Unexpected, Not Unwelcome

[Trevor Marin]

To say that Trevor hadn't expected the night to end as it had would have been a terrible understatement.  He'd invited the captain of the Black Dagger to his home with genuinely friendly intent.  He'd long been taken by the pirate captain's free spirit and undaunted will, both of which had been on display during their first encounter in the very room the two of them were now in.  That night, however, as late as it had gone with the two of them talking for hours over many glasses of wine, had yielded drastically different results.  Regardless of his interest in the dark haired privateer, nothing had prepared him for the surge of emotion that had sent the two of them to his bed.

Trevor lay, head swimming from the mead along with the lustful acts that had transpired just moments ago.  As unexpected as it had been, there was no awkward tension to be found, rather he found himself overcome with a an almost peaceful sense of contentment.  Even though the two had yet to exchange any sort of romantic pleasantries and Trevor doubted anything substantial would come from such a fling, he was remarkably calm.  He remained close, his fingertips running lazily along the tan, bare skin of the woman beside him, his mind lost in thought.  Was there anything more than a simple act of carnal pleasure to be gleaned from this?  Although he'd never freely admit it just yet, Trevor hoped so.

"When will the Dagger be ready to set sail?"  Trevor asked, his tone low and calm.  His mind wasn't focused on anything close to business, and yet he felt the need to break the silence and speak of anything other than what had just happened.

[Erika Smith]

After deliberating it, Erika had ended up going to Trevor's place after being invited. She supposed that curiosity won over her stubborn traits more often than the brunette cared to admit. One thing had lead to another and a few bottles of wines later, the pair found themselves in the older man's bed.

That was, perhaps the most unexpected outcome. Then again, she supposed that if she had been given the time to actually think about it, the two of them had been playing a game of cat and mouse for quite some time.

With a groggy grunt, the brunette shifted slightly, though she didn't move very far. "In a day or two," she replied. She'd given her crew a few days off and it was nearing the end of their vacation. "Could probably get it ready either sometimes tomorrow or the next day."  She didn't mind the fact that they didn't linger on the topic at hand. Not because it made her feel awkward (because it didn't), but because she saw little point in discussing something that had come so natural for the both of them.

After all, what was there to discuss. "Eager to get out on the sea?" she asked, amused.

[Trevor Marin]

Trevor nodded faintly, even though he'd hardly heard Erika's words. No matter what had transpired in previous meetings between himself and the pirate captain there was something disorienting about sharing a bed with her. He supposed they had been skirting dangerously close to their game taking such a turn but it didn't make the actuality of it any less surprising.

Regardless of how strange the night had been Trevor found himself remarkably at ease. He glanced to her as she shifted, his eyes taking in the faded outline of her body in the dim light. He wasn't all that excited about the idea of spending an extended period of time stuck aboard a ship with a horde of surly sailors in spite of a long dormant sense of adventure that was beginning to rise up inside him. "How will your men feel about heading out to sea so soon after returning to port?" He asked curiously. He knew Erika was the type to eagerly undertake any adventure without fail, he couldn't help but be curious about the morale of her crew.

[Erika Smith]

The brunette smirked through the groggy haze that had settled upon her mind. "They should be glad they're getting any time off at all," she replied simply. After all, staying at port for this long was unusual for them. They usually had another mission right after delivering the first; it was an endless cycle. Though, this time she'd felt her crew needed some time to relax. And they'd gotten that.

They could complain as much as they wanted, but one important fact remained unchanged; she was the captain and if they didn't like her plans, they could always leave the ship. It wasn't like many of them knew about the extra cargo the ship held. She'd made sure things remained as quiet as possible.

[Trevor Marin]

Trevor paused a moment, nodding in silence as he delayed his response. His eyes had drifted over to the form next to him. He knew all to well how guarded and distant the two of them could be. Perhaps that was the reason the evening had escalated so quickly. The lure of being honest and straightforward (whether there was anything more than a simple, carnal need being fulfilled this night or no) was enticing, to say the least and knowing Erika there was something that felt... safe. The two of them had a mutually beneficial business partnership that had netted a great deal of coin and they didn't seem in a hurry to break that.

"Uh, right." Trevor's head shook a little as if he was snapping out of a daydream. Just mere seconds had been enough to draw him into his own mind and distract him from the idle conversation. "I'll make arrangements to bring aboard some extras. I have a feeling your 'special' cargo will be much easier to transport if it's afforded a few luxuries." He chuckled lightly at that. While he didn't agree with the direction this all had gone he was part of it whether he wanted to be or not. He might as well do his part to make the transaction go as smoothly as possible. "Clothes and the like, just to keep her calm." His head shook and he sighed a softly. "That harpy's squawking could make a Chevalier jump on his own blade."

[Erika Smith]

Lifting her head then, the brunette smirked. "You say that as if I don't have clothes the girl can wear that she'd be pleased with." She raised her eyebrows, as if challenging him to say anything that could be remotely considered offensive. "I'll have you know, Mr. Marin, that pirates aren't nearly as savage as they make us sound like." Still, she supposed it was amusing. She wasn't exactly the kind of girl one expected to carry around fine dresses, but then again, she had afforded herself a few luxuries over the years.

Especially considering how often she had to walk among the many nobles. Coming into their presences wearing her usual attire wouldn't exactly do her business good. As much as she loathes wearing anything that wasn't pants, she too, had to give into the peer pressure of business.

[Trevor Marin]

Trevor met Erika's smirk with on of his own. His eyes gleamed a bit when she looked at him, though there would be no way he'd ever admit it. "I never said you didn't." He replied. "I only said I could arrange for something she could wear." A light chuckle escaped then as he sat up, resting his back against the bed's headboard. "You forget I've seen you in formal wear. I'd hate for your 'cargo' to ruin any of those lovely dresses of yours." There was a hint of playfulness in his voice even though he wasn't lying or even joking around.

"Anyway." Trevor waved a hand idly. He had a number of reservations when it came to the nature of this excursion but he wouldn't let that show. Erika was a capable and competent captain in her own right, even if he couldn't shake the feeling that this was all going to end badly. "Before you set sail let me know what additional supplies you'll need to keep her highness from driving you and the rest of your crew insane."

[Erika Smith]

She arched her eyebrow, the smirk still very much present. "Uh huh," she simply replied. In a way, Erika supposed she wouldn't mind her dresses being ruined. After all, it wasn't as if she really liked wearing them. No, she much preferred pants and perhaps a shirt that offered both warmth, but also the ability to breathe if the weather got too hot.

"If she gets too annoying, I'm sure a few rounds in a cell with a bucket will ease her up some," Erika shrugged. She wouldn't openly admit that the image of a noble girl having to live like less than a commoner amused her. Of course, they would take properly care of the girl, but also show her who, exactly, was in charge.

[Trevor Marin]

Trevor nearly winced at the mere thought of the young woman in question being forced into a cell. He sighed a little and shook his head. He was started to doubt Erika knew, just exactly, what it was she was getting herself into. It wasn't the ethical ramifications or even the threat of legal punishment that he was worried about. It was the simple fact that the young woman in question was far more horrible when she was upset than Erika could possibly imagine.

"I... don't think that would help." He chuckled then. "You obviously don't know Ellen Orland very well." Trevor sighed, though the smirk never left his features. If it had been anyone else undertaking such an endeavor he would have either severed all ties or maintained his ignorance and insisted on being left out of the entire thing. The reasons why he seemed so invested in this would remain hidden for the moment. "Put her in a cage with a bucket and see how long before your crew are throwing themselves overboard just to get away from her incessant shrieking."

[Erika Smith]

Chuckling softly, Erika pulled herself up and rested her head against the palm of her hand. "And you're clearly underestimating our patience," she smirked in turn, though her words were more teasing than serious. Still, to quickly shut the older man up, the brunette leaned in to place her lips softly against his.

Once she pulled away, she moved her hand to the tip of his jaw and dipping his head down so that she could properly look into his eyes without having to stretch her neck. "Worry doesn't suit you, Mr. Marin," she said, her tone hushed. "You're making it too easy for me to tease you, dear."

[Trevor Marin]

Trevor was worried. More than he'd ever admit. Goldcrest didn't take kindly to such illegal acts and the prominence of the young woman's family added a dangerous element. The patriarch of the Orland family wasn't any mere merchant or farmer. He was an admiral in the navy and, if he so wished, could bring the might of Goldcrest's military down upon those who had kidnapped his daughter. If pressed, Trevor would leave the nature of his reservations at that. There wasn't any sort of personal connection or concern with the situation. None at all.

He'd gone to speak again, to further voice his uncertainty about the kidnapping and subsequent ransom demand but the words never got the chance to pass through his lips. The kiss had surprised him not only in its timing, but also in the certain softness it carried that belied the seemingly casual nature of their relationship. Trevor's features lightened and he nodded, exhaling slowly as he caught Erika's gaze. The confidence shined through in her eyes and, in a way, Trevor found that both comforting and disconcerting. "Maybe if you weren't so reckless I wouldn't worry as much." Though it was obvious the words were said with more than a hint of fondness to them. It was, after all, the reckless abandon Erika lived her life with that Trevor found so appealing.

[Erika Smith]

Grinning against his lips, the brunette shrugged her shoulders playfully. "So you do worry," she said, once again her voice teasing him. She didn't quite know why she found so much amusement in the discovery that even Trevor was human. Though, she suspected it came from the fact that more often than not, he acted more like a machine than anything. Everything he did and said seemingly went on automatics.

In a way, she envied him that. She often acted on emotions. Which was where her reckless nature came into play. She acted in the moment, purely based on whatever emotion and instinct was at the tip of her tongue. Sure, she sometimes made plans, but they usually fell through to whatever the heat of the moment told her. It was a vicious circle, but it had kept her alive this far.

[Trevor Marin]

"Maybe." Trevor replied with a murmur. He took advantage of the closeness and stole a kiss from Erika's lips while she lingered. It was a rare display of human emotion in spite of his insistence on being vague and almost dismissive. He was all too aware of the sense of security he found with Erika behind closed doors. Had it been anyone else, Trevor wouldn't have even acknowledged the assertion of caring, let alone all but admit it. "Given the circumstances I don't think it's out of line to prepare for the unexpected." He said even though it was quickly becoming apparent he was losing interest in talking business while Erika lingered so close.

In many ways the enigmatic pirate represented an impulsive state of mind Trevor often lacked. Everything he did was calculated and planned out. He never liked allowing himself to act with emotion. In his line of work that usually led to making mistakes and those could be deadly. And yet, an entire life of studying and contemplating each step he took was cast aside the moment he found himself in Erika's presence away from prying eyes.

"Your impulsiveness will be the death of us both." He mused, though his tone belied the words. Erika's impulsiveness may drive him crazy but he couldn't imagine her being any other way.

[Erika Smith]

There was a sense of comfort and security to be found within the constant that seemed to be Trevor Marin. He was everything she wasn't; he was calm and collected, always had a plan and seemed to have it all together. He walked around with the kind of confidence that made people think he had all the answers. And sometimes, Erika caught herself in believing that too.

He was equally hard to read as he was easy to read. There was always some kind of secret or greater knowing behind his smile, yet there was also a sense of innocent playfulness to it. She both knew where he was going with what he did or said, and at the same time, she knew nothing at all.

"Ah, what bittersweet death that will be," she mused in turn, not quite able to keep the smirk from appearing on her lips. Which she quickly hid by pressing her lips against his.

[Trevor Marin]

Trevor, even though he gave a faint shrug of his shoulders, found no disagreement with Erika's assertion. He wasn't given time to search, though, as her lips found his mere moments after she'd spoken. His arms instinctively went around her, pulling her body to him. He hated the way he felt around Erika. She was able to draw out his vulnerabilities like nothing else he'd ever experienced and paralyzed him with her touch. Even then he was beginning to wonder how he had managed to live so long without it.

"I still think I'm going to do what I can to make sure that doesn't happen for a while." He mused, smirking against Erika's lips. He spoke with confidence even though he knew damn well once the Black Dagger left port he was going to be in Erika's world and his words were going to mean less and less with each mile of open water they traversed.