sixthiterationlogs | Race in the end of the lights

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Race in the end of the lights

WHO: Jacob Frye
WHERE: Fountain, Inn, Bunker, Around
WHEN: 12/3, first part of the month
OPEN TO: Evie, OTA
WARNINGS: Will update if needed

FOUNTAIN ARRIVAL: LOCKED TO EVIE FRYE

Not even realizing that things have gone dark until the world tries to come into focus again. Waking up suddenly, gasping, and realizing the mistake in that the minute the water hits his throat, flooding his mouth. Eyes flying open, blinding, the world a mixture of light and dark, blurred and out of focus. The water pushes him open and instincts take over. Jacob kicks, surprised the weight of his coat isn't holding him down as he pushes hard for the light above.

Kicking hard, wondering how he'd come to be in such a body of water without knowledge of it. Surprised he's not bound, that he is free to try and find air at the surface rather than being weighted as he sinks to the bottom. Whoever tossed him in here is a fool, and he plans to find them and prove to them just how stupid they were.

Breaking the surface with a thick, watery gasp, still dragging water into his throat and lungs, choking as he lashes out blindly for a shore, for any edge where he might find purchase.

AROUND THE VILLAGE

Getting into dry scrubs, which at least he looks good in green, and having scrounged for a few options for both warmth and protection, Jacob finds himself in a pull on hoodie in an odd shade of red, not quite burgundy but heading that way. At least it's warm, and it's got a hood, though the combination with his scrub pants and his hands often in the pockets is that of street lout casing a convenience store to pick off some chocolate bars and maybe a bottle of ale if he's lucky.

From time to time throughout the day he visits the inn, because hello, it's an inn. Sadly there's no beer to be had, and that alone makes him sad. With all of this, Jacob could definitely use a pint. Strolling through the room, he finds himself drawn to some, casually dropping down into a chair near them, often striking up a conversation about how long they've been there. Or at least trying to.

It's not his first time in a new city, but it's definitely a downgrade from London, especially with the lack of rooftops and skyline. Not that it stops him, especially in the evening hours, from slipping up onto the roof of the inn, making his way from one rooftop to another, just for the desire to be there, the ingrained need for whatever view he might gain. Perching on a chimney here, a rooftop there, watching as darkness descends and brilliant stars light up the sky.

THAT'S NEW AND DANGEROUS

What's worse than a brash and cocky assassin with too much attitude and a lot of desires? One that has just learned that he's able to create fire with his hands. At least if they're going to steal his weapons - and someone will pay for that dammit - he's got something to defend himself with.

If he could figure out how to control it.

Sadly, the best he's done that isn't just sparks and more smoke than fire so far is light something on fire that he dragged down by the river. It now is a raging tower of fire, and it would seem Jacob is content to leave it as it is. Least it's warm, right?

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He can't argue that. It's how he sees the templars. Taking over entire cities and twisting them to their needs. Certainly something Jacob would never want to have a hand in. This is a new place, seemingly free from templars. He only wishes to see it stay that way.

His attention stays on her as she looks at the fire. Yet he does lift his hand, twisting his hand to draw the fire back down more, not wanting her to continue to think he is being entirely reckless. He can be that way, but not sure he wants to be see that way.

"Which is all I've been attempting to do, though I do want to apologize. It was never my attention to upset anyone in doing so. I do hope you'll forgive me."

Kat shook her head, her expression growing less severe. "I'm not upset." It took a lot to really upset Kat. "I was just worried. It looked like things were getting out of hand." Who knows what would have happened if she hadn't said something...

Bright emerald green eyes met his while a small smile curved her lips. "There is nothing to forgive." That was how she saw it. "My name is Kat." She pointed at one of the houses across the river.

"I live nearby." Which had also been part of her worry.

And the likelihood is that it was going to get out of hand, because that is something that Jacob does. He gets desperately out of hand and disasters happen.

"If it has, I promise I would have called for help and saved everything that I could." Which is not the right answer, given that still means things possibly being destroyed, and some of those things being people.

"I have taken up residence with my sister," he admits, stepping forward and offering his hand. "And I'm Jacob."

Kat shook her head and tried not to smile, smiling would be supporting this bad behavior but it was very amusing. "It's nice to meet you Jacob." She took his hand, the tips of her fingers sliding along his palm. Compared to him, she felt delicate and small. It wasn't a feeling that Kat liked.

"I live alone but for a cat." Who was a bit of a trial but Kat had warmed up to her. "It's good that your sister is here." Not because Kat was happy that anyone was stuck here but she had a feeling that his sister was the voice of reason in his life.

"How long have you been here?"

It's not as if he need encouragement, but that doesn't change that it really does work badly for him, encourages him to do the things he shouldn't. Even if in the end he tries well to fix the mistakes he makes. Just as he would have now. If it had gone badly.

He nods at that, giving a tight smile. "I was glad for it, especially when she pulled me out of the water. Only a few days now," he admits. "You know, I never had a pet. Must be nice."

"The company is nice but she's a little too fearless for her own good." Something that Kat and her kitten had in common. "At least she keeps things interesting."

Kat had never had a calm life and as much as she might yearn for something simpler and sweeter, she knew that she'd get bored the moment that things calmed down. She didn't know how to live in a conflict free world.

"You can probably find a pet here, if you want or watch Eva if you ever want to follow a peacock kitten around."

"And likely helpful with any pests and all we might have around here. When they're not the type to freeze things over," he says, nose wrinkling as he recalls what he encountered the moment he came into this place.

"Never thought about it," he admits, moving his hands to ensure the fire is smaller, much more contained. "About a pet, that is. Never had the life before where it was practical. Or allowed," he adds, knowing that the lack of allowance in the things he's done is part of the reason that they escaped to London. Part of it, at least.

"Though I think the idea of following a colorful kitten around is brilliant. I would love to."

"You mean the mice?" Kat asked, a light amusement in her tone. Her kitten was young and had hurt itself trying to eat one of the ice mice that had recently infested the village. Likely, Kat had gotten there before Eva could get herself more hurt and had chased the mouse away.

"It was like that for me too." Her voice was softer, warmer than it had been before. "I never expected to have one here but it's nice."

Kat paused thoughtfully, watching as he softened the fire's edges. "Would you like to come see her now?" Though she was going to make him put out the fire first. He could call her a wet blanket but she wasn't going to let him burn down the village, not after 7's home had already been burned down.

"Is that normal for mice about here? I haven't enough belongings for them to be freezing them over regularly," he points out. He has to be careful of what he has until he can figure out a way to barter more.

"If it's not an imposition, I would love to," he says, smiling widely. "But not just so you can get me to stop playing with fires," he teases.

She shook her head. "They aren't normal but strange things occasionally pop up for a week or so before vanishing. It will melt and I'm sure we'll be wanting the ice in the summer." Assuming that they were still here.

Kat smiled. "It might be." She looked at the dwindling flame. "Did it work?"

She didn't want for his answer. Instead she waved for him to follow her and lead the way to her house.

"Shame we can't catch them and keep them for that," he says, pausing and obviously thinking about it. Curious if they might actually be able to do that.

"Maybe. For now." Because it has, and they both knew it as he follows after her, the fire dying out on it's own.

Kat had no reply to that except. "If we caught them, how would we keep the alive." They'd also freeze everything so there were a lot of problems with that plan but at least Kat considered it for a half second.

It wasn't a long walk to her house. They traveled down the river, past the boat house and over the bridge before reaching her home. "Here it is. Eva will probably come running when she sees someone new." Kat paused briefly and placed a finger over her lips. "Careful of the feathers on her tail. The oil is a drug. It provides euphoria."

He pauses, considering that. "If you could keep them in the cellar, you could throw down... cheese? What do they eat?" He wonders that a moment before shaking his head. "How do they eat without freezing it? Would they eat ice?"

Damn it, now he can't help but to wonder. Making a face, trying to dismiss it from his thoughts.

He chuckles at the comment that she will come running, though he stops as he thinks about it. "Like opium?" It's common enough in his time and he's experienced it a time or three.

Kat glanced over at Jacob as he tried to wrap his head around this ice mice problem. "My house doesn't have a basement but I imagine that there able to control what they freeze. It's likely a defense mechanism." Otherwise the whole island would be covered in ice by now.

She watched him as they walked, noticing that he was making a lot of entertaining faces.

"Yeah. Something like that." Kat hadn't never been a big drug user but sometimes there was nothing else to do but find a little bit of an escape. The city she lived in made things complicated. "I try not to touch her tail." Except that sometimes she couldn't help it.

Kat paused when she reached her home and pushed open the front door. There was a family room to the right and a kitchen beyond that. To the left was three bed rooms, all of which were mostly empty. Eva, the peacock kitten, popped out of the nearest bed room and padded over to Kat to rub her body against the side of Kat's boots. "And this is Eva."

"You don't have a root cellar? My sister had a place when I got here, and I'm sure that's part of the reason she chose it. Though that's a concept on it's won. I mean, we last just chose a train and made it our home, but not the same."

Except it really is entirely the same.

He moves easily, watching the area around them casually, all of it second nature as he carries on the conversation.

"I can only imagine. I think it might make me uncertain," he admits, considering an animal that could do that and yet not be poisonous as some snakes from the Orient could be. "Useful though if you handle things right. Literally and figuratively."

Whatever he is expecting in this creature, it certainly isn't this feathered thing on four legs.

"She is certainly... different," he says, leaning over, peering down at the kitten. "And this is normal and common about here like one might have a cat at a tavern for mice?"

"I didn't choose this house." Kat spoke softly as she closed the door behind them. "I was living with someone from my home but they disappeared. I should have moved back to the inn but I found that I didn't want to leave." Against all odds, this house has become Kat's home and she's never really had a home before.

"I do have a room in the attic. I sleep there sometimes." It hadn't been intended to be a bed room but it had gotten turned into a room. Tony had even fitted it with a ceiling fan for the hot summer months. "It's warmer up there." The attic and the kitchen are the two warmest rooms in the house since everything is heated through the old stove in the kitchen.

Kat looked down at Eva and Jacob. "You shouldn't have to worry about her tail." Her expression grew warm as she stepped towards the kitchen. "Unless you pet it or pick her up. She won't rub it against you. I don't think she likes it when her tail is touched."

Eva purred as Jacob pet her, her large bright green eyes watching him in quiet curiosity.

"I think it's normal for this place. I don't know. It isn't normal where I am from." Kat paused thoughtfully, "Would you like some tea?"

"I... I definitely understand that." And he does. He has considered leaving, of moving out of their house, but he has this sensation of not wanting to worry about her not being able to find himself if she found her way back. Especially if she is injured.

His fingers brush over the kitten's head, scritching between her ears. In his youth he had spent sometime around the cats that were kept for mice, and then as he spoke of, around taverns, but never as a pet. They were working animals in his life.

"Sounds nice, having that higher room. I would like that. I tend to prefer higher spots. Is there a window up there? Let you see out over the vil..."

Whatever he was about to say comes to a skidding stop in his brain as he finds himself only able to focus on one thing.

"You have tea? There's tea?" He stars up at her with wide eyes. "Oh yes, please. That would be a delight."

Kat looked back at him and nodded. "Yes. There is a window and it lets you see into the village and fairly far down the river. It's how I spotted your fire." She stepped into the kitchen and as she did, the little kitten abandoned Jacob and went to follow her.

In the world of cats; kitchen = food.

"I have tea from a small garden that I had helped tended to in the summer. I'm running low but it's comforting." She took little pieces of lavender and ginger and slipped them into a thin bag before dipping it into the hot water. Kat let it over steep since she otherwise might not have enough tea to get through the winter.

As that sat, she placed a little bowl for Eva on the floor.

"I never thought I'd own a cat but she keeps the bugs and small creatures of out of the house." Kat was happy not to have to worry about bugs.

"So you're spying on me," he says with a laugh. "Should I be afraid?"

Yet even as he asks that, he follows Eva into the kitchen, pausing in the doorway and watching. There's a glint in his eyes, an excitement there. So many missed alcohol, and while he misses ale, the comfort of tea is greatly missed.

"Not something you had to worry about before?" Jacob considers rodents and insects part of life in London, at least the London he's known.

"Maybe." Kat flashed him a brief smile that quickly disappeared into a thoughtful stare. She didn't have a tea kettle or a timer and instead had to watch the color of the water as her homemade tea bag steeped. There was a balance between pungent tea and lightly flavored water.

After about five minutes she pulled the tea bag out and set it on a small plate. "I was used to rats and bugs. I grew up in a city and a lot of the places I slept weren't sealed from the outside." That was after she had run away from home.

"Here you go." Kat passed Jacob the cup of tea and then wrapped her fingers around her own. This was her favorite drink in the winter. "Let me know what you think."

Eva was focused on her food and had completely forgotten that there were two other people in the house.

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Race in the end of the lights

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