audio | forward dated a bit to day 66

[rigging]

[ It's early in the morning. Before most humans should really be awake, honestly. So that's why maybe it's surprising when the communicator, and by extension, the network, catches the sudden panicked inhale of breath and the panic that follows. There's a good minute of rustling and noises that sound a little like whimpers before the sound settles down.

And then it's quiet. A beat. Another, then: ] Fuck, where --

[ That is definitely a familiar voice. Deep breath. Slow exhale - and the recording cuts off in the middle. ]

Comments

THIS IS P FANTASTIC

[rigging]

[ He listens.

It's a great distraction, really. Pinkman's good at telling it, has great timing - and gets a few laughs out of Jesse, weak and tiny as they are. The fly reveal is the best of his laughs, though. And when Pinkman finishes, Jesse just grins at him from his blanket cocoon, thoroughly amused. ]

A fuckin' fly, huh? [ Dude sounds like a nutcase. ] I dunno how the fuck a fly's gonna contaminate laundry neither. Did - did y'actually end up getting the thing? The bug, I mean.

[magnets]

[ Dude might very thoroughly be a nutcase. Jesse doesn't know anymore. ]

[ But it's Finch's reactions that really get him, some sharp little grins that break out over his face when he gets anything out of him, a laugh here and there. They're still small little things but they're better than nothing, and helping the guy out feels better than anything else has lately. ] Right? That's what I'm sayin'. All the chemicals and crap that go into makin'- I mean, you know, laundry stuff, who's gonna notice one little fly?

'Course we did. Took a while, that fuckin' fly had some major fly skills, man. I was tryin' ta get him way up by the ceilin', he landed on this one ladder like a little bitch and fuckin'- [ He pounds a fist into his palm. ] Got'm.

[rigging]

[ Jesse's comfortable, now, curled up in his blanket and hoodie, at ease. He can manage smiles and laughs for Pinkman and that's more than he's felt like all afternoon. But the story is just enough to settle him down further and he can't even remember much about what he was scared of. He's exhausted and it comes out in his expression, even as he's trying to reply. ]

Fuck yeah, man. [ Jesse agrees, resting his head on his knees. ] Oughta list that as a skill, I think. Put it on a resume. [ Little yawn. ] Mr. Miyagi would be proud, right?

[ And maybe he closes his eyes a bit. He's just resting them, shh. He's still listening. ]

[magnets]

Fly Slayer, huh? Sounds like a pretty badass title. [ Another superhero, too; he's always making superheroes. ]

[ He doesn't mind Finch falling asleep on him, much as the guy's trying to stay awake for him - charming, really, but the guy looks so strung out, Jesse figures he needs his rest and pretty damn soon. Looks more relaxed than he did when Jesse first showed up and, hey, he's gonna call that a pretty minor victory for himself. ]

[ He props up his chin on a hand, peering at Finch over his fingers with a bland smile that's encouraging the impending nap here. ] Wax on, wax off, yo.

[rigging]

[ Jesse is a little afraid to sleep, only if he knows he's going to have nightmares when he finally does. But he's fighting a losing battle, honestly, and Pinkman's sort of giving him permission, here, so he can't stop himself. He sighs, slow. Mumbles thanks, quietly, even as he's dropping off.

Seriously, Pinkman is his hero. ]