Sailing the Seven Seas *Starting/Not Accepting**

Jall
Turtle had obviously been practicing. He almost beat me in the first round, and almost killed me in the next. I was grinning the whole time. It had been a while since I had had a good fight.
I let Turtle walk away, and then swiftly shot his feet out from under him. He shot me a warning glance. I grinned impishly.

After Turtle left, I heard someone clearing their throat. It was Quinn.
"So," I said, swaggering up to her. "How are your new living conditions? Are they extra loveable?"
She just rolled her eyes and said, "You are so juvenile."
I beamed.
"I need you to do something for me," she began warily.
"Anything, your majesty," I responded, bowing low. She flicked my forehead.
"I need you to keep an eye on Jex when I ask you to. The code word would be potatoes."
I raised my eyebrows. "Potatoes?"
She nodded.
"Fine, under one condition."
"What?" she looked afraid.
"You get Grace down here."

Quinn

Um..."Okay," I agree, then walk away. Why does Jall want me to get the cook? WHY am I even asking myself that question? More kissy face...I giggle to myself and Jall gives me a questioning look. I wave him away and run down to the kitchen.

"Miss Grace?" I look around, and when she appears right behind me I start. "Miss Grace you scared me! I have something to ask you."

"Making sure I wasn't here before taking extra food from the kitchen?" she asks wryly. Eyes widening, I shake my head vigorously. She knows I've been taking food? "Don't try to fool me Quinlan, it's okay I know you're a growing boy. Wait until your voice catches up with you." Is my voice really that bad?

"Thank you Miss Grace, and I will continue to take the food thanks, but that's not what I wanted to ask. Can you come up to the top deck?"

"What for?" she asks warily.

"Please just do it?" I try to make myself look as innocent and sweet as possible.

"Fine," she sighs and follows me up.

This was fun.

Even if Jall was better than him, and he admitted it bruized his pride a little, the fights were entertaining. Turtle was sure he was getting better by the day. He'd continue to fight this boy until he beat him. And then he would continue because the fighting was something to look forward to.

"What if that prisioner kills you?" asked a voice. Turtle jumped, scared out of his musings.

"Don't do that, Captain, you'll scare my hair see-through," he said as he turned, running a hand through his hair.

"Answer the question," she snapped, putting a hand on her hip.

"Then I die," Turtle shrugged.

"And you're fine with that?"

"Halfways, yes."

That seemed to shock the Captain.

"Look, we've been on this boat together a long time, Captain, each just as long as the other. You know I'd never intentially die, just for the sake of it. But if I die, then it was meant to happen."

"And you'll leave this ship minus one gunman! You'll stop fighting that prisioner."

Turtle flinched.

"Yes, ma'am," he said, downcast. But life goes on, he told himself.

The Captain caught his look. She sighed.

"Okay, Turt. You can fight. But as long as it's with wood! No metal within the sight of ya, or so help me I'll hang the both of you!"

Turtle grinned. "Thank you, Captain! No metal. Aye!"

"Now go away," she snapped.

Turtle loped away happily, fingering the turtle around his neck.

Hanging him. He wondered how that would go, if he ever was to be hanged. Painful, of course.

But the hangman would be frustrated when he found out this one charge couldn't die.

Grace

"Fine," I sighed, what could be wanted of me on deck? I followed him up. At least he didn't have to sneak food for me, maybe soon he'll get his man's voice. We walk up onto deck, I blinked as the light flooded my eyes. I inhaled deeply, I loved the smell of the ocean in the... what time of day was it? Oh well that didn't matter.
"Ok now what's up?" I asked him. He pointed over to Jall. I blushed as he waved me over. He looked, amazing in the light. He looks wow. stupid subconcious. I guess kitchen life alone finally got to me. I walked over to him, trying to sound irratated, but ended up sounding excited.
"What's wrong? Make it fast I can't get caught talking to you."

Quinn

It's good to know I don't have to sneak food anymore. Speaking of which, Jex is probably hungry. No longer wary, I hum to myself and skip (in as manly a way as I can) down to the kitchen. Once there I grab some fish but can't find any water. Sure we're surrounded by it, but no one's about to drink it.. I find a beer, stuff both that and the fish in my pants, and skip awkwardly up to my quarters.

"Hey!" I say to Jex once I'm there. "Couldn't find any water this time, but here's a beer." I toss it to him and he catches it. "And here's some fish." I toss that to him and it hits him in the face. "Oops, I'm sorry!" I say but can't help laughing.

Mela

"I've got it!" I shouted over the wind to Ry.

"Got what?"

"What we do on this god be blasted ship!"

"Oh? Pray tell, my dear Irish woman!"

"We're the grand observers!"

"The what now?"

"Observers! We see everything that goes on, and keep the ship going! We're like.... like... the watchmen of the ship!"

"Oh, I see! You're right!"

"Good- oh, Ry, tie that knot quick, wind's getting worse!" I yelled. He tied it and threw me a spare rope.

"Tie yourself in!"

"Can do!" I looped the rope in a x around my torso and secured the other end to the sturdiest thing I could find, while Ryker did the same. The storm hadn't started yet- yet was the keyword here. The clouds were black and heavy, and purple charges rippled inside them. The wind was trying to kill us all, I swear. I smiled.

I loved doing what we did during a storm. Fun, fun, fun.

Jall
Was Grace excited? No, no she couldn't be excited. She couldn't actually like me.
She just looked so beautiful. I shook my head and said quickly, "I wanted to tell you something."

Grace stared at me with prodding eyes. "And that is?"

"I wanted to tell you about my past."

Grace looked doubtful. "Um... okay?"

Despite the discouraging response, I continued. "Where I come from, I'm, well, I'm very well off. My family puts pressures on me like I've never known, but I used to think it was worth it. Now I see the people on this pirate ship, and they're happier than I ever was, and I had all the money in the world- not to mention the girls."
Grace looked at me angrily. "You're trying to make me jealous, aren't you?" She proceeded to get up in a huff and started to stomp away.
Desperately, I called after her. "Wait! That's not what I was trying to do!" Slowly, Grace turned back.
"I was going to say that I courted many, many girls, but none made me feel the way I feel about you. And its totally wrong, what I'm feeling is totally wrong, and I know it. But that doesn't make it stop." I looked at my hands.
"Sorry," I said. "I've never made a confession like that before."

GRACE

wow, I really didn't know what to say, all the previous anger melted away. I walked back over to him and took his hands.
"I've seen many men and have shed many tears for them. But they've never made me feel the way you do." I kissed him on the cheek, I could feel my cheeks turning red. I smiled at him, and he smiled back. I could hear someone coming.
"Go." He said, I turned my head towards the noise and back towards him. "Go... before you get caught." He said letting my hands go. I blew him a kiss as I ran off. Not bothering to look back until I was safe in the kitchen. I picked up one of the dirty bowls and a rag. See... ya, my subconscious was right. I blushed again.

JEX

I wiped at my cheek and chuckled. "You know, most people don't really like bein' hit in the face with fish. I'm the odd one who enjoys it depending on who hit me." I took a drink of the beer, half-enjoying it. It was liquid and I was thirsty, but I had never really appreciated the taste much.

"Sorry," Quinn muttered again, supressing another laugh.

I rolled my eyes and stared at the ceiling. "Funny. Finally storms and I'm stuck in here missing it all," I grumbled.

"Ummm... that's a bad thing?"

I looked over to her and grinned. "I love sailing through storms. I saved my old crew dozens of times from 'em." And they still had the gall to attempt to take my life... Sure, I had killed the captian's best friend, but he had killed my Rosa. My smile faded and I turned to glare at the wall. Stop it Jex. Quinn hasn't done anything to deserve watching you sulk. I scolded myself, sighing.

Quinn

My smile fades too. "Whats wrong?" I ask gently.

Jex sighs and faces me. "I just got to thinking about my old crew and..." I place my hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sure Rosa would like to see you happy. So would I," I murmur, "and life goes on. She'll always be a sad memory for you, but you need to stop looking back." Sadly, he faces me and says nothing. "Here...come on." You only live once, and when Jex looks back on his life I want him to remember me fondly. I take his hand and lead him out of my room and into Clare's quarters.

"Here," I say pointing at a line of portholes, "is the best place you can see outside without going on deck. Smiling, he walks over to one and looks outside.

"Thanks," he says gratefully. "The storm's almost here." Making Jex happy makes me feel all warm inside, and I blush. All of a sudden, I hear the door open.

"Jex, under the bed," I whisper urgently. He rolls under quickly and quietly as the Cap'n come in. "Cap'n! I was just looking for you."

"Why, Quinlan?" She asks, narrowing her eyes.

"Um...I was wondering if you knew when the storm would pass."

"No, I don't. While you're in here, could you tidy up? This place is a mess."

"Aye," I answer in relief. Hopefully she just needs to get something then leave.

The sky's once wide-open horizon was now harboring large purple-gray masses; storm clouds. Lightning sparkled the earth with it's dangerous light that would burn, and sometimes, kill. Thunder rattled the world with unshakeable force. The sound echoed for miles.
Clare Davies watched it all from the small porthole in Quinlan's bedroom. The view was clear, despite the crack in the glass. The Captain frowned and watched Quinlan from the corner of her eye. Clean, clean, look at captain, clean, clean--Quinlan's pattern of work was most noticeable, especially to well-trained eyes like that of the Captain.
"Quinlan," the Captain said, still facing the window.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Am I a smart lady?"
"Uh, aye, Captain. Indeed ye are!" Quinlan nodded.
Clare Davies turned on her heel. "Then why do I feel like I'm missing something? Something obvious."
"I-I dunno, ma'am."
Captain smirked. "There are some things I have noticed about you, Quinlan." Pause. "Or should I say...'eh, Quinn?"
Freeze.
No movement on Quinlan's part.
"Now, now, dear. Don't freeze up like that." The Captain's voice was soothing. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. Being a lady is the best blessing on this very world. You never had to dress up like a boy. I accept them all...males and females alike."
Without waiting for another word from Quinlan, the Captain hugged the young girl, strutted to the doorway and paused.
"Quinn." She smiled. "Meet me on the decks. We have a storm to defeat."
And she slipped away.
***
Is this okay?

*Sure, but how did she find out? Also, once Quinn heard Clare say she would prefer a young boy as her apprentice because young girls whine too much. xD*

**Clare has a soft side, remember? Oh, she found out because her bedroom is next to Quinn's. Quinn talks loud. **

JEX

I held my side, biting my lip to keep down the groan I wanted so desperately to let go of. So, rolling like that wasn't such a good idea. I'd have to remember that for the future.

I listened carefully, praying that the captain would just leave.

"There are some things I have noticed about you, Quinlan." The captain's voice. There was a pause and then a, "Or should I say...'eh, Quinn?"

I bit my lip harder, drawing a tad of blood. Quinn didn't say anything, but her breathing was getting shallow.

"Now, now, dear. Don't freeze up like that. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Being a lady is the best blessing on this very world. You never had to dress up like a boy. I accept them all...males and females alike." There was some shuffling, and then footsteps on the floor. About time she left.

"Quinn." I rolled my eyes. Leave already! I willed her silently. "Meet me on the decks. We have a storm to defeat." There was the slam of a door and I exhaled in relief, pushing myself out from under the bed and wincing.

"Quinn?" I said quietly, using the bed to pull myself to my feet. I was hoping that something else would come to mind to say, but I was drawing a blank. What exactly was I supposed to tell her? I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.

I watch Clare leave in shock. "Quinn?" says Jex hesitantly, pulling himself to his feet and sitting on the edge of the bed.

Frowning, I say, "You know I originally cut off my hair to disguise myself. I ran away from home because my life was too pressured...and I overheard her say she was looking for an apprentice. I also heard her say she thought young girls whined too much. So..." I hesitate, "what am I supposed to do now? Tell everyone I'm a girl? How awkward would that be?" Jex just sits in silence. "And...be honest...how bad is my voice? It's high and it's squeaky and apparently it's loud!"

"Your voice is fine," Jex says quietly.

"It's not!" I insist. "It's-" Jex pulls me into an unexpected hug. Confused but touched, I hug him back.

"You're lucky. No one in your life, that I know of, is dead," he murmurs into my hair. "You aren't hiding on a pirate ship. Of course you are hiding me, but it's not as complicated as you think." He pulls away and smiles at me, looking straight into my eyes. It feels as though he can see right through me. "Now go fight that storm." I smile back.

"Okay," I tell him, and after a moment, run off to the top deck.