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Post by Ava on Aug 28, 2010 10:40:24 GMT -5
"Is that how you think of me?"
"That my soul is as black as the sky with tiny specks of goodness floating around? I thought those flecks had died or run away years ago, after having been neglected for so long. Today gives me hope, hope that I can be a better person and use my skills for good. Or something like that."
"Joxer, you already used your skills for good. Keeping me free, freeing the women, catching food, making a fire, giving some comfort to the women, and making that shelter. Do you honestly think any other man would have done that or tried?" Ava questioned. "Most don't care at all. As long as the people they love are fine it doesn't matter what happens to anyone else. They'd rather just keep things the way they are even if they do believe something is wrong. Too afraid to rock the boat."
Not many things angered Ava, but that was one of them. People seeing something wrong being done and not do a thing to try and stop it. Some people just said 'slavery is just a different way of life. Just because it's different doesn't mean it's wrong.' Then there were the cowards that would willing give everything they had to whoever demanded it as they said they'd spare the village, but didn't. What a waste of lives.
"As for what I think of you, well, I think you're more like the sunrise. Goodness taking over the dark."
Time passed and Joxer eventually went to sleep. Ava couldn't help but smile as she then went on to finish up her scroll, though after a minute or two she was startled by loud moans and a scream. Ava loked at Joxer, just dropping her quill and parchment. "Joxer." Ava sat on her knees next to him. Putting a soft hand to his cheek and looking him in the eyes she asked; "Are you alright?" Her voice was filled with concern, and worry.
"I'd appreciate it if none of this made it onto any scrolls."
"It won't. I promise."
Tag: Joxer.
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Aug 28, 2010 14:29:56 GMT -5
"Joxer, you already used your skills for good. Keeping me free, freeing the women, catching food, making a fire, giving some comfort to the women, and making that shelter. Do you honestly think any other man would have done that or tried?"
She had a point...
"Most don't care at all. As long as the people they love are fine it doesn't matter what happens to anyone else. They'd rather just keep things the way they are even if they do believe something is wrong. Too afraid to rock the boat."
He remembered a time when that would have described him... then he had done something, he had helped those who survived by hurting others, he allowed the rich and strong to get richer while the weak and poor became the dead and slaves. He was the right hand of brutal injustice in those days. Now what was he? The right hand of justice just doesn't seem to fit, maybe the left hand of repercussion was more his style. Even then he did not go out of his way to help others, he only helped those in front of him, like these women here. He was going to change that however, he was going to help these women locate their friends and families and try to find away to retrieve ones sister from overseas. He wasn't sure it could be done, but this was his challenge, his quest... his trial if you will. He would see it through to whatever end the gods had in store for him.
"As for what I think of you, well, I think you're more like the sunrise. Goodness taking over the dark."
He liked that analogy, he hoped she was right about him, he would try, but his methods were still harsh in some respects. Even a reformed murderer is still a murderer, and he was no different. He would try his best not to kill again, as he had done with the slavers, but if it became necessary, he would do what he had to and what came naturally...
Then came the nightmare...
"Joxer."
"Huh?"
"Are you alright?"
"As alright as I ever am... I'd appreciate it if none of this made it onto any scrolls."
"It won't. I promise."
"Thank you, I'll be fine... get some sleep, we have a long day ahead of us." He said as he laid back down, his eyes were not capable of closing again, for when he tried the faces of a thousand victims flashed through his minds eye, so he lay there, awake, looking up at the sky and occasionally over at Ava...
TAG: Ava
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Post by Ava on Aug 28, 2010 16:12:56 GMT -5
Ava turned and put her quill and parchment away. She then lay down, but her mind was kept busy with Joxer.
He wanted her to get some sleep. Well, that would be near to impossible. Joxer had a bad dream, and from what Ava could tell he couldn't fall asleep again. She got a vague feeling that he might be afraid to. Sitting back up Ava made some tea out of one of the herbs she had with her, and came back over and sat next to Joxer.
She gently tapped him on the shoulder. "Here, this might help." Ava said gently. "So would talking about your dream. It's not like telling me about your nightmare would put me out. Could do you some good."
Yes, she genuinely cared about him. It might come as a surprise to some people, but Ava cared about every one she ever met, and even those she hadn't. She was the type that would take someone elses place, not caring what the end result might be.
Tag: Joxer
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Aug 30, 2010 8:46:58 GMT -5
He remained laying there, staring off into the stars until he felt her get up and start making something that smelled rather nice. He rolled onto his side and watched her until she came back over and sat by him.
"Here, this might help."
He smelled the tea, and then tasted it, it was quite refreshing and he smiled at her.
"Thank you."
"So would talking about your dream. It's not like telling me about your nightmare would put me out. Could do you some good."
He sighed heavily, she had asked about the dream, he hated to think about it, and yet he had the same memories every night in his sleep and he could not escape them during the day either. He saw the faces of his victims everywhere, there was no escaping them. He didn't know if talking to her would help or not, and he believed her when she said it would not put her out, and so he starting thinking of a good place to start. Perhaps the most recent nightmare would be a good starting place...
He motioned for her to relax...
"Get comfy, this may take a bit..." He said as he gathered his thoughts. "... I know you know most of the stories about me, but do you know the story of my last epic conquest and what happened in that town?"
He would only tell her if she didn't know or to correct the falsehoods of what she had heard...
Ava
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Post by Ava on Aug 30, 2010 14:36:19 GMT -5
"You're welcome." Ava replied with a warm smile. The tea she had given him was one that was said to calm nerves, and help one relax. She had learn that from a healer in a village about two years ago that she had become very fond of. The healers aunt also happened to be the midwife of the village too. Ava had learned quite a bit two years ago.
When Joxer motioned to her Ava got comfy by his side. It sort of took her back a moment to when one of her younger brothers or sisters would have a nightmare, and she'd sit with them in bed, and listen. Of course Joxer's dream was bound to be more horrorfing than the typical childs nightmare.
"... I know you know most of the stories about me, but do you know the story of my last epic conquest and what happened in that town?"
"Well, the last unflattering story I heard was that you teamed up with Draco and his army. The two of you went in to conquer a village, killing all the men, and people past the age of fourty, sold the women into slavery, after defiling a few of them, killed all the live stock, then burned down the rest of the village after taking every valuable, then after that the next village faced the same, the Hestian virgins were sold and their temple raided. Only in that village some of the men tried to fight back. According to a child that survived you came out of the sky on a black horse with lightning, breathing fire. Parents cut like ripe melons on market day."
Of course, like anyone else Ava didn't really know if that all was true. Like all stories, including true ones, false threads got woven in more than just once. The more a story was told the more it changed.
"Though I don't know how true it is I think I should take the time to remind you, if it's true those are just things you've done, not who you are."
Tag: Joxer
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Sept 4, 2010 9:30:51 GMT -5
"Well, the last unflattering story I heard was that you teamed up with Draco and his army. The two of you went in to conquer a village, killing all the men, and people past the age of forty, sold the women into slavery, after defiling a few of them, killed all the live stock, then burned down the rest of the village after taking every valuable, then after that the next village faced the same, the Hestian virgins were sold and their temple raided. Only in that village some of the men tried to fight back. According to a child that survived you came out of the sky on a black horse with lightning, breathing fire. Parents cut like ripe melons on market day."
He listened solemnly as she related her version of one of his last conquests, it was a version he hadn't heard. Yes, he had worked with Draco, though he hated to admit it as he did not particularly care for the man. They had slaughtered all the men, the women that were not killed or taken by the soldiers were sold into slavery and the children... the children were made to watch. Just thinking about made his stomach turn, and yet there had been several other encounters after that one, most likely they had not been told as there were no survivors to spread the tales...
He let out a very heavy and sad sigh...
"It's true, more or less."
"Though I don't know how true it is I think I should take the time to remind you, if it's true those are just things you've done, not who you are."
"You're right, it is not who i am anymore, but it is who i was, and that is what causes my nightmares. Let me tell you what you have not heard..." He shifted uncomfortably, he had not told this tale to anyone, not even the men he had commanded knew the entire story of this battle or why it had changed him so. "...after Draco and I went our separate ways, I sacked several small towns, attempting to gather supplies to store for the journey. There was this one village that refused, and they resisted with everything they had, which wasn't much. I ordered it burned and everyone killed. I even set a few fires myself..." the pain could be heard in his voice. "...The first home I lit was empty and went up quickly, the second... ...it was not a home, but something else..." He choked out the words, and appeared as if he was going to cry. "...The whole town was trying to defend that one building. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but once all the villagers had been killed, or were dying, we lit the building and stood back to watch it burn. We figured it was the town hall or something as it was the biggest structure there. It did not take long for it to become engulfed, and that was when I heard it. I don't know if my men ever heard or saw what I saw, or if any of them even cared, but what I saw is what haunts me..." there were tears streaming slowly down his cheeks. "...It was a home for orphans, I went back the next day without my men and could not count all the bodies that lay in the rubble, all of them were children... burned so badly that when I tried to move them to see if any had survived, their flesh melted of their bones in my bare hands..." He was crying now. "...I had destroyed these children without so much as a second thought, and I realized everyone in that town died trying to save them, fighting for them to have a chance at life. I robbed them of that chance, and I saw their faces as we rode away... those faces, their screams and the day after are what I see every time I close my eyes... I know of no way to make amends for this atrocity, perhaps helping these women will be the first step on an endless road to redemption, but I refuse to take another innocent life for any reason... It was this incident that changed me, and I'm not sure how I would feel about anyone writing about it."
He was crying, a manly sob, soundless, but the tears were there, being wiped away by his sleeve. He slumped down and waited for her to say something more... He had meant to watch and see if any of the women were listening, if they had been he had wanted to stop, but he had forgotten to look and now he knew there was a chance that more than just Ava had heard the story. He'd wait and see what the reactions were, he knew he had been an evil man and what bothered him the most was that he had not realized it until it was too late...
TAG: Ava
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Post by Ava on Sept 4, 2010 15:51:02 GMT -5
Ava sat on her knees, next to Joxer as she listened to him as he began to tell her the story. From the start she could already tell it made him uncomfortable, but she still thought it could help. Keeping everything bottled in, he would be bound to explode sooner or later. Not healthy.
"...after Draco and I went our separate ways, I sacked several small towns, attempting to gather supplies to store for the journey. There was this one village that refused, and they resisted with everything they had, which wasn't much. I ordered it burned and everyone killed. I even set a few fires myself..."
She could hear the pain as he spoke. It was broken hearted. Ava continued to listen as he continued on.
Something else?
"...The whole town was trying to defend that one building. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but once all the villagers had been killed, or were dying, we lit the building and stood back to watch it burn. We figured it was the town hall or something as it was the biggest structure there. It did not take long for it to become engulfed, and that was when I heard it. I don't know if my men ever heard or saw what I saw, or if any of them even cared, but what I saw is what haunts me..."
Dismal. Truly dismal. Ava was starting to get a little choked up as she continued to listen. Her hear really did go out to him. She pulled the tattered piece of cloth she had been using to hold her hair back, gave it a light shake before she held it in her hand. Gently reaching out she used it to wipe away a few of his tears. The poor dear.
So it had been the innocense of children that haunted him so, and turned him from his ways. Ava got a little closer and warped her arms around Joxer, holding him in a warm, and caring embrace. "Shhh." Ava 'shushed' gently. He had just shared possibly his worst deed as he was crying and tears are just simply words that our hearts can't express at all. As Ava held Joxer in a warm embrace she used one of her hands to gently rub up and down his back as she had with her younger siblings, and comforting others she had met on her travels.
"There are some things that we never want to let go of, or have trouble letting go of, whether they are people or deeds we must let go, but we must keep in mind that when we let go it is not the end, but the beginning of a new and wonderful life. I think what you did took a lot of courage. Not just telling me, but stepping onto a different path."
"When you open your heart to someone, anyone, you expose scars and sins of the past. For you that must be extremely difficult." Though what he told did get to her, and just imagioning the weight he carried on his shoulders and in his heart everyday, well she was full of compassion for him. And in everything she had said she spoke with sincerity, softly, and lovingly.
"Maybe the next orphanage we come across you can do something for." Ava suggested. "They usually run low on food, and some are in disrepair. You've already proven that you are a good hunter and can make things, like that shelter for the women."
Tag: Joxer
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Sept 4, 2010 20:54:24 GMT -5
He sank into her arms, trying to compose himself...
"Shhh."
He felt warm in her embrace and slowly he relaxed, he had spoken of it and though he was supposed to feel better it had only succeeded in bringing the pain closer to the surface again...
"There are some things that we never want to let go of, or have trouble letting go of, whether they are people or deeds we must let go, but we must keep in mind that when we let go it is not the end, but the beginning of a new and wonderful life. I think what you did took a lot of courage. Not just telling me, but stepping onto a different path."
"When you open your heart to someone, anyone, you expose scars and sins of the past. For you that must be extremely difficult."
He could never let go of that pain, it was a reminder to him of all the evil deeds he had done over the years, how could she understand that though? He was unsure of the words in which would convey that effectively. So he simply listened to her as he regained himself...
"Maybe the next orphanage we come across you can do something for. They usually run low on food, and some are in disrepair. You've already proven that you are a good hunter and can make things, like that shelter for the women."
"It sounds like a plan, but let's finish helping these women first shall we."
His voice was returning to normal and he pulled away from her slightly, just enough to look into her eyes.
"I'm starting to think meeting you was no mere accident. Perhaps you will help guide my hand towards good deeds."
He smiled at her softly, she had such compassion and was so caring, he had never met anyone like her and if he had he had been to blind to see it. Now he had a traveling companion that could help him do good deeds and protect those who cannot protect themselves. He always liked a challenge, and life as a peaceful man would be his greatest challenge, but he was not ready for that one yet, first he needed to live as a good man, and he might actually be on the right path for once...
Tag: Ava
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Post by Ava on Sept 4, 2010 23:47:32 GMT -5
"It sounds like a plan, but let's finish helping these women first shall we.""Of course. One good thing at a time." Ava figured that's how it would work. This journey would probally be like a small child learning how to walk. Once the walking was learned then came how to run. Which all an all was not a bad thing. It was best to take new things slow, especially if it was a new lifestyle. Change was not something that came easily or just overnight. When Joxer pulled away just a little bit and looked into her eyes she looked right back into his. Ava saw something in him, something that he could not quite see yet, and if she told him chances were he wouldn't believe here. So, she just simply smiled a warm smile. "I'm starting to think meeting you was no mere accident. Perhaps you will help guide my hand towards good deeds.""Actually, I don't think anything that really happens is an accident, well except of course spilling a drink on someone and clumbsy little things. And I don't think you need me to guide you towards good deeds. You already have that strength and courage inside of you." Ava placed a hand on Joxer's shoulder. "I'll be there if you ever need me though. Whether you want to believe it or not you are a good man." Ava then gave Joxer a purely platonic peck on the cheek. "Perhaps we should try and sleep now. Morning will soon be upon us." Tag: Joxer.OOC: Feel free to have morning come in your next post. 
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Sept 9, 2010 23:04:41 GMT -5
"Of course. One good thing at a time."
He sighed as he thought any more than one at a time and it might be the death of him right now.
"Actually, I don't think anything that really happens is an accident, well except of course spilling a drink on someone and clumsy little things. And I don't think you need me to guide you toward good deeds. You already have that strength and courage inside of you."
He smiled...
"Accidents happen, as for the rest... At least one of us thinks so..."
"I'll be there if you ever need me though. Whether you want to believe it or not you are a good man."
He smiled again and reminded himself she knew of his past only through stories and therefore had the ability to be naive and think the way she did about him. Part of him still thought selling all of these women would bring in a pretty profit, but something new within himself suppressed those thoughts.
"Perhaps we should try and sleep now. Morning will soon be upon us."
He smiled again when she kissed him, it had been a long time since anyone had done that with earnest and not wanting something for themselves.
"Yes, Morning will be here soon, then we'll need to be moving again."
He settled down into the makeshift bed beside his new found friend and closed his eyes, fearful of the nightmare and hoping that her closeness would keep him safe in dreams as he would keep her safe in reality. He slept with a smile on his face as he finally got a good nights sleep without so much as a bad dream...
Apollo slowly guided the Sun across the sky, bringing an end to the night and with it a bright new day. Joxer woke up and watched the sun creep above the horizon before he got up, donned his armor and Began packing his bedding, he stopped midway when he realized Ava was still sleeping on half of it. He made a small fire and began heating water, perhaps when she woke up she would make some tea for everyone before they got moving again, he did not want to wake anyone as he felt they needed their rest after what they had been through. He sat near the fire, keeping an eye out for danger in every direction. He was not about to let any harm come to anyone in this camp, not after yesterday...
TAG: Ava
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Post by Ava on Sept 10, 2010 0:41:27 GMT -5
"Accidents happen, as for the rest... At least one of us thinks so..."
"I don't think Joxer. I know." Ava smiled as she got comfortable enough into a position to sleep. She took one last look at the shelter then at Joxer before she closed her eyes. She couldn't wait until tomorrow. It was going to be a new adventure.
"Yes, Morning will be here soon, then we'll need to be moving again."
"Goodnight Joxer." With those last words Ava gave into slumber. A sweet and silent one. As usual she had a very happy dream, that she would no doubt write down. Time passed, and the sun came peaking out. Normally Ava was one that got up before the rooster crowed. She was a morning person, but for some reason she had slept in.
Ava stirred and stretched out as her eyes slowly opened. Ava covered her mouth as a yawn escaped her lips. "Joxer." Ava smiled and sat up. "Good morning." She said with a smile. She kind of wondered how he slept, but was a little afraid to ask. Sitting on her knees Ava combed through her reddish hair with her fingers. "What's in the pot?"
Maybe he was making breakfast? Holding her hair back she looked inside. Water? Looking around Ava found the rag she had used to tie her hair back and wipe away Joxer's tears from last night. She shook it out before tieing her hair back again. "Has anyone come out yet?" Ava questioned, referring to the women as she stood and lightly shook out her faded jade green skirt to rid it of grass and other things.
"Oh. Yesterday you said you had connections in Thrace. When do we leave?"
Tag: Joxer/Any
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Sept 11, 2010 13:23:53 GMT -5
"Joxer."
He looked at her when he heard her say his name and the yawn...
"Good morning."
"Morning sunshine." He said with a pleasant smile...
"What's in the pot?"
He looked at the pot... "Right now, just water. I was hoping you might have some of those tea leaves left for this morning, I wasn't sure what else to make."
"Has anyone come out yet?"
"No, and I wasn't about to peek in to see if they were up."
"Oh. Yesterday you said you had connections in Thrace. When do we leave?"
"We leave when everyone is up and ready to move, and this spot has been cleared, I don't want to leave a trail if those guys come back with help... We'll have our hands full as it is when we get there."
He sat down on a rock and surveyed the area, he was certain he could hear the women breathing inside the makeshift hut, but it would not have been gentlemanly for him to enter and so he simply maintained guard, if Ava wanted to go in and check on them she could as she too was a woman and he had not planned on her sleeping outside with him instead of inside on the bed he had prepared for her.
TAG: Ava
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Post by Ava on Sept 11, 2010 16:02:09 GMT -5
"That's not a problem." Ava picked up her pack, then sat down next to Joxer. She then opened the front pocked and pulled out a small jar. She then pulled out a few leaves at a time, and started ripping them apart into small pieces, tossing them into the water. "Do you think you can do something for me?" She asked as she put the small jar away.
Ava pulled something else from her pack. It was small and wrapped in a cloth. Ava opened the cloth to reveal a small cooking knife. She then reached into the larger part of her pack and pulled out a very small little loaf of bread. She held extended the cooking knife to Joxer as well as the bread. "Think you can slice this up for breakfast while I go check on the others?"
Not exactly choice meal for breakfast but it would be better than nothing. Pretty soon they'd have to find a market place, and stock up a little on food. After of course it was just them. In that instance Ava also thought that a horse to ride and carry things could come in quite handy, but how in the world could they get a horse? Her story telling never raked in that much. Not much to trade either.
Tag: Joxer/Any
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Sept 13, 2010 20:55:58 GMT -5
"That's not a problem."
He was hoping she was going to say that
"Do you think you can do something for me?"
"Certainly."
"Think you can slice this up for breakfast while I go check on the others?"
"Of Course." He said with a smile as he took the bread and knife.
He was good with blades of all kinds and slicing the bread did not take him very long, he even carved the first slice into the shape of a flower just for fun.
He waited for her and the others to join him, he was in a strangely good mood this day, he hoped it would last but knowing their destination and what awaited them he was certain his sour disposition would return shortly after they arrived in Thrace...
TAG: Ava
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Post by Ava on Sept 14, 2010 2:13:56 GMT -5
"Thank you." Ava replied sweetly with a return smile. She then left and entered the hut. "Good morning friends." Ava greeted the women plesantly. "How did you all sleep?"
"Quite nicely."
"Soundly."
Were the answers of a few of the women.
"We have some bread and tea for breakfast. I know it's not much," A few of the women left the hut before Ava could finish. "but it's better than nothing..." Ava finished quietly and to the ones that remained. She smiled at the other. "You head out too. I'll be there in just a minute."
The remainder nodded and left. Well, all but Ginny. Ava smiled at the young girl and walked out with her arm around the young girls shoulder. "Ginny, we'll be off to find your sister Kara today. Do you think you could tell me what she looks like?"
"Well, Kara has long curly black hair, and emerald green eyes. She's about as tall as me too. Does that help?"
"I think it will help a great deal." Ava replied as she watched Ginny sit. She served the women the tea when she came back, then poured some for Joxer as she took a seat next to him. Ava sort of giggled when she saw the bread flower. "Nice touch." Ava said as she handed Joxer the cup.
"I got a description of Ginny's sister. Oh, and I just remembered that the sisters of Gaia, of a place not to far off the road. We can drop them off there. They'll be safe." Ava shrugged a shoulder. "I can believe I didn't remember before."
Tag: Joxer/Any
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