Jack nodded and took the scope in hand. “Well… I guess this thing is better than getting eaten out there or running into something I know nothing about. I’m reluctant to say it, but thank you Snow. Really… when you found me, Harry, Becky and I were on hard times in a hard place. I really do appreciate what you’ve done. I’ll pack my things and get ready.” He spoke with a nod and a smile on his face.
The drunkenness was starting to wear off closer to the end of their small meeting, but his head still pounded. Before he left the table, he looked to the French woman now known as Briar Rose, and flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry to have offended you, we’re mates in the guild and now team members, and maybe we’ll get a chance to take down some big baddies together… It’d be nice.” Jack knew he could be an ass, but he really at heart wasn’t, he was only arrogant when it came to his schemes and plans, outside of his own work, he was really a sweet person until the whiskey hit him.
“Oh and Dev- I mean Huntsman, I’ll be looking to you to watch my back… Harry was always there for me when I needed him, and you’re just as capable as any man I’ve met. I’ve watched you train when I’m more sober and you’re a damn good shot. Maybe better than me, but we’ll have to see. And Red. You just keep on keeping on girl. You’ve got a mean amount of spirit in you; don’t let the big bad world get to you. You’re strong enough to have bared working in that dump of a brothel as a maid. You can get through anything, including stomaching me and Devin.” Jack spoke as he turned to walk to his room.
A sad frown crossed his face for a moment when he finally processed that his time with his friend Harry was up. “Sawyer… Sawyer and Huck Finn…” He spoke softly to himself and walked along to his room to gather his things. It wasn’t a long walk, but enough of one that the headache started the go away and his head stopped spinning so much. He opened the door to his room to see Harry packing his things, and as the door opened, they locked eyes.
“So you’re going with another group too eh? Guess our little group is done for now. They gave me the codename Sawyer… you know...” Jack looked slightly depressed as he went to grab his rifle. “Remember the time we caught that Italian guy who was trying to sell hundreds of those counterfeiting machines? We nabbed him right good and brought him to justice. You convinced him that you were gunna buy all of them at once and when we showed up to collect the him and the machines… Man it was priceless. I’m going to hiss those days Harry. I will.”
“Jack, it aint all bad, Becky and I are on the same team together and we’re not gunna stop using your methods. You’re smart, almost too smart for your own good sometimes, and that’ll help you and your new friends to survive. I know it, Becky knows it. Hell, I’m sure even Snow and Elle know it too. You’re a good man, just don’t screw it up. Not like you did the last time you were selected for some special team for special assignments. Nearly got you kicked from the Service.” Harry spoke as he clicked his case together and put his bowie knife in a sheath that sat on his lower back, just above his tailbone. “Just follow your heart. Don’t let pride get in the way; it’s a sure way to get killed.” Harry added as he picked up his case and backpack of supplies. “I’ve got to go; Becky and the others are probably waiting to get going. Not sure what we’re doing, but it’s for the greater good Jack. Don’t forget that. Not all magic is bad, Snow told you that not too long ago, and she was right. Don’t let your hatred cloud your judgment.”
With that closing statement, Harry left the room and let Jack stay on his own. “I know… I know. It’s all just hocus pocus to me. But you’re right… You’re always right about these things. So long Harry, don’t die out there.” Jack spoke as he watched his friend leave. It was a sad moment for them both, but Jack could get through it… at least he hoped he could. There wasn’t a day in his life where he didn’t spend time with Harry and it was tough to watch his lifelong friend just walk away without so much as a tear or anything, but Jack knew the reality. He knew that a goodbye could mean they’d never meet again, but if Harry never came back. “Oh Harry. Just be safe old buddy… Don’t do anything I would do.” Jack muttered to himself as he holstered his revolvers and sat on his bed for a moment, examining the scope before attaching it to ‘Freebird’. It took him a moment to get over the fact that the thing was enchanted, but then realized that he’d be a dead man out there without it. A few minutes of tinkering left Jack frustrated and oddly satisfied with the mounting of the scope on his rifle, it took some time to set the sight right and to make is perfectly aligned, but once it was set, he was proud that he had done it on his own instead of getting Becky to affix the scope to his rifle. He rarely used one before the service, and when he did use one Becky had to mount it for him the correct way.
A short while passed and Jack finally got up and slung ‘Freebird’ over his shoulder and scavenged the rest of the room for his clothing and a bad to put it in. He had a tendency to haphazardly throw his things all around his room when he got lazy. He’d done it his whole life and it wasn’t about to change even though he’d be on the road for a while after this night. He thought of his new team… Fleur, Devin, Eulalie and Elle, it was going to be tough but he would get through it. Jack had a sense that he might be out of place as most of the rest of his team were European and he was American, and as he could recall, most Europeans weren't too fond of Americans. “I’ll be fine though, we’re a ‘family’ whatever that is supposed to mean.” He spoke and drew the string on his sack shut and closed his case that he had filled with ammunition and other useful supplies for his trickery and habits. He knew that there would be need for these things out in the field that he couldn't acquire by other means.