Leather boots tapped the floor in a trying rhythm as they circled her.
Emotionless eyes appraised her.
Tap tap tap, round and round like a vulture circling its prey.
Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap.
The pirate groaned, very annoyed, and she rested her hands on her hips, rolling her golden eyes, before snapping, "Will ya quit that? Yer makin' me dizzy!"
The boots stopped, and their owner, scowling though he was, laughed, "You always were a little spitfire. I see that hasn't changed."
"'Course not." Virid snorted, folding her arms, "Not much has."
"Not much?" Kon's laugh was derisive now, "I'd say quite a lot haschanged since we last saw each other, my dear girl."
"Don't call me that, I always hated it," she barked, turning her head sharply to the side. "Yer wrong. Next te nothin' has changed."
Kon raised his eyebrows questioningly, "Enlighten me, I beg of you."
Virid crossed her arms. She appeared to consider the man before for a moment. "I'm still Virid the Slippery, Kon. I'm still the girl you raised to be by your side."
"Pardon me," Kon interrupted, gaze cold, drawl terse, "But I don't care for such lies. You betrayed me, turned on me, threw me overboard. Quite literally."
"I'd just found out ye killed me parents! What did ye expect?" She growled, to which he waved his hands dismissively.
"If you were a real pirate–"
"I am a real pirate, Kon, do not even go there."
"Hmph. And, now, back to our last meeting." He curled his lip. "I am certain you remember it well. I believe it was the one in which you attacked my ship, took my prisoners, and then, ha, proceeded to join forces with them, become an Order member, no less than right-hand woman to its leader, and wage war against me, yes?"
The black-haired pirate unfolded her arms. Wow. She really didn't expect him to be this thick. "Don't tell me you've fallen for me little charade too, Kon?" She said after a moment.
He raised his eyebrows again, beckoning her to continue.
Virid laughed, a malicious glint in her amber eyes, "Am I that good an actress? I am no Order member, Kon. Anyone who really knew me, woulda known I'd have nothin' te do with them lily-livered peacemakers. I am Queen o' the Pirates, the lass o' lies, Virid the Slippery."
"D'you expect me to believe that?" The man snorted, "What do you take me for, a fool?"
"By the contrary, yer only a fool if ye believe fer a second that I've changed at all."
Kon frowned. "Explain yourself, now. Enough games. This is an order."
Golden eyes hardened, and a small hand pushed up the sleeve of her white shirt, revealing a tattoo on her upper right bicep. "Ye remember this?" She asked softly, voice a cat's hiss.
It was a rose, red and gorgeous in full bloom. However, it had a dagger driven directly through it.
"I got this after I helped ye raid a ship. I killed dozens o' men over thrice me age then." She brushed a few fingers over it," The dagger through the rose repr'sents ruthlessness. The willingness, the stomach, te kill even somethin' as pure and delicate as a rose." She looked up at him, smirking, "This should be explanation enough. It's right here, for all te see, me heartlessness, me power. No Order member could live with this mark. A pirate am I."
Kon held up his own wrist, where the very same tattoo was marked, and curiously,"So, Hiccup–"
"Is a foolhardy boy who's too forgivin' for his own good. He gets his thick head into business he shouldn't. He's a trustin', glorified pest, and I can help ye get rid o' him."
"So, the four years with him, were you getting information?"
"Keep yer allies close, and yer enemies closer. Ye taught me that," Virid shrugged, "I realized sometime after I 'betrayed' ye, that it was the stupidest thing I'd ever done. Blargh, don't make me say that ever again. I got somethin' on him, too." she added, running a hand through her hair.
"Really, now?" Kon asked, smirk sliding into his face, looking rather pleased at hearing this.
"I'm not sayin' I forgive ye for what ye did. I never will. But I can... Overlook it. Ye are me captain. Not Hiccup. Not anyone else. Ye raised me, ye made me who I am." Virid said solidly, folding her arms once more.
"I see. Now this... information?"
"There's a girl, Kon. A pretty, terrifying girl, who Hiccup is hopelessly in love with."
The silence was agonizing, and for a moment Virid thought that she was going to be tossed in the brig and left never to see the light of day again.
Until Kon spoke. Well, yelled.
"Heather!"
The young woman bustled into the room, "Master?" She asked, dipping her head.
"Take my first mate and get her some new clothes. Something to show off that tattoo of hers."
Heather looked positively aghast, whipping her head up, before collecting herself, "Yes, Master Kon,"
"Then take her to our finest cabin. It's hers now. You will address her as Mistress Virid–"
"If I may, Captain?" The girl but in, tilted her curly black head innocently, though the devilish glint was still in her eyes. "But it's Queen Virid."
"My, my, audacious little friend, you do aim high. Very well. Queen, then."
Heather bowed, "Yes, Master. Please follow me Queen Virid."
Virid smirked, making to do just that when Kon called her back.
"Aye, Captain?"
"I do hope you remember who's side you're on." Kon said comfortably.
The threat behind his words was clear.
"Aye, aye, sir." The girl saluted, before slinking out.
Virid grinned at how Heather couldn't even meet her eyes, and absentmindedly ran a finger along the scar on her cheek.
Later that night, in her new quarters, she sat in front of the polished oak vanity, stolen she knew, wearing a silk nightdress that was too fancy for her taste. Also stolen, obviously.
Kon needn't've worried.
That little red slash was a permanent reminder of who's side she was on.
She sung a tune under her breath as she undid her handkerchief, "This game is dangerous... Can't trust a single one o' us... Dirty liars, filthy tricksters... Oh, yo ho, a pirate am I."