In which Tie posts one new log and a few old ones because she really sucks at this
Who: Jack Ryan (kindly_done) and Augustus Sinclair (worldentire)
Where: Sinclair's room
When: Shortly after the aging event
Rating: PG?
Summary: Jack is pissed about Sinclair using the WYK command while he was aged down. Yelling happens, then angst, then...fluff? Somehow it always seems to end in fluff.
the Story:
---
(12:45:15 PM) mylemonlies: With Sinclair's bot locked firmly in his closet, Jack went to see the man himself a few hours after the event ended--just long enough for him to get his bearings again. He'd woken feeling disoriented and sick, with a very small dog that had already pissed in a corner, and one ugly memory burning a hole in his mind: a southern drawl and three words, would you kindly.
He stepped up to Sinclair's door, made his right hand into his fist, and began to knock without stopping.
"Sinclair!"
(12:47:01 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Sinclair cursed slightly under his breath. He had an idea where one of his "whirlybirds" (damn you, Grace. Seemed every time he looked at them her voice echoed in his head) had gone off to, and he didn't like it. "I'm here, son," he called out, lighting a cigarette and sticking it into the holder. This wasn't going to be pretty. "Come on in."
(12:49:13 PM) mylemonlies: Jack entered, his mouth twisted in an expression of rage--and behind that, hurt. The door banged against the outside wall behind him, and then swung back closed on the force of the ricochet.
"You--"
He couldn't even think of what to say.
(12:50:35 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I? You'll have to be a little more specific." He leaned back, cocking his head slightly, half-open eyes looking the man over. "You look like hell, son. Everything all right?"
(12:52:32 PM) mylemonlies: "What do you think?"
He rolled his shoulders a little and strode forward; when he moved like that, it was hard to think of him as anything other than a killer. He reached out to grab Sinclair by the collar and yank him toward him.
(12:55:27 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Oh, wasn't this familiar. Quick flashes of countless men over the years (Andrew Ryan, Frank Fontaine, countless other nameless nobodies) pulling this exact move on him circled behind the eyes, and he met this encounter with the same calm demeanor as all the others. "Now now, Jack. I doubt there's any need for any'a this," he said, sounding friendly, though his voice was a little quieter.
(12:56:24 PM) mylemonlies: Jack twisted the fabric, his hand shaking against the older man's throat.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't crack your skull. Then give me a good reason why I should listen to any of your reasons."
(12:57:35 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Because, like it or not, you'd be wastin' your time. Death didn't stop me the first time; what makes you think you'll succeed killin' me in cold blood when beggin' for it didn't put me down?" He clicked his tongue. "Not to mention, you'd regret it. You'd be guilty for damn near weeks."
(12:58:24 PM) mylemonlies: He released Sinclair, shoving him back into his chair.
"Why'd you do it?"
(12:59:06 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I've done a good deal in my life, son. You'll have t'be a little more specific." He shifted slightly, getting comfortable and stifling the slightly worried look.
(1:00:04 PM) mylemonlies: "You know. You said it, the--the--during the event, you--"
He whirled away, staring hard at the floor.
(1:03:59 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Ah. "First of all, I had t'make sure you were who I thought you were. Don't know if you've ever seen yourself, son, but you're not ... normal-lookin', like that." He paused. The lie sounded good enough to him. "Second, I had t'get you here somehow. You weren't goin' t'be trustin' me right off. You were scared and confused and I thought it wouldn't hurt t'help." He shifted again, raising an eyebrow. "Third, it's not like I was tryin' t'get you t'do somethin' horrible. I tested it, and I only tested it once. I didn't keep pushin' it because-" don't say because you're a friend, don't say because you're a friend "..you're a friend'a mine." ....damnit.
(1:07:11 PM) mylemonlies: Jack laughed, a bitter sound with a tense thread behind it that sounded as if he might have been supressing tears.
"Some friend. I told you my name. How many people named Jack do you think knew Suchong? And the dog? Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?"
(1:08:24 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Oh, hell. He bit back a sigh, pursed his lips, took a drag off his cigarette. "It was what you were lookin' for, son. I wanted t'put you at ease," he replied quietly, and he honestly meant it.
(1:09:35 PM) mylemonlies: "Put me at--"
He drew a deep, ragged breath.
"Do you know what happened to the puppy Suchong gave me?"
(1:11:32 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I have an idea," he said darkly, cocking his head again. "You have t'keep in mind this was an in-the-moment sort've thing. It's not like I'm tryin' t'bring back memories. You were lookin' for 'Papa Suchong' and the puppy he had for you, so I gave you a puppy and sent you back to your room." A quick shrug. "And I'd like my bot back, if you don't mind."
(1:12:09 PM) mylemonlies: "He made me break its neck."
Pause.
"I'll think about the bot."
(1:13:07 PM) frozenfoxfirex: He decided not to mention that he knew. He decided not to mention that it was partially his idea. He decided not to mention any number of things he could have said right then, purely to keep the peace. Instead, he shrugged, held his hands out. "Fair enough." A pause. "What're you doin' with the dog?"
(1:14:17 PM) mylemonlies: "I don't know yet. It pissed behind my bed."
(1:15:04 PM) frozenfoxfirex: The tension in the room was still thick, so he decided not to laugh. "If you're not keepin' it, do me a favor and don't kill the thing. Just give it to any'a the kids runnin' around here, alright?"
(1:15:25 PM) mylemonlies: "Why would I kill it?!"
(1:16:36 PM) frozenfoxfirex: ... damnit. "I haven't the slightest, son," he replied coolly. "It'd be better than just sendin' it out of the mansion t'be eaten by God knows what, honestly."
(1:20:02 PM) mylemonlies: "I'm not going to hurt the dog!" His voice rose in pitch, and he clenched his hands into fists to keep them from shaking.
(1:22:52 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Alright, alright. Calm down, Jack." The last thing he needed was zapped. Or burned. Or any of the other Plasmids in the arsenal the boy had, really. The tiniest bit of worry touched his still half-lidded gaze. "I don't doubt it."
(12:22:36 PM) mylemonlies: Jack paced across the room, lips tight with fury, and then he rounded on Sinclair again, snapping his fingers several times in quick succession. He leaned in close to the other man, nostrils flaring, and shook the green globe of Hypnotize under his nose.
"I could have used this, and I didn't."
(12:23:40 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "You wouldn't be the first one," he replied, very, very quietly. "But I see your point."
(12:24:15 PM) mylemonlies: "Do you?"
He snapped the plasmid back off and backed up a couple of steps.
"Good."
(12:25:07 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Sinclair could almost feel Lamb's breath on his neck. It took everything in him to supress the shiver that came from seeing the lime green orb. "It wasn't my aim t'control you."
(12:25:37 PM) mylemonlies: "It's what you did."
(12:27:08 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I realize that." He shifted slightly. "It wasn't something I'd planned t'use more than once, and I didn't. It was just a test." He almost sounded monotone in his explanation, as if trying to convince himself and not just Jack.
(12:30:10 PM) mylemonlies: "A test? You knew who I was."
(12:32:14 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I was checking the stage of production. See, when they were bringin' you about I saw you very briefly, once. Maybe twice. That key in your head wasn't always there."
(12:34:04 PM) mylemonlies: Jack stops for a long moment, just staring at him. His eyes are glassy, almost blank. He shudders, trying to shake it off.
"Why does it matter what...stage it was?"
(12:37:25 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Because you weren't human for the first few months." He looked at Jack grimly. "You don't remember it, but ... it wasn't pretty."
(12:39:03 PM) mylemonlies: Jack went rather pale.
"Don't remember much of anything."
(12:40:43 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "You weren't human until he wanted you t'be, and the last thing this damn place needs is you, runnin' around, terrified and violent and uncomprehensive." A pause. "The control came after he made you human. It wasn't very long between the stages, but none of it took very long. Ten years is a long time t'lose, son, and you're one hell of a special case."
(12:49:07 PM) mylemonlies: "It wasn't even really ten years, so I don't know how..."
He swallows, looks around for somewhere to sit.
"Tell me what it was like...?"
(12:50:04 PM) frozenfoxfirex: He sighed heavily, took a long drag from his cigarette (which had almost burned down, now) and fixed Jack with a wary look. "You sure about this, son?"
(12:50:23 PM) mylemonlies: "Give me a cigarette and then I'll be sure."
(2:04:03 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Sinclair pulled his rumpled pack out, gave himself a new cigarette and lit it, and tossed the pack at Jack. He decided against throwing the lighter, too - it was his favourite, and besides, if Jack was packing Hypnotize? There was no doubt he had Inferno too. He sighed, taking another long drag, and raised an eyebrow at the boy. "At first you were just a fetus, but they accelerated your growth. Not sure how many plasmids or how much ADAM they fed you, but you grew fast. At first you were just ... this hulking weird mass, and it... wasn't pretty. At all. You were raw emotion, scared and confused. Brought into this world in no natural way, and such you weren't more than an unnatural thing." He paused, shifted, slightly uncomfortable. "They got you t'control that violence, made it second nature. Then they made you human." Another shift. "I wasn't too involved in the process for a lot'a different reasons, none'a which I blame Fontaine for. I figured a lot more out after the fact. Once Rapture really went t'hell and you came in with guns a'blazin', it wasn't hard t'find anythin' that hadn't yet been burned and put the pieces together." He shrugged.
(2:23:18 PM) mylemonlies: Jack lights his cigarette and looks at the floor while Sinclair relates his story. About halfway through, his hand starts to shake, and his breath comes heavy in his chest. He wants to tell Sinclair to stop, that's enough, too much, but he can't make the words come.
(2:25:13 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "They had t'balance all the plasmids eventually, t'get you t'look human. Took a while, but they did a nice job, considerin'." He noticed Jack's reaction, and raised an eyebrow. "You all right, there, son?"
(2:32:10 PM) mylemonlies: He nods mutely, but it's an automatic response; he doesn't look all right at all. His gaze is too fixed, pupils shrunk to tiny dots, and his shoulders are quivering with tension.
(2:33:59 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Frankly, you look like battered hell." He stands and moves to the closet, pulls out a decanter of brandy, pours Jack a few fingers in a glass. He hands it to the boy, putting the cigarette to his lips. "C'mon back, now, Jack," he says, slightly worried.
(2:40:53 PM) mylemonlies: Jack startles so violently that he knocks the glass out of Sinclair's hand, sending it shattering across the floor, but his gaze is focused, if distressed, when he looks up.
"...shit. Shit. I'm sorry."
(2:42:19 PM) frozenfoxfirex: He gives Jack a slightly amused look, raising an eyebrow. "It's alright, son," he replies, pulling another glass out of the closet and repeating it. "Don't go breakin' this one, alright?"
(2:43:18 PM) mylemonlies: "Should have been more careful. I could have hurt you."
(2:44:33 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Wouldn't be the first time I've been hurt, son, and I doubt it'd be the last. Besides, I've weathered my fair share'a plasmids. Telekinesis is the least'a my worries." A half-smile.
(2:47:58 PM) mylemonlies: He knocks back the brandy at a gulp, sputtering only a little as it burns its way down his throat, grounding him at least for the moment.
"God."
(2:49:43 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I've got all kinds'a stories about Rapture, if you're interested in 'em, but.. A lot of it's not pretty, and seein' you like this makes me think it'd be better if you took it slow from here on out, kid."
(2:50:41 PM) mylemonlies: "I think I remembered it."
And he's still feeling the aftershocks. He shivers.
(2:53:32 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Well, hell. "You really ought t'take it easy, then. You don't want t'take too much'a this at a time - it's a good way t'get your brain t'shut down." Sinclair grimaces. "They put in a bunch'a different safe-guards and things. Don't push it."
(2:55:52 PM) mylemonlies: He nods absently, and sticks his glass out for more brandy.
"The weird thing is I don't think there was anything to remember. No pictures, no words."
(2:56:39 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Sinclair refills it carefully, raising an eyebrow. "... Emotions?"
(2:57:03 PM) mylemonlies: Another short nod.
"Like a storm."
(3:01:12 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Hn." It wasn't unheard of - and he was sure it was better if there was no actual memory. "... Can't be pleasant."
(3:02:56 PM) mylemonlies: "Not really."
Short pause.
"Why didn't anyone try to stop them?"
There's a pleading note to his voice, an almost-whine at the back of the words.
(3:06:25 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Frank Fontaine was the sort'a man who kept his cards close to the vest. Not only did he make sure nothin' was ever found while it could be stopped, he also killed most'a the men who either found out or worked on the project. It wasn't the sort'a thing that could've been stopped, son."
(3:07:13 PM) mylemonlies: "The bastard told me I should be grateful."
(3:08:44 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Sounds about right." He decided against mentioning that he knew - radios weren't exactly private, if a fella knew what he was doing. "He believed he was God's gift t'just about the world."
(3:09:44 PM) mylemonlies: "Wish I'd had the chance to kill him myself."
(3:11:12 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "You didn't?" Sinclair replies, and he's genuinely surprised.
(3:12:18 PM) mylemonlies: Jack blinks. Sinclair seems to have sucked the marrow out of every other scrap of knowledge Rapture had to offer, so he'd simply assumed that nothing he could say would surprise the older man. It would appear that he was incorrect in this assumption.
"You didn't know?"
(3:14:10 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Not much that went into that room came back out," he grumbles. "I just assumed you're the one who killed him. Nothin' left but a corpse and a mess'a ADAM needl-..." He pauses, raises an eyebrow. "... How'd he die, exactly?"
(3:14:52 PM) mylemonlies: Jack smiles grimly.
"You got it. The girls."
(3:16:43 PM) frozenfoxfirex: He stares at Jack for a while, unable to think of anything to say. "Well, that's ... Because you went savin' them? Or did Tenenbaum put'em up to it?"
(3:17:58 PM) mylemonlies: "Brigid didn't say anything to them that I heard. They never told me, and I never asked, but I figure..."
He pauses to take a drag.
"I turned them human and protected them with my life, and they repaid me with mine."
(3:31:14 PM) frozenfoxfirex: He snorts, gives a little smile that may be entirely bitter. "Fits you perfectly, doesn't it? Somethin' like that. Selflessness even while you've got someone pullin' the strings, and it ends up savin' you. Guess we both got a fittin' end."
(3:32:32 PM) mylemonlies: Jack looks up at him, surprised that he's let his guard down enough to sound so bitter.
"What do you mean?"
(3:33:27 PM) frozenfoxfirex: For a moment he considers telling Jack, but decides against it. "Nothin' you need t'worry about, son," he replies easily, waving a hand, the bitter tone gone. "Just trust me on this one."
(3:38:32 PM) mylemonlies: "I don't think I'm as much of a...selfless person as you're thinking."
(3:40:07 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "If I were you I wouldn't have saved those girls," Sinclair replies, and though it's blunt his voice is even and smooth, as always. It's the exact truth, and he's unashamed.
(3:40:51 PM) mylemonlies: "You mean you would have killed them."
It's impossible for Jack to hide the look of disgust on his face.
(3:44:20 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "If that's the way you want t'put it." He raises an eyebrow. "You, Delta and Tenenbaum're the only three people I know in all'a Rapture who helped those girls, and one'a those put'em into that hell in the first place. I think you're just as selfless as I think you are."
(3:45:33 PM) mylemonlies: "I think I'd have liked to meet Delta. But...I killed so many others."
Cohen's disciples weigh particularly on him.
(3:46:59 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Didn't talk much," Sinclair replies, a dry tone to his voice. "You're not the only one out'a Rapture with blood on his hands. And considerin' half the men you killed were completely insane and you were under mind control, I'd say you're probably the most innocent."
(3:48:01 PM) mylemonlies: "Yeah, that's what I try to tell myself."
(3:48:47 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "There's nothin' else to it."
(3:52:46 PM) mylemonlies: "In Fort Frolic..."
He falters, clenches his fingers around his glass, wanting to excuse himself, not wanting to say it.
"I'm not sure I had to do what I did."
(3:54:43 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Sander Cohen." He grimaces. "I can't imagine that was fun."
(3:55:31 PM) mylemonlies: "I killed all his students and took their pictures. Still don't know why I let him live."
(3:56:11 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "... You did it because he told you to, right?" Please tell me yes.
(4:01:42 PM) mylemonlies: "He didn't use the command," Jack admits.
(2:32:19 AM) mylemonlies: (4:02:41 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "There's no way he could've known the command," Sinclair agrees, and raises an eyebrow. "Sander Cohen was insane before ADAM ever came about, honestly. Can't imagine he'd just let you out'a Fort Frolic without makin' you do somethin'."
(4:04:17 PM) mylemonlies: "Those men were trapped, scared to death...and I killed them."
(2:47:19 AM) frozenfoxfirex: Sinclair sighs, cocks his head. "Listen, son, sometimes there're just things you've got t'do t'survive. You can't blame yourself for bein' forced t'do anythin' t'get through Frolic, by Fontaine and Cohen both, and you can't keep tellin' yourself that it's your fault. It's not."
(2:55:51 AM) mylemonlies: "I try, but..."
He looks down at his hands, shrugs helplessly.
"So much blood."
(3:00:56 AM) frozenfoxfirex: For a long moment, he stares at Jack. He wonders if he should spill a few secrets - out of all the murderers and thieves of Rapture, he was certainly one of the worst. Finally he takes a long drag of his cigarette and sighs. "I can't convince you of anythin', son. You're goin' t'have t'get over this yourself. I can say, however, that of all the killers in Rapture you aren't the worst. You at least had a reason for it, no matter what it was, that wasn't selfish or greedy, and that's all that can be said for it."
(3:10:54 AM) mylemonlies: "I feel like it would be easier if I had something else to hold on to. If I'd had more time with the girls, maybe."
(3:13:04 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "I'm sure you'll get over it soon, sport," he replies easily, giving a slight half-smile. "It's nothin' you could've avoided. S'better than I've done, at least." A shrug.
(3:19:24 AM) mylemonlies: "Anyone can change," he says, suddenly looking up at Sinclair.
Or maybe it's because he wants to believe in Sinclair; he's come to count on the older man and doesn't want to lose that.
(3:21:40 AM) frozenfoxfirex: The look from Jack unsettles him slightly, and he shifts. "... I'm sure they can," he replies quietly, and goes silent.
A sudden thought hits him. ".. Did you leave that dog alone?"
(3:22:08 AM) mylemonlies: He bites his lip.
"I put her in the closet with a towel and some water."
(3:22:52 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "You should probably go check on her, then," he says with a small laugh, a slightly concerned look on his face.
(3:27:15 AM) mylemonlies: He stands.
"I...named her Celeste."
(3:27:42 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "That's really pretty, Jack," Sinclair replies, with an easy smile. He seems to have recovered, though he's still somewhat uncomfortable.
(3:28:02 AM) mylemonlies: "It was Angel's idea, not mine. She's one of the children here."
(3:28:21 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "I know. She told me adults aren't t'be trusted." A pause. "I suppose, to a point, she's right."
)
(3:29:28 AM) mylemonlies: "I haven't known very many trustworthy ones myself."
(3:30:34 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "I make it my business not to," and though he's grinning he knows it's not funny. It's actually a little sad, he thinks, but ignores the niggling voices. "Better go on, then, son. Don't want the poor thing t'starve or anythin'."
(3:31:25 AM) mylemonlies: "I'll have to go to the library and find some books on dogs."
He huffs through his nose, a very childlike sound of frustration. He doesn't like to read much.
(3:48:11 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "It's not that hard t'take care of one, y'know. Just feed it and play with it and make sure you train it right." He raises an eyebrow. "How do you take care'a those girls?"
(3:48:41 AM) mylemonlies: "That's not the same thing at all," Jack says, drawing up indignantly.
(3:49:43 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "It's the same basic pattern. It needs care, keeping, attention and discipline." Sinclair shrugs.
(3:50:01 AM) mylemonlies: "But a dog can't tell me when something's wrong."
(3:50:25 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "Sure it can. It's easy enough t'read the signs."
(3:50:51 AM) mylemonlies: "But I don't know how."
(3:51:20 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "You'll learn. Every dog's different. They just have certain quirks." A pause. "... Do ... you need help?"
(3:59:50 AM) mylemonlies: "...I might," Jack admits. "I don't even take care of the girls on my own, really. Brigid comes often."
(4:06:04 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "... Well, I can help you, son. Used t'raise spaniels, livin' topside. First step is t'get the damn thing out've the closet."
(4:06:24 AM) mylemonlies: He flushes guiltily.
"Didn't want her to get lost," he mumbles.
(4:07:18 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "Puttin' her on a leash would've been a better idea," Sinclair grins, biting back laughter. "That's real cute'n all, but you don't want her t'start thinkin' she's supposed t'go in there or somethin'."
(4:07:55 AM) mylemonlies: "I just...there's, um."
He looks a the ceiling and fidgets awkwardly.
(4:08:16 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "There's um what, son?" And this time he does laugh, because to be honest it is kind of funny.
(4:08:42 AM) mylemonlies: Jack shoots him a wry glare.
"A lot of guns in my room."
(4:09:23 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "And what's the dog goin' t'do, pull the trigger?"
(4:09:51 AM) mylemonlies: "She could hurt herself if she knocked one over, or trigger a prox mine, or..."
(4:11:17 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "... Maybe you should clean up a bit," Sinclair replies uneasily. "Make it so they're out'a her reach. And make sure you start trainin' her now. Might be easier, here in Wonderland. You'll need a leash, and a dog bed, unless you want her sleepin' up with you. Water and food bowls, a toy or two. Somethin' for her t'chew on, or she'll be tearin' up your entire-" He blanched. "Wait, ythink the closets work for dogs, too?"
(4:12:04 AM) mylemonlies: "How do you mean?"
What would a dog get out of a closet?
(4:12:47 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "Well, if stickin' your hand in and thinkin' of a pack'a cigarettes means one just so happens t'pop into your hand, does that mean that any little thing could just pop on into her head and poff up in the closet?"
(4:21:41 AM) mylemonlies: "I...have no idea."
Frown.
"I hope not."
(4:23:22 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "We'd better get over there, son, and quick, just in case." Sinclair stands. He's quite serious-looking. The last thing the mansion needs, he thinks, is a lonely puppy in a magical closet.
(4:23:59 AM) mylemonlies: The urgency is catching, and Jack goes rather wide-eyed, most of his animosity toward Sinclair forgotten in his concern for Celeste.
"Well, let's go."
[OOC: I will ETA to add the other two logs later. It's late.]
Where: Sinclair's room
When: Shortly after the aging event
Rating: PG?
Summary: Jack is pissed about Sinclair using the WYK command while he was aged down. Yelling happens, then angst, then...fluff? Somehow it always seems to end in fluff.
the Story:
---
(12:45:15 PM) mylemonlies: With Sinclair's bot locked firmly in his closet, Jack went to see the man himself a few hours after the event ended--just long enough for him to get his bearings again. He'd woken feeling disoriented and sick, with a very small dog that had already pissed in a corner, and one ugly memory burning a hole in his mind: a southern drawl and three words, would you kindly.
He stepped up to Sinclair's door, made his right hand into his fist, and began to knock without stopping.
"Sinclair!"
(12:47:01 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Sinclair cursed slightly under his breath. He had an idea where one of his "whirlybirds" (damn you, Grace. Seemed every time he looked at them her voice echoed in his head) had gone off to, and he didn't like it. "I'm here, son," he called out, lighting a cigarette and sticking it into the holder. This wasn't going to be pretty. "Come on in."
(12:49:13 PM) mylemonlies: Jack entered, his mouth twisted in an expression of rage--and behind that, hurt. The door banged against the outside wall behind him, and then swung back closed on the force of the ricochet.
"You--"
He couldn't even think of what to say.
(12:50:35 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I? You'll have to be a little more specific." He leaned back, cocking his head slightly, half-open eyes looking the man over. "You look like hell, son. Everything all right?"
(12:52:32 PM) mylemonlies: "What do you think?"
He rolled his shoulders a little and strode forward; when he moved like that, it was hard to think of him as anything other than a killer. He reached out to grab Sinclair by the collar and yank him toward him.
(12:55:27 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Oh, wasn't this familiar. Quick flashes of countless men over the years (Andrew Ryan, Frank Fontaine, countless other nameless nobodies) pulling this exact move on him circled behind the eyes, and he met this encounter with the same calm demeanor as all the others. "Now now, Jack. I doubt there's any need for any'a this," he said, sounding friendly, though his voice was a little quieter.
(12:56:24 PM) mylemonlies: Jack twisted the fabric, his hand shaking against the older man's throat.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't crack your skull. Then give me a good reason why I should listen to any of your reasons."
(12:57:35 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Because, like it or not, you'd be wastin' your time. Death didn't stop me the first time; what makes you think you'll succeed killin' me in cold blood when beggin' for it didn't put me down?" He clicked his tongue. "Not to mention, you'd regret it. You'd be guilty for damn near weeks."
(12:58:24 PM) mylemonlies: He released Sinclair, shoving him back into his chair.
"Why'd you do it?"
(12:59:06 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I've done a good deal in my life, son. You'll have t'be a little more specific." He shifted slightly, getting comfortable and stifling the slightly worried look.
(1:00:04 PM) mylemonlies: "You know. You said it, the--the--during the event, you--"
He whirled away, staring hard at the floor.
(1:03:59 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Ah. "First of all, I had t'make sure you were who I thought you were. Don't know if you've ever seen yourself, son, but you're not ... normal-lookin', like that." He paused. The lie sounded good enough to him. "Second, I had t'get you here somehow. You weren't goin' t'be trustin' me right off. You were scared and confused and I thought it wouldn't hurt t'help." He shifted again, raising an eyebrow. "Third, it's not like I was tryin' t'get you t'do somethin' horrible. I tested it, and I only tested it once. I didn't keep pushin' it because-" don't say because you're a friend, don't say because you're a friend "..you're a friend'a mine." ....damnit.
(1:07:11 PM) mylemonlies: Jack laughed, a bitter sound with a tense thread behind it that sounded as if he might have been supressing tears.
"Some friend. I told you my name. How many people named Jack do you think knew Suchong? And the dog? Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?"
(1:08:24 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Oh, hell. He bit back a sigh, pursed his lips, took a drag off his cigarette. "It was what you were lookin' for, son. I wanted t'put you at ease," he replied quietly, and he honestly meant it.
(1:09:35 PM) mylemonlies: "Put me at--"
He drew a deep, ragged breath.
"Do you know what happened to the puppy Suchong gave me?"
(1:11:32 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I have an idea," he said darkly, cocking his head again. "You have t'keep in mind this was an in-the-moment sort've thing. It's not like I'm tryin' t'bring back memories. You were lookin' for 'Papa Suchong' and the puppy he had for you, so I gave you a puppy and sent you back to your room." A quick shrug. "And I'd like my bot back, if you don't mind."
(1:12:09 PM) mylemonlies: "He made me break its neck."
Pause.
"I'll think about the bot."
(1:13:07 PM) frozenfoxfirex: He decided not to mention that he knew. He decided not to mention that it was partially his idea. He decided not to mention any number of things he could have said right then, purely to keep the peace. Instead, he shrugged, held his hands out. "Fair enough." A pause. "What're you doin' with the dog?"
(1:14:17 PM) mylemonlies: "I don't know yet. It pissed behind my bed."
(1:15:04 PM) frozenfoxfirex: The tension in the room was still thick, so he decided not to laugh. "If you're not keepin' it, do me a favor and don't kill the thing. Just give it to any'a the kids runnin' around here, alright?"
(1:15:25 PM) mylemonlies: "Why would I kill it?!"
(1:16:36 PM) frozenfoxfirex: ... damnit. "I haven't the slightest, son," he replied coolly. "It'd be better than just sendin' it out of the mansion t'be eaten by God knows what, honestly."
(1:20:02 PM) mylemonlies: "I'm not going to hurt the dog!" His voice rose in pitch, and he clenched his hands into fists to keep them from shaking.
(1:22:52 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Alright, alright. Calm down, Jack." The last thing he needed was zapped. Or burned. Or any of the other Plasmids in the arsenal the boy had, really. The tiniest bit of worry touched his still half-lidded gaze. "I don't doubt it."
(12:22:36 PM) mylemonlies: Jack paced across the room, lips tight with fury, and then he rounded on Sinclair again, snapping his fingers several times in quick succession. He leaned in close to the other man, nostrils flaring, and shook the green globe of Hypnotize under his nose.
"I could have used this, and I didn't."
(12:23:40 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "You wouldn't be the first one," he replied, very, very quietly. "But I see your point."
(12:24:15 PM) mylemonlies: "Do you?"
He snapped the plasmid back off and backed up a couple of steps.
"Good."
(12:25:07 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Sinclair could almost feel Lamb's breath on his neck. It took everything in him to supress the shiver that came from seeing the lime green orb. "It wasn't my aim t'control you."
(12:25:37 PM) mylemonlies: "It's what you did."
(12:27:08 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I realize that." He shifted slightly. "It wasn't something I'd planned t'use more than once, and I didn't. It was just a test." He almost sounded monotone in his explanation, as if trying to convince himself and not just Jack.
(12:30:10 PM) mylemonlies: "A test? You knew who I was."
(12:32:14 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I was checking the stage of production. See, when they were bringin' you about I saw you very briefly, once. Maybe twice. That key in your head wasn't always there."
(12:34:04 PM) mylemonlies: Jack stops for a long moment, just staring at him. His eyes are glassy, almost blank. He shudders, trying to shake it off.
"Why does it matter what...stage it was?"
(12:37:25 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Because you weren't human for the first few months." He looked at Jack grimly. "You don't remember it, but ... it wasn't pretty."
(12:39:03 PM) mylemonlies: Jack went rather pale.
"Don't remember much of anything."
(12:40:43 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "You weren't human until he wanted you t'be, and the last thing this damn place needs is you, runnin' around, terrified and violent and uncomprehensive." A pause. "The control came after he made you human. It wasn't very long between the stages, but none of it took very long. Ten years is a long time t'lose, son, and you're one hell of a special case."
(12:49:07 PM) mylemonlies: "It wasn't even really ten years, so I don't know how..."
He swallows, looks around for somewhere to sit.
"Tell me what it was like...?"
(12:50:04 PM) frozenfoxfirex: He sighed heavily, took a long drag from his cigarette (which had almost burned down, now) and fixed Jack with a wary look. "You sure about this, son?"
(12:50:23 PM) mylemonlies: "Give me a cigarette and then I'll be sure."
(2:04:03 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Sinclair pulled his rumpled pack out, gave himself a new cigarette and lit it, and tossed the pack at Jack. He decided against throwing the lighter, too - it was his favourite, and besides, if Jack was packing Hypnotize? There was no doubt he had Inferno too. He sighed, taking another long drag, and raised an eyebrow at the boy. "At first you were just a fetus, but they accelerated your growth. Not sure how many plasmids or how much ADAM they fed you, but you grew fast. At first you were just ... this hulking weird mass, and it... wasn't pretty. At all. You were raw emotion, scared and confused. Brought into this world in no natural way, and such you weren't more than an unnatural thing." He paused, shifted, slightly uncomfortable. "They got you t'control that violence, made it second nature. Then they made you human." Another shift. "I wasn't too involved in the process for a lot'a different reasons, none'a which I blame Fontaine for. I figured a lot more out after the fact. Once Rapture really went t'hell and you came in with guns a'blazin', it wasn't hard t'find anythin' that hadn't yet been burned and put the pieces together." He shrugged.
(2:23:18 PM) mylemonlies: Jack lights his cigarette and looks at the floor while Sinclair relates his story. About halfway through, his hand starts to shake, and his breath comes heavy in his chest. He wants to tell Sinclair to stop, that's enough, too much, but he can't make the words come.
(2:25:13 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "They had t'balance all the plasmids eventually, t'get you t'look human. Took a while, but they did a nice job, considerin'." He noticed Jack's reaction, and raised an eyebrow. "You all right, there, son?"
(2:32:10 PM) mylemonlies: He nods mutely, but it's an automatic response; he doesn't look all right at all. His gaze is too fixed, pupils shrunk to tiny dots, and his shoulders are quivering with tension.
(2:33:59 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Frankly, you look like battered hell." He stands and moves to the closet, pulls out a decanter of brandy, pours Jack a few fingers in a glass. He hands it to the boy, putting the cigarette to his lips. "C'mon back, now, Jack," he says, slightly worried.
(2:40:53 PM) mylemonlies: Jack startles so violently that he knocks the glass out of Sinclair's hand, sending it shattering across the floor, but his gaze is focused, if distressed, when he looks up.
"...shit. Shit. I'm sorry."
(2:42:19 PM) frozenfoxfirex: He gives Jack a slightly amused look, raising an eyebrow. "It's alright, son," he replies, pulling another glass out of the closet and repeating it. "Don't go breakin' this one, alright?"
(2:43:18 PM) mylemonlies: "Should have been more careful. I could have hurt you."
(2:44:33 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Wouldn't be the first time I've been hurt, son, and I doubt it'd be the last. Besides, I've weathered my fair share'a plasmids. Telekinesis is the least'a my worries." A half-smile.
(2:47:58 PM) mylemonlies: He knocks back the brandy at a gulp, sputtering only a little as it burns its way down his throat, grounding him at least for the moment.
"God."
(2:49:43 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "I've got all kinds'a stories about Rapture, if you're interested in 'em, but.. A lot of it's not pretty, and seein' you like this makes me think it'd be better if you took it slow from here on out, kid."
(2:50:41 PM) mylemonlies: "I think I remembered it."
And he's still feeling the aftershocks. He shivers.
(2:53:32 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Well, hell. "You really ought t'take it easy, then. You don't want t'take too much'a this at a time - it's a good way t'get your brain t'shut down." Sinclair grimaces. "They put in a bunch'a different safe-guards and things. Don't push it."
(2:55:52 PM) mylemonlies: He nods absently, and sticks his glass out for more brandy.
"The weird thing is I don't think there was anything to remember. No pictures, no words."
(2:56:39 PM) frozenfoxfirex: Sinclair refills it carefully, raising an eyebrow. "... Emotions?"
(2:57:03 PM) mylemonlies: Another short nod.
"Like a storm."
(3:01:12 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Hn." It wasn't unheard of - and he was sure it was better if there was no actual memory. "... Can't be pleasant."
(3:02:56 PM) mylemonlies: "Not really."
Short pause.
"Why didn't anyone try to stop them?"
There's a pleading note to his voice, an almost-whine at the back of the words.
(3:06:25 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Frank Fontaine was the sort'a man who kept his cards close to the vest. Not only did he make sure nothin' was ever found while it could be stopped, he also killed most'a the men who either found out or worked on the project. It wasn't the sort'a thing that could've been stopped, son."
(3:07:13 PM) mylemonlies: "The bastard told me I should be grateful."
(3:08:44 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Sounds about right." He decided against mentioning that he knew - radios weren't exactly private, if a fella knew what he was doing. "He believed he was God's gift t'just about the world."
(3:09:44 PM) mylemonlies: "Wish I'd had the chance to kill him myself."
(3:11:12 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "You didn't?" Sinclair replies, and he's genuinely surprised.
(3:12:18 PM) mylemonlies: Jack blinks. Sinclair seems to have sucked the marrow out of every other scrap of knowledge Rapture had to offer, so he'd simply assumed that nothing he could say would surprise the older man. It would appear that he was incorrect in this assumption.
"You didn't know?"
(3:14:10 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Not much that went into that room came back out," he grumbles. "I just assumed you're the one who killed him. Nothin' left but a corpse and a mess'a ADAM needl-..." He pauses, raises an eyebrow. "... How'd he die, exactly?"
(3:14:52 PM) mylemonlies: Jack smiles grimly.
"You got it. The girls."
(3:16:43 PM) frozenfoxfirex: He stares at Jack for a while, unable to think of anything to say. "Well, that's ... Because you went savin' them? Or did Tenenbaum put'em up to it?"
(3:17:58 PM) mylemonlies: "Brigid didn't say anything to them that I heard. They never told me, and I never asked, but I figure..."
He pauses to take a drag.
"I turned them human and protected them with my life, and they repaid me with mine."
(3:31:14 PM) frozenfoxfirex: He snorts, gives a little smile that may be entirely bitter. "Fits you perfectly, doesn't it? Somethin' like that. Selflessness even while you've got someone pullin' the strings, and it ends up savin' you. Guess we both got a fittin' end."
(3:32:32 PM) mylemonlies: Jack looks up at him, surprised that he's let his guard down enough to sound so bitter.
"What do you mean?"
(3:33:27 PM) frozenfoxfirex: For a moment he considers telling Jack, but decides against it. "Nothin' you need t'worry about, son," he replies easily, waving a hand, the bitter tone gone. "Just trust me on this one."
(3:38:32 PM) mylemonlies: "I don't think I'm as much of a...selfless person as you're thinking."
(3:40:07 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "If I were you I wouldn't have saved those girls," Sinclair replies, and though it's blunt his voice is even and smooth, as always. It's the exact truth, and he's unashamed.
(3:40:51 PM) mylemonlies: "You mean you would have killed them."
It's impossible for Jack to hide the look of disgust on his face.
(3:44:20 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "If that's the way you want t'put it." He raises an eyebrow. "You, Delta and Tenenbaum're the only three people I know in all'a Rapture who helped those girls, and one'a those put'em into that hell in the first place. I think you're just as selfless as I think you are."
(3:45:33 PM) mylemonlies: "I think I'd have liked to meet Delta. But...I killed so many others."
Cohen's disciples weigh particularly on him.
(3:46:59 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Didn't talk much," Sinclair replies, a dry tone to his voice. "You're not the only one out'a Rapture with blood on his hands. And considerin' half the men you killed were completely insane and you were under mind control, I'd say you're probably the most innocent."
(3:48:01 PM) mylemonlies: "Yeah, that's what I try to tell myself."
(3:48:47 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "There's nothin' else to it."
(3:52:46 PM) mylemonlies: "In Fort Frolic..."
He falters, clenches his fingers around his glass, wanting to excuse himself, not wanting to say it.
"I'm not sure I had to do what I did."
(3:54:43 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "Sander Cohen." He grimaces. "I can't imagine that was fun."
(3:55:31 PM) mylemonlies: "I killed all his students and took their pictures. Still don't know why I let him live."
(3:56:11 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "... You did it because he told you to, right?" Please tell me yes.
(4:01:42 PM) mylemonlies: "He didn't use the command," Jack admits.
(2:32:19 AM) mylemonlies: (4:02:41 PM) frozenfoxfirex: "There's no way he could've known the command," Sinclair agrees, and raises an eyebrow. "Sander Cohen was insane before ADAM ever came about, honestly. Can't imagine he'd just let you out'a Fort Frolic without makin' you do somethin'."
(4:04:17 PM) mylemonlies: "Those men were trapped, scared to death...and I killed them."
(2:47:19 AM) frozenfoxfirex: Sinclair sighs, cocks his head. "Listen, son, sometimes there're just things you've got t'do t'survive. You can't blame yourself for bein' forced t'do anythin' t'get through Frolic, by Fontaine and Cohen both, and you can't keep tellin' yourself that it's your fault. It's not."
(2:55:51 AM) mylemonlies: "I try, but..."
He looks down at his hands, shrugs helplessly.
"So much blood."
(3:00:56 AM) frozenfoxfirex: For a long moment, he stares at Jack. He wonders if he should spill a few secrets - out of all the murderers and thieves of Rapture, he was certainly one of the worst. Finally he takes a long drag of his cigarette and sighs. "I can't convince you of anythin', son. You're goin' t'have t'get over this yourself. I can say, however, that of all the killers in Rapture you aren't the worst. You at least had a reason for it, no matter what it was, that wasn't selfish or greedy, and that's all that can be said for it."
(3:10:54 AM) mylemonlies: "I feel like it would be easier if I had something else to hold on to. If I'd had more time with the girls, maybe."
(3:13:04 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "I'm sure you'll get over it soon, sport," he replies easily, giving a slight half-smile. "It's nothin' you could've avoided. S'better than I've done, at least." A shrug.
(3:19:24 AM) mylemonlies: "Anyone can change," he says, suddenly looking up at Sinclair.
Or maybe it's because he wants to believe in Sinclair; he's come to count on the older man and doesn't want to lose that.
(3:21:40 AM) frozenfoxfirex: The look from Jack unsettles him slightly, and he shifts. "... I'm sure they can," he replies quietly, and goes silent.
A sudden thought hits him. ".. Did you leave that dog alone?"
(3:22:08 AM) mylemonlies: He bites his lip.
"I put her in the closet with a towel and some water."
(3:22:52 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "You should probably go check on her, then," he says with a small laugh, a slightly concerned look on his face.
(3:27:15 AM) mylemonlies: He stands.
"I...named her Celeste."
(3:27:42 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "That's really pretty, Jack," Sinclair replies, with an easy smile. He seems to have recovered, though he's still somewhat uncomfortable.
(3:28:02 AM) mylemonlies: "It was Angel's idea, not mine. She's one of the children here."
(3:28:21 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "I know. She told me adults aren't t'be trusted." A pause. "I suppose, to a point, she's right."
)
(3:29:28 AM) mylemonlies: "I haven't known very many trustworthy ones myself."
(3:30:34 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "I make it my business not to," and though he's grinning he knows it's not funny. It's actually a little sad, he thinks, but ignores the niggling voices. "Better go on, then, son. Don't want the poor thing t'starve or anythin'."
(3:31:25 AM) mylemonlies: "I'll have to go to the library and find some books on dogs."
He huffs through his nose, a very childlike sound of frustration. He doesn't like to read much.
(3:48:11 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "It's not that hard t'take care of one, y'know. Just feed it and play with it and make sure you train it right." He raises an eyebrow. "How do you take care'a those girls?"
(3:48:41 AM) mylemonlies: "That's not the same thing at all," Jack says, drawing up indignantly.
(3:49:43 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "It's the same basic pattern. It needs care, keeping, attention and discipline." Sinclair shrugs.
(3:50:01 AM) mylemonlies: "But a dog can't tell me when something's wrong."
(3:50:25 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "Sure it can. It's easy enough t'read the signs."
(3:50:51 AM) mylemonlies: "But I don't know how."
(3:51:20 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "You'll learn. Every dog's different. They just have certain quirks." A pause. "... Do ... you need help?"
(3:59:50 AM) mylemonlies: "...I might," Jack admits. "I don't even take care of the girls on my own, really. Brigid comes often."
(4:06:04 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "... Well, I can help you, son. Used t'raise spaniels, livin' topside. First step is t'get the damn thing out've the closet."
(4:06:24 AM) mylemonlies: He flushes guiltily.
"Didn't want her to get lost," he mumbles.
(4:07:18 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "Puttin' her on a leash would've been a better idea," Sinclair grins, biting back laughter. "That's real cute'n all, but you don't want her t'start thinkin' she's supposed t'go in there or somethin'."
(4:07:55 AM) mylemonlies: "I just...there's, um."
He looks a the ceiling and fidgets awkwardly.
(4:08:16 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "There's um what, son?" And this time he does laugh, because to be honest it is kind of funny.
(4:08:42 AM) mylemonlies: Jack shoots him a wry glare.
"A lot of guns in my room."
(4:09:23 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "And what's the dog goin' t'do, pull the trigger?"
(4:09:51 AM) mylemonlies: "She could hurt herself if she knocked one over, or trigger a prox mine, or..."
(4:11:17 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "... Maybe you should clean up a bit," Sinclair replies uneasily. "Make it so they're out'a her reach. And make sure you start trainin' her now. Might be easier, here in Wonderland. You'll need a leash, and a dog bed, unless you want her sleepin' up with you. Water and food bowls, a toy or two. Somethin' for her t'chew on, or she'll be tearin' up your entire-" He blanched. "Wait, ythink the closets work for dogs, too?"
(4:12:04 AM) mylemonlies: "How do you mean?"
What would a dog get out of a closet?
(4:12:47 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "Well, if stickin' your hand in and thinkin' of a pack'a cigarettes means one just so happens t'pop into your hand, does that mean that any little thing could just pop on into her head and poff up in the closet?"
(4:21:41 AM) mylemonlies: "I...have no idea."
Frown.
"I hope not."
(4:23:22 AM) frozenfoxfirex: "We'd better get over there, son, and quick, just in case." Sinclair stands. He's quite serious-looking. The last thing the mansion needs, he thinks, is a lonely puppy in a magical closet.
(4:23:59 AM) mylemonlies: The urgency is catching, and Jack goes rather wide-eyed, most of his animosity toward Sinclair forgotten in his concern for Celeste.
"Well, let's go."
[OOC: I will ETA to add the other two logs later. It's late.]