captainjamesjoneshook

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@madmagicmim

Was that gratitude being voluntarily given?

His brow furrowed as he listened to her words, barely registering anything he was looking at in favor of focusing on hearing. It sure sounded like she was thanking him– even if she was already giving an excuse as to why he had done so. He also found that strange, though, since it didn't seem like she was holding it against him. She was just giving him an out rather than berating him.

James turned to watch Mim from the corner of his eyes as she sank down to sit. He pretended to continue examining the mechanics in the tree trunks for another minute before wandering to the center of the platform. Then he, too, started to sink down. James put a hand down to catch himself and bent his knees to encircle an arm around and when he was fully seated, the other arm mirrored it. He wasn't right next to her but the platform was only so big anyway.

"For the record, if I was saying it was instinct, I would have said I was just trying to protect the mirror-key-thingy in your bag from getting smashed," he told her, tone light before he swallowed. James found it odd that she had been willing to be nice. Vulnerable, even. He figured maybe he could offer up some of his own in the hopes that something more could come of it. Like an explanation. Or an apology.

"But...can't exactly do this without you, now can I?"

Those Exits Are Not Made Equal || Maim (Trope Extravaganza)

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@euterpe-of-hesiod

James had always thought the same thing and thought they should get rid of them altogether! Music didn't have to fit in a box or subscribe to a genre! Artists shouldn't have to confine themself to the space of a certain image! It only stifled creativity, is what James said!

And...well...it also may have had to do with the fact that he would rather just throw the sorting system out the window and just put the records into whatever bin he wanted. Would make his job a whole lot easier then, eh?

Or harder, since everyone would come in asking for something and no one would have any clue where anything was.

"Ah, well, if God's getting evoked then it must be good," he said, picking up his other crutch to head back over to the register. James replaced himself in his seat and turned to stop the record player on the back counter. Overhead, the music stopped. He put the vinyl away into its sleeve and swiveled back around. James held out his hands to her for both records. One to pop onto the player and the other to ring up.

Part Of The Band || Sea Shanty

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@apirateslifefor--smee

James reassessed, and while he didn't think he'd managed to cross too far over the line, he didn't think poking at Mr. Smee after that could be considered in good fun anymore. It would just be mean, wouldn't it?

Then again, his father had pushed Smee father than that on a weekly basis and it never seemed to bother the man. Probably because they were mates and that's just what you did with one another. After spending all that time together, Mr. Smee probably knew his father wasn't trying to do wrong by him with the things he said.

Did he not know that about James as well?

So– then did James proceed like his father would in order to let him know? Did he push just to see the other man break?

"It's nothing to be sorry about Mr. Smee," he relented, though he still had a smile on his face. "I thought it was a good change of pace if I'm honest! Nice to know you're human, too. Not a bad lesson, wouldn't you say?"

Tales From The High Seas | Jolly Roger II

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@madmagicmim

All it took was for Mim to move, to put any amount of separation between them, for James to let go. It wasn't muscle memory that had his hands reluctant to do so, thinking twice about it, but he was going to ignore that and step in the opposite direction of her instead. In an effort to occupy himself, he peered over the ledge of the platform they were on to see how far down the ground was because surely they weren't that–

"Fucking hell," he breathed at the sight. No. Yep. That was a long ways down. How the hell had they climbed stairs all the way up there? Or had that been some magic trick, too?

"Sorry!" another voice, that was distinctly not Tomlin by accent and pitch alone, called down. "Not sure what the problem is. We're working on it, hold tight!"

"As if we'd hold on loosely," James griped, backing away to the middle of the platform once more to look at the trees that it was attached to, hoping they might offer some alternative passage.

He glanced at Mim for a brief moment before keeping his eyes elsewhere. The question itched at the back of his throat and James seemed to lack the impulse control to keep from asking, "You alright?"

Those Exits Are Not Made Equal || Maim (Trope Extravaganza)

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@euterpe-of-hesiod

James knew he had not heard of the group without even having to think about it– with a name like that, it didn't seem like the kind of band that one easily forgot or let slip through the cracks. But he also felt like he knew metal bands, had been steeped within the lore since he'd still been learning long division.

So when one was being described as unique as this, James was sure that he hadn't heard of them because of his own failings rather than the band's.

"Diablo Swing Orchestra," he repeated with a slight furrow of his brow, because hmmm...he'd been through the metal section more than a few times, making sure his beloveds were all being treated right. He didn't remember seeing that name anywhere. "Are they fully metal?

Part Of The Band || Sea Shanty

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@apirateslifefor--smee

He waited for his words to land, trying, and failing, to keep a firm hold on his facial expression– until finally Mr. Smee showed signs of understanding. It made James let out a little, airy laugh and he lit up with absolute delight. The sight of the older gentleman's flush made him all the more pleased.

"Oh come ooooon, Mr. Smee! I'm being perfectly serious," he said in the most unserious way. "It seems very important to my education on the subject. I think if we're going to be reviewing and quizzing on all the information I've gotten from your writing, that this should be included, too."

James shifted in his seat so he was sitting up a little straighter, letting go of his fork so that he could fold his fingers together to rest on the edge of the table in front of him, trying to look prim and proper "You wouldn't deprive me of such a life lesson, now would you?"

Tales From The High Seas | Jolly Roger II

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@madmagicmim

"Whoa!" James lit up, walked forward to poke his foot at the platform before turning back around with a grin on his face. "Last time I was here, they were still working on it! This is brilliant!"

"We all tend to think so," Tomlin said. James stepped away to get closer to the other man, they exchanged a firm hand shake and warm smiles before Tomlin was nodding back to the Hoist where Mim had already taken her place aboard. James let go of the man's hand and followed after her on the platform, with absolutely no hesitation since he hardly thought these people would do anything to endanger his life.

He had tilted his had back to watch as they were lowered down, watching rectangular space the platform had filled get smaller and smaller the farther they got, as the mechanisms above it moved in time with their decent.

And then they began to fall– James lost his footing with the sudden additional speed and weight of something else crashing into him. He registered that it was Mim somewhere, on a baser level, and wrapped his arms around her, turning them over so his body was shielding hers, back toward the sky.

There was a sharp screeching sound as the platform came to a complete stop. James did not react as quickly to this as adrenaline flooded his system, his eyes stills squeezed shut and person holding tight to Mim.

"You alright down there?" Tomlin's voice called from above.

Those Exits Are Not Made Equal || Maim (Trope Extravaganza)

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@vixey-chakraborty

James stuck out his jaw and blew out a breath, the air gust directing upward in an attempt to get the dark curls out of his eyes. They jumped upward but merely fell back down to where they had been, making him shake his head in another, more successful, attempt.

He didn't take the time to think about her questions and merely nodded his head, "I'll take you up on it."

As much as he was feeling better about his situation in general, he was still absolutely knackered. Physically and now emotionally too– how fucking horrible.

The last thing he wanted to do was continue to be in the hospital for longer than he needed to be, knowing the ghosts that were becoming familiar with him and who were telling their buddies would be up to pester him at any time now, but, hey, he learned something here, alright?

He sighed, correcting his position on his crutches to start hopping off in that direction. "Unless the scary nurse with the glasses is in, then I'm out."

Push It To The Limit || Pirate Fox

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@euterpe-of-hesiod

He let that reaction sink in for a moment, just to make sure she wasn't going to throw in something else to make him realize she was just messing around. Then he nodded once to himself, as it cemented a certain opinion about her he'd been forming over the course of their interactions.

"I'll be expecting your review," he said. James adjusted his grip on his crutch to pivot a little, about to take up his other crutch so he could return back to his seat but stopped short.

Instead he gave a sweeping gesture to the store, and looked back to her.

"Fair's fair– do you have anything to recommend to me?"

Part Of The Band || Sea Shanty

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@madmagicmim

James startled at the kick, more so surprised by the contact since it didn't hurt at all. His spine straightened and, like it was some sort of cause and effect, he blurted out, "Yes! Thank you. Brilliant!"

Then he blinked and his brows furrowed, confusion directed for himself and his actions making his expression scrunch as he looked down briefly.

Tomlin, meanwhile, chuckled in that warm way he did. "I look forward to it."

He turned and gestured for them to follow. James shouldered his bag, glancing Mim's way briefly just to make sure she was moving before following after Tomlin. After they crossed two bridges and rounded a platform James frowned and looked around.

"Hey, isn't the staircase back down in the other direction?" he asked.

"It is," Tomlin nodded. "I figured I would save you some time and energy since you have a long journey ahead of you. A few of our members here have invented something that makes it easier to get up and down from the trees without the use of stairs. Especially for those among us who are not able to walk on both legs."

He led them up to a pair of trees that were standing close together, and between their trunks was a flat platform. Above it was a very intricate looking series of pullies and other mechanics that James did not have the education or mind for.

"They call it a Hoist," Tomlin smiled. "We've taken to using it to get supplies up and down now that they've modified it to hold more weight, too. It's very convenient."

Those Exits Are Not Made Equal || Maim (Trope Extravaganza)

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@madmagicmim

That surprised Tomlin a little. He had been expecting the pair of them to stick around until morning at the least. He hadn't known where they had come from or how long it was that they had been on the road, but wouldn't it be wise to stay somewhere they would be safe over night?

It must be because she wanted to get the job over as quickly as possible. The sooner that happened the sooner she could get away from James, hmm? But there was still something he didn't quite like about the situation– about their attitudes toward one another. They were about to head into murky waters together and if there wasn't some trust between them, someone was going to get hurt. Tomlin did not want that for either of them.

Perhaps Tomlin could help nudge them in the right direction then!

"Yes, of course. I'll go fetch it for you. Please, have my friends pack some food for you for your journey forward," he said with a little bow of his head, and then stood from the table, motioning for someone to come with him. They jumped up from their seat and Tomlin put an arm around their shoulders, leaning in close to speak quietly.

He returned a half hour later, presenting Mim with a sleek wooden box. Tomlin opened it to show the key– which was actually a very ornate hand mirror. The reflective surface was golden, and its frame around it was shaped like that of a sun, the sharp depictions of the rays ordained with shiny gemstones.

"Whooaaaa," James commented, leaning forward to peer into it only for Tomlin to snap the box shut.

"Don't look into it," he told him sternly.

"Why not? Isn't that what it's for?"

"Sure, if you want your eyesight taken from you. It's said that it retains the light of the sun, which will open the book of the Llyr's," he said.

James winced, "Ah."

Those Exits Are Not Made Equal || Maim (Trope Extravaganza)

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@apirateslifefor--smee

James nodded along seriously, like he was really digesting what Mr. Smee was saying, giving a long hum of acknowledgment.

He almost felt bad about this– it wasn't Mr. Smee's fault he was so easy to back into a proverbial corner. He was just used to dealing with the likes of James' father, who had never been anything other than blunt and straightforward. There was no funny business with him, unless he was actively trying to be funny and even that could be dicey.

But the key word there was almost. Which wasn't enough to make him stop.

"Of course," he agreed, and looked down at his food, busying his hand with moving his fork through it like he was trying to pick a bite to stab. James looked back up so that he could ask, with a straight face, "So then, tell me this, because I know you've got first hand experience in it and all– are you supposed to do that before or after you drink yourself under a table and then go pass out in a hammock below deck?"

Tales From The High Seas | Jolly Roger II

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@ariel-the-undiscovered

James looked down at the cupcake, always finding it such a wonder that people could manage to make food look like works of art– and then found himself blinking, trying to figure out if he'd just heard her correctly.

He picked his gaze up to assess her and, sure enough, it seemed like she'd said all that with a straight face. Blimey, had she always been this full of herself or had he just conveniently forgotten that bit?

Not that he was knocking it– probably was a good thing she was so overly confident.

"Riiiiiiight," he replied, knowing better than to comment on someone's appearance less he wanted to be eating the table rather than the baked good. James picked up the cupcake and licked the icing first. "So, what brought this on?"

Revisiting Memories {Ariel & James}

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@vixey-chakraborty

James listened and allowed himself to accept what she was saying.

It wasn't easy, mind, but it was even harder to come up with reasons to not hear what she was saying. She didn't have to be talking to him about any of this– like she'd said earlier, she had a bunch of other things to get to, other people who needed her more than just some idiot who was a little out of breath on the side of a hallway. She was a nurse, which meant she knew better than most what she was talking about when it came to that of recovery since she only saw it every day she was on the clock.

And...she was being very nice about it. Which may not have seemed like it would go a long way with someone who was usually annoying on purpose, but it did. It went miles and then some.

There was still some hesitation on his part, since he knew that he couldn't very well go around fighting the massive monster who had taken his father in a wheel chair but– then again, who dictated that? He did.

Probably not what she thought her pep talk was facilitating, but. Ah well.

Overall, he knew she was right. He was easy to tire these days, body consumed with trying to heal and relearn itself on top of his brain chemicals churning oddly as it processed the loss of his father and all that came with his absence.

Finally, James drew in air and let it back out, and nodded.

"Yeah. Alright," was all he could think to say in reply to that very moving speech. He sniffed a little. "Thank you."

Then, because he didn't like looking like a pathetic blob, felt the need to remind her he was more than just someone who cried and keeled over all the time. "I'll see if they can engrave the leg when they give it to me, get it dedicated to you."

Push It To The Limit || Pirate Fox

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@madmagicmim

Tomlin's eyes narrowed at those choice words, along with the way in which she had said it, and cast a glance over to James because it sounded almost identical to the way in which he had spoken of her, hadn't it? Resentful. Betrayed.

But from what Tomlin had heard, she had no reason to feel such things, nor to say what she had. She had been the one to leave James and their other companions out to dry.

He was inclined to believe what James had told him, as he had no reason to lie at the time. Although, he supposed there was always the desire to put one's self in the best of lights for strangers so that they would think well of them. But James did not seem like the arrogant person who would do that– he had never bragged or tried to use his good deed for leverage among the gang. In fact, he had tried to refuse their help until he had been too weak to resist them dragging him back to be tended to.

Perhaps, then, she was simply believing her own lies and blaming others for what she had done? ...yet she did not seem the sort, either.

Then again, those types were notoriously very good at playing pretend and manipulation.

"As you said, it's beautiful. Far enough away from things to keep ourselves save but close enough to get what we need when we do," Tomlin explained. "Me and a few of my friends decided we no longer liked living among the masses. It wasn't doing us any good. It was just a few of us at first, but you know how those things go. Someone knows someone who needs a place to stay, and then they know someone or they bring in some poor idiot off the street who looks like they could use a dry place to sleep in for the night, and it's hard to turn them away."

Those Exits Are Not Made Equal || Maim (Trope Extravaganza)

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@apirateslifefor--smee

James gave a hum at this, as he was also under the impression that they would be back aboard the Jolly Roger in the future. And he knew this with a similar, if not more intense, conviction to the one his father'd had when he had been trying to get them to leave Swynlake.

Because unless that fucking crocodile decided to wander down Main Street, James had no intention of staying here after he got his shit together. A part of that was studying up and getting Mr. Smee's approval on these pop quizzes.

...of course, like his time in Secondary had taught him, there was no reason to have a bit of fun along with good grades.

"Ah, yeah! Yeah, I did," he nodded, trying very hard to keep his tone the same so as not to give himself away. "Seemed like it came out of nowhere, eh?"

Tales From The High Seas | Jolly Roger II

[captainjamesjoneshook]

@euterpe-of-hesiod

The corners of his mouth tightened, pulling down briefly as he accepted the challenge presented.

"Alright then," he said, turning to gather his crutches and hoist himself up on his leg. James maneuvered out form behind the counter and made his way over to one of the boxes. He had to lean heavily against one crutch so he could set the other aside to free a hand to pull records forward until he plucked one free, holding it out for her.

"Eucharist's second album. Criminally underrated and a right shame they split up when they did, but good news for everyone, they got back together for an album back in...20...22? So, hopefully they won't wait another 20 years to put out something else," he said. "What'd you think? A little MDM to wake you and the whole hall up in the mornings?"

Part Of The Band || Sea Shanty