.

Wiliamsburg, Colony of Virginia

.

"It's going to storm. Per'aps you'd best - 'ere. Take my coat."

"Alex. You worry too much, I shall be fine."

"I'm sorry." He worries at the the coat a bit anyway. "I just...we're so close now. Makes it all the more likely that something will go wrong."

"Don't be silly! I've made this journey before, and the only other option is to have Laurel making it on her own."

"Laurel picked up my knife once when last we saw 'er and threw it at the target I was using for practice, landed right in the middle. I tried to show you the same and you missed the tree entirely."

"Oh, alright. I know I'm not Laurel, you needn't remind me I'm quite the damsel." She pouts, arms crossing.

He sighs. "I didn't mean it like that. Just...please. For my sake, let me accompany you."

"And miss a days work over something so silly? No. I shall be fine."

"You shall be the death of me someday, I'd swear it. But then I s'ppose I always knew it would be a woman to do that." She giggles a bit, and he plants a kiss on her forehead. "Just - be careful, love. Please."

"I'll see you this afternoon." She brushes a hand against his cheek, spins around and bounces off to the waiting carriage.

He watches her go, wringing his hands, unable to shake the feeling of foreboding turning his belly upside down.

...

He knew. Oh, blast and bugger it. Gods above, he knew.

Laurel stumbles out of the carriage. Her dress is tattered, her eye bruised, her shoulder bleeding, she's an absolute fright as she gathers her skirts in her hands and sprints up to Alex. She's always so composed, so rigid in posture and precise in her wordings, it's a shock to see her so panicked. There are tears streaming down her face as she flies into his arms. "Alex." Not 'Master Sparrow', as she'd come to know him. "Alex. I'm sor-I'm sorry. I..."

"What?" He demands, searching her wide eyes. "What is it, where's Imogene?"

"It happened so fast, we thought they were so-soldiers, we tho-thought..."

Worry for her wars with his own growing panic at Imogene's absence. "Breathe." He pulls her into an embrace, runs a hand through her hair and tries to calm her. "Just, tell me what happened."

Shaking like a leaf, she pulls back to look at him. "Alex. She's gone." He freezes at this. He can't comprehend. "I tried-oh, I tried. But they already had her. They were dragging her away and there was nothing...by the time help came she was gone and they had so many guns I don't even know how I...I should've been taken to. I should be with her, I sho-should be..." She's breathing rapid again, too fast, as if she just can't get enough air in, and she's shaking so hard.

Alex looks up as the Ellsworth's butler comes out of the house, eyes wide and worried as they land on Laurel. Alex gently ushers Laurel over to him. "Get her inside to Mrs. Ellsworth."

"Sir, where are you going?"

"Into town to fetch the doctor, and to see if anyone knows more about this."

...

No one knows anything yet. They all saw the carriage tearing through town, but that's it. He returns swiftly with a doctor. Laurel has managed to calm herself, but only after a fainting spell, and the doctor is quick to take her into a room privately so that he can examine her.

"She explained better, after she fainted." Mrs. Ellsworth is shaky as well, seeming always just moments away from a bout of tears, but so far has remained strong.

"Missus...we don't 'ave to do this now, we can..."

"It makes little difference, now or later she'll still be gone and we the only ones who can find her." Mrs. Ellsworth snaps in response. He remains silent, just nods, so she goes on. "They were sailors, British Marines. At least, she and Imogene really thought so. They acted as Marines and bore the uniforms."

He nods. "Alright. Did they say anything that she 'eard, then?"

"They were flirtatious. Very forward in their admiration of both the girls, but Imogene in particular."

He swallows, nods, tries to remember to breath. "And when they - made known their true colors?"

"They went on in the same vein. But..." She breaks off, closing her eyes, so shaky...

"Missus..."

"They were nastier. Vulgar. She thinks she heard... Oh. Oh, Alexander. She thinks that she heard them speaking of what a 'shiny penny' they could get for such a - a 'lovely creature'." The older woman hugs herself, rocking a bit in her seat. "Who says such things? Talking about a person, a - a young woman?"

Alex shoots to his feet and runs a hand through his hair. Oh, he knows just the sort of people who talk like that. But none of them are from anywhere around here. He paces the room, restless and fretful, but spins back around to face Mrs. Ellsworth as a thought strikes him. "You said you think us to be the only ones who can save 'er. What would make you think..."

"You think I haven't heard the things you've told her? In no less detail?" She fires back. "Though I understand in full that you are no longer that person, I should think you still remember well enough... surely, you could at least guess at where she'd be taken."

"I don't know. I don't..." He begins pacing again as he thinks. The practice of stealing girls, innocent subjects of the English crown...there aren't many places where he can imagine that being condoned. Certainly, there's no where around here. So, unless...unless. "Tortuga." He says aloud, and Mrs. Ellsworth blinks at him.

"I beg your pardon."

"In Caribbean waters. It's a pirate port, a haven for 'uman scum. The lowest of the low call it 'ome, and it's the nearest place to 'ere that I can imagine anyone stealing young women would be able to do any business."

"And it terrifies you. Not just what they've done to her, the thought of going back, I can see it in your eyes."

He scrubs a hand over his face. "I wanted to believe I could be done with that life. S'ppose I should've known better. I'll have to gather up what I've saved for Imogene and I...see if I can weasel my way onto a ship 'eading that way..."

"That at least, I can help you with."

He stops short, turning to her. "You're husband's ships."

"My husband's ships. It's quite a journey. But they won't take much convincing when I explain it's Imogene been taken. I may even be able to work it so your in full charge of one."

"No." He says firm. "Don't do that. Once I make it to Tortuga, I'll have to go looking for help of a - shadier sort. You'll want as few connections as possible between your name and hers, trust me on that."

"So. It's your old friend you're after, then?"

"Yes. I'm afraid there's no better option."

...

Within two days, Mrs. Ellsworth is having a cargo ship loaded down with new cannons, giving the finest crew she can muster strict instructions. They are to put in at Port Royal after dropping Alex off at his destination. She wants to see none of there faces unless her daughter is accompanything them.

"I warn you, the Captain was wary when I informed him Tortuga was your destination." She tells Alex, the morning they are set to leave.

"I'd expect nothing less from a man with any brain to speak of."

"Are you sure you must start there?"

"If I'm to find Her, then yes, I'll 'ave to."

She nods, lets out a breath. "Be safe. And Alexander? Please. Bring our Imogene back."

He nods, taking the older woman's hands in his own and placing a gentle kiss on the top of each. And with this, he boards a ship headed for the place he intended never to return to, and prays - that he'll make it there in time, and that by some gracious miracle, Peg Leg Turner will be there to greet him.

One Month Later

.

"I still can't believe this."

"Can't believe what? Gold itself looks real enough, aye?"

"Well, sure enough, it's real, what I can't believe is that you managed to get your hands on it all."

"Would you believe they thought I was the maharaja's daughter? Or maybe it was sister..."

Jo plants her hands on her hips and exchanges a look with Riley, who studies Emily a moment before picking up one of the gold peices and inspecting it. "Ok. The gold's real. But where did you really steal it?"

"I can assure you, this particular tale would be far too tall for me to have spun even if I tried. There were seven of them and I'd sort of, somewhat on accident..." Jo raises a single brow while Riley gives a gruff 'hm' and crosses his arms. Emily sighs. "Alright. So the one had this lovely bit of shine 'round his neck and you lot had decided to take your sweet time so I stole the silks out the trunk and put them on and..."

"And it just happened to work?" Riley interjects, skeptical.

"Well - if you'd bloody well let me finish." She grumbles at him crossly. "Apparently they didn't know what was in the trunks 'cause they hadn't seen the silks before. I came traipsing in and never had to say a word. Next thing I know they're carting me off to see some prince or other."

"Oh, now there's a prince." Jo throws up her hands, but she looks amused.

"Aye, there was! He was a handsome bloke, too. Only half decent and sitting out in the sun like that..." Riley grumbles. Emily clears her throat. "Anyway, he seemed to think I was shy, keeping m'mouth shut like I was trying to. Offered me all sorts of gifts. Wasn't until I was halfway back through town and saw you lot finally pulling in that I realized what he was after. S'ppose he'll be rather steamed when he finds his bride's run off with the dowery..."

Riley appears to be holding back laughter while Jo rubs her temples. "Assuming all this is true, did it not occur to you he may try and chase you down?"

"Bah, he'll be headed home by now I expect, where ever that is. Could be weeks before he realizes." Emily waves a hand, careless. A pause. "Though, just in case, I s'sppose we'd best find something to do with all this."

Riley rubs the back of his neck. "It's a lot of gold."

Jo gets a mischievous look in her eye, catching Emily's. "A place to lie low with a pocket full of coin?"

Emily snaps her fingers and points at the older woman, grinning, as Riley smirks at them both and flips the coin he's been toying with in his hand.

"Tortuga."

She has to be here. He knows that was the Queen he saw at the docks. It's dark and it's storming and he's exhausted but he knows and he has to find her, because gods above, he's come all this way…

The Faithful Bride is teeming with raucous activity, more so than he can ever remember seeing it before it seems, or maybe he's just grown too used to the relative calm of Virginia. He pushes his way past all the drunken men and the ladies of the night attempting to get their attentions (and his, but he doesn't even spare them a glance), and he sees several familiar faces, but he does not see the woman herself.

This is madness, he thinks, as a tipsy strumpet nearly falls into him, only to be caught by a man worse off than she and dragged off. Had he really ever been alright with all of this? Well, no, no he hadn't. Hence is desperate escape from it all.

He fights his way back out onto the rather more sparsely populated streets, pulling his coat tighter around his shoulders. His poor coat. It had been nice, once, nicer than anything he'd owned before. Now its quickly growing stained and tattered – and is currently quite soaked by the rain. He shivers in it, one hand reaching up to make sure his hat stays atop his head as the wind attempts to blow it right off. Where to next, where to, where to…well, it's rather obvious, actually. There's only one other place he knew her to frequent here, and on a night such as this especially…

He turns a few corners, braves a shady alleyway, sprints down a street that's all but deserted, and ducks into a much more inviting little inn.

The common room is lit bright by lanterns and a roaring fire. Its busier than he's ever seen it, but still far less crowded than the Bride had been. What patrons it does have are crowded around tables, talking and laughing but remaining more peaceful as barmaids dart about with drink and food that smells like heaven itself, but he hasn't the time to think about his empty belly. His chocolate brown eyes sweep the room, frantic, and land on – well, not the familiar face he was expecting, but he lights up all the same. He'd know those hazel eyes and full black curls anywhere.

Jo Gibbs is seated at a table near the hearth, looking ever so at home amongst the motely bunch of men in varying states of intoxication. Indeed, the mug set before her suggests she's right at their level. She's shuffling a deck of cards, her eyes dancing with laughter. "What's it to be now then, eh, boys? I for one've got plenty more tricks where that came from!" The men grumble and jeer her, good natured.

"Mind if I try my luck as well?" He asks, slipping into the seat next to her as one of the men takes his leave.

She glances at him, once, twice, squinting at him a bit with brows furrowed. "Well, you – where did… Alex Sparrow? Mother's love. Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me, and I'm only 'ere because I need 'elp and it's quite urgent, so please, where is she?"

"Where's…now, wait a moment, you can't just…" And there's that scowl-grimace.

"Miss Gibbs." His fist comes down hard on the table and the men all stop to stare at him, startled. Alex leans in, lowering his voice as he tries to calm himself. "Please. You don't know how far I've come. Tell me where she is and I will be out of your 'air."

"Well…" Jo hesitates. "The thing is she…"

The activity around them dies down a fraction as the door to the Good Goddess opens once again, and another figure slips inside, this one with a presence that demands more attention without meaning to than Alex could ever garner while trying. It's a woman, he thinks, judging by her slight frame, though she's wearing a long coat for her trek through the rain. A feathered maroon hat sits atop her head, long, wet brunette waves hanging down loose beneath it. There are some braids tied into her hair, on either side, with baubles at the ends. The style is familiar to him, reminds him oddly of his father – another face he hasn't seen in too long.

It takes him a long moment to realize…it's her. By the gods, it's really her. She shrugs off the coat as she swaggers across the room, towards Jo – unknowingly, towards Alex. He gets to his feet slow as his eyes land on her for the first time in so long…

She doesn't seem to notice him as she pulls up a chair and plops herself down next to Jo. A barmaid slips over, oddly almost flirtatious as she hands a mug off to the Captain, who excepts it with a smile that could almost be flirtatious as well. With plenty of eyes still sizing her up, not that she seems to mind, the rest of the room goes back to whatever it had been doing.

She brings the mug to her lips and drinks deep, relaxing back into her chair with a contented sigh as she surveys the table of men before her. "At it again, are you?" She asks Jo, laughter in her voice.

"Aye, that she is." The man next to Emily replies, good natured. "Quite the monster you've created with 'er, let me tell ye."

"Ah well, seeing as it was Uncle what taught me, I tend to point anyone with a problem in his direction." She winks in return with a devilish smirk, holding up her mug. The man clinks his own against it, laughing.

Alex's fists clench. She hasn't even glanced in his direction and he doesn't have time for this, he has to… "Captain Turner."

"Peg." She fires back in correction, but it sounds more out of habit. "And whatever it is, I swear I didn't do it…and if I did, can't you allow a girl a drink first?"

He huffs, pinching the bridge of his nose. She's as infuriating as ever, and it's not been five minutes. "Captain - Peg. My apologies, but I'm afraid I don't 'ave the time to waste."

She sighs, a scowl contorting her features as she finally turns her eyes on him. "Look, mate, I think I'd remember coming across a so fine a gentleman as yourself, wearing a coat such as that, and seeing as I don…"She trails off. He's taken off his hat to meet her eyes proper, and she freezes now, eyes going wide. Her mug slips from her fingers a bit, and she starts as the rum splashes over into her lap, abruptly sitting straight in her chair. "Al - Alex?" Her eyes sweep over his tall frame, brows furrowing in confusion. Ragged though he may be from his journey, he still looks little like the man she knew, and it appears he's actually managed to rob everyone's favorite little shrew of her speech. "Alex Sparrow?" A bit of a smile tugs at her lips.

He musters a smile of his own, small but genuine. "Hello, Emily."

She rents a room for the night and tells one of the girls to bring them food and drink before leading Alex back where they can talk in peace. The room is small, but there's a table and a chair where one of them can sit, and it'll do just fine. She waves him forward as she throws her soaked through coat over the chair and hangs her hat on a bed post. "Well, come in, for goodness' sake! Gods, it's so good to see you."

He hesitates in the doorway, looking uncertain and worried and overall just very bothered. "I'm sorry – per'aps I should wait until morning, per'aps…"

She blinks at him, one hand coming up to plant itself on her hip. "What's the matter?"

"It's just…" She gestures for him to go on, eyebrows raised. He sighs. "For us to be tucked away like this, it's not – proper."

"Not…" She stares at him. Not proper. She could point out how far beyond 'not proper' they'd been in the past, but the idea holds no appeal. It's been too long for all that to still hold any weight. Instead, she smiles, playful but innocent. "Leave the door open, then, love. I'll behave." She winks, and sits herself on the bed, nodding for him to take the chair which is a few paces away.

His steps are tentative, his posture stiff. He sits, but looks uncomfortable, and she has to admit – she can't quite figure him out. "I'm sorry." He says again. "I just – I thought I had it well worked out, what I would say, but now that I 'ave you in front of me…"

"Well, it's not as though I hadn't already figured somethings up, else why would you be here? But tell me, how've you – where've you – honestly!" She smiles. "Look at me, I don't know where to start any more than you."

"I've been – well, all over to start out. Port Royal for a while. But I've been settled in Virginia."

"Virginia! Oh, I knew you'd make it all the way there. Tell me, is it nice? That's one place I've never been, you know, up near the colonies."

"Oh," a fond smile graces his lips as he looks down at his hands, "I imagine you'd find it boring in comparison, but it's beautiful. And peaceful."

It's Alex. But it's not Alex. He looks like Alex. But he doesn't talk like Alex, and he certainly doesn't act like Alex. She tries not to let it bother her, but it's – disturbing somehow. "And, erm…what do you do, now? S'ppose you're some manner of apprentice."

There's a pause in the conversation as the girl from earlier finally slips in with the food Emily had requested, along with rum for her and something a little less strong for him. He digs into his food, trying to remain civil but obviously hungry, and she leaves him to it.

"Oh, right." He says, after a long few minutes. "I'm a – well, don't laugh."

"I make no promises." She teases back, holding up her hands.

He rolls his eyes a bit, relaxing a fraction. "I'm a shop boy. I work in a general store, in Williamsburg."

She chuckles. A shop boy. She tries to match her sweet-talking, sword wielding Alex up with the image of what a shop boy looks like – and the image just about fits with the man sitting before her now. She softens a fraction. "But you're happy there. I can tell by the way you talk. I'm glad."

He nods, a small smile gracing his lips – but it fades all too quickly. "I'm afraid that brings me right to why I'm 'ere, however." She nods for him to go on, growing serious as his tone does. He lets out a breath. "You see, I wouldn't be where I am now if it weren't for a – a very dear friend I've made, my dearest friend. Her name is Imogene Ellsworth. She – well, who she is isn't of too much importance. Just, 'er family's wealthy, and each year as Spring comes 'round they throw a ball at their estate near Williamsburg."

Warning bells start going off in her head at this. The speech seems awful practiced somehow, but perhaps that's because he'd been nervous to see Emily again in the first place.

"This year 'er friend Laurel decided to pay us a visit. It's a bit of a journey, down to the nearest docks, but Imo- Miss Ellsworth 'ad made it before, insisted she'd be fine. She took a coach down one morning, on 'er own with only a footman. Laurel made it back, if only just. But Miss Ellsworth…" He trails off, almost chokes on the words.

"What happened?" Emily prods, gentle.

"We don't – well, we know they were attacked. We know she's been taken but it didn't seem as though they intended to kill her." A slight pause, Emily's mind starts to working, but Alex seems to take her silence as something else. "Now – I've come all this way because I've a feeling about all this, and I figured that if anyone could 'elp, it would be you. But I understand if – I mean, I – she – you'd be repaid. Think of what you could get for the daughter of real nobility, then double it, and you 'ave my word that's what you'll 'ave in return."

Well, doesn't that just sum up nicely what exactly he thinks of her? Emily schools her expression so he doesn't see the hurt that stabs her straight through the heart, making old wounds all too fresh again. She nods slow, contemplating it, because if that's all she is to him now, then she won't bother trying to be more. "Tempting offer, that." Under any other circumstances, it truly would be. "But it doesn't sound as though we've the time to waste on discussing it. The rest can wait until this lass of yours is safe. Now, then. If you've anything a bit more helpful to add…"

He nods, meeting her eyes. "Thank you. I'm afraid we don't know much, but Laur-forgive me. Miss Norrington, I should say, she 'eard some of the men talking before she was rescued by chance. They spoke like…" He shudders a bit. "Like slave traders, talking about how 'ealthy and pretty the girls looked, what a price they might fetch. I can't imagine…"

Laurel Norrington? Emily makes a mental note to get more out of him on her later, but for right now… "I can." She reaches for her mug.

He seems taken aback. "You – you know what's going on, then?"

"Aye. All too well, maybe." And her stomach turns at the thought as a magical reaction tries to build. She swigs her rum to calm it.

"I'm not sure I've ever 'eard of something like this 'appening before, women being taken like this."

"That's because it's such a nasty business. Only place you'll find men dealing in it is 'round these parts, far as I know." A pause as a thought strikes her. "Which might be very good news for you. How long was it after she was taken that you left?"

"Not more than three days. Fortunately, the Ellsworth's have an abundance of resources at their disposal, which included a fast little sloop – that wasn't willing to take me all the way here, which is 'ow I actually ended up in a dingy trying to out row this bloody storm all by me…" He sounds frustrated, but catches himself, abrupt. "My apologies, I'm afraid my day's been…"

"Long and rough, apparently. Listen, I know where to start asking questions, and I can tell you that your friend is probably better off than you'd think, at least for now. They won't hurt her for fear – just, they'll want her in good shape."

"In good shape – oh, god." His tired brain starts to catch up with him; she watches the horror twist his features as he realizes what his friend could've been taken for.

"If you made good time getting here on that little sloop, maybe you're ahead of her captors. Save the panic for when its warranted."

"Not by much, though, surely…"

"Hey. There's a reason I'm a captain, remember? Reason I've stayed one, too." She sends him another wink. "I've worked with less before. Get some sleep and trust me." He looks so – so tired and worried and vulnerable she thinks, for a moment, to plant a kiss on his cheek. The fleeting thought has more to do with nostalgia than any current feelings, though. She gets to her feet and lays a hand on his shoulder, squeezing a bit as she walks past.

"Trust you."

She freezes in the doorway, just hearing him for all that he's gone so quiet.

"Wish I 'ad a choice."

What's that supposed to mean? She knows, really, but wants to hear him say it, and almost snaps at him, but bites her tongue. She deserves it. Especially these days, far more than even he knows. Taking a breath in and letting it out slow, she continues on and straight out of the Good Goddess. She has work to do.

And she knows just where to start.

It has been a while, hasn't it?

Alex hadn't quite realized just how long, though. Coming out here – some things never change. Emily herself is just the same as she always was, except maybe now she's a little more comfortable with herself than before. Jo, too, is just the same as he remembers her. And Tortuga itself – to spite his tired thinking the night before – is no more or less the awful, raucous cacophony of human scum it had been to start.

On the other hand…he doesn't recognize him at first. He sees this sailor, scruffy, the stubble on his chin the same dark red as his hair, a bit of gold dangling from one ear.

"S'ppose you're looking for Captain Turner." He asks, gruff, his eyes hard and wary as he sizes Alex up.

"Yes." Alex replies, absent, as he tries to figure why the sailor is familiar. "Yes, I'm a friend, I spoke to 'er last night."

Amusement flashes across the man's face. "You must've been at the rum harder n' Peg to forget my face so easily, Sparrow."

And then it dawns on him – but, no. He's only got but a few inches on Emily where heights concerned, but by the gods, he's downright burly. Broad shoulders, barrel chest, large arms. "Riley." He tries to match the man up with the whelp he'd once known. "Riley Connelly?"

A smirk plays at Riley's lips, arms crossing over his chest, as that familiar alto calls out from somewhere on the ship behind him. "Boys. Play nice now." She's amused.

"Awww." Riley calls back, eyes still trained on Alex as he turns halfway to face his captain. "Do we have to?"

Her laughter rings out, and Alex finds himself unable to breath for a moment. One thing he might've still missed just a little, if he's honest – the sound of her laughter.

She strolls down the gangplank to lay a hand on Riley's arm. "Come on, now, love, behave." She sounds rather serious now, and Alex wonders if he's missing something. "Alex's got plenty to worry about as it is."

Riley's eyes remain trained on Alex a moment longer before he relaxes, turning to Emily. "Aye, Captain. You just, erm," he glances back at Alex, "be sure to let me know if I'm needed, then."

"You won't be." She plants a kiss on his cheek, and at this Riley takes his leave.

Emily gestures for Alex to follow her, and he does. He pauses as they make it up on deck and he looks around a bit. The Queen is as pretty and majestic a ship as ever, though he can see where the battles she's fought have taken their toll. Memories begin to overwhelm him, things he hasn't thought about in some time…

"Alex." Emily's voice is quieter this time, gentle. "Did you hear me?"

"Hm? I'm – I'm sorry. I just…got a little lost a moment there."

She studies him a moment, then smiles a bit. "I knew you'd miss it, if only a little. Welcome home."

"I 'ave one of those now, a 'ome." He replies, soft but hard as he stands tall. "This is not it."

If she's hurt by this, she doesn't show it, just shrugs. "Well, it was once, you can't deny that. Anyway, come on. We've got a lot to talk about."

And he realizes it may not be an act. It may be that she really has moved well on, so well that his presence now isn't a bother to her, just a pleasant surprise. A visit from an old friend she wasn't sure she'd get to see again.

He thinks of the kiss she'd planted on Riley's cheek, so casual, and thinks maybe things have changed in ways as he follows her down to her cabin.

...

It looks like a captain's cabin now, a bit more befitting a gentle(wo)man of fortune. The drapes over the window are embroidered, her desk is littered with maps and all manner of tools for navigation and the plotting of courses, along with a few empty bottles and one half full. Her bookshelf is fuller than it had been, and now houses a few little odds and ends, things like a little sculpture that looks Asian in origin and bookends with carvings of the Greek god Poseidon.

He stares out the window a moment, taking in the vast expanse of blue glinting in the sunlight, and thinks Imogene would love this. She hadn't enjoyed being out on a ship quite as much as he, but she does love the ocean. "Did you find anything out yet?" He asks, turning to Emily.

"Not just yet. But that's to be expected. My usual sources aren't going to be quite so – forthcoming with something of this nature. Too much a risk."

Usual sources? He ponders that even as he answers. "Am I to assume that means you have other ideas of where to go?"

"Oh, plenty." She nods, hesitating just a touch. "In fact, I've already got a much more promising prospect coming here now. We agreed it may be safer to talk here on the Queen. Less potential for eavesdropping, but Alex… I'm thinking perhaps I should warn you –"

"Captain?" A voice calls out from just down the hallway, soft footsteps accompanying it. "Jo told me to go ahead, that you'd be waiting."

Her voice. Alex freezes at the sound, because he knows that voice.

Emily sighs. "I tried." She tells him, and then calls out. "Come on then, Ruby."

And sure enough, Ruby struts right in, wearing a day dress that is marginally more modest than what he's used to seeing her in with her dark curls pinned back. She stops a bit short at the sight of him, seeming a little wary of a sudden. "Al-Alex?" Before he can react, she near stomps across the room and lands a slap across his face. Hard. With him speechless, rubbing his stinging cheek, she turns to Emily, hands on her hips. "Now how come you didn't bother to tell me?"

"Would you've come if I did?" Ruby sends a glare at Alex before scowling at Emily. Emily huffs a bit as she goes on. "Now look here, I know what you all think, but his girls the one who's in trouble. You tell me what I need to know for her sake, not his."

"I'm – I'm sorry, what is it I'm missing exactly?" He ventures bravely, keeping a wary eye on Ruby.

She glares at him in a way that has him backing up a bit. "Oh, it would be just like you, to not even realize. You're just lucky the Captain knows how to persuade a girl."

"Persuade…" Alex blinks, turning to Emily. "What-what form of 'persuasion' might we be…and 'old on, I don't even understand why you would need…"

"Trifles, all of it." Emily cuts in, waving him off. "Ruby. You said you knew something."

"I do." She hesitates, stealing another glaring glance at Alex. "There's a man comes in to our house, fairly regular like. Not real big or real small or nothing like that, though he does have this scar right across his ugly face. We know him 'cause he's…rough. We all get nervous when he comes in, thinking maybe he'll change things up, but he never does. Only ever goes for three of our girls, tiny things with fair hair."

Alex stiffens at this, face draining of any color. He abruptly feels shaky, stumbling over to the wall to brace himself. Tiny things with fair hair. Imogen is tiny, so delicate, and those lovely waves of hers…

Emily clears her throat. "And you know him to be involved in…"

There's a bit of a pause as Ruby eyes Alex up, softening a fraction. "Many things." She finishes for Emily. "The most revolting to be the auction."

"Auction?" Alex asks, his stomach turning. "What sort of auction?"

Ruby and Emily exchange an uncomfortable glance. Emily grimaces. "I forget sometimes. You were so busy feeling guilty and worrying over me you never bothered to learn that much about our world here."

"Your world here." He snaps in correction. "What sort of auction, Emily?"

Something strange flashes behind her eyes, but it's gone too quick for him to pinpoint what it is. She's a little more calculating when answering. "A bridal auction. They kidnap women, usually young, always pretty, all the better if they're of higher birth, and, well... it's exactly what you'd expect, hearing 'auction'."

Ruby crosses her arms, almost hugging herself, looking uneasy. "They sell the girls off to the highest bidder like chattel, and that's exactly what they become from there if even they were still anymore before."

That does it. That's too much. He staggers out of the cabin and up on deck, hoping the fresh sea air will help, but it does nothing for him. All he can see is his Imogene, his pretty, innocent little… he staggers to the rail and empties the contents of his belly out into the waters beneath them and collapses against a barrel, gasping as panic overtakes him because this is worse than what he'd thought.

"Whoa." A different voice, one he's also missed, greets his ears again. Jo. She's at his side in another moment. "Easy, Alex, breathe." She lays a hand on his shoulder.

He feels a tingling warmth where her hand is, and it spreads through the rest of him slow but sure. His stomach calms itself, his hands stop shaking quite so violently, and his breathing begins to even back out. When the spots dancing before his eyes disperse, he turns to Jo with brows furrowed only to find her pulling her hand back – still glowing with the bluish energy that is magic.

He jumps back a bit, and she raises a single eyebrow. "Awful jumpy there, relax." She says. "I can do that a hundred times over, but it won't do no good if you keep working yourself up like that."

He swallows, takes a few calming breathes. "Right. Yes. I mean – thank you."

She glances back at Emily as she comes up. "Dare I ask what that was about?"

Emily shakes her head, studying Alex. "Must be some friend for you go losing it like that over her."

He has no answer to that. The way she'd said it... what's she implying? He only shakes his head. She reaches out a hand, but he waves it off as he gets to his feet. She leads him back down to her cabin, where he sits at her desk, still feeling shaky.

"Ruby, how often does this man come 'round?" Emily asks, sounding like she could be on to something, but Alex doesn't have it in him to be too hopeful just at the moment.

"Fairly regular, like I said. Times in between his visits are set. You might be in luck, matter of fact, if you can call it luck, 'cause we're expecting him any day now."

"And he only ever goes for fare girls?"

"Only ever picks from the three of ours, and they come out pretty roughed up."

Emily nods slow. "Any chance they'd be willing to try and, erm, lend us a hand, as it were?"

Ruby hesitates. "I could talk to them, but I doubt it. He comes 'round, they each have to endure a night if they're lucky, two if they ain't, but then that's the end of it for a few months. We don't get any others bad as him, they can't ask for better being what we are."

"Ah, it was worth a shot anyway." Emily sighs. "We'll have to do this the complicated way then. Le'see. I'll need a wig, a good one, and I'll have to talk to your mistress…"

Ruby seems to have cottoned on already to what Emily's thinking. "You're mad. Don't know why it keeps surprising me. I can – arrange for you to take up a room at our house for a night, but are you sure…"

It takes Alex's already spent mind a moment to catch up, but hold on… "Wait. You don't mean to… I mean…"

"Well, how else are we going to get our hands on him?" Emily scowls as though he's the one being silly. "Besides, he won't get that far with me." She holds up her hand, and he watches as that bluish glow from earlier surrounds it. She winks and aims it at the bottle on her desk he'd noted earlier, making it float and guiding it over to land in his lap. He takes it in his hand absently. "Put some color back in your cheeks." She nods at the bottle. "I told you, I'll figure this out."

That's why I'm captain. Her voice echoes, from so long ago. He scowls and shoves the bottle back onto the desk, disgusted by the smell of the rum drifting up to his nose. "That is a truly, bloody terrible idea. Magic is unpredictable, and this does not sound like a man you want to make an enemy of."

"My magic was unpredictable, and only because I hadn't bothered to learn it well enough." She's beginning to sound annoyed now. "As you can see, I've got quite the handle on it now, thanks very much, and I'll have a plan B besides."

"Since when do you even fully bother with plan A?"

"Since the last time not fully bothering with one resulted in me spending several weeks in my own brig!" She snaps back with the blazing fire he remembers her more fondly for. A moment passes, she seems to have startled herself. She takes a breath and goes on, voice low and serious. "I understand you don't trust me worth a damn, but listen well. I don't stick my neck out for just any reason these days, and I certainly can't be bothered with little rich damsels in distress, and I've already got quite the pile of shine sitting in my hold. I'm doing this because it's you that asked and we were friends. So either stow it, or find someone else to help your sorry shop-boy arse." She doesn't wait for him to respond, turning to Ruby, who looks impressed. "Now, if you'll be so kind, I may need a little help…"

She's in her cabin with just Ruby, trying on dresses to see which fits best, when Jo bustles her way into the room - without bothering to knock, as per usual when she's got something else on her mind.

"Jo, if there'd been anyone else in that corridor just now..." Emily grumbles, hands on her hips. She's wearing only a shift and stays, and can only imagine the comments she'd have thrown her way if one of her men saw.

Jo waves her off with the hand not wrapped around her spell book. "There wasn't, so hush. I think I can help with all..." She raises an eyebrow at Emily's current state. "...this."

"Magically? This ought to be good."

"It usually is." Ruby interjects, tone flat, as she goes about preparing another dress.

Emily sends her a look. "Go ahead, Jo."

Jo opens her book, flipping a few pages before she lands on the right one. "Ha, here it is. A transformation spell."

Emily's brows furrow a bit as Ruby darts around her, situating layers of skirts. "Those spells are well nigh impossible to get right."

"Aye, transforming one object into a different one is complicated, even more so if you're attempting to transform an object into something living. We wouldn't be doing any of that."

"Alright. I'm listening."

"The spell in here is for transforming appearance only. Not complicated at all if the goal is to, say, lighten ones complexion, lengthen hair and turn it more gold than brown."

Ruby grumbles as she tightens the dresses laces as far as she can, and worries at areas where there is still extra material. "Perhaps give one a few more curves to speak of."

"Oi!" Emily plants her hands on her hips, indignant.

"Not - not that there's anything wrong with you now." Jo says, placating. "Just - she has a point."

"Don't I, though? She's so skinny."

"Like a twig! Always wondered how she can pick up that sword of hers, much less wave it around like..."

"Alright!" Emily snaps. "Jo. Is it possible you could cover up my leg as well?"

"Oh, right. Should be the easiest thing of all, actually."

"Right. So what's the catch?"

"Learning, are we?" Jo nods, approving. "The spell itself only lasts for so long. Recasting it s'not hard, but you can't do it on yourself and you have to find a private place. Last thing you want is anyone catching you in the middle of transforming back."

"I won't need it to last too awful long, I expect. What's the other usual catch?"

Jo holds up a finger, knowing, and glances down to consult the book again. "Ingredients for this one is easy enough. Just need a bit of your hair."

Ruby has continued to worry at the dress Emily's currently fitted in, and the captain waves her off in favor of coming up to read over Jo's shoulder. "...chameleon's skin?" She grimaces a bit - where would one find a chameleon, and who would want to get close enough for that? Then again, Emily's aversion to anything slithering and/or scaly is rather particular to only her, for obvious reasons.

"Relax. I've been doing some experimenting of my own. A good alchemist stocks up on the rarer bits and bobs when she can, makes sure it's on hand when needed."

"...and it sounds as if I'll be leaving all that right up to you." Producing a phial from inside her desk, kept there for occasions just such as this one, she slices off a short lock of her hair and puts it inside.

Jo takes it and tucks into a pocket of her own vest as she bustles back out of the room. "I'll get right on it, then, shall I?"

Ruby huffs as she starts the process of freeing Emily from the constraints of her current rig. "I think I'll have a laugh when this goes about as well as these things ever do."

Emily just rolls her eyes.

There are several of them. A small stage has been set up, and the girls are shoved up to huddle just at the steps leading up to it. The process is systematic and seems disturbingly routine. A man with a nasty scar marring an already pimpled face shoves the girls roughly onto the stage, one at a time. The price paid for them goes up if they struggle. This probably bodes even less well for those doing the struggling but the remaining girls are too terrifed to catch onto this.

One by one they are all dragged off by the pigs they will now call husband, until but one remains. She's the smallest of the bunch, the most delicate, but seems the oldest by the way she holds herself. She does not struggle. There are tears streaming down her face, but she makes no sound. The man with the scar shoves her all the same, but she seems resigned to her fate as she steps up on stage.

Sky blue eyes, a doll-like face framed by light brown curls...the men fight for some time over her. The finest jewel.

And Emily has to admit, as the vision fades out and she finds herself back in her cabin... Alex's little beauty is tough for all that she's just another silly little heiress. Emily will give her that, if nothing else. But then, he always did know how to pick them.

Her thoughts turn to the other girls she'd seen, and her stomach turns as disgust settles in. She's hardly the one taking the moral high ground most times these days, but on this one thing she cannot bring herself to look away. She doesn't know how, but she's going to shut the whole thing down. Permenantly, probably not, but she won't walk away without trying.

(See Alex? Not so far gone, me. I swear.)

I'm not paying enough attention to how long these chapters are I think. -_-

Anyway, yay, an update! :)