Food on the Table : : [Open to One]

Out of all the locations in the ruined city of Paris, the Bellows seemed to contain the most flora and fauna.  With notable game trails perfect for hunting and sustaining, before setting out anywhere else.  Jackdaw had just finished skinning a rabbit he had caught in a snare trap, until the loud but distinctive yelp cut through the forest.  Immediately he was sent into caution.

Wolves?  Or a wild pack of dogs?  Or perhaps an owner’s hunting dog or pet?  There was a surefire way to find out, as Jackdaw procured a harmonica from his pocket.  How he picked up the instrument and learned to play it was effectively wiped from his memory.  The only knowledge he had was to play it, unfortunately blotting out whoever he learned this from.

With its trill sound shrieking and echoing throughout the murky woods, his harmonica would serve multiple purposes.  Dogs would howl in response, a human would register it as man made, and wolves would more than likely flee from the loud and abrasively unrecognizable sound.  

Accompanied by the notes from his harmonica would be his mouth providing an additional sound, a percussion-like rhythm.  Alongside that his footsteps crashed loudly to the beat- stomping against trees and fallen branches- all the more to frighten any packs of wolves or dogs away.

After his brief performance he continued to crash through the forest, shouting and clapping.  “Hello?  Who’s There?”

Traversing further, a bit discouraged by how far he had left his own hunted prize behind, he came across a woman who had apparently felled a rather large wolf with an arrow.  Perfect shot too, through the throat, it couldn’t have lasted very long with an injury like that.  A gulp settled down his throat as he realized that the wolf could have caught onto the scent of his skinning of the rabbit.

“...Yo, I jus’ wanted to say thanks, madam,” Jack cast as amicable a smile he could muster and a wave.  “Nice kill.  Hopefully I scared away the pack, if there was any.”

“...Y’know, the fact that ya didn’t shoot me outright and are givin’ me a moment is tellin’ me that you’re a smart, calm, and rational person, yeah?  So let’s start things proper, from my perspective, before ya turn me into a pincushion, madam.”  Jack‘s smile faded as he remained frozen in place; left with his waving hand to hang in midair his fuschia eyes gazed directly into her oceanic blues.  Although she wanted a quick explanation, he was going to draw this moment out thoroughly, because his life was on the line.

“First of all, I’m thankin’ ya ‘cause you killed that wolf there,” he slowly nodded his head in the direction of the carcass, “If it weren’t for you that bastard woulda prob’ly caught me off guard after I jus’ finished skinnin’ a rabbit.  So ya did plenty, without even knowin’ it.  Now when ya offed that brute, I happened to hear its death cry.  Naturally I was alarmed, ‘cause wouldn’t you be so too in the same situation?  Sure, ya can take out a wolf solo with an aim like yours, but a pack?  Or a pack’a wild dogs?

“That’s when ya heard me causin’ a ruckus, yeah?  Granted, ya can critique and hate my harmonica playin’ all ya like, but my intent was to scare off the pack.  And obviously to give a decent, kind-hearted human like yourself a heads up.  ‘Cause if I was hostile, why the hell would I alert everythin’ ‘round me?”

With a deep breath, his eye contact never broken, he finished:

“Finally, I get it.  Seems like ain’t nobody you can trust in this fucked up world.  Thing is, I’m tryna survive too, jus’ like you are.  The name’s Jackdaw, by the way.  In any other instance I’d say to call me Jack and that it’s a pleasure to meetcha, but y’know.”  A very wry smile lit his features.  “If ya let me fuck off peacefully- we can never see each other again- if ya’d be so graciously inclined, madam.”

The moment she dropped her aim Jackdaw exhaled deeply in relief, then proceeded to scoff at him.  For some bizarre reason he had a sense of déjà vu- made worse by the gaps in his memories- although he had never met this woman before.  “Lotsa wild animals don’t like unnaturally loud noises, wolves in particular.  I knew what I was doin’.  But I hear ya, I’d rather deal with a wolf pack any damn day compared to some fuckin’ demons.”

Then he proceeded to watch her clean her kill and continued to listen.  Her commentary about unkind folk in the Bellows gave rise for concern, and definitely explained her very cautious stance towards him to begin with.  Crucial information to keep in mind about any other folks in this area- however her and Snow were definite exceptions.

“Now I can say the pleasure’s all mine to meet, madam Zoé.  I’m thankful for your benevolence and wisdom.  And believe you fuckin’ me, I don’t intend on becomin’ a porcupine anytime soon.” A sincere smile graced Jack’s features, revealing a fanged grin.  “That wolf there, you’re leavin’ a bit’a extra meat that could be dried, also the organs.  Ya really gonna let that go to waste?”

“...Looks like I attracted someone quite attractive,” quipped Jackdaw, flashing a winsome smile.  He also mentally cataloged her equipment, in particular that ornate and well handled dagger.  Only the strongest survived the topside of this world, and the fact that Zoé happened to be rather beautiful on top of that only made it all the better.

“I only meant ‘madam’ as a term of respect, yeah?  Strong, smart, kind, stunnin’.  But if it bugs ya I can jus’ stick to Zoé.  Oh, did I mention that’s mighty gracious of ya to offer me the rest,” Jack continued with a cheeky grin, following it up with a (not really) joke of his own:

“I mean, if you’re the type that likes her guys big, I’d happily gain some kilos for ya.”

Jackdaw noted Zoé’s aversion to flattery; it made sense with her being a self-sufficient hunter after all.  Actions always spoke louder than words with those types- a notion Jack found as another sense of bizarre deja vu- although he couldn’t recall any beautiful huntresseses in his gap-filled memory.

“Ain’t nothin’ makes me happier’n bein’ equals.”  A very sincere grin lit up his countenance.  “I’d offer to haul that wolf meat over to your group as thanks, but I don’t wanna seem invadin’ or whatnot.”

Zoé then took her leave; Jackdaw humbly bowed to her with his typical fang baring smile.  “Pleasure was all mine, Zoé.  Maybe next time I can bail your ass outta trouble instead.  Cheers.”