☞ 004.

[wouldnotkindly]

Is this sort of thing really normal... [He trails off, though, and shakes his head.] You know what, never mind. It seems like the more I ask that, the more likely it is that the answer is yes, so I guess I shouldn't bother.

[He pauses before continuing.] Uh... Ariadne. If you see this, do you think we could talk again? Thanks.

(OOC: open to fourth-wall shenanigans, have at him!)

Comments

[boutant]

Feeling better now?

[wouldnotkindly]

Yeah... I guess. [He rubs the back of his neck, glancing away.] Sorry for falling asleep on you like that.

[boutant]

It's okay. [ She drugged you, so it's not like she didn't know it was going to happen. ] You probably needed it.

[wouldnotkindly]

Maybe... That doesn't make it polite, though.

[Something about the way he speaks indicates there's something else bothering him, but he doesn't seem willing it bring it up.]

[boutant]

Jack, it's fine. Really.

[ She's not entirely certain she wants to ask, but if he suspects something... ]

Was that all?

[wouldnotkindly]

Well... [He glances down again.] No, but... It's weird. And I don't want you to get the wrong idea or anything...

[boutant]

We're in the City. Weird happens a lot.

[wouldnotkindly]

Yeah, but I don't know if this is City-weird. It's just...

[He hesitates again, then sighs.] After I fell asleep, I had this dream... I could've sworn you were in it.

[boutant]

Well, you just saw me. That makes sense.

[ Except she knows that's not the truth. ]

[wouldnotkindly]

I don't really dream that often, though. When I do, it's almost always a nightmare... [He swallows.] Like this one.

[boutant]

It was just a dream, Jack.

[wouldnotkindly]

I know that, but it... It just gave me this bad feeling, you know?

[But he quickly shakes his head.] Sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up.

[boutant]

A bad feeling? Like what?

[ Another slight smile. ] It's okay.

[wouldnotkindly]

Like... Like you were in danger.

[He shakes his head again.] No... I'm sorry. Really.

[boutant]

Well, it was a nightmare, right? That would make sense.

Jack. It's okay. Really.

[wouldnotkindly]

Yeah, but...

[Once again, he hesitates before continuing with a sigh.]

Never mind. You're right.

[boutant]

[ She hesitates for a moment as well. Would you kindly... the words roll around in her mind for a moment.

Well, why not? What's the worst thing that could happen if she says it? ]

Jack, would you kindly tell me what's bothering you?

[wouldnotkindly]

[There's another pause before he answers, but it isn't nearly as long as those preceding it — and when he does speak, it's nearly without a trace of his prior hesitance.]

I didn't see you for very long — in the dream, I mean — but when I did, you were fighting a Big Daddy. It rushed you, and it... It was gruesome. There was nothing I could do.

[boutant]

[ ... well. That's a response, though she's not sure if it means anything. ]

A Big Daddy?

[ Is that what those are called? ]

[wouldnotkindly]

[He nods.] Huge monsters in diving suits... Some of them have rivet guns, but there are others with giant drills on their arms. They're practically everywhere in Rapture.

[boutant]

[ Oh. Well. ]

That sounds... [ She's not going to finish that sentence. ] Why are they called Big Daddies?

[wouldnotkindly]

I don't really know... Maybe it's because they protect the Little Sisters—uh... Little girls.

They call them "daddy," anyway.

[boutant]

They protect little girls?

[ She knows what the little girls need protecting from, but why were those things going after them in the first place? ]

[wouldnotkindly]

Yeah... They're called "Little Sisters," but that's basically it.

[He sounds reluctant to say anything more.]

[boutant]

Why would they need protecting if they're just little girls?

[ Too bad. ]

[wouldnotkindly]

[He hesitates for some time.]

I don't know if you'd want to know the answer to that.

[boutant]

Why's that?

[ CURIOUS FOREVER. ]

[wouldnotkindly]

It's...gruesome.

[Yeah, he's clammed up again.]

[boutant]

[ Damn. Well, probably best not to push too much anyway. ]

All right.

audio

[notrapturesmessiah]

At least the ticking has stopped.

audio

[wouldnotkindly]

At least. [He sighs.] But if it starts up again...

audio

[notrapturesmessiah]

Ooh. That's an uncomfortable thought, Jack.

Are you alright?

[ryanizing]

[Why does this keep happening--]

Someone like you, expecting to find normalcy in everyday life? How naïve.

[wouldnotkindly]

[Oh, no.

Jack would recognize that voice anywhere.]

Why— [No, that's a pointless question. Why is anyone else here, after all?

He clenches his fist instead, trying to keep himself from simply shouting in response.] It's a hell of a lot more normal here than it is in Rapture.

[ryanizing]

[Ryan raises an eyebrow.] Such a skewed view of things. Not really unexpected from an insect, though.

[wouldnotkindly]

[Jack seethes; he's not going to let himself be taken down a peg by this madman.] Maybe you're the one with a skewed view, since you spent so damn long down there.

[ryanizing]

[Eh, he's only mad in some cases. Only sometimes.]

You spent an awfully long time there, too. Have you forgotten? Or have you already repressed the memories of the people you've killed?

[wouldnotkindly]

Not as long as you. And I haven't killed anyone who wasn't trying to kill me first.

[ryanizing]

[Ryan's smirking now.] Oh, of course. Neither have I.

[Yep, employing sarcasm.]

Voice - the party don't start till Atlas walks in. i mean. SORRY FOR LATENESS

[shrugged]

Boyo? That you?

[BEHOLD THE IRISHMAN SPEAKING TO YOU.]

screeeeeee

[wouldnotkindly]

Atlas?! [That makes the second voice Jack recognizes, but he's much happier to hear this one.]

Yeah, it's me— Where are you right now? [Could this finally be his chance to meet him?]

UGH SO SLOW but i'm heeeeere

[shrugged]

It's me, lad! Though I'm a mite confused. Not even entirely sure of my current location. But it sure don't look like Rapture anymore. How Andrew Ryan could've pulled this one on us I dunno, but I've learned never to underestimate 'im.