Calm Before the Storm [ghost-captain-aelita and Cross rp]
"Land Ho!" Cried the lookout from the mast. “Finally, that wench and her crew is mine.” Cross scowled at the sight of her ship’s colors. “I want all cannons and mortars manned, nothing leaves that ship, but don’t sink her, cripple her. I want only a skeleton crew left so they can limp back to port after I’m done.” His eyes never once leaving the island as they scanned the shores and cliffsides. “What about you sir?” Edwin asked him. “I’m going shore, Alone. I’ll set a fire when I’m ready.” Cross stated coldly as he boarded his rowboat and set off, signaling them to start the assault.
Cross came ashore amidst the shelling and cannon fire, walking effortlessly through blasts of sand and sea as his ship waylayed hers. He drew his pistol and cutlass, cutting and shooting down any who stood between them. He managed to find her first mate, and struck him with the butt of his pistol. “You, lad, do me one favor, and I guarantee your life for now. Make sure, the next time your Captain decides to break something, make sure its the law, not something of mine.” A smiled passed his lips as he found a locket half buried. “This, is mine now. Now, off to follow her trail.”
Cross’ eyes lit with a fire of hatred, led him along her path to the cliffs. He started to climb the far side as to get the jump on her. Yes he was fearless, but he wanted to see her panic, watch the realization of her life coming to an end hit her. Her suffering would temper his fury, albeit slightly. This time, my shot will not miss. To wound, then toss from this crag. My face will be the last thing she sees, just like the rest of the world. He thought as he fastened her locket to his pistol like some trophy or ornament. Once above her suspected location, he stood tall and bellowed “Come out, come out, wherever you are… Playtime is Over, Little Girl.”
At the first sound of cannon fire, Aelita’s head jerked towards her ship. Without a second thought she crept from her hiding spot, the safety of her crew the only thing on her mind. She didn’t want her folly to get them killed, not over something so stupid as a vase. She made her way quickly through the dense foliage to the beach, dashing onto her ship to get the remaining crew off it before too much damage was done. Leaving them to fend for themselves (she knew they were more than capable, and they knew the island’s hiding places well enough to escape if they needed), she grabbed her navigator and first mate and ordered them to hide.
Neither man was keen to run from the fight, but they knew their girl Captain would be lost without them both so they ran into the forest without questioning her, after her first mate had told her he’d been attacked by the man hunting her. Aelita thanked him and sent him off, hiding well enough to look for the Dread Captain.
It was then she noticed him heading up the cliffs for where she had been only minutes ago. She couldn’t help but grin. He’d been too busy to see her escape,and it left her two options. Run, hide, and live or attempt to take him down with the cover of the trees to hide her exact location? This is a good a chance as any to try and kill him she thought as she darted back into the trees and watched him carefully.
When he stopped over the hiding nook, she took aim with her gun, waiting for the right moment to catch him. It came sooner than expected when she hard him call her ‘little’. She always hated being so small and it annoyed her when people brought it up. Granted, 5’6” wasn’t a bad height for a woman, but for a pirate it was deplorable. She fired and quickly moved, making sure she still had a clear shot without giving him a clear view of her.
This might actually be fun she mused, taking a second shot and moving again.
During the bombardment of the shore, Cross, after climbing the cliff stood with a broad grim as he waited for Aelita to show her head. "You know I really do love the sound of my -" His sentence was cut short after a shot rung out through the cannon fire. A bullet whizzed past his hair, surprising him slightly before a second shot caught him square in the left shoulder. Cross reeled back as if he would fall over, but, for facade's sake, he then slammed his foot down to re-balance himself to look around.
"Nice shot, lassy, but I can assure you, you have to hit me harder than that!" Cross boasted through a fake smile. "Won't get yer chance though." He goaded as he leaped over the far side from where he was hit and started sliding down the side, doing a number on his boots. Once out of site he would then allow himself to grimace.
Cross' teeth were gritting, "That god damned little twat, I'm amazed she even hit me, glad she can't aim very well or I'd be worse off." As he reached the bottom he took off at full sprint, letting his left arm just hang from his side, towards his ship. Aboard, he called for a change of course and he surgery kit. As his ship headed off for a specific no-name isle he knew of, he proceeded to care for his wound. In full view of crew, he took his knife and removed the ball of a shot, thankfully intact. Cross then worked on suturing and bandaging himself, deadpan as ever.
Cross let his first mate take helm as he went below to his cabin and started swearing a line worse than any man had managed to elicit from him. His body ached and his head rang, he felt that perhaps all this killing and fighting was taking its toll, until he drank from his rum and proceeded to stop caring. He knew they would arrive at the isle ahead of a dreaded date, but would allow that day to come and pass before they left.. He only wished it was his birthday, sadly it was less jocund.
