Ataraxia
Mistral
The smell of whiskey crawled up Jackie's nose, embroiled in a fragrance war for dominance over scotch, steak, and despondency. A burly man in a cattleman strummed an acoustic guitar, filling the air with a palpable warmth that contorted into an amateur rock opera when the complaints of gamblers and some guy choking on a burger chimed in.
"And that's how I nabbed a bounty of 10,000 lien" Nate claimed with pride.
The bartender scoffed, a dark skinned woman with short hair whose piercing blue eyes were only matched by her bulky metal right arm. "Yeah, and I'm the king of Vale", Hex scoffed as she cleaned an empty glass before stuffing it into a rack.
"It happened, my bank accounts proof of it!"
"Pic's or it didn't happen" Hex said while flashing a grin.
"Come on Jackie, help me out here" Nate said as he tapped Jackie on the shoulder, while Jackie continued to stare aimlessly at the glass of beer in front of him.
"Jackie?" Nate asked as he tapped Jackie on the shoulder even harder than before.
"Huh, what?"
"Tell Hex that I could absolutely take on a death stalker by myself".
Jackie blinked as he looked at Hex.
"Yes Jackie, tell me in earnest that you believe Nate could take on a death stalker by himself".
Jackie blinked a handful of times and chuckled, "Fight a death stalker? Dude you couldn't even fight a cat".
"That was one time".
"Ha!" Hex chuckled as she made her way through the mountain of cups, and dishes in the sink.
"So you're saying if I went, and got a cat. Right now, you wouldn't get your ass kicked by it?"
"Well I mean… kinda depends on where you get the cat from".
"Double ha!" Hex added while cleaning away.
"Also in what world did you fight a death stalker? Your mission was to clear out some beowolves".
Nate scoffed, "Well if you were listening, then you'd know that it started as clearing out some beowolves and ended with taking down a death stalker".
"Not like you to be distracted. Something on your mind?"
A dry chuckle tumbled out of Jackie's mouth, "Understatement of the century".
"He had his bounty pulled out".
Hex stopped cleaning her plate, "What, really?"
Jackie slowly nodded before taking a sip to satiate the dryness in his throat.
"Damn, how did that happen? Did you mess up the bounty or something?"
Jackie eased up on his booze, putting the glass down and letting out a hoarse exhale. "Nope. Nabbed James Lock, and took down his airship in the process".
Hex blinked, "Wait that was you?"
Jackie reached into his pocket, and pulled out the purple revolver that belonged to the aforementioned criminal. "Have his revolver short sword to prove it".
At the push of a button Jackie transformed the gun into its blade form, turning it so that Hex could see all the intricate details where the purple plates met dull gray steel.
"Damn. And after all that the client just pulled out? Why?"
Jackie put the revolver on the ground and sighed, "Because I crashed the airship. Turns out they wanted that back as well".
Hex scoffed, "Well was it mentioned in the reward?"
Jackie raised a brow, and looked knowingly at Hex.
Deepening her confusion as she asked "then why?"
"The airship's inclusion as a reward would've elevated the reward into a higher bracket. Meaning a bigger payout, but the client didn't want to fess up the cash".
"Wow, so a cheapskate put out a criminal bounty and hoped to secretly get an airship? What kind of cheap as hells client would do that?"
Nate chucked as Jackie replied with "try the Atlas military".
Hex lost her grip on the plate she was cleaning, the ceramic saucer careening for an early grave when Hex managed to cling to its edge just in the nick of time. "For the love of the gods, are you kidding me?!"
"That's what I said… sort of".
Hex put the plate down on the counter beside the sink, and rubbed her temples. "So let me get this straight, the Atlesian military. The jar heads in the sky kingdom, pulled out the bounty because they were too cheap to hike up the price to get an airship back?"
"Basically".
Hex sighed, "Unbelievable".
"I always figured those guys were all talk. I mean, who wears all white as a uniform? What if you get blood on it?" Nate chimed in, throwing his own two cents into the ring.
"Well, if it's any consolation. I heard that some guys from the White Fang managed to apparently hijack one of their manufacturing facilities, so there's that".
"Well it's not. I'd much rather have the money than Atlas getting humiliated by a bunch of terrorists", Jackie sighed and shrugged.
"Just trying to make you feel better".
"Yeah well, regardless. What's done is done. Now I just gotta find some way to scrounge up 40,000 lien to pay off Miss Malachite".
Hex tossed her head back and groaned, "Jackie, why?"
"Because I'm a magnet for crap luck, and poor decisions" Jackie replied before taking a swig of his drink. "Just like how I only have 1,000 lien left, and I'm spending a chunk of it on drinks".
"You know… since Mr. Bigshot over here scored 10,000 lien taking on a death stalker. Maybe he could cover your tab" Hex began as she picked up her plate, and resumed her cleaning. "Just a thought".
Nate chuckled nervously, "Oh uh… I mean… It's just that…"
Jackie went to shoot Nate down when Hex jumped in, "Unless of course, all that death stalker talk is a lie and there actually isn't 10,000 lien – but the 800 that you were originally promised".
Nate's nervousness turned to blind bravado on a dime, "Oh, is that right? Well, I'll show you!"
Nate snapped his fingers and shot Jackie a finger gun, "Jackie, go nuts. Get whatever you want. Drinks are on me".
"Nate…"
"I'm serious, and if you don't order I will".
"Nate, you don't have to…"
Hex jumped in once more, "If you can't up, that means you're a fraud. F-R-A-U-D. Fraud".
"Order now" Nate ordered as Jackie looked at Hex, who grinned deviously.
"Alright fine, get me a bottle of Newburg Scotch".
Nate winced, "Newburg Scotch? But that's some pretty high end scotch… I'm not even sure if…"
"One bottle of Newburg Scotch coming right up" Hex replied with glee as she perused the wine rack with one hand.
"Uh… how about some Middlebury Ale instead? I hear it's a lot better" Nate offered, smiling sheepishly while doing so.
"Fraaaaud" Hex called out in a sing-song voice.
"Newburg Scotch it is! And hells, get me a bottle too".
Jackie rolled his eyes, watching Nate get all tensed up like a pushed down spring.
Hex brought forth two bottles of Newburg Scotch, two tall dark green bottles the corks of which Hex plucked off with her cybernetic fingers.
"Enjoy" Hex said before gesturing for Nate's payment, while wearing a grin of smugness.
"Here" Nate said with mild aggravation as he reached into his pocket, and pulled out the lien to pay for the bottles.
Jackie picked up his bottle, the smell of finely aged scotch wafting into his nose. The smell of ancient wood mixed with the tanginess of grapes, and a sweet hint of nectar. It was an invitation to dive in, and Jackie wasted no time in accepting it.
"Cheers" Jackie said as he moved the bottle to face Nate.
"To huntsmen" Nate added.
"To huntsmen" Jackie reiterated before they clinked their bottles and filled their throats with the best that Vale had to offer.
Time always inevitably lost meaning when drinks were involved, and after draining half of the Newburg Jackie found himself in that all too familiar void. Where blinding lights became his backdrop while time decided to go on its lunch break.
Most times he'd be alone, but this time he had Nate to accompany him.
"I'm reaaaalllly nod supised" Nate said as he leaned over, and used Jackie's shoulder as support.
Jackie, for his part, managed to keep himself from falling over by planting his elbows on the counter. Anchoring himself to the planet, and gripping his bottle of Newbury Scotch.
"I meen…" Nate began before lifting up his green bottle, and shoving its slender mouth into his. After chugging down three mouthfuls of the wine god's nectar, Nate waved his bottle around as though it was a magic wand.
"Atlas is foool uv rich peeple, and de rich don get rick by spenin", Nate pointed his scotch bottle at Jackie and rubbed it against his beard stubble.
"Yeah… dey sure don…" Jackie replied, feeling the cold glass brush against the tiny hairs of his face.
"But hey, at lest… you can rest ezy knowin that they've been had by de wite fung".
"Ah, dat won't lass lung" Jackie replied lazily before dropping his mouth onto that of his scotch.
"Grimm ataks in Solis… gonna keep dem Atas boys preeeeety busyyyyy", Nate shoved his bottle back into his mouth like a pacifier before closing his eyes, and letting the booze take him for a ride.
"Heh… know wat be funni? If sum guy took dat place bak. Make Alan look real stupid…"
Nate pulled out his scotch from his mouth and slammed it on the counter, "Yeah… dat'll show'em. Big stroge armey, but cuddle stap wait foong or sum guy".
Jackie hunched over, planting an elbow on the counter while cupping his chin with the same arm. An angled sip sending a steady river of dark green into his mouth, "Can't be too herd… just ned rite sembance".
Nate snapped his fingers, "invibilly, and… power… to fite all dem kite dang guys".
Jackie nodded, "Yeah…"
He put the bottle to his lips, and finished the last of it. Sucking up every little bit, until there was nothing left but glass. Jackie put the bottle on the counter, and felt a heaviness swell in his head.
"I'm jus gonna…" Jackie mumbled out before his head crashed onto the counter, and his world drowned in darkness.
The roar of engines echoed through the air, reverberating throughout the steel. Waves pulsing across an ocean of gray.
On a bench behind a window of sand, a man in green with a boyish face cast a line into the wall. Gripping his fishing pole tightly with a tongue sticking out as a woman sat next to him. Hunched over with her hands under her chin, a pair of wolf ears poking out of the tsunami that was her hair.
"Hey Cole, ya catch anything yet?" asked the woman who sat beside Jackie, a dark skinned girl in a sandy cloak.
"Not yet Sable, but I'm close. I can feel it" Cole replied with a desperate eagerness.
"You're not gonna catch anything Cole. It'll be just like all the other times" the wolf faunus said, unamused and staring at the window behind Sable.
"Don't be so mean Klyde. I have feelings you know".
"Yeah, he has feelings. So don't" Sable added as Klyde sighed.
"I hate feelings – wish I could fish them out" Klyde muttered.
"You can borrow my rod when I'm done" Cole offered, the mint haired friend glancing over at Klyde.
The faunus scoffing before rolling her eyes.
"So guys… we ready for our mission or what?" Jackie asked as he looked around the interior of the bullhead.
"I was ready before we took off…" Klyde said before letting out a tired sigh.
"Once I'm done my fishing, I'll be golden" Cole added.
Sable nodded before stretching her arms over her head, "Ready as I'll ever be…"
She flicked her dark eyes onto Jackie and asked, "So… this is our final mission before graduation. Our last hurrah before we become licensed huntsmen".
"This day couldn't come sooner" Klyde remarked.
"Kinda wish it wouldn't, to be honest" Cole said as he saw something tug at the bait that bobbed on the rippling metal wall.
"What why?" Sable asked.
"Yeah, I figured you of all people would've wanted to leave school forever" Jackie added.
"And I still do… but I fell down an internet rabbit hole some time ago, and apparently most huntsmen teams tend to fall apart after graduation", Cole shrugged and added "hate to say it guys, but I think we might be destined for the same fate".
Klyde glanced up in thought while Sable slammed her hands together, one balled into a fist.
"No way, not happening. Not with us, anyway" Sable said, her voice a roar of conviction.
"I don't know… I wouldn't mind getting some space from old man of the sea over there" Klyde replied while jutting a thumb in Cole's direction.
"Hey, who you calling man of the sea? I'm fishing on a wall. If anything, I'm the old man of the wall".
"Just saying. Maybe some time away from that wouldn't be so bad" said Klyde.
"Not if it means we're never gonna see each other again" Sable moped, dropping her arms onto the small cannon that rested on her lap.
"I didn't say that".
"No, but Cole did. And I refuse to believe that after 4 years together, that we'll just drift apart".
"Well I mean, it's not entirely unreasonable. I mean, what if we have to live separately" Jackie asked.
Sable straightened up, "Then we'll rent a place together. Like roommates, oh it'll be like that sitcom Besties".
Klyde scoffed, "And just where are you going to find a house big enough to fit all of us in Vacuo that's also affordable?"
Sable shrugged, "Simple. We'll move to Vale. I hear houses over there are super cheap".
"I heard that prices are going to increase moving forward because of some new legislation" Cole chimed in, warranting everyone to look at the wall fisherman with curious stares.
"What? I fell down a real estate rabbit hole, before the team splitting one".
"Or Mantle, or whatever. Point is, we'll find a way to make it work".
"And if it doesn't?" Klyde asked.
"If it doesn't then I'll make it work", Sable pointed a finger at all of her team mates. "You're crazy if you think I'm gonna sit here and just let you guys disappear".
Klyde smiled slightly as did Cole.
"Alright team, we've arrived" spoke a voice that seemed to come from everywhere.
Jackie nodded, "Guess that's our cue. Ready guys?"
Klyde nodded and stood up eagerly, "Finally, some action".
Cole sighed as he pulled out the fishing rod and threw it away, "Man, can't believe I didn't catch anything".
"Told you so" Klyde replied with a snarky edge in her voice as she and Cole approached Jackie.
Sable stood to Jackie's left with Cole, and Klyde to Jackie's right. Their leader looked at each of them, getting affirming nods and a thumbs up from Sable.
"The next mission after this, we'll be licensed huntsmen" Jackie said with stoicism as he grabbed the handle of the door, and pulled it open. Expecting to be greeted by the parched ground of a sizeable settlement, but instead it was a vast abyss.
Out of which emerged a giant beast, a slender worm with a mouth armored by bone. It bit down on Sable's midsection, and pulled her into the darkness.
"Sable!" Jackie shouted as Klyde pulled the door closed.
"What are you doing? Open the door!" Jackie demanded, but when he looked to Klyde she was gone.
"Klyde?"
Jackie looked around, and found that he was all alone. Cole's fishing rod being the only other thing present.
"Sable" Jackie called out as his eyes darted open, and he woke up. Rising up, and startling Hex who had once stood over him.
Hex blinked, "Uh… you alright?"
Jackie blinked, and glanced around. The folks passed out drunk beside him, the gamblers throwing their lives away in one corner, and the acoustic band keeping the airwaves occupied. It all flooded Jackie's mind with some much needed relief.
Jackie nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine".
He reached for the bottle, and went to take a sip only to find that it was empty.
"Who's Sable?"
"Nobody special".
Hex slowly nodded as Jackie turned to his right, and saw Nate fast asleep.
"You gonna wake him up?"
"Eventually. For now I think I'll let him sleep off the Newburg".
Jackie chuckled, "Weren't you the one who said bars aren't for sleeping".
Hex flashed a wicked smile, "That's why I'll balance my generosity by waking him up by banging some pots and pans".
"That's more like it" Jackie concluded as he picked up the revolver that belonged to James Lock.
"You know, you could always try pawning that thing off at Gunmetal's. I'm sure he'd pay something for a custom piece like that".
"Ah, I doubt it'd be enough to cover a debt of 40,000 lien. 10,000 maybe, but not 40,000".
"Well, that's at least something right?"
Jackie nodded, "But I doubt Miss Malachite will extend my due date if I bring in 10,000 as opposed to what she's owed".
Hex sighed as she picked up Jackie and Nate's bottles, "Fair enough. Well at least it'll make for a nice weapon. On the plus side, you won't have to brawl your way out of fights anymore".
Jackie looked at the gun, transforming into a short sword and slowly moving its blade through the air.
Hex tossed the bottles into a bin beneath the counter, and watched Jackie play with the sword. Moving it with skill and grace, the purplish-gray blade becoming an elegant martin as it soared through the air before landing gently on the counter.
"It certainly suits you better, I'll give you that".
"Always had a thing for swords".
"I can tell" Hex nodded before getting back to work, cleaning up the mountain of dishes that never got smaller.
'Now if only you could fix my debt problem' Jackie thought right as the hazy words of Nate drifted into his mind.
Yeah… dat'll show'em. Big stroge armey, but cuddle stap wait foong or sum guy
Jackie's eyes fixed on the blade, seeing his face staring back with the throws of an epiphany pushing up his brows.
'Actually…' Jackie thought, putting the blade on the counter and glancing up in thought.
A list of names flashing into the forefront, names of hunters that Jackie had more than his fair share of run-ins in the past. For better or for worse.
Jackie pulled out his scroll, and started sifting through his contact list to find the names that churned in his head.
Hex glanced up from the glass she'd gotten to cleaning, her lips slightly curling into a smirk at Jackie's sudden exuberance.
"What's with the chipper attitude?"
"Just taking a trip down memory lane".
Hex eyed Jackie's scroll with skepticism, enough to warrant sneaking a peak by swiping the phone out of Jackie's hands.
"Hey".
Hex scanned the contacts list, the names popping up as regulars she'd seen more than a handful of times.
"Trip down memory lane my ass. Most of these guys you only ever grouped up with once or twice" Hex replied as she flicked through the list, when a pattern among them emerged but not before Jackie got back his phone back.
"Doesn't mean I can't have fond memories of doing a gig with them".
Hex put down the soap covered glass in the sink, and looked up in thought.
"Jackie…" Jackie began before looking right at the disheveled brunette, "All those guys have semblances that'd be perfect for bypassing advanced security measures".
Jackie put his scroll on the counter right as Hex's gaze hardened.
"Don't tell me you're seriously considering that dumb plan of Nate's?"
Jackie looked at Hex with a straight face and said, "Okay then I won't".
Hex scoffed, "Jackie that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard".
"Is it though?"
"Yes it is. Getting the Atlesian's to fund your suicide plan, and then actually pulling it off. Do you hear how moronic that sounds?"
"Okay yeah, when you put it like that it sounds insane. But come on, what other choice do I have?"
"Pawn off that revolver, get 10,000 and then find the rest".
"There's no time. Even if I hit every job on the board every day, I'd barely scrape up enough to match the first 10,000".
"As if there's enough time to pull off a death defying stunt like this?"
"Eh, hindsight is only 50/50. And besides, I have a plan".
Hex narrowed her eyes, "You have a list of names, that's hardly a plan".
"Ah, but a list of names is all I need".
"Jackie…"
"Look, I get that you're worried but I got this" Jackie said in an attempt to try and assuage Hex of her concerns. All while thinking 'I have to'.
Hex looked into Jackie's eyes, and upon seeing the inferno that swirled in his scarlet irises.
She sighed and relented, "Fine. Have it your way – but you better not get arrested, or killed you hear me? I can't have one of my best customers getting rubbed off".
Jackie put on his usual carefree smile, "I'll do my best". Before pushing himself off the barstool, and stepping back from the counter.
"Where you going?"
"To set my plan into motion" Jackie replied before spinning on his heel, and marching towards the door. Invigorated, and feeling like a new man.
The Black Tower
Mistral
Jackie walked across the wooden floor of the Black Tower with a vibrant swagger behind each, and every step. Summoning his confidence with a picture of success in his mind.
A couple of hunters looked his way with some making quiet remarks, no doubt about how stupid he looked with how he walked. But to Jackie being noticed at all meant he was on the right track.
"Evening Tam" Jackie said as he passed by the front reception.
"Evening…" Tam replied before blinking, and snapping back to Jackie. Dropping her book, and scrambling to hop over the side gate.
"Jackie, where the hells do you think you're going", Tam got in front of Jackie. An admittedly short, and somewhat lanky wall to keep Jackie from Scratch's office.
Jackie smiled, "Just giving Scratch a little visit is all. I was told he has an open door policy".
"Only when he's not busy, which he currently is".
"Ah, I'm sure he can make an exception".
Tam's dark lavender eyes stiffened, and she put her hands behind her back. Her fingers gripping the twin black flintlocks that were holstered behind.
"Mr. Scratch is currently not seeing anyone. You'll have to come back later".
Jackie sighed, "Could you at least page him first? If he tells me to shove off then… I'll shove off".
Tam frowned with her grip on her weapons tightening.
"Besides, you know how Scratch hates making a scene…"
Tam closed her eyes for a second before then letting out a sigh, "Fine. But if he gives you the boot".
"Yeah, yeah, I know".
Tam let go of her weapons, leaving them holstered before pulling out her scroll and dialing the big man on top.
"Mr. Scratch, sorry to bother you sir but Jackie Velvet is here. He says he needs to speak to you".
Jackie grabbed Tam's scroll from her, making the slightly shorter woman yelp out a "hey".
"Scratch, buddy… I have a favor to ask of you, and one hells of a lucrative offer".
Tam managed to snatch back her scroll, giving Jackie a visceral scowl as she put the phone to her ear.
"Sorry about that sir…"
Tam blinked, "I'm sorry sir but… r-really?"
She looked quizzically at Jackie with scrunched up lips, contorted with slight surprise. "Okay sure uh… of course".
Tam ended the call and pocketed her scroll before forcing a smile, "Mr. Scratch will see you know".
Jackie returned the smile with a smug one of his own, and walked past Tam as she scowled at him from behind.
"Yo, Scratch" Jackie began as he opened the door to Scratch's office, and came to a dead stop at the sight that lay before him.
A man tied to a chair, his mouth covered by a tightly bound rag, struggling to break free. He looked at Jackie with desperate eyes, pleading to be released, all while Scratch leaned against the edge of his desk. His hands gloved in latex with one hand holding a scalpel.
'Tam wasn't kidding' Jackie thought before saying "maybe this isn't a good time".
"Oh no, please. Go on, and elucidate me on your lucrative offer", Scratch's dark gaze beckoned Jackie to go ahead. An undercurrent of frustration, and insistence backing up his words.
"Okay", Jackie closed the door behind him at Scratch's gesturing and steeled his nerves. Drawing upon all the confidence he held in every fiber of his being, "You got connections within Atlas military right?"
"Yes?"
"Right, well – I propose to you", Jackie brought his palms together and said "an offer for the Atlas military, where I put together a crew, bust into the Atlesian manufacturing facility crawling with White Fang, and take it back before handing it over to Atlas with a pretty bow on top".
Jackie wore his smile, and held his gaze on Scratch who looked at him in silence that lasted for all of two seconds before he broke into laughter.
A symphony of cackles erupted out of not only Scratch, but the man gagged and bound to the chair. His muffled chuckles echoing across the room, and becoming the backing track for Scratch's more prominent guffaw.
The laughter gradually ceased from Scratch's end, but the other guy kept going. Leading to Scratch silencing him with a glare, before turning to face the red eyed hunter.
"Gods, I haven't had a laugh like that since that one time in 6 years ago in Vale", Scratch glanced up wistfully and let out a nostalgic sigh. "You missed your calling Jackie, you should've been a comedian. Not a huntsmen".
Jackie nodded, thinking 'yeah I figured this would happen'.
"Alright, then how about this? If you agree to go along with my ingenious plan".
"I think you mean ingeniously stupid plan".
"You can take a 20% commission off of it, as opposed to the usual 10".
Scratch quirked a scarlet brow with a flash of intrigue pulling the left edge of his lips, "40% and I'll see what I can do".
Jackie's heart nearly jumped out of his throat at Scratch's terms, "40%?!"
Scratch shrugged, "As it stands, I'd be taking a pretty hefty risk sending a message through my contacts in the Atlas military. So I think a 40% cut is a fair trade off, and besides. If they buy into your proposal, then it'll barely be a dent in the reward".
'Yeah right…' Jackie thought, given how whiny Atlas had been so far with his previous bounty. He could only imagine how much more grubby they'd be for something as monumentally suicidal as this.
Jackie slowly nodded, and as much as he'd like to try and get Scratch to back down. He could tell the man was not going to move on this, given how he'd straightened up when it came to the terms of his assistance.
"So, do we have a deal?"
Jackie closed his eyes and said the words that hurt the most, "We have a deal".
Scratch smirked before walking over to Jackie and offering up a hand, "To make it official".
Jackie eyed the hand with caution, but sighed and accepted it, albeit reluctantly.
The deal was sealed with a firm handshake, and Scratch pulled back before patting Jackie strongly on the shoulder. "I'll send word to my contacts, and get back to you once I have an answer – but I have to warn you, I can't guarantee that they'll play ball".
"The White Fang of all people took over one of their assets, and it's making headlines. With Grimm keeping their hands tied, the sooner this problem disappears. The better it'll be for their image".
Scratch shrugged as he turned around, "Perhaps. But… only time will tell. Now, if you don't mind. I have some business to tend to".
Jackie glanced over to the other guy, who flinched and gulped. His eyes looking at Jackie with desperation, a silent plea that went ignored as the hunter in the duster turned around and left.
Outside right as Jackie opened the door, he came face to face with Tam who jumped back with a startle.
"I wasn't eavesdropping, I was merely… admiring the craftsmanship on Mr. Scratch's door" Tam blurted out sheepishly, while putting her hands behind her back.
"Uh… okay" Jackie said as he closed the door, and moved around Tam.
"So… you're planning on trying to get Atlas to pay for your reverse heist".
Jackie glanced back and smirked before turning around to face the slightly shorter receptionist, "I thought you weren't eavesdropping".
Tam glared from behind her glasses.
"But yeah, that's the plan".
Tam adjusted her glasses and chuckled, "Man, you either have some really big balls or you lost all your brain cells from falling into the Atlantean sea".
"I'd like to think it's the former or the latter".
"Nah, you're just dumb".
Jackie blinked and asked, "Then why bother giving me the option?"
"Eh, I like getting people's hopes up before I slam them with what I really think", Tam moved past Jackie and back to her post.
"Okay…" Jackie muttered to himself before turning around, and marching out of Scratch's inner sanctum. Stopping right after stepping into the remainder of the Black Tower when a blood curdling scream bounced into his ears.
"Jeez, you'd think he'd have sound proofed his room by now…" Jackie said to himself as he caught the eyes of a couple of other freelancers who took notice of the cry of anguish.
The agonizing howls continued, and Jackie made a beeline to the exit. He didn't want to be inside when Scratch was hard at work. Outside, Jackie saw that darkness had begun to set in. A slow gradual spill of violets, and lavenders seeping into the dark blue of the sky.
The shattered moon could be seen climbing over the top of the mountain, and the upper rings of Mistral. Beyond the large automated turrets built into the side at each ring, and the dense network of buildings that went on for seemingly forever.
A quick walk ahead, and Jackie could see the sun making its daily journey towards the horizon. A fiery blob slowly but surely sinking in the distance, sucking the light from the long alleyway that stretched out in front of him.
'The die has been cast, now it's time to see if lady luck is on my side' Jackie thought as a slight chill went down his spine.
The future lay uncertain, like the creeping shadows which slowly consumed the passage up ahead. But Jackie took solace in the one certainty he did have, which was himself.