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

[makeitquick]

[...] Oh, right. Well, how about vampires - that buzz you?

[originaljackass]

Nope, never ran into any. Giants, trolls, and stuff like that was more my style.

[makeitquick]

Just got lurks, radies, and a giant snake thing back in Haddyn. Dunno what they had back two cen though.

[originaljackass]

None of that stuff. The mundy world never had much magic anyway. That's why we called it the mundy world.

[makeitquick]

...Not getting it.

["mundy?"]

[originaljackass]

[... right.]

Not important. The name's Jack. Jack Horner.

[makeitquick]

[And she offers a hand]

And I'm Melaka Fray.

[originaljackass]

[Have yourself a nice, firm handshake.]

A pleasure. You new around here?

[makeitquick]

[Hers is pretty good too - super strength and all]

Yep - fresh off the kidnap busser.

[originaljackass]

[Likewise. Maybe they can arm wrestle later.]

Thought so. [He leans back, gesturing to the village.] So, what do you think?

[makeitquick]

Different, that's for sure.

[originaljackass]

Generally not the good kind of different either. Me? I should be somewhere nice, a private island maybe, living in a beach side mansion in the lap of luxury.

[makeitquick]

And I should be in a warren in the underbelly of a big district. Funny how that skews.

[originaljackass]

So this place is kind of a plus for you, then.

[makeitquick]

On the para side of things, not gonna lie.

[originaljackass]

[Well, now he's gotta call her out on the lingo again.]

Para?

[makeitquick]

Para... [Oh how did that used to say it?] -Dice?

[originaljackass]

Suddenly I'm glad I have two hundred years to pick up the future's lingo.

[makeitquick]

S'been everyone's reaction.

[originaljackass]

Pity the slang doesn't translate, then.

[makeitquick]

Yeah, well, you slacks sound silly too.

[originaljackass]

If by silly you mean confusing. [That's not how he generally hears it being used.]

[makeitquick]

Sometimes, yeah. [Still not sure what a "mundy" is]

[originaljackass]

So, Mel, seeing as you're new and I know this place pretty damn well, anything you're curious about? Knowledge you want to have bestowed? I tend to do that kind of thing, especially with pretty ladies like yourself.

[makeitquick]

[She is about to day no when... idea strikes. Oh, right]

There sewers here?