OoC: Well, I'm not seeing people join up, but that's okay. :) Let's start!



The moon had risen over the black waves, casting little shadows along the mast on the Crimson Tide. The shadows bounced here and there, creating new corners of darkness all over the ship. Something in the air smelled thick, and warm. It was a strange scent, and it was overwhelmingly sickening. A small puddle of blood had turned into a stream, as it slithered down from the crow's nest...wrapping itself around the mast, and pooling again at the base. Raven had just finished her first meal of the evening, and he was looking a bit dry. The man she killed had been fishing earlier during twilight. He was minding his own business, probably trying to get some dinner for himself or his family. As soon as the sun sank beneath the sea, Raven lumbered out from the Captain's Quarters, and spotted him - or, spotted breakfast. She killed him quickly (which was abnormal behavior in her case), and dragged him to her usual place. The crow's nest was where she did the majority of her feeding, thinking, and scowling.

As she held her prey, lifeless and white, she looked into his now colorless eyes. He appeared to be in his early forties, maybe a little younger. He had stubble upon his cheek, and thick furrowed brows. His hair was a dark chestnut brown, and it reminded her of dark pine wood. She inhaled, and for a moment could smell the fresh scent of pine. But this was just a memory, for she hadn't been near pine (much less smelled it), in over a hundred years. The man's lips were full. He probably had a lovely smile.

She put the idea out of her mind, and tossed him into the raging sea. Her lips curled up, forming a crooked smile. Her teeth were bared, stained with the innocent fisherman's blood. She stood on the railing of the nest, then gently bent her knees, and almost seemed to fly down onto the deck. She landed soundlessly, and straightened her spine as she stood. The sickening smell in the sky was still heavy, and the wind carried it through her auburn hair. She hissed a little at the smell...it was full of death. But then again, death was usually the fault of her crew. That man had already begun to rot in the sea, as he drifted off in eternal slumber...bloodless and unrecognizable. The seagulls would eat what was left, but there wasn't much.

"Wake up, you lazy bastards!" She shouted beneath the deck of the ship, where her ever-so-loyal deckhands were slumbering. Her first mate would wake on his own, but this was a custom on her ship. Those in power, slept until they felt like getting up.

Shortly before the sun had risen there was a stirring in the First Mate's cabin. Looking in from the door someone would glimpse a hammock swaying in time with the gentle rocking of the ship and an arm hanging over one side from beneath a pile of blankets. From the bottom protruded a pair of bare feet, pale as the dead man that would shortly be thrown overboard. From this heap came a grunt and the first movements of the night; the hanging hand reaching up to scratch at the top end of the mound beneath the sheets. Then the feet began to sway in time with the hammock, rocking it more and more vigorously until it reached a height on the swing that allowed Jonas to roll out and land on all fours with a surprising grace. He rose to his feet and stretched, baring his fangs in hunger. He was naked, save the cutlass swinging down from his hip.

He strolled over to an old and unremarkable warbrode, perfectly balanced on the rocking floor, and pulled out his usual attire before dressing quickly and heading up to to deck. The Captain shouted just as he reached the door and a second later he pushed it open to be greeted by the strong moonlight and the dangerous looking leader of the ship. To many she was legendarily fearsome, to him she was everything. She had long ago given him a second chance at existence and from that he was born again and eternally indebted to her. Although her ways were not ... Customary, he had nothing but the deepest respect for the Captain and would have, and had, followed her to the ends of the Earth at a moment's notice.

"Evenin' Captain" he said in his usual flatline voice. His ability to express most emotion had long since given way and as a result he seemed either slow or reverant depending on how you looked at him. Until, that is, he became angered. His self-control was exceptionally high for one such as him but when he blew his top people knew about it. He could smell the blood in the air and saw the small pool of it about the bottom of the post that led to the crow's nest. It was the same most days. Sometimes he would wonder if she ever slept at all. He inhaled again through his nose, deeply this time. "Breakfast smells good" he commented, pulling his telescope from his pocket and starting to scan the horizon for signs of his own. "Anything to report?" he asked, eye still looking at the magnified scene ahead of him.

"Oi, Adrian wake up." Damian said shaking his younger brother. He's been awake for a while now, it's just that he was in his own cabin, which he shared with his brother.
"5 more.." Adrian would mumble as he turned over in his sleep. Damian couldnt help but chuckle at the scene. It was funny how his brother acted so childish when he was tired or was asleep.
"You know.. the captian called." he informed sitting on the edge of the bed. This time, Adrian didnt bother saying anything. Damian was pretty much used to this by now. Everyday.. it was the same thing over and over. He sniff the air, sliding his tongue over his fangs as the scent of blood hit his nose.
"Looks like captian already had her meal.." he muttered before kicking his brother. "And I mean it. Get your damn ass up."

Adrian gritted his teeth. He sat up glaring at his brother. With a small sigh, he grabbed his shirt, and slipped it on lazily. He quietly followed his brother out of their cabin, and looked up at the sky. He too could now smell the blood which had pooled around the nest.
As usual, Adrian got silent.
"Why do you always get so quiet around the others?" Damian questioned. He was curious.. ever since they became a vampire, his brother seemed to be keeping everything to himself. It bothered him how his brother never shared anything out loud, but never forced him to do anything. He patted his brother on the shoulder before giving a polite bow to the captain and her first mate.

Adrian stared at his brother for a second before he too, gave a short bow as well. He quickly looked away from the two before staring out into the sea. They havent been on land for a while now. It didnt bother him, but it did seem to bother Damian.

Raven ran her thin fingers through her hair, gently turning her neck as the sound of breath caught her attention. Her first mate had risen from slumber, and by this time he had already greeted his captain. Raven smiled her crooked smile, surveying Jonas as usual. Her relationship with him was unique, considering he was the only member of the crew she had actually turned herself. She had a peculiar attraction to him and his scent...more specifically, his blood. Her mind strayed to a dark place for a moment, until the deckhands Adrian and Damian appeared. She shook the thought away, and replaced it with her usual grimace. "There's nothing left of breakfast, Jonas. And not a thing to account for. I think we'll have smooth sailing this evening, the sea is unusually chill, however." She stalked away from him, almost floating to the bow of the ship. She looked out upon the open water, and inhaled deeply. Blood was still in the air...it would probably remain there for a few hours, at least. She scanned the sea, wondering if they would encounter another late-night fisherman. They had two more nights until they reached Tortuga...and she could hardly contain her hunger.

She ship rocked slowly forward, creaking and moaning with the ocean. The water was glossy and black, creating a perfect reflection of the Crimson Tide. As simple as a ship might be, it was quite difficult for Raven to obtain. It once belonged to a band of human pirates, well known, and well feared. She was a fresh vampire upon meeting them, and they knew what she was...somehow. They found her at Tortuga, called her a "pretty corpse." Being her weak state, it was easy for them to steal her from land, and force her onto the ship. They took advantage of having a female on their vessel...and this was their mistake. One night, when the Captain of the ship was feeling weak, he had forgotten to restrain her. In his moment of delirious stupidity, she slaughtered him...and the rest of the crew. Over time, she added to the ship, replaced the sails, and improved it.

It was this angry murderous rampage that Raven had covered the flag in blood. This gave birth to the bloody jolly roger, and the name - Crimson Tide. Over time, she earned her title well. But, enough reminiscing. Her eyes narrowed, there was a small raft floating about 200 feet away from the ship...with four sailors lying upon it. They waved at the Tide, and began yelling for help. She turned to face Jonas, and smiled, baring her fangs.

"Go get them."

As he gazed through the telescope Jonas noticed the raft only a moment before Raven did. He saw a look of hope in the sailor's eyes as they jumped and waved for help. This was good, they did not yet know what they had gotten themselves into and Jonas always preferred to feed when the fear was fresh in the veins. He clasped shut his telescope and placed it lens down on the deck. "Aye captain", he replied, baring his own fangs in eagerness for the kill. The Crimson Tide would not change course for a mere morsel of food, so Jonas readied himself to jump by removing his shirt to reveal his slender and pale torso before grabbing a rope that was tied nearby and he dived into the ocean below.

As soon as his body broke the surface he realised what the Captian had meant by 'unusally chill' and understood the deperation of the sailors whose lives he would soon end; it was freezing tonight. Unphased by the temperature, Jonas swam with a brisk pace until he reached the raft whereupon he was hoisted up and greeted with slaps on the back and shakes of the hand. A chorus of "God bless you"'s echoed in his ears as the sailors offered their thanks. Idiots he thought simply. Had they never heard of the legend of the Crimson Tide? Clearly not else they would have drowned themselves by now. "It seems it was God's will that you live another day" he replied, feigning a form of joy that he could scarcely remember. The only will that kept them still breathing was his own and that would change when the reached the Tide.

After convincing the men to stop their thanks Jones managed to get them to grab the rope and pull the raft so they could drift alongside the Tide and climb aboard and feed at least a few of the crew. To keep them from paying too much attention to the ship that served as their final destination he spoke to them, finding out about what had happened. As it happened, pirates had attacked and sunk their ship. These were the few that had survived. Shame really that they should die this way, but ... Well, a man had to eat. A smarter, or perhaps just a less desperate, man would have noticed the way the apparent saviour kept his lips covering his teeth even as he spoke but not one of them were willing to open their eyes to the horror that was to become their end.