dear_mun | screw islands

[snort] I don't think that even you could have gotten out of that one without help. Better to swallow your pride than turning into a human shish kabob.

[arms crossed. seriously sherry? I would have had it. Thanks for your concern, Supergirl.

[sherry isn't buying your bullshit, jake.] Right. You're welcome, tough guy. [in the most literal sense.]

[snort] You been okay otherwise?

[ew don't change the subject, jake.

sherry places one hand on her hip, the other one raised, elbow bent as her wrist turns slightly motioning with her hand as she talks.]

Oh just peachy if you don't count your -- [ahem] our little adventure.

Hey, you didn't have to come. I had shit under control.

[keep telling yourself that.]

Didn't look that way too me. I'd say you're pretty lucky I was in the area when it happened.

[stop being an ungrateful shit and just admit she's right dammit.]

[sherry. no.]

Maybe you need those eyes checked, Supergirl. Admit it. You just missed me.

No, it's a vacation when you're doing the hunting. [ She says it like it's a joke, but it's clear she's being rather sincere. ] I do it for a living where I'm at, it's a pretty sweet gig.

[ But it lingers. That look, that little up-turn melodic bit to her voice where you know she wants to comment on the rest of it. Especially the damsel part.

But look at her, being polite. ]

[there's a slight tilt of his head that hints at the sarcasm to come.]

That so? Well, thank's a million, Capt. [salute] Your words of wisdom are sincerely appreciated. [jake brings a hand to his chest trying to convey how sincerely he means all that. it's as best as sarcasm will lend, but the sarcasm is more jokingly at this point. it's to say he consider's her more friend...ly than a threat. then again most things that fall under 'threatening' to him these days are monsters, shit trying to kill him, or experiment on him, and shit trying to kill him. did he say that already?] Hunting monsters for a living? Isn't that what you already do? I mean the whole B.S.A.A gig you and what's his face. [jake waves a hand quickly trying to ~~suppress~~ jog his memory.] chris [it eventually comes out. mumbled. it's a real struggle to get that guy's name out, okay? he'll even throw in some finger snapping in case she wasn't convinced he was trying.

there's more. he knows it. he just doesn't say it for a damn good reason.]

[ He doesn't even have to tilt his head. It's omnipresent when he's hanging about. ]

Hey, anytime, Damsel. [ She knows he's going to lay it on thick -- and honestly, she thinks it's cute. In fact, she kind of looks forward to it. It's her kind of humor... you know, barring bad puns and lame jokes. Certainly not Barry-levels, but who knows? She might get there yet. ] Hey, it isn't quite the same thing. Difference is a bounty. Kind of nice actually making money for once? Who would've thought.

Gosh, I almost might begin to think you like me and him if you keep up all this bashful business. [ She's pretty sure she's nailed it, even if he's unaware of it. ] Honestly, it's easier with a partner, you know? More enjoyable even if you might get your ass handed back to you. Not fortunate enough to have him or Parker with me, but I've got a few people I can call on.

[it can't be helped of he's got that sarcasm swagger.]

Hey, the Captain also has eagle eyes. [golf clap] And here I almost thought you weren't gonna bring it up. [jake was asking for it when he put it out there. not that he couldn't handle it, there just might be a hint of regret.] Like I said, I didn't need saving. I was handling myself just fine against those assholes. [except the part where he (may have) almost got impaled.

hold up. a bounty? did he hear her right?]

Bounty? Sounds like merc work to me. Heh. Don't tell me you left the B.S-and-whatever-good-guy-for-hire for the good life? [smirk] Yeah...that's why we're called "soldiers of fortune" and whatever jarhead stuff you guys were doing isn't. [smug asshole]

Don't flatter yourself too much, hotshot. Might go to your head. [a) admit that she nailed it. b) avoidance. Obviously, b is the better option.] You mean more enjoyable having to look after someone else? Don't forget having your partner close behind if you ever get into that sort of shitstorm. Personally? I prefer going it alone. Less shit to worry about, but to each their own. [shrug]

[ He's the only one that calls it that. :'( ]

Hey, I'm not as well-known for my sniping as my partner, but I'm not bad at all. [ Honestly, she's impressed by his perfection of the clap. ] So you just brought it up for no reason at all, huh. Though you did just say "was" not "did" or "am". Funny how that goes!

[ Being impaled, potentially, really is a pre-existing condition for them, though! It's sort of to be expected. ]

Me and Chris did some merc work after Raccoon City, actually. [ Check it out! Your weird aunt and uncle were kinda cool once upon a time! Well... they actually still aren't, but it's an interesting little detail! ] Yeah, yeah, we get it. We're tough and like to deadlift things and so on. Should at least give Chris a little more credit -- think you might get along with him better than you might think.

[ Although he was always a total peach and nerdy dork to her, he had been defiant and uncompromising and that's why he left the Air Force. A bit of a rowdy troublemaker. Kind of like Someone she knows. ]

You forget I've been doin' this for a long time, you're not telling me anything I don't know or haven't heard before. Chris and Parker -- and even Barry -- all cover my weak points and where I lack. I'm speed and successive hits and up close and personal; they're hard hitters. Plus, Chris is one of the best hackers we have in the BSAA. [ Fancy that, huh. Jarhead's a geek. ] Parker's just brute strength, really. And good company.

[ Just admit that you like having Sherry (and even herself) chillin' with you already. But mostly Sherry. And her cute little gooey eyes when she peers up at you... ]

[don't be jealous jill.]

Can't be good at everything. I'm sure you can probably manage to shot an Ogroman down from a chopper. [if you exclude haos and that shit for brains ustanak, that's a huge af target to hit. you'd pretty much have to be civilian level or shitfaced to miss it.] Not bad at all. [thank you, he's here all day and still smirking. this was all too easy.] Yeah, real funny. It was because it's a done deal. I didn't ask for help or need it. Still don't. [and on that note jake will cross his arms because that's that. for now.

it really is. there's no getting used to it no matter how many times it happens.]

Good for you. And what? You miss the life? [almost as interesting as finding out your father's a psychopath.] And shoot psychos who want to destroy the world. Yeah, you guys are real tough guys. [he's salty okay? especially talking about chris. it equates to his father and that's about as enjoyable as getting kidnapped into a facility to be experimented on.] Yeah, and pigs can fly. [sorry jill. not happening.

trouble's his middle name. if the whole dad thing didn't happen, they may be bffs.]

Isn't that just heartfelt. Think I just got butterflies. [except not really.] I'll give you one thing; You and me have have a similar style. [snort] Who would have thought he has other abilities other than being trigger happy. [jake is trying so damn hard not to roll his eyes right now.]

[never jill! never ever ever.]

[ Yeah, tell Sherry about that and see how that pans out. ]

I said not as well-known, smart-ass. I'm sure you think you're pretty cute, but I'm not one that'll buy it. [ Yet she's kind of (kind of) cracking a smile, so maybe she does buy it just a touch. Even if he's a little shit. ] You know the people who seem to say that the most are the ones who really need or want it.

[ Honestly, she's kind of shocked she hasn't lost a limb by now considering the way she fights up close and personal and you know, might have a tendency to be a touch reckless when a situation involves a certain dork. ]

Hm? Not really. Isn't too different, actually. I wish we were able to run the BSAA without money and could've kept it the way we really wanted it, that would've been ideal, but... [ Sometimes you had to take a hand and get help. Plus, the backing of the UN really made travel easier. ] I was joking, but I'm not really sure what your issue is. Would you just... rather have the world go up in smoke? Because you're being a little defensive about that.

[ What a weenie, can't even admit he likes them. Either way, you can't escape Wesker. Just gotta go with the flow. ]

Yeah, yeah, get in line with the rookies if you're gonna start swooning all over me. [ His own fault for opening up to that one. ] Hear you got a nice Shotei palm strike. [ Spoilers: it's actually more like hers than Wesker's, how cute. ] Could stand to take your leg day a little more serious, though... And I get it, you don't like Chris because of some preconceived notions even though he risked everything to save your ass. Cut him some slack; he was lead around by some self-righteous coward who didn't want to take control while he was suffering a severe blow to the head and amnesia. He was going on the only things he could remember -- and what he was told.

[ She doesn't hate Piers, though. He was just lost and afraid of taking control of a situation. So Jill does resent him for what he put Chris through, though.

And he totally gets them dokis!!! ]

Really think if you sat down and tried not to be a punk or a weenie that you might find you two have a lot in common. He's the best friend I've ever had and better company than I'll ever be -- besides that, figure we both owe you a long overdue talk.

[she's totally into it, okay? on like alternating months or some shit, but it still counts!]

My bad, Captain Eagle Eyes. I am pretty cute, and I think you do under all that protective layer or some shit. Women never say what they mean -- sometimes -- and I think this is one of those times. [jake may be a little shit, but he doesn't have a death wish. there are some boundaries he won't mess with.] You're right, I'm just not one of them.

[takes one to know one, except he's not surprised because he's a total badass.]

Money makes the world go around. It's just the way it is. [he's actually not being sarcastic about this. there are things he also wished could be dealt with differently without money. might be a different person had it been that way.] I don't have a problem with what you guys are trying to do as long as you stay out of the way. The world is gonna go up in smoke anyway. We're just here to slow it down. If it wasn't him, it would be someone else. He didn't have a right to kill him. Wasn't his call.

[jake hates his father and he hates chris. there were so many things he wanted to get off his chest and wouldn't be able to. chris took all that away. considering he risked his life for him and sherry, he can let up a little, but the guy still owes him a talk.]

Give someone an inch and they'll take a mile. Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not into you jarhead types. But feel free to hold onto the idea if you get your thrills from it. [jake raises an eyebrow at her palm strike observation.] Yeah? What about it? [har har. capcom is a funny little shit aren't they.] Heh, that what Chris told you? I don't remember ever giving you a demo. If you want a show, it doesn't come free. [stop jake, just stop.]

Some preconceived notion, huh? Like the fact that he didn't hesitate to put my father down? The fact that maybe there could have been other ways to handle it. Maybe put him away somewhere to rot, or I don't know! Something other than just pulling the trigger because it's half personal. Aren't you guys supposed to put that shit aside? Be the "good guys"? Tch. Because following someone else's orders is such a great excuse. Oh, I'm sorry...a self-righteous coward. That puppy didn't make him pull the trigger on my father. That was on Chris. Amnesia or not, doesn't negate what he did.

Guy owes me a talk. I'm not gonna make any promises on how I'll act. Don't know why you owe me anything though.

[ It's okay if his kokoro is wounded along with his pride... ]

I'm just an SOA. [ But there's that lilt that makes it a joke. A bad one, an unfunny one, but definitely intended as one. ] You were kinda cute and then you said that. Feel like you're askin' for a beat down.

[ Is... is he sure... because if he was in a room full of women they'd all owl-turn and stare at him right about now-ish. ]

Can't say I'm a fan of capitalism. [ Neither is Chris, unsurprisingly. But he's a soldier of fortune -- of course he knows that money makes the world spin. Maybe doesn't solve everything, but it sure does alleviate a number of stressful things. ] You think we don't know it's so ingrained in our ecosystem now that it's only a matter of time? And you're wrong. Maybe you wanted it, but he had that right. We had that right. After what he did to us, to me...

[ But that talk has to come sooner rather than later. And frankly, she feels like it should come from her rather than Chris. Chris didn't owe anyone anything, really. He did it for her and she was fine not joining in because she was free again. ]

Forgot how different you are from us. [ She was just teasing but there's an edge to what she says; he's not that different. ] Heard it's good form, is all. And you'd just love it if he praised you, wouldn't you? Either way, you're just digging yourself in deeper. Like I said, get in line, kiddo.

[ Please stop. ]

You weren't there. [ This is where shit gets Real™. Sharp, without that soft, friendly humor laden in each and every word. It hits her eyes, it's all pointed edges. ] I was there. He destroyed our lives, he killed our friends in one fell swoop. We worked with him for close to three goddamn years and we saved his ass, we dressed wounds together, we held each other together and he used us as a test run for BOWs. [ Whew boy, she's getting heated. She may be a small woman, but she's more bite than bark now. Lunging, sharp. ] Self-righteous coward? He didn't stop looking for me for nearly four years, four years where I had no autonomy and did everything Albert Wesker told me to do, four years where every day he reminded me that Chris refused to believe I was dead. Four years where he used my blood to make a virus stronger and forced me to inject people -- children, even, against their will. I just wanted to die and that is the real reason he killed him. That's the real reason I handed him the rocket launcher. What should he do, just let him maybe reach another stage of mutation and kill him? Us?

[ She's fuming at this point for Chris' sake, but also the way it makes her feel. What she can recall. Gloved hand ghosting her shoulder or the small of her back; reminders that she has to obey. Astringent smells, fluorescent lighting. That damn mask. ]

There's your goddamn talk. I jumped to my death to save my partner and I spent more than three years incapable of speaking unless I was allowed to, unable to move, trapped in my body just watching myself do the very things I fought against. I wanted him to kill me. That is why I owe it to you. Sorry you've got a chip on your shoulder about him but we didn't intentionally take it from you. Yeah, you deserved it as much as we did but he's dead and you're better off never having to look him in the eye or see little parts of him that resemble you. You're better off leaving him where he is. [ She... feels really bad now, though. Because he deserved to shoot him down as much as Jill did or Sheva or anyone else who had been touched by how horrible he is. ] You want answers, you have questions... we'll give it to you freely. You want to know about STARS, you want the damn mug I got as a welcome gift? Fine. But stop blaming us for what we were owed when we didn't know you were owed it just as much.

[ welp ]

[his kokoro is just fine, jiru. kore wa nan desu ka puraido?]

Hey, I said 'sometimes'. Sorry if I hit a nerve. [it's an apology in a jake kind of way. which can also be interpreted as: can he sound any more unapologetic when actually apologizing? spoiler: the answer is yes.

women only be owel-turning because of that doki doki.

it sure as hell took care of the things that mattered at the time, but that was a whole other story. speaking of stories, it sounded like there was an earful to follow the whole 'what he did to us' cliffhanger. jake's eyes narrowed slightly in anticipation.

oh right. palm strikes.]

Yeah, yeah. The walls are real thin around here I guess. [not the possibility that his style is flashy af and maybe someone would notice and talk shit.] Right. You mean behind your 300 somewhat pound buddy? First name starts with "C", ends in "S"? [idk maybe? hell, the way she highly touted the guy and got borderline-defensive about him...

and there's that cliffhanger again. shit just got real.

well damn. talk about feeling like a complete shit. this would be the moment he borderline regrets everything he said. okay, he does regret what he said and how defensive he got. lbr that's some serious shit, and if possible, even more fucked up than he thought. wow dad you are the damn devil. jake's eyes fall to the ground while shaking his head.]

Shit, I'm sorry. [it was a legit apology. no sarcasm at all because there were no other words for all that.]

My father... [a fist balls at is side feeling anger just saying the word 'father'. there's a decent pause after that.] just when I thought he couldn't get any worse... [jake's eyes raise to look at her.] You didn't deserve any of that. No one does... Chris included. [jake shakes his head again still not 100% wrapping his head around everything that was just said. he understood one thing though.] You're right. He's better off where he is. The whole damn world is. Just wish I could have taken that monster out myself.

[his mind is still trying to process everything that was said, never mind opening up more boxes about STARS and welcome gift mugs.]

[ Well yeah, that's what happens when you've got a hand to hold. Or high-five. ]

Water under the bridge.

[ Luckily, she's alright with it. She's not the best with apologies, either. Apologies or talking about her feelings in earnest. Otherwise she's a straight-shooter and happy to be direct with people. ]

What? You think you wouldn't be a person of interest to us? [ Not that she'd want to invade his privacy, but with what she's about to reveal it makes more sense that they'd want to know more about him. ] You've got the wrong idea about me if you think I wouldn't have you in a Hurricanrana and a Fujiwara armbar before you even saw it coming.

[ With the same kind of confidence that Jake talks with, it seems.

Still, she's cooling down pretty fast despite the how raw and honest she'd been only moments ago. But it's been a longtime coming and maybe he should've heard it like a history lesson, all in a row with each event building up to the point of no return. But this was now, this moment, and what's most relevant to her. To Chris. Orders, though. That would be Chris, wouldn't it? What damn orders? The ones they gave themselves and made a promise on? Or had he meant what Jill had told him? ]

The orders he was acting on were mine and they were personal. If Wesker hadn't been stopped, millions would've died or worse. He'd had a very real plan of attack and it wasn't slow-motion. It was do or die, Jake. [ No "kiddo," no little nicknames. Her shoulders fall and she huffs out a very audible sigh. ] Blood is blood, doesn't make the piece of shit your father, you know? Don't give him that thread to you.

[ She's strangely soft about it, maybe even understanding. Arms folded but not out of being defensive nor as an act of protection. Just something better than a hand on his hip. ]

But we would've happily let you take a launcher to his face. We didn't even know you existed, you know? Honestly, we would've reached out before then and at least let you be prepared for this bullshit. It's a kick to the head. [ It might be strange how she deals with all of this, but it's clear it's something that still has pull and sway over her, as well. ] Chris was happy to take this burden for me. Maybe you don't like that sacrificial sort of behavior and it might seem like he's on a high horse or too moral or self-righteous, but I don't think if you were in his position and it involved people you cared about you'd throw them under the bus, either. Not saying you've gotta come over for barbecues and throw lawn darts with us, but it doesn't have to be all this... shit, either. We're not his leftovers.

[ That's the best she can do for him. Sherry's got it covered, she figures, but there's no one that knew Wesker better than her and Chris in their own way. So even if he's not into it, the validation and information they could provide might give him a little solace. ]

...heh. You see why it's hard to talk about? Never a good time to bring up this sort of thing, is there?

Perhaps it be that you yourself are predictable and quite 'stupid'.

[You are an embarrassment, Jake, and he shall make sure you never hear the end of it.]

Think you have the wrong guy. Try taking a look in the mirror asshole.

[yeah? well who got their ass handed to them in a volcano?]

Seems to be a thing with you two. At least she saved me the trouble of having to drop in myself.

[It was an upside to her at least.]

[ada. no.]

Everyone's a comedian. I don't need more people to babysit. I can take care of myself.

I wasn't trying to make a joke. But now that you mention it? It is quite 'funny' how you two keep falling into each other's arms.

Funny. Sounded like one to me. And that was only the one time! Sherry fell into mine, never the other way around. [why is he even trying to justify himself??]

You look like a damsel in distress to Dickie... ooh yes, you do.

screw islands

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