The New Arrival 2

Charlamange opens the trap door, and goes down the stairs, below deck. Charlamange has left.

Bullet nods softly, "Yes yes, it sounds like a good group you have put together... " He pauses and looks down, "If any of the parents don't feel it necessary to liberate thier child, and you are met with the reality, that you must make a display of thier child... I want Charlamange to do it. I want to see if he is capable of the kind of thing that makes a good privateer." This is obviously a very serious request, if there are any children going to be killed, he wants it on Charlamange's hands. He looks at you and whispers in a low voice, "I don't trust him yet.. I want to make sure the royal guard isn't trying to infiltrate us... he wouldn't kill a child if he were a royal guard.."

BlackBlood nods, grinning widely. "Aye, captain! As you wish"his grin widens even more. "If he proves indeed weak and a traitor to us, I would be honored to be allowed to deal with him" Can anyone smell apocalypse coming? Charlie's better be the real thing! "So this plan sounds good? it can be carried out anytime... After all, we only need to infiltrate houses, get the children and come back. The cover of darkness is a blessing."

Bullet sighs, "If it's found that he is a traitor while out on the mission, try to subdue him and get him back to the ship. He'll have many a day of hell before he gets the cold comfort of death.. but he does seem to be very well trained with knives, if he can't be subdued, shoot him in his head." He shakes his head and sighs, "BlackBlood.. do you think I have failed in training Crowe? Is it possible for someone to be taught, and then, screw up, be punished, and then screw up again as much as he does? It seems amazing at times."

BlackBlood stretches and yawns lightly. "Crowe? Don't mind him.. he's an elf. Elves can't be made as pet dogs. They'll bite the hand that feeds them." seems he's got something against those guys with pointy ears. "So you didn't fail, it's just that his mind is incompatible" he shrugs, crossing his arms behind his head. "Use him as much as you can.. seems he makes a nice toy to play with."

Bullet looks down at his feet, then back up at you. You seem congnizant of what's going on with Crowe and Bullet, and don't seem to mind speaking up about it, unllike the rest of the crew. Bullet becomes fairly straightforward with you for once. "Aye, he does make a good chamber boy, but I fear he thinks his life has some sort of meaning when he spreads his legs. I fear he thinks he can get away with things, because he has that position.. " He sighs, "I na'ery thought I hadn't spoiled him, but maybe my tolerance for him has gone astray because he does warm the bed. I suppose I'll need to be more wary about his actions."

BlackBlood nods "If this is your decision captain." He is cautious in his words. "However... should he cause more trouble than you can take, I can look through the city for a more suitable feet-warmer for winter." he isn't about to suggest himself. He shudders at the mere memories of his initiation. He doesn't really mind being on the other side though.. it's just not his cup of tea... or his shot of alcohol.

Bullet sighs. "Na'ery.. I will work on him.. people are like any animal, they can be broken. Just some are much more difficult than the others." He runs his hands through his dirty black hair, obviously, this is begining to bother him, and things don't normally get to the captain like this. "I feel these missions will be good for this crew.. everyone seems to be getting sloppy on the job. Which brings up another question, Where was our watchman? How did Charlamange even get on my ship? I don't like the idea of anyone being able to just walk dandily up here, if he can do it, what's to keep the guards from coming if they find us here?"

BlackBlood narrows his eyes. "No one was on duty? I thought it Seaweed was supposed to be there... He's not one to get off the job like that without tellin' anyone. Maybe something happened" he chews on a fingernail, muttering things to himself.

Bullet shakes his head, "Na'ery, he doesn't keep watch, I don't trust him for that." A statement which is odd, because he did in fact blame Crowe for the reason why he almost got knifed. Obviously there's a large amount of hypocrasy here, but the captain is going to be the last one to admit hitting Crowe may have been a mistake. "I don't know what's happening to our men." He sighs very loudly, being unpleased can be read across his face from a mile away. "I want you to find out where out watchguard was, when you need a break from planning.. You may take care of his punishment, I've gorwn weary of dealing out these things."

BlackBlood nods "Aye Aye, captain. i will hunt down the prey... and punish it." he bows lightly. "Returning to the kidnappings.. all should be done in two nights, no more" he crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the boat's railing. "Is there anything else you want me to do, captain?"

Bullet places both of his hands on the railing of the boat and looks coldly over the sea, he repeats softly, "Yes yes.. two nights, no more. First night of kidnapping, second night of collecting ransom." He asks quickly, "You have some place where you can hold the children right? I don't want them on here, I don't want this being traced back."

BlackBlood nods "I have arranged for a place. I went out last night and found an old cabin in the forest. It should be very easy. Now... what shall we do with those who wouldn't want to pay the ransom?" he asks. It is a sensible question.

Bullet leans one hand up to his temple, "I thought it was clear already, just kill them. It's not worth the rist to keep them alive, and it's even more troublesome to keep track of the little swine. Target the richer looking houses, they are more likely to actually fetch the cost. Let them know where to leave the ransom, go in groups of four to pick up the ransom, leave them a letter as to where they can find their child. Preferably somewhere tied up in the woods, _not_ near your hideout."

BlackBlood nods slowly "Aye, captain. It will be done. Should any need to be executed, I will ask.. the newcomer. I'll have men ready to take him down if he somehow fails this relatively easy task. "Hopefully they can all pay. it's better for them.." he doesn't add that he also thinks it better for the poor kids."

Charlamange comes up the ladder from Below Deck. Charlamange comes topside, having settling in, and walks towards Bullet.

Bullet nods. "Aye, parents seem to have an attachment to thier children that goes past any sort of monetary value, unless of course, they are bastard children." Bullet's tone is quite cold, he seems not be in the best of moods, but then again, he never is. He stands up slowly, from his leaning position, as if it almost pained him to tear his eyes away from the sea.

BlackBlood suddenly backflips, somehow ending up sitting on the railing, legs dangling high above the waves. "All will go well" he breathes out. It's unclear just how much he's wishing for it.. and why he's wishing. Seems he noticed Charlie... he just didn't bother to throw a nice 'bonjour'....

Charlamange clears his throat loudly, "Captain, I have some particulars to discuss with you." He doesn't even acknowledge BlackBlood with a glance.

Bullet looks over to Charlamange, "Oh of course, how silly of me to forget to show you around the ship." This is obviously what you want to talk with the Captain about. "I suppose I have the time to give you the grand tour myself." He looks over to BlackBlood, and nods to him, not really dismissing him, but allowing him to go off and do other things if he wishes. (Of course, this is all dependent on whether BB wants to go or stick around). "Our cook is one of the finest in the seas..." Bullet begins to Charlamange, obviously this is the begining of the 'tour'.

Charlamange holds up a hand, "Begging the captain's pardon, but I have matters to discuss that go beyond the cook's crepes." He pauses, "It's a fine ship, though I would prefer a private cabin, worthy of a second mate, but I am here to speak to you of the crew."

Bullet nods. "We will see about your own private chambers in a while... you will be spending a few days on a mission in a week, when you return, I will see to it that you have your own chambers.. but for now, what I have given you will do." He nods slowly.. ah the crew. He was just having a discussion with BlackBlood about it's state, to him it's seeming to come apart. Members being caught breaking into houses, a total disregard for the chain of command, and then a stranger just coming onto his ship, with no watchman. "Yes.. what would you care to discuss about them?"

Charlamange puts his hands behind his back and walks along the deck, standing near the rail and looking out over the sea, "I would like to discuss your methods for motivating the men. We're here to get rich, to collect treasure. An injured man collects less treasure, a dead man none. Do you see where I'm going with this?"

Bullet turns back to look out at the sea. "Aye.." He is obviously not very thrilled about this topic of discussion. Deep down inside, he knows it might have been wrong to hit Crowe as he did, but also knows making an example out of him serves to motivate the crew not to let such 'slip-ups' occur. "I am here to get rich. No man here is going to do it alone. I have to keep this crew in order. They have to know there are consequences for inappropraite actions. We are a family here, and if you fail in your job, other members of your family can suffer because of that. The crew must know that insolence will not be tolerated, and ignorance will not be either."

Charlamange nods, letting his hair whip in the wind, "I agree with you. We're here to make money. I feel that Crowe is a useful sort, but he's fragile. You did some serious damage to him. You obviously intimidate him, and elves being gentle are not accustomed to the... humanity we display. I would no sooner raise a hand to Crowe than I would play catch with an expensive oriental vase. Both valuable and beautiful, don't you agree, Captain?"

Bullet looks over and eyes you carefully, a newcomer treading on very dangerous terretory, the truth. He also was not aware of the extent of the injuries he has made, and still really isn't, other than 'serious'. This may not be the first time that the captain's hurt him 'seriously' either. "Aye, he's valuable, I'm not sure I wouldn't have picked beautiful. Beautiful is a full bottle of Dramboie, or a young lass, not a sea-legged elf. Crowe's very thick-headed. He's done things of this like before, plus he has no regard for the position he has put me in. He is wanted for murdering his family.. and so he came to us. He's not of a strong position on this ship either. Sure he can read and write, and he can pick pockets, but he's of no consequence in the long run. I'm trying to teach him a few things, so he can make something of his life. But he is so often just screwing up. It's mind-baffiling sometimes.."

Bullet adds, "He'll be much more valueable to this crew once he stops acting like a spoiled little brat, and I know he can." It's such an odd message, extreme doubt in the elf, yet at least there's still a faint silver lining. (In the captains own twisted words of course)

Charlamange nods, "Again, I am new here but I wish to profit, and I see no profit in damaging Crowe, even to teach him a lesson. Having served on other ships, I've seen 'executive' punishment serve better - 10 or 20 lashes, infront of the crew, maybe starving in the brig for a few days. As for today's beating..." He slips off his jacket, and belt, and the sound of his weapons clatter to the deck. He turns to you, his arms open in a 'come hither' gesture. "It is obvious it is me that you want to strike. So, go ahead. Split your knuckles on my jaw. Don't blame Crowe for me coming aboard, strike me for my insolence."

Bullet stands up and gauges you for a second. It seems as though he really does want to hit you. He wants to hit anything. That's just how he operates, when angry, hurt, when depressed, hurt, only when you are in a good mood can you be really calculated. He looks at you and sighs, "Na'ery will that accomplish anything.. " He whispers under his breath barely audible even to himself, "I've done enough damage to my crew today anyways." Maybe he is actually starting to feel poorly for hitting Crowe. However, feeling poorly will not change anything that has happened, and it probably won't change that much that will happen in the future. Bullet looks at you and asks, "What do you wish to accomplish by speakin with me? Is it simply profit.. I na'ery think you'd have eyes for Crowe... it seems strange you've taken the defensive of the boy all of a sudden anyways."

Charlamange crouches down and retrieves his jacket, and fastens his daggers back on, tossing back his wild hair, "I see alot of myself in him... I spent most of my youth being abused - physically, sexually, verbally. I'm not noble, I don't believe in honor among thieves, and I'd just as soon stab you as share a drink with you. I've signed on to make profit, and profit we shall have." He clips his belt back on, and steels his gaze into your eyes, "Now, you spoke of an assignment, Captain?"

Bullet nods. "Aye.. I've but BlackBlood in charge of the mission. You will need to work out the details of it with him, it's a fairly basic kidnapping and ransom run. Two different groups, one are going in as kidnappers, the other as ransom collectors. I want you to be in with the ransom collectors. You can consider this your first test." He watches you redress with complacent eyes. His own hands being thrusted into his coat pocket. He doesn't trust you, but he's not going to flat out say it.

Charlamange nods, "Who are we kidnapping?"

Bullet says, "North of here, is a town, with very deep pockets. We are removing thier children. Family ties go past monetary value, which means that they will be very glad to pay the ransom." Bullet adds, "Which makes it much easier."

Charlamange nods, crossing his arms, "So as a ransom collector, I'll be... cutting off the brat's ears and delievering them to parents, assaulting the wives to make sure they know we're serious, taking the payments and the like?" He asks, casually leaning against the rail, looking at you with full attention.

Bullet places his hand on his chin and pushes slightly, his neck creating a very loud popping noise. He removes his hand and begins speaking "No, you will be picking up the ransom monies, and delivering notes as to where their children can be found. And if the ransom is not met, you have the pleasure of disposing of the rich piglets."

To be Continued...