(like, think 'merca but on steroids
Shems face fell at her words, but he tried to hold onto hope. “It’s safe, the guards aren’t patrolling this section for another couple minutes. Listen closely, There’s about forty of us being held in the northmost quadrant.” Shem spoke quietly and quickly. “Before anything happens, have your owl friend warn me. I’ll have to get my squad to the north with the others before we escape.”
Amarok slipped into the shadows along the dock, silently making his way towards the ship. The harpy turned away and he took the opportunity to scale the side of the large ship, using barnacles and cracks to climb his way aboard.
"I understand," Mary said. She called the owl back to her. "Is there anything else I need to know, before I leave?" she asked. The owl swooped back to her shoulder.
Shem sighed with relief. This was finally really happening! “No, no. Just hurry, gather the others and…bring any explosives that you can.” he replied, a half smile appearing on his face through the small hole in the wall. “Quickly now!”
(I think this is pretty good. The rabbit trails are actually adding to her character, IMO. Now let's see how I write... I'm on my phone, so hopefully it's not a bunch of spelling errors.Tay lurked through shadows and paced in damp streets. Five days had been spent in the lawless cove, and, six devils, she needed out.
The second day she had spent stalking a merchant from the west. From him she had gained a scarf, food, and his coat.
Empowered by skill, and condemned by anxiety, her mind and heart bid her someplace elsewhere.
It was the competition, she thought. She did not blend in here.
On occasions too many had she recognized faces and too often they had lifted their gaze and stared back at her with recognizion and sincere condemnation.
She would be found out in days.
The slums of the docks welcomed her. It was a fresh place of old friends and enemies. Here she could thrive.
Beneath the docks she roamed. The scent of sharp, addicting toxins would forever rise from the rotting sand and embrace her nose. It was the scent of assurance.
She mingled among the dealers, and placed deals of her own, though she had nothing to give. Bets and loans were placed, every deal void of commitment.
She would be gone by the end of the week.
It was the fifth day, and a warm breeze swept through the gull-stained jetties.
Tay lay beneath the boardwalk, her damp dress stiff and flattened into the wet, stinking sand. She felt sickly, and did not desire to hide it.
Temporary weakness meant little to her allies, and here she was safe. Vulnerability was not advantagized by comrades, which she realized with gratitude. To play the unnatural role of a dominant female would forever exhaust her mind. Aggression grew old, and threats became empty. Some women could rule a crew with simple ease. She could not imagine such pressure.
Late evening had settled over the docks, and soft sun soaked the sea.
Jintao had left, on errands she had not cared to identify, and neither did he wish to disclose. Though she did not let on, she was grateful for his company, however forced their temporary alliance seemed. A certain agenda reveloved through both parties, she was certain, but neither let their plans be known to the other.
Her greased hair lay flat on top of her head, blowing in thick stands whenever the wind ripped it's fingers down below the deserted boardwalk. Voices echoed in low tones and boats omitted deep sounds as they bounced off the creaking docks, which made known the strength of the breeze. Her numb ears were grateful for sound.
For now she was alone, but with some piece of her mind expecting Jintao's arrival, her body dared not drift into sleep. Perhaps someday her person could be in total aggreance with itself. But it was natural for agendas to conflict and parties to disagree.
This is among the many imperfections of a cursed life.
To devils with it all, anyways. She scoffed. One day strength would come to her bones. For now she could embrace the weak and the empathy.
Tay relaxed against the dry support beam and let her head lean back on sand crusted wood. Salt glazed and dried her face.
(oh my word this reads like if caffeine threw up. There's like fifty different rabbit trails and HOLY COW HOW DID THIS TAKE ME SO LONG
Sorry
I'll get into the swing of things.
Otra vez
@Lacy Duckwing, just... How about we get a solid Jin/Tay conversation going?)
)
“Okay!” said Mary, half a smile curling across her face. “Goodbye!” She walked back in the direction she had come, her owl companion on her shoulder. Both were too tired to fly, and it was a long way back to Bird Point(I don’t know the exact distance but it must be very far). Still, she wanted to put at least a little distance between herself and the encampment. Normally, she would have feared the night, but her exhaustion, coupled with the assurance that she had a creature of the night on her side put her at ease.
(That clerk gave me the chills)(I think this is pretty good. The rabbit trails are actually adding to her character, IMO. Now let's see how I write... I'm on my phone, so hopefully it's not a bunch of spelling errors.
Jintao kept his face down and his hand in his pocket as he strolled down the street. Somehow he had to get out of the cove. Someone was sure to recognize him from either his pirate past or his current present. He stopped by a store window. There was a black hat that promised a good disguise with its cheap price sitting below its hanger. Jintao felt the coins in his pocket. They'd cover it, but barely. Going into the crowded store, he stuck the hat and coins on the counter.
"Needing this for something special?" the clerk asked with suspicion.
Jintao looked away. "The sun's too bright," he pretended to be interested in the items below the counter. "I need something to keep it out of my eyes."
"Right-" the clerk took the coins and putting them in his cash register, he handed Jintao the hat. When Jintao took the hat, the clerk said, "A lefty, eh? Don't see many of those around here. I hear they're champions at fighting."
Jintao put the hat on his head and looked down. His right sleeve was still tucked neatly in his pocket as though he was holding his hand in there. "Yeah, but I don't fight." He turned to leave.
"Shame," the clerk said behind him. His tone lowered. "You'd be good at it. I see it in your eyes. At least, you used to be, that is."
A shiver rose the hairs on the back of Jintao's neck. He had encountered this person before, but where? On a ship most likely. Him being a clerk, it mostly likely was a merchant ship that his crew had attacked and this man somehow survived.
The clerk reached below the counter. Jintao rushed to the door before he could see what the man was grabbing. "Have a nice day," he said on his way out. He went down the street until he felt like he was far enough away. Slipping into an alley, he leaned against a brick building. His heart was racing and he was breathing heavily. That man must of had a gun below that counter and wasn't afraid to use it in his own store, Jintao thought.
After a few minutes, Jintao leaned the hat forward, hiding half of his face with the brim. He should be getting back to Lyra by now. The sun was going down anyways. He returned to the streets and headed in the direction of the docks. He'd think of a plan to leave later, despite him knowing that he should have already left. Any person who recognized him as a pirate could surely start trouble, if not even try to kill him. He thought of the King's soldiers. Anyone working for them wouldn't be much better either.
Jintao said a silent prayer on his way back to the docks. He needed guidance badly. When he arrived, he found Tay laying under the boardwalk. He stopped and stared as she hadn't noticed him there yet. She looked frail and broken inside. Past hurts, current terrors or other seemed to be weighing her down. Jintao felt as though the answer came to him. He couldn't leave her like this, even if he himself needed the protection he couldn't give.
"Hey, how are things?" Jintao sat down next to Tay and looked out over the sea. He paused and pulled something from inside his coat. "Just in case you're hungry, I got you a little something." He handed her a wrapped up half loaf. It wasn't much, but for the cheap price, he knew it was good enough until he could buy more.
(Ok, this took wayyyy longer than it should have. I started taking this in one direction and decided against it halfway through. After erasing half of it, I threw it into this other direction that I'm happier with.)
(Ack! My quotes are getting all wonky for some reason! )
