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delightfully-difficult-pirate · 7 years ago

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Assassin’s Creed: Misthaven (2/18)

Summary: For hundreds of years, the Brotherhood of Assassins and the Templar Order have waged war. For Princess Emma of Misthaven, that war has become personal. After a mission gone wrong, the Templar Grandmaster, placed a curse on Emma’s son that is slowly killing him. Emma will stop at nothing to save Henry, even if it means going rogue from the Brotherhood and consorting with pirates.

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Sex, Adult Language.

AN: A special @preciouscucumber for being an ever patient and diligent beta. To @cocohook38 and @utopiozphere for the awesome artwork they have created. Last, but not least, this fic wouldn’t exist without the encouragement from @icecubelotr44 every step of the way. All of them deserve all the cookies for dealing with my inability to keep deadlines or write dialog in a coherent manner.

AO3

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Art for Chapter 2 by @cocohook38

Captain Hook,

I am in need of discreet services. If you are interested in a lucrative business proposition, come to the Rabbit Hole at 9pm this evening. A woman wearing a red cloak will be waiting for you.

Killian Jones, more commonly known as Captain Hook, held the curious missive in his hand as he contemplated its contents. Written on rough parchment and sealed with a simple blob of red wax, the letter itself was unremarkable. However, it was uncommon for him to receive written invitations to clandestine meetings and the “discreet services” part made him instantly suspicious. Additionally, the dock urchin who had delivered it had been unable to describe the person who had paid him, saying only that the figure had worn a hood and appeared to be male. He placed the note on his desk and took a swig of rum from his flask, savoring the soft burn.

“Mister Smee!” Hook called out to one of the crewmembers he knew was still aboard the Jolly Roger. He sighed at the resulting thumps and crashes his summons elicited. When the nervous man appeared, he asked, “How many men do we still have signed on as crew?”

It was autumn and the season brought with it more frequent and severe storms. As a result, only the most dedicated, or desperate, sailors remained aboard the ships that did not go to dry dock for the season. Hook didn’t enjoy spending a season on land, so he’d brought his ship and crew north, where the storms caused less problems.

“Fifteen men, Captain.” Smee may not be the most trustworthy member of his crew, but he had a knack for knowing what was going on aboard the ship.

“And the chances of us recruiting a few more?”

“The Wyatt brothers and a few others could probably be persuaded, with enough of an incentive” Smee admitted, shrugging, “But why? You said we would only be doing some honest smuggling and wouldn’t need a large crew.”

“A possible opportunity has arisen. Make some inquiries and put the word out that we may be seeking crew.”

Smee nodded, looking confused, and left the cabin.

Suspicious or not, a job was a job. He would attend the arranged meeting and get the particulars, then make his decision.

The Rabbit Hole was a dingy tavern close to the docks, and had a reputation as a good place to do shady business. As long as patrons paid their tabs and kept violence to a minimum, the tavern keeper turned a blind eye to any dealings of questionable legality.

Hook entered through the main door, his eyes quickly scanning the tavern's main room for the woman with a red cloak the letter had mentioned. He spotted her leaning over at the bar, where the man behind it, busy ogling the feminine assets her chemise was ill-equipped to hide, didn’t appear to notice her slim hand snagging a bottle of rum from behind the counter. A fine rum too, one of Hook’s favorites from the Southern Isles, and he found himself hoping that she would be willing to share her spoils.

As he approached, he also took note of the dagger hanging from her belt, mostly hidden from sight by the folds of her cloak. She was a wise woman to arm herself in this part of town.

“M’lady,” he said in a low voice as he drew close. “I believe you have need of my services?”

The hood of the cloak fell back as the woman turned her head, revealing a lovely face framed by a dark fall of curls. He could feel her gaze as eyes with a mischievous gleam gave him a once-over, pausing for only a moment at the end of his left arm, where the inspiration for his nom de guerre rested. When she finished, her plump lips curved into a wicked smile.

“I can think of plenty of services you could do for me, handsome, but I am afraid I am not the one in need of them,” the woman said, trailing one of her nimble fingers down the buttons of his greatcoat. “I am only here to lead you to your benefactor.”

“I will follow you wherever you wish to go, love,” he said with a bow, holding out his hand to indicate that she should lead. With one last smirk, his contact turned her back on him as if she had not a care in the world, something that few people were willing to do. That action, along with the manner in which she carried herself, led him to believe that she was far more than just a powerful person’s lackey. They left the main room of the tavern and navigated the narrow hallway to a private dining hall.

They were nearing the dining room door when he spotted another sign that not all was what it seemed; a hint of leather, imperfectly concealed by the fabric of her sleeve, and a glint of steel, reflecting the flame of a lamp. His eyes immediately went to his guide’s left hand and he tensed, spotting a silver signet ring bearing the unmistakable insignia of the Brotherhood of Assassins.

The former Templar in him instantly wanted to sink his hook into the neck of the Assassin in front of him: part of him, however, was intrigued as to why members of the Brotherhood would be seeking outside assistance.

The Assassin paused, her hand on the handle to the room beyond, and gave him another assessing look. This one was no survey of his aesthetic features, but more calculating, and he knew that she was determining whether he was a danger to the person beyond. He flashed his most charming smile, and tried not to appear as if the very idea of meeting with assassins had set his teeth on edge.

Having apparently passed this final approval, his guide turned the handle and he was ushered into the company of his client. The lady in red preceded him into the room and approached the wing-backed chairs that were positioned in front of a roaring fire. She had a quiet word with a figure in the chair and then retreated to a corner of the room.

“Captain Hook, thank you for coming,” said the figure, as she stood to greet him. This new woman, presumably his client, wore a simple tunic, belted at the waist, and plain trousers: but she was the most gorgeous woman he had ever beheld.

Stunning green eyes topped high cheekbones and he longed to kiss her finely shaped brows and pink lips, to run his fingers through the golden hair cascading over her shoulders.

She also wore a silver signet ring with the mark of the Brotherhood of Assassins, but he could see no sign of a vambrace or hidden blade underneath the sleeves of the simple tunic she wore. While that did not make her unarmed by any means, the lack of the Order’s signature weapon indicated that she did not expect a fight, which set him slightly at ease.

“At your service, m’lady.” He gave a short bow, his eyes never leaving her face.

“Would you care for a drink?” she asked politely, holding up the bottle of rum he had watched her companion pilfer from the bar keep.

“I never turn down drinks with a gorgeous woman. And please, allow me.” He stepped forward and retrieved the bottle from her hands. He deftly cut the wax sealing the top with his hook, quickly checking for any signs of tampering, and pried the cork from the bottle. He handed it back to her with a flourish and he was rewarded with a soft smile as she poured two glasses.

She returned to her seat and, with a lazy wave of her hand, indicated that he could do that same. He hesitated. Seating himself would put his back to the door and the rest of the dining room, against which his survival instincts screamed. Instead, he leaned against the wall next to the fireplace, enjoying a full view of the room and his lovely companion. Said companion raised a delicate brow at his choice, but seemed to take no insult.

“Captain, you may call me Swan, and as my letter stated, I have a business proposition for you,” she explained. “I am in need of transport to the Kingdom of Camelot. There, I intend to abduct a sorcerer known as Rumpelstiltskin, and I may need assistance in doing so. After, I will need transport for the both of us to the Kingdom of Misthaven.”

Killian frowned. Although he appreciated her honesty about the illegality of her intended actions-he had had jobs go south because he’d been deprived of essential information--Camelot wasn’t a difficult journey, but it could be a long one. He frowned as he digested her intended destination.

“It would take a month, at least, to sail to Camelot,” he informed her, “and just as long to sail back.” He sipped from his glass, rolling the spicy rum across his tongue.

“A month?” Miss Swan said, surprised. “It only takes just over a fortnight to sail to Camelot from Arandelle, which is further away.”

“In spring or summer, sure. But we would need to hug the coast to avoid the worst of the autumn storms and to make port if needed.”

She nodded, frowning, but appeared to accept his assessment.

“The man you intend to capture, this Rumpelstiltskin: I assume he is dangerous?” Killian asked. He wasn’t fond of sorcerers; not since Robert Gold, the sorcerer son of the head of the Templar Order, had killed Milah and chopped off Hook’s hand.

Swan nodded again and Killian enjoyed the way the firelight cast her hair in a reddish hue.

“He is a powerful and ruthless sorcerer. He has knowledge and experience in magics that most spell-casters do not even dream of attempting.” A crease had appeared between her brows as she spoke. “He’s set himself up as Camelot’s court sorcerer on a promise to recreate the Holy Grail and restore the Kingdom to its former glory. Gaining access to him will not be easy.”

"My men and I are not opposed to a bit of violence, when the need arises, or when there is proper compensation,” he declared, with a wiggle of his brows and a smirk.

The lady in red rolled her eyes at his antics as she produced a satchel from underneath her cloak but Miss Swan accepted the satchel without comment. It made a satisfying clink when she set it on the table next to the bottle of rum.

“Two hundred and fifty gold doubloons now, to ensure your services and procure provisions. You will receive two hundred and fifty more when we reach Camelot, and another five hundred when we return, safely, to Misthaven.”

Hook nearly choked. A thousand gold doubloons was what he and his crew expected to make from some of their best catches when out pirating at the peak of the trade season. And even then, each man of his usually 70-person crew walked away pleasantly more wealthy after repairs to The Jolly Roger were made, if she had taken any damage when subduing the prize. This venture wouldn’t require a large crew, 25 or 30; enough to sail the ship and have men to spare to for fighting, should it be needed.

Quickly doing the math, Killian determined this was an acceptable price. The pirate in him, however, wanted to see just how much he could drive the offer up.

“That is a very generous offer, milady,” he admitted, and tossed back his remaining rum. “But this late in the season, adequate supplies will be harder to obtain and more expensive. And good men will need a large incentive to sign onto a crew sailing south.”

Whatever he’d been hoping she would offer in addition to the gold, the next words out of Miss Swan’s mouth changed everything.

“Would the location of Liam Jones be adequate?”

---

Emma watched, fascinated, as the affable scoundrel in front of her disappeared. Hook had immediately tensed at her words and she’d seen his hand twitch towards the sword at his hip. Suddenly, he laughed, an unpleasant, rough sound.

“Fucking assassins,” he spat, “holding onto information until revealing it is to their own benefit.”

Emma stood, reacting instantly to the threat an angry pirate could pose. She heard Red move as well, preparing to have her back if it came to that.

“Captain Hook, Nemo assured me that it was his decision, not that of the Brotherhood, to keep Liam’s location from you,” she said, calmly. “It was always his intention to provide you with it, when the time was right.”

“Really? Or until it became of greater value and he could use it to his, and the Brotherhood’s, advantage?” He snarled.

Unwilling to be the target of his anger, Emma collected the bag of gold and turned towards the door “Think on my offer, Captain. Speak to your crew. If you find my terms to be satisfactory, meet me back here tomorrow, same time.”

With that, she walked out; Red following close on her heels.

As soon as Miss Swan and the Lady in Red left, Killian collapsed in the chair he had eschewed earlier, his anger draining and replacing with regret. He grabbed the bottle of rum and took a long, strong pull. He shouldn’t have snapped at his prospective patron as he had. A thousand gold doubloons was almost twice what he and his crew would normally make during the slow sailing season, and it wasn’t as if he hadn’t done exactly what the Brotherhood was doing now, concealing information from others until it was of use to him. Hell, he’d probably blackmailed a dozen port officers this year alone.

The mention of Liam had thrown him off his game, unexpected as it was. He’d continued searching for his younger brother after Nemo had refused to give him a location three years ago, but had had no luck. People in the tavern’s town remembered the lad, but there was no consensus on what happened to him after his father’s death. Some had said he’d been taken by a workhouse, others insisted he’d run off to join a group of bandits, and one man had claimed that the kid had been taken in by Misthaven’s royal family, to serve as companion to the young prince.

Wherever he was, Killian felt responsible for the death of their father and thus it was his obligation to care for his brother, just as the older Liam had cared for him after their father’s abandonment.

Abandonment was an understatement for what their father had done to him and Liam. Brennan had taken him and his brother aboard the Hispaniola, ostensibly to sail to a new home. However, the following morning, he and Liam found that their father had sold them to Captain Silver, The Templar Order’s premier Captain. In return, Brennan had gotten a fresh start away from his debts and his sons. Killian had fought back tooth and nail against their new masters, scrappy little child that he had been. Liam, always the more level-headed of the Jones brothers, had figured out how to benefit from their new situation. While Killian spent most of his first year in the brig for trying to run away, Liam had thrown himself into sailing. He learned anything anyone would teach him. Swordplay, navigation, dicing; he studied it all. Eventually, with Liam’s careful guidance, Killian had followed his brother’s lead and become more of an asset to the crew instead of a hindrance.

Within a few years, their efforts earned them a spot as crew aboard The Morrigan, under Captain Shay Cormac. This was where Killian and Liam had begun their true training as members of the Templar Order. Liam had eaten it all up, while Killian had remained wary of a group that claimed to make the world a better place by limiting people’s freedoms. He stayed, though, because of Liam. At least until the disastrous voyage to Neverland in search of Dreamshade had claimed his brother’s life.

Shaking himself from memory lane, Killian reached again for the rum, only to realize he’d already drank half the bottle. Any more and he’d find himself too far gone to give Swan’s offer the consideration it deserved. Not that he was inclined to turn it down. The possibility of getting his younger brother’s location and living up to his older brother’s example was too much to pass up.

“I like him,” Red said as they arrived in their room at the boarding house where they were staying.

Emma gave a very unlady-like snort, unsurprised. “Of course you do.” Though Emma knew her friend was was very loyal to her wife, Red was an unrepentant flirt, and Hook was all that Red desired in a man; tall, scruffy, full of attitude, and a bit of danger.

Her friend punched her arm in retaliation. “Not just because he’s a gorgeous specimen of a man. Though I wouldn’t mind spending a few months in close quarters with him.”

“You wouldn’t, but I’m sure Dorothy would have something to say about it.”

Red laughed, “That she would. I’d be sleeping in the kennels for weeks,” Red sobered, though, as she thought about her wife, who was back home helping tend Henry, “But in all seriousness, I think Hook is the right choice for this. His reputation speaks for itself on his competency as a sailor and fighter. He knows what he is doing. And he’s smart; to have figured out we are with the Brotherhood.”

Emma rubbed a hand across her face, bothered by the ease with which the Captain had named them assassins of the Brotherhood. Obviously he had had dealings with the Brotherhood before through Nemo, but based upon Nemo’s explanation, it hadn’t been an extensive meeting: just enough to get a feel for the pirate. So, how, then was the man able to call them out so quickly? Either he’d had additional contact with the Brotherhood she was unaware of, or he was familiar with their enemy, the Templar Order.

Thoughts of the Templar Order brought her up short as she paced the room. The only people who spotted assassins with ease were Templars.

“Could he be a Templar?” she mused aloud as she stared out the window towards the docks.

“A Templar?” Red replied, pulling a brush through her hair. “He’d have killed us the instant he realized we were Assassins.”

Emma sighed, knowing her friend spoke the truth. Few meetings between Assassins and Templars ended with no deaths. However, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Captain Hook’s association with the Brotherhood than she knew.

“I’m going out,” she said as she pulled a dark cloak on over the simple outfit she’d worn to the meeting.

Red paused, halfway out of her chemise. “Would you like company?”

“No, I’m just…”

“Going to the docks to spy on Captain Hook.” Red finished undressing and slipped under the covers of one of the beds. “Go. Ponder whatever mystery if bothering you about him. I know you won’t be able to sleep otherwise.”

Emma smiled, glad her friend knew her so well, and silently slipped out the window and onto the street below.

Though she didn’t know much about ships, even Emma could tell that The Jolly Roger was a magnificent vessel. She looked unimposing, with her sails furled, ropes coiled, and only a lone crewmember keeping watch on deck. However, she was rumored to be made of enchanted wood and able to outrun even King Eric’s fearsome navy.

She’d gotten to the docks in time to see Captain Hook returning to his ship, the bottle of rum Red had liberated at The Rabbit Hole clutched in his hand. It looked half-empty. Depending on his tolerance, he was either pleasantly on his way to being drunk or already there. He’d gone straight down a hatch by the helm to what she figured was the Captain’s cabin, if the ship had the same basic layout as ones she’d sailed on before. He hadn’t reemerged in the hour she’d been watching, so she was debating whether it was safe to sneak aboard to have a look around.

Deciding to risk it, she took a circuitous route down the docks to the berth where The Jolly Roger was moored. She hid beside some barrels near the forward bow and with a carefully time jump, launched herself toward the area below bowsprit. She grabbed one of the four rails and her nails dug into the wood as her feet scrambled for purchase against the slick wood. Once secure, she climbed slowly until she could peek above the side. The crewmember on guard was pacing the length of the ship, so Emma retreated when he came near. Onehanded, she carefully loaded a dart laced with a strong sleeping potion into her blowgun. On the crewman’s next pass, she waited until his back was turned and fired the dart into his neck.

He let out a quick “what the…” then began to collapse, but she was there to catch him as he fell. Thankfully, he wasn’t a large man, so she was able to shift him easily to the deck without a sound. She left him there, partially hidden among some rope.

Being a pirate ship, The Jolly Roger was well armed. There were 14 cannons on the main-deck, six each on the starboard and port sides, and two more closer to the front of the bow. She’d spotted cannon holes near the aft of the lower deck as well, so she suspect there were more below. It was almost overkill to have so many guns. Captain Hook’s reputation was so fearsome that most ships would surrender once they figured out it was The Jolly Roger that chased them.

Everything she heard about the Captain made him seem like exactly what she needed for this mission… and that made her wary. She’d offered him the job, but she wanted more information before it was official.

She made her way towards the hatch she hoped led to the decks below. She heard no noise coming through so she lifted it slowly, set it aside, and poked her head through. It appeared empty, so she carefully lowered herself through the hatch. She landed in a crouch and remained still, prepared for any surprises. When none appeared, she rose and began poking around. This deck was just as organized as the one above. Folded canvas hammocks hanged between the beams of the ceiling, so she assumed this was where the crew slept while at sea. Emma riffled through one of the crates against the hull, finding metal plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery. Apparently, this was where the crew ate as well.

Distracted by her snooping, she didn’t hear the creak of the wood behind her until the edge of a sword was caressing the curve of her neck.

---

“Stand up, slowly, and keep your hands where I can see them,” Hook said to the hooded intruder currently riffling through his crew’s dinnerware. He heard a very low, feminine curse and was surprised when the hood fell back to reveal Miss Swan as she stood.

“It’s bad form, lass, to come aboard a ship without the Captain’s permission.”

“My apologies, Captain.” She couldn’t have sounded more insincere if she had tried.

He sheathed his sword and rubbed his hand across his face to wake himself up a bit. He’d been dozing in his cabin over when he’d heard noises from what should have been an empty deck. He’d expected to find Logan, who was on watch, sneaking down in search of a snack.

Remembering the crewman who should have prevented any from sneaking aboard his ship, he asked, “Is my watchman alive or shall I need to find another?” He hoped Logan was alive. The young man was one of the more reliable members of his crew.

“He’ll have a headache in the morning, but he’ll be no worse the wear.”

He nodded, pleased. “Thank you for that.”

“I may be an assassin, Captain, but I do not like killing if I don’t have too.” Her words had a bit of spice to them, which piqued his curiosity, but now was not the time to uncover the story behind that reaction. Instead, he asked the question that had been burning in his mind all evening.

“You are an Assassin, meaning you have the resources of the Brotherhood behind you, but you are seeking external help for your mission. This leads me to believe that said mission is not completely above board. Have you gone rogue, m’lady?”

“You’re supposed to be a simple pirate, but you made my companion and myself as Assassins within minutes,” his lovely trespasser countered.

He laughed, full and loud. Touché.

“Step into my cabin, Miss Swan, and let’s continue our discussion from earlier, shall we?” He invited, gesturing with his hook toward the doorway behind him.

Hesitantly, she followed. Gentleman that he was, he pulled out her chair for her and made sure she was comfortable before rolling up the maps that were spread out across the table. He placed the bottle of rum from earlier before her, as well as a two glasses and a pitcher of water before taking a seat of his own. She opted for the water.

Figuring he owed her for losing his temper earlier, he started, “I’ve had more experience with the Brotherhood than Captain Nemo may been aware. I am a long time acquaintance of Captain Kenway. We once both had our eye on the same lass one night. We had words initially, but eventually, good times were had by all,” he said with a lascivious grin.

That earned him a small smile. “After that, we kept in touch,” Hook continued. “Trade information on prizes, mostly.”

“I am not on a mission that has been approved by the Brotherhood. They have a kill order on Rumpelstiltskin and I have need of him alive. Thus, I am unable to utilize their resources. I have, in fact, gone out of my way to ensure that they have no idea what I am currently about,” Miss Swan admitted.

He nodded, understanding. It was hard to serve a master whose ideals didn’t always match your own.

“Don’t get me wrong, Captain. I am fully committed to the goals of the Brotherhood. However, their refusal to reconsider their ruling on Rumpelstiltskin will put innocent lives at stake,” she continued, her eyes lighting with resolve , the dim light of his cabin lending them a stunning gleam.

“A noble quest, lass,” he conceded, and raised his glass of rum in salute. She rolled her eyes, but raised her water in return.

“So Captain, are you willing to take the job?”

“For a thousand gold doubloons and the location of Liam Jones, I accept the terms of your offer, Miss Swan.” He offered his hand across the table to shake on their deal, and swore he felt a small spark the instant their fingers touched.

Now that there deal was struck, he escorted her off The Jolly Roger. “We will leave at dawn in two days’ time. Send word if you believe you are being watched, and we’ll find a way to sneak you aboard,” he said as he walked her down the gangplank.

Emma nodded and adjusted her hood as a stiff wind tried to blow it off. Ever the showman, Hook gave her a courtly bow and placed a kiss on her hand, before making to return to his ship. He stopped and warned, “Come aboard my ship without permission again, lass, and I’ll throw you in the brig.”

---

Emma told Red about her adventure aboard The Jolly Roger the next morning over breakfast. Red had been so amused by the fact that Hook had managed to sneak up on her that she earned a few scathing looks from their fellow diners because of her laughter.

Over the next two days, Emma collected any supplies she imagined she would need for the next few months. She restocked her small medical kit with herbs and bandages. Because Alexandria was a popular port town, she was even able to find the rarer herbs she used in her poisons and sleeping draughts. When Emma returned to the boarding house, Red was pacing across their rented room.

“Emma, I spotted Gus at the docks. I’m afraid you’re going to need to take the Captain up on his clandestine boarding plan.”

Emma groaned time in annoyance.

“Could he be here on a completely separate mission? Or is that too much to hope for?” she asked.

Red just shrugged in reply. It was possible. However, was it worth taking the risk? Emma sighed and composed a quick letter to Captain Hook.

Later that evening, Emma and Red carefully snuck out of their boarding house and to a storage warehouse by the docks. There, they said their goodbyes. Friends for years, there was little need for words. “Be safe” was all they said as they just hugged each other tight. Red would ride out in the morning, just after dawn, with a blonde maid named Ashley disguised as Emma. They would head south, toward Midas, and if Gus was tailing them, he would hopefully follow.

After Red was gone, Captain Hook and a Mr. Smee helped Emma climb into a partially empty orange barrel. She felt bad about squishing the fruit that would be part of the crew’s rations for however long their journey was. At least she did, until more oranges were poured around her and the lid sealed above her head. Though she had dealt with her fair share of small hiding spaces, she felt her heartbeat speed up in response to her current circumstances.

“Have no worries, Miss Swan. We will have you out as soon as the barrel is in the hold,” she heard Hook say.

She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing as the barrel was tilted and rolled on its edge. When the barrel stopped, she could hear the crewmen talking about predictions for the weather and other inane topics as the goods were roped together. Ropes creaked and the platform shook and she imagined she could feel herself being lifted. Her nails dug crescents moons in her palms as her world tilted, but only for a few moments before she was upright again.

The journey from warehouse to hold couldn’t have taken more than ten minutes, at most, but Emma was more than ready to be out of the barrel when Hook removed the lid. She stood quickly, spilling oranges everywhere and was bodily lifted by the Captain out of her hiding spot. Once back on her feet, she stood, disoriented, and remained holding onto his arms as she caught her breath.

“That its lass. Take a few deep breaths. That’s it,” she could hear Hook saying. Her breathing slowed and once she felt more like herself she stepped back and away.

“Thank you,” she said.

Hook nodded. “Anytime, lass. Please, allow me to show you about your home for the next few months. This is the hold, and the lowest level of The Jolly Roger. No one but myself, the cook, and the quartermaster are allowed down here unescorted. The brig is forward, and that is where we shall keep your-” he paused a moment “-companion… after we leave Camelot.”

She followed him up a steep stairway to what he told her was the Orlop deck. Her private quarters were aft on this deck, next to sickbay.

“Our resident surgeon fancies himself a quite the ladies’ man, so you may want to watch out for him. I’m sure you’ll have no problem dealing with him.” He glanced with amusement at her blades, covered by her sleeves, before continuing, “Storage for arms and ammunition is forward, in a secure room, though the powder magazine is below in the hold.”

Going up another staircase brought them the deckwhere she had been found sneaking about the night.

“Our cook serves up delicious creations, rations permitting, twice daily. You are welcome to eat with the crew, myself, or alone if you wish.”

Tour done, they returned to the deck below and he escorted her to her quarters. They were simple, with a bed and a small desk, and a hanging lantern to illuminate it all.

“Except for the hold, you have full run of the ship. However, if we encounter a situation, I expect you to follow any orders I give, just as any member of this crew. Is that understood?” He waited for her agreement.

“What qualifies as a situation?” she asked, curious.

“Most likely a naval patrol, though I’ll do my best to avoid them. We will find ourselves sailing in some less than pleasant weather, this trip, and you would be safest in your quarters during those times.”

“Then I will follow your instructions to the best of my abilities.”

Apparently satisfied, Hook bid her a goodnight and left her to her to get situated.

Chapter 3

#Assassin's Creed: Misthaven #AC:M #CSBB #Captain Swan Big Bang #Captain Swan #My Writing

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inkweaver22-blr · 8 years ago

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Okay so I had an idea for a Mystery Skulls Animated fic. It has been on my mind for some time and I wanted to share it with you all. But when I went to write it… It wasn’t a pretty sight. It wasn’t BAD, but it wasn’t all that great either as I’m severely out of practice.

Plus my motivation for it died faster than the hype for No Man’s Sky.

So I’m just going to post a detailed summary of what the story was going to be like and let someone else try their hand at it. I’m also going to tag my favorite writers/drabblers/idea farmers/AU crafters from this fandom so they see this in case they want to adopt it. Let me do that now.

@phantoms-lair @ectoimp @providentially-demonic @squigglydigglydoo

I’ll leave it under the cut so people can be spoiler free in case someone does come along to write this out. Feel free to ask questions if something doesn’t make sense! Here we go, a detailed, yet slightly silly, summary of my almost fic: ‘Under Your Skin’.

So firstly, yes. This IS a ‘Arthur becomes something other than human’ fic. And yes, I think the creature I picked has been done before. HOWEVER! I’m hoping the way it happens and my original variation on said creature will be different enough to be interesting.

To begin with, some background. This takes place about a year after the hypothetical reunion of the gang and Lewis no longer wants to kill Arthur. They’ve all been through some therapy both individually and as a group (Mystery knows a guy/elf who does this) so the majority of their issues/insecurities have been worked out. Their bonds of friendship and/or love haven’t been better.

But instead of focusing on the romance between Lewis and Vivi (and MAYBE Arthur), I wanted this story to focus on the friendship between Mystery and Arthur. Like how that he’s now able to talk freely to them and so they get along. My main example was Mystery actually preferring Arthur’s choices in music over Vivi’s and Lewis’.

Anywhos, onto the plot! The gang receives a call for a job on the coast to help retrieve a stolen magical item. The client, a woman, refuses to give many details until they meet in person. Vivi, being curious, insists that they go. So they load up the van and head for the coastal Texan city/town of BLANK. The opening of my original draft was towards the end of this trip with Arthur and Mystery up front enjoying some music while Lewis was in the back with Vivi as she napped.

And that was as far as I got. The rest is what I had planned out in my head. If you do plan on picking this fic up you can go into as much or as little detail as you want based off my ramblings. No names or physical descriptions were ever chosen for the OC’s so go wild. Onwards!

They reach The Town of Ongoing Events late at night/early in the morning and sleep at a hotel for several hours. (Maybe have Mystery curl up against Arthur’s side because Lewis and Vivi are cuddling?) They then head out to the address provided by their mystery client.

Mrs. Plot Catalyst lets them in and they exchange some pleasantries. She then explains that the item that had been stolen was her Seal Cloak, exposing her as a selkie. Vivi begins to go on a rant about selfish men being jerkwads and demands to know who her husband is because in all selkie lore that’s who would steal her cloak. Seal Lady, a bit bemused, calls her husband in from the garage and after a brief misunderstanding (read: Vivi threatening the man with the painful things her pet Kitsune or Wraith boyfriend could do to him) they find out it WASN’T her husband who stole the cloak. Mr. Nice Guy actually accepts her for who she is and didn’t mind her leaving for months at a time.

What happened was a friend of Seal Husband stumbled across them when she was returning from one of her trips and asked to borrow the cloak. Friend of Seal Husband was Very Rich™ and said that he wanted to study the cloak for the benefit of all magical/supernatural beings. As the couple knew this guy well and believed him trustworthy, they agreed. That was several months ago and they hadn’t heard from him since. They had tried to contact him but all attempts failed for one reason or another.

So the MS gang and Seal Couple sit down for a plan of action. They decide that Vivi and Arthur are to go Mr. Wealthy’s office building to try and talk to him. Mystery and Lewis can’t come as this guy is super into the magical and has wards that would alert him when a magical being enters the premises. They get all upset at first but Vivi calms Lewis while Arthur reassures Mystery.

The Blue Temper Problem and Yellow String Bean head to I’m So Rich I Can Buy An Impoverished Country’s office and give the secretary some tripe about magical being conservation which immediately gains them an audience with him. They meet with Rolling In Money and he greets them kindly. The duo explain that they heard through the magical grapevine that he was doing something to help out mystical creatures. With a wide smile Mr. Potentially The Antagonist But It’s Not Clear Yet begins to explain.

It started with his Tragic Backstory™ when he was a boy. In the woods near his home town lived a family of (unspecified sentient magical creatures) that he befriended and knew for years. As they didn’t possess the ability to disguise themselves as humans or animals they stayed away from humans except for Child Version Of Mr. Rich. One day, he heard a loud commotion from his friends’ home and hid in some nearby bushes to see what was going on. A group of humans dressed in strange clothes/armor had his friends tied up. They spouted some BS about human superiority and purity and then executed the family.

Mr. Depressing Past grew up with the incident weighing on his mind and vowed to try and help magical creatures from then on. He tried to find the mysterious group as well but had no luck. He used his fortune to help protect creatures by financing relocation's and national parks where magical creatures could live semi-peacefully. But he felt like it wasn’t enough.

It wasn’t until he stumbled across the wife of his Very Good And Close Friend™ (at this point Arthur and Vivi are like ????????) shedding her seal skin to look human that he got an idea. What if he can find a way to copy the selkies’ ability to shed their skin like a cloak for other species that couldn’t disguise themselves? Then they could hide in plain sight!

So Mr. Good Intentions asks to borrow the cloak to study its magic and see if it could be copied. They agree and he begins his research. It takes several months and he has a process but he needs some further help from a specific book found only at Shangri-La. So he goes there and seeks council from the monk mystics and yeti that live there.

He learns that while he can’t make it so living creatures can shed their skin, nor can he give them human skins to hide in (ewww), there is another way. He can take the remains of a creature (fur, scales, bones, claws, teeth, ect.), turn it into a wearable item, and magically bond it to a human. The human then gains the ability to take the form of that creature by simply donning or shedding that skin like a selkie. BUT!!!! It will only work properly if he gets permission from the departed spirit of the dead creature(which he does through a ritual). If they don’t get permission they properly dispose of the remains according to the spirit's’ wishes. Also some spirits will be super picky about who bonds with their wearable item so the process won’t work with some random person they must be C H O S E N . And while many creatures have natural defenses, he decides to add minor elemental abilities to the bonding spell so they can better protect themselves. The best part is that this is hereditary so any offspring will also have this ability so in a couple generations most of that species will be able to do so.

Mr. Rich asks if they want a demonstration. Vivi is like HECK YES because despite being wary of this guy this is a major breakthrough in magic that could change a lot. So he takes the white fur scarf he was wearing this entire time and sticks his hands into the hidden pockets on each end. He seems to blur for a second before appearing as a seven and a half foot yeti from that one Mummy movie. He then makes a little crystal of ice in his paws to demonstrate the elemental add on(only $9.99 extra if you pre-order now).

Mr. Yeti Man returns to normal by simply imagining removing his hands from the pockets and offers to give the two a tour of his home the next day where he converts the remains into Cloaks™. They agree and skadoodle back to Seal Base Alpha and tell the others what they’ve learned. Mystery is unsure how to feel as this IS a good thing and Mr. Ice Ice Baby even went so far to receive permission from departed spirits so not to disrespect them. BUT he seems to have also stolen from his friends AND giving humans these kinds of powers can lead to all kinds of problems. So they decide to allow Vivi and Arthur to go alone again BUT!!! Lewis and Mystery will be hanging out at the edge of the property in case something goes wrong. Mystery gives a token of some kind to them both that they just have to press in case they need help and he’ll know.

The next day Arthur and Vivi head out and arrive at a Very Nice Estate™ that has a mansion and huge lawn and fountain and everything. Mr. Corporate Cryptid invites them in a guides them to his underground labs/workshops. There are scientists/magicians and security guards going about their stuff as they receive the tour. They meet some important people to the process like his second in command, tailor/taxidermist, and head spell-caster. At one point they are passing glass cases of Cloaks™ and Arthur just STOPS in front of one. It seems to be an actual cloak/cape unlike some of the other wearable items(Vivi scoffs at a pair of Jackalope fur Bunny Slippers). The upper half is black and gold feathers while the lower half is beige fur. He STARES at it for a minute, as if it’s calling to him, until Vivi snaps him out of it.

After a bit, Vivi feigns curiosity and asks what happened to the original cloak he based his research off. The Abominable CEO Man happily states he returned it to its owner and even gave them some monetary compensation. Vivi then just GOES OFF at that and says ‘Uh, yeah, no you didn’t’ but not as polite. Mr. Rich is both confused and slightly horrified as he hears this and brings them to confront his second in command as he was the one he put in charge of that.

After trying to play innocent at Mr. Rich’s and Vivi’s interrogation, SURPRISE! He betrays his boss and magically binds them. The security force begins to non-lethally subdue the workers that weren’t in on this as The Actual Villain begins his Evil Monologue™ He used to be part of the evil group that Mr. Rich mentions in his Tragic Backstory™ but ‘They didn’t think big enough’ for him. So he left them, infiltrated this project, and converted others to his cause. His goal? To make an army of human/mystical creature hybrids using the Cloaks™ and TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!!!1!!ONE!!

Jerkwad McGee takes the magical alarm tokens from Arthur and Vivi and locks them up with Mr. Rich and the workers that weren’t part of his evil posse. He then begins to try and force the bonding with the Cloaks™ on his followers as none of them were ever chosen due to their evil intentions. Hours pass and the sun starts to set. The trapped people are trying to come up with a plan to escape while Lewis and Mystery get antsy.

Alrighty gang, this is where we enter the territory that I haven’t finalized yet. Most of it will be kind of vague so get a bit creative if you decide to write this out.

Mystery loses patients and he and Lewis barge in. They fight off the guards but somehow give Bad Guy the means to finish the forced bonding process. Meanwhile the prisoners somehow escape. The workers all leave the property, the grunts are all unconscious, and Mr. Rich in his Yeti form and the MS gang confront Antagonist out on the lawn. Bad Guy then pulls out a Cloak™(in the form of a helmet) he’s been hiding made from the remains of a REALLY REALLY BAD CREATURE™ and forces the bond onto himself. He transforms into the beast and goes berserk.

I was originally going to have him be the Red Bull from the Last Unicorn, but that’s a fire elemental and wouldn’t work with what I have planned. So make him some sort of really powerful and feared monster that’s resistant to fire and ice but weak to electricity.

Mystery is like ‘OH SHIZNIZZLLE!!!’ and hops to the top of the mansion and creates a barrier/illusion surrounding the entire estate so the beast won’t escape and authorities won’t come to investigate. Lewis and Yeti Guy fight the Beast on the lawn while Arthur and Vivi hang back towards the house.

It doesn’t go well.

When things start to look even worse than they already are, Arthur feels a pull leading into the mansion. Vivi doesn’t notice him leave as he follows it. He comes to the glass cases room to find it trashed from Lewis and Mystery’s fight earlier. The calling gets stronger and it leads him to the Cloak™ he spaced out in front of earlier. He hesitantly picks it up and wonders what to do when he gets a strong sense of ‘This is RIGHT’ and ‘You can help stop this’ coming from it. With the sounds of battle in the background Arthur takes a shaky breath.

He puts on the cloak.

Back at the brawl, Yeti Guy and Lewis are injured while Mystery is straining to keep the barrier intact when a fierce cry rings out. From the mansion flies a griffon that has a metal forelimb and golden feathers puffed up in a strange fashion on its head. Electricity forms around it and it fires a HUGE lightning bolt at the beast, harming it. Yeti Guy immediately recognizes the color scheme from an unclaimed Cloak™ but is like ‘The Elemental Add Ons aren’t THAT strong wth???’ and Mystery is like ‘A Royal Griffon?? But it’s aura…? ARTHUR?!?!’.

Pausing the plot for a second to explain! Royal Griffons are something I made up. In this universe of MSA, griffons come in many subspecies. The most common being eagle/lion, there are others like hawk/lynx or raven/siberian cat. Basically any bird/feline combo of almost equal proportionate size. But then there are ones that have the body parts of OTHER mythical creatures. These are Royal Griffons. Some examples are a phoenix and house cat, or a condor and nemean lion. Arthur here happens to be a Thunderbird (think an oversized golden eagle with lightning powers) and mountain lion mix.

So Griffon!Arthur joins the battle and with the beast’s weakness to electricity they manage to defeat it, remove the Cloak™ from Bad Dude, and save the world! Mystery drops the barrier and rushes up to Arthur and begins to checking him over to make sure he’s okay. Arthur insists he is and ‘I was just running on instincts I guess’ so Mystery slaps him upside the head and begins lecturing him on being such an idiot and ‘WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? YOU COULD HAVE BEEN HURT!’ and ‘DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO YOURSELF THIS IS PERMANENT!’ and ‘THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CAVE ALL OVER AND I COULDN’T STOP IT THIS IS MY FAULT AGAIN!’

And Arthur is all ‘HECK NAH this was MY CHOICE and it FEELS right for some reason and what about Lewis he could have been hurt and I’m not panicking so you need to stop panicking or else I’m going to start panicking and OHMYGOSH I WAS FLYING SO HIGH IN THE AIR I HATE HEIGHTS THAT WAS TERRIFYING!’.

Vivi then grabs them by the ear/feathers and gets them to chill. Yeti Guy helps Arthur through the process of taking off the Cloak™ (he just has to imagine his human self doing so). They go back inside, retrieve Seal Lady’s cloak and all return to Seal Base Alpha to explain all that happened. Yeti Guy invites them back in the morning so he put some final protections on Arthur’s new cloak so they head back to the hotel for some well deserved R&R.

Also not sure if this should be mentioned during the explanation scene or in the morning, but Yeti Guy mentions that the spirit of the royal griffon said he would only bond with ‘a loyal follower of a ruler’. Arthur then snarks ‘So a Kingsmen than?’ earning groans and a slap to the head.

During the night, Mystery and Arthur get some time alone to talk things out. Arthur admits that he does feel a bit nervous about being a griffon now but not as much as he would have before they all had therapy. Mystery admits he’s simply afraid for Arthur because Arthur is going to be alive for a LONG time now(several hundred years) and the human somehow managed to worm his way under his skin (T-T-T-TITLE DROP) and considers him a best friend. They hug and whatnot, promise to always be supportive and there for each other and then head to sleep.

Not sure if the story should end there or include Yeti Guy’s extra protection spells and maybe a scene of Mystery helping Arthur out with his new body.

But that’s the end of Under Your Skin! Hope you enjoyed reading this summary! Again, feel free to ask any questions! Let me know if you plan on writing this out or just plan on playing in this sandbox I created! Peace!

#MSA #Mystery Skulls Animated #Mystery Skulls #Arthur Kingsmen #Arthur #Mystery #Lewis #Vivi #Ghost #Freaking Out #kitsune #selkie #griffon #yeti #thunderbird #friendship

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