[IC] The Cursed Heart (Foxfire and Cal)

[MegaraFoxfire]

Avery Coppershade was the captain of the ship, the Glory. Well, that was the name it had in the port cities. Its real name was the ShadowStrike. But since her father had died and his will saying to change the name to that, Avery did as her father wished. But in her heart it would always be the ShadowStrike. Avery had just gotten onto the main deck, her first mate, a Mr. Dante Williams, from getting some goods sold from their last trip. She had Dante put the gold and cash into the vault when a small robotic fox ran up to her, barking with glee. She smiled and bent down, rubbing its head. "Hello Engine, did you miss me?" She stood and called "Mr. Clark! I want a role call in fine minutes, then when everyone is on board, we head out." She heard the reply and headed to her cabin, rubbing her eyes. She was beat. She hadn't slept well lately and the last two weeks the ship had been attack three different times. They had won of course but it was all starting to wear her out. She shut the door to her cabin and sighed, leaning against the door and closing her eyes. She said "Arachnid? Can you make sure we have no unwanted guests on board?" she heard a chirping and a huge spider landed in front of her, rubbing its face against hers and then climbing back to the higher parts of the cabin and vanishing for sight. The Glory was full of Avery's inventions. The crew didn't mind and most of her machine friends were loved by the men. Avery sat down at the huge table and started mapping out the next course, hearing the steam and nova engines kick into life and start heading out of the port.

[caliban22]

Dominic Ibanez sat silently in the cargo hold as the ship leaves port .his long unkept black hair covered his unshaven face and fierce green eyes. His muscular frame covered in tattoos and tattered remains of work cloths "soon...very soon" he mutters in a deep voice that only barely kept the rage he felt in check. "Soon Marisol...I will make them pay for what they did to you." He muttered as he looked down at a dinged and beat locket with a small painting of a woman. Suddenly he hears the scampering of metallic legs "saints..." He mutters as a mechanical spider stumbles upon him before scampering off. Quickly he stuffs the locket in one of his pants pockets before rushing off to try and find a better place to hide. 'of course the crew has machines... I should have known that they would.' he thought as he made his way to the upper floors towards the armory, ensuring he avoids as many human crew members as he can. He knew what may happen to him if he is caught, who would gain his revenge if he were killed or imprisoned again.

[MegaraFoxfire]

First mate Dante was meeting with the cook when one of the spiders came to him and landed on his shoulder. He glanced at the creature and nodded. “So someone you don’t know...interesting...alright go warn your mother then Engine” the spider chirped and took off on a web. He sighed and said “Cap isn’t at top form for a stowaway...”

Avery was in her cabin, pacing as she was staring at her newest idea on paper. But she knew it wouldn’t work well. “I have to find a way to contain it...I have to...” she stumbled suddenly, grabbing her table to stay upright. She rubbed her eyes and muttered “just push thru...”

[caliban22]

While he succeeded in making it to the armory and locking himself within, Dominic found himself face to face with three crew members. Two had been playing cards while one was taking stock the armory contents.
"Well...Hello?" He says as the three suddenly charge at him "Git em lads" one of the men said as they tackled Dominic. A brief fist fight ensures, ending with one of the men knocked out cold and the other two beaten up but victorious. Quickly the two unlock the door and call for help.

Dominic awoke quickly two of the crew tossing him in a prison cell "bloody stowaways... How do thems keep gittin onboard?" He asks before leaving.

[MegaraFoxfire]

There was a knock on the door and Dante walked I to Avery’s cabin and said “Arachnid found a stowaway and the men caught him. His in the brig now but we already took sail...” Avery groaned and rubbed her face. She looked like the walking death but she stood tall and grabbed her coat and hat, both her fathers. She turned and said “I’ll go talk to him...maybe he is just on the wrong ship...or here to kill me like the other theee who knows”

The brig guard looked up from his reader as Captain Avery cane down stairs, standing and tipping his hat. “Morning captain...our guest is on the end...you alright to go down there?” Avery smiled weakly and said “I’ll be fine, Remy...thank you”

She walked down the wall of electrical power cells and paused at the last door, standing by it but not close enough to touch. “Hello there...I have a feeling your lost?”

[caliban22]

Dominic was sitting facing the bars with his back against the cold metal wall. "Good morning captain" he says with a mocking tip of an imagery hat and a smile " A fine day for it is it not?" He asks "It seems I have misplaced the directions to my first class cabin...your crew was most rude when I ask directions" he says sarcastically as he stands up to his full six feet three inches and stretches some. "I have no desire to prolong the inevitable and tell me what you will do to me." He says barely containing his anger as he glares from under his main of black hair at the female captain"do as you will and do it if you must... I have no stomach for games." He muttered as he sat down again. "Make my failure complete. And let my ancestors know the Ibanez family is no more."

[MegaraFoxfire]

Avery blinked and frowned. “Wait...what? What do you think I’m going to do to you? Throw you over board or feed you to the space fish? I have no desire to...how did you put it, my games? I only kill those who try and kill me or my crew or my creatures...and you haven’t done any of that. So I will ask you again more direct. Why are you on the Glory? Also known as the Shadowstrike? If it is to find answers then hopefully I can help...but if it’s to shed blood then the only blood you will get is mine so...” a wave of light headedness hit her and she reached and grabbed the bar.

She closed her eyes and fought to get her level back. Then she muttered “and why come here if your a knight? We have no fight with the knight family of...fang it father taught the line to me...” she rubbed her temples trying to remember. “Ibanez was the bloodline of knights who...guarded something...I should have paid more attention...” now she was closer the prisoner would see she didn’t look well up close.

She sighed and muttered “three attacks in two weeks and I’m useless...at least this one is polite...”

[caliban22]

Dominic tenses when his last name is spoken " Ibanez knights? Not big on news are you...no we are traitors...or so lord Reynolds claims. Had our title and land taken...many of the family were...the few who survive..." He says bitterly after a moment he continues " our family watched the eastern boarders for generations. Defending from both enemy kingdoms, barbarian hordes....even civil war....my family paid with BLOOD AND LIVES! " he shouts. Dominic clears his throat quickly and continues "My life is forfeit..." He mutters as he sees the woman lean against the bars.

Silently he watches before muttering " hmm a motion sick captain... That's a first, how did one such as you make it this far in captaining a ship?"

[MegaraFoxfire]

Avery laughed darkly and said “that’s right...the falsely accused ones...dad burned the newspaper that day...we were out at sea at the time...I think he was friends with one of them before he left the military...swore for days that they were wrong...watchers of the dark waters, that’s what dad nicked named your family...my mind isn’t sharp right now you will have to pardon me” she tried to stand straight, looking pale and a few beads of sweat running down her face. “Not sea sick...I hate land. No I guard a dangerous thing that no one must find for their darkest thoughts will end them...and it’s taking a toll with the no sleep I’ve had for weeks and my ship being attacked by would be assassins wanting my head.”

She frowned t his words and said “no life is forfeit...no matter how dark things look...every life is important to someone...even if you have never met...” she moved back and said “are you here to hurt my crew?”

[caliban22]

Dominic chuckles "attacks you say? By who and for what purpose? What is it you care that has you so worried?" He asks as he stands again. "As for your crew I have no desire to hurt them but if they desire a fight I won't back down...you said your father knew of my family...who was he? I assume he was a sailor or something of that nature? Or perhaps a captain since my parents rarely got close to enlisted persons..." He says with a slight chuckle as he casually walks over to the captain. "You seem very Ill...for what its worth... I...hope you feel better soon." He says awkwardly.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Avery sighed and said “I have something I have to finish hunting down to restore my fathers honor...He was Captain Coppershade...he left the military about ten years ago and formed this crew...” she stood up for a minute and looked at him, thinking. Then she said “since you mean no harm...and I’m guessing you are on a mission of your own...what can I do to help you? Can I let you out?”

Another wave of weakness hit her and she flinched and grabbed the bar again. She closed her eyes and said “this is not a good time for this...” she took a deep breath and looked back at the prisoner. “I’m Avery by the way...or captain Coppershade...my father passed so I took over the crew.”

[caliban22]

Dominic chuckles "I'm Dominic Ibanez... For what that's worth, yes you can let me out...let's make a deal... I will work for you... Make some money and help you out in the process." He asks "at least until I make enough to achieve my own goals." He says "I'm well trained in fire arms and conventional blades... If you would be so kind as throwing in a razor blade and clothes... Its been months since I have shaved...or worn clothes that were found in a prison." He said with a slight laugh as the pulls at a loose thread in the ragged and torn pants. "Prison isn't an easy life..."

[MegaraFoxfire]

Avery smiled and whistled with her fingers in her mouth. A few moments later they heard metal on metal and Engine ran over to his master, holding a bag. She smiled and knelt down, pulling the bag off of the metal foxes back and slipped into the bars.

“I had a feeling...” she hit the code in the door and opened the cell door. “When your all cleaned up find my first mate, Dante. He will get you all set up.” She stepped back and started to leave. “I’ll be in my cabin if you need anything...welcome to the Shadowstrike Mr. Dominic” she left the brig, feeling better mentally but physically her body begged for rest and relief

[caliban22]

After a short time, Dominic stepped out onto the deck of the ship. Dressed in worn but still usable clothes. It had taken a while but he had managed to cut his hair and shave his beards. 'Well time to get to work' he thought as he asked around for the first mate. It was an odd experience for one such as him to be taking orders again, the last time he had to follow orders was when he was training to be a knight. A slight smile crossed his lips as he thought about his time at the academy. He thought of his knight instructor, knight commander Vera Lowe, she had taken him under her wing. She had basically become family. Sure she came from a different order and family, but she had been good to him. Since his arrest there had been no word of what happened to the commander. Dominic hoped she was alright, left alone from the purge of his family.

After a few minutes of backwards searching, Dominic found himself face to the first mate. "Reporting for workduty boss." He say only half jokingly, he may not be part of the crew, but he would be sure as feth work like them.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Dante has Engine by his side at the helm, watching the crew working. He had gotten a note from Avery about the new crew member and saw him and came down to meet him.

He held out his hand and said “Names Dante. Captain explained the new orders for ya. She wants you to work with the weapons master and my new order is you are going to be the captains bodyguard. She’s had three attempts on her life in two weeks and last time we were too slow. When your not working in the weapons shop you are to be with the captain. Understood?”

Avery was back to working on charts at the huge table in the middle of her cabin. She coughed hard suddenly, her eyes looking dull with dark shadows. She heard a dark chuckle from behind her and she closed her eyes. “Shut up you...I’m busy...”

[caliban22]

Dominic nods as he shakes the first mates hand. " Dominic... Body guard to the captain? Very well then...Am I to be issued weapons for this task? Also where is the weapons master? I'm not used to the lay out of the ship, my apologizes" he says awkwardly. His family had always been a costal estate so he knew basic sailing, but he knew little about legitimate seafair trade, including standard lay out of bigger ships.
at least it isn't for life... Make some coin, then rebuild...then vengeance for everyone... he thought grimly as he attempted to listen the first mate.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Dante turned him to the front of the ship and said “weapon master it next to the captains cabin. You will answer to Lady Iris. She’s busy with role call but she can give you weapons when you get there. She has mostly anything you can think of so don’t be afraid to ask her.”

He looked at Dominic and said “but...if you screw up or cause any harm on board...you won’t live to screw up again. Understand?”

[caliban22]

Dominic Smiles "I have no reason to harm anyone here, so you don't need to worry about me..though if any crew try to harm me I will defend myself." he says honestly. Dominic was determined to stay on the good side of the captain, she had taken a chance on him not trying to kill anyone. He knew that even if he wanted to, that there were at least a dozen people around him ready to defend the ship. 'Besides, I like that captain... Reminds me of Mari when we were kids... he thought sadly as he thought of the locket of he and his late love "I'm Sorry." me uttered before he remembered he wasn't alone.
"Very well I shall head to work then sir." Dominic said professionally as he turned to leave, making every attempt to ignore the impulse to pull out the locket and play with the broken chain.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Dante saw the chain in his fingers and added as he turned “cap could fix that for you. She’s very handy with metal...till later Mr Dominic” he walked back to the helm, shaking his head. His loved captain. Always takingnin the lost souls.

In the weapons bay no one was in the front till he rang a bell. He heard a shout “hold on a moment!” Then a loud thud then a tall woman walked out from behind the shelves. She looked like an Amazon, with a leather vest over a tank top and her hair in small braids. She raised an eyebrow and asked “and who might you be?”

[caliban22]

Dominic chuckled softly at the comment 'Perhaps with time' he thought before he turned and left.

Dominic raised an eyebrow at the amazon woman 'wow...she is...kinda...Tall as feth...' he thought as he had to actually look up to look the woman in the eyes. 'She could easily lift me and then some...' He thought slightly amused.
"I was told to report here?" He said with an anxious chuckle "I'm Dominic Ibanez, I'm...Kind of...New..."