Dead Eye Jake/Dead Eye Jake Poetry
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
As hard as it is to believe, the hardened gunman Dead Eye Jake has an affinity for poetry. While first starting as a joke, he would sometimes amuse members of his 19th century criminal gang with short, witty stanzas in the style of notorious outlaw Black Bart, one of Jake's contemporaries whom he admired. He eventually found the activity a soothing diversion when camping in the woods or on a lonely trail outside of town, recalling memories of simpler times on a farm in Alabama.
Since arriving in the Rogue Isles Jake has sometimes renewed his old interest, taking time to jot a few lines down when the mood strikes him.
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In Defiance of the Law
On several occasions Jake has been known to leave taunting missives in the form of a poem at the scene of a crime. After a raid by the Dead Eye Gang in the vicinity of Founder's Falls, resulting in many casualties sustained by the Paragon Police Department and hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage, authorities were baffled at the large note left on the floor of an empty bank vault, reading:
The government forced my contribution
When tax dollars it did take.
Consider this my retribution
Compliments of Dead Eye Jake.
Weeks later, the Dead Eye Gang again reportedly attacked Paragon City in the vicinity known as Peregrine Island. One of the locations targeted by the criminal group, a store by the name of "The Family Jewels" was completely cleaned out. In the investigation that ensued, another of Jake's calling cards was found inside the main storage vault.
Too long did I toil upon the soil
As a poor dirt-farming waif.
So in lieu of my pay I helped myself today
To all the money in your safe.
Finally, the most brash of challenges offered by the outlaw came after a titanic battle between Paragon's superhero community in the form of the Frontline and the criminal gang of sky pirates known as the Dread Aces in the vicinity known as Bloody Bay. On that day the Aces met with resistance from heroes including the Havok Brothers, Nitedevil, SincereAgape, and others. The Aces were victorious, and beat back numerous attempts at capture. Days later, a poem signed by "Dread Ace Jake" mysteriously arrived in the Frontline base through unknown means.
Just how long did we roam,
Taking our cargo home,
While beating you capes in the way?
Though you tried to interfere,
The message remains clear:
Stay the hell out of Bloody Bay.
The Crimson Cutlass
Perhaps as unlikely as the hardened outlaw writing poetry at all, over time Dead Eye Jake has written two poems about the same woman. All signs would indicate the outlaw maintains a certain affection for this individual, despite extenuating circumstances.
Original
One night, while holding up one of the pillars inside of Pocket D's, a young lady in red offered Jake a drink from a bottle before promptly finishing its contents herself. This woman was none other than the infamous Crimson Cutlass with whom Jake eventually struck up a conversation. The events of that night, including an introduction to Jet Nitro, wagers made over drinks, and a trip to the Pocket D Arena, inspired him to write the following lines days later:
A dark-haired dame of scarlet flame
with a taste for rum and beer,
Seeming more at ease out on the seas
Is our beautiful bucaneer.
Her friend instead bet the girl in red
When in jest I tried to pick her.
Still I won a kiss at great personal risk
'Cause she couldn't hold her liquor.
But memories go when spirits flow,
Like a ship among the tides.
But ol' Jake knows he'll get what she owes,
And plenty more besides.
Reprisal
Evidently the beautiful sky pirate was inspiring enough for Jake to write a second poem dedicated to her. Recently this reprisal was composed by the outlaw in her honor. Whether or not its words are at all prophetic remains to be seen.
A dark-haired lass in a scarlet mask
Who might shy away from a drink,
Without a care she takes to the air
Though nowadays she stops to think.
Her friend instead, and too easily lead
With my feelings undercover,
Just some kinda toy when she dates Brain Boy
Hell, I use to be her lover!
But memories return, and passions burn
Until that final, fateful hour.
I will not rest until I caress
The sweetest crimson flower.
Jet Nitro
Jake met Jet Nitro the same evening he met the Crimson Cutlass, and was equally taken with her quiet, polite demeanor as much as he was with the sky pirate's exuberant nature. He was fortunate to get to know Jet and spend about as much time with her as anyone else during the weeks that followed, until he focused his attentions more so on the Cutlass. Even then, he always considered Jet a close friend. On the very night Jake penned the first poem about the Crimson Cutlass, he also wrote the following poem about Jet Nitro. It was read aloud only once, but is recorded here for posterity.
Out of the stars and into bars
Comes the Space Age warrior queen,
She shows no fear in silver gear
And hair of emerald green.
Quiet, secure, and oh so demure,
The islands she's forced to roam.
Here to stay until the day
She pilots her ship home.
Don't go just yet, my dear Ms. Jet,
'Cause I know my heart you're sure to take.
And when you're hurled back to your world
You'll bring that part of Dead Eye Jake.
Jupiter
About a month after meeting a young lady by the name of Jupiter Knight, Jake was informed that it was her birthday. Although they had only known eachother a short while, the gunman had grown to truly appreciate her company, and so felt a special gift was required. He wrote and recited the following to her a few days later, and by all accounts she enjoyed her gift.
It should be a delight
to just be all polite,
to just nod my head and simper.
But I get such a thrill
when I'm imposing my will,
And I hear her little whimper.
And there can't be no harm
if I just throw out my arm,
and slide it 'round her for a wrap.
But if I can get her
I don't feel no better
than when she's warming up my lap.
And I suppose I could swoon
at all the stars and the moon,
but although it may sound naughty
for all the beauty they contain,
its Jupiter that remains
my favorite heavenly body.
Life in the Rogue Isles
Since arriving in the Rogue Isles Jake has sometimes renewed his old interest, taking time to jot a few lines down when the mood strikes him.
Mercy Island
Jake once had the idea to write a ditty about each one of the Rogue Isles he visited, but only got so far as the very first when he wrote:
On Mercy Island I killed alot
of Snakes that were offendin'.
My reasons why? Well here's a thought:
My boots they need a mendin'.
Untitled
Later in his career Jake developed a melancholy stance on his life as a villain. Reminded of the freedom he lost living in his own time, replaced by the strict, domineering rule of Arachnos that permeated all parts of his new home, he penned the following lines, which thereafter became his creed and one of his most favorite written works:
The outlaw's life is rife with strife.
Like a horse without a rider
No longer vogue to live a Rogue
In the shadow of the Spider.
Mr. Bocor
Deciding on a whim to write up a poem about one of the many colorful individuals living on the Isles, Jake considered one of the most notorious and famous personalities to live in Port Oakes, the sinister Mr. Bocor. Reminded of a particular instance when he worked for the man and the bizarre details of the job, Jake wrote this for his own amusement:
"You need to recover what I own"
Said the skull-faced voodoo priest.
"Bring me back my Loa Bone
And you'll be well paid at least."
First it was some ancient tome,
Then a reluctant fiancé,
Now I risk my neck for some old bone
'Cause Bocor always gets his way.
So I busted up the Legacy,
I shot up the Wyvern,
All that I might chance to see
The dried-up bone I earned.
"Here ya go!" I had to yell
In a loud and angry tone.
At his feet the object fell,
"Here's your stinkin' Loa Bone!"
He said "You have deserved your fees,
I'll add a bonus for your pains!"
--Which consisted of rotting zombies
Who tried to eat my brains.
Midnight Meanderings
For quite a long time the outlaw was known to dissapear for entire nights without a trace. What exactly transpired or where he was during these nights was and to a certain extent remains a mystery to this day. However, on at least two seperate occasions, letters signed by Dead Eye Jake were recieved. Each of the letters ended with a short, cryptic poem with haunting lyrics.
First Letter
For in the deepest night
I grope for sight
Of what I'm searching for,
And in the bright of day
it fades away
Til I can't see no more.
Second Letter
So I keep my pace,
meet face-to-face,
With each unearthly power,
I will not quail,
so long as I inhale,
The sweetest crimson flower.
