Truepirate

CassyK/Truepirate

She shook her head, “I can do without them until I get home. I just need them for reading and well, the book will be with you and I’ll be on my way back to England. There’s no point in buying a new pair, besides I’ll need what money I get from my engagement ring to get passage back home.” Elissa shook her head. She was glad to hear that they hadn’t been attacked, that meant her men were safe. Safe from Joseph at least. She looked to him with an upset expression when he said they’d be in France by that night. She had hoped to spend more time with him. “So soon?” She blinked back tears, she wasn’t ready for him to be out of her life so quickly. “I...I guess I should go get my dress, so I can change once we arrive. I won’t be able to buy proper passage home looking like this.”

Elissa felt like her heart was being torn from her chest. She knew the day would come that they’d part once more, but she had hoped that it would have taken a little longer to get to France. She gave a small sigh and started for the door to go and collect her things. It was fine that Rhea would hear her out but why bother with them being so close to France? She felt their minds couldn’t be changed now and that Rhea listening to what she had to say was just a kind gesture on Joseph’s part, but it would mean nothing, they’d still leave her there.

CassyK/Truepirate

A little while after Joseph returned Elissa began to stir. Without opening her eyes, she stretched and yawned before adjusting to doze back off. Her movement caused the book to fall to the floor with a thud. Startled awake, Elissa sat up. She looked around in a slight panic before her gaze fell on Joseph. Her face flushed with embarrassment. “Sorry.” She muttered, bending to pick the book up. “How long have you been back?” She wondered how long she’d been asleep, but knew that he wouldn’t know that answer. Elissa walked over to the desk and sat the book down. “It was good, what little I read. Without my glasses the words got blurry and I got a headache. I had to stop.” She didn’t know why she was explaining it to him, but she felt like she should.

Elissa frowned when she noticed his hand. She was certain it hadn’t been like that earlier. “Are you alright? What happened?” Her voice and furrowed brows showed her concern for the minor injury. “Were we attacked? Did I sleep through something like that?” She questioned just how tired she had been. Attacks were common for merchant ships, dissent among the crew was not, so her mind immediately went to the concern that they had been attacked. A knot formed in her stomach as she worried that it was her own crew doing the attacking in an attempt to save her.

CassyK/Truepirate

None that I can think of. Not unless you want her and Joseph to talk more.

CassyK/Truepirate

Elissa watched him go before sitting down to read the book. It didn’t take long for her eyes to start bothering her. She knew not to read without her glasses, but was so bored and lonely she was desperate for something to do to pass the hours until Joseph came back. She closed the book and moved to the windows, looking out at the sea. The feeling of being a prisoner finally setting in as she gazed out the window. She couldn’t go where she liked on the ship, couldn’t help out with sailing, and would be abandoned the moment they reached France. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on her knees.

Elissa thought Joseph believed her now about them being friends, but that hadn’t really changed anything. Her mind began to wander back to the earlier events before breakfast, a flush coming to her cheeks. That moment had been nice, she just wished it had lasted longer. With a sigh she moved back to the couch to try reading some more. The story was interesting, at least the little part she had read. Slowly, however, her eyes got blurry again and she dozed off, the book resting open on her chest.

CassyK/Truepirate

“I mean, well jumbled. You said that the words and letters would move about on the page and switch places with one another. A d may look like a b or visa versa. You said that was why you couldn’t read.” She said with a shrug of her shoulders. “I know it caused you problems with reading but it wasn’t that big of a deal. It didn’t ruin our friendship or anything. Everyone has problems with something.” She’d never made a big deal about his inability to read, she’d found a way around it when they’d been younger by reading to him. Elissa hadn’t judged him for it and still didn’t judge him. To her the issue was unimportant, it was part of who he was and she accepted him that way. “My eyes have gotten bad over the years, I have to wear glasses to read. I dot have to wear them all the time, thankfully. They are a bit of a pain.” Elissa was oblivious to how he felt about her knowing that he had problems reading. She didn’t realize what she had said had made him nervous.

“You should probably head off to do your job. I’ll see you at noon.” She smiled. “Oh here, don’t forget to eat your orange.” She picked it up from the table and held it out to him. “Your doctor will get you if you don’t eat it.” Elissa smiled up at him, adoration still in her eyes.

CassyK/Truepirate

Her and Blayne are not going to get along! Especially after he hurts Joseph.

CassyK/Truepirate

Let me fix my reply!

CassyK/Truepirate

“I’d trust you over someone I didn’t know.” Elissa smiled. “You designed my last tattoo. I did think about a rose, it’s my ship’s name and my mother’s name. I thought about a star or a constellation, but I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Anything is better than this mark.”

“I know you can’t read well. You told me when we were younger and I offered to teach you to read. You told me the words get jumbled up. I used to read you stories after that. I’d read this to you but I know I won’t get far.” She said. “I don’t have my glasses so reading is slow for me. The words are fuzzy and I have to hold the book at arms length. Then the words are small.” Elissa laughed. “I’ll tell you what I’ve read though, that way you can enjoy it too.” She smiled and picked up the book. She didn’t want him to leave, but she knew he had duties to attend to, he was the captain after all. “Will you tell Rhea I’m sorry if I did anything to anger her? I promise it wasn’t on purpose.” She’d try to get along with the woman, even if it was only for Joseph’s sake. “I’ll see you later then.”

CassyK/Truepirate

“Yeah, coincidence.” She said, it was a coincidence that he’d remembered it and had it tattooed. “I guess I could go back to Italy and get another one. I just don’t know what I’d get or if I’d trust someone to see this mark. Finding someone to keep my secret will be a challenge. I guess you don’t know how to make tattoos do you? I wonder what I should get, what would you suggest?” She’d thought about getting another rose, it had been her mother’s name and was the name of her ship. She wasn’t good at thinking up designs, Joseph had made the last one.

She looked back down at the book as she fixed her shirt. “You haven’t read it?” She asked, her fingers lightly brushing the cover. “I’ll admit most of the books I’ve read have been about trade or to learn about another country and their language. I’m not familiar with the more entertaining books.” She smiled. “I look forward to reading it while you work.” Elissa wished she could help on the ship but it seemed clear he didn’t want that. She still technically was his captive. “Will I see you for noon meal or do you share it with your men?” If they’d be in France in a day or so there wasn’t much time for her to be in his company.

CassyK/Truepirate

Elissa opened the drawer and pulled the book out. “Don Quixote? I don’t think I’ve read this one before.” She said, looking it over. Elissa looked up as he began to change, a slight blush coming to her face. Oh, he was handsome. Elissa looked away once she realized she been staring, but not before she noticed the tattoo and gave a small gasp. “We have the same tattoo.” She knew they’d planned out to get the same one but that had been years ago before she was old enough or bold enough to get one. It warmed her heart that he’d gotten it, even if he didn’t remember the meaning behind it.

Elissa sat the book down on the desk and moved her shirt so that he could see her tattoo. She didn’t know that he’d gotten a glimpse of it earlier. “See? I have the rose and ships wheel too.” She wouldn’t explain more about it unless he asked questions. “It’s the only one I have, but I have planned to get more. Maybe not as many as you have, but a few. I thought about seeing if someone could cover up the brand on my neck. I just don’t know what to get.” Elissa wondered how he would respond to them having the same tattoo. She would do all she could to not upset him again. She wouldn’t push for him to remember.