benumbing | locket.

No.

[That's it, that's the text.]

[ BABE??????? ]

what why

Because we don't know for sure why they fell in the first place.

[Or the Unseelie in charge of them.]

they're not me.

I need to do this. As long as they stay fallen, we're all vulnerable. And there are so many refugees coming in. Where are they going to stay?

You're right, they probably had experience. And they still fell.

Let the monarchs worry about them. They're their people.

I can't do that. It's not their fault they got dragged into this and lost their homes.

Jack, come on. If you've got the power to do something about it, you've got to.

The power to do what, Johnny? Paint a target on your back? I don't want to have to go all over Dorchadas delivering the news of your mysterious demise.

I'm Captain of the Unseelie strike team, there already is a target on my back.

Why not really give them something to gun for instead of sneaking around in the shadows, right? They'll know not to mess with me. And with that, you can have another home again.

Exactly. If the worst happens we're crippled in more than one way. THINK Johnny. I need you alive.

you really think I'm gonna kick the bucket that easily?

[It takes Jack a long time to get back to him this time, and you're really going to make him say it. Fuck you Johnny Storm.]

You mean enough to me that it scares me to risk it.

[ .........you're cheating. this is cheating. Johnny had been tense, on the verge of arguing back once he gets a response, but this knocks the wind out of his sails a little.

Jack's afraid. He's lost so many things and had been so ferocious when he fought for it, and Johnny feels guilty. Sort of. Is this what it's like to grow up and stuff, and actually think of someone else other than yourself? It's weird. ]

i never wanted to scare you. can we talk about this when I get back?

[He believes that. Johnny only wants to do good, and it's hard to discourage him from it. Would he even want to? Isn't that part of what got Jack's attention in the first place?

That and the bulge in the uniform. Anyway.]

We can talk about it.

[ He knows you love the bulge in the uniform, babe. But yes -- Johnny thinks of what he can do, the things he can contribute to helping (and hey, it doesn't hurt to be more famous, right?) and just as importantly, he wants to give Jack that choice, too. That he has a place there. ]

You can set up your brothel again there too, if you want. If I get it.

The brothel's fine where it is. We're taking Mair back.

what, now? don't tell me you're running around out there doing stupid stuff.

that's my job.

Not today. But we will take it back.

I'll go with you.

What are your plans now?

I don't know. There were others displaced, the lady Grell among them. I need to speak to her anyway.

[ Johnny's quiet for a few moments, then. ]

Stay with me for awhile.

I'm not an easy person. You know that.

[Not easy to live with, certainly not easy to love.]

Yeah, I know.

But I still want you, anyway.

[ anything that is worth having doesn't come easy. jack benjamin least of all. ]

I think I've wanted you for a pretty long time.

You want the D.

you just killed the mood, jack benjamin

it's dead and gone now.

[ the next text comes a minute or so later. ]

maybe we could try that sometime.

[ you know, the d. ]

What's changed your mind?

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