piratejournal | Voice // Ready or not || Action for anyone on the Spades Ships, Marco's in the crow's nest

Didn' expect it, definitely.

And he actually took to the bitch seat? He must really adore you.

Didn' really have time t' argue with me. But... yeah.

[She leans back against the railing of the crow's nest.]

Woulda been a lot more fun if, y'know, life wasn' on the line.

That's the thing about being a pirate. Your life is always on the line, so you get used to it.

I'm... startin' t' get used t' it.

'Cause it sounds like it's only gonna get worse where I am. Jus'... gotta figure out how we're all gonna deal with that.

On the line doesn't mean you don't survive, eh? But it is a very extreme way of living.

People are gonna come after us. Mutants. An' it ain' gonna end well. We all know it.

Just... different schools of thought, y'know? 'Bout how we should handle it.

[Nods.] Pirates are the same way.

Although I suspect a bit more ruthless about it, eh?

Believe it or not, my crew is considered one of the more soft-hearted out there.

There's...

[She considers it for a moment, taking another hard drink of the rum. Just because, well... It's weird to talk about. Weird to think about.]

There's a guy. Called Magneto. Control over magnetism, that kinda thing.

He's... He's in th' camp t' fight. When the humans come after us, y'know. Stand an' fight. Show 'em what we can do. Show 'em... show 'em the same mercy they'd show t' us... none.

As much as I can understand those sentiments, my father taught me better.

I don't have much on the compassion or mercy, eh? But Pops said if we didn't save killing for the unthinkable, it wouldn't mean as much.

So even if someone infiltrated the crew, or fought us in all out war, I wouldn't kill them unless they cross that line.

Otherwise that line may as well not exist, eh?

But it's thinking like that... We left a lot of our enemies for Pops' islands to turn over to the government. Good publicity. You know, helps their economy, helps us, helps everyone, eh? But Blackbeard knew that, because he'd been in the crew since he started off. And he broke into the prison where they were kept, and broke them out to help him.

[A side glance as he realizes he just said that out loud. He can pin it on stress with Thatch and Namur, Robin, and Leanne, being gone, he can pin it on letting his guard down recently around Robin, and Shakki, and the fact that Rogue reminds him of both, but whatever the reason--]

[He looks back out at the horizon, keeping his tone casual.]

Listen, I haven't told Ace this, because it'll just hurt him. And I banned Haruta and Namur from telling him and Thatch too. It wouldn't surprise me if Namur gave it away anyway, like I said he's got a big shark mouth, but so long as I can protect him from knowing, I've got to try. So mum's the word, eh?

Blackbeard used those old enemies to kill our Pops, because Blackbeard would never have been strong enough to do it alone.

So even though I'm never going to question Pops' wisdom, I can't help wondering if there's a kind of math to it all too. And lately... I've gotten a lot worse in that question. I was pretty damn spoiled under Pops. We made our mark famous years ago for protecting our guys, but in this place, we're starting over.

Lea didn't like the equation I came out with. He says since Davy Jones brings us back from the dead, but can't... or at least doesn't, with the people of this world, we should let it go, and definitely not get revenge.

[Marco shakes out his hair.] But I'm old school. I've believed in hitting back fifteen times as hard my whole life.

[Quietly sips and swirls his own rum.]

It's not that I think he's right. I don't. I can't. My math will never work in that way... but I wonder if I'm prioritizing it wrong. Ace is backing me the whole way and I love him for it. And god knows, I've got other reasons I'm annoyed with Lea right now... [Marco leans the side of his head against the wood of the mast.] I still wish I could ask our Pops.

Ace is letting me leave it to him, because he knows that's why I don't want to be captain. I've always hated trying to figure out that kind of equation, so a lot of times, I just won't do it. But all the same...

It's not like we can convince this world to let us be, and it's got to be a lot easier to scare the living daylights out of them until they back off. Even if they send top navy, more pirate hunters, bounty hunters, whatever, all the rest, it still won't be different for us from before. But that's only me and those of us from the New World. The ones the navy goes after and tortures and kills are just kids. Which is extra what makes me mad. Fucking even Blackbeard doesn't do that.

Revenge isn't just because someone got hurt, it's about protecting the rest too. I guess lately my math isn't adding up right though, and I don't know why. We're louder than the others, and we take more damage, but is it just fame and our general recklessness, or something else?

My Pops' final order, final wish to me, was to protect the crew and not get revenge on Blackbeard. Ace... we sent him off after Blackbeard before, and that's how a lot of the mess got started. I'm a little stronger than Ace, only because I'm older so more trained and disciplined because I've had decades at it, but all the same... even if I tried to take Blackbeard, even if I could succeed, I'd probably die in the attempt. And I'd be fine with that, but he's not our only enemy. Just like you guys I guess, our whole world is our enemy, just about.

I hate it. That Pops asked me that, that he had to order it, otherwise I'd do it anyway, and that I can't bring myself to disobey it even now. Protecting the others is more important, and the math there comes out where losing me to kill Blackbeard still wouldn't be worth it... so I guess that's something. But I don't know how to apply it here. Or if I should even try.

[Snorts quietly.] I sure as hell don't come out with Lea's conclusion, that much I know. ["Freaking idiot," he thinks to himself.]

Edited 2014-08-29 23:44 (UTC)

Lea's math is like Xavier's. He's our professor. Lets us live in his house, takes care of us, all that.

[She sips her rum, acclimating herself to the taste of the raw liquor. Not bad once she's used to the burn. Been awhile, and, even then, it wasn't usually real booze. Just cheap, crappy beer.

This'll go to her head. But, for now? She's fine.]

He doesn' believe in killin'. His own brother? Wants t' kill him. Broken out twice. Nearly killed us all in the process. Both times. An' he jus'... locks him right back up.

With humans? Thinks we can reason with 'em, show 'em we ain' so bad. Maybe he's right. But I don' think a lot of 'em are gonna listen.

Not enough t' get the Sentinels shut down. Robots. That hunt mutants. We've tried t' take 'em on. Won... but barely. An' that was with an early model.

[The Sentinel threat isn't over.]

An' there's Scott. He's... Guess he's kinda like you. He's the one Xavier trusts t' look out for us. 'Specially if somethin' happens t' him. Like your pops an' you.

Jean's the same way.

[Another drink. There's just a bit of bitterness. Because she understands. Rogue knows. She's always known, in her own way.]

One of the mutants Apocalypse controlled? Was the professor. He saw bits of the future 'fore we saved 'im.

An' y'know what he told us? That one of us was gonna turn. That a friend was gonna be an enemy.

[Jean Grey. Miss Perfect.]

And y'know what? They won' say it, but I know. Everyone looked at me.

Because that's what I am t' the team. What Logan is. Logan I know, at least. We're the ones... Who don' play so nice with others. Who ain' got the best team spirit.

We're the ones that... when things need to get messy? We'll do it.

An' no one'll be surprised that it's us who went too far. Who crossed a line. 'Cause they get to have it done but still have the moral high ground.

[Maybe the glass of rum she just finished had gone to her head more than she thought.]

The dirty work gets done an' they don' have t' feel guilty.

That's what I'm gonna be. Or at least what they see. An' they're right. 'Cause I'll do it.

Hell, I'm doin' it now.

[Marco carefully slings an arm around her shoulder in a half-hug.]

For us, having anyone turn was unthinkable. And Blackbeard was by my side for decades. I definitely didn't expect it. None of us did.

[Sighs.] Lea doesn't even think we can make nice with the people of this world, he knows better. There's that Justice Crew or whatever that keeps trying, but Lea's from a place that doesn't usually associate with outsiders.

His math is just broken. He thinks since it's not our world we shouldn't disrupt it or it'll fall apart.

And to be honest, I can't find it in me to care if it does. The people who celebrated my Pops death are going to expect me to save them all from Blackbeard, and if it didn't mean sacrificing Pops' islands, I'd turn my back on all of them to leave them to that mess. And that's Namur and Haruta's home. I should care more about that place than here, but I can only care about my brothers. As far as Lea's concerned everyone should back to where they came from and leave this place alone. That's something I can't agree to, because it means killing Ace and Thatch and some others all over again.

Chandra said she'll take us traveling and I'm counting on it. And Lea doesn't think she can, but it does matter...

Just... this world. I've never had someone leave a crew over... morals? I mean at most someone might say Pops was too soft-hearted, but even then they did like you and Logan. Or however Thatch might put himself. Thatch considers himself a snake in the grass to protect us all, but if I was going to order someone to go in undercover to take down the entire world's navy here, I could send Thatch.

And he'd do it.

[Shakes a hand through his hair again.]

I guess the point is, I'm still gonna be rough to protect everyone, but I prioritize the crew first.

I still don't know where the line should be. Leaving them to come back for people if they're gonna seems like a bad idea to me, and hell, last navy base we hit, Ace had me take the lead or there wouldn't be many [any] survivors. But it always crushes Leanne, even though she's got just as much background with slavers as the rest of us. Then again I think Leanne could get shot in the wing and still forgive the shooter. I'm not like that.

That's why you're like Magneto.

[It's the first time she's said it. Admitted that Magneto is the person Marco most reminds her of. Which is probably a warning sign that she should get out while she can.

But... she believes in this. In this fight.]

He has his own followers. The Acolytes.

They're paid.

[She poured more rum into her glass and took a drink.]

Gambit's one of 'em. An Acolyte.

Magneto...

If he needed someone t' do somethin'? Anythin'? He'd send someone t' do it. Undercover, kill, blow somethin' up. Anythin'.

Sure, they're there for a price, but they'd do anythin' he asked. An' he'd ask 'em.

Xavier? Won'. Won' ask. Won' allow.

So me an' Logan? Logan, right now. Does what he can. What he wants. He doesn' ask for permission, an' there are things he keeps from Xavier. Same as Xavier keeps things from us.

[Which taught her a lot. That even the good guys kept secrets. That she could keep her own secrets.]

When th' time comes? I'll be doin' the same thing.

...Though I'd prefer, y'know? If y' didn'... Say anythin' t' Logan.

Don' think he wants me knowin' it. Or thinkin' 'bout it, at least. Y'know?

[Nods and holds a finger over his lips.] Our secret.

[Seeing as at this point she's keeping way more of his than he expected.]

I guess that's both like me. My brothers all know what they can and can't get away with, and most of them just do what they want and leave me to pick up the messes.

I would say luckily I don't pay my brothers... [Mischievous grin.] But actually I do. [Waves a hand.] Only because we're pirates and someone has to launder the money enough that it doesn't leave too broad of a trail, and manage the accounts, but still, kind of funny. [Grins wider.] When we get the others back, we'll take you to see Deesuko Ballia, the island we kind of adopted. Thatch and I set up a good seven bars and other places around the island, and Logan likes to go cage fighting, which you didn't hear from me.

And then we'll have to take Leanne to her island. Maybe in late Autumn. It's always spring there, but double-spring messes with my bird head. For that matter, about half of them will have to stay on D.B. Natsuno doesn't do well with the holy vibes, and Namur's got allergies, even Thatch gets twitchy as fuck.

And Ikki I will definitely put on Thatch and Namur's watch. He can keep them out of trouble, or more likely, they'll initiate the poor kid in levels of debauchery he's not even ready for, but this time of year is bad for him and Leanne's island would give him headaches.

It's very... peaceful. And orderly. And as such pirates can't stand it. Ace went nuts from wanting to eat everything and no one would let him. And I have one phrase just permanently stuck in my head...

[o_o... Yeah he doesn't want to think about it, and just shakes his head.] For phoenixes like me and Ikki, the life cycle also has a sort of... overwhelming undercurrent. And usually I can tune it out, but not on that island. Ikki was flat out murderous by the end of it, and even I couldn't stay completely calm.

But I think it won't be so bad in Autumn-Spring. I am willing to make the sacrificial attempt, and bring Haruta. She likes how I get on spring islands. My memories always end up hazy other than a giant notebook entry in sparkles and paints and something about "never again," but [Sly grin anyways.] You'll probably like it. Logan and Korra and Salami and the others did.

[And then he remembers something and facepalms.]

Flowers. I ate a lot of flowers last time... How did I let Leanne talk me into this again?

[Because she's his baby sister trapped in slavery because Marco let slip he couldn't sleep so she went looking for clues. That's why.]

We'll get 'em back. Whatever it takes.

[She promised Leanne that herself, while their bodies were swapped every which way. She'd promised her that she'd do whatever it took.

But that... She doesn't think either of them need to be thinking about that. Especially not while drinking.

Which she does again, taking another drink.]

Okay. Got a question for you. 'Cause I sure can' ask anyone else.

Say... Say someone was paid t' kill ya. Tried. Almost did it, too. But just 'cause they were paid. Then later, they help ya out. When they ain' bein' paid t' kill you. Or t' help ya. They jus' do it.

What d'ya make of 'em?

In my family, we kidnap them, and make them friends.

I'm not kidding about that.

Let's see...

Well, Izou wasn't hired to kill us, but Vista tied him to train tracks, so when we rescued him, he became ours. [LIES ALL LIES. IT IS TOO BAD NEITHER OF THEM ARE HERE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, BUT THIS IS SUCH B.S. The things Marco gets away with because no one else is old enough to know better...] Ace wasn't hired to kill Pops, but he wanted to because he wanted to be the strongest in the world, only Pops liked him and offered to let him join. And then his crew came back to try to get him, so we beat them all up and took them on board. Ace tried a couple hundred more times before he realized what he really wanted was a family like Pops' and he'd had us all along. [Strangely true despite being weirder than the lie.]

Haruta we rescued from shipwreck and she hated pirates, but I sparkled on her and she became a prince, so she joined us through... frog-prince-napping. [Now a thing.]

Namur picked a fight with Thatch... or was it the other way around? I forget. But that's how Namur joined.

Thatch was a stowaway, he wanted to kidnap me, and I think he was working for bounty hunters or marines or something, but I stole him with sparkles. [Sparkles feature a lot in these...]

And I still don't know how Ace brought in Doma as an ally. One minute he was going to burn down the fleet, the next minute they were best friends and drinking together. My guess is that the monkey and Ace's little brother were involved. Either way, that's pretty much the paid-to-kill, but then we kidnap and befriend anyway, thing.

Not that I would recommend taking friendship lessons from me. I'm still pretty sure I'm the driving force getting rid of half of our crew lately.

Edited (guh typing is hard) 2014-08-30 04:55 (UTC)

[She laughs. Actually laughs.

Definitely the rum.]

So, Gambit's in good company, huh?

[Another long drink, which she manages to swallow before she laughs again. Then hushes her tone.

Oh, yeah. The alcohol is definitely hitting her system. And with good company? She's talkative.]

Now, y' can't tell Logan. My Logan? Tried t' put his claws through Gambit's chin. Straight up. 'Cause of all he did.

[It's not like Logan needs to know, anyway. Gambit's not here, won't be here. But it's a precaution. Making sure Marco knows this juicy little story (or collection of stories, rather) is not for Logan's ears.]

[Laughs right along with her.] I can see that.

To be fair, I'd probably try to off anyone who even slightly bothered Haruta. And I'd have to race my brothers to it.

Oh, I don' blame 'im. It was kinda nice, in a way. 'Cause it happened when I...

When I kinda didn' know if the X-Men wanted me around. Or if I had a place with 'em. So seein' Logan almost do that? Kinda felt good, in a way. Y'know?

[Nods.]

Although I'm more the type to push people away if their resolve is too weak, just so you're warned.

Better than jus' leavin' 'em hangin'.

[She takes another drink of the rum, swallowing hard. God, she needed to stop. But the burn tasted good.]

Took 'em a week. I missed a whole day at school, snuck out a couple nights.

None of 'em noticed. [It was one of the memories she'd gotten from Gambit, even if she'd never told anyone about it.] Th' professor? Didn't even know until Magneto told 'im.

[Of course, she doesn't quite realize she hasn't really clarified what she's talking about.]

Are the Professor and Magneto sort of allies or friends then?

[Head tilt.] What were you doing?

They-- Christ, I ain' even sure. There's hist'ry there, that's all I know. They respect each other, but they sure ain' allies.

[Other than that... Whatever was between Xavier and Magneto was between them.]

As fer what I was doin'? That was when I was under Mesmero's control an' collectin' all the powers needed t' wake Apocalypse.

Took Magneto tellin' the Professor -- who I live with, who's s'posed t' be watchin' out for us -- for him t' notice I wasn' the one controllin' what I was doin'.

That an' a lotta other shit? [She can't be bothered to not swear right now.] I needed th' time away. Even if kidnappin' ain' exactly how'd I'd've chose t' get it.

...Needed t' know they'd come after me, too. An' they did.

Huh.

Jeez, I notice ten minutes when one of my nakama are missing...

[Drinks.] But I'm paranoid... fuck it, let's be real, clingy. You lose a few to death, a few more to going home, and then some to slavery, and it'll really mess with your head, yoi.

But maybe they just wanted to give you space? Even if I've always got one eye out for Ace, if he takes off without a word, I'll only come after him when he's in trouble. Otherwise he'd just run more to make me work for it.

Mind you, that's how Namur, Thatch, and Leanne all got kidnapped. Namur is usually able to take care of himself, Thatch went looking for him, and the minute I let Leanne put me to sleep... [Snaps his fingers.] She took off too.

Ikki's been off lately too, but luckily since he's just a hair younger than Ace, he looks up to him, and he's as loyal to Ace as Ace is to Pops, so he's stuck around.

[Looks up around at the sky and gives a whistle.] The booze will probably lure him out too. I really shouldn't have given him his first cup. [Oops. To be fair, there was a lot with Ikki he shouldn't have done.]

Voice // Ready or not || Action for anyone on the Spades Ships, Marco's in the crow's nest

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