6th Spell

[whatthewrackspurt]

[Private to Jax]

I was hoping it would be you.



[Public]

Hello, everyone.

[Luna seems to have taken down some of the mistletoe around her door and fashioned herself a pair of mistletoe earrings, which she is now wearing.]

Curious, the level of festivity around here. The Admiral must be a very big fan of Christmas.

Happy Hanukkah!

Comments

Private

[brains_before_bullets]

Hoping it'd be me... what?

[Confused biker is confused.]

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

Hoping we'd be paired. Didn't you get a chance to see?

Re: Private

[brains_before_bullets]

[Blink.]

You're my warden?

[Checking... Before he lets out a chuckle, just slightly exasperated.]

Gotta say one thing about this Admiral... He knows how to pick 'em.

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

Doesn't he?

[Luna gives a bright, if slightly wonky grin back]

Like I said, I'm pleased it's you and not a stranger.

Re: Private

[brains_before_bullets]

At least we're past the awkward introductions phase.

[A beat.]

So what happens now?

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

I was thinking I could read your file, and you could tell me what you'd like to do and I would try to help you leave here alive.

Private

[brains_before_bullets]

...Now, the "alive" bit worries me, darlin'. There a time limit or something?

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

Mmno. But the last inmate I had disappeared quite suddenly without graduating. You never can tell when that's going to happen. I think the Admiral must periodically lose people by accident.

Private

[brains_before_bullets]

...That's comforting.

Uh... Look. I'm gonna be honest with you. You might wanna look for another inmate.

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

But I like you.

Private

[brains_before_bullets]

You might not when you read my file.

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

We all have a little darkness in us. Things we wouldn't want anyone to know.

Private

[brains_before_bullets]

Well, I ain't just got a little, darlin'.

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

Are you more afraid of scaring me away, or is it that you think I'm not equipped to handle what's in your file?

Private

[brains_before_bullets]

More the former, but... maybe a bit of both.

[Honesty, because... let's be real. The shit Jackson Teller has pulled recently... it's pretty bad. He wouldn't expect anyone to be able to deal with that.]

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

Do you think we ought to at least give it a try first, before you say it won't work?

Private

[brains_before_bullets]

[There's a pause, before Jax shifts in his seat.]

There's things in my life... Things I don't want to put on anyone. Mostly because it isn't fair for someone else to deal with this level of shit.

[Least of all someone like Luna, who, Jax is convinced, is as innocent as they come.]

Even if you want to, there's some things that... [He trails off.] I'm not a good person, Luna.

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

...Do you want to be a good person?

Private

[brains_before_bullets]

...I don't think that's possible any more.

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

The Admiral doesn't think so.

That's why you're here. If you weren't here, you wouldn't get the chance to be one anymore.

It might not be possible. But it might be, too. People who are irredeemable don't think of themselves as bad people.

Could we try? Together?

Private

[brains_before_bullets]

[Another pause, Jax focusing on anything but his communicator for the moment. He gives a breathy laugh, rubbing his hand back through his hair.]

Man, you sure ain't quittin'. [Remarked, casually, an attempt to claw some of his bravado back.] Alright. Fine... If you really want to.

Don't say I didn't warn ya.

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

No, I'm sorry. Quitting's not something I like doing, if I can help it.

[She gives a bit of a smile Jax's way, pleased]

That's fair. You did warn me. I'll keep that in mind.

Private

[brains_before_bullets]

Alright... Haven't you got some reading to do?

Private

[whatthewrackspurt]

Yes, I do. I'll talk with you later, Jax?

Private

[brains_before_bullets]

Guess you will be.