[OPEN] Wait, let me set the record straight: I was never really yours in the first place.

[hostage]

Date & Time: January 9 and onward
Location: in and about town
Characters: Jesse & OPEN to anyone
Summary: A chance for an everyday encounter with Jesse. Put the date in your subject line!
Warnings: Breaking Bad spoilers are likely.

[Jesse might be the only one who finds Exsilium's current state beautiful rather than desolate and depressing. For more reasons than one, if given the choice between here and home, he'd choose here without hesitation. The snow and the chill do nothing to deter him from taking long walks. For as long as he can physically stand it, he prefers the cold over being confined inside four walls.

So he walks. Every day, without any particular destination, without anything else to occupy him. The concerns of the Initiative and the Transports are no longer his own. Whatever they're up to, they mean little to him. He's still got enough stolen Russian gold to pay for whatever he needs without having to work, so that's how he's choosing to live for as long as he's able. His time is spent doing whatever he wants to do, and at the moment, what he wants to do is wander.

Freedom: that's what this is about. No one is ever going to make him do anything ever again.]

Comments

1/9 ofc

[hyanaimne]

[Tempest has never been one for sitting still. She's been forced into it twice - jail being the second worst, and then after she had been brought back to life being the second. That and her need to travel in some sort of fashion is why she's out hunting, again, regardless of her encounter with Koltira just two days prior.

But as she's walking up towards an area she hadn't frequented in a while, she stops short on the path and can't help but stare at the figure walking towards her. She hadn't seen Jesse since he gave her magic back - which was a long time, but it had been over a year for her. And she'd had quite a long time to think about what had happened, what she had been told, and so on.

And yet she still wasn't sure how to proceed. Which is why she continues stands there, much like a deer in the headlights, without a clue as to what to say]

[hostage]

[He doesn't notice her at first. His eyes are on the ground, on the snow, watching his step to avoid slipping on ice. But when he gets the creeping sense that he's being watched, he lifts his gaze and looks straight at her. That's when he stops, too, and waits to see what she's going to do. He doesn't quite know where he stands with her after everything. It could go badly, couldn't it?]

[hyanaimne]

[she'd had no idea he'd been gone at all, left or dead or whatever rumor there was. To be honest, she'd barely gone near the cookie table when the new arrivals arrived. But there was something different here, and she couldn't put her finger on it.

So after a moment, she decides to be the one to break the silence. Cautiously]

Hello.

January 11

[5055034455]

[Steph told Saul to keep his distance from Jesse, so he has.

Mostly.

Does staring at Jesse's contact information and wanting to scream and scream at the kid over voicemail count? What about searching every crowd he's been in for that familiar scruffy face? Or listening in on every conversation, or watching the network like a hawk for any sign that Jesse really is back — does that count as keeping his distance?

He doesn't think Stephanie would fuck with him and tell him Jesse's back — and alive — if he weren't, but Saul's always been the type to want to see things before believing them.

Except now that he's finally seeing what he's been waiting to see, he has no idea what to do. Saul's standing far enough away — just outside the doors of the building housing the Transport pad — that Jesse might not notice him at first, and he's not sure if he prefers it that way or not. Maybe Jesse won't notice him at all. Maybe they can just go their separate ways and be done with whatever it was they had before. That's obviously what Jesse wants, right?

It's that thought that twists his features around, expression shifting from its usual practiced neutrality to one edging toward fury. And for someone who just narrowly escaped death, it wouldn't be a stretch to interpret that look as a little bit murderous.]

[hostage]

[Jesse would love to walk away and be done with it, yeah. In a perfect world, he'd never see Saul fucking Goodman ever again. The unfortunate reality is that their fates are entwined, what with the past and consequences always catching up with them. If there was any point at all in trying to keep Saul away from him, it was for Saul's sake, not his own.

Because when Jesse looks over and sets his eyes on Saul, he sees red.

Rather than turn around and stalk off, Jesse quickens his stride, diverting from his path to head straight for Saul. He doesn't have his gun, which is lucky for both of them. Instead, he throws his arms out, inviting Saul to just come at him.]

What? What? Bring it, you son of a bitch.

[hostage]

[It turns out very few people knew he was dead, so it doesn't surprise him that she doesn't respond to him like he's newly resurrected. For his part, he's just glad she's greeting him instead of resorting to a more violent alternative.]

...Hey.

[5055034455]

[If Saul weren't so mad, he might be confused. And there's some confusion in what he thinks next: I'm the son of a bitch?

...but that's quickly clouded over by his desire to accept that invitation, gloved hands going straight for the collar of Jesse's jacket. Since he can't decide whether he wants to push him or punch him in the face or try wringing his stupid little neck again or just yell, he settles instead on giving him a hard shake and asking the question that's been on his mind for weeks:] How could you?

[hyanaimne]

[that doesn't stop her from resting her hand on the hilt of her sword. More to make herself feel comfortable than to be threatening]

Mm. It has been a while, yes?

[hostage]

[It takes Jesse a second to even figure out what Saul's referring to, and then his lips pull back into a cruel sneer.]

Aw, you're pissed I tried to check out early? What is it - you had bigger plans for me?

[hostage]

[He sees that, and in response, he pulls his hands out of his pockets to let them hang at his sides. He's unarmed. Not that that means much with his power, but it's something.]

I don't want trouble.

[hyanaimne]

[she stares at him for a moment, not understanding, then—]

Oh - no, no, I am not— [she immediately moves her hand, and holds it up] Habit.

[hostage]

[Jesse's not entirely convinced, but he nods anyway.]

You been okay?

[hyanaimne]

As well as can be.

[she purses her lips] And yourself?

[hostage]

Terrible. But better now that I'm back.

[5055034455]

[Okay, he's decided: push. He pushes Jesse away, almost as if repulsed, and he's sure the look on his own face matches the one he's trying to stare down.]

I had hope, asshole! I thought you were getting better, but no — no, of course it was just bullshit the entire time, right? Right?

[hyanaimne]

Back? [she frowns] You left?

[hostage]

[Jesse stumbles back a few steps before catching his balance. Then he brushes himself off and gets right back in Saul's face, shoving him in retaliation.]

Cut the crap, Saul. I seen the future now. Got a nice picture of what your hope for me looks like.

[hostage]

Mm. Died, went home, whatever. Yeah, I was gone for a little.

[hyanaimne]

[that is not the expected response. At all. Immediately, a number of thoughts cross her mind, as well as a number of people who—no. She wouldn't think that far]

Wait just a minute - what do you mean, died?

[5055034455]

[Saul's harder to throw off-balance thanks to his training, but he still takes a step back. He stays there for the moment, though, glaring with his hands flexing at his sides like he's getting ready to throw a punch.]

Yeah? Go ahead, enlighten me.

[hostage]

[He shrugs nonchalantly, like it isn't a big deal.]

I guess I killed myself. You know, after everything... I dunno. I don't remember it, but that's what they said. My parole officer found me in my room with a needle. Pretty obvious. Stupid shit.

[hyanaimne]

[she doesn't know what the significance of a needle is, but who talks about their own death so nonchalantly? Not even she did that, and she wanted to die]

It is not very obvious to me.

So you . . . died, and then you went home?

[hostage]

[Jesse shifts in his step, preparing to meet any hit with a counterattack, but not making to strike again just yet. His eyes narrow, his voice lowering to a hiss:]

You were always his little bitch, weren't you. Not just about poisoning Brock, either. You did everything you could just to save your sorry ass, even if it meant getting rid of me. Hell - you wanted to get rid of me. Telling him everything I did, driving me out to the desert, some bullshit story about getting me outta town. Judas motherfucker, you even gave him their address so he could use 'em to trap me.

[hostage]

Yeah. If I'da known that would happen, I probably wouldn'ta...

[He takes a breath, shaking his head.]

But I'm back now, so.

[hyanaimne]

Ah . . . [there's something unsaid there that she understands, and she looks almost sympathetic. She hasn't forgotten their conversations in the past]

Welcome back, then.