#* jack | interactions.

[anarcalina]

          // @unascend​ sent,  ❝ could be worse. not sure how , but it could be. ❞

         ❛ I thought I was the skeptic. ❜    Not that Daniel’s wrong; it scarcely takes an imagination to know that, when it comes to the stargate, it can always be worse. He settles himself upon the ground, responsibilities for the moment set aside; there’s nothing left to be attempted, and if they’re going to be trapped here, they’re going to be trapped here. The past three hours have not changed it, and while Daniel can pour over ancient cave paintings all he wants, they’ve ( unsurprisingly ) yet to reveal anything of use.

           Somewhere, in the depths of the pockets of his vest, are protein bars, squirreled away for emergency circumstances. Of course, the emergency circumstances he’d anticipated were unexpected hankerings, not... this. Regardless... Bars successfully found ( or two of them, at any rate; there’s more somewhere ) he continues,    ❛ But you’re right, it could be worse. We could have come unprepared. ❜    He brandishes one in both demonstration of his meaning and silent question.

[anarcalina]

          // @kalvaertar​ sent,  “ what’s the fucking point? ”

          Impatience, tinged with irritation, laces his words as he retorts,    ❛ The fucking point is that we’re not just going to sit around on our asses and do nothing. Do you think we should just hang up our hats, go home, and let anything and everything that’s out there do whatever they damn want with our planet? ❜    He could almost imagine Daniel’s protest — the reminder that historically speaking that’s exactly what had happened. But that was then, and this is now, and thousands of years made a difference in what they could, and what they would, do. 

[anarcalina]

          // @simcl​ sent,  “ i don’t want to say goodbye. ”

          Sometimes realities are all too slow to register, as if the mind resists the full weight of it, whether through sheer negligence, willful disobedience, or self preservation. Even with orders in hand—reassignment orders—Jack hadn’t stopped to consider their implications. And so he stares blankly into the empty space beside her for a moment, wondering just what goodbye she referred to. Of course, it’s obvious in hindsight, but he’s always just that little bit behind, so focused on the present that the future eludes him. 

          A reassignment to Washington means no more elevator descents to Stargate Command each morning, no more wandering these concrete halls, no more overhead speaker announcements from Walter about off-world activations of the gate. And, no more seeing the same, familiar faces. 

           He gives Sasha a long look, eyebrow just barely quirking.    ❛ I’m not going all that far, kiddo. And it’s not like I won’t be back. ❜    Occasionally. When he could get away from the bullshit politics. Or when things got bad enough... He’d miss all the day-to-day, the normalcy, and all the not-world-ending excitement. But as always, Jack’s mind shies away from that which would drag him down, force him to reconcile with emotions.    ❛ Besides, shouldn’t you be glad to be rid of me? ❜

[anarcalina]

          // @simcl​ sent,  “ i did something… impulsive. ”

          Far too often, Jack suspected that Sasha would be the death of him, that she would slowly strip away years from his life with each such pronouncement.    ❛ — And it was something completely normal, without any consequences at all, and I don’t need in any way to be worried, right? ❜    he prompted. His hopeful tone belied his suspicion that she wouldn’t bother to tell him unless the impulsive act had caused 

[anarcalina]

          // @memoryfaded​ sent,  “ you have a distinct way with words. ”

          ❛ Okay, yeah, fair enough. ❜     The edge of sarcasm in his voice—just shy of frustrated—revealed the impatience behind the apparent agreement.    ❛ Let’s try again. Carter needs it, so go find it. ❜    Why she needed the device was the problem. He could have defend himself, insisted that his haphazard explanation ( formed of discordant jargon, thoroughly unscientific terminology invented on the spot, and gestures that fell short of providing greater clarity ) was not his fault. Yet, defending himself by conceding the fact that he understood at most ten percent of the explanation Carter had provided could only backfire. 

[anarcalina]

          // @dissolvedshadows​ sent, “ i’m not sure i should leave you alone. ”

           ❛ You say that like I’m a kid who’s going to push the big, red, shiny button the minute I’m left without supervision. ❜    And, no, he refuses to consider the looks such a statement would be sure to garner from his team, the ‘but, actually’ that would write itself perfectly clearly across Daniel’s face ( if he didn’t say it outright ), Teal’c’s utterly infuriating raised eyebrow, and Carter’s strained smile that, despite her best efforts, would resemble a grimace.    ❛ Now, I may not have understood a word anyone said about this thing, but I’m not that stupid. ❜