So Let Me Save You

[bound_by_this]

Who: charilandry_npc & bound_by_this
What: A meeting's reprise
When: Backdated to Sunday afternoon~
Where: At the base of the clock tower
Warnings: PG-13?
Status: Complete

Comments

[charilandry_npc]

Chari was on time. Of course she was. It was obvious to anyone who knew her well (which were very few) and probably even to people that didn't, that she was a little fascinated by the cheerful blond noble. And who wouldn't be, really? He was charming. And kind -- the latter something she barely knew how to react to anymore.

Not that Chari's reactions were always appropriate to the situation.

She saw Jack as he approached the tower, but he wouldn't see her, not until she was ready anyway. It was her favorite trick really, the one that came naturally to her, to stay out of sight -- quite literally invisible, and phased out of sync with the rest of the world as well.

So hopefully Jack wouldn't startle too much when she wrapped her arms around his before fading into sight, a smile pulling over her lips. "Jack. You're a bit early. How lovely."

[bound_by_this]

     For a moment he was trying to decide whether he should be disappointed or relieved that he seemed to be the first one there. Jack looked around, wondering from which direction the woman would be arriving from, belatedly realizing he had no idea where she even stayed. Where did any of them stay, now that he wondered.

He gasped as he felt someone just suddenly there, blinking in astonishment as the woman came into view.

"-Chari! Ah, I hadn't wanted to keep you waiting- How did you do that?" He didn't sound so much upset as curious and perhaps even just a bit eager. His smile was quickly back upon his face. "Was that like magic?"

[charilandry_npc]

Chari's smile grew brighter at that. "Did you like it? It's one of my talents. Mm. Magic is the right word, I think." She keeps a loose hold on his arm lightly, as though this was perfectly natural. "If you'd like I can show you."

For the time being at least, her mood was cheerful, nearly ebullient with it. Gone were the period-appropriate clothing she'd worn in her masquerade as queen. Instead, she wore a simple blue sundress -- normal enough in the modern world, even if it might be somewhat out of place where Jack was from.

[bound_by_this]

     "Really? I'd like that!" he chirped, not seeming bothered at all by her closeness. Maybe it was because he didn't have to worry about flirting with royalty.

"-and I must say, you look quite lovely." The woman's choice of fashion was definitely much simpler than what he was used to seeing women back home wear, but he wouldn't deny that it suited Chari just as well as the fancy dress she'd had when they'd first met.

[charilandry_npc]

Chari beamed a little, though she paused at the compliment, glancing aside shyly -- surely an affected emotion... wasn't it? "How sweet of you to say." She turned bright blue eyes back towards him.

She released his arm then and stepped away, turning to face him, walking backwards. "Watch closely, Jack." She winked at him briefly and then bit by bit her form grew more and more translucent, so that the bright sunshine of the day filtered through her like it would a glass figurine. "Now, give me your hand?" She held her barely-visible hand out towards him, watching expectantly.

[bound_by_this]

     It was even more amazing to see in reverse, although perhaps more because now he knew what he was looking for. Or...not ...looking- whatever.

"...fascinating!" he gasped, smiling like a child that was thoroughly enjoying a magic show act. Jack blinked as he made out the hand that was extended towards him. He brought his up, reaching towards the vague form of Chari's slender fingers.

[charilandry_npc]

Chari laughed again, lightly. She wrapped her fingers about Jack's gently. All at once the translucence that had spread through her form crept its way up the braided man's arm and straight through him until they both disappeared from sight entirely. "Do you think so? It comes in handy. Sometimes it's better not to be seen."

Then she stepped back, still keeping a hold of his now invisible hand. And without explanation she headed for the nearest wall, pulling him first to it and then straight through to the store inside.

[bound_by_this]

     It was difficult not to panic at first once he started to witness himself vanishing before his own eyes. "-ah!" Such a start was quickly quelled by eager curiosity. After all, how many people could say that they've been turned invisible?

"Oh, I'm sure it does," Jack murmured as he considered the many advantages one could have to not being seen. He automatically stepped forward after Chari, not quite realizing where they were going until he noticed, why yes, that was a wall in front of them, and no, they weren't stopping why were they still moving forward oh wait a second--!!

"Char- --eeh??"

[charilandry_npc]

That reaction had Chari giggling. She made sure she pulled him fully through the wall before she let go of his hand. Once contact was lost, Jack would find himself solid and visible once again.

Chari, on the other hand, remained out of sight for the time being. "That's part of the trick too. What do you think?" The seemingly disembodied voice sounded bright and sweet, but with an undercurrent, like a school child looking for a teacher's approval on their work.

[bound_by_this]

     -he was still breathing and able to move and feel. That was definitely a good sign. And oh, now he could see himself again as well! Not halfway stuck in a wall, either- which was a definite plus!

"That..."

Jack flexed his fingers, but his bright emerald gaze wasn't long in seeking out Chari. "...that was amazing! Why, that's just like being a ghost, isn't it?" He glanced back towards the wall, knocking on it as though to test that both he and it were indeed solid.

[charilandry_npc]

Chari laughed, pleased by the answer, and filtered back into sight standing just in front of him. She nodded slightly. "You really think it was amazing?"

And then it happened, that flip of a switch inside her, and she looked down a bit. "Sometimes I wonder if I am anything but a ghost. I died once." A death. A rebirth. It was all a blur.

[bound_by_this]

     There was no denying his response by that smile on his face, and if that wasn't enough, he nodded just as enthusiastically.

It faltered there on his face the moment Chari spoke of dying. "What are you saying? How could you have died..? I'm quite certain that the hand I'd been holding a moment ago was of flesh and blood."

[charilandry_npc]

"Flesh and blood. Mm. Still that... But I did. We all did. We all died." Chari murmured quietly. "Couldn't be human anymore, not to become..." And now she lifted her hands to cover her face. Slender shoulders shook just slightly. "Sometimes I remember it. What it felt like. Sometimes I don't remember anything."

[bound_by_this]

     He'd gone and said something wrong, and now the cheery mood had been spoiled. Looking at her sadly, Jack stepped over towards her, bringing his hands to set gently upon her shoulders.

"Shh... I'm- I'm sorry to have brought up such a thing." So many things he did not understand, so many questions and mysteries to these people, and yet how could he not think of the person before him as anything else? Chari certainly acted human enough, strange shifts of mood aside.

[charilandry_npc]

Chari looked up, startled by the touch, startled enough that it brought a mystified little smile to her face, despite the tears in her eyes. "...do you care?" It seemed a strange thing to think, really, that he'd care. That anyone would care.

She didn't wait for an answer, instead stepping forward and rather suddenly hugging him.

[bound_by_this]

     "W-"

Oh, hello Miss Landry. Jack blinked as he found himself being clung to. Very slowly he let his own arms fall around her.

"I would not be here if I didn't, Chari," he said softly.