Strange Colour Blue
"The sea is a cruel mistress, son. You will learn to love and hate her like a wife."
"Beat to Quaaarters!" exclaimed the Midshipman as the various sailors rushed and scurried about positions. Adelint and Fay swiped the tabled clean and arranged the array of surgical tools, announcing they were ready. They had done this exercise at least four times and frankly, it was getting dull.
"Mister Remmington!" came the booming voice of the Captain from atop his proud throne, the poopdeck. "You were meant to do this in FIVE minutes!" he said in a scolding manner, his thick brows furrowing, causing the midshipman to lower his head. "Yet you did it in 4.30!" Hawkins smiled proudly, earning the cheers of the entire crew that assaulted the Midshipman with encouraging claps on the back.
"Extra ration of grog for everyone!" Hawkins announced, descending from the poopdeck, followed closely by his eerily and stoically silent Lieutenant. "MY tea, mister Gavin" announced Hawkins as he tucked his hat under his arm, striding across the maindeck and towards his cabin, looking about proudly. His smile was replaced by a wrinkled nose and a sour expression when he noticed the two females in the corner. A sight he was yet to get accustomed to and would annoy him for a while, he wagered.
His hawkish, scrutinizing eyes landed on her, the rowdy blonde that had turned his precious world upside down in a single day. He watched the way she smiled when talking to his crew, how she beamed when she spoke to her brother or Fay, how she flippantly shoved the stray locks of hay out of her amber eyes. William must have been staring for a while, as he noticed Gavin in front of him, calling his name for what was the third time in a row, a steaming cup of tea presented to him, followed by the baffled gaze of his Lieutenant.
"Your tea, Captain." Said the bald man, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. Hawkins merely nodded and took the cup, sauntering off to his cabin and sparing no more glances to Adelint's direction.
"Light almighty, if looks could kill…" Adelint uttered and raised her brows, snickering fiendishly. Fay and Hephaistos regarded her with a low lidded, borderline mocking gaze. Adelint furrowed her brows, unaware what the conveyed message was.
"What?" she demanded, interrupted by the searing pain in her ribcage, signalling the end of the painkiller's effect. She cursed loudly, her breath hitching as she lurched away of the merry main hall, barging in her cabin and sitting on her bunk, curling and hissing from the intense pain. Bright amber eyes travelled down to the bottles of laudanum and it once more looked ever tempting as the pain amplified with every passing heartbeat.
"Captain! The longboats with the target masts are at the ready!" chirped Remmington with a crisp salute and Hawkins nodded, noting some things down his Captain's Log while toking his cigar. "Very good mister Remmington, carry on with the exercise!" he finished, dropping the quill and squeezing the cigar in the ashtray, following his Midshipman to the Quarterdeck.
BROOOOOAAAA!
The cabin shook as the cannons were fired, the planks of the Defiance moaning in protest; yet she did not care. The bottle of laudanum lay empty, some remaining droplets of the murky liquid being absorbed by the wooden floor. The world begun spinning soon, her senses dulling and her vision blurring as the opium coursed through her veins.
Blonde eyelashes fluttered and a sheepish grin made way to her lips as she slumped against the wall of her small cabin, enjoying the moments of drugged, painless peace.
"FIRE!" sounded dully from above her, followed by the roaring of the cannons that shook the Defiance once more. She did not even flinch at the loud noise anymore, she was in a happy place, her pain in the past and her present a dull reality. Adelint closed her eyes and saw the flutter of crimson curls, the scent of lilies invading her nostrils as she sunk further in the abyss. Those gentle green eyes were looking at her with determination and then she was gone; deep into the endless abyss that was her opium-induced, half-slumber.
"Good work gentlemen!" said Remmington, dipping his chin briefly as he waltzed across the cannon crews that were cleaning their tools, hands locked behind his back. "An extra ration of rum for Mister Wolf and mister Sordelle for excellent performance!" The midshipman smiled briefly, climbing the stairs and saluting his Captain and Lieutenant upon the poopdeck.
Hawkins smiled proudly at his young Midshipman, saluting back at him and sauntering off below deck with Rodgers following suit, merely offering a curt nod of acknowledgement to Remmington, his steely gaze trained forth and lacking every and all emotion.
The men were cheerful below deck, cursing loudly at Gavin and his horrific cooking, which was always a good sign, really. Whoever was defeated enough to accept that rubbery, green excuse of mushed potatoes and the badly cooked meat, was truly a lost cause. Hawkins, Rodgers and Remmington tucked their hats under their arms, making way to the Captain's Cabin, where the customary brandy would take place, marking their day's success.
"Good work this afternoon mister Remmington. You have a long career ahead of you!" said the Captain once the cabin door was shut, pouring three glasses of Brandy. Remmington was positively beaming at the compliment from his superior, while Damian remained neutral, inexpressive and silent, as ever. The midshipman had wondered many times if the man had been lobotomized by accident, but he seemed to perform all other duties just fine…
A loud thump interrupted the customary celebrations and usual banter the officers had in the cabin, everyone's head, even Rodgers', turned to the left, towards the surgeon's cabin, before the two other officers looked quizzically at the Captain. Hawkins' eyes narrowed, nearly throwing sparks towards the source of the noise as he pointedly put his glass down and dismissed his officers, marching out with them and barging into the cabin of the one that dared disturb his peace.
Yet as he slid the door open and stepped in with all intention to bellow something horrible, he found his breath and words caught in his throat when he saw his surgeon in that state. Drugged beyond consciousness, crumpled to a heap of misery on the floor, she clutched onto the aching, stitched wound, eyes fixated on him; wild and afraid. She looked like a wounded animal in this primal, pathetic state and every intention William had of reprimanding her had all but vanished. Instead he helped her to her feet, then before she had time to react, picked her up like the princess bride, storming out of her cabin and back into his quarters they went; and it did not go unnoticed by the crew, nor the cook that locked his gaze on how limp Adelint was.
The good Captain tried lowering the woman on his bed, frowning at her poor state, but then the delirium started and she was kicking and thrashing, cursing in a slurred manner. She yelled something along the lines of "not getting stabbed by another Hawkins" but in the state she was in, holding her down was easy enough. He ran a hand over his hair, before sighing and immobilizing her, glaring directly into those fiery, amber pools with his hawkish eyes. "Miss Sordelle, if I see so much as one LIMB of you moving out of this bed, I will chop it off. Do we have an understanding?" he uttered, the frustration seeping into his tone while he threatened Adelint, who seemed to understand, for she only nodded and lay still, like a scolded child.
William shook his head and grimaced in distaste, thrice-cursing ever accepting women on board – They were all troublesome and it was becoming apparent more and more. He sauntered close to the door, pushing it shut with a gentle shove after looking out briefly, green eyes pausing momentarily as he thought he caught glimpse of someone staring back, but he was far too tired to care.
Gavin stared at the door of the Captain's Quarters close, grimacing with malice and distaste. He had heard her scream and he had heard his reply. He spat in a mug and begun 'cleaning' it with a rag, eyes still trained on the door hatefully. Gavin was a scumbag, he had that much self-awareness, but he was not a scumbag enough to force a woman to his bed; and Light help him if he did not make sure the Captain knew this too.
The trip to the port of debauchery, drugs and spiked alcohol took a few days and William was glad they were finally throwing anchor and deploying the boats. He had missed a good night's sleep on a soft bed, seeing how miss Sordelle and her damned wound were occupying his and he had to make do with a chair. But that was not the only reason he awaited the Bay's port with such glee; they did have the most experienced and pretty courtesans there too. Thoughts like those made him feel twenty again and he adjusted his cravat with a coy, predatorily grin.
"Looking forward to visit the ladies, Captain Hawkins?" came the heavy, Alteraci accent from his bed, Adelint sitting on its edge, legs and arms crossed as she grinned cheekily. At least she had recovered from her wounds, which was good; but that attitude of hers was back and it was not very good. He blinked and stared at her, dumbfounded for a few long moments as green eyes scanned her figure, how her body language communicated she was very uncomfortable, but her eyes challenged him as per.
"Gawking at a lady like this, is not very polite, Captain." Came the hoarse voice again and that coy smirk he wished he could wipe off her features. But he was William Hawkins and Light damn him, if he could not handle a cheeky woman. He cleared his throat and perked a brow, looking at her in the most derogatory manner he could muster;
"Well indeed it is not, miss Sordelle. But it is a good thing you are nothing close to a lady, no?" he uttered in a honeyed tone, tongue dripping poison as it were. That was all it took, frankly, Adelint's expression distorted to a scowl and she stormed off his cabin with heavy steps, leaving the door ajar and the Hawk of a Captain satisfied with himself.
"And do close the door behind you miss Sordelle! Unless you were not taught that either!" he called out and huffed in amusement and satisfaction, giving one last glace to his reflection on the mirror and then sauntering off, surfacing to the Quarterdeck.
The abundance of sailors saluted their Captain as he stood on the Poopdeck, joining his hands behind his back and announcing to them;
"Men, you shall be given twenty four hours to do as you please in the port." A series of cheers erupted, to which the Captain smiled. It was so easy to keep men pleased. "You are advised NOT to spend your entire pay on booze and women, for we will be coming back this way, on our way back." He finished and everyone laughed – Everyone but Gavin and Adelint. "Lower the boats and row to the port." He finally ordered and the arduous process of lowering boats and rowing ashore begun. He would be in the port before he knew it, with brandy, cigars and women aplenty, all at his disposal. His musing of happy thoughts was interrupted by the feeling that someone was staring at him, but when he turned, he only saw a flutter of dirty blonde locks, as the surgeon was lowered to a boat. Her distress only made him even more amused, for he had found the button he would press every time she was unbearable – But he spent no more time thinking about a rowdy woman that behaved like a sailor. His darling Lucy awaited him at the port, after all; and it would be a feisty return he'd make to her arms.
Booty bay's only tavern was filled to the brim, as it was expected. Goblins, elves, orcs, trolls, taurens and then there was them, clad in their uniforms of the Royal Navy, wandering about and standing out like sore thumbs. Adelint's amber eyes wandered about as she searched for an empty table. Yet all she found was unfamiliar and unfriendly faces. Fay moved to her side and joined in her search, before they gave up, placed their order and disappeared off to a shady corner table as they always did. Amber and green eyes stared and scrutinized the patrons, until they landed on the boatswain's back; this Kimball O'Hara's back.
Adelint's position shifted and she narrowed her feline shaped eyes, meeting the knowing gaze of her partner in crime. With a silent nod of confirmation, they both already had set their plan in motion. Nobody could know – Nobody could know and remain alive at least. Fay silently stood, chair creaking as she swaggered towards the man with heavy footsteps, hips swaying salaciously with every step and every click of her boots against the wooden floor. She approached the bar's counter, propping an elbow against it and shifting her body in a very inviting manner, free hand propped on her hips. Then came her sultry voice;
"So bosun – Are you going to buy your surgeon's mate a drink?" she questioned, her hand moving from her hip, fingers playing with her rich, ebony curls. The boatswain was like a moth that saw a burning fay-flame. His eyes widened a bit and a wry grin spread across his features as he raked her form with his eyes, tongue darting across the salt-crusted bottom lip of his. He was flying his pretty moth wings directly to the flame that Fay was – And much like fire did, she would give him a slow and agonizing death.
Adelint merely observed from afar, a satisfied, cruel smirk spreading across her thin lips as she watched her friend toy with her prey, like a predator would with a mouse. Her vision was blocked when Gavin sat across of her on the table, slapping two mugs of ale on the old oaken furniture. He wordlessly shoved one towards Adelint, drinking from his own mug. Unlike Fay, Adelint was a horrible people's person – She had no skills in concealing her feelings whatsoever and the distaste spread across her features like moss on a rock.
"What is it Gavin?" she inquired, not even touching the mug of ale, but crossing her arms and legs both, looking at the man beneath half-lidded eyes.
"Och come on Addie! Just drink, damn your eyes, I am tryna be nice, cut the man some slack ey?" Gavin said, a lopsided, sordid grin cutting across his features, giving him this constant, disturbing aura he always carried about him.
She picked up the mug and downed the ale halfway, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, trying to see above Gavin's shoulder at what Fay was doing, but the bald cook intercepted and grabbed her hand. She recoiled in disgust, eyes wide like saucers, silently inquiring what the hells he was doing.
"Look, Addie. We got off on the wrong foot eh? I thought you were another wench when you enlisted, y'know? No hard feelings eh?" he joked, taking a gulp from the cheap ale in his mug. Adelint inwardly sighed and rolled her eyes, giving up on her quest of seeing what Fay was doing, concentrating on the greying cook before her.
"Ah is that so? And what changed your mind on my ethics, Gavin? My pretty eyes?" she said with sarcasm dripping freely from her tongue, earning a coarse laughter from the cook.
"Yer eyes ain't pretty lass, sorry t'break it to you, but you look like a bloody mess, if I am honest." He stated, still half-laughing, but Adelint struggled to find the hilarity. While she was quite pale and admittedly her black circles did her no justice – Perhaps she didn't possess the baby blue, or verdant green eyes others did but… Oh who was she kidding, she looked like a right mess. She could barely even remember the last time she had gotten proper sleep without being drunk out of her mind. 'Good thing you are nothing like a lady, miss Sordelle.' It reverberated through her mind, again and again, as she sunk further into the abyss.
"Arh yer doing the thing again!" Gavin exclaimed, waking her up from the self-loathing trance. "The overthinking thing!" he continues, chugging down what remained from his ale. "Dun' do it girl. Yer might not be like your friend there charmin' the bosun, but you have a spirit eh?" he reassured her, but she merely stared at him blankly, hand tightening about her mug.
"Now tell ol' Gavin, what happened in the Captain's Cabin? Did tha' bastard touch ye?" he asked, his voice lowering and his mood darkening considerably. Adelint blinked and looked at the cook, bewildered.
"What? No, are you crazy?!" she nigh screamed, standing up and making a few heads turn her way.
"Calm down lass, I saw you were drugged outta this world and you were kicking and shrieking for him not to touch ye; I am just makin' sure." Gavin said through his teeth, motioning for her to sit down; surprisingly, she indeed did.
"What's with the sudden interest Gavin? What's with the meals out of my room, why do you even give a crap all of a sudden, what do you want?" Adelint asked, narrowing her eyes and staring at the man warily. Her right hand was still clasping onto her mug, but the left one was hovering over a dagger she always carried with her after the Jyllian incident.
Gavin paused and pursed his lips, leaning closer and lowering his voice, face barely lit from the candle, making him look like a being out of nightmares.
"Ah know what ye did in your previous ship, 'Addie'. Lil' bird called Butch told me, how you chased pirates and gutted 'em one after the other. You ain't no surgeon girl, you are a professional butcher who knows how to cook elixirs, poisons and stitch where she must in order not tae die. Not that I complain, better than an actual butcher or barber for a surgeon." He hissed, his tone nigh threatening, sending chills down Adelint's spine. She glared at him, eyes narrowed to slits as she sneered and caught glimpse of Fay staring directly at them, as if she had sensed the danger.
"Get out of my face Gavin, or some documents about pirates and yourself may surface accidentally." Adelint finally stated, now that she knew she had backup. But her iron resolve broke when Gavin burst into a hysterical, coarse laughter.
"Bahahaha! Gods damn your eyes girl, you are truly a spirited mare, you are!" he exclaimed, wiping a tear of mirth. "I ain't here to threaten you. I hunt pirates, girly, and I know there's one among us. Help me find him, and I will keep it shut." He made a zipping motion to his lips, earning a scowl from Adelint.
She stood up and barged out of the tavern, her face contorted by fury, bright eyes clouded by a stormy frown as she maneuvered across the shady streets and alleys of Booty Bay, images of brutal murder from asphyxiation ruling her head as she killed Gavin and the bosun over and over again. She stopped dead on her tracks as she heard the distinct sound of a woman's excited moans coming from her normal lair. She approached silently, hand clasping about the dagger hanging from her belt, only to be met with the Captain's encounter with some manner of mistress that was currently pushed against a wall with her limbs wrapped about the grandiose Captain Hawkins.
Disgust and rage were not emotions that mixed well, yet there it was, that explosive cocktail, coursing through her veins, scalding her entire being as she stood there and glared, images of horrible manslaughter flashing before her eyes. She would wrap her hands around Gavin's, Kimball's and this woman's neck. She would squeeze, holding until they stopped breathing…
Until their eyes no longer moved and until their faces had turned a delightful, strange color blue.
(I do not own anything recognizable, it is all Blizzard entertainment's property)
