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About Time!
tN!! (JP 2k5)
I still remember when Ara told me she was pregnant with our oldest. I had been elated, and when I discovered the child would be a girl, I was sure nothing could make me happier. Jon had laughed and said I walked around for days in a cloud of bliss; it was like when I had first met Ara. He jibed at me whenever he could, but I didn’t care. I was to be a father, and even though I am just the king’s advisor, she would be my little princess. When Vesper came, she was perfect. She had her mother’s eyes, which looked so much like the sea surrounding our caved city, and I instantly knew I could never let any harm befall her. When she met Jack, that swordsman from that pirate crew, I had been worried. It broke my heart to see her leave with him, but I still had
Deimos and Crescent, and she promised to visit. Then, on a visit three months later, she claimed to have fallen in love with the captain, B’jock. My concern grew, but I remained silent. Vesper was a sensible girl, and she could handle herself. However, when B’jock approached me last week to ask for her hand, after four years of courting, I was anything but pleased.
It happened last Thursday, during one of the princess’s lessons. I had been trying to explain the importance of knowing the other peoples of our world Coralis, and Nezumi was trying to stay awake. Deimos was sitting next to her, laughing his head off as she swayed back and forth in her state of drowsiness. I was getting absolutely nowhere, and I could feel my irritation rising as I turned to write on the board. Nezumi is a good girl, and she’ll make a fine queen someday, but she can be extremely aggravating. I had just begun writing when her shout and my son’s renewed laughter broke my concentration.
“B’jock!” Nezumi had cried. I turned around in time to see her rush the man, who had become like a brother to her, and hug him. Deimos laughed and waved as B’jock smiled at them.
“You’re early,” Deimos said. He was right; B’jock wasn’t to arrive until the next day.
“I came ahead,” the pirate said. “I needed to talk to Mr. Starr.” I could feel my eyebrow rising in curiosity.
“Papa Dark?” Nezumi asked. “Why?”
“I have to talk with him about Vesper,” B’jock said.
“Oh! Ok, then!” Nezumi chirped. She took Deimos’s hand and pulled him to the door. I cleared my throat, and Deimos looked at me.
“C’mon, Dad!” he whined. “Nez stopped listening an hour ago, and Dwayne’s gonna be here any minute!”
“That’s right,” I had said, “You did promise the Flame Dancers you’d meet them upon their return, didn’t you?” I almost laughed at Nezumi’s child-like expression.
“I forgot Shaunee’s coming home!” she cried, ignoring Deimos’s scowl. “C’mon, SLASH!” They left, and I looked at B’jock.
“You’ve been courting my daughter for four years,” I told him. “You can call me by my name.”
“Aye, but ‘Papa Dark’ sounds too strange for me,” he said.
“Dark is fine,” I told him. “Nezumi calls me that because she is betrothed to my son, and with her father dead -”
“I know,” he said, a dark shadow passing his face. “With King Jon dead, you’ve taken up the role, in a way. Aye, I’m glad you mentioned betrothals, either way. That’s why I’m needing to talk to you.” I could feel my eyebrows lowering, and I bit back the growl I felt rising in my throat.
“Explain,” I hissed. He seemed nervous, and he had every right to be. He pulled at his open, white collar and his amber eyes darted around the room; any minute he’d begin sweating bullets.
“I-I…” he muttered. He cleared his throat and continued. “I wish to marry Vesper.”
“I know this,” I remember how cold my voice had been as I snapped the words. “Why should I let you, a filthy pirate, wed her?”
I had watched him closely. A small fire began blazing in his eyes, and he had bristled the moment the words left my mouth. He shoved a hand through his midnight hair, and placed the other hand over the burgundy sash at his waist. His fingers grazed the hilt of his sword, and I remember planning how to best a void an attack. But he wouldn’t – not if he wanted my blessing.
“‘Tis true los banditos used to be the best pirate crew out there, but ‘tis also true we’ve changed our ways,” he said. He stared me down, all nervousness gone. “We’re merchants now – doin’ things the right way. I’ve ne’er hid anythin’ from Vesper or you, an’ I don’t intend to start. I love yer daughter, an’ she loves me. I’ll ask her with o without yer approval, but I’d feel better if you agreed.”
“If you hurt her, Darenal will seem like a welcome reprieve to the hell we’ll put you through,” I said, referring to the capital of the demon lands. “Not even Nezumi will stand beside you.” He returned my glare and gave a solemn nod.
“Ne’er would I willingly harm her,” he said. “I swear mi life on it.”
I had agreed, but only because it would make Vesper happy. I am worried, though. I do not want to give her up, especially to a pirate – even a former pirate – like him. I know he’ll keep her safe, and if he fails those other roughians are there. Still, I am worried. I look out across the beach to see Deimos chasing Nezumi around; there is an angry crab in his hands, and she is squealing in humored terror. I smile as I take a seat on the dock and watch. At least I’ll be able to keep Jon’s daughter from the pirates, and at least I’ll be able to keep my other daughter safe.
As I glance at her, an’ see the moon reflecting in her pale viridian hair, my past words leave. The great Cap’n B’jock was reduced to goo by a beautiful, amazing, strong, kind, intelligent, and completely wonderful woman. Sounds about right. And I could marry her – Dark had said yes. Looking back on it now, I had been terrified. I knew he would ne’er agree, and his comment on mi past only confirmed that. I’m only grateful mi words persuaded him to agree, even if he did threaten mi life. Bah, but Nezumi would ne’er hate me. She would understand.
“How long has it been since I pirated yer heart from Jack?” I find myself asking. She looks at me, her crystalline eyes glowin’ in Luna’s light. Aye, not even the desert goddess herself could compare in beauty to mi Vesper!
“Four years, you lunatic,” she says with a roll of her eyes. “You know this. Why do you ask?” I look up at the sky and chew over her question. I had a reason. A good reason. A damned good reason. But how to tell her without giving it away?
“I-it just seems longer,” I try. ‘Twas the most moronic thing I’ve e’er said, but it worked. It’s given me an opening, though, an’ I’m not about to waste it. “Feels like it’s been fore’er. I don’t mind that, though. I’ll spend fore’er with ye, if ye’ll have me.” There, it’s said.
A black flood suddenly overtakes me. Mi thoughts swim through mi head, and mi vision darts to mi ruddy boots. How could I just throw it out so callously? She’ll ne’er agree! She’ll…she’ll…she’s laughin’?! “V-Ves’?”
“B’jock, are you proposing?” she asks. I wish I had a mirror; I swear mi face is redder than Dusty’s bandanna.
“Y-y-yes,” I stutter. Arena, if ye be as merciful as they preach, kill me now.
“Say it right,” she says with a smirk. I’m dumbfounded by her actions, an’ I think she notices. “Ask me properly, or I’ll ignore you.” I sigh; she’s tryin’ to kill me!
“W-will y-you m-marry me?” I ask.
“Without stuttering,” she chides. Curse her to the deepest depths o’ the sea!
“Just answer!” I snap. She turns to me, an enigmatic smile on her face, an’ I find meself drownin’ in her eyes. She wraps her arms about mi neck and gives me a kiss.
“You already know my answer, you stock,” she says. “I’d be a fool to say no, and I am anything but a fool. Of course I’ll marry you.”
I’m still brooding over this when I see Cap’n B’jock and Vesper up ahead. I don’t think they noticed me because they’re still talking loud.
“W-will y-you m-marry me?” Cap’n B’jock asks. I gag; I would have screamed, but being a mute makes that kinda useless. So I do the only thing I can – I jump into a bush and spy.
“Just answer!” the Cap’n shouts at her. I smirk; this must be humiliating for him! I listen for her answer, and my smirk grows as she agrees. Sensing things are going to get…er…private (I respect the Cap’n – I can’t see him like that), I bolt towards the rec room, nearly bowling down Aeron in the process.
“Watch it, Dusty!” he shouts after me. I brush him off, seeing the doorway. I burst in and begin flailing my arms about, jumping up and down, stomping, and anything else to draw attention.
“Dusty’s gone loco!” Patch shouts as he points at me. I feel my eyes roll as I run to the large chalkboard on the wall and write, “CAP’N B’JOCK Y VESPER ARE GETTIN MARRIED!!!”
“WHAT?!?!?!” comes the roar. I wince as the room explodes with questions and conversations, and I briefly wonder why Arena didn’t take my hearing instead of my speaking. I’m happy for the Cap’n, but maybe I should’ve let them tell the others. Nah.
My eyes fall on Jack, who’s sitting in a corner in the back of the room. I from as I see his shielded expression, and I soon find myself wondering how he’s doing. He’d been very in love with Vesper, and I think he still is, even if he is dating Soujourn. I sit down next to Ichigo, who’s talking to Switch about something, and continue to watch him.
Arena, I find myself quietly praying, please keep him from doing something stupid…
My eyebrows soar as Dusty runs in, flailing about like a madman. I wonder what’s gotten into him as Patch shouts he’s gone crazy, and at the moment it seems quite plausible.
“What’s wrong with Dusty?” Mañana asks as she stands from her seat nearby. I shrug and watch him run to the board, where he writes that B’jock and Vesper are engaged. I can’t admit that I’m surprised, it should be clear that I’m not, but it’s still odd. My ex is going to marry my best friend. What’s actually surprising, though, is not the fact that I want to kill B’jock, but the fact that I don’t. I had once deemed Vesper the love of my life, so why am I ok with this? I should be bitter and, as Nezumi describes it, “grr-arrgy.” It feels weird, like we’d just come through a virulent storm and my gut hasn’t settled. I’m not sure I like it. In fact, I don’t like it at all. I glance over at Soujourn, my new girlfriend, and wonder why I feel this way.
I was the one who set up Banditos and Water Breather relations. B’jock and I had been through a tough scrap, and while he had been taken hostage, I crawled my way to the nearest city. Byrd, Nezumi’s older brother, had found me passed out on the steps leading to the city gates, and he had ordered Vesper to take care of me. She was the first thing I saw when I woke up, and I remember thinking I had died and Arena herself was welcoming me to the world beyond. I think I must’ve said this aloud, because a moment later Nezumi was introduced as a giggling eight-year-old. She made a comment about how I had called Vesper by the name of the “funny desert goddess” before Vesper chased her off, and I knew I was in love. With a stranger I just met? Yes. With the beautiful stranger I had just met. I’d known her for a year before I asked her out. We were almost inseparable after that, but I was too stupid to realize the truth behind this. At first, I’m sure she cared for me. Then Byrd and me rescued B’jock. It all started after we rescued B’jock, and after Byrd abandoned his people. Vesper had liked Byrd when they were younger (she had told me), and B’jock, in many ways, is like Byrd. I think it was only natural she’d leave me for him. Still, it had hurt.
My eyes travel back over to Soujourn, and I smile. I have her now. I had looked at her as a rival at first, as she was an excellent swordsman with skill that challenged my own. But I had respected her, and soon we were good friends. This happened after Mañana set me up as a dirty lecher and Soujourn beat me to within an inch of my life, of course. When Vesper left, she let me rant to her. A few weeks later, rum made me realize I liked her. A lot. It also made me realize Mañana was right in calling me a dirty lech. But that wasn’t going to deter me. We’ve been together ever since, and I honestly see myself marrying her. You see, I believe I finally understand love. I’ll always care for Vesper – she’ll always be like a sister. But I will always love Soujourn. Forever and for more, Soujourn will hold my heart.
“If you’re not careful, Pepi will begin to think you like him,” says a voice behind me. I smile and stand before bringing Vesper into a hug.
“Congratulations, Ves,” I tell her. “B’jock needs a girl like you to keep him in line.” She laughs and smirks.
“Same for Soujourn,” she says. “Speaking of whom, when will you two tie the knot?” I look over at Soujourn and smile my hopeful smile.
“Who knows?” I ask. “Maybe soon. It’s about time the four of us stop beating round the bush, don’t you agree?
“It is,” she says as she leans against my shoulder and watches my love. “Indeed it is.”
a.n.:
Ok, this was a Point of View assignment for my College Prep Writing class. We were given a list of scenarios and possible people, and we either had to choose one or make up our own. We then had to write the scenario from the POV of at least three characters. I chose the engagement scenario, and I wrote it from the father’s POV (Dark Starr), the potential groom’s POV (Cap’n B’jock), the witness’s POV (Dusty), and the old love’s POV (Jack).
This takes place a little a little before volume 2, I guess. I’m assuming, at least – this may change later. I’m still working out the details for the whole series.
“About Time!” and all other Junction Crossing properties are © Junction Productions 2005. Please do not edit, use, or redistribute without permission.
