The pub

[Rascal]

Rascal grabbed Artemis and hurried out the door after them. A fight? She'd love to see one. But she was disappointed, to say the least, when she stepped from the tavern door. They were just going to argue. That much was clear just by the way they stood. Well... maybe the sailor would raise a fist. She seemed strong enough to do so. But the Captain wouldn't. Rascal could tell. She had watched enough fights to determine who were the fighters and who were the talkers.

[ganuaile]

Grace could feel her anger mounting as she took in the girl's folded arms and ready glare. "Do I have to remind you that I took you in, and out of pity no less?" she spat. Balling her hands into fists, she took a step forward, keeping her gaze locked on Cathleene's. "I gave you work, and yourself a half-blind waif, and you've been nothing but trouble since you set foot on my ship. I know that I'm but a woman but I am also your captain and I will be respected. Do you understand?" Grace's voice now filled the narrow street. "Perhaps I made a mistake in allowing you to stay. Perhaps I should've dismissed you the first time you refused to follow an order, but I didn't. I've been patient with you my girl but," she paused, hitting her hand with her fist, "my patience is about to run out. If you don't start shwoing me the proper respect I deserve as your captain you will be finding yourself a new occupation. Do we understand each other then, Miss O'Teal?" Grace rested her hands on her hips, waiting for the girl's answer.

[elphiethegood]

Cathleene didnt answer but simply folded her arms acoss her chest, shooting Grace the sharpest glare she could muster as Grace continued to lecture her and finally she couldn't take it any longer. This was reminding her too much of the orphanage. She'd had no idea it would be like this. She'd thought it would be fun and adventure. She'd had no idea so much work would be involved. Not that she minded work. She'd done plenty of work at the orphanage. Too much for her liking. But Grace was right, she finally decided, she did need to show her some respect. "Yes, Captain," she said. She looked at her pleadingly. "Please do not dismiss me. I will behave. I promise. I have nowhere else to go. I will work harder I promise, Captain."

[Rascal]

Rascal watched, her eyes growing wide. This was no fight. It was one pissed off Captain against her crewmate. Alice looked on for only a few moments before stepping behind a barrel of rum to hide. This was the wrong place to be right now. Best leave angry pirates to settle their deals themselves. A drunken fight is always fun to stand and watch, but a sober argument could be more dangerous than it was given credit for. She had already seen the outcome of such a thing. It could be death.

[ganuaile]

Grace folded her arms across her chest. "See that you do. I'm warning you Miss O'Teal, I'll not tolerate much more of this." She rounded on her heel and strode off down the street. "I've got to find lodgings for the crew." Her gaze swept the street and she spotted Rascal. Her eyes narrowed. "If its a fight you're after Miss Hood I'm afraid you'll have to look elsewehre. Can you tell me where the inns are in this town and the prices?"

[elphiethegood]

Cathleene watched as Grace talked with Rascal and suddenly Cathleene felt Grace grab her arm and drag her down the street. "Captain where are we going?" she called but got no response. She wiggled free from Grace's grip. "I will respect you but that does not mean you need to drag me through the streets like I am some animal." she saw Grace's expression turn to fury once again and she exhaled. "I"m sory Captain. Really. There I go again. Lettng my mouth think for me." She let her gaze sweep over the street. "Where are we, Captain?"

[Rascal]

Rascal jumped when Grace found her. She hadn't even seen her walk near. "Don't stay here." she warned her. "The whole town is run by Sea Hounds. If you stay at the inn here, they'll only rape you and take all your money. Go to Pythonburrow or Blackfox. Those towns are still mainly under civilian control. They usually don't rent out rooms to pirates, but I'm sure you could make a deal with them." Rascal told her. "Or, if you don't find any luck there, I have a few extra rooms in my house that are empty. You could stay there." she offered slowly. She really wasn't feeling herself today. Never had she invited anyone into the home that she and Alexander had built together. Especially not to pirates.

[ganuaile]

Grace thought for a minute, weighing the options in her mind. "Very well Miss Hood. Miss O'Teal and I accept your offfer, and thank you kindly." She pulled a pouch of coins out of her pocket and counted several out into the palm of her hand. "I think this is about right for the rent. I'm afraid I'm not sure how long Miss O'Teal and I will be staying." She frowned. "My ship's being repaired at the moment. We hit a nasty storm coming over. ONce we've found your home I'll fetch our goods from the ship."

[Rascal]

"Thank you." she said, pocketing the coins. "And it's Rascal, by the way." Alice told her. 'Miss Hood' made her sound like an adult. But she didn't want to grow up. Not yet. Not ever. Not without Alexander by her side. Without him, she would be this age forever, for this was the age that she remembered him best. She began to walk down the street, leading them into the forest, which would lead them into the other kingdom. From the border, they could take a trail to her home in Cutlass. Artemis slithered up her arm and hid under the cape again, sleeping out of the sun's falling rays that drooped from the sky like wilting flowers. Bright yellows and oranges cast upon the landscape, as if it had been pelted with warm breakfast eggs.

"Beware the Sirens when we get to the town." she told them. "They have stayed away from me and my home for all that I've lived there, but those vile, yellow-bellied, chicken-necked no-good waste of lifes are as unpredictable as sharks." her voice was almost a growl, filled with the utmost hatred and despise and darkness. One could almost wonder how so much hatred could be contained by one fourteen year old girl. But everyone in her town knew, and so did the Sirens. Just nobody cared, and that was the problem.

[ganuaile]

Grace nearly burst out laughing at the girl's outburst. "Rascal it is then, though I'm not accustomed to calling people by their first names, so twill take a bit of getting used to. I understand your sentiments completely." She stepped over a root and pushed a limb out of her way. "I have the same feelings toward the English." She paused at the entrance to the trail to look back over her shoulder namd make sure Cathleene was keeping up alright. She waited, one hand on her hip and the other on a tree, for a sign of the girl.

[elphiethegood]

Cathleene couldn't believe this was happening. She'd thought they would head back to the ship. Instead, she was tromping through the forest with some stranger. Cathleene gritted her teeth and slowly stepped over a root, leaning on a tree to keep from falling. She hated the woods. Mainly because she was forever tripping over roots and sticks. Cathleene slowly let go of the tree and continued walking toward Grace. The trees were thick and Cathleene could barely make out what was two feet in front of her, let alone see what was beneath her. She stepped carefully and ended up losing her footing, sprawling to the forest floor. Cathleene cursed loudly and slowly picked herself up. "some help you are, Captain," she muttered under her breath. Brushing herself off, she looked up to see Grace standing before her. "So now you decide to ocme and help me," she said sarcastically. She indicated to her clothes. "I look like some homeless person who has been sleeping in the mud." she brushed past Grace, nearly tripping again. Cathleene gritted her teeth. At this rate they were never going to reach Rascal's house and just like everything else, it would Cathleene's fault.

[Rascal]

Alice looked behind her, and offered a hand to the fallen girl, though it wasn't taken. "You know," she said, "We could get you a horse in Cutlass." she told her. "We have some of the finest bred steeds there for you to choose from, and of the most trustworthy personalities. Perhaps you'd like one to help you through the forest and brush." Rascal suggested. "They are very sure-footed creatures." She felt sorry for this pirate. She was much like herself, simply older. Always angry. It wasn't exactly the easiest life to live. The girl walked on, leading them to a better path without so many twigs and plants in the way.

[ganuaile]

"We live on a ship," Grace said through clinched teeth. "Of course you look like a homeless person!" She nearly shouted the last sentence before whirling on her heel and striding up to Rascal. "Thank you for the offer," she added in a somewhat softer tone. "I'll examine the horses when we've arrived." She turned back to Cathleene. "And I was not aware that yourself needed help getting about in a wood. You do just fine on the ship." She turned and continued down the trail.

[Rascal]

"Not homeless people." Rascal said. "Pirates. Trust me, there's a difference here." Everybody looked like Grace and Cathlene in the Kingdoms. Everyone was either a Pirate or poor or both. Some of them were indeed homeless, and looked nothing like the two that Alice was allowing into her home. She was quiet as they walked from then on, and led them from the forest. There was an open field now, and across its pastures lied farmed land. Then there was the outskirt homes of the people before getting into the center kingdom. Cutlass was there, and then a short distance away from the main town was her home. Not really a long walk, just a lot of things between there and where they were now. As they passed through the farmlands, some of the folks barely glanced at Rascal. They looked at Grace and Cathlene with curiosity. Were those Sirens following the girl? No. But they didn't know that. Getting into the center kingdoms drew different responses. Angry eyebrows and distasteful snarls towards all three of them. A few rum glasses raised from the Sirens in greeting, to which Rascal spit on the ground in front of them and threw rocks on occasion. But then there was quiet as they approached her house. "Well," she said at last, "This is home."

[ganuaile]

Grace arched her eyebrows at the hostile reaction of some of the townsfolk. Once or twice her hand strayed to her sword, but she quelled the instinct. No need to start trouble for their host. Besides, she was curious about these other female pirates, Sirens, Rascal had called them. Herself being such a rarity, Grace was excited to see other women who appeared to love the sea as much as she did. 'Or the loot,' a small cynical voice in the back of her head whispered. Chuckling to herself, she followed Rascal into the house. "If yourself despises the Sirens so," Grace said, "Why do you stay where they are? why not move to Liquerpool or one of the other towns of the Sea Dogs?"