brilliantlyruthless | (no subject)

[It's like this: first Troy, his stolen Phaselock wrapping around her, the power familiar and alienating all at once, before dropping her down into the lion's den. Her arms tied behind her back and the twins taunting Lilith, looking so desperate and so scared. Being forced back down to Pandora, that hideous planet of nightmares; being forced onto that hideous metal alter, chained and put on display--

And then, suddenly, relief. A last-second order from the God-King, demanding the sacrifice be put off for a little longer. A man-- not Troy, but someone trying vaguely to imitate him, perhaps-- waiting in the shadows for her. An assuring hand and a voice telling her that Lilith had sent him, is this a new Vault Hunter? And then that grip turns harder and there's a tightness around her throat as the world goes all fuzzy--

And now, here, in somewhere dark, with a collar around her throat and her tattoos vibrantly on display, her eyes wide as she tries very hard not to think about dining chairs and bloody fists.]

Jack--

[It's Jack. She knows it is, the same way she knows so very much about Eridium and sirens and vaults, all the things that don't lead to a normal life in the least. It's Jack, the way he moves, the way he stares, she knows it's him--]

You can't be alive, that's impossible!

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[There are a lot of pithy one-liners she could say to that. You aren't a hero, that's both good and accurate. You can't possibly imagine I'll help you is another, albeit rather stupid, because she's no doubt Jack doesn't think that. Why would he? He's not going to ask, he's going to force. And he can do that very, very well.

He had last time, after all.]

I assume you intend to utilize me the same way you did your daughter.

[Experimentally, she curls the fingers of her left hand. Her tattoos flare beautifully-- but there's nothing. No surge of power, no response from anything with a current. It's like she's deaf and dumb; like he's somehow blinded her. She hadn't realized how much she'd come to rely on those answering echoes.]

Do you think it won't end the same way?

[Rage flares in Jack's eyes. His nostrils flare and his head tips up, sneering, rigid.]

You do not talk about my daughter! You have no right!

[He swears he can see red. How the fuck dare she? As if he didn't know damn well what she'd taken from Angel. It makes him sick, sick down to his core. But he has to wonder...just how much did the nutbag science bitch end up with?]

And you have no idea what I've got planned for you. Don't bother trying to use your powers, I perfected the tech for nullifying them. You're about as dangerous as a cold pizza right now.

[She can't help it: she flinches. She regrets it the moment it happens, but she can't help it: it's difficult not to cower just a little when the man who'd tortured you and your beloved companions is yelling.]

Tell me, then. You enjoy gloating, as I recall. What is it you'll have me do? Reinstate you as the head of a company that fell enormously in stature the last time you were murdered? Wield some sort of ship and rain fire on your enemies? Or will you just plug me into the same chair and think that you can repeat yourself?

One - only an amateur does the same routine every time. Two - I don't need you to take back Hyperion. You don't need to know my plans - remember, I like to gloat after I've got all my pieces in place. You're just one piece.

[She doesn't need to know anything right now. Oh, he's got plans. Big plans. He had plenty of time to think on them when there was nothing but his thoughts. Plenty of time to nurse his already great grudge and plot course after course, rolling consequences and risks and reward over and over and over.]

[Of course the galaxy's a little different now, adjustments have to be made. It's fine. He can roll with the punches, he's Handsome freaking Jack. And she knows it. He saw the way she recoiled - considering she was supposed to be a genius, she sure as hell ought to be smart enough to be scared. There were very, very few reasons she wasn't being tortured to death right now - but they were powerful reasons.]

Now why don't you show me you can use those smarts you're supposed to have and play nice, hmm?

[He's angry, but he isn't the only one. She's more terrified right now, but there's still hints of fury in her gaze. She's never forgotten what he'd done to her; she certainly won't ever forgive him. Even Pain and Terror's capture was easier than this. They were just stupid; Jack is malicious.

But fine. She'll play nice. She'll do as he likes for now. But that doesn't mean she'll be pleasant about it.]

Are you going to provide any kind of stimulus in this prison, or shall I simply talk to the walls?

[She probably means that, honestly.]

What makes you think you're in any position to ask me questions? Cuz you're not.

[God, she's annoying. He'd forgotten how freaking annoying she is. But he needs her. Or...well, he probably doesn't need her, but it's important to him that he have her.]

I do suggest you get comfy, though. I'm not exactly a big fan of the dipshit twins, but you know me. I'm a businessman! And lotta shit is up in the air right now, I'm not about to do anything big till I see just who actually survives this bullshit. So we're gonna be here a while.

[It'll give him time to do a little experimenting. The Crimson Raiders were murdering traitors, but the Calypsos...pretty friggin dumb and probably gonna eat each other or get mob slaughtered by their psychotic fanbase. He can wait.]

You think so little of them.

[Well, it isn't a question, is it? Just a statement, said as she carefully takes a seat on the floor. It's not comfy, and certainly serves to put her in a less than ideal position beneath Jack, but there's little else to do now.]

They've managed to do what no one else has: utilize the entire bandit population of Pandora. There's very few who don't know their names. And they've a siren on their side.

[So like someone else in this room.]

Edited 2019-11-07 05:48 (UTC)

And you don't?

[So what, they managed to stir the bandits of Pandora into a murderous frenzy. Like that was gonna end great for them. Jack isn't that impressed.]

They're flavors of the month, and they've made something too big too fast and they have not got the brains or the patience to control it. They made a deal with me for fuck's sake!

[At least Jack is off on a tangent, ranting and pacing, hands waving about as he talks.]

And gave you up. Or as good as, cuz...ya know. Again. Made a deal with me. It's not like they don't know who I am! But they've got their heads so far up their own asses they think they can either keep me in check or pull one over on me. Which is just not gonna happen!

[Tyreen certainly doesn't. Troy . . . he seems to be a bit smarter, although that wasn't a particularly high bar to clear.]

I see.

[It's quiet. Is he done with his rant? It's hard to tell with him. But being silent is never easy for her. Nor was tact. Her hands rise, fingers prying gently against the collar, trying to see if there's any enormously convenient weak spots.]

It's been seven years, Jack. I think you overestimate your power.

You would. Because you've never really grasped just what I am. But it's fine, it's cool. I don't need you to believe in me, champ.

[What, does she think the galaxy just stopped giving a shit about Handsome Jack the minute some new, loud voices started blasting across the ECHOsphere? Please.]

And I don't need my space station, and I don't even need my company. Or did you forget that I clawed my way to the top of Hyperion from literally nothing? Not...not that I'm thrilled that some pretty boy moron destroyed my space station and stole from me, but...eh. I can deal with him later.

[Rhys is very much on his shit list. But also...lesson learned. He'd jumped the gun there, that was his bad, he should have strung Rhys along longer before trying to take what he wanted. He's not gonna make that mistake again.
He'll deal with Blake, too, and make him pay for the sad state Hyperion is in these days. He's got a real long shit list these days.]

[But first things first. Power. Real power. One step at a time, that's the way to get back to the top.]