AU: The Pirate and the Stowaway [Lucas]

[Lucas Blacke]

Would she call him Lucas? He pondered it a bit and it occured to him that he didn't really know if he would like it, having never been called by his first name before. Everyone just called him by his last name but the wenches at the ports they docked, they called him master. Maybe that was why he wanted Karalie to call him that in the first place.. but he'd softened up enough to tell her his name, not even hesitating to let her call him by his first. Was it the wound doing this, or the fact that no matter what he told her, she was still helping him? He knew this was probably because he was her best bet on surviving, but as long as she kept him in his cabin and she had the coin he gave her she would be fine. The crew.. he lied a bit on how they'd take advantage of her.

Which got him to think.. would he? Pain shot through him again as a wave this time as his mind wandered.. Being in pain did give him time to rethink lots of things, and he knew he would be bound to his quarters for quite a long time so time enough. Luckily he'd have a girl.. woman to talk to. But the more he talked, the less he felt he was her superior. She just knew a bit less of the pirate ways, but wasn't opposed to learning. She didn't want to touch a gun, yet she did when he told her to, so she did try, that was what he saw at least.

''E'eryone 'as a change o' clothes in their quarters.'' He told her. Obviously he would have a change of clothes right there also, though her hinting at clothes and linens did make him think that maybe she wanted a change of her own.. Luckily he had the guys move every trunk they could find from the other ship, there'd likely be some clothing that'd fit her she could take. If not they could just sell them or use them as dirty rags to clean stuff up. ''Bu' when ye go down ta th' hold ta bring wa'er, look through some o' th' chests. Ta'e clothin' ya think suits ya.''

And obviously water for him, and for her. They'd need it. ''An' anythin' else ye can find that is of use. We are gonna be 'ere a very long time.'' He tried looking at her.

[Karalie Heise]

Karalie wasn't sure how she felt about the idea of going through all the chests for clothes and what have you.  What if she was caught? She would need to bring the coin he'd given her, that was for sure.  A bloodied girl rummaging through pirates bounty in the hold of a ship wouldn't look good for anyone who came upon her.  She would need to be quick and efficient.  

"Alright." She answered gently, trying to come up with a plan in her mind for what needed to be done next.  She looked him over, then at the bed.  She would need to clean him up.  She needed to cover the wound..  "I'm going to have to cut your shirt away so I can cover the stitches properly." 

Karalie did what she could to clear the area and did the best she could making a bandage out of the clean end of the sheets to wrap around his wound.  She allowed him to rest while she did her best to clean with what little supplies were available to her in the room.  Once it got late enough she rummaged through her bag until she found the quartermaster coin Lucas had given her that first night, grabbed the bucket for water and the canteen for rum and made her way quietly from his quarters.  She would need to be as quick as she could.

Getting down into the hold was the easy part.  It was escaping she was concerned about since her hands would be full.  In the dim light it wasn't necessarily easy to see what was what, but she quickly found the barrels of water.  She took a deep sip from the bucket once it had been filled and washed her hands as clean as she could get them without soap.  She didn't care that the water wasn't meant for that.  If she was going to keep infection from spreading she would need to be as clean as possible.  She came across some apples, biscuits, dried meat and carrots.  There were clothes which she grabbed and she even an old sheet for a bed, though it was torn and tarnished.  It didn't smell rotten, so she assumed it must be alright.  Karalie filled the canteen with rum and did her best to carry it all back up to Lucas's quarters.

As she climbed up towards the deck, she saw two men standing nearby talking.  She shied away back into the shadows, unable to hear what they were saying, but unable to move forward.  If they caught her.. Karalie didn't want to think of what might happen if she were caught.  She watched them cautiously from her place down in the hold, ready to run at a moments notice and hide, but soon they dispersed and left her alone once more.  Carefully she made her way up to the deck once more, slowly looking around.  When she saw no one she rushed to the quartermasters room and let herself in.

Karalie sighed with relief, placing the goods she'd brought down.  There was likely more down in the hold that she could use, but she had wanted to be quick, and with all the items down there it would take aged to figure out what was what.

"I've brought some supper." She explained, kneeling down beside him and bringing some of the dried meat along with the bucket of water.  "But first I should clean you up a bit." She wasn't sure how he would feel about her making the rules, so she tread lightly.  No need to have an angry, hurt pirate on her hands.

[Lucas Blacke]

He didn't get much of a say, and something inside him thanked her for that as talking right now would probably do more bad than good. He whinced a bit as the put the cold metal against his skin and tore off what he was wearing, it felt different when he actually had a wound and the girl taking off his shirt was actually bloodied and ripping it up. Not nearly as doable. Not that he could even think of doing anyone right now..

Wait, cover? Blacke flinched a bit as she applied a makeshift bandage to his wound. He knew her reasoning was sound, and that it would probably be what the ships doctor would say so he kept quiet aside from thanking her. How un-pirate like.

When the night fell he found that Karalie was making ready for the trip to the hold, and suddenly Lucas realized that she was the only thing keeping him alive right now. Difficult as it was though, she'd have to go and risk herself for those goods. He wasn't in the position to keep her from doing just that anyway. The only thing he could do was raise his arm slowly and try and reach for her as she went through the door. He wondered if she saw it briefly, but that thought was quickly replaced by a feeling of pain.

She seemed to be taking her time and the pirate was left to his own devices in his cabin, unable to do anything but think about what was taking so long. It didn't take long before his mind wandered to all the wrong places. Did she take his coin? But what if the men caught her and ignored the coin and what it meant? He would kill them, but the thought of them having their way with his Karalie-

His Karalie? Surely she was his, but he didn't think of a prisoner when he thought that..

The door opened and she came through. Lucas almost sat upright then and risked fucking up his stitches as he smiled at her. He quickly lowered himself again though, and she kneeled down beside him announcing that she would need to clean him. Sure, she'd mentioned needing to keep him clean.. but wasn't his wound clean enough due to all the alcohol? It hurt like a bitch, but it was clean.

His wound was clean, yet she needed to clean him.. Why? And how? Did she bring a sponge or something? ''Ain't th' wound clean 'nough?'' He asked. ''Y' should go an' eat.''

[Karalie Heise]

Karalie shook her head.  "After all I did it's best to clean it up again, just to be safe."  She didn't need to tell him she needed him in order to survive.  How bad would it look if he were dead and she were in his cabin? It was a death sentence.  She escaped for a better life, not to end it.  "We'll both eat when I'm through."

She unwrapped his bandage and again poured more rum on, talking him through each step.  She went slowly, using the old bandage to clear away what she could of the blood.  She used some of the water to clean him up best she could, but blood was dried across his torso and her hands were stained once more.  They could both use a good bit of soap about now, but Karalie hadn't thought to pack any and she didn't know where the pirates kept some if any.  She was sure some had to be on the ship somewhere though.  

Once the area and they both cleaned up, and he was rebandaged, she Fetched the canteen for water and filled it.  "I'm sure you'll be wanting the rum instead, but it's best to stay hydrated.  You've lost a lot of blood."  She remembered that from the birth she'd sort of assisted in.  Plenty of fluids for the new mother after the ordeal was done, an ordeal that terrified her.  Babies were lovely, but childbirth was a frightening matter.  "Do you think you can sit up at all? It'll be easier to get things into you if you can."  She had the food ready for him, but didn't want to risk him choking.  If she could prop him against the wall or get him on the bed, this would all be a lot easier.

[Lucas Blacke]

What had he been thinking? He was thinking of something to keep his mind from thinking about the pain, his body needed to take the brunt of it anyway. A nod when she said she needed to clean up his wound just to be safe. Being safe was good, and perhaps this would get something more than a 'master-slave' thing going, perhaps he'd be able to mold her somehow after this. She now knew how he could be, so if she rejected his attempts he'd just re-assert his dominance. She was there to do what he wanted, not what she needed. He'd make sure she 'remembered' that if she became hard to handle.

''Both..?'' He questioned in pain as she mentioned food and that they would both eat when she was done. ''I don' need anyone ta-'' He would instantly assume she would force food in him by feeding him, but in the midst of speaking he moved and felt more alcohol mix with his wound. By fuck it hurt like hell. Less than before, but enough to make dying seem like a good option. He would try threatening her then, but that seemed a bad idea because of the power she suddenly held over him. He just hoped she wouldn't abuse it.

Instead of nodding or shaking his head he moved backwards by use of his hands and propped himself up against the wall, eagerly taking the canteen from her hands and taking a good portion of it. It hurt going down as he felt his wound throb, coursing through his entire body and his head feeling like bursting, but the water tasted good enough to risk pain for it. Water trickled down his chin as he gasped for air, wincing as his wound refused, and handed the canteen back to Karalie.

''So 'ow does it feel ta 'ave one 'o th' mightiest pirates in th' world at yer mercy?'' He asked with a smile, though feigned through the pain. ''This what ye wanted ta happ'n?''

[Karalie Heise]

Karalie watched as the man insisted upon doing it all on his own.  Typical man.  Not just typical pirate, his entire species were hard headed fools.  She remembered her mothers advice about men; make it seem like it was their idea in order to get them to do anything.  Karalie still didn't know exactly how to go about doing it, but she supposed it was sage advice.  Advice suited for a bride to be.  Her eyes moved to the darkened window.  She would have been married by now.. had she stayed, of course.  How different this moment would be.  Perhaps Lucas would be dead if not for her.

Mightiest pirates? Was he really one of the mightiest?  She didn't bother looking at him as she poured a bit of water on her hands to rinse them off before a few drops of alcohol.  She didn't want her hands to be a mess if she were about to eat after all.  

"It doesn't feel like anything." She informed him honestly.  What did he want her to say? That it felt good? To know she could leave him to do? Because it didn't.  She was anxious with that much authority, and she didn't want it.  Besides, he must know that she knew how much she needed him to live.  "And why would I want this to happen?" Though part of her was grateful that he wouldn't be forcing her to do anything she didn't want to any time soon.  "Seeing you suffer gives me no great pleasure, I'll have you know."  She offered him some of the salted meat after taking a piece for her own.  She didn't realize until it touched her lips how very hungry she was.

[Lucas Blacke]

He shrugged, his smile dropping from him as he knew no real way to reply. His action then might be perceived as childish but he always reserved the right to be any way he pleased in front of her, and now that was speechless, which he would never show to anyone so he took up childsplay to get out of answering anything. Besides, not talking right now could be something she understood him doing, it wasn't like his stitches didn't still hurt. Though the stitches only really helped him, the flesh underneath throbbed and the sword that struck him seemed to be in there still. Surely it could only improve though, the feeling, Karalie had patched it up and was taking care of it, this meant she knew what she was doing right? She better. As a pirate he reserved the right to haunt her if he died.

Besides, and it only took him a day or two to have realized this but, what was she without him? There was always the risk of dying but if she let him she would no longer have that risk, her chance of survival would perish with him. He'd be dead without her, maybe, but she'd be doomed without him. And for a pirate, being doomed was worse than being dead.

''Ye do know this help yer givin' me won't change our status, right?'' He was lying at her to her face. With anything she had been doing for him after he got his wound she would rise up in terms of respect, meaning he'd see her as a woman now instead of a wench. ''..but thanks anyway, Karalie.''

He'd think way more of her now, and might even consider not doing certain things if she brought up a good enough point. Not to mention he'd actually ask for her input now, and his first question was a simple one as he took a bite from the meat she'd given him, every movement his jaw made hurting him a bit.

''Do ye wan' ta go up on deck?''

[Karalie Heise]

The look she offered him was a sour one indeed.  What did he mean it wouldn't change her status? Did he still think her a wench after all she'd done for him now? It didn't matter if her reasoning was partially selfish, she had saved his life.  Her lips pursed but she refused to acknowledge his gratitude.  She didn't need to do any of this for him, not without his orders, but she was.  She felt she deserved maybe a little more respect.

With his final question she felt herself tense with annoyance.  She had planned to stay to keep an eye on him, but now she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to.  "To be clear what is our status?" She found herself saying instead of answering the question.  She needed to know where they stood in order to know her place on that ship within his cabin.  Was she his nurse? His companion? His whore? How did Lucas view her? She'd just risked her life stealing from the underbelly of this ship for him, she felt she deserved to know how he saw her, what he would expect.  He wasn't going to go on about lying in bed with her, now was he?  The man could barely move himself, how would he expect to perform? Not that she cared.  If he dared she hoped he would bleed out.  It would certainly suit him for his behavior.

"You seem to be changing it all up  every time we interact."

[Lucas Blacke]

Not lucky. She must have thought she was unlucky to get on their ship instead of a normal port-bound ship. She wasn't, however. Pirates didn't have a port they needed to go to, so whatever town she wanted she could end up. Harden up and be dropped off at the same town she got on the ship? She'd have to wait for months, perhaps a year, but it was doable. The pirates would hit the taverns they knew and lie with the wenches they felt from the earlier time. Changing the way he saw her every time they met was something of a.. test, so to speak. He'd have to know what she was capable of, and being the same wench or woman was not among them. He knew she was able of taking care of a man, but everything with a hole could take care of a man..

''Our status, hm..?'' He did have to think a bit on it despite just having figured how he saw her. Last thing he wanted was to have her think he had turned into a softie. He had to show her that even with a wound and being under her care he was still the same battle ready pirate as before.

He took a breath and pushed himself from the ground slowly, hoping the stitches would hold. Wincing in pain he found what he needed to get up from the ground and stand upright, although a bit wobbly. ''Th' one where I don' shoot yer brains out fer talkin' ta me like-'' He shifted a bit as a wave of pain shot through him again. ''tha'.'' He finished. ''An' also th' one where yer no longer a mere wench ta do me biddin'.'' He finally added, moving over to his bed and slowly planting his hand down to lower himself gently.

The wound was new, fresh, but it didn't open with movement. The stitches held for now. He knew he needed rest though so he laid down on his bed and turned his head to the side to look at the wench- woman. ''Might even ask ye ta do certain things fer me.''

''We're no' th' same wench an' buccaneer we were when we first met, aye?''

[Karalie Heise]

She pursed her lips and clenched her fists, looking more like am insolent child than anything else.  She didn't like or appreciate what he had to say, and though she wasn't one to wish harm upon someone, she felt a great deal of satisfaction when he winced from the pain of getting to his feet.  She hoped it hurt plenty with the way he was treating her after what she'd done.  She'd gone above and beyond what was necessary and here he was still threatening to put a bullet between her eyes.  How she wanted to slap that smug face of his..

As he sat on the bed she knew she would no longer have a reasonably comfortable place to sleep, not unless she wanted to find herself beside him.  It made her want to cry all over again, still the charmed young lady who expected privilege she was when she'd boarded.  No amount of time at sea would change that, she was certain of it.

"And what if I refuse." She asked bluntly, not moving from her spot.  She still had it ingrained that she needed to be the obedient woman she was meant to be, but she was frustrated and filthy and just wanted to go home.  "Would you really put a bullet in me?" She tested, unsure if she should try and call him on his bluff or not.  After what she'd done, she deserved more, she deserved better.  At least in her mind.

[Lucas Blacke]

Whatever smile he had been able to muster despite of his pain faltered as she asked if he would really decorate her with a bullet. Why would she do that? He supposed she was trying to see if he was bluffing, though he knew for sure she'd seen him shoot that man in the hold earlier. Had she forgotten that? Yes, he was bluffing, but that didn't mean she should be able to call his bluff like that! Besides, he needed her alive. Live flesh felt nicer than dead flesh after all, or so he had heard. ''Would ye refuse..'' He hummed as his face turned to the ceiling, his eyes inspecting every nook and cranny. ''I suppose I be refusin' too.'' He wouldn't refuse shooting her, no, he'd just refuse one of her requests, assuming she had them and voiced them. Which, remembering how she asked for clean water before, she would.

He felt the urge to be honest though. For some odd reason he thought she deserved that, and maybe she did. She just saved his life after all. Maybe it couldn't hurt to smile some more either, but as said before Lucas was afraid she might start seeing him as a softie instead of the hardy pirate he was. His name striking fear into everyone who knew of him, bested by a mere woman. He supposed there was a reason they didn't let them aboard. And before this all happened he had no idea how.. sneaky one could be. Not sneaking around, no, but change a man by caring, or acting like they cared. Her patching him up changed how he looked at her.

''Perhaps.. I wouldn't shoot ye.'' There. No turning back anymore. ''Maybe I like havin' a voice 'round. Th' scallywags on thi' 'ere ship ain't worth th' words. Unless they involve work.'' He did the closest thing to a roll with his eyes he could do without losing his manhood completely at that point. ''So I guess ye kinda called me bluff, woman.'' He answered.

''Do remember I still outrank ye.''

[Karalie Heise]

She might refuse.  It depended on the request.  That wasn't the point, though.  The point was he was making demands when he wasn't much in the position to be making them, or at least that's how she saw it.  He could fend for himself only so much, and letting the crew know what sort of shape he was in, while harboring her, might not be in his best interest.  He'd said enough for her to know that.  

Karalie suppressed the urge to fold her arms over her chest as he admitted he wouldn't be shooting her.  At least she knew she was safe from death at his hands.  For now, anyway.  She was pleased he admitted his bluff and she couldn't help but feel vindicated by his words.  Outranked or not, she knew she had more power than perhaps his men.

"I do." She offered, her voice slightly less bitter.  She helped herself to the canteen of water before bringing it to him, this time without instruction to drink.  He could if he wanted, or not.  It was no concern of hers.  "Perhaps I will go up on deck.  Some fresh air after all of this might do me good."  She looked down at her bloodied dress, crusty and stained crimson brown now.  She frowned knowing it was useless to try and wash, she would never get the stains out.  Her head turned to the clothes she'd brought up.  They were men's but they would fit, unless she wanted to pull out her other dress.

"I need to get changed." She informed Lucas, pursing her lips.  "I'd like if you could kindly turn away while I do so."

[Lucas Blacke]

Whatever she said right now that would have rubbed him the wrong way wouldn't have been corrected, Lucas was not in a position to do so. He figured Karalie knew that as she said she did want to go up on deck. It didn't irk him, he knew she probably did need it after what she'd done for him, hell, she probably deserved it. He'd let her, the time was right and Lucas could use the rest, really. That and how close she had just been to him, despite him being in pain, did get something going for him. He figured he shouldn't even have thoughts of that right now, for the sake of his health. Perhaps Blacke would have sent her up top himself if she didn't want to go.

''Prob'ly fer th' best.'' He replied as he swallowed and refused feeling the pain still residing in him as she brought him the canteen before drinking out of it herself. He knew he needed to drink but wasn't sure he should touch the same thing she did, not with the thoughts he was having right now.. But the water did look mighty tasty, even if just in a canteen. The thought of it was enough to make him take the canteen though and take a sip of the water, be it with a bit of pain as he raised his head to drink.

Then she said she needed to get changed, at which Lucas very nearly dropped the canteen out of his hand and winced at the pain caused by suddenly clenching his arm. She needed what? And why was she telling him? But it soon became clear why, she wanted him to look the other way. Kindly even. That was less than a problem, he had no need to see any of the female shape without clothing right now.

''Tha' should be no problem.'' He turned his head to face the wall as he wasn't yet able to lie on his side without it hurting too much. ''Thank ye 'gain fer helpin' me. I know ye didn't 'ave ta.''

[Karalie Heise]

Karalie waited for him to say something before getting undressed.  She shouldn't even be undressing in the same room with a man she was unwed to, but she had no choice at the moment.  It was stay in filthy clothes or trust him to turn his cheek away.  What surprised her most was his willingness to look away.  She wasn't sure if she was going to have a difficult time from him or not, but sure enough he kindly turned the other way.  

Watching to make sure he wasn't peaking, she began to loosen the ties around her dress.  It came apart easily and Karalie, with one eye on Lucas, let the garment slip to the floor.  She grabbed the cotton shirt and pulled it up over her head, letting it fall around her body.  It had no shape to it and she felt strangely free without the restricting fabric tied around her.  One could certainly get used to this.  Next she brought the trousers up around her waist, fixing the belt they came with to the tightest setting.  It was still a bit loose and hung low on her hips, but they would work for now.  She could mend them later, bring them in an inch or two if she needed.  That would be for the best.

"You're welcome." She offered, now dressed and eyes back on him.  "I suppose I should thank you for hiding me from the crew.  I don't fancy the idea of being.." She licked her lips and attempted to pull the tangles from her messy hair.  "I know things could have been a lot worse for me, being a woman on a pirate's ship.  I'm grateful you didn't allow me to succumb to the crews darker desires." Karalie brought an apple to the bedside and placed it down.  "Is there anything more you need before I let you rest, Lucas?"

[Lucas Blacke]

There was some time spent in which they didn't talk, or she simply didn't respond but Blacke felt no need to turn his head and look for what was going on. He was thinking about his own stitches, though that was a small part of the problem. They'd been a few days at sea and she was the only woman he had seen, and she was becoming more and more desirable by the day. There was no need to pile a naked woman on top of what he knew he needed in due time. Better to let her have her time and him get his rest before rushing into things. He wasn't even sure how she'd respond at this point yet. He could point out it was an order if she refused, but he'd given her lots of ways to make things turn sour for him.

''..mauled by th' men on board?'' He finished her sentence as she cut short in the middle of it, fiddling with her hair then. ''Ye've told me tha' much. Or implied it.'' That and she was one of those prissy country girls who liked to only know one dick.. this would hurt him if he ever did need her. Didn't those types of girls only do those sort of things with men they were married to? He wasn't married to her, so he'd definitely lose some points on that one.

Hold on. She called him Lucas? He could have been delirious, but wasn't that the first time she called him that? His head turned to her and saw her in her new getup, it didn't look feminine and actually helped him in settling down a bit, as did the pile of bloody dress at her feet. That blood was his, he reminded himself, looking at his stitches and lightly touching then with his index finger. He quickly pulled it back though when the pain started again and Karalie placed an apple near him.

He took the apple and took a small bite at first, still looking at her and trying to come up with something to say. ''There is one thing.'' He started. ''I wan' know ye 'ave me coin on ya. Jus' in case.''