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

[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.

[hackitude]

What... from the government? Jesse, moving to Hawaii wouldn't fix that. If they really wanted to find us there, they would.

[hostage]

Then we keep moving. Get more powerful. I'm just saying, Skye... Whatever it takes, I'll give it to you.

[hackitude]

What, stay on the run forever? What kind of life is that? What about all the people you have here? All those friends who came to your birthday party? Ellie?

No. If we want freedom and-- and rights, we have to fight for them. Not just for us, but for all imPorts, present and future ones. Why do you think I even did this stunt today? It wasn't because I felt like it.

[hostage]

I know why you did it, Skye. That's why I'm saying all this. If you wanna fight, you can't fight with nothing. What if there was a way to get enough money to protect all the people we care about? I'm talking tech, safehouses, whatever we need.

[hackitude]

... By... taking advantage of sick rich people and passing over sick poor people because they don't have the money?

[hostage]

Am I supposed to just sit back and let everybody else worry about it 'cause I'm good for nothing? I got one thing going for me, Skye. And it gets the job done. So why shouldn't I use it?

[hackitude]

... You're not good for nothing.