Jack Of All Trades ✓ | steampunk, dragons, trickery

Chapter 1.2: Art of Deception

Above photo: Jack Ogswold as imagined using Picrew.

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As Jack was stirring his cappuccino, gazing out at the hazy noon, he spotted a girl wearing a yellow overcoat that matched her yellow goggles and mask. She skipped across the road, avoiding carriages as they came trotting. Her long brown hair curled at the fringes, and she had a small telescope attached to her waist along with some other trinkets and a compass.

Engineer? He wondered. A girl as an engineer was not unheard of, for sure, but it was rather rare. Most women worked fabrics, making materials for the airships, especially in Amsgeld. It was the hub, the city, and some people called it 'The Aeroplace', which Jack thought was a stupid name, but he often found himself saying the name. It did have a nice ring to it.

He was still staring outside, thinking about the idiotic names of places when the chair across from his scraped back. It was the girl, helping herself to his table. She took off her goggles and mask. Pale skin, brown eyes, dimples, puffy bangs, and slim neck. With the way she held her shoulders tensed and slipped her hands to her lap he could tell she was nervous.

Rumtuckin, no doubt. A country lassie. First time to the city.

"May I help—"

"I can help you."

Jack blinked. That was not what he had been expecting. And how low her voice was for a girl with that face!

"Pardon?"

"Your cursed gift."

He nodded. "You heard me at the hostp—"

"Hobbersmead." She shook her head. "I know of you. Left arm, right?"

Probably talked to my old man. Jack's father knew and believed his son's strange ability. If pressed enough, he would crack and talk about it. It wasn't particularly a secret, but it was just better not to go around talking about.

"Well," He decided to play her for a bit, "I am the Jack of all trades, I'm sure we probably crossed paths in engineering at some point. I see your telescope, yes, I have piloted an airship before, and have the license. Perhaps you were aboard one of my—"

"Police! Shush!" she said and at that moment, a police officer walked in, obvious with the way he swiveled his head around that he was looking for someone. Jack clicked his tongue. The doctor must have called security.

"I saw you flipping off the doc. Probably after you. Don't look his way," the girl whispered, "and then after he leaves, we leave. Got it?"

Jack didn't like running away. He liked meeting his enemies square and unfair. He decided to show this sneaky girl his trade.

"What are you doing?" she hissed when he got up.

He winked at her. "I'm the Jack of all trades. Art of deception."

"Sit back down you—"

He didn't stay to hear the rest of it. Jack casually strode over to the officer who stood at the bar. He glanced up when Jack approached and by the looks of his face, he was about to bring up some stern words and perhaps even an arrest.

"Officer Hamstern!" Jack said with a smile. He touched the officer's left shoulder in greeting, casually sliding down his arm. "What a coincidence to see you here."

The officer looked taken aback. "Yes, well, I was—"

"Looking for the man on the poster, sir?" Jack beamed.

The man on the poster? Hamstern thought, furrowing his brows, already forgetting, it seemed, what he had really come here for.

"Yes, yes, you know all around the city? Ah," Jack shook his head, "but I'm not wearing my signature hat today. I thought you may be looking for me."

Looking for the man on the poster? What poster?

"I—"

"The Kaleidoscope? Ring a bell?" Jack grinned and rambled on, not to let Hamstern have his own thoughts. "Jack Ogswold, sir, surely you know. Perhaps you might come by? Next week I will be hosting Ann Smithe, the copper artist, you do like some good art, do you not? Ah, I thought so, sir, a man with impeccable taste. Would you like to join me and my, ah, no, you are on duty are you not?"

Ann Smithe? I do like some Ann Smithe. Hamstern thought as he glanced down at his copper watch with the initials 'A.S.' on them. A product of Ann Smithe that Jack recognized when he sat down next to the officer. It was a little trick of his.

"Yes, yes," Hamstern said at last, "I am regretfully on duty. I must go now. You said next week?"

"Aye, my good man, next week Tuesday, seven. On the dot. Be in your best suit, sir. It will be a formal occasion with drink, food, dance, we shall have a ball."

Hamstern nodded. "Aye, I heard you serve the best, Mister Ogswold. My friend Jeremy, he talks of you, I remember now, yes. I hadn't much time to visit though."

Jack dropped his gaze as if disappointed. "But I hope you will come next week. I will be expecting you, sir." He paused when he noticed Hamstern fiddling with the watch.

I wonder if I could meet Ann Smithe.

"I could," Jack began slowly, "arrange for you to meet Ann."

"You could?" the officer said with a smile that soon faded. "Nay, don't bother yourself with me. You have plenty other—"

Jack shook his head. "Oh, no, sir, for you, I will make the exception. But please do show up. Seven. The Kaleidoscope. But you best be going now. I heard the rain might start up this evening and when it does, it does not do one good to be outside does it?"

"Oh no, no, and thank you Mister—"

"Jack."

"Rupert."

Lucky for me, Ann Smithe. I heard she be looking, too. Rupert's smile now had more joy behind it.

Of course, it's not just the art, Jack thought as he shook Rupert's hand and saw him off into the streets of Amsgeld. The officer walked off whistling a tune through his mask. With a smirk, Jack put his hands in his pockets and joined the girl back at the table.

In a loud voice he said, "Sorry, I just recognized an old friend of a friend. Couldn't help but to greet him you see!" He saw out the corner of his eye, the other customers turning their heads away slowly. Then, conversations started up again.