Although she was hungry, Red preferred the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull of the ship over the boisterous rough-housing of the pirate crew. They acted only as a group of men can be expected to act in the absence of women: like children. She couldn't fault them really, but she didn't have to befriend them either. She munched on a roll and a bit of pot roast she'd managed to grab before she'd been accosted by the men, escaping with her dignity intact.
Standing at the aft of the ship, she watched, using what little light illuminated the night from the lanterns swinging merrily on the rear of the vessel, the trail the boat left in the water. Having never been to sea, she was awed by the simple beauty of the ocean: the white wake churning along the sides and rear of the ship, the soothing rocking of the entire boat, and the pleasant lapping of the water as it slid along the sloop's sides. The combination of the sensations was enough to make her woozy, and she leaned over on the railing, her eyes drooping tiredly.
"Don't fall in, lassy," cautioned Smee from behind her, jolting her wide awake. She turned to face him, blinking her eyes to keep herself awake.
"You pirates enjoy sneaking up on me," she chided, hugging her arms around her stomach. Smee shrugged and smiled amiably.
Despite her dislike of the profession in general, she admitted the first mate appealed to her softer side. He resembled a pet, a cute little hamster someone could keep as a companion and a comic relief. He made her smile on the inside although she was too stubborn to show him how he amused her. Out of all the men on the ship, she felt the most at ease with the little man (excluding the captain who was an irritant to her and only reminded her why she hated pirates).
"It's not on purpose, miss," Smee admitted with another shrug. He removed his red cap and wrung it between his hands. "It's just... the cap'n wouldn't want his trophy catch to fall overboard."
Her brow furrowed as she glared at the man and then looked away, anger rising in her chest. Of course. It couldn't simply be out of fear for her safety that the first mate would caution her against getting too close to the railing; it was because Hook didn't want his prized showpiece getting lost. She had half a mind to throw herself over, even if it meant her sure death (or worse, the pirates stopping and turning to retrieve her which would defeat the purpose of jumping in the first place), just to spite the 'cap'n'. The man was an ass and deserved for something not to go his way for once.
Despite all of that, she didn't particularly want to become one with the ocean, and stepped away from the railing with her arms still crossed over her chest stubbornly.
"Also, the master requests your presence, lass," the first mate concluded, bowing slightly and gesturing her toward the prow of the ship. Unable to resist (although she badly wanted to), she drew herself up and ground her teeth together as she glided past the first mate, headed for the bow.
Red wasn't surprised Hook summoned her to the prow. That seemed to be his favorite place on the entire ship. It gave him a false sense of power, she supposed. Sniffing derisively as she climbed the stairs, she smiled, pleased with herself. Hook couldn't hear her hateful thoughts toward him, but that didn't matter. Her mind was her own, and even if he would take her life from her, he couldn't take her soul.
She couldn't see him past the outline of the wheel, and he didn't come into view until she crested the top stair and saw his back, his dark hair rustling in the wind as he leaned on the railing looking in front of the ship. He seemed caught up in his thoughts, and for the briefest of moments she thought she glimpsed some humanity there. Then he heard her and turned slightly, that irritating smirk spreading over his face.
"You came."
"As if I had a choice," she countered. He nodded in agreement, admitting she was correct. She remained his prisoner - his trophy - until they reached dry land and he killed her. She shivered slightly at the thought. It became more real to her as the day went on. He had released her (under his own terms which included a shackle in the form of a pretty necklace) to enjoy her last days in the sun. It was morbid and sadistic really like leading a horse to water just to drown him.
Red stood with her arms crossed over her chest, distancing herself from him subconsciously. Shifting his weight, the captain removed the black leather jacket he wore over a black billowing shirt and matching black pants. Moving toward her, he quickly swooped the garment around her shoulders even as she balked from his nearness. He noticed her aversion to him and moved away, giving her space to her as he ignored the affront and returning to his position at the prow. As realization set in that he'd actually done something gentlemanly, confusion crept over her. How could a cold-hearted, murderous pirate actually offer his cloak to a lady on a cool evening? It seemed so out of character that it threw her off guard.
Of course, that was exactly what he wanted. He wanted to remain an enigma to her, unreadable and confusing so as to stay at arms-length. He didn't want to get to know her any more than she wanted to get to know him, but he was interested in her if for no reason other than how she had become a werewolf. If he could tap into this source of gold and riches, it would fulfill his wildest dreams.
"If you're going to die when we reach the shore..." he began, turning to lean his right elbow on the railing and facing his body toward her as he offered her that now-familiarly irritating smirk, "...then you should experience everything you can before that happens."
It wasn't an observation as much as it was a command. The words seemed so out of context, she opened her mouth to respond tartly but was cut off as music began to lilt from below. Turning swiftly to glance below, she saw a small band of pirates with a few instruments (an accordion, a flute, and a small drum to be exact). The remaining crew danced around, many of them tipsy from the grog they'd devoured following the evening meal, and laughter carried through the wind up to Red's keen ears.
She had always loved parties and merrymaking. She'd even helped Snow organize magnificent balls at the palace (despite the fact she was usually forced to stay to the sidelines once the crowd arrived because she scared people who knew she was a werewolf). However, she watched from the crowd as couples twirled and ladies glided in their magnificent ballgowns. She even enjoyed the simple gatherings, similar to the one below her now, where people just had a grand old time with no preconceived notions about behavior or etiquette. Music made her happy, and all of her desires to be wanted in the group, to just dance and be merry, poured over her as she watched the pirates improvising some crazy little jig on the deck.
So caught up in her thoughts was she that she didn't realize Hook was standing directly behind her until she heard his voice. She could hear the smile on his lips as he spoke, "Do you know how to dance?"
She sniffed scornfully at the question. "It would serve your reputation better, captain, not to ask stupid questions."
Killian smiled to himself at her response. She was stubborn and proud, and she wasn't about to back down to him simply because he had shown her an act of kindness. He was beginning to enjoy her spirit. No woman had been bold enough to deny him before her, even something as simple as agreeing with him. Milah certainly hadn't. She had been pliable from the moment he'd met her in the tavern where she had worked at the time. But this wolf-girl was intelligent and strong-willed, and while he still intended to take her pelt when they reached the trading port, he admitted to enjoying her coy comebacks.
"The better comment would be to order you to dance then, I suppose," he commented in response. He saw her shoulders stiffen at the suggestion of him 'ordering' her to do anything, and he almost chuckled out loud. Leaning closer to her, his hands meeting her hips, he whispered in her ear, "Dance if you wish, love. It's your life to live."
He pushed her forward and she stumbled slightly down the stairs before catching her balance and turning to glare defiantly up at him. As she appeared in the light of the lanterns the pirates had assembled to illuminate the deck, the men spread apart, eyeing her warily. Red looked down her nose at them, but they seemed averse to mess with her. She wasn't sure if it was anything she'd done or simply because she was their captain's prized possession and tarnishing her was disallowed, but she was thankful they kept their distance.
Venturing another glance over her shoulder, she noticed Hook perched nonchalantly on the staircase, leaning lazily against the banister with his arms crossed over his chest. "A spritely tune!" he ordered, waving the band to pick up the pace. The men followed the command and a bouncing melody began lilting over the deck.
Pirates began ignoring her as the tune got under their skin, and they began dancing, some of them completely out of rhythm but enjoying themselves nonetheless. And that was really the point of dancing after all, wasn't it? Hook was right in his own sadistic way. If these were her last days, she wanted to enjoy them. She had always wanted to be on the dance floor at those dances instead of in the crowd watching from afar. Now was her chance.
Ignoring Hook's presence, she allowed the jumpy tune to get within her, and she found herself bobbing to the music. Lifting her green skirt with her hands to free the movement of her feet, she smiled to herself and began to dance to the tune. The pirates began to notice her again now that she was moving, and they cheered heartily, welcoming her into the circle they had begun to form. Dancing among them, she felt a part of something, and she got caught up in the madness of it all.
The music escalated and the pirates joined arms, pulling Red into the line as they spun and kicked toward the center of the circle. She giggled as they spun, becoming drunk from the spinning, and she pulled herself from the group, twirling into the center of the circle. They kicked out toward her, chanting and cheering along to a tune they made up as they went, and she laughed, lifting her skirts and dancing among them. They cheered her on, clapping to the beat as she twirled and danced to the jig.
It was all so amusing and thrilling she lost herself in it, spinning until she could see only a blur of bodies and her own black hair. She giggled madly as she got dizzy, tipping and stumbling to the side. The pirates caught her as the song ended, raising her back to her feet much gentler than she would have expected had she not been high from the rush of adrenaline of the dance.
The song had slowed, retaining its gleeful air but gently wafting around them as Red caught her balance. Suddenly, Hook stood before her, the left side of his mouth permanently turned up in a slight, amused grin. She couldn't manage a glare at him because the happy mood of the dance still had her in its embrace. His hand extended toward her, and she took it with neither defiance or pleasure. In a way, they both knew this would be some strange sort of test between them, an assessment for both.
To her surprise, he pulled her toward him, his hook circling her back and pressing into her bodice in its cool C-shape. His right hand held her left as he easily led her in a sweeping dance that carried them from one side of the ship to the other. Her green eyes watched him keenly, but he simply watched her in return, spinning her with him in swift, precise movements.
He was a marvelous dancer, and for a moment she imagined herself in the ballroom of Snow's palace, the crowd pulled back for a better view of the couple on the floor. Her black hair fell down her back in soft curls but her dress was crimson, darker than blood but bright enough to catch the eye of every jealous princess in the room. Hook's black garb remained the same in her dream version of them for it seemed to fit him better than anything she could imagine for him.
They swept over the floor, encased by the magic of the waltz, their eyes only seeing each other. The people surrounding them disappeared as the power play ran its course between them. She challenged him to lead her, and he surprised her by dancing like an angel. She didn't fight him for the lead, but she offered him the challenge: he would have to work to impress her. Killian had never felt the desire to impress a woman before - not even Milah - but he felt a strange desire to prove how impressive he was to this girl. If she hated him (and she openly did), then her validation actually meant something. If she could admit he was remarkable through her hatred for him, then he had accomplished something unattainable.
Despite her misgivings toward the man, Red was overcome by the moment. She forgot she was a captive on a pirate ship, or even that she would die in what could be a few days time. For the moment, she was nothing but a young woman and he was a young man, and they danced perfectly together. As the music crescendoed, Hook spun her away from him just to bring her back, pulling her closer than she'd ever been before. They stood face to face for a moment, his breath hot on her face. Her heart beat rapidly, obviously due to the exertion, and her breasts rose and fell with each quick breath she took. The ruby talisman on her chest twinkled as it rose and fell with her breathing.
Her green eyes had the most enrapturing effect in the moody light of the lanterns, accentuated by the emerald dress she wore. She was beautiful in a defiant, unconventional way, and she took his breath away. She saw the change in his eyes, but it was so brief, it was gone before she could understand it. Gently, but with force, Hook released her and she stumbled away from him.
"Thank you for the dance," he commented politely, turning to disappear into the captain's quarters at the bow of the ship.
Red's jaw dropped open at the suddenness of it all, and she absently placed a hand over her chest as she glanced around at the pirates nearby. They turned away from her, some of the drunker ones singing random drinking songs as they swayed back and forth on the deck or passed out on the boards.
"The cap'n has ordered you sleep in the hold again tonight, miss," Smee announced, appearing out of nowhere as was his way. She jumped slightly in surprise, but he didn't seem to notice, and he ushered her through the hatch toward the cell where she'd been cooped up for days already.
She was still stunned from the dance, heady from the last few hours and confused out of her mind. However, the familiar sight of the cell brought her to her senses and hot anger washed all flighty thoughts of girlishness out of her mind. "Reminded once more than I am still a prisoner."
"Aye," Smee assented, pointing to a newly-added pallet of pillows and silken blankets along with a tray of water and crackers if she felt the urge to have a snack during the night. "I won't be shutting the door tonight, in case you needs to.. well, er... use the toilet." He shrugged awkwardly and turned, dissipating into the darkness and onto the deck. The hatch closed behind him, and Red sank to her knees on the pillows. She felt like a dog in these conditions, held on a leash and walked for the world to see during the daytime, but sent to her doghouse to sleep. She shouldn't have expected any different. They were pirates; she was their treasure. Anything beyond that was merely a dream.