For whatisthatmelody | Pirate AU

[daretosee]

They'd been attacked before, the Imperial ship was great in size and well armed. Both with great cannons and trained soldiers with rifles and swords. Attacks had been easy to fell, nothing to be concerned about.

Until it was very well something to be concerned about.

Harold wasn't a soldier, he barely knew how to use a gun, much less any blade. He was a man of ink and paper, his work in maps, not death. So when their ship is attacked then boarded, he hides. Manages to find his way to the captains quarters to the many maps and papers there. Maybe he can escape some how.

One of the row boats?

Shoving everything into a large satchel he heads to the door, meaning to sneak out in the madness, but hears someone trying to get in just as he goes to undo the lock. Guess he's not leaving. Harold works quickly to move whatever he can in front of the door, barricading it. The lock won't last long if the pirates truly want to get in.

Then he huddles in the furthest corner from the door, satchel behind him as he shakily pulls out and aims the pistol he'd snatched up when first entering the room. One shot. If he were lucky he might take down one of the pirate bastards before they got him.

Comments

[daretosee]

Harold can only regard the captain with an odd look. He's so strangely earnest about this one thing, but he can't let himself be taken in by him so easily. Pirate! Don't forget what he is, Harold!

"Captain de Kuiper, as... merciful as you've been, I've no intention in working with your lot." His tone is firm, resolute. It feels weird simply telling a pirate no thank you and not expecting something terrible in retaliation. Or Siebren doesn't seem like he'd do such a thing.

One expects torture and death, not a simple meal and drink and a job offer.

[whatisthatmelody]

Siebren looked at his tattooed knuckles and nodded silently. Yes, yes. It seemed there was nothing else that could be done....at least for the moment.

"As you wish."

After all, it was not like he could force the man...then he could not trust any work on the maps he did. That was not productive at all.

He suddenly found his nails very interesting. He took a knife out of his boot and began to clean his nails.

[daretosee]

That's the very thing, the pirate could force him, or kill him if he refused to comply. Yet... he hadn't done any of that.

Kill them with kindness? If kindness was kidnapping a person, still better than being dead he supposed. Though sitting behind bars wasn't any less terrible in some regard. As much as the conversation seemed to be over, Siebren doesn't leave and Harold wonders if he intends to sit there until he relents.

W-Well he won't!

Gaze dragging away from the pirate captain he'll finish his little meal in silence... maybe appreciating the drink more than he thought he would. After that he's setting the dishes on the floor and sitting cross legged on his cot to have look in the satchel to make sure nothing had been damaged.

Some things are squished, but nothing that would ruin them. Don't mind if his eyes flicker to the pirate captain here and there, until some awkward time has passed.

"... I hope you don't intend to sit here till I change my mind. You'll be here for a while. I'm a stubborn man."

[whatisthatmelody]

Now that Harold had taken to looking through the satchel, Siebren could not help but steal a glance over now and again to see what was in the satchel. His eyes darted up and then back down, trying not to look like he was interested...but he might make eye contact with the map maker once or twice before turning his attention back to his nails.

"Oh, no. I am not going to sit here until you change your mind."

He blinked and looked up earnestly this time.

"Is there anything in there that needs fixing or flattening?"

[daretosee]

Siebren says that, but he's still doing just that. Sitting there. Guess he can't tell the captain what to do. This is his ship after all. Taking one of the more innocuous maps, when it comes to information, Harold will unroll it on the cot, trying to smooth it out as best he can.

"Everything is fine here, Captain. Thank you." He's got this, please go do... piratey things. Actually wait don't do that, uh go be a nice sailor! Sorry Siebren, this cartographer is going to do his best to brush you off or ignore you now.

[whatisthatmelody]

The captain nodded, seeing he was getting nowhere fast. He stood up to his full height and stretched, cracking his neck and dusting himself off.

"Well, I have things to do. I'll leave you to get comfortable in your settings."

He proceeded to do just that. He went to his quarters and reorganized his new belongings. He met with his first mate and discussed plans and courses, pulling out the maps he did have and taking the plans to the navigator.

The sun started to set and he mad ehis way around the crew-checking in on everyone and making sure he was seen doing his share of the work. He was the captain, but that did not mean that he did not help out with basic upkeep. He swept the deck and made sure the rain water collection barrels were still clean and doing their job. He took his dinner in his cabin, but emerged to listen to some music that his men were playing. He looked at the stars before returning to his own cabin...to his own large, soft bed for the night where he slept.

The next morning, he was back to checking on his new resident cartographer, Pot of coffee and two mugs in hand.