Jarek
The sun was shining, birds were singing, it was a wonderful day to be Jarek. And he knew it. Jarek flashed a smile for anyone that glanced his way, and only a few IronCross residents responded in kind. Most ignored him, and the rest silently glared at him as he made his way down the street. Jarek noticed a trend. The more worn a store owner was, the less open they were to him. But it was all the same to Jarek. He’d been making this weekly trip for a couple of months now. Every week, he would come over to Mel’s mother’s house, try his hand at love, fail miserably, then pop back to the training grounds with Mel. But today, the magewarden was really feeling himself. He knew for a fact that his words would pierce Elisa’s cold but enamoring exterior.
Jarek marched along until he finally reached Mel’s home. Right outside of this boring single-story house, was a siren’s call. Normally, those would only be found at sea, but Jarek’s luck must be working overtime. The siren wore a flowing purple dress, with delicate lacing in the front. The material seemed light, and the sleeves were short to accommodate the sun’s heat. He made his way to the Siren and called out to her with his best, most charming smile. “Ms. Elisa, looking as wonderful as the sun is bright.” Elisa rolled her eyes. Jarek never learned from any of their past encounters. “How is Lady Drina treating you? Any more… agreeable this week?”
“No. lady Drina,” she said putting emphasis on lady, for Drina was neither a lady nor was Elisa a Miss. It was Jarek’s attempt at flattery, and more often than not, it annoyed her. “Has not been agreeable this week. I came out to relax for a moment, but I see that I won’t be getting any peace or quiet yet.” This was their song and dance, or that’s what Jarek thought at least. To any absent-minded observer, they would think it was pestering, and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong. “Peace? Quiet? Fresh out, I’m afraid.” Jarek brushed some imaginary dirt from his shirt. “How about charm and and grace?”
She tilted her head and looked at him. Jarek wore a gray shirt and fitted leather trousers. “Is someone else coming then?” Jarek held his hand over his heart, hurt beyond words from Elisa’s remark. “It would at least bring balance to your company.”
Jarek smiled, not missing a beat. He was nothing if not quick on his feet. “Of course. That’s why you’re here, you bring the charm, the grace, and I’ll bring… everything else” Okay, maybe Jarek wasn’t as quick on his feet as he would have liked to been. “Yes, everything else. Like your poor attempts at flattery, and mule stubbornness”
“See, exactly. It’s a perfect match. Couldn’t have said it better myself, and believe me, I tried.” At this very crucial point in the conversation, Elisa made a mistake. She let a hint of a smile out. What a foolish mistake. Jarek’s eyes lit up. He leaned in closer, and lowered his voice a bit, teasing, “A smile. A full blown smile. I knew today was my day”
“Don’t delude yourself. That wasn’t because of you. I just saw a pig being slaughtered over at the shop behind you, and it was a pleasant reprieve from this conversation.”
Jarek smirked. “Nope. Nope. Nope. I know what I saw and I saw what I know. Only a few more weeks, and you might even laugh at my elegantly crafted humor. “ She wouldn’t even humor him with a response. She turned her head to the side. “Didn’t you come here for a reason? Or have you just been pretending the last few months?”
“Right. Right. That. Of course, I would never forgot my best friend.” Anyone that was within a few feet of Jarek was his best friend, for better or usually for worse. Jarek cleared his throat. He knocked on the door. “Mel, I’ve got orders to get you, dead or alive. You’d probably be better company dead, but hey, I’m open to being proven wrong.” Elisa snorted at his poor joke, and immediate covered her face. “See, I told you, before you know it, you might even smile at me.” It wasn’t even a snort, it was something more akin to letting a puff of air out. Before she could respond, the door finally opened.