exsilium | (no subject)

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(no subject)

[Jack appears on the network. It looks as if he isn't aware he's being filmed at first; he glances around him nervously, his eyes darting from place to place.]

So-- right. You guys don't got no newsies, yeah? But I'm grown outta that business anyway, so I figure, I'll do somethin' else anyway.

[And now he focuses on the camera. His eyes are a little sunken in; his cheekbones jut out sharply from his face. The entire effect is unpleasant; he looks like he hasn't slept or eaten in quite some time. Carefully, each movement deliberate, he takes a cigarette out of his pocket; his gaze focuses on that as he speaks.]

I draw pictures. Real good, if I do say so myself. Do paints, too. You want your picture done? You want your wall painted? Maybe you're in theater, you want some sets done, or maybe you want somebody to put a, a, a mural on your wall. If it's somethin' to do with art, I can do it. I don't give a damn what it is. I'll paint you and your stupid girlfriend if you want, 's long as you pay me. Name's Jack Kelly.

[He nods sharply, once, and lights up the cigarette.]

An' in personal business, a couple thin's: this gun's good an' all, but I'm in the knives business, meself. Anybody sellin' any good blades? I don't mean no stores, all right, I ain't lookin' for no directions to no weapons shops. I'm talkin' about the good stuff, the stuff you get on the streets. I don't got much money yet, but like I said, I got a few skills I can exchange.

An' speakin' o' them: I hear I got some roommates. Miss, uh, Galadriel and some guy named Guy? Well, I ain't gonna be in at all. Not for sleepin', anyway. So don't trouble yourself with that, when you don't see me come in.

[A deliberate pause. He exhales a lungful of smoke and watches it drift upwards before adding:]

Asano Rin. I got a bone to pick with you, and I think you know why.

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I mean I-- oh, Christ, I don't want everybody to hear this. But yeah, I just got out. Where are you? Let's do this in person.

Where are you? I know where things are, you just got here.

Right outside the apartment buildin'. I'll wait in the lobby.

[She's down very shortly. She most likely looks much improved from his memories of her: less starved down, for one, better rested, clean, and warmly dressed in layers, clothing characterized by dark but relatively intense colors.

She looks around and then makes a beeline for him in a hot minute.]

Jack... you remember me.

[He reaches up, gripping her shoulders firmly. His eyes dart around her, taking in her appearance-- far better than he remembers, yes, which only confirms what others have told of her. Jack relaxes after a moment and nods.]

Course I do. Only-- you're the only one I can remember.

[She looks up at him and her eyes slide closed briefly. In that moment she looks so weary.]

... You don't remember the Port?

Port?

[He frowns and shakes his head. Vaguely he pushes his wet hair back out of his eyes.]

No, I-- look, I meant what I said. I just got outta the-- outta Edelweiss. I woke up and they gave me a gun and all I could remember was--

[He exhales sharply.]

Anyway. No.

[Head lowered. Her heart throbs, it's like a punch in the chest almost. The tenuousness of memories... he was there, she knows it, she's absolutely sure. The Port was as real as anything else in her life.

But who knows how real that is.]

... Well, it's lucky you got here. It's not too bad around here. The missions can be horrible, of course. But we get paid and we got armed... it's nothing like before.

[He waves that away hastily and ducks his head, trying to meet her eyes.]

Rin, what was the Port? What's wrong?

It's a long story. [Looking back up, she steps forward and reaches for him carefully to dole out a hug. Gentle, not clinging.]

And I'll tell you sometime... but right now, I want to know the last thing you remember.

[He smiles despite himself and hugs her back carefully-- just as gently, though he lets it linger.]

Mm. Last thin' I remember . . .

[And there goes that smile. He bites his thumbnail, anxious, and glances away.]

The fire. Everyone dyin'. Me dyin', cept I obviously didn't, since here I am.

I never went through a fire, Jack.

[And one of the best things about Rin is that she's so steady. Like a rock, really, all hard and firm. If anyone else said that, he would doubt them, but with Rin he simply accepts it as fact.

Jack sighs deeply and rubs a hand over his face.]

Jesus. Well, I did. And . . . now here I am. What's the last thin' you remember there?

I woke up after Shira beat me up. And everyone was gone. And after that, it just went on... [She shakes her head.]

But it's been two years and maybe a little more for me, since I was there. That's because of the Port. It was a city near Canada... another world like this one, but worse...

[He tilts his head. He remembers that, yeah, remembers her in a coma-- but he remembers when she woke, too. And he sort of wants to pursue that, and he sort of wants to ask about this bizarre Canadian city (where he was? Possibly)-- but he's tired, too, and so he says simply:]

Well, good you're outta it, then.

C'mon. Tell me somethin' else. Somethin' good about here. We can talk about all that crap later.

There's a lot of nice people here and we get paid good money. I mean, it's not enough to be rich, but you can get anything you need. That's a good thing.

No kiddin'. I already tried some o' the food here-- Christ, everybody's dyin' to feed me, I never been so popular in me life. I met some o' your friends already, too. Vanadi?

[A beat. There's a false sort of cheer to this, too upbeat and too easy-- but he remembers how to tease, how to fall into a rapport with someone. And it's easier than thinking of the dark stuff, easier than dwelling on what he remembers. Better to enjoy the moment.

So, mockingly sternly:]

I don't gotta give you a talk on how to act round boys, do I?

Oh, Jack, you have no idea.

What the hell's that supposed to mean!

Another long story! Um, did you get enough to eat? Do you want to sit down? We can go back to my rooms...

I-- could use some more to eat, if you got food. What the hell-- oh, Jesus, are you sleepin' with him? I was only jokin', oh, Christ, do I gotta go talk to him?

Jack. I am not sleeping with anybody. He's just my friend. Now let's go to my rooms and we'll feed you up a little more. Also, you need a bath.

Yeah, well, good.

[He mutters that-- but he also steps toward the elevators, with a little wrinkle of his nose.]

An' don't remind me. I've met like three people today who kept gently tellin' me where the showers were.

With good reason... God, I remember how it was for me... [Being fresh out. Why should he have to go through that again?

God, it's just cruel.]

You were there, you know. In the Port. You were there for a long time with me... you did a lot. Worked a lot and did a lot of things, you know?

[He glances over at her, his smile fading once again.]

Was I . . . all right?