[h1][color=cbcdcd]Pirates[/color][/h1] A [i]pop[/i] and a flash shattered the night. An overwhelming force ripped the little merchant vessel apart. Amorphous globs of lava soared off in every direction, tearningthrough the darkness like a firework. Flames swarmed what remained. The mageborn let out a sigh. It felt great to let fly some magic in this way every now and then, but she would never admit that. [color=d8cfbe][i]"Good one, Rath!"[/i][/color] Rathas turned and flashed a cheeky grin at Gats, who complimented every lava bomb she conjured in that same way. [color=b75138]"Thanks, Gats."[/color] Gats smiled back in that doofy way of his and moved back towards the ladder, chuckling to himself. [color=d8cfbe][i]"Just nuts, that! Just nuts! Hyuk hyuk!"[/i][/color] [color=d8cfbe]"GAAAATS! GETCHER FAT ARSE BACK DOWN HERE!"[/color] [color=d8cfbe]"Wuh-oh!"[/color] blurted the oaf. He brought his barrel-sized arms up to his chest daintily and quickened his step. A strong kick released the trapdoor and he hopped down, arms raised. A second of silence prepared all who watched for the crash that followed. [color=d8cfbe]"GaaAAATS!"[/color] [color=d8cfbe]"Sorry, sir!"[/color] [color=d8cfbe]"I was gonna eat those, you meathead!"[/color] The trapdoor slammed shut, silencing the everyday havoc. Rathas raised her eyes and saw Hal standing over it with Shark draped across his hunched shoulders. They made rock-steady eye contact for several seconds. Then Hal grinned, and they both broke out into a fit of snorting laughter. In some magical way, Rathas and the only other mageborn aboard the Ironmaw shared their senses of humor, occasionally leading to moments like these in which they shared unchecked mirth. They took turns doing shitty impressions of Skrawl's screaming, Three-Eyes' [color=d8cfbe]"meathead!"[/color] and a few wuh-ohs as the smoke billowed up behind them, casting irregular shadows on the Ironmaw's deck. Shortly after that, Sid popped his shiny head out from the trapdoor. [color=d8cfbe]"We're crackin' into the drinks'a little early this time, lads! C'mon!"[/color] Hal spoke first. [color=d8cfbe]"No can do. This sky's too purty to leave unguarded fer a night."[/color] A hint of sternness rode his words. Rathas understood. [color=b75138]"Sid, we've yet to land. We're not clear yet."[/color] Sid rolled his bald head back, annoyed. [color=d8cfbe]"D'aw, bollocks to the both of ye! We're tha focken' [i]Blazen' Irons,[/i] 'member? Even plastered we'd take on anythen' these damn seas have in store fer us!"[/color] With that he dropped back down along with the trapdoor. Rathas turned to Hal. [color=b75138]"He's got a point."[/color] Hal, jokingly exasperated, gestured towards the floor door. [color=d8cfbe]"You go. Have fun. But I was serious about the sky; it don't often get this quiet an' there's hardly a speck'a clouds."[/color] Rathas looked up to see what he meant. He was right; the sky was beautiful. The smoke had completely dispersed and the full moon dominated the sky with the stars acting as its acolights. But the idea of games and alcohol stole her attention. Her head dropped back down. Hal still had his gaze fixed upwards. [color=b75138]"Nice, Hal. You enjoy yourself too."[/color] She reached out and rubbed Shark's ear, then popped the trapdoor. *** The metal vessel glistened like a trophy in the fresh sunlight, triumphantly splitting the waves and reminding the sea who wore the pants in their relationship. Its belly was full of stolen goods. Most of the crew were out cold below deck but Byron Halifax lay awake in his hammock, swaying at the whim of the sea. The last few nights he had spent gazing up at the navy sky, enjoying the salty breeze, and enduring the stench of alcohol while the rest of the [i]Ironmaw[/i]'s crew enacted another ritualistic celebration for their successful trip. The sun’s warmth pierced the clouds and sunk through his brittle body, and Hal finally felt his eyes grow heavy. Before sleep could take him, Shark hopped onto his damp chest, purring. Tired fingers found Shark's ear and scratched it, much to Shark's excitement. Enthusiastically, he dropped onto his side, and his continued purring drowned out the sound of the ocean against the ship. The old mageborn shut his eyes and felt at ease. *** The ocean outside the cargo hold smacked the hull like a storm against a tin roof. Rathas awoke, hugging tightly the bougie fur blankets that they had plundered about four hours prior from some straggling merchant ships. Distant ringing tormented her ears, and with every beat of her pulse, the throbbing in her skull briefly worsened. The stench of alcohol hung so heavily in the air that it made her eyes water. The young mageborn groaned as she hoisted herself upright, and, using the eye that wasn't caked shut, assessed the damages of their drunken soiree. Playing cards, crates, bottles, and barrels--and fragments of each--were strewn about the floor nonsensically. Glass shards flickered in unison with the one half-functioning lightbulb present in the hold. [color=b75138][i]'Seen worse, I'm sure.'[/i][/color] She twisted to find Three-Eyes stuffed into a barrel on the other side of the hold with his hands and feet sticking awkwardly out of the top like a shitty potted plant. Sid sat slumped against Three-Eyes’ barrel with a half a bottle of booze in his lap and a stream of drool sliding down his bristly neck. Another pirate lay sprawled atop a mess of smashed fruit. She counted four more casualties, each telling its own story. Finally she tore herself from the floor in one thrusting motion, intentionally agitating the pain in her joints. The grimace she'd worn since returning to her senses spoke volumes. [color=b75138][i]'Water.'[/i][/color] Rathas stumbled towards the ladder and caught a rung before she could drop to the floor again. A moment was spent collecting herself before she ascended, each rung proving itself an obstacle worthy of thought. She threw open the trapdoor, challenging the blinding white light to overtake the hold. A hand flew in front of her good eye to save her pounding skull from the sensory onslaught. Some of her crewmates stirred, groaning and muttering to themselves. Rathas took another moment to adjust to the damp, fresh air and grating sunlight before slinging a knee above deck. The motion shot sharp pain down her entire lower body, but the young mageborn did not so much as wince. She had a goal, dammit, and no amount of hangover could slash her drive. Her quest for hydration continued and it wasn't long before she had herself a gallon of water from the [i]Ironmaw[/i]'s provisions stash. Two hours passed. At this point, most of the crew had woken up and gathered their senses. The cargo hold and upper deck were much cleaner now after a run-in with a few mops, several trash bags, and some elbow grease from everyone. Yon's Cove drew near and the pirates prepped for landing while exchanging corny jokes and laughing about the last few hours.