Alice's eyes grew wide as he touched her on her upper leg, dropping a piece of meat into his mouth. She'd only just noticed it, and now it was gone with a fleet movement of his hand. The brief touch, even through material, sent shivers down her spine. She missed his first couple of words, struggling with what was happening to her. You weren't meant to feel like this about pirates. They were her father's worst enemy, and he considered them to be the scum of the earth. "My father is a hard man. Especially in matters of business. I think he is waiting to make better connections than in the military," she admitted. "Rather I be happy for a little longer and he benefits a little more, I suppose. Not many noble men come so far across the sea in any case." For the first time, doubt started to creep into her mind. She wasn't up to date on her father's business, but she'd heard about the bans on pirates. Supposedly it helped the island by making some goods more expensive. Something like that. In any case, her father would benefit more from marrying her to a trading nobleman than a military man. But did he really care more about her, than his business?

Having finished her stew, she set it down. She took his hand and headed outside, warmth seeming to spread from their touching palms all the way up her arm, seeping into her chest. When she tripped at the top of the stairs, she had to grab onto his arm with her other hand for a moment. The rum was starting to go to her head, and she smiled idly as she sat down on the barrel. What a strange seat! Sighing softly, she watched the merry sight before her. This wasn't quite how she'd expected pirates to behave. Somehow, she'd expected more violence and... well. Evilness. But they were people, just different from those at her father's parties due to class. How... interesting. At his question, she looked at Vic, a lock of hair falling across her eye.

"Why are you a pirate?" she asked. "You couldn't have always been one. Unless you were born into it, of course."

He chuckled at her question. "Well, let's see. I was born in London. My family was rather poor, and my father died when I was a wee thing, leaving my mother with three sons. She, uh, turned to the streets as a means of income. She had no education. I was left to take care of my brothers on my own. I hated it. Always taking care of others. I would often steal on the rare times I was able to go out on my own. Watches, silver, jewelry. I'd sell it and bring the money back home."

He adjusted his position to face her better. He loved to tell stories and speak to people. "I got one good grab that allowed my mother to stop working. Within that month, a ship had docked on the port near me. Pirates. Some of the scariest lads you'd ever see. I was immediately enamoured by the life, and left home to join them. That was about a decade ago. I moved from ship to shop, mostly after one sunk, or enough crew members decided to break up the brotherhood. I joined the Blackstar, and I quickly became the Captain's right hand. Three years ago, he died in an attack. I inherited the title." He smiled as his eyes scanned over his ship, his crew. "It has been a hell of an adventure. They say a Captain's average lifespan is three years before being blown to bits by the military or killed by the hands of the enemy. I'm due at anytime. Quite exciting, I'd say," he said with a hearty laugh. He had stated that he hated always taking care of someone, which he did when he was younger. But having Alice here to watch over brought him a warm, familiar feeling.

His eyes returned to her, and he smiled faintly as titled his head to the side. "And how did the Miss Rohan, fairest lady of the Black Star, make her way to the port that we all cherish so very much?" He took the moment to take a swig of the bottle, wiping his face with his sleeve.

So. Vic was born in London too. Alice listened to his story, hands resting on the barrel either side of her. She'd become more free with the alcohol, relaxing in the cool air. It was a little chilly actually, and the hair on her arms was rising to goosebumps. She swung her legs a little. His life sounded out of a book. Full of adventure and strife and wildness... What a life it must have been. What a life it was. Tough, and it showed on him. But free. She sighed softly, nodding. So that was how one became a pirate Captain. She could almost feel jealous, if not for the luxuries at home. They had been bestowed upon her, far from how hard he'd had to work for this. Her mouth curled at his words. "Only lady," she murmured.

"I was born in London as well," she smiled. But that didn't mean the same as his story. "I grew up in a large home. My father was working up the ranks until he became a Governor. I was never very interested in being a lady. I think I gave my mother many a grey hair." She looked at him, loose shirt and tight breeches, bottle of rum in his hand. How strange it was, to think of what lead her here. "We were given the news that we were to move to Great Inagua. My mother- she wasn't the strongest of women. She was scared. And a month before we were to leave, she had an attack - something to do with her heart." Alice swallowed, glancing down. She'd been fourteen. It had been hard. "Then we left, my father and I together. Left everything, left the places where I remembered her. And came here. The rest of the story is rather boring." Her father - Governor Richard Rohan - had tolerated the pirates for a short while, while they settled in. Then, he drove out the 'bad' influence as more people from England arrived there. And eventually he banned any pirates from trading there.

"Anyway. I am not sure why you are treating me so kindly." She looked at him quizzically. "I would think that most pirates would tie me up safely in the brig. Having said that, I have not met many a pirate."

((I literally picked out a name of an island I remember from playing Assassin's Creed: Black Flag. Ahahahaha.))

He watched her expressions changed as she told her story. He wasn't surprised. The woman did not look like she had worked a day in her life, or never had the sun shine on her skin. "Well, my condolences. How rude, parents give birth to us knowing all to well that we shall have to watch them die someday." He offered her the bottle of rum that was nearing the bottom before continuing to speak.

Her last comment made him pause for a moment. "That is true. There are thousands of men scattered out on this ocean that would jump at the chance to bed you, lock you up, treat you in an uncivil manor. I have been on those ships. But," he cleared his throat before continuing, smiling as he watched the antics of his crew a few yards away from them, "when I became Captain of this ship, I decided to not follow in the ways of my predecessors. While it is kill or be killed out here, I don't believe in harming anyone for the fun of it, especially the fairer sex." He smirked as he stared out into the water.

His dark eyes met her light ones, and he smiled briefly. "Although, you may not see much of gentleman in me tomorrow. The island tends to get the best of us. The inn we stay at is something of a brothel. The women there will take care of you, dress you, clean you up." He scanned her dress and chuckled. "We must get you something different to where." He smirked so that she knew not to take offense. "Once your father gets the letter I am sending, we will know what course to take. For now, North, to the island."

He stood up, stretched, and yawned deeply. "I think it's time to retire, madam." He offered a hand once more to assist her in standing. Once they faced her, he took her small hand in his and kissed it quickly in a polite way. "It's been a pleasure." He quickly swiveled around and left the deck, but not before sarcastically bowing in a manor more lighthearted than before.

Alice took the bottle gladly, having been somewhat sobred by the memory of her mother's death. It had been a most traumatic event. She sipped again and again as he spoke, until it was finished and she could place it on the floor. He had some kind of honor about him, despite being a pirate. He could have very easily had her in his bed last night. He could have chosen to make her sleep amongst her men. Hell, he could have even chosen to make her uncomfortable by sleeping on the floor in his room. But he hadn't. Because he had morals. Yet her father had always told her that pirates didn't know one thing about morals, or that they even existed.

The idea of being taken care of was very inviting. Even if it was a- a brothel, at least there would be women there to help her feel more like herself. She was used to luxury and cleanliness, and the dress was awfully dirty. Beside that, she could tell that she was starting to smell of stale sweat. Oddly, she found herself hoping that he hadn't noticed. She stood up as he did, staggering a little, glad for his strong hand holding her steady. Alice watched with bated breath as he kissed her hand, then curtsied back when he bowed. "Good night," she said quietly, still smiling a little. And turning around, she headed for sleep.

Vic was up at first light, and he began to yell for his men to do the same. "Aye, boys! Up and at 'em! Let us prepare to dock." Those who didn't respond to his loud command got kicked with medium force in the sides. "Wake up, you lazy bastards." The men were mumbling, trying to shake the sleep off as they rose from their cots. Vic was in high spirits, dashing around the ship and gathering what they were taking with them onto the island. Stolen goods, fruits from other areas, fine jewelry, and weaponry all made the pirates a fair amount of profit.

Vic climbed up to the crow's nest and spotted the green island on the horizon. "Land ahead, boys!" he shouted and made his way back down onto the deck. The men were scrambling to get everything in order so that the boat could dock at the port. Vic walked over to the French doors, knocked first, and entered the room slowly. He spoke quietly, which amplified he gravely texture of his voice. "Good morning, Miss Rohan. Time to rise. We shall be arriving shortly." He turned back around an exited the room, joining the crew to make the last few preparations.

--------------------------

Everyone left the boat filled with pure excitement and relief. Victor had a smile that was ear to ear as his eyes absorbed the landscape in front of him - lush, green trees, clear blue water, birds flying overhead. If he absolutely had to be landlocked somewhere, it would be on the beautiful Isla Imorda. It had no real government, no strict list of laws to follow, and best of all, people from all walks of life were welcomed. Criminals, thieves, prostitutes, and pirates ruled the island. "Alright, boys!" he exclaimed. "To the inn!"

The crew carried what they could through a downtown area that consisted of mostly taverns and markets. Street vendors sold jewelry, fabrics, and other goods. Everyone said their hellos as they walked down the long strip, but soon enough, they all started to hoot and holler when they arrived to a tall, gloomy structure that stuck out like a sore thumb. Vic sighed in relief when he laid his eyes on it, and the men nearly trampled one another as they poured inside the building. Vic turned to Alice and put a hand on her shoulder. "I must warn you, this place is about at grimey and criminal as you would imagine. Keep your head up, and don't let the women get to you. They can be sort of... unwelcoming to outsiders. If anyone bothers you, they shall have to face me, aye?" He removed his hand from her delicate shoulder and gave her a reassuring nudge as he headed for the door.

The first to greet him was an older woman who wore intricate jewelry, a head wrap, and a pink shade on her lips. "Oh, Victor! Oh, it's just been too long. The ladies were starting to ask about you, thinking you must have sunk with the Black Star."
He embraced the woman, kissing her on the cheek. "Madam Blue, you sure are a sight for sore eyes. Truly a delight to see you. And no, that bloody ship has yet to kill me," he said with a sincere smile. "Although, I do have a new one for you!" He turned his back to her and lifted his shirt, revealing a deep, 5 inch scar running down the right side of his back.
"Goodness, boy. Every time I see you, I'm surprised you're still breathing." Madam Blue examined the scar before he pulled the white shirt back down.
"Well, this is Alice. A guest that will be accompanying us during our stay. She can sew, if needed. Could you draw a bath for her? The lovely lady has been surrounded by these scoundrels for far too long." His eyes shot to Alice quickly and nodded, as if to tell her to trust the woman. He had known her for the full decade he spent on the sea, and they had a deep, mutual love and respect for each other.
"Certainly. Lyla! Rosa! Come take this poor girl to the wash room and prepare her a warm bath." Two women scurried towards Alice to guide her to the facilities.

As Alice left with the scantily dressed women, Vic scooted closer to Madam Blue and spoke in a murmur. "Please keep an eye on the lass. She's not privy to our ways - doesn't have a thick skin to her. A pure soul. She's probably scared half to death."
The plump Madam Blue rubbed one of his shoulders and nodded. "Of course, Victor. A pure soul in Imorda? Hell has frozen over!" she exclaimed as she laughed. "Let us get you a drink and a proper meal, yeah?" She took his arm as she began to walk him towards the bar.
"Dear god, Blue, that sounds delightful," he said sincerely as he rubbed the woman's hand that gripped his bicep.

Once again, Alice was awoken by Vic coming into her- no, his, room. She was not so startled as the first time, but she was still slightly affronted. At the least, he did not linger. She dressed in solitude again, glancing out of the window at the clear blue sea. She'd never swam in it before; ladies didn't tend to swim. And she couldn't help but idly wonder what it would be like, surrounded by that cool cleanliness. Probably better than the staleness she felt all around her now. What she would do for some fresh undergarments... Well. If what Vic had said was true, then she should be feeling fresher in a short while.

The boat was docked with a small lurch, and she emerged from the captain's cabin. Without a hairbrush or any sort of grooming material, she wasn't exactly looking her best. She walked close behind Vic, eyes wide at all the new sights awaiting her. She was half-afraid that she might be robbed by some of the more unsavoury characters hanging around the ports - in fact, she was slightly glad to be beside a man of such stature. Tiny walked next to her, more quiet after his embarrassment yesterday. She didn't really mind him there. He seemed to be a good young man as far as pirates went.

Alice nodded at Vic's words to her outside of the inn. Female jealousy and cattiness was very much real, even amongst the higher classes of society. She'd experienced biting words from older, 'ladies,' a couple of times before. His rough hand on her shoulder sent tingles down her spine. He was becoming more and more familiar around her, and she couldn't tell whether that was a good thing or not. But she thought she liked it, and that was all that really mattered, right? Following him inside, she was struck by loud noise and some scantily clad women. She made sure to stick close to Vic while he chatted to an older woman. She averted her eyes as he just about pulled off his shirt. In this place, she felt terribly unattractive with all of these done-up women roaming around.

When Lyla and Rosa came to take her to the baths, she almost felt embarrassed. They were both pretty, young girls. Lyla was Caucasian, with dark blonde hair and hazel eyes. Rosa looked to be Spanish, full lips, dark hair and brown eyes rimmed with kohl. They were both dressed scantily, leaving nothing to the imagination. In fact, she barely even knew where to look. They lead her through darkened hallways, and she had to ignore the sounds from behind doors. Eventually they took her into what seemed to be a washroom. Lyla instructed her to stay there, and they both disappeared. Eventually they came back with a large bucket and a wooden barrel sawn in half. They laboriously filled the bath with hot water, steam floating off the top.

Alice was not shy to undress, quite used to having handmaids assisting her. She stepped into the hot water, sighing with relief as she sat down. Taking the washcloth, she began to rub dirt off her skin while Lyla and Rosa washed her hair. The water quickly became sudsy and murky, and she reveled in the simple scent of soap. Once she stepped out, they helped to towel her dry and anointed her with a scent of lavender. It was a lady's scent, and it almost brought a tear to her eye. It was a smell of familiarity. They brought out a simple shirt and a long skirt, along with new undergarments. She thanked them, and despite the rough scratchiness of the fabric, it was far better than her dirty, elegant dress. It now laid in a sad heap next to the bath. There was no use in having it anymore.

Lyla brought out a pair of trousers, holding them up to her hips. "They may be useful," she explained at Alice's surprised look. "Sometimes a woman has to be a man." The girl insisted on bundling them into a small woven bag for her, then sat her down on a chair. Lyla and Rosa brushed out her hair, and that was it. They weren't handmaids of course - they weren't there to wait on her. But they looked at her for a moment. "You are lucky to be with him, the Incubus," Rosa murmured, Spanish accent thick on her tongue. Alice shook her head. "No, no- it's not like that. He kidnapped me." The two girls smirked at one another, shook their heads, then took her out of the washroom. They lead her to a small room with a window overlooking an alleyway. They bidded their goodbyes and Alice thanked them, before she was left alone.

What was Victor up to, she wondered?

The loud roar of conversation filled the heart of the inn as the crew of The Black Star had a breakfast, that they felt, was made for kings. Eggs, cheeses, bread and pork were laid out across a long, wooden table encompassed by the men. Woman of the inn were surrounding each one, laughing at their awful jokes and tending to their needs. Vic himself had two woman next to him, one rubbing his thigh and asking him questions about what had happened in the few months that he hadn't been there, and another released his hair from the knot it was in and massaged his head and his shoulders. He told them the stories of what he had seen and what he and the crew did on the stops they had made with great passion, throwing around his arms around wildly and stuffing his face with the warm meal in front of him.

The girl, Sarah, who had been working at his wind-whipped hair squeezed his shoulders and leaned her head down to his ear. "You need a proper washing, Vic," she said as she continued to knead at his shoulders. "Carla and I will, um, assist you, if you would like," she said as both the girls started giggling.
A smirk crept on Vic's face, and his eyes darted back and forth between them. "Aye, I reckon I do. Me and the lads will be back before sun down. You can help me then, yeah?" He laughed as he began to finish his meal. "Could one of you please find Alice for me? My guest? She should eat up before the day begins."
Both girls nodded in agreement and ran off to find the girl.

Vic was curious of how she was feeling. The pure innocence that she possessed made her uncomfortable at a place like the inn, he was sure. Hopefully, her spirits had lifted after receiving a hot bath and she was able to be pampered for a bit. Vic had finished up the breakfast before him and hit a piece of silverware on his glass.

"Aye boys. Let's finish up. We've got work to do. We shall be back before sun down!"
The men began to moan and grumble as they are.
"I know, I know," Vic laugh. "Who would ever want to leave?" He looked to Madam Blue, who was enjoying the meal at the other end of the table, and he dipped his head in respect.
She returned the nod and winked at the man. "We missed you, Victor."

Alice sat alone in that room for only a short while, unsure of if she was meant to be doing something or be somewhere. She didn’t even know if the men of the shop had headed off yet. Eventually, there came a knock at her door and yet another girl peered around the edge of it. “Good day, my lady. Victor has requested that I bring you down to the breakfast table,” she explained with a smile. Alice nodded, rising to her feet that were now enclosed in simple laced ankle boots that had also been given to her. A loan, or else Victor would pay for them, she guessed.

Heading down, she entered the dining room and was once again subject to loud noise. The girl who had come to collect her, found a chair next to Victor – the only person she really knew on the boat. The spread on the table that was set out was impressive, even for someone who came from such an affluent household. Ah, she certainly was hungry. She took a seat next to Victor, wondering whether he'd notice how much better she looked and smelled- but why should she care? That was a stupid sentiment. "Good morning," she said to him, smiling despite herself. She took a piece of bread and a sausage and tucked in. Being rather famished, she finished quickly and set her knife and fork together in the generally accepted message that meant she was finished eating.

"Thank you. I feel much better now that I am clean and fed," she admitted, folding her hands in her lap. Strange, she sounded almost like a pet. One could have said that about a horse or a dog. In any case, she was being well looked after considering the fact she'd been kidnapped. There were many women in the room, and the way in which they were acting... Well. If she didn't know any better, she would have felt embarrassed for them. To have to act like this, just to live. They surely didn't care about these dirty, disease-ridden men to that extent - did they?

"What will be the course of action for today?"

Victor watched as she entered the room, in a simple outfit and with her long, black hair swaying as she walked. Alice looked simple – no elaborate dress, nothing holding her hair in place, no jewelry. He had an inclination to women that did not have to try hard to look beautiful, and this moment was the first that he really took in her natural beauty. Yes, of course the women around him with their makeup and scarce clothing were appealing to the eye, but something about Alice stole his attention away from the other women. And they began to take notice.

Alice sat next to him and thanked him as he chewed the last bite of his meal. He patted his face with a cloth and smiled as he swallowed, turning a bit to face her. “Of course, Miss Rohan. Couldn’t have a lady like yourself wallow in the filth of us criminals for too long, could I?” He set his napkin down at the sight of her finishing her meal. Sarah rushed around him to take their plates back to the kitchen. “Thank you, Sarah,” he said quietly as he winked at her, and the girl broke out in a giggle.

“Ah, yes. Well, we’ll be supplying some of the vendors here with their goods. They buy in bulk and sell them at their shops. We will be delivering ammo, weapons, fruit, jewelry and other goods throughout the day. If there is anything that you might need, I will get it for you,” he said with a faint smile. He would give anything just to spend the day at the inn forgetting about the duties he would have to attend to, but that was not a luxury the crew could afford. “Also – do not worry about the price of anything here. Madam Blue lets us eat and stay on the house; the girl’s won’t even accept payment for their, uh, services,” his eyes darted away from her as he spoke. He felt the unfamiliar feeling of embarrassment creep up his spine. He had never never been ashamed of his lifestyle – why did he now?

He scooted his chair back and stood up slowly, twisting his torso to crack his back, and then offered a hand to Alice for her to stand. This caused a few of the women to glare at her with intense jealousy, but Vic did not look away from her. “We’ll be back here before the sun sets, but if the day becomes too long, I will escort you back, aye?” He led her over to the front door of the establishment where they met Madam Blue once more.
“Thank you for the lovely breakfast, Blue. We will be back by sun down.” Vic leaned in and kissed the woman’s cheek once again. She had become the only motherly figure in his life since he had left home all of those years ago, and being with her filled him with a fuzzy feeling that put him at ease.
“Of course, Victor. We’ll have chicken tonight!” she said with obvious excitement in her voice. “We must celebrate the return of my boy and his crew.” She pinched once of his cheeks and smiled.
“Sounds delightful, Blue. See you then. Aye! Boys! Let us begin our business!” he shouted as the men began to file a line behind them. They all said their goodbyes to the girls and Blue as they left and walked out into the sunny weather.

Vic sighed as they began their trek back to the boat to get their merchandise. He walked at Alice’s side, watching her take in the scenery around them. He quickened his pace to get in front of her and turned around – walking backwards – so that he could speak to her. “So,” he said, chuckling at what he was doing, “what do you think of the beautiful Isla Imorda so far? It is much different than London, aye?” he said with a smirk. Victor had a strong distaste for the place he was born; the hard streets of London made his mother a tired, old woman at a young age.

lice didn't really notice how Victor's eye was drawn more toward her. In her opinion, she looked nothing like the giggling, smiling girls who served them in skimpy clothing. But she didn't look terrible either - and at least she was out of that dress. She took his hand, and this time she did notice how the atmosphere of the room changed. They weren't really... jealous, were they? It wasn't as if he was at all interested in her, and she certainly couldn't be- wasn't interested in him. Although he was very handsome and charming; she could understand where they were coming from. She nodded at his words, and thanked Madam as they left the establishment. It made her feel slightly ashamed as she exited into the street - did they think her to be some sort of cheap hire? A couple of the men milling around and walking gave her glances, one whistling at Victor. "Nice catch, mate! What's her rate?" Alice shook her head, looking away and down at the floor as she walked. Such words were so improper. How she wished she were back home, where no man would dare speak of her that way.

Crossing her arms, she looked up to see Victor was walking ahead of her. He looked slightly goofy that way, no matter how elegant and catlike he usually was. It made her smile, despite the fright that the loud man had given her. "Oh, of course. Everything here is very different from London," she said. For a moment, she thought, before speaking again. "It's very beautiful here. But there's something about London... The atmosphere. And the people." Her mouth quirked up at her statement, looking at him almost expectantly to see if he'd react. "Certainly less... pirates."

“Ah, less pirates. Very true.” He smirked and chuckled at her statement. “Probably to your liking, yeah?” He turned around, holding his devilish grin, and rejoined her at her side. The streets were lively in Isla Imorda as the motley crew dragged their merchandise through, and they used a few horses from a stable nearby to help carry the load. Familiar faces greeted them, stating how long it had been since The Black Star had docked on the island, offering them goods free of charge. It was only high noon, and there had already been a few men passed out drunk on the pathways, and other were openly drinking and playing instruments with a container meant for tips laying in front of them. The smile Victor had on his face when he got to the island had not yet been removed from his face, and the exhilaration he was experiencing almost made him feel as if he were floating through the town.

Their first stop was at a mail courier in the form an almost cabin-like building. “Alice, wait here with the crew for me. I shall only be a moment.” He quickly entered the building and met a man, Mr. George Smith, inside. “George, long time no see, my good friend,” Vic said cheerfully as he approached the desk George sat at.
“Victor Hemming, so good to see you! What can I do for you?” The man was short and stocky with bright white hair.
“Just a letter. I need it to get to the address on the front within two days, if possible. Very time sensitive.” Vic pushed the letter across the desk to the man, and he took off his glasses so that he could read it.
“Ah, yes. I have a boat going today. Should be there in no time!” The man chuckled and smiled at the pirate who stood over his desk.
He dropped two silver coins on the desk as payment for the letter. “Splendid, thank you, George.”

After his goodbyes, Victor exited the building and took his spot back at Alice’s side. He did not want to remind her of the fact that he was sending a ransom letter to her father and using her as a bargaining chip, although he was sure that she did not forget it either. He didn’t like the burden of guilt he was beginning to feel because of his new prisoner. He couldn’t make sense of it; he never had a problem with his selfishly using people for the good of crew and rarely felt remorse for his actions, but the closer he grew to Alice, the more he understood her, the more he began to feel suffocated by it. She was not meant for the seas, and she surely did not do anything to deserve being taken from her home. The comfort of her lifestyle. She was too naïve and innocent to be with in the presence of a delinquent like him. And with those thoughts, the almost permanent smile that had been plastered on to Victor’s face had begun to fade as they continued with their errands.

The rest of the day had been uneventful with everything going according to plan. They had sold everything that they needed to, and the spirits of the crew were generally high after they calculated the profit they had earned. They paraded down the street, back towards the inn, when the guilt Vic had been feeling had come to a head. He moved towards the side of the road, grabbing Alice’s hand and taking her with him, to let the men pass them and return to Madam Blue’s. The vendors on the street were beginning to pack their things for the night.

He looked down to the woman who was roughly a foot shorter than him and paused for a moment before speaking. “I meant what I said, Miss Rohan. Before they close up shop – is there anything you want from these good people? Please, do not be shy.” He stretched out his long arm and pointed to the rows of tents and stands. He wanted so badly for her to pick something to her liking, hoping it would relieve him of the awful feelings he was having.

Alice was surprised to see the comradarie amongst the traders and pirates of the port. This world... It was a very different picture from what had been painted for her, behind closed doors in elegant rooms. This was real and raw, bartering going on right in front of her. As always, she lingered by Victor's side, finding some sort of comfort in his tall, strong figure beside her. However much she may remember that he was her captor, she was also valuable to him. She knew that he would look after her if it came to danger. For some troubling reason, the thought of him caring made her heart seem to swell in her chest... But he didn't care about her - she must forget that sentimental notion. All he cared about was finishing his end-goals and letting her go back to her usual, pampered life.

The day was long, and her feet were sore by the end of it. She had to admit that she was slightly relieved to see the inn looming up at them. But before they got too close, Victor drew her aside. Once again, the feeling of her hand inside his thrilled her. And she decided - why not? Why not just let herself enjoy this? Once she went back to her father, it'd be back to boring old men, she'd get married to some boring old man, and have a boring old life. For now, this was exciting and new. No more guilt. No more overthinking. She didn't have anything to do with this situation, apart from being used as a bargaining chip.

At his surprising offer, she glanced down the road and then back to him. It was a very kind offer from a kidnapper. She smiled slightly. "Come along," she said. And this time, she slipped her hand around his forearm and walked with him down to the stalls. A couple she perused, until... A jewellery shop. A very interesting looking one, at that. Her father only allowed her to wear what he bought for her - and this was quite different from thin silver chains and elegant diamond bracelets. She picked up one necklace, a thin rope of black leather with a small silver charm. The charm itself was the profile of a flying bird, with an emerald for an eye. Something about it drew her toward it. Perhaps the fact that she'd always wanted to fly away from what her father wanted... He'd hate it. Which meant that it was perfect.

Turning to Victor, she held it up against her neck with a grin.

Vic watched her as she browsed what was available, and when she held up the necklace, he smiled and snatched it from her hand. Knowing that she was from such sophisticated lifestyle, he expected her to pick out something much more extravagant. “One moment please, ma’am,” he said he took the necklace over to the man working the tent and spoke with him quietly so that Alice could not overhear. After a quick conversation, he returned with the necklace and swirled his finger around to tell her to turn. Once she did, he brushed her long hair to the side, swung the necklace over her head, and gently worked at the clasp that rested at the base of her neck. Once it was fastened, he nudged her shoulder to turn her back around. “Ah, there we are. A good choice, I’d say,” he concluded as he eyed the pendant.

“Well, it looks as though the sun is setting, and I am ravenous. Let us get some supper, aye?” Vic suggested as he stuck out his arm for her to grab. The guilt momentarily was relieved until he did that. He did not want her to become attached to him; he was the opposite of everything she was raised to be, and he understood how easily a young woman like herself could find her means for rebellion in a man like him. But, it was not like he could just return her. No, that would completely make her kidnapping in the first place pointless. He had a job to do, and he had to see it through – not letting his own feelings get in the way. He remained deep in his thoughts, almost in a trance, until they arrived at the inn.

The men had already began drinking as the ladies of the inn brought out dish after dish to the big table they sat around. Vic and Alice entered the building, and he immediately felt a part of his emotional burden lifted as he passed through the threshold. Two empty seats awaited them, and he plopped down heavily in one, ready to indulge in the wonderful feast in front of them. Sarah came back over with a drink for him, and he nodded with thanks. He immediately began to fill his plate from the large bowls of chicken, vegetables and other side dishes, though he was not yet out of the funk he had put himself into and did not join most of the conversations happening around him. Instead, he sat mostly in silence, finishing his drink rather quickly.

Alice grinned, very happy with her purchase. Every nerve on her neck sensed his touch, small waves of pleasure radiating through her. The bird was first cold upon her breast, but it warmed as they walked arm-in-arm alongside eachother. The feast awaiting them at the inn was far better than the stew that had been served last night (although she daren't tell Piney that). She picked out chicken and vegetables, and enjoyed herself. They even had wine, for which she was grateful - although it was much lower quality than what she was used to and higher alcohol content to make up for the taste. On her second cup, she swayed slightly, then turned to smile at Victor dreamily.

"Why are you so quiet?" she asked him, having noticed his sombreness. Last night, he'd been in far higher spirits, joking and laughing. Now, despite all of the wonderful things set before them, he was quiet and reserved. It was quite unlike him. The evening was starting to draw to an end, and one or two men were heading off with women on their arms. No doubt what would be going on behind closed doors tonight, and it was enough to make her blush. Although, that could be the wine...

“Huh?” He was shaken out of his thoughts by the voice of Alice. “Ah, nothing, love. Just tired is all.” He looked to her and offered her a forced smile. He turned forward again and finished his meal, and Sarah ran right up to take his plate. She left a large bottle of rum in its place, making Victor smirk. “Thank you!” he called out as he popped the lid and began to gulp the brown liquid down. He sighed in relief as the warmth traveled down to his stomach.

He pondered on how to handle the situation before him and came to the conclusion that the best course of action would be to make sure that Alice would not become attracted to him. He could find himself finding more and more things about her that he enjoyed, and he would have to put a stop to that immediately. They were in the perfect place for him to prove how crass and unrefined he truly was – a brothel. And with his last thought, he stood up abruptly and snatched the bottle of rum for the table. “Well, Miss Rohan, I hope you found the meal to be to your liking. I, um, will be retiring shortly. As you’ve probably noticed, I need a good bath. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said as he bowed to her again, each time with slightly less sarcasm behind it.

He left the table and located the Sarah and Carla near the wooden bar where many of the crew members were drinking merrily. “There he is, Carla,” Sarah said softly as he approached the girls. “Are you ready to take us up on our offer, Victor?”
Vic smirked at the question. “Aye, I am.” Alice couldn’t possibly attracted to a man who partook in such scandalous activities, and he was hoping that she would soon realize that he was just another filthy criminal who did not deserve so much as to be in the same room as her.
The girls giggled, each one taking one of his hands, and pulled him towards one of the washrooms, and as soon as all three of them entered, the door swung shut with a large thud.

It was... almost disappointing to see Victor headed immediately for the courtesans. Alice didn't know why she felt like that. It was none of her business, after all. She headed to bed after that, one of the younger girls hurrying forward to make sure that she found her way She undressed that night, feeling relatively safe for the first time since the time in the garden. This wasn’t Victor’s bed; it was her bed for the night. This was a house of women, not men – and the furnishings showed it. She was clean, and satisfied, and in fact slightly happy. She fingered the pendant on her neck between thumb and fingers, and headed to open the window for some fresh air. That had been an unexpected gift, a good turn of events. She was glad of it. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she sighed contentedly and swung her legs up. The linen was clean and smelled faintly of soap. The mattress was soft, far superior to that of Victor’s. Relishing the feeling, she huddled beneath the duvet and slipped off into sleep. And it was far better than that of last night, or the night before. Dreamless.

~~~

She woke up.

Darkness.

Heat.

Sweat.

Beer.

Man.

A hand clapped over her mouth and her scream was muffled. It was the man from earlier, the one who had shouted at her gleefully. He had been drinking, but not so much so that he wasn’t in control. He was larger than her, and heavier, and he loomed above her like some evil creature. He wasn’t particularly ugly or particularly large. Ordinary, but terrifying. Alice was panicked. It was obvious what he wanted to do. She pleaded from behind his dirty hand, his sweat salty on her lips and tongue as she struggled. Rape was seldom talked about in polite conversation, but she knew about it. She'd once found one of her handmaids sobbing behind one of the statues in their garden. Her story had been heart wrenching.

There was a bite of cold metal against her throat as the man growled for her to stay quiet. Her green eyes widened with terror as he started to tug at her undergarments. She struggled more, and whipped her head to the side to let out a strangled scream. In this house, it could be mistaken for a scream of pleasure. He slapped her head so hard it made her ears ring, and the knife pushed further against her neck. It split the delicate skin, blood running down the side of her neck. She was hyperventilating now as he fumbled with her clothes, sobbing behind his hand again. “Shut up, you stupid bitch,” he growled. “Some kind of prissy princess type, eh? I had to have you,” he said, words slurring. Oh, how she wished she was back on the boat. How she wished for anything other than this, pain like she’d never known coursing from her neck and her heart. This wasn’t only physical. This was pure trauma. "Please," she sobbed, although her words were muffled. "Please, no..."

The past few hours had been enjoyable, to say the least, for him. Victor began to exit his room freshly cleaned and dressed in a linen shirt that was dyed blue and a new pair of breeches. Sarah and Carla each kissed him slowly before giggling and running down the hallway. He grinned at the sight, but soon realized that if even two women couldn’t make the guilt go away, nothing could. He sighed at the realization and decided to head back down to the bar. Maybe drinking away his frustration would be the cure.

As he was walking down the dimly lit hallway, he heard a scream coming from the direction he was headed. He figured it must have been one of the girls; they often were loud in the house as that what customers liked. But as he approached the area where the noise had come from, he heard a familiar, albeit muffled, voice. ”Please, please, no…”

Those words made Victor stop right in his tracks. It couldn’t be… Could it? He put his hand on the scabbard dangling from his waist as he barged into the room unannounced – something Alice was most likely used to at this point. “Bloody hell!” he shouted loudly, in shock of the sight before him. A man, a local, on top of the sweet and innocent Alice Rohan who had been halfway undressed with a knife to her throat. Vic jumped on to the bed while unsheathing his sword, and as he landed, he put the blade in front of his throat, pressing on it with slight force. His mouth went close to his ear as he spoke in an aggressive yet low tone. “Remove the blade from her neck and get off of her, slowly.”

The man grunted at the sudden presence of Vic behind him. “This is a whore house, you pirate scum! I paid, I can do what I want!” The man yelled while he remained in the same position.
“She is not for sale, now get off of her,” he repeated, his voice slowly rising in volume and increasing the pressure of the sword on his neck.
The man reluctantly listened to Vic, removing the knife from Alice’s neck and rising from the bed. In a swift attempt of freeing himself from Victor, the man swung around and tried to stab him somewhere in the torso, but Victor rammed him in the head with the handle of his sword, causing the man to collapse in unconsciousness. When he confirmed the man was out, he turned his attention to Alice and sat on the bed next to her. His eyes landed on the blood dripping from her neck, and he reached out to gently touch it. “I’m so sorry, Alice. Are you hurt anywhere else?” His eyes scanned the rest of her.

The poor thing – it was purely his fault that she was in this predicament, and it nearly broke his heart.

And amongst all of the confusion and terror, there was a loud, familiar yell. Alice felt the bed shift - there was another one? Her heart gave a squeeze as she closed her eyes, the fright freezing her still. Then, the voice - she knew that voice. She dared to look again; and it was Vic. He was telling the man, in no uncertain terms, to go away. As he went, she grabbed the duvet and held it up to her chest. The man had not succeeded in undressing her, but still. When he was knocked out on the floor, she slowly brought her hands down. She was still hyperventilating, adrenaline coursing through her bloodstream. She felt a little faint at the sight of blood dripping down onto her underclothes.

At his touch, she jerked away. The most recent touch from a man had been violent. But it was him, only Vic, and he'd stopped it before anything truly bad had happened. In any case, it was sore. She returned to her upright position again, lightly trembling and still sniffling softly. "N-no," she whispered, not even looking up at him. She felt slightly ashamed, for some reason. Like it was her fault that this man had come into her room and tried to take her. Perhaps she shouldn't have been attractive, should have reacted to him earlier... The sentiments were stupid, but they were still there.

How she just wanted some comfort. How Alice wished that her father was here, so that she could hug him and he could stroke her hair. How she wished for her favourite handmaid and friend, Connie. But they weren't here. Someone else was. Her hand slowly came up to grip his fresh shirt sleeve, fingers twisting themselves tightly into the fabric as she finally looked up at him. At Victor, the Incubus, who had just come from being with courtesans. Vic, the pirate who couldn't bring himself to hurt her or mistreat her. The action might have been surprising for him. But after two days at sea amongst strangers, after almost being raped, could she be blamed for wanting a little bit of comfort - even if it was only platonic?

This was all new territory to Victor. He was meant to strike fear into the hearts he was around. He was meant to be a man of little emotion. But due to the circumstances, he swallowed his pride and wrapped his arms around the trembling girl – the least he could do was provide her with comfort. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault, I…” Unsure with how to continue, he decided to stay silent. His rough hand rubbed her arm gently until he felt her shaking subdue slightly.

As he embraced her small body, he saw Tiny pass by the door way and let out a sharp “pssssst” to get his attention. When Tiny returned to the threshold, Vic gave him an order. “Gather a few of the boys. Get this man out of here.” The boy nodded and ran off to find some of the crew. Only a few silent minutes passed until three returned, and they lifted the man and took him out to the street with no questions asked. As they left, Victor let go of Alice and looked at her. “I can stay here, sleep on the floor.” He frowned slightly, looking at how upset she still was. “I’m sorry, Alice.” He squeezed the arm he had been caressing and stood up in front of her. “Is there anything you need?” He inspected her and noticed the blood that was drying on her neck. He lifted the end of his shirt for a moment, put it in his mouth, and used fabric to remove it. He realized she would probably find it very brutish of him to do, and quit as he had the thought.

He turned towards the small closet on the other wall of the room and took down an extra blanket and down pillow. “I don’t mind,” he said before she could protest, and he plopped the bedding on the wooden floor next to her bed, making himself comfortable after he set them up to his liking. His stomach was in knots, guilt eating away at him. He probably wouldn't sleep after this, but he promised himself that he would stay in the room for the remainder of the night so she felt safe enough to sleep.