There was a long and stifling pause after the first mate's declaration. The captain above drifted her eyes down, landing on the woman below. "Where is he?" She questioned, referring to her son. The young boy stepped forward from the crowd, making himself known to her. Without hesitation, she made her way down the stairs of the captain's quarters, pulling Gage into a fierce embrace. Her hand drifted into his hair, pulling his head to her chest as she turned her face to look at Judas and the stranger he'd brought with him. Her eyes were a deep, stormy grey-blue, shimmering like the oceans waves. After a moment of embrace, she let him go, steadily making her steps towards this new woman.

She swiftly pulled the sword from her hip, unsheathing it to examine it closely. "Hmm," She hummed, her gaze flicking up to observe its owner. "A fine sword," She commented, slipping it back into her sheath. She paced around her, taking in every detail, before coming back to face her, standing side by side with Judas. "Mind telling me the reason you intended to slit my boy's throat?" She questioned after a moment, silently signaling Judas with a flick of her wrist. The man turned away, tossing out orders to the crewman as the women conversed.

"Prepare to set sail, the navy will be upon us soon if we doddle any longer!" He commanded, sending the men scattering. He turned his attention back to the captain and the prisoner, listening intently to what was being said.

"I'm no fool," Ms Cronwell said, pulling a dagger from her belt and placing it beneath the strange woman's chin, lifting it to continue examining her face. "You are no common maiden. That sword you weild is much too nice for daily life or use, and your jewels scream of wealth and royalty. Why don't you go on and tell me your name? I'd prefer to speak to you with some level of respect and dignity, despite the nastiness upon which you've found yourself arriving." She looked at Judas. "Where did you find this woman?"

"In the castle, Captain." He answered, his molten gaze drifting over the young lady. "Gage was imprisoned there, below in the dungeon quarters. I freed him from his cell, and rounded the corner to see him in her grasp, blade to his throat." He recounted their meeting, his eyes never leaving her. Conwell was silent again, studying the pair.

"Very well," She said after a moment, swiftly turning her gaze to her Quartermaster. "She is to stay upon the Black Dahlia until further notice. She is of royal blood which means she is of use." Her voice lowered softly. "Of leverage." She lifted her chin and gave one last look over her shoulder at Marina before back to Jude. "Since you've brought her here, you are in charge of her. She is to work and tend to the ship and to the crew as we all do for each other, and there will be no vile behavior of any sort aboard my ship, I make that very clear." Judas bowed lightly.

"Yes, Alvina," He said respectfully.

"She is here until we have no further use for her. I'll set us toward Wicklow." The captain said before whisking away, back up the stairs to the wheel of the ship, her gaze surveying the crew below. The large ship groaned softly as the wheel turned, having set sail across the vast expanse of ocean. The kingdom was rapidly shrinking into the distance, bringing a sense of comort and peace to Jude.

"Welcome aboard," He said to her again, only this time for real. It looked as if she was to be staying for awhile. He reached into his pocket, producing her dagger. "I told you you'd get it back," He said, handing it to her. "If you promise to play nice and not use it against me quite yet, I would be most grateful."

Marina... Judas thought upon hearing her speak her name. It struck him as a pretty fitting one, at least in an amusing way. 'Of the Sea' if I am correct in its meaning. What an ironically pirate name for someone who despises them so much. He took his orders from the captain, watching her walk back up the stairs.

Upon giving Marina her dagger back, he took a few steps away from her, leaning against the ship and staring into the water himself. He wouldn't try to push her into any sort of conversation, he was no idiot. She wouldn't want to speak with him or anyone else right now, maybe not ever. Everything about her life that she knew of had been stripped from her in an instant, and now she was in the middle of the sea, moving further and further away from her kingdom with each passing second. He lifted his chin, his eyes taking in the horizon ahead.

"Wilock is a few days' sail away," He told her, not expecting an answer of any kind. "Until then we're stuck on the ship together, so I think its time you at least learn the chain of command around here so you don't get yourself into any more unwanted trouble, yeah?" He looked at her, studying her expression. She didn't seem to be a person who showed much emotion at all, which made her very tricky to read. Itriguining too, at that. He thought to himself. "Of course you've already met the Captain, Ms. Alvina Conwell. Her late husband was the Cpatain for many years, at least up until he was strung up by your kindly folk." He pushed himself away from the side of the ship, tossing his chin in a command for her to follow him. "Berwyn Black is the big fella you met earlier, First Mate. He don't do much other than bark around orders here and there, and provide company to the Captain in her lonliest hours. He's more for show than anything else, I suppose, but it's best not to get on his nasty side."

Judas gestured slightly to himself as they walked. "Judas Layre, otherwise known as Blackmane or Pritchard. Quartermaster, which means I'm in charge of all you lot, and next in command to the Captain. I take her place when she's sleeping, I take her place when she's not aboard." He stopped, circling around to face her, his expression one of seriousness. "It's best you avoid starting trouble with any of us three. At least aboard the ship." He warned, acknowledging that he knew she was capable and defiant enough to start things elsewhere. He wouldn't put it past her at all. "I also serve as Master Gunner when I'm not running captain's duties, so I know my way around the artilary here." He studied her for a moment, beginning to walk again. "You'll be serving as a sort of Boatswain for now." He told her. "You will lend a hand in all duties taking place on the ship, and you will report to me with any issues you may find, any squabbles you may get into, and any requests you may have." He tossed a hand towards a few barrels of rum and crates of food.

"Eat and drink when you need it, but we ration our supplies. For now it doesn't matter, for we'll be reaching Witlock in a few days to restock." He came to a stop over a large hatch in the floor. He didn't open it. "Below there is the brig. Sleeping quarters and a closed off section for mutineers or prisoners. If it had been me in charge today you'd be behind bars, but Conwell must see something in you that I do not." He said. "I trust her decision, however, it only takes one slip to be sent down."

"The ship is big enough," Pritchard retorted in response to her question, a small and sarcastic smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'm sure you'll find someplace nice to rest your weary head." His tone was laced with the same sarcasm and flirtatious charm that he'd used with her in the basement of the castle, his molten gaze glittering with a haughty air, as if challenging her to snap back. He enjoyed bantering, and she seemed like a fun one to poke at. He already knew she disliked him, so it shouldn't be that hard to get her to snap back at him, right? He was curious, wanting to see just how far he could push her to catch a glimpse of what she may be capable of. It wasn't exactly an intention of malice or harm, but he did certainly enjoy lighting a little fire once and awhile. The thrill of the risk was just too tempting. Besides, it's not like she could do much at the moment anyway, he knew she was smarter than to pull a sword on him right now.

"Of course there's no feather stuffed pillows that I'm sure your royal highness is used to, but we've got burlap bags filled with sand if that'll do it for ya." He continued, prodding. Despite his respected rank amongst the crew, he was still a young man full of spunk and spite, always seeking out some sort of thrill to brighten up the bleak days at sea. "If not, there's always the option of sleeping alongside a man of your choice," He poked, a sleazy smirk lining his lips, his tone one of immense sarcasm. "I'm sure any one of us would call ourselves lucky to be chosen for it." He flashed her a wink before turning away, tossing his chin again for her to follow. "Come on now! There's someone you need to properly meet."

He moved breezily, his steps confident and sure even as the ship rocked and groaned lightly from the gentle waves and currents it sailed upon. "Come boy!" Jude barked, his voice gruff and commanding. The captain's son jumped upon being singled out, quickly turning and making his way over to the pair, sidling up next to the Quartermaster. "Gage, this is Marina, Marina this is Gage," He introduced, his words flowing quickly and casually from his lips, as if he didn't really care much about formalities. "Now...I would really appreciate it if there were no blades pressed upon any necks between the two of you, can I ask that much?" He said, looking mostly at Gage but his tone pointed at Marina. "You'll be working together, how fun!" He grinned, his tone still laced with a jolly sense of sass and sarcasm. "Do me a favor boy, and grab a pair scrubs would ya?" Gage nodded, looking a bit jittery at the prospect of having to work alongside the woman who'd just attempted to end his life.

He grabbed two large deck scrubs, and Jude slid over a large bucket filled with water. Some spilled messily over the sides of the bucket, dousing the floor beneath them. "Alright princess," He said to Marina, taking a scrub from the boy and placing it in her grasp. "We call this scrubbing the deck." He grinned at her, his eyes glittering with jovial teasing light. His tone was one of as if he was speaking to her like she didn't know anything, although he knew she was anything but dumb. Poking the bear, as it were.

"You and the boy...make it shiny." He directed, grabbing a crisp apple from the pile of food and biting into it. He leaned casually up against the side of the ship, his gaze watching over them as they worked. There was nothing much for him to do right now, and per Captain's orders he would maintain an eye on her for the day. Gage cast a weary glance at his friend, but said nothing, dipping his scrub in the water and kneeling down, running it roughly back and forth against the dirty deck.

"Maybe I do," He replied snarkily to her 'you wish' statement, taking it as lightly as the breeze. She was fun. As the scrub was shoved into her hands, he hadn't paid much attention to what either of them were doing. He'd glanced away briefly, clueless as to what was about to happen. He jumped at the feel of the cold water splashing over him, turning to see Marina beginnig to scrub the deck. Instead of anger or annoyance, a somewhat pleased grin tugged at his lips, his chest bubbling with a sense of satisfaction and excitement.

Now wet, his skin cooled from the breeze, temporarily relieving him of the stifling heat of the sun that glared down upon them. He looked at the apple in his hand, which had now also been doused in dirty water from the bucket. He wasn't about to eat it now. He may be a pirate, but he still had personal boundaries with some things. His gaze flickered between the apple and her kneeled form, watching her scrub away. After a short moment of debate, a small smirk lined his expression and he tossed it at her. Not hard, but swiftly, the fruit knocking off her shoulder and rolling away. Without much warning or time for her to react, he grabbed the half full bucket, attempting to splash the remaining contents over her.

Gage ceased his scrubbing, looking appaled up at his quartermaster. He'd never seen him act this way towards anyone, particularly not a prisoner. Pritchard tossed the empty bucket at Gage, causing the boy to fumble to catch it, dropping his scrub. "Refill it," Jude told him, his eyes alight with spunk. The boy turned, leaving the pair alone as he went to refill the bucket.

"We just about square?" Pritchard asked Marina, hoping she would say or do something in return. "You're fun." He teased. "Do you ever smile? Laugh? Grin?" He poked. "Of course I can understand this is no smiling matter for you, but think about it..." He went on, for once his tone no longer sarcastic. He was genuinely having a bit of fun, and part of him truly did want to see how deep her own spunk ran. Maybe they were a little more similar than he'd previously thought. "You're technically not a princess anymore. At least...not for awhile. Whether you like it or not love, you're a pirate now. No need to act so proper when you're among swine like us, eh?"

The sunlight bounced off his rings, now glimmering because of the water she'd flicked onto him. "Surely it's some sort of relief to be out of that stuffy stone prison, yeah?" He questioned, his voice lowering just a bit, almost sounding as if he was trying to make some sort of genuine connection with her.

(sorry its a bit short lol let me know if you need more)

"Well that sounds like a proper boring court then, doesn't it?" He retorted playfully, picking up another apple and biting into it with a crisp crunch. His warm gaze studied her features as he spoke with her, intrigued by her. It'd been quite some time since they'd had any sort of captives on board, and never once had they had one he found so interesting before. He raised a brow at her last statement, confused yet intrigued at what exactly she meant. He stood still, his gaze following after her as she unclothed the jewelry from herself and pushed herself up onto the rail of the ship. Gage had made his return, quietly watching as he set the bucket down. Judas hadn't taken notice of him though, fully focused on the princess.

He instinctively lurched forward as she fell back, racing to the edge to peer down into the dark water. The sound of his impressed laughter echoed off the water as he saw her break the surface, popping back up from the depths. "You're crazy!" He yelled at her as she began swimming back towards the ship. He grabbed the rope, adjusting it to make it a little easier for her to clambor back up onto the deck. "I say you're as daft as the rest of us," He answered her, a genuine grin on his face, his eyes glittering. He admired how she immediately went back to work, instead of expecting to get out of it. Gage seemed more comfortable now than before, although he stayed silent. He kneeled back down, working alongside her now more confidently than before.

"Pritchard!" The voice of Conwell called out from somewhere above. The young quartermaster turned to look up at her, using his hand to shield the sun from blinding him. "What's going on?"

"Just a little fun, nothing more!" He reported, his tone light and jovial. The captain softened her gaze, amused by him as always. He was a loyal and hard worker, commanding and terrifying when he needed to be, yet still young and full of life. He was truly among one of the livlier souls aboard, and kept relations between the crew civil most of the time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day continued on, Judas spending most of it alongside Marina, showing her different things and giving her tasks to do while he supervised. The heat of the day slowly began to fade as the sun made its journey below the horizon. Its remaining light cast a purple-red glow upon the ship and its crew. Now, with all of the remaining tasks done, he stood next to her, leaning against the rail of the ship and looking out over the sea. The breeze had picked up, sweeping his dark waves around his shoulders as it chilled his skin. He'd removed his vest earlier in the day, leaving his white undershirt unbuttoned to expose his chest and torso to the air. It had been too hot today, stifling and overwhelming for most aboard.

Now that it was cooler, it felt incredible. The light spray of the sea misted his face, bringing forth its crisp scent. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, relaxing the tension from his muscles. The crew was quiet, spread out amongst the ship chattering quietly with each other in their groups, playing games of dice and drinking. The skies were clear, promising an easy and safe night of sailing.

"You know," He said quietly, "For a princess, your first day as a pirate wasn't so bad." He looked her way, a softness in his gaze that hadn't been present before. "You did well. I'm impressed."