2nd story [action]

[readingwishbone]

[A little dog is laying down at the side of a street with a great air of sadness. Why does he seem so down? Well, there's this bright red ball sitting just beside his muzzle, and it's not moving. A ball that isn't thrown isn't fun at all. So he'll just lay here and give sad eyes at people until they play with him

Comments

[action /placeholder as I am heading to bed!]

[lists_to_port]

[A pirate sits down on the curb right beside a very sad dog. Following the dog's gaze, said pirate ends up staring at a bright red ball and it mocks him, silently. It is such a cheerful, round little thing. Like a clown nose, or a cursedly plump tomato. How dare it be so happy and round and complete?]

Makes you think of death, doesn't it.

[action]

[readingwishbone]

[Wishbone is puzzled of course, but he raises his head to gaze up at the pirate. The less said about the smell, the better.]

How does my ball make you think of death?

[Are you going to throw it? :|]

[action]

[lists_to_port]

[He hasn't washed for DAYS. Days. And there is probably a distinct odor of rum coming off of him.

Jack stares at the ball some more, hating it.]

Oh, it's all happy NOW, isn't it? Round and plump and delicious and red. And then? And then it gets crushed. It gets crushed right under her heels, and then it gets shoved down your throat and you...and you CHOKE on it.

[action]

[readingwishbone]

That sounds like a personal experience.

You want to talk about it?

[If there is one thing a dog is good at doing, it's laying around while people talk to them.]

[action] 1/2

[lists_to_port]

My woman, my love, my Annie. My darling. She left me. She left me. She walked out and left me sick as a d----

Sick as a donkey!

[action] 2/3 ONE MORE AFTER THIS

[lists_to_port]

Why did I do it, small dog? Why did I bugger up my only treasure here?

3/done

[lists_to_port]

A fool! A fool and his treasure, so easily parted! I DESPISE YOU, SMALL RED MEMENTO MORI!

[In one violent motion, Sparrow scoops up the offending red ball--that cheerful little toy---and hurls it, far! It goes bouncing across the street! SO TEMPTINGLY BOUNCING! SO HAPPY AND TEMPTING! THIS MIGHT BE YOUR CHANCE AT FETCH, DOG.]

[action] Wishbone the therapist

[readingwishbone]

[Wishbone sadly watches the ball bounce away, but he doesn't go after it. Instead he nudges closer (despite the smell) and places a head on Jack's knee. He does keep tabs on the direction the ball is thrown though, he doesn't want to lose it.]

Maybe you can get her back?

[Books and stories about romance flit through his mind, but he doubts that Jack would appreciate any of them.]

XD

[lists_to_port]

But the pirate always loves a good story! A shaky palm settles itself on the silky head of the Jack Russell. It is...calming. Jack gives Wishbone a little scratch behind the ears but is mostly content with just keeping that warm contact.

It doesn't surprise him at all that the dog can talk.]

Not sure if I deserve her back. She wouldn't take me back when I was on my knees, little dog. On my knees. Tell me, sir: have you ever been in love with a wenchly lady dog?

[readingwishbone]

[Wishbone tail wags slightly in response to the petting.]

I have never been in love. It sounds pleasant and heartbreaking from what I've read about it. What is she like?

[Besides "wrenchy"]

[lists_to_port]

She's beautiful and strong and merciful and good and lovely and beautiful. Most. Most beautiful. And she left me, small dog.

[readingwishbone]

Ohh she sounds like a goddess. I wish there was something I could do to help you.

I'm Wishbone by the way.

lol that icon

[lists_to_port]

Sparrow. [Jack gives the pooch a scratch behind the ears again to punctuate his name.] This, actually.......this is rather helpful. Nice to meet you, Wishbone.

......Isn't the wishbone the bit of bird what gets yanked apart in a contest over who shall claim first rights to a wish come true?

Give me time and I could probably find a pirate one

[readingwishbone]

[Wishbone is happy to know that he has helped someone just by being with them. He gives Jack a reassuring lick on the hand. The less said about the taste, the better.]

Yep! My friend Joe named me, and I love it.

[Wishbone never found out why Joe named him so, but he doesn't mind the name at all.]

XD AWESOME

[lists_to_port]

Hmmm...it's not such a bad thing, being named after a highly magical item as that. [That warm lick lightens the pirate's dark mood even more. Which...isn't much, but STILL better than before.]

This "Joe"--he here as well?

[readingwishbone]

[Wishbone's ears droop and he doesn't say anything at first.]

Well... no he isn't.

[What if Joe is worried about him? The last time Wishbone got lost, Joe had been so sad...]