He heard Harlie's high-pitched voice distinctly, giving orders and commands left and right as she made her way through the Stardust Morning checking every nook and cranny for him herself. Overhead he heard the crew closing EVERYTHING, securing every possible position that could be held on the ship (after all, they were on their way out to sea, there was nowhere for him to go, really, but some corner until they docked in Tortuga. Unfortunately, though, there would be no safe sleep for anyone, let alone Miss Harlie, until he was found, so every man on the ship, led by a livid Stud, was on his feet searching every inch of the vessel. It was obvious that these men cared about their Captain, as each face that Sasha watched pass by him became more and more concerned, worried and angry.
A glow of light caught his attention, however, and drew his attention to the door near the end of the galley where he was hiding. As she rounded the corner he saw that it was Harlie, the strange runes on her blade glowing with a lurid purple light. She crept along the wall, studying every surface of teh room, keeping a wary eye out for him. It rather surprised him that she would have come looking for him herself after what had just transpired, but Stud must have been sent elsewhere to secure another position.
Harlie cast one last look around the seemingly abandoned galley before sighing and heading out. She knew in her heart that he had a point about Keiko and about piracy. But it was what she had been trained in as early as she could remember. There was nothing else but the sea. If she had perhaps explained herself a bit more, this wouldn't have happened... Maybe he would have sympathized if he knew that her bounty wasn't made on the merchant vessels, but on what small gold or cloths, etc. she found on the slave ships that wandered her territory. Either way, Keiko was going to kill her.
With another sigh she turned and headed for the cargo hold to check among their stores and crates down there. It WAS the perfect hiding place after all. Thus, she descended the steps into the bottom of the ship, not noticing the black shape veritably hanging from the beams overhead. That is, not until it dropped behind her...
Keiko meanwhile, barely knew what to make of the stranger in her closet. She was sure that NO ONE had ever had the gaul or the audacity before to even CONSIDER venturing into her chambers, let alone actually enter without her permission. The pistol stayed aimed between Marcus' eyes even as she motioned for him to step out and called for Miles.
The first-mate stepped inside the cabin and his eyes grew wide at the sight of the stranger. "Madam, are you alright? What happened?" he asked, making his way over to his superior. In truth, he was surprised that teh man wasn't dead yet, private as Keiko was. Whoever he was, though, it must have meant he had SOME stroke of luck in him (which was more than Miles could say for a lot of peoplehe knew, himself included).
Keiko brought him back to the situation at hand. While she appreciated his concern, this was neither the time nor the place for it, in her opinion. She needed to take care of this and take care of it NOW. For a brief moment she handed her rapier to Miles, saying, "I'm fine, please set that on my desk and alert the crew that we have an intruder aboard." Miles nodded and started to leave the room, leaving the door to the cabin wide open, at which Keiko sternly called him back. "CLOSE that door, Miles."
When her first-mate had complied, the woman still with her pistol leveled on Marcus, she took a seat on her desk, one hand resting on her rapier. From outside the sounds of her crew filtered in as they welcomed one of the men Harlie had hired. From what she caught his name was Nick of the Black Abyss and she smiled. One more ship... But then she turned her attention to Marcus again and said simply, "I know that you're telling the truth, Marcus, but I'm afraid that doesn't give you ample reason to break into MY ship and take what my crewmember rightfully stole. Now, I'm going to ask you ONCE for that bit of map and invoice. The choice is yours whether to give it to me or not, but should you choose not to comply..." The sound of cannon fire from outside as the crew tested a round in their newest gun emphasized her words, "Let's just say we'll see how far that new gun can fire a HUMAN at sea."
It was obvious from her expression that she wasn't bluffing, and Marcus gained an appreciation for WHY she was called "Death's Mistress". A certain inhuman, and wholly unfemale ruthlessness resided about her person. Little did he know how right he was. Keiko had already mentally resolved herself to killing him if the need arose. It would be no skin off her back, in all honesty. Thus she awaited his answer, her hand stretched out open palm-up, awaiting the map and invoice.
_________________ "And these children that you spit upon
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultation
They're quite aware of what they're going through"
--- David Bowie
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