After gaining the post of the ship's designated cleaning-fairy (or Princess Swab), Seonghwa spent most of his time onboard scrubbing at stains that had soaked into the wood for ages. The pirates could not complain and trusted him with the ship. Not seldomly, random thoughts about poisoning their food crossed Seonghwa's mind. His patience had paid off, and his new freedom offered new ways to consider an escape.

It was one of these days when Seonghwa perched on a barrel inside the storage area, scrubbing away at his salt-caked shoes. The pirates would go ashore today, and they planned at the port for a few days so Hongjoong could consult some friends about important pirate stuff. Seonghwa was not involved enough to know if the pirates had a goal they pursued currently and where said goal was. Still, he had spent his days planning escape routes and tried to peek over Yeosang's shoulder whenever the navigator studied the maps.

However, apart from their location, Seonghwa also did not know where to go. He needed to find somebody, preferably that mysterious man who spoke to him on his very first day, who could help him get home. He needed a sailor.

Seonghwa's mind brimmed with ideas while he scrubbed away aggressively; about what he could offer and what people could want from him in exchange for their cooperation. Most folk out at sea were rough scoundrels whose tricks Seonghwa could not fall for.

Seonghwa was so caught up in his stress that the sudden deafening gunshot outside startled him out of his mind.

He flinched so violently while ducking to protect himself that he fell from the barrel and hit the ground with a groan. For a second, he lay still in terror, his ears ringing from the crash.

When nothing moved, Seonghwa dragged his body off the ground. On his hands and knees, he inched closer to the scuttle. His heart pounded in his chest.

Up on deck, the same patterns of steps walked without hurry. The low voices of the pirates sounded dull through the rushing of his blood in his ears, but they conversed without change. Seonghwa doubted they would remain so placid if boarded by enemies. No other trigger got pulled, so Seonghwa breathed in the wet and mouldy air of the ship's belly to calm himself.

Slowly, Seonghwa opened the scuttle. He cradled his boot and rag still in his other hand like a lifeline as he stretched his head out.

Every single hair on his body rose as he stared into the wide and terrified eyes of a stranger. The man looked right through Seonghwa and the big puddle of blood around his head penetrated the wooden boards. Bile rose in Seonghwa's throat as he stared at those lifeless eyes in terror.

A dead body.

Seonghwa slipped from shock. He fell down the three steps leading up to the scuttle and hit his head on a barrel. The pain that erupted was nothing compared to the image that his brain had memorised; those haunted eyes staring with no more help available.

Seonghwa gave a weak cough when something landed on his chest. No harm came upon him as a blood-stained piece of paper floated from the scuttle. With trembling fingers, Seonghwa lifted it to stare at it.

He could not read the text, but he could study the image taking over most of the page.

The scribbled ink showed the crew's Jolly Roger, but the colours were reversed.

While Hongjoong's black flag had a white skull encircled by a just as white whip and with a thick white stripe behind it, this one was reversed.

The inversion made sense since the paper was white, but it still looked misplaced in Seonghwa's eyes that were used to the black flag looming above their heads. Why would the pirates shoot someone carrying their symbol?

Seonghwa stared at the text and pondered if it would be important. Should he ask questions or remain passive?

Bright light hit him the next second when the scuttle above him opened. More blood dripped down the stairs from the body that was still in sight from Seonghwa's corner. The view of the blood both disgusted and fascinated Seonghwa. The thought of cleaning it up disappeared for a second.

Mingi stood at the scuttle, and he looked murderous.

Seonghwa was not left a second to breathe, then Mingi stomped towards him to haul him up by his collar. Seonghwa yelped in protest and dropped the boot to grab at Mingi's rough hands. He had to tiptoe so he would not get lifted into the air. Nervously, his heartbeat fluttered in his chest as the scary man loomed over Seonghwa.

"Did ye read it?" Mingi growled. His deep voice was sharp; alerting Seonghwa of the danger he was in. For a second, Seonghwa thought about kicking him in the shin and running, but where to?

With no way out, Seonghwa could only helplessly shake his head. His panic darkened Mingi's savage features further. Fruitless fingers tried to peel his hands off.

Another voice from upstairs interrupted them.

"Mingi!"

Seonghwa cowered at the harsh call. He struggled to detach Mingi's hands on him to hide within the shadows behind him, but it was futile. While Seonghwa could not see the person speaking as Mingi covered him from view, Seonghwa knew who it was when heels clicked on the wooden planks.

"'e snatched the paper, Captain."

Hongjoong muttered an order to another crew member. Frightened, Seonghwa wriggled when the captain descended the stairs with his heavy boots and long coat. By the time his frame appeared next to Mingi's taller one, Seonghwa shook like a leaf. The captain scrutinised Seonghwa for a moment and then yanked the paper from his cramped fingers. The fabric was crumpled and Seonghwa gulped in distress as Hongjoong smoothed it out to take it in.

Afterwards, he lifted his fiery eyes to Seonghwa again.

"Did you read it?"

Seonghwa shook his head in panic. He let out an abrupt cry when Mingi's hand switched from holding Seonghwa's collar to gripping his neck instead. With a brutal yank, he lifted Seonghwa into the air. Every breath Seonghwa gasped for left his chest as he was slammed against the wall. The two barrels next to him toppled over to land on the ground with a crash. Heavily, they rolled off.

Mingi pressed his body to Seonghwa's and brought their faces together to hiss another threat at Seonghwa. In a panic, Seonghwa hit and kicked him, fearing for his life after what he had just seen.

"Mingi!"

"He be hornswogglin' ye, Captain! I spied 'im lookin' at it, 'e read it!"

Seonghwa choked as the hand tightened. When he kicked Mingi's stomach, the red-haired man's eyes narrowed. Hurried steps closed up on them and Youjin's head appeared in the scuttle.

"Princess Swab, what-! What be goin' on 'ere, Capt'n?!"

"He read the letter. One of their letters." Compared to the anxiety-ridden fight next to him, Hongjoong's voice carried a scary calmness.

Youjin's confused face shut off in a second to take on pity. Seonghwa begged him with his tear-filled eyes to do something; begged him to help, but Youjin slowly shook his head. Nobody on this ship would jump to save Seonghwa as his life drained away from him.

"I didn't, I swear I didn't!"

Mingi hit Seonghwa's head against the wall with a thunk to warn him to not speak again. Seonghwa turned his pleading eyes to Hongjoong, catching his indecisive gaze.

"Put him down," Hongjoong ordered without leaving room to argue. Mingi stubbornly shook his head. His glare never left Seonghwa's scrambling hands and blue face.

"'e be lyin'. No way did 'e nay read it!"

"I said put him down, Mingi. He didn't." Hongjoong rested his hand on the whip around his hips, putting up his own threat. Dark spots danced in front of Seonghwa's vision and a shrill sound rang in his ears. He did not pick up on the danger-filled air anymore as his fingers lost their grip on Mingi's large hands. Youjin watched the spectacle without movement.

Mingi huffed, but stopped provoking the captain. A moment later, he released Seonghwa to let him crash into the barrels beneath. The pain shooting up in Seonghwa's leg as it sprawled over a crate did not matter as he struggled for some fresh air. Trembling fingers massaged his neck.

Seonghwa flinched back when someone touched his arm, lifting defensive eyes.

Hongjoong rose his brow at the glare he got but dropped his extended hand.

"I appreciate your concern, Mingi, but this will have consequences. Go cool off and see me later," Hongjoong said with no hitch to his calm voice.

Mingi stomped away. Angry curses left his lips on his way. Youjin quickly swung aside when Mingi roughly shouldered past him on the stairs.

Seonghwa thought Mingi deserved that.

"I will get Mingi to apologise." With those words, Hongjoong turned and patted Youjin on his shoulder brotherly as he left. Seonghwa was left alone with Youjin, who immediately picked up his lost boot. Awkward hands brushed some invisible dust away.

"What a mess. Be ye alright, matey? Mingi 'as some rude 'ands there." Youjin offered his hand towards Seonghwa; his eyes sympathetic.

Seonghwa failed at collectively hating pirates once more. Even when facing threats on his life, he was too scared to stand his ground.

With a weak nod, Seonghwa allowed Youjin to haul him to his feet. He took his boot with shaking hands so Youjin could put all the barrels back into their place while grumbling.

"Did ye do it? Read it, I mean. The only mates on board who can read be Yeosang an' Cap so normally this be nothin' they 'ave to worry about."

Seonghwa could not tell Youjin he could not read either. That would blow his prince cover for sure.

"There was blood on it. Nothing to be seen," Seonghwa lied and bent to pick up the rag to distract himself. He was a terrible liar, but he could excuse the tremble in his voice with the scare.

Youjin cursed under his breath. His dreadlocks whirled in the air as he shook his head.

"Mingi should apologise. Nay as if ye could do much with that information either way."

"Is it something important?"

Youjin hummed and patted a barrel so Seonghwa would sit down on it again. He clumsily did while Youjin leaned against a post to observe him.

"They be empty threads. Pirates constantly terrorise each other. I think kings do that, too. There be lots o' evil letters bein' sent around an' none o' 'em truly matter. It be all about the farce. Do nay worry yer pretty 'ead about it. It does nay concern ye."

Seonghwa looked down at his boots and nodded. The dread was not worth knowing what those letters said. They interested the crew, not him. No matter what was written on there, it was for the Captain's eyes to see and for his only. Mingi probably overreacted in his protectiveness towards his ruthless friends. Seonghwa had no reason to complain about his treatment. So far, ducking his head had saved his life several times.

"So that man who brought the letter... you shot him?"

"Yeosang did."

Youjin watched carefully as Seonghwa's eyes grew wide when terror seized his heart again.

Of course, Yeosang could fight; of course, he was no saint. Seonghwa forgot about that in his desperate wish to be understood. He still came up short when imagining the gentle and orderly man fighting.

"'e was none o' the enemy crew. They 'ire people in town fer some pieces o' silver to come an' bother us. Usually, they bring weapons; once they brought an 'ole can o' gunpowder. Their job be to deliver the letter, but sometimes, they think they can make their death meaningful. E'ery fool knows that lads, who randomly appear on pirate ships, get killed." Youjin lifted his brow at the statement and grinned. Seonghwa overcame his shock at the cruel deals of the pirates to lower his eyes to the ground.

"I thought so, too... The perk of being rich, I guess." The words tasted foul in his mouth. They looked down on the people, who were just like him, who were getting slaughtered because of their worthlessness. He swallowed hard.

"Savvy that. Alternatively, ye can always beat Capt'n in a fight. 'e 'umours the people who 'ave no obvious intentions." Youjin shrugged. His teeth mindlessly nibbled on the metal around his lip. Now that they sat in peace again on the swaying ship, Seonghwa's heartbeat calmed again.

"You must be joking. Nobody could do that."

Seonghwa did not doubt that even though he was rather slender, Hongjoong would have no problems at all beating all of his crew members. Except maybe Mingi and Yunho. But there had to be a reason he was the captain.

"I did."

Seonghwa whipped his head around to stare at Youjin in awe.

"It been a few years, and I be sure 'e would pull me nail me guts to the mast effortlessly today, but once upon a time I did. I be very proud of that." Youjin pushed out his chest. Seonghwa had to laugh as he set the boots aside. His mindless scrubbing had cleaned them enough.

"How did you do it? Is that why you are part of this crew?"

Youjin nodded slowly. His eyes zoned out as he lost himself in memories.

"I been part o' another crew a couple years ago, same as Hanbyeol - he be the oldest matey 'ere. Captain been targeted by that crew an' 'e fought e'ery single one o' 'em off except me. He beat Hanbyeol, too, but that scallywag lived. I gave up on wantin' to kill this glorious bastard when surrounded by the slaughtered bodies o' me very own mateys. Then, I joined 'im. It been only 'im an' us then. Afterwards, I spied nobody defeatin' 'im again. I guess we spared each other's lives."

Seonghwa was impressed by that. Youjin had known Hongjoong all this time; had probably joined him in every fight for many years by now and they still sailed the seas together.

"I told 'im I did nay want to be main crew; did nay want that kind of responsibility towards 'im. Because we just joined forces. The rest o' 'is mates, 'e found 'imself. When San went on account two years ago, 'e brought 'em kids workin' with ye right now."

It had never occurred to Seonghwa that all the pirates had once started somewhere and had once led their lives, just as he did. He wanted to hear more about their stories and did not dare ask at the same time. What were their reasons for joining this crew? They didn't sound like traditional pirates who joined only for a treasure hunt or two before they returned to their lives on land. What did Hongjoong offer that made them stay?

"How old was Hongjoong when you joined him?"

"Sixteen. But that scallywag never spent more than a month o' 'is life on land an' it be showin'

Kim Hongjoong was much more mysterious of a person than Seonghwa had initially thought. He could not help his curiosity, even when he knew it was ill-fated.