The Search for the Dutchman

[Captain Dusk Rose]

Dusk straightened her coat and walked out onto the deck. She headed toward the ship's compass as habit dictated and began to start charting their course, this time with the stolen map.
Norrington came out to join her.
"Captain.."
"...."
"Captain! Look up there, do you notice anything missing?"
She glanced around.
"Your hat?"
He sighed.
"The colors...the flag..."
"Oh, where did it go?" She asked calmly.
"You're missing the point!"

[Aramis Nemo]

'Fais dodo, Colas mon p'tit frère
Fais dodo, t'auras du lolo
Maman est en haut
Qui fait des gâteaux
Papa est en bas
Qui fait du chocolat
Fait dodo Colas mon p'tit frère
Fait dodo, t'auras du lolo.'

Aramis sat in front of his desk singing a lullaby from his youth whilst searching for something to write on and with. After a somewhat fruitless search, he settled on a dessicated chickens foot, some old red wine, and a fairly blank page from a book.

Settling down, he began to write a new entry for his journal, to be added in later when he actually found his ship again...

***

Meanwhile

Theodore had left the ship in charge of one of Africans, feed up with the cold and lack of rum. He walked the hold, searching for the rum barrels, hoping to find something to take his mind off his current predicament. Ahh, here we go! Grinning, knelt down and put his head under the spigot of a barrel, and let the golden liquid flow. He stood up sharply spluttering.

'What the hell is this crap?' Wiping his face with his hand, then took a sniff. 'Piss? Why is there piss in a bloody barrel? Although, it does have a pleasant bouquet.' Shrugging his shoulders, he moved onto the next barrel, but this time pried the lid off, and took a deep breathe first. More? What the hell is this? In disgust, he slammed the lid down, and moved on the next barrel, only to be greeted with the same.

'Why is there no bloody rum!' He raised his hands in frustration and kicked the latest barrel, sending a splash of stale urine over him. Wait, I know, the Captains room! He had us bring over those barrels and crates. There must be something good in them. Grinning, and smelling slightly better than before, Theodore made his way towards Aramis' cabin, intent on raiding it for anything worth drinking.

Feh, the doors locked. Well, time to get to work. Reaching into his grimy pocket, he withdrew a small oil skin containing a set of lock picks, and set to work at opening the lock. Within a short time, he head the click as the door unlocked, and let himself into the cabin, eager for something proper to drink. Lighting a lantern, he gazed around the room, his eyes coming to stop on the large bed.

'Steve?! But how... when... what.... Er, I mean, hello there Steve. And to you too Jose. I thought you were sleeping out in the rigging again.'

Steve sat on the bed staring, slowly tapping his 3 claws on José's head.

'Er, so the Captain isn't here then?'

Steve slowly shock his head from side to side, the claws constantly tapping.

'Oh, he said that I could, er, share one of those barrels there with the crew.'

Once again, the head moved from side to side.

'I should just leave shouldn't I?'

This time the head moved up and down in agreement, and what looked like a smile crossed the sloth's face.

'Right, I'll leave you two gentlemen alone.' He slowly backed out of the room, keeping an eye on the sloth and shrunken head-with-a-body. Steve was slowly waving his clawed hand back and forth, back and forth. Closing door on the sight, Theodore shuddered. Ok, that was creepy. Now I think I'm just going to drink some of that lovely monkey piss.

[Randomman]

*Emma walks into Bombers room carrying a tray with a warm teapot, a bowl of milk, and a bowl of sugar. She carefully sets the try down on the table next to Bombers bed. and starts unveiling the bed drapes. Bomber stirs in her bed and shields the suns light from her eyes.*
Bomber:mmm…
*Emma smiles: ‘morning…
*Bommber stands up sleepy. The covers fall off of her.showeing her nightdress.*
Bomber:mmm..’morning…
*Bomber smiles with her eye still closed in dreamland*
Bomber smiles:…
*Emma stares at Bomber for a while and starts pulling at the bed covers to get Bomber up. Bomber sighs.*
Bomber: All right, all right. I’m getting up…

***

*Bomber finishes her cup of tea. Emma starts helping Bomber tying her corset. They finsh and Bomber notices Emma stareing at her hair.*
Bomber: What’s wrong?
*Emma blushes*
Emma: Um…nothing mistress …
*Emma runs out the door*
Bomber: hm?

***

*Emma returns to the Bomber room after she left. She sets out to put on the new sheets for Bombers bed.she opens a drawer.*
Emma:… a corset…
*Emma puts it on and sighs*
Emma: Blonde hair, fair skin, round shoulders…and a corset that fits her slender waist.
*Emma look into a mirrior and starts messing with her hair.*
Emma: I can’t do anything about my body..I’m still growing……but if I had blonde hair…


***

*Bomber looks at a glamour book while laying on her bed*
Bomber: I wish I were a brunette…
Emma: Eh?
Bomber: This hairstyle only looks good on someone with your color hair.You’re lucky to have such a fine shade.
Emma: …I would prefer to be a blonde.
Bomber: Reall? I can’t imagine why. Women with brunette hair look more intellectual, sophisticated, elegant..when I was a student, there was this one girl with beautiful ebony hair. She was enivied by many, including me.
*Bomber laughts *
Bomber: I’ll never forget the scolding I got from my grandmother when I told her I wanted to dye my hair.
Bomber mutters: I cried all night..
Emma to herself: …Envious?
Bomber smiles: Ah look at this dress!
Emma to herself: She’d rather have brunette hair?
*Emma smiles*
Emma to herself: I see..I guess dark hair isn’t so bad after all.

(And so it seemed that she was satisfied. However..)
*Emma brushes Bombers hair.*
Emma to herself: I wish I had blonde hair…
(Emma thought anew.)

[Lord Redcoat]

Meanwhile, over on the Intrepid Cookie Monster (to go where no Cookie Monster has gone before...), Tod lay awake, Red still snuggled against her. She had been awake since before the grey announced the coming of the dawn. The first fingers of the sun's golden rays had been preceded by crimson, followed by a burst of fiery orange. Within the peacefully rocking ship, Red slept without stirring, his entire self at peace. She did not begrudge him that; envy was the furthest thing from her mind. Gingerly, she shifted his head to her thigh as she sat and stretched carefully. A bittersweet smile twitched at her lips, her fingers idly brushing his dark hair; such innocence, even after they had shared so many kisses... or had it been a single kiss lasting for so long she did not even know, nor care to? At the memory, the same happy warmth rose up; her smile shone, all but a melancholy sigh leaving her. Exhaling a moment later, the sigh too, left. Staring down at him, she felt herself warm with affection, and tenderly smooth his brow with her thumbs.

A second sigh passed her lips, this time strangely happy. What would this day hold? What would tomorrow hold? Where would they go? She couldn't leave him on a pirate ship, surely? This one was crazed, more so than the Hangman... ...naming him their queen; what would happen when they discovered he was a he...? She couldn't return to Dusk, could she? How would the nefarious pirate captain react? Would she carry out her threat and finally keelhaul someone...? She would never harm Red, surely? Did she even know they were gone? Maybe... if they left now... they could sneak back on board before she noticed... ...no, even if Dusk had not noticed, that ex-Redcoat stick-in-the-mud would have. Taking a longboat was serious... not like her usual pranks; it could be read as desertion, and that I-think-I'm-still-a-commodore would want to see them shot, or hung... maybe flogged, if they were lucky. Although, taking the flag was probably the most serious offence in ol-sargaaant-squawk-uselessly's eyes; why, he was probably grumblin' about it even now and wishing for a cat-o-nine-tails. Dusk wouldn't let Red be hurt though, would she? Maybe... maybe if she returned, apologised, and said she had taken Red then it would all fall on her, and Red wouldn't be punished. She shivered; the mere thought of anyone hurting him filled her with an unholy rage. Surprising herself, she realised she would do anything to protect this peacefully sleeping noble boy... but he was a boy, wasn't he? How could anyone be so innocent? What had happened to the drunkard who had stormed the Hangman with a horde of monkeys? It was as if... he had never existed.

Perhaps he hadn't. Maybe this was a sort of memory-loss? Loike, when sum oddy's 'ead wus 'it wit ta 'ottle... She sighed. More questions... she was no doctor - or priest. She grinned at that. She might have been had she stayed at home; 'home', she sighed, she wouldn't ever return; not to that town, ever since she'd disguised herself as a boy... snuck into that church. Heh, none of them knew. Not that she'd stolen anything; she didn't have a problem with God, or any god, as long as they left her alone. She'd even put a copper in the box as a 'thank you' for letting her stay that night under the bench while it rained. Shaking her head, her thoughts returned to Red as her thumb continued to run over his brow. He loved Dusk; it was adorable, sweet... genuine. Innocent. No, Dusk wouldn't hurt him. She couldn't take him away from her. It'd break his heart. They'd have to return. But that little rat... the one that hung around Dusk's cabin... she didn't trust him; her lips thinned to a hard line. Who was he anyway, and why did he taunt Red? Jealousy? She didn't care to leave Red around that sort; she'd seen his unsavoury kind before... she'd sooner leave a cleaver in his gullet than Red alone with him. Still, as long as he was loyal to Dusk, her pet... ...but how long would he remain loyal? Many minions turned against their masters - mistress in this case, she amended - after a while. He fit the description perfectly; always skulking about, lurking in dark corners, muttering inanely... why, in ten years time, he might even have a hunchback; if he screwed up his face enough, he'd be the perfect ugly little man, if his hair fell out. Maybe if he filed his teeth to points and ate human flesh... he certainly seemed mad enough, always muttering to himself in strange barbaric, fiendish tongues. Chittering rat-monkey. Yes, he was a little demon-man. It had to be true; she'd heard tales from those out of eastern Europe about strange bloodsucking dead-walkers. Nonsense, of course. Still... she shook her head. Nowhere was really safe; pirates were hunted, and Red would be wanted if anyone ever saw his face during the raid at the port. Still... he was a gentleman; he wouldn't hang. Staring down at him, a cold question froze her to the spot: could he be deceiving them all? Was this all an act? No, not him... he was too genuine. So... what to do? Return to Dusk... the later she left it the more trouble they'd be in... but what about the fog? And Keyes? She couldn't claim she had taken Red out fishing and got lost; no one, not even Dusk would believe that. She couldn't even remember why she'd rowed off with him, only that it had seemed like a good idea at the time...

...She really would have to lay off the rum. Well, first thing first: wait to talk to Keyes, then find the Hangman and return. Attempting it by boat alone would be foolish... yet, would Keyes and the crew even let them go? And... why was the smell of fresh baked cookies so strong? Surely they couldn't have taken her sarcastic suggestion seriously? If they had, they were more dangerous than she realised. Or more stupid, she added cynically. She would have to be careful, if only for his sake. Smiling down, she pressed her lips to Red's forehead, and for the first time, he stirred.
"Shh, go back to sleep." Tod reassured him, cradling him close. Well, she knew what to do now. ...At least, she mused, if they were making cookies, they'd have decent food. That feast last night was so extravagant. Red had had far too much cheese; she would have to stop him from eating so much. It couldn't be good for him. She felt herself blush as she recalled his murmured dreaming before they'd kissed. Maybe he wasn't so innocent after all...

[Echoe]

Many hours passed in which Echoe spent observing the crew from a distance and disappearing when directly addressed. So far it seemed that there was no discipline and everyone pretty much did what they felt like doing. Especially Miyavi, who his servants casually called Myv. She worried a little when it appeared the Midnight Hangman was going off-course.
She fell asleep hidden in the lifeboat that had brought her onboard until dawn was barely breaking the horizon, a strange sound waking her. What the hell...? Is someone being hit? Peeking over the edge she scanned the deck and her eyes fell on Miyavi, kicking a small object in the air and bouncing it off his knees. She watched for a moment then crawled out of the boat and carefully approached from his blind spot, trying to figure out what the object was and why in Gods name he was kicking it.

Miyavi was having a good time for a few minutes until he tried to do a fancy turn-kick and found some creepy little lady standing behind him. He gasped and jumped back a step from the shock and the little ball landed on his head. "Ow! Er, Echoe! You scared me!" He grinned his scared grin. The kind that makes a person want to scare him some more.

Echoe asked bluntly. "Are you training for some secret fighting style?"

Miyavi looked confused, removing the ball from atop his head. "Fighting style? Haha! Sorry, fighting is too scary for me!" That cheesy grin caused Echoes eyes to narrow a bit. He tossed the ball a couple of times. "This is just for my own sake. I'm, ah, not really coordinated in my legs, so Saro gave me this." He then dropped it and caught it on top of his foot. "He calls it a kicky bag!"

Echoe stared at his foot, then at him. "...You're all very strange. Especially you. It's like you've never interacted with people."

Miyavi avoided her eyes for a moment, then suddenly kicked the ball up and snatched it out of the air. "You're kinda strange to me, too. I tell you I'm a prince and you treat me so rudely! I'm telling you, as soon as we're married, you won't treat me like that!"

Echoe sighed, rubbing her temple. "Again... Getting married won't make me love you. Love has nothing to do with that."

"NO WAY! LIES!" Miyavi shook his head defiantly. "I've seen a marriage and the look in their eyes is amazing! And they kissed so passionately!"

"That's because they loved eachother BEFORE they were married. Marriage is just a ceremony for everyone else to celebrate with them. Damn, did you live under a rock your whole life or what?" Echoe shook her head, annoyed.

Miyavi thought for a moment, seriously considering what she said. "So... this 'love' emotion is something that doesn't come from the ritual of marriage?"

"Er, right... Are you even human?"

Miyavi suddenly laughed crazy. "Of COURSE I am! See? I has leeeeeegs and wear neato cloooooothes and totally speak your laaaanguaaaaage and I'm a PRINCE!" He frog-marched happily to the side of the boat. "LOOK! I'm walking over here so I can spy on your ship! Like a normal human captain! Hahaha!" And he pulled out a rediculously long telescope and looked the wrong way. "Uh-oh, where'd it go...?"

Echoe could see that his smile wasn't real anymore and watched him crazily look for the ship. "... You're so hard to read. I don't know which way it is. Are you really bad at telling the truth or a bad liar?"

Miyavi stopped, staring at a random point on the horizon through his useless telescope. He was looking through the wrong end.

Echoe turned and started to walk away, but a really solid object flew past her head. She caught it easily and turned back, really irritated. She was going to throw it at his irritating face and tell him to throw himself at the next kraken he saw. Instead she froze and went numb at the sad smile on his face. He suddenly seemed... really vulnerable.

"Yeah, you're right. I am really bad at it."

[Aramis Nemo]

Aramis lent back on his chair, flexing his cramped hand. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to try writing with a chicken's foot. He looked around his small cramped cabin looking for something to do. Hmm, too late to play, and I'd rather not wake up the little boy. Although... Ooh, what's that? Standing up suddenly, he crept forward and lunged, picking up a thoughtlessly discarded Mr Bubbles.

'Well well, what do we have here. My name is Aramis, Aramis Nemo, pleased to meet you.' He cocked his head to one side as though listening to something.

'Herr Bubbles? So, you're German? I haven't spoken Deutsch in a long time. Do you mind if we talk in French or English instead?'

Silence

'Oh, you don't speak French. So English it shall be. So what brings you aboard our fine ship?'

Silence

'World domination? You do realise that following around a young boy really won't help you with that don't you?'

Silence

'No, the blood of innocents is not a good enough reason. Now, if you were in it for seagulls, that I could understand. But really, innocents? So clichéd.'

Silence

'Unfortunately there's not many innocents on board a pirate ship. There's just little James there, and there's that poncey English brat somewhere. But I wouldn't recommend him, the English just don't taste very nice.'

Silence

'Well, I'll tell you what. If you promise to behave, I'll introduce you to Steve and José. But for now, would you care for a moonlit walk on the deck?'

[Randomman]

*Captain Keyes knocks on “Queen” Reds and “Lad” Tods door.*
Keyes: Good morning! Sorry to wake you up your Highness. But the boys were wondering if you wouldn't mind some freshly baked cookies right about now. Right men?
Men: YARRRR!!!!!
*The five men standing behind Keyes present a tray of cookies higher than their heads. While Keyes carries a two glasses of milk on a tray.*
Keyes: Right what did I tell you men? Is this cookie pyramid cool or what?
Men: YARRRR!!!! THAT’S OUR KEYES FOR YAH!!!!!
*The men struggle under the weight of the cookie pyramid mountain*
Keyes: oy! Oy! OY! Careful men don’t drop a single cookie crumb! Or I will have you all eat them off the floor yeah?
Men: YARRRRR CAPTAIN!!!!

(Thank you c-smama! for helping out a poor cake fool out on a braindead day! XD)

[Lord Redcoat]

Awaking with a blood curdling scream, the albino rat (named 'roger') in the corner rather sheepishly shrank back at Tod's stern glare and waggle of her finger. Utterly ashamed of himself, the rat crawled back into his hole without any cookies...

Meanwhile, in the land - that is, 'sea' - of the almost-sane, our sleeping hero(ine) opened his eyes, oblivious to his guardian - dare one say, 'almost-pseudo celestial winged-white-robed-possibly-halo-of-light-shining-potentially-flaming-sword-of-fiery-death-wielding-dream-walking-message-delivering-'man'-or-more-likely-being-of-a-possibly-existing-but-yet-unproven-divine-entity...'s' 'shh' to Roger-the-albino-rat. Having awoken to the scent of freshly baked cookies, also oblivious to the shouting sailors' 'yaarr's' and other loud 'oy's', his eyes widened, and he whispered in awe, "Are those... for us? We... couldn't possibly eat all those... surely?"

Staring up at Tod and back at Keyes, Red stammered, "I-I do-don't know wh-what to say?"
"Thank ye's a good start." Tod nudged him lightly, gifting him with an indulgent smile - the sort reserved for young children, or particularly naive people - so, pretty much everyone in the fleet...
"Oh, yes!" Red sat up, almost clouting Tod on the chin with his head, "Thank you! Thank you all so much! But please make sure you have enough! I would hate to enjoy all these wonderful cookies knowing that none of you have any!"
"Aye,..." Tod gave him a long look, shaking her head and muttering silently to herself about finding a better place for his head if using her thigh as a pillow meant he'd smack her in the face with his thick skull... twit. Of course, when he was a little... older, wiser... more ...experienced... ...with his 'kisses', perhaps it would be an excellent place... best to train him young?

Red was too busy staring at the cookies in awe, rather than greed (that was Roger, whose jaw was on the deck, floating in rat-drool), to notice Tod's sly smirk. Amazed anyone would do such a thing for him, he was suddenly very aware of where he was, and feeling a pang in his stomach - and not from hunger - he realised he was already missing Dusk very much because he couldn't share these delicious-smelling, freshly-baked cookies with her. It almost made him want to cry; but the cookies looked so goooood...

[Captain Dusk Rose]

Dusk noticed Norrington looking over the edge of the ship, holding the compass they had stolen at the ball. (They always somehow materialize wherever they want to go, don't ask.)
She leaned on the polished edge of the ship, considering asking him how he was, but his face told her he was about us peaceful and relaxed as her (haha).
"Are we gaining on that multi-colored wreck yet?" He asked with out turning his eyes from the sea.
"We've lost a little ground, the wind isn't holding up."
"We'll get there."
"Confident today are we?..." She looked at him, how long had it been since they'd spoken one on one? Felt like weeks, though she was sure it had only been a day but it felt like months. She needed a vacation, she laughed a little.
"Yes, with you at the helm."
"Right..." She grinned, snatching the compass.
"This thing seem to work?"
"It's difficult to say."
Dusk turned the compass in her hand, examining it. The arrow did seem to point in a particular direction, though it seemed to change it's mind slowly.
She shook her head, it better work. Why would anyone make a compass to find the Flying Dutchman anyway? The world may never know.
Her eyes distanced a little and she looked at Norrington for a moment.
He looked tired and stressed.
"Moody Norri!" She shoved the compass back at him.
"We'll reunite you and your beloved sword after we rescue our fair mop-maiden. I'm beginning to get a little jealous of this sword of yours." She pouted.

[Randomman]

*The mist surrounding the Intrepid vanishes in an instant. The Intrepid becomes explosion of cheers. *
Men: YARRRRRR!!!! THE MIST IS GONE!!!!!
Keyes: At last! We can reach land!
?: Would you mind taking a little detour for me. Mortal?
Keyes: the hell!? Why would I take detour when my men have not seen land in many.. WOMAN!
Men: WOMAN!!!!!!!
*Keyes and the Men bow to the mysterious beautiful goddess.*
Keyes: A slight detour is nothing for the crew of The Intrepid! right men?
Men: YARRRRRR!
Keyes: Where ever you desire us to sail we shall not fail you my Queen! Just give us the name of your destination and we will sail at post hast! Right men?
Men: ARRRRRR!
?: Set sail at once mortals. Our destination is the Flying Dutchman.
Keyes: THE FLYING
Men: DUTCHMAN!!!
Capri Tsuki: I am Capri Tsuki. The daughter of the sea goddess Calypso and the former captain of the Flying Dutchman Davy Jones. The Flying Dutchman is my birthright. No mortal can handle her. If you fail me I will make sure your afterlife is as tormenting as the sea herself. Do we have accord. Mortals?
Keyes: Yes my Queen! Right men?
Men: Yarrrrr! O____O
Capri smiles: Good.
*Capri dispears. *
Keyes and Men to themselves: CREEPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! O______O
*Keyes with much effort. Manages to snap back into reality.*
Keyes: Well what are you scurvy dogs waiting for?! Set set sail!
*The men snap back into reality*
Men: ARRRRRRRR!!!! Capitan!!!!
Keys: Put your backs into it men! You dont won’t to get the rightful owner of the Flying Dutchman mad do yah?
Men: ARRRRRRR!
*The Men work faster at impossible speeds. Meanwhile Capri stands on top of the mast. Looking straight at the Midnight Hangman.*
Capri: Mothers power. It seams someone else is after the Flying Dutchman. No matter. If they get in My way. The afterlife is their only destination.
*Capri smiles. She stops and heres a voiceless voice.*
Capri: heh your right mother. I have been smiling a lot today. For I finally see my destiny falling into my hands at last.
*The Intrepid sets off as death eyes watches for even the slightest mistake.*

[Lord Redcoat]

Tod listened at the door. Overhearing the traitorous Keyes, her eyes went wide. They made someone else queen and would hurt Red! Traitors! Turning to the five crewmen still feeding cookies to Red - and having not heard their captain, she closed the door and said with a smile, "Your Queen and I are going out for a short row. Here's what I want to do-"
"But Tod-" Red began, his mouth half full of cookie...
"No buts," Tod said firmly, "I've told you before; you need your morning exercise." Smiling at the five crewmembers, she beckoned them over and whispered, "I want to set up a surprise; but it has to be in secret! Swear it on your souls!"
"We swear! Anything for our Queen!" The five yelled.
"Good! But hush down, okay?"


They listened in anticipation. Tod detailed her plan...


Roger the Albino used the opportunity to steal cookies.


The five crewmen ran off, sworn to obey. One lowered the longboat over the deck discretely, while another distracted the captain and the crew; "Our queen requires crabcake! CRAB-CAKE!" he shouted, without realising their queen had changed... being cake, of course, everyone should rush around...

...Crewman 3 & 4 of Tod's loyal men stuffed up the cannons with cookies. She had ordered cookie firewooks shot into the air upon their return. Raining cookies! And fireworks! What was there not to like? Naturally, her five crewmen loved it. However, the biggest one would be with the munitions in the hold... to the last crewman she gave a mission: to gather all of the gunpowder together and light the fuse leading to it. She said that if the barrels were placed just-so, then everything would be perfect, and launch the biggest firework of them all! With a barrel of cookies. The crew was to sing "It's raining cookies, hallelujah, it's raining cookies, chocolate-chip..."


...While the plan was in action, and the captain distracted, Tod urged Red out of bed - still in his nightgown and wrapped up in the Midnight Hangman's flag. Escaping out the porthole window with him - despite his protests, she pulled him along and the two got in the longboat and began to row. Giving the signal, she waved to Crewman 1 - the one who had lowered the longboat, and he ran off screaming "THE BRIG is under attack by CAKE INVADERS!" just as Tod had instructed...


The cannons were finished being stuffed with cookie and couldn't shoot cannon balls... and soon the hold would blow, taking the ship with it. If it didn't sink the ship, it would damage it long enough for them to escape back to the Hangman, and make distance on it. Tod nodded to herself; oh yes, Keyes would pay dearly for ever betraying her Red, and this Capri - Crapi, Tod decided - would also suffer. As she rowed, she asked Red who was still munching on cookies, "say Red, wha' ta ye kno' of Catholicism?"
"Eh?"
"I'ma thinkin' o' convertin' an' becomin' a priest, loike..."
"But Tod, only men can become priests..."
"Aye, lass. An' tey al' thin' I'ma lad."
"You can't do that! Their God might be angry!"
"Then I'll becom' pro-tes-tant."
"...That'd work."
"Tis settled then! Ye shall be me alter boy."
"...Again?"
"Aye! Wait, what do ye mean 'again'?"
"Used to be one."
"Tha' explains so much..."
"Hey! What's that meant to mean!"
"Still, at least ye'll be a boy again; people'll think yer eunuchy."
"Tod... no..." Red's eyes filled.
"Eat yer cookies lad; I'm jokin'." Only, she wasn't, she mused as she rowed back to the Hangman. How would a priest exorcise a heathen half goddess? She would have to think on it more: one thing was for certain though: she would be damned before she let anyone hurt Red, no matter who they were. Keyes had just made an enemy, as had Capri - Crapi (according to Tod) - and they would both regret it. Never mess with a woman, for 'Hell hath no greater fury than a woman's wrath'...


The Intrepid would blow any second now and 'God willing', take the treasonous, scurvy crew down to a watery grave with it... Tod didn't even feel bad about the five crewmen she'd sacrifice in her nefarious plan; she did feel sorry about Roger the albino rat, but what could she do? Rats were everywhere, and nothing could compare with Red. She'd even match wits and blades with Dusk to protect him, if she had to, even if it meant her death...

[Randomman]

BOOM!!
*The Intrepid Exploded into a mad frenzy of epic cookies portions! Cookie fireworks! Exploding cakes!
The scene could be scene from Kiribati for all the rest of the world knew!*
Keyes: Well this was unexpected..
Men: YARRRRR CAPTAIN KEYES!
*Keyes sighs*
Keyes: well let’s clean up the mess!
Men: YARRRR
*The Men rush off to clean up the ship. Keyes turns around to face Capri face to face.*
Keys: hehe sorry my Queen. But it looks like were stuck here until the ship is fixed..and cleaned.
Capri: Time is not on my side mortal. If you cannot help me on my quest. I will seek out another.. much moor promising captain. One that I have been keeping a close watch on for quite some time.
Keyes: You! You! Caint possible mean captain..
*Capri vanishes before Keyes eyes and reappears behind Captain..*
Capri: Captain Dusk Rose. It’s a pleasure to meet you face to face at last.
*Capri smiles*

[Randomman]

Dusk tensed, and saw Norrington's eyes widen before her. Dusk didn't move.
"Face to face? Hardly, though I'm sure you get a fine view of my hat back there." She rested her hand on the hilt of her sword.
*Capri smiles*
Capri: Relax.It’s not your time yet.I’m mearly here to hich a ride.Since my last ship has become unseaworthy for now..
*The Intrepid fires out some late cookie fireworks*
Dusk shakes her head and turns around, barely able to mask her surprise.
"Ah...you look familiar..." She unsheated her sword so quickly a human wouldn't have seen and held it to Capri's neck.
"...have I threatened you before?"
Norrington put a hand on Dusks, making her lower her sword.
"What is it Norri, don't want me to hurt a woman? I am a woman..."
*Crpri smiles*
Capri: To challage death? That’s what I like about you Captien Dusk Rose. But… maybe another time. I like your friend here. Am also interested in reaching the Flying Duchman. A mortal by the name of Will Turner has stolen by brithrite. He will be giving me my fathers ship back or suffer in the afterlife.
"Oh... I don't really care about what happens to Will..." She shook Norrington's hand from her sword, which she held down beside her in a slightly less threatening manner.
"...but...I will be happy to allow you to 'hich' a ride, in return for a favor."
Capri smiles: oh? What kind of favor whould you ask of death?
"We have a compass here that tells us the way to find the Dutchman, but I'm sure a relative of our good friend 'Davy' would be able to help us even more. Will you help us in our persuit in exchange for your own transportation?"

Capri to herself: Ah the Heart Chaser. No wonder.
Capri: Agreed. I will help you and crew. Until I have claimed my is rightfully mine.
*Capri snaps her finger and the Heart Chaser sends out a ghostly green like trail off into sea.*
Capri: This will lead us to My ship…and that mortal werch
(Death and Dusk joining forces! oh mys! thanks for posting with me capts! XD)

[Aramis Nemo]

Aramis stood in the shadows beneath the stairs leading to the poop-deck, watching the exchange between Dusk and this newcomer. There was something, unnerving, about this stranger, although he couldn't place his finger on it.

'Why does she not just kill her?' He muttered under his breathe, forgetting that he had Mr Bubbles in his arms. 'Hmm? Because killing stowaways, or at least pushing them over board, is what a pirate does Mr Bubbles.'

Silence

'You do have a point there, we have let you and the others stay on-board. Anyway, I wasn't talking to you.' Turning his gaze back to deck, and continued to watch the exchange. What are you doing Dusk

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[Lord Redcoat]

Arriving back at the Hangman, Tod quickly threw the rope up over the side of the deck - while everyone else was being distracted by the large explosion and The Exchange(tm) - she snuck aboard undetected, and hauled the boat aboard - along with Red.

Still wrapped in the flag like a blanket, Red looked around and smiled, happy to be back home, only to stare and whisper, "Who's that?"

Staring at Crapi, Tod shock and ire got the better of her and she demanded loudly, "Oi! What in the hells are you doin' 'ere?!" She had missed the entire conversation, which was just as well really, because if she hadn't, she'd have taken Red off elsewhere - somewhere safe... if anywhere in this mad reality was safe... - and protested to Dusk, "Cap't! You can't possibly be allowing this - this woman on board!" So far, she had not drawn weapons, but stood protectively in front of Red - who was looking rather bewildered at Tod's accusation and not grasping the 'why' of it at all (so nothing unusual there then).


Gently peering over Tod's shoulder, Red simply smiled warmly at Dusk, just happy to see her again. He wouldn't go to her until she called, or gestured, because she was talking to someone and it wouldn't be polite; he wasn't five after all (apparently). Pulling the flag more tightly around him, he waited, just watching her(Dusk) with warm eyes, content to be home.


Tod on the other hand bristled enough to put a hedgehog-cum-porcupine to shame...