๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ย / boundwestโs pre-outlaw verse / @boundwestโ
๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ฃ๐จ๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ง'๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐. however, the task at hand is meant to be a solo mission. as it happens, his wish comes true. much to his horror. a door has opened and been shut downstairs, followed by slow footsteps. thereafter, that yell the rich let out when their fortunes have been subjected to an unsanctioned split with the lesser fortunate. johnโs heard it a million times and then some. this time itโs feminine. young.
christ, dutch. oโ captain my captain said the coupleโs kid would be gone with them! and here john is, standing in her room, stinking up the finery. the girl is sure to be older, if the books and clothes in the room are any indication, but john had spotted a exotic childโs toy during the gangโs earlier raid. he told arthur he was going back for it, โcause the strange trinket would be perfect for jackโ he hopes it could be, anyway. goddamn himself for trying to be a family man.
he stuffs the tiny plaything in his satchel. the footsteps hasten as the girl ascends the staircase. johnโs options dwindle as the seconds pass. he could make a run for itโฆ and risk drawing attention. thankfully, the house is big enough that the yell got trapped within the walls, so as far as he knows, this could stay between him and the girl. if he tries a diplomatic approach.
the bedroom door is wide open, so heโs privy to the look of terror one makes when they find an intruder in their home. john straightens up. makes presentable as best he can the dirt, sweat, and grease he wears as a second skin.
โย hello maโam,ย โย he takes off his hat and scopes the scene, as if itโs for the first time.ย โย it would seem you โn your old folks been robbed.ย โ
ย ย ย ย janeโs just about the damned freest homebird youโll ever see.ย bound between victorian-steel gates,ย it canโt be called a prison when she sleeps on satin sheets andย bleeds gold. but when pรจre favours something---ย say,ย his blossoming daughter held protected against the salivating wolves outside---ย it doesnโt sound like wanting.ย it's raised like demand.ย ย
ย ย ย &.ย ย whatโs a girl to do,ย but oblige?ย ย ...ย and what of when he isnโt around?
ย ย ย ย ah,ย how devilishย the wind tastes in her hair.ย the streets of saint denis arenโt always pleasant;ย ย that much she gauges from her window pane,ย and on those laboured strolls to the docks,ย her tailor,ย her barber,ย all that encompasses the simple life, rich like chocolate.ย ย the poor reek,ย pavement colours crimson,ย and must the beggars reach out to her skirt,ย a blackened hand-print may tell the tale.ย ย
ย ย ย sheโs no fool.ย in her arms are the two friends accompanying her on the damp streets to the theatre.ย her accomplices in this crime !!ย ย and once the curtainโs dusting the groundย &.ย rounds of the rich folk are exiting the lobby,ย they hold each other close โtill sheโs dropped off home first.
ย ย ย back to safety.
ย ย ย or what ought to be...
ย ย ย with the door closed behind her,ย jane takes her time.ย heels that click with slower resistance than a clock-handโs timely tick.ย making her way to the staircase----ย &.ย something strikes.ย she doesnโt-- at first-ย ย make note of whatโs missing.ย rather,ย whatโs bred in her absence.ย a set of boot-prints,ย soil and mud sinking into lavish timbre with no sympathy.ย and then sheโs screaming,ย arising to the chaos somebody has tossed her into.ย
ย ย a wiser woman would turn her back and flee from devastation.ย ย &.ย sheโs intelligent in some ways,ย but not in these ones.ย for one,ย she doesnโt expect a crook to linger about his crime-scene.ย and another,ย ย a fashioned woman must check her goods are in order.ย so jane ends up entirely where she ought NOTย to be.ย the belly of the beast.
ย ย she arrives with a frown,ย skirt distressed as fists ball at the sides.ย fear may cripple some.ย jane runs on the mere adrenaline of it...ย her first mistake.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โย ย ย WHAT are you doing in my room?ย ย โย ย without patience to meet his pleasantry, without a developed sense of danger,ย ย green eyes burn in fear and in rage.ย ย now it burns a hole in the hat pressed awfully close to his chest.ย ย โย you wouldnโt be hidingย anything in there, would you mister?ย ย โ