Bad Luck At Play || Vinzent + Jack || Desert Island

Vinzent Mayer

It has in fact been several days after the tape incident, and Vinzent wanted nothing to do with Jack as far as he could tell.

Food was bare, just coconuts… Or… Wait, that’s stupid but…

Vinzent takes out the frosting bag that’s still somehow filled to have a taste.

…

With a side of sea salt, this was pretty decent overall. Not a meal, not quite a snack, but at least something to keep his hunger at bay.

Taking dollops of the frosting, slowly Vinzent was eating, while still looking out for anyone who might walk in.

Perhaps it really wasn’t his day, because one man he wanted nothing to do with was within vicinity and Vinzent didn’t notice him… Yet.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer

No worries, Vinzent, Jack was a very difficult man to notice if he wasn’t aiming to be seen. Even with all the injuries and having definitely not slept since the 20 minutes he accidentally passed out in IKEA. Normal times.

Perched in a tree, again, he was currently making some effort to clean out his boots. Not that they’d ever be free of sand again, naturally, but they were good boots. Had to take care of them best he could.

He did eventually notice Vinzent down there, particularly when he caught a whiff of something sweet. Whatever the heck the guy was eating… was not looking a lot like fruit, nor a real carrot. So not exactly a Jack-friendly course, but calories were calories.

“What tree’d that come offa?”

Vinzent Mayer

Eating he continued until he heard a familiar voice. Then Vinzent froze.

Oh no.

F-ck this. Before even bothering to answer to Jack, Vinzent slurped most of the frosting before the other had a chance to take it possibly. This looked so stupid. But still, eat first, deal with Jack’s sh-t later. Regardless of the quantity Vinzent actually ate, he glared at the man afterwards, squinting as well.

“F-ck off.”

His braided hair was still up but relatively looser than before despite his best attempt at keeping it. Sentimental? Maybe. Not like Jack would need to know.

Vinzent then attempted to get away from the tree he sat down, unless Jack was prepared for this exact opportunity.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer Vinzent slurped most of the frosting before the other had a chance to take it possibly. This looked so stupid.

Sadly, the depletion of food kept this from seeming funny to even Jack. Alas… He would’ve been more irritated if it had been anything that had appealed to him in the first place. But candy? Not something he woulda snuck up to take instead of just freely outing his position.

Which quickly changed as he hopped down from the tree. Normally he’d have at least tried for a backflip, but he wasn’t feeling too showy at the moment. ~~Or, wasn’t feeling as physically capable of it, for obvious reasons~~. He still stuck the landing, at least.

Vinzent Mayer “F-ck off.”

“Man, I’d consider myself pretty good with plants, but even I haven’t heard a’ that tree.”

His gaze dragged over Vinzent’s braids, but, well… Hah. Whatever. Looked like shoddy handiwork. That was all he’d concern himself with here.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent still eyed Jack warily and stepped back several steps once the other man landed down.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Man, I’d consider myself pretty good with plants, but even I haven’t heard a’ that tree.”

“W… What are you talking about?”

He looks away, pretending this is all normal. You Don’t Need to Know This Jack.

At least, it didn’t seem like Jack was willing to throw hands with Vinzent, but we never know. The young man was still on his guard. If anything, he should run away should this happen.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Jack didn’t try to close the gap, at least, though he felt no need to back off, either.

Vinzent Mayer “W… What are you talking about?”

“Your answer? Weird name for a tree—that Russian or somethin’?” He was running with this extremely stupid joke until he got bored of it. Which would probably be soon enough.

Vinzent turned away, giving Jack a glimpse of another section of braid. Just a little loose…

“Not know how to braid your own hair? Or that some souvenir from your new mermaid girlfriend or somethin’?”

…Right, he was supposed to not be fixating on that. Whatever.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Roadie 🪶Jack “Your answer? Weird name for a tree—that Russian or somethin’?” He was running with this extremely stupid joke until he got bored of it. Which would probably be soon enough.

Ah, so Jack was just pulling his leg. Vinzent rolled his eyes.

“Get a better sense of humor, my guy.”

If Vinzent was still eating, he’d have choked on the sugar. This dude is really pulling bullsh-t out of his a–, isn’t he?

Roadie 🪶Jack “Not know how to braid your own hair? Or that some souvenir from your new mermaid girlfriend or somethin’?”

“Shut up. A dear friend braided it for me. It might not be perfect but it’s a gesture I appreciate anyway.”

This… Was technically true. But as if Jack needed to know the exact specifics! (:

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer “Get a better sense of humor, my guy.”

“You first!” Thanks.

Vinzent Mayer A dear friend braided it for me. It might not be perfect but it’s a gesture I appreciate anyway.”

Jack’s grin cracked for a second, but only a second.

“Awww, isn’t that just the heart-warmiest thing ya ever heard. So what, it’s so cute and full of love you’re just gonna keep it forever?” He nearly made it all the way to uwu-speak before scoffing.

“If I made it—well, first off, it’d actually be decent, but—“ he waved it off—“I’d rather you let the poor thing die than drag it around till it looks like that. Just an insult to you and the other guy both this way.”

“That how ya like to treat your dear friends?”

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent didn’t say anything, yet.

He knew that somehow the conversation would turn in some sort of bullsh-t. Jack had a talent for this.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Awww, isn’t that just the heart-warmiest thing ya ever heard. So what, it’s so cute and full of love you’re just gonna keep it forever?”

“…”

Roadie 🪶Jack “If I made it—well, first off, it’d actually be decent, but—“ he waved it off—“I’d rather you let the poor thing die than drag it around till it looks like that. Just an insult to you and the other guy both this way.”

So Jack figured it was a guy. Okay. Still not knowing it’s Abel who did this at least reassured Vinzent on that, but… That last comment did piss Vinzent off. A bit.

Roadie 🪶Jack “That how ya like to treat your dear friends?”

Finally, Vinzent did speak up.

“I tried to maintain it the best I could. Sorry I don’t have a mirror with me to fix it perfectly.”

If he wasn’t terrified of this man, Vinzent wouldn’t have hesitated to throw a punch at Jack’s face for how insufferable he was. But knowing what the wanderer was capable of not too long ago, Vinzent’s only weapon were his own words. And his self preservation mattered more over fighting an a–hole over some poor taste remarks.

“First off, you don’t seem to have the concept of friendship well solidified, so it’s not your place to comment on this. In fact, I’d be surprised you had any friendship with this absolute trash attitude of yours. Secondly, what exactly do you want from me?”

With the last question he asked, he clearly stepped backwards, ready to run away should Jack tries anything funny.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Hey, maybe he’d meant “guy” in a gender-neutral sense! Who knew. Probably not even Jack himself.

Vinzent Mayer “I tried to maintain it the best I could. Sorry I don’t have a mirror with me to fix it perfectly.”

“Well, fine, just this once I’ll forgive you, since you’re really twistin’ my arm over it.”

Vinzent Mayer “First off, you don’t seem to have the concept of friendship well solidified, so it’s not your place to comment on this. In fact, I’d be surprised you had any friendship with this absolute trash attitude of yours.

Jack made a fainting motion, wrist to his forehead and everything. “O woe is me, forever trapped in cruel, friendless solitude…”

Tiring of that quickly enough, he snorted and straightened up again.

“…Had a friend once. Name was Raph. Real short hair, glass eye, loved puzzles more than anybody’s got the right to. And lemme tell you…”

He went to fling an arm over Vinzent’s shoulders for the full “hey old buddy old pal” effect, but considering Vinzent was on guard it didn’t quite work out. Jack at least avoided anything worse than stumbling, though he looked woefully disappointed. He shook his head at Vinzent.

“Hey, I got a whole tragic betrayal story for ya here, you mind?”

Vinzent Mayer Secondly, what exactly do you want from me?”

“I mean, I’d never say no to cash if you’re offerin’.”

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Ugh, annoying.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Well, fine, just this once I’ll forgive you, since you’re really twistin’ my arm over it.”

Vinzent couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Especially more when Jack continued his dramatic nonsense. It was clear as day that he was bullsh-tting it.

Then, story time, huh. That didn’t last long! Because…

When Jack came at him to fling his arm over, Vinzent’s heart skipped a beat. Oh no, oh no no no no. His immediate response was to dodge the possiblity of being trapped like that.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Hey, I got a whole tragic betrayal story for ya here, you mind?”

“You can’t just do that! If you wanna tell your story, sure whatever. But don’t do that again?! What the h-ll!”

Then, as expected!

Roadie 🪶Jack “I mean, I’d never say no to cash if you’re offerin’.”

Vinzent scoffed at this. Mind you, he was still scared, with what Jack just did now. But… Seriously?

“Over my dead body.”

He realized just now this sounded like an invitation to fight, which he really did NOT want to happen. But as if he’d let Jack take his money that easily either!

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer “You can’t just do that! If you wanna tell your story, sure whatever. But don’t do that again?! What the h-ll!”

Jack shook his head sadly.

“What, you expect me to spill my very personal tale of utter heartbreak, when ya won’t even stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me? How’re you ever gonna fix my terrible concepts ’bout friendship if you aren’t willin’ to treat me like a friend yourself?”

Assuming that that spew of utter garbage wouldn’t be changing Vinzent’s mind, Jack withdrew a knife instead—and also a small piece of wood, from a different pocket. He kept Vinzent in his peripherals as he scrutinized the faded driftwood.

Vinzent Mayer “Over my dead body.”

“Oh, so when ya bite it, I get first dibs on lootin’ you? Oh boy! That a promise?”

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Roadie 🪶Jack “What, you expect me to spill my very personal tale of utter heartbreak, when ya won’t even stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me? How’re you ever gonna fix my terrible concepts ’bout friendship if you aren’t willin’ to treat me like a friend yourself?”

A bitter laugh. This guy… This guy is so. Full. Of. Sh-t. Vinzent isn’t even going to dignify Jack with a proper answer.

Jack drawing his knife did make Vinzent freeze again. But only for a short moment. Because, at least it wasn’t pointed at him… For now.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Oh, so when ya bite it, I get first dibs on lootin’ you? Oh boy! That a promise?”

“If someone doesn’t beat your a– first. We’ll see if you’ll be succesful at looting. It’d be almost funny if you died first, after surviving for this long, though.”

Usually, he has his principles to not wish death on people in general, it’s not in his nature to throw it just like that. But a few would make an exception. And Jack is considerably closer to fall in this zone, with the legitimate threat he presents to others here.

Still, the fear was very much there. It was hard to not get nervous, and not expecting the worst.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Aww, and not even humoring that. Oh well, Jack couldn’t say he expected better. Or expected anything. That would have required stopping to think before he’d gone rambling off. And standing there thinking was the last thing he needed.

Vinzent Mayer Jack drawing his knife did make Vinzent freeze again. But only for a short moment.

Jack snorted.

“ ’m not new to this, don’t worry.”

He started swiping the blade over the wood at different angles, dropping tiny curled shavings in his wake without concern.

Vinzent Mayer “If someone doesn’t beat your a– first. We’ll see if you’ll be succesful at looting.

“You doubt my speed in getting my hands on somebody’s money?” He shook his head. “Can’t believe this.”

Vinzent Mayer It’d be almost funny if you died first, after surviving for this long, though.”

“Oh, that’d be hilarious!” he replied brightly. “But, unfortunately for everyone involved, I can’t see it happenin’.”

He paused in his whittling, still far too soon to guess what he was making, if anything.

“ ’less that’s a threat?”

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Roadie 🪶Jack “ ’m not new to this, don’t worry.”

Argh, It was just really irritating at this point. How much more until Jack makes him go insane with his nonsense? Vinzent watched the carvings with wariness. What is Jack making?? Guess he’ll wait to find out.

Roadie 🪶Jack “You doubt my speed in getting my hands on somebody’s money?” He shook his head. “Can’t believe this.”

It’s not that he doubts it but. Vinzent just… Wanted Jack gone from his sights. Because he’s a pure nuisance. Speaking of that…

Roadie 🪶Jack “Oh, that’d be hilarious!” he replied brightly. “But, unfortunately for everyone involved, I can’t see it happenin’.”

He paused in his whittling, still far too soon to guess what he was making, if anything.

“ ’less that’s a threat?”

A threat… It could be looked as one, huh. He almost wanted to say that yes it is. But is it legimately a threat? Considering their notable differences… It’d be hard to go ahead on that, realistically. But in the ideal world, Vinzent would’ve happily put Jack out of the commission at the very least. Killing… He wasn’t sure if it was the best idea. It still didn’t look like it was.

“You think I’m mad enough to try that on you. No, I’ll just watch you run your luck out.”

Each time he says something messed up, Vinzent doesn’t feel good. Really. But this whole situation really puts a whole pressure on him. And that include saying things on impulse that he normally would keep to himself. But again The Jack Factor also counts in that.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Jack resumed whittling away. Whatever he was working on seemed to be concentrating into approximately two semi-connected blobs. So easy to identify at this stage. True art.

Vinzent Mayer “You think I’m mad enough to try that on you.

“Oh, I dunno the first thing about you, and you dunno the first thing about me. Best to keep it that way, don’tcha think?”

Vinzent Mayer No, I’ll just watch you run your luck out.”

“Geez,” he whined, “that’s gotta be, like, three of ya now saying somethin’ like that.” Or two. Maybe more, or none. There was no telling. “'s it really so hard to believe I’ve survived on skill?”

“Or you just don’t wanna admit it, ’cause then you’d be unbelievably pathetic in comparison, yeah?”

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Wow. Amazing art! Beautiful! Incredible. Never seen before! … No but what the h-ll is this dude making?

Roadie 🪶Jack “Oh, I dunno the first thing about you, and you dunno the first thing about me. Best to keep it that way, don’tcha think?”

“Now that’s something we can agree on.” For once.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Geez,” he whined, “that’s gotta be, like, three of ya now saying somethin’ like that.” Or two. Maybe more, or none. There was no telling. “'s it really so hard to believe I’ve survived on skill?”

Good. More people thinking the same thing as Vinzent. In principle, it was still a bad idea, but… Did he care at this moment when it came to Jack? No ❤️

“Just on skill is doubtful.” Trickery? He’d believe it. Although… It did technically fall under skill but. Let’s not mention it.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Or you just don’t wanna admit it, ’cause then you’d be unbelievably pathetic in comparison, yeah?”

“I might not have survived on skill, but I still survived from something once, and that’s at least something. Whatever you think, it has no weight.”

Yes, Vinzent was painfully aware he’s extremely weak physically. His only peak was his running skill and even then… Who knew if it’d help him totally. This man in front of him was just a continued headache.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer “Now that’s something we can agree on.”

“Imagine that!”

Vinzent Mayer “Just on skill is doubtful.”

Jack harrumphed.

“Fine, a little luck. Guess I can concede ’s much.”

“But is that good ’r bad luck?”

Very philosophical, wow.

Vinzent Mayer “I might not have survived on skill, but I still survived from something once, and that’s at least something. Whatever you think, it has no weight.”

He snorted.

“Wowww, you survived something, once. Got me shakin’ in my boots, here.” Saying he’d survived much more than that himself was apparently not worth his breath. Too obvious, as far as he was concerned.

He continued whittling, of course—between that and the coin tricks and downright thievery, he didn’t seem to be much for idle hands. The wood was starting to seem more bird-shaped at this point. Probably.

At some point realizing Vinzent was at least glancing at the whittling, Jack looked up at him.

“Oh sorry, didja have a request?” He whistled a faint note. “Too late.”

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Roadie 🪶Jack Jack harrumphed.

“Fine, a little luck. Guess I can concede ’s much.”

“But is that good ’r bad luck?”

So Philosophical ✨

“Depends.” He hoped bad luck but. We never know with Jack.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Wowww, you survived something, once. Got me shakin’ in my boots, here.” Saying he’d survived much more than that himself was apparently not worth his breath. Too obvious, as far as he was concerned.

Why is Vinzent not surprised at this reaction? It was pathetic, if he may say. Their situations were very different, Vinzent can tell, but… It still didn’t mean his own life was not as worth as anyone else. He’s trying to get better, but a Man in Front of Him is Making Him Reconsider His Philosophy… Not that Vinzent would act on it. He doesn’t have the guts like Viper.

As he watched the wood finally taking a more clear shape, but not fully determined, Vinzent wondered to himself– But of course Jack interrupted his train of thought.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Oh sorry, didja have a request?” He whistled a faint note. “Too late.”

“Nah. Not in the mood to ask for anything anyway.”

Looking back at the wood, he then remembered what he was about to ask. Maybe a simpler question.

“Do you like birds?”

Will Jack Be Insufferable Again? Find Out More at 11.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Ah, but was the act of Jack surviving bad luck? Depended on whom you asked.

~~And sometimes having a brain was more important than having guts. (Don’t) Go off, king.~~

Vinzent Mayer “Do you like birds?”

Jack paused a moment before flicking the newest wood shaving off his knife.

“…Not ’n particular. Just the only thing that usu’lly turns out right. Yanno how it is.” Whittle, whittle.

“ ’Less you’re not into makin’ stuff, I guess.”

Given his usual inflection, that could have easily been taken as sarcasm. But in reality, he still didn’t have a clue what Vinzent’s name and occupation were. Pretty sure he was a… computer programmer? Tetris guy? One of those two.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Roadie 🪶Jack “…Not ’n particular. Just the only thing that usu’lly turns out right. Yanno how it is.” Whittle, whittle.

“I see.” So he was just bullsh*tting. Nothing new!

Roadie 🪶Jack “ ’Less you’re not into makin’ stuff, I guess.”

It took him a moment to process that one. What.

“Uh. Well, not quite? I like creating stuff. It’s not that far off. But I really draw art on a computer. With a graphic tablet.”

Not sure if Jack would care, but Vinzent has gotten worse ignorant questions. So he… Could say that. And see what next nonsense Jack will spout. Will this be going for hours? Who knows!