Bittersweet [Jack Briggs]

[Sian]

[December 21st, 2522]

Well it was done, her arrangements to leave Persephone. Sian wasn't exactly happy about it really, the reality of what she was doing hadn't hit. She was afraid, scared of herself and what that all meant. She had tried to stay but in the end it was too much, seemed to only make things worse. It was time to say goodbye, at least sort of. She assumed that her and Jack would still keep in touch a little. Should she be assuming that though, did she have the right? Sighing the Companion made her trek to Jack's, stopping at her rental home for a box that was wrapped in blue and silver paper.

Sian hadn't figured out what exactly she was going to tell Jack, or how. She needed to though, he deserved to know. As she approached the building where he lived she put on her smile, semi-genuine considering she did enjoy seeing Jack. That was definitely not the issue, the issue was how much she enjoyed it.

After everything that happened with Clayton she grew closer to Jack, too close. He might have known it, then again he might not have. They had a dinner together where she did the cooking. They'd gone out drinking, well she did the drinking. In that particular instance she had kissed him and despite being intoxicated had meant that kiss. She still felt embarrassed about that too.

She stood outside the door just a moment, gathering herself before she knocked. Then waited for someone to come answer it.


---------
Outfit
[Other Notes: The bracelet is on the opposite wrist of her tattoos and a scar on her shoulder shows.]

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Sian was not as slick in her arrangements as she probably would have liked. Jack had eyes and ears all over Persephone, and had seen her speaking with Rick himself. However, he did not know who Ryder was or understand the implications. He had only assumed it was a client, which certainly did nothing to improve his mood regarding the woman in general.

He had risked his life for her, gotten the beat out of him really, but there was nothing he could do to show her what that meant. She was of a different world, a world of class and society, a place where a gun at the hip was really not normal attire. He didn't belong in her life, and she didn't belong in his. It was the thing he kept reminding himself, had to tell himself even when her alcohol-laced lips had finally met his. It was what he'd had to tell himself as he first pulled her close, then had to painfully push her away. Not because he'd wanted to...but because she'd been drunk and he was a gentleman, and because he didn't want to be some regret of hers.

Jack could only hope the kiss wasn't already something she regretted.

Of course he'd known they were becoming too close, but he was much too smitten to stop it from happening. Lying to himself that when he was eventually shut down it wouldn't matter, that he could find another woman to fancy.

Lied to himself that there was ever going to be another woman like Sian.

This particular day had gone alright despite seeing Sian with a man at a cafe. Jack had, against all odds, made a couple of contacts recently that had actually turned out quite promising. He had been on his way to oversee the delivery of a shipment when he'd passed the cafe, and had made a point to take the long way home.

None of the men or women in his crew seemed to notice the hold the Companion had over Jack. Well, none except Cypher. That man never let anything by him, and when he opened the door on Sian, Cypher had half a mind to close it in her face. Rude and uncalled for, of course, but she seemed to attract trouble and it was distracting for Jack. Instead of slamming the door, though, Cypher sighed and leaned against the jamb. "Suppose you're looking for Trigger."

He gently pushed the door open a little wider, revealing the same room she'd seen before. "Come on in, then." Some of the faces around the table were the same as the last time she'd been here, but they all seemed to be playing some kind of game and all were in various stages of intoxication. Jack was standing next to the table and laughing, dealing a deck in a slightly haphazard way, tossing the cards to their respective players so that they had to be snatched out of the air before the other people at the table could see them. He was wearing his usual, a button-up with the sleeves rolled to the elbows, a dark vest unbuttoned over it, pinstripe pants. Strangely, he was not wearing his gloves. Something he never did when he knew he'd have company; clearly he had not heard the knock. He also was wearing a fedora; apparently he'd gotten a new one, and a card was sticking out above the rim, slipped into the ribbon.

Cypher closed and locked the door behind her as Jack finished dealing and said something to the people at the table. Everyone raised their glasses in a toast, and someone pressed a bottle into Briggs' hand. He lifted the bottle to his lips and began drinking from it. Cypher gently put a hand on the small of Sian's back, leading her towards Jack. "We just got paid," he said quietly, as if that explained everything. "Trigger!" he called out, catching Jack's attention finally. When Briggs glanced over across the table and saw her, he almost dropped the bottle he was holding. A man to Jack's right whistled playfully at Sian and Jack poured a little bit of his alcohol onto the man's head, who protested with a sharp laugh, "Was only havin' a bit o'fun."

Jack came around the table and took Sian gently by the elbow, steering her away. "What...what're you doin' here? I thought you 'ad some bus'ness ta..." he paused, realizing he'd given himself away. She'd know he had seen her now. In a quick attempt to change the subject, he nodded at the door that led to his room. "...let's go somewhere ain't full o' drunken people, yeah?" Although it was clear he was a bit tipsy himself.

[Sian]

Sian had been feeling that Cypher held a dislike for her as of late, it made her shy and skiddish with him about. He seemed to be the only one that noticed how she was with Jack. She only nodded when he asked if she was looking for him, trying to give him the smile she would have long ago but failed miserably. Seeing Jack smiling and laughing she suddenly felt horrible about being here, there was no turning back now, Cypher was edging her closer. The companion nodded at his quiet words, that is cause for celebration and here she was crashing it. Yeah didn't help her at all in the feeling bad about it department.

As had become custom at least one of his men would whistle at her, it was normal and she was used to it. She gave them all her best smile and sort of waved. "Sorry to int--" Jack's words cut into hers an d surprise crossed her face. Business? He or one of his people must have seen her meeting with Ryder. Of course and what does one always assume when a companion meets someone..that it's about sex. Jack was not exempt from such thoughts apparently. Sian suddenly felt a little annoyed at that. She hadn't taken a client since he'd brought her home, she'd told him she wasn't ready. Did he really believe that she would go behind his back about it?

She let Jack lead her to his room, it wouldn't change what she had to say and that now there was no turning back on it. Everytime he touched her though she remembered that night, at first it had seemed like he wanted to kiss her back, but it hadn't ended that way. She was embarrassed about it, had made a complete fool of herself, but despite what he thought there was no regrets. Hell she'd do it again if she knew he wanted her too. Sian had noticed the hat, it wasn't his old hat, didn't look like it either. She'd frowned a little once they stopped. 'Merry Christmas here's a replica of your old hat, though you got a new one already. Oh and by the by I'm leaving Persephone.' She shook her head and sighed, yeah this was going to go well.

First thing was first though, the need to clear up the apparent confusion he had about her. Sian set the small wrapped box aside, she'd probably just leave it there and he could take to looking at it another time. "The business you seem to think I was conducting isn't so Jack. I told you, I'm not taking clients yet." 'and not ever again' She added mentally. Yeah she was running with the fact that he probably assumed Ryder was a client, and there was a slight annoyance in her voice about it too. She had entrusted him with her secrets, the things that had happened to her years back, who she really was and what that meant for her. Yet he didn't think enough of her to know that she wouldn't go behind his back about taking on clients again?

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack led Sian upstairs a little unsteadily. Cypher watched them go, a bit of trepidation revealed in his usually stoic features, before he joined the other people at the table in their drunken game. When he reached his door with all the locks on it, Briggs took a minute to dig out the keys. It took him several tries to open each lock, especially since he was favoring his right arm from the injuries Clayton had bestowed upon him, and he chattered all the while. His chatter was nervous, but he hid it well under the guise of being quite tipsy. "I'm glad ta see ya, but you really should let me know when you're comin' so I can be...not drunk. Ya see, we jus' had this shipment come through, big job been waitin' on it to come through fo' a while. Well, see...it finally come through." He seemed to lose his track of repetitive thoughts as he became stuck on the last lock. "...an' we got paid!" he finished popping open the last lock and swung the door open triumphantly, as if he had just vanquished an enemy. "After you," he said, struggling not to grin like an idiot.

It was apparent, though, once he closed the door behind them and turned to face her, that she was annoyed. He frowned and tried to process what she was saying about leaving. No. Too much. He had to focus on something tangible, first. Something he could deal with.

He walked slowly to the counter and began unwrapping the box, unable to look at her as she chided him. How could he say that it was his jealous heart that had immediately jumped to the conclusion of the man in the cafe being a client? He could not. He lifted the hat free from its box, touching it gently along its brim. Affectionately. He felt something in him break, some control leaving. In a sudden, quick motion, he tossed the fedora with the card still in the ribbon aside and flipped the hat she'd given to him a couple of times over it his hand before popping it off his left elbow and catching it on his head. The fact that he pulled it off while drunk showed what kind of man he was; practicing hat tricks rather than his shooting in his spare time. He grinned at her, rather shyly, which was odd for him. "It has good balance..." he murmured. "But I didn't get you anythin'..." Yet. And now he may not get a chance to.

He had to respond to it. Had to acknowledge it. First, to address his insulting her.

"I, uh..." Not a good start. Come on, Briggs, where's that silver tongue? He tried again. "Look, Sian...I didn't mean no offense. I jus'...I didn't think..." Strike two. He gathered himself up. This was it. He could use his silver tongue and turn it around, ask her why him saying "business" automatically meant taking on clients and assuring her she had jumped to conclusions...or, he could be honest. He breathed deep, adjusted the hat on his head. It was perfect, really. Fit just like the old one, and he'd soon wear the firmness out of it. "I guess I got a bit jealous, is all. Jumped ta the worst conclusion." He paused, faltered, looked away. "Sorry, luv." His heartbeat thudded in his ears and he finally glanced back at her, all bets off. His voice, soft. "You're really leavin'?"

[Sian]

Sian had never seen Jack after he'd been drinking, so this was a first for her. If she hadn't been annoyed it would have been more adorable than it was at the moment, watching him try to unlock his own door and all. She did smile at him though, how could she not, it was Jack, he had that affect on her many times over. As she passed through the open door she finally got a word in, "Had I known I was interrupting your party I would have. I could always have just come back later or tomorrow Jack. Though I'm glad to hear about the job going well for you." Part of her was glad he hadn't asked her to come back another time, it'd only get harder to tell him the longer she put it off.

Once she had expressed her annoyance towards his comment she continued with the information he needed to know. She had been meeting with the Captain of a ship when he'd seen her, about renting a shuttle and such. There had been many points in her explanation where she hesitated, found it hard to say the right words. When around Jack she wasn't a Companion at all, hadn't been since he'd held her while she cried that night. Though she still tried because it seemed easier that way, even though it was obvious that particular mask was no more.

Sian watched as Jack wandered over to where she'd set the gift, he hadn't said anything yet. It worried her. A sad look crossed her face as he held the hat that was once wrapped in the box. Jack seemed to like it at least, she'd made a good choice. When he grinned at her her heart melted and she smiled at him in return. She sighed a little when he mentioned about getting her anything..what she really wanted she couldn't have. "That's alright, I think you've given me enough Jack. With the whole saving my life and all - unless you've forgotten that already." The Companion tried to not let her sadness show, instead she tried to smile, she wanted to reassure him that it was okay, everything would be okay..

Her jaw clenched he seemed to finally be addressing her purpose for coming. Part of her wished she hadn't made those plans. It was for the best though, at least that's what she kept telling herself. The emotions changed swiftly though to surprise, he got jealous? Jack was definitely not acting like normal, must be the alcohol right? Yes must be...couldn't be..nah. There was so much going on in her head now. Sian couldn't be angry at him, not really. He had an affect on her no one could ever lay claim to. Her features softened, the slight look of sadness swept in again as she looked at him.

Now she didn't know what to say to him, she had to leave. Again it was for the best. Sian closed her eyes and looked down as the words left her lips, "Yes Jack..I want..' no she couldn't lie, she didn't care about seeing the 'verse, she just couldn't stay. 'I need to..I think it'll be for the best.." Yes keep repeating it, someone may believe it eventually. Sian had skipped over the part where he said he got jealous..she was afraid of the reply he might give her about it. She sighed again softly, turning a bit from him while running her fingers through her hair. Standing next to the counter where the open box and torn paper lay she started to fiddle with it, slowly picking up the shreds and putting them in the box. Sian felt at a loss, unsure about everything right now. Pushing the fear aside, the curiosity won the battle, "Jealous huh..?" She looked up at him, slightly biting her bottom lip, with the question; hoping she wouldn't regret deciding to ask about his comment.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack frowned at her words, about to argue that he had only meant he did not want to embarrass the hell out of himself, but he only ended up confusing himself into silence. He would much rather spend time with her than to sit at a table with a bunch of drunken hellions that he saw every day, but he could not articulate this. His thoughts were sluggish, out of reach. Sian already was able to twist his emotions and make it hard to conduct business or find the right words; the added obstacle of an alcohol-soaked mind was not going to help. He was certainly addled.

The hat made him feel better, as if he was whole again, but as he glanced at Sian and saw her smile...he knew he was not whole. Never would be. "Yo' life? Right. I seem ta remember somethin' about that..." he said with a sideways grin. His nose was just a tiny bit bent, now, but most of the bruising had gone. His arm would heal. Would she? Was it even any of his business?

His mistake seemed to be in revealing the truth. He should have stuck to formalities, to the white lies and half-truths that had dominated their relationship before. She looked sad, now, and he would have given anything to take that look from her, that feeling from her.

Unless he was mistaken, though, she did not want to leave. He took a step towards her, his face slack with misunderstanding. "For...the best?" He straightened up, forcing a grin to cross his lips. His left fist clenched as he said, through slightly gritted teeth, "Right. Fo' the best. I'm sure you'll...find whatever it is you're lookin' for out in the Black." Perhaps that fellow at the table with her would give her a new life, a life where she wouldn't get tangled up with people like him or like Clayton.

Like him or like Clayton. They may have been a little different, but they were cut from the same cloth. The thought was like a blow and he sighed. She was right. She did need to go.

Jealousy.

When it was addressed, his cheeks colored very slightly and he actually dipped his head a little to hide in the shadow his hat cast. "Yeah...y'know...I don' want all that bus'ness gettin' taken by someone else," he said hollowly, reverting back to his normal act but dropping the humor. His eyes were on hers, no humor in them either. Pleading with her to see the obvious, bald lie, to acknowledge it. "Jus' bus'ness, luv." Just business. Just like him risking his life and dropping money for the Lenore crew to take him to Santo was "just business". She would know better. She was too smart not to. But he was offering her an out. A way to save face and keep their relationship the way it was supposed to be. A way to keep pretending.

[Sian]

Ah bad memories that haunted her sleep, anytime she was alone they would come around - even when she was awake - but the worst part was at night, in the dark. Who knew how long it would last, but despite that she would be alone on the Sojourn, she had to go. Sian hadn't even asked Macy if she would be interested in a new contract, one that would take her off of Persephone. "Hah, right. Just slipped your mind huh." She smiled and rolled her eyes at Jack, obviously only teasing. He was her hero, she was safe with him.

Sian felt bad that she couldn't hide herself from Jack anymore, the loss of the Companion part of her was to blame for that. She hadn't adjusted completely yet, her emotions showed despite her attempt to hide them, especially where the businessman was concerned. Her sadness was bound to have a negative affect on him.

Yeah, whatever she was looking for..except she had already found it..at least that was the notion she felt. The words wouldn't come though. Sian just stared at him.

Something clicked inside of Sian when Jack outright lied to her. The sad look that had swept over her face was replaced by a mixture of unclear emotion. She kept the eye contact with him but narrowed slightly in return. "What is it do you think I'll be looking for out there Jack - How do you know I'm even looking for something? Juh Shi Suh Mo Go Dohng Shee...why of all things would you spin lies at me.' Sian held up her finger just in case Jack planned on interrupting, 'Let me humor you though, you don't have to worry about someone taking that business from you. There isn't any business to be had anymore." It didn't sink in that she may have just gave away the fact, or at least hinted at, that she didn't plan on taking clients anymore

Her feelings were hurt and a little angry, her outburst should have been obvious of that. She wasn't looking for anything - she was trying to run away from things. He should be grateful, his life should be a bit less stressful without having to keep an eye on her. Sian was tired of the games, it had been all but required for their business relationship, but that was no more. Besides it was all one-sided now since she was seemingly stuck on the sidelines.

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Juh Shi Suh Mo Go Dohng Shee = What the hell is this crap

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack cleared his throat uncomfortably as she just stared at him. Unconsciously, he began edging towards her, but then she finally spoke...and she was not happy. He actually stumbled a bit in his surprise at her outburst, drunkenly reaching for the counter to steady himself. Jack did, in fact, open his mouth to speak but was stopped by Sian's upheld finger. He had made an even worse mistake, and now he was finally seeing some fire out of Sian. In spite of himself, Jack was elated that she had finally broken out of her cage in anger rather than sadness or fear. This emotion, at least, was her choice.

He became aware that she had stopped talking a few moments ago and he had just been staring stupidly at her. Releasing the counter, he tried to stand up straight and mostly succeeded. "Look...Sian" A sigh, and he took off the hat he'd just been given, set it on the counter, and ran a hand through his hair. He took a few steps towards her, his voice completely serious and void of any of the silver-tongued tone he usually had. Right now he wasn't Trigger, he wasn't Mr. Briggs. He was just Jack, and he was looking at her with something close to wariness. But, he faltered.

He glanced at the floor, then took a couple steps to the side and fell into rather than sat on the couch. Without looking at her, he rested his elbows on his knees and let his hands dangle between his legs. "If you're not takin' on clients anymore...what are you gonna be doin' out there?" he asked quietly. As if he did not want to know the answer. Truth was, all bets were off now, and with the alcohol weakening his resolve and Sian yelling at him...things could get very interesting very quickly. For bad or for good. Probably, since she was leaving, for the worse.

"Cuttin' the bull?" he muttered, voice strained and quiet. "I gotta figure you're lookin' fo' somethin', don' I, luv?" He glanced over, cocking his head as his eyes narrowed. "After all, if it's not that...it means you're runnin' from somethin'. An' I'm not sure I can take knowin' it might be me." What he did not voice, but would be just as painful, was that if she was looking for something, was trying to find something or someone she wanted...it obviously was not anywhere near him.

[Sian]

Had the Companion not been in the middle of being angry she might have smiled and laughed at Jack when he stumbled. As it was though she didn't. Once she was done she stood there, waiting for him to speak. As he stared at her the anger faded, by the time her name left is mouth it was gone.

Sian held her breath as he took a few steps in her direction. His course altered though and Jack went to the couch instead, she let out her breath. Not in relief, just back to breathing, like folks need to do. She watched him as he sat, an unusual sort of relaxed way he didn't normally portray around her.

She realized then when he spoke, her error, in her own angry rant she'd told him that she had no intention of taking on clients anymore. Despite his alcohol intake he had caught onto it too. "Travel..see the 'verse that isn't covered in the lies that I've been living in since I was twelve." It was hesitant and soft, but actually true. The urge wasn't so much that she couldn't just brush it off though, she was in fact giving in to it.

Sian stared at Jack when he went on some more, she nodded a little once he was done. Taking it in, mulling over his words. Cutting the bull huh. That could be dangerous. She took a step in the direction of the couch but faltered and stepped back. If they were cutting the bull out between them it was leaving Sian in an unfamiliar place, the uncertainty was clear. She'd been told and taught since she was twelve that a situation like this should never even come about. Yet here she was. Of course it was her own fault for breaking that veil that was between them.

"Cutting out the bull huh.." Sian began hesitantly, the awkwardness she was feeling obvious. She pulled her hair to one side as she tried to continue, "I don't'..I don't need to look for anything Jack.." Her gaze fell to the floor as she paused. The conversation was steering directly where she hadn't intended. Sian had no idea how to react.

Sighing softly she tried to pull herself together, "It isn't you..I -- honestly I just don't fit Jack. That's been plain to see.." Her nerves had kicked in, all the truth telling, or attempts at least. She wasn't thinking her words through, they were just coming out. All she could do was hope that it all made sense. "I don't belong as a companion anymore..not that I really ever did, but really not now. And I don't belong anywhere else right now, I'd like to...I just don't fit.."

Was she the one who'd been drinking? What she'd said been a bit rushed and babbled. Sian turned, facing the counter and took hold of it's edge. Couldn't look at him, maybe that was the problem. She took a deep breath. "I'm not a companion, but I'm stuck in that world because I don't know how to be anything else.." Yeah that made a little more sense, right? "I guess I am looking for something..me. So that I can belong here.." 'with you..if that's alright at least..' She added mentally, unable to actually say it. Her eyes might have given the last bit away, though she wasn't looking at Jack right now.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack was not born yesterday. He could see the indecision in her movements, knew she had let slip something she had not intended on telling him. It frustrated him a bit, but he let it go. There was so much left unsaid between them, he realized that now and the thought left him feeling drained. Could anything ever be something resembling a normal relationship, romantic or not, between the two of them? They had been doomed from the start, really, born into two different worlds.

Sian told him she wanted to travel, to see the 'Verse. It sounded like a fabricated excuse, but he could hear the honesty in her voice. There was a truth to her words, but not the whole truth, Jack suspected. "I been out there, luv. You jus' seen some of it yo'self. Ain't much more to it. Certainly no less lies out there..." he hesitated, closed his eyes. "But I understand your needin' ta figure it out fo yo'self." Much as he hated it, he understood.

She moved towards him, then away again. Jack sighed, wondering why they both could not just finish their sentences, take the steps they wanted to. Sian spoke, and he looked up to meet her gaze, but she was staring at the floor. She did not need to look for anything. The implications made his heart stutter, but he waited for her to continue.

When she did continue, his pounding heart sank and his head fell into his hands. This had always been his fear. She would not fit here, it would never make sense. She was a piece from a different puzzle, one of hundreds of orderly intricate pieces whereas his puzzle was askew and simple, large pieces that were easy to fit together. Sian was not meant to be here, a fear he had always known, but to hear it acknowledged was hard to bear.

She felt she did not fit as a Companion, either, and Jack could not help but feel slightly responsible. If he hadn't muddied the waters for her, perhaps she would have gone on living her life. She turned away, and her explanation made more sense, now. "All ya know how ta be...I know a little abou' that meself..." he said. He stood up slowly, crossed the room towards her. "Ya spend so much o' your life in one place, it starts ta feel like it's all there is, yeah? Like that's all there can ever be." Jack breathed a short sigh through his nose.

When she did not turn towards him he took another few steps forward to gently wrap his arms around her shoulders from behind, his cheek pressed to her head as he breathed in cinnamon. His chest only slightly pressed against the curve of her back; he was standing a careful distance from her to keep their bodies mostly apart. "It's dang'rous in the black. I hope ya take yo' gun wit' you," he murmured. A lame sort of warning, but it was all he could think to say.

[Sian]

Sian knew her reason for leaving Persephone was a poor one, or excuse that is. She felt like Jack knew it too, but hadn't called her on it. There was a little relief in her about that. She hadn't come here to fight with him..she just wanted him to know her plans. Rather than hear it from someone else or if she had waited to make him think she didn't want him to know.

Despite who she was and where she supposedly belonged according to others, she wanted to belong here. Or wherever he was..why couldn't she just tell him. Was it this hard for any other folks or just her. She sighed softly as Jack spoke, luckily her words had seemed to make more sense after she wasn't staring at him.

Sian sort of laughed a little, "You said it better than me and you're the one who's been drinking...but yeah, just like that." She knew he had gotten up, heard his voice get closer to her. Afraid that her eyes would reveal everything she couldn't say she didn't turn to face him. Couldn't.

It surprised her when Jack touched her, wrapped his arms on her, but the tension of the shock left quickly and she relaxed. Sian closed her eyes and before she could think to stop herself leaned into him, closing the gap between them. "I will.' She sighed softly, 'Jack...you think eventually I might be able to fit in here?" Her voice was soft, a hint of worry. What if she wouldn't be able to change from the life of a companion. Even if it was only in title, clients don't make the companion. The lifestyle and life she leads does.

The question held the potential to mean alot of things. Again the unfamiliarity of the situation, her feelings, made it terribly hard for her to be straight-forward. Not to mention the fear of losing him, even as just a friend if she overstepped herself.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack was still reeling a bit from the alcohol, and she was not helping things. Especially when she leaned into him. His inhibitions were shot, the warmth of her body fueling his drunk. His arms loosened their hold around her, one hand sliding to gently grip her at the base of her throat. "Fit in, luv? O' course ya will...an' I'll help you, whatever you need." His lips brushed her hair very lightly...

He let go of her quickly, stumbling back a few steps. Grabbing up the hat from the counter where he'd left it, he rolled it back onto his head and tilted it low, though it did not do much to hide the glow of embarrassment that colored his cheeks. "Look, Sian...you're much too beautiful an' much too dear ta be playin' wit' a poor drunk man's nerves." he straightened his vest, though it was unbuttoned, as if attempting to regain his dignity.

Glancing at her from the shadows of his hat, he gave her a coy grin. "Truth is, you could fit in wherever you wanted. You're a fine woman, Sian, and strong. God 'elp the man who stands in the way o' you gettin' what you want." He tucked his hands in his pockets for a moment, eyes focusing on the floor. Finally, he took a few steps towards her. He slid his hands from his pockets, then began slowly removing the red fingerless gloves he always wore.

When the right one was removed, the tattoo he wore the gloves to hide was finally revealed, this time in person and close enough to read. It was a series of numbers, 24703, tattooed on the webbing between his thumb and forefinger. He held the gloves out to her. "Don' worry," he teased. "They're clean enough. Jus' bring 'em as somethin' to remember me by..." Maybe it was a lame present, especially after the hat she'd given him, but it meant a lot more than just a couple of cheap gloves. He had many pairs of them. It was more to do with what the gloves hid, and that she was one of the few people he might actually tell his story to. "When do ya leave?"

[Sian]

Everything snapped back to reality very quickly, immediately when Jack let her go she could feel the heat rise into her cheeks. Sian felt mortified..again. It was like deja-vu except she wasn't drunk this time, no delay in her embarrassment like before. She had caused him to be embarrassed too, it was plain to see even as he tried to hide it beneath the shadows. As she stared at him, listened to his words she felt even worse; "I'm sorry Jack.."

Sian grinned back slightly in response to his own at her. She kept her eyes on him while he spoke, flattered her which was a common thing; though it meant more coming from him. "Wherever..well it so happens that I'd like that particular wherever to be here.. As far as any man who might stand in my way, I'm sure we can come to some sort of conclusion to that." She watched as Jack moved closer to her, taking off his gloves, a curious look crossing her face.

She had seen his tattoo only slightly before, now it was more clear while he stood in front of her. Jack offered his gloves to her, something she very rarely saw him without. Slowly she took them from him, smiling as he teased her. "Worried I'll go to forgetting you?' Sian raised a questioning brow with her own tease, but finished her thought. 'Impossible." She held onto the gloves though, as if they might disappear.

"About a week I wager, depending on how long I take to be ready. 'Course who knows how long I'll have to argue with Macy on the subject; might be a month.' A grin crossed her lips, 'Told her I was thinking about it, she didn't think anything of it." Sian shrugged a bit, it would be more of her companion scolding her rather than an actual argument.

The curiosity about Jack taunted her, reaching out she touched his hand that held her question lightly. "Perhaps before I leave Persephone you could tell me about that.." Not tonight though, a reason to see him again before she leaves. Please?

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

As she apologized, he actually let out a short laugh in surprise. "What're you sayin' sorry for, luv? Pretty sure it was me crossed the line jus' now..." His mind cast back to when she had given him a drunken kiss and he wondered without much humor if they could ever display their affection without the assistance of alcohol. "Let's jus' say we're even, fo' now," he said with a wink.

She wanted to be here, she said. He'd try not to look to much into that, but it was hard not to. It was becoming increasingly obvious that the only thing that was holding them back from each other was...well, themselves. He was trying to protect her, and she was probably clinging to some sort of propriety. Or maybe, he thought wryly, she just knew better than to get involved with a no-good criminal like himself.

As she took the gloves, his lips creased in a half-grin and his cheeks colored as she said that it would be impossible to forget him. Impossible. He did not know how to respond, he was so flustered, so his defense mechanism of humor took over. "You'll be hard-pressed ta forget someone as charmin', handsome, an' oh-so modest as meself, luv. But you can sure try," he said with a wide grin.

When she said she was leaving soon, his grin faltered a bit, but he struggled to keep it up for her. "Smart woman," he teased, speaking of Macy. "Well, ya better come by an' see me before ya leave. Maybe I can make ya some dinner this time," he said. He surely wouldn't, though. Jack was a terrible cook, though he tried his best, something he'd told her several times. He did not want to subject her to that failure. "Ya know...if you're feelin' especially brave."

She was touching his hand, then, and he swallowed hard as his thoughts suddenly grew sluggish. His fingers twitched, as if they wanted to entwine with hers, then relaxed as her hand moved away once more. He did not even realize what hand she had been touching until she mentioned the tattoo. Glancing down at it, his demeanor changed slightly. Nervousness, maybe. He nodded, though, his resolve unshaken. "I plan on it, Sian. I jus' hope ya...can live wit' what I'm gonna tell ya an' not see me diff'rently." His eyes held her gaze a moment, then dropped.

[Sian]

Sian simply grinned at Jack's response to her apology. He may have supposedly crossed a line, but she helped to make it worse by giving in. She should have known better and she did; in that moment though she didn't care.

She knew what he meant when he said they were even now, the blush in her cheeks made that obvious. Sian hadn't let herself drink again around Jack after that night, not that she had begun to drink all the time now anyway.

It had very slowly become clear to the companion the situation the two of them were in. It wasn't as though they didn't want each other, no that wasn't it at all. She couldn't know what held him back, she could only speak from her end. Sian had always been an independent woman, not wanting to rely on anyone else. Right now, if she stayed and tried to further the things she wanted, she would have to rely on him too much. Jack didn't deserve to have to keep an eye on her at all hours, having to worry about her getting hurt or someone finding out who she was. No, She needed to learn how to fend for herself before she even thought about exploring what they might have. At least that's if something was still there between them by then. She didn't know how to explain that in actual words though, perhaps she should try before leaving Persephone. Or find another way to express herself.

"Oh is that a challenge then Mister Briggs?" Sian gave him a coy smile at his response about her forgetting him. Not that she could even if she wanted to. "You, on the other hand...perhaps I should be the one to worry about being forgotten. What with all the pretty girls around and your fancy new hat to woo them with." The coy smile still spread across her lips as she teased him, she was only slightly worried about that in reality.

Sian was glad he wanted to see her again before she left, however she couldn't resist the laugh that escaped her when he mentioned cooking. "I consider myself brave enough Jack, but I'm not too sure about that one. Maybe this time we can both do the cooking hmm? You can't do too bad of a job if I'm keeping an eye on you right?" She had enjoyed cooking for him very much, it was a nice evening. Something out of the ordinary for her experiences.

When she pulled back from her touch of his hand, Sian could see he shifted. At the mention of his tattoo, but that was part of his intention of taking off his gloves right? So she might ask? His next words surprised her a little then he dropped his eyes. She tilted her head slightly and her features softened, "If you knew how I see you, you'd know there wasn't anything to go worrying about." Her voice was soft and caring.