Fantasy Caught in the Waves (Closed)

[SheLuvsMusic]

Peter nodded, unsure what to think of that. He was aware that he wasn't unattractive. The times he went to shore sometimes awarded him with glances from women, and sometimes a flirtation or two, but most of the time he opted to ignore them or attributed the stares to the fact he just looked different than the standard city dweller. His mother used to call him handsome, but that was what mother's were supposed to do. He did know he didn't look like a lot of the other men on this ship. They were not all ugly, but there were quite a few who were not exactly something to look at either. He often supposed he stood out among them, but maybe nothing more.

"Good different," he said with a nod. "Happier. The sun likes you." He felt a bit guilty about all of this, seeing their faces up here. It was a small taste of freedom for them. Sometimes this life didn't always agree with him, but he couldn't abandon Tom. The man had given him so much, and it wasn't like he fit in anywhere else.

At the sound of the men being riled up by Josephine's comment, he sighed and shook his head. Perverted lot they were. It was better they joke about it than actually attempt anything, though. "Ignore them. Come on." He didn't notice Josephine risk a glance over her shoulder at Alec as they passed.

Peter showed them to the captain's quarters first. It was smaller than Josephine had anticipated, but it had all of the expected things. A table, a bed, a desk. And of course, the tub. It was blocked off from the rest of the room with a small room divider and already full with clean water, though it was cold. She waited for the other two to leave, listened for the sound of the key turning in the lock. The minute she heard it, she tugged off her tattered clothes, sighing with relief when she got the corset off. She hadn't been without it all week. The water in the tub was cold, but she welcomed the opportunity to scrub the dirt and grease away, washing her hair, and rinsing away the blood from her fall out of the carriage when they were taken. Five minutes, Josie, she thought. You have five minutes to enjoy this and then you need to find a way to get a message to Alec.

Satisfied that Josephine wouldn't be disturbed behind a locked door, Peter showed Ella to where they kept the sails that needed mended. He handed her one along with some thread and a needle. "You'll probably be better at this than any of the men here. Did you and your sister ever have to practice embroidery growing up?" He always thought it was sort of a silly activity. Sure, it made things prettier, and there were times when a stitch or two were helpful, but he imagined there more useful ways a little girl could spend her time.

 

[AvianJen]

Ella beamed at Peter. She was practically glowing in the sun, a combination of the light and happiness at finally getting a little bit of freedom. She did love the sun, and it felt so warm against her skin. So unlike the damp darkness she had grown accustomed to during their imprisonment. "Thanks," she murmured, turning back around briefly to admire the ocean. "It's wonderful." She imagined it would get a little warm to spend all day in the sun with hardly any shade, and her and Josie's skin wasn't accustomed to prolonged exposure to the sun, but the warmth truly was delightful. "Thanks for letting us out. It's really nice of you." She would have thanked the captain, too, but she didn't see where he was.

She blushed slightly, glancing around at the other pirates. Some of them looked rather frightening, and Ella found herself feeling grateful that it was Peter who had been charged with taking care of them. It was a relief now more than ever that the captain had ordered they not be touched, though Ella didn't doubt that some of these men would take the first opportunity to take advantage of her and Josie if they had the chance. If they knew they wouldn't get caught. But as far as she knew, no one had the key to their cell apart from Peter and maybe the captain, so that was comforting...kinda. But maybe she wouldn't take her clothes back off when they went downstairs again, just in case. She nodded at Peter's instruction to ignore them and followed him, careful not to make eye contact with anyone.

To Ella, the captain's quarters seemed rather luxurious, especially compared to where they had been staying. It wasn't as nice as Ella's bedroom back home, but with her current perspective it felt like a palace. She looked around briefly but didn't linger so that Josie could get started with her bath- she was happy to see him lock the door to make sure no one would go in and invade her privacy. Again, she turned to follow Peter, taking the needle and thread from him.

"Of course," she said, shrugging as she looked through the sails to find the tears. "I'm afraid I've never been very good, but this shouldn't be too hard." It was almost relaxing to sit and sew when she wasn't worried about creating a picture or imagining how others would critique her work. There were a few holes that were already sloppily stitched up, and Ella was sure she could do better. She plopped down on the ground with the sail and began to sew, finding the repetitive motion quite welcome. "Can you tell me another story?" she requested of Peter, glancing up from her work hopefully. "What have you seen at sea besides mermaids?"

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Peter leaned against a wall and watched Ella make work of the sail. She didn't need to be good, just sufficient. In any case, she was better than the others. He hadn't seen somebody work a needle with such proficiency in years, despite what she claimed. "To be honest, I never really understood why girls had to do that sort of thing. My sister was more like a tom boy. She'd poke your eye out if you tried giving her a needle. Mum tried, but gave up after a while."

He looked up to her face when she requested another story. Never before had a prisoner been so eager to talk to him. It was very unusual. "Are you always so talkative?" he asked, trying to think of something he could tell her about, since she was so interested in hearing it. "I'm not really sure what would interest a lady. There's a lot out here that isn't very nice to hear. Storms, and sword fights, and sharks... we almost got capsized by a whale once. That was frightening."

When Josie finished cleaning herself up, she rose out of the tub and grabbed a towel. She wrapped it around herself tightly and tiptoed around the room. It was silly of her, trying to be sneaky and quiet when she was all alone, and like somebody would be able to hear her footsteps with the sound of waves and wind outside. Still, she couldn't help but feel the need to be careful. Even if the door was locked, and the shutters on the one window in the room were closed, she was terrified of getting caught.

Making her way to the desk, she opened a drawer and found a pile of paper. She took one and the quill from its ink and then stared at the blank page, at a loss for what she could possibly write. There were so many things she wanted to say, so many questions she had for him. She poised the quill over the paper, and then wrote three short phrases.

"How is father?
Have you gone mad?
I love you"

It was choppy and short, but it was all she could fit onto a piece of paper she knew she could hide well in the sleeves of her gown. She would find a way to pass it to him somehow.

 

[AvianJen]

Ella shrugged, smirking a little bit. "I don't know, I guess it's just something to do. Someone needs to know how to sew." Things always needed mending, and even though high class ladies like Josephine and Ella weren't usually the ones who mended things like clothes, it was still considered a "womanly art." "I also play piano," Ella told him as she continued her sewing. Music was also something that women were trained in, whether it was singing or an instrument, but Ella had a natural talent for it. "Where is your sister now?" she asked curiously.

She had to laugh when he asked if she was always this talkative, and she shook her head. "Not really. But I'm always this curious. I'm just talkative when there's things I want to know. I like knowing things." Ella had lots of room in her head for random facts and interesting stories, and she had the feeling that Peter knew quite a few fascinating things. She stopped sewing, glancing up at him with raised eyebrows when he mentioned the whale. "A whale," she repeated. Then came the giggles, as she tried in vain to imagine the scene. "Wow." She shook her head and returned to her sewing, thinking about what he could tell her.

"I'm interested in everything," she informed him truthfully. Swordfights and sharks sounded just as interesting as mermaids. Well, maybe saying they were as interesting as mermaids was exaggerating, but she still didn't know much about what life was like at sea. They would probably be there for a while longer before they got to go home, and Ella really liked being above deck- maybe if she was extra nice, the captain would let her and Josephine stay up here during the day.

Ella was decently efficient at sewing, and she finished up the first sail pretty quickly. She glanced around, wondering if Josie was coming back or if they were supposed to go check on her when she was done. Ella felt nervous leaving her sister alone for so long after the pirates had been looking at them, but besides that, she was more than ready for her own bath.

"How much longer should we give Josie?" she asked Peter, pulling the next sail over to her lap and getting started on it. "I'm sure she's done by now." From where she sat she could see Alec on the other side of the ship, still scrubbing away but it looked like he was almost done. He wasn't stumbling anymore, and Ella noticed that every so often he glanced up and looked around. Ella knew who he was looking for.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

"You're not wrong," Peter acknowledged, but smiled when she mentioned the piano. "Pity we don't have a piano on board. The men and I like to sing, though. Mostly when we're drunk." When they did go on land, he did enjoy the sound of a live instrument, whether it was a piano at the pub or a small orchestra on the streets. He quite enjoyed Christmas carolers, too.

When Ellla asked him about his sister, he frowned. He liked to reflect on the positive aspects of his childhood. but her question reminded him of the parts he would rather forget. He was silent for a moment, then cleared his throat. Pointedly ignoring her question, he moved on to the next topic of conversation, hoping it would not come up again. He had to remember that this girl was not his friend, as charming as she was. It was not wise to over share or get comfortable.

"You would make a good university student," he commented. If universities would ever allow women, that is. "I hope you find a way to put your mind to good use when all of this is over and not just settle for the status quo. Marriage might ruin you, I think," he said with a small smile, only meaning the best by it. Some people just weren't suited for that life, and it would be a shame to see somebody who obviously had a brain, or at least a willingness to learn, waste it just to give some spoiled rich man a few kids.

Josephine was just finishing with her gown when she heard the knock on the door. "You all done in there?" Peter called.

"Just a moment!" She rolled up the piece of parchment as small as she could and stuck it inside her sleeve. She then ran her fingers through her hair, trying to detangle it, before tying it up in a wet braid and then off her shoulders. "Alright," she said. "You can come in."

When the door opened she looked up at Peter and gave him a nod. "Thank you," she said, somewhat reluctantly. She felt somewhat nervous about leaving Ella alone in here. It was one thing up on deck where she was out in the open and nobody could try anything, but leaving her down here, even with the door locked, made her worried. "It's your turn," she said. "Would you rather I stay with you?"

 

[AvianJen]

Ella smiled, imagining a bunch of drunken pirates standing around her as she played the piano. That would be an experience, for sure. But she had no desire to be among drunken pirates, and as he'd just said, there was no piano. "Drunk often, are you?" she teased, raising an eyebrow at him. Ella had never been drunk- Father had allowed her and Josephine a glass of wine at dinner occasionally, but she'd never really enjoyed the stuff and was perfectly content without it. "What songs do you sing?" she asked him.

Of course she noticed when he didn't answer her question about his sister, but Ella was smart enough to know when to take a hint. She didn't want to push him. The goal was to get him to like her.

"University?" In all honesty, Ella had never given thought to attending school. She and her sister had a basic education- they both knew how to read and write and perform simple arithmetic, but actually being a student had never crossed her mind. It just wasn't done, but now that Peter mentioned it, it sounded like a wonderful idea. An impossible one, but wonderful. "I would like to do something like that," she said thoughtfully. "But you know how it is. Marriage isn't really a choice." She shrugged, trying to decide how much she should reveal. "It's fine, I have to do it. If Josie gets her way she won't be marrying for money, and we need it. I just hope it's someone who likes to...do things. Someone that isn't content just sitting around and being passive." Ella was pretty sure that when Father saw how much Alec and Josephine loved each other, he would allow them to marry. Josie was right in thinking that it would further limit Ella's options, but it was just the way it was.

After finishing up with the second sail, she bounced to her feet and followed Peter back to the captain's quarters to check on Josie. She peered inside, smiling when she saw her sister. She looked much better. Ella hesitated when Josie asked if she wanted her to stay, but after a moment of hesitation she nodded. The pirates snickering earlier had really set her on edge, and she didn't want to be by herself. "Well, I'll need help with my dress again," she reasoned, smiling a bit. She closed the door on Peter with her and Josie inside, and then started taking her dress off again. The water in the tub was cold and not the cleanest, since Josie had gone first, but it still felt amazing. She took her time, scrubbing her body with a coarse bar of soap and washing her hair. This was probably going to be the only bath she had in quite a while, so she wanted to make it a good one.

"Nobody came in and bothered you?" she asked Josie as she was bathing, wanting to make sure. If something had happened she figured it would be the first thing to come out of Josephine's mouth, but she was a little nervous about it.

When she was clean, she had Josie help her button her dress back up and tied her hair up to keep it from dripping down her back. It would dry quickly in the sunlight. "Are you ready to go?" she asked Josephine, unsure if they should wait for Peter or if it was okay to go back to the sails on their own.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Peter couldn't help a smile. "Only sometimes. What else is there to do for fun around here?" He didn't abuse it like some of the men, but life at sea was too hard not to partake at least a little bit. "Something tells me a lady wouldn't know any of the songs we pirates like to sing. They're quite crass. Not exactly anything a woman would like to hear, I assume. Sometimes we just make them up, and well.. the men can be very imaginative. Maybe you can sing your own tune at dinner tonight," he suggested. "I'm sure the captain would be amused. It might help you win some more favors around here."

He didn't look too amused with her reaction on marriage. "That seems like a waste," he said. It almost seemed like she was just as much a prisoner at home than she was here. A slave to duty and social customs. He didn't press it any further, however. It wasn't his place. He just escorted her back to her sister and let the two of them have their moment.

Josie gladly stayed behind with Ella. She wasn't sure how she felt being alone with Peter. She was certainly not as comfortable with that as Ella was, and at least here she could keep a watchful eye on her to make sure nothing happened. "No, nothing happened," she said, turning her back while her sister undressed and cleaned herself up. She walked around the room, studying whatever she came across with vague interest. With all these room to roam she didn't want to go back to the cell. "Nothing happened out there, did it?"

When she was done, she helped her back into her dress. "No," she said. "But I suppose we'll have to leave here sometime." When she opened the door, Peter was waiting outside. A part of her was annoyed at his constant hovering, but also glad to have a chaperone who could keep the others away. The three of them sat while she and Ella finished up some sewing, Josephine occasionally looking up to spy on Alec. The note was burning a hole in her sleeve.

She found an opportunity to pass it to him on their way back to the cell after they were done sewing. As they were walking by him, she pretended to lose her footing, purposefully falling into him. "Sorry," she said, quickly passing the note from her sleeve into the palm of his hand as she pretended to forget herself and used his arm to get herself back up. Just that little touch sent a surge of joy through her, but she did well to mask it. She quickly backed up, pretending to remember where she was and look embarrassed, even a bit fearful. Their secret relationship meant she had gotten to be quite the actor over time.

"Careful," Peter said.

 

[AvianJen]

Ella smirked, shrugging. "I don't know, you tell me," she joked. "And you keep making assumptions- a lady wouldn't like this, a lady wouldn't like that. Stop it, will you? I'm not quite so easily offended as my sister." She smiled at him; her tone wasn't rude, more teasing, but she was entirely serious. Ella didn't think she was a "lady" in the stereotypical sense of the word. The suggestion that she sing something tonight at dinner made her laugh, and she shook her head. "No, I'm not the best singer. But I would like to come upstairs more often, if we don't get to go home soon." Being cooped up down in that dark cell was absolutely terrible. There was only so much talking that she and Josie could do, and it was cold. Ella hated being cold.

"A waste?" His words perplexed her, and she wasn't quite sure what to make of them. Ella had never thought that she might be better served somewhere else, or that she had anything that would be going to waste if she got married to a rich man and lived the life that was expected of her. No one had ever encouraged her to think differently, because that was always the plan for her life. There were no other options...especially now. She opened her mouth to ask how much the pirates were asking for her and Josephine's return, but she decided she'd better not ask. She didn't want to know.

Josephine was so funny. Ella smiled as she slipped into the tub, happy to hear that no one had bothered her. "Nothing happened out there either," she confirmed. "We just talked, and I sewed a bit. Peter thinks marriage would ruin me." She spoke with a dramatic accent, flipping back her hair and shaking her head. Funny.

The captain's quarters were comfortable. There was a bed, and Ella's entire body ached just looking at it. She longed to lay down and rest, just for an hour or so, but she knew that would be crossing a line. The captain had been uncommonly generous in allowing them in here, and she didn't want to risk not being let upstairs again. She didn't want to go back downstairs.

The rest of the sewing went by too quickly. Alec continued to watch the girls out of the corner of his eye, but the time passed too quickly for his liking as well. Before he knew it, both of the girls were being led downstairs again. Ella was complaining, as usual. He turned his eyes to the ground as they walked past, but Josephine startled him. He grunted, feeling himself being knocked backwards, and then there was a tiny piece of paper in his hand. It happened so fast, but he clenched his fists and stuffed his hands into his pockets, looking sheepish. "My fault, miss," he grumbled, turning away from her. If he didn't, he was afraid he might give them away. What was she doing?

Safely tucked away in his pocket, the note felt like it weighed a ton. He felt like he might die having to wait until nightfall to read it, but it was still only his first day on board. Alec wasn't willing to take any risks just yet.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

"Well, pardon me for not having much experience to go off on," Peter said. "But I can see that. Your sister hates me. Not that she shouldn't. Still, I don't think I'm wrong when I saw most all women, not just proper rich ones, would probably be offended by some of our songs." He smiled and then lowered his voice so that only she would be able to hear him. "Even one who does parade around in her undergarments without care." He was only teasing, but he did think she behaved curiously sometimes. She reminded him of his sister, though probably with more elegance and grace. She did have a similar carefree nature that he admired, though.

Back in the captain's quarters, Josephine turned to give her sister a questioning look. "He's a pirate. He probably thinks marriage ruins everyone." She might be partially inclined to agree, to some extent. She didn't understand Ella's complete willingness to just agree with whatever father wanted her to do and marry the first man she had the chance to. Josephine was fighting it tooth and nail, and she was more sure now than ever that if she couldn't be with Alec then marriage would ruin her. It was a commitment to a lifetime of misery. It was almost worse for Ella if she never even had the chance to find love before settling for some unworthy companion. "Why were you talking about marriage anyway? Seems like an odd topic of conversation for a pirate..."

Josephine was reluctant to go back to the cell, but she was both excited and anxious that she had gotten her message to Alec. That fraction of a second where she could touch him was everything as well, and she found herself with a new sense morale she hadn't had since they got onto this ship. After Peter left and told them he'd be back later to escort them to dinner, she turned to Ella and beamed. "I wrote Alec a note. Nothing elaborate, but I asked him how father is handling things. Hopefully he'll find a way to give us an update. I still can't believe he's here."

Peter returned to the deck to keep an eye on the crew. He spotted Adam and went over to him. "You're starting to get your sea legs," he said. "I think you're done here for now. The deck looks well scrubbed. Why don't you take a break, then see what the captain needs?"

 

[AvianJen]

Even though his words were meant to deter her, Ella couldn't help but become more intrigued the more he said. What was in these songs that he was so convinced she would hate? She was trying to imagine up a worst-case scenario when he leaned over and whispered, his words causing her to blush bright red. She slapped his arm, looking somewhat indignant. Why was everyone giving her such a hard time about that?

"I was not parading," she corrected him, trying her best to hide a smile. "It's just more comfortable. Have you ever worn a woman's dress before? If you had I think you'd understand." They were tight, and all of Ella's dresses were fitted so that they were snug when she was wearing a corset. She'd lost weight since being captured, and that was the only reason it fit her now without wearing it. Otherwise, it would be impossible to fit into.

She laughed a little bit at Josie's comment, shrugging. "Yeah, probably," she agreed, running her fingers through wet hair. "I don't think I agree. How can marriage ruin you? Seems a little melodramatic to me." Ella didn't understand the weight that was put upon marriage. Sure, it was important, but it wasn't going to change who Ella was. Her husband would have to put up with her just as much as she would have to put up with him- she had no intention of changing for anyone. Her identity wasn't going to be wrapped up in another person, and if that was the case she didn't see how she could be ruined. "I don't know, he brought it up," Ella replied. "Not me."

After being out in the sun, it was disheartening to have to back down to the cell again. Ella had tried to convince Peter to let them stay above deck until dinner, but she was ultimately unsuccessful. She'd known that she was pushing her luck, but still...there was never any harm in trying. And Ella liked to think that Peter enjoyed talking to her, so she'd been hoping he might change his mind last minute. But, no.

She was expecting Josie to start complaining again as soon as Peter left, but instead she seemed happy. Was that right, Josephine was happy? It didn't take long for her to reveal why, and Ella grinned, leaning over to poke her. "Well, look who's breaking the rules," she teased. "That's good, I'd like to hear about father. But please be careful." She gave Josephine a serious look. If someone found that note, or Alec's reply, they would all surely be killed. "I can't believe he's here, either. I've been doing double takes all day."

Scrubbing the deck turned out to be a rather long and exhausting job. The ship was huge, for a ship, and it didn't look like the deck had been properly scrubbed for a long time. Alec didn't mind the work; it wasn't any harder than what he was accustomed to, once he started to find his balance. Every once in a while a shift in the waves would throw him, but he had yet to fall flat on his face.

His thoughts were completely absorbed with what Josephine might have written on that note. He could still feel the place on his arm she had touched to regain her balance. Peter brought him back to reality, but the only word he heard was "break." "Thank you," he said with a genuine smile. "I do think it's getting easier." Alec returned the mop to the closet Peter had gotten it from and rushed to the his cabin. It was an arrangement of bunk beds, nothing luxurious, but it was better than what the girls had.

When he was sure he wouldn't be interrupted, Alec pulled the slip of paper from his pocket and unfolded it with shaky hands. Her note was short, but he recognized her handwriting and her words made him smile. Had he gone mad? Quite possibly, but if she was trying to send him notes then it would seem she had as well. He loved her more than words could say, and already his head was spinning as he tried to think of a way to answer concisely. There was a single desk in the cabin with some parchment and a quill pen, so he took a piece slightly larger than what Josie had given him and scribbled a reply.

"He's cashing in his favors,
worried about both of you.
I think we're all going mad.
I love you."

The note completed, he crumpled it up and stuffed it in his pocket, putting the quill pen back where it was. He took a few minutes to calm down- take a break- before mustering the strength to return to work. Per Peter's instructions, he sought out Captain Tom. "Captain," he said cheerfully, approaching him. "Is there anything else you need doing around here?"

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Peter grinned when she slapped him and raised an eyebrow in curiosity. He found this entire situation with her incredibly odd, but enjoyable at the same time. It was hard to remember that she was technically his captive in all of this. He chuckled and shook his head. "Can't say I have, no," he said. He couldn't really blame her. Women's dresses and corsets did look pretty uncomfortable sometimes. He was suddenly very glad for his trousers and loose fitting shirt.

"Melodramatic?" Josephine asked. "Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of marriage. I want somebody to love for the rest of my life. I want children I can call my own and raise, and hopefully some day, some grandchildren to spoil. But only with the man I love. You don't think it would be absolutely horrible to marry a man you don't love, who only wants to tell you what to do, and what not to do, who works all day, maybe sleeps with other women in his spare time and leaves you all alone with the kids? That doesn't sound miserable to you? If you can't find a man you at least tolerate, you;re trapped. And even if you can tolerate him, what is the point if you can't love each other? Sometimes I pity you. I think if you got to experience what Alec and I have, you'd think differently about things."

She slumped against the wall and squirmed when Ella poked her. "Some rules are meant to be broken," she said with a smile. "I couldn't just do nothing." It took all of her strength not to talk to him, or look in his direction, when all she wanted to do was hold him and be held for a while. She hadn't allowed herself to cry once, but she thought if she had a moment alone with him it might come out just how scared and worried she really was.

"You can do double takes all you want, but just remember who he belongs to," she teased, knowing Ella would never really do anything like that. "But I will be careful, don't worry. I don't think they would kill us. They need the money. But I would never do anything to put him in danger, either."

The captain turned to look at Alec as he approached. He thought for a moment. New recruits usually had to earn trust somehow, and this one seemed eager enough to try. He nodded. "Yes, actually. When dinner time comes, why don't you go and fetch our two lovely ladies for me? Just remember to behave yourself, of course. They're our two most precious treasures on board at the moment."

 

[AvianJen]

Ella sidled down to the ground, watching Josephine from under raised eyebrows and listening to her little rant. It wasn't the first time Ella had heard this from her sister, and she rolled her eyes when she repeated how she pitied her. "Yes, melodramatic," she confirmed, feeling as if Josephine had just proven her point. She didn't know what to say that wouldn't cause an argument, but she thought that Josie was being ridiculous. If anything she was the one who needed pity; if she didn't get to marry Alec- and the chances were slim that she would- she said herself that she would be miserable. Ella wasn't going to be miserable. Maybe she was missing out, but she had no way of really understanding. And seeing how worked up Josie would get, maybe love was one thing Ella didn't want to know about.

"I don't think it's fair for you to talk like that," she said after a moment. "What if you don't marry Alec? What if you marry a nice, rich man who happens to be perfectly decent? You're making assumptions about a man you don't even know, and that's not fair. Pity me if you want, but I'm going to make the best of whatever happens. I'll never have what you and Alec have, and I don't want it. Love seems like it does more harm than good." Why was everyone so against marriage? Peter thought she would be wasting her potential in marriage, and Josie thought she was setting herself up for a miserable life. Mother and Father's marriage had been arranged, but they were fine. Father always said that they grew into love instead of falling, but love was still love. Ella just didn't understand.

She had to giggle at Josie, though. She would break all the rules for Alec, despite how proper she usually was. Giving him an incriminating note was potentially putting him in danger, but Ella decided not to say so. Josie only meant the best, and Ella would die for an update about how Father was doing. "Why do they need the money?" she asked curiously, thinking about it. "Can't they just plunder what they need? They're pirates." It was weird. Maybe Peter would tell her if she asked, but she doubted it.

Alec thought he was hearing things. Did the captain just give him a way to talk to Josephine? Maybe the note he'd written to give her wasn't necessary after all. He didn't answer for a moment to make sure that he didn't sound too excited, but then he smiled and nodded. "That they are, sir. Will do."

Time couldn't go by fast enough, but when the sun started to set, Alec headed downstairs to see the girls. His heart was racing in his chest. They wouldn't have long, but they'd have enough time to speak briefly, as themselves. He was careful to make sure the door was closed all the way before going downstairs to see them. "Josie." As quickly as he could, he unlocked the cell door and stepped inside with them, wrapping his arms around her without hesitation. "I love you. I'm so sorry. We're going to get you out of here. Both of you."

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Josie frowned. "You're the one who said you think father might let us marry after all of this is over." Maybe it wasn't always that way, and there was a chance it still wouldn't be, but it didn't change her opinion. "I don't want a perfectly decent man. I just want Alec. If it doesn't happen, then... I don't know what I'll do. But I also think it's incredibly sad that you're so sure you won't ever find love, or that you don't want it. You're so naive. You wouldn't be saying that if you've actually ever experienced it before."

She sighed and leaned her head against the wall. This tiny little cell was so boring. She wondered how long before dinner. Looking towards Josie she shrugged. "I don't know," she said. "And they did plunder. They plundered us. Maybe they figure the payoff is bigger this way. If only they knew how much our family was struggling right now." There were plenty other well off families with more money and more daughters than theirs had. She wondered if they had planned this at all, or if they had simply seen an opportunity and took without knowing all the details first.

Josie heard footsteps on the stairs again, and she turned her attention to them. She thought they were Peter's at first, but she was taken by surprise when she realized who it really was. "Alec?" she exclaimed. She was even more surprised when she saw he had the key to their cell, and then he wrapped around her. She threw her arms around him in return, relishing in the familiar scent of horses and his sweat. It didn't bother her at all. It smelled like home.

She pulled back to look at him, placing a hand on his cheek. "What are you doing down here? How did you get the key? How is father?" She had a million questions and they all stumbled out at once, so unable was she to decide which ones were the most important. At the end of her questioning, she tagged on, "You're bloody mad, you know that? If you get yourself killed I will never forgive you." She gave him a playful shove, but she was serious. He was brave, but this was a bold and dangerous move of him, not to mention probably a little reckless. She had no doubt he had acted on impulse.

 

[AvianJen]

Ella shrugged. "I said it might. But what if it doesn't? You're telling me that your whole life will be ruined if you don't get to marry him? I think that's sad. There's more to life than marriage. Maybe it's not what you want, and I agree it'll be sad if it doesn't happen for you and Alec. But, if you don't marry him, you'll continue living and I hope you can figure out how to make the best of it. There's so much more to life than men." And really, Ella didn't think it was fair to put that much pressure on poor Alec, either. It was obvious that he loved her, but what if he didn't want to marry her? If it was Ella, she didn't think she would. Alec could never provide for Josephine the way someone else could. With him, her entire lifestyle would change.

"Have you even talked about marriage with Alec?" she asked Josie, her harsh tone disappearing. "I know he loves you- obviously he does. But does he want that?" For the most part, Ella was the dreamer and Josephine was the realist, but when it came to love it seemed like their personalities were switched. All Ella knew was that her dreams were out in the world, waiting to be discovered in adventures and experiences. That was perhaps the only tragedy of marriage, the risk that she might not be able to do the things she wanted to do. Josephine's dreams were anchored in a person. One wasn't any more valid than the other, but they certainly were different.

When the door opened, Ella could tell right away that it wasn't Peter. She knew what his footsteps sounded like, and it wasn't him. Maybe it was the captain? When she saw Alec, she was almost as surprised as Josie. What was he doing with the key? They were in the middle of the open sea, he couldn't possibly rescue them now!

Alec wished there was time to linger in the embrace, but there wasn't. He pulled away when she did, placing his hand over Josephine's. "I'm just meant to bring you upstairs for dinner," he said, his voice low. As far as he knew no one could hear him down here, but he couldn't help being paranoid. "Your father, he's...distraught. Doing everything he can to bring you home, but he doesn't have the money. They're asking for too much, if he does manage to pay it you'll be bankrupt." His face was solemn as he delivered the news. Ella's lips parted in shock, but she didn't say anything. It was too much to process.

"I'm going to try and figure out a way to get you out before that happens- if it does," Alec continued, "but I don't have any ideas yet. Most importantly, I wanted to make sure they weren't hurting you." During his search, Alec had been obsessed with thoughts of the pirates tormenting the girls, abusing them and taking what they wanted. He was relieved to see that wasn't happening, but their situation still wasn't great.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

"I'm not saying it will all be ruined, just... it wouldn't be my first choice. Maybe I would find a way, but I don't want to be forced to just make do with it." It wasn't fair that men always seemed to get what they wanted in life, but the options for women were much more limited. A life without love seemed lonely and miserable, and the fact of the matter was, if she didn't have that unobtainable happy ending with him, she would live the rest of her life wishing she had. Maybe it was possible to move forward, but it wasn't possible to just forget. She sighed in defeat, knowing she was probably never going to be able to change Ella's mind on this. She would never understand until she got to experience it for herself. "And you're right. There is more to life than men. I love Alec, but he comes second to you and father, and if I ever have children, then third." She gave her sister a soft smile. They disagreed on a lot, but she did love her family.

She looked somewhat defeated towards Ella when she asked if she and Alec had even talked about it. "No," she said quietly. It was one of those awkward topics of conversation she felt weighed on their relationship every time she had to tell him they couldn't spend time together because she had to attend some social event her father expected her to be at. Then there were the times she had to mention so and so having come to call on her, and how she tried to laugh it off, but knowing that despite everything she had to take these matters seriously. They had never talked about it because it was never a possibility. And even only now, it might be possible, but still a dream. "I don't know. We avoid those conversations..."

If that was hard to face, then so was hearing about their father. Josephine hated to hear about how he was struggling, and how much more they would be struggling if he ended up paying to get them out. How would they ever bounce back from this if Alec couldn't find a way to get them out? What would happen if father never managed to put his funds together?

She looked worriedly between Alec and Ella, then shook her head. "They haven't hurt us. Not yet, anyway." She was worried about what might happen if they ever started to lose patience. Would they threaten to hurt them thinking it might make their father move faster? There were some up there who would probably take pleasure in it. Surely if they let Alec down here to get them, and they were aloud above deck sometimes, the captain was loosening the strings on their security. She thought she had liked the freedom, but now she wondered if this little cell she hated was really best protection she and Ella had.

"I hate it here. I want to go home, but only with you with me. Please be careful, alright?" She wished they could have more time together. Just seeing him, talking to him, being able to hold him was a comfort. She leaned up and kissed him softly for a moment, not even caring that Ella could see. It had been too long, and she didn't know when the next opportunity would prevent itself.

 

[AvianJen]

Finally, they were able to agree on something. Ella was happy to learn that Josephine did value her family over her unofficial boyfriend, but if they were married he would become family. Ella thought about it for a second- Alec as a brother-in-law. That wouldn't be bad at all, he was a nice guy from what she could tell, even though they'd only had maybe one conversation in all the time they'd known each other. "That the other thing I really don't want," Ella said, smirking. "Children. But there's not much that can be done about that."

Admittedly, Ella was surprised when Josephine revealed she and Alec actually hadn't ever talked about marriage. She would have thought it was a frequent topic of conversation, but apparently not. Alec had never told her how much it hurt him when she spoke of all her high-class social engagements or gentlemen callers; usually, he just forced a smile until they could talk about something else, but it tortured him inside. He wanted what she did: a simple life married to Josephine, raising children of their own. But he knew that she deserved better than what a stable worker could give her. Sometimes Alec couldn't help but feel she would end up resenting him at some point down the road. He knew Josie wasn't like that and it was only his insecurity talking, but it was the husband's job to provide for the family. What if he couldn't do that? Marriage wasn't something Alec was ready for, not until he'd had the chance to become the man a woman like Josephine deserved.

Ella didn't say anything else, merely nodding. She wasn't sure what to say. No one could tell what the future held, but she just wanted Josie to be happy. And since life didn't always go as planned, she hoped that there were multiple roads that led to happy endings.

Today wasn't looking like a very happy ending was in store, though. Ella didn't say anything, remaining silent for once in her life, but her heart ached. She stared into space, trying to process what Alec had told them and trying not to cry. She couldn't go above deck crying, the captain would get the wrong idea about Alec.

"I'm always careful," Alec murmured, kissing her back with his hands on either side of her face. It was true; he wasn't impulsive. He would play the waiting game as long as it took if it meant ensuring safety. "But they won't hurt you. I won't let that happen."

"Thank you," Ella piped up from behind, finally looking up at Alec. She knew he wasn't here for her, but she also knew that he was a man of his word. He would protect them if the pirates got out of control. Alec returned her gaze and offered the smallest of smiles before looking back at Josephine.

"Let's go," he said. "We've taken up enough time." He took the note from his pocket and put it in the cell underneath a blanket. It didn't say anything new, but it carried his love all the same.

Ella followed Alec upstairs. It was darker out, and the sunset was even more magical than the day. She tried to contain her wonder at the sight as they approached the captain. "Captain Tom," Alec said, nodding his head respectfully and presenting the ladies. "Josephine and uh..." he glanced at Ella, pretending to forget her name. Ella rolled her eyes and looked at the captain.

"Ella, sir," she said.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

"Really, Ella, I do not even know how we are related sometimes," Josephine said after Ella said she didn't really want children. She had never heard that one before, but there was no point in arguing it. She didn't have the energy or the breath, but she did smile affectionately towards her. Despite their differences, she did love her, and had a lot of respect for her. They speculated a lot about the future, but it was uncertain. Especially now. They could only hope they would all make it out of here alive, and then there was the issue of their family finances... neither of them could really afford to think about how much control they had over their futures right now.

All she knew was that she felt safer with Alec near. She knew he meant what he said. He would never let them hurt her or Ella if he could help it. She still worried about his own safety, though. He was more disposable compared to her or her sister. If he did get caught, she wondered if there was anything she could do to keep him safe. He was so brave for doing this, and she felt herself falling for him even harder, if that was possible.

Separating herself from him and leaving the cell was one of the hardest things she had had to do in a while. She felt better having had the opportunity to touch him and hear him say her name, but now they had to go back to pretending they didn't even know each other. At least she had a hot meal to look forward to, although she was nervous about eating dinner with the captain. She wondered if Peter would be there also, and what the motivation for this was.

The captain looked up at their approach and nodded to Alec. "Thank you, boy," he said. "You can return to your duties now. Ladies, why don't you have a seat at the table. Dinner should be served shortly."

 

[AvianJen]

Ella turned to her sister, smiling fondly. They really were different, but she had always admired and looked up to her big sister. "It's a miracle," she joked, taking her hair down from the bun and running her fingers through it. It was still wet, but would hopefully dry quickly. Ella hated having wet hair.

She almost felt as if she was intruding on a private moment that was supposed to be between Josephine and Alec, but there wasn't much that could be done about it. They were cute. The situation was rather tragic, but it was cute nevertheless, and Ella was sure she would have endless opportunities to tease her about it after dinner. Speaking of dinner...

It hadn't even crossed Ella's mind to be nervous. She didn't imagine the entire crew was going to eat with them, maybe just the captain and probably Peter and a few other pirates, but not everybody. And in the captain's presence, no one was going to try anything on either of them. She wondered what they would have for dinner- hopefully something hot and fresh. Peter always brought them dinner, but Ella's hunger hadn't been truly satisfied for the past couple weeks. She was hopeful that tonight, both she and her sister would go to bed with full stomachs.

Alec didn't want to leave Josephine. Hell, he didn't want to leave either of them. He felt anxious about letting them out of his sight at all, actually. He knew that he could trust Josephine to be smart and careful, but after seeing how Ella had been acting he wasn't so sure about her. The last thing he wanted was for her to do something stupid that would get them all in trouble. Josie often spoke fondly of her sister, but Alec didn't know her very well. He didn't know if she could be depended upon. For now, though, they were fine, and the only way to make it through this would be one day at a time.

He nodded when the captain dismissed him, reporting to some of the other pirates to help them with chores around the ship.

Ella nodded at the captain, smiling pleasantly and taking a seat at the dining table. "Thank you for inviting us to dinner," she said to him, rearranging her skirt. "Will Peter be joining us?" She didn't know why she cared, but she would feel a little bit more comfortable with another familiar face. They hadn't spent much time with the captain before.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Josephine hated to see Alec go. She felt the nervousness creep in again as she and Ella were left alone with the captain. They had very limited interactions with each other, so she was really unsure about how this was going to go. She even found herself hoping Peter would be joining them. At least he was familiar, and possibly a little less frightening than the man who gave everybody else orders. The man, she realized, had given the orders for them to be kidnapped.

She sat down next to Ella. It felt strange to be a dinner table again. Her stomach practically growled at the thought of warm food for a change. She wasn't sure how pirate food tasted, but since they had just been to shore earlier that day, she wondered if they would have the opportunity to indulge in some fresh fruit. She would give anything for an apple right now. After a week of eating nothing but stale biscuits, anything else would probably make her happy.

The captain nodded. "Shortly, yes," he said. "Has he been treating you well?" he asked. "What about the ship hand I had send for you?"

"Well, sir," Josephine said. "Both of them." She felt a little relieved Peter would be coming.

The captain nodded and opened a bottle. He motioned for the girls to hand him their cups, and Josephine did as was asked. He filled each one before handing them back and filling his own. Josephine waited and watched as he took a sip before bringing the cup up to her own lips. She sniffed it first, and when she recognized it was wine, took a sip for herself. It felt so good to taste something different, but she would take care to preserve every drop of it to make it last as long as she could.

"Good," the captain said. "He's new. I have to make sure I can trust him to follow orders. Of course, we'll see how he gets after a week of no women. Peter I knew I could trust. He's a good man."

Josephine frowned at what the captain was implying about Alec, but made no comment on it. When he said Peter was a good man, though, she couldn't help but furrow her brow at the captain. "Good man?" she asked. "He's a pirate, and he kidnapped us along with you and the rest of this ship. I wouldn't call any of you a 'good man'."

"Careful now," Tom said. "I let ya have a bath, access above deck, and now a nice, hot meal. None of our other guests have been afforded the same comforts. You should be thankful. Anyway, I only meant I can trust him. And he's the most honorable out of all my men."

 

[AvianJen]

Ella smiled and nodded at the captain's question. "Peter has been very nice," she said honestly. Contrary to her sister, Ella didn't necessarily think that Peter was a bad man. He certainly was better than all the other pirates, and while she didn't know his story she felt like he might simply be a victim of circumstances. She didn't know, and didn't think it was fair to make judgments when despite everything, he had been kind to them. "The other guy was nice, too," she added, not wanting to leave Alec out. She found herself hoping that Alec would come down to see them every so often, if only to provide that familiar face from home. Josephine, she was sure, would love nothing better.

She resisted the urge to laugh at the captain's comment about Alec- she was pretty sure the guy was still a virgin, or if he wasn't he definitely hadn't been with any women since meeting Josie. Honestly, Alec was the type of guy that Ella sometimes found annoying. Too noble for his own good. She was certainly thankful for him, and happy for her sister in finding love, but he wasn't Ella's type at all. Good thing too, she supposed. "Yes, well, thank you for protecting us," Ella said to the captain, taking a sip of the wine. The younger girl liked drinking a little more than she should, perhaps, and the wine was a welcome treat.

Josephine, of course, had to fly off the handle. Ella shot a disapproving glance at her sister- how could she be so stupid? You didn't say things like that to a pirate, much less the captain. If they pissed him off who knew? He wouldn't kill them, but there were other potential consequences. It wouldn't be surprising if suddenly male visitors to their cell were no longer limited to Peter and Alec, for one thing. They weren't familiar with this man's temper. "Josie," she hissed, taking another sip from the glass. "Shut up." For a moment, Ella was fearful that the captain was going to send them away right then and there. Thankfully he didn't seem too upset, for now.

"You've been very generous, considering the circumstances," Ella told him. "Thank you for that. And the wine." Ella smiled a little, taking another sip. It would probably be better to savor it like Josie was doing, but she was more an instant gratification kind of girl.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Josephine frowned at her sister. It wasn't often she was the being chastised, but she couldn't help herself. What the captain had said was ridiculous. None of them were honorable men, Peter included. And he certainly wasn't the most honorable man on the ship, either. That spot was already filled by Alec, in her own opinion, and nothing would ever change her mind about that.

"Yes, very generous," she said with a grin, but her voice was dripping with sarcasm. What was a little bit of time on deck, some food, and a cold bath when you were still being kept a captive with no measurable means of escape? Tom was trying, but he was failing, to convince her that he was in any way somebody she ought to be showing gratitude to. Maybe Ella was fooled by it, but Josephine was still bitter, much like the wine they were sipping on.

That was when Peter came in. He gave a nod to them all and took a seat next to Tom. The captain stared at Josephine for a moment, before shaking his head and looking towards Peter. "Quite a mouth on that one, eh?" This caused another frown from Josie.

Peter shrugged. "She's harmless. All talk, no bite. Ella is much more agreeable." He gave the girl a smile and Josie had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. She only encouraged the flirting so long as it never went any further than that and it got them the few freedoms they had. It didn't mean she still wasn't bothered by it.

The captain laughed. "I can see that." They were interrupted again when a boy, no older than fifteen, came in with a tray of food. He hurried around the room, pointedly staring at the two girls as if he'd never seen a woman in life before, but was otherwise quiet as he laid their food out in front of them. He left as quickly as he came in.

"Right," Tom said. "Now that the food is here, we have some business to discuss. It's been a week and I've yet to get word from your family about our money."

 

[AvianJen]

Ella groaned inwardly, resisting the urge to stomp on Josie's foot under the table. Didn't she understand that they had to be careful? She watched the captain anxiously to see how he would react, but thankfully Peter came in before Tom had much time to say anything. She bit her lip, watching the exchange between the two men. When Peter commented how she was more agreeable Ella couldn't help but return his smile, though she was unsure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Mostly good, she supposed. If she didn't cause any additional trouble or put the pirates in a foul mood, the hope was that they would do no additional harm to her or her sister.

Her mouth watered when she saw the food. It wasn't necessarily the gourmet feasts they had at home, but right now it looked absolutely delicious. There were peaches. Peaches were Ella's favorite fruit, and she reached out to grab one, bringing it onto her plate. She was in the process of slicing it when Tom spoke of their family and the money, causing her to look up.

The color drained out of Ella's face. They had to tread carefully. Alec had just given them a much needed update, but they couldn't share anything that might tip the captain off. She glanced at her sister, chewing again on her bottom lip before setting the peach down. Josephine might kill her for this.

"Well, you see..." Ella hesitated, fiddling with the fabric of her dress underneath the table. "Our father, his business has been struggling recently. He...he may not have what you're asking." She glanced up, making eye contact with Tom and then with Peter. "He would have paid already if he did. Perhaps...would you consider lowering the ransom? I know it's not ideal for you, but slightly less money is better than no money at all, right?" She looked at Josie, hoping for her approval. "I'm not sure what to say. We don't know what's happening."

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Josephine began to get nervous the minute their father was brought up and the issue of their ransom. She wasn't sure how patient the captain was going to be. How long had the previous captives been on this ship before they got off? If he was already pressuring them, it appeared maybe a week was starting to take too long. What would happen to them if father never got the money and Alec couldn't find a way to get them out?

She sipped her wine to avoid answering him and then looked to the food while she thought. It was no roast beef dinner, but it was much more appetizing than stale biscuits. She picked up her utensils and started to cut her food into small, bite size pieces. It was something to keep her hands busy so they wouldn't shake from either her nerves or the anger she felt towards the two men in the room with her.

When Ella spoke up, she looked up to her sister with wide eyes. What was she doing? Did she really just admit to them that their family was low on funds, and suggest that these pirates lower the ransom? They were more likely to end up dead before that ever happened, and she'd just given them more reason to end it now. "Ella..." she said under her breath, her turn to berate her sister for something she had said.

The captain frowned and leaned back in his seat. "Ella, dear," he said. "I understand that times are... tough. On everyone. But I find it hard to believe that a family with such a long history of wealth such as your own is struggling to put together the simple ransom we asked for. Even if your father is struggling, well, we're struggling too. We wouldn't have asked for what we did if we didn't need it. The longer you stay here without us receiving our money, the more of a burden you two become. I would prefer to look upon you as guests, but you have to understand, my patience will not last forever. We won't lower the ransom."

Josephine turned to look at Tom. "Our father will find a way, sir," she said. "Just give it a bit more time, and I promise he will get it together..."

Peter cleared his throat. He never did like this part of "business" as Tom preferred to call it. He hated to see the girls so shaken, and there had been others in their place before them. "Perhaps the girls should write a letter home?" he suggested. "Explain that they are well, but also urge their father to do what he can more quickly? If next time we stop on shore and still do not have the money, we can send them out."

 

[AvianJen]

Ella didn't know what she was doing. She was trying to help, and maybe honesty was the best policy. She didn't know what else to tell the pirates, and it was the truth. If their father could pay the ransom, he would have already done so. Alec had just confirmed as much downstairs moments ago; he didn't have the money. Ella had been doing pretty well throughout this whole ordeal, but now she was really starting to panic.

Apparently, Josie didn't approve of her tactics. But Ella didn't know what they wanted them to say. It seemed perfectly logical to her- if they couldn't get what they were asking for, why not just ask for less and then actually get it? If they killed them, they wouldn't get anything in exchange for their troubles. Tom seemed firm, however, and Ella stared at her lap. Suddenly she wasn't hungry, which was a shame given the circumstances. They were never going home, were they? All of the optimism and hope she had been holding onto was quickly dissolving. Alec would do his best to get them out, but Ella had very little faith in the man. What could he possibly do besides end up getting them all killed?

Things weren't looking good, and Ella felt tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't want to cry, not in front of these men, but he was scaring her. What happened when his patience ran out? It was probably better if they didn't know. Peter's suggestion was a good one, and Ella wanted to send their Father a letter, but she also knew that it wouldn't speed anything along. Alec had said, he was already doing everything that he could. He was already doing everything he could as fast as he could, Ella was positive. Still, it might buy them some more time.

She looked up from her lap and nodded, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Yes, that might...that might help," she sniffed. "He'll pay, it's just..." She was also terrified of what Alec had said, that if he did pay they would return home penniless. They would be together, which was better than being here, but Ella was still frightened about what would become of them.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Josephine saw the look on her sisters face and from under the table reached out and took her hand. If Ella started crying, she wasn't sure she would be able to contain her feelings towards these men. She was scared too, but she would be strong for her baby sister, and she was protective of her. They just had to hold on a little bit longer and be patient, and in the meantime, figure out how to keep the pirates satisfied.

"I'm sure a letter home will help encourage father..." Josephine said. Father was probably already doing all he could as fast as he could, but it would buy them some time. It would also be somewhat comforting to let him know that they were alright for now. It might help him find relief in what she was sure was a stressful and heartbreaking time for him. There was no harm in trying.

"Very well," Tom said. "After our meal, then." He didn't look particularly happy, but at least he was subdued for now. Josie sighed some relief and went back to her meal, carefully chewing her food in the now otherwise silent room. The atmosphere was tense. Even Peter looked slightly uncomfortable. How did you even pretend to make decent conversation after that?

Peter swallowed a bite and then cleared his throat. "Are you enjoying the food?" he asked, just trying to break the silence. He wished that Tom hadn't brought the ransom issues up so soon and waited until they were done eating. It seemed rather cruel to make them sit here after that, even if they were enjoying a hot meal.