Bread, Cheese, Apples, and Crazy? [Open]

[White]

Nearly every morning one could see the strange girl with her hair cropped short and wore pants underneath her skirts. Shopping was a daily occurrence for the lass, for she lived in the tavern where she also worked most afternoons and nights. It provided all the meals but breakfast, so she was forced to venture off into the streets of the marketplace to find it herself. She hardly minded the chore, for it rewarded her with a full stomach for which she could start off the day.

What dear Miribelle Duncan could do without, was all the strange stares she got. Sure, she wasn't exactly a traditional girl. She made no effort to hide that fact. But still, one grew tiresome of all the talk and looks. It seemed word had carried over from her past home about her failed attempt to enlist in the Royal Navy. Miri had moved to Port Royal to escape all the talk, but word traveled fast about a newcomer that made the decision to not blend in.

Sighing softly, she zigzagged her way around groups of people until she stopped in front of a fruit stand. She scanned the various fruits until she came across an apple that looked to be the least bruised. After handing the vendor his munny, she placed the apple in her basket along side the bread and cheese she had previously purchased.

[Gravity]

Mornings were always cool during the summers of Port Royal. It would start off to be a bit damp, almost humid, and then a few hours later it would be so hot that you would think that your skin would melt off. Henry Edwards, better known as Captain Deadward around these parts, had dealt with this brash temperature change most of his life. Only at times were he at sea did he not feel the oncoming weather coming from the dark town, and even then it still seemed like it happened.

The captain was walking the streets with a certain confidence. His hands were behind his back, twirling his trusty pistol under the confines of his cape. His one good eye looked around the streets, seeming to be almost pleased with the lack of thieves in this part of the town. However, he knew that most of them were just passed out in a tavern room somewhere... Thieves got very drunk in the night, the spoils of their immoral ventures. Harlots, beer, and killing... That's all they were made of. Disgusting bastards.

Henry, however, caught something a bit peculiar on the streets. He could only manage to see the backside of the woman (to this he was not so sure of...), but he could easily catch some odd features that were not known in these part. The hair was cut at a rather awkward length, and there were pants under her skirt, as one could see because they covered up her shoes. If he didn't know any better, he'd assume it was some sort of a vermin posing as a woman for free food;

You see a lot of that when you travel the world, for some odd reason.

The captain raised his crooked eyebrow and proceeded toward the fruit stand. The price of fruit had gone down a lot these days; the recent shipments from the New World seemed to contain an abundance of the stuff. Why did good ol' Deadward know this? He had escorted about half of the ships because pirates were heard to be raiding cargo ships due to a lack of black markets to buy supplies from anymore. That too, Deadward had a part in.

Picking up an apple, the captain took a large bite out of hit as he looked down at the girl. He was taller by about a foot or so, give or take. Looking up and down at her, he almost seemed to give the impression of "You're a thief, aren't ye?"

However, he saw the money that had recently been deposited in the vendors hand. Hm. Best not to give a bad impression of the guard.

"Lass, what are you doing out and about these streets at this hour? Pirates and the like are everywhere now days..." His gruff voice could strike fear into lesser men. It was like the sound almost commanded a certain amount of... respect? Respect or subservience, one or the other.

[White]

Almost gave that impression. Miribelle had gotten a different one, and gave him a sharp warning glare in response. Wishing to avoid any sort of trouble, she had been about to leave so she could enjoy her breakfast in peace. Her plans were changed, however, when he decided to open his trap and speak to her. Now, she wasn’t going to be outright rude to the man, she still wanted to avoid a scene. Doing such would give people more to talk about, and she already gave them enough by just walking around town.

Ha! Pirates? Miribelle almost doubled over in laughter right then and there. Pirates were no threat to her. She could easily defend herself. But she had no intention of letting the man in on that little secret of hers. It was true many people knew she tried to join the Royal Navy, but hardly anyone, if anyone at all, knew of her skill with a blade. Honestly, this man did nothing to intimidate her either. “Just buying my breakfast, sir.” She replied simply, avoiding further eye contact with him. She shifted her basket, as if to signify proof. “There are many people out now. I assume my safety is in the numbers.”

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[Gravity]

While Miribelle almost laughed, Henry Edwards actually carried it out, though only with a chuckle. He always did when he got this type of response; I'm safe, I know it or something such as I can handle myself. People were funny like that, especially around the Port. Did no one understand that vermin and scum were everywhere, even in the crowds they thought themselves so safe in? Besides, even if you're in a crowd, bad things can happen; especially to those who don't matter too much to the city.

"And what makes ye think that these 'kind' folk will do anything to help ya?" his response was arrogant, even conceited to a certain point. "How do ya know I'm not one of'em in disguise?" The captain gave a wink from his one good eye. He could very well be a pirate. His face was rugged, he was missing an eye. In fact, some would just outright assume that the man was one of those scum in a fancy suit; it had happened before.

Looking at the lass a bit more, he estimated the age of the woman. She could very well be his daughter, she was so young. Haha, with as many women as Deadward had slept with, it wasn't all too improbable either. The strange captain let out another chuckle, and tossed the apple lightly at the girl.

Who knows what was going through his head?

[White]

She understood. Her home had been invaded by pirates and look at what happened. She was alive and well, having defended herself alongside her adoptive brother, Charles. Miribelle could certainly hold her own in a fight, so her confidence had some significant support.

“I never thought they would.” She replied, still completely unaffected by his attempts to make her worry. “Should there be such an event, people would run, correct?” She asked him, though didn’t wait for an answer. “I need not be the fastest, sir. Only faster than a few.”

Miribelle caught the apple he tossed at her, holding it as if it pained her to do so. She placed it in her basket, away from her breakfast so she could throw it away later. “You’d be a strange pirate, sir.” She told him, paying the vendor for the apple he had so rudely taken without paying for it himself. The thought had occurred to her, but he’d given her no reason to react as if he were. Should he, she’d have already taken the appropriate action. “Even the poorest of thieves know to run after they’ve stolen.”

[/blockquote]