firestne

[firestne]

nya only smiled and said nothing else, while her kindness and generosity were true; she could be a deadly poison, slowly dripping into those who were deserving of such a treatment. but to the outside world her true friendlyness was the only thing they saw and that was the point, wasn't it? she was the person that people could trust to heal and protect them, they just never knew how far she would go to achieve such a thing.

she listened with patience at his request and chuckled. "well, i'm glad you're not in any sort of trouble." sure, nya had plenty of connections and people who could help if doone was truly in trouble but none of them would do it for the kindness of their own hearts. "you're thinking about what comes after, that's smart." she stalled, of course nya new things - people talked to her and whispers were plenty around the place but still, she had an image to maintain. "if you're looking for the island's secrets, there's a person i can recommend to you but i highly doubt he'll give that information for free." sure, she could ask dorian to do it as a favor for her but given what doone was requesting, a single favor won't cover it all. "i can only point you to the people that might give you what you seek, i'm only a physician- i treat people, not secrets." she chuckled, her innocent demeanor shinning through.

but there was curiosity as to what exactly doone was looking for, just information? "may i ask if there's something specific you're looking for?" she tilted her head, maybe he was simply a person that was looking for any sort of advantage and in tortuga, nya could understand it.

Doone’s smile deepened slightly at her offer, just for a flicker of a moment—like it surprised him, but didn’t entirely. “Still generous,” he said, quieter now. “Even when you should’ve learned better.” He fell into step beside her if she started to move, not crowding but not straying either. That careful way he had, like he was always walking a line only he could see. His gaze stayed on her face a moment too long before slipping back to the street ahead.

“It’s not urgent,” he said, letting the words come slow, like he was still shaping them. “No blood this time. No fire at my heels, no bounty hunter with a grudge and a long memory... far as I know.” A pause, then a faint huff of breath that might have been a laugh. “Feels wrong, showing up without trouble tucked under my arm. But it’s just… I’m lookin’ ahead. Trying to be smart.” His hand gestured vaguely, as if toward the horizon. Or the future. Or something just out of reach. “Storm’s Eye won’t outrun the world forever. And when the tides shift, I’d rather be the one steering.” His eyes flicked toward her again. This time there was something steadier there. Less banter, more weight. “You know the island. The people. What moves, what keeps quiet. I was hopin’ maybe you’d talk to me. Help me see the parts I’m not trained to look for. What a man like me might not notice ‘til it’s too late. Help me know about new rocks or shoals that may have appeared in the last two weeks that I need to keep an eye out for.”

Another pause. Then wry, but with a thread of sincerity beneath it: “And if you’ve still got that tea that smells like it’s judging your choices before you drink it. I wouldn’t turn it down.”

[firestne]

he could disappear to the ends of the earth, in a hole nobody would ever think to look and yet hanna will always manage to find him. no matter where one was, the other one would always find them. he stopped fighting it a long time ago, she was the closest thing to a family he has ever had other than the harbinger.

vidar did not bother turning around when he heard her footsteps, he knew it was her, he would recognize hanna's walk anywhere. he continued smoking his pipe as he felt her head on his arm, he was not one for physical contact but their connection was always different than others. the silence was comfortable and easy, despite the heavy burden he was carrying on his shoulders just standing there together seemed to help. "and leave them all behind? you're tired of the harbinger after all these years?" he said quietly, the smoke dancing through the air before disappearing into the night.

hanna didn't need anyone to tell her where vidar was. he was an extension of herself, all she had to do was put one foot in front of the other and it would always lead her back to him. she could see the shape of him, back to her as he faced the water, and could feel the heaviness of him that could have sunk the entire port. ever since she had met vidar she had felt that he had an anchor tied to each ankle, and it was all she could do to try and help him carry that weight.

she approached in silence, coming to stand right beside vidar. she let her arm brush his side, let her head rest against his arm. for a few moments, that was all — just the two of them, the soft lull of the shoreline lapping close enough to their feet, the distant occasional sound of townsfolk that hadn't quite made their bed yet. eventually hanna spoke, though she knew she didn't need to. "we will leave this place." she offered it as a comfort, though there wasn't much more she could promise. instead she smiled and nudged his arm with her shoulder. "even if it's just you and me on a raft."

[firestne]

he wasn't surprised at her reaction, a crew that didn't know where its captain was - given the situation they were in wasn't a good look on any of them but alas, when vidar didn't want to be found there's nothing on earth that could make him appear, unless one's apparently either the harbinger's seer or somebody that vidar cannot even begin to explain what the hell is going on between them. vidar shook his head again, confirming her disbelief; he just needed some time alone, he has been so focused on making sure the harbinger and his crew were safe that all he wanted was to smoke in peace and quiet, even if it's for a little while.

self-preservation. he hasn't felt that way in a long time. long ago he cared about nobody but keeping himself alive. nowadays, vidar had many responsibilities. "some say it's a weakness." he said quietly, the type of weakness he tries to not let it consume him, which shows over the fact that he has no patience for crew members who do not share what the harbinger stands for, nor for those rogues or fellow pirates from different crew that might betray him. vidar did not know how he felt about theia yet, trust had to be earned even that there were unanswered questions between them; pirates finding their ends in the gallows reminded him of the importance of not being a fool when giving trust to somebody.

vidar nodded slowly and looked at the ocean, it was quiet. a stark contrast to how the island was feeling, depending on who you ask that is. from the tide, the blockade and now the gallows. truth to be told, vidar couldn't wait to leave at this point and get back into sea just to get away from it all. "drinking won't erase anything." he said quietly, he could understand the type of curse she was feeling. they were practically sharing it. somewhat. the question he wanted to ask was stuck in his throat and it took vidar a few quiet moments to find the voice to speak. "anything new?" did theia remember something else or still flashes of things neither of them could truly decipher?

Her gaze lingered on the gallows in the distance. On their stark contrast against the darkening sky, like a warning etched into the bones of the island itself. Catching the dying sun like a cruel pendulum. Her eyes were rimmed with red, not just from the drink but from the weight of a few sleepless nights. -- She heard Vidar’s voice, always rough yet somehow steady and anchoring. It didn’t manage to soothe the storm in her chest however. At his words she only blinked, slower than usual, the haze of rum softening her features but not enough to mask the flicker of surprise in her eyes. “They didn’t know?” she repeated, voice a little low with a hint of disbelief, more breath than sound. She leaned her shoulder against the warped wood of the wall beside her, fingers loosely trailing it’s pattern. Her gaze dropped, brows furrowing. Silently questioning herself if she’d have left a word, a sign, something. Not out of obligation, but because the thought of someone worrying the way she had these past few days made her chest ache more than she cared to admit. She probably would have… Still, she didn’t press. Just let the thought drift between them, unspoken. Like so many others they’d both carried.

"It’s a funny thing, you know. I can't tell you when others started to matter over self-preservation,” she murmured, the words tumbling from her lips before she could stop them. “But I guess this whole situation…” Her hand gestured vaguely toward the gallows in the distance, flickering in the dark like some godforsaken altar. “Taught me that I do.” Her throat felt dry, tight. 

The stormborn shook her head when he said he should have come to her. Resolute in her reply “No, you shouldn’t have. Or at least, shouldn’t feel obliged to,” she added after a moment, voice quieter still. “It’s just all these things that my mind conjures these days that make me worry. It's like… since the barricade lifted, the curse now lives in me instead of just beyond the horizon.” Her gaze followed the smoke that coiled from his pipe, dancing skyward, only to be scattered by the warm island breeze. “No, I drink to forget. To drown out.”  Her lips twitched in a mockery of a smile. “Unfortunately, it’s hardly working.”

[firestne]

nya leaned closer. "and i would do it again." she hissed with a passion in her voice. "i would do anything to protect this island, even if it means a few pirates that nobody would miss would lose their lives." she remembered her last conversation, about their plan of putting a stop for it all by working together and yet she ignored it all. "you really think i would've put the sirens in danger by making you a target? you're a fool, they need you." it's the story she kept telling herself over and over again, but she didn't want to think about it any deeper and instead changed the subject.

she sighed, raising her her own hand to rest it upon dorian's but not to pull him off of her, just to have it there. "what do you care? it worked, the information i provided didn't hurt anybody we knew. they hurt my patients, they deserved their end." nya looked into dorian's eyes, hoping that he would find reason in her words. because why else he would demand answers. "if you know who i am, then none of this should've been a surprise for you, dorian." her voice returned to her soft nature.

the way nya let him lead her, the way she nestled so calmly with her back against the wall despite the way he was trapping her in, and the way she spoke... it was all he could do to stop himself from practically growling. he bit his bottom lip, the corners of his mouth tugging up into that impish coy smile, as every wicked thing he wanted to do to her flashed through his mind. "i'm no angel, no." he repeated, his voice thick and husky. "but i don't bat my eyelashes and pretend to be like you, hm?"

one of dorian's hands moved from the wall to brush the hair from her face, then smooth over her skin as he cupped her jaw. "i think this little mouth has been running off..." he murmured, his hand moving along her jaw so his thumb could catch her bottom lip. he watched the way his thumb met her mouth, the way he exposed the flesh of it as he pulled it down slightly. "i think it's been whispering names in the dark. i think you and i are far beyond the guise of herbs and fruits, nya. i see exactly what you are."

[firestne]

open starter @ dead man's bluff

during the blockade things might seemed a little dire, after all no customers meant no coin flowing around, which meant that his people weren't getting their payment for the job they were supposed to do. sure, getting supplies was easy enough with a help of a smugglers, julius is nothing if not stubborn and won't let dead man's bluff die without a fight, only because he worked so damn hard to get where he is today that not even a damned blockade could stop the place. sure, people came less and less but they just needed to hold on until things get better and fortunately, they did.

and now that the crown finally lifted the blockade, slowly people were starting to come back in; to play, to laugh, to lose themselves and their coins inside dead man's bluff and julius couldn't be more pleased with the development that he openly sat down in his usual spot with a good drink and a cigar, letting the atmosphere of the place wash over him. yes, this is how things were supposed to be, people shouldn't be locked away from the things that were possibility bad for them, not that julius cared, if he did he wouldn't be able to run dead man's bluff. as he continued smoking and drinking he noticed someone walking towards him and nodded in greeting. "having fun?" he asked.

[firestne]

not all pirates were heartless bastards, nya knew that perfectly well. again, none of them were good by nature, after all they were pirates but some were better than others and she always thought that elias was in the 'better than others' category, which is good because otherwise he would've been in the gallows like the rest of those that nobody will particularly miss. "no, i'm sorry." she chuckled, mostly out of embarrassed from having being startled, to say that nya has been on edge these last couple of weeks was an understatement to say the least. "i guess i've been too much into my own head to focus on my surroundings." she sighed, still with a comforting smile on her face. "but thank you, that would certainly calm my heart" the tide and then the blockade, everything has been ending up to a near breaking point, maybe nya being on edge had its merits, despite everything slowly going back to normal.

"how are you? it's been quite a while since we've seen each other." at her line of work and given everything that has happened, she was glad to have not seen more people that she knew, that meant that they were alive and well. "i mean that's a good sign, you didn't need sawbone." and honestly, that was far more important than seeing old friends. nya wasn't going to deny that she missed it; sure, she loved her work in sawbone but getting to see her friends and the people she cared about, even going to see her father for some tea was missing from her life during this whole ordeal. hopefully now things will truly go back to normal. "how did you get through it all, if you don't mind me asking?"

a hum of peace seemed to ripple across tortuga for the first time in what felt like ages as elias all but skipped down the cobblestone path that led to the shambles. he was happy, truly happy, to see the townsfolk smiling — for too long the blockade had cast a dim shadow across the faces of those he passed. when elias had stepped outside just hours before, he was greeted by the sound of children’s laughter ringing through the air and the soft murmur of conversation, flowing like fresh rain after a long drought. change had finally come. but the warmth in his chest was tempered by whispers — rumors of the gallows — drifting through the crowds like smoke. the thought lingered in the back of his mind, dimming the usual light that flickered behind his eyes. he kept telling himself there was no use in worrying about something he couldn’t control — surely, he could bribe anyone who tried sending him to the gallows, and if not then he was nearly certain he could outrun any guard in tortuga. or — he could only hope. if the island was happier, then maybe the threat of the gallows would fade just as the blockade had, with time.

elias had just enough coin on him to pick up a few mangos — the kind he’d been dreaming of for weeks. as he neared the stall, he flashed a friendly grin at the owner, eyes scanning the fruit with barely restrained hunger. but his gaze soon landed on someone else who seemed to share his craving. a smile tugged at his lips as he threw an arm over nya’s shoulder — only to feel her flinch beneath his touch. elias quickly pulled back, hands raised in surrender. “oh, gods, i’m so sorry,” he apologized, eyes wide with concern. “didn’t mean to startle you, i promise.” he let out a soft chuckle. “i vow to never sneak up on you again, nya.” his head tilted to the side as he eyed the fruit in her hand, a few strands of hair falling into his face as the early morning wind swept through his hair. “what treats have caught your eye this morning?”

[firestne]

julius feared for a moment that the future he fought so hard to build was starting to crumble because of the crown, of course he showed none of those fears to others; it was important to appear confident and strong, finding ways to survive in hardship and fortunately, they did. in exchange for others. he supposed it had to be done.

but he should've realized that his close friends were in danger as well so walking around in tortuga for the purpose of finding said person was key, sure he could've sent someone but he needed to see that nico was alright with his own two eyes. "if you were any other person, i would say secrets cost coin." julius said dryly, a master of wearing a mask that showed nothing. "nico, i see the gallows didn't take you."

who: nico & anyone where: streets of tortuga

as nico let his feet carry him through tortuga, he didn't think. he just continued to move. he knew these streets like the back of his hand and that was what he was hoping would be for his benefit. after a near miss with the crown - the gallows seemingly had his name on them - nico was trying to put as much distance between him and them as he possibly could.

as he stopped to rest a moment, his eye caught that of someone else. stranger or friend? he could hardly focus enough to figure that part out. "you did not see me." nico spoke, quiet but firm. he was ready to run, if needed, but he prayed that it would not come to that.

[firestne]

[ idris elba, cisman, fifty, he/him ] is that tortuga’s very own JULIUS KWAKYE? the OWNER at DEAD MAN'S BLUFF has been around for TEN YEARS, and they remind us of A SMILE THAT HIDES A THOUSAND SECRETS, A BEAUTIFUL OCEAN-COLOURED RING THAT PRIVATELY MEANS EVERYTHING, ALWAYS PLAYING TO WIN. people say they’re INDEPENDENT & INTELLIGENT but we’ve heard they can be DISHONEST & RUTHLESS too. rumour would have it that they have a NEUTRAL view on pirates, but one thing’s for sure— they better get used to them.

basics.

name: julius kwakye

nickname: j, jules ( close friends only )

age: fifty

gender & pronouns: cisman & he/him

sexuality: bisexual/biromantic

occupation: owner of dead man's bluff

family.

parents: both deceased

siblings: one older, one younger.

spouse: deceased ( ?? mayhaps a wc, i haven't decided yet )

child: deceased ( ?? mayhaps a wc, eventually surely i'll decide )

appearance.

faceclaim: idris elba

hair: black

eyes: brown

tattoos: on his back, chest and hands.

scars: a small few all over his body.

biography.

nobody knows your story and what you had to do to get where you are today. they all see the rich man who owns dead man's bluff, a casino meant for someone to lose themselves in with drinks, always seeking that one more game that might make them win big this time around. you always have the ability to make everyone around you comfortable, but the people that know you know that that comfort can turn very quickly into dread, because at the end of the day; the house always wins.

growing up nowhere near totruga to a middle class family, you never really had a plan in life. you knew you wanted to care for your loved ones and live well enough to have a comfortable life. looking back, it's funny how everything turned out. while working as a teacher, you met who would become the love of your life. you got married and welcomed a beautiful child into your lives. in a rare need of vacation, your small family has decided to travel via ship. in a tale of horror, it got raided by pirates and in a desperate way to survive you got into smaller boats in order to flee, unfortunately you got separated from your spouse and child and never saw them again.

it's like taking a piece of your heart and tearing it into a million tiny pieces. your mourned, you screamed, you cursed. you survived. you ended up in an island that was luckily not far away from where the ship was and from there you traveled, between mourning you decided not to go back to your former life, as everything reminded you of them. all that was left was a single ocean-coloured ring you got for you wedding day. in your travels, you finally ended up in tortuga.

you had nothing to your name, no family, no future and yet you didn't give up. you worked, made connections, created magic when there was no magic to be had until the day came when opportunity presented itself to you that would change the course of your life — the ability to get dead man's bluff. at first the former owner didn't think you had what it took to run the place but you showed them otherwise, within months the place became somewhere people would lose themselves in for hours upon hours, money and coin flowed like water.

and so all your hard work made you into something nobody thought you could get. the keys to the kingdom and a place to call home. you didn't rub any of it in people faces, no, you had more class than that, but you wore it well nevertheless. you were someone who had nothing, who had lost everything and yet became successful in his own right and nobody will take that away from you, nobody.

wanted connections.

"deceased" spouse ( 50+ ) & child ( could be adopted, 25-29 ) — again idk yet if im going with this or keeping them dead. my idea is that they were presumed dead but ended up basically navigating life together, thinking julius forgot about them only to end up in tortuga again. still on the fence about the idea ( it's why no wc on the main ) but if you're interested dm me and maybe we can plot something?

best friend — someone who he has known for possibly years ( 25+ ) we can talk about their dynamic but i imagine it being very two besties being besties.

someone that sees him as a father figure — since he lost his child, he had no interest in having a family again. but, given his business, it's not out of the realm of possibility that maybe he has taken y/m under his wing for whatever reason. he will never admit in words their connection but it's clear he cares about y/m.

owing money — your muse owes money to dead man's bluff and julius is getting more and more impatient as the days go on.

siren ( 30+ ) — someone he sees sometimes to have a good time with, it's nothing serious obs. just a siren and their client. could be any gender.

blackmail — julius knows your muses' secret and uses it against them, whatever it is to get stuff for the bluff or other reasons.

his worker over at dead man's bluff, friends, enemies & exes!

i'm down for all and any connection <3

[firestne]

the rumors of pirates being snatched to gallows didn't worry vidar too much, his crew were a capable bunch and he hardly needed to worry about anything happening to them and even if it did, they would be rescued faster than the wind. in hignsight, he should've made sure that everyone was safe and sound, instead vidar found himself spending time alone with his thoughts, truly living up to being a silent ghost all the stories made him out to be. vidar the voiceless will turn up when one least expects it, like a shadow from the deepest depths of darkness, vidar has heard all the stories about him and paid no mind to any of them; he was simply himself and only those who truly knew him could find him, that or he wanted to be found. but, case in point a familiar raven was trying to get his attention.

vidar was hiding near a corner of the beach that nobody visited and yet the damned raven still managed to find him. he looked at it for a few silent moments as it flapped its wings and screaming at him. there was only one reason why it would do that and leave the owner its so much cared for. "show me." vidar got up and followed deimos. the more he followed it, the more his heart filled with dread as he saw the gallows. "go back." it was a simple commend, and the raven did as he said; knowing fully well that once vidar was here, sebastian would be rescued. and as much as he wanted to bust in there and save the man, vidar looked around, trying to study the area before going head first. how did sebastian get captured in the first place? whoever made that happen was going to pay.

it was almost embarrassing how easy it was to get into the gallows without any guard noticing, despite the chaos that was happening with more and more pirates being taken away. his blade was ready to attack whoever would try to stop him from getting the man he- thankfully he saw sebastian in the cell before his mind managed to finish that sentence. he didn't bother replying to him, looking around the room for the key and noticing the sleeping guard, vidar made the kill quick and painless and took the keys in his hand and walked back towards the cell so he can release sebastian. of course, he felt beyond relieved that he was alright but at the same time he felt anger he hasn't felt in a long, long time. as vidar released the man's hands, he looked at their bruises and brushed them gently, a trip to sawbone is needed. "let's go." his voice was tight. serious.

closed: @firestne

the damp, sour stench of the brig clung to sebastián cardenas like a second skin as he leaned against the rough-hewn wall, one leg propped lazily against the iron bars. his cell, little more than a stone box beneath the crumbling tortuga grounds, was lit by a single sputtering torch that cast flickering shadows across the mildew-slicked floor. there was a window that was too far for him to reach, but he could see his beloved raven from time to time sitting there trying to keep him company as much as it could. his dark hair fell in tousled waves over his brow, and his brown eyes, ever glinting with mischief, scanned the room for anything, or anyone, that might turn this mess into an opportunity. his wrists, bound loosely with frayed rope, bore the marks of a hasty arrest, but his lopsided grin suggested he was more amused than worried. death was the greatest adventure, was it not?

“well, this is cozy,” he muttered to himself, his voice low and laced with a chuckle. he tugged at the ropes, testing their give, and glanced at the dozing guard slouched by the brig’s entrance, a half-empty bottle of grog at his feet. how long had he been in here for? a day? two? he couldn’t remember anymore, everything became blurred in the darkness. his mind spun with a whirlwind of different ideas on how to escape, the moment he could, but each one of them seemed to falter at the realization that his weapons were next to the the sleeping guard. for a split second he thinks he hears some movement but he can see nothing. he figured it was just another round of pirates getting brought in, at least he’d soon have some more company.

but that wasn’t the case, not tonight. what emerged from the darkness was someone who made his heart feel full and then quickly fill with dread. deimos is quick to fly to his cell, then back to settle on vidar’s shoulder. “vidar, what are you doing here?” it was a rhetorical question, the reason was obvious, the question more displayed the concern and fear in his voice. sebsatian never showed fear but right now he was more scared than the idea of meeting the gallows. “you’re mad,” he whispered, standing up to press against the bars of the cell, “if you’re caught, you’re going to be worse off.” his voice was barely above a whisper, quick and soft.

[firestne]

he has heard of her, a woman with no crew to her name. mad mare. vidar wondered how she did it, going through life being a rogue pirate. after he killed his own captain, vidar had no interest in going rogue and simply lived his life in darkness until the harbinger called for him. maybe she had connections that kept her afloat.

it was not surprising that she tried sneaking up on him, he was always aware of his surroundings, like a trick he couldn't quite let go of. it has saved his life more times than he could count, but he doubted that mad mare was here for anything harmful. he nodded at her greeting, continuing to smoke his pipe in comfortable silence.

"holding up?" he asked quietly, out of curiousty. as a captain he had his crew behind him but what did a rogue had? a bunch of pirates they had no elegance to? maybe she preferred it like that, either way the only way he could find out is by asking said questions.

Mary coughed gently on the secondhand smoke. She didn't want to run into anyone tonight. Mary specifically came to Anchor's Rest for some much needed sleep and time alone. She wanted to contemplate her next move with her head clear and her body rested.

Something about Vidar made Mary flinch. She couldn't put her finger on it, but Mary's gut told her to not trust him. She could sense Vidar glancing back at her. Mary stopped sneaking around him. It was pointless to try and avoid Vidar now.

"Good evening" Mary greeted awkwardly. Mary hoped a large commotion would break out and it would allow her to stealthily disappear, but nobody was ever that lucky. Especially in these parts.

[firestne]

it's unusual for ryker to meet clients outside of the nest and hang out but sometimes the stars align and the vibe is just right and then one ends up with someone like alexander who is always always fun to be around. ryker already leaned against alexander to see the table he was looking at and then he looked back at the man. "that one? okay, you better not lose your fingers." what pirates will do when they get bored has and always will amaze ryker, he remembered when he used to be a pirate and all the game that his father's crew used to play just to pass the time, the knife one is but a few.

ryker smirked. "being in your lap is payment enough but i won't say no to some coin." he took alexander's hand in his own and they went together to the table, he wasn't squimish about violence, usually. ryker sometimes like to watch the fights in the pit and played in dead man's bluff at least once a week if he had the time. though not many would try their hand at the gamble to see if they were good enough in the knife trick as to not cute or lose their fingers, that game isn't one that ryker would play as he's better at other things. but, sitting here in alexander's lap, making himself comfortable, he couldn't wait to watch the other man win. but, just for fun and a tease, he leaned against his ear. "i promise not to distract you, i wouldn't want you to hurt yourself." ryker whispered.

Alexander let out a lighthearted laugh at spotting the siren's grin, filled with mischief intent. "Is that what we are doing tonight?" His tone held a mixture of amusement and playfulness. He has visited The Siren's Nest on multiple occasions since his arrival to the island and more than once has he enjoyed the company of Ryker. Interestingly enough, and it could simply be that Ryker was skilled in helping people forget their troubles but, Alexander's hazy mind seemed to clear up when being around the free-spirited siren next to him.

They hadn't come together, simply met here by coincidence, but Alexander couldn't be more thankful to the gods. He had a couple of restless nights and the distraction Ryker brought was needed. "That one." He nodded towards the open table that had one man, a couple of people starting to gather, waiting for a soul brave enough to enter the match against an undefeated champion. The game was a knife game in which player had to quickly stab the knife between the spaces of their finger, getting quicker with each turn, without wounding yourself. Alexander wasn't a fan of the game but settled on it because he could not remember if he knew how to play any of the other games. "Come with me. I should like you on my lap as I play, with your arms around my neck, being my lucky little gem. I'll even split the winnings with you."

[firestne]

the concept of loss wasn't foreign to vidar. he lost his memories, which he has yet to recover, he has lost old crewmates from his former crew who were trying to survive the life and their deadly captain. in the harbinger, vidar could count on one hand the people he has lost and one of those, somehow, was standing right in front of him. he said nothing as the man stood next to him, as if he didn't know who vidar was. or maybe he was trying to ease them into a conversation, though that would be almost laughable. maybe there was something in the tobacco and vidar was seeing things? "alexander?" his voice was tight and quiet as he forced the words out.

losing a crewmember was never a good feeling, espcially when he became captain to the harbinger and his goal was keep them all safe despite the life they've signed themselves up for. so he soon accepted that loss was just part of their lives, vidar just didn't expect to see a real ghost in front of his very eyes. "how're you alive?" vidar wanted to reach out to the man but his body was frozen and the thought of reaching out only to touch nothing worried him.

it was the only way to explain why the other man had no reaction to seeing vidar again, someone who used to be his captain. surely this is just a hallucinations that could be explained by his pipe.

Alexander found himself restless after awakening from slumber after yet another hazy nightmare, at least that's what the rogue pirate considered his dreams to be. He never understood the blurred images that swirled around in his head while he slept, sometimes even while he was awake, it like he should understand but, every time they left him more confused than the last. Frustrated, too. On restless nights, when his dreams would not let him sleep, Alexander usually accepted defeat in the form of a smoke or a drink at the nearest open tavern.

The dirt crunched below his leather boots as he walked along the uneven cobblestone street. Coming across the other man had been unplanned but not unwelcomed. He walked up beside him, pipe in one hand, lighting a match, and takes a big drag of his pipe. The smoke instantly relaxing his muscles as it coursed through his veins. "Hope I'm not interruptin' anything, mate." He reassured, slowly exhaling the thick cloud of smoke.

There was a weird feeling about the man next to him, not bad, but Alexnder couldn't put his finger on it. He turned to look at him, trying to see if he could pinpoint his face from where he might know him, but nothing came to mind. The man was just another blank canvas amongst many faceless paintings in his mind. "I'll be quick."

[firestne]

nya was taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself down from both being startled and the embarrassment she was feeling at the moment. "it happens, no worries." she chuckled, while looking up at the stranger, she hasn't seen him in sawbone or around and wondered whatever or not the man was lucky or resourceful. still, out of intrigue, nya tilted her head ever so slightly as she tried, as if by will alone, to figure the man out without any luck. "make sure you drink plenty of water, and keep away from the sun." she offered gently, always thinking about other's wellbeing.

the thought of her swinging at anybody made her chuckle. "no, i am a physician over at sawbone, i don't swing. i treat people who get swung on." her smile was still bright as her heart finally calmed down from being startled. "i promise it's okay, are you already though? i don't want the sun to get to you too much. it's my day off but i could help you to sawbone if you're feeling unwell." she offered. it didn't matter if it was her day off or not, whenever someone needed her medically she will always be there. it wouldn't be the first time that she lost day off because someone needed help and she isn't sorry about it.

Alexander walked along the serpent like path through The Shambles, Tortuga's chaotic marketplace that always pulsed with life. With the most recent blockade listed from the island, allowing him a chance to dock so he can repair a small amount of damage done to his ship during a bad storm recently, Alexander had a chance to use his land feet again. The air was thick with various scents that made up the marketplace from fish all the way to the tang of salt from the nearby harbor. It should be a quick visit if he kept on course to just get the supplies he needed.

Up ahead he noticed a woman looking at some herbs. From the side of her face her fair features seemed familiar to Alexander, almost as if he'd already met this woman before, yet not a single name to come to place with her face. His feet were guiding him in her direction before he could stop to think, reaching out to tap her shoulder. "I do apologize, miss. I believe the sun has begun to get to me," Alexander chuckled, "I have confused you with someone I knew." Or so he thinks, as is the life of someone with shadows and blurred images floating in his head. He wouldn't remember even if he had known her before this moment. "I did not mean to startle you. I'm just glad your first instinct isn't to swing."

[firestne]

Idris Elba photographed for Interview magazine

[firestne]

it was one of the few reasons he went to the gallows, to check about her, make sure that theia was safe and sound and when he didn't see her there, it made her heart beat a little easier, he didn't event consider what her not seeing him would do. "they didn't know." vidar said quietly truth to be told, he hasn't told anybody where he went. maybe hanna, his seer, but she wouldn't tell anybody no matter the price. "they'd never admit it." acting like they always knew where he was when in reality vidar can be a slippery fucker, a true ghost when he wanted to be and he needed, wanted to be one right now; just to be with his thoughts and reflecting on what they've been through over the past days and weeks. the more she talked the more vidar wondered how much she has drank, what has happened since the last time they met?

vidar turned to face her, it truly didn't cross his mind that she would be worried about him ending up in gallows. the thought of it was so far fetched for vidar, that he didn't think to consider that theia didn't know that. "it will never happen." he said quietly, it might sound egotistical to someone but for him? he was realistic. the only way for him to get caught is if he wanted to be, and so far that hasn't happened it. "i should've came." to her sooner, he should've realized that their connection obviously deeper than just two people that knew each other. what that connection was still partly a mystery but their past was connected, that was for damn sure. he wanted to reach out to her, out of instinct he didn't quite understand but held himself back from doing so, instead busying himself with smoking his pipe. "is that why the drink?"

Theia swayed ever so lightly where she stood, the sea’s rhythm no longer the only thing pulling at her balance. Her boots scraped softly against the wooden floor as she approached the figure ahead. broad-shouldered and unyielding in the moonlight, the smoke from his pipe curling upward in the white milky light. It took her a few seconds longer than it should’ve to register that it was truly him. And for relief to wash over her as she did. “Y’know,” she started, voice low, raspy from spending the past two days breathing in a bit more rum instead of air, “Took me near half a day to track you." she gave him a wry smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “None of your crew would spill on where I could find you. Such loyalty is proven to be incredibly precious these days.” Her words drawled, lips slurred only slightly but enough to betray the depth of the bottle she’d been nursing, and the storm still raging inside her.

She came to stand beside him, glancing in the same direction he had been before and feeling her stomach twisting. The sharp scent of smoke curled around her nose was however strangely comforting. Like old memories. Half-formed, half-lost. Her eyes trailed the gallows far off in the distance, barely visible but present all the same. Her throat tightened. “I saw it, Vidar. The noose still swings in my mind even when the wind is dead.” She turned her head to her gaze on him then, a flicker of something fragile behind storm-tossed eyes. “I had to come check if it hadn't been you... The whispers can be vague these days." Her hand trembled slightly as she reached into her coat and pulled out a small flask. The rum inside sloshed like a wave refusing to settle. Theia took a sip before speaking again, this time quieter, as if afraid the night would swallow the words whole. “But you weren’t hangin’ there. Thank God, you weren't hanging there."

[firestne]

she let herself get dragged into the alley, at first nya was internally worried that something has occurred only to find herself trapped between dorian's arms and it was clear that whatever happened, it wasn't that serious. "you and i both know i've been bad plenty of times." she said quietly, because despite the fact that it was just the two of them, there were still the possibility of ears being everywhere. "and you have as well, you're no angel." though she never cared about that fact, they were just two people doing the best they can.

nya smiled softly, letting herself lean back more comfortably against the wall, her head tilting. she felt more relaxed than she has felt ever since the blockade ended. nya didn't care how dorian found out, it was clear that he did but in the slight chance that they weren't talking about that nya took her chance. "and why is it that you think i've been bad this time? would you like to see what i've been buying? it's only herbs and fruits." she shrugged her shoulders.

dorian didn't often intend to seek nya out, it was just something he found himself doing as if she called to him. like a siren, in all of its irony. he had sauntered down to the shambles for no good reason at all, hands in his pockets and chin tilted high as it usually was, greeting all those that smiled at him with a wink, a nod, or some other acknowledgement. but by the time he got there it was like he could feel her, smell her almost, and like a beast getting scent of prey he stalked it until he saw the back of her.

he approached casually, reaching a hand up to touch her shoulder. her reaction drew a laugh out of him, but he didn't stop there. he ran his hand down her arm, the rough pads of his fingers contrasting her smooth skin, and gripped her wrist. he shot one glance over each shoulder as he dragged her into an alleyway nearby, letting go of her but keeping her trapped between his hands as he caged them either side of her head. "nya." he greeted, low and dangerous. "i need you to tell me if you've been bad."

[firestne]

nya still chuckled, ever more embarrassed by her reaction. "it's okay, i don't really know why that happened. maybe i was too deep in my own world." she fixed her hair mostly out of nervous, her heart still beating fast as she tried to calm herself down. "i don't, usually. i promise it's nothing that you did, taking advantage of freedom." she shrugged her shoulders.

she nodded with a small smile on her face, in her work her hair was usually bundled up with clothes that were meant to protect but here, she could wear beautiful clothes and let her hair down, letting it flow with the gentle wind. "thank you and yes, i see." she looked at the shoulder with a pride of her word. "it'll take a bit of time, let it heal and maybe the rain will remind you to be more careful."

a tilt of the head as his words got her attention. "of course, doone. what is it you need? actually, we can go somewhere more private if you'd like? whatever it is you need, i'll do my best to help you." pirate or not, all of those who had good heart were welcome within sawbone and nya's big heart.

Doone’s voice came low and warm, like worn leather or the hush before rain. “Didn’t mean to startle you, Doc.” His hand pulled back slow and open-palmed in a gesture that said no harm meant, though there was always something coiled beneath the surface with him, wasn’t there? “You don’t startle easy. Or you didn’t, last I saw.” His gaze flicked down to her basket, fruit, herbs, the makings of a quiet morning and then back to her face, softer now.

“Not used to seeing you outside of your work. Looks good on you.” His lips curved into a rare, genuine smile before he added, a little more wry, “Better than blood and shot powder, anyway.” A pause. Then a glance to his shoulder, where her work had stitched him back into usefulness. “Still got both arms, thanks to you. Can feel it when it rains but I reckon that’s just the weather reminding me who I owe.”

He rocked back slightly on his heels, giving her space, but clearly not about to vanish again just yet. “Was hoping I might steal a little of your time, if you’ve got any left after spoilin’ yourself. Word is you’re still one of the only souls left on this island worth trusting.”