You can to get hurt! I saw it when you grabbed Zelda outside the tent!

[He's not panicking, per se. The rain doesn't look like it's going to let up any time soon so he should be safe for the moment, but the way Johnny's talking like nothing matters? It bothers him. It's worrisome and makes him feel hurt and angry. Doesn't Johnny care that other people care about him? That they'd - that he'd be upset and hurt if he was gone?

Sola glares angrily at the dial showing the elevator's progress, willing it to move faster.]

Stop saying things like that! It is a big deal!

But...why?

It's never been a big deal before. I heal and it doesn't matter.

Why does anyone care about that kind of stuff?

[He takes a few steps out of the cold water and sits on the wet sand, knees drawn to his chest.]

....

Why do you put up with me, Sola?

Edited 2012-07-27 17:47 (UTC)

Because I love you, stupid, that's why. Now just stay there, the elevator's almost to the-

[The word "top" is drowned out by the loud ding of the elevator reaching its destination. Sola doesn't even wait for the doors to open all the way before tearing out and making a b-line for the beach, finally pocketing his SFC when he can see Johnny across the beach, completely ignoring just how soaked he's gotten just from being out in the deluge for a few minutes.

He holds his hand down to Johnny, offering it to help the vampire to his feet with a worried expression.]

C'mon, let's go back, okay?

[The vampire looks up at the hand almost as if he didn't understand it. He didn't feel like he understood much these days.

He looks away to take a drink from the almost empty bottle.]

I'm sorry. You're all wet now.

[Oh, and also for being a terrible person. He's sorry about that too.]

[Heaving an exasperated sigh, Sola drops his hand and stomps around behind Johnny, resting his hands on the vampire's back and shoving his weight into him in an effort to get Johnny to his feet.]

Get up, damnit!

[Johnny falls forward to the point of sitting cross-legged...but that was it.]

Whaat? You don't just want to sit out here in the rain~? It's such a nice day.

Besides~ There's only the small chance the clouds will part, it's not that huge of an issue~

[And there goes the rest of the alcohol.]

[Sola falls forward as Johnny's weight shifts, ending up flush against the vampire's back.]

Why are you being like this!?

[He's angry, but he's only angry because it hurts to see Johnny like this. There's obviously something very wrong but all he's getting is flighty answers and brush offs. Was he hiding too long? Did Johnny just really not care anymore? About him? About anything?

Ears drooping, Sola throws his arms around Johnny's shoulders, burying his face against his matesprit's neck.]

Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry, okay? I'm really sorry, just please come back with me where it's safe?

[That takes him off guard. Yeah, he'd been trying to push Sola away as much as he'd been pushing the others way....perhaps more...but he didn't...couldn't hurt the Hylian. Johnny didn't want him thinking it was his fault. Not when it was a hundred percent on the vampire himself.

Even through the vodka-induced haze, he was aware of that much.

He hung his head and reached up with one hand to Sola's arm.]

I'm sorry...

[He pulled away so he could stand, albiet shakily, and turned to throw the empty glass bottle into the sea. This was stupid. He was stupid. This was why he didn't get drunk...and he knew he was.

With the bottle gone, he turned to face Sola and pulled him into the vampire's arms.]

...we can go...I'm.....I don't want you getting anymore wet anyway.

I don't think I can get more wet.

[The Hylian slings an arm around Johnny's waist, the vampire's staggering giving him more cause for concern, but at least he's not smiling in that weird way that doesn't reach his eyes anymore.]

C'mon, I'll make soup so we can warm up. I'm getting pretty good at soup since it's just water and stuff in a pot. It helps when it's in a can and all you have to do is pour it out.

[He glances uneasily up at Johnny, still wondering if he'd done something wrong by being so out of touch for so long. Maybe if he just tried to explain...]

...um. I'm sorry I wasn't around for awhile. I just... my master showed up, so...

[How does he even explain this?]

[The vampire accepts the help, shame welling in his stomach. Somewhere in the fog of his mind he knew this wasn't the way it was supposed to work; he was supposed to take care of Sola, not the other way around.]

You don't have to explain anything...it's not like you need to show for your whereabouts...I trust you.

[Wait...that didn't make sense. He tries to make sense of his thoughts through the fog to say all he wants to.]

I mean...it's not your fault. You have your life, it's okay.

Who showed up?

Well I know but I don't want you to worry about me.

[Assuming the vampire was worried. He hadn't really looked for Sola, as far as the Hylian knows... of course he'd be hiding so he very well might have. Or he's been sick. There's obviously something wrong, maybe Johnny is sick.

All the more reason for Sola to walk Johnny more quickly to the elevator. Gotta get him home where he can rest and feel better.]

Um. The person who made me, Master Ganondorf. It's okay 'cause he told Zelda he wouldn't make me do anything anymore, but I don't know if he's lying or not so I kind of just.. hid. Just in case. You should have told me you were sick though, I would've brought you a potion.

I always worry about you.

[As they got to the elevator,Johnny's mind skipped the notification that he'd just said something horribly honest and went straight to the problem of 'why does that name sound familiar?'

Ganondorf....? Girahim had mentioned it, now that he thought about it....but that wasn't why.

Finally his face lit up in recognition and then slight confusion.]

I met him...Ganondorf. Ganondorf Dragmire. He seemed okay...confused and hurting...but okay.

[Perhaps if he'd been less drunk he'd be more concerned or have more questions...but right now he just felt hazy.]

[Johnny's admission of worry makes Sola's cheeks flush. He's pleased to hear it, as much as he really doesn't want to make his matesprit fret. It's nice to be reminded he's cared about.]

Okay how?

[The blush fades almost instantly at Johnny's admission of meeting his master.]

You didn't tell him I was hiding from him, did you?!

[Nevermind that Johnny wasn't even aware of that until today. Sola subconsciously presses further into Johnny's side as the elevator descends back into the bubble.]

I don't want to fight anyone and I know he said he wouldn't make me do anything but what if he was lying?

[Sola's ears shoot back in sudden alarm.]

I don't want him to hurt you either! You shouldn't talk to him.

[As the alcohol slowly begins to drift from his system, even as they just stand there, he realizes this is seriously causing Sola distress. Leaning over, he presses a small kiss to the Hylian's forehead.]

I didn't know you knew him...we didn't talk about you or Zelda or Link or anyone 'cept him.

I told him this was a good place for a second chance...and he said he'd try for that.

That's all.I didn't get the feeling that he was dangerous..

A second chance? Well, if you say so.

[Sola sounds a bit dubious, but Johnny acting more like himself and using that 'everything's alright' tone helps to calm him down. Maybe Ganondorf really is tired and doesn't want to rule everything anymore. Maybe he doesn't want to destroy Link and Zelda and he really won't have to fight.

The thought is cheering, even if he does still have a difficult time believing it, and by the time they step off the elevator he's no longer quite so frazzled.]

C'mon, let's get a towel on the way so you can dry off. Why did you decide to go out in the rain like that anyway?

[He just shrugs and grabs a towel from a local with a small 'thank you' as they pass.]

I like the rain. Besides...it's the closest I'll get to the sun outside of the bubble.

...safely, anyway.

[...]

I'm sorry you saw me like that. I don't get drunk often.

Drunk? What does that mean?

[How he missed that watching shows like Vatheon Shore with his Trolldads is a complete mystery, but however he managed, he's got pretty much no idea.]

Is that why you were acting kind of scary?

[He brought a hand to his head, willing the fog to lift faster]

It's...like being poisoned. In drink form. In small amounts, poisons can be useful and helpful~ But...too much hurts people.

Being drunk means you've had too much.

Poisoned!?

[The exclamation carries across the plaza, turning a few heads.]

Why would you do that on purpose?! Poison's not helpful, it's poison!!

[His ears knock back again, drooping and matching the worried expression on his face.]

Johnny, I don't want you to die! Do you really want to so much you'd poison yourself?

...

Is... is it my fault? I'll go away if it is...

[That was like a smack in the face and he came up short, stopping in the middle of the plaza, a slightly hurt look on his face. That wasn't..]

No! It wouldn't have killed me, I'm not-

I'm not...trying to kill myself.

[He moves to stand in front of Sola, a hand on the Hylian's cheek.]

And...even if I were, it wouldn't be because of you. Don't ever think that...please.

But then why..? Why do you keep acting weird and doing stupid things like going in the sun or drinking poison or hanging out with people who punch you in the face?

[One gloved hand slips over the vampire's much larger one on his face, fingers curling over Johnny's as Sola tries to understand.]

Aren't you happy at all?

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