Mirror plot II.

[stuck_mynock]

When the morning comes, Atton's gone, but there are two rather ragged and thin looking pirates poking Will with their feet.

"Get up," one says (he's very shrill). "You're to report to the quartermaster, down on deck four."

Comments

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Follow the sound of drunken cheering and you should find the mess hall fairly easily."

[will_scarlett]

"Thank ye."

Will stands up and gives another small bow before heading out.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

The halls of the ship are practically deserted, but sure enough, there is a very distant sound of people cheering drunkenly.

[will_scarlett]

So Will heads towards it, this gives him time to think and he pulls out the key from Arcadia, he wishes he knew how to make it work again. This whole ship just makes him nervous and sad.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

The glow from the key is a whole lot brighter than it was when he first arrived. The dim, barely there glow has become a light bright enough to make a respectable torch.

[will_scarlett]

That is at least slightly reassuring to Will and he tucks the key back.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

As he reaches the mess hall, a man wanders past him, peering at him closely for a moment.

"Is - is the red boy," he slurs, reaching over with one leg to nudge Will's knees. "I break your legs. I - I break them." Will gets another light nudge before the man, apparently satisfied, heads off down the corridor again.

[will_scarlett]

Will just stares down the man,

"Course ye will, go sleep it off."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

There's a vague murmur of agreement from the man as he rounds a corner and moves out of sight.

[will_scarlett]

Then he looks around the mess hall, the way he holds himself is a challenge to any, try me if you dare as he moves towards the food.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Some of the pirates seem cowed, and go back to eating, nervously. Others, less so. A few start pacing about, forming a wide circle around Will - wide enough that it might seem to be completely innocent and accidental, to some.

[will_scarlett]

Not to Will and he just glares at them, he's tired and wants off this ship but he'll fight them if he needs to.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

A few crack their knuckles and shrug off their jackets, but none of them move towards Will. At the moment, they seem to be testing their boundaries and seeing how far they can go with threatening him.

[will_scarlett]

Since none of them approach, Will just moves through the circle and gets some food, its clear he's not terribly impressed.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

While he's getting his food, one particularly eager pirate - about Will's age with fair hair and a small build - rushes for him from behind, trying to get an arm around his neck to choke him.

[will_scarlett]

Will hears the sound of his footsteps and sidesteps before slamming the kid into the food,

"Nice try, lad."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Practically everyone in the room bursts into laughter. The pirate, going red, tries to swing at Will.

[will_scarlett]

So Will sighs and punches the kid in the stomach,

"'ave to learn to be faster."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

The pirate doubles over and drops to his knees. He won't, it seems, be getting up for a while.

For some of the other pirates, there's a vague air of approval. For others, it just seems to make them try to be more threatening.

[will_scarlett]

Will grew up on the streets of Nottingham, this is too familiar and goes to get his food.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

A couple of the pirates seem to communicate something to each other with looks and small nods, but they all keep their distance, for the moment.

Until, at least, a rather older pirate sits down next to Will.

"Evening. You're the captain's latest recruit, right?"

[will_scarlett]

"Aye, since I'm na dead."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Shrug.

"Ray would've gone sooner or later. He wasn't a good pirate - he was good at killing, but not much else."

[will_scarlett]

"Wasna a terribly smart one then?"

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Not the brightest one, no."