oh for fucksake

bill jukes pirate fancy a tattoo?

[billy-jukes]

With the wind knocked out of him, it took Bill a moment to catch his breath; he hoisted himself to his feet, clutching his left side where his ribs had connected with the tree. It didn’t matter, he had to get in there and help Sam; he pulled his gun from its holster as well as the wavy curved dagger from his boot. Jukes circled behind Bones, steadying his firearm with the sword arm underneath, trying to aim for a clear shot at one of the beast’s eyes. “If this bastard doesn’t buckle soon we may have to leg it,” he muttered in a low voice as he passed behind Sam fully now, angling to the creature’s other side.

[sammybones]

Sam grunted in response, rationally Bill was right and the smart thing to do was cut and run but Sam had never been good at doing the smart thing in the heat of a fight. The creature was moving slowly, seemingly keeping an eye on then and as Jukes was moving around, Sam bounced low on his feet to demand attention but the wait felt endless as he waited for the toad to make a move. The tension was creeping into his shoulders, tight and uncomfortable, until the toad finally shot out with it’s tongue and Bones jumped aside. He yelled in pain as his left side was slapped by the disgusting thing, but with his right hand swung down with all his might and chopped through the tongue and watching it slap onto the dirt.

[billy-jukes]

The toad bellowed, throwing back its head as the oozing remainder of its tongue thrashed about in its gaping maw. "Jesus, Sam!" Jukes shouted in disgust as the limp piece on the floor twitched. He grinned though, and fired several shots into the creature's open mouth. The double attack seemed to be forcing the beast back, back, back into the trees. If it disappeared into the woods, who knew what would happen, what the creature would go on to do. Would it heal? Would it return with a vengeance? Jukes didn't want to find out. "We can't let it get away!" He shouted over the firing shots; forever grateful to the captain for upgrading their guns the last stop on the mainland. He had three left, if his numbers were right, and backed up to try and circle around the creature again.

[billy-jukes]

The only thing for it that Bill could see, was to keep fighting, or turn tail and run. However, despite the building desire in him to do the latter, Jukes followed Bones’ lead and also charged at the creature from the other side, slashing and jabbing where he could. “If only we had like,” Bill started, shouting over the goliath toad’s grunting and stomping. “A cannon,” he continued, pulling his blade out, tucking and rolling away from the large, webbed foot landed where he’d just been standing with a thud. He wiped sweat from his brow onto his shoulder, tightened his grip on the sword with both hands, and ran into the side of the beast, blade going in to the hilt. It howled something ancient, which was encouraging, but when Bill tried to pull his sword out, the creature swung its arm; the bumpy skin connected with Jukes’ side, and he was thrown back about ten feet, landing at the base of a tree.

[sammybones]

Whatever Jukes had done had been a big blow to the creature and it made a brief smile of relief cross his features. It could be hurt, and whilst slim, they did have a chance here. He heard a thump and Bones rushed a couple steps to see Jukes on the ground. “Shit!” The best he could do for him was keep the toad busy and so Sam hacked his sword into the side of the creature’s mouth, hoping to give him a Chelsea Smile and maybe damage that disgusting tongue of his. The creature didn’t shriek like it did for Jukes, but it made a gurbled noise of displeasure and it started to angle itself towards Sam. Sam shifted back and tried to ready himself to slash his tongue off, hoping the adrenaline gave him a boost to his reflexes.

[billy-jukes]

With the wind knocked out of him, it took Bill a moment to catch his breath; he hoisted himself to his feet, clutching his left side where his ribs had connected with the tree. It didn't matter, he had to get in there and help Sam; he pulled his gun from its holster as well as the wavy curved dagger from his boot. Jukes circled behind Bones, steadying his firearm with the sword arm underneath, trying to aim for a clear shot at one of the beast's eyes. "If this bastard doesn't buckle soon we may have to leg it," he muttered in a low voice as he passed behind Sam fully now, angling to the creature's other side.

[billy-jukes]

“How the hell–” Bill started to call to Sam, when the toad’s tongue thwacked out past its lips, thumping the ground just inches away from Juke’s right heel. “Shit!” He shouted in surprise and brought his sword down against the bumpy tendon. A wet squelching sound echoed through the woods as the smallest piece of the tongue was severed and splatted to the ground beside him. “Eugh, what the–” Bill grimaced as the creature jerked back, a rage crossing its grotesque features. “How the hell do we fight this thing?” He finished his initial thought, leaping out of the way as the toad writhed, but was seemingly unimpeded by the attack.

When Sam yanked out the blade, this time some sort of purple looking blood smeared the edges. It was gloopy and unlike anything he’d seen, but it was different to the green slime from before. The toad jerked and Sam jumped back, spotting the chunk of tongue flopping onto the ground. “Fuck knows!” Sam yelled in response. His only solution to something like this was blind rage and he charged back at the toad, a series of slashes and hits as he circled the monstrosity towards its front. Perhaps if they blinded it or chopped off its tongue they could do something more effective to kill this thing for good.

[sammybones]

When Sam yanked out the blade, this time some sort of purple looking blood smeared the edges. It was gloopy and unlike anything he’d seen, but it was different to the green slime from before. The toad jerked and Sam jumped back, spotting the chunk of tongue flopping onto the ground. “Fuck knows!” Sam yelled in response. His only solution to something like this was blind rage and he charged back at the toad, a series of slashes and hits as he circled the monstrosity towards its front. Perhaps if they blinded it or chopped off its tongue they could do something more effective to kill this thing for good.

[billy-jukes]

The only thing for it that Bill could see, was to keep fighting, or turn tail and run. However, despite the building desire in him to do the latter, Jukes followed Bones' lead and also charged at the creature from the other side, slashing and jabbing where he could. "If only we had like," Bill started, shouting over the goliath toad's grunting and stomping. "A cannon," he continued, pulling his blade out, tucking and rolling away from the large, webbed foot landed where he'd just been standing with a thud. He wiped sweat from his brow onto his shoulder, tightened his grip on the sword with both hands, and ran into the side of the beast, blade going in to the hilt. It howled something ancient, which was encouraging, but when Bill tried to pull his sword out, the creature swung its arm; the bumpy skin connected with Jukes' side, and he was thrown back about ten feet, landing at the base of a tree.

[billy-jukes]

Panic flooded Juke’s body, but he shook himself and followed Sam’s lead, throwing himself forward to the toad’s other side, and was rewarded only slightly at the beast’s mild confusion. He wondered if they could get the beast to lash out again, if they could strike the tongue from its mouth, to at least rid it of that particular skill. His blade slit against the creature’s arm, and while it managed to connect with it’s slimy skin, it didn’t seem to do much damage.

[sammybones]

It took a lot of force to drag the blade from the toad, but again it looked as if the skin globbed back together as if it never happened. There was residue on his sword though, a green slime that Sam wasn’t sure was blood and bearing in mind the stinging of his left hand, he was careful not to touch it. The toad was slow moving at the very least, so they had one advantage over it. It seemed to be turning towards Bill, so Sam tried again with a stab instead of a slash, trying to push the blade as deep as possible into the creature hoping somewhere beneath that thick skin there was an organ he could pierce.

[billy-jukes]

"How the hell--" Bill started to call to Sam, when the toad's tongue thwacked out past its lips, thumping the ground just inches away from Juke's right heel. "Shit!" He shouted in surprise and brought his sword down against the bumpy tendon. A wet squelching sound echoed through the woods as the smallest piece of the tongue was severed and splatted to the ground beside him. "Eugh, what the--" Bill grimaced as the creature jerked back, a rage crossing its grotesque features. "How the hell do we fight this thing?" He finished his initial thought, leaping out of the way as the toad writhed, but was seemingly unimpeded by the attack.

[billy-jukes]

He’d have been lying if Bill had said he hadn’t started to wet himself at the sight of the absolute beast revealing itself. “Shit!” He screamed, falling back as the creature had landed, the sound of gunshots filling the air. Scrambling to his feet, Jukes jumped forward with his blade, trying to keep his hand steady as the beast struck out at Sam. “Get down!” He yelled, though it wasn’t much help. The lingering smell of gunsmoke filled his nose, the metallic tang making his teeth run cold. The monster hadn’t even seemed to flinch as the bullets had made contact; how were they supposed to fight this?

[sammybones]

Sam yelled out as the tongue connected, though his arm was covered with his jacket it still touched his hand and searing pain spread through the skin and up his forearm. He tried to shake it off, though the pain didn’t pass. The skin was red and welting, and stung as if he’d touched a jellyfish. “Don’t let the tongue touch you!” He yelled to Bill. Luckily it wasn’t his dominant hand. He raised his sword, took a deep breath and charged at the horrible creature. Bones rushed in, dodging to the side and swung his sword hard into the toad’s arm.

[billy-jukes]

Panic flooded Juke's body, but he shook himself and followed Sam's lead, throwing himself forward to the toad's other side, and was rewarded only slightly at the beast's mild confusion. He wondered if they could get the beast to lash out again, if they could strike the tongue from its mouth, to at least rid it of that particular skill. His blade slit against the creature's arm, and while it managed to connect with it's slimy skin, it didn't seem to do much damage.

[uisanirak]

🤤

[billy-jukes]

Bill nodded, holding his sword out in a defensive pose and slowly turned so his back was to Sam’s back, figuring to get a better coverage of the area. It would have been so much better had more men shown up for the hunt, but he couldn’t focus on that right now. The air was so thick with the silence that a creeping feel of suffocation was working its way up Bill’s arms, and the hair on the back of his neck began to rise. A slight wind rustled a bush to his left and he turned on instinct, both hands gripping the handle tighter. “Something’s in there,” he murmured, heart pounding in his ears as he realized there hadn’t been a breeze.

[sammybones]

Sam’s head snapped to Bill, he hadn’t heard what he’d said but figured he wouldn’t have said a thing if it weren’t important. A second later, a monstrosity leapt into view, landing so hard it made the floor beneath him shudder and Sam stumbled backwards. The monster looked like a toad and was at least a foot taller than him, it’s skin patterned green and brown, slick and slimy, with ridges of pustules down it’s back. Sam raised his revolver and fired three shots into it’s front. They pierced the skin but no blood was drawn, it was as if the bullets were absorbed into it’s blubbery flesh. “Fucking hell!” Bones exclaimed as he rushed to holster the gun and drew his sword instead. As he did, he stepped backwards as the toad’s tongue lolled out of it’s mouth and suddenly snapped out at him, cracking like a whip as it hit Sam’s arm.

[billy-jukes]

He'd have been lying if Bill had said he hadn't started to wet himself at the sight of the absolute beast revealing itself. "Shit!" He screamed, falling back as the creature had landed, the sound of gunshots filling the air. Scrambling to his feet, Jukes jumped forward with his blade, trying to keep his hand steady as the beast struck out at Sam. "Get down!" He yelled, though it wasn't much help. The lingering smell of gunsmoke filled his nose, the metallic tang making his teeth run cold. The monster hadn't even seemed to flinch as the bullets had made contact; how were they supposed to fight this?

[billy-jukes]

Bill swallowed and then cleared his throat; if there was one thing he didn’t want, was to appear as nervous as he felt in front of Bill. The man had seen him flinch and duck out of a bar fight with a very intoxicated Evans, and didn’t need that memory dredged up. Looking around the clearing, he reached for his sword. After patting for a good fifteen seconds, he looked down to see the scabbard had somehow rotated to his other hip, and retrieved it quickly, adjusting the belt back around and scanned the area. He squinted his eyes a bit, looking anywhere besides Sam, in case the man had seen his mishap.

[sammybones]

Sam took two slow steps forward, not so far as to enter the clearing, but enough for a closer look. He hadn’t noticed before while they were walking and passing through the brush, but the space was silent. Unnaturally silent, not even a bird chirping above them. It was disturbing, and Sam swallowed hard. There was something here, something had terrified all the creatures away from the area. He wished they had some idea of what they were walking into, it might have taken some of the nerves out of Sam’s chest. “Stay back a couple steps.” Sam turned to whisper back at Bill, figuring spreading out slightly was a better tactic when they were going in blind. Sam crept around the edge of the clearing, behind a tree, ten feet or so away from Bill before he stepped past the grass and onto the drying mud of the clearing.

[billy-jukes]

Bill nodded, holding his sword out in a defensive pose and slowly turned so his back was to Sam's back, figuring to get a better coverage of the area. It would have been so much better had more men shown up for the hunt, but he couldn't focus on that right now. The air was so thick with the silence that a creeping feel of suffocation was working its way up Bill's arms, and the hair on the back of his neck began to rise. A slight wind rustled a bush to his left and he turned on instinct, both hands gripping the handle tighter. "Something's in there," he murmured, heart pounding in his ears as he realized there hadn't been a breeze.

[billy-jukes]

Bill nodded and swiped his brow with the back of his hand. “Wha’d'you suppose it is? I’ve never seen anything rip apart a man like whatever done Martin,” Jukes commented, pausing a moment to take a pull from his canteen. “Surprised there’s still grain,” he added, scanning the area a moment, wondering if the beast still lurked around, warding off any critters that would normally make a feast out of what Lenham dropped.

[sammybones]

Sam glanced around, making sure they weren’t being watched by a stalking creature. “Not sure, Lenham was… unhelpful.” He’d been a trembling wreck, and whilst Sam understood his fear, he couldn’t help but judge him for running. Bones looked at the grain and nodded, “Good point.” It was concerning as to what beast’s hunting ground they might be walking into. “It must be close, stay alert.”

[billy-jukes]

Bill swallowed and then cleared his throat; if there was one thing he didn't want, was to appear as nervous as he felt in front of Bill. The man had seen him flinch and duck out of a bar fight with a very intoxicated Evans, and didn't need that memory dredged up. Looking around the clearing, he reached for his sword. After patting for a good fifteen seconds, he looked down to see the scabbard had somehow rotated to his other hip, and retrieved it quickly, adjusting the belt back around and scanned the area. He squinted his eyes a bit, looking anywhere besides Sam, in case the man had seen his mishap.

[billy-jukes]

Sweat trickled down Bill’s brow and he hefted the canvas bag higher on his shoulder. One of the straps had snapped but the duo were too far from port at this point to justify going back for a new one. The past month, though quiet after the witch trauma, a beast had been wreaking havoc in the woods surrounding the pirate port. He’d volunteered to join the hunting party, and was slightly disappointed that only Sam had shown up. Bones was decent enough, but Bill knew the whole trip would be serious business without a few others to banter with. Of course, it was serious business, with four pirates lost to the vicious beast that had yet to be sighted. “You don’t think we’ve scared it off, do ya?” He called ahead to Sam.

[sammybones]

After the non stop danger of the witch bullshit, most were happy for life to return to quiet. The kids weren’t harrassing them too much, probably also happy for a break. Sam though had felt edgy after a couple weeks passed. He’d been snapping at anyone that looked at him funny at the pub at nights, starting a few arguments in the process. When news of a beast attacks started spreading, Sam jumped in and offered himself up for the hunting party. He had to admit, it was disappointing when he found it was only Jukes that had offered alongside him. All he could hope for was the man wasn’t using the shit he peddled on the side. “No.” Sam answered plainly, wondering if Bill was serious. They were heading in the direction one cowardly pirate had advised he’d run from the beast the other day, and Sam paused when he spotted a dropped bag of spilled grains in a clearing ahead. “This must be where Lenham saw it.” He told Bill, hand resting in anticipation on his gun holster.

[billy-jukes]

Bill nodded and swiped his brow with the back of his hand. "Wha'd'you suppose it is? I've never seen anything rip apart a man like whatever done Martin," Jukes commented, pausing a moment to take a pull from his canteen. "Surprised there's still grain," he added, scanning the area a moment, wondering if the beast still lurked around, warding off any critters that would normally make a feast out of what Lenham dropped.

[billy-jukes]

Sweat trickled down Bill's brow and he hefted the canvas bag higher on his shoulder. One of the straps had snapped but the duo were too far from port at this point to justify going back for a new one. The past month, though quiet after the witch trauma, a beast had been wreaking havoc in the woods surrounding the pirate port. He'd volunteered to join the hunting party, and was slightly disappointed that only Sam had shown up. Bones was decent enough, but Bill knew the whole trip would be serious business without a few others to banter with. Of course, it was serious business, with four pirates lost to the vicious beast that had yet to be sighted. "You don't think we've scared it off, do ya?" He called ahead to Sam.

[billy-jukes]

devynshields​:

Devyn had slept in a booth in the bar, too fucked up from drinking so heavily with Rory. The option to stay in Rory’s room had been there, but she didn’t want to be there when Sam came back after the battle. She also didn’t have the feet to get to the womens shelter. When she woke the bar was bustling and her head was pounding. “Ugh, be quiet.” She snapped at a nearby pirate, pressing her palm to her temple as her face crumpled with the pain. 

Best way to get rid of a hangover in her mind was greasy food, which wasn’t an option, and more drink, so Dev stood and made her way to the front, ending up beside her dealer. “Oh shit,” She averted her eyes at the sight, then slowly looked over the lanky man, covered in blood and a knife in his shoulder. “You need a drink more than I do.” 

Bill glanced down at Devyn and gave a wry grimace. “After that bloodbath, I think we all could. But t’ain’t going to pass up your offer,” he grinned, and ordered ahead of her. “Need more ‘an one of these before I’m ready to pull it out,” he commented, before chuckling at the dirty joke that flashed inside his head at the sentence. “How are you?” He asked, not wanting to dwell on the pulsing pain in his shoulder. 

[billy-jukes]

way less sad || open

As he came to, Jukes felt the heat of the daylight first before the stabbing pain in his shoulder. His head felt as though he had the biggest hangover known to man, and his face was stiff with the sun dried blood that had dripped out of his nose. “Fuck,” he muttered, and tongued the side of his upper teeth, feeling a loose molar. “What the fuck?” Bill groaned, laying still in the mud, unsure if he wanted to move. He took a deep breath, and was glad to know his lungs weren’t injured. Some painted lost kid had jumped on his back and bit his ear like a wild beast, while what looked like the lost one’s duplicate attacked from the front. He fell to the ground before he could catch himself, and then they were both beating on him, and one of them had stabbed a dagger into his shoulder. 

Bill remembered all this, and then glanced down at his shoulder to see the bejewled weapon implanted in his upper arm. “Ah no,” he moaned, and slowly, gingerly sat up. His boots were gone. “The little fuckers!” He gasped angrily, and pulled himself to his feet. He wandered down the street, picking across broken bottles and bloodied puddles. Mulligan’s was calling like a hooker at midnight, and he stumbled into the crowded building where a welcoming sign read ‘one free drink per customer’ at the till. Bill was sure he looked ridiculous with the dagger sticking out from his arm, but he wasn’t about to rip it out and bleed out all over the floor. 

[devynshields]

like a bird through the night || devyn and bill

[billy-jukes]

devynshields‌:

Dev lifted her shoulders as she brought the coffee mug to her lips. A lot of things worked on her, charm, looks, humour, drugs, alcohol, kindness, rudeness, the promise of good sex. “Honestly, as if I’m going to give you a guidebook.” Was her retort though, topping it off with an eye roll for good measure. He’d have to figure it out himself, and it wasn’t that hard. 

Bill laughed at her words, deciding he liked her. “Alright, fair enough,” he took another drink of his coffee. He felt a bit awkward now, as now if he was going to try and work on her, she’d see it coming a mile off. He felt a need for a bit of powdered courage if he was going to make any attempts, and he just shrugged, leaning back against the kitchen counter. “So, what were you looking for Straits for?” he asked, setting his cup down and crossing his arms.

[devynshields]

like a bird through the night || devyn and bill

[billy-jukes]

devynshields‌:

Devyn laughed and agreed despite the fact she barely knew him. Clearly she had a more accurate view of him than the dumb broads he’d managed to bag though. “Yeah, that’s not gonna work on me.” She warned him with an amused smirk, though it was a little presumptuous, she very much was that type. “Aren’t they? God, can’t stand them.” She gave him a slight smile before she drank. Only a couple of people were tolerable long term. 

Bill gave a sound of surprise when she said that it wouldn’t work on her, before he laughed. That hadn’t been his intention, but now a part of him wanted to earn her favor. “Oh no?” What works on you, then?” he asked, brows raised as he took another sip of coffee.

[devynshields]

like a bird through the night || devyn and bill

[billy-jukes]

devynshields‌:

She scrunched her nose up at him, a wry smirk on her face and shook his head at him. “Sounds about right.” All of it did, Roxy probably taking the brunt of it, and the women falling all over him now. “They probably think you’re mister sensitive now, some girl’s dig that.” Probably the better adjusted liked that, but she tended to go for guys that were terrible for her. 

“Yes, and they are so wrong,” Bill snorted, shaking his head. In truth, the only sensitivity he had was for the children. Anyone eighteen or older that had nothing to offer could go rot for all he cared. “Kids are different though, you know? They have no say in what happens around them, and yet they run around with such innocence and wonder. Can’t say I haven’t shed a tear over one or two tender moments, but on the whole,” he explained, raising his mug to his lips. “People are horrible,” he finished with a chuckle. 

[devynshields]

like a bird through the night || devyn and bill

[billy-jukes]

devynshields‌:

Devyn held the coffee mug to her chest, letting it het her from the inside and outside, as he explained the status quo. She thought that if she’d had that offer as a child she’d have jumped at it, but she’d already grown up and squandered that chance. Still, living in a pirate port was pretty escapist too. “Right, sure. Well.” She paused, thinking on it. It still didn’t make a whole lot of sense, why these kids running off to live together was such a bad idea, but then Lord of the Flies came into her head and she realised that it probably was. Still, she’d ask Rory for more in depth information later. “So you’re like, resident daddy then? Don’t you feel like you’re missing out?”

Bill laughed out loud when she called him resident daddy, and shook his head. “Sure, if you like,” he replied with another chuckle. “No, not really; I still go about normally, do my own things. And if I’m being honest, I get more tail than I did before I took the kids in. Some of the women in town find it charming,” he cracked a grin, though he could tell from the expression on her face when Wilder ran through, that she would not be impressed with that sort of thing.