Shattered Glass [Jack]

The day was proving to be a rather eventful one, though for the time being Retuo found himself making his way back to the fields after he had escorted the odd detective to the subway. There was sure a lot to think about in regards to that, but just as their discussion has proven, fixing these lands and getting rid of the demon threat wasn't as simple as one would wish for it to be. Not unless a large majority of people managed to gain the ability to properly fight the hostile creatures and drive them out for good.

Speaking of which, now that he was free once again and with that on his mind, he found himself wondering what the limits of those abilities actually were. If anyone were to pass by at this point in time, they would be treated to a strange sight of a fairly tall man with a spear in hand which had a faint earthy glow to it, thoughtfully staring at a few chunks of glass that he had seemingly cut off from the structures that were protrude out of the ground. It would appear that this was definitely more effective, given it was near impossible to destroy those glassy crystals with any sort of mundane tools. Did that mean all this was a product of similar powers then...?

For reference:

The Fields of Glass had to have been one of the most breathtaking places Jackdaw had ever been to.  Crystalline surroundings refracted and dappled the light in prismatic shades of beauty.  If it weren’t for a major lack of flora and fauna to thrive off of, he definitely would have considered this a prime haunt to stay at for a while.  

At the very least it was a nice locale to take someone on a date to.

Snapping him out of his reverie of imaginary significant others, a particularly handsome and tall man stood out amongst the glassy structures.  Not one to entirely fall for looks, Jackdaw knew better than that.  This could have easily been a demon in a veil of sorts, a glamour to trick passerby who were also thinking about dates with attractive people.

Also because he happened to be a particularly fatal seductor himself.

Wielding a makeshift spear of his own, it paled in grandeur to the weapon the stranger wielded.  In fact it was so ornate it happened to be physically glowing, casting a shade that bounced off the crystals and bathed the stranger in an almost angelic glow.  Despite his instincts screaming at him to back away from temptation, Jackdaw couldn’t help it.

“...Whatcha thinkin’ ‘bout there, boss?” Jack asked in a thick Northern British accent, waggling his eyebrows with a smile.

Oh.

With a slight twitch to his brow, Retuo would tighten his hold on his weapon as he turned in the direction of where the sudden voice came from, a light frown on his face. Guess he wasn't about to get a break, was he? Then again, he was kind of aware that it was perhaps his own fault given this area wasn't exactly the most secluded and he was making himself stand out quite a bit with his actions. At the very least, it didn't appear like the one choosing to disturb him was a demon of any sort, though he couldn't be entirely certain either, of course.

Opting to stay careful for now, he'd keep a straight posture as he eyed the stranger, his expression and tone more or less neutral for the time being. "Ah...hello? That's a strange way to address a person...I don't suppose I know you, do I?" He didn't think he did, and he also wasn't sure as to how to take being spoken to that way. Either he was missing something, or this person was one of those types with less manners. It was worth asking regardless of which it was, since it would possibly help him decide on how to approach this further.

“Yo!  I don’t see what’s so strange ‘bout wantin’ to strike up a frien’ly conversation with a stranger, yeah?” With a slow and casual wave Jackdaw attempted to disarm the stranger- not the resplendent spear- but simply a way to act on kinder terms.  

“We don’t know each other yet, but that’s why I called out to ya in the first place, ya follow?  Ya seemed so lost in thought ‘bout uhh…” Jack tilted his head towards the sliced crystalline structures.  “...’Boutcher handiwork.  That spear’a yours is really somethin’ else, innit.”

Retuo would tilt his head slightly, seemingly contemplating for a couple moments before offering the guy a polite nod. "My bad. Didn't mean to imply that. I just thought that calling a stranger 'boss' was a little unusual, given we have no...ah, work-related relationship." He had a feeling it was probably some sort of a casual nickname in this particular case, but it nevertheless confused him a tiny bit given he was not the type to engage in such freely.

"Hmm, right." He'd take a moment to crouch down and pick up a medium sized shard of crystal before straightening back up. "You could say that it is. I was thinking about the origin of these structures, that's all. They're quite fascinating after all." For plenty reasons, all the way from their sturdy nature to the material they appeared to be made of. Either way, he wasn't particularly busy outside of that for the moment, so he didn't mind entertaining the guy as long as he wasn't given a reason to walk out of this fast.

The stranger’s rigid reply nearly prompted Jackdaw to laugh in response, but he held it in with a simple smirk and a nod of the head.  “Simple mistake- not a problem, chief.”

As for these Fields of Glass, it only made sense to be curious about their origin.  Although the more than likely answer were that they were a byproduct of some demonic influence, since crystalline structures like these weren’t found in the wild.  However, for all Jack knew, maybe there were more like these in the world, but he was betting on the former rather than the latter.

“Definitely real pretty, these things, yeah.  Nice place to take a lady friend, heh.”  With a playful wink he continued, “You a researcher?  Scientist?  I ain’t never seen no learned bloke wield ‘round a glowin’ spear choppin’ crystals though.”

"..."

Resisting the urge to respond with a long suffering sigh, Retuo would stare at the guy with a blank face for a couple moments at first. Well, he could now be reasonably sure that this was more of a joke play than anything else, but it was nevertheless not really his style. To someone like that, he was definitely likely to come off more stiff and rigid. He just wasn't an exuberant person. Still, he wasn't entirely incapable of adapting and it did take two people to play a game. Dismissing the spear into thin air for the time being, he would put his now free hand on his hip as he gave the guy a seemingly still polite smile. "I see. Since you appear to hold me in such high esteem, does that mean I get to order you around?" If this guy wanted to play, he could take it in his own way and see how long the enthusiasm lasted.

In any case, he would flip the shard of crystal in his hand thoughtfully as the guy spoke. "Can't say I share the sentiment..." Thinking about dates was hardly something he occupied himself with. "But no, I would not call myself that. Then again, can anyone living out here have much of a claim to an official position?" He was certain that the average straggler on the surface had no formal higher education, so it was near impossible to make a claim to such a title outside of it being more of a hobby for some. "I simply wanted to test something out. These crystals cannot be harmed through most normal means after all." That was why he used his weapon on them in the first place.

The stranger’s empty expression, sigh, and quip followed by a smile only seemed to incite Jackdaw more.  However he remained silent as the taller man continued on and answered the question.  There was a humility and honesty to him that nearly staggered Jack.  Briefly his fuschia eyes widened at the mention of how durable these crystals were, and how effortlessly the stranger cut through them.

“...Hot fuckin’ damn, that’s impressive lad!  Ya gotta mighty damn fine spear, in comparison to this,” he motioned to his own paltry makeshift spear, cobbled together from a tree branch, some vine, and jagged scrap of metal bound together.  “This piece of rubbish.  I dunno, out here in the wild, ya can call yourself anythin’ and if you believe it, it’s true, yeah?”

Jack went over to the shattered debris and examined it as well, letting out a sharp whistle.  “Well, if ya ain’t a scientist, my guess is you’re a hunter...?”

There was an implication at the end, obviously leaning towards the subject of demons.

"...."

Well, he was mostly honest, yes. However, that didn't mean everything he said was always the full truth, and to believe everything a stranger told you was a risky way of going about your business anyway, was it not? "Mine is not really manmade...though, I have to say I would in most situations disagree with your assessment. If it truly worked that way, a person could claim to be God, and just because they believed it...should it actually be true? Nor is someone a real doctor simply because they say so, unless they can demonstrate some knowledge and ability to heal people. Labels become pointless when they're used too liberally and with no weight behind them." Plus, once you've met too many frauds who said they were 'something' just because they wanted to sound cool, you'd possibly end up not believing when you finally met someone who really could make a claim to the title. Too much chaos and hassle in Retuo's eyes. It helped nobody, and if a person really needed to make such a claim to feed their own ego, then maybe they had a problem to deal with elsewhere.

He would shrug his shoulders vaguely. "Were I to set my sights on it, I most likely could be. I don't normally take a lot of interest in hunting, however." Animals for food perhaps, but he had a feeling that was not the kind of hunter this guy was assuming him to be. Honestly, he did what he had to do, but he would not seek out those types of 'jobs' without there being a reason for it. The last thing he wanted was to put himself into a lot of spotlight and put a target on his own head thanks to all the attention.

“I mean, ya ain’t wrong, but what I was gettin’ at is it don’t take much for someone to believe in who or what they are.  Alls they need is the mindset and confidence, and they can claim whatever.” Jack bent down and picked up one of the broken shards.  Lightly pressing it against his gloved finger, its sharpness was useful.  Incredibly useful, like replacing the tip of his makeshift spear, or for a knife even.  He began to pocket several of the larger shards.

“Anyway, ya don’t hafta be into somethin’ to make ya capable of doin’ it.”  Jack said almost emptily, his own thoughts always coming to the root of his survival.  The measures and lengths he had taken to prioritize his own life.  However he smiled again at the stranger, letting his fangs show.

“So you’re a survivor, like me, yeah?  The name’s Jackdaw, but you can call me Jack.”

Retuo would tilt his head at the guy thoughtfully, but offer no reaction otherwise to his choice to pick up some of the scattered shards. He didn't really have a big need for them and it wasn't like he owned them, thus he didn't mind this. "Hm. Are you saying we should commend people for possibly overestimating themselves or being downright arrogant? It is true that a person can choose to believe whatever they want, but that nevertheless does not make their claim true if they have nothing to back it up with." You could be as confident as you wanted, but certain things didn't care about that. You either could pull the weight or couldn't, and sometimes it was about far more than believing.

He would chuckle faintly. "No, I suppose I do not. You could say I do not like the extra attention. I won't deny, I might be capable of being a hunter...but I do not wish to call myself that, for it would give people something to assume about me, and I don't particularly want people to see me that way." Sure, he was capable of taking on such a job and would possibly be willing to kill if he had to, however it was hardly something he wanted to identify with. He was not the type of person to take pleasure in violence at the end of the day. In any case, he would offer the guy a polite nod. "You could put it that way, yes. My name is Retuo. A pleasure to meet you, I suppose."

“Haha, I never said that.  I’m jus’ sayin’ people can pretend to be what they want, and like ya said, it’s up to ‘em to prove it wrong.”  Appreciating the logical approach Retuo gave, Jack wouldn’t mind having a few discussions with him.  Especially when he appeared to be a bit shy- Jack wanted to see what else made Retuo tick.

“...Ya s’pose!?  The hell kinda greetin’ is that, Retuo?” Jackdaw burst into laughter.  “Ya might be a tall and handsome drink’a water, but ya gotta work on your delivery.  Maybe I can help ya out some.”

With a waggle of his eyebrows and a coy smile Jack added, “Think’a all the attention you’d get then.”

He would offer no more response to that aside from a slight furrow of his brows. Retuo could undoubtedly be slow with his responses or even almost eerily quiet sometimes when he had very little to say in the moment, but calling him shy would be a miscalculation. Then again, putting him face to face with someone as boisterous as this probably made it easy for such an assumption to come up.



Honest answer? He couldn't care less, especially from someone who had the audacity to laugh in his face while calling his style unsatisfactory. As if the conduct Jack was displaying was any more appealing. Retuo personally wouldn't consider it to be, perhaps in part because the point of it all was kind of going over his head.

Letting someone provoke him was not on his agenda today however, so unless something changed, he most likely wasn't going to take the bite. "It's simple. I do not know you enough to say for sure yet. I do not know what it is you're looking for from me, but I'm afraid I might disappoint you there. I've no interest in getting a lot of attention...definitely not in the style you appear to be suggesting." Paris magically fixing itself on spot was probably more likely than him acting like that. The day that happened, it would mean something was not quite right. "...thanks for the offer though." He could handle being nice for now.

“In your case, I’m sayin’ ya can’t catch a fly with vinegar, no matter how pretty ya are.  Regardless of if ya don’t want any attention- and I can respect that- that realism soundin’ like pessimism don’t exactly give the right impression.   Even if ya seem like an honest and kind enough lad.” Still squatting, Jack happened to look at a reflection of himself in one of the glassy structures.  He flexed one pectoral muscle after another in quick succession, and smiled.  Then his gaze shifted to Retuo through the glass.

“As for what I want from ya?  Jus’ some simple and honest company.  Gets mighty lonesome survivin’ by yourself, yeah?  Can’t be in your head alla the time, messes with ya.”

Retuo's brows would furrow slightly as he contemplated the words briefly. "Ah, so you think I'm sour then?" His tone was mildly amused for a beat before he found himself shrugging his shoulders vaguely. "I think I'll pass regardless. Your opinion is your own. There may be some people who would like me...and in all honesty, I would find it far more flattering than having to change who I am and how I act to appease one specific person. As I've said, I'm in no rush for attention, and therefore see zero need to be desperate and purposefully put on a forced act to make myself more likeable in the moment. If you don't like me, that is fine with me. I'd rather be myself than play games anyway." He didn't care all that much. In fact, he didn't even follow this line of thinking. Could he put on a front to get himself more attention? Probably. He didn't think himself to be that bad of an actor. However, there was absolutely no satisfaction in it for him. He'd rather be alone than in the company of people he needed to put a fake face on around just to be tolerated. He had his limits with that, and even though there were many instances where he did choose to hold his tongue, changing his conduct as drastically as that was outside of what he was interested in doing.

With a faint hum, he'd lean a bit against a nearby crystal structure which was still intact as he gazed down at the guy. "You'd perhaps be surprised, but I actually like to be by myself. People are a lot of noise. In fact, your own comparison with flies may not be so far off, dear friend. Flies can be pretty annoying when they decide to be attracted to you and won't stop buzzing in your ears, wouldn't you think?" There was a hint of deadpan sarcasm in his tone, but he wouldn't do much more to give away what he was really thinking there. One thing was certain however, he did have a mouth on him when he found himself in the mood to bite back. This guy seemed like the type to be into banter after all, and to an extent, it was something he was capable of working with. Even if perhaps not in the 'exact' way Jack wanted him to.