sacrifice;

Tess VolkovAge: 27 | Lord of the Caspian Sea - Captain of The Knave“Can you understand? Someone, somewhere, can you understand me a little, love me a little? For all my despair, for all my ideals, for all that—I love life. But it is hard, and I have so much—so very much to learn.”

[reginamiills]

And he separated the l a n d from the w a t e r, and he called the water the s e a. And God said let the sea bring forth l i f e abundantly, and he blessed it. And he said that it was good.

[navigatorava]

“I don’t like to drink when a friend is upset.” She looked at her captain in concern. “Are you okay?”

[tess-volkov-blog]

“I’m fine, love. What makes you think that I’m upset?”

[captainbrimms-blog]

“I’m not even sure she’s my own blood, but… The things she said were very pointed. They sounded like something I would say if I met my own father.” The world felt subtly heavier at the words, and he couldn’t help but wonder of the other children in the world who shared his blood. He hoped, for their own sake, they were as far from the island as the world would take them – although it seemed they were drawn to it in the same way he was. “No, we need to get them off the island in a way that, if they die, it appears accidentally. We don’t want word to get back to the King and him to think we have something to hide. As much as I’d enjoy taking his pointed crown for my own, he’d send a fleet first, and we don’t have the sort of power to rage a war.” 

[tess-volkov-blog]

Tess smiled softly. "Sounds like your daughter to me. She's got spirit and a temper to rival your own, drakonchik. And we won't have a problem with that. Any dead bodies could be sent to the bottom of the sea. The locals don't want any part of what we know and I for one know that the sirens are just as antsy with the naval officers here as the rest of us. I'm sure with a bit of coercion, they'll be more than willing to help. The problem will be the actual method of getting them off the bloody island. I'd like to avoid it as many casualties as possible, but... they aren't so picky as to whom they kill. I'd like to get Aleksey off the island before anything bad happens. He hasn't taken any of the Elixir, so he should be able to leave freely. Perhaps he and your daughter can go together?"

[wolf-boy-stiles-deactivated2015]

“DO be a dear and fill a girl in. There is only so much one can glean while on their death bed.”

[tess-volkov-blog]

“Were you terribly ill? Are you feeling better now, or should I give you a medicinal tonic to help with the ailment you have?”

[captainbrimms-blog]

“You flatter me,” he returned. As she continued however, Cal couldn’t help but raise his brows, entirely considering the possibility. The Mouri were ruthless, and ruthlessness was what they needed. “An offensive approach is the only way we’ll survive. The sirens tried a defensive approach on Polaris, and look where it got them. If it were up to me, we’d wipe them out – but I think my…daughter may be among them.” The word felt foreign on his tongue, but he wasn’t sure how else to phrase his growing concern. 

[tess-volkov-blog]

Tess frowned at the mention of a daughter. It left a bitter taste in her mouth, though she knew that she had no right to feel any jealousy towards a forgotten woman of his past. “It would be cruel to murder your own daughter, yes... I suppose I’ll have to figure something a bit more practical then. I doubt any fog or hallucination-causing bugs will do much for these... people.” The blonde cleared her throat and glanced around the room--anywhere that wasn’t Cal in all honest truth. She felt an awkward air settle in between them at the mention of children, though she held no grudge against the girl herself. She was probably a very nice girl... but Tess didn’t want to dwell on the subject for long. 

[captainbrimms-blog]

“Maybe that Calico Brimms is finally dead and buried.” He returned her gaze, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his knees. “You know me too well. I’d rather not talk about it, but you’re going to pry it from me anyways just by flashing those damn eyes at me. Damn your eyes, Tess.” 

“I think the past is finally catching up to me. Faces I never thought I’d see again are beginning to prick up, and with these ruddy Navy crawling around… For the first time in a long time, I seem to be at a loss what to do, love – not that you’ll ever hear me say that again.” 

[tess-volkov-blog]

“I hope not. He was quite the man if I recall.” She smiled at the crumbling of his resolve not to say anything, but stifled it the best she could. Any traces of a smile faded, however, at the mention of familiar faces and the Navy. “There’s a way to solve all of your problems, you know. If we use the...” Tess whispered the next word as she set down the glass, “Mouri, we could scare the buggers off the island. Of course, that would mean taking a much more offensive approach.”

[captainbrimms-blog]

“No one is more shocked than I am, love.” He chuckled softly, although the sound fell flat. “Bigger concerns, I suppose.” 

[tess-volkov-blog]

“The Calico Brimms I know would never pass up a free drink--no matter how big his concerns. It must be serious, whatever it is.” She gave him the once-over and frowned slightly. "Would you rather not talk about it?"

[tess-volkov-blog]

“Thank God for the bloody alcohol...” The woman took a long sip of her drink before glancing at her guest. “You said you didn’t want one? Why?”

[queenselly-blog]

[pinkfilm]

Visit Original Link

[connordryden-blog]

Connor replied to the woman with a smile, pouring her a drink into the other cup left on the table. “Ahh, and what was it that betrayed me?” he asked, winking as he slid her cup to her. As if he didn’t already know. Connor had never blended into a crowd, even in his homeland. 

[tess-volkov-blog]

“I’d say it’s all the people whispering around you, love. I wonder if you notice that you’re the focus of everyone’s attention.” She took the cup and sipped the drink slowly as she glanced around.

[thelittlevolkovprince]

“Which is something I can easily do and I can take care of any patients.” Aleksey grinned sweeping the dust from the floor out the door with a small huff of fresh air. Returning to his mother’s side he nudge her lightly with the broom. “Go shoo, take a break and window shop. I bet Ava has finished up some new pieces of jewelry.”

[tess-volkov-blog]

“I’m not leaving the shop to you, Alyosha. You do enough for me here.” She reached over took his hand, brushing away the dust that had clung to his hair. “I’ll go if you accompany me. I’m sure Harvey can manage for a few hours. It feels like years since I’ve had some proper time alone with you, my darling.”

[deceptionis-kit-deactivated2015]

                                   ”I’m not righteous, and I won’t pretend to be. If I was to take the elixir, I would not dedicate my life to saving people, and I probably will not be able to help many. I have no righteous intent, but nor do I malicious ones. I’m simply acting on the most basic human instinct there is: self-preservation.” None of his words were a lie. in fact it was one of the most honest things he’d said. Although he was very careful in his choosing of them.  “I’m afraid I can’t promise the same for the twenty-four others should Cade get his hands on the elixir, but I can promise you that he won’t stop until he gets it. At least not without some persuasion. Someone within his ranks perhaps, a person of…similiar spirit.”

[tess-volkov-blog]

Self-preservation. So he was like any of the others back on Polaris. There was still something about him that reminded her of Cal--a playfulness that the man shared with the boy. In that aspect, she wanted to smile and pass the Elixir over if not to simply fulfill his wishes, but doing so would tie him to Tortuga. Tess didn’t want to do that; if anything she wanted to free them. “The Elixir is gone,” she stated simply, “but there are traces of it that I know of. If our partnership does deem to be fruitful, I’ll give you the choice of taking the damn thing. Who do you know on Allerton’s crew capable of swaying the captain’s decision?”

[connordryden-blog]

Well, friend, are you simply going to stare at me all evening or will you take a seat?

[tess-volkov-blog]

“You’ve caught me staring. How embarrassing. I was just interested in the man who certainly doesn’t seem like a local.” The woman smiled, taking a seat across from the man. Her mannerisms were charming, but she had an entirely different goal set in mind. Connor Dryden. According to them, he was one to keep an eye on.

[captainbrimms-blog]

“The world’s a greedy bastard when it comes to time. We’ve had twenty years. After we’re through with them, we’ll earn ourselves twenty more.” He ran a hand through his hair, attempting to keep the clear mind that used to accompany him so easily years prior. Their time on Tortuga had made him weak; it was becoming clear. “Let them come. The locals never should have been involved.”

[tess-volkov-blog]

Tess nodded, for a moment not saying a word and just staring at the table between them. Her fingers traced the wood as she finally spoke. “Sometimes I wonder if it was the best thing to have done away with it. How would it have differed if one man--you--took it all? Would they hound you till the end of days or would you have been free? You wanted the Elixir to be free and yet you’re imprisoned again on an island to which you had no choice over. I feel as if we signed our death warrants twenty years ago, drakonchik. If we kill the people who come for the Elixir now, we’ll have to do so forever, no? I’m sure this isn’t the life you wanted...” She paused, not daring to look up and meet his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

[deceptionis-kit-deactivated2015]

                                    ”Then I shan’t waste your time.” He said, if she knew full well of what it was he was after, then he won’t bother beating about the bush. “Cade is a good lad, I like him, but that’s all he is still: a lad. He gets distracted easily and loses focus. He’s still got some growing up to do. But say what you will, he’s also loyal to his crew, get his hands on that elixir and you can rest assured knowing that you’ll have twenty-four, pirates still short of manhood roaming the seas doing God knows what.” He gave her a knowing look. Being one of the older (if not in age then in ambition) crew members, it seemed as if Kit may have been recruited based on his appearance and attitude alone. But Kit was nothing if not adaptable. “None of us want that.”

[tess-volkov-blog]

The blonde nodded as she listened to his description of the boy Pirate Lord. It didn’t seem like false details, though she wouldn’t know for sure. Tess had yet to meet said pirate, so she had very little to go on when she asked the next question. “And what do you plan to do with it?” It was a simple question. Despite the fact that most everyone lied in response to it, it was very telling. She hoped to get a better idea of his character before making any sort of deal that could potential compromise her.

[deceptionis-kit-deactivated2015]

                                     ”Information dear lady,” he said, “a trade of one information for another. We wayward souls have very little fortunes in this life, therefore we must play our dealt hands as best we can. In any case, I’m not really selling anyone out, should you use the information for no malicious purposes. It is simply a pleasant conversation between you and I that is none of his concern, one that benefits both you and I. Is there honestly any harm in that?”

[tess-volkov-blog]

“It depends on what information you’re looking for and what information you’re willing to give in regards to your captain, umnitsa. Though, I can guess what it is you want.”