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XXXXEva smiled as she saw Tessa. She had unintentionally been hanging around Tessa more than she should have. She had been avoiding Vale like the plague. Evangeline didnât want to get her dearest friend hurt by Meg. Since Tessa was with Vale when they met, she decided to stick to her. Eva felt like she could trust the blue eyed woman. It hadnât clicked for her that if she hung around Tessa, people would think she brought her on the ship. Tessaâs back was to Eva, so it was easy for Eva to walk right up behind her. She went on tippy toes and stroked Mangoâs, the bird they had found, head with a finger. He was sitting comfortably on Tessaâs hat. The little fella, who they assumed was a fella, seemed to be doing better.
âHello Mango, is Tessa being nice to you?â she asked. Tessa jumped hearing the voice behind her. She was getting ready to punch whoever it was but stopped short seeing it was Eva and scolded her.
âFuck do you want now?â Tessa said, the scold on her face not easing up. Evangeline flashed Tessa a smile.The woman did amused her.
âI just want to spend time with Mango. You seem to be hoarding him,â she said playfully. Tessa turned to start walking away, looking at some nearby ropes.
âIt isnât my fault little birdie wonât get off my damn hat,â Tessa said as she walked.
âWell...can I have your hat then? Iâll give it back to you once I get him on my shoulder or something,â she replied. Eva walked alongside Tessa to keep the conversation going.
âFuck no. You cannot touch me hat. Fuck off,â Tessa said, not sounding as angry as she would when speaking to others. Eva placed a hand on Tessaâs shoulder to try to get her to stop walking. âPlease?â she asked.
âHmmm,â Tessa stopped for a moment and looked at her. âFuck your please.â
âIf you said please when we met at the tavern, you wouldnât owe me a drink,â she replied, only risking the words as no one was nearby. Eva got on her tippy toes again. Carefully, but quickly, she lifted Tessaâs hat off her head. âI am going to check on James. I donât think he has seen Mango since I got here,â she added before she headed down to the brig. As she walked, she placed Mango on her shoulder.
Rosia had just woken up from a small nap upon the crowsnest when she heard some talk below her. As she rolled over and peaked her head over the edge she watched as Tessa and the stowaway interacted. Tessa seemed to have taking a liking to the girl. She giggled to herself when she heard Tessa curse at the lady for asking to touch her hat. But when she heard the stowaway talk about a tavern, Rosia stopped giggling and was confused, The ship hadnât docked for days, how would they gone to a tavern toge- Rosia interrupted her own thoughts with a gasp, realizing it was Tessa who had brought the stowaway onboard.
Tessa followed after Eva, trying her damndest to get her hat back. As she followed, she muttered curses under her breath. Though they were directed at Eva, she wasnât expecting the girl to actually listen to a word she was saying. âYa donât need to grab someoneâs hat like that. Just take the fuckinâ birdie, donât need my whole fuckinâ hat.â Eva stopped in front of bars that kept James a prisoner. She looked away from him to look at Tessa.
âI said I would give it back once I got him off the hat, but you refused to give me the hat,â she replied, matter of factly. Her gaze returned to James. Tessaâs hat was held between her hands. She smiled at James. âHow are you are you today James? I brought Mango down to see you.â
âAhoy there, James,â Tessa said with a small wave as she tried to grab her hat. Eva turned slightly, so Tessa couldnât grab her hat. Mango was on her shoulder, but she didnât want to give the hat back yet..
M e g
H e l l f i r e
C a p t a i n
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J a m e s
M i d a s
P r i s o n e r
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James had been in the brig for four days. Well five if you count the day before they actually left port. He had been visited a couple times by the crew and by Eva. Apparently Meg hadnât chewed her up and spit her out. In fact, it seems she had made her a member of the crew. It surprised him, but he couldnât deny that he was glad. He rubbed at the stubble forming on his chin and continued his song, âNobody knows the trouble Iâve seen. Nobody knows⊠me sorrow.â
He heard voices and footsteps coming down the stairs and into the brig. The first person to make their appearance was Eva, a familiar hat in her hands and an orange and green bird on her shoulder who was looking much better than when he last saw him. A smile formed on his face, but it quickly turned to one of distress when he saw the scowling woman stalking up behind Eva. Oh Tessa was angry.
Eva greeted him first. He was about to respond when Tessa interrupted with a greeting of her own. He gave a strained smile, feeling the tension in the air. James had known Tessa long enough to know two things: Donât make her angry and never, ever touch the hat. Unless you were Vale. ââEllo Eva. Tessa. What brings you to me quarters on this fineâŠâ He glanced to the side of the ship where a small bit of light was peaking through. âDay?â
By the time Rosia roped her way down from the crowsnest, Tessa had already followed Eva downstairs, Rosia quickly followed after them below deck towards the brig. As she caught up to them, she overheard Tessa and Eva talking with James. Rosia had only come down here when she followed and helped Vera bring James food. âOi! Riggknot ye turncoat! It was you that brought the stowaway onto the ship.â Rosia said, announcing her presence to the others as she came down the stairs. âCaptain Hellfire wonât be likeân this!â Hearing the familiar voice, Tessa knew exactly who it was. She rolled her eyes and turned towards the voice.
âOi now! Does it really fuckinâ matter anymore?â As she spoke, Tessa made her way over. At the back of her mind she got the thought that she was lucky to always carry a spare rope around with her. âLook at âer! Sheâs a fuckinâ kitten, for christ sake!â She kept moving forward until she was a foot or so in front of her. âDoes it really look like the girlieâs any harm?â
Rosia took a quick glance at Eva, who smiled and gave a small wave to Rosia, before looking back up at Tessa right in front of her. âNay, but ye went behind the Capânâs back.â Tessa nodded at this.
âAlright, if thatâs how yaâr thinkinâ,â Tessa said then cracked her knuckles. What proceeded was something that youâd have to see to believe it. Tessa seemed to pull what seemed to be an endless rope out of nowhere. âEy, whatcha doinâ with th-â The rope went through the air it what seemed like endless directions. There was cursing. There was kicking. There was a near escape then back into the rope hurricane that was Tessa, a mere rope, and her hands. âTessa! Stop that right now!â Eva scolded, crossing her arms under her chest. Tessa actually listened to this, but is was more because she was done. She stood up and Rosia seemed to fall a few centimeters onto the ground, now tied up completely with her arms bound behind her back, her legs bound, and a gag that seems to be a spare handkerchief. âAye, I think that may be good enough,â Tessa said showing that she may be a bit proud of herself.
James sat and stared wide eyed at the events unfolding before him. He raised an eyebrow at Rosiaâs accusation. So they didnât know that it wasnât only Tessa, but Vale as well. The fact that they had to guess meant Eva hadnât told Meg. Interesting. When Tessa pulled out the rope, he honestly thought it was for Eva. I mean⊠she had touched the hat. He was thrown for a loop when instead she began to tie up Rosia. âWhat are ye doin?â He asked them, more surprise in his voice than concern. It was the most bizzare thing to James.
Thatâs when Meg made her way down into the brig. She stopped short at what she saw. Her first mate tied up. Tessa, the only one who couldâve tied up Rosia, standing beside her. Eva standing off to the side, Tessaâs hat in her hand an⊠is that a bird on her shoulder? She thought she had heard chirping while visiting Sunni the past couple of days⊠It appears Eva wasnât the only stowaway.
And James just sat there and watched. Watched her rigger tie her first mate⊠shit. âWhat the bloody hell is going on!?â She demanded, eyes simmering. âMe first mate is tied up. Me rigger the culprit andâŠâ Then she remembered why she wanted to talk to Tessa earlier. âTessa Locke. Were you the one to bring aboard the stowaway?â Her eyes narrowed. Her plan had been to pull her aside and speak to her privately but the scene before her⊠and with James watching⊠Sheâd have to punish her friend or risk the crew questioning her leadership.
Hearing her name - her full name - Tessa knew then that she had fucked up. She let out a long low sigh and turned to face her captain. âAye thatâs the question, isnât it?â She sighed again, and looked over at Eva then rolled her eyes.
âAye, this is a fuckin mess,â She mumbled, putting a hand to her forehead and sighing again.
âI guess there be no more reason to keep it a secret nor lie.The short answer to that, Captain, is yes. Yes, I did bring the girlie aboard,â Tessa admitted. Then added under her breath,
âEven though I didnât want to.â Eva very slowly, silently, walked towards Tessa as she spoke. Once she finished speaking, she took a step to the side to stand in front of Tessa. Evangeline moved the hand with the hat behind her back to give it to Tessa. Her expression was blank as she stared at Meg.
James whistled in the cell beside them.
âYe fucked up.â Megâs glare turned on him and he stepped away from the bars. She turned her attention back to the women before her.
âIâm listening.â She took note of the fact that Eva now stood between them. The girl was going to get herself killed one day doinâ that. Tessa sighed once again. She took her hat, placed it on her head, and walked around Eva until she came face to face with Meg.
âThe long answer,â Tessa started.
âI was at a whorehouse and met this lass. The lass told me she had.. No family left. As you know.. I donât have any family. But I found one here on this ship. I figured âoi, this young lass could use some help.â So.. I helped. Stuffed her in a barrel and here we are now.â She paused a moment for it to sink in as she hoped nothing about her gave away this this was only half the truth.
âIâm sorry I hadnât told you from the start, Captain. But I knew where we were going and that we didnât need anyone new,â She added, then stood and waited for a reply. Eva just smiled as Tessa spoke. She gave the woman a quick and tight hug from behind once she finished speaking. Evangeline was grateful and now in debt to Tessa.Though, Tessa still owed her that drink.
Meg sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, the skin tight around her eyes.
âIf you had told me sooner, it wouldâve been fine.â She looked up at Tessa, their blue eyes meeting.
âBut you went behind me back and you hid her.â She motioned down at Rosia, still tied up.
âNow you go and do this?â She sighed, her shoulders rising with command, but slowly as if they were pushing up against an invisible weight.
âOne hour from the mast.â She said simply. Tessa had been the one to string âem up so many a time. She knew what the punishment was without Meg needing to explain.
She kneeled beside her first mate, pulled the knife from her boot Meg knew she kept there, and cut her loose from the ropes. There was no untying a rope Riggknot had tied.
âI was planning on leaving you in charge of the ship. Iâll have to leave Vera to that.â She returned the knife to her first mate, handle out with one hand and helped her up with the next.
Rosia wiggled out of the ropes and stood up with the help of Meg, and putting her knife back in her boot, nodding her head and thanking her captain. Rosia looked over at Tessa.
âYe still a turncoat...â Rosia said with a slight smirk, she wasnât one to hold grudges, plus it would entertain her to see Tessa hanging from the mast. Meg shot her a warning look before walking back towards the steps and up to the deck to give orders.
âAll hands to the deck!â She yelled as loudly as she could, her voice edged with anger. They would know she meant business. Once her crew assembled, she began.
âWeâre going onto the island for supplies. I will be going ashore with Rosia, Vale, Sunni, Bill, and Philip. Jules, Rudy, and Eva will stay on the ship. Vera will be left in charge. And Tessa.â Meg paused. Upset at the words that were about to leave her mouth.
âTessa is to hang by her ankles from the mast while we are gone.â While she didnât normally explain her orders, she felt this one needed an explanation.
âWhile I donât punish me crew for small indiscretions such as bringing aboard a new crew member, Tessa did so behind me back and was found tying up the first mate below deck. Because of her actions, she must undergo this punishment. Alone.â She pointed to the horizon.
âWe meet back here when the sun is three hands high off the horizon. Dismissed.â