Yeosang collected Seonghwa early next morning after the ship had reached shore during the night already.

The deck was ghostly silent. Captain and a few others had left during the early hours to run some errands and thus Seonghwa relished in the peaceful quiet as he joined the ex-prince. Yeosang led him over the ship and explained the life on board to him, pointing out names and functions Seonghwa never needed to know.

"Now you know what the quarterdeck is, the difference between starboard and port-side and the names of every cabin and mast on here. The sails are a part of this you will never remember. I looked them up myself in some drawings yesterday."

Seonghwa chuckled dryly. He had found a splendid companion in Yeosang. The man had humour; deadpanning whatever he could and laughing emptily at his own jokes. He had emphasised the importance of some things, though, especially rooms and directions, so Seonghwa could follow basic orders.

He still did not know how to do anything on board and after joining Yunho in the galley (he had studied!), he also learned it did not matter.

"Youjin will probably get you into helping him with cleaning the cannons. Or you'll clean something else. You aren't a sailor and since we neglect our cleaning duties all the time, your skill at it comes in handy."

Seonghwa was fine with cleaning. It was something he could do right. No need for Hongjoong to shove him around for that.

Yunho offered breakfast to them during their visit to the kitchen. He sported a big grin on his face as he complimented Seonghwa's now midnight dark hair.

"Will you join us later, Yeo? I heard there are a lot of fun things to do in the town."

Yeosang grimaced, tastefully sipping at his tea.

"No way. But Jongho will. He has to watch our guest."

At that, Yunho looked elated. He skipped off with long legs to pester Jongho about it.

In his confusion about what it mattered to pirates to go on land, Seonghwa tilted his head in Yeosang's direction. From everything he had heard, they did not plan a fest of slaughtering and stealing at the peaceful seaport.

"Usually, Jongho stays on board and guards the ship while the others are out to paint the town red. He will join you guys today, so Youjin and a few others will stay back. That's why they already left in the morning." Yeosang's explanations were simple and to the point, no beating around the bush.

Seonghwa nodded. He did not know on what to do on land except to look for an escape and maybe enjoy the earth. His element. Perhaps the pirates also appreciated some solid ground under their feet from time to time.

They sat together and talked for a while as Seonghwa finished his breakfast. Yeosang tested Seonghwa's new knowledge and threw random facts about pirates at him. Seonghwa also learned the word 'booty', which they used for the treasures they found. Seonghwa stared at Yeosang for a long time when he had first told him because that was not the same as the boys in Seonghwa's village meant with it.

When the sun sunk towards the ocean in a brilliant spectacle that would never bore Seonghwa, even in his dubious surroundings and the townspeople lit their lamps, it was time for Seonghwa to go. He promised to talk to Yeosang again soon, glad about his easy-going attitude. After Yeosang had wished him fun, Seonghwa stepped out to meet with Yunho on the deck.

The cook was jittery with delight to leave the boat. He bounced on his feet and yelled Mingi's name until he peered his head from the cargo hold. The scary redhair's arms were loaded with books and food he had been ordering. He ducked back into the ship's belly to sort them away while Yunho called for the others that would join Seonghwa's evening group.

Apparently, San would attend their group, too, and that knowledge lifted Seonghwa's mood further. He was still scared around Yunho and Mingi and this Jongho guy did not sound that nice either, but San was a cute one. San and Yeosang would be the nets to catch Seonghwa's sanity if he went mad with confusion and hatred about the captain and his challenges. His disguise as a prince kept him safe. Nobody touched him, but Seonghwa could not bear the thought of ducking his head demurely for many more months.

When San stepped on deck, he carried some weapons. Several small daggers and a pistol hung on a belt around his hips. A man with blindingly white hair and more pistols on his body accompanied him. The third man was not armed, but Seonghwa could remember his broad frame from a few days ago. He was the angry-looking one. His glares alone could murder people.

Mingi was also there, with no kind of protection on him. Seonghwa wondered whether the odd-looking pouches Yunho carried contained some secret weapons to protect them all. He and Mingi stuck together.

As for himself, Seonghwa knew how to hit dough, and that was it. He hoped he was safe with them. Even if he feared his companions would be the ones scaring the townsfolk.

"Heave ho!" the bright-haired one yelled. His voice was high and scratchy, cracking at the end. San grinned, dimples on display, as he ruffled the other's messy hair. The gesture of genuine affection had Seonghwa shifting on his feet. He disliked the double-faced mixture of kindness among each other and cruelty to strangers. It meant their violence was a conscious choice instead of part of their black souls.

"Slow down, tiger. You haven't met our newest treasure yet. Or rather, he did not meet you. Seonghwa, this is Wooyoung, our lookout. And this right here is Jongho."

Seonghwa thought it cute that San had asked around for his name. He was not even sure whether their captain knew it.

However, Jongho was the angry one. It made sense from all Seonghwa had heard of him so far.

"Princess Swab, we call him Princess Swab, Sannie."

Seonghwa narrowed his eyes, stuck up on the second play on his gender. Did they play with him so much because they projected a woman onto him?

"What does swab mean?"

"A bad fuckin' pirate," answered Mingi at the same time that Wooyoung exclaimed 'to clean!' Seonghwa looked between them in confusion.

"It be both. Congratulations on yer new nickname." Jongho nodded at Seonghwa. Seonghwa blinked owlishly.

"Jolly to meet ye either way, heave ho!" Wooyoung led them down the ship without another glance at Seonghwa. His shoulder brushed against San's when they merged in pairs.

Seonghwa followed reluctantly and with Jongho at his side, while the other two loomed like dark shadows behind them.

"Who thought of that nickname?"

Jongho gave him a funny glance, his eyes circled by dark bags.

"Why, Youjin did. Lad, we be brorates sailin' the brocean on our broats. Ye gotta let us enjoy the little things. Like rum." With that, he pulled a bottle out of nowhere, taking a huge gulp. When he wriggled the dusty green bottle in Seonghwa's direction, Seonghwa shook his head with a disgusted grimace.

"Can nay hold yer grog? That be fine, we can teach ye." Jongho merrily looked back forward while Seonghwa mulled over the 'bro' thing. He needed a dictionary. If only he could read.

"Drinking already? The ladies won't like that, matey." Yunho stretched out his arm over Seonghwa's shoulder. His eyes shone with mirth as he snuck a sip from Jongho's bottle.

Distracted by the proximity, Seonghwa staggered when the earth was abruptly flatter than he expected and did not meet his movement as the ship would. Before he could tumble into San, Jongho caught him by the arm with a wink.

"Ye got the sea legs fast but lost them land legs. Ye gonna be a jolly gentleman o' fortune in the future. Yunho, I ain't 'ere to crack Jenny's teacup." Another one of those strange abbreviations.

San laughed at the puzzlement overtaking Seonghwa's features. Seonghwa never had friends before, so walking in the group with the five jesting males was a foreign experience. Being the weakest link bothered him, even when he would rather be a hostage than a pirate.

They entered a busy street of the town that bustled with people. Smells and noises thrummed on Seonghwa's senses like rain, leaving him disoriented. This town was similar to the one he knew, and yet every building and street looked different. Since heads towered over them everywhere as pirates, merchants, and regular townsfolk squeezed past, Seonghwa didn't get to look around much.

San let himself fall back to sling an arm over Seonghwa's shoulders. His eyes glinted mischievously in the torch-lit dark, his lips smirking as he talked. Seonghwa suspected he made sure their prince would not slip away with the crowd.

"Do you know what it means?"

Seonghwa shook his head. He caught the eyes of a woman in a pretty dress standing at the side of the road. When their gazes met, she winked at him, making him duck further into San's side to hide his blush. The pirate smelled of alcohol and the grime of weeks.

"Oh, sink me! Mateys, we caught us some real treasure." San laughed. He patted Seonghwa's hair while Wooyoung weaved a path through the people that the others followed. Despite his unfamiliarity with San's touch, Seonghwa allowed him if just not to stand out.

"We did? Wait, we did? Ye be runnin' a rig on us, look at 'im." Wooyoung sounded disturbed. Put in the spotlight, Seonghwa eyed the pirates. By now, the mixture of new sensations and pirate slang confused him enough that he could not follow at all.

"Well, he is a prince, isn't he? You're in for a great evening, princess. Forget all that stupid stuff about politics and enjoy yourself today." San patted Seonghwa's shoulder comradely. A little bounce accompanied his step as he closed up on Wooyoung again to whisper in his ear.

"What was he talking about?" Seonghwa turned to Jongho, twisting his body away as some huge guy with an axe on his shoulder passed them.

"Ye do nay know? Blimey, even I know an' I 'abour no interest."

Insulted, Seonghwa stood his ground. He had his suspicions.

"Is this..." He lowered his voice and leaned towards Jongho to whisper the forbidden words in his ear. "About kissing?"

Seonghwa turned red as a tomato when he retreated. Jongho's boisterous laughter gained the attention of some strangers. They took a turn and Seonghwa's face burnt up in the dark as they walked into a backyard.

"Ye'll see, princess. Sink me, I love this." Jongho took another swing before nodding at a woman who emerged from a prettily lit building up ahead to greet them. San swept down gracefully to kiss her hand before he drew her close to his body and whispered something into her ear. Seonghwa saw her lashes flutter, delicate fingertips resting on San's broad shoulders. Tactfully, Seonghwa looked around the dark and wet yard, counting the windows.

Jongho snickered into his bottle.

The woman nodded once their subtle conversation ended. She stuck to San as she waved the group through to lead them into the building.

The smell hit Seonghwa first. The building reeked of flowers so heavily that the fruity scent clogged up his brain and made him feel nauseous. The stuffy heat heightened the effect. Still, he kept his eyes wide open to explore his new surroundings.

And boy, there was much to see.

The room was grand and adorned beautifully by scarfs and sheer fabrics hanging from the walls and ceiling. The colours shone in delightful oranges and pinks. Flowers lined vases, garlands, and the railing leading to the upper level. A homey fire danced away at the back, keeping the residents warm and cosy.

Many people milled around the room. Especially women.

They were dressed more scantily than any woman Seonghwa had ever seen before. Luscious locks curled beautifully around naked shoulders and pretty accessories dangled from their wrists and necks. The exposed skin of their thighs, stomachs, and cleavages had the blood rushing to Seonghwa's face, as he did not know where to look.

He saw women of all kinds; skinny ones and curvy ones, taller ones and smaller ones, and all of them were gorgeous.

And all of them swarmed towards the group of pirates like a bunch of hungry bees.

Seonghwa stood petrified as two of them got close to him. They whispered sweet promises to his ears that he didn't hear over the hammering of his heart and pressed their soft bodies against sides. He panicked, searching for Jongho in the crowd. He found him seated on a bench nearby, void of any people, just sipping his drink and enjoying himself.

"This one be a boy still. Ye pretty doves wanna 'elp him grow up?" San spoke their slang too, and his voice drawled around it with velvety smoothness. He grinned at Seonghwa with glinting eyes from where he was enclosed by women. Seonghwa spotted Wooyoung wandering off with three women on his own.

Overwhelmed and too polite to shove off the dainty hands exploring his chest, Seonghwa remained in the chaos. His insecure eyes flickered around the room as he stood stiff as a board.

The women chattered about San's invitation. They discussed who they wanted to send with Seonghwa and what to do with him, and poor Seonghwa still had no idea what was going on.

He felt himself get lightheaded, the smells and the sweet sounds coming from seemingly everywhere too much for his brain to handle.

"Actually," he squeaked out, catching Jongho's crinkled eyes. "I think I'll pass today. My apologies, ladies, I do not feel well."

Many pouts and whines answered him and San's smile was deviously broad. Helpless, Seonghwa calmed them all down with some beckons of his hands. Jongho stood up with a grin.

"I'll get 'im aft. Catch ye later."

Seonghwa was very thankful as Jongho moved speedily. He got him out of the unwillingly parting crowd within seconds. They left the expressive house and the other four crew members to step out onto the cold street again. Seonghwa missed its warmth, but the feeling of full breasts pressing against his arms had him rub them with more discomfort than the cold provided. Shivering, he wandered down the street with Jongho at his side.

"Jolly performance in there. I would pay ye to spy that again." Jongho grinned from ear to ear, even as Seonghwa desperately narrowed his brows at him.

"Please be nice. I know they are kissing in there but that was too abrupt for me! I can kiss! I have kissed before!" He did! And then he ran home crying, thinking he was pregnant. But he did!

"Aye, I be sure o' that. Ye can tell San whenever if ye want to join 'em on their wild cruises. They be in kissin' mood often." They passed some food stands and laughing people. Most of them ducked out of the way as soon as they spotted Jongho.

"Uh... I'll think about it, I guess. Not now." Seonghwa had trouble kissing people he did not know. His first (and only) kiss had been the cute girl selling fruit on the market and both of them had blushed and giggled after (before he ran away). They had avoided each other after that.

The two men returned to the ship. With no dirty pirates around and some lamps lit on the masts, the sight brought peace to Seonghwa. It was a surrounding he could consider getting used to if he did not know the people sailing this boat. If he did not miss his mother so dearly.

Despite the silence, Seonghwa noticed voices to their left.

"Avast ye! Jongho, be that ye? Did ye forget Mingi again?"

"No, Captain. Prettyboy wanted to come aft sooner," Jongho called back.

Finally, Seonghwa's eyes adjusted to the darkness, and he recognised the Captain in front of his cabin with a woman in his arms. He held her body pressed against him with one arm as if they were familiar with each other. The rest of his fingers played with her long locks, exposing an elegant neck that shone in the lantern light. The naked skin of her upper body flashed where it pressed against Hongjoong's own chest in his open shirt. Bothered by the interruption, the woman pouted her full lips at the newcomers.

Scandalised, Seonghwa lowered his gaze from them, trying not to look at the way her clothes bunched under her chest as if ruthlessly shoved down for access.

"Did he, now?"

Captain smirked his toothy grin. He reached out one hand to open the door to his cabin and walked the woman inside. Occupied with him again, her hair covered his shoulder as she leaned towards his neck.

"Goodnight, then. Sweet dreams, prettyboy." Hongjoong threw a last dark smirk over his shoulder before he kicked the door shut, shrouding his company in privacy.

"They be kissin'," Jongho supplied. His laughter echoed in the night as he wandered off.

Seonghwa was left to wonder.