another set of issues (closed)

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Who: Handsome Jack + Angel
Where: Angel's Bunker (Westerley)
When: W3D6
Summary: Dear old dad is paying a visit
Restrictions/Warnings: May contain themes of (emotional) abuse since Jack isn't winning any father of the year awards

[ The best kept secret on Westerley was the one that no one would ever expect.

Out in the badlands, strange things happen. They're the kind of strange that tends to go relatively unnoticed, since the badlands are where things simply don't exist. Even the Company doesn't care much to tread their and enforce their rule, because it's hardly worth it. But strangest among them was the rare, occasional rumor of seeing a notorious face. If it were anyone else, it might be dismissed as a case of mistaken identity, but no one really mistook Handsome Jack. But when those rumors appeared, they were always quickly quieted. Considering his reputation, it was easy to assume he was out to hunt someone down, go digging for information, something. As such, when those rumors appeared, they tended to disappear just as quickly under assumptions of what he was doing.

It suited Jack well.

There was a secret here, and it was his most precious and valuable one. It was the secret to his success and to his future, and it was also heavily guarded. It'd taken years to do it properly, since he'd taken some old husk of some structure left behind and forgotten, and he'd used every bit of Joy and every piece of expertise he had to build nothing short of a bunker. Most people didn't know that Handsome Jack was extremely skilled with engineering and tech, and he'd absolutely keep it that way. He places his hand on a scanner, then leans close to a microphone to murmur a few, soft words: ]

"I love you."

[ The system makes a tone to indicate accepting the password, and Jack pulls his hand away from the scanner to slip inside. It's still a short walk down to where Angel lives and works, but as he always tends to, Jack announces himself. Loudly. He doesn't really do 'quiet.' ]

Angel, baby? You here? Hah, who am I kidding, of course you are! Whatever, look, I brought you some stuff.

[ He takes the last few steps down the stairs, smiling warmly once he sees Angel. He doesn't get to come visit her as often as he'd like, but he'd at least like ot think that makes these visits more precious and important. Considering the rumors that that friggin' virus is about to hit Westerley with a vengeance, he wants to come see his daughter face to face before he might not be able to for a while. ]

Comments

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[ The change of topic works perfectly, because Jack immediately perks up. He's still putting things away, but he looks back over his shoulder at her with an excited grin. ]

Oh, man, seriously? That's- That's awesome, baby!

[ His praise is quite genuine there, though as with so many things with Jack, it's not quite for Angel herself. It's for him, because it's his plan and his operation, and Angel is just a part of it helping do the legwork. But, still. It puts him back in a good mood, which is always the better place to be with Jack. ]

What's next on the agenda, then? I— Okay, well, no, I've got like no time, but I will make time.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[Angel brings up the file for The Big Plan, scrolling through information as she relays it off to Jack]

First is gaining their trust to let me into one, or multiple systems they have access to but the company lacks full clearance on. For now, Kate Bishop seems to be the most willing to help, John Steinbeck and Damian Wayne seem much more wary of me, though Damian has asked less questions then John.

Once I'm installed onto their private networks, I can get a better idea on what both the RAC and with any luck, what the resistance is planning. Even if I can't get the latter directly, Kate seems like she will be easy enough to gain information fr-

[Before she can finish her sentence she's hit by a wave of sharp pain, running up her spine and into her head. This isn't a new sensation for her, the headaches have been a plague ever since her first operation, but some are worse then others. This one causes her whole body to stiffen, screwing her eyes shut as she bares through it.]

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[ Jack listens as she explains quietly, but there's a clear, easily seen delight. This is exactly the kind of thing he needs, and this is exactly why he'd figuring giving Angel those cybernetic implants would be a great idea. It saved her life, but it was also a win-win of letting him look into things he'd never been able to before. He's not a bad hacker himself, but he knows he's nothing compared to Angel. He feels incredibly proud of that, though the line between whether he's proud of Angel or proud of himself is a very thin one.

Though as soon as Angel cuts herself off, he turns from his organization to look her way. He's curious at first why she stopped, but seeing how her eyes close and her posture stiffens, he quickly abandons the work at hand to rush over to her side. He knows this well by now, and so there's a familiarity here. He places both of his hands on her shoulders as he stands behind her, and he gives them a light squeeze to let her know he's here. ]

Woah, woah, take it easy, sweetheart...

[ He leans over her shoulder to look at her as if that'll help him judge how bad this headache is. ]

It's, uh- A little early, but d'you wanna take your meds now?

[r3f4c70r3d]

[She tenses further at the touch, since Jack's immediate presence stopped being a comfort to her a long time ago, but nods sharply.]

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[ Someone more perceptive might make that connection, but Jack? Jack absolutely doesn't. He feels that tension under his hands and assumes it's from pain, so he barely waits for her nod. He jogs back to what he's brought, grabbing her medicine first. He turns the eridium over in his hands almost nervously as he returns to her, but it's just because he doesn't like seeing Angel in pain. The reason why is... Perhaps not what it should be. But he never meditates on that, even now. ]

Here you go, sweetheart.

[ Did. Did we ever decide how she takes this?? whatever jack will help and hover regardless ]

[r3f4c70r3d]

[Angel turns over her arm, skin on the underside so pale from lack of sunlight that it's practically translucent, so that Jack can properly administer the pen shaped syringe he currently holds. Sure, the drip feed she receives in his absence sustains her in the interim, but the full dose is always withheld until visits.

As the pain states to subside, she's grateful enough to be able to relax again that despite everything there's not hesitance when she says]

Thank you.

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Yeah, you're welcome.

[ The way he says it is borderline dismissive, but largely just hurried as if he's trying to cut through niceties to get to his point. Still, it's probably not the best tone to use. ]

That happening any more often than usual? I- Uh, I mean, not like I'm a doctor or anything, but if it's getting worse I'll fix it.

[ Though that's an empty promise, as it usually is. Jack easily speaks in absolutes, but whenever he offers something like this, it always runs into the same wall. He would have to bring someone more knowledgeable to her, and those more knowledgeable people he can't kill without someone noticing and caring. ]

[r3f4c70r3d]

[When Jack's concern for her became more perfunctory than earnest Angel doesn't know, it's just another bullet point in a long list of things Angel can't afford to dwell on, what's in front of her now is what she has.]

It's happening more than at the start, but not by a large margin. I'll be okay.

Maybe you could leave a couple of extra doses with me, just in case.

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[ His frown stays in place, but it deepens slightly at her suggestion. Jack takes a step back and rubs at the back of his neck uncertainly, and it also comes with a reluctant "ehhhh" kind of noise. From that alone, it's not hard to guess what his general feelings on the matter are, but it's at least not a hard "no." ]

Well— I dunno, baby. Y'know I don't like leaving too much with ya.

[ He doesn't elaborate on why, and he won't. He never has, but the easy assumption is that it's a way to control her, and maybe that he doesn't trust her with it. Being the only source means he has an excuse to visit frequently. ]

Maybe- Maybe it's time to up the dosage instead? I can look into it.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[She doesn't know what she'd been hoping for- well she does, but she doesn't know why she had even bothered to broach the question. She knows even the smallest amount of independence when it comes to Jack tends to be given, not asked for.

The headaches are getting bad, but the solution is cyclical: take medication for the pain, be denied a proper amount of sleep by side effect (not that Jack lets her get much sleep in the first place), become stressed and get headaches, take medication for the pain, and so on.

What would be the byproduct of a higher dose be? It scares her, so she gives a small non-committal shrug. She's not getting what she initially wanted anyways.]

Maybe.

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[ He gives her a small pat on the shoulder as she seems to let it go. It's a mild encouragement for doing so, because even if Jack isn't intentionally hurting her (or at least not in this particular way), he's still glad for one less headache of his own. He's eternally selfish, even when it comes to his own daughter. ]

Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll figure something out. Always have, right?

[ And naturally, he'll also use her to bolster his own ego... But he does at least offer: ]

Tell you what, though— Leaving multiple, ehhhhh, that worries me, but one? We can do one. I'll get an extra for an emergency kinda thing.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[ It's more then she was hoping for so naturally she'll take it, because it's still something, it's still some control. She makes sure to smile at him when she nods and says]


I really appreciate it.