exsilium | (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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[ He glances back again, and the smile warms. ]

Then I'm sorry, too. I can say that the pain never quite goes away, but you do learn to live around it.

Yeah, I know.

[He shoots him a smile, awkward and uncertain, before gesturing for another drink (just coffee this time).]

You ever hear of anyone else doin' that? Dyin' and comin' back?

I can do it for others. There are a few restrictions, including how the target died and how long they've been dead, but there's that. And the Initiative's technology can revive Transports, as well.

[Maybe that's the answer. Maybe it's as simple as that-- that they chose him, they picked him up and revived him and brought him here.]

Nobody's . . . figured out why they pick who they pick, yeah? I mean, beyond who they think would be useful to fight.

It's not under their control. The way it's described, their machine reaches out and fixes on whatever it can grab.

So why me? There were better people for this sorta stuff where I was from.

According to who?

Me. There was one guy, he--

[But that hurts too. Jack's mouth tightens for a moment before he shakes his head.]

They just were.

[ He's curious, but he'll let that go. ]

Well, apparently there's someone— or something— that disagrees.

Yeah, well.

[They're wrong, that's obvious enough in his tone, and Jack scowls as he swigs at his coffee.]

So . . . who you beddin' with?

Who are my roommates, do you mean?

[ jack u so archaic, this hip young 75 year old can't keep up ]

Mmhm. Anybody I know? I'm tryin' to get to know everybody here.

That depends. Do you know Mahdi or Haruka?

Not at all. Wanna tell me about em?

Well, Mahdi might bake the best cookies in Exsilium. But Haruka... [ he shrugs a little. ] You might be lucky to ever see her in person. I'm only half convinced she even exists.