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Stepping out from the restroom without his bracelet was one of the hardest things he’d done in his life. His hand still paused on the door handle, the muffled murmuring of the party filtering through the heavy door still unnerving. The thick black band seemed glaringly apparent, a strip of lighter skin surrounding it. Maybe to anyone else it wouldn’t be too noticeable―he inherited his mom’s paleness after all―but it shone like a beacon in his eyes. He rubbed at the mark like he used to when he was younger and hoped he could make it all go away but his hand fell away from his wrist and he took a steadying breath.

Just imagine they’re all naked right?

No, that never worked but he chuckled to himself anyways as he made his way back to the crowd. He picked up a new drink with a grateful murmur to the waiter. His nerves made him leave his drink back in the restroom and he felt too awkward going back in there for it. He sipped at the champagne glass and for once his nose didn’t wrinkle. The liquid was much sweeter than the stuff that normally circulate at the large post performance gatherings university hosted for their patrons and alumni to meet the current class. Jacob took a few more sips in rapid succession as he moved through the crowd, familiar with ducking and weaving through them. A polite smile here and a head nod as eyes met, signaling neither party was [i]actually[/i] interested in conversing, as he kept an ear out for a topic he’d be interested in. 

There were plenty of people gushing over the holograms, over the lavish wealth, over the twins themselves. Jacob’s nose wrinkled in annoyance. While that was all fine and well, how long could you talk about how impressive everything was? Everyone agreed this place was amazing and fantastic. Just tell your hosts and move on from it. Some group was discussing the technology behind everything and while it sounded interesting enough, Jacob didn’t know anything about it. Something about investment potential and various lens grades. Jacob listened in for a few moments while he finished his drink and made his way around the room again. 

His nose wrinkled again as he passed a pair aggressively indulging in each other. Reunited or drunk, he decided against wandering that way again. If they had recently reunited, he was a little horrified. He didn’t care how swept up in the moment he was, Jacob would definitely [i]not[/i] be sucking face in a public place. While he wasn’t against public displays of affection, there was definitely a limit. Holding hands, hugging, and quick kisses were all fine and dandy but anything more was just gross. The little prickle of worry reared its head in the back of his mind. [i]No worries there. You won’t find your soulmate[/i] his own head whispered but he shrugged off the concern with practiced ease. This was quite literally his best chance to find them, maybe the only chance, and Jacob was going to seize the opportunity with both hands. He [i]would[/i] find them this week. He wouldn’t give the damn universe any other option. 

[color=E843DB]“Sure, signing on a dynamic winger will help their offense but did they really need it? The defense is absolute crap. They should have dropped that money on a better sweeper. Their first pick has some of the most red cards in the damn league!”[/color] 

The frustrated comment immediately caught his attention, his head quickly turning to figure out the direction of the conversation. A small group loitered near the edge of the room, a mix of people and drinks talking about Arsenal’s horrific plans to focus on an already strong offense and practically abandon their shoddy defense. He veered off his original meandering path and beelined for them. Maybe it was a little rude to just pop into a conversation but someone [i]finally[/i] agreed with him. Everyone thought a 72 million player would fix it but it still ignored the key weaknesses the team carried! 

[color=4381E8]“It’s just a publicity trap. I’m sure they’re just luring City into doing something similar and are working on their defense far more privately.”[/color] A man waved off the comment. Unlike Jacob, he seemed quite comfortable in his attire, a simple but clearly well made suit and tasteful accents.

[color=07F169]“Nope. Definitely not.”[/color] Jacob interjected as he made his way into the loose circle. [color=07F169]“Arsenal has alway been offense focused. They only care when penalty shots are guaranteed to cost them the game. But that’s only fair since their sweeper cost the England team a shot at the World Cup last year.”[/color] Jacob would admit he had a hard time keeping his thoughts to himself sometimes but at this point in his life, he just rolled with it. He probably wouldn’t be seeing any of these people after the week ended anyways so he could interject as much as he wanted. Plus, he had [i]opinions[/i] on this subject. [color=07F169]“Anyways, Manchester tried this a few years ago. Thankfully, their coach was ready for when it failed but Arsenal isn’t exactly known for their forward thinking.”[/color]

[color=E843DB]“See, exactly my point! This is just a royal fuck up no matter how they try and painting on the news!”[/color] The familiar voice belonged to a woman Jacob inadvertently took his place next to. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders over a navy dress. Her attire was far more similar to Jacob’s, nice but obviously not something she wore all the time. [color=E843DB]“See at least my friend…”[/color]

[color=07F169]“Jacob.”[/color] He supplied helpfully.

[color=E843DB]“Jacob understands that. If it failed for Manchester, it’ll fail for Arsenal, that’s all I’m saying.”[/color] The woman rolled her eyes at the man’s scoff before turning to Jacob and holding out her hand. [color=E843DB]“Nickola. It’s a pleasure to meet someone with more than half a brain. Publicity stunt my ass. Who drops a 72 million pound contract on a publicity stunt?”[/color] 

[color=07F169]“Seriously though! I get that he is good at what he does but that guy has barely been in the league for half the amount of time as some of the veterans and his contract value is way above his stats. There has to be something going on behind the scenes on that one.”[/color] Jacob shook her hand with a grin. He did spare his wrist a glance but the black band still sat there. It was clearly unimpressed with Nickola. He felt a twinge of disappointment but moved on from it. [color=07F169]“Arsenal should have followed Munich’s example and picked up an all round player if they wanted to try to push their offensive strategies. Definitely would have given them more flexibility.”[/color] Nikola nodded in agreement but a glint in her eye said she had more to say.

[color=E843DB]“So I work for ESPN actually. I’m one of the fact checkers and something hit my email a few months ago that suggested Arsenal’s newest recruit has some [i]intimate[/i] relations with some of the organizers for the league.”[/color] She added conspiratorially. [color=E843DB]“The story died in editing like all the fun pieces do. ESPN doesn’t want their contracts slashed over things like that which fair but it would have been fun to follow the breadcrumbs at least.”[/color]

[color=07F169]“Nepotism makes the world go round. In music, it’s either a friend, a mentor, or your bed partner that gets you paid. Although, I think that applies to most of the performing arts.”[/color] Jacob sighed with a shake of his head. [color=07F169]“Luckily, it’s the mentor way for me. The things people do when they can exploit someone.”[/color]

[color=E843DB]“So you’re a musician who doesn’t have to sell themselves to a patron like a thirteenth century starving artist. Good to know.”[/color] She laughed, sipping at the glass in her hand. It smelled like vodka and his nose wrinkled again. He didn’t particularly care for the stuff. [color=E843DB]“What do you play then?”[/color]

[color=07F169]“Piano for 16 years. I just graduated from the Manhattan Schoolof Music with more debt than I can imagine but I got a job already lined up. My host family while I was in Europe studying put in a word for me so I’m the secondary concert pianist for a traveling orchestra.”[/color] Jacob explained. [color=07F169]“One less thing to worry about, thank god.”[/color] The group around them started to disperse as the conversation moved away from sports and into more personal discussions.

[color=E843DB]“Well, if neither of us find our soulmates by the end of the week, we should have our hosts have a separate event for us poor souls. You’ll have to play something for me when we get there.”[/color] A cheeky smile plastered itself on her face but a twinge of bitterness could be heard beneath it. Jacob felt sympathy for her, It was too easy to shut yourself away from the possibility that you’d find your soulmate here; for most, it might even seem the safest option. Shattered hope could be far more debilitating than resignation but Jacob’s life taught him he couldn’t afford to give up that hope.

[color=07F169]“You don’t think you’ll find your soulmate?”[/color] Jacob asked quietly to which Nickola shook her head. 

[color=E843DB]“What is the likelihood? The odds are stacked against us from the moment we discover this.”[/color] She shook the arm with the fragmented mark. [color=E843DB]“It’s not that I don’t [i]want[/i] to find them. That’s why I’m here after all but I have to accept the fact that becoming Lost is far more likely than being Reunited. And then what if… what if you can’t stand them? You’re stuck with this person you hate for the rest of your life. There is just so much potential for everything to go [i]wrong[/i]. I wish I could just scrub off the mark, wipe it away and be whole on my own.”[/color] She lamented. There was a pause in her speech, wiping away a stray tear, and then a watery laugh came out. [color=E843DB]“Sorry. A little too much to drink I think. I don’t normally vomit my concerns on strangers.”[/color]

Jacob shared a lot of the same sentiments when he was younger. After seeing his family torn apart by the horrors of the Lost, Jacob certainly shared the sentiment for a long time. He couldn't  count the times he spent a few minutes longer in the shower, scrubbing at the mark after a few stray photos of his mom popping up on his feed or seeing another story about a Lost person’s death. He’d managed to move past the need now after years and years of work but it didn’t change the fact that everything would be easier if that black band wasn’t permanently stained around his wrist. 

[color=07F169]“If there was ever a place to do it, it’s here. Probably the largest group of people who can come anywhere close to understanding.”[/color] Jacob smiled sympathetically at Nickola, patting her arm. [color=07F169]“I’d rather hate my soulmate than not find them at all. At least we’ll still be whole.”[/color]

[color=E843DB]“It sucks we have to feel that way. We have to play with the lesser of two evils.”[/color] Nickola sighed but smiled nonetheless. [color=E843DB]“I’m going to step away to the restroom for a moment. Hopefully, this week will end without us throwing a party for each other.”[/color] Jacob agreed, laughing as she made her way out of the group. Well, there went his first try at finding his soulmate. He sighed, knowing it wouldn't be that easy but wishing it would be all the same.