Ch. 10 - In the end, it always ends with just Jack of Fables

[originaljackass]

[Last night, Jack stayed over at Rose's place, just like he had been for a few nights now. He'd finally worked his way into her good graces and he couldn't be happier. But when he woke up this morning, it was in an empty bed. And then he realized it was an empty room inside an empty apartment. It was like no one had ever lived there. Frustratingly, whoever did the cleaning up in this place, apparently considered the clothes he left by the bed to be part of her belongings to be 'cleaned away'. About nine in the morning, Jack spent the morning hoofing it from Building 7 over to 4, wearing nothing but a blanket around his bottom half. Damn Malnosso. Up until now he'd thought they were just dickwads. Now he knew they truly were utter assholes.

Later, once he has clothing on again, Jack finds himself in a rather poor mood. He'd almost had it all. He'd been happy in Luceti, for once. He hadn't been this happy since he was with Holly. Now he was back to having nothing and it pissed him off to no end. After realizing that booze wasn't helping, he spends most of the day doing hard labor at the farm. At least his efforts were paying off. Wouldn't be long until it would be time to harvest.

When evening comes, he intends to hit up Cloud Nine... only to find it's not in use. Sitting on the stairs to the night club, he opens up his journal, still late in the evening, to ask what happened.]

Anyone know what happened to Cloud Nine? I was hoping for somewhere to relax, maybe enjoy some music and drink, the company of some beautiful women. I'm not going to have to settle for the bar again, am I?

[Later in the evening, in the plaza, Jack will have fished out a harmonica among his belongings. He's playing a slow tune to improve his mood. He's a little rusty, but he improves as he carries on.]

Comments

[Written]

[shadedsunlight]

Kay left. Sanji would probably know what's next.

[Written]

[originaljackass]

Kay? [Give him a moment.] Oh, the lady who set the gig up, right? Shame. Does that mean that Sanji guy is running it?

[Written]

[shadedsunlight]

I agree. Just seems like a pity to get it up and going and then be pulled home later.

Yeah. Cloud Nine is above his place so I'd talk to him.

[Written]

[originaljackass]

[Damn. He wonders how well that would go. How is that guy going to run the night club and a restaurant at the same time?]

Think there's any chance of it lasting under new management?

[Written]

[shadedsunlight]

[There's a break as Ginia considers the question. She knows Sanji is a hard worker, but running two places as once is difficult, never minding what might happen if he was to disappear or be kidnapped or any number of things that could happen.]

I don't think it's my place to say.

video

[pugilistinpink.livejournal.com]

[The entry owner's name at the top of the page instantly rings a bell as he reads it. Ah! You're that Jack Horner he has been wanting to get ahold of. Despite Mac's eager smile, his greeting is a little on the tentative side.] Hey... uh, Mister Jack Horner?

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[originaljackass]

[Well, that's weird. He didn't recognize the voice...]

That's me. Who are you?

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[pugilistinpink.livejournal.com]

M'name's Mac. I hope I ain't botherin' you... but Cap'n Jack told me t'give you a call, maybe 'cause you can help us out or somethin'.

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[originaljackass]

[Oh hell. Jack Sparrow.]

Look, kid, whatever that two bit pirate is scheming, I ain't interested. Whatever he's got you duped into, forget it.

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[pugilistinpink.livejournal.com]

But gee...

We we're talkin' about havin' boxin' matches here in Luceti an' how we'd need a ring an' all. An' then he said we should have prizes an' I didn't know what kinda stuff, so then we decided we were gonna ask people for ideas.

[He offers Horner a near-imploring look because he'd love nothing more than to challenge himself in the ring (there's a thrill in that, too) and to keep his skills sharp while he's here. There has to be a reason why Captain Jack recommended him, of all people.]

[ voice ]

[herotypical]

[ buffy's very much in the mood to be aggressive. and mean. and angry. ]

Settle? Settle?

[ voice ]

[originaljackass]

[Jack, however, is not in the mood to deal with it.]

Try not to take it personal.

[ voice ]

[herotypical]

[ bad-mooding all around, then. ]

What's so settleable about it then, huh?

[ voice ]

[originaljackass]

It's not what I wanted, tonight. I'm going to pass on the banter, Buffy. I'm not in the mood.

[ voice ]

[herotypical]

Well? There's a lot of anti-mood going around.

What happened?

[ she's keen to have a distraction from her own woes. ]

[makeitquick]

[What is that sound? Mel's still going on night patrols - trying to find Harth to dust him since that attack - she hasn't really been around town as much mostly because she doesn't think he's dumb enough to be in town but... the sun didn't set that long ago. So when she hears the harmonica she blinks, follows it for a detour and-

Huh.

She stares only a brief moment, but then it's late enough that few if any people are going to be around]

[originaljackass]

[If she doesn't make a big ruckus, he'll finish through the melody before pulling the harmonica away from his lips. Once he does, he looks up and notices that at least one person was around. Reasonably attractive, has a dark and edgy look to her. She either dyes her hair or she's from some fantasy world.]

Like what you hear?

[makeitquick]

Never heard a thing like it 'fore.

[ :I ]

[originaljackass]

Never? Well this little thing is a harmonica. It's from the world I call home. It's big in America.

[makeitquick]

Oh, Old 'Merica... [Man, that's weird. To think someone from back then around. But she nods, coming a few paces closer]

'S pretty sound, anyway.

[Action]

[doubleppk]

[Sneaks up on the harmonica playing.]

My... so many musicians of late. [Sits down hear him to listen all the way through.]

[Action]

[originaljackass]

[Oh, an audience? Now that's what he's talking about. Pity it's Fujiko. He's not sure how much 'not getting anywhere' he can handle tonight. He finishes through the song, though, and then clasps one hand around the harmonica when he's done.]

Just an old hobby of mine.

[Action]

[doubleppk]

Yeah? You don't seem to be getting rusty at least.

[Action]

[originaljackass]

Lucky me. I haven't played in decades, either.

[Action]

[doubleppk]

Decades? Wow. Too busy until recently?