p dir="ltr"Dark had gotten a good distance between him and the docks by the time he tapped out. He slumped down in the boat, allowing himself to catch a breather. At least he couldn't see them anymore. But he shouldn't get too comfortable. A ship their size would have no trouble catching up, with the wind on their side./p
p dir="ltr"He sat up, staring out at the horizon. The sun was now setting. Pinks and yellows, purples. It was beautiful. He only hated that he couldn't truly appreciate it. What a rotten day./p
p dir="ltr"His soulmate was a pirate. And he may have killed a person. He didn't know what he did, but he could only hope that Wilford knew he didn't mean it-what was he thinking? Wilford didn't emcare/em. So why should he? He wanted to kidnap you, Dark. Get your priorities straight./p
p dir="ltr"He took hold of the paddles, resigning himself to rowing. To clear his head and keep up the distance. How far could the nearest island be anyhow?br /-br /Wilford stepped below deck, the ship was moving now. Had been for a while. Slowly. They didn't want to sail out too far off Dark's trail. He made his way off, to where they decided it'd be best to keep their wounded crew member./p
p dir="ltr"His right hand man./p
p dir="ltr"Blinded and maybe even worse./p
p dir="ltr""How is he?" he asked the doctor, who jumped at his voice. "Oh calm down. As long as you're emuseful/em I won't need to hurt you."/p
p dir="ltr"Dr. Iplier stammered, hands fumbling with the bandages, soaked in red essence so thick you couldn't even see the skin beneath. "I'm sorry, I-I did what I could. I've healed most of the magic damage. But I can't stop the leaking. I'm sorry." did the doctor ever stop apologizing? It was starting to grate his nerves. "I'm more of a emphysical/em doctor, not magical. That-that's emway/em out of my area of expertise."/p
p dir="ltr""Will he be alright?" Wilford could hardly look at Author. He wasn't used to seeing his usually snarky face all twisted up in pain. Wasn't used to not getting some sarcastic remark out of him either./p
p dir="ltr"The Author was, for once, silent./p
p dir="ltr""I mean-yes? And no-listen. He's emleaking/em essence here. I'm worried that his powers might start effecting everything around him. Even when he doesn't mean them to." it was a very complicated ordeal. The doctor hoped the captain was pleased with his answer./p
p dir="ltr"Wilford pulled up a chair, pointing to the door and the skittish doctor fled the room immediately. Leaving the two of them alone. And eagerly, mind you./p
p dir="ltr"Neither of them spoke./p
p dir="ltr"They didn't have /-br /It was beginning to grow dark, by the time Author said anything. Not that Wilford knew. He hadn't left his side to check. The only light they had came from the faint flicking flame of the lantern beside them. "Wil." he croaked, voice hoarse from hours of pain wracked sobbing./p
p dir="ltr""He speaks! I was just starting to think you'd gone mute too." a smirk split onto his face, his good friend laughing sourly. It was nice to know they could still joke about, despite the circumstances./p
p dir="ltr""You wish." Author's smile slowly turned down, looking to the floorboards above their heads in quiet contemplation. He could hear the crew milling about the deck. Business as usual./p
p dir="ltr"Wilford knew something was on his mind. But he wouldn't push it./p
p dir="ltr"He wouldn't need to./p
p dir="ltr""Wilford." he started again, fingers tracing the edge of his bandages. Soaked. "Why didn't you tell me?"/p
p dir="ltr"Wilford hadn't a clue what Author was talking about. Okay, so maybe he did. He let out a sigh, "I'm sorry, old friend. I thought you knew... that gold streak looks atrocious-" he cackled, a rouge roll of bandages bouncing off his noggin. "Your aim is as spot on as ever."/p
p dir="ltr""Wilford." he warned, pushing himself up to sit. Despite the clear instructions the doctor had given him. He grunted, head swimming, but the sensation soon faded. "You know what I'm talking about. Don't emmake/em me make emyou/em show me."/p
p dir="ltr"And now the joking atmosphere was gone./p
p dir="ltr"The pirate captain grimaced. He knew he never should have attempted to keep something like that from Author. Especially knowing his abilities./p
p dir="ltr"He looked to the door, making sure it was closed. Didn't want anyone getting nosy and eavesdropping. And now he looked down, at his hands. Gloves still in place./p
p dir="ltr""You know I won't tell a soul." Author reasoned, "But we emshould/em talk about it." especially considering the circumstances./p
p dir="ltr"Wilford sighed, and for the first time in far too long, he dropped his façade. With the drop of his glove his appearance took on another form. Runes covered him from head to toe. Carved into his flesh. Long since healed and scarred over. Years old but he still remembered how he gained each one as though it was only yesterday. What they represented./p
p dir="ltr"His ears were pointed and his eyes appeared all the brighter. Every hair on his body was pink, down to his eyelashes./p
p dir="ltr"But this wasn't what Author was talking about. He was talking about the captain's scarred hands. His palm./p
p dir="ltr"He could see it clearly. Bandages be damned. Author didn't need his eyes to see what was so plain and obvious./p
p dir="ltr""Oh Wil..." he shook his head./p
p dir="ltr""Had to have been the sap who would hurt my pal." Wilford scowled, but Author tossed some gauze at him./p
p dir="ltr""Even I know he didn't do it on purpose. He was scared out of his wits. In his shoes, you would have been too."/p
p dir="ltr"He huffed, "Figured I'd end up bound to a contract." he responded, bitter words filling the air around them. "Couldn't have been someone in the damn crew. That'd be too easy."/p
p dir="ltr"Author could only nod, turning his head to the side. "Too easy for folks like us, but since when did you like going easy?" Far too easy. And... nice. Welcomed even. His cheeks were flushing at the thought. He could just imagine it. Being bonded with his good friend. Good, handsome friend./p
p dir="ltr"But in a world full of soulmates it felt silly to have crushes. Didn't mean it hurt any less./p
p dir="ltr"Wilford laughed, Author had him there. He was so stubborn he made a mule look like a kiss ass. "Well, I'm sure I can find some way to turn the tides in our favor." But what did that mean?/p
p dir="ltr"Did it mean gaining the prince's trust? Being with him? Loving him? Did he even want to? Did Wilford want to love? Sounded like it'd just tie him down./p
p dir="ltr"But then what did he know?/p
p dir="ltr"All he's done is sleep around with random men and women, sometimes at the same time. He's used his charms to get what he wants, but never was what he wanted ever been romance. Gold, sex. Partnerships. Wilford could talk his way out of everything and into anyone's pants./p
p dir="ltr"Maybe if he tried settling for one and one only he'd like it. Or maybe Dark would be open to something else. Who knew?/p
p dir="ltr"All he could do is wait and see how things turned out./p
p dir="ltr"Hopefully it didn't end in blood./p
p dir="ltr"But he had a feeling it would./p
p dir="ltr"His first mate's voice pulled him out of his thoughts, "You know... I..." thank the stars for his abilities. If they did emanything/em useful it was helping him to help his friend. And even if he had some feelings for Wilford, he'd put them aside if it meant he'd be happy./p
p dir="ltr"With him or without. Wilford's happiness meant the world./p
p dir="ltr""I know where he is."/p
p dir="ltr"He sat up, staring out at the horizon. The sun was now setting. Pinks and yellows, purples. It was beautiful. He only hated that he couldn't truly appreciate it. What a rotten day./p
p dir="ltr"His soulmate was a pirate. And he may have killed a person. He didn't know what he did, but he could only hope that Wilford knew he didn't mean it-what was he thinking? Wilford didn't emcare/em. So why should he? He wanted to kidnap you, Dark. Get your priorities straight./p
p dir="ltr"He took hold of the paddles, resigning himself to rowing. To clear his head and keep up the distance. How far could the nearest island be anyhow?br /-br /Wilford stepped below deck, the ship was moving now. Had been for a while. Slowly. They didn't want to sail out too far off Dark's trail. He made his way off, to where they decided it'd be best to keep their wounded crew member./p
p dir="ltr"His right hand man./p
p dir="ltr"Blinded and maybe even worse./p
p dir="ltr""How is he?" he asked the doctor, who jumped at his voice. "Oh calm down. As long as you're emuseful/em I won't need to hurt you."/p
p dir="ltr"Dr. Iplier stammered, hands fumbling with the bandages, soaked in red essence so thick you couldn't even see the skin beneath. "I'm sorry, I-I did what I could. I've healed most of the magic damage. But I can't stop the leaking. I'm sorry." did the doctor ever stop apologizing? It was starting to grate his nerves. "I'm more of a emphysical/em doctor, not magical. That-that's emway/em out of my area of expertise."/p
p dir="ltr""Will he be alright?" Wilford could hardly look at Author. He wasn't used to seeing his usually snarky face all twisted up in pain. Wasn't used to not getting some sarcastic remark out of him either./p
p dir="ltr"The Author was, for once, silent./p
p dir="ltr""I mean-yes? And no-listen. He's emleaking/em essence here. I'm worried that his powers might start effecting everything around him. Even when he doesn't mean them to." it was a very complicated ordeal. The doctor hoped the captain was pleased with his answer./p
p dir="ltr"Wilford pulled up a chair, pointing to the door and the skittish doctor fled the room immediately. Leaving the two of them alone. And eagerly, mind you./p
p dir="ltr"Neither of them spoke./p
p dir="ltr"They didn't have /-br /It was beginning to grow dark, by the time Author said anything. Not that Wilford knew. He hadn't left his side to check. The only light they had came from the faint flicking flame of the lantern beside them. "Wil." he croaked, voice hoarse from hours of pain wracked sobbing./p
p dir="ltr""He speaks! I was just starting to think you'd gone mute too." a smirk split onto his face, his good friend laughing sourly. It was nice to know they could still joke about, despite the circumstances./p
p dir="ltr""You wish." Author's smile slowly turned down, looking to the floorboards above their heads in quiet contemplation. He could hear the crew milling about the deck. Business as usual./p
p dir="ltr"Wilford knew something was on his mind. But he wouldn't push it./p
p dir="ltr"He wouldn't need to./p
p dir="ltr""Wilford." he started again, fingers tracing the edge of his bandages. Soaked. "Why didn't you tell me?"/p
p dir="ltr"Wilford hadn't a clue what Author was talking about. Okay, so maybe he did. He let out a sigh, "I'm sorry, old friend. I thought you knew... that gold streak looks atrocious-" he cackled, a rouge roll of bandages bouncing off his noggin. "Your aim is as spot on as ever."/p
p dir="ltr""Wilford." he warned, pushing himself up to sit. Despite the clear instructions the doctor had given him. He grunted, head swimming, but the sensation soon faded. "You know what I'm talking about. Don't emmake/em me make emyou/em show me."/p
p dir="ltr"And now the joking atmosphere was gone./p
p dir="ltr"The pirate captain grimaced. He knew he never should have attempted to keep something like that from Author. Especially knowing his abilities./p
p dir="ltr"He looked to the door, making sure it was closed. Didn't want anyone getting nosy and eavesdropping. And now he looked down, at his hands. Gloves still in place./p
p dir="ltr""You know I won't tell a soul." Author reasoned, "But we emshould/em talk about it." especially considering the circumstances./p
p dir="ltr"Wilford sighed, and for the first time in far too long, he dropped his façade. With the drop of his glove his appearance took on another form. Runes covered him from head to toe. Carved into his flesh. Long since healed and scarred over. Years old but he still remembered how he gained each one as though it was only yesterday. What they represented./p
p dir="ltr"His ears were pointed and his eyes appeared all the brighter. Every hair on his body was pink, down to his eyelashes./p
p dir="ltr"But this wasn't what Author was talking about. He was talking about the captain's scarred hands. His palm./p
p dir="ltr"He could see it clearly. Bandages be damned. Author didn't need his eyes to see what was so plain and obvious./p
p dir="ltr""Oh Wil..." he shook his head./p
p dir="ltr""Had to have been the sap who would hurt my pal." Wilford scowled, but Author tossed some gauze at him./p
p dir="ltr""Even I know he didn't do it on purpose. He was scared out of his wits. In his shoes, you would have been too."/p
p dir="ltr"He huffed, "Figured I'd end up bound to a contract." he responded, bitter words filling the air around them. "Couldn't have been someone in the damn crew. That'd be too easy."/p
p dir="ltr"Author could only nod, turning his head to the side. "Too easy for folks like us, but since when did you like going easy?" Far too easy. And... nice. Welcomed even. His cheeks were flushing at the thought. He could just imagine it. Being bonded with his good friend. Good, handsome friend./p
p dir="ltr"But in a world full of soulmates it felt silly to have crushes. Didn't mean it hurt any less./p
p dir="ltr"Wilford laughed, Author had him there. He was so stubborn he made a mule look like a kiss ass. "Well, I'm sure I can find some way to turn the tides in our favor." But what did that mean?/p
p dir="ltr"Did it mean gaining the prince's trust? Being with him? Loving him? Did he even want to? Did Wilford want to love? Sounded like it'd just tie him down./p
p dir="ltr"But then what did he know?/p
p dir="ltr"All he's done is sleep around with random men and women, sometimes at the same time. He's used his charms to get what he wants, but never was what he wanted ever been romance. Gold, sex. Partnerships. Wilford could talk his way out of everything and into anyone's pants./p
p dir="ltr"Maybe if he tried settling for one and one only he'd like it. Or maybe Dark would be open to something else. Who knew?/p
p dir="ltr"All he could do is wait and see how things turned out./p
p dir="ltr"Hopefully it didn't end in blood./p
p dir="ltr"But he had a feeling it would./p
p dir="ltr"His first mate's voice pulled him out of his thoughts, "You know... I..." thank the stars for his abilities. If they did emanything/em useful it was helping him to help his friend. And even if he had some feelings for Wilford, he'd put them aside if it meant he'd be happy./p
p dir="ltr"With him or without. Wilford's happiness meant the world./p
p dir="ltr""I know where he is."/p