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 Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:34 pm
Jonathan, noticing Katherine's sudden change in emotions from lust to violence, immidiately changed plans to prevent him or anyone else around him from being skewered by her cutlass. "Oh second thought, Jamie," he called out, "I can take care of my own. Captain's orders are for you to tend to the elf and see if he has any wounds he may be hiding." It was a short, but effective way of reducing any confrontation that was unnecessary. The Englishman readied himself for another charge by Katherine, this time one that might be violent.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:55 pm
Just when the convoluted plans for murdering the treacherous gypsy were building in Katherine's mind, Jonathan's words seemed to dissolve all the anger in the captain, leaving her giddy with affection once more. She couldn't help but admire how Graves had instinctively known when she was upset, and acted nobly to soothe her. Surely his turning away of Jamie meant he also harbored some feelings for Katherine after all, despite his wary appearance!
Almost swooning, Katherine briefly wondered just how much rum she had consumed before launching herself at her dear Jonathan once more. Clearly she had drunk more than previously felt, as the graceful leap into Jonathan's arms turned into more of a staggering lurch. Katherine shook her head slowly to clear it, causing only more dizziness and making her clutch at the tactician more for support than out of any desire.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:01 pm
Katherine lunged forward toward Jonathan, but not in anger, and only partly in lust. Rather, it was in a drunken stupor. The witch did not say anything about mixing the potion with alcohol, but the officer feared that she might be overcome, and thus decided it best to let her come to him. He semi-gracefully caught Katherine midstumble, letting her spill into his arms. "That's right, hun," he whispered, keeping his arms around her as both emotional and physical support, "just lean into me and go to sleep."
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:18 pm
Jamie had remained where she was, at the door, daring not to come in. At the site of the two Jamie realised that she had made a mistake by trying to free Jonathan. The captain seemed very eager to get what she wanted and the death look in her eye made the gypsy nervous. It was certain then that Jamie was not going to be helping the quartermaster by remaining there.
He spoke then, telling her to go and check on Nicolas, acting as though it were an order from the Captain herself. Jamie sowled at this, though gave Jonathan an understanding nod. He could have thought of something else, or perhaps not have told her what to do. She would have been leaving anyways. She then turned and shut the door behind her.
She had been curious as to what had happened to Nicolas, though now she was unsure if she wanted to check on him, for she would then be obeying the order of one lower than herself. She was certainly a stubborn one. With much effort Jamie pushed what Jonathan said aside and continued her way towards Nicolas's chamber. For it was there that she had been going originally.
Fixing her short red skirt and tightening her corset the woman then knocked on the wooden door, fingering the bracelet recently given to her.
" Ye in there, Nicolas?" She asked through the thick wood, her voice becoming muffled. The fresh cut on her her arm had slowed in bleeding and Jamie rubbed it, the tender skin itched because of the healing process.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:07 am
Having finally reached her prize, Katherine was in no mood to simply 'go to sleep'. She was even less amused by being called hun, like some strange pet rabbit, and she would have given the bloody tactician an earful if only she weren't so sleepy and he wasn't quite so... snuggly. To Katherine's great surprise and even greater dismay, she found herself nodding drowsily at his suggestion, overcome with a great weariness.
The room simply refused to stop spinning, so the captain took the initiative and refused to watch it spinning, closing her heavy eyelids against the nauseating scene. Katherine's head seemed to fit perfectly on Jonathan's shoulder, so she was content to let it sit there for the time being, and if she happened to curl her arms around his warm frame then so be it.
Something was nagging at her in the back of her mind, something involving irritating ship's boys and upstart englishmen, but she couldn't quite muster the attention to focus on it. Giving into the siren song of morpheus, Katherine drifted off to sleep in the comforting embrace of the man that she suddenly found inexplicably attractive.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:28 am
Jonathan smiled to himself as Katherine slowly drifted off to lala land, maybe dreaming of dancing dubloons and naked tacticians. Using all his might, he lifted Katherine up in both arms and carried her over to the bed, ever-so-gently placing her on the plush sheets. With a sigh of relief, he took the time to get dressed and place his strongbox under his arm. Jonathan was just about to leave when he looked back at the unconcious Katherine, and a pang of guilt overcame him. Sighing to himself, he placed the box on the table and walked over to the bed.
"She's a beautiful one," he says softly to himself, "when she's asleep." Smiling warmly, Jonathan pulled off the boots from Katherine and placed them to the side while taking her tricorne and setting it on the table. Ever-so-gently, he pulled the sheets over Katherine and tucked her in. Even though she was his superior, she was still a human being. And a cute one at that. Jonathan leaned over and kissed his captain on the forehead. "Good night, Katherine," he whispered into her ear, using her first name out loud for the first time. "I have preserved both your honor and your pride." With one last kiss on the forehead, the Englishman got up and made his exit from the cabin with his strongbox, determined to get some sleep in his hammock.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 1:20 pm
While in his cabin, Nicolas carefully removed his sabre, setting it delicating onto his bed. It was certainly clear to any who knew the elf that his blade meant a great deal to him. In fact, it was also clear that he often took more care of the said blade than he did with any woman he chose to bed. That was, until Nicolas felt Jamie Gallows creep into his life.
Lifting his blouse over his shoulders, the elf winced slightly upon noticing a large gash in his shoulder from the mirror. The soaked shirt was not as wearable as he would have liked now and so he set it aside to inspect his wound. The cut was from the single close encounter he had before setting off of the ship. A naval officer had been hiding like a coward and only advanced when he was certain the elf had his back turned. Shutting his eyes and pressing a hand against the wound, Nicolas could feel the slice as if it had only just happened. Keeping his hand pressed tightly, the man hoped he could at least stop the bleeding. Being as the wound was a slice, it had been somewhat deep, but thin. If he managed to keep it together somehow, it could heal itself over time.
Returning his gaze to his shirt, the elf smirked and quickly snatched it up. Nicolas was soon designing a sort of temporary bandage by tearing a large strip from the worst sleeve and wrapping it tightly over his open cut. He then perceded to adjust it in the mirror to ensure it did not open again and was tight enough to heal together. As he finished and inspected it once more, the elf's ear caught onto a faint tapping coming from the door. Although Nicolas could usually recognise just whom it was at the door by the gesture in which they knocked, he did not bother thinking too hard on it. With the following voice, he had been told that it was Jamie Gallows anyhow. A weary form made his way towards the door and opened in it, exposing his nearly bare chest and fresh bandages. The bleeding had stopped, but already they had been stained somewhat red.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:41 pm
Katherine awoke alone in the darkness, confused as to how she got there and with a splitting headache to keep her company. As the sleep-fog cleared from her mind, vague memories of the events prior to her collapse began to arise, bringing both a wince and a rare blush to the captain's face. She was horrified at her own behavior, and completely baffled as to how such a relatively small amount of rum could cause her to act so brashly. Going over the memories more carefully, Katherine concluded that whatever had been in that tiny vial had been one hell of a mixer.
Still, she knew that no form of alcohol on earth could produce the still lingering affection she felt, and it caused Katherine to sit there in the dark for a good hour, examining her own emotions. Introspection was not an activity she was often given to, preferring to let sleeping dogs lie, but the captain felt a desperate need for some explanation as to these sudden feelings towards Jonathan Graves. Had she harbored some secret flame for him all along? Was the irritation she had believed he caused merely the only way her uncouth heart knew to deal with him?
The questions only caused more confusion, and Katherine had more than enough of that. Standing up decisively, the captain slapped on her hat and strode out of her cabin towards the crew quarters. She had only a vague notion of where the majority of her underlings slept, so it took some time for her to find Jonathan's hammock in the dingy hold.
When at last she stood above him, squinting in the dimness, Katherine realized that the mad obsession she had felt the night before had receeded considerably, leaving only a vague admiration and definite attraction. This was easier for her to handle, yet still disturbing in its presence, so the captain leaned over the tactician and jabbed him with her finger.
"Are you awake, Graves?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:34 pm
Jonathan reached his hammock with the strongbox safely secured under his arm, thankfully not running into any of the other crewmates in the meantime. As it was primarily an accident, the thoughts of tonight's incident soon cleared his head. His current thoughts, however, turned toward the contents of his prize, his own personal storage box for his valuables.
Climbing into the hammock, the officer soon made his small treasure chest his only concern. Slipping his fingers across the sides of the box, he soon found the hidden latches that held it closed. The lock on the front was faux, the only purpose of which was to confuse any would-be thief. With a soft *click*, the top of the box popped open, revealing the contents. Nothing gold or silver would be found inside, but the two items inside were as valuable to him as a Spanish treasure fleet... a folded up flag of England and his old log book.
Amusing himself through the hours with reading old entries in his log, Jonathan soon found the timeless annoyance of sleep creeping up on him. Placing his log book back into his chest and securing the top, the officer placed the thin chest behind his pillow and drifted back to dreamland, only to be awaked an hour later by the voice and prodding of Katherine. Jonathan scrambles to his feet and goes into parade rest, bleary eyed but alert. "Yes, Ma'am?" he asks.
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Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 4:49 pm
Katherine stepped back in startlement as Jonathan practically leapt out of bed, awake enough to make her suspect he had never been asleep. Katherine at least could not manage such alertness directly after waking up. Gathering her scattered thoughts, the captain straightened up and tried to remember what she had come here to say in the first place.
When her mind finally did alight on her purpose, she suddenly wished she had never left her cabin. Looking at the poor tactician, disheveled from his hammock but still attempting some sort of attention just for her, even after all she'd put him through that evening, Katherine felt the unfamiliar pangs of something approaching guilt.
Confused at this sudden onset of an emotion she thought she was long since done with, Katherine longed to simply leave, though she could not do so now without looking foolish. Or more foolish than she already did. Sighing, Katherine finally summoned the courage to spit out what had been lurking in her mind.
"You did well today. I've decided to make your post of tactician permanent. You will of course also have to be raised to able seaman, but you... deserve it."
Katherine cursed inwardly. That had not been at all what she had wished to say! And now she had the trouble of dealing with Jonathan as something much closer to an equal. Kicking herself mentally for her lack of bravery, the captain turned to leave.
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Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:07 pm
"Ma'am?" Jonathan asked inquisitively, still in parade rest. "Who will take care of the bookkeeping if I am promoted to Tactician? Nobody else has expressed a desire for being Quartermaster." Expecting Katherine to turn around and answer him (partly because he knew she didnt come down here JUST to tell him about a promotion), the newly promoted Tactician reached into his jacket and pulled out the ship's manifest, holding it out so the Captain could reclaim it. "Is there anything else you desired to talk to me about?" he asked, trying to hide a slight grin on his face from thoughts of last night.
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Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 9:26 pm
Not really surprised that Jonathan had more questions, Katherine turned back to him with a sigh, regarding him wearily in the dim light. She took the ship's manifest with only a brief glance before handing it back, more out of curiosity than doubt. Though Katherine was the captain, she didn't have as direct a role in the ship's affairs as other captains might, and she had rarely even seen the ship's manifest before.
"I'm sure you can manage to do both well enough, you're more than capable." It wouldn't do to stroke the tactician's pride too much, but it was a plain truth and denying it would be simple obstinance.
Feeling that was settled, Katherine looked away from Jonathan as she considered his next question. She didn't particularly feel like answering at all, but knowing very well that Jonathan would persist until she did, Katherine chose her words carefully.
"I wanted to apologize and... thank you. For earlier." An unusual and out of place blush stained her cheeks. "I was perhaps... out of line. You behaved like a gentlemen, a rare thing in this line of work. I fear that sort of behaviour has no place when you're on the account, but I thank you for it regardless."
Now truly embarrassed to have gone on like that, Katherine inspected her boots with deep concentration, praying that Jonathan would accept her apology and release her.
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Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 10:05 pm
The newly-promoted Tactician tucked the manifest back into his jacket with a nod. "You need not apologize, Ma'am," he speaks with a smile, "you were merely under the influence of something that was not mundane." Jonathan blushed and bowed slightly. "It was a love potion I was saving for someone special, when both of us knew what we were doing and had no objections." He rises from his bow and grins slightly, "But rest assured, I did do my best to preserve your honor. Being drunk is one thing, having no control over your own actions is another. I did my best to watch over you until you drifted off to sleep."
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Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 10:27 pm
Katherine recoiled sharply from Jonathan, shock blanking her mind for a long moment. Then the anger set in, hot and vicious in the pit of her stomach, colouring her vision red. How dare he manipulate her like that! It was unthinkable! Vile, corrupt, disrespectful... Katherine ran out of epitaphs in a manner of seconds and simply glared at the man before her, almost shivering with pure rage.
Later, she'd assess the situation properly and realize it had been no plan or scheme of Graves', merely her own blind greed that had landed her in such an embarrassing position. In fact Jonathan had acted very admirably, not taking advantage of her when any man would be hard pressed not to. But for now it was easier to pick a target for her shame and anger. And that target happened to be Jonathan Graves.
Unable to speak without screaming like some housewife turned harpy, Katherine simply turned on her heel and stormed back to her cabin without another word to the tactician.
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Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 10:41 pm
Graves, confused and hurt by Katherine's sudden change in mood and departure, climbed back in his hammock to think about what he said to make her so angry. Sighing, he put such thoughts aside and tried to go back to sleep. He dared not ask the Captain about getting a private cabin now, so he had to be content with the constent back-ache he lived with ever since being assigned to the common quarters. Despite the lack of sleep he had, Jonathan's thoughts on the recent events kept him awake. In time, however, he would drift away to dreamland, but for now his mind was locked on the conversation-gone-bad and what he had done. Maybe he shouldnt have been chivalous. Maybe chivalry was dead. On a ship full of pirates, he felt like the odd man out; prefering romance over lust, tactics over brute force, politeness over rudeness. Maybe it was time to change all that..
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