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]

[Jesse frowns.]

Power like that, you pretty much gotta use a nullifier just to get a bullet in him.

You don't think he'll figure out it was you and try to get back at you?

[hackitude]

He might. He might not. He's always underestimated me. And even if he does figure it out... I don't actually think he'll hurt me. He's had numerous opportunities to do so, now. I'm not... sure he actually can. And I'm not above using his feelings for me to my advantage.

... Though to be honest, I kind of hope he does. The second he comes after me, I'll be ready with my gun and micro-camera to get the whole thing on tape. If he sets so much as one foot out of line, I'll be there. Waiting to bring the whole force of this world's law down upon him.

[hostage]

Okay, but...

[Jesse sets the gun back down. How does he put this gently?]

If he thinks you're the one who controls whether he's got his power or not, then it won't be you he goes after. It'll be somebody he can use against you. He's not stupid, right? So he probably knows you won't do what he says unless he's got a gun to somebody else's head.

[hackitude]

[Skye sits on the end of the bed slowly-- or perhaps sinks would be a more appropriate word to describe it-- and finally puts her head in her hands, elbows resting on her knees. Jesse's right, and she knows it.]

[hostage]

It's not a bad plan, Skye. You just gotta go through with it anyway. No matter what he does.

[hackitude]

No... you're right. He would absolutely do that. I can't... I can't put my friends at risk, Jesse. I couldn't put you at risk.

[hostage]

You pretty much declared war on this guy. I think we're past the point of no return as far as putting people at risk goes.

You can't let him hold it over you. It's pretty much a guarantee the guy's gonna come after me. If that happens, you gotta trust me to handle it myself.

Don't let him force you to do what he wants. Even if it means I get hurt. If you give in even once, he's gonna always know that's how he can get to you. And he'll keep doing it again and again.

1/2

[hackitude]

What? ... No. No, that's not an option, Jesse.

[hackitude]

[She sighs.]

Maybe I can... talk him down. Come to some kind of compromise.

[hostage]

Why?

Listen, there's nothing this guy can do to me that I haven't been through before. I ain't scared of him.

If you start negotiating with him, you're only gonna show all your weaknesses to him. Like, if you're begging him not to hurt me, you're just telling him I'm definitely the one to go after when he needs you to do something for him. And it's gonna be like that with pretty much any terms you try and give him. You'd pretty much be handing him a list of targets.

[hackitude]

Jesse, this isn't getting beat up by some random thug. He's a professional.

And I'm not stupid. I wouldn't bring names into it at all. I can just appeal to his ego. He's susceptible to that. I go to him first, tell him I'm sorry I went off on him the other day, I was just really mad, but he's right. I shouldn't have been so hard on him. I should've considered his circumstances. Maybe we should try to work on a peace agreement or something? Blah blah blah.

It's what he wants to hear.

[hostage]

I could give a shit what he wants to hear.

I don't wanna be a liability to you. I'd rather be nothing to you than be a reason for you to do whatever this scum-sucking asshole wants. I'd rather be in the goddamn ground.

[hackitude]

... And what about what I want?

[hostage]

You wanna be at his mercy forever?

[hackitude]

No. I never said I'd be at his mercy. I said we'd work it out. Like adults.

What I want is a boyfriend who is safely in one piece. My pride and hurt feelings aren't worth your life, Jesse. I can suck it up a little and play nice if it means he doesn't think to go after you.

[hostage]

Yeah. We'll see how long it lasts, him being satisfied with just "playing nice".

[hackitude]

If it doesn't work... then we can re-evaluate.

[hostage]

[He sighs, stepping back.]

It's your decision. What do I got to say about it?

[hackitude]

If you can come up with a better plan that doesn't involve putting you in harm's way, seriously, I'm all ears.

[hostage]

I don't wanna make you feel bad here, Skye, but I'm in harm's way no matter what the plan is. You giving in to his little tantrum ain't gonna save me. It's just buying some time.

[hackitude]

[Skye looks up at him, at that. Eyes lined with... worry, and some alarm.]

... You don't know that.

[hostage]

Yeah, I do. I think you know it, too.

[hackitude]

[Just... slowly putting her head in her hands again.]

... Let me-- let me just try. I can get through to him.

[hostage]

[Flatly:]

You're gonna get through to the psycho murdering Nazi who's obsessed with you. Okay.

[hackitude]

What! It sounds better than "let Jesse get murdered and God knows what else!" Why am I the only person in this room who seems to care about your life?