Bittersweet Reunion | Jack + Viper | Hospital Car

Roadie 🪶Jack

Well, at least one of them was convinced he was here and real. Jagal peered down through near-closed eyelids that did nothing to show what he was thinking. Nor did he reply to either of Viper’s statements. Maybe he hadn’t heard, or maybe he just didn’t feel like responding. Or didn’t know how to. Imagine being missed. He was only supposed to be on the other end of that, anymore. Not that he did miss anyone…

Eventually he at least looked at her. His already quiet voice wouldn’t make it through the mask very well, but he tried anyway. “Can you please get this stupid thing off my arm?” He flexed his fingers on one side.

“Not gonna attack you, promise.” Said with the annoyed air of someone who heard that others expected otherwise.

Viper

“…I’ll take them off, yeah…” It was a no brainer. Jagal had had physical arguments with her enough times now that even if he did lash out, she was sure it’d just fall into the routine. “I believe you.” Her relief was easily outweighing her annoyance and her anger, and she wasted little time in reaching around the edges of the bed to begin unstrapping his arms.

Whilst certain he had done something to need to be restrained, she saw no reason not to be kind enough to release him now. Maybe she should agree to tighten them again when the staff were here… but she does loosen the restraints on his arms.

Touching his arm cemented in her mind that it really was him here, and Viper clearly hesitated greatly before she… hugged him. “Jagal, I thought we wouldn’t see ya again…” Seems she’s not going to let him pretend and ignore the fact he was indeed missed. At least, if he does resist the hug at all, she releases him without protest. “It’s not th’same without ya ’round. I’m jus’ glad y’made it here.”

Roadie 🪶Jack

Viper “I believe you.”

Ah, the words of a sucker. On a different day, Jagal would’ve come up with another request while the iron was hot, but that was too much effort today. This was all he needed. If it would actually work.

Viper but she does loosen the restraints on his arms.

Oh, two for one. Even better, probably. As the first side came free, he idly stared down at his hand, watching the fingers flex. The restraints hadn’t been tight enough to cut off circulation, but he still spent long enough making sure his hands would work that he missed Viper’s hesitation entirely.

Hard to miss the next part, though. He’d just started to lift his less encumbered arm when his mission was interrupted by an attack. A little too off and/or medicated to overreact, he just tensed up slightly.

Viper “It’s not th’same without ya ’round. I’m jus’ glad y’made it here.”

Between the general state of confusion, the need to catch up with his immediate plans being thwarted, and the nature of what she was even saying, Jagal really had no hope of registering anything. A delayed “yeah” was the best he could manage.

Viper

Unfortunately for Jagal, just tensing up was not enough to get her to let go. He was going to have to cope with this until she finally let go a few moments later. Yeah, maybe the hug was exclusively for her benefit, but it did just… make her fully aware this wasn’t a messed up trick, and that Jagal was here.

“D’ya know how long ya’ve been here?” Viper moves away enough that she’s not looming over him any more. “Are ya gonna come with us again?” She says, not having the knowledge we have OOC that this is a murder car and there’s a very real potential anyone here could be dead here. Even her. Smiles.

Roadie 🪶Jack

(cw implied needle injury)

Viper Unfortunately for Jagal, just tensing up was not enough to get her to let go. He was going to have to cope with this until she finally let go a few moments later.

But surely Jagal’s usual method of ignoring anything inconvenient would suffice for coping here. ~~Or he could close his eyes and pretend it was her. Ahaha, but she wouldn’t have had this much strength, anyway, yeah? Hadn’t for a long time.~~

Viper “D’ya know how long ya’ve been here?”

“The… train, ’r.” Too tired for context clues, try again later.

Viper Viper moves away enough that she’s not looming over him any more.

Oh hey, that. He’d been waiting for that, kind of. Right. He flexed his fingers again briefly before seizing the tangle of medical tubes attached to him and ripping them from his arm in one go. A strip of tape drifted to the floor as blood slunk down his arm, flickering numbers still glowing through the red film.

Everyone in the car felt a little sicker.

Viper "Are ya gonna come with us again?”

…Oh, had she said something else? He’d been a little distracted seizing his chance.

“…Missed the last part, what?”

Just gonna carry on a normal conversation after that, huh??

Viper

“Th’ hospital.” She clarifies to her earlier question, “How long have ya, like…. been in this hospital car?” Viper knew she may not get an answer, but so be it.

After all, Jagal’s next actions have fully grabbed her attention. She watches owlishly as he disconnects himself from the machines, there’s a twinge of nausea in her stomach, but luckily it was just that. Meekly, she reaches into her bag and pulls out a scrap of fabric, holding it out to him.

“Uh. Y’can wipe off wit’ this if ya want.”

There’s a more prominent fuzziness in her head that reminds her this was a bad choice. Much like a Telltale game, she could practically see the ‘Everyone will remember that’ in the corner of her vision. Her bleeding heart would be her downfall with this man, she knew it, but since when has that ever convinced her to back down?

“Are ya…. gonna come wit’ us? Th’ group.” There’s a plead to her voice that she’s fully aware he likely won’t even notice, but she sounds a little more pathetic since they last met, that much is clear. It would be nice to have someone around that she (thought that she) knew if it came to it would choose to save his own skin over her. “It’s not th’ same without ya. Jagal, I saw… how ya looked at me ’n Asuka- Y’know. Pink girl, Before ya left us. I dunno if ya even remember, but…” She trails off, but does look at him. Tries to look him in the face.

“I jus’… I at least wanna know ya don’t hate me for sendin’ ya t’what I thought was gonna kill ya.” She doubts he even remembers. But that’s okay.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Viper “How long have ya, like…. been in this hospital car?”

“This time? …Mm.” Jagal shut his eyes for a second but didn’t seem to get anywhere. “No idea.”

Viper Meekly, she reaches into her bag and pulls out a scrap of fabric, holding it out to him.

“Uh. Y’can wipe off wit’ this if ya want.”

He snatched the Free Proffered Item on instinct, then kinda held it out there dangling while his brain caught up.

…Right. Okay. Was it poisoned or something? Did it matter to him? Not really. He tossed it onto his elbow with a vague grunt, making no effort to actually put pressure on it. Just watching the blood seep as he pulled off the oxygen mask for good measure. There. Good luck saving him now, suckers.

Viper “Are ya…. gonna come wit’ us? Th’ group.”

A low laugh. “Why? Y’want me to?” he said drily. Because clearly that would indicate some real poor judgment on her part.

Viper “It’s not th’ same without ya. Jagal, I saw… how ya looked at me ’n Asuka- Y’know. Pink girl, Before ya left us. I dunno if ya even remember, but…”

He looked elsewhere in a way that you could practically hear nonchalant whistling. No idea what you’re talking about, he’d never looked at anyone in his life ever. Certainly not in any way that implied he had any interest in trailing after them.

Because that wouldn’t work out for them, anyway. Never did, never would. Not with him around.

Viper “I jus’… I at least wanna know ya don’t hate me for sendin’ ya t’what I thought was gonna kill ya.”

Even without that strong a shift in his expression, it was obvious he had no idea what she was talking about. He rolled his shoulders back with a wince.

“Why? You wanna give it another shot?” He watched her intently, even as he made no attempt to assume any sort of defensive stance.

Viper

“…Yeah. I want ya ta come wit’ us.” Viper may be making a bad choice and have horrible judgement, but so be it. She did want Jagal to come with them. Jagal was someone she could rely on- it wasn’t the same without his snide comments and his attempts to pilfer people’s belongings. She could rely on him to be so… him. The consistency would be… appealing with how hectic things had been getting as of late.

Jagal’s big shift in mood has her raising her brows, okayyyy… that she won’t let slide. She’s just got another statement to focus on first.

“That’s…like, th’opposite’a what I want!” Viper didn’t want to kill him, this was true. “Jagal…I jus’… y’know. I feel bad. It was my fault ya couldn’t take that book wit’ ya. Th’ thing for checkin’ it out… I had it, but it got ruined when we were washed up on th’ beach.” It might be a lie, but it wasn’t like Jagal knew that…! “I tried ta get’em ta let ya take it, but…” Pause.

“Look. I know how much… she meant ta ya. I know… it must’a hurt so bad to lose all’a ’em. I’m tryin’ so hard ta be here for ya. Jagal, I care, an’ I know ya think that’s jus’ my bad judgement.” She looks at him after scowling at the floor. “I jus’ wish ya could… realise I ain’t gonna judge ya for havin’ feelin’s, an’ I ain’t gonna jus’ up an’ run away. An’ I ain’t gonna die on ya. I’ve avoided it like, twice now. I ain’t gonna do it.” She’s internally shaking him by the shoulders and begging him to just. Get it.

“I know… ya hesitated. On leavin’. I know that look when I see it, Jagal. Ya do remember. I jus’ wish ya could admit it even ta ya’self.”

Roadie 🪶Jack

Viper “That’s…like, th’opposite’a what I want!”

Jagal settled back against the pillows, almost looking… disappointed. Fine, whatever.

Viper “Jagal…I jus’… y’know. I feel bad.

Ah, yes. The usual reaction to knowing too much. Jagal prepared to tune out.

Viper It was my fault ya couldn’t take that book wit’ ya. Th’ thing for checkin’ it out… I had it, but it got ruined when we were washed up on th’ beach. I tried ta get’em ta let ya take it, but…”

He narrowed his eyes, trying to process. The slow but steady blood loss wasn’t helping. Nor was the quiet but persistent alarm that had started at some point after he’d removed the medical stuff. He kindly told it to shut up, accomplishing nothing, and turned back to Viper, still with questionable focus. Things and beaches and… Sort of gibberish, yet just familiar enough to sound right. Her fault, huh.

“Doesn’t matter. Wasn’t any point to leaving. Still don’t know how I…” Ugh, he was talking too much. Not that he planned on shutting up, but his throat was still too dry to keep this up forever.

Viper “Look. I know how much… she meant ta ya. I know… it must’a hurt so bad to lose all’a ’em. I’m tryin’ so hard ta be here for ya. Jagal, I care, an’ I know ya think that’s jus’ my bad judgement.”

Though he gripped the covers on the less bloody side, he just looked askance. He’s an EMO GUY, one does not simply understand him.

Viper “I jus’ wish ya could… realise I ain’t gonna judge ya for havin’ feelin’s, an’ I ain’t gonna jus’ up an’ run away. An’ I ain’t gonna die on ya. I’ve avoided it like, twice now. I ain’t gonna do it.”

He wheezed. “Oh, twice. You’re a real expert, huh.” Hands clenching and unclenching the sheet, he looked to the too-bright ceiling. “…Sorry. Just—don’t.” Don’t what? Die? Stay? Same difference.

Viper “I know… ya hesitated. On leavin’. I know that look when I see it, Jagal. Ya do remember. I jus’ wish ya could admit it even ta ya’self.”

He shut his eyes and let out a long breath—mostly in an attempt to stave off dizziness. Because that’s all that was going through his head.

“And?” he muttered. “That s’posed to matter?”

His eyes opened a slit. “I still didn’t choose you. I don’t belong with you, or anyone, and you thinking you’re gonna magically be the exception doesn’t mean anything you’re still going to die and I’m not doing this again.”

Breaths seething through his teeth, he reached to rub his face, whether it left behind some blood or not. What was he even saying? Ugh. He needed a drink.

Viper

It’s hard for Jagal to talk about. It’s hard for him to even process, she can tell that much, but Viper’s not letting the chance slip through her fingers again. He could end up stuck here when they moved on, he could, lord forbid, end up dead. She wouldn’t be able to forgive herself for missing the chance.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Doesn’t matter. Wasn’t any point to leaving. Still don’t know how I…” Ugh, he was talking too much. Not that he planned on shutting up, but his throat was still too dry to keep this up forever.

“…Ya thought ya were doin’ th’ right thing. There was a point, Jagal.” Her gaze softens sympathetically, she can’t even imagine what it feels like to be inside his head, with all this swimming around in there- as well as the… issues she wasn’t super privy to.

Roadie 🪶Jack He wheezed. “Oh, twice. You’re a real expert, huh.” Hands clenching and unclenching the sheet, he looked to the too-bright ceiling. “…Sorry. Just—don’t.” Don’t what? Die? Stay? Same difference.

“Two more’n th’average person.” She introjects quickly, she knows it’s nothing compared to what he’s been through. But it was still something, surely. Viper doesn’t remember the last time she heard Jagal apologise, but… it was nice to hear, despite the context. “It’s ’kay.”

Roadie 🪶Jack “And?” he muttered. “That s’posed to matter?”

His eyes opened a slit. “I still didn’t choose you. I don’t belong with you, or anyone, and you thinking you’re gonna magically be the exception doesn’t mean anything you’re still going to die and I’m not doing this again.”

“Jagal…” Viper moves a little closer, just kind of… ambiently lingering beside his bed. “I don’t care if ya didn’t choose me last time. Ya still get a chance. Ya can choose me now.” She offers her hand to him. “…Please, Jagal. Even if ya don’t belong wit’ th’ group as a whole, ya belong wit’ me. I don’t think I’m gonna magically be th’exception or somethin’, but I can tell there’s somethin’ there. Ya deserve more’n ya give ya’self credit for.”

She shakes her hand a little. “I’m stronger’n ya think. I ain’t gonna die. I got people lookin’ out f’me left-right’n center. Abel won’t let anythin’ happen ta me at all.” Abel was likely going to linger around her more than usual, after all. “What’s it gonna be? Y’wanna stay in this drab hospital, or d’ya wanna come with?” If the situation were less serious maybe she would have joked about not having gotten those extra lessons from him, but… alas, now was not the time.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Viper “…Ya thought ya were doin’ th’ right thing. There was a point, Jagal.”

Jagal’s eyes slipped shut. In a better mood, he would’ve laughed. Didn’t seem that amusing now, though. “Not for a long time.” Trying to do right or anything having a point? Yes.

Viper “Two more’n th’average person.”

That got a blank look. Suffice it to say I don’t think Jagal’s had any concept of an average person for a very long time, if he ever did.

Viper “Jagal…” Viper moves a little closer, just kind of… ambiently lingering beside his bed.

He apparently had enough energy to shift away, if only a little. Great, was she gonna try and put the things back? Keep trying to save him? Why couldn’t people stop already? Impossible. Not even worth it.

Exhausting.

Viper “…Please, Jagal. Even if ya don’t belong wit’ th’ group as a whole, ya belong wit’ me. I don’t think I’m gonna magically be th’exception or somethin’, but I can tell there’s somethin’ there.

So what, she wanted to die? He really couldn’t follow this in his state. Not that it’d make any more sense to him if he didn’t have blood dribbling from his arm. Some nurse was probably gonna come check on that soon, huh. He twisted his arm back and forth a little. Hurry it up, wouldja.

Viper Ya deserve more’n ya give ya’self credit for.”

Another wheeze. “More what?” Lying in a hospital bed waiting to die? Yeah, sure, he probably deserved more of that.

Viper “I’m stronger’n ya think. I ain’t gonna die. I got people lookin’ out f’me left-right’n center. Abel won’t let anythin’ happen ta me at all.”

Right, because someone else trying to keep her alive would make such a difference. …Would it?

Something flickered in his eyes before he shoved it aside. Everyone else in his family had worked just as hard to save whoever was left. Still the same.

He pulled a sheet up over his shoulders and made some cursory attempt to roll onto his side that didn’t quite end up happening. “I can’t help you.”

Viper “What’s it gonna be? Y’wanna stay in this drab hospital, or d’ya wanna come with?”

He just stared at her hand. Since when did what he wanted ever mean anything? Not when he’d just lose it again.

Viper

Roadie 🪶Jack Another wheeze. “More what?” Lying in a hospital bed waiting to die? Yeah, sure, he probably deserved more of that.

“…Lemme rephrase that.” Viper noticed him shuffle away. But she’s not… giving up on him that easy. “Look. I ain’t gonna put th’ machines back on.” She starts fiddling with the beeping machine, trying to find a way to switch it off before someone comes to check on the pair of them. “But I think ya deserve ta live. Know it might not feel like ya do. But ya do. Jus’ ’cause ya did some sh-tty things doesn’t mean ya deserve ta die.”

Roadie 🪶Jack Something flickered in his eyes before he shoved it aside. Everyone else in his family had worked just as hard to save whoever was left. Still the same.

He pulled a sheet up over his shoulders and made some cursory attempt to roll onto his side that didn’t quite end up happening. “I can’t help you.”

“It’s not ‘bout needin’ ya ta help me. Is it not enough ta jus’ want’cha around? Ta want ya ta come wit’ us?” She keeps that hand outstretched toward him, practically internally begging him to take it. Or even give her a slight indication that he wanted to. Or had even considered it. “I ain’t gonna die. Know it’s gonna be hard ta believe that. In th’last car… Abel knew I could die if I got caught by th’denizens. He put himself in th’firing line f’me.” She hated saying the next part, but if it convinced him… “He’s willin’ ta die f’me.”

“Jagal. It hurts ta lose people, I know. But closin’ ya’self off only does more damage. Ya might think its doin’ ya good, but bein’ so alone ain’t a way ta live.” Willing him to understand, she continued. “Please. Ignorin’ what ya really want is jus’ gonna hurt ya even more.”

“At least… come wit’ me. Ya don’t have’ta follow us outta th’ hospital. But I wanna mess around or somethin’, like we did ‘fore. I miss… th’ Jagal that was developin’ my sneakin’ skills. I been practicin’ jus’ for ya.” Maybe… if he would agree to that, he would agree to come along again. Maybe… if she could convince him to let go of all of this, even just for a minute… it could all be okay. “I miss ya a whole lot.”

Roadie 🪶Jack

Viper “Look. I ain’t gonna put th’ machines back on.” She starts fiddling with the beeping machine, trying to find a way to switch it off before someone comes to check on the pair of them.

Jagal eased back slightly, though the wariness didn’t leave his eyes. He watched in silence as she eventually managed to stop the beeping. Whether that stopped the whole alarm system or just muted things was anyone’s guess at this point. Only time would tell, presumably.

Viper “But I think ya deserve ta live. Know it might not feel like ya do. But ya do. Jus’ ’cause ya did some sh-tty things doesn’t mean ya deserve ta die.”

He scoffed, nearly too quiet to hear even with the mask off. “Yeah, everyone always deserves to live forever, sure. But it doesn’t work out like that, does it? Better to get rid a’ the… threats, yeah? So the rest can… whatever.” He slowly raised his not-bleeding arm to rub his forehead. Ahaha. Very dizzy now. But maybe this could finally be it. Or at least the pounding headache could settle.

Ha. Fat chance.

Viper “It’s not ‘bout needin’ ya ta help me. Is it not enough ta jus’ want’cha around? Ta want ya ta come wit’ us?”

Clearly this was another bit he was having trouble processing. Like… what? For entertainment? Some other alleged use? You’re not related, what could you possibly want from him that wasn’t transactional?

Viper “I ain’t gonna die. Know it’s gonna be hard ta believe that. In th’last car… Abel knew I could die if I got caught by th’denizens. He put himself in th’firing line f’me.” She hated saying the next part, but if it convinced him… “He’s willin’ ta die f’me.”

“…Right. He’s talented.” The intonation definitely sounded like he was referencing something, whether or not Abel would have quoted that conversation to her. Either way, Jagal couldn’t say he wasn’t more than a little jealous of the guy with severe widespread burn wounds. How come some people could actually protect each other? Maybe it was just anyone but Jagal. Yeah, probably.

Could it possibly cancel out between them? Too hard to think about. Busy self-loathing.

Viper “Jagal. It hurts ta lose people, I know. But closin’ ya’self off only does more damage. Ya might think its doin’ ya good, but bein’ so alone ain’t a way ta live.”

“Not wrong.” He inclined his head toward his bag o’ things against the wall. “Wanna bring a knife over, then?” Buddy pal that is absolutely not what she meant.

Viper “At least… come wit’ me. Ya don’t have’ta follow us outta th’ hospital. But I wanna mess around or somethin’, like we did ‘fore. I miss… th’ Jagal that was developin’ my sneakin’ skills. I been practicin’ jus’ for ya.”

His eyes screwed up a bit as he watched her hand. It was a nice thought, but it felt awfully dangerous in context. Maybe he’d just wait long enough to forget the context and it’d be fine. Was that how it worked? Ha.

Viper

Viper certainly didn’t care if it was only a temporary solution to stop the beeping. As long as she could finish her conversation with Jagal… she didn’t care. She just needed that time. He was so… stubborn. So painfully stubborn. But she got it- she understood why he was that way, but that didn’t make him any less infuriating to get through to.

Seems that this time Abel didn’t directly quote the conversation with how Viper’s brow quirked up. Huh. Sounds like Jagal’s opinion of Abel is… the same as ever, if that tone was anything to go by. Oh well, she probably wouldn’t get any context from Mr. Barely-Lucid over here.

“Jagal-! Y’know that’s not what I’m talkin’ bout!” Or maybe he didn’t. Honestly, she still couldn’t tell with him when he was moping around like this. When her hand wasn’t taken, she did keep it outstretched but…she wondered if she even could convince him.

“…Look. I know ya been through a lot. I’unno how much y’remember… but back in the library car… y’passed out. Some’a us were…lookin’ through some books. Jagal- I could’a killed ya then if I was gonna, when y’passed out.” She shakes her hand a little, trying to prompt him again. “Can’t even… begin ta imagine what it’s like havin’ the life you had. But… I wanna make a positive impact. I wanna try’n show’ya that there’s…still hope.” Her nose scrunches a little at her own words.

Eugh, she sounded ridiculous. It wasn’t her favourite thing, sounding like some broken-record hope-filled loser. But as Viper had shown before, she could stoop to a lot of levels if she really had to to get what she wanted done. “Please, Jagal. Just believe in someone else even f’a minute.”

Roadie 🪶Jack

Viper “Jagal-! Y’know that’s not what I’m talkin’ bout!”

“Fiiiine. Spoilsport.”

Viper “…Look. I know ya been through a lot. I’unno how much y’remember… but back in the library car… y’passed out. Some’a us were…lookin’ through some books. Jagal- I could’a killed ya then if I was gonna, when y’passed out.”

Passed out, huh? And look what happened. That’ll show him to fall asleep. He knew better, of course, but he’d done his fair share in this car, anyway. …He thought. Hard to remember most of it, on account of whatever drugs were responsible for making him sleep. If there were still drugs capable of that. Not worth thinking about since he only ever wanted to avoid it. Avoid everything. All he could ever do.

“Your loss.”

Viper She shakes her hand a little, trying to prompt him again.

He squinted. Handshake? “What, I miss a self-introduction?” He’s so awake.

Viper “Can’t even… begin ta imagine what it’s like havin’ the life you had. But… I wanna make a positive impact. I wanna try’n show’ya that there’s…still hope.”

He shivered, possibly from the thought of the life he’d had… or just the slow blood loss.

“……………”

“Show me how, exactly. Prove it how.” His dry voice was threatening to give out, so it was harder than ever to tell if it was just bitter sarcasm or a genuine question.

Viper “Please, Jagal. Just believe in someone else even f’a minute.”

Believe in them dying? Sure! Easy! He huffed to himself but thankfully didn’t voice that one.

“I can pretend to. That good enough?”