Spare You Some Crumbs

[Danny Harvick]

Closing time. Both a blessing and a curse. She could go home and relax. Yet she couldn't get any more information. One thing traded for another. Yet today it was more of a blessing. The bakery had been busy. She had been making so many pastries, she lost count. An order for a feast. It had to be someone of higher status. Nobles? Perhaps. They were a well known store. Yet Danny hadn't been able to find out. That annoyed her to a small degree.

Outside she sighed. Weary. In need of a warm bed. The cold fresh air only managed to wake her a fraction. She was still tired. Tired enough to bump into someone on her way through the streets. Others were out and about still. Surprising. "Oh I'm so sorry!" She said in a soft, slightly startled voice. "I really should be paying more attention." The statement came with a yawn she barely managed to hide behind a hand. The small surprise was helping her waken further, however. It was dangerous to be caught off guard.

[Jack McCarthy]

Jack was a man of quite simple needs really. All he needed to keep happy was something to eat and maybe see Lux once or twice a day.


As of today, Jack has gotten neither of those things. Lux was busy spending time with her father and Jack was pretty sure Mr Lux would happily run Jack through with a sword the next time he saw him. He didn’t exactly approve of his precious baby girl hanging around some street rat. He had known her since they were kids and honestly Jack did worry sometimes that he’d one day snap and come after Jach with a knife


...and Jack can’t run very fast when he hasn’t eaten in a week or so.


Jack was used to days without eating, the people in goldcrest wasn’t the capital of charity. He didn’t know exactly why some of the people that walked by him seemed to be so uptight. What the fuck did they have to worry about? All Jack needed was food….or maybe a roof overhead (Even though that was a pipe dream verging on lunacy. Having lived on the streets for so long you get to consider a one roomed shake as something as a palace)


So with his stomach grumbling, he set about finding some kind of shelter for the night. A secluded Alleyway that would keep the rain out, with any luck he’d stumble across some place warm. When the sun went down one thing Jack wasn’t was picky. At night things got dangerous. Bandits. Weirdos. Drunk thugs. Not to mention the odd wild animal. So Jack did his best to try and find a secluded place for him to sleep.


...and dream…


Jack was so preoccupied with his sleeping arrangements that he walked right into the path of a small girl. Jack not being the most coordinated, was almost knocked off balance he began to gradually lean back on his heels about to topple over like a great oak tree but quick-thinking Jack began to windmill his arms in a typical ungainly fashioned until eventually, he managed to steady himself. Flashing a relieved grin to himself as he did so


Eventually, Jack managed to stop congratulating himself long enough to turn to the girl “Naaa it’s fine. It happens. It HAPPENED. No point complaining about it now, nothing that can be done...I assume not. Unless you can go back three minutes into the past and stop yourself from crashing into me. Can you do that? Naa, probably- Wait can you?!


Jack frowned in consideration trying to settle an argument made flesh by his own bizarre internal dialogue starting to shiver in the mid evening cold “Naaa. You probably can’t...I think...Anyway, I probably have to….you know…”


Jack shrugged shoving his thumb in a vague general direction right behind him “ Moving on…”

[Danny Harvick]

She had nearly knocked him over. That surprised her more than his odd display. He windmilled his arms to regain his balance, then grinned once he had. It was nothing. What happened happened. Unless she could go back in time to stop it, there was nothing she could've done. She was glad he hadn't snapped at her at least. Yet she still felt a little bad for nearly pushing him over. "Well, I can't go back three minutes, but I can say I'm very sorry. Usually I'm the one falling over when that happens." It came with a small, slightly sheepish smile.

He started to shiver. That was when she noticed him. Took the time to regard him. His shabby clothes. The way he stood. His features. He looked half starved. A beggar. One without a home, she would guess. Even if he pointed his thumb in some general direction to go. She doubted there was a real destination. "Wait. Could I repay you? I still feel bad. It was my fault. That and you look...Well starving, honestly."

[Jack McCarthy]

Jack was...shall we shall on his guard just a little, not out of everything this girl had done of course, but spending his life living on the streets has fostered a natural mistrust of people...a palpable sense of paranoia that only a few people have gotten over -Lux being key amoung them and someone actually stopping and having a conversation with Jack, at this hour...yeah that raised alarm bells.



So yeah, Jack was happy to talk it’s been awhile since he actually conversed with another human being -well he often talked to himself, but he wasn’t sure if that counted- but at the same time he was tense and ready to go running if the girl took out a knife all of a sudden.



“Oh yeah. I can believe that you’re like….small...like...really small” Jack said bluntly showcasing his inability to keep his thoughts to himself, not that he was actively trying to insult the girl, he wasn’t even aware that a comment like that could be taken badly. He just felt like it was a fair assumption. “Do you have any like….pixie blood in you or Fairy blood because you really looks like it” Jack said rapidly nodding agreeing with his own personal assessment



Jack’s eyebrow raised ever so slightly at Pipers words, “Repay him?” Ok, now the alarm bells were really ringing, No one. Has EVER, tried to repay him for anything he did, and certainly not a random stranger who he just met, “Oh starving ?” Jack said blinking a little trying to pass her opinion of him off as surprising “Naaa. I’m fine, really. I ate like….a few days ago, that’s all I need” Jack said trying to reassure her “I mean who needs food right? I think it’s overrated…I mean...eating more then once every once in a awhile and you're just getting greedy

[Danny Harvick]

He could believe she was small. She didn't disagree. She knew that. It came with its own advantages and disadvantages. Did she have any fairy or pixie blood? The question was an odd one. One she had never expected to be asked. She blinked. Thought for a moment with a slight frown. Then shook her head. "I don't think so." She finally decided. She was just naturally small.

She could see the caution in his face. Clearly he didn't trust her, and she didn't blame him. He brushed off her offer. He'd eaten a few days ago. A statement that left her skeptical. Who needed food? He thought it was overrated and made one greedy. She wasn't convinced. Yet she wouldn't push it. "Well...ok. Sorry if that offer came out of nowhere or sounded weird." She apologized a little awkwardly.

[Jack McCarthy]

And this. This was the reason why Jack didn’t make many friends or at least had a conversation with someone that lasted a prolonged period of time, because Jack was quite possibly the worst person in the world when it came to first impressions. He had no tact whatsoever and that rubbed so many people the wrong way, so it’s hardly surprising that Jack had only about two friends in the world. “You probably do, i wished I did, because surely that would I would have some magic in me...which would be amazing. Having some magic would pretty much solve most of my problems. I’ve been told I don’t, but I don’t know...what if I’m just a late bloomer? A magical late bloomer.  Maybe I’m so magical and powerful that my body needs to mature to handle it….At least that’s my theory….” Jack said shrugging and it was true, every morning he developed a routine of “Testing” his magical prowess...it didn’t yield any results yet...but Jack was still hopeful.



“That’s ok, it was an honest mi-Wait...Offer?!”Jack eyes lit up his head raising finally putting two and two together and realised what the girl was considering “Offer? You mean like food? You have some? You have food” Jack asked rapidly each word exictedly tumbling out of him like they were all in a race to get out of his mouth

[Danny Harvick]

She probably did. He wished he did, because then he would have magic. Danny was genuinely surprised he thought that would be amazing. Most people she'd seen in this place thought of magi as more of a burden than anything. Yet here was this boy openly wishing for it. He might've been a late bloomer, at least according to his theory. Danny observed him for a bit. "So you'd want magic? Most people I've met wouldn't." It was strangely refreshing.

Suddenly his face lit up. Words tumbled out of his face so fast Danny could barely catch it. She had food? Clearly he was actually hungry despite his earlier words. Danny nodded. "I do. I work at the bakery nearby." She saw no harm in telling him. Besides, if he was reconsidering her offer, she could get him something. Surely it wouldn't be that hard.

[Jack McCarthy]

Well in his own mind, Jack thought that having those kind of powers would finally. FINALLY cause a chain reaction of getting Jack off the streets, In his own mind, he pictured himself just snapping his fingers and PING. All the food he could possibly what. Just like that. Another snap “BOOP” a big mansion and a warm soft fluffy bed he could sleep. Sure, in reality it couldn’t possibly be that simple, but it brought Jack comfort that problems can be so simplified with just a movement. Jack shrugged legitimately confused why someone wouldn’t want magic abilities “Better than homeless”...



At first Jack blinked rapidly his face blank like he didn’t understand what was being said to him, just the same word echoing in his head over and over again “Bakery”..



Inwardly Jack face seemed to be perfectly calm but inside there was a firework display going off in his brain a celebration, a jubilee. A party to celebrate the most fortunate thing that ever happened to him “Well…” Jack said checking his nails trying to impose an air of indifference fearing that being too eager will freak her out and blow this golden chance “If you INSIST I suppose i could...get something small to eat…”



Smooth

[Danny Harvick]

Better than homeless. The statement only cemented the theory she had thought up. It made her features soften with sympathy. No wonder he looked haggard and hungry. And no wonder he was excited by her offer. He tried to play it off. Hide the excitement. Yet she could see it in his eyes. If she insisted he should get something he would. Danny just smiled and held back the little laugh his remark would've brought. She decided to play along.

"Why thank you, sir. It's right this way." She turned and headed back towards the bakery. It wouldn't be too much trouble for her to bake something. She doubted he had gotten a good hot meal in a while by the looks of him. Suddenly she realized something. Glanced over at him. "Oh, I never got your name. I'm Danny." She said it with a friendly smile.

[Jack McCarthy]

Jack didn’t like to admit the whole “homeless” thing, call it a sense of a misinformed pride. Apart of the reason Jack acted the way. He hated to make himself seem vulnerable despite the fact that just one look at him could confirm just how vulnerable he truly was. It was like a man on fire trying desperately to convince the world he’s not on fire.



But that was the logic Jack really lived by….



Jack blinked a little at the girl in confusion and turned around frowning as if he expected some one right behind him before his head flipped up in clear surprise “OH! I’m the sir! Me. I’m sir...Huh” Jack muttered scratching the back of head ruefully “No one has ever called me sir before….Kind of a moment for me” He admitted shrugging already committing the moment to memory



Look at him Mr. Fancy pants “Sir”...
what's next?  Lord?


“Oh hey I’m Jack!” He exclaimed smiling a little nervously pacing behind Danny following behind “So ummm….This is actually happening right? I’m not following you into a gang of bandits right? I mean...I just want to confirm that I’m not getting conned or ambushed because I have to warn you. If I do get attacked….I can scream REALLY loud so everyone can hear me….just so you know”

[Danny Harvick]

He blinked in confusion. Looked around for someone else. Then seemed to realize that Danny had been referring to him. No one had called him that before. It was a moment for him. Her look turned more sympathetic. Had no one shown him kindness before? Or at least an ounce of politeness? It was sad, yet Danny didn't really know what to say. So she kept her mouth shut and offered a small smile instead.

Jack. It came with a bit of a nervous smile. He wanted to make sure this was actually happening and no bandits were going to jump out at him. He could scream really loud if that were the case. Danny's eyes widened slightly but she shook her head. "No, I promise you it's nothing like that!" Was he speaking from experience or an overly wary mind? "Did...Did that actually happen to you before?"

[Jack McCarthy]

He wasn’t exactly mr. popular in the town, like any homeless person living on the streets, Jack had become used to being invisible, people naturally train themselves to avoid the beggars and look away to avoid making eye contact with them. They were practically invisible after all so the idea of being addressed let alone as “Sir”



So needless to say this was all very weird and Jack didn’t know how to handle it…



“Yes. Well...no But….at this time of night people get a little weird, the weirdo’s really come out. This city is crawling with them…Once in the same night some big fucker came at me with a knife...and then about an hour later, I think I was offered work as a prostitute….People here aren’t exactly the most honest

[Danny Harvick]

It hadn't, but this time of night was when the weirdos came out. One night he had almost been stabbed, only to have been offered work as a prostitute later. Danny could only stare at Jack as he explained the oddness he'd been through. Clearly she had not gotten to experience all of Goldcrest. Yet she wasn't exactly complaining considering what he was saying.

"I promise nothing crazy like that will happen." She was still a little baffled by his story. They reached the bakery without incident however. "See? No bandits." She fished a key out from her pocket to unlock the door. It was dark inside but Danny soon got to work on lighting the interior up. "Just a normal bakery." She flashed him a smile as she finished illuminating the room. "So, what would you like?

[Jack McCarthy]

What Jack had neglected to tell Danny (On top of about a hundred things she’s neglected to say) Is that Jack’s mouth had a wonderful way of rubbing people the same way and landing him in all sort of nasty old bother. Listen to him speak long enough and you’d find a reason to punch him square in the face. He’s a sufferer of diarrhoea of the mouth and odds are he will find a reason for anyone to attack him with reckless abandon. He was one of the most accidently irritating person in the world



Thankfully, his unique personality didn’t rub off on Danny.



But regardless he was weary about what he was walking into his hands shaking to and fro in his normal jittery bursts as normal….but sure enough there it was a actual bakery he was standing in front of a bakery. “No bandits…” He muttered to himself hardly able to believe his luck and that he was standing in front of the bakery. In fact he didn’t even move into it. He just stood in the door frame hardly daring to walk in, he just looked around in awe….



…..Eventually Jack snapped out of his food lusting trance to fully appraise her question “Wel-Well what do you have?”

[Danny Harvick]

No bandits. It was a low murmur. As if he were reassuring himself. He stood outside as if in a trance. Staring. Debating. His face a look of awe. Danny couldn't suppress the small giggle that left her. It was kind of funny how he was acting. Yet at the same time it was sad. The fact he was so bewildered by the fact he was met by an actual bakery instead of an ambush spoke volumes.

Finally he snapped out of it. Thought on her offer. What did she have? Danny hummed in thought as she slowly walked about the room. Considered the options. "Honestly anything." She paused by the ovens and frowned slightly. Then had an idea. "How about a pie? What kind of pie would you like? Or do you not like pie?"