Author's Note: Sorry for the wait! I re-wrote so much of this so many times...Ugh. XD...Hope you like it though! and ty for the reviews :3
Later that same evening.
"He still refused. I offer myself as an addition to his crew for free, and he still refused! The man is impossible!" Marie paced back and forth in Eleanor's office, waving her hands as she ranted. At the last part she spun around to stare exasperated at the other woman. "I mean...Come on." She sat down in a huff, blowing a strand of hair from her face. Eleanor smiled slightly, and shook her head.
"I did try and warn you. What would you have me do?"
"Heeelp me. I almost gave up, but I refuse to. How dare he deny me even the chance."
"Marie, you are asking one of the strongest pirate captains on this island to take you, an inexperienced, young, unruly girl into his crew without any knowledge about you. No, let me rephrase that. You are demanding that he do it."
"When you say it that way it sounds pretty bad...But, Eleanor, I have to get on his crew. It's the only way to finish this one job.." Eleanor sighed heavily, and leaned back in her chair.
"What is your job this time?"
"Ah, I'm not allowed to say.."
"Then how am I to help you?"
"Just...trust me, ok? I never take a job without good reason. So, please trust me." Eleanor stared at her for a moment before shaking her head slightly.
"Fine. We'll have it your way. I still don't know what you want me to do, though." Marie stood up, and grabbed her cloak.
"I know you'll think of something. Now, I'm going to have a drink well I think...Oh and, don't tell anyone percisely who I am just yet, please." With that, Marie slipped out the doors, closing them softly behind her. Eleanor cast a glance at Marie's untouched glass as she stood, and raised an eyebrow slightly. She shrugged, looking longly out the window for a moment before walking to the doors.
Opening them, she stared out into her tavern, scanning the crowd. She watched Marie find a small table, then spotted Captain Vane himself making his way towards her. She narrowed her eyes slightly, then realized that this could work to the advantage of Marie, and in turn, herself.
"Alright, Marie..." She whispered softly. "I'll trust you...But you'll have to trust me too..."
Marie leaned back in her seat after securing herself a drink, and took a tentative sip. A shuddered passed through as she blinked, then gave the liquid in her mug a distrusted look. What the hell was this stuff? She sniffed the contents of her glass, and after a few moments of thought decided it probably wouldn't kill her. She took another swig.
"God..." She muttered at it. "Nothing like the brandy from back home..." But it would suffice. Perhaps, given time, she'd grow to like this stuff. For now, she'd merely tolerate it as a way to get her thoughts moving again.
How's drinking going to help you come up with an idea? A small voice whispered in the back of her mind.
It might not, but all my bett-...funner ideas come from a bottle! She smiled sightly to herself, and without thinking about it, downed the rest of her mug in one go. Damn it! She coughed, and shook her head before ordering a refill.
Captain Vane strolled from Eleanor's office and stopped for a moment, scanning the crowd for her. He had a few questions for her, though it wouldn't change his mind. She didn't belong in this world. Especially not if he had a say in it. After looking around again, and still not spotting her, he growled something under his breath about Eleanor.
Getting a drink my ass...
He spotted Jack and Anne 'enjoying' a couple drinks together. Vane couldn't tell if they were actually enjoying the drinks, or eachother's company for that matter. Hell, he never could. Heading over to them, he lit the cigar he rolled well talking to that woman.
"Jack, Anne..." He took a drag from his smoke, casting another glance around in case he missed her.
"Ah, Captain! Uh...Is there anything you need...?" Jack looked up at him, clearly startled by the sudden appearance of his captain. He apparently hadn't expected to see him, or at least had hoped to avoid him until they set sail. Vane blew smoke from between his lips slowly, and sighed.
"Have you seen a short girl with russet hair anytime recently? Not one of the girls from next door." Jack squinted his eyes slightly as he glanced around, confused and trying to remember.
"She left a few minutes ago with some men." Anne said, her tone void of almost all emotion. She took a drink from her mug well Jack looked at her like 'how the fuck did you know that?' Vane just turned and headed for the door, taking another drag from the cigar.
Stupid fucking girl...
Leaving the tavern, he stopped for a moment, listening for anything that'd give him a clue to where she was. Not hearing anything, especially due to the noise from the people enjoying themselves all around, he headed off down the street in one direction. Vane had no idea if she actually went this way, but hell, anything was worth a shot. As he passed a small alley in between buildings, he stopped, hearing voices.
"I really have to get to my room now, so if you don't mind, I'll just be go-"
"Not so fast, you ain't going anywhere~" The man's gruff voice lilted up in an attempt to sound...Who knows what the fuck he was trying to do...Vane stepped to the entrance of the alley, glancing to the people in it.
Sure enough, there was Marie, backed against a wall. Vane assumed the man leaning in way too close to her, one arm above her head, was the man who had spoken. He took another drag on his cigar, glancing beyond the man to the other two, and mentally addressed the scene for a moment. It would be no issue to simply beat the shit out of the men, however he doubt the girl would stay out of the way... As he blew the smoke from his parted lips, Marie took matters into her own hands.
With a smile that suited a saint, the girl grabbed the man's shoulder, and yanked him down. She brought her knee up into his stomach, then rammed the elbow of her other arm right between his shoulder blades. Using the force of the elbow-ramming, she knocked him to the side and thus the ground. The other two men started, and Vane raised both eyebrows slightly before strolling into the alley.
"why you...little..." One of the men lunged for her, and Marie darted to the side, going to kick him. Before her foot could connect, the other man got a hold on her and slammed her into a wall. The first man was pushing himself up, still gasping for air, when Vane reached him. Not saying a word, he kicked the man in the head, knocking him out. Well Marie attempted to escape her captor, Vane punched the man she had failed to kick. The man fell back into a wall, and pushed himself way, turning to face Vane.
Vane took a last drag from the cigar as the man went to hit him. He grunted as the fist connected with his chest.
"..." Grabbing the man by the front of his shirt, he threw him to the ground and stomped his foot right into his stomach. Vane then glanced towards Marie and the last man as a cry of pain reached his ears. The man stumbled back from the girl, clutching his shoulder. The dirty shirt was already turning red, and Marie spit some blood from her mouth onto the ground. She had bitten the man...hard enough to break the skin through his shirt. While he had been dealing with the other guy, and finishing the smoke, the man had taken the liberty of ruining the girl's clothes. Her shirt was ripped open, and she pulled her cloak around herself, giving the man a look that could kill.
She's a fucking child!
Feeling something snap, Vane lunged for the man, and slammed him into a wall. Grabbing him by the throat, he lifted him off the ground and punched him the face. There was a rather satisfying crunch as he broke his nose, and he punched him again, and again. The man struggled, trying to free himself from Vane's grip, and the Captain punched him again.
"Charles! Enough!" He felt a hand on his arm as he pulled it back to punch him again. "Theres no reason to kill him!" Vane glared down at the girl, and she glared defiantly back up at him.
"This doesn't concern you." The man he was choking made gasping sounds, his struggles becoming weaker.
"To hell it doesn't! Release him this instant! I think your message was pretty fucking clear!"
Her tone was that of a mother lecturing an unruly child. He stared down at her a moment, then threw the man to the ground. Then, as if to show his decision had nothing to do with her, he kicked the man. "Charles!"
Vane turned, and grabbed her by the arm, hauling her from the alley. She struggled for a moment, informing him haughtily that he was being much too rough with her, all things considered. Ignoring her and her insistent complaints, he headed down the street towards the beach.
"God damnit..." Marie scowled and bit his hand, though not hard enough to break the skin. "Listen to me-" Vane turned, yanking her around infront of him, and slammed her into a wall, pinning her there. Some drunken passerbys glanced at them, but otherwise paid them no mind.
"Listen here, girl...I just saved your li-"
"You saved me? I had it under control! I didn't need your-" He grabbed her chin roughly, shutting her up for a moment.
"Don't interupt me again." Vane growled at her, blue eyes blazing. Marie glared right back, her own golden ones burning with her anger towards him. "I might not take to it so kindly as I am today." he let go of her chin, and she responded by spitting into his face.
Charles blinked,then raised his hand to slap her. Before he did though, a mental image of her popped up. Sitting next to him, grinning up at him like a fool. He faltered, and scowled, shoving away from her. Marie blinked, then readjusted her cloak again, wondering what would happen next. Charles wiped his face with one hand.
"...Sorry..." Marie muttered, glancing away from him. He didn't say anything for a moment, debating something. There was no way he could take her...He couldn't leave her either... Vane's mind flickered back to his conversation with Eleanor for a moment, then he just sighed, starting to walk away.
"I expect you ready to sail and at the camp by dawn..."
Marie could just stare after the man, eyes widening to saucers. He didn't glance back, didn't even bothered to check that she had heard him. Just strolled away.
He almost hit me! A voice suddenly screamed in her head. And I spit in his face! Why the hell did I do that?! Ugh, whatever...I didn't need his help though! I could have easily taken all three of them...But...
A huge goofy grin spread across her face. She raced down the street towards the inn where her room was.
Dawn! I need sleep...But YES! I'm going to show that fucking bastard just what I can do!
She didn't even stop to think about what changed his mind.