[network] @hjack69; A message to @dulcedeleche [open] [cw: murder and death threats]

[youarethebandits]

[The post starts out as voice, with Jack sounding particularly cheerful about something.]

Hey there, Norfinbury! Jack here, with a special message to everyone's favourite lady of mystery, Winter. But before we get to that, let's get something cleared up first.

[The feed switches to video, showing Vriska reading out loud from a piece of paper.]

I, Vriska Serket, hereby state that I am of sound mind and am consenting to everything that is about to occur. I am not under duress or any form of coersion or manipulation - heh - and am fully aware that neither Handsome Jack-- whoa, is that seriously your for-real name? ...right, uh. I am fully aware that neither Handsome Jack nor the Hyperion Corporation bear any legal or moral responsibility for any and all consequences arising from the events that will follow this disclaimer. I also officially state for the record that Handsome Jack is cool and handsome, and that I fully recognise any and all claims to awesomeness coming from his person.
That's it, right?

[Jack's hand comes into view, giving her a thumbs up.]

Oh, right, word of warning. If you're of a faint disposition, or a little kid or whatever, you may want to stop watching now.

[The view swings around to the ceiling as he places the tablet on a table. Soon after, there is a faint but disturbing sound - it's Vriska, and she's choking. It lasts for several moments before being followed by a nasty crack.

Jack picks the tablet back up, turning it to show a now very clearly dead Vriska with dark bruises around her neck.]

Hope you're watching, Winter. This is what we call a demonstration. You keep up the silent treatment, and whoever's next will probably not be okay with getting killed.

And for everyone else - I know you're already getting ready to spam me with how could you, Jack and I'll stop you, Jack and Jack how are you so handsome and brilliant please marry me. Before you hit that post button, keep in mind that I've heard it all before. So many times. Don't waste everyone's time by being boring.

Comments

[phaseshifter]

She's a child, and this isn't Pandora, and she's so young that contract can't be legally binding, and it's - this was so unnecessary! And now you committed murder in front of everyone!

[youarethebandits]

Not the first time you've seen me kill a kid, either. And the legality doesn't really matter, the point was just to demonstrate that she was fine with taking one for the team.

[phaseshifter]

They're going to kill you. You've gone too far, I can't - won't defend this - I thought you were mellowing out! Adapting!

[youarethebandits]

[LONG SUFFERING SIGH]

If they kill me, I'll come back. Not an issue. All that matters is getting that girl to talk.

[phaseshifter]

You don't know you'll come back. You don't know your victim will come back! Or that Winter will reward this behaviour by giving you want you want!

[youarethebandits]

If she's still keeping quiet after... let's say ten deaths, I'll figure out something else. Seems pretty awful of her to let that many people die just for the sake of her privacy, though.

[phaseshifter]

No, you have to stop! Please! This isn't heroism, it's terrorism. You see that, right? You have to!

[ This is her fault it's her fault. She's smart, she should have known he'd keep pulling this kind of thing, that he had to be put down. She should have let Beckett kill him. She should have asked Beckett to kill him. Stupid, stupid, stupid. ]

[youarethebandits]

Sweetie, I really don't appreciate that kind of comment. Especially not from you.

[NOPE AGGRESSIVELY NOT GETTING IT]

[phaseshifter]

I don't - I don't fucking care if you appreciate it! It's the truth!


I hate you. I told everyone you weren't a danger, I believed it - I hate you.

[youarethebandits]

You're being overdramatic. I never asked you to defend me, and I was never your responsibility. There's no need to make this out to be some big betrayal.

[phaseshifter]

[ He has to die. It's all going to happen again if she doesn't stop it. She hates him. She loves him. He has to die. ]

Right. Because being let down only matters when you're the victim. My mistake.

[Action!] [Not a threadjack see?]

[bookofnope]

[Behind Angel, standing quiet as the dead as he watches the exchange, Beckett finally speaks in a low voice.]

The offer I made you still stands. Say the word.

[phaseshifter]

[ She's shaking slightly, even though she isn;t sure if it's through rage or horror or some mixture of the two. Either way, Angel can't quite look back at Beckett. Not yet. ]

It won't make any difference. But --

[ But. Even expressing that much assent makes her feel vaguely ill. ]

I don't know. I don't know. I can't believe I have to make this decision again.

[bookofnope]

[Belatedly he realizes - yes, that is what he's just asked her to do. Beckett almost retreats a step. His hand, hovering mid being raised to touch her shoulder, falters and freezes.]

I - [God, why is he involved?] The decision might have been taken from you already. Some of them will go after him. You - don't have to be a part of this at all.

[phaseshifter]

That kind of makes it harder. At home, it wasn't entirely a choice - if he was going to be taken down, I had to participate. Nobody else could do it.

[ Her fingers circle her throat briefly where the control collar used to be. Ugh. ]

What - what do you want to do? You aren't some attack dog I can set on people, you. You must have a preference. An opinion.

[bookofnope]

And here, others can. You don't have to. Whether he lives or dies, it isn't your fault.

[He aches to lean closer - but no. She has to stand on her own two feet. She has to. That is the only thing he ever believes in.]

I don't become involved, Angel. Either way. That is my preference. People do the unspeakable all the time. There's enough to do without trying to shoulder that, too.

[phaseshifter]

[ Right.

It's just her fault that he's alive. That this happened in the first place. Maybe that means she shouldn't be allowed to make decisions about what happens to Jack any more? And there's so much else to be doing. She has to look after Rhys, and keep exploring the town, and Jack just isn't worth her time.

But he's her dad, and this is her fault. ]

We don't know where he is. I think... we should play it by ear. If someone else finds him before we do, so be it. And if not, I'll... I would appreciate the assistance.

[ There. If Beckett doesn't like getting involved, she won't drag him into it any more than necessary. Jack is her problem. It's only right that she fix it, even if she feels something inside her flicker and die as she contemplates it. Awesome.

Winter had asked if Angel took after her mother only yesterday. She hadn't been sure how to answer then, but now?

Nah. She's pretty sure she knows which of her parents she resembles the most. ]

[bookofnope]

[If it's to be her decision, she has clearly made it. To disagree now would be the height of irony, among other things. He tries to understand it, knows he can, he even has such a convenient frame of reference in Lucita and her choice. If this were his sire -

Let's not talk about his sire. And Lucita died.]

We're rather far out. [He speaks softly, voice level. Not arguing, only stating the facts. But something else occurs to him as he says it. Maybe he can - just a nudge, really -] Although it isn't impossible - likely even, that he'll make his way here as the least populated part of town. We might gain most from staying in this area.

[Or they might just be away when all the action happens. Wouldn't that be convenient?]

[phaseshifter]

Yes. There isn't really any point leaving the area without knowing where he is and where he'll run to. Because he'll run.

[ Coward. Again, like her. Brave little Angel, making the tough decisions but so willing to stay hidden down here.

Sickening. ]

As soon as we hear anything, we can set off. If - if that's alright with you and Rhys.

[bookofnope]

I've made you a promise. I like to keep those.

[For a given value. He'll help her, of course he'll help her, but perhaps he'll also help her... not need that particular bit of help. It isn't making any decisions for her, just - nudging the circumstances.

As for Rhys... [YEAH ABOUT THAT] I do hate to bring up a touchy subject, but is our mutual friend going to be a problem?

[phaseshifter]

Um - no, I don't think so. He only comes out to play properly in very specific circumstances, from what I've seen, and he's more receptive to listening to me than... than Jack is.

[ Although. Murder isn't the only potential problem here, is it? ]

Though this does give Doctor House's threats a little more sting, doesn't it. Ugh, that - that asshole.

[bookofnope]

[That isn't a "definitely not", but... perhaps one trainwreck at a time. Beckett nods.]

Let us put that aside for the moment, then. [He does his best not to give Rhys a sidelong glance, one that might possibly say prove her wrong and I will end you. It seems, rather, than he has other people to end first. The mention of House makes him snarl slightly, soundless, lips pulling back from prominent fangs.]

As for the good doctor... Rhys, allow me to make you an offer of your own. Shall I go deliver a response to his little blackmail attempt?

[youarethebandits]

This idea that I was going to change and become some totally different person was all in your head. I'd like to think that the time when we could trust each other was different.

[phaseshifter]

I never wanted you to be a totally different person, you asshole! All I ever wanted from you was for you to try - try! - to be less of a selfish, murdering sociopath!

[ She's so angry that she's on the verge of tears. She's not letting those fall, though. Not for him, not again. Never. Never ever. Angel laughs instead, a sneering mirthless half-sob. ]

And implying I can't be trusted? I've always been open about my intentions, both in your favour and otherwise. But fine! You want to be the victim here? I'll make you the victim, pumpkin.

[youarethebandits]

[He could say a lot of things, like how she betrayed him back home before getting herself killed. How he has been trying, can't she even see that? How this isn't selfish at all, he's putting himself in danger for the sake of gaining information that could save them all. How the condescending endearment thing really doesn't work when she does it.

She wouldn't understand. He just sighs and turns off his feed.]