spoilers for tonight's episode, because his mun won't shut up

[mywayorthehighway]

I'm not going to die.

[But he can't say that with utmost certainty, because Hannibal is dangerous and he has a shard of glass sticking out of his neck. Still, he's putting on a brave (if not exasperated) face, never mind that he's just as concerned and filled with dread about his potential fate. Perhaps not even necessarily out of the desire to live, but because what if no one stops Hannibal?]

Look, it's probably going to be a few weeks before you find out what's going to happen. You should be worrying about your school work, not whether or not I'm going to make it out of this season alive. Priorities, Mun. You have to think about your--

[BUT JACK. WHAT IF YOU DIE. You're my favorite. :c]

...I want to be flattered, but you're not making it easy. Let's just focus on what we have in front of us right now, not several weeks down the road. Got it?

Comments

[fine_young]

If you do die, it will be for a good cause. *His elder self getting fed is a good cause, if nothing else.*

[sapor]

Advocating responsibility. That's admirable advice, Jack.

[ A smile. Pleasant. Thin.

It will go unspoken, but while he expected all the brute force and the bruises, Jack's handling of a knife is a pleasant surprise. ]

[mywayorthehighway]

[Conversely, Jack's jaw tightens and his eyes crease: immediate tension and guardedness. He isn't as subtle, and he sees no reason to be. Hannibal is a brilliant fighter; he'd have to be, to get away with the things he's done.]

Someone has to. You clearly have no qualms letting responsibility buckle onto someone else's shoulders.

[sapor]

I could say the same of you.

how do i not have a yelling icon, it's jack. oh well, this will have to do!

[mywayorthehighway]

[Perhaps he deserves that, because what happened to Will, a lot of it came from him. Pushing, way too hard. But it doesn't stop the anger from creasing his face and drawing up his shoulders until he barks out a yell with a pointed finger.]

Don't even think about comparing what you did and what I did! You deliberately toyed with him! I may have pushed him too hard, but it was never my intention to hurt him! He's my friend, Doctor Lecter. For you, he's just a sick game.

Oh. Jack. :c

[sapor]

[ That routine might work beautifully in rattling some, but your tantrums have no effect here, sir. He remains almost placid, eyes locked on with an eternal assessment, the deep recesses of his imaginings turning much darker.

One puncture to one blood vessel can solve so many problems. ]

Will is more sophisticated than any toy, contrary to how he was handled and presented in the field. Though, much like when a child has damaged their prized possession, no one seemed anxious to clean up the mess.

[ As for what he did, well, he has no idea what you're barking about. No one does, nor will they ever. ]

[slightlyoffchilt]

And in the wine cellar, too. A bit heavy with the Grapes of Wrath allusion, don't you think?

[mywayorthehighway]

Don't start with me, Dr. Chilton. [He's so not in the mood to deal with you.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

At least you still have both your kidneys.

[That's some lazy guilt-tripping, there.]

[mywayorthehighway]

Yes. I do. [...He almost leaves it at that, then frowns. He's professional, okay.] What happened to you was unfortunate, but you still have your life. That's more than many victims can say.

[enabeled]

It is difficult, Agent Crawford. Getting closure. Especially if you aren't the type that likes to wait.

[mywayorthehighway]

That's not something I have any control over. I can't snap my fingers and give her the answer. She's just going to have to learn to be patient.

[Inwardly, he's just as anxious to know the answer, but it's not something he intends to show out in the open if he can help it.]

[enabeled]

She isn't the only one. [ His does too. But then, so does he. And so do you Jack, sorry. ] Too bad. Personally, never were any hard feelings on my end. I know you were just doing your job.

[ c: ]

[guestlectures]

What we have in front of us right now is potentially going to put the wrong man away for life.

[mywayorthehighway]

We both know that out here, but everything we've seen and learned makes it hard to see otherwise at the moment. [He pauses, lowering his chin while his eyes follow, seemingly caught up in thought.] It can't end in Hannibal Lecter's favor, I know that much. We have to figure something out. [It almost sounds less certain and more... hopeful, despite his best efforts. Things aren't looking good, and it's hard to have that unshakable confidence.]

[guestlectures]

[She keeps a close watch on his face, trying to follow his emotions.

For all that she filed that report against him, Alana doesn't dislike Jack. He's good at what he does, even if he gets blindsided at times.

Alana's confidence is founded on the fact that Hannibal can't touch Will in his cell. He might be safer than all of them.] Apparently we do figure something out, if that fight is anything to go by. Whether it's in time or not...

[flexile]

You're not going to die, Jack. You're too good at this, and you're too smart. I'd be surprised if you don't have the cavalry waiting outside.

[redhairring]

[hey, remember when she told everybody Will was insane? remember?

cause guess what, FREDDIE REMEMBERS and neener neener neener.]

You've got a huge challenge in front of you, don't you Jack?

[infomodder]

[what if he dies indeed]

Everyone's going to die, Jack. It's the way of life. We're born, we live, we die.

[it sounds so clinical. so cold. so uncaring. almost bitter.]

Hopefully at an old age. You'll pull through. Stuck in the wine cellar, just grab a bottle, bust it open, and stab his neck right back. Or the face. Or, you know, just all of him. Everywhere.

If Abigail Hobbs can recover from a slit throat, you can recover from this.

[a pause]

This isn't your fault. None of it is.