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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 23, 2013 20:53:52 GMT
Cordy grinned and Salty barked, and the little family played in the sea until the sun rose higher, before they waked back ashore and dried off going back to the ship and collecting Jack's effects, then off into town to complete their required tasks in order to get back out on the sea like Cordy itched to.
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Post by Taya on Apr 23, 2013 21:14:43 GMT
The crew of The Sea Valkyrie was not particularly thrilled and more than a little intoxicated as they left port. Since they were the only sober ones, Jack with Cordy's help made ready to sail. It worked out well since he had started teaching her to steer when she was ten.
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There wasn't much more coast to cover. If Angel's ship was here, they'd find it soon. James frowned and pretended to use a spyglass as he looked at an approaching ship in the distance. No one knew, but James had uncannily keen eyes. He looked at his deck and saw the cannons were all covered, making them look like merely cargo. This gave James a perverse joy. It made people think he was an easy target and he loved to see their faces when it was too late to turn back.
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They were not at sea long, when Jack spotted a merchant ship. With a grin, he handed the glass to Cordy.
"Assessment and conclusion." He told her wanting her to learn and be able to know when to take a chance and when to not.
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 23, 2013 21:27:33 GMT
Cordy took the spyglass and looked out towards the ship, frowning.
"Merchants," she said, gently, "No cannons. Lots of cargo."
She paused.
"Ship made recently. Means they's either rich or stupidly inexperienced. Or both."
She paused, glancing up and then back again.
"British flag. Pretty far from home."
She handed the spyglass back, cocking her head at him with half a grin.
"Storm it?" she asked, as if looking for confirmation of her assessment.
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"IS THAT MY SHIP?" Angel's voice was raised to a level she hadn't heard in years as she watched James and then followed his view, half jumping down the ship to get a better view. "That's my god damn ship." She sounded certain though her view was hazy.
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Post by Taya on Apr 23, 2013 21:39:49 GMT
"Damn straight." Jack said before barking orders. "Bring us around. I want her in splinters." He glanced at Cordy. "Colors if you please, Miss Sharpe."
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"Along side, Mr. Collins. Arm yourselves men. Canons, Mr. Knight. Powder and shot readied, Mr. Bennett." James called from next to the helmsman.
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 23, 2013 21:44:59 GMT
"I swear to God, Captain Blackwell, if you blow holes in my ship..." Angel started, letting her words hang in the air.
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Cordy grinned and ran to the mast, raising the flag that was unique to the Sea Valkyrie and struck so much fear into knowing vessels and the ship lurched around and made for the innocent looking merchant ship.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Should've taken that god damn flag with me," Angel murmured to herself, though a self-satisfied smirk crossed her face.
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Post by Taya on Apr 23, 2013 22:02:18 GMT
Jack would have changed the flag, but it already had such a good reputation. And in his own way, it made him feel like things hasn't changed in the blink of an eye.
"Run out the long toms!" Jack shouted. Even without his orders, by now the crew knew what to do. "If they put up a fight, kill them. If they surrender, into the water." He turned to his daughter. She was fourteen and could fight and shoot. "If you get into a scrape, call me. And if it gets bad, you are to get below decks. I do not want you in the boarding party. Understand? I need you ready to cut the lines."
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"I told you I would defend my own. And it is quite clear, they intend to engage. So, I will do as promised." James said uncaring of Angel's threat.
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 23, 2013 22:14:39 GMT
Angel narrowed her eyes at him but paid him no further mind, her sights fixed on the swiftly approaching ship as she drew her sword and tossed it a couple of times in her grip, fixing it in her hand and smiling brighter and more genuinely than she had in the past fifteen years, her hair tossing in the wind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cordy heaved an extraordinarily heavy sigh and nodded.
"Yes, Cap," she said, not bothering to argue as Salty arrived at her side carrying the belt which had her personal pistol and cutlass on it, bright and barely used. He knew the meaning of the calls above ship and what Cordy needed. She ruffled his ears in thanks as she strapped the belt over one shoulder and then ran across deck, checking things as her father would, Salty following her around as she did.
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Post by Taya on Apr 23, 2013 22:36:39 GMT
The ships came along side each other.
"For the sake of being paid, keep the damage to a minimum, men. But I don't want that scum on my deck." James shouted as he looked across to find the Captain. With a smirk, he lifted his pistol and fired the first shot.
A shot rang out before Jack could shout fire and his hat landed on the deck. He whirled around and called, "Kill the bastards, but the pretty boy captain is mine. And FIRE!"
Canons blasted across the waves, but James seemed unconcerned. James then gave his own command to fire. And the fight truly began.
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 23, 2013 23:05:11 GMT
Angel ran up and down James's ship, wincing every time she saw wood on the Valkyrie shatter, drawing her lips into a scowl as the ship she was stood on shook and rumbled with the cannonballs that shot through it. She chose not to fight, instead keeping her pistol close at her hip whilst wielding a sword, as if expecting a duel imminently.
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Cordy cheered every time a blast shook the other ship, and hung off the rigging when a blast shook hers, Salty barking at her in a disapproving way as she did. She itched for the ships to be closer, for now she was simply shooting half pointlessly, hardly able to find a target save for the mane of red hair that flowed from the one figure who didn't seem to be focussing on the battle.
She cocked her pistol and shot again.
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Angel swore, loudly, as the round bullet grazed her shoulder and bit through her hair. She turned and gestured wildly at the Valkyrie, vowing quite sincerely to herself that whoever that was would pay.
"Can we board them already?!" she asked, temper and impatience clearly showing as she drew her hair over her shoulder and inspected it for damage, ducking below the side of the ship as she did.
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Post by Taya on Apr 23, 2013 23:32:07 GMT
Jack picked up his hat and placed it once more on his head, annoyed that they had been duped on this venture and not expecting heavy artillery. His men began to cast lines across trying to board the merchant ship.
James seemed almost bored as his men defended his ship., Cutting lines, firing muskets and firing the canons when necessary. He casually grabbed two free ropes and tossed one to Angel. Putting as little effort as he could in to his running jump, James swung easily across, one hand wrapped around the rope and the other holding a cutlass. Landing on his enemy's ship, James came face to face with what looked like a young version of Angel. He smiled at her as his suspicions from the day before were confirmed.
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 23, 2013 23:45:45 GMT
Cordy scowled, baring her teeth as she hurriedly raised her sword to him, though she was confused by his expression. Still, she took a swing for him as she stepped backwards and shouted,
"CAAAP!" over the sound of gun and cannon fire. She would've considered fighting him herself if she wasn't both aware he was the captain of a ship she'd already underestimated once, and that her father had already staked his claim.
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Angel swung neatly across and landed almost without a stumble, chest heaving as she threw up her sword almost instantly, somehow missing out on James's good luck and landing herself in front of a much burlier, more bloodthirsty looking crewman who went for the kill before she'd even found her feet. Cursing and scowling at him, she began a flurry of swordwork that seemed unexpected, the same dark grin that made her eyes sparkle working its way across her face. She was home and no pirate could beat her right now.
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Post by Taya on Apr 24, 2013 0:14:23 GMT
James blocked her attack but made no move to parry or even advance on her. He just watched her fascinated.
"Step away from the lass, if yer lookin' to live." Jack said cocking his pistol directly behind the merchant captain's head.
James gave the girl a devilish knowing smile just before he spun around at the speed of light his blade flashing as he knocked the pistol from Jack's hand.
"Hello, Captain. We're you trying to board my ship?" James asked before the flurry of blades began. Jack brought up his left and they truly began to duel.
It was obvious quite quickly that the two captains were not equally matched. James only moved his sword arm appearing bored and wasting no effort. He responded to Jack's moves before he even made them. At one point, he even yawned just to annoy.
Jack growled as the other man yawned and he tried a feint but was again blocked. His left had was growing tired. But he was determined to kill the man in front of him.
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 24, 2013 0:28:18 GMT
Angel quickly parried the next thrust and knocked the bigger pirate backwards into a cannon, smirking the same cruel smirk as she had since she'd arrived.
"Now, to find the fucker who shot out half my god-damn hair," she said absently, almost to herself, until she heard a laugh far too similar to her own for her liking and turned.
"Long hair makes you a target," she said, holding her sword poised and walking closer to Angel. Angel's head span as she watched the girl approaching her, an unreadable look on her face. Cordy scowled.
"What's your problem, lady?"
Angel narrowed her eyes and shook her head, keeping her sword even.
"No-one teach you to treat your elders with respect, kid?"
"Nope. Just my betters," Cordy quipped, suddenly jumping forward with her cutlass out. Angel parried her, knocking her back to where she was with a grin.
"Nice. Don't make me cut you to prove a point, kid."
"Yer wouldn' get close."
Cordy took another swipe for Angel and Angel grinned.
"I like your style. Foolish, but with a charming confidence."
In response, Cordy took another strike for Angel which was parried again.
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Post by Taya on Apr 24, 2013 0:40:11 GMT
Jack slashes again only to be denied any ground.
"You are the Captain of the afeared Sea Valkyrie?" James asked.
"Your answer is at the point of my cutlass." Jack said back as he swung around.
"Then I guess I shall never know." James commented as he blocked another blow. "But as I recall this ship there used to be a real captain aboard this ship. She had more talent, cunning, and leadership, than you could clearly ever have. I also hear tell she was great deal prettier too. Shame you just left her to rot."
"Never speak of her!!" Jack shouted, furious.
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Post by Mr Spock on Apr 24, 2013 1:07:15 GMT
Angel backed away from Cordy, holding her sword poised.
"I'll do you a deal, kid. I have some outstanding business. You let me deal with that, Cordelia, and we'll do this again."
Cordy frowned, suddenly faltering at the sound of her name. Who on Earth was this? In her faltering she gave Angel enough time to wink and step away, crossing to the fight between James and Jack, her lips parting as she watched him move. He was still beautiful, elegant, marred with an anger she knew was in part, always there, but more seemed to have brewed in the years she'd spent not watching him, seeing him. She couldn't keep the gentle smile from her face as she watched him, spreading up into her more trademark smile as she stepped up behind Jack, wincing at James's words and the tone in Jack's voice as he responded.
She took a deep breath. She had to jump in at some point.
Deftly, taking advantage of his distraction, Angel whipped the now rather holey hat from Jack's head with her free hand and placed it on her own, coupling it with a remark that she couldn't help grinning at as she spoke.
"You never did suit hats, Mr. Sharpe."
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