║ seventy-first stanza ║ text

[mumbled_truth]

It's a really strange feeling, to be in a body that isn't yours. To still be you, to still have your thoughts and your consciousness, but to walk past a mirror and not see yourself, to look at your hand and have it be wrong, to not even really move quite right.

I know this isn't really an unusual curse, but it's the first time I've been affected by it. It's sort of disconcerting.

Oh, and - if you see me? Obviously, it's not me.


[ooc: Bodyswapped with Justin! Replies will come from besideme]

Comments

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[ohcurses]

Sorry I ran out this morning. Is Neil offended?

[This message is sent from Justin's network device.]

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[besideme]

It's all right. I'm pretty sure he understands.

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[ohcurses]

I could have at least told him that I wasn't you.

That you weren't you.

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[besideme]

Well. Still. I'm sure that he isn't going to hold it against you.

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[ohcurses]

Okay.

I'm not sure I'll be back until this curse is over.

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[besideme]

That's okay.

Just don't go get any tattoos or anything.

[Maybe humor helps? Maybe.]

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[ohcurses]

I'm not planning on it.

[Humor. What is that.]

I don't care what you do. It's just a body.

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[besideme]

[Oh, Justin.]

Well. I'm not going to do anything to it, anyway.

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[ohcurses]

I didn't think you would. Don't worry too much, though.

text | private

[had_not_lived]

I'm all right, we figured it out.

Please just don't tell people where you woke up? And... I'm sorry about that.

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[ohcurses]

I wouldn't tell anyone.

I knew you would, but I could have handled that better.

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[had_not_lived]

Well, I see how it would be... startling.

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[ohcurses]

But you're not offended. At all.

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[had_not_lived]

Well, I might do the same thing if the situation was the other way around. I didn't take it... personally.

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[ohcurses]

Thank you.

[It seems unnecessary to mention that there's no possible way the same scenario could happen the other way around.]

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[had_not_lived]

[It's the principle of the thing, damnit. He's trying to be polite about it.]

You don't have to stay out, unless you want to. I'll sleep on the sofa.

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[ohcurses]

[That's very thoughtful?]

I'm not kicking you out of your own bed.

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[had_not_lived]

I don't mind, really.

[He doubts he'll sleep any better either way.]

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[ohcurses]

You misunderstood. I'm NOT kicking you out of your own bed.

I don't want things to be more uncomfortable than they are already.

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[had_not_lived]

If that's what you prefer.

[lookjustlike]

Who is it, then?

[Teddy can't quite manage to say any of the large number of thoughts he's had about this kind of stuff.]

[besideme]

Justin.

[lookjustlike]

Billy and Tommy got stuck with that one one time, which was...yeah. But at least they're more similar? I don't know if that makes a difference.

[besideme]

You know, I'm actually not sure if that would be better or worse.

It's difficult, though.

[He knows Teddy knows, about him and Neil, so... he figures he's one of the people that will understand that.]

[lookjustlike]

It was also a problem because of the, you know, powers. So...it was really awkward and also stuff got blown up a little bit. [As in, Tommy used magic to explode the bed when he woke up next to Teddy.]

I think if it happened to me the other person would have an unfair advantage.

[besideme]

... blown up a little bit?

I guess that's true. I mean, if they could figure your powers out, anyway.

[lookjustlike]

Well, Billy fixed it later. At this point, I consider anything that can be fixed somehow as only a little bit blown up.

[besideme]

Oh.

That actually kind of makes sense. I think.

[had_not_lived]

[Neil's sitting on the couch, trying to read but not actually reading. He's actually just alternating between staring at the page and sneaking glances at Todd.]

[besideme]

[Todd. Hates. This. He glances uneasily at Neil, frowning slightly, then turns back toward the device.

He doesn't particularly like talking like this, not recognizing the voice that forms his words.]

[had_not_lived]

It's only for a day. [Pause. Worst case scenario.] Or two.

[besideme]

Yeah.

[That single syllable alone sounds so foreign. It doesn't even sound like Justin's supposed to, not when he's hearing it coming from his own mouth, resonating in his own ears. He sighs heavily.]

[had_not_lived]

[Sounds... somewhere in between the two of them. Maybe that makes sense.]

Anything I can do?

[besideme]

I don't think so.

[He wants to latch onto Neil, but he wouldn't feel right even touching him - not in a body that isn't his own.]

[had_not_lived]

[Neil wouldn't feel too good about it, either. But he'd like to be able to do something.]

Okay.

[besideme]

[Todd tries glancing over and offering a small, reassuring smile - or at least an attempt at one. The fact that he's not currently alive doesn't help much either.]

I'm sorry... I wish there was.

[had_not_lived]

At least it's someone we know.

[Or more aptly, someone who knows. Less explanations required.]

[besideme]

Believe me, I know.

[He knows what Neil is getting at, and it's clear from his tone.]

[had_not_lived]

[His sad little smile matches, and he lowers his eyes to the page again.]

[video]

[deadly_legacy]

Yes, it is. That curse is always uncomfortable I think.

Ah, sorry, for responding this way. I can't type very well with one hand.

[text]

[besideme]

I think it must be.

That's okay. I just don't like hearing myself speak with the wrong voice very much. What's wrong with your other hand?


[ooc: I'M SORRY I realized I forgot part of the tag originally sob, do not mind me]

[video]

[deadly_legacy]

I completely understand. It is such a small thing, but it is entirely odd.

It's in a handcuff. [Naturally.]

[text]

[besideme]

It is - and I don't even like the sound of my own voice.

Oh. I hope there isn't anyone too awful on the other end?

[video]

[deadly_legacy]

You don't? Why would you say that? You have a very nice voice.

Mmm, no, of course not. [Was that hesitation?] Do you know Raikov?

[text]

[besideme]

That was mostly a joke. I mean, since I'm so quiet.

No, I don't.

[video]

[deadly_legacy]

Oh, of course. You see now another reason I rarely type things. It's much harder to understand when someone is teasing.

He's the one I'm with. [And Raikov is very...Raikov.]