This is my first fanfiction, so if you like, don't forget to put a review. I'm also open to any criticism: good and constructive or bad and disapproving.
Far away from the lands, the hills and the most well-known place by the knowledge of men a bridge to others frontiers which cannot be crossed by the walk and the stretch of a battlefield between empires against the kingdom or sometimes men against… creatures. Some animals which seem to only exist in the stories you tell to your children for avoiding them to have the desire to explore this immeasurable landscape.
The Sea.
Each being, with gills but without hands or with hands without gills, and sometimes with both came from the Sea. And each one will one day, return to it.
But despite all of this, the Sea fascinated men who were seeking for gold and glory, or adventures and discoveries. And our story begins with one of them.
In the docks of Royal Woods, Michigan: a picture of a perfect neighborhood close to the shore living on the floor made from the woods that come from its forest for which one this port was known for its durability and quality superior from any sort of wood from America. But the harbor was also famous for being the commercial center at the little village that was Royal Woods: The shops were almost all little stands where villagers could sell to strangers or inhabitants some good products like local fruits and vegetables some sold condiments whose are precious salt, sugar, pepper and even some exotic spices from famous British colonies.
And a pawn shop owned by an infamous old man known to everyone in the neighborhood to the nickname of Flips: despite his rude behavior with his employees he was well appreciated by the strangers who were just passing by, and even more by the rare nobles who entered his shop. It was like a trap for those who were naïve enough to enter and think that they could leave without something; the slogan of Flips was like a prophecy bound to happen each time "everything for everyone any time", simple yet extremely efficient.
However, just at the left side of the pawn shop was situated a more modest and less visited stall. This was the fishing shop which sold chum, hooks of all size, fishing roads and fishing nets with various forms and thickness of ropes what comes to the tiniest shrimps to ones for the captures of big sharks with their enormous mouth filled with razor sharped teeth that could take to pieces even the strongest man. Like usual there weren't as many clients as waited for this kind of shop, for saying no one at all but what was more out of the picture that was that even the owner of the said shop was missing too. The man in question was actually not far away from the stall but he wasn't as close as though neither: his body was there but his mind was having another priority at the moment.
Wandering through the crowd of the marketplace of this little town, he was actually searching someone and this someone was his only son. Checking any young man he would notice on his way, he thought of the way about how he could bring back his heir to the right path: one of the family traditions.
While the fisherman was wandering in the west part of the town, in one of the somber alley of the docks, where merchandises brought by the boats were exchanged, was resting between two concretes, a chest. But not a chest where was put gold or precious stones, but different fruits for the crew whose belonged it… At least it was supposed to.
But on the inside of the chest you won't find apples, strawberries, bananas or even kiwis, but you will find a young man cramped in there: the head resting on one of the walls of the big box, the back arched, the kneels curved and the feet resting on the other side of the chest.
The boy is wearing a red bandana who covered almost all his hair, letting out only a bit at the left side of the head, which seemed to be white or a very lighted platinum blonde, with a slightly opened orange shirt which got the sleeves rolled up at the elbows. He's also wearing common brown pants and boots. The head of the young one was peacefully resting in the palms of his hand behind his head. As for his facial features, the boy had freckles on both sides of his face and a prominent chipped tooth and a beginning of white goatee rested on his chin, apart from that his face was almost clean with only the rest of an eaten apple on a corner not far from his mouth. He was letting light sounds of what seemed a snoring coming out of his mouth.
But as soon as the fully filled with a man chest began to be lifted, the head of the boy slipped off his hands and hit the wall of wood. The hit hurt enough for waking the boy but not for disturbing the persons who were transporting the chest.
"Ouch! But why did I take a wall? And why is my room moving?" grumbled the boy holding his hurting head. After what seemed long minute of pain but in reality, seconds, the boy checked one more time his surrounding before realizing that it was not his room. "Oh right. I forgot why I was here in the first place." and turning his head to the reader "Oh! There you are! You're certainly asking yourself why I slept in someone's chest this night?"
Realizing that is was a question who couldn't have a reply he followed "And it seems that this someone is taking it back, that would explain the rumbling."
Taking notice of the position of the box, he realized that the chest was being carried and by listening to the step on the wood floor of the port he assumed that it must be only one guy, strong enough to carry a chest where inside was a 64 kg boy.
"Hum. He won't be very happy and I'll have to explain why I was in there... Meh! I'll figure something out!"
Realizing you are still here, he clears his throat.
"Well, I don't know how long it will be before they realize there aren't any more fruits in there but I suppose I could use this time to tell you why I'm in a chest hiding from my father."
YESTERDAY NIGHT
It was the beginning of the afternoon, every stall was closing and clients like sellers were on their way to home, even the grumpy Flips was letting his assistants depart for home after having exploited them for the day. Everyone except in the fishing shop: the shop was closing yes, but the workers lived in there too. Behind the counter, was a corridor with a stair which led to the second floor of the building what was the modest Loud residence.
There were only three rooms in one was the room of the adults who lived here, the second was a more little yet somehow comfortable enough was the room of the only son of the house and the last one was at the same time the kitchen and the dining room. Composed of a wood table, three chairs, and a fireplace with above, a cooking pot. In one corner of the room is a little shelf with books of all size filling it from the bottom to the half of the second level , leaving the third one empty all the books were about tales of the seas, others were about « le savoir vivre français » as for the remaining they were reports of sailors and admiral from their discoveries and journeys on the ocean, those were published by the government in order to interest people with the exploits of heroes and as for a way to spread the desire to take the sea for serving the British Navy.
The matriarch of the little household is currently cooking a fish soup again, like yesterday, and the day before it, and before it… She is wearing a red dress that stops just beneath her knees, with an apron and a white coif what covered almost all of her short blonde hair.
Opening the door of the small residence, the patriarch of the family and the official owner of the name, Mr. Loud. "Good evening, Rita," said Mr. Loud greeting his wife while he was taking his place at the table.
"Evening dear, how was your day at the shop?" Greeted Rita to her husband while not looking away from the table where she is cutting peppers to add in the soup.
"Business don't follow the expectations. What about you, any luck at the market?" While Mr. Loud sold fishing materials, Mrs. Loud sold all the fishes that her son and husband could catch.
Putting her knife aside and bringing her sliced peppers to the pot she answered: "Alas I didn't sell as many as wanted, nowadays people seem more interested in exotic foods that come from the dense forest of the south of the country." Saying it with a sad tone at the end.
Hearing this, the man put on a sad smile, got up and walked towards her before embracing her from behind. "It's okay, we'll found a way out like we always did."
Returning the embrace she replies with "I know, but still we can't keep going like this. What about Lincoln?" She asked while returning to face her husband. "What about him?".
"Well, he can inherit the lead of the store like I did with my father who himself inherited it from his father."
"We're talking about Lincoln here not you Lynn, you know how he is."
This time a bit annoyed he responded with "Oh come on! What do you want him to do? To go on the Ocean and face dangers like storms, scurvy and worse of all…pirates!" saying this with a mix of fear and disgust by naming those cruel people who inspired fear in the heart of the villagers of a small town like Royal Woods.
Well aware now of the thoughts of her husband she could just reply quickly by shaking her head "No! No! You're right, I don't know what I was thinking…"
"It's okay Rita you're his mother, it's normal that you worry about him."
At this instant some noises are heard in the direction of the "hall door", creaking noises which were coming from the stairs.
"Speaking of the devil, you should go back to the table, it's ready." She said while freeing herself from the embrace of the man and return to her pot that was boiling.
As Lynn was returning to his seat the door creaks wide open, showing the only son of the little household of fishers: Lincoln Loud
"Good evening dad, good evening mom, what's for dinner?" He asked while he closed the door behind him and took his seat at the right of his father.
"Fish soup with carrots and peppers, sweetie."
«Oh again...I think I'll just have no dinner tonight but thanks, mom."
"If you want, sweetie." She reluctantly says but understanding the annoyance of her son for only eating this every night.
« So Lincoln, I didn't see you a the shop today where were you? »Asked the father wanting to begin a new conversation with his son
A bit took aback by the question he answers with a bit of hesitation "Sorry Dad, but I was listening to the story of a sailor who said had served under the leadership of the Admiral Savy so I think I lost the notion of time. Sorry again. But like promised I helped the doctor Henry today and he gave me my two pounds of the day."
In the little house, the admiration Lincoln Loud has for the Admiral Savy was well known: Since he discovered him in one of his reports books at the age of five he wanted to become a great sailor, to navigate in the name of the government and hunt down the pirates all over the world like him. The Admiral was his hero, even more: His model of a right and good man.
With an understanding smile, his father replied "It's okay. I'm glad that you take the time to help people but when one day me too I'll need you in the shop. I'm not young anymore and someday you're the one who's going to take the lead of it."
Now embarrassed the boy could only mutter "Riiiiiight... Hum...Well about that, I found something interesting today on my way home."
"And what is that, son?" Asked Lynn, now a bit more intrigued by the tone of his son, like he was going to say something that could maybe explode in his face.
"Well…How to say it? I heard that a captain was passing by and was searching for new crew members so I thought that maybe…"
"No!" said bluntly his father while taking his bowl of soup served by Rita.
"OH, COME ON! Why?!" asked Lincoln in a desperate tone.
"You already know why Lincoln: I want you to take my place at the shop after I retire like I did with your grandfather, and like he did with his.."
"Who did with his own before him!" said Lincoln by cutting his father "I already know that Dad. It's just that I'm not feeling this is what I should do, I want to do more, I want to…"
"TO SAIL AND DIE ON THE SEA LIKE ALL THE OTHERS FOOLS BEFORE YOU, THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT?" Shout the father to his son, annoyed by his childish behavior. "AS LONG AS YOU LIVE IN MY HOUSE YOU'LL DO WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO! I AM CLEAR YOUNG MAN?!"
This time this was the boy who was enraged by the closed minded that was his father "YES! VERY CLEAR! AS LONG AS I AM IN THIS HOUSE I'LL NEVER BE FREE THEN I'LL JUST LEAVE!" Shouted the young man in return
"DON'T YOU DARE!"
"LINCOLN STOP THIS! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Shouted with concern this time Rita who watched the whole scene without saying anything but thought this discussion was going too far.
"I DON'T KNOW! ANYWHERE IS BETTER THAN HERE!" Declared Lincoln before running at the door and disappear into the night.
Now
"Then after this, I fled to the port where I found this chest wide open and filled with fruits. So, I jumped in and eat what I could (for not saying the whole thing) then with a filled stomach and a very tired and upset mind I fell asleep in the chest." summarized the boy
"And here we are, fellows. That's how I ended up in there. I must confess that my outburst was coming from many others arguments we had on this subject and that I was keeping to myself during all this time. So exaggerated or not what happened is not my fault but my father's for who the traditions are more important than his child's happiness."
Suddenly the box is what seemed to be dropped on the floor and stopped moving.
"I guess it's my stop, with luck this is surely a big monkey whose lacking some cases so I can tell him that he mistook me for another chest."
Then he turns toward you think you are giving him a disapproving look
"What you have a better idea ?!"
Suddenly the chest is opened from the exterior, the bright light of the sun blinding the poor boy in the box. Then a shadow, towering the young man whose eyes are still in pain from the light, appeared and shoot
«WHO THE HELL ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY FRUITS CHEST !?»
While he is still trying to find his senses, because still blinded by the shining rays of the sun, Lincoln is violently pulled by the collar of his shirt out of the box. After being pulled out to the waist he was greeted to his new surroundings with several gasps and a very, very angry glare from the man who was holding him. He was at the eyes level with the sailor, in them he could see pure hatred: Lincoln knew what he did was bad and disrespectful; but damn! He never saw someone hate him that much. Lost in the eyes of the holder he was snapped back into reality with the grip which tightened and the voice had this time clear annoyance but predominantly the anger shot back
"YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER OR WHAT, YOU SCUM?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THERE AND WHERE ARE ALL MY FRUITS ?!"
Filled with fear, by the justified outburst of anger, Lincoln tried to look as calm and stoic as possible (easier said than done) he cleared his throat and replied with an uncertain and intimidated tone "We-Well my dear gentleman it seems that this is a misunderstood, you see in reality this chest is my property and I slept in it this night. I-I know it seems odd but it's more comfortable than it looks"
After the quick explanation, the sailor seemed a bit confused then check back with the swift movement of the eyes the chest where he was still holding the boy. During this quick motion of his assailant, the boy noticed several details on the face in front of him: First the man in question didn't really seems older than him, in fact, he'd given him the same age as him. Then the boy had freckles on both sides of his face too, with big green eyes and long eyelashes, a bit too long for a boy. He had long brown hair tied in a big ponytail.
After what seemed to be minutes of facial study, but just three milliseconds, the glaring returned with more furrowed brows and teeth that were clutched so strongly, Lincoln could have sworn he heard them squeeze each other. He was then pulled out entirely from the chest and throw at the left of the sailor, he flew during one second before his back hit something.
Painfully but surely the boy put a hand on his hurting back and the other reach for something to hold for finding again his balance. His right hand grabbed something made of wood, what seemed to be the edge of a deck. After having finally found his senses he raised his head to see three sails linked to one mast. Then it hit him: he was on a boat, on the boat of the crew which one now missed a fruit reserve because of him… "Oh boy! How I'm going to get out of this?" Lincoln thought.
"Not only you tried to smuggle on board of our boat BUT you also pigged out one of our reserve of fruit and you cannot even lie correctly!" Grumbled the upset sailor.
Now having a full view of the person who awoke him he could see that he is wearing the same clothes he is wearing, except that the shirt was closed and red. The only thing he had and Lincoln didn't is a big brown coat that stopped just behind the knees and if you looked at him from the right or the left you'd see that the collar of the coat was so high that it would cover the half of his face.
"Hey! You ate your tongue too or what? ANSWER ME, BEAVER BOY!" Snapped back the sailor annoyed by the silence that Lincoln was giving him.
Now regaining his composure, Lincoln stood back up, looked at the man in front of him and finally respond "Mister, I didn't try to sneak on board of your vessel, I just found this chest very comfortable and slept in. Regarding your fruits, if I see the slob who devoured them you'll be the first one to be informed of it. Now if you excuse me…"
"STOP LYING FOR GOD SAKES! YOU STILL HAVE CRUMBS OF ONE OF MY APPLES ON YOUR FACE, YOU PIG!" Shouted the really frustrated sailor.
Brushing his fingers to the corners of his mouth, he effectively found some leftover of his "dinner" and cleaned it off before shrugging
"Okay. I confess: I did it. But I assure you it was for a good reason, sir."
"BY GOD'S SAKE! STOP CALLING ME SIR: I'M A WOMAN!" Shouted (again) the now revelated woman.
"WHAT?!" was all Lincoln could say after such a revelation because there wasn't a single hint of femininity in her. Her frame was mostly hidden by the large coat and her chest wasn't really developed either. This news struck so much the boy that all he could do was to stare jaw open and wide-eyed at the girl in front of him.
"HO, COME ON! YOU CAN'T BE SO DUMB, DON'T YOU?" A high-pitched voice resonated at the right of the astonished boy.
Glancing toward the source of the voice, Lincoln eyes widen: 4 other girls stand there watching the whole argument from the beginning.
Unlike the first one, those four looked somehow like women. Both of them seemed to be 11 years old girls and they looked alike except that one of the two is wearing a red bandana which covered her blonde hair that is tied in one little ponytail behind her head, and the other one wears nothing on the head but has a ponytail too except that it was tied with a pink ribbon.
An older one was wearing boots, pants with a yellow scarf around the waist with a grey short sleeved shirt. She had a bucked tooth and wore on her head a yellow bandana with a big ponytail of light brown hair.
As for the last one, she looked nothing like the others girls, she was a real woman. A tall woman with long blonde hair and a dress which hugged her hourglass frame with a belt. And MAZETTE! What a beauty: Such a smooth and cute face with big light blue eyes.
During his daydreaming he didn't notice the first girl coming toward him, only the light of the sun shining on her sword made him realize. The sword is lifted and is coming down on the boy who with a real swift motion grabbed something from his back and use it to block the blade.
A sound of metal clanking is heard, then with a gasp, all the girls on the boat were greeted with an unusual vision: the boy had stopped the sword with a hand-made hook he took from the behind of his pants where it was dangling from the beginning.
The sword rattled a bit against the hook which prevents the blade to go further. Lincoln could feel the superior strength of the girl attacking him. Too weak to maintain the blade he suddenly pushes the sword out of the grip of his 'weapon' making the girl stumbles and steps backward her original position near the chest.
"Attacking when the opponent doesn't have his attention on the fight. Only a real pirate would do something like that," retorted Lincoln with a cocky smile
Pointing the sword towards him she replies "Don't dare to say that I'm the pirate when you smuggle your way on a boat and stole its goods, beaver boy," she replied with a great sourness in her voice.
"Well girls I think it's time we call this party up, we tie this rat and wait for the return of the captain who 'll decide of the appropriate punishment, right?" The bucked tooth girl offered to her companions
"Are you sure Luan? Because my watch says it's half 11", surprisingly said the tall blonde while looking at a pocket watch she just got from her chest.
'How can she keeps something like this in the-WAIT SHE SAID HALF 11 !? THE CAPTAIN IS AT THE BAR ONLY UNTIL NOON! I'M LATE! AND THIS IS MY ONLY CHANCE TO GET OUT OF HERE!' Thought in a panic the trapped boy. 'I must think of something and quick!' Now rapidly checking his environment for a way out: a loose rope was dangling in the wind at his left 'Could I use it? no too high.' He took a step back to look at the sea behind him 'Swim maybe? Nah coming wet to a recruitment is not a way to introduce you to a captain and that would take too much time.' Then his vision led him to the side of the ship where he saw 3 canons holes opened and the one in the middle didn't have his canon in. He had found his way out or IN, in this case.
"What you're doing?Wondering if you sink well?" Asked the glaring woman with her sword still aiming for the 'smuggler'
"A vrai dire , mesdemoiselles, oui !" Replied the boy with a newfound confidence and grin while returning his gaze to the group of women.
(In fact, ladies, yes !)
Dumbfounded by his change of behavior (and mostly because they didn't understand what he said) the girls watched him climb backward the edge of the ship before jumping while looking at them. All of them ran to the rim of the boat hearing no ploof from the water. Seeing no one resurface the women could only question themselves "Where did he go?"
"Do you think, like, he was a ghost?" Asked the now scared Leni
"Ghosts don't eat fruits, Leni." Answer the searching Luan, aware of any movement she could see at the water surface. "And even if it was one it couldn't have blocked the sword of Lynn: it would have gone through him."
"Maybe Lynn wasn't strong enough to go through him?"
"ARE YOU SAYING THAT I'M WEAKER THAN A STUPID AND DISGUSTING MA-"
A sound of metal rattling on wood caught their attention to the side of the boat where their sight meet what seemed to be a glimpse of the hook of the almost said man going into one of the gunports.
"AH! He's way more idiot than he looks! He trapped himself! Let's go get him." Commanded victoriously Lynn to her feminine fellows who just followed her as she descended in the gundeck. Once here, nobody. Only the six canons with each their own barrel of powder at their side were present.
"Now I'm sure it's a ghost and it's haunting us!" Cried the now terrified Leni at the sight of a lifeless deck.
"And I'm sure all he wants is to lift up our spirits up. Ah!Ah! Get it?"
"Would you both shut up a bit?! We need to find him so I can cut his little ass." Then turning to the little twins she ordered "Lola, Lana I want you both to check the sides of the deck."
"I take the right!" Lana said
"Then I take the left!" Responded Lola.
"Leni, Luan I want you to check the barrels." Commanded Lynn to the other girl
"If you want, Tiny Lori." luan replied, annoyed by her attitude before going followed by the nod of Leni
All of them go for their duty while Lynn was crossing the deck to check the other side of the place for the escaped boy. But during all this time, the boy watched the whole scene from behind a cannonball filled concrete in a dark corner. After all the girls moved away from the stair which led to the exterior of the boat he moved closer to it the stealthiest way as possible. When he reached it, he kept his pace while sometimes glancing in the direction of the girls to see if they noticed or heard him. They didn't seem to.
Once outside he searched for something heavy and spotted the chest where in which he 'made his way on board'. He pushed it until it was near the entrance of the gundeck "That won't be enough… " He muttered to himself. He spotted another chest but this time filed with woman clothes, it had enough in it to make it super heavy. He pushed it next to the other one and prepared himself.
He closed to shut the hold which led toward the gundeck, stepped on it and pulled the first chest on it quickly got behind the second and pushed it until it was in contact with the first one. He heard the door tried to be opened with loud thumps, but in vain.
"I would have stayed longer but I have an appointment to attempt. But you can always remember this as the day where you almost caught Lincoln Loud. Now if you excuse me," said proudly the boy to the closed hold. He then walked out of the ship to find again the shore of the port. Glancing at the ship one last time to at least see if he had recognized it. And he guessed right, it was a Sloop: boat strong despite their little size and well known for their speed even without winds.
"Stop the daydreaming for today. I must meet this captain McCory if I want to have a place in his crew," and on this though, he left and went to the bar on the docks.
Running on the way to the docks bar, Lincoln repeated himself all of his achievement made so far and skills gained during his life. Anxious and excited to meet this captain who could bring him on the sea maybe on an adventure: It wasn't an opportunity he would dare miss.
Passing by the stales of the marketplace he realized that he'll have to pass in front of the familial fishing shop, in front of his house. He began to slow his pace now hesitating to keep following his road or cut by passing in town :If he passed in front of the store he would probably face his dad and he didn't really want that after the last night but cutting by the town would just lead to a longer road he'd probably lose time. He didn't want the latter so he opted for the first choice. A feeling of guilt passed through him at the memory of their ordeal: being angry at their parents for not letting you they choose who you wanted to be was normal but shooting at them and disappear the following day was not.
Now walking he starts to think, "They didn't ask for that but they don't care about my feelings so… is that right ?" he sighed, "I don't know… I should have got used to it now, they always refused to let me sail. When I was younger I understand but now I'm 17, I'm not a child anymore.»
Now, the sight of the store begins to appear before Lincoln. Hopefully, the first floor didn't have windows so if someone was in he could pass peacefully but the second has a window which led to the dining room.
"I'll just pass below it." thought Lincoln with a bit of shame. It reminded him of when he didn't want to work at the store, he planned to go see if someone in town needed as an excuse and furthermore he could always gain something from it: some pounds to add to his savings or a new skill.
He moved in the shadow formed in front of the store and pass by, took a last glance at the window and continued on his path.
Later, he finally arrived at the front of 'the drunken clam', a bar where all the sailors who just accosted could come and forget their misfortune on the sea. Or for some spend some of their new fortunes in beer, rum and all other sorts of alcohol the barman would accept to sell.
When he pushed the doors he was greeted with the sight of a filled establishment: all the tables were taken by sailors from merchant ships a bit of smoke was at the ceiling created by some cigars which were smoked in every corner of the bar. Music was heard in the background, played by locals musicians but oddly this song seemed more energetic almost alien to the boy, but he couldn't deny that it was really good: You could tell that the player was putting so much energy and passion into it, "Maybe one of the clients decided to play while they're on the lands."
Many girls in uniforms were running from every table, they were called the 'pearls' of the bar: with their uniforms consisting of a white skirt and apron, and a green blouse. Some were carrying plates with different assert of drinks in it and others carried empty plates to the counter where all the bottles were slowly but surely emptied.
One of the busy barmaids stopped dead in her tracks when she noticed Lincoln standing in the doorway. She was wearing her attire like the others and had short black hair with a hairband in. She showed a big smile and called him, "Hey Lincoln! I didn't know you were working today! You're taking a shift?" then flashing a sly grin and narrowing her eyes "Or are you here to consume for once?"
"Velia I already told you, I'm not old enough to buy rum besides before that I must become a true sailor." Said proudly the boy putting his fists on his hips and sticking out his chest.
All the maid could do was giggling at the sight, "You're just too cute sometimes. Aaah! How come you still didn't find a girl for you?"
The face of Lincoln flushed with an embarrassment and his body returned to his normal composure. This subject has always been a troublesome one: during his lifetime, he felt attracted to girls his age, or sometimes older girls. He loved them, he was sure of it but all the girls he knew had something he wasn't looking for or didn't have this something he was looking for. He himself didn't know what he was looking for. So that's why he had never been with someone because he didn't know what qualities or flaws he wanted to find.
"Anyway, what's bringing you here today, sweetie?"
Regaining his composure he answered, "I-I'm looking for a captain who is searching for new crewmembers and I was told he'd be here you know where I can find him?"
"Oh!An opportunity to sail and you didn't want to miss it, uh? Well, sorry sweetie, but I don't know where he is and I'm too busy to help you but you can always ask his friend. He's the one actually playing with the group right now."
"Really? Thanks, Velia", Men from the seas were really something else.
"No problems and good luck, Linc."
After this little encounter, Lincoln made his way to the corner where the group of musician practiced and given his atmosphere to the establishment. But like he noticed earlier the music was not the same: it has something new, something… rocking? He didn't know why but this word without any meaning transposed perfectly the feeling the music was giving.
He stopped after passing some occupied chairs in front of the musician group. Normally they were four: one who played tabor, the second played mandolin and the third and fourth played guitar and violin. However another person was in the group this time, a stranger which seemed to bring the..what already ?..rocking feeling in them.
It seemed that they had finished the last song as they were acclaimed by the public with some claps and even the musicians were facing the public except the new one who seemed to be adjusting their guitar.
The stranger suddenly turned and shouts with a raspy voice and a very distinguishable British accent "THANK YOU ROYAL WOODS!WOOHOO!"
Now approaching the group Lincoln could distinct this person was a woman: She wears a black purple coat, black jeans with a big leather belt. A lighter purple shirt under the coat which clung to the shape of her chest. That's when his eyes saw it, he realized it was a woman. Mainly because of her short brown hair it was difficult to say.
"Do all girls want to look like men now? Sheesh, I think I'll just never understand them." Lincoln thought while shaking his head
"DO SOME OF YOU WANT AN ENCORE?"
Some in the public shooted back that they wanted another song.
"Ok!Ok!Now we all know that after many days of sailing there is nothing best than a good drink, am I right ?"
They cheered back to her as an answer
"OW YEAH! And you're lucky today because I remember a good song about how good a glass of rum and beer can be."
After this, she began a solo to set the rhythm to her companion. Everyone started to figure out what song she was talking about, even Lincoln did: She was going to sing a pirate's song.
At first, some men in the crowd started to feel unsure about it, it wasn't really forbidden but thinking about pirates could bring bad luck, that was what Lincoln's parents always told him about the pirate: They all were heartless monster who were just wandering in the sea, waiting for a poor fool to fall into their trap and take all their property and even, take out the soul of their body. Maybe the last part was just overstatement but this is always a good way to prevent a child to go on the sea.
Lincoln couldn't help but smirk at this though.
After one minute, the other musician began playing and she started to sing.
Piracy's a crime and crime doesn't pay,
And we go home poor at the end of the day.
But I'd rather live my life in rags
Than be taped to a desk with a wife that's a hag.
We live each day like there's nothing to lose,
But a man has needs and that need is booze.
They say all the best things in life are free
So give all your beer and your rum to me.
We are here to drink your beer
And steal your rum at the point of a gun
Your alcohol to us will fall '
Cause we are here to drink your beer
Drink!Drink!
Led by the music some clients shouted with the singer as she suddenly jumped on a near table close to Lincoln, causing him to flinch a bit. And now he watched in awe the woman playing and singing above him.
Drink !Drink !Drink !
We sailed overseas for Wenches and Mead
And told great tales of The Huntmaster's deeds
The quest for a drop of the Famous Ol' Spiced
Has shown us the wrath of Leviathan's bites.
Catching a glance at her crowd listening and singing with her made her sing louder and rocking her head back and forth. But her movements stopped when her gaze felt on Lincoln who was watching her silently at her feet as she was standing up on a table. Who suddenly felt embarrassed at first but then tried singing the lyrics with her. Which her made smile even more as she kept singing.
We went Back Through Time to get more Rum
Though we end up Shipwrecked having no fun
But Big Bad Pirates we must be
So give all your beer and your rum to me.
We are here to drink your beer
And steal your rum at the point of a gun
Your alcohol to us will fall '
Cause we are here to drink your beer
Drink!Drink!Drink!Drink!
Now we could swear that all the occupants, that meant the drinkers, the maids, and even the busy barman, in the bar were standing up, drinks in their hands shouting, singing in unison
DRINK!DRINK!DRINK!DRINK!
She stopped singing and playing, now panting as she watched the whole bar cheering and acclaiming her.
"THANK YOU AGAIN!THAT'S ALL FOR ME TODAY! YOU WERE GREAT!"
She saluted her public and group one last time before Jumping of the table and turning then pointing her finger to a startled Lincoln
"And you! You, mate! Why didn't you sing earlier?You have a sweet voice for a lad!"
The face of Lincoln flushed red from the compliment "Th-Thank you miss, you have a nice voice too."
By his reaction, the woman could only laugh at the sight of the cute and embarrassed boy in front of her. And polite on top of that.
Lincoln suddenly remember why he was here in the first place, so after regaining his composure and a normal shade of face he asks "Hm, miss do you actually know where I can find the companion of the captain McCory? I heard he was here but I didn't see him play."
"Oh, in this case, it's your lucky day because you're asking the good person, Love. She is in front of you: Luna, first mate of the Medusa crew, at your service," she answered, bowing before him and now holding her guitar with her left hand.
"Wait! Is a woman the first mate of a crew?" Was the only answer the surprised boy could mutter.
"Your reaction is totally normal, Love. So why do you need to see the captain?" She asked while standing up
"Well, I heard that your captain is looking for new members so I thought about taking the chance."
Her smile suddenly disappeared, leaving only a worried frown, "Oh!Are you sure about this, boy? Because I don't want to disappoint you but let's say that the captain is a bit selective about the choice of the crewmates."
"Don't worry about me I got plenty of skills that can be useful and I know some things about navigation too."
"I don't really know," responded Luna after bringing her hand to her neck.
"Please!" It was his only chance and he didn't want to miss it,"I'll do anything to be in, even if its temporary!"
Then she thought in silence for ten seconds. She broke the silence by answering, "We can always give it a try…" Lincoln suddenly put his fists in the air and wanted to shoot in victory but is stopped by Luna who has put her finger to his lips for shutting him, "BUT! Remember I'm not promising anything! I can bring you to the captain and try to blow your own trumpet but you'll have to make the remaining of the negotiations!Understood?"
"YES! THANK YOU SO MUCH LUNA!I OWE YOU ONE !" said Lincoln with surely the biggest smile he had done in his life.
"He's going to be eaten alive… Let's hope she is in good mood now..." thought Luna before starting to leave followed closely by an excited and hopeful Lincoln.
The song is Drink by Alestorm. All the rights belong to them