Day 28: North Street

[1mperturbable]

[From Here]Cloud found his way along what was apparently called North Street. It was just as long as the Main St, but it did not seem as busy. There were less shops here as he walked, but the quietness was nice. He paused to look at the southbound streets as he passed them, taking note of how many there were before he managed to find a street he

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[faithful_frost]

((From here.))

Haku was glad to come upon a fairly empty street. His ribs were aching and he wanted to find a place to rest for a moment. He checked his pulse and frowned at it's pace. Too fast, he was tired? From walking around?

This was ridiculous.

He leaned up against a wall and placed his arms gently over his stomach, closing his eyes.

[i_slay_giants]

[From here]

Well, well. Here was a familiar figure Jack hadn't seen since his boyfriend beamed him across the face. This little punk was alone now, it appeared. Ah, well. He had been trying to make peace on the bulletin board, hadn't he? While he couldn't say he completely forgave the kid (for either gaining him a beating OR being male), he wouldn't be too mean to Haku.

"You've looked better," He muttered flatly, joining the ninja in leaning for a moment.

[faithful_frost]

Haku heard someone come up to him, but when Jack wasn't hostile, Haku only smiled and opened his eyes. He was looking at the ground. "Haven't we all?"

Reaching behind him, moving carefully so he wouldn't jar his ribs, Haku drew out a small bundle of tissue and held it out to Jack. Wrapped up in the inconspicuous mess were four cigarettes.

"Here. As an apology for your nose."

[i_slay_giants]

Jack took note of the cigarettes and pocketed them greedily, saying nothing. Cigarettes! REAL FUCKING CIGARETTES. Where had Haku come across them? And where could he get more?

Jack sidled closer. "That's real nice, Haku. But that's not even a pack's worth. Got any other cigarettes hidden away somewhere that you'd be willing to share?"

[faithful_frost]

Haku laughed softly, turning to look up at Jack. He winked and offered a sly smile. "Not that I would be willing to share for free."

Honestly, hadn't this man learned how Haku operated? Things weren't just given away or offered without reason.

[i_slay_giants]

Jack folded his arms and arched an eyebrow. "Name your price."

Surely Haku couldn't ask TOO much. Though he COULD ask for cash, which Jack was short on, but could always steal. Hell, if he was stealing cash, he might as well forgo paying Haku and still some smokes too...

Hadn't he meant to leave? He needed to stop getting sidetracked. Once he heard Haku's terms, that was.

[faithful_frost]

"What can you offer me?" Haku knew better than to name something random. Exchanges had to be equal to be correct. An uneven trade could result in danger to them both. They could get caught or Haku would bring back something useless.

That would be worse.

"What is a whole pack of these worth to you?"

[i_slay_giants]

Oh ho. He got to make the terms? In that case...

Jack pulled off his flannel overshirt. "I think they'd be worth this shirt. You know how nice this thing is? It's got to be work at least fifteen bucks. Feel that." He offered the shirt out, as if Haku was really going to touch it. "That is good quality material. And certainly worth more than a pack of smokes. Whatdya say?"

[faithful_frost]

Haku laughed again and kept his hands to himself.

"Come now," he said. "I'm not interested in your shirt." He smiled again at Jack.

"And undressing? Around a minor that you've already gotten into trouble with? Shame on you."

[i_slay_giants]

Jack slid the shirt back on and buttoned it up. "It wasn't as if you saw anything you haven't before."

The Fable scratched his head. "Well, you want my coupons? I'd give up all that shit for a full pack of smokes." It was sad, but Jack was addicted to his nicotine. It wasn't as if he always could afford a pack, but when there was the POTENTIAL for one...

He needed a stiff drink too, though he doubted Haku had a bottle of Jack Daniels on him.

[faithful_frost]

"I've seen better," Haku said, closing his eyes again, though he didn't lose the smile.

"I do not want your coupons either. I still have all of mine and have no need for a second set, thank you."

[i_slay_giants]

Jack sigh bitterly and leaned back. "You gotta give me some sort of a hint. What, do you want me to help you make your boyfriend jealous? I'll take another beating if that means you'll give me a full pack of smokes, kid."

He was Jack Horner, most powerful Fable in the universe! He'd heal...maybe.

[faithful_frost]

"I am only ever after information and allies," Haku said. "At this point, those are valuable to me." He chuckled softly.

"Besides, Zabuza-san does not get jealous. He kills people. The emotion is simply not there."

[i_slay_giants]

"He seems to have failed on the "killing" front," the Fable mused arrogantly under his breath.

"What sort of information are we talking, Haku?" The Fable leaned in. "I've been around for a bit. I know a couple of things."

[faithful_frost]

Haku caught the muttering, but chose not to mention anything.

Matching Jack's lean with his own, Haku smiled. "How about we work out a payment plan. Whatever you find out about this place that I do not already know and you give to me, I will pay you with cigarrettes. The better the information, the more I'm willing to give back." He looked Jack over and lifted an eyebrow.

"Can I trust that you are intelligent enough to figure out what sort of information is useful to me or should I spell it out?"

[i_slay_giants]

Jack decided to test the waters. "How much information do you want per cigarette?"

Jack fancied himself a master liar. He'd get to see how good he really was in a moment.