Surprise! || Vinzent + Jack || The Station Car

Vinzent Mayer

“ACK-”

Well, that was anything but expected. As if tensions and confusion about the situation wasn’t enough, he had to be jumpscared right on time.

At least it didn’t take him long to realize that it was just the same strange man from earlier and not some strange entity. Was it his way of greeting people?!

And… It wasn’t long before a reaction from Vinzent was apparent.

“What’s the big idea, sh-thead?!”

The other man also happen to get a middle finger as a sign of courtesy. Great. That said, as soon as Vinzent started to cool down from his surprise, he looked at the man attentively. He remembers his introduction… A bit. It wasn’t that long ago after all. But it was not going to be difficult to remember at least.

“… You’re Jack, right?”

While in normal circumstances, he’d say ‘nice to meet you’, Vinzent was this close to just say ‘nice to unmeet you’ or some sort of bizzare twist to the greeting, because honestly, that was NOT a cool way to greet anyone. And if Jack thought it was hilarious, well. That’s his own problem.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Ah, classic. Jack could appreciate the reaction for sure.

“Oh hey, I got some of those, too!”

He cheerfully flipped Vinzent off in return, with both hands. That did make it a little easier to make out the glowing green digits peeking through the opening in his glove.

That was only for a moment, though, before his hands returned to his main hoodie pocket.

“The one and only.” He wouldn’t even pretend he remembered or cared to remember the other guy’s name, himself. “So, how’s your ‘searching high and low’ goin’?”

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Truthfully. What the heck is this guy’s problem? That said, Vinzent noticed the odd glow from Jack’s back of hand, and the artist couldn’t help but check his own hands. Although it looked pale, it was pretty similar as he noticed his own also had the digits, although on his palm. Was this different from people to people, or is either he or Jack the odd one out? Who knows. Closing his hand, Vinzent took a minute to think before speaking again.

“As expected, nothing useful. Just junk everywhere. And you? Did you find anything useful or are you just sticking around here to scare the sh-t out of people for laughs?”

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer (cw implied animal harm)

Jack peered over when Vinzent was checking his own palm, but if Jack discerned the number he forgot it immediately afterward. Nothing of any consequence. Mostly he’s just psyched there’s somebody here whose shoulder he could peer over.

Vinzent Mayer As expected, nothing useful. Just junk everywhere.

“Oh, good. I’d hate it if I missed my chance to empty out the register, but if ’s just junk…” Was there even a cash register? He hadn’t thought to check, actually. Whoops. Well, there could always be some rusty spare down here.

Vinzent Mayer Did you find anything useful or are you just sticking around here to scare the sh-t out of people for laughs?

He shrugged. “Oh, it ain’t much, but it’s honest work.” He did turn to look out at the boxes, at least. “Fifty bucks says there’s a live bear trap in one a’ those. Ready to start sticking your arms in ’em?”

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

(cw mention of hand trauma)

Vinzent glared at Jack once he felt he was being peered over. It wasn’t much, there weren’t huge difference in their heights, but he hated being observed that way.

Anyway, what the h-ll. When Jack finished talking, Vinzent was unsure how to answer to this. Surely, there’s no f–king way there’s a literal bear trap? Surely, this other man must be just trying to pull his arm like that?

…

“I’d rather not chop my hand off on accident, thank you.”

Speaking of that, was there anything he could find to check the boxes from a safe distance, or will he let Jack do some foolery instead? Vinzent didn’t care if it was considered cowardice to refuse such a bet, he’s just not willing to potentially lose the most important part of his job.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer

“Boo, no fun. …But ’s not like I got fifty on me, anyway. Works out, I guess.”

Unperturbed, he slid over to the nearest box and pried it open to peer in. Apparently no bear traps, since he shuffled around inside without any grunts of pain or noticeable spurts of blood. He didn’t mess around for long before pulling out a lengthy, slightly rusted piece of metal.

“Biggest nail I’ve seen in my life.” That’s a railroad stake, Jack. “What size a’ horseshoe’d this go on?” He sure hadn’t seen any gigantic horses around here, but he could never deny the possibility.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent didn’t even care that no money was involved. Bet or not, he really was not going to try to prove himself in a dangerous way.

That said, while Jack was searching in the box, the long piece of metal was noticed not too long ago now with Jack pulling it out. Vinzent had seen this a few times but he couldn’t put a finger on what it is exactly, but if he has to guess by size and context of where they are… Unless there are truly giant horses around…

“Er, probably something with the train? I don’t know really. It does look gigantic.”

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer

“…Isn’t everything something with the train?” Which train? Both trains? This would’ve been confusing if Jack had remembered two of them were in the picture right now.

Instead, he continued to rummage, then grunted and pushed the box away. “Either I managed to pick the one-of-a-kind ‘old junk’ box, or somebody really needs to invest in some Rust-B-Gone.”

He looked out at the rest of the basement idly before suddenly tensing, his eyes focusing intently on a spot to his left. After a second, he blinked, tentatively rubbed his eyes, and groaned. He scooted over to some other box without comment.

It wouldn’t be clear to an onlooker exactly what he’d been looking at, since… nothing was over there except more wall. Whatever, this was fine and normal.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

What the f*ck is that supposed to mean?

Maybe it was because the supposed train was changing sceneries so far through doors but… No comment there to the man at the moment. Except for the next one.

“Ah, I see.”

So it was just all useless to find…? He noticed Jack tensing up then… What exactly is he doing?

… That was just a wall. Maybe Jack thought he saw something. Which was possible. Still, Vinzent was curious to see if the man would find anything, so he was sticking around from a safe distance and looked on his own side just in case he may find a thing or two. Who knows. He’ll definitely steer clear of Jack’s path as best he can though.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer

Jack nodded solemnly.

“All very exciting. If there’s nothin’ good in this one, I’m done. Just go strategically position myself ’til somebody else starts down the stairs, maybe.”

“Or up, if you’re gonna react about the same way. Was pretty funny.”

He pulled a few things from the box to better look inside, but nothing caught his eye. Junk, weird junk, tools he couldn’t use, stuff he couldn’t sell.

“Great, one crowbar and it’s too rusted to bother with.”

Vinzent Mayer

Narrator

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent sighed in exasperation. Suit yourself, then. He cussed a bit in Jack’s direction regarding the earlier incident but nothing more. Back to looking around, while Jack couldn’t find anything apparently, Vinzent on the other hand, while he initially presumed it was the same as usual… The gleam caught his eye.

“Hm?”

He couldn’t tell what it was now but, something about this part of the metal being newer intrigues him, so the artist decided to take a closer look by picking it up, if possible.

Narrator

While some of the contents were out of the way, a keener gleam of metal came from inside the box—something newer, if not all that identifiable. Just more junk, presumably, though it did stand out to anyone actually paying attention…

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer

Jack just grinned pleasantly (as much as anything he did was pleasant) at the swearing before resuming his task. Not for long, though, before Vinzent reached over to take… something. The heck was that?

“You, uh. Gonna make a pet food bowl outta that or what?”

Narrator

The metal piece was a little under a foot tall and not quite as heavy as it looked. Half was black and half white, with a little extra curve of white in the front. One facet was nearly completely smooth, while opposite that were… legs? Legs with paws. What was this, some kind of strange decorative table?

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent was examining the strange piece. What the heck was this? Some art statement? Why the paws? It did look like some strange table…

Or. A pet food bowl. It could be that. But it’s been forever since Vinzent had a dog, and he still would not buy such format. Even so, since Jack noticed this as well, Vinzent figured he’d answer back if anything.

“Very funny. I have no f-cking idea, though. It kind.. Of look important maybe? I can’t figure why but… For it to be outstanding in this junk room, I wonder what this is for really.”

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer

“Huh.” Jack shrugged. “Interior design’s not exactly my specialty, so.”

And nothing suiting his specialty—whatever that even was—seemed to be rearing its head in this room anyway. He hopped back to his feet, giving the latest box a nudge with his toe that wasn’t even sufficient to move it. It was more about the principle of the thing, anyway.

“Well, have fun with your important-maybe stuff. Think I’ve had enough of this place.”

“I’m sure you’ve had enough a’ me, too.” …He said like it was something to brag about.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack

“Neither is mine.”

He sighed, well fine! He’ll keep this weird looking piece for now, so as long as it might answer some questions. Yeah, yeah, Vinzent certainly had enough of this man. It was… Something today.

“Yeah, bye, whatever.”

He gave the room one last check but, Vinzent was pretty sure that there might be not much more to find in the end. Aside this weird piece. And he hoped that if he had to strike a conversation with Jack again, that it wouldn’t be so annoying as it was today. Ah well.