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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[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.]

Sounds like you don't have much to go home to. [Neither does Jack, but he doesn't know that yet.]

I know. I've already accepted that. There isn't any way for me to prevent leaving, so if it happens it happens.

So if you had the choice, does that mean you'd stay here?

[She pauses to think for a moment and motions her head in a shake against the pillow.]

I do not want to be a test subject, who is known to these scientists by the barcode on my neck.

Yeah. That does kind of blow.

[He leans his chair back on two legs and starts to balance like that.] Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Not even the greatest of heroes can escape death. I have already accepted this long ago.

Sure they can. Just a matter of knowing the right people.

[Course Saber probably isn't the type to bargain with devils, is she?]

I rather not know those people then.

[Not in the slightest. Maybe bargain with entities of The World, but not devils.]

Not like they're here anyway, so it's a moot point.

[Except for that demon. Speaking of...]

Any idea what the hell was up with that devil who showed up?

Devil...do you mean the large red one? [She shakes her head.] As I said, I only had Karai come with me. That devil must be around the mountains like you were.

Makes me wonder if that bastard was looking for me...

[Well, he didn't get Jack's soul. That's all that matters.]

I wouldn't be able to tell you that, but I haven't seen him since that day. Not that I have really stepped outside of this clinic for long since then.

Looks like I'll have to work that mystery out on my own, then.

I suppose so. You would need to go back to the mountains I suppose. [Which is not a place she completely trusts Jack to be. Blame it on him being a dragon stuck up there. Not that he'll find any gold.]

If the gold is all gone, there ain't much of a point going up there.

[... that said, he plans to go up there at some point to check, just in case.]

...Jack, I won't let you fall like that again. I won't let you turn into a beast.

Yeah yeah. I heard ya. Not much chance of it happening again, so don't you worry.

[She smiles and closes her eyes.]

...I should go back to resting now. I've been feeling tired very easily since that time.

[The Malnosso provide her mana naturally, but it's only in small amounts. She hasn't recovered enough to be more active just yet.]

[He gets to his feet then.]

Sure. You take care of yourself, Saber.

[He gives a backwards wave as he heads out. And oh yeah, he left that other half of the sub. It was meant for her to begin with.]

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

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