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June 17th, 1724
Port Royal
10:56 PM
The celebration over the invaders had gone well in to the night, with no signs of stopping. Driftwood left behind by the destroyed barricades was formed in to small piles, and then lit to boast as a bonfire. These small pockets out flames were all about the port, being encircled by large groups of men and women alike, laughing, dancing, drinking, adulterating, activities which were practical in the blissfully sinful mood of the deep night. For now, they ignored the history which had traspired before them, the works which required repair, their virtues which required restoration, and tipped and turned within the moment.
The crew of pirates barged themselves in to the heavily crowded Royal Anchor, chattering loudly and tipping over anything that moved. The bar was much more populated than it ever is - due to it's particular location, it is much less championed than it's competitor, the Rowdy Rooster. Those who filled the room now were simply those who did not wish to squeeze theirselves in to the Rooster, but nevertheless, it was business, and to that the tender was happy within herself. Candles hung around the walls keeping the bar dimly lit, for fear that the latterns would be easily knocked over and create a fire, which was extremely lethal in such a packed area. Every single of the seats were filled, at the benches by the fireplace, the tables, at the side of the wall, so a majority had either found themselves sitting on tables (all but that of the makeshift games of Blackjack and Poker) or on the floor, still content to the bustling atmosphere.
"... so he ended up only getting away with one of his eyes out and one of his arms severed. Thats why we call him the Ole Blind Stump!" Delmaria laughed as he plopped his arm down on the bar, talking to the crew, which then joined him at the sides.
They all continued laughing, and in good spirits, Bankok called out, "Hey, what about that time you headed of to that island off of England?"
"Ah, you mean my trip to Edward's Isle, aye?" The rest of the group nodded, anticipating a story. "Yes, I remember it well. I had helped a local group of rumrunners in London liberate a few barrels from a tavern called the Fox and Hounds, and was to told to recieve my payment on some uncharted island off the Eastern coast.It was quite a sail, but I was willing to do anything for me shiny.
So after a few days of stormy sailing, we docked at the isle, a dank, deserted fishing town of sorts. Really misty place. Filled with rotted houses, a few gutted ships, and all the stuff that makes fer a real ghost town. Anyway, I was forced to look around for a bit, until I came across th-" Delmaria was interrupted by the loud resistance of large man, a pirate, throwing a glass bottle across the room, crashing against the wall. He jumped up from his seat at a poker tables and cried loudly "Cheating...!", a sentence filled with horrible obscenities. It looked as though he was attempting to pull something out from his long, worn overcoat, but he didn't react quickly enough. Opposite from him, a pistol rang out. While he was not facing him, the pirates saw too well his body splatter across his body, falling to the ground in a heap of dead weight.
A seductive voice moistened by a mix between an Irish and English accent laughed from the other side of the gambling space. "I apologize mate, but I believe that I'm the last one standing amongst ys, hm? I'll take the initiative of taking your personal affects, seeing as you won't need them." The figure gestured two scruffy crewmen over to the body, picking it up and leading it out of the tavern, obviously to be looted and then ridded of appropiately, probably wrapped in a dinghy cloth at the base of a missionary's home. The silence that had covered the room slowly began to break, as man after man turned their heads back to the previous topic at hand.
The pirate crew by the bar stood completely still, all except for Delmaria, who walked across the room against all judgement. The crew watched hopelessly as their captain strutted straight up to the table, right up to the seat where the man once sat. He gazed upon not a man, but a woman, nearly dressed all in a faded green outfit, aside from a bright red and dark black vest, strapped together by an assortment of gold buckels and pins across the middle. That, and a lightly tanned, feathered hat. Her long, red hair was braided in to a ponytail, which hung over her left shoulder to prevent in from swaying back and forth, as she was leaning carelessly back in a wooden chair, elegant Spanish boots crossed on top of the table. As she fooled with a small gold coin in between the fingers of her left hand, she gazed her greenish-blue eyes blankly on the table, until she noticed the figure who had approached her. She ushered a wide smile, showing off a pair of dimples squarely in the middle of her cheeks. "Well I'll be damned," that same voice spoke up. "Delmaria my old friend, I haven't seen you in-"
"Years, indeed. But I was not expecting to come across the infamous 'Pirate Queen of the West," in a low-brow Caribbean tavern such as this. Raiding lowly British warships giving you a bore, has it?"
"Truly. I required a little more adventure, don't I?" She ran her eyes up and down the man. "The years haven't been that generous to you. You look ancient for only a man 35 years of age."
Delmaria chuckled to himself. "You still remember my age. Well Leanne, I can't exactly say you're far down the line, now can I?"
The quick glimpse of a smile sprinted across her face, before she caught herself and smothered it. He beckoned him to sit in the dead man's chair, while he followed suit to do. "I'm sure you wouldn't mind a quick game of Straight Poker, for old times sake." Her eyes twinkled mischeviously as he snapped her finger at the dealer. "Proceed."
The dealer quickly shuffled out the respective number of cards to each of the players who sat around the table - Delmaria, Leanne, and three gambling addictors who spent nearly every waking moment trying to strike a big deal. Their bloodshot eyes acted as a metaphor for their useless chase of riches. The group quickly picked up their cards, and ran their eyes across the pair. Two of the regular players wipped their face dramatically, in distraut, and threw their cards down at the table before the blinds were even made. The other three sat stotic, not showing an ounce of emotion.
And so they began, carelessly throwing gold coins to the center of the table. They clanked loudly against each other as they bounced in to pile, which had begun to both expand and ascend itself. Not before long, it had grown in to a small hill of some few hundred coins, which were now being tossed in random amounts by the town pirates, almost making for a game within the game. The other of the three had folded by the time it hit two hundred, out of fear this would escalate in to a savage betting war. And sure enough, it did.
As the dance of greed continued on, more and more people began encircling the table, caught in awe by the epic battle which took place merely a few centimeters from them. The mere fact it had continued for nearly twenty minutes, without even a sign of stopping, was astounding. The crowd stood there tantalized by the thousands of gold which laid before them, only growing bigger by a furious throwing match between the two. It had gotte so mind numbing that they both had lost count of how much the pot was, much less was anybody else.
Finally, Delmaria took notice of theshocked, almost intimidated face of Leanne. "What's the matter Miss O'Malley, the gambling a little to tough fer you?" He laughed a small, taunting laugh, not by his mouth, but by his eyes.
Leanne was now leaning over the table, both elbows planted firmly down, her hat tilted downwards, blocking his view of her more-than-likely fearful eyes. She tried to calm herself by laughing at herself, "I must admit, I haven't nearly been in a game as high-takes as this, Mr. Darkskull. I'm guessing I... am caught in the moment?"
"Well, the game has turned in to nothing but a monotonous game of back-and-forth, now hasn't it. What's to say we make our final bets, a simple valuable which the other may find worthy of obtaining."
"What do you mean, exactly?" O'Malley leaned herself farther over the table in curiousity.
"Surely you didn't come here for a game of poker, nor would you yourself be willing to aid us in that battle which transpired a while ago. All I ask that, if I happen to win, you tell me your plans for this voyage of yours, and allow me to accompany you and your crew."
"And what would I happen to get if I won?" Leanne leaned back sternly in her chair, arms crossed.
Delmaria reached his right arm over to his left side and pulled out his sword, gleaming and sparkling as ever. With the sleeve of his jacket protecting his hand from it's handle, he lightly tossed it on top of the gold coins, it blade pratically blending in with it. Without saying a word, he watched as everybody across the room widen their eyes in amazement and shock.
Lawrence ran up behind him followed by the rest of the crew, clamping his hands down on the captain's shoulder. Delmaria looked up to face him, as Lawrence whispered hardly, "Captain, you can't be serious! If she wins..."
All Delmaria had to do was wink for the first mate to stop, and back away. Darkskull returned him attention to Leanne, and nodded her to lay down the five cards. "Delmaria you fool!" She coughed as she laid down her cards. A Queen of hearts, a Joker of spades, a 10 of diamonds, a 9 of diamonds, and an 8 of spades. "Straight to the Queen! Haha!"
Delmaria smirked. "A cute hand, I admit. Sadly, My Queen, you lose." Delmaria laid down his. An ace of each kind, alongside a King of Diamonds. "Five of a Kind."
The crowd gasped at a time, as Leanne's jaw dropped nearly to the table. Without a word, but an immensely large smile on his face, Delmaria stood up and grabbed him cutlass, placing in back at his side. "A good game indeed, madame. Lawrence, do me a favor and collect the gold for me. Come, Miss O'Malley, we must discuss." He walked by her, still seated and staring in shock, and swiped her arm, pulling her out of the tavern.
Outside it was still dark and clear as ever, the lights twinkling above. The celebration had calmed just barely, but it still echoed off in to the distance. As the door slammed behind them, Darkskull walked in a perfectly straight line, stopping just before the end of a stone cliff, and a plunge to the shallows below. He leaned up againt a large pile of boxes, held together by a large net, and waited for Leanne, who stormed up behind him. She looked as though she was going to slap him, but his mellow face relaxed her. She walked quitly and joined him a the side.
They stood there for a few minutes in silence, overlooking the port, to the charred dock, to the bonfires still blazing at the base of the beach, the to the festival which uncurled. Finally, she spoke. "I asure you've heard of the rumors, aye?"
"I've heard many rumors in this place Leanne, clarfication would be appreciated." Delmaria smirked without expression.
"Of the Abu Nar, of their travels in to the New World in search of trade, yes?"
"Ah, yes. Go on."
She sighed and took a step foward, then turning about face to stare in to Delmaria. "There is an abandoned fort previously used by the Spanish army of the northwestern coast of Rio Hacha. It has been established by free traders as a black market of sorts, selling various goods one could not obtain anywhere else across the global. It is heard that the Abu Nar have set up a small shop there, and are selling only some of the finest daggers across the planet. Of course, I don't plan to buy them." She winked as she slipped her hands in to her pockets.
"Excellent. Well, I suggest we leave port at the break of dawn tomorrow morn. Rest assured, your gold will only be spent without care and on only useless garbage." Delmaria began to walk up towards the bridge he defended on a few hours ago, and began his ascent, before turning around one last time. "Oh, and Miss O'Malley.."
"Yes?"
"Your cheating method is terrible. If you ask me, hiding a few aces under your hat works just fine."
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