Posting this little Marion/ Spalko pirate AU I found in my drafts:
Spalko had ordered a few sailors to patch the main sail, and now she heard the creak of ropes overhead as they moved barefoot over the rigging. The hold was scrubbed and free of rotted boards, and they’d purchased an extra dozen barrels of water in Antananarivo. The ocean was glassy and calm.
Halfway out from the island, the black speck of a rowboat bobbed in the current. Raising her spyglass, Spalko observed a lone figure at the oars. Her men were gathering at the rail, and Antonin had started to roll back the cannon. Spalko raised a hand.
“Hold your fire,” she snapped.
Marion dropped onto the chair and helped herself to a glass. The rum was decent, full-flavoured, although it burned all the way to her stomach. The big Russian gave her a disdainful look.
“Sorry,” she managed, though her lip quirked upwards. “I rowed all the way here. Thirsty work.”
Marion turned her attention to the captain. Spalko wore simple breeches tucked into salt-stained boots, and her jacket was fine gray brocade. A holster hung at her left, and a thin sword at her right. Her posture was impeccable.
Marion licked her lips. “I’ll keep it simple: My father is looking for treasure. He believes it’s in Brazil, and he needs men for an expedition. Men who will look the other way if he doesn’t cross every t and dot every i, so to speak.”
“—Frankly, he needs the money for another project.”
Spalko folded her arms behind her back. Her eyes were flat and expressionless, but her cheek twitched. “Allow me to confer with my lieutenant,” she replied carefully.
Marion grinned, shaking her hair from her shoulders. “Take all the time you need. In the meantime, I’ll pour myself another drink.”
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