Chapter Seven
Jolene the Piratess
The sun was shining as a lone steamboat putters along, cutting through the calm waters of the Great Sea.
Inside the engine room, Captain Linebeck stared at the map of the Great Sea, occasionally turning around to check the course of the ship and make adjustments as necessary.
The young captain is now eighteen, and the past two years shown on him. His clothes were worn and frayed in some places, with obvious attempts at fixing rips showing. The only piece of article that looked cared after was the navy blue coat the Captain almost always wore when in the waking world but currently rested next to the map. His body was becoming lean from working on the S.S. Linebeck, whether from lifting the heavy boxes or constantly moving around from the navigation map to the helm to other parts of the ship. Dark bags hung underneath his eyes, a testament to the many sleepless nights caused by nightmares in the past years. A goatee and mustache also decorated the captain, in a hopes to make him not look so young.
Linebeck pushes himself away from the table and the map so he wouldn't rip it into pieces in frustration.
"Two years." He mutters to himself. "Two years and not a single whisper of Jolon nor Linette." He swears and pounds the helm.
He glances out the porthole window before walking back to the map to check his course. Noting that he needed to make a starboard turn in order to make it to the little island called "Outset."
He faintly remembered his mother telling him that they lived on the island until Jolon had come back, threatening them. He thought that perhaps Jolon would take Linette there, due to the past connections to the tiny island.
Suddenly, there was the sound of a tremendous crashing of water and Linebeck whirls around, seeing the helm spinning around on it's own and the sky becoming noticeably darker. Linebeck moves to look out the porthole and pales in dread.
A Big Octo had erupted out of the sea. Linebeck hadn't even noticed the ring of seagulls that he had been headed straight for and now the S.S Linebeck was beginning to become sucked in the whirlpool created by the monster. Another ship had also appeared, a pirate-looking ship with a design on the ship's sail that looked oddly familiar but Linebeck couldn't place it in his panicked frame of mind. It too, was being sucked into the whirlpool.
Linebeck rushes over to the helm. He didn't have any kind of weapons to attack the creature so his only option was to try and escape the vortex before his steamboat was sucked in too far. He manages to grab two helm handles and begins to pull them the opposite way. He heard the roar of the other ship's cannons, and explosions when they hit the Octo.
The engine groaned as the steamboat slowly started to make its way out of the whirlpool. Suddenly the pirate ship appeared in the S.S. Linebeck's path, causing Linebeck to veer the other way, panicked, swinging the S.S. Linebeck's path right into the Big Octo.
Linebeck swears as the ship crashes into the Big Octo, sending him crashing to the floor. His head slams against the wood, knocking him out briefly. In his dazed state, he faintly heard the Big Octo roar in pain and black smoke rushed into the room.
The S.S. Linebeck wheezes, shudders then promptly quit, the engine smoking and sparking. The whirlpool quickly disappears, along with the monster's death smoke.
Linebeck pushes himself up with a groan, holding his head. "Well... Not dead. That's a plus." He says, grabbing random parts of the ship to pull himself up. He grimaces when he pulls back his hand to reveal blood on it. He turns to look at his engine smoking and sparking. "I may not be dead, but the S.S. Linebeck sure is." He says.
Linebeck hangs his head, deep in worry. The ship was completely dead and he couldn't fix its massive amount of damage with his pitiful knowledge of fixing a ship. He was miles away from any island, and the only other ship that he's seen in days was the pirate one that was being sucked into the vortex along with him-
Linebeck jerks up his head at the reminder of the pirate ship just as the sound of a gangplank being slid onto his ship occurred. He begins panicking.
"What should I do? What should I do?!" He whimpers. "It's pirates! PIRATES. Can I even hide?" He decides to try and started making his way towards the stairs that lead to the lower levels of the ship. "Those crates are pretty big..."
The door slams open with a shout of "LINEBECK!", causing the captain to scream and jump into the air, collapsing onto the table.
Amused female laughter follows. "Wow, I was going to say that the past four years changed you but I see you're still that same timid fourteen year old that Joanna and I had left behind."
Linebeck's frame relaxes at the female's voice. "Dammit Jolene." He says, getting up to face the twenty one year old with a scowl.
Jolene whinces. "Damn, what the hell happened to you?" She questions, placing her scimitar against her neck.
Linebeck gestures to the engine. "When I rammed the Big Octo, wasn't expecting the whiplash and when I went down banged my head." He gestures to his bleeding wound.
"You're starting to look like a murder victim." Jolene deadpans. She brings her scimitar off her neck and swings it before placing it in her belt. "Get a change of clothes and come on over to the The Dragon Butterfly and get patched up. I'll also tell my girls to hitch up the S.S. Linebeck to our's to give it a tow to Windfall."
Linebeck starts to protest but Jolene cuts him off. "Don't argue 'bout this. You're injured and what kind of person would I be to not fix you up? Considering our past.."
Linebeck heaves a sigh before nodding yes. He starts to head to his original destination but stops. "It's good to see you again, Butterfly." He says, turning to face the pirate.
Jolene rolls her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Good to see you too." She returns, before exiting the ship.
Several moments later, Linebeck walks up the gangplank to The Dragon Butterfly. He searches around for Jolene and spots her standing beside a chest, examining something in her palm. She had one foot on it and was leaning on her leg. He quickly hurries to her, casting wary glances at the female pirates around him.
"Ah, there you are." Jolene says, bending up, taking her foot off the chest. "Thought you would be interested in this." She flings what she was holding at him.
Linebeck lunges and just barely catches it, stumbling forward. He opens up his palm to show a small ring, the metal gold and a big red violet stone in the center and small blue stones around the ring. He looks up at Jolene, with an eyebrow raised.
Jolene chuckles at Linebeck's confused expression. She makes a "come here" motion while moving towards her cabin. Linebeck follows and the pirate begins explaining.
"It's a Regal Ring. One of few in the world and very rare to find." Jolene explains. "As such. It's veeeeeeeery valuable. Worth nigh on eight thousand rupees." Jolene shrugs. "The girls and I decided that since you killed the monster, you should get the treasure."
Linebeck looks back down at the ring. "Worth eight thousand rupees, huh?" He thinks. He looks up and nods his thanks to Jolene while pocketing the ring. "I'll save it for a rainy day."
"So what brings you to the vast seas so far from Farqay?" Jolene queries. "And where's 'Net? If that girl still loves adventure as much as she did when I left, I would have expected her to be with you here."
Linebeck falters and a dark look passes over his features. Jolene notices this, and her amused expression melts to worry.
"What happened?" She questions. "Did you have a fall out with Marlene or 'Net?"
"I'll tell you as you patch me up." Linebeck says, gesturing to his forehead.
"Demanding as ever." Jolene half-heartedly jokes. She opens the cabin door and gestures to the table, where a familiar head of orange hair sat by, her lap covered by some kind of blue material. "Say hi while I get the first aid kit." She walks off, her sandaled feet making soft pat-pat noises on the well kept ship.
"Jolene?! What happened? I thought you said we were about to hit a Big Octo!" The girl exclaims, turning around at the sound of the door opening. At seeing Linebeck, she gives a little shriek. "Good Goddesses. What happened to you?"
"Hello Joanna." Linebeck says, walking to the gestured seat. "I just banged my head when I slammed my ship into the Big Octo."
"You... You slammed the S.S. Linebeck into the monster..." Joanna breathes, her eyes sparkling. "That's... That's so brave! Was it scary?! Does it hurt a lot?! What prompted you to do such a thing?!"
Linebeck stares at Joanna a moment, noting her fangirling over the little tidbit of news, and decided he liked that kind of attention. So he decided to play up the story a bit.
"Well, I wouldn't call it scary. It's just an oversize squid, that's all. I was just sailing along when the mutated squid burst out of the water, right in my path. Well since I don't have a cannon, I knew I needed to get out of the waters before the creature sucked him into his maw! Just as I was about to be in the all-clear. I saw your sister's ship having been sucked in and knew I had to save you gals." Linebeck gives a rouge grin. "So, in seeing that cannon's weren't having any kind of effect, I knew I had to go with the most straightforward approach. I took the S.S Linebeck and sailed her right into the oversize squid, effectively killing the beast."
"It also effectively killed your ship. You're lucky she's not on the ocean floor right now, idiot." Jolene says, walking into the cabin room, holding the first aid kit. She glances at Linebeck as she prepares the first aid kit. "What would you have done if the Big Octo really did sink the S.S. Linebeck and we weren't here?"
Linebeck freezes, before striking a pose, tragic expression on his face. "I would gallantly try to save the S.S. Linebeck but if there was no hope, well." He bows his head. "A captain always goes down with his ship."
"Pretty stupid captain I would say." Jolene mutters while Joanna gasps, covering her mouth with her hands.
Joanna stares at Linebeck, eyes sparkling with tears. "How very gallant of you." She sighs, already heads-over-heels with the captain.
Jolene turns to whack her fifteen year old sister upside the head, upsetting the flower pin in Joanna's orange hair. "Get a grip! Yeese, can't believe you're my sister."
Joanna squeals, holding her head. "Jolene, that HURT!" She carefully sets aside her fabric before standing up.
"We're pirates, Joanna. Get that? PIRATES. Scourges of the sea? We don't go googly-eyes over some sea tale." Jolene hissed, turning around to grab her sister's dress front.
Joanna huffs, prying off Jolene's grip on her dress. "Says you." She jibes, giving her sister's outfit a once over, before carefully smoothing the wrinkles out of her crystal blue dress. "I think we're just playing pretend. Now that one pirate captain? Her name was some kind of fish? Not even into her double digits yet and she's a pirate captain. Has her whole crew wrapped around her finger and ready willing to do whatever she commands."
Jolene's lips thin but turns towards Linebeck, ending the conversation between her and Joanna. "So what are you doing out here, all alone?" She picks up a clean rag and soaks it in medical alcohol before applying it to the gash on Linebeck's forehead. Linebeck hisses in pain, jerking away.
"Shut up, it's just a little sting." Jolene says, concentrating on her task. She grabs back Linebeck's head and forces him to stay still.
"You know, I can't talk well if you're holding my chin, Jolene." Linebeck manages to get out, sounding weird.
"Then stop moving!" Jolene commands, wiping away the blood. Joanna gives a huff before moving to stand behind Linebeck. She places her hands on both sides of his head, holding him fast so Jolene can clean it and Linebeck can talk.
"So what's this about being alone out on the Great Sea?" Joanna queries. "Linette has to be with you. Or does she have her own ship and is simply sailing the sea alone as well?"
Linebeck looks away with his eyes, the dark look returning. "No. You see, Sea Flower. Mum's dead and Net was taken by Jolon."
A deathly silence fell upon the room as both Jolene and Joanna freeze.
Jolene takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out, before opening her eyes to reveal her jet black eyes glittering with barely controlled anger. "What?"
Linebeck looks back up at Jolene. "Jolon came back two years ago, shot Mum, and then kidnapped Linette. I left the night of Mum's funeral and have been out here ever since."
"How-How did you know if was Jolon?" Joanna sniffs, voice trembling with tears.
"Because he left a message for me." Linebeck says. "In blood."
Joanna audibly gulps. Jolene slowly sets down the rag next to the kit before grabbing up her dagger from her belt and flinging it at the ship's wall, screaming obscenities. The dagger sinks into the wall.
Linebeck jumps, not expecting the sudden reaction. "Sweet Farore! Jolene!?"
"What kind of sick son of a bitch would do that?" Jolene mutters, sagging into the chair her sister had vacated. Her head sinks into her hand as Joanna begins crying behind Linebeck.
Jolene shakes her head, standing up. She picks up bandages and medical tape. Returning to Linebeck, Jolene rips off a strip of bandage and holds it against the gash. With her other hand she rips off a piece of tape, tapes one side of the bandage, then repeats with the other.
"There, that should heal in a few days." Jolene informs Linebeck. "And Linebeck... I'm coming with you to search for Net."
Linebeck starts. "Jolene! What-"
"I want to help hunt that monster down, Linebeck." Jolene says. "And I also want to repay the debt the Brante Family owes me and my sister for taking us in."
"It was nothing for Mum." Linebeck says, getting up from the seat.
"Nonetheless, Marlene took us in when our parents died from our island's plague. None of the other villagers would do it in fear that we had the sickness, carriers of it. They placed us in a boat in hopes that we would die, calling us demons since we didn't get sick. That got us to your island, half-starved and sick for drinking sea-water in desperation. We had nowhere else to go, no family that wanted us, I was too young to properly take care of a Joanna by myself. Your mum took us in, and nursed us back to health and gave us a home until I was old enough to take care of Joanna on my own. That debt I want to pay back, even if it's too a ghost." Jolene fixes Linebeck with her black eyes. "So I'm helping you find Net."
Linebeck stares at Jolene a moment before he quirks one side of his mouth into a smirk. "Very well, Butterfly." He relents. "The help would be nice."
Jolene nods back. "We'll sail around on my ship. It's fast and not many people will want to mess around with pirates."
Linebeck frowns. "Sail around on your ship? Why not mine?"
Jolene snickers. "What? Afraid of having someone else being captain?"
"No!" Linebeck huffs, looking away, crossing his arms. "I'm just thinking about your crew. Would they want to be sailing around searching for a person they don't even know or would they want to search for treasure?"
Jolene mirrors Linebeck. She looks away as well. "I guess that makes sense."
"Trust me, it would be a lot less hassle if we just took the S.S. Linebeck, once she's fixed, that is." Linebeck says.
Jolene heaves a sigh. "Very well. Change clothes and we'll discuss more. Where were you headed anyway?"
"An island by the name of Outset. Mum used to live on that island. Where Linette and I were born. Thought Jolon might have taken her there, since, you know, past connections." Linebeck says, grabbing up his bag.
"No he wouldn't have." Jolene negates. "Outset is way to small. Barely a mile long and half a mile wide. He wouldn't be able to keep a spirited woman like Linette silent on an island like that." Jolene starts making her way to the door. "We're already headed to an island called Windfall and nearby is Dragon Roost Island. The mail carriers live there, and they travel all over the islands delivering the mail. They would have to have had heard something. We'll get the S.S. Linebeck fixed up, get supplies and we two will head out." The piratess leaves.
Linebeck glances at Joanna, who had returned to her seat and was beginning to work on the blue material again. Tears flowed from the teenager's eyes.
"What are you working on there, Sea Flower?" Linebeck awkwardly asks.
"Hm?" Joanna sniffs, looking up at Linebeck. "Oh, just, just an outfit..." She throws it out, revealing a nearly completed mermaid tail. "A little thing I was working on."
Linebeck smirks. "Still obsessed with the she-fishes, I see."
Joanna's head snaps up to glare at Linebeck. "They're not called she-fishes! They're mermaids, thank you very much."
"They're women with fishtails, therefor, she-fishes. Mermaids is just a fancy title some sailors placed upon them to make the things more pleasant."
Joanna huffs and turns her back onto Linebeck, resuming her sewing. Linebeck simply rolls his eyes and walks out the door.
Little under a week later, Jolene was giving Joanna and her crew some last minute instructions while Linebeck prepared the newly repaired S.S. Linebeck for sea travel.
Placing his hand into his pocket, Linebeck was surprised to find the regal ring still in his pocket.
"Completely forgot about you." He thinks. Glancing around, Linebeck opens a small, unknown compartment in the engine, placing the rare ring in it. Closing it back up, Linebeck gives the ship the once over before switching on the engine and blowing the foghorn.
Outside, Jolene turns towards the ship. "Guess that's my cue." She turns to her sister, the only one remaining. "Be good alright? Don't give Nanami any trouble like you do with me, got it?"
Joanna nods, not quite meeting Jolene's eyes.
Jolene hesitates then pulls her sister in for a tight hug. "Don't worry 'bout me, alright? I'll be back before you know it. No one can escape the Piratess Jolene!" Jolene kisses the top of Joanna's head. "I'll send letters. I love you."
"Love you too, Jolie." Joanna sniffs, wiping away tears, using her old childhood name for Jolene.
"See you, Joa." Jolene says, releasing Joanna, picking up her last pack and heading up the gangplank. "Stay safe!"
"You as well!" Joanna calls.
With another blast from the foghorn, the S.S. Linebeck pulls out of the dock and begins heading into the open seas. Joanna remains on the dock until the ship was a tiny speck on the horizon and night and beginning to fall.
The Dragon Butterfly's first mate, Nanami walks up behind the girl, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, time to go." The woman says.
Joanna only nods, turning with Nanami.
...ELEVEN MONTHS LATER...
Jolene charges forward at Linebeck with her scimitar. Linebeck uses his sword to block Jolene's and move it away, skittering away himself. He looks warily at Jolene.
The piratess sighs, pushing back stray bits of hair. "Linebeck, you need to start getting on the offensive. You can't get anywhere with constant defensive."
"Yes, I can!" Linebeck says, glaring at the pirate. "I can get away from being on the defensive."
"And get rid of the enemy with being on the offensive" Jolene reminds. "You may be able to run, but what if the enemy follows you? What will you do then?" She begins following Linebeck around on the deck of the steamboat, trying to prove her point.
"I-I'll turn and face the enemy then, once it's in a position I would want it in." Linebeck lies. He turns to face Jolene before charging her.
Jolene easily sidesteps him and kicks Linebeck's back. Linebeck stumbles forward, nearly losing his sword. He straightens and whirls around, jumping as Jolene's scimitar blade whistles inches from his throat. "Shit, Jolene!" He exclaims.
"Oh come on, it was like five inches from you!" Jolene says, advancing on the captain.
"That's not far away enough!" Linebeck nearly yells.
The S.S. Linebeck was docked in the middle of the ocean. All crates and other items had been cleared away for the captain and the pirate to spar on the deck. Jolene had suggested that they practice sword fighting after she saw Linebeck had bought a pistol. One, so he would have the skills in case that was his only option and two, so she could stay sharp with her own skills. This had started about two months into the journey together and Linebeck was pretty good when he finally got around to engaging the enemy, or in this case, Jolene.
Jolene only snickers before charging Linebeck once more in a power dash. He dashes to the side, and manages to turn the flat of the blade against her back, making her let out a tiny shriek as she stumbles forward. Just as quick she drops to her feet and shoots out one leg, tripping the captain. His sword skitters out of his reach. Jolene stands back up and advances on the Captain, turning him over with her foot and points her scimitar at his neck. Linebeck freezes, hands up in the surrender position.
"I win." Jolene smugly states, removing her scimitar and holding out her hand to help Linebeck up
"You always win." Linebeck reminds, taking Jolene's hand. She roughly pulls him up, causing him to stumble into her. Linebeck quickly backs off, stammering his apologies.
Jolene rolls her eyes. "Shut your squawking and get your sword." A rough sputter from the S.S. Linebeck interrupts their bickering. Linebeck groans, the sputters familiar.
"We're gonna need to make port at the nearest island." He swipes up his sword and heads into the engine room to examine the engine. Jolene follows him. "Preferably one that has the materials to power the engine. We have fuel but we need more."
"This one seems largely populated." Jolene remarks, tapping one island on the map. Linebeck looks up to see what island and nods his agreement.
"Sounds like a plan and it's pretty close by too, only about an hour away." Linebeck starts to head below deck. "Let me just get her going again and we'll be off."
"Need any help?" Jolene asks, walking over to the captain.
Linebeck glances up at Jolene, down towards the lower levels, then back up. "No, no I don't think I need any help." He continues on, glancing at the steps strangely.
Jolene never wanted to help with the ship, always called the need for fuel a waste since the winds are all that's needed for a ship. And what exactly was up with her just shrugging off him crashing into her? If that had happened when they first started sailing together, he would have been castrated. Now she just waves it off?
"Must have been drinking sea water." Linebeck mutters to himself. "That, or me being the only other Hylian to talk to is getting to her."
Jolene takes a deep breath before rapping on the door of their rented room. She was just returning from asking the islanders for info on either Jolon or Linette. There wasn't any kind of news on the missing sibling but Jolene still needed to speak with Linebeck.
Once the two had docked on the island, they learned of a storm that was expected to hit land by nightfall. Both Jolene and Linebeck had agreed to renting a room in the island's inn, since the last time they spent a night on the S.S. Linebeck during a storm, they both never got any sleep (even though Linebeck never got the proper amount of sleep, period) and had several nasty bruises the next morning when the storm finally cleared.
Jolene raps the door again, a bit more forceful this time. She hears some noises and words that she couldn't make out before the door opened to reveal Linebeck looking a little ruffled and like he just woke up. Jolene briefly wonders if she had woke him from one of the few naps he managed to have.
"What?" He asks, leaning against the door frame, rubbing his eyes. "And you woke me from a nap, by the way. Thanks for that." He sends her a glare.
Jolene crosses her arms. "Sorry, but I was thinking we could go for a walk together." She says, not sounding at all apologetic.
Linebeck stares at her with a "Are-you-kidding-me?" expression. "A walk?"
Jolene quirks an eyebrow at him, before looking down to examine her nails. "Yeah, a walk. You know, the speed in between jogging and crawling? People normally do it when they want to examine someplace."
"You want to go. On a walk. An hour before a bad storm is supposed to hit. Together?" Linebeck repeats.
"What? I thought we could get some questioning in." Jolene says, despite coming from just doing that. She looks back at Linebeck. "And I have something to tell you and it can't wait any longer." She spreads her arms. "And you can protest, but we're going on this walk."
Linebeck breathes in deeply, closing his eyes. "Fine, but if we get soaked, it's your fault." He jerks a thumb behind him. "Let me freshen up and we'll head out on this walk." He closes the door in her face.
"I'll meet you in the lobby!" Jolene yells through the door, before heading out.
In the lobby, Jolene stood beside the entrance, watching the drunks at the bar and thinking that maybe a shot or two could calm her damn nerves.
An old woman, sitting in a chair near the piratess, glances at Jolene, then without pausing in her knitting, says "So, you going to tell that boy you like him?"
"E-excuse me?" Jolene starts, staring at the old woman. "I have no idea what you're talking about." She crosses her arms defensively and looks away. She wasn't being that obvious... Was she? At least, Linebeck hadn't noticed, so she can't be so open about her feelings. Course, it sometimes felt like Linebeck had the emotional range of a teaspoon, so he wasn't much help.
The woman lets out a low chuckle. "Oh to be young and in love. What a sight." She sets down her knitting needles. "I saw you when you had come in with that young man and how you interacted with him. Much like how my daughter interacted with this one boy." The woman motions towards two children playing a little ways off. "Those are their children."
Jolene looks over to the two children, a boy and girl. The boy was older, looking around nine or so while the girl was still in her toddler years. The boy, wearing a blue shirt with white markings and orange pants, currently had his sister in his arms, and was twirling her around. The girl, wearing a blue dress with a flower print, hair in small pigtails, was clutching a telescope to her chest, exclaiming happily at her brother's actions.
Jolene looks back at the woman, then around for parents who might have golden locks, much like the two children but couldn't find anyone. She looks back to the old woman. "Are you watching your grandchildren for your daughter then?"
A sad look passes over the woman's features. "No. My daughter died along with my son-in-law in a boating accident shortly after my Granddaughter's birth." The woman gives a smile. "But Link and Aryll bring the joy back into my life. I'm taking them on a small trip."
Jolene watches the siblings, getting reminded of herself and Joanna when they were younger.
"But with your predicament. I wish you the best of luck. Good thing you're making a move now before any other women do. He's quite the catch." The Grandmother says. "And here he comes now." She nods towards the stairs.
Jolene turns and spots Linebeck coming down the steps, wearing his navy coat and currently tying his ascot. She looks back at the Grandmother, nodding her head in farewell before heading over to Linebeck.
The Grandmother chuckles, resuming her knitting as she watches the two leave, already going off about something. "Yes, indeed. Those two are quite the couple."
About a half-hour later, Jolene and Linebeck were back at the hotel, due to the storm starting early. They were a good ways from the hotel, so by the time they made it back, they were both soaked. They stood in the hallway out of their room. Single room, two beds. It was basically the same arrangement on the ship, so there wasn't much awkwardness at sharing a room.
Jolene hadn't had a chance to tell Linebeck what she has been recently feeling for the captain due to the storm coming in early. She hadn't wanted to do it in a populated place but knew she had to make due with what she had.
Jolene places one of her browned arms against Linebeck's chest, making him start. He starts to ask what's going on but Jolene quickly cuts him off. "Like I said earlier, I have something important to tell you. I would appreciate if you could remain silent until I'm done."
Linebeck looks at Jolene, wariness in his face. "O-okay..."
"I'm not that great with words. You know that I'm an action girl." Jolene starts. "But I don't think this can be put into actions." She crosses her arms, looking away, digging at the floor with the heel of her foot. "Dammit, this could possibly so much easier if Linebeck was as observant as that old woman." She thinks. "Alright, pull yourself together Jolene. You're not some school girl with a stupid crush. You're Jolene, the Piratess" Gathering up her nerves, Jolene faces Linebeck looking him dead in the eyes.
"Linebeck." She starts. "I like you."
Linebeck stares at Jolene. "Erm... I like you too?" He cautiously says, after a few moments of silence.
Jolene places a hand on her forehead, looking exasperated. "No, Linebeck. I mean, I really like you." She lets her hand fall. With her eyes closed, she says her next words. "I love you."
Linebeck starts, still staring at Jolene. He blinks several times, his mind blanking. Jolene made it seem like she hated him, course, she proved it wrong in her actions which showed a deep caring for the sea captain. Maybe he hadn't realized how deep her feelings were exactly...
Jolene opens her eyes and advances on Linebeck. "You know, it actually might have been better if I just showed you. Like I said, I'm just no good with telling people things." She grabs Linebeck's coat and yanks him towards her, causing him to let out a noise of shock before the piratess's lips catches his.
Linebeck's eyes widen and only the fear of Jolene kicking his ass kept him from pulling away. But, if he was being completely honest, the kiss wasn't all that bad. Jolene easily demonstrated how much she had learned in the years, her tongue slipping from her mouth to trace his lips then force her way into his mouth. Linebeck's eyes slip close and he places one hand on Jolene's waist and one hand on the back of her head. He lets Jolene explore his mouth, losing himself in the kiss. His hand on Jolene's head begins playing with her ponytail before undoing it, letting Jolene's jet black hair tumble around her shoulders.
The two kissed in the hallway, clothes dripping wet, only pausing to switch positions and take a breath.
Without meaning to, Linebeck presses against Jolene, causing them to back into their room's door. Jolene breaks off their make-out session, her chest heaving. Her hand fumbles for the doorknob and opens the door. "Show me how much of a man you can be." She commands Linebeck in a husky whisper, her eyes bright with lust.
Linebeck only hesitates for a moment, but not wanting to seem to be shy (He would never admit it to Jolene that it would be his first time), reconnects their mouths and moves them to enter their dark hotel room, flipping the sign to "Do not disturb" and kicking the door shut behind them.
A rumble of thunder and lightning flashes.
In the dead of the night, Linebeck leaned next to the window that faced towards the sea and the dock, arms crossed over his chest, clad in only in his boxers. The curtains were drawn for the most part, except for a small sliver where Linebeck could stare at the storm still raging outside. The break was going to be coming soon, then the storm will pick back up.
However, the captain's mind wasn't on the storm. No, it was on a certain brown-skinned pirate currently lying in the bed.
Linebeck shifts, bringing up one hand to cover his mouth with a loosely made fist. What the hell had just happened? Well, he knew what had just happened, but... He turns to look at Jolene asleep, the bed covers just able to cover her naked body.
What did he truly feel for the piratess? Jolene had sprung her feelings onto Linebeck so suddenly and then started kissing him and then that one thing lead to another... It had happened so fast, Linebeck wasn't able to really sort through his feelings for Jolene, to see if he perhaps did love the piratess back. But now, with Jolene asleep and the nightmares keeping him awake, despite how tired he was, Linebeck had plenty of time to figure out that what he felt for Jolene... and it wasn't what she felt for him.
Linebeck turns away from Jolene, feeling a stab of guilt. He didn't love her the way she did back, nor did he feel like he could learn to love the piratess back. And indeed yes, the kiss and what happened afterwards did feel amazing, Linebeck also felt weird. Jolene and Joanna had lived with them for almost four years, becoming a Brante in almost everything but name. Unfortunately, this did nothing to help the captain, since it made him only see clearer that he felt like Jolene was like a second sister.
Albeit, a sister he made out and made love with. That was what made Linebeck feel really awkward. That was the core.
He only loved her like a sister.
And everything now got really complicated.
Linebeck couldn't just tell Jolene this. She would kick his ass. Doubly harder than if he had pulled away from the kiss. He could possibly could continue the relationship and hope something else would pop up that end it. But Linebeck had no idea when that could happen and didn't know how long he could fake the relationship. And Jolene still might end up beating him up.
Really, he could see only one option to this sticky solution.
Linebeck's gaze returns to Jolene, eyes downcast. He couldn't face Jolene and tell her that he couldn't feel the same way. So, he decided to go for option three.
He pushes himself off the wall and silently begins making his way around the room, silently finding his articles of clothing and getting dressed, refusing to look at Jolene anymore.
It wasn't like he took her virginity and is now taking off (Jolene had showed how much of her innocence was gone during the night anyway). He just couldn't look her in the eye and tell her last night was a mistake.
He didn't want to see that flicker of heartbreak before anger overtook it. No matter how quickly it would go away. He was going to break her heart but the coward bastard he was being, didn't want to see it. Also, he rather liked having his bones not being broken.
Now fully dressed (except for his boots, currently held in his hands and to be put on outside of the room) and effects all gathered that was his, Linebeck allowed himself to look back at Jolene.
The moon was having a small chance to peek through before storm clouds overtake it again, and it's sliver of light fell upon Jolene's face and hair, spread out all over the pillow. Her chest rose up and down gently, deeply asleep and completely unaware of the betrayal beginning to happen.
Linebeck shifts and something glints in the moonlight, on the bedside table. Linebeck, his curiosity getting the better of him, walks over and picks up a small pin.
Completely hidden where Jolene wore it, the jade butterfly on the end of a tiny, golden rod faintly glittered as Linebeck twirled it in his hands. He had bought it for the piratess a few months after they started traveling together in thanks again of helping him. Then, without a moment's hesitation, pockets it. He glances at Jolene, gently pushes back a few locks of her jet black hair and lends over to press a small kiss against her temple, breathing out an apology.
He then leaves the hotel room, forcing himself to not glance back.
On the S.S. Linebeck, Linebeck opened up the small compartment where he had placed the regal ring months ago, and places the jade butterfly next to it.
To anyone who might somehow discover it, Linebeck would tell them he wanted to make sure Jolene good and hated him. But to be honest with only himself, he took the butterfly to remind himself to never let this kind of situation happen again.
And to one day, tell Jolene why he left and that he was truly sorry.
The S.S. Linebeck started up and as silently as Linebeck could make it, sailed out of the dock, leaving behind the island.
Not long after the previous events, Jolene woke.
She didn't feel Linebeck and reached out for him groggily but became confused when she still couldn't find him.
Jolene sits up, not bothering to keep her top covered with the blankets. The room was too dark to be able to make out anything concrete, but Jolene was definite that Linebeck wasn't in the room.
Then lightning flashes, giving Jolene a split-second chance to see that Linebeck nor any sign of him was in the room.
Her heart jumps into her throat and she fumbles for the drawer in the table, drawing out a box of matches. she strikes one against the box and lights the candle on the table, illuminating part of the room.
She brings up the candle, showing that Linebeck's clothes that had been strewn about the room were gone, along with his other belongings.
Jolene pushes herself out of the bed and quickly gets dressed, determined to find out where the captain had gone and why the hell did he leave her. She bends down for her sandals and discovers one of Linebeck's scarfs that he would tie around his neck, to make himself more dignified than those other captains and sailors was what he had told her.
Jolene grips the scarf, so confused on what had happened. She looks back to the dresser, intending to pick up the jade butterfly to put on but only finds it missing.
"What?!" Jolene softly exclaims, scrambling over to the area to look for the pin. She tore it apart, growing more frantic. Linebeck had given her that pin! She didn't normally wear jewelry, she was a modest pirate after all, but the fact that Linebeck had gotten if for her, she made sure to always wear it, even if she and Linebeck were the only ones who knew.
Then, a thought struck her. That perhaps, Linebeck took the pin when he left.
Jolene looked towards the window, and races over to it. She throws open the curtains to show the storm raging once more outside, obscuring her view of the dock. Jolene lets them go and dashes out of the room, needing to know if Linebeck left her behind.
Her feet pounded against the dock, until it reached where the S.S. Linebeck was supposed to be docked.
Lightning flashes and the steamboat was revealed to be gone.
Jolene's heart shatters and for a few moments, she felt like she couldn't breathe. Tears began to swim in her eyes and splashed out, mixing with the rain.
Then anger rose up and Jolene's grip on the scarf tightens to where it was trembling along with her whole body.
"I WILL FIND YOU, BASTARD!" She screams, moving to the end of the dock, lightning flashing almost in tune with her words. "I WILL FIND YOU AND DESTROY YOU LIKE YOU DID WITH MY HEART! YOU HEAR ME, YOU ASSHOLE!?'"
Thunder rumbles after the piratess's words echo over the crashing waves. Then, Jolene collapses to the deck, letting the heartbreak wash over her.
In time, Jolene would pick herself up and return to the hotel, where she would request a different room so she didn't have to spend anymore time than necessary in a room that only told her heartbreak. She would start a letter to her pirate crew telling them that she needed to be picked up. She wouldn't tell them the whole story, the pain would be too fresh but she would tell them to keep an eye out for the S.S. Linebeck. Only would her sister, in the dead of the night, would get to know what truly happened on this island. Jolene would begin a journey tracking down a man who broke her heart after she thought she had his and she would only show anger at him.
But at that moment, Jolene, the she-pirate, let herself have a moment of weakness and cry.
She could pass off her hot tears soaking into her face as the cold raindrops soaking into her clothing.
Well, *coughs awkwardly* there's my take on Linebeck meets up with Jolene and then leaves her scene. What did you guys think?
Few things popped up that I hadn't planned on. One, being Jolene and Linebeck, ahem, getting it on. But I think it went okay. First time really making something like completely obvious of what happened, though.
And then second was Link, Aryll and their grandmother. They just showed up! Honest! I started out writing the old woman, planning on making her just some random lady on the island and then the conversation happened and the siblings showed up. (Link shows up again before officially meeting Linebeck in the Ocean Temple, by the way.)
Again, thoughts on this flashback? I personally felt weird writing Jobeck as I was typing it, but I feel better afterwards. Also, I'm one of those people that feel like Jolene and Linebeck knew each other as kids or really, from when they were teens. Speaking of which, did Jolene's and Joanna's back-story make sense? I'm going to re-read but I want to hear from you all!
Until Next chapter! (which I promise to try and update quicker than this last one!)
~8 Navy Roses