And a bottle of rum (Closed for Lilly)

[gagonthis]

The waves crashed against the wooden hull of the ship as it cut its way through the rough seas, the bright morning sun reflecting off the water belying the fierceness of the tides as they surged around the bow of the ship, chopping its way forward, sights set firmly on the dot on the horizon that they chased. "Ship ahead! Rig the sails for speed!" a man yelled down from the crow's nest and a cheer went up from the men working on deck.

The crew of the Blood Hawk had been chasing the ship ahead of them for the better part of three days now, and today would see them overrun them. The men were primed with energy, anxious for the fight that was to come, and none more so than the man emerging from the cabin in the aft of the ship. A lopsided grin split his face as he stretched his darkened frame to his full six foot height, running a hand through his sun-soaked brown hair and narrowing his green eyes to see onto the horizon. A billowing white shirt hung halfway open and a heavy belt decorated his waist from which a jagged serrated cutlass with a worn ivory handle hung on one side, a dark oak flintlock pistol hanging from the other side. Black pantaloons covered his muscle legs. "Captain sir! The Ebon Dagger has been spotted on the horizon, we should overtake her at dusk."

Edward smiled a vicious smile as he felt his hand settle on the handle of his cutlass at the mention of Captain Trenchard's ship. "We'll have our revenge on that bastard tonight..." He smiled as he bounded to the front of the ship, snatching up the observation glass as he went. "Still flying his Jolly Roger as well.. arrogant fool." He laughed heartily as he turned to address his crew. "Our prey is ahead of us, look alive ya scurvy maggots!" Edward yelled out, raising his sword high to the accompanying cheers. "Trenchard's a brave man in port with the support of a magistrate.. Let's see how he fares on the open seas!" He yelled out, drawing another loud round of cheers.

Edward narrowed his eyes once more, staring into the glass. Trenchard.... the name had conjured fear across the Caribbean main for the past few months, preying on helpless settler ships. He'd left a bloody mess in his path, ships burned to their frames, settlers left slaughtered, women, some barely more than girls, left deflowered before having their throats slit. Edward had found the man's methods disgusting, but had had no cause to feud with him. Until he had waylaid some of his crew in Barbados, his men drunkenly mobbing and killing five veteran members of his crew. Then he had hid behind his corrupt Magistrate, knowing Edward couldn't make a move on him with the Spanish garrison watching over everything he did.

So he waited till the Ebon Dagger left post and punched his way through the feeble blockade the Barbados local defense had left to stop his pursuit and had chased Trenchard into the water. Now revenge would be his. Morning turned into afternoon as Edward and his crew milked every bit of speed they could out of the brigantine as the sloop ahead of them loomed larger with every passing hour. Edward chewed on some hardtack as he watched the crew on the Ebon Dagger running every which way, preparing for what they knew was coming. "Run up the colors!" Edward cried out as the sun began its descent from the top of the sky, the rose colored rays painting the sea red. The black flag flew to the top of the mast, an angry looking skull framed by two wicked looking cutlasses fluttered as it caught the sea wind. "RUN OUT THE GUNS!" He yelled, pulling his pistol and firing it into the air.

"Bring us along their port side, and unload with the sixties if they don't strike their colors..." Edward instructed. "One volley then we board! I want to take his ship in tact!" He yelled over the sound of the guns being brought into place. Sea warfare was an interesting beast, more maneuvering and placement than any other form of warfare, saber rattling until the perfect position was found.... "FIRE!" Edward yelled as his skipper cut inside onto the left side of the sloop, their guns exploding a moment before the Ebon Daggers. Cannon balls whizzed across the darkening evening sky, flashes of black powder lighting up the dusk sky. Three of the Ebon's cannons were destroyed before they could even get off a shot. Trenchard was outgunned in this fight as the Hawk tore into the hull of the other ship. "ALL ABOARD!" Edward yelled as he grabbed a rope, swinging from the rigging across the watery gap between the two ships, the rest of his crew following suit.

The battle raged between the ships, Edward fighting his way up to the Captain's deck where Trenchard was surely awaiting him. An explosion on the guardrail caught his attention and Edward looked up to see Trenchard cursing, a smoking pistol falling out of his hand as he went for his sword. Edward was upon him in a flash. His lightning quick thrusts and ripostes quickly off balanced the clumsier captain, and within moments several small wounds trickled blood on the portly pirate captain. "Surrender and we may just make you walk the plank!" Edward said with a laugh as he easily ducked an overhead chop. "Finesse! You're not chopping wood you oaf!" He said as another thrust opened a nasty gash under the captain's arm. Risking a glance backwards he could see his crew was quickly overrunning Trenchard's and with bolstered confidence Edward leapt forward, foot leading the way, catching the pirate in the stomach. "Your crew is proficient enough against unarmed settlers or in a five on one fight, but I think you've taken your last voyage mate.." Edward said, quickly slipping past Trenchard's defenses, jagged cutlass puncturing through his chest and leaving him gasping as he slipped to the ground.

The rest of the battle was a mop up action, the Dagger's crew's morale having been completely crushed. Finally they drove the few remaining to throw down their weapons and it was time to take stock of the booty. The ship was mostly intact, and would fetch a good value at any of the ports where they didn't ask too many questions. "Ummm Captain I think you should come see this..." One of his crew men said, coming up from the hold. Edward raised an eyebrow figuring his crew had found where Trenchard was hiding his real booty. Following the man down into the hold Edward drew up short at what he saw before him. "Well... this was unexpected."

[Mephistophelily]

"I want to come along as well, Father." Elise stood firmly before her father's desk, a frown coming to her pale features as the man simply scoffed out a laugh, waving a hand dismissively at the young woman. "You've taken numerous trips to England without me over the past years, and I feel it's time that I as well get to see these sights you speak of!"

Once again, the man's head shook, a cloth coming to his lips as he turned about in his chair. "It is far too dangerous for you to be on the seas, Elise. Each trip I make is simply biding time until something may happen..."

"It's been nearly fifteen years of these voyages, and you have yet to have any troubles. Are you implying that my presence would curse your good luck that terribly?"

Another glance was given to her, a look that demanded she hold her tongue with simply a glimmer in his eyes. The little girl of a mere 4 years of age who never argued with him in such ways was long gone, replaced by this young woman who had developed during the times of his travels. Still, she could see the twist her words had placed in his mind, a contortion of his lips finally giving way to a light sigh. "You will stay in our cabin the entire voyage. The only time I wish to see you on the deck is when we board and when we depart. A young woman should not be meandering about in such a location, with the eyes of men watching her in such ways... I warn you, Elise. Stay where I have asked, and we will have no troubles."

A smile came to her finally, quickly giving him a leaned into hug before hurrying from his study. "Thank you, Father! I promise you, the crew will not see me long enough to even have a memory of me!"

----

She had kept her word. Elise kept her presence on the ship known only in words spoken among the crew, the petite blonde staying hidden away in her father's quarters immediately after coming aboard. She greeted the men with a gentle smile as she passed, her father quick to block any further exchanges between them with a stern glare and firm hand taking her arm. She still managed to steal the occasional glimpse out at the working crew from the frosted windows, though resigned herself to simply reading or sketching for the majority of her time.

Perhaps this was not as incredible as she had hoped. England would certainly provide a far greater means of fascination, would it not?

Curled upon the small bed provided for her; a tinier version of what she was used to at home, but a comfort nonetheless, she settled in to read more of one of her books- only for the peaceful sound of the waves and talknig men outside to be interrupted by a loud, booming noise that shook the entire ship. Seconds later, a true rattling knocked her from the bed, the ship rocking hard in the waves as something collided with it. Elise screamed, trying to get to her feet as the doors suddenly flew open, her father staggering inside with a paled face as more horrible noises raged on behind him.

"Under the bed, darling- Hurry! I knew I shouldn't have allowed this...," He gasped out hoarsely, beckoning her to shuffle herself under the tight space. As she moved, she heard another set of footsteps enter the room in a rush, hoping that it would be the Captain to aide her father- but as she turned about, she saw an unfamiliar man standing there... and a far gruffer voice than she had ever heard from anyone in the crew.

"Hello there, Treasure...," The man growled, a grin on his face that revealed a number of long lost teeth. Elise screamed again, trying to bury herself under the bed, only to find a hand grabbing her ankle and tugging her out. "Y' don't want to be stayin' here, Lass. Not unless y' want to be found on the bottom of the sea... I promise, you'll be treated as a lass should be..." He cackled with that, hoisting her up to her feet with a rough grab on the back of her dress.

Her fists balled as he took another hold of her, pounding against him before being tossed over his shoulder, Elise shrieking out once again as she spotted her father laying facedown on the floor. "FATHER! Help me!"

The man laughed again, a deep guffaw as he shook his head. "Lass, he certainly won't be of any good to ya! Now come along- I'm sure the Cap'n'll LOVE to see what I've found!"

-----

She wasn't sure how long ago that had even happened anymore, though the visions of her father, laying there- the other members of the crew, scattered about the deck, some trying to still fight back, others still that had simply lost their lives in moments- Those visions came to her every night, whenever she managed to sleep.

That in itself was a rare thing. These men seemed to find their fun in harassing her nightly, taunting and teasing, demanding things of her in return for the meager food they promised... but she never actually received. The pale blue dress she had proudly worn on her Father's ship was now left to a torn and tattered version of itself, matted with dirt from their pawing hands and the dank floor. She smelled alcohol and the odors of the ship, as well as its men, each time the doors were opened and allowed her a view of light not from candles or lanterns. She'd given up on crying. It only made them laugh more.

When the familiar sound of cannon fire sounded off, she could only hope that it was enough to sink this horrible ship. Shouts and howls of commands came from above, voices she'd come to know lately- the one who enjoyed sniffing her hair was tying off lines. The man who tried to grab her breasts was sent to cover the cannons. The two who'd woken her a few nights ago were shouting out as well, incoherent replies to orders further off. Another cannon fire. Another hit. Elise simply clung to the tiny wooden frame of the bed they'd left her to, closing her eyes and whispering a request for it to simply take this all away.

She tried to block it out, shaking her head over and over as sounds grew louder outside those doors. When it finally silenced, she held her breath. She was still alive, and the ship was still, for the most part, still in one piece. But who had won?

Her answer came as the doors opened, Elise wincing at the incoming light as a man stepped inside, coming down the rickety steps and looking around. She shifted back in her tiny area, trying to stay out of sight- but managing to catch his eye even faster with the motions. He quickly ran out, his shouts for his Captain making her cringe. Not again.

Hearing the man returning, this time a second set of feet joining him on those steps, she quickly hunted for something- anything- to keep them away from her. All she managed to find was a broken wine bottle, grasping it tightly in her hands and holding it out warningly as the men approached. Her face was solemn, lips tight as the one who must have been the referenced Captain saw her.

"Keep away from me!," She choked out, trying to keep pressed to the far side of the bed.

[gagonthis]

"Well this was unexpected...." Edward said, surprise evident on his face as he watched the girl scoot away from them, holding a broken wine bottle, waving it threateningly. She definitely looked worse for wear, what had once been a fine garment he was sure hung from her in tatters, the blue having faded to dingy almost gray color. She was terrified and Edward's eyes narrowed once again. More of Trenchard's famed hospitality he thought to himself, nearly spitting. The man was a pig, and his treatment of people... Edward certainly didn't regret turning him into shark food at the bottom of the sea.

Still, Edward wasn't exactly a saintly fellow himself and he couldn't help but crack a smile at the girl as she brandished the bottle to and from. "Be careful boys! This one's got a fire in her eyes!" He stepped forward, sheathing his sword and holding his hands up in a peaceful gesture. "Calm yerself down bonny, you'll cut yourself..." He grinned as the bottle swung towards him once more. "Look here loves, you're finding yourself in an awkward spot... see we're taking control of this ship.... so we could of course just leave ya be to yourself in the hold of this ship... but seeing as how you'd still be on my ship.. well perhaps you can see how all this bottle brandishing is all sound and no fury?" He grinned as she kept swinging the bottle trying to keep him at bay.

"Well, have it your way then." He said with a shrug. "Captain! Yer needed on deck!" Edward heard called down from above. "Watch her... make sure she don't hurt herself." He said to the man who had brought him under as he bounded up the narrow stairs to the deck. "What's the deal with all the yelling?" He asked sharply, one of his men directing him towards the pilot's deck. "What's the issue?" He asked his first mate who was scowling as he approached. "Rudder Cap'n. She's all fucked up. One of the shots must have hit it... plus this boat doesn't seem like it was in the best repair to begin with."

Edward let out a short curse. "Can ye fix it?" He asked, already knowing the answer. "We don't have the parts onboard for a sloop and neither did that short sighted ass of a pirate." His second said and Edward sighed. "Well... I guess we'll fire the wreck then, if we can't have it, don't want some navy picking it up and outfitting it to chase pirates... I'll attend to unloading the loot, you see to the other preparations." He nodded to the man before disappearing back below the hold. The girl was still there, keeping her distance from Willy who was watching her with an amused smile. "Alright then, change in plans. You'll be coming aboard with us... 'less you'd rather stay aboard while this wreck burns. Come on down boys, we need to unload this hold!" He called up.

Several of his men came down, eyes widening when they saw the girl huddled in the corner. Edward cleared his throat and gave his men a baleful look. "Don't pay mind to her, get this cargo out of here before we torch the wreck." He turned back to the girl, a smile spreading back across his face. "So what's your choice lass? Take yer chances with a new man, or burn in a fire?" He did feel pity for the girl, but mostly he was amused at how much fight she still had despite however long at sea with Trenchard.

[Mephistophelily]

Elise tightened her lips as the man offered her choices, how he planned to have the ship anyway- Well, that was all fine and good to her, she had no cares on what happened to the pile of rubbish either way. The idea of being left alone aboard it was actually rather pleasing, after a moment to think about it... but when he started to move forward once again, she let out a sharp huff, raising the broken shard and thrusting it forward.

He was laughing at her. He was holding it in, but she could see it on his face. She felt the sting that she'd fought back so often trying to return to her eyes, the pain of tears that attempted to seep through. The man was called back up to the deck, leaving Elise to the one who had first found her. The Captain's words were given time to sink in to her; a choice that in both cases left her among the pirates' property.

He returned moments later, announcing a change in the options given- That there no longer was one. She gripped the bottleneck tightly with that, narrowing her eyes. He was no different than the man who'd placed her here before; changing his word at the drop of his hat. The reason behind it, however, made her lower the broken glass slightly, hesitant on replying to such a thing.

He told his men to ignore her. That- was different. The other Captain had simply thrown her to the wolves like a piece of meat, coming to watch the show of her trying to hide or fight each night. As he brought up the plans to burn the failing ship once again, Elise gave a light frown, slowly lowering the bottle even further as she glanced between him and the leaking floor.

"Let the demons burn in their hell...," She whispered, letting the broken glass finally slip free of her fingers. "I'll take my chances with you. Or the sea, if it comes to that."

[gagonthis]

Edward's men knew better than to go against their captain, and Edward knew his men well enough to know that nothing untoward would happen to the woman unless he allowed it to. Edward was a raider, a robber and a violent man it was true, but his men knew he had a code that went beyond the traditional pirates code. And Edward chose his men to reflect that code. No bloodthirsty rapists rode with him. Hell a couple of his men had wives back in port, of course they were unhappily married enough to spend most of their lives at sea, but it still reflected on the type of brigands Captain Eddie the Blade choose to sail with.

The girl seemed fairly confused by the lack of attention that his crew was giving her, the bottle being waved around with much less fervor than it had been a moment before. He favored her with a smile as his men focused on unloading the hold, enjoying the puzzlement and bewilderment in her eyes as the bottle drooped down to her side, still held in her hand, but not threatening Edward with its savage flight through the air.

The men were grabbing the final load of cargo, a treasure trove of silk cloth that would bring in a lot of money in one of the more prominent ports, where people who appreciated that type of stuff resided. Governor's daughters needed material for their gowns after all. As Edward watched them transport the rest of their haul up the stairs the girl finally spoke. Edward hadn't heard the first of what she said and was about to ask her to repeat herself when the bottle finally fell away from her hands, hitting the floor, telling him that she would go with him.

"Well lass, that does seem to be the smart choice, I mean given the options that is." He said, a smile in his eyes as he watch the last of his men drag the barrels containing extra powder for the cannons up the small stairs. Edward made a motion for the girl to follow him, walking ahead of her so she wouldn't have any reason to be nervous about having someone behind her back. He figured anyone who had traveled with Trenchard was probably a bit jumpy. Heading up to deck he offered her a hand to help balance herself as they crossed the makeshift gangplank that had been set up between the ships. The men pulled it back across as they crossed. His men were staring between Edward and the girl who had come across, as if waiting for some announcement. Edward gave then, gesturing to his first mate. The man stepped forward, handing him a bottle of rum with a soaked rag hanging out of it. Using his flint Edward lit the rag, chucking the bottle across the open sea right into a pile of black powder that had been piled on the deck of the crippled sloop.

A large explosion rocked the boat as flames licked out across the deck. "Make way to cast off.... any ships that see that flame are going to be making a beeline for the smoke." He announced to his crew. "And I don't know about you scurvy dogs, but I don't wanna be around to explain to a Spanish Man-of-war why there's a sloop burning in their waters." That seemed to shake the crew up and his first mate started barking orders as Edward gestured for the girl to follow him into his cabin. "Now then love, I think it's time we heard your story..." He said, gesturing for her to take a seat at his desk.

[Mephistophelily]

She watched as his men continued to take what they could find from the surrounding areas as the floor seeped with more water, glancing back at him quickly as he acknowledged her decision. Was he still taunting her? Elise hadn't time to debate it as he simply waved for her to follow after him, his men continuing on their tasks around them.

Treading up the steps, she shielded her eyes from the sun as they came above deck, glancing around at the rather familiar sight that had been in her memories each night. She cringed slightly, the fear that ran through her slightly coming to an ease as she spotted the former Captain laying on the deck. Her head raised a bit with that, glancing to the new man with the same title, who was now heading for the small plank of wood extended between the two ships.

He offered her his hand, Elise gingerly taking it and stepping quickly across with no further glances at the terrible ship left behind. She simply closed her eyes, hugging her arms about herself for a moment and trying to find what to make of this new situation. She wasn't sure in the least as to if this was a good thing or bad thing...

The sudden explosion behind them on the failing ship surprised her, a sudden jump coming from her as she widened her eyes. She still wouldn't turn, though the fact that it was now burning away managed to bring a faint momentary smile to her lips; one quickly hidden by her fingers brushing her mouth.

Hearing a Captain announce orders without the barrier of wood seperating her from it was quite a bit louder than she had thought it would be, stepping back out of the way as he called out to his men, leaving another in charge as he beckoned to her once again. She grimaced slightly, though followed along behind to his cabin, looking to the chair he pointed at with hesitancy. Slowly, she lowered into it, her tongue running against her lips as he spoke.

"My story...?," She repeated, glancing up at him before looking back to her hands. "My Father is- was... a gouverneur... We were on our way to England. My father had taken the trip so many times before, I insisted that I would not be in the way... I did, I really did. No one in the crew saw that ship. Father tried to get me to hide, but one of those horrible men killed him before pulling me back out."

She paused, recalling all she had seen from her view over that man's shoulder, closing her eyes once again. "They kept me in that hold ever since. I was an amusement for them, the way they laughed when I screamed or cried..."

Elise continued on, telling him of the ways the former crew had harassed her; the grabs at her form, tears at her dress and snarled demands that left her reddened and frightened. A number of times had brought her face down on her bed during her sleep, filthy hands throwing aside her skirt in an attempt to claim her for their own while she screamed.

"Their Captain wouldn't allow it. They could touch, they could grab, but to do anything more he said would result in the loss of their hands. I only wish he had made his words apply to himself as well..."

[gagonthis]

Edward looked out the small window in his cabin as the girl began her story. His mouth turned down into a frown as the burning wreckage of the Ebon Dagger came into view. That was a good bit of money sinking into the deep embrace of Davey Jone's locker and it put a damper on the joy he should be feeling at the fact that Trenchard's corpse was going down with the ship. He let out a deep breath as he turned towards the girl.

She seemed pretty nervous, not that he could blame her. Spending any time aboard the Ebon Dagger would instill that kind of fear in even the most brave soul, and to be a woman in the company of those cutthroats... he could only imagine. The image it conjured up almost made him shudder. Black souled men like Trenchard and his crew drew no mercy from Edward, the seas were better rid of such filth. He nearly snarled as her story continued.

"That sounds much like Trenchard... pig of a man... lived for his base pleasures only... preying on the helpless..." He turned away from her, pulling out a map he had purchased in Barbados, a more recently detailed map of the numerous colonies that had been springing up around the Caribbean. "Well, I can promise you lass that you will not be confined to the brig while you are aboard his vessel. You may remain in my cabin or among the general populace of the crew." He turned a crooked smile towards her as his finger followed the trace of the southern shoreline they were closest to.

He didn't wait for her response as he continued speaking. "Unfortunately you've caught us between voyages love, we're not set to hit port again for quite some time. And with your father's untimely passing, rest his soul," He crossed himself quickly "There's really no one who'd pay a decent enough reward or ransom for you to have us turning back to port..." He shrugged as he marked off a path on the map he was looking at. "We're chasing a Dutch merchant vessel carrying a military payroll, and we're supplied for a long voyage... but I can promise I'll put you off at the first port we find, and if you don't cause me or mine too much trouble I may even give you a share of your own to make your way once we get there." He circled an area on the map, where he expected the Dutch vessel to most likely show up.

"Sound like a fair enough deal?" He asked, looking from the map to smile at her, since it wasn't like she had any choice in the matter as it were.

[Mephistophelily]

She followed his glance to the window, Elise finally catching sight of the burning wreckage. It gave her some comfort to know that the horrific crew that made her last few months a nightmare were going down with it, but the man before her still hadn't made her certain on how much ease she should allow herself.

Kind words were one thing, but even those could be uttered by someone of ill intent.

The promise of free roam was a relief, though Elise wished it were more than that; a chance to return home, to try and get what was left of her life back. Unfortunately, the rest of his words simply left no chance of that. She took in a quick breath at part of his comment; the mention of reward and ransom.

So she was still a prisoner, then... No bars, but a part of his loot from the ship nonetheless?

His smirk seemed to mock her, at least in her eyes- A show of how well he knew her situation wasn't of her own choice. Elise may not have been able to decide her current fate's end path, but she could at least try to enforce her own beliefs on the situation.

"I don't need the money of a pirate," She stated flatly, glancing between his map and the man holding it before looking back to the window bitterly. "What you take belongs to someone else. To have it in my own possession would make me no better than the lot of you." Standing from the chair, she started towards the window, stretching her legs from the stooped pose she had held for so long a time in the hold of the other ship. She wanted to see it burn now, to watch it sink. Peering out, she let the slightly satisfied smirk come to her lips, only to frown a bit as her stomach voiced its own complaints.

"When do you expect to reach the next port?"

[gagonthis]

Edward nearly laughed at the way her eyes pinched up and her chin raised at the mention of him providing her with some money to make her way in the world. Capture by Trenchard hadn't completely broken her spirit and he wanted to applaud her for that. Nobility always thought it was above men of his cut. Like hitting a Dutch military payroll or knocking off a rich merchantman was worse than exploiting colonists and slaughtering local natives. Still he said nothing, letting her keep her delusions in check. Plus it would not be easy to convince her otherwise having sailed with the late pig Trenchard.

He watched with interest as she rose from the chair, stretching her body, the tattered gown she wore shifting in interesting ways as she did so. Even dirtied, battered and fatigued she still managed to hold herself with a more stately manner than most of the women of ill repute Edward usually associated himself with while he was in port. He could read the pleasure in her eyes as she watched the Ebon Dagger burn. "Almost makes worth losing the ship to be able to make ye so happy." He said with a laugh, teasing her slightly.

"As for when we'll reach port..." He took a deep breath, knowing she would be less pleased with what she heard next. "We just outfitted ourselves for a good month at sea, and we'll be chasing merchantmen who can refit us for longer. At present we'll be out till the men's morale begins to sink or our supplies dwindle. So one month if we're unsuccessful, more if we find decent sport." He looked out the window with her, the burning wreck falling away from view as the wind caught the sails of the Hawk, blowing her away from the scene of the battle.

"You may find it hard to believe, us being privateers and all, but my crew will lay not a hand on you." He gave her a solemn look, trying to show her that he was serious about what he had said. He knew some of his men would be less than pleased to know they had a woman on board, the more superstitious believing it bad luck to sail with a lass, while the more pragmatic, such as his first mate, would worry about the distraction it provided their captain while they hunted. "As I said before, you may stay within my cabin, at least while you pull yourself back together. Not many women ride aboard a vessel like the Blood Hawk so you'll have to forgive the lack of frills and you'll likely have to wear men's clothing for a bit. Less yer particulary attached to that dress you have on." The teasing smile came back to his face. "Feel free to root through me chest over there to find something more suitable for shipboard life." He said, turning away and marching back towards his cabin door before pausing and turning towards her. "By the by, me name be Edward, but on this ship it's Captain, or Eddie the Blade if you feel cheeky." He puffed up slightly as he said it, waiting to see if she had heard tales of his exploits.

[Mephistophelily]

Elise glanced back at him, trying to quickly drop the smile from her lips, though it refused to leave. Joke as he may, watching it burn gave her the retribution she felt he deserved. Damned pirate. "He only received what was coming to him," She said softly, stealing a last peek at the failing wreckage with a smirk.

The tone of his voice as he replied to her question wasn't quite what she had hoped for, a frown starting to cross her face. At least a month... Possibly longer? A pained look came to her eyes with that, having truly hoped that she could try to find her way home in merely a few weeks. He made it sound as though it would be quite some time before she saw dry land again. "...I see..."

He may have been accustomed to the life at sea, but she was not. The thought of being out here for that long was a depressing one, Elise closing her eyes for a moment as she sighed. Fears of her previous place aboard a ship of this type began to creep in, the thought of being another amusement for bored crewmen leaving her suddenly both angry and near tears.

"You may find it hard to believe, us being privateers and all, but my crew will lay not a hand on you."

She glanced up at him with that, trying to fight off the few drops that had formed in the corners of her eyes. He sounded so adamant on that. Perhaps she had been wrong on her previous thoughts on this ship and this man-? His offer to keep in his room for the time being brought about a nod from her, Elise still not quite sure on what to say after his comments on lack of port.

"Your ship is far more enjoyable a view than what I've been accustomed to lately, sir." A smile managed to crack through once again with the mention of her dress and the offer of new clothes, her fingers passing over the remains of the dress she truly did once adore. "I'll gladly be free of it. It's no longer the beautiful thing I enjoyed..."

She turned from the window as he started away, glancing up at him as he gave a last word her way. A curious look came to her face as he fully introduced himself, the nickname he used sounding oddly familiar. Her father had referred to him a few times, as one of the men he-

-hoped to avoid.

"Elise," She replied, bringing forth her own name still playing with the fabric of her dress. "Elise Beaumont. My father knew of your name, Captain.... and not in the most flattering of ways."

[gagonthis]

Edward had noticed a slight misting of her eyes at his promise of safe passage and he nearly spat once more. Trenchard and other pirates of his ilk were a disgusting breed of men, preying on the helpless. They were without honor. If one had to make a living through high seas marauding then Edward felt like there were rules that must be understood, a code of honor. And that included a respect towards human life. It was fair to kill a man who faced you with a sword or a pistol, but slaughtering settlers and raping women was the purview of beast not men. Edward would have no part of it.

"Aye the Blood Hawk is quite a sight to behold... fastest brigantine on the seas..." He said, his eyes wistfully taking in the sight of the worn wood, cracked and aged with many voyages. He wasn't sentimental about much, but his ship would always hold a special spot in his heart.

She told him his name and a small smile cracked his lips. "Elise." He said in a voice that expressed approval. "Most people who know of my name do not know it in a positive manner." He said in agreement as he halted by the door to the cabin. "But you'll find that as far as cutthroat raiders go I'm relatively tame." He tossed her a wink. "Please feel free to make yourself comfortable and change, I must see to the ship." He said by way of explanation as he closed the door to his cabin, giving her some privacy as he ran a hand through his hair. He didn't know it yet, but his voyage had just gotten quite a bit more complicated.

"Captain." His first mate said simply, stepping up next to him. It was clear that the man was waiting for an explanation of what exactly was going on, but Edwards wasn't sure he wanted to give him one. "She'll be with us through the voyage. I won't let her be a distraction to the crew." He said simply, his tone of voice indicating that the matter was closed. "Aye aye Cap'n." The man said simply, wandering off to attend to some other matter. "Alright men, let's make for the horizon!" He shouted to his crew as his eyes glanced back at the closed cabin door behind him.

[Mephistophelily]

"Thank you... Sir." The word was added as though a secondary thought, Elise still uncertain on the Captain reference. True; it was the title he seemed to prefer aboard his ship, but the previous times she'd heard that word had left her with a rather bitter taste in her mouth after uttering it.

He did seem quite aware of the words that accompanied his name in ports and cities, laughing it off as he left her to his room. She simply shook her head at that, writing it off in her mind as a pirate simply being a pirate. He may have spoken in kinder ways that the previous man to take her aboard his ship, but she had yet to see anything that truly made him all that different.

The chest opened, Elise sat on her knees, pawing through the various pieces of clothing he offered to her for the rest of her voyage. She grimaced slightly at the meager options, all of which were rather far from her preferred tastes at home- but wearing the remains of the dress was out of the question. It seemed to be barely holding itself together with every motion she made.

With a heavy sigh, she took out a pair of breeches that seemed rather well worn by their previous owner, a faded white shirt with that loosely laced up the chest, and a beaten long green vest. Well, at least it was better than tripping over the falling fabric she wore now. She began to strip off the dress, only for it to mainly fall apart in her hands. She frowned with that, clutching onto a few of the remaining pieces of her corset as the rest fell to the floor. "You were a pretty thing, once...," She mumbled softly, shaking her head as she reached for the new clothing.

Ugh. She felt a fool.
This just seemed so... uncomfortable.

Peering into the mirror behind his desk, she made a bit of a face, though used a small piece of the remaining dress fabric to tie her hair back. At least she could wear a tiny piece of it that managed to remain together. Her feet, still bare, moved across the wooden floor, Elise raising up on her toes to peek out the cabin window. So much commotion; Captain Eddie calling out orders this way and that, starting the chase he had spoken of.

He did say she had his blessing to wander...

Hesitantly, she opened the door, scooting out enough to stay up against the cabin wall. She still wasn't that certain on what to think of all this, but at least the chance to have fresh air not scented with rotting food and bad wine was a welcomed thing.