Ferric Outskirts

@[H] Nichkhun Horvejkul (B) Jack of Spades.
Hyungseok nodded and looked at the other. The sudden sound of someone calling out made him flinch and he frowned but once he looked at the pirate he easioy god his confidence back. They needed to do this now. And they would do this will. He nodded and let bandit go before he rabbed his stuff and rushed out. He had to be fast now. They both had to.

Obviously they had figured out that they were in this together but now there was no backing out anymore. Hyungseok hissed quietly before hiding in the storage room before getting himself into a small opening, a secret path. Only small and skinny people or children fit in here.

Like this it would be easy to leave but Hyungseok couldnt just leave like this. Quietly he followes the bandit. Yes they were no team but they needed to get out of this. Together. Taking a shaky breath he watched the bandit through tiny holes in the wood, he was ready to help him out however he could.
If he didnt have to he would leave.

He just wanted to know that the other would be able to leave and not let others know about him. Yes.

@Park Hyungseok (P) Nichkhun smiled at his question. He took out a crumpled filthy Jack of Spades and handed it over. It was his Bandit name after all, besides, it would be difficult to sign his real name: knee-coon; charades would be very useful for that but they don't have much time. In fact, when Nichkhun was about to barge into the storage room, he heard the loud wail of a similar voice.

"Hyungseok! Where is my map?!" The captain yelled. "I want my map! And, where is that bandit!"

The bandit's eyes darted to the pirate lad. "You need to go. We need to part now." It says. Without looking back, Nichkhun opened the door and darted away before regaining composure as a pirate. He went to the storage room and took out all the bottle of rum he could carry before pouring a few on himself. His hair along with his face was now soaked with sweet-smelling rum. He hid a few underneath his coat and grabbed the half-filled ones.

After raiding the whole storage room, Nichkhun darted to the hallways and towards the deck. On his way, he met a few of the mates who was giving him weird stares but he simply handed them a bottle of rum before walking away. It was a random action but it was part of the plan. Unfortunately, upon encountering one mate did he realize something: he was supposed to be wounded.

"You're that guy from a while ago. Where's Hyungseok?" The mate asked. Nichkhun took out a bottle, raising his hand and smashing it on the mate's head. What a waste, especially since the mate wasn't even disoriented. "I found him! I found the bandit! Hyungseok was with him! That traitor!" The mate begins yelling before Nichkhun knocks him out using his fist. Darn it.

He hides on the corner and sees a couple of pirates running towards Hyunseok's cabin.

@[H] Nichkhun Horvejkul (B) For a moment Hyungseok looked at the paper.
“Okay,” he mumbled and then hesitated. “How am I supposed to call you if someone catches me?” he then asked – after all he did not know his name. Surely, he had heard about the masked bandit but he didn’t know his name at all. He tilted his head and looked at the taller male – he looked much broader compared to Hyungseok but then again he didn’t mind it. With his own skinny body he could hide pretty easy and get to places tall men couldn’t. He was seeing the advantages.

“I will try my best to get out as soon as possible.” He didn’t want the other male’s work to be for nothing. Surely, Hyungseok had offered him something for that as well but still. And aside from that he just urgently needed to get off this ship – he couldn’t wait, who knew when the captain suddenly thought it would be a fun idea to send him flying into the wild, deep sea? Hyungseok didn’t want to risk it.

A soft chuckle left his lips and he looked at the taller male.
“Don’t worry, I am faster than I look.” He was good on land, he didn’t even mind obstacles, there was always a fast way to pass it. It was the water that was his misery.

“I am,” he nodded and made sure his bed looked made, as clean as he mostly kept it. These men wouldn’t notice that something was missing. Hyungseok had known them long enough to be sure of it. Disgusting people.

@Park Hyungseok (P) The mute bandit nodded in respect regarding the pirate's decision. He knew that it wasn't his problem. The life of a bandit is all about detachment. They don't stay loyal to everyone because it the call of survival comes, real bandits would steal even from those they are friends with, unlike some of the pirates he knew who would stubbornly go down with a ship on fire. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons pirates and bandits never get along: they are too different.

Nichkhun took another paper, looking beside him occasionally to see the pirate taking care of important details for his final role. He made a small gesture that says thank you in sign language. "The agreement was I would help you leave the ship and you would help me find the booze. We have to part ways for me to be able to help you leave. I still have a diversion to create and," The bandit paused, underlining the last sentence. "If at some point, the diversion goes wrong and you are still with me, I am not going to think twice on lowering my pace just so you could keep up."

This time, he folded his message instead of crumpling it.

Nichkhun brought out the map and pointed the storage room. "We will part ways here. I'll take my booze while you reach the exit. Call me if someone catches you, but after I get my rum, I'll go to the end of the ship and set the bowsprit on fire."

Finally, he made a quick gesture, "Are you ready?"

@[H] Nichkhun Horvejkul (B) [Don’t worry about length! It is super fine just as always!]

Hyungseok put a few small things into a small bag – there wasn’t much he would take with him, otherwise it would be too obvious but there were a few things he couldn’t leave behind. He then took the paper the bandit was holding out for him and read it. Reading the sentences he hesitated before he shook his head.
“The crew I used to know as valuable is barely intact. Many have left this ship already and the few that are staying changed into someone I never want to be.”
Surely, it had come to his mind and the other was right but it was too late.

“Aside from that I wouldn’t be a good captain. I can’t stay on board for too long without getting seasick.” Which was ridiculous as he was a damn pirate but, oh well, that was just him. Also he neither could read maps nor could he swim but that was a secret for another day. The man didn’t need to know everything about him. “But, well, thanks, for considering this.” He smiled slightly – it wasn’t the others business, still he was trying to give him advice.

“No idea what I am going to become,” Hyungseok said and shrugged, putting the paper away so no one would find it. “But I’ve always been good at improvising so I think I will find something.” As long as the army didn’t find his face in the streets he would be okay, somehow. He just really needed to leave this damn cursed ship. Ever since Fei had died everything had gone down and even though he had tried to keep this crew together he had failed and now he couldn’t do anything anymore. And aside from that he didn’t want to as well.

“Wait,” Hyungseok mumbled and took a clean bandage. “I always use clean ones. Otherwise the people will know I didn’t take care of you.” He put it properly but fast around the others arm, making it look just the way he always did. “Are you sure I should leave the ship before you?” he then asked – what if something happened to the bandit? Or what if he would tell the people that Hyungseok was betraying them? He couldn’t know. Could he trust him? Well, for now he had no other choice.

@Park Hyungseok (P) [This is shorter because it has more dialogue than description or narration.]

Only when they reached his cabin did Nichkhun allow himself to drop the act. However, he believed that the small scene a while ago was very real. He didn't want to get involved in the conflict but he was awfully curious at one thing. While the pirate lad was showing him the room—which is a convenient way to another storage room that was near the exit. Nichkhun looked at him with much contemplation as the lad explains that they should hurry and leave. "You played your role really well." He said.

Nichkhun shook his head to disagree. His role is yet to come. The bandit took any writing material inside the room and attempted to communicate. "I need to remind you that you will leave before me. I want my booze, and I still have a diversion to make for you to escape." He paused, looking at the tip of the pencil which left a small question mark at the end of his message. "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe, the crew needs a new captain? Has it ever occurred to you that you could be captain? I know it's not my business but if you leave this ship, what will you become if not a pirate?"

He crumpled the paper and handed it to the pirate. Nichkhun began cleaning himself up as he studies the map. The storage room has booze in it. Perhaps, the storage room is the place they will part. "The booze is in the storage room. Maybe we have to part ways here. I'll join the crew and pretend to look for the bandit, but in truth, I'm planning to go somewhere farthest from you so I could create a diversion."

Nichkhun ripped a shirt and wrapped his arm to make it appear as if he was treated. He looked at the pirate lad and waited for his response.

@[H] Nichkhun Horvejkul (B) Even though Hyungseok tried his best to stay calm and composed it wasn’t the easiest to do so. He felt tense with every word the disgusting man in front of him spit out in his direction. Not only was he reeking of alcohol, he also reeked of the worthless and unworthy person he was. Never had Hyungseok even thought of ending up with such a creature as a captain. He could have accepted a captain that would have lead them into being a normal crew, just like the other pirate crews they had met – a captain that turned their shining crew to one that had lost its shine but still had values but now they were a valueless crew that killed people for fun and whose members drank most of the time and caused trouble.

The young pirate looked at the bandit and then back at the captain.
“I will take him to another cabin and treat the wounds,” he mumbled and bit his lip not to make a sound. His wounds drowned in the captain scolding the other two pirates and even kicking one in the stomach. What a disgusting and stupid reaction. Controlling the people with force and violence was something Hyungseok had never relied on. Once they could those people would stab this man in the back, figuratively and literally. And this time Hyungseok would be one of them. He wouldn’t kill but he was about to turn his back to the crew.

Feeling the soft blew of air Hyungseok’s eyes wandered over to the bandit and he nodded slightly, not needing words to understand what the man wanted. They needed to get out of here as soon as they could. He was surprised that the captain was even believing their story, he was a bigger fool than Hyungseok had even thought but, oh well, it was only good for them.

“I need you to retrieve the map otherwise I’ll make sure that you will get to see Fei soon. You’re better off with him. Both of you are weak. That’s why he died.” That was it. That was probably the second his patient was tested, the words that trigger all the hate he was hiding inside his small body. He had the urge to stab this man in the back, or preferably in the face – this time literally. He really needed to leave this place as soon as possible. It wasn’t the accusation of being weak, Hyungseok couldn’t care less about that, it was the mentioning of his old childhood friend. And right now Hyungseok had never been gladder about that fact that Fei had been killed by the marine and not by this unworthy creature.

“I’m taking him to get his wounds treated,” Hyungseok said pressed through his teeth, his hands formed to fist. He needed to keep himself in control. He was out of the door and halfway down the hallway when he turned to the captain. “Fei was a woman. It would be nice if you at least kept your facts right when you feel the need to insult dead people.” The young pirate made sure to speak loud enough for the man to hear him before he then turned back, not caring about whatever this man had to say and taking the bandit to his room, locking the door behind them. He knew that the captain would definitely come and have him punished for talking back but if the other would stick to his words they would already be gone by then.

“It is easy to leave this ship while using my room,” he explained and pointed to the window and a door that would take them out of this room and into a less used storage room that was close to the exit. “We should hurry or otherwise I’ll get hung sooner than I want to.” If he had to stay here he would say or do something stupid that would get him into trouble and he really did not want to risk that. Not at all, he had come this fast already.

“You played your role really well,” he then said and smiled slightly, quite impressed by the other male.

@Park Hyungseok (P) As always, ego veiled what could have been the sharp reasoning of a captain like him. He was irked by the tone and the volume of Hyungseok's voice that he took it as a challenge of power. Nobody raises their tone at him. "Mind your place, boy. I am your captain now." Then, he pointed a dirty finger on the wounded ex-bandit. "And him! Take him to another cabin and get those wounds treated. I need my biggest and tallest men back in the hunt."

Behind Hyungseok, Nichkhun was watching the scene with a set of praises ready but his best way of expressing a praise is through a nod. He unconsciously nodded and smiled behind his pirate friend before shooting the other mates a murderous smirk. "You don't deserve him here." Nichkhun thought. It was an acknowledgement of talent. Pirates have their own code in brotherhood. By the looks of things, it may come from hierarchy, loyalty to the captain, loyalty to the crew, or loyalty to the ship. Bandits are loyal to talents and survival. They have no trouble taking in homeless kids with talents before leaving them on their own. Brotherhood starts with the principle goal, which is survival, and their prized talents: to steal FOR each other to survive, and to steal FROM each other to determine who is the best. For a moment, he wondered if this pirate lad would make a great bandit, but he sighed at the thought because of one single inconvenience: learning parkour.

"Oi! This one is looking weird at me." The mate whispered to the other, pointing at Nichkhun.

"Shut your trap, man. The captain is still talking." He whispered back.

Apparently, the captain heard them. He turned around kicked the other one on the stomach. The mate staggered backwards and out of the cabin. "You useless runt! Why are you still here? We have a bandit in the ship! Go! Get away and get that darned bastard off my ship!" He glared at the other mate shouted. "I don't care if he is dead or alive. But if one more damage is done to my ship, I will personally hang you in public."

Nichkhun silently snickered and impatiently blew air (his breath smelled like mint leaves and alcohol) at the back of Hyungseok's head to get his attention quietly. "You can change your clothes at the cabin. Since we bandits are good at finding escape spots, I'll find you one." He implied in his thoughts. The taste of pirate rum is making him restless. He wanted to get out of this suffocating room with all these people.

The captain turned to Hyungseok for one last time and sneered, "I need you to retrieve the map otherwise I'll make sure that you will get to see Fei soon. You're better off with him. Both of you are weak. That's why he died."

Nichkhun doesn't have any idea what the captain implied but he was getting really impatient so he nudged him once more. "We should go." It meant.

@[H] Nichkhun Horvejkul (B) Hyungseok luckily easily got the hint and he nodded, stuffing all the papers were they had communicated into his pockets before kicking the book of the table. It was too obvious if they found any hints after all. He also ripped a few books from the shelves, making it look as if someone had been searching for something. No one would easily know where the map was to be found aside from insiders and if they knew that Hyungseok had easily given the map away they would definitely throw him into the ice cold sea without hesitation.

The other looked good even in damaged clothes and even though watching him damage his own skin looked painful and almost made him hiss, the bandit still looked great with blood on his body.
Hyungseok took a shaky breath and crossed his fingers that this plan would work. After all they had no other or better plan anyways.

It didn’t take long for the two men to come back with the captain and Hyungseok got closer to the bandit that was for now his comrade. After all now he could say he was checking on the other. He looked up when the three men entered the room.
“Finally. I’ve been calling for hours!” he exaggerated in an angry voice. “Why we are here? Same reason as you. Where would a bandit go if he wanted treasures? Right, here!” He looked at them reproachfully, his eyes almost screaming ‘how could you guys ask something stupid like this?’
“The bandit is long gone! Just look around!” He could see the anger in the captain’s eyes but after all their story wasn’t finished yet.

“So where is he?” he heard one of the other men ask – he had never bothered remembering the name, he didn’t want to get along with him anyways.

“Gone. I think we injured him but he was faster and surprisingly strong. Just look at our comrade!” He pointed at the ex-bandit who really looked messed up. He was doing a great job. “He was trying to protect the map but this got him badly.”
He looked at his temporary comrade with a worried expression when, in fact, he wasn’t worried at all. He could see in the eyes of the captain that he already believed them. No matter how much the captain hated him, he knew that Hyungseok had never done anything to ruin their reputation. “He fought with him and when I entered the bandit broke the doorknob and rushed out, locking us inside!” He frowned and looked at them.

“Also, what do you mean who is that? He has been in our crew for three years now!” If Hyungseok could do something then it was sounding convincing. He could see the confused shimmer in the eyes of the other three but as it had already happened a few times that the captain hadn’t been able to recognize their crew members they kept quiet. Now he could only hope that they believed them and accepted their story. It looked and sounded realistic enough but who knew if the captain didn’t take the chance and got Hyungseok hanged or let him drown in the sea? It was no secret that even though he was a pirate he couldn’t swim. Not at all.


(I hope it is okay like this! If not let me know!)

@Park Hyungseok (P) .

Never had he taken into consideration that dramatic acting would be a tactic for bandits since they prefer hiding behind the scenes, nor had he attempted to refer to such tactic before; however, after a plenty of encounters with manipulative female enemy bandits, he began to adapt to their way of lying. Nichkhun silently growled in frustration at the thought of acting but they need to meticulously plan everything if they will lie their way out of it.

He gestured to the pirate, saying to watch him carefully. The young bandit began ripping some parts of his attire, hoping that it would stretch his clothes. Nichkhun wanted to believe that his pirate friend took the hint: they need to bare the marks of a struggle—a short encounter with the bandit. He ripped another piece of paper and said, "Here's our story. I'll pretend as if I lost a fight against the bandit. I am the spectacle. You are the dialogue. Tell them everything: how he escaped with the captain's map, how he broke the doorknob from the inside so we couldn't get out."

Nichkhun rushed over to break the doorknob before pulling out a knife and looking at his pirate friend in the eye. His eyes said, "I hope you're ready because your part is coming up." And with that, the bandit took out his pocket knife and slit the corner of his bottom lip, making it red and bloody.

A few minutes later, the door started banging which was followed by a huge commotion. Three voices were heard shouting at each other before being silenced by the sound of keys clunking. "Step aside, you useless rotten kelp!" A deep razor-like voice demanded. "I'll handle this."

Nichkhun hid behind his pirate friend when a large-bearded man barged inside. He lowered his head while smearing his blood all over his ragged clothes while listening to the growls of the other.

"Why are you here?! And who is that?" The beaded man demanded. "And where is the bloody bandit?!"


[Feel free to lead the scene and godmodd the captain. :-)]

@[H] Nichkhun Horvejkul (B) Yeah, they were supposed to be enemies. And still here Hyungseok was, relying on the bandit to help him out of this hell. Well; sometimes people had to choose the odd way to reach their happiness. And in this case it meant out of here. This place could never be a home to anyone who wasn’t constantly drunk or had violence as their religion. And Hyungseok was none of them.
He was about to say something when he heard the familiar voice and took a shaky breath – listening closely he could hear only two pair of feet so that was okay – they could fight them but he preferred to get away unseen.

Watching the door closely he only saw from the corner of his eyes that the other was changing. He then looked at the bandit, almost chuckling when the other was showing his clothes off. The pirate nodded and smiled slightly, showing the other a thumb up.
“Perfect,” he said quite enough for the other to hear but not for those waiting in front of the door. If the other wasn’t a bandit he actually would make a damn good pirate.

And then the older one reached for another piece of paper and started scribbling down. Hyungseok took it and nodded then. So no bandit for now. It would definitely be weird of the other did not speak at all – a mute pirate was something the others would remember after all. “I’ll be your voice,” he nodded, understanding the plan. Use the map for a better place – but now Hyungseok was curious. The other was interesting and Hyungseok might not like being here but after all he was a pirate and such things made him curious and easily lured him in. After all he had no place to go anyways.

He hissed when someone banged on the door but eventually decided that asking the captain first would be smarter. It wouldn’t be the first time that the captain locked his door so maybe they were lucky and they would leave. If not they might have to go through the window and escape. Which was no easy task at all.

@Park Hyungseok (P) The young thief snatched the parchment as if it was the treasure already. For a moment, he looked at the pirate with less suspicion and wondered whether he would be able to escape a complicated situation like this. He can look the part, but the lad isn't a bandit. Getting hold of the map will definitely benefit Nichkhun but the moment they leave this room, all attention will be on this pirate lad. Mere field knowledge will not be enough. He needs to know the ways of a thief.

"Pirates and bandits can't be seen in this room together. We're supposed to be enemies! I can't open the door and risk us getting caught." He gestured hastily while scanning the room for another entry.

"Quickly, you useless nitwit! No room shall be left unsearched!" A raspy growling voice howled from the hallway. It attracted a number of pleas and apologies from the quivering tones of frightened men. Nichkhun knew that it must be someone of high authority. If he were to wear the captain's attire, he can't stay silent. Only bandits stay silent; Pirates, on the other hand, were the growling bunch.

While thinking of a plan, the young thief started stripping his shirt and grabbed the captain's shirt and coat. He donned a pair of leather boots and buckled a gun holster. "How do I look?" He resorted to the lad, arms wide open to show his garments. "Pirate enough?"

Seeing the pirate lad in front of him brought out a great idea. He began writing on another piece of paper. "Don't change clothes here. Come with me somewhere else. Let's be both pirates for now. Since I can't talk, be my voice. Tell them we were making sure that none of the captain's property was stolen. When we go out, I'll use the map to search for a better place so you could escape while I get my treasure."

Suddenly, someone began banging their door. "It's locked. Hey Archie, do you think the captain locks his room? Should we search inside?"

"We should tell the captain first instead. I don't want to piss the guy." A squeaky voice replied.

"Aye, he might think we're intrudin'."

@[H] Nichkhun Horvejkul (B) -

Hyungseok watched the man while he pushed the wooden shelf to block the door – a smart move as it might always be possible that someone was coming in. If someone would try to open the door now it would look as if it was locked – only if the captain came they were pretty much ed. But for now he hoped that they had a little more luck.

The young pirate took the paper the other had thrown once again and read it, one eye on the ink, the other on the man’s doing. Maybe he should let him know that sign language was something he could recognize for a certain amount but then again he would give away much more than he should. Surely he needed the bandits help to get out of here but he really couldn’t know if he could easily trust the other. For now he would but this still didn’t mean letting the other know more than necessary.

Tilting his head he watched the man get clothes out of the closet and watched him choose a few – it was easy for him to see that those would fit the other and make him look like a trained pirate. Probably exactly what they needed. He took the others letter once again and read it, carefully taking the mask. It was easy to realize that it was important to the man so Hyungseok would take care of it. He wanted help from the other so he would treat the mask with respect.

Frowning Hyungseok watched the man wave the new paper he had written on but then he pointed to the map and that was something the young pirate wasn’t too happy with. It was easy to get what he wanted but if he took the map he would be able to run away with it.
“Don’t you dare with me,” he then said and slowly handed the map over. He had no other choice than trusting the man. Surely, he could try and rip the map in two but that would only make the other angry and aside from that he just hoped it wasn’t necessary. After all the bandit had given him his mask.

Hyungseok let the other take the map and then reached out for the paper the guy was waving. They were running out of time.

@Park Hyungseok (P) .

The young bandit raised a sweaty eyebrow at the pirate's remark since his tone seemingly implied that the map was easy to find. Nichkhun watched him carefully as the boy turned his back, reaching for the far shelf in his side of the room and taking out a book before removing the map from inside. Nichkhun gritted his teeth in regret. He should have thrashed the place if the map was so easy to find, but they already negotiated for it.

He unconsciously made a quick sign (language) with his hands, "Ten minutes isn't for just for me. Now, listen well." The bandit went back to ripping another page from the book and hastily wrote, making his penmanship barely legible:

"Here's the plan. We'll switch places. You'll be the bandit, while I'll be the pirate. I will show you how to look the part; on the other hand, I need to don pirate clothing." He ripped the paper and threw it to the pirate before kicking the steel chain that he laid on the floor. Nichkhun, then, pushed the wooden shelf to block the door , implying that there is a new rule. "We both get out of this room at the same time."

He blatantly stepped to the pirate's side of the room where the captain's wooden closet was placed, and took out all clothing within. Nichkhun set aside the pirate clothing he will wear for later before writing another message. "Discard all baggy and loose clothing. As bandits, you need to have a tighter attire or else trouble will hunt you down once your shirt gets caught somewhere. My clothes are too big for you but I can lend you our emblem: the mask. Don't lose it!" Nichkhun hastily removed his mask. If he were to dress up as a pirate, he wouldn't need it.

He threw the paper to the boy and wrote another one, "Go barefoot or wear tighter footwear. We don't want your boots falling and blowing your cover. Finally, discard your weapon casings. It includes gun holsters; sheaths for knives and swords. We bandits make our own hidden pockets. We prefer hiding weapons somewhere in our bodies." Nichkhun didn't throw the message to the boy. Instead, he waved it.

"Give me the map, first." He gestured hastily. Nichkhun was already preparing his costume by stripping his shirt off and donning a woolen pirate's jacket.

@[H] Nichkhun Horvejkul (B) Confused Hyungseok watched the masked one to grab a book and rip out a page before he realized – he was communicating with him about written letters. Either it was because the other couldn’t speak or because he didn’t want anyone to hear them. Well, the stranger was lucky as Hyungseok was one of those pirates that were able to read – and those were damn rare.

Reading the paper he looked at the other, tilting his head.
“You don’t need to believe me,” he then said and his lips. “But I know where all the treasures are hidden here,” he added then. He just wanted to get away here without being called a traitor – he didn’t want to be hunted by the army and pirates /and/ pirates. The first were already enough.

Reading the next message he looked at him and shook his head. “I am not planning to attack you. I know I am at a great disadvantage.” Hyungseok wasn’t stupid. He was great with daggers and archery but he hadn’t fought in quite a while so the other would surely be at an advantage. A big one. Hearing the loud sounds from the deck he frowned, knowing that was going down upstairs. Not that it would be the first time, ship was regularly going down there ever since their previous captain had died. And ever since that time this entire crew had lost its honorable name and all the respect they had had.

Back then this crew had been different from all the other pirates. Surely, they had loved treasures but they hadn’t killed for fun, they hadn’t been drunk all the time and they, surely, had never disrespected other people the way they did now. They had been different but now they were like all the other dirty pirates. Hyungseok had no reason to stay any longer.

“The pirate map? That is all?” Hyungseok asked and turned around, reaching for a shelf. It was an easy cover but for people not coming from here it would be hard to find. He opened a book and then took the map out, waving slightly with it. “Then it is this you are looking for.” But he was definitely not giving it away easily – what if that guy rushed out with the map leaving him behind. No, that was something he wouldn’t risk.

“Ten minutes is nicely calculated but considering the noise they make upstairs I am not sure we are having that time,” the young pirate said and frowned, listening to the sound the other pirate made upstairs. He could hear them scream something to each other and run over the deck but even though they were idiots Hyungseok was sure sooner or later they would figure out that there was something going on downstairs.

@Park Hyungseok (P) .

There was no act of defiance at all.

Never had Nichkhun seen a pirate resist attacking him, unless it calls for mutiny. The smaller man, based on how he looks, doesn't seem to place in the lower ranks. There were no obvious signs: a cabin boy and his battered body, or a gunner and his burnt fingers. Nichkhun found his actions confusing but his intentions suspicious.

"Help me get off this ship." The pirate said, "Whatever you want in exchange, I will get it for you."

The masked bandit refused to believe his remarks; nonetheless lowered his guard by loosening his grip on the steel chain wrapped around his fist. He cautiously inched towards the shelf that was standing near the doorway in his side of the room and snatched a random book and quill. Nichkhun ripped all blank pages and began writing, "I don't believe you." He crumpled the paper and threw it to the pirate, expecting for him to catch it easily.

Afterwards, he unraveled the steel chain from his fist, laying it on the floor to make a horizontal line that separates him and the boy. Nichkhun began writing, "But if you're telling the truth, then I can't let this opportunity pass. As you can see, I made a line between us: think of it as a 'guarantee' that no offence will transpire. If you step over the line, I will automatically attack you and vice versa. Until our negotiation is over then we can remove that line."

After throwing his previous message to the pirate, Nichkhun began writing another one, but there was a loud crashing sound from the upper deck that made him rashly rip the paper into pieces before writing a new one. "I'll give us ten minutes. I don't have much time. If you can get the pirate map or show me where the pirate map is located in my side of the room, I will share a great plan to escape this ship." He crumpled his final message and hastily throwing to the pirate.

@Nichkhun Horvejkul (B) (Your reply is still long enough and very amazing! And yes, I understood your way of roleplaying, it is totally fine with me x3)

Hyungseok was too slow to relax. He was pushed and then he heard the sound, a click, and the door was locked. He turned around and looked at the tall man with the weapon - Hyungseok didnt even think of grabbing his daggers. The stranger was advantageous anyways, he had a durably thin steel chain and before Hyungseok would even think of attacking him he would be on the ground, helplessly.
His eyes were fixed on the man whose face was covered with a mask but the part of the man Hyungseok could see was quite handsome. Something in his mind told him he had heard of he man before, maybe even seen it but he couldnt remember it. His mind was blank. He had had a long day and all this was making him tired. He could hear people shouting from up the deck but it was easy to ignore them.

He lifted his hands to show he wasnt going to fight. It would only get him injured if not killed. And then something slowly came crawling into his mind, a vague idea of what he could do. But why would the man help him? He needed to give something in exchange. But as he didnt know the exact goals of he man he couldnt quite tell what to give so he needed to be straight forward.

"Help me get off this ship," he then said and looked at the stranger. Surely, the other was a bandit and he was a pirate but still. It was worth a try. "Whatever you want in exchange: i will get it for you."
But the stranger had made it inside almost inaudibly. Maybe he could help Hyungseok out without a sound as well. Hyungseok knew that he wouldnt make it much longer with this crew, on this ship. The people he once had trusted were gone. He was one of the last of them.
"I wont attack you. I know it is useless."

His eyes were kept on the man, looking slightly up to him. He wondered what he wanted - treasures. They had enough. Maybe a map with a treasure? Oh they had enough as well. What else could such a man want? Hyungseok honestly couldnt tell but he hoped he would help him. It was a chance. The chances that he would agree to the deal were small, very small, but Hyungseok knew that he needed to try instead of giving up without even trying.

@Park Hyungseok (P) Although ending up in the Captain's quarters was an accident, Nichkhun was determined to make this big mistake advantageous for him. Normally, treasures are kept inside the Captain's quarters: from rare jewels to high quality textiles to exotic gold; however, Nichkhun was thinking of something else. Within these walls, a pirate map must be hidden: A map of the ship.

However, before the Black Jack could roam around and trash the place for it, the unwanted sound of footsteps and creaking door drove the young bandit into hiding. Immediately, he rushed to the corner of the room--where upon opening the door will cover his figure. (Nichkhun will be behind the door once it is opened). Walking inside was the thin young man from before; the thin young man that wandered around the deck a while ago. This darned kid must've followed him upon entering the ship. Now, he is with Nichkhun in the Captain's Quarters.

Black Jack jumped out from his spot and pushed the pirate in the middle of the room. He immediately locked the door and pulled out his weapon: a durable thin steel chain. Nichkhun had no plans of killing this pirate, but he doesn't mind subduing him and locking him inside this room while Nichkhun continues his search for that precious booze.

All he waited for was this young man's attack. If he attacks first, Nichkhun will be encouraged to attack too. But if this young man doesn't--then that would confuse him. Pirates and Diplomacy? Never.

/Go ahead, damned Pirate./ His eyes said, wrapping the chain around his hand and making a fist out of it.

[If you've noticed, this is a shorter reply compared to the previous ones. Mainly because there are less action, less descriptions and more dialogues in the following scene. I hope you understood my style of roleplaying, mate. :)]

@Nichkhun Horvejkul (B) The beautiful night was ripped apart by a fire so fast that Hyungseok had barely to not chance to even react. All he could see was fire and smoke and the next second the other pirates where up here. Some of them was stumbling as hell, drunk, others tried to reach for water, to quench the fire. Even though it was only a small fire it was dangerous, people could notice where they were, even worse: Who they were. If the army or the marine found out that they were here it would be a close call. They had an advantage when they were on the open sea, the sea was their friend, but now this was serious business.

But there was something else. He had heard footsteps, had seen a figure and he had also seen where it had gone. Yes, the figure had been fast, very fast, but Hyungseok had good eyes – and thankfully he wasn't as stupid as the other pirates. All of them were running to the fire – now there could be anyone enter the ship. So that had cause the sound that had made him flinch. The sleepiness must of got the best of him, right now he was even surprised that he hadn't noticed a thing but this person obviously was good, smart. Not even once the young pirate thought that there could possibly be more than one person – but his brain was slow and tired because if he had thought again he wouldn't go alone. Going alone was stupid and dangerous.

Hyungseok checked his daggers before he rushed inside, as quite as he could but then there was the next problem: The person obviously was damn fast and the ship was huge so where could he be? It was easy to decide for a direction. Most people thought that they kept the treasures in the Captain's quarters, which, thankfully to Hyungseok, this crew didn't. Still Hyungseok made his way towards the quarters – why else would someone enter a pirate ship if it wasn't for the treasures they kept? And if Hyungseok was lucky he could stop this person from destroying even more. This ship was too valuable to get damaged by an ignorant by-passer.

When he reached the hallway he could see the door closing – so he was right. He heard the people shout on deck and he frowned. They were so loud, if it wasn't for his quite good eyes he would have never even noticed that someone entered the ship without permission. None of them would have noticed. He slowly made his way to the quarters, trying to catch every sound that was not coming from upstairs. But all he could hear was the silence filling the lower part of the ship, making it impossible to be even the slightest bit prepared of whatever was going to happen. Whoever this intruder was – he was clever and Hyungseok had to be as careful as he could. His daggers were heavy against his body and he bit his lip to make no sound. He slowly opened the door and hoped to find someone, he hoped to surprise the intruder but there was no one. When he entered the captains quarters it was empty and quiet – , that meant he must have heard them and was now hiding. Now Hyungseok was at a disadvantage. And in danger.

@Park Hyungseok (P) Nichkhun pulled out a knife from his belt, then lightly slashed the surface of the wooden mast until it was rough and rucked. He caressed the surface, drawing several tiny splinters in the process, but he was satisfied. This will be useful in escaping. After creating this small mess and scattering tiny wooden fibres on his clothes, he turned to the deck, gripping his knife tightly. Nichkhun prefers to get away with his plan without killing someone; but he doesn’t hesitate stabbing them if it makes everything easier.

The moonlight brought him a potential victim. A skinny, and seemingly aimless, young man who doesn’t seem to have any business at the deck. He wasn’t untangling ropes, mopping the floor, or patrolling. He was just… there. But the Black Jack is certain that he is a pirate: a candidate to knockout. Immediately, he took out a tiny makeshift bomb the size of a gold coin. It was simply an empty teabag with a protective coating filled with sawdust soaked in nitroglycerin. Nichkhun lit the wick and threw it below. The bomb rolled under the cockboat and BANG!

Drawing their attention was part of the plan, but this was just the pre-scheme. He was planning something bigger. Nichkhun ignored the young man--jumping off the boom and running toward the end of the ship, opposite of where the bowsprit was located. The sneaky Black Jack was aiming for the Spanker (the lowest sail located near the poop deck of the ship). While running, he took out his flask filled with gas. And upon reaching the poop deck, Nichkhun took a sip of flammable gas and started spitting and spraying the area. This was the main distraction: setting a small area on fire. He loved pirate ships, so he doesn’t intend to destroy this marvelous giant. But he needed to set something on fire.

Immediately, he threw a live matchstick before fleeing back to the main deck. Nichkhun hid beside the cockboat and listened to the unorganized rushed steps of the pirates, while watching the fire spread. In fact, one sail caught on fire.

“Who did this?! That wretched—“ One of them shouted.

“There ain’t no time for that, you buffoon!” Another one yelled, “Quick! Put it out!”

“All hands on deck!” A raspy voice said.

After a silent laugh, he immediately went inside the ship, believing that all pirates were outside. The Black Jack needed to be quick just in case one of them returns inside. He had everything planned: a sneaky entry, a great distraction, and a foolproof escape. But there was one problem: The ship was bigger than he expected.

Nichkhun got lost.

Instead of reaching the gallery, Nichkhun found his way inside the Captain’s quarters. There, he heard someone nearby. He gripped his knife and faced the door, ready to strike at anyone.

@Nichkhun Horvejkul (B) It was a quiet night, the waves almost softly crashing against the wood of the ship. The moon was bright but a few clouds dimmed the light from time to time, making it harder to keep an eye on the ship.
Usually only one person was way too little for such a big ship but Hyungseok had given up on trying to convince the new crew members to help him take care of this goddamn ship.

After making a few rounds over the ship he sat down, looking into the deep water. It was as beautiful as scary – Hyungseok had never lost his respect for the deep blue sea, not even after nine years. It still was as scary as it was fascinating. He smiled and watched a few seagulls sitting on the water, if he was not mistaken there were even babies. He stretched himself a bit and took a sip from the water he had – he wished he had a well brewed coffee or something that kept him away. After organizing food, water and medicine for this ship he was exhausted, it had taken him so long. He knew this place well but he still had had to run through the entire town, not only once but a few times and now he was tired. A few weeks ago it hadn't been like this, it had been an awesome pirate ship, respect and fairness was valued but now... Now slaughter and blood was the only thing these pirates saw as holy. If the former captain was still alive this would have never happened.

Slowly he started walking over the ship again, checking everything around them. He heard a group of pirates from under the deck, they were singing loudly and Hyungseok knew they were drunk – they always were. Drunk and disrespectful. He shook his head and frowned. Most of the old crew had left – just yesterday another few men had left the ship and didn't return. Of course not, this was not the crew they had started with, they couldnt trust them, rely on them.

“I really need to find a way to leave,” he whispered quietly and looked up in the sky. He had tried a few times but it had never worked – he was never good in taking the chances and when he was about to they caught him and he had to find a stupid excuse. Well thankfully they were all stupid enough to believe him.

Hyungseok flinched when he heard an almost inaudible sound – his ears were good, better than most people expected. He frowned and looked around, even checking the outside of the ship but there was no one, nothing unsual.
“Aish, this ship is no place for me anymore,” he mumbled to himself. He needed sleep in a proper bed. He really hoped he did not have to experience another storm – the storms of the sea were the worst and Hyungseok hated them. He sighed and shook his head slightly, slowly walking over the ship, rubbing his eyes.

He had stayed long enough on this ship, he needed a plan.

The seaside village was a tattered place. A row of makeshift shelters greeted Nichkhun with misery as their foundation barely held on, and their roofs hung so low that Nichkhun had to bend upon entering. That day, he visited an old man who was drastically battered by the palace guards at the market after their safeguarded nobleman accused him of theft. The Black Jack saw the incident and took pity on the old man that he decided to abduct the nobleman in exchange for a pouch full of diamonds.

Abducting the goddamn pig was easy, keeping him silent; however, was difficult. The Black Jack had to slash the tip of his tongue as a form of warning, and that kept him silent for three days. In fact, the exchange was trouble-free because the porky nobleman had been very obedient. His wounded tongue reminding him of what Nichkhun can do.

Nichkhun wasn’t Robin Hood; however, he knew that the old man deserves some kind of consolation for the unwanted beating. And so, he gave them half of his treasure, while they gave him a new home.

“I know it’s not much but you are welcomed to stay, young man.” A middle-aged man said, presumably the old man’s son. “Why don’t you spend the night here?”

Nichkhun nodded in acknowledgement, but he had other plans. The last time he bought booze at the market, it tasted like vinegar. “The best bandit deserves the best booze,” The Black Jack thought while gazing at the large vessel. He hated pirates but he admired pirate ships.

Black Jack tied a new piece of black cloth around his face, covering his lips and nose, then knotting it securely at the back. He carefully rounded the ship, estimating the size of this marvelous giant. Cautiously, he made mental notes about vital spots that will help his escape later on: the bowsprit (a large and long spar projecting forward from the ship’s bow), the main and fore booms, and finally, a couple of dangling ropes. All of them will come in handy.

Immediately, Nichkhun ran to the side of the ship, back pressed against the wall of this floating vessel. Above him was a series of windows where cannons are pulled out during battles. He can easily use them as steps in order to climb to the gun deck. Parkour made everything easier for him, all needed was something to step on—something to grab on, and he’ll be swinging and jumping non-stop until he reaches the gun deck.

After a successful entry, he made his way to the main boom, crouching beside the large mast. The sail was dangling above him, rolled securely so the wind wouldn't blow the ship away. Nichkhun gazed below, looking out for strolling pirates.

None.

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