A/N: So I've been practicing quite a bit of figure drawing in preparation for Ringling (BECAUSE I AM FREAAAKKIIIING OOOUT I AM SO NOT GOOD ENOUGH HOW ON EARTH DID I GET ACCEPTED ok panic attack over), and what better practice than to try and illustrate some scenes from this fic? So here you go, hope you guys like!
Chapter 10 art: sunatsubu dot tumblr dot com slash post slash 83574352550
Chapter 12 art: sunatsubu dot tumblr dot com slash post slash 83464947297
Also thanks a ton to all my readers, I know I've been pretty horrible at updating lately...but seriously every one of your reviews are so encouraging to me, whether they're one sentence or an entire paragraph!
Chapter notes: For some reason I see Jamie as having high nerd-potential, which would be really cute ^_^
Legacy
"What's so great about immortality?"
Jack slowly turned to face Jamie, an incredulous look on his face. "...What?"
Jamie suddenly jerked upright, face reddening as he began to stammer, "Oh man, sorry Jack, I didn't mean anything by it, wow I can't believe I actually forgot you're actually imm-" He quickly cut himself off, looking even more flustered than before.
"Well, um, well it's just something I've wondered a lot from watching movies like this. Uh, not specifically because of you…well I'm not saying I don't think of you, just not in this case because it's a theme that always seems to come up in pop culture everywhere…" The brunette continued to babble, even beginning to gesture a bit wildly with his hands.
Jack stared for a few more seconds before bursting out into laughter, unable to hold it in. "Whoa, calm down Jamie! I didn't get a single word you just said."
Jamie flushed again before grabbing the remote to mute the TV, rendering Lord Voldemort silent. "Sorry, um, well you don't have to answer if you don't want to. I was just kind of thinking out loud anyway."
The topic of their vastly different lifespans had rarely come up, and for good reason. It wasn't something either of them particularly liked to dwell on, but for the moment Jack sensed this was about something else, something a bit lighter. So he ruffled brown hair fondly and said casually, "It's okay, really. But I can't really answer your question, I'm not so sure what is great about it after all." He paused to check that Jamie was no longer looking too flustered for the conversation. "Why ask, all of a sudden?"
Jamie shrugged, fiddling with the remote control in his hands. "Well like I said, the theme comes up a lot in movies and books. Usually it's the villains though, who end up doing all these dramatic things just so they can live forever. But do they plan for that kind of life? What would they do for that long? They'd probably finish taking over the world in a few years, then what?" He paused, pursing his lips pensively. "It makes me wonder if they really thought through what would happen if they actually succeeded."
Jack wrinkled his nose as he recognized the brunette lapsing into full-on musing mode. "Sorry kid, that's a bit too scholarly for me."
Jamie laughed. "That's okay, like I said I'm just thinking out loud. It reminds me of an essay I had to write before...about everyone's desire to leave behind some kind of legacy. The normal path would just be through children, or famous deeds...but maybe that also explains the hunger for immortality."
"Legacy, huh?" The young Guardian scratched his head, still looking like he wasn't completely following the conversation. "Never had to worry about that kind of thing, I guess."
Jamie could see that Jack was still looking a bit lost, so he resumed the movie and shifted the conversation to making fun of Draco Malfoy's incompetence. In his mind though, he couldn't help but ponder further.
What kind of legacy would he leave? Obviously he wouldn't be able to have his own kids - though, adoption was something he'd always considered. Maybe it would be his books? If he became a successful writer, he could leave behind his footprints in the form of his stories, however small and humble they may be.
The brunette glanced sideways, watching as Jack laughed delightedly at a particularly funny scene. It was their third time watching the movie, but much to Jamie's amusement, the winter spirit still seemed to enjoy it just as much as the first time. If only they could be like this forever...Jamie felt a smile tug at his lips as he thought of the unlikely desire he shared with Lord Voldemort, or Ra's al Ghul, or all those other immortality seeking villains.
Feeling his eyes beginning to burn, Jamie let out an inaudible sigh before returning his full attention back to the movie. It certainly wouldn't do to start getting all emotional over something he himself had brought up.
"You don't have to worry about it either, you know."
Jamie turned to face the white haired teen, confused at the seemingly random statement. "Worry about what?"
"Legacy." Jack said with a casual shrug. "I mean, it's about wanting to be remembered, right? You lose your legacy if everyone forgets you."
"Hm, I guess that's one way to put it-"
"Well, I'm never going to forget you. So you're covered." Jack interrupted. Though the room was dimly lit, Jamie could see the winter spirit's pale face turning pink as he leaned forward to stare intently at the TV screen. Jamie sank back into the couch and allowed the conversation to end, sensing that was what Jack wanted.
He couldn't have said anything anyway, as it took all his effort just to hold back the tears.