Faux Rhodes D11 {finished}

Faux Rhodes

My name is Faux Rhodes, and I'm here to pass along the art of friendship. One by one dirty hands wrap around edges of beautiful flowers before plucking them gently from the ground. Anyone I meet gets one, and it's how I show them friendship. Caring is important, and everyone deserves it, but sometimes not everyone gets it. Flowers go behind the ear, and anytime my eyes land upon those wearing their flowers there, I know I can count on them. But there's more to friendship than some people will ever know. It's about picking someone up when they're down, not kicking them to the curve. Give someone a hug, cry with them, laugh with them, anything to make them feel happy. If they're not happy, and not living in friendship, there's only one other option, and that is being pissed.

Most of the time, I'm easy to get along with. All it takes is a simple smile and a meet and greet. Smile and wave, and maybe a friendship can form. Enemies aren't something I want - all a guy needs is friends, and that is me. A person they can trust and talk to. I'm very good at talking, and I'm very good at stating what's on my mind. I'm a straight shooter. I'll just tell you how it is, and that's all I expect in return. Respect me, and I'll give you the same respect back - disrespect me or my family, and you'll learn the hard way what it's like meeting a pissed off Faux. One sure fire way to upset me is by hurting the creatures of the earth. Every little creation deserves to live even the ones deemed evil. Spiders, ants, snakes, all of those deserve a chance. Kill one, and I'll cry. Don't want to see a grown man cry do you. It's not a pretty sight.

With friendship comes loyalty. When I give someone my word, I will do everything in my power to keep it. Promises are made to be kept, not broken. It hurts when a promise is broken. It crushes dreams. Stomps every part of me, and yet I keep going back and trying again. I'm all for giving second and third chances - I can forgive what's happened, but forgetting about it is another story. Betray me, and I'll never forget because the trust I once had is gone, and even if I start talking to the person again, it's not the same as I won't open up to them anymore. It's a protection mechanism to prevent me from getting hurt all the time. Yeah, I'm a grown man with a beard, but I wear my emotions on my sleeve, and sometimes it shows more than I want to.

One of my best friends is Kaiba. We're brothers, yeah, but he's an amazing dude and an amazing friend. I hang with him a lot playing poker and other card games. I'm not the best at card games, especially poker because my facial expression says it all. I've tried playing a straight face and locking my emotions away, but it's difficult. I like to smile too much, and when I have a bad hand, I always roll my eyes and frown. Maybe I can stop that. Maybe I can learn because I want to do well, but at least this is a time to bond. A time to grow closer. I won a game one time, and Kaiba swore up and down I won all on my own, but it seems impossible. I think he let me win, but he won't ever own up to it. It's okay, though, as I'm practicing more and more and working on keeping a straight face clear of any and all emotions. One day I'll win out right on my own.

Now sometimes people ask me about the beard. I started getting a little stubble around the age of seventeen, and it never bothered me. I just kept letting it grow and grow and grow. I remember my family kept asking me to shave it, or at least trim it, but I kept saying no. I want it to be this way. It's hard when food gets stuck in it a lot, but I can clean it out and wash it. I don't know what it is about it. I've always been curious to see how long it'll grow - I bet Kaiba that it would reach the ground by the time I was thirty. I know he likes bets, and I just hope this is one I can beat him on. But in all reality, I don't think I'll let it get that long. It's nice now, and as long as I can keep it well maintained then it's perfect. And that's all I need. Don't care what anyone else has to say.

I don't mind getting out in and getting dirty. Most of the time dirt is caked beneath my cracked nails. Streaks stain my face. I've even gone as far as picking little clumps of mud out of my beard. I've got a nice tan going on from being outside a lot. I don't care for bugs, let them crawl on me because nobody better squish them! They deserve a life just like we humans do. It's not right to kill little critters. I'll be walking home and I'll see a little turtle crossing a road where a lot of people are walking and where peacekeepers in their vehicles are moving around, and I'll move it out of the way. I have quite the collection of turtles and stray animals that have been running around. I've nursed bunnies back to heal before because they all deserve a chance. I might look hard on the outside, but on the inside I have a huge heart that genuinely cares for everyone even those who've done me wrong.

I like cracking jokes with people and making people laugh. It's a way for me to put the past behind me, and to move on. Making people laugh makes me realize the world isn't as bad as it seems. Yeah, I've lost people I loved and cared for, but life goes on, and I choose to move on with it. Sometimes I'll go dancing down the street in nothing but boxers on, or I'll find a broom to sing into. I like offering hope for people. Let them have a life the deserve even if it's only for a moment. Growing up I was interested in fairytales, and stories that I knew were fake because it gave me a life worth living. When I felt down, all I had to do was grab a book and read. Yeah, it was worn out, but most people I know are dirty and worn. But it doesn't change anything. It offered me hope, and as long as I can provide hope for people who need it, then everything is worth it.

But life isn't all fun in games. Sometimes I get debilitating headaches, and I can't do anything. It messes with my vision, and makes it hard to think. I've had them for as long as I can remember, and the only way to get rid of them is by laying down in a dark room. They make me sick, and sometimes I throw up. I'm rather short when I'm compared to my family. I sometimes slur my speech. And to top it all off, I have to use the restroom a lot. It seems like food goes straight through me sometimes. I have abdominal discomfort. It makes it hard to do anything, but I try not to let it hold me down for too long. I live in a world that's constantly moving. And this won't hold me back. I gotta do what I gotta do, and passing along friendship is important to me. I hope that everyone understands.