"So you humans keep animals as pets?" Maria questioned with disbelief.

The morning came and Jack slept like a rock thanks to his new bed.

It was what he needed as he nearly lost himself yesterday. And unlike the morning before, Jack woke up with no one eyeing him strangely. As a bonus, all his stuff wasn't stolen.

Up early at the crack of dawn and ready to seize the day. Now he stood in front of the stove with a spatula in hand and fresh pancakes. Maria was an early bird herself, so he had at least someone to talk to as he prepared everyone breakfast.

"Yeah, domestic cats too. You guys don't take any of the animals as pets?"

She shivered as a chill went up her spine. "Can you imagine if I had a pet cat? No, it'd be very awkward. The only ones who had pets like dogs were the apes."

"Yeah, that does sound weird. Though that makes me curious about the apes you keep mentioning. Are they like the leading superpower in this world?"

She sighed as she leaned back into her chair. "No, it's just that apes were ahead of everyone way back in history. They practically conquered the world at one point. Pretty scary to think about…"

Jack served her a generous stack of pancakes before he prepared some more for Stella as well as his.

Yesterday he discovered that his phone worked in this world despite having his SIM card from back home. How it works is beyond him.

But his number was registered here, that's all that mattered. He didn't have to bother Maria to buy him a new SIM. He feared that he'd need a new phone as well but he was quite lucky that his current one was suitable for this world.

Despite the lack of any humans, this place functioned the same as his. Everything was just ordinary. Everything but him…

He sighed as he flipped another pancake.

Back to the fact that he had a job appointment today. So that meant he'd need all the energy to go through it. There's a first for everything and today shall be his first job interview here.

"You know, if you need anyone to talk to, Cooper is a good listener."

Jack finished up on the stove and set the pancakes on the table. "Well if I'm not busy then maybe I can pay him a visit."

As he took a seat, Stella entered the room. He gave her a small wave but only received a cold glare from the teen. She didn't even give Maria a greeting and only went straight over to the table.

Jack remained silent, his eyes locked with his breakfast as he dared not to meet Stella's. It was already awkward enough that she did him wrong the first time they met. And as much as he wanted to be mad about it, he couldn't. Else Maria would feel distraught by it. Bad enough she felt responsible for her sister's choices, Jack would never put more pressure on the poor girl.

"So any plans today, sis?"

Stella looked away from her breakfast and arched a brow at Maria.

"Right, well I was planning to go into town and buy some groceries. Need anything, Jack?"

"How long is he even gonna live here and why is he here in the first place?"

Jack shrunk underneath Stella's glare.

She raised a finger at him, Jack thought Stella would hop onto the table when she stood up. "She's just using you, that's just how she is! One moment she is some angel helping you out, the next she's gone before you even know it!"

"Stella." The table shook as Maria rose to her feet. Jack could only cower in his seat as the sisters glared at each other.

They were locked in a mental battle as neither of them wanted to show weakness. Jack could see a hint of fangs from Stella. Her posture lowered as if she was about to pounce. Maria on the other hand simply stood her ground at full height. From Stella's point of view, it would look like Maria was looking down on her.

Jack was tempted to step in, but he knew better than to get between family. Especially ones with claws that could tear him apart.

But in the end, it was Stella who conceded. "Odio esta casa."

The two watched as the teen marched out of the room with her breakfast in hand. For a moment Jack wondered if she would ascend the stairs, instead, the front door opened and closed.

Maria sighed heavily as she collapsed back into her seat. It would seem that the small conflict she and her sister had drained her.

"You alright, Maria?" Jack showed concern. This earned him a small smile from the cat.

"Yeah, it's just that she's such a handful… I'm not sure if she even wants me around."

"Don't be like that, Stella is just… Never mind, I barely know her."

"It's alright, not like you owe us anything. Just wish that she would just behave like a normal kid would."

"You're just asking for a pet by then."

The table shook as Maria slammed her head against the table. Jack would've thought she collapsed but a very coherent mumble told him otherwise.

"Might as well, at least it would be docile enough for me to relax. Sorry, you had to see that, we usually don't fight early in the morning."

He shook his head at her. "Nothing to apologize for, if anything, it should be me who needs to say sorry. I don't think she likes me at all. Don't worry, I'll be out of your hair as soon as I get some cash."

Maria pushed herself away from the table with a concerned look. Jack was caught off guard by her action and nearly fell backward in his seat.

There was something in her eyes that bothered Jack, if only he could tell what it was.

She's worried about something, that's for sure. Maybe Stella was right, maybe Maria kept Jack around for her own selfish needs. It's already known to him that his car was something she desired, and he wanted to repay her kindness even if it is selfish. He had no one else to turn to but Maria and Cooper.

With a sigh, Jack pushed himself to his feet and moved over to Maria's side. "Come on, don't be like that. Not like we won't be friends when I get out of your house. I'll keep in touch for sure." He said as he patted her back.

"It isn't that… I…" She dared not to look him in the eyes, she instead stared at the floor shyly. "Right, well as long as you promise that you'll give me a ride, then sure, I'm cool with your idea."

"Is something wrong?" He couldn't help but ask. Jack's own curiosity grew.

Maria wanted to leave him unanswered, but Jack clasped his hand on her shoulder. She was trapped there with Jack, and he wanted to hear about her problems.

Gently he pushed her back into her seat before he returned to his. "Now tell me what's on your mind, Maria, I'm here for you."

"It's just that Stella is… I need help with Stella, I mean it. I've been stressed out with her and I'm honestly stumped on what to do." She turned to him with tears that threatened to fall. "That girl doesn't listen to a word I say, even now I'm just a bother to her. And I understand why she's like that, but I just wish that she'd move on."

She wiped her face with her sleeve. A soft sob escaped her but she hid behind her hands.

Jack felt pity for Maria. His lips flattened to a thin line as he pondered for a moment. No words could be made for Maria, not even a tiny bit of assurance.

He wanted to know more about her situation but she didn't want to answer.

"Maria, I'll stick around if you'd like."

"You don't have to do that, Jack, just promise me that you'd help me out as much as you can."

"No, I think it would be better if I stay. That way if I'm around, you could just ask me if you ever need my car."

A soft smile appeared on her. "Honestly, I'm glad I met you, Jack. You're a good guy, I hope you really do stick around."

"I owe you a lot, Maria, if you need anything then I'll be here for you."

They finished up their pancakes and Maria cleaned up. She offered to go with him to his job interview but Jack declined. He wanted to go at it alone and gain some experience with this world, as it is still new to him. It would be a great idea to get some familiarity with his surroundings. One without help.

Jack doesn't know how long he'd be in this place but it would be best if he could handle his own. He just couldn't rely on people all the time, better to be prepared for the world than never.

At first, Maria wanted to be against the idea, but in the end, she agreed with him.

With that aside, Jack focused on a very important task today.

The drive to the amusement park was uneventful. Throughout the journey, he practiced and prepared for the interview. He feared that his voice would crack at the wrong moment. Or worse, he might mess up the interview completely.

Jack chased the bad thoughts away, this was no time to be negative. If Maria was there with him she would probably smack his doubt out of him.

Though his palms were a bit sweaty, Jack felt confident that this day would go without a hitch.

Then he realized something stirred behind him, his foot slammed the brakes and whoever it was at the back fell onto the floor. Quickly he faced the unwanted passenger and felt his blood run cold. The colors drained from him and by then he resembled a ghost.

The reason was that the stowaway was a little pup, the same one he met yesterday, Cas.

She was so small that he didn't realize that she was in his car in the first place. Only when she tried to stand up on the seat did he notice her.

As soon as he discovered the girl, Jack slammed his digits against his phone in a hurry and contacted the only person that could help, Maria.

Soon enough she answered, her voice laced with great concern. "Jack, did something happen!?"

"Maria, can you go to those wolves and ask them why Cas is in my car!?"

There was a short silence before Maria comprehended the situation. "She's what?"

"Cas! She's in my car! Just there in the back and staring at me right now!" Cas yipped the moment she was mentioned again. "Can you go ask Val why she's in my car!?"

"Oh, hold on…"

He and the pup stared at each other, one clearly blind to the situation while the other was in a state of panic. It would be easy to tell who.

Seconds after, Maria returned. "So, an awkward thing we got here, but the good news is you won't get in trouble."

"Maria, how am I not going to get in trouble with this!?"

"Well better news is that Vel is going to pick up Cas, bad news is that you'll have to keep an eye on her until then."

"I have an appointment today, I can't be watching the kid!"

"Jack, relax, I'm sure Cas won't be that much of a problem. I mean, it is an amusement park you're going to, maybe you can ditch her somewhere safe and full of adult supervision."

He sighed as he slumped against his seat. "Great, stuck with this kid again… Alright, Maria, I'll see you later then."

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Great! Also, can you grab some popcorn on the way back? Kinda feel like having some today."

"Sure thing, Maria, bye." He shut his phone off and turned to his unwanted passenger. "So, guess you're on your way to Happy Town amusement Park with me."

As soon as he said the name of their destination, Cas went into a frenzy of barking and running. The pup ran about the car excitedly.

"Woah, guess I'm not the only one looking forward to this visit."

The two continued with Jack's journey, once again he wasn't alone for the ride. But this time it was unexpected.

Never did he believe that he'd meet Cas again, especially in this situation. Though she wasn't much for conversations, the little pup was at least adorable.

As he focused on the road, Cas would press her face against the windows and stare out into the open world. And much to his surprise, the kid turned on the radio and played some music. Despite being nothing but barks and yips, she sang cheerfully in her seat, and Jack honestly enjoyed it. His little drive on the highway won't be so silent after all.

Finally, the car stopped, and Jack reached his destination. Both he and Cas look upon the front entrance of Happy Town with awe.

He did not expect the place to be so massive. The name of this place was built on top of the entrance where it could be seen from miles away.

If that sign didn't catch your attention the rides will.

This amusement park had so many activities that you'd have to take two days to do them all. Jack would be surprised to see if there are more attractions just behind those gates.

And as expected, there were over a hundred families all eager to get inside and have the time of their lives.

Jack honestly wished that his reason to visit this place wasn't a job interview. To be a janitor of all things.

He checked himself to see if he was missing something. His clothes were casual yet professional. He'd want to give a good impression, also not to look desperate. He might require help but he still had his pride. Better to be properly dressed than to look like a homeless man.

The two walked up to one of many ticket booths, and lucky for Jack was that this booth had no line. Once there he cleared his throat and caught the attention of the staff.

"Jackie?"

"Cooper? What are you doing here!?" A smile found itself on Jack's face as he discovered Cooper in the booth.

"Dude, I work here. Hold on, let me close this place." Cooper placed a "closed" sign on the table and exited the booth so he could speak with Jack properly. "Oh, you didn't tell me you have a kid, Jack."

Jack glanced over to Cas who was holding his hand. "Oh, no, this is Cas. She snuck into my car and it's too late for me to head back."

"Oh, that's Cas… Is Val coming over to pick her up then?"

He chuckled a bit. "Yeah, hopefully soon, I still have an appointment here."

"Is that why you're here, to meet with Miss Glinda Smith?" He smiled a bit. "Who knew you'd show up when I'm on my shift, it's like some unknown force is carefully playing with our fates so we would meet again."

Jack gave Cooper a quizzical look. He simply nodded to Cooper's little thought. "So, is the manager busy? Still need to bring Cas back to Val."

"It's cool, man, I'll keep an eye on Cas if you'd like. Heck, my shift doesn't start until later. We can totally hit some rides with my employee pass."

"Really? That'd be great, Cooper. Guess I'll leave her in your care."

"Wait, hold on…" Cooper stopped Jack for another moment and fished out an I.D. "Take my spare, it has my number on it if you need anything. Also once you get inside, the main office is straight to the right, the same place where the gift shop is, you won't miss it."

"Thanks," Jack lowered himself down so he could level with Cas. "Listen, I'll be going for now but I'll be back for you. Hang out with uncle Cooper for now."

The young pup only barked excitedly.

He smiled at her enthusiasm, it was quite adorable, especially with a puppy.

Though he barely knew Cooper, he came to trust the owl as he seemed harmless. From what Maria told him, Cooper was always under some influence which rendered the owl unable to do wrong. She mentioned how without it he was somewhat violent, so the school they went to had decided to allow Cooper to bring his… medication to school. But sadly Jack found it hard to believe that Cooper would even harm a fly.

There were far more important things to focus on today.

As Jack entered the amusement park, he was greeted with a grand sight. It was like a small town filled with life. Happy children were all around, many of them laughed and smiled as they made memories with their families.

Rides and many more attractions were filled with joyful screams that could be heard as the biggest roller coaster dropped down from the highest point. This place even had dozens of restaurants, all with different themes for anyone who wanted either seafood or something fancy.

There were even goofy-looking mascots with oversized heads and silly costumes.

"Excuse me?"

Jack looked over to a family of sheep who had called for his attention. Two kids were in awe of Jack as if he was some mythical creature.

"Can we have a picture with you?"

He was confused for a moment, but Jack simply nodded. The family huddled around him and the father extended his selfie stick.

"Say cheese!"

All smiled and waited for the flash. For a moment Jack was blinded.

Once they had what they wanted, they gave Jack a single bill, a tip for humoring them. That was when it hit Jack, the family must've thought he was a mascot with how he looked. He'd need to decline if another family wanted a photo with him.

Jack would rather not steal the spotlight away from these hard-working mascots.

He made his way over to the main office. And just as Cooper said, it was located just next to the gift shop.

Quickly he rushed over to the building. As soon as he finished this interview the sooner he could get Cas home. Hopefully, Val would be there once Jack was done with his appointment.

At the door stood a mascot, a happy fox in overalls. As he approached the main office, the fox focused on him. Those lifeless eyes followed his every step. It honestly gave Jack chills down his spine.

He grew closer to his destination. And the stench of smoke greeted him. It was strong. And it would appear that it came from the mascot. The familiar scent of nicotine caught his attention.

It was far worse once he was just a step away from the mascot. The two stared at each other. A sense of fear for Jack, a mystery for this fox.

"I'm here to see Miss Smith, Glinda Smith?"

"Right." The fox answered. What surprised Jack was that it was a woman underneath the mask. "Come on, she's waiting for you."

She gestured for him to follow. Once inside, the fox pulled off the massive and goofy mask.

Jack didn't know what to expect, but honestly, it was a surprise to see that behind that costume was another fox. The difference was she didn't look as jolly as her costume. Nor was she bright and chubby. Quite the opposite really.

She looked scrawny and pale. Jack started to believe Maria that this place did suck out souls.

And with the costume open, the stench of cigarettes grew potent. So much that Jack gagged a little. He could practically taste it.

He tried not to stare as she pulled the rest of her costume off. And as expected she was thin. So much he would have believed that she barely ate. It wasn't that bad at least. She just looked like she needed to gain more weight.

With the costume gone she only wore a tank top and a pair of bike shorts. He could tell that the costume was practically an oven to her.

"I'm so damn glad you got here early, this costume was starting to feel like a damn oven."

"Y-yeah, I hope that I got here in time. I'm Jack by the way."

"Did I ask?" He was taken aback by her response. "Unless you're blind, just look for the door that has the manager's name." She then ignored him completely and walked over to a nearby table.

It would seem that the main office also served as a recreational room for the staff. It was fairly large and filled with all the needs to relax as well as things to keep anyone busy. There was a pool table and some arcade machines with switches instead of coin receivers. A small kitchen for obvious reasons.

Speaking of reasons…

Jack focused on his appointment and brushed the fox's rude behavior aside. Best to move on and be done with all of this. He was a little peeved off with the fox.

But what can he do?

He barely knew her.

Anyway, he finally reached Smith's office. The plaque on the wooden door confirmed who the owner was. He gave a short series of knocks before he heard someone.

Glinda called out to him and he entered the room shyly. As much as he should be confident with this, Jack felt overwhelmed by how the office was. Pillars made of stacks of paper littered about. The stench of ink was certainly strong. At the center of it all was an ape. She was busy with something, the pen in her hand glided over a piece of paper so quickly that Jack swore she was just pretending.

She stopped the moment Jack took a step in.

Glinda eyed him curiously, also laced with a dash of doubt. "Are you Mr. Kennedy?"

"Yes, I'm here for that janitor position."

Suddenly a bright smile appeared on Glinda's face. "My, I've heard that you should dress for the job you want, but never did I think I'd wear a costume to a place like this. For a job interview of all things."

"Costume? No, ma'am, I'm not wearing any. I was born this way."

"Oh dear, was I insensitive?"

He shook his head. "No ma'am, I get that a lot honestly and I'm already used to it."

"Thank goodness… Sorry that I came off a bit offensive."

"There's no issue here, I can take it." Glinda motioned for him to take a seat and he did so. Once he was comfortable, he handed her his résumé. "Best to keep my head above water rather than throw a fit. This is my life and all."

"Very optimistic of you, Mr. Kennedy." She moved aside some papers and cleared some space on her desk. "Well no point in stalling, let us begin. Now, this is an important question that I must ask everyone that wishes to work in Happy Town. Do you have any criminal background?"

"No, is that common to see here?"

"Very," She sighed. "We don't require much for most of the jobs here. So some people, mostly those who've just finished their time in prison, would always come to us in search of new beginnings. So I must ask before I continue with the interviews, we would rather not have anyone with a dangerous past become part of Happy Town."

"I understand, you don't have to worry about me."

"Well let us move on then. You have written very little on your résumé. Not even some experience or any talents?"

"Well, I don't have much to go by honestly. I've only ever done office work until now."

"I see." She hummed a cheery tune as she pondered something. Jack waited in silence, he wondered if he had ruined his chances, but that thought was pushed aside.

He had some hope. And it would seem that Jack even left a good impression on Glinda even if they had just met.

"Well Jack, I see no reason to deny you this job."

He cracked a smile upon hearing from Glinda.

"But-" She paused as she eyed him carefully.

It was at this moment that Jack noticed how similar the ape was to a human. Far more than anyone he had met over the couple of days he had first arrived. It would seem that he was just an odd-looking ape in this world.

"Jack, I do not wish to take advantage of you, but perhaps you could do something else." He listened intently once he realized he wasn't about to be booted out. "This may sound heartless of me but your appearance could be useful to Happy Town. If you don't mind, would you like to be hired as a mascot? I will offer higher pay than what you would get from a janitor's salary. And all you have to do is walk around the amusement park and interact with the guests."

She took a moment so that Jack could comprehend the offer. It would seem that her true colors were revealed to him. An opportunistic capitalist.

"Think about it, what you have wouldn't be a problem here, everyone won't judge you."

He remembered that moment when the family had asked for a picture with him. He didn't need to lift a finger yet he was paid for a simple task.

Jack didn't want to catch any attention. But the idea was so tempting. Besides, if he did become a janitor, he would still attract some attention. Honestly, if he was paid better than what he would get as a janitor, then perhaps it was a good idea to take the chance.

With a smile, he raised his hand towards Glinda. "You got yourself a deal, ma'am."

She shook their hands together, a similar smile on her face. "Please, call me Glinda. Come by tomorrow and we will have your costume ready."

"Oh, I'm still wearing a costume?"

"Of course, but not like what you're thinking. Maybe a suit would be perfect for you. Though I would still need your measurements." She pressed a button on her table and spoke to a microphone. "Miss Barwick, could you come into my office?"

Soon enough the door opened to reveal the fox Jack had met. A displeased look on her face as if she knew why Glinda wanted. "You called, boss?"

"Barwick, I'd like you to meet Jack Kennedy. He will be working alongside you from now on as the newest member of the town."

She sighed heavily and snatched Jack's wrist into her hand. "Fine, I'll take him to Peter's workshop. But I won't wear the damn costume."

"Well, you can take the rest of the day off if you'd like."

Barwick gave Glinda a short nod before she took off with Jack in tow.

He tried to tell her that she could let go, but his words fell on deaf ears. He felt a little embarrassed as she led him through the amusement park. Some looked his way curiously. A few staff members gave them a quick hello as Barwick walked by. Well, one thing that helped was that Barwick's first name was Beth, Bethany Barwick. The fox who looked like she was recently stranded on a deserted island.

Jack wasn't really one to judge other people's looks, especially now that he himself is the odd one out. But he believed that Beth needed some makeover or something. Sadly he couldn't speak his mind or else he'd risk having his wrist broken.

The stench of ash was there as well, but by now Jack was used to it. Sadly being behind the fox meant the wind would push the stench onto him.

The two arrived at what looked to be a clothes shop. There at the entrance was a monkey who greeted guests as they entered the building. She took notice of Jack and Beth and waved them over.

"Good morning!" She greeted them brightly, accompanied by a smile as well. "You must be Jack, I'm Lucy! I'm here to make sure that Peter finishes your measurements without a hitch!"

She was certainly a cheerful one, quite the opposite of Beth. Lucy was even curvy, unlike the fox. Jack shook his head clear as that was a thought he'd rather not have.

She seemed like a nice girl, her smile felt genuine. It looked to be that Lucy loved her job, whatever it was that she did.

"As the assistant manager, it is my duty to make sure that everything in Happy Town is in tip-top shape! Now, come inside, and let's finish our task."

Despite Lucy on the lead, Beth kept her hand around Jack's wrist. He tried to break free but Beth ignored him, or perhaps she didn't even notice. Her appearance was truly deceitful as she was stronger than she looked. Or that humans are far weaker than the weakest fox. Probably just him though.

Once further into the building, Jack was introduced to a very pretty peacock. He was Peter, Happy Town's most popular tailor. He had an accent that really annoyed Jack for some reason. He was a bit in a rush as there were other customers. Mostly children who wanted to buy costumes to fit into town. Yet Peter was professional with Jack and made sure every measurement was accurate.

Once they were done, Jack coincidently received a message from an unknown number who claimed to be Vel, Val's younger sister. She was there to pick up Cas so Jack gave Cooper a quick text and told him to meet up as soon as possible.

Cooper suggested that they should meet at a restaurant closest to the entrance to the park. Jack saw no issue with that idea as lunch was approaching soon.

Jack gave Lucy and Peter a short goodbye. Lucy was generous enough to offer Jack a map of the whole park. "I hope that we can work together. And don't be shy if you need anything and call me, humie!"

He had to double-take on that last part. But Lucy was already gone as soon as it registered to him.

For some reason without even a word, Beth decided to tag along with Jack. The fox simply followed Jack to the restaurant like a gloomy cloud. It looked like she wanted something but was too stubborn to ask for it.

What Jack didn't realize was that she had a change of clothes. She now wore something far more respectful than a tank top and some bike shorts. It seemed that the shop also sold to adults. Sadly her new clothes were just plain.

It wasn't long before he met with Cooper. But Cas was nowhere to be seen. "I met up with Vel early, she had other things to do so she took off with Cas." He explained. "Hey Beth, are you on break?"

"Coop," Was her simple answer. Short and quick.

Jack took notice of the usual attention he always received. Well, some things would never change. For now, he just needed to focus on one thing, and that was lunch. He hadn't realized that time went by so fast. With the sun high in the sky, families and others entered the restaurant for a good meal.

Luckily for them, Cooper had connections with the joint, so he scored everyone a table in a corner. Far from any guests.

The place was designed more like a diner, it was honestly large enough to accommodate dozens of families.

The booth was quite comfortable, though it was loud, their seat was close to the jukebox that played very familiar songs. He's just surprised to see one in this place.

"So Jack, how'd the interview go?"

"Not as I expected," He answered before he took a bite of his burger. "Got offered a better chance actually. Guess I'm a mascot now? Well, I'm just hoping that I won't have to wear a goofy costume."

"More like you're gonna tire yourself out, man. Being a mascot in this place is a lot of work. Right, Beth?" He received no answer from her. "Anyway, how long exactly do you plan to stay in Whispering Woods?"

Jack shrugged his shoulders. "Honestly, I don't know. Maybe until I can get a chance to go home…" Home, where all his money could actually be used. "In the meanwhile, I guess I'll have to make some friends."

He turned towards Beth and raised an open palm.

"Jack Kennedy, we haven't really introduced ourselves properly and we will be working together from now on."

She stared at his hand for a solid minute. A scowl moved her lips once she realized the situation. She turned to leave but Cooper watched her like a hawk. Jack noticed the two and their staring contest. Once again he was stuck in a silent fight, one he had actually and blindly started.

Beth sighed, and before Jack knew it, he was caught in a very painful trap. He swore that his bones turned to dust the moment she grasped his hand.

Lightly, she shook their hands together. "Bethany Barwick. Piece of advice, don't go near Lucy." She said vaguely.

"Is something wrong?" He was simply curious. It was strange to him that his seniors in this new job of his would part with even stranger advice.

Cooper rubbed the back of his neck shyly. "She's just… Well seeing as you're wearing a costume right now- Which is an awesome idea with a Happy Town interview, by the way, really smart of you Jackie- Lucy might think of you as someone she can relate to. I mean, not that you guys are wrong or anything."

"I'm not wearing a costume," Jack repeated those same words so naturally. By now it felt like it defined him as a person. Strangely enough, that was his priority instead of questioning further about Lucy.

His words earned him a heavy cough from Beth as she choked on her meal. Once she down her attempted murderer with a glass of water, she faced Jack with the same look everyone gave him these past few days. "You're not wearing one?"

"Woah, really man? That is actually cool." Said Cooper. "You don't look bothered at all."

"Especially when the boss is practically using you for your condition."

Jack shrugged his shoulders. "I mean, there's no point in complaining if I look different. Plus, she offered me better pay and I'd be stupid to decline."

Beth scowled. "Just don't let Lucy hear about this, she might go nuts by it."

"Also, what did you mean about Lucy?"

"And I want to go home now." Beth pushed herself up to her feet. "Coop, the boss gave me a day off so I'll be heading back now."

"Alright, see you tomorrow!"

With the two alone, Jack asked Cooper what he meant earlier. But somehow, he had forgotten what happened within the few minutes of their conversation. Seemed like he was also under influence, even if he was at work.

Still, Jack liked him the way he is. He was far approachable in this state, and Maria was right, Cooper was indeed a good listener.

The day went by quickly, Jack went to his current home, and he met with Maria who was back from the store.

She bought all the things he asked for, especially some meat. Strange that despite not having pets, the people of this world still kept livestock. A disturbing thought if he considered the herbivores of this planet. It would certainly be a dark image to see… meat that could be considered human. To the people of this universe, animals are merely a link in evolution. They did not have rights or any stance on everything.

The animals merely exist.

Curious, he asked her if there are zoos. He wasn't that surprised when she told him that there are.

Well, he should check it out next time. It had been so long since his last visit, and he was also interested to see and learn.

For now, dinner needed to be made, and disappointingly and embarrassingly on her part, Maria does not know how to cook. Jack had a lot of work to do.