Flare’s ears still ring from the barrage of cannonfire that was unleashed upon the Crimson Quarter just moments ago. Through her muffled hearing she hears the clash of steel coming from all around the enemy ship she had boarded. She stabs Soul Quill’s point along the side of an opposing pirate, tearing through her clothing and drawing blood. A sweep of her one foot rips the ground from underneath her foe, putting her down for the count. From the corner of her eye she spots Marine, letting loose an elegant and deadly flurry of slashes with her saber that tear the blades right out of the hands of her opponents. She had already seen the Houshou captain carry herself in battle, and the expertise she showcases makes the half-elf smirk.

It was an insane gamble at the time; charging headfirst into a pair of ships that had emerged from the corner of the island as they approached, but Marine knew a thing or two about naval combat, and she knew how to make the best use of the vessel that she treated like it was a part of her own skin. The ship had to take a few punches, but with the wind at their backs they were able to slam right into the hull of one of the smaller ships belonging to the BlackWhale Pirates before they could be sunk, and then came the part Flare enjoyed a lot more; the boarding.

The thrill of the fight spurs Flare’s body onward, putting purpose into each thrust of Soul’s Quill’s point. Each successful disarmament, be they from spell or steel, gives another tally to her mental score. Not only will she help defeat the villains who have wrongly subdued an entire land and its people, she will secure her place as the victor of the friendly wager between her and her comrades. There is no doubt that Nene and Anon will give the remainder of this battle all that they have, and Flare has resolved to do the same and then some.

Soul Quill cuts in between a knife meant for Marine’s back, and the Houshou captain herself twists her body to slash her saber across the chest of her would-be assailant. Marine immediately returns the gesture to the half-elf by stepping in front to parry the next blade that hoped to run them through. Flare’s body immediately acts, a pocket sized gust from her palm knocks the pirate unsteady, and then her legs push her to follow up her attack. Two swift slashes tear through his clothed defense, and the pair immediately sets their sets on their next foe. With pirates closing in more and more with every passing second, both fighters know that stopping to catch their breath is a luxury they cannot afford.

Marine extends her pistol arm and fires, a loud bang in chorus with a magical spark caused by the hammer slamming down erupts in the air, followed by the immediate yelp of her mark being caught right in the shoulder. Another quick shot, weaker in power and aim, sends another stumbling backward, but doesn’t put him down. Marine curses under her breath, and Flare takes her turn to launch cover fire of her own; shards of ice are flung with a flick of her wrist and lodge themselves within a pair of men and women like bee stingers. The half-elf pants and wipes the sweat off her brow. What should be a simple spell took more exertion than she cared to admit. The fact of the matter was, the pirates of the BlackWhale crew were of a higher caliber, and she was starting to run on fumes.

“Look alive Flare!” Marine shouts, firing another potshot before flinging her pistol to the half-elf. Flare snatches the weapon out of the air by its handle and looks between the Houshou and it with mild apprehension. Marine gives a stern flash of her one eye as she releases her second pistol from its snug waistband holster.

A man then lunges for Flare from one of her flanks, sword point poised to skewer her neck, her body wins control over her heart and mind, lining the iron barrel up with the man’s gut. Her finger squeezes the trigger, and she feels the faintest of tugs from her own mana as the weapon ignites. The next thing Flare sees is her enemy falling like a stone onto his back, and the faint sliver of smoke laced with magical remnants from the barrel of her pistol.

That was incredible. Her mind races to make sense of all that she feels in that moment. I’ve seen Marine fight with one of these enough already, but using it myself…sure is something. It’s so precise, efficient, deadly. Should I be okay with using one of these? I know it’s not exactly the same as the kind that killed my parents but…

Marine’s combative struggles cut through Flare’s introspection, rousing the half-elf to act. She takes steady aim and fires two successive shots, this time with further resolve. Two more figures thud to the deck floor before their weapons, allowing Marine to weave out of the way of an incoming chop to then disarm her third opponent with impunity.

“That’s the way! I knew you were a good shot.” Marine says as she steps to bring herself shoulder to shoulder with the half-elf. “No need to worry about how much you got left with these babies either. Long as we have fighting spirit, they’ll keep firing, so don’t let up. Now show me more of what you got, Flare. If you impress me enough, there just might be a spot on my crew for a beautiful elf like yourself~”

“Shouldn’t you be the one trying to impress me? Joining a pirate crew isn’t something I’d do all willy nilly.” Flare retorts with a smug grin before sweeping her rapier wide in front of her, making a trio of pirates step backward to avoid its point, she then follows up with her raised pistol, feeding a little more of her scarce mana into it, eager to try something new. Focusing her feelings on what fuels the winds of change to her magic, Flare fires, the magical bullet sporting a bright streak of green as the air around it blusters outward. The man in the direct line of fire is hurled backward, and his flanking comrades are forced off their feet and are sent tumbling through the air and out of commission. She aims her weapon once more at the approaching crowd and pulls back the hammer with her thumb, the resounding click makes her opponents take a step back.

“That’s hurtful. Any person would be honored for the chance to join the Houshou Pirates.” Marine whines with a heavy lace of sarcasm. “I rescue you, feed you, let you use one of my special pistols; a Houshou heirloom I might add. What will it take to please you? My bed? My body? Both are yours if that’s what it’ll take.”

Flare scoffs and rolls her eyes. She does not entertain the sultry captain’s proposal with a response, but instead finds her next target. Although they are outnumbered, the opposing crew’s resolve was beginning to wane in the face of hers and Marine’s might. It was time to wrap this up and get back to the Crimson Quarter and sail to where Anon is. She also wants to get as much practice as she can with her new weapon. The pistol fits so well in her grip, and despite her previous misgivings, the Houshou Captain reminds her that everything doesn’t have to conform to the labels they are given. Like how some pirates can choose to be on the side of justice, Flare can choose to use this weapon’s elegant and deadly efficiency for the sake of justice as well. She will use its force to help protect the world and the people she cares for, and she will start her path to perfecting this new weapon by taking out the arms of the BlackWhales crew.

The winds of a brewing storm roll over the deck, the intermittent raindrops begin to increase in number. Flare and Marine scan the frontline of pirates, seeing who might be so bold as to attack them next. None of the seafaring men and women in front of them look eager to tangle with the swashbuckling duo. Still, if they would not make a move or surrender, Flare would have to.

Just as she begins to take her mark, the rumbling of the seas draws everyone’s attention to the starboard bow, where a second ship sporting the colors of the orca’s fleet cruises close. From the quickly dropped boarding plank walks a strong statured brunette man who wears an attire more on the sophisticated side of pirate fashion. Light brown britches compliment a darker brown vest that covers a sharp white buttoned corsair whose sleeves are rolled up. The man’s stubbled face looks around the deck with seasoned supervision. He sighs when he spots Marine and adjusts his own black bicorn up to give his sharp brown eyes an unhindered view.

The half-elf takes quick aim, but the newcomer does not seem all that concerned, or the least bit threatened.

“That’s far enough.” Flare announces. “One more step, and it’s lights out.”

To answer Flare, the man takes a firm step forward, and her finger squeezes the trigger in time. A bright shot soars through the air, the man reaches for the sword handle strapped along his back, a burst of light erupts from the clash of steel against magic, and the flickering light reveals the man still walking ever nearer. Flare considers firing a second shot, but decides against it, there’s a good chance it would just be deflected again, and that would be precious mana lost. Marine’s own expression hardens at the sight of this newest actor, but she doesn’t raise her arms to attack. Flare follows suit, adjusting her stance to bring the point of her rapier forward in her defense, and she waits.

Following the higher ranking officer are a group of mixed aged humans, all in reds and blacks that have been bleached by both sun and age. Flare notices Marine’s shoulders loosen at the sight of some of their faces, but the confliction painting her face tells another story.

“No sudden moves. Do not attack unless I say so.” Marine orders under her breath, and Flare can only follow suit as the other Shallah natives nod in response. If it wasn’t clear before, it was now, the ragtag group their newest adversary had brought with him were the remnants of Marine’s old crew; the one that basically abandoned her.

“You got a lot of nerve, Huoshou.” The leading man greets, his voice has an aged smoothness to it, but still carries the intensity of a man well worth his seasons. His dark hazel eyes stare Marine down, and then he lets out a weary sigh. “Using that bullheaded tactic…as if we aren’t going to be up to our necks in repairs as it is. Is it really all worth it? How do you really think this is all gonna end?”

“With Blackfin at the gallows. How else?” Marine retorts. “That orca has a lot to answer for. Doesn’t he, Thomas? What would Morgan say if he could see you now?”

“Oh please, spare me the hogwash.” Thomas sighs, tapping the tip of his sword against the wood. “Yeah the old man was my captain once, but sometimes things gotta change.”

“He was my captain too once.” Sammy retorts, inserting himself into the conversation by stepping to stand at Marine’s other flank. The comment makes Flare raise an eyebrow, but no one else seems all that surprised at this sudden new piece of information from the seemingly gentle leader who has more than a bone to pick with the man in front of him. “I may not have been there to see it happen, but I’ve heard enough to know you didn’t lift a finger to stop that power hungry nutcase from shooting Morgan in the back.”

“Disgusting.” Marine snarls. “I didn’t know the legendary Morgan Pirates became a home for mutinous dogs.”

“I’ll remind you that Sammy here abandoned the Morgan Pirates long before he saw what its ‘legendary’ captain had let it be reduced to. The old man was done anyway. What were we even doing anymore? He never even wanted to settle the score once and for all with the Houshou. Probably on account of her being the new leader. What challenge could she possibly be?”

“How about I show you, right here. A duel. A Captain’s Bout. The traditional stakes. That is, unless you’re scared?” Marine finishes her point with a few sharp taps against the deck.

Thomas puts a hand to his chin as he mulls the idea over. His eyes trace across the deck he stands on; unconscious and bloody bodies are scattered across the floor, the mast is signed in several spots by blasts of red hot flame, and the very vessel itself creaks from where the Crimson Quarter had tackled away some of its body. In front of him stand the two likely responsible for most of the damage; a half-elf and an abandoned captain with something to prove, a combo that could result in even more collateral damage. That captain in question though, is well below the man’s own weight class, but he knows full well the tales of a Houshou’s deadly aim. That notion seems to be the final push for him to make his decision.

“You’re on Houshou.” Thomas answers with a small glint of his teeth. “Once I mop the deck with you, the Houshou Pirates will be out of our hair forever. Then I’ll find a nice way to deal with my old friend over there.”

“Marine.” Flare whispers with a hand over her mouth. “Are you sure this is a good idea? What do you get out of fighting this guy one on one?”

“This is just what I have to do as Senchou.” Marine answers plainly, handing Flare her pistol, and she steps forward to not give the half-elf a window for an argument.

The gathering of pirates begin to immediately fan out to give the two duelists ample room to fight. Flare takes the hint and backs up to where the boarding plank connects the Crimson Quarter to the ship she stands on. She spots Kiara standing guard at the other end, to which the half-elf can only offer a meager nod to indicate things have not gone ass up…at least not yet. Unfortunately, all Flare can do is watch this next fight unfold. Fortunately for her as a bystander, Roxy comes trotting over the connecting lumber, and rapidly assesses the situation.

“Roxy, Marine just challenged-” Flare begins, but the younger pirate cuts her off immediately.

“I know. All we can do now is believe in our Senchou’s victory. If she wins, we will be on our way to put Blackfin down for good.” Roxy stands at firm attention as she watches Marine kick outward and roll her ankle to help loosen herself more.

“And if she loses?” Flare feels the need to ask.

“You’ll find out either way.” Roxy leaves the question at that, but her faith in her stare impresses the half-elf.

Right. Flare nods as she looks over at the Houshou Captain. This woman seems like a handful, but she’s definitely experienced. She doesn’t strike me as the type to make a losing bet so easily. That’s probably why Anon knew he could count on her. Kick his ass, Marine.

“Last chance to surrender with your neck attached to your head.” Thomas offers as he takes long, slow steps to counter Marine’s clockwise movements.

“If I wouldn’t surrender to Blackfin, what makes you think I’d surrender to one of his lackeys?” Marine twirls her saber twice against the light rain.

“A stubborn Houshou, till the end.” The BlackWhale officer sighs, and he proceeds to shake off the momentary exasperation from his face. His brow furrows, his eyes taking in each stretch of his opponent’s muscles, every subtle breath she takes, anything at all that will be the precursor to the first strike.

Marine’s uncovered eye does the same, searching for the incoming tells of an attack. She may have instantiated this challenge, but she knew first hand how formidable some of the Morgan Pirates were, and Thomas was no exception. A duel to the end, that was the best bet she has right now, and she tells herself to remain focused. All it would take is one single misstep, one clumsy slash, even just blinking at the wrong time, and she might be finding her insides spilled out on-

Thomas lunges forward, swinging his blade in an upflung arc with his step, causing Marine to immediately raise her guard across her body, the edges of steel cling together sharply and the garnet swashbuckler takes one step backward and plants her hind foot firm. Her next swing is quick, cracking through the air like a whip as it makes her opponent hop backward, but she was already anticipating his movements. Marine starts to set the pace of this battle; fierce swings of her saber meet hastened guards, and the two begin a deadly dance to the rhapsody of their weapons’ song.

After a barely managed deflection, Marine flips the edge of her sword and makes a lightning quick slash across her body, catching the cloth of Thomas’ shirt and drawing first blood. The man grits his teeth and delivers a retaliatory slug of his free fist into the woman’s shoulder. Marine staggers slightly to the left, but she is given no time to properly rebalance as the man she fights is already following up his attack with his raised sword.

“You dumb bitch.” Thomas spits, each mighty swing of his sword pressures Marine in the direction HE now chooses. Even with rage fueling his sword arm, the Houshou Captain is able to manage staying competitive in this bout, he would not score a decisive blow so easily, but he continues his assault, along with another tactic.

“What do you think you’ll actually accomplish?” He demands, positioning Marine’s one side to face the wall of one of the ship’s inner entryways. “Even if you survive and Blackfin is somehow dead, then what? Do you seriously think you can be the captain of the Houshou Pirates again after that?”

The question makes Marine flinch, and she finds herself locked in a clash that threatens to break her; the force of Thomas’ trembling blade against hers makes her muscles quake, and her spine slowly begins to bend backward. She begins to slide her saber, ready to disengage and punish the larger pirate on the backswing. Thomas would not let Marine use her swordsmanship on him again, he delivers a swift kick into the woman’s calf, making her buckle and abandon her strategy. A barrage of powerful slashes come for her next, and she weaves and dives her head to avoid certain death.

“Your ship’s on its last legs, and to top it all off, all you have left of your crew is the laundry girl. Just what are you planning to do?” Thomas taunts, and he makes a double handed upswing with such force that even slicing the air alone pushes Marine into the wall, turning her blindside to him. A sidestep followed by a swift slice draws a crimson path along Marine’s arm.

The injured woman responds with a wide sweep of her saber to make the man hop away, giving her what precious few seconds it could buy her. The white hot pain pulses in her sword arm, and she grips the fresh wound. She winches at the sight of her white glove transforming into a deep crimson, but then her eye is snatched back to Thomas; the man is wearing a confident grin to go with his own defensive fighting stance. That wicked smile of his makes Marine’s blood feel as though it is boiling from her cuts like lava.

“Has it set in yet? That there’s no way for you to get out of the hole you dug yourself?” Thomas tuts with a degree of impatience, and he springs forward to bring his sword down on Marine once more. She swaps her saber to her left hand and manages to connect its steel with her enemy’s before it can reach her skin. With her right arm poised behind her back, Marine continues to meet blow for blow with the opposing officer, her defiance and desire to see him face down in defeat help distract her from the weight of the pain she feels through her body.

“What the hell are you gonna do after all is said and done, Houshou?” Thomas continues to bombard with questions alongside his steel. “Are you gonna force the sorry assholes you beat into working for you? We both know you’re way too soft for that.”

“Soft? It’s called not being a total asshole!” Marine barks, the insult makes her parries resound louder, and the larger man’s own anger is ignited.

“We’re pirates!” Thomas shouts back, and he starts to hack away at Marine’s defense. Each ponding of his sword against hers sends her a step backward, but she continues to keep herself a hair away from a deciding strike. “In our world the weak obey the strong. They are your tools to use however you see fit. If you show any weakness, someone will gladly take your place. THAT is the pirating world!”

“Just because it’s the world you locked yourself in, doesn’t mean it’s the same for all pirates!” Marine’s defiance hits its breaking point, the adrenaline pumping through her veins lets her ignore the anguish she feels, and she goes on the offensive with a flurry of attacks that makes sparks fly off the edges of both blades meeting again and again. “A crew isn’t a set of tools that you can just throw away, or a place where you always have to look over your shoulder. I reject that kind of world! A true pirate’s world is where everyone is free to sail, explore, and experience everything they can! It’s a place where who you sail with is your family. You support each other, protect each other, that’s what a real crew is!”

Marine’s convictions start to shine through her movements, her blade dances and wades through the air like water. A faint sheen of mana glistens around her saber as she delivers a powerful overhead chop that sends Thomas staggering backward where the boarding plank connecting them to the ship he arrived on hangs over the darkened waters.

“You’re right, I don’t have a plan for after Blackfin is put down like the dog he is. The Houshou Pirates, the old Houshou Pirates are gone…” Marine almost forces herself to say, her body shakes, but she takes a firm step forward, sword at the ready. She breathes heavily from the recent energy expense, but a small smile curves her lips. “But you got one thing wrong, it’s not just me and Roxy. I also got a fairy for a deckhand, one hell of a cabin boy; the entire reason Blackfin is backed into a corner right now. He’s putting it all on the line for what he believes in, and I’m gonna do the same.”

“The same idealistic bullshit. Just like your granny and the old man. They couldn’t change the world, and neither can you!” Thomas grunts, and his fury is poured into his arms to bring his sword down to try and split Marine like a log.

Within her eye the blade falls in the foreground of the cascading rain, she sees not a threat to be avoided or deflected, but a chance for victory. She leans forward, her small frame just barely sharing the space of the hardy timber with the much larger man, and she keeps her own trusted weapon tucked against her hip. Sharpened steels meets flesh, nicking her shoulder and bicep; droplets of red mix with the clear rain as Marine grits her teeth and commits to her gambit. Flowing like a stream through a winding forest, she steps to pivot herself behind Thomas, her momentum brings her sword along his legs and then his abdomen.

She just caused an anguish sharp enough to make him drop his sword, but also a fury to make the man’s body ignore the cries for help, and seek only vengeance. Thomas half-turns and grabs Marine by the throat with just one hand. Marine drops her sword and tries to pry herself free from his grasp, but to no avail. With shaky, slow steps as his body fights to obey his commands, he holds the woman over the edge.

“Your game of playing pirate is over, Houshou.” He breathes, his fingers dig into Marine’s neck, choking the life out of her. He extends his arm outward, readying himself to throw his opponent out to sea.

A final desperate plea from her body, Marine’s hips thrust up, bringing her legs high enough to hook around Thomas’ neck just as he begins to release her. His eyes widen with the realization that the woman is about to take him with her. Marine throws her head back, using the in air momentum her enemy had given her to flip him above and over her. Thomas curses as his arms flail to try and snatch anything that might keep him from falling overboard, but it was already too late.

Their audience looks on with bated breath when the BlackWhales officer begins to drop to the sea like a stone. When only one body falls into the threading sea amongst the rain, all eyes race to find the second combatant, who now hangs by a mere couple fingers from the side of the wooden plank way. Marine grunts, flexing all that she has to try and pull her up. She tries to lift her other arm, but it feels as though it had been replaced with ten cannonballs. She doesn’t want this to be the end, but all things considered, it was not a terrible way for a pirate to go. Sticking to her guns and making sure a rotten bastard fell into the sea’s unforgiving embrace first, made her smile. She really didn’t have a plan for what happens after all this. Maybe this is easier…

A finger begins to slide along the wood, then another, there was nothing left to do but fall.

Panicked feet along the deck race closer to Marine’s ears, but it was too much effort to even lift her neck. She feels the push of gravity take her, and her stomach drops. She closes her eyes, bracing herself for the painful breaching of the ocean’s surface, but instead of a cold and dark impact, her body is yanked upward. Confused and slightly reeling from the pain of her stomach falling in the other direction, she manages to look up, where Flare leans over the lumber’s edge with her hand curled right around her wrist.

“Up. You. Go.” Flare grunts, breathing through her nose and using all her strength to try and pull the pirate captain up to safety. When Marine’s shoulder is just level with the wood she stands on, Flare grabs the woman’s other arm and drags her aboard. The half-elf sits cross legged as she pants, while her rescue only lets out the shallowest of breaths from her laying position beside her.

“Hey. Hey!” Flare slaps Marine’s cheek to get her to refocus. The captain’s uncovered eye seems to only look past the half-elf, but she still continues to cling to life. “Stay with me, Marine. We need to get that arm of yours patched up.”

Positioning Marine’s better arm around her shoulder, Flare hoists them both to a stand. The Houshou Captain’s legs still wobble, but with a little extra support, she stabilizes and gives her helper an appreciative smile. “Thanks.” She says.

“Don’t mention it.” Flare exhales in minor relief. “I figured once the other guy was shark bait, you won.”

The half-elf’s smirk fades when she looks ahead of her, the sight of the onlooking pirates makes her uneasy. Roxy and Kiara would be ready to retaliate if need be, but would she and Marine still be alive at that point? What reason is there to let the two of them just walk away when a prime bounty could be claimed?

“Flare, do me a favor?” Marine asks with a controlled breath, while her body still shudders, more of the life has returned to her eye. “Pick up my sword for me?”

The half-elf nods and carefully kneels down to retrieve the pirate’s sleek saber. She hands it to Marine who nods in thanks. Then with a firm push from her own body and the tap of her sword’s tip against the wood to pull her forward, Marine steps back towards the crowded deck of the enemy ship.

“I, Marine Houshou, Senchou, have won the Captain’s Bout. Here are my terms.” She announces, her voice loud and prideful. “Anyone who still thinks Blackfin has a chance at winning this war, can just surrender and not be guilty of betraying their honorable fleet captain. Everyone else” Marine then looks to the shocked and somewhat guilty looking men and women of her old crew. The Houshou captain sighs, but forces herself to go on. “Can take a ship and get out of my sight. I never want to see any of you near Shallah again. Is that all clear?”

Intense murmuring, somewhat masked by the rain puttering against the ship, but some groups look to be discussing less diplomatic outcomes by how they twist the blades they hold. Flare grips Soul Quill’s hilt tightly, she half expected a band of thugs like this to not honor whatever traditions they uphold when it’s not convenient. If they want to fight again, she’ll give them one.

Before either side can come to a unanimous decision, one of the older pirates clad in red steps forward. Even through the forest of his white beard, his face sharpens with resolve.

“We’re going to stand with you, Captain Marine.” He speaks for his fellow pirates and then looks at the rest who do not share their colors. “The Blackfin fleet is as good as dead at this point. I don’t know about all of you, but I’d rather sail on a steady ship rather than a sinking one.”

“He’s right!” Another ex-Houshou joins in.

“We’ll help you take down that scurvy dog!” One of the pirates belonging to another crew says, and her own willingness to betray the orca is shared by others.

“Give us orders Captain Mari-“

“SHUT UP!” Marine shouts, her fierce anger even silences the rain. Her eye narrows at the shocked faces of her previous crew, and her balled fist shakes at her side. “I don’t need anyone on MY ship that might shoot me in the back. You’re all lucky that I don’t throw you all in the brig. Now I don’t want to hear any more debate, or EXCUSES. The next person who tries will have a bullet in their skull and can keep Thomas company at the bottom of the sea. Do I make myself clear?!”

When nothing but nodding heads and lowered hums answer her, Marine tuts in affirmation and begins to let Flare lead her back to her own ship. The men and women who once made up who she saw as family, parted the way for their old captain to hobble through the deck. Flare stays close, her hand ready to defend Marine at a second’s notice should anyone get any funny ideas, but to her surprise, not a single one of them even flinches in the Senchou’s direction. Once the pair are safely aboard the Crimson Quarter, Marine gives the order to remove the boarding plank.

Once severed from their temporary connection, the two ships are quick to lift anchor and leave as they were told. Marine lets out a heavy sigh, as though she still has one more thing to do, but she isn’t sure her body can take it.

“Hey. Flare. Can I get one more favor from you?” She asks in a low voice, and before the half-elf can even utter a reply, she continues. “Can you torch a nice hole in the main flags of those ships?”

Flare only nods and takes relaxed aim with her pistol. Two quick shots; each streaking the gray skies with a trail of deep run, reach the orca’s Jolly Roger and the flames created by Flare’s magic begin to eat away at the black tapestry. Marine lowers her hat over head and walks toward where a few of the Shallahan deckhands rush to meet her with unrolled bandages.

Flare looks at the fiery display sailing away, and then back towards Marine.

“What was the point of that?” She absent mindedly asks herself.

“It was the only thing she could have done for them as Senchou.” Roxy says somberly, making her presence beside the half-elf known. "To set your old loyalty in flames as you sail towards a new beginning, it's like a new lease on life for a pirate. They are no longer bound to follow their captain, what they do next is up to them.”

It all made so much more sense now to Flare. The duel, Marine’s orders, the water she saw trickling down her face when she walked. That woman took on so much upon those tasseled shoulders of hers. She even granted mercy to those who probably didn’t deserve it, and even after that, she gave them a new lease on life. This woman is incredible and like some other incredible people Flare knows, she could use a friend right now.

The half-elf hustles to the upper deck where Marine now stands at the helm. Her arm had been bandaged, and by the way she’s moving, it’s possible a certain sun warrior helped her with her recovery. It still perplexes Flare that Kiara chooses to be so elusive toward their group, but that’s a problem for another day, or not if she’s lucky.

“So I was wondering.” Flare begins to make herself known, earning the captain’s side glance. “When this is all over, I’d love to hear about some of the adventures you’ve had. You’ve probably been to so many different places already, and maybe even gotten up to crazier stuff than I have.”

Marine chuffs at the conversation and puts on a small grin. “You know, I was just thinking about when Anon buys me that drink that he owes me, I’m going to make him weak at the knees with the tales of my past galavanting across the seas. He seems like a sucker for a good story. If a pretty girl like you wants to join us though, I wouldn’t say no.”

“I think I’ll have to tag along just to make sure you behave yourself with him. I’m not about to let you get handsy with him just like that, captain.” The half-elf scoffs, but her own spirit brightens along with the garnet-haired woman.

"So you staked your claim to him too? I figured.” Marine shrugs, and leans in a little closer to whisper. “So how is he? You can tell me, girl to girl. I'll keep it a secret."

“H-How is he?” Flare repeats, slightly taken aback. “Well you’ve seen him. He’s strong, kind, a little goofy.” She begins to prattle on, but the bored look on Marine’s face tells her that this was not the answer she was looking for. “O-Of course I think he’s handsome too. He also makes this adorable face whenever he sees someplace new for the first time and-”

“I meant, in bed.” Marine perfectly enunciates. “How does the stud ride? Does he know how to make you scream his name?”  

Flare’s cheeks inflame to a deep red, which makes the devious smirk on Marine’s face grow even wider. She waits patiently for the answer she is dying to hear, but the half-elf’s stubborn bravado reawakens itself to protect its host. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.” She huffs, crossing her arms and looking away. Then however, her own pride and competitive nature takes control. “But if you must know…he’s an amazing kisser. And he knows how to work all the knots out of my legs.”

“Ohooo~ So he’s a pamperer. Very nice. I think I’ll have to ask him to work out a few crinks I have in my neck. Maybe I’ll have him give my entire body a rubdown while he’s at it.” Marine smacks her lips at the idea.

"Sorry, but as soon as this whole battle is over with, Anon and I are taking a well deserved break." Flare scoffs. "He promised to take me out on a proper date, and if he does a good job I might have him take me out on a few more. So sorry♪♫♪ he'll be way too busy."

“A romantic getaway in Shallah…don’t that sound like the dream?” Marine signs longfully, her face droops, but only for a flash as an idea then sparks in her mind that is powerful enough to give her a wave of determination that widens her grin all the way across her face. “Alright! Full speed ahead! Let’s go put that whale down so we can finally be free!”

“Damn right!” Flare cheers. “I bet Anon is already there, and if I know him, he’s gonna need our help.”

“And then his two dashing maidens can come to his rescue.” Marine adds.