“We’re heading to the tavern, if you’d like to come with us. The dock isn’t a fine place to talk in this weather, after all.” Upon closer inspection of the speaker, Bill was rather surprised to find it was a woman, and the way she spoke suggested, beyond a doubt, that she was the captain. Or if she wasn’t, then she was certainly a senior member of the crew by the way the others were acting around her.

“Aye, I agree, nothing better than a nice bit of ale, a warm fire and good company in this kind of weather. Would gladly join ya, and perhaps we could even discuss potential…business…for this rum you’ve…uh…earned.” Bill turned as the crew began heading out, he glanced back at the lady and flashed a friendly smile, “name’s Bill by the way, and what’s this fine lady’s name if I may be so brave as to as- ” before he finished his sentence, a rather large group of men appeared before them, stampeding off to wherever they were headed.

“Into the tavern to avoid the storm!” one of them shouted, before running head first into one of the crew members Bill had just become acquainted with.

“Hey you! Watch it!” he growled. The crew member was helped up quickly, but the other seemed rather dazed. Inspecting him more closely, Bill’s eagle eyes fixed the man’s appearance to memory. A tall man, about six foot, with short, obsidian black hair which barely reached his eyes – which were a rather shocking green. He had a well-trimmed moustache, and his pot belly did not seem to take away from the apparent strength in his arms. A few of the men who had been running with him stopped and we calling out to him.

“Cap’n Angelo, y’alright? That man givin’ ya trouble?” Bill ignored them and extended a hand to help him up.

“Angelo, eh? And a captain too? You must be headed to the tavern too, right? Right where we’re off to, might as well join us methinks.” Helping the man up, Bill turned back to the others and they continued their brisk walk through the rain.

“Yeah, so as I was sayin’, what shall I be callin’ you b- ” once more, before he finished his sentence, Bill stopped abruptly. Having reached the door of the tavern, he was surprised to find himself face to face with William – or Will as he preferred to be known. And he had what was clearly a prostitute over his shoulder – he could just about see the red hair of what was undoubtedly Lucy, Will’s most recent ‘eternal love’. And he looked half drunk.

“Will? What are you doing?” upon hearing Bill’s voice, Will immediately perked up, all drunkenness left him and what one could have, perhaps, mistaken for fear lit up in his eyes.
“Uh, nothin’, just, uh…helpin’ out this lady…she…fell down…” Bill raised an eyebrow, he was clearly not falling for it. He’d told the imbecile to wait quietly for his return, and now he’d made a ruckus.

“Put ‘er down you blundering buffoon! And give ‘er somethin’ for the trouble you’ve caused.” shaking his head, Bill walked past the tall man and into the tavern.

Outside, as the others walked in, Will put Lucy down reluctantly.
“Uh…Bill said I should give ya somethin’…do you reckon a kiss is fine?” he grinned mischievously at the redhead, his recently cleaned, brilliant yellow teeth – and one decaying to the right – showing in all their glory.