Just a Friendly Little Talk! | Jack + Abel | Segway Car

Roadie 🪶Jack

Abel Lazarus “Clearly not, you’re the cop here. Technically it would only count if you’re quizzing me.”

Jack was the what.

…Right! He knew that. That was why he was wearing these weird clothes with too-tiny pockets. But they could worry about that later.

“Sure, pop quiz.” He needed a second to pull enough consciousness together to come up with something. “How much total’s in your wallet right now?”

Abel Lazarus He… spins on the Segway?

Oh, showing off your Segway superiority huh? Right in front of his salad? Jack couldn’t figure out whether he was supposed to be weirded out still or slighted, so he decided he was just hungry. Humnis.

Abel Lazarus “Fine. I assume you can talk and eat at least-

“Dunno, I’d hate t’ lose any food playin’ it risky like that…” But yes, he could. Just… cautiously.

Abel Lazarus what lowers numbers? We know killing at least raises them- but do you just… have to do the opposite of what raises it?”

“Ehhh. Usually get some wishy-washy namby-pamby crap ‘bout bein’ a better person ‘r facin’ your whatever.” He waved the hand that wasn’t holding any pita. “Easiest t’ just go for trial an’ error, see if ‘s worth doin’ whatever gets it down. Usually isn’t.”

“ ‘f I had to guess for you, though… Seem like ya take yourself awful serious, yeah?” Though Abel was smiling more than usual(?) right now, but Jack was still ignoring that part anyway. “Bet makin’ a fool a’ yourself in public might do it. Little bit, anyway.”

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack “How much total’s in your wallet right now?”

He gives Jack a Look. He DOES know the answer but he isn’t really Excited to try and Answer that question for Jack. Sorry buddy. You will make a nice chunk of change out of this, though. Don’t worry about that at least.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Easiest t’ just go for trial an’ error, see if ‘s worth doin’ whatever gets it down. Usually isn’t.”

Hm.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Bet makin’ a fool a’ yourself in public might do it. Little bit, anyway.”

Huh.

Abel looks at Jack for a long moment before looking at his lap. He flexes his hands against the fabric for a moment before looking at Jack again.

Now this isn’t something most people would consider making themselves a fool but. Abel is himself.

“Your… neck. Ice will help with the pain. If it’s. Hurting.” From experience but this isn’t the very embarrassing part to him.

“… it’s worst the first time, usually I think. It’s only happened to me once but.” But he’s. Attempting something right? “…”

He can’t look at Jack while he truly bites the bullet and Goes for this. “… I don’t think you deserved that. Neither of us did.” Now maybe he doesn’t fully mean that on his half- but. This is something! He feels sufficiently embarrassed trying to connect to Jack of all people. About. That.

And maybe Jack won’t appreciate it but. It won’t matter right? It feels better to say a little and it might help him in the long run. If anything Jack is an easy tester. Abel doesn’t expect him to react well- which takes the pressure off it.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Abel Lazarus He gives Jack a Look.

“What? Just doin’ my job.”

Abel Lazarus Abel looks at Jack for a long moment before looking at his lap. He flexes his hands against the fabric for a moment before looking at Jack again.

Jack was metaphorically rubbing his greedy little hands together. Do it, do something stupid. How low can he get the little rich boy to go in one day?

Abel Lazarus “Your… neck. Ice will help with the pain. If it’s. Hurting.”

Uh. What.

…Did he look like he was in pain? Ugh. If there was anything he should’ve been any good at, it was smothering that down. Surely he’d had plenty of practice. Not a lot of people worth hiding it from these days, but…

His train of thought fizzled out along with about half his visual capacity. He winced and dug his nails into the back of his hand. Stay awake. Couldn’t’a been more than, what, six days now? Just how weak was he, all of a sudden? One stupid burn shouldn’t have done that much. One stupid murder. One stupid tape…

Someone was talking, right? Where was he right now? Hhh.

Abel Lazarus “… it’s worst the first time, usually I think. It’s only happened to me once but.”

Biting down on the inside of his lip, he tried to piece the context back together.

“What, a burn? ’r a neck injury.” He didn’t think to actually look at Abel’s neck for signs of anything.

“Sure not my first.”

Abel Lazarus “… I don’t think you deserved that. Neither of us did.”

“……………..”

None of those words made any sense. What, Abel didn’t deserve to watch that? Or was there something else in this conversation he’d already lost track of? The first part sure didn’t make any sense, unless he meant Jack surviving it. Which, eh, story of his life, right there.

His breathing seemed out of sync somehow. Whoever was doing it. He was—He…

He quietly went to snap the plastic knife in half with his hands. What were they talking about? Focus on something, he could still… Maybe without… Maybe.

“…Not wrong, but… Wouldn’t wanna… mess with the circulation. ’s not bleeding, so. Better to heal.”

“I can handle a little pain.” His eyes were even duller than usual.

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack “What, a burn? ’r a neck injury.” He didn’t think to actually look at Abel’s neck for signs of anything.

Abel isn’t really even registering that Jack’s Also burned. There’s something else far more… at the forefront of what he’s thinking of.

“The whip. Though- I guess I was recently strangled too.” He. Makes a Weird sort of… laugh? At that? If Jack does look now, though- he’ll see that Abel’s throat likely has some sort of bruising around it peaking over the turtleneck of the silly robber outfit. Turns out getting strangled by someone intending to Kill you probably Bruises you, huh? At least I’m assuming.

“… I don’t think people realize how much they hurt when someone’s really trying to hurt you with one.” He isn’t. Really going to keep going with that topic though. It’s not comfortable for him either. Regardless of their shared experience there- Abel did agree to his punishment. Part of him worries that if he admitted to that, Jack might hit him with something he Couldn’t currently handle- and then where would he be?

Roadie 🪶Jack “I can handle a little pain.” His eyes were even duller than usual.

Maybe that’s true. Hasn’t Abel said the same? Turns out being insistent Tylenol is a gateway drug often puts you in a spot to make the same claim over and over. Whether he’s hurting himself or being hurt or just… hurting. Abel isn’t nearly as scar covered as Jack- not when most of his injuries have been concentrated- but even then this short time on the train must be getting him closer.

It’s something to think about.

Not yet, though. Not. Completely.

He’s already pushing himself out of any sort of comfort zone.

“… it’s a good thing you don’t need a knife for hummus.”

Well hopefully that was enough for something. For a start of something. Progress or… whatever.

“So. Why do you like knives so much?” Knowing Jack that probably is a loaded question but hey it’s probably one he can lie about and he and Abel can both pretend this weird emotional moment didn’t happen.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Abel Lazarus “The whip.

“Ahh.” Jack nodded, taking a second to down his next tiny bite of pita. “Burn’s more severe than the lash, though. Woulda been nice to ease the swellin’, but.” He shrugged. Medicine, man.

Abel Lazarus Though- I guess I was recently strangled too.”

“No kiddin’? Person, ’r you just walk into some pull cords wrong?”

He still didn’t actually look to see the bruising. What did he care? Nothing he could do for it now, and he wouldn’t have, anyway. Already getting paid for something else, so not much room for benefit. Or what, would helping’ve made Abel like him? Pretty sure the guy voted to kill him, or something. Little late for that.

Abel Lazarus “… I don’t think people realize how much they hurt when someone’s really trying to hurt you with one.”

Yeah, there was definitely a story there. One he didn’t really care enough about to hear… and wouldn’t be able to keep up with, either. At least not right now.

Still a little woozy, he dragged the broken plastic across the side of his exposed forearm like some sudden fasciotomy. But even with a slightly sharper edge, it didn’t leave any damage beyond a white line. He stared, flexing his fingers to watch it shift. Hard to tell if this was helping.

Abel Lazarus “… it’s a good thing you don’t need a knife for hummus.”

“T’… spread it, maybe.” He was clearly not in condition to use his context clues right now, so he’d just respond to the base statement. And eat some hummus.

Abel Lazarus “So. Why do you like knives so much?”

Oh, a question. Uh. Probably should’ve been simple. If he could think.

“Easy t’ get your hands on, easy t’ control.” Sure beat some other weapons he could name.

Stomach twisting, he scored a couple more sad little lines on his arm. This was not speeding up his eating pace.

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack “Burn’s more severe than the lash, though. Woulda been nice to ease the swellin’, but.”

While Abel isn’t… Much one for recommending medicine for others- He does cognitively know that most people don’t tend to have similar hang ups about such things. He gives Jack Two (2) Tylenol. In case he would take them. Should help with swelling. And count as a nice deed! Is his number going down? Who knows. He’s not going to check right now. “There’s a pharmacy.”

Roadie 🪶Jack Or what, would helping’ve made Abel like him? Pretty sure the guy voted to kill him, or something. Little late for that.

Actually! It would have made Abel like him. Saving his life definitely gives you like a heavy bonus of some kind. What a world it would be to have Abel Like Jack, huh? He’d be FAR more insufferable! Not just for the purposes of trying to go home. “Person.” Is what he offers for the question, though.

Roadie 🪶Jack Stomach twisting, he scored a couple more sad little lines on his arm. This was not speeding up his eating pace.

Hm. Yeah Abel is Really starting to notice Jack acting… Weird. To the best of his ability to describe it at least- He isn’t really the best for dealing with anything like that, though. So.

He looks at the lines Jack is giving himself and… Yikes. Jack is super not okay isn’t he? ~~(You think?)~~ Hm.

… Distraction didn’t seem to work…? He isn’t really sure what to do.

…

“Jack. Are you Okay?” Clap for him everyone. This is, indeed, his best. Short of. Offering Jack a stuffed bunny to cuddle.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Jack watched the Tylenol extraction process, then stared down at the pills another moment with raised eyebrows. Finally he scoff-laughed.

“Cute.”

He didn’t touch them, though he seemed more dismissive than wary.

Abel Lazarus “There’s a pharmacy.”

Now that was a little more worthwhile. Not that… most of it would be useful to him, but worth a raid. He’d make a mental note that may or may not survive the hostile whirling vortex of his mind.

Abel Lazarus “Person.”

“Ha! Rough bein’ a criminal, huh?” Back on that smug train, apparently.

Abel Lazarus “Jack. Are you Okay?”

He paused, blinking. What did he do now?

He looked back down at his arm. …Yeah. Okay. He’d come back enough to remember this was not really something you did in front of other people~~, which was why he’d been more covert about it in the trial, right?~~. Not like he’d drawn blood, though, so he wasn’t sure why it’d be concerning. Not like anything’d get infected here.

“Yeah. Just wondering ’f ’d be any good on people. ’pparently not so much.”

He put the plastic knife down and resumed eating, like even his excuse was remotely normal.

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack He didn’t touch them, though he seemed more dismissive than wary.

Oh Good. Something Abel can agree to.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Yeah. Just wondering ’f ’d be any good on people. ’pparently not so much.”

… Uh huh. Now listen. Abel can definitely tell Jack probably didn’t think that thing would cut anyone- At least not without a LOT of force- So he… Doesn’t really believe that.

He also. Doesn’t really care to push him on it. Pushing Jack is a Bad Idea and even beyond that they aren’t friends. Jack is lucky if Abel doesn’t still dislike him by the end of this.

Or. Well. Maybe Jack would think it was unlucky to still be liked by Abel? Who knows. Probably not even Jack at this rate.

Abel just. Looks at him. For a Long Moment.

“Uh huh.” He can’t lie well enough to let it go in any other way. Instead he changes the topic.

“Are there repercussions for you stealing as a cop?” Something. Anything. Just to pass the time until Jack is done eating and he can stop dealing with………….

What ever those vibes are.

Take a Nap, Jack!

Roadie 🪶Jack

Pushing Jack was a bad idea on some days more than others. Today? Who could guess!

Abel Lazarus “Are there repercussions for you stealing as a cop?”

…Had he stolen yet? Probably. Uh. This was one of those days you could just about see the buffering wheel in his eyes. At least he could “eat thoughtfully,” or something. Looked slightly more acceptable than simply eating everything he touched at the pace of a guinea pig just because.

“Not if ya play it right.” Both true and vague! Well done.

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack “Not if ya play it right.” Both true and vague! Well done.

Intriguing. Well! Abel doesn’t have anymore questions and Jack is…………..

Unstable at BEST.

Which Abel is- frankly? Unequipped to help with. Sorry Jack He’s just gonna go quiet and watch you eat because what else can he do now? Maybe if he watches him intensely enough he’ll eat faster because he thinks his food is threatened. Come on Jack. Abel wants his knife. Come on.

He leans on his hand and watches Jack.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Abel Lazarus Maybe if he watches him intensely enough he’ll eat faster because he thinks his food is threatened.

Unfortunately you’ll have to threaten it a lot more directly if you want him to speed up. But it’s fine! He only has… a whole other meal of sorts with the salad. Hmm. Maybe you could distract him at the right time he’d forget it was there?

Either way, he’d polish his plate eventually. Abel sure was still staring at him, huh. Weird. Did Jack owe him money or something?

After a few tenuous mental connections (and possibly prompting, if that took too long), he got back on track.

“So! Lessee if I completely made up the cookin’ store or not.”

As he warily approached his Segway, unwilling to mount it until the last possible moment, he glanced around for Abel’s. Hadn’t really been paying that much attention in the circumstances. Maybe Abel had been on the Segway the entire time, and he just hadn’t noticed. All about the same probability.

“So, were ya more interested in knife care or just picking one or stabbin’ people or what.”

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack As he warily approached his Segway, unwilling to mount it until the last possible moment, he glanced around for Abel’s. Hadn’t really been paying that much attention in the circumstances. Maybe Abel had been on the Segway the entire time, and he just hadn’t noticed. All about the same probability.

He’s on his Segway! In fact he’s quite good on it if Jack decides part of the payment should have to be giving him a ride around. Abel would hate it but I’m sure Jack delights in knowing the stuffy little meanie head would have to chauffer him around or something.

Roadie 🪶Jack “So, were ya more interested in knife care or just picking one or stabbin’ people or what.”

He made another face at the stabbing people thing. He’d… Really actually like to avoid having to use the darn thing but. It’s safer to have. A lot safer. He pulls his robber turtleneck up to cover his neck without thinking.

“Knife care. One that can be used but.” He doesn’t SAY hopefully won’t have to be but. Hopefully. He. Feels bad even thinking about harming someone like that again.

But really. He’s always felt bad thinking about it. Does it ever stop him?

Okay Abel don’t… Pull your own version of a Jack mid conversation hm?

“…” He shakes his head and leans against the handles for his segway. “I already have at least that pocketknife- I want to sharpen that. I also. Just want something for safety.” Which. Hopefully Jack will understand. “Easy money, right? Then you can go back to doing whatever you want.”

Roadie 🪶Jack

(cw hand trauma)

Jack hadn’t considered the possibility of being chauffeured, but it would’ve been amusing.

Abel Lazarus He pulls his robber turtleneck up to cover his neck without thinking.

Completely neglecting the context from moments ago, he laughed at that one.

“C’mon, I’m not goin’ for your throat with the butter knife.” Had he left it behind? Probably. Maybe not. Anyone’s guess, including his own.

“ ’sides, you can survive a severed jugular if you know what you’re doin’. In fact…”

He gestured at his own neck before the pain made him realize it was too wrapped up right now. C’mon, man.

“Well. One a’ these is from that, anyway. Hope you’ll still be able to tell it apart from the new one…” Because that should’ve been his main concern with his injury. Right.

Abel Lazarus “Knife care. One that can be used but.”

“…Used for what? Cuttin’ food? Whittling? Screwdriver in a pinch? Plentya types for everything.”

Abel Lazarus “I already have at least that pocketknife- I want to sharpen that. I also. Just want something for safety.”

“More ’f a whetstone guy myself, but I bet there’s a fancy techno-metal sharpener in there somewhere.”

“Whatever kinda ‘safety’ you got in mind, most important part’s gonna be not cuttin’ your own hand trying to use the thing.” He flashed one of his own palms with a grin. “Not that I gotta worry ’bout it too much these days.”

Though it wasn’t on display for long, there was clearly something terribly wrong there. Like the skin of his palms had been ripped off over and over until his body just stopped trying to make it pass for skin anymore. Not that he seemed too concerned about it, of course.

Abel Lazarus “Easy money, right? Then you can go back to doing whatever you want."

“I do like easy money!” You Got Him There.

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack “C’mon, I’m not goin’ for your throat with the butter knife.”

As good natured as this seems- Abel still gives him a half wary look. As far as he’s concerned that came from Nowhere and now he’s thinking Jack is Thinking about stabbing him in the neck and he Doesn’t much appreciate the idea.

Luckily he’s currently knifeless, though.

Roadie 🪶Jack Not that he seemed too concerned about it, of course.

Wow! Two stories of what Jack’s lived though. I wish Abel were a nicer person so he could express any form of concern for Jack- but all of his concern stays internal. He’s met many people with terrible stories of what they’ve lived through. Horrible scars- violent stories. That’s not new.

But Abel has seen scar tissue that built up only once before. Jack’s hands matched Ransom’s back a Great Deal- in a way that at least avoids any sort of… queasiness attached to any sort of medical squeamishness- But also immediately tells him that that is…

Well. It tells him there’s a particularly Large amount of stories attached to it- and that there’s Probably some more emotions behind that than Jack would Ever want to disclose to him.

And Abel won’t push that. He… Does find himself less… Immediately hateful of Jack, though. Far more… pitying. Almost.

Either way. He doesn’t really… Want to end up with similar scarring. He knows what that tends to be like- how Ransom talks about the pain he’s usually in. He glances at his shoulder for a moment.

“Are you offering knife lessons, then? I’m not Hopeless with one.” But he hasn’t really been trained to do much other than light kitchen prep and how to hold a knife in self defense. His ‘training’ really couldn’t continue after….

Uh. Nevermind that.

Either way Marius didn’t push any expectations about the mafia on Abel prior to this but he’d intended on it some day. He’s just jump starting it right? Hopefully he won’t need it.

Roadie 🪶Jack “I do like easy money!” You Got Him There.

“Good. Hop on.” He gestures towards Jack’s segway. “If you want I can show you where the pharmacy is after.” Because really. Looking at Jack… He needs it.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Don’t worry Abel, Jack was already threatening(?) to shove Melvin off a building before the killing game was even announced! …That may or may not help with the worrying, actually.

Abel Lazarus “Are you offering knife lessons, then? I’m not Hopeless with one.”

“Oh? This I gotta see.” Despite having just rambled about different uses for knives, now he was assuming this was about fighting. Well, not completely wrong! “Not givin’ any lessons for free, a’ course.”

“I can letcha knife-fight me for free, how’s that? Somebody’ll sure learn something!” And the other somebody… will die?? Who knew what he was thinking. Probably not much of anything.

Abel Lazarus “Good. Hop on.” He gestures towards Jack’s segway.

There’s a brief cross between an Excalibur face and the face of a grizzled old Western star spotting his sworn enemy on the other side of the town square, but Jack dismissed it with a sigh. Why did this have to be necessary.

He just stuck one foot on for a moment, since that gave him no problems and Abel was still talking, anyway. Stalling who’s stalling?

Abel Lazarus “If you want I can show you where the pharmacy is after.”

“Long as ya don’t think that counts for your payment.”

Pay, pay, pay. What a broken record.

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack “Oh? This I gotta see.” Despite having just rambled about different uses for knives, now he was assuming this was about fighting. Well, not completely wrong! “Not givin’ any lessons for free, a’ course.”

Oh he’s so amused. Thanks Jack. For the faith in him.

“No. I don’t expect you do much for free-” …. Why was he ever scared of this guy again? Sure he’s so clearly mentally unstable but that’s Hardly new for Abel. Ugh. Whatever. “And no. Knife fighting you sounds like a bad idea and I’m not stupid.” Pending, Abel. Sure you might be pretty high Intelligence or whatever but your Wisdom is Abysmal. Quick, what’s a friend? The answer isn’t a punching bag. (Sorry Viper)

Roadie 🪶Jack He just stuck one foot on for a moment, since that gave him no problems and Abel was still talking, anyway. Stalling who’s stalling?

Abel’s face gets even more sour. “Jack. Just. What are you bad on the [dang] thing? Just. Get on mine if you Have to.” He’s Frustrated enough to suggest it himself even if he’s NOT fond of the idea. Come on Jack. He’s getting tired of you. ~~I’m not, though, keep stalling.~~

He pushes his glasses up and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Yeah, Yeah. You’ll get paid. Sure thing. Unless we never do this. Then you’re NOT getting paid.” He makes a hurry up gesture with his hands. He’d much prefer spraying Jack with a water bottle at this point, though.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Abel Lazarus “And no. Knife fighting you sounds like a bad idea and I’m not stupid.”

That got a good cackle.

“But what’s the fun in life if y’ never do anything stupid? C’mon.”

“Obviously a good call in this case, but. Could use better logic than that.” Ah yes, the “logic” of “do whatever you feel like at the moment, even (especially?) if it’s incredibly dangerous to your physical and mental well-being.” Worked(?) for him!

Abel Lazarus “Jack. Just. What are you bad on the [dang] thing?

His shoulders immediately squared defensively, but—

Abel Lazarus Just. Get on mine if you Have to.”

Oh. This sounded so much funnier than attempting to prove he’s not bad at this (and probably failing). Especially with Abel already looking pretty testy. How much worse can we make it?

Abel Lazarus “Yeah, Yeah. You’ll get paid. Sure thing. Unless we never do this. Then you’re NOT getting paid.” He makes a hurry up gesture with his hands.

“Well, that hardly sounds fair…” Jack please.

Finally he moseyed over to Abel’s Segway, giving it a leisurely look-over. To be fair, some slacking was necessary if he didn’t want the literal pain in his neck to flare up again, but judging from the look on his face he was absolutely trying to be irritating on purpose. His life’s work, really.

He proceeded to plant one foot over each wheel well and grip the center bar like he was strangling it. Rather than attempting to set up behind Abel, he’d just positioned himself on the other side entirely, where he could menacingly stare straight into Abel’s eyes the whole trip, halfway blocking his view… if he weren’t like a foot shorter. He wasn’t worrying about that right now.

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack Ah yes, the “logic” of “do whatever you feel like at the moment, even (especially?) if it’s incredibly dangerous to your physical and mental well-being.” Worked(?) for him!

Arguably if Jack Really wanted to fight Abel all he had to do was make sure it was a situation where impulsivity won over logic- Because he’s REALLY happening to want to punch Jack right about now and honestly? Adding the knife in is definitely a bad idea but Abel is REALLY good at bad ideas in the right circumstances.

Roadie 🪶Jack He proceeded to plant one foot over each wheel well and grip the center bar like he was strangling it. Rather than attempting to set up behind Abel, he’d just positioned himself on the other side entirely, where he could menacingly stare straight into Abel’s eyes the whole trip, halfway blocking his view… if he weren’t like a foot shorter.

Abel wants to punch him Abel wants to punch him Abel wants to punch him-

He grips the handlebars with everything in him. Don’t. Don’t. Don’t. Deep breaths. God. God.

He can’t hit Jack. He can’t. But what he can do…

Abel doesn’t move the segway, he just steps off enough to make it start to lean back- keeping only enough of a foot on it to stop Jack from crashing to the ground if he doesn’t jump off. “Jack. There’s something wrong with you, did your parents not love you enough?” Abel. What happened to like. Being a little nicer or whatever to try and get your number down? That’s Really mean.

Y’know. If Jack cares instead of making it a joke or something.

“Look. Are you going to take this seriously? I’m sure I can find the kitchen store on my own and then I won’t have to pay you.”

Roadie 🪶Jack

It’s all Jack could do to keep a remotely serious expression as Abel gave him that look. Absolutely priceless.

Abel Lazarus Abel doesn’t move the segway, he just steps off enough to make it start to lean back-

Oops dismounting now okay. Jack’s reflexes had him abandoning ship before he could put any thought to it. At least there was no issue landing, even in his current condition.

Abel Lazarus “Jack. There’s something wrong with you,

“D-mn, you just figure that out—?”

Abel Lazarus did your parents not love you enough?”

Oh he wasn’t finished. Jack broke off, more in an attempt to catch up than in any offense. Processing…

“What parents?”

“I just kinda showed up in the woods one day. Probably one a’ those changelings or somethin’. Think ’s supposed to mean I ate my twin or whatever? Not sure. Little hazy that far back, y’know?” As if his recent memories weren’t hazy.

Abel Lazarus “Look. Are you going to take this seriously? I’m sure I can find the kitchen store on my own and then I won’t have to pay you.”

“Seriously as anything.” Was that a no?

He proceeded to mount the Segway again in the exact same fashion, only with a more neutral expression. Well.

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack “I just kinda showed up in the woods one day. Probably one a’ those changelings or somethin’. Think ’s supposed to mean I ate my twin or whatever? Not sure. Little hazy that far back, y’know?” As if his recent memories weren’t hazy.

The blank look Abel gives Jack tells him exactly how unamusing he finds this. Surely that’s just even better for Jack’s enjoyment, though. Regardless! Abel has now made an Assumption about Jack. Changelings? How specific.

“No- That doesn’t mean you ate your twin. You’d have to have parents to have a twin you ate- So you’re just contradicting yourself.” He gives him an even sharper look. “As a Twin that’s something I’d know. Maybe you should work on your story. It’s a bit too much BS.” Is that how people think twins work? Yes it’s a Serious issue in his family to kind of… Treat one twin as disposable- but he didn’t figure people got more delusional than that.

“Changelings are. Related to fairies or something.” Not really his forte to know much more than that- but rest assured that Abel doesn’t believe in fairies- and even if he did he would NEVER believe Jack was one.

“Maybe just lie and say your parents abandoned you in the forest for eating your twin. That’s at least marginally believable.”

Roadie 🪶Jack He proceeded to mount the Segway again in the exact same fashion, only with a more neutral expression. Well.

Fine. FINE. He’ll take that. He just hated the intense eye contact. It made him want to claw at either himself or Jack. If Jack keeps looking too much he might just have to put something over his face. If he’s actually anything like Cain he might like time under a blanket or something.

He grumbles and gets on the segway and FINALLY they’re off- Hopefully making Jack Look for the place will stop him from trying to Stare at him.

Roadie 🪶Jack

(cw extremely oblique animal death)

Abel Lazarus The blank look Abel gives Jack tells him exactly how unamusing he finds this. Surely that’s just even better for Jack’s enjoyment, though.

Oho, hit a sore spot? Good to know, good to know. Not that Jack was likely to remember exactly which part had hit like that. He’d probably start bringing up forests to try to irritate Abel later.

Abel Lazarus “No- That doesn’t mean you ate your twin. You’d have to have parents to have a twin you ate- So you’re just contradicting yourself.” He gives him an even sharper look. “As a Twin that’s something I’d know. Maybe you should work on your story. It’s a bit too much BS.”

Go off, king. Jack was a little taken aback, but more out of disbelief than any sort of scolded.

“Maybe that’s how it works where you’re from, sure. Can’t just make assumptions ’bout everyone else in the world, though.”

Abel Lazarus “Changelings are. Related to fairies or something.”

“Didn’t know you’re the big expert on that, too. Got a whole fairy twin taxicologist thing goin’ on?” Presumably that was meant to reference taxonomy. Or possibly taxidermy. If he didn’t fully know either word, was there really a difference?

Abel Lazarus “Maybe just lie and say your parents abandoned you in the forest for eating your twin. That’s at least marginally believable.”

He squinted for a second at that, seeming slightly less amused, before shaking his head.

“But where’s the pizazz in that? ’sides, the whole point’s that there weren’t parents in the first place. You’re fixatin’ on the wrong part.”

“But you’re welcome t’ use that one for yourself if ya like. I won’t sue.” How generous.

Abel Lazarus He grumbles and gets on the segway and FINALLY they’re off- Hopefully making Jack Look for the place will stop him from trying to Stare at him.

Jack had so much less trouble maintaining balance on the non-operating side of this thing. Man. Maybe this was the way to go.

As far as locating the store… Be easier if he simply remembered, since he’d have no trouble with directions. He could still give it his best shot, though.

“Off past the Glaire’s, I think.”

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