CassyK

CassyK/Truepirate

Oooh I have a plot idea once they reach France, so as you said Blaine is using Elissa’s crew to follow her, maybe they have a smaller ship or boat that’s tracking them (that’s harder for Joseph’s crew to notice), so they can follow stealthily with the main ship. Anyway, Joseph takes off once they moor and have spent the day or so unloading and flogging their loot, and Rhea’s just about to leave too but Elissa stops her - one of her crew has come to speak to her and warn her (against Blaine’s orders), Blaine had caught a good look of Joseph as he alighted (obviously Joseph doesn’t recognise him at the dock), so Blaine uses this to his advantage to corner Joseph in town with a few of his own guys, obviously with the intention to batter/kill him, 1. for kidnapping Elissa and 2. He knows who he is (a bit surprised he isn’t dead but hey, he’ll make sure it’s done properly this time). So anyway Elissa catches a hold of Rhea to tell her Joseph is in danger - I think it’s a good opportunity for them to work together and become more friendly. Obviously Elissa’s crew probably think Joseph is a bad guy, they probably don’t care that Blaine is off to murder him (he was going to go back and collect Elissa once he’d done so), but of course they want Elissa back, and think she might be pleased that Blaine is doing some dirty work, they might also have a plan to escape with Elissa, but some of Blaine’s own men are planted within the crew.

I get the feeling Blaine is probably a sadistic kind of guy, and might enjoy beating Joseph up a bit before he intends to murder him.. of course he’s cowardly enough to bring another 2 or 3 guys with him though.

Perhaps the event is enough for Joseph to start remembering whilst he’s healing? Maybe Blaine alludes to the fact Joseph should’ve been dead (but doesn’t tell him everything).

Sound good?

CassyK/Truepirate

That morning as daybreak hit Rhea had been on the rampage, some of the crew were understandably reluctant to set set sail whilst many of them were still drunk if they weren’t hungover, others disliked the orders were not coming directly from the Captain, although they knew Joseph often handed control of the ship to Rhea. Despite her small stature the woman could be terrifying, and rumours persisted that she’d forced men overboard, or shot them, for grievous insubordination in the past, thus the Morgue was in motion.

“It changes everything” Joseph expressed, he wasn’t sure quite what to say when Elissa put forward her case regarding the initial plan they had set together, although he hadn’t formally agreed to the deal, “it’s just.. better if you don’t help” he sighed, “Rhea is mad with me, trust me on that”, he sighed and sat up as Elissa curled herself on the bed, she trembled and was puffing slightly which he assumed was due to the drink and the cold. He had to find out what the hell was going on with the ship.. Joseph stood up from the bed and pulled on the boots he’d kicked off last night, he buckled the pistol around his waist. He took another look at Elissa and pulled his coat over her, “I’ll come back with some water for you, alright?” he stated, he sort of huffed to himself before he made his exit from the room.

Rhea was at the ships wheel, she eyed the surgeon as he approached and shot him a look when he enquired about Elissa, “why do you make it your business, Adam?” she asked sharply.

The waters were rockier today than yesterday, it was bright but overcast and breezy, it was unclear if it was sea spray or drizzle that dampened their clothes, skin and the surfaces of the deck, in any case, it might have come as some cool relief to the inebriated crew. Rhea had pulled on a thick coat to cope with the cooler, wet weather.

CassyK/Truepirate

Joseph drew his hands away as Elissa stirred and began to awaken, she smiled at him but seemed to be in no better condition than himself. She released her grip from the ring as she rolled over to vomit - Joseph winced, the scotch certainly did make her ill.. he’d send one of the cabin boys to clean up later. Despite her poorly condition, Elissa began to interrogate him about the ring, well, there was no denying it now..

“Alright, I have it” Joseph groaned, he lay on his back and brought his hands up to rub his face with some defeat, he sighed and placed his hands on his belly, he glanced at Elissa, “I… wasn’t ready for you to know about it” he admitted.

Joseph cleared his throat and looked away, “not long after you got here, I think” he replied as Elissa questioned him, the Captain gave a short sarcastic chuckle like a hard outward breath, “don’t worry about Rhea” he said calmly, he hadn’t yet glanced at Elissa again, but observed her as she tried to rise from the bed and fall back down weakly. She turned to him and he met her gaze, he was quiet for a moment as he studied her weary expression, “we’re going to.. set you down in France” he replied diplomatically, but there was a shred of guilt in his voice.

It was early morning but the sun had already risen some time ago, light peered through some small gaps between a few slightly warped planks of the ship’s body. The ship seemed lively in her movements, Joseph was sure she was moving.

The ship was moving?

Rhea..

CassyK/Truepirate

Urghhhhhh.. the spinning had stopped, but the overwhelming thirst and hunger was unpleasant, although he wasn’t sure he could eat. He was fairly immune to a good drink, but the dehydration had caught up with him. Joseph groaned to express his discomfort, he tried to moisten his mouth and swallowed hard, he hadn’t yet opened his eyes - he figured he was in his room, but yet that didn’t quite make sense, he could feel a warmth emanating from beside him, Rhea? No it couldn’t be Rhea. Where was he? His mind scrambled to make sense of his situation and he opened an eye and then the other to bring the figure beside him into focus.

Oh…yeah.

He examined Elissa’s face for a few moments, he let out a deep sigh - he didn’t quite want to move. No he’d better move, what if she woke up and was upset he’d joined her? Well, he’d helped her survive the night in any case, and it had been a fairly pleasant sleep for him - he always slept better being with someone, though he didn’t tell Rhea that lest he damage his reputation. He became aware of Elissa gripping the ring, his heart skipped - had she seen it or was it just some kind of reflex? He moved his arms slowly as not to disturb her, and began gently trying to prise the item from her grasp.

CassyK/Truepirate

Joseph didn’t stir as Elissa uttered his name, he seemed deeply asleep - his arms were limp and heavy and his breaths deep and slow. There was the odd flicker of movement across his face, perhaps he was dreaming? Perhaps not.

The movement of the ship seemed a little rockier now, although not turbulent. The sun would be rising once again, soon.

There seemed to be not much noise from within the ship, perhaps the revelry had ended?

CassyK/Truepirate

Ok, if you don’t like it I can change it! But I hope that’s ok … does Elissa still have the dagger in her hair I guess?

CassyK/Truepirate

The Captain and the sailing-master stood with silence between them for a few moments, Joseph let out a deep sigh through his nose, he had his hands on his hips, Rhea leaned against the wood her arms now folded across her chest, “I don’t think you pulled me away because I’m drunk” he finally stated, his heart was still beating fast, he found he wanted to look away away and did so, he brushed a hand through his hair, he’d been having a great time earlier, too.

Elissa.. his hazy mind did not quite fully consider she’d be particularly upset, but he did want to return to her.

Rhea maintained her silence and typical poker face. Joseph raised his eyebrows and shook his head, he made a move to leave, stumbling back a couple of paces to make some distance he lost his balance only a little, Rhea could tell he was going to return below deck, “she goes when we get to France” she instructed coldly, Joseph looked at her and nodded thoughtfully before walking away.

“What ‘er?” Peter looked confounded at Adam’s request, he was no babysitter, well, lady-sitter, whatever, and as much as he respected the surgeon, he weren’t the Captain. It was a request right enough, but he was having far too much fun drinking and carrying-on to be sitting all night with the drunken lass. He was about to suggest perhaps the surgeon takes the duty upon himself when Joseph appeared, placing a hand on the surgeon’s shoulder, “Adam my friend, where is Elissa?” he questioned, Adam helpfully explained the situation.

Joseph collected his pistol and coat and with a final swig of the scotch made his way through the ship to Elissa’s cabin. Hell he’d forgotten how cold these parts of the ship could get, especially after a few drinks when the initial surge of warmth had worn off and your blood felt chilled, the crew’s quarters were kept marginally warmer by sheer numbers of bodies, and generally keeping off the floor when you slept if you could. Elissa’s cabin was lit only by one carefully suspended lantern, which cast a dim flickering light which allowed for plenty of dark spots and shadows.

The door had been left ajar, Joseph cleared his throat and knocked gently, “uhh …Elissa?” he called quietly to no response, the lapping of the sea and creaking of the ship was all he could hear, he peered around the door and let himself in. He could see her laying on the bed, seemingly very fast asleep, the low light seemed to bounce off of the bright pigments of Elissa’s hair.

That scotch really was too strong for her.. “Elissa” he seemed to hiss in a whisper, but he gathered it would not be sufficient to rouse her. Perhaps it was better not to wake her? Joseph pulled a face which expressed his predicament, this was way too much thinking .. it was cold in here. He couldn’t carry her back to his quarters, not a chance, he could barely carry himself here. He placed his pistol on a table and made his way over to the other side of the bed, he looked her over for a moment before joining her, wrapping an arm around her waist as he brought himself close, he drew his heavy coat over the both of them. The ring and chain around his neck slipped into view from within his shirt.

The room spun as Joseph lay down, spinning and spinning - he tried not to think about it, he took in the smell of Elissa’s perfume which distracted him, he shortly after succumbed to sleep.

CassyK/Truepirate

Ok.. how do you want this to go? I was hoping for an opportunity for Elissa to see the ring on Joseph’s chain and call him out, and then he’d admit it, and open up a dialogue etc. but I’m not sure what to do now that Elissa is blazing lol, I can have Pete go look after her if that’s where you’re leading the scene although he’s drinking too tbf I’m not sure if he’d take up Adam’s request. Do you want Joseph to turn up at her room eventually? What are your thoughts? I have an alternative idea if Joseph goes to hers I guess, to work in her seeing the ring

CassyK/Truepirate

Ok I’ve left it a little open for what you want Elissa to do :D

CassyK/Truepirate

Joseph required little, if no encouragement from Elissa to drink more; once he started, the night was sure to go only one way - with a serious headache tomorrow, it was nice to have permission of sorts though.

“I’ll show you how I dance” Joseph affirmed with a broad grin, fixing his eyes on Elissa before he leaned in closer to her but only to better hear what the surgeon had to say, “ffs…I think his pride was hurt more than anything else” the Captain gave a deep laugh along side Adam, he sat back to his previous position. Rhea could see Joseph observing Elissa with an intense gaze whilst she spoke with the surgeon, she knew this look well, it was the look he used to give her.

She’d have to do something..

Rhea arose from her seat and made her way to the other side of the table, she stood behind Joseph and slipped her hands over his shoulders and down his chest so that her elbows rested on his shoulders, she spoke quietly in his ear farthest from Elissa and he turned his head to listen; Rhea’s curls brushed his face. Even in his drunken state, his heart seemed to drop down to his stomach and into his throat simultaneously, and it felt like it beat even harder to have her so close, to have her voice in his ear. She pulled back and gently pinched the back of his neck as she turned to leave, Joseph almost clambered over himself twisting as he bolted from the chair, “Rhea!” he swiped to grab some part of her but she was out of reach, he gave Elissa a glance before he followed after her, she led him above deck.

Rhea wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to do from here, she’d tried to warn him earlier, which didn’t seem to be quite as effective as she’d hoped, and she wasn’t quite prepared to be with Joseph, either. She should have predicted dangling Elissa whilst he drank was a bad idea, she didn’t bet on him giving her that look though, and damn the girl was too good at being cute and stoking his ego.. if she’d been contained in her room cold and alone however, that would give him ever the more reason to ‘rescue’ her.

The sun was setting which cast an evening half-light about the ship.

Joseph caught up to Rhea, and they backed into the shade of the overhang above the doors to the Captain’s quarters - it was not a conversation they wanted to have in the view of any crew that may have been lingering above deck. “What was that?” he questioned, he sort of grinned and frowned, he’d really had a lot to drink and was finding her signals a little confusing.. he was going to try, he moved in to kiss her but she pushed him back with her palms, “you’re really drunk Joseph” Rhea began, “I think you should go sleep it off” she said gently.

Rhea was usually right, Joseph considered, at least he was used to embarrassing himself with her..