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Post by JACKBEARD BLUE on May 6, 2013 9:52:02 GMT -6
It felt like an explosion.
There was no other way to describe that feeling in his chest as he saw the look on his opponent's face. It wasn't just the surprise, the pain was deafening everything as he fell to his knees. Blood wasn't trickling, it was full on flowing from his body as he stared at the retreating figures of his former friends with his beloved in tow.
He held a hand out as his vision began to blur. Everything seemed to be flickering together as he tried to reach out to his love. His arm felt heavy. It would, every bone in it was broken, he was moving a wet stick. As he fell forward, his last thoughts surprised him. He assumed he wouldn't regret anything when he died, but right now his mind was fixated on one thing, it was obsessed with it.
He wanted to be with her. He didn't want to die here, he wanted to stay and be with her
The sea breeze brushed against his face and Jack found himself checking his bandaged face once more. He had a bandaged everything right now, he'd been moved here for safety and he'd slept nearly the entire journey. He was overlooking a vinyard belonging to a friend of Aya's grandmother, it was where she'd told him to stay. They knew he loved her and that he'd do anything to save her but they also knew that right now... if he attempted it he would die. He was getting his strength back, little by little, but the damage that had been done... Aya's grandmother was once believed to have eaten a Devil Fruit for her healing prowess but she was baffled how she managed to save that man.
Moving with the deliberate slowness of the injured, Jack pulled his shirt on and began buttoning it, gingerly, with his only recently healed fingers. He looked at the tie in his hands. It would be incredibly difficult to tie it. He could just forget it easily. He left the house with a tie on.
Jack wandered idly down the street, trying not to catch the eye of anyone he passed so he wouldn't have to listen to people ask if he was alright. He assumed the bandages would make the answer obvious but he was still being asked every couple of days when he went to buy food for the house. He was still waiting to feel something. Ever since he'd gotten here all he'd felt was a dull ache which he didn't think was due to his injuries. He kept thinking about Aya and how he wanted to get her back but how could he do that? If CP9 had her he'd have to fight them all and then the WG. He wasn't strong enough to do that. Especially not now. He stopped walking and for a while just stood in the street while people continued to move past him, his eyes focused on nothing as he thought to himself.
What the hell was he going to do?
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on May 6, 2013 13:49:02 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy...
And death's a bit too much... T he street was lively with noise and movement of the various people. Some were hurrying along with their daily tasks, while others stopped for a moment to rest. Near one of the many taverns, an older gentleman in a brown suit was leisurely leaning against a wall with a big, black suitcase in tow, quietly observing the busy people around him. A slowly burning cigarette had him surrounded in gray, bitter haze. His sharp teeth were frozen into a small smile and green eyes slowly crept across the crowd. For most people, he seemed like a well-dressed professional, but for more suspicious individuals he simply reeked of trouble. In a way, both notions were correct. After all, this man was Richard Maxwell, a doctor and a pirate. Richard had always liked Micqueot. It was a city where he could make quick money however he wanted. There was always an opportunity to empty the pockets of some drunk or help another to handle a particularly bad hangover in exchange for some gold. For a criminal and a healer, the work never ended. Today, he had fully taken the role of a doctor, mostly because he had promised certain someone he wouldn’t do anything that would get the Marines on his tail. Well, it suited him just fine. After the spine-chilling experiences on Karate Island, he would gladly take care of some daylight gigs for a change. Not that they were necessarily honest or legal... While scanning the crowd for potential "customers", the dishonest doctor soon spotted a familiar sight, an injured and bandaged individual. The young man in question seemed to be lost in thought as well. Perfect. A sneaky smirk crept across Richard’s features. It would’ve been rather easy to rob a man who was already badly hurt... But there was no finesse in that, not to mention that he didn’t want to attract unwanted attention. Instead, he would help the injured fellow get better... For the right price of course. People in pain often were willing to pay anything to get better. They were perfect targets for a certain kind of deal. Richard straightened his back and snuck after the young man. When the fellow stopped, the devious doctor flicked the cigarette away and adjusted his tie. It was time to brush up his Good Samaritan act. "Well, well... It seems that life has been treating you rather harshly, my good man." With a friendly tone and smile, he stopped by the fellow’s side to gauge his reaction. Well, the youngster looked somewhat irritated and for a good reason, but the smooth-talking criminal could work with that. "Anyone would be upset with such injuries. The world is just such a cruel place sometimes..." He calmly shook his head, letting out a sympathetic sigh. Behind the façade, however, he was only waiting for an opportunity to bait the boy into a deal. His venom green eyes focused on the boy’s features, evaluating his reactions. "Luckily, I can help you, my friend." For once, he wasn’t lying. Of course, as a doctor, he had just the thing most suffering people desired... a powerful painkiller. With a swift flick of a hand, Richard pulled out a little chemical vial filled with purple liquid from his pocket. He dangled it in front of the boy and a hint of deviousness slipped into his voice. "I can make your pain disappear... Interested?" Now, would this boy take the bait? Notes: Let's see how this goes, shall we? Words: 575 Tagged: Jackbeard Blue [/div] [/center] |
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Post by JACKBEARD BLUE on May 6, 2013 20:39:27 GMT -6
Jack's look of irritation was a brief flicker before he resumed looking decidedly nonchalent, as if somehow he didn't think there was anything about how he currently looked to merit this interest the brown suited man was showing. He listened politely (or so he thought, having a complete unmoving face when someone is talking to you is usually seen as quite rude) while making some subtle notes about his appearance. He was wearing a suit, which Jack usually took as a good sign, much as he liked wearing a suit properly, he liked other people who also wore one properly in public. The smell of cigarette smoke surrounding him was an indicator he smoked, which was of course terrible for you and made it difficult to stay in good shape (simutaneously inspiring him to produce a cigarette from the carton in his pocket and subconsciously put in his mouth) and finally what he was saying implied that he was a doctor. Or a snake oil salesman.
Jack wasn't aware that Richard was gauging his reactions, if he was he might have made an effort to have some.
When he saw the medicine pulled out he quickly thought about what he'd heard so far and rested a hand on his chin as he looked at the substance on display. If it really would make all his pain disappear it'd mean he could perform Rokushiki again, he could easily defeat a fellow CP9 agent if he felt no pain. He could do just about anything. But then the ache in his chest would be gone. That feeling of missing Aya, that was pain wasn't it? He could let it all go, he could let go of missing Aya... he could carry on, be free of that feeling of missing her.
"Sorry. I can't afford it" Jack said simply. He gave a brief salute to his new acquaintance and turned to resume his walk into town.
As he walked he felt his body offering opinions to his heart that he should have just taking the medicine. As he walked he heard some whispering to one side of him and turned his head to avoid hearing it
"Hey, isn't that him?"
"Yeah, he's staying at old Krin's place"
"Isn't the World Government after him? Why hide him here?"
"Hush now, they aren't any more, they think he's dead and we owe it to old Krin"
Jack hurried on, not wanting to hear the rest of what they had to say to him, so he continued his plodding pace towards the grocery store.
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on May 7, 2013 0:41:10 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy...
And death's a bit too much... M uch to Richard’s surprise, the boy just brushed him off. Either he was more suspicious than the criminal had thought, or he was one of those stubborn types who wanted to survive completely on their own. However, the greedy doctor wasn’t the type to give up so easily. Can’t afford medicine, hmm? No, he didn’t believe it even for a second. Everyone had something valuable until proven otherwise. Pocketing the medicine vial, Richard glanced after the young fellow and spoke up. "It’s not a matter of money, my friend. I’m simply trying to help." He followed the young fellow with calm stride, not even quick enough to catch up to him, but he wasn’t going to fall far behind either. Then, something quite interesting caught his attention. Well, he was a surprisingly attentive person after all, especially when it came to eavesdropping. Some people were talking about the bandaged youngster. From the sound of it, he had gotten into trouble with the Government, but someone named Krin had apparently saved him. The sickly green eyes flicked from the gossiping people back onto the boy. He didn’t really look like a troublemaker, but perhaps that was his intention. To blend in and vanish quietly. Well, whatever the story behind this was, Richard was certain this little piece of information could prove useful someday. There tended to be a lot of money in ratting out people who were wanted dead. But that wasn’t his goal right now. He had a different plan. Still following after the boy, the friendly criminal continued to spin his thick web of lies. "You know, I can’t stand seeing people suffer. As a doctor, it is my duty to help them in any way I can." Richard knew from experience that many people were faster to trust a doctor than just a random stranger. It was something about the image of a healer that appealed to people. However, he hadn’t been a kind-hearted, selfless healer for a long time and he had no intention of starting again now. The world was a harsh place and he was going to do whatever he could to get ahead. It was never anything personal, of course, just business. Quickening his pace, the dishonest doctor caught up to his target and feigned pity. "And let’s be honest here... You, my friend, look like you could really use a little pick-me-up." Showing the vial again, he offered it with a smile. "Go ahead, try it. I guarantee you will feel incredible within mere seconds." Well, he wasn’t lying about that, but he sure wasn’t telling the whole truth either. His medicine could rejuvenate even the most exhausted person and make them forget all pain. At least for a while... If the boy took the doctor’s advice and drank the bitter medicine, he would’ve found his energy rapidly returning and pain disappearing as soon as the vial was empty. Notes: He's persistent when it comes to getting what he wants. Words: 486 Tagged: Jackbeard Blue [/div] [/center] |
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Post by JACKBEARD BLUE on May 7, 2013 2:30:54 GMT -6
Jack was surprised by the doctor's persistence, he turned back to him as he spoke to him (he had his manners after all) and listened politely as he told him how he was a doctor and couldn't stand to see people in pain. Jack wasn't all that experienced in ways of the world (well, that didn't involve death battles and government control) so this genuine wish to help him was actually somewhat moving if incomprehensible. He may have been coming of as aloof and nonchalant but he was actually believing most everything the doctor was saying and so he was taking him deadly seriously. If he genuinely wanted to help him then medicine would help... but Jack didn't want to forget about Aya. For some reason, probably his screwed up upbringing, Jack was convinced that physical pain and emotional pain were pretty much the same deal and couldn't distinguish between them. But it was something else he said.
As Richard held out the vial, Jack turned to look at him and the vial once more. It appeared for all intents and purposes that he was going to accept the offer as he made eye contact with the good doctor
"You... say it's your duty to help someone however you can?" Jack held a hand tentatively out for the vial, leaving it for a few seconds to hover in the air, enough time for Richard's response before clapping the hand down on the doctor's shoulder
"I need to get to Ennies Lobby. Thank you so much for your help, I'll find some way to repay you" Jack managed a smile, not a face he was used to making, and started walking towards the docks, his hand still on Richard's shoulder.
He appeared to have decided that Richard's offer to help wasn't just about the vial, he was also offering to help him deal with CP9, the World Government and basic transport. After all, he said it was his duty. The gossiping neighbors once again began lamenting the unfortunate young doctor
"Oh dear, it looks like the poor doctor's being kidnapped"
"What a vicious brute that man is, you'd almost think the stories of him being a former assassin for the marines was true"
"Taking a poor doctor hostage like that, when all he was doing was showing him some kindness"
They hadn't quite got a grasp of the situation but this extra information might well prove relevant to Richard. He seemed to have acquired a follower provided they were going the right direction...
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on May 7, 2013 9:25:49 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy...
And death's a bit too much... R ichard was fighting the urge to let his real smile show when the boy seemed to take his bait. Oh this was simply too easy. On the question of his earlier comment, the criminal just smiled and nodded. "Why, of course." As far as he cared, it didn’t matter how much he lied to the boy. This deal was almost in the bag. He would’ve never imagined that his plan would bite him in the ass so quickly. The young fellow extended his hand and... grabbed the devious doctor by the shoulder. Just as plan- Wait... This wasn’t how he had planned this! When the boy suddenly mentioned a certain place, Richard immediately lost his friendly smile and stopped dead on his tracks, refusing to budge an inch. He turned slowly turned his toxic gaze towards the boy. Had he really heard what he thought he had heard? His first reaction was only a baffled question uttered breathlessly with a perfectly flat tone. "You... what?" Then, he regained his smile and even chuckled a little. It must’ve been just a joke. "Heh hah... You shouldn’t joke like that... I almost had a heart attack there..." He nervously adjusted his tie and tried to steady his breathing. Just a joke... No reason to panic. There was absolutely no way this odd fellow could be serious... Right? Unfortunately, his ears caught more gossip that quickly wiped away all hope. Kidnapping, vicious brute, a former assassin for the Marines... No... No, no, nonono... This just kept getting worse by the moment. As the realization slowly sank in, an expression of utter terror crept on Richard’s features. His eyes widened, mouth twisted into a teeth-gritting frown and tiny drops of cold sweat formed on his temples. "By gold and gems, you are not joking at all, are you?" While it was just a rhetorical question, he would’ve loved to hear "just kidding" right there. Of course, he knew he couldn’t even hope for such luck. Usually, Richard would’ve just pulled out a smoke bomb -or better yet, his trusty gun- on the spot and dashed away after a quick distraction blast. However, today he couldn’t afford such luxury. Instead, he desperately needed to figure out how to get out of this terrifying mess without causing a scene. He started by taking a deep breath while trying to assure himself that he had gotten out of tighter spots with his silver tongue. Well, he had, but none of those had been against an assassin for the Marines. First time for everything... The trembling doctor swallowed nervously and attempted to smile politely. "Now, I don’t mean to offend you, but... How should I put this..." He was trying his best to find the right words, but the fear of death was quite a big distraction, so slips were unavoidable. "Are you insane?" After abruptly spouting out the cold and fairly offensive question, he cleared his throat and tried again. "I mean... Why would anyone willingly go to Enies Lobby? Do you have any idea what they do to people there?" As far as Richard was concerned, it was the gate into a nightmare world. He wouldn’t go there even for all the treasure in the world. Notes: The coward briefly reveals his true colors. Words: 540 Tagged: Jackbeard Blue [/div] [/center] |
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Post by JACKBEARD BLUE on May 8, 2013 1:10:14 GMT -6
((OOC: Just a sidenote, that face for terror is absolutely perfect))
Jack heard the doctor laughing and turned around, slightly puzzled by his laughing and listened as he said how he thought it was a good joke. If it was, Jack clearly didn't get it since his blank look continued just long enough for Richard to catch on that he wasn't joking, confirmed by Jack slightly shaking his head when asked to confirm that he wasn't.
Richard took some time before asking, quite understandably, if Jack was insane. The young man took a moment to think because he wasn't quite sure how to answer the question but soon heard follow up details to explain why you'd need to be mad to want to go to Enies Lobby. Never night island seemed to have a pretty terrifying reputation here and prompted Jack to stroke his chin as he pondered how best to address these concerns
"Yeah, I know what they do. I used to live there" Yes Jack, just eaaaase him into it, be comforting, that'll help him adjust "We don't need to head there directly, I still need to recover properly so I'll find a way to repay you en route. All I really need to do is go to the Tower of Justice and kill the rest of CP9. Or find my wife, whichever comes first" wow, just... throwing it all out there, huh?
So, Jack had spent most of his adult life dealing with the scum of the earth so his interactions were slightly skewed. He was already making assumptions the doctor would agree to help him out in exchange for payment and that all it would take is the right cost. He was trying to think of a good way to make this exchange seem like a good deal for the doctor, he understood that he likely wouldn't want to spend a lot of time and effort healing someone up when they were on a suicide mission.
"If you're worried about the World Government, don't be too concerned. Once I'm a little better I should be strong enough to destroy anyone outside the Grand Line. If you still don't wish to be associated with a criminal, I'd appreciate if you could help me find a crew of pirates who might have a grudge against the Government" So, pretty much all of them then? Jack was still somewhat convinced the Doctor was a fine upstanding citizen, much like the rest of the town, and believed his ruse entirely. Speaking of the townsfolk, they seemed to be getting more and more agitated by what Jack was saying and getting closer and closer to outright shouting.
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on May 9, 2013 2:16:15 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy...
And death's a bit too much... W ell, Richard certainly got his answers and then some. Unfortunately, they weren’t helping in the slightest. If anything, his instinct to just drop a smoke bomb, or dozen, and run away was intensifying by each second. However, he was too stunned to do even that and could only helplessly listen to the horror story. The very first revelation had hit like a falling brick and it just got worse from there. He was now absolutely certain this odd, young fellow was completely out of his mind. By the time the boy was finished, Richard had been left speechless. His jaw had dropped and his widened eye was twitching. It took a moment, quite a long moment actually, before Richard could pull himself back from the abyss of stunned terror to start thinking again. What he could gather in this state of mind was simply unreal. This maniac wanted to go beyond the point of no return and for what? To face the mysterious assassin group that most people didn’t even know or believe existed, while the rest wanted to at least pretend they weren’t real. Unfortunately, Richard’s knowledge of the world was coming to haunt him once again. He had heard about CP9 and knew exactly one very real fact about them... No one, not a man or monster, could ever hope to survive against them. It was simply impossible. The dishonest doctor took a deep breath to calm his nerves and focused on the young fellow again. If this had been a shady alley, his answer might’ve been bit different, but in public he had to uphold a certain image. It started with frightened stammering. "Pi-pi-pirates?" He lifted his hands defensively struggled to retain a friendly smile. "Look, friend, I am just a humble and honest doctor... I don’t associate with such dangerous criminals... I’ve heard running into them is very unhealthy." For once, being already afraid was actually helping his bluff. It was perfectly normal for the law-abiding citizens to fear pirates and Richard planned to rely on that image as much as possible. Richard started taking slow steps backwards, clearly trying to sneak away before things got worse. He was doing his best to keep his composure in front of the crowd. "Now, if you excuse me... I have people to meet and places to see... A doctor’s life is a busy one..." Getting some distance between himself and the odd fellow, he turned around to leave, but one little detail was nagging in his mind... When that fellow had said something about finding his wife, for some reason it sounded an awful lot like a rescue trip. That thought stabbed straight into his heart, in a place he could’ve sworn he didn’t have anymore. How troublesome. A heavy sigh escaped between his teeth as he stopped on his tracks. He dug into his pocket for another cigarette while starting to talk again. "Hey... Do yourself a favor and forget that insane plan. Even if you find allies crazy enough to oppose the Government, you won’t get far." Gray haze started circling around him again and the nervousness vanished from his voice. "You see... Those who are willing to go against impossible odds are rarely as strong as they think... And those who are powerful enough to survive know to stay clear of the Government." It was experience talking. During all his years, Richard had seen plenty of overconfident, young fools who didn’t know their limits. Tilting his head, the experienced doctor shot a questioning glance at the boy. "Do you understand? Finding people who are powerful, fearless and willing to face the whole world..." As soon as he had said that, the image of a certain pirate Captain flashed before his eyes. He bit his teeth together and gently shook his head to get the distraction off his mind. "The odds of that ever happening are awfully slim..." He trailed off, lost in thought. If this boy met Rei... No, he didn’t even want to imagine how dangerous things could get. In order to protect himself, he was prepared to prevent it by any means necessary. Notes: A selfish liar, only out for himself. Words: 690 Tagged: Jackbeard Blue [/div] [/center] |
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Post by JACKBEARD BLUE on May 10, 2013 7:02:54 GMT -6
Jack listened with his usual, slightly detached expression as the doctor protested that he didn't know anything about pirates and that people who got too close to them wound up becoming 'unhealthy'. With a frown, Jack tilted his head to one side at this and asked
"Wouldn't that make it easier to help them?" Following his blunt logic, the doctor liked helping people, people near pirates often needed helping, therefore...
He didn't get a reply to this as he instead watched the doctor turn to leave; a surprise to be sure, but the offer was probably for quite a dangerous encounter which he'd prefer to have no part in. Jack was about to leave too when he heard the doctor speak up again. He faced him and watched him light the cigarette. The difference in tone was quite refreshing, and to Jack's surprise, he realised that his personality before was a charade. This was the real man, jaded, worn down... by the government he used to work for.
Jack didn't really understand responsibility, it was one of the flaws in being an assassin, personal responsibility isn't really encouraged if you want to keep yourself sane, but he felt some guilt here. Whoever this doctor was, the world had done something to him to make him like this. He believed it'd be impossible to oppose the government... of course, Jack had a different view, he remembered it well. How many pirates became shichibukai, how many just plain escaped... it wasn't impossible to oppose the world government. They may not report it, but the WG wasn't invincible. Nor were CP9, 2 members had died while Jack was a member (not counting himself), they were always recruiting. But more than that, Jack knew he could rescue Aya. He didn't believe it, he knew it. He could do it because no matter how much you fought, battling for the government didn't make you strong unless you truly believed. He made eye contact with the doctor, his resolve apparently shining through as the doctor didn't try and dissuade him from his course but said how difficult it would be to find allies.
Like this Jack realised how good the doctor was. He must be. This level of wisdom must have come from experiences beyond what Jack could imagine.
Jack chewed his cheek for a second, pondering how to continue as he lit his own cigarette
"Sorry. I'm not good with words. But I'm afraid I have to go there and rescue her. She's the only thing I've ever loved. If you could help me recover my strength, truly recover, then I'll leave you be and seek out my old allies alone. I'd be eternally grateful for you're aide and assuming I survived, I'd ensure you face no repercussions. I understand this is a lot to ask of a complete stranger; but you're the only person on this island who has dared to talk to me. All I can offer you for now is this" aching all over, Jack dropped to one knee, then both and pressed his hands into the ground, resting his head on them with a painful shuddering of his back, every muscle ached and cried out as he did but he didn't release a sound except three words
"Please help me"
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on May 11, 2013 11:31:34 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy...
And death's a bit too much... U nfortunately for Richard, the boy turned out to be far more dedicated than he had expected. It seemed like that youngster didn’t know fear. Most people would’ve accepted that even the attempt would be futile, but this fellow was determined to go and... rescue his beloved wife... Why did that thought tug his heart so much? He shouldn’t have cared in the slightest. As far as the greedy doctor was concerned, there was no money to be gained here, no secret riches or valuable connections... It wasn’t even his problem. Nothing was forcing him to listen. So why in the name of gold and gems did he even care? When the boy suddenly dropped onto his knee, Richard snapped out of his thoughts just enough to raise a curious eyebrow. He observed each motion keenly, but he didn’t need years of medical experience to see that the fellow was in pain. In fact, he was fairly sure the youngster was pushing himself far more than was healthy. And for what? Just to beg for help. How pitiful... Yet, he seemed to understand perfectly well how much he was asking for, especially from a complete stranger. Well, helping him recover wouldn’t have been all that difficult. It was his specialty after all, the very skill he had been honing for years. Going against the World Government on the other hand... For that, this boy would need far more than just a doctor. Richard glanced at the crowd that had gathered around them. Even with this many people, there were plenty of routes into the shady alleys. It should’ve been laughably easy to just turn around and walk away without another word, but... For some reason, he found himself unable to move an inch. A deep, hazy sigh escaped his lungs and he directed his gaze towards the sky. "Tch, you really are a fool..." The tired mutter wasn’t aimed at anyone in particular and Richard just left it hanging in the air. A memory of a hot-blooded, but beautiful woman flashed before his eyes. She was smiling, already approving the answer the doctor didn’t really want to consider. After a moment of chilling silence, Richard slowly shifted his toxic green eyes on the kneeling boy. "Stand back up." The command was calm, but undeniably cold. He turned around and pulled the brim of his hat down, but he wasn’t going to walk away just yet. His following comment was bit kinder, but his voice trailed off again. "And follow me. There are too many curious eyes here..." In the end, Richard hadn’t been able to ignore the suffering soul. Jana would’ve been glad to know he hadn’t grown completely heartless, but right now that was a small consolation. He just couldn’t shake the feeling he was getting himself into huge and dangerous mess. Richard waited for few more moments before walking off. He slipped his lanky frame past the surrounding people without any trouble and calmly headed towards the docks. As he continued walking, his usual, sly smile slowly returned to hide his thoughts. It was simply a force of a habit, the most natural façade for him. He glanced over his shoulder to see if the boy was managing to keep up with him. It wasn’t a long way to the docks, but the doctor knew better than to underestimate anyone’s condition. For all he knew, with those injuries the odd youngster could’ve keeled over at any moment. Notes: And the plot thickens. Words: 578 Tagged: Jackbeard Blue [/div] [/center] |
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Post by JACKBEARD BLUE on May 12, 2013 4:18:10 GMT -6
Jack didn't move as the doctor commented that he was a fool. He said nothing at all as he waited to hear the result of his plea, no trace of an emotion on his face. When the doctor seemed to acquiesce and agree to help him, Jack moved up to one knee and got to his feet, with a creak of muscle, and followed the doctor. You might expect him to be smiling; but his face was still flat and deadpan. Inside he was practically ecstatic that he apparently had an option to go and get help with his problem. But his expressing of feelings was bad at the best of times, let alone when it hurt to smile.
He followed Richard and when the doctor would turn to look behind him he'd see the young man following, his pace wasn't bad for someone who looked like he shouldn't be able to stand. It was one of those little things that you'd expect a doctor of Richard's caliber to notice. He was moving well despite being incredibly injured, imagine if he was fit and well... Jack did feel slightly guilty now, he hadn't really told the doctor that he was a former member of CP9. He'd implied it, certainly, but he hadn't just said it to him. Even if it was a lie of omission, Jack felt that he should tell the doctor everything. But at the same time, now wasn't the right time or place so instead he kept silent while they walked.
They seemed to be heading towards the docks, though he couldn't hazard a guess as to why. He tilted his head to one side and pondered if the doctor may actually know some pirates willing to help them evade the World Government. He also thought how he should tell Krin about the doctor he was leaving with. Well, she'd probably hear about it somehow. As they continued Jack finally asked the question he didn't really want to ask but felt it'd be common courtesy to at least seem intrigued
"Where are we going?" he was almost positive it was the docks but he liked to make sure he knew what was what.
((OOC: Sorry it's short, time isn't on my side D:))
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Post by RICHARD MAXWELL on May 26, 2013 14:48:07 GMT -6
When the devil is too busy...
And death's a bit too much... W hile the odd duo was walking down the street, the young man voiced the most expected question. Richard just glanced at the man before returning his gaze onto the route before them. Well, the question had been inevitable, he surmised. Answering was easy enough, as they were close enough to see their destination, though there was still a short walk left. After taking a deep, hazy breath, Richard lifted a single finger to point towards a certain ship waiting at the dock. "See that ship over there? The one that looks like a..." He hesitated at the mere thought and a chill crawled down his spine. "ghost ship..." True enough, even in daylight the dark, mighty vessel seemed ominous. With a black hull, dusky gray sails and a skeletal figurehead, the three-masted Man-of-War ship looked like it had sailed right out of a horror story, at least in Richard’s terrified opinion. The shipwright always insisted that Carpe Noctem, that’s what he called it, was a very special ship, but there were many ways to interpret that... Taking another long drag to shake off the creeping fear, the doctor continued his explanation. "We are going to meet someone, shall we say, intriguing." At this point in time, it was the most honest thing he could say about the Captain. He didn’t trust her yet, not by a long shot, but he did have to admit she was certainly an interesting individual. "The Captain might be able to help you with your... Government problem. I honestly have no interest in getting involved, but if the Captain decides it’s alright, then you’ll get all the help you need." Of course, he had different hopes completely, something that didn’t end in facing the Government. Deep down, however, a silently nagging thought warned the experienced criminal that the Captain might actually consider the idea, or worse, accept it as a challenge. She had that ominous aura around her, the aura of a fearless and hopelessly reckless leader. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea after all... Well, it was too late to turn it around now. He just had to trust his luck on this one. Even in the worst case scenario, which would be the Captain agreeing to help the odd fellow, he would still have plenty of time to bail. All he needed was a stop at some shady port town and a departing ship to vanish for good. Those thoughts were pushed aside when the duo finally arrived to the docks. Richard lifted his hand, first to signal his new friend to stop and then to lazily wave at the crewmembers walking around on Carpe Noctem’s deck. He wasn’t the kind of man who would raise his voice to get the attention of others. The distrusting criminal wasn’t stupid enough either to lead anyone onboard without the Captain’s permission. Soon, one of the crew on board leaned onto the railing and greeted the doctor with a cheery smile. "Nyeeeh, what’s up, Doc?" Richard only responded by pulling the brim of his hat down and leaving a tired mutter under his breath. "When I poison the crew, you are the first to go..." Naturally, the crewmember couldn’t quite catch the small threat. "Uh, what?" This time, the devious doctor just smiled knowingly before moving onto the actual topic. "Nothing. Is the Captain here? I have someone I’d like her to meet." The crewmember nodded and walked off. Now, the two men on the dock could only wait and see if this mysterious Captain was around to meet the injured fellow. Or if she was even willing to meet him... Notes: Pardon the delay. Real life hit me quite hard. Words: 606 Tagged: Jackbeard Blue [/div] [/center] |
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Post by JACKBEARD BLUE on May 27, 2013 4:38:05 GMT -6
((OOC: Not a problem, I've been struggling to think of other ways to get Jack to meet the crew though ;D))
Not displaying an obvious reaction to Richard's slight delay in telling him what he'd asked to know, Jack finally paused and looked up when he saw the imposing ship indicated by the good doctor. You'd imagine he'd shiver or show some sign of fear, after all, it was an imposing sight. At the question of whether or not he saw the ghost ship, Jack's reply was a moderately simple
"Yes" showing his usual range of extreme reactions.
The duo approached the ship while Jack pondered what he could have meant by someone interesting. It was possible the doctor was acquainted with some pirates and was going to barter with them for safe passage so that he could reach Ennies Lobby; but then maybe it was a medical vessel, all the ghostly stuff around the ship simply there to guarantee that the ship was left unharrassed by whoever might stumble upon it while on the ocean. Jack then quickly listed a subsequent 7 possible reasons why you might disguise the ship like this that did not require that the owners or people on the ship regularly practiced piracy. All of this was then shattered when the man on the ship spoke and Jack rapidly came to the conclusion that, yes, it was indeed a pirate ship just based on how they talk to the doctor.
At Richard's muttered comment about poison, Jack also found himself curious, as soon as the crewmember had asked what Jack too followed up with
"Poison?" the expression on his face showing that he was sure he had misheard him and was expecting a correction any day now. Rather than give one, the doctor asked the crewman to find the captain, and since the man obeyed it gave Jack the impression the doctor still had some hold over him. While it could just be respect for the medical man, it also made Jack somewhat curious. It wasn't like he had a particular problem with pirates, and he fully understood why a doctor may not wish to make his connection with the public but was the doctor going to leave it unspoken that he was indeed a pirate? Maybe it was a test to make sure he wasn't bringing an idiot onto their ship. Jack kept his peace, he didn't talk much anyway but in this scenario he definitely felt that silence was a virtue. Putting his hands wearily into his pockets, he idly wondered if the Captain would object to him being covered in bandages. They might not be too fond of mummies.
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