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#Post#: 410261--------------------------------------------------
Jackie's Odd Jobs
By: Evil Kitty Date: January 14, 2020, 6:36 pm
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EPISODE 1: THE LOST LOVER ("Linger" by The Cranberries)
THE MAGICIAN
Ugh. Suburbia. Jackie's nose curled up as he exited the black
portal unto the outskirts of the neighborhood: smelling the
clean air. His green, dull, eyes sloppily falling down to the
scythe that appeared in his dangling hand. "Here!?" He spoke
aloud in a bit of frustration for the weapon which only let out
an unruly, long, growl in return. Before settling into Jackie's
sigh. "Ya'know I hate these pish posh walks.." He said a bit
more calmly as he walked into a bit of shrub to keep himself
hidden: laying the weapon down on his lap as he sat against a
tree. "A bit too bright for me... Let's just watch 'em for
now... See this lover." Of course the scythe growled a short,
agreeable, grumble.
Grabbing the handle of the gruesome, screaming skull decorated,
scythe he brought it closer to his chest. His right hand cupping
just under the blade as it began to hum and release an ominous
gray aura. The rigid blade begin to sweat a revolting brown
bile. It began to run and flow off the blade like tea into
Jackie's palm: filling it. With that he dropped the scythe;
reverting it to a cane. Both hands cupping the precious fluid as
he brought it to his lips. "Smell's like ass..." He momentarily
cringed as he looked it over. Only to quickly pour the contents
down his gullet: swallowing it all.
His pupils were soon to grow as his vision followed. Sure to be
thankful he had been sitting against the tree since he had
fallen back: if his mind was still his own. Now thrust into a
world of beautiful colors and images. A world of greens; growth
and life. Yellows; joy. Blues; peace. Jackie had felt it. The
pink center of this passion forming into a center image. Though,
this image... It was bathed in the danger of red and the effect
of death's black touch. Left only with what seemed to be a
single, lonely... Bird..? No. That couldn't be right.
Though, much to his dismay, he was cut off. His body flung awake
with a loud gasp: clenching tightly to the solid wood of the
cane's length. "Bloody rip-off." He said aloud as he stood up
from his spot: noting he had been out all day and the moon had
risen high. The scythe's growl being heard as equally as
displeased as the boy himself, though, they trucked on towards
this quiet, unexpecting, neighborhood. None of their sleeping
patrons knowing death himself will pay a visit to their doorstep
tonight.
He was smarter than to just go walking through town looking the
way he did. Didn't matter what time it was. Luckily, he has a
skill for being a light stepper as he slipped from yard to yard.
Looking to the houses as he grunted to himself in frustration.
"They all look the same!" With these words he stopped running
and looked for a moment. Anxiously rolling his neck as his
joints in them **** gruesomely. His free hand reaching down for
the cane as a strip of brass was shed from the vulture skull
upon the handle: slowly draining of it's color to be a dull grey
powder. Quick to disappear within' Jackie's nostrils.
"Mmn…" Was all he could mutter as his eyes turned to a glare and
he felt his body, and power, focus: pulling him towards a
singular point. "That's it, doll..." He said with a grin as his
body leapt in an inhuman jump: leaving him upon the rooftops of
suburbia. Shooting from home to home until he found himself as
the singular point. Pulling into himself. He stood upon the
rooftop for a moment as he took it in. The smells. The feelings.
Being at the center. It invigorated him. Making him all the more
ready to go in.
It was simple work for Jackie to make his way into the home
through his portals. Careful not to use his cane to aid his
walking as he held to the wall instead: guiding himself to the
Livingroom through the dark hallways. There lay a small cage.
Inside of it...? A little parakeet with it's head tucked
longingly into it's own feathers. Jackie walked closer carefully
as the image became more clear. What were once beautiful
feathers were pulled and plucked... The food remained uneaten.
And, though small, it was far too big of a cage for just one.
He couldn't help a smile of pity before he gently tapped his
cane to the cage. "'Ey now, ma'lady. It's time to go meet a
friend." Despite his ominous appearance his kind smile never
faded as he gently opened the hinge to the cage. The bird quick
to wake up as she jumped back a bit. Though, he wasn't worried
as he simply tried once more. This time outstretching his hand
just outside of the cage's door. "Don't worry, doll. He'll still
be glad to see ya." He said soft as the bird ducked her head
down in a bit of thought. Soon to fade as she had hopped out
onto Jackie's hand with a soft tweet. Jackie handing her a bit
of millet in reply. "Last meal?" Of which the bird happily
obliged. As she chewed her feathers grew beautiful once more as
her old body seemed to shed into Jackie's hand. This new form
flying off to meet that love she had missed so.
Jackie patiently placing the body of the bird into the bottom of
the cage with a sigh as he closed the hatch. Brushing a tear
from his eye with a smear of the face paint. Though, he remained
silent to the situation as he turned from the cage. Taping the
cane to the floor as a new gateway was open. Walking in to see
what his next life may live.
[center]--------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------[/center]
(This is the prologue and thusly is to be used as a reference
tool)
EPISODE 0: THE FIRST DEATH ("Tom Sawyer" by Rush)
THE FOOL
Michael was born somewhere in the 60's in England. His mother a
free spirit and child of the flower; he was naturally unplanned.
He recalled nothing of a father as they travelled what felt like
the world to him, in that small van.
Listening to music at shows and meeting fascinating, new, people
every day. His childhood feeling like a true image of color as
he was taught the languages of love; rather than the history of
war taught in classrooms.
Though, this image was soon to grow sour as the boy was to grow
older. Realization sank in as Michael would worry over things
like hunger and where to sleep as he'd find her passed out where
she lay. Next thing he knew, the boy would be meeting Death for
the first time at the age of eight. Walking in on his mother,
collapsed once more, in their van.
The creature knew the boy could see it. Hear it. Though, he was
too young. "You will be my Ripper. Become Death. Earn her back."
Michael heard and so it was told. Though, the boy still had to
live his life. Just from that day, he would live it as Jack; the
Ripper.
In time the boy had come to fill these heavy steps. Though, he
did not rip flesh with a blade. No, he ripped the mind, body,
and soul with deals of drugs, pleasure, and deception. Building
his empire with ruthless prowess as he slowly destroyed his own
body. Barely able to hold to mortality in his consistent high
stupor.
Finally, that flesh giving way as his contract was do at the age
of seventeen: in fact due on the date of his birth during a
celebratory binge. Pulling him from time's consequence as he
found himself in front of his first ally, Mistress. "You ready
to see what self-destruction really is?" As he heard those
words, spoken from her twisted iron mask, he only demanded two
things. His face painted and his body remarked of bone each time
he passes. Then he was armed with the scythe, Temptation: off to
fulfill his role.
#Post#: 410409--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jackie's Odd Jobs
By: Evil Kitty Date: February 21, 2020, 3:53 pm
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EPISODE 2: THE BROKEN BLOOD (Inspired by "Jackie" by Sinead
O'Connor)
THE HIGH PRIESTESS
The nightmare continued. It was just an image. Though, a strong
image that irked Jackie's resting bones. His, once beautiful,
mother's image was being corrupted and distorted as she
approached a strange man and took his hand into her own. This
vile man whispering words that made her mutated image giggle in
pleasure before the blackened background had cleared into a
stray motel room. Angering the boy as he tried to call for his
mother to find he had no air to speak. Instead he could only
watch as the two had slipped into the bed in their playfulness.
Though, he knew the look in that man's eyes. It was not love.
This image would begin to shift, but, with it a massive vulture
came forth and rammed into the boy's chest. With that he had
awoken: cutting him from the vision as he was holding his
companion in it's full, scythe, form. The rigid, dull, blade
hovering inches from his chest. With that he huffed. "I was
sleeping... Means I kicked it again..." He looked down to see
the tattoos upon his flesh wiped clean. Yet, this time, he did
not feel it right to see Mistress to get them redone just yet.
Looking back to the scythe in his grip. "I know my next soul,
huh?"
Yet, the tool of the boy's power had chose to ignore his words
this time around. Only seeming to enrage the poor boy. Yet, he
knew he could do nothing to his companion so he got up from his
bed with a huff. "Slimy poultry." Muttering to himself as he
swung the scythe and tore a hole into the fabric of the pocket
dimension of which they dwell: taking a moment as he stood in
front of that blackened mass of a doorway. Looking down to his
bare palms as the dull, rigid, scythe shifted in it's calmer,
cane, form. Sighing out his worries before taking those first
steps through the rift.
The boy was surprised to find sand underneath his heavy boots
and against the tip of his cane. Hearing the crash of the waves
just barely interrupting the silence of the beach he stood on.
This didn't seem right. Jackie had never been here. Yet, his
gaze had shifted, over to the water, to see a woman. His eyes
going wide. She seemed to be a bit older than the boy himself,
but... She looked... She was nearly identical to his mother.
It had taken him some time to realize that the woman was even
real, let alone realize that she was passed out on the beach.
Though, once he finally did put it together he was quick to drop
his cane into the sand and run to the girl's aid. He had no idea
what he could even do for her. He was an apprentice of death;
not life. So, he improvised. "Alright, love. Let's get you
movin'" He said with a determined, yet distracted, tone as he
immediately kneeled down and swooped the girl up into his arms.
Carrying her into the cabin he had assumed was hers at the edge
of the beach. Setting her up upon the couch as he had sat
himself opposite of her. He couldn't take his eyes off of her as
she laid there: wondering over his duties, his dreams, and his
past life. Who was she?
Finally he let out a sigh of relief as he had heard a groan
leave her soft lips: despite it being a pained groan. Her
jerking around on the furniture beginning to knock loose to
tools of her destruction and beginning to piece the puzzle for
Jackie together as he saw those loose baggies. Looking back to
see the girl's eyes slowly part open. "Mmmn… What a long
night..." She grunted until she had noticed Jackie quietly
sitting there. Letting out a blood soaked scream. "Who the hell
are you!?" The girl quickly jumping from the cushions and
grabbing the closest lamp she could: wielding it as a blade.
Jackie chuckled a bit at the irony. Being welcomed less as life
than he was usually as death. Though, either way, he was never
met too fondly. Taking a moment to think of what to see to the
girl before him; smirking at the idea. "Call me, Jackie. Just
made port, love. Saw a pretty girl all whacked out in the water.
Went and figured you'd rather not drown... So, who are you?" He
said much more patiently than usual. It helped that his thick
accent reinforced that he was a foreigner and a sailor.
The girl looked as if she was going to challenge his story or
threaten him with her weapon of choice, but, he had gotten her
in checkmate. A sigh escaping her lips as she simply spoke the
name "Terra." Jackie smiling a bittersweet smile in return. It
wasn't his mother... But, the resemblance, and the habits...
They were so alike... And that dream. "Terra... I like it.. So,
Terra. Gotta spare room for a poor sailor to crash for a bit?"
The woman was caught off guard by the request, but, who was she
to refuse? She practically owed him her life. "Fine. You can
have the couch." Jackie only nodding in reply. "That'll do,
June."
In between Terra's binges Jackie would take her for walks upon
the beach. Every time encountering his cane sitting upon the
same spot he had first picked up her body. Though, he ignored it
as it growled louder and louder for his companion's touch. He
desired only to get to know this woman. In time beginning to
dote on her and trying to make her better than what she had been
than when he had found her. Always complimenting. Always doing
things for her and showing her kindness.
Yet, in time, Terra had turned Jackie's kind intents into
something twisted. A desire of her own as she began to dote on
him. Often finding her eyes wandering over him and in do time
leading towards hugs that may have gotten a bit too intimate for
his tastes. All the while Jackie began to understand who exactly
this woman was. He had certainly never met her, but, he should
have. That is why he was here. Her new intent only complicating
that relationship as he began to pull away.
"Sorry, Terra, I can't get mushy... Never know when I'll have to
go." He professed to try to balance this gap. Though, instead,
it only broke it apart wider. The changes he had once help her
made were only reversed. Her habits beginning once again as he
found himself carrying her in every night. Sighing as he passed
that calling companion of his. It called for her soul to rest.
She was tortured and it was his duty to lay her down... But, he
couldn't.
One day, he had heard the call. After carrying Terra in he
ventured back outside. The cane now buried in sand: he dug it
from it's grave. Pulling it out with a grunt. Viciously speaking
to the beast in his palms. "You don't get her! She is mine!" The
cane reverting into a scythe as it roared loudly in a displeased
reply, though, this roar began to subside into a submissive
growl. Jackie huffing in reply before he looked over his
shoulder for one final view of that cabin on the beach. "Later,
sis." With that he tore yet another doorway to venture out into
the seas of death once more.
As Terra grew older in her destruction her mind began to betray
her. She would forever destroy herself and follow the image of
that lost brother of hers every sundown: hoping one day she will
wake up in comfort from that lone sailor. Only for a strange,
skeleton tattooed, man to appear before her wielding a scythe
from time to time in her delirium. "Your Jackie is gone, love...
He's lost in the rain..." Only for the woman to wail in reply
every night. "You liar! Jackie's never lost! He knows his way
back!" Always finding herself in the water searching for him:
even once her unnatural life had ended.
#Post#: 410412--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jackie's Odd Jobs
By: Evil Kitty Date: February 21, 2020, 6:54 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
EPISODE 3: THE BASTARD SON ("Don't Follow" by Alice In Chains)
THE EMPRESS
Jackie gently lay upon the high rooftop amongst the crowded,
silent, neighborhood street. He was always much more comfortable
in an urban setting. Interesting things all around. Much like
the house he lay atop of. He had been watching it of his own
accord for many years now. It brought him peace to lay and
listen as the exhausted father came home to scream and holler.
Break and shatter. Jackie had watched them for quite some time
indeed. He knew Angel was just turning 18 this year and the ol'
man wasn't taking it too well. He knew little Andrew had no
longer been so little at 16. In fact; he just had a girl over
last night. Though, nobody was home for that. Of course, Jackie
was.
He had almost felt like he was part of the family, really. The
problem is he always had a bit of a hunch.. He was going to be
the one to take that ol' man's soul. It was always just a
suspicion, but, as he watched that man suffer through a dead
marriage the best he could... Work a dead end job to feed his
children... And despite his anger never lay a hand on the
innocent..? Well... He could smell the decay. It brought a
pleased growl to Temptation as it rattled in Jackie's grip.
"Settle down." He mumbled to the cane as it shed it's skin in an
eager powder for the boy. Jackie quick to inhale the dust;
focusing his mind from the distractions.
Finally, Jackie had realized the arguments waging underneath
him. "You will not leave this house with that loser! You are
still my daughter! Adult or not!" He heard the man's booming
voice growing more and more violent. Finally, hearing a scream
from his daughter, Angel. Her panicked voice escaping as the
break of a lamp was heard. "Hey! Get off me! That hurts!" She
cried out for relief.
Normally, Jackie wouldn't intervene with something like this,
but, something odd was happening with Temptation. It's body was
vibrating off and on like heartbeats growing faster and faster.
Pumping more and more stress through it's form for Jackie to
feel. "Damn it!" Jackie called out as he sliced a black tear
through the fabric of the roofing with the cane form of
Temptation. Dropping down to the floor of the argument.
Immediately, the exhausted man turned to face Jackie angrily:
his daughter's wrist held tightly in his grip. "Who do you think
you are!? Are you the one trying to take my daughter away!?" He
screamed out at Jackie as Angel looked around for someone to see
nobody, but, them. "Dad, who are you talking to!? You're scaring
me!?" The old man growling in frustrations as Jackie grew
closer. The father's face switching worried between the two.
"I'm not crazy! Get away!"
The man was eager to gesture for Jackie to back off, but, the
boy did no such thing. He only replied with a soft, calming,
tone. "Shhh… Angel can't see me, mate.. Not here for that." With
that the man's focus was brought to Jackie: falling into the
boy's words like a calming trance. "I know it's tiring, mate...
It's heavy... I'm here to give you some rest.. Some help... Just
take it." Jackie's smile was genuine as he held his cane out for
the man to take from him: offering it as a gift. "It'll help you
stand when things get too heavy.."
The man stared with a bit of reluctance at the gift before him.
His eyes beginning to soften as tears began to fall down his
cheek. Jackie speaking his final words. "You made them strong,
mate..." Those words settling the man's reluctant heart as he
reached for the polished wood. As he took it into his possession
and attempted to stand with it his form split into two. His
mortal form collapsing at the weight of a heart attack after
releasing his daughter. Leaving behind a kind looking,
respectable, young man: unburdened from life's tolls. The young
man looking to the cane before smiling to Jackie. "You know. I
think I'll get along on my own." Handing the wood back to the
boy. Giving an amused smirk to Jackie's lips as he watched the
man's spirit walk off into the obscured stairway to his
destination.
#Post#: 410512--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jackie's Odd Jobs
By: Evil Kitty Date: February 24, 2020, 9:42 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
EPISODE 4: THE LOWLY WIDOW ("She Used To Love Me A lot" by
Johnny Cash)
THE EMPEROR
"Oh come now, Honey. It's just a little tie." The seductive
voice cooed from the iron mask so elegantly as those light
skinned arms lay coiled around a struggling Jackie, his face
paint absent of his attire. "'ll eat out a bloody sewer rat
'fore I put 'at thing on!" With that the curvy, refined, body
had slithered it's way from the boy: releasing that loosened
tie. Her demonic iron mask looking to the boy so he could feel
the glare burning from beneath the metal. "That can be arranged,
you know, Jackie. Now..." Her form had instantly pepped up and
tapped the boy on his bare nose. "I have a job for you. So, be a
good boy and tie your tie... For me..?"
Jackie's eyes had hardened into a glare as he had heard the
exaggerated coo of her tone. She certainly fit her role as
Death's Apprentice of Deceit. Who was she to give him jobs
anyway? They got their souls from Death through the weapons they
carry; not each other. It just wasn't how it worked. Though...
He could only sigh in reply to the desperation and tone. Slowly
struggling to tie the black tie over the collar of his button up
shirt. "Better be good, Mistress."
The woman practically jumped with joy at his agreement as she
quickly swiped the cane from the boy's hand. "Perfect! But,
first..." With that the woman had reached up to the mask held
over her face. As her palm touch the front the back seemed to
open up in interlocking panels towards the front. Finally
revealing one half of a face met with hundreds of years of
mummification and the other half resembling what may just have
been a beauty eons ago: now just a hint to a lost memory. She
leaned in close as Jackie closed his eyes: feeling two halves of
a pair of lips placed upon his cheek molding into one soft kiss.
He need not open his eyes as he knew the sights to come. He was
now walking within his dreams. Granted more freedom than the
visions experienced when dead or inebriated. Yet... He found the
blackness of the dream becoming a dessert as he began to walk.
This barren landscape soon growing mountains, cacti, and then...
There she was. He saw his mother once more. She seemed so close,
yet, so distant... "Mum!" He called out, though, she only turned
her back to him. Revealing, now in front of her, a colossal
sculpture of her own form created from the very sand. Depicting
her image just bellow her chest and upward. Her elbows holding
her form up as she leaned her face into the palms of her hands:
rivers of tears streaming down to form a moat around the
obelisk. His mother's form walking away before her body merged
into the massive statue of solitude and despair at the center of
her heart.
Next thing the boy had known, his eyes had darted open. Looking
down he checked to see if the skeleton tattoos lay on his hands:
and they certainly held steady around that cane. Taking a moment
to put his situation all together his eyes drifted away from
himself to see a small town restaurant down the street from the
light post he was leaning against. A soft, unsure, voice
breaking his uncertainty from right behind him. "Y-You're
Jackie, right? I'm Dianne... You're right on time."
He was, of course, caught off guard, but, as he turned around
his smile grew wide as he saw the woman's face. He could feel
the isolation in her soul. The segregation in her eyes. The
sorrowed esteem in her mind. It was a face he had come to love
over and over again. The woman quick to interrupt his silent,
staring, smile. "Y-You are him, right?" To that Jackie could
only roll his eyes and raise his hand to give a soft smack to
the side of his head. "Oh yeah, of course! You're just much
prettier in person. First time dating in a tick." The boy
chuckled nervously as he couldn't take his eyes from the girl's
own light blue orbs.
Dianne blushed lightly as she heard his doting and nervousness.
Her worry and fear still weighing heavy against the few
compliments he could muster on the street sidewalks. Those soft
eyes Jackie fixed on flinching back and forth between him and
the restaurant. "Well... How about we head in and get seated
then..?" She inquired carefully; trying not to offend as she
tiptoed around his words. With that he had relaxed and nodded in
reply. "Of course." Motioning his cane for the restaurant as
they made their way down their street and headed in the doors.
As they arrived into the softly lit, Italian themed, dining hall
they stopped at the front desk. Jackie standing back as he
looked for Dianne to start the introduction. "I have a
reservation for two." The man at the desk looking to only see
her with a "Hmm. Are we to expect another to join you, ma'am?"
"No, my reservation is fine!" She spoke a bit more sternly:
Jackie watching the twinge of desperation taking over her form.
Even the man felt it in her words. "Very well, ma'am. Follow
me." With that they had silently made their way back into a
small booth big enough for them to sit across from one another.
"Will we be having any drinks?" Jackie was first to say "I'd
like a pint." With that Dianne looked to the waiter with a
painted smile. "Pepsi and a beer, then." The waiter's eyes
seemed to roll as he saw the two drinks being ordered, though,
he was quick to disappear with a "Yes, ma'am" and equally quick
to return with them. The following moments encompassing a cold
silence as Jackie looked to Dianne avoiding his glances; sipping
the suds from his beer. She had finally gathered the courage to
speak with the eager boy. "Ya'know… I was honestly a bit worried
about this date when I saw that picture... Your tattoos are a
bit... Dark."
Jackie chuckled a bit as he put the beer gently on the tables
paper coasters. Looking to her with a kind smile in reply to her
words. "Well, sometimes it takes a dark thing to show ya how
bright ya really can be. Don't ya think?" She giggled a bit
nervously as she looked down to her soda. "I don't really
know..." She attempted a bit of a smile, but, it had come up a
bit short. Jackie looking over her with a sigh. This sigh
instantly getting her attention with fear. "Well, I bet you know
what you like. Let's start with that." His kind glance had never
faded from his eyes as he watched her: merely switching between
waiting and prodding.
Soon, before he knew it, the night was scurrying on as they had
gotten into the woman's life of searching for love and
companionship. Of wielding paints and words in her isolation to
entertain her complacent mind. Despite whether bad or good, the
boy listened with the utmost interest and satisfaction. Stories
of her childhood life particularly caught his mind's eyes as he
compared them to his own, rather dynamic, and somewhat lonesome,
childhood. He felt for the woman and her thankless quest.
Eternity was a long time, and, it was hard to face it without an
ally at ones side. This thought occasionally forcing a glance
down to his cane before return to her softening expression.
"I think all those tries were just distractions that would have
blurred your real light, love." He said softly as he had brashly
slipped his hands up into her own upon the table as she rested
them. He began to roughly bite the inside of his lip as he could
feel Temptation growling upon his lap. The girl blushing deeply
at his words. "You think...?" She questioned lightly. "Well,
it's all I see." He smiled once more before crying out. "My
bloody lip! I bit it!" He called as the skin finally broke in a
small drop of blood on the flesh.
Dianne was all too quick to rush in to be his savior as she
spoke. "Oh no! Let me grab something!" Grabbing the closest
napkin in hand she leans in close to his face. "Let me see..!"
Also just as quick to dab the bit of fabric over Jackie's now
puckered lips as Temptation practically vibrated over his lap.
Wiping off just the drop, but, the wound remained as she stood
there a moment. Face to face. Staring to the boy's wounded,
puckered, lip. She felt that longing and time of need flow over
her once more. Leaning in closer as she couldn't resist. Their
lips pressing into a soft union.
Jackie's eyes closed to her tender embrace as it had felt as if
he had touched another human being for the first time in so very
long. A tear sliding down his cheek as he knew what was to come
as his blood had met her lips. Though, he would enjoy this small
kiss. This one break from being an undead boy pulled out of
time. Now he was just one man kissing a truly beautiful woman.
Their lips finally, though reluctantly, parting with a soft
release of their breath. Dianne letting out a soft, almost
entranced, tone. "I love you." Jackie smiling in return as he
wiped the tear from his eye. Looking to her with clean
conscience and face as he spoke in a shaky tone. "And I love
you, Dianne."
Those words he spoke seeming to be the ones that she had needed
to hear as her mortal body had simply... Collapsed. Her head
hitting upon the table as it went into some form of shock or
seizure.. Yet, her spirit. She rose from her body as any fine
queen should: her confidence evident in the way she stood. Her
hands hovering over his cheek, unable to touch his half mortal
flesh, as she spoke one last time. "Then we will see each other
some day..." With those words she only seemed to.. Fade. Like
the very vision that warned him of this lesson.
#Post#: 410514--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jackie's Odd Jobs
By: Evil Kitty Date: February 25, 2020, 12:29 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
EPISODE 5: THE LEFT BEHIND ("Shadow of a Lonely Man" by Alan
Parsons Project)
THE HIEROPHANT
There he stood. Staring down the, rather large, boulder that
guarded the tunnel hidden behind. In his world, and his life,
Jackie was not allowed earthly possessions from gracious souls
or dear friends. They could not be carried with him or they
would burn up in the disturbance of time that his life had
caused every day.. So some reapers took to hiding their
possessions in time and space. For Jackie it was here. The tomb
of self destruction in the hills of Mount Azazel. This was his
sacred place.
Though, Temptation did not share his companion's favor of this
place. Growling out to the boy in disturbed grumbles as Jackie
jammed the rod of the scythe into the bottom of the boulder.
"Yeah, yeah. Just get the dam thing open, eh?" He questioned
eagerly as he roughly pried with the weapon of Death: using it
as a simple tool. Finally, the blade having enough, burst with a
strange blast of blackened mass that sent the boulder flying
into a nearby wall: which it had seemed to have hit before.
Jackie looking to the blade with a smirk. "See, mate? Peaches."
In which the blade replied by simply reverting to it's cane form
in submission.
He had always felt a heavy strain as he made his way through
that small passage... It was as if he was feeling his mind warn
him of his heart.. Yet, he could not stay away from the place
for long as he finally cleared that long, narrow, passage into
the mountains. This once small, tight, space opening up into a
massive, cleared out, cavern. It had appeared to have been just
to Jackie's liking as it was his temple. His sacred texts
consisting of hung up pictures of artists like Johnny Cash, Joe
Walsh, and Fleetwood Mac. The entire back wall was dedicated,
much like an alter, to pockets in the dirt wall to hold,
seemingly ancient, bottles of varying kinds of alcohol: a large
wooden bar with silver shot glasses decorating this alter along
with a battery-ran cd player.
He smiled as he had seen all of the toys, weapons, gifts of
intimacy, and children of imagination splayed across his temple
place: knowing none had come from himself. He had taken that
moment to remember each and every soul who had gifted these
objects to him. A small charm he had gotten from his sister... A
teddy bear he had gotten from the man who refused to remember...
The ring of a tired nurse... They were all so precious to him as
his eyes rolled over the floors. Though, of course, his gaze was
soon to be lost on his savored alter. A sly smirk crossing over
his lips as he made his way down the path clear of his little
treasures: sneaking his way behind the bar.
"Finally home." He cooed as he placed Temptation upon the
counter top with a hearty smack of the wood. "What'll it be,
mate? Wine aged by the monks? Rum mixed hundreds of years ago?"
Jackie looked back to the cane as he sifted through the bottles
sticking out of the wall. Though, Temptation did not humor the
boy this time. He never even heard a peep from the cane as he
anticipated it. "Mmmn… Fine.. Russian it is then... Better put
on tunes too." He said with a sneer of his upper lip before
turning back to pull out the skull shaped bottle of Vodka and
double-shot glasses. Quick to make his way over to the
boombox-esque cd player and the mass collection of CD's. Looking
over the collection with a bit of bewilderment before settling
on one. An album by the name of "Pyramid" by Alan Parsons
Project.
As the initial beat began to fill the lonely cave a soothing
kind of smile crossed over Jackie's face. One he was not known
for. A glimpse of contentment and home as he felt the memories
of those shows when he played the role of the boy named Michael.
When he got to meet those new, colorful, people of all types
from show to show as he followed his mom from one world to
another. The music brought him... Peace. As it did them all, in
their colorful dressings; blowing smoke in that name. "Mmmn…" Is
all he could muster as he practically bounced his way with the
rhythm back to the bottle and glass. Of course, he couldn't be
bothered. The bottle soon to be in his firm, unshaking, grasp as
he made his way out from behind his bar.
Joining, once more, with his new, fond, memories as he drank to
the old. Soon a small buzz would turn into a harsh spiraling
swirl of memories, dreams, and aspiration. The hate he held for
the world he lived in caused him to break that which he cared
for. The appreciation for his duty and goal could not allow him
to change or stop as that alcohol continued to push down his
spiral. Before he had known; he had found his body upon the
floor and the skull bottle shattered before him. "Temptation..."
He called out in concern. Reaching into the glass as the
fragments impaled his flesh and the mix of alcohol and sand
scorched him.
"Nnnh!" He called out in a sobering cry. Of course, it would
take more than that to sober him up now. He was a soul of self
destruction now. He was to perish at his own hand, yet again.
Though, he could now see the destruction of his sacred temple. A
groan crossing over his dry lips with an exhausted huff. Hearing
his music had long been skipping and distorted to repeat as he
finally began to crawl on his hands and knees over to the bar:
trying his best to ignore the world spinning around him.
Climbing his way atop as he clenched the cane into his one good
hand. "T-Time to go..."
He could barely mutter his words as his hand was losing blood
fast; unable to heal unlike mortal men. He pressed his cane into
the earth as quickly as he could to begin his staggered rush
into that heavy path. Yet, this time it would not be so heavy.
This time he would be walking back in; blindly and inebriated as
he always did. As they all did. Sliding his body's weight
against the path walls as Temptation guided him. Finally making
his way from the path as he merely touched the boulder with the
cane and it rocketed it back into place: hoping to seal it shut
forever. "Nnn… Nope.." Is all he could mutter as his eyes rolled
back into his head in submission to his descent now that his
demons were buried: his body merely collapsing into the dirt and
sand.
#Post#: 410526--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jackie's Odd Jobs
By: Evil Kitty Date: March 4, 2020, 2:46 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
EPISODE 6: THE BLACK TOWER ("My Name Is Human" by Highly
Suspect)
THE LOVERS
Jackie sat within that dimension that had mocked his lack of
definition every night. Mistress had told him it appeared
different to every reaper. It reflected their home in life.
Though, he held no home in life, so, instead it gave him a black
void that mocked with shapes of vague furniture. Burning with a
dull, harmless, aura. As if he was forced to see what the
other's couldn't. Or maybe unable to see what they could. He
pondered these thoughts as that black, sweet scented, cigarette
burned down between his lips: the flowery scent filling his
nostrils.
With the scent of this smoke a figure had approached him from
the side; seating itself next to him. The boy kept his head hung
heavy, though, his eyes gently shifted over to his side to see
his mother's familiar lap. Though, he had known better by now.
Gripping to his cane in a bit of frustration in his temporary
clarity. "Why her...? Why not you?" With that his mother's hand
gently slid upon his own; softly fondling it. His head finally
shifting up her form to meet an abomination... A screaming mass
of dozens of faces shrouded in grey fire all calling to the boy:
looking to his horrified eyes.
His wide eyes pulled him into the sight as his 'mother' clutched
tighter to his hand: now hoping to keep him. Yet, it only woke
his terror filled mind. "Hell no!" He yelled as he pulled his
hand and cane from her. Springing from his seat and quick to
bounce away from her. Pointing the scythe to her in a fit of
frantic threats. "Keep your bloody eyes over there! Ya freak!"
He screamed as he quickly pushed himself away from the scene and
sliced a portal through the realm: entering into the next life
he will live.
Of course, with his luck, that life was met with the loud
honking of a taxi cab in the middle of an occupied city. The
toxins of that cigarette still hindering his movements a bit as
he staggered in surprise as it nearly hit him dead in the middle
of the street: stopping inches in front him. "Hey jackass! Move
out the way!" The angry cab owner yelled to the boy as he could
only blink a few times and look around. "Oops, Mate! Gps on the
frits!" Jackie laughed in jest before he hopped out of the way
onto the sidewalk to clear up traffic: watching as it moved on.
Yet, he got a strange feeling... Why could he be seen? And...
Why did it feel like he was being watched?
He could only shake the feeling as he began to walk down the
sidewalks of the heavily occupied city. People looked to the
young boy, his skeletal tattooed body, painted face, and
wielding the cane as if he was a freak amongst them. When he
walked down the sidewalk the crowd would part before him as to
not get too close, yet, their eyes could not get any closer. It
caused a grit of his teeth as his eyes began to dart from side
to side for just that one pair of eyes. It was driving him mad
as his once staggered, slow, walk picked up into a steady run
for freedom. Hearing the whispers as he passed.
Before he had knew it, he found himself upon a massive,
abandoned, junkyard. The massive gates broken open as a single
car lay parked in the center as Jackie felt Temptation growling
from within his grip. Yet... The figure of a large man, clad in
a black cloak, slammed down upon the dirt before Jackie. His
massive form standing nearly two feet over Jackie as he held a
sharpened, rather large, tree branch: using it as a rod. These
were the eyes. But, that wasn't the only problem, as Jackie
could hear sirens that must've followed him as he ran through
the city: slowly making their approach. Frustrated in these
terms: Temptation quickly wielded itself as a blade and flipped
to Jackie's side. "Speak up, mate!" Yet, he remained hesitant to
attack: only prepared to defend.
With that the large man had let out an amused hum from
underneath the ivory, white, mask that had shaped as a skull to
cover his face. Bringing his free, heavy, hand down with a smack
of the fabric of his cloak to reveal a little girl, no older
than five, and purest of white. Quick to jump her way off of the
massive man's leg. "Oh, hi! I'm Beth!" She cooed out lightly and
gave Jackie a cordial smile. Though, the big one was quick to
lean down and tap her ghostly shoulder as gently as he could
muster. "Oh, right... He's Billy. You don't have to worry about
him. He likes you. I think you're a big baby, though." She said
with that smile still solid upon her lips. Though, the big one
grunted at her blatant words.
Jackie was simply struck by the little girl's attitude, words,
and... Well, it was the first time he had seen a coherent
spirit. Temptation dropping down as it shifted down into a cane
once more. "Well, uh... Beth... I'm Jackie.." He kneeled down a
bit to get eye to eye with her in an attempt to get more close
and intimate. "What's the big'n's deal? Can't talk for himself?"
The little girl did not appreciate the boy's words or his
condescending manors as Billy watched, so, they were met with a
cruel poke of the eyes. "I talk for Billy, Boney Boy." She
stated proudly as Jackie fell back in frustration.
"Ugh!" Jackie grunted out as he heard the sirens growing closer.
"Don't have time for this!" He got up from the dirt and blindly
staggered over to the car: smelling the chemicals being burnt
within. "May just be time..." He said hopefully as he looked
back to see two squad cars pull in just outside the junkyard.
"Damn it..." Finally making it to the car windows. "You need to
go!.. This isn't the place!.. The feds!.." He huffed out
excitedly as they looked to the boy with dull, tombstone filled,
eyes: simply calling out. "Whaaat..?"
Grunting in anger he turned to face the police, now armed in
front of their cars, with Beth and Billy standing between the
four officers. Hearing Beth giggle out to him as Jackie realized
the police could not see those two. "We're the reapers of
Prejudice. See you at home." She giggled as the police called
out. "Step out of the car or we will open fire..." To have no
reply... Only the sounds of guns blowing and popping off as
Jackie's chest was torn apart before the bullets pierced the car
and who lay within. The boy barely hanging on as he heard Beth's
voice. "But, you'll still get your one, Boney Boy." She
continued to giggle as Temptation cooed with a satisfied sound:
clearly having claimed his soul. Jackie's body left to fall to
the pool flowing beneath him.
#Post#: 410528--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jackie's Odd Jobs
By: Evil Kitty Date: March 4, 2020, 4:24 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
EPISODE 7: THE COVER-UP (Inspired by "Lipstick and Co-cai-ne" by
Kaz Hawkins)
THE CHARIOT
Jackie sighed as he sat within the large tree in the park across
from the studio. His temptations were especially strong on this
job as his cane had been shedding back and forth to fuel his
hunt. Though, it was alright. After all, how often did he really
have to stalk his prey? He wasn't used to it. This was
practically new territory. He justified it in any way he could
as he inhaled that powder every few minutes: watching the two
figures dancing within the windowed studio. The man seemed to
take the lead... Dressed well.. Powerful... Whereas the woman...
He smiled as he bet she had problems finding a dress to wear
this evening. Probably had to borrow it even... A modest lover
who flowed with the man in bittersweet motions.
Though, as the evening carried on, the two would not remain
there long as the scene had shifted to the streets: soon to lead
to a stray apartment building. It seemed segregated from the
rest of the block and surrounded by trees for none to see.
"Hm..." Jackie followed as the night had moved on: simply
waiting upon the roof top. Laying there as the powder fueled his
senses and Temptation channeled them within the brick walls
beneath him.
He could hear it all from them. "I'm sorry, baby! I just can't
do this anymore... I've been up for days... And the kids..." The
soft spoken woman stated in a voice; stripped of it's
confidence. "Exactly, hun! That's why we just need one more
bump... Just to get through tomorrow.. Right..?" The coy man
plotted and manipulated as Jackie practically felt his hands
stroking upon the woman's flesh. "I..." The woman attempted to
speak, but, the bag was already pulled from the man's pockets.
With her eyes upon it she could not refuse the desire or the
need for fuel.
The man had already known he had gotten what he had wanted.
Jackie grunting outside as his own ambitions ravaged him:
attempting to drown and cover the sounds of their self
destruction betraying them under him with whatever 'power' he
may hold. Yet, none worked as he felt her nostrils dry and her
throat singe at the harsh chemicals infecting her, once
beautiful, form. Only fueling their passions as they played
their songs of love unto the following morning.
Yet... It still had not been time... Jackie barely rising with a
swagger as he saw the, rather cold, man practically pushing the
woman from the apartment. A glare rising within the boy's
unsteady eyes. "I'm sorry, hun.. But, I don't have a ride for
you tonight. Got an important meeting tonight." The man spoke
coldly, and the woman took the words with a simple advert of the
eyes. "Can't you just drop me off..?" The man managing to give
her a half-hearted smile as he caressed her cheek. "Oh, sweetie.
Don't worry.. The bus stop's right there."
In that moment, with those words, Jackie had felt that woman's
heart break. It had not been the first time and that was for
sure as Jackie gripped tight to his cane: watching the cold man
climbing into his fancy car. Only wishing he could break his own
commitments for one death. His attention coming back to the
woman now waiting, alone, at the bus stop. She could barely keep
her balance in her own stupor; having to lean against the sign.
Yet, the boy kept his distance still: unable to hear his
companions call. "Hm..."
Following from house to house, tree to tree, and yard to yard as
the bus drove away with the nodding woman. He could feel her
form melded with his own... Unconscious, yet, awake... Alive,
yet, dead... Never losing this feeling as he followed loyally to
a neighborhood: broken and torn by persecution and poverty. Her
form slipping out in a poor swagger as they pull in front of a
housing complex. He could smell the chemicals harsh from the
building. Silently behind her as they had arrived at a single
apartment. 3C. The sound of screaming, excitable, children
filling the halls as she opened the doors. Welcoming their
incoherent mother.
Jackie's eyes softening as he watched the door close in front of
him; not bothering to enter after he had seen the faces of the
small children. Some running around unclothed or unkempt. His
own eyes drifting down as he looked down to the back of his
hands: noting the bones that lay atop them. Feeling the mix of
sickness and commitment they represented. Yet... He felt the
question in the woman's mind. A reaching of the pocket to pull
out the remnants of the night that lay behind. The boy could
feel that baggy rattling within her hands as he approached the
door with a sigh.
With a soft series of knocks to bring the woman's attention the
newfound growling of Temptation was growing. The woman's hopes
growing as well as she wandered to the door; clenching the bag
in her fist. As she slowly answered the door and saw Jackie
standing before her the woman gasped and dropped the bag from
her hand. "Who-Who are you...!?" With that the boy had met her
glance with a kind smile, trying his best to ignore the children
playing within the background as he picked up the bag for her.
"I'm just here to give you one last dance, love." He spoke
patiently, knowing the woman would not take his promise.
Yet, to his surprise, she only sighed in reply to the boy's
words. She recognized his face and his flesh as she began to
hear the faint growl of Temptation in front of her. "I would
like that very much..." With that the boy outstretched his hand
into the hallway to make way for her. The door closing behind
her as she joined him outside and joined him in arms. Rather
than leading, the boy opted to slowly sway with the woman.
Letting her own, rehearsed, moves teach his ignorant ones. Her
soft, commanding, light encompassing him as he nestled into her
shoulder. The dance remaining silent as their feelings and
connections played their music for them: the woman's bittersweet
tears wetting Jackie's shoulder.
Finally pulling apart as the woman had deemed the dance over;
wiping away her forsaken tears. "Thank you..." She said lightly,
yet, a bit more strongly, though, Jackie disagreed. "No.. Thank
you, love... But, you just need one more bit.." He said softly
as he pulled her bag from his hand. Looking at the powder within
as he gave her a last smile. "Goodbye, June." He said as he blew
the dust from the bag into the woman's face: corrupted by
Temptation's essence. The woman inhaling the powerful snow as
her eyes grew wide with a sudden shock. Temptation feeling as if
it had just been hit with a streak of lightning as the woman
simply dropped to the floor with a rupture of a tired heart: her
ghastly form left standing. Looking to her new self.
Smiling to the young Apprentice of Death before her. "You're
very welcome." Her final words leaving with contentment as she
turned to the door. Walking through the thin wood as she joined
to watch over her children in this next life. Jackie's eyes now
allowed release as the tears fell: knowing all too well what the
woman had needed to do in life. Her self destruction not a
choice, but, a definition of her existence. It wounded him in
the truest way.
#Post#: 410529--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jackie's Odd Jobs
By: Evil Kitty Date: March 6, 2020, 12:24 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
(I'd like to start off saying this episode is a personal break
for Jackie and I before I have to attend my half-brothers' mom's
"celebration of life" instead of a funeral tomorrow. It will be
the first in the "Meeting of the Reapers" and a very personal
ode to both Macabre and MYB. I have an image of context, but,
few words, so, we're going to let the character tell the story
today. I hope the few who read it appreciate this one as much as
I -hope- I will.)
EPISODE 8: THE STORY TELLER ("I Don't Belong Here" by I Prevail)
STRENGTH
The loud sound of laughter and playful moods filled the black
mass in which Jackie made his home: the three reapers all
huddled into a kind circle. Well, three and a half. All enjoying
their time off and time together. Mistress laughing coyly to
Jackie's crude, yet playful, jokes as the boy had teased Beth
time and time again. All the while Billy humming out his amused
chuckles as he watched his small companion bothered so strongly
by the playful boy. A single piece of metal Jackie had stripped
from his steel-toed boots being used as a shot glass as he
filled it with Temptation to fuel his good times.
"So, how was your last job, Jackie?" Mistress cooed in curiosity
towards the dull moment of the roaring laughter; the words
catching the attention of Billy with an agreeable hum. The boy
only, a bit sloppily, pointing to himself. "Ya want a story, eh?
Alright.. I think I got one.." He smirked as he refilled his
"glass" and got comfortable in his spot on the floor. "Make it a
good one!" Huffed out the little ghost girl, already glaring at
Jackie. The boy only shooing his hands to her as he sips from
his glass. "It's the knees, doll."
"Right... So..." Jackie took one final swig to finish his glass,
for now, before he reached for Temptation. Pulling a single,
black, cigarette from the cane's vulture mouth. Slipping it
between his lips before the eyes of the vulture burned red:
shoving the tip of the cigarette into the socket as it lit the
sweet smelling herbs. Jackie blowing wide plumes of smoke to the
center of the circle as it gathered and stayed to form an image:
following with his words... "Was followin' this tike, right..?
Fresh from their mum's place and 'n the big ol' world.. What was
their name...? Beth...? Billy was it..?"
Billy only hummed a laugh as Beth yelled out in frustration.
"No, those are our names, Boney Boy! Don't you even know if it
was a boy or a girl!?" Jackie only looked over to the little
girl with a roll of his eyes as he took another drag of his
smoke: blowing more into the image. Giving the image all but a
face. "Aaaanyway.." Jackie stated. "This kid was pushed around
as a tike... Told what they were, and weren't, all their
life..." The boy began to sigh as he leaned back.
The glass now finding it's way back into his hand as it was
filled once more; emptying between his lips. "They could only
find a place on a screen, mates... Where they could make their
own lives and stories..." Mistress seemed especially interested
as she watched Jackie silently: even Beth now calming down.
Jackie's eyes looking down to notice this. "When I got to the
bugger... I couldn't hide myself. I knew they didn't need more
real.. They just wanted 'nother story to love..." With that
Jackie's eyes drifted to the plume of smoke. Depicting him
wandering to this faceless, vague, story teller as his true
self: scythe in hand.
"What about their own story...?" Beth questioned out softly,
unsure of her answer, as Jackie drunkenly smiled in reply.
"Catchin' on, love.. This kid refused to go.. They knew why and
how... They just couldn't... Because of their stories.. So, made
a deal... I'd show them all.." His smirk grew wide as he said
this: watching his reflection hand the soul it's temptation.
"I'd walk them through their fantasies if they come with me..
They didn't hesitate." Jackie grew silent for a moment as he
watched the deal being struck; the two of them taking the gift
Temptation had given them to share a single world.
"So... What happened next..?" Mistress said gently, meaning not
to rush, as she placed a hand upon Jackie's leg comfortingly.
Breaking him from his trance as he met her with a smile. "They
took me on the biggest ship I've ever seen... Sailing through
oceans of souls and passing through monsters..." He spoke as the
reflection portrayed Jackie battling these massive titans for
the child's amusement. "Finally to get to a whole new world of
pleasures... We flew dragons and spoke with giants.. Joined the
beasts and tamed the men.. We were kings.."
The bittersweet look grew heavy on the boy's face as he
contemplated these moments he had shared with this young soul.
"They looked at me... They looked at me and said... 'This world
is so amazing!' And I knew it couldn't go on... It wouldn't last
forever... It hurt me to have to be the one to break the news
too late... It was so amazing because they made it.." With that
he looked to the other reapers with a drunken, bittersweet,
smile. The fog clearing just after the image of Jackie piercing
the child's back with the scythe had passed: yet he spoke not of
it. His eyes remaining clear as his tears had already been shed
for this loss.
Mistress, feeling sorry for the boy's sentiment, let out a soft
sigh to break the silence. "It was a beautiful story, hun..."
Though, Beth had already been holding back her sobbing as she
averted her eyes from Jackie to hide it: speaking out in a harsh
tone. "You're still a big baby Boney Boy!" Billy only humming
out a gentle, comforting, sound as he wrapped his massive arm
around the little girl. Jackie downing his last shot from his
boot-glass. "Mmn..."
#Post#: 410539--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jackie's Odd Jobs
By: Evil Kitty Date: March 8, 2020, 1:30 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
(Unincluded from Jackie's storyline; this will be a special
interest of his and the first of the union between his storyline
and the Chimaera's storyline)
THE LOST EPISODE I ("He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother" by The
Hollies)
Jackie had sat within the small little club within the slums of
the city's most popular district. A quaint little place by the
name of "The Scarlet Den." A smirk wide across his face as he
sat and sipped from his, poorly maintained, glass of rum. His
eyes coated with images of inebriated people; succumbing to
their own temptations. All led by two faces. A set of twins; if
you could call them that. It was funny how much a human soul
differed from one that was... Not so much.
Yet, he watched as the younger of the twins barged in just
behind his throne: breaking the dull chatter that had barely
struggled to fill the rooms. "Look at this place, Maximus! Isn't
it beautiful!?" The elder brother, who was clad in fancy
dressings, calmly followed him out: adjusting his collar in
distaste for the sight. Almost attempting to hide it from
himself. "Well, brother... At least it is ours..." He spoke out
as his keen, red, eyes began to pick out one in the crowd. One
who was not busy dying. Jackie. "And it seems you have a
visitor."
"Hm?" Was all the younger twin could mutter as his celebratory
hands dropped to his side; looking over in curiosity to see that
painted, skull, face staring over to him. His own red eyes
centering into feline-like, predatory, pupils. He did not like
this boy in his walls. Yet... Something kept him away. "Who is
he?" The hostile creature stated. Yet, the steady, elder,
brother only replied with a sigh. "Well, let us find out,
Razor?" Maximus looking to his brother's eyes for a moment, but,
no more than that as his form slipped for the boy first:
unwilling to wait on Razor's hesitation.
As the two had arrived to the table Jackie had met them with a
sly smirk; softly placing the foggy glass upon the scratchy
wood. The boy's voice slipping out first, much to both Maximus
and Razor's surprise: given the reputation of the latter
brother. "Sweet pad, mates... Dancin' girls out gettin' their
shots?" Maximus was amused by the joke, yet, Razor was not quite
so. Slamming his hands upon the table in front of the boy. "What
is your name, boy?"
A huff of a laugh was heard from Jackie while a visible nerve
was struck within his forehead as he heard that word. "Boy." For
all this creature knew he could have lived a thousand of his
lifetimes, yet, the boy could only sigh out these frustrations.
"Jackie.. My name is Jackie, mate... 'N if the words up, you're
Raz." Razor had only glared in reply to the boy's casual nature.
Standing back off the table in a moment of collection; once
again inspecting him with those fierce eyes. "That name's for
friends." Jackie finally laughing in reply as he looked to an
ever curious, yet quiet, Maximus; looking back to Razor. "Well,
I bought your shitty drinks, didn't I?"
With those words, Maximus had enough of the children's games. He
pulled out the chair and sat at the table; directly facing
Jackie. Much to Razor's dismay. "Enough. What is it you want?"
Maximus' words were stern and unyielding, yet, non threatening.
Looking to the boy patiently as his posture stood poised in the
chair. "Mmn.. The charmer... What a girl like me could do with a
lad like you.." Jackie jested before he finished his drink. "I'm
here for you boys... You need to figure out what you want..."
Jackie now leaning back in his chair; getting a good view of
Razor's more and more frustrated face. Yet, the creature was
still young. He had no idea who sat before him. "We want to
rule!" Razor called out from the top of his mind; not giving it
a moments hesitation. Maximus turning to look at him with a
faint. "Hm..." Jackie looking to them with a laugh. "And you,
Maxy boy?" Now the boy had even Maximus glaring in reply to his
words. He was tempting the two.
Yet... What he spoke could not be ignored.. "I wish to save my
brothers..." Maximus said softly: unsurely. Razor looking to him
with a glare. Maximus feeling his brother's eyes, but, not
bothering to look as he knew what he would see. Instead Razor
only let out a huff. "I have to go check the stock." He grumbled
as he wandered away to the back: leaving the two to consort as
they were. No longer wanting to do with the discussion, but,
still able to hear.
"Save your brothers, huh..? Who's is harder, ya think? Save or
rule?" Maximus, also uncomfortable, yet, unwilling to turn away,
faced the boy. A sigh escaping his lips: letting out his
hesitation. "They are both impossible, Jackie." Jackie laughing
in reply to that answer. Running his hand back through his hair
to settle himself from spilling any spoilers. "Is it, mate?"
Maximus now beginning to catch on as Jackie slapped his cane
upon the table: his red, chimaera, eyes examining every crevice
and rune upon the tool. This boy...
"Is there something you aren't telling me..?" Gestured Maximus,
though, Jackie barely let him finish. "Not tellin' ya self, more
like it." It was the first time in so very long that he had been
on edge. All because of a skull faced boy who could barely form
a sentence. It taught him fury in those moments, yet, he held it
deep within. Keeping his mind steady. "Are you trying to turn me
against my brother...?"
Jackie could only smile in reply to those words as Razor had
clearly not liked the conversation's destination. Strutting his
way back in proudly as he joined them at the table once more;
still refusing to sit. Maximus speaking once more, now to his
brother as he got up. "Good... Now you can keep our guest
company.." With that Maximus was quick to get out of their way:
walking from the room as his mind had left as well. Wanting
nothing to do with so much as a whisper from the boy's lips.
"What's his problem? Unlike Max." Razor said as he had a bottle
within his hand; pouring a new drink in Jackie's empty glass. It
had been a "special brew" and Jackie could smell the toxins. It
would surely be a lethal dose, yet, he only picked up the glass.
Smelling it as one would a fine wine. "Power, mate... He's
scared." Jackie said as he placed the glass down, never having
taken that deadly sip, as his smirk persists. "Scared of what?"
Razor had said blatantly, yet, ignorantly. Jackie only replying
with a shake of his head. "Your crown, mate."
The brother only turning to look to the door in which Maximus
had left from. A growl escaping his tone as he did not look to
the boy. His voice escaping in a violent rumble. "And what of
you, then?" Jackie only laughing in reply to Razor's inquiry.
Leaning in over the table to grow closer. His voice growing
quiet as he prepared to break his own vows. "I look towards it,
Razor. An army of chimaeras at your call... A daughter to suit
your desire and a son to fill your throne... You will be a king
etched in stone."
Razor's eyes darted over to the boy and grew wide in that
moment. Who was this child? What did he have to do with all of
this? He knew he would get none of these answers. A frustrated
growl being forced up to his lips. "Why are you telling me
this?" Jackie only huffing in reply as he began to get up from
his chair. "All got a job, mate... Mine's to make sure you do
yours. Big gamble on you, pup." Jackie said with a smirk as he
began to walk away. Razor letting out an exhausted sigh. "And if
I need this again?" Jackie only shrugging as he made his way
out. "I'm sure I'll be around next time you need me."
#Post#: 410550--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jackie's Odd Jobs
By: Evil Kitty Date: March 15, 2020, 12:37 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
EPISODE 9: THE SHATTERED VEIL ("Pure Gold" by Snoop Dogg ft The
Clark Sisters)
THE HERMIT
It was strange.. His first taste of omnipotence, as he stood,
staring from two sets of eyes. One, of course, of his own.
Though, the other? They were that of an unknown observer. One
who watched his weakened, zombified, state as it stood there;
Temptation dangling from his grip with the tip of the blade
buried deep within the blackened, blood soaked, sand. This dull
form slowly beginning to muster it's bones to move in a
determined path; Temptation carving a design in behind him. His
absentminded twists and turns only seeming to create a pentagram
surrounding himself.
Still seeming to be wiped of mind, Jackie was forced to watch
himself from the eyes of other's and himself as his body
wandered towards the center of this black trap. Temptation
flicking up within his grip to stand at attention as the very
bottom of the large scythe was dug into the sand: his hands
firmly rested upon the top of the blade as five wise men began
to appear at every point. The monk meditated. The priest prayed
for him. The alchemist studied the sands. The philosopher
pondered the image. All while the king watched them all.
A grin of recognition finally crossing over the boy's lips as
his head had shifted to meet the other perspective. Jackie's two
glances now looking to stare into one another. A look of horror
meeting a look of sadistic pleasure as the form in the pentagram
had kicked up the blade in a massive spin. Outstretching
Temptation as the two perspectives had joined into one action:
cleaving the very minds from the shoulders of every wise man
that once had admired and prayed to him. Taking their lives and
faiths. His mind awakening from the vision in a panicked sweat.
As much as he had hated working in the upper-end
neighborhoods... These slums were starting to wear on him much
worse lately. Seeing all the hate and poverty that had followed
with it. It had been... Rough, these past few jobs. With this in
mind he had looked to the cane in his grip as he sat; laid
against the underbelly of the highway bridge. "'Nother day home,
mate.." Finally struggling to rise as he dug the cane into the
moist earth; making his way towards the college. Where else
would one find a wise man?
Yet, as he made his way through these city blocks he was
reminded why he enjoyed this so much more. A bittersweet smile
crossing his lips as he would slow down to admire the thick
culture in the air. The food. The brotherhood. The children
actually sharing what they had; rather than hoarding to
themselves. These people understood what it meant to struggle
together, rather than separately. It was a beautiful concept to
him as he passed the barber shop bumping old hip hop and the
generous food bank.
Only, to his surprise, Temptation began to growl as he was met
in front of a library; not a school. His heavy boots stopping as
he took his seat upon the corner, not attempting to hide himself
as the boy sat within reading. Jackie had figured he had plenty
of time. So, he relaxed... The cane shedding for him as he took
his quick bump and one of his sweet scented cigarettes from the
vulture's beak. Feeling his mind grow closer to the boy's as the
vulture's eyes glowed red to light his smoke. "Mmmn…"
The boy studied something Jackie knew nothing of... Or maybe
everything of. Faith. It was such a strong concept that forced
the boy to dedicate his entire life to a single word. He deemed
himself color blind in a world full of color. Studying all he
could of the cultures and their beliefs all so he could give his
soul to teaching that word to those suffering around him... He
wanted to make the poor rich, the dirty clean, and turn wine
into water... Jackie pondered these things as he took deep drags
from his black cigarette.
How could this be self destruction? This boy had been saving...
Though, with that thought, Temptation had growled in an
ambitious reply. Jackie only scoffing; before looking away.
"Yeah, mate... Real familiar.." Turning back to peer in the
window with a smile as he had felt the boy had company. His
company was probably one Jackie would likely to be claiming in a
couple months.. Maybe a week. Yet... The joy this boy felt to
just try to help that damned soul. He couldn't help that wide
smile through his thick, skull, face paint.
With the last puff of that cigarette Jackie had released the
smoke to see a large pair of jaws opening to close; not too
dissimilar to a dragon biting. Temptation growling in agreement
with the smoke symbol as the library had been beginning to close
behind him. "Guess it's time then..." Jackie sighed out, with a
bit of distaste, though, was not in a rush to get up from his
seat aside from the library. Only waiting as the librarian
accompanied the boy out of the library. "Ya'know, Jacob. You
really should go out more. You are such a nice boy. You can't
help everybody if you don't go out and make any friends."
Though, the boy only laughed in reply to the woman's words.
"Well, that's tricky, Mary. Their all my friends. Just some hurt
more than others."
Jackie's smile had not disappeared after hearing those words,
but, instead, grown rather bittersweet. The woman only shaking
her head with a bit of a laugh as she got in the bus. "Okay,
Jacob. Just be careful getting home tonight, okay? People don't
all think like you." "Will do!" He was quick to wave her off as
the bus pulled away. Turning to face his direction only to see
an ominous Jackie; smoking yet another of his cigarettes. "Oh...
Well, hello.." The boy was unsure of how to act; given Jackie's
overall appearance.
Finally turning to the boy with a half hearted smile; huffing
out a bit of a laugh. "Ey there, kiddo." He spoke a bit
reluctantly, but, the boy only laughed a bit in reply: his
nerves seeming soothed. "Kiddo? I'd say I'm probably older than
you." Jackie now chuckling a bit in reply as he tapped his cane
in reply; slowly working his way into a stand. "Got me there,
mate.." He walked closer to the boy as he held out one of those
black cigarettes in curiosity. "You smoke; Jacob is it?" The boy
simply shook his head in reply. "No, thank you. Those things
will kill ya."
Jackie smiled in reply to the boy's words. Just the answer he
wanted. He didn't want to do this. This boy, born into this
world, overcame these odds. He did better for, not only himself,
but, his people and those around him. It was a beautiful flicker
of light in the darkness. "Smart kid..." Jackie said softly as
he put the cigarette back within the beak of the vulture mounted
cane. The boy watching with a sense of overwhelming curiosity
and it was there Jackie could see where he destroyed himself.
"Who are you?" The boy questioned softly.
He had met the boy's question with a restrained, somewhat stern,
face as he held out his hand for them to shake on equal terms.
"Name's Jackie, mate..." The boy was all the willing to meet
Jackie's good graces with a kind, welcoming, smile; taking his
hand into his own in a firm shake. "Jacob." Jackie's face paint
beginning to smear as the tears began to fall too early: his
hesitant grip growing tight on the boy's hand as his shaky voice
slipped through. "I know, mate..."
With no room for warning or time for disguise; Jackie wanted to
be face to face with the boy. Ramming the bottom tip of the cane
into the child's abdomen like a bullet as his eyes grew wide.
Taking a moment to register as he looked to Jackie for help. "I-
I..." Jackie's own eyes seemed to look to him as tears fell for
the innocent; watching as the boy struggled to maintain his
functioning mind through the shock. Taking much longer than any
other passing thus far.
"I... I don't hate you..." Is all the boy could mutter to Jackie
as the blood began to trickle from his lips: forcing Jackie's
eyes to go wide with pain. His heart having just been struck by
a golden arrow as he yelled out in reply; wishing he could pull
the cane from the boy. "N-No..! Don't say that..!" With that his
pain of sorrow seemed to turn vicious as he turned his head away
from the sight. His eyes clenched tight as Temptation
transformed inside of the boy: stretching and tearing the wound
before Jackie had turned the massive blade like a key within a
massive lock.
The very spirit of the boy flung out violently from the boy as
it was ascended unto it's chosen place; leaving Jackie only to
turn back and face the bloody mass the lay on the end of his own
Temptation. A horrified look on his face as he had pulled his
blade from what was once the boy... Slowly backing away before
he dropped to his knees. Staring at the body as he cried out;
slamming the pummel of the scythe into the ground to keep him
from collapsing. Each slam releasing his frustrations with a
massive explosion of blackened smoke: finally pulling in to
swallow up his form and force him from the scene.
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