[Jack's not yelling when he calls her late in the night. He figures she won't answer, he'll just leave a message. That's fine. He doesn't want to talk to her. He just wants her to understand what she's done. That's gotta be it. She just doesn't realize what she's doing, how deeply she's hurting him. Kids rebel. It's one of those cliches that exists for a reason. She never got a chance, she's trying it now...that's all it is.]
[But Jack isn't sure he believes it. He wants to, because otherwise...otherwise she cut him to the core and set him loose on purpose. But either way, she's gonna know what she's done.]
[His voice is cold and tired and oddly conversational, and rough with the clear evidence of drinking, but there's a steel underneath it. He's beyond angry.]
You know, sweetheart....I always thought you were special. Different. Better than people, you know? I always thought...the universe sucks, people suck, but my Angel...she's got a heart of gold. She's good. She's got nothing but love in'er. I always thought you were the one person who'd always stick by me. The one person I could really trust.
But turns out...you're apparently just like everybody else. Just waiting for the first chance to get a knife in my back and twist it as hard as you friggin can.
Does it feel good, Angel? I hope it does. I hope all the pain and suffering you're causing is worth it. I hope you're real proud, of what you're doing with our fresh start.
And I hope you realize that everything that comes next...that's on you.
'Cause y'see, I don't have anything left to give a single flying frig about.
[Angel didn't notice the message until the next morning, after her bags were packed and both she and her new companion had set out. She spent the rest of her day in a quiet sort of stupor, gnawing at the inside of her cheek and speaking only when spoken to. Her companion's own reclusive nature was a blessing in that sense — there was no need to force a conversation between the two of them.]
[It left her plenty of time to think]
[It wasn't until she and Murphy had settled in for the night that she withdrew her pokegear and listened to the message again. She had expected her father's fury, but for all her efforts, couldn't actually prepare herself for it.]
[Even after all the time that had passed between them, even after her father had sent her to her grave, she still felt guilty.
I do love you. [Her voice was feeble, trembling.] But you twisted the knife first, Jack.
[Even after she put her 'gear away, his words still hung in her mind. "Everything that comes next..." She swallowed down the apprehension, before glancing in the direction of Murphy, of Mari, and then out into the darkness of the woods. All she had wanted was to protect both herself and others.]
Audio Message
[But Jack isn't sure he believes it. He wants to, because otherwise...otherwise she cut him to the core and set him loose on purpose. But either way, she's gonna know what she's done.]
[His voice is cold and tired and oddly conversational, and rough with the clear evidence of drinking, but there's a steel underneath it. He's beyond angry.]
You know, sweetheart....I always thought you were special. Different. Better than people, you know? I always thought...the universe sucks, people suck, but my Angel...she's got a heart of gold. She's good. She's got nothing but love in'er. I always thought you were the one person who'd always stick by me. The one person I could really trust.
But turns out...you're apparently just like everybody else. Just waiting for the first chance to get a knife in my back and twist it as hard as you friggin can.
Does it feel good, Angel? I hope it does. I hope all the pain and suffering you're causing is worth it. I hope you're real proud, of what you're doing with our fresh start.
And I hope you realize that everything that comes next...that's on you.
'Cause y'see, I don't have anything left to give a single flying frig about.
Audio Message
[It left her plenty of time to think]
[It wasn't until she and Murphy had settled in for the night that she withdrew her pokegear and listened to the message again. She had expected her father's fury, but for all her efforts, couldn't actually prepare herself for it.]
[Even after all the time that had passed between them, even after her father had sent her to her grave, she still felt guilty.
I do love you. [Her voice was feeble, trembling.] But you twisted the knife first, Jack.
[Even after she put her 'gear away, his words still hung in her mind. "Everything that comes next..." She swallowed down the apprehension, before glancing in the direction of Murphy, of Mari, and then out into the darkness of the woods. All she had wanted was to protect both herself and others.]
[Was it really going to lead to more bloodshed?]