aurormondayâ:
His smirk widens at the mention of Cypress. Jack was far from an exceptionally observant person, but one would have to be blind not to see something had clearly transpired between HQ and the squadâs resident ghost whisperer in the last couple months. Heâs happy that they found each other, and even though HQâs and Aprilâs abilities werenât exactly the same, but shared a common trait, it gives him some hope for her too. That her path in life didnât have to necessarily follow the same one his mother took, but something much more happier in the form of HQâs.Â
âI usually do too, but Rory has been weirdly pretty kind with the ones theyâve given me lately,â he replies as he takes a second to look down at his new body. It was pretty hard to beat âBobby Thursdayâ, the reporter he played with Marleigh back in Oklahoma, but this âSam Fridayâ character Rory had manufactured for him was a pretty close second to the best concealments heâd had.Â
When HQ leaves to briefly change into his own concealment, Jack stays behind to get a better lay of the land. The Piggly Wiggly looked about the same as every other low budget supermarket heâd ever seen. The storeâs windows were plastered with signs displaying that weekâs steals and deals, and the motorized pony that sat out front, promising children a ride for the price of a dime, had a cardboard sign on it that looked about two weeks old, informing those nearby it was out of order.Â
When HQ does return, sporting a new body that vibe wise seemed so drastically different than his own, Jack canât help but let out another small laugh. âSo I guess Iâm still the brawn of this duo then,â he teases, âdonât worry, if any mean teenagers show up to steal your lunch money, Iâll kick their asses for you.âÂ
Going by the whole alien thing HQ had started out with, and his new look in general, Jack quickly assumes that between the two of them, Sam Friday was probably the skeptic. Which sure, he could definitely do. If he had to guess from the case file alone, these hauntings seemed more human caused than actual poltergeist derived, but he figured that was the whole point of this investigation anyway. To see just where the truth lied despite the fiction.Â
âWell, boss, how do you want to play this?â he asks. âYou wanna find that manager, or just see who we run into first?âÂ
Concealments were strange, and Hades always felt strange wearing them. That hadnât been a class he actually excelled in in the Academy, but Rory was a master at their work, and it all seemed to come together well in the end after many years of practice at the art. It always felt like someone elses skin, like he didnât have the same walls and same defenses, like he couldnât wear the clothes that he used sometimes like armor. It had taken Hades a long time to become really comfortable in his own body, to find just the right way to do things so that he could please himself and escape the uncomfortable edge that had so often lingered underneath his skin, digging in to his bones and telling him that he was wrong. There was nothing about this shape in particular that should make him feel strange, or wrong, or less than himself. But its the general sensation of a difference that unsettles something in him. Still, he smiles at Jack, and its a bright and wonderful thing. Their faces donât matter, only that its them. Heâs still Hades and Jack is still Jack, and theyâre going to work this case together and see it through to the end.Â
He rolls his eyes slightly, but feels a rush of warmth. Jack beating up his bullies for him would be a sight to behold. âIâm rather scrappy, Iâll have you know. Hector Hawking bends for no man. Not when his lunch money is at stake.â A silly joke, to pass the time as he considers where to go from here, glancing up at the convenience store and thinking about it.
In all truth, he didnât think it was aliens. He didnât even think it was ghosts. His famed instincts didnât tingle when he considered either of those options. The strange goings on inside the store could be explained in a hundred different ways, but Hades would put money on the idea that it was some kind of prank, people fooling around or trying to make a show of things. People did love a ghost story, people did love to bring attention to places that should go forgotten.
And Hades is almost surprised at the question, when Jack asks it. Heâs never been one to put too much thought into who was the lead and who was assisting, isnât the kind of person who needs to be listened to or give all the directions. Heâs always thought that half the people assisting him were probably more qualified to lead themselves, probably more competent at their jobs than he would ever be. But Hades was good at the fluff cases, and this kind of seemed like a fluff case.Â
He shrugs a shoulder, bright and cheery. âIâm in a winging it kind of mood. Letâs just see whoâs home, and go from there.â He says, as he starts toward the shop, grabbing the door and pulling it open. He holds it for Jack to go through first, a natural thing to do. And then he follows inside, glancing around the store as he enters to get a better look at it.Â















