faceless man counting crumpled bills // OPEN

[nothinglikea]

Who: Rose Dawson and you?
What: Event shenanigans
When: April 8th-15th
Where: Gaze

Content Warnings: possible underage drinking, hypnosis, hopelessness, monsters, potential for instant beasthood, corruption, draining of soul

Comments

[nothinglikea]

She's ready. Mostly. It's still difficult and she's surprised that her mention of being from 1912 hasn't set everyone from after that point's suspicions into overdrive. After all, what else happened in 1912?

Jack grinned warmly. "I'm sure we will, too. See, Rose? It's not so scary, getting people to like you." And Rose looked down for a moment, trying not to cry. "True, I suppose. But here, you'd be coming into a situation where everyone's my friend. Not like Tommy and Fabrizio. They were your friends first." And Jack scoffed. "How long did it take for them to realize you were worth knowing? No time at all. I'm sure the same is happening for you here, even without me."

And Rose trembled, reaching up a hand towards the portal. "Yes. Yes, of course you're right. I have many friends, Snow White being one of the dearest of them."

[onebadapple]

"Oh, Rose is absolutely lovely, I'm surprised more people don't love her," she smiled at Jack as she looked up at Rose and then back at Jack, smiling.

"You seem like a lovely person too, Jack. We'll have to show you around all the places here."

Snow White watched her trembling hand and bit her lip.

"Rose, is it safe to touch the portal?" could they go in them?

[nothinglikea]

Rose gave Snow White a warm smile and so did Jack, saying "I'm glad she has a friend like you to be there for her." And Rose flushed, pleased to have the chance to talk to Jack. Wherever he was, it seemed like it had to have been nice. She wonders if he sees himself back in Santa Barbara at the pier.

"Yes, Jack, it's truly amazing. So many people from so many times and places and worlds, there's always someone interesting to meet and talk to. You'd love it."

And she was trying to not cry. But...she knew the odds weren't always in their favor as to whom washed up to shore and who didn't.

"I--I don't know. I've never heard of anyone trying?"

[onebadapple]

Snow White watched as Rose's eyes became watery, and she didn't want to press the other to talk more or to let it out. She knew how difficult it could be to cry in front of others. But she didn't want Rose to have to stay upset, either. Snow let them have their conversation and then bit her lips.

"Before you touch it, perhaps we should try?" she looked around a bit and then picked up a pebble that was white and smooth.

"Jack, dear, I'm going to throw this to you, do you think you could catch it?" if this meant Jack and Rose would get a chance to touch one another again, then Snow was all for letting them have a moment together.

[nothinglikea]

She didn't want to cry. But if she did, she wouldn't mind Snow White seeing. The other young woman had been so kind to her, to everyone who interacted with her it seemed, that she didn't want to take advantage of her kindness. But it made her feel warm in a way she wasn't entirely certain of yet.

"Yes. Yes, that's a good idea," Rose said, looking at her in relief.

And Jack gave Rose a concerned look before he turned his attention to Snow White, paying attention to what she was asking him to do. "Sure, I've caught both bigger and smaller things before." And Rose hiccupped a laugh at that.

[onebadapple]

"Alright, here it comes, Jack!" Snow White called out and then tossed the pebble. Only, it could not go through. As soon as it hit the barrier of the portal, it bounced back a bit harder than Snow threw. Her hawk friend caught it before it could even touch either girl and Snow made a noise of disappointment.

"Ah, no, I don't... I don't understand! You're right there."

[nothinglikea]

Jack looks eager, hopeful as Snow White tossed the pebble, hands outstretched, Rose looking onward in anticipation. But both were disappointed as the pebble bounced off. Rose briefly closed her eyes and released a long sigh, Jack looking on, clearly dejected and trying to not let it show.

Jack gave Snow White and Rose a smile and said "I don't get it, either. But don't worry about it, I'll be fine. Rose, you're going to be fine, too, I know it." And Rose nodded shakily.

[onebadapple]

"Oh... I'm so sorry," she bit her lip, seeing how deeply upset Rose was and hating that she had contributed to it, even if she had wanted the exact opposite.

She reached out and rested a hand on Rose's back, rubbing it to try and be assuring.

"I'm sure one day you and Jack will get a chance to be together again. You mustn't give up hope. I certainly won't."

[nothinglikea]

"No. No, it's not your fault. You couldn't have known," Rose said to Snow White. "None of us could. It was likely asking---asking far too much for these windows to act sensibly.

And Rose finds herself leaning into the touch, taking comfort in it despite the disappointment.

"I do hope so. Even if it's in the afterlife. And I--I appreciate you and your care during this. I can't begin to tell you how much."

[onebadapple]

"Oh Rose, I'm sure it won't take the afterlife for you to reunite! Someday Jack will come, I'm sure. But of course, I care for you very much, Rose, I want to be there for you both through good and bad." She gave Rose a gentle squeeze.

"I'm going to try and be there for you as much as I can. Would you like to spend some time alone with Jack?"

[nothinglikea]

"I...I would hope so. It's impossible to know what will happen, when. It--it could be another month, it could be another year. And...I want to be with you for the same. If I can?" And Rose squeezed back, feeling a little thrill go up her spine.

"And I hope that you know you can count on me, whenever you need me. I'll be there. I swear. I would...appreciate that? There were so many things which should have been said at the end."