☞ 016. (video)

[wouldnotkindly]

[The video starts with some serious jostling around, but it soon straightens out and Jack's face comes into view.]

Is this... This is the City, right?

[He looks disoriented, perhaps more so than could normally be expected from those freshly returned to the City, but that's hardly the most notable thing about his appearance. There's a massive bruise on the left side of his face that stretches from his jaw to the corner of his lip, which itself is split, swollen, and bloodied; there are other spots and spatters of blood on his face, but from the lack of any other visible wounds, there's no telling if it's his own. He also looks as though he hasn't slept in far too long, but the bags under his eyes are nothing compared to the rest of his face.]

This place is really what I think it is? Not just... [He swallows, glances down for a moment, and his expression hardens.] This isn't just Fontaine fucking with me again, putting more shit in my head? Or... [His eyes squeeze shut.] I don't know. I don't remember. I can't remember.

[After a pause, he opens his eyes again, trying not to look too distressed.]

Does anyone know where I live?

Comments

[rudeandginger]

I don't exactly have anywhere else to be. Are you alright to walk?

[wouldnotkindly]

I'll be fine.

[When it comes to walking, at least. But that's all he needs to focus on at the moment.

Still, he looks over at Turlough with a tired smile.]

I don't think you'd be able to carry me all that well, anyway.

[rudeandginger]

If that's supposed to be a crack about my height, I've heard better.

[He can't but let the corner of his mouth twitch up all the same.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[Jack doesn't miss that, and he smiles a bit wider in return. The distraction is helping, at least for the moment.]

Like what?

[rudeandginger]

Nothing with enough witticism that it's worth repeating.

[He gives Jack another hard glare before he grabs for his arm and forces it to loop around his shoulder. Blood stains be damned, he's had worse.]

Come on.

[wouldnotkindly]

[He's more than surprised by the gesture, but not so much that he reacts physically. Well, except to nod and slightly lean into Turlough.]

Okay.

[rudeandginger]

You never argue much, do you?

[Not that he's complaining. It beats spending all day with Tegan. He takes a little more of his weight as he brings them closer to Jack's flat.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[That strikes him a bit, and whatever traces that still remained of his earlier smile are now gone.]

Never. [It's not like he's ever had a choice, really.]

[rudeandginger]

[He gets them through the door and hits the call button for the lift without letting go of Jack's arm. He really is a giant, heavy git, but he's also lost a lot of blood. And as much lugging him around is a pain, it'd be worse to have to scoop him up off the pavement.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[He hasn't lost too much blood at all, really. He's hurt, definitely, but most of what's on him once belonged to someone else.

He doesn't try to pull away from Turlough, but he does take some time to look around now that they're inside. The more he sees, the more he remembers — the more certain he's becoming that this isn't another phrase-triggered state of mind. But that certainty isn't quite at a hundred percent just yet.]

[rudeandginger]

[They don't speak until they're inside the flat, Turlough fishing the spare keys out of his trousers and shouldering open the door. Jack sweater really is soaked, and he tugs at the hem of it.]

I think this thing is a write-off.

[wouldnotkindly]

Huh?

[It takes Jack a moment to realize what he means, and when he does, he looks down at the sweater in question.

Back when he'd thought it was a gift from his mother, he never would have dreamed of parting with it. Now that he knows the truth, though, that his actual mother is now a rotted corpse in the back room of a Rapture strip club...]

I don't know. [He doesn't know what to think of most things anymore.]

[rudeandginger]

You don't know that blood doesn't come out of wool after this long? You really are useless, aren't you? Come on...

[He gives the jumper a sharp tug, pulling it over his head before he starts shoving him in the direction of the toilet.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[The tug is unexpected enough to jerk him right out of his thoughts, which also doesn't give him much time to react — or protest — except with a surprised noise.]

What are you doing?

[rudeandginger]

Making you take a shower. Since you seen to be a little behind at the moment.

[wouldnotkindly]

Oh.

[Once again, he doesn't have the presence of mind to make any protest. But he doesn't have the presence to do much of anything else, either, except to wonder why Turlough is even bothering this much.]

[rudeandginger]

Do you have a grip on that by now, or do I need to come in with you?

[wouldnotkindly]

I think... [He doesn't know. The thought of soaking himself in hot water for a change is definitely a welcome one, but he doesn't know if it's something he actually wants right now, much less feel like he can manage.]

[rudeandginger]

Jack.

[He steps forward and puts a small, freckled hand on the taller man's arm. His grip is stronger than his size would suggest, keeping a firm line on him.]

What happened?

[wouldnotkindly]

[He hadn't expected to be asked directly like that, much less at a time like this. The thought of answering, of even thinking where to start, sets his heart racing.]

I was... [He swallows, licks his lips.] In Rapture, I...

[How does he even begin to explain? How does he sum up what he's learned of himself in any sane way, much less what happened to him?

He glances down for a moment before meeting Turlough's gaze again.]

You know...you told me once, that honesty is a lie. [But his gaze drops again.] You were right.

[rudeandginger]

I wish I hadn't been.

[wouldnotkindly]

[Jack doesn't know what kind of answer he was expecting, but that wasn't it.]

Really?

[rudeandginger]

Obviously. I'm not as bad as person as people make me out to be.

[wouldnotkindly]

[Of course not. But it does make him think...]

I don't know if I'd call you a bad person at all. [Not compared to the only people he's known.]

[rudeandginger]

Don't let it get out.

What are you going to do now?