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Published: 2013-03-04 02:55:39 +0000 UTC; Views: 3456; Favourites: 25; Downloads: 1
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The boy was startled awake by a rough hand around his arm as he was dragged to his feet. “Oy! What you doin’ in here?!” The huge man with a bushy black beard and one fuzzy eyebrow across his low forehead shouted at him.The little albino just let out a frightened whimper and tried desperately to pull away. But the man’s hairy grip was like iron and there was no way he could escape.
“You come from the orphanage, you do.” The big man dragged him across what he now realized was a storeroom and into the adjacent shop. “You must be the strange one Mrs. Tweedy’s always goin’ on about.” He shoved the boy harshly onto a stool behind the counter. He tried to get back up but was firmly pushed back into place.
“You stay!” The man stabbed a meaty finger in the boy’s face. And was rewarded with a terrified nod. “Good.”
The big hairy man beaconed to a young man who wore an apron and was currently sweeping the store. “Oy, Johnny! Run over to Mrs. Tweedy’s and tell her I caught one of her little ragamuffins. He watched the clerk leave then glared menacingly down at the tiny boy. “I hear she’s got a stiff penalty for runaways.”
The boy gulped, his pink eyes growing wide. Mrs. Tweedy did indeed have a special punishment for escapees. She was quite proud of her sparkling record of no successful escapes so anyone who was caught even thinking about escaping was…Well it was something he really didn’t want to think about. It made his knees shake.
As he huddled on the little wooden stool a tear slipped down his pale cheek. He would never find a family now.
It wasn’t long before the store bell jingled and Johnny came in. The albino peeked over the counter just in time to see the skeleton lady stalk in through the door. She saw him the moment he saw her and she stabbed a sharp bony finger at him. “YOU!”
And he ran!
~
The Pirate with Gout, as he had so recently be dubbed by his captain because of the newly acquired affliction in his left foot, grumbled down the roughly cobblestoned street. It wasn’t really that he disliked the errand the Pirate Captain had sent him on, fetching a bottle of beard gloss. He didn’t mind shopping. In fact it was nice to get off the boat on his own every now and then. But it made him feel more piratical to grumble about something now and then. He also fancied that the cane and the limp added a bit to his overall pirateness. In fact he was just considering whistling a sea shanty when a loud commotion somewhere ahead brought him to a stop. It was a rather dreary day and few people were about so the sudden clamor caught him rather by surprise.
"Com'ere you little urchin!" This unholy shriek was accompanied by the bang of a trashcan toppling and the patter of two sets of running feet.
What came skidding around the corner seconds later, screaming at the top of his voice, was either a four foot tall milk bottle or a ghostly pale young boy. Without even a blink of acknowledgment the boy (he figured it was a boy as milk bottles seldom scream) darted toward him and dove under his knee length coat.
He lifted an arm, pulling his coat open to find two wide pink eyes staring up at him. "What in the name of Silver's parrot do ye' think you're doin'?"
"Hiding from the scary skeleton lady." He pointed with one tiny white finger in the direction he had come.
As if on cue a woman came barreling around the corner with a face so full of fury that it even gave the seasoned pirate a pause. The boy's description of her had been surprisingly accurate. She was rail thin with sunken cheeks and in her dark gray dress and severe bun she looked rather like a psychotic undertaker. Her head whipped from side to side clearly searching. Not seeing the boy she lurked threateningly up to the Pirate with Gout. "Where is he?" Her voice was like fingernails on a blackboard and it set the pirate's teeth on edge.
"Um...who?" He did his best to look confused. The little lump under his coat shuddered. If he was going to turn the lad over he was rather curious to find out what exactly was going on.
"The boy, you fool!"
He blinked innocently hoping she wouldn't notice the strange trembling bulge in the back of his coat. "Boy? I've seen a lot of boy's today. Coming out of the woodwork, they are."
"Oh, you would recognize this one. A little goblin, he is. Skin like the full moon and eyes like the devil."
He tapped his chin thoughtfully and mumbled to himself. "Eyes like the devil. Eyes like the devil. Nope ain't seen anyone by that description." 'Cept maybe you, you old bat. He thought, but kept it to himself. "If you don't mind my askin', what's he to you?"
"Five pounds."
The Pirate with Gout blinked. "Five pounds?"
"I have a reputation to uphold." She pulled herself up proudly managing to look even thinner. Her voice was dark and threatening. "Nobody, but nobody escapes Tweedy's Orphan Asylum. And if I ever find that little Cretan..."
"Oh, that boy! Why didn't you say so? You should'a been more specific. Sure I seen him." There was a little whimper from beneath his coat and he managed to cover it up with a small cough. "He went that way." The Pirate with Gout pointed down a dark alley to the left.
Without so much as a thank you the woman took off in that direction.
"What about the fiver?" He called after her.
"Go jump in a...Eeeeek!" There was a sudden shriek and a sudden fit of barking. The woman shot out of the alley, the back half of her skirt missing and two bull mastiffs charging at her heels.
The Pirate with Gout chuckled quietly to himself as he watched her tear down the street. With those long legs she'd outrun them eventually. "Alright, lad. She's gone."
The boy peeked his head out from under the pirate's coat, his pink eyes scanning the street. When he was certain the woman was out of sight he threw both arms around the rotund pirate. "Thank you!"
"Now, now. None of that!" He pried the child off of him and glanced around to make sure no one had seen. Now that the boy wasn't sprinting down the street or hiding under his coat the pirate managed to get a good look at him. First of all he was tiny, the runt of the litter Gout thought, and he barely reached the pirate's chest. His clothes were patched and torn, his jacket and snow white skin were smeared with dirt. That was, of course quite expected of an orphan from these parts. What was a little unusual however was his open and eager face. The boy was in a bit of a bad spot and clearly had been for some time. But it certainly didn't show in his expression. "Off with you, now." He made a little shooing motion but the boy didn't leave. He rolled his eyes, like all urchins the boy probably wanted a handout. "Alright, what do you want?"
"I'm looking or a family." He said, his eyes wide and hopeful. "You haven't seen an extra one lying about, have you?"
The question caught him completely by surprise. "Er...no."
The boy's head dropped a little, clearly disappointed. "Oh. Okay." With that he wandered off down the street looking behind stacks of crates and into rain barrels as he went, as if those were likely places to find what he sought.
The Pirate couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to the little bloke. He’d probably end up in a workhouse, caught at the next witch-hunt or worse get recruited for the next urchin-throwing contest.
"Oy!" He beckoned with his free hand and the boy quickly came scurrying back all smiles. "Come to think of it..." He smiled gently and placed a hand on the little albino's shoulder. "I just might know of a spare family you can take a look at."
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Comments: 33
aileiltaliesin [2018-03-08 19:39:45 +0000 UTC]
I like that the Pirate with the Gout figures it's more piratey to grumble periodically. His handling of the 'scary skeleton lady' was masterful. Though he's lucky she's not a more observant type. The mastiff's were a nice touch of karmic justice there.
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daisybtoes [2013-06-05 21:34:07 +0000 UTC]
That was fun! I have not yet seen this movie, but with the aid of your precious drawings, I am really picturing this whole scene. "urchin-throwing contest!" I love the sound of that. So cute! You just know he's gonna become a pirate.
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chill13 In reply to daisybtoes [2013-06-05 21:48:08 +0000 UTC]
I had a lot of fun illustrating this!
There was a poster in the background of the movie that advertised urchin throwing and cockney baiting. There are TONS of interesting things in the backgrounds of that movie. It's one that's fun to pause and zoom in to see all the little signs and details. It's cool because everything that is in there is made by hand.
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daisybtoes In reply to chill13 [2013-06-06 02:47:43 +0000 UTC]
I can believe that! As soon as I find our copy, I'll watch it and share some giggles.
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zealousshadow [2013-04-17 21:52:59 +0000 UTC]
He's enjoying himself....and yet it is more piratical to grumble. It's those little details that you add that keep making me smile.
This part--this part right here totally gave me the 'feels.'
His clothes were patched and torn, his jacket and snow white skin were smeared with dirt. That was, of course quite expected of an orphan from these parts. What was a little unusual however was his open and eager face. The boy was in a bit of a bad spot and clearly had been for some time. But it certainly didn't show in his expression.
It's Albino's eternal optimism and gentle spirit that make us love him, I think. I just want to hug Albino and give him a warm glass of milk and a big plate of cookies.
Your 'three worst possible things' that could happen are both terrible and funny at the same time. Ending with 'urchin throwing contest' though tipped it over the scale to the funny side.
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chill13 In reply to zealousshadow [2013-04-18 22:12:51 +0000 UTC]
How can you NOT love the little guy? He's always smiling and such a sweet little fellow. He doesn't even carry real weapons like the rest of them. His 'sword' was made out of wood! At that point he could use a hug and a plate of cookies.
Most of the characters we see him associating in the movie are pirates who could care less what he looks like. But I don't think the general public of that era would be so accomidating to a guy of his complexion with the air of superstition and prejudice that was so prevelent back then.
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daisybtoes In reply to chill13 [2013-06-05 21:45:19 +0000 UTC]
He looks like a plate of cookies, too! I know a very funny and talented lady from Florida who is a genuine albino, herself. Most of 'em have pale blue eyes rather than the pink. I like the pink.
"...For he is an orphan boy--"
"He is, hurrah for the orphan boy!"
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chill13 In reply to daisybtoes [2013-06-05 21:51:06 +0000 UTC]
Yeah, I actually did some research on albinism. It's interesting that humans don't really have the red eyes like animals do. Curious that there would be a difference. But the pink is very striking and I like it artistically.
Haha!!! Wait until chapter 3!! You KNOW I couldn't resist that.
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Dappleswirl [2013-03-21 03:50:22 +0000 UTC]
It says "I'm looking or a family", just in case you didn't catch that :/
And adorable story btw! You really are a fantastic storyteller
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chill13 In reply to Dappleswirl [2013-03-21 03:54:21 +0000 UTC]
Oh, my goodness! How could I have missed that! Thank you.
Glad you like it so far.
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Dappleswirl In reply to chill13 [2013-03-21 13:06:38 +0000 UTC]
Like it? I LOVE it!!! X3
Is so creative and well written and you have the characters down pat! I wish there were more!!! ^^
There's also another missing f somewhere when they first enter the ship, but I don't remember where :/
Keep up the good work! Consider me a watcher! :3
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chill13 In reply to Dappleswirl [2013-03-21 14:40:20 +0000 UTC]
Aw. You're so nice.
I do have a couple other Pirates stories: [link] [link]
Sounds like I ought to do a better job rereading.
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Dappleswirl In reply to chill13 [2013-03-21 16:11:23 +0000 UTC]
I actually read both already. I stayed up last night because they were so good^^
I already faved one, so now I gotta face the others
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Dappleswirl In reply to chill13 [2013-03-22 19:21:17 +0000 UTC]
Their AWSOME, what's not to like? :3
Thanks for the llama ^^
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Bananatect [2013-03-04 18:25:20 +0000 UTC]
i cannot tell you how much i love this story. the plot, the characters and the humour is all top notch
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chill13 In reply to Bananatect [2013-03-04 23:05:35 +0000 UTC]
So glad you're liking it. It's been so long since I really wrote anything that I was afraid I was losing it. This makes me happy.
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chill13 In reply to LaDeary [2013-03-04 14:59:56 +0000 UTC]
He does have a tendancy to give people unflattering descriptions. "The dumpy lady's got Polly!!"
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Floating-Away [2013-03-04 09:36:14 +0000 UTC]
So sweet! A young albino is about as cute as anything you could possibly want! I really want to read the next chapter!
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TwilightKeyblade928 [2013-03-04 03:17:21 +0000 UTC]
That little Albino is so adorable! I can't wait to read what happens next!
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chill13 In reply to TwilightKeyblade928 [2013-03-04 15:05:05 +0000 UTC]
He really is the cutest little guy.
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TwilightKeyblade928 In reply to chill13 [2013-03-04 18:42:28 +0000 UTC]
Yes he is! I've haven't seen that Pirates movie in quite a while. This makes me want to watch it again. I remember really liking it, so I may try to find it at my local library. That is, after I get Wreck-It Ralph on DVD, I think- I only have to wait until tomorrow!
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chill13 In reply to TwilightKeyblade928 [2013-03-05 15:54:35 +0000 UTC]
I laughed so hard the first time I saw it I thought I was going to die!
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Mutil8tor [2013-03-04 03:06:58 +0000 UTC]
awwwwww :'D T-this is so sweet! I-I really love reading these (':
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chill13 In reply to Mutil8tor [2013-03-04 14:58:36 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! Yeah, he's such a sweet little guy.
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