(canon is Sin City/That Yellow Bastard)

[thelastday]

Couldn't just leave an old man alone, could you?

Comments

[careerendingmove]

...Fuck it all. John Hartigan! There's a face I never thought I'd fucking see again! Jesus!

:D

[thelastday]

Rafferty. It's been a while.

[And it's hard to see anyone on the outside again. Stings a little, a reminder of where I could be and where I've been. What I am now. What does he know, what does he think? It'd be a waste of energy to care, so I move on. Think about Jack Rafferty. What he's made of himself, because I sure as hell didn't hear anything on the inside.]

You still with the force?

omg I love it.

[careerendingmove]

They really did have you in solitary didn't they? [It's hard not to gloat, not to smile] Me and my guys on Narco. We've got the city nice and tight. Iron Jack and all that.

yessssss...

[thelastday]

Yeah? Good for you. [I'd like to wish him well in earnest, but it's hard when you know the way most cops turn out. Even the ones that start out well--and Jack had begun with real promise--end up wallowing in dirty politics and crooked rings. So I'm suspicious, though I try to keep it hidden. Maybe Jack Rafferty is one of the rare few. I don't want to do him an injustice.]

That's tough work. [And impressive, if it's true. The city hasn't been clean since the beginning of my time, at least. Maybe some things really have changed for the better. I have a hard time buying that, but it's a pleasant dream.] You must be proud.

Also oh god so rusty please forgive me.

[careerendingmove]

...Of course I am. [There's an arrogant look on his face and he practically preens] Making the streets safe. [snort]or as safe as they can be when you have guys like - well. You.

[He shakes his head] You should have played ball man. Should have played ball.

Pffff, 'tis lovely. (As lovely as Jackie Boy can be. >.>) And am all awkward on this end, so HEY.

[thelastday]

[I breathe hard and see red. Take your time, let it pass. Don't let it get to you, it isn't anything you can't handle. But amid red and my regrets, I lose hold of myself for a moment, and it's like I'm falling away and I'm back in the cell and back on the dock and I'm nowhere and everywhere at once. Can't tell what this means or what I am or how I got here.

God damn.

In my head, time stops, time stretches, it's no time and it's several hours before I've caught onto the conversation again. In reality, it must've been no more than a few seconds. I can see Rafferty again, that certainty on his face, a superiority I don't think I'm imagining. I'm back to this place that makes little sense but must be real. And there it is again, another one of them telling me I should've played along, as if I haven't played along enough by signing the confession. I already hate myself for that.]

You don't know a thing about it.

ugh your hartigan is perfect.

[careerendingmove]

[Rafferty snorts] I know I don't have a fucking record now and you do.

merci, and am so-very-much enjoying this and mr. jack, here.

[thelastday]

Astute observation, Jack.

ugh is he going to a game?

[careerendingmove]

Should have played ball Hartigan.

[He looks annoyed] Made us all goddamn look bad.

thinking about finding one... does jack have a home?

[thelastday]

[Excuse me while I shed a tear of goddamn remorse.

The nerve of this guy. My fist clenches without my say-so, but otherwise I keep still. Tell myself it's no surprise. You knew this was going to happen. You knew what you'd hear. And what harm can words do now?]

Last I checked, you don't need any help with that.