A/N: Well after watching the last episode of RWBY for this season... Was I the only one who didn't like it? Meh; anyways here's the next chapter of the story. Although I seriously have no idea what I wanna do with it I think I have a clue. I'm still working on it sooo... bear with me please lol.
I want to shout out ARMV7's new Falling Petals / Baked Alaska (or Banana Split) story; Transgressions! It's a cop AU and it's pretty damned good.
"Hurry up! Quit stalling!" Roman shouted towards the captives.
Yang, Ruby, and the rest of the captured prisoners were crossing over to the other pirate ship now. No doubt into another holding cell. Yang only hoped that this next one was cleaner and didn't smell of piss and depression.
As they walked over the board that was placed down between the ships, the blonde took note of how massive and impressive this new ship looked. In fact it looked nothing like a pirate ship; more like a vessel for royalty. She felt her mouth open in awe as she took in its features.
It was made of cedar and oak it seemed; a dark deep brown in color with gold trim seen throughout the massive vessel. Its masts hung high and open; flying the Jolly Roger, which was the only telltale sign that they indeed were pirates. She could also spot the multiple smooth silver cannons protruding out from below the decks. Glancing back up at the center of the ship; she also could see how big the captain's quarters seemed to be.
All in all it seemed as if the new boat was at least twice the size of a regular galleon. And that was impressive. It also made the blonde wonder what kind of pirates could amass such an impressive boat like this.
That is until she spotted one of the prisoners in front of her jump ship and into the water below. The large and loud splash was followed by six repeating ones as more and more of their fellow prisoners jumped overboard in an attempt to flee.
"Idiots; we're in the middle of the ocean." A new voice sounded.
Yang glanced behind her towards the old pirate ship and spotted a boy with silver hair and narrowed black eyes. He was dressed in a dark gray tunic with black loose fitting pants, tucked into faded brown boots.
Currently the new man in question was hunched over a few of the deceased bodies belonging to Yang's earlier capturers. He was no doubt robbing them; stealing from the dead.
Whipping her head back around, Yang glanced over the side of the plank she was walking across and watched on as the prisoners who jumped overboard swam off into the sunset and shook her head.
They just screwed themselves…
She finally walked aboard the new vessel with the remaining prisoners. She still held Ruby's hand who stood next to her now. Glancing towards her smaller sister and noting how she hadn't said anything since they left the jail cell, the blonde gave the girl's hand a slight squeeze for reassurance.
They stood lined up on the deck of the new vessel and stood in front of the man known as Roman as he paced back and forth eyeing each of the remaining prisoners. It seemed as if he didn't care about the others who jumped ship, but the way he kept pacing back and forth; with his wooden peg leg slightly unsettled Yang.
Until she heard a hushed snort.
Quickly glancing towards her right; at Ruby, Yang couldn't believe it. Her sister's face was contorting and she was shaking. She was trying to stifle her laughter.
What the hell could be so funny right in this moment?
But it seemed as if Yang wasn't the only person who noticed Ruby's soft giggles, as Roman himself hobbled up to the girl.
"Something funny?"
Yang tensed up at the man's hostile voice that was directed towards Ruby, but she stood still. She knew Ruby could take care of herself; but couldn't help but feel uneasy.
What the hell is she laughing about?
She cocked her head to look at the crimson haired girl in confusion.
"W- Well… your l- leg-" Ruby finally started but she was interrupted by the woman from earlier.
Glancing past Roman, Yang spotted the woman in the crimson coat walking down the steps from her quarters the blonde guessed. Her eyes rested on everyone in the deck before settling on Roman's.
"Roman, dear why aren't these guests placed in their rooms yet?" She asked innocently.
Something about her voice sent a shiver up Yang's spine, much like the first time she heard her speak.
Roman on the other hand stood up straight and brought his face out of Ruby's own. He crossed his arms and adopted a bored expression on his face before sighing deeply.
"And by guests and rooms, I'm sure you mean prisoners and the brig?" He asked bemused, but when Captain Cinder's neutral face turned into a scowl he relented.
"Mercury; get over here and place our guests in the holding area below deck!" Roman bellowed, avoiding eye contact with the woman who continued making her way down the steps, slowly.
Yang finally tore her gaze away from the alluring woman and towards the same silver haired boy she spotted looting the corpses earlier. He grumbled before unsheathing his blade and herding everyone towards a set of stairs leading below deck.
Like hell I'm going into another jail cell.
But just as Yang felt herself about to do something stupid, she heard the Captain speak again.
"Except her, I want to … talk to her." She spoke as she pointed a slender finger towards none other than Ruby.
Yang felt her face widen in horror and surprise. She knew the way that Captain was looking at her earlier in the jail cell meant something, and the blonde didn't like it one bit. She quickly turned to look at Ruby and watched the girl stare back at the Captain; her mouth hung open in shock and awe.
"M- M- Me? Why m- me?" Ruby stuttered while pointing to herself.
The woman finally stood in front of the small and nervous girl, shoving Roman out of the way. Cinder took Ruby's small hands into her own before smirking towards the girl's skittish flinch at the touch.
Yang felt herself get angry at the woman's blatant seducing. She didn't so much as mind that the woman had a crush on her sister; which was obvious, but to touch Ruby? Even if it was as simple as holding hands, it got a rise out of the blonde. But she knew Ruby wouldn't fall for a girl with just a pretty face.
"Do you like sweets?"
But she will fall for that… Touché Cinder, touché.
Yang watched as Ruby's silver eyes widened at the hearing of promised sweets. "L- Like cookies?" The crimson haired girl asked excitedly.
"Even sweeter than cookies." Cinder then purred as she led Ruby back up the stairs towards where she had come from earlier.
The blonde continued to watch on incredulously before she was ushered forwards rather aggressively by the boy who was referred to as Mercury.
"Hurry up, Blondie!"
Yang felt the urge to elbow the silver haired boy in the face before she heard Ruby speak up again.
"W- Wait! That's my sister!"
Cinder kept pulling the girl up the stairs in a hurry until Ruby finally planted her feet in defiance and pulled away, causing the woman to finally look back towards her.
"If my sister isn't freed then I'm going down there with her!" Ruby finally pouted loudly; to further her stance she even crossed her arms.
All eyes turned towards the woman in the crimson coat as she seemed to sigh before speaking up.
"Fine, Mercury leave the blonde alone but bring the others below deck. Roman… show her around the ship. I'll be in my quarters entertaining my guest of honor here." Cinder ordered out.
She continued pulling small girl behind her and entered her room. But not before Ruby could cast one last look towards her sister with a confused expression plastered on her face. "G- Guest of honor?" Until the door was slammed shut; leaving Ruby to Cinder's mercy behind closed doors.
Yang just stood in her spot staring at the large wooden doors that were now very closed at the moment.
Did she just…? With Ruby…? Wait… What?!
Before she could even move towards the closed doors in search of her sister though, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Whirling around with her blonde hair whipping into her vision; she spotted Roman. The man dropped his earlier scowl and regarded Yang with a slightly bemused expression.
"It's only a matter of time now." Roman uttered.
Yang stared back at the man, not quite understanding what he meant by his phrase. "What?"
The orange haired pirate then chuckled before turning on his heel and walking off slowly, but then turned around and motioned for Yang to follow; which she did, although still keeping her lilac eyes trained on the door that Cinder had led her sister into just moments ago.
"Captain Cinder has taken a … liking to your sister. It's only a matter of time until she invites you to join this crew of hers." Roman continued as he walked the deck of the boat.
Yang narrowed her eyes and stared daggers into the back of the man's head. She knew what he said was true though. The way Cinder had stared at Ruby in the jail cell; her gaze spoke it all. And Yang wasn't sure if it was really a good thing or bad thing at the moment. Obviously Cinder was doing well for herself judging by the vessel she was currently in charge of, but there was that one peculiar thing…
She was a pirate.
This of course left the burning question in the blonde's mind.
What kind of nonsense is he spewing, why the hell would Ruby and I join them?
"And what gives you that idea?"
Suddenly the one legged man stopped walking and leaned against the ships railing looking out towards the ocean. Yang leaned against it as well next to him, but still waited for an answer.
"I've known Cinder for quite a while; let's just say I got an inkling that due to that adorable little sister of yours; she'll extend the invitation to the both of ya."
Yang just shrugged her shoulders at the almost cryptic response she had gotten. If it kept her out of the brig then so be it, plus Ruby could make her own choices; and Cinder wasn't necessarily bad looking.
Staring out towards the ocean though, Yang stared out towards the endless mass of water; falling deep into thought. She and Ruby had no idea really where to go next; and the reason why they had even choose this life was for the adventure. They didn't want to stay on their home island of Patch forever; they wanted to see the world. Granted they chose to become traders to do this, but it seemed like a new and possibly only once in a lifetime opportunity had just presented itself on a silver platter.
The captain of a pirate vessel was smitten by her younger sister which basically gave Yang free reign to do what she wanted. Within reasonable limits of course, but also pirates travel the high seas and are bound to find adventure. That sounded exactly like what Ruby and she had wanted to do in the first place; so maybe… just maybe this wasn't such a bad gig so far after all.
Smirking now, Yang spoke up with a new vigor in her tone. "So, didn't that Cap' say to show me around this ship?"
Roman grinned to himself before pushing off the railing. "Follow me then, I'll introduce you to the crew." He muttered before heading towards the head of the ship.
Yang followed next to the limping man and couldn't help but wonder how he lost his leg; but she'd keep the question to herself for now. She wasn't a pirate like them; she did have some mannerisms.
"Over there is Emerald or Em for short." Roman announced while pointing at an exotic dark skinned girl who was currently rigging the sails in preparation for departure it looked like to the blonde.
The girl in question was currently dressed in a pale green tank top that showed her bare midriff off, with also a pair of brown slacks tucked into dark boots. Her green hair was cut short almost like a bob cut with her piercing red eyes staring back at Yang's own curiously.
As Yang contemplated waving towards the girl to seem friendly though, Emerald turned back around to finish unfurling the sails, ignoring her completely.
Yang brushed it off and continued to follow the hollow sounds of Roman's footsteps towards the center of the ship. Walking right by the main quarters; where Cinder and her sister were, Yang couldn't help but stare at the door in wonder.
"Over here is our Navigator; Neo." Roman said, pulling Yang out of her thoughts about Ruby.
She focused her attention on an extremely short girl who was currently steering the ship. She was garbed in a faded pink tank-top with a short white jacket that was unbuttoned over it. Her pants were a tight dark brown leather that tucked into knee high gray boots. The wooden wheel was as tall as she was and it looked adorable to Yang to see the girl currently focused on wrestling to steer the ship all the way to the left. It didn't even look like she could see over the thing.
But just as she hit the turning point on the circular device did Yang feel the vessel shake and vibrate. It felt as if they had just started to move away from the other ship and continue their journey.
Wherever that'll be.
It also seemed to spur everyone into motion in that very second though. Yang spotted the green haired girl on the deck below run towards the center of the ship and yell something.
But Yang had no idea on what she said until it was too late.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Several loud and thunderous ear-splitting sounds were heard and felt aboard the ship. The quick succession of the canon fire and jolting of the vessel caused Yang herself to stumble backwards a bit and grimace, shutting her eyes in the process. She could no longer hear anything but the ringing in her ears at the sound.
But just as quickly as it had started, did it finish.
Snapping her eyes open and standing straight once again; she was met with Roman who seemed to be laughing at her demise. But looking past him, she settled on the short girl who was looking back at her with a smile on her lips.
Yang stared into the girls eyes and cocked her head in confusion. The slight anger and embarrassment she felt just seconds ago; vanishing at this new sight.
The girl Roman had introduced as Neo, her eyes were two different colors, which mirrored her odd hair color as well.
With the left a deep brown and her right one a sparkling pink; the girl continued to smile before she settled on concentrating all of her attention back towards steering the boat and finally broke her eye contact with Yang.
"Afraid if a little cannon fire there, goldilocks?" Roman chided.
Yang scowled at the man. She wasn't afraid; she was just … caught off guard! Yep!
"Quartermaster!"
Both Roman and Yang both hurried to the balcony overlooking the deck below them where they stood. They both spotted a man who was dressed in a black sleeveless vest with a red scarf that was wrapped around his neck and cascaded down over his chest. He also had on black cut-off pants that ended at his ankles and was barefoot.
He had short black hair with a full beard and mustache. Even from standing on the deck above him; Yang could tell the man in question was extremely tall.
As Roman sighed, apparently at the sight he quickly turned towards Yang. "That's our Master Gunner. He oversees the ship's armaments; Junior."
Turning his attention back towards the tall man now known as Junior, Roman wore a bored expression before replying. "What is it now, Junior? Did Melanie get trapped in one of the cannons again, cause if she did she's gonna find herself stuck on kitchen duty with Tukson." He called out as he made his way down the steps and towards Junior.
"Hey where are you going?" Yang asked, a little more desperately did she meant to as she spotted Roman walking down the stairs towards Junior.
He turned and flashed a grin. "I'll be back; just wait there. Or better yet why don't you chat up our Navigator there!" He called out, vanishing down the stairs.
Yang exhaled and leaned against the balcony's railing watching the two men walk towards the left and down a flight of stairs that led below deck.
In a matter of seconds the blonde found herself deep in thought once more about what was happening. She kept thinking about her sister Ruby who was currently also right below her and slightly towards the right. She tried to peer into the window that saw into the room that was currently occupied by her sister and the Captain of the ship; but the curtains were drawn.
But a sound snapped her back towards the helm of the ship; where Neo stood. The girl had her multi-colored eyes focused straight ahead as she steered the large boat.
Well he did say to talk to her in the meantime…
Shuffling slowly towards the short girl, Yang walked up next to her. It wasn't until she stopped next to the short Navigator's side that Neo glanced up at her with a curious look on her face.
Being this close to the girl now though caused Yang to rub the back of her neck nervously.
Damn she's pretty.
Although due to the height difference between the two, Yang had to look down on Neo. She was incredibly short; shorter than Ruby even. But that was part of her charm Yang had guessed.
After a few seconds of silence, Yang figured the girl wasn't going to initiate the first word. So the wild blonde fidgeted a bit before clearing her throat. Although she had no idea why she was feeling so nervous all of a sudden.
As if out of nowhere; Yang felt the sun's rays beaming down on her, the fresh salt in the water hitting her skin, her stomach in knots, and the slight shaking of her legs that came from her own skittish body.
"Uh so, you're the Navigator?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yang mentally rolled her eyes at the lame question; but still she watched the cute short girl's face change from curious to a small smile and nod her head once.
Seeing the girl smile though caused Yang to smile as well. She had no idea why, but it enacted a friendly response out of her. It felt as if all her worries and concerns melted away at the sight of it. Now feeling her confidence perk up at the sight, the blonde pressed on.
"So… I'm Yang by the way! Your name's Neo?"
She watched the girl continue to look up at her with that wide and heart melting smile and nod her head once again.
"How'd you end up joining all this?" Yang asked as she made a wide motion with her hands towards the ship.
But yet another sound rang out and caused Yang to jog towards the railing that overlooked the deck below; as well as the main Captain's quarters.
Her eyes instantly locked onto a familiar form who was quickly rushing down the stairs from the room. Her short crimson hair bobbing with each hurried step she took. Yang instantly recognized the girl as her little sister Ruby. But what perplexed her was to why Ruby was seemingly bolting from the room that Cinder had dragged her into.
Not a moment later though came Cinder running behind Ruby. And Yang couldn't help but widen her eyes at the sight. Cinder was currently topless and covering herself with her arms and hands as she ran towards Ruby.
"Ruby wait!" The topless Cinder called out.
"No! You… You promised me sweets! That- those weren't sweets!" Ruby childishly shrieked back towards the woman.
But Cinder proved to be faster than Ruby and grabbed the shorter girl by the collar of her short; dragging her kicking and screaming back up the stairs quickly.
"I promise Ruby; it'll taste sweet… for the both of us." The older woman cooed out softly.
Still watching the two though Yang couldn't help but cock her head in confusion before she made eye contact with Ruby's silver orbs right before she was led back into the room below.
"Yang, help me!"
The blonde just chuckled before waving her hand goodbye towards the solemn girl until she lost sight of her and heard the sound of the door closing once more.
"Well she's a lively one, huh?" She asked towards no one in particular.
Of course Yang felt bad for Ruby, but it couldn't be that bad. So far these people weren't as bad as a bunch that she figured they would be.
Speaking of which.
Yang turned around from the railing and rested her eyes on the short Navigator and licked her lips. She couldn't see her face as it was blocked by the massive wooden steering wheel; it looked almost comical to the blonde but she knew her thoughts were anything but at the moment.
Stepping off to resume her previous conversation with Neo, she was stopped at the sound of a gruff voice.
"Yang was it? You hungry?"
Averting her gaze towards the familiar voice, she spotted Roman making his way back up the stairs with a skewered fish in each of his hands. He took a bite from one of them before speaking up once more.
"I'm sure you're gonna love it. We used some spices that we acquired from our last haul."
Yang narrowed her eyes but took one of the fish he offered towards her and took a tentative bite. She was starving, and now that she thought about it; hadn't eaten for almost half a day. She scrunched her nose up in case she didn't like the food but instantly tasted to familiar spices on the fish.
Spices. Last haul. Acquired?!
Quickly swallowing her food, Yang glared at the man. "Those are my spices that you so called acquired." She hissed.
Roman stopped chewing his food and threw the girl a curious look before erupting in a boastful laughter. "Well good! It seems like you're already making yourself useful!"
Yang just sighed before taking another bite of the fish and stared out towards the wide open sea, watching the golden sun set beyond the horizon. Until one other question burned in her mind.
"What's the name of this boat anyway?" She asked, turning to see Roman devour the last of his fish and toss the stick overboard.
"The Queen's Vessel."