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| God Is In The Details | |
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| Topic Started: 7 Dec 2007, 05:37 PM (451 Views) | |
| Deleted User | 7 Dec 2007, 05:37 PM Post #1 |
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Tortuga. He could almost hear the revelry that consumed the town as the Dark Maiden cut through the shadowy blue of the night time waters, the waves gently breaking on her hull as she entered the port. The spray from the sea caught his face as he leaned out from the cordage, looking down the length of the vessel as she neared the town. Sean’s blue eyes were dark, echoing the change of color the waters had undertaken, catching the light of the lamps burning in the town ahead of them. His face was a little impassive; the trials and suffering he had undergone in the past weeks had not yet entirely drained from his features, or from his mind. He doubted he would be forgetting it anytime soon, but the feeling was starting to ebb slightly, and he felt that he had Caitlyn to thank for quite a bit of that. She had given him a purpose in his life that he did not know he needed, and through that he was beginning to be able to lose some of the demons that had cemented themselves in his mind. He closed his eyes for a few moments, letting the soft, cool spray of the ocean and the rocking of the ship take him to a different place. A better world then the one he found himself in; one where he could find the freedom he so longed for without even trying. That was what it was really about, when everything was boiled down. He lived the life he did because of the freedom it brought him, and because he had no wish to sacrifice that so he could live what would be considered a normal life. At least, he never had such a desire before. A small smile crossed his face. He did now, though, slightly. Sean certainly was not in a rush to find some port to call his home, but there was a possibility there that he had readily dismissed many times before. It would not be soon, he knew that, as there was still much that needed to be done before either of them could even begin to entertain any notions of settling somewhere, but the mere fact he was willing to consider that as a chance for the future was testament enough, in his eyes at least, to how much he truly cared about Caitlyn McKenna. The pirate captain’s eyes opened slowly as the ship banked slightly as it reached a suitable point, and he pulled himself back onto the deck as the heavy anchor splashed down into the ocean below. Sean walked slowly across the deck to where Caitlyn was standing as the men around him began preparing the ship for a long stay. Hatches were closed off where they did not need to be open, and James had the luxury of informing the crew who would get to go to shore and who would have first watch. It was not nearly as strict as the watches at sea, since Sean allowed his men to relax more while in port. They were only on ship to ensure no thieves or other such folk attempted to rob the vessel, instead of doing duties like would be normal. The sound of long boats splashing into the water covered the noise of his boots across the deck, until he reached Caitlyn and stopped, standing next to her. She had been given a basic crash course on fencing and seamanship, and she was doing well, even if she did have a very long way to go. Sean smiled at her, ”Ready for Tortuga, darling? Just be sure to watch you step.” |
 
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| Deleted User | 7 Dec 2007, 06:52 PM Post #2 |
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Caitlyn stood back, watching the men at work around her. Her eyes kept wandering back to Sean, standing on the other side of the deck and giving them instructions. She enjoyed seeing him at work. It seemed natural for him and he did it without effort; his men followed him without question or trouble and the ship worked like a well-oiled machine. She watched him approach as the ship stopped and the men started lowering the long boats. He stood next to her and she had to cross her arms to keep from embracing him or taking his hand. "Ready for Tortuga, darling? Just be sure to watch your step." Caidy smiled back at him, shaking her head, humor in her tone. "I'll try not trip on my sword, Captain Brice. I'd like to think you taught me a bit better than that, hmm?" She walked over to the nearest lowered long boat and with the assistance of one of the men, stepped into it and took a seat. As the others who were going ashore joined her in the boat, Caidy's gaze fell on the port ahead. The noise from the town could be heard all the way at the ship, a mixture of gunshots, screams, laughter, and other merriment. Tortuga didn't look so intimidating from where she stood, but she knew that looks could be deceiving. She wasn't likely to find a bookshop or a teashop here, more likely taverns and whore houses. In all, it was not an exciting thought, but she sat fast in her seat, steeling herself to face whatever might come their way. The trip over to the docks was fairly uneventful and quiet. Caidy got lost in her musings, keeping her gaze on the lights ahead and wondering what they might find. As the boat found beach, she accepted an offered hand to step out and got a better look at what lay ahead. Her hand came to rest on her hip above her sheathed small sword -- it had turned out much easier for her to handle than the saber Sean had taught her with first, though she was still no master. A pistol sat at her other hip, unloaded as she had no experience using it; it was mostly for show. After having a look at herself, Caidy didn't think anyone would mistake her for someone intimidating, but they might think twice before bothering her. Caidy pushed her braid from it's place on her shoulder so it draped down her back and smiled at Sean. "What's on the agenda then, Captain?" |
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| Deleted User | 8 Dec 2007, 02:23 AM Post #3 |
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Sean watched quietly as the boat neared the docks of Tortuga, every so often letting his gaze drift over to Caitlyn. He was a little nervous about bringing her to a place like this, since he doubted she had ever been anywhere like it in her life. A center of lawlessness and debauchery if there ever was one; he couldn’t help but feel like he was dragging a lamb into a pack of wolves. The pirate captain kept his hand steady on the sword at his side, his eyes moving over the shore line, watching, as they got closer, as men, and a few women, entered and emerged from the streets that led into the city. It would be a memorable experience for Caitlyn, that much was for sure, and it was unfortunate he could not do much to make that memory an exceptionally pleasant one. Even he did not particular enjoy coming to Tortuga, but given their circumstances, it was one of the few options that lay open to them. Besides, he had intended to come here after Port Royal anyway, so it was simply just stepping up the time table he had already established. He jumped out of the long boat once they reached shore, his boots sending up a few bits of wet sand with the impact and he held out his hand to assist Caitlyn in getting out of the boat. His eyes lingered on her for a few moments before shifting to look at the city, the sounds of the pirate town unmistakable, and they would only grow louder as they went into the town proper. Sean glanced back at Caitlyn, returning her smile, ”We find a tavern and we wait.” It was not the move exciting plan, but given the nature of Tortuga, even that simplistic approach to things would involve quite a bit of trouble. The pirate captain turned to look at James, ”Scope out the merchants and see where we can buy provisions. I suppose we’ll have to wait a few hours until sunrise, but when that happens, visit the harbor master to see about bringing the Maiden into a proper dock for repair work.” James nodded and motioned for a few men to follow him about their tasks, and Sean dismissed the others with a nod of his head. Making sure Caitlyn was with him, the group of pirate left the beach and followed the straight path into Tortuga. The smell of gunpowder and alcohol, along with fish and livestock, was always what hit Sean first when he went to Tortuga. Strong smells, but he knew well enough to be grateful for them. Those particular scents he could identify and stand, and there was no telling what odors were masked by them. The noise of laughter, shouts, curses, and gunfire echoed through the city, and he could imagine that the entirety of the town was a bit overwhelming at first, especially to someone like Caitlyn. Checking every few moments to make sure she was close, Sean led a curved path through the crowds, ignoring the pirates and whores who seemed just as content to ignore him. Most of them recognized his captaincy, and that, along the success of the Dark Maiden both here and in other parts of the ocean, brought him about as much respect as one could gain from the band of cutthroats and ruffians that made up the denizens of the town. They reached a tavern and Sean led the way in, nodding to a few members of his crew that had already arrived. Not many of his men were in the establishment, and he didn’t expect more to show. There were other places on the island that he knew drew men easier, and he had been careful not to acknowledge his crew when had caught a glimpse of some of them in the crowds at brothels or gambling dens. He did not want Caitlyn to think less of them for it. They were simple men, with simple urges, and while they could control them when necessary, he never saw a reason to impose his moral values on them when no harm would come of it. As much as he felt it was important to keep them in line, he knew they acted well when needed, and he didn’t feel that being overly strict would be of benefit. When they sat down at an empty table near the back of the room, Sean allowed himself to offer Caitlyn a smile. He did not get a chance to say anything right away though, as one of the barmaids promptly deposited two mugs of rum, and the pirate captain just as quickly, in an almost instinctive exchange, slid two gold coins over the table, which were snatched up as the woman was called off a more rowdy part of the room. ”I doubt you will find much tea here.” Sean flashed Caitlyn a quick smile before taking a drink from his mug, ”Now we just wait, watch and listen for anything of interest. James will be by as soon as he gets a line on our provisions, but he’ll primarily be out trying to get as much information as he can about a variety of things. Common ship patrols, shifting trade lanes, that sort of thing. Maybe we’ll get lucky and hear something about Port Royal, but I doubt that will occur tonight. We will be here for a while, though, so the chance will grow with each day’s passing.” |
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| Deleted User | 8 Dec 2007, 05:10 PM Post #4 |
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Caitlyn stayed close to Sean as they made their way through Tortuga's streets, but that didn't keep her from having a good look around. The streets were packed with vagrants and thieves of all kinds; they gave Sean a clear path as he lead the group around the town, but Caidy caught a good few stealing a glimpse at her. She knew she stuck out among the group and that made her feel a bit uncomfortable. She was certainly a long way from being a pirate. As they entered the tavern and Sean took them to the table in the back, Caidy took the chair next to him and frowned at their surroundings. It was dirty, smelly, and unruly in the room. The staff was nearly as drunk as the customers and just as unfriendly. This place was a huge difference from the tea house she had visited with Abigail Brinton. The mug the barmaid set before her was dusty and dirty. Even the rum in it looked questionable. She pushed it away, frowning at it and then frowning at Sean's grin as he took a drink. "You're a brave man to drink that, Sean. Perhaps I'm just spoiled, but I'd rather not partake myself." Caidy didn't much like the idea of being in Tortuga for long, but Sean made it sound like they might as well move in to the nearest vacant house. She hoped, at least, they would be staying on the Maiden at night, and she knew she was safe there. Caidy knew better than to expect to find a good book in this town, but she took solace knowing that Sean had a good few back on the ship. Caidy rested her head on her hand and watched Sean drink his rum. "I can't say I'm excited about being here for a long period of time, but if we must, then we must. I trust you to know what you're doing and get this figured out, Sean." She smiled at him and hoped whatever it was they were waiting for would happen fast. |
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| Deleted User | 9 Dec 2007, 12:03 AM Post #5 |
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Sean chuckled a little at her comment about the rum, ”Well, somebody has to keep up appearances, hm? Would not do for a pirate captain to not be drinking when he’s in Tortuga. It would be an oddity, and oddities have a habit of getting picked up on.” He smiled at her, leaning back in the rough wooden chair as he looked at the various patron that were making up the clientele of the tavern. There was not any one of any particular interest, which he assumed was because of the late hour. While sleep was probably not the reason, he was of the mind that the various whorehouses and gambling dens drew most of their patrons after the taverns did, in what was an odd cycle of sin and spending that seemed to never be completely broken in a place like this. The world was hardly a difficult place to understand if you knew the general way of things, and Tortuga was no different. It was somewhat amusing to think about how the rough hierarchy of things played out here. The governor of the island, if one could call him that, was growing rich off of the coin spent by the pirates here, and Sean knew that a lot of that money came from the robbing of his own country’s ships. A captain was probably the only person who garnered any amount of respect, and even then it was only the pirate captains that could actually see it. Free traders were given a bit of it, but when it came down to it, the general public of this place was made up of pirates, so naturally they respected piracy more then anything else. The longer one was a captain, and the more successful one became, the more one could walk through the town without having to worry about getting pulled into a fight. That did still happen, of course, but it was hardly the normal outcome of things. ”As for staying here, I’m not thrilled about the notion myself, but we have to get the ship properly ready for sea. She needs a few repairs; sitting unattended did not do her any good. We also need to take stock of what we have and get provisions and supplies on board. I suspect we’ll be needed some more gunpowder and things of that nature.” Sean smiled at Caitlyn, ”I do not expect a fight any time soon, but that does not mean I do not intend to be ready for one. I also need some new charts, but we will have to wait until day to acquire those. Hopefully we should have the ship repaired and ready to sail in a few days times, and I should, if we’re lucky, have concluded the business I need to take of here. We also need to decide where we are actually going. It is rather pointless to set sail without a destination, after all.” |
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| Deleted User | 9 Dec 2007, 05:40 AM Post #6 |
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Caitlyn arched a brow and smiled at Sean. Even his drinking was charming to a degree. She realized she would go to the ends of the Earth for this man, and if he asked her, she'd stay in a place like this her whole life, or on his ship, or even alone in a port to wait for him. She knew better than to tell him though, especially in a place like this. Caidy considered their options. Port Royale was definitely not an option for port any time soon, nor any port in Jamaica. Tortuga offered them some resources, but those were limited, and certainly very few reliable resources could be found here. England was a bit far and it would likely be a difficult journey. The rest of the Carribean was more likely, but Caidy knew very little about the other ports. America was always an option as it was closer than England, but still it was a long way away, and if their object was to change something in the area, it made more sense that they should stay here. She sighed, frowning. "We really don't have a lot of options do we? Where would we go to fix all this, besides Port Royale? I'm sure to be hanged if we return." She sat back in her chair, frowning and letting her gaze drift to the ceiling. Facing her own mortality was a frightening thing. She had so much left to do in her life and time seemed to be running short. The chances that she would be able to come back as Sean had were non-existent, so her death on the gallows would be final. She silently resolved to live as much as she could while she was about and pulled the mug of rum towards her, looking at it a moment before taking a draw from the mug. The bite of the drink hit her as it slid across her tongue and down her throat and she wrinkled her nose. "I can't imagine how you men are so fond of this stuff. It tastes like old tea mixed with seawater." |
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| Deleted User | 9 Dec 2007, 05:59 AM Post #7 |
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”You get used to it after a while.” Sean grinned a little, ”And it was more of a rhetorically statement then an actual question. Regarding our destination, I mean.” He leaned back in his chair and looked at the woman across from him. He did not know what he would do if she were to be captured and hanged, or how he would even be able to exist. It would be, at best, a shell of a life, and one he would go to extreme means to ensure he did not have to live. They could always run, of that he was certain. He had a ship and a crew, and knew these waters extremely well. The Royal Navy would not be able to find them, not without a lot of time and resources, and even more luck. Still, the more he considered that option, which he had seemed to list as one of, if not the, most logical and desirable ones facing them, the more his disliked it. It was the life well suited for a pirate or someone who had actually chosen to live it, but Caitlyn had not been so fortunate. A victim of circumstance, put in an impossible situation. He did not know the details of what had occurred between her and Carrington, but he did not really need to. He knew enough to know that she wasn’t one to simply kill while having any options, and he firmly believed that she was defending herself against the man. He could not, with good conscious, drag her out of sea for the rest of their lives. He did not want that for her, and he did not want that for himself. He had always known he would have to put the life he led behind him someday, be it at death’s door or for another reason. She was such a reason and, while he truthfully did not see himself retiring soon, he wanted to be able to do so when it was needed. So what, then, he pondered, were they to do? Port Royal was a death sentence for her, and possibly for him as well, as would most British holdings in the region. He made a mental note to go through the box Caitlyn had brought on board the Maiden for a potential solution. If they held nothing, then that would mean they had little in the way of choices before them. She seemed to feel they were important, however, and Sean hoped that she was right. He hoped some leverage lay in the box, something that would be worth more then the life of one governess to the right people, and something that would led to any charges against her being dropped. Only then could he really start to concern himself with what was to happen to them, and between them. The pirate captain smiled slightly, ”We cannot go many places, not without risking your life. Hopefully, though, if things play out favorably, our need to go anywhere will not be as great as one might think. If they do not, then we will have to start looking, but for now at least, we can relax a bit. I know it is difficult to enjoy yourself in a place such as this, but unfortunately this is the best the world has to offer us at this moment. That will change in the future, perhaps, but right now, we need to take the few moments of respite we have.” |
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| Deleted User | 9 Dec 2007, 09:47 PM Post #8 |
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Again the prospect of being stuck in Tortuga a while sprang into conversation. Caidy frowned and turned to look out the windows at the far front of the tavern. Outside, danger and temptation lurked. Caidy knew she was not likely to find any sort of priest or nun about in this city, not that she was seeking one. She didn't mind the thought of living a little, but there was certainly more to life than this town could offer and the things offered here were not requirements of life. Caidy took another long drink of her rum, grimacing at the burn. Caidy's thoughts drifted off to Port Royale and the life she had left behind. She wondered about the Carrington children, how Georgie was dealing with the events of a few nights before and if Anna had gone completely beastly yet. Caitlyn settled back in her chair, thinking of another young woman, a perplexed expression on her face. "Sean, I met someone not too long before, well, before I left Port Royale. A young woman of good breeding. She said she had met you before." Caidy settled back in her chair, swilling the rum in her mug. In her mind, she pictured Abigail standing distraught in the doorway of the teahouse, begging to have her say, to explain herself when Caidy had misunderstood and denied Abby the trust she deserved as a friend, albeit a new one. She had also denied Sean the trust she owed him, and the guilt bit her anew, as she looked away from him, avoiding his gaze. Her curiosity ate at her, however, and she couldn't resist asking. "A Miss Abigail Brinton. Sean, do you make it your business to pirate the ships of innocent ladies and then return them after taking only their cargo?" She turned to look at him, keeping her face passive and cold. She searched his eyes for any sign of guilt or pleasure. She wanted some indication of why he did what he did, whether he was proud of it, or seeking something else. She wanted to understand him, and was finding it harder and harder with every moment she spent with him. |
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| Deleted User | 9 Dec 2007, 10:29 PM Post #9 |
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”You give me too much credit, darling.” Sean considered smiling at Caitlyn, but judging by her expression it was probably not the best of ideas. He wondered how much Abigail had told her, and whether or not that would have an effect on the plans he had set in motion prior to his run in with Davy Jones. They all seemed like a second thought now, but having the subject brought up reminded him of how important they still remained. It did make things a little difficult now though, in not being able to return to Port Royal, but he supposed that could not be helped. He would have to think of another way to continue his little matchmaking activities without having a direct hand in how they progressed. ”I pirate ships, and it is usually not possible for me to determine if innocent ladies are on board them when I do.” He met her eyes as he continued to speak, ”With you, it was a little different, in so far as why I took you on board. I can admit that. Aside from being offered in trade by that captain of yours, there were some personal feelings that came into play with that particular decision.” Sean watched her face for any signs of her expression softening as he continued, ”Normally, though, I would most likely have ransomed someone like Miss Brinton back to her family, as well as the boy you were with. No harm would have come to them in any case, but I am a pirate. I do look, in many cases, to what avenue can benefit me and my crew the most. You, of course, are a…special case, although I suppose that knowing that is what returned you so easily is not the most comforting bit of knowledge. It is the truth though.” The pirate captain took another drink from his mug, ”Miss Brinton was also a special case, although not in nearly the same way you are. As wicked as it might sound, she presented an opportunity to me. One where I could use her to get what I want, and she could use me to achieve that which she desired. Through her, I was able to gain a considerable bit of leverage over a certain pirate hunter that I foresaw as being a bit of a problem later on. Through me, she was able to orchestrate a ‘rescue’, in which her pirate hunter could swoop down and steal her away from the hands of horrible pirates, thus gaining him a considerably greater amount of beneficial reputation in Port Royal, which will, hopefully, lead to the possibility of a lasting relationship between those two. I was more then happy to accommodate that end in whatever means I could.” He offered Caitlyn a smile, ”I use people, Caitlyn, to achieve the ends I want. You are immune to that, for obvious reasons, but don’t mistake for one moment that my good tendencies make me a good person. I kill, I rob, and I ransom. I am a pirate; and while I doubt I am the worst, that still makes me a criminal, and I have earned that title.” |
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| Deleted User | 10 Dec 2007, 02:20 AM Post #10 |
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Caitlyn turned away from Sean, flushing slightly with a mixture of anger and frustration. She had known since Davy Jones that Sean was a pirate, and she had known what that entailed, but she had not believed it. After all he had done for her, as well as he had treated her, she had trouble picturing him as a murderer and a thief. Now he was telling her flat out that he was that man; it made Caidy uncomfortable to think about it. Caidy took her mug in her hands, clasping it between them and looked down into the rum pooling at the bottom, trying to think of anything but her own stupidity. She remembered telling Abby that it was futile to change a man, and she knew it to be true. If Sean was resolved to being a pirate, then she had no business changing that, nor the time and patience. It was not so much that that bothered her, but that all her life she had been told that pirates were bad men that did not treat innocent women well. Now the man she was certain she loved was telling her in all sincerity that he might have done different by another woman. Caidy wondered if Fate had not intervened and she had not been who she was, would he have spared her? The very thought of it disturbed Caidy more and she felt as if she were going to burst at the seams. Her patience reached it's limit and the alcohol reached her head at nearly the same moment; Caidy stood up, pushing back her chair in a burst of noise. Her head was swimming with hazy, unwanted thoughts, and she needed to clear it. She looked to the front of the room and the door, saying in one exasperated breath, "I think I need some fresh air." Without waiting for a reply from Sean, she shakily but steadily made her way to the door and outside of the tavern. The streets of Tortuga were nearly as stuffy as the tavern was inside, but she felt less on the spot, less under scrutiny. Caidy leaned up against one of the tavern's pillars and closed her eyes, leaving her back to the door. It only took her a moment to realize how far over her head she was. |
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| Deleted User | 10 Dec 2007, 05:14 AM Post #11 |
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Sean smirked slightly as he watched Caitlyn leave the tavern. He had put things as delicate as he could have, without flat out lying to her. He supposed it was better that she really understood the truth. Beneath it all, he was a pirate, and there was reason he had been labeled as one. He looked at the mug in front of him, turning it slowly on the wooden top of the table, wondering if things were just going to get more difficult between them as time went on. She needed to know, he knew that much, and part of him didn’t like the fact that he felt he had attracted her under false pretences. What stung even more was that it was true. She had thought him some merchant sailor, a respectable person, and then had come to find out he was nothing but a pirate. He couldn’t blame her for being angry. He let his eyes focus on the little remainder of swirling liquid in the mug, and he wondered if she was regretting her choices now. Sean could easily imagine, had their places been switched, that he would be. That did not make the possibility any easier though, and he let out a bit of a sigh. Just another thing to worry about, it seemed. Part of him wished things were different, for both of them. He could do without having to worry about the finer points of a relationship and what that entailed. At the same time though, he couldn’t imagine his fate if he didn’t feel the way he did about Caitlyn. Of course, the flip side to that was if he didn’t, he probably wouldn’t have gotten taken by Jones in the first place. The pirate captain leaned back in his chair and frowned slightly, wondering if he would resent her for that. He didn’t now, of course, but he suspected that, should things not work out between them, that his selfishness might get the best of him. That thought led to another, and he was reinforced in his feeling for the woman, since he knew he wouldn’t have offered up anyone other then himself to the devil of the sea, in any case. The difference was that she had given him the way out, even if he wasn’t entirely sure how. The words of the voodoo woman echoed in his mind and he smirked a little. Sean knew he wouldn’t understand them until he needed to, and that assumption seemed to be correct. The mug spun once before Sean stopped it with his hand and stood slowly. He didn’t know what he was going to say exactly, or where it would lead, but he couldn’t just let her walk away. Not after all they had been through. His boots made a soft sound on the wood, dulled out by the noise outside, as he made his way to where Caitlyn was standing, silently grateful that there was so much going on, since it eliminated the possibility of them making a scene. For a few moments he remained quiet, looking out at the pirates laughing and yelling as they celebrated nothing in particular. ”This is my world, Caitlyn.” Sean started slowly, ”I can fit in others, but this is the world where my actions have led me. The world of piracy, and everything that entails. I pride myself of being more civilized and cultured then most, but my hypocrisy can only go so far. When it is all boiled away, the charges of murder and theft against me can easily be justified.” He turned to look at her, ”Being less bad then most bad people does not make me a good person, and while I do allow some moral actions in what I do, a few bits of light are not enough to chase away the darkness. I don’t view myself as evil, but I am far from being a saint.” The pirate captain smirked a little, ”This is not your world, and this is why I am reluctant to have you stay on my ship more then is necessary. If I did not think I would be dragging you down into this hole of a life I find myself in, I would have you with me every moment of the day.” ”I…would change for you.” Sean turned his gaze away from her and back to the crowds, ”This life, even with all its faults, brings me the freedom I want more then anything else. Or so I though, before I met you. I can’t live like this forever. The life of a pirate is a short one. I never had any reason to think that was anything less then what I wanted, but I don’t want live any length of life without you in it.” Slowly, he moved back to look at her, ”I can understand if you do not want the love of a pirate, and it is fine if you decide that. I am not going to force your decision and, now that you understand the nature of what I do, you can make one knowing everything. If you need time, I will give you time. We will be here for a while anyway.” He smiled slightly, ”I will never ask of you anything you are not willing to give.” |
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| Deleted User | 10 Dec 2007, 06:24 AM Post #12 |
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Caidy stood with her back to Sean, listening to his plea. Her heart cried out to him, telling her to turn and fall into his arms, apologizing for her confusion. Her mind told her to think it all out before replying to him, otherwise she might make a mistake she'd later regret. She thought about what he said, offering her time to think. She was confused and turned to look at him. trying to find an answer in his eyes. She found nothing to solve her problems, only reassurance that she did indeed love him. She looked down at her boots, continuing to lean on the wall. She spoke quietly, unsure, her voice a bit shaky. "I do need time, Sean. To adjust. I don't want you to change, either. I love you as you are, even if there are parts of your job I don't like. I think I'm more angry at myself... I'm a silly girl with a silly fantasy. I tried to deny to myself that you may be like other pirates, but I don't think you are; any of the other pirates here would have had his way with me and then given me to the crew. They might have killed Georgie as well. And Abby would have shared in an unfortunate fate." She turned and looked out at the other pirates and thieves in the street, frowning before looking back at Sean. "I'm a bit overwhelmed, love. I don't know what to think or do and you're right that I don't fit in your world. But so long as I'm here, I intend to make the best of it. Anything is better than the gallows." |
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| Deleted User | 11 Dec 2007, 04:54 AM Post #13 |
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Sean listened as she spoke, concentrating on her words as he drowned out the background noise trumpeting around them. He first met her gaze and then followed it out to the streets, letting out a soft sigh as he did so. It had taken him a while to fit into this lifestyle himself, but he had the benefit of a, albeit short, career in privateering to bridge the gap between law abiding citizen to pirate. Caitlyn was not so lucky. She was tossed into the depths of the ocean and asked to swim, and even though she had tried to steer him away from it, he could not help but feel a little guilty about how events had turned out. He did not mind that she was here with him, in fact he was grateful that she was, but if past actions had not occurred they way they had, she might be far away from these streets, leading a life where she could find some happiness without being worried about being hanged. He remained quiet for a few moments after she finished speaking, not particularly thinking about anything, but just letting her words and the atmosphere roam around him. After the moments had passed, Sean turned to look back at Caitlyn, ”We’ll find a place for you, hm? Some place where the gallows do not call. If we cannot find a way to clear your name here, then we can go elsewhere. Even if I don’t stop being a pirate right away, the world is big, and there are many places where lucrative cargo sails besides the Caribbean.” He offered her a small smile, ”And just so you know, I am not entirely sure what to think or do my own self. We’ll have to deal with things as the come, and hopefully we can find a way to reverse some of what has happened.” The pirate captain took a few steps forward, moving next to her, ”You don’t have to stay here, you know. Meaning this tavern, right now. We can pick up some food; there’s always a shop open in Tortuga. Make our way back to the ship for the night. I doubt there will be much in the way of ships coming in at this hour.” Sean leaned lightly against the wall, ”Might be in my favor to not completely dash your fantasy all at once by making you spend any longer out here amongst the cutthroats and thieves then you want to.” |
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| Deleted User | 11 Dec 2007, 06:10 PM Post #14 |
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The offer was tempting, but Caidy was sure that Sean had chosen this particular tavern and had probably chosen it for a reason. The whole situation was planned on some level and though they had argued, that was destined to happen sooner or later; generally sooner turned out being better. Caidy sighed and looked back up at Sean, trying to read in his face what it was that he wanted. She prayed that some day she would learn to read him; Sean was very good at hiding his emotions. In the time since the incident, Caitlyn had come to depend on Sean for most everything; food, shelter, clothing, lessons, protection. The list seemed to be growing longer by the moment and that upset Caidy -- she felt useless and a burden. Now she was dependent on him to fix the problem she had inadvertently caused, and there was very little she could do to help him. She had been content to mend his sails before, but now she felt she needed a larger part in it all; this was her problem after all. Caidy shifted uncomfortably and put her hand on her head, wishing this decision would come easier to her. "I don't know that that would do any good, Sean. We're here for a reason, right? Well then we might as well stay, at least until James comes back with news. But I want to know where we're going with this, Sean. I need to be involved as well, as grateful as I am for your help, I can't just let it go either." |
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| Deleted User | 12 Dec 2007, 05:35 AM Post #15 |
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”Yes, we are here for a reason, and a fairly good one, I think, but the actual reason will probably not be around for at least a day or so.” Sean smiled at Caitlyn. He could understand her desire to know what was going on, and he did not doubt for a second that if their positions had been reversed he would be doing the same thing. It was only natural to want to know what was happening around one’s self, which was the primary reason he thought like he did. Much of his success over the years was the result of him figuring out what was happening, or facilitating it to happen, while others only had the most basic of understanding for what was occurring. He supposed that was one of the things he would have to get used to when it came to dealing with Caitlyn; she would inevitably want to know what was going on since, after all, it was her neck on the line. While he didn’t fault her for her request, he had to take some time to think about it. Not to decide if he was going to tell her or not; that he had already concluded. The problem was trying to put his thoughts in such a format that they would actually be understood by her or, for that matter, anyone. He kept precious little in his logs, aside from the barest of summaries, and that was primarily because he could never quite tack down exactly how to convey what he was thinking, at least not in terms of the elaborate and often confusing plans and schemes he was generally used to coming up with. There was also the fact that his plans were ever changing, being constantly tinkered with to achieve the most desired effects based on new and unplanned events. He didn’t want to tell her too much, only to go back on it and confuse her with different details later. It did take him a few moments, but he was able to come to some kind of compromise, a place that told her what she needed and wanted to know without reaching too far into the uncertain future. He offered her another smile before he began speaking, ”We are here meeting someone. A pirate hunter by the name of Rhett Morgan. If you know Miss Brinton, then you might know of him. He’s positively infatuated with the girl, which has put him in the rather awkward position he is in. Hopefully I will not have to use the leverage to get him to help us. I would much rather he do it of his own accord, which I believe I can facilitate. Still, there is a backup plan, in case it all goes to Hell. Anyway, judging by the nature of travel in the Caribbean, I would doubt he’d be able to arrive before about this time tomorrow, provided he left immediately after receiving my correspondence.” He met her gaze, ”And that, among other things, is why we are here. I will, of course, need some time to go over what evidence you brought with you in the lockbox, just so I can know properly what our assets are.” |
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| Deleted User | 13 Dec 2007, 08:53 PM Post #16 |
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Caidy frowned at the mention of Rhett Morgan. She remembered Abby's description of him as a sweet, passionate man who she loved, and now Sean was talking about him as a pirate hunter. It made her a bit nervous that they were trusting such a man with their fates; Sean was a pirate, and probably this man's enemy, yet he seemed to have some leverage with him. Caidy wondered how far his compassion and sweetness would run without Abby involved, but she made a note to keep that in mind; it might be a good thing to mention to him that Abby was her friend. Of course Caidy didn't know if that friendship persisted, considering Abby probably knew she was a wanted criminal and murderer now. She sighed and nodded. "I know of him from Abigail, yes. She certainly had a different view of him than you did, love. I have to ask how you know him, Sean. Has he hunted you as well? And what is it he owes you than you can use for leverage? I don't know if I like this plan, but I trust you to know what you're doing. You've been at this a lot longer than I had." She smiled a little at him, still unsure how this was going to work. Her mind went to the lockbox sitting in Sean's cabin, on his desk. The lock was broken, but it hadn't been opened since the night of the incident. She thought of the letters inside from Sean, the ones she had kept underneath her mattress and wondered how long Lord Carrington had known about their correspondence. She wondered how he had gotten a hold of the last letter she had sent to Sean -- she had hand delivered it to one of Mr Hill's servants herself. Someone in the line had betrayed her, even after she had taken such care to prevent it. Sean wondered if the Hills had revealed her secret, or if it had been someone else in the household. They may have done in inadvertently, but it had been done, her confidence broken. "As for the box, Sean, it's yours to do with what you wish. If anyone can figure out what to do with what's inside, you can." |
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4:12 AM Jul 30
