[OPEN] Look out to the future but it tells you nothing, so take another breath.

[hostage]

Date & Time: August 18-25
Location: ???
Characters: Jesse & OPEN to all
Summary: Everyday encounters with one adorable junkie.
Warnings: Well, it's Jesse Pinkman, so drug abuse and spoilers.
Notes: This is a catch-all log. Put the date and location in the subject line.


[Routine. It's one of the first things they teach you in rehab: the importance of routine. The uncertainty of an unplanned day leads to anxiety, which leads to the temptation to use. Routine encourages stability and productivity. No guesswork, no drifting. It's all laid out. You wake up and you know what you're supposed to do until the moment it's time for sleep again.

Jesse is beyond saving when it comes to his addiction, but he still lives by the routine. It's important not because it'll stop him from using, but because it'll stop him from completely losing his mind and hurting someone again.

He doesn't bother with breakfast. He snorts a line of meth to get him going, because god knows that coffee isn't strong enough, and that kills his appetite pretty quick. He's out of the apartment around ten, smoking a cigarette on his way to the lab. Depending on what needs doing, he'll either spend the entire day there or run out to the clinics in town to administer anti-verstatsi drugs to the populace and help measure their progress. Another cigarette replaces lunch. When work is done, he puts in his training hours at the gun range. Then it's time to go home and wind down, which usually involves a joint or a needle or sex or all of the above. Weed helps him stomach a small dinner. He forces himself to shower even when he doesn't want to. He shoots tranq to get to sleep.

And repeat.]

Comments

[5055034455]

[Saul takes it, one eyebrow arched.]

What's your problem?

[hostage]

[His response is a disappointed shake of his head as he turns to walk away.]

[5055034455]

[In another world, where unicorns exist and money grows on trees and pigs fly and so on and so forth, Jesse has learned by now that walking away from Saul never works.

Unfortunately, this is not that world.

Saul is quick to reach out and gently grab Jesse's wrist, grip loose enough that Jesse could easily pull away.]

Can we skip the part where I have to pry it out of you and you just tell me what's wrong?

[hostage]

[Gentle as it is, Jesse's still startled by it. And of course he jerks his hand away, but he looks - for a split second - more frightened than angry.]

Don't.

[5055034455]

[Up go Saul's hands, the gun still clutched in his right. After a moment's consideration, he sets it down, looking very much like he's dealing with some police situation — eyes wide, movements cautious.]

Jesse, what?

[hostage]

I'm not doing this again.

[5055034455]

Doing what? I don't know what you're talking about!

[hostage]

Nothing. I hope you feel like the man and, uh, protect everybody and whatever.

[5055034455]

[He narrows his eyes.]

What, do you think this is gonna be my excuse to start acting reckless?

[hostage]

[Dryly:]

No, I'm sure you know exactly what you're doing and you'll be totally cool about it.

[5055034455]

I'm still getting my ass kicked every other day for a reason. It's like — you've seen The Karate Kid, right? Wax on, wax off? Coby's a good teacher. A pink-haired Mr. Miyagi. I could've bailed after the strength thing, but I didn't. I'm not stupid.

[hostage]

I'm happy for you.

[5055034455]

[Saul sighs and drops his hands, then pushes the shooting goggles up into his hair. He has a vague idea of what the problem might be — but this is Jesse, so it could be anything.

A little more softly:] I'm not a mind-reader, Jesse. Talk to me.

[hostage]

[Okay. He runs his hands over his face, taking a few paces, then turns back to Saul.]

You're better than this!

[5055034455]

[Ouch.

His attempts to think of some response fall short; he's left staring at Jesse like he's just been slapped in the face, speechless and a little confused.]

[hostage]

[No? Nothing? Fine, he'll keep going.]

Is this what you want? Does it make you feel better, being able to crush somebody's spine with one hit? Is that gonna help anybody?

[5055034455]

Really?

[He straightens a little, though there's no use hiding how hurt he still looks.]

Is that really what you think I'm gonna do?

[hostage]

I don't know. I don't wanna know. And what does it matter, anyway, what I think? I'm sure you've got a hundred thousand "good reasons".

Just do me a favor and spare me.

[5055034455]

[Not quite a hundred thousand, but Saul has plenty of reasons. They all have names; Jesse's one of them.

And he really wishes he didn't care so much about what the one named Jesse thinks of him.]

I'm trying to play defense here, Jesse! I need to be prepared. If that, for some reason, translates in your head to me running around hurting people...

[This seems melodramatic, but it's the best he can do right now:] Then these past few months might as well've never happened, because you obviously don't know me at all. Which also means you don't trust me, and that's just — that sucks.

[hostage]

Look, it ain't about how much I trust you! This stuff goes to your head. It happens to everybody.

[5055034455]

Then take it. If you honestly think that's what'll happen, that I'll go off and hurt someone just because I can — go ahead. Take it.

[hostage]

[He almost does. Everything about this feels sickeningly familiar. Even this invitation feels familiar. Jesse grinds his teeth and looks Saul straight in the eye and -

And if he does this, and something happens to Saul because he was left defenseless, then what?

Forget Heisenberg; what happens when the bombs start falling again? What if they end up on a dangerous mission? What if another random cyborg decides to go on a rampage?

Jesse throws his head back in frustration.]

God.

[5055034455]

[He lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, fingers absently twitching at his side. Great. Jesse didn't do it, but Saul's not blind; he can tell Jesse's still tempted — or maybe "worried" is a better word — and maybe he's got a point, but...

Saul's not taking chances anymore. He needs this.]

If I step out of line, you do whatever you feel like you need to. For now, though — at least give me the benefit of the doubt. Deal?

[hostage]

[This is a shitty deal. If it ever did get that bad, then Saul would just take him out. And it would be really easy, as he just demonstrated.

...

Saul's right. Jesse doesn't trust him. He thought he did, but that can't be true if he's feeling like this.]



No.

[5055034455]

[He studies Jesse for a long moment, gaze searching. For what, he's not sure, but he knows what Jesse's thinking and there has to be an answer somewhere —

Or maybe he should just ask for one.]

What do I have to do to earn your trust?