(Flashback) X Marks the Spot (Bob)

[Aello]

Spring 55, 503 AV Aello could hear what sounded like parchment crinkling between her brother's tiny fingers as he held his hands behind his back. She was staring down at him, even though she was only a few inches taller. Her dark brown eyes seemed to pierce through his flesh, as his own eyes sparkled, meeting her own. His lips had formed the slightest of smiles as she glared at him, seemingly oblivious to her growing level of frustration. The boy was rocking himself on the balls of his feet, slapping his toes into the hardwood floor before he eased himself back onto his heels. "What's that you have behind your back little brother?" Aello inquired, growing sick of his smile, his constant refusal to share secrets, and play keep away of late. "Nothing," he replied playfully, with a small giggle. "We both know that's a lie little brother, and mamma told you not to tell any lies," Aello responded. "So why don't you share whatever it is that's behind your back?" Leon shook his head. "Come on little brother, you know you should not keep secrets from your sister." Leon shook his head again, his smile widening as he crinkled the parchment. "Give it!" Aello growled as she lunged for him, hardly giving her brother a chance to step back and out of her way. The girl thought she could hear a surprised yelp, and an frustrated NOOOOOO ringing in her ears, but she ignored it as she wrapped her long arms around her brother, reaching for the center of his back, whatever he held. Leon's body curled into her chest, his full head of hair resting against her as she grabbed his wrists and tried to pull his arms apart. Angrily, Leon stomped on Aello's feet as she pulled his left hand free of the other. She didn't hear the sound of anything tearing, which she took to mean that he had deceived her, he had held whatever the item was behind his back with only one hand. Smart boy, she thought as she ignored the sharp, stinging pain in her toes. "Just give it already and they'll be no need to tell mamma that you're lying again," Aello shouted. "Don't make me tell mamma you're being mean to me again!" Leon shouted as Aello moved both of her hands to his right arm, tugging on it furiously. "There would be no need to do so if you managed to be a good boy for one day!" Aello shouted back. Leon growled as he kicked her, just below her knee. Aello ignored it, he wasn't very strong... yet. "Just give it!" "Nooooo!" Leon howled. Finally, deciding that she had had enough, Aello stepped back, before diving towards her brother, and wrapping her arms around his legs. When he tried to move out of her grasp, Leon fell to the floor, banging his head on the hard wood and wincing in pain as the parchment flew out of his hands, and fluttered to the floor. Instantly, Aello pushed herself up and darted for it. She plucked it off the floor and looked at it incredulously. "A treasure map? You have been hiding a treasure map behind your back?" she asked, as her brother finally picked himself up and rubbed his head softly, trying to will away the pain she had caused him. Leon nodded weakly. "Where'd you get his?" she asked, to which she received no reply. She glanced down at it, the black ink upon the paper, it looked as though someone had drawn it rather recently, for it hadn't had the chance to fade yet. Leon just shook his head. Aello sighed, he was never going to answer her now that she had torn it away from him. She looked down at the corner of the map again, realizing for the first time that it was of Zeltiva, which meant she could follow it to the "X," the buried treasure at the end. "See you in a few hours little brother," Aello said simply. "Just tell mom and dad I went for a walk," she finished as she headed out the door, and made her way towards the shore, by the docks. The "X" after all, was by the portion of the city not surrounded by mountains, closest to the sea. It only made sense to go there. OOCAhh... sibling rivalry... got to love it. PM me if you need the date changed or anything.

[Bob Barton]

Bob was at the docks, spending time with the fun people. The sailors and laborers who worked hard and partied harder. Today he got into a group who was passing the time playing some dice. The group was very loud. Sharing in the excitement and the stories of their experiences. Bob could not help but join in with both activities. It was his turn to play the dice.

The game was simple enough. Roll two dices and say if they are odd or even. According to Bob's beloved book the trick for this game was simple enough. You will win, and you will lose. Even if there are equal opportunities of getting odds and evens its easier to get odd numbers a lot. Why? Because there are more combinations for those per number it seems. Or that was the logic which was given to Bob in the book. So he will just follow it.

He put in two coppers from whatever money he had at that time. "ODD!" but it turned out even with two twos on the dices. "Again, ODD!" he shouted at the sailor who was rolling the dice. Still putting his faith on the knowledge in the book that eventually there will be more odds than evens. Still, it came out even with a total of eight. Angrily he grabbed the pair of dice "My turn!" he said hotly as he rolled the dice in the cup only to show a a six in the end. "What the petch was going on?" he asked himself. That was it losing three times in a row just made Bob feel he needed to grab the advantage.

"Did you guys do something to the dice?" Bob asked one of the sailors. If they easily got offended they would have pounded him right there and then but in the end they just laughed him off. Fine, "So I hope you don't mind if I roll another time." he said excitedly. Thinking that Bob was just another overexcited kid they allowed him. But he was just not another kid, he was a kid with the means to cheat.

Bob played with the die on his hand. The side with a three kept rubbing on his palm. Each time they touched got more res which came from his hand over to the side of the die. In a great feat of concentration he willed the liquid res which was all over the die to get on the holes on its surface where he solidified the liquid. "This time I will win!" he told them. Brimming with confidence as he put in 6 coppers to try and at least break even.

The dice were tossed back into the cup where Bob started shaking them vigorously. "Again, I call odd!" he yelled when he smashed the cup on the ground, pulling the res already on the die upwards so that the side with a three will start showing. When he opened, there it was. A seven. His much awaited odd. "I will be taking that" he said with a smile. Grabbing back twelve coppers from the pot.

All this time he was not getting the odd he wanted. So Bob decided that he will stop and think on it further. The book's must probably be flawed, or Bob was flawed. Either way he needed his mizas too much to risk losing them. So he went back to the other activity. Sharing tall stories in a bragging contest.

He jumped on a crate where everyone was gathered around to get their attention. "Hey boys, Its my turn to tell a story." The story he decided to tell? The great Battle of the Junk he had a long time before. With maybe a few variations to suit the crowd he was dealing with. They were sailors. They seen many things and are hard to excite. But Bob will try to do just that.

Bob started off by squatting down to look at each of the men there in the eye. "So there I was. Missing an important item of mine. Why was it important? Because if I didn't get it back, I would be killed by my...uhhh...Boss!" Saying uncle won't be too impressive but everyone here should understand the authority of the boss. Then he abruptly stood up to make sure that his audience still had their eye on him. "I took a little while to think about it. Backtracked to where I had been right until I reached one of the most dangerous places I have ever been! The air there was enough to choke a man." not to death but just as uncomfortable. What else can you find under a bed besides dust? Then he started to swat his arms around in the air like he was fighting something off "The inhabitants of that place started to swarm me. All of them against one man and somehow I was able to get through them and run off with my prize" he said breathing more and more harder excitedly and jumping off the crate again ending his story.

The story did not need to be true, Bob knew he only needed it to be interesting and exciting. And the men all around him gave a cheer of excitement while the next man's went up to the crate for his turn. Some were even congratulating him for a job well done until they all turned back their attention to the next story. It was then Bob decided that he should head off. But to where?

[Aello]

Aello walked through town, weaving her way in and out of city streets, and past throngs of people trying to go about her business. It took her about an hour to reach the docks, and when she had, she wished she had simply stayed home. The air smelled like the sea to her, which wasn't surprising, she was right next to a body of water. But, it didn't smell fresh, like when someone was out on a boat and they could feel the spray of the sea on their flesh, and taste salt on their lips. It smelled more like a pile of fish having been out in the sun too long, the corpses of several sea mammals being strung out on shore, a mass of salty seaweed on your nose, coupled with the scent of wet sand clinging to the inside of an old sea shell. She was certain there was a term for that smell- low tide, she thought her father had called it once, as she scrunched up her nose and made her way past a pile of wooden crates that had been lined up against the edge of the dock. Aello crinkled the parchment in her hands as she followed the black line that led to the "X" with her eyes. It looked to be on the far end of the docks, if the map was accurate, which meant that she would have to keep walking awhile if she were to reach the treasure the "X" had promised her. The girl kept on moving, weaving her way in and out of piles of netting filled with fish, some of which were still alive, and slapping their tails against the dock, trying to get themselves back to the sea. Their eyes were wide, their chests heaving. Aello imagined they must feel what she felt like whenever she had been running for a long time; out of breath. But they were fish, and although some of them were cute little silver-scaled baby fish, Aello ignored them; fighting her urge to toss them all back into the water so they could swim around merrily with their family and friends. She weaved her way past several sailors and fishermen, who seemed to either, be carrying various items onto shore, or yelling at each other to get a move on. She was nearing the other end of the docks when she noticed several men standing on crates, telling stories. The girl stopped for a moment, and tilted her head to the side to watch them. She listened for a while, and couldn't help but wonder how men could enjoy such poorly told, and outlandish stories. OOCSorry, I am struggling to find my inner 10-year old. Sorry the writing is also going in that simple, 10 year old direction.

[Bob Barton]

Bob on his way off saw that the activities of the day attracted another spectator. A young girl who was standing on the other side of the docks. Too bad for her she came too late. She completely missed out on Bob's great story. But the docks were not place for little girls, he knew. Some men are not afraid of doing what they wanted here. And the others won't even bother to waste their time to stop them. There are better things to do than risk making a shipmate angry especially when you will be stuck with them on a long voyage. Lucky for her it was not nighttime yet.

The girl was quite far away and so Bob's advance would be seen a mile away. "You shouldn't be here alone you know. Its dangerous." Bob said while he looked around the docks to see if there was anyone else. People who did not belong like him, or other children and stuffed shirt adults. But it looked like they were the only ones. Tapping his finger on his crossed arms he asked a little impatiently "So, is there anyone else with you?"

[Aello]

Aello watched Bob cross the dock with her dark-colored eyes. She thought that he, like all the other men around her, would simply go about their day, ignoring her completely now that story time was over. But she was wrong, and couldn't help but look up at him as he stopped in front of her. He seemed to glare down at her, as though she had done something wrong, which only caused the girl to glance down at the wooden dock as she shuffled her feet, so that she could avoid his stare. "It's not dangerous unless you fall in the water and don't know how to swim," Aello replied, as she pulled her eyes off the wooden plank and lifted her head a little, so that she may gaze at Bob. "And no, no one besides yourself and these men are around," the girl replied simply as she nibbled on her bottom lip for a moment, considering his words, his intent gaze. "Why do you think the docks are dangerous? Do the sailors not like you or something?" she asked as she absentmindedly crinkled the treasure map in her hands. "Because they can be mean sometimes if they don't like you. Or so my father says," Aello explained, as she looked up at him innocently. The girl stood in silence for a moment, waiting for some sort of response from Bob when an idea came to mind. "Say whoever you are... if you don't like the idea of me being on my own so much, why don't you come along?" Aello asked. "Surely it will be easier to find the X on this map if two people are looking for it together." There was a slight pause, "we could always split the treasure at the end if we can find it!" she added, bouncing up and down excitedly at the thought, her eyes growing wide. They seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. How on earth could Bob say "no?" OOCI don't know how to play a ten year old... I don't know how to play a ten year old...I don't know how to play a ten year old...I don't know how to play a ten year old...I don't know how to play a ten year old... where did my creepy Aello go? This one is too painfully innocent...

[Bob Barton]

Bob waited impatiently for her to answer thinking "Why won't she just go home already?" Cheeky person. Talking about swimming. Bob has had his fill of seeing people nearly drowning at the docks as well and gave a slight chuckle. But after that he straightened up and put a serious face. "You're right about the sailors, but you should be more worried about yourself than me." Bossing someone from a higher position even if it was a little girl. It never gets old.

Did she think Bob was a babysitter? Why would Bob go along with her? He had better things to do. Like...go to sleep. He was about to dismiss her until he heard about finding some 'X' on a map. And treasure! Bob has heard of things like this from the other sailors. If what she had was genuine, then she had something very valuable. From that a lot of questions formed in his mind.

"I am Bob, what your name?" he burst out suddenly at the thought of treasure and "Where did you get something like that?" he continued on excitedly followed by "Is that the real deal?" in a loud tone all coming so fast it was almost freaky finally ending with "What are we going to find in the end?" So much questions at once. Hopefully he did not scare the girl off about it. All about the map and what they could find in the end. Bob needed to know whether it was worth it for him to follow it or not.

Thinking more about what might make him a very happy and rich Bob, he suddenly grown more aware of his surroundings. What if this was real? What if someone overheard them? What if they stole the treasure just as he was about to steal it in the end? This was bad. Bob quickly leaned forward and asked in a soft tone "We better go somewhere else to discuss about this more. Before anyone else wants to get a piece of the action."

[Aello]

Aello stopped bouncing and allowed her breathing to return to normal after having expended a greater amount of energy than usual. A wide smile spread across her lips as she tilted her head to the side, and crossed her arms behind her back, holding the map out of Bob's line of sight. "Aello," she replied pleasantly. "Nice to meet you Bob," she added with a giggle. It looks like you've made him just as excited as you are, Aello thought. To find the "X" on the map, the place where the treasure is supposed to be buried, waiting for you to dig it up. "Leon, he's my little brother, found it. He said he got it from our father's desk or something," Aello explained, her voice hurried, although little more than a whisper. She knew it was wrong of her brother to take the map without asking their father about it first, and even worse of her to take it from Leon, and then go out in search of the treasure. But this was simply too exciting an opportunity to pass up. "And then I got it off of him," she added, before pulling one hand off the map and covering her mouth with it. Bob could still see thin lines of her pale pink lips through the spaces between her fingers. They were similar to the color of Aello's cheeks; pinkish, and warm. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea, Aello thought as she bit her bottom lip nervously, and took a deep breath before pulling her hand away from her mouth. "Just don't tell our mom and dad, okay?" Aello whispered. "They would be so upset with us if they found out." She leaned in a little closer, "just let this be our little secret, ok?" she asked, as she raised a single finger and attempted to press it into the center of Bob's lips, as if to seal their deal. As soon as her finger had made contact with his lips, if it did at all, she'd pull it away rather quickly, as though embarrassed by her bold nature. Her cheeks would turn an even brighter shade of pink as she glanced down at the ground a moment, shuffling her feet before looking back up. "If it is my father's, it must be real. All of his stuff is real," Aello explained, "and we can talk about it as we walk, following the little black line on the map," she added with a small smile as she extended her free hand, offering it to him to hold. OOCOh my... never again shall I do this to myself or anyone else...

[Bob Barton]

OOCYou are so right. Its totally freaky. I already thought the bouncing was bad enough

There was something strange about this girl. What kind of person would giggle with such familiarity to a total stranger? Bob felt a shiver going down his spine but tried his best to keep it in check. Sometimes, it was worth it to risk facing these things just for the prize in the end. Like treasure. Everyone knows that with enough mizas you can do anything. Even shake off an uneasy feeling that Bob was experiencing right now.

At first Bob was skeptical about the source of the map. "So she got it from her brother..." he thought to himself wondering where would her brother get that map. But he threw out all his suspicions when he heard it was from her father's desk. If it was from an adult how can he doubt the source. And why would her father take such efforts to hide something away like that. Bob gave a grin to himself as he thought about the answer. "Unless it was really valuable that he could not risk someone finding it in his home." Aello must have felt the same fears that Bob was feeling if the map was real. Which was why she followed suit with the soft voice. The concept of guilt was pretty much lost on the budding gambler.

"Oh no, it was a good idea. We can't have your brother getting away with his mischief right?" Bob suddenly exclaimed when he heard Aello. She can't have her doubting herself now. Not when there is her father's treasure so close. But his fears were unfounded when she convinced herself that all she needed to do was keep it away from her parents. While Aello and Bob might keep it a secret, what stopping her brother from saying anything? Bob won't remind her about that though. It was her own problem to look forward to after he got the loot.

The shivers returned when Aello put her finger on Bob's lips causing him to suddenly jerk his head a little to the back. Then he just stared at Aello's hand. Bob thought to himself how easy all this was. Maybe instead of becoming a gambler he could become a professional kidnapper? If all the kids in Zeltiva suddenly became as trusting as Aello, it won't be a problem. He could make a fortune. A fortune...Aello did not have to convince Bob that her dad's stuff was real. Bob sighed. He did not want to become a babysitter but he took Aello's hand. "Lead the way...you do know how to read that right?"

OOCVery, very freaky...

[Aello]

"No, of course not," Aello replied as Bob's fingers weaved their way through hers. She could feel his palm against her own, it felt somewhat sweaty, as though he were nervous, or hot, or excited. Or maybe even all three. She smiled weakly. His hand was just so much bigger than her own; like her father's, and her mother's. It made her feel small and insignificant, like she still had a lot of growing up to do. Especially when she had taken things from her father and brother, and was busy following a treasure map with a complete and total stranger. "Yes, it's not so difficult when the 'X' is in the spot not surrounded by mountains on all sides. When it is near the water," Aello explained. "It makes finding everything so much easier when the treasure can only be hidden in this part of town." With that, Aello brought the map forward, allowing her dark brown eyes to follow the black line on the parchment. She held it a little closer to Bob, in the hopes that he could see it too. In the hopes that he could see that she knew what she was talking about, and that he had simply come along to provide her with some company. After all, she didn't really need him to come with her. "You see, Bob?" Aello asked. "If we keep heading in this direction, we should be upon the "X" soon enough. Don't you think?" she inquired, her eyes shimmering in the sunlight as she practically skipped along the docks with excitement, wondering what on earth could be buried there. Would it be a large sum of money with which she could purchase whatever it was her heart desired? Would it be a pile of toys? The remains of a ship? A pile of books that could bring her both knowledge and power? Or something else? Something she had never even thought of? Or was there nothing? Nothing to be found because someone else had gotten to it first?

[Bob Barton]

That explanation sounded so simple especially since it came from a little girl. Bob remained skeptical about all this. It would be a lot more easier to grab the map to save him the trouble and get all the loot himself. If she could figure it out, so can he. Both had the same idea on how useful the other is. But it was always good to have a partner who can think differently from yourself. Then you might find something you missed.

"And by near the water you mean the docks..." he concluded seeing where they were and where they were headed to. It looked like the black line on the map went along the water. Where else could they be headed to? "There are so many strange things here. What do you think the X represents when we actually see it?" If Aello had an idea then good. Otherwise they could even be staring at it right now without knowing that it was what they were looking for.

Bob continued following his partner who was skipping down the docks. Still thinking on. There was still a problem here if the treasure was really at the docks. How many people passed through it daily? How many things were being moved around every other day? By now someone could have found it and moved it already if they were lucky enough. Bob who was still behind tried to recall how the map was. Did it look nice and new or old and worn? "Hey Aello, can I have a closer look at that?" he asked with his hand outstretched.