jackhole | day 7

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game: 62

day 7 | jack

[ he's been terrified ever since he felt those shocks run through his system actually, the blood on his nose not stopping for a while and the stinging of his eyes as a result, not yet fading. still, he had to finish the meeting and talk to ciel and he still has so much work to do but --

but, he needs to calm down first. his hands are shaking and he swallows, feeling exceptionally jumpy for once as he slips into apartment one. his eyes jerk around the darkness, trying to be as silent as possible until he spots jack and then -- and then he makes a beeline right to him.

when he drops to his knees in front of jack, there's a terribly relieved sigh as his hands falter slightly before he shakes his head and cups jack's face with both hands, tapping flesh fingers lightly as he leans in to speak, barely audible. ]

Jack? Jack, please. Please wake up. Jack.

[ he's probably a sight with the blood staining his entire front, dried over his mouth and nose, and tear tracks on his face. yikes. ]

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[ The sleeping arrangements in this apartment are a mystery, so I'm just saying they rotate who gets to sleep where. Tonight, Jack was the unlucky loser, so he's sleeping on the floor. At least they get the good luck of the unnaturally deep sleep, so he looks relatively content and peaceful while sleeping.

So, you know, thanks for ruining that, Rhys.

Jack mumbles something in his sleep when Rhys grabs his face, and though it's mostly unintelligible, you could still pick out the word "baby" in there. Slowly, his eyes open as he's stirred out of sleep. ]

Shi—

[ The first thing you do not want to see in murder village is someone covered in blood, so reflexively, Jack kicks up, which might just land right in Rhys's stomach, though he certainly is awake after that. He shifts to sit up quickly, those that unnatural grogginess is still present. At least he's awake enough to add: ]

Christ— Rhys? Shit, don't- Don't friggin' do that!

[ He's at least whisper shouting, but typical Jack, there's no apology given. ]

[ oh, ow, what the fuck?? what the fuck. rhys wheezes slightly before slapping a hand over his own mouth and the other hand going to his stomach. god damnit, jack. he groans and it's muffled as the throbbing pain bursts and then fades.

jack, what the hell? what the hell. ]

S'just -- just a nosebleed, oh my god. You fucker. Also, who else would it be?!

[ he blinks a few times because damn, the kick doesn't help to the pain he's already feeling before the emotions that sent him here come back full force and he whines, a little needy as he reaches out for jack. then he pauses, falters, and drops his hands. ]

Sorry. I'm -- I'm sorry. I just needed to see you, god.

How am I supposed to know that? Goddammit—

[ Jack groans lowly and automatically starts to drag a hand over his face to wake himself up. It's a reflexive gesture, so it tugs at the wound on his face, so there's a murmured and sour curse, but he pulls his hand away just in time to see how Rhys falters in reaching for him. That at least gets some of his sourness to fade away, if only because Rhys is just. Sad. And pathetic. It's a lot.

He sits up and rubs at his face more carefully this time. It's the first time he's woken up during the night, and the grogginess actually has his hair standing on his neck. He doesn't like this, because it makes him feel very vulnerable, but he doesn't exactly want to show that. He speaks into his hands as he tries to wake himself up a little more, so it's muffled. ]

What, you break your nose this time?

[ he is not sad and pathetic, god damnit.

... well, okay. just a touch but still.

rhys groans and gives a shake of his head, hands curling tightly against his lap as his eyes flick all over jack's face, taking everything in about him. he looks strung out, barely holding it together, and even if rhys is typically dangling by a thread anyway -- the thread is definitely snapping right now. he swallows and wonders how to word it. ]

No. Asked too many questions. Got punished. I just wanted to know. How am I supposed to do anything if I don't even know why--

[ he cuts himself off then, looking slightly panicked before shaking his head even more vigorously and looking back to jack. as his eyes land on jack's face, he sighs as the tension eases. ]

You want to know something stupid?

Woah- What?

[ Jack tries to focus more as Rhys says that, since this is new and concerning information to him. He hadn't heard of Judy actually punishing anyone for asking questions. Though, of course, Judy hadn't been broadcasting this information either. Rhys hasn't been the only one to go digging just a little further than Judy likes... :)

Jack looks around for something to give Rhys to wipe off the blood, then with a sigh, just offers him the blanket he's using. ]

Here. I'll just... tell them I opened my stitches or something. [ Since Jack is already thinking of how to reduce how suspicious Rhys is, naturally. It just hasn't come to a head just yet. He rubs the back of his neck, then looks to Rhys with a quirked brow when he asks the question. ]

...That's an awful way to lead into something. Or super good, because will admit, I'm intrigued. What?

[ rhys just waves a hand vaguely, slumping slightly to sit flat on the floor. ]

Figured out what happens when we die, that kind of thing. And -- some other stuff but if I mention it to you, I'll die? Maybe? I don't know, there's a punishment there. It's, uhm, it's strict.

[ and then jack is handing off the blanket and rhys looks relieved, taking it to scrub at his face. the mix of wet blood, dry blood, and tears comes off not pleasantly on it. he doesn't look at jack when he says the next thing, just frowning at the stains on the blankets. ]

I miss your pet names. You'd -- you'd call me sweetheart and babe and cupcake and I always thought it was so dumb but it made me feel good, you know? Like I mattered. And like everything was going to be okay. I -- I don't really matter to anyone here, do I? Not even you. I could've died tonight and no one would've blinked.

[ Jack's eyebrows raise higher as Rhys implies that there's something after death, since Jack had definitely missed that memo. For a second, he wonder if Rhys is just being... crazy again, but that concern falls to the backburner as Rhys continues speaking. ]

Wow. That is stupid. I mean, I drop the nicknames because blah blah inappropriate blah blah HR blah bl—

[ Jack half-interrupts, but he starts to trail off when this just takes a turn for the pathetic again, and Jack frowns just a little more, but there's concern there. ]

That's... pretty depressing. [ just in case rhys didn't know that ] I mean... What the hell. Where is that coming from? I would've cared? You think I don't take that partners shit seriously?

[ there's a groan of exasperation here and now his face is, well, it's cleaner, just a bit smudgy. he drops the blanket and looks at jack like he's the idiot here. ]

You think I don't know that? No one's special to you except for you. You once told me you'd never let me leave you and it -- well, it was actually kind of terrifying at the time because I was. Trying to leave you. And you got all violent and it was. [ he pauses, looks a bit ill. ] Bad.

[ BUT RIGHT WHATEVER!!!! NEVERMIND!!!! ]

A-anyway, whatever. The point is, you don't take the partners thing seriously. Maybe you do now? But you don't later and that's what I know. It was just me and you against the world! And then you tried to kill me so. I'm pretty sure when I die, you won't really care.

[ It's not like this is the first time he's heard this kind of sentiment from Rhys at this point, but more than the previous ones, this time around it just pisses him off a little. He figured this was done, buried, no more need for Rhys to keep pointing out that his future self was some kind of crazy asshole. He doesn't even bother hiding that on his face a little. ]

Yeah. Kinda got the message the last five hundred times you said it, asshole.

[ Jack's jaw sets, and he almost tells Rhys to get out of his apartment, since waking him up for this was less than appreciated, to say the least. He still might, but as Jack dips his head forward with a noise of frustration and a shake of his head, it comes with a question. ]

Listen, every time you open your mouth it's "oh, no, Jack you're the worst"-this, "I don't even trust you"-that, so, what's the friggin' deal? Why the hell do you— [ He looks up to Rhys, then motions vaguely towards him ] I don't know. Keep hanging out with me? I'm getting some real mixed messages here.

[ god damnit, jack. he was trying to be good here but then you have to ask him again why he keeps showing up and he sighs. he sighs and he leans forward again on his knees so he's closer to jack, more in his space again. his voice is quiet and he wrings his hands slightly as he tries to put it into words. ]

Well, it's not like I know what kind of message you want? That -- that shit, it's all in the future. You're awful in the future. I don't trust you in the future. I thought you were getting that?

[ he pauses and braces his hands on his knees as his eyes fix on jack's face again. oh, how he wants to touch. ]

But I've made it super obvious that despite all that, I like you? I love you, even. You're a fucking asshole but I can't live without you. I tried, it sucked, I don't want to do it again. [ he shrugs. ] You, on the other hand, seem unsettled by me and kind of disgusted? So, I keep showing up because I can't -- I can't imagine doing anything else but why then, Jack, do you keep letting me? I already gave you a few outs, you know.

I am getting that, but you keep bringing it up.

[ Jack hisses it out lowly under his breath, because that's all that really upsets him here. If his future self is awful, that's... Well, it's awful. But Jack whole hope is that because of knowing, he'll be able to fight against that future now. His annoyance comes from Rhys simply repeating it, because every time he does, it makes that confidence waver, if only a fractional amount. Rhys's certainty and the experiences he speaks of are enough to dent even Jack's confidence.

He sighs slightly as he listens to Rhys, though at least the sigh is a reaction to his own sleepiness more than what Rhys is actually saying. It is a little unsettling to hear someone that you know so little about say they love you, but Jack's not about to say that. For one, he doesn't think it would go over well, but two, it's not exactly an unwelcome sentiment. A little weird, sure, but he can deal with a little weird. It's why he reaches out to Rhys, as though he wants to physically express that. ]

Yeah, wonder why, dumbass.

[ As he speaks, he reaches out to Rhys's head, or more specifically to his hair. He musses Rhys's hair playfully, though he does grip Rhys's head briefly to just kind of move his whole head here for emphasis. It probably expresses some of Jack's frustration too, but he draws his hand away to sleepily prop his head up in that hand. ]

Because I trust you more than anyone else here. Simple as that. It's not-- Okay, maybe a little unsettled, but that's just, y'know, the whole future thing. But, yeah, not you, no worries there. If I thought it was you, would've run the other way like "hell no, not today, not ever."

[ Though this is a bit disingenuous. Jack really does barely know Rhys, and most of his trust was simply based in a familiarity with how Hyperions work combined with a pretty firm belief that Rhys's obsession was genuine enough for Jack to at least trust him to act in a certain way. Rhys was useful to him more than Jack liked Rhys as a person, but Jack is at least making an effort in that second category. Just, you know. Haven't had much time, what with the murders. ]

But, hey. If it was disgust, one, would've let you get your stupid ass killed for stress puking, two, would not be cool with you coming to wake me up and bleed on me. Well, my blanket. Whatever. Not the point. My point is, I don't just call people partners because I'm feeling weirdly chummy, so don't just throw that back in my face and say it doesn't mean anything.

[ there's affection in this, or at least rhys reads it the way. he freezes slightly as jack's hand comes forward, eyes widening as he expects pain but when it's just a ruffle of hair that's enough to make it fall out of place and into his eyes, he relaxes. he lifts a hand to sweep it out and watches jack settle again, expression turning fond as he listens to jack.

there's something so nice about hearing jack flat out say that he trusts him more than anyone else. it makes rhys feel like he's jack's priority, and then the expression is joined by a smile. he's glad he came now, the stress from the meeting and the shock through his system lessening and he feels. good. he feels really good. ]

I'm... kind of getting the feeling that that word means a lot to both of us. Maybe for different reasons or whatever but, uh, not a word to use lightly.

[ he shifts then, taking a chance as he moves to lie next to jack with his head propped up in his folded arms and eyes trailing over jack's face in the dark. now that he's less scared over everything and has jack here, just settled and whole, he feels good. he feels better. he feels exhausted too and can't help but yawn. ]

Hey, could I... could I stay with you for a bit? The others won't wake up and I -- [ he pauses, chewing on his lip as he tries to think of how to put it that doesn't sound completely lame. he, uh, can't though and ends up just saying it. ] I only really feel safe around you.

[ a shrug. ]

Just until you fall asleep, then I'll go.

[ It's good to see Rhys relaxing, since it let's Jack relax a little more too. Nothing personal, Rhys, but it's still not the kind of wakeup call you want for a bloody, manic guy to come wanking you up in murdertown. Jack sighs a little and nods in agreement, though he doesn't add anything else. It's obviously true, one, but he also doesn't quite have the interest or energy to elaborate on it any further.

Jack raises an eyebrow briefly as Rhys settles to lay down, but he guesses he shouldn't be surprised. He shakes his head, but after a moment's pause and consideration, he shifts to settle down too. ]

Yeah, sure, whatever. Just don't make it weird.

[ Jack gives into that request surprisingly easily and almost dismissively. This may be because he's tired and mostly just wants to go the fuck back to sleep, but. It works well for Rhys. He sighs once he's relatively comfortable, but he ends up glancing towards Rhys with a wry, but curious smile. ]

...You feel safe around me? Seriously?

Edited 2016-10-29 02:39 (UTC)

[ it doesn't take much to get rhys to relax after that, his eyes falling closed as he just listens to the sounds of jack shifting next to him, feels the heat of his body so close by. he shifts his head to rest with his cheek on his arm and feels incredibly content, for just a moment.

when jack questions him though, his eyebrows furrow slightly and he opens his eyes back up to look at jack, confused. ]

... Yeah? I thought that was obvious. You're the only one here who, I don't know, you make me feel like everything's going to be alright. [ he yawns then, exhaustion weighing on him. ] Nothing can go wrong if I'm with you, right?

[ he'll even add on as a joke then, laugh in his voice as his eyes close again. ]

My hero. Of course I feel safe with you.

[ It is obvious, but at the same time, it doesn't really make much sense to Jack. While he'd like to think that Rhys had fully divorced the idea of his future self from the person before him, he's not so naive as to think it's that simple. So instead, that leaves the weird paradox that Rhys feels safe around someone (more or less) that had tried to kill him once. Jack knows he certainly wouldn't, and that's why he'd asked. Though considering Rhys's answer, he's fairly sure that even if he were more specific about why he was asking, he wouldn't get a satisfying answer.

So he lets it go. Maybe he shouldn't, because asking those kinds of questions about those weird paradoxes might make it more apparent what Rhys would do later. But in some things, in people, Jack sometimes preferred ignorance.

He breathes out a laugh of his own at the joke, though he can't help the twinge in his chest that comes from someone earnestly calling him a hero. That's what he's wanted... Pretty much his whole life, he thinks. He glances to Rhys, and seeing that his eyes are closed, Jack's smile turns into more of a grin, though it carries in his tone. ]

See, now that is what I like to hear. Can we do this more often? I dig the- [ He pitches his voice up mockingly, though it's not at Rhys so much as a general joke ] "Oh, Jack, my hero" thing.

[ He shrugs, but closes his own eyes too. ]

Well, tomorrow. I'm tired as hell because of my personal alarm clock here, so. Sleep time, cupcake.

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day 7 | jack

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