[He still doesn’t seem convinced, but he has to remind himself that Genji is an adult, capable of making his own decisions. He can’t honestly see Ana refusing the extra help, either, though that can be a conversation they have when she returns.
It’ll only be a few more days, but the prospect of having to be here with Genji until then makes him a little anxious. It’s not like he’s really used to being around people anymore.]
I’ll send her a message letting her know you’re here. In the meantime, make yourself at home.
It's more than Genji had been expecting, honestly. Jack has become such a walled-off person, so resistant to letting anyone in. Ana would be the exception, so the fact that Genji of all people has managed to worm his way in is a marvel to him.
That's what happens when you get contracted by an organization to travel through space and time and try to change history together, it seems. ]
Thank you, Jack. I'll do that.
[ He moves further into the small apartment, mainly to get a sense of the layout, the bedrooms, and so on. It's modest, as expected, and when he returns back to the living area he nods to the couch. ]
[Though he wonders if Genji will believe that, coming from him. Jack isn’t sure he means it, not yet—he supposes that they’ll have to feel their way around each other for a few days, first. Internally, he tells himself not to do anything to purposefully sabotage it. Genji takes a few moments to get the lay of the land, and Jack tries to be hospitable.]
There’s an extra bed until Ana gets back. She won’t mind.
[After that, Jack can take the couch. He’s had much worse sleeping situations.]
[ Jack doesn't hesitate to speak on Ana's behalf, and while he likely is right about Captain Amari not caring if Genji uses her bed when she's not even here, he still feels odd about it. He would rather ask her himself, and more than that, there's the matter of manners and being a considerate guest.
He shakes his head. ] We can argue more about it later. [ It's still the middle of the afternoon, so Genji doesn't plan to wind down for some time now. ]
In the meantime, I think I may go get a better feel for the city. [ How long they'll be here Genji doesn't know, but he still feels the urge to stretch his legs (in a manner of speaking). ]
[He could send her a communication—and probably should, just so she isn’t surprised when she gets back, but at this point he has no idea if an unsolicited message would disrupt her cover. Better safe than sorry, maybe, or at least, better to ask forgiveness than permission. He has a feeling she’ll just be glad to see Genji alive and well, so Jack will bank on that.]
I have a feeling we’ll be arguing about more than that.
[Jack mumbles that a little as a sort of joke, but for now he seems to have resigned himself to the situation. Genji says he wants to go out, and that’s fine.]
Make sure to cover up. Don’t know who’s lurking around here.
[ It does seem likely that Jack is going to continue to be difficult even going forward, but Genji is prepared for that. After being the difficult one for so many years, he hopes he can employ Master Zenyatta's teachings of patience and understanding now.
He'll meditate when he gets back later in the evening, just in case. ]
Understood.
[ He pulls the hood up over his head, slides his face plate back on, and then draws up the cloth that he'd let hang around his shoulders to cover most of his face. He realizes just how much he could stand out if his body is seen, so he intends to be careful. ]
I'll be back tonight. Take care, Jack.
[ And with that he heads back out into the sweltering heat. Curious as he is to get a better lay of the land, he also figures that this will give Jack some time to himself, to come to terms with the fact that Genji is here to stay. ]
[A week or so passes--Ana gets in touch with him to let Jack know that her task is taking longer than she anticipated, and Jack tells her about Genji in turn. He's not quite sure what she thinks about it, but he has a feeling she's kind of pleased. She's always had a soft spot for the younger recruits, and Jack imagines she feels better knowing that he's not alone while she's away.
Still, he's not good at sitting idle. If Genji is going to be here for the indefinite future, then he might as well make himself useful. The two of them go on patrol--stakeouts, taking out low-level mooks, looking for signs of Talon activity, and of course, tracking Reaper. It's after one of these outings that Jack touches base with Ana again, and he tries not to think about how he might be getting used to this as he pulls a beer out of the fridge and makes himself comfortable on the sofa.]
Ana's going to be another few weeks, she thinks.
[He imagines Genji is suspicious of that already, so Jack sees no reason to hide it from him.]
[ All things considered, it hasn't taken that long for Jack to allow Genji to participate in his work here in Cairo. They already have experience working together from their time with COST, so it isn't that difficult to fall back into it, even if their goals and tasks are somewhat different now. Less rewriting history, more making sure that Talon doesn't get the foothold it so desperately wants.
Genji's aware that Talon has a presence in plenty of other cities the world over, but this is something. It's a start.
It is a surprise when Ana still isn't back after a few days have passed, and so Genji is grateful for the update when it finally comes. He's seated on the floor and giving his katana and wakizashi the daily care they need to keep their blades sharp and effective, but he pauses and looks up the moment that Jack says something. ]
That long? [ He hasn't asked for details on what Ana's doing, unclear if he's supposed to be let in on that or not. But at this point, it's impossible to avoid. ] Do we need to go provide some back-up?
[Every time Jack is apprehensive about drawing Genji deeper into his activities, he remembers everything they went through together as part of COST. Still, working in tandem with someone not Ana is taking some getting used to. He alternately finds himself thankful for Genji’s presence and wanting to be alone, but when Ana makes contact and says she needs more time, jack surprises himself when he feels glad to have someone else in the empty safe house.]
No, she says it’s safer if she finishes it alone.
[Jack can’t help but worry, because he’s already lost Ana once and he’s extremely not keen on having it happen again, but he also knows that she can take care of herself. At a certain point, there’s nothing he can do but trust her abilities and hope she comes home safe.
It’s nice, he has to admit, to not be alone with his thoughts for once.]
[ Genji understands that there are certain missions where it's better to take them on solo for the sake of not blowing one's cover or attracting too much attention. Genji knows how to be silent and unobtrusive, cyborg or not, so he would like to think that he could assist Ana without undoing the work she's already put in, but...
If Jack insists, then he'll take his word on it.
Jack isn't one to show emotion these days (or ever, in some ways), but Genji has to assume that he's concerned for Captain Amari. He'd already thought her dead the one time, and so it can't be easy to have her gone for so many days. If he can distract him from that, then he'd like to. ]
No, not at all. [ Genji shakes his head, sheathing his wakizashi to give attention to his katana next. Much as he might like to see Ana again, he's learned patience. ] Will we be staying here or moving on to a new location?
[ He knows it's generally not a good idea to stay in one spot too long, but Jack and Ana also seem to have established themselves here. He'll accept either answer that Jack gives him. ]
[For better or worse. Jack is starting to get antsy, which he's sure that Genji has noticed, despite his best efforts not to betray anything. All the time they spent together as part of COST has thoroughly negated his ability to keep a straight face.
They're used to each other, he's starting to realize.]
I'll let you know if that changes. Now all that's left is to figure out how to spend the time.
[ For now, is the caveat that Jack offers. Genji's become used to staying in one location after establishing himself at the monastery, but he's also used to drifting from place to place. He'll be able to adapt either way, and he hopes he can serve as some kind of grounding presence in Ana's absence.
When Jack implies a question, Genji tilts his head to one side, mildly surprised that he's being polled on what their next move should be. Consistent strikes against Talon seems to be a given, so Jack must mean outside of that.
[They both know by now that Jack doesn’t do well when he’s bored, and this is most certainly a scenario where that might end up being the case. There are only so many low-level thugs they can deal with while Ana is away, so finding another way to pass the time is going to be vital.
That said, he’s sort of unsure of Genji’s suggestion, even though he knows beggars can’t really be choosers.]
[ Genji can't hold back a laugh, something that reverberates in his throat, and he removes his hand from his sword in order to hold a finger up in the air. There's something almost teacherly in his tone when he responds, though he's really just mimicking a certain omnic. ]
You realize that is the whole point of practicing, do you not?
[ At least in Genji's case he'd had lessons on mediation even as a child, though he hadn't always paid close attention to them. He'd only truly learned under Zenyatta's tutelage, but that makes him well-equipped to pass the knowledge on now. ]
Yeah, well, I don't really want to trouble you with my issues.
[Of which he has a lot, to the point where he thinks trying to meditate with Genji might be an exercise in futility. They have a lot of time for this right now, but he still doesn't want to waste anyone's time. This might be a losing battle, but he's fairly certain that Genji will see that Jack is going to be tough to crack.]
Too much on my mind.
[He's fairly certain he doesn't need to tell Genji that.]
Having too much on your mind is the exact reason that meditation would be good for you, Jack.
[ The stubbornness of Jack Morrison is truly something to behold. Genji has lost count of how many times he's had to engage in arguments like this since he started staying here, and while it's become a point of frustration, he's doing his best to remain patient and understanding. To be like Zenyatta, even though he's not nearly as good at it.
Still, he can rely on his own experience to try and get through to Jack, and that's exactly what he does. After letting out some of his aggravation through an exhale, he turns his attention back to Jack and bares a small bit of his soul. ]
When I first came across Master Zenyatta, I also had much on my mind. I also had issues, as you call them. I was not at peace with myself. I was angry all the time. I could not accept my own body, and it made me lash out at anyone near me. I had not yet forgiven my brother, and thoughts of revenge plagued me every day. Meditation was... only the first step.
[ He wants to help. That is all. He only hopes Jack can see how genuine he is in that desire. ]
[Jack has too much on his mind to effectively mediate, but meditation is what will get all of it off his mind? He generally thinks of himself as kind of a tough nut to crack, and he doubts this will be an exception.
But it’s not like he has anything better to do. He knows that Genji’s “master”, as he describes him, must’ve had some kind of positive effect on him—the Genji he met in COST is certainly not the angry, tormented cyborg he once knew in Overwatch. So maybe there’s something to all this after all, though Genji seems to be describing a long, arduous path of personal growth, one that Jack isn’t sure he can commit to when there’s so much else to get done.]
[ Genji doesn't see what's counter-intuitive about it, but he can also understand how someone who isn't familiar with the basic concepts behind meditation might feel that way. Jack isn't so different from how Genji had once been as a petulant child on the Shimada compound.
But it isn't much of a surprise that Jack wishes to know more about Zenyatta. Genji recognizes that this is a way for Jack to get the subject off of him, and it ultimately won't work, but he'll humor him for now. ]
Yes, he did.
[ He bobs his head, a brief nod. ]
I owe him much. My life, even. Were it not for him, I wouldn't be the man I am today. If I can pass on anything he did for me to you in turn, I'd be glad for it.
[ But Jack has to meet him if not in the middle, then at least a short way down the road. ]
[Jack would much rather know more about Zenyatta than he would try to meditate, so he'll keep the conversation on that for now. They'd spoken a little about him in COST, enough for Jack to know that he's largely responsible for Genji, well, chilling the heck out, but there are still lots of blanks that haven't been filled in yet.]
Where is he now?
[Jack is loath to bring another unrelated party into this, but it seems strange to him that Genji would choose to seek Jack out instead of, presumably, continuing to travel with Zenyatta.]
[ There's a pause as Genji considers what Jack might do or say if Zenyatta was aware of his exact whereabouts, even though that's not the case. While Genji left Blackwatch years ago, there are habits that have stuck with him. Giving exact locations to anyone is generally not a good idea. ]
No, he's still in Nepal for now. He's aware that I had a journey to take, and loose ends to tie up, but none of the exact details.
[ Genji will ultimately return to Zenyatta and tell him all about COST and what he experienced with them, but it had important to him to track Jack down first. ]
[Jack doubts that Zenyatta knows exactly where Genji is (i.e. the exact location of this safe house), but he finds it hard to believe that he wasn’t given an approximate location. Of course, it’s silly to think that the omnic monk might someday show up on his doorstep, but Jack doesn’t exactly want word of his not-death getting out.
But these are silly, paranoid thoughts. He tries to shake them off.]
As long as he doesn’t come looking.
[Jack offers Genji something of a lopsided grin, an attempt to play it off as a joke, even if there are real anxieties underneath it.]
[ Genji had already made a guess at why Jack was asking all of these questions to begin with, and it turns out he'd been completely accurate. The more people who knew that he was still alive and running around, the greater the risk that the information would spread. It's a valid concern, but Zenyatta would never go running his mouth off to anyone. ]
While I can hardly control what he does, I doubt he would come after me without making some kind of contact first. You can rest easy.
[ As wise as Zenyatta is, he hasn't had much experience in the larger world. He doesn't have the kind of street smarts that would allow him to track the two of them to this location, even if that was his wish.
At the question, Genji shakes his head. ]
Not yet, though I'd like to. Telling someone else about it would allow it to feel less like a dream, I think.
[He really has no choice but to believe Genji, but he supposes it’s all beside the point anyway. The point is that now they’re talking about COST, which is simultaneously relieving and not. It’s good to have someone who shares the experience, but having been pulled away from his own world once, a part of Jack will always be wondering if it will happen again.
He sighs a little, scrubbing a hand through his hair, betraying that slight apprehension.]
I thought it was a dream, when I got back.
[Sometimes he wishes it was. He thinks sometimes he’s better off not knowing about COST, the Regency…any of it.]
[ Genji also feels some measure of relief that he's not somehow the only one who remembers, that he can compare notes about this shared experience that most of the people of this world could never truly comprehend or believe.
Zenyatta would. He knows that deep into his bones (what's left of them). But Zenyatta isn't like most people.
A pause, and Genji studies Jack's face with a hint more interest. ]
[Jack nods, and what goes unsaid is that it’s nice to have someone who implicitly understands. It’s not that he thinks Ana wouldn’t, it’s just that he imagines there’s going to be a lot of convincing her involved, given that the whole thing sounds completely crazy. She’d probably be deeply concerned, to say the least.]
Ana already thinks I’m crazy.
[For his crusade against Talon, which often feels less like making progress and more like a dog chasing a car. Even Jack doesn’t know what he’ll do when he finds what he needs. Sometimes it feels like Ana is coming along out of pity, more than anything. A last-ditch effort to keep him from killing himself, even as he drags them further and further past the point of no return. To say he feels guilty about it is an understatement—he can’t, in good conscience, burden her with anything else.]
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[He still doesn’t seem convinced, but he has to remind himself that Genji is an adult, capable of making his own decisions. He can’t honestly see Ana refusing the extra help, either, though that can be a conversation they have when she returns.
It’ll only be a few more days, but the prospect of having to be here with Genji until then makes him a little anxious. It’s not like he’s really used to being around people anymore.]
I’ll send her a message letting her know you’re here. In the meantime, make yourself at home.
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It's more than Genji had been expecting, honestly. Jack has become such a walled-off person, so resistant to letting anyone in. Ana would be the exception, so the fact that Genji of all people has managed to worm his way in is a marvel to him.
That's what happens when you get contracted by an organization to travel through space and time and try to change history together, it seems. ]
Thank you, Jack. I'll do that.
[ He moves further into the small apartment, mainly to get a sense of the layout, the bedrooms, and so on. It's modest, as expected, and when he returns back to the living area he nods to the couch. ]
I can sleep here. I wouldn't want to impose.
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[Though he wonders if Genji will believe that, coming from him. Jack isn’t sure he means it, not yet—he supposes that they’ll have to feel their way around each other for a few days, first. Internally, he tells himself not to do anything to purposefully sabotage it. Genji takes a few moments to get the lay of the land, and Jack tries to be hospitable.]
There’s an extra bed until Ana gets back. She won’t mind.
[After that, Jack can take the couch. He’s had much worse sleeping situations.]
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He shakes his head. ] We can argue more about it later. [ It's still the middle of the afternoon, so Genji doesn't plan to wind down for some time now. ]
In the meantime, I think I may go get a better feel for the city. [ How long they'll be here Genji doesn't know, but he still feels the urge to stretch his legs (in a manner of speaking). ]
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I have a feeling we’ll be arguing about more than that.
[Jack mumbles that a little as a sort of joke, but for now he seems to have resigned himself to the situation. Genji says he wants to go out, and that’s fine.]
Make sure to cover up. Don’t know who’s lurking around here.
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He'll meditate when he gets back later in the evening, just in case. ]
Understood.
[ He pulls the hood up over his head, slides his face plate back on, and then draws up the cloth that he'd let hang around his shoulders to cover most of his face. He realizes just how much he could stand out if his body is seen, so he intends to be careful. ]
I'll be back tonight. Take care, Jack.
[ And with that he heads back out into the sweltering heat. Curious as he is to get a better lay of the land, he also figures that this will give Jack some time to himself, to come to terms with the fact that Genji is here to stay. ]
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Still, he's not good at sitting idle. If Genji is going to be here for the indefinite future, then he might as well make himself useful. The two of them go on patrol--stakeouts, taking out low-level mooks, looking for signs of Talon activity, and of course, tracking Reaper. It's after one of these outings that Jack touches base with Ana again, and he tries not to think about how he might be getting used to this as he pulls a beer out of the fridge and makes himself comfortable on the sofa.]
Ana's going to be another few weeks, she thinks.
[He imagines Genji is suspicious of that already, so Jack sees no reason to hide it from him.]
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Genji's aware that Talon has a presence in plenty of other cities the world over, but this is something. It's a start.
It is a surprise when Ana still isn't back after a few days have passed, and so Genji is grateful for the update when it finally comes. He's seated on the floor and giving his katana and wakizashi the daily care they need to keep their blades sharp and effective, but he pauses and looks up the moment that Jack says something. ]
That long? [ He hasn't asked for details on what Ana's doing, unclear if he's supposed to be let in on that or not. But at this point, it's impossible to avoid. ] Do we need to go provide some back-up?
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No, she says it’s safer if she finishes it alone.
[Jack can’t help but worry, because he’s already lost Ana once and he’s extremely not keen on having it happen again, but he also knows that she can take care of herself. At a certain point, there’s nothing he can do but trust her abilities and hope she comes home safe.
It’s nice, he has to admit, to not be alone with his thoughts for once.]
You don’t mind, right?
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If Jack insists, then he'll take his word on it.
Jack isn't one to show emotion these days (or ever, in some ways), but Genji has to assume that he's concerned for Captain Amari. He'd already thought her dead the one time, and so it can't be easy to have her gone for so many days. If he can distract him from that, then he'd like to. ]
No, not at all. [ Genji shakes his head, sheathing his wakizashi to give attention to his katana next. Much as he might like to see Ana again, he's learned patience. ] Will we be staying here or moving on to a new location?
[ He knows it's generally not a good idea to stay in one spot too long, but Jack and Ana also seem to have established themselves here. He'll accept either answer that Jack gives him. ]
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[For better or worse. Jack is starting to get antsy, which he's sure that Genji has noticed, despite his best efforts not to betray anything. All the time they spent together as part of COST has thoroughly negated his ability to keep a straight face.
They're used to each other, he's starting to realize.]
I'll let you know if that changes. Now all that's left is to figure out how to spend the time.
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When Jack implies a question, Genji tilts his head to one side, mildly surprised that he's being polled on what their next move should be. Consistent strikes against Talon seems to be a given, so Jack must mean outside of that.
After a brief moment of thought, Genji smiles. ]
I believe I still owe you a lesson in meditation.
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That said, he’s sort of unsure of Genji’s suggestion, even though he knows beggars can’t really be choosers.]
I don’t think I’d be very good at it.
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You realize that is the whole point of practicing, do you not?
[ At least in Genji's case he'd had lessons on mediation even as a child, though he hadn't always paid close attention to them. He'd only truly learned under Zenyatta's tutelage, but that makes him well-equipped to pass the knowledge on now. ]
I think it would be good for you.
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[Of which he has a lot, to the point where he thinks trying to meditate with Genji might be an exercise in futility. They have a lot of time for this right now, but he still doesn't want to waste anyone's time. This might be a losing battle, but he's fairly certain that Genji will see that Jack is going to be tough to crack.]
Too much on my mind.
[He's fairly certain he doesn't need to tell Genji that.]
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[ The stubbornness of Jack Morrison is truly something to behold. Genji has lost count of how many times he's had to engage in arguments like this since he started staying here, and while it's become a point of frustration, he's doing his best to remain patient and understanding. To be like Zenyatta, even though he's not nearly as good at it.
Still, he can rely on his own experience to try and get through to Jack, and that's exactly what he does. After letting out some of his aggravation through an exhale, he turns his attention back to Jack and bares a small bit of his soul. ]
When I first came across Master Zenyatta, I also had much on my mind. I also had issues, as you call them. I was not at peace with myself. I was angry all the time. I could not accept my own body, and it made me lash out at anyone near me. I had not yet forgiven my brother, and thoughts of revenge plagued me every day. Meditation was... only the first step.
[ He wants to help. That is all. He only hopes Jack can see how genuine he is in that desire. ]
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[Jack has too much on his mind to effectively mediate, but meditation is what will get all of it off his mind? He generally thinks of himself as kind of a tough nut to crack, and he doubts this will be an exception.
But it’s not like he has anything better to do. He knows that Genji’s “master”, as he describes him, must’ve had some kind of positive effect on him—the Genji he met in COST is certainly not the angry, tormented cyborg he once knew in Overwatch. So maybe there’s something to all this after all, though Genji seems to be describing a long, arduous path of personal growth, one that Jack isn’t sure he can commit to when there’s so much else to get done.]
He really worked wonders for you, huh?
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But it isn't much of a surprise that Jack wishes to know more about Zenyatta. Genji recognizes that this is a way for Jack to get the subject off of him, and it ultimately won't work, but he'll humor him for now. ]
Yes, he did.
[ He bobs his head, a brief nod. ]
I owe him much. My life, even. Were it not for him, I wouldn't be the man I am today. If I can pass on anything he did for me to you in turn, I'd be glad for it.
[ But Jack has to meet him if not in the middle, then at least a short way down the road. ]
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Where is he now?
[Jack is loath to bring another unrelated party into this, but it seems strange to him that Genji would choose to seek Jack out instead of, presumably, continuing to travel with Zenyatta.]
Does he know you're here?
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No, he's still in Nepal for now. He's aware that I had a journey to take, and loose ends to tie up, but none of the exact details.
[ Genji will ultimately return to Zenyatta and tell him all about COST and what he experienced with them, but it had important to him to track Jack down first. ]
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But these are silly, paranoid thoughts. He tries to shake them off.]
As long as he doesn’t come looking.
[Jack offers Genji something of a lopsided grin, an attempt to play it off as a joke, even if there are real anxieties underneath it.]
Did you tell him about COST?
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While I can hardly control what he does, I doubt he would come after me without making some kind of contact first. You can rest easy.
[ As wise as Zenyatta is, he hasn't had much experience in the larger world. He doesn't have the kind of street smarts that would allow him to track the two of them to this location, even if that was his wish.
At the question, Genji shakes his head. ]
Not yet, though I'd like to. Telling someone else about it would allow it to feel less like a dream, I think.
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[He really has no choice but to believe Genji, but he supposes it’s all beside the point anyway. The point is that now they’re talking about COST, which is simultaneously relieving and not. It’s good to have someone who shares the experience, but having been pulled away from his own world once, a part of Jack will always be wondering if it will happen again.
He sighs a little, scrubbing a hand through his hair, betraying that slight apprehension.]
I thought it was a dream, when I got back.
[Sometimes he wishes it was. He thinks sometimes he’s better off not knowing about COST, the Regency…any of it.]
Until you got in touch with me, I guess.
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[ Genji also feels some measure of relief that he's not somehow the only one who remembers, that he can compare notes about this shared experience that most of the people of this world could never truly comprehend or believe.
Zenyatta would. He knows that deep into his bones (what's left of them). But Zenyatta isn't like most people.
A pause, and Genji studies Jack's face with a hint more interest. ]
And you? Have you told Ana of it?
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Ana already thinks I’m crazy.
[For his crusade against Talon, which often feels less like making progress and more like a dog chasing a car. Even Jack doesn’t know what he’ll do when he finds what he needs. Sometimes it feels like Ana is coming along out of pity, more than anything. A last-ditch effort to keep him from killing himself, even as he drags them further and further past the point of no return. To say he feels guilty about it is an understatement—he can’t, in good conscience, burden her with anything else.]
I’ll tell her. [Maybe.] Just not sure how, yet.
[How to do it without worrying her, that is.]
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how many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man
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