Anchor’s awakening was proceeded by the following: first, pain. A debilitating amount of it. Its origin seemed to pulse greatly from around his leg, where an immense pressure was constricting around the fresh stitches along his thigh. His wounded back and shoulder were next to follow, from bolting upright in his shock, then his lungs in the strained gasp. Confusion followed, immediately giving in to alarm and anger.
He felt that familiar heat rise inside, but before it boiled over and clouded his mind, a firm slap snapped his head over an ilm. The hyur blinked, blurry gaze readjusting and looking over towards the perpetrator, Brick, his quartermaster. Or tried, rather, since a set of clothes were smacking into his features, blinding him again.
“Bastard,†he managed out in a wheeze while he shakily reached to remove the fresh attire from his head. Hells, he felt weak. Aggravating. His voice was also grating and he noted then how much his chest ached when he spoke.
“Prepare to disembark, Saltborn. In the meantime. Girl. Get out.â€
Girl…? Oh right. That wench, Nabi. She had been here with him, hadn’t she? Anchor vaguely recalled having woken up prior since their departure from Isari, but he could scarcely remember the details of it. His teeth clenched as he reached up with his better arm, holding his head while looking around through hazy vision. He still had that sleep draught in his blood. Frustrating.
There was a shuffling noise of loose paper, as if was being exchanged. “He isn't fully recovered yet, and these would help.â€
Nabi’s voice, but Anchor hardly paid mind, trying to regain his bearings. He was below deck, in the crew’s quarters. It was its usually murky darkness, the only lightsource currently a dim lantern by the entrance to the cramped space. It had been rearranged; Anchor was on one of the corner cots, it having been dragged to the center of the room. There were a couple more that had been shifted around closer to his own for reasons he couldn’t discern yet. The hammocks remained untouched, hanging around the corners. His lacerated and bruised body was quite naked, save for the blanket covering him for decency.
By the time he attempted to focus his attention on the two au ra in the room, the female was disappearing behind the cabin door--And by door, he meant raggedy curtain. Piece of shit. So, he turned his crimson gaze to the towering male in the room instead, immediately glowering.
“Fuckin’ hells be your problem??†All the pain had Anchor’s rasping voice rising in aggravation.
“My first is being you have yet to put clothes on,†Brick offered mildly, eyeing the set in Anchor’s blanketed lap. “And it’s quite the eyesore.â€
The wounded pirate scoffed, impatiently tossed aside the blankets and, much to the protest of his body, shifted his legs around to begin amending the whole bare situation. Anchor’s breaths came out hard and strained. It didn’t go unnoticed by the stoic au ra, but he continued nonetheless.
“My second being you may have cost us future business. And, quite possibly, rewarded us future problems.â€
Another incredulous huff resounded as Anchor let his feet settle to the floor with a wince, pulling loose pants up over his hips and tying them off. “Good riddance to it then, damn bastard nearly sent us off to a deathtrap if’n I remember rightly the last or so time.†Though, he only half-meant it. Dangerous or potentially dangerous work wasn’t unknown or uncommon to the Ironsong crew.
“It was quick work, for the most part, and regardless of the trouble, it paid well.†There was little comment on that. “Do you even remember what happened?â€
Huh. That question sounded familiar. Probably because Nabi had asked him the same thing. “More or less,†Anchor grumbled.
It was an odd remembrance. Fragmented, in a way; blurry between more specific acts. It was not unlike points along a string, places more distinct when either his blade had cut through flesh or the times his own had been. There was no recollection of satisfaction or victory though, no matter how many bodies dropped that day.
Brick nodded, “Well, while you were showering in the blood of our associate’s business partners, I was having a friendly chat with one of Grave’s men.â€
Anchor narrowed his gaze over at Brick as he carefully situated a loose hanten jacket over his shoulders. So he had missed one. That part, he hadn’t been aware of.
The Ironsong’s quartermaster began to give the details of the discussion Anchor hadn’t been present to. Not that there were many details to cover. At least not as many as the quartermaster would have liked at this point.
Brick parroted Torrad, the surviving foreman’s words: the men Anchor had killed had been in the works to start brothel rings and drug trade throughout Doma. The girl--who’s name Brick couldn’t recall if it had ever even been mentioned to him, nor did he really care--had been part of the deal for unknown reasons. And then that, unsurprisingly, with this line of work, Grave and the now deceased Doman Lord, had competing enemies out there.
The auri quartermaster moved on to speak of the current situation with Nabi’s family. How they were left with a burning body in a burning clinic, and that the girl knew none of this, only having the threat of her family’s well being hanging over her head for compliance. It would make it easier on them, Brick explained. There was hope it meant no one would come looking for the assumed dead, and it meant the female’s bleeding heart would keep her from doing anything drastic. She seemed the naive sort, at least.
Pieces of past jobs and experiences were clicking into place in Anchor’s muddled mind all the while; the crate they delivered to Kugane that had smelled of embalming fluid, the body inside, and then, more recently, the smoke and commotion he had been privy to before setting sail to deliver new cargo; to deliver that wench, Nabi.
The quartermaster quieted when he saw Anchor shaking, brows furrowed, holding his palm over his temple. The young pirate’s breath was quivering out through his nose in a controlled fashion, the dark circles under his eyes making the rage glistening in their red, unfocused gaze seem accentuated through his sickly paleness.
Brick exhaled wearily, “Aye… an awful lot of trouble to be had for one girl.†He reached into his clothing to fish out a cigar, placing it between his lips. “As it is, for now she is to stay out of Kugane and out of sight.†The au ra pointedly looked down to the last garb Anchor had yet to put on. Which was fine, as it was not meant for him. Said pirate followed his gaze with a raised brow. The fabric was thick and dark. “In that time, you can mind her here as you recover.†He puffed to life his smoke as he lit up with a matchbox.
“...â€
There was a very long pause. At that moment, Anchor’s features blanked, the pain, irritation, and anger being replaced with incredulous confusion. Then, realization followed and all the aggravation returned in full swing,
“You be sayin’ bloody what now?â€
“You will mind the girl, here, in Shirogane.†Brick repeated with a dull stare, “We anchored a bell ago and as I said, you best prepare to disembark.†He took a puff from the large blunt hanging out of his mouth. “It was your decision, after all, regardless of lack of mind or presence in that time. And since you are useless as you are, it seems the most appropriate.â€
Anchor felt his hackles rise at the insult, true though it may be. His mouth fell open to retort, but Brick continued, cutting off the start of his baffled rage.
“In the meantime, we will place a few men here after you and then set to Kugane to do the same. Keep an eye out, make preparations to move if need be.†Brick nodded with finality as if the conversation was over, turning on his heel and started out of the room.
The younger pirate was not through with this, however. It was only through the rising blood pressure that he could push himself through the pain and start stumbling after his quartermaster, grabbing the folded dark-colored garb nearby by reflex. Anchor’s pace was inconsistent and somewhat unstable, grasping desperately to nearby walls or door frames and anything else to keep up with the other’s brisk pace.
“You be waitin’, ya shite-eatin’ sod! You be sayin’ it yerself--I be useless, aye?†Apparently he could agree with the jab if it worked in his favor, “Ya can’t be havin’ me watch ‘er--she--she’ll run off or some shite! Not that I be carin’ if she did!â€
“A possibility, but doubtful, given her and her own family’s believed situation. One you can always kindly remind her of.â€
Anchor’s chest heaved with labored breaths. He was getting light-headed again thanks to the movement in his futile chase; the pain, the anger, the anxiety--it was all so heavy, “I. That.†He cursed when he failed to find the right words, instead just blurting out dubiously, “Where in Hells do I bring ‘er?!â€
“You are a foolish, infuriating bastard, Saltborn, but hardly an idiot.†Brick didn’t slow his pace, exiting out from below into the blinding, morning light on deck. “Somewhere safe, i imagine, and out of the way.â€
"--And where the Hells would that be??"
Anchor’s attempt to follow was brought to a halt as soon as the walls below deck ended and the shining rays hit his eyes, making him squint so hard they nearly closed. He let out another string of expletives.
He knew where to take her.
And Brick knew that Anchor knew.
And somewhere inside, Anchor knew Brick knew that he knew!
Bastard.
He felt that familiar heat rise inside, but before it boiled over and clouded his mind, a firm slap snapped his head over an ilm. The hyur blinked, blurry gaze readjusting and looking over towards the perpetrator, Brick, his quartermaster. Or tried, rather, since a set of clothes were smacking into his features, blinding him again.
“Bastard,†he managed out in a wheeze while he shakily reached to remove the fresh attire from his head. Hells, he felt weak. Aggravating. His voice was also grating and he noted then how much his chest ached when he spoke.
“Prepare to disembark, Saltborn. In the meantime. Girl. Get out.â€
Girl…? Oh right. That wench, Nabi. She had been here with him, hadn’t she? Anchor vaguely recalled having woken up prior since their departure from Isari, but he could scarcely remember the details of it. His teeth clenched as he reached up with his better arm, holding his head while looking around through hazy vision. He still had that sleep draught in his blood. Frustrating.
There was a shuffling noise of loose paper, as if was being exchanged. “He isn't fully recovered yet, and these would help.â€
Nabi’s voice, but Anchor hardly paid mind, trying to regain his bearings. He was below deck, in the crew’s quarters. It was its usually murky darkness, the only lightsource currently a dim lantern by the entrance to the cramped space. It had been rearranged; Anchor was on one of the corner cots, it having been dragged to the center of the room. There were a couple more that had been shifted around closer to his own for reasons he couldn’t discern yet. The hammocks remained untouched, hanging around the corners. His lacerated and bruised body was quite naked, save for the blanket covering him for decency.
By the time he attempted to focus his attention on the two au ra in the room, the female was disappearing behind the cabin door--And by door, he meant raggedy curtain. Piece of shit. So, he turned his crimson gaze to the towering male in the room instead, immediately glowering.
“Fuckin’ hells be your problem??†All the pain had Anchor’s rasping voice rising in aggravation.
“My first is being you have yet to put clothes on,†Brick offered mildly, eyeing the set in Anchor’s blanketed lap. “And it’s quite the eyesore.â€
The wounded pirate scoffed, impatiently tossed aside the blankets and, much to the protest of his body, shifted his legs around to begin amending the whole bare situation. Anchor’s breaths came out hard and strained. It didn’t go unnoticed by the stoic au ra, but he continued nonetheless.
“My second being you may have cost us future business. And, quite possibly, rewarded us future problems.â€
Another incredulous huff resounded as Anchor let his feet settle to the floor with a wince, pulling loose pants up over his hips and tying them off. “Good riddance to it then, damn bastard nearly sent us off to a deathtrap if’n I remember rightly the last or so time.†Though, he only half-meant it. Dangerous or potentially dangerous work wasn’t unknown or uncommon to the Ironsong crew.
“It was quick work, for the most part, and regardless of the trouble, it paid well.†There was little comment on that. “Do you even remember what happened?â€
Huh. That question sounded familiar. Probably because Nabi had asked him the same thing. “More or less,†Anchor grumbled.
It was an odd remembrance. Fragmented, in a way; blurry between more specific acts. It was not unlike points along a string, places more distinct when either his blade had cut through flesh or the times his own had been. There was no recollection of satisfaction or victory though, no matter how many bodies dropped that day.
Brick nodded, “Well, while you were showering in the blood of our associate’s business partners, I was having a friendly chat with one of Grave’s men.â€
Anchor narrowed his gaze over at Brick as he carefully situated a loose hanten jacket over his shoulders. So he had missed one. That part, he hadn’t been aware of.
The Ironsong’s quartermaster began to give the details of the discussion Anchor hadn’t been present to. Not that there were many details to cover. At least not as many as the quartermaster would have liked at this point.
Brick parroted Torrad, the surviving foreman’s words: the men Anchor had killed had been in the works to start brothel rings and drug trade throughout Doma. The girl--who’s name Brick couldn’t recall if it had ever even been mentioned to him, nor did he really care--had been part of the deal for unknown reasons. And then that, unsurprisingly, with this line of work, Grave and the now deceased Doman Lord, had competing enemies out there.
The auri quartermaster moved on to speak of the current situation with Nabi’s family. How they were left with a burning body in a burning clinic, and that the girl knew none of this, only having the threat of her family’s well being hanging over her head for compliance. It would make it easier on them, Brick explained. There was hope it meant no one would come looking for the assumed dead, and it meant the female’s bleeding heart would keep her from doing anything drastic. She seemed the naive sort, at least.
Pieces of past jobs and experiences were clicking into place in Anchor’s muddled mind all the while; the crate they delivered to Kugane that had smelled of embalming fluid, the body inside, and then, more recently, the smoke and commotion he had been privy to before setting sail to deliver new cargo; to deliver that wench, Nabi.
The quartermaster quieted when he saw Anchor shaking, brows furrowed, holding his palm over his temple. The young pirate’s breath was quivering out through his nose in a controlled fashion, the dark circles under his eyes making the rage glistening in their red, unfocused gaze seem accentuated through his sickly paleness.
Brick exhaled wearily, “Aye… an awful lot of trouble to be had for one girl.†He reached into his clothing to fish out a cigar, placing it between his lips. “As it is, for now she is to stay out of Kugane and out of sight.†The au ra pointedly looked down to the last garb Anchor had yet to put on. Which was fine, as it was not meant for him. Said pirate followed his gaze with a raised brow. The fabric was thick and dark. “In that time, you can mind her here as you recover.†He puffed to life his smoke as he lit up with a matchbox.
“...â€
There was a very long pause. At that moment, Anchor’s features blanked, the pain, irritation, and anger being replaced with incredulous confusion. Then, realization followed and all the aggravation returned in full swing,
“You be sayin’ bloody what now?â€
“You will mind the girl, here, in Shirogane.†Brick repeated with a dull stare, “We anchored a bell ago and as I said, you best prepare to disembark.†He took a puff from the large blunt hanging out of his mouth. “It was your decision, after all, regardless of lack of mind or presence in that time. And since you are useless as you are, it seems the most appropriate.â€
Anchor felt his hackles rise at the insult, true though it may be. His mouth fell open to retort, but Brick continued, cutting off the start of his baffled rage.
“In the meantime, we will place a few men here after you and then set to Kugane to do the same. Keep an eye out, make preparations to move if need be.†Brick nodded with finality as if the conversation was over, turning on his heel and started out of the room.
The younger pirate was not through with this, however. It was only through the rising blood pressure that he could push himself through the pain and start stumbling after his quartermaster, grabbing the folded dark-colored garb nearby by reflex. Anchor’s pace was inconsistent and somewhat unstable, grasping desperately to nearby walls or door frames and anything else to keep up with the other’s brisk pace.
“You be waitin’, ya shite-eatin’ sod! You be sayin’ it yerself--I be useless, aye?†Apparently he could agree with the jab if it worked in his favor, “Ya can’t be havin’ me watch ‘er--she--she’ll run off or some shite! Not that I be carin’ if she did!â€
“A possibility, but doubtful, given her and her own family’s believed situation. One you can always kindly remind her of.â€
Anchor’s chest heaved with labored breaths. He was getting light-headed again thanks to the movement in his futile chase; the pain, the anger, the anxiety--it was all so heavy, “I. That.†He cursed when he failed to find the right words, instead just blurting out dubiously, “Where in Hells do I bring ‘er?!â€
“You are a foolish, infuriating bastard, Saltborn, but hardly an idiot.†Brick didn’t slow his pace, exiting out from below into the blinding, morning light on deck. “Somewhere safe, i imagine, and out of the way.â€
"--And where the Hells would that be??"
Anchor’s attempt to follow was brought to a halt as soon as the walls below deck ended and the shining rays hit his eyes, making him squint so hard they nearly closed. He let out another string of expletives.
He knew where to take her.
And Brick knew that Anchor knew.
And somewhere inside, Anchor knew Brick knew that he knew!
Bastard.
Anchor's tumblr
Warning: will contain nsfw material, dark themes, and other mature content.Â
