[Recollé] Telenovela Ep1: Tony y Jack

[flyguy]

It couldn't be said Tony had ever been Jack's biggest fan. No, not the fondest of the guy. Downright animosity came to mind as a good descriptor. But he'd made...not nice, he was bad at nice, but he'd kept the more choice words in his mind and his hands in his pockets instead of arranged into fists planted in Jack's smug face.

All for Sofia's sake. Every last bit of it. She loved the guy. What more could he do for a friend who'd gotten him through some of his darker times than be supportive? If his feelings for her strayed a little deeper all the more reason to shut up and stick it out for her.

That wasn't Sofia at his door now though. Jack wasn't looking too hot and something about that put Tony on edge. He didn't move aside to let the other man in. "Looking for something? Hooters is right around the corner. They've got a great brunch line up."

Hi Jack. Nice to see you. Or not.

Comments

[hjack69]

"No shit?" He could sound more sympathetic, but that probably isn't what Tony wants from Jack, is it? They've never been that fake with each other, and it's not like Jack is jumping at the idea of starting now. "Pfff, gold plate. Bet it's tacky as hell."

But he knows where Tony must be right now (kind of knows?), so he gives the man a shrug of his own. He's never shared much of where he comes from - even Sofia had a hard time getting anything out of him, much less Tony hearing any of it. Feels right to share it now, though.

"Grams probably wishes I'm dead. Just like your good-for-fucking-nothing biker daddy and all. I was waiting to off myself until she died first, but at this rate that bitch'll be around when the goddamn sun dies." They're done cleaning, so now Jack moves to the gauze. It won't be a particularly pretty patch job, but hey, it'll work until he can see a real doctor. If he even bothers. "Used to beat me with a chain. A chain! Like, who even does that? I'm an asshole, buddy, but I get it honest."

So he understands the shit guardians thing, kind of. It's just idle talk to fill the silence, something to listen to while he tears another strip of medical tape off with his teeth.

"Saw her today." Should they be worried about a concussion? Probably. "Had her the whole day. Got ice cream, saw a movie, went to her favorite restaurant, all that crap. Wanted to make it a good memory." A shrug. "Pretty sure she doesn't love me anymore. Don't really blame her. Only so many times you can tell a kid I'm sorry sweetie, daddy can't make it before they get sick of hearing it, y'know?"

[flyguy]

It's true Tony's never heard much about Jack's past. Sofia told him the odd thing or two ("No, Tony, he didn't rise from a swamp" "I'm pretty sure he's human." "For the love of God don't tell him the Sith are his spirit animal."). But it wasn't much of anything. That he's hearing it now...? He's pretty hard put not to roll his eyes. He settles for looking up at the sky and keeping still. He's not really sure where "my parents tried to have me killed" is an open invitation for swapping abuse stories like some kind of Care Bear Power Hour, but whatever. He doesn't want to get into it.

"It's called a telephone, Jack. Invented 1876. You should look into it some time." Okay, okay. Enough of this touchy-feely powwow. Waving Jack off he stands up. "If we're going to do this let's do it."

[hjack69]

"Ya try and reach out to a guy..." Jack shakes his head, standing, and clucks his tongue in mock-disappointment before tossing what's left of their hacked-together medkit. "Fine. Passenger's seat, drunky. Try not to barf on the way."

Jack is... fucked up, but he's also got above average tolerance and way too much experience driving drunk, so the drive isn't long and they get to where they're going in roughly one piece. Rather than fill the silence himself, Jack cranks the radio and lets classic rock do the job. They're both drunk, and bloody, and miserable, and now they're pulling up to the graveyard. Jack leans over and taps the glovebox, pulling the pistol inside into his lap to check that it's loaded.

"Ya know, just in case," he explains as he shuts the door, tucking it into the back of his pants. Then he's gesturing for Tony to lead them. "Take it away, T."

[flyguy]

They're driving and they're going to the graveyard. Outside of visiting hours, by the way. Just great. Probably weird for Jack. How often does he even come? Tony... He's been. A lot. More so in the beginning. Less so recently. He does the flowers. Holidays, specific anniversaries, that sort of thing. Again— not so much of late. Been busy. Life.

When they get there though it's just as familiar as ever, even in the middle of the night. He starts getting out of the car when Jack opens the glovebox and pulls out a gun. They were driving around with a gun? A loaded gun? In the glovebox? "In case of what? The zombie apocalypse? Why do you even have a gun? You said you went straight."

Okay, now he's kind of pissed. Actually very pissed. It's exactly this kind of reckless behavior that got Sofia killed. Getting out of the car he slams the door shut. God damn it. He knew better than to get in a car with Jack and yet he did it anyway. Every time. "Come on."

He just wants to get this over with.

[hjack69]

Jack doesn't answer - just holds two fingers up to his temple and mimes a gun going off, little gunshot noise included. Then he's catching up, brushing shoulders with Tony as they head in, either oblivious or just uncaring of the fact that he's pissed. He's too busy squinting at passing headstones, occasionally reaching up to rub absently at his scar. Tony tore into it, and even if the alcohol numbs things considerably, just the slightest edge of a sting still makes its way through.

"Y'know, I kinda missed this." Jack is talking to nobody and nothing but it's the silence that's starting to fray his nerves, getting him lagging just a step or two behind Tony. "Pissing you off, I mean. Had fun tonight. Haven't been hit like that in years."

[flyguy]

Fun. He stops and turns around, hands coming up to form Ls with his fingers and spread out like he's framing his sentence.

"We are not bonding. We're not friends! I'm a massively flawed individual with avoidance issues and you're crazy. The Odd Couple this is not. The only thing we have in common is a woman who's dead. Cold. In the ground." His voice rises. "And she's not getting back up to give you the ass kicking you're clearly in need of. What the hell do you want from me Jack? I tell Angel not to be too hard on you, got her grandparents to stop calling you 'that murderer'. I even made them let me put your name on the damn headstone. What more can you possibly want!?"

Yeah. That was the thing about Sofia's headstone. Soon as his royalties started rolling in he went to her parents and made them a deal: he'd pay for Angel's college education. All of it. Anywhere she wanted to go. If they let him put Jack's last name on the headstone. Just like Sofia would have wanted.

So what more is Jack looking for here because at every opportunity Tony has tried to do the right thing and all it's getting him is a partially collapsed throat and dragged around graveyard at the crack of dawn. What's the point of doing right when it's never enough for anyone.

[hjack69]

It's enough to stop him cold. Whether or not Tony wanted to hit Jack in some strange soft spot, he apparently has - and the emphasis is on strange, because his face blanks out, attention drifting from Tony like he's suddenly stopped existing. Nevermind what he's saying, or might have left to say. Jack starts picking through the headstones like he doesn't believe Tony, relying on fuzzy memories to guide him to the right one.

When he finds the right one, he kneels down to touch the lettering - and then just sits there, off to the side like he's afraid of sitting on her, dirt and blood and who knows what else in his hair and clothes as he takes it in. Sofia Dawes, loving daughter, wife and mother. There's his name, right there, on a headstone ten times nicer than anything Jack could ever have afforded her.

"...Hey, Soph." A beat. "Been an asshole again. Sorry."

It's like she's not even dead. Tony might want to go wait by the car or call a cab or something; Jack's chatting away, updating her on everything he's been up to. Finishing high school. College. Kicking his bad habits (the illegal ones, anyway). His work.

It might take a while.

[flyguy]

Tony throws his hands up in the air as Jack runs off. Jackass can't even wait until he's finished. Make his way back to the car he does, leaning against the trunk and putting his face in his hand. He can't deal with this. The lawsuit, Jack, everything. He's getting too sober. Needs another drink.

What the hell did he ever do so wrong? He doesn't know. But if there's anything his parents have taught him it's him. It's all him. Can't change what you are.

But he has to keep going. Pull through. Whenever Jack does get back he'll be calmer (and, disgustingly, more sober), eyes gazing up at the stars as he hunts constellations. It's a good spot. Not a lot of light pollution in a graveyard.

[hjack69]

Jack takes a little while - by the time he's back, he looks like he's sobered up a little too, and something almost approaching bashful for it. He's got the keys in hand, rolling them back and forth in his palm, but his attention is on Tony.

He doesn't say anything at first, just heading over. Then he offers his hand.

"Thank you, Tony." Could be sarcastic, but it's not, so painfully genuine that it's probably kind of embarrassing for both of them. People like Jack and Tony don't do genuine too well, usually. "I mean it. I know it probably doesn't mean much coming from me, but Sofia appreciates it too, I'm sure. Everything."

It's not that the handshake is a trap - it's just that if Tony takes it, Jack changes his mind, leaning in to give him a one-armed hug instead.

[flyguy]

Tony studies Jack a moment before reaching out to take that offered hand. Instead of the stoic shake he's expecting though there's suddenly an impromptu hug going on. He bears with it. For exactly one second.

"Unhunh. Okay. We're all appreciative. Yeah." He'll just be trying to pull away and make some personal space. Yep. Rude, but he's not much of an hugger. Doubtless due to his parents lack of physical displays of affection growing up his therapist would probably say, but he pays her an whole lot of money to tell him what's wrong with him and listen to absolutely none of it. Also the sex isn't bad.

So. "Just take me home. It's nearly..." A look at his watch. "Jesus. 5 in the morning."

[hjack69]

"You really weren't kidding when you said you had issues. My grandma beat me with a chain and I'm still better at this affection thing than you." He gives Tony's arm a couple quick pats though, passing him by to slide into the driver's seat. "Sex doesn't count as affection, bee-tee-dubs. C'mon, I'll get you back to your place. If it's not some ritzy shindig, I'm gonna be disappointed in you, Tony."

Which is how Tony ends up dropped off at his place, Jack's car idling out front. Before he goes, though, Jack gives him another awkward pat on the shoulder.

"Y'know, I think I might stick around for a little while longer. Because of you. You remember that next time I piss you off, chief."

[flyguy]

"That's what Jim Beam's for." And he lets himself in on the passenger side. Not much of a talk back. Or any talk. Jack's a talker. Tony's a brooder. ...Crap, they really are a sitcom. Coming next fall on ABC. But it's nice. Not having to think. Engage. Fix. All he has to do is give directions and sit back.

The apartment building he lives in is a nicer affair than his last one. Not precisely Carnegie Hill, but there's a doorman. That's something. Tony starts getting out when Jack gives that parting pearl making him pause. "Gotta show up more than once every ten years for it to count, Jack."

He says it lightheartedly enough. He was never the one who told Jack to leave. "Night." Closing the door he points as he starts walking towards the apartment entrance. "You're banned from my after parties!"

Just FYI. He's going to get a drink. Sit around in his dark apartment. Be filthy rich and stiff upper lip it. You know. Bachelor things.