((when did I do that?))

Octavius grumbled as the [i]Powder Keg[/i] fired arrows at his ship. They were all alight, and obviously looking to set the ship aflame. Thankfully, at least one member of the crew was paying attention, and Ceres put out the flames before they could do anything to harm their vessel. The captain dragged his attention from the woman as he felt the wind shifting around them. They were still turning, attempting to circle the other ship, but they'd be sailing into the wind in a moment, not a great way to keep going forward. Captain Cuttlam stormed over to the guns and pushed his gunners out of the way, sighting each cannon himself and yanking the ripcord personally, firing each of the massive guns on his own, since no one else seemed confident in their aiming abilities. That, or they might have been too weak to set off the charges in the cannons despite how hard they pulled on the rope. His shots weren't perfect, since he couldn't remember the last time he'd fired a cannon, but he managed to glance half his shots off the bow of his target, battering the neat angles of the things construction, and hopefully weakening it enough that the second volley might do the ship in.

"You fucking stupid or what? Get these cannons spun around and loaded. Move." he looked rather disgusted at his gunnery captain as he straightened from firing the last gun. He turned back to the helm, marching over smartly to the man at the wheel. "Swing us around. Keep us going with the wind, and keep us out of range." he demanded of his helmsman. His voice was achieving a kind of zen at this point. A harsh, unyielding zen, but it was better by far, than the violent gravel that normally spilled from his lips. The pirate steering the ship was smart enough to obey his new orders immediately, and the pirate lord moved back to the main deck, where his crew seemed to be struggling with the cannons. They had loaded half of them, and gotten the other half turned around. This was ridiculous. He shook his head and his left arm exploded, spraying the uncoordinated gun crews with gore. Then the massive mouth of his canine alter-ego bit down on the heavy iron cannons and began moving them itself, swinging the guns around and placing them on the starboard side of the ship to be loaded, or aimed, depending on what was necessary.

"If I have to do that again, I'll string up the lot of you." he offered when the sailors turned to go to their new posts. They looked suitably motivated, if upset that their captain was being rather tyrannical. Now was not the time for revolution, however, and if the men didn't like their situation, they would need to do the work they had been assigned if they wished to live long enough to try a mutiny. The [i]Powder Keg[/i] was certainly a bigger threat than their captain, at least for the moment, and until their situation changed. The warlord was unafraid in any case. He was confident he could take on a shipload of mutineers, especially considering that those loyal to him included a talented swordsman, a woman more or less in charge of the seas, and the only man capable of saving just about anyone from just about any medical emergency. He ignored such a notion, however, as for now, he had an enemy to deal with, and an old friend to take back...