[Episode] Marietta vs. Volo

Spoiler:

Back on the open sea.

It'd been a few years since Marie had been on a ship for this long. Sure, she could make good money working for the local gangs around her home -pushing folks around until they paid up their taxes, but it never did feel the same as being on the open ocean with the entire world at your fingertips. There was something so calming about the never ending blue stretched out in all directions, everywhere at once.

Of course, she wasn't here for leisure and her own pleasure. She was here to work. With the cargo secured below, Marie was hard at work throwing together the crew's evening meal. They had brought plenty of supplies with them, so she had a glut of choices to pick through. Of course, those choices would slowly dwindle as they spent more time away from port, but for now, she was spoiled for them.

[plyr=misc]"Got some fresh bait for ya here."[/plyr] The large cook got the attention of the few members of the crew on fishing duty before setting the bucket of fish heads and guts on the deck between them. [plyr=misc]"How're we lookin'?"[/plyr] A curious grin greeted the pair who turned around, her eyes flitting between the poles that showed no sign of even a twitch.

[npc=misc]"Terrible. Haven't caught a damn thing in hours."[/npc] The man replied, scratching idly at the scar on his cheek. The other spoke up, [npc=misc]"That's 'cuz your lines too short! I told ya, ya gotta let it go longer!"[/npc] It didn't take long for the pair to start arguing, yet again, about the proper way to fish. Marie simply rolled her eyes, her task complete, and straightened up again to return to the kitchen and the pot of stew she'd left to sit.

Before she returned to the stuffy rooms below deck, the cook stretched and enjoyed a deep breath of the salty ocean air. She didn't realize how much she'd missed this feeling. This sight. The gentle sound of the calm sea. Maybe she didn't need to go back home so soon after this job...

[plyr=misc]"Alright, alright. Just know we're eatin' the last of the sea bass tonight, so if you don't catch anything, it's potatoes until you do! Gwhehahaha!"[/plyr] It wasn't a threat. They really were out of meat, thanks in no small part to the maggots that'd been at the bottom of one of the crates. Ugh! It'd taken days to clear the flies out once they'd gotten free.

[npc=pirt]"Marie! Why ain't ya cookin'!?"[/npc] The sound of the captain's voice grated on her ears, calling the woman's attention further up the deck. He was a big son of a bitch, mostly because of the way he ate, but he treated his crew fairly most of the time. Besides, he had offered her a lot of money just to carry a few crates. She was only cooking now because the ship's usual cook had fallen ill and was still bedridden; she suspected the spoiled meat.

[plyr=misc]"Just bringin' up some bait while it's nice and gooey, cap'n. Supper will be ready shortly."[/plyr] She called up in reply, only throwing the slave driver a rude gesture when his back was turned. Not content to return to the kitchen without stealing another few moments of fresh air, Marie looked out over the horizon again with another deep breath. This one was punctuated by a brief hint of blue smoke from her mouth as she exhaled.

[plyr=misc]"Let me know if anythin' bites..."[/plyr] Her voice trailed off as her eyes narrowed. There was something just coming into view, but at this distance and with the sun so bright, it was hard to make out what it was. Before she could say anything, the barrelman shouted down for all to hear.

[npc=misc]"Ship ahead! Could be pirates!"[/npc] Just like that, the alarm had been raised. It was nothing new to be accosted by pirate crews out on the open sea, but it was always trouble. In minutes, the chaos following the announcement had settled as every man and woman on board the ship readied themselves; some on deck with weapons in hand, and some manning the cannons below. Marie was no different, of course.

Still wearing her messy apron, she steeled herself for what might happen...

WC: 717/5000

It was a tense hour between when the ship had been spotted and when they finally reached it; the feeling was only made worse when the black flag was finally spotted. Despite the crew's ever-practiced readiness to defend themselves and their cargo with their lives, however, the pirate's ship never fired upon them. In fact, it didn't seem to be moving at all.

Was it just a trick? Or...

[npc=pirt]"Take off that apron, girl. I might need ya."[/npc] The captain called to her with a stern voice as he descended down to the deck. Puzzingly, another crew member had brought him a sword while they were all too focused on the ship nearing from the horizon. She had never seen the captain so much as look at a sword before, so what was going on?

[plyr=misc]"Billy! Keep the stew from burnin'."[/plyr] Marie nudged the smaller, lankier man beside her with her elbow as she untied her apron and handed the cloth over to him. Once he'd run down below deck to keep their food from going bad, the impromptu cook rest her arm on the railing of the ship and eyed the pirate vessel as it drew ever nearer. Something wasn't sitting right with all this, but for the life of her, she wasn't about to go and give a pirate the benefit of the doubt.

[npc=pirt]"Ahoy there!"[/npc] The captain, of course, was the first to call out to the seemingly disabled vessel. His sword remained sheathed, though held in plain view in one hand, and though he seemed absolutely small when compared to the mountain of a woman standing beside him, he was still a good deal larger than the rest of the crew; again, mostly for his girth rather than height. [npc=pirt]"Looks like ya got yerself in a bit of trouble, lad! Coonewnewnewnew!"[/npc]

The rest of the crew laughed along with their captain, and to tell the truth, Marie was wont to do the same. Pirates were some of the lowest scum to sail the seas, after all, and to catch one with his drawers around his ankles like this... It was pretty poetic comeuppance. Still, she opted not to interrupt the captain with words. She had been told to stay, not to speak. So, she smirked and looked at the lone soul who stood upon the deck of the other ship, a younger man with green hair.

Just why would a pirate be alone? There had to be more waiting. This could be a trap...

WC: 1,135/5000