The Little Things (100moods - Prompt #98: Vulnerable)
Title: The Little Things
Fandom: LOST
Characters: Richard Alpert, Jacob, mentions of the Others
Prompt: #98 (Vulnerable)
Word Count: 680
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Mentions of death.
Summary: Richard would love to trade his immortality for all the little things in life. He tells Jacob this, once.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.
The Little Things
Richard would love to trade his immortality for all the little things in life. He tells Jacob this, once. Only once, in the temple where miracles happen. Where death becomes life and life becomes bearable.
And why would you want to do that? is Jacob's response to the desperate man he created with high hopes of never hearing any of this. His voice seems calm, but Richard has, unfortunately, been with Jacob long enough to know he's not being genuine when he's speaking because he refuses to make eye contact and he looks tense. Because he's nodding as if he already knows the answer and is simply making conversation while he tries to come up with proper solution to this, even though he's had centuries to think of one.
Richard ignores all of this and explains, I would do it to feel real. You know what it's like to live for years and get absolutely nowhere, don't you? But you don't know what it's like to see everyone you're close to come and go. To live among everyone else knowing they'll all be replaced and you'll see every single moment of that painful transformation.
I see, Jacob says, relaxing his muscles a little. For what reason, Richard doesn't know, but it makes him relax a bit, too. And what little things are you talking about, anyway?
Richard pauses, tries to find the words that will keep Jacob calm before confessing, I don't know. Maybe I'd want a birthday candle to actually mean something. Maybe I'd like to go somewhere and cherish every moment, knowing it may very well be impossible for me to return another day. I don't know.
Those aren't little things, Richard. Normal humans might make you believe so, but they really just take it all for granted.
I already know that. And that is why I'd trade my immortality for it.
Jacob sighs, and they sit in the silence for a few moments, ignoring the tension floating around them, making empty promises to kill them if they don't come to some sort of resolution. And Richard waits, but doesn't expect anything--he's already been waiting for centuries and perhaps even longer than that. He stopped counting useless things like that long ago. Every moment that passes is just another second to add to his endless life, and it seems like he spends yet another eternity adding these seconds before Jacob finally, finally says, For every... little thing you receive, you could lose one day out of your life.
And suddenly Richard's heart is beating a million times faster than it ever has before, because he hadn't been expecting anything and he was something. Something small. But still something. One hour off his life was one hour less of suffering. Of asking questions. Of imagining what kind of childhood he could have had if given the opportunity. And he's speechless and Jacob must notice this because he speaks for him, telling him to leave and go find the little things he's never had to call his own.
Richard, he doesn't hesitate to obey, doesn't question anything because what Jacob says is final and absolute, and he's near the door of the temple in a second, and he thinks it's the last second he'll add to endless life and he's about to exit the place where miracles happen. Where death becomes life and life becomes bearable and--
(But... Richard? Jacob says slowly, carefully, causing Richard's eager heart to suddenly stop and turn to face the man.
Yes?
Just because we made this deal doesn't mean you're not going to live for me for a very, very long time.)
--where the door only leads you back to the harsh reality he's always suffered from. Richard turns away and nods, slowly. Doesn't say anything, because what Jacob says is final and absolute. And he departs from the temple, slowly, unsure if his actions will mean anything at all.
Yes, Richard tells Jacob he would love to trade his immortality for all the little things in life--but only once. Only once.
Fandom: LOST
Characters: Richard Alpert, Jacob, mentions of the Others
Prompt: #98 (Vulnerable)
Word Count: 680
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Mentions of death.
Summary: Richard would love to trade his immortality for all the little things in life. He tells Jacob this, once.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.
The Little Things
Richard would love to trade his immortality for all the little things in life. He tells Jacob this, once. Only once, in the temple where miracles happen. Where death becomes life and life becomes bearable.
And why would you want to do that? is Jacob's response to the desperate man he created with high hopes of never hearing any of this. His voice seems calm, but Richard has, unfortunately, been with Jacob long enough to know he's not being genuine when he's speaking because he refuses to make eye contact and he looks tense. Because he's nodding as if he already knows the answer and is simply making conversation while he tries to come up with proper solution to this, even though he's had centuries to think of one.
Richard ignores all of this and explains, I would do it to feel real. You know what it's like to live for years and get absolutely nowhere, don't you? But you don't know what it's like to see everyone you're close to come and go. To live among everyone else knowing they'll all be replaced and you'll see every single moment of that painful transformation.
I see, Jacob says, relaxing his muscles a little. For what reason, Richard doesn't know, but it makes him relax a bit, too. And what little things are you talking about, anyway?
Richard pauses, tries to find the words that will keep Jacob calm before confessing, I don't know. Maybe I'd want a birthday candle to actually mean something. Maybe I'd like to go somewhere and cherish every moment, knowing it may very well be impossible for me to return another day. I don't know.
Those aren't little things, Richard. Normal humans might make you believe so, but they really just take it all for granted.
I already know that. And that is why I'd trade my immortality for it.
Jacob sighs, and they sit in the silence for a few moments, ignoring the tension floating around them, making empty promises to kill them if they don't come to some sort of resolution. And Richard waits, but doesn't expect anything--he's already been waiting for centuries and perhaps even longer than that. He stopped counting useless things like that long ago. Every moment that passes is just another second to add to his endless life, and it seems like he spends yet another eternity adding these seconds before Jacob finally, finally says, For every... little thing you receive, you could lose one day out of your life.
And suddenly Richard's heart is beating a million times faster than it ever has before, because he hadn't been expecting anything and he was something. Something small. But still something. One hour off his life was one hour less of suffering. Of asking questions. Of imagining what kind of childhood he could have had if given the opportunity. And he's speechless and Jacob must notice this because he speaks for him, telling him to leave and go find the little things he's never had to call his own.
Richard, he doesn't hesitate to obey, doesn't question anything because what Jacob says is final and absolute, and he's near the door of the temple in a second, and he thinks it's the last second he'll add to endless life and he's about to exit the place where miracles happen. Where death becomes life and life becomes bearable and--
(But... Richard? Jacob says slowly, carefully, causing Richard's eager heart to suddenly stop and turn to face the man.
Yes?
Just because we made this deal doesn't mean you're not going to live for me for a very, very long time.)
--where the door only leads you back to the harsh reality he's always suffered from. Richard turns away and nods, slowly. Doesn't say anything, because what Jacob says is final and absolute. And he departs from the temple, slowly, unsure if his actions will mean anything at all.
Yes, Richard tells Jacob he would love to trade his immortality for all the little things in life--but only once. Only once.