meme 001 ✽ the pirate au meme

[ditz]

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGH - okay, who finished the rum?
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ღ Meme originally from amuse_box but I did add #13 for a wild card. 
ღ Image from here.

1. Boarded: Your ship has been boarded, and as captain you've been captured! Better hope the other captain gives quarter. Alternatively, it's a nice warm day for a swim. That plank was made for walking.

2. Victory: You've captured another ship! You knew those extra cannons would come in handy. And let's hope they've got lots of swag! Where's the captain? Are you the decent sort, or are you going to rub their face in it for a bit?

3. Swab the decks: You're a cabin boy! It's a good thing you don't mind doing all the dirty work, right? Anyway, the captain's calling; better see what they want.

4. Marooned: For a bit there you'd thought you were in Davy's Jones' grip, but somehow you've washed ashore with the driftwood. As you stare dazedly up from the surf, you have questions. Where are you? And who's that already on the shore?

5. Buried Treasure: Sink me! You've really found the mother lode. . . but you're not the only one. Who gets to take the treasure back to their ship? Better make sure it's you.

6. Rum: Rum, everywhere.

7. Swordfight: It's that person you can't stand! And they've taken your most valuable possession, that one of a kind thing you just can't live without! Better get that trinket back before it and your nemesis are gone over the side forever. Let's hear some swashes buckling.

8. Mutiny: The tack is full of maggots and this drinking water may as well have come from the gutter. There's one person to blame for this, and you're here to make especially sure that they pay for it. The captain does always seem to take the best treasure before everybody else.

9. Kidnapping: Don't they look rather peaceful, innocent even, sleeping so soundly there with their fancy nightclothes and pillows. Brings a tear to your eye, it does. Better take them aboard and send for a ransom.

10. Take a Gamble: Gotta spend your loot somehow, but it must have been the rum that had you bettin' everything at once! You've lost to your hornswagglin' shipmate; what did you lose, and what will they make you do now?

11. Under the Sea: You are now a Mermaid/Merman! That sailor over there sure looks appealing; let's see if you can lure them in with your charms. Don't forget that they can't breathe under water! You do seem to always forget, don't you. . .

12. The Doldrums: Can you say cabin fever? The sails haven't moved in weeks. You're about seeing if your mates can relieve this awful boredom.

13. Wild card. What do. Your choice. It doesn't even have to be here - wait why am I even explaining this to you YOU KNOW HOW THIS WORKS.

Comments

[acclimatized]

Keep it down, will you? [ john complains and wilfully ignores the unwanted attention sherlock attracts with his question. the other gamblers didn't care about circumstances – they only valued gold added to the stakes – but there were still a select few who would keenly listen in. ] I'm pretty sure most of the crew must've mentioned it at some point.

[deductives]

[Sherlock finishes off his tankard and tosses it carelessly across the table. He gives John a look-- where else would he have heard it? Nevermind what became of the crewman he heard badmouthing John afterwards. But he wants John's side of the story. Otherwise there would be no putting the pieces together at all, and he did hate that.]

We can get some air, if you prefer. If it'll keep you from losing your earnings.

[acclimatized]

[ sensing this may be the case, john's lips curve into a knowing smirk. it was like what happened with the barbary corsairs all over again. he takes one final sweeping glance around the tavern, then nods and drains the remainder of his drink. he's willing to call it quits for tonight... it's not like he's attracting any more prospective players with this repellent sitting next to him. ]

Ahhh... yeah, good idea.

[deductives]

[Sherlock stands on slightly bandy legs, an effect of so much time at sea, and similarly the crowds of the pub part like waves to give him room to reach the door. Once outside, the men he brought along all greeted John with respect-- pirate versions of respect, anyway, such as good natured insults and slaps on the back. Sherlock shoos them off to mind their own business quickly enough.]

So about how long have you been stranded on dry land?

[He looks at John's legs. Straight as beams, though a bit of sea swagger remains out of habit.]

Four months, at least.

[acclimatized]

[ john deals with their enthusiastic brand of acknowledgment reasonably well; a small smile here, a "cheers!" there, then they were on their way and sherlock did that thing again. he looks down at his legs, then back up at sherlock and tilts his head to the side. ]

Almost five. [ it felt a lot like four though, thanks to coming down with an enteric fever. ]

[deductives]

Hm. And how much would you like to be back on open waters?

[He doesn't think anything of his observations. People often thought it was some sort of psychic power granted to the pirate by evil spirits at sea, but he knew it was nothing more than simply looking at people. With a keener eye and mind, surely, but just looking, nonetheless.]

[acclimatized]

More than you'll ever know.

[ gambling until he could earn enough for another ship was probably a bit unrealistic, but it was the only option he had – no one was looking for an extra hand when they arrived in port. in the end, john had given up asking... but now sherlock's question fills him with hope. outwardly though, he seems the same as ever. ]

[deductives]

[Sherlock smiles slightly, almost as if he receives that as a friendly challenge. He looks out to the docks, where a few lights were aglow on the deck of his ship.]

I happen to be in need of a chief mate.

[He'd never had one before. Sherlock didn't trust anyone to be his directly second in command. He alone was in charge of his crew. But John isn't quite like every other throat slitting man jack of their trade.]

My crew is getting a bit drunk on success. Mostly just drunk. Could use a little Navy style discipline on board.

[acclimatized]

[ john purses his lips together in contemplation. when he looks at sherlock again, there's a slightly unsettling intensity in his gaze and while he doesn't refuse sherlock's offer, he does have something to say. ]

How did you know about the navy?

[deductives]

That's been bothering you since the beginning, hasn't it? I observed.

[Sherlock chuckles and stops John from proceeding on their walk, looking him over.]

Your stance is the first clue. Rigid, almost always slightly at attention, or at the very least commanding the respect of your men. Pirates aren't that subtle, we normally just flog them for that, don't we? And the knots on your ship. If I remember correctly, you preferred your men to tie anchor and cleat hitches. Corsairs are lazy with theirs, mostly constrictor knots and bowlines. It takes training to know those you used.

[He then places a hand on John's walking cane, gently taking it away to get a closer look. With a flick of his thumb, the concealed sword peeks from the hilt, glinting under the moonlight.]

Not entirely unusual for us to have one of these. But-- this gold embroidered insignia. It indicates the rank of a captain in the Royal Navy. Stolen from an enemy at sea? A possibility, but a simple piece of loot wouldn't be so carefully maintained. It has sentimental value to you. You didn't steal it, it's always been yours.

[He presses the sword back down into the cane with a delicate clack and hands it back to John.]

Now, if you were still somehow Navy, incognito, everyone associated with you by now would have met the gallows. But not so, you haven't sold any man to the Crown and don't intend to. Obviously, then, ex-Navy.

[acclimatized]

[ john listens to sherlock with rapt attention. it had bothered him to begin with, suspecting this man knew more about him than he was letting on, but he never quite found the time to bring it up in conversation. there had never been much time for that anyway and as time went on, he found himself growing more curious about him.

when he hands his walking cane back over, he brushes his thumb over the insignia and looks down. it was one of his few personal possessions he'd managed to get away with and no matter how grim his situation became, he was unwilling to part with it. sentiment, like he said. ]

You... managed to figure all that out, just from a few knots and the way I stand. [ john looks up at sherlock again, his mouth stretching into a wide grin. ] That's pretty amazing.

[deductives]

The cane clinched it, but mostly, yes.

[Sherlock looks quite proud of himself, puffing his ruffed chest out slightly like a parrot. People rarely reacted so positively to him. It was one of the reasons John earned his trust: He didn't mince words with Sherlock, and as ordinary as he seemed, he was certainly different from those around him.]

Amazing or witchcraft, some might say. Quite a few, say, really. Some nonsense about Haiti.

[acclimatized]

Yes, I've heard a lot of superstitions and that... well, I can tell that wasn't witchcraft. You haven't got the weird beads or the funny hat.

[deductives]

Those beads happen to be worth a fortune in some places, you know. Prefer gold myself, though.

[He bobs on his feet a bit, looking at John searchingly.]

Have you considered?

[acclimatized]

[ john shoots him an inquisitive look, then realizes sherlock's waiting on him for an answer. he casts his eyes over the dock and purses his lips together. there's very little chance he'll earn enough for own vessel without getting shanked first and there's no feasible chance of him ever returning to london either. as far as pirates went, sherlock holmes was a good man; his gut instinct was seldom wrong. ]

There's not... a lot going on for me here. Not for anyone stuck in this godforsaken place, really. And I can't really rely on those betting tables getting me out of here either, can I? [ he ruminates quietly, worrying his lip. his fingers tap his cane and drum out an uneasy rhythm – he can't deny there's already a part of him raring to go and taste adventure again. ] ... Sod it. Yeah, I'll take it.

[deductives]

[Sherlock grins at John's answer, a sincere look not quite befitting of a dread pirate, then claps him on the back.]

That's good. My men are already at your lodgings to bring your things onboard. Knew you'd say yes.

[He heads off in the direction of the docks again.]

I've got some leads on a few wrecks to explore off the Barbary coast. Ever been?

[acclimatized]

What do you— [ his protest yields to a long-suffering sigh, as john discovers the outrage he should feel doesn't quite materialize. he feels himself start to smile instead, chest swelling with anticipation as he catches up with the other man, keeping up with his long strides. ]

Uhhh yeah, a couple of times.