Chapter 10: To Clarify and Confuse
== Be Jaalas
You are now Jaalas, and you think that Karkat is a little weird. Not the kind that is like freaky, but the kind you can't help but endear. If it weren't for the fact that he probably wouldn't get the meaning, you would have hugged him hard while screaming 'KAWAI!'. It's a weird urge, you know, but he looks so much like a fucking chibi. Good thing is, you actually have some control over yourself and refrain from any of those actions as he looks at you both in puzzlement, though you're not sure why… You watch him take a deep breath and slowly word out a question before –
SHING!
You push Eridan away as you doge the oncoming dagger that a blurry, black figure had thrown before dashing towards you. You instinctively catch the knife in quick succession, throwing it away from the attacker before grabbing his wrists and pinning him down -stomach first- to the ground. You hold him in place by pulling his arms towards you and placing a foot on the small of his back. Once he stopped struggling, you finally got to have a good look at him.
He… looks very badass, you'll admit. Though that may be because of his dark color scheme. He currently was wearing a black trench coat and fedora that went well with his pitch black skin. It was actually pretty stylish… You wonder if he'll give you some pointers on how to look that badass. But first…
You narrow your eyes at him before looking back at Eridan and Karkat, the later having his mouth wide open in surprise and looking back and forth between you and the bad ass. Eridan didn't seem as surprised as him, though he was skeptically examining your current captive as he stayed in his splayed position. Turning to Karkat, you tilt your head to the side. "Do you know him by chance? I really don't want to hurt him." You watch him snap his mouth shut and groan in exasperation. "Sadly yes. So can you please let the idiot go? Apparently, he may be able to help us."
Relaxing, you gently let go and step off him. He seemed to be grumbling as he sat up and rubbed his wrists, but he wasn't making any sort of vocalization. Maybe he's mute? You'll ask later, but for now it's introduction time. You jut out your hand excitedly, not really minding the way he jerks back in surprise. "My name's Jaalas, what's yours?" He looks at you skeptically, glancing quickly at Karkat in query. After a 'go ahead' from Karkat, he sighs more audibly before taking your hand and giving it a firm shake. "Jack."
Huh, seems like he wasn't mute after all, but you're still impressed on how he carries himself even after he gets his ass handed to him. Putting your overzealous admiration aside and locking it away, you turn back to Karkat in curiosity. "Hey, Karkat? What where you going to say earlier anyways?" He blinks in confusion, looking a little thrown out of the loop.
You shake your head. "Nevermind. I'm sorry we had to bother you! We're just looking for some answers!" His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really?! That's why I was used as a shitty landing-pad?" You chuckle embarrassedly. "Yeah, sorry about that. We sort of jumped in blindly." He gives a disbelieving look. "What do you mean 'jumped in'? Where the fuck would you jump from?"
You nervously point above you, having both him and Jack follow your finger curiously. Their eyes widen at the array of portals scattered above all of your heads. "Hehehe..he….he…. Yeah, we just came from there, so we have no idea where we are." He face palmed with a groan, not at all enthusiastic. "I just might as well welcome you to the shitty place of pulsing blood and hazy shit." You pause for a moment, tilting your head slightly. "…LOPAH?"
He looks at you in disbelief before turning to Eridan, prompting silently for an answer. He shrugs. "She has been makin' up wweird names for these planets for a wwhile. I'm not really sure wwhat the hell it's all about. By the wway," He turns back to you impatiently, having one of his eyebrows raised. "wweren't wwe goin' to look for somethin'?" Your mind backpedals a bit, caught off guard at the question. Looking for…?
A little light bulb blinks brightly as you finally remember. Shit, you almost forgot about what you two were doing! You quickly dash towards Eridan scooping him up in a bridal carry and turning to Karkat and Jack. "Sorrythatwewastedyourtimepleaseforgivemebutwehavetogo!" You launch yourself towards the next portal, blinking out of sight from the confused, blinking idiots below.
== Jaalas, be Jack (Not your alter ego)
You are too busy being dumbfounded by the white girl. Be someone else.
== Jack, be someone else.
You are now someone else, though you can't recall ever being someone else in the first place. Anyways, your name is Wuya, and so far you are unsure whether to follow the Xiaolin Monks or snoop around more for you latest discovery. That discovery being 'Jack' was not what 'he' seems to be at all. It has actually been some time since you last saw her, though you're now starting to understand why 'he' always seemed to bounce back. You would've thought that after being driven out of an entire village and off a cliff would discourage her association to humans.
Heh, shows how you know.
You continue floating through the suspended mansion, glancing around in curiosity. She at least learned how to hide secrets better, you'll give her that. But, you feel like you're being watched… You look over your shoulder –not because you're scared or anything, but you need to be cautious if you want to blend in the back ground.
"Hehehe…" You spin franticly, now feeling, ahem, concerned. You seriously don't know who –or what- that was, but you have a strong feeling that you should get out of there right now. The idea of following Chase Young was starting to appeal to you more and more as the seconds tick by, and you were about to float through the roof before-
"Ahem!"
You jerk violently and face where the sound came from, meeting masked nose to boney nose that was conveniently connected to an icy calm pair of eye sockets. How empty pits in a lifeless skull can convey emotion is beyond you, but then again you're the one to talk having a mask as a face. Now who in the nine levels of hell is it?! The sockets seemed to narrow down into a squint, a very annoyed squint.
"If you think I will allow such snooping around my little girl's residence, you've got another thing coming missy." A bony paw plucks you out of your position and brings you closer under its scrutiny. You think you have met this being, but you think it would be impossible to forget something like this. But…
It suddenly glares at you and starts to squeeze you, the sensation quite new to you in this form and makes you gasp in surprise. It growls at you, drawing its toothy jaw open in anger. "YOU. I remember you. You–"
It squeezes harder in anger, and you're starting to feel afraid. "have ruined my daughters chance of a normal," It squeezes tighter, "happy" shoves its snout close to yours, "life." And legitimately roars the last word out. You feel yourself shivering, not exactly getting what you supposedly did. "You," it snarled, "pulled my little girl into this fucking mess! You had to pop into her life again after these many years and had the gall–" it throws you into the wall, having chips of the wall fly from the supposed-to-be impossible impact.
"to enter her life again and drag her." It stomped towards you in anger. "Into." STOMP. "Your fucking." STOMP. "Fight!" It threw a fist at you, barely catching you as you dodge desperately in panic and do the best thing anyone can do in this dilemma.
You floated away like hell.
== Wuya, be Eridan.
You are now Eridan, and you feel like someone has met a certain angry ghost-lusis. You don't know how you know, but you're certain that you don't want to be the one that has pissed her off. Either way, you are glad to not be around the meltdown. Either way, you give a moment of silence for whoever incurred the wrath of Jaalas' lusis.
…..
…Yeah, you're bored.
You look around you, not really recognizing where you are. Jaalas has left some time ago, something about having to make sure her mansion was still safe. She must have sensed her lusis' rage as well, though you rather let her deal with it since you can explore a little more without having to get into more trouble than necessary. Now where-
"What the hell are you doing here fithdick?" …Why HIM of all people?
You turn begrudgingly towards the voice, having a good guess on who it is. A lanky, but taller boy stood behind you. He wore a black t-shirt with a yellow Gemini sign in the middle, gray kakis that were baggy on him, black and white shoes, and what looked like those 3-D glasses Jaalas has described to you once, only less bulky and circular. He had an obvious home-cut hairstyle and double horns as well, though you didn't need to go by his appearance to figure out who this douchebag is.
You cross your arms, mentally preparing for having to deal with him and acting as you have done for the past sweeps.
God, this will be a long fight.
== Eridan, be the pissed off ghost lusis.
You are a very angry, dead lusis, and you don't give a fucking damn. This shitty bitch just won't stay still! WHY WON'T SHE STAY STILL!? Every time you throw a punch, splintering pieces of furniture are flying violently away from your fist. You should probably clean that up, but ONLY if you can punish this slutty shit-stain!
"Why–" Crunch. "won't–" Smash. "you –" BANG! "DIE!" Whump! Finally! You caught the shitty cock-muncher! Though the twitching seems new... You look more closely at what you hit, which strangely seemed familiar since the white color sort of reminds you of….
….. OH SHIT! You rush to your baby girl's side, lifting her up and shaking her gently (franticly). "Come on, come on, come on! Please don't give up on me! I don't want you to die! Jaalas!" Tears where pouring down your face, guilty of what you have done to her.
It's all that bitch's fault…
Her fault…
HER FAULT.
HERFAULTHERFAULTHERFAULTHERFAULT!
Setting your baby down, you then storm off with a roar in search for the one responsible.
== Raging mama-lusis, be Jaalas ten minutes later.
You're sure you're Jaalas, but right now it feels hard to even think of anything else. What the hell just hit you, a car?... Well, yes, you were hit by one some time ago… But seriously, it didn't hurt THIS much! Maybe Eridan had helped when he found you?... Nah, he doesn't know how to even apply a band aid yet, but you plan to teach him some first aid soon. Now, where were you?...
You take a look around you, letting out a long whistle. Wow, whatever passed here was pretty pissed off judging by the multiple holes in the walls and the shattered furniture. You're sort of glad that your adoptive parents weren't here to see this. They would have thrown a fit, especially after they saw one of the many holes that the Xiaolin Brats punched to the basement. You couldn't even enter the basement without being watched by one of them for a very long time.
Speaking of the Xiaolin Brats, you wonder where exactly they went to. You head outside to the front of the mansion, wanting to see if the smoggy clouds have cleared. Opening the door, a blast of cold, wet air met you. No such luck. But, what is that figure?...
You walk towards the familiar shape, which happened to be shaking slightly. It was pure white, and as you come closer, you can make out the glow….. "Mom?"
The figure, which you now identify as your lusis, turns back to you with a frustrated expression. You tilt your head in confusion. "What's wrong?" She gives a huff and crosses her arms. "The fucking bitch got away! I was so close to ripping that annoying mask right off that smug face!" Mask? Who could have possibly… Oh FUCK no.
You give out a loud groan, gripping your bangs inirritation. "Don't tell me she hitched a ride when we teleported! I thought JUST for once that she isn't in my life anymore, yet she fucking has to be still alive!" Your mother snorts angrily, agreeing with you fully. "Tried to follow her out, but it seems like something is holding me back."
You pause, unsure if you heard her right. "Holding you back? What do you mean?" She shrugs. "I don't know." … Yep, leave it to your mother to be vague. You sigh, closing your eyes in acceptance. "Anyways, could you do something for me?" She gives you a curious look. "What is it dear? Did you forget something?"
Scratching your head, you point upwards. "Can you go see what is above us? Something fell from up there earlier and I don't think it came with us when we teleported." She gives you a toothy grin, having her… tail wag back and forth. "Of course dear, but–" she then gives a concerned frown. "please be careful. I don't want to lose you to some shitty bitch that can't leave one well enough alone."
You give her a reassuring smile. "Of course mom! I'll even throw in a few punches before she even thinks about messing with me again!" Your mom gives an approving nod. "That's my girl." She starts to float upward, keeping you in eyesight as she goes higher and higher. "Bye for now Jaalas! And remember to use protection!" Protection? What does she… You blush violently, shocked beyond reason. "M-Mom!" You shout, "I told you, it's not like that!" "Hehehe…"
She disappears into the clouds, having her giggle echo around you in the foggy abyss that surrounds the mansion. God, she is so embarrassing sometimes! You sigh. Might as well go see what exactly was down below the mansion. You didn't really get a good look at what the world was like before you passed out, mostly because you had just been hit with a car. But you swore that the trees were blue…
== Jaalas, explore.
Following the orders of the weird voice yet again, you activate the helipack and dive off the cliff. The blinking, ash colored clouds whirled around you as you descended, parting rapidly to reveal the dim world below. You can now see the blue vegetation, weird geography, and –most importantly– the residential consorts.
They seem like plush toys, cute and huggable. You don't let their appearance fool you considering your last encounter with certain feathery assholes, but you will act friendly until provoked otherwise. Until then, you hold that resolve as you hover and land on the ground, careful to avoid proximity of any crevices that apparently littered the planet. This place is amazing though, despite the lack of clear night skies… if there is such a thing as a night or morning here. Now to assess the consorts…
Looking around, you spot a yellow salamander blowing bubbles, twitching erratically next to a decapitated statue of a frog that was splattered in black slime. You don't really know per say, but the salamander looked upset at the sight. Stealing yourself, you decide to walk up to it and get this shit over with.
== Jaalas, converse.
"Excuse me, but, what is this?" The salamander turned to you, having a visible frown on its face. "Look at this! Another Cherished Idol profaned! Such sacrilege has become commonplace with the recent glut of Underlings." It turned back to the statue, frown deepening. "It would bring a tear to my eye if I were not so clearly fit to be tied with these hyperactive mannerisms and sever attention deficit –OH MY GOD, LOOK, A BUG!" Its expression changes to pure awe and excitement as it chases the insect around the now forgotten statue.
…At least you won't doubt your reference site for now on, especially on the topic of consorts. You only hope that some of them would have enough sense to at least give you information. Sneaking away from the scene, you decide to search for more salamanders and hope for the best, beating up any of the Underlings and collecting the spoils for future use.
Soon enough, you come across another salamander, which had the same erratic behavior as the previous. Oh god, you hope this one will have more info. Taking a deep breath, you speak. "Hello?" It turned happily towards you. "GLUB!" You jump slightly, not at all expecting the very familiar greeting. It giggled. "That's my way of saying go over there and check it out!" It nods towards a weird pipe that conveniently looked like a mailbox, especially since it has that weird, red flappy thingy that indicated if there is mail inside. The assumed girl salamander turns back to you. "'GLUB' can basically mean anything I want it to mean." It drops its volume, just enough for it to be a whisper. "It's really cool having a bullshit language."
You walk towards the pipe after it spaces out, curious on what's in it. You open it, only to find… nothing. God, why did you just follow a salamander's advice for this? Just, why? You walk away quickly, a little fed up on the stupidity. Though soon enough, you start to smell ash as you keep on going. Was something burning earlier?
Finally, you arrive at a slightly charred village that was full of happy, twitching salamanders. Just what the fuck happened here?! Wanting answers, you approach a salamander. "Hello? Why is everybody so happy?" The salamander whirls around in excitement, blowing bubbles like there is no tomorrow. "Our heroes, the Heir of Breath and Muse of Hope are finally here! The Heir has saved us, and I feel that soon the Muse will give us the courage to revolt against the Underlings! Now all we need is some of that white stuff…"
It twitches away, leaving you dumbfounded and a little contemplative of what it just told you. Who are these people, the Heir and Muse? Are they linked to the Bard in Gamzee's world? Why are they here…? Whatever the reason, you decide to store the information for later. Who knows, they might be friendly. You hope.
Deciding to look for more information, you walk away from the hyperactively happy salamanders. You had run into some Imps every now and then, but there weren't any salamanders so far. Wonder why…? Soon, you come across something. Something VERY familiar. There, sitting on a pile of yellow rocks and surrounded by caution tape, was the same fucking car that had hit you earlier. Why the fuck did it fall down on you?
Taking a closer look, you can see some of the pipes impaling it, guaranteeing that the car will never be driven again. At least you won't be crushed again by it. But, if this is here then… You look up slowly, having your gaze follow two pillars of rock higher and higher, soon spotting both your mansion and an oddly built house that was above it. The car must have been from there, though you can't really comprehend why it fell. Oh, what's this?
== Jaalas, be dead lusis.
You are now Jaalas' dead lusis, and you so far have met a new friend. Her name is simply Nanna, and you two have chatted about your dear charges (hers being a boy named John) and how things were in past times. It's sad that your children grow up so fast, but it makes the both of you proud of how they are turning out to be. God, they grow up so fast…
You wonder what Jaalas is doing.
== Sealion-momsprite, be Jaalas.
You are Jaalas, and you are not sure what to make of this thing. The thing being a golden, stone slab with a symbol that resembled wings carved into it. You don't really know what to make of this, yet you feel like this was somehow important. Too bad the car pretty much destroyed the thing. The symbol seemed to be the only thing intact. Oh well, might as well search more since you can't really dwell over this odd monument.
You walk away from the scene, looking around for more salamanders. Maybe if you find another village you can bargain with them and maybe get some cool stuff. Until then, you will contemplate on the matter of the slab and the mysterious characters that are the Heir, Muse, and Bard.
I'm so, sosorry that you all had to wait for so long! My internet went out for a whole week and for some reason my parents decided to travel to the beach for a vacation. The trip, of course, had to take two freaking days with no stops in any hotels with Wi-Fi, and that is just the trip to it. It took a long time for me to catch up, but I hope to not fail your expectation on this chapter and the many others to come. So, I will try to do my best to be on time for now on.
I guess I'm obligated to answer some questions as well throughout the story, and I feel now would be a good time to start. The first one is for Black-Kat 012, who asked:
"so wait... Jack's a girl and a chimera?
dang
so when will this SGRUB game start to kick it off a notch"
My answer is that 1.) Jack is technically a cross between the two (a hermaphrodite I think) since he's actually a troll, but I am aiming to depict him as a girl. As for being a chimera, not exactly. I really can't say more since it would be a spoiler for future chapters, but I hope for you to hold on for them. 2.) The kickoff is at chapter 3, when Jaalas experiences what most of the Sburb/Sgrub players experienced. These answers may be a bit too late since I have postponed replying, but I hope it was helpful in some way. The next I am answering in for Mental-Internecine, who asked:
"I didn't think that Dave's personality was badly done (Although he didn't do much). Also, is Jaalas in the Beta kids' session? I'm confused. Oh well, it was a good chapter, so I can't complain"
To clarify how Jaalas ended up in John's world, it's because while she technically did play Sburb, she had no co-players what-so-ever, making her session void and was thus shoved into the most current session available as an 'extra player' so to speak. She has full access to the game, but is left a little vulnerable since she currently has no one to swap alchemization ideas, with the exception of Eridan. They would have been both screwed however, if they had no idea what to do due to circumstances (Eridan appearing as a douche to everyone and not having anyone willing to explain things to him, and Jaalas' situation explained earlier). Good thing they have good Wi-Fi and lots of sources. Besides those two, I haven't seen any more reviews, but I continue to encourage you to give an honest opinion on my chapters!
Until then,
CupcakesREvil.