Tokara

[18+] Pirates (Chicogal & megatrash)

Hexes and curses. Magic. Alice's lips pursed. It was the sort of thing one did not hear about often in her society. The closest they'd had was a fool from a foreign territory; he was the high-class fool, the type who entertained with wit and tricks. He'd performed the most delightful magic by making a woman seem to disappear! In any case, that type of magic had quite the different feel to the dingy, dark feel of a witch's cave. She was glad to be outside, in the sun again. It was having an effect on her pale English skin; her exposed collarbones and the tip of her nose were beginning to turn red from the past couple of days.

She took the leather bag with an air of surprise, mouth forming a small, 'o.' She'd never actually been given money to spend on herself. Usually her father went with her to the shops, or a chaperone with her father's money. The freedom the small satchel gave her... It was quite astonishing. Everything about this place was free, including him. "Of course I'll wait," she murmured, quite taken aback and a little stunned. She tucked it into the pocket of her long skirt, then let him take her hand. The walk along was beautiful, truth be told. And the place he lead her to, even moreso. It was just like her own place, back home...

"It's stunning," she said honestly. Ten years? Such a long time on the sea. Creeping forward with her hand still in his, she peered forward - it certainly was a steep drop. Letting out a soft squeak of fright, she stumbled backward and bumped into him. Turning around, she found herself quite close to Victor's chest. The top of her head came to about his collarbone. "Sorry," she apologised. But she didn't step away, a little bit mesmerised truth be told, as she looked up at him. All he had to do was lean down and...

Fates of Fighters

Amelie was concerned by how the young man was acting; and what he was saying, as well. He was confused, dazed, shocked by the condition of his leg. Her heart squeezed in her chest. He was German. He was a Nazi. He was the enemy. And he was human. She looked at his nametag, leaning forward to take it between her fingers. She tried to discern the letters amongst dirt and blood. Sigurd. Fahnrich Sigurd. She didn't know if the first word was an honorific, such as Frau, or if it was his first name. In any case, Sigurd was part of his name. As she thought, he spoke again, voice gravelly and rough and accented.

Blinking at his words, she couldn't help but blush a bit and glance away. It was a very kind compliment, from a handsome young man, to be sure. "Merci," she replied, looking back at him shyly. "Merci, Sigurd." She switched back to German, figuring he'd probably understand more in this state - even if she didn't completely make sense. "Your leg was broken. I try to fix it, but I not doctor." She looked apologetic, almost pleading for him to understand. "I try. It looks fixed. I have fixed a cow's leg before." Hopefully he wouldn't hate her for what she had done. Sigurd might have arthritis or pain for the rest of his life, if she hadn't done it quite right. But if he lived long enough to experience that - surely it was better than dying now? "I am sorry."

[18+] Pirates (Chicogal & megatrash)

Alice glanced sideways at Vic, slightly suspicious after his announcement. He wanted to take her off somewhere separate? That was strange. She couldn't think of anything that he'd want with her. Although, her imagination caused the scene of him whisking her around a corner, hands on her waist and lips close... Casting the forbidden image from her mind, she cleared her throat and continued on next to him. The purpose was nothing of the kind that she'd imagined (of course). It seemed that he wanted to take her to a woman, for whatever reason. At his teasing, she glanced up, angry for just a moment - before realising it was humour. She gave him the lightest slap across his arm, shaking her head with a grin.

The woman was strange, indeed. Alice watched her with some reserve as Esmeralda peered around. Some sort of message seemed to pass between her and Victor after a moment, and she was quite intrigued. The whole situation was bizarre. From the looks of it, she was some kind of witch - she'd heard of them. Women had been burned for witch-craft. It was in places like these that they took shelter. A shiver ran down Alice's spine at the thought - had Esmeralda cursed her?

She walked alongside Victor again on the street, head bowed slightly. "Probably," she murmured, eyebrows furrowed as she took in the dusty road beneath their feet. The presence of his hand on his back was distracting - in a good way. But she glanced up at him, head tilted back. His face was hard to see due to the sun behind his head. "Why did you take me there?" she asked directly. Since her time with him and the crew, she'd become more direct. Or maybe that was just the effect of having been around him for a while.

[18+] Pirates (Chicogal & megatrash)

Alice didn't have to wait for Tiny to come and fetch her. Instead, Victor came to her. Somehow, she knew it was him before he even opened the door - and that was when she realised. She knew the sound of his walk. It was the slight swagger that lead to his slow pace that covered large distance due to his stature, and the way his feet lingered on the ground. It was lazy and relaxed and confident. In other words, Vic. She turned away from the window as he started to speak to her, and her own mouth opened when... oh. That had been unexpected.

He was just standing there, bare chested and bold in the doorway. His tousled brown hair was messy, and he still seemed to exude sleepiness. The lines on his chest, both pale faded scars and black tattoos, made a mosaic across muscles she'd rarely gazed at before. What was this feeling, in the pit of her stomach and to the left of her chest? Why was her longing so strong? Clearing her throat, she glanced away. No wonder the girls here threw themselves at him. Perhaps she was starting to understand their mentality. "I-I'll be joining you," she finally managed, trying not to look too much at his torso. He seemed to be looking at her quite piercingly too; probably in her imagination. She walked toward him, passing by Vic to stand in the passageway. A hand subconsciously brushed against her pendant. It was bizarre, to think that he'd bought this for her.

[18+] Pirates (Chicogal & megatrash)

Alice didn't have to wait for Tiny to come and fetch her. Instead, Victor came to her. Somehow, she knew it was him before he even opened the door - and that was when she realised. She knew the sound of his walk. It was the slight swagger that lead to his slow pace that covered large distance due to his stature, and the way his feet lingered on the ground. It was lazy and relaxed and confident. In other words, Vic. She turned away from the window as he started to speak to her, and her own mouth opened when... oh. That had been unexpected.

He was just standing there, bare chested and bold in the doorway. His tousled brown hair was messy, and he still seemed to exude sleepiness. The lines on his chest, both pale faded scars and black tattoos, made a mosaic across muscles she'd rarely gazed at before. What was this feeling, in the pit of her stomach and to the left of her chest? Why was her longing so strong? Clearing her throat, she glanced away. No wonder the girls here threw themselves at him. Perhaps she was starting to understand their mentality. "I-I'll be joining you," she finally managed, trying not to look too much at his torso. He seemed to be looking at her quite piercingly too; probably in her imagination. She walked toward him, passing by Vic to stand in the passageway. A hand subconsciously brushed against her pendant. It was bizarre, to think that he'd bought this for her.

[18+] Pirates (Chicogal & megatrash)

Alice was not too sure of what she wanted to do this day. Of course, she was still shaken and feeling a little poorly. But was it any show of strength to hide away in her room? If she allowed such a thing to upset her to the extent of becoming a hermit, then it would be a poor show of any sort of nobility. She could not allow the world to downtrod her spirits so much. She continued eating after Victor left, even sinking her teeth into an apple. A couple of the men had glanced over to see her neck, and Tiny sat down next to her with a big smile. They talked idly for a little while, although he was occasionally distracted by the scantily-clad girls.

"Let Victor know, when he emerges, that I am to join him," she told Tiny. He nodded eagerly, eyes bright (and ever dipping down). She nodded back at him politely before walking back to her room. She winced slightly at the noises coming from behind some of the doors - most terribly vulgar. Would she be expected to make such noise one day, to her (probably ugly and elderly) husband? Dear lord, please no. She couldn't imagine doing that - surely nothing felt so good as to induce those sounds? Her cheeks dusted pink as she closed the door behind her, heading to the window. The girl peered out at the world before her, marvelling slightly at the sights and sounds of freedom.

[18+] Pirates (Chicogal & megatrash)

Alice did not sleep so easily that night. In fact, she barely slept at all. After the fright she’d had, she was awake at every bump in the night. And this wasn’t exactly the quietest of households, either. Every time, she looked across to see the large figure of Victor spread across her floor. It was a very comforting sight. Somehow, his presence made her feel safer than that of any hired guard. He... really did seem to care for her wellbeing. When she came to her senses in the morning, he had already left her. She frowned a little, disappointment welling in her chest. Hold on- she hadn't actually been wanting to see him in the morning, had she? Oh, well. To be honest, she wondered what he would look like in the morning. Perhaps actually vulnerable, maybe even cute...

Letting her imagination run free for a bit, she rose from the bed and dragged on her clothing. The open wound on her neck was still sore, and she let out a soft gasp as the material of her shirt was pulled over it. "Shit," she hissed, then immediately thought better of it. What was getting into her? She was forgetting that she was a lady, in these rough areas with rough people. It wouldn't do to forget where she came from if she was going back. The incident from last night had made her jumpy, but she still recalled how Victor had hugged her. He'd felt so strong and yet so soft and warm, one hand gripping her arm tightly. It was the sort of thing that girls like her dreamed about - forbidden and attractive. She hesitantly pulled a brush through her hair, unused to having to do such things herself. The pendant on her neck was still there, warm against her skin. A bit of blood had leaked down onto it, and she had to scrape it off with a nail.

Alice could now remember the way down to the dining hall, and she wondered how many more days she'd be remembering it. If all went well with her father, one or two more. Then she'd be back. And she didn't know how she felt about that. Feeling a little troubled on the inside, she entered the rowdy dining room. Giving Tiny a small wave (he seemed to be staring at her bosom a little less), she made her way to Victor's side. The sight of the serving girls made her a little jealous, to be honest. To think of what they did with him, how they made him feel - she had no right to think of these things, but they pervaded her thoughts nonetheless. She took a plate and the same as yesterday; bread and a sausage. "Good morning," she greeted Vic evenly, glancing at him. "Did you sleep alright...?" It couldn't have been comfortable on the wooden floor.

[18+] Pirates (Chicogal & megatrash)

Alice watched him go, and she wasn't all that much surprised when he came back bearing a bottle of rum. She'd expected that he was getting something to comfort him. He was still laughing, but not with all that much humour as he'd had before. She shook her head at his offer. She didn't want to lose control over herself again tonight, to anything. It was slightly surreal. Maybe this was all a dream - showing her what silly desires could lead to. The world outside of her safety bubble was scary and dangerous. It wasn't the sort of place where she belonged. But Vic... She looked at him when he talked, memorising each line in his face, the graceful sweep of his jaw and high cheekbones. If she never saw him again, she wanted to remember him. Like this, a hero in some strange way... She was sympathising with her kidnapper, and she knew it. But the past few days of her life had been more alive than any others.

Her face and tone registered surprise when he spoke about returning her. "You will?" she murmured softly. And she looked at him for a bit more. Pirates weren't all that the stories made them out to be. People... Were people. No matter where they came from, they could be brave or cowardly, gentlemanly or crude. And she could like Victor, even if he was a pirate and her kidnapper. For he'd shown himself to be far more than the labels that she'd stuck on him. "Thank you." The moon shone down through the open window, curtains flapping gently in the night wind. The pale glow made even him look ghostly. For a moment, she hesitated, before lying down as well. Her breath bated, she let one of her arms droop over the bed. Her fingers brushed the wooden floor. Alice didn't always sleep like that. Maybe she just wanted to be a little closer to him. She'd seen the expression on his face, the haunted look of someone who'd lost their way and was doubting themselves.

[18+] Pirates (Chicogal & megatrash)

Alice was slightly relieved when Vic relented, burly arms wrapping around her. It was an unfamiliar sensation, but it was comforting. She relaxed slightly in his warmth and scent, closing her eyes and leaning her face into his shoulder. She just stayed like that as he held her, not thinking about anything at all. His shirt came away slightly wet from her tears. She nodded slowly at his suggestion, fingertips tracing her wound again. A battlescar. Marring her pale skin, that she'd been instructed to protect - for marriage, her father had said. She had to look beautiful, to entrance the highest stature of man. Yet here she was, amongst the lowest. She shook her head at his question.

Alice blinked as he wiped at her wound with the wet fabric, wincing as he continued on. It stung, but it cleaned the wound - and it was surprisingly caring of him. She hadn't expected such a thing from Victor (although it was still a little bit gross). She watched him as he took down extra bedding, quiet as a mouse as she sat on the edge of the bed. As he became comfortable next to her, she swung her legs back up again and sighed softly. Then she wriggled herself down until she was lying down again, on her side and facing him. This was... a strange arrangement. A man in her room. She'd thought that the first time this happened, it would be on her wedding night. She used to dream about some handsome prince - perhaps from France, or Germany - sweeping her off her feet at the wedding altar. How silly she'd been.

But perhaps not all princes came with titles, or fine manners. Being a prince wasn't only about that.

She stared at him in the dark for a few moments, unsure of what to say now. This was new for her, after all.

[18+] Pirates (Chicogal & megatrash)

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?