Pirates! - A Closed RP

[scorpio grl]

{I figured it could be the Navy finally. Or Bartholome and they narrowly escape him. Whaddabout you?}

Nancy jerked everything away from the door roughly, quickly opening it as a smaller, less violent jolt shook the ship. She scowled and forced herself onto her own two feet again and off of the doorframe. "Blast it all," she muttered, raking her hair back as she started making her way toward Graham's cabin.

[7000dominos]

((Either is fine. You choose.))

Graham came across Nancy on their way to the cabin, meeting up with her as another violent jolt rocked the boat. He reached out to steady her.

"Are you alright?" he asked above the shouting. "Do you know what's going on? In any case, I'll be needed other places. I need you to stay with Minerva, alright?"

[scorpio grl]

{How 'bout Bartholome, then when they finally get away, the Navy? Sound good?}

{I'll post when you say Yea or Nay.}

[7000dominos]

((Yea.))


((dljfaksdfjlksdafjksdlfa))

[scorpio grl]

{Coolies.}

Nancy nodded and waved Graham off to go do as he needed, already on her mission to go aid Minerva. But something went terribly, terribly wrong:

She saw the attacking ship.

Nancy's stomach dropped and her throat constricted and she froze in place the very moment she saw the great and awful, beautiful ship seemingly racing towards them, her eyes wide with horror. Bartholome. He'd finally caught them. As another rough jerk of the ship sent her tumbling to the wall, Nancy's hazel orbs never once left the ebony beast before her, and guilt gnawed at her.

He had come for her, and the crimson gleam of the ruby jewelry he'd given her popped into her thoughts almost immediately, the very set Philis had forewarned would cause trouble. The set she'd told her to get rid of.

And it was all Nancy's fault.

[7000dominos]

Vincent only just stopped himself from tripping over Nancy. Well, wasn't Fate goodhumored?

He reached down and helped her up. "Are you alright?" he said. "What are you doing here? Graham said you were with Minerva."

[scorpio grl]

"Fine. I'm going there. Thank you. Goodbye," Nancy managed in a rush, forcefully tearing her terrified eyes from Bartholome's ship to nod at him before escaping. She deftly began to make her way across the ship--men's clothing was just so much easier to run about in; not at all like those ridiculous, fluffy, frilly things she'd once been mandated to wear--to Graham's cabin, her heat pounding in her ears the entire way there.

[7000dominos]

Minerva started awake as the door banged open. She managed to lift her head a half centimeter and was relieved to see Nancy.

"Nancy! I'm so glad you came! I thought--What's the matter? Are you alright? What's happened? Is everything okay?"

[scorpio grl]

Nancy stood panting and shaking in the doorway, pale as death himself--oh, the irony--as she struggled to regain her breath. "Bar-Bart-.." She attempted but finally gave up, the panic that had gripped her heart with its icy fingers making it impossible to utter that horrid man's name. "He's back," she rasped finally, darting to Minerva's side, gripping her hand. Nothing else truly needed to be said.

[7000dominos]

Minerva opened her eyes and blinked, taking a long moment to register this new information.

"He's....Bartolome?" Minerva gasped, incredulous. "How could he have found us? You....did you throw away those rubies he gave you? Oh, Nancy, you must've. You did, didn't you?"

((Tengo que salir por unos dias.....Lo ciento.....Pero voy a regresar en domingo!))

((I have to leave for a few days....Sorry...But I'll be back on Sunday!))

((College visit, I dunno if I'll have internet access...))

[scorpio grl]

{Whoot! I didn't need the translation for that!~ ^.^
But you're leaving?! T^T Oh, however shall I survive? :rolleyes: Lol Have fun. Tell me about it when you get back. :D It's fine, really. 'Glad you told me, though.}

Nancy winced, shamefully averting her gaze to the floorboards before squeezing them shut against the tears. "I thought I might be able to sell them at Port!" she cried finally, looking back up to her. In truth, truth she would never share with Minerva though she knew her sister would see it in her eyes, she also hadn't wanted to get rid of them for another reason.. They..They reminded her of her old life, of what she used to have.

[7000dominos]

Minerva stared at her friend for a long moment before sitting up with a wince and pulling her friend down beside her.

"Shh," she whispered. "Shh, shh, it's alright. We'll be just fine, don't you worry. It's alright. We'll get away and you'll toss those pearls as soon as you can, alright? Don't worry."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy buried her face in Minerva's neck, thankful she was on her good side as she hugged her. She swallowed hard and nodded. She'd toss the gems overboard first chance. She would, she would, she would. But still, the golden-haired girl couldn't help but worry. What if they didn't get away? What if Bartholome killed everyone here..just to get to her? It would be all Nancy's fault.

She didn't think she'd be able to handle that.

[7000dominos]

The banging and shouting continued outside, but for once, Minerva wasn't drawn to the action. She was content with Nancy there, and safe. She reached up a good arm to stroke her friend's hair.

((I can't think of anything to saaaay....I'm doing hw...))

[scorpio grl]

Nancy shuddered heavily at the touch, the kind guesture eliciting more tears for things she never had and general wallowing.
She wouldn't allow it.
Instead, she sucked it up and, swallowing hard, pulled back a little. "Graham-...Graham..made a-..." she hesitated. "Graham made a proposal to m-to us."

[7000dominos]

Minerva nodded, unperterbed by the change of subject. "Oh?" she said kindly. "And that was....?"

[scorpio grl]

"He wants.." Nancy shook her head a little. "When we reach Port, a lot of the men are..A lot are going to quit the account. Even Graham. He offered to take me on as his..'neice' and you as my..my lady-in-waiting," she finished in a small voice. The more she talked, the sillier she felt.

[7000dominos]

Minerva blinked, trying to process this information. She was confused...and skeptical. How could Graham....how could he even think such a thing?

"Graham....Graham said that?" Minerva paused and looked up at Nancy slowly. "He said...I would pose as your lady-in-waiting? I'm sorry. I cannot. I've only just escaped a life of thankless servitude, you remember? Here, I live for myself and for my friends and family. My work benefits me. I am free. I cannot go back to that life. I'm sorry. But....Nancy, if you would like to go....I will find a way to join you."

Minerva didn't want to quit the account. But she was loathe to leave Nancy even more.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy stared at her as she spoke, her eyes widening in utter shock at the thought that Minerva thought that she actually-..that she'd want--...that she'd even truly consider--
"No!" she gasped when she finally rediscovered her voice, shaking her head vehemently. "No, n-no! Not at all, Minerva! I only said I'd consider it because I wanted to make sure you didn't want to go first!"

[7000dominos]

Minerva let herself breathe a small sigh of relief. "I don't want to go," she said truthfully. "Not at all. Not yet. Not now. Do...do you?"

[scorpio grl]

"No!" Nancy shouted again before forcing herself to calm down, shaking her head a little. "No, Minerva, I don't. I don't want to leave this ship, the account, you..Anything."

[7000dominos]

Minerva nodded, relieved. "Okay," she said. "Okay, we won't. We don't have to. We'll stay as long as you want. Alright?"

[scorpio grl]

Nancy calmed and nodded, before suddenly shaking her head. "No, as long as we want," she stressed. "It's not just me in this; we're--all three of us--" she hated that and half wished it was just two, "are all affected. Not just me."

[7000dominos]

Minerva stared at her half-sister for a long while, before reaching out and grabbing her hand.

"Nancy," she said slowly. "You are my only family now. You are my best friend. I love you more than anyone else on this earth. I don't know how to make that any clearer to you. Vincent and I.....He will never come between us, you understand? You needn't worry about him. Alright?"

[scorpio grl]

Nancy wanted to shake her head and say she wasn't stupid and point out how easy it was for one to she how mad she was about Vincent, but instead only smiled, if not a little sadly, and squeezed her hand back. "I know, Minerva. And I don't worry.." -..much.

[7000dominos]

Minerva stared at Nancy for a moment longer then nodded slowly. "Alright," she said slowly. "If you're certain."

[scorpio grl]

"Yes, yes..Now come on; let's get you better situated on the bed," Nancy said abruptly, standing and fixing her pillow. It wouldn't do to have Minerva laid off-kilter.
Speaking of which, there hadn't been a violent rocking of the ship lately.. Could they have gotten away?

[7000dominos]

Minerva chuckled. "Oh, I'm fine," she insisted, though she laid back on her pillow, secretly feeling slightly nauseas...

"Perhaps we ought to go check with Broom?" suggested Minerva, reading Nancy's mind.

[scorpio grl]

"And leave you here alone? I think not," Nancy stated primly, shifting her sister more straight on the bed-table. "I'll wait until Graham or someone comes to watch you."

[7000dominos]

"Oh, hush," said Minerva, shutting her eyes, though she didn't bother arguing further.

Just then, Graham walked in, looking rather weary, but jubiliant. "The wind shifted," he explained. "We got away. We'll be alright, girls." He turned to Nancy. "How is she doing? Did...did you share with her my...proposition?"

[scorpio grl]

Nancy didn't look him in the eye, instead busied herself as much as she could with straightening Minerva's blankets and whatnot. When she couldn't see anything else to do, however, she was forced to stand straight and look at him directly. "Yes. And we've decided," she stated quietly.

[7000dominos]

Minerva remained silent, pretending not to hear the conversation. She'd jump in if Nancy needed help, but aside from that, she was quite certain Nancy shared her viewpoint.

Graham shifted. "And...?"

[scorpio grl]

Nancy lifted her chin a little, resting her hand upon Minerva's still one beside her, looking Graham right in the eyes. "And," she said slowly, "we've both decided..not to take you up on it. I'm sorry Graham, it's a generous offer--more generous than either of us have ever really recieved--but neither of us is willing to quit the account just yet. We won't abandon Broom like that and-.. Well, and neither of us wants to go back to that life. Not when we've just escaped," she stated boldly. "Again, I'm sorry."

[7000dominos]

Graham nodded, not at all surprised...but perhaps a little relived.

"I expected as much," he replied honestly. "I resrect your decision. Not many girls your age--any age--are as independent as you are...or as stubborn," he added with a smile. "You two will be just fine no matter what you choose. You're lucky to have each other."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy blinked in surprise--that was not the reply she'd expected, not the kind she was used to, but..she smiled. Nodding and chuckling faintly, she held out her hand to shake. "Well then, I thank you that Graham, and you're right: I am lucky to have her."

[7000dominos]

Graham nodded. "Yup."

((*is blank*))

[scorpio grl]

{Naaavyyyyy..}

Nancy nodded back. "So, Graham, is there anything I need to do? We shall reach Port in only a few days' time, and I need to know if there's any specific care Minerva will need.."

[7000dominos]

((Right, so you wanna do it since you have William and all...?))

Graham moved over to the now sleeping Minerva. "Not particularly. Just rest, at this point. She won't want to, of course, you know that better than I do. But, even though the wound isn't terrible, it's in a place that'll be easily infected, and at this point, infection could kill her. So she'll have to relax for a bit, until her immune system picks back up."

[scorpio grl]

{Whichever's easier for you, truthfully.}

Nancy nodded, gently stroking the dark curls from her sleeping sister's face. She looked so pale..and yet still as fiesty as ever. Her own features softened faintly. "Okay..and thank you, Graham. For everything."

[7000dominos]

((You can control 'The Navy' as a whole, if you like, and I could do William...?))

Graham's sun-browned face wrinkled as he smiled. Dark hair framed kind, gray eyes, and he took a step toward Nancy. he held out a hand to shake, then seemed to think better of it, and took the girl up in a warm embrace.

"You're welcome, Nancy."

[scorpio grl]

{Sure. That's fine.}

Nancy blinked, stiffening in utter surprise before smiling widely as she hugged the elder man back. She was too familiar with him, knew him too well not to or to actually think about what proper society would think of this.

[7000dominos]

Several hundred leagues away a young man with dark, curling hair and striking blue eyes to rival the sea, stood at the crest of his ships, feeling the waves roil beneath him. The white of his Navy uniform stood in contrast to his suntanned skin. His men toiled behind them, humming an old hymnal happily. Morale was high. The weather was good. The seas were clear of pirating scum--mostly.

So why did William feel so poorly?

[scorpio grl]

"Ship!" one man called from the bird's nest on the pirate ship, interrupting Graham's and Nancy's little moment. "Navy!!" Aforementioned girl stiffened and pulled back from the hug, sharing a long look with Graham before nodding and darting out the door to help the men. She tied her hair back as she ran, hiding it under a tie-around rag. This way she didn't look female.

~~~

"Seargent {?} William!" a young teen called as he ran up carrying a spyglass. "Seargent William, pirates!" His face was bright with excitement. After all, it wasn't every day that they caught a load this large. He thrust the spyglass out to him expectantly. "Port side, on the horizon."

[7000dominos]

((Sure.))

William awoke abruptly from his reverie. "What, son?" he said, accepting the spyglass. "Pirates, you say?" He unfolded the metal-and-glass contraption and pointed it toward the horizon on the portside. A perfect, straight line of unbroken blue stretched across his vision. Continual. Unmarred by--

A ship crested in the distance, and with it, a flag of pirate colors. William stared a bit longer, judging distance and speed, before folding the spyglass and handing it back to the young boy.

"Aye, lad. Those are pirates. Good job, then. Tell the cook to give you a double serving tonight. Go tell the leiutenent, please," added William, giving the boy a clap on the back.

William turned back to the ship a moment longer than neccessary as the boy ran off, unable to shake an odd feeling of foreboding...

[scorpio grl]

The boy grinned widely at the praise, nodding and giving him a salute and an excited "Yes, Sir, thank you, Sir!" before running off much the way he had came. Pirates!

~~

Nancy, once one deck, looked around and bit her lip as she searched for something to do, Broom already beginning to bark orders in the background. She finally settled on helping some of the younger boys carry loads of ammunition below deck for the cannons. She heaved up a large load with an unlady-like grunt and headed down quickly..

[7000dominos]

Graham rested a cool hand on Minerva's sweating brow and frowned. Her skin was warm beneath his hand. The fever had indeed started earlier than expected. And he couldn't be with her, either, because other may need him if the Navy was on their tail...

As if reading his thoughts, Minerva came awake. Her eyes were a bit clouded, but she didn't lose a second in hearing and registering the shouts on the upper deck.

"What's going on?" she asked quickly. "Where is Nancy?"

[scorpio grl]

Nancy let the ammunition down extra carefully and stood straight, wiping sweat from her brow. This was her thid trip down and the Navy ship was drawing ever closer. No time to waste. She raced back updeck to recieve her next load--or other orders. Whichever came first.

[7000dominos]

"Graham, let me go. I need to be with her." Minerva had long since lost her casual politeness, and was struggling against Graham, who tried to keep her in the bed.

"Minerva, I've told you. If anything happens now, you could die. I can't--"

"So could she! I'll net let her out there by herself!"

"She'll be fine, Minerva. She's a good pirate."

"Aye," said Minerva. "So am I."

Graham was silent. "I'll go get her," he relented finally, and jogged to the upper deck.

~*~*~*~

The winds were with them, and they were gaining on the pirate ships. There were two of them, but they were sailing so closely that he assumed they were in cahoots. It was clear they'd seen his armada--they were quickly sailing in the other direction. They're ships were smaller, but his were faster....though not fast enough to shake that feeling that something was waiting for him there...

[scorpio grl]

Nancy stopped and quickly handed off her ammunition to an awaiting boy the moment she saw Graham running on deck; he had been supposed to stay with Minerva; had something happened?? Nancy jogged up to him, frowning and dusting some gunpowder on her hands. "Graham! What's wrong??" she asked, unable to keep her stomach from plummeting. Something wasn't right--and if it wasn't Minerva, then it was something else.

[7000dominos]

Graham shook his head. "Nothing, nothing, she's...she's fine. She wants you. Or at least, she won't listen to me. Go talk some sense into her, please?"

[scorpio grl]

Nancy frowned but thanked him, jogging off towards his cabin without another thought. She practically slammed the door open and glared. "Minerva, what is wrong with you?!"

[7000dominos]

Minerva blinked, but there was no time to be surprised.

"Nothing!" she barked. "Are you alright?" She sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "I heard shouting. What is it? Has Bartolome caught up with us? Come, we should go."

[scorpio grl]

"No, no, no!" Nancy rushed over and none-too-kindly forced her back down. "Calm down, Minerva. Lay back--LAY BACK DOOWN! It's just the Navy!!" Oh, the irony...

[7000dominos]

Minerva froze out of sheer surprise. "Just the Navy??? Nancy, I can't just stay here. I'm fine, honestly, I'll just go help rig the sails and get right back to bed--"

[scorpio grl]

"No, no, no!" Nancy half shouted, stamping her foot a bit in frustration. "You are not fine, Minerva, you were shot and now have a hole in you that could begin to bleed again at any movement if you don't. Lay. Down!" She sighed and calmed down. A bit.

[7000dominos]

Minerva sighed, exasperated. "Hole or no, you can't expect me to just sit here, Nancy! I have to do my job! And I won't let you out there by yourself. It's the Nav--"

She was cut off as an explosion rocked the boat.

"They're firing," she whispered, eyes wide.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy gasped and staggered at the rough jolt, biting her lip to keep from crying out a bit when she was thrown to the side and into the nearby shelves of things. She winced and pulled herself up, her eyes wide and mirroring Minerva's.

"Yes, they are."

~~

"FIRE!" the ammunition leader called, his voice ringing out ominously throughout the lower deck. Three cannons fired at the same time, one making a hit. He smirked. They wouldn't be getting away today. "RELOAD!"

[7000dominos]

Minerva recollected herself. "I'm not staying here," she said, calmer, almost pleading. "Please. Let me do something. Those are our crew mates up there.....Please, Nancy..."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy frowned, fighting with herself for a long time. But finally Minerva's eyes won her over. "Fine," she stated finally. "But nothing too strenuous and if you start bleeding, you come back here immediately and lay down. Immediately, got it? And I'll find you after, alright?"

[7000dominos]

"Fine," Minerva agreed. Anything to get moving. She pulled on her boots and a pair of pants under her loose bed clothes. Not neccessarily the most appropriate in battle wear, but then there wasn't much time...

[scorpio grl]

"Tuck your shirt in," Nancy stated with an almost smile, lacing her boots tighter. She winced when a smaller jolt rocked the ship.

[7000dominos]

"Of course," Minerva said hastily, tucking as she walked toward the door. "Come on, let's go!"

[scorpio grl]

Nancy trotted after her almost immediately. "Which way are you headed?" she asked. Stupid question: the sails. "Nevermind. I'll likely be below deck. Meet you later!" she called, already running for the stairs.

[7000dominos]

William pushed his hair from his face. They were drawing nearer to the larger of the two pirate ships. Almost near enough to board. And yet he couldn't make his feet move...

~*~*~

Minerva nodded, then stopped to hug her sister. "Come back to me," she whispered, before going off to the sails.

((I g2g in a few. G'night!))

[scorpio grl]

{Aww, OK. G'night, then}

"Promise," Nancy whispered with a smile before bounding down the stairs and disappearing from sight.

~~

"WILLIAM!" the LT. {*Ish too lazy to spell it out right*} barked loudly from the upper deck. "MOVE YER' FAT LARD AND GET TO WORK!"

[7000dominos]

Minerva pulled herself quickly up the rigging, adrenaline pulsing through her blood as explosions rocked the ship. She felt nothing, save a sluggish response when she told her arms to move. The wind felt too cool on her sweating skin, but she paid little mind. She clutched her cutlass in her teeth and pulled and tied ropes with the other men.

~*~*~

William boared the other ship with his men, as several of the pirates boarded his. No matter. He needed only find the captain. He clutched the nearest man he could find, holding the pirate from the back. He was small, probably a young boy. William pressed his dagger to the boy's neck, but lightly. No use in harming a child who might well be saved.

"Take me to your captain," he growled ((to Nancy)).

[scorpio grl]

Nancy had been about to load a cannon with another young boy, but suddely stiffened when she felt the sharp, icy end of a blade against her throat, inhaling sharply and her eyes widening faintly. And that voice... it sounded slightly.. familiar--but she didn't dare turn back to look. She carefully cleared her throat, lifting her chin faintly. "I would, Sir, but your, ah, blade happens to be in my way," Nancy stated calmly, making her voice a pitch lower as best she could; inside she was trembling like a goose about to be slaughtered.

~

"DERRECK, GIT' UP THERE AND GIT' 'IM DOWN!" the LT. thundered at a young officer with sandy blonde hair. He nodded with a loud "Ayyee' {?.?} Sir!" and began scurrying his way expertly up the ropes towards Minerva not at all unlike how he'd been rising through the ranks.

[7000dominos]

William pulled his blade away, though he left it unsheathed, and pushed the boy ahead of him.

"Fine. Accomodated," he said. "Now move."

Minerv had been about to tie up the last of the sails--even sick, she was able to move more nimbly than the other men--when she felt a hand around her ankle.

She'd've kicked the hand of the Navy officer off before, but now exertion and injury made her weak. Her hands scrabbled futiley at the thick, knotted rope overhead as the large man tugged down firmly, and she came down with him.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy grit her teeth to bite back her reply, grudgingly turning for the stairs, leading him updeck. I'm sorry, Broom, I truly am...

The man caught him with a grunt and dropped unceremoniously to the ground, setting him up rather roughly before grabbing the pirate's sleeve and shoving him none-too-kindly into the growing pile of captures.

[7000dominos]

Minerva fought against her captor to no avail...until she saw Nancy being lead away at knife point.

She found some secret reseve of strength to knee her captor in the groin and sending a fist flying toward his face before drawing her sword and running after Nancy.

She held the tip at the neck of Nancy's captor. "Let him go," she snarled.

[scorpio grl]

{Hey, hey, hey.. *Pokes* They don't find out that Nancy's a woman until after they're captured and she asked to go see the sergant/LT/whatever..*Pokes again*}

[7000dominos]

((Oops! I didn't mean to say her. Told you I'm tired...))

[scorpio grl]

"Arrggh!" Derrek cried out, falling back and holding his throbbing groin.

Nancy's eyes widened in shock and she mentally swore, nevertheless spinning on her heel and stepping back to Minerva's side, pulling out her cutlass as well and pointing it at--...

..--William??

{S'fine, s'fine~
Go to bed already.}

[7000dominos]

Minerva was too focused to register the change in Nancy. She stepped forward, in front of her friend.

"Now, you have to choices, Navy rat. You will leave us, or you will duel and lose. Which do you prefer?"

William for his part pulled out his own sword to fight the pirate--a smallish African boy...though something about him didn't seem quite right. He noticed rather the same thing about the other boy behind him.....and those eyes....

"Who are you?" he asked both of them, though his eyes were on the latter.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy grit her teeth and averted her eyes from his, instead staring just to the right of his face, cutlass still rasied. "No one you need to worry about," she muttered, although her heart skipped a few beats at the sound of his voice. She shrugged it off and mentally yelled at herself to concentrate. This wasn't her William; it couldn't be.

And that was that.

"What will you choose?"

{Don't they all get captured and then the ship crashes, right?}

[7000dominos]

((I think so.))

"On the contrary," William argued. "You've both drawn weapons. That seems enough to concern me. However, my choice is irrelevent, as you now see." William had motioned to his men to capture the boys, along with the rest of the crew, from behind.

"You will follow," he said, turning slowly from them.

[scorpio grl]

{KK}

Nancy sent Minerva a secret look, frowning. It seems it was them presented with a choice: Either follow or die on the spot. Her frown darkened and she reluctantly sheathed her sword, nodding a little for Minerva to do the same. They'd find a way out on the ship.

[7000dominos]

Minerva stiffened, pride taking over for the briefest of moments, before sheathing her cutlass and following Nancy reluctantly.

[scorpio grl]

{Oh hell. >_<}

Nancy glowered at the man's back, hand seemingly glued to the handle of her cutlass. Of course, she knew it'd be taken away once they got on the ship.. The thought nearly made her swear in frustration.

[7000dominos]

William shoved the two captured pirate boys ahead of him into the LT's office.

"Here's two of them, Lieutenent."

[scorpio grl]

{I thought they were sent to the brig with the rest of the crew and then Nancy had to show her chest to prove she was female and then talked to William..? Or am I just insane?
*Is confoosed*}

[7000dominos]

((I don't remember. You can control them.))

[scorpio grl]

{Oh, dear... ._.;;;;}

The LT didn't even look up from his paper work, but made a soft, disgusted sound. "Throw them in the brig," he growled, his nose wrinkling upward as if he'd smelled something foul. Which he probably did--pirates didn't get the chance to bathe often.

Nancy glowered at the man, wishing she could take out her shiv right then and there and run him through. But of course, there was that small problem of the oh-so loyal officer behind them with the grip tight on her neck...

[7000dominos]

William paused, shrugged, and ordered the men behind him. "You heard him! To the brig!" he ordered.

Minerva let herself be led from the room, trying to formulate an escape plan.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy scowled at the officer that took her cutlass away rather roughly with a grin. "You'll not be needin' this!" he said downright cheerfully, earning him a dark, evil glare. She restrained the urge to spit at his feet.

[7000dominos]

William gave the lighter skinned soldier one last glance before turning to his men. "Lock 'em up with the others. Captain'll decide what to do with them later."

[scorpio grl]

It was his turn to recieve a glare, now. Nancy cut her hazel eyes dangerously at the man as the other officers began to roughly herd them both down to the brig like cattle to the slaughterhouse, fists clenched.

{Should Minerva need medical attention once down there?}

[7000dominos]

((Uhhh...sure? Why, though?))

William almost laughed, though he couldn't at first say why. The pirate boy was glaring at him in a very familiar--and apparently very funny--way. Incredibly stubborn, he was. Hardhead fool. Just like--

((Mm...I have an idea.))

"Stop," he said to his men. They stopped. "I order you to tell me your name, pirate," he said to Nancy.

"Uh, sir--" one of his men said, one of the two carrying the African pirate.

William turned, frustrated. "What happened?" The pirate was dropping in the arms of his men. A red stain blossomed from one shoulder. "Is he concious?"

"Barely."

"Fine then. You--tell me your name, and your mate will receive medical attention. Otherwise, we'll kill him now and put him out of his misery."

[scorpio grl]

{*Laughs* I thought that would be how we could get her up, talking to William, but I like your idea much better~ xD}

Nancy stiffened, looking from Minerva to William, alarm clear in her eyes. She uttered a few very unladylike curses in her mind, frantically trying to decide what to do. Would they really kill Minerva, or were they just threatening? Would they even help her once she said her oh-so despised name??

Her breathing hitched in her throat when she saw the crimson stain enlargening every second she wasted. Nancy bit her lip, feeling like she was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Minerva was bleeding, she was bleeding, she was bleeding, shewasbleedingshewasdyingshewasdyingshewasdyingand Nancydidn'tknowwhattodo!

"Nancy, now help her!" she cried finally--she didn't even bother to lower her voice, giving up when she saw Minerva slump completely against the officer.

[7000dominos]

William blinked, thinking that perhaps he'd misheard her--no, not her, him. The pirate before him was male, had to be male. It couldn't be a woman, least of all--

"Nancy?" William said, voice full of disbelief. It seemed impossible, more than impossible, but he knew it. It was her. "Nancy!" Ignoring or forgetting his men, he rushed forward to embrace her. "What are you doing here? The pirates...they captured you! I knew it! I hadn't heard from you in so long, I--" He turned to his men, suddenly remembering protocol.

"Kill them," he growled. "Kill them all. That one first. He's close enough to death."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy stiffened and turned to him and horror, suddenly fighting in his grip. "No, no, NO! Lemme go! Help her--DAMNIT, HELP HER!!" She allowed a few more curses to let loose from her pale lips, hazel orbs still wide. Terror squeezed her heart like one of those snakes she'd seen on the island, wrapping around it and constricting it, tighter, tighter until she thought it would burst and she felt ill and her head hurt and she wanted to faint like she would do when she wanted to get away from that terrible woman her father had hired years ago to take care of her. Tears sprung to her eyes and she turned back to William, no longer fighting him because she knew she couldn't get loose; she gripped at his uniform tightly.

"Please, please, please, William, please, no, don't kill them, please, it was my choice, I'll do anything, please just save her, save Minerva, please, please, I'll do anything, just save her, please save my sister!" She was babbling, Nancy knew it. She knew it, and she didn't care and she couldn't stop.

[7000dominos]

William stopped again, looking down at Nancy. Nancy, whom he hadn't seen in nearly a decade. Nancy, who he'd left as a young girl, a pale and blushing beauty. She now stood before him, just as beautiful, if not more so, though now longer pale, or blushing. Her skin was bronzed from the sun, and she'd grown older. Her face and eyes held more experience. He never would have recognized her, if not for those eyes. They still held the same stubborn air, still that vibrant, intelligent, unyieling blue-green ((?)).

And now they were begging him for something he couldn't quite comprehend.

"Her? Save her?" he paused. By now, he was so confused, he could do not but obey. "Unhand...her," he commanded his men wearily, stepping away from Nancy.

Minerva slid to the floor.

"Leave us," he told his men. "And bar the door. Leave the others alone for the time being. I've matters to discuss with this one. You are to tell no one what you've seen. If I hear tell you've spread gossip, you'll answer to me, aye?"

"Aye!" the men shouted back before leaving the room.

William walked over to Minerva, picked her up, and stretched her across his bed. "I'll send for the ship's doctor shortly. Meanwhile, Nancy, can you explain yourself please?"

[scorpio grl]

{Yuppers}

"No!" Nancy half shouted before leaning heavily against the wall, watching the ever-growing stain on her sister's shoulder. She calmed herself as best she can, but she was still close to hyperventilation. "N-no, send for him now, please. O-or Graham, get Graham. He's down in the brig with the other men and he's as good a doctor as any, just please save her, please, please, please..!" She couldn't hide the urgency in her tone.

She looked up to him, eyes still brimming with unwanted and most certainly uneeded tears. She could hardly make out his blurred figure, but she knew it was him. It was her William, with his cedar-tree, magic smell, and her heart fluttered a little at the thought; but right now all she could think of was her best friend, her savior, her sister, laying there, bleeding more and more with every passing moment, and Nancy felt as helpless as the moment she'd gotten her shot.

"Please, William, I'll tell you anything, anything you want, just-.. Just please save her. Send for the doctor now, or Graham, or somebody. I'll explain everything in every way possible, just please, please save her." Nancy would never thought this possible. Here she was, dressed as a man, technically a prisoner on a Navy ship, talking to William of all people, begging for Minerva's life.

It was madness. Pure madness.

"Please?" she asked softly after a moment, reverting back to a time and place with a voice that had gotten him to do anything she wanted. Help her climb up near the wharf? Yes. Abandon the other boys when she wanted to go down to the docks? Yes. Save her half sister's life? Hopefully yes...

[7000dominos]

William stared down at Nancy, uncertain and reluctant as a small smile crept over his face. Here he was a man serving Her Highness in the Navy, just as he'd always--well, almost always--wanted, and yet he still had no choice but to succumb when she looked at him like that.

"Alright. You know I'm breaking all the rules." Without another word, he turned to the communicate-y device thing on the wall and sent for one of his men to bring Graham.

Grahama showed up moments later, escorted by one of William's men.

"You may tend to....her here," he said in a clipped voice--making deals with pirates. "All that you will need is in that cabinet. I will return shortly."

William lead Nancy from the room; Graham shot Nancy an uncertain glance and turned to Minerva as the young star-crossed couple left the room.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy nearly leapt onto his arms and hugged him right there, never intending to let go. But instead, an answering smile, wide and bright, dominated her lips in gratification. She sent Graham a nod to tell him things were OK before finally following William, her heart thundering in her chest sporadically.

She couldn't, for the life of her, figure it out. Perhaps nervousness about explaining?

That must've been it. "Thank you, William," Nancy said softly, but what she lacked for in volume she more than made up for in the pure relief that saturated her tone. She gripped his hand tightly as he lead her to another room. "You-... You have no idea how much that means to me. Truly." Now that Minerva was guaranteed to be in the caring hands of Graham and worry could be put to the back of her mind for the most part, Nancy knew she had to fufill her part of the bargain. That would be a tad more..'difficult', however...

Where would she--could she begin?

She heaved a soft sigh before looking back up to him. "Where would you like me to start?" she inquired, voice once more soft. It was a little funny how she almost seemed to revert back to a younger, more innocent, not-so-world-roughened part of Nancy when she was with him. Almost. She still remembered quite well who she was now.

[7000dominos]

William smiled despite himself.

"Here, sit," he told her, motioning to an empty chair. "You went to Jamaica after your father's fleet was ruined. I know that much. You can start there."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy raked her hair back, only to remember the bandana holding it back. It let her golden locks free to cascade around her sun-tanned face in a bright, curly mass. "Whoopsie," she murmured. But then she knew she had to begin her tale.
And begin she did, launching into the story from nearly the beginning, relating everything from the man in the cage to Bartholome's recent attack..

[7000dominos]

William stared at the girl he'd once known. He'd given up looking shocked and disgusted after the first few moments. Now his face just registered a blank look--perhaps with a hint of awe...or incredulity.

When Nancy finished, he stared at her for a moment longer, merely taking her in, though in a new light. She was no longer the innocent, cosseted, yet stubborn young girl he'd known years ago. She'd grown into a young woman, strong, experienced, brave...and still as beautiful as ever. He took in her sun-kissed skin, her sandy blonde hair...and her stubborn blue-green eyes.

Finally, finally, after what seemed an eternity of silence, William laughed.

It was a chuckle, at first, a snort of surprise and disbelief. Then a laugh, full bellied, doubled over, tear-in-his-eyes laughing. Shock, awe, admiration, fear, longing, guilt, nostalgia all poured out of him in almost hysterical giggles.

He straigtened up, gasping, wiping his royal blue eyes. "Only you, Nancy," he said, panting. "Only you."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy stared at him quizzically as he laughed--as he laughed at her. Laughed at her for a good five minutes, making her cross her arms and scowl faintly, narrowing her hazel orbs in slight annoyance. She saw nothing to laugh at, damnit.

This whole journey had been hard.

And then his only reply to her story was 'Only you'?! She voiced her thoughts aloud, as she was even more apt to do nowadays. "'Only you'?" she quoted. "'Only you'? What about 'only me', hmm? What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded of William half crossly. What about 'only her'?

[7000dominos]

William c.ocked an eyebrow. He'd made her angry. He recognized that look. It only made him chuckle again. "Exactly as it sounds," he explained matter-of-factly. "Only you. I do not know another soul in the world who would have--who could have--done all you've just told me now. And to think, I thought I would be the changed one. But no, leave it to Nancy Kington to top even the Navy." He grinned, forgetting, for the moment, his place.

Then a solemn look descended over his features. "You are, though, a pirate, yes?" he said, half hopeful, half anxious.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy blinked at him in surprise, then watched as his expression changed from the first end of the spectrum--happy--then suddenly to the vast other end--almost.. unhappy? Grim? His question also surprised her a little, too. "Yes, of course I am. I just told you that, William." What would her being a pirate have to do with anythi---
Her face froze, as did the rest of her body, her lips still parted faintly from the beginning of her next sentence. She was a pirate.

And he was the Navy.

[7000dominos]

William blinked at her then closed his eyes. He raked his finers through his sun-bleaced hair with a heavy sigh.

"I used to dream about you, Nancy," he started slowly, not looking up at her. "I used to dream about seeing you again. About what it would be like. At first, they were foolish dreams. Angry dreams. Dreams of me running away just so I could come find you and play with you like when we were children. But then, as I grew older, they changed. I realized....I realized how I felt about you. I realized I wanted more than just to play children's games with you." He paused here, for a moment, somewhat startled by where he was going with this. But he resolved to continue. Maybe...he could still save her. "I realized...I loved you. I wanted to marry you. I started planning. Once I finished serving, I would sail back and find you. Ask your brothers for you hand in marriage, now that I'm....worthy. But you never answered my letters, and your brother said you'd gone missing, so....so I've been looking for you. I've dreamed of finding you, so we could get married...but now that I've found you, I--" He cut off abruptly, looking at her. "I never expected to find you like this--" He stopped and started again, reaching into his coat pocket as he did. "But none of that matters, because now I have found you." He took a step toward her. "Leave them, Nancy. Leave them, and join me. We...we'll be married, if you'll have me Nancy Kington." He descended to one knee and held out the ring clutched in one hand. "Will you? Will you have me, dearest Nancy? Will you make methe happiest man alive?" He paused--"Will you make my dreams come true?"

[scorpio grl]

Nancy stared--more like outright gaped at William, hazel orbs wide with clear shock, her utter surprise growing with each and every word he spoke. He-.. He loved her back. Everything he said had been her dreams since... Since when? She couldn't remember. Didn't want to, because it hurt, the wanting for everything he said hurt. Because she wanted it. Wanted it so much it was a physical ache inside, in a place she didn't know could ache so terribly, because she couldn't have it.

Tears pricked at her eyes and she stared at him, wanting to cry but knowing she coudn't, that she shouldn't. "Oh William.." Nancy whispered softly, hand flying to her trembling lips. She looked at the ring clutched in his fingers and it made it all so much harder. Goodness, why did he have a ring, a beautiful ring that shimmered so perfectly in the light, that held almost everything she ever wanted in that lovely little stone?

A small, glistening tear escaped her defenses anyway, cascading down her golden, sun-tanned cheek. "William I can't." When had the lump in her throat grow so large? "Wi-William, I want to, oh I want to terribly, but I can't. There's Minerva and I couldn't possibly ever leave her, and then there's Vincent who I must apologize to for my atrocious behavior, and of course Broom and Graham and the rest of the men who I couldn't just abandon. They're my family, William, don't you understand?" she asked, half pleading for him to understand, eyes shining with unshed tears. "I can't- I can't just leave them!"

[7000dominos]

William was dumbfounded. Or, at the very least, confused. "Can't? Nancy, yes, of course you can! I promise, I won't let them raise a finger to you. You'll be just fine on this ship 'til we find port. We'll get married once I return to England--it's only a month or so. They're just...pirates, Nancy."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy stiffened, staring at William in horror as if he'd...slapped her. His words hung heavy in the silence and they reverberated in her head over and over. "Just-...Just pirates?" she whispered, hands balling at her sides. Nancy stood up abruptly, glaring down at him. All thoughts of marriage were shoved violently aside.

"They are not 'just pirates', as you say William! That woman in there is my sister, my blood relative! And that man tending her? He is one of the kindest, most generous, hard-working men I have ever met, more so than you apparently." Her glare turned sharp. "And those men you sent down to the brig? They've acted more like brothers to me, treated me better than my own ever have. Even despite my being a woman. And I made my way on that ship, William. I worked hard, wore men's clothes," she guestured to her current attire, "calloused my hands, fought with a sword. All like a man. I made my way up and I intend to stay there, with my family, whether you like it or not," she spat.

Nancy turned on her heel, storming towards the door. She stopped short, however, hand gripping the knob tightly as she looked back at the stunned man over her shoulder. "I love you William," she began in a much lower tone. "I love you more than I ever thought I should, but I cannot marry you. And I do assure you, my love," the words hurt, "they are not 'just pirates'." With that said, Nancy wrenched the door open and stomped out, half slamming it behind her as she rushed back to the room in which Graham and Minerva were in.

[7000dominos]

Graham looked up from his work as the door was slammed.

"Nancy?" he said, surprised, taking in her dishevled appearance. "What's wrong?"

[scorpio grl]

Nancy composed herself and leveled her chi, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face and blinking back tears. "Nothing. How is she?" she asked brisquely, walking to her sister's side.

[7000dominos]

Graham looked dubious, but said nothing else. "Alright," he said, gently stroking a sweat-laden lock of dark hair from the shivering girl's brow. "Resting. I'm not quite sure what to do. She shouldn't be moved, but I daresay she can't stay here....." He looked at Nancy questioningly, not wanting blatantly to ask what had happened that had upset her so, but wondering what was going to happen to them.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy frowned heavily, not saying anything, contemplating what to do for a long moment. "They'll probably move us, but I will find a place to lay her if we do. If worse comes to worse, I'll make a mat for her out of my things." It was easy to see what she meant. Nancy lifted her dark hazel orbs to meet his wise, old grey eyes {?}, her look stern. "We--I will find a way to keep her safe."
Her tone made it absolutely positively clear there would be no argument.

[7000dominos]

"Maybe you could....discuss things with your friend?" Graham tried finally.

((Sorry! I'm sweepy.))

[scorpio grl]

{S'fine~~}

Nancy's eyes flashed and she turned them back to Minerva's sleeping, sweaty face. "He's not my friend." And he wasn't.
He was utterly so much more.
And she ached inwardly at the thought of him--more importantly, of his face when she left.

[7000dominos]

Graham nodded hastily. No amount of sailing, pirating, death-witnessing, or anything else besides would ever make the ways of women clear to him.

"Right. Of course. Sorry. Well, then, we can wait 'til then, I suppose."

((....I'm sorry....!!))

[scorpio grl]

{About what..?}

"I suppose we will," Nancy replied coolly, taking the nearby seat beside her sister's bed. She gripped her dark, chocolatey hand tightly in hers, glaring down at the bedspread as if it were everything unfair and unjust in this life.

[7000dominos]

((...I dunno whatta do....))

[scorpio grl]

{Have the ship crash like in the book..?}

[7000dominos]

((Yeah, okay.))

Graham sat silently watching the slow but steady rise and fall of Minerva's chest.

Suddenly, he looked up to Nancy.

"Are the breakers getting louder?" he asked, vaguely concerned.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy, who had been in a complete daze and lost in her own thoughts, blinked in surprise and snapped out of it, rousing herself enough to look at Graham. "What?" she questioned with a frown, brows furrowing.

{Hey, I don't think I'm going to be posting a lot in ARS, Rapt, and our Whisper thread...}

[7000dominos]

"I hear breakers," Graham said, leaving Minerva's side. "And they're getting louder. Watch her for a mo-"

Graham was thrown roughly against the wall as the bottom of the ship scraped against the sea floor. Even through the thick walls, he could hear the sound of splintering wood as the bow was slowly torn away.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy swore in a very unladylike fashion, throwing herself over Minerva's limp form to protect her. "Graham!"

[7000dominos]

"We've beached," Graham said quickly. "Must be those winds. Come, we need to find the other men. Go! I'll take her," he added, motioning toward Minerva.

[7000dominos]

((Oh, and why not?))

[scorpio grl]

{Because of White.}

"But--..!" Nancy bit down hard on her lower lip, not wanting to leave her sister.. But there was no choice now. She nodded abruptly an spun, running for the door, looking almost desperately for the way down to the other men. The shouts from all around confused her, though..

[7000dominos]

((??))

"Go!" Graham shouted, scooping up Minerva, and ushering Nancy ahead of him.

William caught up with her shortly afterward, and grabbed her wrist.

"I realize you're not terribly pleased with me now," he said hurridly, not looking at her as he led her down a walkway. "But I've managed to secure a few ships for you and your men. After that, you're on your own, but--" he stopped abruptly as the ship rocked again. "Come, quickly. They'll be waiting for you."

[scorpio grl]

{He acted like an ass to me and then was going on about how love doesn't exist to angel and I told him to back off and he said if his comments bother me so much then to not read them. So I'm not until I get an apology.}

"W-william??" Nancy asked, startled voice nearly drowned out by the hollaring of man above deck. "But.. But why? How??" The latter was a more intelligent question, as it would have been much more difficult to do..

[7000dominos]

((Oh. Sorry. He's good at upsetting people.))

"Doesn't matter," William said quickly. "Where's your friend? Most of the men are already there. And don't give me that look, my men are already set."

[scorpio grl]

{Yeah, he is. I was trying to be nice--the naming a puppy after him--and he goes off because he didn't see the pictures where I posted them. And he was yelling at me for it, like it was my fault...
Sorry if it affects you in any of our rps.}

Nancy nodded reluctantly. "Graham went.. Went with Minerva somewhere.." She resisted the urge to ask about him, if he was set, instead worrying about Minerva and Graham.

[7000dominos]

"Good," said William, distracted. "Look, you're men are through here. And, Nancy," he gripped her shoulders and turned her to look at him. "You realize the bearing doing this may have on this position? If anyone ever asks about this....Well, I will deny it. I ask you--and your men--to do the same. I'm sorry I can't give you more than this, but--"

At that moment, Graham caught up, Minerva still limp in his arms.

He caught whatever was going on between Nancy and William and narrowed his eyes at the young Captain ((or whatever)).

"Miss Kington....?" he said uncertainly.

[scorpio grl]

"It-It's fine, Graham, and I understand perfectly William. You have my eternal gratitude for what you've already done, and I'll make sure not another one of the men says anything. Godbye.." She turned to leave with Minerva and Graham, but stopp herself. No matter how he'd changed, this was still the William she knew. The William she still loved.

He deserved a proper good bye.

Nancy turned and flung herself at him, wrapping William in a tight, fierce hug. "Thank you, and please look after yourself," she whispered in his ear. "And I still love you." She then let go and started running with Graham, Minerva still in his arms.

[7000dominos]

Graham went after the other men, settling Minerva in the bottom of one of the small row boats.

William, for his part, did not waste any time on surprise. He hugged Nancy, hesitated only an instant, and then kissed her.

"I will find you," he promised. "Someday, when...when all this has passed, I will find you, and we will be married. Until then, keep safe. And keep this." He pressed something small and cool into her hand: a plain silver ring. "I love you, Nancy Kington."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy smiled through the stinging in her eyes, pecking him quickly on the lips as she clutched the silver band tightly in her fist. He voice thickened slightly and she regretted every nasty thing she'd called him before even more. "Goodbye, William." She turned for the last time, diving into the nearest available boat with men she recognized, shouting as she grabbed an oar of her own, "Go! Stop ye're gawkin' and row!"

[7000dominos]

William watched Nancy shove off, standing for a bit longer than he needed to, before turning to go join his men and try and salvage the ship.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy and the other men rowed long and hard, half desperate to get away from the sinkng Navy ship...

{Hey, can you pm me? You don't have to, but I've a question..}

[7000dominos]

((I never PMed you....Do you remember that question?))

[scorpio grl]

{I sort of do, but a lot more has happened since then...}

[7000dominos]

The men landed on the first island they could find. Graham gave out orders rapidly, most to keep the men from lingering on the truth: they were stranded.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy worked just as hard as the other men, sweating and heaving as she labored to get everything just right around their makeshift camp, though more than once she caught her hand straying to feel at her pocket..

[7000dominos]

The men Graham had sent in search of food and water came back empty handed. Graham swore under his breath.

"We can only hope the others are on our tail," he explained once the twenty or so men had gathered around him. "There's a likely chance. The other boat was following not too far behind when the Navy came 'round. They'll find us, men. Keep your heads up."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy frowned, looking up at the tree tops in hopes of seing maybe even some fruits or coconuts.. nothing. She swore softly under her breath; the others had better find them soon.
They wouldn't last long without food.

[7000dominos]

Graham herded the men into a grove of palm trees to hide them from the sun that would very quickly dehydrate them. He stayed back a bit to help Minerva, who was, by then, up and walking, if not a little listless. He didn't bother trying to explain the situation to her. Instead, he shuffled her over to Nancy and sat the two under a large tree.

"Stay here," he ordered firmly, and went to make rounds of the other men.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy didn't argue one bit, instead pulled the young woman beside her closer, watching her tanned face for any sign whatsoever that would be worrisome. "Minerva, are you feeling better?" she questioned lowly, tone quiet but full of concern.

[7000dominos]

Minerva glanced at her friend rather blankly. "I'm fine," she said slowly, as if she were trying to remember the words to communicate what was in her head. "What happened?"

[scorpio grl]

"A lot," Nancy uttered lowly, tone a bit rough as her thoughts once agaain flickered to William for the nth time. "But that does not matter. Are you feeling any better? Can you walk?" she asked anxiously.

[7000dominos]

Minerva nodded, slowly becoming more sure of herself. "Yes, yes, I'm fine. Now where are the others?" It was a moment before her half-waking mind caught Nancy's tone. "What is it?" she said, eyes suddenly sharp and clear. "What's wrong?"

[scorpio grl]

"The others are out searching for food and whatnot," Nancy answered, reluctant. "And.. I'm fine. There's nothing wrong. you're the one who almost bled to death!"

[7000dominos]

Minerva allowed herself a small smirk. "'Almost' being the opperative word, there, dear. I'm fine, truly. How long have we been here?"

[scorpio grl]

Nancy scowled a little at her, but said no more on the subject. "Ahhh... I'd take a guess at..," she glanced upwards, looking at the gloriously burning sun above their heads, shining brightly down, but only peeking through the rustling leaves in an odd game of peek-a-boo that dappled both the young women, and the ground, with golden light, "a few.. hours?" It sounded more like a question.

[7000dominos]

Minerva nodded slowly, and followed her sisters eyes up to the unforgiving orb of gold overhead. "And we've no provisions," she said quietly. It wasn't a question.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy's face, dark yet pale beneath her tan, that greeted her question bleakly was all the answer anyone would need. She was right. "They've gone to look for some," she offered almost meekly.

[7000dominos]

Minerva nodded slowly, her face an impassive mask. She reached over slowly to take Nancy's hand even as she stared out into the fine blue horizon, thin and unbroken. "They saw us go down," she said quietly. "They'll be back. Do not worry."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy nodded almost meekly, afraid to say anything that would make the situation seem dimmer than it already was. "At least.. we've shade," she supplied in an attempt to be helpful after a long moment of uncomfortable silence; she squeezed Minerva's hand tighter. "And each other." When William had ordered his men to kill Minerva, she thought she'd die along with her...

[7000dominos]

Minerva smiled, closed her eyes and leaned back against the tree. "Yes, each other. Always each other."

((*tackles*))

[scorpio grl]

{T~T Why do I always miss you?}

Nancy squeezed her sibling's hand tighter for a long moment, copying the elder girl's position and deriving comfort from Minerva's ever unbroken stream of composure and self-assuredness.
If she had been alone, the young blonde knew all this would be utterly impossible.
Needless to say, Nancy was very glad she wasn't and only child right now.

"Always."

[7000dominos]

When Minerva woke up again, the sun had set, and men had fallen asleep sprawled over the flat, white beach like so many bedraggled bits of cloth, like still and black against the stark contrast of the rippling sand.

Out beyond the shore, where tiny waves crested and broke in pale, frothy caps, the white moon rose high over the opalescent waters of the sea. A band of white shone down across the ocean, like a bridge of light leading up to the heavens.

Minerva smiled and yawned. An insubstantial escape for an all too real prison with no walls to speak of.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy had, too, fallen asleep, only she had gradually moved so that her head was pillowed by her sister's lap with her face tucked into Minerva's comforting stomach, her arms hugged around her stomach and knees folded to her chest. Her golden hair caught the moonlight in a few places, but otherwise it was was a curly, dark halo around her head, framing her tan and freckled face, making her look almost child-like, only every once in awhile her expression would ruin the image--features contorting from mournful to upset to slightly angry, and even to downright fearful.

[7000dominos]

By the time the other men had returned for the shipwrecked comrades the next day, the sun had risen high, baking the moisture from it's unfortunate victims.

The one or two men depsperate enough to resort to sea water were lying in Graham's sick bay, along with a much larger handful of men who hadn't heeded Graham's warning.

"Small sips, men!" he'd called. "Or you'll be sick to your belly wi'in the hour!"

Those men lay groaning and clutching their stomachs. Minerva smiled over the edge of her full waterskin, glancing over to Nancy to make sure she was following Graham's order...

[scorpio grl]

{xD I seem to remember him saying something a long the lines of him saying they'd blow up like grenades.. or something. *Laughs* I always thought that line was hysterical.}

Nancy, now assured of their safety, was of course distracted. The blonde sat a little ways away from the others on a small hill composed of a mixture of sparse grass and gritty sand, leaning back into the semishade. One hand seemed permanently stuck in her pocket, secretly fingering the ring William had given her before they'd escaped, hazel orbs as distant as the horizon she gazed at.
Her waterskein, which had lain almost completely untouched by her side for nearly the entire hour--Graham had handed she and Minerva theirs first, and Nancy had a sneaking suspicion why though she'd said little--until someone had came and asked for it; she'd given it away without a second thought, figuring briefly that someone else needed it much more than she.

[7000dominos]

Minerva volunteered to make rounds of the shore, gathering up the last few men to board the ships so Broom could make his daring--interrupted--escape. She stopped last of all atop the crest Nancy had found for herself.

"He seemed...a nice enough lad," Minerva said, settling herself down next to her friend without looking at her. "Though I'd really have to get to know him better....He threatened our lives, afterall. Or mine. He must be quite taken with you..."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy barely glanced over, unsurprised that her friend had found her so easily; she was getting used to it. Her words, however, did surprise her; did she know already? The younger woman glanced over at Minerva, eyes dark. "He's changed," she affirmed simply in a quiet voice, hand still hidden in her pocket.

[7000dominos]

Minerva half-smiled and chuckled under her breath. "Has he? And your feelings for him, have they changed, too?" she teased gently.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy only looked back to the sea, unaffeacted by her gentle ribbing. Her mood was too contemplative for her to be roused by it. "Not much," she replied curtly.
She'd always been crazy about him. That had never changed. The only thing that had changed was the light in which she'd saw him.

[7000dominos]

Minerva withdrew, somewhat taken aback by the terse return.

"He loves you, you know," she said after a moment. "It's so very clear, he absolutely adores you. I hope you know that."

[scorpio grl]

A small smile twitched at the corners of Nancy's lips as a memory of her still a child bubbled to mind. She had just gotten scolded and sent to her room after she had snuck out nearly all day to play with William and the other boys down at the docks. She'd been caught later in the afternoon, of course, scrubbed red and clean, spanked and sent up the stairs to think of what she'd done--and, honestly, all she could think was that she wanted to go right back outside.

The young blonde had stood there with her fists upon her hips, feet spread apart, features solemn as she stared at the collection of dolls her mother had left her. "I love William ___ {*Doesn't remember his last name*}," she had declared boldly, "and I shall forever until the very day I die. And that's that." Nancy then nodded as if to concrete her point before turning about face, walking over and climbing into her bed as she had been forbidden from dinner that night.

The young woman summoned herself back to the present for the most part, never once taking her eyes off the horizon. "He asked me to marry him," Nancy replied simply, her voice a stark contrast to the dramatic turmoil that raged inside her belly as she finally pulled her hand--and ring--from her pocket and handed it to Minerva without looking. "I turned him down."
And with that the female pirate rose lithely to her feet, stretching a little and turning. "Well, c'mon then, we'd better shove off."

[7000dominos]

Minerva stared at the small, simple ring in her hand for a long moment, then after the retreating form of her friend and sister, never once saying a word.

The small weight of the metal circle in her hand dragged her ochre colored eyes down to her palm. Shrugging, she folded her fingers in on the precious thing and stood to follow Nancy.

"Just in case," she whispered to herself.

[scorpio grl]

Nancy strolled toward the ship with silent grace, eyes a dark hazel, swirling unpredictably like the sea that they were about to sail upon, movements slightly stiff from staying in one position for too long. She only shrugged away the discomfort and pain--it wasn't right to think of it or herself; she had more important things to worry about.

Such as shaking off the bad feeling that coiled in her belly...

[7000dominos]

Broom only blinked as Nancy strode by, wordless and contemplative. He looked at her, then at Minerva, a question clear in his eyes.

Minerva shook her head and offered a sympathetic smile and shrug.

Broom paused for a long moment, then shrugged. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," she answered evasively.

"Graham said you--"

"I'm fine."

A long pause. "And Nancy."

"The same."

[scorpio grl]

Nancy stopped at their cabin door, a rush of relief washing over her--never before aware of how much she loved the shabby little room until now. She turned and looked at Minerva across the deck meaningfully and guestured to it.

[7000dominos]

Minerva swept quickly across the deck, away from a bewildered looking Broom, and toward Nancy, where she leaned in close to whisper, the faintest hint of a smile playing over her lips:

"Nancy! You must realize I love, but...well, we are both rather spoken for, are we not?"

[scorpio grl]

{Sorry, but I'm tired and (incredibly, even for me) stupid today. Care to explain that post? My brain hurts.}

[7000dominos]

((Oh, sorry, I had just woken up from a nap when I wrote that. I just meant...well, Nancy is beckoning Minerva to their shared, tiny, dark room for the night....))

[scorpio grl]

{Ooooohhh, OK.. *Le yawn* I get it, now. Thanks.
And by the way..... *Tackles*}

Nancy blinked in surprise, quiet for a few moments it slowly dawned on her, the words clicking into place in her brain. Suddenly, awareness blanketed her--now, widened--hazel orbs, and she gasped. "Minerva!" she exclaimed in disaproval, shock coloring her tone as she smacked her friend's arm.