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[worldentire]

[For a moment there's the sound of a pencil scribbling on paper, but he pauses, takes a drag off his cigarette. The page rustles as he turns it

Comments

[kindly_done]

[Jack is on his way somewhere--quite possibly to see Sinclair himself about the dogs--when he pulls up short upon seeing the older man.]

Mister Sinclair!

[He waves, offers a small smile. All is forgiven...mostly.]

[worldentire]

[He looks up at Jack very slowly and his eyes look glossed over. He stares at Jack for a moment and something seems to snap into place - the glossed look is replaced by a very real terror. He seems to snap out of his reverie and he suddenly looks tired, ragged - and, most importantly, scared.]

Jack, y'gotta help me out. There's this damned Sister followin' me around, callin' me Mister Bubbles and - I can't - [pauses, gropes for words, settles on barking] I can't Goddamn say no to her, Jack!

[kindly_done]

[Jack stares at him, entirely unaccustomed to seeing Sinclair so upset--and more strikingly, not hiding his upset, not trying to appear smooth and collected.

He flinches at the last bit, hand twitching unconsciously toward his wrench.]

W...how do I...what am I supposed to do?

I fully expect Cindy to find ways to Sinclair anyways. I'm kind of betting on it. XD

[worldentire]

Just get rid'a her somehow. I don't care. I just need her t'leave me alone! [shaken visibly. Lights a cigarette and doesn't bother with the holder, just takes a long drag in an attempt to calm.] You don't understand, son. I can't handle this.

[kindly_done]

Well, I...

[He frowns, watches Sinclair nervously.]

I can't make her do anything, but I could talk to her.

[worldentire]

Every time she comes near me, I- [makes a strangled noise, complete with odd hand motion, and stops talking. He takes a second to compose himself, covering it with a long drag from the cigarette] ... Give'er one'a those puppies. Keep her occupied. [stops talking, but suddenly adds] AND CRAYONS. She needs new crayons.

[kindly_done]

[Jack blinks, a little shell-shocked.]

Well, if I give her a puppy, I'm going to have to help her with it, and you're the one who knows dogs, so...

[His voice fades out--he gets the feeling that this train of thought is a futile one, so he shrugs his shoulders with a little sigh and looks worriedly at Sinclair.]

Right. Crayons. I can do that.

[worldentire]

[shaky, both visibly and in tone] Thank you, son. [pauses uneasily] You... don't really understand what's goin' on, I'm sure, and I'm sorry for that, but.. not yet. Not yet. [starts to wander, dazed, back to his room, staring numbly at the ground]

[kindly_done]

Hey, wait!

[Concerned, Jack makes a grab for his wrist.]

[worldentire]

[stops and looks up at Jack, raising an eyebrow. He's trying to push back into normality and gives Jack a somewhat conflicted look.] ...yeah?

[kindly_done]

You don't look good, that's all. I...I don't think you should go back alone.

[worldentire]

... [stares at him for what seems forever, and gives the tiniest little ghost of a smile] ... heh. Thanks for the concern, but I'm sure... [doesn't mean to trail off, for once, and simply sighs after realizing it]

[kindly_done]

[Jack is suddenly glad he never got around to letting go of Sinclair's wrist.]

Why don't you come downstairs and have some coffee, instead?

[His tone is almost coaxing, which sounds strange and out-of-place from him.]

[worldentire]

[He thinks about it for a good moment. He tells himself to accept because caffeine kills the EVE cravings, and his head is pounding, but he knows he's starting to somewhat enjoy Jack's company.] ... Alright, son. [He sounds damn tired - looks it, too. Damn Sister.] But just for a little bit.

[kindly_done]

[Jack agrees readily, taking Sinclair by the arm and leading him toward the stairs.]

Just a little bit, right.

[It doesn't matter how long, as long as he can get Sinclair out of this mood and back to himself. Seeing the older man so shaken disturbs him.

He shepherds Sinclair down to the kitchen, keeping close, somewhat protective. Once there, he guides the older man to a chair and goes to make the coffee, which he brews stronger than he ordinarily would.]

There. See if that doesn't get your head back on straight.

[worldentire]

[He follows Jack silently, and says nothing until he takes a sip of the coffee. Immediately, he splutters and coughs, grinning.] Now that's coffee, son. Not like that watered-down Rapture travesty.