[ That definitely struck a nerve. Jackson has the presence of mind to ball his hands into fists at his sides. Were it not for the subconscious connection he shared with the other teen, this situation would have certainly escalated to the point where Matt would be walking away sporting a far lip or worse.
For the moment, it seemed that Jackson was unable to take any action that might harm him, however. This would have bothered Jackson a lot more if he weren't currently distracted by his own anger. Though once he does seem to realize that he should be decking Matt in the face, his angered expression shifts just enough to convey his confusion and worry. ]
[ Matt rocked slightly to one side, then the other, his eyes never leaving Jackson's face. Watching. Waiting. Braced for something to happen. Trying to keep an iron grip on that thing he barely understood. Something that should have resulted in an explosion of one form or another left Jackson just simmering.
As confusion settled over the other, Matt's own face split into a giddy, uncertain smile. He tried to school it, to be a bit more serious. Just barely. ]
What's the matter, Jackson? Don't you what to...I don't know...say something?
[ Yeah, he was pissed--but that anger was currently being dwarfed by uncertainty and fear and quickly turning into panic as Jackson found himself unable to react in the way that he wanted to.
In a way, it would probably have been a lot less cruel for Matt to simply keep Jackson a mindless drone that did his bidding. Yes, Jackson would still have to deal with the lost time and blood on his hands, but he wouldn't have to deal with being paralyzed within his own body.
There was no masking the fear that he felt any longer. Any sign of lingering anger was swallowed up by the feeling of powerlessness that came with being unable to take action despite wanting to. ]
[ Finally. Jackson seeing it. Not just feeling it, but admitting it's there. Acknowledging that this wasn't normal. Even if he didn't fully know what it was.
Matt wished he knew this power better. He could control it to some degree, but only in broad strokes. Slamming down Jackson's personality. Transformed or not, fully or partially. But could he do more? Could he have a more subtle hand? It had always been about his raw emotion that sparked it, a flood that was all or nothing. But he didn't need that emotion. Could he just do part of it? Could he allow Jackson to keep acting like his asshole self, but once they were done he wouldn't remember it at all?
As he let a tense silence stretch, he tried to shape it. 'Starting now' he tried to think. 'None of this will stick.' Would it even work that way? ]
Well I don't know. Do I. What IS happening to you?
I'm down for whatever horrible shit. The world is our oyster.
[ Running back unto the house wasn't an option. Knocking that smug look off Matt's face wasn't an option. Jackson would have settled for either, but no matter how much he wanted it he was unable to do anything more than stand there.
And while the fear and feeling of being entirely helpless remained, that anger of his was beginning to bubble to the surface again. Sure, Matt was acting suspect as fuck, but it went deeper than that. The same reason he felt compelled to text Matt earlier, and he same reason that some part of him didn't want the other teen to leave--even now.
Whatever it was that allowed Matt to exert his will over Jackson was beginning to take root and become Jackson's will as well. Why else would he go out of his way to try and befriend someone like Matt? Especially given everything Matt had said to him. But why was this happening? ]
It's you. [ His angered expression returned to his features, though the panic was still there as well. ]
You're doing this to me. [ Matt better hope his little test worked out and that Jackson conveniently forgets all of this when he wants him to, because the jig was up. ]
[ Matt tilted his head, feigning confusion of his own. But it was a twisted mockery, no longer hiding the truth. He was the bully now, holding it just out of Jackson's reach, not letting him have it.
Even if his trick didn't work, he didn't care. He'd wipe the inside of Jackson's head before he could do anything about it. Keep him that way until this was all done. The world would be better off, wouldn't it? If Jackson Whittemore wasn't throwing his weight around everywhere. ]
Doing what, exactly? I haven't done anything. You on the other hand...
[ He gestured again at the sprinklers, without taking his eyes off Jackson's face. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
For the moment, it seemed that Jackson was unable to take any action that might harm him, however. This would have bothered Jackson a lot more if he weren't currently distracted by his own anger. Though once he does seem to realize that he should be decking Matt in the face, his angered expression shifts just enough to convey his confusion and worry. ]
no subject
As confusion settled over the other, Matt's own face split into a giddy, uncertain smile. He tried to school it, to be a bit more serious. Just barely. ]
What's the matter, Jackson? Don't you what to...I don't know...say something?
no subject
In a way, it would probably have been a lot less cruel for Matt to simply keep Jackson a mindless drone that did his bidding. Yes, Jackson would still have to deal with the lost time and blood on his hands, but he wouldn't have to deal with being paralyzed within his own body.
There was no masking the fear that he felt any longer. Any sign of lingering anger was swallowed up by the feeling of powerlessness that came with being unable to take action despite wanting to. ]
What's happening to me?
(Where do we even want this to go?)
Matt wished he knew this power better. He could control it to some degree, but only in broad strokes. Slamming down Jackson's personality. Transformed or not, fully or partially. But could he do more? Could he have a more subtle hand? It had always been about his raw emotion that sparked it, a flood that was all or nothing. But he didn't need that emotion. Could he just do part of it? Could he allow Jackson to keep acting like his asshole self, but once they were done he wouldn't remember it at all?
As he let a tense silence stretch, he tried to shape it. 'Starting now' he tried to think. 'None of this will stick.' Would it even work that way? ]
Well I don't know. Do I. What IS happening to you?
I'm down for whatever horrible shit. The world is our oyster.
And while the fear and feeling of being entirely helpless remained, that anger of his was beginning to bubble to the surface again. Sure, Matt was acting suspect as fuck, but it went deeper than that. The same reason he felt compelled to text Matt earlier, and he same reason that some part of him didn't want the other teen to leave--even now.
Whatever it was that allowed Matt to exert his will over Jackson was beginning to take root and become Jackson's will as well. Why else would he go out of his way to try and befriend someone like Matt? Especially given everything Matt had said to him. But why was this happening? ]
It's you. [ His angered expression returned to his features, though the panic was still there as well. ]
You're doing this to me. [ Matt better hope his little test worked out and that Jackson conveniently forgets all of this when he wants him to, because the jig was up. ]
You know the way to my heart
Even if his trick didn't work, he didn't care. He'd wipe the inside of Jackson's head before he could do anything about it. Keep him that way until this was all done. The world would be better off, wouldn't it? If Jackson Whittemore wasn't throwing his weight around everywhere. ]
Doing what, exactly? I haven't done anything. You on the other hand...
[ He gestured again at the sprinklers, without taking his eyes off Jackson's face. ]