Robyn Sheva: The Crimson Lady's Story

The night in Nassau is as it always was, warm, but now a welcoming warm, it was like standing near a funeral pyre, there was nothing welcoming about it. Pirates came and went, merchants selling their wares, trading with said pirates, bars and taverns ringing with the sounds of breaking glass, music, chattering and cheering, brothels alive with the sounds of moans and screams of pleasure and some times pain.

On this dark kingless island, a woman walked, her dark eyes focusing on nothing, yet seeing nearly everything. A dark skinned beauty, hair flowing down in unbound tresses, her curvy body hugged in a boiled leather corset, long skirts twisting around her long legs as she walked, a pilfered belt with a large golden clasp hung around her waist, with a cutlass in much need of a wet stone in it's sheath on her right and a dagger on her left, a cotton men's shirt, left slightly unbuttoned, teasing the bounty beneath.

This night was not unlike night she earned her name, not known to all, but one day, one day soon would be feared by all, as here, walked the Crimson Lady, Robyn Sheva.

She rounded the corner, entering the tavern/brothel, where men looked at her oddly. Women pirates, while not uncommon, were still quite a sight. A fact she knew, but the fact is, she wasn't a pirate, not yet. No, instead, she was thief, having stolen the belt from a pirate with limited control of his hands. He thought himself a taste of her, and only found the taste of his own blood as it bubbled up his throat, shortly after she plunged her favored dagger into his gut.

She took a seat at the bar, and ordered a tall glass over rum, paying very close to the eyes that were on her. No blood was to be spilled here, not in Madame Aja Rai's establishment, not unless a man wanted to go un-fucked for the evening, which was good for Robyn, it was unlikely that someone would try something foolish.

"Quite the cutlass you have there, Lass." said a pirate well into his cup.

"If you do not want to see it in use, then I suggest you move along." said the woman, as her cup set in front of her. The pirate laughed. "Oh listen to you, such a brave girl," he said, brushing hair from in front of her ear. Robyn smacked his hand away, causing his crew to all stand up. The pirate waved them down.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Wrong question."

"What?"

"That's not the question you should be asking me, you should be asking, if I care enough to know, and the answer to that, is no."
Robyn took a sip of her mug, only to have it knocked from her hand, the contents spilling on to the floor.

"You've got quite the balls for a woman." He said, anger now at Robyn's nonchalance. Robyn turned to him, her face a mask of boredom and amusement.

"I could say the same to you." she said, her voice as calm as ever.

He snarled, slapped her across the face, and grabbed her throat, shoving her against the bar top.

"You want to know how big I am, I'll show you." He said, kicking the bar stool, and straddling her thighs.

"Well then, I certainly hope you fuck harder then you strike." She said, a crooked smile upturned her lips. He began to squeeze and with that, Robyn rose her leg, jarring his manhood upward. He groaned and let go, only to have Robyn slam her knee into his face as he doubled over. He popped up before hitting the ground backwards unconscious.

His crew stood up then, seven men, maybe more and Robyn sighed. She didn't really know how to use the cutlass she stole, so she didn't bother with it now, especially since no blood was allowed to be shed here. "Fucking hell." She said, her hand going to her dagger.

It was nearly freed from it's sheath with a booming voice shouted, ending all the noise in the tavern, even some of the sounds of sex going on in the upper rooms.

"That's enough of that!"

Robyn didn't take her eyes off of her soon to be attackers, but they turned from her.

"Leave the lass alone," said the voice, soon revealing himself to her as he passed through the crowd of men. A tall man with a small monkey on his shoulder walked up, his heavy foot falls echoing in the now silent room, long stringy grey and brown hair, a large hat atop his shoulders, scars lining his weather beaten face, and apple in his hand. He stopped just a few feet from where she stood, biting in to his apple while the monkey screeched. Robyn reached for her dagger.

"Peace, Lass, I'm not gonna hurt ya," He said, waving her down with both hands as the juice from the freshly bitten apple ran down his face, and on to his beard. " See I'm unarmed." he said, turning his hands so that she could see there was nothing but the apple. Robyn's eyes merely narrowed.

"I'm Captain Jack Jayne of the Harbinger, who might you be, Lass?" He asked her.

"A memory." She said and moved to the door, only to find herself blocked.

"A Memory... hmm, I think I would remember you..." He said with a gap-tooth smile.

Robyn turned up her nose. "Look, I like you, Lass, so why don't I but you a drink? As...payment for this sorry sap's actions?" He said gesturing to the unconscious man on the floor.

"What's your angle?"

The old pirate laughed, his monkey jumped up and down, howling as if it too were laughing. "Well, I suppose a romp the sack upstairs is out of the question."

Robyn titled her head, incredulously. He laughed again. "No angle, I just like a woman who can hold her own, come, join us, drinks on me." He said and Robyn took a deep breath. She didn't know what she was getting into but she was starving, all she could afford was a drink, when actually she needed a meal.

"Throw in a meal, and we'll talk." She said, and the old pirate laughed as the tavern resumed it's noise.

"What's yer name, lass?"

"Robyn, Robyn Sheva," She said, and let her dagger slid in to it's sheath, making sure it was loud enough that he knew it was there, she walked up to him and then passed him, looking for a seat. She found the one he'd been sitting in and she eyed the one beside it.

"Robin...like the bird?" he asked, standing next to her, and offered the seat, much to the confusion of his crew.

"No, not like the bird."
Robyn smirked, patted his chest, before she walked by him and taking the seat offered.
"Robyn as in, 'Robyn you blind.'" She
She crossed her legs, and twirled two gold coins between her fingers. The crew gasped, while Captain Jayne looked impressed, he laughed.
"Oh I like you."

"You! Fetch me another two carrots, and a chicken breast. This is my last meal for the night so make sure it's damn fine meat you're bringing or don't bother brining it at all!"
Fae was using her trusty knife to pint in the direction she was throwing out orders. The kitchen was as busy as always, everyone were bumping into one another, hot water spilling, and sweat running. Just the way she liked it.
She was busy chopping potatoes with uncanny speed as the fetch boy returned with the food. She looked it over, her moss green eyes narrowing as she looked at the boy.
"That's damn good meat."
The little boy beamed as she handed him a cracker from her hand sewn pocket on her dress. She may not tolorate any bullshit in her kitchen, but she makes damn sure to reward those who does right.

The chicken was in the oven, the carrots and potatoes were boiling as she stood up straight and wiped her forehead with a towel, always at the ready on her shoulder. As she wiped her red locks from her face, she observed her arms.
The pale skin was decorated with cuts and burns. Today she had added another two, named 'shit' and 'fucking fuck'.
She sighed as she sheathed her knife on her hip and turned her attention back to the boiling water.

She placed the meat on the plate. It was of course perfectly juicy and she sprinkled a tiny amount of garlic on top for flavour. The potatoes and carrots she placed around it to make sure it stayed nice and hot. With her head held high, she gently lifted the plate and made her way out of the kitchen and into the crowd. Left, right, anyway she needed to sway she effortlessly did in order to avoid collision.
She reached the table that had ordered the meal and she eyed the residents. A man with a big feathery hat on top of his head sat on one end. A dark skinned female with a dangerous looking eyes on the other.
Fae smirked as she placed the plate in front of the lady.
"Here ya go love. Chicken with a taste of garlic and nice hot potatoes and carrots." She said with a hint of pride. "Enjoy."

She bowed her head slightly before she spun her heels and made her way back to the kitchen, releasing her fiery hair on the way.

Jaya brushed back a loose strand of hair that obscured a bit of his vision on the right side as he tried to drink in the sights of this pirate town. These Western pirates definitely lacked the class and cleanliness of the Southeastern pirates, walls were filled with holes from gun fire as well of scorches from flames over the ages. The air had a very interesting smell that most would get nauseous over. It smelled of saltwater and wood but the smell of men that have never bathed as well as blood mixed with these things among others. All of this was a little disappointing to the prince, he was expecting more. But this would do as he earned his own ship and his reputation. He was meant for great things and he knew it, this place will be the catalyst for the legend of Jaya. Until that would happen he would need to work. What better place to find work than the local Tavern?

Jaya stepped off the docks as he looked back one more time to look at the ship he arrived in. It was a transport ship, for supplies and anyone that could pay their way. He could turn around now and go home and live happily in the royal house of Perang. He could just inherit the title of Pirate King from his father like most would. But that was the easy way to do it, Jaya didn't like easy things.

Walking through the town Jaya could hear loud laughter, music and chatter. He knew that it was coming from the Tavern, at least that was one similarity to home. Jaya located a stool at the bar and took a seat. He looked at the bartender and asked for a water. The bartender chuckled,"You're not from around 'ere, ey? Most drink strong poison in dis Tavern!" Jaya just stared at him with a thousand-yard glare, emotionless. The bartender only lasted a few seconds and went to fetch the water. Jaya cracked a little smirk and started to observe the Tavern. This bunch was a group that was a bit on the hard side, there was quite a bit of swearing, there was also countless drunkards. Jaya hoped that it wouldn't become a problem, at least not today.

The Bartender retrieved the pint of water and sat it down in front of Jaya,"Anything else, mate?" Jaya sniffed the air and noticed the smell of chicken, which made his stomach growl a bit, he knew what else to get. Jaya replied,"Yes, get me a plate of chicken." Jaya reached into his coin purse hanging off his belt with his left hand, pulled out a gold coin and set it on the bar. The Bartender nodded, took the coin, turned and yelled towards the kitchen,"Get me sum chicken 'ere!"

Jaya went back to observing the Tavern and started to plan out what he needed to do to become the Pirate King back home.

Meanwhile, in the more or less shady part of the docks, a pale figure was squatting over at the pier, maintaining a silent vigil with his harpoon aimed at the murky water. He saw the reflection of his macabre face dancing in the water, a face he'd come to recognize as his own in time. He couldn't rightly recall what his faced once might've looked like. He took guesses, but hadn't seen many southeast-asian folk around here, especially not people with the same affliction as him. He still saw relatively abnormal people here and there. A gypsy with a hidden third eye here, a limp person resembling a clownfish more than a person there. He'd think his condition was more common.

So it was, that Irukandji, as he had started calling himself, was in an alternate life-state. Some old sea dogs tell tales of these so-called "Drowns", people who had drowned and continued living. The drown-curse lifts them back up, transformed into pale and slender husks of themselves. They spend their entire lives longing for the sea, but never quite reaching it. They stare at the waters hours at a time, only obsessively thinking about the depths they once drowned in. The Drowns know secrets kept hidden from the surface, but struggle to understand them, only seeing a glimpse of the big picture, forever wondering what is down there.

Irukandji snapped out of his thoughts, and struck his harpoon at his reflection. He pulled it up, and snatched the small fish lodged in the tip. He examined the scales and the eyes of the fish, whipped out his ice-pick and carved the eyes right off. He ate the eyes and put the fish into one of his pouches. He figured it was high time to get back to the Tavern with this week's shipment. He stood up and walked towards the Tavern.

The atmosphere inside was as chaotic as usual. The sight of this pale figure invoked the usual dread in a few select sailors, confusion and awe in a few others. Upon seeing him enter, the bartender stepped away from the counter for a while and met him in the dark corner siding the counter. Business as usual. He pressed himself against the bartender and hugged him, while slipping a murky green vial to his pocket with discretion.

"The usual, yes?", he said.

"Er, yes, take a seat and wait, will ya? I'll have the payment brought in a moment."

"Very well, fetch me a rum while you're at it.", he remarked as he sat down beside the west end of the counter. The bartender quickly passed him the rum and got back to his usual routines. The population in the Tavern was hardly sporting. There's the usual barfights, whores and manwhores alike mingling with one another, salty sea dogs getting their last bit of snatch before their voyage . . .

He couldn't remember the last time he had one, usually he picked the specific ones really into weird stuff. Not that there was anything weird about his manhood, it's as potent as ever. It's just that mixing and delivering shipments takes so much time these days. . .

He continued to spectate the tavern folk as he took swigs of his rum bottle and scratched the small yet itchy barnacle cluster on his back.

Aja stood on the balcony that over looked the tarven, the brothel portion of the building. She was dressed in a tight corset, her bare bust peeking over the top, a long skirt, showing off her brown legs. She watched as the woman, calling herself Robyn was given a plate by the Cook, Fae.

Aja had taken a special liking to the cook, she wasn't Fae like Aja, but her name was, not only that she was a spectacular cook. She was very particular about the people she had working in her building.

Aja looked back at the dark skinned woman, while she ate with the Captain. Captain rarely took woman in, he had not a single one on his crew yet she saw in a vision sometime ago that he would and it would be this girl. Aja always found it fun to watch her visions -the good ones- come to pass. This woman would one day but the most fearsome Pirate Captian's the world would ever see, but right now, she looked like every other woman in this place. Malnourished, ansty, and weak.

Aja wanted to watch this all play out.

For now, she had work to do, or she would, shortly. She moved down the staircase, and made her way to where an olive skinned boy with long dark dreadlocks was ready and raring to take down a pirate after yet another fight was about to break out. This would end differently from the last one.

She walked up to him, though it would appear to him and anyone looking that she just appeared.

"Oh no, Mon'chere, You are much to lovely to frown like this..." she cooed, touching the boy's arm softly. She waved the pirate off, the simple wave was enough to keep the pirate captain at bay, at least while he was in her establishment. Everyone knew not to anger the lovely Aja Rai.

"Why don't you get something to eat, on me." she said, but the way she spoke, it could have been taken two different ways.

Despite the fact that the city was the one constant in Xerxes' life since his exile, the prince never felt at home in this place. As a boy, the culture-shock had all but silenced him as Sir Pheles helped him pick up the remaining pieces of his life. After all these years, the feeling of being a stranger in a foreign land never quite went away. It lay beneath the surface, a small prickle reminding him that he did not belong, no matter how much he pretended to.

He entered a tavern, ignoring the laughter of drunken pirates and purchased whores. He surveyed the scene, keenly aware of the the small piece of parchment in his pocket.

"This map is a decade's work, Prince Xerxes. If you leverage it right, you will be one step closer to regaining your birthright."

"What about you?"

"I will be along, but for now, my face is too well-known. Too many eyes would be drawn towards us if it was me searching for a crew. I will be along once you have your own boat."

Xerxes frowned slightly. There were too many unknowns. He had a general idea of the more well-known captains, but how would he be able to secure his rightful share of the treasure? At last, his eyes rested on a lovely dark woman he knew only by reputation and he smiled somewhat. If he had the gold and was interesting enough, according to Sir Pheles, Madame Aja Rai could provide him with answers. He stepped towards the stairway leading to her balcony, only to pause as a commotion at the bar caught his eye.

"I'll fucking kill you Dáire!"

He did not like the look in one of the combatants. It was one mixed with hatred and lust. He had seen such looks before on pirate crews he preferred not to remember. He reached for his pistol's holster and within as second, held it at the back of the pirate's head.

"Now, there is no need for violence. I was just on my way to see someone and I would hate for a...disturbance," Xerxes noted politely. Silence greeted his words. He already had a reasonable amount of respect as the protoge of "Sir" Pheles, the Knight of the Sea. It was a gamble whether his threat and reputation would dispel this unpleasant situation. Xerxes inwardly sighed. He had to start minding his own business.

"Where'd they...ugh?" Poor Ethon Jordanye groaned as he half dragged himself around Nassau, looking for his Captian and the rest of his crew.

He'd overslept...again. It wasn't his fault, the Captain ran him ragged, and that was when he wasn't drunk off his head.

Last night, Ethon had to apologize to a couple of women the Captain mistook for whore, He got a nice slap for his troubles, run away from a few debt collectors and a particularly masculine lady barkeep.

It was a good thing he had magic, otherwise, he'd have been a lot worse off.



He finally made his way to Madame Aja's tavern and brothel and huffed. He should have figured this is where'd they'd be. Between the Captian and Frank, this really ought of have been the first place he'd looked.

He walked in, ducking a few people as he entered. He noticed a strange assortment of people, which was common in Madame Aja's tavern, this was a haven of sorts, no blood was to be shed, so it was relatively safe...for as safe as a tavern full of drunken pirates could be.

It wasn't hard to find his Captain, leaning over the bar, probably annoying the hell out of the lovely red haired cook. Ethon was on his way over when he stopped Madame Aja whose eyes were already on him.

"There you are, Warlock..." she told him in his mind, making Ethon shiver inwardly. Everyone knew Madame Aja wasn't human, but Ethon knew intimately. She knew what he was on sight, which he couldn't be too surprise since it was said that the Jordanye's magic came from a union between a Fae and their ancestors. Of course that was an old Jordanye legend, no one knew that the Jordanye's were of magic, just as they wanted. So when Madame Aja spoke to him in his mind, it scared him in a way he'd never felt before, and he thought was going to die once.

He gave the madame and nervous nod as he approached. He had to pull his eyes away from her, which was hard with how she was dressed. Fae or not, she was beautiful and her dressed teased his imagination, and what made it worse was that she knew it.
The madame then turned her enchanting gaze from him to the red haired cook, "Thank you, Mon'chere" she said and pressed a soft kiss to the woman's lips before she sat down, gesturing to the man with the dreadlocks.

Ethon cleared his throat turning away for a moment, he noticed a dark skinned woman, sitting with BlackJack Janye. He turned back and looked at the red haired cook. "I apologize for whatever my captain has said, or will say in the coming future, Ma'am" he said with a quick nervous boyish grin. As lovely as the Madame was, there was something about the red haired woman, he found just as beautiful. He looked at the Captain. "You haven't actually said or did anything did you? I really don't want to get slapped on your behalf...again"

---

Dáire felt so ready to pummel this guy, this scum. He wondered why he hadn't done so when he had the chance, why he didn't just slit his throat while he slept. Well, Dáire wasn't that kind of guy, he didn't like the though of killing another, not unless times got desperate. No he usually went to his book of spells and other information such as myths, legends, hidden places, curses, and more wonders. It was quite thick, and heavy but Dáire had been carrying it around most of his life since he sold everything he owned and became a Gypsy. Some pages are filled with ancient text that he cannot decipher, a language he is unfamiliar with that he is dying to understand. The book was wrapped in cheap leather; looked quite rugged and a bit damaged but it was strong, this was bound with strong, thin rope which he had managed to fiddle with so that it was attached to one of his belts and hung off the side of his thigh. Dáire would usually look through this book when he had a troublesome enemy like the Captain, and would pick a curse he though was best for them and simply lay it upon them. That way he didn't need to kill them and they could live a miserable life. It may sound selfish or cruel but it was how Dáire had lived this long.

"Why you-" Just as the pirate got up and was about to lash out at Dáire, a woman that all knew, stopped the fight instantly. It took her no fists or weapons or even a threat. Just soothing, calm words and the wave of her hand and perhaps the unfamiliar male he held a pistol to the Captain's head had a little something to do with it too. Who wouldn't back off? None the less the asshole of a pirate looked as if he was hypnotised or something, it was so odd, even he himself suddenly felt calm just from her touch, and usually Dáire hated it when people touched him without asking. This time was different.

He had heard of her and seen her a few times, knew her name, it wasn't rare to find someone at least bring her name up once in a conversation, but he had never conversed with her. All he knew was that she was in charge. He felt relaxed as his gaze moved to her, but at the same time he had a confused look on his face. She mentioned food and his stomach instantly growled impatiently. Dáire placed his left hand on hi stomach and felt a tad embarrassed about his loud stomach. "Food... Yes that would be nice." He finally replied as he rubbed the back of his head; the corner of his mouth raised ever so slightly to form a faint smile. He wasn't much of a people person when he wasn't being fake and trying to swindle money off people. When he was being himself he was a bit awkward.

The Gypsy's eyes shifted to the man who wielded the pistol, a very attractive man in his opinion. "Thanks." Even if the guy didn't do it to be nice and did it for other reasons, it certainly helped Dáire's situation, that was reason enough to thank someone in his opinion. Dáire felt a tad curious as to who he was on his way to speak with, but it was none of his business and he didn't much feel like being nosy

Dáire had been so caught up in the moment, he had completed missed the new faces that had entered the establishment. When the hell did they get here? He didn't realise how much he really blacked out and blocked out everyone when he was furious. There was even some guy at the bar counter ordering food casually, right near Dáire, and he hadn't even noticed him; oh wait make that two men, gosh he was terrible tonight, way off, not as cautious as usual. Or better yet the strange looking guy doing business with the bartender. Now that was odd, he wish he knew what in the world they were exchanging. An employee was also close by he hadn't seen when he first walked in was cleaning the tables, seeming to be keeping a close eye on them. At first Dáire wasn't sure why, almost forgetting about the little spat that broke out earlier before realising.

Okay, his mind had caught up with all the new faces, none of them were enemies as far as he could remember, so he now he can relax just a little. He followed Madame Aja to a table and seated himself. He couldn't remember the last time he had something actually good to eat as the plates of food were brought around to them by the beautiful, redhead, cook. The food presented before them looked breathtakingly delicious in Dáire's opinion. His face lit up just at the sight of the food "Thank y-" But the cook was really busy and just as he was about to thank her, she was gone after a kiss from Aja, "you." He finished his sentence feeling a little daft and felt like shrinking down to the size of a mouse for a moment then. "Calm down Dáire just be yourself. Wait no don't do that, shit." He thought to himself, attempting to make himself feel more comfortable which failed. His eyes trailed off for a moment as he noticed another unfamiliar face speak to the female cook, he had no idea what they were talking about, couldn't hear over the mash up of loud voices that filled the Tavern.

"When you asked me to eat did you mean literally eat food that was on you or- because I don't think I could afford this food if that were the case." Of course the images in his mind were far more dirtier than how casually he made the sentence out to be. A small grin formed on his face as he looked Madame Aja in the eye and began eating the food with much delight.