[center][h2]A Slow Boat To Larceny, Part 3 - (Day 3, Evening)[/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/G2xisHj.png[/img] [/center] Joint post by [@Xandrya], [@Bugman], and [@sail3695] Elias had been staring blankly into the distance as ‘Captain Flo’ had her ‘parley’ with the man of the hour. “Mhmm?” came the noise from Elias as the show came to one of its climaxes. He sighed the slightest bit. The Nathan fellow was larger than Elias had anticipated, and he suspected based on his expression and whisperings there’d be far too much effort in squirming for Elias to reliably just pick him up by the collar and toss him overboard. He raised an eyebrow, briefly sizing up his counterpart. For the first time in a very long time, Elias wasn’t wearing his mask making the facial gesture visible; the way he thought of it, everyone would assume his scars and missing bits were just a very elaborate assortment of makeup. By the lack of old ladies feinting and clutching pearls, it seemed people did fall for the ruse that he was just wearing some bit of a horror costume. Now that he thought about it, it was probably the first time any of the crew had seen any of his normal visage. It was bound to happen eventually, he figured why not make the reveal productively. Realizing that he was holding things up, the man lowered his barrel that he had brought along to siphon any unattended bottles into, sticking it against a wall to ensure it wouldn’t bounce as much in the event a rough wave was hit. He drew a toy flintlock pistol that looked more like a pen in his hands, and pressed it to the back of the Candidate while another ham-fist clasped the shoulder of the host. “[i]He’h moohih.[/i]” Elias managed tonguelessly, prodding the man onwards to the gangplank. This was shenanigans Elias didn’t like through and through, but if he imagined this rich man as his father, Elias thought he just might get some tiny inkling of enjoyment from the event. Then get really tipsy off of [i]borrowed[/i] refreshments. Finished with ‘er first order, Abby come back up on deck, jest in time tah see Elias an’ Reg puttin’ some stuffed shirt up on tha plank fer walkin’. Meant ‘er second job needed tah happen in one all fired hurry. Good news was Jake an’ Cassie, them deckhands, was all happy tah fill ‘er in on tha whereabouts ‘o’ things…like tha rope ladder they kep fer boardin’ little boats or swimmin’ parties. With the folk all watchin’ tha show Lorraine’s Cap’n Crimson Flo was puttin’ on, Abby’s able ta slip over tah tha aft railin’ an’ drop tha ladder down. Once it done been tied to, she hustled forward agin. Stuffed shirt was still on tha Antonia’s divin’ board/walkin’ plank. She grabbed ‘erself a big orange life ring an’ a coil ‘o’ rope. Sure enough, long winded sumbitch weren’t nowheres near finished speechifyin’ afore she had ‘er rig all set fer throwin’. Fine diamonds and pearls adorned her wrists as well as her neck. Multiple offers had clearly been made, but despite being showered in gifts from the wealthy and privileged, the necktie also being loosely worn around her neck claimed her as his own for the night. It seemed as if blue eyes wasn't keen on taking second place, too bad he was too much of a pretty face and not enough of the rugged type for her. But he didn't have to know that... A gentle tug on her waist prompted her to look up, and that was just in time to witness the man himself being made to walk the plank. Imani could've partaken in such performance, but she'd rather not steal the show. “Look at them!” Nate was in fine voice, his stump speech booming across the crowd who were filling the faux pirates’ sacks with heaps of coin, jewelry, and other valuable trinkets. The thought of his growing war chest would’ve ordinarily brought a smile, but not now. He stood on the tip of the diving board, the black sea beneath as he bellowed his talking points. “These pirates! These…BROWNCOATS!! FILTHY COCKROACHES WHO AIM TO UNDO ALL YOUR GOOD WORK! TO TAKE WHAT’S YOURS!” His eye caught the sultry little minx who’d been teasing him before. She worked the crowd, the men in particular, all succumbing to her flirtatious larceny by literally upending their coin purses into her sack. He’d be sure to learn her name…perhaps have Hicks line her up for a special ‘meet and greet’ at his private bungalow…”THE WAR DIDN’T TEACH THEM!” he roared. “THE LAW MEANS NOTHING TO THEM!” Lorraine, known tonight as Crimson Flo, stifled a very public yawn. She cast a glance toward the silent one, Elias, as he held his place. The man was a tower, alright. She took in the scars on his face, her gaze tracing each jagged cruelty. But if she were honest, it was the eyes that really captivated her. This man kept himself in check, but those dark eyes burned with an intensity that she found dangerous. And Lorraine had a real thing for dangerous… She nudged an elbow into his ribs. Whe Elias’ eyes met hers, Lorraine smiled, then tilted her head toward the bloviating mouthpiece. “Do the honors?” she mouthed the words. Elias looked at the woman, giving the slightest bit of a disapproving grunt as the woman gave a Captain’s order, so to speak. Of course, she wasn’t really his Captain, but he wasn’t going to disobey his ride out of here. But, with each passing moment it more and more seemed that they were making an enemy ever so slightly more grudge-prone and simultaneously powerful than was good for one’s health. With a deep sigh, he stuck out his leg like a prod and pushed man off; it wasn’t really a kick that was aimed with his toe like one for fighting would be. Rather, with his sole the man was simply given the most optimized shoving a human limb could delivery. “Arrr.” Elias said, unenthusiastically grumbling the pirate’s catchphrase. He looked to his ‘Captain’ waiting for approval. He stepped a little further, just to make sure the man was overboard and not clinging onto some part of the boat. He wasn’t happy about what he was doing, but a job had to be done well and he wasn’t above stepping on fingers. Abby traded smirks with Imani. Damn if she weren’t haulin’ up tha coin. An’ Elias…doin’ his part like he was. First time she seen the mechanic out tah carouse, an’ even though he’s still all dead serious as was his way, she kinda liked it. First time he showed his face, too. Man wore some serious scars, weren’t no two ways about that. She ain’t heard tha whole story, but what she knowed was them as did that tah him took tha tongue out his head, tah boot. Edina told ‘er that much. From ‘er place on tha rail, she seen Lorraine give ‘im a nudge. Abby hooked ‘er feet twixt tha balustrades and made ready with tha life ring. As Imani dragged Blue Eyes through the crowd, she felt his hand linger on places not many were welcome. More specifically, her behind. Now, she hadn't necessarily barred him from doing that, but even so, least he could do was make sure her near empty drink was already replaced, which he had failed to do. There was a splash, but in that moment something else pulled her attention. Blue Eyes was walking away, and from what she made out, it was something in part serious. Imani decided to follow him purely out of curiosity, and soon enough she learned why. [i]"Emerson, you cheat!"[/i] The girl whose voice was loud enough to pierce her ears evidently wasn't too pleased with him. With the cortex in hand, Blue Eyes pleaded with her as he continued to walk away, distancing away from Imani. Thing is, she could have soured whatever type of relationship he had with that woman. "Captain, we got ourselves another volunteer for the plank!" That's all it would've took. But she didn't do it. However, what she would do is find another participant to partake in the day's festivities. Helped along his way by the stone faced giant, the Honorable Candidate Nathan “Nate” Howard plunged into the inky deep, the resulting splash met with a roar of approval from the crowded deck. As Abby threw her life ring to the politician, Lorraine went into full pirate mode. “ANYONE ELSE?!” she roared above the merry audience. “ANYBODY WANT TO PALLAVER WITH DAVEY JONES?! NO? THEN OUT WITH IT! ALL YER BOOTY TO THE HANDS OF ME CREW! YOU THERE!” She waved the toy weapon toward the string quartet. “LET’S HAVE A TUNE! SOMETHIN’ FOLK CAN DANCE TO! BARKEEP!” The comical blade swept toward the nearest drink station. RUM FER ALL!!” [center][hider=Wild As The Wind][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOhiX0ycxJg [/youtube][/hider][/center] A cheer swept the deck as flagons of rum appeared. Soon, patrons were forking over their cash for the honor of hoisting one of the jugs. Evening jackets and shawls were soon littering the Antonia’s railings as the stuffy political fundraiser transformed itself to a sailors’ delight. Lorraine grinned as her faux pirate crew danced and drank their way through the celebration, Jolly Roger pillow cases held out like costumed kids on All Hallow’s Eve to receive the coin and jewels meant for campaign contributions. She cast a sidelong glance toward the silent man from Abby’s crew, before her arms snaked around his neck. “You’re a natural, Elias,” she cooed into his ear, followed by a kiss landed upon the scarred stubble of his jaw. “You can shiver my timbers anytime!” With that, she leapt into the crowd, cutlass whirling above her head as she danced her way across the deck with a dozen partners. [i]Brinker should be finished by now,[/i] she thought as a fat man twirled her into the arms of a grandly dressed woman. A grumble that was nonetheless appreciated came from the man as she left him for her own endeavours. The touch of her skin certainly awakened thoughts he hadn’t felt in perhaps years now, the mechanic clicking his mouth wistfully as he saw her moving. [i]Maybe some other time.[/i] he thought to himself, touching the scarring of his visage, and thus deciding it was something he had to fix. But for now, he had neurons to fry. Rolling his barrel about, he was about to take his own booty snatched neatly off of passing waiter’s plate and disgorged into an ever more sloshing cask. She’d soon discover her hunch to be correct. Hidden among the gaudy pirate decorations aboard the old fishing trawler were a pair of directional antennae. They moved, slowly sweeping the main deck of the Antonia. Tucked away below decks in the Captain Kidd’s portside crew cabin was a timid looking little man. He sat on a stool, hunched over a pair of source boxes, watching intently as one by one, the cortex readers of so many rich and powerful Alliance types were paired and accessed. His bespectacled face, illuminated in the ghostly glow of his screens, was a mask of sheer delight. It was working. After tonight they’d have a constant stream of information from hundreds of the Alliance’s most well placed citizens. He couldn’t wait to report to Adler. [i]...to be continued…[/i]