#when u. when the. the um. (landmine detonates)

[kylejsugarman]

its easy to picture most of jack's gang becoming bored of and eventually ignoring jesse towards the end of his captivity, no longer physically or psychologically tormenting him but not treating him as human either. he still isn't allowed to talk or go anywhere that isn't the pit or the cookhouse, but now no one is interacting with him at all and that's somehow worse than the physical torture. the way that jesse actually converses with todd in those "el camino" flashbacks and follows his orders doesn't quite match the way he acts around the rest of the gang. he obviously hates todd, but todd is also the only person left in his life who talks to him. who acknowledges his existence. its not warmth or love or even attention, but it's Something and being left completely alone with his thoughts is more than jesse can take. he's willing to move and bury the body, turn over the gun, follow todd's instructions because all of these things involve talking to someone. having someone talk to him. existing to someone. todd breaks him by asking what his favorite pizza topping is because that question relies on the objective truth that jesse is a real human with real wants and needs. someone can See him. someone can Hear him. someone can Keep him tied to this world that is otherwise slowly fading away around him.