realityshifted | 08- Insanity isn't all it's cracked up to be

[Jack appears on the Plane, sitting with his knees against his chest and his arms wrapped around his legs, in the same clothes Ianto gave him earlier, though by now they're as much of a mess as he is. Jack hasn't slept in days, and if his insomnia didn't show before, it definitely does now. His eyes seem unfocused, though they keep moving across the Plane, first smoothly in one direction, then abruptly in the opposite direction. At first it looks like his whole body is shaking, but if you look closely you notice that it's mostly just his hands; the bandages on one seem to have been picked at, and there's both fresh and old blood on them, and the other is broken and crudely taken care of.

Jack simply sits there, muttering to himself] Knocking won't stop down in the morgue. They never knocked before, but then I did it and they learned. Ianto and Gwen say they don't hear it, but they do I know they do why do they say they don't? They're just waiting for me to say something, waiting for me to slip up. No more chemicals in the coffee, no more coffee in the chemicals.

[OOC: Ok, so by this point Jack has gone a little too long without sleeping, and it's starting to catch up to him. Currently he suffers from hallucinations (visual and auditory), slurred and/or nonsensical speech , nystagmus (rapid involuntary rhythmic eye movement), and hand tremors.So in other words you've got yourselves a borderline-insane Jack =/ Again, feel free to have your characters interact with him as usual, but know that he's not exactly in the best state of mind]

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[crouches down next to him]

Oh, Jack.

[Jack looks at the Doctor for a moment, but then seems to be smiling at something beyond him] I let go of your hand but you learned he knocking from me I got out so you did too.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

[without asking permission, he reaches over and places his fingers to Jack's temple, creating an instant connection]

[Jack freezes for a moment, his eyes going completely unfocused] You lost yours and I lost mine let go of his hand she touched yours. Loose them all never get one back. [He flinches and pulls away from the Doctor, the shaking worse than before]

[Keeps them connected as he skims through Jack's mind---trying not to focus on the reemerging memories]

Gray. Who's---Is that who you're dreaming about, Jack?

Not a dream because he's real I just made him into that. They don't know you don't know only he knows and he's right. He hates me and I love him he hates me and I love he hates me and I never hate him.

[rueful chuckle]

Sounds a bit like me and the Master.

Let me see, though, Jack. What's got you awake? You've seen more terrible things than just these memories. What hurt you?

Can't sleep because they're real. I watched him die watched them get killed and memories make dreams real I don't want to see them Doctor.

Toshiko. Owen. I knew her...small universe, isn't it?

I can block the memories, Jack. Temporarily, like a dissolving stitch.

Owen Harper Toshiko Sato Suzie Costello Ianto Jones Gwen Cooper. Not just them many more by me because of me without me. Their memories my memories merge and they're all mine don't take them away take me away my burden to bear.

It's only temporary. Jack, listen to me. Focus on my voice. I'm trying to help you.

Focusing on you focusing on them focusing on him. Can hear your voice above the knocking can hear the knocking above your voice can't you hear it?

Jack, it's in your head. Jack, listen. Please, Jack.

[verging on desperate; he can't get through, can't go deep enough]

[And for the first time, Jack's eyes focus on the Doctor, and only the Doctor] In my head in your head not in their head for now. My head my world my reality not yours to abandon and leave behind. [and his eyes unfocus again, darting across the Plane just as before]

[no longer forcing a connection, this time he grabs Jack's head and forces him to face him]

Jack, please. Please, tell me what's wrong.

[Even though they're face to face, Jack's eyes are still darting everywhere, never focusing on anything for longer than a second] No sleep now no sleep ever Doctor. Sleep brings dreams dreams bring memories memories bring guilt can never save them never enough.

Jack, I know. I know what you're feeling. Let me save you. Please.

[A smile appears on Jack's face, though it looks as messed up as the rest of him] Smile at me dance with me laugh with me kiss me leave without me. Surrounded by dust and death and nothing else after I watched you leave.