And a bottle of rum

[angelicavaughn]

Do You Remember
The 23rd night of September
In San Antonio, TX
When Angelica Vaughn and Sarah Lacklan had a movie night

The more things changed, the more they stayed the same.
One week prior, Angelica and Dave Rydell had done the unthinkable. They’d dethroned Team Kickass as the UGWC Co-op (not tag team!) Champions, cutting short a reign many had expected to take up a good chunk of the remainder of 2018. Not only were Sarah Lacklan and Kenzi Grey a formidable duo, both in and out of the ring, they were also two of Angelica’s closest friends. But whereas many had expected a touch of bitterness or hostility from the ever antagonizing Sarah Lacklan, Angelica included, their friendship (which unbeknownst to Sarah extended to a great deal more) had proven way to strong to even be dented.

Sarah was extremely competitive, never settling for anything but a win and the top prize. But when Angelica had taken the Co-op titles from her and her wife, there wasn’t anger or sadness. There wasn’t any cursing or passive aggressiveness.
There was pride. Sense of accomplishment. There was complete and utter respect between two young ladies who in many ways couldn’t be more different.

So no, their friendship hadn’t waned in the slightest. On the contrary, Angelica and Sarah had many future plans, one of which to start teaming on their own as well. They’d never really stood inside the ring as a team, something they wished to change as soon as possible. Unfortunately they could not do it in UGWC as Sarah was committed to Team Kickass and Angelica had to focus on remaining champions with Dave Rydell, who had surprised friend and foe by not just pulling his weight, but putting in his most impressive in-ring display in recent memory. With Outlast on the horizon however, all current alliances were off, as the Outlast Draft had decided who was going to team up with who. The grand prize was a shot at Alan Wallace and the top title. So once again, Sarah and Angelica found themselves on opposite sides, but they weren’t going to let that get in the way of their friendship and future alliance. Of course, Angie had no delusions. She knew Sarah was going to put her in the hospital without a second thought if it meant becoming the company’s greatest champion. She understood. She didn’t like it, but she understood. After last week, she knew all too well that you couldn’t let emotions or friendships get in the way of victory, or you’d end up as nothing but a mediocre mention in the UGWC Vault. But while they were ready to brutalize each other in the ring, they were also looking forward to the future, which meant teaming up.

In fact, they’d already been booked somewhere else! They were going to be teaming up at the very next XWA Supershow, which was going to take place on a boat. They’d make their official tag team debut there, and in anticipation of that, and also to make sure they were still on the same page following the Co-Op title match, Angie had invited her friend and (secret) sister to her San Antonio ranch to come watch a few movies together. With their first ever tag team match being on a boat, they’d opted for a bit of a Pirates of the Caribbean marathon.

So as they sat on the couch, working their way through the Pirates movies, braiding each other’s hair, plucking stubborn eyebrow hairs, and eating entire buckets of popcorn, they got engrossed in the silly adventures of Jack Sparrow and co. Here are some of their comments:

A: Ow em gee, Orlando Bloom!
S: Johnny Depp with the big hat!
A: Team Will!
S: Team Jack!
-
A: Why do these pirates never wash their hair, they’re like at sea, ew!
S: I don’t think they have shampoo.
A: Who doesn’t have shampoo?
-
S: Look Angie, they stole cursed Aztec gold!
A: That’s like my Mexican Championship! Except it’s not cursed, tobvs!
S: How certain are you?
A: I’m not undead!
S: You sure?
A: DO. NOT.
S: Soon the moonlight will show you what you really are!
A: I’m not a skeleton! Well, I AM very skinny, but… Not cursed!
S: If you were you’d win every deathmatch ever! You could beat Pierce 7.01 times over for the Chaos title!
A: I’ll settle for the Co-op titles, tee why vee em!
S: Wow.
-
A: Ugh, do Will and Elizabeth really have to kiss?
S: Look who’s jelly!
A: Am not!
S: We still need to find you a cute boy!
A: DO. NOT!
S: After Outlast, when I’m World Champion, we’re going to find you one.
A: Ughhhhh!
S: If he’s as good at tongue twisting as Orlando Bloom you’ll have loads of fun.
A: Ewwwww.
-
A: Ohhh, that undead monkey is so cute!
S: I’d love to have an undead monkey!
A: Would be great if Ser Alex and Ser Bobby got cursed. Then they’d never die and always stay with me, AND they’d never have to eat again which means no waking me up at 7AM each and every morning!
S: Let them steal your Mexican Championship!
A: My title is NOT cursed!
S: You’d have skeleton kitties at night!
A: Oh, right, that doesn’t sound very fluffy. Maybe not such a good idea, then.
-
A: Whoa, this second movie is scary! The sea is scary!
S: Davey Jones looks ubes cool with his tentacle beard. Milisandre would let him eat her out for sure.
A: Ewwwww, don’t say such things!
S: You know it’s true.
A: Yes, but it’s NOT NICE!
-
A: Wait, so they transform into fish people if they serve aboard The Flying Dutchman?
S: Coolio as fffff….flame!
A: Nice save. No cursing within these walls! What fish would you become? Whitefish?
S: Wow, that’s like the least badass fish on the planet! No, I’d be a betta fish.
A: Beta fish? That doesn’t sound very alpha.
S: Wow Angie, no! Betta fish! Highly territorial and dangerous, but also incredibly beautiful! With big red and blue plumes! Mesmerizing and dangerous! How about you?
A: Probs a flatfish.
S: Legit.
-
A: Yikers, that kraken is going to give me nightmares!
S: It’s just a big octopus.
A: That could swallow an entire house.
S: Not my house!
A: But you’re homele… Erm, I mean, yeah obvs! Tobvs! All of that! I think you got butter in your hair from the popcorn!
S: Ew, get it out!
-
S: This third movie blows!
A: It’s so w… ewww, did he just break off his own toe??
S: No more sandals for him.
A: This is why socks are awesome.
S: You WILL be wearing those open shoes I had Kenzi buy for you!
A: Ugh. Fine!


After having watched the first trilogy, the buckets of popcorn were empty, their hair had been braided to perfection ten times over and the sun had already set a few hours ago. Angelica stretched her arms out and looked at Sarah, who was playing with Ser Alex. The kitty tried to lick Sarah’s fingers, obviously due to the snack residue still being present.

Angie smiled. She sort of felt bad about the situation. Here she was, having the time of her life with the people and pets she cared about. All the while, she was keeping a huge secret from her. It was lying by omission, and lying was bad. She realized how selfish she was being.
But evenings like these were WHY she lied. She’d just had the perfect evening. She didn’t want a single thing to change. IF she revealed to Sarah that she was her sister, would her world implode? The risk was there, and it was way too big. A world that, right now, was perfect. Revealing the truth meant risking anything while gaining nothing. And so she kept up the lie, believing it to be harmless at worst.

She walked over to Ser Alex and picked him up, putting him front of his feeding bowl instead.

“No licking Sar’s fingers!”

Sarah laughed as she stood up and stretched as well.

“Anyways,” Angelica said, “I think it’s time for bed. Like, I mean, go sleep. Obvs.”

“Tobvs,” Sarah answered. “Isn’t it a bit early, though?”

“I mean, not if we’re gonna try and Outlast everybody else tomorrow! I need my 8 hours! Preferably 10. I’m sure you do too, right? Not questioning your endurance or stamina, obvs.”

“Hmm hmm,” Sarah replied with a smirk. “Fine, let’s get some shuteye.”

“Awesomey! You’ll love breakfast, I have bacon and eggs from chickens that only drank designer water and who only breathed purified air and ate chicken feed that was made by Gordon Ramsay’s understudy. You’ll love it! See you ear-ly in the morning!”

And as she hummed to the tune of ‘Drunken Sailor’, she skipped to her bedroom and lay down after changing into her p-jays. She closed her eyes, and all she could see was water, a horizon and ships. And heard nothing but the creaking of wooden masts, the whistling of the wind, and the cries of gulls.

-------------------------

Early 18th century
Somewhere in the Caribbean seas
Ear-ly in the morning

The more things changed, the more they stayed the same.

Captain Vaughn looked across the deck of her ship ‘The Annoying Dutchman’. They’d just recovered the biggest treasure of Mexican gold anyone had ever set eyes on. They were now the richest pirate crew on the seven sea’s, their holds filled with endless riches that would propel her status to that of Pirate Queen once they made anchor. Riches so huge that even Spain, England and France would have to take note. And yet, the deck still needed scrubbing. The sails still needed to catch wind. The deckhands still needed to labor until the skin peeled off their palms and the rain lashed the shirts off their backs. The sea was a cruel mistress for sure, but one that gave you unlimited pleasure if you knew how to treat her.

Figuratively speaking, obvs. Angelica wasn’t a pirate lesbian.

“Faster, you scabrous kittens!” Captain Vaughn shouted across the deck. She knew they all had a huge target on their back. The story of their haul had travelled faster than any ship ever could, as if had been whispered to the wind and carried over to all four corners of the Earth.

“You heard the Capt’n!” her second-in-command fell in. Angelica gave First BFF Roxanne a nod of acknowledgment. They’d dropped the ‘first mate’ title as that was SO 17th century! Roxanne’s story was a weird one. The ferocious blonde pirate was an incredible fighter, and it was that skill that had seen her rise through the ranks. A lousy deckhands when she’d initially come on board after having been saved from a slaver’s camp, she’d dominated in almost every raid, and had killed so many foes while boarding enemy ships that she’d become not just respected, but also feared. It had earned her the title of First BFF, but for some reason she still liked swabbing the deck every single day. Old habits die hard, apparently. It was a task well beneath her station, but one she simply couldn’t resist.

The words of the two women in charge were as effective as any whip across their back. Even the wind seemed to obey, making the sails bulge as they effortlessly sailed at top speed.

“Are you okay, Capt’n?” Roxanne asked, throwing her swab to the side, leaving behind an utterly spotless piece of wooden deck. “You seem troubled.”

“Don’t I have every right to be?” Angelica stared at the horizon. “We’re on the verge of the biggest haul anyone has ever had, First BFF. But the gold in our holds will mean nothing if we can’t secure it. We need to find a safe piece of land and soon.”

“I haven’t seen you this on edge since I first met you,” Roxy observed. “But what you did for me that day, I will never forget. You have my undying loyalty, Captain. And we will secure this treasure or die trying.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that second part. Not just every other pirate crew will want to rob us of our gains, but Governor Somers has vowed to take me down as well.”

“Fuck Somers and his glorious wigs,” Roxy said. “Besides, last I heard he’s facing legal trouble. He’ll spend more time in courts than staring over world maps trying to find a way to catch us.”

“I admire your determination and confidence.” Captain Vaughn grinned. She then shrieked when something flew by her, flapping its wings close to her face. Roxy instinctively drew her rapier, looking for the source of the disturbance.

“CRRRAWWWW. Wind in the sails! At me, you hoes!” something screeched. Angelica and Roxy turned around and saw a grey parrot sitting on the edge of The Annoying Dutchman, with a letter bound to its talon.

“Ohhh,” Angelica said, gleefully hopping up and down on the spot as she turned Roxy’s rapier away. “It’s Hasenparrot!”

“Looks like dinner to me!”

“No silly, that’s the parrot of Captain Sarhab, slayer of Moby Kem; the Dread Pirate Queen and Matron of Parrots! This is her most trusted one, she uses it to send messages across the sea. It’s actually really smart.”

“Whatever you say, bb. I mean, Captain.”

Angelica took the letter from Sarhab’s feathered friend and opened it. The parrot started hopping up and down on the starboard bow now that it was freed of its charge.

“CRRRAWWWWW. AND HERE’S ANOTHER THING! SMERHSMHSJGQ”

Before it could continue, Angelica retrieved a handful of nuts from her pocket and stuffed it in Hasenparrot’s beak to shut it up.

“That’s quite enough out of you!”

The parrot… wel, let’s just say that if parrots could shrug, that’s what it did; before starting to munch down on the nuts, happily crunching as Angelica took a look at the letter.

“What does it say?” Roxy asked, trying to look over Angelica shoulder, having to stand on her tippy toes, because even in this alternate historical universe, she was several inches shorter. Angelica turned the letter so Roxy could look at it, showing off the exquisite and elegant penmanship of the person who wrote it.

“Wanna read along?”

“You know I can’t read, bb. I mean, Captain.”

Angelica sighed and they sat themselves down on the stairs that led to the quarterdeck.

“I’ll read it to you.”

Dear, sweet Angelica

It is with great pride that I received word of your recent conquest. I always knew that, one day, you would be the terror of the seven sea’s, if only because I allowed it. Whilst I shall not deny that your treasure of Mexican gold is something I’ve had my eye on for quite some time, the fact you snatched it out from under my nose merely means that you’ve made progress both as a sailor and a leader.

It is therefore that, with the friendliest of intentions, I want to warn you. The gold currently in your holds has laid dormant for centuries. When you leave such treasure undisturbed, it often becomes possessed, drenched with the blood of those who’ve died in search of it, poisoned by greed and desire as gold sickness casts a curse on it.

But with this treasure, your wealth will increase a hundred thousand fold. And so will your enemies, looking to take what is yours. Already have I heard rumor of other ships coming to raid and rob you.

So tread lightly, my friend. I would hate for this treasure to be your downfall. But nevertheless, as your friend, I will help you protect it. I have calculated your course and will look to intercept you so we can make sure you can safely make port.

Your loyal and everlasting friend

Captain Sarhab

Angelica folded the letter up and looked at her First BFF.

“Ugh, don’t believe her, b… Captain. She’s just peanut butter and jelly, and that hasn’t even been invented yet. She just wants to intercept you so she can stick a sword in your gut and commandeer The Annoying Dutchman!”

Angelica stood up and shook her head.

“No, Roxanne. Sarhab would never. She and I have gone through too much. With my own eyes I saw how she vanquished the great beast Moby Kem, terror of the seas by sticking a spear through its eyes and into its brains with pinpoint accuracy. I fished her from the water myself.
And it was she who…”

“Wait, what’s that?”

Roxy interrupted Angelica as she pointed at the horizon. Her green eyes were observant, and she thought she spotted something across the vast sea. Angelica peered and saw it too. She looked up at the crow’s nest and shouted.

“Thorne! What are you even doing up there, do I need to come hold your spyglass for you?”

“Sorry,” pirate Thorne shouted from the Crow’s nest as she did as instructed, looking at the spot. “I see sails on the horizon! It’s coming our way!”

“Can you make out its banner?” Angelica shouted upwards.

“It’s a man-o-war! I see… an eight… and a zero! Surrounded by streamers!”

“That can only mean one thing,” Angelica said, looking over at the First BFF. “That man-o-war is the Ann Delorea. It’s Captain 1680’s!”

“Not Captain 1680’s!” Roxanne gasped.

“I’m afraid so. We have a predator on our tail, looking to claim our fairly gotten gains. Give out the commands, Roxanne. We must stay ahead of him.”

“But how? His ship is so fast they said that it can even traverse space and time! Nobody can outrun it!”

“But we will try!”

The crew all stopped working and looked over the bow, before their attention turned to their Captain. Angelica swathe look of despair in their eyes. They’d just gone through to claim what was the world’s mightiest treasure. They weren’t about to give it up now, but Captain 1680’s was one of the most dreaded pirates to sail the seven seas. He was erratic and dangerous. As cruel as he was successful. Angelica went up to the quarterdeck to address them.

“My friends. Together we have sailed far and wide. Together, we have conquered many other ships, and laid claim to many treasures. However, recently we have gotten the greatest haul mankind has ever seen, when we sailed to Isla De Synergia and discovered a treasure said to be lost forever. We fought wild beasts and conquered savage structures, we did what nobody ever believed to be possible… And it was because you, ALL OF YOU, displayed tremendous courage. Because ALL of you are people I’m honored to sail beside. So let’s not forget that, my friends. Let’s not forget that the only reason Captain 1680’s is chasing us right now is because we did what he never could! He’s chasing us out of envy! He’s chasing us because he’s scared! He’s chasing us because we’re about to claim top spot and he’ll do anything in his power to stop it!
But do not let that discourage you. Let it be the wind in your sails, knowing that the dreaded Captain 1680’s sees us as his greatest threat. Because we are! And we will not rest before we are on top of the world! We have a mighty battle ahead, but we’re ready. And I am ready. Ready to fight beside you, ready to die alongside you if I must. But I am also ready to stand beside you, conquer whatever stands in our way and become a Queen to make even the world’s greatest powers shiver in their boots! So let’s drink to this moment. Let’s drink to us, and what we can do. Let’s drink to who we are. And let them come! Because you sail under Captain Vaughn! And we will wipe the deck with their carcasses!”

Angelica raised her fist in the air and the whole crew did the same, roaring defiantly into the blue void. Roxanne gave the signal and a few deckhands retrieved some barrels of rum. One drink, for courage. And then? Come what may.

“Good speech, Capt’n,” Roxanne said as she approached Angelica while the crew queued up for a cup. “Hope it’s enough to rally them to victory.”

“You seem unsure.”

“Well…” Roxanne looked at Angelica’s leg. “There IS that…”

“Believe me, I know.” Angelica bent over and knocked on her wooden leg, which made a couple of thuds. “Last time Captain 1680’s and I were in a fight, he did this to me. It seems like a lifetime ago, but I also remember it like it was yesterday. It was when Sarhab and I still sailed together. And it was she who fished me out of the water after he cut my leg off and threw me overboard. He is a menace, but I know we can take him and his crew.”

“I hope so. At the pace they seem to be keeping, they’ll be on us before nightfall.”

Angelica put her hand on the shoulder of her First BFF. “Have faith. You’re among the best fighters I know. Let them come. There’s nobody I’d rather have by my side than you.”

Roxanne smiled. It was going to be one hell of a fight.

In the hours that followed, their expectations turned out to be true. No matter how much wind they had in the sails, no matter how much they used the momentum of the waves to their advantage, the Ann Delorea crept closer and closer. Until it was no longer a dot on the horizon. Until it was not even an approaching threat. No, the man-o-war was on them in the late afternoon and looked ready to engage.

“Turn the ship around!” Angelica shouted! “Ready the guns! Let’s blow them to smithereens!”

“CAPTAIN!” Thorne shouted from atop the crow’s nest. “They raised the banner for parlay!”

Angelica’s head swivelled around. And sure enough, the Ann Delorea was calling for parlay. Angelica was unsure as to why. They both had a fighting chance. Captain 1680’s was fierce and had a loyal crew with some of the world’s greatest fighters. But she had Roxanne.. and wasn’t too shabby of a swordsman herself.

“Fuck parlay!” Roxanne said.

“No cursing aboard my ship” Angelica reprimanded her. “We have to follow the rules!”

Roxanne mumbled something underneath her breath but did as her captain instructed. The ships positioned themselves next to each other and the crews, fully armed and ready for battle, made their way to the bows.

Angelica spotted Captain 1680’s standing there, surrounded by some of his fiercest fighters. The Lockheart and The Piercer stood by his side. But most fearsome of all was The Blackwell, the red-haired monstrosity whose name sent shivers down the spine of many an honest and dishonest sailor. Wrapped in bandages, in her eyes was a look of pure hatred and dismay, as if she was put on this world to fulfil one purpose: murder. And if she’d have her way, she was about ready to have her fill. But at the center of the display stood Captain 1680’s. A hulking piece of muscle, his face painted to accentuate his features, and looking utterly terrifying.

“AHOY CAPTAIN VAUGHN,” his voice boomed over the water, as the only other noise came from the neverending creaking of the masts.

“Holy shit,” Roxanne whispered, “he’s hot!”

“Roxane… DO! NOT!”

“IT IS I, CAPTAIN 1680’S YOUR NEMESIS. I HAVE HEARD TALES OF YOUR EXPLOITS, YOUR LATEST ACHIEVEMENT ONLY ONE BUT MANY OF A STRING OF RECENT SUCCESSES. DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES I HOLD BEGRUDGING RESPECT FOR YOU. IT IS MOSTLY THEREFORE THAT I HAVE CALLED THE BANNER OF PARLAY BEFORE SINKING YOUR SHIP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN. I AM GIVING YOU THIS ONE CHANCE. SURRENDER YOUR GOLD, YOUR SHIP AND YOUR CREW AND YOU MAY SERVE ALONGSIDE ME. IF YOU DO NOT ACQUIESCE TO MY REQUEST I WILL NOT HESITATE TO BOARD YOU, KILL YOUR CREW AND SEND YOU DOWN INTO THE DEPTHS BELOW!”

His crew roared, but Angelica stood defiant and crossed her arms.

“Nice try, Captain 1680’s, but your words do not sway me! I think you forget who you’re talking to! You’re talking to the crew of The Annoying Dutchman! The crew of Captain Vaughn! You may have taken my leg, Captain, but that was only the beginning of my legend. It is I who vanquished Necron, the Undead Tyrant of Iron Island!”

Angelica’s eyes darted towards Roxanne, who flinched at hearing that name. It was Necron’s slaving operation that Angelica had destroyed, freeing Roxy that day and gaining her undying loyalty. It had been a while ago, but the trauma was still fresh in her mind. Nevertheless, it had to be said.

“It is I who led my crew to retrieve the greatest treasure the world has ever seen! You do not strike fear into our hearts, Captain 1680’s, because even with your crew of legendary warriors, we will stand fast, stand strong and stand together! And if you dare board us, we will send you down to Davey Rydell’s Locker before you can even blink! This treasure is ours and none other will take it! You want it? We will outlast each and every single one of you! So come and claim it like a real pirate!”

“IT WILL BE MY PLEASURE! MEN! WOMEN! PREPARE TO BOARD!”

“Get ready!” Angelica shouted, as boarding planks and grappling hooks were being prepared. The crew of the Dutchman got in battling stance and guns were being loaded. A few of the Delorea tried to swing across but were immediately gunned down, their bodies falling lifelessly into the salt water beneath. As others did manage to get aboard, the fight broke out. Angelica drew her sword and ran through the first to cross her path.

“So sorry about that!”

“You really need to stop apologizing to everybody you kill, Captain,” Roxanne said, shaking her head. “It’s not very piratey.”

She too drew her sword and unleashed a flurry of offense on the nearest Delorea invaders, hacking them down almost effortlessly. Unfortunately, on the other end of the ship, The Piercer, The Lockheart and The Blackwell had boarded and were slicing through the Dutchmen’s crew like a knife through butter. And it was then, that Angelica’s heart skipped a beat, for Captain 1680’s unleashed his greatest asset.

“Lord save us all,” Angelica whispered, as from the Delorea leapt Mackenzie Greybeard, the Black Terror of the seas. Greybeard used to be a captain once, owning two massive barges called ‘Left Foot’ and ‘Right Foot’, until they’d been destroyed by Captain 1680’s. Much like he’d done today, the pirate captain had offered Greybeard a chance to join his crew and she’d accepted.

“I’ll take her!” Roxanne said, charging at Greybeard with her sword drawn. But Greybeard was a tornado of terror an destruction, leaving a trail of sliced up bodies in her wake as she diced her way through the defending crew of the Dutchman. Her blade barely met resistance until the clash of steel with Roxanne’s blade came. “Sorry, bb. It ends here!”

“I will cut your tits off and feed them to my fish,” Greybeard threatened, but Roxanne merely smiled. And while she did hold back Greybeard, cutting short her spell of dominance, the Dutchman’s crew was still being overwhelmed, with Blackwell, Piercer and Lockheart formidable enough to drive them against the proverbial ropes.

For a moment, all hope seemed lost until a cannon shot rocked the Ann Delorea and all heads turned towards the west. Angelica saw the banners in the distance. It was the Red Queen, its hull painted red with the blood of its vanquished foes. The ship of Captain Sarhab, the Dread Pirate Queen, who’d come to the rescue!

“Coolio as flame!” Angelica said and with renewed courage, she started carving herself a path towards Captain 1680’s himself, who’d stayed out of the battle so far. But now that the Red Queen was also in play, the tides of battle seemed to shift. As Sarhab’s Legion of Nameless Faceless Doubloonless Pirates joined the fray, the Matron of Parrots herself also jumped aboard and pointed her sword at Blackwell, Piercer and Lockheart.

“You’re so totes going down!” And she engaged them, her blade almost impossible to track with the naked eye. “Get to Captain 1680’s, Angelica!” Sarhab shouted and she averted a swing of Lockheart’s blade, before sticking her sword in her gut, a fountain of blood spraying from Lockheart’s mouth. “Gotcha, ho!” Sarhab shouted, before drawing her sword back just in time to block an incoming strike from Blackwell. Sarhab’s men were just about numerous enough to turn the tide of the battle, with the Ann Delorea’s crew numbers dwindling at a rapid pace. But it might all be for nothing unless Captain 1680’s got captured. If he fell, then surely his crew would give up.

So Angelica continued to carve a path towards him, apologizing to everyone she ran through. Meanwhile, Roxanne and Greybeard were still involved in their own fight. Greybeard was strong, but Roxanne was quicker, able to dodge incoming swings of Greybeard’s swords rather than try to parry them and be overwhelmed by their sheer force. Roxanne danced around Greybeard and closed in, before grabbing her by the hair and pulling it… Much to her surprise, it fell down to the deck!

“I fucking knew your hair was fake!” Roxanne said, while a panicked Mackenzie grabbed her head and shrieked.

“Don’t touch my hair, you bitch” the terror of the seas screamed. Her blind rage made her careless and as she aimlessly charged at Roxanne, the blonde pirate was able to hit her with a pommel strike to the temple, knocking her unconscious. Roxanne was about to run her through when Captain Sarhab bumped into her, driven back by the duo of Blackwell and The Piercer.

“Little help, Roxanne?” Sarhab asked and she helped fend off Piercer while Sarhab engaged with Blackwell one on one.

Meanwhile Angelica leapt across the ships on one leg, cutting down the three men that stood closest to Captain 1680’s. The hulking pirate laughed as he saw Angelica approach.

“CAPTAIN VAUGHN!” he bellowed. “AUDACIOUS AS ALWAYS. BUT NOT EVEN YOUR DEAR FRIEND CAPTAIN SARHAB WILL SAVE YOU FROM MY WRATH! THAT GOLD WILL BE MINE, NO MATTER WHO STANDS IN MY WAY!”

“Tall order,” Angelica said. “But it’s a small world. And that treasure belongs to me.”

“NOT FOR LONG!”

And Captain 1680’s drew his sword. His blows were both awful and awesome; slow but powerful. Ye he struck with such ferocity that the danger of closing in was too much. Angelica bided her time looking for an opening that provided sufficient return of investment. It was hard to find one and Captain 1680’s swings were so powerful that he was going to drive her into a corner and leave her defenceless unless she struck soon. But it was that moment of hesitation that she was too slow to dodge him. She got her sword up, but the force of the blow knocked it out of her hand and sent it clattering across the deck.

“ADIEU, CAPTAIN VAUGHN!” he shouted, but Angelica fell on her back and pointed her wooden leg at his face.

“I don’t think so!” She pulled the trigger mechanism attached to her leg and a bullet shot from the barrel worked into it. It hit Captain 1680’s in the chest and the pirate went down, clutching his chest in pain. Angelica got up and hobbled over to her sword. She grabbed it and held it in front of Captain 1680’s, who was still breathing. “How’s that for a loaded wooden leg, eh? Tell your men to surrender! Do it or I will slice your throat here and now!”

“AVAST!” he boomed as loudly as he still could. The heads of his remaining crew turned and as they saw their Captain conquered, they dropped their swords and surrendered almost instantaneously.

“We’ve won the day, my lovelies!” Angelica shouted, eliciting cheers from the crew of the Dutchman and Red Queen alike.

An hour later…

The battle had taken a great toll on all sides, but the victory was theirs. The conquered pirates were kneeling on the deck, held under shot as they were still deciding what to do with them. On the quarterdeck meanwhile, Angelica and Sarhab embraced each other.

“Thank you!” the peg-legged Angie whispered in her ear. “Without you, we wouldn’t have made it.”

“That’s what friends are for!”

“I’ll reward you handsomely!” Angelica promised. “Anything you want, you name it! Part of the treasure?”

“Thank you,” Sarhab said, her eyes looking at the deck below, her eyes falling on Greybeard. “But I have another piece of booty in mind. The sweetest booty in all the land, in fact. Give me Mackenzie Greybeard. She’ll make a fine cabin girl.”

“Erm… okay, done!” Angelica said with a smile. Behind her, Roxanne rolled her eyes so hard that you could almost hear it.

“Ugh! Sure, she gets all the glory. How about what I did?”

“Don’t worry, First BFF,” Angelica assured her. “You’ll get your fair share. In fact, how about I promote you to Captain? The Ann Delorea is yours!”

“Yay!” Roxanne shouted. “I’m going to rename it, though.”

As Roxanne started to think about what she’d call her ship, Sarhab wrapped her arm around Angelica and they made their way to the main deck where the prisoners were.

“So,” the Slayer of Moby Kem spoke, “have you decided what to do with 1680’s and his crew yet?”

“Well, I guess complete amnesty’s not an option, unfortunately. So I’d say they join one of our three crews or walk the plank.”

“Good call.”

“But not you,” Angelica said as they stopped in front of Captain 1680’s, addressing him. She drew her sword and held it to his chin. “Not only did you try to take my treasure, you instigated a fight that sent many of my finest warriors to their deaths. For you there will be no mercy. Pirates Blackwell and The Piercer may join one of our crews if they wish, or they can follow you right to Davey Rydell’s Locker. Which is where you’re going!”

The crew cheered upon hearing this news. Blackwell and The Piercer exchanged looks, their decision seemingly already made. They were loyal to 1680’s, but not THAT loyal.

“But,” Angelica continued, “you will not go easily. They say our Mexican treasure is cursed? They may you feel its wrath. Keelhaul this filthy landlubber, and send him down to the depths below!”

As Angelica shouted the order, Sarhab started jumping up and down, clapping her hands. “Ooooh, I love ma a good keelhaul!” The rest of the crew was just as enthusiastic.

“Please, Captain Vaughn,” Blackwell spoke up. “Let me and The Piercer do it, and prove our loyalty to you!”

“I don’t see why not,” Angelica answered. She nodded at the crewmembers keeping them under shot and they withdrew their pistols. The former enemy pirates got up and dragged Captain 1680’s towards the ropes before hoisting him up.

Angelica looked at her enemy one last time before his flesh would be ripped apart by the ship’s keel.

“Descend into the black. And don’t come back!”

-------------------------

Next morning
In San Antonio, TX
IRL

“What a very strange dream,” Angelica remarked as she woke up, rubbing her forehead. She tried to move her blanket, but it was blocked by Ser Bobby, who laid spread out across the sheets. She picked the chubby British Shorthair up and put him down on the ground before stretching her long legs. She got into the living room, susprised to see Sarah already up and about.

“Morning, landlubber!” she shouted at the Red Queen. “How are ye on this mornin’?”

“Pardon?”

“Oh gosh, Sar, I had the weirdest dream, we were, like, all of us pirates! You had a parrot and you’d slayed this gigantic whale and Roxy was my BFF and… it was so weird! Captain 80’s was Captain 80’s, except much older, and you killed Maggie, but Liz and Travis joined us in the end after you saved me! And apparently I also killed Necron on some island because he once had Roxy as his slave.”

Sarah frowned, having no idea what she was talking about. “Well, best write all of that stuff down on the flight to Outlast, Ang. You know my Beloved is always looking for fun movie idea’s.”

“Great idea! Now, how about those eggs? Oh wow, I can’t wait for Outlast! I hope my crew wins! I mean, my team. Although Greybeard will be tough to beat. Kenzi, I mean.”

“Ang, my baby does not have a beard!”

“I know. Hey, is her hair really fake?”

“PARDON??”

“Yeah, like in my dream! You also made her your cabin girl!”

“WHO TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT?”

“Never mind! Eggs! Bacon! Breakfast! And a bottle of rum!”

“Please do not daydrink on the day of Outlast.”

“And a yo ho ho! Hey, do they have Matchbox pirate ships?”

“Sigh.”
---------------------------------

[cooltubesource]

Please refer to my comments to Kenzi 😒

[Roxy Cotton]

Captain 1680s ♥️♥️♥️

I would tell you how great this was, but I can't read. 😒

[Zane]

This is a fun mixture of ideas. I enjoyed Angie and Sarah's section because it delves a little deeper into how they see their relationship while being adversaries. The pirate section was fun because the thought of almost saintly Angie as a pirate is hilarious on it's face, but then you threw in her crew, whicwhich was interesting and fun. The Melville throw in was subtle and nicely done, even if I find the incessant Kem fat jokes a little tiring. (Especially for a babyface who comes across as being so cheery and sweet).

This was fun and well thought out.

[The Circle Television Network]

I am a big fan of inventive RPs and this was one of them. There were so many little details that made this fun to read, as always. This was a lot of fun.

Once more thing to add. The family secret has been a long slow burn and I like how you play with it a little more each time. Looking forward to the payoff or maybe even the blowoff as this goes forward.

[Lord Hastings]

“Not Captain 1680’s!” Roxanne gasped.

I nearly fell out of my chair.

[Roxy Cotton]

LOL Zane thinks Angie is a face.

[The Circle Television Network]

Sept 23, 2018 13:43:19 GMT -5 Roxy Cotton said:

LOL Zane thinks Angie is a face.

Why does no one realize that Angie beats us! 

[cooltubesource]

*flinch*

[Jet Somers]

Sept 23, 2018 11:46:42 GMT -5 Lord Hastings said:

“Not Captain 1680’s!” Roxanne gasped.

I nearly fell out of my chair.

This