(different ship.)
Lucia walked up to where a man who was either the Captain, or at least a formidable crew member, sat. Her lip was trembling as she walked up, tears stinging her eyes from the pungency of the smell. An experienced sailor would be used to such a thing, but Lucia was no experienced sailor.
"Scram, kid, we aren't hiring." the man grunted, and Lucia immediately froze. How could this person know her intentions? Was she that obvious? How much would he know about her? Perhaps this was a bad idea, after all. She shook her head and backed away, right into Amira.
(Also, sorry that last reply was so underwhelming. I’m just trying to get our characters to interact.)
(alright!)
(It's fine I get it)
Amira narrowed her eyes, looking at this person. "Hello again." She said, cocking her head faintly. "Looking for work, kid?" She took Lucia's arm, leading her off the ship. "You wouldn't want to work here, this Captain is an arse towards women." She said the statement off hand, nonchalant. As if Lucia's response didn't matter. After all, this would be so much easier if Lucia slipped up and gave away her identity.
“Women? I know I look… petite, but I’d hardly call myself a-wait a minute, were you following me?” Lucia jumped at first, but quickly covered herself with a statement she hoped was smooth. First, establish guiltlessness. Second, change the subject. It worked for her all the time back at home, especially with seven brothers and six sisters.
Amira only blinked at her. "Aye, I was." She led Lucia off the ship. "And you are very petite, my good…sir. How old are you, exactly? I'd guess only fifteen, by your voice and height. The balls haven't dropped yet, I'd guess." Her voice was rough but easy, speaking calmly and without worry, as if Lucia really was some stupid teenage boy like she was pretending to be. "Only thing most of these ships'd hire ya for is as a cabin boy. Some of these captains, though, they've got different… proclivities, and I doubt ya want to find yourself filling a captain's bed, aye?"
“I don’t see why you should be so coarse! When my fa-I mean, it’s rude.” well, she didn’t have her father for an excuse anymore, that was certain. “And it’s… it’s sixteen. I am a little more mature than that.” she could, perhaps, have found a slightly less rude person to talk to. “And since when do captains, er, honk their crewmates, pardon my harsh language. I just don’t see why the point, the sea makes one dizzy enough, never mind all that mess.”
"Oh aye, sixteen. Infinitely more mature." Amira snickered, mouth curved in a wicked smile. "And captains have sexual relations with their crewmates plenty, it happens all the time. I just doubt you want to get involved with a captain twice your age." She shrugged. "Besides, I'm willing to guess any captain what hires you for what's between your legs would be…sorely disappointed." Her eyes slid over to Lucia, her eyebrows arching faintly. Really, who did this girl think she was fooling? The voice, the face, seeming so shocked at Amira's words. No sixteen year old boy would be this shocked.
"I'm perfectly adequate 'between the legs'. I've been with plenty of women, all who found my situation quite… pleasing." Fine, one woman, at university back when Lucia was just on the cusp of 18. A girl about half a year younger than her, but infinitely more experienced in matters of pleasure. Her father had shot her brains out for being with Lucia, and it had cost the Berkley's quite a lot of money to cover up the scandal. Lucia had never liked the sex, it was uncomfortable and often quite messy, and hurt more than helped in the end. "Now, are we going anywhere important or are you just messing with my head?"
"I'm not talking about women I'm talking about men." Amira countered, and started walking. "Come with me, then. Or you can keep trying to find work on your own, and end up on your ass or worse." The pirate woman walked with a swagger. She was planning to take Lucia to the bar that Selena favored, let the captain talk to Lucia for a while and make her own judgments.
“Well, I would hate to find myself with a man in bed. Much less a woman, come to think of it, although I was younger and stupider at the time.” Lucia shrugged, then nodded when beckoned to follow. “Younger as in three months ago, I mean.” another lie. “But really, where are you taking me? It doesn’t seem too terribly important if you’re treating it with such casualty.”
"A bar. Don't worry, ya can have watered down wine instead of rum. The balls haven't dropped, you can't handle real liquor." Amira replied, mouth twisting in another little smirk, swaggering down the streets and fully expecting Lucia to follow along. "Boys don't get liquor, boys get flavored water. Adults get rum. Spiced rum, maybe, this place makes the most excellent spiced rum that I've had."
“Oh, I’m sure it tastes like horse piss compared to what I’m used to.” she shrugged, making this remark carelessly and without regard to her cover. “I mean… my father made ale on his farm, y’see. Rum, good whiskey too. We even got vodka, on special occasions. I can hold my drink.” not entirely false, her father was rich from ranching but it was her aunt that ran the show, made the liquor, made the rules. She was a good woman, and loved Lucia like a daughter. She didn’t want to marry Lucia off, but… well, what father said went.
Amira smirked faintly, and continued to lead Lucia on towards the bar. She led her inside, knocking the door open wide. The bar was lit with lanterns and candles, and whatever light filtered in through the grimy glass of the windows. Selena looked up from where she sat at the bar, a mug in her hand, full of rum. "Amira." She greeted.
"Captain." Amira sat down, ordering spiced rum for herself and watered down rum for Lucia. "You remember…Lucan."
Lucia poured the drink onto the floor, looking Amira in the eyes. She was rude, but wouldn’t hurt her for being disrespectful. “I said, I can hold my drink. Or is such a concept of a “boy” being able to keep it down so foreign to you? And Selena Savant. I’ve heard a lot about you, but I don’t think I’d like to find myself in a fight with you so I’ll assume we’re friends.” Lucia had the high ground here, she could take care of herself like this. She understood the rules now; whoever was the worst got the best.
Amira merely watched, a faint smirk on her lips. "I don't know, can you keep it down, or am I going to find you vomiting in the halls later?"
Selena tapped Amira's shoulder, and gestured to the bartender for another rum, sliding the drink over to Lucia. "We can be friends, aye, just don't make enemies of my crew. They hold grudges for years." Puck was seated over in the corner, beside another young man. Puck had his arm wrapped around the other, and both had their own cups.
“I can get behind that. Now, I’m here on very specific business. I can’t be here. The details I will reveal to you upon our departure, but I need a place on a ship, and fast.” she said, stalling for time. She needed a story she could easily remember that was sob-inducing enough to get Selena on her side but make her seem like enough of a threat to be respected.
Selena slowly raised an eyebrow, sipping from her drink. "And you think I should take you on, just like that?" She snapped her fingers, which were adorned with a collection of rings. "What's in it for me, eh?" She gave Lucia a calm, level look, tapping her fingers lightly against the side of her mug. "My crew is quite capable without adding another mouth to feed."
"Money, if you want it. Intelligence, as you seem to need it. And a good eye for detail. I can scam just about anyone, although maybe not someone so clever as you." all lies, but also all truths, depending on how you looked at them. It was simply a matter of presentation. And a hint of flattery, just for the sake of it. "Also, I can swallow up to thirty ounces in one gulp. I know, I've measured. Not useful for much, but a good party trick." that one was completely true. It was something she learned in her university days, from a boy she was fairly sure fancied her. She didn't much like him back.
"I see. And where would this money come from? And this… intelligence? Most sixteen year old boys like yourself think with what's between their legs, not what's in their skull. So pray tell what makes you think you know better than I." She arched an eyebrow again, mouth pulling to the side just a little in a faint smirk. It was likely she didn't quite realize she was doing it, but maybe she did. Who knew. "And I fail to see how being able to gulp grog is a strength."
“I’m not like most boys. Here…” she looked through her purse for a moment, before pulling out a glistening gold coin. “Dragon’s gold. Impossible to get and even more impossible to get out alive. It’s worth millions today. You get the rest when I’m as far away from this ugly country as possible.”
She blinked, slow and careful, and then took the coin, examining it. "And what proof do I have that you have any more?" She could see it was genuine, but that didn't mean that this kid had any more than this on hand. Still, dragon gold was dragon gold, and she pocketed the coin before any other patrons of the bar could see.
“I see. Well, you’ve taken the first eighth of your payment, you’ll get the rest when I’m safely out of here. I promise, I will be useful to you, even if you don’t see it yet.” she grinned brightly, a little preppy. She was letting out her softer, more malleable side here, and that might not be the safest but it sure was good for getting on a persons good side. Vulnerability was a strength, if you played it right.
"Mhmmm." Selena drew the word out, taking a sip of her rum and keeping a thoughtful eye on this person across from her, cautious about making any promises too soon. After all, she didn't want to make any enemies, and while this kid seemed harmless…well. This Lucan was most likely, she knew, not a regular boy. If she had to guess, this Lucan was probably the Lucia everyone was looking for. But, if she guessed wrong, then what?
Lucia stood up, gulped down her drink in one fast slosh down her throat, and slammed the mug down onto the table. "Hmm. Not as good as I'm used to, but it will do. Now, do you wish to take me on or am I to expect a fight for my gold back?" she asked, tilting her head and cracking her knuckles one by one. There was no way she was beating Selena, but if she added a factor of intimidation then maybe…
Selena raised her eyebrows, drawing herself to her feet and looking down at Lucia. Intimidation tactics would not work on the red haired woman, it seemed. "I suppose we can take you on. But the Red Tide is not a ferry service, and you will.be expected to earn your keep. I don't allow slackers aboard my ship." She took another sip from her rum, watching Lucia calmly.
