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Post by Rocky White on Oct 11, 2011 18:44:48 GMT -5
They weren't going to be happy with Rocky as soon as they found out he wasn't coming to his history lesson. Though to be honest, his teacher for that would usually chase him down and drag him back to where he was supposed to be. It wouldn't be too long. He had a little time until then.
No matter what they wanted, he wasn't going to conform to the norm. For one, this camp did nothing but remind him of his mother. The woman was supposedly a goddess, and yet she couldn't be bothered for more than forty years to get Rocky out of the Lotus Hotel. Well, clearly she didn't really care that much about him, and that being the case the feeling was mutual. While a lot of demi-gods were proud of who their parent was, he didn't much care. He never intentionally did anything that set him apart as being the child of one god or goddess. Everyone sort of knew if they saw him going to his cabin at night, and every now and then he'd somehow unintentionally use his abilities to manipulate plants. If they didn't know, however, he wasn't going to advertise it.
Rocky sat down by the lake and stared at his reflection for a moment. The boy that looked back at him was a mix of familiar and unfamiliar. No leather jacket, it was too warm today. The necklace and bright orange t-shirt weren't really his style, but everyone wore them here. Especially with the necklace, it hadn't seemed like he had a choice in wearing it. The face that looked back - minus that his hair was shorter than he liked - was the same face he'd always seen in a reflection. He was still Rocky, but not a Rocky he was happy being. He was Rocky in the wrong decade with no one that really cared about him around. Rocky who hid behind an attitude of not caring and not wanting to behave or conform, an attitude of not wanting to have anything to do with the camp. To be honest, though, did they really care about him? Any more than his mother seemed to care about him? He was here, yes, but that didn't mean he belonged.
Word Count: 392
Tag: Jackson
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Post by Jackson Samuels on Oct 11, 2011 19:16:55 GMT -5
Jackson walked out the door to his cabin, the sun was beating down on him today but then again it seemed that way all the time. Like a reminder that his dad was watching him, even when he didn't want him too. Jackson wanted to go to the archery range, but something told him that the lake was the place to go today. Which is the usual place he would go when he needed a place to think, the rest of the camp sounded so loud but the lake was peaceful; well until capture the flag was happening.
Jackson walked down the path to the lake, the path that he has taken so many times when he needed to get away from the drama of his siblings or the other happenings of the camp. When the path finally opened up to the lake, Jackson saw a blonde haired boy looking down at something. Jackson stopped before walking closer to the lake, something about the boy seemed unapproachable but Jackson needed to see who this boy was.
Jackson walked up to the boy quietly hoping that he would recognize him, but no such luck. Which wasn't so hard to believe he really didn't know very many people at this camp. He took a deep breath before speaking.
"Mind if I sit?" asked Jackson hoping the boy would be polite.
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Post by Rocky White on Oct 11, 2011 22:44:36 GMT -5
Rocky's head shot up a little when the other boy spoke. It wasn't like if he couldn't have seen the other guy sneaking up, but he'd been paying more attention to his own reflection. If he hadn't, he would have seen Jackson. He hadn't, though, and now he had a dilemma to figure out. Jackson had caught him with his guard down, and with his mask down too. From Rocky's point of view, the sadness and the broken person that he hid behind his tough, rebellious, me-against-the-world attitude had been showing through in that moment. Jackson might not have seen it, but in Rocky's eyes it had been as obvious as a neon sign.
He shrugged at first, finally finding his voice. "That's up to you," he said, without really looking up. His expression changed to what he usually wore, a look of disinterest. He would have given Jackson his don't-mess-with-me look, but it was a little late for that. Jackson already had messed with Rocky, at least in a sense. Maybe if Rocky gave him the cold shoulder he'd leave. Scaring him off, though, Rocky didn't think would work. He was still convinced the new guy had seen him with his mask down, that the charade was up anyways. He could put it back up and pretend it wasn't, but he didn't think after that the whole mad at the world act was really going to be believe able. The disinterested loner was probably reasonable, though.
That being said, Rocky wasn't really sure why he wanted to be a loner. Admittedly he was when it came to family. He'd seen his brother's... he wasn't even sure what those people had been, how many generations down from Johnny they'd been. He didn't belong with them, though. He could never be a part of their life. His siblings in the Demeter cabin, he quite frankly wanted nothing to do with the lot of them. Not them and not his mother, who had let him down as far as he was concerned. So he had no family, and he had no friends. Maybe he didn't really trust people in general. Most of the people in his life, the ones he'd let be a part of his life, had let him down. Even his immortal mother had let him down. Why take chances on someone? Especially now, when no one could understand - and probably no one could accept - him because of his messed up history. He'd never find anything but let downs by trusting, so why did it matter?
Word Count: 455 Tag: Jackson OOC: Poor Rocky. 
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Post by Jackson Samuels on Oct 11, 2011 23:38:57 GMT -5
Jackson heard the sadness in the boys voice, it stung him deep into his soul. He had felt that loneliness too so many times when he was at home. The feeling of thinking your dad is dead, the feeling when his mom found him a new "dad" which came with a brother that he only bonded with when he needed something. Jackson sat down beside the boy, not close enough to invade the others space, but close enough so the boy wouldn't feel alone.
Jackson looked at the water, the sun was shining on it making it look beautiful and clear, but who knows what lurked beneath it. Kind of like how he felt, everything looked smoothed on the outside but deep down, Jackson felt dark and scary. Jackson wondered what had led him to the lake today, maybe it was because this boy needed a friend and he was the one for him but who knows what the Fates had in store for him.
Jackson looked at the unfamiliar boy next to him, the boy looked like something was missing, that something inside of him was longing to be found or touched, but could Jackson help this boy? Jackson was scared that he would come off to strong to him, that something would come out that didn't need to be said right now. There had to be something that he could say to help him, something that would make the boy smile. Jackson had a feeling that when he did smile that it was like seeing a god's true form beautiful but possibly deadly. Jackson opened his mouth but closed it just as quickly, what could be said right now to a guy that was so beautiful and looked like he needed Jackson. Jackson opened his mouth and said the first thing that came out.
"I am Jackson, Son of Apollo. I am here for you" said Jackson, he wasn't sure why the last part came out but it left his mouth and there was no turning back now, words could not be taken back.
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Post by Rocky White on Oct 12, 2011 0:00:46 GMT -5
Well, clearly the boy wasn't going anywhere. Whether that was really good or bad still remained to be seen. For a while it didn't really seem so bad. The guy gave Rocky his space, and he wasn't even really talking. Trying to make conversation was a different matter. He did open his mouth once, possibly deciding against saying whatever he'd planned to. When he finally did break the silence, he introduced himself. Of course, the introduction made Rocky cringe on the inside. He'd just had to add that tag, hadn't he? He'd had to mention who his immortal parent was. Meanwhile Rocky tried his best to not mention who his mother was. At times like this, though, it felt somehow unavoidable. Most people who walked around announcing they were the son or daughter of this and such god or goddess were proud of who their parent was, and many seemed to expect every demi-god to be proud of their parentage. Rocky didn't care, because Demeter had never seemed to care about him.
Rocky opened his mouth once, then closed it, but it wasn't long before he spoke. "Name's Rocky, Son of Demeter." Pause. He considered saying more, but he just kept his mouth shut after that point. There'd been a slightly acid tone to how he'd said he was the son of Demeter. Maybe this Jackson guy would be smart enough to get the message that he didn't like associating himself with the goddess. Another part of him said he should tell Jackson, just to make sure he got the idea.
Whatever. Rocky didn't care if the guy knew. It wasn't like people knowing was going to make Rocky all of a sudden like using his ability to manipulate plants. The times he'd done that, he'd had no other choice. Still, he finally gave in to the desire to cue Jackson in. "Don't like mentioning my mom. She don't care about me. I feel the same about her." Just so he knew.
Word Count: 352
Tag: Jackson
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Post by Jackson Samuels on Oct 12, 2011 0:28:46 GMT -5
Jackson looked at the boy, his eyes seemed to tell the story of exactly how Jackson felt too. He had only seen his dad once and that meeting almost seemed forced, Jackson nodded at the boys words. Could he tell this boy that he understood exactly what he was going through?
"My dad only came to see me once, that meeting seemed almost like he had to see me" said Jackson staring at the water as he said this, he didn't want Rocky to seem like he had to answer him, not to mention Rocky didn't seem to want him here. Should he just get up, walk back to the cabin? Then both of the boys could be left alone but even though he wanted to make his body move but something wouldn't let him.
Jackson looked up at Rocky, those eyes of his drew him in again. What was it about this boy that he couldn't seem to find the right words to say? Jackson always seemed to know exactly what to say and do. At his high school, everyone liked him and wanted to be his friend but they always left him. If he became friends with Rocky would he do the same?
Jackson wanted to tell Rocky how cute his name was, how his eyes were beautiful and his lips seemed to invite Jackson's to them but that would be the downfall of this. Jackson had told someone he was gay before and the left him but not after punching him in the gut. If he told Rocky would he do the same or would he understand and say that he was gay back to him. No, Jackson couldn't risk it, there was a part of him that wanted to say it but a part of him that had to hold back. He would take the safe route, Rocky would understand this part of him at least.
"I don't know my dad much either, I just say whose son I am here because that is what people judge you by" said Jackson still looking at Rocky waiting for the boy to respond with the voice Jackson wanted to hear more of.
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Post by Rocky White on Oct 12, 2011 0:57:44 GMT -5
Jackson talked about how he had met his father one time, and how the meeting had seemed somehow mandated and not something Apollo had wanted to do. Rocky had never even met Demeter. He didn't know if he envied demi-gods who knew their parents or not, seeing as he didn't care to associate with the goddess. "Mom don't care about me," Rocky stated again. "I needed help. She didn't do nothing." That was about as far as he was willing to go into the fiasco that was his several decades in the Lotus Hotel. He didn't want to talk about that. Most days he didn't want to think about it, though this task was quite a bit harder than avoiding talking about it.
"Never even met her," he added. She was his mother, yes, but how much a part of his life had she been. The one moment when she could have made an appearance, when she might have had a reason to, she'd just left him be for four decades. So he saw that as her not caring about him and decided that he simply didn't care about her either.
"Don't like to say I'm her son. Don't use my abilities from her either, or I try not to." Again, not that people didn't know he was her son. He did, usually, respond by saying his parentage if someone said theirs first. There was also the chance of people seeing you going into your cabin, and they were very distinct buildings. Eventually people figured it out, but he could hide it for as long as possible.
He looked out across the lake. His acting like he was disinterested and disconnected hadn't gotten the guy to go yet. Jackson didn't even seem the least bit annoyed by Rocky's attitude. It confused him. He wasn't sure how to feel. Did he try harder? Did he just let Jackson stay? Why was Jackson staying when no one else ever did. The questions buzzed in Rocky's head without any real answers coming to mind. Maybe he just needed more time... Maybe if he waited things would change. Then again, maybe not.
Word Count: 375
Tag: Jackson
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Post by Jackson Samuels on Oct 12, 2011 1:24:10 GMT -5
Jackson nodded as Rocky told him the story, he understood where he was coming from but something felt different about Rocky's story was there something that he was leaving out but Jackson didn't want to force Rocky to say anything that he didn't want to say.
"I am sorry that she wasn't there for you when you needed her to be" said Jackson with a frown, there was something about the way he looked at the lake, like he was waiting for an answer. Jackson didn't want to say the words that were leaving his mouth but they couldn't be stopped." I wish that I could have been there for you"
Had he really just said that to this boy that he had just met today but there was something about the sadness in Rocky's eyes and voice that felt like this needed to be said.
Jackson didn't look at Rocky when he said those words, in fact the lake had drawn his attention. He was scared that if he looked at Rocky more words would just fly out of his mouth and he wouldn't be able to stop them.
Jackson looked at his hands now, they were shaking like he had never seen before. He didn't know why, because he had never even had his hands shake that he could remember. Jackson put his hands under his butt so that Rocky wouldn't see them and hopefully to stop them from shaking. He didn't make eye contact with Rocky because he was scared he would laugh at him or worse walk away from him and never look back. Jackson played with a stray rock that was beside his feet and gently tossed it into the lake hoping that it would skip but he wasn't good at skipping rocks, only shoot arrows at bull-eyes. Jackson hoped that Rocky would say something to comfort him or walk away, he wished for the latter.
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Post by Rocky White on Oct 13, 2011 0:28:10 GMT -5
Jackson's words left Rocky a little stunned, and very not sure how to react. It was one thing to say he was sorry that Demeter hadn't cared enough to get Rocky out of the Lotus Hotel. It was another entirely to tell him that Jackson wished he could have been there for Rocky. If you took that in a literal sense and tried to equate it to what would actually have happened, Jackson would have been trapped in the hotel too. Rocky wouldn't wish that mess on anyone. If you took it at face value, Jackson was saying that he wished he could have helped Rocky.
"You don't mean that," finally said. And it wasn't so much that Rocky didn't think Jackson really did want to help him, but it was his own way of saying something else. "You don't know what you're wishing for there." Jackson didn't know what he'd been wishing for, and his opinion of that might have changed had he known. Rocky didn't want Jackson saying that and then changing his opinion if he ever really found out all the Rocky had been through.
All this time Rocky hadn't looked back at Jackson. Now he turned to the other boy, his steel colored eyes focusing on Jackson. "What I been through... no one should go through it. You can't guess, can't know for sure you'd want to go through what it'd really take to help me" Why he was being so nice and explaining that... he couldn't know. Maybe it was just the way that Jackson was confusing him right now. Maybe it was the fact that Jackson still hadn't been scared off like other people.
Rocky was off his game, forgetting how he was supposed to act to keep the mask going. He wasn't used to keeping the act going for so long. No one stuck around for this long. Jackson was darn determined to stick around, and Rocky couldn't understand why. Usually no one wanted to stay around Rocky. True, if it was an issue then Rocky could just get up and leave himself. He wasn't sure, though. He couldn't tell if he had a problem with what was happening or not. So he did nothing, and just sat there with Jackson. Slowly the other boy was working little holes in Rocky's armor as they talked, things Rocky didn't usually tell other people coming out.
Rocky didn't know where this would end, but he didn't know if he should be afraid of what was happening or not. Everything about the way Jackson was acting had him thrown off balance. Because of that Rocky's mask kept slipping. Jackson was seeing a more real Rocky than anyone ever had before. That was strange... but was it bad?
Word Count: 488
Tag: Jackson
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Post by Jackson Samuels on Oct 13, 2011 0:49:51 GMT -5
Jackson had meant what he said, he wasn't sure why, but he did mean it. He didn't want anyone to feel alone or worse be alone. He had been through that and didn't want to wish that on anyone. Jackson looked at Rocky and frowned, he wanted to make this boy understand that he wanted to be there for him, even if Jackson didn't understand why right now but he wanted to be there for Rocky.
"I mean it, Rocky. I would have been there for you and helped you, or at least try to" said Jackson with a slight smile. He wasn't sure how Rocky would respond to that but he didn't really care; he meant it.
Jackson scooted closer to Rocky, he wasn't sure why that he did it but it was like he was drawn closer to him. If Rocky asked he would lie and say that he couldn't hear him but honestly he could hear him just fine and wasn't sure why he moved closer.
Jackson picked up another rock and played with it in his hand, a slight smile crossed his face.
"When I was younger, my mom went to Greece with some friends. She said it was a trip she always wanted to go one. Honestly, now I realize why she went. Anyway, she brought me a rock back from the Temple of Delphi, you know my dad's temple. I cherished that rock for years just because I felt a connection to that rock not even knowing who my dad was" said Jackson, not really sure why he was sharing this story with Rocky but he didn't want Rocky to walk away; maybe keeping the conversation going would make him stay no matter how boring the story seemed.
Jackson thew the rock into the river, it barely skipped and his shoulder sunk. Would he truly ever be able to skip a rock, he knew he could probably shoot an apple of a head of someone across the camp why couldn't he skip a dang rock.
"I truly cannot skip a rock in the lake, what is wrong with me" said Jackson with a frown and looked up at Rocky waiting for an answer but Rocky's face was unreadable like he was wearing a make, and Jackson wanted to somehow unmask this guy. He felt like the whole city of Gotham and Rocky was Batman.
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Post by Rocky White on Oct 14, 2011 0:04:07 GMT -5
Rocky listened as Jackson refuted his statement that he didn't mean what he'd said. The boy really didn't know what he was wishing for, what he would have gone through trying to save Rocky. At the same time the sentiment was an honest one. Could he accept that he meant it, as much as he could meant it? He wasn't sure.
He sighed, watching as Jackson moved closer to him. His initial instinct was to want to move back. For some reason he didn't follow through on that instinct, though. He just stayed where he was. Why should he have to move because this guy wasn't getting the message? Rocky had been here first after all. Or did that even make sense? He was honestly getting really off balance here. Jackson was confusing him. Rocky was still trying to figure out why the guy hadn't left yet, and wondering if he should be somehow colder or what to try and get him to go. Jackson was... he wasn't like anyone else. Jackson was reacting very differently than people normally did to Rocky. Rocky didn't know how to take it.
As Rocky remained confused, trying to figure Jackson out, Jackson started telling him some story about his mother traveling to Greece and bringing him back a rock from his father's temple. Rocky didn't understand it or understand the point of telling this story to him. He wanted nothing to do with his mother, Demeter. He couldn't understand the connection that Jackson felt to the rock because he didn't feel like that about his own godly parent... or could he?
He looked down at his left hand, where it sat on the ground. If he focused just enough... Slowly something happened, and a moment later a white flower sprouted out from between the boy's fingers. He watched it as it grew and bloomed. He stared at it... and he felt nothing. Then again, what was he supposed to have felt? What had he been expecting to feel? He didn't understand what that connection Jackson had felt was like. He looked at the flower, and only felt like it was a very insignificant thing on this earth. Then again, that was how he felt wasn't it? He felt insignificant, like no one really cared about him. His father hadn't told his uncle the truth, hadn't prepared Rocky for the world that had waited for him. His mother hadn't done anything for over four decades, leaving him trapped in the Lotus Hotel. His brother, his closest friend, was gone and had been for several years. He could be wiped off the face of the earth, as easily as he could kill that flower, and no one would have known. No one would have cared.... Maybe he had more of a connection to it than he thought.
He heard a splash and Jackson commenting on how he couldn't skip, and he finally looked up. He'd been in his own little world for a moment there. He would have said something... but didn't know what to say. Nothing came to mind but, "Never learned to skip rocks. Probably couldn't either."
Word Count: 547
Tag: Jackson
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Post by Jackson Samuels on Oct 14, 2011 0:22:00 GMT -5
Jackson wanted to respond to what Rocky had just said, he wanted to say something suave like I can help you skip rocks and then move behind him, just to touch his body but would that work on Rocky. he seemed different almost untouchable. Jackson looked at the flower that he didn't remember seeing there before but he didn't think much about it but how beautiful it looked. It reminded Jackson of himself, he has been told that he was beautiful but people picked him and his heart soon died.
Jackson had never had a boyfriend or even kissed a boy, he hugged a boy once but that was nothing; it was harmless. Even know looking down at Rocky's hands, he wanted to take them in his own, just to feel how it felt to hold someones hand, to lace their fingers together and not worry about the world around them but that wasn't going to happen. He knew without a doubt that Rocky was straight off limits, just like that flower growing in the ground now. He wanted to pick it and hand it to Rocky, but something told him not to touch this flower; it was off limits just like Rocky.
"Well, if I was better at it, I would teach you how but I am not a very good teacher except at archery" said Jackson with a shrug and then looked to Rocky, there was something about Rocky that made him shake not just his hands but it seemed to shake his insides as well. "I love flowers, but I love orchids more. I know it's weird a Son of Apollo wanting a potted orchid in his room but it would be nice. I like looking at pretty things"
Jackson blushed a little as he said that, because he was in fact looking right at Rocky when he said it. Rocky was beautiful, that was for sure. He was in Jackson's opinion, the most beautiful boy he had ever seen before which scared him to his core. Jackson was scared of love, he wanted love more than anything but he was scared of getting hurt. He wanted someone to hold his hand and to make him feel like everything was going to be ok. That the battle he has heard so much about wouldn't be so bad because he would have someone there for him. For some reason he wanted it to be Rocky, but he knew Rocky wouldn't feel the same.
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Post by Rocky White on Oct 14, 2011 12:56:23 GMT -5
Rocky shrugged, not sure what to say to the comment the Jackson made about how he'd help Rocky with skipping rocks if was any good at it. Nor to the comment about him being able to teach archery. Teaching Rocky was a real challenge, but that was more his own attitude than anything wrong with the teachers. He skipped his lessons and he didn't much care about paying attention. They were lucky if they ever made any progress at all. No one had ever convinced Rocky that school, or his lessons here, weren't really pointless. Between Johnny and Rocky's demi-god disadvantages - the "ADHD" battle reflexes and ancient Greek "dyslexia" - had done a pretty good job of making school seem like a pretty pointless thing to Rocky when he was growing up.
"No good at archery," he said, which was really his own fault. He'd never be any good at anything here if he didn't actually go to his lessons so he could learn what to do so that he could practice and get any better. Someone would need to set him on the right course... which probably wouldn't happen unless someone could get close to him. Then again, Jackson certainly seemed to be determined to find his way through Rocky's outward mask and the armor around his heart. Maybe it wasn't too far-fetched an idea that someone could turn him around a little.
There was one thing Jackson said that Rocky could do something about. To be honest, though, it didn't make a lot of sense to him that he was actually considering doing anything but simply ignoring the comment about the orchid. Rocky looked down at the spot where his white flower sat and sighed, seeming to think for a moment. He could make the orchid for Jackson, but he tried to hard to avoid using his powers from his mother. At least the ones that weren't something all demi-gods had. Then again, did avoiding using those really hurt her any? She didn't care about him, so would it matter to her if he used his powers or not? Now that was a real question, but not a concept he'd ever thought about before. What was it about Jackson that was making Rocky so... confused. That was the only word he had for it.
Oh well. That was a thought for another time. Right now... He thought a moment more before putting his hand down on the ground a little ways over from the white flower. He tilted his head to the side a little as he looked at the spot on the ground. The same thing happened as before, when he concentrated on it, and a moment later the aforementioned, purple flower sprouted up between Rocky's fingers. He moved his hand and looked at it, seeming a little confused. More confused by his own actions than anything. Jackson was doing more damage - or perhaps, in reality, more good - than he probably knew. Just by staying there he was putting Rocky off balance and now he was working his way in while Rocky was still trying regain his composure. Where this would lead... That was anyone's guess, because no on had gotten close to Rocky since he'd arrived at camp.
Word Count: 560
Tag: Jackson
Muse Music: Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
Notes: Apparently oldies/rock & roll is what it takes to inspire my muse for Rocky.
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Post by Jackson Samuels on Oct 14, 2011 13:26:37 GMT -5
Jackson watched the purple flower grow from the ground, Rocky seemed like he was avoiding Jackson, like Jackson's being here was a bother but Jackson didn't want to leave. Even in the silence, this was the longest he had talked or sat with anyone and just talked. Jackson moved closer to look at the purple flower, Jackson had always loved the color purple. Jackson was now right beside Rocky, his leg was touching Rocky's.
"That flower is really pretty, I could never bring myself to pick flowers. I always thought they had feelings" said Jackson with a thoughtful tone. It was true though, Jackson could never bring himself to pick a flower and he only liked plants that were still plotted in pot. It seemed Barbarian to pick a flower, it was like killing someone for fun; another thing Jackson would never do.
Jackson ran his fingers on the ground, the grass felt good in his hands. He looked up at Rocky, he wanted to say something to make him feel better, something to take the pain that he felt away from him. Jackson just looked at Rocky, probably seeming like an idiot, he had to say something, anything to keep Rocky here. Rocky seemed to be opening up to him, he seemed like he wanted to stay and talk but Jackson couldn't be sure.
"When I was in high school, before I came here, people would only be my friend because they thought I was hot or because they thought I was an amazing singer, actor, writer, or poet. They didn't like the real me, when I would tell them my biggest secret, not being Apollo's kid, because I didn't even know that then. When I would tell them that I was gay, that I fell in love with boys instead of girls. They didn't like that part of me, I was different, a taboo to them. I understand how it feels to be alone or feel alone. I don't want anyone to go through that, I will be there for you if you want me to be." said Jackson looking up at Rocky their legs still touching, he wasn't sure what was going to happen next. He felt that Rocky was different that he would stay with him after hearing him say that but what if he was like all the others, what if he pushed him to the ground and told him to never come near him again. Jackson knew he wouldn't be able to handle that, he had just met Rocky but he was invested, something about Rocky seemed different.
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Post by Rocky White on Oct 15, 2011 9:30:57 GMT -5
Rocky noticed very much the fact that Jackson had scooted closer to him and that their legs were touching. It would have bothered him - it kind of did bother him - except for the fact that he ended up focusing his attention more on Jackson's words than on the physical contact. He thought for a moment about Jackson saying he didn't want to pick the flower, and how he'd said something about potting the plant. Rocky had been in the arts and crafts building and seen flower pots in there. They were intended for you to decorate them, and then down the road you of course could put a flower in it. This is what prompted his next action.
He moved, though actually more of his leg ended up touching Jackson than before in the position he'd moved to. Then he dug his fingers into the ground, careful to get as much as he could of the flowers delicate roots. Picking the plant up, clump of dirt and all, he held it out to Jackson. His expression seemed to ask if this was ok, or if Jackson wanted him to put the flower back.
To be honest this action was very out of character for Rocky. Or rather it was out of character for the Rocky that most people saw to act in this way. Jackson's patience, or determination, or stubbornness, or whatever it was that had kept him there was allowing him to see small glimpses of the real Rocky. This was the Rocky that was broken - in an emotional sense - and who hid behind his mask of being tough and and loner because in reality he was lonely and hurting and simply worried that he would lose anyone who got close to him again. That was what had happened the last time, at least in his eyes. In his eyes Demeter had never cared about him, and his father was somewhat debatable since he should have known, should have told Rocky, that he was a demi-god. Uncle Alex and Johnny had cared about Rocky, though, and the years he'd spent in the Lotus Hotel had lead to both dying before Rocky had gotten out.
Rocky couldn't understand at first why Jackson started sharing the story that he did. Strangely enough he found himself intently listening. Eventually the answer came, and Rocky found his mask shattering as Jackson hit the nail - the reality of why he kept people at a distance - on the head. Maybe his reasoning for feeling alone was different than Jackson's - though to be honest Rocky hadn't been around people much since before he'd been old enough to care about romantic attraction with either gender, so maybe that reason applied too - regardless Jackson had guessed the truth without Rocky saying even a word to hint at that answer.
Rocky's vision started to blur, and he knew why. Immediately he turned his face away from Jackson, not wanting the other boy to see him crying. One of many things that Uncle Alex and Johnny had gotten into Rocky's head was that a man wasn't supposed to cry, or wasn't supposed to let other people see him do so. He started wishing his hands weren't covered in dirt, or he could have tried to use them to his his face. Jackson would probably find out with the way things were right now.
Word Count: 579 Tag: Jackson Muse Music: Raindrops (More Oldies) Notes: 0.o Rocky didn't say a word in this whole post.
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