(Untitled)

[goodform]

*in the captain's rooms, the candles are lit: the pirate himself is sat at the recalcitrant harpsichord which gave him such trouble when he first moved it in, repetitively pinging at one of the keys with the point of the hook. The illuminated copy of Paradise Lost lies open on the instrument's top. The recent fight with Spider, although he won

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[vicioussweetie]

Knock knock.

[goodform]

*a pause. The hook scrapes across the keys. He raises his voice slightly*

It is not locked.

[vicioussweetie]

She lets herself in. She's not dressed for exploring today, having decided on the comfort of jeans and a sweater. She's also wearing one of the ropes of pearls he talked her into getting (they really do go with everything), wrapping it idly around a finger. "You okay?"

[goodform]

Ali. *He looks up and immediately (pirate instincts also go with everything) notes the pearls. Good. He would have been most aggrieved had she bought them and not worn them.*

Very well, thankyou.

*He hasn't got up to hug her, though not through any lack of volition...*

[vicioussweetie]

She nudges the door shut behind her and sets her bag down, then frees her finger from the pearls. "You're sure?"

She's clearly waiting for something.

[goodform]

*He waits a moment longer, then pushes himself to his feet and approaches. He's not quite limping, as the bracelet has been at work healing him, but his movement is stiff and wary*

I am perhaps a little tired.

[vicioussweetie]

"So I see." She moves forward to spare him the journey, wrapping her arms around him in a warm hug. "What happened?"

[goodform]

*He reciprocates, curling the hook arm around her waist*

Mr Spider was good enough to indulge me in another sparring match. We are neither of us injured greater than bruising and small cuts, do not distress yourself.

[vicioussweetie]

He'd feel her tense when "Spider" is soon followed by "indulge". He doesn't even need to say what is being indulged for her to know.

"Promise?"

[goodform]

*his voice is quiet*

I sustained one cut to my flank and his kicking at my shins has left a few marks, I confess, but I won the fight and did not cut him.

*Any mention of head-butting and half-nelsons carefully avoided...*

[vicioussweetie]

"You don't have to cut someone to kill them." That said in a tone of Please, Jas, I'm not that stupid and with an angry frown.

[goodform]

I have not killed him. He is alive and well, although I imagine.. *a brief exhalation through his teeth* ...somewhat annoyed that I defeated him so easily...

[vicioussweetie]

Only then does she relax. Jas isn't stupid enough to lie to her about Spider being okay. Pressing a little closer, she tucks her head under his chin. "I'm glad you've both learned not to hurt each other in these games."

She still isn't happy though.

[goodform]

*No, he certainly isn't that stupid. He leans his head on hers, pensive*

Only his pride, perhaps...

*..and mine, in some ways, he doesn't add*

[vicioussweetie]

"A wounded pride won't kill you." Which is all she asks. Just that they both live through their stupid pissing contests.

[goodform]

*To Hook, whose maintenance of his own pride is at times painful to behold, this is a little doubtful but his more sensible side takes the point*

Perhaps I will not spar again for a while.

*He wonders how long Brigham's cake-induced straength will last...*