Maritime Scary Time [Past][Private]

If not having noticed him entering the establishment was a mistake, then the moment she believed she could slip away unseen was clearly one of the worsts she could have made. He had risen from his seat, that much she knew, but she had never imagined that he would have figured out her plan for escape. After all, the dividing wall had obscured her from his line of vision or so she had thought. "Most of the backwater insects I saw on this island were holding crude weaponry,” It was when he spoke that she realized her fatal mistake. Serenity's hand froze midway from the metallic silver door knob as her clear resolve vanished just as it had come. Her mind came to a forceful stop as her body stood paralyzed for a brief moment, thus destroying the timeframe in which she could have grabbed hold of her blade. “Sh-” was her initially thought, muttering in self-depreciation of herself. She was a failure. That much she now knew. ”Nothing of value or importance.” It was clear that he was talking to her and, from his words, she could only apply the same to herself. She had completely underestimated him and, with it, disgraced the training her Grandfather had provided her. Something she swore would never happen again if she was lucky enough to survive the ordeal.

The man would continue, her back still turned to him, although she had moved her profile to look at him from the corner of her eyes. “But those blades there do not seem to look as though they were randomly strung together by a bunch of bog-hopping inbreeds." Surprisingly, a soft smile would spread across the Blade Master's lips. Her swords were her life, her blood and a relic left behind by her Grandfather. To have them complimented, despite it being, in many ways, unconventional, was something that pleased her. Regardless of whom it came from. She would then proceed to form composure before turning to face the man, the Pirate. “You show no fear on your face despite knowing how mercilessly I just killed that man behind the bar.” She would say nothing and simply shrug. After all, she had experienced worse throughout her lifetime. “You're clearly a person of great beauty, but I can tell from your hands that you do not live the life of one pampered. I can see the roughness there, the skill there, the experience.” Regardless of whether or not the Pirate knew it, he had scratched a sore spot for her. At the mention of her hands, her once neutral demeanor would be briefly overcome with distaste. Not at the concept of work, but for all the experience she had undergone through to reach the point she was in now. If anything, it reminded her of her Mother. Someone she would much rather forget.

She would resume her poker face and listen to the man as he continued to speak. She had come to notice that, despite the neutrality in his voice and his monotonous way of speaking, not only did he like to talk, but he seemed to enjoy the process of analysis. Otherwise, he would not have bothered to mention any little thing he found about her. This, though, she had to hand it to him as he was someone of experience although his words left much to be desired. “You do not live among this trash, therefore you're not apart of the trash.” At the mention of this, Serenity bit back a string of sarcastic retorts that were just begging to let loose. But, underneath it all, she knew he did not fully mean ill-intent. Still, she was, in no way, letting her guard down. “My name is Brood Xaldin Bach, the Tooth-Decay as some have taken to calling me. Who are you, what is your name?" He would give her his name and a moment of uncertainty would wash over her. His name was in no way familiar to her. But, based on everything that had undergone, she knew and understood he was no pushover. Yet, through slow and calculated speech, she would look him in the eye and give it to him. “Serenity, although I doubt you’d care much for the rest.” A bold move on her part, but it held true nonetheless. Currently, she was prey and no predator would even bother to know the details of his next meal. Regardless of who they were.

Still, the mention of his name had allowed her to scratch him off the list as the one she had been looking for. True he was a Pirate, but not someone she had been searching for. At least, not at the present moment. She would note the narrowing of his eyes and she would stand on guard. Given the distance, she would be able to at least take ahold of Valkyrie, her prized sword, if all went wrong. But, given the powerful aura he gave off, she knew she had no chance. Yet, his next move would leave her in a state of confusion. His eyes would wander, resting still on her, but away from her face. Still, she paid it no mind as he would continue as if nothing was the matter. "If we would have met on better circumstances, you'd not be subjected to what you must think is a senseless slaughter.” Senseless? She only believed it to be a fate deemed worthy of the place she had inhabited for many years. True, it could have been her resentment speaking but, for the time being, it was a relief to see it gone. Even if not by her own two hands. “But I assure you what we are doing here is not random.” Oh? “We are pirates. But we are also privateers.” That much, she had gathered, but why was he here and why was he mentioning all of this? Was it, perhaps, a justification? Or something more? Still, she said nothing as she continued to listen uninterruptedly. She would know in due time, or so she would hope.  

Unfazed, the man proceeded, clearly not caring about those within that heard him. It had been made clear that many were listening, frozen in fear, as the Pirate continued. Yet, none dared to make themselves visible to him. “Currency is the lifeblood of any self respecting crew and we are willing to do whatever it takes in order to keep ourselves afloat.” Her eyes furrowed in confusion. Why was he telling her this? It wasn’t as if she had asked for information nor had she given illusion that she had done so. “Though we are by no means desperate to be paid, if something sounds like it would be entertaining or fun, we are more than happy to sell our services in order to partake in it.” Serenity could understand that. For, in her mind, the pirates under his command were like the villagers of Maritime. And, she, in a turn of events would be the slaughtered villagers. It was a matter of the strongest. An instinct of survival. Yet, it did not mean she had to agree with it. “That is all this is. A transaction from a disgruntled former resident who asked us to make this island know what it meant to feel suffering, no matter what.” Serenity would then freeze in place, her blood draining from her face. Her eyes would then narrow and her hands were itching for something to grab ahold of. A former resident? All those she had grown up with still remained. After all, it was a very small place and no one had the means to leave. No one, save one.


His following words and the murmurs of the patrons would bring her back to the present. “What our client does not know is that unfortunately, this island will be reduced to nothingness. As is it's fate." A small frown would soon be etched across her lips as her eyebrows furrowed slightly in thought. Perhaps, or perhaps not. If it was the person Serenity believed it to be, she would not have cared even if it was to be blown up into smithereens. After all, her Mother was quite proud and one who would have wished her previous life erased. Even if it meant Serenity to die with it.  “I tell you this information for one reason and one reason only.” Serenity rose an eyebrow. “You've impressed me.” What..? It was clear as day that his words had surprised everyone, even Serenity, although some would make it more clear than others. Their continued murmurs would fill the place making Serenity wish that she, too, would be part of the gossip. After all, he was definitely not the person she would have wished to impress. At least, outside the realm of her potential career. “Not sure what you've done to earn it,” Now she was clearly amused. “Perhaps it was how brash and brazen your actions are that have skewed my perception, but it doesn't matter.” Yes, she could agree with that. After all, she sometimes surprised herself, too.


Yet, the next seven words would break her off of her amusement. You've been selected to join the lottery.” Another muttering and other self-deprecating remark, Serenity had but one thing to say: “Dammit…” Blasted lottery. She and her curious mind. She had wanted answers? Well, now she was going to experience it first hand. Regardless of whether or not he had heard her, he would explain, “Meaning you have the chance to earn one of three fabulous prizes.” Serenity would shift her weight and roll her eyes. “”Yay me…” She muttered sarcastically under her breath. It had slipped by her lips yet she held no regret for it. Still, her eyes wandered the establishment aimlessly before placing it back to the man before her, Brood. “Whoever gets their lottery numbers pulled first will be crucified and hung up all around the island as a warning to any World Government scouts who near this place.” Well, that was unfortunate. “Those who pull it after that will all die.” Serenity rose an eyebrow. Crucifixion and Death? Weren't they the same? Although she would opt for the second one, depending on the how. “The third to last person who gets their ticket picked will be flayed.” She cringed, now unamused by the development. No, definitely was the second one was the better of the three. After all, what would be pleasant about having one’s skin pulled off?

A look of confusion would soon cross her face as he went on, “The second to last will be cast out to see on two planks tied together by rope.” Had he not said three prizes? As far as she knew, this was now the fourth. “The first place winner gets to join my crew." This, though, was the tip of the iceberg. For, if Serenity had been back at her usual place drinking her regular, she would have choked. Perhaps to some, it would have been an adventure. But, for the Pirate Hunter in training, this was far away from what she wanted. Still, she had many questions, but none in which she would ask. Her amusement was now over and she had to face reality. It did not scare her in the slightest. She understood here he had come from and, yet, he seemed to underestimate her. As far as she gathered, although the Pirate acknowledged her as different, he still seemed to not understand her. She was no damsel in distress, and was definitely not going to be one now. He seemed to wait for an answer, one Serenity did not know how to give, but she would proceed to readjust the strap of her blades’ scabbard before letting sighing. She would not fight. At least, not yet as she knew a losing battle when she saw one. The Blade Master would then proceed to look him in the eye, her determination strong. If she were to die, then so be it. But, the heavens only knew that she wasn’t going to go that easily. She would definitely fight back regardless of what happened, even if it cost her her life.