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Post by Pirate on Aug 4, 2014 23:59:21 GMT -5
Alice sat quietly while she waited, humming softly to herself to try and distract herself from her anxiety as well as to entertain herself. Despite being too afraid to move a muscle without the word of her captor, it was a little boring to just sit around and wait. It was a little tune her mother used to sing to her when she cried and it did wonders to calm her. When Jackson stepped into the bedroom, she was still wary of him, but the tension had left her shoulders. She followed him out of the room as prompted, noticing how this time he took her hand rather than her arm. When they reached the table, she didn't realize how hungry she was until her stomach grumbled at the thought of food. She hadn't eaten since the previous night before she went to bed. Jackson had brought her food after they kidnapped her, but she hadn't eaten it since she'd chosen to run instead. When the food was brought to her, she daintily picked up her knife and fork and ate as she had been taught, although looking around, she felt a little stiff compared to everyone else. She wouldn't directly give away who she was, but perhaps someone would notice that she didn't belong in this class and take note of it. There must be someone looking for her by now. At least a small portion of the English Navy would be sent out to find her, and word would hopefully reach them of a vague lead. She wanted to go home and escape this nightmare. Despite how boring and controlled her life was, it was safe and where she belonged, not with these ruffians who may dispose of her at any moment. She had been so lost in thought while she ate that she hadn't noticed how much alcohol her captor had consumed. It wasn't until he was scooping her up in his arms that she realized something seemed very off about him. Her adrenaline kicked in immediately and her hazel eyes flashed with fear as he carried her away to their room, refraining from screaming in case he turned on her in his drunken state. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she squeezed her eyes shut as he climbed over her, turning her cheek to him to avoid the stench of his alcohol laden breath. When he hadn't made a move, she peeked through the corner of one eye to see he had frozen his advances, the smile gone from his lips. As he climbed off of her, she released the breath she'd been holding, hearing her heart pounding in her ears. What had she done to deserve all of this? She stiffened again as his arms came around her, but he seemed to be returning to their position from the previous night. It didn't make her any more comfortable than it did before, but at least he wasn't trying to force himself on her. She was confused by his apology. What was he sorry for? Kidnapping her, nearly defiling her, or all of it all together? Instead of asking him what was on her mind, she finally gained the courage to speak up for the first time. "How do you know my name?" she asked in her soft voice, shaking with timidity. Asking one question led to her bravery of another one once it was out and she decided to try her luck. Perhaps he would be looser with information because he was drunk. "And why did you take me away from my family?" She bit her lip after asking the question, suddenly regretting it. She was afraid she may upset him by asking him anything and she didn't want to make him angry while he was drunk.
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 5, 2014 0:22:38 GMT -5
"Your name is common knowledge," Jackson murmured, "It's spoken from the lips of everyone. The great heiress, Lady Langley." He shook his head at her next question, "My brother has thin skin. To compensate, he takes vengence in the harshest form he knows. You are his revenge." He let out a soft sigh, sensing her discomfort and pulling away from her to sit up. "I won't touch you anymore," he whispered, sliding off the bed to sit on the floor. "I didn't want to take you. I tried to convince him not to. And I know you see me as scum of the earth. I know that. It's true. I'm just trying to protect you from them." His throat tightened and he felt a moisture in his eyes. He frowned, on the verge of tears, which disgusted him. It was the guilt, though. The years of weight placed on his shoulders and the countless times he'd turned a blind eye on the treacherous things his crew did. God, why did he drink? Jumping to his feet, Jackson headed to the door, pulling it open and turning his eyes to Alice, "Go." He knew his brother would seek revenge, but Jackson was hopeful that he'd merely be mamed and his life spared. Maybe that was wistful thinking, but either way, Alice deserved her freedom.
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Post by Pirate on Aug 5, 2014 0:53:46 GMT -5
Alice's brows dipped in confusion when he said her name was common knowledge. Perhaps around the lands her godfather ruled over and maybe a little further because her story was a tragedy, but surely it couldn't have reached so far as a gang of rugged pirates. Plenty of suitors had appeared on their doorstep, speaking of how tales of her beauty had crossed the land and all of that fiction that suitors often spun to coat their words with honey. Maybe the news of her recent engagement had been revealed, although that was supposed to be a well kept secret. That was what his family had wanted for now until they could make an official announcement. Looking down at her ring finger once more, she frowned at the perplexing situation. When he told her she was his brother's revenge, her frown deepened. Revenge for what? What had the Marquis done to anger a pirate other than punish him for his obvious crimes? She was very confused by his explanation and she wanted it to be clarified, but he was clearly upset by her questions. She didn't want to push any further and she watched as he got to his feet and opened the door. Her eyes widened when he told her to go, frozen in place for a moment. How could she just leave? Where would she go? She'd never been alone in a place like this before and never left to take care of herself. What was she supposed to do? He seemed intent on letting her go, though, and she slowly rose to her feet, watching him carefully as she approached the door. Was this a trick of some sort? She stepped through the doorway, pausing once she was in the hall. "Thank you," she told him, her hazel eyes filled with genuine gratitude before she turned and walked down the hall and out of the inn, trying to be inconspicuous as she walked down the street. She stopped halfway down the road, glancing around herself in confusion. What was she supposed to do? She supposed she could go to the police. Perhaps they could help her. She wandered down the street, avoiding carriages that kicked mud up on her as they drove by and drunks bumping into her as they aimlessly walked around. She located the police station, stepping in and sighing in relief. "Excuse me," she said, approaching the desk. The man seemed to give her bedraggled appearance an inspection before he looked to her and nodded for her to go on. "My name is Alice Langley. I was kidnapped by pirates the previous night and I need to return home to the Marquis." The man raised an eyebrow as she spoke timidly, an amused smile on his lips once she finished. "If you're Lady Langley, then I'm the Marquis. What gutter did you crawl out of, urchin?" Alice frowned at the way he addressed her, realizing he didn't believe her. "No, really. I need help," she insisted, growing panicked as his smile widened. "Did you just come out of the loony bin, sweetheart? I'm sure there's room at the asylum for you." Growing frustrated, Alice presented her left hand. "Would a simple urchin have this on their possession?" The man eyed her hand a moment, his smile fading as he looked up at her. "Ah, a liar and a thief. It was good of you to turn yourself in, my dear. That'll shorten your sentence by a few years." He grabbed her hand and roughly pulled the ring from her finger as she protested, twisting her arm around so he could cuff her. "C'mon. It's the cell for you tonight. We'll transport you to a judge tomorrow afternoon." Alice's eyes widened as he led her back toward the cells, panic rising in her throat. "No, really. I'm Alice Langley! Please, I don't belong here." He pushed her roughly into the cell, slamming the door behind her and closing the padlock with a distinct click. Clinging to the bars, she felt tears leak from her eyes. Why didn't he believe her? She was telling the truth!
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 5, 2014 1:25:34 GMT -5
Shane, meandering about the street, surprisingly sober, noticed the young Alice Langley amble into the police station, a frown creasing his lips. Jackson had been foolish enough to lose her. A plot quickly forming in his mind, he headed toward the building, entering in time to see the heiress being locked away. "Good sirs, good sirs! My niece! You have my niece!" He headed toward the desk, dropping to his knees before the man. "Please, release her. She's ill. We've prayed about her mental problems. She creates grandiose stories all the time. Please, just release her. I have money!" Fumbling like a fool, Shane pulled out a fat coin purse, dumping the golden contents onto the desk. "Kind sirs, you can have it all, just please let her go." He watched the man ponder the implications for a moment before he waved for Alice to be released. Shane embraced her roughly, giving his thanks to the officers before he led her out into the street. He was silent, but his grip on her upper arm was vice like. A couple of men from his crew staggered after them, catching up quickly. Shane cast a quick glance at the drunken men before barking an order, "Find Jackson. Get everyone back on the ship." The men nodded, accustomed to being drunk and simultaneously given orders. They ran off the fetch their first mate, finally finding him at the small inn. Jackson was surprised to see members of his crew in his doorway, but he decided it best to follow them back to the boat. Something urgent must have been going on. He jogged back to the dock, making his way onto the boat. Upon seeing Shane and Alice, he stopped short and paled, staring at the heiress dumbly. He gave her a chance to escape, and here she was, right back in the mix of things. Shane tossed the woman to the deck and gestured for Pete to stand guard over her. "Hold him," he snarled, and two of the stronger men pinned Jackson's arms behind him. "Is this how you repay me, brother? After all that I've done for you, you allow our lovely guest to escape." He shook his head, turning slightly before he spun without warning and knocked him right in the jaw. Jackson was jarred, tasting blood in his mouth. He spat it at his brother's feet, not fighting back. He didn't want to make matters worse than they already were. That was when Shane really started in, kicking and punching Jackson until he crumpled to the ground, wrapping his arms around his head instinctively. When he was flat on the deck, Shane glanced around at his crew, silently beckoning them to join in. And they did, reluctantly. The beating lasted for a good ten minutes, and everyone knew how to kick where it hurt, but not where it killed. Satisfied, Shane straightened up. "Take them below deck. Then undock. We're leaving." Pete grabbed Alice and the same two men who had pinned Jackson drug him to his feet. Everyone headed below deck, making their way to the small room where Alice was flung on the bed and Jackson was tossed in the corner. Pete muttered something under his breath before closing and locking the door. Jackson slowly curled into a ball, wishing the pain away.
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Post by Pirate on Aug 5, 2014 1:47:14 GMT -5
Alice looked up as someone came into the room, taking her roughly out of the cell and bringing her up to the front. She froze when she saw Shane waiting for her, twisting her body in the officer's arms to face him. "No, no. Please don't let me go with him. I'll go back to the cell," she pleaded, gasping as she was pulled into the overly tight embrace of the pirate captain. She whimpered softly as he gripped her arm much harder than Jackson ever did and drug her away from the police station. She wished she was back in the cell. It would be much better than whatever fate Shane had planned for her. This was hopeless. She couldn't escape. She felt her heart practically beating out of her chest as she was taken back to the ship, standing frozen to her spot as the men moved around her. When Jackson was brought on board, her heart sank in realization. He would be blamed for her escape. The look he gave her told her everything she needed to know. The moment Shane turned on him, she screamed in protest, pulling against her captor. "No!" She couldn't pull her eyes away from the horrible scene as her savior was beaten near death, tears falling down her cheeks at an unstoppable rate. She cried out as she was roughly taken below deck and carelessly tossed on the bed, her guilt for the man's fate weighing down her shoulders. It was her fault they had done it to him. When the door was closed and she heard the lock slide into place, she flew from the bed and was at his side in a heartbeat, reaching for him. She paused, pulling her hands back in fear of hurting him and then resting one gently on his back. "I'm sorry," she sobbed, "I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen." The words tumbled from her mouth in a tide of guilt and she looked over him, his skin already black and blue from the beating. "What can I do?" she asked, wanting to attend to him but not knowing how. She was no doctor and had no experience with injuries such as these. "Can you get to the bed? I'll help you," she prompted, her need to help him trumping her former shyness in the presence of the man.
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 5, 2014 2:10:20 GMT -5
Jackson tensed when the woman came to his side, shying away from her light touch on his back. He shook his head at her questions, his back to her so that he couldn't see her face and she couldn't see his. "Just get back in the bed," he whispered, managing to bring his arms up around his head. At least he'd tried to help her. For the moment being, he just wanted to sleep off the pain and be left alone. He was strong. He'd be able to handle it. He just needed some time to regain the strength that had been beaten out of him.
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Post by Pirate on Aug 5, 2014 13:26:31 GMT -5
Alice flinched at his whispered command, recoiling her touch from him as he pulled away from her. She didn't think leaving him was the right decision, but it was what he wanted. "Okay. I'm sorry," she murmured before getting to her feet and walking to the bed. She stripped out of her day clothes and changed into the nightgown, hoping he wouldn't turn around in the midst of her change. She was exhausted after the trials of the day and she slid into the bed, feeling guilty for her part in the misery of the man. If she had been smarter about escaping, he may not have received such a harsh punishment. Perhaps she could persuade Shane that she had taken advantage of him in his drunken state, if she could even get up the nerve to speak around the menacing captain. These thoughts spinning in her mind, she was goaded toward sleep by the to and fro tilt of the ship and the gentle lapping of the waves.
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 5, 2014 14:18:16 GMT -5
Jackson wished for sleep to take him so he could lose the pain for at least a short while. When it didn't come as quickly as he hoped, he slowly pulled himself up into a sitting position, tensing and flexing various parts of his body to assess the damage. It felt like he had a few dislocated ribs, but other than that, he was just sore and bruised. He glanced over at the sleeping heiress, upset that she hadn't been able to escape and that she'd had to watch his beating. Settled in the corner, he finally managed to drift off into an uncomfortable sleep. Jackson jerked awake at the sound of a knock at the door, wincing at the movement. He heard the key in the lock, lifting his eyes to see James opening the door. James was one of the younger crew members, a good friend to Jackson. In fact, the crew as a whole loved Jackson, and they were more loyal to him than they were to Shane. Jackson was far more fair and caring than his brother, but they did as Shane told them for various reasons. James cast a quick glance toward Alice, frowning at her. He believed, as the other members did, that she was the reason for Jackson's abuse. He turned his eyes to the First Mate and offered his hand. "C'mon, Jacks," he said, helping the injured man to his feet and supporting half his weight. He led him out of the room, closing the door behind them. He walked him over to a bucket of fresh, warm water and a grabbed a rag. Jackson flinched as the man wiped the blood and dirt off his skin, tensing at the pain. When James was finished, he brought Jackson a new set of clothes, which he promptly changed into. "Shane's coming around," James said as he dished him out a bowl of stew and grabbed a hunk of bread. "Give him a couple days," the man said as he led Jackson back to the small room. After handing him the meal, he closed and locked the door. Left alone with the heiress again, Jackson stood there for a moment, staring at the door. He finally turned and set the bowl and bread on the tiny table beside the bed, not making direct eye contact with Alice. The left side of his jaw, his left cheek, and his right brow were bruised, but he had managed to cover his face pretty well during the beating. He gestured toward the stew, "You can have it," he mumbled before he walked slowly and stiffly back to his corner, sinking down into a sitting position and trying to hide the pain from his face.
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Post by Pirate on Aug 5, 2014 14:47:00 GMT -5
Alice woke when there was a knock on the door, realizing that was how she would probably wake up the rest of the time she was there. How long would she be there anyway? Were they going to keep her for as long as they could or would she eventually be returned to her family? Or worse, would they kill her? These thoughts all crossed her mind as a new man stepped in, stiffening as he frowned at her before moving to Jackson. Did they blame her for what happened to the man? She supposed it was only fair. She blamed herself for the state he was in. She watched them leave, curling up tighter under the covers and squeezing her eyes shut. She wanted to go home. She opened her eyes once more as the men stepped in again minutes later, her eyes immediately going to the injuries Jackson had sustained. She winced at the bruises on his face, looking away as he came closer. She sat up, keeping the blankets around her to cover herself up. She was still self-conscious about decency, even though he had seen her wrapped in only a blanket. When he told her the food was for her, she shook her head, looking to him. "I'm not hungry," she told him. "You take it. I'm sure you need it more than I do anyway." Her voice was gentle as she spoke to him, having lost the majority of its timidity and gaining more of a motherly quality as she tried to take care of him from where she was. He didn't want her to touch him, so it was all she could do to try and coax him into taking care of himself. She laid back down on the bed, rolling over to face the wall and shut her eyes, hoping that would end the argument and force him to eat.
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 5, 2014 15:06:54 GMT -5
Jackson frowned when she told him to take the food instead, letting out a sigh. He drug himself to his feet, standing at the end of the bed. "Look, I'm sorry this isn't the luxurious life you're used to, but I did try to give you an out. Somehow you squandered it. After all that's happened, I'd prefer to know that I didn't receive a beating in your name only for you to die of malnutrition." The boat rocked at that moment and he was sent into the wall, his dislocated ribs shifting. The gasp of pain he uttered surely undermined his authority as he sunk back down to the floor, grasping his side. He bowed his bruised head, letting out a stuttering breath.
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Post by Pirate on Aug 5, 2014 15:20:56 GMT -5
Alice didn't respond when he spoke to her although she cringed slightly at the authority in his voice. She didn't want to disobey him but she wanted him to take care of himself more. The sound of him hitting the wall caused her to bolt upright and she was on her knees at his side in a few moments, her hands hovering just above him as she stopped herself from touching him. "Please, if you eat, you'll heal faster." She bowed her head with a sigh, squeezing her eyes shut. "I tried to take advantage of the opportunity you gave me. I went to the police but they called me a liar and a thief and threw me in a cell. Shane must have seen me walk in and bribed them to let me out." Lifting her head, she shifted her gaze to his face. "Please don't think that I would be so foolish as to waste the opportunity you gave me. You are right that I live a life of luxury and unfortunately that means that I cannot care for myself. Now please eat. The food will go to waste if you don't."
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 5, 2014 15:46:11 GMT -5
Jackson lifted his eyes when the heiress came to his side, uncomfortable and unaccustomed to having a woman see him in such a weak state. He sighed as she spoke, shaking his head at her story. "I didn't know that," he murmured. "I just saw you back here and...I knew I was dead." He cleared his throat, "I need you to do something for me, then." Slowly, he moved so that he was stretched out on his back. Taking her hands in his, he placed them below his dislocated ribs, pressing her small hands against his side. "Now just press up as hard and as fast as you can," he instructed, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.
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Post by Pirate on Aug 5, 2014 16:08:17 GMT -5
Alice felt slightly triumphant when he seemed to come to a better understanding of the situation once she explained it. She tilted her head to the side in curiosity as he requested her assistance, watching as he laid out beside her. Her brows dipped in confusion as he placed her hands on his chest but the expression left her face when he gave her instructions on what to do. "Oh, I-" she began to protest, not sure if she would be able to stomach whatever was going to happen. She stopped herself, though. He needed her help and it would probably make him feel better. Taking a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes shut and proceeded to press upward as hard as she could, wincing at the sound of popping that followed and the shift of bones she could feel beneath his skin. She quickly pulled away, afraid she had hurt him further rather than helped him in any way. "Are you okay?" she asked timidly, opening her eyes to see if it had gone well.
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 5, 2014 16:26:31 GMT -5
Jackson started to lift his head when Alice began to protest, taken completely off guard when she set his ribs. He let out a grunt as pain trickled across his torso, letting his head fall back. The sharp agony eventually faded, and he let out a sharp breath between his teeth. He glanced up at her when she opened her eyes, "Great, you weren't looking at what you were doing," he almost laughed, a smile falling on his lips. He shook his head at her question, "I'm fine. Thank you." He gave her hands a gentle squeeze before letting her go and sitting up. A moment later, Shane opened the door, eyeing the two guests. He frowned at Alice and reached out to grab her, yanking her to her feet. He turned his eyes to Jackson, "Why don't you give us a few minutes alone?" Jackson got to his feet and sat down on the edge of the bed, "Absolutely not."
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Post by Pirate on Aug 5, 2014 23:15:53 GMT -5
Alice was relived that he seemed to be okay and she returned the smile he gave her. Well, she had done something right for once, but there was no way she would ever do that again. It was the absolute most disgusting thing she'd ever done in her life. When the door opened, she looked in the direction of it, her smile quickly fading as fear crept into her heart when she saw it was the pirate captain. She whimpered softly as he roughly pulled her to her feet, looking to Jackson pleadingly. At Shane's words, her eyes widened in fear and she looked up at the man, cowering away from the menacing look on his face. She was relieved that Jackson didn't acquiesce to the order to leave. She feared what would happen if she were left alone with Shane. But now was her chance to make things right for Jackson after all the trouble she caused him. She looked up at Shane, her hazel eyes pleading. "Please, don't be upset with him," she requested in a trembling voice. "I took advantage of him while he was drunk and ran away. It wasn't his fault." She knew her words would earn her punishment, but she felt she deserved it after what Jackson had gone through. She didn't want someone else hurt in her place, it wasn't just.
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 5, 2014 23:48:00 GMT -5
Jackson's eyes widened slightly when the heiress spoke on his behalf, knowing it would be better for her to simply keep her lips sealed. Shane turned his gaze down to Alice, his features softening as she spoke. "Oh, well that clears things up," he said gently before bringing his arm around and back handing her across the cheek. Jackson got to his feet stiffly, tensed and his jaw tight. Shane glared at his brother, "Don't let this whore get in your head. Just because you bedded her doesn't mean your loyalties should shift." He seemed to be simmering just beneath the surface, "If you ever disrespect me like that again, I'll slit your throat." In a display of dominance, he gripped Alice by the jaw and pressed a rough kiss to her lips. Before Jackson could intervene, Shane groped Alice's backside as he threw her back toward him. Letting out a soft grunt of pain, Jackson quickly recovered and his arms came up to instinctively wrap around the heiress, pulling her into a tight hug against his chest. He remained silent, his eyes burning holes into his brother as the man headed for the door. "You're on probation for a few days, brother," Shane said as closed and locked the door. Jackson's jaw twitched as he gently stroked a hand over Alice's brown hair, holding her for a moment before he released her completely. "He's gone," he murmured, eyes still on the door. He slowly lowered himself onto the edge of the bed, letting out a sigh.
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Post by Pirate on Aug 6, 2014 0:01:27 GMT -5
Alice was relieved to see that her words actually seemed to be getting to the captain. However, his actions contradicted his expression and she cried out as he struck her, tasting blood in her mouth from the blow. With her free hand she reached up to touch the afflicted area, whimpering softly at the pain. She had never been dealt with so roughly before in her life. She made a sound of protest when he grabbed her jaw, the action causing her more pain as his lips came forcibly down on hers. She struggled against him, feeling weak at her inability to get away. She was not made for this life. As she was groped and pushed away in the same movement, she stumbled into Jackson, her hands gripping his shirt as she buried her face in his chest, a soft sob escaping her. Again she was questioning how she deserved this treatment. What had she done? She looked up as Jackson backed away from her, wiping away her tears herself. A bruise was already forming on her cheek and her bottom lip had been split open. She could taste the metallic flavor of blood in her mouth and she wanted so badly to spit it out. She couldn't though, that would be improper, so she held it in. Blinking quickly to clear away the rest of her tears, she lifted her gaze to the man on the bed before dropping it once more and clasping her hands in front of her. "I-I'm sorry...I didn't mean to get you in trouble or come between you and your brother."
[She's like a foot shorter than him XD]
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 6, 2014 0:30:40 GMT -5
Jackson shook his head when Alice began to speak, reaching out to take her hand and pull her to sit beside him. "Stop," he murmured as he ripped off a strip of his shirt. Turning back to her, he gently dabbed at her bleeding lip. "I'm just sorry your first kiss had to be with Shane," he chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood. When he was finished, he pulled back, giving her a small smile. "Are you okay?" he asked gently, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Being gentle with another human being was awkward for him, and he felt like it was painfully obvious through his bumbling movements. He moved closer to her, ignoring the protests of his aching body, and pulled her in against his chest. He lightly stroked her upper arm, hoping that he could comfort her, at least slightly.
[I know... xD}
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Post by Pirate on Aug 6, 2014 0:44:34 GMT -5
Alice gave him a weak smile at his attempt at a joke. "Lucky for me he wasn't my first kiss," she confided in him, lifting her gaze to his as he dabbed at her cut. "It was a servant boy when I was younger." When he inquired after her, she sighed, giving him a nod and casting her eyes down. "Thank you," she murmured, unable to look at him as he touched her so gently. She didn't understand how the two could be brothers. So far, all Shane had been was cruel and callous and Jackson had been kind and gentle. She stiffened as she was pulled closer to him, suddenly uncomfortable with their proximity. She allowed him a moment of holding her before carefully pulling away. She didn't want to hurt him anymore than she had already. "You should get some rest," she prompted him. "Please take the bed. I will be up a while longer." She gave him another small smile, lifting her gaze to his face before getting to her feet and moving away so he could have a chance to spread out and be comfortable. She moved to the small porthole that created what little light there was in the room, looking out over the dark waters of the ocean. How far away were they from her home? How was her godfather faring? She sighed softly, looking longingly out at the freedom just through the wall of the ship. She'd learned her lesson, though. She couldn't swim well enough in these waters and she hadn't the slightest idea of their location or their distance from any land. She'd never make it off this ship on her own.
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 6, 2014 1:10:16 GMT -5
Jackson smiled a genuine smile, "Ah, a servant boy. How daring," he chuckled. Upon feeling her stiffen up, the smile faltered and faded, and his attempt at being gentle felt like it was floundering. He loosened his grip immediately, allowing her to pull away when she did a moment later. "Sorry," he mumbled, feeling gawky and awkward. The heiress probably didn't want him anywhere near her because she was in a class far exceeding his own. Even after he'd tried to help her, he was still beneath her. He sighed, struck from his thoughts by her voice. He shook his head quickly, getting to his feet. "The floor's fine for someone like me," he said quietly, making his way back to "his" corner. He sunk down, carefully masking the pain from his face as he adjusted his position until he was the most comfortable. Eventually, he drifted off to sleep, his head leaned back against the wall and his knees pulled up slightly for warmth.
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