When she saw that most of the crew was gone and the few that were on deck were busy, Elissa crept from the room and slowly shut the door. She wanted to bolt for the opening that led below deck but knew that it would look suspicious for her to be running. She took a deep breath and started to walk at a swift pace, hoping that no one would notice her. Tears blurred her vision. Why was she crying over him? It wasn’t like he had promised her anything while on the ship. He’d only promised to remember her when they were children, a promise she so foolishly thought he would keep.

If she could just get to her room she could lock herself away until they reached port and not bother him anymore. His actions had made it clear that she had bothered him with talking about the past. He wanted nothing to do with her anymore, that was clear. As she reached the opening, Elissa stopped to take one last look at the sky. Her heart was already pounding in her chest, knowing that she was going to be locked away in the dark once more. Bedlam had made her fear the dark, the walls closed in on her when it was dark and she felt as if she couldn’t breathe. “This is for him, so he will be happy.” She muttered to herself. “You’re just a ghost from his past.” She’d help him get his ship back and then she would leave his life forever. She’d either try to find her crew or go to the colonies on her own, but either way Joseph would be free of her. ‘It’s what he wants.” She gave a nod to herself. Her heart was breaking, however, at the thought that she had waited all these years for him only to realize that she no longer had a place in his lfe.

“Going somewhere?” Rhea’s silken voice uttered from the gloom just within the opening of the stairway just as Elissa was about to step forward within it; she would have had to allow her eyes to adjust before she spotted Rhea blocking her path. “And unescorted, too” the sailingmaster continued, “well I’d hate to see you come to any more trouble Miss… Bishop” Rhea sort of huffed, the statement wasn’t entirely sincere, but she didn’t convey it in a malevolent way either. I’m surprised Joseph let her out of his sight, she knew what he was like, she wondered too perhaps if Elissa would be relieved to be free from his company for a while - perhaps he sent her out? Perhaps she didn’t engage him with the enthusiasm he’d have liked? He could be a terrible flirt, and Rhea often could tell just by looking at him that his mind was working in… particular ways, his eyes gave it away. Every. Time.

Rhea bounded up the remaining steps closing the gap between Elissa and herself, perhaps a little too close for comfort - she was shorter than her, petite - she looked Elissa up and down. Elissa looked like she’d been tearful, perhaps Joseph had been too much to bear, Rhea knew he’d not have harmed her but, sometimes he could be intense. “I think perhaps you should stick with me” she stated, she grasped Elissa’s upper arm to guide her away from the stairway, and towards the entry point at the opposite side that descended into the crew’s quarters.

Elissa took a startled step back when Rhea’s voice came from the darkness. “I was going back to my cabin.” Elissa said with a shaky voice. She didn’t trust Rhea. She trusted Joseph and even Peter, but not Rhea. The way the woman spoke made it seem that she didn’t wish the best for Elissa. Was she jealous? “I was going back to my cabin, I’ll be fine there. Why should I stay with you? I’m not trying to run away.” She said, attempting to pull her arm away from the woman. “Where are you taking me?” She worried that the woman was going to lock her in the brig with Rat. That wouldn’t be good, the man hated Elissa.

“So what did you learn about our captive?” Adam asked sitting down at the table, beside Joseph. “How is she healing?” While he was a pirate he was still a doctor and concern for patients was one of his top priorities. “I’m sure you heard some impressive stories from her about her scars.” He looked to Peter. “The captain caught himself quite the lady, not that most would call her a lady. Her back was covered in scars and she’s wanted in Spain. Did you get that story from her, captain?” Adam was always interested to hear about other’s adventures. He hardly ever partook in the dangerous part of pirating, knowing that if any of the men were injured he would be needed to tend to them and risking his life would risk other’s lives in turn. “By the way, very good scotch.” He grinned. He didn’t drink often, wanting to have a clear mind if needed, but every now and then he would partake in a drink with the men, especially if it seemed like they’d have a few days of safe sailing.

Elissa seemed fearful and flustered, back to her cabin? No way, Rhea considered if she could sabotage as many opportunities as possible for Joseph to be alone with Elissa, then she’d ensure the new plan would go ahead as discussed. “Relax, I think some of your father’s scotch will make you feel a little better” she replied, she let go of Elissa’s arm to indicate she wasn’t going to force her and began to descend the steps, she looked back, hoping she’d trust the gesture and follow her. There was a general noisy babble and the smell of musk and alcohol drifting from the gloom within the stairway.

Joseph raised the bottle with a nod to the surgeon as he sat down and complimented the beverage, “aye that it is” Joseph agreed with a grin, it faded as he considered Adam’s questions, “she seems to be recovering, she has eaten and drank well, you did a fine job as always.. and aye, I did that… a story at least, I couldn’t say truly if it was the story” he raised an eyebrow and shrugged, “but you can ask her yourself” he nodded towards the doorway, he spied Rhea and Elissa lingering on the steps - had Rhea gone to his room to collect her? Why?

Pete and the other shipmates at the table looked bewildered by what the surgeon had to reveal about Elissa, but similarly interested to know the story she had to tell about it.

“I don’t drink his scotch, it’s too strong.” Elissa said, slowly following Rhea. She froze when she reached the bottom of the stairs and saw Joseph. “I don’t think I should be here. He doesn’t want me here. I should go back to my cabin.” She didn’t feel welcome around all of the other pirates much less Joseph. He seemed happier than when he had left the cabin, she didn’t want to ruin it.

“She doesn’t look like the kind to have adventures.” Adam noted, looking up at the two. “You been nice to her? Poor girl looks like she’s been crying.” He stood and went to greet the two. “Evening ladies.” He gave a small respectful nod to them. He was a pirate but a gentlemen. “Come to have a drink and share in the festivities? You got here in time, we just started. Still have time for music and dancing and plenty of drink. All thanks to your father, Miss.”

“At least father is good for something.” Elissa muttered. “I don’t drink the strong stuff but thank you.” She glanced towards the stairs still considering running off to her room. Adam gently took her arm.

“Come sit with us, we have room for you at the table.” Adam said leading her over to the table. He pulled out a chair next to Joseph for her to sit in.

Seeing that she had no choice Elissa sat down. She focused on a knot in the table, not saying a word. She figured Joseph didn’t want to talk to her. She’d find an excuse to leave the moment she could.

“Hmph… I’m always nice” Joseph retorted with a grin as Adam brought his hospitality into question (though Joseph perceived it to be jokingly so), he took another swig of the scotch and tried not to wince, it was powerful stuff - a few more though, and his sense of taste would certainly cease to function for the evening.

Rhea eyed Joseph as she approached the table - she could see that he was watching Elissa, his eyes flicked to Rhea and they locked a gaze for a moment or so, “thank you for escorting her here, Rhea” he expressed, as he didn’t want for Elissa to feel uncomfortable. He gave a gentle smile as Elissa took her seat at the direction of the surgeon, she was sat between the both of them. Joseph had noted she’d looked like she’d been upset, as Adam had identified, but he considered he had behaved particularly cordially and certainly appropriately… she’d been that upset about the ring? No, he wasn’t going to think about it, not tonight, he knocked back another drink to banish any concern that may have been beginning to resurface, the scotch was starting to take effect particularly quickly and already he was feeling more carefree. He allowed the scent on the collar to envelop him as he observed Elissa and her doe-like expression, “my crew are keen to hear about your adventures” he prompted.

Rhea sat on the opposite side of the table, she’d found herself a couple of tankards intended for the beer, she filled them only partially with the scotch - it would last her a little while, she placed one down in front of Elissa.

Elissa looked at the tankard in front of her for a moment before sliding it over in front of Joseph. “No thank you. I told you I don’t drink scotch. It’s too strong for me.” She said to Rhea, wondering why the woman hadn’t listened to her. Elissa looked over at the captain with a small look of surprise on her face. “You told them about me?” She asked. She had been certain that he didn’t believe a word she had said about her adventures, why would he tell the men about them? Unless he wanted to try trapping her in a lie. Well they weren’t a lie, she’d had every adventure she had told him about. Elissa looked around at the members of the crew that sat at the table.

“Go on, miss. Tell us what sort of adventures a lady of your standing has.” Adam encouraged as he took a drink. “Tell us about Spain? We know you are wanted there, Joseph and I both saw the mark on your neck so there is no denying it.” He saw her hesitation, saw the change in her eyes when he mentioned Spain. What had this girl been through?

When Adam fell silent a few other members at the table began to try encouraging her. A few tried to connect with her and commented how they weren’t fond of Spain, it was too unwelcoming for pirates.

“Well, I’m not really a lady of high standing. True my father is wealthy, but he has worked for that money, we weren’t born into it. Most of high society in England shuns us, which honestly I’m fine with, they are all too stuck up for me.” She said with a small smile. “I like sailing and working for a living. I sail for my father’s company and enjoy seeing the world. For one order they wanted some goods from Spain, we tend to cater to anyone who will purchase from us, this customer was a rather high up nobleman. Since it wasn’t a large order I was allowed to go, taking my ship The Rose. Unlike most places Spain doesn’t seem to mind female merchants, so I didn’t disguise myself.” Elissa went on with the story, telling how a man in the market place wouldn’t leave her alone and when he grabbed her arm she turned and punched him. It turned out that the man was the king of Spain in disguise. She was immediately arrested and taken to the prison in the castle, where she was whipped and branded with the mark Adam and Joseph had seen on her neck. “I didn’t think I was going to escape. My crew was down at the docks waiting for me, not knowing I was in any trouble.” She continued to tell them of how she escaped by picking the lock of the cell. “I managed to reach the stables undetected, but I feared that wouldn’t last long. I knew I needed a distraction, so I released all the horses and set some of the hay on fire. That kept everyone busy while I got out of there and back to my ship. Well almost back to my ship, I was hurt rather badly and blacked out halfway to the docks. Thankfully my crew had noticed I was gone and were searching for me. Phillip, my first mate, was the one that found me. He got me back to the ship, got the rest of the crew and we got out of there. I’ve never gone back and if at all possible I’ll never go back again.” Elissa had gone into more detail with the story this time than she had when she had told it to Joseph. She’d described parts of the city and the palace, something she couldn’t have done if it had been a lie.

Adam sat starting at her with a mixture of shock and wonder on his face. “Why would your father let you do something so dangerous?”

Rhea raised her eyebrows for a moment and rolled her eyes as Elissa slid the tankard to Joseph and passed her remark, you’d not be drinking with us if you’d been a man.., Elissa’s response had been a slight in Rhea’s eyes, who had considered the action a gesture of hospitality - she could have taken a sip, at least. “If he didn’t want you here, you wouldn’t be here” she muttered, making a broader implication that perhaps she would have been executed, or thrown overboard.. Joseph shot her a look, which she returned before taking a drink.

“I uh.. mentioned” Joseph sort of coughed, “Adam identified the brand” he indicated to his neck. Joseph listened as Elissa elaborated on her story, which in detail sounded far more plausible - he found himself feeling a little guilty for initially dismissing her. Rhea was quiet, listening to the story, but maintained a poker face, whilst Pete was astonished at every revelation in the tale and boomed with a variety of “oh!”, “no!” and “aye is it!?”

Joseph glanced at Elissa as Adam posed the question to her, he wasn’t sure if she’d really want to divulge the painful relationship with her father. “Well it’s Mr. Bishop as we know” he said sternly, giving a weak smile as though to indicate he had some understanding of the man’s character and that his behaviour towards his own daughter perhaps came as little surprise - a few of the group murmured and nodded agreeably.

“Father lost whatever love he had for me when my mother died.” Elissa said softly. “But it’s fine.” She didn’t want them to pity her. “I have my crew and the sea, what more could I want?” She wanted her friend back. She wanted him to remember her. Elissa looked to Rhea when she made her remark. “Sometimes people are kind even when they don’t want to be.” She responded in an even voice. She was disliking Rhea more and more. “Father loves money and so I sailed for him and it made both of us happy. He got money and I got to sail.” She smiled at Pete and how engaged he was in her story. “What other adventures would you like to hear about? Any of you hear of Eli Bishop?”

“You know Eli Bishop?” Adam asked, looking incredulous. “He’s one of the best merchant sailors around. Rumor has it that he has never lost a shipment to pirates.”

“The rumor is true.” Elissa nodded. “But no one mentions that Eli is actually me.” She smiled. Elissa was enjoying the attention. It helped her forget that Joseph didn’t remember her and for once she felt wanted, even if it was just to entertain the pirates.

“Aye! But Eli Bishop hasn’t ran into the likes of us now has’e?” Pete laughed coarsely in response to Adam, when Elissa revealed her identity, he blowed a puff of air in disbelief, “oh aye?” he proclaimed, baffled, whilst Rhea spat the mouthful of whiskey back into the tankard as she had just taken it, this made Joseph grin with delight, displaying his unruly canine.

“Well if that be true, lass, I’d certainly like to hear it! And then perhaps Joseph can recount a few ventures” Pete exclaimed, Joseph gulped his drink, “nah” the Captain replied awkwardly, he rubbed a hand around his neck as he looked at Pete, “we all have a story to tell, don’t we” he said so in such a way as to indicate the hearty pirate too had his near brushes with law. Joseph glanced at Rhea, she remained quiet, he knew she wouldn’t share. She removed her hat and set it on the table, and undone the band pinning back her thick dark hair, she shook out tight curls with her hands and brushed it away from her face with her fingers.

“I am Eli, I’m not sure what proof you’d like.” Elissa said, grinning at their disbelief. “What rumors are said about him? Perhaps I can confirm some of the rumors. I don’t know all of them, I’ve heard a few but no where near all the ones that are out there. He has been sailing for nearly four years, his ship is small and called The Rose. His crew is composed of five men. What else do you want to know?” She smiled. Elissa ventured a glance over at Joseph and saw him rubbing his neck. Not sure if it was from nerves or pain she spoke again, “Is your back still hurting you? I can help, if you trust me. I learned a trick when I was in India. It relieves pain almost instantly. Do you trust me?” She laughed at them not wanting to tell their own stories. “Don’t hold back your stories on my account. I’ve no ties to anyone but my crew, I won’t betray any of you. Besides, who would believe that I’d have been captured by pirates and then released? Sounds more far fetched than me being Eli Bishop.” She laughed lightheartedly.

“I don’t know, being Eli Bishop seems more of a stretch if you ask me.” Adam said, looking to the others. “What rumors have you heard lads? Let’s see if this young lass really is the legendary Eli.”

The effect of the scotch on Joseph was beginning to compound, he smiled and laughed at her recognition of his gesture, but took interest in her generous offer, “ahh nah well it’s nothing..” he began, “he hanged…for a little while” Rhea interrupted, “who cut you down?”, “you cut me down” Joseph replied gratefully, “aye, damn right!” she smiled. Joseph sniffed, “Elissa, we drink now to forget the stories” he laughed, “but, now that you mention about my back I..” he tightened his shoulders with obvious discomfort, Rhea rolled her eyes from across the table, oh here he goes …

Peter leaned forward, having taken some time to consider the rumour in which he wanted to share amongst the group, “I heard” he began, rather secretively, “that Eli met all the crew in Bedlam”, as mostly everyone knew, the institution was rather notorious.

Elissa’s heart dropped when Rhea said he’d hung. How close had she been to losing him? She smiled when he accepted her offer. “An Indian mystic taught me this. It never fails.” She said standing behind him. “Breath in and out when I tell you to.” Elissa placed her hands at the base of his neck. “Breathe in.” She instructed ready to push down firmly when he breathed out. The action would pop his back and release the tension in the neck and shoulder muscles. “Breathe out.”

She was about to sit back down when Peter spoke. Elissa paled suddenly when he mentioned Bedlam. The flashback came almost at once. “Don’t send me back.” She begged instinctively. Her breathing became rapid as the memories pulled her in. She was trembling.

Adam noticed the change at once, how she paled and her eyes became dark and distant. He was on his feet and at her side in an instant. “You aren’t there now.” He said firmly, grasping her shoulders. “Elissa.” He snapped trying to bring her back. Her eyes focused again as she gasped for breathe. “Drink, just a little to calm you.” Adam instructed handing her the tankard that had been previously offered to her. “Sit before you fall.”

She slowly sat and took a small drink of the scotch. “I’ve been there. My crew was there.” She said in a hushed voice.

“Don’t think on it,” Adam told her. He knew the place. He’d first been assigned there and after seeing what it was like, what they did to people he left. Piracy was better than that place.

“I was fourteen! Do the rumors say that? I was only fourteen years old when he had me thrown into that place!” She cried. “They treated me like I was crazy. I just wanted my mother back. I just wanted my best friend to come home. I was lonely, not crazy. He didn’t care. He wanted me gone.” She sat there shaking her head. “They locked me in the dark. I had to stand, the room wasn’t big enough for me to sit. They called it the coffin.” She looked up but not at anyone.

“Drink more.” Adam instructed holding the cup to her lips. He understood how she could fall apart. They all had stories. They all had their breaking point. He knew the horrors of Bedlam but only from the standpoint of a doctor. “You aren’t there now.” He looked to Joseph. “I think it’s time she gets some rest. Will you take her back to your cabin? I can talk with you later about Bedlam, I was a doctor there, for a day, but still...” He hated admitting that he’d been a doctor at that place. Adam may have been a pirate but even he wasn’t heartless enough to send someone, much less a fourteen year old girl, to Bedlam. He doubted anyone on the ship was that heartless.

Elissa took another drink before shaking her head. “No, I’m alright.” She said, calmer now than the last time she spoke. “I’m fine now. I don’t want to ruin your fun. I’m sorry, Bedlam is just a bad memory for me. It’s one of my stories I want to forget.” She looked to Joseph. “I don’t need to go back to the cabin. I’m alright, I promise. How’s your neck now?” She didn’t want to ruin the enjoyment that Joseph was having. After the way he’d left earlier she knew he needed it.

“Alright..” Joseph replied a little distrustful of Elissa’s instruction as she positioned herself behind him, but he complied anyway, he took a deep breath and as he exhaled Elissa made a swift motion that seemed to pop something back into place that certainly felt it hadn’t been there for quite some time, the experience was simultaneously somewhat painful yet brought relief - Joseph furrowed his brows with a mixed expression, not sure how to respond, “uh… thank you” he sort of winced, flexing his shoulders.

Elissa was taking her seat when Pete mentioned the rumour, and was taken aback by her sudden and terrified reaction to the very mention of the institution, though it made sense. “Aye, pity any poor beggar has seen the inside of that hellish place..” Pete agreed, even nodding towards Adam, wether Elissa’s experience confirmed her identity as Eli was uncertain, in any case her credentials made her a worthy candidate. Joseph examined her with some sympathy, and considered Adam’s suggestion but Elissa protested, “it’s… fine” he grinned, a little surprised she’d circled back to his fairly insignificant back discomfort, he looked in the direction of a few discordant notes from an accordion - one of the shipmates was preparing the instrument, another was gaining the attention of the crew as he began a rude limerick, “it’s going to get noisy in here” Joseph laughed, they’d soon be entertaining with a mixture of shanties and poetic (albeit sometimes vulgar) limericks and rhymes to the delight and participation of the audience. Joseph hoped it would cheer her up.

“I’m used to noise.” Elissa said with a small smile. “In fact noise makes it feel more like my ship. I don’t like silence.” Elissa found solace in noise, it reminded her of the fun they’d had on her ship and the markets that she visited. Noise never bothered her, bedlam had been noisy, people always crying or screaming. Silence was what bothered her. Her home had always been quiet after her mother had died and she hated the silence.

Elissa smiled when he said his back was fine. Her heart fluttered when he smiled at her. His smile was a reward all its own. “Do you dance?” She asked Joseph with a mischievous grin. “Too bad no one has a violin, I love how they sound. Father wanted me to learn…I used it for target practice when I was learning how to shoot a pistol.” She laughed. “I defied him every chance I could and my best friend helped me.” She wasn’t going to mention that he was her friend, not in front of the crew. She didn’t want to upset him and she didn’t know how they would feel knowing that she had information about their captain that he didn’t even know.

Rhea observed Joseph’s interactions with Elissa - they had to lean in close to hear one another over the rowdy crew, she could see Joseph was quite enthralled, he was rather relaxed and his green eyes were soft. It didn’t mean anything. He was often sociable. Rhea arose and signalled she was going off to mingle - Joseph glanced as she departed.

Pete was booming with raucous laughter, he had a few rhymes to share himself.

“Dance?” Joseph began, “not like this” he caught her eyes with his own for a moment before he once again observed the crew, he glanced at Elissa as she mentioned her best friend, he knew she meant him, he looked down to the floor between his feet for a second or two, his elbows on his knees as he was sat leaning in towards her, he ran a hand through his hair and brought his gaze up to meet her, he sat back and took a swig of the scotch, “sounds like a great friend” he grinned.

“He was the best. Father would have said he was a bad influence, but I don’t think so. I’d like to think that all that I am today is because of him. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend.” Elissa smiled, a fond look in her eyes as met his gaze. “I still think highly of him.” Elissa suddenly stood with a grin. “C’mon. I’ll teach you to dance my way and then you can teach me to dance your way.” She held her hand out to him. “I’m barefoot so if I step on your toes it won’t hurt and I’ve had worse happen to my feet, so it won’t hurt if you step on them. C’mon.” She gave a jerk of her head, hoping that he’d dance with her. “You don’t have to know how to dance. Just let the music lead you. It won’t let you down.” The small drink she’d had of her father’s scotch had help to calm her and lift her spirits. Anymore would have been too much as she was already feeling a little lightheaded. But it didn’t matter so long as she saw Joseph smile. He really was a handsome rogue. “Dance with me and I’ll give you the dagger, but you have to promise to give it back. It’s the only gift my friend ever gave me. It is all I have had to remember him by all these years. I can’t have it taken from me forever.” She hoped maybe this bribe would be enough to get him to dance with her.

It was unusual for anyone to think highly of a pirate per se, well, there was the Code by which most honoured and abided, and there was reputation, of which most hoped was fearsome, but to be thought highly of - what did that mean exactly? Bad influence sounded about right though. Joseph didn’t mind to dance but, was reluctant in this particular environment; Elissa was trying hard to be persuasive.. he smirked at her enthusiastic pleas, “I won’t step on them” he reassured with a laugh, she finally bribed him with dagger which gained his interest, he slowly interlocked his hand with hers as she outstretched it to him and arose from his seat, he closed the distance between them as he pulled her closer “ah..so you do have it… are you sure you wouldn’t have preferred that I’d frisked you?” he asked making reference to their earlier stand-off, he’d said it quietly enough so, that the nearby crew would not have heard.

Elissa grinned her mischievous grin. “You wouldn’t have found it, but search if you’d like.” She laughed. Elissa has braided it into her hair. It had enough volume that the hilt was in her hair and the blade in sheath was in the braid. Elissa was glad that he agreed to dance. “I slipped it off you and you never noticed. I’d have thought a pirate wouldn’t be so easy to pickpocket.” She pulled him out to an empty space so they could dance to the lively tune.

“You didn’t answer my question, though” the Captain smiled, he considered Elissa’s response to be rather evasive, and he was finding it difficult to gauge her impression or desire of him (or rather, if there was any), perhaps she simply took what he said at face-value, then again it could all be part of a game - whatever it was, Joseph was happy to play for now, she pulled him through to a small clearing.

“If you want me to dance, you’re going to have to help me out first” he stated, beginning to pull off his coat he nodded to the pistol, buckled around his waist - he couldn’t very well dance with such encumberments. “You know, maybe I was distracted..” he began in response to her remark.