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M e g X| | XJ a m e s
H e l l f i r e | | M i d a s
C a p t a i n | | P r i s o n e r
#e6b800 | | #B00000
XXXXCaptain Meghan Cunningham stood amongst the noble people of Astorium in the largest sitting room of Lord Chamberlin's estate, a glass of wine gripped in her hand. While she couldn't deny she looked gorgeous in her attire, she also felt ridiculous. It was hard to move her arms and even harder to breathe at times. Rosia had to lace her up tightly to get Meg the fashionable thin waist, and it was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Her First was somewhere in the house, being her eyes and ears. Meanwhile she was stuck here, eyes on the man who owned the very thing they were here for-- the updated map of Merrinia. They needed this map in order to find the keys to the lost treasure of Captain Corso. And they need it to find Arimathea, the garden of Eden. None of these places are expressly marked on the map. Especially Arimathea. But it would get them close enough.
It had to.
Meg shifted her hips beneath her skirts so the dagger she borrowed from Vale, her navigator, wouldn't jab her in the thigh. She made a mental note to purchase one for herself the next time they were at port. While she preferred her twin pistols or her cutlass, they arenât subtle enough to conceal on her person. Not well anyway. Meg needed this to go off without a hitch. She didnât need the Land Kingâs navy sailing after them once they left. And she would like to return here at some point in the future. Besides⊠she was only here to borrow the map.
For now, she was buying time. As she sipped at the wine in her glassâan expensive brand that still tasted like dirt to herâher thoughts strayed to the rest of her crew.
James, the former Captain of the ship was in her brig. She buried down the feelings of guilt deep down as she thought of the mutiny. He refused the journey, the search for Corsoâs treasure, and the majority of the crewâs wishes. She couldnât let it continue. Not if she wanted to find that treasure. Not if she wanted to make her parentsâ deaths mean something. Rudy, their youngest by far, was keeping watch on the ship along with Tessaâher master Rigger and eyes and ears on the ship, Vale, Jackâthe gunner, Billâher third, Philipâher helmsman, and Sunniâthe surgeon.
Somewhere just outside the estate was Veraâtheir cook and tonightâs distractionâwho was awaiting the signal for her entrance. Meg had to admit, when Vera walked out in her getup⊠her heart beat a little faster. The womanâs past made her the perfect person to serve as the distraction for the night. Meg did feel a little guilty about this as well. Vera was a person after all and having her play this part was⊠not the best, but they had no other choice.
Her finger tips brushed the chain of the necklace she stole from the Lord and Ladyâs bedchamber. Not only will it aid in their distraction, but it will serve as the signal. It was such a simple thing, a necklace of diamonds and pearls hardly bigger than her pinky fingernail, but it was definitely an expensive piece. Although, this specific necklace was chosen because it seemed to be the least worn. It was buried under a pile of jewelry. All Meg had to do was loop her pinky around the end and gently pull it away.
All she needed now was the go from Rosia and their plan would be underway. Even if it was the last thing she'd ever do, she was going to get that map and find the treasure.
XXXX Mutinied Captain James Porter sighed loudly as he laid on the wooden floor of his prison cell. Straw crinkled beneath him as he shifted, staying far away from the corner where a chamber pot was chained to the wall. With the waves on the high seas, he couldnât be entirely certain it was clean over there. Then again, this whole cell was more than likely no better than that chamber pot, but James decided to ignore this thought and stick to keeping from the corner.
He still couldnât entirely believe he was in this particular position. His crew turned on him⊠over greed. He sighed again at the thought. It wasnât entirely greed. He had denied them adventure, he denied them mystery⊠and greed. James knew he was unorthodox as a pirate captain and that most on his crew didnât mind. It seemed that his refusal to go on Megâs wild goose chase was the last straw with them. And here he was, in the brig when not even a day prior he was asleep in his quarters, dreaming of the wind on his face and sailing towards the horizon.
When he woke to the nightmare that was the mutiny, he was shocked, angry, hurt, and most importantly⊠relieved that no one had been killed. If his family didn't think him a fine captain, then fine. Let Meg squander her winning for a while⊠Theyâll be begging for him back. His stomach growled loudly and by the light leaking through the side of the ship, he knew it would be about dinner time. Vera was more than likely cooking something up in the kitchen for the crew. He wondered if heâd even be allowed to eat. Meg wasnât heartless, but he couldnât be certain of her treatment considering where heâs found himself. Maybe she was keeping him alive for his luck.
Or perhaps⊠his luck had run out.
Although, now that he thought about it⊠the ship was unusually quiet. He expected a party. Drinking, food, merriment on their victory of taking down Captain Midas. However, there was a noticeable silence. He knew they had docked somewhere, but that was the extent of his knowledge. Maybe he could get Bill to drink with him. Or Phillip. Maybe Rudy? He wished someone would bring him a drink. He needed one after today. And food preferably.
Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw the mutiny.
He was asleep in his quarters, dozing as was previously mentioned, when there was a commotion on deck. He didnât think it was an invading party since no one had sounded for battle stations. There was shouting and the metallic clanging of swords. However, the commotion was missing the cries of pain that came with a boarding. He crew was never one to give up easily. Well⊠not noticeably anyway. So he pulled on his breeches and a simple shirt along with his boots and his cutlass before heading out the door. Right as he emerged, Meg was there, her wild red hair blowing around her face in the breeze, shining in the morning son like a fire. Hellfire.
âIâve come to relieve you Captain,â she said, fierceness in her tone, but an apology in her eyes. âCome willingly or face the consequences of your actions.â Behind her were the few who opposed the mutiny, on their knees with pistols pointed at the backs of their heads or cutlasses at their throats. No one looked willing to be in this position, but Megâthe treasureâwas worth the sacrifice. He was no fool. He knew the treasureâs worth to each member of the crew.
Especially Meg. Her parents died in search of the treasure and to her it would be for nothing if she doesnât find the treasure. For nothing, if she couldnât claim it for her family name. For nothing, if she made nothing of herselfâŠ
So here they were. James standing in obvious surprise, Meg with a cutlass to his throat, and his crew divided. So, he surrendered. It was better to do so than to be the cause of any harm to his crew. He didnât believe any of them capable of hurting the others, but they were desperate to cause a mutiny⊠how far were they really willing to go?
With his mind caught up to the present, he closed his eyes and let out a few soft notes before continuing through the song:
Let the waters roar, Jack,
Safe and sound at home again,
Let the waters roar, Jack,
Long weâve tossed on the rolling main,
Now weâre safe ashore, Jack,
Donât forget youâre old shipmate,
Faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-dye-doe!