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Post by Taya on Apr 22, 2013 13:34:32 GMT
"Punctuality was not a quality I would have pinned on the fierce Captain Angel." James said coming up behind her. "My ship is this way." It was clearly not a ship full of unsavory pirate scum. In fact, the men seemed to be groomed and focused on their work. They nodded to James as he came aboard, but continued preparing to sail. "Her name is The Spirit. And as you can see I have outfitted her with all the defense money can buy." He gestured to the canons that were clearly out of place on a merchant ship. "And all of my men are not only sailors, but the best fighters money can buy."
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 22, 2013 14:24:55 GMT
"You run a strange operation, Captain," Angel commented as she followed James, eyeing the ship and crew with interest as she did. It was completely different to what her own ship had been like. Not pausing to consider whether times had simply moved on without her, she followed, absorbing layout as best she could.
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Post by Taya on Apr 22, 2013 14:31:35 GMT
"I suspected I would not be what you expected." James said sardonically. "But I find if it looks like I run a tight ship, and I do. The authorities tend to leave me alone. I also have a very persuasive nature. And now you are wondering, if I have all of this, why would I risk it on a pirate?" He gave her sideways glance. "Simply, I am easily bored. You are providing a bit of mystery and excitement. So for now, you stay."
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 22, 2013 16:17:05 GMT
Angel raised an eyebrow.
"Excellent. Secure." she said lowly, smirking a little, though it was a motive she approved of. Too many searched only for coin, and nowhere near enough for the thrill of newness.
As she became more certain the brooding Captain she met in a dank Liverpool tavern was her kind of person, her shoulders relaxed and she was able to absorb her surroundings more passively, and devote more of her energy into controlling the impulse to run up and down the length of the ship like an excited dog.
"What takes you to the West Indies, Mr. Blackwell? Prefer the finer weather? Is it profitable out there?" She stopped and smiled a little, examining him. "Or are you simply sailing for the sake of sailing. Travelling in any direction and my stop is just another red dot to restock at?"
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Post by Taya on Apr 22, 2013 16:28:17 GMT
"You are my cargo for now and your destination happens to be the West Indies. I am being paid handsomely to do just that. So that is where we shall sail. I sail to sail and follow the work." James said. He then began giving orders to cast off and in about a quarter of an hour they were heading out of Liverpool and for open waters. "I would ask you to join me in my quarters for a drink, but I have a feeling the in the next few months at sea I will not see you off the deck even in a storm."
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 22, 2013 17:17:07 GMT
Angel smirked and glanced out at the open water, the feeling of the breeze catching in her hair sending a small thrill through her.
"You have a good instinct, Captain. Though I doubt it would take more than a blind man to see my yearning for the ocean."
She stepped away from him then and leant over the side of the large ship, gazing down at the waves the ship was cutting through and knowing she was finally home.
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Looking down on waves that were a bright blue compared to the heavy grey waves Angel could see on the coast of England, Cordelia Sharpe glanced behind her at the men readying to go ashore as the ship pulled in to dock at Puerto Rico. Grinning a wide grin that occasionally made her father look at her with an unreadable expression, she briefly checked that he wasn't stood behind her before pulling herself up onto the rigging, her skinny frame making her light and flexible.
She glanced once again at the water, smiling at the familiar seas that she knew would be warm and welcome before she took a deep breath and threw herself backwards off the edge of the boat, curving so she landed hands first and led a wide underwater arc before she surfaced beside the boat, pushing her now loose hair out of her eyes and continuing to grin.
Cordy loved the ocean. Though she had been raised on the ship, she reserved a special place in her heart for the moments when they were docked, where she could swim to her heart's content, though she still liked the drama of jumping from the rigging rather than walking down the beach once they were docked as her father would prefer her to.
She swam alongside the boat, still fully dressed save for the bandana she usually wore that had escaped mid-dive, as it slowed to an almost halt, laughing to herself as she turned in the water as if she were a mermaid.
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Post by Taya on Apr 22, 2013 17:58:01 GMT
The men of The Sea Valkyrie had been there for many years and enjoyed the antics of the Captain's lass. She was a source of amusement and had wormed her way into their black hearts. When she had been a tot he had take. On an entirely new crew for some reason, but no one dared ask the captain why. But they laughed now knowing what face the captain would wear when he found her.
"Mermaid off the starboard aft." Called the man in the crow's nest, just as Captain Jack Sharpe, stepped out of his quarters. At 43, he was still handsome, but a little more sea worn. He dressed the part of a pirate captain from his hat, to his boots, to the cutlass strapped to his right hip. Upon hearing the call, he walked over to the railing and looked over at his daughter.
"If ya get hit in the head by the anchor, it be no ones fault but yer own." He called down to her shaking his head. She was growing more to look like her mother everyday. And that thought right there, meant he needed one of three things, a drink, a whore, or some scums blood. But considering the time, it looked like drink would be his solace.
Out of the top right inside pocket of his coat, Jack pulled out a flask o rum and took a swig. Then he began barking orders to various men as he descended to the main deck. "And drop a rope off starboard, for that mad girl."
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James nodded, set his course with his helm's man, and retired to his quarters with the hopes of getting drunk, though history had proved it to be fruitless endeavor.
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 22, 2013 20:30:48 GMT
Cordy just shook her head and laughed, spiralling in the water once more as the rope lowered itself to her level and she grinned as she began to traverse her way back up onto the deck, her bare feet leathery enough that she didn't pick up splinters as she pulled herself back onto the deck, soaking wet, and sprawled out across the wood, leaving a damp body shape where she was and laughing as she did.
She raised her left hand to her mouth and whistled, a loud, shrill whistle that was followed by the sound of scampering and a yellow dog with a bandana similar to Cordy's own came bounding over, jumping at her and licking her face as she continued to laugh.
"Salty," she chastised, mock-frowning at the adult dog who jumped at her face again as she sat up, though she overpowered him and hugged him. He was a lot bigger than he'd been when she'd found him on a Cuban beach now, but then, so was she. She'd grown up with him.
As she play wrestled with the dog that was barking happily at her, she heard the familiar clank of the anchor being lifted and then dropped, sinking to a soft thud on the high ocean floor in the dock.
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Post by Taya on Apr 22, 2013 21:05:22 GMT
Jack shook his head at the damned accursed dog that he now wouldn't let Cordelia go anywhere without. He had proven himself to be as protective of her as he was.
"Three days men, then be ready for a long, hard sail. The Canary's be calling." Jack said. There was a scurrying of paws as one of Cordy's many strays scrambled across the railing to him. He held out his left arm and the little brown monkey they picked up off the coast of Mexico scurried up his arm.
"Ready for shore leave, Mr. Simmons." He asked the monkey, who bobbed his head up and down as the gang plank was run ashore. Jack turned and whistled to the dog. Salty turned his head to Jack as the captain knelt down to him. "Guard duty for you, Mr. Salty. You take care of the ship and Cordy is only allowed ashore with you and a trusted human. No bilged rats, understand?" He then looked at his daughter. "No more strays."
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 22, 2013 21:29:53 GMT
Cordy looked to be calculating for a moment before her face broke into a confident grin.
"What if I steal 'em instead? They ain't strays. They's pets."
She spoke like a child who had learned to speak amongst those who cared little for their language, with a nasal hint of honey to her voice which seemed ever-present, regardless of her tone or pitch.
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Post by Taya on Apr 22, 2013 21:37:00 GMT
"The hold is overflowin' with her pets." Jack said shaking his head. "Couldn't we leave one port with out another mouth to feed?" At this point, it was like fighting a losing battle when it came to Cordelia's pets. "You wouldn't want the crew thinkin' it's supper. Like Mrs. Piccadilly?" He was of course referring to the hen they had picked up in Barbados.
"Cordy, I'm serious stay on the ship today. Tomorrow we'll go spend some coin for some clothes. Your growing like a bloody weed."
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 22, 2013 21:47:39 GMT
Cordy heaved an extraordinarily heavy sigh and nodded. "Aye-aye, Cap." she said glumly, crossing her legs so she was sat on the deck next to Salty, who circled her once before lying down in front of her as was his habit.
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Post by Taya on Apr 22, 2013 21:57:04 GMT
Jack sighed, mussed her wet hair and headed to shore to sell the goods from their last raid, leaving his daughter to her own devices. He would return for supper, but once she bunked down he would go ashore again in search of a less reputable business than black market goods. This was how port visits went now. First day he would make certain it was safe enough, and the. He would escort Cordy about the next day, if she could be coaxed to step on land. Buying an apple for Mr Simmons at the next stall he passed, jack set about his business.
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 22, 2013 22:33:57 GMT
Cordy sighed, before making her way down into the bowels of the ship to be met with a series of chirps, chirrups, growls and ticks and every other noise from the creatures that she'd amassed since she first found Salty as a puppy.
"Good morning everyone!" she said brightly, making her way around the room. First she stopped with the birds: Mrs. Piccadilly, who lived downstairs full-time in a makeshift coop and nest that Cordy had built; Esme, the bright red cockatiel from the mainland who was lazy enough to sleep until noon if not awakened, but preened at the attention she recieved as Cordy stroked her beak; and Jasper, the toucan who cawed at Cordy as she tried to stroke him, causing her to shake her head in a good-humoured way.
"Grumpy old man," she murmured to him, before turning to the cage where a rabbit named Old Majorie and a ferret named Mr. Biscuit lived in relative peace, opening the door to it and banging on top. Mr. Biscuit shot straight out and up her leg, climbing up to nestle at the back of her damp neck and wrapping himself around like a scarf. Giggling, she made her way back out onto the deck, absently stroking Calypso the tabby cat as she passed her on the stairs before standing again in the sunshine, stroking Mr. Biscuit's head absently as she looked up at the sky and sighed contentedly.
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Post by Taya on Apr 22, 2013 22:43:49 GMT
It had been near a month and half since Angel had bored his ship and he found the woman fascinating, but that was all. He certainly had no desire to be with her, unlike the rest of his crew. The first man that had tried and ended up with a broken hand. And the poor man had to suffer, since James had laid off magick, At least for the time being. He came up behind the woman now as the first land they had seen in the past six weeks came into sight.
"I have gotten you to West Indies as promised. All that remains is to find your 'stolen' ship. What is your plan now?"
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