“Trust me, my mother turned me off of pirate women pretty indefinitely. That’s not to say plenty haven’t tried, there’s a great many on this ship who always shoot me a sideways glance and a smile.” Life aboard a ship like this, was fleeting and temporary. Never staying one place for long, constantly moving. Relationships between crew members were the same way, and Vincent wasn’t interested in something transitory. He wanted the permanence of a lasting companion, someone he could collapse with at the end of a day. Someone who would still be there in the morning. His father had been a fling for his mother, one of many; a parade of men, in and out of his life. That’s how she lived, and she loved it. For as much as he had followed her footsteps, that wasn’t going to be one of them.

But then, Allison asked about leaving. He found himself strangely put off, almost insulted, and he didn’t quite understand why. He had never imagined that he could find a connection with someone from such a different life, but he had found that connection. He found himself empathizing with the poor girl, regretting he ever took her in the first place. And at the same time, she [i]envied[/i] him. She was [i]jealous[/i], and had said so herself… in more or less words. The meaning of it was clear as if she had shouted it. He nodded, slowly, and stood.

“Your things have been taken to the cell you’re intended to stay in. If you’d like, I can take you there now.” He averted her gaze, just as she had his, not wanting to look at her. He did not want her to leave, did not want her to have to stay the night in the dingy cell. He wanted to ask her to stay, but that would be overstepping. She’d probably be insulted or disgusted, misunderstand his intention. “I’m glad we had the chance to talk, your grace. Thank you for indulging me.”

He stepped towards the door; instantly the sensors in the room picked up his movement and the click of the door softly unlocking filled the air. He put his hands in his pockets, waiting for Allison to move.