Pirate Queens

[Indalecio]

Sheila sighed as Jasmine spoke, she was thinking closely after the girl made her repetitive speech. What had the captain done for her recently? When was the last time she even saw, or even smelled the nice metal of a coin. Sheila found her resolve.

"I will not be involved in this, however I will not tell the captain either, I will see how this plays out, and then I will chose the winning team."

 

[Honey_B]

Morgan Fletcher

Before Morgan returned to the hold, she found her way to the galley. The ship's cook was sleeping on a cot, but roused as Morgan walked in.

"I am to be the captain's personal cook and I would like to inspect his stores."

"Suit yourself." He tossed Morgan a key, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

How wonderful! The captain had a well-stocked larder. Morgan smiled as she slid a hunk of cheese and a loaf of bread under her dress. Unfortunately, she couldn't risk taking more at this time. As she left the galley, Morgan slipped the key into her boot. She walked as quickly as she could, hoping she wouldn't be caught on the way to the hold. For a moment, she thought she saw someone, but when she turned no one was there. Still her heart raced at the thought. It just wouldn't do to be caught stealing at this juncture.

She used the key in the lock to open the door and Morgan caught the last of Jasmine's words. She felt pride well up in her chest as she heard the courage in Jasmine's voice. Her friend never failed to surprise Morgan. She waited for Jasmine to finish speaking.

"Jasmine is absolutely right. I have been plotting with the captain. Plotting to allow you all to have freedom to move about the ship. Scheming to get a source of decent food for you. If you could distribute this to the women, Jasmine, I would be most grateful."

Morgan produced the cheese and bread, handing it over to Jasmine.

"Women, I could not obtain freedom for everyone all of the time, but two women at a time will be allowed to go above decks. This is in addition to Jasmine and myself, who shall be moving to other quarters. We will use the cabin given to us as a base of operations. It is fortunate for us that the captain seems to have taken a fancy to me. I will be able to use my feminine charms to keep him distracted."

Morgan turned to the dark-haired speaker. Her eyes took in the defiant tilt of her chin.

"Your words are shrewd, yet honorable. I can respect that. Perhaps in the future, we can change your mind. As for now, my name is Morgan Fletcher? What do they call you?"

 

[Dj_Maximus]

Silk:

He was glad that the other two men had already left the hold. He needed to be alone and think. His thoughts raced...what if she was on her way back to the other women prisoners?

"Damn, why didn't I follow her?" he thought out loud to himself.

His nose starting twitching, which usually does when he starts plotting. He would have to go back up on deck and scour the vessel again. He knew what he would do, what he had to do.

He felt around for his daggers, and found the burnished wood hilts exactly where he had left them. Searching the hold, he found some old ropes. Would they hold? He had to make sure they did.

He found a quiet and uncluttered area, and threw one end of the rope above him. It flew high above him, and over the beam. He grabbed the loose end and pulled the rope taut. Giving a good strong tug, he was able to lift himself...these would do.

Tucking the rope inside his cloak, he returned above deck. He walked along the side of the cabins again and saw two of the crew rummaging through one of the vacant ones. It seemed to him that they were cleaning it up for some reason.

He waited until they were done, and his luck continued to be on his side when one of them left the room, leaving his partner alone. Silk seized the opportunity and snuck in behind the lone man. With cat like movements, he slipped one hand around the man's mouth while he pressed a silver tipped dagger at his back.

"I don't want to do this, but unfortunately friend, I need your clothes. Now, if you could politely get undressed for me, this will go smoothly. Oh yes, by the way, I wouldn't try to yell for help either. I have another friend like the one in your back just aching to slit your throat." he smiled as he said this, seeing the look of terror from the corner of the man's eyes.

Letting the man go, Silk gave him just enough room to remove his grungy sailor clothes. Once the sailor looked like he would bolt and warn the others, but Silk quickly removed that thought from his head by extracting his second dagger from its concealement.

Silk took the clothes under one arm, and threw them across the room.

"Thank you friend. Now sit!"

The pale man sat on the edge of the bed, while Silk threw the rope at him.

"Tie your feet my friend, and no slip knots."

As he did so, Silk ripped a strip from the bed blanket and gagged the sailor. Taking the other rope, Silk bound his hands, securing the sailor safely into his custody.

"Now my friend, come this way." Silk said, picking up the discarded clothes.

He returned once again to the hold, prisoner bound and gagged. He found the partially broken crate Tyler had been in and pushed it against the far wall. He instructed the prisoner inside the crate. Once inside, Silk pushed the crate further, so that the broken side was concealed by the wall. He then found an old, torn sail and placed it on top of the crate, hiding the splintered wood.

He proceeded to change his outift, noticing how the sailor's clothes fit him a little baggy, the disadvantage of being of small stature.

"This will have to do I guess..."

And with that, he returned to search for the woman he had seen earlier.

 

[Indalecio]

Sheila watched Morgan with a raised eyebrow, why did her and Jasmine get special treatment? She had been the most loyal of the captains slaves! She had worked harder than any other female prisoner! These girls didn't deserve their own quarters, Sheila did! Sheila deserved the captains special treatment! Rage filled within the woman, a wry grin on her face now. She had a great idea now. As much as she hated the captain now, she really hated the two bitches that stole the special treatment Sheila needed. So, Sheila was going to beat them at their own game... as they seduced the crew of the ship Sheila would attempt to seduce them, controlling the ship from behind the shadows. Sheila looked to Morgan, getting rid of the grin and forcing a polite smile.

"Names Sheila luv. Hail from the land Down'unda. Just be sure to watch ya back eh? Although some of this ere crews burly, some of em have at least ten cents of knowlege."

 

[SilverBullet]

Tyler found this to be easier than he had hoped. The crewman, Riley, let both of the men go without much trouble at all. After all, Tyler was going to do what the man said. Not because Riley told him to but because a ship such as this, carrying only female prisoners was not an everyday occurance. Besides there actually being people on this ship besides sweaty, smelly men ("Not that I smell any better at the moment."), there was some reason why it would only carry female prisoners. Tyler was going to find out.

Waiting for his co-hideaway to get just enough ahead of him without being seen, Tyler followed.

"Damn, this is a hard man to track. I can barely keep up without losing him," Tyler thought to himself and he paced behind in the shadows.

Tyler wondered what Silk was doing as he went into one of the cabins. He could here some mumbling inside, but that was all.
A few minutes later someone walked out.

"Another worker?"

Tyler started chuckling as he realized that this 'worker' was Silk in a new change of clothes.

"Now that's a smart thing to do. Of course as hasty as I was to get out of town, I didn't think bring a weapon along."

Tyler dug into his pockets and found a few pennies.

"I have to get his attention."

He threw one trying to hit Silk's head but was to short. Tyler squinced as the penny hit the hard wood floor.

 

[Dj_Maximus]

Silk:

Returning above deck, quite satisfied with his little kidnapping, Silk walked silently toward the abandoned cabin.

He stopped in front of the food kegs just behind the cabin. Looking around, and seeing he was alone, he turned to the kegs.

"Tyler" he whispered... "Tyler, get out of there before you get the two of us caught."

He was looking directly into the center of the kegs, where his stowaway partner was hidden.

He had noticed the bouncing penny earlier, but with his prisoner at his side, Silk did not dare stop. Instead he had continued, but made a mental note to return to find Tyler.

 

[caspai]

Morgan's return sent relief flooding through Jasmine. Sagging just slightly, Jasmine quickly straightened and took the food that Morgan held out to her, dividing up the cheese and bread as fairly as she could. With so much hunger and so much need in the faces of these women, it was a difficult thing to do. Some of these women were very nearly starved to death. When all of the food had been divided, save for what she had saved for herself and Morgan, she turned back to Morgan.

If the captain has found room for the two of us to have a cabin, then surly he has a kind heart. Could we not, perhaps, appeal to him, see if he could find it in his heart to help us?

Jasmine hear a few of the women laugh at her suggestion, and as she look to Morgan, she see that Morgan is shaking her head. Feeling foolish, Jasmine glances down at the filthy floor, wishing she had just kept her silence. Gathering her bravery around her, she looks back up at Morgan

If you plan to make the cabin a base of operations, then you have a plan already in mind. Will you tell us what it is? I have asked before, but you have never told me. Will we know now, or are we going to have to wait longer? You said that the two of us would be up top, as well as two others. What can four women do?

Her store of bravery used up, Jasmine again falls silent, looking beseechingly at Morgan, hoping that she had an idea, and that she was not going to ask for suggestions. Every single decision that Jasmine had ever made for herself had ended disasterously, leading right up to this moment in her life.

 

[afternooner]

Riley

Climbling up the mainmast Roley stood in the crowsnest.From here he could obsevre all that went on down below. He saw the tall woman go into the galley. The obvoius reason was for food he knew how poorly the prisioners were fed. She must have made some kind of agreement with the captain. Riley spat into the wind Damn aristocrats. they have all the advantages and they abused their priviledges treating women like dogs to lick their boots and service them, when they had the whim. He watched her return to the prisioners hold and then from the corner of his eye he saw Silk and Tyler Silk had changed into a sailors uniform rather ill fitting, as he was so light of build but then most of the saiors dressed in rags anyway. He admired how carefully and quietly this man moved, bringing the sailor to the hold. Shoulda thrown him over board Riley snarled. Dead men tell no tales, later tonite he'd take care of the poor slob he was better off dead anyway than for the crew to discover him they'd more than likely torture him to death.

Riley thought it best if he play a waiting game for now, going about his way doing his duties maybe getting some scuttlebutt from the crew as to what was going on.

Climbing down, he apprached one of the crew and inqured about the goings on abard ship he soon learned that there was going to be some women freed to go about the ship. Riley shook his head "The captain must be going daft. Just what do you think the crew will do he sneared the're thinking about a long voyage and their blood is starting to boil already you can bet no good is going to come of this kind of action he shook his head and went aft to watch the ocean dissapear behind them.

This lark was sure some ship to be on, she cut through the water ilke a knife the seagulls still followed them and he went intot the hold to get some fish to throw to them seeing the sailor tied and gaged he threw him over his shoulder and carried him qiuckly aft, dumping him unceremoniously overboard. the water boiled red as the sharks made short work of the poor bloke Riley turned and moved forward on the ship again working his way toward the prisioners hold. courious to discover what was going on below.

 

[Honey_B]

Morgan Fletcher

"Jasmine, four women can do a great deal. Every ship has men who hate their captain for whatever reason. We need to find out which crewmen fit this description on The Lark. Once we have located the malcontents, we seduce them. This should be the easiest part of the plan. I have yet to see the seduction of a sailor requiring anything more than being female and breathing."

Morgan smirked.

"Sometimes not even that is required."

Several of the women in the hold laughed and Morgen joined them before becoming serious again.

"Each woman will then select a target. After seducing him, she will give her attentions to him only. This should cause further dissension among the other sailors. They will grow jealous, making you more valuable in the eyes of your target. Let him know that your continued favor is contingent on his complying to your wishes. Since that will be mutiny and you have already selected someone who dislikes the captain, this should not be difficult. Are there any questions?"

 

[Dj_Maximus]

Silk:

Realising that Tyler wasn't behind the barrels anymore, Silk returned to searching the rest of the vessel.

After what seems like hours, he stumbled below deck and heard some faint talking going on in one of the holds. He made his way over slowly, trying to go unnoticed. He made his way to the open door just as one of the ladies finished speaking.

...Are there any questions?"

"Yes, actually I have one!"

Silk moved slowly through the open door behind Morgan. He looked around the hold at the other women. He looked at Morgan, she was indeed the woman he had seen earlier.

"Could you possibly need some help?"

 

[SilverBullet]

Tyler waited for awhile, but Silk never returned. If he had it was too late. He couldn't wait any more. He wandered around trying to avoid any contact with any ship workers. He was sure that Riley was around somewhere.

"There he is," Tyler spoke to himself as he watched Silk walk into a different cabin. "Now what is he doing now?"

Tyler looked around and saw a few a the ship's crew repairing a sail that had been torn.

"I can't just walk in there looking like this. I'll have to wait and watch."

 

[caspai]

As Jasmine listened to Morgan's plan, fear and self doubt began to creep in around her, wrapping around her like a cloak. Seduce a crew member? How could she possibly do something like that? In her experience, men were horrible creatures, taking and not giving, not even the slightest amount of common concern. How could she possibly want to be close enough to one of those men to seduce him? And how could she possibly achieve that seduction? A new fear entered into the mix, creeping into her blood like thick, sweet honey, making her feel as if she were about to jump out of her skin, the fear that she would fail Morgan, who had so much faith in her. As her fear mounted, quickly turning to panic, she looked into Morgan's laughing, self-confident eyes. Jasmine still could not understand how someone like Morgan could possibly want to waste her time on Jasmine, who didn't think she had ever managed to make a right decision in her entire life.

Just as she was about to express her concerns on her ability to carry out such a plan, another voice spoke up, a completely unexpected one, being that it was that of a man. Taken completely by surprise, Jasmine gave a small shriek and jumped back.

Just who are you, and what are you doing here?

His presence in this tiny, dark room completely unnerved Jasmine, sending her already confused senses spinning out of control.

You were sent here to spy on us, weren't you? You are going to go back to the captain now and tell him everything that you heard. Admit it!

 

[Dj_Maximus]

Silk:

Silk felt Tyler's presence behind him, but he needed to calm the women inside the hold first before bringing him along. A shriek escaped one of the women's mouth and followed with accusing questions...

"Just who are you, and what are you doing here? You were sent here to spy on us, weren't you? You are going to go back to the captain now and tell him everything that you heard. Admit it!

Silk looked at her and motionned her to be silent.

"I am not here for the captain, nor does he even know I am here. I may be wearing these sailor's clothes, but trust me...I don't know the bow from the stern!"

Silk tried as much as he could be appear sincere and open, his eyes warm and inviting as he removed the old weathered cap he had on his head.

He quietly half closed the door behind him, and turned back to the shrieking woman.

"My name is Silk. Thief by trade, conman by birth. Anything you need, I'm your man." he smiled as he bowed to the ladies in front of him.

 

[Honey_B]

Morgan Fletcher

Morgan moved like lightening. She closed the door softly and took hold of Silk's arm.

"Silk is it? We need to get you into one of the darker corners. The guard will no doubt return shortly. It surprises me that you were able to slip past him."

Perhaps this self-proclaimed thief could be of some use. Of course, she did not trust him. Morgan didn’t trust easily. Especially not from someone who offered his aid unsolicited. She guided Silk deeper into the hold, stepping behind some crates. They would not be seen should the guard open the door when he returned.

"Well now, seeing as you have generously offered your assistance, there is something you could do for me. I need information. My movements are limited at present and I need to know how many crewmen are aboard The Lark and who, if anyone, bears a grudge against the captain."

Morgan smiled, taking in the stranger for the first time. She was almost a head taller than him, but she imagined he made up for his lack of height in other ways. He seemed to radiate energy.

"Incidentally, I am called Morgan. The woman who accused you is my friend, Jasmine. And just so we understand each other, should you feel the need to tell reveal my request to the captain, I shall slit your gullet, luv."

Morgan's smile widened into a grin like a barracuda, baring her very white teeth.

"I shall also need a knife."

 

[afternooner]

Riley

Riley watched Silk deftly disappear into the prisioners hold. He muttered to himself hes eitrher a brave man or a fool sometimes theres not much diference. Now hes either a dead man or a very happy one He grinned at the thought of pooor little silk surounded by either very angry, or very passionate women.

He saw Tyler waiting in the shadows and decide he better make himslf scarce for a while. He went below to his bunk and pulled out a worn map of the Larks route to Australia. he fell asleep dreaming of green grass and freedom.

 

[SilverBullet]

As Tyler waited patiently he heard the loud blast of the ship's horn. It caught him off guard and he jumped nervously. All of the crew started yelling and cheering. It had to be time to eat.

This was Tyler's chance to make his way into the room where Silk was spending so much of his time now. He waited until all of the workers were safetly away. He made his way over the the door and slowly peered inside.

 

[caspai]

A disquiet grew within Jasmine as she watched Morgan take the arm of this man, drawing him further into their crowded, dark room. Strangely, it felt as if his presence was an invasion of their sanctuary, and she resented him for it. Then the strangeness of that thought struck her. Sanctuary? This room was small, dark, dirty, and less comfortable than the cell she had shared with the multitude of women at Newgate, something she had thought quite impossible at the time.

Shivvering at the thought, she watched as Morgan gave the man an almost cold smile, keeping her hand on his arm. How was it that she could stand being close enough to that man, any man, to touch him, let alone bring herself to smile at him? Then she heard Morgan ask the man to get her a knife. Ohhhhh.....of course. Women alone on a ship full of men, who were by their nature accustomed to taking what they wanted and throwing you aside once they had fulfilled their desire of the moment. With a knife Morgan would be able to protect herself.

As these thoughts flew through Jasmine's mind, a bell began to clang loudly, and Jasmine jumped, beginning to shake badly.

Morgan, this man can not be found here. He is putting all of us in peril for our lives.

Glaring at this man for this newly realized threat to their safety, she whispered shortly at him

Why did you even come in here? What could you possibly wish to accomplish, putting us all in danger this way?

As she said these words, she could hear footsteps outside the door, distinctly walking in their direction. With panic rising within her, she glanced at Morgan, the terror beginning to fill her eyes.

 

[Dj_Maximus]

Silk:

Handing Morgan one of his daggers, Silk turned to the shaking Jasmine.

Why did you even come in here? What could you possibly wish to accomplish, putting us all in danger this way? He heard her say.

"Listen, I am not here for the captain, nor am I here for you. I'll be quite honest, which is rare for me. I see an opportunity here for possible wealth beyond my wildest dreams. If this means helping you ladies out of here and causing a big enough distraction for me to make my way to the captain's riches, then so be it."

Silk had a point blank stare at Jasmine, then seeing her tremble at his words, he suddenly felt very small.

"I am sorry dear lady. My nerves are just a little frayed at the moment. Twice since I have been onboard I have almost been caught myself."

He looked at Jasmine with soft, kind eyes. He felt sorry that these women were caught in some kind of trouble, and he did wish to help them. Yet this woman touched him in a deeper area of his intellect.

Silk could feel Morgan behind him, and realising that she had one of his daggers, carefully and slowly moved out of her reach. One could never be to careful.

"Now," he started, turning to Morgan. "how are we going to proceed?" a sly grin spreading across his tiny face, his nose twitching again.

 

[SilverBullet]

Tyler

"Well you can start by giving proper introductions.... to myself and to these beautiful ladies as well," Tyler said smiling as he marched inside, careful to stay back from the woman and her new weapon.

He watched as the women jumped and gasped as he entered. The excitement from the last thirty minutes had to be hard for them to take.

"Also, um... is there a place to take a bath around here?"

 

[Dj_Maximus]

Josh???

OOC: Who's Josh...lol...

 

[Honey_B]

Morgan Fletcher

Perhaps the thief could be trusted to some extent. It felt good to have a weapon in her hand, especially a dagger such as this. Morgan's practiced eye saw that the blade was lethally sharp.

"If your gentlemen will excuse me for a moment, I need to speak to Jasmine."

Morgan pulled her friend aside. Lowering her head to Jasmine's ear, she spoke in a soft whisper.

"I suggest we trust this thief for now. Jasmine, I know we take a chance, but then this whole enterprise is a gamble. Now, I must see to the latest intruder. I am going to ask you to find out what you can about Silk"

Morgan smiled gently at Jasmine's stricken look.

"Do not be frightened, dear heart. Just talk to him. Unless, I have missed the mark, he likes the look of you."

Morgan gave Jasmine a comforting squeeze before turning to the newcomer, knife in hand.

"A bath? You stand in the prisoners' hold of a boat bound for the penal colonies of Australia. We have scarcely water to drink, let alone water with which to bathe. What is the meaning of such cruel humor and who are you? You do not have the look of a seaman about you?"

 

[SilverBullet]

Tyler

"Now calm down for a second, beautiful lady. I had no intention of insulting you or anyone here. I've always thought any bit of humor helps to ease the pain. My names Tyler. I don't have any real profession other than I tend to gamble more than I ought to..."

Tyler continued to explain the reason he stumbled upon this ship and the prisoners.

"I might not be the most honest person in the world, but I do know when something isn't right. This is clearly something very wrong here and I'll be happy to hear all about it. There is always two sides to every story and I want to here your side. I'll find out on my own if you're telling the truth. If you are speaking the truth and I think that you're right, I'll help you out in any way possible."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Beth

For days I had prayed for a miricle, for the King to see he was unfairly judging me and my reasons for what I did. I had pleaded for my life as had my mother. But nothing would change the outcome. The nights in Newgate were frightening the most. Men weren't seperated from the women. Guards could enter my cell at any given time and have their way with me, nothing would have been done about it. The last night there I had listened in fear from my perch in the corner to the rutting beasts rape and defile the woman in the next cell. I could see and hear everything, even the results of their fists. She was nothing to them but a whore who had killed an innocent man. I wanted to snort with disbelief that man was wholesome and innocent of her revenge.

Since I had been sentenced I sat in silence. Nothing I could say or do would reverse what I had done. Nothing in their mind but their way was right. I accepted it, I knew the consequences from stealing before I ever chose to do it.

Didn't mean I wasn't royally pissed off and out for revenge either.

I had bad mouthed a salior loading me and got my senses knocked completely out of my head. Again I was wrong for reacting the way I had when he fondled my body as he pushed me up the gang plank. Sporting a black eye, swollen lower lip and a fear worse would happen to me, I listened to their plans.

Hidden in the darkest corner I could put myself into, my back guarded well, I rose from my crouched position and moved closer to the taller woman with the flaming hair.

"I will aid you, just tell me how?" I would swallow my pride, bend and grovel at feet, reduce myself to seduce men who made my skin crawl, if it meant I could find freedom at the end of this long shadowed tunnel of hell on earth.

 

[caspai]

Jasmine

Morgan's words lifted my spirits somewhat, and Jasmine tried to calm the shaking that was threatening to engulf her. If Morgan believed she could do it, then she could do it. Morgan had never been wrong before. Morgan had kept her going the few weeks Jasmine had known her. If she kept repeating it in her head, perhaps she would begin to believe it. 'Morgan believes I can do this. Morgan believes I can do this.' Turning to the thief, she gave him a shakey smile, and holding out her hand, she instinctively drop into a proper curtsey as she had been taught since childhood. Catching herself, but not soon enough, she felt the heat flood her cheeks. This was hardly a drawing room...

My name is Jasmine Raine. Could you, perhaps, tell me again what yours is?

Looking up, she sees a smile begin to alight in his eyes, and an odd flutter begins within her. Startled, she cast my glance around for Morgan, and sees her standing with one of the other women, as well as the newest man. Lord above, two men within this one room, someone would surely notice. Panic again begins to overwhelm Jasmine, but just then Morgan glances up and, catching Jasmine's gaze, she smiles at her, a smile filled with encouragement. Taking a deep breath, Jasmine looks again to the thief.

I must apologize for my outburst previously. My world has recently been turned somewhat sideways, and I am still struggling to gain my senses. It has not been my experience that men are willing to help without a price.

Suddenly afraid that he would believe she was accusing him, Jasmine stumbled over herself just a bit

I don't mean to say that you would ever...I mean that you would demand...or, er, um...Oh dear!

Suddenly flustered, Jasmine falls silent, her eyes searching his for a sign that he might have taken offense at her stumbles.

 

[Dj_Maximus]

Silk:

Sensing her embarassment, Silk approached Jasmine and proceeded to bow, a little over dramatically, hoping to make her feel a little self conscience about her cursty.

"My dear lady, I am Silk. No last name, simply Silk. It will be my pleasure to be of service."

He stopped and thought for a single moment, and then continued.

"I understand what you were attempting to say. I do agree that you are very beautiful women, and a man would certainly love to be with any of you."

He felt a little flushed as he looked at Jasmine. He felt his cheeks turn a slight shade of red as he continued. He reached out to gently lift her chin to look into her eyes.

"I am not here to extract anything for you or the other ladies here. I offer my services, free of charge. You should not be concerned about my motivation."

He felt Jasmine's soft skin as his fingers touched her chin briefly, then realising that she may feel uncomfortable with his touch, her removed his hand, again blushing furiously.

He didn't want to admit it to himself, but he was smitten by the frailty of this woman, but was taken by her inner strenght. She was soft, but unafraid to speak her mind.

He looked at her long blond hair as it cascaded down around her pale face. He felt an unusual feeling in his gut and could not get the image of her soft eyes from his mind.

Silk had totally forgot that Tyler was in the room.

"Oh yes" he said, regaining his composure somewhat. "Tyler is a mate of mine. We met down in the food hold. Seems we both arrived on the vessel in the same manner. We snuck aboard."

Silk looked over at the big man and gave him a wave.