Thread by @MntlyDevastated

#OFMDJanuAUry - Day 2 prompt - fairy tale
A tale about The Fighter, his lovers, and revenge.
Part 1

1/15
Once upon a time, there lived an irascible man.
He yelled more than spoke.
He turned red in anger hourly.
As a general rule, he hated most things.

2/15
There were of course two exceptions to this general rule.
He liked his partners, men who were more agreeable in disposition.
And he loved fighting.

3/15
He was so renowned a swordsman that he was known around the world as The Fighter.
People came from far and wide asking him for help fighting their battles.

4/15
The brave came asking despite knowing that getting him to agree would be nearly as difficult as fighting their bullies themselves.
The smartest ones knew to go to his partners in supplication rather than directly to The Fighter.

5/15
They were quicker to give in to sob stories, bribes, and general kindness than The Fighter.
And The Fighter would not say no to his lovers.

6/15
On one such occasion, an unfortunate woman came asking for help.
She found The Sun, the more friendly of The Fighters’ lovers, and told him of her woes.
A man had done her wrong. Treated her poorly, body and soul. She showed him the marks he left.

7/15
She told him what he stole from her. She asked if there was any way The Fighter could get back her things and teach him that violence begets violence.
The Sun comforted her, told her she deserved to be treated with kindness.

8/15
He paid for her ale and made sure she had coin and access to a safe room for the night.
He promised he’d talk to The Fighter, plead her case, convince him that he should step in on her behalf.

9/15
The woman left feeling better than she had in years and spent the night comfortable and warm, dreaming of revenge.
The Sun left with a mission.

***

10/15
There was a secret few knew about The Fighter.
The Sun and The Moon kept the secret for The Fighter.
They shared it with their close friends, the members of their inner circle.
And it was that The Fighter was retired.

11/15
Fighting was well and good, still a source of fun for The Fighter.
But his lovers worried, and he didn’t want them to worry.
They asked him to put his sword to rest, and he agreed.
The longer he lived with his lovers, the less he sought violence anyway.

12/15
There were new, softer things that he found his pleasure in.
This posed a problem for The Sun and The Moon when they were asked for assistance in these matters.
The Fighter would gladly step up and pick his blade up again, but that was exactly what they hoped to avoid.

13/ 15
And they wanted to help those less fortunate who came to them in need.
So The Sun and The Moon together had made a plan.
They would carry out the vengeance themselves, with help from their friends.

14/ 15
There would be use of conversation, coin and, when necessary, force to accomplish their goal.
And if the target were told it would be fine to bandy about that they fought and were granted mercy from The Fighter, that might be a help for them in the future.

15/15
So The Sun and The Moon and their compatriots, known only to themselves as The Revengers, were summoned to discuss what The Sun had been told and to plan how to resolve the issue of the woman’s former lover.

To be continued tomorrow as Day 3 prompt - superhero

#OFMDJanuAUry - Day 3 prompt - superhero
Part 2 of Worth Fighting For - A tale about The Fighter, his lovers, and revenge

1/21 “His name is Alfeo de la Vaca. He lives in Spanish Town and runs a house of ill-repute.”
Stede raised a knowing eyebrow at the assembled crew, many of whom seemed befuddled.
“He means a whorehouse.” Ed clarified and most of the crew nodded in understanding.
THWACK

2/21 The crew looked to the right of Stede’s face where a knife was buried in the wall, still shivering from the throw.
“Jim! What’ve I said about throwing knives near me!” Stede screeched.
Jim scoffed and moved to grab the knife.

3/21 “I know the mark and he’s worse than a son of a bitch. I’m going on this one.” Jim stared into Stede’s eyes, challenging him to argue.
Stede, either ignoring or oblivious to Jim’s ferocity, smiled and clapped a hand on their shoulder. “Happy to have you on board.”

4/21
Jim shrugged it off and walked back to their usual spot against the far wall.
“And are you leading this one, Cap?” Olu asked, feeling unsettled by Jim’s outburst.
Stede’s mouth opened to respond, but Ed jumped in first.

5/21 “No, I’m running point on this one. Stede handled the last.”
He looked back at Stede apologetically. “And you’ve got those plans with Iz. He’ll think something’s up if all of a sudden you don’t want to take him to the tailor.”
“Yes, of course…” Stede agreed reluctantly.

6/21 He’d have to ask Ed about the change later, but for now it wouldn’t do well to disagree in front of the crew.
“All right. Plan’s same as normal, ‘cept we might skip the bribing option this time.” Ed continued with a clap.

7/21 “Frenchie, Fang, Lucius, and I will be on Israel.” Stede added, the three nodding in agreement.
“Who else wants in on de la Vaca?” Ed asked.
Black Pete raised his hand and Roach his cleaver with clear enthusiasm.
“Okay, sounds like a plan. Let’s go bust some heads!”

***

8/21
THE NEXT DAY

“Tell me why I need another fucking coat again.”
Izzy was miserably looking through the fabrics Stede kept handing to him. Green after green that looked exactly the same to him.
Stede held a swatch up to Izzy’s face.

9/21 “We’ve got that dinner to go to at Mary and Doug’s next week.”
He pulled it away and smiled gently, meeting’s Izzy’s eyes, “And you look so lovely in emerald. I want to show off how handsome you are to our friends.”

10/21
Izzy flushed at the praise and decided he could deal with the hassle if it meant Stede would keep shining at him.
“Cap! What do you think of this cut?” Frenchie asked, holding up one of the sample jackets.
“Shorter, and less bits, please.”

11/21
MEANWHILE

Alfeo de la Vaca was tied to a chair, a rag tied around his mouth, fresh bruises setting in on his face. Circling him were the Revengers, weapons drawn and looking their most ferocious.

12/21 Ed had donned his old leathers and painted on his death mask, hoping to inspire fear in the asshole.
By the amount of white he saw in the man’s eyes, it seemed to work.

13/21 “Senior de la Vaca, we’ve come to…encourage you to leave Jamaica Town. You will leave immediately or my friend,” Ed pointed to Jim, “will cut you up into very small pieces and feed you to the local dogs.”

14/21 He pulled out a knife and used it to pull the gag down, a small line of red blooming in its wake.
“What say you?”
de la Vaca nodded nervously, “Yes, yes, I’ll go.”
Ed grimaced in a mockery of a smile. “That’s what we love to hear.”

15/21 Ed turned to walk back through the door and paused, looking back. “In fact, we’re so pleased, we'll help you leave the island…safely.”

16/21
BACK AT THE TAILOR’S

“I look like a fucking ponce.”
Stede straightened Izzy’s neckerchief, brushing against the rings held there.
“I think you look quite handsome, but maybe something…simpler?” Stede asked, hoping to find middle ground.

17/21 Lucius came up holding another sample.
“Found this in the back of the back. What’dya think?”
It was plain, more of a workman or shopkeeper’s style.
To Izzy it still seemed needlessly fancy.
To Stede it seemed far too plain.
“Perfect.” They said in unison.

18/21
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CARIBBEAN

“You’ve been an excellent, quiet guest on the ship, but I think this is your port.”
de la Vaca was tied to an anchor, shaking his head and pulling on the ropes binding him.

19/21 “May your wretched soul drown in the depths.” Jim whispered in the man’s ear.
The crew lifted the anchor and threw it as well as de la Vaca overboard.

20/21
LATER THAT NIGHT

The three men lounged in bed, cuddling after the long day.
“How was the trip to the tailor, Dear?”
Izzy shrugged, “Not terrible. Bonnet and I compromised.”
Ed oohed and kissed Izzy’s cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”

21/21 “What did you get up to, Edward?”
Ed shrugged in turn. “Not much. Just ran a quick errand for Jack. Take care of some trash for him.”
Stede made a face, “Eugh, did you clean up after?”
Ed chuckled, “Of course, Darling. You know I always clean up my messes.”

THE END

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