[i]"To the helmsman goes the victory!"[/i]

Antonia's head fell back, her eyes closed as she groaned to the stars in the heavens, to her beloved-but-too-slow Silverfish bested by the grinning fool just above their heads. 

[i]"Merde."[/i] 

In the silence following Barlow's first pronouncement, the rogue rubbed at her eyeballs irritably with her fingertips, and then? 

Then she just began to laugh. Softly at first, not even the tiniest quaver of a whisper in the near instantaneous uproar, drowned in the jubilant cries of an entire crew of pirates about to drink their near endless fill. But her mirth grew with theirs, and Antonia just gave herself over to the laughter. [i]To hell with it.[/i] 

Truly, only the night before she fled the arms of an obsessed madman, and fell into the arms of the only man she'd ever loved. Morning's light greeted her with a lily's kiss, the trust of her dearest friends and the safekeeping of her precious child. Antonia was [i]blessed.[/i] God in His heavens and all the sweet fickle loa were watching over her, keeping safe and close all the ones she held so dear. May she [i]never[/i] be so wretched in all her life, that she could bear nothing more noxious than the annoying, knowing grin of Jax. 

Besides, she still had a slim hope her as-yet-unpresented gift to the helmsman might win her a measure of relief from Jax' laughter...

Still chuckling to herself, Antonia determined she would make the most of her time on the deck. Let the victorious helmsman and the conquered captain perch atop the mast, swap her secrets and play at lookout. She hadn't the least desire to drink - she rarely did - but this was the first chance the whole day long she'd had a moment to spend with Luc. 

The rogue smiled as she caught sight of the boy, composed as ever in the midst of the celebratory ruckus while he watched the crew. Antonia slipped like a shadow among the men, sneaking up behind Luc as to wrap an arm about his slender shoulder, giggling as she pulled him close.

"[i]Tante[/i] 'Tonia!" Luc laughed when he realized who it was that'd snatched him up, beaming up at his beloved aunt proudly. "Jax won!"

"Oh, I know [i]mon petit chou-chou,[/i]" the rogue grinned with a resigned sigh, "[i]Believe[/i] me I know... "

"It was the shark's tooth you know," the boy continued, happily oblivious to his aunt's good-humored distress. "He kissed the shark's tooth, the one from Lady Moon - he told me to bring it for luck. I feel some bad for the Captain though, that he didn't get to share that luck, what with him being a cabin... Er... " Luc flushed for a moment, horrified that he'd very nearly given away the secret of the Cabin Boy's Club - and he hadn't even been a member for a full day! Jax would [i]never[/i] forgive him!

"What with being the captain and all. Doesn't seem... Fair... "

Antonia's brow wrinkled with curiosity, 

"I... [i]see.[/i] Mostly. Well at any rate, what do you say we let the men to their drink? You're done with your duties this day, and I've some time before I must return to the crow's nest. Let's find us a quiet spot then, or rather, one a good bit quieter than [i]this[/i] - and we'll share a story or two them, hmm?"

Luc's face lit with anticipation, nodding his head quickly in perfect agreement - until he turned to peer over his shoulder, toward Nicolette who had only just emerged from her quarters. He grew still for a moment, thoughtful now as he watched the beautiful, golden woman draw closer. "May we ask [i]Mademoiselle[/i] Beauchamp to join us? She may enjoy our stories as well."

"You don't believe she hates you anymore then?" Antonia asked, a curious chuckle surprised from her, her grey-eyed gaze following Luc's toward the approaching First Mate.

"Oh... Oh no. I was mistaken, [i]Tante[/i] 'Tonia. I know she doesn't hate me. I think... " Luc's small brow furrowed for a moment, the image of Nicolette's unguarded and vulnerable moment, and all the pain relentlessly secreted behind those incomparable blue eyes. He [i]was[/i] only a boy after all, but seeing a great deal more that others may never note was in his blood.

"I think she is sad. So sad, sometimes. No, she doesn't hate me at all. [i]Mademoiselle[/i] Beauchamp is too busy hating herself." Luc's dark eyes turned upward to his aunt's face. "I bet your stories would make her happy. They make [i]me[/i] happy."

The rogue ran her fingers lovingly over the lengths of the boys ebony ringlets, the light of genuine pride shining behind those thoughtful grey eyes. "Of course we can ask, Luc. Why, I bet [i]Mademoiselle[/i] Beauchamp may even have a tale or two of her own to share as well if she wishes."

Antonia stood to her full height - though not nearly enough to get her gaze much past the shoulders of most the men. Still, she waved to the First Mate - her hand certainly got well over their heads at the least - and began to wind her way toward Nicolette, Luc at her side. 

"[i]Bon soir, Mademoiselle[/i] Beauchamp!" the rogue called to the First Mate, waving Nicolette closer still until they could hear one another without shouting. "Luc and I were going to find a quieter place to enjoy our allotted free moments [i]sans les spiritueux[/i] obviously, and share a story or two. Adventure, myth, legend, tall tales and not a few outright lies on occasion, so long as they be harmless and all in good fun - those are our fare. If we light somewhere that you may yet keep a solid eye on this drink-sodden crew, would you care to join us?"