The Black Plague

Garin

Garin leaned against the rail, staring out over the sea. It was nice being away from land, but he did miss the birds. No birds out here, and he'd probably not see a bird for quite some time. At least until they got close to land.

He started humming one of his favorite songs, careful not to say any words out loud. The pirates wouldn't appreciate it.

For quaters, for quaters! The saucy pirates cried,
Blow high! Blow low! And so sailed we!
The quaters that we showed them was to sink them in the tide
A-sailing down the coasts of High Barbary.

It was a sad song, but he liked the tune. He glanced around, making sure no one had heard the "blasephemous" song, then turned back to the sea, trying to remember a better shanty. Not remembering any, he hummed the song again.

*All I've got...*

-Andy-

Andy stood at the gaurdrails and sighed. In the first time he has been on this ship..he was finally free from dutys...and yet... he wanted them.

" Oy...Garin." Andy yelled to the man who was looking out to the seas.
" Yes?" He sighed.
" When are we getting to this Island?"

OOC: I think in my profile I put that Isabella had her hair cut short...ignore that please.

Isabella / Tristan --

"'T will be a few weeks at the most!" I called in response to one mans question of how long it would be. I knew he hadn't asked me, but many of the crew tended to over or under exaggerate everything.

Sighing, I realized that i had nothing more to do. I turned and headed down below, to my quarters. My head was beginning to itch from all my hair being piled up onto my head. I would have to cut it again, before it got too long.

"Oomph," I grunted, running into someone I good size larger than me. As I fell backward, my hat fell off my head, landing a few feet away. Oh good lord... I thought as Thorn bent down to pick up my hat before turning to look at me.

Arthur Hearthorn -- April 11th, 1650 -- Helmsman/Navigator

I slowly bent to pick up the fallen hat, twirling it idly on my finger as I turned to face its owner, a small smile on my lips.

"Best put your hat back on, lass. You wouldn't want one of the youngsters to find you," I said, casually throwing her her hat. She snatched it and put it back on her head quickly.

"You don't seem surprised," she commented dryly, keeping her eyes averted.

"I always had a slight idea. We've had more than one girls try to pass themselves off as boys. I know what to look for, though I keep my opinions and thoughts to myself. Don't worry, I won't tell a soul, though I think the Cap'n might have an idea as well."

She sighed.

"So, what am I to be calling you when we're alone, lass? I can't keep calling you Tristan, though I will when we're on deck."

Isabella/Tristan

"Isabella," I said quietly, looking up at him. He seemed to have moved closer to me within the past few seconds. It was most likely just my imagination.

"Isabella...that's a nice name," he commented. "Come on, let's go to your room, I want to know why you're on a pirates ship."

Sighing, I followed him into my room, shutting the door tightly behind us.

**No one on the ship, save for possibly the captain, knows Arthur's first name is Arthur. He came upon the ship as Hearthorn, or just Thorn.**

Arthur Hearthorn -- April 11th, 1650 -- Helmsman/Navigator

I shut the door behind us, lighting a match and holding it to the wick of a nearby candle. Soon the room was illuminated by a soft light and Isabella went to sit on the bed, hands folded in her lap. I took the only chair in the small room, propping my feet up on the table.

We sat in silence for a moment. I studied her face curiously before speaking again.

"So what made you join The Black Plague?" I asked, folding my arms behind my head, leaning back so that only two legs of the chair touched the floor.

"I'm searching for someone who left for sea a few years ago," she answered slowly, obviously reluctant to tell me of her past.

"A family member? Friend?" I pressed.

"The love of my life," she said quietly. "He ran away from home when he was twelve, but he would visit occasionally...then he just disappeared. I don't know what happened to him, if he just stopped coming or if...something happened..."

"What was his name?" I asked softly, a rare tenderness touching my voice, making me cough slightly.

She looked up, a puzzled look marring her now delicate features. "Arthur...Hearthorn..." She frowned, "That's odd...you do look a bit like him now that I think about it. Are you related?"

"He is my cousin, yes," I answered cautiously, hoping she wouldn't investigate further. I had left her to live a normal life, not surrounded by a bunch of pirates! Sure, the Black Plague was among the most orderly and controlled ships out there, but we were still pirates. I hadn't wanted her to get involved like I had.

But she was here, now, looking for me. Dressed in ratted clothing, looking almost nothing like the Isabella I had left four years ago. I had the sudden urge to rush forward and take her in my arms, tell her why I had left and why she was here now. But I resisted the temptation and kept still, my eyes watching the flickering flame that burned brightly a few feet away.

-Isabella/Tristan-

I watched Thorn for a moment, thinking to myself.

The candle began to dim.

"It's growing dark," I murmured, remembering the nights I used to spend with Arthur.

Thorn began singing softly as he moved to relight the candle.

"Let me light up the sky...light it up for you..."

My breath caught in the back of my throat, and Thorn turned to make sure i was all right.

"Arthur..." I whispered, looking up at him. Tears were forming in my eyes before the name had even escaped my lips.

Arthur Hearthorn -- April 11th, 1650 -- Helmsman/Navigator

I let the verses of the song slip past my lips before I could stop them. Now I regretted it. I bit my lip. So much for trying to keep my identity from her.

"Isabella...please, let me explain..." I begged, holding my arms out pleadingly.

Before I could react, she ran forward and flung her arms around me, burying her face in my chest. I stiffened slightly from the embrace but relaxed slowly and wrapped my arms around her for a moment before drawing back.

"Isabella...I'm sorry...I just didn't want you involved in piracy. I had no choice, but it was not the path I would've wanted for you..."

"But I'm here now, and there's no changing that," she said. "There's no way I'm going back. Not for a long time. I'm sticking with you."

"Isabella, please, it isn't safe!"

Isabella (not as Tristan)

"Arthur," I said softly, grabbing his face firmly in my hands. "How long have I been on this ship now?"

"About a year...I think?" he replied, staring me straight in the eyes.

"Yes. And has anything bad happened to me yet?"

"No...but what's to say that something bad isn't going to happen?"

"You've had more accidents then I have in this past month!" I argued, glaring at him. "I want to stay here. I'm happy here."

Lilith~

Lilith watched the game intently in front of her. "That all?" She growled, looking at the three powder monkeys that sat across the table from her. They hissed through their teeth and tossed a couple more gold coins on the table. Lilith smirked. "So, ye want to know what I got?" She smiled, a peice of chewing wheat hanging out of the corner of her mouth. The powder monkies nodded stifly. "Royal Flush!" She laughed, leaning back in her chair. Her opponents tossed their cards down and stalked off, fuming. Lilith smiled and gathered the gold into a pile.

"Who's next," she smiled wickedly, looking around the crowd.

Caralina (Peter)---

Caralina watched the game carefully. She had always had a nick at cards. She didn't have but a few coins. She twisted them around in her pocket licking her lips looking at the cards. Another round started and she watched her eyes taking in everything.

Best not, you'll have to look at someone. She sighed inwardly. She slowly slipped out of the group and walked up the stairs to the upperdeck walking to the stern of the boat. She sat on the rail looking down at the water below her. The wind felt good against her skin. She sighed, she didn't know how long she would be able to hide her gender. But she would do it. No one would know, not if she had her way. Not a soul would ever find out Peter was a girl.

*Um... just to make sure, are you playing poker? sorry it's short...*

[Leyshon Blodwyn]

"I'll play a game!" said Leyshon stepping out of the crowd.

He sat across from Lilith as she passed out the cards.

*I don't know...just a card game to me, hehe*

Lilith~

"So what ye be puttin' up for d'bet?" She smirked, tossing a bag of gold coins onto the table and raising an eyebrow at Leyshon.

Garin

Garin chuckled as Tristian disappeared belowdeck. "Seems quite a few of us are eager to touch land again. I know I am." He turned to Andy. "Are you, mate?"

[Leyshon Blodwyn]

He looked at the bag of coins with a smile, then he raised his left index finger. Lilith looked at him with a confused expression, she looked up at the ceiling to see if he was pointing to something, but he wasn't.

"What's your bet?"

Leyshon gave a hearty laugh. "This finger,"

A gasp came from the pirates behind him, then a wave of whispers. Lilith had a shocked expression on her face.

"Your betting your finger?"

He nodded picking up his cards and getting ready to play. Even though it was a crazy bet, that was what he was known for. Lilith looked over to her bag of coins and then to Leyshon's finger.

She picked up her cards hesitantly. "What am I going to do with a finger?..." he heard her mumble.