Disclaimer: IOOMOC
J.L.: Sorry for the sudden lack of updates this week, sinus infections are the worst. Also, I will be reformatting my computer, so until I get everything back up and running (My games, My webcomics, the such...) it might be a while before I update. Like, another week. Anyways, here you are.
Chris
The 30th came sooner than expected and I found myself among both new and familiar faces. Naturally, most of the crew from last year was there, the exception being Rebecca. A couple of the guys that I had met at the bar were working with us now, namely Bruce and Carlos. A new guy altogether named Billy was quickly becoming a close friend of mine, and was currently helping me haul wood to the docks.
"Damn! Chris, it's that woman you left the bar with!" Carlos called out.
"What is he going on about?" Billy asked. I looked over and saw Jill talking with Barry over a sketch laid flat on a make shift table. Her eyes flicked up briefly, catching my own, and then shot back down to the blueprints. She was trying to avoid me and had been successful since the day in her office.
"Hey Chris, was she any good? She looks like a fun lay." Carlos continued on.
"I wouldn't know." I said firmly and dropped the wood before turning back to grab more. Carlos and Billy followed me to the warehouse, not another word was to be mentioned. At least, I had hoped not a word would be but Carlos was not the sort of man that would let things drop.
"What do you mean you wouldn't know? I saw you two up at the bar. Five minutes and you were gone. Now either you disappointed her or you do not want to share." Carlos challenged. I let my fist fly, a strong right hook aimed at his left eye. Carlos stumbled back, clutching his eye and swearing as much as any sailor.
"What the hell was that about?" Billy asked. I locked eyes with him, daring him to say anything.
"That woman is First Mate Valentine. I spent nine months sailing with her, treating her like any other sailor. We've washed the decks, fought pirates and buried a few good men at sea like a real crew and I will not have you slandering her name as if she was any wench. Especially since she is betrothed to the Duke, and could have your head on a platter if she so desired. You will treat her with respect and you will not question her morals, am I understood?" I roared. Billy nodded and Carlos nodded as well. With that out of the way, the three of us grabbed the next batch of wood and made our way back. As soon as we set the wood down, Jill walked over to Carlos.
"Chin up Mr. Oliveira." She demanded and Carlos obliged. The eye was already bruising.
"A plank slipped and caught me ma'am." Carlos lied. Jill studied him, and then looked over at Billy and myself.
"It's true." Billy lied as well and I nodded along with it, Jill's gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary.
"Take a break and pack some meat on that eye. Mr. Redfield and Mr. Coen will pick up the slack." Jill ordered and walked off, her shoulders tense. Carlos grinned at us and walked off towards the butchers.
"There's a bit more to your story, isn't there?" Billy asked.
"You have no idea." I answered.
Jill
Weeks passed by and soon I was up to my elbows in construction work as well as my wedding planning. Renold was constantly following me around as I barked orders to the crew that was currently working on the Alpha Stream, jotting notes down on ideas that my mother had proposed and my reaction to them. It was one of those busy days that Mr. Oliviera had come in sick from a hangover, forcing me to pick up his slack. Dusk was starting, and I was rushing to finish replacing the deck's planks when Renold came up to me.
"Your mother suggests a purple and gold theme for the colors." Renold reported. I sat back and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"Renold, I am terribly exhausted right now. Please, withhold any more questions about the wedding until tomorrow." I requested. Renold nodded, and continued to stand there.
"My Lady, shall I fetch a carriage for you?" He asked. I looked at the sun just barely toughing the horizon and then looked back at him.
"No. I will be late in returning to the Manor, I have to get these replacement boards on before the rains come in." I replied and Renold nodded, and then scurried off. As I went back to work, I noticed that most of the men were leaving, as they were permitted to do every night at dusk. Two stayed behind, Barry and Chris, both of whom walked up to me.
"Do you need us to stay and help you finish?" Barry asked. I looked around, noticing that while there was a bit more work to do, three people weren't need to complete it before dark.
"Uh...if one if you would stay, that would be fine." I answered. Barry nodded to Chris and walked off. Chris was quick to pick up a hammer and started working. Silence remained until all the boards were in place, the sun a little more than half way sunk. I stood up, dusted myself off and decided to relax against the railing of the ship. As I put my back to the railing, I noticed that Chris had not left yet. My heart lodged itself in my throat, but Chris just smiled and walked up until he was beside me, albeit facing the sunset.
"You really love this company of yours, don't you?" He asked. I relaxed a bit and looked at him.
"Yeah. It's one of the only things I have been able to keep for myself. You going to explain that black eye Carlos got a few weeks ago?" I asked. Chris smirked, his eyes not joining mine.
"Some pretty boy was questioning your chastity." He teased. I blushed a little, the thought of Chris valiantly defending my honor warming me up from the inside. I pushed off the rail and started walking away, but was stopped when a hand grabbed my own. I looked back to see Chris holding my hand, tenderness written brightly on his face.
"What is it?" I inquired, curious as to what exactly Chris wanted. He was smirking at me, his eyes quickly shifting to the doors for the lower decks. Excitement sprang up from inside me and I lead him to the doors, hand held. As soon as the doors were shut again, the two of us raced down the stairs. Chris grabbed me up from behind, planting chaste kisses along my neck and shoulder, partially exposed from the loose fitted shirt I wore.
"Salty." He commented and I laughed a bit, wriggling out of his grip and turning to face him.
"In case you haven't noticed, I did just spend most of the day working." I explained. He pinned me up against the door, wrapping my legs around his waist. The intimacy was causing my heart to race.
"I thought women didn't sweat." He jested.
"You know better. You worked on a ship with me for how long?" I returned. His lips ran along my jaw line, and I reluctantly released a cross between a sigh and a moan. The reward came in the form of a kiss long desired and a bit rough.
"Is there a bed in the captain's quarters?" Chris whispered in my ear as soon as his lips left mine. My heart jumped in surprise.
"T-tonight?" I stammered out. Chris backed away a bit and left me down, but did not release his grip on my body.
"Got anything better to do Lady Jillian?" He teased. I felt my whole body shiver and grow red. I smiled at him, deciding that now was as good a time as any. So I grabbed his hand and led him to the Captain's quarters. As soon as we were inside and the door was shut, his shirt fluttered across the room and slapped against the back wall. I rested my wrists on his shoulders, giggling a little bit as he wrapped his arms around me, easing me back onto the bed.
Chris
I awoke to the sounds of seagulls cawing in the morning, Jill snuggled up against me. Recalling the night's events, I kissed her exposed shoulder. She stirred next to me slightly.
"Morning." I bid. Her hand came to her eyes and wiped them open. She then looked up at me and smiled sweetly.
"Good morning." She replied, her fingertips walking across my chest.
"Well? Feel any different?" I asked.
"Maybe…how is my Cavalier servente?" She asked. I froze up a little.
"Cavalier servente? Haven't I convinced you to be my wife?" I asked. She stiffened and sat up, the covers falling from her.
"Christopher…we've discussed this." She replied. It was my turn to sit up.
"Jillian, you can't be serious. You're really going to marry the Duke?" I asked. Her mouth fell open slightly.
"Did I give any pause to that decision?" She questioned, her tone starting to dip into dangerous portions.
"I thought I could convince you otherwise. That's why I brought you here." I responded. Hurt flashed across her face and she stood up to gather her various articles of clothing.
"I am going to marry the Duke. That has always been a constant. I-I thought you were agreeing to…Chris! You have to either accept being my lover or…or we part ways." She said, the truth out there in the open like a skeleton being dragged out of the closet.
"I will only have you as my wife." I refuted. Her lower lip started quivering but she kept herself together as she starting pulling her clothes back on.
"I can't be your wife." She finalized. I sat still, watching her tug on her pants.
"Why not?" I challenged, my anger starting to boil.
"I thought I had explained this to you! It is an arranged marriage by my father's will! If I do not accept this, then this town will not grow, and my family will lose everything." She protested.
"So your fortune is worth more than your heart?" I dared. She yanked her shirt down and pointed at me, her eyes an ice blue fire.
"You and I are from different worlds! Do you know how much I have spent on this company, on the last four years looking for my dead brother? If I back out of this wedding, I lose everything! Company, Home…I would have to pay every cent back. That money was allotted so that I could look for my brother to award him his portion, all up front. It states in my father's will that I am to marry Duke Spencer or I am to be exiled from the family. Do you have any notion of what that means? Running off and eloping with you would be a temporary solution, but it wouldn't be long before the proprietors of my father's estate to find me. That is why I have to marry the Duke, to fulfill my father's will. Now, I will ask you again and this time with that understanding, be my lover or part ways now?" She roared. My heart was cracking; the knowledge of never being able to have her to myself, knowing that she would call another man her husband propelling my anger.
"Goodbye, Lady Spencer." I answered. Tears burned in her eyes, but she turned heel and strode off before a single one could fall. I fell back on the bed, my hand clutching my head as waves of anger and regret poured over me more than any violent storm out at sea could.
J.L.: Sometimes, the principal of the matter is what is important, and that is why people still make stupid mistakes even if they know the consequences and outcomes of their actions. Pride's a dangerous motive.