Post #1320112 in Pirate's Play: The Journey to El Dorado!, a roleplay on RPG

Tok studied Hermione for a reaction. Well, she hadn't ran out and jumped over board, nor had she called him a raving lunatic. That was a start. Still, she answered him with no more than doubtful sentences that tailed off in the end, fear and fret creeping into the way she spoke. "Goddammit. It's always this doubtfulness, doubt, doubt, doubt, doubt. I'll do jumping jacks when one person doesn't bombard me with this incessant doubt." He spun the apple in his calloused, tan hands, fiddling with it while he thought of the right words to say without being so discouraging.

"Hermione, many a man have shackled themselves to obligations that only exist in other men's heads. We all like to pretend that there'd be huge outrage in the world's forces should we happen to slip out of these shackles, as if the tides would rise and the flames of hell would come to greet all. It's very easy to believe that you have to live within the lines to keep the impending "or else" off of your tracks, but it's good to remember that that's not the case. You have no physical inhibitions in your way, the only obstacles being all very imaginary. Or, all very untouchable. Nothing's truly stopping you from running around in your under garments, singing opera, and building a time machine. Nothing's stopping you from killing thousands of people and propping them up like dolls. Nothing's stopping you from living in the mountains and associating with sheep only. It sounds preposterous, sure, but in the end, every life lived- from a young english princess' to an Arabian slave- are all happening in one speck of dust in time, and all the decisions made in that speck will be forgotten very soon by whatever comes after is.

"It sounds scary and sad, but it's not. It simply means that people shouldn't go about living dull, mundane lives because they were told to. You should latch on to any chance of magic while you still can, is what it means. Carpe diem, or so to speak. Here, let me put it this way. You have, oh, probably thirty or forty years left in life. You will forever think of what ifs and why nots, and in the future, you will berate yourself for all your unsatisfied wants and unfinished deeds. You'll find that pirates are all very liberated people. I know we seem brutish and savage, and I'll admit that some are, but if anything that's a side affect of freedom, which is beautiful in its own way. Live the way you want to Hermione.

"That could mean primping yourself up in huge gowns and elegant balls." he said, his face contorting again in distaste. "If that's what you value, I suppose. I'm rambling again." He stated, right before insanely loud pounds cracked on his door. Tok was honestly afraid that it'd be knocked down with the force of the person's blows. "Cap'n, Cap'n! Atlas told me 'at I s'posed ta tell ya dat we're bein' followed. Seems da Navy's caught wind o' ar' little venture." the man said through the cracks of the door. Tok got up and approached the door, unlocking it and the opening up to see Garret's hulking figure. "Thank you, Garret." he said politely. He turned back to the princess again.

"Gautama Siddharta once said “There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.” He was a Prince before he'd founded Buddhism, you know." Captain informed playfully. "Think about it. I'm going to leave you in here for a while so you can think over my offer. You're free to wander about if you really so desire, and you can ask the other pirates who are around questions that'll help you find your answer, but make sure to stay below deck. It'd be a shame if you were seen and taken back before you'd even had a chance to make a decision."

And then he left, striding over with great urgency over to Kain, Atlas, and their Helmsmen just in time to hear Kain's spicy "status report" and catch glimpse of her scalding glares. She looked terrified, in her own tough, aloof way. He approached silently, offering a tiny tug of a smile and questioning eyes. "Well done, Kain. I'd reckon you've done a fine job of keeping Jewel's backside from being bitten. Do we have any in-advanced plans for if- excuse me, when- the Navy seadogs find out our secret?" he inquired quickly, arms crossed over his chest. He hoped that they'd never catch up to them, and that his crew wouldn't have to endure an ambush.

His head couldn't help but remember the scenario just four years ago, when this very same ship had been attacked by a mightier (at the time) pirate ship. The men had flooded onto their decks and wiped out anyone who had a beating heart. The former crew of the Ratgrins had tried their very hardest, but being underprepared and without as many people, they'd been sorely defeated. The mental images made Tok's chest heavy. He'd witness many friends slaughtered in front of his very eyes. The ruthless pirates had left them out at sea, supply-less and under the impression that all had been killed. And beside, even if there were a few stragglers, they had no food to survive for very long. Tok, who'd just been Quatermaster at the time, along with a handful of other men who'd managed to keep themselves together were just barely able to make it to the nearest port, fill their stomachs, get medical attention, and reform a new crew. Suddenly, Tok found himself a Captain. He swore that such a terrible outcome would never happen to his ship again. He would protect these people now that he was a Captain.

"Bloody good job you're doing, Captain. Kidnapping a princess and fleeing towards a hoard of mystical beasts is a great way to keep them safe." the little voice in his head said. And that's when he knew that he had to tell his crew what they were up again. Tonight. They'd be able to drop off any one who wanted out in a couple days after that at an obscure trader's port that only pirates flocked to, and then only those who were willing would risk their lives. He swallowed hard and realized he'd been staring out at sea with an unfathomably stony gaze, very much so unlike his usual self. He blinked a couple of times and peered back down at the small girl, heaving a glance over at Atlas who stood next to her. Guilt exploded inside of Tok. Atlas knew. He knew the plan and the costs and he knew that Kain, the innocent girl who liked to play pretend, didn't, and Tok knew that Atlas didn't agree with that one bit. Tok's longest lasting friend on this ship was right, too. As soon as Tok had bestowed the information on his first mate- obviously someone he trusted enough to put as the future Captain for the day he died... or became incapable of directing for some odd reason- he'd made it clear that he should be telling all this to his crew. Again, he focused on the girl, a faux grin spreading across his lips, ignoring the dread bubbling up.

Snippet #1320112

located in Captain's Cabin, a part of Pirate's Play: The Journey to El Dorado!, one of the many universes on RPG.

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