JACK
Jack watches her towards the slowly shrinking doorway with equal parts appreciation and satisfaction, and he's about to follow when he remembers his winnings still on the poker table. Not wanting to forget the very thing that had caused the fight to break out in the first place, he turns back towards the table and the water lapping at its legs and spends a little time getting everything neatly into his pockets and squared away. Only once he's satisfied does he follow, and by that time he practically has to wade across the bar.
Bassian can barely keep hold of the doorframe when Jack clambers out, the Captain clapping the big man on the shoulder to tell him to let the barge sink at last. Around them the chaos of the night is something loud and turbulent and deliciously familiar, through it's nothing compared to the islands he came from, and he has just enough time to sit with it when a tinkle of broken glass reaches his ears and the sound of his name hits the air.
There has been no pain or shock for him to orient himself towards, no violent intent or underhanded thought that might have led to this outcome. It's the worst of offences for a telepath - bad luck and worse timing - and as his eyes land on The Ark it's to see the blood starting to coat her pale face, falling in thick droplets made black in the night. Jack doesn't know if he swears out loud or just inside his head; what he does know is that the shouts of mayhem and revelry suddenly turn to alarm, to fear in some cases.
Lightning cracks the pier and ice cakes the slapping waves, crunching against the docks beneath and groaning ominously, and Jack is there before The Ark ever gets close to hitting the ground. His orders to Bassian are delivered in a tone of dangerous calm, and before anyone else so much as gets near them, both men retreat into the shadows and are gone.
When The Ark comes to, whenever that might be, she'll find herself back aboard the ship. Jack's cabin door is open, the sound of voices distant but not too far, and she'll awaken cradled in the comfort of the Captain's bunk. Her face will be clean but her clothes will still be bloody, the cut on her hairline will be disinfected and dressed, and there will be no trace of glass in her red tresses.
She will, however, be alone, though Jack's voice is one of those audible out in the corridor, soft and low and serious.
Bassian can barely keep hold of the doorframe when Jack clambers out, the Captain clapping the big man on the shoulder to tell him to let the barge sink at last. Around them the chaos of the night is something loud and turbulent and deliciously familiar, through it's nothing compared to the islands he came from, and he has just enough time to sit with it when a tinkle of broken glass reaches his ears and the sound of his name hits the air.
There has been no pain or shock for him to orient himself towards, no violent intent or underhanded thought that might have led to this outcome. It's the worst of offences for a telepath - bad luck and worse timing - and as his eyes land on The Ark it's to see the blood starting to coat her pale face, falling in thick droplets made black in the night. Jack doesn't know if he swears out loud or just inside his head; what he does know is that the shouts of mayhem and revelry suddenly turn to alarm, to fear in some cases.
Lightning cracks the pier and ice cakes the slapping waves, crunching against the docks beneath and groaning ominously, and Jack is there before The Ark ever gets close to hitting the ground. His orders to Bassian are delivered in a tone of dangerous calm, and before anyone else so much as gets near them, both men retreat into the shadows and are gone.
When The Ark comes to, whenever that might be, she'll find herself back aboard the ship. Jack's cabin door is open, the sound of voices distant but not too far, and she'll awaken cradled in the comfort of the Captain's bunk. Her face will be clean but her clothes will still be bloody, the cut on her hairline will be disinfected and dressed, and there will be no trace of glass in her red tresses.
She will, however, be alone, though Jack's voice is one of those audible out in the corridor, soft and low and serious.
romancing yourself is possible, narcissistic
and recommended
and recommended
- Secret Telepath
- Functionally Immortal (Forever 35)
- Two small star tattoos beneath his left eye
- Click for The Ark!
