So, how's the weather for everyone? Yeah, the big snow problems here in the US can even affect the terrible hills of West Virginia. And losing power for a significant period when I've moved all my writing to a desktop computer is downright painful.
However, I can only put half the blame of this chapter's delay on weather. While that was knocked out, I started a what if scenario story in messages with my friend, and it took away some focus on writing this, so apologies for my focus going elsewhere momentarily(it's done. No worries).
Oh, well. My shit excuses aside, Onward Brave Heroes!
Chapter Twenty Eight: Homecoming
The waves wash against the hull. A deep sloshing splash rumbles against the thick structure. The ferry, a rather massive travel ship, roars over the waves. Dark blue hued with light gray upper deck and one smoke stack jutting out the top. The side shows bold lettering for the ship name 'TROJAN'.
The deep water splashes about below a pair of feet. Carmine's legs dangle over the edge. Sitting in front of the railing, Carmine's legs rest under the lowest rail, hanging off the side of the ship. He rests forward, arms crossed on the low railing.
The wind of the sea rushes against his hair, blowing it back and exposing the boy's hairline and forehead. Furrowing his brow, he stubbornly brushes the hair back forward with his fingers. The ONE annoying thing about wind is when his hair is too swept back.
A second gust lightly brushes against his face, bringing a serene calm. All is forgiven for that feeling. He'll take every cool breath of the world to sooth him. Just a day out from Sanctuary... From home.
Eight years since he'd seen it, huh. It probably looks the same... No reason to think it's changed. Maybe his old teachers were still there, too... Mrs Gatsby, the shrew. She never liked him, no matter how nice he was. Which never made much sense to him, as she only started being that way after a parent teacher conference... and everyone else she didn't like were Jerome and Tom. The only thing they had in common were being faun- oh... His parents were inter species married.
His nostrils flair, finally piecing together his old teacher's bitchiness! That bigoted whore!
Who knows? Maybe this mission will be as simple as Mrs Gatsby being a secret AZRL spy? One can dream. None of the teachers there were as good as Oobleck. Hopefully they finally put some guards around the schools for those druggy losers. Eh, knowing the world, Kerry probably grew up and became one.
The boy blinks in surprise at that. Because that's a really good question. What about all his classmates? Granted, he only recalled a handful. Face scrunched, he struggles to even recall faces beyond their hair colors.
A rapt hit whacks into his back, stinging as the boy jolts in place. He turns a burning scowl behind him at Roman. The conman merely raised a brow, Velvet Valentine in hand. "What the hell?"
Roman gives a smarmy grin, leaning back in a chair by a deck table. The area is sparsely populated with other ferry passengers. "Just making sure you weren't short circuiting with that thinking face. It's dangerous when you do that."
The boy huffs, turning away. "Asshole."
"Oh, from 'Jerk' to 'Asshole'? I'm upgrading." Roman snarks as he huffs on his cigar. "Such intellectual company."
"Think of it as bargaining for a better title." Carmine bites back, pulling up the rails to stand. He stretches to pop his back. Sending a cursory glance at other passengers. He ignores the amused hum from Roman, seemingly approving of the boy's jab. "So, what do you see?"
Roman maintains a smirk as he cocks his head. "Hmm?"
The boy's blue eyes hover over a couple, both huddled at the rails on the opposite end of the deck. They lean in to take a group selfie with the ocean background. Wholesome, actually. Carmine cracks a smirk for a moment, but turns to Roman. "Surrounded by passengers with little attention paid to one another, I assumed you would have noticed a few things you'd like pointing out."
Roman scoffs with a pop, turning fully to Carmine. "Well, the romantic couple has loose purse straps and googly eyes looking elsewhere. The elderly couple from 2B has an annoying habit of taking all the crescent rolls. Would be easy to drug them and take all their stuff. What?" He waves his hand flippantly. "You asking me how I would rob every person on this ship?"
Carmine scowls. "Well... I was more hoping I was right not noticing anything suspicious, but I should be watching you more." Rolling his eyes, he mutters under his breath. "Or Neo. I'm sure she's noticed potential victims. Hopefully, Blair curbs that."
"You mean, 'hopefully, Barbie smooths Tricolor and I's differences for me'. Right?" Roman snickers at the boy's twitch. Carmine opens his mouth to argue, but Roman reclines in the deck chair. "Save it. I'm not interested in teen drama."
The boy gives a lidded stare, annoyed. "Wow. You're such a wonderful friend."
As the boy wanders off from the deck, Roman snaps his head up, jabbing a finger out. "Hey. That word is taboo, Brat! That word doesn't exist as far as I'm concerned!"
. . .
A guest bedroom door opens, presenting a frail woman, hair up in a bun. She blinks beady eyes in confusion, finding two women at her door. One, a scowling blonde in the form of Blair. The other, a pouting down cast Neo. The little girl was looking away while Blair held eye contact with the renter of the room.
"Yes?" The kindly old lady questions. "How can I help you?"
Blair's scowl morphs to a plain disciplined gaze. "Ma'am. I apologize for disturbing you, but my friend here has... unfortunately wronged you. We are here to make amends." The woman blinks in confusion before all attention turns to Neo, who scrunches her face further. Blair narrows her eyes at her. "Neo, give it back."
The elder woman flinches in surprise, gazing around her room for something missing. Neo turns a fiery gaze towards Blair. She points to the old lady, then mimes opening up a coin purse. She ends with cupping her hands in the shape of said purse before widening her hands out.
"It doesn't matter how much money she has! You don't take from people!" Blair snaps at her. Blair sends a side gaze to check if the lady is looking. Then, she leans down to Neo and mutters low. "Only from criminals are you allowed to steal."
Neo rolls her eyes, gazing back to the old lady as she turns to meet the mismatched eyes. One dramatic sigh later and Neo reaches behind her back. Her hand reaches out, presenting a worn, yet gorgeous gleaming golden watch.
"Oh! My!" The ole crone looks to the night stand, then to the watch. "W-when did-" She stops, looking at the pouting little girl. Slowly, she grasps her watch back, looking to Neo and Blair. "Thank you for returning it."
"No thanks are necessary." The blonde looks to Neo. "Isn't that right?"
Blair and the lady look expectantly at the little girl, who rolls her eyes before looking up in thought. Slowly, her hands come up, forming a hesitant set of movements... 'Sorry.' She says... in sign language! She still sighs. The old bat won't understand sign-
The lady smiles and raises her own hands, fluidly performing a sequence in return. 'It's okay, little one.'
Neo purses her lips, recoiling in response. Blair perks. "You know sign language?"
"A useful skill. One this one will need." The old lady smiles sweetly, nodding. "Have a wonderful day, dears." And she shuts the door.
Pleasantly surprised, Blair turns to Neo. "Horrid stealing habit aside, I'm proud for the signing attempt." Neo gives a grin back, prompting Blair to drop it to a scolding glare. "But that does little to excuse the behavior."
Neo droops, body language translating to exclaiming 'shit'. Shaking her head, the girl tries to walk away, only for Blair to stop her with a hand on the shoulder. What now?
"That being said, which signs do you know now?" The blonde asks. Perking slightly, the turns fully and looks in thought. Her hands slowly, but confidently, move through four sets of movements. Blair nods attentive at the first three, only to blink confused at fourth. "So, you know 'Sorry', 'Hello there', 'Dumb', and 'Sacrifice the goat'?"
The little girl blinks in recoil, eyes swapping colors. Her lips purse to a poker face. One hand pulls out the sign language book as her brow furrows. Her semblance conjures a sign after a moment in the other hand. 'Which word was goat?'
Strangely, Blair found humor in the girl's mistake, lightly smirking. However, a crewman rushes down the side of the walkway. The man seems panicked as he bumps Neo in the back. Neo fumbles, barely catching the book as Blair scowls. "Hey! What's the-"
"No time! Urgent business!" The blue clad sailor shouts, running around the corner. "CAPTAIN!" They hear him shouting, voice getting further away.
Neo's own scowl softens, sharing a glance with Blair. The two look in the direction the man had come from... the back. The stern. The blonde goes ahead towards the stern. The two march along, occasionally grabbing the railing for the side of the ship to steady themselves. Blair notices that... "We're moving faster."
Neo blinks twice at that, doubling her pace as they rush down a side stairwell to the flat area of the stern. A pool area for some of the ferry guests, the people all unsettled by the speed difference, but still having fun.
The two CRBN members grimace as they find three sailors at the very back, one with binoculars. They were transfixed on something in the distance. The two try to look out into the sea, finding only sloshing waves as far as- wait...
The waters shift slightly, but an small speck in the distance is there. "Come. I'll ask them what it is." She says off hand to Neo. The girl nods, following. Approaching, Blair coughs for one's attention. "Excuse me. Is something the matter?"
The man flinches, turning with a panicked look. "What? Oh! N-nothing. Nothing's the matter. Please continue enjoying the trip, please-"
Blair cuts him off, stepping up to the rail by the other two sailors. Both flinch as she look into the distance. "Is it Grimm?" One gives a forced smile, opening his mouth. "And I'm a Huntress, before you even think about giving a badly timed, poorly executed cover up response."
The three men share glances, the one with the binoculars speaking up. "Um... it's not Grimm, but- Hey!"
His binoculars are swiped from his hands, Neo propping herself up on the rails and looking out into the distance. The men reach for the girl, only for Blair's glare to make them recoil back with arms raised in surrender.
Neo pulls the set away from her eyes, brow quirking. She offers the scope tool to the blonde.
Blair accepts them, taking her own look. Adjusting the zoom, she focuses the sights on the black speck. Enlarged, it shows clear. A dark wooden ship with white trim and a massive red sail. Not an uncommon practice. Making a ship look even somewhat like a Grimm would deter some Grimm attacks, mistaking the object as kin in the distance and moving on.
However, given the sailors' reactions to seeing this ship...
Politely, Blair hands the binoculars back. "Come, Neo. I get the feeling today will be... frustrating." She turns and begins walking, Neo tailing behind her.
. . .
Carmine perks up and stops along the rail, seeing the girls approaching. Briefly, his eyes meet Neo, not discerning anything from her gaze. She slowly shakes her head towards Blair, pulling his attention up to the blonde. "Hey, what's up?"
"You wouldn't happen to have seen the ship captain, have you?"
Carmine flicks his gaze to Neo for a second. "No. Did... did she steal something?" The mismatched eyes don't change, half lidded in a cold stare. Jeez, this isn't smoothing ov-
CRACK!
The handle of Hush crashes directly into the boy's shin. His eyes jut out wide as he flinches into a one foot hop, rubbing the affected appendage. "OW! Double FRICK!" Choosing not to acknowledge the still glaring girl, he looks up to Blair. "What is it, then?"
"Come on." Blair walks by. Neo bobs her head towards Blair as she follows, leaving the boy to limp after. The three make their way into the inner hallways of the ship. Several sailors set about in a panic. Turning corners, the three make their way in the direction of the control room.
One sailor perks up by the main door, raising his hands. "Excuse me, Ma'am. This are is off limit- AH!" He flinches as Fluorescent Finish draws out, halting at the man's throat.
"You may either tell me what's so panicking about the ship in the distance or tell me where the captain is." Her amber eyes bore into the panicked brown. Shaking lightly, he raises a hand and points into the control room, earning a curt nod from the woman.
The three walk into the room, fairly small, but enough room for three workers to monitor various panels. A man dressed similar to the sailors, save for a saturated red jacket over black coverings underneath. Groomed blonde hair was swept back neatly. The sailor at the door politely calls out. "Captain! Someone wants to speak to you. It's an emergency."
The captain turns, a miffed look. "Tell them to come back when it's a catastrophe!" Enunciated nasally, yet authoritative voice. His eyes soften upon Blair, looking back and forth between the sailor and Blair. "Why, hello there. I'm afraid you've caught me at a bad time."
"Explain why it's a bad time then. Does it have anything to do with a black ship with a red sail?" Carmine cocks his head towards Neo, seeing no surprise on her. Blair continues. "Or why your men are all panicking like frightened children."
The captain stands taller, hands behind his back. "My men are the picture of stoic strength. We have control of all the problems, ready for every. Single. Thing. Please, enjoy your ferry ride and be open to a drink later. I'll be at the bar." He wags an eye brow at the blonde.
As Blair, Carmine, and Neo all stare in barely contained disdain, an apathetic skinny faunus, turns. Raccoon? His eyes are sunken with dark shadow. His unkempt green hair was matted down as he drones in a dull monotone. "Captain, they're gaining speed on us. At current speed, they'll be on us in an hour."
The captain turns, ordering. "Crank the speed three times over, Biff!"
The apathetic faunus, Biff, sighs. "... We're already at full speed, sir..."
"Who is 'they'?" Carmine asks out loud.
"None of your concern! There is no danger! My men will brave any conditions to bring you to your destination safely. Right men!" The captain raises a hand... and no one else reacts... Save for one sailor containing a sniffle in taking a deep, unsettled, breath. The captain rubs his chin in thought. "Biff, how are our arms for defense?"
Biff looks to the captain, sighing. "The same three side cannons meant for defending against class two Grimm... the same ones they destroyed two times before." The faunus was sounding more and more demeaning towards his own captain, the tone clearly lost on the commander.
"Wait, this ship's Grimm defenses aren't even functional?" Blair blurts incredulously, panic seeping into Carmine and Neo's eyes. Biff simply gives a glare towards the captain, who droops his gaze down. The blonde groans. "Just... who is following this ship."
"By what authority do you have to-" The captain starts, only to be cut off by the tip of Fluorescent halting just an inch from his throat. The woman's glare finally settles in. "We, uh, may have a slight problem of... shall we say... piracy."
"Piracy..." Carmine echoes, incredulous. "As in... this has happened multiple times?"
The captain scoffs. "It would happen a thousand times more often if it weren't for MY leadership... but, yes." His authoritative demeanor shrivels as he side eyes away. "The tend to disable the ship, take belongings, and enjoy a laughing victory without killing anyone. So, it's more of a nuisance than a problem-"
"How has this not been dealt with?!" Blair demands, looking away from the captain to Biff.
The faunus gives a dull blink. "No one else is contracted to sail this ferry route, and the captain is too eager to stay put. Mistral's government also has declined assistance, and Vale's has no jurisdiction over us."
The woman double takes between the still smug captain and the apathetic first mate. As the woman's calm layer cracks with coming rage, Carmine pinches his nose, exchanging a look with Neo. All unsteady emotions between them are stamped down under the new situation. "So, we the passengers, were not told about the risk, this is an ongoing issue, and you just deal with it..."
At the captain nodding in approval, Carmine groans and pulls out his scroll.
. . .
The scroll ring breaks the conman from his nap under a parasol. Her removes his hat from covering his face, grumpily reaching into his pocket for the device. He answers. "You're cutting into my me time, Silver Streak."
"We got pirates! Come to the control room, now!"
Click.
Roman's green eyes continue staring up at the blue sky. His eyes close... A heavy breath in through the nose. A low sigh out. "Waste of a damn Sunday."
. . .
"What madness have we stumbled upon now?" Roman scowls as he enters, drink in hand. He immediately takes a long sip, emptying the bottle and handing it to the nearest confused sailor.
Neo perks, seeing the conman. She raises a sign, showing a cartoon pirate ship removing a treasure chest from the ferry. The ferry is also on fire. The detail amuses him. The girl then points to Blair and Carmine.
The two notice Roman, Carmine speaking up. "Hey, we're going to have to be ready to fight. Pirates are coming."
Roman holds up a finger. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why should I care about everyone else getting sacked on this boat?" Roman crosses his arms, looking calmly at the baffled boy. "You act as if you haven't literally seen me fight an Atlas ship before, brat. What's in it for us?"
"Keeping our stuff and stopping pirates, duh!"
Roman scoffs in a half laugh. "Please. As if we couldn't just hijack their ship for ourselves and leave them and this ship behind."
"ROMAN!"
The captain suddenly speaks up. "Of course, the courage of a common man is one of greed. We will make do without you, my friend."
"..." Roman stares at the man... seeing his slightly pudgy gut and tight clothing containing surely a sad and pathetic man. He looks to Carmine. "Who is this moron?"
"I, my good man, am Rick Heron! Former Admiral of the 32nd garrison of Atlas! Decorated commander of countless battles facing wave after wave of horrific Grimm. Surely, you know of my glory!" The man passionately speaks, getting all his men to sigh and face palm.
Carmine blinks once. "I got nothing." Neo shakes her head as well.
Roman cocks his head. "... Nope!" He pops the 'P' condescendingly. The three look over to Blair, who stares back with wide bugged out eyes, white as a sheet... "Problems, Barbie?"
"We're dead with this man in charge." Blair shakes her head. "Gods..." The other team members double take a look at one another, then back to Blair. The blonde leans onto a table to steady, one hand to her head as if having a migraine.
"Blair..?"
"He was dishonorably discharged after military court martial. He lost over 300 men, hundreds of Atlesian Knights, and a carrier ship because he chose to engage a Grimm horde in open forest." The woman looks like she's met the devil himself as she glares in disdain at the blonde man staring stoically out of the control room. "His asinine excuse was answering 'The Grimm tactics in kind'. The amount of Grimm killed was less than a quarter his own losses."
Captain Heron puffs his chest out, smiling. "Do not worry. Your lives are in good hands-"
"100 thousand." Roman interjects.
"Excuse me?" Heron huffs indignantly.
"100 thousand Lien, and we'll handle this thing's defense." Roman states, standing tall. "Pay us, and we'll deal with the problem."
Carmine scowls, opening his mouth, only for Neo and Blair to both slap their hands over his face. He glares at the two women. A biting comment about needing to help regardless is stifled as Blair fiercely glares him down and whispers. "Anything that gives us control instead of that man is for the greater good!"
"And what makes you think I can just give you that kind of money?" Heron counters.
Behind him, Biff sounds out. "Your salary is 900 thousand a year, most of it in savings." Roman smirks, seeing the first mate being on his side.
Heron huffs. "Don't listen to him. He knows nothing of my finances!"
"... I do your finances..."
"Biff! I'm negotiating here!" The captain snaps back before sending a stern look towards Roman. A smirking Roman. The man sighs. "Very well... My pool extension will have to wait." He grumbles out as he turns to the men. "Alright men! You'll now be temporarily turned to the command of..." He turns to the group, raising a brow. "Who are you?"
Roman chuckles. "You'll wire that payment to team CRBN in Vale's Hunter team registry."
"You'll be turned to team CRBN! Be as open to them as you are to me." Heron says, followed by a pause of the sailors sharing glances... And they all cheer at the top of their lungs.
"YES!" "WE'RE SAVED!" "God IS real!"
. . .
Team CRBN gathers at the stern, surprising the sailors left there. They gaze out, seeing the black ship in the distance. Able to discern the full shape now, without binoculars, Blair and Neo share a grimace. Biff walks with them, Roman addressing him. "So, who are we dealing with? What kind of pirates are they?"
Biff sighs. "They never identify themselves, but they do have a skeleton in the gallows as their sail symbol."
Roman pauses in thought. Slowly, he reaches for the binoculars. "Give me those, you morons." Zooming in on the ship, it's now in clear full view. A mixture of wood and metal for the hull, clean white trim, rails. He can make out one machine gun cannon mounted on the very front... And a person with a pink scarf.
He clicks his tongue in annoyance as he gazes at the sail. On the deep red fabric is a white symbol... a skeleton, hung at the neck by a rope, a gallows scenery behind with some black line detail for depth. Roman grunts back at them. "You really couldn't do a simple search for common criminal symbols?"
His condescension is met with Biff sighing. "The jackass doesn't have access to criminal records per his fall from grace. Our requests were never answered by Mistral officials."
"Someone you recognize, Roman?" The redhead speaks up, slightly suspicious.
The man huffs, grimacing. "Un... fortunately." He withdraws his scroll as he points at Biff with his off hand. "Please remind your moronic boss that we get paid even if this ends peacefully." Biff sighs and leaves as Roman begins tapping into the device. "They're called the Hangmen pirates." He cocks his head in thought. "No, it's some foreign Mistrali language for the first part, but I know Hangmen is in there."
Neo gives a dry hum. She taps her nose before shrugging. Bit on the nose, huh?
"Who you calling?" Blair asks, curiously.
"If I can be transferred around, I'm calling them." The CRBN members all double take as Roman smirks into the phone. "Benji! How's life? Is Barbara holding up?" A static filled garble answers. It sounds shocked... "Yes, yes. Little ole Roman. Come on, you can't forget me that eas-"
The speech increases in speed, tenfold. Roman's smirk morphs to a bored look.
"Ah, twins, eh? Yeah, that's great, BUT-" He cuts into the speech on the other end. "I was actually hoping you could patch me through to someone." A short pause before he snaps. "Yes! This is a business call. I didn't expect you to be so open. Frankly, it's disgusting." Another pause before he barks a laugh. "Okay, that's a good one. Oh, but I am in a hurry."
A short bit of time passes as Roman looks at the sky, closing his eyes. Finally. "Yes, well, I would like to speak with Drewski of the Hangmen... Yes! Those ones, Benji!" His smirk turns to a grimace. "Oh, my reasons are my own. Just do it... Yes... Say hello to Mum for me. Cheers."
Carmine dryly comments. "Of course we come across literal pirates, and you can just call them up." He groans, head going into the rail. "Criminals are so dumb."
"I can't call them up myself. Senior used to use 'operators' to keep contact information for various groups under pseudonyms and coded info." His face hardens before a challenging grin comes on. "Show time."
. . .
Aboard the black ship, a lighter brown deck adorns the vessel. Red sail overhead, a figure walks up by the cannon. A tall man with dark trousers, a crimson overcoat, an enlarged cutlass hooked at the side. A gun barrel shows built directly into the back of the blade.
The man has a red scarf tied around his neck, a chiseled jaw with a light brown scruff of facial hair, crystal blue eyes. A scar over his right eye raises with his brow as a scroll ringtone sounds. He brings the device up, eyes widening as the screen shows Roman's face. "Do my eyes deceive me?" His gaze narrows dangerously. "Roman Torchwick? To what do I owe the pleasure from Senior's old dog?"
. . .
Roman flashes a smarmy grin at the scroll, seeing the man. "Oh, Drewski! That's not how you greet a friend after what? Three years?"
"Four years... when Senior had you work with us, stiff us on our fair share, AND slept with my mother." The dry, unhappy voice sounds back.
Carmine, Neo, and Blair all recoil back, disgusted looks towards the conman. Roman pays no mind, chuckling to himself. "Oh, don't pretend Patty wasn't working calls at the time. Senior said that was my payment, so that last parts entirely on him too."
"State you business. I heard you finally branched out from the old man. Been making a stir all through Mistral business. The bandit clans aren't happy with a lot of your... jobs."
Roman's smirk drops slightly, but his poker face appears right back. "Oh? I'm getting more attention, now? Goody me. Although, in my defense, I'd say it's more their operations just being in my way. Bringing up today's topic. I'd very much appreciate it if you would leave this vessel alone. I'm just a bit on a time table."
. . .
For the first time, the strong jawed man smiles, pleased. "That's rich. You actually wanted a favor from me?" The man looks upon the ferry in the distance. "Counter offer. I sack the ship, and you can keep your precious cane and hat if you stand aside."
On his screen, Roman drops the smarmy grin and looks at him seriously. "Drewski, listen closely-"
"Captain Lyle to you." He cuts off the conman.
Roman eyes through the screen, nodding and scoffing. "Captain Drewski Lyle." Both narrow glares at the screen. "You should know that my jobs affect the operations of all Senior's, and now Junior's, schemes throughout Vale. Beyond even. To slight my job is to slight them both." Lyle looks up from the scroll, meeting eyes with one of his crew.
A woman, wearing matching clothes, save for the jacket being a dark magenta, two pink scarfs wrapped up to cover her mouth, brown hair tied back in a ponytail. Each leg shows three pistols holstered, one at the calf, one at the thigh, one at the hip. She sits on the operating chair of the ship's main cannon. Her brown eyes roll in Lyle's direction.
Beside the cannon is another crewman, jacket a deep navy. A blue mask covers his mouth and nose, sunglasses, dark skin and brown frazzled hair. A rapier is sheathed at his hip along with a parrying dagger. He faces Lyle and shakes his head.
Lyle smirks. "Well, too bad." He looks Roman in the eye through the screen. "Your inconvenience will just be icing for the cake. Take care." He hangs up on Roman, looking at the blue clad mate. "Tell the others that today just became special. We may get some actual fun with Ro Ro."
. . .
Roman scowls at the black screen, groaning slowly into his hand. Blair crosses her arms. "Well, that sounds like it backfired. Tell us about your old friend?"
"Without mentioning moms, please." Carmine adds, looking sickly. Neo's mouth flat lines, eyes staring out before she shakes herself off.
The man rolls his eyes. "Oh, Patty was middle of the road. Not much to talk about." Popping his cigar back into his mouth to huff, he looks back at the group. "Ole Drewski Lyle founded his merry band of misfits in Vacuo years ago. They stick to high seas robbery, and Senior hired them more than once for muscle."
Neo holds up a conjured sign. 'Good news or bad news?'
He scoffs. "More like bad news and worse news. There's five members of his crew, him included, last I remember. So, we're outnumbered."
Biff speaks up as he approaches. "The good captain has offered you command of us as well."
Roman spares a glance at Biff... then at the still quivering sailors to the side. "Right, so we're outnumbered." He plainly states. "That's the bad news. They favor personal combat, so that cannon mounted on their ship likely is just to disable the rear engine before they board."
The CRBN members look to Biff, who nods.
Carmine answers. "So we ram them then?" They all look at him, various degrees of incredulous disbelief. "If we have no cannons, they're going to catch up, and their weapon is meant to be used on out rear, we should only show our front." He shrugs, looking down. "Like dealing with an animal. You don't present your back. That's what my dad used to say."
His muttering is met with a smirk from Blair. "I agree with the strategy. We take control of the engagement. Do we have a means of stopping their movement?"
Neo changes her conjured sign. A picture of an anchor, its chain wrapped around a black boat.
Carmine nods, confidence building as he looks to Roman. "We ram and wrap their ship with the ship's anchor. Destroy their sails and other means of movement... and their cannon, and we run like hell." Everyone else seems to be accepting of the plan, but Roman looks uninterested. "Is there a problem with it all?"
Roman glances back to his scroll. "Not exactly. Just problems for later." At their confused looks, he continues. "Had I just mentioned Senior a year ago, I'm certain that Drew boy would've pissed himself before pissing off... The fact he doesn't give a damn means Junior's doing a worse job holding Vale than I thought."
He looks at Carmine, giving a curt nod as the boy grins back. He glances over to the faunus first mate. "Get everyone to their rooms for safety... and turn this ship around."
. . .
Lyle's brow rose, eyes locked on the ship in the distance. It's... Turning? The Trojan turns wide, it's port side presenting itself. Lyle strokes his chin, thinking for a moment. This is new...
"Well, guess they're just gonna make it easy on us." A nasally voice sounds. Another crew mate in nearly identical clothing, but his jacket a forest dark green, a bandanna wrapped over his head with brown hair poking out. The tan man smirks as he flourishes a pike with a side spike. Mid way down the handle shows a trigger, the bottle half of the haft being a harpoon. A harpoon gun pike. "Maybe Ro just wants it done and over with?"
Lyle narrows his gaze on the ship. "I'd find it more likely that idiot captain is attempting something. Roman fully hijacking the ship on his own is too drastic, even for him."
"He could be getting desperate. He knows he can't face all of us on his own." The female in pink speaks up from the cannon. She sighs, leaning back in the cannon seat and looking to Lyle. "Their ship is turned too far. I lost the shot for the engines."
The man in blue snarks underneath his mask. "What? No 'magic aim' today?" The girl narrows her gaze at him, but Lyle doesn't share in the humor. The Trojan turns fully... before picking up speed directly for them.
Lyle's eyes widen. "They're going to ram us!" The outcry getting the others on alert. The ferry ship directs its metal plated bow towards the black pirate ship. Lyle jerks his head towards the rear of his own ship. "Hard turn to port!"
At the rear on an elevated deck, a woman with a yellow headband, long blonde hair, a yellow undershirt, and a black overcoat similar to the others nods. She spins the wheel at the helm left, the ship's sail shifting as the vessel lurches.
Both ships now homing in one each other, the distance between them rapidly shrinks. The pirate ship slowly redirects, but the turn is still too wide... At this rate, the ferry will spear the starboard side completely. Lyle barks out to the greed clad man. "Raise to half mast!"
The man manages to bring the mast up as the ship slows, but turns more sharply. As the ship starts to successfully turn fully, the yellow and black clad woman at the helm scoffs. "Oh, so you just want ME to die?"
Ignoring her, Lyle commands. "Full mast again!" The green mate lowers the mast to pick speed up for the ship.
It picks up speed, but the ferry is still at its top speed... The ferry slowly arcs left as its starboard side bashes into the back port side of the pirate ship! The ferry's metal hull scrapes harshly against the wooden and metal of the black ship, a loud screech sounding. The ferry is twice as long as the decently sized vessel, three times as wide.
All five of the Hangmen lurch, grabbing the nearest objects to steady themselves. The ferry and pirate ships cease scraping as their speeds equalize... and then the pirate ship starts to pick up speed.
Lyle shouts out to the yellow clad woman. "Now, to starboard. Get the ships off one another to minimize damage. We'll board once we crush their engines!"
"I'm on it!" The grouchy woman scowls as she spins the wheel right. The two ships begin to separate.
Then the blue clad man calls out. "Take cover!" As all five duck down, a shadow blurs overhead... as the Trojan's anchor smashes into the deck floor around the base of the mast.
The chain line catches taut, leading into the side of the Trojan, its sailors locking the anchor line. The pirate ship lurches and course corrects, unable to pull away from the Trojan as the deck tilts. Lyle scowls. "Get it out!"
"Got it!" The green clad man rushes around the mask to the anchor head... only to find a metal casing taped to the anchor... hooked to an ice dust canister. "Shit-"
BOOM!
The device bursts, a large mount of ice freezing out and catching the green man's arm and leg into the frozen casing. "AGH! Damn it!"
Lyle narrows his gaze. A bomb? Sabotage and espionage... Well, guess he IS behind this. Lyle rises at the edge of the deck, the blue clad man beside him. The pink woman still sat atop the cannon, the yellow clad woman steadying herself by the wheel.
They all glare over to the Trojan. No one visible save for one man standing on the rail of the ferry. Roman balances perfectly, smirking as he huffs on a cigar and looks across the now 20 yard gap between the ships. He calls out. "Drewski! You're looking well. I see you got the whole gang!" Roman glances about them all. First to the blue clad man. "Marky. Looking dazzling."
The obscured face doesn't mask the dark skinned man grunting in irritation. "Better than you."
Roman then turns his gaze to green who glare back. "In a bit of a predicament there, Zim?"
Zim, gives a wide eyed fuming look. "Oh, just give me a minute, Ro. We'll catch up plenty."
The conman ignores him, turning to the yellow at the wheel. "Sorry for troubles Ciara. Please forgive me." He puts his hand to his chest in a faux regret.
The blonde, Ciara, huffs, but smirks. "All in business." He doesn't miss her narrowing, annoyed gaze. "But good looks won't save you from payback." She winks.
"Oh, I'll look forward to it." He ends on the pink woman on the cannon. The man's brow raises. "Oh? New member? Nice to meet you!"
The pink clad brunette gives a coy wriggling finger wave. "We've met. Christie."
Roman slumps slightly. "Oh, right. Generic valley girl." The dismissal gets an angry huff from the girl, but he directs his attention back to Lyle. He maintains a smug smirk. "So, about asking you to piss off and let me go on with my day?"
Lyle's frustration melts away, replaced with a cynical glare and eager smirk. "I'm not bothering with your smart mouth, Roman. I know that you can't possibly hope to fight us alone, so just surrender and make this easy."
"Apologies, but I have a schedule to keep these days. I take it that's a 'no' on pissing off?" Roman gives a rapt tap on the rail with his cane.
Lyle offhand aims the gun barrel in his large cutlass, firing a short burst of flames into the ice coating Zim's limbs. Zim is freed as he rapidly steps up beside Lyle. "So, how we doing this, boss?"
"Chris, Ciara, hold down the fort!" Lyle flourishes his sword into his right hand. Mark and Zim draw their weapons at his side. "Mark, Zim, you're on me. Crush little Ro and steal anything you find." A chorus of 'Aye's sound from the four as Lyle raises his weapon and fires. Roman smirks as the blast of fire dust closes in before exploding on impact.
SHATTER!
The image of Roman is wiped away, the flames wisp around the edges of a parasol. Neo stands atop the guard rail of the Trojan, smiling at the confused pirates. Carmine steps out beside her. "By the way!" The pirates look up, spotting Roman atop the roof of the ferry, by the smoke stack. Blair draws her blade beside him as Roman gives a superior smirk. "Not wise to assume I was alone. Silver Streak?" (A lilting sea tune begins, leading into a repeat.)
The boy raises Heulin Noon, aiming at the pink girl at the cannon. "CRBN, move out!" He fires a double shot across to the other ship. Mark raises his rapier and parrying dagger to block the double shot, but the power knocks him back. (Tune repeats, this time leading into an end. Guitar shrieks into the addition of drums)
Roman twirls his cane, transforming into its gun mode as he pops the magazine in. The man huffs a laugh as he unleashes a stream of shots up the middle of the pirate ship. Lyle and Zim sprint forward, leaping from the pirate ship onto the Trojan. (Tune repeats with guitar and drums on repeat)
Simultaneously, Neo and Blair leap from the Trojan onto the opposing ship. Mark recovers and speeds towards Blair. The blonde parries a thrust, responding with a slash, but pulling back before getting caught in the parrying dagger guard. Neo begins to zigzag dodging shots from Christie on the cannon. (Tune repeats, bridging into first verse)
Lyle and Zim land on the walk way, turning to glare at Carmine. Zim gives a sinister smirk. "So, Ro has gotten kids to fight for him now?" Carmine narrows his gaze, throwing a lightning dust vial out before aiming and firing into the combustible container. ("Out on the endless ocean, we tear along the gales!")
Lyle wrenches Zim down. "Move!" Using the flat of his large cutlass, he redirects the exploding force of electricity out from the ship in a flash! Lyle and Zim shield their eyes before looking up to see Carmine sprinting away. "Go." He pats Zim on the back. ("With rum inside, our bellies warm, and freedom in our sails!")
Zim blitz's forward, Carmine growling out. "Jager!" The armor flashes to his legs and boosts him fast enough to dodge a wide running swipe from the pirate. The green clad man continues to chase, as Carmine spins around, boosting backwards and fires two more times, emptying the cylinder. ("A wayward bunch of scoundrels... Assassins, thieves, and slaves!")
Moving out onto the open deck, Carmine flicks his gun to reload. Zim closes the distance and sweeps his pike at the boy's legs. Carmine kicks off the ground to dodge, responding with a point blank shot. Zim twists with his sweep, dodging the shot. ("The rich and blue bloods fear us when we hunt upon the waves!")
Zim smirks as he twirls the pike, striking Carmine in the gut and launching him clear off the ferry. Satisfied, he turns, failing to see the aqua flash of aura. Hearing the gun click, he turns, taking a double shot head on, launching him through a wall. Carmine stands, having recalled back onto the boat. ("And when you see it comin'... that flag of baleful black. No point in turning tail, there's no escapin' our attack!")
With Neo, the girl snap dodges back and forth. Missing shots chip off the wooden deck, Christie firing down from the cannon. Neo opens Hush, blocking shots as she sprints directly to the cannon. (Chorus begins. "Yo ho! YO HO! We row beneath the black flag!")
The girl lunges up the cannon, closing Hush as the blade pokes out the tip for the thrust. Christie uses one pistol to deflect the thrust as she ducks back. She backs away from Neo, swiping Neo's swings and thrusts aside in gun kata pattern. ("A rollickin' we go! We own the sea and sky!")
Neo feints a thrust, twisting to bash Christie onto her back with Hush's hilt. She raises Hush, blade out, to slash the downed pirate. Christie swaps pistols to another of the four still strapped to her legs. The open flintlock design is loaded with wind dust, firing a wide gale point blank. ("Yo ho! YO HO! We row beneath the black flag!")
Neo is carried up and away from the cannon, flipping through the air. Opening Hush, the wind carries her up and over the mast and sail. Closing, the girl drops down towards Ciara. ("A rollickin' we go! We bleed the kingdoms dry!")
Ciara ducks back as Neo impales the deck. The yellow crew member gives a cocky smirk as she cracks two whips from behind her back... each connected to a curved cutlass blade. She whips the blades forward, Neo deflecting and dodging back. (Music plays out from chorus.)
With Blair, she ducks under a rapier slash, hooking and shoulder tossing Mark aside. She pops a wind dust canister into Fluorescent's hilt, shifting the blade blue-white as she launches a wind slash to the cannon. Christie is launched from atop the cannon as Blair turns to Mark. (Music loops and leads into second verse.)
She swipes wide, ending in a point stance, one hand on Fluorescent. Her off hand retrieves an ice dust cylinder. The man charges in a flurry of jabs. Blair one arm deflects two attacks, ducking back and inserting the dust. ("Defy odds against us. A pirate knows no fear. Our steel is ready, and our retribution is severe!")
The blade shines light blue, cool fog wafting off. She raises the blade forward and vaults forward in a thrust. Defending, Mark's arms and weapons are encased in ice as Blair cuts by him. Down the side of the deck, Christie rolls to her feet, guns raised. ("We plunder from the greedy. With blood and with our steel!")
Blair empties the charge of ice dust in her blade, making a small hunk of ice as cover. Shots of wind and fire dust beats against the ice as Blair pulls out violet lightning dust cylinder. ("We rob the rich of their ill-gotten gain and make them kneel.")
As she does so, Roman fires down across the ships, forcing Christie into cover. The pink pirate loses a gun to a stray fire dust shot. "Gah! Damn it!" (Tune softens, slowly building up. "Behold the ocean's mysteries. The tale of ancient deeds")
Activating the lightning dust, Blair surges to the center deck, grunting in effort as she slashes through the mast. The tall red sail cracks as it slowly begins to fall right over. Aboard the Trojan, Lyle's eyes widen as he growls in rage. ("We follow in the footsteps of a silent, secret creed!" Tune bridges into Chorus.)
Lyle leaps high, jumping right to the roof of the ship. Landing, he charges at Roman. "Roman!" The ginger conman ducks back, popping the drum mag out of Velvet Valentine. ("Yo ho! YO HO! We row beneath the black flag!")
Roman deflects a slash from the large cutlass up. Lyle telegraphs a down swing, letting Roman jab his shoulder and stunting the slash. Roman cracks Lyle in the jaw with Velvet's hammer side. ("A rollickin' we go! We own the sea and sky!")
The pirate leans from the strike, spinning in place to slash from the other side. Roman jumps back. Lyle halts the blade pointing directly at Roman, firing from the weapon's gun barrel. ("Yo ho! YO HO! We row beneath the black flag!")
Roman is blown back, hat falling to the wayside to the Trojan's deck below. Roman rolls to his feet, dodging another slash. He deflects another slash. "Come on, Drewski!" ("A rollickin' we go! We bleed the kingdoms dry!" Music cuts.)
. . .
Inside the Trojan's cabins, passengers sit on their bed, many huddled together. Frantic, panicked looks are worn as crashes, shots, and sparse explosions are heard muffled. One family flinches at a closer shot, the window of their cabin room showing flashes nearby.
"Lads and lasses. This is your brave Captain Heron speaking." The captain's nasally voice sounds over a ship wide intercom system. The people don't react in the slightest as another rumble is felt. A little girl gasps with the rumble.
"Please remain calm, my friends. Today, you find yourselves not only under the protection of mwah, but we have also come across a crack-"
BOOM. The cabins quake lightly.
"-team of capable warriors to defend you and yours. So, enjoy the show, and please try a complimentary bottle of champaggin... what?" Sounds of Heron speaking to sound sound. "That's how you say it? That can't be-" The intercom cuts out, leaving the passengers confused.
Inside the ferry control room, the cocky captain turns proudly to his first mate. "There. Now that the passengers have been comforted, let us form a counter attack."
Biff's eyes widen as he turns. "Sir, perhaps we should just allow the team of hunters to do their job."
"Nonsense, Biff. We cannot simply stand aside and let them do job alone!" He points another of the sailors. "Full speed and hard turn. With our ships connected, we'll drag their ship and capsize it."
Biff raises his hands, panicked. "But sir, their cannon-"
"Men, let's show these pirates what for!" He shouts at the crew, men already setting about the orders. Heron smirks as he moves to the window view of ocean, surely basking in his own pool of self gravitas.
"But- Sir- I- They-..." The first mate looks about, slumping. "Ugh... aye, sir..."
. . .
The smoke stack shutters as the dark cloud plumes out from the top. A low rumble runs beneath Roman's feet. The man grimaces, looking down and groaning. "Oh for f-"
"Problems, Roman?" Lyle sounds, standing across from Roman. "Should I assume that moronic captain wasn't a part of your plan?" He smirks and raises his weapon up.
"Oh, complications are guaranteed when working with fools. I learned that when we met, after all." Roman remarks, smirking back. He quickly flicks Velvet Valentine back up as he blocks the cutlass from slashing him.
Lyle pushes the weapon against Roman, sliding the conman back. "I'm going to enjoy this."
Roman sneaks a glance to the pirate ship, smirking. "Is that so? Can't be more fun than I'm having." Lyle's face scrunches as he follows Roman's gaze to his own ship...
Mark is slammed into the deck, Blair jabbing her blade to his gut. His aura shields it, but starts to crack. The blonde presses just a touch more, a flash of aura passing through her blade into the man. She steps up, square with Christie, who is on the ground, crawling back.
Mark attempts to stand, only for a shroud to shadow him. Blair's semblance infects his aura and binds him in pain. "AGH!"
Christie's eyes bug out as she drops her guns. "Whoa! Wai-wait! Have mercy!"
With Roman atop the Trojan, he chuckles. "Oh, she won't have mercy." He enjoys the scowl on the pirate captain until they feel the movement under then. "What?"
All the combatants stop as the Trojan begins to pull ahead... Lyle looks elated as he calls out. "They're going to drag our ship! Brace yourselves!"
Truly, the Trojan pulls ahead as the chain to its anchor, still frozen into the pirate ship's deck, goes taut. The wood creeks as the pirate ship jerks... then its deck starts to tilt. The positions of the ships to each other shifts as the Trojan pulls ahead, and the black ship teeters side ways, beginning to be pulled by the side.
The ship tips as Blair's eyes widen, jabbing Fluorescent into the wood to keep from sliding down the deck into the water. Looking over, Neo does the same with Hush. Behind her, Ciara whips her chain blades around the helm, locking herself in place.
Mark slides down, gasping and letting loose a yell as he falls into the port side deck guard rail. He weakly grabs on as the waters splash up below him. Christie, however, catches herself on the ship's cannon... the ship now directly behind the Trojan... directly behind the Trojan's engines... the exact thing this whole strategy was made to avoid. The pink member's cheeks betray her smile as she begins angling the cannon up to fire at the Trojan's engine.
Blair growls as she ejects another empty dust cylinder reaching for another dust load. Her eyes widen as she leans over, the chained blade from Ciara whipping by her head from behind. Ciara whirls the whip back around so its line wraps around Blair's weapon. "You're not going anywhere."
The ship continues to teeter, dragging through the water. Christie continues turning the cannon upward relative to its sights, aiming for the Trojan's engines. Roman's eyes widen as he shouts out. "SILVER STREAK! UP HIGH!" And he tosses Velvet Valentine's drug magazine towards the back deck of the ship.
At the back deck, Carmine flips out from Zim attempting to hook him in with the halberd. He lands, looking up and seeing the magazine above. Using Jager, he boosts his jump into the air for it, reaching.
Simultaneously, Zim rolls back, swapping his grip from the half to the halberd head. Hand moving to the inner trigger and grip in the weapon head, he aims the harpoon haft up. "Gotcha, Brat!"
Carmine snags the magazine with one hand, grinning. "Got~shit!" The harpoon strikes into his aura shield at the chest! The boy is propelled on high, over the pirate ship as the magazine is flung aside.
Neo's eyes catch Carmine as she focuses, alert. She spring boards off a hunk of wood, leaping to the raised side rail of the black ship. Getting to the top, she leaps up high,one hand opening Hush, the other reaching out.
The girl's hand clasps Carmine's open hand. The added weight starts to drag down, despite Hush, as Carmine shakes himself alert. He winces in pain, but weakly sighs. "Thanks! Launch me!"
Nodding, the girl spins as his Jager armor boosts the mid air spin around her. The girl releases him, launching him back toward the Trojan, directly at the still falling magazine.
Zim's eyes widen as Carmine snatches the magazine out of the air, then flips into drop kicking the green pirate. He chokes out as he's launched back. Carmine lands in a grimace, turning as Christie finishes aiming the gigantic cannon towards the Trojan's engine.
The green pirate scowls and wrenches on the line connected to the fired harpoon. The piercing pole reels in towards Carmine, striking the boy's gun hand. Heulin Noon flies off as the redhead winces with his hand.
Christie smirks under her mask, moving to fire the massive mounted weapon. "Firing main cannon, suckers!"
Carmine, thinking fast, pitches Velvet Valentine's magazine in a fast ball throw. The container of one hundred fire dust rounds whirls directly to the open end of the cannon barrel.
BOOM!
The cannon shot blasts a metal casing containing lightning dust... directly striking the magazine mid air. The container ignites, which in turn breaks and ignites! The lightning and fire dusts erupt out in a blast, orange, and white crash, arcs of lightning bursting into the waters!
The force of the shock wave shudders both ships as shrapnel from the shell and magazine rip into the hulls of both ships. A hunk of the cannon shell rips into the deck beside Carmine, the boy flinching. The metal debris of the shell rips through the wall, ripping through multiple rooms and halls of the Trojan!
. . .
Captain Heron remains stoic through the shock wave as the metal shrapnel pierces the wall behind him and sticks. The impact flinches Biff, who looks at the shrapnel sticking out from the wall in the control cabin, wide eyed. "Sir, it seems they are capable of firing at us still."
Heron dramatically clenches his fist. "Blast. Outperformed by superior firepower." He places a hand on the faunus's shoulder. "Don't take it too hard that your plan failed, Biff. It was a worthy try."
"My plan?" The raccoon faunus says confused.
The arrogant captain waves out to his men as he commands. "What are you doing? Stop following this fool's ignorant plan and stop this ship!" The pompous man passes the buck on quickly.
. . .
The smoke clears, Carmine coughing and waving the smoke from in front of him. The edge of the ship is scorched, but the shrapnel failed to disable the engine. He sighs in relief as Zim chuckles behind him. "Nice, but it's not going to stop us. You're unarmed!" He cackles as he charges.
Annoyed, Carmine calls to the aura infused with Heulin Noon, the gun recalling from the waters over the boat back into his hand. In the flash, Zim's eyes widen as Carmine aims up and fires a point blank double shot. The pirate is launched and embedded into the wall.
Carmine flicks the gun, flash reloading. "God, you like to run your mouth."
A metallic clunk sounds. "And you like to push your luck!" The peppy pink pirate's voice sounds. The smoke clears as the pirate cannon cocks loaded, Christie ready at the helm. "Take two!" A shadow comes overhead. The pink clad woman looks up, finding Neo closing Hush and dropping down at her from above! Christie removes another pistol from her pant leg, aiming up and firing into Neo-
SHATTER!
"Huh?"
Above Ciara, a shadow appears. The yellow clad pirate glances up, Neo missile drop kicking into her head. The blonde is propelled down the sloped deck, right off the side and into the water. Neo catches herself on the helm, smirking at Blair.
The whip around the blonde releases, Blair pulling Fluorescent free and inserting the fire dust. Dropping to the lower guard rail, she sprints at the cannon, sword glowing orange burning hot. The color leaves Christie's face. "Mercy!"
Blair slashes into the cannon, igniting the fire dust! The cannon blasts out in flames, the eruption sending Christie clear from the seat, clear off the ship and into the waters.
The Trojan begins to slow, the pirate ship drifting to catch up, beginning to right itself. The only remaining pirate remaining on their own ship, Mark, struggles to stand, Blair nonchalantly walking by as her semblance flexes. He drops in a wincing whine.
Giving a hand signal, Carmine aims across, firing a single shot into the still frozen anchor embedded into the pirate deck, keeping the ships together. The ice shatters, anchor reeling in rapidly back to the Trojan. Blair and Neo break into a sprint, leaping from the black ship to the Trojan.
The boy smirks, turning around. "So, how about you be good and- PARDON!" He yelps out as he dodges Zim swinging the halberd head as a battle ax! Ducking back, an annoyed growl comes out. "Seriously? You've lost. Deal with it."
"Don't talk down to me, BRAT!" Zim shouts as he advances, swinging wildly. Carmine continues ducking back and back.
A thought occurs as Carmine raises his gun. He fires a double shot, then recalls himself to his previous position behind Zim, whipping around and firing in a pincer. Hey, this pirate isn't anywhere close to Ozpin's level right? It should work on this loser.
Sure enough! The flash away stuns Zim's blind anger as he barely deflects the first double shot with his ax. However, the shot from behind nails him in the center back, knocking him forward to the edge of the Trojan.
Impeccable timing, as Blair and Neo land. The little girl strikes the back of his leg, dropping him to a knee. Blair wrenches the man's off hand, twisting him around to teeter on the edge. With Fluorescent sheathed, she swings the weapon like a bat, cracking him in the ribs and launching him from the Trojan back to his own ship!
Carmine smirks at them. "Good timing. He was annoying."
Blair allows a small smirk. "Yes, well. Perhaps next time you can take one down on your own."
He sputters, arms going limp. "Hey, you're the full fledged Huntress here! I mean, how many does Neo have?" He says, gesturing over the girl with Heulin Noon.
Neo smirks, narrow eyed, as she holds up one finger.
"~No, bull! You got the drop on that one attacking Blair!" His voice raises as he jabs a finger at her. The girl giggles as he gets irritated. "Doesn't count."
"It's counts. I'll allow it." Blair adds.
"I-... wha-... UGH!" Carmine just turns away in a huff.
Neo sends a sly look at Blair, slowly smiling and nodding. Blair allows a grin back, small as is. Bickering seems to get these kids back to normal quicker. Begrudgingly, she opens a palm up, Neo swiftly low five slapping it in a giggle.
Atop the ferry, Lyle jerks back, shaking himself alert as he swings his cutlass in anger. Roman deflects the blade up, using the pick side of Velvet's handle to hook Lyle's red jacket. He pulls the man down as he knees up into the man's jaw. The hit sends Lyle teetering off the edge of the roof.
Roman smirks, looking behind the captain. "Well, it seems I've won, Drewski-"
"My NAME is Andrew Lyle you condescending bastard." Lyle growls out before the words register. He turns, seeing every one of his crew now scrambling to get onto the broken ship's deck. "What the-"
Too late. He left himself open. He aims Velvet Valentine, still missing its magazine. "One in the chamber." He fires one single fire dust shot into the back of Lyle's leg, spiking it forward and throwing his balance. Roman dashes in, striking the cutlass overboard before gripping Lyle by the collar. The man is held out. Unable to struggle. "Well, Drewski, it's been fun, but..." A dangerous glint meats the captain.
"Roman, stop!" Carmine shouts. "No killing! He's already beaten!"
The ginger's face drops, tilting his head to look down at the boy. "... You're kidding, right?" The boy holds the stare, merely narrowing his gaze. The conman growls under his breath.
Lyle can't help but chuckle. "Really? Torchwick on the leash of a child?"
Roman flicks his eye to Lyle before grinning darkly. "Have it your way, Silver Streak." He releases Lyle, allowing the man to flail and fall back.
As the man falls, Blair blitz's forward, stopping under Lyle's trajectory. Using a drawing strike with the sheathed sword, she cracks him ever bit as hard as done with Zim, launching him up high. Neo then leaps into the air, opening Hush to halt her descent. She catches the man by one hand, whipping and throwing him further overboard.
Carmine then aims Heulin Noon, firing one explosive shot, further propelling the captain away. The enemy captain soars over and lands painfully atop his broken ship. The boy grins, holstering his weapon. "Awesome! Good work team!"
Roman hops down, walking to the edge and giving a mock salute to the other ship. "No hard feelings, Ciara! Don't die." The Trojan begins to drift further away, its engines firing and speeding off... the celebrating Team CRBN enjoying their team win!
As they fade into the distance, the pirates shout obscenities, cursing true of their sailor mouths.
. . .
Bells rang out in early morning as the massive ferry settles, ropes hooking and stabilizing it to the massive wooden docks. The stuttered sputter of the large ferry's engine rotors bellows, the step ramp allowing it's patrons to finally find solid footing on the hard wood. Authorities within the city stood ready, offering relief to the travelers as well.
Droves of city officials and journalists gather at a podium, people respectfully looking up to find Captain Heron. The egotistical man grind at the gatherers. "Thank you. Thank you. I realize my stoic heroism was needed to defeat the dastardly pirates. Know that it was the safety of our passengers that was top priority!"
The crowd cheers for him, yet not a single sailor among the man's crew shared the glee. Only Biff stood on the stage next to him, sighing.
One of the crowd journalists snaps a picture before raising his hand. "Sir, sir! Can you guarantee safety for further travels after defeat of the Go Sei Hangman pirates?"
Heron hums a laugh. "While they proved too dangerous to capture, their ship has been crippled. Why, they could be feed for the Grimm, or left to drift. I wouldn't worry for the time being."
The people began to clap for the captain... Except for Team CRBN stepping off the ferry with their belongings. None of them amused.
Carmine huffs. "Can't believe we said we'd let him take the credit for the win." Rubbing his stiff shoulder, he works it around, sore. "Guy's a world class moron."
Blair even struggles to keep a neutral expression, eye twitching. "Yes, well... It's best to stay under the radar. Can't afford for AZRL to catch wind of us arriving in town."
"So long as we get paid, he can inflate his ego however much he likes." Roman adds before speaking dryly to the boy. "You gave the routing number to him?"
"To Biff. I'm not trusting the captain for anything." Carmine rebuts, puffing his cheek in an open show of irritation.
Back on the stage, Heron turns and gestures to another reporter. "Yes, you Ma'am."
The female reporter calls out. "Vale Times. What do you have to say about rumors the attack was repelled by a group of hunters who traveled aboard your ship?"
Heron scoffs. "Hunters are a Grimm problem, not a pirate problem. Huntsmen and Huntresses have little to offer in a situation against foul criminal scum such as pirates! Not when compared to true sea loving compatriots! Only managerial strategy staved off this impending tragedy" He rattles off, not a single hesitation in a single word.
And each word gained further twitching and scrunching brows from the CRBN members. "That prick!" "Imma' shoot him!" The two adults and boy say simultaneously before Carmine adds the threat.
Neo purses her lips, raising a sign. 'Can I stab him?'
"Easy, children." Blair reigns in, chastising. "We're here. The payment is coming. We should move on." She looks to Carmine, look softening. He meets the look, easing back as he thinks on it. "Well... You know the city, so you're leading."
Carmine blinks as it settles in. He looks from the sea, inward from the docks. Buildings. A sizable city, nowhere near the city of Vale's size. Yet... He recognized it. A black skyscraper, almost taller than the rest, sticks out to him. That's new. Hmm... New, yet old. Other than a few changed colors and swapped structures... It was the same.
As the wide eyed boy stares ahead, Roman glances around. His own memory comes back to him, finally coming upon a shack... The boat shack... No smirk, he recalls planning the boy's very kidnapping right over in that building. Eight years. Well, gods damned.
He places his hat back upon his head, looking to the boy. "Home sweet home, right?"
Carmine slowly looks between then. Blair remains neutral, a nearly imperceptible softness there. Then Roman, uncharacteristically silent and raising a brow. Finally to Neo, whose frown betrayed sympathy, but eyes seemed curious, flicking over the city. The city of Sanctuary. His home. The boy shakes himself and sighs. "Yep... Home... Come on. I got some ideas where to start."
Alright, as of right now, I have three arcs planned within Vale's territories, but may end up doing more. If one wanted to divide up Mistral into arcs, it was Mibu, Vaterra, and Haddon with the details in between. Going with just what I have set in stone, Vale should end up being at least just as long, but it will likely go longer. Big fun ahead.
References:
Song used today was Beneath The Black Flag by Miracle of Sound. Just a fun pirate rock song.
… The Go Sei Hangmen pirates are a one off stupid idea made for fun. I had the idea of silly pirate action on the sea going to Sanctuary. So, what are they based on? Why, power rangers, obviously. It's obvious, right?
No, but seriously, they're based on Power Rangers Super Megaforce, making for a 4 vs 5 brawl aboard the ships. The names of the pirates are even based on the original rangers' actors real names. No, I don't care if it's lazy. I had fun with it, damn it.
Rick Heron and Biff are based on Zapp Brannigan and Kif Croaker from Futurama. Honestly, the reason Biff is a raccoon faunus is more because I wanted to accentuate just how tired he looks. Otherwise, pretty plain base for the characters.
Reviews: For the first time, this story had multiple review/comments made. Granted, only two, one on FF and one on AO3. In situations where multiple responses come for the same chapters, I may respond.
FromThereToHere (Fanfiction) – As far as views go, this story is far exceeding what I expected, but I see what you mean. After all, it IS a non romance fic without any of the four main draws within the fic community. On top of that, it focuses on OC's, which I myself tend to avoid when looking for stories, so I understand it turning others off. That and the music thing.
As far as the typos... yeah, I really should go back and fix them. I'll admit full fault that I usually post a chapter immediately after finishing it. I've at least gotten into a habit in the last few to run spell check? (I'm bad. Sorry.)
Thanks for the support though!
Disposablejar (AO3) – Right? The story would kinda get boring if Carmine only had issues with Roman. If he's gonna f*** up, he's gotta f*** up with everyone a few times. Thanks for the support.
Join next time in chapter twenty nine: The Search.