Welcome to the Jungle [Mocatta/Jack]

[Jack Lexington]

TYLER JAMESON

The sunshine that greets me through my milky windows tries hard to wake me up when all I want to do is stay in bed. After all it's Saturday and I'm not ready to get back into a world of worry just yet.
So I shield my closed eyes against the bright light with my elbow and turn over to go back to sleep.
Drip, drip....small droplets of water splash against the bottom of the sink just like they have for days. Now it's enough to annoy me and finish what the sun has started. The wake me up.

Groaning carelessly I open my eyes and lay there for a while until I finally decide it's time to greet the day. Rolling out of bed I make sure not to put any weight on my broken leg because the few times I did in the past days have thought me a lesson. The I hop over to my small kitchen and push a glass under the dripping tab to at least collect the water.

My eyes fall outside at the beautiful day that is desperately trying to cheer my grumpy self up and it almost works when I spot a bird on the tree outside. But too soon my mind wanders back to the inevitable that awaits me after this weekend. With a frown I grab a piece of bread and drink some milk before I decide to let the sunshine do it's job. If it is so determined to cheer me up, then so be it.

An hour later I've made it outside the city perimeter and into the nearest forest on my two shiny metal crutches, that I've been able to afford thanks to my new acquaintance Garth. A smile crosses my lips when I think about the guy. What a good man.

Out here I finally pause for a moment and sit down on an old fallen tree for a moment to actually take in the nature that surrounds me. Now that spring is in the air the trees have young green buds, that will soon become leafs, the birds are chirping their joyful songs and a few small flowers look like childrens candy on the muddy ground.

A familiar sound can be heard somewhere not too far away. Everybody in our district knows it from very early one. Somebody is chopping down a tree, which is nothing unusual other than it happens outside a marked area on a Saturday. Curiosity killed the cat and it damn near killed me when I ventured closer just to see a humongous fir leaning and then falling towards me at the very last second.

Unfortunately I'm not as fast as usually and have a hard time changing my direction when the crown comes crashing to the ground. I almost make it out of it's way but the last few smaller branches get me and throw me down into the mud provoking a cry from my lungs that would have scared away a wolf before it gets muffled by dirt in my mouth.
With leaves and twigs on my back I have a hard time turning around and freeing myself from this situation.
How could I not have seen this coming?
Gritting my teeth about so much stupidity I mock the damn sunny day and struggle free from my leafy prison just to see the lumberjack who claimed his victory over this fir a stone throw away from me.
"Why don't you holler when it's falling?" I greet him angrily.



OOC: Your post was so good, it intimidated me a little....

[Jack Lexington]

Of course he'd come back with a snappy remark and I guess he's right. Anybody walking out here in the woods has to expect trees to fall, yet the lumberjacks usually signal it by calling out.

Before me stands a typical lumberjack with his axe in his hand. He's quite tall and in good shape from swinging that axe. Like most of them. His face has something friendly about it though even though it's covered in sweat a dirt. My first impression is confirmed when his facial expression changes to neutral and he comes over to me, gives me a long look, that speaks of true interest and sharp perception, and kneels down to offer me his hand.

At first I want to disregard it because I'm pissed off and still in pain from the tree falling on me and my broken knee. Brushing off a bunch of leafs, twigs and some bark I give him another glare but then realize that I might need some help to get back on my feet.

Swallowing my anger I take a deep breath and listen to him tell me his name, which finally convinces me that he means no harm and might even regret his carelessness a little.
Sighing I reach out and hold his calloused hand tight to get back on my feet now that my crutches are burried somewhere underneath the green giant.
The guy waits long enough for me to get over my initial anger and pulls me up, which sends another wave of pain through me that shoots from my knee down to my ankle and up into my hip. He can't know that he has to be careful so I wince and tell him through gritted teeth. "Watch out. My leg."
Once I'm upright again it takes me a moment to deal with the pain before I can look up at him again.
He looks like he's part of the forest with his brown and green clothes, the stubble on his face and good natured look. It's almost like he blends in with his surrounding trees, bushes, birds and deer.

I put a faint smile on my face and give him a nod. "Thanks. I'm Tyler."
Finally I let my eyes roam the length of the tree that he's chopped down and can't help but admire the mighty fir. It must have taken him a while to get through that stem.
When I look further down towards the crown I can't even make out my lost possession, which I'm helpless without.

"Ah, crap!" Is all I say before I lean my back against the fallen tree so I can let go of Ash.

[Jack Lexington]

I take a moment to rest and recover leaning on the tree. As if he could read my face and my mind Ash sets out to recover my crutches, while I ask myself how he could have possibly know that my injury existed before the tree came crushing down on me. Admittedly only a few of the thin outer branches hit me but under bad circumstances that would be enough to break a bone or two. I guess I was lucky, one could say.

I leave him to it since I'm absolutely useless now. Instead I lean my palms on top of the trunk and push myself up to sit up there. With both hands I pull my injured leg up there to rest it before I turn my attention back on the lumberjack, who is busy hacking at the branches.

For a while I watch him clip off one branch after the other and must admit that I'm impressed by his strength and precision. He definetly knows what he's doing and has lots of strength left after chopping down a giant like this.

"Wow, you're good." I admire his work before I confirm. "Yeah, they're somewhere under there and they were expensive so I'd like to have them back."
Without them I'd be helplessly stranded out here. It would take me ages to hobble back to the safety of the small town I call home.

"Are you making some extra cash or do you lumberjacks usually work on Saturdays." I enquire and lean back to look up at the trees.
The canopy is not very dense since the trees are just getting leaves again. This winter was long and hard and it's only been a few days above zero with a bit of sunshine. Despite my messy situation I'm starting to feel my soul bloom again. It's spring and the feelings that come with it are wonderful. I feel like dangling upside down...if only I could.

[Jack Lexington]

While laying on the trunk and looking up in the air I can hear his huffing and puffing. Getting to my crutches is hard work but at the same time it's his own fault. After a while I'm ready to tell him to forget about it but he retrieves them, which is a great relief for me because I'm rather helpless without them as much as I hate it.

He comes back and hands the cold metallic objects to me and I nodd my head telling him. "Thank you. I appreciate it." Now a true smile plays on my lips. This guy has made up for his carelessness.

The young man tells me that he does not only like to earn an extra buck but also has nothing better to do than spend his days out in the woods chopping down these leafy giants. "I understand where you're coming from. It's peaceful out here."
My eyes wander around and all I can see in the muddy brown of the soil, stems and twigs. A few green buds and grass is already working its way through the cold soil giving us a first impression that spring could be in the air soon. The chirps of the birds only add to that impression and make me feel a bit of happiness for a change. For a moment I forget my worries but when Ashs voice becomes low and sad I turn my head towards him. Maybe even lumberjacks have their own problems.
Quickly he quantifies that the forest makes up for his lack of friends but I've already picked up on his regrets.
"I don't have so many friends myself. I was sick for a while during my time at school...you know the other kids didn't stick around me too long. I was boring for them." My own voice is becoming low now. I hadn't really thought about this for a while because since I started working in construction these days were over.
"Things are different now. I work and have a few friends but I know what you mean."
Pushing myself up to a sitting position I take a moment to tell him.
"You surely have the better views in your job."
Now it is me, who gets painfully reminded that I won't even have the shitty city views from the half finished roof of the new office building in town any more.
"It'll be a while before I get any views."
For a moment I wonder why I'm sharing my thoughts with this stranger? Maybe it is because I need to deal with it and he is what he is...a stranger, who I will most likely never see again.

"I'm going to have surgery in two days and who knows when I'll be able to work again. I'm worried that somebody else will take over my job and I'll never work again."

OOC: My kid just shot our lamp from the ceiling with the stuffed animal...gotta dash!

[Jack Lexington]

The lumberjack strikes me as a little be odd because he sometimes refers to himself in the third person and chuckles like he's got a screw loose. I guess that's what happens when you spend too much time by yourslef. All in all he seems like a good natured guy that I have nothing to fear from.

He offers me to chop down trees if I loose my job but now its my turn for some sad laughter. "If I loose my job it means that I'm incapable of walking properly for good. That wouldn't make for a very good lumberjack now, would it." I frown but soon take a deep breath and assure myself. "That's not going to happen though. I'll be as good as new in a week or two max." Am I trying to tell myself this or him because either way it's a pile of crap.

An awkward moment passes between us when nothing but the wind blowing through the trees and rushling some old, brown leaves can be heard.
I'm not ready to get back up and move on yet so I start the conversation again.
"What's so great about the forest? What do you like about it?"
My eyes scan the surroundings. Here and there I can see some things of beauty like new leaves or the bud of a flower but I'm not sure that this would be enough to make me come back each day.
"Let me tell you. Can't be as good as having a few beers and a fire with some buddies."

[Jack Lexington]

The way he talks about the forest makes it seem almost human. As if it was able to comfort the hurt, lost man that he seemed to be. His words told Tyler a lot about the guy in front of him. Not that he was particularily smart in picking up on other peoples feelinsg or hidden signals. Tyler had just heard it all too often before.
"Sounds like somebody really let you down."
I can tell that somebody either screwed him over or maybe even died so now he feels lonely and like he can't rely on people. I can relate to that.
"Sounds familiar."

Ash goes on to explain the beauty of the forest. I see it all but just don't feel the same way about it. "I guess there are worse places you could be. I mean I came out here to find some peace and distraction today as well. Figured this was a great escape. I mean I couldn't know that some muscle packed tool would fell a tree on me." Let's see whether he picks up on my sarcasm, which I underline with a cocky grin.
"And yeah, you sound both crazy and stupid." I chuckle at my own words. And reach out my hand to clap him on the shoulder. "You'd make an awesome guy to drink with."

It's true, the sun is quite low on the horizon already and will set within an hour. It takes me at least 30 minutes to get back to town like this so I shrug. "I suppose we could check out how you like drinking a few beers." I'm always up for getting wasted as it also provides good pain relief and distraction.

[Jack Lexington]

The lumberjack seems pretty deep as he is speaking in riddles that I don't care to understand. His next words about finding a bar and getting drunk make sense to me though.
He asks me about which one we should go to so I reply. "Maybe The old Sundowner or Mary Kates? Which one do you like better?"
I favour the old sundowner because it's mostly workers, good whiskey and some random guy with a guitar or fiddle.
While my new acquaintance mulls this over I close my hands around the grips of the crutches that are now somewhat bent but still usuable. Out here on the uneven surface they are really hard to use, especially when roots come in my way. Weighing them in my hand I look up to see Ash play with his axe. "You might want to leave that somewhere. Weapons are forbidden in the bars as you know. They don't overlook those kind of things because of the high amount of bar fights recently." I inform him because I'm assuming a loner like wouldn't know about it.

With the sun drawing long shadows of the trees we hurry up to get going but I'm very slow while trying to protect my broken leg from hitting objects and avoid roots.
By the time we reach the last trees it's quite dark, which slows me down even more so I apologize. "I'm sorry, I'm so slow. You can go ahead and I'll catch up with you later."
This is an exercise of frustration for me...just like the past few days on the construction site. My good mood, that I gained in the forest is pretty much gone now.

[Jack Lexington]

Even from the street the sounds of people talking over each other and loud music could be heard. When some guys stepped outside to smoke in the cool air of the night the sounds got louder.
When we push the door open the warm mixture of sweat, beer and garlic bread greets us.
Instantly I feel at home when my new friend looks alienated. In here you can find everything. the escape from a wife at home, wind down after a hard days work, amusement, fights and most of all drinks.

Ash doesn't look out of place within the crowd mostly made up by lumberjacks and workers in town.
Only a few women find their way into the old Sundowner and there's a reason for it. It's a rough, loud place.

In the corner on a small stage I spot two old guys, who've been playing the fiddle and singing in here forever. A smile plays on my lips when I hear them play a familiar tune.
Humming along I approach the bar and sit on an empty bar stool because it's the most comfortable for me right now.
"Two beers." I order right away not bothering to ask what Ash wants.
Then I varefully lean the crutches against the bar and turn to put my elbows on the bar and take a look at the crowd. there are some familiar faces but no friends.

"The have delicious sandwiches and stew here. Are you hungry? I eat here at least once a week."

[Jack Lexington]

When the chatter, smoke and smell of the bar engulfs us I feel right at home while Ash looks fairly stiff and out of place. It's not his attire though but the way he stands and walks and investigates the place. I can tell right away he's uncomfortable even though he later claims that the pub is nice. His body language tells me differently.
"Do you want to grab a table on the side?" I wonder whether he'd rather watch from the side lines than being submerged in the bar life.

Our beers are placed in two nice large stines in front of us. There's a nice white crown on top, which I instantly dunk my lips into after clinking bottoms with his glass. There's no need to waste time when you have a fresh cold one in front of you. The first gulp soothes my sore throat and reminds me why I love coming here.
I wipe the frost from my lips and watch whether he'll do the same with a slight smile. It looks like Ash really isn't big on beer, bars or anything that goes on here.

When the bearded, tattoed old barkeeper passes us I holler over the noise. "Two stews for us and some garlic bread, please."
Old grumpy just nods and keeps on walking without a word.
Shifting on the barstool I turn to see the two man band. Most people are too drunk to actually listen to them play but I enjoy their tunes. "Do you like country music?" I start the conversation again but get interrupted by one of my coworkers bumping into me. "Tyler. Even on the weekend, eh?"
I just nod and drink more beer. "Yeah, man. Gotta drown all the sorrow you guys are giving me at work."
He laughs a little too loud and replies. "You make your troubles yourself. Right?" He asks my new companion as if he could know anything about that.

[Jack Lexington]

My coworker seems a bit taken back by the fact that Ash reaches out his hand for a shake but takes it nonetheless. "I'm Tom." Then my least favourite coworker nods at me again and says. "Your friend's got manners."
I shrug and nod. If only he would keep on walking and leave us alone.
Instead he steps even closer, uncomfortable close if you ask me, and lowers his voice. "Sorry bout the other day. I just figured I should be the next foreman, right? I mean you can't do the job anymore so the next best worker should lead the men. Somebody who knows what he's doing."
Instantly I feel anger rising inside of me. Not only does this prick try to justify why he wants to snatch me job from me but alos imply that either me or Garth, my friend, don't knwo what we're doing.
"Are you trying to say that I don't know what I'm doing?" My eyes narrow as I straighten and our chests touch.
He takes a moment and then answers. "Don't get your knickers in a knot, pretty. Just face it. You can't be a foreman with that limp leg."
I turly have to hold all my emotions inside and ball my fists in order not to explode.
As long as I can still manage I press through gritted teeth. "Why don't you keep walking...NOW."
I push myself away from the counter, grab my beer bottle and the the crutches, which is a bit difficult and hobble away to the corner table leaving Ash to do whatever he wants to do.
This probably made him even more uncomfortable but I couldn't help it.

Fuming I make my way across and off course the only girl in the room bumps into me and makes my bottle fall to the floor where it bursts into a thousand tiny, sparkly pieces in a foaming lake of brown ale.
"Damnit!" I curse. Not because my beer is gone but because Tom's point has just been proofen.

Breathing like an angry steam train I keep on limping to the table while the confused dark curly haired girl tries to apologize.
"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't see you." She starts by I ignore her.
Only when I sit I cast a glance back to see whether Ash is coming. The girl looks at me, then him helplessly.
"I'll buy your friend a new drink." She offers to Ash.

[Jack Lexington]

Upset I sit at the table and watch Ashs interaction with the girl, who bumped into me. Can't she see that a cripple like me can't evade her fast stride that easily just like I couldn't evade the falling tree? Back then in the forest I wasn't so outraged though. It was really not the young womans fault but Toms who simply enjoyed janking my chain and I let him. What a fool I am.

Before I can tell her that it's okay Ash hurries off to the bar and leaves her standing there but she's a little too uncomfortable to approach me again so I simply leave her be.

My new friend comes back with two bottles and hands me one while one of the waitresses starts cleaning up the mess I created so I loudly tell her. "Sorry, Camille."
She only shrugs and offers a half hearted smile while she's pikcing up the sharped edged pieces of broken glass.

For a moment I turn the cold bottle of beer in my hands before I thank him. When I look up at the guy his eyes are fixed on the brunette, who comes over to our table as if I asked her to.
"Listen, I didn't mean to bump into you. I should have looked since you.." She motions for the damn crutches to embarass me some more. At least that's how I take it and blush. "Okay." I just say and drink a long swig. "Ash bought me a new beer. Don't worry about it."

Obviously she can tell that my answer is half hearted as she looks at Ash and asks him. "Is he always this grumpy?"

Then she simply sits down and gives a nod to a group of men at the dart board who have been waiting for her and now turn their attention back to the game.

With a smile she states. "I'll buy the next one then."

I can see how her green eyes are studying my companions features. Obviously he's the point of interest.

[Jack Lexington]

It looks like Ash has taken notice of the girls looks as well. There was something about this woman that was intreaguing but also a little scary. Silently I wonder whether Ash noticed it, too.
So when she's gone and he states that she seems nice I simply reply. "Pretty but dangerous." Usually I have a good judgement of people although the last girl I was interested in turned out to be not really what I thought she was because she had pretended to care so much and when I got hurt dropped me like a hot potato and never showed her face again.
When she comes back she really holds three beers and I take it without big thanks because I hope she'll keep walking but instead she stays right where she is in her pretty tight outfit with her dangling locks and waits until Ash is weak enough to invite her. That doesn't take long at all.

With a bit of a weird smirk I finish my second beer and finally tell her. "Thanks. You didn't have to. I wasn't really angry at you."
Of course I don't tell her about my hurt pride.

At the bar I spot Tom, who is now looking my way with a hint of envy since the only woman here sits with us. I can't help but look at him pursing my lips as if to mock him.

The brunette now extends her hand to Ash. "I'm Nica." When he takes her hands she holds on a little longer and turns his hand over looking at his callouses. "Lumberjack?" She asks with a smirk.
"Like everyone else here."

I object to that. "Nope, I'm not a lumberjack."
Her emerald eyes are suddenly on me and I feel that intimidation again. "No? What do you do then?"
"Construction." Is my brief expalanation when our food arrives. Hot steams travels to my nose and makes my mouth water. I can practically already taste the tomatoes, potatoes and meat in my mouth.
Pulling my plate towards me I reach for a spoon and start blowing while my stomach starts rumbling.

"Ah, the best stew in town." She comments looking at my comapnion again. "What's your name, lumberjack?"

[Jack Lexington]

With a piece of meat between my teeth I watch her reaction when she leans her head on her hand and shrugs. "I'm watching you two eat."
So she didn't want to tell us. Not many people can afford not working or have a job that's so aweful that they can't say what it is. Pushing the piece of meat around in my mouth with my tongue I cast a meaningful glance 'dangerous' at Ash who seems taken by her judging by the gleam in his eye.

I wash the meat down with some beer when a burp escapes me. Usually this behavior is normal around here but right now I actually apologize. "Scuse me."

Now that a girl is present Ash seems more in his element than before. His shoulders are not as tense and he's smiling occassionally. I guess I'm the only one on edge now so I decide that it's time to relax. After all that's what I wanted to do today.
"Time for another one."
I lift the beer on the table and finish it. After three beer I'm well on my way to a happy drunk state. A tingling sensation in the back of my neck gives away the arrival of the alcohol in my system.
"There's no better cure for sorrow and pain." I smirk at the beer.

Nica mirrors my action and asks. "What's your big sorrow and pain?" I can't help but notice the sarcasm in her voice.
"What makes you think I have any?" I shot back before she directs the same question at Ash.
"What about you? Sorrow and pain? You seem a little uncomfortable."
Obviously she can read people well, which is unusual.

OOC: Please include a little more for me to work with. Thank you!

[Jack Lexington]

I'm not looking at him but I'm certainly listening with interest whether he'll open up to her like he did to me in the forest. Ash certainly had a lot on his plate, which makes me wonder if he spills it to anybody or whether he specifially trusted me.

The lumberjack throws the pretty brunette a bone about his pains but keeps it rather random. When he talks about his aching bones he makes me laugh out loud in a rather sour way. The guy just made a tree fall on a guy with a broken leg. "What do you know about aching bones?" I state grinning a little sour sweet.

He just keeps going on about sorrow that every has , which seems rather talkative for this loner, and surely catches Nicas interest, who has now fully turned towards him and is completely disregarding me.
Again she evades a real reply but I can tell that there's something going on behind that pretty mask of hers as she is briefly averting her gaze and I'm no idiot when it comes to reading people.
Quickly she tries to draw our attention back to Ashs loneliness, who tells her that he almost killed me with a tree, which makes her laugh.
Insulted again by her joy about my pain I lean my elbow on the table with a sour expression. "So funny, huh?"
Nudging me she shakes her head. "No, not really. Just the fact that you two are bonding over almost killing each other." I guess she's right. That is somewhat strange.

She becomes more serious and faces me for a change. "Is that why your limping?"
Like she did I now look into her eyes, which draw me in instantly. It's hard for me not to stare at them because I find them beautiful. Reminding myself that she's not only dangerous in my opinion but also full of sarcasm I tell her. "No. That's from a fight."

I watch as her brow creases. "You know that's forbidden."
She's the first woman to care about that so I shrug.
"Yeah, but who cares."

Swallowing hard she looks back at Ash. "So you two fought? I don't like guys who fight. They're trouble." Her tone always becomes slightly softer when she speaks to him.



OOC: That's not what I meant at all...I love all your posts. What I meant is that it would be nice if you included more of your own action at the point where mine stops so I can feed off that for my characters reaction- like you did this time. Sorry, no criticism intended!

Oh and Nica is actually one of my characters, who I haven't played in ages because I suck at playing girls so I'm happy if you include her in your posts.

[Jack Lexington]

Nica tells me not only that she's one who plays by the rules but also that she dislikes fighters, while I appreciate a good fight. I've done it ever since I was in school and usually, except for the time when I was sick, came out on top. Not like the last time when my fight against the wood chopping giant resulted in bad embarassment and broken bones for me. Somehow her dislikes doen't faze me much though. I guess she's simply not my type or maybe my last girl experience has thrown me off.

Ash on the contrary seems interested in her and the feeling is mutual. He's even trying to get more information out of her. Maybe the beer has loosened up his tongue.

While I rub my neck and turn my attention away from them she tiptoes around his question once again.
"Usually I just play darts when I'm in town." Where she actually lives she leaves open but she offers a bit more information.
"I come here ever few weeks and then I actually like bumping into strangers, who hopefully will soon become friends." She says with a wink and takes another sip from her bottle of beer.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed me not watching them any longer, which she doesn't mind.
"Would you like to play a game of darts when your done?"

I watch while I'm half listening to their conversation as the old guys take the stage again and pick up their wooden instruments. After exchanging a few words they start playing a quick tune on the fiddle and harmonica, which puts a smile on my face. A few people actually start swaying their hips to the music.

OOC: Not at all, go ahead!