Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
Cat's coughing fit had Thal grinning slightly behind her glass. Even if the girl hadn't spent much time on ships, she seemed to fit in with the crew pretty well. They were already pushing her into racy songs and egging her on to try new alcohols. If she wasn't careful, she'd find herself adopted. The only requirements the crew had for their strays were a heartbeat and a willingness to join their fun. Thal hadn't really fit the second part, but that didn't matter when she initially scared them so much they weren't willing to tell her no.
Her mind went to those first few months. She'd found herself stowing away on the ship, alone and looking for a place to belong. The old pirate captain had found opportunity in a glaring young woman with nothing to her name but the Ancient features littering her body. Thal had been so full of hurt and rage, trying to navigate her new bloodlust while attempting to hide the darkness of her mind. The captain had seen someone he could wield. A pure source of unguided hatred to be directed as he pleased. And it had almost worked. He'd taught her to take command and hone her insecurities into a blade, leaving no room for weakness or doubts. She'd followed his every demand like a lifeline of structure. However, when he became sick, his plans backfired. She didn't seek to help the cruel weak man, choosing instead to capitalize on his fleeting health to take control of the crew. And as he drew his final breath, she'd slammed the door on her past and donned her signature dark hood.
Now, as Thal stood at the doorway, she considered how she'd grown into a better captain than he'd ever been. The men laughed in her presence but recognized her authority with a respectable level of fear. However, that control had been slipping. She'd been slipping since Maea left. She couldn't let the loss of a friend be the reason her life fell apart. She wouldn't let it. Even if that meant keeping everyone at arms' length.
So she kept her distance, watching as the largest of the men lifted his rum and declared that they were all properly drunk enough to begin the customary 'drinking competition.' Thal raised an intrigued eyebrow. Well this should be fun.
Her mind went to those first few months. She'd found herself stowing away on the ship, alone and looking for a place to belong. The old pirate captain had found opportunity in a glaring young woman with nothing to her name but the Ancient features littering her body. Thal had been so full of hurt and rage, trying to navigate her new bloodlust while attempting to hide the darkness of her mind. The captain had seen someone he could wield. A pure source of unguided hatred to be directed as he pleased. And it had almost worked. He'd taught her to take command and hone her insecurities into a blade, leaving no room for weakness or doubts. She'd followed his every demand like a lifeline of structure. However, when he became sick, his plans backfired. She didn't seek to help the cruel weak man, choosing instead to capitalize on his fleeting health to take control of the crew. And as he drew his final breath, she'd slammed the door on her past and donned her signature dark hood.
Now, as Thal stood at the doorway, she considered how she'd grown into a better captain than he'd ever been. The men laughed in her presence but recognized her authority with a respectable level of fear. However, that control had been slipping. She'd been slipping since Maea left. She couldn't let the loss of a friend be the reason her life fell apart. She wouldn't let it. Even if that meant keeping everyone at arms' length.
So she kept her distance, watching as the largest of the men lifted his rum and declared that they were all properly drunk enough to begin the customary 'drinking competition.' Thal raised an intrigued eyebrow. Well this should be fun.
Thalassa
