Prompt# 240 -Where there’s smoke… - Plots and Plans - Tekia - original

[tekia.livejournal.com]

Title: Plots and Plans
Fandom: Original
Prompt: Where there’s smoke, there’s smoke bombs
Warnings: a few swear words
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Sari needs to add to her crew, and this island offers plenty of pickings.

Sari leaned back against the rail, letting the wind rush through her hair and tilted her face up toward the sun. The air smelt of bread and fish, she noted as the scents from the harbor reached the deck. She wondered idly who was baking bread this late in the day. Wasn’t that usually done in the predawn hours?
She didn’t know, she wasn’t a baker.
Her lips tilted up at the corners as she turned to lean her elbows on the old wooden rail, facing the busy harbor.
This was a wealthy island, full of bustle and chaos. It was a beautiful sight, she thought as she watched the hundreds of people move on the wooden docks like they were performers in a dance. It was for this reason, she always had loved the harbor. If she closed her eyes, she could listen to the sounds, smell the air, and remember her old home. So long ago.
She slid her eyes open once again and stared out at the masses of people milling about and wondered what was on this day’s agenda. They needed to restock the food stores before they moved on down south. She needed to replenish her ink supply, she remembered vaguely.
Kelp and Baron both had lists they wanted filled and she had to remember to keep an eye on Jess. While the man had confessed to loving the life of a sailor more than he had ever expected, she still felt uneasy with letting him ashore with money. Ice Marble had just grunted when asked if he wanted anything supplied for their next voyage and turned his back to her to catch some more sleep before they docked. Sari had shook her head at his antics while Kelp threatened to skin the little bugger for his disrespect to their lady captain. Then Sari had cuffed Kelp for calling her a lady.
Luck was still prancing around, asking everybody what was available to be bought in a port town with his earnings. He wasn’t stupid, just the opposite, very cleverly holding out his earnings in a flat palm, asking childish questions with wide eyes that had all of the crew melting at his sweet innocence. Luck made sure that every man on this ship would lay their lives for him if it came to it. May the Sun bless the kid.
As Gene and River returned to the ship via dingy, Baron and Ol’ Salt hurried to the ropes.
“I’m going first, lil’ krill,” Ol’ Salt said as he all but shoved Baron out of the way to the ladder. Sari shook her head and pushed away from the rail as Gene struggled to get out of Ol’ Salt’s way. He grinned at the old man’s fussing and met Sari half way.
“That filthy thief of a dock master demanded far too much for two day’s stay, but we’re here, Capt.” He touched a hand to his dark hair before he realized he wasn’t wearing his cap. He ran his fingers through his hair instead and nodded toward the island. “Don’t tell ‘im I said so, but this island is worth it. They’re a rich one, they are.”
Sari laughed, loud and clear, causing Luck and baron both to look at her in curiosity. She clapped her hand on Gene’s shoulder. “We pirate ships, Gene, me’boy, not islands.”
His laughter followed hers and he shook his head. “Not at all what I meant, but sure, I guess, why not? We’d make a killin’ if we went after islands.”
“That we would,” Kelp said as he joined them, a small back clutched in his hands. He frowned at the dock, muttered something foul under his breath about the dock master, and then shook his head in defeat. “It’d teach them not to fine pirates like us so unfairly.”
“Poor Kelp,” Sari said mockingly, fluttering her lashes at him. “Did you have to part with much money?”
He glowered and jutted his chin out. “With far less than what he wanted from us.”
Sari brightened considerably. “Well then, there you go. You haggled him down, and we get a two day stay on land with fresh food, clean water, space and more temptations than any of you know what to do with.”
“And don’t forget the women,” Jess said from somewhere behind her.
Sari laughed as the crew cheered. She gave Luck a heartbroken look as she realized he was cheering with the rest. “Lucky! I thought you were mine only!?”
A heavy arm fell around her shoulders and Jess’s voice was loud in her ear. “Only on the ship, Captain. Once on land, it’s every man for himself. Isn’t that right, boyo?”
The crew cheered and Sari ducked out from under Jess’s arm to step away from the group that had gathered. “You’re not off me ship yet, boys. And we have to split out trips ashore. Someone must guard us from dirty thieves.”
There was a collective groan as they realized that they may be the ones chosen to stay behind. Sari pitied them, but the ship had to be guarded. She faced her crew and surveyed each man now staring intently at her, their anxiety apparent in nervous shifting and chewing of lips.
She was going to have to chose who got which shifts in guarding the ship. She closed her eyes a moment and decided that the ship could do with only two to guard it and they would have four hour shifts. She looked at each man in her crew.
Dark Sand, the old salt, was sanding beside the rope ladder and she had no doubt that if he didn’t get to go on land first, he was going to cut the rope so nobody could go. Not him for the first watch, then.
Kelp, as first mate, instantly was given leave first, as well.
Baron was leaning beside Ol’ Salt, staring at her with a nonchalant gaze, not caring one way or another if, or when he went on land, just so long as he got his thread and needles supplied to him. He was a good lad, she thought, and decided he would go first as well.
River, she decided, would stay for the first watch. During the last few hours of daylight, it would do them well for potential thieves to see the giant man that was on guard.
Just then, Ice Marble came on deck and narrowed his eyes against the sun. As always, his sword was attached to his hip and Sari nodded.
“First watch is River and Ice Marble.” River nodded and Ice Marble rubbed a fist against one eye, yawning widely. “Night watch is Baron and Jess. Midwatch is Dark Sand and Gene. Morning watch is Kelp and Luck. Forenoon watch is myself and Ice Marble. Afternoon watch is River and Baron. First dog is Jess and Dark Sand. Second dog, tomorrow is Gene and Luck. Tomorrow’s night watch is back to River and Ice Marble and so on until eight bells after second dog on the second night, when we leave with the midnight tide. All hands must return and be prepared to sail off this island.”
“Aye, Captain,” chorused the crew and they quickly set about preparing to disembark. Sari nodded and glanced at Kelp as he hovered over her shoulder.
“Yes?”
“We need rats.”
She arched a grey brow. “I thought we got Shanks to get rid of rats for us?”
His thick brows lowered over his glare. “Line rats, Lady.”
She returned his scowl and matched him for his glare. “How many do you want, Kelp?”
“Two should do, Captain, but we can also do with a navigator.” He spoke quickly as he saw her open her lips to protest. “Yer well and good, Captain, but on my watch, we need someone to mind the stars.”
Sari’s mouth snapped shut with a click. “Keep an eye open, then, man. And if you’re adding three mates to my ship, inform the old salt so he can get enough supplies.”
Kelp nodded and together they moved to the dingy.
They paddled toward the dock, as Sari didn’t know this island and didn’t trust her ship at the dock proper. They tied the dingy to the dock, though and Sari eyed the dock master as they passed. The man looked her up and down with a sneer and she faintly heard a slur against her as they passed, but she ignored him.
Instantly, her crew split up and they parted ways with each other.
Sari visited the stalls lining the dock and listened to the gossip and chatter going on around them. There appeared to be a local hoard of Dragon Blooded hanging around that the people adored. With a twist of her lips, Sari reminded her self to steer clear of them. Today was not a day for making trouble.
She bargained with merchants and supplies she thought the crew needed and even found a rumor about a young man that had potential for navigating, but later learned that he had moved on, further east. Keeping the name locked away in her memory, Sari finally turned her back on the docks and began making her way into the city and into the market proper.
She had a jade to spend and time to do so. After hour wandering the slowing market and finding the sun low in the sky, she rented a room for the night and bellied up to the bar across the dirt road. She cheered the fellow crewmates she found playing a round of cards in the dim light before retreating to her rooms for the night.
On her way, she bumped into a youth that mumbled an apology and ducked his head in a polite bow. Quickly, Sari snagged the boy’s shoulder.
“That’s my purse, mate,” she said, holding out her hand.
The boy’s eyes widened at her, his mouth dropping open in surprise. He gaped a moment like a fish out of water before he found his voice. “I-I-”
“Yes, yes, you don’t know what I’m talking about. Then I threaten you with calling the night watch, then you protest your innocence, then I shake you and put fear of the gods into you, then you beg and plead that its for your very ill mother/father/sister, whatever with big pitiful eyes and when the opportunity presents itself, you make good on your escape. Not tonight, mate, I’m tired and I know all the tricks in the book. My purse, if you please.”
Dully, the boy dropped her purse in her waiting hand and she nodded once toward him. “That’s a good lad.” She turned to walk away when he clutched at her sleeve.
“It’s not my mother/father/sister, but my brother. He’s been arrested and I need the jade to buy his release.”
She arched a brow and took the sight of the boy in. He was tall, but she doubted he had seen sixteen summers yet. His black hair was longish, hanging down to his shoulders in straight locks and bright, sea green eyes. He stared at her in the eye and she considered him a moment.
He was lanky and built for quick, fluid movements. He would be a good sailor. She turned to face him, folding her arms over her chest and her purse clutched tightly in her palm. “Really?”
He nodded. “Just a few pieces, Lady, if you can?”
“How about I go to the jail and see your brother for myself and then we have a nice chat about your thieving ways?”
His eyes widened comically and he shook his head. “No, Lady. Your time has been enough.” He touched a hand to his brow and quickly sped away. Sari watched him go a moment before turning away.
She slept heavily that night and woke with the first rays of the sun arriving in her room. She basked in the sun’s light a while, enjoying the comforts of the warm bed for as long as she could before she decided that it was time to get up.
She checked up on her orders from the night before, and then headed for her watch at forenoon.
After her watch, she departed the ship and purchased a few personal items before she caught sight of the boy from the night before. With a wicked smile, she followed the boy a bit before he realized that she was near. She waved her fingers at him cheerily and he gave her a panicked look before trotting off.
She cut him off and leaned against a wall as he turned a corner and bumped into her.
“Hallo, again.”
He gasped. “You? I gave you your purse back, what do you want?”
“To hire you onto my crew. My first mate says I need more line rats and I want you for the job. You have nimble fingers and you’re quick. The rest we can teach you.”
He repeated that act of his with the fish out of water look, then mumbled, “You want to hire me?”
“Yeah. How do you feel about sailing? You don’t get seasick, do you?”
He was shaking his head before he realized he was doing so and quickly held up his hands. “Wait. This makes no sense. Why would you hire a thief?”
Sari pretended to think about it a moment. “Because you are clearly in need of honest employment, and I’m in need of sailors.” She shrugged. “The math is easy.”
The boy gulped, and she could see the thoughts turning in his head as he considered. Then he shook his head. “No, I can’t leave my brother.” He leveled a stare at her. “If you hire me, you have to hire my brother.”
“Is he anything like you?”
He grinned. “We’re twins.”
“Alright, bring him to the docks in twenty and we’ll see what can be arranged.”
The boy grinned and stuck out his hand. “I’m Warm Water.”
She shook his hand. “Sari, the captain of the Green Tear.”
They parted ways and Sari once again returned to the bar to order a meal. Kelp was there with a meal laid out before him, so Sari joined him to inform him of her find. He seemed pleased with her results as he had not focused any of his time in the search for more deckhands.
“You seem distracted?”
He nodded with his chin toward the bar. “Thems Dragon Blooded. Dynasts.”
Sari turned in her seat to see two men hunched over their tankards, speaking lowly to each other. She watched them a moment, watching their lips and found nothing interesting. She was just about to turn away, when she read that particular word on their lips.
She froze in her seat as she realized they were on the hunt. She felt a thrill go down her spine and the hairs all over her body stand on end. She followed their conversation a moment more then turned back to Kelp.
“I suppose I’m going to break our agreement on no trouble while we’re here.”
Kelp glared at her, then shrugged. “Anything to annoy the Dynasts, hum?”
She nodded. “Just so.”
She arranged to have Kelp hire the boys and set about making a plan to help the poor soul being hunted by the Dynasts.
She moved her seat beside Kelps so she could watch the Dynasts without turning in her chair. Kelp finished his meal and then set off for the ship, and Sari tailed the Dragons.
She gathered what information she could of their prey before turning to the gossip mill and quickly stepping around the Dynasts and becoming said prey’s hunter.
The target was quite good at hiding in this city, she discovered, hours later as she still didn’t have much to go on. In the end, she sat back, and let the Dragons do the hard part for her.
She listened in as they plotted their ambush and quickly relayed the attack plan to the members of her crew still hanging around the docks.
The made plans to disrupt the ambush and make way with the goods, the target, and then parted once more. Sari followed the Dynasts a bit, just to give them a scare.
She knew they knew someone was watching them, as Dragon Blooded weren’t as stupid as she often discredited them for.
They never caught sight of her, though, and that’s all that mattered.
She returned to her rented rooms and slept heavily and, with the breaking day, she returned to her ship to finalized the plans.
And she met Warm Waters’ twin, Fierce Sea.
Indeed they were twins. It was near impossible to tell them apart, save for Fierce Sea had a constant flush to his cheeks when he looked at her. He hardly ever spoke, and let Warm Water make their decisions for them. Also, the twins spoke without words, only eye contact.
Both were eager to learn and willing to leave their homeland behind them, as they only had each other.
When others began to arrive to make plans, the boys were quick to help. Kelp was reluctant to agree, but Sari argued that they knew the city well, and the boys were clever.
They quickly proved their worth as they drew out a map and pointed out hideaways and escape routes they had missed before. They explained the layout of the city and even showed the places they could find help from rebels of the Dynasty. Quickly enough, Kelp was nodding his head over the twins’ shoulders, stroking his chin in thought.
Sari passed out assignments, and the twins were eager to take part in the actual action.
“What do you think the two of you can do in a fight?” Jess asked as he chewed on a bit of jerky. He towered over the boys with a smirk. Warm Water glared up at him, unafraid.
“Where there’s smoke, there’s smoke bombs. We got tricks that can help. It’s only five of you against two Dragon Blooded. You’re going to need all the help you can get.”
Sari chuckled along with the others. “He’s got you there, Jess.”
The arranged booby-traps for the ambush and then set out to lay in wait.
The Dragon Blooded had brought with them many humans to help and Sari and crew took out those that were in their way. They took up positions and lay in wait for the Dragons to arrive to begin their attack.
What Sari forgot to take into account, was that the target wasn’t a ship, nor was it a bit of treasure, but a living, breathing person.
The target, a young man, exited his hiding spot and slunk around until he found himself a vantage point to watch for attackers. Sari waved down her crew, then showed herself to the man.
“Hallo,” she said, standing without a weapon in sight and her hands held before her. “My name’s Sari and I hear you’re in need of an escape.”
The man blinked owlishly at her a moment, but before he could answer, their attackers arrived.
“You there,” a deep voice bellowed out.
“Oops,” Sari said with a roll of her eyes. “Looks like we’re too slow.”
She turned around to face the approaching Dragons and smiled brilliantly. “Yes, gov?”
He glared at her. “Be gone, woman, we’ve no business with you.”
She rubbed her finger under her nose. “Oh? But aren’t you quite fit?” She reached out as he stepped closer, and trailed her fingers down his armored chest. “What if I wanted to have business with you?”
He shoved her out of his way, never once taking his eyes off his target. “Be gone, I said.”
Sari stumbled a step or so and nearly bumped into the second Dragon as he arrived. She nimbly stepped out of his way and watched as their target trembled in his shoes. His wide eyes were frantic as they sought any escape route. The poor dear, she thought, it was her fault he was trapped.
Then she grinned. She could make up for it by getting him out of here. She folded her arms over her chest and tapped her foot. “Oh? No business with me? What if I have business with you?”
The first Dragon turned to her with exasperation, but stopped dead in his tracks as he saw the wicked grin on her lips and the golden disk glowing on her brow.
His eyes widened and he quickly moved to attack, a cure spilling from his lips. “Anathema!”
He swung his sword and Sari rolled back away from the deadly tip as the diaclave ripped the air, a trail of fire following in its wake. She giggled and sidestepped the second’s attack, then the air was filled with her crew’s shouts and battle cries as a popping sound heralded the arrival of a thick, heavy smoke screen.
Sari rushed through the smoke, found the target’s wrist and pulled him out of the fray. They ran the streets, Sari’s chuckles drifting behind them as her crew did their best to stall the Dragon’s attacks. The group joined together for only a moment before they all drifted away in silent agreement to split up to give them the slip once their newfound enemies escaped the smoke cloud.
After getting lost in the darkened streets of the city, Sari and the man paused in an alley to catch their breaths. After watching to make sure they weren’t followed, Sari turned her attention to the man.
He had his back to her and was breathing heavily, his whole body trembling. She shook her head. He was young, then.
She reached out and clasped him by the shoulder. “Mate, I don’t know what you did to get on their bad side, but methinks you should get as far away as you can from here.”
He nodded.
“I have a ship,” she offered.
He looked at her, fear still in his eyes, but then he reached out a hand. “I’m Red Crest.”
“Sari, Captain of the Green Tear.” She shook his hand. “We leave with the midnight tide.” She glanced at the moon. “Which is soon. Are you with us?”
“You saved my life. Why?”
“Dynasts aren’t quite my think, you know?” She leaned back against the wall beside him and rested her arms on her bent knees. “I do what I can to foil their plots and plans. If offering you a job on my ship, then so be it.”
Red Crest nodded slowly and Sari smiled softly at him. “We’re a crew of misfits and trouble makers. You’ll fit right in, I say.” He almost smiled at that, then all humor left his face.
“I might as well,” he murmured. “I’ve nothing left here.”
Sari stood and reached out for his hand, pulling him to his feet. “When there’s nothing left behind you, Red Crest, you must learn to move forward. What else can one do? You must learn to change with the times, just as the Moon changes with the days. Learn,” she said with a smile as Red Crest stared hard at her, “and live.”