What manners? | Vinzent + Jack | Daycare Car

Roadie 🪶Jack

>Yes!

Sipping at a cup of coffee, more for the heat than anything, Jack had so many possible targets in this place it was hard to narrow in on one. He’d mostly been wandering in a blurry daze.

But there weren’t many other flourchildren in the arts (and maths?) and crafts area at the moment, so it was easier to meander up behind this little guy. Jack sure didn’t recognize him from behind, but what did he care who it was supposed to be, anyway? ’s just another Denizen. Another kid Denizen.

He hovered over FVinzent’s shoulder for a while, not exactly captivated by the growing pool of art but not quite conscious enough to look away, either.

In a more lucid moment, he finally slurped on his coffee loud enough to be noticed.

“That a particular house, ‘r just what happened t’ show up?”

Vinzent Mayer

FVinzent was very focused until the slurp was heard, causing him to jump in surprise. Then he turned around, alert as ever.

Oh… Who is this… Weird man? His green streak of hair is the only cool part. The rest… FVinzent wasn’t sure. He seemed… Very intimidating. But… Jack would note FVinzent wasn’t the distrustful person like the current one is. So… He blurted out the first thing he thought.

“…Who are you? You look funny.”

He meant ‘weird’, but still. Rude. The rudeness didn’t last long, as he tilted his head on the side, clearly confused.

“It’s just a house? But I’m not done yet.”

Turning back to continue the coloring, the flourkid was glancing back at the man to see if he was going to say anything back, but otherwise… He’ll be busy painting! This is fun after all. Talking to the strange man is not interesting.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer Jack would note FVinzent wasn’t the distrustful person like the current one is.

He would have expected no less! Possibly. If he’d ever remotely stopped to think about it. It was impressive enough he’d literally physically stopped for a bit, let’s not get carried away.

Vinzent Mayer “…Who are you? You look funny.”

He made enough of a snort of laughter as he could with a mouth full of coffee. Ahem.

“Well, I like to think I’m funny, so ’s fine by me!”

“Name’s Jack Bauer, ’m an astronaut down at the cape—”

“—buuut I’m sure that doesn’t interest ya.”

Just dropping that and completely brushing it off. Gotta check the waters before you get too far down any particular joke of a bluff. Wouldn’t be any fun if the kid was just gonna ignore him.

Vinzent Mayer “It’s just a house? But I’m not done yet.”

“Ahh.” There had to be a good quip for that, but with his brain in no working order it wasn’t happening right now. He just took another sip of coffee, silently this time. Art away, kid.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Roadie 🪶Jack “Well, I like to think I’m funny, so ’s fine by me!”

“Not what I meant.” Maybe this spontaneous tone is a little familiar to Jack. Younger definitely but, it carries over.

“Name’s Jack Bauer, ’m an astronaut down at the cape—”

“—buuut I’m sure that doesn’t interest ya.”

“… What. No way.”

Pointing an accusatory finger at the man, FVinzent raised his voice.

“You’re lying! There’s no way you have the money to get there!”

Well, that worked. The kid is a little naive if anything.

He huffed and back to continuing his little project. It wasn’t done yet, but at least, he could make some more progress now. Hopefully. Unless the funny-slash-weirdo man talks to him again.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer “Not what I meant.”

“Well, if you’re gonna call people names, at least mean whatcha say.”

Vinzent Mayer “… What. No way.”

Pointing an accusatory finger at the man, FVinzent raised his voice.

“You’re lying! There’s no way you have the money to get there!”

Jack raised an eyebrow. We’re yelling now, all right. Well, “yelling” compared to his own volume level, maybe. But of all the reasons to claim he was lying… Well. He shouldn’t have been surprised. Obviously you’re not capable of anything or you wouldn’t be living like this, right? Common enough. Just used to getting that from judgmental adults instead of judgmental children, he guessed.

“What’re you talkin’ about, kid? Not like I gotta buy the spaceship myself. Money part’s the program’s problem.”

Vinzent Mayer He huffed and back to continuing his little project.

“Careful, don’t get too mad an’ just keep drawin’. Might hurt yourself.” He’s painting, not whittling, Jack.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack “Well, if you’re gonna call people names, at least mean whatcha say.”

That definitely got a puzzled look from the flourkid himself.

Roadie 🪶Jack “What’re you talkin’ about, kid? Not like I gotta buy the spaceship myself. Money part’s the program’s problem.”

“Even just travelling far is a lot of money! I don’t know a lot of spaceship things but I know this is very much!”

Roadie 🪶Jack “Careful, don’t get too mad an’ just keep drawin’. Might hurt yourself.” He’s painting, not whittling, Jack.

“I’m fine.”

What FVinzent took away from this man is he was a bit annoying. But whatever, he continues, as the paper takes on more color, the house was pretty much done, but now FVinzent picked some brown paint and painted a few strokes on the sides of the house. Some people’s houses have trees around, don’t they? He’d need some more green paint soon too.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer That definitely got a puzzled look from the flourkid himself.

Jack gave a puzzled look right back. He wasn’t sure how to be clearer and didn’t actually care, anyway. It was this kid’s loss. Somehow.

Vinzent Mayer “Even just travelling far is a lot of money! I don’t know a lot of spaceship things but I know this is very much!”

“Well, I don’t gotta pay for the fuel, either, ’f that’s whatcha mean.”

“An’ I can walk to the space station from my house.” So he didn’t need to afford his own gas money, either. Just an entire house. Much more believable!

Vinzent Mayer “I’m fine.”

Ahahaha, one of those, huh. Well, at least FVinzent did actually look fine at the moment. And was painting fine, as far as kids painting went. Probably. This wasn’t supposed to be, like, his actual job, right? So it was fine to be casual or whatever. Just something to keep your hands busy in-between the rest.

Still kinda staring at the in-progress drawing like someone watching speedpaints on YouTube at 3am without knowing how they got there, Jack idly fished something from a pocket. The hummingbird whittling was very much incomplete, but this falcon had been smoothed out for a while now. He turned it in his hand. Maybe he could try painting it while all the supplies were around. But would this still be barter-able if he mucked it up? Hmmm.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

“Well, I don’t gotta pay for the fuel, either, ’f that’s whatcha mean.”

“An’ I can walk to the space station from my house.” So he didn’t need to afford his own gas money, either. Just an entire house. Much more believable!

Sure. Sure. FVinzent squinted… He wasn’t sure whether to believe Jack or not. He had no idea if the man was just inventing another story out of nowhere.

Roadie 🪶Jack Ahahaha, one of those, huh. Well, at least FVinzent did actually look fine at the moment. And was painting fine, as far as kids painting went. Probably. This wasn’t supposed to be, like, his actual job, right? So it was fine to be casual or whatever. Just something to keep your hands busy in-between the rest.

The trees did look more complete now that FVinzent painted in the green, it sure did look kinda messy but these were recognizable enough as trees without much effort. So as long as the strange man wasn’t being mean to him or anything, FVinzent was fine.

Although, after some curious, occasional glancing, the closer his own painting was completed…

Roadie 🪶Jack Still kinda staring at the in-progress drawing like someone watching speedpaints on YouTube at 3am without knowing how they got there, Jack idly fished something from a pocket. The hummingbird whittling was very much incomplete, but this falcon had been smoothed out for a while now. He turned it in his hand. Maybe he could try painting it while all the supplies were around. But would this still be barter-able if he mucked it up? Hmmm.

He did wonder what it was that Jack was doing. What was that he was holding in his hand? … Did this man do this? The sculptures? While he’d like to take a closer look, FVinzent felt this was probably a bad idea. But… Maybe he could ask a different, easier question.

“Did… You do this? The bird?”

The boy wondered how it was possible to make something like Jack did. He had no idea if he would even be able to do it himself someday. For now, he’ll be content to draw and paint.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer The trees did look more complete now that FVinzent painted in the green, it sure did look kinda messy but these were recognizable enough as trees without much effort.

Just like Bob Ross without any commentary to try to follow. Good food for a very tired man.

Vinzent Mayer “Did… You do this? The bird?”

Jack blinked for a second at one of the birds in the painting before actually following FVinzent’s line of sight.

“Yep. Couldn’t tell ya how long it took, but ’s just outta normal wood. Dunno ‘bout paintbrushes, but I can handle carvin’ tools.”

“Prob’ly got a couple more birds in here?” Not like he could remember what happened to each and every one of these little things. He patted down another pocket. “You got a favorite type?”

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Roadie 🪶Jack “Yep. Couldn’t tell ya how long it took, but ’s just outta normal wood. Dunno ‘bout paintbrushes, but I can handle carvin’ tools.”

“That’s cool…” He did mean it more genuinely, if this weird man can carve birds, please have it just at that mostly. No bother. Either way, FVinzent’s eyes did light up a little in wonder. He was distracted enough to at least pay attention to Jack patting another pocket then the flourkid listened to his question.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Prob’ly got a couple more birds in here?” Not like he could remember what happened to each and every one of these little things. He patted down another pocket. “You got a favorite type?”

“Um… The tiny blue birds that fly super fast and can be upside down…!” He meant the Cyanistes caeruleus, but he doesn’t know that exact term because he’s like. 5 or 6. Sorry Jack, time to figure out that one-

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer “That’s cool…”

HA target get. Yes Jack was so cool please tell him that more. Looking to a magical sack of flour for validation did not suggest anything about his internal sense of self-worth whatsoever.

“ ’d offer a lesson, but that depends on how eager y’are to play with knives. Wouldn’t have the best grip on this size a’ handle, I’m guessin’.”

Vinzent Mayer “Um… The tiny blue birds that fly super fast and can be upside down…!”

So the kid had a favorite! …But didn’t even know the scientific, common, and any alternate names for it? Swing and a miss here, maybe, but not too bad of one. After all, the kid was only… what, 12? 2? Who knew. They all looked the same at some point.

Jack half-laughed—not entirely derisively for once—and rapped a fingernail on the falcon’s head.

“Well, this’s gonna be the one that goes super fast. Don’t think there’s a lotta blue ones, though, and wouldn’t call ’em tiny.”

“But upside-down, huh… Nuthatches, tits?” He was probably missing some. Not like he was the one who really… Anyway.

“Well, hummingbirds check those boxes pretty good, but only one a’ those I got’s still in-progress.”

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack HA target get. Yes Jack was so cool please tell him that more. Looking to a magical sack of flour for validation did not suggest anything about his internal sense of self-worth whatsoever.

Roadie I’m attacking you.

Roadie 🪶Jack “ ’d offer a lesson, but that depends on how eager y’are to play with knives. Wouldn’t have the best grip on this size a’ handle, I’m guessin’.”

“Mmh… Mama and papa said it’s dangerous to play with knives… But… Maybe if I use a smaller knife?”

That’s still dangerous– Jack, don’t encourage him-

Roadie 🪶Jack

“But upside-down, huh… Nuthatches, tits?” He was probably missing some. Not like he was the one who really… Anyway.

“I think that’s the bird!” FVinzent said while pointing, when he heard the last word. It was easy to pronounce too.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Well, hummingbirds check those boxes pretty good, but only one a’ those I got’s still in-progress.”

“Hummingbirds?” He tilted his head to the side. He doesn’t know the name, but if you’d show him a picture he’d understand-

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer “Mmh… Mama and papa said it’s dangerous to play with knives… But… Maybe if I use a smaller knife?”

“Yeah, hmm. Got a smaller one, at least, but terrible grip for woodwork.”

Jack nodded at some of the cubbies. “Think they got any around here? Arts ’n crafts’re arts ’n crafts, yeah?” Not when they involve giving small children knives they’re not!

Vinzent Mayer “I think that’s the bird!” FVinzent said while pointing, when he heard the last word. It was easy to pronounce too.

After a brief instinctual look to see where FVinzent was pointing and if the bird was in fact right there, Jack reeled it back in to the actual conversation. Right. Okay.

“Oughta be easy t’ find by feel, then. Pretty round.” Now how long it would take to actually check all of those pockets was potentially another story. Man Needs His Stuff.

Vinzent Mayer “Hummingbirds?” He tilted his head to the side. He doesn’t know the name, but if you’d show him a picture he’d understand-

No pictures here, alas.

“Y’know, the liiittle bitty ones.” He made a pinching motion with his fingers. “Dart around, flap their wings so fast y’ can’t even see ‘em? If you can see the guys at all t’ begin with.”

Mostly he meant size, but now that he thought about it, maybe there just weren’t any wherever this guy lived? That was sure a thing. Possibly. Jack may have retained some factual details here, but not that many.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack Jack nodded at some of the cubbies. “Think they got any around here? Arts ’n crafts’re arts ’n crafts, yeah?” Not when they involve giving small children knives they’re not!

“… No. The box has no knives.” KIDS SAFETY FIRST.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Oughta be easy t’ find by feel, then. Pretty round.” Now how long it would take to actually check all of those pockets was potentially another story. Man Needs His Stuff.

Jack and his 28374634758 pockets-

Roadie 🪶Jack No pictures here, alas.

“Y’know, the liiittle bitty ones.” He made a pinching motion with his fingers. “Dart around, flap their wings so fast y’ can’t even see ‘em? If you can see the guys at all t’ begin with.”

Mostly he meant size, but now that he thought about it, maybe there just weren’t any wherever this guy lived? That was sure a thing. Possibly. Jack may have retained some factual details here, but not that many.

“Hmm…” FVinzent squinted in thought. Did he see anything like that at home? His parents didn’t do much birdwatching, but they’d do their best to explain to him what bird it was when he saw one. And he hasn’t seen a tiny bird like that. No Pictures 😔

He shook his head. FVinzent was more enthusiastic by now.

“No. But if I see one, I will tell you!”

This strange man is a little less strange now. And mostly fascinating. He can carve birds out of wood…!

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer “… No. The box has no knives.”

“Man. Maybe the break room…? Prob’ly still not the right size, though.”

“I mean, we can make grownup knives work, long as you’re careful.” Jack no.

Vinzent Mayer “No. But if I see one, I will tell you!”

“Sounds good.”

“…Actually, there’s one a car over—” had it been just one? hard to remember—“but ’s not really a normal one. Not as small.” And also capable of human speech, facial expressions, and wearing hats, but those weren’t the important details here.

Finally, after one more false alarm, he withdrew a little round parcel from one pocket and unwrapped it to show a little round bird. Barely the length of a pinky—smaller scale meant more supply available, right?

“There we go! No tellin’ if this was s’posed to be the blue kind, but it can be pretty much any color ya want like this, yeah?”

He set it on the table, though he had to snag a colored pencil to help it stay upright. Not exactly painstakingly designed for display, but it was definitely a bird. Decent amount of detail, too, but how much of the exact species came through was up for debate. Not like he always had reference ready.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Roadie 🪶Jack

“Man. Maybe the break room…? Prob’ly still not the right size, though.”

“I mean, we can make grownup knives work, long as you’re careful.” Jack no.

“Oh… Okay! I will be careful. But um… Yes, I think there are grownup knives in the break room? I’m not allowed to go there though.”

BAD IDEA. Grown up Vinzent isn’t around for this reply at least so he won’t know what is happening right now. Somebody tell him a grown man he dislikes is literally teaching FVinzent A Dangerous Activity for Kids– If the flourkid was like. 10 or 12, then maybe it’ll be a little less worrying. BUT THE KID IS ABOUT 5 OR 6.

… Anyway.

FVinzent, on the other hand, is now a little more excited to try it. He just has to be careful, yeah? He just needs to get what he needs then he’ll listen to Jack explain to him how to carve something. A bird is a good start. And it was abundantely clear this kid definitely wanted to try something new. Unfortunate that it’s a dangerous activity-

Roadie 🪶Jack “…Actually, there’s one a car over—” had it been just one? hard to remember—“but ’s not really a normal one. Not as small.”

He tilted his head, has it? He would have liked to see it!

Roadie 🪶Jack

“There we go! No tellin’ if this was s’posed to be the blue kind, but it can be pretty much any color ya want like this, yeah?”

Round bird… Small… FVinzent’s eyes lit up in amazement. This man at least understood it. And to be fair, FVinzent’s memory isn’t precise down to the details, so he’ll be content with what he sees.

“… Yeah! This is pretty…”

He can imagine it being blue at least.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer “Oh… Okay! I will be careful. But um… Yes, I think there are grownup knives in the break room? I’m not allowed to go there though.”

“Not allowed if ya get caught,” Jack corrected.

“ ’f it’s just break stuff, probably not too suited to whittlin’, though. We can just use mine.”

Without letting go, he presented his whittling knife, pointing out both of the foldable blades before fishing for another wood piece to start out with. He’d just keep his hand over FVinzent’s when it was time to actually practice. Oughta fix the grip issues to some extent, at least.

Vinzent Mayer “… Yeah! This is pretty…”

“…You can have it if ya want.”

He’d just make another one. Not like his work had a great sale value. Replaceable, forgettable. Just something to keep himself busy during all those waking hours.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Roadie 🪶Jack “Not allowed if ya get caught,” Jack corrected.

FVinzent remembered his parents telling him that it’s a bad thing to not listen to adults’ instructions. But, his endless curiosity had him reconsider for a minute. He wants to try doing what Jack is doing! It looks fun!! And Jack is an adult too! (One with bad examples-)

Roadie 🪶Jack “ ’f it’s just break stuff, probably not too suited to whittlin’, though. We can just use mine.”

Without letting go, he presented his whittling knife, pointing out both of the foldable blades before fishing for another wood piece to start out with. He’d just keep his hand over FVinzent’s when it was time to actually practice. Oughta fix the grip issues to some extent, at least.

FVinzent’s eyes did light up again, amazed at the tool. It did look dangerous on one hand, but he wanted to try so bad. Will Sister get mad if she saw him handling a dangerous tool?

“… I’d like that…!” Once again, thankfully current Vinzent is not here, otherwise he’d either pass out or snap at Jack for endangering his kid self like that- Even if the children in this car are made of flour.

Roadie 🪶Jack “…You can have it if ya want.”

“… Huh? Really?” It did look like he really wanted it, but something nagged him a bit. Though if Jack insists that it’s okay, he’ll take it. And he will thank him. It’s the right way, yeah? Because it is pretty.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer “… I’d like that…!” Once again, thankfully current Vinzent is not here, otherwise he’d either pass out or snap at Jack for endangering his kid self like that- Even if the children in this car are made of flour.

Yes, but how long would current Vinzent not be here… Stay tuned.

Jack procured a chunk of wood at last—probably something he’d picked up from the station or desert island car. Not like he tried to keep track of them as souvenirs of beloved memories or anything. Imagine having those.

“Arright. Think it’s gonna work best if you get your grip on both an’ I put my hands over yours. Lets ya feel the motions, but I can stop ya from doin’ anything too bad, yeah?” At least in theory. As to whether or not Jack would be paying enough attention to notice the kid being in danger of injuring himself… well. He did seem a little more present than usual right now! Or at least more than his current “usual.”

He set the piece of wood on the desk and offered the knife handle. He hadn’t worked out yet how the positioning was gonna work beyond the hands, but it’d come together, surely.

Vinzent Mayer “… Huh? Really?” It did look like he really wanted it, but something nagged him a bit. Though if Jack insists that it’s okay, he’ll take it. And he will thank him. It’s the right way, yeah? Because it is pretty.

“Sure. You’re a kid, people’re s’posed ta give you stuff for free still.”

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Roadie 🪶Jack Yes, but how long would current Vinzent not be here… Stay tuned.

[inserts rihannawinks here]

Roadie I’m once again going to fight you in the parking lot /j

Anyway. FVinzent intently listened to every single word the man uttered. He nodded.

“Okay! That’s fine with me.”

FVinzent was reaching for the knife handle as he tried to avoid the shiny part. The shiny part is dangerous, he knows. For now, his grip on the handle is firm. He will be careful! His hands are small compared to the handle, which. Is normal-

Roadie 🪶Jack “Sure. You’re a kid, people’re s’posed ta give you stuff for free still.”

FVinzent’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, sir…!” A gift! He liked gifts… And this is a pretty gift. He’ll cherish it.

Meanwhile, in a relative distance, a certain man has just now noticed the glint of a tool and just realized what was about to happen. He walked very fast toward Jack and his kidself.

First, he will not scare his kidself in accidentally causing harm. But… He was mad at the audacity of the man to teach his younger self a dangerous activity.

Honestly? Sure, Younger Vinzent almost tried some dangerous things, but his parents and/or adults at kindergarten always stopped him before he hurt himself on accident with his recklessness. Which has often been a close call.

Trying to not look too worried or mad in order to not make things worse, he did slow down when he went closer to the duo.

“… Jack. What the- What are you doing.”

He held back from outright cussing in front of his younger self. But honestly? He was this close to curse the man out for this.

FVinzent… Didn’t even start that already, he felt… Guilty. He started tearing up a little.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer FVinzent was reaching for the knife handle as he tried to avoid the shiny part. The shiny part is dangerous, he knows. For now, his grip on the handle is firm. He will be careful! His hands are small compared to the handle, which. Is normal-

Jack nodded in approval before putting his own hands in place. Be pretty hard for the kid to injure himself like this. Maybe not as hard to injure Jack, but hopefully he’d be able to strongarm any stray knife strikes away. Or just get injured in a way that didn’t threaten his dexterity. Either or.

“Don’t ’member all the details of how I started out, but ya just figure it out eventually. Get a feel for it, yeah? Which’s exactly whatcha oughta worry about when ya start on a new piece. Different woods, pieces from different places’re gonna cut different, so you wanna test the waters some before you get goin’ with the big cuts. Know how hard you gotta push an’ pull an’ everything.”

He guided the knife across the surface of the wood to demonstrate, just taking off a tiny strip of bark. Shockingly, having an entire child’s hand in the way meant his grip wasn’t as solid as usual, either. But he knew how to do this gingerly.

Vinzent Mayer FVinzent’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, sir…!”

He snorted. “Yeah, all right.” No need to get weird about it. Just throwing something at a make-believe kid he’d never see again.

Vinzent Mayer Meanwhile, in a relative distance, a certain man has just now noticed the glint of a tool and just realized what was about to happen. He walked very fast toward Jack and his kidself.

At least, not see again at this age. Some part of Jack registered the general momentum coming this way, but he was busy scraping off wood in tiny strokes. FVinzent could determine the direction at least, but there was only so much input Jack could account for without letting go.

Vinzent Mayer “… Jack. What the- What are you doing.”

“Holdin’ an art class, of course! What’re you doing?”

Vinzent Mayer FVinzent… Didn’t even start that already, he felt… Guilty. He started tearing up a little.

“ ‘Sides makin’ children cry.”