That Flag Of Baleful Black - Private RP

This is a role play between Disturbed Coyote and Enchanted. Do not post if you are not those people. You can read just don't touch. Characters belong to their respective owners. Do not steal them!

Characters
Captain Charles Vane- ☠ 𝔇isturbed ℭoyote - Image
Jeanne de Luvae - Eηcнαηтε∂ - Image

Last edited on 2016-08-27 at 20:02:44 by ☠ 𝔇isturbed ℭoyote

CAPTAIN CHARLES VANE

Golden light danced from his fingers, the slow, methodical flipping of a coin over the knuckles of a calloused hand the source. Settled between the rough lips of the unshaved man a hand rolled cigarette offered an almost mystical smoke as the light flitted through it. Somewhere outside waves lapped at the hull of the Ranger and Vane studied the door that led to the main deck with little interest. It wouldn’t be long now. The crew had been dispatched to seek out a prize most didn’t dare try to make an attempt to steal. Though it was an unusual prize to say the least. The young princess was somewhat of a payday for the crew. She would fetch a good price as a ransom or, if the nobles refused to pay, she could fetch a price somewhere else. The slave market or maybe some mercenaries would pay well for her. Vane didn’t really care. There was nothing that mattered in his mind except the coin to keep Nassau under his control.

Pulling in a deep breath he drew the smoke of the expensive tobacco into his lungs. It was a familiar burn before he slowly blew it out and suddenly dropped his hand, twisting it and in a sudden moment he’d flipped the coin under his palm and let it slam into the wood beneath his hand. The table rattled and slow sigh passed the Captain’s lips. It shouldn’t take this long. It was a simple damn task. Slip in, steal her from her bed and bring her here. He’d given them maps through the castle that would allow them to go unseen. True they’d be trudging through the depths of a dungeon and perhaps worse but it would serve. Wrapping his hand around a glass bottle he pulled the cigarette from his lips with his free hand and downed a long gulp from the rum he’d taken from his liquor cabinet. He was almost on his feet when a rapping on the door caused fierce, blue pools to snap back to in.

“Enter.”

The deep rasp was heavily accented, powerful and gravelly. The signs of a rough man, even without meeting him face to face. The door opened and two men stepped inside, behind them a young woman being dragged, by force. Vane nodded and gestured to a chair. “Quartermaster, see to it we get underway. Now.” The man nodded and the two left and closed the door. As it locked behind them the long haired pirate leaned back in his chair, settling his eyes on the young woman. Nothing was said for the moment, silence from the Captain that was all fire and rage. Taking another long drag from his cigarette he waited. Waited to see just how the “lovely” princess would react. It would at the very least serve some sort of amusement. Now it was a matter of the waiting game. Outside a chorus of voices gave the reports of the tasks being assigned and that the work to pull up anchor and cast off was well underway. They would make a clean getaway. Even if it took taking out every ship pursuing them. Come Hell or high water Vane would see this prize through. And no one would stand in his way.

No one.

Not a single tear fell from the entire incident, but you indeed could see that her eyes were troubled. At first she dared not meet his eyes, for fear of the chance of making matters worse, but as time slowly progress her amber eyes looked up at him. He had the image of a rough man, with many a scar that could tell you their story. The distinct smell of his cigar almost filled the air, luckily for her she was used to the smoking from her 'father'. With much caution her head slowly began to lift, so as she could look directly at him.

Her rosy-pink lips broke from there closure, ready to speak for herself. "Do you plan to kill me?", she asked calmly.

Jeanne shivered quietly, the coldness of the room added to her predicament that she was only wearing her underclothes and over dress. Which it was not too terrible, since the over dress was thicker than her underclothes. At least her curly hair was down, it provided some warmth for her neck and shoulders.

The young woman's thoughts were wild with questions. Will my father pay ransom? Will I be a slave? Shall I die?

CAPTAIN CHARLES VANE

“Why would I kill somethin’ that will bring me more coin than any man on this ship as seen in one place in their entire life.”

The words were callous, cold even, but there was a slowly simmering rage underneath it. A whisper of the violent and aggressive temper the Captain had been known to display when he needed or wanted to. Slowly he replaced the cigarette to his lips and drew another long drag from it, watching the woman for a moment. She seemed to be unaware of the fact she was worth so much more alive than she ever would be dead. But the Captain supposed she was likely one of those sheltered royal brats who were given everything on a silver platter. Vane had to fight for where he was now. Fight with everything he ever had. And he enjoyed it. He enjoyed crushing out the lives of those who stood in his way. The control he’d never had before had been hard fought for and now he’d taken it for himself. And he wasn’t about to give it up.

Pushing himself upwards slowly he set the bottle of rum on the table. A few long strides covered the ground between himself and the liquor cabinet. He grabbed a glass off the top shelf and made his way back over. Nothing was said. Instead, he filled the glass, three fingers worth of the liquid before pushing it towards her. He couldn’t be certain if she drank at all. He didn’t even feel like sharing but if he was in her position he’d want all the rum he could get his hands on. So for that reason he offered it. Once more he settled into his chair, this time, a swift movement allowed him to put the leather boots that adorned his feet up along the edge of the table. Grabbing the bottle that was almost half empty now he leaned back.

“Yerh name.”

It was not a question or request. It was a demand. A demand of a man who knew he held the upper hand as he felt the movement of the Ranger and heard the bellows of the crew as they started out into open water. The Navy would be hard pressed to catch them now. Once the Ranger had the wind in her sails she was quick. Quicker than most of the large Naval ships. And that brought a confident and pleased smirk to the Captain’s lips. Let them try to come get their princess if they would. He wouldn’t mind cutting them down if that was what it took. And his crew wouldn’t either. They were as cutthroat as the man who led them. He expected no less. And they would give no less unless they wished to learn what happened when they crossed their Captain. Nothing left his lips as he waited for her answer. Not a single word. Instead, he drew another long drag from his cigarette and waited.

Jeanne looked down at the glass of rum, she didn't drink but she could sure use one right now. Slowly she took the glass, taking a small sip and putting it back on the table. The taste was bitter to her tongue, but it helped ease the turning of her stomach. When she glanced at her hand she remembered she had the golden ring, encrusted with rubies the Queen gave her. She slipped the ring off of her finger, laying it in front of him.

"Jeanne...Jeanne de Luvae." she answered, backing up a little from the table. He was right about being worth more than one single gold coin, but would her father spend his treasured money on her? That was the question.

She glanced at the table, then back at him. Her head jerked up to hear the sound of the ship about to leave the port. Jeanne sighed quietly, lowering her head and looking down at the floor. It seemed his plan was going along quite well.

"I can't promise you will get your gold from the King." she spoke up, glancing at him. Jeanne never felt any sort of love from her father, nor her mother, they were always cold and harsh. She was eternally grateful that she wasn't like them and their ways.

Last edited on 2016-08-27 at 10:57:04 by Eηcнαηтε∂

CAPTAIN CHARLES VANE

There was silence on Vane’s half. It held on a bit longer as he waited. His mind was going over every little detail in his head, rushing at a speed most could never track. As it was with most men with ambitions. like the Captain. He was determined and he would not falter in his goals. As the princess offered her name he gave a slow nod. At the very least she knew how to follow an order. How long that would last he couldn’t be sure but he was willing to wait it out. Instead, he took the last drag off his cigarette and crushed the end out on the table before tossing the spent butt into a silver bowl that was serving as an ashtray.

“He will pay. If he doesn’t he risks worse than just losin’ his daughter. He risks his reputation among the sheep that follow him. When they see people like me they see criminals. Foldin' to my will might not be somethin’ they want to see. But if he were to not try and rescue his own blood what hope would they have of being rescued. To keep his kingdom in order, he has no choice. And if he chooses to let his world fall apart around him I do have other options.” A slight smirk tugged at the pirate's lips, his hand wrapping around the bottle once more so he could down another long gulp.

“Vane by the way...Charles Vane. Yeh’d do well to call me Captain Vane, though.” There was a brief pause, Vane’s eyes meeting hers, the fierce, rage-filled blue pools watching her for a moment longer. “Yeh’ll stay in my quarters for now. I will have the men bring a cot in. I would rather not see my payday left to the hands of my men or thrown in the brig. But if it comes to it I will have no trouble choosing those options. Don’t test me Jeanne. Yeh won’t like the results.” Another long swig before he set the empty bottle down. “Any questions yeh think I am required to humor?”

She listened intently as he spoke, being sure not miss a single word. Money and power was all that she thought the pirate thought about. She tensed a little at the sound of being locked in his quarters, not because of him but because of the smoke. She kept quiet though, not wanting to cause a fury to rise from the man.

"Captain Vane, if my 'father' does pay you, and I can assume that you are smart enough to get your money first before letting me go. If I could get you more gold, would you transport me to another kingdom? It wouldn't matter where, just far, far away from here." she asked, completely serious about it.

Jeanne wanted to leave the castle, she wanted to be free both from the royalty and this ship. She couldn't possibly dream of going back after a small glimpse of 'freedom'. Well not completely freedom, but it was away from the castle. Her hand landed on the table gently, her eyes directly looking at him, "If you could understand what it means to be shackled to something you are not passionate about, then you would know why I don't ever want to step foot in that castle again."

Last edited on 2016-08-27 at 17:03:38 by Eηcнαηтε∂

CAPTAIN CHARLES VANE
Slowly a brow raised a sign of interest and not confusion or befuddlement. For a moment he was still, nothing said, jaw tensing as his mind rolled over the options. As the empty bottle settled to the table he swung his legs off the where he had rested them and leaned forward in his chair. For a moment there was nothing but that fierce stare, powerful and full of the rage that had been bred into him by those who he had come to loathe. Silence filled the room, a fiery silence so deafening it was ear splitting. The muscles in his neck tightened, skin pulling taut across the sinew before a flash of movement drew one’s eye away. The light from the windows glinted off steel and in that flash a knife had buried itself into a map on the table. There was nothing but fire in his eyes as he watched her.

“Yeh expect me to spend my hard earned coin to carry yeh all the way to some other land? Do yeh know how long a trip like that takes. Do yeh know the money and planning it takes? A few pieces of coin more aren’t goin' to fund that.” He gestured to the table. “Yerh comin’ with me to Nassau. If, and only if, yeh can manage some eloquent letter to convince someone else to pay the coin I am askin’ for yer ransom, the coin it will cost me to take the journey AND 10% of that lump sum on the side then I will consider it. So I suggest yeh start writin’ princess, yeh got plenty of time to spend doin’ it while we're on our little journey back home.” He pushed himself upwards and moved across the floor. There was fury in his step, a wrath that was nothing short of rage barely held back.

Stopping just before a desk he threw open the roll top and grabbed some blank parchment and an ink pen and inkwell. With that, he moved back to her. The paper was slammed down, the pen and ink barely avoided being spilled as he set it down as well. His temper was rising and he had no interest in playing games. If she wanted to try and get him more coin he would let her. But he wasn’t going to just take her somewhere for nothing. There was so much more at stake than this young woman knew. It was bad enough every pirate that dares brave the seas had her father’s Navy breathing down their neck. The threat of the noose hung over one’s head constantly. And while Charles Vane held no fear of death he would not run to it with open arms just yet. He’d fought too hard to buckle under now.

“I’ll have the cook brin’ in some stew and hard tack...water too.”

With that he turned and headed out the door, letting it settle shut behind him. The lock clicked shut. The only one with the key was the Captain himself and the cook. The lock inside only locked the outsiders from coming in. However, while it locked on the outside only the key could open it from the inside. This prevented anyone inside from getting locked in as long as they had said key. With nothing said he headed towards the bow of the large vessel, only stopping once to summon one of the sailors and give orders before he settled his gaze on the waters ahead. The crew was praying for open waters to reach them soon. It would be three or four days before they were out of range of the King’s Navy for certain. What they needed now is their Captain to remain calm and keep to his nature. Which meant the fearless, fiery personality they had agreed to follow had to be upheld. The man so many called The Butcher needed to be there for them to follow and Vane wasn’t about to let them down.

“Bosun! There’s still more wind to coax from these sails. See it done. I want every sail at full mast.”

A chorus of shouts sounded the orders and Vane smirked. Let the Navy come. He’d cut them down if that was the case. For now, he was enjoying the cool mist coming up off the ocean, the salt spray offered a familiar feeling. He could easily lose himself right here. The little princess wasn’t going anywhere. He had time to spend for the moment. Time to enjoy his small victory.




OOC: Sorry this is long, feel free to time skip a bit until Vane comes back into the room. Or if you wanted we could skip a few days ahead to the point they are in open waters and free of the Navy... for now.

Jeanne glided over to a window, leaning against wall slightly and gazing out at the blue sky and ocean. Her eyes fluttered shut, relaxing a little as she hummed an old song she once read. The song helped her when she was troubled, which happened often.

Three days before she had written to her aunt, a queen in another kingdom, who was even wealthier than her father. She explained her situation to her aunt, asking her to send so many golden coins. Her aunt was kind-hearted, perhaps that was where Jeanne inherited it, so I knew she would send the coins.

Her heart raced as she imagined her fate if no one paid the ransom. The horrifying image of being sold to some old man or something like that. Or possibly even being tortured by the Captain, and eventually killed. Though she didn't think he would kill her, she knew he was going to get his gold, one way or another.

CAPTAIN CHARLES VANE
It had been nagging at him.

A question that he didn’t want to think on and yet it tried to consume him in a slow, suffocating pace. And he couldn’t grasp why. Why did he even care what made her want to escape home? Why did it matter? What in the Hell made it so important? She was Royalty. Shouldn’t she want to go crawling back to her father and live life high above the rest? What made her want to flee? True enough she was fleeing to another kingdom where life would be just as sweet.

But it was nothing if not completely aggravating that he couldn’t get the idea off his mind. Was it the fact every man on his crew would love to live that pampered life and she wanted to run from one? Or was it that she annoyed him with how she had the freedom to flee one kingdom to go sit high on the hog in another when he had been forced to fight just to get where he was? Vane had no true idea what the reason was. And that only served to stoke the fires of his temper further.

Fingers drummed along the wood of the railing as his thoughts turned in a storm in his mind. There was nothing said as he watched the waters beyond the Ranger’s hull. He supposed he had no choice. His mind would not quiet until this question was asked. And that was almost as frustrating as the fact he even cared about such things. With a slow sigh, he rounded on himself in a smooth motion, boots drumming against the slick wooden deck as he moved towards his quarters. Beyond the ship a storm was gathering, threatening to try and overtake the Ranger but it was far too distant to get close enough to affect the crew. It could try. It wouldn’t succeed.

Reaching the door he made quick work of the lock and stepped inside, making sure the door was solidly locked behind him. For a moment he stood there, almost as if he had come to stand there and say not a word. Sighing he moved towards the table and pulled out his usual chair and settled into it. Another few moments passed as he grabbed the bottle of rum he’d left on the table and downed a long gulp. Finally, he leaned back in his chair and with a slow sigh words spilled from his lips in the deep rasp that was so uniquely his.

“Why are yeh so damn eager to leave yerh cushy little life back in England? What is so damn terrible about it that yeh want to find a way to be ransomed somewhere else? Any other person in yerh shoes would be more than happy to go home and do their best to get me the least amount of coin possible. So that is it that makes yeh want to NOT go home?” It was more demand than a question. But since when did Vane ever ask nicely for anything?




OOC: Vane you are such a jerk sometimes. Why? Rude, so very very rude!

Jeanne heard the footsteps of the Captain, her ears listening to them as if they were thunder, drumming in the clouds. She watched him from the corner of her eyes as he made his way into the room, locking the door behind him and sitting down in his chair.

Slowly she turned her head, back to where it faced the window. Her eyes fixed on the view. His cold tone sent a shiver up her spine as she listened to his demands. A small smirk spread on her face as she imagined him, cursing over the mystery of why she didn't want to go back.

She turned around, moving to face him so she could watch his expressions. "I am surprised you would want to know my secrets."

Her shoulders tensed a tad bit, as she knew she had to explain to him. "Ever since I was born, I forced into strict regulations and responsibilities. The responsibilities never bothered me, but their rules did." she turned her head, seemingly looking over at the window "I suppose what lead up to my wanting to leave the castle was all of the spoiled rotten suitors. None of them had a kind heart, or even cared for me, all they wanted was my money. I couldn't stand it anymore."

She laughed briefly, remembering what she had planned. "Before your men captured me, I had even made a plan to escape. It would have worked quite well too."

OOC: Lol, she'll 'tender' him up, eventually. Or maybe not.

Last edited on 2016-08-28 at 10:03:12 by Eηcнαηтε∂

CAPTAIN CHARLES VANE

There was no eye contact made with his prisoner. Not a single flicker of movement as he sat silent. Instead, he listened, letting her go on. His fingers remained wrapped around the glass bottle in his hands as he let her go on. Rules, responsibilities. Is that what this was all about? That she didn’t like to have to follow the rules? She really did seem like some spoiled princess. God forbid she have to follow a few rules. Even pirates had them. The Articles were not something one just ignored. They were a code and anyone who disrespected that code risked their lives being taken by their own crew members. Still, he did not seem to react. Instead, he let her go on about her suitors.

So her suitors were the spoiled ones? They wanted money. What man didn’t want money? It was the way life was. Money got you things you need; food, water, clothes, a place to sleep. Money made sure you could survive. Was she truly so blind to the world to think there was someone out there who did care for the ability to make it through life without starving and dying of thirst? His jaw tightened as he sat still. And as she went on about her little plan, that short laugh, he shook his head. Once more the room was filled with silence. Nothing escaping his lips as he downed another long gulp of his rum. For a moment, he just let himself focus on the burn, familiar and welcome, as it poured down his throat. Setting the bottle down he let words once more flow from his throat, not looking to her.

“Yerh suitors aren’t the only spoiled children, princess. Hate to break it to yeh but rules are everywhere. Life is tough and yer cushy little castle is about as gentle as it can get. The world ain’t kind or gentle. The world will kick yeh while yer down and then stab yeh in the back just for kicks.” He snarled these words. Rage in his voice. “Everyone needs coin to live. No matter who they are. Yerh spoiled rotten suitors just happened to have more of it than most. Doesn’t mean they don’t want more. Everyone wants more in the end. Some just don’t realize it until it is all gone and they need it.”

There was a brief pause, shaking his head slowly as he downed another gulp. “As fer yerh rules...even pirates have rules princess. And out here if yeh don’t follow em yeh pay the price with yerh life. At least in your cushy castle all that happened is yeh got scolded. But I suppose to someone like yeh being scolded is a horrible thing.” As the words hung in the air, bitter and fiery in their tone he shook his head slightly once more. “Simply put princess, hate to break it to yeh but life is only goin’ to get tougher now that yerh out of that castle. So yeh better get ready for it. It ain’t about to slow down on yerh accord.”




OOC: I am so sorry he is such a jerk. He will eventually soften up a bit. It will take some time...prolly quite a bit but it will happen.

Jeanne took his words with a grain of salt, he didn't understand at all what it was like. She turned away, walking back over to the window, looking out at the ocean. "I'm not going to waste my words on someone who doesn't understand at all." she spoke a little cold, tired of hearing his oh so valuable opinion.

She crossed her arms, leaning against the wall and watching a seagull fly around the sky. Oh how wonderful it would be to be a bird. No worries, only peace and tranquility whist flying in the open sky. Away from the castle, and far enough away from this ship and its pirates.

Maybe deep down in the Captain's heart was some sort of understanding, some sort of passion and kindness, she thought to herself, wondering if it might be true. He was curious, but then again, he had a rage about him also.

CAPTAIN CHARLES VANE

Is this where he was expected to try and understand? To fold and see the error of his ways? To tell his story and explain why he was wrong? Vane could only roll his eyes at the idea. She could think he didn’t understand at all if she wanted. But he understood more than she knew. A former child slave knew more about this world than a sheltered little princess that only knew that her world wasn’t exactly what she wanted it to be so she had no choice but to flee it. Another long gulp of the rum from the bottle was taken, nothing left as he set it on the table. As the liquid flowed down his throat he focused only on the strong taste and burn.

“CAPTAIN!”

The bellow sounded from outside his quarters and Vane was on his feet in an instant. “Stay here.” He snarled, rage filling his voice as he stormed for the door, making a double check of his gear as he went. The cutlass and pistol still in place. The door was thrown open and Vane started out onto the deck. In his haste, he had no time to focus on the fact the door did not slam shut. He was far more concerned about what the shout was about. “Report!” The demand was quickly responded to as the man settled high above the ship in the crow's nest called out the report of sails on the horizon. He held his hand out to the Quartermaster and he let him hand off a spyglass to him. As he lifted it to his eye he snarled. “F**K!”

Beyond the ship, the sails of a massive Man O’ War loomed. A Navy warship. They’d never take her. Vane knew it. The guns on that ship would tear the Ranger to pieces. His mind turned over the options. Even if they gave their prize over they’d be cut down or brought back to England to face the noose. He wouldn’t let that happen. His gaze shot towards the sails and then behind the ship. It was risky. The wind was already picking up. If they gave her too much sail and the storm overtook them they’d be dead. But they were dead if they didn’t. “I WANT THESE SAILS AT FULL MAST! NOW!” There was some whispering but the gaze Vane shot the crew quickly silenced the voices and with that Vane started for the bridge.

Up the steps and across the quarter deck and his hand quickly wrapped around the ship’s wheel, taking it from the helmsman. A slow sigh passed his lips. The threat in the distance only fueled his rage, the storm was pressing closer. Faster than he expected. They would be overtaken if they didn’t get out of range soon. If they could get far enough ahead of the storm and the Man O’ War than the storm would take out the Navy ship first and they might have a chance. But even then they might have to contend with the storm. His jaw tensed and he forced his mind to focus on the task at hand. Get the Ranger out of range was quick as possible. The shouts and reports from the crew told him they were following orders. Now it was a matter of luck. And God help him he could only pray the sea was with him this day.



OOC: Thought I would add some ACTION!

At first she paid no heed to him leaving, until she heard him shut the door, she didn't hear it lock as it normally would. With cautious she approached the door, reaching for the handle and shocked to see it was unlocked! She slowly slipped out of his quarters, looking to her left to see a barrel with a knife and apple on it. Before anyone could notice she snatched the knife, going back into the Captain's quarters and shutting the door behind her.

Quickly she hid the knife behind her back, one hand on her side and the other behind her back, holding the knife. She created a little plan in her mind, she would wait for the Captain to come back, pretend to like him and hold him off with the knife as she tied him up. Though she wasn't completely sure it would work, she knew better than to not think the Captain couldn't win.

She leaned against the wall, waiting for him to come.

OOC: Very good action indeed!