Ch. 2 - Legends are made when you're Jack of Fables

[originaljackass]

[Right now he's got his feet kicked up on a stack of all the various books he could find where he was in them. Collections of fairy tales, fables, and more colorful adaptions - all of them. The other day he raided the library and took all of them home. If people want to go off and read about him, they'll have to talk to the real thing first. After having spoken to some other people about their worlds and sharing his own identity when convenient, Jack has come to some conclusions about Luceti. Ones that requires a little more looking into.]

[Voice]

You people have legends in your world, right? Any of them true? Any of you ever met them? Or hell, maybe some of you are the legendary type too.

I'm one of the latter. I'm Jack of the Tales - at least, all the good ones. Any of you [losers] people heard of me?

Oh right, one more thing. Someone mind telling me how those filters work? Seems like it could be handy.

[Later, for anyone who wants to bother him in person, he'll be hanging out at the shops, wishing he had money to spend on all of it (even though it's all free). Luceti is a poor place to be for a man obsessed with wealth.]

Comments

[simplestgift]

I've not decided anything, Jack. I've been quite thorough in avoiding you. [In other words, he's been trying not to think about it.] Am I running out of time?

[originaljackass]

Seeing as I've not found a way out? No. But keep pussyfooting around it and I'll probably lose interest.

[Not in escaping, Archie. In you.]

[simplestgift]

[He got that. He's not impressed with the posturing.] You do understand I could ruin your reputation quick as fire, don't you?

[originaljackass]

Ruin my reputation by purporting a bunch of stuff you only think is true. There's nothing I told you that I'm worried about getting out there, sailor.

[simplestgift]

You approached me and asked me to tell everyone you're some damned hero. Perhaps you think everyone around you loves to be manipulated. I think it'll put a few people on guard.

[originaljackass]

I asked you to tell everyone what was already fact. And who doesn't love a hero worship?

[simplestgift]

Fine, Jack. If you can prove to me that you're the hero everyone wants, I'll help you. If instead you prove to be no better than an insufferable and ineffectual arse, which is the more convincing, you'll allow me to avoid you as I please.

[He grabs a skillet, biting back a lecture on hero worship, seeing as how "no one but my best friend (and possibly the commodore) is worthy of it" isn't a valid argument.]

[originaljackass]

That's where I've run into trouble. Helping New Feathers out, carrying books for people and all that stuff isn't my typical hero stuff. Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of hero work to be done around here.

[Seriously, a town like this is just begging for monsters and giants to be coming out of the woodwork.]

[simplestgift]

That's your trouble, Jack. You have to think about what you could do for people to like you. You don't actually look at anyone.

[originaljackass]

What exactly is that supposed to mean?

[simplestgift]

It means making a laundry list of heroic deeds and waiting around for someone to give you an opportunity to do them is pathetic. Things don't happen that way.

[originaljackass]

Before this place, I couldn't avoid them happening.

[simplestgift]

Well, you're not satisfied with that anymore, are you? Do you actually want to be a decent man, or do you only want to collect spare coins to pay your way to a level of Hell that's a bit more posh than the one you're aimed at now?

[originaljackass]

My appointment with Death's a long way off. [He's made arrangements with a lot of devils to keep himself alive, after all.] Besides, I'm already a decent guy. Just not by the standard you live by.

[simplestgift]

[That earns a skeptical look.] Then clearly you don't need my help after all.

[originaljackass]

I'm inclined to agree.

[He tips his hat and turns.]

Best of luck, buddy. Maybe we can share a drink again sometime.

[simplestgift]

[He grits his teeth a bit, trying not to think about the offer he just turned down. The real question is whether or not he'd rather be dead than manipulated. Not sure what he's going to say next, he sighs in frustration.]

Jack.

[originaljackass]

[Jack stops, but doesn't turn.]

Yeah?

[simplestgift]

[He can't believe he's saying this, but now that the opportunity is so quickly walking away, he just does.]

I accept. I accept, all right?

[originaljackass]

[Jack still doesn't move much. He's considering it. Archie's been kind of a pain in the ass up until now. Is it worth it still?]

I'm not too sure you're worth the trouble.

[simplestgift]

[That earns an abrupt sigh, not from impatience, but from relief, though it's well-disguised.]

Then forget it. You've just made your decision. Good evening, Jack. [With his groceries and frying pan, he breezes for the door.]

[originaljackass]

Same to you, Archie!

[What, he couldn't do a little digging to find your real name? After Archie leaves, Jack does the same, heading for another store, not bothered at all.]