Wiped Out

---

@ Dandy Darling;

"Are you ready to tell me what exactly you are doing here?"

As she was asked yet another question, Cadence sighed inaudibly. Were her hands not tied in front of her, she might have been able to better communicate the fact that she could not speak. She had put herself at the mercy of the pirates knowing that it was her best chance and that resistance in being imprisoned wouldn't have ended nearly as well for her. However, given the situation she was now in, it did not seem that her plan had improved her situation any. Without the use of her hands, she had no means to communicate lest someone on the ship could read lips--or minds. She knew that they thought she was simply refusing to divulge any information, and she could not blame them for that, but it was frustrating considering that she truly could not speak.

Rather than become frustrated though, the siren chased the sigh with a bobbing of her head, a nod. Being mute her entire life, she had grown used to misunderstandings due to her condition, and this was no exception. She simply needed to handle the situation to the best of her ability, and the first step was in attempting to communicate something to these pirates that didn't equate to the assumption that she was not speaking out of spite or some ulterior motive.

"Well then?"

This time, Cadence barely held back from rolling her eyes. Somehow, she needed to get them to ask yes or no questions. Open-ended questions would not work in this situation. Briefly, she considered how to go about that task, then she gave the pirate questioning her a look that she hoped conveyed to him that she wanted him to press into further detail with his line of questioning. He would gather nothing so specific from that look alone, but she did hope that he would ask a more specific question when he realized that no answer would be forthcoming.

Thankfully, he seemed to understand to some degree. "Are you here to seduce and kill us?" She hesitated before shaking her head. Cadence had no intentions of murdering anyone on this ship, but she'd have to be dead not to notice that at least a few of the pirates were rather handsome in a rough way. Unfortunately, her hesitation due to the 'seduce' part of the question seem to cause some discomfiture.

"Are you leading other sirens here?" The next question caused her to shake her head in an emphatic 'no'. She had sneaked away, and the others certainly did not know where she was. They would attempt to stop her if they knew, but she had made her choice. It hurt to be around their beautiful voices, only able to listen and never participate, and though her personality was similar enough, there was that definitive difference that set her apart even further, for without a voice, she was no true siren.

"And why should we believe you?" It was yet another open-ended question, but one that Cadence felt she would be able to answer without words. Arching a single eyebrow, she nodded at the bonds that held her hands immobilized before her. She had approached this ship, allowed them to take her prisoner, and then allowed them to bind her. Sirens did not resort to such trickery as they were questioning her of attempting to perform, though she knew that even if she could speak, they would not believe her on that front.

"Fine. Why won't you speak?"

Well damn. Cadence wasn't sure she had any gestures she could make with her hands tied that would explain her inability to speak. Left without any other options, she mouthed the words "I can't" to the two who faced her. From what she understood, the woman was the captain, and the man beside her was her First Mate. He looked distinctly uncomfortable, but also as if he were attempting to remain stoic and treat her as he would any other prisoner. He was the one who had done all of the questioning thus far, and so as she attempted to answer his last question, her sea-foam eyes traveled to the woman once more, awaiting what she would ask or say.

@ Rosamarie

(So sorry for the late response!)

I can't. She was certainly a strange one. Jessamine paused to exchange glances with her first mate, silently asking if he bought this. A mute siren was completely unheard of but this one appeared to be selling the act pretty well. Unaffected by the Siren's beauty, she scanned over her expression and saw a look of desperation in her eyes. The whole situation was odd. The Siren sneaked aboard the ship and willingly came along as their prisoner with no resistance when found. From the beginning, she could have lead her fellow sisters or started killing the crew while she had the chance, but she didn't. She cooperated with them. "Unbind her," Jessamine ordered Sterling. Whatever reason she was here for wasn't to kill the crew. However, the seduce part seemed up in the air. She needed a person to keep an eye on her for that, and she had the perfect person. "I don't know why you're here or why you picked my ship, but it seems like you want to join us. I will allow it since I don't believe you're here to harm us. However, if I hear that one of my men have disappeared, you will disappear. Understand me?" Jessamine commanded with a edge to her voice. "You're being assigned to Holstead. He will teach you the ropes and you better learn fast." She jerked her head toward the door, requesting for Sterling to find Holstead. "What is your name?" She directly toward the Siren, realizing they couldn't keep referring to her as the Siren.

---

"Did ya hear? Captain caught a siren!" One of his fellow crew mates exclaimed, making it known to every man on deck. All of them howled in response to happily accept the beautiful woman except for one man, Aaron Holstead. The young man merely pressed his lips into a firm line as his grip tightened around the ropes to the sails. No, sirens were dangerous creatures that lured and killed men with one breathtaking smile. Too many dear friends lost their lives to the vile demons and he wasn't about to be the next. He vowed to stay as far away from those things as possible. "Holstead, stop bein' a bore. It's a siren. How long has it been since any o'us seen a proper lady? And that's no insult to Capt. She's just, ya know, Capt," The man to his right teased, lightly smacking him on the shoulder. "Unless you scared o'her? C'mon, you're stronger than a wee lass." Aaron rolled his eyes in response since he found no reason to defend himself. He turned back to his work when a voice called out to him and explained the well known situation. A shiver ran down his spine as he wondered why the captain asked for him.

---

"Ah, great. Holstead, I'm assigning Cadence to you. I trust you the most with this task, considering your background. Make sure she works and report to me if she isn't cooperating. Take her down to the quarters to settle her in," Jessamine stated. Aaron's eyes darkened at the order as his eyes flickered over toward the Siren. The mere sight of her made his blood boil, and the last thing he wanted to do was take care of that monster but he couldn't refuse his captain. He drew in a deep breath to calm his temper and met Jessamine's gaze. "Yes, Captain," He responded before approaching the Siren yet sure to keep a distance. "Follow me. You do everything I say and there won't be a problem," He seethed then promptly turned to leave the Captain's office. With Aaron and Cadence gone, the Captain allowed a heavy sigh to leave her lips. Had she made the right decision? She could have just sent Aaron to his death. Jessamine gave a small shake of the head as she took a seat in her wooden chair and ran her fingers over the parchment map of the seas. "How close till we reach land?" She questioned Sterling. Over the past few months, they had been chasing treasure that had been hidden by her mentor. One piece always revealed yet another piece of the puzzle. Her mentor always had the knack for challenges. "Do you think I made the right decision with Cadence?" She couldn't help but wonder aloud.

---

Aaron refused to meet the Siren's eyes as he brought her beneath to the sleeping quarters. During their descent beneath the ships, he could hear the sounds of jeering and catcalling from his fellow crew. Aye, look at Holstead! Scored a siren! Holstead gettin' lucky tonight! He blocked out all of the noise and brought her down their only free cot. "You'll sleep here," He stated, gesturing to the empty top bunk. Unfortunately, it happened to be the one above his. "I'm sure Captain will give you some spare clothes. Dinner is in a hour. Got it? Got any questions?" He attempted to speed through the whole process, wanting to rid of her already.

@ Dandy Darling;

Sterling's icy blue gaze followed Holstead and the siren as they made their way out of the cabin. One of them had appeared greatly relieved by the decision that had been made while the other looked as if they were being punished. That reaction alone proved that assigning her to Aaron had been the best idea, and considering his feelings towards sirens, he wouldn't let her get away with anything. Hearing Jessamine's sigh, Sterling returned his attention to his captain. He could imagine the doubts going through her mind, because they were the same ones his own mind echoed. While Cadence had done everything she could since they found her to prove that she meant no harm, the fact remained that it could all be a ruse. A mute siren... he didn't think such a thing could exist.

As he was asked a question, however, his musings were cut short. "About a fortnight, if the weather holds." They could hope, but the weather was unpredictable at best this time of year. Her next question, however, went back to their newest kink, and it took him a moment before he could truthfully answer. "I think you made the best decision you could, an' if there's anything remiss about her, Holstead'll figure it out soon enough."

---

Cadence had to step quickly to keep up with the pirate who was assigned to keep watch over her, paying about as much attention to the catcalls and jeering as he seemed to with his cold, closed expression. The moment she saw him, the first thing she had noticed was his attitude towards her, so different than anything else she had ever experienced. Others were wary or even fearful usually, and if they weren't, the reactions were much like what she heard from the other crew members. This man, the one the others called Holstead, was different. He'd taken one look at her, and it was almost as if he immediately hated her. It was a chilling feeling, but considering the circumstances and the reactions from the others, she knew why he had been chosen to keep an eye over her.

When she was shown where she would sleep, she nodded to show that she understood, though she was uncertain as to whether or not he actually saw the action since it seemed that he was unwilling to even look at her. Which would only make communication harder, since she could not actually speak to him. They were giving her a chance though, and she was determined to make this work. Straightening her shoulders as he continued to speak about clothes and dinner, she nodded her understanding once more, and then again as he asked if she had any questions, though asking it would be a different matter.

@ Rosamarie

About a fortnight, if the weather holds. Too long. They had spent too much time docked at the last town. Every day they spent on the seas Jessamine felt as though her mentor's treasure slipped away. Throughout the pirate world, many flocked at the mention of the hidden treasure. It supposedly was enough to rule the world and fulfill any person's wildest dreams. Of course, that was a plus but she wanted to solve his puzzle. Being an apprentice, he opened her mind to all of the possibilities and wonders on the sea. He always hid another trick up his sleeve to catch her off guard. Then, he just vanished without a trace one day as soon as she turned eighteen. No explanation. No note. The only trace of him left behind was a hidden key that she found one day attached beneath the wooden desk, which started their journey.

"Aye, Sterling. That means a lot," She stated, letting a weight fall from her shoulders. If there was one thing she could trust, it was his honesty. He told her the brutal truth when most cowered beneath her gaze. Thumbing through the papers, she pulled out a scroll of parchment and set it flat on the table. "For the life of me, I can't figure this out," Jessamine admitted, letting her eyes move over the words. The riddle that lay in front of her stumbled her beyond belief. All they knew is where to sail from a previous riddle but nothing more.

---

Aaron paused for a moment to wait for her response before realizing that she couldn't. Right, she was a mute. A groan escaped his lips since communication would be as difficult as ever. His eyes darted about the room to find something for her to write on until they settled on a piece of parchment and charcoal that rested on one of the cots. "Here," He mumbled, shoving the items at her. Even being that close enough to her was enough to grit his teeth. As her hand brushed against his, he jerked away as if scalded by fire. He hated this. He hated her. "Write down the question. I'm only gonna say it once so ya better remember," He stated, crossing his arms over his chest. Why did Captain trust this thing aboard the ship? For all they knew, the Siren wanted this all along. Whatever her purpose was, Aaron wasn't going to be seduced by her. He knew all of their tricks, legends, and myths. Furrowing his eyebrows, he continued to watch her scribble on the paper. "Hurry up. We don't got all day," He pushed, feeling as impatient as ever.

Tonight, he needed a drink. He wanted nothing more than to be drunk into oblivion since it was the only way to handle the pain. However, that would only provide the Siren with the perfect opportunity, which was even worse. "Give it here," He snatched the paper away from her, unable to wait any longer. They were needed back on the deck, especially since she never worked aboard a ship before.

@ Dandy Darling;
(Sorry I forgot to say something with my last post, but you're all good! )

Sterling was glad when he saw Jessamine relax a little, as if his words had taken some of the weight off her shoulders. He knew she would still secretly worry over the situation with the siren, as would he, but he did believe that she had made the best decision. If Cadence truly was who she seemed to be, a good thing had been done. He knew the real weight on his captain's shoulders came from the endless puzzles and riddles they swam through chasing after Calico's horde of treasures. He knew she was determined to uncover it all before other pirates got lucky, but he also suspected that she held hope that she would also find her mentor at the end of the journey as well, and he'd be lying to himself if he said that he wouldn't like a chance to see his former captain again too.

This newest riddle though... it was quite the doozy. He hadn't any clue where to even begin in solving it. "Me either," he admitted with a shake of his head. "They're gettin' harder, the further we get. Th' only thing I can figure is that some clue to it be waitin' at our destination." Two weeks out at that. In the meantime, he knew they'd both be staring at it whenever they had a chance, hoping something would click, even if he was already sick of looking at the damned thing. Sighing, Sterling pushed back from the desk and pushed back his black hair. "One o' us needs t' get clothes t' that siren, and th' other one should make an announcement t' th' crew 'bout her."

---

A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips at the sound of his groan; it closely mimicked her own feelings pretty accurately. She'd learned patience as far as communication with others went, but that did not make it any less frustrating. When he shoved the parchment and charcoal at her, she took the items in her hands in reflex so as to avoid dropping them, since he recoiled almost as soon as he shoved the items upon her. His demand that she write down her question was not going to happen, though she couldn't imagine he truly realized that. Sirens didn't have a written language, and they did not take the time to learn humans'. The best she could hope to come out of this was that he might be able to decipher whatever picture she managed to make, considering he still seemed unwilling to look at her long enough for her to attempt to explain without the aid of other materials.

So Cadence attempted to create a picture that would explain her question, though it was of questionable quality. She wasn't even allowed to finish before he ripped the parchment away from her. Because he suddenly took the paper, there was a line of charcoal across the middle of the picture as well, successfully rendering it pretty much entirely illegible. Rolling her eyes, she waved her hands near his face to get his attention on her. Moving slowly with clear movements, she motioned first to herself, then spread her arms to encompass the rest of their surroundings, then cocked her head to the side in a questioning manner. She could only hope that he could take that and figure out that she was attempting to ask what her role on the ship would be.

@ Rosamarie

(Haha, okay, thanks!)

This riddle had Jessamine jumping through hoops to solve. Every single piece of paper scattered about on her desk contained random thoughts or possible solutions that lead to dead ends. Me either. They're gettin' harder, the further we get. If that wasn't the truth. Whoever found this treasure would truly be worthy of Calico's praise. She ran a frustrated hand through her golden locks, squeezing her eyes closed. What could they be missing from this riddle? They were currently the furthest along and making remarkable progress, which bought them time, until this road block. She felt the pressure of the clock pressing against her temples, almost exploding her brain. Jessamine willed herself to think outside of the box yet her mind drew a blank. "If I look at it another second, I may tear it t' shreds," She concluded, rolling up the parchment once more. They must have been getting close with the difficulty of the puzzles increasing drastically.

Pulling out one of the drawers, she place the scroll down locked it up tight. She dropped the glistening golden key into her breast pocket, tucking it away for safe keeping. The last thing she needed was for another pirate ship to come along and poach them. They would surely lose the treasure and any chance of finding her mentor that way. "What's t' situation? How are we lookin' on supplies? Don't wanna dock her for nothin'," She requested as a means to take her mind off of the enigma before them. One o' us needs t' get clothes t' that siren, and th' other one should make an announcement t' th' crew 'bout her. "Ah, we both know t' crew sniffed out t' siren like a bloodhound. Scallywags know she's here. I'll git t' clothes."

---

Taking the parchment into his hands, he frowned at the lack of writing. Then it hit him. "Shite." Did Sirens even know how to write in English? She could clearly understand him yet couldn't speak or write a word. One assumption after another got him no where with communication. With the giant black streak running through, he scrutinized the picture. It mostly appeared to be a blob of lines and shapes. He could have sworn that he spotted a dog somewhere in her drawing. However, it didn't appear to be a viable question and trashed the thought. Aaron narrowed his eyes as he shifted the paper around at different angles as if it would magically reveal her message. Out of the corner of his eye, he found Cadence attempting to grab his attention. He drew in a deep breath as the gave up on the scribbling and threw it off to the side. "You...Sleeping? Quarters? Ship? Ship....," He guessed as if playing charades. She had a question about the ship? It was quite the generalization. He racked his brain for possible uncertainties about the ship and began to ramble off certain questions until one agreed with her: "What are ya gonna do on t' ship?" It felt as though hours had passed until he identified her question. Aaron sighed as they achieved something, already feeling exhausted by the lack of communication. "I'm a deck hand. Man t' flags and watch t' wind. Sometimes swab the deck if Capt is in a bad mood. So, th' what ya gonna do. "

"Holstead, needed on deck!" Someone called out to him from above. They had spent too much time playing this ridiculous game and wasted precious time. "Don't have much time to teach ya. Ya better watch and learn fast, Siren," He warned, turning on his heel to return back above the deck. Just above the horizon, the sun began to set while paintings its rays on the sea. The waters were choppy this evening and violently swayed the ship, sending waves of water aboard the ship. "Help us git the water back!" The same man ordered, throwing Aaron two buckets. Used to the sporadic nature of the sea, he stood strong against the tides. "Ya heard 'em." Handing off the bucket to Cadence, the young pirate went straight to work.

@ Dandy Darling;
(I can apparently write quite a bit for Cadence, even though she has no speaking parts xD)

Sterling was personally happy to see the parchment put away once more. While he knew the importance of finding the treasure before others, and maybe even Calico at the end of all the trouble, all of the puzzles and riddles were getting damnedly harder. Between him and Jessmine, they'd spent more hours than he actually wanted to acknowledge on this latest round. Not that he was of any extensive help anyway. Calico had been a crafty old fox, and while he'd taught Jessamine well, even in that area, she was years younger and inexperienced. She was their best bet on this, and she was doing remarkably well, but it was putting the most strain on her. Sterling wished he could be more help, but he simply couldn't think in circles like they could. He was better suited to being out on desk with the rest, helping out, or apparently as First Mate. He knew recently he'd been taking on more responsibilities than First Mates usually did, but hell, he seemed to handle it all well, and it helped his captain.

So, as she asked her questions, he rattled off the information. It was actually what he'd been checking up on before the situation with the siren had come up, and if nothing else, he at least had a good memory on him, so it wasn't hard to come up with the information for her. "We could still last a time longer, but we might wanna stock up next we dock," he added after the fact. Since Calico's puzzles tended to lead them all over creation, anticipating when and where they were docked had become mere guesswork whenever they set off from land. Certainly made his life harder, being the one who was responsible for overseeing it all, but that was the life of a pirate--and he wouldn't leave the life for nothing.

"'Course they did," Sterling laughed, shaking his head. "Even'f she weren't a siren, they'd of known. If they didn't respect yerself, Cap, I'd be floggin' em tryin' to git em 'way from yer cabin. Th' seas git lonely, and they's men." While he'd stifled his laughing in order to speak, a smile still curled at Sterling's lips. They both knew what he said was true, and there wasn't an exception on the seas. Hell, even if he wouldn't admit it to Jessamine, even he'd noticed the siren. He was just smart enough not to go lusting after her, unlike some of the others. "Reckon 'fore a week's up, one of em'll try somethin', maybe longer if I threaten em real good. I'll need t' be tellin' Holstead t' give us names o' them that don't listen."

---

As amusing as it was to watch him attempt to guess what the picture meant, especially when he'd snatched it from her and ruined it, Cadence was glad when he finally looked up at her. It still took a while for him to correctly guess what she was attempting to ask, but it would have taken much longer with the pictures. More than once, she caught herself attempting to use a hand motion or gesture that he wouldn't know how to decipher and had to correct herself. Since she'd been born mute, the other sirens had helped her develop different ways of communication, and if she made a certain gesture, they'd know what she meant. These strangers would have no idea what she was attempting to do though, which was difficult to remember. She would have to start from scratch with them, if they would even be willing to work with her. No one else seemed to have the reaction towards her that this man did, but she worried it was too soon to tell. And that this one, who was apparently to be her constant companion, wouldn't be willing to work with her.

Cadence was determined that she was going to make this work though. She'd taken a huge risk by coming here in the first place and letting them take her prisoner, and despite the reputation of sirens, they'd given her a chance. Wherever she went, she would be an oddity, but maybe she could find a niche amongst humans that she simply hadn't been able to find with her own kind. It would take awhile, but eventually they would figure out that she wasn't going to kill anyone, even this cold one named Holstead. As he guessed the question she'd wanted to ask, she nodded enthusiastically to show that he had gotten it right, then again in a more subdued manner when he explained what it was that she would be doing. Apparently it was simply his job to show her how to do what he did, and she guessed she'd be a pirate by the end of it all. The thought actually made her smile faintly. Cadence had never heard of a siren pirate, but then again, before herself, a mute siren had never been heard of either that she knew of.

Then the time for questions was over, and Cadence had to hurry to catch up to Holstead before he could leave her below. After his warning, he'd turned and started back to the deck so quickly that it had taken her a moment to figure out what was going on. She followed him out onto the deck, stopping when he did, and glanced about curiously as she waited for him to tell her what he wanted her to do. She hardly noticed the ocean spray about her feet, so used was she to the feeling of the ocean around her, that it took hearing someone yell about it for her to realize that water upon a ship was a bad thing. She barely caught the bucket that was thrown her way, then saw Holstead go to work scooping up water from the deck and throwing it back into the water. With the waves were crashing against the ship though, each bucketful of water was returned just as soon as it was cast out. Cadence bit her lip for a moment, torn, as she looked down at the bucket clutched in her own hands, knowing there were two options to choose from, one of which would be significantly helpful but could also prove upsetting.

After a moment, however, Cadence sat down where she stood and cradled the bucket in her lap. It wasn't going to work as well as she'd like, since she didn't have a voice to use or an instrument, but even if it was crude, it would get the job done. Blocking out the noise of others around her, Cadence tuned her ears to the roar of the ocean, and once tuned in to its song, started to tap her fingers against the inverted bucket in a slow rhythm. Nothing happened at first, but then she felt the waters begin to calm until waves no longer sloshed over the edge of the ship onto the deck. It was a temporary measure that likely wouldn't last long, but nothing she ever did lasted because her music wasn't pure--it was always carried through an outside object instead of coming from her.

(Haha, that's actually pretty impressive!)

As Sterling began to answer her questions, Jessamine paused to admire her first mate. The authority in his voice mirrored years of experience yet the youthful glow remained in his features. His Aegean depths provided a clear window into his determination to find the treasure, swelling her chest with pride. A small grin grew on her lips, listening to his report. She couldn't have picked a better person to take over the position. Her father disappeared quite abruptly, leaving them completely blindsided. Jessamine could barely convince her father's men to join her in the voyage to find the treasure. They questioned her ability to lead from a lack of experience, especially since she was a woman. Some cackled at her and refused to follow while others remained skeptical of her ability. However, Sterling supported her through every decision whether it be right or wrong. Together, they grew as pirates and ultimately as friends. It was a relationship that she could never replace.

A blush flourished on her cheeks, hearing Sterling explain her crew's night activities. When they were on the sea, she automatically categorized herself as one of them, as one of the boys. It never crossed her mind to think about the mounds on her chest and how the men noticed. She knew that they meant no disrespect by it. Being at sea for months, the men could only suppress their desires till they hit land. However, it still made her question every single moment of privacy. "Those scaly wagers. If I catch em', they'll be hell t'pay," She cursed, attempting to hide behind a facade of confidence. Jessamine broke her gaze away from Sterling to hide her embarrassment.

After another awkward cough or two, she turned back to hold his eyes and rose from her desk. "Have t'find t'cloth. Git rest," She requested, realizing how choppy the waves were for the night. The ship swayed from side to side, but she barely noticed and easily stood her ground. Exiting the office, Jessamine scanned her eyes over the situation and found a calm sea as her crew ran to empty out the remnants of water. They must have been graced by the Gods, considering how there should have been a storm rolling in. "How are ye doin'?," She called out to the men. They appeared to be crowding around the Siren in amazement. Did she have something to do with this miracle? Jessamine read about the powers of the Siren and their ability to control the sea. However, it was mostly to throw men overboard and get them into their waters. Cadence could have easily taken down the ship but she rescued them instead. Perhaps her judgement was correct. "Men, give 'er room!" She ordered, watching them create a hole for her to walk into. "Come 'ere, lass. Less getcha some clothes." Jerking her head in the general direction, Jessamine turned to retreat to her quarters.

---

The sweat dripped down the side of Aaron's face as he emptied the bucket off the side of the ship. It was the umpteenth time that the pirate had thrown the water back into the ocean and there appeared to be no end to this long night. The fatigue showed on his fellow crewmates' with the furrow of the brows and grunts of picking up the water. At this rate, they wouldn't survive the night. Aaron glanced over his shoulder to see the Siren sitting down and doing some random rhythm on the top of the bucket. A rage ripped through his being, wondering what she was doing. All she had was one job that she couldn't seem to accomplish. Here, the crew was struggling to keep the ship afloat and she wanted to make music against the deafening crash of the waves. Despite wanting to scream at her, the young pirate bit down on his tongue and refocused his attention on the task beforehand. She would be dealt with later.

Or so he thought. The skies seemed to part from the Siren's spell while the waves calmed to a steady lull. It was as if she were singing a lullaby without even opening her mouth. Slowing down his pace, Aaron felt his jaw go slack. "Aye, hail the Siren!" They chanted, crowding around her with glee. Although he was grateful, he couldn't find it within himself to find the same delight. She used her magic to calm the seas. The same witchery that was used to charm men into their deaths. Even though she used it to help them, she was supposed to be one of them. She was supposed to be running back and forth, submitting to the hard labor of a pirate's life, but she managed to charm her way out of it. She was giving the rest of the crew false hope that she was some gift from the Gods, but she was far from it. His anger flared at the thought, throwing his bucket off the side of the ship. If she wanted to use her magic, then she could finish off the job and clear the rest of the ship.

Retiring to his quarters for the night, Aaron settled on his cot and drowned out the cheers of the men outside of the cabin. They were applauding the Siren, honoring her. It only made him roll his eyes and turned over onto his other side. Grabbing onto the sides of his pillow, he folded it over his ears and groaned. Eventually, the laughter died off and they filtered into the room. "Ye saw t' way she lookin' at me," One of the claimed with pride. "Git little lone time, y'know. Show 'er a pirate's moves." Unable to take it anymore, Aaron shot up from the bed and threw the pillow at the man's head. It hit him square in the forehead, bouncing off harmlessly, but enough to anger the other. "Bed 'er! See if ya live!" Aaron challenged, making the entire room pause to witness the confrontation. "Aye, sorry, Brighton. Holstead's a little tired. Don't mind 'em," Another spoke, attempting to subdue the fight that was about to break out. Flashing a glare to each other, both men mumbled curses underneath their breaths before going about their business. Aaron laid back onto his cot and settled in for a sleepless night.

@ Dandy Darling;
(Whoo, sorry this took so long. I've been spacey and then once I got back to replies, I just couldn't seem to find the time to actually sit down and make a whole post for this Probably because I get distracted really easily, and something that should take me an hour max ends up taking three half the time)

The cheers Cadence received due to her efforts were unexpected. Of everything known about sirens, the fact that they killed men was the thing that everyone knew to be fact, and so she had expected reactions more akin to those the first two had offered and to a degree, the one that Holstead had given her. Even if she had helped this little bit, it was a small way to go to proving that she was different and meant them no harm, that she was willing to help, and while the cheering was somewhat warming, she also felt it undeserved. If she were any different, she would simply be attempting to gain trust as a deceit, and many of them seemed as if they could care less.

Though it seemed as if she should be happy that she was being accepted instead of cast aside, treated with complete mistrust, or worse, Cadence couldn't bring herself to feel that way. Maybe this was what really set her apart from the others though, because she imagined that they would have been happy in her situation. Yet she almost wanted them to dislike her until she gave them a real reason, proof even, that they could trust her. She didn't want the cheers and misplaced faith.

When she peered around at the faces surrounding her and found Holstead missing, she stood up immediately, still holding the bucket, and would have continued to look if she had not been interrupted. It was the woman from before, the captain, and Cadence figured that if she was there, then it was okay that the other one who had been assigned to keep an eye on her was missing. Therefore, when she was told to follow and the other woman began walking off, Cadence quickly made to follow her, stopping only to gently set down the bucket first. While she personally hadn't given a thought to her state of dress, she supposed it made sense that they would feel better if she wore clothes and looked a bit more like them. It would take a little getting used to on her part, but in light of all else, it was a small thing.

So, her mood somewhat muted, Cadence followed Jessamine into the pirate's cabin, where clothing that seemed as if it would fit her best was picked out, and she donned the outfit. The feeling of the cloth pressed against her skin felt slightly uncomfortable and overall odd whenever she moved, but she had honestly expected worse. The strangest sensation came from a pair of boots, and though it hadn't escaped her notice that all humans wore shoes, after a minute of trying to get used to the feeling, she sat down where she stood and pulled the boots off her feet. When she stood again, holding the shoes in her grasp, feet once again bare, she offered the boots back to Jessamine with a small shake of her head.

---

Though it hadn't escaped his attention that his honest evaluation of the situation with the crew had seemed to make Jessamine nervous, Sterling had the presence of mind to remain silent. He doubted that it would have ended well for anyone if he had chosen to say something, and even if they had grown closer since Calico's disappearance, there were still lines to be minded. Even if it was amusing how she seemed to forget that there actually was a difference between her and the rest of the crew. Ah, well, with everything else she had handled so far, this would be a small matter.

"Aye," Sterling agreed when Jessamine said she'd be getting the clothes, and with their conversation over for the moment, he exited the office with her so that he could go about setting the crew straight in regards to the siren. He had no misconceptions on what most of them would be thinking, and he'd need to make sure to warn them off, and possibly ask Holdstead to report if he saw any of them disobeying the orders. When he crossed the deck, he was surprised to feel the boat's rocking lessen, which was followed by the cheers and praise the crew were heaping on the siren.

As the pirate stood by and watched, he slowly shook his head. He almost wished the siren hadn't been so unusual, because that would've caused a considerable lesser stir than allowing her to stay, especially in light of what had just happened. This was going to be a strange situation, and Sterling mentally reviewed it as he stood back, waiting until Jessamine had taken the siren aside before he went about whistling loudly to get the crew's attention, though it took a moment for all the noise to calm down. He'd seen Holstead stalk off, undoubtedly upset, but that was fine in this case. Shortly, Sterling had commanded the silence he needed, and he informed the crew of the situation with the siren as well as their captain's decision that they were not to "bed 'er", also adding that they should inform anyone who might not have been around to hear. It would get around a lot quicker that way than if he attempted to track everyone down himself.

Following his announcement were groans and muttered words of protests, but Sterling felt that most of them would be smart enough to heed the orders, and there would be consequences to those who didn't. Once he was done, he retreated belowdeck to where Holstead had disappeared and crossed his arms as he leaned back against the set of bunks across from the one the other pirate lay on. "Know I don't need t' be givin' you th' same as th' others, but since yer th' one that'll be 'round th' siren, th' Cap. an I need ya t' tell us if ya see one o' th' others tryin' somethin', Holstead, since neither o' us would catch 'em tryin'."

((It's alright! Take as much time as you need lol. Sorry this one was short. I wasn't sure what to write.))

Entering inside of her quarters, Jessamine sauntered straight to her wardrobe to fetch Cadence some pieces of clothing. She opened the double wooden doors, humming lightly to herself. "Let's see what I could giv' ya," The captain thought aloud, sifting through the fabrics. She pulled out various blouses and held them up against Cadence to assess. Her features contorted to reflect the fit ranging from a wrinkle of the nose to a nod of approval. It wouldn't be a perfect fit, but this was the best Jessamine could offer. A small pile of clothes ended up on her bed before she closed her closet, satisfied with what she found. "Should be 'nough," She stated, moving over to hand the small collection to Cadence.

"Ya know, I 'preciate yer help wit t' ship, but I need ye t' be like m' crew. That means no siren magic. Wanna be like us? Ya gotta act like us," She requested, offering a small grin. Although Jessamine could see that Cadence wanted to help, the others would become lazy from her siren talents. They would lean back and relax while she did all the work for them, becoming too reliant on her. Heavens forbid they were attacked. They would cower behind Cadence instead of fighting like men. "Also, Sterling's talkin' to them. If one even touches ye, tell me. They'll be hell t' pay," She tacked on at the last second.

Raising her hands up to the ceiling, she stretched out her limbs and shrugged off her heavy coat. "I see ya tomorrow. Git some rest," She ordered, stifling a yawn from all of the excitement. Jessamine could barely keep her eyes open after the day she had. A siren. The storm. Her crew had been enough work without the combination of all three at once. Once Cadence left, she practically face planted into the pillow and drifted off into a deep slumber.

---

Good, at least one person around here was knowledgeable. Sterling understood that this siren was no creature to be messing around with, which simmered Aaron's temper. A bunch of the men seemed utterly disappointed with the order but knew better than to go against the captain. Their asses would be walking the plank if they even placed a finger upon Cadence. However, they acknowledged the minority that dared to disobey the captain. "I know," He gruffly responded. At the first sight, he would immediately reprimand the guy who attempted to sleep with the siren. It was only for his own good. He wouldn't even wish the fate of a man sleeping with a siren upon his worst enemy. "Night, Larosa," Aaron mumbled before turning on his side to face away from the men, drifting off into a sleep.