At length the Captain sits back in his chair and pulls out an ornate pipe, filling it from a gaudy velvet pouch. There's a certain amount of hideous ostentation necessary, when you're a pirate captain, especially with long months asea when really there's nothing to do but macrame. A little creative gilding, and voila. Edging for your hat.
The lady in the black bandana rests her elbows on the table and leans forward, casting one last glance at the parchment before turning her gaze to the captain.
"Aye, but we best be keepin' our guard high, cap'n. Word tell is there be merfolk in these waters."
Penny--much to her dismay, of course--missed out on the curse. This hasn't prevented her from wandering about the City and beaches to see what has changed, however, and one of these wandering excursions has led her to the Flaming Walrus. Its colorful name and clientele almost make up for the god-awful drinks being served. Almost.
She has found a nice, relatively pirate-free corner to people-watch from. It doesn't take long for her to recognize a blonde lady-pirate at a nearby table. And her two companions--Neil and Todd? Penny can't remember which is which--look equally piratey. That would certainly explain the wanted posters she has seen throughout the City.
"Rosella?" she calls out, somewhat hesitant to disrupt their conversation. Unsure if Daventry's princess can hear her over the noise in the Flaming Walrus, Penny deserts her terrible drink and heads for the table that Rosella and her cohorts are sharing. "Rosella... hey."
It's been a long, long time since Morgan the Lurch heard someone use her non-piratey name; so long, in fact, that she almost doesn't recognize she's being hailed when the redheaded woman comes near and speaks it. She takes her time in looking up, casually shifting her arm so the sleeve half-covers the map, and regards Penny with a thoughtful look.
"I think ye be a bit lost, lass," she says calmly, with a hint of a smile. 'Tain't no one here but three old sea dogs makin' merry."
If it weren't for the fact that Penny is now close enough to the pirate to affirm that is, indeed, Rosella, that might have convinced her to give up. "You're cursed, right?" Wait. "Not that you'd know if you were if you... were."
"Cursed!" That gets a chuckle out of her. "No sailor with a lick o' sense would go around bein' fool enough t' let a curse come down on his head! Ye must be thinkin' o' a different pack o' shipmates, aye?"
[This isn't Chase's normal marketplace, but word has it the bar owner is looking for something pretty for whichever woman he's keeping now, and without the trouble of paying city prices. So, having left word at the bar, alone and out of place with his hair still salt-tipped from the morning's endeavours, Chase finds a corner seat and takes his flagon of ale across to it, coughing slightly at the murky taste as he lays his small coin purse on the tabletop.
He keeps his head down over the drink, listening to the conversations around him.]
[The lady in the black bandana is a clever one, and has been a pirate long enough to know the value of keeping her eyes on her surroundings. The man in the corner seems like a sharp one--sits alone, keeps to himself, and, she's willing to bet, listens in on every word he can hear. With a slight gesture to her companions to keep their voices low, she turns her gaze straight on the man. There's refuge in audacity, and acting like you have a secret is a sure way to give away that you've got one.
If he looks up, she'll catch his eye and give him a smile. If not, she'll keep an eye on him, just the same.]
[The feeling of being watched is easiest to pick up on when you're used to spending time alone, and sure enough, the odd pricking at the nape of Chase's neck doesn't steer him wrong as he looks up to find eyes on his. The smile isn't reassuring, though he returns it despite a bitten lip, an then looks down again with concentration etched into his features. He's seen posters of a woman matching exactly that description, hard to forget, and going for more money than his day's catch could fetch.
Quietly he slips out of his seat and makes towards the exit, feeling he'll be glad for the fresh air whatever his next decision might be.]
[Now that, to the lady's eyes, is the look of a man about to run. And the last thing they need is for an alert to be sounded; they've all seen the wanted posters around, and while they hardly fear a fight if it comes down to it, a job goes far simpler when it's in and out with no attention drawn. The captain has ordered that they'll be gone by tomorrow. Therefore, the lady intends to make certain that there is no trouble today.
As the man in the corner heads for the exit, the lady watches him leave, then gets up and heads out the back way, planning to go around the tavern and head him off outside, where there's less chance of causing a scene. She waits out of sight by the side of the tavern until he makes his way outside, then calmly steps in front of him as he approaches, hooking her thumb in her belt as she does so. Her posture is relaxed, disarming but confident.]
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"`Tis settled then. We leave at dawn."
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"Aye, but we best be keepin' our guard high, cap'n. Word tell is there be merfolk in these waters."
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She has found a nice, relatively pirate-free corner to people-watch from. It doesn't take long for her to recognize a blonde lady-pirate at a nearby table. And her two companions--Neil and Todd? Penny can't remember which is which--look equally piratey. That would certainly explain the wanted posters she has seen throughout the City.
"Rosella?" she calls out, somewhat hesitant to disrupt their conversation. Unsure if Daventry's princess can hear her over the noise in the Flaming Walrus, Penny deserts her terrible drink and heads for the table that Rosella and her cohorts are sharing. "Rosella... hey."
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"I think ye be a bit lost, lass," she says calmly, with a hint of a smile. 'Tain't no one here but three old sea dogs makin' merry."
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He keeps his head down over the drink, listening to the conversations around him.]
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If he looks up, she'll catch his eye and give him a smile. If not, she'll keep an eye on him, just the same.]
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Quietly he slips out of his seat and makes towards the exit, feeling he'll be glad for the fresh air whatever his next decision might be.]
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As the man in the corner heads for the exit, the lady watches him leave, then gets up and heads out the back way, planning to go around the tavern and head him off outside, where there's less chance of causing a scene. She waits out of sight by the side of the tavern until he makes his way outside, then calmly steps in front of him as he approaches, hooking her thumb in her belt as she does so. Her posture is relaxed, disarming but confident.]
Leaving in a hurry, lad?
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Morgan. Do you need help with directions?
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