Juniper stood, and began towards the ship. It wasn't far, basically in view of the restaurant, and didn't take long to point out. As far as the captaincy... "Well, we've had... an adventure." Their tone was more somber than one would expect, considering the words they used, but it was hard to tell what really happened. "The important part is he's in charge now. You'll pick up the rest if you decide to hang around. Oh, and try not to boast about who you're running with now. That won't end well, for you or any of us."
Bitter? She wasn't fucking bitter. Distrustful, yes, with a fear of abandonment, thanks to him, but not bitter.
"You've been fucking following me?" Alys snapped, cheeks reddening at the sight of Ronan's childish face on Sky's body. She'd only been off the ship for a whole goddamn minute, and already, she'd had enough of Leimor and all the shit it had to offer. Once he let her go, the fae fully planned on staying on board and making sure that he didn't sneak onto the Nox using someone else's face - the bastard.
Once he let her go. As though he were keeping her hostage. She hated how much he got under her skin, how much her blood had begun to boil, both from anger and embarrassment. Pathetic.
"I don't owe you shit. I told you, I'm busy, and you're wasting my time. Keep the fucking pocket change," She spat out, turning to walk down the alley, towards the entrance.
"You have 10 minutes to get ready, I'll be waiting outside. It's an order from your captain!" Caleb added before Emer could even protest, which she certainly would have done had he not closed the door between them. He leaned against the pillar next to the door to the clinic, having a perfect view of Leimor. What a sad looking place. Even sadder seemed to be the person approaching the Nox, with shiny eyes and furrowed brows. Caleb wanted to go to her, but instead looked over at the officers' quarters across from him.
Caleb didn't shoot, instead he tried to strike the vampire in the head while simultaneously tackling him to the floor. The loose eyepatch rolled out of his face, revealing the scar he tried to keep hidden at all times.
"Get the fuck out of here or I fucking swear, I'm tossing you off this ship!"
[...] Fitting that King would leave behind his pet who similarly hid his injury. As they hit the floor, Lucien threw his head back and laughed darkly.
“You’ll do no such thing, quartermaster.” Lucien spat out, a wicked grin curling his lips. “That is, unless you wish for another to join poor Sierra in her fate.” The moonlight glinted off his fangs as Lucien smiled wide, awaiting the quartermaster’s decision.
Caleb waited for her to get to the main deck and searched for her eyes, twitching his wing as soon as they met. He opened the door to the office next door to the clinic and waited quietly for Alys to join him.
Rolls of paper fell to the floor with whispered rattle as Leo backed his way into a relatively uncluttered corner. For what might have been the first time since he had come aboard the Nox the ship’s navigator was regarding him with something almost resembling respect or humanity, and Leo didn’t trust it one bit. Even his words held less bite than usual, an ironic twist given they were essentially closed off within his lair. One would expect such a place to be dark and dank, chilling in atmosphere as the vampire’s cold hands. Of course Leo had been in the room before, had even investigated one of the mysterious ceramic pots, but focusing on the floor and the filth was different than facing the beast in its home. He had never been there while Lucien was present.
Yet despite his expectations there he was, casually speaking with the blood drinker as if they were something resembling friends, or maybe colleagues. Even the way Lucien called him “pup” was less scathing, and followed by the illumination of his plans with the Bone Witch Leo couldn’t deny the air of the conversation. The shield was set aside, thumping audibly in the silence that followed Lucien’s question to the floor as he leaned it against a cabinet. He didn’t leave the corner, though.
”I have heard that cutting off your head would work, or a wooden skewer to the heart. I think that would kill most things, though.” There was a mysticism tied to the stories he had heard of the undead that survived on crimson life, and Leo could never wrap his head around it. Stories of cats and garlic and prayers did little when faced with fanged death, and more often than not Leo had found that stories of how to kill this or that creature were over exaggerated. ”You are stronger and faster than us.” The statement seemed to be made more for his own sake than to answer the Navigator.
”The bastard threw me like it was nothing; moved before I could react. If that wasn’t bad enough he has that ice.” Leo broke free of the safety of his chosen corner and stepped toward the cabinet of ceramics. ”The Baron could match his strength, you and Nessa might match his strength and his speed, but Juniper is the only one who could stop his magic.” A single jar was lifted, tapped softly before Leo brought it to the vampire and set it on the desk, tension measured against the proximity to a bloodsucking fiend.
”What chance do I stand?” A painful admission. ”I’m just a man. Angry and used to inflicting death, sure, but a man all the same.” Leo wasn’t really sure why he was telling the vampire this; he only knew it was the truth. ”Maybe I’m hoping you know a way to level the field for me.” Was he answering Lucien, or his own doubts in himself?
The walk back to the Nox was brisk and purposeful. Alys knew the likelihood that he would follow her was high, and as much as she wanted to portray someone who wasn't bothered by his presence or that awful interaction, she was simply too emotional to maintain her usual level of control. With a face that was typically unapproachable, the fae moved through the crowd without care, bumping her shoulder roughly into another, who took one look at her and practically ran in the opposite direction.
By the time she made it back to the ship, angry tears rimmed her blue eyes. Most of the anger was directed towards Sky; knowing that he would probably meddle with her business, and that she'd need to disclose information about her past before he did it for her. But also anger she held for herself; for allowing herself to be so affected by him. She'd need a moment to calm down before seeking out -
- and there he was, beckoning her to the office.
Blinking away the tears that threatened to spill over, and inhaling sharply, Alys crossed the deck, meeting Caleb in the office. The slightly crooked door closed behind her - it had been re-attached to the hinges after being torn down earlier that week. She crossed the length of the room, pacing, arms crossed tightly against her chest. Silence filled the space, which remained even as she sat herself down in a chair and glanced towards Caleb. He was looking at her, of course, and unlike her usual self, Alys looked away, out the small window. She waited for him to speak first, taking the extra time to figure out what she was going to say. And how to get the absolute terror she felt to go away.
Caleb stood still for a moment, watching as Alys closed the door behind her and shrunk in one of the chairs. Something had happened and his heart tightened seeing her like that. Despite Alys' clear signs of not wanting to be there he approached her, taking a closer look at her face in search of any kind of injury. "What happened?" He asked, anger mixed with relief to see that whatever had happened at least didn't seem to have been physical. He'd have to shoot someone if it had been the case.
His presence neared; she didn't see him, refusing to look away from the window, but she could hear it. Feel him. Closer but far enough to keep a respectable distance. That was good, she liked that.
Should she give him a warning? Ask him to shut up and hear her fully before kicking her out, or worse?
She thought it over, even after he asked his question. But the more she thought about it, the worse her heart began to race, the more nauseous she began to feel, the more prominent her fidgeting became, moving from pulling at her fingers to the chain around her neck. She hadn't taken it off since returning from the Ice Lands.
"This doesn't leave the room," she finally whispered, voice somewhat hallow. Better to just come out and say it.
"I used to hate pirates. I think a part of me always will. For what they did." Her steely gaze finally moved and met his, bits of silver lining her bottom lids.
It was a rather contradictory statement - she knew that. She was a walking contradiction; a pirate, murderer, raider. There was no doubt that she'd gotten lost along the way, a wandering soul in search of something that'd give her an ounce of control or satisfaction. But she hadn't killed innocents, not unless they came after her. A pathetic excuse, but as much as she'd learned to be a pirate, first and foremost, she'd also learned how to survive.
She paused, searching his eye, fear wafting through her. But she continued. "I trust you. And I'd rather you hear it from me. So sit down and listen. And if you so much as think about pitying me, I will break your nose again." Her voice softened. "Okay?"
"Ah. An adventure." Rielle nodded sagely. She knew about those sorts of adventures. Granted, it was usually other people having them. Surprisingly, Juniper didn't seem inclined to tell the tale. If it had been Rielle, she'd have been more than happy to give the whole town a description of how it had happened.
Perhaps it had been boring. Now, that wouldn't have stopped Rielle at all - she certainly knew how to enhance a tale when it was called for. A good story was like a good soup - it needed a lot of things mixed in, and some of them it was best not to ask about. Why, that was an excellent line, wasn't it? She'd have to remember it for later.
The sorceress made some comment about boasting, and Rielle reached out sympathetically and patted her on the hand. "Ah, no, love, of course not. Why would I? You're the ones being graced with my presence, not the other way 'round! But! I shall allow you the privilege of being the part of my tale I don't mention to onlookers. 'And then I was conveyed to my next destination by a pirate ship.' See? Leaves a lot to the imagination, skips over the parts we're keeping quiet. Best to know what parts not to mention, or you'll end up spending the night in the cells for being 'drunk and disorderly' - I was not drunk, I'll have you know, it was just that the wife of the guard-commander didn't like me mentioning her little case of the - er. Well, let's not have another night in the cells. Anyhow. Who are we avoiding this round?"
While Alys looked anywhere but in his eye, Caleb noticed for the first time the ring hanging from a chain around her neck. An engagement ring? It looked cheap, which meant absolutely nothing, but the size… It was made for a child, not an adult woman. Come to think of it, Caleb didn't know absolutely anything about Alys' life prior to the Nox. As if she could read his mind, Alys said:
"I used to hate pirates. I think a part of me always will. For what they did."
For what they did... To her. Caleb had never seen Alys more vulnerable, afraid of his judgment and things he didn't yet know about. He didn't pity her, nor was he afraid of what he was about to hear, and he wanted to show her that. So when Alys asked him to sit down and listen, he did - After getting the bottle of Ciaran's liquor he had kept hidden in a drawer and handing it out to the fae.
The liquor burned on the way down her throat, warming her belly from the inside. It did little to ease her fear; it'd take a while for it to become liquid luck, time she didn't have. But it distracted her, at least for a moment.
Alys began from the beginning, very vaguely explaining what'd happened in a run down tavern that sat beside the coast. How a girl of ten boarded her first ship in search of those responsible. How she finally fell into the habit of dispatching her horrid crewmates, how she'd disappear into the night and find new ships to board. Her words were succinct, emotionless, robotic; she spared him the details that remained ingrained in her mind - there was no room for majority of her tales, not yet.
Once she was done, done with the worst bit, she dared to meet his gaze, eyes wide with anticipation. Anticipation, fear - fear that things would change any second.
"You chose one hell of a partner to mutiny with," she found herself whispering. And then she braced for the worst.
Emer’s playdate with her kin would have to wait, this was important. She’d said she trusted him, and unlike the other times he’d heard such a thing, he believed it. Caleb listened to her every word without commenting or trying to take the bottle from her hand - he had to be sober for this, for her. He wouldn’t risk fucking things up like he usually did.
It wasn’t a long story, Alys clearly spared him the details. He understood why she kept it a secret however, no sane pirate would keep a pirate killer onboard, even if a recovering one. Caleb chuckled at her final words.
“I couldn’t have done it with anyone else.” Caleb said quietly, reaching forward to lightly touch the tips of her fingers. If she allowed it, he’d slowly brush over the back of her hand. He furrowed his brows. “I can’t. I can’t do this with anyone else.”
Whether it was the terrifying act of disclosing the information to someone, or the immediate acceptance - Alys didn’t know. But for one reason or another, she embraced the wave of relief that followed, even as it caused a couple stray tears to finally roll down her face. Feeling his fingers brush against her hand, she flipped her hand and allowed their fingers to intertwine, while simultaneously turning her face away - just for a second. Her other hand hastily wiped the tears away and she forced the stupid smile off her face.
“The other thing - someone from my past is in town. I may have alluded to having someone to get him to stop bothering me. And because he pissed me off.” And to rub it in his face a little bit.
“I don’t plan on leaving the ship again, but I know he watched us on deck. It’s a lot to ask, but if he approaches you in town, can you pretend?”
Alys wiped the tears from her cheeks before he could do it. His heart made a brief pause when she enlaced their hands together, and Caleb would've made his move had she not just asked him to fake having feelings for her. A knot got stuck in his throat and Caleb pulled back slightly, without letting go of her hand. It took him a moment, but then it sank in. This could be an opportunity.
"Let's show him. There's going to be a masquerade tonight." Caleb said, with a devilish smirk. "Big mansion, lots of treasure… Plus you owe me a dance." That way he could woo her without having to face the possible rejection. Brilliant. "What does he look like?"
Alexander Smith did not believe much in omens, otherwise he might have avoided a place called 'the last meal.' Instead, figuring it might be a place where crews looking for additional deck hands might gather, he walked through the door. He found a table without much thought as to where and carefully dusted off his wide brimmed hat as he sat down. It was important not to wear hats in doors, at least not if one was being respectful. He sat the hat aside, giving it a side long glance. Relaxing for the first time in awhile he leaned back in his seat, adjusting the sword at his hip to sit more comfortably at his side.
He was, not for the first time, uncertain of his decision to join a pirate crew. He needed the coin, certainly, but they got up to some stuff that could be pretty intense or worse, make a name for those involved. Can't stay here though. That was the truth of it. He could, technically stay here, but he didn't want to. He had sailing skills and he should put them to use. Besides that, life here was predicable. While he didn't mind not standing out, cultivated it even, he was tired of predictable. Also there was the debt he owed, it wasn't significant, no more in fact that most people owed, but he it would be a good way to pay it off faster. It was funny how common debt was, some days it seemed like the only people without debt were pirates, mercenaries, and the people who seemed to own everyone's debt.
Maybe that was the nature of a world where so many were so interesting. Any number of non-humans were running around, with clear pecking orders and distribution of resources. By the time it got down to the average person what was left but the promise of money, instead of its presence? He shrugged. It didn't much matter, that was the order of things. Right, back to the pirates. Let's see if we can find one here and ask for work. That would be the key and if there was anything he wasn't sure about, it was how to get a job with a pirate crew.
There was a flash of something in his eye as he pulled back - discomfort? Had she overstepped? Why hadn't he let go then? Whatever it was, as brief as the moment was, it caused Alys to pull back. She released his hand, but not without squeezing it lightly - a silent thank-you.
And not a moment after, she realized that perhaps it'd been premature. He agreed to her request, and to make matters worse, announced that they were to attend a masquerade. The smile on his face was devious, as it often was, and she was certain that the wheels were turning. She, however, remained uncertain, trying to make sense of his reaction and silently cursing Sky for putting her in this position.
That uncertainty didn't remain for long though. She was a creature of habit, burying down that emotion and replacing it with an equally smug smile. "I owe you a dance?" She repeated, raising a brow. "Only because you asked so nicely."
Her tone grew more serious. "You probably won't see his face - the one he wore with me, at least. Any experience with changelings?"