(1866-11-17) Into the Pirate's Nest
Into the Pirate's Nest
Summary: … is where a certain Purple Pirate leads a charming (blushing?) Mother Nature for evident purposes. (OOC: This happens shortly after midnight on the 17th, hence no Day of Water ambience to the scene)
Date: 1866-11-17
Related: Other Carnival Logs
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Guillaume  Milicent  

Rikton - Lower Rikton - Marketplace - The Silver Cross Inn

The Silver Cross Inn is a far more stately place than its dockside counterpart, filled with members of the clergy and visiting nobility alike. An opulent and clean place, as most places inside the city of Rikton are, and is well swept with fresh, sweet smelling rushes strewn about the floor daily. Small windows that dot the front of the building look out onto the marketplace and its many lovely shops, while a merry hearth crackles at the back of its vast and open room. The maple wood bar is situated to the right of the room; long and polished to a gleam, just the way the dower owner, and resident bishop, of this establishment likes it.

The Inn's tables and benches are all of heavy maple, equally fine in quality and beautifully carved with the symbols of the faith, leaving the clergy and nobility to eat and drink in finery as well as sleep. The smells of fine food with various spices and tastes of sweet honey mead, made at the monastery and brought down the hill to be served to thirsty patrons, can be experienced at all hours of the day. The private rooms are set off to the left, the doors of heavy wood are finely wrought with large silver carved crosses backed by gilt suns and two silver moons in each upper corner.

Novembre 17th, 1866

Rikton was abuzz with the madness called Carnival, and people from near and far had come to the principality to celebrate, get drunk, play games, and seek other ways of diversion, all whilst hiding beneath the convenient cover of a mask. And masks there were, of varying effectiveness, some even going as far as wearing costumes as part of the guise, portraying animals, kings, queens… It was in order for once, in this break from reality, and many had followed the call to celebrate the tradition.

Such as the people currently in one of the many taverns of Rikton, the Silver Cross Inn, which was even at the progressed hour of far past midnight still moderately packed. And just right now, in this very moment, some sort of entertainment had ensued, when a pair of masked individuals, clad in dresses, one in red, the other in blue, were performing a dance for a male seated in chair turned towards the cleared space of its center, purple half-mask worn over a lower face showing off the smooth skin of either natural disposition or the result of a recent clean shave, a loose silken shirt of the same colour, unbuttoned in part to bare some of the upper part of his chest, black breeches, fashionable and in their cut not unlike another had worn once, at a courtesan soiree at Four Corners; the breeches tucked into a fine pair of boots, polished and of expensive quality. The Purple Pirate holds a mug of wine in his hand, his lips are curled in obvious amusement, as he watches the mock imitation of a courtly dance between the two women. A few steps behind where the purple man sits stands another, clad in black, watching the proceedings with attentive, sober light blue eyes, hidden beneath a mask of grey silk.

Quite an elegant, young looking, tiny, small woman steps into the Inn. She is followed by two men dressed in black, who are wearing black masks, and even the tiniest glimpse of their skin can’t be noticed. Likely, they play some kind of two shadows. That woman stops and looks around the crowd while her hands stay folded in front of her.

This young woman has a cascade of curly red hair descending to her upper-back. The curse of the ginger is obvious by her milky skin and abundance of freckles covering the parts of her face, which are not hidden under that dark emerald mask of hers. A narrow, tapered chin, slim nose, and full pouty lips round out her face, as the freckles continue down into her long, slender neck, shoulders, and a bit of her chest.

Today she is wearing a formal gown, and autumn orange high-necked bodice with a fan-shaped fringe coming off the shoulders like leaves in transition between green, yellow, and orange. The sleeves are sheer autumn red that are loose and billowy. Covering the lower half of the forearms the billowed sleeve folds into fitted cuffs of orange matching the bodice.

The skirts are in three layers, the innermost being the rich black of fertile soil, over which which is parted in the front is an earthy dark green. Finally at only half the length of the other skirts is an outer layer which is a sheer red material with a pattern of light green fronds and leaves, with a blue flower here and there which wraps around the back and sides of the dress. An extension making its way up the side and front of the bodice on her left side, and draping over the cleavage a little on one side like a vine creeping up the side of a tree.

Holding the open collar in place is a brass chain with a large, decorative disc of greened brass and a aquamarine in the middle surrounded by a few faux pink petals. On the head is a headdress depicting a pair of deer antlers with vines coiling around them and the same blue flowers. A collection of leaves and flowers of different types forms the rest of the headdress mostly covering the top of the head and a little of the sides. Another disc like the one around the neck hangs from the front of the headdress over the forehead.

Such dramatic costume is bound to attract the attention of the Purple Pirate, and draw his gaze away from the comely pair of dancing ladies. Dark eyes linger on the antlers, and then on the fiery red hair, as his fingers scratch pensively over the smooth skin of his chin. Before the hollering and shouting of those standing around the dancefloor reminds him to focus his attention on the blue and red lady. The black clad man at the back looks perhaps for a moment longer Mother Nature’s way, pale blue eyes assessing the young woman, before the man lowers his gaze.

The dance meanwhile concludes, with fiddle and lute players bringing the piece to a finale, where the two young girls hold onto each other with both hands, as they spin around, with as much momentum as to make the skirts whirl about them, showing off a bit more of their shapely legs than would be considered proper. Giggling with glee, the charming dancers return to their Purple Pirate friend, one of them sitting down in his lap, while the other bends a little forward and places a kiss on his lips. A treatment the Pirate will not object against, even if he does nudge the one in blue off his lap, and then, rising to his feet, administers a good-natured slap to the red dressed woman’s behind. “Give your charming pirate a break, my fair ladies,” he jests. “I’ll see you later.” Said as he turns and moves over in the direction of the bar, before he changes direction to approach the red-haired Nature. “The later the hour, the more charming the company,” he greets, reaching for the young woman’s hand for a gallant kiss. Dark eyes drift from her to the two shadows. “You must be a very high-ranking noble to have such a retinue…” A wild guess, that. “Even so… Are you looking for someone in particular, or will you content yourself with the humble company a Purple Pirate can offer?”

The Mother Nature looks at the dark clad man, who is standing behind the Purple Pirate, for as long as he is looking at her. Her lips curl up into a smile and she offers a bow of her head to him just before he lowers his gaze. Then Mother Nature studies these two girls, the red and the blue.

There are no any type of emotions, nor amusement, nor envy towards them. They are but two common dancing girls. Once they finish their dance and settles on and around the Pirate, Mother Nature looks away. Her eyes find the bar and she takes one step forward as if willing to go and order something.

Though, after that one step, she freezes as if she turns into a sculpture. Though, when the Pirate approach her and reaches for her hand, the woman offers a tiny proper curtsy, “I was…” she softly starts, “I am not sure if I want to stay here, where men drink and women are acting so… wildly. This place is too crowded and I need some fresh air. However, if the pirate would like to walk with me, I would be happy. Nothing can be more interesting than all these wild adventures of yours in the sea.”

The Purple Pirate observes the curtsey with a bit of amusement glinting in his dark eyes, even though most of his upper face is hidden behind his purple half-mask. “I take that as a ‘yes’ then?”, he smiles, “Are you sure, you’re brave enough to walk alone, with a man such as me?” He still holds onto the hand of lovely Mother Nature, as he guides her towards the exit, an incline of the head offered to his man from afar. As they reach the door, the man in black with the grey silk mask has appeared at their side, and helped the pirate into a dark cloak – after all it is chilly outside. No weapons are to be seen on either, after all, it is Carnival. It is a chilly night with a clear sky, stars sparkling above them, the street lighted by a number of torches, and lanterns.

“Where do you wish to go with me, fair Mother Nature?”, the pirate inquires with a smirk, while his shadow, along with her two shadows appear to be following unobtrusively along.

One of these dark shadows, which serve to the Mother Nature, puts a light, but warm cloak on the woman’s shoulders, before they leave the Inn. She smiles at that shadow and gives a nod of her head as if giving permission to follow, but in a proper distance not to disturb.

“I believe, that such Pirate as you, should know all the corners of this place, all the most interesting, the most beautiful corners. Isn’t that what you do? Sniff around to find treasures?! She giggles, covering her lips with a free hand. Her gaze raises up to the sky, but soon lands on the road in front of them.

—-

The Pirate at her side chuckles, in what appears to be obvious amusement. “Beautiful corners…? You’d wish me to drag you into a corner then that I can go and hunt for treasures…?” Keeping his hand in hers as he leads her along. “I’m not sure you’d be up for that.”, he admits then, in a somewhat tease. “Even so… your willingness to come along so readily suggests otherwise.” The Pirate pauses as they reach a crossing, and he then drags her indeed a bit into a dimly lit alley. “Your horns are what worry me, fair lady. Are they to pierce me, should my kisses not be to your liking?” Should she not object, he will pull her close, his dark eyes locking with hers, “Are you up for the adventure, I wonder?”

When the man decides to drag a fair Mother Nature into a bit more dimly lit alley, the young woman gasps, but more in amusement than in fear. She follows him, while her eyes wander all around the street. She does not mind at all, that her wonderful gown sweeps the dusty and muddy path.

Though, the sudden stop, the sudden pulling closer, makes the Mother Nature turn her gaze away from the Pirate’s. It’s good that the green mask is hiding most of her face. So, the blush can’t be noticed. However, her hands will tremble slightly, and the Pirate will be able to feel it, “I do believe that my horns wouldn’t pierce your heart, in case you would try to kiss me… However,” She looks up into the sky, “my heart is promised to another, as my soul and body. My moon is still so distant, so grey, but I am his. Sometimes, I do see brighter…” she chuckles and lowers her look to the ground.

Even if she says a somewhat really hesitant no, she still does not move away from the man and her hand squeezes his a bit more firmly, as if she would agree with his adventure.

When Mother Nature averts her gaze, the Purple Pirate tilts his head a little to the side, trying to glimpse more of what is hidden beneath her green mask. But as she is not pulling away he keeps her in his arms, noting perhaps the slight tremble. “Don’t worry about my heart, fair lady,” he tells her with a smirk. “As I am not aiming to snatch yours. Allow me to be…” His gaze shifts upwards to the sky, where there is one star apparently brighter than the others about it. “That star over there… No moon, for sure, but still… able to shed a little light… and to give you pleasure.” Taking her hesitant ‘no’ as a ‘yes, perhaps’, his hand reaches for her chin, encouraging her to look his way again. “Allow me to be your Pirate King, just tonight.”, he intones in a soft murmur before he will attempt to snatch a kiss from her, pressing his lips gently against hers.

The tremble becomes even more vivid, once she has to look back into the Pirate’s eyes. She parts her lips and a warm trembling air leaves her throat just to tickle the Pirate’s chin. Even if she wanted to add something, maybe to protest, maybe… There might be many a ‘maybe’, but once his lips touch hers, the fair Mother Nature can’t stop herself. She answers to that kiss, raising her hands up and wrapping them around the Pirate’s neck.

Maybe it is that tremble, that shyness in her bearing that keeps the pirate as persistent as he is on his current rather seductive course. “Don’t be afraid…”, he murmurs against her lips before he claims them, holding her in his arms, one hand in fact moving to the back of her impressive headpiece to keep her there, while he tilts his head just so that her horns may not harm him. Noting the fact that he meets with little reluctance, the pirate will deepen the kiss soon enough, and as there is no need for his hand to stay at her head, it will venture back to her front, to that deliciously veiled vine covered décolleté, exploring the shapely curve beneath the fabric.

“Let us go somewhere…”, the pirate murmurs into her ear, once the kiss breaks. “Where it is a little more cozy.” After all, it is Novembre, and as if on cue, there is a chilly breeze creeping up from the docks.

The young woman’s breathing becomes quicker and deeper, when the man’s hands explore her thin body, when his lips brush against hers, and the head of her skin may burst even through the fabrics of her gown, of her mask. She looks at the shadows, which should follow her at some point.

The Mother Nature is a bit hesitant to answer to the Pirate’s offer. However, she is an adventurer deep inside her heart. So, all she does is give a slow nod of her head. She agrees to move somewhere more farmer. Her hand slides across the man’s shoulder, his arm, and she takes his hand, ready to follow.

The Purple Pirate smiles when the kiss is broken, even so he seems to catch that glance the horned lady seems to shoot her retinue. “Do you want us to shake them off…?”, he says, in a daring suggestion. His fingers tightening about hers, he considers her for a moment before he says: “Come with me.” Dragging her deeper into the dimly lit alley, past some more shadows of people in costumes, drinking and laughing, even though there are fewer to be encountered the further they go. Should Milicent look behind her, to check if her shadows are keeping up, she may glimpse them turning about the corner, glancing here and there as they try to catch up with their charge.

“We should…” Mother Nature chuckles, answering about losing these shadows on their way. She does keep looking back all the way. Just to make sure that the tail is soon to be lost. Her one hand holds the skirt, raised a little bit up, while the other just keeps holding Pirate’s hand. “Where are we going?” She asks, because the streets are unfamiliar for her, after all.

The pirate moves swiftly, giving away he is used to find his way easily in the crooked alleys and streets of a town. When Mother Nature glances back, he pulls her with him, and ducks into the next alley, which will save them from the view of their shadowy pursuers. There is a slight gleam in those dark eyes as they glance towards his horned companion, a smirk on his features that suggests he is enjoying this little game. “Into a pirate’s nest…”, he replies as he drags her further, and the alley opens up into a larger square. More masked carnival goers are to be found here of course, the merry sounds of fiddle and lute-playing being the adequate backdrop for more dancing. Still, the pirate continues on, hurrying past them, making his way through the throng of people, if necessary.

Crossing the square they reach a street, where the manse he is heading for is located. Should Mother Nature be aware of the various lodgings, given to various members of the kingdoms, she will note this to be the manse reserved for guests of Four Corners. Up the stairs they go, past a few doors, until the pirate, slips into the next room, dragging Mother Nature in there with him, and closing the door once she is safely inside.

“That was quite a run!” She chuckles, once inside, and waves with her hand slowly as if trying to get more air, “I am sure, that these shadows will be really upset with me…” She moves closer to the windows, if allowed, just to peek into the street. Who knows, maybe they caught them?

Then the young woman looks around the room, “Pirate’s nest? Here?.. I was expecting to see a ship of some sort,” she giggles and turns again to look through window. Her hands are folded in front of herself. She might be too shy to look at the man right now.

Strangely enough, outside on the street there is no sign to be seen of any of the three shadows. “Maybe they will,” intones the pirate, not too far away from the horned lady’s ear, as he steps behind her to enjoy the view with her, lights from the feast going on in the square even visible from where they are looking out into the night. As she seems to be a little shy, he proves to be less so, one arm snaking about her waist, as he pushes some red tresses aside with his free hand, before he presses his lips against the side of her neck. “A pirate’s nest,” he insists with a chuckle, “where a pirate and a fair lady can enjoy themselves for a bit. That is… if she is agreeable to it.” And with a nudge of his arm he brings her about to face him, the intent clear, as he leans in to claim another kiss.

When the man wraps his arm around her waist, the Mother Nature places her soft hand on his gently. She plays on his hand with her fingers as if she would be playing on an instrument. That kiss placed on the skin of her neck, makes the young woman twitch slightly and her whole body is decorated with adorable goosebumps. She giggles quietly and easily can be turned to the man.

Her hands are wrapped around his shoulders once more, and she does indulge into that kiss with a lot of passion. Somehow, that shyness disappears, one of her hands wanders to cup the back of the man’s head, twine her fingers with his hair. Her chest raises up and falls down much more quickly.

The pirate smiles when he breaks the kiss after a moment, his dark eyes flickering with evident desire as they consider the costume, and probably more what is inside of it for a moment. “It is Carnival, so I suppose we are to keep our masks on…?”, he asks in what is half-question as well as half-suggestion, as he lets go of her and takes a step backwards towards the bed. Sitting down, with the intent to take off his boots – they might give him discomfort after such a long day spent within them.

When the man withdraws, the young woman is watching him move towards the bed. Her eyes study him, while her hand nervously rubs another arm, “Yes, indeed. We should keep our masks on as to…” She looks towards the door, then back at the man, “I changed my mind. You are a lovely pirate, but I shall better try to find my moon, somewhere in this carnival,” she chuckles and steps towards the exit, “I am sorry…”

The Purple Pirate looks up, when Mother Nature speaks – and she suddenly seems to have changed her mind. For a moment he just stares at her. Then a good-natured chuckle breaks free from his chest, and he rises to his feet, that are still in those fine leather boots. Raising both hands in a sign he does not mean any harm he steps closer towards the young woman. “I like red hair,” he confesses. “So forgive me if I got a bit carried away.” His right hand reaches to play with a strand of her red tresses, if she will allow it. “You’re Mother Nature, and so I thought we should let nature have its course…” Dark eyes meet her blue gaze, a bit of regret flashing in his expression, even as he smiles. “If I were a real pirate I would have forced you. But as things are…” He steps away from her to the door opening it. “Allow me to escort you back to your retinue.”

Which he will do. Escorting her to the nearest inn, not the Silver Cross where they had initially met, where the three shadows, strangely enough are already waiting for them, whiling away the time with a bit of ale and murmured conversation.

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