tampered | In the kingdom of the blind...

Current Location: Ran's

In the kingdom of the blind...

When; Sep 4th
Rating; PG13
Characters; Sands, Jack, and Ranguki
Summary; Jack helps his friends out of amusement and the chance to bump them into things
Log;

It doesn't take Jack as long to pick a lock as it does his cia counterpart. If it did Sands might have died. When the pirate enters the apartment looking for his twin he finds in curled into a corner in the bathroom sticking a needle in his arm.
Sands plan for this curse is to tune in and drop out. With enough morphine to kill a man twice his size. Going on 5 hours of partial sensory deprivation did nothing to better his judgment.

Rushing over he plucks the syringe from the twitching agent as he tries to find a vein (he was close to shoving the needle in his empty eye socket when Jack came in). Sands lashes out at whoever is fucking up his day, hitting the pirate across the face. Instantly his wrists are caught in hands stronger with sailing and pulling ropes then the softer ones only used for pulling a trigger.
There's a vicious kicking on the agent's part but he's taken down and sat on- face held to the cold floor as Jack talks him down. The talking is more for Jack then Sands at this point. The pirate leans down so Sands can feel his hair and know. His hands are kept away from those dreads though. Far too easy to lose the upper hand if Sheldon has a fist full of hair.

"I know it's you! I know it's you! Get off me!" Today is going to be a very long day for the both of them.

***********************************
An hour later Sands stands in rumpled clothing and a sour look at Ran's door. Jack has him by the arm.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ran twists and shoots a nasty, but ineffective glare at the door. Or somewhere in the vicinity of the door, so she thinks. Haineko rumbles out a comment only meant for her, letting her know who it is so she can decide if she's willing to play hostess.

"Fine... I'm up..."

With muttered curses and threats, she makes her way to the door (with a minimum of banging into things) and yanks it open, a hand automatically reaching out to find out if Haineko's been teling her the truth, or playing pranks on her. Satisfied, she steps back and allows them inside, hands reaching for the wall or the cat, whichever she can find first.

"Not the best of days for a visit, boys."

Touching anything and not feeling it is strange. When it's a person, it's doubly so. Being slapped was...disappointing. Still, Jack keeps a hold on his twin and moves his fingers occasionally against Sands' arm to remind the man of his presence. He can't imagine being that trapped inside of his own head. This is not something he's prepared to deal with on his own.

Still, there's the beginnings of a system: A good squeeze of Sands' arm or shoulder for 'stop' and then another to 'go' again helps in the walking. A tap for 'yes' and two for 'no' and a slap with the back of the hand for...well...when one of them gets frustrated with the system.

When the door opens, he's immensely grateful. He squeezes Sands arm to start him moving.

"Sorry, love. I wasn't going to do this job all on my onesies."
He leads Sands in and grins at Haineko. Oh good..a really big cat.

Sands has no idea where he is. Until he gets inside Ran's room. His nostrils start to flair and the deep caveman part of his brain that every man still has says to him 'ummm. This girl's territory. Girl smell nice.'

"Are you leaving me here?" He doesn't want left. It's embarrassing for Ran to have to babysit him more then she already does. Sands thinks Jack is pawning him off.
"I didn't mean to hit you."
When he tells lies that are obviously lies he still expects people to act like they believe him. With nothing to go on but the pressure of his twins hand he's unsure how this is working out.

The cat pads after them, obviously amused about something until a sharp, silent comment between them douses her good mood. In a huff, the cat disappears into a cloud of ash, leaving Ran in the dark again. With a heavy sigh, she finds her way to her bed and sits down.

"Normally, I'd be more than happy to help and you know that, but I'm not in top form today. I'm sure I'll have to cover my legs tomorrow, what with all the running into things I've been doing today."

Her voice is a tad sharp, but really, she's not thrilled to have company see her so weakened.

If Ran was not blind, Jack would pawn Sands off on her in a heartbeat. As it stands, he still feels they'd do ok simply bumping into each other for the day. He knows, however, that he would never hear the end of it.
Jack taps Sheldon's arm twice to let him know that, 'no, he will not be abandoning him here.' This is followed with a short slap to he back of the head.
"You most certainly did intend to hit me, you insufferable ass."

Jack moves to the bed as well, guiding Sands down to sit and sitting beside him. He places Sands between himself and Rangiku. It just works better for everyone that way.

"Would you rather that I took him elsewhere, Ran? If you've any better suggestion, I am open to it. I certainly can't have him aboard a ship, and his flat is horrid. I thought this would at least be familiar and we might be of some help to each other."

Both signs are very clear to him. He frowns wondering where Jack gets off taking things so personally instead of pretending with the rest of the world.

Once he's sat down his hand goes out beside him to figure out his surroundings. It finds Ran's leg. It's instantly moved but his smile says it was a pleasant accident.
"Sorry, sugar butt."

As Jack talks Sands starts to humm to himself.

She doesn't move when the bed moves next to her, but she does startle a bit when a hand lands on her leg. A moment later, she knows who had touched her. With a soft grumble, her hand snags Sands' wrist as she turns in that general direction. She figures Jack was over on the other side since that was the only side of the bed that moved and she knew that he had moved.

"... no, Jack. You can both stay here."

She doesn't want to admit that she's wanting the company.

((Jackmun stepped out for a few so I'm stealing her turn))

Sands smiles in Ran's direction thinking she wants to hold his hand.
"You're sweet."

Missing out totally on the conversation Sands plays with her fingers as he rocks a little. After a moment he lights a cigarette. They are the only things besides his friends keeping him from trying to end the torture.
He seems to be taking the whole thing rather well but.. he's fucking nuts.

With Ran taking hold of Sands and, if a little unwittingly, taking over the job of keeping physical contact, Jack lets his own hand slip off of the man. Touching is awkward and unpleasant. It's too much of a reminder that he can't feel it. He can't feel the cold that settled inside of him the instant he came to this city, either...and he actually misses it.

"Excellent news. Were I to have to walk him about much further, I fear he may have had some sort of untimely accident falling from a ledge or the like. You're an angel, Ran. Far more better, even, than the real ones that flit about here. Anything I can do for you? Save you the trouble of getting up?"

He wants to talk to Sheldon, to his imaginary brother, and to complain over the curse and beg the man to hit him or get truly and royally lost with him in opium and rum until it all passes...but no. The City had to take the only one who would accept his madness away from him as well. So now he'll just keep himself busy.

Sands playing with her fingers is a distraction that's only heightened by her sightlessness. With a soft sigh, she plucks at his hand while keeping an ear on Jack. She's ready to call Haineko to block the door in case he tries to flee. It's not that she doesn't trust him, but she's just a little paranoid today.

"Ahh... don't try and flatter me, Jack. It won't work today."

She knows she doesn't sound very convincing, but she tries anyway.

"Just... I don't know."

Sands sits there and sniff, wondering where to ash.
"I need a cup.... Or something. Sooommething."

His brow furrows. It's strange to feel the words coming out but hear nothing. Harder to speak in a normal tone and not yell until he can hear himself.

"Is the day almost over?" This deprived of his senses it feels like a lot more time has passed. This might also be the least he's ever talked since turning three. Sands misses hearing himself speak more then his sight.
"Jodies. I always liked the jodies. The marching was shit. All shit."

"If flattery is useless then I have nothing. Damn."
Jack smiles until he realizes it's for no one's benefit but his own.

The sitting -just sitting- is maddening. He's nearly gleeful when Sands asks for something. A cup? Jack looks him over and realizes he needs a place for the ash from is cigarette. Ah. The rest he's useless to answer to or doesn't understand. The day isn't nearly close enough to over, but how would he tell him and what good would it do?

"I'll find him a cup of some sort for his ashes...and if I'm to head that way.. Drinks, then? Ran, have you anything in particular you'd fancy, or shall I simply fend for myself in your kitchen? I swear to take no advantage and steal nothing at all."
He's up off the bed and walking slowly towards foraging for himself before she can even answer.

Her fingers twitch when she hears Jack move off the bed, head swinging in the general direction of the sound. She drops her hand from Sands' arm, making sure her fingers still rest against his leg so he knows they're still around.

"Help yourself. Something to drink would be nice. I keep making a mess when I tried to pour something earlier... hard to see the cup, you know." The best she can offer is a wry smile. "You steal something and I'll know. I promise."

The twitch sends him on alert. Jack got up and she moved wrong. Now he sits still wondering what is happening.
Her fingers on him keep the gun where it belongs. If something bad was going down she would signal.

After about 30 seconds (that feel like two minutes) he goes back to playing with her hand and speaking to himself quietly.
"My daddy is a dollar / I wrote it on a fence / My daddy is a dollar / not worth a hundred cents."

"Oh course you'd know. Women always know."

Finding his way to the kitchen, Jack finds enough cups for the three of them and a spare for Sands' ashtray. He finds a bottle of sake. A good sniff tells him it's either liquor or cleanser and he's hoping for the best.

He returns and takes his seat by Sands again. A cup is tapped against Sheldon's side to alert him his request has been met.

"I've got a bottle of...something. I doubt highly that it's poison, and at present that meets all of my standards for consumption."

Sands' constant messing with her hand is comforting in an offhanded way, but she isn't about to admit it. She listens to Jack mess around in her kitchen, picking out the sounds of his feet on the floor along with other odd noises one usually doesn't notice.

The bed moves again, but she doesn't move this time, content to stare straight ahead.

"If it's in a bottle, it's sake, and the fact you brought it in here makes me very happy."

She pulls her hand from Sands' fingers, and reaches for a cup, trusting that she's close enough to him to keep him calm.

He doesn't like the sudden movements in his personal bubble. Jack coming back and the cup against his leg. It doesn't startle him but he'd rather know it was coming in some way.

Taking the cup, he puts it between his knees so he doesn't have to let go of Ran to smoke.
Making an unhappy sound when she removes her own hand he lets it go. His body guard and Jack are close. Sands keeps telling himself it will be fine. Just so it's all clear he says it out loud.

"It's okay. We're all fine here."
Sands doesn't manage a lot of enthusiasm. It would be less if he knew Ran was blind.

"Yes, Shel. We're all splendid, mate."
Normally, he wouldn't, but it seems the occasion for it. He reaches up and strokes Sands hair softly. Just for a moment; threading his fingers through the strands slowly. It calms him and he wonders if the same is true for his twin.

"Sake, then? That's whot I've got?" Jack opens the bottle again for another sniff and pours some into each glass. He's never had the stuff and doesn't know to warm it or how much should go to a glass. It's really quite a lot and he's likely to empty Ran's supply this way.
"Some all around."
He passes a glass to each of the others, tapping it to their hands to alert them to it.

Her hand closes as soon as she feels the cup well enough to know it won't spill. She murmurs her gratitude to Jack and very gently leans against Sands as she tips the cup to her lips. After a long drink, her sightless eyes close and she sighs.

"I truly think this might be the worst curse for me. I couldn't even look in the damned mirror this morning to see how bad I looked." She tries to pass it off as mere irritation, but what she feels is something far beyond irritation.

If the hair stroking came from Ran's side he'd be more open to it. As it is he shys away at first, now unsure if it's Jack. If the pirate hadn't hit on him before he might have tried to bite that finger off.
As it is, touch and smell being all he really has left, the hair stroking is more effective then it usually is. As soon as Jack stops he frowns until another cup is handed to him.

"Ooh. Sake." After taking a large sip he pulls faces, looking tricked.
"It's room temperature. Why do you hate me, Jack?"

Getting no answer he seeks out the hair stroking again by leaning into Ran.
"Meow."

"Don't fret over it, Ran. You look lovely and you only have me to take notice."

Jack screws his face up at the complaint about the sake. Of course it's room temperature. What the hell else temperature would it be? He drinks from his own glass and finds the taste...lacking, certainly. Still, it's alcohol. It's not meant to taste good. That's not the point.
"And just what is it I've done wrong now?"

Everything gets complaints with Sands. It's infuriating. If Jack could have felt anything from the petting, he might even find it in him to be bothered that further attentions aren't wanted from him. Not surprised of course, but superficially offended, if only for show. Now, though, he's far too busy noticing that he has no idea what temperature the sake is. He drinks it faster, hoping maybe he'll pass out eventually and no one will mind.

Ran can't help but laugh a little when she hears Sands meow at her like some overgrown, spoiled lapcat. Without letting go of the cup at her lips, she reaches over and slides her fingers into his hair, slowing petting him.

Finally sated a bit, she takes a deep breath and smiles a little. "Sake's best warmed, unless it's one of the sweeter brands... they're better chilled. Room temperature isn't the best, but I can drink it however it comes."

She chooses not to comment on Jack's assurance that she looks decent, but it's noted. "So how did you fare today, Jack?"

Sands lays his head on her shoulder as he mutters to himself. The cigarette in his hand is tapped and played with but otherwise ignored.
Choosing between taking puffs and keeping his head still for Ran- he stays with the petting.

"Meant to be warmed, eh? My apologies, then, but I was not aware."

Jack swirls the alcohol in his glass and takes another long drink. It's strong and nothing beyond that matters about it.

"I'd not be able to tell the difference currently, I'm afraid. Seems the day has done away with my more physical senses. All's a bit numb."
Best that it not seem to be a problem of course, so Jack tacks a short laugh to the end of it and smiles, in case that's an audible thing. He watches his twin be petted and, for the moment, is tremendously jealous of that, though he has no envy for Sands' sensory deprivation.

Ran sighs softly and leans her head against Sands' for a moment before she finishes the last of the sake in her cup. Without thinking, she goes to stand up, dropping a last stroke to Sands' hair before she moves away. One slim hand rises to help her find her way since her normal partner isn't in the mood to help her now.

She's not one to accept help very easily, so she's off to the kitchen to grab another bottle before they can empty the current one.

Sands immediately starts to pout. Not his normal- give me what I want because look at this lip- pout. He looks pissed his pillow and hair stroker has suddenly jostled him by getting up and ceasing the activity that was making him happy.

"Hey. You're under arrest. Come back here. Do what the nice officer tells you, Ran honey. Sugar butt."
When she doesn't return right away his voice becomes hostile.
"Ran!"

Noting that sudden hostility, Jack picks up the slack and tries to calm Sands down with petting from his side as he finishes emptying his glass.

"Stay calm, Shel. She will be coming back."
There's no good way to convey this without words, not that Jack can find. Finally, he slides his hand down to Sands' back and traces out letters with an index finger. 'Ran will be back'
It's a theory worth testing, at least.

"Hurry back, Ran-love. I would have gone, you realize. Had you only asked."

There's a THUD, followed by a nasty curse not fit for a woman's mouth. After a moment, she stalks out of the kitchen, her face set in a scowl. In her hands, she's clutching her last two bottles of sake.

She thrusts the bottles out to Jack and waits for him to take them before slipping her fingers down Sands' arm, letting him know she's back.

"I know you would've, but I wanted it warm this time and I'm sick and tired of being treated like some thrice-damned invalid."

Her voice softens to a sigh.

"How much longer will this damn day last?"

Sands bears his teeth and growls at Jack but makes no move to stop him from continuing the petting.
He finally shuts up as he tries to understand what the pirate is doing on his back. After more practice it would work. For now it at least keeps him busy until she does return.

For his part he's as demanding as always- unaware Ran is cursed as well.
"I can't hear you go! Stop moving around, both of you!"

He has no clue what's going on. This is upsetting.

The pirate considered it worth a try, and at least it shut Sands up and distracted him for a while. He may try again if it's called for.

He takes the bottles from Rangiku when she returns and sets one at his feet. The other he uses to refill his glass.

"Fully understood, Ran. I'll do no more for you than I'm asked." Jack would hate being waited on unless it was his idea. If he knew he had set it in motion, though, he could make himself seem quite pitiable to get as much attention and doting as possible.

"It at least seems to be dimming outside, if that's of any comfort. If we're quick through these bottles, perhaps we can simply sleep through the remainder of the day?"
Jack is very careful in refilling Sands' cup and can at least vocally alert Ran when he's going to fill hers.

"Thank heavens... It's about time," she mutters as she pokes Sands' side, obviously in a bit of a temper.

"Being unconscious sounds like a wonderful thing, but how the hell would I know? It's already dark."

Sands jumps at the poke, turning his face toward Ran looking like he was caught doing bad. He thinks she's telling him not to growl at Jack.

When his cup is filled again he finishes it in a few swallows before offering it to the pirate for a refill. Adding an Oliver Twist accent he mocks Jack at the same time.
"Please, sir, may ah 'ave some more?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

In the kingdom of the blind...

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject