Jack Heart (i_chasehearts) wrote in we_coexist, @ 2011-08-22 21:30:00 |
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Entry tags: | jack heart, winifred burkle |
The Man-sel in Distress (Jack, Fred)
Jack was still adjusting to City life. He’d met some strange people and working in the mayor’s office at City Hall had certainly been... educational. Some of the complaints that came through the mayor’s office were absolutely bizarre and almost inscrutable. He’d never heard so many wild stories, and coming from someone who lived in Wonderland, that was certainly saying something.
He’d stayed late at the office and was now walking home in the dark again. The last time he’d done that, he’d met a very strange character. He was hoping that, this time, his street wouldn’t move on him and that he wouldn’t meet anyone. That would be better.
Apparently, the cards were not in Jack’s favor tonight. There was a snarl as he passed an alley and the next thing he knew, inhumanly strong hands were dragging him backward into the alley. He struggled against the grip, trying to free his hands and wishing he was carrying his sword.
----
Fred was trying to figure out her place in the world. She’d been trying to avoid the Clocktower, but she wanted to go back and start doing things. The computers sometimes were wonderful, that and the space. The space would have been great for white boards. It meant she could start working on equations; she could do more than just punch buttons. Getting white boards into her current residents was just...not at all fun. She supposed she could put it in the offices.
She had decided to go out for a walk, anything to get her mind on something that wasn’t calculations. She was also trying not to think about a certain knight. It wasn’t that she was obsessing, honestly, because she’d only just met him, but she did want to see him again. He wasn’t a bad kisser. She guessed she could have gone looking for Sam; that would have been good too.
The brainy female kept walking. She hadn’t even stopped at the taco stand; she was just that distracted by trying to figure out what she really wanted to do. Clocktower, hunt down menfolk, make calls, check on certain heroes?
She didn’t exactly get a chance to think further; there was someone who needed saving. She paused as she realized that she was the only one around who could even do that. Well, there might have been some real hero around, but she didn’t think there was enough time. She ran to the opening of the alley, grabbing a broom from some guy as she passed. Well, it could have been something that couldn’t be killed by wood...she didn’t want to think about that.
----
Jack had managed to twist out of the grip of the creature-whatever it was. It looked almost human, with a face that was ridged and fierce yellow eyes. He landed a punch that merely caused the creature to hesitate before slamming him against the wall. Jack caught a glimpse of fangs as they closed in on his neck.
----
Fred rounded the corner and stopped. It was a vampire, that or someone had a weird way of making out. She couldn’t really say much about that one; she’d given in to some interesting things recently. Not that she’d ever imagine herself getting all busy in the alley with some vampire. Maybe in her doorway, but not in an alley.
She looked at the end of the broom handle, very glad that it was wood not plastic that looked like wood. Always nice when things worked out. Okay, so, she still had to save the victim from the bad guy. She tried to break the broom handle on a dumpster as she passed, but seeing as she was more or less back to normal Fred strength, and normal Fred looks...all she succeeded at was making noise.
“Well, shit.” She hit the dumpster again. While she didn’t feel the way she had before, she had decided to make a change. She hit the dumpster a few more times, hoping the broom handle would break. “Hey!”
----
The noise succeeded in distracting the vampire long enough for Jack to shove him away. He recognized the voice and looked over at the woman who had distracted his attacker.
“Fred?” he frowned in confusion, and attempted to get between the creature and her. “Why do you have a broomstick?”
He didn’t know what the thing was, but he certainly wasn’t going to let it get to Fred.
----
“Well, it’s wood. Broom handles are usually wood.” Fred kept beating the dumpster with a definitely determination. Having a sharp end made it much easier to stab through flesh and bone, than a rounded end. She beat it a few more times.
“Break it! Stab it in its heart! It’s a vampire.” Fred didn’t seem to mind that she sounded a little crazy. She also didn’t mind that she was giving over the job to someone just a little stronger. she could probably dust a vampire, but it would take some planning and skill.
----
Jack looked at Fred like she was crazy for a second. Stab wood into the heart of the thing and that would stop it? But then the vampire growled and started toward them and he didn’t have time to think about whether or not she was right about the wood. Instead, he took the broomstick from her and snapped it over his knee.
The vampire got there before Jack could raise the wooden point to aim for the heart. He caught an aimed punch from the creature and was able to hold him off for the moment, though he was still struggling to free the hand holding onto the stake and get it to the creature’s heart.
The vampire squeezed tighter, pushing Jack backward. The stake clattered to the ground as the struggle switched from Jack’s attempts at driving the stake forward to him just attempting to hold the creature off as it leaned into him, fangs bared.
----
Fred was knocked to the side as the vampire attacked what he no doubt thought was the bigger adversary. She rolled slightly, gathering one half of the broom/stake. She knew that she was probably a little too hopeful to expect Jack to be able to slay the bad guy, but she wasn’t going to run away.
“Hey! He’s nasty tasting. Trust me. He tastes like old socks!” Fred was making this up as she went. “You want me, you stupid thing!”
The vampire didn’t like this. Then again, what creature liked being called stupid. It was hungry. The stake was hidden at her side. She needed the right angle, that’s all. Use the vampire’s momentum. She swallowed, hoping her plan would work, if it could really be called a plan. The vampire raced at her, and just as it was almost upon her, up came the stake.
She fell to the ground as the vampire realized what had happened, and it didn’t even get a bite before it exploded into dust above her. Fred stared up at the sky between the buildings as the dust floated off to wherever vampire dust went.
----
Old socks? Jack silently mouthed, but then suddenly the vampire lunged at Fred.
“Fred!” he shouted, struggling to his feet and trying-and failing-to get between the vampire and Fred.
Just as suddenly, the vampire burst into ashes. The air filled with the specks, raining down on Fred. He looked through the quickly clearing cloud at the woman who was lying on her back on the cement. He knelt beside her, his hand extended to help her up, eyes warm with concern.
“Are you okay?”
----
Fred coughed, and a bit of dust escaped her. Her nose wrinkled. “I had dead guy in me.” She wasn’t sure why, but that made her giggle a little even if it was a little disgusting. She shifted a little before taking another breath only to cough again. She put her hand in his and sat up slowly. Her hand lifted to her head which felt a little...well, it didn’t feel good.
“I’m okay. Are you okay?” She looked at him with the same concern. “Did he bite you?” Her hand lifted to touch his neck; she wanted to know. He wasn’t, as far as she knew, going to change with just one bite, but still.
----
Jack tried not to laugh.
“That sounds a little.. unpleasant,” he said with a small smile.
His hand covered hers as she touched his neck and he shook his head slightly.
“He didn’t bite me. That was... a vampire? And he just... burst into dust? How?”
----
“I don’t know the how exactly. There are more than the one vampire type. They come from very similar backgrounds, how they were created. Usually it’s magic and demonic, but why a stake to the heart actually makes these with bumpy foreheads go poof in dust? I don’t know. That’s how that reality, my reality actually, decided to go about things. It’s how the magic-slash-physics work. I think a stake to the heart no matter what will do something to them all - they all have certain basics. Fire, cut off the head, stake to the heart.” Fred had so much information sometimes, it liked to leak out even when she was feeling a little odd from inhaling vampire dust.
“I think getting up would be good. It’s kind of dirty.” Yes, she was trying to play it off; that was how heroes did it, right?
-----
“Of course,” Jack said, and he took both her hands and gently helped her up.
He didn’t let go immediately and instead looked down at her. It was good to see her again. He’d been wanting to call, but being in the City had been so disorienting that he’d wanted to get his bearings before calling her again. He certainly didn’t want to be the lost puppy dog that she had to care for.
“Old socks?” he asked, his eyebrows raised, and a mischievous smirk on his lips. “Have to say, I haven’t ever gotten that reaction before.”
----
Fred actually blushed; she knew she probably looked different. She’d noticed it in the mirror by now, but how could he think she was at all attractive? Her lips thinned for a moment, and then she smiled again. No, the new and improved Fred did not think she wasn’t good enough for a pretty guy like Jack, even if she didn’t feel as confident or strong as she had before.
“I had to get his attention. Plus, I’ve never tasted your blood. Your mouth wasn’t bad. When we kissed.” Fred might have blushed a little. “So, how are you? Getting settled into the City okay?” Just a small change in subject there.
----
Jack smiled and then reached up to tuck some of her hair behind her ear.
“That’s good to know.”
He was content to follow along with the subject change. He offered her his arm, ready to lead her out of the alley. It was awfully dark and rather dirty. Not exactly the nicest place to hold a conversation.
“I’m adjusting, I suppose. Haven’t quite gotten used to the changing streets. Though I suppose that’s the idea, isn’t it?”
----
Fred slid her hand into the crook of his arm, settling in to walk beside him. She was glad that he hadn’t died or had too hard a time of it. Things could get very confusing here, and it was hard being a newcomer. She softly squeezed his arm.
“I don’t know. I think sometimes it’s like rats in a labyrinth, and they can change the ways to go whenever they want. Just not sure the point. Maybe it is testing us. Maybe it feels like playing. I don’t know, which can be a little frustrating.” She leaned against him ever so slightly.
“Why is it that I always end up with a bit of a headache when I see you?” She giggled softly.
----
Jack smiled down at her. He was glad he’d run into her, even if he would have preferred different circumstances. All the same, she was pleasant to walk with.
“Well, perhaps we’ve just been seeing each other in the wrong circumstances. After all, late night meetings where we’ve been saving each other from certain doom aren’t exactly the ideal way to spend time with someone.”
He led her down the street, still walking in the direction of his apartment, though he wasn’t sure he was ready to go home just yet now. For that matter, he was certainly going to escort her to wherever she was headed-even if she had just saved his life.
----
“Do you like your place? Did you get a house, an apartment? Is it a nice place? Is it fancy or plain? Is it some place you had before?” Fred had many questions; she always had questions, and he’d learn that rather quickly, if he hadn’t already.
“And, how’s your job? You had one of those, didn’t you?” She squeezed his arm again, as they walked. She liked walking with him. “Have you eaten?”
----
Jack tried to keep track of all of her questions, which were fired off before he had a chance to answer any of them.
“Yes I like my place. It’s an apartment and I think it’s nice, though i suppose I might not be the best judge of home decor. It’s... similar to where I lived before.” he stopped and took a breath before continuing.
“I do have a job working in the mayor’s office. It’s been interesting so far, though I won’t bore you with the details.” He flashed a grin. “And I haven’t eaten yet. Have you?”
----
Fred looked up at him, smiling. He had actually done a very good job at answering her questions; it wasn’t often that people could or would do that. He even got in a question of his own.
“I’ve been walking around most of today. Feeling a little aimless. I had coffee earlier, and a scone. I could eat something now. But I wouldn’t want to make you feel as if you need to just because I saved your life and all. And, I probably smell like a backalley whore.” Her nose wrinkled. “Plus, I’m a little dirty.”
She didn’t stop him, or try to guide him somewhere. “hopefully I don’t have a concussion this time.” She smiled up at him again.
----
“Not having a concussion would be an improvement over the last time we saw each other,” Jack agreed.
He looked over at her.
“And I would have asked you to dinner when you’d saved my life or not. I’ve actually been meaning to call, but the City’s been keeping me rather busy. Of course, if you’d rather go home and clean up and have dinner another night, that’s quite all right. But I would like to take you to dinner at some point in time, if that’s quite all right with you.”
----
“You really want to go to dinner with me? The last man who asked me to coffee disappeared. I think he wanted to go to dinner, but...I haven’t seen him in a while.” Fred sounded a little disappointed. “Actually, men just sort of disappear when they get to know me. Or they change.” She shrugged with a soft sigh.
“So, who knows, maybe you won’t be in the City too long. I could be weird bad luck, or good luck. Guess it sort of depends on how you look at it.” She shrugged again. “I’d like dinner. But I’d also like to not feel like I’ve been in an alley. I’m sure you’d like to not feel like you’ve been in an alley. Not that you smell bad. I just have vampire in my nose still, I think.”
“What if...we wait? Or what if we meet up for other food? Maybe we could have breakfast!” Then she stopped. “That’s not a pick up, I mean, I’m sure you’re very good in bed, and we’d probably have fun, but that’s actually an invitation to breakfast.”
----
Jack couldn’t help but laugh at her slightly embarrassing ramble about how he was in bed. There wasn’t a whole lot else that he could think of to respond to that particular comment. However, he was happy to respond to her breakfast invitation.
“Well, I can’t say whether or not the City will suddenly send me home, but I’d still like to get to know you all the same.”
He smiled warmly at her.
“I think dinner would be a good thing. Are you busy tomorrow night?”
----
“Dinner? Really?” Fred was still a little surprised that he did indeed want to have dinner. He didn’t seem like a bad guy. He’d tried to save her on more than one occasion. She smiled up at him again.
“I guess I could go to dinner. As far as I know I’m not busy, but if you’ll leave your number with me this time, I could call you in case I do get a dire message or have to run and help someone. I do have to do that now and then.” She was serious. “Or you may have to go save some damsel type again, and then you can leave me a mess...well, you could try.” She pulled a pager out of her pocket.
“This is what I get. No phone, just this. So you can try to leave a message on it. I don’t know.” She smiled weakly.
---
“Yes, dinner. If that’s all right with you?” Jack asked.
He reached into the pocket of his suit jacket and retrieved a pen and a slip of paper. He scribbled his number on it and handed it to her, and then pulled up the contact book in his phone and handed it to her to type in her number.
“Fred, I don’t plan on having to save any, er, damsels tomorrow night. So unless something strange comes up, I’ll pick you up at 7 tomorrow night?”
----
“Well, I think that’d be just fine. 7 tomorrow night. That way we would avoid dealing with things or people coming for us.” Fred laughed and shrugged a little. “Not that either of us have people coming for us. It’s just, okay, there was that one time, but an angel stepped in, so that was okay. It’s just that going out before it gets dark may mean we’d have a little more time to not worry about bad things, although the last time a nonvampire attacked me it was during the day light. I’m not helping out? No, 7 tomorrow night will be just fine.”
If they couldn’t avoid things coming after them on a planned date, perhaps they had no business being around each other. That didn’t seem like the right way of things, as if there was a sign. She’d pretend that she didn’t think of that because it was a little sad. He was a nice guy after all.
“But I’ll call you.” she took the phone quickly added the pager number. “Or you can page me if something should come up. I understand if something comes up. It happens a good bit around here.”
----
They had come upon Fred’s building, to Jack’s relief. He didn’t want to have to argue with her about walking her home. Even if she had been the one to save him tonight, he still wanted to make sure she made it home safe and sound.
He frowned at the mention of the wild animals, but didn’t pursue the subject. He’d certainly seen some complaints about animals running wild in the City while working at City hall, but he wasn’t quite sure what to make of some of the stories.
“Earlier would be fine too. I can just head here after work, perhaps around 5:30?” he offered.
He stopped just outside her building and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. Even though she had certainly kissed him in a much more passionate way the other night, he was going to wait until after their date before he made any moves like that.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances then, I’ll see you tomorrow night.” he smiled, hopefully as if to show her that he wasn’t going to let the fear of vampires or any other things scare him off taking her out.