[More joking, but that much is true at least. Another thing he wouldn't have experienced if he never met--Ana. He'd have garbage tea-making skills. It doesn't take long for him to take care of it, and soon he's setting two steaming mugs down on the table. No teacups, this time. Something a little sturdier.]
( There's a nod, and a few secpnds of hesitation that he'll be able to notice. Picking it up is no issue, and a few seconds after she tastes it there's a smile )
It passes.
( It more than passes -- it's good. Even after all of this time he remembered exactly how to make it.
The mug stays in her hands, risking the pressure of holding it rather than trying to put it back down )
[If he had a touch in the first place. Jack is watching the way she handles the mug, seemingly ready to reach out and correct her if it looks like she’s about to shatter it. But these mugs are sturdier, and her grip is more careful. Obviously, the situation is less than ideal, but they’re both adaptable.]
Maybe when we’re finished I can show you how to jump out a second-story window.
( But she's amused, her first real sign of starting to relax since this thing started.
Though Ana supposes she can see the useful skill in it, if this stuck around. He had had to jump them both, and another passenger, out of a window not all too long ago )
How many floors is it before it isn't recommended to do?
[The most recent instance had been an emergency, of course, and it's not something he's likely to repeat unless there's a need for it. Hopefully, there won't be further need for it.]
[Just, you know, getting old. Secret government juice isn't going to keep him at his prime forever. He already breaks a sweat on things that used to be effortless, knows that he won't be able to push himself forever.]
This place can be uncomfortable enough already. Knowing this... ( Though what exactly did they know? How did it happen? ) Does Angela know what caused it?
[Jack hadn't really bothered to understand it, and he'd managed to cope. He'd come out the other end of it with a new appreciation for his enhancements--or at least, a new realization for how much he'd relied on them. It was strange, to feel his age.]
Frustrating thing was my knee. Had to heal at normal human speed, for once.
[And he'd pushed himself too hard on it, to boot. He hasn't told Ana that it was Gabriel who shot out his leg, and all that remains of the injury is a slight limp, but it's difficult to hide things from her.]
( There's a frown at that. Ana had noticed the remains of the injury but knowing whether it had happened here or in the six years between their meetings hadn't been as important.
Until now. It had happened here, and was specific enough to be mentioned now )
[Jack supposes it was his own fault for mentioning it, but he tells himself that it would have come out eventually--one way or another. He just doesn't want her to worry about him, and is sure she'd feel the same if their situations were reversed. They look after each other. It's what they do, and when one of them slips up, they don't want to concern the other with it after the fact. He knows she'll be thinking about all the things she could have done, and the most he can do is assure her that it wasn't her fault.]
Gabriel.
[He tries to downplay it, but it hurts him to say that, and he knows it hurts her, too. How far they've all fallen.]
( Part of Ana caring about him includes worrying, especially with unknowns involved. She trusts him, and trusts that he'll keep trusting her.
Knowing that it was Gabriel... sadly it doesn't surprise her, and Ana wishes that it did, finding it difficult reconciling her old memories with the actions Gabriel takes now. He'd already gone after her since she'd come back, something that she hadn't mentioned to Jack. For similar reasons )
Knowing is preventing.
( And sadly preparing. Jack may have his abilities back now but she didn't expect that to stop Gabriel )
He won't, and he may be surprised if he tries again.
( He won't have so much advantage over her the next time, if this wasn't temporary. Which might be Ana's only wish of it remaining -- to better help Jack. Gabriel wasn't an easy opponent )
But we will come to that then. He remains mostly quiet.
[Jack knows better than to consider themselves lucky for Gabriel's relative absence. He's familiar enough with how he operates, and can't be sure he's not just biding his time, waiting for the opportune moment. It means that he and Ana need to be prepared for anything, at any time.
Not that they aren't used to living under the gun. They'll figure it out.]
Can't hurt to set up security around the perimeter. Alarms. Cameras.
[Especially because he's caught Reaper lurking around before.]
( They'd be able to find some, either bought or made. There'd been plenty of security on that asteroid too, though she wasn't going to think about going back there. There were enough problems from it )
But one problem at a time.
( They could worry more about Gabriel once her problem was done, and having the security would give them more to go on too )
[Jack is getting ahead of himself, though this is most certainly something he should have done a while ago, when he first laid claim to this place. Perhaps there's a part of him that doesn't want to believe Reaper would be so underhanded and petty as to sabotage his livelihood here.]
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[More joking, but that much is true at least. Another thing he wouldn't have experienced if he never met--Ana. He'd have garbage tea-making skills. It doesn't take long for him to take care of it, and soon he's setting two steaming mugs down on the table. No teacups, this time. Something a little sturdier.]
Just be careful.
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It passes.
( It more than passes -- it's good. Even after all of this time he remembered exactly how to make it.
The mug stays in her hands, risking the pressure of holding it rather than trying to put it back down )
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[If he had a touch in the first place. Jack is watching the way she handles the mug, seemingly ready to reach out and correct her if it looks like she’s about to shatter it. But these mugs are sturdier, and her grip is more careful. Obviously, the situation is less than ideal, but they’re both adaptable.]
Maybe when we’re finished I can show you how to jump out a second-story window.
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( But she's amused, her first real sign of starting to relax since this thing started.
Though Ana supposes she can see the useful skill in it, if this stuck around. He had had to jump them both, and another passenger, out of a window not all too long ago )
How many floors is it before it isn't recommended to do?
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[The most recent instance had been an emergency, of course, and it's not something he's likely to repeat unless there's a need for it. Hopefully, there won't be further need for it.]
Not at our age.
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( There's a smile that she hides behind drinking some more tea, because she wasn't planning on learning )
For now I think handling the strength I have might be better.
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[To leaping out of windows, even if this is very clearly a joke.]
You might be able to beat me in a race, now.
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( He'd barely beaten his time estimate of getting to her on arrival. She remembers, you slacker.
And the race definitely has to happen )
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[Just, you know, getting old. Secret government juice isn't going to keep him at his prime forever. He already breaks a sweat on things that used to be effortless, knows that he won't be able to push himself forever.]
Not as young as I used to be, that's all.
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She's also older. Back in her day-- )
And yet I would place my bet on you any day.
( Any day she's not super Ana, maybe. Let her have this one )
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[He's still joking, but the smile on his face is genuine. Jack tries to hide it with a sip from his mug, but Ana will pick up on it. She always does.]
I'll let you know when it's time to start betting against me.
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( Between his help, anything that Angela could do and whether she reverted back. If this was permanent... )
Maybe I won't need to.
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[Something he hasn't actually told her before, but now seems like an appropriate time to bring it up.]
It was temporary. [A small offer of reassurance.] Realized I'd forgotten what it was like not to have them.
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How long were they gone?
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[And it had been just as uncomfortable as it sounds.]
I got drunk for the firs time in...god, I can't even remember how long it was.
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( There's a sigh )
This place can be uncomfortable enough already. Knowing this... ( Though what exactly did they know? How did it happen? ) Does Angela know what caused it?
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[Jack hadn't really bothered to understand it, and he'd managed to cope. He'd come out the other end of it with a new appreciation for his enhancements--or at least, a new realization for how much he'd relied on them. It was strange, to feel his age.]
Frustrating thing was my knee. Had to heal at normal human speed, for once.
[And he'd pushed himself too hard on it, to boot. He hasn't told Ana that it was Gabriel who shot out his leg, and all that remains of the injury is a slight limp, but it's difficult to hide things from her.]
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Until now. It had happened here, and was specific enough to be mentioned now )
How did it happen?
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Gabriel.
[He tries to downplay it, but it hurts him to say that, and he knows it hurts her, too. How far they've all fallen.]
It's fine, it doesn't bother me.
[Not entirely true.]
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( Part of Ana caring about him includes worrying, especially with unknowns involved. She trusts him, and trusts that he'll keep trusting her.
Knowing that it was Gabriel... sadly it doesn't surprise her, and Ana wishes that it did, finding it difficult reconciling her old memories with the actions Gabriel takes now. He'd already gone after her since she'd come back, something that she hadn't mentioned to Jack. For similar reasons )
Knowing is preventing.
( And sadly preparing. Jack may have his abilities back now but she didn't expect that to stop Gabriel )
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He's not gonna get the better of me again.
[Which is not something he can promise, really, but together they'll do their best.]
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( He won't have so much advantage over her the next time, if this wasn't temporary. Which might be Ana's only wish of it remaining -- to better help Jack. Gabriel wasn't an easy opponent )
But we will come to that then. He remains mostly quiet.
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Not that they aren't used to living under the gun. They'll figure it out.]
Can't hurt to set up security around the perimeter. Alarms. Cameras.
[Especially because he's caught Reaper lurking around before.]
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( They'd be able to find some, either bought or made. There'd been plenty of security on that asteroid too, though she wasn't going to think about going back there. There were enough problems from it )
But one problem at a time.
( They could worry more about Gabriel once her problem was done, and having the security would give them more to go on too )
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[Jack is getting ahead of himself, though this is most certainly something he should have done a while ago, when he first laid claim to this place. Perhaps there's a part of him that doesn't want to believe Reaper would be so underhanded and petty as to sabotage his livelihood here.]
Let's see what Angela says about all this, first.
[One problem at a time.]
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