Elias grumbled a bit trying to figure out, "I wouldn't know for sure, maybe in the hundreds?" He said looking down at the ground, "I do not believe that what you are asking could be considered interrogation." He muttered to himself, "But, I-I guess this is fine," he sighed in exasperation, "And my full name is Elias Clement Andres. And, may I ask what is yours?" This man was not going to pester him with so many questions without answering some of his own, "And how long will I have to stay aboard this floating nightmare?" He crossed his arms glaring at the ground, "I would really like to get home as soon as possible."
"Felix Alistair Blackwood." Felix replied with a flourish. "And the Snapdragon is not a floating nightmare!" He seemed truly affronted by the very idea. "She is a lovely, lovely ship. Do not blacken her name with your insults, just because you are a cozened, sheltered little rich boy." He narrowed his eyes at Elias.
"I'd truly prefer if you would not call me such names, I am not that sheltered," he muttered glaring up at the man. "I will call this ship as I please. After all, it is simply a ship, and if anything not one of the nicer ones." He said still glaring at him. So perhaps he was lying, the ship was rather nice, but he wasn't going to agree with the man, "And, you did not answer my question, 'How long will I have to stay aboard?' And what will you do if my father decides to not pay the ransom?" He gulped as he asked the question, he truly hoped that his father would pay, and get him home, but at the same was terrified that he wouldn't and would just let his son stay aboard this ship.
Felix stretched. "What an excellent question. You will stay until your father pays the ransom, of course. And if he shall not pay…we shall figure out something to do with you. I'm sure that even a sheltered little rich boy has his uses." He said with a shrug.
Elias groaned with annoyance, "I do not wish to stay aboard this vessel, and if you hold me here longer than necessary, I will cause issues for you." He said stubbornly looking away from the man, "And if need be, I will make sure that I am the most useless person possible. I'd rather be thrown overboard or given away then spend my time on this ship among you and your men." Elias was growing more and more upset, and was pondering what had led him to be on the island, 'Perhaps that night I spent with the gardener?' He mused as he waited for the captain's response.
Felix hummed for a moment, examining his hands for a moment, then looking calmly at Elias. "Doesn't matter. There's always a use for pretty people like yourself, I promise you. Worst comes to worst, we take you to Tortuga and give you away to the highest bidder." He replied, shrugging one shoulder as he looked down at Elias through half-lidded eyes. "Anyway. You shouldn't have to spend too long here, provided your father pays."
Elias shook his head in disbelief, "Y-you wouldn't dare do a thing like that, I hope." He muttered the last bit under his breath, " I have confidence that my father will pay the price, and if he doesn't well. . ." he paused, trying to come up with something to say, "He will pay for me." Elias chewed on his lower lip nervously, "I hope he will. . .' He turned away from the man and looked through the small porthole, "He wouldn't want to lose me too? Would he?"
Felix looked at him, mouth twisting in a snide little smile. "I'm sure he'll pay for you, rich boy." He replied. "You're the only heir, after all." He shrugged his shoulders, running his hands through his hair. "Not like you're the third son. A spare. Nah, you're the only one. He'll pay just about anything, I wager." He stood, stretching.
Elias didn't respond and just stared down at the waves below, "I hope so." But truly deep down he feared it. Although his father had always talked about him being the next in line to take over the family business, whatever it was, Elias had made it clear that he was not interested. His father had spoken of remarrying lately, and Elias feared that perhaps his father's trip was of business of that sort. He shuddered thinking about it, he would hate to be like his controlling father, in fact at times he despised the man, but now he knew that he needed him and the freedom, "If he doesn't, I understand. I have a feeling that he is trying to replace me." he muttered to himself as he watched the waves, at this moment of his life, he didn't care if they swallowed him up. He just wanted to finally have his freedom from the world.
"Ah, don't say things like that. You're the eldest. Most eldest children inherit." he replied with a shrug, glancing to the door, then over at Elias, sighing and shaking his head a little bit. "In any case. Would you like some water or food, or shall I be off?" he questioned. "And is the waste bucket full yet?" he wasn't going to empty the waste bucket, but he could send the cabin boy or someone to empty it for him.
"No, it isn't, and I will take care of that myself when it is full." Elias muttered, "And food and water would be nice." He continued to gaze out the window, for some reason he felt sort of calm near the waves. When he was younger he would go into hysterics at the thought of boarding a boat. Well, only after the incident, but he preferred to not speak of that at all. "I. . I mean please." he sighed sadly, "Or if not that is fine as well, I must admit I am not that hungry."
"Alright." Felix replied, leaving the room. He returned after a few minutes, and slid some food and water into the brig through a slit in the base of the door. "Here." the food was your typical ship's fare; a biscuit-like wafer, and some dried jerky. Nothing that Elias would be at all used to eating, but stuff that was the standard fare of pirates and mariners.
Elias turned to look away from the window and to the food, "T-thank you." He muttered as he walked over to pick the tray, then took it back over to the bed, "You need not stay and watch me eat, that is necessary, and you have things to take care of, at least I would hope so." He lifted up the biscuit to his lips and took a bite of it, 'Hhm, not bad.' He quickly gobbled the rest down and then just stared the jerky, it didn't look appetizing at all, but he knew better than to just snub the food. He took a small bite of it and tried to hold back a gag, "Oh dear God." He mumbled as he put the meat down on the tray then slid it away from himself and towards the door. "I do think I am finished eating."
Felix nodded a little bit. He left after a few minutes. "Leave the jerky for the rats, then." he called over his shoulder, laughing a little as he imagined Elias's reaction to that. Rats. All ships had rats, it was perfectly normal. But he wasn't sure a prissy little rich boy would know somehting like that.
Elias jumped when he heard the word rats and curled into a ball on his bed, "I am going to die on this ship." The thought of rats terrified him, he'd rather be in the water with things that he couldn't see, and seaweed, and animals. . .Never mind! The rats are fine. he closed his eyes trying to relax, "Mother. . .I-I miss you." He whispered softly a tear rolling down his cheek. "Why did you have to leave?"
Felix went out on deck, shouting out orders as he approached the first mate, talking to him about the spoils that had been divvied up. He took his share, putting it in his cabin. Sure, pirates were thieves, but they knew better than to try and steal from each other.
After what felt like an eternity of lying around and moping Elias decided to work on his plan, hopefully, he'd be able to fool these men easily, and maybe trick them into letting him go. If anything the captain would be his biggest obstacle. He turned his back to the cell door and began to scratch out his ideas on the wall again.
(I know it's short, sorry. I'm about to fall asleep)
(it's fine!)
Felix hummed faintly as he went about the day, writing up the draft of a letter to post to Elias's father. He wrote it in his best handwriting, double-checking all the spelling. He wanted Elias's father to think of him as intelligent and well-written. Which he was.
Elias leaned back and looked through his ideas, "Perfect, now to get them to fall for it." It was a simple plan, he would just have to join the crew - which would definitely be the hardest part of the plan. Then get them to trust him, then when they land at a port or something runoff, wait for the men to leave, and there, now you are a free man! "Now all I need to figure out is a source of money. . .Or I could just figure that on whatever island I escape on." He said as he shrugged, "Maybe this is possible."
Felix finished the letter and sealed it, tucking it away to be mailed when they next made port. Which would be soon. He knew it had to be; the crew was itching to spend all the money they had received, and Felix knew what it would be spent on. Drink. Drink and brothels, if he knew his crew. He wasn't going to judge them for how they spent their money, even if he didn't spend it on the same things.
Elias felt a bit satisfied with his plans as if he still had control over his life in some way. . .well, that control would come if he could convince the captain to let him out of this cell, and get the man to put some trust in him. It was worth a shot, but he figured that captain might not fall for it, he'd have to somehow convince him, but how? If he was after money, he would get that from the ransom money - if there was to be any -, or again from selling him. Elias just shuddered at that thought, "Maybe this is my best bet at the moment." There wasn't too much to do at the moment, so he just pulled the blanket over himself and tried to doze off again, but something just felt off, "Perhaps I should just wait?" He mused to himself, now half-awake.
Felix stomped back out on deck, his boots making clomping sounds. Some of the crew went barefoot for better grip in the rigging, but as he hardly went up the rigging anymore, he had no reason to go barefoot. In any case, going barefoot would result in splinters, and those were never pleasant. He walked to the helmsman, and said that they were going to chart a new course, in order to come into harbor.
Elias pushed those thoughts away, 'No, at least, not really, after all, they were the ones that kidnapped me, so in a way, I would be getting back my rightful freedom.' His thoughts trailed off, 'But even if I somehow got back home, I wouldn't have any freedom at all, in fact it might be worse. I'd be forced into a life I wouldn't want at all.' Then another idea came into his mind, 'I could just stay on whatever island I hide out in, but if this ship ever came into port I'd be fearing for my life.' He shook his head, 'Maybe just getting back home is my best bet at the moment, and probably the safest.'
Our best bet is to send the message, and tell him to respond to the same harbor. Though that means that we must drift in this area, which is a recipe for getting caught… Felix's eyes narrowed in thought as he looked out at the horizon, standing with his hands behind his back. A frown traced his lips as he considered the dilemma.
(If you would like, I play one of his crew members who could maybe come and discuss the situation with him)
