fall dog bombs the moon (closed)

[refactor]

Who: Handsome Jack, Giovanni Rammsteiner, Timothy "totally handsome jack" Lawrence
Where: Tim's apartment
When: W4D6
Summary: If you can count on a dog for "loyalty," then you can count on him to keep a little secret
Restrictions/Warnings: there's a general disclaimer for jack and tim that it's probably going to be messed up but I'll add anything specific if it comes up

[ After a day that Jack would pretty solidly call "excellent," there's another idea turning in his head. Getting to see Giovanni actually at work was— Well, it was more than he expected. In the best way possible. He'd never really cared all that much about Angelika's pet project (heh), and distancing himself from it had seemed better. But seeing him actually work? He gets it. It does get something to coil in his gut uncomfortably, some little piece of guilt perhaps, but more than that, he sees opportunity.

So it was just a quick phone call to Tim. With Tim, Jack doesn't so much ask as he demands, and today, he tells Tim that he'll be over after his shift. He, of course, doesn't mention that he's bringing company with him.

Because Jack can't really use Giovanni too much. It's treading just shy of a line he's careful not to cross, because making prisoners disappear was fine and good, but using Giovanni to do it... That could be a problem. But "Jack"— The Jack that took care of those side affairs of making people disappear before they ever had the chance to show up in Intake? He could use that kind of backup. And while Jack was quite guarded over who he revealed his other half to, he had much more confidence in this than he might normally. Giovanni would know anyways, if they ever met, for one. But two?

There was a certain amount of obedience he could expect if he gave an order.

Jack leads the way with Giovanni, and Giovanni is likely to know that he's taking him to a bit of a strange place. It's a residential area, but not for Company employees. Definitely not for Jack, since he took those Company provided lodging options without shame. He stops at an apartment and unlocks it with a key on his key ring, truly as if he owns the place, then walks in as he speaks to Giovanni. ]

Aaaaand here we are, buddy. I- Look, I've got someone to introduce you to, and you two? I think y'all are going to be working together way more from now on, so, y'know, play nice.

[ also, hi tim ]

Comments

[ofobedience]

[It's been a day of mixed feelings. This is possibly the longest stretch he's spent in Jack's dubious company, and the old resentments gnaw at him, fill him with sick internal disgust and yet they'd had fun, hadn't they? He'd had fun-- his body still sings with dispensed violence, the jitter and thrum in nails and eyeteeth and right down to the centre of him, bones still murmuring with the pleasant contentment that comes with the kill. With the kills. The cognitive dissonance that exists between those two bright points - his feelings toward Jack, his feelings toward what Jack had enabled today - is a difficult thing.

Still. For the moment he's prepared to let that particular frustration go, to bathe in the dark red afterglow of a day well-spent, and at first when they leave the facility behind them, he doesn't really think to question where they're going, what they're doing, why Jack isn't returning him to the Kennel just yet. He doesn't ask, even, how long the man intends to keep him for.

Just one of his selling points, perhaps. He doesn't tend to question his orders too deeply. Executes them with perfect obedience, instead.

It's only when he realises that the direction they've taken has become a little strange that the questions start to rise up in him, unvoiced, a vague feeling of discomfort plucking at his insides. There's something suspiciously residential about the area they've arrived at, residential not being quite the place for Dogs, and Giovanni is aware that Jack's own living quarters are within the Company compound (there are some things he knows, keeps track of, for reasons). Knows the man can't have decided to take him to his home.

And yet the key Jack produces as they approach a particular doorway slides smoothly into the lock, opens with a soft dull click. Giovanni's lips finally part around a half-formed words just as Jack begins talking, and though he steps inside a respectful two paces behind the Company man, there's a vague tension in the lines of his body, something held tight and uncertain in him.

He keeps it in check, though, and when Jack utters the words play nice Giovanni flashes him a smile.]

Oh, all right then. I won't bite. Hahah.

[blap]

[ When he hears the key turning in the lock, Tim scrambles to dress. It hasn't been all that long since the last time Jack showed up at his place; Tim has no desire for a repeat anytime soon, so after he's had a chance to get home and get showered, he spends the rest of the time he has alone on polishing himself to a point of Maximum Jackness. His hair (the biggest timesink) is immaculate, all the same methods and products leaving him even smelling like Jack—he thinks, to his mingled pride and dismay—but it's been like half an hour before he realizes that the time's gotten away from him.

A protracted series of clatters and thumps issue from somewhere deeper in the apartment as he clamors toward readiness, but after a few more moments Tim's ready and he smirks at the mirror and ventures out. No, wait—he stops in mid-step, heart in his throat, then turns and fetches the mask sitting on the top of the dresser. Now he's ready. ]

What's up, bos—

[ There's a. Guy. In his apartment. A guy with a really freaky reputation, and that's coming from someone who's killed like, a lot of people in the last couple years. ]

—sssoookay, wasn't expecting guests but, um, cool, uhhhhh... hi! There. Hhhhi. Hi.

[refactor]

[ As soon as Tim steps out and... Awkwardly introduces himself (which is something Jack might complain about later), Jack is quick to step closer and loop an arm around Tim's shoulder. It's showy, for Giovanni more than anything else, and he's wearing a wide, easy grin. ]

Gio, let me introduce you to my pal here. He's a real looker, right?

[ Jack snickers at his own vain joke, but his arm at least falls back so that it's not so touchy with Tim anymore. He crosses his arms, but nods towards his body double. He's still not quite speaking to Tim yet, since explaining things to Giovanni will serve as an explanation for both of them, but his tone with Giovanni is one that he hasn't actually taken on so long as Jack has been in contact with him. In parts, it's an explanation, but in others, it's absolutely an order. ]

Meet my body double. You- I mean, you've got a real talent for stuff that I totally need, but in Intake...? Kinda a waste. So. Repurposing. You're still gonna answer to me, but you're probably going to be working with him. You're gonna call him Jack. Or... Mr. Marten, whatever. But he doesn't exist. We clear on that?

[ofobedience]

[Giovanni knows the space is occupied the moment they walk inside, can hear him, smell him (similar surface-level scents to Jack, actually, though beneath that there are the unique identifiers every person has, something distinctly different from the man who'd brought him here), and he looks up a moment before Tim emerges, expression impassive if slightly wry, lips curled in the hint of a smile--

--and then he sees him. It's not surprise, not exactly, he's too well-trained for that, but there's a slight lift of one pale blond brow, a vague shift in the angles of his face that betray the fact that this is something entirely unexpected. Almost, he wants to laugh. This man, this body double, he's no relation of Jack's, that much he can discern from the scent of him and yet here he is, surface-level identical down to the very last detail.

And then there's the way Jack handles him, doesn't quite address him-- there's something in those small signals that tells him the other man is entirely at his beck and call, and he wonders, vaguely, just how he fell into such an unfortunate position. Just what Jack has on him. Nothing good, he's sure of that.

But he listens attentively as Jack talks, clearly discerns the difference in tone, the order he's just been given. He looks from Jack to...not-Jack, and then back again. Slowly nods.]

Yes, Sir. Crystal.

[He doesn't so much as question it.]