Ch. 7 - There are some people that are nearly, but not quite, as important as Jack of Fables

[originaljackass]

[When Jack Horner woke this morning, he did so on a pile of gold and with a pain in his back as if he had at one point had two massive wings and a tail sticking out of two different points of it. He was also, quite awkwardly, completely naked. Fortunately enough amongst his belongings, a few suits had got tossed into that briefcase of his, so he

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[slaying]

[ why is someone knocking on her door? this is not a good thing. buffy hesitates on the other side of the entrance for a good thirty seconds -- fingers hovering over the doorknob. paralyzed over the question of how she should present herself to this unknown caller.

eventually, with a steep inhalation, she opens the door. but just a fraction. just enough to peek out, the majority of her person still hidden behind the door itself. ]

O-oh. It's...[ a quiet, demure voice. ] You're you.

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[originaljackass]

[... that's not like the Buffy he usually knows. For a moment he is stunned by the way she answers the door. Honestly he was expecting a punch to the face, after how he had treated her before. It had been completely out of line. Had he really been so bad as to leave her like this?]

Hey there, babe. [Well, it's not like he had completely changed.] Sorry about the timing, but you still got my stuff?

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[slaying]

[ after a further moment's hesitation -- heavy with their past history and the odd, fading memories of their marriage -- buffy opens the door more fully. she had gotten ready that morning and had found her entire wardrobe to be unsatisfyingly trendy and attention-catching. it had taken some digging, but she had managed to settle on an outfit that was taupe-oriented and soft. a yielding sort of look.

buffy finds herself unable to make eye contact, especially after that little term of endearment. she isn't sure what else to do but to let the man inside; after all, she has his things and she does want to be rid of them. ] It's here. I held onto it, like I said I would.

[ then, what felt like daringly: ] You're human, again.

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[originaljackass]

[Stepping inside, Jack takes notice of what she's wearing, noting with some disappointment it's not quite as flattering as what she usually wears. Damn, oh well. She wasn't his wife anymore, so it's not like he should expect the same old, right? After he's inside, he turns his attention to the house and after deciding it's not terribly interesting, turns back to her. Since when was she unable to actually look him in the eye?]

Back to the good old me, Jack of the Tales, like I'm meant to be. Good looking as always.

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[slaying]

[ a quiet hum of agreement; after all, what more could she say? and then buffy turns away and heads deeper into the house. jack horner's thinks are stored in one of the rooms off the lounge -- the side of the house that held her own bedroom and another empty room. best to get this over and done with as quick as possible. the pirate had been avoiding house seven of late but with the ground shifting under their newly-allowed-public relationship, she isn't sure if the other jack -- her jack -- would turn up. that possibility gives her pause. ]

Do you, uhm...will you need help? Moving the boxes, I mean. There's not a lot but -- but I could help. If you needed it.

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[originaljackass]

[How much stuff does he even have? He recalls he had several outfits he picked up, there was the books he'd been stealing from the library, his weapons, and a set of silverware he never had much use for. There was more beyond that he'd started to accumulate, like your basic electronics. He'd even nicked a microwave from an empty house so he could make food in his own apartment. All in all, more than an arm load, no matter how strong you are.]

Sure, saves me making more than one trip. Hell, that's assuming my old place ain't taken by now.

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[slaying]

[ a quick but uncertain nod. ] There were incoming New Feathers since...since then. [ she finds it tough to put actual words to the experiment.

she flicks on the overhead light in a room packed with boxes. ]

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[originaljackass]

[Okay, the about settles it. After she steps inside, he sets a hand on her shoulder to turn her around.]

Hey, what's the deal with the shy little girl act? You get hit in the head or something?

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[slaying]

[ of course, as ever, many comebacks leap to mind. i get hit on the head all the time; it doesn't exactly inspire shyness. but buffy doesn't have it in her to spit them out, today.

so she shrugs -- pulling back from his touch but not as she might normally. not as though indignant or shocked. just...carefully aware of personal boundaries. ]

I'm fine. [ since when did you care? ] Really, a-okay.

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[originaljackass]

You're usually a little snarkier. And defensive. And I'm pretty sure you'd never let me in your house. Nice TV, by the way.

[Jack needs to get him one of those. Being a dragon is helluva boring.]

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Th-thanks. [ she frowns at his diagnosis -- feels some measure of truth in it -- but succumbs to the realization that it would be rather rude to argue. ]

A friend...bequeathed it to me, I guess. That's sorta the right word. [ only it isn't. and neither is 'friend', really. ]

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[originaljackass]

"Bequeathed"? [Nice choice of words there.

Stepping into the room, he goes to one of the boxes and opens it up, taking a look to see the contents. He recognizes his old confederate hat in there. He slides it back on.]

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[slaying]

The letters people leave, when they disappear...[ her voice is even and quiet. she speaks slowly -- forgoing her usual word salad as she picks each word out with care. ] They read like last wills and testaments, sometimes.

[ buffy gathers a box up in her arms; hiding a slightly amused expression in this work. men and their hats. ]

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[originaljackass]

Letters? How do you leave letters? Last I heard, the Mallies didn't give us warnings when sending us packing.

[Keeping his hat on, he stacks up the remaining boxes.]

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[slaying]

I don't suppose many people get a warning before they die, either. [ and she isn't being sarcastic; simply thoughtful. ] It's all just planning ahead.

[ she adds another box to her burden. ]

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[originaljackass]

A will for Luceti. Go figure.

[He's got all he can carry, leaving the lighter load for Buffy. More out of practicality than anything. He's got a foot of height on her and consequently, longer arms.]