Port Royal

[Thistlestar]

The sun shone down brightly on the city known as Port Royal. Gulls soared high as they dipped, stalled, and swirled in the blue-hued sky. The streets in Port Royal were bustling as men and women strolled from vendor, to shop, then back to vendor. The whole city was getting ready for a huge party. It was a yearly festival the city celebrated, but it wasn’t that important. Only celebrating the founding of the port.

A door opened to a tavern as a large, burly man threw out a young woman in unruly street clothes. She stood up, cursing at the man as a large Newfoundland jumped out onto the ground next to her. He turned to snarl at the tavern keeper. The woman swayed, then leaned on the dog for support. She mumbled something under her breath about this ‘bloody town’, and how ‘a woman should be able to get a drink where she wants and when she wants’. She looked up at the sun, and cursed it out too. Why shouldn’t she?

She looked down, scowling. She had a rip in her tan breeches. They were her only pair! She cursed as she picked up her old brown hat. The villain had thrown her onto it. She cursed as she dusted herself off. This was not her best day.

The woman was about twenty. She had long brown hair that was tied back into a pony tail to keep it out of her soft tan face, which now had mud on it. She had a baggy white shirt on with stained tan breeches and a large black belt. Her hat was a nice brown, but not anymore. It had picked up dust and mud from the past few months, and now no one knew it was suede.

She hit her hat over her thigh to bring it back into shape, then placed it firmly on her head. She looked around, almost blinded by the light. Her dog, Acadia, nosed her slender hand gently. She looked down and patted the puffy black fur on the top of her head. She looked down the street. Three men in red jackets came walking down the street. She cursed.

"Oh...not good...Come on, Cadi. Let's get ou' o' 'ere."

[Daystar]

The three redcoated men had not spotted the girl yet. They were busy trailing the drunken weavings another woman of similar age was making, chuckling gruffly under their breath and still trying to look official.

The girl took no notice of them - maybe because she was drunk, or maybe because she was too busy calling her wolf-like dog out of the alley she'd run down. Oy! Lorelei, get o'er 'ere! The girl tapped her black knee-length breeches absentmindedly as she called to the mongrel. Ff' th' love o' blood an' ththunder, m' own dog won't e'en list' t' me anymmore. It was rather surprising how another human being could understand somebody who left out so many letters in her speech. The slurring didn't help either.

The girl, besides being dressed into torn black breeches, had a white button-down shirt (the buttons were silver) on which three of the buttons were missing. There were stains on what was left of the collar (she'd had it torn off her the last time she was thrown out of a bar) but a black vest hid the other stains that dotted the fabric. There was a small bandage about her head, but that was obscured by a floppy black hat. She'd stuck a peculiar multicolored feather in it, on a whim.

Her hair, messy but somehow neat-looking at the same time, was a light shade of brown, with yellow and auburn mixed in from exposure to the sun. Her eyes, narrowed as they stared into the alley where Lorelei was hiding, were a light blue-green. There was a cut under the left eye (a parting gift from the barkeep) but otherwise her tanned face was unnmarked (albeit muddy).

Her boots were muddy as well, and they left staggering prints as she entered the alley, pursued at a distance by the redcoats. Lore'! Gerrout 'ere, or y' won't be gettin' rum f' ssupper t'night! The girl cocked her head thoughtfully at this. Neither will I, on tha' matter. The slate-pelted mongrel obediently appeared, wagging her fluffy tail. A multicolored macaw sat smugly on her shoulder, cawing intermittently. The dog went over to her master, was scratched behind the ears, and then barked savagely as the soldiers appeared.

Wha'? The untidy girl asked her mutt, turning abruptly. Upon seeing the redcoats, she tensed and pulled a rusty-tipped sword from the red sash that held up her tattered breeches. Were y' blackguardss ffollowin' m'? she inquired roughly.

The soliders were silent, hands on their own blades.

Fine, she spat. Be tha' way. Huffing, she made as if to go back to petting the dog, muttering: People these days - think bbein' all sstiff an' proper makess 'em myssteriouss. I'll sshow 'em.

Feeling threatened, the redcoats nodded as one and drew their swords. At the moment the girl whirled, ran right between the closest two soldiers. Her blade scraped against the cheek of one, sending him back with a cry of alarm. Lorelei trailed her swiftly, her pointed teeth stabbing into the leg of the redcoat who dared to try and snatch her. He howled in pain as the mutt dashed off. The parrot atop her shoulder flew off, yelling quite intelligibly: Yer mothers were jellyfish and ye've the spine of eels, crawck! He then soared off, cackling uproriously.

Panting, the girl paused near where the other woman and her dog were standing. Y' wanna give mme a 'andd? She spluttered, bending down to put her palms on her knees and catch her breath. We both ought 'ide...bbe a good idea... Then recognition hit the girl.

ROGUE SKIMITAR!!! She screamed at the top of her lungs, forgetting instantly that the redcoats were right behind them and that both of them had hefty ransoms on their heads. IT'S M', MARINA BARRACUDA! S'BIN ABSO-BALLY-UTE AGES! After that outburst, she wrapped the girl in a bone-crushing hug while their dogs sniffed and whined happily to each other.

Roving Vessel, ever the killjoy, flew up and landed on Mari's head, squawking: Oy, Miss Whale-Lungs! The lobster-backs are comin' up this way! He then promptly took off and left a lovely white speck on the uniform of the solider nearest them.

[Thistlestar]

Rogue gasped as Mari hugged her, feeling the wind being knocked out of her. Yes, they haven't seen each other in what seemed like forever, but still. Not now. Rogue pushed her away, thought she smiled.

"Aye, Mari. Nice to see you, too, but we can't catch up on what we've been doing now!"

She glanced around quickly. where were they? Dang party! She cursed, then spotted the red coats.

"'Urry, Mari! They be commin'! We got ta go! Come, Cadi!"

Rogue grabbed Mari's arm. Yeah, 't'would help 'f she were a bit less drunk... Rogue looked around quickly for a place to hide, then spotted it. Aaah...Now I remember! She pulled her friend down the street, dipping and dodging through the crowd. She pulled Mari into an alley.

She stopped. Where... She paused, digging into the back of her memory. Then, it came back to her. Aha! She swung Mari around abd behind a dumpster. She pushed it aside and dragged her back into the hole in the wall. She waited before the two dogs and bird wandered in before pulling the dumpster back.

((Ok, yeah, gming, but that's ok. If you have a problem wit' it, tell a pirate who cares. *crosses arms* Oh, and I don't care if they had dumpsters or not. It works.))

[Daystar]

Mari blinked, a little disappointed and only half-comprehending in her, let's say, affected state that now was not the time for reintroductions and catch-ups. She was partly-nudged, partly-dragged down an alley, Lorelei and Roving Vessel swiftly following.

'M goin', 'm goin'... she complied rather grudgingly. Bu' y' know I could take 'em, the blighters.


Before any more could fit out of her mouth, 'Cuda felt herself slipping past the trash can and into an enclosed space with a dog atop her and a parrot roosting cheerfully in her hair, his talons picking through it almost nonchalantly. Mari thwacked him soundly off her with a growl, and much shuffling could be heard behind the dumpster.

Gerroff, off I say, y'bloody bird! An' it smells blinkin' awful back 'ere, Rogue. Oughta find a better 'idin'-place next time...

The only good thing coming out of this was that the scent of molding leaves and seaside trash coming through the wall was helping to clear her senses from the effects of the alcohol. Slowly, but surely.

[Thistlestar]

Rogue smacked 'Cuda with the back of her hand, hinting for her to shut up. She looked down through the gap between the trash bin and the ground. Ok...they're not coming...we'll wait a few more minutes... She looked at 'Cuda. Quickly she whispered something to her.

"Aye, I know ya could 'a' taken 'em, but if ya 'ad, I'd 'ave ta sprin' ya outta jail!" She narrowed her eyes. "An' this is a good 'idin' place!"

She looked at Acadia and Lorelei as they sniffed each other, obviously happy to see each other again. She patted Lorelei on the rump before turning her attention back to the redcoats. Nay, they're not there...It may be best to stay 'ere for a few more seconds, though. she looked at Mari, wanting to distract her so that she didn't do something stupid.

"So, what ’ve ya been doin'?! Last time I saw ya...We were 'ere! Wonder if they still got tha' nice sword smith..."

She smiled, looking past her with a dreamy look on her face.

(Um...they're not in the trash can, but in a hole in the wall behind it... ...come now, 'Cuda! Pay attention! ;D)

[Daystar]

(I fixed it, mind you. It all works now. )

Yowch!

The girl reached up and patted the back of her head, inspecting her hand for blood. Of course, there was none, but all the same 'Cuda stifled a grumble. Roving Vessel started humming some snatches of a very ranchy bar-song, but luckily Lorelei blocked his beak with her tail before the nasty-mouthed parrot could break into verse. Mari nodded gratefully to the more discreet member of her animal posse.

Sprung outta jail? Heh, y'd be sharin' the cell wit' m', friend. She peeked out of the hole, leaning back against the bricks that made up the wall. An' I guess s'an alright hidin'-place.

Lorelei licked Rogue's hand and wagged her tail, which was still acting as a gag for Rove's beak. Wher' 'ave I bin? 'Round 'ere...'course, they've thrown m' outta most o' the taverns 'round 'ere, so's there's nothin' much t' do. I 'eard tell o' a treasure 'idden near these parts - left 'hind by ol' Jack, las' time 'e came near 'ere. So's I bin checkin' things out. She winked. I also bin checkin' out that swordsmith. He's got a place dow' the road a bit. Bu' I got thrown outta there, too...Couldn't 'elp it - the swords were so shiny, Rogue. I 'ad t' pinch'un. Actually I pinched three, bu'...

She trailed off, recalling the glitter of the gems and her goldlust. Then: S'funny 'ow we keep goin' in circle t' see each ot'er. Bu' I'm glad t' see y', mate. 'Onest I am.

[Thistlestar]

The young woman listened to her friend talk, then nodded.

“Aye. I ‘now I’d be sittin’ there wit’ ya, bu’ ‘ey.”<br>
She shrugged. If she had known Mari was here before, they would be in jail, with those lobster backs staring them down. Stupid redcoats...Rogue shook herself back to reality.

“I loike the thought o’ gold…Oh, and I do need a new sword...again.”

She grinned and shrugged, the glazed look in her eye when she was talking about gold left as soon as it arrived. That was what she liked about the life of a pirate. You got gold, rum, swords, but only the lovely shiny ones, with ornate designs and gems…Right. Oh, and don’t forget the violence. But the thing Rogue loved the most was the salty air blowing in her face as she stood on the bow of the ship…that’s what a pirate lived for. That’s what she lived for.

[Daystar]

Marina lived for the shiny things.

And for the pretty-sounding, metaphorical "wind in your hair, spray in your face, the taste of freedom on your tongue" sort of thing.

But mostly for the shiny things. And it was the lovely goldlust of hers that allowed them to find a way out to the harbor that day.

Roving Vessel had finally managed to free his beak from the confines of Lorelei's wagging tail. He pointed a wing-tip at a pile of strangely discolored bricks in the back of this hinding-place. Looks a liddle fishy t' me, mate, he squawked quietly. 'Cuda nodded and leaned against the brick square carefully.

It slid away from her with a light grating noise, surprising the girl, who steadied her hat atop her bandaged head and motioned to Rogue. D'y' see tha' ou' there? she asked in a whispery voice. There's light a-shinin' through. This is a secret compartment built into the wall. She peeked through the sliver of light in the square, which was hollow and therefore quite light. Looks like it leads ou' t' the 'arbor, she mused.

Lorelei poked her nose through the hole and whined longingly as the salty air teased her nostrils. Mari was about to move the block of bricks completely when a glittering ribbon around a scrap of paper up on a shelf above Rogue's head surprised her. She picked it up and stowed it in her vest for future inspection. Wonder wha' they used t' use this place for....

[Thistlestar]

Rogue looked at Mari. She was confused. So her old hangout place had a secret door. What’s the big deal? She narrowed her eyes at ‘Cuda.

“Mari...What are you gettin’ at?”

She grabbed the red scarf around Cadi’s neck to hold her back. Cadi was also whining...and beating Rogue in the face with her tail. Rogue grabbed her tail, fed up.

“Mari, I’ve been In here enough times to know that this place had no surprises. This wasn’t here last time I was... ”<br>
She trailed off, confusing herself even more. How....when could this have happened? She shook her head, not comprehending.

[Daystar]

Held back as she was, Marina sat down again and scratched her head, also confused now. Y' mean y've bin in this 'ole b'fore, and nothin' 'appened? Startled, she stroked thoughtfully at Lorelei's one floppy ear and tried to think through the last hazy influences of her partying last night. Luckily, her hangover was nearly finished.

Mebbe I pushed summat, she mused, fiddling with the feather in her hat. I dunno...look 'round, Rogue, I wanna know wot I did. Curious now, the young pirate pressed her fingers carefully into the wall, feeling around. Nothing else moved or shifted. So what was the secret of the sliding bricks?

[Thistlestar]

Rogue pushed up against the bricks. They slid back more. Now the gap between the 'door' and wall was about two inches wide. She had been in the dar for such a long time that the sunlight from the harbor hurt her eyes. She looked at Marina.

"There isn't anything...under the bricks...How...did they just move away so smoothly..."

Her expression was truly a mix between confusion and excitement.

"Marina Barracuda, are ye ready for another one of our adventures? I can smell 't comin'!"

She smiled.

"Come on, let's go check 't out."

[Daystar]

Mari squinted, pulling a hand protectively up to her eyes. Confusion was written clearly upon her face, but the bright light changed it into excitement, especially as her friend spoke out into the fresh air. Which, not surprisingly, felt very good on her weather-tanned face and cheeks. Lorelei sniffed appreciatively, poking her nose out of the hold, and Roving Vessel flapped his wings in impatience.

Indeed…sounds like a plan t’ me, mate. Let’s be off, mm? And so she rose, stretching carefully into the enclosed space so as not to hit a brick or knock anyone off-balance. Getting her hand through the small crack, she pushed harder, until there was room enough for the dogs to get through. Let ‘em check ‘t ou' firs’, huh? Jus’ t’ see? Caution, startlingly enough, was awakening in the adventure-eager woman. Her run-in with the redcoats had tempered 'Cuda's usual fool's attitude of rushing into things, if only only for the moment.

[/center]

[Thistlestar]

Rogue nodded.

"Aye, ye're right."

She leaned back to let Cadi by. Cadi walked out after Lorelei, sniffing the gound.

((Sorry, but I'm brain dead...XP...I may add on later, but not if you reply. Don't feel like it.))

[Daystar]

Mari followed, swiftly accompanied by Lorelei and the ever-present feathered fiend that was Roving Vessel. Blinking in the sunlight, she lifted on hand to shield her eyes in a sort of unintentional salute, and then grinned at her comrade-in-crime. Now wha'? She questioned wryly, eyeing the harbor with a glance that was almost too insightful.

[Thistlestar]

Rogue shrugged. Pushing her dog out of the way, she peered over 'Cuda's shoulder.

"I donno. You go, I'm following you. It's your treasure."

She grinned at her friend.

"A'sides, I can't get 'round ya!"