Pirates! RP for ambitious_woman

[rude_not_ginger]

Italy is the most beautiful country in Europe as well as the weakest. France is invincible when attacked on its own territory. My country doesn’t like the sea so the fleet won’t be powerful.

Reinette had said that, or she would say that in one of her letters, historically. France's Navy was far from powerful, and that was well known. They weren't an attacking nation, not since Napoleon. A navy wasn't necessary.

Which was, of course, why this small but very direct pirate ship decided to attack the wealthy-looking French vessel sailing from England back to France. The captain and sailors were more concerned for the large chunks of ice and the falling snow than the possibility of pirates in English waters. And then, there they were.

The commotion caused by the attack woke the Doctor, who had been snoozing over the captain's logs, and by the time he had his senses about him, he was huddled on deck in a fur coat that was two sizes too big with the rest of the male crewmembers. He didn't know where the females were, and therefore didn't know where Reinette was.

He remembered studying pirates in his youth. He was terrified for her safety. Even if they believed her ransomable, they might not be so delicate with her in the voyage back to France.

Snow fell in his lengthening hair, and he bundled himself tighter against the spray of the icy sea water. The pirates appeared to be searching for treasure and staying warm below, while the crew they kept alive froze on deck.

Comments

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"Truthfully it will depend on the captain," Reinette answered, turning to study the horizon once more. The steely blue of the sea met with frozen sky, blending. "The crew will take his lead from him. Though the treatment of the women was -- not a good indication."

Various reports often crossed Louis' desk, and Reinette had read her share of them. "They will see the women as things of -- little consequence. Though if any please them they may chose to keep them with them. Our best hope is for them to be satisfied with the money they find aboard. Then they could quite simply take their leave, possibly depositing us safely on shore. If not?"

There was an icy breath.

"They will begin to torture us to find out where more money might be. Seek parties to ransom. It goes on."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"Even if there isn't any." It wasn't a question, he knew she was right. He'd done some study of history. Just a bit.

"How far do you think it is to shore?" he asked, "It appears we're heading back towards England. I doubt we could handle the cold in a rowboat for particularly long, and I think a storm is coming and why did we decide to travel in the middle of winter? It doesn't appear particularly the best time to go on holiday."

He remembered it had been his desire to leave France for a while, and he simply couldn't wait for warmer weather. Making it his fault. Merde.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"Correct, even if there is nothing to be found. And most of our funds were used to purchase textiles and other goods. Truthfully I worry what might happen once they have finished drinking our alcohol, since they seem to have left the other women alone, for the moment."

There was a small row boat, used for shore excursions and minor repairs, She supposed with some sort of distraction they might reach it, but --

"We are -- too far away, I think. At least for me." The cold was her enemy, and winter especially. It was why she had been keeping company with the women to begin with, instead of on deck with the Doctor when the attack began. Already she was beginning to feel the chill. "I would not make it, I think. But you might. If there was some way to get you to the boat. You could seek assistance and I could manage things here."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"That would mean us seperating," the Doctor said, "You to our enemies and me to the French. I think we're better off if we stay together."

He wanted to take her hand, to hold her. He wasn't warm like she was, the cold hurt but it wasn't so bad for him. He worried for her, but he couldn't show it, because that would be far worse.

"We could make it to them later," he said, "When we're closer to land. They can't want to stay in this icy weather for very long, they probably just saw us as easy targets back at port."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

A wry smile graced Reinette's features.

"My countrymen are far from the best sailors we might encounter. It has ever been a weakness." Though she looked at the Doctor sharply. "And did you just equate the French, to pirates?" There was the smallest thread of teasing to her voice. A flash of warmth in the frigid air.

"What if we did not try now," Reinette pressed. "And someone is hurt?" It was not in her nature to delay action. It was aprt of why Rose's warning, five years to soon frustrated her so.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"These men are far from professionals. They'll exhaust themselves on wine, and our escape will be infinitely easier. If we try now, we're more likely to lose someone in the crossfire. And we have to figure out a way downstairs."

The guard behind them stepped closer, and the Doctor rubbed the back of his neck.

"I do hate planning escape when the guard is trying to listen in. It takes away from the element of surprise," he mumbled.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"I prefer not to be guarded at all," Reinette countered tartly. "Unless it happens to be an oddly groomed man from one's fireplace that is watching over me."

Still, something about the guard's gaze made Reinette nervous, and the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"Oddly groomed?" the Doctor said the words a little louder than he'd intended to. The guard gave them a look, and the Doctor pointed to the "dandy" who had been talking to him.

"Just because I'm not a lace and ruffles sort doesn't mean I'm oddly groomed." He said these words a little louder, to drive home the 'conversation'.

Then, more quietly: "Oddly groomed?"

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

The role demanded that Reinette turn a dandied leg, perhaps flash a chest and the elegantly embroidered vest beneath. But that would mean calling attention to the very things she was attempting to conceal. Instead, she stepped back slightly, offense apparent. To complete the image she even skidded across the icy deck, a youth utterly inept in his surroundings. It almost got away from her, and she grasped the rain.

"Just because one is being attacked is no need to wear clothing that is well over a year old. I would cry myself to sleep if my hems looked as yours do."

She did not smile, but her voice softened.

"Yes oddly groomed. You were as brown as the wren. Where I am from the men are as brightly plumed as the women, if not moreso."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

He had to restrain himself from showing concern for Reinette's slip. Reinette was completely the part she was portraying. She was an impudent boy, and he was a horrific actor. He had to imagine she was ridiculous like Mickey.

"You may very well cry yourself to sleep. Once we're dropped back in London---" pointed look at the guard, "Then you can cry all you like."

The guard seemed satisfied that they were being ridiculous French prisoners, and went back to pacing.

"Well, I've never been trying to attract a mate," he replied in a low voice, "Especially with my clothes. I gave up bright plumage after my sixth self."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"Once I am in London I shall be celebrating, for I will be well rid of you, and the rest of this lot. I fear your lice might be catching."

Through the corner of her eye Reinette watched the guard resume his pacing. It proved not a moment to soon as a gust on wind threatened her hat. She moved to secure it.

Softly.

"I never said I did not like it. Only that it was odd."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

The Doctor smirked, "Nice hat, by the way."

As the guard's back was turned, he reached our and took her hand, if only for an instant. Had he the ability to connect to her, he'd be able to press a feeling of warmth to her body. Since he did not, he could only settle with a momentary touch before resuming his place with his feet on the rail, looking out onto the water.

"Would it be possible," the Doctor asked, "To lock them all downstairs? They fall into intoxication, our guards fall in line with them, the door is locked and barracaded from the outside. We sail on back to France."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Again, her gaze narrowed. The stress of the situation left Reinette struggling to be sure if he was teasing. "Then I shall give it to you when we are done."

His touch startled her, it was so completely unexpected. And in some ways what she too had been considering just moments before. She barely had a moment to curl her fingers to meet his own before he was gone. The snow had resumed, and flakes decorated her exposed hand for several seconds fore she brushed it away.


She regarded him with a smile.

"I think that us an excellent idea. The best one we might have. Especially if we can encourage their drinking somehow." In frustration she examined her dress. "Sadly I am in the wrong clothing to fill that role."

It was not how she was accustomed to directing a party, of whatever kind.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"We also have to get the women upstairs. See if they're safe. Do you know if there is any wine or brandy stored downstairs? Something the captain might've kept under lock and key? We could show them where, and direct the women to safety while they gorge themselves."

As for the hat? Oh, he'd love the hat! He could put it in the wardrobe room once he got the TARDIS back. It would only be a few dozen years until he got that chance. If not sooner. He could get back. He would get back.

It wasn't something to dwell on, though.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"There are several barrels of both in the hold," Reinette offered. Accustomed to running several households, it seemed she was running their cargo as well. "They are all excellent vintages. It will be wasted on them, I fear."

There was a great deal of merit to this plan.

"I worry about getting them to deck quietly. They are not the -- sturdiest of creatures." And not her normal sort of company. "Though I regretted leaving them alone. It was difficult to do so."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"One of us could take him to the wine. You, as you know where it is. I'm a Doctor. I can get the women up, saying I need to tend to a wound, or I need a nurse of some sort. I'll figure something out. Once they're up and they have their wine, we advance."

He didn't want to have to leave Reinette so out in the open, but what other option did they have? It would have to do, and they could do it. He had faith in her acting, if not in his own.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

Reinette all but stilled completely as she considered their options. It was not what she would prefer, but it was action. And to that end, she embraced it.

She nodded firmly. Perhaps a bit too firmly, dandy that she was intended to be.

"I can do that." Something bothered her, however. It was not that she had no father in her Doctor. Rather, that she had none in the pirates. "You -- need to prepare yourself that they might not let you near the women. Health or no, they most likely will not care."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"How would we get them on deck, then? No distraction would be fast enough to get them on deck and the others downstairs. Not without the chance of them being injured or someone dying."

The casualties had been few, but each one the Doctor noted. Most importantly was that of the captain. They were leaderless, save for the Doctor and Reinette.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"I am not saying you should not try," Reinette urged. "Merely that -- you might fail." She sighed. "And that they will most likely cry as well."

Something Reinette herself had little time for.

Her own decision was made.

"I should go now. There is no reason to waste anymore time."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"Yes, that...just be...careful, please."

He looked behind him at the guard. While she was within, perhaps he would follow, and the Doctor could wander downstairs to fetch the women. Crying women. Brilliant. He'd be better off with rabid squirrels.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

While there was a temptation to linger, Reinette could see no strong reason to. There would be time for lingering after, she was sure.

"When am I not," she tossed flippantly, preferring that neither answer that question as she turned to approach the guard. He all but towered over her, but that did not impact her performance.

"It is frightfully cold out here," Reientte challenged. "You do think if I showed you where the captain hid the real alcohol, I could engourage you to learn meaning of the word share? Warm us both?"

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

The Doctor took a breath.

"Coward," he spat in Reinette's direction, "Next thing you know you'll be tossing the women up here so you can share their room because it's warmest."

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"The women you say?" All courtly accents and elegant drawl. "At least I know what to do with one?" There was a moment when Reinette took life and role into her hands as she acted as comrade and elbowed the guard in the ribs, as if to share in the joke. She breathed. Then breathed again. So far, all was well.

"You should see how he pranced about this ship the past few weeks. He nearly is a women. If you as me -- and you should ask me -- you should be keeping him with them. There is hardly any difference, after all."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

The pirate seemed to think that Reinette's dandy was rather amusing, and he guffawed on the suggestion with another mate. It was reasonable, the Doctor supposed, considering he had tried to talk his way out of the situation and had frustrated this pirate already to the point of punching him.

At least his Time Lord physiology had kept him from bruising badly enough for Reinette to see.

"Oh, that's rich. Fluffy little dandy like you?"

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

"Fluffy?" Eyes narrowed. "At least I will not blow away in a stuff wind. I may lead the maids on a merry dance?" Something about her own words charged Reinette -- encouraged her to move forward with their plan. "But I know the steps when it counts."

Between her and the Doctor. For the Doctor. If that could pass unnoticed, then surely an escape might as well?

"You should toss him in with the other women. See which is the prettiest."