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 Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:45 pm
/ official post here, when im not dead. ;D Go ahead and post Ice Queen~
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:45 pm
Name: Josiah Nickname: Jo, Si Sex: Male Age: Early thirties Type: Cursed Angel Species: Doushikai Position: He's a still in the closet heterosexual. On a planet that's almost completely devoid of females sweatdrop Personality: Unlucky. Josiah borders on fatalism, but still has a kind word for someone he thinks needs it. He's a hard worker and a loyal friend, but he underestimates himself and tries not to bring attention to his good parts. Everything falls apart sooner or later for him, so when things are going good he tries to keep it close to his heart. He's distracted by glimmer, and will steal jewels whenever he thinks he can get away with it. He's also good in a fight if it's part of the job requirement or he's protecting himself. Ability: He's good with animals. Unless they're predators... sharks like him a little TOO much, if you know what I mean. Turn ons: Rubies, an easy grin, the sea, and music Turn offs: animal abuse, strange looks, and black cats (they're unlucky and he's unlucky enough as it is) Looks: He's bald, save for two long ponytails that tend to tangle around him. He's good looking, but nowhere near pretty. He has pale blue skin and white hair. His wings are mismatched, one angel and one devil. They both look well cared for yet still worn. He wears a simple loincloth and metal chains that whisper to him while he's sleeping, cursed by something he never talks about. His long white pony tails are banded at intervals by leather straps. It keeps it from getting too unweildy. Size-wise Josiah is larger than average. He stands well past six feet and is broad shouldered. That and his outfit tend to make him stand out on dry ground. Education: Average. He can read and write, and is somewhat decent at math, but he never went to college. In fact he never really went to school. He picked it up from the pirates that knew how. Occupation: unknown Marital status: Single Family: His pupfin, Yorick Diction/accent: He doesn't talk much, but there's a slight pirate drawl in his voice when he does. Words such as "Aye" instead of "Yes." But you'll never hear him say "Avast" for some reason. Relationships: He doesn't make friends easily. He keeps them even less easily. Sexual history: Unlucky can be read in so many different ways, don't you think? Places: He doesn't like to talk about it. Possessions: His pupfin, Yorick, his dinghy, and the chains and leather on his back, and a leather bag with a golden bracelet buried at the bottom of it. Each gem hanging from it has a story. Hobbies: Playing the fiddle when he can get ahold of one, reading, playing chess (yes, chess. Surprising, isn't it? He learned it on a pirate ship) Obsessions: Shiny, pretty things. Especially rubies. Beliefs: Everything falls apart sooner or later. Politics: As if his life wasn't messed up enough sweatdrop Ambitions: To live in peace Religion: A hodgepodge of different religions, with a lot of Catholicism tossed in. Superstitions: Black cats are bad luck. Red skies in the morning are bad luck, HE'S bad luck... it just goes on. Fears: That he's right about the luck thing. He's not too fond of sharks, either. Attitude: Quiet, slightly moody, but gentle unless angered. Taste in books/music/etc: Smooth, easy to listen to things. No rock for him. Books can't be too thick unless he's adrift at sea. And he hates Moby d**k with a passion. Foods: Spicy, or Chinese. Calamari is good. Handwriting: Sloppy, slanted, and a little on the large side. Astrological sign: Capricorn (it SO figures) Talents: Music, animals, bad luck Special: He is extremely unlucky. If it can go bad, it will. And not just for him sometimes, but the people around him as well. His chains will kill if his gems are threatened. They seem to be possesive for some reason. History: He's been cursed, shanghied, made to walk the plank, left adrift, and almost eaten by a whale. As well as several sharks. He doesn't like to talk about it. Current: On Elysium, searching for rumors that could lead him to the ghost ship that cursed him. ************************** Name: Inigo Gin Nickname: Gin Sex: Male Age: 18 Type: Gray Dog Species: Doushikai Position: Uke Personality: Playful, Loyal. Gin was once a very cuddly little guy. But the death of someone he loved very much as a pup has affected him badly. Ability: He can talk to animals. Turn ons: Scratches, long walks, meat Turn offs: animal abuse, strange looks, and cats of any kind. Looks: His hair is short, spiky and silver, his clothing tends towards leather and straps. He likes baggy black jeans and combat boots. He also likes earrings and piercings. Education: He got through highschool... somewhat? Occupation: Bounty Hunter Marital status: Single Family: No one. Diction/accent: None, but he's been known to growl. Relationships: Friends come and go easily, he can be quite loveable if he's not set on something. Sexual history: None. Places: Elysium all his life. Possessions: Leash, collar, some cash made from his job, and a big a** sword. Hobbies: ??? Obsessions:Beliefs: Right is right and wrong is wrong. Politics: No thanks! Ambitions: To get revenge Religion: None, really Superstitions: None, really Fears: Josiah (It'll make sense soon enough) Attitude: Cheerful, determined, and slightly twisted Taste in books/music/etc: Rock and Punk Foods: Meat of any kind is always good. Handwriting: Sharp and slanted, a little impatient Astrological sign: Talents:Special:History: Current: On Elysium, searching for Josiah
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:46 pm
Yorick  Name: Yorick Age: 2 years old (=P @ Sin) Gender: male Species: Pupfin History: Yorick and Josiah have been together since Yorick was a pup. The cursed angel found him abandoned in a back ally, and picked him up. Yorick is fiercely loyal to his master, and can be dangerous if he thinks Josiah is in trouble. He's a bubbly, head-strong pupfin that almost always seems to be smiling, even when they're drifting aimlessly at sea. He's also an excellent swimmer and fisher. Synopsis and Revision will be showing up sooner or later... Poor Josiah crying *****************
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:47 pm
Be ye Friend or be ye Foe?Dou Met Pan: A piper with goat like horns. Ichiku: A striped, furry male with a strange accent. Body Count People that have died in Josiah's journal ninja -The mayor's daughter. -A human thief - Jake - ????
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:49 pm
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:50 pm
Where'd I leave me treasure, again?
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:51 pm
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:52 pm
Links and Disclaimers...
Dou are copyright Ogre and Britain, Josiah and Yorick's art is copyright Sinbari. The characters themselves, as well as all their circumstances and foibles you can blame on me *nods*
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:53 pm
The story starts here...
It was that same dream again... The steady creaking of an old ship settling seemed to scratch the back of Josiah's mind as he made his way down rotted steps. One... two... three... they threatened to give out under his weight, so he kept one hand pressed to the wall. It wouldn't help him if he did fell, but he didn't think of that.
The stairs curved, twisting as they came to the large room. Gold and jewels glinted out at him, surrounding him on every side it seemed. And directly in front of him there was a throne.
A skeleton sat on the throne, his pirate hat sitting heavily on his white bleached brow. His head was bowed and his hands rested in death, wrapped around the hilt of the cutlass that he had kept rule with through the years. Josiah stopped for a moment, trying to remember who this dead man had once been. But the glittering, gleaming gems that surrounded him overwhelmed that question quickly.
He stepped forward, catching sight of a blood red ruby as large as his fist. The deep red called to him, whispering soft, loving cries that sent his heart beating against his chest and lust thrumming through his veins. He wanted it... he needed it... he had to have it!
Without thought he stepped forward, his thick leather boots brushing against a dull gray chain that he didn't even notice. He took another step, and another before he tripped and fell to his hands an knees. It was only then that he noticed the chain. But this was no ordinary chain... it was winding its way up his leg, creeping around his waist as it pulled him to the ground. And when it reached his neck it wrapped itself around him, tightening... cutting off his air supply so that he couldn't even cry out.
And the skeleton looked up, laughing at him with eyes the same color as the blood red ruby...
"ARGH!!" Josiah sat up abruptly in the dinghy that he had spent the last week in, shoving mindlessly at the chains that were wrapped loosely around his throat, as well as his own long tails of leather bound hair. The dinghy rocked wildly, almost sending him flying into the water as Yorick barked loudly in surprise.
Josiah took a breath and forced himself to relax, leaning his head into his hands as he recovered. He could feel his throat in his chest, even as the remnants of the dream slipped out of his consciousness. Yorick whimpered, licking at his hands to try and get to his face. "T'is fine... Yorick." He said finally as he pulled his hands away. "Just a bad dream."
He looked around, staring at the sea that surrounded him in all directions. He had no fresh water, and had been living off of raw fish for the last week. He would probably die this way... but he had often thought that before.
He wasn't lucky enough to die this easily, after all.
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:54 pm
It Continues...
Before the chains Josiah hadn't been quite so unlucky. At least that's what he told himself as he stared blindly into the distance. He was slouching in his half of the dinghy, one leg hanging lazily over the side, arms draped over the opposite one. His throat was dry. He had given up on speaking the day before, unless it was absolutely necessary. The sound of his own voice made him hurt. It sounded just as pathetic as he was starting to feel.
He had to stop thinking about that. Remember the past... For the first time in a very long while, he wanted to remember the past. Ironic.
When he had been a child... so long ago that he couldn't remember what he had looked like, he had been found playing on the beaches of Elysium. And fool that he was, when asked what he was playing he had said "Pirates!" A slightly wry grin pulled at his lips. He had been "playing" pirates ever since.
For a few years after that, as far as he could remember, he had been cabin boy for that pirate. Captain... Captain... hell, he never had learned the old b*****d's real name. But then something had happened. Something changed on Imperial as far as he could tell, tossing everything and everyone for a loop. The captain had been mutinied for not providing enough gold. And Josiah had been sold to the highest bidder. For some reason his red eyes had always made the crew feel unnerved.
The next few years he had been tossed from crew to crew, made to work hard and provide his own way. And as he grew into his size he proved to be quite an asset. But a greater liability. Because Josiah didn't react to beatings or threatenings to keel-haul him. And he had this little... bad habit.
*A year ago*
The ship was the Merry Marauder, the captain was a fruitcake that liked to dress as a ballarina. But they were good. They had just pulled off the biggest job that Josiah had ever been on. And the small room in the hold of the ship was laden with treasure of the best kind. Gold and jewels piled one on top of another, hills of beauty that made Josiah's heart threaten to give him away. He dropped the last chest in the room and turned, leaving for the moment and locking the door behind him. Just as he did with every booty.
But night came quickly and the ale flowed freely as the crew of the Merry Marauder celebrated their haul. Josiah waited and watched as the others steadily drank their way to oblivion. And as the sun started to tinge the water pink he slipped down the hold stairs and towards the room, his hand already moving to the keys at his side.
A smooth, almost silent click came before the door gave way, and he paused to let his eyes acclimatize to the darkness.
"I suppose I saw this coming..." The voice made him jerk and look in shock at the captain. He was sitting in his bejeweled, lacy glory atop a pile of gold. A chalice of wine was held loosely between two fingers. "Josiah, darling... you are quite good at what you do, aren't you?"
"Cap'n, I was just--"
"No, no, don't lie to me, darling. It breaks my poor heart." But it didn't sound as if his heart was breaking. He sounded angry. But then he smiled. "Besides. This is nothing compared to what I need you for."
"Wh--what?" Josiah asked. Was it sex? He wasn't sure he could go for a guy in a tutu... it just didn't--
"It's not sex, darling. You're much too ugly for me."
"Oh." Josiah replied. "Then what--"
"There's a ship that's been floating nearby. A ghost ship, to be precise. And as superstitious as sailors and pirates are, well, his large, gorgous piles of gold have never been touched." He leaned forward. "You're going to get it for me."
"Cap'n, I--"
"Or I will tell the crew just what you planned on doing tonight."
"Aye, aye Cap'n." Josiah muttered.
The barking jerked him out of his memories. The world snapped back to the present and he jerked his leg back into the dinghy as he saw what Yorick was so agitated at. Sharp silver fins slitted the water as they circled around him. Two, three... four fully grown sharks.
Josiah cursed his luck once again.
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:55 pm
Almost three hours later the sharks were still there. He was almost positive that they were trading off guard duties, and one would leave to get food as the others waited for him to do something stupid. Like stick his leg out again. He watched them with almost morbid fascination.
Yorick had stopped barking after an hour or so, and had laid down on one of the benches in the dinghy, watching them with wary eyes. Even if Josiah fell asleep again he knew his pet would keep watch. That was just how Yorick was. Loyal to the end. And the only living creature that Josiah had ever truely loved.
Yet another dark, hidden secret bouyed into the back of his mind, but this one he shoved down for a moment, trying to focus on the sharks that surrounded him. It made him feel dirty, that one. Even dirtier than all the times he had lusted after rubies and gotten into trouble for it. But it just wouldn't stay down, no matter how hard he shoved it.
Josiah was a Dou. And as such there was only one gender in his species, male. But regardless of what the other male was wearing, be it tutu or something more appealing... Josiah just couldn't work up any enthusiasm. Well, maybe if they were covered in rubies... but even then he wasn't sure it would work.
He was a freak. That was his only answer. A self-loathing... freak. What would other dou say if they knew he was sexually... perverse? He had been on ships with other dou, watched them court and fall in lust, if not love... and he had always been alone. What was worse was when they approached him. That rare, drunken b*****d that liked dangerous looking males... and all he could do was feel sick to his stomach as he said he wasn't interested at the moment.
But he was never interested. And soon there had been strange rumors going around. The best being that he was a jewelophile, or whatever the hell the word is for guys that want to have sex with shiny objects. He was pretty sure there was one. But he didn't. He just wanted to fondle them a little. Maybe shine them up and hold them up to the sun... And sure he lusted to possess them... there wasn't much he wouldn't do to get a ruby. Including stealing from his crewmates, or boarding a haunted ship.
But it was much worse... and it was the ugliest rumor that was the true one.
Once, almost ten years ago when he had been on yet another ship... The Raveger, they had looted a small, yet rich town in a little canal. The town had been ablaze, the red light of the fire mixed with the shed blood on the streets, turning it the same blood red color as his favorite rubies.
But Josiah hadn't been there to kill. He headed for the largest of the houses, home of the town's mayor, and helped ram the door down, stepping into the tall, spacious room of the front foyer. Barking out orders, for he had been second mate by that time once again, he headed up the curved stairs to the bedroom, intent on finding their jewels.
The rooms were locked, but he sliced through the doors with his cutlass, reaching in and unlocking them so he could walk in comfortably. He had learned a while back that slaming through just made your shoulder hurt for the rest of the week. But each room he went through only had a few silver pieces that were tarnished from lack of care. Big house, but no money, he thought in disgust.
But he only had one room left to check, so he slashed through the door, sticking his large hand in and unlocking it. He stopped at the doorway, his nose twitching at the unfamiliar scent. And then his eyes widened slightly.
The mayor had a daughter. And she was standing in the middle of the room with a gun aimed at his heart. "I don't--I don't have anything." She said, trying to mask the fear in her voice. "And you're one of those--those monster things. So--so you can't rape me. So just go away!"
She was tiny in his eyes, barely standing at five foot four, and dressed in a ridiculous gown of black lace and red silk. It looked to cost more than everything else in the house combined, save for the necklace she had tried to shove under the bodice of it. It was a ruby. A small one, but it gleamed against the pale curves of her breast, calling him closer. His expression changed, although he didn't notice it.
"Wha--what are you--" She whispered, reaching up and grabbing the jewel in a protective manner. "Don't come any closer! I mean it!" She stared moving sideways, keeping the gun aimed at him as she tried to inch her way towards the door. "You can't--you can't have this. My mother gave it to me before she died..." She whispered. Her face was as pale as a ghost's. And she kept inching away from him, even as he moved forward.
He wanted that ruby... but had he been thinking instead of reacting he would have realized... he wanted more than just the ruby.
The door burst open and the female startled, her hand jerking and her finger slipping against the trigger. The bullet slammed through the air, cutting through the delicate flesh of Josiah's bat like wing.
"Josiah!" He heard one of his crewmates shout. It was followed by the female's cut off scream and the echo of a pistol. Josiah watched in horror as her body fell backwards, slamming into the wall and skidding down it slowly. A trail of ruby red blood slowly dripped down the pale yellow wall.
"Josiah? Are you alright, man?" The crewmate asked as he tried to pull the large dou to his feet. "Wake up, man, your wing needs to be looked at.."
Josiah didn't answer, he just moved slowly towards the dead female, leaning down and touching her cheek. It was soft... so much softer than his own. And her eyes were staring out at him in accusation and shock... He reached up, closing them for her before running a finger down her throat.
"Jo--Jo, what are you--" The crewmate started out. Then he stopped and breathed in relief as Josiah pulled the necklace off of the dead female's body. "Oh. Well hell, you could have told me she had a ruby! You scared the s**t out of me there!" He reached down, tugging at Josiah's arm. "Come on, let's get that wing looked at."
"Aye." Josiah had said, following him out the door. He paused, just for a second to look back. But he kept going, all the same, the small ruby buried in his large hand, even though it seemed to be burning.
The dinghy he was in at the moment jerked and shuddered, waking him from his memories once again. He glanced around, noticing that the sharks had left and that night had fallen. But that wasn't the surprise.
The surprise was that the dinghy had reached shallow waters. Right on the beach of Elysium.
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:58 pm
It took a moment for his muscles to remember what they were for. He dragged himself out of the dinghy and onto the shore, lying on his stomach there for a long moment as he tried to reorientate himself with the solidness of land. Yorick had no such trouble. The pupfin bounded out of the dinghy and raced around his master, sniffing the ground in interest.
"We need... water." Josiah rasped as he slowly pushed himself to his feet. He of all people knew better than to travel without water... but circumstances being what they were, well... he hadn't had a choice. To put it lightly.
Yorick barked. He was the first to notice just how close they were to civilization. There was a small, grassy sand dune right in front of them, and on the other side was the gigantic city that covered most of Elysium. The pupfin went over to his master, slipping his back under the large man's hand in an attempt to help support him as they started to climb the small, yet slippery dune.
The city was as bright as day, regardless that it was nearing midnight. It made Josiah flinch and look down at his rattty looking outfit and chains, hating the way they appeared even more outrageous in the artificial light. His blue skin seemed to glow in the light, reminding him of just how long he had been lying under the hot, hot sun. He needed water and a shower, and food. Not necessarily in that order.
"How much booty do ye have, Yorick?" He asked the pupfin. Yorick barked twice. "Well, t'is not like I'm giving up me gems for a cockroach infested hotel!" Josiah argued. "Yer a dog! Dogs don't need gems!"
Yorick barked again, then growled menacingly. He wasn't about to pay their way! There wasn't much he wouldn't do for his master, but to give up his shinies when the master had his own? No way!
"Oh, alright... we'll find one of those... bathroom station things." Josiah said. He stumbled slightly before forcing himself to go on, his hand resting lightly on the bone patterned pupfin's back. The smell of the city was such an abrupt change to that of the sea, he thought. And not a very good one. He paused and eyed the crowds for a moment, moving the strap of his bag a little farther up his shoulder and wincing as his chains protested the movement. They were loud enough to get a few strange looks from the people around him.
Not that Yorick was helping any in that case. As a full grown pupfin he stood near Josiah's waist at the shoulders. His eyes gleamed red and largely menacing as he looked curiously out at the crowd. And his fur was patterned to look like a skeleton, although as often as Josiah had asked him why, he never explained. Then again Josiah had many things he wasn't explaining, either.
Yorick barked as he caught sight of the restrooms, taking a step forward and almost sending Josiah lurching to the ground. Yorick stopped and looked up at the pirate patiently.
"Aye... I'm coming." Josiah muttered. He was dehydrated and burnt, and felt faintly sick to his stomach. But that wasn't enough to stop him. Just to slow him down a bit. They made their way to the public restroom, heading inside and for the sinks. Josiah dug in his leather bag, pulling out a decent sized folding bowl and filling it with cold water for Yorick before he took care of himself.
He splashed his face first, loving the cold water as it dripped down his skin. He washed his hands quickly, then cupped the water to drink, refilling his hands and the bowl after a few moments before drinking again.
Then he threw up most of the water into the nearest toilet before repeating the process. On the second try he managed to keep it all down.
It was almost a good thing, he thought as he finished up taking care of his more pressing needs and headed for the street once again. When he had to worry about food and water he didn't have to think about the past. He didn't like to think about the past... not unless he was drunk. When he was drunk he would sometimes pull his bracelet from his bag and remember the faces that went with the stones.
It was no wonder that the more gems he collected the less often he got drunk. He paused as he caught sight of a neon pick, flickering sign. Dier... No, the "N" had burnt out and never been replaced. Diner. It was a diner, he thought.
Food.
Without a thought he walked through the door, the clanging, irritating bell jangling out his arrival.
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:59 pm
Morning found both Josiah and Yorick crashed out in an ally, an empty bottle of 120% hanging loosely from his hand. In the other hand was the bracelet. Josiah was sound asleep.
"Lookat that..." The whisper filled the air as a shadow crept closer. "It's one of them... Dou thingies."
"Don't touch it, it might be dangerous." Another voice said. "He's a big ugly b*****d, isn't he?"
"They're usually too damn pretty for my tastes. Taking over this damn world, thinking they're so much better..." Josiah's finger twitched slightly, and the gems hanging from his bracelet caught the light. "Look at that, man! He's got--daaaamn..."
"We can take it."
"What? Then he'll wake up for sure!"
"We can take it. He's drunk off his a**. It's as good as asking for it to be stolen!"
"I don't know, man... what if the dog wakes up?"
"Then keep your mouth shut and it won't!" The chains clanked... once. "What the ******** was that?"
"He must have moved in his sleep."
"I didn't see it..."
"I'm taking the gems." The man stepped forward, reaching for the bracelet hanging from Josiah's hand. Then he gasped as the chain wrapped around Josiah's wrist shot out, wrapping around his throat. He choked, turning to his friend for help, horror and shock in his rapidly dimming eyes. The chain tightened abruptly, snapping his neck and letting the body slide limply to the ground.
The friend stepped back once... then again... before he turned and raced away at top speed. His mouth moved, but he couldn't speak, he was too horrified by what he had seen.
Josiah woke then, looking around blurrily. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of the dead man on the ground next to him, and he raised his right arm, looking at the chain for a long, silent moment before he shoved himself to his feet. Yorick woke with a nudge to his ribs, yawning largely and getting to his feet for a stretch. He paused to sniff the man before trotting off to find something that resembled a tree.
It wasn't the first time that had happened, after all.
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:01 pm
That night he doled out the gold for a room, knowing he was going to have to watch his money very soon. He would have to do something... like go searching, either for a new crew... or for buried treasure.
He had heard a few rumors over the years. Dead pirates that never got back to their booty, sunken ships laden with gold and jewels. Or the pirate ship of the Dead Pirate King. He dropped down on the edge of his bed, falling onto his back and staring up at the ceiling, his wings spread to either side of him.
Yorick bounded up beside him, nosing his shoulder briefly before letting out a loud yawn and going to sleep. The cursed ship... the place he had gotten his chains from. And the piles of gold and jewels it possessed danced in his mind, sending a spurt of longing through his body. But all he really wanted, even after all that had happened to him, was that one, single ruby.
There was something alluring, mystical, wonderous about rubies. They seemed to be the embodiment of life to Josiah, although he had never really thought it out. And sometimes it seemed that the purer the red was, the uglier the story had been.
He reached blindly beside him, digging into his bag and pulling out his bracelet. One of the stones wasn't even red at all. But that story was one he wouldn't think of for a very long time. Not if he could help it.
His eyes fell on a sharp, and menacingly dark ruby near the clasp. It practically weeped the pain that had accompanied it with its first owner. And it made Josiah feel like s**t, even as he touched it gently with his thumb.
*Nine and a half years ago*
"Jo?" The voice made Josiah jerk slightly, glancing up from the necklace he was holding in his hand. One of the crewmates was standing in front of him. He was a tall, though skinny fellow with long black hair that he tied back at the neck. His skin was tan, his eyes were green behind his small round glasses, and he had killed for Josiah more than once. "Jo, that necklace... It's from that female, right?"
"Aye." Josiah said as he looked back to the endless wash of blue sea.
"You um..." The crewmember hesitated. "She was going to kill you, man! Why can't you just get over it? I mean, we all know how much you like jewels, but this... this can't be healthy."
Josiah sighed and slipped the necklace back over his head, turning to the pirate with a slight c**k of the head. "And ye be needing me for...?" Then his mouth slammed closed, his eyes falling to the sharp, beautiful stone hanging from the other male's neck. He hadn't noticed that before. And if it was a ruby, he would have noticed it.
"We have shore leave now." The crewmate said. His name... what was his name again? Tim... or Tom... or Jake... Josiah shook off the question with a silent nod of agreement. "I was wondering..." Jake (as Josiah would always remember him by, whether it was his real name or not) started out. "What are you planning on doing?"
Josiah shrugged. "T'wasn't planning on going ashore." He said. "Not ta'day."
"You've got to get off the ship sooner or later. It can't be healthy never being on solid land." Jake replied in irritation. "I know you're stuck on this pirate living, but dammit all, there's more to life than this!" He stopped, then forced himself to go on. "There's more to life than jewels, too."
Josiah looked at him for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "T'is a sad thing for a pirate to admit, that." He said.
"We're still living beings, Jo. We require more than that." Jake said. There was a hint of desperation in his voice, but for the life of him, Josiah couldn't understand why. "Why don't you come with me? We'll hit the bars, get drunk off our asses, and do things up right!"
Josiah hesitated. Then nodded. "Aye." He said as he pushed himself away from the railing. "Why not?"
In all his life, three words had never haunted him so much.
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:02 pm
"And then..." Jake said almost an hour later as they stumbled through the back alleys of the town. The thin male had a bottle hanging from his thumb and forefinger. His hair was loose down his back, and his glasses were slightly skewed. "I tell him, that's not a shark, that's a whale!" He finished.
Josiah laughed, equally drunk. His own bottle was empty, so when nothing came out when he tried to take a drink he looked at it blankly for a good long moment.
"Wha' 'appened?" Jake asked, moving closer and peering through squinted eyes at the bottle. "There's nothing there." He stated.
"Aye." Josiah said with a nod.
"How--'ow'd that 'appen?" Jake asked, wheeling back slightly and almost losing his own bottle.
"'M not sure..." Josiah admitted, turning the bottle upside down and watching mornfully as a single golden drop fell through the air. They both stared at the drop, watching blankly as it hit the ground.
"Ya know..." Jake started after the drop had been forgotten. "You're a good... a good mate ta have, Josiah." He stumbled forward, almost falling on the larger male as he wrapped a companionable arm around his shoulder. Josiah tilted, almost losing what little balance he had with the extra weight.
"T'is time ta... be gettin more ale." Josiah said, suddenly sober at how the other male looked up at him dreamily.
"I've always... I've always loved you, Jo..." Jake said. He leaned forward, pressing a drunken kiss to Josiah's neck. "I spent... I spent my last... three years... wanting to be near you..."
Josiah felt sick. He pulled away from the other male and moved to the trashcans in the corner, losing his stomach.
"Jo?" Jake asked in confusion. Then he laughed. "Jo, I think we're drunk."
"Aye." Josiah said, wiping at his mouth with the back of his hand. He felt a hand on his shoulder and tried not to be sick again. It just felt so... wrong.
"But... but I really do love you." Jake went on, wrapping his arms around Josiah's waist and pressing his cheek against his broad back.
"We'll be going back to the ship now." Jo said as he stood abruptly, pulling Jake's arms away from him. "An' sleeping it off." He was wrong... he was sick and wrong, and it was not Jake's fault.
"Jo?" Jake asked, sounding worried. "Jo, I know about your... your jewel problem... And I want you to know I don't mind." He moved so he was facing the other male. "That's why I got this." He added, grabbing the stone that hung from his neck and holding it out.
Josiah reached out, unable to help himself. Jake looked up at him so hopefully. But Josiah pulled his hand back. "T'is pretty." He said before turning away.
"Then I was right..." Jake breathed. "Damn you... Damn you Josiah." He growled. "What did she have that I don't? What's so special about a dead woman that you can't get over it? Why can't you LOVE ME?" He fumbled, pulling out a small pistol and holding it up, waving it slightly as he tried to aim at the other man. "Why? Why can't you be mine? I've KILLED for you, man!"
Tears were streaming down Jake's face as he cocked the gun.
"T'is not--" Josiah started out, holding up his hands.
"For three years, Jo... for three years I've tried to get your attention. I HATE being a pirate! But I did it! I did it for you! And this... this is how you repay me?"
Josiah stared into Jake's eyes, feeling lost once again. He couldn't give him the answer he wanted, and they both knew it. "T'is... sorry I be." He said softly, lowering his hands and looking down.
Jake's hand wavered, then lowered slowly as he dropped to his knees. "We should go back to the ship." He muttered lifelessly.
"Aye." Josiah said, reaching for him. Jake shrugged him away.
"Don't touch me."
"...Aye."
Josiah was sure he would get over it. He was sure that the crimson rush of being a pirate would heal the wounds... but they hadn't.
*Three days later*
"Josiah!" The scream made him jerk from the fighting he was doing. The small village they were looting was awash in blood and fire, screams filled the air, and a trunk of gold sat at his feet. But his eyes widened as he watched Jake scream for him. Right as the blade pierced his heart.
Josiah forgot the gold, forgot the fighters, and shoved his way through the mess of blood and gore, killing the man that had killed Jake before he dropped to his knees beside the fallen pirate.
A single tear fell down his cheek as he closed Jake's eyes and wrapped his hand around the blood red ruby.
It had dug into his hand then, he thought as he stared blankly at the gem so many years later. Threatened to cut him. But it wasn't sharp enough to reach his heart.
He put the bracelet back into his bag and headed for the restroom for a shower. He felt dirty once again.
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