[ Rule 02 ] [ voice/english ]

[ilikesoap]

[The comm clicks on and Jack's slightly annoyed and rather confused voice is heard. He sounds like he hasn't slept in days.]

What the hell happened last night? I feel like I've been hit by a truck.

I know I didn't have these bruises when I went to sleep. Was there an accident or something?

[There is a groan as he moves. Jack has discovered yet another

Comments

[shenghuanzhe]

You drink?

[meinxxherz]

[He doesn't know what bothers him more; the fact that Jack's actually being tolerable by Herz's standards or how apparently Kage's gonna booze it up with the guy who pressured him into a fight! At first, he balks, not sure he even wants to talk to the guy now that the First Mate's around. He swallows his pride soon enough, though.]

Yeah, I-I dunno how else to--to put this, but you picked a fight and then--and then told me that Tyler guy put you up to it.

[He casts a wary glance at Kage. He would like a guy like Jack, huh? Fuck.]

[shenghuanzhe]

Tyler--

[Kage looks at Herz. Trust Tyler to pick the first person who desperately needed a fight his first damn night out. Kage sighs and rubs his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.]

Yeah. We already got our hands full with Tyler Durden. Fucker attacked me, too. How you think I got these, yeah?

[He gestures to the bruises on his own face, the split lip.]

Don't get mad at Jack, kiddo, Tyler's real convincin' when he wants t'do somethin'. Ain't Jack's fault.

[So to speak.]

[ilikesoap]

[Jack's jaw falls open, eyes widen and he stares from Herz to Kage and back again. He can't think just yet. The shock is still too fresh of a hit for his brain to start processing right away.

He looks to Kage, taking in the bruises and the split and gives him a look of total confusion.]

Tyler-- What? He is here? But I thought--

[Talking doesn't seem to be working just yet so he shuts up and tries to construct his sentences before he speaks.]

[meinxxherz]

[When Herz falters this time, he doesn't even try regaining his footing, or his anger. He trusts Kage; the guy's only told him the truth in the past. Or...variations thereof. He's not about to stop believing him now.]

Oh.

I'm--I'm sorry, Jack.

[And...since he's close enough to do this, Herz leans in and half-whispers the rest.]

Uhm...I--I'm-I'm sorry a-about your lip, too. That, uhm, th-that's partly me. I mean, you were...y-you were banged up before but I didn't--I didn't help much.

[shenghuanzhe]

[And Kage didn't lie just then. He said everything that was true. It wasn't Jack's fault. Tyler and he fought. Tyler is convincing.

It wasn't the whole truth, but it was close enough.

Kage opens up his drink and takes a swallow, watching Herz and Jack kiss and make up.]

[ilikesoap]

[Before he realizes he's doing it, Jack's hand is moving to the split on his lip. He touches it a second, knowing that it's an old wound re-opened yet again and then drops his hand. The drink offered to him earlier is cracked open as he speaks.]

So we fought and I said Tyler was the reason... and...

[Attention darts back to Kage. The pieces are slowly piecing together but all up he's still clueless.]

Okay. I'm confused.

[Defeated.]

[meinxxherz]

You--You came in here...started...saying shit--a-a-and it makes sense now, you know, if--if you were drunk--and then told me to hit you. And yeah, when--when I asked why you were, you know--

[He scratches at his scarred cheek.]

--you-y-you--you said Tyler told you to.

[The dislocating part is still really WEIRD, so he's just not gonna bring it up. Plus, looking back, it was a dumb as hell move and Herz is pretty embarrassed about it.]

[shenghuanzhe]

Hey, forget it. 'sall good, naam? Jack, you hungry?

[Kage swallows again from his beer. The less they think about it, the easier it will be on everyone involved. The presence of Tyler really screws up any of the minor red herrings Kage can throw out to cover the other man's existencein Jack's confused brain.

Better just to move on.]

Herz, any jalaj left? Don't think Jack tried it, yet.

[ilikesoap]

[It's going to be a while before Jack can think straight. He's still frowning, confused as hell and dying for answers. He can't forget it, but figures Kage might have a point in delaying the issue, at least for the time being.

Besides, he can always talk to Herz about it later.]

Yeah. Food might be a good way to go.

[He remembers the drink in his hand and takes a mouthful.]

What's jalaj?

[meinxxherz]

Uh--Yeah.

Yeah, sure. I'll...go--g-go get that.

[He gives Kage a curious look--is he having a bad night? He's kinda touchy. And not in a good way. Whatever.

Herz heads for the kitchen. He kinda...wishes Kage hadn't asked him to get jalaj for the guy, though. That's, like--that's their thing.

...he's not counting the time he gave it to Leo, though, okay? We're gonna pretend that just never happened.]

[shenghuanzhe]

[Kage catches the curious look from Herz, but he just holds it a moment and then Kage's green eyes slide off of Herz's brown ones. He speaks to Jack as Herz walks off.]

It's a recipe I know. 'Sgood shit.

[Kage gestures with his drink for him and Jack to go sit down. Kage pulls out a chair, turns it around and straddles it backwards.]

Y'know, put some ginger on th'bruises, they'll heal up faster.

[ilikesoap]

[Obediently, Jack sits and leans on his elbows on the table. The drink receives another hearty swig before he sets it down beside him. Jack isn't looking at anyone, or anything really. His mind is a blur and there's talk of Tyler but he can't remember a thing.

When Kage speaks, Jack glances over at the other man.]

Sounds good. And.. I'll try that. Though I more worried about how they got there rather than the fact that they're there.

[shenghuanzhe]

[Kage shrugs.]

Shit, maybe y'fell down some stairs drunk.

[He takes another swig from the can, gazing at Jack.]

You still don't look so hot. You sleepin' okay? Fittin' into the boat awright?

[ilikesoap]

[Jack pauses. 'Fell down some stairs' was a familiar term in his life, more so since the creation of Fight Club. It was the cover-up they used when an fight injury was bad enough for a hospital visit.

He shook his head and went for the drink again.]

Haha. Yeah, maybe. And I don't know. I've been sleeping a lot but I feel worn out, like I haven't slept at all. But that's nothing new. Insomnia's been a bitch for a while now.

[shenghuanzhe]

I never fuckin' understood insomnia.

[Kage muses, smiling pleasantly at Jack, or as pleasantly as someone like him can make it. Perhaps there's something metallic and razor behind that innocuous smile. After all, Kage knows that Tyler is behind Jack this whole time, watching, waiting to come out.]

Exercise. You work hard enough, you'll sleep. Manual labour. Haul rocks back'n forth. Dig ditches, fill them in, dig them again. Not like you got anythin' better t'do, man.