The town of rum bustled with citizen and tourist alike and the air rife with such excitement you could practically swim through it while people continued to arrive in droves. So many in fact that the island was nearly full to the brim; making traversing through the town itself rather difficult, especially with everyone gathering at the center; humans so packed together like sardines in a can that left a salty odor lingering over every thing.
A smell that would make noses cringe and wrinkle in distaste if not distracted by coming event about to take place. One that had appeared in the news a week before and since then the world over had quaked in utter shock. Ever since; people had flooded towards the island of rum like an endless wave day after day, the excitement growing worse by the second. A good thing there were several bars and taverns to accommodate them all as well as keeping them calm, but pirates were as rowdy as ever, more so than ever.
Those first couple days were the worst; fights breaking out, drunks wandering the streets and hassling citizens, though as the days passed things had calmed down, became easier for the people of rum island and with less injured than expected.
Not until the day of the event had things exploded once more; no matter where one went you could hear the shouts and jeers of people who crowded and pushed around the wooden platform. Course there were stragglers still walking the streets or others relaxing in the multiple bars, whether for drinking to celebrate or perhaps out of depression.
One such individual currently crouched forward over the counter; empty glass clutched in hand as a finger tapped against its rim, signaling the bartender to refill it. A grumbling grunt came from the chubby, stout male who scratched at his pudgy cheek layered in a thin, scratchy beard."As if I don't get enough from them damn pirates...all day everday!"He barked out in his rough, gravelly voice while slamming the bottle of whiskey on the counter before wiping his hands off on his dirty apron. Looking towards the door where the sound of fighting could be heard from the bar just across from his."Ah great...another fight gone and broke out....poor old tyrone, but better him than me eh?"A chuckle rasped past his cracked lips.
Again the soft clink of finger against glass rung out that caught the bartender's attention which elicited an annoyed growl."Not listening are ya? Gah..just another common drunk. Fine! but this be your last then off with ya."Glaring at the crouched figure, though the hood draped over his head made it difficult to see the man's face. Scowling, his hand swooped up the bottle of whiskey then poured into the glass till it was half full."Go on..finish it so I can be rid of ya!"His face red; fuming as the man was at his boiling point after having to deal with these inconsiderate troublemakers for over a week.
A faint grunt came from the hooded male who lifted the head to down the glass of whiskey, nearly toppling off the stool in the process."Clearly ya had enough, besides..just look at how pale ya are? Go get yourself to a hospital or somethin. Now away with ya."Shooing him away with a wave of his hand.
Instead of getting a reply, the hooded stranger just let out a mumble before dropping cash on the counter with a thump then swayed off the stool. He stumbled in a drunken manner towards the open doorway, though bumped against the table of a person reading the newspaper.
Head turning to spot another of the countless ads regarding the execution before mumbling out a sorry then continued on his way. The bartender watched him push the wooden doors open which swung back into place once he walked through, but barely making it halfway onto the street before some random fool got thrown out from the other bar.
Down both of them went as the bartender shook his head; picking a up a glass to wipe it clean with a rag."Can't go a day without a fight breaking out anymore. How I pray they just kill this yonko already and get it done eh?"Eyes turning to the person hidden behind the newspaper.
Rustling of papers as the papers was pulled down, a wide smile on the deathly pale doctor.'Oh but where's the fun in that?'Light glinted off his orange shades as he folded up the paper to set on the table as he glanced towards the doorway to see the drunk and random other lying in the middle of the street.'Hm..poor fella, but I'm sure he's fine.'A shrug of his shoulders as his hand lifted a glass filled with a light greenish liquid that let off a sweet, fruity aroma.
Taking a sip; a soft, savory sigh followed after.'Ah..you my sir make one mean appletini.'Raising the glass in the man's name, though the bartender just stared for it wasn't enough that he came in here ordering such a...feminine drink if you will. It was the paleness of his skin, almost bone white, nearly bright as that pearly white smile he flashed at him. One would think him a ghost if not for the head of spiky sandy red hair and pink hoodie draped over that black shirt of his."Ah..uh thanks?"For once this man who had seen all sorts of strangeness and oddities was left baffled at the man sitting there.
There he was sipping on his appletini with a calm, seemingly amused expression on his face."Sure ya don't want something stronger there? Not many order them kinda drinks."Absentmindedly wiping at the glass to get another toothy smile followed by a shake of his head.'Don't be crazy. A day like this needs to be special, besides I can drink hard liquor any day, but I feel with this event something more..sweet is in order.'He took another sip; savoring the sweetness of it then smacked his lips twice.'Plus, one wouldn't want to be drunk for the execution no? And seeing that we still have time...another if you will.'Grinning at the bartender; that face sending an eerie chill down the stout, harden man's spine.
Lifting up the newspaper, The doctor resumed reading the funnies, waiting for the fun to begin.