diamond heart

His gaze skipped from the scrunched expression to her chest, then her face. A few times. Not Maddox’s fault he was easily distracted by print. Or breasts. Or a comically harsh look from an otherwise sweet Southern julep. He glanced away to first reset his attention on what she’d asked. He secretly enjoyed teachings others to fight, it was a skill the guardian taught him at the group home which proved handy, easy to build on later. 

“Alright. Let’s focus on defense before the whole tearing-someone-apart bit. Because you can be as strong as you please but if you don’t understand basic physics and how to move it’s all wasted energy.” He stood in front of her with only a step in between. “So defend yourself from what? Someone reaching for your neck? For your arms? Or coming up behind you? Give me the scenario and I’ll show you what to do.”

“Physics? Sounds boring,” Bo murmured, grinning, but she wouldn’t complain any more. Maddox was her best bet at learning how to fight with a bit more finesse than finding the heaviest thing within reach and bashing in someone’s skull. She wouldn’t always have weapons at her disposal, so she had to make sure she knew what she was doing.

Bo watched Maddox carefully as he came closer. “Arms,” she answered immediately. She didn’t want Maddox or really anybody touching her neck. She took in a deep breath and nodded, mostly for her own confidence, and tried to smile again. “Show me what to do, hon.”

Mira wasn’t sure of what to make of Bo’s answer, she slowly nodded and swallowed thickly, keeping her arms around the others neck just to simply hold onto her, she needed any comfort she could get in the moment even if the tiny voice in her mind told her that the other was to be approached carefully with being a pirate. “Well..I suppose that’s something…” she admitted with an awkward laugh. “I always did love a good brunch…Poached eggs” she admitted, though she did wonder if the other knew how to poach an egg, she certainly didn’t. It was odd as it seemed Bo was facing her own stresses with what had been going on simply from the others mood and less light tone. “Are you okay? You can talk too…”

“Poached eggs? Comin right up.” Bo grinned and let go of the princess, turning back into the villa and entering the kitchen. She expected Mira to follow as she  noisily got out a few pots and pans. Bo was two seconds away from ignoring how Mira asked if she was okay, instead speaking as she filled up a saucepan with water. “I got stuff goin on I guess. Stuff at home. When my granddaddy died there was some inheritance up in the air and... my family’s not too good at sharin. I’ve been worried my mom’s sister ain’t safe where she’s at. Can’t really do nothin about it though, since I’m here.” Her cousins would have to deal, even though one was in med school and one was in law school. But what else could be done? “Maybe I’m just stressed cuz I changed jobs on my ship. Did I tell you I’m a gunner now?” Bo asked with a smirk as she set the stove on high to boil the water. A change of topic seemed warranted. Bo didn’t think talking about shit really helped anybody.

It wasn’t hard to find a royal out of place on the island. Most of them kept to the Tulach house, the villas, the canteen, the gym, or the beach. This one had sequestered himself at the coves and he just... looked like he was up to no good.

Bo folded her arms, a gust of wind causing her flowery long cardigan to billow in the wind. Yellowy green eyes peered over the cat eye sunglasses on her face, focused on the prince. A Glock 26 was strapped to her thigh beneath high waisted cut off denim shorts. “There are wrong answers,” she added.

“Yeah, I think pirates and I have a lot more in common and more often than not, similar life experiences. I can’t relate to royalty.” Even though they were right there in front of him and he even somewhat enjoyed the company of a few, the concept of royals were still an enigma. To think that one person or one family had the power to rule over millions was terrifying. Wyatt lifted an eyebrow, unless it was all fun and casual, any relationship between a royal and a pirate was sure to crumble, in his mind. “May I ask who? I didn’t think you’d be into entitlement.” He gave a half chuckle at his attempt of a joke. Wyatt shook his head, understanding what she was alluding to. “To be honest with you, I’ve never been the type to let loose. I don’t even think I know how.”

“Yeah, me neither. I ain’t known nobody richer than a Walmart store manager until I met my princess.” Bo considered the thought. Could she relate to royalty or pirates more? The question seemed silly. There were assholes she grew up with she’d rather feed to the sharks, and royals she’d met that she could see having a civil conversation with. Was it all about money? She wasn’t sure. Her aunt and uncle seemed obsessed with money until her uncle started his own construction business and started making a lot. Things got shitty in their house real fast after that.

Bo grinned at the other pirate. “What d’you mean you don’t know how? You ever binged a Netflix show? Or read a book you couldn’t put down?” He asked who she was involved with and she shrugged a shoulder, dismissive. “The German princess, Mina. And I’d be lyin if I said I wasn’t messin around with the Swedish princess I’m s’posed to watch. It’s not nothin really, just a little fun. I’m bored. They’re bored. Not much else to do, y’know?”

Mira had become accustomed to Bo’s touch, to her company and it seemed sad that she had immediately tarnished the blonde with the same brush as the other pirates after what had happened. When Bo touched her hair the brunette closed her eyes and felt herself relax, the others touch so delicate and sweet that it brought back the safety that she had allowed herself to feel as of late. “I’m just so confused about everything” she whispered, coming closer and then lazily looping her arms around the others neck wordlessly, pressing her face against her shoulder “Are we all going to end up dying here?” she asked carefully against her.

“No,” Bo said firmly. She lightly pushed Mira’s hair over her shoulder and pressed her hand against the other’s neck while the other hand rested on her hip. Bo had enough sense not to voice what she thought aloud—that all of the royals would have been dead long ago if that was the plan. But the more chains they rattled, the more likely it was Roman would change his mind. And the longer this dragged on, the less predictable Roman Tulach would be. Bo realized her question a moment ago couldn’t really be answered, the only solution was to take Mira and all the others back home. That’s how they’d fix things. And Bo couldn’t do that. “You hungry?” she asked gently. “I could make somethin for lunch, or,” Bo wasn’t exactly sure what time it was, “whatever. Brunch.”

   Always one to help out, Nael’s willingness to help out included everyone. Help, of the genuine kind, even extended to a complete stranger. Even when the man was completely taken by his thoughts, only to be deliberately disturbed. And yet, without a second’s hesitation, the principe made haste, grabbing the wind-tossed hat. Kindness needed not to be drastic; it was as simple as a task such as that. Walking back towards the woman who had yelled out to him, Nael could sight the little set-up she had. She seemed to be at total ease. With a flourish, the hat extended to her direction. “I believe this is yours.” 

The first moment she saw the man, her mind was so terrified by the thought of losing her hat that the prince was simply a vessel with which to rescue her precious sun hat. Now that her hat was safe and the prince was right in front of her, Bo was acutely aware of what the prince actually looked like. And how he sounded with that accent.

Bo snatched it back and put it back on her head, sitting up in her lounge chair and smiling up at the prince. “Thanks a bunch.” She’d really managed to avoid or ignore most of the princes on the island. They were just trouble. But this one... Bo was pretty sure she knew who this one was. “You’re Nael, right? You wanna sit with me?”

Mina couldn’t help but bite her lip as Bo through the wings. She had been wearing them all night. She knew how heavy they were. She leaned forward to kiss her once more, letting a lot of her weight settle on her. “Maybe I want you to take me home.” She looked at the pirate, the spark in her eyes obvious. “Maybe I want you to be more than the pretty girl I make out with when I can find her.” She knew she might be stepping over a line but she had just enough to drink where she didn’t care. “What would you say to that?” 

Bo blinked at the German princess’s words. The first part was simple enough—she’d be more than happy to take Mina home with her. Toss her tiny frame onto her bed and get more comfortable than the sand covered beach and their ridiculous Halloween costumes. The second part made Bo squeamish. Mostly because she wasn’t sure exactly what Mina meant. She was a princess and when she left the island (eventually) she would still be a princess. And Bo would be... Bo, who grew up on a swamp. "What would I be then, Red?” Bo heard herself ask.

Sid laughed, loudly and eventually, had to turn away, unable to look at her “-fuck sake…” he was still laughing when he turned back to face her. “That is gonna’ stop workin’ for you one day Sweetheart, ain’t gonna get you outta trouble all the time.” Sid was grinning at her as he continued “-i appreciate that you had the balls to try it though, and that it fuckin’ worked.” He grinned “-yeah? sometimes tells me i ain’t gotta be worried about you stealin’ my livelihood Bo.” Sid stood close to her, tall and imposing and leaning his entire weight upon a groaning set of steal cabinets. He would never say it out loud, not to Bo at least, but Sid genuinely wanted to see the girl happy and content. So the furrow of worry in her face concerned him. Sid unfolded his arms and put his hands on his hips, glancing down at the smaller woman at his side. When he smiled, it was a genuine lift of his lips, something akin to kindness. Or at least, it was as close to kindness that Sid could bring himself to show. Even to Bo. When she spoke, he listened, head tilted at an angle. “do’ya wish y’a hadn’t?” He asked, curiosity bleeding through into his words. “-we don’t gotta be our families carers Bo. No matter how much we love ‘em.”  Or don’t Sid did not say that out loud, but he was tempted to.  Again, he reached forward and with a wolfish smile, ruffled her hair again and pushed at her gently, not nearly enough to stagger or hurt her. “-don’t get soft Bo. I know ya’ can’t fuckin’ stand me.” Sid joked.

“Well I couldn’t go and kick Roman Tulach’s ass to get out of it, could I?” Bo countered with a grin as Sid laughed at her. She was fine having two modes of self defense. The big saucer eyes worked so often it was hard to put down. As long as she looked young and cute she supposed it was good enough. If not, she had guns.

Sid smiled at her and the playful grin slid off her face, her features softening as she looked down and away. She knew the other pirate didn’t often let himself show even the smallest sliver of kindness. Sid had a reputation to uphold, of course. Well--so did Bo, but maybe she didn’t give a shit about if Sid knew about the things that bothered her.

Sid pushed Bo and she pushed him right back without the force of anything harmful, looking at him again without a grin or a smirk or even a frown. Her family life was entirely broken, both her parents dead when she was six, her aunt and uncle hardly loving replacements, and her granddaddy raising her the only way he knew how. But Bo cared about them all the same--well, not her uncle. In fact, she sold the only thing that could have kept her from returning to the island, her grandfather’s fishing boat. All so her aunt could leave her uncle without suffering financial ruin. Sid’s words struck a chord and her brow furrowed. “Maybe not,” she said simply. “And I ain’t soft if I like you, Sid. You’re a prickly motherfucker,” she teased him. Then she opened the oven and looked inside. “Brownies are done.”

“Girls too, huh?” Eli grinned, “Is that a new development?” he asked with a raised brow. She looked good in the costume, and it wasn’t like he was any more modest in covering his chest area. “Good,” his lips pulled into a sinister grin, “Death and sex wrapped up together, I like the imagery,” and it felt good to wear it out like this, something usually kept behind locked doors reserved for himself and a chosen few.

Eli looked down and shook his head, “He’s not hurting me,” he said, “It’s just that,” he bit the inside of his lip again, “He’s very possessive,” already not a good position to put himself into given the whole hostage situation, ”I’m into to it to an extend but…” he sighed, “There’s just this hollowness to him. I don’t know how that’s going to affect me, that distance,” he had already mistaken the possessiveness for affection and it was messing with his head.

Eli hummed, “You are gonna get paint on your jumpsuit,” he said but didn’t do anything to try to move away. “Redhead princess, huh? Tell me about her,” he smiled, “And you and Noah?” he canted his head up a bit under her. His eyes found the can of soda on the table still untouched. He scoffed, “Of course,” he said, no question about it, then an excited grin spread on his lips, “We should go to Mongolia, I want to wear a big furry coat and a big furry hat.”

“Her name’s Wilhelmina and she’s the German princess. I kinda... I dunno, the first time I saw her I got this weird feelin? Like I saw her and I wanted her to be a boy so I could kiss her but then, I dunno, kissin a girl ain’t wrong or nothin, I just got confused. So then I did kiss her and I guess I like girls now,” Bo finished with a grin, looking up as Eli looked at her. “Me and Noah ain’t nothin special, I think he’s cute and he’s nice and sometimes I make him build my IKEA furniture so we can screw on them.” Bo chewed on her lower lip. “Ain’t nothin else to really do around here.”

Bo rested her hand on Eli’s thigh and gave him a little squeeze. “That’s fun and all with that prince if you’re into it. But you and I both know you need somebody who’s gonna know your heart, or you won’t be happy.” Sometimes Eli was so sensitive to those around him, maybe Bo was wrong about that. Having someone that he couldn’t feed off of, good feelings or bad feelings, was that so wrong? Eli had enough feelings for at least... three people. “Just some food for thought, I ain’t no love doctor.”

Eli’s suggestion of Mongolia piqued Bo’s interested. “Oh, I wanna go there... there’s lots of mountains, right? I wanna climb em with the goats.” Bo loved goats. “And I wanna see you wrapped up in fur like a little teddy bear. Can we go right now?” Bo teased.

[drunk on Redbull]

BB: I DID IT I DID IT

BB: I GOT A FUCKIN POKESTOP ON THE ISLAND

BB: DO U THINK THE FBI KNOWS ABOUT US NOW

BB: whateverr I’m gonna be the islands only Pokémon master

BB: you only been gone like twelve hours and I miss your face [deleted]