#pirate whump

[whump-in-the-closet]

Pirate Whump

the brig!! thrown in there and forgotten while saltwater seeps through and drenches whumpee constantly leaving them coughing and miserable

lack of sleep, forced to be on duty for hours at a time

smacking whumpee to the deck with a blow that leaves their eyes watering.

scrubbing the deck until their hands are scraped and bleeding. their arms and back ache so badly that when they stand up, they immediately double over.

flogging for minor mistakes. the humiliation of having their shirt ripped away and the stabbing, sharp pain of the cat o'nine tails on their skin is enough to break down the most stoic of the crew

collapsing on deck. in general. fainting. nausea. suddenly light headed and woozy from blood loss

falling to the deck on hands and knees and scraping them on the rough, worm-eaten wood

hostage situations on “friendly” terms. whumpee can wander around on deck and maybe they even joke around with some of the pirates. but the minute they try to escape, there’s a sweeping blade at their throat and someone roughly manhandling them to the captains quarters to be “dealt with”

being made an example of for misconduct is often extreme and cruel. there are no laws on the high seas

the damage left by the opposing side’s cannon fire? timber embedded in limbs, gaping wounds, and formerly brave sailors curling up in fetal positions to try and protect themselves

a captain whumper who calls their prisoner whumpee “darling” in the most derogatory way possible.

emergency first aid being applied hurriedly and with unskilled hands.bandages made from old shirts, amputations done unabashedly and crew mates being carried back fireman style to their ship.

“bite down on this” and “don’t look” as they cut away a damaged limb, multiple crew members holding whumpee down

mer whumpees— caught and put on a leash so they’re dragged along the side of the boat. sometimes they pull whumpee up and “have a bit of fun” as whumpee thrashes and gasps for air.

captain whumpee found stranded on an island by an opposing captain. they’re “taken care of” by being humiliated and beaten, laughed at, and forced to be the cabin boy

[whump-side]

Not a good idea to sleep so soundly at this moment....

[ronanziriano]

An Interesting Catch by boundAce

[serene-cinders]

A mermaid whumpee, strung up in a pirate ship. Kept below the deck, so that not even cracks of sunlight can seep in. Cramped, stinking and hot, this is nothing like the crisp winds and rolling tides. Lagoons of azure and open oceans of royal blue. The salty depths of the sea against their scales was a simple pleasure they took for granted for far too long.

Hemp rope tears the tender crooks of their elbows, the webbing connecting flexible limbs to a lithe body dried to tatters. They’re awkwardly pinned up against unfinished wood. Shoulders are taut and numb.

Every now and then, a gaunt cabin boy will slink in, bucket in hand, and throw a pail of water over the dried coil of scales. It wasn’t much relief. And it was never quite enough. It dried too fast, sucked in by flaking scales.

Even in the low light of the open door, they could see the sunken, almost apologetic eyes of the boy, before he slams the door behind him.

[sowhumpful]

[whumpster-dumpster]

What I’m about to say is totally self-indulgent but ik if anybody’s gonna judge me it won’t be you, so:

PIRATE/SAILOT CHARACTER WHUMPEE.

Drenched in water from rain

Cold winds on their face

Trying to hide their shivering from their crew

I’m on a pirate kick rn thank you and good afternoon

No judgment here, that's a great aesthetic!

[chaotic-orphan]

Whumpuary No. 3

Choice // storm // black eye

Whumpee was an idiot. She was a stupid, dumb, idiot and now she was going to die and it was all her stupid fault. They warned against women on ships, they said it was bad luck, but did she listen? Hmm? Did she actually heed the warnings and ill omens?! No!

She dressed as a boy, cut her hair short, wrapped thick bandages to suppress her chest — not that she had a lot of ampleness to her bosom — but still! Maybe if she had more than an appropriate level of bosom, she wouldn’t have played with the boys when she was a child, and would have worn pretty dresses and not ripped and ruined them climbing trees, or chasing cats in the forest and her brain would never have been filled with the temptation of the sea and now she was—

A strong wave cut into the ship and she was flung starboard, her sea legs failing her while her brain turned over and over on itself again because… she swallowed as she pushed herself into a standing. All of these men, the brothers she had got to know while working as part of the crew, she doomed them all.

She doomed them all.

“Whumpee?” Whumpee’s head snapped in the direction of the door. She didn’t hear it open in the storm. Caretaker stood in the doorway, his crystal eyes wide as he took her in. She wanted nothing more than to run into his arms and let him hold her while she apologised for bringing this storm upon them. “Whumpee… what are you doing down here?”

“This storm,” Whumpee said with bright eyes and a startled gasp. “It’s—” she grabbed her chest, the bandages suddenly too tight as a searing ache cut through her chest. She longed to cut through the blasted things and breathe properly for the first — and possibly the last time. “Oh gods. I did this… I brought this storm upon us.”

“What’re you talking about?” Caretaker demanded. “Whumpee, no man can control the weather nor the seas.”

Oh, she wanted to reply, oh that was true. No man could influence anything on something as tumultuous as the sea except a woman with her iron will, and her wiles that the skies and storms like to punish for daring to venture too far away from the life of parasols and proposals.

“I did—” Whumpee said, her inhales becoming more frantic and then another jostle of the ship and she was thrown forwards this time. Caretaker caught her, hands on her shoulders and pushed her to her standing, shaking her slightly.

“Whumpee! Now is not the time to lose your steadfastness. Trust the captain, trust me, have we ever steered this ship wrong?”

Whumpee’s chest loosened slightly. “No,” she said, looking up at him from below the rim of her hat.

Caretaker beamed his handsome smile down at her that made her heart quicken for an entirely different reason than panic. Something sweeter, something her sister Anne talked about when she started to court her future husband.

“Keep your balance low in your hips, drop your weight to your feet. Keep your eyes steady on the horizon and we’ll survive this.”

“Yes sir,” Whumpee said with a smile and a salute.

“Good,” Caretaker beamed. “Now, Captain said we have to—”

“PIRATES!”

Their expressions wiped clean from their faces, mirroring the horror on the other’s face. Caretaker frowned. “Pirates in a storm… that… it doesn’t—” he trailed off and then his head snapped up, eyes focused on Whumpee’s. “The Black Dread.”

Whumpee lurched forward when Caretaker turned and bolted up the stairs to the deck. “The what?!” She cried after him. She only barely caught herself on the door frame when the next wave struck the hull but then she smelled the gunpowder in the air and she blanched. She sprinted up the stairs after Caretaker and onto the chaos of the surface.

Winds howled, pulling at her hat and clothes, carrying the screams and orders barked around the ship but Whumpee wasn’t looking for an order to follow she was searching the sea with her sharp gaze. She didn’t see any sign of pirates.

Her eyes found Caretaker’s distinctive first mate jacket and took off after him over the deck, ignoring the shouts from her fellow crew mates to help tie the sails and secure the masts and life lines. She didn’t have a life line, either did Caretaker.

She didn’t think as she raced after him, up to the quarterdeck. He was speaking frantically, gesturing to the captain who had taken control of the helm. Captain’s eyes widened at Caretaker’s words that Whumpee couldn’t hear. A bang to the stern and Whumpee whirled on her feet.

It was hard to see in the mist and the fog, but she could’ve sworn she saw a glimmer of clear weather behind them. In the opposite direction than what they were sailing.

She ran up to the helm and interrupted their conversation. “Captain! We have to turn around!”

Both men’s heads snapped down to Whumpee.

“Who do you think you are, boy?!” Captain gruffed. Caretaker caught Whumpee’s gaze over the Captain’s shoulder and shook his head in warning.

“Please, Cap’n. I saw a ray of sun towards the stern, sir. If we turn around now we can outrun the storm and not—” another blow jostled the ship, but it didn’t stop after the wave struck. The sound of screams and creaking wood behind her drew Whumpee’s gaze.

The main mast creaked and groaned, threatening to split in half and fall onto the deck. “CLEAR THE DECK!” Captain ordered frantically. “All hands to the quarterdeck now!”

“Captain, it’s the dread—”

“Aye, I know who the blasted devil is,” Captain snapped. His steel gaze found Whumpee’s. He started to furiously turn the ship around until they were 180 degrees and sailing with the wind. “But soiling our britches won’t solve any of our problems, Caretaker, will they?” He gruffed.

Caretaker nodded resolute, his eyes slid behind Whumpee, then to Whumpee directly before he took off. “Whumpee,” Caretaker commanded. “With me. We’ll loose the sails.”

“You better be right, Whumpee.” Captain said as they turned and disappeared down the stairs, running through the throng of sailors and crewmen who were ascending the stairs. “By the Gods, Whumpee” Captain grimaced. “You better be right.”

A strong hand, big enough to encase Whumpee’s upper arm stopped her in her tracks. Whumpee’s eyes went to the owner. It was Struman, her bunk mate, his eyes hard. “Where’re ya going? Cap’n said to—”

Caretaker was at the bottom of the stairs and climbing the ladders to the sails. “We have to unfurl the sails, we’re sailing out of this storm. Caretaker’s orders.”

Struman nodded stiffly. He released Whumpee’s arm and gestured for three other crew men to follow him while the rest retreated to safety. Whumpee ran to the main sail on the starboard side and began to climb. She was small, swift and agile, her hands already calloused before she joined the crew. She wasn’t like Anne or any of her sisters with soft, dainty hands. And it was a good thing in a storm like this, giving her grip so she didn’t blow away. Her masculine muscles keeping her strong and steady as she ran across the beam and began to unknot the ropes securing the sail.

Caretaker was crouched down opposite her. He flashed her a handsome, charming smile as his ropes came undone. The salt and sea spray mixed with the rain and the wind pulling at his shirt and hair made him look more attractive than Whumpee thought a man needed to look. Why couldn’t she be pretty like Anne? Would he smile at her like that if she would act like a good wife?

Oh blasted! That’s not what she should be thinking about at a time like this! Her hands worked quickly and the sail unfurled down, material rippling against the wind as it shucked down and immediately caught the wind. She glanced back at Caretaker and sighed a sigh that was stolen by the wind. It wasn’t her fault he consumed her thoughts like that, she thought looking at him, Caretaker looked like a God of the sea, with his tanned skin from so many days spent in the sun on the ship.

Another crack against the sky and Whumpee flinched. Caretaker ran by her. A hand brushed hers. “Come on! To the deck.”

She turned and followed him. She would follow him anywhere, she realised as the wind caught his shirt and sent it billowing. He turned and dropped to the first rung of the rope ladder and looked up at her, his smile golden and Whumpee melted a little.

Then his gorgeous eyes flashed with a horrible, terrible danger and he screamed her name, but Whumpee didn’t hear it over the crashing sound behind her. The crack ripped through the sky. The mast wobbled and she slipped on the wood. She screamed as the mast turned and toppled. She grabbed a rope but it slipped through her fingers and she cursed as she fell. A strong hand grabbed hers as her feet slipped from the wood and were falling with nothing below her but the sea.

She screamed as her wrist snapped against her arm and her descent was halted. Caretaker. He… Whumpee was swung into the rope ladder and she cried out, gasping as it stole the wind from her chest.

“Caretaker!” Captain? Whumpee couldn’t hear anything over the sound of the clouds that roared like an angered beast; over the sound of the crack of canons; over the rushing sound of blood in her ears. “THE LADDER!”

But it was too late. The mast dislodged. The rope attached and it was falling. Whumpee and Caretaker tried to hold on as much as possible, shifting, trying to get to the deck but the mast fell too far out and they were dangling above the sea.

“Whumpee!” Caretaker screamed as her grip faltered. “Whumpee! Let go!” He ordered.

Let go.

Let go.

Just… just let go.

Why wasn’t she letting go?

If she let go she would drop into the water. It was the most logical thing to do. She just had to let go. She wouldn’t even hurt breaking the film over the sea. She was in the perfect position of a solider dive so…. Why….

Her fingers wouldn’t release the rope.

She shook with the wind, no. She trembled with the paralytic fear that consumed her blood and turned her muscles rigid and heavy.

“I—” she stammered. Wet eyes met Caretaker’s gorgeous gleaming crystals. “I—” but she never finished her sentence. Another car tore through the sky and her grip faltered and she fell with a yelp. She didn’t know if Caretaker followed, but she only had a moment of a gasp in breath before she hit the icy waters below.

She opened her eyes but the waters were black and she kicked her legs on instinct more than anything else. She broke the surface with a gasp, her lungs screeching at her and grumbling as she gasped. But the salt water entered her mouth and she spit it out as the rocky tides overwhelmed her and she was submerged again.

Something above them. Another crack and Whumpee glanced up. The mast fell now, falling towards them and Whumpee didn’t think. Her body pushed against the water and she tried to clear the hulk of wood before it crashed into her.

Too slow.

Something hard and unrelenting caught her ankle and she heard a crack throughout her body and she gasped, swallowing lungfuls of water as she was dragged below the surface of the angry tides.

She yanked her ankle forward and screamed into the water as it caught on something. She turned and tried to quiet her mind, she could free it. She could free it. Her eyes found the rope ladder it was caught in like a fish in a net. She hooked her other foot to the rope and yanked herself closer, knees to her chest as she grabbed the injured foot and pulled it free from the rope.

She unhooked her other leg and pushed up, her lungs screaming for oxygen. She pumped her arms up, she could see the light, see the sun, feel its heat and she let out a startled yelp as she surfaced again. The waves pulled at her bad ankle and she winced as she kicked with her good leg to keep herself afloat.

But there was no sun… they were still in the storm… but the heat? Whumpee gulped as more debris fell around her. Burning debris.

“Caretaker! Caretaker!” She screamed. Her bright eyes searched the sea around her but it was no good in the fog and the darkness. A hand found her shoulder and she screamed and turned. And two eyes made of crystal found hers and she weeped. “Oh Caretaker… oh, thank the gods you’re okay.”

“Whumpee! Are you hurt? I was looking everywhere for you.”

“I’m— I—” I love you, she shouldn’t say. Even if they were about to die. Right? “My ankle,” she finished pathetically.

Caretaker nodded. He searched the tides with his calm, eagle eye. “There,” he said, and he put a hand around Whumpee’s arms. “Hook your hands around my shoulders,” he said.

Whumpee blushed at the command, but she obeyed, happy he couldn’t see what effect his words had on her. She clung to him, she could feel his defined muscles in his shoulders and back as she clung to him. “Okay. Hold on. Don’t let go! No matter what. That’s an order.”

“Yes sir!” She screamed against the tides. Caretaker started swimming, and Whumpee locked her fingers together in front of him as he pushed against the frigid waters. They would freeze if they stood still, Whumpee realised as the chill of the sea seized her burning leg.

They reached a floating piece of debris from the ship, Whumpee couldn’t really make out what it was from. Caretaker unhooked Whumpee’s arms from him and wrapped them over the debris that acted like a rafter.

“Okay,” Caretaker said. His lips were blue from the cold. “I need you to wait here and—”

But Whumpee didn’t hear the final command. Another bang and something fell and Caretaker screamed and then darkness.

*~*~*~*~*

Whumpee woke up bleary eyed, only vaguely aware that they were being dragged somewhere. They didn’t manage more than a groan and a whimper before they passed out again.

*~*~*~*~*

A splash of cold water jolted Whumpee awake. She gasped reflexively, eyes open and mouth gaping like a fish. She went to her side and hit something solid. Whumpee frowned at the boots in front of her. They were some fancy looking boots for her crew and her arms weren’t responding to her commands.

She was on deck. She knew that. The waves quietly tippling them along.

“Get them up,” a voice commanded. Whumpee’s eyes widened as hands were upon her and putting her on her knees again. She yelped as her weight was put on her broken ankle and shot up on her good leg.

The sound of a pistol being cocked froze her in place. “Stay down, shark bait.”

“Please…” she said, biting her lip to stop from crying out in front of unfriendly sailors. “I— I hurt my foot, I can’t put weight on it.”

“Whumpee…” Whumpee’s head shot up at the voice but she didn’t see Caretaker in front of her. No, instead she saw a woman in an exquisite purple captain’s jacket and tricorn hat with a long, inky black feather that gleamed in the sunlight.

The woman smiled down at Whumpee. She crouched so she was at Whumpee’s eye level. Her eyes were unlike any Whumpee had ever seen. They were as radiant as the woman herself, enthralling Whumpee and leaving her speechless, but she also reeked of danger and pain so Whumpee cowered away from her despite her alluring beauty.

“Whumpee?” The woman purred, a soft hand found Whumpee’s chin and pulled her back so there was little distance between them. Whumpee flinched at her name. “Is that your name, sweet thing?”

“Get off of him!” Caretaker said somewhere to Whumpee’s right. Whumpee jerked her head in his direction but it didn’t budge, the woman didn’t release Whumpee’s head enough for her to turn and see Caretaker… but he was alive… he was alive.

Her eyes glazed as that realisation set in and she had to keep the relieved smile off her face this close to this beautiful lady with such soft hands for pirate.

Oh…

Oh.

The relief was washed from her bones and replaced with cold quick dread that flushed her body and made her shiver. The grip on Whumpee’s chin tightened.

“I asked you a question.”

“Y—yes, yes ma’am.”

“Tch. Ya hear that lads?! This young pup called your Captain ma’am!” A chorus of jeers and Whumpee flinched, but the woman wouldn’t release Whumpee’s chin from her iron grip.

“I’m sorry, Ma— I mean… Captain. I really— I didn’t mean any offence, I—”

The woman placed a dainty finger on Whumpee’s lips which instantly silenced her. Whumpee trembled as she stared into the woman’s eyes like coals that burned as bright as her inky feather.

“Whumpee is your name?”

Whumpee blinked. “Yes,” she squeaked.

“Your real name, darling?”

Whumpee shivered. “Y-yes.”

“Get away from him! He’s just a ship hand—” a dull thud cut Caretaker off with his own groans of pain.

“Please—” Whumpee pleaded, trying to turn her head. “Please…” but she didn’t know what she was pleading for. For the woman to release her, or not tell this group of hostile, male dominated sailors that she wasn’t in fact a man. “Please,” she whimpered against the Captain’s finger.

The Captain’s lips were painted a glossy red, so bold for a lady to wear, but Whumpee got the distinct impression that the woman in front of her was anything but an ordinary lady.

The captain pursed her lips. She released Whumpee’s face and stood. “This one comes with me to my quarters,” she announced. Whumpee flinched. “Wha-what?!”

A chorus of raunchy voices cried out in disappointment and approval. “You know the best pick of them, Cap’n,” someone said as Whumpee was hauled to her feet. She cried out as she put weight on the bad leg and Caretaker called her name again.

“Oh, whoops. I forgot about your foot,” the captain said with a smile that could cut through the hide of a whale. Whumpee gulped. “First mate, darling, be a dear and carry my loot back to my quarters, I will be there in a moment.”

“Wait!” Whumpee cried. “Wait, please! We’re peaceful, we’ve surrendered!”

More scathing laughter that boiled Whumpee’s blood. “Please! Just bring us back to—” Whumpee’s head jolted to the side suddenly. A warmth bloomed on her cheek as she righted herself, eyes shining at the woman in front of her. Did she just slap her? Only her governess had ever slapped her before and that was when she was a girl.

“First of all, sweet thing,” the captain said, grabbing Whumpee’s chin again and tilting her head up to look the startling woman in the eye. “You didn’t surrender, you were overwhelmed and invaded and now you are prisoners and spoils of battle well fought.”

“We were a trading vess—” Another slap. Harder this time. Whumpee cried out. “Oh, I love it when they’re mouthy,” she purred, as she stepped closer and planted a kiss on Whumpee’s cheek she just struck. Twice.

Whumpee went colder than she thought possible.

“Let him go!” Caretaker screamed as Whumpee was picked up and thrown over a broad shoulder. She raised her head, her eyes briefly met Caretaker’s wide gaze as he was wrestled back into a kneeling position. The Captain stepped between Whumpee’s eyesight of Caretaker.

She started to struggle, but it was a vain, pathetic effort. With her hands tied behind her back she probably looked like a fish on a hook. “Don’t touch him! Get off him!” She screeched, but the First Mate took her further and further away until the deck disappeared altogether as she screamed. “Let go of me! Get off of me you brute!”

First Mate threw her to the ground as soon as they entered the captain’s quarters. Whumpee saw stars as pain shot from her ankle up her leg and she cried out.

“Oh, the captain’s gonna have fun with you,” First Mate told her in a gravelly voice. “So pretty, too. She likes pretty boys, you’re exactly her type.”

Whumpee scurried back on her hands and her good foot but the first mate followed her. “But she always tires of them after a while, and when she tires of you, gorgeous, I’ll be next in line.”

Whumpee couldn’t speak she was that scared. There was nothing in her brain, in her body, nothing except whimpers and screams and fear and SHIVERS. Why couldn’t she do anything except tremble like a frightened dog?! She was stronger than this!

“You wait right there, shark bait, the captain will be with you shortly.” The brute turned and grabbed the door. Before he left, he stopped and chuckled darkly. He glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes half lidded and filled with something monstrous. “And when she’s through with you, you’ll wish you stayed with the sharks.”

With that the door slammed shut with a bang. Whumpee flinched. Then she waited and prayed that Caretaker was okay.

[oddsconvert]

Pirate AU????👀

YESSUM!

Ronan and Izaak are rival pirate captains, and Henley is a slave/deckhand aboard Izaak's ship. Ronan's crew launches an attack on Izaak's vessel, to retrieve cargo Izaak once stole from them - he seizes their ship, and takes Izaak and Henley as prisoners...

...and lots of pirate/sea whump ensues! it's VERY fun! I probably have a little snippet somewhereee... 👀

[sorrowful-hyacinth]

Masterlist

An arrogant Pirate Captain with the world at his feet wishes for something different to happen in his life. Hoping for a challenge to arise to entertain him. He ends up crossing paths with a Siren Prince. At first it’s all fun and games being able to manhandle and torment such a rare creature, but things take a turn. Having to learn the hard way that he’s not invincible, and can very much bleed.

Contents: Whumper turned Whumpee, Revenge, Sadistic/ Creepy Whumper, Defiant Whumpee, Pet Whumpee if You Squint.

⛔️TW: Torture, Violence, Captivity, Degredation, Restrained/Gagged, Fear, Suggestive Non-Con, Venom/ Poison, Threats⛔️

+——————————————————————————+

Caspian's Suffering Arc

#1: What The Tide Brought In 🌊

#2: Two Sides of The Same Coin 🪙

#3: (TBA)

Malik’s Suffering Arc

#1: Twin Terrors

AU’s

N/A

Story Time (stories in between)

N/A

Art & About

Malik De Lir

Jovey Ellis

Caspian Glaucus

Nerissa Glaucus

We’re going to ATTEMPT to post once a week. Go easy on me. At least after exams are over.

[loonybun]

hi back again with more whump ideas for you guys!! this time i’m gonna focus on settings in whump because there are a ton of things i’d love to see more of!!!!

- morgues. i’ve brought this one up before and ill say it again. morgues. you can keep your whumpee on a slab!! in a dark and confined space!!! embalm ‘em! drain ‘em! they’ll be fine!!!

- on that same note, a funeral parlor! have them down on the table and pretty them up for a burial! doesn’t matter if they’re still breathing.

- operating theaters. you people do not understand how perfect operating theaters are. as someone who had a hyperfixation on victorian medical practices trust me when i say they are fucked up. for those unaware, operating theaters are kind of circular rooms that have rows of seats similar to an amphitheater that all point towards the operating table!! imagine a whumpee getting a fun little painful and unsedated surgery in front of a live audience! are the onlookers nobles who just wanted to watch a fun, gorey show? or are they fellow doctors/surgeons/scientists or training to become one?

- forests. cold, cold forests. frostbite and hypothermia are enough of a threat to keep whumpee from running off.

- restaurants! because of course the person who loves fictional cannibalism has to put it on here!!! serve them up!!!!!!!! maybe limb-by-limb as not to be so wasteful. keep them waiting in the freezer while you pick em apart!

- space. it’s called the final frontier for a reason. and unlike the other places, you can’t really escape space. once you’re there, you’re kind of art the mercy of whoever else is there. aliens im talking about aliens. i need more aliens.

- pirate ships. that’s all. that’s the prompt. once again, you can’t really escape the ocean. you’ve just gotta wait until another ship finds you and hope they’re on your side.

- labrynths. regardless of how many turns whumpee makes, they always find themselves right back at the start. maybe it’s been rigged from the beginning. maybe something else is in there with them. hunting them down.

once again if you use any of these tag me please i’d love to see

[mj-iza-writer]

Whumptober Day 17

Nowhere else to go - Ruined Map - Shipwrecked - "We had a good run"

"Yo ho, yo ho... a pirate's life for me", Whumper hummed as they entered their ship's office.

They stomped on a hatch that led to a secret room under their office.

"Are you awake, ye scurvy dog?", they called down to their prisoner.

"Who could sleep in accommodations like this you bastard", a voice yelled at them.

"Watch it or else you won't get dinner", Whumper stomped on the floor again.

"Do you have any idea how many times I've puked today", the voice called up again weakly, "I can't eat anything right now."

It was silent for a moment.

"If you are looking to reward me, I'd love to come upstairs. I'll even stay in your office. It smells down here", they called up, "please."

"Whumpee, yeh drive a hard bargain", Whumper chuckled.

"Please my back hurts from being tied up like this please... plus the whipping I received..."

"Whipping?", Whumper paused.

"Yeah, this morning Captain. You didn't know?"

"No, I didn't know. Please tell me it's not on your back", Whumper started to pull out their keys.

"Back and ass", Whumpee answered.

"Shit", Whumper started down the stairs.

Whumpee nervously watched them come closer.

"I didn't do anything to receive the punishment. I think they were drunk. They staggered down the stairs as a drunk would", Whumpee explained.

"Do you know who they were", Whumper's hands were on their hip, "let's see the damage."

Whumpee cautiously turned their back towards Whumper. They groaned as Whumper lifted their shirt to look.

Whumper had had a tattoo done on Whumpee's back a few islands back before setting off. Whumpee was a prisoner from a different ship. A cruise ship. Whumper had taken a few things of value and sunk the ship with the crew and guests. Whumpee was deemed useful. The tattoo was of a treasure map Whumper had discovered. They were currently on their way to find it. No one except Whumper's best crew mates knew that tattoo was on Whumpee's back. The map and inhabitants of the island were destroyed, so no one would follow Whumper's ship.

Whumpee whimpered as Whumper pressed a firm hand against their back. Blood oozed out from the slash marks.

"The map is almost shredded", Whumper frowned.

"I didn't do anything. I was somewhat asleep when they came down here", Whumpee tried to look back at them, "I didn't try to damage your map."

"I believe you. Do you think you can pick out who they were?", Whumper lowered the shirt, "I'll let you upstairs for a while if you do."

"I can captain", Whumpee nodded, "anything to get out from under the floor. I'm so nauseous."

"I can see that", Whumper sighed at the piles of puke covering the floor.

On top deck, Whumpee took in the sunlight and fresh air. Salt water splashed up at them, causing them to laugh lightly.

They were tied to the railing near the captain's wheel.

Whumper had the anchors hoisted.

They tried to make do with their destroyed treasure map. They didn't want to chance Whumpee's wounds getting infected before they found the treasure. Scurvy would make the map even worse.

Whumpee suddenly cowered away when a newer member walked past them.

Whumper watched as they grinned evilly at Whumpee.

"Is that them Whumpee", Whumper frowned when Whumpee nodded nervously.

"Captain?", the second in command hadn't been made aware of what happened yet.

"Jones, watch the wheel. Keep us going straight", Whumper stood aside.

"You" Whumper pointed at the sailer, "come here slime."

"Yes sir?", they turned worriedly.

"Who gave you permission to go under me office and punish me prisoner. Because of your acting out of line, our entire journey may be worthless", Whumper took dangerous steps towards them until their finger poked right into their nose.

"It's a prisoner. I didn't think anything of it. I was drunk and angry I figured I could take it out on them", they explained.

"You destroyed the vessel for a treasure map is what you did. It's barely legible because of you", Whumper grew more and more angry, "I out to take your hide for bruising theirs."

"I-I didn't know.. .... I-I'm sorry" the person backed away fearfully until they met the railing.

"No one touches me property. You had to go into me quarters to get at to 'em", Whumper continued toward them.

"Please.... I had no idea", the sailer shrunk down. They knew what Whumper was capable of.

Whumpee burried their head into their arms, also knowing what Whumper was capable of. They didn't want to see anything more than what they had already witnessed.

Whumpee heard more pleading, then screaming, then a loud splash..... then a gunshot.

"Dead men tell no tales", Whumper frowned as they caught Whumpee looking up at them.

Whumpee weakly stood, but didn't dare look over. The seagulls were diving. Those buzzards told them exactly what they would see.

Whumper took over the wheel, Jones walked over to Whumpee and harshly lifted their shirt.

"No", Jones stated in disbelief.

"We will try to push on", Whumper frowned at Whumpee, "even if they die from infection. We will use their corpse."

Whumpee shuddered, "I think I'm gonna be sick."

"Puke over the side. I might lose it if you throw up on my ship again", Whumper frowned.

"I don't want to look", Whumpee frowned as they leaned their head against the wood.

It was late in the night when Whumpee felt a blanket cover them. They had sat down earlier, and apparently dozed off

"Captain?", Whumpee looked up.

"What?", Whumper had gone back to the wheel.

"You're still awake?", Whumpee frowned.

"Aye, I've been dreaming of this treasure for a long time. I won't let anyone be in my way of achieving this", Whumper sighed, "it isn't my first time pulling an all-nighter. I use to run an entire ship deck on my own at night when I was a mere mate. Everyone else would sleep while I worked", Whumper sighed, "I rather sail by the moon and stars, they be your only friends sometimes."

Whumpee looked up and saw the sky, "it's beautiful. You don't see it like this in the city."

"Aye, the city is always awake. Not a place for a seaman", Whumper sighed, "get some rest."

"Did you mean that earlier? Do you think I'm going to get sick and die?", Whumpee's lip quivered, "I don't want to die."

"I don't know, unfortunately you're already sick. I'm not a doctor, nor is there any on the water. I don't think the tattoo is healing. Plus, those whip markings are opened wounds. Unfortunately, you may meet an untimely end" Whumper seemed to be quite saddened to deliver the news, "I've kind of grown to enjoy our back and forth banter. I even considered keeping you alive to be my pet."

Whumpee frowned, "what if I do live though? Maybe there are things I can do to keep from getting worse."

"I suppose you will be allowed to live... as long as you behave yourself", Whumper grinned.

"Do you have any cool stories about your times at sea?", Whumpee looked at Whumper with puppy dog eyes.

"No, now go to sleep", Whumper sighed.

Days passed...

Whumpee weakly watched as Whumper and the crew rolled away from the ship to land.

"From what I can tell, the treasure is here. They were growing weak and would slow us down. That's why they were left on the ship", Whumper told Jones.

"And you're sure your fondness for the creature has nothing to do with it. There is clearly an infection, they may be dead by the time we return", Jones made a knowing glance, "I like them too, they've grown on me, but we have to accept we are seamen we don't get things like that."

"We can certainly try Jones", Whumper grinned weakly.

After some time they finally found the markings, the 'X' if you will.

"It's here Jones... it's really here", Whumper celebrated.

Cheers amongst a few crew members caused Whumper to look their way.

The trusted crew men... the ones who would be living to enjoy their earnings stepped away from those premarked for death. Whumper only allowed their most trusted crew to live.

"I'm sorry mates, but I'm afraid ye sailed your last sea", Whumper pulled out their pistol.

Jones followed.

Whumpee jumped at the sound of gunshots.

"Captain", Whumpee whispered.

"Dead men tell no tales", Whumper frowned.

Whumpee laid on the deck. They lifted their head slightly when the Captain, Jones, and crew climbed aboard.

"Whumpee?", Whumper hurried to their side and knelt.

"I heard the... gunshots", Whumpee coughed, "I was nervous."

"We found the treasure... it's here see", Whumper held a gold coin close to Whumpee's eyes, "you helped us find it."

"That's good", Whumpee blinked slowly, "I don't feel good."

"It's okay, just hang in there. We are going to sail to another island. I think there is a village there. I'm making the decision to save you. I've not done that for anyone before. You can't waste that", Whumper held Whumpee up and watched their skin get paler, "you can't die on me."

"Whumper they've been dying since that tattoo was done", Jones held Whumper's shoulder, "you've fallen in love with something that you marked for death."

"Don't fucking remind me", Whumper yelled, "dang it you scurvy dog... you can't die."

"I'm.... sorry..... Captain", Whumpee's breathing more labored, "can you tell me a story, I'm really tired."

Whumper shook their head to try to fight away their tears. Captain's can't cry.

"There once was a brave soul who came aboard my ship and put up with this old captain's stupid ideas. They never acted defiantly... even allowing a map to be tattooed on their back by a questionable source. Never complaining about how sick they've grown from it", Whumper sighed, "you're dying because of me. You said you didn't want to die."

"Dying isn't as scary as big thought', Whumpee winced, "I think I'm now afraid of being alone."

"You will never be alone", Whumper hugged them close, "never."

After a few moments Whumpee took their last breath.

"They're gone", Whumper sighed as they felt Whumpee's lips for any breath, "the first person that I grew to like. That wasn't disposable to me, and I let them die."

Jones sighed, "you couldn't control it. You didn't know that this would happen. That person that did the tattoo knew what was planned. I fully believe they did this on purpose. To get back at you for destroying their village."

Whumper only nodded, "I know, but I didn't care. Now I do care and they're dead."

"The damn seagulls are already overhead. What do we do with the body?", Jones knelt down.

"I'm not burying them at sea", Whumper lifted up Whumpee's body, "I promised they'd never be alone."

"I'm not sailing with a dead body", Jones frowned.

Whumper sighed, and started toward their office .

"Where are you going?", Jones frowned.

"We remain anchored here for now, bring the treasure to my office. I need to do something first. We will divide the bounty tonight."

Whumper wrapped Whumpee in a blanket and carried them down under there office.

"I know you hate it down here, but I have no other choice", Whumper carefully laid the body on the floor.

Whumper set down to a long piece of paper and, to the best of the memory, drew out a new map. They had planned to find an uninhibited island to call home. Whumper and Jones planned to settle there after the treasure was found. They only needed to find it.

Jones came in and handed a cup of coffee to Whumper.

"Captain, my Captain. You need some rest", Jones leaned in against Whumper, "you didn't know this would happen. You worry me."

"I know, but Whumpee didn't deserve it. I grew to love that bastard. I think they were okay with me too. Just the other night, they asked if they would be allowed to live if they survived the infection. I already knew the infection was there, but I didn't have the heart to tell them the whipping sealed their fate. They would be dead soon, that's why I pushed to get us here. I can't rest yet either, I promised the crew we'd divide the treasure."

"They all agree we can wait until tomorrow. They are celebrating", Jones smiled, "so what are you doing. I can see you've drawn up the map that was on Whumpee. There is a lot of extra space. May you be deciding where our town may be located? You do still love me right. After what you said about Whumpee being the first thing you've grown to love, I was a little concerned ."

"I loved you from the start. The moment I saw you Jonesy", Whumper smirked.

"Aye, I wonder the lads and lasses care to turn back for home tomorrow afternoon. We can come back and find our island. Do ye think you'll be okay sailing with a corpse for a few days? I want to burry them in a fitting grave. On our island."

"Yes, my love", Jones nodded, "now that we have our normal crew back, I have my love back."

Whumper finished hammering Whumpee's cross at the head of their grave.

"There we go a fair grave, better than any I've ever given anyone else. Ye even get a good view", Whumper knelt down, "you'll see my ship leave whenever I go collect up my crew for an adventure. Every time we come home, you'll see us again. I am very sorry you died. I hope this is an acceptable grave for you."

A giant wave came up and sprayed Whumper in the face.

Whumper chuckled, "ye scurvy dog."

Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all.

@villainsandheroes @the-beasts-have-arrived

@sacredwrath @porschethemermaid

@monarchthefirst @generic-whumperz

@bloodyandfrightened @freefallingup13

@notpeppermint @cyborg0109

@idontreallyexistyet @painfulplots

@whumpbump @everythingsscary

@skittles-the-whumpee @expressionless-fr

@theforeverdyingperson @legendarydelusiongoatee

@candleshopmenace @whumpanthems

@lavndvrr @ivymyers

@starfields08000 @a-living-canvas

@lumpofsand @watermeezer

@indigoviolet311 @whumpy-mountains

@3-2-whump @risk606

@electrons2006 @paperprinxe

@whumprince @kaz-of-crows

@mis-graves @decaffeinatedtimetraveler94

@sausages-things @ragin-cajun-fangirl

@isikedmyself878 @daffyduckcommittedtaxfraud

@valravnthefrenchie @glennemerald

@jasperthecapser @does-directions

@deafeninglittlecrown @jumpywhumpywriter

[whump-side]

Rescue is on the wave way ! Continuation of this

[whump-mania]

you want prompts? I give you prompts. Here's where I dump my current obsession.

pirates. Boats. Do you know how filled with whump that entire section of history is? The songs, for example, that aren't 'I love the sea I'm married to her <3' are 'here's 110 reasons you can't drag my bloodied corpse back on one of those death vessels' and honestly that's beautiful.

The whump sea song off the top of my head is Off To Sea sung by the longest Johns, but there's ones like Dead And Drowned, 3 Score And 10, literally any pirate song (there's a lot of good ones by The Jolly Rodgers), Numbers by Jolly Rodgers, there's the one about going around the horn that details the cold and stale food and tyranny of the captain, Mutiny is a fun concept (that Jolly Rodgers and long Johns clearly have slightly different attitudes of looking at their respective songs by that title.)

I assume you've heard what to do with a drunken sailor. Different bands have slightly different verses to that one, you really haven't listened to it in full until you hear all the terrible things you can do to your drunken mate that different bands think of.

The Tempest.

Did you know that sailors would eat in the dark because their food would almost always be crawling with maggots and they didn't want to think about that?

Or that scurvy reopens old wounds? Or that it's a vitamin deficiency and not anything actually inherent to the sea so theoretically a landlubber whumpee could get it?

Ocean whump my beloved <3

I FW PIRATE WHUMP HARD

Here’s some other things I love about it (I’ve probably talked about it before but who cares):

-Salt water + wounds

-Stowaways being caught

-Whipping

-You said this one but MUTINY and the consequences that go along with it

-Just like the general public humiliation potential too

-The fear of being isolated at sea with people who only wanna hurt or kill you

[a-whumped-tea]

Vampire pirate who feeds on their human crew.

Maybe their crew didn't have a choice about joining them.

Perhaps when the pirates capture a ship the captain samples each of the captured sailors. The ones who taste good are added to their crew and the rest are slaughtered. Or maybe they're sold off at the nearest port.

Of course, this vampirate makes sure their crew is well-fed and taken care of. They can't have scurvy or other illnesses and ailments ruining their collection of hard-working blood bags.

However, keeping people alive doesn't mean they can't or won't get hurt for acting out. You can't have your crew plotting to kill you after they start to think you're getting weak and soft, now can you?

Who would a vampire such as this entrust to be their first mate? Who could this vampire trust to watch over their crew during the day while they sleep?

[sowhumpful]

[chaotic-orphan]

Febuwhump: Day Seventeen

Prompt - hostage situation (#febuwhump)

TW: tied up, ropes, helpless, pirates, intimate Whumper, explosion, fighting, violence, mass killing implied

*~*~*~*~*

The sea was calm. The weather fair, the morning was yawning awake, blue skies rising with the sun, the dark blues disappearing beyond the horizon. It was a cycle of change that lay before his eyes, the fresh dew cast a mist on the water… and yet something, on the wind perhaps, was unsettling Locke as he maintained his chartered course. Something unexpected was turning with the tide, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

His first mate approached him, eyes on the horizon as they sailed at half-speed. “Admiral,” first mate said in greeting, the lilt of a question hanging off the last syllable.

“Do you feel the shift in the dew, first mate?”

First mate followed Locke’s line of sight to the lazily rising sun. “No, Admiral. However, that is not my station.”

“What is your station, mate?”

“To ensure you’re ship shape, Admiral,” said First Mate with a cheeky grin. “I trust your instincts; I would sail into hell if you ordered me too and recruit the best dead sailors of the underworld to navigate us to the living one again.”

Admiral laughed, a smile appearing on his face at Mate’s words.

“And what do your instincts say today, Admiral?” Mate asked.

“That we need to fly at full speed and reach the next port before this ill-begotten wind is at our backs.”

“Sir,” said first mate with a nod. First mate walked promptly down the steps of the ship onto the poop deck and let out an unmerciful commanding shout that could wake the dead. “Make-Ready Men!”

There was a ruckus below deck, a few curses and sudden thumps from the crew waking to the sound of First mate’s bellows.

“Heave the sails to full speed!”

Admiral laughed again when First mate turned to look at him over their shoulder, dark eyes bright with mischief. Then First mate’s eyes widened as they stared passed Locke to something behind him. Locke turned too.

A black ship twice the size of Admiral’s was on them, which had not been there a mere moment before. “Admiral!”

First mate yelled and Admiral heard sudden panicked footsteps run towards him as a chord of rope enveloped him, binding his arms to his sides with one unmerciful pull and lifting him from his own ship. Admiral gasped as the rope closed tighter and tighter around him the more he struggled. His feet left the deck of his ship, his eyes on First Mate who was standing where Locke was not a moment ago, reaching up desperately trying to catch Locke before he was completely out of reach.

First mate’s fingers brushed Locke’s ankle devastatingly close before Locke was hoisted up like one of his sails away from his ship and impossibly high above it like God himself was pulling Locke to the heavens.

Were it not for the chants of “heave! Heave! Heave!” Locke would have thought he was dead. If not for the riotous laughter as Locke was hoisted higher only tightened a knot of anxiety in his gut until he was above the other vessel, black planks below him and a man in a white shirt with red hair grinning up at him deviously.

Locke swallowed as he gazed down at the ship. No uniforms, no colours of their allegiance and the black finish of the deck… Locke had only heard rumours of this monster that haunted the seven seas.

Locke was lowered precariously to the deck of the ship, his legs like jelly under him when they hit the ground. The red-haired man laughed when Locke’s knees buckled and he fell to the deck, unable to catch himself.

“We went fishing lads, yet it seems we caught ourselves a landlubber,” the red-haired man proclaimed. More jeering laughter followed as the red-haired man spread his arms to his adoring crowd, turning his back slightly to Admiral. Admiral grit his teeth as he got a leg under him and pushed himself up.

He didn’t make it to one knee with a sword at his throat. His eyes widened at the glinting metal, the same black as the ship – a metal Locke had never set his eyes on before. The red-haired man’s eyes narrowed into a sharper point than the blade.

“I wouldn’t get brave now, fishbait.”

“Let go of me!” Locke demanded hotly. “Perhaps we can write this off as a misunderstanding.”

“Oh,” the red-haired man hummed, turning his body back to Admiral. “I don’t like threats, especially not ones made aboard my own ship, fishbait.”

“What a coincidence,” said Admiral tightly. “I don’t like being hoisted from my own. Perhaps we can come to an arrangement.”

The ropes tightened harshly around Admiral, stealing the breath from his lungs as the red-haired man stepped in, the captain of this ship no doubt… why was his name eluding Locke right now? He should know the name!

His smile was wicked and reckless. “Aye. Mayhaps we can.”

“Captain!” One of the pirate’s crew called. Captain, so Admiral was right. The red-haired man lifted his head and the pirate continued. “They’re preparing for a fight.”

Captain smiled down at Admiral. “Your men are loyal, Admiral,” Captain said, slightly impressed. Admiral frowned at him as someone grabbed Admiral’s arms and wrestled them behind him, before tying them off behind his back. Admiral pulled at the ropes, but they were so tight he could feel his pulse beating below the ropes.

“We can part peacefully, Captain,” said Admiral diplomatically. “Release me and let me return to my ship and my crew. We have no quarrel with you.”

The red-haired man grinned. Someone handed him the loose rope that was attached to Locke which Captain wrapped tightly around his hand and used it to pull Locke to his feet. Locke’s eyes widened as the Captain gave another harsh tug and yanked Locke closer, stumbling into Captain’s chest.

“Who said there must be a quarrel?” Captain said with a smile as he watched the realisation flood Locke’s face. Then Captain gave his order: “strike their colours, lads!”

Admiral lurched forward, panic seizing his limbs as he let out a sharp: “no!”

“Hush, now, Admiral, and be a good little hostage. I’ll get you accustomed to the mast, shall I?” Admiral fought him the entire way, but the Captain pulled him along anyway, looking over his shoulder to chat idly with him. "I must say, Admiral, it is a good day to see Kings men fight with loyalty for their captain. You'd be surprised how often men readily give up their captain for their lives."

"We can trade, Captain, please, there need not be blood!"

The red-haired man laughed, throwing his head back and mouth open wide staring at the sky with a hearty chuckle.

"Perhaps we are alike, Captain, you and I. We are sharks," said the pirate, yanking Admiral forward with a hand in his shirt and with a twist of his hips he slammed Admiral back against the central mast, knocking the breath from his lungs. "We both smell the blood in the water."

Captain smiled as he handed the rope to someone behind Admiral. Admiral felt the ropes tighten around him, locking his arms even tighter to his sides until there was no leverage at all for him to move. He felt the wood against his hands that were trapped uselessly behind him, and he wanted to curse and scream at the grinning pirate.

Locke froze as the captain placed a hand on the mast and leaned in, smiling at the Admiral, barely an inch between their noses. The pirate didn't smell bad, he smelled like sweet rum and salt water, but Locke scrunched his nose up all the same.

"What is your name, Admiral?” Captain asked with a dashing smile. “Just so I can properly threaten your life to your men."

"I'll tell you once you walk the plank, Captain," Locke snarled, baring his teeth at the pirate. Captain smiled and shrugged.

"Fine,” Captain said as he leaned away from Locke, the glimmer of something mischievous in his eyes. “I guess I’ll just have to wrangle it out of that spiffing first mate of yours instead.”

Admiral jerked forward, but he didn’t get very far, the ropes holding him back to the mast. “Don’t touch them!” Admiral barked.

“Sorry, Admiral,” said Captain with a forced sigh, pulling his revolver from his belt and checking to see if the gunpowder was loaded before drawing the hammer back to the full cocked position. “Loot to plunder, sailors to threaten, I have a busy schedule. Sit tight gorgeous, I’ll be back.”

Captain snapped the into place and offered Admiral a wide smile and a wink before he disappeared. “Captain! Captain wait!”

Admiral screamed after him, but over the sounds of swords clashing and gunpowder his screams just joined the sea of noise. Captain struggled in the ropes, trying to find any leverage to squeeze under or shrug over but it was no use. The rope dug so tight into Locke’s diaphragm that he could barely breathe. He knew there was going to be a ring of bruises there after he got free.

These men… Captain’s men weren’t ordinary pirates, they had an easiness to them, a regiment that reminded Admiral of his own ship’s crews and ranks. Ordinary pirates are usually not worth their salt, and yet… something in the back to Admiral’s mind told him that he knew — or should know — the Captain that currently kept him captive.

The fighting lasted until the sun was above the horizon, shimmering on the waters as the smoke cleared from between the two ships.

Another pirate came to Admiral and cut the ropes tying him to the mast. Before Admiral could ask what they were doing, the pirate yanked him forward, grabbed him by the crook of his elbow and pushed him towards the gangplank between both ships.

“Now then!” Captain said, his mirthful voice carrying over the ships with relaxed ease. “We have your captain, sailors. Your beloved Admiral Locke,” said Captain, sending a flash of his teeth to Locke. Admiral searched the poop deck for his first mate and found them in the arms of two of Captain’s men, blood streaming down their face from their forehead and nose. A bruise crowning on his cheek, his officer jacket tore.

Captain turned to Locke then, still aboard Captain’s ship. Admiral glared down at him. “The choice is yours, Admiral. Your men fought for you, will you fight for your men?”

Admiral frowned. “What?”

“I offer you the choice— would you fight—”

“Yes!” Admiral yelled, taking a step forward but he was yanked back. His heart pounding in his ears.

“Two streams of loyalty,” Captain mused. His boots hitting Locke’s deck towards first mate. Every step resounded in Admiral’s heart thudding in his chest.

“Hey! Get away from them!” Locke growled, struggles renewed as he tried his damned hardest to get to Captain and shove him away from First mate. “Captain! Captain please!”

Captain ran a hand through First Mate’s hair and yanked their head up to face Locke aboard Captain’s ship. Captain smiled, his eyes sharp.

“I offer you the choice, Admiral,” said Captain again. “Your ship and your crew, or First mate.”

Admiral blinked, something horrid settling into his gut as First Mate struggled in the pirates’ hold. The pirates wrestled First mate back into submission, Captain never taking his eyes from Locke.

“What?” Admiral breathed, too quiet for Captain to hear, but it was as if Captain heard, because he continued his torturous ultimatum with a grin.

“Your ship. Your men, your crew, your rank as Admiral, your flag, your country, your uniform,” said Captain, turning to face First mate and grabbing First mate’s chin between his fingers. “Or your first mate.”

“Admiral!” One of the sailors cried. Admiral’s dragged his eyes away from Captain to his navigator, struggling against a pirate. “That would be treason! You can’t!”

“That is my offer,” said Captain nonchalantly, capturing Locke’s attention again. “Treason and love? Or service and duty.”

“Go to hell,” First mate rasped. Captain shook his head and clicked his fingers. One the pirates holding First mate brought a cloth forward and wrestled it between their teeth. Captain waved his finger in front of First mate’s face and booped their nose. “Good little hostages don’t speak, First mate.”

First mate glared at Captain as the gag cut into their cheeks, mumbling incoherent curses at Captain behind it.

Meanwhile Locke was rooted to the spot, stunned at the awful choice that stood in front of them. It wasn’t the choice was difficult, Locke had already decided, the decision was made long ago, but… the ramifications of voicing it seemed too horrible to think.

First mate caught his conflicted eyes and shook their head softly. Admiral’s heart lurched in his chest because they knew, the pair of them knew what way the situation was going to unfold. The guilt before the decision was threatening to overwhelm them both and Locke hadn’t even said a word yet!

Captain noticed too, looking up at Locke. “Will you leave us in suspense, Admiral? Are we but fishes on your hook? Or are you waiting for the next bell to sound, hmm? Tick tock goes the tide, and with it comes the weather.”

Admiral felt all eyes turn on him, the weight of them threatening to drown him out of water.

“Admiral,” Captain hummed and yanked First Mate’s head up by the hair. First mate let out a muffled protest, fighting against him. “Come on, we don’t have all day.”

“First mate,” Admiral whispered.

Captain paused. Then he turned, eyes bright like a cats. “What was that, Admiral?”

Locke cleared his throat and avoided the eyes of his crew. “I choose treason. I choose my first mate.”

“For shame!” His crew cried but Locke didn’t care. His gaze was fixed on First Mate who was shaking like a leaf. Captain released First mate’s hair and clapped his hands together.

“Wonderful!” Captain said. “Please, bring First Mate aboard the Fallen Marauder, lads.”

Admiral stilled.

The Fallen Marauder, there’s no way that Locke was standing on the Fallen Marauder. Aside from the fact that it was a fiction, a fairytale, Admiral should be on his ship with his crew.

“Wait, what? I thought you would let us go.”

Captain grinned, “oh Admiral… how naïve.”

First mate was struggling against the pirates as they dragged them across the gangplank to the Captain’s ship. Admiral turned to First mate, but he was turned again, forced to face forward.

“Wait, Captain! What are you doing?” Admiral demanded as he saw a barrel of gunpowder being scattered over the deck.

“You chose, Admiral,” said Captain, walking across the gangplank after his men and came to stand beside Admiral. “You chose first mate, didn’t you?”

Admiral’s eyes were wide with fear. “Don’t. Don’t do this there are good men on that ship!”

“Good men you abandoned,” said Captain softly. “A ship without a captain is doomed.”

“They can make another captain!” Admiral cried as the Captain’s men pulled the gangplank away from the ship. “Please!”

“What do you care for a King’s ship? You have no country now, no loyalties to this endeavour. Now you are one of us, Admiral…” said Captain, then his head dipped, a conspiratorial smile gracing his face. “Or should I say, more accurately, Locke?”

Locke’s eyes went wide. That… Captain wasn’t wrong but Locke, he didn’t… he— his eyes searched the waters as his ship slipped further and further away from him, his men and crew wailing and crying and screaming.

Captain raised an arm. “Captain please,” Locke begged.

Captain dropped his arm. A cannonball fired and Locke stood frozen as he watched his ship go up in smoke. He sucked in a gasp as the air was ripped from his chest in shock. The planks bent and snapped and flew over the sea in a two metre radius of the ship.

“Welcome aboard the Fallen Marauder,” said Captain with a deep bow, dipping low. He tilted his head up as he introduced himself to the shaking Adm – former admiral. “My name is Captain Marlowe.”