#it works as a decent deterrent not just because of the general possessive nature of the gesture itself

[marc--chilton]

(mgv) if house's heat is approaching and wilson is ignoring him, house will stubbornly rub his scent all over him like a cat, thus making him Very Hard To Ignore

[deadmanslocke-blog]

Dynamics

Crimson Demon Crew in terms of Hierarchy

Elected positions:

♢    Captain: Carlos Vicente Miranda de Zaragoza ♢    Quarter Master: Adrien “Ghost” Moreau (steps up to Captain in dire situations)

Skilled positions:

♢     Boatswain: William ‘deadshot’ Locke (steps up to QM in dire situations) ♢     Sailing Master: Venus Darya Lajani  ♢     Carpenter & Surgeon: Sybil Beck  ♢     Master Gunner: 0/1

General positions:

♢     Mate: 0/4 (Steps up to the position they shadow i.e. gunner/C&S/Sailing Master/Boatswain) ♢     A.B.S: 0/5 ♢     Rigger:  Ragnar Lawson ♢     Swabbie: Rowland “Six” Flint

Stepping up tends to only be temporary until the individual in full possession of the rank can either return to their duties (unless they’re killed) or should they be in an elected role there be an election held for the crew to pick their next individual to hold an elected role (Captain/QM).

Relationship to crew in terms of position:

Due to William’s position on the Crimson Demon as its boatswain he is considered third mate and thus should anything happen to Ghost, William would be the individual to immediately step up and take his position as QM (albeit temporarily) until an election can be called to replace the position.

For his position William is highly skilled in all matters of marlinespike seamanship required for working on deck of a seagoing vessel. He is distinguished from other able seamen by the supervisory roles: planning, scheduling, and assigning work. As deck crew foreman, the boatswain plans the day’s work and assigns tasks to the deck crew. As work is completed, he will check on completed work for compliance with approved operating procedures. 

Outside the supervisory role, the boatswain regularly inspects the vessel and performs a variety of routine, skilled, and semi-skilled duties to maintain all areas of the ship not maintained by the engineering department. These duties can include cleaning, painting, and maintaining the vessel’s hull, superstructure and deck equipment as well as executing a formal preventive maintenance program.

A boatswain’s skills may include cargo rigging, winch operations, deck maintenance, working aloft, and other duties required during deck operations. The boatswain is well versed in the care and handling of lines, and has knowledge of knots, hitches, bends, whipping, and splices as needed to perform tasks such as mooring a vessel. The boatswain typically operates the ship’s windlasses when letting go and heaving up anchors. Moreover, a boatswain may be called upon to lead fire-fighting efforts or other emergency procedures encountered on board.

William has held the position for almost 13 years now, and has managed to do so because of his ability to integrate his seafaring skills into supervisory and easy communication with members of the deck crew who often have a very diverse set of backgrounds. William is a fair and just individual that has led to a decent amount of respect being earned towards him from the crew and even those above him-- only further reason why he’s been so successful in holding this position for as long as he has (not always easy with crews that can easily become dis-quietened with their leadership). 

Occasionally there has been mention that he would make a decent QM or Captain in his own right, but Will has never seemed to show much interest in the role and responsibility. He’s tough on the crew when needs be but never harshly so and would never ask them to do something that he himself wouldn’t do first. Brave, loyal and adaptive it’s rather easy to understand why he’s successful in this particular role aboard the ship. His patience is also part of the reason why when the Captain or QM for some reason cannot deal with another set of pirates William is the one who tends to be sent over to discuss negotiations especially with the crew of the Blooming Rose with whom he has a decent level of camaraderie.

With that in mind I’m going to write some general dynamic summaries and ones I’d like to fill under the cut, because this is me and it’s obviously going to get long. This obviously isn’t everything but it’s an idea for some background for relationships I could see William having. If you have other things in mind for how your muse might know him then 100000% hit me up and let me know. 

Crimson Demon:

Captain - TBA

Ghost - Will and Ghost have a healthy level of respect for one another, where Ghost’s brash attitude and lack of social skills tend to cause trouble Will is usually the one there to balance him out and smooth out some of the disturbances he causes. Ghost routinely tests Will to see whether he’s still suitable for his role considering both are aware that should anything happen to him Will shall be the one to step up.

Venus - TBA

Sybil - Will figured out a fair while back what Sybil’s secret was and decided to keep it, he had no particular interest in blackmail or utilising the fact that she was a woman aboard the vessel to his own vantage like some might. After all, she was good at her job and so long as she kept that up Will saw no real reason as to question her presence. He isn’t superstitious and the Demon hasn’t sunk yet so he sees nothing wrong with her being aboard.

Ragnar - As part of what would be considered the deck crew Will oversees and checks the work of Ragnar and others in these positions. As mentioned above, he’s fair in the amount of work he deals out and so long as it’s done to correct standards sees no point in being abusive of the position he has above these crewmen. 

Rowland “Six” Flint - TBA

Blooming Rose:

Wren Scarborough  - Will and Wren’s dealings go back for several years, it isn’t easy to successfully launch a pirating operation with an all female/non-binary crew and he like most at the time was rather surprised by the success they had. He holds a high level of respect for Wren and though they could be considered friends, Will tries to maintain a decent level of respectful boundary between them considering he needs to keep his crew satisfied that his interests and loyalties lie entirely with them after all more oft than not these two ships go after the same prizes which can lead to tensions between crews. On operations where the Demon and Rose have operated together Will tends to be the one sent over to assist in negotiations considering his acquaintanceship with Wren.

Ruth Sheftall - TBA

Marie-Louise “Louise” Tobin - TBA

Marisol Jones - TBA

Pirates:

Best friends

Close friends

Friendly rivals

Actual rivals

Perhaps a jealous lower crewman of how much William is apparently liked by everyone

Crushes (Will’s oblivious but plenty of people find him attractive perhaps your muse from the Blooming Rose or even Crimson Demon have come to take a shine towards William’s patient and good-hearted nature)

Hook ups / Friends with benefits

Civilians:

Family - Will has 4 elder sisters and 1 younger half-sister, he once had an elder brother but he passed away during childhood. He was always close to his sisters and I’m 10000% willing to discuss if people want to take up an elder sibling to Will or even his half-sister which I’ve requested anyway here.

Molly O'Brian - Molly and Will met a fair few years ago now, he’s always been one of the few individuals around who hasn’t shown an initial interest in her work but rather her as a person. He likes her a lot, considers her a good friend and can sometimes be a little overprotective in regards to her well-being not in the jealous sort of way that he would stop her working but simply takes an interest in making sure she’s looked after and stays as safe as she can considering her line of work brings her into contact with some unsavoury sorts. Will finds that Molly is someone he can let his guard drop around which isn’t always an easy thing to manage, she’s fun and enjoyable company that he’s happy to pass time with when she isn’t working.

Siren Song / Brothel Workers - Due to his friendship with Molly Will is known to hang around the Siren’s Song and various other brothels not for business interests but to see her and other friends he’s come to make with the workers. Will’s a kind and patient man but also tends to go to keep an eye on his crew along with the general populus, should things get a bit too rowdy or kick off his 6 ft 5 frame makes for an impressive deterrent for patrons getting too possessive on the women and other individuals working there. Will isn’t above stepping in to help settle matters as cordially as possible and is known to pay decently for drinks he receives which is part of the reason owners let him stay even if he doesn’t seem to be present for anything more than a chat and a drink.

Tavern workers / patrons - Again, similar concept as above. Will enjoys a game of cards over a tankard of ale, he’s known to frequent pubs and taverns across the city to relax with his crew and other friends. Perhaps these people know Will from his frequent visits to the tavern, though he seems imposing he tends to keep to himself a lot of the time but will happily chat to staff whilst they’re bustling about keeping tankards full.

Religious Connections - Though Will no longer tends to subscribe to any sort of faith or practise, he isn’t above going to visit church occasionally. He likes to sometimes go to these places to sit, think and reminisce on his life before he went away to join the Navy where he was raised in an Abbey down on the Southern coast. Perhaps these characters know Will from his visits to church, have seen him there various times and one day decided to approach him.

Muscle - Will isn’t above settling his skills and strength in exchange for coin, most who hire him for odd jobs presume him to be a mindless idiot when it couldn’t be further from the truth. Perhaps your muse hired Will to act as a guard on some expedition or job in London and for a fee he agreed.

Exes - Will has some history taking partners although he’s rather selective about that in London, perhaps these characters were together for a little time during his last time in London before he took to the seas once more to go pirating. They would have had to have known each other a fair while and Will would need to feel comfortable with them before anything serious ever came about.

Military:

Bounty Hunter - Will’s been in the career of piracy for 15 years, which in itself is almost unheard of. His reputation precedes him and there are whispers amongst the highest levels of aristocracy about pirates and the remarkable skill ‘Deadshot’ possesses. Some say he bargained with the devil and sold his soul for his remarkable shooting skills others that he consorts with witches and magic to gain his abilities. None have managed to put a name to a face and though plenty of hunters have been sent after him none have ever returned successfully (some haven’t even returned at all). Perhaps your muse has been assigned the case and is trying to track him down to put him in irons but due to Will’s meticulously careful attitude with his skills has come to a frustrating roadblock.

Past connection - Will used to sail aboard a privateering vessel about 20-15 years ago. Perhaps your muse was in the navy and knew young William in those days of suffrage. Perhaps they sailed aboard the vessel with him or were one of the other officers aboard the ship. They might have a clue about what happened to William during those days with the sadistic Lieutenant David Porter but they also might not.

Below is a plot that involves some revenge and the eventual murder of a sadistic Naval lieutenant that made Will’s life hell. Warning just before you read.

Lieutenant David Porter - a plot that will be ongoing with Will is him coming to terms with what this monster of a man did to him when he was 18/19. Will is currently under the impression that Porter died the day the HMS St Andrew went down but little does he know that this man has been alive and well and has continued terrorising those under his command with brutal and sadistic torture yet remains untouchable himself due to the fear that confronting him would result in their demise. None have come forward and it’s unlikely any will. (For an example of a character like this think Captain John Randall from Outlander and you get an idea of what he’s like). 

Perhaps your muse is a military officer/official who has run into this smarmy git who acts like a true gentlemen but as soon as he’s out of sight of official lines of sight turns into the true monster he is. Perhaps your muse is a prostitute or civilian that has been attacked and not been able to do anything about it because the man is wealthy and privileged and to accuse him would more than likely result in your death rather than his. 

Eventually, Will is going to find out that Porter is still alive and that is going to have some major ramifications for him. He will want to find a way to bring this man down and it will likely bring him into contact with authorities and officials in an attempt to find any sort of way to bring this man tumbling down from his pedestal. Will will eventually be looking to discredit, humiliate and potentially even kill this man. There are plenty of avenues that this could go down in lead up to that. But this is something I’m 10000% willing to throw open to anyone who wants to get involved.