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| In Passing; Resumption of the Lost Thread | |
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| Topic Started: 23 Nov 2007, 09:48 PM (496 Views) | |
| Deleted User | 23 Nov 2007, 09:48 PM Post #1 |
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Summary of Previous Posts: Caitlyn and her ward Georgie embark on a journey back to England to take the boy to a boarding school in England to further his education. Their ship gets intercepted by Captain Brice's Dark Maiden and the crew of the transport gives up Caidy and Georgie for ransom to gain their own freedom. The two are taken aboard the Maiden fearing for their lives and put in the Captain's cabin with Brice. Caidy offers her own life in exchange for Georgie's although Brice has no plans to do them harm, being the noble guy he is. He is wearing a mask and so Caidy does not recognize them from their previous encounter. After Sean explains that he has no intention to harm them, Caidy becomes suspicious. As Georgie falls asleep, Sean reveals himself, leaving Caidy and Georgie alone in the cabin to consider her situation. She joins him on the deck and the two of them start a pleasant conversation, growing to know each other better and feeling a spark that neither had voiced. Their pleasant encounter is so rudely interrupted by the arrival of a storm. The storm brings along with it the Flying Dutchman and Davy Jones. He boards the Maiden along with a few of his ghastly crew members and demands to know why Sean has not completed his task of delivering Jack Sparrow. Brice attempts to explain himself and distract Jones from Caidy, but Jones takes notice of her, threatening her life. For the second time in a day, Sean saves her life, offering his soul as forfeit in the deal. He and Jones shake on it and depart the ship, leaving a distraught Caitlyn with the crew of the Maiden. |
 
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| Deleted User | 23 Nov 2007, 11:49 PM Post #2 |
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 James leaned heavily against the railing of the Maiden as she cut her way through the water towards Jamaica. The solid white orb of the moon glaring down upon the dark hull of the ship as he looked out across the ocean. He felt lost, for the first moment in a long while. He was unsure of what to do and he could see the same etched deeply on the faces of the crew that was now left without a captain. In the normal scheme of things, when a captain died on a pirate vessel his first mate would take command. James had done that to the best of his ability, but he could not begin to think of himself as a captain…at least not the captain. Sean Brice had not died by cutlass or cannon like he had often expected his end to be, nor by the hangman’s noose that was becoming a large threat. Technically speaking, Sean had not died at all, but he had, James thought, sacrificed what gave his life meaning in order to save someone. He did not truly understand why the captain had done what he did, but he could see the logic in the decision, or lack thereof. Why it had prompted such a thing, however, James was fairly certain he would never know. He did not hate the woman who had been the reason behind Sean’s decision, since he could not bring himself to loath that which his closest friend had saved, even though he had tried. Not because of anything she was or did, but because if he could hate her, then he could bring himself some type of closure to it all. But he couldn’t. He had quickly decided that there were three things that Sean truly cared about in the world. His ship, his crew and, now, Caitlyn McKenna. James felt that he owed Sean much, and he never felt he could repay the debt. The captain of the Dark Maiden had sold his soul once to save his ship and crew, and now he had surrendered it completely for the woman. The very least James could do, in his mind, was his best to make sure that all three of those things were kept safe and well, and it was a charge that he bound himself strongly to. Beyond the disappointment and the sorrow on the faces of the crew, he knew that they shared his sentiment, and those that did not would not act out of respect for those that did. It gave them, perhaps, a slightly purpose again, but did nothing to solve the main problem they faced. They were a ship and crew without a captain; without a leader. For years they had all followed Sean into the darkest places of the world, ready and willing to die for a man they knew would try to save them at any cost. They had all witnessed the dedication, and the anger, that came from two of his crew’s deaths in Tangier. It forged a bond between them all, and they were tied to the man who had allowed that to take place. With him gone, they all felt lost in the world. James would do his best, but he knew, and he suspected all the others knew as well, that it would never be the same. The Maiden sailed a little slower without her captain at the helm, and without him, something would always be missing from the ship. They were heading to a small cove on the northern coast of Jamaica, one that cut deep into the denser parts of the jungle there, and one that would hide the Maiden from prying eyes. Once there, they would disembark, perhaps for good, but with the immediate purpose of returning the woman and her young charge to Port Royal, which was, in James’ best estimation, the nearest they could do to follow the lingering wishes of their captain. |
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| Deleted User | 24 Nov 2007, 01:02 AM Post #3 |
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The grief and sorrow were starting to subside, but Caitlyn still found herself unable to raise herself from the bed in the Captain's cabin of the Maiden. She had long since discarded her wet clothes and borrowed a shirt from Sean's own wardrobe, curling up next to Georgie to get warm. Instead of just warming up, Caidy was bordering on feverish, unable to do much more than cry into her pillow. Georgie had woken since and was sitting in a chair next to the bed, watching over her; she had reached the point of delirium once, calling out for people who were clearly not there, names that Georgie did not know. When she had reached a point of clarity, Caidy had quietly explained to Georgie that they were safe aboard the Maiden and that her crew had saved them from a much worse fate. She had said they were good men and had instructed Georgie to do as they asked and not to fear them. She had said their Captain had given up his own life to protect them from a fate worse than death. After that she had slipped into sleep again. Now, Caidy lay under a pile of blankets, shivering and sweating, her face tear stained. Georgie was curled up in the chair next to her, watching her face and occasionally offering a cup of water or a cool rag. She turned to him, taking his hand, her voice soft and tired. "Georgie, I need you to go out on deck and find the First Mate for me. I need to speak to him." The little boy frowned, his bottom lip pouting out a sliver. His eyes glassed over with tears and hesitation. "I can't leave you, Caidy. And I don't know them. I'm scared, Caidy. Please don't make me go out there." Caitlyn smiled and forced herself to sit up, her sweat and rain soaked hair dragging wet lines across the pillow. "I told you not to fear them, Georgie. When have I ever lied to you, and what reason would I have for it now? It is up to these men to return us back to Port Royale, Georgie. And he is their new leader. Please. I won't ask anything of you again. Be brave for me." A tear slipped down Georgie's cheek and he nodded before blinking the rest away and standing. He patted Caitlyn's hand and set it on her lap and headed towards the door, pulling at his jacket nervously. His expression changed to one of determination as he pulled at the knob. Caitlyn watched him go and settled back against the headboard, letting her cheek rest against the cool wood. She shut her eyes and a sob escaped as she tried without success to keep herself from thinking about Sean. His last coy smile before he had disappeared was burned into her memory. She sighed quietly, swallowing her sobs and clamping her eyes shut to keep the tears from escaping. Georgie made his way across the deck, looking for a pirate who looked respectable, or at least more in charge than the others. They all seemed just as sad as Caidy and it occurred to Georgie that some day he hoped people felt this loyal to him, that they would cry if he was taken from them prematurely. He wondered what the Captain had done for them to make them so sad at his loss, and made a mental note to ask Caidy later. One man stood out to Georgie - he was leaning against a railing, unlike the others on deck who were busy with their work. He seemed just as solemn as the others, and perhaps more so; at least the others were distracted by their work - this man was consumed with his sadness and left only to mourn alone. Georgie approached him, clearing her throat and tugging slightly on the man's shirt. "Begging your pardon, sir. I'm looking for the First Mate for my governess. If you could direct me?" |
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| Deleted User | 24 Nov 2007, 06:39 AM Post #4 |
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James let his eyes fall to the deck for a few moments, the dark ebony hull seeming to lose some of its shine recently. He knew that it was all in his mind, really, and he was just looking at the world in different, grief strained eyes. The pirate let out a soft breath as he felt the breeze of the sea flow over him, wondering where his friend was now; where Jones had dragged him to in the depths of the ocean. It angered him, more then he thought he could be, to know that after going through so much, after fighting what seemed to be everyone in the effort to finally be free, that the captain of the Dark Maiden had fallen to a deal. A quiet thing for a man who was always looking towards something bigger. It was never about riches or fighting, or even resistance against any nation. It was the notion of being able to be free that they all had bought into. A simple word with a strong meaning, and one that required work to achieve and maintain. He knew, through conversations over the years, that it was something Sean needed. Something the man had lived for and longed for above anything else. That was why James was so angry, really. If they had gone out fighting, then it would have been different. But this…this was something else entirely. Sean hadn’t wagered his life for another, but his freedom. James knew his friend understood what was going to happen, and that he had willingly gone, but the pirate also knew that such an existence would be killing Sean. Every moment of servitude would be a lifetime of confinement, and death would be a more preferable choice to what awaited him on the ship of Davy Jones. For a few moments, James closed his eyes, trying to figure out what to do next. He would, in a second, try to rescue Sean, but he knew that Jones’ would be treacherous and try to get more out of the deal then James could really give. With a sigh, he opened his eyes again. He was not a stupid man, but he did not think the same way Sean did. His mind simply did not work in the same manner, nor did he see the weaves that connected everything. His thoughts were based in the immediate fact: what was required to repair a sail or how to stop bleeding. He did not consider anything much past that, and he simply couldn’t find the ability, right now, to cut through his feelings to find the answers he needed. For now, all he could do, all any of them could do, was try to honor what their captain would have wanted, and do it to the very best of their ability. His eyes caught a bit of movement up the stairs to the helm, and they focused on the small boy who was walking over towards him. George, he thought his name was. The child that had prevented him from being on deck when Sean had been taken. He was charged with protecting the lad; it was his last order received, and one he would find hard to relinquish. James smiled a melancholy smile, “That’d be me, lad. We’re on our way to Jamaica right now, and we’ll be getting you back to Port Royal as soon as we are able. Your governess want anything else, aside from knowing we’re taking you two home?” |
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| Deleted User | 25 Nov 2007, 02:32 AM Post #5 |
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Georgie was pleased to have found the first mate on his own, without anyone's help. Even this small task made him feel more grown up; it wasn't so long ago that he wouldn't do anything of the sort for himself, being completely reliant on other people and taking the easy path to get what he wanted. Perhaps he was more adult than people gave him credit for, except perhaps Caidy - since she had become his governess and they had reached an understanding, she had always been encouraging of his independence, but always there when he truly needed her. Georgie stood up as tall as he could manage, trying to look important and straightened his jacket again. This man was a bit different than the one that had introduced himself as the Captain in the cabin. He looked older and more weathered. His hands were callused from hard work and he didn't have the Captain's aire about him. Perhaps it was best he was First Mate, but Georgie wondered what sort of Captain he would be, as the previous man was lost. Wasn't that how these things worked in a chain of command? Georgie put the thought out of his head and nodded to him. "Miss Caidy said she'd like to speak to you then, sir. If you'll follow me." It occurred to Georgie momentarily that it was foolish for him to be escorting the older man across his own ship's deck. He dismissed the thought; he was being a gentleman and a protector for Caidy. This way she wouldn't be caught off guard. As he approached the door, he knocked and opened it, waving for the First Mate to go inside. It was probably best he stay outside - they were probably going to speak of adult things... and in the meantime, Georgie could have a look around. Inside, Caidy sat in silence, half dozing with her cheek against the cool wood of the headboard. At the knock on the door, she lifted her head, finding it heavier than she remembered. A wet area of condensation held shiny on the wood where her cheek had been and it occurred to Caidy how terrible she must look and how feverish she must still be. She sighed and leaned back against the headboard, letting it pass this time. Her voice was weak and hoarse, but she answered the knock, "Come in." |
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| Deleted User | 26 Nov 2007, 07:35 AM Post #6 |
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James watched the boy with a bit of a puzzled look, rather caught off guard by the child, since he was far from accustomed to them. He supposed he was simply acting as something of a messenger for Miss McKenna; which was a assumption quickly proved correct. The first mate wasn’t entirely sure what he should do in the given situation. Since he had not even determined what would become of himself or the crew, he did not know what possible assistance he could be in deciding the fate of the two captive on board the ship. He smirked a little at that thought, knowing that the captain would not think of them as such, but James knew that it was, in the simplest terms, the truth of things. While they might be treated like guests, they would rather have been elsewhere. Truthfully, James wished they had been as well. While he had already given up trying to place blame on what happened on them, a honor he held only for Davy Jones, he could not deny that things might have turned out differently if they had not been present. He followed the boy rather reluctantly, not sure on how he would deal with any situation that presented itself. He would, of course, find himself furious if the woman dismissed Sean’s fate as something less then the sacrifice that it was, but he did not think that was the case. He usually thought the best of people, when it came down to it, and as such, he couldn’t imagine that she would be anything but grateful to the Maiden’s captain for what he had done, and, more likely, was feeling the same sense of loss the rest of the crew felt, especially since she was the reason for his decision. With that in mind, he kept up with the lad, moving across the ship and past the men trying to forget what had happened in their work, if only for a few minutes. The pirate nodded slightly to the boy when the reached the captain’s cabin and waited until he heard the woman’s voice from beyond. Offering the boy a slight smile, the best he could muster as the moment, James walked into the darkened cabin, standing in the doorway for a few minutes as he let his eyes get adjusted to the lack of moonlight or stars. He glanced over toward the bed and the outline of the woman who was sitting on it. Quickly noting that she was having difficulty dealing with what had happened, he found himself glad at her being in the state she was in, although not because he wished the woman any ill will. It meant that she understood what had passed, and that she felt she had lost someone as well. That fact alone caused James to straighten up a little. No one on this ship felt differently then he or the crew, and that, somehow, gave him a little more determination to ensure they did what they should do. The door shut behind him, and James took a few steps into the cabin before speaking, “You wanted to see me, Miss McKenna?” He still was unsure of what she wanted, as well as not knowing how he would react to the words she might speak. He usually left such things up to the captain, but now that responsibility fell to him, and the fact that she did feel sorrow over what happened meant that nothing would be to difficult to accommodate, and he would do his best to make sure he did what was needed. |
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| Deleted User | 26 Nov 2007, 04:04 PM Post #7 |
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Caidy narrowed her eyes in the dark at the shape across the room that had moved inside the door. For a moment she thought the tall narrow shadow might be Sean, by some act of God, but his voice gave him away as someone else entirely. She felt herself sigh and turned her gaze away to hide her disappointment, despite the room's light being so dim. "Forgive me, sir. We were never properly introduced so I do not know your name. But if you are the first mate, then yes, I did ask for you." Her eyes traced across the grain of the wood in the ship's wall next to the bed as she searched for the right words. She had so much she wanted to ask, but deciding which was proper and which was outside that boundary was becoming exceedingly difficult. "Please sit down. We have a good bit to discuss." She gestured to a chair pulled up to the room's lone table, close enough to the bed that she could get a better look at the man as he approached. Caidy kept her gaze away from his face, unable to look him in the eye. "I wanted to thank you and the rest of the crew for your kindness. Georgie tells me you're taking us back to Jamaica; that's not something every crew would do, especially after the loss of their Captain. I have no delusion that I did not play a large part in his departure. That would not be realistic, would it?" She searched his face for blame, almost wishing she could find it there. If someone else found her guilty it might be easier to repent somehow and perhaps accept what had happened. "I do have questions though, sir. Please understand that I had no idea that Davy Jones even existed until Sean... Captain Brice spoke to him. And though it is unlikely I find myself wondering if there's any way we might free him from his fate. Jones made mention of Jack Sparrow - a name I've heard before, but what does he want with that pirate?" |
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| Deleted User | 27 Nov 2007, 01:59 AM Post #8 |
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“Name’s James Tyler, Miss.” The pirate nodded slightly and moved to the chair, sitting down for the first time in what seemed like a long while. He let out a bit of a breath as he wondered how to address the woman, in so far as what he should or shouldn’t say, and he came to the conclusion that he was not going to badger around it. The captain might be able to mix words up with the best of them, but James did not possess that particular gift. “Not taking you back to Jamaica out of the goodness of our hearts. Can’t have you onboard though, not for a lengthy stay, and taking you back…well, it’s what the cap’n would’ve wanted.” He leaned back in his chair and thought for a few moments at the question posed to him, silently thinking up the correct answer before speaking. Sparrow, he thought quietly, was a pirate of no small notoriety in these waters, although the stories that had been told seem more fantastical then any basis in actual pirating. Sean had spoken about the man, first with a bit of disdain, as one speaks of someone who they regard rather poorly, but then, after the two captain’s encountered each other on Tortuga, the Maiden captain’s disposition seemed to change slightly. James, for his part, really did not care too much, but he could see where the woman’s thought process was going, and he felt it would not be wrong of him to elaborate on what Sean had told him. “Sparrow apparently has a debt to pay Jones, much in the way of the cap’n’s, but I doubt Sparrow did it for any thing short of material gain of some kind.” James smirked slightly, “A couple weeks ago we were attacked by the Dutchman and the cap’n brokered a deal, which I don’t know the specifics of. Would wager, though, that is was his service to save his ship and us, a lot like what he did here, though with a different stake. We were told to chase Sparrow out to sea for Jones when Sparrow was marked. Jones, it seems, can’t step on land much, but out at sea…men can find themselves at the mercy of that claw and the Dutchman…and worse, if one’s not careful.” |
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| Deleted User | 27 Nov 2007, 06:28 AM Post #9 |
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Caidy sat in intense thought a moment, considering their options. If they were somehow able to lure Sparrow back out to the sea, they might be able to trade his life for Sean's. But that would mean giving in to Davy Jones and possibly the death of Sparrow, a life Caidy was not willing to give despite having never met the man and his rather unsavory reputation. There was a chance he was as noble as Sean underneath; it didn't take much for a pirate's reputation to get tarnished by the words of others. She sighed and put her hand to her forehead. It was still extremely warm and she felt a headache coming on. She felt like closing her eyes and retreating back to the world of dreams she could not remember, but she knew she owed it to Sean to try and find a way to get him out of this mess. As smart as she was, a tactician she was not and plans of this sort often eluded her. "Mister Tyler, if I may be so frank, I care a great deal for Captain Brice." She felt herself blush a bit as she admitted to her feelings, although the color may not have been apparent under her present flush. "Perhaps I am being foolish in pursuing this at all, but I would risk my life to see the Captain safely back on his ship. He did as much for me..." Her gaze drifted off to the window and the sea beyond it. Her head was beginning to feel heavy and she felt even more tired. "Forgive me. I am not feeling my best. Please, just think on it. If you should come up with some way I can fix things..." She shut her eyes and sighed again, laying her head against the headboard and fighting back the tears. Her voice came again, quiet, just above a whisper, helpless. "Oh, Sean. What have I done..." |
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| Deleted User | 28 Nov 2007, 06:00 AM Post #10 |
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James watched the woman with a bit of curiosity, wondering why she was having the reaction she was. Of course, he was happy she hadn’t simply dismissed the captain’s plight as something she did not need to be concerned about, but he found himself actually feeling a little glad that she was as she was. Not because he was taking comfort in her suffering, but because he could imagine that the same feelings that were tearing at her had been felt by Sean, and been the reason he had decided what he did. On the chance that Sean was ever able to escape his current fate, it would, hopefully, mean that someone would be waiting for him that he cared deeply about, and who returned the feeling. In any other circumstance, it would have brought him a bit more happiness, but he knew that there was little hope Sean would return to find any solace in the feelings of the woman. He nodded slightly at her words, taking a deep breath before speaking, “I’ll think on it, Miss, see if I can come with anything. Afraid I don’t have much mind for plotting and plans though, just being the carpenter I am. That sort of thing was what the cap’n was good at. Maybe we’ll come across Sparrow and see iffen there’s something that he’ll be willing to do for the cap’n, but I doubt it. Not without some kind of payment, and if Jones is really after him, I doubt Sparrow will be wanting to get any closer to the monster then he has to. God knows I don’t. I’ll try to think of something though. Maybe I’ll get lucky.” James stood slowly and made his way to the door of the cabin, opening it, “I’ll let you know when we come up on Jamaica, in case you have any kind of preparations you’re wanting to make. Think we’ll be finding harbor on the north side of the island and then walking to Port Royal, since we can’t land in the harbor for obvious reasons.” He tried to smile a little before he left the cabin and shut the door behind him. Making his way slowly up the stairs to the helm, his eyes gazed out over the ocean as the wind tugged at his clothes. Somewhere in the deep blue, his friend was struggling for his very soul, and James knew it would be a difficult battle. He had to be confident that he was doing all he could, and if Miss McKenna wanted to try to find a way to bring Sean back, he was adamant in following her on that path. |
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| Deleted User | 2 Dec 2007, 04:55 AM Post #11 |
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Caidy waited for James to leave the cabin before breaking down completely. It was almost as if the pain were fresh again, like it had just only happened, not hours before. She slipped into a fitful sleep, waking occasionally from nightmares and pain in her chest. At times she felt as if she could barely breath, and there were some moments she was sure that Sean was there with her; she heard his voice, or saw his shadow move across the room. The return trip to Port Royale was uneventful, and the walk from the inlet where the ship was docked the same. Caitlyn's fever persisted and she had to be carried most of the way. Upon their arrival to Port Royale, the Maiden's crew saw Caidy and Georgie the physician's and word was dispatched to the Carrington Estate that they had returned. One of Lord Carrington's attendants arrived promptly to fetch Georgie and they left Caidy in the doctor's care. A few days later, she received word by way of letter that the Carringtons had decided to keep her own, but give her leave, as they were grateful for her assistance in returning their son. After a few weeks of rest at the physician's home, Caidy was feeling better. She awoke without fever or ache, feeling only slightly weak. The kind Doctor told her she could go home and sent her to the estate by way of his own carriage. When she arrived, she made her way to see Lady Carrington. She found her mistress at tea in the garden with Anna. Lady Carrington looked up as Caidy approached and curtsied, an expression of intense disinterest on her face. Her tone was just as apathetic. "Well, I suppose it's a good thing you're well again. We won't have to go to all the trouble of finding a new Governess, despite the fact that my husband had planned to after you returned from England. You may resume your duties, since we are grateful that our son has returned alive." Fire shot through Caidy's veins and she flushed, ducking her head to hide her anger. She had not imagined that the Carringtons had intended to drop her after Georgie was safely in England. She might have been left there, without family or payment, not accounting for room and board. She managed a humble sounding "Yes, ma'am," before having to bite her tongue to keep from saying more. Lady Carrington's gaze lingered on her a moment, the slightest of smirks on her face. Anna sat watching her mother and Caidy, eyes wide with interest. No doubt these past weeks she had been picking up more of her mother's bad habits and attitude; the girl would be hopeless in a few years of exposure. Lady Carrington turned back to her tea and waved Caidy away. "You may have one more week to continue your rest. I cannot have you getting my children sick. Stay out of the way and someone will bring you your meals in your room. You may go." Caidy gave her another quick curtsy and glanced at Anna; the girl's face was bright with a smile and Caitlyn was not sure if it was a smile for her return, or for her mother's harsh words. It frightened her to think of the woman that Anna might become, but that was nothing she could correct in her current state. She was beginning to feel lightheaded again, so Caitlyn made her way back to her room and laid down on her bed. It was good to be back in Port Royale, but still, she felt empty and incomplete, and there was likely only one person that could remedy the feeling; alas, he was lost. |
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