False Securities [Jack/Clayton]

[Sian]

[[ Hair Reference: i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l519/AzuraLa/Sian/joss_stone_41-1024.jpg

Outfit: www.polyvore.com/sian/set?id=38812733 ]]

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Riding the rodeo
Up and down we go
Where we'll end up
I just don't know

[October 21st, 2522 : Approximately 10:20pm]

Sian was finally home, she'd been gone nearly a month and it'd been a very long month. Her trip back was uneventful and quiet, it was a nice change compared to her time on Sihnon. It was a surprise, but she was excited that she was supposed to be talking to Jack this evening. They hadn't spoken since she left for Sihnon, despite having the urge to wave him a couple times. She had fought off that urge, especially on how their last meeting had gone, she was still embarrassed about that. On top of the excitement there was also nervousness and worry though.

She dropped her luggage close to the door, leaving on the bag that sat crossed on her shoulders, pausing to check herself in the large mirror that hung on the wall. The wind hadn't gone too crazy on her hair thankfully, she didn't bother to fix it. Sian had felt like taking the time of straightening her hair today, it was something she did on occasion but not very. Her hair was long and thick so it was not an easy or quick task. It always came out nice though, she couldn't decide if she liked that or when it was curly more. It was worth the time it took to do.

Grabbing a glass from one of her kitchen cabinets she filled it with some water, taking a drink then filling it again to the top. Sian was starved, the food on the transport wasn't very good so she hadn't eaten much, but she could wait. She carried the glass with her as she went into the sitting room, taking another sip as she approached a desk that had no chair.

The companion stood in front of her monitor, placing her glass next to it on the desk, her nerves had hit the surface. Would Jack even answer her call? His man that she'd left a message with didn't say or do anything that gave her any clue as to how her friend had been. Not that she really expected him to, Jack didn't seem the type to share his thoughts and such with just anyone that worked for him. She took a deep breath and did her best to put the worry aside.

While waiting for the system to connect she began to unwrap her wrist, it was still a little sore but she was tired of the bandage. She'd seen her tattoo artist while she was on Sihnon, needing an additional butterfly added to her collection. There were four now, they were all of perfect and beautiful detailing despite their sizes. Sian ran a finger over the new one, not realizing that her wave had been answered or how long ago.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

The month had been short, fast, and dangerous for Jack. The man was getting more and more stressed under the chokehold Minerva had on him. She was putting a lot of pressure on him to finish the job he'd been given about the crew that had so angered her, and to top it all off he had come to realize that he had accidentally placed the most important part of that job into the hands of Cadan, a man he had only just met and hired. When Sian had come into the pub and so pleasantly interrupted their conversation, Jack had pressed the wrong paper into Cadan's hand. He was easily distracted, and now had to deal with the fallout if Cadan could not complete said job.

Cypher stood by him, as usual, but some of his men were filtering out of the business. They had been drawn to Jack because he had a good heart and wouldn't punish them with threat of death like Minerva, and he wouldn't do some of the terrible things she did for money. Now that they were starting to realize that she was just using him as a puppet and that he was starting to buckle, they wanted to get out and away from the danger as soon as possible. Clients were becoming almost as sparse. His empire, small though it was, had started to fall around him and all he could do was watch it collapse.

Though he'd gotten the message about Sian and was looking forward to her call, a lot more than he probably should have, so great were his distractions that it had slipped his mind. When his monitor went off, he as laying on his back in bed, staring at the ceiling. A bottle dangled from one hand. Jack was not a man of vices, but every so often nowadays he was wont to have a few pulls of alcohol to steady his nerves. Rolling off the bed and onto his feet, he sighed and set the bottle down. Who could be...

His eyes widened and he went to his chair, sitting down and answering the wave. Sian. Of course. She was toying with a bandage around her wrist, but he couldn't quite see what she was doing. When she glanced up, he grinned and tried to look collected. "'Ello, beauty! How was yo' trip?" He wouldn't fool her. His eyes were ringed in dark circles from lack of sleep, his dark hair more disheveled than its normal windswept-look. Though he was wearing a white button-up, the sleeves were rolled to the elbows and the top few buttons were undone. His vest was open over his shirt and he was not wearing fingerless gloves at all, which was almost as odd as seeing him without his hat. If his hands were ever in the frame, she'd notice small tattoos or markings on the webbing between his thumb and forefinger on his right hand, but they were too small be made out.

[Sian]

Sian glanced at the screen, snapping back to the reality of things. Jack had indeed answered her call, she let off a sweet, authentic smile at that. He was grinning, that was a good sign. "Hello yourself,' she gave him a small wave with the same arm she'd been toying with before, along with her smile, 'Trip was alright, as far as trips go. Feel as though I've been gone forever. I've got your coat right here too!" She pat her bag with the last part of her comment.

She took a moment to take in the man who stood on the other side of her screen, her hazel eyes narrowing. Jack looked in bad shape, "Please tell me I just woke you up from sleep rather than you just haven't taken care of yourself while I've been gone. What have you been up to?" The first bit was just an out that she'd let him have, but she knew that it'd be false. He hadn't been sleeping, not much at least. Of course who was she to chastize, she hadn't been sleeping well her own self. Her makeup hid the truth of it all though.

"I distinctly remember telling you to take care of yourself Jack Briggs." She put her hands to her hips and shifted her stance as though she were scolding him, but she was just being playful.

Sian was still feeling worried and confused, but the conversation had started out okay. Maybe they would both just pretend it never happened and they could go back to their little charade of masks. Part of her was not happy with that possibility though she couldn't place the exact reason as to why.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

As she waved at him, Jack of course noticed the fresh tattoo. He wondered about it, but did not mention it for the moment. Her smile had distracted him from it for the time being. It surprised him, disarmed him, and he stuttered over a reply. "My...coat? My coat. Right! Thanks fo' that. I'll jus' have ta come get it from ya." He was a ruttin' criminal, a hard man. To be so easily charmed by a Companion's smile...amateurish.

When she mentioned the shape he was in, Jack let out a soft laugh and ran a hand through his hair self-consciously. "I-uh...I've jus' been havin' a rough time uvvit, luv. What with you bein' gone an' all..." he winked to show he was teasing her and shrugged with a big grin. "I've jus' been workin' m'self a bit too hard. You know 'ow it is." He hastily began buttoning up his vest, but left his shirt the way it was. "You look beautiful, as always. Only a woman like you could 'old herself together in such a tryin' time. I'm sorry fo' your loss, Sian." He said sincerely, knowing it was not enough.

He had seen the papers. Though Sihnon news rarely hit the back streets and alleys of Persephone, Jack had arranged to receive word of anything that happened there during the last month. He'd like to take a couple of swings at whoever had said those terrible things about Sian, but he would never mention that to her. Briggs respected her too much to bring it up. Those words had surely injured her.

While Jack was just as confused as to where their relationship would go from here, he was almost as adept as she at acting as if everything were normal. The man had a lot of practice at hiding his emotions. "I see ya got a new butterfly...nice." At that moment he seemed to realize his hands were bare, and his head was immediately on a swivel, almost frantic as he searched the vicinity for a pair of gloves. When he located a pair he stretched off-screen for a moment to grab them, tugging the right one on first as he came back into the frame. As if he wanted to hide the mark from her. "So when can I 'ave the pleasure of comin' ta visit you?" he asked, as if nothing had happened. "You know I found ya some clients. Well-worth the ridiculous amount o' coin ya gave me, too."

[Sian]

She was surprised by Jack's stumble of words, it was unlike him, usually he was suave and charming. However it made her smile even more-so, but she said nothing about it. He went on to comment that he'd just been working too hard as of late, but she'd never seen him in this poor of a condition. In Sian's eyes Jack shrugged it off, it worried her and it showed ever so slightly. Then again the two of them didn't usually talk too much about things other than business related topics.

Her face did flush lightly pink with a mix of blush and embarassment, "Thank you Jack, I appreciate that." She said it simply, avoiding the compliment he'd spoken, but her loss wasn't a something she wanted to talk about right now.

It seemed that her playing pretend was working, Jack was doing the same for the most part. The Companion held her hand over her wrist at the mention of the tattoos, "Oh..Uhm, thanks. It was about time for a new addition." She smiled nervously, trying to play off the awkwardness she felt. No one really knew the exact reasons for her little butterflies, not even Jack. Though he never asked either, if he did Sian wasn't sure if she'd tell him the truth. Maybe it was bit of an odd way to remember someone dear, but she didn't consider herself like other normal folk.

Sian watched as her partner moved around, seemingly looking for something, but it was as though he was in a rush. She left the questioning look on her face as he settled back in his chair. Her look changed however at the words he said next. "Well..that depends on how in a rush you are for this coat of yours.' The young woman grinned shyly, 'As it turns out alot of transport ships aren't the best place to have a good meal...and I'm a pretty decent cook.." Her words trailed off into more awkwardness but her grin stayed put and she avoided commenting on the clients.

[Clayton Diers]

Clayton entered the small house in augmented silence. He could hear the companion talking and thought it was odd that any companion would sound so, eh, unstable? Unstable was a tad harsh, lets call it awkward. He did manage to find a reason to smile on this less than graceful job back to the incredulous planet Persephone, right there on the wave. The man she was speaking with was Jack, Jack Briggs. Clayton made sure to 'ID' the girl's face before he made his move.

It was her, no doubt about it. Diers could see the outline of that unforgettable hair and the skin color was a spot on match. He hadn't heard her voice before, but she was on the job, and her pitch and tones would probably conform to the customer anyway. But Jack Briggs, now this was a treat. He decided to have some fun, and stepped in behind her, just so he would be in the background of her screen as a shadow.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

They were back to playing games, and Jack felt a little disappointed. Perhaps it was better that way. He did not belong in her world, and she certainly did not belong in his. The blush on her cheeks did surprise him, though. Uncommon trait among Companions, to show embarrassment. It caused his lips to curve into a grin, flashing his teeth. "O' course, luv."

Jack did not ask about the tattoo, and was grateful she did not ask about his. People had different ways of dealing with grief. Perhaps the rush of adrenaline that came with getting a tattoo was her way. Her last words made him smirk and he leaned back in his chair, a shadow of his usual cocky attitude showing itself as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, Lady Sian. That's too good an offer ta pass up. I 'ope you're a good cook...I bring a pretty big appetite."

The offer to make him dinner shocked the hell out of him, but he hid it well in his demeanor. This was certainly not the way it seemed; one could never take a Companion's actions at face value...right? Jack pushed this question away to deal with later. His mixed emotions regarding Sian were too much to add to his already full plate.

That was when the shadow moved into the background, a man Jack had hoped not to ever see again. Clayton grinned at him from over the body of their mark, shoving the gun he had just used to murder a man back into its holster. Jack gripped the doorframe. Clay, what're you ruttin' doing? We was jus' s'posed ta take the payment from 'im an' bring it back- "Shut up, Briggsy. It's time we take this little game to the next level." "By what, by killin' some guy never did a ruttin' thing ta us?!" Clayton straightened up, eyebrows raised. "By taking what should be ours and setting the world on fire." Jack's lips parted in a slight gasp and he gripped the edges of the desk, lifting off of his chair to lean forward towards the monitor. "Sian, look out-" There was nothing he could do to stop what happened next.

[Clayton Diers]

Clayton had Jacks attention, good. Jack recognized him, even better. He lunged out at the mark, 'Sian,' and scooped her up in his left arm. Laughing a bit as she flailed, he smiled in a good nature that he knew unnerved Jack and teased, "Woah there missy, Woah now. Ha Haa," He laughed almost compleatly in genuine as she lashed out at him, swinging back behind herself, and twisting back and forth. Her squeezed her tighter in his arm, and hefted her a bit, giving her less grounds to work her feet, then he looked on Jack in good nature and smiled with half his lip.

"Calm down there pretty girl, relax now," he cooed into here ear, but openly and while looking at jack, "Were gonna take it nice and slow." With that, his smile faded to a distasteful grin, and he spoke directly to Jack, with his pistol in his free hand, aiming it at the screen-camera, "Bet you wish you'd have met that price now, huh jack, ya ready to take this thing to the next level yet?" Clayton accented his questions end with a quartet of silenced bullets into the wave. Then he put the silencer under Sian's thin neck and started with, "Ohhh, calm down missy," after that he switched his arm around and then spoke again into her hair as he took a handful, "Calm down, ya know sweetheart, talking to guys like that is..." During the next four words, Clayton swung Sian's body by her hair around and into her china cabinet only a few feet away, "...Bad Fer Yer Health!"

She smashed into it in a wonderful display of breaking glass and blood! He reached his hand into his pocket and retrieved a handheld wave, and placed a send to his buyer. She answered and he informed her that he had retrieved the girl and that he'd be leaving the world soon, headed for Santo for the exchange.

[Sian]

[[OOC: Sorry for the uber length]]

Sian watched Jack carefully as he leaned back after her very out of character question. She felt releived that he'd agreed and she smiled happily. The offer to cook dinner for this man was very much unplanned, but she felt no resistance when the words left her mouth. Perhaps the companion in her was just too tired and hungry right now to give care; or perhaps she was just tired of fighting with herself. It was something she couldn't explain. In that moment though she did realize that a trip to a store of some sort would have to be made while Jack made his way. It had slipped her mind in the words of her question, she'd been gone a near month, she had no good food to cook with.

She played it off however, there was no need for him to worry about that. Surely one of the places she usually shopped were open, or would open for her. "Anything in particular you've got an aching for Jack?" Sian asked him playfully, with a wink and still with her smile. Since she had to go out for things anyway, might as well see what the man wants.

While pondering that thought she noticed Jack had changed his attentions, very slightly. Her head tilted just a bit to the side, he seemed to be thinking? Then all at once Jack was up in arms and suddenly there were arms around her and not kind ones. The terror of this situation sank into the Companion as her face went pale.


This man, whoever he was, had a good hold on Sian. She was paniced, scared; flailing, twisting, and screaming in his arms. Her despiration to get away was rising. When the man pulled her farther above the ground she was able to do even less, he didn't even seem to notice the attempts she made at striking him.

She heard his words as he spoke with intention into her ear, her blood ran cold and she went silent. Sian looked up towards the screen, her hair like a sheer messy curtain in front of her face. The look on her usually peaceful and in control face was now raw, full of fear; it was almost as though she was pleading for help like Jack had been standing right there. The Companion felt his movement, his arm raising, then Jack's face was gone. His image was burned into her head though, the look on Jack's face..she'd screamed 'no!' as the screen had gone black. He'd shot out her monitor, unknown to either of them though the transmission hadn't been lost. She didn't even realize he had spoken to Briggs like he knew him, more pressing matters were on her mind.

The silencer barrel was still hot when it was pressed against her neck, it burned, making her gasp. She felt her eyes tearing up and then the tears let go. She was alone, there was no help for her here and she was no match for this man. No way Jack would make it to her house in time for anything, despite wishful hopes. "Rung Tse Song Di Ching Dai Wuo Tzo..." She spoke in a whisper of tears in crystal chinese words. The language was something very rarely used by the Companion but she knew it well. The man told her to calm down then, she felt his hands wrap into her hair. Calm down? He really thought that would work?

Sian's next moments were a blur, in her shock she screamed, then there was pain, loud noises, glass breaking, and more pain...her world faded to black.

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Rung Tse Song Di Ching Dai Wuo Tzo - Merciful god, please take me away

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack watched in horror as Clayton grabbed Sian. This was not happening. He was distanced from it; it was like a nightmare playing out on the screen. She was trying to fight back, but Clayton was wiry-strong and he had no problem controlling her. He was amused, even. Having fun. No doubt reveling in the fact that Jack had to watch everything. Then, Clayton looked at Jack.

As he whispered to Sian, staring right at him, Jack glared right back. He could feel Sian's eyes burning into him, as if pleading for his help. There was no trace of the good-natured, bumbling man Jack usually portrayed on his face now. His features were hard and furious, his eyes bright with pure hatred. "You're gonna regret ever layin' a hand on 'er, Clayton." His voice was deceptively level, a dangerous undercurrent fueling his words with dark fire. Diers did not seem concerned, addressing him by name and shooting out the monitor.

Jack sat and stared at the screen, now snowy from loss of video. His bare fingertips reached out to gently touch the glass, his face a mask of shock now that he had nothing to aim his aggression towards. Then, a voice. Jack had missed most of what it had said, having only just registered it, but he certainly heard the last. Then the shattering of glass and a scream. Her scream. Jack had to go to her, had to help her...he'd never get there in time. Then, Clayton's voice again. Santo. That's where he had to go. He had to find her.

With a sudden and unconscious violence, Jack swiped an arm across his desk. Everything clattered to the floor as he roared out in anger. The communicator was left on. Cypher rushed into the room. "Jack, what-?" He saw the communicator was still on and quickly switched it off. Briggs was arming himself, shaking with anger as he holstered pistols and strapped knives to his body. "Get me the closest ships. I need transport ta Santo. Wave whoever's closest, I don' care who it is." Cypher, not used to seeing Jack lose his temper, rushed to do as he bid.

When he came back into the room, Jack was sitting at his desk and staring at a blank screen. Slouched in his chair, his arms limp on the armrests, Briggs glared up at Cypher. His eyes still steely with the thirst for vengeance. "What'd ya find?" Cypher sighed, his news bad. "Lot of your men aren't up to the task, Jack...But the Lenore is close." Jack shrugged. "Wave 'em. I aint above grovelin' a bit." His hands tightened with white-knuckled intensity on the armrests. "I'm gettin' to Santo one way or 'nother."

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Before contacting Grimm, Jack still felt the need to go to Sian's home. One of his men took him there on the mule. He watched the dark streets whiz by as they progressed into the nicer part of town. As they neared the place she lived, Jack suddenly realized the air around him seemed...brighter. He glanced up, heart in his throat, and saw an orange haze dusting the rooftops. "Somethin's on fire..." he said matter-of-factly, glancing at the driver. As if hoping she held the answers. The stoic woman just shrugged, a bleak look on her face.

When Sian's home came into view, Jack leaped from the mule before it had even stopped moving. A few onlookers had gathered, but no one had tried to contain the blaze. It was too fast, too furious. It had consumed most of her small home, which had always been surprisingly humble for a Companion, and it was obviously beyond saving. Jack shoved past a few people. Some protested angrily at his touch, others realized who he was and what the fire must mean, and so immediately moved along. Most normal people did not like to linger at the scene of a crime.

Stepping a lot closer to the house than was probably safe, feeling the heat roil off of it in waves, Jack rushed to a small form he saw by the door. He grasped his hand around the strap of the bag and took off for safety just as he heard part of the structure compromise and collapse in a shower of sparks nearby.

He pushed by whoever was left, cursing at anyone who took too long to get out of his way, and leaped back into the mule. His driver started it moving as soon as he was in, and he collapsed back into his seat as they left the smoldering ruins.

Jack's breath came in shallow, shocked little bursts and he coughed a couple of times from the smoke he'd inhaled near the door. But in his hands was the only clue he had. "A' least I know she made it out," he mumbled. His driver patted his shoulder awkwardly as he opened Sian's bag.

Identification, Guild registration. He shuffled through these without looking at them very intently, for they didn't help him at the moment. A copy of the ugly article he'd already seen about Sian getting some of her client's money. The obituary of Adam, the client she had lost. Some more paperwork caught his attention and he opened it. A letter from someone, and he scanned it just enough to realize it was not very helpful either, though it was from Adam. He was not one to pry. The next was some sort of legal document, and when he realized it was a will he scanned it as well. After all, the kidnapping could very well have had something to do with all the animosity surrounding Adam's will.

His motions stilled as he realized that yes this was Adam's will, but at the bottom his name was on it. Jack Briggs. He was to receive the money if something were to happen to Sian. This information was too much, and he almost angrily folded it away. Nothing was going to happen. He would find her. She would be okay. The fact that his name was on it he'd push aside and deal with later.

A notebook that he flipped through contained what appeared to be songs or poems and some idle writings. He opened it to the back, but again there were no clues. Cursing, he reached into the bag once more. Makeup, jewelry, odds and ends. Folded at the bottom was his jacket. He pulled it out and then put everything back into the bag. As he put the jacket on, he caught the scent of cinnamon. Sian. Putting his head in his hand, he sighed and waited for them to arrive back at his place.