Emerging With Grace

[Trevor Marin]

The chuckle that escaped Trevor's throat drifted through the cabin. He never could allow himself to fully give into any sort of emotion, positive or negative but it seemed as though Erika had just said something he found terribly amusing. His head shook as his gaze followed Erika as she procured the glasses and bottle of whiskey. He nodded in thanks as he accepted the offered glass and took a sip. "I have to admit, pirates know their liquor." He said thoughtfully before returning his focus to the matter at hand.

"You know, this shipment I've been tasked with seeing delivered bears the seal of a Therinian general." Trevor paused to take another sip from the glass. A thin smile touched his lips as he savored the warmth of the liquid. "I'm being paid a handsome sum to see its safe arrival. I would only be doing my due diligance by personally overseeing the cargo while it's in transit." That he had his own less than moral reasons for wanting to make the long, arduous journey to Westwind was beside the point. There were many birds to be sorted out by the single stone provided by his booking passage on the Black Dagger.

[Erika Smith]

"That we do," she agreed with a smirk. Erika had come to love many parts about the life of a pirate. Truth be told, it wasn't that much different than any commoner. At least, if you looked away from the obvious parts. But there was still parts she enjoyed. Like the feeling of being completely free out on the sea and having no master. It was at the very least better than her other options.

"Is that so?" Erika's eyebrows raised in amusement; she hadn't expected him to accept her offer. In fact, she hadn't expected that to ever happen. Naturally, it only made her more curious as to why. Again, it wasn't her place to ask. The less she knew, the better. Hoisting herself up to sit on the desk, the brunette lifted the glass to her lips. "Don't worry. I'll tell the lads not to make too much fun of you during our journey." She found the image of having Trevor join them amusing. 

[Trevor Marin]

Another chuckle escaped. This one carried less merriment yet Trevor's confidence was apparent. He shrugged faintly, his eyes gleaming with a near mischievous light. He rarely had to lie to make it seem as though he usually knew more than someone else and in this case, he truly did. Erika was shrewd enough to silently question his motives, of this he could plainly see, but she was wise enough not to voice her curiosity. The more time he spent around this young woman the more he was beginning to see the benefits of their partnership.

"I don't think that will be a problem." He said with unwavering confidence. "I'm paying for the expedition so I'll ensure there's plenty of liquor to go around when they're off duty." He gave a light laugh. "Hopefully that'll be enough to keep them off me." His head shook as he glanced to Erika for a moment. He leaned against the wall beside the window the two of them had looked out of before. "Contrary to popular belief I have been on a ship before." He said. "Granted it was some time ago, but as long as you don't ask me to climb the masts I should be fine."

[Erika Smith]

"Not all pirates spend every free minute drinking," she warned him with light amusement. After all, even though many members of her crew enjoyed a drink, she usually stayed sober. She would keep an eye on him and really, that was all he had to worry about. "Don't worry, I'll make a proper pirate out of you," she winked. She found this situation amusing to say the least. She was going to enjoy every single drop of this expedition.

Bottoming her drink, the brunette wiped her lips off with the sleeve of her shirt and put the glass down with a gentle thump. "You can take that however you please, landcrab." She couldn't keep the mischievous grin from forming on her lips as she watched him, her eyes gleaming.

[Trevor Marin]

Trevor watched Erika as she spoke then downed her drink with a gaze that matched her mischievous amusement. Try as he might even Trevor couldn't fully buy into his own confidence. He was hardly nervous about the idea of spending weeks at sea but even he would have to admit (even if only to himself) there was a sense of uncertainty regarding how well he'd take to life on a ship. He doubted any problems would arise between himself and the crew, though, which was a comfort.

"I think my pirate career will be one and done." He admitted this freely with no wavering of his amused smirk. "I can scarcely navigate my way out of my bedchambers at night, let alone find my way while on the open ocean. And I won't be carrying much or climbing up the rigging." Trevor gave a shrug at that. He could move around under normal circumstances without much of and issue but anything much more strenuous that could be problematic. "I'm afraid if I wasn't paying for everything I'd be of little use to you."

[Erika Smith]

"Now that is something we can both agree on." Erika took some sense of pride in the fact that there was something she knew better than the man standing before her. For someone as confident and well-versed as himself, he had very little knowledge about the life at sea (which he admitted freely), but that was exactly where she knew everything. The sea was her playing field. She would be lying if she didn't say that she was looking forward to a change of pace.

And it simply made it better that he was the one having to bend down for a change.

"Before you teach yourself how to navigate through your house, you should really invest in some better security. I mean, it's rather sad." She of all people knew; she'd been there before and had tested his security. It wasn't the best. Of course, it had offered a few problems, but nothing the brunette hadn't been able to handle.

[Trevor Marin]

Trevor issued a snort that escaped between a laugh. He sighed, shaking his head while he brought the glass up to his lips and finished off the rest of the whiskey. "And why would I do that?" He asked, that mischievous glint returning to his eyes as he looked to Erika. He remembered the night in question very well. It had been his design, after all. "No one is foolish enough to try and steal from me." He said with a quiet confidence even though he actually had sunk considerable coin into hiring the Marauders to now oversee his estate's security.

"Anyway." Trevor continued, waving his hand dismissively. "If breaking into my estate had been any more difficult I wouldn't have had anyone to share those three bottles of Abrean wine with now, would I?" He smirked, studying her reaction. Although unexpected Trevor looked at the night he'd first met Erika with a certain fondness. The young pirate had certainly brought an element of unpredictable excitement that had been missing in his life. "Speaking of which, that reminds me. I just received a barrel of Honeybrew Meadery's finest reserve. Perhaps we could sample it over dinner before we leave port."

[Erika Smith]

"You say that now," she replied without missing a beat. Ambition and allegiances didn't exactly go hand in hand. People stabbed each other in the back for less. No, Erika wasn't foolish enough to risk her partnership. At least not for the time being while it still benefit her. She couldn't say the same thing for everyone else, though.

With a grin, the brunette replies, "Touché." His next suggestion had the brunette's eyebrows rising in amusement. "Now, now, Trevor. I thought you knew better than getting too personal with a pirate. We're flight risks, you know." She smiled, though. "For all you know, I'd only take advantage of your poor state and use it for my own gain." She shrugged innocently. "I think you're better off saving that for a finer noble girl." She raised her eyebrows dramatically.

[Trevor Marin]

Trevor's only response was an expression that plainly read as a reminder of who he was, not to the public eye but to those who had chosen to lurk in the shadows. Very few knew of his true dealings with the thieves guild but all of them were well aware his property was off limits. Anyone ignorant enough to accidentally steal from Trevor Marin was surely signing off on their own exile from Goldcrest, at best and their death warrant at worst. Perhaps it was hubris or pride, but the for time being it suited Trevor well enough.

"Is that so?" Trevor seemed undaunted in the face of Erika's warnings. It didn't help he nearly laughed at the idea of being taken advantage of. After all, Trevor knew people usually far better than they could ever hope to know him. he liked to think he would see any such double cross coming a mile away. "Maybe I understand more than you think." He pushed off the wall and slowly crossed the room, drawing closer to where Erika sat. "No matter how far out a pirate goes, they must always return to port, yes?" He chuckled a bit. "And do you really think I, of all people, could ever find interest in a boring, whining noble?"

[Erika Smith]

She watched him as he drew closer, her expression unreadable. "If they return, yes," she agreed. She could surely decide right there and then to read more into his words, but she was enjoying this game of cat and mouse far too much to let it distract her. "Then what are you interested in, Trevor?" she asked curiously, her head tilting. Still, she kept her expression unreadable. "You're coming off as awfully suggestive," she added, as if saying it to no one in particular. Still, the brunette smirked.

She had always enjoyed their banter. It was probably what had lead her to their current partnership. Well, that and the obvious benefactions of it. Erika considered herself to be as free as a pirate nowadays could possibly be, but even she knew that no one got far in this world without allies. And she was glad she'd placed her bets on the right horse.

[Trevor Marin]

"If they have something to return to, it seems a safe bet." Trevor replied, his tone indicating he knew exactly what he was doing. He studied her for a moment and it became clear she was reading no more or less than what he desired her to see. Was there more to his words? It was entirely possible the ambiguity was all part of the ruse. The sea may have been Erika's home but words were what made up Trevor's abode.

"Am I?" He asked with equal curiosity. It was as if Erika's comment had spoken more about her than it had Trevor. "You know, many believe that our own motivations and wants color our perception of others." Trevor spoke in a slow, almost methodical tone that still somehow managed to carry a warmth and confidence. His voice carried equal parts curiosity and assertion, as if Erika's reaction to what he said was more important than the words themselves. "Does seem I'm coming off as suggestive because of my own perceived intent, or because I'm touching on thoughts and ideas you've already had?"

[Erika Smith]

"Is that so?" she asked curiously. "I suppose that goes both ways then. Maybe you're only seeing what you want to see?" Just like him, the brunette kept her cards pressed tightly against her chest, giving away nothing. Her expression remained neutral, though perhaps a bit amused. She was amused by the situation she suddenly found herself in. Trevor clearly enjoyed his mind games and she had no issues playing along with them. Though, if there was anything the man wanted, he'd come a long way being clear about it instead of fishing.

The brunette didn't so easily bite. 

Standing then, the brunette faced him. "And I'm not the one placing ideas into a pirate's mind about having something to return to, so that's the one thing you're going to have to take responsibility of, all on your own." If this life had taught the brunette anything, it was that putting faith in a pirate and their return usually was fruitless. She wasn't going to claim that a pirate's life was safe, but that wasn't the issue. You didn't become a pirate if you had anything to come home to and more often than not, you become a pirate because you didn't want to.

[Trevor Marin]

"Maybe I am." Trevor agreed with a nod. His reply came quickly and without hesitation. He was well aware his words were a double edged sword and it further proved his point that Erika had been astute enough to turn that blade back toward him. A lesser mind would have balked, hesitated and perhaps grown uneasy but not Erika. She saw through his game. And he loved every moment of it.

"If this pirate you speak of happens to be considering that idea then I would be inclined to accept responsibility." While Trevor's words may have still been vague there was a certain genuine curiosity that had crept into his features. This, much like seafaring, was hardly his specialty. "I fear you're mistaken if you believe I'm asking for your hand in marriage." He said, a bit of his usual smirk returning.

Trevor paused, studying Erika for just a brief moment before he pulled away, turning with intent to take his leave for the night. "Oh." He said as if just remembering something important he wished to say. He stopped in his tracks and glanced over his shoulder. "As for giving you a reason to return to any given port..." He gave a shrug of his shoulders. "Neither of us have the ability to tell the future. Who's to say what may come?" The smirk returned to his lips in full force though a sort of soft, almost hopeful remained in his eyes that belied his confident words. "Tomorrow at sun down. I'm sure you remember where my estate is." He chuckled a bit. "There's no need to dress up."

[Erika Smith]

That, actually, had the brunette laughing. And not a simple laugh either, but a deep laughter that seemed to send a tremble through her body. "Oh no, that would be stupid of you," she replied. And they both knew that Trevor Marin didn't make stupid mistakes - or rather, did anything stupid at all.

She had always enjoyed the man's charm; it was one of a kind. He carried himself with the kind of confidence that few others did. Naturally, Erika didn't bite onto single word he uttered, but still, there was a certain assurance around him. One she didn't see with many. Being around him was comfortable - the kind of comfortable people searched their whole lives for.

She nodded then, having to give him that. "Aye, aye captain," she replied in turn, mimicking the smirk that so apparently playing on his lips with one of her own.

Little did he know that Erika had absolutely no intention of actually showing up.