I considered Gall's words with some consternation. My mother's novels, for sale at the ship's quartermaster? That seemed rather mercenary, since I can't imagine that was common practice to hire someone on and then put their belongings up for sale. Again I had cause to question my judgment in taking up with Scourge the night before.
"Well, if that's the case, retrieving my belongings shall be top priority. It's a complete set of my mother's novels, not to mention my armor and cutlass. Hardly worth being called a pirate without them."
Esmarelda had just sat down by herself when she saw Gall wave her over to him and two other. She bit her bottom lip, hesitant to move from the spot she had settled in. When Scrouge her threw her down the stairs she was sure he gave her a few more bruises to go along with the one on the back of her head. She found out she was right when she sat down, now she wasn't sure she could get back up.
She took a slow deep breath before forcing herself to get up, wincing from the pain. But she recovered and walked over to join the group, sitting across from their new rigger. Though when he started to speak of their things she nodded in agreement. "Aye that sounds about right, wonder how much value they placed on my kapenia..." She mostly muttered to herself. When he mentioned finding a bit of coin and gambling with it Esmarelda slowly shook her head. "Unless you're really good at gambling I wouldn't. You're on a pirate ship, nine out of ten of them will cheat you out of it." She told him as she looked at her bowl of soup. Yet when Artevious mention his mother's novels, she seemed to perk up. "Your mother is a writer?" She asked as a smile seemed to be pull at her lips.
As the day waned, Cueta made sure to find anyone that she recognized as being one of the press-ganged. Each time her message was the same. "Scourge is the one lead the gang that drugged and kidnapped you. I'm Cueta. Let me know if you need anything."
-----------------
The Mwangi was happy to see her efforts paid off at dinner. Artevious, then Gall, then the woman from the bilges and the storyteller - all came to sit with her. It was good to show numbers to the others - in numbers there was strength.
It hadn't occurred to Cueta that her possessions would be up for ransom by the quartermaster, but it made some sense. If anyone was able to hold an influx of new supplies, it would probably be the quartermaster. Or they were locked away somewhere perhaps even more secure - like Harrigan's room. It would surely be a death sentence to try and get in there.
Cueta nods to Artevious. "It should be all our priorities. Our stuff. Not theirs. One of us should try and get in good with the quartermaster. See what he wants for our things. I'll pay him a visit tomorrow." Cueta pauses, looking to the storyteller. "But I bet you'd have better luck, with that silver tongue of yours. I heard the tail-end of your story last night - you're much more likeable than I."
Cueta remains quiet through most of the rest of dinner, weighing her options. She thought about sneaking around a bit in the dead of night, but working the day in the sun just took to much out of her. It would be an early evening, then. At least with a few friends and nothing of value to steal, Cueta was reasonably sure she'd not be messed with during the evening.
The whispers at the back of her mind, silent since last night, chimed in.
And you'll hurt them if they do.
Gall offers a grunt around a mouthful of stew in reply to Esmeralda as he chews through her comment. She is probably not wrong, but it is a rare occasion when someone actually manages to beat him at his own game. Then again, this same crew had beaten him the other night when they drugged him. Maybe her suggestion has some merit. It is not as though he has anything grand to lose, though. A handful of coppers and silvers will not get him far, even if he does manage to double it. No harm in trying.
"Maybe. Probably. But unless ye lot've managed to scrounge some gold together today, we're gonna have to buy our gear back somehow. And there ain't too many ways to make an honest living on a pirate ship, aye?" He pauses to glance across to Artevious and Harmony, nodding in agreement with Cueta's suggestion. "Better safe'n sorry. The both of ye ought to give the lad a go. Separately. See if ye can't play to his weaknesses. Flirt with him or something, this lot doesn't seem the wisest."
The half-giant tips his bowl back to drink the last of his dinner before pushing himself up from his seat. He glances around the group with a wry smirk, shaking his head gently at who the crew elected to kidnap. "The Pirate Queen's got a bizarre hand in fate, huh? Least it was a press gang and not a hungry shark or something bigger. If any of ye lot wanna watch, I'll be gambling on myself in a bit here." Gall offers a polite nod as a goodbye before he steps away from the group in favor of a way to get some spare gold.
I had to shake my head in near outrage. All these recent recruits appeared to have had their belongings conscripted by the purser. It did not bode well toward keeping this lot the next time we sail into port.
I had to voice my concerns. "So you mean to say that all of your belongings have been similarly squirreled away as well? Did everyone pass out in last night's revelry? I know there is some risk of running into unscrupulous characters when seeking a life of piracy, but that's no way to foment a loyal crew."
Thankfully, my black thoughts were buoyed by one of the other recruits inquiring after my mother's writing. I beamed in pride. "Quite so!" I affirmed. "Well, not so much anymore, unless she does so in the afterlife. She was the Lady Contessa de la Montagne, author of the fabled takes of my father, Ricardo de Poisson!" I smiled and nodded graciously at what I was certain to be the shocked looks at everyone listening in. "Yes, it is true, you sit in the presence of the son of one of the most infamous pirates to ever ply these waters. My mother published the tales of his exploits, deeds and," I glanced at the fair beauties about me with a charming smile, "his conquests. I come to follow in his footsteps. Again, a Poisson shall sail the Shackles."
Esmarelda gave a nod to Gall as he got up to see if he could get something more from the coins he had found. "Fortune be with you." She told him before she took a mouthful of soup.
When Artevious began to speak about his mother and father, Esmarelda quickly swallowed her soup and began to smile. She looked a lot better when she smile. "I know her work, I am sad to hear she passed on, Pharasma rest her soul." Esmarelda said kindly as she nodded Artevious. "When my father was out working with his business partners he would always stop and pick up her latest novel. I had a full collection and even brought one with me when I left." Esmarelda told him, her smile still on her lips. "He told me he met her once, even got her to sign the copy he brought me." Her smile seems to fade a bit when she speaks of her father. "So you plan to follow in his footsteps hmm? How funny, I went to the Formitably Maid to join a pirate crew and work my own way up, out shining my great-grandmother is my end goal." She explained to him before finishing off her soup.
As you all eat and chat with one another, a dark haired woman with a tricorne hat approached, eyes darting from one end of the room to the other before she slid down to seat herself beside you.
"Mila," she said, starting to rummage around in a shoulder bag she had been toting. "Mila Quinn. New 'recruits', right? Me too." From her bag she produced a book that Esmarelda would easily identify as her own spellbook, as well as a a dagger that clearly belonged to Artevious. "Oh, right!" she exclaimed and from her own side pouch she pulled out a rather grotesque claw. "Felt like it'd be a wee bit of a sin to put that in with the rest all willy-nilly," she said with a grin to Cueta as she pushed the lot of it towards them all.
"Was all I was able to snag from Cut-Throat Grok, there. Told her the lot of it was cursed by a witch you all had managed to anger at the bar before you were all taken. With that there claw, it was an easy sell, so to speak."
The woman eyed up the lot of them, clearly weighing out their worth. "It ain't about what you know on this ship; it's who you know. Enemies will cause you problems, but there's something to be said for keeping a handful of allies. And I like the looks of you lot."
Esmarelda dropped her now empty bowl and reach out, taking her spellbook. "You got my spellbook! Wait, how did you know this was mine?" She asked as she looked at the woman who had just come up to them. She looked Mila over slowly then smiled and shook her head. "Never mind! I don't care, thank you for getting it back." With that Esmarelda took the book and hugged it to her chest. She listened as she told them how she was able to get their things and the fact that she liked the look of them.
"Like the look of us huh?" Esmarelda asked as she let her book fall into her lap so she could lean back and look at their newcomer more clearly. Only to learn quickly that it was a mistake and leaned foreword wincing in pain. "Well I think you be the only one upon this ship... well out side of this small circle and the giant twisting people's arms over there." She tried to smirk as she pointed back at Gall who had left to arm wrestle.
Before Mila's entrance, Harmony had been nodding to Cueta's words about seeing what she could do about getting in the good graces of the quartermaster. "I'll do what I can", she says to the Mwangi woman. "I'll see what the quartermaster wants for our possessions, and if we're lucky, maybe I can even talk her out of a few." But that topic quickly was eclipsed by Artevious' revelation of his parentage. "That's an impressive pedigree, I must say. Are your parents still alive? I find myself wondering whether they would approve of such a conscription method as was used on us."
Any immediate reply that might have been forthcoming is interrupted, however, by Mila's entrance. As the new woman presents some of the others' belongings, Harmony sits quietly, nodding in an approving manner. At least something is going right. "Thank you for your help", the storyteller says, even though she personally hadn't been brought any of her equipment -- that's not a big priority for her right now anyway; the word is mightier than the sword in many situations, and it's certainly her chosen weapon for this fight. Getting the lay of the land, however, would make that a lot easier, knowing where to direct your efforts. "Mila, can you tell us more about this ship's press-ganging methods? Is everyone here forcibly conscripted, or are we the only ones and the rest volunteers? How about yourself?"
"Some are gang pressed, others are blackmailed, and others still are here on their own will. Though some of those didn't know what to expect. It's a rough ship, this one, and the captain rules with an iron fist through Plugg and Scourge." At the mention of Scourge, she pauses to spit on the floor beside her. Clearly she didn't think too highly of him. "Was gang pressed myself. Don't get me wrong, I was looking for a ship to sail out with from Port Peril. But not like this.
"But I tell you what, I'll be one more set of eyes on your backs, if you'll be one more set on mine."
I was elated at the return of my dagger, but the loss of my books and other gear still vexed me so. My mind whirled with the talks of press ganging and gang pressing and whatnot. Could that have been the case with me?
"Well, that makes not very much sense at all. I came to Port Peril to sign on to a pirate ship. Why press gang someone willing? Though I suppose that's not as bad as someone unwilling. I daresay that would be quite a bit worse, come to think about it."
I frowned a bit in thought, as I pondered the dilemma I found myself in. It may not have been the way I wanted to take up a life of piracy, but at least I was here. This lot, however, was in a different spot altogether. It was just like when my father was marooned and had to take up with a smuggling ship undercover lest they realize they held the infamous Pirate Poisson. Of course, that ship's captain had been a saucy wench that my father ... well, she was nothing like Harrigan or Scourge, and let's leave it at that. My father's solution to his predicament wouldn't work for me here.
So I would need to come up with my own solution. And help those I come across with their problems as well.
"Well, I wouldn't be much of a crewman if I didn't put the needs of my fellow crewmates first. I'll help you get off this ship and back where you belong, if that be your wish. I'm not sure when that'll be, or when I'll have a say in matters, but you'll be home before you know it. In the meantime, you might just find yourself on the adventure of your life! It wouldn't be an adventure if there wasn't a little adversity to overcome, now would it?"
Harmony nods at Mila's words. "For my part at least, you have a deal." She more or less shares the woman's opinion of Scourge, based on how he's treated Esmarelda, something that Harmony felt was rather uncalled for. Speaking of which, she looks to the magus and asks, "How are you doing? Scourge was pretty rough on you. I'm so sorry it happened."
At Artevious' high spirits and optimistic outlook, Harmony just quirks an eyebrow and looks at the swashbuckler from the corner of her eye like he was a little touched in the head. Nevertheless, "Your assistance is appreciated, Monsieur de Poisson." Whether he's crazy or not, a skilled swordarm on her side would still be welcome. "So...you said you wanted to be a pirate? Have you had any sort of adventures before this pirate life you seek?"
"Not as such, no. My journey here from Cheliax was frightfully bereft of piracy. The captain even gave the Eye of Abendego a wide berth!
"But rest assured, I am well-versed in pirate lore from the fabled stories of my father."
"I know the feeling." Esmarelda said when Mila mentioned looking for a ship to sail with but not this one. She let out a small sigh as her body finally relaxed from the pain it had just gone through again. "I'll take all the help I can get, so I welcome your eyes." She said smirking at her. When Harmony asked her how she was feeling, she shook her head slowly. "Poorly to be honest... when he threw me down the stairs I'm pretty sure he added to the bruises I already had. I can still feel them when I lean back." She told her with a slight shrug. "But! I did all my work in the bilges by myself, one time, and didn't get worn out! I'd like to rub that right in his golden tooth grin!" She said, her eyes narrowed as anger flared up in them.
What broke her out of her anger filled mind was Monsieur de Poisson speaking. She shook her head to get her thoughts to leave and listened to his words, a smile forming back upon her lips. Then it hit her, she didn't know anyone's name! "It has just come to my attention, out side of Mila here, I know not what to call any of you! So allow me to start." She stood up and bowed before them, as well as her bruises and aching body would allow, before speaking proudly. "I am Esmarelda Niciniana Taliba Iolana Valarie, middle child of the wealthy Valarie shipping and trading company. She smiled as she crossed her arms.
From around a crate that had been repurposed into a table came an uprising of groans and shouts of excitement. In the middle of the raucous? Gall, the victorious party of his arm wrestling match. Laughs and curses exchanged as quickly as money while the loser plucked glass from his skin and nursed his wounds. Apparently pirates played a more dangerous version of this popular tavern sport.
Gall himself seemed to have doubled his wager.
"Well, that sounds impressive, surely", Harmony nods at Esmarelda's introduction. "Myself, I am called Harmony. Harmony Leading", she says, and it rhymes with 'heading', not 'heating' in case anyone was wondering. "Do you think there is any chance that your wealthy family might be able to do anything for you? We are fairly far out at sea and might be untrackable without access to powerful magic. It seems unexpected that a child of a wealthy family could be abducted just like any other." Many a time, she's seen bad things befall those who were already low on the social ladder, but she doesn't have so much experience with those higher up. Somehow, she always imagined them to be immune to much of the lower classes' hardships.
"Yes well... that was my own fault. I ended up bedding one of the Wormwood's crew at the Formitably Maid," She smirked at Artevious and gave him a wink as she said "I've always had a weak spot for sailors." then turned her attention back to Harmony. "As to if they would be any help I honestly doubt it, I never got along well with my mother, she always had other plans for me, wanted to marry me off to some Andorian business man's son to ensure a contract so she will just believe I ran off. Though my father will be worried... I didn't say good-bye..." Esmarelda sighed sadly as she looked down at her spellbook. "I do not believe they will be much help Harmony, not unless we get very very lucky." She told her as she looked back up to her.
He glances around the group with a wry smirk, shaking his head gently at who the crew elected to kidnap. "The Pirate Queen's got a bizarre hand in fate, huh? Least it was a press gang and not a hungry shark or something bigger..."
Cueta looks up from her thoughts when Gall mentions the Pirate Queen. "Aye. She had a very specific reason for me. For us I suppose, to be in the Maid last night. I'm just trying to figure out what it is."
Other than not retiring to be a landlubber, apparently.
"She was the Lady Contessa de la Montagne, author of the fabled takes of my father, Ricardo de Poisson!"
Shrugging, Cueta takes a bit of hardtack and wipes it along the inside of her bowl. In truth, despite what she told Ratling, Cueta didn't care much for turtle stew, but the cook and Gall did a decent job. And Cueta'd need all the energy she could get these next few days.
"Afraid I don't read much. Sounds like quite a series of tales. I'll take a crack at one of your books when you get them back, if you don't mind. Does your mother talk much of Besmara?"
"Oh, right!" she exclaimed and from her own side pouch she pulled out a rather grotesque claw. "Felt like it'd be a wee bit of a sin to put that in with the rest all willy-nilly," she said with a grin to Cueta as she pushed the lot of it towards them all.
Cueta blanches as Mila produces the claw from her bag, and involuntarily scoots back a bit in her chair, before letting out a deep exhalation and reaching forward, tentatively, to grab the claw. Taking the claw by its attached string, Cueta puts it around her head and drops the claw into her shirt.
The truth was, the claw was probably the one thing in her possession Cueta would have been happy to never see again.
"Thank you," Cueta says, hoping her voice doesn't betray her lack of enthusiasm. "You've risked a lot to help us. I'll return the favor, be assured. Cut-Throat Grok - he... I mean she's the quartermaster then?"
"It has just come to my attention, out side of Mila here, I know not what to call any of you!"
Cueta nods. "Well met, Esmarelda. Cueta Guiding Star. Sailor on the Golden Pegasus. I was a scout, led twelve trips ashore for food and water and never lost anyone."
"The hulk, he's Gall. Seems to be a good sort. I for one, am glad to have some friends on this boat. If I can help any of you, just ask."
A deep, booming belly laugh rings out throughout the hold of the ship amidst all manner of cheers and grumbles of dismay. Gall claps a sailor or two on the shoulder companionably, flashing a grin to another few before he downs a bit more grog. As soon as he has collected his winnings though, he is on his feet and shouldering his way out of the crowd as gently as he can. "Aye, we'll see how I fare next time, lads. Mayhap some of ye have learned and will put your coin on the proper gent when the time comes, hmh?"
That business concluded, he moves across the deck to his new friends only to pause just behind the newcomer. His shadow falls long across Mila as he looms over her, looking the woman up and down critically as he tries to gauge her capabilities. She does not look like much, but perhaps she has a bit of an edge over most of the other pirates. After all, most of them look like they do not even know what a bath is. "Heard my name. This lass bothering ye lot?"
I caught Esmarelda's wink and offered her a dashing smile in return. Perhaps there was indeed good fortune to be found on the Wormwood.
"Afraid I don't read much. Sounds like quite a series of tales. I'll take a crack at one of your books when you get them back, if you don't mind. Does your mother talk much of Besmara?"
I ran through my store of knowledge -- which was considerable, I might say -- of my mother's writings, and came to a conclusion. "Only in the most offhand manner, truthfully. Keep in mind that most of her audience lived in Cheliax, and they don't much take kindly to others writing about gods that weren't Asmodeus. My father didn't preach or proselytize, and most of the dastardly villains he faced used Besmara's name in some rather creative oaths and epithets. One such scoundrel favored a 'Besmaran bath,' which was a bucket of seawater poured over someone recently flogged, for example.
"I do indeed have many tales of my father to tell, and I hope to recover my books quickly. Mostly so these other poor souls on this ship can experience them!"
While several of the others decided to turn in early, I felt awake enough to meet more of the crew. Despite the unpleasantness of the captain and his immediate officers, there did seem to be quite the number of souls on this ship of whom I still needed to make their acquaintance.
While Gall won a number of arm wrestling matches, I chatted with the crew in observance. One young lad, for instance, Jack by his name, was busy working on a piece of whalebone. I introduced myself.
"Hello, young sir! Quite the pleasant evening, don't you think? That is an impressive artistic display, there. Quite the worthy maritime exploit, when there's little else to occupy one's hands. Did someone teach you, or have you picked this skill up on your own?
"Speak of the devil!" Esmarelda laughed looking at Cueta as Gall came over. "No Miss Mila is a new friend Mr. Gall. She brought us back some of our things, such as my spellbook." Esmarelda informed him as she pointed to it. "And you heard your name because you, my handsome giant, forgot to give it to me." She said as she smirked and crossed her arms. "Thus Miss Cueta informed me that you are called Gall." She explained.
"As the lady says, I was merely returning a few of lost possessions. Cut-Throat Grok is the quartermaster here, and is about as superstitious as they come. And friendly if you can butter her up," Mila explained to Gall and Cueta. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a hunch I'll be in the Bilges tomorrow so I'm going to turn in. Don't be shy to come find me if you need anything." With that, Mila rises and scuttles down into the lower deck, presumably to catch some shut eye.
Jack looks up from his work, a little surprised to be approached. "Aye, be a good way to pass the days and pick up a little extra coin for when we hit port. My pa taught me back home, though he taught me on the bones of cows and sheep," he replied, lifting the piece to examine it. The fellow is glad to pick up a conversation with Artevious and offers to teach him the tricks of the trade if he's ever interested.
"Well, much as this locale and situation wasn't of my own choosing, I'm glad to know that there are at least a few people here who seem friendly. As agreed earlier, you watch my back and I'll watch yours, and hopefully we'll survive long enough to improve our fortunes. But if you'll excuse me, it's been a terrible day -- present company excluded, of course -- and I don't think I can stay awake ten minutes longer." Harmony nods her head once to each of you in turn, and then starts to head below decks to turn in for the night.
Cueta nods and stands. "I'm off to my berth as well. It was a long day, and I'm exhausted." Bidding the others good night, the sailor makes her way below decks to the crew's berths. Looking around, Cueta finds a berth in the back of the ship with no blanket or locker signifying an owner. Inspecting the hammock, she finds it sweat-stained and a bit smelly, the previous occupant apparently not much of one for cleanliness. Sighing, Cueta flops into the berth and throws her arm over her face, and before long is fast asleep.
Her sleep is sound and deep, and the woman has no recollection of whispers or dreams when she wakes.
With a thoughtful grunt and a polite nod to Mila, Gall is careful not to take his eyes off of her even as she walks away. Something about her seems just a touch too good to be true, but the rest of the group seems to like her. So, for the moment, he keeps his trap well and fully shut on the topic. No sense in stirring up trouble where there is none yet.
"Aye, probably for the best. Nice meetin' ye, too, lass," he murmurs mostly to himself as everyone heads off for the evening. "Suppose it's gettin' to be about that time. I'll see the lot of ye in the morn. Just give a shout if ye need something."
Esmarelda had to agree. While her task did not leave her as warn out as it did some of the others, but she could not say the same would happen tomorrow. She nodded to Gall as he walked off then stood up slowly, doing her best not to aggravate her bruises. She looked over to Artevious and the man he was speaking to, gave a flirtatious smirk as she said "Good night gentlemen." before taking her spellbook and turning in for the night. She was sure she wouldn't be messed with after Maheem's comment
The night passes without event, though for those new to life on a ship it takes more than a few tries to get into the crew's hammocks. Not to mention stay in them the whole night.
Your first moments of the morning were substantially better than the previous. No pounding headache and no signs of being drugged. Yup, today was definitely going better already! The crew shuffled about as they prepared for the day and headed up the stairs to start the days work. You all move to do the same, however you're stopped by a group of four individuals as the base of the stairs. As you come near, they start flexing their punching arms.
"In a hurry?" says the half-orc you know to be Jaundiced Jape as he pushes Harmony back. A few of the morning's stragglers stop where they are to watch, fully expecting a fist fight to be brewing.
Emarelda looked up from her spellbook, she had just finished her spells for the day. She slammed the book shut after she heard the half-orc speak.
"Oh, does someone think themselves a big man?" Esmarelda asked as she joined Harmony at her side. "You really want to start something with us? I mean look around, hells just look at him!" She said flatly as she pointed at Gall. "Not to mention if you kill one of us! The Capt'n won't be liking that. So tell me honey," She smirked as she stepped up again, just one step. "Are we worth dying over?"
Cueta slides between Harmony and Artevious, ducking under the hammock between her friends with fluid, predatory steps. As she moves, the sailor sizes up the woman to Jape's right. The woman's eyes dart back and forth in her head, seemingly a little unfocused. Easily distracted, Cueta thinks. Should be easy enough to get the jump on her.
"Good." Cueta says, as the whispers in the back of her mind come on, silky and pleased in tone. The sailor flexes her fists, enjoying the feeling of her muscles loosening. It had been a while since she'd been in a fight. "I've wanted to hit someone since yesterday morning."
I had envisioned my agenda for the day as I awoke. First I would attend to whatever task that was needed in my new role as a rigger, but then I would also see about visiting the ship's quartermaster and see about securing my mother's books.
I had just finished pulling on my boots when a disturbance caught my attention. It seemed as though a handful of crew were on the cusp of a fight. Two of my newest allies, Harmony and Esmarelda, were staring down four rather brutish sailors including a fierce-looking, if a bit yellow-hued, half orc.
I stepped up to intervene. "Now see here, lads! This is no way to forge the type of camaraderie needed when we set forth against all that these waters would throw at us! I understand that you would want to know that we new recruits are rough and able-bodied, but I assure you that fisticuffs is not the way to go about it! Now let's head above decks and be done with this nonsense!"
Somehow, I think my words only managed to incense them further.
Gall shuffles out of bed with no more alacrity or zeal than the previous morning, giving a thunderous yawn as he goes. He lifts a broad hand to rub the sleep out of his eyes, not watching the least bit where he is going. Which naturally results in him bumping straight into the back of Cueta in mid-step. "Oh, shit. Sorry, lass, I wasn' payin' near to enough--"
His sentence trails off fairly quickly when his eyes slip open to see the group assembled before him. Brows furrow as he works through the motions of getting his gears grinding, looking for the weakest link, and trying to get in front of his friends. Easy enough, when one is the size that he is. "Listen, lads," he says carefully as his hands ball up into fists, "Let's not do nothin' that we'll regret later, aye?"
Despite Cueta's eagerness to take out the frustrations of the previous day on this easily presented target, Harmony would really rather not risk any possible sudden dagger-slip. She suspects that this might be the incident where she might be 'accidentally' injured or worse. "Ladies. Gentlemen", she says, "And pirates of all genders. I'm going to guess that you're here under orders from someone, because none of us offended you *that* badly yesterday. And this is nothing personal, you're just doing your jobs, so you won't get flogged or whatever. I can understand looking out for yourselves. You're put between a rock and a hard place -- either take a beating from your taskmaster for refusing orders, or from us. And you at least have a chance of beating us. Now, if any of you are willing to sit this one out, I will present the crew with an excellent tale of how you put us in our place. And if you were at the Formidably Maid, you know I can spin a tale. Hmm? Which would you rather, chance a fight that you might not win, or sit out and have the whole ship hear about your valiant battle?"
Two of the four thugs look at the others hesitantly, and another looks at Harmony curiously and gives a shrug.
"Well, I mean, so long as people think we did a good job..." mumbled Jaundiced Jape, taking quite a change of heart since first shoving Harmony.
Syl, on the other hand, was far less convinced by their efforts. "Buck up, ya green-skinned cur!" she shouted at Jaundiced Jape, giving him a hard elbow to the ribs. "Ya know what'll happen if you whimp out now, don't ya? Scourge'll have your hide and ours!" Syl gave a stink eye to the others who had hesitated.
"It ain't worth my hide," the rotund Fipps said as he slowly inched his way back to the stairs. At the sight of one of their party heading away, Maheem was quick to follow. He had been eyeing up Gall and trying to figure his luck against someone so huge and apparently thought better of it.
Syl gave an angry and exasperated huff. She pointed two fingers at her own eyes, then one at Esmarelda. A classic 'I'm watching you' gesture if there ever was one. "Better watch your back, girl," she said with a hiss. "Any more sass from you and I'll see you're put in the box for a month." She gave Jaundiced Jape another smack for good measure before they both followed after Fipps and Maheem up the stairs.
Seems the situation has been diffused for now.
Harmony just stands there, blinking a few times as her would-be assailants file away from the hold, kind of frozen stiff waiting for the moment to explode. As the thugs leave and silence settles, she gradually, gradually starts to relax. She looks around, to see who all are here. To anybody who isn't part of the newly press-ganged group, she says, "They gave us a sound beating. You saw it, and I owe you one." Hoping that'll fly for now. Then, she turns to Cueta, takes a few steps towards her, and says, "I want to make it look good. Punch me as hard as you can, somewhere it'll show." She vaguely gestures at her face. Gall might have been a heavier hitter by the looks of him, but Harmony doesn't want to deal with any of the 'you're a girl, I can't hit you' stuff that some men sometimes practice. Well, not around the places she usually frequents, but it's an attitude she's heard of.
It also did not escape Harmony's notice that the thugs walked into her verbal trap and gave her explicit confirmation that Scourge was behind this. Oh, Scourge. Next time, try smarter minions.
Harmony *could* go with reneging on the deal, and telling the rest of the crew that the thugs failed, thus probably netting them a harsh punishment from Scourge, but she plays a longer game than that. Whenever the opportunity presents itself for the rest of the day, she will give anyone who asks a very dramatic tale of how badly Jape, Syl, Maheem and Fipps beat them up. "I've seen some pretty crazy stuff, I was part of a group that was captured by some cannibals in the Chenogg rainforest once -- those guys were fierce, they just tore into you with tooth and claw like they were animals, but I swear, they had nothing on Jape. I almost soiled my pants just from the wild-eyed look he had", she mimics the craziest look she can portray, "...the way he just SMASHED my face through the barrel into those salted mackerels, I was sure my nose was broken, and try breathing in that brine anyway, right? I was running out of air and he just smashed that big fist of his against my ribs over and over again, knocking what little air I had left right out of my lungs..."
Harmony does whatever she can to make it seem as if the thugs massively trounced them, hoping that they might appreciate it or at least hopefully they will believe and remember that Harmony's word is her bond. Not sure if this will take up the nighttime ship action or not.
Cueta's coiled, all ready to strike, when their enemies just kind of slump, begin arguing among themselves, and slink off. What. The. Fook.
Pacing back and forth, Cueta addresses the spectators. "You heard her. Keep your mouths shut and she owe's ya." Shaking her fist, Cueta yells, "Open 'em, and I owe ya!"
Turning on Harmony, teeth gritted, Cueta continues. "It won't work. One of them will talk, or one of the spectators. Its a small boat - word will get around. And when they get punished... They're going to come back on us twice as hard. Only way to beat a bully is to bloody his nose worse than he bloodies yours. Not blow perfume up his arse."
Sighing, Cueta closes her eyes for a few seconds and breathes deep. "And we still have to beat each other up? Seems... not right to have to take the punishment anyways." Still, the sailor puts a fist right into Harmony's nose, as hard as she can, before turning to Gall and saying, "Me next. Right in the kisser."
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Throughout the day, Cueta shuts her mouth and seethes every time she hears of the "beating" that she took, her pride hurting worse than her lip.
"UNGH!" Harmony cries out as she's decked by Cueta's swing, crashing to the floor. It takes her a few moments, a few just getting her eyes to focus, then some more gathering her thoughts, before she can even start to think of getting up. When she finally does, she gets up quite easily, after all only her face was damaged, the rest of her remains fully functional. "All right, DAMN, woman. Next time I'm not going to ask you to go 'as hard as you can'." She rubs her aching jaw, handling her face to try and feel around if anything's broken.
After she's satisfied that nothing is permanently damaged, she smiles a little, the smile making her wince slightly. "Cueta my dear -- word will indeed get around. And it will be my word." At the complaint about having to beat each other up *anyway*, she adds, "This wasn't about not getting beaten up. We outnumbered them, and by the looks of him, Gall alone probably could have taken them as it was. No, this is about something else", she says, tapping two fingertips to the side of her head. "Maybe getting Scourge to underestimate us. Maybe building up favors for the future. Maybe something else. I'll get back to you on it once I've figured it out myself", she grins and gives a teasing wink.
"Hmph. Fair enough. I'd prefer a simple plan, but we'll do it your way this time." Cueta makes a fist. "They come back at us, we do it my way."
Esmarelda just gave Sly an arrogant smirk. "Give Scourge a kiss for us." She said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She waved them off before she turned and looked at Harmony. "If you are going to tell this story, leave me out of it please? I have already been humiliated by Maheem once I don't need to be called a weakling too." She sighed shaking her head. The crew, present company excluded of course, already thought she was bad in bed. To be both bad in bed *and* a weakling? Oh no! She drew the line there. Though she couldn't help but wonder. Why send people to try and kill us? I know I spoke out of turn but they need the crew members... Why risk it? She couldn't get the question out of her mind. When she heard Harmony ask Cueta to punch her she looked a little annoyed. "You don't think it's going to look out of place if you are the only one who looks the part? then she watched as Cueta asked for the same.
"This is crazy! We just did this so we wouldn't get all bruised up and you guys go an do it anyways?! Not me. No, sorry! I am not going to spend my day acting like a wounded puppy, I won't speak out about what really happened so Harmony can play her bluff. But this crew already thinks very poorly of me.... I don't need anyone adding to that... If anyone asks... I'll send them Harmony's way for the story. But me? I want to get off this ship with some dignity intact." Esmarelda said, she looked rather upset. Her eyes where filled with a mixture of anger, sadness, and... Maybe fear? The last emotion seemed hard to peg.
With a sigh that is equal parts weary and sleepy, Gall slowly lets his muscles uncoil as the bullies slink away without one punch thrown. Or at least, until he hears the smack of skin on skin from Cueta's punch. His jaw clenches at the thought of having to put on this act for the rest of the crew, but he cannot see any other way for this to play out, either. "Nice punch. Much as I'm not keen on agreeing, these two're right. We've gotta make it look real, but we also gotta hurry. We're expected upstairs."
Without preamble, he rears back a fist to clock Cueta square in the cheekbone, though he does try to pull the punch. If only a bit. She looks like she can take it, but he gets no pleasure from hurting his friends, even out of necessity. "Listen, lass. Ye seem like a nice girl, but this ain't no place like home," Gall says to Esmarelda as he shakes out his hand, "We're in this until we get free or get dead, so get used to havin' to do some things that aren't real pretty. Not much of this life's what it sounds like in the books. But remember: we're in this together, aye? Now, somebody hit me."
"That's my point Gall!" Esmarelda almost shouted. "If we go up there and tell everyone we got out ass handed to us we'll come off as weak. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have been called a bad lover, worth a copper, pulled by my hair and thrown down the stairs, and now according to the story you all want to tell, beaten up!" She stated as she fought back tears. She turned her back to them and pulled off her white cotton shirt to show them the bruises she still had from Scrouge tossing her down the stairs. They could easily see where she had hit the stairs, they had left their mark.
She slowly but her shirt down as she let out a deep sigh, some tears had slipped past her eyes and begun to slid down her cheeks as she looked back at them. "Aye we're together in this... But we can only protect each other so long as we are close by... During the day if I'm on deck or just below it I can call for any of you... But if I get sent to the bilges again, I'm alone." She looked them each in the eyes before saying. "And that scares me... The weakest one, is easy pray."
This was one of the strangest turn of events I could ever have fathomed. Harmony had cleverly talked our way out of a fistfight, but somehow we were to beat ourselves up. Not exactly a resounding victory, I must say.
"I believe Esmarelda has the right of it, I'm afraid," I stepped up and interposed myself between the others and her. "What's done is done, and there will be bruises to point to if Harmony needs proof of her tales, however she spins them. I for one, would not appreciate the rumors of my first fracas going poorly. I have staked my reputation to that of my father, and I would do everything in my power to acquit myself well, for his sake as well as my own."
I knew I was putting my burgeoning friendship at risk by my words, but I felt honor demanded it. Moreso than my own pride was at stake here in the hold of the Wormwood, but that of a lady's honor. "If you truly wish to help your story by adding to this lass's bruises, well, you'll have a real fight on your hands. And, I daresay, a few more bruises of your own."
Cueta rubbed her sore jaw and looked to Esmarelda. "No one has to hit Esmarelda. She's already showing she's hurt. Just turn on the waterworks and walk gingerly. It'll work."
Turning to the men, Cueta looked them both up and down, the slightest grin showing on her face.
"You're both in need of some prop bruises though, mates."
Having done all the punching she was going to do this morning, Cueta made her way above decks to see what the rest of the day held.
Esmarelda gave a shaky sigh as she leaned foreword and placed her forehead against Artevious's back, hiding her from everyone's view. Her hands gripped his shirt just under the middle of his back. He could feel her shaky breathing down his spine. "Thank you..." She managed to get out, her tears slowing. Now that no one could see her, Esmarelda sounded a lot younger than she looked! From her height and appearance, one would put her age at about twenty... Yet she sounded almost three to four years younger.
It would have been unbecoming of a fierce pirate to unabashedly beam at the young lady's gratitude, so I refrained. "Thanks are entirely unnecessary," I said with a wink.
"As are additional bruising," I added when it appeared that Cueta was still interested in throwing punches. I shook my head in wonder at the mad scheme, and headed up to the main deck to learn of the day's toil.
"Agh. Thanks, lass. Esmarelda, I've words for ye later. Nothin' t'be afraid of, but we've a chat what needs to be had. We'll talk over dinner or something. Now, Arty's got the right idea. Up we go," Gall replies as he offers the young woman an uncharacteristically sympathetic look. It is fleeting though, and he quickly moves to follow the others up to the deck so that they can get on with the day. On the way, he takes his time about rolling his jaw and gritting his teeth without bothering to do something about the split lip. The blood slithering down to his chin would help sell it, if nothing else.
"Everyone doesn't need to have visible injuries, don't worry", Harmony reassures those who don't want to get hit. "A couple of nice shiners for some of us will suffice to sell the story." At Esmarelda's concern, she tries to lay a hand on the woman's (or girl's?) shoulder, and nods firmly. "I'll make sure you won't be humiliated further by the story", she says, looking into Esmarelda's eyes seriously. Any of the stories she tells about the fight will either discreetly omit Esmarelda, or focus on her putting up a fight. The same will go for Artevious as well, who is concerned about his reputation as well. "Now, when we go to work today, there may be people laughing. Scourge, who these people confirmed was behind this, might be smirking. But remember, he's smirking because he has the wrong story. We're playing him, and succeeding." With that, Harmony is good to head upstairs for the day's work as well.
Esmarelda looked a little nervously at Gall, but then relaxed and nodded. He hadn't lied to her yet, why would he start now. She felt Harmony's hand on her shoulder and met her eyes with her own. Harmony's words seemed to calm her down a bit as she gave a slight smile."Thank you Harmony..." She told her before she followed the others up the stairs, all the time doing her best to make it look like she wasn't crying too much. This sucks... I wanted adventure, not this! She though as they got to the top deck.