~Wind in Our Sails~

[TheSamm]

Working on it...

[TheSamm]

TheSamm's Characters




Name: Emilio Campaña (Emile)
Occupation: Ex-spy, Spanish privateer, Quartermaster of the Bevrijder
Weapon of Choice: Emile prefers to use a Spanish cavalry saber, but does posess a couple of knives for particularly close combat. He is also an improviser and will sooner fight dirty than fair.

Other skills/talents: Emile has detailed knowledge of British affairs and speaks English, Spanish, French and Italian. He has also picked up some phrases in Dutch from the captain of the Bevrijder.

Brief background: Emile was a naval soldier of Spain in his youth, but his family connections allowed him to advance into the area of espionage and he was placed in the British courts for nearly 10 years. Unfortunately, he made a big mistake and was caught laundering money through his own side project. It nearly blew his cover and was brought home and put in jail. Instead of getting prison time and hard labor, the Spanish courts made him into a privateer and stuck him on a ship with Dutch prisoner-of-war and Captain Christoffel Emerens.

[MissHotCoco]

Name: Adelaide VonDaemon
Age: A week from her 18th birthday
Royalty Status: Daughter of the King's sister and Duke VonDaemon
Maritial Status: Unwillingly Betrothed
Skills: Adelaide can do all of the norm for woman in her position. She can embroider, sew, play the harp and the piano, and lead staff in prepping for something like a party dinner or just tea. She can have a smart mouth, which can get her into trouble as well.
Brief Backstory: Adelaide is second oldest, with an older brother and a younger brother. Being the only woman, she is expected to perform in their ways of life. Etiquette, party arranging, entertaining, art projects were all drilled into her from a young age. She was to be waited on twenty-four seven and have not a need in the world. But she has grown tired of living up to everyone's expectations. Her other brother, technically third in line for the crown, was able to wait to wed. Her younger brother will most likely get to have at least a slight choice in girls he wants to marry. But not Adelaide. Her choice was in her mother's hands who wanted the wealthiest and handsomest, not the kindest or the good-hearted types. Lately, she's been sneaking out with her ladies maid to get a taste of what life was like for a girl's life at night when she wasn't part of the royal family. Tonight will probably be the last time she can sneak out because her betrothed will be coming to town to meet her and her family. Her mother knows better than to let her wander and cause a ruckus with her past experience chasing off potential suitors. Ronald Birkley is one of the wealthiest suitors in his early twenties, all inheritance of course, and is son of Marquess Birkley and in line to be the next Marquess. It is a step under a Duke in the royalty line, but her mother trusts this will still be a profitable match.

[TheSamm]

It was dusk when the Bevrijder docked in Yarmouth, but there was much to do before she was ready to rest in the bay, so it was already dark outside when their boots hit the cobblestone streets of the port town. Captain Emerens remained behind, shut-in as he was, and his quartermaster tread quietly behind the men as they made their way into the streets. They numbered perhaps thirty or so there, but every time they docked they gained some men and they lost some. This time, Emile worried that they would lose more than they could make up for. The Bevrijder had taken some serious damage and it would be expensive to fix. When that happened, it came out of everybody's cut. To make matters worse, they had been nearly run down by the British Navy. They were carrying cargo that was known to be stolen, so they would have to go to other, less reliable markets to sell it which would require more time than a normal negotiation. That was why they had docked in Yarmouth, though.

Emile had been stationed in the British Isles two years ago for nearly a decade, during which time he had made many useful contacts. The man they were going to see would hopefully be able to help them unload some of the cargo, but they'd be taking a much smaller cut using him as a middleman. What was more, he wasn't expecting the company. Emile had chosen a few of the more loyal crew-mates to accompany him on that particular mission, hoping that if he could at least get something in the works then he could keep his men on the hook a while longer. This group included a lanky, Franco-Russian man who simply went by "Ivan". He was the only other crew member who spoke the Captain's native Dutch and would speak nothing else, though it seemed he understood other languages. Another member was an Italian woman who would not have been described as feminine named Allegra. She had a good half a foot on Emile and twice the muscle, and a square cut jaw that would fill a man with more envy than lust. Then there were Duncan, the Scotsman, and Niall, the Irishman. The two were always boisterous, laughing together or fighting. Still, they called the Bevrijder their home and they were good friends to Emile and the captain, who had nicknamed them the "twins".

Most of the crew dispersed after they entered town. Emile led his party onto the main thoroughfare and hailed a carriage. The five of them squeezed in, Emile in the middle with the Ivan on his left and Allegra on his right. Duncan and Niall sat across from them and were already chatting it up.

"Ey Niall," Duncan said, "why wasn't Jesus born in England?"

"Oh God, not this again." Niall said, but he was already chuckling with a big grin.

"But why, Niall?"

"Go on, tell me." Niall replied, shaking his head.

"Because God couldn't find three wise men, or a virgin!" Duncan laughed so hard he could barely finish the punchline. Niall shook his head and punched Duncan in the arm. Emile smiled and Allegra shook her head. Ivan was staring out the window, making far too much eye contact with strangers.

It was a long ride, but they soon arrived at the front door of Sir Albright's establishment. It was a bar, not quite upscale but certainly not bottom-of-the-rung. It looked like it was as busy as ever; there was a lot of noise coming from inside of the building. Emile led them through the front doors, and the scene within was even more exciting than he had anticipated. There was a buffet table, which the twins immediately broke for. Ivan sat at a table near the door and just watched the room. Allegra followed Emile as he waded through people and around furniture. There were chaise lounges and sofas where men and women had gathered to drink and consume opium. It would have been nice to join them if he was not on business, Emile thought. When he had lived in England before, his status would not have permitted it.

Finally he spotted Sir Albright and his madame seated at the bar. The two were engaged in conversation with another man, and Emile approached slowly. He caught the man's attention and his eyes popped with surprise, drawing him out of his conversation.

"Well if it isn't my old partner in crime." He said, leaning back with his elbows on the counter and his hands folded across his chest. "Sir Nicolas, it's been years. Please, regale me with tales of your exploits."

"Nothing too terribly exciting, I fear." Emile said, shaking the other man's hand. It was apparent that he had been drinking quite a bit. "Actually, I'm in a bit of a bind. I think you could help me out, and you could stand to profit from it."

"Well come, sit, tell me all about it. You and your...?" He gestured with perplexity at Allegra, who did not move to correct him. "Well anyway, you make yourself comfortable."

Emile sat at the bar and Sir Albright ordered them a round of drinks. Emile sipped his rum slowly. It was necessary to keep his wits about him while trying to negotiate.

"Thank you for hearing me out, old friend." Emile raised his flagon to the older merchant. "So let me be brief and spare your precious time. It seems I have come into some property that I cannot sell by normal means for certain reasons I cannot explain here; I'm certain you know the nature of the issue. I need a distributor who can find the right market for me. I'm willing to cut you thirty percent, if you find that agreeable."

"I see, I see." The older man said. He turned his head toward the bar and in a gesture that startled Emile, he knocked back his glass. He turned back to Emile, who was still wearing a stunned expression. His movements were loose and wild and he slurred in his speech. "I'm really sorry to tell you this, but it appears that I am under investigation for conducting similar transactions--of a purely legal nature, mind you, but the fact of the matter is that I cannot afford to take any more risks. I'm terribly sorry, truly I am."

The older man put a hand on Emile's shoulder to convey his sympathy, but then he reeled and scared Emile up onto his feet. Albright didn't vomit, but he seemed about to at any moment.

"It's fine, really." Emile replied, holding him up while his wife took his arm, "You should go lie down."

The older man nodded slightly and waved his hand about dismissively.

"Enjoy the party." He said as his wife led him off.

"Shit." Emile said, leaning back against the bar. Allegra was frowning too. They were going to need to think of something else.

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide was having one of the worst days of her life. Everything was striving on boring until dinner. Her lessons had turned more into just sitting around doing whatever was planned for the day. She'd finished her embroidered handkerchief, practiced the harp until her fingers felt like they would bleed, took a stroll through town but didn't get to even step foot in a shop, and then was in charge of setting up dinner. In between everything was of course some sort of mini tea party with either a lady in the area or her mother, either one always full of some kind of gossip that never intrigued Adelaide.

But the worst part was finding out at dinner that her betrothed would arrive in one weeks time, on her birthday to start planning the wedding. Not only did Adelaide not know that her mother had chosen another suitor already, but she didn't think she would have to get married so soon after her eighteenth birthday. Most women were married off before eighteen and she knew she was lucky to have made it this far. She craved more tastes from the outside world! She couldn't be stuck inside a stuffy house with a man that she most likely wouldn't care for. There were many things Adelaide had wanted to do before getting married and she'd only just started.

Adelaide hadn't finished her dinner. She actually stormed out of the dining room and went straight to her rooms, where she proceeded to punch her pillows and scream into them. These tantrums were rare, but she didn't know what else to do. Plus she'd never do this in front of anyone, even she knew that most toddlers didn't act like this after one or two of them. Her mind reeled with the life she was stuck with. She longed for adventure and romance, not embroidery and music. Music was great, when she wasn't the one performing.

Dusk came and went. She lay on her bed, still in her day gown, staring at her ceiling when she heard her door open softly. Eleina, her ladies maid slipped in and shut the door behind her.

"My lady." Eleina said as she through hardly any clothes at Adelaide. She'd brought a get up similar to her own. In Adelaide's hands was a corsetted beige top with a white undershirt, a ruffled black and beige skirt that was long in the back and short in the front, with a pair of black leather boots to finish the look.

Adelaide perked up almost instantly. This is exactly what she needed. A party. She quickly changed out of her day dress and put on her new clothes. New wasn't a word she should compare to the clothes she had just changed out of. These were more ratty and made her blend in with everyday people. New clothes were like the pristine dress she'd just stepped out of. Nonetheless, no matter how she was raised, the top of the undershirt was left open to show off her perfect cleavage. She ruffled her hair so it wasn't so neat and then applied some charcoal around her eyes to give them a dramatic flare.

Then the two set off, sneaking out of the big mansion and down the road. Eleina told Adelaide about the man who was hosting this party. He was a business man and worked with one of Eleina's uncles, which is how she heard about the party. She'd never met the man, nor gone to any of his parties, but she said they should be fine there. Her uncle was one of those chivalry types that made sure no foul play happened with any of the girls, a bouncer of sorts because he would throw out brawling guys too when they got too rowdy.

Adelaide was so intrigued by a new venue. She ached to drink without being told 'no'. She wanted to eat without being told 'not so fast, not so much'. She wanted to dance to something that wasn't so traditional. She wanted to converse with new people and get their opinions on how they saw the world today. She may not have influence over the king, but she did over her father. She may use some of that knowledge to persuade him to ease up on some of the laws ever now and then to help. The better the people felt, the more they partied!

The girls arrived as the party started to go into full swing. Men were in all corners with big beer mugs in their hands, yelling stories at each other. Women, both brothel-like girls and regular looking girls either serving food and drink or serving some of the men. Near the door sat Eleina's uncle, a very tall and muscular guy that looked like a mercenary with his vest and sword. Adelaide nodded to him and then B-lined it for the bar, getting a mug for herself. She turned and saw that Eleina had already ditched her for a guy, which didn't surprise Adelaide at all. Eleina's clothes were more skimpy than Adelaide's. Plus she hadn't put on the air around her that let people know she was approachable. Now that she had a beer in hand, she turned towards the party and smiled. This felt more like home than her actual one did.

[TheSamm]

Since there was no longer anything to negotiate, Emile and Allegra were drinking a tad more liberally. He had finished his rum, but since he hadn't the money for more he settled for warm ale. Niall and Duncan were off getting doped up and enjoying the company of a few ladies. Emile could hear Duncan's bad jokes from the bar.

"What's next?" Allegra asked over the rim of her glass. Emile shrugged, frowning.

"We sell the ship, run away, cut our hair, shave our beards, change our names, and hope nobody catches up to us." He replied.

"Doubt the captain will go for that." She said.

"Then we'll sink the ship." Emile joked. "And he can go down with it, just like he always wanted to."

He tossed back his flagon and finished his drink. When he pulled it back down, he caught sight of two women entering the bar. One of them caught his eye, and initially he was uncertain why. She was familiar. Emile could not remember if he had laid with her some years ago or merely seen her someplace he frequented when he was still on assignment. Allegra was following his gaze.

"Like what you see?" She asked.

"That girl doesn't seem like she belongs here, does she?" Emile watched her approach the bar from his periphery.

"No." Allegra said. "Her hair is too clean, and so is her face for that matter. Maybe you should go make her feel welcome."

Emile nodded and got to his feet. He approached the girl where she stood a few seats away, and knocked on the counter to get her attention.

"I hope I'm not out of line asking," he said with his most winning smile, "but may I buy your next round?"

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide watched the party around her, sipping on her beer. She knew that it wouldn't be fun if she got too tipsy too soon. She watched as Eleina felt at home catering to a small group of young men, all of their eyes filled with desire or adoration. Adelaide wasn't too good at reading these people still, but she was getting the hang of it. She could normally tell the difference when someone desired her sexually or just wanted to chat.  Eleina was one of the people she wished to be. She looked so at ease in this bar with eyes on her bare skin. Adelaide only just started to show off her legs and cleavage, mainly because Eleina said she looked too proper with it all buttoned up.

Adelaide was pulled from her thoughts with a knocking next to her. She turned her light gray eyes towards the man getting her attention, her eyes dropping to the smile on his mouth first before making their way up to assess his other features. A winning smile on a handsome face. He looked like someone her mother would adore having on her only daughter's arm for the world to see. Adelaide hoped this male wasn't as dumb as the suitors she easily chased off.

So she returned the smile and stepped closer, trying to remember to use a different tone of voice than her normal one. "O'course." Her accent was a little heavier than she normally used at home. There was expected to speak delicately, when she was even permitted to speak. "'Tis me first time bein' 'ere at Albright's. Know 'im well?" She asked curiously, trying to keep up her odd common accent. She knew the ones like Eleina left off a lot of letters, just enough to still be understandable. Eleina spoke much like the nobles when she was working, Adelaide had only gotten a taste of the way she normally talked when they first started to sneak out to parties.

[TheSamm]

"Not terribly, to be honest." Emile replied, flagging down the bartender. "I hope you like rum. This place carries the best."

The accent had caught him rather off guard, but Emile kept his cool. He thought she might be faking it, but he couldn't be sure, nor could he imagine why--unless she wasn't supposed to be there. Emile had been known to adopt an accent to get out of a bind.

"As for Albright, we used to do business together, but the way I hear it he's fallen on hard times. Good to know the establishment hasn't suffered much though. It's as lively as I remember." He returned to sipping the rum. His pockets were getting lighter, but he figured it wasn't a waste if he enjoyed one of his last days as a free man in the company of a lovely girl. Still, there was another feeling he just couldn't shake. "I must apologize though, have we met? You seem familiar, but I suppose I should introduce myself anyway. My name is Nicolas."

Emile held his hand out expectantly to shake hers. It felt strange to use that name again, but it would have been unwise to start throwing around his real name.

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide smiled as he mentioned rum. It was her favorite hard liquor to drink, but beer was her first. Mainly because beer didn't get her drunk as fast as rum or whiskey did. She would take his offer for the free drink anyway and just be extra careful not to drink it too fast. Eleina's uncle was here to watch her, but when she stepped out of those doors, no one would be escorting her home, unless she convinced Eleina to come, but usually the girl had other plans with some male company.

She couldn't help the realization in her eyes when he said his name. The name plus his face put two and two together. He was Sir Nicolas. She never spoke to him outright, but she'd been near him at parties. They'd never been properly introduced, but she was certain that a woman of her status was pointed at and explained to him who she was. She tried to smile coolly and took hold of her rum. "I don' believe we 'ave, Mr. Nicolas." She took a sip and set the glass down before taking hold of his hand. "Name's Anna." The name was thought of right then since she hadn't had the time to make up one for this party before she'd arrived.

"Strong grip." She decided to try and use her woman powers to steer them away from any topics of her. Moving closer yet again, she made sure her chest was well pushed out to emphasize her breasts. "You must be good wit' a sword, yes?" She smiled up at him, though a worried look shared the innocence she tried to portray in her eyes.

[TheSamm]

"Anna." Emile nodded, his eyes drifting from her eyes to her bosom and back. He knew her, and he knew that he did--it was on the tip of his tongue, so close he could taste it, but just out of reach. Much had happened since he'd been removed from his post; plenty of time  to forget a face. Her tough grip startled him. That, he was certain he would remember of a woman, but if anything it made him doubt himself. Maybe he'd already had too much to drink.

"I should say the same for you my lady, you have the iron grip of a smith! If you're interested in swords, I've got something to show you." He unstrapped his sabre and scabbard from his hip to show her. The scabbard was black with floral details carved in cherrywood. The handle was silver and featured a French cage to protect the hands. "This sword is special, you see; it's a tad longer than others in its class. Makes for a nasty surprise when a man thinks he's out of range."

And if you like this sword, he thought, I've got another like it.

[MissHotCoco]

She felt a small blush on her cheeks as he complimented her grip. It wasn't customary for ladies to shake hands, but she imagined that if she did shake hands at a royal party then it would have to be delicate. She grinned as she was shone the sword. Her fingers lightly touched the silver handle as she admired the french cage around it. She'd seen her fair share of swords like this but didn't want to say anything to let him know that she could at least guess at where it was made and possibly even guess the smith.

She looked back up at him and intentionally brushed his hand as she dropped hers from the sword. "I see an' has it seen blood yet?" She asked, though she didn't really care much if it had seen battle yet, but she knew that asking questions was a good way to keep a drinking man talking about himself rather than asking questions.

[TheSamm]

Emile chuckled, though he considered that an odd question to ask--especially from a lady. This woman was odd in more ways than one, but she was crossing the line from peculiar into uncanny. The soldier in him became uneasy. It could very well be that they were acquainted under bad circumstances, and if that were the case then he wasn't sure he'd brought enough muscle to watch his back.

"Of hundreds!" He regaled her. "I've sailed everywhere from Norway to North Africa. Enough to talk about myself for days, but of course nobody wants to hear that. I want to hear more about you. Are you a native of Yarmouth?"

Emile hoped that by turning the spotlight onto her, he might discover a flaw in her disguise or reveal a distinguishing detail about her. Once more he really was playing the role of Sir Nicolas, English lord and Spanish spy.

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide let out a small giggle, possibly a bit too proper for someone raised in the town as a commoner, but it was her laugh and she didn't feel like trying to change that as well. It delighted her that he seemed excited to speak to her about his travels, but then it was brief as he turned the conversation back to her before she could keep him going.

Her smile wavered a bit and the nerves set in. After being to a few parties without any close nobility in them, she hadn't expected a run in with anyone that may know her. She tucked her hair behind her ear, feeling herself grow hot with her worry. At an angle from her ear, towards her hair line, was a small dragon shaped birthmark. Dragon was a bit of a big statement for it looked more like a regular lizard to her. Normally this would be covered up and she didn't even think about it.

"Born an' raised." She almost slipped up and said 'sir' at the end, but he hadn't said he was Sir Nicolas. "Neve' been out the country." Then she leaned closer to him with a new question, plus it was one she was actually interested in knowing about. "You say you been to Norway. Are they re'lly savages?"

[TheSamm]

Emile was a cocktail mess of feelings. For one thing, he knew he'd had a bit much to drink and not enough water to sober up which could be a problem. For another, he'd already spent what money he'd had on buttering up this strange woman, and he hadn't learned the first thing about her. Maybe he was overthinking it, he considered. Maybe it just didn't matter anyway.

"Well savages, that's just a matter of perspective." Emile said. "Every one of them's a warrior, down to the lass. But they love to trade almost as much as they love war, and that's what we've got in common. I am a merchant and a sailor, and a sailor must be a warrior before anything else. You know never know when you'll be set upon by pirates or the like." At the tucking of her hair, a dark mark near her ear caught his eye. In a split moment, he went from casually observing it to suddenly realizing he had seen it and his heart skipped a beat. Then he remembered! They had been acquainted once before, just before he left the British Isles. He couldn't recall her first name, but he knew her last. She was one of the VonDaemon children.

The gears in his mind began to turn. The VonDaemons came from money and here was their daughter, unescorted and unsupervised in the middle of the night. It would have been too risky to try and abduct her there, but he wondered if he could get her to go someplace more quiet with him. If he showed her a good time, she might not be so resistant. It was a crazy plan, he knew, but it beat the hell out of rotting in a jail cell for the rest of his days. He kept his eyes out for an opportunity to alert his pals to his plan, but "Anna" was rather engaged with him.

"You don't seem like you belong here." He told her, smiling and gazing meaningfully into her eyes. "You're too fine, too polished. Much more than I expected to find in a place like this. Why are you here?"

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide was starting to feel some effects of the drinking, but thankfully she'd kept it slow enough that she was feeling tipsy. It wasn't enough to say she was drunk, but it was enough to make her confidence boost and make her feel like her body was tingling. She was pretty intrigued in what he was saying about the Norse, especially interested in the women being warriors too. That sounded so wonderful to her. Spending days fighting, partying and sailing. Not inside surrounded by snobby people who think they're better than anyone else based off of a good birth or good marriage.

She didn't catch the realization in his eyes, but she had caught his glance at her birthmark. She quickly ran her hand through her hair again to cover the mark, hoping he wouldn't recognize it if he'd noticed it. Of course she'd forget one of the most important things before leaving the house. At least Nicolas might not know of the mark, even if she kept it exposed, but she didn't want to chance it.

There was enough alcohol in her blood now that she smiled coolly at him and downed the rest of her rum. "I work as a lady's maid." She told him, taking part of Eleina's story. "I have'ta be clean for thems." Her accent was a little more slurry now from the drink, but not horribly slurred as if she'd drank a fifth to herself. "No un' wants a dirty maid in they home." She waved at the bartender for another round and pointed towards Eleina's uncle in the corner. The bartender replaced the ale in her mug. "Same as e'eryone else. To drink and dance." She smiled at him, hoping he'd buy her story. It was odd for her to be chatting about 'herself' so much.

[TheSamm]

Emile was already scheming in his head about how he could take advantage of this situation. He just needed to keep her talking long enough to come up with a plan, but before he could question her any further he heard a loud crash and shouting from behind. On reflex he glanced back to see what the ruckus was about and his eyes about popped out of his damned head.

Duncan had thrown up a table, spilling alcohol all across the floor. He was suddenly locked in a fistfight with a slightly larger individual who looked like he was a regular around there. Both were smashed and lobbing their gangly limbs everywhere. Niall stood in the back, cheering for Duncan and shooting insults at the other assailant.

"Oh no." Emile said, hesitating to get involved. The English bloke managed to get Duncan onto another table and was choking him. In a panic, Niall grabbed a lantern off the wall and smashed it over the man's head. Oil was cast everywhere, and it mixed with the alcohol. This created a burgeoning flame that set the Englishman ablaze. He jumped away, howling in pain, and began flailing his flaming arms, spreading the fire in every direction. Niall grabbed Duncan off the table began dragging him away, but Allegra came to the rescue and threw the Scotsman over her shoulder. As the fire climbed the walls, the whole bar became filled with smoke and the door crowded with evacuating men and women. Ivan was nowhere to be seen.

"We should go." Emile suggested to Anna urgently.

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide's eyes widened as she turned to the brawl taking place. All she saw were bodies. She didn't even recognize Eleina's uncle in the mix. Then the place started to go up in flames. People started to scream and run out of the exits as the smoke poured into the are.

She grabbed Emile's arm and tugged him towards the door, not wanting to stay and be burned alive either. "Let's get out of here." She said urgently and in her normal voice. The disaster made her forget to use her previous accent.

Once they were outside, Eleina caught her eye and she pointed to the muscular man she was linked arms with. Adelaide knew that meant her friend was ditching her. It didn't matter much to her. She knew how to get back to her house and sneak in without being caught by anyone. But she wan't ready to return home either. "Well." She cleared her throat as she looked back at the smoking building.  "Shall we go fo' a walk then?" She planned to steer him towards her house so she could be near when the night ended.

[TheSamm]

A thousand thoughts raced through Emile's mind. For one, he was now more eager than ever to skip town. Hopefully word wouldn't make it back to Sir Albright that he had been remotely involved with an event that would almost certainly spell financial ruin for him. For another, he saw his friends in the crowd of evacuees hurrying away from the scene. He couldn't very well join them in this situation, so he hoped they wouldn't be too worried about him.

"A walk sounds fine." Emile said, sighing in relief. "We probably shouldn't linger around here too much longer. Where shall we walk, then?"

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide realized that she was still holding onto his arm and dropped her hand down to her side again. She felt how exposed she was now, in the cold night air after having warmed up inside. The tops of her breasts and the fronts of her legs felt a small chill. She looked around again at the people fleeing the scene and then turned back to Emile.

"How 'bout we go this weh?" She said, her accent back and started moving in that direction. The way back to her house was around the bend towards the ocean, they'd walk on the dirt road that would turn into man placed cobblestone roads the closer to the heart of town they got. She always loved the sound of the ocean and was glad that her house was near one, not that she got to go out into the ocean as much as she wished she could. "Where ya' think you'll go next?" She asked curiously, eyeing the boats out in the water.

[TheSamm]

"I'm not certain." Emile replied, thinking. They walked along the coastline and he watched the crowd disappear in the streets. Everything was getting quiet. This was familiar, too. Once again he felt as though he really were Sir Nicolas Salamanca, wealthy merchant and politician, and Emilio Campaña were the alias. He wondered how it must feel not to be acting every moment of your life.

But this was not the time for philosophy. The lass sure seemed to have an interest in sailing, and Emile was willing to bet he could use that to his advantage.

"Wherever we go, it is up to the captain; but I hope that each new location will be even more beautiful than the last." He stopped walking rather suddenly, "You sound like the sort of lady who appreciates the sea. How'd you like to see our vessel? She's not in the best shape she's ever been in, but you get a great view from the bow."

If he could just get her on the ship, there'd be nowhere to run.

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide perked up when he offered for her to see the ship he was on. Though it quickly faded when she thought of all the cons that went with it. Sir Nicolas could have turned into a pirate for all she knew and what she knew of pirates was when they kidnapped a woman, they weren't seen again. But she loved the idea of being near the ocean and on a real ship that could take her away from all her problems. Mainly her fiance coming to see her soon.

"I-" She stopped and looked out at the ocean, making her final decision. The night skies showed she had some time before anyone would be awake in her house and she was sure she could get back in time. "I'd like that." She looked at him and smiled. "So long as it's not too far away."

[TheSamm]

"Not at all!" Emile said, maybe with a mite more enthusiasm than he should have. He turned about the opposite direction, hoping at least some of his crewmates might have returned to the Bevrijder. Getting "Anna" onboard might be a challenge, otherwise. The ship had certainly seen better days, and he doubted that the young woman's poor judgment would extend to actually getting on the ship. "And if your legs get tired, I'll carry you. A little thing like you, I could probably lift on one arm."

They arrived in front of the Bevrijder with the moon directly overhead. Emile grimaced at the sight of the thing. The lighting thankfully hid much of the damage and he was thankful that the port side was not too visible, as that was the side where it was most damaged. Still, in the pale moonlight it looked more like a ghost ship. His crewmates were nowhere to be seen either. Emile walked up to the ramp and grabbed the dim lantern off of the hook where it hung.

"Like I said, she's seen better days," Emile laughed nervously, "but she's much lovelier once you get topside, I promise. Care to go up?"

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide was able to walk her own way there without getting much fatigue. She was pretty flattered at this compliment about her being little. When they arrived, she took one look at the boat and thought about how he wasn't kidding. The vessel definitely looked like a ghost ship and the lack of crew made her a bit worried. It must be very late or they didn't have anyone on their crew that was a night owl, doing things out on the deck instead of being out and about or in the sleeping quarters. She looked up at the ship wearily.

"T'anks fer the offer." She nervously rubbed her arms from the cold wind coming from the ocean. "I bes' be gettin' home. It was nice meetin' you." Fear crept up on her as she realized how alone she was with this guy she barely knew. This was probably her last night she'd get to sneak out as a single woman and she was using it to see a ship with a stranger? She started to back away, watching him for his reaction.

[TheSamm]

Emile was about to give up and offer to escort her home. It was, as far as he was concerned, a miracle that he had made it this far. He might as well just jump in the water and sink to the bottom right then, because his life was over. He sighed, disappointed--but just as he was replacing the lantern, he heard a familiar clamor of voices. Rounding the corner were his crewmates; Duncan was leaning on Allegra's arm and holding a wet rag on his right hand. Niall spotted Emile and immediately hailed him.

"Ey, look who it is!" Niall shouted, Ivan trailing behind him, "An' he's got a girlfriend!" This was his chance. Emile lunged forward to wrap his arms around Adelaide, intending to throw her over his shoulder. If he let her slip, at least he'd have backup.

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide had no time to react. The voices of his crewmates drew her attention so she didn't see Emile lunge for her. Before she knew it she was thrown over his shoulder. Shit. She thought to herself and started to flail, kicking her legs and smacking his back. "What the hell are you doing?!" She demanded, her accent now gone. Her real voice was back and it was angry. She grabbed at anything she could and ended up being able to somehow reach the sword he'd showed her earlier. Quickly she pulled it out and pointed the end at his back. "PUT- ME- DOWN!" She yelled, the tip threatening him.




~OOC: I hope that idea was alright, couldn't see her really overpowering him in strength, especially with his back up. Next post I'll have her realized her opportunity and then start making her own demands. If this all works for you.

[TheSamm]

OOC: Nah I can totally work with this and it's actually a clever move lol

"Whoa, okay!" Emile said, dropping her back onto her feet. He jumped away and pulled out his short sword;  against a skilled swordsman he might have just run at that point, but he wasn't about to lose his hostage and his sword. His friends stopped in their tracks, perplexed by the situation that was unfolding in front of them.

"The fuck is going on?" Duncan asked.

"Wait, wait a minute, I think Emile bought us a woman." Niall replied, looking Adelaide over. "I didn't know you liked 'em feisty mate, but you probably should have picked a friendlier one."

Allegra suckerpunched his arm, eliciting a shout and a dirty look.

"Don't let her run!" Emile warned them. "She's worth money, and a lot of it. She's how we're getting out of this harbor before the navy catches up to us."

"A hostage?" Allegra asked. "Who the hell is she?"

"She's the duke's daughter." Emile explained. "I knew of her family from before. I knew I had recognized her."

"Well I don't see how I'm gonna be much help." Duncan complained. "Me hands're burned and they hurt like a--"

"Then take a cue from Ivan and just watch." Allegra said, shoving him off her arm. Like a lioness on the hunt, she waited for Adelaide to make a run for it.

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide was thrown back down just as she had hoped. Still holding the sword he had shown her earlier, she held it in front of her, pointing it directly at him again. The others ran up and she took a defensive position. She had been right, it seemed that these lot were some sort of pirates or something. Eyeing all of them, she listened. So he had recognized her. He must've seen her birthmark or maybe her accent wasn't as good as Eleina had told her it was.

She did want to run. Her home was quite the distance now and she didn't know if she could outrun all of them. It took her seconds to realize her options. The wanted a hostage. She didn't want to go home. It was perfect. Maybe if she went willingly they could train her how to really use this sword. If Emile advanced on her now that she didn't have the tip in his spinal cord, she would easily be disarmed. The only reason she knew this defensive position was the light training her brother had given her. Defend and then run. He wouldn't allow her to wield a real sword.

"He's right." She said through gritted teeth, her eyes going to each of the crew. Then she stood up straight, still holding the sword with a good grip. "I'm Adelaide VonDaemon and I want to go with you, but not as a hostage. I'll help you with the money if you train me as one of you." She hoped she sounded confident, but she had a feeling they now knew she couldn't use the weapon in her hand. She was outnumbered. They could easily overtake her now and just throw her in the bottom of the ship. She hoped they'd see the ease of this offer, to have her comply.

[TheSamm]

"What?" Emile said incredulously, a skeptical look on his face. "Train you? A noblewoman? This isn't a lads' school; I'm no teacher! If you sail with us, you need to already know the sword--we don't just let anybody in here!"

Allegra rolled her eyes, and Niall and Duncan laughed. Ivan, as usual, merely watched.

"Ey, if nothing else she's nice to look at." Niall suggested.

Emile stopped and realized how foolish he had been. He didn't need to teach her to fight. All he had to do was swear to and Adelaide would skip happily up the ramp onto the ship. Once they were back on the water, resistance would no longer be an option. It was almost like he'd forgotten how to lie.

"Okay, you know what? Fine." Emile announced, shaking his head. "Help us get a ransom and we'll teach you how to fight. It can't be that hard, can it?" He looked to Allegra for support. She nodded unenthusiastically, a tight, dubious smile on her face.

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide watched Emile closely. She didn't know if he was telling the truth, but she wasn't going to find out. "No." She held the sword in her hand a bit higher in more of a taunting manner. "You train me first and I can get more money out of my family than you need."

She didn't know if they knew about her most recent engagement because it had just happened, but she knew that her new fiance was loaded. If she turned up missing, she was sure that he'd pay a very very large price to have her back. Her title was worth more than some of this money. The guy was getting better with his business so it wouldn't be long before he made it all back.

She watched Emile, clearly the leader of the group, for his reaction. It made her blood boil that he didn't want to train her at first. Her face was serious and her chin stuck out in that pompous ways nobles did when they were exerting their 'power'.

[TheSamm]

Again, Emile lost his composure.

"What? No!" He argued. "This ship will not sail without money! And we're in a bit of a hurry. I can't teach you how to fight in an evening, that sort of thing takes months even to get a grasp. You'd have to be on this ship for years."

"Why would you even want to do that?" Allegra asked. "There's no tea parties on this old ship. Your dresses won't hold up against wind and salt, and learning how to fight seems a little silly when you're rich enough for body guards. You will spend more time hungry or cold than not on this ship. Who would choose such a life?"

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide's brow furrowed in frustration. These people were acting as pompous as some nobles she's met. They were putting her in a box of expectations. The same box she wanted to escape from.

She looked to Allegra and pondered her question. "Would you be up for an arranged marriage to someone who only wants you for your title and to make children?" She asked angrily. "I am done living a life where I'm told what to do and when to do it. I'd rather be cold and hungry." She looked back at Emile. "I'm not expecting to be an expert before I go back. I just need to start learning."

[TheSamm]

Allegra shrugged; it was a fair point. She had also been raised in a family that had tried to shove her into a box where she did not fit. Her masculine appearance had precluded her from marrying at all.

"Okay, you know what? Fine." Emile said, throwing his arms up in frustration. "I'll show you whatever you want, just get on the damned ship, or we'll take you anyway. You can't fight all of us, even with my sword."

"Ya best walk yourself, madame." Niall said. "Otherwise I'd love an opportunity to get a handful of you." Allegra shoved him by the shoulder, nearly throwing him to the ground.

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide's breath caught for a moment. This was it. Her life was changing from this moment forward. She was entrusting her life to these strangers and hoping for the best. "Thank you." She said letting out the breath and then holding the sword out for him to take it. Then she looked over at Niall and gave her a flirty smile, one she was taught at lessons to only give her betrothed, once he stood back up. "Okay, I may still need a bit of manhandling." She gave him a wink and waited for a reaction. She seemed to still be in her other persona, the one she wished was her everyday one, where she could do whatever she wanted, which was flirt with anyone, take up a sword, and wear her hair and clothes the way she wanted.

[TheSamm]

Niall laughed like an animal in response, and even Duncan was giggling.

"You hear that?" He turned to Allegra. "I think she likes me." He raised a hand to punch her back, but a stern grimace from Allegra made him stay his hand. "'Ey, at least that's one less sourpu--" She smacked the back of his head, not allowing him to finish his response.

"I can lift you over my head, Niall." She warned him. "Care to go for a swim?"

"Great, glad the negotiation's over." Emile shrugged, defeated. This was happening, and there was no changing it. He had to admit, his initial idea to kidnap Adelaide had been wild, but this--this was more wild than he could have imagined. He wondered if he believed that she could really get them the money, and he really worried about how he was going to explain all of this to the captain. The old man was likely still up into the night, but this would not be welcome news. They were going to need to depart very quickly, which meant that the next morning would be spent wrangling their remaining members and convincing them that they had a profitable venture and then downplaying the risks. It also meant suddenly acquiring a very high profile and risking a bounty. Emile sheathed his short sword and held out his hand expectantly. "Now please return my sword and let's get on this ship before we gather witnesses and people start asking questions. You're going to need to keep a low profile until we can get off the ground tomorrow."

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide grinned proudly seeing he'd made the man laugh. Then he and the woman... Well the woman gave him more blows to the body to make him behave. She then turned to Niall, still grinning but that faultered a bit as she saw how mad he still was about everything. Her brow furrowed again and she practically shoved the sword into his arms before stalling up the ramp to board the ship first. It was beginning to get more real to her now, though she suspected that it wouldn't feel real to her until they were making way the next morning. She would do anything to get the captain to say yes to this plan, though she still though that Niall was the leader.

[TheSamm]

Emile and company followed Adelaide aboard the Bevrijder. Niall took Duncan straight below to help him take care of his burns, leaving Emile and Allegra on the deck to deal with Adelaide.

"You watch her," Emile said, "I'll get the captain."

"And if she changes her mind?" Allegra asked, leaning against the mast with her arms folded. Emile shrugged.

"Then throw her in the brig," he replied, "but watch your sword."

Allegra shrugged, watching him ascend the steps to the captain's quarters. Emile knocked hard on the door a few times. The widows in were filthy and impossible to see through, but Emile thought he had detected a little bit of light. He was about to strike the door again when he heard the flick of a latch. The door scraped away from the frame and an old, bearded man emerged. It was Captain Christoffel Emerens. His hair was white and gray, thin and wispy, and he had a slight hunch in his posture. His eyes had gone from brown to gray in his old age. Indeed, he was one of the oldest men Emile knew.

"What's going on?" The old man asked, concerned. It was rare that anybody bothered him at this hour.

"We have company." Emile said. "A hostage, actually."

"Shit, Emile," the old man cursed, "and who is it, the Queen of England?"

"Relax, she came willingly." Emile said, amending, "Well, sort of. I'll explain later, but we need to get off the ground tomorrow morning."

"It can't be done." The old Dutchman argued.  "We've hardly got a skeleton crew left, and the Bevrijder won't sail."

"Yes, but if we get a good ransom she'll make it out of Yarmouth and we can go make repairs in Spain."

"You want to sail into Spanish water on top of that? Look, Emile, you're a good lad," he pushed the door to his cabin wide and pointed to the ceiling behind him; Emile, flabbergasted, observed a noose and a rickety old stool beside the bed, "but I'm already planning my funeral. This is how I plan to retire. And I want you to sink this ship with me on it and run off. Join somebody else's crew, because I quit."

"What?" Emile replied in a panic, "you can't hang yourself, not now! Look, I'll give you whatever kind of funeral service you want when you go, but not like this. We have a ransom to collect. After that, I'll even kick the stool for you."

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide got a proud feeling in her chest when Emile had told Allegra to watch her sword. She hoped that encounter taught him to never underestimate a noblewoman. She then looked to Allegra with a confused face since Emile had already gone off to walk up to the captains quarters. "Captain? He's not in charge here?" She was fuming. This man was giving her orders and he wasn't even in charge? "I'm going to have a chat with the captain too." She said and hurried after Emile.

She almost tripped up the steps, but managed to keep her balance. Then she listened in on the conversation. She got there as the captain was saying they couldn't leave by tomorrow morning. This conversation was not going well at all. She decided to reveal herself after Emile's personal funeral help offer. Her head was held high and she put on her noble face, even as she saw the noose and stool behind them. "Good Evening, Captain." She said coolly, in full royalty mode. "My name is Adelaide VonDaemon and I have a business proposition for you."

[TheSamm]

Allegra had watched Adelaide go. Well, she supposed, she didn't need to watch her if she was happy to paw after Emile. She went belowdecks to her quarters to unwind. Niall and Duncan were palling around in the kitchens, now that Duncan was all cleaned up. Allegra wondered who would be manning the pot and kettle if the cook didn't return in the morning.

Emile whipped around and saw Adelaide standing in the doorway of the cabin. Christoffel's wet, gray eyes widened and he laughed.

"Where'd you get that one?" He asked, eyeing her lascivious get-up, "She's a pretty face, but how do you plan to ransom a prostitute?"

"Adjust your eyes, you old bat!" Emile said, appalled. "She's a bloody Duchess! Duchess VonDaemon, you half-wit!"

"Pardon my manners, miss." Captain Emerens said, tipping his raggedy old hat to her.

"Focus!" Emile said, grabbing his shoulders. "If you want to sail again, then you need to take this seriously! We are limited on time."

"Fine, fine, all right." The captain said, shoving Emile off. He sat down on the old stool. "Very well. I'll hear you, madame, but I won't make no promises. Speak your piece."

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide's confidence faltered when he sized her up. She'd completely forgotten what she was wearing and it was a bit ruffled up from being picked up and manhandled by Emile. Nevertheless, she couldn't let this bargain pass her because she looked like a common prostitute. Her stance quickly returned to that of a noblewoman.

"Thank you, Captain." She stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. A power move to prove she wasn't afraid to be in the room with the two men. "As I said, I am Adelaide VonDaemon. My father is Duke VonDaemon and as of earlier today, I am set to be betrothed to Ronald Birkley, the next in line to become Marquess and also a very wealthy suitor." Anyone who knew English royalty knew the VonDaemons and the Birkleys. They've been big names in royalty for centuries, though never sitting on the thrones themselves.

She placed her hands behind her back as she walked over to a small window and looked out of the dingy thing. "I am willing to help you get a random for my head in exchange for training. I'd like to start while we await the reply of my family. I want to know how to wield a sword." She then turned to the two with a serious look. "Then I want to join your ship before you leave, bringing stolen valuables to help pay for anything we need."

[TheSamm]

Captain Emerens watched her, tight-lipped, and began nodding slightly. Emile looked expectantly at him.

"Well?" He asked finally.

"I think she's looney." Christoffel replied. Emile braced himself to argue, but the old captain went on, "Which is fortunate for us, because the only way a noblewoman would come aboard this blighted ship is if she's got a few screws loose. Ye've got yourself a deal lass. Emile here'll teach you."

"Me?" Emile argued. "I'm busy. Can't Allegra do it?"

"Allegra is going to go round up the crew. Those who are still in town, anyhow." The old man got up and pat him on the shoulder on his way out. "You brought her in here; you babysit her. Get to it." He nodded politely to Adelaide as he left the cabin. Emile sighed in defeat and shrugged.

"All right, I guess that settles that." He said. "So here it is. Before we shove off tomorrow, we need to send a letter to your family naming our terms and demands. Then we'll set sail and hide out on the open ocean. After a few days, we'll send a small boat with some of our men to negotiate, and if that goes south, then... We flee."

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide was glad the captain agreed. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding when he agreed. It didn't even bother her that he called her looney. She knew that leaving the life that so many royal girls dreamed of was foolish in many of their eyes. It was a life she didn't want though and they could have it. She wasn't going to be forced to marry anyone. This was the only way she saw going in her favor. Train up and then when it came to it, she could defend herself against anyone trying to force her to do anything ever again.

Emile sighed and then started to speak to her once the captain left. She rolled her eyes at him. "I highly doubt they wouldn't agree to the terms. I'm the only daughter of the Duke and Birkleys want my father's title should my brothers die before providing an heir." She watched Emile curiously now. "I get that this isn't what you want to be doing, but neither is going to look for another captain to sail under. You'll get your money, one way or another." She promised him. There was determination in her eyes. She did not want to go back to that life if she could help it. She was going to do everything in her power to train hard.

[TheSamm]

Emile slept very little that night. He was excited, but also anxious.  If this plan didn't work, it would almost certainly mean death. Even if they got as far as collecting the ransom, if the navy caught up with them before then they'd never make it to another shore. The Bevrijder wouldn't survive further wounds.

The next morning he was up early. He visited the captain's quarters, but Christoffel wasn't there. The noose was still hanging, much to Emile's discomfort. He found Christoffel at the bottom of the ramp, ushering men and women sailors aboard. Allegra walked up with another small platoon of raggedy fellows. Niall and Duncan were playing five finger fillet on the docks, betting coins.

"What're you doing here?" Captain Emerens asked. "Go wake up your sleeping beauty and get to it. We need her signature on the ransom letter. Don't let her write nothin' else, though; we don't need her writing in code, in case it's a trap."

"On it." Emile said, heading back belowdecks. With her subpar acting abilities and strange eagerness to come aboard this ghost ship, Emile doubted she was plotting anything that elaborate. He believed her when she said she didn't want to go back. It wasn't really that uncommon for nobles, though more rarely women, to leave their luxury lifestyles behind just to escape the restrictive environment of the upper class. The situation was certainly more dire for a woman though; the harder you were to marry off, the less likely she would enjoy the marriage. The lifestyle had suited Emile though, and he would have been happy to swap places with her if he had ever been given the opportunity.

He strolled down to her quarters and knocked hard a few times on the door, "Rise and shine miss. Time to get to work."

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide didn't sleep well that night, but it wasn't because she was uncomfortable being out of her normal luxurious bed. She was nervous for the days to come. It was actually happening. She was going to help them get a ransom, go home, get more gold and then come back. Whether they kept her on board for long after that wasn't the biggest deal, as long as they got her away from here again.

When Emile came to wake her up, she got up quickly and answered the door. She glared at him, looking him up and down. "I don't need to be called Miss anymore." She looked up into his eyes again. "Do I get the pleasure of knowing your real name? Sir Nicholas?" His fake name was said with a tad bit of venom in it.

[TheSamm]

"What's in a name?" Emile asked. "You can have my name when I've got your respect. Until then, you may simply call me Nick if that suits you. Now... You definitely need something to wear other than this..." He gestured at her clothing.

"Maybe Allegra...? No, she's far too large. Actually, you and I aren't so discrepant in size. You can wear some of mine until we can get you your own wardrobe, next time we make port." If we make port, he thought to himself. Even with Adelaide's cooperation, there was a whole lot that could go awry. "And as for a sword, you can use Niall's. He always forgets it in his cabin anyhow. Follow me, let's get you changed."

Emile dreaded playing teacher, and dreaded even more so the prospect of having to having to babysit her after this ransom deal was done. He wondered if there was any way to trick her and try to really hand her back over to her family, but immediately he felt a little guilty and perished the thought. Maybe he could just try to let her go at the next port--again, if they ever made it.

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide couldn't glare harder at the man in front of her. Could he be more annoying to her? She suspected this was their ways and she'd just have to get used to it. Learn how they work and handle things so she could be able to live and survive among them. It still didn't help that the man in front of her was irritating her to no end. He didn't want anything to do with her except use her for money. Take, take, take, with no give. She thought to herself and hoped she didn't have to be like that to survive.

She waited silently as he decided whose clothes would best work for her. It was true, her skirt and top wouldn't do well to keep wearing around these men while she looked like a common brothel girl. Plus they wouldn't work for learning to fight in at all. "Yes, sir." She said with a sarcastic salute and then followed him. If he was going to get on her nerves, she might as well strive to get on his as well.

[TheSamm]

Emile led Adelaide back to his cabin. It was sparsely furnished, with nothing but a worn-down bed that held a few thin sheets and a chair with one leg that didn't match. There was also an old chest at the foot of the bed that held all of his belongings. Most of it was clothing, and he had costumes--or disguises--for just about every occasion, but some of it could be considered treasure, too. There were some trinkets he had received from prior conquests, each one with a story he loved to tell behind it. At the very bottom, there was a smaller, locked box that held his more personal effects. For this box there was only one key, and Emile kept it on his person at all times. He pushed past all of those things and withdrew some pants, a shirt, and a belt. The belt was a tad too long, so he had to improvise and poke a few holes in it with a nail before it would fit Adelaide.

"This should do." Emile said, handing her what he'd picked out. "It's the best we've got right now, anyhow. If you don't like it, you can try some of the other things in the chest, but try to pick something comfortable. You can get changed here, just meet me on deck when you're ready to start." Emile turned to leave.

((I left the description of the clothes a little vague so you can describe them however you want. I didn't want to dictate exactly what your character was going to be wearing, lol.))

[MissHotCoco]

Adelaide didn't say another word as she followed him to his cabin. She noticed how simple it looked, like he could easily pack his trunk and run in a seconds notice. It would be another thing to get used to. Places that weren't decorated in order to be called a home. From paintings and other forms of art on the walls to barely anything. She took the clothes from him and nodded, still not saying anything to him.

When she finished dressing, which took a minute to figure out how she liked to make it look. The short sleeve black shirt was almost like a single cloth dress on her and the black pants were baggy. She decided to tuck the shirt into the pants and then fasten the belt around her hips. Then she had to roll up the pants and hope they stayed that way. She didn't feel like tripping over them. Once she was satisfied, she exited his cabin and went to find him on the deck as planned.