A slightly smaller Mess

anne:...I.,...might make sure jack's okay

Noctis:...*helps him up*

Hera: "If you can find him. Fuck knows where he's at."

He growls as his shattered spine takes weight. "Nope... nope... nope." And lowers himself back to lying on his back. "You think i would be used to this."

Anne: I'll go have a look.

Noctis:... Used to, sir?

Hera: "Good luck. Don't go collapsing in some companion way somewhere."

Mac: "Aye... take a vox with you."

Raeven speaks through gritted teeth. "Give it a minute..."

Anne: I'll be fine...but will do

Noctis:....

Hera stands up, and wanders off to go collapse in a bed, and mac just leans back on the sofa.

Mac: "See you do...."


A long minute passes. Then his flesh slowly begins to knit together. With assistance from him, holding his intestines in. The muscle and skin seems to wriggle and crawl over itself, pulling back together. Bone cracks and snaps as it reforms.

Anne pauses, surprised at Mac's concern. then she stands up.

Noctis:...I knew it.

He breathes out heavily, and closes his eyes. Without those striking green eyes, and his face so much at peace, the realisation hits anne that the soldier likely doesn't have much left in him. Without a grin across his lips, and a sparkle in his eye, he looks so... old.

Raeven: "You knew... what?"

Anne:...you okay?

Noctis: Perpetual. The lord commander told me he'd read about them. I had a feeling.

"Just tired... I'd go with you... but... Need a few winks."

Raeven laughs, then immediately regrets it, as it turns into a coughing fit. "Smart boy..."

Anne: You get some sleep...got to do this myself.

Noctis: showing me your old armour gave it away a little, sir. *kneels down* You going to be alright sir?

"Hmn... don't worry the poor lad too much, will you?"

"Alright? Hmn. You know much, about perpetuals?"

Anne: I'll do my best.

Noctis: You can't die.

"Good lass..." he breathes out heavily again, and shuffles lower into the sofa cushions.

Raeven: "Yes... the universe is rather insistent on it. I will always be alright,Lieutenant."

anne stands up and goes to leave

Noctis: I meant the pain, sir.

He shifts, hugging the shotgun to his chest, holding it by the barrels.

Raeven: "Pain means nothing without injury."

*she leaves, and goes looking for jack*

Noctis: still hurts.

Jack is... well jack is jack. She finds his armour in the armoury. Left empty. The corridors feel very empty. A whole ship, for a man like him to hide.

Raeven: "True. But pain is not death. It reminds us that we are still here."

she keeps looking till she finds him

Noctis: aye. Spose so.

Jack is not an easy man to find. essentially, it relies on him wanting to find you. Walking down a companion way, she hears a thump on the deckplates behind her.

Raeven: "You cannot tell a soul of this."

she heads in that direction

Noctis: As you say, sir.

As she turns, jack is right there. Slowly straightening up from crouching.

Raeven: "I... I will explain to you later."

Anne:... hey

Noctis nods, offering the captain a hand to help him up

Jack is back in his old clothes. How he was when Anne first met him. A ragged, dusty tan shawl across his shoulders, and a scarf around his neck of the same colour. Festooned with blades, surfaces scrubbed matte. And his own swords. Long and short. Not the blades charles gave him. His eyes meet hers, those deep blue eyes, with grey around the edge of the iris. He doesn't say a word, but his face speaks volumes. Remorse is etched into his features.

He takes it, and drags himself to his feet. "The sword... Have to find that, first."

Anne:... are you...alright?

Noctis: the sword?

"I have been better." The barest hint of a smile, lifts the corner of his mouth. Not even a shadow of the gleeful ear to ear grin anne found herself falling in lo... no. Lets not think about that.

"His sword... The one i carried with me.... *He shakes his head* The big one."

Anne:...oh jack....I'm sorry. This is my fault.

Noctis: right. Sorry sir.

"I'm sorry it took me so long..."

Raeven: "It's fine, Noctis... Congratulations, on the kill, by the way."

Anne:...No. I was an idiot... it's on me. You pulled me out, didn't you?

Noctis: thankyou sir. I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner.

Jack: "...Not before they hurt you."

Raeven: "If anyone, you can afford to be tardy with me."

Anne: don't...don't blame yourself for that.

Noctis: If you say so sir.

Jack: "I do. I hurt you, so you went to fight, so you would forget, then you were taken with David."

Raeven: "Do you know how many times i have died, Noctis?"

Anne: I shouldn't have been so stupid about it.

Noctis: no.

Jack: "Maybe. But it was my fault."

Raeven: "Neither do i. That means its a lot."

Anne reaches out and puts a hand on his shoulder

Noctis nods. his helmet still masking his expression.

Jack looks down at her hand, then back at her. "I'll be quicker next time."

Anne: you didn't hurt me. You saved me. I'd be dead without you.

Raeven bends down, and lifts the blade from the loose stones that constitute the sloping floor. "There she is." Its a truly huge blade. As tall as an unarmoured astartes from tip to pommel. Its blade seems to contain every shade of a sunset.

Jack: "I hurt you when i said no."

Noctis: impressive sir.

Anne: Jack...it's not an attack against me if you don't feel how I do.

Raeven: "It belonged to a dear friend."

Jack: "I wish i could. But... its just not me."

Noctis: ...sorry sir.

Anne: I know. *she smiles* I was stupid to think otherwise. I like you for being...well. You.

Raeven: "He's been dead thousands of years. Its... *he chuckles* Ancient history."

Jack seems to struggle to find words for a moment, then simply smiles. "Thankyou."

Noctis:..the heresy, sir?

Anne: I care about you jack...a lot. But I won't ask you to do anything that you cannot.

Raeven: "He led the remains of our forces, after the Istavaan atrocity... Praetor Pyriel."

Jack: "It's nice. To have someone care."

Noctis: I have heard of him.

Anne just smiles at him

Raeven: "I was not with him. I wish i was... I regret that i did not see him again, after we deployed to that blasted system."

Jack: "Thankyou. Anne."

Noctis: you kept up the good fight without him, sir.

Anne: It's fine. Really.

Raeven looks at noctis, for a solid ten seconds silently. Then starts walking back up the vent "We should move"

Noctis: yes sir.

He silently walks up to the surface.

jack looks like he has no idea what to say