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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
XXXXAs soon as the sole of Meg's boot touched the wood of The Stardust a calming sensation moved through her body, causing her muscles to relax. The Stardust might not be Meg's ship, but she was home. Ever since she laid eyes on the navy blue masts and dark wood, she loved her. She was her ship whether James liked it or not. She stuck out her hand and ran it over the wood of the side just as Rosia crowed from behind her, "Cap'n on deck!" She smiled softly, rolling her eyes just at a tad at the formality. Nice to have a first mate, She thought. She closed her eyes a moment and when she opened them again, the nostalgic Meg was gone and was replaced by Captain Meghan Cunningham.
"Look alive ye scallywags!" She yelled to her crew. "We've returned with the updated map and will set sail within the hour! Just in case we've got Land King men on our tails!" She looked at the near-empty deck, and her eyes narrowed. Where was her crew? "First Mate!" She turned to Rosia, "Find me crew and tell them all hands on deck. I want Philip on the helm and Tessa in the rigging. Have Vera make a nice dinner for everyone including that rat down in our brig." She started towards her room and paused. She turned back towards Rosia. "Oh, and tell Sunni I'll come by in a bit. I know she gets a tad lonely when we're out on land." And she secretly wanted to see what her surgeon thought of the dress. Not that she'd ever admit it to anyone.
Instead of going to her quarters to change, she made her way towards the ship's brig to visit their prisoner.
XXXXJames's wishes for a drink and company were quickly answered. Just as his song died on his lips, he heard boots coming down the wooden steps to the brig. The man had addressed him as captain and then a filthy traitor which made his hand curl into a fist but with a deep breath, he relaxed again. It wasn't Bill's fault he was in the situation. It was his own. "Aye. A drink would be grand, Mate." He paid little mind to Bill's comment on him being free shortly. If the pirate was daft enough to free him without the order of his captain, it could very well be his head. At least, that's how traditional pirating was done. James... he'd yell about it, but in the end, he probably would do nothing. Bill was family. This crew was family. They just... needed a reminder. They'll let him out. They had to...
As Bill's boots retreated back up the stairs he yelled. "Bring me rum you bilge rat! Not grog!" More quietly he said, "The stuff tastes like... well like you're kissing a lemon. A dirty, rum soaked lemon." There was a clanging as someone brought supplies on board. James swiveled his head to get a better look and spotted Vale, the ship's navigator, and Tessa, the ship's master rigger. Then again they were pirates. There should be no shame in it. Tessa's mouth was even worse than his own. Why the two were stowing supplies he wasn't sure considering both of their duties lie on the ship's deck. Meg would want them up there. That is... unless she was already failing at being a pirate captain. He gave a small arrogant smirk which was wiped away in surprise when Vale came bounding up to him with Tessa's hat in her hand. Inside the hat was a small bird.
He rose to his knees and moved towards the bars. He stuck his hand through and reached to touch the top of the bird's head lightly. It was soft and so very small. "It looks sick..." he said softly. He raised his eyes to Vale's and said, "Does Meg know you've brought aboard a bird?" He looked back down at the winged creature and whispered, "Even still. Best you bring it to Sunni. See if she can patch the thing up." He knew their ship's surgeon was more of a people person, it was possible she'd know what was wrong with the bird.
He heard the clicking of heels coming down the stairs and he looked over in confusion. As far as he knew, no one on board wore the types of heals that would make such a racket. Except maybe Vera, but it was uncommon. When he saw the redhead of Hellfire striding towards him, decked out in finery... he laughed. "Why Meghan Cunningham! You look like a wolf in sheep's clothing!" He guffawed. "My word what an outfit!"
Meg stood on the other side of the bars of James cell, watching him laugh with an unamused expression on her face. She had come down here to give the news about the map and to inform the former captain that... if he wanted he could be captain again he just... had to take a chance for once. His luck would see them through, she knew it, but now...
"Tessa." She said sternly, command hardening her tone. "Valentina." She didn't look at them, but when she felt their attention turn to her, she continued. "To the deck." With a seething glare at James, she added, Now. Before Vale passed she stopped her and said, "Wait here," She pulled the map from her garter and handed it to her navigator.
When they were gone, she stepped towards the bars... and in one quick movement, she had James by his shirt and pulled him towards her. His face nearly met the metal and he cussed quietly. "You will not make fun of me in front of my crew again, is that understood?" She said, her words laced with anger. "Is that understood?" James just nodded, shocked at Meg's sudden mood change.
"Good." She released him. "I came to tell you that we had the map and that your position was free to be taken back, but I think I'll keep it instead." She smirked at him, her eyes burning like the hair on her head.
James glared back at her. "You won't make it a week without me. You're a quartermaster, Meghan. Not a captain. This is my ship. My crew. And I'll be damned to Davy Jones's locker if I just hand it over to the likes of you."
A sadness spread through her core, dousing the burning fires of her anger. "You were my friend you know. I didn't want this to happen... you left me no choice you were--"
"In the way? Yes. I suppose I was."
"This treasure is my birthright, James. My parents--"
"Died looking for it. Yes, so I've heard. But are you really willing to sacrifice their lives for your... suicide attempt?"
"I gave everyone a choice. No one is doing this blindly, James." She turned from his cell. "I'll have Vera bring you a meal." And with that she flounced back up the stairs. Tears prickled in her eyes. She was so frustrated with him. She blinked them away, took a deep breath, and went below decks once more to find her favorite surgeon.
"Sunni!" She called right before entering the room. "There is good news and bad news! The good new is we got the map. The bad news is I had to wear this--" She looked up as she entered and saw her helmsman and her surgeon sitting close. Philip was drunk which was just fantastic. She crossed her arms, her frustration easily racing back to her. "Am I interrupting something?"