The One Crazy Night I Don't Remember

Jack - others
    Groaning to himself, the young Jackson shook his head. "Jackson Marius Antonius! What did you do to your hair!" his mother's voice broke the silence. It was only a matter of time before they figured it out. He had to give himself props though, it was longer than he had expected.

    "What does it look like mom?" he said, rolling his eyes as his mother fussed about the now caramel streak in his hair. Narrowing her eyes, the 17-year-old felt the chill of his impending death. "What was that? Did I just get attitude from my son? The one who is living under my roof, whom I had to raise? Who I carried for nine months?"

    Giving her a sheepish smile he shook his head in a vain attempt to diffuse his mother's wrath. "No mama, I would never disrespect you. I owe you my life and I'd be really stupid and incredibly sorry if I ever disrespected you" he said, wincing when she pulled his ear down to her level. He was already taller than her by a good four inches.

    Feeling his mother's icy glare, Jack waited for the pain of the impending smack. When he felt his mother's lips on his cheek, he opened his eyes in surprise.

    She was smiling at him and pulled his ear once more. "Αχ ο γιος μου τελικά μεγαλώνει. Είμαι τόσο περήφανος." she said and Jack rubbed his ear when she released it. "Don't think you're out of trouble mister." Her words were accompanied by her rubbing a hand on her enlarged stomach.

    "Jackson, I pray to the gods your brother is more well behaved than you were," she said and he smiled. "Aw, mama. You wound me so, " he said and this time his mother hit him upside the head. "Don't think you can get out of this with a few words young man" she said when his father, Zacaria, walked in.

    Turning to look at his father, Jack put on a worried smile. "Zacaria, look at what your son has done to his hair! I mean it doesn't half as bad as it could but still!" his mother said, waving her hand to the streak. All the female got in response was a sigh. His father looked it over, turning Jack's head with his hand and he looked up at his wife. "Raelynn, my beloved wife, the one I love with all my heart. Don't you think Jackson is old enough to make his own decisions? I mean he's practically an adult at this point."

    Both of the males winced when Raelynn smacked them upside the head. "Zacaria, he's not an adult yet and he still lives under our roof. I know he's going to be grown up and an adult, but he's still our baby boy, at least until Vasilis is born" she said placing her hand on her stomach. Sudden tears pricked his mother's eyes.

    "Mama, what's wrong?" Jack asked, pulling his mother into a hug, well the best hug he could. She wrapped her arms around his waist and put her head on his chest. "My μωρό is growing up so fast. I can't believe you're going to be an adult soon," she said, pulling herself from the embrace and wiping her eyes.

    Feeling a pat on his back, Jack looked at his father who was smiling. "She always gets like this I swear. She thinks she's gonna lose you," he said and Raelynn smacked Zacaria's arm. "I do not! If I recall correctly, you were crying just as bad as I was," she said and the human looked down and the elf smiled fondly at him.

    "C'mon you over affectionate αγελάδα. I wanna watch TV." Her words were followed by her dragged Jack's father out of the room into the living room and her yelling over her shoulder that Jack was still in trouble, but she'll deal with it when her shows were over. Knowing his mother, that wouldn't be until tomorrow.

    Shaking his head and smiling, Jack went up to his room. He'd been planning to do this for awhile and nothing was going to stop him. He knew he'd get in trouble for doing this, but he was certain he'd never get the courage back up to do this any other night, so he rummaged through the pile of clothes on the floor to pick out an acceptable outfit.

    Sniffing a shirt, Jack winced and threw it to the dirty pile he had near his door. After many more attempts, he found the perfect one and threw on the clothes, and grabbed the things he needed.
    
    Sneaking through his house, Jack slipped through one of the doors that had a busted lock. He sent a silent 'thank you' to whatever deity took pity on his dumb soul and let the door open silently and made his way into the night.

    Moving through the streets, the half-elf found himself at the Trans Relay Station. The wind blew and he pulled his jacket a little closer as he looked for the sign that held his destination. Finding the sign that had 'Space Vegas' scrawled on it wasn't too hard, considering it had the most people going for it and lights around it.

    A smile graced his lips as he began to walk towards the line when he was stopped by a voice. "You look a little lost." Tilting his head slightly, Jack turned his head in the direction of the voice, spotting another male, this one taller than him.

    Letting out a small noise at the other male's appearance, Jack recognized the male from his outfit. He's heard stories of the male, a nymph named Atticus, and some of them not pleasant. "Y-yeah, I'm kind of lost," he said, and Atticus raised an eyebrow.

    "Look a little young to be going to Space Vegas," he said, and Jack felt a pang of something in his chest. Feeling a little braver, he looked at the male. "And? Don't we all feel the need to go to Space Vegas once illegally?" he said, immediately smacking himself mentally for that.

    The nymph shifted and looked at the half-elf. "Need a ride? I can take you there, seeing how you won't get past the security protocol here," he said and Jack gave him a skeptical look. On one hand, Jack could turn around and avoid this entire situation, but on the other hand, he could go with it and finally go to Space Vegas.

    Sucking in all of his doubts and fears, he nodded. "Yeah, don't know how I was thinking of foolin' the security system here," he said, shrugging. Unwrapping his arm from his torso, his unzipped jacket fell open and he rolled his shoulders.

    In a matter of moments, Jack found himself standing in an unfamiliar area. The lights were blinding and the smells almost overwhelming. The male found himself alone and he cracked his knuckles nervously.

    Walking around, he found himself in one of the shadier parts of Space Vegas. Finding his way to one of the bars that didn't care about your age, he chose the emptiest one to go to and he found a seat. Hearing a crash, he turned and watching a fight go on in the streets. Shaking his head, he turned to the bartender that neared him.

    "What can I get'cha?" Their voice was rough and they looked as tired as the people passed out on the pool table. They were clearly Jaurian, seeing as their eyes were a glowing shade of purple and their skin was a light blue.

    "Surprise me," he said and instantly regretted it. Shaking their head, the bartender turned around. "Haven't seen you around. First time?" they asked, turning to Jack and he nodded. Smiling and shaking their head, they turned around and handed him a yellow drink. "First drink's on the house, a pineapple-mint mojito. Figured I'd start you out on a lighter drink before moving you up"

    Smiling back at them, Jack picked the drink up. "Thanks," he said, and took a sip. There was an unpleasant taste, exactly how rubbing alcohol tasted, but that was almost masked by the pineapple in the drink. The burn of it going down his throat and the warmth it left in its wake surprised the male slightly, but he didn't show it on the outside.

    Sipping the drink, he raised an eyebrow at the sounds of people struggling. "Ah, the classic Vegas mugging," the bartender said, wiping down the bar and Jack continued to drink his beverage.

    When he was finished, Jack felt a little cocky and ordered 'something stronger'. The bartender grinned and turned around. "Got the money for a Cuban Zombie?" they asked and Jack put the money on the table. He knew he should have been saving the money, but oh well.

    When the bartender turned around, they counted the money and slid Jack the drink. Looking at the drink with a little weariness, Jack shrugged and took a sip of the drink.

---

    Waking up, Jack's head pounded. Groaning, he opened his eyes and let out a small shriek at the sight above him. He was staring into the cold, lifeless eyes of Cookie Monster. "You good man?" he asked, and before Jack could give him an answer, the mascot went flying.

    Standing in place of the now missing Cookie Monster was his cousin, Mithai. Relaxing a bit, Jack looked at his surroundings. He vaguely remembered this area and was racking his brain to figure out where he was.

    "Jackson Antonius, what in the ever-loving fuck are you doing passed out in a Space Vegas fountain?" The way Mithai spoke seemed too loud for Jack, making his head pound even more. "Shh. Shhhh" he whispered, waving his hand at the pink-and-blue haired male.

    Said male shook his head. "Oh, you're hungover as well? I bet Cain and Dreyer would love to hear this" he said, voice slightly lower. Grateful for the change of tone, the male sat up and winced.

    This movement sent a wave of nausea throughout his body and he gave little warning before everything from the night before came up all over Mithai's shoes. Cringing at the sudden smell, Mithai pulled himself back and kicked his shoes off of the ground. "What happened Jackson. I want the entire story. Now." he said, slipping into a voice that vaguely resembled a disapproving father.

    "Well you see, I went to Space Vegas, got a drink or two, and..I don't remember," he said, wincing as Mithai pulled him up so he was standing. Jack felt another wave wash over him and he vomited once more, much to Mithai's dismay.

    "You're so lucky I don't drop you right now," he said, glaring at the male. "I'm going to kick your ass once we leave," he whispered to Jack and the half-elf felt a chill run through his body. It wasn't often Mithai threatened someone, and he usually went through with his threats. At least the mild ones like this one.

    "You know you have your helix pierced, something on your wrist that I'm not even gonna read, your glasses are smashed over by Cookie Monster, you're missing your shirt and I'm pretty certain those aren't your shoes you have on," he said and Jack looked down. They weren't, they were a size too big and he had no idea where they came from.

    Turning his arm, he read the black ink scrawled on his arm. 'Call me sometime. Could use someone as inexperienced as you sometimes' Frowning, he looked at Mithai, who was slightly struggling with Jack leaning all his weight on him. "Thai' who wrote this?" he asked, laying his head on the taller male's shoulder.

    Feeling himself being pulled out of the room, he heard Mithai talking to someone. It sounded like his mother, and she seemed angry. Lifting his head up, he saw his mother's face on Mithai's holotech and he felt his blood run cold.

    She looked angry, like really angry. She was saying something in Greek, and Jack didn't feel like paying attention. Laying his head on Mithai once more, he felt the sweet embrace of sleep pull him in once more.

---

    Waking up to cold water being thrown on him, Jack opened his eyes and froze at the sight. He was at his house, looking up at three people surrounding him. As their faces slowly became recognizable, he felt terror run through his veins.

    He noticed Mithai first, then his father, then finally his mother. Lifting his hand to shield his eyes, he groaned. "Jackson Marius Antonius." his mother said, and her tone meant he was in trouble. Swallowing, he sent a pained smile up to his mother. He felt like he was dying on the inside and he really didn't want to move.

    Feeling a hand come across his cheek, Jack grit his teeth in pain. The movement jarred his head, sending a wave of pain through his body. "Ow," he mumbled, looking at his mother who seemed to be restraining herself at this point.

    "Do you know how worried you had me? You went to Space Vegas? How did you even get in there? You're not old enough! You see Zacaria, you told him he can make his own choices and this is what happens! You're so lucky Mithai found you. And Mithai. What were you doing there?" she said, flipping her anger through the people in the room. When Mithai stuttered out a half-assed excuse, he too earned a smack, but then a kiss on the cheek.

    "Oh thank you Mithai, my baby could have taken. Which reminds me. Jackson you are in so much trouble. I won't take it out on you just now because you're hungover, but hear me young man. You do this again, not even Jaecar himself can stop my anger" she said, and Jack let out a pained noise. "Mom, I love you to death, but if you value your shoes, please move" he mumbled, turning onto his side and vomiting once more.