(Collab with [@MrDidact],[@bloonewb] & [@AtomicNut])

[b]Bloodstone[/b]

The direction to Big Cap's wasn't too hard to remember. Layali had been there before, and while she wasn't too happy being around any sort of pirate, it was the tiniest bit easier to bear, knowing it wasn't a greasy old man she'd have to cater to. This time was different, however. She'd have to keep her eyes open for this man named Arak. How did he manage to get himself caught in the first place? The rest of the people with Visenya seemed to be capable enough.

She finally made it to door, where she paused, gathering her courage before knocking on the door.

One of Big Cap's men opened the door, a muscled Summer Islander stripped to the waist with long dark dreadlocks and a saber at his side. He smiled, showing a gold tooth, "Ah, Layali. It's good to see you again. And who's paying for this visit?"

Layali's look turned coy, smiling as she looked at the large man before her. "Obviously someone who wishes to be in Big Cap's good books." She thought fast, thinking of someone she knew was part of Big Cap's men. [i]No, that won't do.[/i] It was best to simply stick with something that would ring true. "Madame sent me as a gift" She blinked up at him, her coy look turning to one of innocence. "Don't leave me to linger here now."

The man laughed, grinning again, "No worry there." He smiled at Lira as well, "Both of you come in, you're going to be busy." He opened the door to let them pass into the warehouse that served as Big Cap's hideaway, smacking Layali on the rear as they walked in. The space was littered with accumulated pirate trophies such as anchors and wheels from downed ships, as well as figureheads and sabers and even a few leering skulls. The sounds of dice and laughing could be heard throughout and the two were led into a large common room, where barrels and driftwood had been turned into tables for over a score of Maiden's Men. Big Cap herself sat on her makeshift throne, and smiled as they entered, "Layali, one of the madame's prettiest. I'm told you're tonight's gift?" 

"Y-yes," Layali replied stammering at first, even though on the inside she was yelling at herself to remain calm and relaxed. She just had to treat this like a normal, everyday encounter. Well, perhaps not everyday... Her eyes had wandered before she had been spoken to, taking in the sight of ship memorabilia as well as the blades and skulls, trying to find some sort of clue as to where Visenya's companion may be. This was nothing like the tavern where she came from, that was for sure. Nor did Big Cap look like any of the men he had to deal with. Well, at least she knew where the name came from.

She sidled closer to the woman. "I hope you find me pleasing," she purred, trying to sound alluring. She wasn't as experienced as Lira (nor did she wish to be) but she wasn't a dunderhead either; she had watched and observed the others in the aim to please.

Big Cap smiled at Layali and drew her into her lap, taking quite a few liberties as to where her hands roamed over the other woman's body, "Everything is pleasing me well so far." She grasped Layali in her hands and kissed her, enjoying the sensation for several moments longer before loosing her arm, "Leave your friend here for my boys. She can be the entertainment tonight. But you can make the rounds in the back, and I will see you later in my cabin." Big Cap let her go and Lira got to business with the men seated at the tables, one of the Big Cap's lieutenants taking Layali by the arm and leading her to the back. On the way, they passed a cell wherein Arak Snow was locked behind iron bars without even a pot to piss in. 

Layali was only too happy to comply to Big Cap's orders. It disgusted her that after the greasy old men, she had actually enjoyed the rough female pirate's affections. [i]Only more proof that I need to leave this dreaded place the first chance I can.[/i] She lowered her eyes, smiling and nodding in Big Cap's direction before allowing herself to be taken back.

As they passed by the cell, she turned back, spotting the person inside. Well, there was nothing she could say to him, but she didn't think there was any harm in asking her escort. "Who's that?" she asked curiously, speeding up a hint so that it wouldn't seem as if she had lingered a second more than she had to. "Did somebody dare disrespect Big Cap?" 

The man scowled and spat at Arak in the cell, "'E called 'imself a knight of the throne. Some mainlander bootlicker no doubt. One of the King's whores. And one of the bosses' new toys. We'll bring 'em to the Scorpion to face the real King's Justice soon enough, after we get our fun from him 'nd those newbloods bring another prisoner to us." The grizzled pirate then took her to a back room, affording a comprehensive look at the floor plan of the pirate hovel and a count of the two score pirates who made it home before taking her around for a tumble. Now Layali knew what she needed to know, the question was getting out before moonrise to tell Visenya. 

By the time Layali had serviced two of the pirates, she found her non existant appetite for this sort of activity plummet even more. She pulled herself away from the satisfied and now snoring pirate, quickly pulling on her clothes. Appetite or not, she had to leave here regardless. Visenya had given her a deadline and there was no way she was going to miss it. 

Keeping herself in the shadows, which thankfully there were aplenty, Layali looked at the other men, taking note that they were in different states of inebriation. [i]Perfect[/i], she thought to herself, keeping to the walls as she quickly left the back room, pausing only when she came upon the cell again, making sure there was actually someone in there. She really couldn't understand what sort of idiot would have openly said who he was to these men. Well, as long as he was safe until his people found him, it wasn't really her concern.

She continued forward, a little more cautious now that she reached the main warehouse. Her eyes darted around, looking for Lira as well as any potential troublemakers that could get in her way. She caught sight of her companion as well as the other pirates, more than a few passed out, while others drunk enough to head in the same direction. It would be easy enough for Lira to get out of here. However, Layali hadn't counted on Big Cap still being around. 

[i]Seven hell,[/i] she thought to herself. 

Big Cap was hardly sober as well, and was just a drink or two away from alcohol-induced oblivion. The woman captain swayed on her throne, and was drunkenly pawing at Lira. She smiled at Layali, "We were just starting the party. Get your pretty arse up here girl! I have a thirst." Big Cap almost fell from the throne but kept her seat and laughed again, reaching for a bottle with Lira on her lap. 

[i]Hm...[/i] From the looks of it, maybe it wouldn't be that difficult at all for Layali to leave the warehouse. She visibly pouted as she headed over to Big Cap. "And I thought I was the prettiest one," she simpered, giving Lira a look. Maybe if the pirates attention left Lira, at least one of them could leave right away. Layali grabbed the bottle and quickly sat herself down on Big Cap's lap, nudging at Lira so that the other girl would move away.

"Here, have a drink," she offered, offering the bottle to Big Cap.

The pirate took the drink eagerly and Lira took the hint, slinking off with a look past the Summer Islander at the door, who was soundly asleep. The blonde captain giggled, "But you are the prettiest one, she was merely an appetizer if you will." She wrapped her arms around Layali and kissed her again, then with frantic drunken energy tried to disrobe her on the spot. Somewhere in the process she fell from the throne and hit the floor, her hands still stuck in Layali's clothing as she drifted off to sleep. 

"Huh... well that's that." Layali couldn't help but smirk a little as she watched the captain snooze away. She was rather relieved she wouldn't have to go through yet another encounter of satisfying someone. Carefully extracting Big Cap's hands from her clothes, she stood up, looking around to see if Lira was still there. Seeing no sight of her, Layali looked one last time at the blonde captain. 

[i]Hopefully I'll be seeing you never again[/i]. With that thought, she walked past the rest of the pirates, the guard by the door, and out into the street once more. The night air had never smelled so good before, but there was no time for dawdling. As quickly as she could, the young Meereenese made her way back to the tavern, eager to deliver her news to Visenya.

Visenya and Will were sitting with Taria and a few others when Lira and Layali returned from their mission. Visenya urged Layali over to their secluded corner of the tavern and leaned in to whisper, "So what have you found out? Did you see our man? Did you note anything of their hideout?" 

"Yes, I saw the man, he's in a cell there." Layali quickly related what she had seen at Big Cap's, including the floorplan as well as how many pirates were actually there. She paused, looking at the rest of the people gathered there, a slightly worried look on her face. "Uh... do you think you're actually going to be able to take on them?" Her freedom was at stake here!

Visenya traded a look with Will smiling, "Don't worry about us, we've handled much tougher. You've done your part. Pack your things and when we're done tonight, you can come with us on the ship. Your friend Lira can come along too. But not a word of this to anyone before we move. Thank you for this." Visenya discreetly slid Layali some coins and nodded. Then they waited. 

William watched, quietly, as the sun slowly descended on the horizon. Out there, the very tops of the mast marking the location of the ship, Silver Serpent, anchored out at sea, are barely visible to even his own sharp vision. Soon, it will be engulfed in cloud and fog, as night falls on them all. "Time to go," he muttered, as much to himself as everyone else in this jaunty little pirate band of theirs. 

Visenya nodded. Layali and Lira had returned, had provided them with the information they needed. Perhaps two score pirates at Big Cap's hideaway and William's brother was now being held in a makeshift basement dungeon. Unharmed as of yet, but that could change any moment. They needed to move now. 

She strapped on an edged sword but pointedly gave William a blunted one with a smirk, "I trust myself with steel in a fake fight, but you might want to be more careful." She looked around at the others and nodded. They set off into the night, the stars and moon providing most of the light while fog crept onto the harbor, though even that light was obscured by clouds. A storm was fast approaching the islands. 

Their gang soon reached the Silver Serpent's mooring and they found several sailors incognito as pirates standing watch, singing sea shanties as if drunk and cursing the cold. Visenya tapped William, "You can be very loud and chaotic William, you're up. And don't be to rough on the sailors please." 

Wordlessly, he grasped one of the many ropes hanging at the side of the hull. A rough gesture with his head indicated for everyone to follow, and he slowly made his way up. At the top, he leapt over the edge, surprising the small guard detail. 

"Rip 'em apart!" he shouted, raising an improvised club he made with a branch. He jumped at them, and began swinging away, whacking their armor in a ridiculous exaggerated parody of combat. To be quite honest, he was impressed by the guards' ability to keep a straight face, because gods know he won't be able to for long.

Visenya started to laugh, but turned it to a ferocious roar, "Death to the Crown!" she shouted into the night and traded punches with one of her disguised Dragon's Teeth, taking a blow to her stomach and across her chin before she gripped the man in a headlock, struck him and shoved him into the mast. Their team-members followed, all of them roaring and cursing and flailing around as if it were a bloody melee and not a mummer's farce. 

Several men and women started appearing from the ship, their other friends and allies, and it soon degenerated into a chaotic brawl, convincing in it's sound and fury and the well-timed low-intensity brutality of the blows. Several passing smallfolk and other sailors pressed around, trying to get a better look at the violence. Eventually Aemon, disguised as Captain Kurzon, appeared and drew steel. Visenya did the same and the two mirrored eachother's steps, smiling in the night as they began to spar, expertly trading cuts and stabs like they had done for so many years past. 

Meanwhile, a large band of other rogues, torches and real steel in hand began shouting and marching on the ship, murder on their minds and calling for Goldbeard and blood. 

William was starting to get into it, ducking here, smacking a head there, and generally playing up the nonsense action. Something was suddenly wrong. One minute, the only thing he felt he would die from was boredom, the next, sharp edged swords were out. Blood began spilling from all around him. He searched franticly for a familiar face, but was quickly pressed in from all sides by unbridled and most certainly real violence. His hand went to his belt, searching for a blade, any blade. His fingers clasped around the familiar hilt of the infamous Bolton dagger.

Visenya ducked beneath a swing of Aemon's blade, spinning with a smile. The smile died when she saw someone she didn't know ramming their blade through one of her men. Goldbeard's men, looking for their captain. Aemon turned, and shock registered on his face before he turned back to her and nodded. Visenya nodded back and lunged at Aemon, screaming. He sidestepped the blow and disarmed her, shoving her back with a rough-looking but ultimately harmless kick before turning back and stabbing one of Goldbeard's men through the throat, "Kick these rats back to where they came from men!" 

Suddenly those on Aemon's team drew out real weapons and they had to both convincingly fight off their allies and kill Goldbeard's men, all while their own friends could do nothing to help them and actually had to put on a show as well. The deception had become a complete fiasco and the royalists faced quite a challenge. 

Seran sighed, as he watched the battle go by. "For the sake of the lady." He muttered under his breath. "only a bit of acting was needed, was that hard enough... " He added, grumbling. He eyed his hands as he grasped a weapon tightly. A stage was set. But the plans never survived contact with the enemy. He grabbed sword and shield, and cleared his voice.

"FOR THE IRON THRONE". He shouted. "AEMON'S LIFE SHALL NOT BE UNDONE" He yelled at the top of his lungs, assuming the identity of the prince, as he charged to the invaders, getting into his role of prince and shouting orders.

Hopefully, they would catch up to this change of plans. Else it would be all for naught. And he'd draw the real swords away from the real royal family, thanks to his Valyrian blood.

Goldbeard's men were flabbergasted, "Aemon fookin' Targaryen?" One man said incredulously, "E's 'ere? Get 'em!" Aemon was hated by many Pirates in the Stepstones for his enthusiastic counter-piracy efforts as the Prince of Dragonstone. Many of them ignored their other foes and immediately started running for Seran, or Aemon as they thought. Meanwhile the real Aemon began cutting at their flanks, Viserys and Rhaegar at his side as they began whittling away at the raiding party and over a dozen men ran for Seran. Visenya took it all in stride, waiting for her moment. If they presented Aemon Targaryen as a prize to Big Cap, it would be quite the get. But first they needed to survive this.