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]

Maybe we oughta forget this whole place, while we're at it. Run away to Hawaii or something.

[He's joking. But kind of not?]

[hackitude]

Oh yeah? Mmm. I've always wanted to go to Hawaii. You could have your big waves.

[hostage]

Buy a little bungalow on the beach...

[hackitude]

Stay up late and watch the sun rise over the ocean...

Well, depending on which side of the island you were on, anyway.

[hostage]

Which one do you like more? Sunrise or sunset?

[hackitude]

I don't know. I guess... sunrise? It feels more special, somehow. Like, you don't get to see it very often, and when you do, the whole world is just really... still.

[hostage]

[He nods and nuzzles up to her, brushing back her hair to murmur in her ear:]

Okay, east. A little house right on the beach, facing east, and we'll stay up all night on the porch with our piña coladas, and it'll be all quiet like we're the only two people in the world, and the sun'll come up over the water, and it'll be just us seeing it. Our secret.

[hackitude]

Yeah? Sounds like a dream. ... Or a really good vacation, maybe.

[hostage]

It doesn't have to be just a vacation.

[hackitude]

[Skye lets out a soft, breathy laugh.]

All right. Savings goal for a few years' time, then, Romeo.

[She doesn't bother pointing out that they probably won't still be here in a few years' time. Why ruin the moment.]

[hostage]

What if I could pay for it right now?

[hackitude]

[What.]

... What?

[hostage]

You know. People pay good money for what I do.

[hackitude]

... I thought that was volunteer work.

[hostage]

It doesn't have to be. I could charge. Enough to get us outta here. Enough to get us safe somewhere else.

[hackitude]

Sure, but... you're the one who said it doesn't feel right to charge people for what you do...

[hostage]

I could do it anyway. If you wanted me to. Sometimes you just gotta do something a little wrong to help somebody you love, right?

[hackitude]

[Skye's shaking her head now, separating them so he can see her face and see she's serious about this.]

No. No. Jesse, I would-- I would never want you to go against your morals like that. Especially not for me.

[hostage]

But I would, Skye.

[He didn't mean to upset her. It's such an absurd argument, though, considering the real source of his money.]

If you needed me. Nothing's more important.

[hackitude]

[Of course he can't possibly understand why it's upsetting her. He doesn't know about Miles, and how much this conversation reminds her of that.]

... Jesse. We don't need money to be happy. I have lived... my whole life with only the possessions I could fit in one cardboard box and a backpack. And I'm fine with that. As long as we're together, that's what's important. I would rather be... camping in a tent or back in my van, than living it up on money you got from compromising your morals. Your big heart, your kindness to others... that's the reason I like you. Okay?

[hostage]

[In other words, she loves the fake part of him. The part that doesn't really exist. If she would just take the money, then at least she'd be accepting a part of the real him. He wants to believe there's a chance she could love who he really is, all the ugliness of him - But then, why would she? Why would anyone? He can't even do that much for himself.]

I just... I just wanna take care of you.

[That much is the truth, at least. She might never know him, the way Andrea never knew him, but he gave Andrea everything she could ever want and he wishes he could do that for Skye.]

[hackitude]

I know. [She takes one of Jesse's hands in hers and gives it a gentle squeeze.] And that's sweet. But ... I'm not that girl. I don't need anyone to take care of me, Jesse.

[hostage]

I know you don't need it, but...

[There's going to come a day when she looks back on this conversation and these words will haunt her, he knows it. So he feels like he should say something else, while he's at it.]

I love you, Skye. You deserve more than this.

[This. Him. The illusion of their life together. They could have something more than just the dream of somewhere else. She's already breaking the law. Why can't she join him?]

I'd give it to you if you let me.

[hackitude]

... More than what, Jesse? We have food, houses, jobs... and each other. Isn't that all that's important?

[hostage]

Freedom.