In Ruins

( May 5th, midday. Weeks following the sandfire, which took a number of pirate lives, including Captain Theo's )

Calloused hands rested along the polished arms of a high-back chair, the deep dark oak finish accented with ivory. Red velvet cushions encased both the back and the seat of the chair and golden metals framed the velvet. No doubt, the chair of a captain. Scarlet’s hat was hanging from the corner of the chair’s back, a large red plume sticking out of the leather. Her red mane was a tousled mess, dangling in windswept knots down her chest, which was tastefully revealed. A bottle of rum sat snugly in between her thighs, the cork lying on the ground at her feet. She was glaring somewhat balefully at the desk in front of her, a frayed map set before her. Burns scoured the edges of the tattered map, smoke muddling some of it’s contents.


Grimacing, she snatched the bottle from her lap and drank deeply, a guttural noise forming in her throat as she lowered the rum from her reddened lips. This was no good. The sandfire had not only destroyed the hull, but it also ruined many of the pirate’s treasures. Leaning forward, she pressed her elbows into the faded black fabric of her pants. Massaging her temples with gloved hands, she groaned sullenly. Although the crew had managed to repair the damages done to the ship, there was no repairing the ruined maps.


Drinking deeply from the bottle once more, she hoisted herself up, one hand instinctively resting on the handle of her cutlass. Setting the rum onto the map, she plucked her hat from the back of the chair, pushing it firmly over her flaming mane. Pivoting on her heel, she ducked out of her cabin, grabbing the neck of the bottle on her way out.


Shielding her eyes from the baleful glare of the sun, she swept her gaze along her mates. “Yo ho,” she mumbled absently to herself, her left hand falling to take hold of her low hanging belt. Another swig and she felt satisfied, shoving the bottle into a hook on her pelt. Meant for a pistol, though she always thought a bottle of rum fit better. Stepping forward, she rested the palms of her hands on the wooden railing that overlooked the deck. Sand whipped brutally across the deck, and the captain dipped her head, so that her hat shielded her eyes from the blast. The pirate’s life, was the life for her, no matter how inconvenient.

"Arrrrrrrk! Cap'n's on deck! Cap'n's on deeeeck!"

Anita lifted her black hat from her head as her massive blue parrot sounded the alarm. The bird was perched on the edge of the ship above where she was reclining on a bunch of sacks. Which probably contained potatoes but she wasn't going to complain. The lady was sleeping off a hangover.

Lifting her head and steadying herself to stop the spinning, she placed her hand next to her bird. The parrot stepped up on her wrist and climbed to her shoulder. What was a pirate without a parrot after all? Biting down on her bottom lip, the female moved towards the captain, her massive parrot's head working left and right, taking in all of the sights and sounds. "Ark! Mornin' cap'n! Mornin' cap'n!"

"Fittin' t'be a might hot day, eh?" Anita said with a whistle before joining Scarlet on the deck.

The familiar screech of Anita’s macaw sounded, it’s raspy tone spilling over the deck like oil. Inclining her head, Scarlet peered beneath the rim of her hat, oceanic eyes glinting in the harsh light of the sun. The corner of her lips pulled taut, teeth flashing momentarily as she tipped her head in greeting. Blinking away the stray grains of sand that managed to infiltrate her sight. Damn these rolling hills of sand. Oh, how she wished they were atop the waves. Though, unfortunately, water was a rarity around these parts. And bodies of water? Forget it.

Grimacing, the captain turned her back against the railing, leaning her weight into the wooden beam. Her fingers caressed the mouth of the bottle at her waist absentmindedly, her gaze skyward. Without her maps, it was going to be a tad bit difficult to locate the next group of unsuspecting souls. Though she wasn’t all too concerned. Surely there’d be another ship riding the sands. And if not, a village would do just fine. Perhaps they would visit the bazaar. Though the number of supernatural beasts were thick, and pistols and swords proved to be not as effective as she’d like.

"Fittin' t'be a might hot day, eh?"

The voice stirred her from her thoughts, and Scarlet lolled her head to the side, peering towards the bronzed beauty before her. She’d always found the lass attractive, with her sun scorched skin and dark hair. Waving a hand in a lazy circle, she motioned towards the blistering sun with a quirk in her red stained lips, “Aye, the beat of the sun’ll surely turn these buccaneers into lazy bilge-suckers.” She murmured absently, her fingers curling around the neck of her rum.

Lifting it to her lips, she paused. Something had caught her eye. There in the distance, there was a glimmer. Perhaps it was the heat’s mirages, or perhaps…perhaps it as something worthwhile. “There,” she sounded, a finger motioning towards the glint, “A coffer d’ya wonder?”