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“Ah, less pirates. Very true.” He smirked and chuckled at her statement. “Probably to your liking, yeah?” He turned around, holding his devilish grin, and rejoined her at her side. The streets were lively in Isla Imorda as the motley crew dragged their merchandise through, and they used a few horses from a stable nearby to help carry the load. Familiar faces greeted them, stating how long it had been since The Black Star had docked on the island, offering them goods free of charge. It was only high noon, and there had already been a few men passed out drunk on the pathways, and other were openly drinking and playing instruments with a container meant for tips laying in front of them. The smile Victor had on his face when he got to the island had not yet been removed from his face, and the exhilaration he was experiencing almost made him feel as if he were floating through the town.

Their first stop was at a mail courier in the form an almost cabin-like building. “Alice, wait here with the crew for me. I shall only be a moment.” He quickly entered the building and met a man, Mr. George Smith, inside. “George, long time no see, my good friend,” Vic said cheerfully as he approached the desk George sat at.
“Victor Hemming, so good to see you! What can I do for you?” The man was short and stocky with bright white hair.
“Just a letter. I need it to get to the address on the front within two days, if possible. Very time sensitive.” Vic pushed the letter across the desk to the man, and he took off his glasses so that he could read it.
“Ah, yes. I have a boat going today. Should be there in no time!” The man chuckled and smiled at the pirate who stood over his desk.
He dropped two silver coins on the desk as payment for the letter. “Splendid, thank you, George.”

After his goodbyes, Victor exited the building and took his spot back at Alice’s side. He did not want to remind her of the fact that he was sending a ransom letter to her father and using her as a bargaining chip, although he was sure that she did not forget it either. He didn’t like the burden of guilt he was beginning to feel because of his new prisoner. He couldn’t make sense of it; he never had a problem with his selfishly using people for the good of crew and rarely felt remorse for his actions, but the closer he grew to Alice, the more he understood her, the more he began to feel suffocated by it. She was not meant for the seas, and she surely did not do anything to deserve being taken from her home. The comfort of her lifestyle. She was too naïve and innocent to be with in the presence of a delinquent like him. And with those thoughts, the almost permanent smile that had been plastered on to Victor’s face had begun to fade as they continued with their errands.

The rest of the day had been uneventful with everything going according to plan. They had sold everything that they needed to, and the spirits of the crew were generally high after they calculated the profit they had earned. They paraded down the street, back towards the inn, when the guilt Vic had been feeling had come to a head. He moved towards the side of the road, grabbing Alice’s hand and taking her with him, to let the men pass them and return to Madam Blue’s. The vendors on the street were beginning to pack their things for the night.

He looked down to the woman who was roughly a foot shorter than him and paused for a moment before speaking. “I meant what I said, Miss Rohan. Before they close up shop – is there anything you want from these good people? Please, do not be shy.” He stretched out his long arm and pointed to the rows of tents and stands. He wanted so badly for her to pick something to her liking, hoping it would relieve him of the awful feelings he was having.
Victor watched as she entered the room, in a simple outfit and with her long, black hair swaying as she walked. Alice looked simple – no elaborate dress, nothing holding her hair in place, no jewelry. He had an inclination to women that did not have to try hard to look beautiful, and this moment was the first that he really took in her natural beauty. Yes, of course the women around him with their makeup and scarce clothing were appealing to the eye, but something about Alice stole his attention away from the other women. And they began to take notice.

Alice sat next to him and thanked him as he chewed the last bite of his meal. He patted his face with a cloth and smiled as he swallowed, turning a bit to face her. “Of course, Miss Rohan. Couldn’t have a lady like yourself wallow in the filth of us criminals for too long, could I?” He set his napkin down at the sight of her finishing her meal. Sarah rushed around him to take their plates back to the kitchen. “Thank you, Sarah,” he said quietly as he winked at her, and the girl broke out in a giggle.

“Ah, yes. Well, we’ll be supplying some of the vendors here with their goods. They buy in bulk and sell them at their shops. We will be delivering ammo, weapons, fruit, jewelry and other goods throughout the day. If there is anything that you might need, I will get it for you,” he said with a faint smile. He would give anything just to spend the day at the inn forgetting about the duties he would have to attend to, but that was not a luxury the crew could afford. “Also – do not worry about the price of anything here. Madam Blue lets us eat and stay on the house; the girl’s won’t even accept payment for their, uh, services,” his eyes darted away from her as he spoke. He felt the unfamiliar feeling of embarrassment creep up his spine. He had never never been ashamed of his lifestyle – why did he now?

He scooted his chair back and stood up slowly, twisting his torso to crack his back, and then offered a hand to Alice for her to stand. This caused a few of the women to glare at her with intense jealousy, but Vic did not look away from her. “We’ll be back here before the sun sets, but if the day becomes too long, I will escort you back, aye?” He led her over to the front door of the establishment where they met Madam Blue once more.
“Thank you for the lovely breakfast, Blue. We will be back by sun down.” Vic leaned in and kissed the woman’s cheek once again. She had become the only motherly figure in his life since he had left home all of those years ago, and being with her filled him with a fuzzy feeling that put him at ease.
“Of course, Victor. We’ll have chicken tonight!” she said with obvious excitement in her voice. “We must celebrate the return of my boy and his crew.” She pinched once of his cheeks and smiled.
“Sounds delightful, Blue. See you then. Aye! Boys! Let us begin our business!” he shouted as the men began to file a line behind them. They all said their goodbyes to the girls and Blue as they left and walked out into the sunny weather.

Vic sighed as they began their trek back to the boat to get their merchandise. He walked at Alice’s side, watching her take in the scenery around them. He quickened his pace to get in front of her and turned around – walking backwards – so that he could speak to her. “So,” he said, chuckling at what he was doing, “what do you think of the beautiful Isla Imorda so far? It is much different than London, aye?” he said with a smirk. Victor had a strong distaste for the place he was born; the hard streets of London made his mother a tired, old woman at a young age.
The loud roar of conversation filled the heart of the inn as the crew of The Black Star had a breakfast, that they felt, was made for kings. Eggs, cheeses, bread and pork were laid out across a long, wooden table encompassed by the men. Woman of the inn were surrounding each one, laughing at their awful jokes and tending to their needs. Vic himself had two woman next to him, one rubbing his thigh and asking him questions about what had happened in the few months that he hadn't been there, and another released his hair from the knot it was in and massaged his head and his shoulders. He told them the stories of what he had seen and what he and the crew did on the stops they had made with great passion, throwing around his arms around wildly and stuffing his face with the warm meal in front of him.

The girl, Sarah, who had been working at his wind-whipped hair squeezed his shoulders and leaned her head down to his ear. "You need a proper washing, Vic," she said as she continued to knead at his shoulders. "Carla and I will, um, assist you, if you would like," she said as both the girls started giggling.
A smirk crept on Vic's face, and his eyes darted back and forth between them. "Aye, I reckon I do. Me and the lads will be back before sun down. You can help me then, yeah?" He laughed as he began to finish his meal. "Could one of you please find Alice for me? My guest? She should eat up before the day begins."
Both girls nodded in agreement and ran off to find the girl.

Vic was curious of how she was feeling. The pure innocence that she possessed made her uncomfortable at a place like the inn, he was sure. Hopefully, her spirits had lifted after receiving a hot bath and she was able to be pampered for a bit. Vic had finished up the breakfast before him and hit a piece of silverware on his glass.

"Aye boys. Let's finish up. We've got work to do. We shall be back before sun down!"
The men began to moan and grumble as they are.
"I know, I know," Vic laugh. "Who would ever want to leave?" He looked to Madam Blue, who was enjoying the meal at the other end of the table, and he dipped his head in respect.
She returned the nod and winked at the man. "We missed you, Victor."
Vic was up at first light, and he began to yell for his men to do the same. "Aye, boys! Up and at 'em! Let us prepare to dock." Those who didn't respond to his loud command got kicked with medium force in the sides. "Wake up, you lazy bastards." The men were mumbling, trying to shake the sleep off as they rose from their cots. Vic was in high spirits, dashing around the ship and gathering what they were taking with them onto the island. Stolen goods, fruits from other areas, fine jewelry, and weaponry all made the pirates a fair amount of profit.

Vic climbed up to the crow's nest and spotted the green island on the horizon. "Land ahead, boys!" he shouted and made his way back down onto the deck. The men were scrambling to get everything in order so that the boat could dock at the port. Vic walked over to the French doors, knocked first, and entered the room slowly. He spoke quietly, which amplified he gravely texture of his voice. "Good morning, Miss Rohan. Time to rise. We shall be arriving shortly." He turned back around an exited the room, joining the crew to make the last few preparations.

--------------------------

Everyone left the boat filled with pure excitement and relief. Victor had a smile that was ear to ear as his eyes absorbed the landscape in front of him - lush, green trees, clear blue water, birds flying overhead. If he absolutely had to be landlocked somewhere, it would be on the beautiful Isla Imorda. It had no real government, no strict list of laws to follow, and best of all, people from all walks of life were welcomed. Criminals, thieves, prostitutes, and pirates ruled the island. "Alright, boys!" he exclaimed. "To the inn!"

The crew carried what they could through a downtown area that consisted of mostly taverns and markets. Street vendors sold jewelry, fabrics, and other goods. Everyone said their hellos as they walked down the long strip, but soon enough, they all started to hoot and holler when they arrived to a tall, gloomy structure that stuck out like a sore thumb. Vic sighed in relief when he laid his eyes on it, and the men nearly trampled one another as they poured inside the building. Vic turned to Alice and put a hand on her shoulder. "I must warn you, this place is about at grimey and criminal as you would imagine. Keep your head up, and don't let the women get to you. They can be sort of... unwelcoming to outsiders. If anyone bothers you, they shall have to face me, aye?" He removed his hand from her delicate shoulder and gave her a reassuring nudge as he headed for the door.

The first to greet him was an older woman who wore intricate jewelry, a head wrap, and a pink shade on her lips. "Oh, Victor! Oh, it's just been too long. The ladies were starting to ask about you, thinking you must have sunk with the Black Star."
He embraced the woman, kissing her on the cheek. "Madam Blue, you sure are a sight for sore eyes. Truly a delight to see you. And no, that bloody ship has yet to kill me," he said with a sincere smile. "Although, I do have a new one for you!" He turned his back to her and lifted his shirt, revealing a deep, 5 inch scar running down the right side of his back.
"Goodness, boy. Every time I see you, I'm surprised you're still breathing." Madam Blue examined the scar before he pulled the white shirt back down.
"Well, this is Alice. A guest that will be accompanying us during our stay. She can sew, if needed. Could you draw a bath for her? The lovely lady has been surrounded by these scoundrels for far too long." His eyes shot to Alice quickly and nodded, as if to tell her to trust the woman. He had known her for the full decade he spent on the sea, and they had a deep, mutual love and respect for each other.
"Certainly. Lyla! Rosa! Come take this poor girl to the wash room and prepare her a warm bath." Two women scurried towards Alice to guide her to the facilities.

As Alice left with the scantily dressed women, Vic scooted closer to Madam Blue and spoke in a murmur. "Please keep an eye on the lass. She's not privy to our ways - doesn't have a thick skin to her. A pure soul. She's probably scared half to death."
The plump Madam Blue rubbed one of his shoulders and nodded. "Of course, Victor. A pure soul in Imorda? Hell has frozen over!" she exclaimed as she laughed. "Let us get you a drink and a proper meal, yeah?" She took his arm as she began to walk him towards the bar.
"Dear god, Blue, that sounds delightful," he said sincerely as he rubbed the woman's hand that gripped his bicep.
He watched her expressions changed as she told her story. He wasn't surprised. The woman did not look like she had worked a day in her life, or never had the sun shine on her skin. "Well, my condolences. How rude, parents give birth to us knowing all to well that we shall have to watch them die someday." He offered her the bottle of rum that was nearing the bottom before continuing to speak.

Her last comment made him pause for a moment. "That is true. There are thousands of men scattered out on this ocean that would jump at the chance to bed you, lock you up, treat you in an uncivil manor. I have been on those ships. But," he cleared his throat before continuing, smiling as he watched the antics of his crew a few yards away from them, "when I became Captain of this ship, I decided to not follow in the ways of my predecessors. While it is kill or be killed out here, I don't believe in harming anyone for the fun of it, especially the fairer sex." He smirked as he stared out into the water.

His dark eyes met her light ones, and he smiled briefly. "Although, you may not see much of gentleman in me tomorrow. The island tends to get the best of us. The inn we stay at is something of a brothel. The women there will take care of you, dress you, clean you up." He scanned her dress and chuckled. "We must get you something different to where." He smirked so that she knew not to take offense. "Once your father gets the letter I am sending, we will know what course to take. For now, North, to the island."

He stood up, stretched, and yawned deeply. "I think it's time to retire, madam." He offered a hand once more to assist her in standing. Once they faced her, he took her small hand in his and kissed it quickly in a polite way. "It's been a pleasure." He quickly swiveled around and left the deck, but not before sarcastically bowing in a manor more lighthearted than before.
He chuckled at her question. "Well, let's see. I was born in London. My family was rather poor, and my father died when I was a wee thing, leaving my mother with three sons. She, uh, turned to the streets as a means of income. She had no education. I was left to take care of my brothers on my own. I hated it. Always taking care of others. I would often steal on the rare times I was able to go out on my own. Watches, silver, jewelry. I'd sell it and bring the money back home."

He adjusted his position to face her better. He loved to tell stories and speak to people. "I got one good grab that allowed my mother to stop working. Within that month, a ship had docked on the port near me. Pirates. Some of the scariest lads you'd ever see. I was immediately enamoured by the life, and left home to join them. That was about a decade ago. I moved from ship to shop, mostly after one sunk, or enough crew members decided to break up the brotherhood. I joined the Blackstar, and I quickly became the Captain's right hand. Three years ago, he died in an attack. I inherited the title." He smiled as his eyes scanned over his ship, his crew. "It has been a hell of an adventure. They say a Captain's average lifespan is three years before being blown to bits by the military or killed by the hands of the enemy. I'm due at anytime. Quite exciting, I'd say," he said with a hearty laugh. He had stated that he hated always taking care of someone, which he did when he was younger. But having Alice here to watch over brought him a warm, familiar feeling.

His eyes returned to her, and he smiled faintly as titled his head to the side. "And how did the Miss Rohan, fairest lady of the Black Star, make her way to the port that we all cherish so very much?" He took the moment to take a swig of the bottle, wiping his face with his sleeve.
Vic watched her as she spoke and drank, her normally prim and proper composure fading away as she began to relax. It made him smile. She was an obviously attractive woman - her pale skin, tree-green eyes, her black hair that he had yet to see other than up in a knot. He enjoyed watching her squirm whenever he came close to her, her purity and ladylike behavior still amusing him. He had noticed a piece of meat from the stew had landed on her dress, near the middle of her thigh, and without hesitation, he plucked it from her with his fingers and ate it.

"Ah, 20. What an exciting age," he said as he twirled around his spoon in the air. "Old men are awful. I am quite content with the fact that I will not live to be one," he said with a smirk as he met her gaze. "But I find it hard to believe that you are difficult to marry. You are reserved, ladylike, fair. Isn't that what all the noble men seek? What could be the issue?" After taking a swig from the bottle, he put his plates down onto the floor and offered a hand to help her stand. He brushed his legs free of any stray food and paused for a moment to look down at her to read hoe she was feeling.

"Well, would you like to continue our coversation up on the deck? The boys will usually play a bit of music, and the stars are truly a sight to see. You should probably retire soon, though. Our days on land are long and grueling." He offered a hand to lead her up on the deck.

Men sang and drank as instruments were played poorly. There were a few barrels at the edge of the deck where Vic led the woman, and as he sat, he patted the one next to him. The moon was shining brightly on her light skin and eyes. He felt a smiling curling on his lips at the sight. "Now, Miss Rohan, do you have any questions? Anything about my men or myself that you wish to become privy to? We are indeed an interesting bunch."
Vic smirked and laughed as he watched the girl down the alcohol he had offered. He scooted across the floor to sit at her feet so they could hear each other; the men often were boisterous and loud at dinner. "That," he took the bottle of rum from her hand and took a swig, "is rum, love. Finest in these cluster of islands. Men like us aren't the type to drink wine." He continued to pick at his food, enjoying the warm sensation the stew had on his stomach.

"How old are you, Alice?" He said as he flicked his eyes back up to her. "If you don't mind me saying, you look very young. Are girls your age not married off by now?" He continued to eat after he questioned her. If she was indeed married, they may have an unknown enemy coming after them along with the Governor. It was best to try to extract as much information from her without causing her to shut down. He handed her the bottle once more. "You can have as much as you like, as long as you are useful tomorrow."

Hopefully, if she began to drink, he could ask her about her father. The size of the military. The weapons they had. How tough they were. He watched her investigate the stew in front of her and laughed, nearly spitting his out. "You needn't worry about its contents. I assure you, it will not kill you." He smiled and looked back down to finish the rest of his meal.
Victor was awoken by the loud voice on the deck. He chuckled at the fact that he fell asleep in the crow's nest, popped up, and looked west to see, in fact, that the sun was setting. Immediately, his stomach growled. Most would probably get sick of eating the same stew every night for supper, but getting bored of food was something that pirates didn't have the pleasure of. He shimmied his way down the wood that supported the nest and dropped down to the deck. He had brief conversations with a few of his men as they headed down to the galley.

They all sat down in the room that they slept in, taking a seat where they could find one. It was a decent sized room with cots lining the walls like catacombs. There were candles scattered to illuminate the dark, wooden chamber. At the sight of Alice, he stood up and offered her the seat he had taken on the cot and sat on the floor across from her. Men were laughing and cursing as they took their places to eat, and once everyone was seating, Vic spoke. "Aye aye, boys. Time to pray," he said with a smirk as the men began to chuckle.

"Our heavenly father, we thank you for this extravagant meal that Piney has prepared for us. May it nourish our handsome bodies so that we may have the most productive time in Isla Imorda." This made the crew murmur in agreement. "Please bless us with as much liquor as we can stand, besides for Black. Please do not let him drink enough to think a man was a woman again." A roar of laughter erupted as the men jabbed a man named Black. "Can't we just forget that?" he yelled. Vic popped open an eye and looked at him. "Shush. I'm praying. May the women of Isla Imorda take care of my crew so that we may continue on our noble quest, shall the seas spare our lives. Also, thank you, father, for our new guest, Alice Rohan. May her stay on the Black Star serve its purpose, and my men stop staring at her breasts. For God's sakes, Tiny." The younger boys eyes darted away from Alice and looked up to Vic, who laughed as they made eye contact. The boy blushed the brightest shade of red. "Thank you, Father. Amen." Vic opened his eyes, and the rest of he crew said their amens.

"Boys, we have a busy day tomorrow. Take it easy on the rum and turn in early. We will be waking at first light and docking at the island soon after." As he said the last sentence, he raised the unmarked bottle of alcohol he had next to him. "Cheers, my good men." A collective "Aye!" and glasses clinking filled the room as he men began to eat. Vic looked to Alice and held out the bottle of rum as if to offer her some. He didn't take her for the type to drink, but he had promised to be a gentleman, so he offered anyway.
@Chicogal fine with me! Morning :)
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