Pirate's Bounty( Started)ADULT/CC (need Michael and Kyle)

[isabelle]

*Maria*

I start to relax just a little as Liz starts tending to my hair. It's a sensation I've rarely known but always enjoy. I don't relax completely, 'though. We're still in a pirate town on a pirate island with little idea of what's to come next. But it's nice to enjoy Liz's hands in my hair.

At least, it was until Christina approaches. Her words cause me to become angry and I want to leap up and defend Liz, but I know it's not my place. As Christina has reminded me, I am only a maid. It is not my place to speak for my lady although I know she is more highly born than Christina ...

“A real lady…?” Liz says. Her tone is polite, but cutting. Nothing like the deference Christina was demanding. “Christina, in case you had not noticed, it does not matter here whether one is the daughter of a Duchess, simply a normal lady, a maid or anything else… The fact is that we all have to live here, together, and if you persist in bringing up social standing, which is both pointless and tiring, the days are going to be very long. Your days of having servants and maids are over…now is the time when you have to learn to cope alone!”

Liz's answer emboldens me. I tell her sweetly. "The Captain has promised us only one month of lodging here and your former station will secure you no bread. Have you any means by which to earn your keep in this land? You may need to become a maid, yourself. Unless you have other skills that a pirate might be interested in paying for?" I ask, raising an eyebrow as I look at her body, hoping my implication is clear although I chose not to speak the words. I know Captain Max has told us many pirates have families here, but it seems there might well be others who may be missing female company, and Christina does have a fair figure.

I believe she understands me as I see the color rise in her face. Anger or embarrassement, I know not which, but I continue my comments quickly before she can speak. "If not, then I imagine you must find a husband among the pirates in short order -- although perhaps that is the same thing, is it not?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*Max*

"Valenti, eh?" I keep my face carefully neutral as I concider that. I know that name, well. For a moment, I have a concern that keeping Kyle will cause me to have the law on me for kidnapping, but then, when has the law not been after me? And if it comes to that, I'm far more likely to be pursued because of the ladies like Christina, Liz or even Isabel. The facts that Isabel is my sister, or that all the ladies are here by choice, will likely change little.

Still, it's clear that there's no point in offering to return him to England, given his story. "It seems that we have quite a number of people here escaping arranged marriages and arranged lives," I say, shaking my head. It's not an uncommon reason to take to the sea or to become a pirate and it is, afterall, the same reason that I'm here.

Michael's Demons has finally docked. I see Alex with the ladies, about to deboard. Isabel is very near him and I can see her scanning the surroundings. I imagine that she's evaluating the future she's now sharing with me and Michael. Michael is on the other end of the vessel, surveying his crew and directing them to unload his own cargo. I need to speak to all three of them, but I know they'll soon be down to talk to me so there's no need to offer any signal, but I do give Isabel a smile and a nod.

Then I turn my attention back to Kyle. I do believe that he didn't know he'd signed up with slavers. Liz and Maria have both told me how surprised he was when he'd first been sent down to the hold with food. "So how do you feel about becoming an outlaw, then?"

[magikhands]

~Kyle~

"So how do you feel about becoming an outlaw, then?" Max askes me.

This question surprises me. I hadn't expected him to ask me to join in with them. Yes, I've grown up on board a ship and can do any job that they require of me but...a pirate? My father would explode right now if he knew what I was contemplating. But then, my father never did care about my wants or desires. He wanted a son to be just like him, to follow in his footsteps.

A smile grew on my lips as I nodded. I thought about how being a pirate would get back at all the things my father has tried to turn me into. Don't get me wrong. I'll never be the type to force myself upon women or kill out of cold blood, no, I've seen how Max is. He's a pirate yet still has control over himself. He has bounderies for himself and his men. He was raised as a gentlemen from what I heard from Isabel.

"If you are asking if I'd like to join your pirate crew, I'd be honored." I bow before him in respect.

[magikhands]

Michael

Finally, the ship is at port and my men have their orders as Isabel is ushering the women off my ship. I sigh in relief at having my baby all to myself again. I look around at all the activity and think how nice it would be to sit and have a cup of ale. To relax in some quiet spot but I know that I need to talk with Max and I'm sure that Isabel is going to want to join us.

That's when the thought hits me. Max and I share a house on the island. I have a feeling that I'll be sleeping here on Michael's Demon for a while until all the women can get settled because Isabel will surely take my room. I will refuse to have her sleeping out on the floor.

I sigh. Once everything is unloaded and I speak with Max, maybe I can find my ale and come back here for the quiet that I'm longing for.

[isabelle]

*Max*

Kyle's response amuses me. He is definately showing more enthusiasm for the proposal than I expected. I'm sure he doesn't know how little choice he really had in the matter. It was either have him stay on the ship, or abandon him here in town where he'd have to find a new way to earn his keep.

Kyle has demonstrated that he's quite at home on a ship. He's been a good crewman, although I think he'd not have to do all the things we'd set for him on this tour.

"You're in," I tell him. "If the level of effort I've seen from you thus far is typical, and not merely because you were in fear for your life, then you will be a most welcome member of the crew," I promise. While my tone is positive, I keep just a hint of threat, hoping he understands I will stand no slackers. I'm sure he's seen that in the rest of my crew during the past two days we've sailed together.

"Now we need only to determine where you shall spend the night. The ladies will be occupying all available rooms at the Inn," I say. Looking up, I see that Michael is watching from above as the ladies come down the gangway with Alex and Isabel in the lead. "Let me first speak to my sister and to Michael and then we'll sort you."

[KatnotKath]

~Liz~

I can't keep myself from giving a small smile of amusement as I hear Maria’s response to Christina. I would have liked nothing more than to give her a reminder of the individual exact standings of myself and her, but I suppose this will have to do…

Seeing the look on her face is highly amusing, and part of me does wonder what she was expecting when she came here… Or perhaps she was not thinking at all…

Maria’s words hold a serious message of course. She is right that we cannot rely on Max’s kindness forever and finding some kind of way to support ourselves will be important. I have few skills that I can think of myself, but even though I am not accustomed to it perhaps, I am not afraid of hard work and I am willing to learn…

Christina’s face continues to flush as she looks at the two of us, apparently deciding not to satisfy Maria with an answer and choosing to try and deflect attention away from herself and back onto me. “Well I do not know about myself, but I am certain that Elizabeth here would fit in very well as a maid…add an apron and I am certain she would already look the part…”

I feel my cheeks grow warm and look down slightly. She is right of course, I do not exactly look the part of a lady at the moment… My dress has been mended of course, but my jewelry is gone, my hair hangs down over my back, and the shawl around my shoulders is hardly of fine quality.

I do not know how to respond in truth, how to defend myself in this case, but I do not want Christina to have the last word… I look up slightly, choosing my words carefully as I speak slowly and clearly. “I have always believed that it is not the way someone looks which makes a lady, but the way they act Christina…” In my mind, Maria is far more of a lady than Christina given how she had been behaving…

[isabelle]

*Maria*

I have to hide my mouth behind my hand for a moment as Liz continues to cut Christina down. She looks quite disdainful at us. "And do you think you are acting a lady, standing in the dust with the servants?" she says. Lifting her nose, she turns on her heels and returns to the other ladies in search of a more appreciative audience.

In truth, I wonder if we are mis-judging her. Surely, she has left a life of plenty to make her way with the pirates. There must be something in that life to make this life seem more desirable, but seeing how she clings to that status which will no longer be hers, I cannot imagine what it is. I think perhaps, she has chosen unwisely.

Glancing at Liz, I only hope that we have made a better choice. Knowing the cad to whom Liz's father had betrothed her, I do understand our presence here. I only hope we haven't under-estimated the trials ahead.

Liz has finished with my hair, tying it off and pining it up with my simple clasp. "Thank you, Lady Elizabeth," I tell her, as I gaze at my image in the mirror. After that exchange, I feel compelled to remember her place, 'though I know we are friends in truth. The wonders she has done with my hair are astonishing. "Surely, you have transformed me into a princess. Come, let me see if I can do justice to your dark locks."

As Liz sits, I start to let down her hair. "Whata is to become of us? How are we to make our own livelihoods here?" I ask, voicing my greatest fear.

[isabelle]

Posting for KatnotKath


~Liz~

As much as realise that there must be something in Chistina's past to make her want to stay here, to choose to continue rather than returning to her past life, I struggle to find sympathy for her considering the way she is acting. She really does herself no favours, and I am simply losing patience with her.


As she turns on her heel and walks over to rejoin the others, I have to admit that I feel a certain sense of relief that the encounter is over for now.

Turning my attention back to Maria, and her hair, for the moment, I refuse to let Christina's words get to me. I will not consider standing and status when it comes to Maria, because I have something far more important to consider. She is my friend. She always has been. From everything she has told me, the reason she was captured in the first place was down to me, her having followed when I left the house, and certainly her reason for staying I believe had a lot to do with my choice.

With slow, even strokes, I draw the comb through her hair, smoothing and calming its waves before fixing it back up carefully when I am done.

She seems more than pleased with the result, and I am pleased, although a frown does appear on my face as she insists on using my title and full name. The only time usually she would do that would be in front of my parents, and certainly after the things I just said to Christina, I certainly did not expect that!

"Maria please! I do not believe that titles are necessary between the two of us now any more than they have been in the past!" I tell her turning slightly as we swap positions.

Unfrotunately, my own hair was tied back with a large number of pins at the time of my capture. Most were lost early on in our unpleasant experience, the slavers finding it amusing at times to watch as section by section my hair fell over my shoulders. They said it made me look more suited to the auction block and the ˜work." I would likely have after my sale! I managed to salvage a small number, but they do little more than hold some hair out of my face, and I know this is one of the reasons for Christina's words. Regretfully there is little I can do about it though, unless I can obtain by some means a clasp of some sort, and for now I will simply have to be content with my hair looking neat as it falls over my shoulders.

As I sit down, Maria begins to remove the last of these pins, and a section of hair falls into my face. I reach up to push it back with my fingers, mixing it in with the rest, and then sit back as such to allow Maria to work.

Her fingers are nimble and quick, far more skilled at this than mine. As the comb runs through my hair, I close my eyes for a moment, allowing myself to forget everything around and just drift.

Maria's next words bring me back with a bump though, and in truth I have to admit I do not know. I shake my head slightly. I know that Maria is fearful, and I cannot in truth say that I have little to comfort her with in this case, but surely if the Captain saw fit to suggest bringing us here there must be some way to provide ourselves with support? Given that he is a gentleman, and that he was most definite in forbidding any approaches by his men to the women while on board, I cannot imaging he had anything underhand or indecent in mind. "I do not know Maria. I am unaware of the exact details of the situation here, but perhaps it is not such a ridiculous suggestion that you made to Christina regarding work as a maid." Certainly it is far from being an impossibility I would think; wages might not be given in money for the most part, but bed and board.

I fiddle with the mirror she entrusted to me as we swapped places, and look up slightly, trying to keep a smile on my face for her sake. "Try not to worry though Maria. I am sure that something will be worked out to satisfy the great majority of people, and if it comes to it, I cannot speak for the other ladies, but despite the fact I might not be used to it, I am not afraid of hard work myself. I might need a little teaching, but I will learn." I assure her softly.

[StormWolfstone]

OOC: I was hoping for a Tess post... but since that hasn't happened yet, I'll go ahead and get things moving more with my post

~Isabel~


As Alex agrees and escorts us below, I'm pleased to know that we are docking. When we get to where the other ladies are I announce, "My Ladies, just to inform you, we are in the process of docking and will be disembarking shortly, so please gather yourselves together and anything that you might have of your own."

"Isabel, what can we expect from this place?" One of the ladies, formerly a Baroness, but now as common as myself, asks me.

"To be honest, Eugenia, I do not completely know, however since you are all aware, my brother is a very honorable man even though he is a Pirate. We will be safe and well. In time, we will learn exactly what might be needed, however I do believe everyone here will need to get used to working. We won't be having any sort of free ride while living here." I say, knowing that as much as many of them are used to comforts, they need to be aware of just how much things are changing.

With time, more questions were fired toward me and I answered them to the best of my ability before the ladies followed myself, Tess and Alex to the deck and then I began instructing the ladies in disembarking, seeing to it that they followed Alex and I down the plank, "M'lord Alex, would you be so kind as to see us off as well?" I ask with a smile even as I see my brother smile and give a nod. "I'm certain you need to speak with Max as I do." I add even as I'm smiling back at Max.

Glancing over at Tess, I give her a smile that is simply secretive, a woman's secret. It's a look that says I know the effect my speech and looks effect the man who's arms we are hanging on.

As we continue down, we walk toward where Max is standing with Kyle and as soon as we reach them, I release Alex's arm with a smile, "My thanks, Alex." Then, I close the distance between Max and myself, giving my brother a hug before stepping back. "What is currently the situation, Max?" I ask even as I glance at Kyle, "Hello Kyle."

[magikhands]

~Kyle~

I sigh a breath of relief knowing that Max will accept me into his crew. That in itself is a load off my shoulders. Now, if I can just convince the others on the crew that I'm not a slaver.

"Let me first speak to my sister and to Michael and then we'll sort you." Max says looking over while Isabel and a young man come closer to us.

"Yes sir." I say and take a step back to lean on the small building that was behind me.

"What is currently the situation, Max?" Isabel asks before turning to me. "Hello Kyle."

"M'lady." I say giving a bow of my head. Looking back up I see a glimpse of blonde behind her and I realize that Tess had joined Isabel and this other man, I think I recall Max calling him Alex.

I stand up from the wall and move over a bit so that I could see clearly who it was.

"Tess." I say softly gaining her attention as Max spoke with Isabel. "It is a pleasure to see you again. I hope your travels were well." I manage to choke out. She was beautiful. Her hair was styled and she had a radiance that shone from her.

[magikhands]

Michael


I watch Alex escort Isabel off the ship with Tess following behind. I can see where Max is standing with the man Isabel made us save from the slave ship. He didn't look like a Slaver but then again, Max doesn't look like a pirate. I've found that looks can be very decieving at times.

I sigh and look around my nearly deserted ship. I know that Max is waiting on me. We've got all these extra women with us now and I'm sure he's going to want my imput about it. I roll my eyes knowing that he's not going to like my opinion on what to do with them all.

"Make sure all the boxes are unloaded Lucky." I call behind me as I disembark the ship and head in Max's direction.