☞ 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

[unkindly]

[Apparently, Jack really needed the sleep. It's sound, it's deep, and he doesn't wake up until just as Isaac finishes the game. It's the echoes of the final fight with Fontaine that wake him up, nudge him out of sleep, and when he finally dresses and makes his way out of the room he finds Isaac lying on the couch.

Well. He certainly looks like he's thinking about something serious.]

Hey.

[He walks up to the couch and leans on the back of it, looking down at Isaac.]

Are you okay?

[stomped]

[ Isaac startles, but just nods. ]

Yeah--I'm fine.

[ He reaches up and pats Jack a bit on the arm, slowly sitting up. ]

You slept hard.

[unkindly]

[Jack frowns just a little at that.]

Yeah, I did.

[He's not sure how he managed it, since he's never slept like that before. Not that he can remember, anyway.]

...did you sleep okay?

[He remembers waking up from the nightmares, and... he does remember what followed, but he slept so soundly he has no idea when Isaac left the bed, so for all he knows Isaac couldn't get back to sleep at all and just came out here again.]

[stomped]

Slept well, actually. Only came out here a couple hours ago.

[ He hazards a glance at the clock in the kitchen. ]

It's a bit late now.

[ You slept late. How does that make you feel? ]

[unkindly]

[Jack looks surprised.]

Is it?

[He frowns again.]

That's... strange.

[stomped]

[ He shrugs. ]

It's not a bad thing, really. You probably needed it.

[unkindly]

I know, it's just... not something... that usually happens.

[He sighs slightly, then he remembers something.]

...I thought I heard voices.

[stomped]

Voices?

[ Isaac glances at the TV. ]

... I finished.

[unkindly]

You finished...

[He's confused at first, then realization dawns.]

...oh.

[He can't... quite look at Isaac anymore.]

[stomped]

[ He just leans back against the arm of the couch. ]

Probably what you heard.

[ He's glad you don't make whale noises, Jack. And that you're not dead. ]

[unkindly]

Yeah. Probably.

[He straightens and walks around to the other side of the couch, sitting down.]

Well. Now you know, I guess.

[stomped]

[ Isaac gives a slight nod, rubbing the back of his neck for a moment before edging closer a bit, moving to sit properly now, feet grounded on the floor. ]

It's... it's tough... [ Softly: ] But you did it... [ And he's probably more than a little proud. ]

[unkindly]

[Jack stays where he is, looking down at his hands, his tattooed wrists, and he nods.]

Yeah.

[After a moment he looks up at Isaac.]

...so did you.

[stomped]

Yeah.

[ There's a hand on his shoulder then, firm. Warm. ]

I think that's enough games for now, to be honest.

[unkindly]

Definitely.

[He sighs and rubs his face.]

Definitely enough games.