Bah, Captain, you have no sense of drama.
Lady Smythee, what the Captain says is true, and if you are interested, we can easily tell you all about our adventures.
But is that what you were truely looking to hear about?
Estelle continues to annoy the guards because she is growing bored sitting about waiting and when Estelle is bored people tend to get into fights.
Pluck flaps off and delivers a harmonica to Estelle.
"Hey, she asked three times who we are already and you still hadn't answered it. Even I got annoyed and I already knew the answer."
Lady Smythee smiles to herself about this little quarrel. "We don't have too much entertainment so I'd be pleased to hear your stories."
Sqwak! Gift for the prisoner! Pluck flaps over to the door window and drops off the harmonica. Play the blues! Sqwak!
Sqwak! I am the spirit of the sea! I must grant this gift to my follower! Sqwak! Grant me this and wenches will flock to your door! *whistle*
"Please don't forget our hostage. Bring her some food too." Lady Smythee reminds the cook.
Thanks for the meal. Noonan eats and drinks. Good fish.
If it is entertainment you are looking for that can be adressed very easily.
Call in whoever is free, and I'll tell you the story of our latest adventure. The secret of the Deathknell.
Once the group is gathered Lito launches into the story.
As usual he cleverly spins the tale of the scourge of the sea. As he talks you can feel the cold clawing mist, hear the mournful bell tolling and see the horror of the rotting sailors. Against these you feel hope from the well timed magic used against the ghost ship, pride in the courage of the Kracken's crew, and marvel at the cleaverness of their Captain who directed them so well.
As the story progresses the sense of dread keeps building untill finally when Deathknell's crew is defeated relearn wages overall the listeners, even the ones that participated in the raid...
And that my good listeners is simply the latest in adventures that Captain Besmara and her fearless crew have overcome. Many an addition adventure have they had, but those are stories for another evening.
Estelle looks out her little window into the main part of the jail when she hears the guard arguing with Pluck.
"That bird found me eh? Always following me around he be, just give me the thing he has and he will go away. My food here yet?"
Sqwak! Play the blues, play the blues.
"You know what? I've never heard of you and by what I've seen and heard you are wet behind the ears. Your options to 'crack' Tidewater Rock are negligible and it's not like you really have to offer something for a bargain. But you look promising and this here has seen better days." she points to the surroundings.
"So I offer you a marriage under Shackles law." she says looking Lito deep into the eyes.
Noonan munches crab and bread. Mm...Would be a good catch, Lito.
He holds her gaze with a slight smile while he considers her request.
A tempting counter-perposal to be sure. For what period are you thinking?
When he gets his answer he says without braking eye contact with Mistriss Smythee:
Captain, Your thoughts? How much do you want to make Tidewater Rock our home base? It would be a major help in our effort both to make a name for ourselves and in our quest agains Harrigan.
"A year for sure and then we'll see." Lady Smythee replies.
Despite all the joking beforehand Besmara is hit by that unprepared. It takes a moment until the dumbfounded look disappears from her face again. "It's a good offer." she replies thinking Most of the time we'll hopefully be at the sea.
It is indeed a good offer... And not one to be agreed to lightly and with a belly full of wine. Would the lady permit me to think it over for the night before answering?
Estelle gobbles down her meal, doing some stretching and mock fighting while she is jailed.
"Of course. Let's have a joyful evening and decide tomorrow." Lady Smythee replies lifting her glass. "Call me Agasta."
I'll surely drink to that. To joy tonight and good profits for us all after.
He raises his glass to join her.
"For joy." Besmara answers the toast. After more eating and drinking she gets up and changes her seat. Shooing her officers to move a seat on she takes the place besides Royster McCleagh.
"Looks like my bed will be cold when we're here in Tidewater Rock. And as it seems you'll have the same problem. Do you think we could find a solution for that?" she whispers to him. What her intentions are is not obvious.
Royster McCleagh looks at Besmara indignantly and in harsh tone replies "No, thank you!"
Sqwak! Feelings, nothing more than feelings.
"Which benefits of the 'marriage under Shackles law' are you planning to cash in? I ask because your current steed here shows some signs of jealousy and though I'm not married to Lito it might cut into my benefits if he's married to you." Besmara names the pink elephant sitting on the table.
Lady Smythee coughs several times as she chokes on her drink over this bluntness. Looking first at Royster McCleagh then at Lito and finally at Besmara she answers "That is none of your business!"
Noonan scoots away from Besmara a bit.
Captain, settle down. While the idea of watching you two fight over me has a certain appeal; there is no need to be rude to our hostess.
After all, nobody has agreed to anything yet. I'm sure there are going to be more then one intense "discussion" tonight.
The lady has simply made a proposal, and if we choose to accept it, then I should honor our side of the bargain out of respect for the Shackles code.
She set her price for opening her home as is her right. We did after all come asking and if the price is too high we can always choose to sail away.
"I'm just asking what that price is we're talking about. And who has to pay." Besmara replies with a glance at McCleagh. "We already agreed on not making decisions tonight." Her tone indicating pure business. Peacock!
Lady Smythee raises a brow but doesn't comment on that. She is aware that in this marriage under Shackles law she'll be taken for the dowry and not for herself. Still there is no need to proclaim it as 'I'll take one for the team'. That guy looked so charming at first.
"So when do I get outta here? What is going on upstairs do ye know?"
Estelle is growing rather bored and tired of this being locked up thing.
"Looks like I killed the mood. Does that count for my kill list? I'd say we call it a day and go back to the ship. And tomorrow Casanova will tell if we get to hold a ceremony or not. Thanks for your hospitality." Besmara tells and gets up to leave.
"It was a nice to have guests for a change. McCleagh will see you out." Lady Smythee replies.
McCleagh waits for all to get up and then leads them back to the main entrance. After all are out and in the boat he goes back and fetches Estelle and leads her out too.
"Have a good night and see you tomorrow." he tells the group goodbye, but not without giving Lito another glare.
Pluck flaps out and sqwaks at the terrified guard.
Noonan rows the boat back. So we get a base?
"Ask Lito." Besmara replies.
"Noonan ye need to teach that bird ta use the chamber pot, it shat all over me cell. It wasn't the most cushy place and the guards wouldn't play cards with me. Treated me like a real criminal, kinda felt special an all." Estelle tells this all while Royster is still there, getting in the long boat Estelle closes her eyes and leans back.
[ooc]Doh, had a wonderful post, but it took me way to long to write it and now we have moved on.. Oh well.[/b]
Lito is unusually quiet untill they get back to the ship.
Then he lays his hand on Besmara's arm
We need to talk in private.
Then he waits to see if she chooses to go.
"Sure." she replies and walks to the aft deck sending anyone standing there away.
Lito looks at the sea for ma moment then starts...
I don't talk much about my past, because there isn't much good to talk about.
My mother and I never really fit in with the elves but I did get raised amount them for a number of years. That included my required month in the temple of Calistria. Not the best nor worst time in my life, but it did open my eyes to what truely can happen between people.
He turns to face her.
So I ask you again, how much do you want to crack that rock?
If you ask it of me, I would be willing to do this. It would be a wonderful base for the ship to operate from. The entire crew would benefit greatly from us claiming it.
However you know what this would entail, for if the Lady and I marry I will be the best husband I can be to her. So for a time at least you and I would be apart, or if Lady Smythee is very open, you would at best be relegated to status of first Mistriss.
This marriage could be simply just another of my times-served in the temple. A means to an end that profits both parties. A transaction bought and paid for that means nothing.
But as I saw in the temple, physical love can sometimes lead to an unexpected deeper connection. If that happens, it may not be only a year.
You have a beautiful heart behind your brash front, and I dread what this will do to it. I would rather take another 10 lashings then see you hurt, and this I fear will end up hurting you deeply.