O B L I V I O N

@gwendolynwade​

It probably would have been smarter to have something secure before quitting his job with Aliza, something that would allow him to keep having an income and not burn through his savings until he found something else. The thing was, there was already something else in his mind, even if there was no guarantee he would even be hired. Even more so after rejecting Gwen’s proposition a few months back. She might not understand it, but he hadn’t been ready then. Hell, he wasn’t sure he was ready now but at the very least the lich had reached that point in which he no longer wished to remain stagnant. There was safety in it, sure, but as time went on Jacob was beginning to want more than that quiet safety. The Riverborn was still shaping the man he wanted to be, and with a steadier footing on his new life -even as a dead man- he felt it was time to try to understand his past, as foreign and unsavory as it could be, in order to keep creating his future.

He made his appointment to meet with Gwen, following all protocol. He arrived on time, sat patienty on a waiting room and then a receptionist led him to Gwendolyn’s office. After a knock and hearing the CEO’s voice letting him in, Jacob walked in. “Gwen” he greeted. His hands hung comfortably on his sides, having started to lose the habit of keeping them inside his jacket’s pockets. “In September you offered me a job and I didn’t take it” he began, figuring he should explain to his old friend why he’d come now. “You know I was... grateful for the opportunity, but I wasn’t ready then”. As a Riverborn Gwen could maybe understand part of what he’d been going through, though Jacob wasn’t getting his hopes up. They were too different, and the struggles they had gone through after losing their memories were not the same in any way. “If there’s any chance that you’re still willing to have me, I am ready now”.

Gwendolyn simply nodded at his gratitude. She didn’t expect him to, but it was the thought of having such opportunity at his hands. There was a lot to take in, especially since Jacob wasn’t just any agent. He made a name for himself in Silver Security, but from what the CEO learned he’d done a lot for her company that she trusted him, despite his attitude. He got the job done without an fuss and that was the kind of work ethic the Wade heiress was looking for her. Her staff did inform her that she was against Keane’s decision to go on the assigned mission, but from the looks of it, perhaps it was for the best. Jacobs seemed so set on a life as his Riverborn self.

“And that’s it?” Gwen inquired further. “How’s Drucilla?” she deadpanned as her features remained unfazed. This was another reason why he was here. Her divination had a tendency to touch and go when it came to the past, present, and future. From meeting her sister and him, it wasn’t difficult to connect the dots. Deciding to cut to the chase, Gwendolyn leaned back into her seat and laid everything out on the table. “Aside from giving you insight of who you once were, there were a couple of things I needed discuss with you. For starters, I’m not going to threaten you over what I’d do to you if you ever so hurt my sister. I believe she can do worse in her own way. So consider this a warning for your sake.” After the incident in the SS warehouse, she understood what Dru was capable of. “Second, I wanted to propose an offer. I’d like you back in SS, but you don’t have to be binded to the job. You can be a subcontractor and I believe you’d be a perfect candidate as a trainer. You don’t have to make a decision now. I’ll give you till the end of the week.”

The lich nodded silently, as there really wasn’t much more to tell. He’d gladly embraced the simplicity of his life, monotone as it could be at times. Jacob should have known Gwen was going to ask about her sister at some point... he’d been involved with the older Wade sister for quite some time now and that wasn’t the kind of thing that stayed quiet in a small town like Lethe. Still, it caught him a little off guard and he wasn’t good at hiding it. “She uh- she told you?” he wondered, feeling like an idiot for asking but he wasn’t quite sure what to say to begin with. That he had fallen in love with Dru even though she most likely wasn’t looking for anything to complicate their rather uncomplicated relationship? “I wouldn’t hurt her” he said as he glanced at Gwen. Hurting loved ones could sometimes happen without meaning to, though “Not intentionally, at least. Your sister, she’s... she’s important to me”. Though there was something weirdly reassuring about Gwendolyn’s threat, since it meant she cared for Drucilla that much. Somehow returning to the topic of his return to Silver Security was less daunting than talking about his bond to her sister. “Why are you so sure I’d be good in this place?” the Riverborn suddenly asked after Gwen’s proposal. His files. Bringing him here to see the trainings. Suggesting he could be a trainer himself. A subcontractor even. For whatever reason she sounded so certain about bringing him in to work for her.

Gwen didn’t need to rely on her abilities to foreshadow Jacob’s decision. He was set on not remembering his past and they were both well aware of that. However, after reviewing their cases, she began to learn a lot about not only their dynamic, but how much of an impact they’ve made on the company. Jacob was one of her best, that was until his hubris got the best of him and alas, here they were. Although she understood the lich’s decision to forget his past, she thought that he deserved to know parts of himself and do what he needed to do with that information. 

Shaking her head, Gwen clarified her intentions of him being here. “I’m not forcing you into becoming the person you used to be.” Her gaze travelled towards the obstacle course as she watched the agents execute the task at hand. It was easy to weed out the weak ones, but this was all a part of training. Improvement came with a price. “I’m giving you what’s rightfully yours. Your identity. You don’t have to take it all in at once, but I believe you deserve to know what was of you prior to your death.” Leaning into her seat, she paused and returned his gaze on him. “What have you been up to so far? Just the research gig?” 

The folder in his hands felt heavy somehow, like it contained something ominous that he should stay away from. It was hard to explain but Jacob had actively avoided learning about his old life because he constantly got a bad feeling regarding the man he used to be whenever anything about his past was hinted at. His job. His old connections. And this folder was Pandora’s box. Reading it could trigger memories that were probably best forgotten or old habits that he’d rather not rediscover. “I know that” he said, however, because he understood there was no ill-will from Gwen by handing him over that fraction of his past. She couldn’t force him to become his old self, but what scared Jacob was that learning even one little piece could trigger a domino effect and ultimately he might end up becoming his old self without even realizing it. There were things that couldn’t be unseen, forgotten, once you knew they were there and the Riverborn feared his past could turn out to be just that. He was still too much of a blank canvas, after all. Still learning. Still figuring new things out. Still trying to decide the kind of person he wanted to be. Could the right trigger make him revert to his old self? What if that forgotten part of him was ingrained somewhere deep within him and was just waiting for the right call to wake up?

“Thanks, I guess. I don’t know if I’ll ever open this but I appreciate the gesture” the man said in a low tone, looking ahead at the agents going through the obstacle course. He didn’t want to read the contents of the folder or at least he told himself that. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t even a tiny bit curious in spite of his wariness. “Yeah, it’s the same. I’ve been working with Aliza” he said. It wasn’t the only thing he’d been up to, though. Drucilla Wade had become an important part of his life as well but he wasn’t sure it was a good idea to mention to her sister that the two of them were- well, what they were.

Drucilla: Ah, I see. So, being bossy comes naturally to you. It’s not a bad thing I’m trying to point out. You wear it well, actually.  Drucilla: You’d do that?  Drucilla: Only if you want. I wouldn’t mind company in my age range.  Drucilla: Well, I have to give you something in return for at least giving suggestions.  Drucilla: I do make the rules. I just never thought that one as going to have to be ‘No Kids Under The Age Of Ten Allowed.’ 

Time: 7:00pm Location: Undisclosed Location - Silver Security Training Facility 

Gwendolyn stood at higher leveled area as she watched a team of agents complete an extensive obstacle course that she designed. Giving the nod for them to begin, she watched a few seconds into it when she sensed a familiar presence heading her way. Dismissing herself from her group of staff, the hybrid picked up a thick folder and greeted Jacob at the entryway. “Mr. Keane.” she says to him with a nod. “Thank you for coming.” She then led him down the hall and into an elevator, as they made their way towards the floor where the obstacle course was being held. It was fitting to have front row seats with this conversation they were having. 

Taking a seat in the soundproof section of the arena, Gwen pointed at the vacant seat next to her for him to join. There was a lot of things to discuss, aside from the fact that he’s been associated with her sister, she wasn’t going to touch base on such matters just yet. It wasn’t her business anyways. Instead, she was here to discuss their past. As Riverborns, they lost a lot, but during her time of digging things up about themselves, there were a lot of things she learned about both sides. “This belongs to you.” She slid the thick manila folder towards him and explained, “Your time with me and Silver Security in a nutshell. You can take a moment to review it…If you’d like.” 

@jacob-keane

The Silver Security training facility was very familiar to him. The Riverborn didn’t entirely find it reassuring, however. Being here sent brief flashes of images to his brain and Jacob could see a different self there- short-haired, geared up, arrogant and deadly. He had a past here, that much he knew from the bits and pieces that he and Gwendolyn had been able to deduce about their joined history. She surely did more digging into it, wanting more answers about the life left behind. He did not.

The lich walked through falicity not feeling as foreign as he should have, being led to his old boss by one of the Silver Security’s employees. “Gwen” he greeted back, hands in his pockets and a small smile on his lips. “Yeah, sure” he replied as he began to follow her, unable to stop himself from asking “So what am I doing here?”. The question didn’t come until they sat together, witnessing the training exercise performed by the agents on the obstacle course. Gwen simply handed over a folder. He held it in his hands, hesitant, but he didn’t open it. “Thanks but I uh- I’m not sure I want to go down this route”. That route being getting to know who he used to be.

@jacob-keane

Saturdays were both a day to plan for the upcoming week and a day to get done anything outside of work that needed doing. Sometimes, though, his Saturdays ended up not being anything too strenuous. Those were the better ones, nice and relaxing, a little break from the constant craziness of his life. This was one of those days, where he couldn’t bring himself to go get his work done and instead was walking through the park while he thought over everything that had been happening in his life. Somehow, in the same month, both Henri and Charlie had come back into his life. Apparently, he couldn’t have one without the other anymore. What was with that? 

However, Emmett found himself slowing to a stop, his eyes landing on one of his friends in town. Well, friend might still be too strong of a word but… He hesitated briefly, eyeing the chess board. “Is… Is someone playing with you, man, or is this all you?” How would one person playing chess even work? 

Jacob liked playing chess, really liked it. The lich would even say it was a hobby of his now. However, his newfound hobby almost never involved an opponent. As weird as it could seem, he actually liked playing by himself. It took a lot of skill to want to win two matches instead of just one, or at least so he thought. The Riverborn had been at it for quite a while, switching places and silently moving pieces every few minutes, only looking up from the board when he heard a familiar voice. “Emmett. Hi” he greeted with a sheepish smile before he glanced down at his one-man-chess-match. “I uh- No, it’s all me”. Gwen had called it depressing once and it probably did seem that way.

Drucilla stares at Jacob for a moment, her head tilting to one side while she thinks about his reply. Then, she gives a wide, closed mouth smile, a quiet laugh through her nose that shakes her shoulders forward and then lately closes her eyes. He hadn‘t rejected her per se, Jacob had just completely missed the fact that she gave a cue that it was alright for them to be seen together with one other than at her shop. It was actually kind of cute. Who would have thought? Espically since she usually only went out with Reyna and Yuri which normally turned into a disaster. Sometimes Gwen, but they would eventually become tired of everyone else around them and end up at one of their homes and settle into the peace and quiet. “Right, because there’s so much you can do around here that will keep you busy.” She teases, arching her brow at him.

“Fair enough.” Sitting at nearly fifty-five percent alcohol, this was definitely one of the stronger drinks that Drucilla was not used to. She raised the glass to take half of a mouthful, then her freckled nose scrunches feeling the keen burn on her tongue and throat - a burn that made her recoil as a girl. She lets out a breath and enjoys the coolness of her breath on her burning tongue. Drucilla lowered the glass to the ledge and curses herself silently for not bringing out a pair of coasters. Instead of completely focusing on that, Dru turns her thoughts to have to describe what the drink tasted like.  “There’s a lot of herbal going on, and some degree citrus.” Her eyes find Jacob’s as she continues. “It’s like a cloves, pine, and spice carpet bombing of your senses.” His eyes were the ocean, so full of life in a dark kind of way yet so uncertain… “It’s a very intense experience for all your senses all at once, in a good way.” She finishes while licking her lips, then looks away after a beat, her eyes quickly finding the journal.

Instead of answering, Dru drank the last of the green Chartreuse and poured herself another mouthful while Jacob looked over the bits and pieces of the journal. His new question made Drucilla pause just as she was about to take another drink. Her eyes travel to look at him, then to the pages. She can’t remember the last time she received a question like that. It was a good damn question. She may as well return the favour and give him a damn good answer. “There was a need.” Is the best she could come up with just then. She takes the mouthful of alcohol and swallows with ease. There was always a need to create, to call into existence that did not previously exist. It also helped Dru to focus, to organize her thoughts. In this sense, it was to process grief from someone. “…. After tethering your soul there was a lot of rawness. A void. More than usual.” It was the price of magic. Drucilla regularly felt like this, empty, a silence in her own soul, due to her connection with necromancy. This particular void she was speaking of just happened to be bigger due to overexertion and having to find a soul. “And then the more I worked on it, the less it became about filling a void than keeping someone’s memory alive.” Drucilla finishes and leans against the ledge, shrugs and in doing so, unintentionally brushes against Jacob. “Plus, I knew the idea would look really fucking good.”      

What could a lich who also happened to be a Riverborn do at a shop like TopTier? It was a good question, really, considering his knowledge regarding design was nonexistent. He wouldn’t know what thought process went behind wanting to buy any decor other than liking the way something looked. Aesthetic, color schemes and ways to match an object to another were still foreign notions to him. “True” he admitted with a smile, catching on her teasing remark. “But I’m not here for the place”. Not wanting to be banned from here had little to do with the shop and more to do with the owner.

He drank from the greenish liquor at the same time Drucilla did, scarecely noticing the sensation of it on his tongue and throat. On the other hand, she got the full experience of it and the way her expression showed that made him smile. For him, the taste had been distant and faint, and only when Dru named each flavor he found himself recognizing them fully. It was mostly his brain attempting to invoke them, to recall what they might have tasted like in all their splendor. “I like it” he concluded, paying more attention to her eyes at this point than he did at the memory of the realness of taste. “I probably would have liked it more if I wasn’t, well- like this. But it’s good”. He glanced down at his glass and decided to take another gulp of Chartreuse.

There was a need, was her reply and the Riverborn hadn’t really expected her to say that. His brow furrowed slightly, feeling intrigued more than anything, wanting to know if there was more to that answer. It was. So Jacob remained silent and listened until his expression softened as she told him in the end it happened to be a way to fill that strange void left behind by her magic, but also to keep the memory of a dead person alive. To keep his memory alive. The lich didn’t think anyone would particularly missed him if he died -truly died- because he wasn’t connected to anyone... he was a lonely soul with a forgotten past, a stagnant present and not much of a future. “You wanted to remember me?” he asked by impulse, not thinking much before the words left his lips. They stood closer when she moved, her arm accidentally brushing against his arm and it was like sunlight kissing his skin. He'd learned that the touch of another, their warmth, it was the most vivid and real sensation there could be. It was better than trying to recall what food or a drink tasted like, better than trying to remember any fragances. The stark contrast of warm skin against his colder body felt like a spark that he could definitely sense.

Drucilla: God. I love it when you’re bossy and reasonable over text.   Drucilla: You and me both. Drucilla: They said they’ll stay for as long as they can because they ‘really like the pretty colours’ … Drucilla: It’s alright. You have other talents to make up for your crappy ideas. Drucilla: It’s been fifteen minutes. I can charge the parents for babysitting, right?

Drucilla: No. I can type out much worse. Honestly, they’re lucky I haven’t said it to their faces. Yet.  [ SEVEN MINUTES LATER ] Drucilla: I played elevator music through the Bluetooth speakers. They just ended up imitating the trumpet sounds. Drucilla: Who lets their children run around like this? I mean seriously. Drucilla: I should also state that the mother is NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.

Jacob: Let’s not go there. I’m sure things can be solved soon. Jacob: I think.

[ ... ]

Drucilla: I’m surrounded by idiots.

Drucilla: There's two of them. They're seven years old.

Drucilla: How do I get kids out of my shop when I don't have candy to throw out the door...

Jacob: That’s a little harsh, isn’t it?

Jacob: Play elevator music? It’s supposed to be boring.

Jacob stops his sentence short and Drucilla can see the wheels turning behind his eyes. The crinkle between his brows also gives him away. Dru opens her mouth, then closes it again. Dark orbs narrow at Jacob while her teeth sink into her bottom lip, wondering what she should say that would make this all the less uncomfortable. “Listen…” She beings slowly, “… Why don’t we try to not make this a big deal?” At the same time as Dru asks the question, her shoulders move upward, and her hands move out, palms facing the ceiling. “You said thank you, I got alcohol. It’s a done deal. We’re good. Don’t burn yourself out over it.” It doesn’t have to any more than that. Please, God, don’t let it be more than that… “Mhm,” Drucilla hums back, watching as Jacob places his hand to the back of his neck. Is he uncomfortable? Why does that make her uncomfortable?

“You know what? Screw it. I’m going to open this now.” After just placing the bottle of alcohol on the ledge, Drucilla picks it back up by the neck and unscrews the cap before walking off into her office to grab two glasses. “That’s what I like to hear!” She calls from her office and continues as she comes back to stand in front of Jacob, “Because if you do, we’re going to have a big problem. As in: You’re never allowed to step into this shop again, kind of problem. And heaven forbid you might actually have to see me at a bar.” She grins and thrusts an empty glass into his hand now that they were free from holding his dog tags. “I do realize this is a cruel tease since you can’t enjoy alcohol. But, since you bought it, it would be weird if you didn’t drink any.” She tells Jacob as she begins to pour the fifty-five percent alcohol into both of their glasses. “And, yes. Absolutely a pair of old dog tags can provide aesthetic inspiration.” Drucilla voice holds a very matter of fact tone. The hybrid sips at the drink and once again moves away from Jacob to grab a large journal a few ledges away. The journal is thick. It’s as neat as Drucilla could keep it with all of the information that’s in it. Strips of fabric, full blueprints tidily folded with perfect lines. This was Drucilla’s bible. She flips it open to a specific page and shows Jacob. “This is the inspiration I got from those old dog tags.” The page, or the first page rather, shows a number of metallic colours. From glossy to matte. The second page shows a 3D overlook of a rustic, completely renovated kitchen, living room, and dining room area. All had the same colour scheme, but nothing too overwhelming. The next few pages show the same rooms, but tweaked with different colours, style of furniture, and lighting.

Was he turning the whole situation into an uncomfortable one? Judging by her words he probably was. The lich just let out a breath and his lips curved into a small, sheepish smile. “Okay”. Not making it a big deal. Not dwelling further into it beyond the fact that he wanted to show his gratitude for what she’d done. So all he did to end the subject was offer a genuine “Thank you”. He gave a nod as he spoke and that was that.

“I wouldn’t want to be banned from here” the Riverborn replied with a light chuckle. It wasn’t so much about the place than it was about Dru, really. He just didn’t want to piss her off enough that it would result in permanent banishment from TopTier. Though if he were to ever bleed out again he wasn’t so sure death would let him cheat it again. Jacob rose his eyebrows, somewhat surprised that Drucilla was keen on trying the liquor right then and there. For a moment there he thought she’d be trying the Chartreuse on her own but she actually returned from the office with two glasses. The lich didn’t refuse it because frankly, he was curious as to how did the green liquor taste like. It wouldn’t taste as much as if he was alive but he could get a faint idea of its flavor. By now he was beginning to get accustomed to it, how everything was faint, muted. It was enough, though. It had to be because it was the way it would be for him forever. “I’ll just get a hint of its real flavor” he said with a shrug, resigned to the situation. “You’ll have to tell me what it actually tastes like” the lich then added with a smile as the she poured the liquor, looking up from his glass to meet her eyes.

Jacob took a sip little after she did, trying to savor the Chartreuse. It didn’t burn. Its flavor didn’t linger on his tongue. It was a faint taste of something fresh, almost minty. The Riverborn set his glass aside for a moment as Dru approached him with a a thick journal. He looked at it with silent interest, intrigued even before she handed it over to show a specific section. He peered over it, quick to realize it wasn’t just pages in there, there were materials as well. “All of this came from my dog tags?” he almost stated more than asked. He knew the answer to the question, he was simply impressed that so much could come from something so little, so simple. It was a true expression of creativity. “What made you want to create something based on them?” Jacob asked before he could stop himself to wonder whether it was something he should or shouldn’t ask her.

Dru smiles at his willingness and good nature about the fact that he was once again a linch. When in death, get a good fucking sense of humour. “It’s a good look on you.” The hybrid casts her eyes down at the bottle, crossing her arms under her chest comfortable without making any further movements. The only times Drucilla accepted gifs were on her birthday, Christmas and when clients were considerate enough to give her something - even then, she would try to decline because they paid her good money to do her fucking job. There were times she went above and beyond, but that was if she really liked the clients she was working with, and that’s a rarity. Anything outside of these cases she was hesitant about. She always felt weird about receiving gifts. She never really knew how to process other people’s gratitude.

Sinking her teeth into her bottom lip, Dru takes the bottle with a free hand and turns it over in her hands, letting her eyes roam freely over every label. A green bottle of liqueur. Green Chartreuse. She raised her eyes to Jacob. And she smiles slowly, shaking her head. “You’re welcome. - And, thank you… I don’t have this one in my collection yet, so, it’s perfect.” Dru turns to place the bottom on the ledge, making a mental note to try some later. “Just make sure that if you’re being followed at some point in the future to never step foot into my store, got it?” She gives Jacob a pointed look with an arched brow. “These are yours.” She says, handing out his dog tags that were still in her hand. “I knew I was able to tether your soul. Whether or not you were able to come back from the spell or not was a different story. So, I kept them. For safe keeping. And aesthetic inspiration.” It continues to hold the same warmth from when she first made it a tethered object.  Just before Jacob is about to reach for his items, Drucilla quickly pulls them back to her, giving the lich another serious look. “This has your soul connected to it. So, don’t lose it… Think of it as a very important backup hard drive.” Then, she puts out her hand to places the warm metal into Jacob’s palm.

Looking dead hardly ever sounded like a compliment but in this case it did. If looking alive meant he’d have to go through the painful mess that went down here yesterday all over again -and put Drucilla through it too- he was more than content with his current cold and pale appearance. It was who he was now, after all, and by now he was fairly accustomed to it. It was odd to hear her say ‘thank you’ for the bottle of Chartreuse when he probably owed her that gratitude multiplied for what she’d done. “You saved my life and a bottle of liquor is probably not-” he cut off. A bottle of liquor for a life? For his life? Now it felt silly he even showed up with the present. “Well, now at least I know where the name comes from” he mentioned with a laugh, scratching the back of his neck. In the midst of his agony from the day before he never though the fancy name could come from an alcoholic drink.

In spite of the seriousness of Dru’s tone, the lich gave a slight smile after her warning. “I’ll steer clear of your shop, don’t worry about it. I won’t bleed out on your floor again”. With any luck and if things followed their natural order he wouldn’t bleed out ever again. With his hands in his pockets he followed her movements, eyebrows slightly raised at the sight of his dog tags. Was it odd that he hadn’t even take notice that they weren’t around his neck? He never took them off so he never made a special effort to check if he was wearing them. It wasn’t like he could sense much of the metal against his dead skin anyway. But as he saw them in Drucilla’s hand he became aware of the feeling of not having them. He listened with interest as the woman explained exactly why she’d kept them and how much value they had now that his soul was bound to them. “A pair of old dog tags can provide aesthetic inspiration?” he questioned as he reached for the dog tags, keeping his palm open until Dru placed them with care on his hand. He looked at them for a moment, nestled in his palm before he glanced up at the hybrid and went ahead to put them around his neck.