originaljackass | Ch. 8 - The Death and Return of Jack of Fables

[The moment Jack woke up, somewhere out in the woods, his eyes shot open and he reached for his chest, expecting to find a sword sticking out of it. But there wasn't one. More than that, he could see that his fingers... well, he had fingers. No claws. He felt his face and the familiar stubble was there, as was his long hair, and he quickly determined he had a chest and a feet and his Happy Stick is there and not... scaly.

Whew. Load off his mind. It also proves that people really DO revive in Luceti. But he also knows that people LOSE things when they die. The first thing he does is find something sharp enough to cut himself on. He's pleased to see it quickly heal up, nearly instantly, as if the wound had never been there at all. He then finds a boulder and throws it, proving he is indeed super strong still. So he had his looks and power again... but what about his loot? He'd have to go back to the cave later and see if those bastards that killed him hadn't stolen it all.

... thought he wasn't sure if he should bother. Last thing he wanted to do was risk dragon-ing it up again.

So he takes a long, lonely hike to the village and returns home. He grabs a nice button up shirt, a black sports coat and slacks to toss on. So he'd died twice now. Neither time took. And he was looking as good as ever. Now just as long as he didn't turn into a dragon again, he was A-OK.

So the first thing he does is go to the journals.]

[Voice]

Looks like I'm back to the land of the living and I ain't a dragon anymore. How is it that death is the cure for so many afflictions? First order of business - any women out there wanting a roll in the hay? It's been months since I had any. We can make it as romantic as you like, suits me just fine.

Oh. Guess I owe an apology towards certain individuals for any injuries I may have caused during that scuffle. But in my defense? You guys killed me. So don't expect me to feel too guilty about that.

Thirdly... thirdly... I need some cigarettes and a beer. And some painkillers. I also think I've got on hell of a case of phantom limb going here after losing those extra wings... and the tail.

Oh yeah, anyone seen a tiny blue cow running around? I lost track of the thing a few weeks ago.

[Yeah, screw the journal, he's going to the bar to smoke and drink. If he can't have some sex, this will just have to do.]

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I honor all my oaths, regardless of where I am in time. That is how I have chosen to live my life.

Sure. Real noble of you. [He doesn't quite buy it, though. People aren't that good and noble. It's just how the real world works.]

[A light sigh escapes.]

Besides, I rather not give an explanation like this all the time. No one really ever believes me. [Not that she completely blames them, but it does get annoying.]

I don't think too many people buy the Jack of the Tales story much either. In fact, I'd be in deep shit back home if they knew how much I told people about that here.

[Fabletown takes its secrecy VERY seriously.]

I take it very seriously. In my world, someone like you could possibly be among the ranks of a Heroic Spirit.

["Heroic spirit". Yeah, probably. He is pretty damn heroic.]

And what do you get out of a gig like that?

You have a chance to fight for the Holy Grail, which grants the winner a single wish.

Is that right... so what do you plan to wish for?

I never quite thought about it. The idea of being back on the human plane was more appealing than anything. [It's definitely a lie, but she doesn't want to be chastised or mocked for saying she wants to change her history.]

Right... that whole thing where you only get to come out every ten years. That's gotta suck.

It might be ten years, but to me it's rather instant. I feel as though no time has passed at all. [She says, lying down on the bed once more.]

[So... not as old as he was figuring she was. More time displaced than anything.]

And about how long do you stick around for these competitions?

Only one chance. The Grail only allows a Heroic Spirit to appear for one battle to the death.

[Though she'll leave out that she had two chances. It's complicated enough without getting into her deal with The World.]

Death, huh?

[He gives a low whistle.] Makes me glad I got to twenty-ten the old fashioned way - living through it all.

[A low chuckle.]

All Heroic Spirits are already dead, Jack. That's why we're referred to as 'spirits'. This just gives us one chance to return to the human world, for a short time.

Oh. I died once. Not too long after my Jack Frost days. Beheaded. Very messy way to die. Didn't take, though.

[This is how Jack relates. Even though this is nothing like that.]

[She nods a little.]

Is this why you are so casual about death?

I wouldn't call it casual. I was supposed to be unkillable. That dragon shit messed up everything. I didn't even heal like I used to.

That's how Heroic Spirits are too. We can be killed, but we don't really die. We just go back to the Throne of Heroes. A sort of haven for those immortalized in history and myth.

Not exactly the same. Fables can die. Lots of us have. But the better known we are, the more we seem to bounce back. Me? I'm the most popular one around. Makes me harder to kill than a cockroach.

I see. Fables...it sounds very interesting. For Heroic Spirits, it works in a different way. The more better known are legend is, the stronger we are. I'm considered one of the most powerful because the story of King Arthur is so popular.

Guess it's lucky for you England went and decided to colonize half the world, ain't it? [Nothing like a little imperialism to increase your fame!]

Edited 2011-07-15 03:52 (UTC)

[Yeeeaah going to ignore that. Not like she had any involvement in that or anything.]

Whatever helped, it doesn't matter now. The Holy Grail War ended before I arrived here. With my loss. [Well, not a loss, but not a win. Destroying the Grail does mean that she never claimed the prize though.]