[center][img]https://images-ext-2.discordapp.net/external/9VNc0PShCsBZTPLizLytdKicOWm18zBLbjSaekXYQmc/https/i.imgur.com/8FMvh2h.png?format=webp[/img]
[img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/710908524602851461/1177007458569424977/rumburak.png?ex=6570f09d&is=655e7b9d&hm=c11b4f1ccfb409d103f805b6d508371d626f69a375d515170c7c3f7453133268&=&format=webp[/img][/center][right][b]Interactions:[/b] The Calamitous Congregation of Cohorts [/right][right][b][code]The burning church[/code][/b][/right][hr]

Those guns did not elicit the response that the PRA might have expected. Jack stood still as a statue, knowing damn well (and egotistically) that the shadows at their feet were all he needed to get them off their power trip, and make them resort to magic or grenades. When the one who Jack assumed was in charge spoke to him, he kept his eyes on as many places as possible. He saw Tayla come out of the bushes, and she was powerless without her Lux. If these vermin started shooting again, she was who he'd try to shield first, long enough for her to escape. Liao seemed to know Auri, and by extension the rest of them by name. 

[color=6644ff]"She was injured, but she's alive. Head trauma."[/color] That was all he'd explain to anyone at the moment. The PRA did not need to know [i]how[/i] or [i]why[/i] this happened to Auri, but simply explaining the nature of her injury was enough to address the fact that she needed medical attention. Jack didn't actually know the extent of what Furio did to her, but he certainly wasn't about to get into details with the feds. They didn't need to know that he could take people to places beyond Shimmer whenever he wanted. 

At least her subordinates seemed to have more professionalism than her, as they all started talking her down [i]after[/i] they attacked the church and seemingly set it on [i]fire.[/i] Jack could've strangled them all right then and there for endangering lives, but he was busy keeping Auri's unconscious body safe... Why were they arresting Everleigh? She was the problematic one in this group of problems, was she the reason for all this? He kept quiet until Cindy walked over to him, offering a lukewarm apology and one of their other agents to heal them. Either these people considered themselves to be in control right now (they were, but Jack was being Jack about it) and just wanted to sleep at night, or one of them actually had basic common sense and regretted how this went down. To Jack, it seemed like a genuine apology, so maybe he was being irrational about her intentions.

[color=6644ff]"You already know about Father Wolf, from what the others have said. You can imagine that I'm less than thrilled to see that you've attacked my friends,"[/color] he responded, wearily. Looking up at the burning church, he took a second to reflect on the day so far. Everything was a disaster. He thought that sealing the Void Heart would be a step in the right direction, maybe Auri would look somewhat more dependable, and the coven might've used it as a morale boost. 

One step forward, another step back.

[color=6644ff]"But if you're offering, I won't refuse. She needs it more than me... Thank you."[/color] He wasn't about to turn down healing at someone else's expense. [color=6644ff]"We-"[/color] He was interrupted when Linqian and Evelynn started bitching. Jack's whole head snapped to their direction as they started yelling at each other. Lynn had tears on her face. Disappointment crept up on [i]his.[/i] Of course they were going to be angry about whatever the hell happened while he was gone. Of [i]course,[/i] but they didn't have to fight over- What [i]were[/i] they fighting over? Accepting help from the PRA?

And Jack might've let them scream it out, until he heard something from Evelynn that would have made him join the shouting were it not for the fact that he was carrying Auri.

[i]“I am glad Father Wolf took Jinhai from you, you deserve as much.”[/i]

His blood ran cold at the idea that Lynn would [i]dare[/i] fall so low. And the yellow-hot slap that Linqian delivered

[color=6644ff]"Excuse me,"[/color] he said to Cindy, not hiding the contempt in his voice as he stomped over. They argued, and argued, and argue on. For once, he was the angry one now, and he [i]hated[/i] that he was angry at these two. Jack didn't [i]want[/i] to be.

[color=6644ff]"What did you expect to happen, saying something so heartless?"[/color] He asked Evelynn, trying to sound calm and mostly succeeding. [color=6644ff]"Do you remember how we all felt, watching one another fall in battle as children, Evelynn? We all hated ourselves for not being the ones who died in someone else' place, told ourselves that we might have been able to change the outcome if we were there. [i]You[/i] lost more than most of us. Did you [i]forget?[/i] that the rest of us cared for Jinhai as well?"[/color]

Jinhai and Jack were close. They were good friends who plotted strategies to fight back against the Stygian Snake together. They knew how to hit apparitions where it hurt, and they bonded over their abilities. [color=6644ff]"We all want the same things. Vengeance, survival, answers; Opening each others' wounds will only put all of us in a shallow grave sooner, rather than later."[/color] He really, [i]really[/i] wanted to believe that Lynn simply wasn't thinking straight, because that was way out of line. 

They were done, so Jack got off their asses about it, taking in a deep breath after chewing Lynn out.

[color=6644ff]"Which one of you is the healer?"[/color] He asked the agents.