Closed Pirates of the Hard Nox [archive]

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GOLDEN

Luck seemed to be on Alys' side tonight. For one, she'd somehow managed to find a man who knew what he was doing; in terms of dancing, of course. He spun the faerie around, her now dried dirty blonde waves bouncing off her shoulders with every step and pull. Soon she was back, her hand re-attaching itself to his shoulder as they carried on.

And two, he was showering her with compliments. Alys smiled in response, enjoying the closeness as he leaned down to whisper the words, lips so close to her ear and neck. She'd probably heard them before, but her laugh was certainly a less frequently complimented characteristic. Likely due to the fact that she didn't laugh often, not with the work and company she surrounded herself with on a daily basis. Not the way she was laughing and smiling now.

She pulled her head back slightly to look at his features, watching as the fireworks basked his face in an unpredictable array of colour. He was confidant, she'd give him that. She liked that. And his intentions were also pretty clear, noted by the closeness, the way his arm looped around her waist, and the words he was whispering into her ear. If she was right, his intentions aligned well with her own.

"Is this what you do? Spin the girls around and bury them in compliments?" She teased, tilting her head slightly to the side. As if on cue, he spun her around again, and when she returned, Alys placed her hand between his shoulder and neck, fingertips lightly sliding and brushing against the back of his neck, up where his hairline began. A mixture of emotions bubbled inside her; happiness, playfulness, confidence, and paired with the rum, the combination made her bold. This time, she was the one to lean forward, parting her lips to whisper, "Don't stop, it's working."

---

Maddie.

A pretty name, and an even prettier lie. Of course, Connell was none the wiser - he was dancing with Maddie, the pretty blonde with adorned ears and a multitude of hair bangles that clanged gently with every movement. He grinned at them, spinning them around once, twice, and then pulling them back to him. "Lucky guess?" The young man said with a slight shrug. He paused a moment before chuckling brightly. "Actually, that's a partial lie. Want to hear my theory, Maddie?"
 
SHODDYPRODUCT

The changeling giggled in delight as they were spun in time with the music, and when brought back around to face Connell, their smile was wider than it had been in weeks. Their hand found its way to his shoulder, and they found their self listening to his words more than the music not long after. "I would love to hear your theory, Connell," they said, though they were focused more on the feeling of closeness, and the way the fireworks highlighted his eyes. "And I think I would also love to know why you asked me to dance, if you don't mind my prying."

--------------

A smirk formed on the mans face, confidence burning in his eyes. "Only the truly enrapturing ones," he said, the smirk growing with each step, with each whispered correspondence. They danced for a moment longer, with him ever so calmly guiding her through the steps, hardly showing his surprise at how well she danced in her own right. After a few more steps, and as the current song was beginning to reach his end, he looked down to Alys' eyes once more. "I was wondering what a beauty like yourself was doing tonight? I'm free, and would love to hear that wonderful voice of yours some more on this fine night."
 
ILLIRICA

Cannonfire erupted above. Sinéad started, breaking the flow of the dance for half a step, her eyes automatically darting up.

Sol, you bastard, if you followed me here-

But the only colors in the sky were red and green and gold and blue - nothing of the sickly violet miasma that had struck her ship down. The only necromancy around here was likely Hester's, wherever the odd girl had gotten herself off to. Sinéad had no idea if she'd sign on with the crew when they left the city or not - perhaps. She seemed like she needed something to be a part of. Afraid to be on her own, maybe. A lot of people were like that - they surrounded themselves with bastards because anything was better than being alone.

Crow leaned in for a kiss, and she let him have it.
 
HIGHVOLTAGE

The night went on, and yet none of the potential celebrants caught Lucien’s eye. Of course he would not find his typical prey in the open air, dancing and drinking. It was usually in the depths of taverns, in areas where those thought low of themselves, who would flock to him if they thought that he could take them somewhere special, give them a better life. Oh the vampire would most certainly find them before they left Allegria, and his stores would certainly be refilled. But tonight, after a failed search, Lucien decided to simply enjoy himself.

The sweet, thick liquid was quite delicious, a pleasant warmth filling him. The crew believed him all violence and bloodshed, even those who had been with the ship for years, who had seen him loosen ever so slightly. It was no matter. Let them think what they will. Tables were moved, the music grew louder, and people began to dance, twirling and shifting as the notes bade. Lucien glimpsed a familiar blue amongst the crowd, the wings of Alys. His gaze shifted and he spotted a few other members of the crew, including one still sat at a table.

Perhaps it was the emptied bottle that bade Lucien stand, to move silently, secretly, to approach Nessa from her blind side. Perhaps not. Regardless of influence, Lucien stepped into Nessa’s view, lowering a hand to her.

“Would you care to dance, fledgeling?”
 
QUIRBLES

It had become a rare occasion that the Baron was alone with his thoughts, over the past few months. Appointments with advisors from the Fae Empire, meetings with subordinates-- bunking with crewmates upon ships, and imprisonment amongst unfortunate souls. More and more, he found himself amongst fleeting company and faces that he would soon forget. Now, though, he was alone-- and worse still, he felt alone.

It was unfortunate that his trip with Emer had ended so abruptly. Perhaps it was for the best; a travelling Baron did not a pirate make. Emryk was far better suited to the courts of the Empire and the halls of his estate, however dire the circumstances of his people might be. Allegria was beautiful, and perhaps he would stay to garner enough coin until he could return home, or arrange passage to the Floating Isles to meet regarding the deed to his family's property. Far be it from him to return empty-handed. His entrusted folk at the Vakaan manor would enforce order and help his people, as they were expected to. Trust, he found, was a stronger tie than any chain. Fear was a glutton for thought and wrathful to reason. It made men tyrants, and a tyrant he was not.

Still, to be so far from home was damning, no matter how much he braved the pain. His people called to him, even now. As he leaned along the railing of the ship, taking care not to break any uneven wood beneath his unyielding weight, his thoughts were of Al-Ashtavan. Ever-distant, the Baron's gaze looked to the horizon-- as if his homeland lay just beyond the crest, the expanse of the ocean an insurmountable wall.

What to do.

Fireworks blossomed overhead. Unflinchingly, Emryk held his gaze along the water, observing the bursts of light through their reflection in the tumult.
 
GOLDEN

Shameless.

Absolutely shameless with the compliments but he kept them coming, as per her request, of course. The song faded away quietly, causing the two to slow their movements. Alys withdrew slightly, taking a step back to survey her surroundings. She spotted the tall, red-haired man nearby, the very one who had requested Juniper's time and who continued to keep her blonde friend company. From the smile on their face, Juniper seemed to be enjoying themselves. Then, turning her head to the side, Alys glanced back to their table, where Nessa seemed to be conversing with a tall man, dressed in black - oh, Lucien. How fitting. Both of them were occupied. Good, she'd feel less guilty for spending more time with this man. Whatever his name was.

Her hand slid down from his shoulder, trailing slightly down his chest, where she gave him a light pat, before her arms dropped loosely by her sides. "Thanks for the dance," she said simply, giving him an amused smile. Her amusement only grew as he continued speaking, asking about her plans for the night. "Well, you know, I told my friends that I wanted to dance until I couldn't stand anymore..." Alys explained, referencing an earlier conversation she'd had in the baths, and leaving out the part about making bad decisions with men. "Think you could handle that?"

It wasn't necessarily a test per se, but rather a way to see if he was worth her time. And if he wasn't, well, no harm done. He'd been a good enough dance partner.

---

Gosh, he was doing quite well, wasn't he. His friends would be proud. And would likely nudge him on, but Connell was having a nice enough time just dancing with Maddie. As the music slowed, the song coming to an end, he spoke again, answering their question. "Convenient that my theory answers both questions. The prettiest one's aren't usually from Allegria. And... I've never seen such-" he paused, unable to find the words he was looking for. Instead, he gestured to the glimmering bands in their hair, his hand lifting close to their face, but not daring to touch. "These bangles...-" He laughed, removing his hand from their waist and rubbing the back of his neck with it, as if he were nervous. "Whatever they're called. I think they suit you." Connell's cheeks burned slightly, but hopefully the darkness would hide that fact, especially from Maddie. "Can I steal you away for another dance?"
 
DELFI

Crow smiled in between her lips, deepening the kiss while letting go of her hand to hold the back of Sinead’s head. Soon his lips trailed down to the woman’s neck, breathing in the floral scent and inviting shocked stares from some of the more puritan residents of Allegria. The song they'd been dancing to ended but he barely paid any attention to it, looking up to her.

“Let’s get out of here. Where are you staying?” He asked, his pupils dilated.
 
ILLIRICA

"I'm staying on my ship, so my damn quartermaster doesn't try to steal it out from under me again," Sinéad responded, her tone light and amused... for the most part. There was the hint of sharpened steel underneath it all, bleeding out the truth of the situation - but she kept it sheathed in pleasantry. After all, if she couldn't find entertainment in betrayal, she might as well have stayed home.

"And you won't be joining me. I don't do dalliances on the ship - there are some things the crew is better not knowing." She disentangled herself slightly, but caught his hand, pulling him along and threading through the fabric of the crowd. "Come on, I know a few places."
 
REYN

Mal followed Caleb's question towards the sight of the birds; small, realistic little things, but unmistakably mechanical. They were intricate. Very intricate. They seemed to be animated as well- an artificial soul, perhaps? Wouldn't be the first time a faerie pulled that trick, would it?

"I've changed my mind."

They pointed towards the birds.

"Whichever one Caleb doesn't take, I'll take. I want to see how they work. Tell me- did you trap a dead bird's soul in there, or did you form one artificially?"

There was an urgency to their tone that wasn't there before. Perhaps they were projecting a bit.
 
SHODDYPRODUCT

Juniper giggled at Connell's explanation. They didn't quite think it worked that way, but he had guessed right, and complimented them besides. He was quite the gentleman, to be honest, and it was refreshing and appreciated. Their cheeks were flushed, either from the compliments or the drinks, they weren't quite sure, but it didn't quite matter in that moment. They were having a good time, and they were happy. "They're just rings," they said through the laughter, "and it's something I picked up during my time travelling around. Y'know, apparently becoming one of those pretty ones. Their tone was full of mirth, and they leaned their head back to watch the fireworks above.

The changeling shifted their hands from his shoulder and hand, to around his neck. They brought their gaze back down to his eyes, flashes of emerald among the multicolored light above. Their smile shrank, into one more pleasant and manageable, and they nodded. "I think I'd really like that." A shame they would eventually leave, but it was for the best. This poor man didn't know who he was dancing with, and if Juniper could help it, it would remain that way for the time to come.

--------------

"For someone as stunning as you? I think I'd dance myself to death." Suddenly, in one quick motion, he pulled her close once more, taking her hand in his and sweeping her up into the next song with a practiced step. He took half a moment to glance in Connell's direction, and grinned to himself. Seems things were going well for him so far. He'd have to ask him about the details once the night was over, but for now, he had more important things to focus on. His eyes dropped back to the fae he was holding oh so closely and engaged once more, going through a much more complicated, but elegant, routine.
 
DELFI

"Shit, did that happen?" Crow laughed, being guided through the streets of Allegria by his former enemy and current affair. It was a slight disappointment not to be invited into the infamous Hard Nox, but she was right not to bring him in. Crow's loyalty belonged to the highest bidder and right now, Sinead posessed the gold he was after. He'd take what he was being offered, but it was certainly not a promise that their swords wouldn't clash again in the future - especially if he came across something of higher value.

The music faded as well as the lights and the flowers as the couple entered the slums of the city. A dark alley led them to a small, questionable building that looked different but at the same time the same to every whorehouse Crow had ever visited. Not that he did it often. Sinead was familiar with the place, he was not the first man she'd ever taken there and would most likely not be the last.

"Would you like something to drink?" He asked, walking up to the counter to request a room.
 
GHOSTLY

It wasn't real, it was his eyes just showing him what he wanted to see. It had to be, right? Ciarán spotted her a good few moments after she'd seen him - damn those good eyes of hers. The brunette didn't look the same as she had before, not nearly as fierce but her beauty was anything but muted. She looked good, healthy and unharmed - any doubt and worry he'd held was released.

When his eyes met hers, a smile came naturally along with the color to his cheeks. He made his way to her, not in a rush - but certainly with a pep in his step. "I-" Ciarán's words failed him, he took a moment to know it was her. "Words cannot tell how happy I am to see you, little archer." He smiled like a damn fool at the girl, but he was honest and relieved. "How - why are you here? Are you well?"
 
GOLDEN

Dancing to death certainly seemed like one of the more pleasant options, at least compared to being burned alive, strangled by fused vertebrae, or slashed in the chest by a sharp blade. Alys knew that well.

Her thoughts didn't linger though, as the man damn near swept her off her feet, launching them both into the music. Alys squealed, the sound quickly transitioning into laughter. Hand back to the familiar spot on his shoulder, she steadied herself against him as her soles finally landed back on the ground. It took her a second to catch up, but when she did, they fell into a natural rhythm. This time, the music was faster, the steps more complicated, and on top of that, they danced much closer together. Practically chest to chest for part of the dance, until she was twirled away, only to snap back towards him. "Where'd you learn to dance like this?", she eventually asked, leaning in closer so that he could hear her question over the music.

---

They said yes, and just in time too. The music picked back up again, saving him from making up an excuse to explain his inability to identify rings. Decorative rings that were somehow worn in hair, of course, how had he not known that. Idiot.

With a faster beat came faster movements, movements that Connell wasn't able to keep up with every single time. He hoped they didn't notice, and if they did, that they wouldn't say anything. Besides, as much fun as it was to be here, dancing with Maddie, he was growing more interested in talking. "Where are you from?", he asked during a slower lull in the dance. They said they'd travelled around, and for someone who was born and raised in Allegria, venturing not too far beyond the city walls, the world beyond seemed both terrifying and magnificent.
 
ANNASIEL

She wasn't sure what drew her in. Perhaps it was the Baron's silence, acting like a void in space, air flowing in after the thundercrack. Perhaps it was a desire - remiss - to make amends for such a terrible night, a circus of misunderstandings and mistakes.

Perhaps - she was simply distracted, and her feet brought her there.

Whatever the case, she moved to stand beside Emryk, her shoulder brushing against his elbow, ear against his arm. She didn't break the silence. Not at first. She watched the fireworks in quiet, existing in presence and little else.

Then, after a lingering pause, she spoke.

"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?"
 
DELFI

Not only had he seen her, he was walking in her direction with a wide smile across his face. Beck's heart hammered in her chest as if it was begging to be let out, in a way it'd never done before and suddenly the spring evening didn't feel as chilly.

"Hi." She smiled shyly back at him, adjusting the weight of her shopping bags across her thin arms. He'd said he was happy to see her. Heavens, she wasn't at all prepared for that.

"I'm shopping." She answered without thinking, only a while later realizing that was not what he meant by here. "Oh- a lot of us came here. After… You know. I'm good. I didn't think I'd ever see you again." Her thoughts escaped her head, but the smile and the way she looked at him denounced she was pleasantly surprised. "We never got a proper introduction. My name's Beck."
 
SHODDYPRODUCT

Despite, and maybe due to, his missteps in this faster paced dance, Juniper began to find Connell a bit more charming. They certainly didn't help with this new number, being a bit tipsy and so out of practice that they had been anxious to begin with, but at this point they didn't quite care that much. They did their best, and he did too, and in that moment, to the changeling, that was all that mattered. It slowed down momentarily, about halfway through, and in that lull, a question was asked.

The froze for a second, tripping up the dance with the faerie man, and as they stumbled, Juniper launched into apologies. "Oh gods, I'm so sorry, I tripped, are you okay?" they asked quickly, doing their best to come up with something, anything, that would be good enough. Unfortunately, alcohol is quite the handicap to someone who doesn't regularly drink, and as such, after they had recovered from their tumble, they blurted the first place that came to mind.

"I, uh, I'm from Fen Manor," they said, already feeling the warm feeling they had felt shriveling up in their chest. The smile they put up was forced, as their mind raced, admonishing theirself for this catastrophic blunder. Why had they picked there, of all places? The gods truly were cruel.

------------

"Just a few things I've picked up. Allegria's a big place, so a lot of important people come through. Get enough practice dancing with people, you tend to get good at it," he said, smirk still evident on his face. "You're by far the best partner I've had up to this point though. Where'd you learn?" If he were to be honest with Alys, he didn't actually much care for the dancing. It was a skill he learned specifically for this, and it was damn effective. Had been for a couple years now, ever since he had gotten back from his time at the capital.

The song was reaching its end once more, and despite his promise to dance till they dropped, he had a feeling neither of them intended for that to actually happen. As the crescendo hit, he spun the fae in his arms, dipping her low to the ground, his twilight eyes staring down into hers. "How about you and I do a different kind of dance? Would love to see how good you are at that," he whispered, face mere inches from hers.
 
UMBRASIGHT

The other two were off, bobbing through the swirl of the crowd to a pace set by the strings of a violin. Alys was the easier one to track of the two, Juniper she had to find through the crop of red hair that weaved through the gathered couples. She idly eyed a few of the other dancers, eyes still sharp even if her mind had slipped into a comfortable buzz. She didn’t drink often, though for her perhaps that meaning was a little twisted, but it was nice now to relax into the warmth the rum brought to her skin.

She didn’t notice Lucien’s approach, perhaps she would have been annoyed by that if she had a shot fewer burning in her cheeks. Instead, she smiled at the sudden appearance and it lingered. It was odd, if that little voice in the back of her head was to be believed, but tonight seemed a night to cast aside some worries. Never a bad night for a dance, her mother had said when she was still very small.

“Don’t have any formal training myself, mind.” Nessa said, placing her hand in Lucien’s and sliding up to her feet. She paused for a moment, her fingers unclipping the clasp at her neck before she shrugged off her cloak letting it fall to her chair. A shame if someone took it, though it held little value beyond the bottle of blood that was wrapped within. Perhaps she’d drink it later after a dance.

The light skirt of her dress shivered in a warm breeze, or perhaps simply with anticipation. She always likes the color of it, even if she had little excuse to wear it, it reminded her of the color of eyes from a different life. One hand in, Lucien’s, the other trailed up to a shoulder, though he was much taller it was comfortable enough. She looked up, distant booms flashing in the dark sky, their light glittering in the polished shine of her jewelry and in the amber of her eyes.
 
GHOSTLY

A lot of us.

That gave him some relief. The archer had made it out in good condition, hopefully some of the townsfolk had survived as well - those that hadn't been killed by his crew or the others. "I'm glad to hear that, I was afraid..." he trailed off, then shook his head and looked back to the girl, who introduced herself. "It's good to see you here." Ciarán smiled.

"Beck, it's fitting, very pretty." He said candidly and warmly. "My name is Ciarán," he said, offering her his natural hand like a fool - she carried bags. "Would it be too forward to ask to help you with your bags, Miss Beck?"
 
DELFI

There he was, being just as kind as he had been the first time they met. Beck let him take the bags from her, being perhaps too conscious of the touch of his skin on hers as he did so. Ciarán was his name.

"The inn is this way." She pointed ahead, walking by his side with her hands now free. "A lot of people lost their houses and everything in it because of the fire… We put together the little money we had to buy everyone some new clothes." She held the sides of her skirt, showing him the dress. "The daughter of the inn's owner lended me this. They are good people, and are letting us stay for free."
 
GOLDEN

A couple missteps later, and Connell's face was on fire, likely as red as the hair on top of his head. But it was Maddie's missteps that kept him going; they were perfectly imperfect dancing together. It widened the smile on his face, and after a while, he stopped noticing. That pressure to be the perfect dancer faded, and his focus instead turned to Maddie, and the time he was spending with them.

When they stumbled, bumping into him and causing a temporary loss of balance, Connell grabbed ahold of their shoulders, somehow managing to stabilize them both. Despite their profuse apologies, the young man chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm quite alright, please don't apologize. You're a marvellous dancer - a hundred times better than my two left feet."

And that's when Maddie dropped the bomb, causing the smile to disappear from his face. Too clumsy to be a solider stationed to guard and protect, Connell was among the group who were tossed to work the unwanted jobs. This week, that had meant handling the refugees from Fen Manor, a nearby coastal town. With the current song fading away, the man stood among the crowd as the musicians took a brief break before their next song. "Gods, I'm sorry. Were you affected by the fires? I mean, of course you were affected. You wouldn't be he-..." he trailed off suddenly, his brain catching up and stopping the pointless and insensitive rambling his mouth had allowed. "I'm terribly sorry about what happened," Connell ended up settling on, his hand once again reaching up to rub the back of his neck awkwardly. "If there's anything I can do..."

---

"Oh, here and there," Alys answered with a coy shrug, opting to continue with their completely impersonal but tension-filled encounter. It was more fun this way. They danced a little longer, her movements fast yet graceful, mimicking those of her partner. As he dipped her low to the ground, easily holding her weight, she panted slightly and listened to the words he whispered. Her bottom lip slid between her teeth as he looked up at him, at his darkened gaze, and she knew what she saw. What was likely reflected in her eyes too. "Let's go," she whispered.

They weaved through the crowd, through the busy streets of drunks, her dance partner guiding her along by her hand. At one point, she swore he bumped into a man with a prosthetic arm, who was talking to a plain-looking woman in a pink dress. Certainly wasn't her taste, but she looked like she might've been Ciaran's. They carried on, hardly saying a word to each other until they arrived at the inn, until the key to the room dangled from his fingers.

"After you," the man said, the wooden door ajar, beckoning her forward. The door clicked shut, Alys turned around and his lips were on hers. And so the second dance of the night began.
 
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