<hr/><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/2/21/JacksonJackson.png)</div><br/><strong>Name:</strong>Jackson P. Jackson<br/><strong>Faction:</strong>None<br/><strong>Date:</strong>5 June, 1870, 5 June, 1871<br/><strong>Time of Day:</strong>Afternoon, Late Evening<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Soddom, The Great MAze<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Lilah, Closed<br/><hr/><br/>He was grinning at her animated walk - it looked like she was just about to start skipping to keep up with him, or about to dance circles around him as he walked.  He listened as she explained where she stayed, and it was as he suspected - though the way she described it, without a single attempt to gain his pity, but rather the little boast at the end - it made him want to ruffle her hair and then spin her around.<br/><br/>He gave a smile when she promised she wasn’t afraid of anything - not Maze dragons or -<br/><br/><em>Oh, damn.</em>The silent plea in her eyes, the begging, just about tore his heart out, and he was pretty sure if his mind hadn’t already been made up - it would have been then.  He stutter-stopped his walk, pausing as he realized that this more monumental to her than he could ever have guessed.  He smiled, and spat in his hand, and stuck out his calloused paw.<br/><br/>“Well then, put her there, pardner.”<br/><br/>He eyed her for a moment.  “We’re gonna need to find you a hat, though.  You must be real brave,” he added with a little grin.  "I seen a Maze Dragon once, and I damn near pissed my breeches."<br/><hr/><em>One year later…</em><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Oh, ma'am! Heaven bless you and Lord Glenarvan," said the young girl, fervently, overcome with grateful emotion.<br/>"My dear girl, we deserve no thanks; anyone in our place would have done the same. I only trust the hopes we are leading you to entertain may be realized, but till my husband returns, you will remain at the Castle."<br/>"Oh, no, ma'am. I could not abuse the sympathy you show to strangers."<br/>"Strangers, dear child!" interrupted Lady Helena; "you and your brother are not strangers in this house, and I should like Lord Glenarvan to be able on his arrival to tell the children of Captain Grant himself, what is going to be done to rescue their father."<br/>It was impossible to refuse an invitation given with such heart, and Miss Grant and her brother consented to stay till Lord Glenarvan returned.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><br/>Jackson closed the book with a smile, and looked to Lilah, curled beside him as he read to her by the firelight.<em>In Search of the Castaways</em>was the latest novel he’d been able to get his hands on, and he decided he was growing fond of this ‘Jules Verne’ fellow.  He knew how to spin a yarn - but there light was growing dim, and there wasn’t enough moonlight to keep reading.  He liked reading to her - giving all the characters their own voices, falsetto ladies and brave sea captains.<br/><br/>Which was normally the time she seemed to wake up and want just one chapter.  He adjusted the too-big hat on her head, and gave a little chuckle.  Cute as a button, even if life atop the mesas had her looking leaner.<br/><br/>It was going to be another long day tomorrow.  But somehow - somehow it never seemed as gruelling as it once was.  He tugged the blanket up and over them both, and stayed quiet, not certain if she’d drifted off or if she was still lingering near wakefulness.