Shiver me timbers! Here be a pirate meme!

[jackdaws]

(Pirate AU Meme)

Rules: 
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Others will roll a number at the RNG and reply to your comment.
Decide on your roles and play!
Threads of more than two are welcome and encouraged.
 

1.  Boarded:  Your ship has been boarded, and as captain you've been captured!  Better hope the other captain gives quarter.  Alternatively, it's a nice warm day for a swim.  That plank was made for walking.

2.  Victory:  You've captured another ship!  You knew those extra cannons would come in handy.  And let's hope they've got lots of swag!  Where's the captain? Are you the decent sort, or are you going to rub their face in it for a bit?

3.  Swab the decks:  You're a cabin boy!  It's a good thing you don't mind doing all the dirty work, right?  Anyway, the captain's calling; better see what they want.

4.  Marooned:  For a bit there you'd thought you were in Davy's Jones' grip, but somehow you've washed ashore with the driftwood.  As you stare dazedly up from the surf, you have questions.  Where are you?  And who's that already on the shore?

5.  Buried Treasure:  Sink me! You've really found the mother lode. . . but you're not the only one.  Who gets to take the treasure back to their ship?  Better make sure it's you.

6.  Rum:  Rum, everywhere. 

7.  Swordfight:  It's that person you can't stand!  And they've taken your most valuable possession, that one of a kind thing you just can't live without!  Better get that trinket back before it and your nemesis are gone over the side forever.  Let's hear some swashes buckling.

8.  Mutiny:  The tack is full of maggots and this drinking water may as well have come from the gutter.  There's one person to blame for this, and you're here to make especially sure that they pay for it.  The captain does always seem to take the best treasure before everybody else.

9.  Kidnapping:  Don't they look rather peaceful, innocent even, sleeping so soundly there with their fancy nightclothes and pillows.  Brings a tear to your eye, it does.  Better take them aboard and send for a ransom.

10.  Take a Gamble:  Gotta spend your loot somehow, but it must have been the rum that had you bettin' everything at once!  You've lost to your hornswagglin' shipmate; what did you lose, and what will they make you do now?

11. Under the Sea:  You are now a Mermaid/Merman!  That sailor over there sure looks appealing; let's see if you can lure them in with your charms.  Don't forget that they can't breathe under water!  You do seem to always forget, don't you. . .

12.  Enemy from the Deep:  What was that?  Did you feel that?  An unseen enemy is about to take this ship swiftly to the bottom of the ocean.  Giant squid, enormous whales, sea serpents . . . hope you make it.

13.  The Doldrums:  Can you say cabin fever?  The sails haven't moved in weeks.  You're about seeing if your mates can relieve this awful boredom.  And hopefully find some food and water.  Don't squabble over it, now.

14.  The Brig:  Something you did has gotten you imprisoned in the very depths of this ship.  How long until you see your next meal?  When you see who put you here again, you'll make them pay.  Hold on, maybe there's someone else here too.

OR

Make up your own!  Arrrrr!
 meme by tropospheres and pandarosi

Comments

[belaying]

[He sees that. His face says he is well enough aware that she does not, in fact, have any clue how to hoist a sail. And he has been more than aware of the kinds of suggestions the crew has offered her, though he also knows they know that it goes no further than that, or they'll have to deal with him.

Not a thought they really relish, which is also a thing he knows.

But what comes out of his mouth is:]

My corner of the world. [Said with a slight inclination of his head - amazingly regal, for him.] There be nine of us Pirate Lords, each with their own domain.

[Telling is his lack of gender specifics, considering two of the Lords are, in fact, women.]

The Caspian Sea be mine.

[And with that, he braces himself, because Jack Sparrow has joked many times how horrible it must be, to have Lordship over a landlocked sea. The idea to throw her overboard, her cheekiness in wearking men's clothing amusing him not withstanding, is one he also entertains.]

[psalmed]

I would try.

[It's maybe a little defensive. But it is true that Lia would try with her dying breath to keep up with someone, to prove she could survive on her own. Her dying breath might come sooner rather than later if it does involve sails.]

How do pirate lords come to be in possession of such things?

[She hides a smile quickly behind her hand. It is a bit darling when he puffs up like that, when he shows his pride, but damned if she'll admit it because it is as infuriating as it is endearing.]

Good for fishing, is it not? I have been on the Volga but never all the way to the sea.

[Limited to the capital, to civilization such as it was in Russia. But Lia is a diplomat, even in this.]

[belaying]

[Sooner rather than later is probably right, given the curve balls life in general likes throwing at him. Off and on before even putting to sea he's toyed with the idea of teaching her something, even if it's nothing more than a touch of navigation to give her something to do (and keep her effectively out of his hair for his eight bells on duty), because there is a certain tedium to nothing but blue water all around. And it would certainly be nice to not have to find all their headings himself.]

The same as anythin' else. Gets passed on from one pirate to another. [Though the story of his own is not something he's likely to share, as he forges right on ahead in the next breath.]

And I've nary an idea. Never spent any time there. [Why would he? It's cold, and more importantly, landlocked.] The Baltic, aye, done me share of runs there. China Sea, too. But it'd be mighty hard to drag a ship to an inland sea. There be naught in Russia I particularly care for.

[And then, abruptly pushing himself from the railing-] Chart reading. We start tomorrow after me turn at the helm. Every man - and lady - [Though the manners present in his voice are slightly mocking.] Needs to pull his or her own weight. Better you learn to read the maps than...Try to hoist some canvas.

[psalmed]

Lords might be newly knighted. They might be a distant relation.

[Perhaps Pirate Lords do not operate in the same manner as Noble Lords. She's tempted, a bit, to retreat to her cabin. She had to cull her luggage multiple times already. Take only the books she knows she wants, bring only a few of her larger dresses and nothing at all which requires its own drunk.

She isn't certain what she could have packed to ease her boredom, only that she is trying to find a way to blame him in the same breath she uses to pray for patience.]

There is a river. Do rivers not connect?

[But Lia knows it is dumb the moment it is out of her mouth. It is something a courtly gentleman would smile at, because she does not have to be smart when she is beautiful. That's not something Hector allows her.

She backs up a step when he moves, staring at him because even now she's never certain what he's doing or why. And she hadn't expected him to say that.]

I learned to use a sword and ride a horse. But if you think I am more suited to reading charts...

[She probably is, actually. But now she's curious as to why he is bothering to teach her, other than to get her out of the way. She can live with that, so long as she's useful.]

[belaying]

[The first part he makes no comment on, beyond a small, slightly patronizing smile. They both know she knows better, and he very well knows she's more than a pretty face, or he'd never have bothered with her at all, much less found himself in his current situation. Pretty faces alone are a dime a dozen, and for all his grousing, he supposes they get on well enough.

A thought that actually sends an internal shudder through him, because seriously, what has his life even become. There is a part of him - a very large part, actually - that dreads when he'll have to make his way back to all the pirate haunts to assure others, yes, he is still alive, because he knows, as his luck runs, that explaining this to Jack (if he decides to explain anything to him at all) is going to be the most annoying, nauseating thing he's ever done.

He can hear the lewd comments now.]

And there'll be time a'plenty for you to make use of that sword. [Sooner than she probably realizes, but he's said nothing of that yet.] In the meantime, I be the only navigator on this ship, and it's probably high time I took an apprentice in it. And as you can see-

[He gestures to the crew - especially Pintel and Ragetti, currently involved in some nonsense involving balancing wet mops by their handles when they're supposed to be swabbing the deck - for emphasis.]

Me choices are lookin' rather slim. You've got a head enough on your shoulders, girl, you can make use of it.

[There's a grudging compliment wrapped in there somewhere, though that's something he'll deny if it's ever spoken of.]

[psalmed]

[Marriage is such an unusual thing, Lia thinks. She's set to marry one man. She has the dress ordered and she's wearing the King down and then the other shoe drops. God drops stones in her path. Mountains, if she is truly honest. Mountains of incest.

It could be worse. That thought is probably written clearly on her face as she looks him over. Some day, she will get him out of those tattered rags and into some clothing that is actually in style.]

Will there be time? When you did not protest its availability to me I assumed you might wish to attempt to give me lessons.

[And for her to scoff at those lessons. She follows his gesture. Sees the mop act and others cheering them on like it is an act of beggars, waiting for coin on the side of the road.

She hopes her sigh isn't audible; it is terribly impolite. Lia's gaze is sharp back on Hector at those words. A compliment? How unheard of, and it fills her with a burst of warm pleasure that she probably shouldn't feel.]

Girl? I believe I should have you address me as Mademoiselle Lia if I am to be your apprentice.

[She looks a little devilish. But she's obviously pleased and when is a pleased wife ever a bad thing?]

Shall we start, then? I will certainly have to think of skills that might entertain you at Court to reciprocate this kindness.

[Perhaps he will enjoy needlepoint.]

[belaying]

[He hears the sigh, and his own actually mirrors it, though he's not worried if it seems rude or not. If they weren't actually capable, and he didn't owe them tremendously for saving his life almost twenty years previously, he can say that he wouldn't have signed them back on after the first run, because they do have their...Quirks. But they've sailed with him loyally, for a long time, considering they're pirates, so he overlooks most of their foolishness.

It doesn't mean he doesn't comment upon it, verbally or non-verbally, though.

But that aside, he just offers her a look. He did this to himself. He did. he knows he did. But he's not going to admit that. Especially not where any crew might overhear, because like hell he's going to undermine his own authority.]

More a trial than lessons. If you've no aptitude I won't waste the effort. It's not a job for everyone and there is a bilge that needs pumping.

[Is he serious? Is he joking? Who can ever tell.]

Secondly, I'll remind you if you wish to be that hardnosed about it, I be the captain of this ship, which means I'll call you as I see fit. [His mouth twitches, though, so he's joking. Maybe.]

And thirdly, I can't imagine a reason in the world I'd need to entertain meself in such a way. Do we have an accord, then?

[psalmed]

Loathe as I am to admit this to you, I am your wife and not a cabin boy.

[But the words are uttered sweetly. Are paired with Lia adjusting her tunic that swings just past her hips, making certain her blade is secure, indicating she's certainly not a boy. She glances at Hector through flaxen lashes with the disturbing question of what color her child's eyelashes will be now. Future child .

Charts are a far safer thought pattern.]

I can read a map, even designate a path. Simply not when there is nothing around but water.

[Still, any experience is good, right? She accepts his declaration of being captain with a gentle smile as though all is well with the world and with this. This is his domain. Soon enough he will be in hers.]

Very well, Captain. I shall pray God will grant me the ability to be useful to you or the forethought to remain silent.

[She can still be taxing and quiet, after all.]

[belaying]

[And if he happens to take notice for a moment that she is, indeed, no boy, well...He has, after all, always been appreciative of the female form, figuring it's rude not to acknowledge what is so blatantly put in display.

But he checks any thoughts that are sure to be considered inappropriate almost immediately, as there's still work to be done and it's a poor captain (even for a pirate) that puts his own selfish needs and wants above the crew as a whole. After all, he has a cure for all that ills for himself aboard. They do not. And thoughts would turn to mutiny with a swiftness that would snap a man's head around, should Hector not keep that at the forefront.]

Well, that be a start. [He purposely doesn't sound very hopeful. Or optimistic.] But there be nothing but water around us, and there'll be times - should you be fit to the task, that is - that I'll need me heading with no stars and sun in sight, and you'll have to know how to find it.

[That's the way it was put to him, all those years ago, so that's the way he's going to put it to her, because it's true. When a storm is raging and he's too busy trying to keep both ship afloat and men alive, he won't have time to do anything but demand that heading, and to demand to know how far off course they've been blown.

But, despite the put-on dubiousness he displays, he is still the gentleman pirate, and offers her an arm to lead her to the helm, where he's tacked the charts down on the binnacle with all manner of ship flotsam.]

Once you know how to do that, love, I guarantee you'll never find yourself lost again.

[psalmed]

You realize in Court you would be considered fortunate enough. I am well read. I speak four languages. I know how to use a sword. But here you are scolding me for not knowing how to navigate on a ship.

[But she sounds amused, rather than put out. She accepts his arm as he escorts her. She has striven on this trip to be gracious. Polite. Useful. Something to endear herself to Captain and sailors alike because she is not entirely certain Hector would not toss her off the ship completely if she began to become a problem.

As for the charting, well, she believes she can learn it and the skill might be quite useful if she is to spend more time on the sea.]

Then I shall strive to earn my keep, monsieur. But I doubt I shall be able to rely solely upon such a skill to find the path I am set upon.

[Her fingers might be stroking the beads of her rosary, against her skin under the thin fabric of her shirt.]

Perhaps I might teach you something after you retire to your quarters. For it to be a fair exchange, of course.