☞ like nobody's won and we're safe at the end.

[stomped]

who jack + isaac
what now with 70% more fourth-walling
rating pg-13
warnings video game trauma.

[ It's a new thing every day, Isaac finds as he walks past the television. Gaming systems have come along way (at least what he's seen), but ultimately, it's all the same. He glances around the apartment briefly, a slight prickle of paranoia riding the rise of his spine. These definitely weren't there before, but then again--the television didn't plug in, the goddamn house ran off of embarrassment, and well. Just well. Leaning down, Isaac grabs the controller and sees the pair of cases that are laid out next to it on the low coffee table.

Haha. No.

You can't be. This is not serious. This isn't even real life right now.

Isaac picks up the top one and hums, popping in the disk. Oh hey. There's the remote (where the fuck were you when we needed you the most, asshole?) Slumping down on the couch with the controller in both hands, he passes through the introduction without much of a qualm aside from the fact that he ends up tilting his head a bit. Oh hey, Jack--Great things. Definitely great things. Except then the plane's going down and Isaac is cocked forward in his seat, clearly concerned that they just went down in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The game is pretty interesting (not every day you get to play as someone you know).

"Now, would you kindly find a crowbar or something?" the game says.

There are those words. ]

( BIOSHOCK | DEAD SPACE | THAT NIGHT )

Comments

[stomped]

[ It's a sound, a very small sound and Isaac clings to him, digs fingers into clothing and in general anchors himself down so he doesn't fall away. His breathing is sharp and quick, staccato gasps as he tries to just. Calm... calm himself down.

The nightmare is over
But it will not end.

The sickness is the cure
The cure is the sickness.

The words are there and they rest, they won't give up. The Marker's code isn't gone, it's just repurposed. Destroy instead of make. He may be. Sniffling a bit. Just to ward away the tears that are hot and aching just around his eyes. This is good. No. This hugging is good. The tightness of it. ]

Yeah...

Yeah, it's over.

[ "We're not playing that third game." ]

[unkindly]

[No, they're not going to play the third game. No fucking way.

For now Jack just holds Isaac, ready to hold him as long as he needs him to, understanding more about him than he ever did and ever possibly could without it.

They're both so broken.

So broken and it hurts so much and they try to pretend it's not a big deal, it doesn't hurt as much as it does, but it's always there. Sometimes it's less noticeable only because they've gotten used to it, but it always hurts.

Always.

Jack understands. He understands too well. He holds Isaac so tightly, one hand to the back of his head in an echoed reversal of the day before.]

[stomped]

[ Isaac echoes it aloud with a laugh. ]

We're pretty fucked up aren't we?

[ It's said into his shoulder, a heave of words as he laughs just a little, chokes on his breath. He'll just press his face a bit more into Jack. Everything can be black for now. It can hurt because all he needs is a steady heartbeat. That's it. ]

[unkindly]

Yeah. We really are.

[You play the hand that's dealt to you, and Jack and Isaac were dealt really shitty hands.

Jack squeezes his eyes shut at the sound of Isaac's voice, that hollow laughter.]

We'll be fine, though.

[He says it, though his voice cracks a little. He says it but he has to convince himself it's true. They'll be fine. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually. They'll be fine.

Right?

They have to be.]

[stomped]

We'll be okay.

[ He pats Jack's shoulder slowly, hard, firm. Whatever's out there, please. We have to be okay.

He'll lift his head eventually, eyes kind of tired-looking. Isaac glances at the clock and while yeah, it's a little too early to turn in, he already is exhausted for some reason. It's barely a murmur. ]

You're tired. Probably. Go get some rest.

[unkindly]

[Jack is exhausted, he's had no sleep at all for probably around 36 hours during which he played two very intense games featuring someone he cares about as the protagonist.

And when Isaac mentions it, he really feels tired, though he's still concerned about Isaac.

He nods, then puts a hand on Isaac's shoulder.]

What about you?

[stomped]

I'll manage.

[ He hesitates, but puts a hand over the one on his shoulder. ]

I think I can tonight.

[unkindly]

[Jack nods, albeit a little slowly. He's still concerned, but he's also dead tired. He doesn't have the energy for anything else, and if Isaac says he'll be all right, well... then Jack believes him.

And if it turns out otherwise then Jack's just in the next room, right?

He stands and goes to the bedroom.]