forum Totally Not Pirates of the Caribbean 1x1 (Closed)

Started July 05, 2020 by @Calanthe

tune

Nathaniel cautiously stepped towards Felix. He was still getting used to being aboard the ship, and the captain scared him a bit. He could be genuinely nice and kind to the crew, but in a flash, well he saw how he had behaved towards their captive. He had grown tired of watching the other men chart the course to, well he wasn't even sure, the men never really told him anything, although that really didn't bother him. "Uhm, C-captain?" He began, "Y-you look a bit tense, is there anything we could do?" He figured that perhaps the man just needed to vent or something, or if anything just say that he needed to be left alone.

Felix glanced up. "Ah, Nathaniel." He greeted. "Nothing. Just trying to figure out some logistical issues." He replied, flashing a quick smile, and then frowning a little as he tried to figure out what to do about this. He knew he needed a way to communicate with Elias's father, but also he didn't want to get caught.

Nathaniel nodded, "If I may ask, is about that rich man you are holding for ransom?" There wasn't much else for the captain to worry about. The crew members were all in good moods and excited to spend their money, so he figured that that must be it, "Well, the sooner you get rid of him the better. He doesn't seem too nice, and he's probably stuck up." He muttered the last bit, he had never really liked the upper class, mainly just from what he had heard about them, and how cruel they were.

Felix nodded. "Yes. I'm trying to figure out how to communicate about the ransom with his father." he ignored Nathaniel's last comment, not deeming it worth an argument. "I don't quite know how to communicate without us getting too easily caught."

Nathaniel nodded, "That must be difficult, but I'm sure you've handled things like this before, right?" He looked up at his leader, "And if you haven't I'm sure you'll figure out a smart way to do it. Perhaps if you just send the letter to a harbor, then request for him to meet you at another harbor have him send the money, then you give the boy over? But no navy or anything? But then again, I really do not know anything about this sort of thing. But I'm sure you'll get done." He had begun to ramble again, it was one of his worst habits, he'd just start talking nonsense about nothing, and then people would grow angry with him over his incessant chattering.

Felix sighed. "Yes, I could say that, however there would be no guarantee that he wouldn't send the navy, and I would rather us not get captured and hanged." He replied, looking down at Nathaniel. "It isn't something that sounds very enjoyable to me, and I'm sure it doesn't to you either."

"HHm, what if you threatened to harm or disfigure the man if he did, or just kill him if he did? But then again, that could lead to another run-in with the navy, right?" This stuff was complicated, no wonder the captain never took hostages, "Why did you kidnap this guy then? For as long as I've been aboard, you've never done anything like this at all. You just plunder and pillage towns and ports, then destroy everything in the town." The lad sighed thoughtfully, "Do you think he is even worth much? Or worth the trouble?"

Felix sighed faintly. "I wanted to try something new. In addition, his father is quite well off, so I thought we could get a good bounty from that." he explained. "And yes, a threat could work, but only if he values his son's, say, fingers. Or eyes. Or life." he shrugged his shoulders, squinting against the sun.

Nathaniel nodded, "I understand that, and I do think that maybe it would work, most fathers do not want their children, hurt like that. I would think, I guess." He shrugged, "Maybe threats could work, I feel like he might fall for them, especially if you, I don't know to have some proof that you have and might hurt him, that might work?"

"Yes, but what sort of proof?" Felix questioned. "Perhaps some of his hair to prove that we have him could work…" he trailed off, running his hands through his hair, then looking at Nathaniel for a moment, considering.

"Hair is easy to come by though, and if he left some strands of his own at the manor the hair could be inspected, although they might not figure it out." Nathaniel smiled a bit, "Or just having him know what you are willing to do with the boy might work? Who knows, you might not have to do anything to him at all."

"I think just sending a clipping of hair might work. He should recognize his own son's hair, yes?" Felix replied. "I can't exactly send anything else without it becoming far too difficult to do, or causing physical harm. Which, I don't want to resort to that right away."

"That would probably do wonderfully then if the man would even let you or any of us get close enough to him to get some hair from him." If Nathaniel had ben captain, he honestly would have done much worse to the boy, perhaps he was just ruthless or a terrible person, but he didn't want anyone like Elias on the ship. It would ruin the ambiance of a pirate ship, and it was dangerous to have him aboard. But he couldn't and wouldn't say a word about it to Felix, after all being a child means your say really doesn't matter that much. He was still surprised that Felix hadn't just ignored him.

(By the way, I should have said this earlier, but I'm pretty chill with whatever happens to Elias, not that I'm a sadist or anything, but like with that era, well you know. So, uhm yeah)

(lol alright)

Felix nodded. "We can knock him out if we have to. I just am reluctant to harm him because it could invite…trouble. The mere threat of harm should be enough. Remember, all we're after is the money from the ransom; torturing or hurting him is not our goal." he looked at Nathaniel carefully.

Nathaniel groaned, "I understand though, he must be very annoying though, how do you deal with him?" He could tell that the captain was growing annoyed, "N-Never mind, I'll stop talking about him." He chewed at his lower lip, perhaps he was just being rude about this man, but still weren't those people all the same?

Felix shrugged. "I deal with it by not staying in the same room." He replied with a shrug. "It doesn't matter whether or not I like him, though. I just need to tolerate him until we can get the ransom for him. After that, he'll be gone again forever and it won't matter."

Nathaniel nodded, listening to the captain, he had a lot to learn about dealing with others. At least he thought, he had his thoughts on others and he felt like having that was fine, it wasn't hurting anyone, except maybe himself, but then again, if his dream was to be a captain of his own ship, he would have to put these thoughts to the side. "I understand," he said quietly.

Felix nodded a little bit. "Good. You never want to hurt captives anymore than you have to. It invites being pursued and chased by the navy, especially if the person is important, whereas unharmed ransom captives typically are just paid for and that is that."

"I see, but then aren't you still inviting the navy to come after you by taking a hostage? Wouldn't it be wise to then not take any hostages at all?" Nathaniel wrinkled his nose in confusion, "I don't think I'll ever understand this type of stuff. If I ever become a captain, I'll just take what I want, not who I can get money from, it's much less complicated." He shook his a bit, "But then again, you are the captain for a reason, right?"

He laughed a little bit. "Yeah, I'm captain for a reason. I would only be inviting the navy if, for instance, we had kidnapped a prince. Typically, the navy is only really deployed in earnest if we take someone more….important, or more people total. For just one lower-ranked noble, it won't be a true search."

"I guess that makes sense, but if someone is being held hostage, shouldn't they come to handle it? Or is that not a thing that they do?" Nathaniel was just pretty curious about this stuff, it was, in a way, interesting to him, "But still, a noble is a noble, so why not come and. . .never mind, that'd be bad for us." He shook his head, "I guess I just won't do hostages if I ever become a captain, they are way too complicated."

"Technically yes, but it's rather a waste of resources to go after every minor noble that gets kidnapped, especially when most are returned with relatively no harm done, so long as the ransom is paid." he pointed out. "It's only if there's violence or a group that's been taken when the navy is really deployed in full force."

"Ah, I understand. So if kidnap someone very important then you are in trouble, if not, you should be fine?" Nathaniel said nodding, "Okay, I get it now, but what if the father chooses not to pay? Or has someone come after us? What would you do then?"

"Exactly." Felix replied with a nod. "If the father chooses not to pay, we'll sell him. There are plenty of places that would purchase a guy like him for a decent amount of money. And if someone comes after us…I suppose it depends on who comes after us."