High Tide

Open to all. January 9th

The wind blew heartily, snagging the long red locks that hung heavily from Scarlet's nape. Squinting into the glare of the sun, Scarlet shoved her hat down, trapping the escaping strands of her fiery mane. The sun cast it's hateful glare onto the scorching sands below, setting them aflame. Pivoting on her heel, the buccaneer swept her piercing gaze along the deck, assessing the crew briefly before disappearing into the Captain's quarters. Her head dipped instinctively as she stepped into the room, though the captain was nowhere to be found. Quirking a brow, she swiped a bottle of rum from his desk, her fingers stroking fondly over the glass.

"Yo ho yo ho," she murmured to herself as she tipped the neck of the bottle towards her parted lips, drinking heartily. Grinning against the spiced taste, she stepped out into the main deck, shielding her eyes from the sun. With one hand hooked to her belt, she drank the rum as if it were the coldest, most refreshing water she'd had the good fortune of coming across. Stray drops of the rum traveled along the slope of her throat until it came to rest in the slight dip of her clavicle.

With that familiar warmth setting into her stomach, she made of noise of content, her red lips pulling back into a wicked grin. Plucking her hat off her head, she set it atop a barrel, freeing her fiery hair, which was damp with perspiration, the ends curling into a windblown knot. It was hot, and the wind that whipped by was dry and offered no relief to the heat. Scarlet heaved a sigh, her angled brows furrowing in heat provoked irritation. "Avast ye scallywags!" She boomed, rum held high, "The sun is no enemy of thee, heave ho!"

"Scarlet, cher, you've got a high voice when you're drunk." The french accent dripped on the air as Theo walked towards the female. His head dipped towards the girl, the wind whipping through his own thick brown hair. This is what he liked. Sure, it wasn't the ocean that he'd read about but damn was it amazing to lick at the sand with the ship he'd built. He grinned towards the female, rolling his shoulders back and taking in the scent of the air.

"Always a beauty on the deck, fille," he whistled, bowing his head, his hair falling in front of his face, "Beauty and yelling go hand in hand it seems." He chuckled to himself before pulling a flask from his sock. He took a sip from the silver thing and spun the top, closing it and placing it back in his sock.

He grinned towards her. He knew she was nipping at his rum stash but that was fine. He wasn't a cruel captain. He was the jolly kind. "All work up on deck good?" He clucked in her direction, "I fancy some...how you say...scavenging tonight, oui? What do you say, ah?"

"Scarlet, cher, you've got a high voice when you're drunk."

Her tapered gaze flicked towards the voice, gesturing towards him with the rum in welcome. A smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth before she drank from the bottle, her tongue swiping leisurely over her wetted lips. "Captain," she neared purred, her pupils contracted, making her gaze fearsome rather than drunken in the merciless light. Scarlet turned to the rolling hills of sand, the red grains ripping by in the powerful blast of the hull. Hearing the hum of the captain continue behind her, she turned her head to the side, lashes kissing her cheeks.

Inclining her chin sharply, she wove her hand in lazy dismissive circles, "Ay Theo, far too calm for me own."

"I fancy some...how you say...scavenging tonight, oui? What do you say, ah?" The chipper inquiry from the captain brought a grand smile to the first mate's crimson lips, one that only appeared at the talk of mischief. "If by scavenging you meaning pillaging or plundering captain," a devious grin curled the corners of her lips, hair falling to her waist in red curls, ablaze in the sun. "Then ay."

She tipped the bottle then, her eyes, smudged in black, closed while she finished the rest of the rum. Carelessly, she tossed the empty glass far over the hull, watching as it sailed over the sea of sand. Turning, she grabbed her hat from the top, shoving it firmly onto her head to provide shield for her eyes. Hooking her hands into the belt that hung low to her waist, she moved towards Theo, her gaze flicking towards the crew. "Have ye any preferenc?"

Scarlet was feeling the rum set into her, not enough to fully satisfy, but enough to excite.

Adjacent to the duo of trouble was a very young boy, eyes shifting nervously from one to the other. He usually can be seem below deck, assembling nibbles of all kinds. Tobi had prepared fire roasted cookies and placed them in a jar for all to partake in on the deck. He was exceptionally nervous, trying his hardest not to be noticed by anyone, catching a few nasty looks from the crew. They tend to bully him when Theo and Scarlett wasn't about, his face featuring a purplish bruise admists the red and swollen accents around his eyes from crying. Tobias was far too sensitive for life in the wasteland, and he was facing the consequences of such a personality. Absently he watched them swig from the putrid poison, he wasn't fond of alcohol and it made his throat feel dryer. Chewing at one of his crunchy sugar treats, his gorgeous big blue eyes shifted to watch the tussling sands. The amber particles parted to allow the ship to pass through it, like knife carving a cake it had done so, so gracefully. Tobias found little things beautiful and that's women and this ship. 

Scarlet's loud boisterous nature drew his irritated redden gaze, eyes casually looking over her midriff and his face increasingly getting more flushed. Nipping fearfully at his lip he diverted his gaze elsewhere, scared that someone may notice and punish him. Tobi enjoyed to cook, so his experience on the ship wouldn't even be as bad if it was't for the rowdy members who felt it was easy to prey on his precious soul.

Despite his attempts at trying to rationalize his abuse, he did catch himself feeling bitter of some situations, wishing that the pirates would see his depression and feel bad and offer make up hugs or something... However unless more punches were meant to make things better, Tobias received nothing he wanted. Lacking the ability to stick up for himself, he just faced each hardship silently, under the careful eyes of the men. 

Seeing the miss's eyes draw toward them, the 'crew' in particular. Tobi decided to approach the misses and the master with a cookie as tribute. 

"Uh. Miss Scarlet, ma'am, and captain Theo, sir," voice quivered with fear but wavered on the edge of a smile and cracking. The jar quaked in his grip, sending the contents vibrating against one another in short tremors. 

"Would you two care for a sugar cookie?" voice absent of any pirate lingo, the only thing it was drenched it was a fragile accent that mimicked that of England tongue. Fingers which grasped the container was laced with cuts and scrapes, they were from unknown origin. Azure eyes glistened with the beginning of tears, his attempts at suppressing them were hard.

"But of course," he clucked, "Looting, piratey things of course." He chuckled softly as he took in her sight. She was everything he'd read in his novels and imagined in his books. A cool girl to rule the seven sands with him as his first mate. He loved this, adored it. This was his life.

He blinked over towards a shy boy approaching. Young and much sweeter than any of his other crew. He hated how the others picked on him. His crew was supposed to be about living the life, not being cruel to fellow crew mates. He offered a smile, adjusting the collar on his jacket. "Oui," he said. Sugar cookies. If he'd only put a nip of rum in them they'd be fit for a pirate.

He narrowed his eyes on the boy's bruises and frowned. "Monsieur Tobias," he murmured, "Are you having trouble again?" It was a blunt question but he had to ask.

"A pirate's life, is it not Mister Jefferson?"

The cryptic voice came from behind the young boy, and its' owner stepped up with a stoic mask. It was hard to call her friendly but there was certainly nothing exceedingly inviting about the woman who had come forth. She didn't dress like these pirates did with their buckles and leather. Though she did sport her fair share, in gloves and bracers, she didn't appear to be wearing them at the moment. Instead they were clutched in her hand as she bestowed each of the pirates with a glance for a greeting, a small nod cast Scarlet's way.

Brunhilde had run into Theo a short time ago and his eagerness had managed to get her on board of this ship. Remarkable as it was, the woman clearly wasn't feeling the pirate life quite as much as the outspoken beauty that was Miss Esparr. Abrupt and astonishing as her fiery red hair the woman wasn't exactly within Brunhilde's tastes. She was brash enough as it was, even without being compared to Brunhilde's own restrained disposition. Stormy gaze traveled to Theo and rested upon the captain with the slightest quirk of her brow. One would have to inspect closely to even know it was there.

"Your crew shows great zealous. I thought perhaps it might be directed somewhere more practical..." she trailed off as her frigid gaze turned to the young cook, "Somewhere more valuable than your cooks face." Brunhilde finished. There was no denying the traces of disapproval in her voice, but somehow she still managed to lack a tone of attack.

"I am not accustom to this life though. Perhaps my concerns are misplaced." she added. She had only been here a short while after all, but her obvious objection and distaste sounded too loudly for these last words to ring truthfully. Brunhilde fixed her colder gaze upon the captain, tilting her head and wondering exactly what type of action Theo might take upon such obvious abuse among his ranks. Or if he partook?

Oceanic eyes narrowed against the harsh winds, her lips pulling up over her teeth in a fleeting grimace. The crew moved along with harmony, each buccaneer having their own chores and posts, allowing the ship to move like a well oiled machine. Scarlet clicked the heel of her weather beaten boot against the deck, her sharp gaze fastening onto the captain for a fraction of a second, eyebrows quirked in apprehension. The approach of the young cook had her attention redirected entirely, gaze tapering incredulously. Tobias was too kind hearted to take the beating of the sands, she often wondered why the lad kept to the pirate life. Bruises accented those soft planes of his cheekbones, eyes red and sunken from salty tears. The boy looked absolutely terrified, his cracked fingers trembling around the jar of freshly made sugar cookies, which filled the deck with such a wonderful fragrance. Tobias was offering the pair one of his oven made treasures, and the captain was more than accepting towards the delicacy. However Scarlet's mind was elsewhere as she stepped forward, invading his delicate space and grabbing his chin in-between her forefinger and thumb.

"Ye poor lad," she said absently and under her breath, "Next time ye come toe to toe with the little shark bait, cleave him to the brisket." Her hand curled into a claw as she traced her way from Tobi's shoulder, across his chest and down his lower abdomen. Lips pulled into a wicked grin as she uncurled that claw, clasping his shoulder with a brash sort of affection.

"Your crew shows great zealous. I thought perhaps it might be directed somewhere more practical...somewhere more valuable than your cooks face."

Scarlet dropped her hand then, glacial eyes fastening upon one of the newer members of the ship. Brunhilde was her name. A rather feral grin cracked along her features as she tipped her hat towards the bird handler, "Aye lass," she curled her fingers, one at a time, along the handle of her cutlass, teeth glinting in the light. "I am not accustom to this life though. Perhaps my concerns are misplaced."

"Misplaced they are not," she rumbled, her opposing hand gesturing towards her, "They be pirates. Savage are thee." Her voice rang with disapproval, as her scorching gaze ripped through the crowd beyond the navigator. "Theo," she barked, casting a glance over her shoulder towards the captain, "What do you suppose we shall do to these bilge-sucking scallywags?"

The captain snorted, rubbing his brow and collapsing in his captain's chair. This was not how the stories went. The stories went that pirates were bad but not with each other! Now this poor cook's kid was getting beaten because he was a soft boy on the high sands. He ran his fingers through his thick hair. He tilted his head towards Scarlet. His first mate always knew what to do. He gave a small sideways grin before placing his feet up on his desk, narrowly missing knocking over the bottle of booze he and Scarlet had been sharing.

"Bad pirates are they," he whistled, his accent thick on the air like a fog, "I suppose we can throw them off the boat, make them chase us through the sand." He let out another dramatic groan.

"I can't understand WHY them bilge rats can't get along?" He huffed, "Perhaps it is, how you say, cabin fever, ah? Perhaps we need a bit of pillaging in th'refuge camps. Maybe the market. Get some energy flowing in those muscle, eh? A bit of...anarchy..." He chuckled. "What d'you think, eh?"

Eyes the color of the absent ocean, clear and innocent, they stared with such purity. They sparkled, watching as Theo approved of his cookies, at least from what he could see. Soft delicate lips lifted into the faintest of smiles and he nodded silently. Tobi's expression twitched into a look of pure horror at the captains next set of words. He noticed... thoughts lurched into action as he stepped backwards ever so slightly, diverting his gaze elsewhere to avoid him from seeing his faint bruises. Tobias laughed slightly, although it sounded more like someone trying to swallow sand. 

"C-Ca-Captain, sir--" his downy soft voice was drowned out, as a woman stalked near causing him to lower in fear for her serious tone she held. Tobi hadn't realized she was behind him and he squeaked in a small inaudible greeting. Everyone was growing suspicious of his beatings and he could almost feel the searing burn of glares upon him which caused him to visibly shake more. 

"Nothing is wrong!" he suddenly yelled, yelping at the loud forcefulness of the voice he had. Far too many of the pirates bullied him for him to be safe, they preyed on his weakness, it made them feel strong. It was his own fault they bullied him. Gulping physically hurt, his throat convulsing in its attempt to apply moisture. Brunhilde appeared very kind, despite her demeanor, she was only trying to help. Tobias was feeling like raw meat in a tank of sharks. Everyone was either openly gawking at them or spying around a corner. Perhaps it was no secret that he was their stress relief and remained a punching bag for the crew. Tobi wasn't a pirate, he was stolen for their pleasure, to make food. The crew was the one to 'recruit' him, when pirates see something they want, they take and they did some half story to Theo to cover it up. The boy wasn't too sure if anyone quite knew why he was there, he loved cooking for them but he wished they were gentler. 

Scarlet was now focused on him, and he was quite distracted and wasn't paying attention to her actions. Hearing the click of her heel, he turned to welcome her to one of his cookies, eagerly allowing his face to beam at her. That might have made it too easy for her, her alarmingly soft fingers cradled his chin, breathing suddenly stopped and he gawked at her with a looked of a fragile puppy being shown love for the first time. 

"Miss Scarlet?" he questioned with a raspy voice feeling as her finger traced affectionately over his body and he shuddered from its almost ticklish feeling but that could be overlooked for his fear. Accidentally his eyes lowered to her chest from their closeness, boyish indecent thoughts swirled his mind and his face suddenly flushed and he jumped back, sending the cookies rattling in the jar.

"Forgive me!" he whimpered.

Breath returned in ragged pants and he quite obvious expressed his tattered emotions. At her next set of words, many men growled. Luckily she seemed to be distracted, he stood staring absently at the grains of wood on the ship. Face burned with blood and his eyes trailed over to Scarlet once more, eyes peaking at the exposed flesh she bared. Taking advantage of the captain and the first mates conversation, he peeled backwards to listen, flinching upon hearing ideas of pillaging. That's how he got here. Slight cheers responded to the captain and it seemed obvious to some that they wanted to do that, of course.