Dawn of Night

[Keneth]

Keneth sat in his workroom on his ship at the desk, looking over the letter he'd recieved from the messenger while he was taking a rest in one of the local towns. Idly sucking on a sucker he reviewed the letter with surpirsed. "Captain Sankari? Interesting. Now I wonder why the leader of the pirates would want to talk with me. If its a job it must be a big one." He looked at the incentived that had been sent along with it. A sizeable amount of cash sat on the edge of the desk. He smiled. These kind of people were the best to do business with. They payed more. Fingering the sucker he stepped out onto the deck of the ship, watching the clouds as they went by at a slow and steady pace. Setting the ship on the right course he looked up at the clouds. Today had really turned around for him. He laughed happily.

*That okay guys? Sorry its short.*

[Cap'n Sankari V.]

She wasn't giving up -- it wasn't part of her world, this ability to simply let things go. No, she held it tightly in her fist until it could no longer breathed; until death sighed through her ears and devoured whatever it was that she had. It was how things worked -- why the Gods had chosen her, whispered in her ear, in her dreams and told her the truth no one had wanted to believe. It was in death that they had come to her, and it was in her personal belief, that it was only with death that they could ever be satiated. That death came in many ways only intrigued her, and satisfied the visceral need for vengeance that kept her going.

The woman was an effigy of freedom, a monument erected for the sheer purpose of steering those who faltered forward --- for while they followed that scrawny back, they would be okay. Because she wouldn't give up. She wouldn't rest until it was finished, and her task completed. Until death had come to swarm the entire world and lit it all up in smoke and flames. It was her only wish, to see them suffering, and it would come true.,

Footsteps paced outside of her chambers, impatient crew members edgy and restless -- it hadn't been too long since they had left their Captain to die alone amongst the enemy, and they had expected her to be furious; but now, with her as quiet as her blade, and as merciless, she had come with only a mysterious injury everyone was aware of, but no one had ever seen. Was it being treated? Of course not -- what doctor could ever set foot on a pirate ship and still be safe in the outside world? Only a dead one. Therefore, one had to die. A little block of wood sat on an otherwise empty desk; she reached for it with her right hand, her fingers brushing over it with delicate affection before picking it up -- it was plain, un-molded, a simple little block of wood that sat forever in the same place until she moved of it of her volition. But it meant the world to the ship.

it kept her sane, this little piece -- and the thousand of little pieces she had scattered around the world, doing her work, her business. The gods didn't know humanity as well as they thought, or perhaps they knew something they didn't want to tell her. though she smiles, it isn't the smile of a young woman, but the conniving little quirk of her upper lip, more sneer or scoff, than any smile has a right to be -- she rocks back, the weight of her dead arm leaving her swaying as she waited in creaking, groaning silence. There was nothing in this place that could give anything away -- even a fed would feel disappointed with the lack of maps, and plans, or of personal belongings that remained in the cabin.

Sankari twirls the piece of wood on the desk, her expression turning thoughtful, her lips puckering slightly, ponderously slow as the clock on the wall ticked, ticked, ticked. Eventually there came a commotion as the man she had sent for came like a good dog; her eyes sparked blue, a brilliant fierce fire ignited in her soul -- need, hunger, desire for all things that she didn't quite have yet: these are the things she felt so poignantly before the door opened and all of that dropped away. The woman could have been a doll for all the emotion she had on her face as she watched him. Her eyelids dropped, as if sleepy, but it only signified danger; the heavy-lidded expression of boredom as she watched from under heavy lashes.

There was nothing impressive about him.

"I asked for a professional." she murmurs, fingers drumming along the arm of her seat, her gaze shifting down his body with ugly indifference. Was this it? Perhaps it was better that he was scrawny -- after all, wasn't she just a lanky cat? Sankari scoffs and places the piece of wood on the desk, contemplating it, more than him; her curiosity had been sated. "Money or mission first?" she sighs, feeling an ache deep in her gut, an ache that could not be erased as easily as a smudge of dirt.

word count;; 758
tags;; Ken
OOC;; It's okay ~

[Keneth]

Keneth kept a passive expression as he entered the barren cabin but frowned on the inside, wondering if this was really the leader of the pirates. He expected her to be a little less....gloomy and lifeless. More like a soul full of vigor, hope, and caring. But this person before him looked like she could shoot her best friend without flinching. Could this really be the one the gods had chosen to lead the pirates? He saw her look him over and apparently she didn't think much about him or his abilities. As he waited for her to talk he looked around the room, noticing the only object besides the desk and the chair she was sitting on was a wooden cube she seemed to like. Odd. When she finally voiced her question he thought about it for a minute then replied "Hmmmm. Mission briefing first then you can give me the payment after the job is done." He looked around again, not seeing another chair. "Why do you only have one chair in here? How are your guest supposed to sit down? Your not a very good host you know." He turned back to her. "So whats this mission thats so important the leader of the pirates herself needs help?

[Cap'n Sankari V.]

The world doesn't matter. He doesn't matter -- what mattered was herself, and her destination. The goal, yes, yes, even this paltry mission was just a little lodestone on the road to future glory -- future death, commingled blood gushing from wounded arm, wounded heart. They thought they knew her -- they thought the image they had in their head had been broken because of her icy stare, her cold, lifeless disposition. But they couldn't know the fear that crackled around her, the intimidation, the mindless acts of whimsy that come and go with madness.

SS. Freedom -- the very thing the civs hated, the very thing the Government coveted with greedy wretched fingers. So she took it. So she held it in the palm of her hand with that sick, twisted smile, her eyes hollow, devouring all life, devoid of any warmth but that delicious tremor of sensual climax. So the rooster comes to strut around her coop, his feather puffed, his voice high -- he throws around insults as if they mattered to her, as if he could make himself matter in the grand scheme of things. But what he didn't know, and would never know, was his own, idiotic insignificance.

The woman in the chair, yes, the Captain of the S.S. Freedom - the leader of the rebellion. The glory-hound. The freedom fighter. What did he expect to see -- some man slouched down in a pile of riches, scheming for the next goal to stuff his fat face with? She chuckles, her eyes sleepy, tilted downward toward the cube that kept on turning every time she knocked it down. Each click, pronounced the silence in between his words, moving faster and faster as he threw all sorts of thoughts in her face. As if she cared. The chuckle is dark, slick with humor full of blood and death -- the kind that makes her shiver in delight, with the delicious tenacity of the already dead or dying. Let him squawk; she flicks the edge of the cube and watches the block fall to it's side. He is the block -- a little touch of her finger and he'll fall to the ground. No, her fingers rise up, as she studies her nails a moment and blows a bit of dust from off of her forefinger, he is the dust that is blown from her hand. Whimsy will rid herself of him.

A look. A click of the tongue. She could stare, and he would fall -- for that is what he is. A tool to be used and discarded. Nothing more, though perhaps, just perhaps, much, much less. There is nothing predatory about the woman as she regards him through half-focused eyes. Sleepy with boredom, only half-amused by his audacity and ineptitude. Strut around if you'd like, she thinks as he asks, finally returning to the topic at hand, "So whats this mission that's so important the leader of the pirates herself needs help?.

Her voice is slow in coming as she raises upward, the chair moving with her weight, the block of wood discarded as simply as thought. "Death." she raises her hand slightly, resting her elbow on the desk, "Life." she waves a hand in a thoughtless manner, "It doesn't really matter. I just want a girl." her eyelids flicker, feeling as if the whole ship was trembling with the desire that unfolded within her. "Easy enough. Slip into the encampment. Get one, Eliza Johnson. Come back." she waves dismissively toward the door. "She dies, you die. Her nose twitches as if a thought has occurred to her, but it has been pulled away by dreams; she follows it quietly with her mind, already slashing him off her list of unfortunate things to be done. "She lives, you get another grand to add to your impressive resume." she chuckles, her chin resting on her palm. A child, really, if one could ever look past the eerie cast in her eye, the swirling black stain on her soul. She was drenched in blood, a cold, brutal killer. But that didn't make her any less a child.

It didn't mean that not too long ago she had run into a woman's arms in fear, wanting only to be loved.

word count;; 758
tags;; Ken
OOC;; swish.

[Keneth]

*I am more impressed with every post. What about Well going with him though?*

So far, the amazing, hope giving, awe inspiring leader of the pirates Keneth had expected to see had turned out to be a creepy, egotistic, and most likely insane girl not much older than him. He endured it though, keeping his temper in check as she made him wait as if he were a lowly servant. He was fine as she talked about things that meant nothing to him and that he assumed to be the ramblings of someone gone mad. He was fine when she told him he'd been brought in for a simple kidnapping. He was even fine with the stupid superior tone she was using on him. He was not fine though when she said he'd die if the girl did. One, that was an insult to his spotless reputation, implying the possibility he couldn't complete a kidnapping job. As if. And more importantly, she threatened his life. The moment she said that his eyes and manner changed, he was now the cold, calculating person he became whenever he was on a job. Walking slowly up to the desk he placed his hands down flatly against the desk, leaning toward her slightly, and gave her a cold, humourless smile. "Now listen here princess. I dont know who you are or where you came from but dont try to threaten me. Your not a god, and nothing short of a god can kill me. You see, unlike you I actually have a purpose in life and friends and family who depend on me. If I died, they wouldn't make it. And I have other friends and popular clients who are very powerful and influential. Even if you did manage kill me, you, your cause, everything you've achieved so far....would be ruined. I can promise you that. Now honestly, im in support of the pirates, dont really like the government myself. I dont intervene on any side for the most part but I can and will take matters into my own hands if neccessary." He gave her that same cold smile then turned and walked towards the door, his normal self again. Grabbing the handle in one hand he looked back "Will there be anything else before I go your highness?"

[Cap'n Sankari V.]

OOC: Ah sorry I figured you'd wanna have a moment to make a snarky comment, where I'd send him along then. But I can rewrite this one if you'd like ~ no big deal.

[Keneth]

*Oh I edited mine. I didn't know you were online. I left the last line for that though. =)*

[Cap'n Sankari V.]

It was always the same word play -- a duel that slipped off the tongue, dredged up from the sharpness of wit and not that of the sword. The same words, the same bored indifference; her eyes remain the same -- his closeness only making the space around her stink. She tilts her head up, close enough to kiss, perhaps, but there is nothing intimate about the way they look at each other.

Nothing intimate about the words that spilled off of his tongue, trying to ignite her fury. Stone had a happier disposition. "Is that all?" she asks, her voice deadpan, as her eyes slip past him toward the door; intrigued by the sight of the boy lingering just out of sight, she leans back. "You're a tool, n'thin' more. What does anyone do with a tool when it's no l'nger useful? They throw it away. Take Welliam with you. You may find 'im useless, but he'll s'rve well 'nough."

It was a relief, at the very least, to have some quiet aboard the ship without the screech of his voice slipping into the floorboards. Her tongue darts out along her lip, maybe she could even have Jimmy serve something delightfully poultry to the crew to raise their spirits. Her eyes trail back, noticing that they're not moving. "Get out."

word count;; 223
tags;; Ken
OOC;; happy hunting ^^

[Keneth]

Keneth shot a glance at the guy she'd talked about. Welliam or something. Sounded like she didn't like him very much. He sighed inwardly and started to walk out then stopped again and turned back to her. "I feel bad for you." He didn't say it with scorn or with a sneer, he was sincere in it. With that, he walked out the door, shutting it silently behind him. Walking out onto the deck he looked around until he once again found the other boy and walked over to him. "Captain says your to come with me on the mission she sent me on. C'mon lets go, I need to get there by nightfall." He walked to the railing then jumped over, landing with a soft 'thump' on the deck of his own ship.

*The bio for Keneths ship will be up soon. Cymmie's gonna put it up. If you want to know anything about it just lemme know.*

[Well]

Well on the deck, his red-brown hair blowing in the wind caused by the sails as the SS Freedom sailed the skies. He had seen the man enter the captain’s room and had wondered why the cap’n would invite someone to her own area, her sanctuary. His green eyes eyed the man as he came out from the room steering his feet to where Well sat.
Well stood up and with a surprised look at the captain’s cabin he followed the other man and landed without a sound behind him on the deck of the other ship. Entering another pirate’s ship was dangerous business. If the captain was not found of oneself your head was in a very loose state so to say. This ship was also quite impressive, if not as impressive as the SS Freedom. Well also thought the Freedom was at least a bit bigger then this ship. The fox-like boy leaned against the railing, looking at the man who, from now on would be his boss, at least till the mission was completed.
“Yer the captain of this ship?” Well tilted his head to get a better look at his employer. “An introduction may come in handy. Oh, and perhaps ye could let me on the details of this mission?” Well could smell a fight and knew this trip was going straight into one.

[Keneth]

"I am normally the only person on this ship so yes im the captain." Heading over to the old timey wheel that he normally used to steer the ship he set it in the right position and fastened it there, turning on the jet propellers and soon they were off, sailing quickly away from the S.S. Freedom off to their mission. Walking back over he continued "And in reply to your other question, im Keneth Halloway, otherwise known as Ken or Hollow. You can call me Keneth. I am a well known mercenary and assassin for hire with quite the record and have never failed a mission and since I have taken many jobs for pirates and am mainly in support of them the government has also put a bounty on my capture or death. Luckily the first few who were either brave enough or stupid enough are all dead and discouraged any others from trying. Also though I am the captain I am also only 16 so please dont call me sir or mister." He thought for a second. "Hmmm....I dont think I forgot anything. So as for the mission, its merely a simple kidnapping. Get in, grab the girl, get out. Girl dies, we die. Or you will probably, doubt I will. I have friends to help with stuff likie that. You dont have to worry about that though. Like I said i've never failed. This girl is a healer and lives in a village so there will be other people. Normally this would be bad but today its good. I would usually go in silently and take her then leave before they even noticed her gone. But with you with me and the fact that if we have to return her she'll be killed for helping the pirates I cant. We have to go in, make some noise, and make it seem like were taking her against her will. They wont kill her if they think she was forced. If a few people get injured all the better. Makes it more real." He looked at him "Any other questions?"

[Well]

“So the deal is a simple kidnapping?” Well frowned and looked at the boy at the steering wheel with a doubting look in his eyes. “And you are as old as me? You look older then sixteen ye know…” the boy came back to Well’s side and kept on talking. His name was Keneth Halloway.
Hallo, hallo world, Well thought skeptically.
“I’ll call you Hal.” Well said out loud. “Being an assassin I guess you can probably think and act at the same time but I’m not like you. I have my own way of doing things. But…” Well smirked “If it’s chaos ye want I’m yer man.”

Acting cool for once Well felt proud over his nice speech but his moment of shine was interrupted by his natural enemy. The blue hen, Cheesecake came flying from no were and clashed into Well’s head. With a furious cackle the hen screamed at Well and picked him between his eyes as she always did when she was mad. The impact made Well fall to the deck.
“Ow!” Well tried to push the bird away but failed, “Hey stop it! I-ouch- I understand that you are mad at me, so stop trying to pick my brain out!” he managed to grab the hen and sat up. She calmed down and as he let go, the hen took her place between his goggles, destroying his hairstyle. Why did he even try? Well sighted and looked up at the captain of the ship.
“I’m Well Trucker; my full name is Welliam, as you know but since I’ve been called Well since I was a kid I’m used to it. The only one calling me Welliam is the captain and my grandmother. Be a pal and call me Well, will ya?” the redhaired boy pointed at his head, where the hen snoozed in the wind. “This is Cheesecake, my hen. One day I’ll eat her, but I wait till she is bigger. My only question is where the girl is and how we will know it’s her. And by the way when are we there?”

[Keneth]

"I dont lie unless I have a reason to and I currently have no reason for you so yes, the mission is a kidnapping and I turned 16 not long ago. Also yes I can think and act at the same time, for instance right now im talking to you but im thinking that if you call me Hal again i'll shoot you through the foot with my sonic blaster. I told you what im known as and what you may call me, Keneth, nothing more, nothing less. And its fine that you have your own way of doing things but you should know, when we go in and im on the mission, I change into a cold, calculating individual with no thought but success. My mission is to secure the girl and bring her back alive so if you go off and get captured or killed, well thats it for you. So try to stick close and do as your told." He looked at him as he fell to the ground and talked to the bird then continued after he finished talking "Fine Well but be warned, if your pet tries to follow us on the mission, it'll probably get shot by me. As for your other question, i'll tell you when we get there and we'll get there by nightfall. Now, go down the stairs below deck and down the hall and the 3rd room on the left will be yours. You are not to go into any of the other rooms, I am not lying when I say there are 1 or 2 that i'd have to kill you if you went in. My cabin is the first room on the right, my captains quarters the first on the left. If you need me you know where i'll be. Get comfy and be ready, who knows, maybe we'll blow up one of the buildings this time. Get some rest or something, we'll be awake all night." He started walking towards his cabin, muttering to himself "He gets took down by a blue chicken. I see why the captain seems to hate him. Someone like her with someone like him, not a good match."

[Eliza Johansan]

Eliza plucked the plant from the ground, and placed it in the basket lying by her feet. She glanced across the field at the handful of herb gatherers that were finishing the work day. The specific gatherer she was watching was a close friend of her's. She smiled, her face growing slightly warm when he glanced at her. She quickly reaturned to her work, knowing she needed to get as much as she could. She was aware of the fact that she needed to work harder than the other gatherers, to help make money for her small family. She stood and wiped the sweat from her brow on her forarm, and tightened the white kercheif on her head. She pulled the weighty basket from the ground, and continued to another spot in the field, the others waking past her on their way home. Sighing, she leaned down once more to pluck the healing plants from the ground, her back sore and her stomach empty. Still pulling the plants from the earth with her stronger left hand, she reached into her apron pocket and removed what was left of her bread from lunch and began to nibble on it, then popped the entire thing into her mouth. Her basket was growing heavier, but she still continued to load it to its brim- something it seemed her stomach would never be.

*not very long and kinda lousy, just to get myself in*

[Well]

"Hey why the attitude?" Well stood up on the deck and placed one had on his hip. "It's not like I'm revolting so why threaten me? Do you ever relax pal?" Well walked past the assasin and blacked his path, leaning on the doorframe which opened to the deck below. The hen on his head clucked irritated, she had no reason to stay in the cold wind on the upper deck. Well crossed his arms and looked straight into Kenneth's crule eyes, filled with the planes and thoughts. At least that wa what the eyes feeled like in Well's eyes.
"You won't shoot me here." Well pointed out. "You need my assistance you need chaos and it's not likely to slip out with a girl and provide ruckus at the same time, I can think sometimes ye know Hal." Well smiled gently. "Don't missunderstand me, I do believe you can shoot me without hesitation, but not now." Well opened the door and walked down the stairs without looking back. He counted the doors out loud and touched every door he walked past. He stopped with one hand on the third doorknob and looked past at the captain of the ship.
"You have no reason to like me." he smiled, "And I have no reason to trust you, ye know. But I won't look into the other rooms, I have my pride. If you believe it or not some people are honest." With those words Well opened the door and closed it behind him. His hen jumped over to the bed before he layed down. He moved her from the pillow and fell asleep to her angry cackleing.