starmark | IC Inbox | prismatica

ok i'll see if i can find him
stay safe

[At first pass, he doesn't notice that anything in particular is wrong or out of place. Adrian's fine, and they've agreed he should find Kakyoin. Simple. Adrian can take care of himself, and maybe he's pinned down or otherwise occupied, so it just makes more sense for Jotaro to be the one who finds their third errant boyfriend. It's just tactics. It's simple. It's obvious.

He's halfway to the academy, where he assumes that Kakyoin is working late on some dick project or another, before that latter bit occurs to him, and nags.

It isn't Geistnacht.

He'd sounded certain of it. Certain, and without elaboration or justification. No theory, no conclusion, no evidence. Just...a statement, and that's all.

He's thinking about that, as he heads for the engineering wing of the academy, when all of a sudden a bad feeling like a sixth sense prickles at the base of his neck, and Star abandons his hiding place inside him in favor of roaring to the surface, just in time to see —

The world stops.

Yare yare, comes his own voice, condescending, the same register he remembers using when he'd taunted Steely Dan. So I guess there is an "other me" here after all. Well, not for long.]

You stay safer.

[The book in Adrian's hands is useless, so he tosses it aside and goes for the next one. He needs control of it, needs to fix this so he can make it work, because he can't-- he can't bear the thought of going back to that castle--

It's so pathetic how clingy you are.

Adrian jerks his chin up. Why the hell did that sound like himself?

You always knew what this could make you into, and you went in deep anyway. A cold laugh. I wonder what he would think if I told him? Should I tell him?

It's Adrian, but-- not. The eyes are redder, and clinging to his shoulders is a long cape instead of a coat.]

Just a side-effect of the Corridor. [Perfectly fixable.

Yes. The side-effect you caused. I wonder why that must be.]

[It's his worst nightmare come true — somehow. Frozen in space, suspended in time, trapped all over again like a butterfly with its wings pinned, and there moving seamlessly through the paralyzed universe is...is...

Himself.

It's not like what any of the science-fiction novels would have him believe; there's no glaring visible difference between himself and his unexpected twin. His hair isn't different. His clothes are the same color. Maybe his hair's a little messier or his eyes a little sharper, but at the end of it all, it's still just him.

Well, except for the smile. That's not him. That's something nastier than his self-righteousness could ever allow him to be — the sort of smile that enjoys being superior, revels in it, in a way that he himself never has.

Scared? Well, you should be.

How many seconds has it been? He hasn't been counting. Too many. Not enough.

It's kind of like we're old West gunslingers. This town ain't big enough for the both of us.]

[It's a tense moment, Adrian watching himself, trying to determine what to expect. It's like looking into a mirror, but something about this doppelganger is both colder but also more smug, self-assured in ways Adrian certainly isn't.

Well. He's not going to waste any time about it. Without hesitation, he summons his sword to go flying at the other Adrian's chest, right for his heart--

But the sword stops just before piercing him.

It's our sword, after all. Of course I can use it.

It goes flying back toward Adrian, just missing him as he dodges.]

I'm either killing you, or you go back to where you belong. There is no in between.

[That doesn't sound very fun at all! What a bore you are.

It's less frightening than fighting Dracula, but it's also similar. Exchanging blows faster than a human could possibly keep up with, floating in the air. It's depleting chroma that Adrian had already spent to open the Corridor, making it difficult for him to keep up.

And it shows, in the end, as his back crashes onto the cold floor, his copy smiling above. The lack of chroma is not something the other Adrian suffers from, leaving the copy to spread his malicious grin before he's grabbing onto Adrian's wrists tightly.

Oh, don't worry. I don't want you dead. Not yet, anyway.

With a powerful pull, he yanks Adrian's right off, tossing the limbs aside as the dhampir shrieks in pain.

So dramatic, Adrian.]

[He remembers how to fight in stopped time — the kind of fighting that isn't really fighting so much as it is just surviving — and this time, he's at least more evenly matched with his foe than he was when he first fought Dio. It's a different experience altogether when both of them are capable of stopping time; suddenly it becomes a strategy of making those periods of immobility overlap, pressing the advantage in the few seconds they have it and trying to defend as thoroughly as possible when the hourglass shifts and it's the other's turn to attack with impunity.

The doppelganger attacks more freely when time is stopped; that's a difference between them. He still, even now, prefers to use it defensively, to escape instead of to seize advantage. It doesn't take long before his double works that out, either.

He's lost track of how long they've been fighting, and not just because of the time discrepancies. They're too evenly matched, with his doppelganger claiming momentary flashes of the upper hand only because he's more willing to play dirty to take it. Before long, they're both breathless and battered and laid out on the roof of the academy, splashing blood onto the roofing, struggling to get up and set to one more time.

They're almost on their feet when another portal opens up near them, pink-green and twisting sickly with unnatural energy — a window into a small, contained room where two identical blondes are pitting themselves against each other, the very same way that they are, themselves.

And for a second, their own fight goes forgotten.]

Adrian? Adrian?

[They recognize what they're seeing in the same moment. The same name escapes from both their lips.

Jotaro and his doppelganger have everything in common, and it turns out, they have this too.]

The fuck is all that?
The circles. Look.
Wait —
Could he have —

[...]

He knew it wasn't Geistnacht.

[Green eyes meet green eyes, their previous animosity — not forgotten, never forgotten, but suspended for a time in favor of this one singular thing they agree upon.]

Shit.

[The portal opening to reveal the pair of Jotaros catches the attention of both dhampir. Still in pain, Adrian turns his head and looks, his brows knitted. He can't hide this.

Jojo. The standing Adrian with the more red tinted eyes approaches, confident in his victory. He did all of this, just to be with you. Sounds a little mad, doesn't it? Like someone else.

Perhaps too confident in his victory. Despite lacking his arms, Adrian pushes himself to his feet, launching himself at his copy. Legs hook around hips, and Adrian is tearing at flesh with his fangs alone. It's vicious, frantically ripping apart his doppelganger until he's leaning his head back, ripping the heart out from his copy, clutching it in his mouth.

He bites down, the organ destroyed, his copy killed.]

No — !

[It's the imposter Jotaro who screams, unexpectedly, lurching forward toward the portal before abruptly jerking to a halt again in his own horror at the bloodbath as it unfolds. It's strange, somehow, to contemplate. Was he watching the death of his own Adrian, just then? Or was he simply more affected in some capacity by seeing death claim any Adrian at all, regardless of relationship to him?

No answer comes. It's too late to matter. The less feral of the two tears his counterpart to shreds, and as quickly as that, it's all over.

Suddenly, the two Jotaros are left to look at one another, faced suddenly with the confirmation of their worst nightmares, courtesy of the doppelganger vampire's last words. He did all of this just to be with you. Adrian did this. Adrian is the source of all of this.

An understanding is shared, in abrupt and sudden silence. Then, as one, the two of them unhesitatingly leap through the portal while it's still open, landing together in the little workshop where one body lies dead and another rests maimed.]

Adrian...!

[And for a few seconds, it's impossible to tell which Jotaro is which; one falls to his knees at Adrian's side and lifts his body to lean against him for support, while the other digs his already-stained fingers into one of his dripping wounds and encourages the bloodflow to resume.]

It's okay, Adrian I'm here, it's okay It's gonna be okay C'mon, open your mouth Need to heal you up It's all right It's all right Hey, hey, it's gonna be all right —

Jojo...

[He isn't sure what to do for a moment, gazing at both of them. In any other circumstance, he wouldn't largely be upset about being tended to by two Jotaros, but considering matters at hand it's disorientating.]

I can fix it. I just... I need a bit of chroma. [And blood. So he can regenerate his arms and all. But more importantly, he needs chroma.]

I'm sorry. Just be patient.

[It's only natural to assume that he's talking about his wounds. What else would he be thinking about fixing? It's the only thing Jotaro and his doppelganger are thinking about fixing, moving in perfect and utterly unintentional synchronization for this one — and only — unifying goal.]

Shh. Open your mouth.

[So says the one behind him, holding him tighter; it feels wrong to touch him when he's this injured, but that's the paradox of chroma, isn't it, that the more intimate the touch, the faster it can help heal.

The other crouches at his side, shucking off his hat and leaning in to bring Adrian's mouth close to his head wound, chosen solely because of how profusely it's bleeding, and coaxing the dripping blood onto his lips.]

Come on, Adrian. Drink. It's okay.

[Slowly, he lets himself rest against one Jotaro, welcoming the comfort and the chroma. He looks at the other one, then opens his mouth. His tongue slides out, catching the blood, eagerly lapping at it. The combination helps, revitalizing Adrian slowly.

He licks his lips, trying not to think about how he tastes himself, how there is a corpse of himself just a few feet away. Closing his eyes, he grunts as he starts to work on healing his limbs.]

I'll be all right.

You're fine. You're gonna be fine. I'm here I'm here. You're gonna be fine.

[The whole world is hell outside — in some places literally — but he can't bring himself to care. Kakyoin will take care of himself, he always does. Kakyoin isn't bleeding out with no arms right now, even with a healing factor in play to prevent it from being a fatal blow.

There's blood in Adrian's hair. The Jotaro behind him doesn't care, mouthing kisses against the side of his head, encouraging the chroma flow. The one he's feeding from pulls back after a long minute, then moves in and kisses him outright, unmindful of his bloody mouth or whose remains are lingering on it.]

Is that better? Is it working?

[There's a soft whine from Adrian at the affection. Not that it isn't appreciated; it's certainly helping, and he does need the chroma desperately, but he also knows he needs to regain control of the Corridor somehow.

He closes his eyes, accepting the kiss. It's slow, but his arms are regrowing, even if it's a bit horrific to watch. At least he isn't losing anymore blood.]

It's working. I'll heal.

Let me... let me get closer to the opening. I'll fix this, Jojo.

You can close it...?

[It's a monstrosity to watch, but it's not as though he's never seen a vampire regrow his limbs before (either of them). It's easier to just stay focused on Adrian, to touch and soothe him on the pretense of helping him build chroma, even knowing all the while that the world is falling apart around them outside.]

Shut up, let him heal. He's more important right now.

He has to — we have to close it. Every time one of those portals opens, more of those things get out...!

I can control it. I just need time!

[It's a foolish venture, and there's even a part of him that knows it. There are more gates opening, when he'd only meant for the one. Control lost, through what? Because of the addition of chroma, or because of himself and his own fears?]

I need to be close enough is all. I can make this work, Jojo.

You did all of this just to be with me.

[It's the doppelganger who gets it first, who recalls the other Adrian's taunting and fits the pieces together into a proper, coherent whole. These portals, this madness — if it had worked, it would've given Adrian a controllable gateway anywhere he desired, wouldn't it? And if it had worked, then he could've slipped through it himself, could've ensured that wherever he went after this, that it wasn't Wallachia.

But what a cost, in exchange for that singular benefit. It's a cost that one of the Jotaros can't ignore.

But only one.]

I'll help you. We'll make it work.

You don't think it's already fucking too late for that?!

Don't listen to him. We can do it. I'll give you all the chroma you need.

[It's a temptation, to follow through with the one that reassures him that they can do it, that they can control it and get Adrian to where he wishes -- or rather, where he doesn't want to be.

But it is indeed that manner of selfishness that makes it clear who is his Jotaro, and who is not.

So Adrian turns to look at the one behind him, the one holding him, kissing his head despite the mess he is. He can feel the burn of tears in his eyes.]

It wasn't supposed to turn out like this.

I know you didn't mean it.

[Which is not precisely the same thing as it's not your fault because, well, it is. It's Adrian's obsession that led to this, his brilliance and his anguish and his fixation, and maybe that makes it Jotaro's fault for not seeing that he was heading down this road sooner, but the fact of the matter is, this is where they are now, and there's no place to go but forward.

But the other Jotaro, it seems, doesn't like being looked away from. Doesn't like losing to his double. He'd moved in front for a reason, subconscious or otherwise, and so he's quick to reach and press a hand against Adrian's neck, trying to coax his attention back.]

You don't think he can do it. You say you love him and then you don't even believe in him, what the hell is wrong with you?!

Because this isn't right!

It's not right for him to be with us?!

Not like this!

So you'd rather let him go back there. You'd rather let him go back to being alone than fight to keep us together!

[Around Adrian's middle, Jotaro's arms tighten, and when he finally does speak, it's a snarl through clenched teeth.]

And you'd rather let him become his father. Destroying the world for love.

[And isn't that what Adrian has feared all of this time? That his love would sink into obsessive levels, not unlike Dracula. To be so devoted that he could not live for anything else but love. Adrian's shoulders shirk for a moment, then he looks up at Jotaro's doppelganger.

It hurts. No, he hadn't meant for this, but it doesn't excuse anything. If he was really so confident, why didn't he tell Jotaro to begin with? Or Kakyoin? Instead, he kept it a secret, because he knew it was dangerous.

And he did it anyway, because of his own fears.

Finally, he speaks to the other Jotaro.]

If you love me... then help me do what is right. Not for what I want.

You aren't him.

[It's strange, really. Even amid the quiet superiority inherent in the doppelganger's features, even beyond the the pride and lofty arrogance, there's still adoration reflected in his green eyes. He still fervently, desperately, genuinely loves Adrian, so much so that it goes to the very core of what he is.

The hand on his neck slides up to cup Adrian's face by the jaw, and he bends forward, kissing him softly again.

Murder his double in cold blood? He'd do it without batting an eye. But refusing Adrian anything he asked for...that's another story entirely.]

I promise. You aren't him. We can fix it.

[It's a terrible echo of what he'd insisted before, only this time his eyes are wet.]

Don't cry, fussyfangs. I'll help you make it right. I'll help you make this stop. We'll find another way to be together, I promise.

[It's such a strange thing, these doppelgangers. Did Adrian hate himself so much that he was willing to hurt himself, reveal the truth to Jotaro? Or did he do it in such a way because he knew he had to? And no matter what... no matter what, Jotaro loves him.

Even if he'd done something terrible.

You aren't him. Adrian hopes that is true.]

Both of you... help me get closer to the main gate. I'll need to concentrate on trying to close it and nothing else.

Don't let go of him.
Yeah. Here, you take him and I'll get up.
Hang on, Adrian. Gotta move you around a little.

[Carefully, in perfect tandem, the real Jotaro transfers hold of Adrian into his doppelganger's arms, then wobbles to his feet on the blood-slick floor and bends to take him back again, ensuring that contact with one of them is never broken. Then it's the doppelganger's turn to get to his feet, and together, they slowly move Adrian back to the circles drawn on the ground, nudging scattered books and fallen refuse out of the way as they make their way to the gate.]

Tell us what you need us to do.
We'll be right here. We won't go anywhere.
...Well. I will, probably.

[At that, the doppelganger hesitates, his features clouding just briefly as he glances back toward the corpse of the other Adrian, heartless and lying forgotten in a pool of his own blood.]

I'm not the one you're going to keep.

I just need you both to hold onto me. I need chroma for this.

[It means also that his arms stop regenerating for now, stopping just at his wrists. He'll deal with the rest later, but for now he needs to spend his chroma on the Infinite Corridor and closing the mess he's made.

The way Jotaro's doppelganger looks at the corpse of the other Adrian makes him wince guiltily.]

...I'm sorry for what I've done. Not just to everything, but to you. Even if you aren't mine, it pains me to know I've hurt you.

The more intimate the contact, the more you'll get, right?

[The real Jotaro moves to more securely support Adrian, wrapping his arms around him from behind again, burying his face into the back of Adrian's neck. They're the same person, himself and his doppelganger, only with wildly different priorities. It's why he knows what's coming; it's what he would do, too, if reason and conscience weren't around to get in his way.

Gently, the doppelganger brings his forehead to touch against Adrian's, stroking his fingers down his newly-regrown forearms, but stopping short before they reach the still-severed wrists. No sense in dwelling on that now.]

Adrian — I'm gone either way. So before that thing takes me back, I want you to drink from me. Take too much, for once. Then I won't have to be sorry about leaving you. You'll still have all of me I could give.

But that-- I'll kill you.

[The idea is horrifying to him. He's never taken so much that he's killed a person before, and he would never do that to Jotaro. Even if it's not his Jotaro, the idea makes him feel colder than usual.]

You're asking me to kill you.

...No. I was asking you to spare me — from having to find out whatever happens when those portals close up, and I don't belong here anymore.

[The doppelganger smiles ruefully, then presses a kiss to Adrian's forehead and draws back a step.]

But you're right. That's the easy way out. And I...can't do that to you.

[He ducks his head, then shifts to wrap his arm around Adrian's, joining the real Jotaro to double the chroma generation.]

I won't do that to you. So whenever you're ready...I am, too.

IC Inbox | prismatica

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