The Thorned Rose

Wearing a red bandanna that clashed with her hair, the woman wore a white shirt that had once been a mans, a few belts held her daggers and other bits and pieces. Stained old breeches and sturdy boots that came up to just below her knees finished off Roses outift. She was already rather tipsy despite the early hour of the morning which suited her, being sober was no real fun at all and she lived for fun. She had a sword upon each hip, cutlasses that had edged sharp teeth on one side clearly designed for hacking and slashing, a fair few pistols hung from the rest of her. Weapons were her business, on her previous ship she’d been their quarter master until a new captain had taken over the ship by force and she’d been marooned for the sin of being female. Never the less it’d take more than that to kill the resourceful red head, pushing open the door her pale blue eyes quickly picked out the unfamiliar faces, this backwater tavern rarely boasted new faces which begged the question what did they want? They were only a small group, perhaps they were recruiting, the idea of being out at sea again was quite tempting, so she’d see how this all panned out, wandering over to the bar and setting some coins down she asked for her usual and wasted little time getting stuck into the strong alcohol.

Blue eyes were focused on the words, the bad light wasn’t making things easy but it wasn’t worth sitting outside and getting heckled by pirates for being able to read. The disgraced nobleman soon gave up on the attempt at reading by candlelight and tucked the book away, now not focused on what he was doing the sounds of a woman trying to teach a man to read garnered his attention. Turning his head, the black haired male picked them out quite quickly, it seemed the male was having difficulty grasping the concept, much to the noblewomans dismay. Intrigued by the odd pair, the man who went by the name of Blackadder leaned back in his chair and absently scratched at the scruff on the side of his jaw, it’d been a while since he’d last shaved and although his attire and looks were in general a little too well groomed for a pirate he appeared comfortable enough in the tavern as it was. Able to read, write, navigate and more, the man was a plethora of information, watching the odd pair, the young man listened and observed.

The dark haired, dark eyed male wandered down the street, dressed a little strangely, the peculiar pale man who went by the name of Ethan or Haytham depending on who you were ended up at the beach once again. He needed to find a way out of this town, it was small and suffocating, the only son of a wealthy man who owned several sugar plantations, Ethan liked to keep on the move. He’d left home at the age of 16 and had joined the ranks of a group who called themselves Assassins, it’d come to light that his father and family were Templars the mortal enemies of the Assassins group and who liked to have control and order. It’d explained a fair few things about his childhood that was for sure, at about 26 or so now he was fully trained and a deadly opponent, getting badly wounded a couple of months ago he’d stayed here to heal and rest up. Spotting the new ship at the jetty, he moved his way around and onto them, studying it with interest, this could be his ticket out of here, it appeared it was named The Thorned Rose, which was an interesting name for what looked like a pirate ship. Pushing his black hair back, the young man decided that he’d wait and see who came back to the ship, and find out if perhaps they’d want to allow him to join them for a while.

Ignoring everything in the bar or at least seeming to, the short battle scarred redhead got stuck into her drink, soon finished she had another very intent on getting as drunk as possible despite the early hour. Once she’d drunk to try to forget her self hate, however these days after everything she could deal with that hate and batter it back a fair bit, things were just more fun when she was drunk. It was easier to open up, bawdy songs and fights often occurred when she was in such a state, it also helped with the heartache that continued to linger deep under the surface. Not looking up when the tavern door creaked open again, it was a familiar voice that caught her attention “Rose you boozy swilltub its not even eleven and you’re well on the way to being absolutely smashed” looking up and giving a wry grin at the familiar woman with jet black hair and green eyes. “Captain Claire, its been a while, what are you doing in a joint like this?” the red head lowered her gaze back down to her half empty mug and downed the rest of it. Claires ship had been the first one she’d joined, she’d been able to put her many skills to work, from experience with the various weapons found on a ship to basic fighting that she’d honed over the years. Surprisingly at being called captain, Claires features saddened “Not much of a captain anymore, lost her” sensing that her old friend didn’t want to talk about what had happened to her ship, Rose gestured to the seat beside her inviting her to join her. “Sit and have a drink Claire, it helps, trust me on that one” her thoughts returned to the specific reason why she’d left the land she’d loved and taken up piracy. It made her features grow hard lest they show any of the weakness that yet remained, pushing her short hair back out of her face she sighed and ordered another setting gold coins down to pay as she went. The noise of a stool being dragged out informed her that her friend was doing as she’d suggested, although rose highly doubted that Claire would drink anything boozy, which left more for herself.


Amused when the female burst out with exasperation, he found out that the male was Adrian, the woman Maria although no name was given to the young bright eyed lad who didn’t really fit in that well with the others. Indeed all of the group were rather an odd fit, his attention caught he stood and made his way over. Not making any apologies for sitting down in an empty seat “What brings such unlikely folks together and to such a backwater joint? That desperate for crew are we?” blue eyes flicked over Adrian before studying the young blond man who with his body guard behind him had to be the captain. It appeared that despite his youth the youngster had managed to wrangle a ship for his own, interesting, his voice was low and cultured, the accent giving him away as a citizen of England. He had no real intention of going into his own backstory and if he was particularly lucky nobody would care, “If you are what I surmised I perhaps could bring some of my own abilities to add to your already varied gathering. I can read, write, navigate, use maps and have been around these islands for several years. I can barter and manipulate others into giving a better deal when it comes to purchasing or selling items.” If they rejected him that was their choice, he had little interest in being heckled either, and so he came across as quite composed.


Watching the ship, taking in its size and mentally calculating what it could carry, someone walked into him from behind, turning around, dark eyes blinked studying the young man who’d walked into him. “Oh I’m sorry, I was just admiring the ship” the only other ships at the small make shift harbour were civilian fishing boats, so he guessed that this male was from the ship “Do you happen to be looking for new members?” although it was clear this youngster wasn’t the captain perhaps he could get him in touch with him. Anything to get off the hunk of rock he’d been stuck on for so long, he could likely prove his worth by telling them that he knew the sugar plantations very well and where the warehouses were that had items of value like sugar which was almost as good as coin in the west indies. Dark clothes made his pale skin look all the whiter, the sound of the seagulls screaming got under his skin a fair bit, the male often finding certain things overwhelming, chewing, birds repeatedly screaming were some of the sound sensory issues that made his teeth grind. IT was not unlike nails being dragged down a black board, there were other things like touch that overwhelmed him quite often too hence why he was picky with his clothes and often kept something familiar in one of his pockets to ground himself.

Watching as Claire ordered a drink and then wrinkled her nose at the state of the mug it was presented in, Rose couldn’t help but just laugh, despite being a pirate captain and the type that wouldn’t hesitate to deball any man who fucked her off she was as still as finicky as a cat. Belching loudly and ignoring the look her friend gave her, Rose glanced at the brunet boy as he suddenly asked if he’d heard the word captain, a slight smirk curled itself onto her lips. Rose who didn’t care if she came across blunt, rude or even arrogant spoke shortly “Claire here is, whats it to you fuzzy?” studying him a few moments a gingery brow rose “You’re the one who’s picked the worlds worst island and small town to try and recruit from.” The named Claire was a fair sight more pretty than her companion, indeed the pair seemed to be a rather odd couple with the short stout scarred pirate and the more lady like captain, the loss of her ship still broke her heart every day and yet after careful thought she’d discovered that there wasn’t much she’d been able to do. Her precious ship sinking still ached, supposed she’d better say something, she spoke in faintly accented tones “This is Rose, drunk most of the time but one of the best pirates I’ve come across.” In her opinion it was true, she’d never come across such a hard working, loyal pirate that could out drink anyone with ease and still cut a man to ribbons whlist completely inebriated. Indeed rose was one of the few she knew whom she’d call a friend and whom she’d trust to guard her back, while the two had completely different fighting styles they made quite a pair and if asked why she believed Rose was one of the best pirates she'd come across, Claire was more than ready to inform the man these details without hesitation. While no one would be able to see Claires various tattoos as most of her body was covered, the island of skye tattooed on Roses chest was in comparison quite easy to see, it was slightly faded suggesting it’d been there a long time but thankfully she’d been lucky enough to avoid any scars to mangle the work.


Watching the boy as he came out with an apology and then seemed to click as to what was going on, his features remained composed as the other male informed him that yes indeed they were looking for crew. He’d attach himself to this crew for a while and go his own way again, coming back to the present when the boys name was given, “A pleasure Mr. Keits, I’m Ethan Richards, most call me Haytham” not that he particularly minded either name, a name was a name, which was simply words upon paper or spoken. He wasn’t that bothered by the awkward speaking and the way he’d repeated himself but in different ways, not all people were good at social interaction and so he just presumed this was the case with young Thomas. Twitching slightly as the noise of the gulls grew louder, the surprisingly sensitive dark man ran his fingers over the soft jade that he kept in that pocket, the smooth cool stone with its ridges was getting more and more smoothed the more he fiddled with it in his pocket. It helped drown out the aggravating noise of the gulls, inhaling and counting out in his head five familiar smells that he knew and liked he let himself meditate upon them briefly. The comforting noise of the ship rocking in the water and creaking aided him, and soon enough the subtle tension had faded away, during his stay here he’d allowed his hair to grow long again and an absent part of his mind informed himself that he needed a hair cut. However he was quick to yank his mind away from such trivial matters and instead focused once more on Mr Keits, a slight smile present on his features.

Narrowing her eyes as she was called ‘the ever-so graceful Rose’ the bad tempered battle scarred rowdy woman decided right then and there that he was an idiot. Why else would he attempt to charm someone who quite obviously had no interest in such things, however when he mentioned it almost being fate to meet her here she snorted loudly and snickered with laughter.   “You must be a fucking idiot mate, aint no such thing as fate. We make our own paths and choices” many men in this day and age were superstitious which only made her want to laugh, there was no grand being that presided over everything, no god, no nothing. All there was in the world were people constantly thieving, manipulating and doing whatever they could to come out on type, how different were they from animals after all? They fought tooth and claw for the exact same things, territory, high rank and reprdoducing, it was rather pathetic after all but then again she herself was in the same bitter fight except she had lower expectations. Strong alcohol was enough for her, and the odd tangle in the sheets with someone every now and then, ordering another drink she set herself for ignoring the brunet after all Claire could deal with him.
Quirking a black brow at the mans attempt at charm, green eyes remained frosty, he introduced himself and although she committed the name to memory as of now she cared naught at all about what he was droning on about. His enticing smile had no effect on the woman who appeared so cold and frosty when moments before when just talking with rose she’d been relaxed and almost friendly. Spinning the glass of tepid water about on the bench his probing questions where only half listened to, she didn’t care if she came across cold and slash or arrogant, she wasn’t out to make friends with every busybody with a pretty smile and an assload of questions. “The Entire crew was Female, Rose was my quarter master for a long while” one of the few people that knew of the Scottish redheads backstory Claire had no inclination of sharing it with this youngster. While she’d escaped many of the scars Rose had, Claire was far more of a loner than her friend, and with her ship sunk there was no one else apart from her that she had in the world to consider a friend.


A soft short laugh escaped the dark man when the boy wrinkled his nose at the use of ‘Mr. Keits’ it seemed the male was quite a few number of years younger than himself who was by most standards considered a little old being in his late twenties. So much had occurred in those years that had changed him in many ways from the boy he had once been. Nodding at the offer of him joining Thomas on the ship, Haytham smiled “That sounds like a good plan” following Thomas onto the ship his experienced dark eyes flicked about. It was in good enough order although it appeared it needed some repairs done, those would probably be done before the ship left the small harbour anyway. Leaning against the railing in the sun, his quiet subtle smile remained upon his features, he quite enjoyed being out in the sun again, the warm wood warmed his hands and was a familiar welcome feeling. His eyes had closed while he’d soaked up the sun and so now he reopened them looking over at the youngster “What would you like to know, Thomas?” he disliked shortening names, even though that’d gotten him called old-fashioned he believed if anything it was fairly rude to do so. Lifting his hands he pulled his thick black hair back into a loose pony tail to keep it out of his face as the teasing light wind kept trying to blow strands of it into his face.

Amusement made its way onto Claires lips for a brief moment when he mentioned that rose was the embodiment of the name of his ship, studying him as he rather earnestly complimented them. Rather wary of said compliments as so many had been made with ill intentions, the black haired lass lost the slight smile when he brought up the fact that she’d spoken in past tense. Resuming watching the glass she spun on the bar top she didn’t say anything, instead she focused on making it spin, what had happened still was too much of a fresh wound to be talked about so openly. So she stayed quiet, Rose picking up on her friends mindset looked back up and studied the man “You want crew for yer ship? Fine, we’ll join, anything to get out of this shit hole.” If he turned out to be as stupid as first impressions then it’d be little effort to pirate the ship away from the pirate captain and take it for themselves. Over time the jeers and mocks had meant less and less to her, and it’d become easier and easier to challenge those that did and prove them wrong about what a woman and a blade could do, the feisty red-head was quite proud of her abilities and wasn’t one to tolerate what she considered bullshit. She herself didn’t know what had happened to Claire, claires ship and claires crew, but it seemed that whatever had happened had left the dark haired woman reluctant to talk about it. Perhaps in the future when she’d healed some, after all rose had been more than aware that the womans ship had been her pride and joy, scratching the shoulder that had the worst scarring the grumpy Scottish woman studied the self proclaimed captain josh. Deciding that despite the fact that he came across as a kiss ass, she got up from her stool rather nimbly for someone who’d been shoving as much rum into their gullet as they could “Lets go take a looksie at the ship Bear” the familiar nickname slipped out and got the red head scowled at for it. However she just grinned and started wandering off, she’d find the ship and go over it to satisfy her own curiosity, she preferred knowing the ship she was on like it was the back of her hand inside and out. Claire decided to stay, considering breaking her self promise of no alcohol, an extreme light weight it only took one or two mugs of rum to get her drunk and doing stupid things.


Dark brown eyes that were almost black focused on the smiling boy, he supposed wanting to know his background was probably a good sign that the members of this ship were switched on. “Fair enough, I’ll try not to bore you too much with it all” quietly considering what parts of his past were worth mentioning and what parts weren’t he finally began talking “I have plenty of knowledge about the sugar cane plantations, and know who owns what and how much. I have over ten years experience in fighting, unarmed, pistols, knives, swords and more, I’ve been on about three ships over the past six years from working on a pirate ship to working as a blade for hire paid to protect merchant ships. Do ask more questions if I’ve missed out anything you’d like to know more about Thomas” although he’d keep most of the details to himself he could give broad details he supposed if it was needed. He quite honestly disliked the itchy feeling of the scruff growing on his jaw, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. Sure any one of his knives was sharp enough but he preferred to have a mirror handy so he didn’t do any irreparable damage.

Half listening as Joshua rambled on about the other people who worked on the ship, Rose was far more interested in the various weapons, not really giving a shit that she wasn’t the quartermaster, rose took it upon herself to vanish below decks and investigate the cannons that rested upon the lower decks. After that she made her way towards the hold, one could tell many things about a captain from the contents of their cargo hold, also being rathe rnosy she was quite keen to scope everything out. Eventually above deck again, the woman mourned the lack of any swivel cannons or mortars, there had been some chain shot as well as heavy shot however she was a firm believer in a variety of weapons hence her pistols as well as her ensemble of weaponry. Noticing a familiar form out of the corner of her eye, Rose brightened up and walked over to Claire, greeting her with a grin   “hey bear, finally caught up I see, Ready to return to your one true love?” her voice and gaze was a little gentler when she spoke with her friend than when she’d spoken to Joshua. Claire after all was a friend, one of the rare few people in her life that had gotten underneath her thick prickly front the red head put up to keep herself safe. Rewarded with an amused smile, Claire nodded “Yes, it’ll be good to be out on the waves once more” and with that she busied herself with climbing up the main mast to perch up in the crows nest far above the wooden deck and enjoying the breathtaking view from such a vantage point.


After talking with the others and in the end deciding that he would indeed join this ship despite its motley crew, Lord Blackadder walked through the streets with his well worn pack over his shoulders. Stepping on board he spent about five minutes studying everything and then walked towards the bow of the ship and sat himself down leaning against the railings and taking out a book that he began reading immediately. Very much in hope that he wouldn’t be talked too for a while, his blue gaze was soon caught by the black words painstakingly written upon the pages. Absently chewing on his thumbnail as he read, the man didn’t really look much like a nobleman anymore, he had an earring in one ear and his clothes were no longer the fine clothes he’d left home in but he was still dressed a far sight better than the rest of the people on board the vessel in his opinion. His heavy black coat in the end was set over his pack as it was really too hot in this climate to be wearing a coat in the sun, one of his feet tapped out a random beat whilst he hungrily devoured the words upon the page engrossed in his book he didn’t hear the world around him.


There was a really good reason why he hated personality tests, on every single one of them he came back as a bad person, there was the fact that he was a cold blooded murderer but that was his day job. Even so he was a little amused by the fact that Thomas had decided to take his word that he was a good person, he could have easily lied if he’d wanted to after all, thankfully by his own standards Ethan was a good person. He bloodied his blades for the good of the general populace, ever shamed by the fact that his father and family were all templars and he was the only one who was on the good side, there seemed to be more and more reasons stacking up in his mind why he didn’t like personality tests. Looking over as a young man, two young women, and a young man in a dark black coat walked on the ship he was rather surprised to find out that the young boyish looking male was the captain of the ship. Unlike most however, Ethan was not one to judge by outward appearances, rather it was acts and deeds that proved your worth in his books “A pleasure to meet you, Joshua” still bound by the politeness rules he’d learnt growing up he offered his hand to the young man with a politely warm although perhaps a little distant smile.

Thinking to herself she didn't really register that someone was talking to her, so when she did it took a few moments to sink in. Glancing over at the older man as he introduced himself as the quarter master of the ship. His name was Liam Talbot he claimed adding that he was also resident baby sitter, those muttered words caused a slightly cold smirk to break the neutral look on her features. However now she knew that she was bound by social niceties to reply "Claire Beaumont, My friend is Rose Mckinnan" neither of them held any position on this ship but it didn't bother her. It just meant that she knew Rose wouldn't stay with the ship long, she thrived when she had a purpose a role to fulfill, but she wouldn't say anything about it, there was no point, although she was more than aware of how Rose was goign to act towards everyone the prickly woman was defensive and thorny and for good reason, knowing her friends past as she did.

The very polite quiet pirate gave his name "I'm haytham" he didn't feel the need to give his last name, last names didn't really matter in the scheme of things here. He added quietly "I'll leave you to it, and go acquaint myself with the ship" he disliked being in the spotlight, or being the center of attention. With that he made his slight smile grow a little before wandering off to explore the ship, heading off he soon vanished below the deck of the ship. Used to how cramped things were below the top deck of a ship, he made his way through the various layers of the ship until he had a general idea of where everything was. Finding the bunks crammed in where the crew all slept he selected one that appeared to be unowned and sat down on it with a sigh, he'd be okay, he'd left home and could fight well he'd do fine here.