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[worldentire]

[His voice sounds dead.]

I've got Cindy here. Someone's got t'come get her.

Comments

Decided to give Sinclair a break and not inflict Benny on him >.>

[kindly_done]

[While it's definitely a relief to know that Cindy is safe, Jack has a sinking feeling as he puts down the communicator--forgetting even to reply--and heads up the now-familiar route to Sinclair's room. He's not sure what kind of shape the older man is going to be in, and since he has to bring Cindy back (assuming, once again, that she'll even go with him rather than clinging to "Mr. Bubbles"), he won't be able to do much of anything about it.

He knocks.]

d'awwww <3

[worldentire]

[He opens the door dejectedly, looking just as dead as he feels, and stops short. This definitely wasn't who he was expecting. For a long time he just stares at Jack, mouth open. Finally he speaks, voice hoarse - could be a trick. The mansion hates him.]

...Jack?

Did you miss me, you...I don't even have the heart to call you a douchelord

[kindly_done]

[Jack stares back, looking less dead than Sinclair, and also in a literal sense, significantly less dead than the last time the older man saw him; but he's still shaken from the experience, and looks rather dazed. When Sinclair speaks to him, he has to shake himself a little, pull his thoughts together before he can reply.]

Yeah.

[All that for one little word? Yep.]

HAHAHAAAAA revel in my new sense of morality (don't expect it to last for long)

[worldentire]

[For another long moment Sinclair just stares.]

...I...

[And then, he leans in and gives Jack just about the biggest hug in the existence of hugs.]

...You're alive, kid. [He sounds choked up.] Don't you dare give me a goddamn scare like that again, you hear me?

I give it ten minutes.

[kindly_done]

[Jack startles rather violently, and almost hits him in the face. He's far from calm enough to handle surprise hugs with grace, and it's a long moment before his breathing calms enough for him to speak again.]

Yeah. You didn't know...? I got back, I don't know, maybe a couple of hours ago. I guess we come back here, when we...

/snerk

[worldentire]

Of course I didn't know, goddamnit. [He's almost yelling, he's so confused right now. About 100000000 emotions are flowing and he's not sure how to handle it - especially considering the fact he's been half-dead over the past few days.] I've been watchin' this little one lettin' my brain go t'mush because I didn't think you'd have it any other way - not t'mention, Lamb... [He cringes.] Come in, son, let's get you somethin' t'drink.

[kindly_done]

Why--

[He blinks, taking a moment to sort through it all, as usual.]

You did that for me? Did Lamb hurt you? I could use a drink.

[Pause.]

It's not like the Vita-Chamber. At all.

[And he shivers, though his expression changes not at all.]

[worldentire]

She didn't so much hurt me. [Pauses.] Sort've the other way around. [Another, awkward pause. Takes bourbon out of the closet, pours Jack a few fingers, hands it towards him.] It... wasn't really somethin' I could control.

[Conversation change!] Found Cindy a bit after ... it happened, brought'er back. She's been sleepin' most've the time. Sleeps like the dead. [Pause.] .. What's it like?

[kindly_done]

[For a moment, Jack entertains the thought of just asking Sinclair for the bottle and drinking until he can't see--then he wouldn't have to think about it anymore, and he might actually sleep.]

Did you...kill her?

[He shrugs a little.]

Back in Rapture, the Chamber would pull me in right around when my eyesight would go, but this time it just...kept going, and my ears were ringing, and I could feel all the blood going out...I kept waiting to get pulled in, I couldn't remember that I was here in the Mansion and not down there, but it never happened, and I was just alone--

[He downs the bourbon too quickly, chokes on it.]

[worldentire]

Almost. [A sort of hungry look comes into his eyes, and he pauses, briefly. Then he seems to reboot and listens to Jack, frowning.] ... That's cruel.

[Quietly.] ...It... looked painful. [He shifts uneasily.]

Be careful, son. Can't have you chokin' yourself back to the grave.

[kindly_done]

[Once his throat has stopped burning, he nods.]
It hurt. But I'm used to that.

Why didn't you kill her?
[He sounds more curious than accusatory.]

[worldentire]

You.

[His tone is flat.]

[kindly_done]

What?

[It's not an expression of incredulity or surprise; he quite simply is not sure he understands what Sinclair is getting at.]

[worldentire]

I didn't kill her because of you.

... You wouldn't have, so I didn't.

[He shrugs, and is obvs uncomfortable again.]

Do you mind if I butt in here? :> I can delete comment if not.~

[leavingcyphers]

[With a stir and a off-sounding yawn there's movement on the bed; little Cindy is waking up, her eyes open as she looks at the ceiling and remembers where she was.]

It's all better now.

[It was only a mumble to herself, but she seems a lot happier now... maybe she wasn't seeing the world how she usually saw it that last event, maybe the mansion effects her sight?]

You're good!

[worldentire]

[He looks uncomfortably at her: now that she's awake, she's actively affecting him again. He shifts, looks at Jack. His demeanor changes.] D'you mind takin' her? [His voice is a dark sort of monotone.] She needs to be safe.