Jacques "Jack" Vernadega is a redheaded protagonist born by a couple that died from (seemingly) unknown causes when he was six. At twelve, he ran away from his foster home to pursue a better life. He was stuck alone and wandering the streets until h...
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The train ride was calm and quiet. Ensley and Jacques sat in booth, the Englishman softly resting his head against the window and listening to the sounds of the passenger train as it chugged quietly over the metal tracks below. The flame of his lantern shifted quietly yet stayed still like an undisturbed candle, head snug from the thick scarf that hung on his shoulders. Jack watched him and every now and then shifted his head to see if Ensley was asleep. The other didn't shift much, yet breathed quietly, and the young boy pulled the gem from his pocket and checked the other in his human form. Ensley was indeed resting, eyes shut and his expression contentedly slumped against the cold window. Jack looked at the gem on the booth's table and then back at Ensley, still wondering about spirits and Oculatums and... whatever he heard earlier. Maybe Ensley's friend would tell him when they got there. The boy pulled the gem back into his pocket and put his head down on the table, before quietly mumbling to the other. "Hey...uh... Ensley?" After a quiet moment, he could hear a low, throaty grumble of exhaustion. "Mm?"
"What is your friend like?"
Jack questioned at a gentle tone. He at least attempted to spike up a conversation while they were on the train. The flame in Ensley's lantern slowly stirred back to active life, flickering as the spirit stretched in his seat and glanced over at the ginger. "Ah. Well..." He pondered, before speaking lowly. "He's an Oculatum. Just like I am." Ensley began. Jacques's eyes immediately widened in wonder and he shifted in the leather cushions of the booth, paying close attention. "Woah! What does he look like? Would I be able to see hi-"
"Shh." Ensley clasped a gloved finger over where his mouth would be. "We're in a public area, boy." He scolded. The child apologized lowly and lowered his volume, making a zipper motion over his lips before Ensley leaned forward and continued. "He's not the friendliest at first, but he perhaps may have more in common with your generation than he would with mine." The man spoke, glancing out of the window. "I've been a spirit for about 200 years, but he's only been a spirit for... I believe ten or twenty."
"Did he..." Jack thought of a proper word to say. "Did he pass away around the age you did?" He questioned. "No. Gambling scheme." the spirit gave a gentle nod.
"That sounds cool! Could I like... turn it?"
"I'm unsure. He however would not let you even if you could."
"Oh."
"Mm." Ensley subtly nodded, ending the conversation. Eventually, the train hissed to a stop and quieted, doors pulling open before the two got up and headed off into the city's station.
× × ×
After long conversations and tedious walks, Ensley and Jack were finally face to face with a large hotel that sat within a busy area full of what looked like businessmen. The façade was crisp, clean and especially modern the young boy looked up at it. "Wow! Does he live here?" Jacques inquired, a big smile slack across freckled cheeks. The Englishman made a sound of an agreement and went up to enter the rotating doors within its entrance. "He's the manager." The lanky figure replied, helping Jack into the building. It was fancy, lined with tiles and red tapestry, with a chrome and golden chandelier hanging over their heads. Watered flowerbeds rested near the windows, and the cream toned walls were speckled with paintings. Jack gazed around with high-end excitement, and as he glanced at the counter in the center of the room, his enthusiasm only increased tenfold.
Behind the counter was a man dressed in a white vest-suit with a red ascot, a small pocketwatch in his breast pocket and his hands covered by crisp, white gloves. In his grasp were papers that he was distracted by, and in replacement of his head was a casino wheel. "Welcome t' Whitewood Suites, et cetera, et cetera. Hang on a second and someone'll be right here to help you get a room." He spoke with a heavy New Yorker accent, glancing up before his hands froze from stirring around the order of the paperwork he was filling out. "Aye... I didn't expect you here this early, Ensley." He spoke with a hum and set down the papers in his hands, pushing himself up from his seat and heading over to the two. "Who's the kid?" The man looked down at Jack, who glanced up at him with a bright smile. Ensley watched the boy, before making a small chuckle and crossing his arms. "Better early than late," he began. The Englishman shifted one of his hands, and rested it on the boy's shoulders. "... this is Jack. I have quite the story to tell you about him. Jack, this is Chancellor."
"Charmed." The manager held out a hand to the twelve-year old boy and Jack excitedly pointed to him. "Your head! Can I spin it?"
"Excuse me?" Chancellor immediately stood, and glanced over at Ensley, who was tapping at his cane. "I spoke to him about you. He has a gem." Chancellor put a hand on his head, letting out a confused groan. "How the hell did you find this child then? I thought there was only a handful of people who had somethin' like that, Ensley. I hope you didn't steal him from some rag-tag family."
"I have courtesy, dear." Ensley let out a low huff of smoke. "He's an orphan who ran away from an abusive foster home, as far as I believe. I saved him after he escaped, and nearly got chased down by some of the employees." The man conversed. Jack had soon left the two and was curiously glancing around with excitement at the hotel's atmosphere. Chancellor, nonetheless, was at most quite displeased. "I have a heart for those without parents, but that sounded risky. What if the employees saw you?"
"They did not."
"What if he got hurt with you acting like some kind of godfather?"
"He did not."
Ensley bluntly stated. Chancellor let out a slow sigh, tugging on his ascot. "What if the two of you came across a demon? They would hurt him." He complained lowly with a grumble. The other let out a hum, quiet until he leaned his head into his scarf. "Chancellor..." Ensley sighed. "There was nothing else I could simply do for this boy. I let alone told him so much as is about us, and now we both know that he has a Perception Gem. What if he came across an Oculatum with that who was harmful?"
There was quiet tension between the two, before the hotel manager loosened up with an accompanying grumble and folded his arms. "You're always right."
"That's why you invite me over regularly, Chancellor." He hummed. "And that's why, despite being in an area two cities over, I still come to visit often." His flame crackled. The New Yorker turned his head over to Jack, who was looking over at a picture of flowers, then spoke with a louder volume. "Jack, was it?"
The boy paused turning his head. Ensley gave him a quiet notion to come over to them, and Chancellor soon turned around to face the young boy. "Ensley told me a tad about you on the way here." He began. Puzzled, Jack opened his mouth to question him, until he was interrupted by the other as he continued. "We can speak about all this spirit and orphan mess in the dining room, so I can make dinner. Don't be slow." He spoke with a sharp tone, then walked away into another room. Ensley glanced down at the confused redhead, before ruffling his hair a bit and tapping his cane against the tile floors. "He's a stubborn man, Jack, but he'll get used to you." The Oculatum spoke. Jack looked up at him in thought, then gave a big smile and started heading after the gambler with Ensley behind him.
