001 ♟ audio/video

[secondhandsome]

[There's no video for this broadcast, just audio. Well. There's background noise, anyway, for a few seconds. Then someone awkwardly clears his throat.]

Um, is this... working? [Huh, funny. Isn't that voice familiar? The tone's a little off, but the sound of it's definitely the same as that Jack guy, right?] How... How do I know if it's...

Oh! Wait, the light's on, that probably means people are listening and... hearing me talk to myself... like an idiot. Great. Cool.

[...He quickly clears his throat. Right, yeah, let's not keep talking to himself like a moron, that's no way to make a first impression.]

I mean. Hello there, youuuuu, ah, lovely... people. Oh god, that was terrible. This is... Jack. Handsome Jack. That's... me. In the flesh. I mean, not that you can see that, but--

Just. Just got a quick question. I... These Pokémon things, they're supposed to be like... animals, right? Um. I'm just gonna turn on the video for this, one sec... [And then the video feed clicks on, showing off one very excited Ditto, smiling right at the camera.] So... Seriously, what the hell is up with this thing? This is just... I don't even know. Someone used some jello for a science class and something went wrong or whatever? It's kinda freaking me out a little...

[The Ditto doesn't seem bothered being talked about like this, still looking as happy as can be.]

I... don't really know what to do with it. Do I like... feed it? Does it eat? It doesn't look like it eats, but... don't wanna kill it by mistake.

Comments

[secondhandsome]

...But you did eventually, right? So... it all worked out, yeah?

[kissmyaspis]

... It almost didn't, because of the lies. If it wasn't for... a friend of mine...

[It's true, that they were able to talk and work things out. That they were able to come to agreements on how to handle how Athena works. But that's only because someone else had to step in, because Athena is too damn stubborn and too damn new to this sort of thing that she still rooted herself firmly in the camp of I wasn't doing anything wrong.

Even now it frustrates her, how her own stupid inability to be a normal person almost cost her the best thing that ever happened to her.]

Hell, for all I know, things might've gotten screwed up all over again, thanks to whatever damned higher power dragged us here.

[secondhandsome]

I dunno, I mean... If you got things worked out before, I'm sure she'll get that you didn't just disappear for the hell of it. And as soon as you guys can see each other again, I'm sure she'll get it. Hell, maybe she'll end up here too?

[...Man, what the hell, now he's trying to be the optimist? He sucks at being an optimist. But uh... he'll try.]

[kissmyaspis]

I don't know... Janey's the kindest person I've ever known, and more forgiving than a person living on Pandora probably should be... but I lied to her enough times that her ability to excuse it all may have finally run out.

[His optimism isn't unwelcome, but at his mention of hope of Janey being dragged here, Athena's expression hardens again.]

I'm not sure if that's a good idea, considering the current list of people here from Pandora.

[secondhandsome]

Right... I mean, can't exactly say that lying is good for a relationship. But, I dunno... After you worked things out last time, did she get why you lied? If she did, then... well, hopefully that'll give her enough trust again for now.

[Mostly he just has to guess here, since he doesn't know how everything's been going with them. But he knows Janey's a good person, so... better to just assume the best.]

...What, cause... cause of Jack?

[kissmyaspis]

[Athena just makes an mmm noise in response; it's unclear whether it's positive or negative. She's still not really used to talking about her feelings and her relationships, so she's just. Going to end it there. At least they got pretty far, right?]

Exactly. Jack doesn't scare me, and I'm sure as hell confident I can fight off anything he throws at me or any of us, but that doesn't exactly change the fact that I don't want him anywhere near her.

[Or knowing just how close she and Athena are. Because once Jack has his meltdown - and she can tell it's coming - he's going to get desperate to get at them. Athena's already had one loved one used against her in a horrible way. There's no way she's going to let Janey end up like Jess. Hell no.]

[secondhandsome]

Makes sense. And I get it, really. Not that it seems there's any way to control who ends up here, but you don't want her involved with that.

Still, she's tough, so... If she does end up here, it's gonna be fine. And hey, worst case scenario, it's uh... it's a big place and Jack can't be everywhere, right?

[That was supposed to be encouraging, but he kind of failed at the end there. But uh... he's trying?]

[kissmyaspis]

Hell yeah she is. [Is that pride in Athena's voice? You bet your sweet ass it is.] So tough that she helped take on a Vault Guardian when some companions of mine came calling for aid.

[Honestly, if she hadn't been completely in love with Janey before then... yeah. That would've done it.]

But you're right. As long as we're vigilant when we pass through the city he's holed up in, nothing will go wrong.