Pirates: A new beginning

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Lark noticed the captain and his escorts had returned. He saw Arvin give Sol a demanding look, and the man walked away. Before he could get far, though, Lark grabbed his shoulder.

"Please, sir. I be guessing your off to see the captain, yes? Well, I be wondering if you can ask him for a little meeting, just so i could have a chat with him, fill him in on what he needs to know about me. You thinks it's possible?"

 

Sol was shocked when the big man grabbed his shoulder, and he his fist nearly flew out to hit the bigger man. He stopped himself quickly. It was more the suprise than anything that had him clenching his fist.

"I don't know if he needs to know more about you - and I don't know why you witsh to tell him more about yourself - but I'll run it by him." Sol shook off the man's shoulder and headed for the cabin.

 

Lark watched Sol as he turned back to the cabin. He had said enough. Hopefully Arvin would agree to 'talk' with him.

 

Diego wandered towards to Captains Cabin, wondering what the man was wanting with Sol when he grabbed his shoulder, he was sure he saw Sol clench his fist as if to punch.

As Diego entered the cabin, he asked Arvin
"So what did Marius want?"

 

Feeling rattled by Alexa's cold reply... he felt even more unsettled as he headed for his cabin. This whole buisness was giving him a deepening sickened feeling, and it seemed to be getting worse.

Once inside, he let everyone find a perch, and walked over to the window. Staring out, he could see the devastation drifting along behind. Watching the motion of the waves, he tried to let it settle his mind. Now was a time for contemplation, not a time to be wrapped up in his inner turmoil.

Looking across to Diego, he smiled ruefully. "Marius.... he be... offering somethin'. Somethin' that be takin' a lot of thought. What I be tellin' ye now dont be laevin' this room. I dont be wantin' the crew to get wind of it, and I certainly dont want them considering it, until we be knowin' what we might be doin'.

Marius be offerin' gold. And lots of it. Seems he be wantin' us to take part in a raid. One that could make us very rich. And one that could be leavin' us very dead. I dont know if I be trustin' Marius, and I certainly dont be trustin' him once the raid be done. However... this be somthin' I be needin' to think about. Whatever comes though... we be havin' a chance to make some gold... of that I be assurin' ye.

The target... be the Caliph o' Persia. Seems he be havin' a big convoy o' ships. loaded with booty. But they be havin' escort. That's where we be comin' in. Fer now... I need to be thinkin' on this. And I need to be thinkin' about Marius."

 

Sol thought about it a moment. "I doubt we can trust this Marius at all. This all feels wrong. He's killed our crewmen and stolen our gold. Now he want's us to help him. I don't like it at all, but I'll go with you if that is what you want to do Arvin."

 

Looking to Sol, Arvin smiled inside. Yes... he would make a fine QuaterMaster... and Captain one day.

"I be thankin' ye Sol. Fer now... there be somethin' I need to be thinkin' about. Somethin' Marius be sayin' to me, it be naggin' at me. I'm sure that I be gettin' to it though."

Turning back to stare out the window, he slowly spoke, without turning back. "This whole mess has me worried. Be there anything else? If not... I be needin' a moment alone with Alexa."

 

Sol nodded. "It seems you haven't quite made up your mind on the matter. When you do, I'll inform the crew." Sol bowed to Arvin and took his leave, not looking behind him to see if Diego followed.

 

Arvin just stood there... and watched the waves as the others left. Filled with uncertainty, he felt like he was losing grip on his sanity. Not only had he been offered a chance at more gold than he had ever seen, he also saw the kraken that was poised to strike if he moved to take it. On top of that... he had to deal with this next conversation. One he didnt want to have to have. Even so... it could make all the difference in his decisions. Sighing, he turned around, and looked ruefully at Alexa.

"I be sorry if ye be thinkin' I be trying to... protect ye. I know ye can be lookin' after yerself, and I know why ye be feelin' sick. It be the babe growin inside ye. I KNOW that! And if it be wrong of me to care fer yer well bein' then tell me now. Fer it be better if we be straight from the start.

And about bein straight... I have somethin' difficult to be raisin' with ye. When I be takin yer dagger, I showed it to Marius. I wanted to be findin out about the owner. Given its distinctive crest, and the likelyhood it be part of a set, then the owner be carryin more o' them. From what ye be sayin', this man be more noticable than a boil on yer man o' war! So if he be with Pete... then I be sure Marius would know of him.

And that be the problem. He said he didnt. Now I be trustin' Marius less than I be trustin' a freetown whore not to give me the clap... but I be needin' to know. Are ye SURE? When ye be wantin' to follow the man whose dagger that be... are you SURE he be sailin' on Pete's ship? Look me in the eyes and be tellin' me, because I have to know. It could be all the difference."

 

Reeves saw Lark speak to Sol, and bristled; What was the man saying? He could not hear properly, not with the blood rushing in his ears and the wind not being in his favor. Had the other decided that betrayal would be the best course for him?


Reeves fingered the dagger in its sheath, feeling the familiar weight and the lack-of-weight where the other knife should have been.

You just watch out, Lark he mused, One mis-step will be one too many.

edit: typos

[ November 06, 2004, 21:57: Message edited by: Arabwel ]

 

Alexa looked sheepishly at Arvin. Her reaction had stemmed from a desire to appear strong in front of the crew.

She met his gaze, thinking of what she knew about the man who captured her. "I am sure of what I heard. He said that he would 'sail off with Black Pete come the morn'. That night, I managed to escape. As for the dagger, I know that there is one other like it, and, as far as I know, he has it still. That is all I know."

She walked over to Arvin and took his hand gently. "As for the other, I want you to care, Arvin. Before... everything, I was treated as a possession, a prize. No one cared about me, they saw me as a trinket, like a ring or a statuette."

[ November 06, 2004, 23:10: Message edited by: Laiwethel ]

 

Arvin looked at Alexa, and brushed his hand down her cheek. "A prize, I can be understandin'. Heh, but to treat ye like ye would a ring... that I'll ne'er do. I've seen gold, rubys, and gems alike. And I tell ye what. They dont warm the heart, not the way ye do."

Looking into her hazel eyes, he ran his hand accross her brow, brushing aside the wisps of hair. Leaning into her, he slowly leant down, and their lips met. As he kissed her, he felt a jolt run down his spine. Drawing her close, her scent filled his senses bringing warmth to his heart. When their lips parted, he felt.. joy. He hadnt felt this way for a long long time. Smiling at Alexa... he almost struggled to find words.

"I care about ye Alexa... and I'll not treat ye like a possesion. This be a pirate ship... and that kind of thing just dont belong. No... here... here yer'll have as much say as anyone, and me respect. I'll not shield ye, nor horde ye. Just care about ye."

 

Alexa smiled at Arvin, grateful for his words. She brushed her lips against his gently, savouring the feeling, then pulled back. "Thank you. For everything."

She grimaced as the nausea set in again. "Arvin, I must rest soon, but before I do, I must ask. Did you find out anything at all from Marius?"

 

Sighing with vexation, Arvin walked over to his window. "Aye... I be learnin' something. And I be sure it be important. Ye see, Yer sure about that man's whereabouts, and I be believin' ye. Which means that I dont be trustin' Marius."

Turning back, he looked at Alexa, smiling ruefully.

"The thing is, he be givin' Pete up. After the raid, he dont really be carin' what Pete and I be doin'. We can be blowin' each other up fer all he cares. He dont have any loyalty to Pete. So why cover fer a member of his crew? What does Marius have to gain by protectin' one of Pete's crew?"

As he uttered the last sentance, he started to feel a sickening inside himself. "One of Pete's crew. He's not one of Pete's crew... he be one of MARIUS' crew!"

With that thought, he felt like everything had just gotten worse. If Marius would hire someone like the monster that tortured Alexa, let alone Black Pete... No he didnt feel good at all.

"I dont be knowin' what this means, but we be up a whale's arse without a harpoon, that's where we be right now."

Sighing, he realised that they'd have to go along with things... for the moment.

"I'll be lettin' ye get some rest... I be needin' to think on this."

Walking over to Alexa, he put his arms gently around her waist, and kissed her once again. Smiling at her, they walked to the door. Opening it for Alexa, he let her leave first. Walking out onto deck, he let Alexa head off to her cabin. Surveying the deck, he observed the bustle of activity. The mood semed a little tense at the moment, and filled with uncertainty. About to walk back into his cabin, he saw one of the newer crew members looking at him... as if he wanted to talk, but was unsure. Intrigued, Arvin walked over to where the man stood.

Looking the man up and down, he didnt really recognise him. Must be one of the men that hired on in freetown. Trying to recall his name... he nodded to him. Larkin... Larks... no Lark. That's what Turk had said his name was.

"Ye be lookin' a bit out o' sorts? what be troublin' ye Lark?"

 

Marius returned Halvn's glance briefly, then returned his gaze to the longboat that was bringing Mr. Mullen back to the Devastation.
"We have our third ship," he replied. "Come morning, we sail east."

 

Reeves growled, as he saw Lark talking to DeGrath.

Slowly, as unpbtrusively as possible he moved closer, his eyes ttrained on Lark's lips to read the man's words if he couldn't hear them. If the damned oaf turned traitor...

Reeves loosened the dagger in his wrist sheath. In that case, he'd make sure the traitor wouldn't live long enough to see the fruits of his labor.

 

Lark stepped back from the door he had been waiting at as captain Arvin De Grath appeared.

"I be wanting to talk to you, capt'n. I just wanted to tell you... I'm very happy to... Um... Hi, my name is Lark!" What was he doing? What was Wrong? He couldn't say it!

Lark had blown it. He could tell, by the look on Arvin's face, that the man knew something was up.

"...And I am a... very...very good person for...your crew...capt'n. Well... i had better go now..." Lark turned away, but he knew he would feel a hand on his arm, pulling him back. Any moment now....

[ November 07, 2004, 08:41: Message edited by: Lantus ]

 

At Marius's reply Halvn couldn't help but show his glee, he had been waiting for this moment for ages. He would finally get his break, he would finally be has rich as he had always dreamed. He could perhaps even ditch the life of a pirate.

 

Reeves cursed; the fool was indeed a fool. Quickly, he walked to Lark and laid a hand on the man’s arm, squeezing it in a warning manner. “I… I am sorry, Captain, if my friend bothered you. Lark here is a good man but not the brightest there is, if you know what I mean, sir,”

Fervently, he hoped that his wide-eyed act would work on the captain… but he could not let the oaf endanger them both.

He did his best to smile nervously, trying to hide the urge to slam a knife into the man’s groin for daring to touch his Little Flame.

 

Stopping Lark from moving, Arvin fixed the newest addition to the conversation with a glare. "And who be askin' ye? I be wantin' to talk to this man, and that be me right as Captain. Now if ye please, Yer'll excuse us."

Turning to look at Lark... he narrowed his eyes. "Me cabin... NOW!"

Guiding the man inside his cabin, he gestured him towards a chair.

"Ye think I be born yesterday? I've seen a novice cutpurse look less shifty than ye. What be goin' on?"

[ November 07, 2004, 10:53: Message edited by: Takara ]