001 [video]

[benumbing]

[Jack's parked himself, where else, in Delight's bar, and even though he's halfway through the bottle in front of him, he's still composed. It's equal parts troubling and impressive...his reputation for being a party prince back home was well-earned.]

At least one of the gods here has good taste in alcohol. That's more than I can say for the god of my father. I think he prefers sweet wine and the blood of lambs or bulls...

[He waves his hand dismissively before taking another drink. He doesn't want to talk about sacrifice, or even think about it. But he's not shying away from the subject of blood.]

I'm here to ask where I can find training with the weapons in the armory. I served in the military of my world, but we were somewhat more...advanced with our weapons - which really just means we grew impatient with the time it took us to kill a great number of people, so we came up with tanks and guns. But since there are actual monsters here and I can't burst into flames or shoot ice daggers from my eyes, I'd like to master something as quickly as possible.

[And he doesn't find the up-close and personal aspect of if to be as distasteful as he might've thought. Maybe because he'll be killing monsters and not someone's son, though there are instances where he thinks the two can overlap.]

I'll be in your debt. [And the sobering way that he says those words show just how seriously Jack takes them. But it's followed by his lips curving into a smirk.] And in exchange, I'll also bring the tastiest monsters right to your doorstep. The ugly ones taste just like chicken.

[But they don't stay down as easily, not unless you're the youngest Stark girl.]

Comments

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[lineare]

[ She laughs softly, shaking her head. She has to admit, you're awfully sweet, and so very charming. Even so: ] And for you? What do you want to become for yourself?

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[benumbing]

I haven't decided yet. I was born and raised for one thing and one thing alone.

[Even when he became a soldier, a commander, all of that was the foundation for eventually becoming king. He has opportunities here. He's still trying to see that as a good thing.]

It's impossible now.

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[lineare]

[ She's seen the soldier, the commander, the prince -- the failed attempt at being king. More than that, she's seen the pain and the hurt; the hundred thousand tiny little cuts. ]

It's terrifying. [ She says quietly. She understands. ] But knights are not so easily daunted, are they?

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[benumbing]

[She understands and it always terrifies him a little. She doesn't terrify him, it's what she knows about him, and thoughts about what she must think. He wants her to think well of him, to believe him to be the prince charming that his mother would always have the public believe.]

No. Not if they hope to call themselves knights.

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[lineare]

[ She can hear it, his thoughts churning in his head, the desire to be liked and loved -- so much that was denied him in his formative years. The desire and adoration of the masses is not the same as familial affection.

Thoughtfully, she asks: ]

What do you want to call yourself, Jack?

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[benumbing]

You care so much. [Gently.] Why?

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[lineare]

[ Jean hesitates. This isn't a question she's used to hearing -- people usually know what she can do, and they fear her, shun her; they don't usually ask questions.

Looking down at her hands briefly, she meets his eyes after a moment. ] It's hard not to care, when you know their stories. All that they've been through. [ There are two ways to go about this, she supposes; you either shut it all out and harden your heart to it, or you... well, you help people however you can. She smiles briefly, fleetingly. ]

Everyone's fighting their own battles, right? [ Even him. Especially him; the fear that chokes the life out of him, the anger and the pain, the things he chooses to do to other people because it had been done to him. She sees all of it; the good, the bad, the ugly. ] You're not afraid of me. Why?

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[benumbing]

You know mine.

[And that confuses him even more, because she has seen the good and the bad, and there has been a lot of bad - tarnishing and denying, manipulating and even death, whether it's a Gath soldier or a neglected lover. She has the power to see it all, and she still wishes the best for him.]

Have people treated you differently because of who and what you are? Better? Worse? The loneliness must feel overwhelming sometimes. [He smiles faintly.] I guess I can relate.