ic contact (mask or menace)

[hackitude]

"Hey! You've reached Skye. Leave a message. I mean, if you want to. Or uh, don't. Whatever."

Comments

[hostage]

[He plops down next to her and cuddles up, resting his chin on her shoulder.]

Sorry I fucked up.

[hackitude]

[Yes good. Much cuddling.]

It's okay. I wasn't really angry, or anything. I was just... worried. I thought maybe you got hurt, or... I don't know, like, maybe I scared you off, or something...

[hostage]

What, 'cause of - 'cause you left me that present? No way! I loved it! I just... couldn't think of anything that nice to do for you. I'm not really good at anything.

[hackitude]

You can just say that, you know. You don't need to... do anything for me in return. I mean, I wasn't expecting anything, I knew you were busy. I just... wanted to do something nice. So you'd know I was thinking of you.

Anyway this whole... insecure thing isn't really my style so, uh. I'm going to. Stop. Now.

[THAT'S SUCH A LIE, SKYE. THE BIGGEST FAT WHOPPER YOU'VE EVER TOLD.]

[hostage]

It's okay. You can tell me when I'm being an asshole. I shoulda at least called or something.

[Not that he could have actually risked it, using his real comm from his meth lab's location. Who knows how the GPS works in those things. And with Skye's power? Ha.]

But, um, I'll be around more anyways. I'm moving back down here.

[hackitude]

Yeah, you should've. But you know now for next time. Um. Not that I'm saying there's going to be a next time. But if there is.

[Jesse is right to be paranoid. Not that he knows it specifically, but tracking people electronically is Skye's specialty. Then again, if she got really worried, who knows what lengths she'd go to to find him, so... one way or another, Jesse's going to need to find a better way to deal with that eventually than just not calling.]

Wait-- really? [She can't hide that she's pleased. And surprised. But mostly pleased.] That's great. How come?

[hostage]

[He's hoping that's the last marathon cook he'll have to do in a long while, anyway. But the streets are thirsty for meth...]

You know that school they're opening that's just for imPorts? I'm gonna be working there. Remember how you said I'd be a good nurse? I figured I'd give it a try. Go be a school nurse, see how it works out. Gonna be living on-site and all.

[hackitude]

... Seriously?

[Skye pulls away just marginally to look at him, but she's smiling brilliantly.]

Wow. Wow. That's great! I mean, really super great, and not just because you'll be closer to me. Though, you know, that's also a significant factor. Still. Wow. Congrats.

[hostage]

[He ducks his head sheepishly and gives a light shrug of his shoulders.]

I mean, I might suck at it. I dunno. Maybe they'll fire me the first week.

[hackitude]

No way. You've got like, super healing powers, right? And all your stuff with the Youth Center-- you're great with kids.

[Someone's been talking to Ellie. But even if she hadn't been, it's pretty obvious.]

They'd be crazy to fire you.

[hostage]

There's probably better healers around than me. And I don't think the Youth Center ever woulda hired me if the government hadn't told 'em they hadda.

[hackitude]

I wouldn't be so sure about that... I mean... sure, the dudes in suits might have helped but-- kids are serious business, right? There's no way the government would place you there in the first place if they didn't think you were good for the job. These assignments... they aren't random. Ask anyone. They know what our strengths are, and they play to them.

[hostage]

Yeah, but like... My parents kicked me out 'cause they didn't even want me near my little brother. And that's kinda the vibe I give most people. I can tell, you know? They think I'm a bad influence or whatever.

[hackitude]

... Forget about... vibes or how other people think of you for a minute. Do you think you're a bad influence?

[hostage]

[...Honestly:]

I dunno.

[hackitude]

Well... maybe they see something in you other than a bad influence. Like I do.

[hostage]

[He glances at her then glances away, rubbing at his neck.]

I dunno if I want my bosses trying to sleep with me. I mean, I know I'm hot, but...

[hackitude]

[That earns a laugh and a soft arm punch.]

You know that's not what I meant.

[hostage]

I dunno what else you'd see in me.

[It's a joke, but it's also true!!!]

[hackitude]

How about... a guy who just needs to be given a chance?

I mean-- whatever our lives were like in the past... none of that stuff is on record here. You can start fresh.

[hostage]

Come on, you don't really believe that.

I mean, technically. Maybe. We don't know how much they got on us. But some serial killer shows up here, you're not just gonna say, "Hey, maybe he'll be a really nice guy this time around."

And, like, I'm not a serial killer or anything. But I am what I am. Everybody looking at me sees the same asshole they always saw. What does starting fresh even mean?

[hackitude]

Don't lump being a serial killer in with making bad life choices. They're totally different.

Starting fresh just means... a chance to make different choices. That's all.

[hostage]

Okay, well... I'm here with you instead of at some crackhouse with a pipe. Good for me. But am I gonna blame somebody looking at me, thinking, "Okay - addict for ten years, sober for six months. Probably don't want him around my kids."?

[hackitude]

That's not what I'm saying.

[hostage]

So what're you saying?