A Meeting with War

It was different than most places he would be caught dining at. The room bathed in a glorious champagne hue, filled with patrons who wouldn’t bat an eye at a few million dollars. All dressed in glorious expensive fabrics, these patrons were, all except him. The man sitting at the table in the center of it all, dark black hair only challenged by the white hair taking up half his scalp. Despite wearing his Sunday best he still looked common, not to mention disheveled, though that’s how he usually preferred to look. He stared his drink down, he didn’t know what sat in front of him in the intricately designed glass. Against his better judgment, he took a sip. It was sweet, intoxicatingly so. The woman who sat across from him smiled, she was the one who ordered his drink after all. She sat there in contrast to him, a model she was, with platinum hair that faded to a light brown near the roots. She was one of the patrons dressed in fine clothing, red silk that didn’t fail to show off her figure. Her lips were sculpted into a faint satisfied smirk. They almost looked like a celebrity couple, and in some case they were.

“How is it?” She finally spoke.

He paused, perhaps surprised by her voice or perhaps expecting it. Her question would go unanswered.

“Why did you ask me to meet you here, Sigrid?” His voice was low, with a slight rasp, perhaps caused by years of smoke.

Her smile faded slightly as she leaned back in her seat.

“Oh please Jack, can’t a girl just treat a handsome man.”

That’s right. She was treating him. Most men in this circumstance would be humiliated, a woman paying and ordering for him. Maybe that's what gave Sigrid her kicks, however Jack wasn’t like most men. Despite feeling some twinge of humiliation, it was perhaps caused more by his inability to afford a place like this on his own. However it was only a twinge, it didn’t phase him. 

After all, it was free booze and a meal. It was delicious.

“You and I both know you don’t treat me like this.” Jack responded before twirling his pasta onto his fork, “I know you’re infatuated with me but even you wouldn’t be so bold to ask me to dinner. After all, what if I made a scene?”

The last words formed into a wry smile on his face. Sigrid returned the expression, equal in wryness. Was this flirting? Jack shoved his food into his mouth and chewed as Sigrid spoke.

“Well, I may be so bold after all.” She then sighed, “However, this time I may not be. I have brought you here for another reason than to just wine and dine you.”

Jack sat up, “You’re not very good at hiding your intentions, you know.”

“Was the pasta good at least?”

“Sigrid I—“

Jack paused and looked down at his plate, he had already started twirling more onto his fork. And some of the sauce had stained his shirt and the corners of his mouth. He must’ve eaten more without realizing, his face reddened slightly and he cleared his throat,

“Don’t avoid my question.”

“Don’t avoid mine.”

He paused again,

“Best I ever had.” He mumbled.

“Good boy.” Sigrid replied in a sweet yet patronizing voice, “Was that so hard?”

Jack’s face reddened further, despite the phantom tail wag he felt.

“Now tell me why I’m here.” 

“Ah yes, thank you. I had nearly forgotten.” She punctuated her sentence with a sip of her own drink, bitter, “You plan to stop my master’s plan yes?”

“He wants to destroy the world, Sigrid, I kinda live in it and so do you.”

The room felt so empty with Sigrid’s next sentence, despite this she said it with her same engraved smirk,

“Oh my dear Jack, you really are a silly man. I don’t care what happens to me or you.”

Jack’s face dropped. 

“So is this…I thought…” for once Jack was grappling at his tongue, trying to formulate words. 

“I don’t hate you, Jack.” Her tone was briefly and unexpectedly serious, it made Jack almost blush, almost. “In fact your observation before, about infatuation, is true. I find you deeply fascinating. And you are a treat for sure. I cannot say the same about my feelings towards myself however. I do not know if I am suicidal and maybe that’s why I am okay with eventually being snuffed out, the possibility is there. I suppose I can’t really ignore that.” 

Another sip was shared by both of them.

She continued,

“Jack, you are a silly, silly, man. But despite all your incessant barking, I know you are intelligent, so I must ask; do you know what a necessary evil is?”

Jack nodded. Sigrid nodded in response.

“And you are a man of god, correct?”

Jack’s eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed,

“I wouldn’t call myself that. Can’t stand that bastard in the clouds—“

“Well then I guess a man who believes that said bastard exists then? A man of some faith, yes?”

Jack nodded once more,

“I suppose that fits.”

“And you read a lot as a kid? Scripture as well I’m sure.”

“Get on with it.”

“Heel, boy.”

Jack sunk back in his chair.

“I did, yes.”

“Then you know this wasn’t unplanned. The apocalypse, armageddon as it is referred to, was always going to happen. My brothers and I would come to take this world, and humanity, into the abyss. After all, all good things come to an end.”

“They don’t have to though!” Jack barked.

Sigrid let him stew for only a moment,

“Ah but they do. This is simply the final act of a play set in motion by god and satan all those centuries ago.”

“So it's just a pissing match? A dick measuring contest between good and evil?”

“What a crass way of putting things but yes, it was supposed to be.”

Jack’s brows raised, “Was? What do you mean was?”

“Silly, you surely have realized it, no? Why do you think everything has gone to hell lately? God gave up on us, on you, he is gone.”

“Then why are you going through with this?”

“Because all good plays must come to an end, and what an end this will be.”

The silence and tension between these two was thick. Jack gazed down at his now empty plate and glass, despite him losing his appetite he had managed to finish both. Damn it all.

Sigrid was the one to break the silence,

“I want you to be my co-star in this final performance of mine.”

“All this is…is a performance to you? Another acting gig for the illustrious Sigrid?!”

Sigrid grew stern, “Jack, you forget yourself.”

“No,” he said standing up from his seat, “Why would I ever agree to be your right hand man? Why would I ever want to help you in such a—“

He froze, the room once filled with chatter of others was deathly silent and still. The spotlight was on him. A million eyes pierced him. His stage fright shook him.

Sigrid spoke her next words slowly, as if scolding a pet, “Sit. You don’t want to make a scene do you?”

Jack, the good dog he was, sat back down and cleared his throat.

“Good boy.”

Jack felt his anger simmer, she brought him out here so he could be humiliated, how predictable of her. 

“If the end is going to happen anyway, then why sit on the sidelines? Why be an understudy? Why not be in the spotlights? Why not take that final bow?” 

“Because that’s not where I belong. That’s not who I am.”

“Oh but it could be.”

“I don’t want that.”

“Jack—“

“No.”

He stood up once more, outwardly calm inwardly a hurricane. 

“I think we’re done here.”

Sigrid finished her glass, he had just now noticed she never even ordered food for herself. She stood up to catch his gaze. 

“I suppose we are. Be a gentleman and walk a lady out?”

Jack sighed and took her arm in his, she left a surprisingly big tip on the table. Jack didn’t realize the wealthy actually tipped, Mary had always complained about them at her job. As they walked out, Jack felt everyone stare at them again. Her head was leaning against his arm and there was a hand on his chest, he stayed in character though.

Outside it was raining, as always, but Jack had forgotten his umbrella tonight. It was just his luck.

“I didn’t mean to insult you, Jack.”

“Bullshit.”

“I mean it. I only wanted to give you the offer because I trust you.”

“So I can end up like your last one? Oliver?”

Sigrid paused and cleared her throat, she seemed hurt, Jack felt guilty.

“Sigrid, I’m sorry.”

“You wouldn’t end up like him. I know you can handle me. I know you can handle Cain. You’re strong, powerful, and I—“

She let go of his arm and moved to stand in front of him. 

“I do like you, Jack. Deeper than any fatuation.”

Before Jack could say another word she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her lips gently against his. Surprisingly, Jack leaned into the kiss, putting his hands on her hips. They held it and time stood still, they didn’t even notice the rain had drenched them by now. Sigrid broke it and stepped back,

“I doubt you will but if you change your mind, you know where to find me.” She turned around, “Goodbye, Jack.” Then walked away.

Jack watched her leave, a flavor still lingering on his lips. He smiled.

Bittersweet.