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bitchfitch · 3 years ago

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I'm outlining that pirate thing rn. Properly getting it cleaned up and ready for actual work to be begun on it.

But i kinda realized that i need to split what was going to be the first book in the trilogy into two separate stories.

Like, Part 1 is pirate times in space/ a whirlwind romance, part 2 is the horrors of bureaucracy, Toi'uhla being frustrated and bored with zer life and finding ways and excuses to go bang a pirate while said pirate mostly carries on as normal.

Like, I'm pretty certain Toi'uhla and Lordakai are getting the same amount of screen time in part one, but part 2 is Very Toi'uhla centric up to the very very end which makes me feel like it should be its own separate thing. plus a large portion of it is just letters back and forth between the two of them instead of the action of the first book.

i don't really have a conclusion to this. I'm mostly just rambling.

Anyways, here's the rough draft of the very basic outline:

that pirate thing book 1:meet cute

Lordakai and Toi'uhla meet on the boat.

Toi'uhla was on zer way home from spending season with Guli'vany and is more than elated to know they will be wed soon.

Lordakai has the ship sacked and is frustrated to find it devoid of anything worth taking. Last year's haul was a fraction of what he had needed it to be. He needs to make good money this year to keep his crew happy and paid.

Laz is the one who finds the passenger log and hands it off to him.

He is relieved to see a lord is aboard and takes Toi'uhla hostage. He knows that with only one hostage he won't have much to bargain with so he puts on a show to make sure everyone is terrified for Toi'uhla's safety.

Toi'uhla claws him when he makes zer kiss him.

Toi'uhla is taken directly to the brig, and Lordakai makes it clear he has no intention of actually hurting zer. Ze just needs to behave and play along.

It's going to be a 2 week trip back to Cu'Liona, Lordakai plans to make landfall After the cruise ship so that word will spread and the Duke will get nervous.

Toi'uhla promises to make those two weeks hell for him.

The first few days go by plain and easy. Boring as hell for Toi'uhla as Lordakai gets everything moving easy again. Toi'uhla plans zer escape.

Fiana notes that there is a ship tailing them. Keeping it's distance and trying to look like it's just another merchant vessel but it's clear it's waiting for a good time to dart in.

Lordakai decides they will bait it out. And tells the crew to ready, they'll be luring it into the shadow of an island and taking out it's lights to let the shadows handle it for them.

Toi'uhla escapes, having snagged the key to zer cell off of a distracted Lordakai. Ze sees the prep work as ze sneaks through the ship but doesn't know what's happening until the ship banks hard.

Lordakai is having the bane set on a ram course. It's metal bow will take the blow easily if the other ship doesn't drop and take the one safe path. down below the island they were passing.

The ship does so. But is quick enough to bank out of the shadows before they can attack. Lordakai orders the hull piercers fired and two of the four nail the ship. The bane being larger and more powerful whips the ship back into the shadows, cutting the ropes as soon as it there so that the bane can escape before being eclipsed.

The lights on the decks are taken out by arrows. Laz and Fiana manning the cross bows and picking off anyone they can see.

The shadows get thicker. The enemy ship drops it's sail. Sends off a flair, and lowers its own flag. Lordakai orders another round of hull piercers fired. The ship has surrendered and that's enough for him. The bane tows the ship out of the shadows faster than it could sail out with its shadow raveged sails.

The bane pulls the ship along side so that they can at least get their hull piercers back.

Toi'uhla sees the deck. the dead were torn to shreds. the killed shadows twitching and writhing as the light burns them away.

The enemy captain is wounded.

Toi'uhla hides before the negotiations are complete.

Lordakai is proud of what his crew achieved. They get the hull piercers back, and take from the enemy crews coffers. Snag a few supplies. but Lordakai orders some of their own medical supplies left for the wounded.

The pirate hunters are sent on their way. The bane resumes it's course.

Lordakai finally realizes Toi'uhla had escaped when he goes to take zer dinner.

Toi'uhla found a snug place in the cargo hold to hide out. Ze didn't have much more of a plan. Ze was free of the cell. But now what?

Lordakai order Laz to find zer.

Ze begins to regret zer escape when ze realizes the kitchen is never empty. the food is stored where there is always eyes on it. Water is another issue too. The large barrels of drinkable water are too heavy for zer to open. Ze makes it full day and a half before dehydration catches up to zer and makes zer slow enough for Laz to catch.

she drags zer back to Lordakai's cabin but ze manages to escape up the rigging. zes still week and struggling, so ze doesn't react fast enough to avoid the net Fiana shoots at zer. Lordakai catches zer and finally gets zer in his cabin.

They discuss what it will take for Toi'uhla to just accept this is happening and to calm zer ass down.

Ze is petulant. Lordakai offers to let zer stay out of the cell and hang around the crew. Toi'uhla doesn't agree but ze didn't really have a choice.

over the next few days, despite zer best effort, ze does settle into a rhythm with the crew, and worse yet, ze's enjoying it.

Besides the chores that need done every day it's a lot of lazing about and chatting and playing games or enjoying hobbies.

Hell even most of the chores ze gets assigned are fun. Ze patches the sails and gets to check the parts of the rigging nobody else can get to and ze is allowed to keep watch for them from the birds nest and it's all so much calmer and there's so much less pressure than zer life as a noble. and Maybe ze is starting to warm up to Lordakai who pulls zer into his lap at meal times to make sure ze can reach the table and who let's zer hitch rides on his shoulder and who is funny and maybe a little handsome and maybe Ze is still trying hard to pretend ze hates him even when his flirting makes zer a little warm below the collar. He flirts with everyone, ze doesn't take it as actual interest.

a few days before they are supposed to dock in Cu'Liona, they spot a merchant ship and Lordakai orders it raided.

The merchants fight back. The fight is rough and brutal, nobody on the bane is killed but a few are severely wounded. Toi'uhla fights too and the adrenaline leaves zer buzzing through the aftermath.

Lordakai is the ships doctor. He sees to the wounded and when he's done he grabs Toi'uhla by the wrist and takes zer to his cabin.

Lordakai is riled up and angry and looking to blow off steam.

Toi'uhla is happy to help.

The night passes. The adrenaline wears off, and Toi'uhla finally realizes what ze has done.

Ze killed people. Ze killed Merchants trying to protect their lively hoods from pirates. Ze fucked one of the pirates. Ze fucked the captain and ze Enjoyed every second of it.

Ze sits up in his bed. Dresses. And doesn't fully consider zer options before grabbing for his sword.

Zes a monster. But maybe ze could put an end to this one.

Lordakai asks what ze thinks zes doing when ze straddles his chest.

He talks zer down and get zer to lay with him through to morning. Promises that if ze still wants to kill him once zer mind is clear he would let zer.

The next few days pass. Toi'uhla sleeps with Lordakai again the evening before they dock in Cu'liona.

Lordakai negotiates with Asu'uhla. and demands what he knows is an outrageous amount. He expects zer to negotiate. but ze eventually just agrees but insists that ze just needs time to pay. He takes a down payment and gives zer a month.

Lordakai is frustrated and angry when he gets back on the ship. Tells his crew to set sail for the sell port they use and locks himself in his cabin to do the math. They'd have enough for supplies but without the rest of the pay out there'd barely be anything for the crew.

Toi'uhla hears this from Laz. Everyone knows that the money is tight right now. Laz Yandoli, Fiana, and a few others agree that they're willing to wait until the ransom payout, but a few other crew members are going to need to bail when they hit port.

The night they dock Lordakai drags Toi'uhla off to a brothel and they just have fun while he tries to calm his anxieties

They take 3 days in the port to get supplies. Toi'uhla has a bit of fun being able to walk around without people sharing at zer constantly. Lordakai keeps a hand on zer at all times to stop zer running off.

They stay in Lordakai's room at the little inn he likes.

it's a calm before the storm. Word has gotten out about how high the ransom is and the second the two of them are separated Toi'uhla is nabbed. Ze ends up hurt pretty badly in the initial conflict but escapes once zes on the ship.

Toi'uhla spends the next few hours using everything ze had learned to terrorize the new crew.

The bane finds them and Lordakai demands a parlay. The captain tries to negotiate, but Toi'uhla uses the distraction to get back onto Lordakai's shoulder. He sees ze's injured. and decides to take the opportunity.

"I don't pay for damaged merchandise, and I don't particularly care to work with people who would damage my merchandise,"

He fires his gun and kills the other captain.

"Lovely, Now that that mess is handled. How would you lads like a job? We've got a large windfall incoming in 3 weeks time Shares are fair on my boat yadda yadda ya, I don't care much either way."

A few of the sailors join the crew.

(cute hurt comfort scene?)

The rest of the month is spent montaging through Toi'uhla and Lordakai getting closer as a couple and Toi'uhla beginning to really settle in to pirate life. Taking up zer role as problem causer easily and with great joy.

until finally it's time to return home.

And ze realizes ze doesn't want to.

Ze wants to stay.

Ze has to remind zerself there are people waiting for zer back home. Duties ze needs to attend to, a Fiance ze needs to court.

Fuck, what was ze going to tell Guli'vany? Would ze still want zer after all of this?

The night before they're supposed to dock Lordakai asks if ze wants to stay

Ze says ze can't.

He understands and asks if they can say their goodbyes now, so that way the crew doesn't have to see him blubbering in the morning.

He doesn't call zer Lil Bird again after that. Always "your lordship" or " Toi'uhla"

after the negotiations the next day Lordakai takes a coin from the ransom and makes Toi'uhla kiss it for him. Says something about it being something to remember zer by.

That... that makes zer feel a certain way ze can't really put into words.

Lordakai struts away, like the last month meant nothing to him.

When he turns around he sees Toi'uhla get pulled into a tight hug by a sobbing lorinus with side feathers that match Toi'uhla's crest. He remembers the handful of yellow feathers Toi'uhla had had in zer belongings, and he only then realizes ze had been engaged this whole time.

Something about that just doesn't sit right with him, even if he knows it's stupid that it doesn't.

#if yall have opinions on the outline feel free to share em #i know its more a sketch than an outline at this point but im fuhken Terrible at these things and any and all advice is appreciated

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bitchfitch · 3 years ago

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Anyways i decided to just cut most of the political stuff/move it to book 2 because it felt weird to leave the story there, here's the rest of book 1 drafted out.

Big Time Skip B4 part 2 starts

port Fola Nichi is a home for scoundrels who have no other

Lordakai is fond of it

Lordakai has docked and shooting the breeze with Vultch and Miloni when they bring up that a bunch of fancy smancey nobles are using the fact it's neutral ground to hold negotiations. Apparently they're behaving themselves well enough, keeping their heads down and tipping well and everything but it's got the regulars feeling a little antsy.

Lordakai spots Toi'uhla leaving the conference with some of zer guards.

Ze's wearing yellow feathers and that just makes Lordakai irrationally angry. He knows what they had was temporary and he has a few guesses why Toi'uhla wouldn't have told him ze was engaged, but it still Hurts.

He stomps up to zer and demands ze come talk to him alone. Telling zer guards to stand down.

Ze agrees and they go up to the inn room Lordakai keeps.

He sits down on his bed, expecting it will make getting in zer face easier, but before he can even begin chewing zer out ze's climbed into his lap and is kissing him.

Lordakai melts into it, momentarily forgetting all of his anger and remembering how much he missed zer,

When they pull away, the yellow feathers make him grit his jaw and all that hurt burn even brighter. He picks zer up off his lap and sets zer down off to the side.

Ze asks him what's wrong, he flicks a feather in response and tells zer he hates the way yellow looks on zer before asking if ze ever planned to tell him.

ze shrugs and says no. Explains who Guli'vany is and why him knowing ze was soon to be the second in line for the actual throne of their species might have been a bad idea.

Lordakai accepts it. He asks if that means everything that happened between them was just a tangent for Toi'uhla, if ze loves zer fiance.

Toi'uhla tries to get into his lap again, and he lets zer. And it's bitter sweet when ze just shakes zer head. He wasn't a tangent, ze isn't in love with Guli'vany.

Lordakai lays them down so he has an easier time looking at zer,

They chat, talk about everything they can in the limited time they have. Lordakai asks if ze would let him write letters to zer. ze asks where ze should send zer responses.

Lordakai asks for a do over on their kiss. Toi'uhla gives it to him. and then leaves, because no matter how much ze wants to stay, ze has responsibilities to attend.

the camera follows zer out and we see the annoyances and difficulties ze has dealing with other nobles. The pity they hold for zer when ze enters the room. By the end of the day ze's burnt out and snappy and just wants to pretend to sleep. But ze sees one of the annoying nobles waiting for zer to continue one argument or another and decides instead to sneak off to Lordakai's room.

Ze knocks and he opens the door to see who it is. Toi'uhla doesn't wait to be let in and darts into his bed before he can even greet zer. He laughs at zer getting comfortable in the corner of his bed, exactly where ze slept while ze was on the bane.

He had just had a bath and was still only wearing a towel wrapped around his waist.

Ze really wants to rest. but also ze needs him right now immediately.

Toi'uhla wakes up the next morning to Lordakai trying to get up without waking zer. They have a sweet moment where Lordakai offers to go get breakfast for them so they could eat together if ze doesn't want to go with him.

Toi'uhla is considering it when someone bangs on the door.

Lordakai shouts for them to calm their asses down, he's getting dressed.

The guard calls back they know he has Toi'uhla and if he doesn't open the door immediately they're breaking it down.

The inn owner loudly objects to that.

Lordakai takes the opportunity to toss the blanket and his coat over Toi'uhla on the bed before ripping the door open.

Completely naked with his pants in his hand and looking pissed, He steps aside to give them a view into the room before demanding to know if they've seen enough to let him finish getting ready for his day.

The guards avert their eyes and ask him if he knows where Toi'uhla is. He tells them he hasn't seen zer since they chatted yesterday.

Once the guards and inn keeper fuck off Toi'uhla breaks out into giggles over that actually working.

Lordakai shrugs and tells zer now ze Has to have breakfast here with him because Theres no way ze escapes without being seen right away.

Toi'uhla says ze has meetings, Lordakai says he knows a really good fruit vendor.

Toi'uhla ends up not making it to any meetings until after lunch.

When ze does show up it's to a lot of sideways glances as no one dares to ask where ze was. Talks get back into the swing of things with Toi'uhla having to play catch-up.

Guli'vany arrives a few hours later looking haggard and extremely tired due to zer not being used to having to be awake during the day like Toi'uhla is.

Toi'uhla can't believe how guilty ze feels the moment ze sees zer. Ze hadn't even thought about zer once since ze fell back into bed with Lordakai. What kind of monster is ze?

They have dinner together and Toi'uhla fills zer in the best ze can. when ze gets to the part ze missed Guli'vany notices and asks if something is wrong.

Toi'uhla tells zer the truth. Guli'vany already knows ze and Lordakai came very close to being a Thing prior to zer return, but ze realizes how deep things really go then. Ze says ze understands and hugs Toi'uhla. They'll figure something out, ze insists.

Toi'uhla just nods and finishes explaining what ze needs to know.

The final meeting of the night is a grand ball.

It's the last place Toi'uhla expecting to see Lordakai, but sure enough, there he is in a dress that makes Toi'uhla drool.

Guli'vany catches zer staring and pinches zer. Ze gives zer a look before nodding to Lordakai with a raised brow.

Toi'uhla returns the gesture with a well duh eye roll.

Guli'vany laughs and knocks zer towards him with zer hip.

Toi'uhla takes that as permission to go interrupt the chat Lordakai and some very cranky looking noble are having.

The noble is trying very hard to threaten Lordakai but he's barely listening and stops pretending the moment he sees Toi'uhla, tossing the dregs of his drink at the nobles front as he runs his full attention to zer.

The noble storms of and Toi'uhla tries to sit beside Lordakai but he just pulls zer into his lap. If their going to be seen together they better make a show out of it, he whispers into zer ear.

When he sits back ze notices the coin he made zer kiss nestled in cleft of his tits. It's impossible to look away from it, for one it draw the eye right to where Toi'uhla thinks he looks best, and two, why would he keep that? Why would he put it on a chain to where to an event like this.

He notices zer staring and smirks. Says something about it being his favorite trophy. He's using his captain persona, but it slips then, and it's Lordakai saying it.

Toi'uhla wonders if he can hear zer heart pounding.

Ze asks why he's hear and he tells zer his friend owns the venue and let him attend. He doesn't have a place at the table but he's hear for the mingling anyways.

Toi'uhla asks where he got the dress on such short notice and he admits it's actually Yandoli's.

Eventually Lordakai leaves but he makes sure to remind Toi'uhla that ze's welcome in his bed again. He and the bane are leaving early in the morning so it'll be the last chance they get to negotiate for a while.

Toi'uhla ends up skipping dessert just to spend time with Lordakai.

They end up going on a walk together, Lordakai regales Toi'uhla with a summary of what's happened on the bane and Toi'uhla tells him about some of the troubles that have arisin bc of him.

He once again offers zer a place on his ship.

Ze once again says ze has responsibilities to zer people. To Guli'vany. No matter how suffocating they feel.

He says he understands, and asks if ze would like to see the ship again, say good morning and good bye to the crew and such.

Ze says no because if ze did ze wouldn't be able to make zerself leave.

the next chapter starts back on Cu'Liona with Toi'uhla struggling to keep up with zer normal duties. Or rather ze is continuing to excel at them but every second of them leaves zer feeling drained and miserable.

Ze always thought ze had the perfect life. And maybe it is, for someone else. Ze knows now that there is a whole world ze was always so much more suited for just beyond the coastline. Ze knows the perils. Ze knows ze finds them thrilling in a way not even jumping from the highest tree can match.

Ze gets letters from Lordakai and responds to them in turn. and it takes everything ze has to not beg him to come for zer and forgive zer for ever rebuking his offers

The wedding is drawing closer and it's only a few weeks away now. Asu'uhla pulls zer aside and asks why ze isn't excited. Ze just says ze's had a lot on zer mind, it's stress and exhaustion. Nothing more.

Asu'uhla comforts zer as best as ze can, and it's clear ze loves zer but doesn't understand zer in the slightest.

Toi'uhla hasn't read any of Lordakai's letters in weeks. He sends one or two every time he hits a port even if he only gets Toi'uhla's responses once he gets back to Fola Nichi.

Toi'uhla diagnosis him as the cause of zer problems.

Zer people need zer. Guli'vany Needs Zer.

The idea of what the future holds for zer makes zer sick. Every moment ze thinks about it zer mind tries to create ways for zer to escape to Lordakai's side even if only for a moment. Ze knows that every second ze spends with him is a second ze gets closer to never returning.

Ze loves him. Ze Needs Him.

Ze doesn't know what life looks like without him. or ze does, but ze isn't certain it's a life ze could ever be happy in.

Ze writes him a final letter and tells him all of this. and ze begs him to never contact zer again because if he did ze would break and ruin everything.

Ze loves him, and because of that ze never wants to see him again.

Lordakai gets zer letter when he gets to port less than a week later.

He folds it very carefully, puts it in his pocket, and then punches a hole through the inn wall.

The inn keeper shouts at him but he just tosses his purse over the counter. He doesn't give a shit about money because he's about to burn a whole lot more.

The day of Toi'uhla's wedding comes and ze hasn't heard from Lordakai.

That breaks zer heart, but ze is greatful he followed zer request.

Security for the wedding was going to be strict, Only ships that were carrying people and supplies for it were to be allowed near the island.

That probably why it took so long to notice something was wrong.

Everything was set up. But Guli'vany and zer party we're no where to be seen. A supply ship was supposed to come ahead of them and it never arrived either. None of the guard ships have checked in in a while-

The first ship to dock is the Bane.

And then another ten fill the bay, five more patrolling along with the guard ships that have clearly been taken over.

one of the guards from the taken ships is sent to get Asu'uhla. Something about Captain Lordakai needing to negotiate with zero again.

Asu'uhla tells Toi'uhla to stay put but ze follows anyways.

Lordakai is sat on a chest, five more off to the side.

Hes furious, and for once Toi'uhla can't tell if it's Captain Lordakai or not in that moment. He offers Asu'uhla everything ze paid for Toi'uhla's ransom plus some in exchange for Toi'uhla's hand.

Ze tells him Nothing would make zer ever give zer child to him.

He snarls and tells zer he should have taken the deal.

The five chests are hauled off, he stands, and rips open the sixth. Pulling Guli'vany from it and holding zer high.

He makes it clear He gets Toi'uhla's hand or no one does. That he will personally kill every single suitor who dares to touch what is his and he will do so slowly and gleefully.

Asu'uhla begs him to put Guli'vany down to let them negotiate.

Toi'uhla catches Lordakai's eye, and ze sees a monster who would for once be true to his threats. This isnt a bluff. Guli'vany dies if ze doesn't marry him.

Ze steps between Asu'uhla and Lordakai. His eyes get softer when he sees zer, he tells zer ze looks beautiful. He's a monster, a pirate who has earned every scrap of vile reputation he carries.

Toi'uhla tells him ze will marry him, so long as Guli'vany is let free.

He's a monster, but he's zer monster.

He boasts and drops Guli'vany to pick Toi'uhla up and bounce zer in his arms.

Lordakai asks a terrified Asu'uhla what comes next, he's never been to a lorinus wedding after all.

Toi'uhla explains things in short, telling Asu'uhla to go get things moved down to the forest floor so that Lordakai could participate properly. Lordakai reminds zer that while it will only be him and a few of his closest friends and crew partaking, the rest of his fleet will be standing by, just in case. and ze might want to think about where Dgow'vany might be.

From there it's a whirlwind of activity, Lordakai and Toi'uhla are separated so that Toi'uhla can finish zer preparations and Lordakai can do his.

Everyone is a bit terrified of him, but he's persistent enough to get the shape of things figured out. His wedding party shows up and helps get things moved and set up because they don't have a lot better to do and he because Lordakai tells them to help him make a good impression.

meanwhile Asu'uhla is trying to convince Toi'uhla to just run. Guli'vany points out Lordakai would probably raze the entire island looking for zer if ze did.

Toi'uhla promises ze will be ok.

The wedding happens and Lordakai gets genuinely very choked up during it. Asu'uhla hesitates on the last line of the ceremony. before announcing they are wed, but their matrimony does not have zer blessing.

Lordakai scoffs that they didn't need it. and takes a shell shocked Toi'uhla in his arms once again.

He tells his crew and the rest of the wedding party to enjoy the reception. If Asu'uhla is so unhappy about him and his new spouse being together then they'll just go enjoy the beginning of their honeymoon elsewhere.

Lordakai and Toi'uhla board the Bane once more and Toi'uhla is still reeling from it all when the door to Lordakai's cabin shuts.

Lordakai notices the far out look in Toi'uhla's eyes and immediately moves to comfort zer. Ze just kisses him, and tells him ze loves him, it doesn't matter if they don't have Asu'uhla's blessing.

Lordakai finally asks what that means, and Toi'uhla tells him it means that he will never be welcomed as a member of the flock, nor will any children they might have, and if anything happens to Toi'uhla, Asu'uhla can forbid Lordakai from seeing zer or visiting zer grave. It also means Toi'uhla can be forced to leave and never return to zer flock.

Lordakai insists it doesn't matter. They'll figure it out.

Toi'uhla agrees, and hugs him.

He finally cracks. Holding zer close and confessing how much he loves zer, and how terrified he was when he got that letter.

Ze tells him ze loves him too.