Post by The Dread Pirate - Blackbeard on Nov 12, 2017 15:12:23 GMT -5
The red coats led the prisoner from the cell filled with lockers and smelling of sweat. He went without a word or struggle. Slowly the small group walked up the stone stairway, their footsteps echoing in the passageway. From below there came moans and groans of the wounded wrestling gladiators, thankful that they had lived to see another go, but grieving for the man who shared their fate. There was a loud clanging, causing the red coats to jump. This raised an amused, yet cynical laugh from their prisoner.
The day was bright, not a cloud hung in the light blue sky. It was hot, most women who were present fanned their delicate faces to relieve themselves of the heat outside. Beads of sweat dripped into the men's eyes and were carelessly brushed away with a hand. The sound of the ocean was carried to their ears on still air. All faces turned to the opening door and the rustling of the black curtain. They held their breaths: this was the pirate Blackbeard.
He himself breathed in deeply, smelling the salty air. In his mind’s eye he saw his ship sailing on the water to freedom, then to peace. He was pushed roughly forward, nearly falling on the hard cobbled yard. He caught his balance at the last minute, pulling himself into an upright position. He looked at the truth of his predicament. He was the lowest of the low: a man who would shoot you in the back if you trusted him. They stared at him, but he stared right back. How many of these men had seen a real fight? How many had watched friends fall before their eyes, been betrayed again and again, the ring was no fairy tale. After all, circumstance made the man. All the men who met his eyes looked away. The pirate captain smirked.
He was moved down a man made path that curved to the ring, a lonely, squared structure. On it stood a large man with a mask-covered face, along with an town crier to read his details to the audience. He nearly laughed aloud. His captors attempted to rush him up the structure's stairs, but he did not want to move that quickly, and so he didn't. He almost always got what he wanted. He went up at a leisurely pace, bowing every so often at people near him, his eyes forever amused. The people standing there watched him intently, some raising their hands, and lighting devices flash, causing the after-image of a flash left in his eyes. At the top of the stairs, the town crier brought him forward so he stood in front of those in attendance, all eyes staring up at him.
He did not look at the audience. There was no bobbing hat pushing its way forward to save him. His parrot called out to him in a high pitched voice, squawking out a loud "Filthy Bastard." He turned to the town crier standing in the ring with him.
Blackbeard speaks, "I admit that I have not been a good lad for most of my life, and I am now willing to accept responsibility for it. Instead of spending my time hiding from those I am indebted to, I will now work to repay them all. I will join the guild of men and women in the West Coast Genesis Federation and become a reformed man."
He knows that what he says is a lie, but for Blackbeard, that's about as close as it will get for him to be a selfless man. A silver-toothed grin spreads over his face, cracking it in half as he looks out among the sea of people and knows that his future greatness begins here.
The day was bright, not a cloud hung in the light blue sky. It was hot, most women who were present fanned their delicate faces to relieve themselves of the heat outside. Beads of sweat dripped into the men's eyes and were carelessly brushed away with a hand. The sound of the ocean was carried to their ears on still air. All faces turned to the opening door and the rustling of the black curtain. They held their breaths: this was the pirate Blackbeard.
He himself breathed in deeply, smelling the salty air. In his mind’s eye he saw his ship sailing on the water to freedom, then to peace. He was pushed roughly forward, nearly falling on the hard cobbled yard. He caught his balance at the last minute, pulling himself into an upright position. He looked at the truth of his predicament. He was the lowest of the low: a man who would shoot you in the back if you trusted him. They stared at him, but he stared right back. How many of these men had seen a real fight? How many had watched friends fall before their eyes, been betrayed again and again, the ring was no fairy tale. After all, circumstance made the man. All the men who met his eyes looked away. The pirate captain smirked.
He was moved down a man made path that curved to the ring, a lonely, squared structure. On it stood a large man with a mask-covered face, along with an town crier to read his details to the audience. He nearly laughed aloud. His captors attempted to rush him up the structure's stairs, but he did not want to move that quickly, and so he didn't. He almost always got what he wanted. He went up at a leisurely pace, bowing every so often at people near him, his eyes forever amused. The people standing there watched him intently, some raising their hands, and lighting devices flash, causing the after-image of a flash left in his eyes. At the top of the stairs, the town crier brought him forward so he stood in front of those in attendance, all eyes staring up at him.
He did not look at the audience. There was no bobbing hat pushing its way forward to save him. His parrot called out to him in a high pitched voice, squawking out a loud "Filthy Bastard." He turned to the town crier standing in the ring with him.
Blackbeard speaks, "I admit that I have not been a good lad for most of my life, and I am now willing to accept responsibility for it. Instead of spending my time hiding from those I am indebted to, I will now work to repay them all. I will join the guild of men and women in the West Coast Genesis Federation and become a reformed man."
He knows that what he says is a lie, but for Blackbeard, that's about as close as it will get for him to be a selfless man. A silver-toothed grin spreads over his face, cracking it in half as he looks out among the sea of people and knows that his future greatness begins here.