cape_kore | video | 004

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video | 004 | day 54

[Because the broadcast is a video, Jet Star comes on the screen with his hair somewhat tamed and his eyepatch in place. His expression is as calm as ever, and the video is steady. The only evidence that there might be something wrong is the sound of clattering and a somewhat distressed voice in the background - but Jet ignores that for the most part to address his audience.]

I have one very simple question for the people of this town today, and I like to think it isn’t an unreasonable request. Two friends of mine, Party Poison and Kobra Kid, have not been home for a while. Has anybody seen either of them? They’re rather hard to miss. Party Poison has red hair, and Kobra Kid is blonde, the former is short and the latter is tall --

[Fun Ghoul suddenly appears over Jet's shoulder, scowling at the communicator.]

One's fuckin' stupid, and the other one's twice as fuckin' stupid. Give 'em the real facts, Jet. Two days! [He holds up two fingers in front of Jet's face just in case you assholes forgot how to count.] Never gone this long without sayin' shit, ask that raccoon-eyed piece of work what she did with our boys--

[And he cuts himself off to disappear into the background again, sending something else crashing to the floor. Jet watches Ghoul stomp off with a sort of sad expression, and when he looks back at the communicator, the look sticks.]

We aren't accusing anyone of anything. But if you are out there, either of you - or if anybody knows where they might be, please let us know.

Please. Thank you. [And the feed cuts off. Jet has some calming to do, excuse him.]

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[ So maybe she should wait a little, because there's someone else there already, but she doesn't. It's happened to Ghoul too, people have gone missing and well...Anna knows first hand how badly that can go when it happens. No one reacts well to loss, and these guys are closer than she's ever been with someone. It stands to reason that he's going to be freaking out at this point, right?

Right. So she justifies appearing at the front door again, and this time she doesn't much care who sees, she just starts walking straight away. ]

Ghoul? Hey, are you around?

[ Crash. So that's a yes then. She sighs slightly and starts moving towards said crash. ]

It's Anna, okay? Don't...shoot me or something.

[ See look, she learned her lesson from Clint! Random appearences - bad, warning - good. ]

[If it helps, Anna, he couldn't shoot you even if he wanted to. Not that he wants to. Not that he'd ever! And if he found out someone did, he'd be more than happy to break a few bones until they learned their lesson.

He's in the kitchen now, leaning against the counter with his face in his hands.]

Not a good time, Chiquita. M'not... not good to be around right now.

You don't have to be good to be around.

[ When she finds him in the kitchen she pauses for a moment, watching him quietly. It takes less than a second to decide to ignore his warning, and she just pushes forward into the room anyway. Coming to a stop next to him, there's only a second of hesitation before she rests a hand on his shoulder lightly. ]

Look. It happened to me too. You don't have to be good to be around right now, okay? Not at all.

[ She has to push that concept to him a second time, because it's important. If she was just here for the grins and jokes and smiles she'd be long gone by now, wouldn't she. Anna's here still though, and he hasn't told her to get lost yet so she's considering that a positive sign. She's not sure that she'd listen anyway right now. ]

[The hand on his shoulder registers more than her words at first. Just let him process all this, so many things at once, just give him a second. His hands fall from his face and he nods. When he speaks, his voice is dangerously low.]

These science fucks can't leave shit alone. Always playing god where we can't see and takin' things that don't belong to them. Took Party before, right outta my arms, and I couldn't--

[He couldn't stop it. Tentatively, his arms wrap around Anna's waist and he pulls her close, whispering into her hair.] They could take you right now and I couldn't do fuck all. Could take Jet Star, and where would I be?

[ If Anna hasn't been completely sure about coming to him before, she definitely is now. She's quick to wind her arms around him in return, still being so careful even as she holds him tight. It's easy for ten to forget sometimes, how little say they have in anything that happens here. Nothing like a couple of missing people to remind them, huh? ]

Sometimes they come back, right? Sometimes. Balthazar, Galen, Bruce, they all came back. Your guys could too.

[ She wants to sugar coat it so badly, wants to tell him it'll be okay and it'll all work out in the end. She can't quite get the words out though, anything she thinks of sounds too contrived and unbelievable. Besides, he knows as well as Anna does that it's a lie. A well meaning one, but a lie nonetheless, so she just holds him a little tighter instead. ]

It wasn't your fault. Whoever does this, they're sick and twisted, but you couldn't have done anything. It's not your fault.

[That's the worst part. Not being able to do anything, the lack of control, it just kills him inside. He doesn't let go of Anna. Not yet. Though, he does tense up when she mentions Galen. That's a bit of a sore spot right now.]

They come back. Poison came back, he'll do it again. It's what they're doin' to them that I don't like.

Edited 2013-03-25 03:51 (UTC)

I know, I know.

[ And she does. Seriously, she gets it. She hasn't been the picture of rational decisions after one of hers had disappeared exactly, and it's almost a little concerning that Ghoul isn't more...well, explosive. Surely it's only a matter of time? ]

Something's got to give eventually. They'll make a mistake, or we'll find out something new. Something that will give us an edge. There's no way they can keep this up.

[ She might not necessarily believe that, but she can hope anyway. ]

[He's got enough control to not lose it with Anna around, but it's hanging by a thread. He doesn't want her to see that. He doesn't want to hurt her and he doesn't want to scare her off.

When he finally pulls away, his hands are still on her waist.]

Patience ain't a thing I got much of, Angel eyes. Can't all be virtuous like you. [It's a pale imitation of his usual smirk, but it's better than nothing.] You'll help us look? You can... you move fast. Can cover more ground.

[ Oh, if only he knew just how little he had to worry about hurting her. Or, more accurately, if only Anna would let him know. The guilt of that secret eats away at her a little more than usual. Angel eyes? Virtuous? It's almost like the set up to a bad joke. Now's not the right time though, he's already dealing with so much. Instead of heartfelt and overdue confessions, she just tries to return the smile. ]

Of course I'll help, you don't even have to ask. [ And if she chooses not to mention that she can't feel them here, she's only doing it for his own morale. She'd been wrong about Bruce, right? She can't rely on those senses so much here. She could be wrong again. ]

Are you...okay to start looking? [ Which is really a roundabout way of asking if he'll be alright looking by himself. ] We might be better off going out in groups. More thorough.

'Course I am. [He sounds mildly offended at the implication that he isn't okay. Okay to start looking, okay to be on his own, or just okay in general. His hands come up to her face, briefly cupping both cheeks before stepping around her and heading for the door.]

Maybe you could tell Jet. Before you leave, you tell Jet what we're doin'. Tell him I'll check in every fifteen minutes, yeah? You got a soothing voice, Chiquita. He needs it.

[Which is actually Ghoul's way of saying he needs it himself and is glad she showed up. He nods at her before taking off. Later, after they find something, after this is fixed... later. They can talk later.]

Every fifteen minutes, got it. [ She gives him a quick smile, even reaches up to give his hands a gentle squeeze before he lets go, and then hovers with that same small smile until he leaves. As soon as the door closes she sighs heavily, and the smile disappears almost instantly.

It doesn't look good. It really doesn't look good, but she's sure that they know this. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that they've probably been taken by the people keeping them captive here, and it's frustrating to no end to know that the best they can hope for now is a return at some point.

Still, it's better than nothing, so after a moment of blank staring as she tries to find the right words, she clears her throat quietly and goes in search of Jet. ]

Jet? Are you still around?

[ He is still around. He'd told Laura that he was going to go out to look, but he hasn't quite... been able to make himself get up yet. It takes a second for him to realize Anna is calling for him, being that he's in the attic to give Ghoul some space, but it's her voice that gets him to finally pull himself up and together.

Jet heads down the stairs, and looks for Anna - and when he sees her, he straightens up and gives her a serene smile. ] I am. Hello, Anna. [ A beat. ] Did Fun Ghoul go out?

He's gone to look. [ By the time she sees him she has the small smile back, though it's a little less encouraging and a little more sympathetic now. ]

I think he wanted out of here pretty fast, but he asked me to tell you he'll be checking in. Every fifteen minutes. [ She's careful to stress that point, looking at him closely as she speaks. She knows why she's passing that message on, it's so that they know if anything has happened to the other. ]

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know.

[ Every fifteen minutes. That settles him, it's a relief to know that Ghoul will let him know he's still here. It's a double-edged reassurance. He nods, and leans against the counter. ]

Thank you. [ For passing on the message. And also: ] For Ghoul, as well. I won't get in the middle, that isn't my place. But I need you to know that I appreciate what you're doing for him now. [ He smiles again, tired. ] You are important to him. Which means you are both important and a friend to me, as well.

So, thank you.

[ She nods at the thanks, and is all set to take that and go when Jet continues. She pauses for a second, and it's not that she's trying to pry or anything - hell, they've got bigger problems at hand right now to worry about - it's just, well. She kind of wants to pry, just a little.

Anna's careful about it though, she nods and smiles slightly sheepishly, raising a hand to touch the back of her neck lightly as she does. ]

I appreciate it, and I'll gladly take your friendship. My help isn't dependent on it, but it's good to know all the same. But...I think important is a bit of a stretch.

[ Oh, Anna. He can manage to be amused here, watching her with a knowing look. ]

I don't exaggerate, Anna. I mean exactly what I mean. [ He bows his head a little. ] You should know that if my help is needed in return, I would gladly give it.

[ She's been around long enough to recognise a knowing look when she sees one, seriously. There's a big difference between witnessing them and actually being on the receiving end of one though, and after a moment she diverts her gaze towards the wall, pushing her hands into her pockets loosely. ]

Well, I'll definitely bear that in mind. That's good to know. [ But that doesn't answer her very thinly veiled question now, does it? She's not subtle and she knows she's not, but she can't help it when she lingers slightly for a moment.

...All of this business is making her act quite ridiculous, honestly. It's too late now, anyway, so she just shrugs before adding quickly. ]

He said important?

[ Not that his answer bothers her that much. Whatever happens happens, it's cool. No big deal. ]

[ Hehe, there's the question Jet was waiting for. At least he gets to do this, even in such a terrible time. He was hoping he'd be able to push this in the right direction, as much as he's said he won't interfere. What? Some rules are meant to be broken. ]

He said important. [ He keeps watching her. ] And, though I'm sure he'll hate me for this later - that he was unworthy of you. I don't think that's the case, but he is stubborn.

You should see him smile when he talks about you.

Unworthy? [ Honestly, that completely throws her for a moment, and then she sighs as she remembers. If she hadn't already insisted on pushing that apology from Castiel, she'd definitely be doing it now. If anyone was to blame for that comment, she's pretty sure it lands squarely on him. ] God, that stupid Christmas party. My- [ She pinches the bridge of her nose lightly. ] My brother. There was some business with gifts, and gasses, but he...got involved.

[ She's gritting her teeth as she tries to work out just how she can press the importance of this apology on Cas when Jet mentions the smile, and as hard as she tries it prompts a slightly brighter one of her own. She can't help it, okay? ]

Yeah? Well. That's...that's really good to hear.

[ He's so amused that these two are so obviously sweet on each other. Jet hums a little. ]

I thought you might enjoy it. [ He glances at the door. ] He will try to tell you he isn't worthy. That he shouldn't, that he is dangerous or a million other excuses to deny himself. It isn't that he isn't enamored with you, Anna. He just lacks - ah, confidence, I suppose, though that isn't exactly the right word.

Dangerous.

[ She lets out a soft huff of a laugh under her breath, and drops her gaze down to her feet. Now isn't that ironic. She's here sitting on this secret with siblings that could easily wipe him out as soon as look at him, she who could break him without so much as raising a sweat, and he thinks he's dangerous.

She raises a hand to rest on the back of her neck, and when her gaze raises back up to Jet it's a little more concerned. KK was one thing. A few neat tricks and he was pretty impressed, but Jet isn't so easily dazzled. There's a serious calm about him (that honestly strikes her as a little angelic) and it's reassuring if nothing else. He'll give her an honest answer, one way or another. ]

If you were, involved with someone, maybe even on the way to being - [ what, exactly? ] ...something, but there was a potential risk. Is it worth it to go for it anyway? If you honestly can't say for sure that you can do any more than die trying to protect them if the time ever comes, it's selfish to take that risk. Right?

[ Because she's tried explaining this to him, and it just seems to make Ghoul more determined to stick around, and Anna honestly doesn't have the resolve to push him away. Maybe Jet does. ]

[ Jet raises his eyebrows. ]

... Anna, isn't that all that you can ask of a person? [ A beat. ] Has Ghoul explained our life to you, in any way?

You can ask them not to put you there in the first place.

[ So maybe she's been weighing on this for a while, and it hasn't occurred to her just now. She raises her eyes to look at him, and it's clear that she's not exactly convinced about his response. ]

He hasn't really gone into much detail. [ Pause. ] But...I haven't with mine, either.

[ Sorry, Anna - the first response has him laughing, just a snort. ]

Our lives back home - there isn't a moment where we aren't in danger. Where we wouldn't put our lives on the line for those we love. Every day, we are hunted. And we can do nothing but die trying to protect each other, if the time comes. It is not an unusual situation.

I suppose there's a lot of talking you both need to do. [ He gives her a Look. It's not mean, or angry - just serene and maybe a little exasperated. ] Use your words.

[ Okay, the snort earns some seriously unimpressed looks. This isn't funny Jet, this is serious business!

...He continues though, and maybe it makes a little sense. It's hardly the right time at all, but maybe she lets out a dry, quiet chuckle of her own and shakes her head. ]

That's...well. Pretty familiar, actually.

[ And yeah, that's a pretty stellar point that he makes there, and she's more than aware of that fact, it's just... ] Something...always gets in the way. Almost seems like any time we start to move in that direction, something happens.

video | 004 | day 54

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