ᵗʰᵃˡᵃˢˢᵒᵖʰⁱˡᵉ

🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

[ indecision ]

𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭. "Ready the Hand of God!" 

The crew followed the command, a woman, Lacy, hopping atop the canister. She perched, wrapping her legs around the spindle, and began to pour in the deathly poison. The black poison sifted through, and the glass arrow was soon filled with the substance. 

Red snarled angrily as she glared at the oncoming ship, her vibrant yellow eyes shining with hate. 

Crow's hand gripped the lever as he too scowled at the creature ahead. Thirty years he had waited...and now he was going to taste the sweet taste of revenge. The crew watched on, their faces holding fear as Sarah held her clock in her palm, glancing down at the arrows, which were ticking with each passing second.

Suddenly, Red dove down beneath the water, her gaze set on the underbelly of the ship as she swam faster. Crow squinted his eyes, waiting for Red. "Now is the reckoning," he rasped. Red slowly rose again, the sun shimmering a golden aura around her. "For all who've been lost...I strike at thee, devil!"

He pulled the lever back as he screamed those words, and as smoke poured from the weapon, the large, poison-filled spear rocketed into the air, sailing straight towards a wide-mouth Red, and struck her. She roared in agony, eyes widening from the immense burning now blooming above her flipper.

She crashed into the water with pain, creating a splashing wave which sent the ship teetering back. As the waves settled, the Captain let out a sigh, a small, victorious smirk flitting across his lips.

The Inevitable slowly docked forward, and Crow stepped off the ship, walking across the gummy hide of the now-fallen Red Bluster. He journeyed to her eye, which was hazily lifted. 

"Don't fight," he advised softly. "You'll make the poison flow faster. I don't want you to die. Not yet. Not till you've been immortalized at Castle Whiterock."

By the arrow, seven of the crew strained as they tried to pull the arrow from her skin. Red's eyes widened and she growled with the abrupt sting, her pupil thinning with rage. 

Sarah stepped forward, hand resting atop her gun-adorn belt. "Captain, might be wiser to let the poison finish the job."

"No, Sarah," he stopped. "I made a promise to the king and queen. Finally, the crewmen ripped the poisonous spear, casting it aside. It sunk into the sea, the deadly liquid casting a cloudy black trail from the tip. Soon, all of the crew had come to help tie in Red. Some were atop her, securing the ropes in place whilst others were in tugboats, helping to pull the cord. It all buckled into place, attaining the Bluster. "But I'd not worry. There's no fight left in it."

As Crow walked back to the ship, Sarah stayed, keeping her neutral gaze on Red. "Yes, there is," she murmured, before following Crow aboard. 

She hopped onto the boat with a grunt, and Crow called after that, "Raise the studding sails!"

"To starboard, Captain!" Old Nick alerted, and the man turned. "It's a boat!"

"Hold!" Crow reached into his jacket, taking his telescope and holding it to his working eye. As he looked through the glass, a small gasp escaped his lips. On the boat, was the unmistakable figure of Jacob and Y/N. "By the powers... Jacob... Y/N..."

You leaned against Jacob, his arm wrapped around your body, whilst his hand moved the rutter. Together, you held Maisie, the poor girl puffing out short breaths. Her eyelids drooped open, finding Red floating atop the water.

Maisie gently urged her eyes open, vision still blurry. She breathed shallow breaths, as she glanced around. First, she saw the medic, Finnair, before casting her eyes around. She found Sarah leaning against the wall, hidden by the shadows, and then Captain Crow. In front of him, was you and Jacob.

She let a drowsy smile grace her cheeks, seeing your hands connected. Maisie then glanced down at her hand, where she felt a dull sting, finding a tube, sticking into it. She followed the tube, finding it connected to Jacob's arm. He was softly rubbing his calloused thumb against your hand as he explained the adventure with the Red Bluster.

"I see," Crow sighed after Jacob finished the thrilling recount. "That's quite a story, Jacob. The hunter what befriended a beast. Hmm. The beast what took me deadlight. What am I to make of ye, Jacob?"

You glared at the man across from you, tightening your hold on Jacob's hand, as he softly started, "That thing and I, we, uh, had, uh... an understanding."

"A truce. Hmm?" Crow leaned back in his seat. "But there cannot be a truce without war. Whatever happened out there is nothing against hundreds of years of war."

"It's everything!" you snapped. 

"Pipe down, lassie!" he retorted right back, turning his gaze back to Jacob. "I've always known what I was, Jacob. I'm the son of a captain, who was the son of a captain. And if we are born to fight, then by God, let's fight." He leaned in close. "That we may be tested and find our greatness. So, I ask you, Jacob, my son, are you my enemy?"

Suddenly, you heard the rustling of blankets, and a girlish grunt. You spun around in your seat, eyes widening as Maisie dashed forward, knife lifted upward, ready to stab Crow. Jacob lunged forward, softly yet forcefully grabbing her arm. "Maisie, stop!"

The girl coughed as she dropped to her knees, Jacob following suit. He took the knife from her, moving it away as she croaked out, "Let her go!"

Crow chuckled, standing up as Finnair leant down beside Maisie. "She's all vinegar."

Jacob lifted her into his arms, gently placing her down on the bed as Finnair draped the blanket back over her body. "Easy, lass. Easy. There you go," Finnair soothed. 

Maisie looked away from him to you and Jacob. "You need to help Red. She's our friend."

"I'm sorry," Jacob said. She breathed softly, looking up at you as you went down on your knees, arm settling around her head as you delicately threaded your fingers through her curls. 

"She needs her rest," Finnair whispered to Jacob, who was watching your exchange with remorseful eyes. 

"I'll get you back to Guelston," he promised. "You'll be safe. You'll have a good, long life."

As he stood to his full height, Crow called, "But first, we'll pay a visit to Castle Whiterock. We have a date with the king and queen." Jacob looked down, before grabbing his belt and fastening it around his waist. When he was close enough, Crow clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Jacob, I imagine you could use a drink." He then turned to you. "Y/N, lass, care to join?"

"You were never good drinking company, so I'll pass," you muttered, looking at the two from the corner of your eye. Crow shrugged and began to lead Jacob out. The blonde looked back at you, hopeful to meet your gaze, but it was fixed on Maisie's sleepy face. "Sleep, my darling," he heard you whisper, and that seemed to do the trick, for her soft snores soon followed.

Though, Jacob couldn't help but smile at the sight of the crew, who soon greeted him when he arrived back on dock. "Welcome home, lad," Old Nick grinned, as the others clapped hands and greeted him.

"Good to see ya."

"So good to see you."

Jacob glanced towards the crimson sails, finding the Inevitable hunter symbol. His gaze then shifted to Red, who was in a pitiful sleep, caused by the poison. "You're home, Jacob," Crow smiled, snagging back his attention. "Let's toast to the many adventures that lay ahead of you, as Captain of the Inevitable."

Jaunty sea shanty played as the crew exclaimed in joy, and Jacob followed Crow into the Captain's office, though his face was not of excitement. 

Later that night, you were sitting on Maisie's bed, the girl lying beside you. You hummed softly as you read through her book, when the sudden creaking of the door opening caused you to look up, finding Sarah. Maisie grunted as she hiked herself up on her elbows, and you settled the book down on your blanket-covered lap. "You're gettin' your strength back," Sarah stated as she placed two bowls of soup on the nightstand. 

"Too late," Maisie remarked. 

"Maybe."

Sarah turned away, walking back to the door, but Maisie continued, "It's not right what they're doing to Red. She saved us. You have to believe me, please."

"Sarah," you called, and her opening-of-the-door paused. "Please."

"I believe you."

"Then help us stop them," Maisie begged.

"I've been fighting them beasts all me life," Sarah said after a moment. "And I've seen things that will never go away. This ship is all I know."

As she stepped out, Maisie glared at her back. "No first mate more loyal than Sarah Sharp." She faulted for a moment but closed the door.