Seventy-Seventh Mission [OPEN COMMENTLOG]

[shadesofeco]

[After all the "revelations" from Praxis and Erol about his supposedly deteriorating sanity, and learning about the gaps in his memory, Jak is decidedly confused, angry, and not particularly stable

Comments

[rocknrollfries]

[The bar, you say? What a coincidence. Pickles likes the bar.

Pickles does not, however, like sharing. So when he moseys on down for a drink and sees Jak there, he's not impressed.]

Hey douchebag, this is my spat, go get drunk somewhere else. Go on. Get.

[shadesofeco]

[Jak looks up from his drink, fixing Pickles with a scowl. Doesn't know him, doesn't like him.

He turns back to his drink.]

No.

[rocknrollfries]

Yeah, pretty sure that ain't the answer I'm looking fer. There ain't enough booze here fer both of us, so get the hell out.

[Chugging the rest of his current bottle of whatever, he throws it over his shoulder where it goes SMASH on the wall.]

[shadesofeco]

[Okay, if you don't mind, Jak was moping and punishing his liver. He glowers at the short-eared man.]

Bite me.

[And he slugs back his drink.]

[blitzmeister]

[Blitz has been exploring the ship after the party and decided to hit the bar. He completely didn't recognise Jak at first, but the regular ears and blonde hair fixed that. His first thought was that Jak cleaned up DAMN well in Kras. His second is that this is the perfect time to get a bit more ground with him.]

Jak, my boy! I hope you don't mind if I join you.

[shadesofeco]

[Oh great. That voice. Jak slugs back his glass, then turns on the stool to face ...

... wow. So that's the Kras City racing commissioner.]

Blitz. Right?

[blitzmeister]

The one and only! I almost didn't recognise you at first, but then, I supposed you wouldn't recognise me at all!

[He sits down uninvited, but still extends a hand to shake.]

[shadesofeco]

[Jak doesn't take it.]

You suppose right.

[Yeah, he's not in a good mood at all. Especially since he really didn't want company.]

[farfairersoul]

[Razer is going to meet you in the gym, considering he's been visiting the place plenty enough himself. Usually he waits until it's fairly late in the evening, as it tends to empty out by then, and he doesn't want to broadcast his fighting abilities any more than he has to--not to mention he still feels he looks stupid in a t-shirt and jeans and Razer's aren't meant to look stupid, but that's a Razer-centric concern.

Luckily, today most people are still sleeping off that stupid party, so he comes in earlier and finds himself a Jak. He doesn't look particularly happy, does he? ...But then, Razer realizes, when does he ever look particularly happy?]

I sincerely hope you realize that simply attacking this equipment probably isn't going to help you feel much better.

[He puts a hand on his hip and tilts his head slightly to one side.]

Still having problems working out all that tension, hm?

[shadesofeco]

[And there he is, slamming his fists into a sandbag over and over. His knuckles are raw and bloody, sweat rolling down his skin, cheeks flushed from exertion. Whatever he's trying to beat out of the bag, evidently it's not working.

Pausing as he hears that familiar upper-class voice, he grunts in response and punches the bag once more before leaning forward to hold it, leaning his weight against it as he pants heavily.

He doesn't answer.]

[farfairersoul]

[Razer gives another of his dramatic sighs, although this one doesn't seem quite so much for show. If anything, it might sound almost--almost--sincere. He pulls a pack of cigarettes out of his back pocket, taps one out and puts the pack back, then pulls his lighter out insitead and lights up. Takes a drag.

Then he comes over and, cigarette held between two long, slender fingers, abd barely leans back against the punching bag beside Jak's. He stretches out his arm and offers the younger man his cigarette.]

Here. This will help.

[Razer sounds nothing short of truly and sincerely concerned. In reality he does wonder just what it is that has Jak so riled up like this, because he's never seen him even close to this upset, but it's a more professional interest. Less "How can I fix this?" and more "How can I use this?"]

I have never seen you smoke in the past, but...it looks like you could use it.

[It's not a play at comfort, per se, but it is a play at some sort of comfortability. Camaraderie. Come on, kid, take the bait.]

[shadesofeco]

[The acrid smell hits him first, and Jak wrinkles his nose, though he doesn't pull back. It reminds him of Jinx, the cloud of smoke that always followed those ever-present cigars.

Catching his breath, he squints one eye as he stares at the offering. A moment later he grunts and looks away, wiping his cheek on the back of his wrist.]

I don't smoke.

[Is Razer reaching out to him? Even though they are supposedly on opposing sides? Ugh this is too complicated for Jaks to figure out, this is usually where he waits for Torn or Ashelin or Samos to explain it for him.]

Damn it all to Mar; I'm so late.

[nottheaveragekg]

[Daddy's said to stay away, but Ashe is more than skeptical, all things considered. She's going to go to the bar, though, because there's really no other place on the ship that suits her. Besides her room. But they're not going there, thanks.

She watches for a few minutes, wants to join Jak at the bar counter, slams a closed fist into the counter. It's to grab attention; it's to vent; damn it, it's something. This whole convoluted mess is exactly that: a convoluted mess.

So what the hell is going on?]

I'll have what he's having.

[Because Ashe is more than a woman. She lifts a hand and gestures once to Jak. Guy's going fucking nuts and she knows it. She just doesn't know what to do.]

Yay you're here <3

[shadesofeco]

[Jak doesn't flinch, but he does jerk his head up as the counter jumps. He leans back on the bar stool and eyes Ashelin warily, then slides the well-decimated bottle of spiced rum towards her.

He's not sure why she's here, though he's half-expecting her to take Praxis' side regarding the DWP, if she even knows. Though the idea makes his stomach clench in anger, he bites it back; she might be able to fill in more gaps in his supposedly incorrect memories.]

Yes! I'm here for you, hot stuff! Rrrrr~

[nottheaveragekg]

You've made work of this.

[She means the bottle. Tilting her head back, she forgoes any potential glass and drinks straight from the source. Then she peers over to Jak. Ashelin's silent, thinking about what her father's told her. Right now, Jak just looks pissed, not like some crazed freak. But he almost looks like one.]

Don't worry. He's not here. It's just you and me.

8Db

[shadesofeco]

[Yeah he's pretty drunk by now. Which is a good thing, it means he's not quite as angry. He drags a hand down his face wearily, then leans his elbow against the bar.]

What did he tell you?

[oblique_wisdom]

Jak.

[The boy is punching trees. Zelda's never gotten to see him train, but then he's also never seen her when she's at her fighting ability. A part of her has never wanted him to, however. Stumbling across him while lost in the midst of her thoughts is both a blessing and a curse. She's not entirely naive. Zelda knows when people are attempting to evade her presence or dodge her inquisitive nature

[shadesofeco]

[Jak is punching trees. In fact, he's been punching trees for several hours now, some of them are cracked, though the fact that his knuckles are stripped raw and covered in blood suggests that he is worse off.

The voice makes him falter, and he turns his head a little to look at her. He's been studiously avoiding Zelda for a while now, and has no idea what to say, so he simply turns back to the tree and resumes punishing it himself.]

[oblique_wisdom]

[She's scrutinizing him again. Zelda always does this, though. He doesn't like being mothered and so she often holds back her words. He won't get off so fortunate this time. To some degree, Jak needs to be told what is what and that's where it leaves off. Sometimes he needs someone to just give him a nice smack and tell him to chill.

She'd never do it like that.]

That looks like it hurts. Do you want me to join you?

[Yes. That's her attempt to make light of the situation.]

[shadesofeco]

[He stops for a moment, leaning his weight back and glancing down at his bleeding knuckles. He actually looks slightly surprised at how carried away he'd gotten, and shakes his hands.]

Training's supposed to hurt.

[Yep, that's how he's going to justify it. Just training.]