Beth and Sheska
"Of course they are here. Where the hell do you think they were going with that course? And after what we did to them, they'd not have many other options to go for repairs if they want to have them done soon." She said, as she lead the way towards another tavern and entered it.
"Not only that, but they know that we're here too. After what they did to us, killing Jessie, taking my arm, and damaging our ship? I hope we get a chance to pay them back for it.", Sheska told her as she followed Beth in, feeling a little better thinking about bloodshed than the impending conversation.
Beth shrugged, her hatred was not for a particular ship or crew belonging to the empire. It was easier to hate what they represented and not think about those who might come for revenge, or try to get revenge yourself. Pirates died all the time, in one way or another.
She took a seat at a table that was placed in a fairly secluded part of the room.
"What was it you wanted to talk about?" She thought about ordering a drink, but figured it was better to wait until Sheska had gotten a chance to speak.
As the Captain strode to a lonely corner of the tavern and picked out a table, Sheska could feel a pit forming in her gut as she sat herself. But she ignored that as she spoke up. "Yea, about us, and the last time you were on The Mermaid. Now look, I can understand if you aren't sure about starting something between us, but I can't stand these fucking mixed signals. The night before we raided that Skyfolk ship, you seduce me, and the next morning you not only tell me to get lost when I try to help with your hangover, but have me dragged off when I do my job?", she said, her tone deceptively level for all of the nerves she could feel.
"Regardless of what we are to one another, I think I deserve more respect than that as your First Mate, damnit.", she told her.
Beth gestured for the bartender to bring her something to drink. "Aye, tis probably for the best if it goes back to how it was before. No offence, but you're hardly the first one I've done something similar with. The main difference is that you are my subordinate and it's probably better if we don't continue this, if we're going to work together."
She would have pointed out how Sheska's lack of discretion was what had made her think so. Beth didn't remember seducing her, but she wasn't exactly surprised by her claim that she had done so. It wouldn't be the first time, but she was a free bird, and didn't feel that comfortable starting a relationship with anyone.
"I hope you don't mind, and if you want the respect you deserve you're better off without this problem I have caused for you. Which should be easy enough if we go back to how it used to be, right?"
Sheska stared at her blankly for a long moment, then closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "Well shit. I was afraid you'd say that, Cap'n.", she said softly.
When the drinks came by, Sheska merely snatched up the bottle and took a long draught before setting it down in front of Beth. "Not so easy as you think, Cap'n. Hate to admit it, but I've been having wet dreams about you occasionally, and part of me was hoping we could somehow... Make this work.", she told her.
"But, if thats the way you want it... I'll do all I can to keep it from getting in the way.", she said firmly, nodding once.
Beth raised an eyebrow when she made her confession. "Oh really? Do you think you are the only on the ship that has had that? I doubt it." She reached for the bottle and drank from it as well. "I am a woman in charge of a pirate crew. Anyone would be stupid to think they are different because of whatever dreams they have of their captains, and someone with my sex in my position is likely to get double as much as attention as anyone else."
She drank from the bottle again, regretting ever getting so drunk that she had seduced one in her crew, regardless of what she thought of the person. "I'll stand by my opinion that we forget this. I hope you can find someone else. I don't think that the rest of the crew are that opposed to the thought."
Sheska nodded again, then took the bottle from her and took another, more reasonable sip. When she set it back down, she frowned a little. "Just... Before we put it away, tell me truthfully: Do, or did, you have any romantic feelings for me at all?", she asked hesitantly.
"I have had romantic feelings for a lot of people, First Mate." She said, trying to remain objective and professional. While in truth she did care for Sheska, as the woman cared for her. However, for now she thought that it was better they remained as they had been before. She did realize it might be hard, no matter what happened and who knew what the future might bring. "Was that all?"
Her expression turned bland as she saw through the Captains response as a cop-out. "Ah. I see.", she said flatly, but she accepted it, for now.
She turned her chair a little bit so she could still face Beth, but could also look out across the rest of the tavern too. "Just one last thing. I stand by what I said when we started this little trip: I'll do all I can to keep you alive and fighting, regardless. You're my Captain, and I'll always be your loyal First Mate.", she said formally, but there was a small edge of bitterness in her tone.
Then she looked at her squarely and jerked her head to where she tucked the letter she had gotten away. "Now, about that letter. What was it about?", she inquired.
"We've been invited to a party, and since we've got time while the repairs are being made on the ship we may as well attend." She said, though seemingly negative to the idea. "I think it could be interesting, at the very least."
Sheska didn't bother to hold back her grimace. "Well shit, do I have to wear a fancy dress or something to this shindig?", she asked.
Shaking her head, she took another deep drink of rum before letting out a rather explosive breath. "I don't know about you, but I prefer the security of pants. Anyway, if you're going, I am too. Who else would watch your back?", she said with a small smile, before noticing that the bottle was empty after her last draught.
With a shrug she stood up, then motioned to the exit. "May as well head back to The Mermaid.", the Skulk-Hound told her.
Beth did not want to walk those fucking stairs again, but what choice did she have? She needed to be back sooner or later, and sleeping in her own cabin wouldn't cost her anything.
They got up, and she payed for their alcohol, before they began the trudge back to the mermaid. When she finally got there, Farthing told her that a neobeduin had stopped by and left the payment for the ship. It was a considerable amount and she was glad to hear that. Now they just needed some sleep and to have Jason perform any upgrades he wanted.
