[SE] you'll never know it's coming

there exists a tipping point between gods and monsters

Already bruised and stinging from Flora's initial lash of anger and hurt, as fury and frustration pivot into upset, forgive Jack for needing a second to collect his fucking bearings. "Between the feather in my pocket, bein' able to chit-chat to your dad from the great beyond, your channelling and my own dealings with Safrin, I ain't sure how much more protected against dead I can get," he snaps. If Flora needs him to not die, he thinks he's got a really good chance at getting that right, at least.

Not wanting to point out that all she's ever wanted sits as a reminder in a bit of parchment he'd written her whenever she wants to peek at it, instead Jack is already shaking his head, and preparing to grab the rope so he might literally sail away from this onslaught. Only the mention of Ronin being infected has his head snapping around, the captain swearing under his breath.

"When was I s'posed to tell you anythin', Flora? You stormed off across the beach the second you realised I was serious about not backin' down, then fucked straight off here," he says - not that it matters now, because the damage is already done, and no amount of aha! no actually, you love The Ark! is going to change it.

"There's no noble sacrifice, love," he grates. "You said somethin' that really fuckin' hurt me just now. You don't get to demand I fight for you when I'm tryin' to figure out what I'm fightin' for. I deserve at least a second to wrap my head around the shit you spout when you're fucked off at me."