He starts to cram the bottles of booze into the nearby pillowcase that sat, crumpled and empty, on the counter close by him. It's only when Jolie touches a hand to his arm that Jack finally pauses in his efforts, then angles his head in her direction. His last remark had been mostly derisive in nature, because even if the pirate had done more than his fair share of questionable things in his life, this entire situation -- the magnitude of the bloodlust, the way the Capitolites fawned over and celebrated all the brutality and death that occurred in the Arena, then treated the Tributes like toys to play with and dress up -- sickened him more than he'd initially realized.
With his last choice of booze in hand, Jack moves back to face Jolie. This time, the expression on his face has softened -- particularly after her attempt to imitate him, which almost involuntarily forces an amused, genuine half-smile onto his mouth. The twitch at the corner of his lips happens to be the only indication that it nearly made it to his face. "Who's to say it won't, eh? It's helped before. And, by my reckoning, really, it's a great deal better than the alternative." He'd already spent more days than he'd like to count sober in the Arena and that had been near torture, mentally and physically. So there was no reason to stop, in his mind, now that alcohol was plentiful and within easy reach once again.
She mentions beaches and ships, and the look on his face sobers further. The thought of it makes him feel that pang of longing that has plagued him since his arrival -- for the vast and endless sea, for his beloved Pearl. It made the room feel all the more suffocating and small and stifling.
"P'rhaps." Yeah. Maybe next time. Once this prolonged punishment had resumed its course.
He's silent for a long, stretching moment after the apology. He doesn't want to believe that it's actually sincere in any way, not coming from someone like her. Particularly because he's certain that she's never experienced the Arena firsthand. But he's seen -- and heard -- honest concern come from her, especially at the Crowning before all the Tributes had been shuffled off to the Arena to die.
So his next question, as stupid as it sounds coming out of his mouth, is quietly pensive. "Why do you take part in it."
no subject
With his last choice of booze in hand, Jack moves back to face Jolie. This time, the expression on his face has softened -- particularly after her attempt to imitate him, which almost involuntarily forces an amused, genuine half-smile onto his mouth. The twitch at the corner of his lips happens to be the only indication that it nearly made it to his face. "Who's to say it won't, eh? It's helped before. And, by my reckoning, really, it's a great deal better than the alternative." He'd already spent more days than he'd like to count sober in the Arena and that had been near torture, mentally and physically. So there was no reason to stop, in his mind, now that alcohol was plentiful and within easy reach once again.
She mentions beaches and ships, and the look on his face sobers further. The thought of it makes him feel that pang of longing that has plagued him since his arrival -- for the vast and endless sea, for his beloved Pearl. It made the room feel all the more suffocating and small and stifling.
"P'rhaps." Yeah. Maybe next time. Once this prolonged punishment had resumed its course.
He's silent for a long, stretching moment after the apology. He doesn't want to believe that it's actually sincere in any way, not coming from someone like her. Particularly because he's certain that she's never experienced the Arena firsthand. But he's seen -- and heard -- honest concern come from her, especially at the Crowning before all the Tributes had been shuffled off to the Arena to die.
So his next question, as stupid as it sounds coming out of his mouth, is quietly pensive. "Why do you take part in it."