Chapter Text
March 22, 1716 - Prince Harrington
Waking up in the middle of the night to people tying you up isn’t the best way to wake up. The prince immediately begins to struggle and fight back, but it’s no use. The hissing burn of too tight rope around his wrist and legs is felt at every move of his body. The cloth around his eyes is digging in to keep him in the dark and the cloth in his mouth is quickly becoming wet at his spit collecting from struggling. All he can hear once his struggling ends is a shh shh shh, and something hard hits him in the end bringing on an even darker blackness.
Once awakened all Steve can hear is the rush of sea wind. He’s familiar with it having traveled by boat many times before he turned 18. Sea wind also brings in the smell of the sea. That salty rich tang of ocean water filling Steve’s lungs as he takes a deep breaths in. The endless tug of rope on his body is killing him. His arms are sore from being tied back so tight and laid on for who knows how long he was out. Another voice rings out, “He’s up, bring him to the brig now!” Then the prince is hoisted up by three pairs of hands and dragged into what he can imagine are the trenches of the ship.
Once again the unmistakable stench of boat living hits his nostrils. The semi sweet smell of body odor long since ignored by this ship's crew. The dank darkness of wet wood, gun power, and the smell of food supply on its way to turn. This ship is nothing like the ships Steve’s had the privilege to travel on. They never let him or his parents venture too far below deck keeping this sailor lifestyle away from their unforgiving eyes. The idea of the richy rich seeing how these men that serve them live. It only ever enraged his father and disgusted his mother. Steve never cared after he was left alone to think for himself. Nancy, his fiancée, helped with learning that.
God, Nancy, he hoped she was ok. The fact that they most likely only came for him brings him comfort, but being left now in the dark is terrifying. His body was finally thrown down in a harsh oof after the sound of a heavy metal door opening.
“Lock it up.” The voice rings out. Again, the sound of heavy metal opening, closing, and now the sound of a key twisting in a lock. From prince to prisoner and not even given the chance to be released from his bindings. Steve’s terrified at this point. Why not already tell him why he’s here. He can’t even beg for an answer because everything about him is blocked off. No sight, sound, or voice. Totally erased from reality.
He rolls himself to his chest so he can at least have his arms freed of being pinned by his body. Sliding his head to the side, Steve gives up and hopes maybe he’ll sleep soon.
March 22, 1716 - Lady Wheeler
The sound of something approaching her window sounded a bell off in Nancy’s head. The unfamiliar prickle of ‘this doesn’t feel right’ caused goosebumps to riddle her flesh. She leaned out of bed to her nightstand to load her pistol. It always took time and she always forgets why she doesn’t just keep it loaded with gunpowder. ‘Safety!’ a voice rings out in her head trying to keep her anger and nerves down. Another gun rule, if loading and shooting keep a cool head, illogical movements will result in mistakes and accidents.
Her pistol is loaded and she sits there waiting for whoever to come through, but no one ever does. The sigh of relief she feels is large. The weight she didn’t know was on her chest was lifted. She’s not an overtly paranoid person, but ever since her little brother was kidnapped she always kept a pistol. Just in case.
She unloaded the gun, and got up to get water from the basin to clean her now sooty hands. She breathes deeply to calm the remaining nerves.
“All is good, no need to worry.” She breathes out. The same mantra repeating in her head and she lays back down to settle.
She’ll address her concerns with Steve in the morning. How she thinks maybe they can either move their rooms closer and just ignore the scandalous nature of that, or hire more guards to help ease Nancy’s stress.
The idea of a scandal makes her laugh. They’re relationship when they first got engaged 2 ½ years ago started how any young couple given free reign of a castle would. They snuck around, fooled around, and did what they wanted despite the maids whispering, and her lady-in-waiting begging her to be more careful.
It all came to a head a year into their relationship when they realized the were living a lie. They loved each other, still do, just their relationship wasn’t that of a to-be-married couple anymore. It moved into friendship, platonic love. It wasn’t easy at first because Steve told Nancy he didn’t just love her in a platonic way and it drove her away. She clearly couldn’t leave the castle, so she drifted into her womanly studies of etiquette and guns.
She became a sharp shooter while Steve stayed in and studied King-to-be studies, that he later informed her was a lot of ‘learn to trust your advisors.’ which was written by advisors who were pulling the wool over your eyes. They reconvened months later in friendship and we’re happy again.
They weren’t set to be married till Nancy was 18, but that came and went. The excuse they were able to use was she was distraught over her brother going missing.
Michael went missing during September of 1715 and was never heard from or seen again. Nancy turned 18 in January, but Steve was able to convince both families it was for the better. To at least give poor Lady Nancy the year to mourn her brother and yearn for his return.
Though, Nancy mostly devised plans on where and how to look for Michael, while also more ways to postpone the wedding. Even begging Steve to find a concubine and to be caught with her. Which Steve denied because he didn’t want the kingdom to see him as a fool.
Her eyes were falling shut and then she heard it. The noise she thought she’d hear with the pistol in her hand. The sound of feet running in her room rapidly approaching her bed. She couldn’t even act quick enough, pinned down and tied up quickly. These people were there to get her and get her quick . Most likely waiting out her entire pistol charade and everything. God, she can be so foolish sometimes.
The people move quickly and have her gaged and bound with her eyes covered in cloth. All she hears is the sound of breathing and she blacks out and something hits her in the back of the head harshly.
She’s woken to the sound of feet on a wooden deck. A sound she hasn’t been allowed to hear since she traveled to Castle Harrington all those years ago. She has no idea how long she’s been out, but there’s at least two people around her based on foot steps alone.
“Pick her up and put her in the brig.” The voice says.
The people around her quickly listen and drag her under the depths into what sounds like a heavy cage of iron. She’s terrified, but they must know who she is, otherwise they would’ve just pillaged the castle, not kidnap her.
Nancy’s, luck for her, womanly studies evolved into kidnap escapes. She taught and studied privately, but she studied all the same. She moved her hands searching for weak spots in the rope or knots. Though, the knots are tied expertly, the rope is brittle and sea worn. She knows if she backs herself against the iron bars she can saw into them slowly and pull her arms out.
She crawls like a slug across the wet wood to the door and wall of iron. Positions herself and holds in her heavy breathing. She’s already exhausted from moving her body without any use of arms or legs. Moving up and down, up and down, was hurting her arms. The burn of the movement, repeatedly becoming hard to maintain. She keeps moving, knowing her theory is correct, because she always is.
The ropes untwine and she can break out and loosen her legs and stretch. She holds in a groan that wants to escape because her body just feels good to stretch out after being confined so tightly for so long. Thankfully she was blindfolded which she knew would come in handy with her eyes needing to focus in the dark. Studying the door and lock she knew she just needed leverage. To get the heavy iron door off it’s hinges and she’d be free.
She devises a plan, remove the door as quietly as possible, if not done quietly grab the wood used to move the door to hit whoever comes to check. Once out, move quietly up to the deck, steal a gun, and demand to return home with a handsome reward. She’d be home by next morning.
Luckily, as Nancy was continuously lucky, there were loose panels on the floor. Picking at floor boards at the bottom of a ship is probably crazy, but she needs out.
She’s able to jimmy a plywood loose and shove it under a piece of iron bar. She lifts and lifts. Gritting her teeth harshly enough that they’re squeaking in defiance. The quiet removal is not happening because the door is too heavy for her to control and it slams down quickly and heavily. The loudest bang Nancy has ever heard rings out on a quiet ship.
Fuck.
She knows she has to act fast. She’s sticking to the plan of hitting whoever runs down and stealing their gun. The person who reaches is a guy who can’t be older than her with sandy brown hair and looks confused at what she’s done. She doesn’t give him time to think and hits him as hard as she could with the plywood which results in him falling on his butt. She moves quickly to steal his gun and move forward.
She feels bad for hitting him especially knowing how young he was but she can’t help but put herself first. She needs to get back home.
She loads her pistol before she’s on deck and sneaks around to hear if anyone else is above deck. She hears a slight shuffling sound and moves, points, and shoots. The person behind who she shot at moves a hair quicker than Nancy could and is missed.
“Wait!” She screams out, raspy and sweet.
Nancy isn’t listening and begins to reload as quick as possible.
“You better just stop now, you’re surrounded.” The woman says holding her hand up to show she’s not armed currently.
“I need to be taken back home.”
“Of course you think you can demand us.” The woman fixes her vest and approaches Nancy. “You are not going anywhere.”
“No I can pay you, please just return me back to the castle.”
The woman just shakes her head and Nancy turns again quickly and shoots behind her.
“Jesus!” One of the four figures behind her screams. “You fucking dinged me!” He calls out, as the four move into the moonlight and out of the shadows.
She looks in horror at what she sees. They’re young boys!
Though, the biggest surprise is who one of the boys is.
“Mike?” Her voice cracks at the sight of who looks like her brother. His dark hair now long and unruly, his skin very freckled from working in the sun, and he’s taller and thinner.
“Nancy?” He moved close to look at her and the recognition in his eyes was obvious.
“You’ve been playing pirate this whole time.”
“I’m not playing Nance. You learned to shoot?”
She twirls the gun on her finger and laughs, “Yeah because I thought your ass got kidnapped and feared the same for me!”
“I was.” He brings a hand up to motion the others away and they listen, all except the woman behind them.
“Then why’re you still here?”
“These are my people Nancy. Not fancy balls and being related by marriage to King Harrington. I needed out and got lucky they picked my window to try and find ransom.” Mike explained to Nancy.
“Well, I need to get home! Steve won’t just let me go missing! He’ll go nuts!”
“Steve’s here Nancy.” Mike states simply.
“Oh.” Nancy blinks and turns toward the woman.
“He’s not as smart as you, Lady Wheeler.” The woman smiles smugly.
“I want to see him.”
“Back to demanding. You can’t, let me take you to a cabin you can use.” The woman moves and Mike follows. Nancy thinks it’s her best bet to just follow the rules now.
The cabin is within the ships lower decks but a room none the less.
“Be happy, we sleep on deck.” Mike smiled and left the door open for Nancy.
“You stay here unless brought out. Do not attempt to escape, you will die. Either by shark or by my hand.” The woman leans in.
“And if I kill you instead?” Nancy asks.
“I like you.” The lady smiles and turns around, but then turns toward Nancy once more, “I’m Barrelman Buckley, you can call me Robin.” she holds a hand out.
Nancy simply just hands her the gun she stole. “Give this back to the boy I hit in the brig. Apologize for any damages.”
Robin smiles and shuts the door, hearing the lock click.
At least now she knows where her brother is, the stress leaving sadly didn’t alleviate much of the other stress she was now carrying.
God, hopefully Steve was ok.
March 23, 1716 - Prince Harrington
“Wake up Princess.” A low voice in the darkness calls out.
Steve can feel he’s mostly unbound, only his hands remain clasped tightly. Still doesn’t stop him from rubbing them raw in movement.
“You’re a good boy. Your lady escaped almost immediately and had to be detained.” The man speaking won’t approach Steve close enough to see his face.
“You took Nancy?” He asks.
“We figured you’d both be worth a pretty penny. Future King and Queen of Hawkins is a pretty big deal.” The voice gets excited at the prospect of money. God, this will be fun.
“I hate to break it to you, but we’re worthless. Well not Nancy, her parents will probably pay, but mine? They won’t even notice I’m gone till you beg for my money, and even then they’ll probably just tell you to keep me.”
The man sits quietly, all Steve hears is when he shifts on whatever wood crate or chair he’s sitting on.
“Rule One Princess: don’t tell your kidnappers you’re worthless.” The voice chuckles out.
God Steve’s so stupid. He just signed his death warrant, they can’t just bring him back… can they?
“Well I haven’t seen any of your faces, just return me and nothing will happen.”
The man who was speaking gets up. The sound of a match striking and an oil lamp burns to life. Showing Steve who he was talking to. A young man his age, with long curly hair, deep dark eyes, and a sinister smile.
“You have now.” The man keeps approaching, “And if we ransom Lady Wheeler, she’ll know who we are and so will you.”
Steve’s doubly stupid he guesses. Nancy outsmarted them enough to escape somehow and here he was on the floor floundering to this man.
“Princess, if you’re truly not worth anything, why would your castle be so protected?”
Steve huffs, “Those are guards I ordered after Nancy’s brother was kidnapped. She was worried about herself and I wanted her to feel safe. I have access to the money, just let me pay you to return us home.”
“Nancy said the same, except she didn’t know you were here. She just said she could pay for us to get her back.” Steve nods to the man. They’re not getting rid of them anytime soon, it’s obvious now.
“Can I see her?” Steve asks.
The eyes focus down on Steve. He looks like he can stare straight through you if he willed it enough. He simply shakes his head no and moves to lock Steve back up. The lock clicks shut and the man walks away, bringing his lamp with him.
March 22, 1716 - Lord Wheeler
Mike didn’t really ask questions when the captain told him what to do. He usually felt defiant in his old life to authority, but with Captain there was a somewhat mutual understanding. He keeps him safe, fed, and clothed. So, when Captain and his First Mate Byers were discussing a big heist and how everyone needed to be involved he sat and listened.
They’re usual game was sneaking up on ships and looting them for money and supplies, but this was reminiscent of his way onto the boat.
Mike woke up in the middle of the night in September to the sound of scraping. Not one to chicken away from things he got out a bed to look for the noise coming from the hallway. He was met with a smaller kid around his age dragging something behind him, when the kid noticed Mike in the doorway he froze. The kid made a slight whistling noise and after that all Mike knew was his life changed forever.
He fell for the distraction, enough for the others to climb through his windows and get behind him to subdue him. Mike’s instincts kicked in quickly and he fought back. Hard. Knocked one of the guys grabbing him back and kicked another in the groin. If this wasn’t life or death he’d probably would’ve laughed at it. They still grabbed him rough and pushed him so hard against the wall that he started seeing stars.
He was successfully kidnapped and in the brig before his ears stopped ringing. The Captain met him and explained, “We want you for ransom, you won’t be hurt anymore I promise.” Which he was honest about, any injuries he got was from being stupid or messing around.
He was released from the brig after he became compliant with the idea that it was only a temporary living situation. He met the crew, who were surprisingly nice and extremely young for a pirate crew, but again Mike knows people don’t become pirates by choice.
He quickly became friends with the other members his age and grew extremely close to Will. Will was the kid from the hallway, his distraction. Will was smart and quiet and one of the only kids on the crew who has a legitimate job besides being a swabbie when it was your week to do the chore. Will does the Captains cartography, he works with Argyle (the ships sailing master) and charts courses and attempts to accurately map unknown locations. One night Mike asked to join and watch and he really liked it. Will opened up to him about how he only joined because his brother First Mate Byers (Jonathan) left to find a job he could make money and bring back to their mother.
Now they loot and make stops occasionally to gift Mrs. Byers with what they have. She doesn’t know they’re pirates, Will says she’d freak out, so they tell her they’re sailors and people tip them well. Mike laughs at the stories Will is telling him while Argyle adds in his own anecdotes about growing up with the crew or his life before Eddie was captain.
When time came to ransom him back Mike didn’t want to go back. Wanted to stay but it’s like the Captain read his mind because he asked if he’d rather just become a member of Hellfire, which Mike quickly nodded and grabbed at his extended hand.
He’s been a member ever since, but they’ve not kidnapped anyone while he’s been here. He listens and gets his job assigned to him, he’s good at tying knots so he needs to be involved. Mike just nods at his job and continues with his duties once they’re dismissed.
Later Mike can hear Will yelling (rare) in the Captain's quarters and the Captain’s harsh voice speaking back. They both aren’t prone to yelling but Captain will bite back harsh words. He quickly moves to swab the deck closer to the door and listen in.
‘It’s not fair Eddie, to force him to do this!’
‘I force no man.’
‘But he listens to you! He shouldn’t have to kidnap anyone!’
‘He was a lost sheep before I kidnapped him! He does as he’s told.’
‘It’s not a big deal! I can tie rope, let me take his job, leave him here please.’ Will’s voice breaks a little
‘No, it is a big deal, Mike ties robe better than all you boys combined. I need him, end of meeting, get yourself back outside before I change my mind of letting you off punishment free.’
‘Aye Captain.’ is squeaked out and walking towards the door is heard. Mike just hides and waits for Will to exit. He’s trying to protect Mike. He knows that despite how he is now being kidnapped was still a terrifying experience to go through at 14. Having to be wrangled and ripped from your own home in the middle of the night. Will cares a lot for Mike, despite the fact that he pulls and pushes him. He doesn’t know why he does it, but sometimes he can’t help but pull back. The idea that maybe it’s all temporary and being friends with anyone is stupid.
He does his job, climbs through the window of an outdated castle, ties the man in bed up tight before he even starts to stir from sleep. By the time he’s up he’s already completely bound, and fighting only digs the ropes into his skin, just watching is making Mike's wrists sting. God, he must be scared because he's blindfolded too. Mike knows he’s retreating into his mind as they make their way out the castle carrying who is apparently the future King of who knows where. Nobody would tell him outright, but he figured it was because they didn’t know. Ignorance on his part.
They’re all congratulated for a job well done and the Captain grants them all wines he took from the castle while the others worked on the kidnapping.
Mike doesn’t put two and two together because he can hear a gunshot and Robin yelling ‘wait!’. He moves quickly and sees her. Despite it being 6 months since he went missing and an additional year since he last saw Nancy he recognizes her.
“Mike?” Her voice cracks at him. God it really is his sister. They kidnapped his sister and didn’t tell him.
“Nancy?” He moves to her, but she’s still armed.
“You’ve been playing pirate this whole time.”
He wishes he was only just playing sometimes.
“I’m not playing Nance. You learned to shoot?”
She twirls the gun in an impressive fashion. One that only someone who is actually skilled and confident could do. God if his parents could see them now! A pirate and a sharp shooter, “Yeah because I thought your ass got kidnapped and feared the same for me!”
“I was.” He wants to just speak to Nancy. He waves his hand at the other boys and they listen, walking off quickly. The only one who remains is Robin, which annoys him.
“Then why’re you still here?”
“These are my people Nancy. Not fancy balls and being related by marriage to King Harrington. I needed out and got lucky that they picked my window to try and find ransom.” Mike explained to Nancy. He did feel lucky, he loves it here. He simply wished they didn’t work behind his back trying to make double what they didn’t make off himself. Kings and Queens, or at least Kings and Queens to be, make a lot more than kid Lords.
“Well, I need to get home! Steve won’t just let me go missing! He’ll go nuts!”
Oh, she doesn’t know. They kidnapped both but it makes sense to keep them separate. Mike’s proud that his sister is smart and tough and escaped, because even he didn’t and did even think to do that for the short time he was in the brig.
Robin moves Nancy to a lower cabin they don’t use and he moves to find the Captain. He’s pissed and angry and knows that he’ll lose his temper when speaking to Eddie but he needs to.
He knocks hard on the wood of the door with his knuckles. He knows he’s in there because he can hear him talking, most likely to Jonathan.
“Enter” Jonathan’s voice rings out.
“You kidnapped my sister.”
Mike doesn’t even want to strategize what he wants to say, just his feelings leading him.
“Aye.” Captain just gazed from his desk.
“You could’ve told me! I asked who or where and everyone shrugged!” Mike approaches the desk quickly, whatever nerves he had were gone, “All I ever got was that they’re future King and Queen, and I should’ve realized then!”
“Why’re you in here Wheeler?” Eddie is still gazing with his dark eyes down to Mike. He feels frozen and has to gain his courage back.
“I just want to know why it was held from me.”
Eddie just makes a motioning towards Mike eyebrows raised, “Because you’d come in here and yell at me like the rich boy you are. Demanding.” Eddie says.
“You disrespect me more than any of my other crew, Wheeler, and I knew you’d attempt to sabotage this mission. Even Will, who listens, attempted to stop this because of you.”
“No, I didn’t ask him to do anything for me, don’t be upset at him, because he’s the only asshole here who thought I’d be opposed to a kidnapping plot, especially one involving my sister!”
Mike can tell this isn’t going to end well, he’ll either be given kitchen duty or forced to be swabbie for the month instead of switching like they usually do.
“We won’t harm your sister, ye know this.” Eddie is tapping his fingers rhythmically on his desk.
“You said that to me and look where I am.”
Eddie stands up abruptly at this, disgust painting his face, “If ye don’t like it I can toss ye off right now. I’ll toss ye and your sister to the water to swim back to your pretty manor in Hawkins. Lord Wheeler, we gave ye a home because ye and your friends begged to let ye stay. I saw the potential in ye to be a good sailor and you’re trying to make me a fool for not trying to collect your ransom. This isn’t worth what I lost not selling ye back. Now get out.”
Eddie is never scary, only in times like this. When his authority is questioned. He’s young, for a captain, which means people of the ships they raid always underestimate him. The crew rarely see this side of him. Mike always pushes too hard though. It’s a habit of his that’s left over from his life before.
The only person who knew Eddie before he became captain was Argyle. Argyle’s parents were a part of Eddie’s Uncle’s crew, but when Wayne was getting close to the end of his career instead of making his first mate next in line, he gave it to Eddie. This didn’t go over with the seasoned sailors well and once Wayne passed and Eddie became Captain they all left. Though they were kind enough not to just kill Eddie and take the ship from him, all to respect the late Wayne Munson’s wish. Argyle was the only person who stayed with Eddie, and knew him from the start.
It was Argyle who explained this to Mike one night after he and Eddie fought earlier on in Mike’s career as a pirate. How Eddie understands the apprehension to follow authority but that’s not who Eddie is. He’s there to keep them safe and keep them alive. Following his rules keeps everything moving smoothly, which means Mike needs to do the chores he’s given.
Mike doesn’t apologize for any outbursts he has, just works hard to show he’s over the situation and is prepared to continue his assignment.
He’s tying everyone’s hammocks up when Will approaches him. Will was the first one he felt safe with and they’ve grown closer more recently.
“I’m sorry about today Mike.” Will moves against the edge of the ship looking out to the dark water below. It’s later than they usually stay awake. He knows it’s past midnight, but they had to be up late to finish their job.
“It’s okay, I guess I got my sister back.” Mike shrugs, pulling the rope he’s working with tight.
“I should’ve been honest that we were going to Hawkins. You would’ve known it’s your sister, instead of us saying ‘future Queen’ over and over.” Will breathed out in frustration, “I’m just sorry.”
“It’s ok Will, it’ll be ok. I know she won’t be hurt obviously.”
Will nods and pats Mike’s hand once he finishes tying the knot against the ship's siding. The hammocks are all set for the rest of the crew to sleep in. The only people who have separate rooms are Captain Eddie, First Mate Byers and Argyle share one, and Barrelman Buckley. The rest of the crew sleep on the main deck, all 10 of them.
He doesn’t want to talk about it, and quickly snuggles into his hammock. Doesn’t want to address that he can feel tears in his eyes. The tears he cries are for his mother, his little sister, and yes even his father. Who will wake to news that their eldest daughter has also been kidnapped, hopefully to return unlike their son. Their foolish son.
March 23, 1716 - Barrelman Buckley
Lady Wheeler was like no one Robin has ever met. The second she pulled a pistol out of her nightstand where jewelry and stationary should be Robin felt her heart kick a funny beat. The type of beat that makes her voice wobbly and her mouth move quicker than she can think out. Yes, she must be ransomed back, but what if?
She’d never tell Eddie, he’d be beyond pissed. He held his frustrations about allowing Mike to become crew stay within his cabin walls. Which resulted in a lot of angry jabbering to her and Jonathan about how the kids are lucky he needs more hands. If she told Eddie that Lady Wheeler was sparking something in her he’d learn to set fires with his mind so she could combust. Two Wheelers would definitely kill Eddie, he already fights with Mike.
She and the girls (El, Max, and Vickie) waited for Nancy to calm down, unload her pistol, and return to her silky bed. Silk is what she deserves, Robin’s private thoughts invade her serious mindset. They move quickly running to the Lady as quietly as possible. Max is the best at tying knots in this group so she has to maneuver Nancy to bind her. She does it before Nancy can even really call out, and El covers Nancy’s mouth and eyes. Robin hits her in the back of the head with her pistol and her head falls limp.
Again, her heart skips even more beats when somehow the Lady was smart enough to escape the brig and end up on the quarter deck with what looks like Gareth’s gun. She almost forgets to move when she sees the movement of her finger on the trigger.
She watches as the woman goes back to load again as quickly as possible, she has trained hands in this. A lady gunner, heavens help Robin. She’s begging to be brought back, paying them to let her go, but that’s not up to Robin.
Robin also assumes the boys approaching Nancy from behind are undetected but she quickly swivels and shoots, the bullet skims Dustin’s shoulder. He protests about it but they quickly move away realizing these two meetings, Mike and Nancy, needed to be private. Private with Robin there, she couldn’t leave them just in case.
Robin sees Nancy’s concern over her fiancé, she’s able to at least ease the tension.
“He’s not as smart as you, Lady Wheeler.”
He’s not, he just fell asleep and gave up any attempt at escaping. Nancy fought, her life meant more to her than this. Prince Harrington gave up. That’s an interesting thought.
Nancy Wheeler fought to live, for her family and fiancé. Steve Harrington gave up, resigning himself to sleeping on the wet floor of a brig.
Robin takes Nancy to a private cabin near her own. Nancy talks about wanting to see Steve, how she just wants to go home, not have her own cabin. Mike tries to ease her frustration.
“You stay here unless brought out. Do not attempt to escape, you will die. Either by shark or by my hand”
Robin wants to be tough for Nancy, thinks she’d like it, but Nancy just threatens her right back. She’s not even scared. Lady Wheeler fears no man, or woman for that matter.
Robin introduces herself properly, hopefully her name rings in Nancy’s head the way her name is fluttering about in Robin’s. Nancy simply hands her Gareth’s pistol and extends her apologies to him. A Lady through and through.
Robin closes the door and locks it. She knows if she keeps it unlocked, they’ll most likely either be dead or sailing back toward Hawkins again once everyone wakes back up.
Robin waits for Eddie in his quarters day cabin while he goes to speak with Prince Harrington. Argyle and Jonathan are in there with her.
“I didn’t fully make the connection that was Little Wheeler’s sister till the freak out.” Argyle says.
“I know I told you.” Jonathan turns towards Argyle.
Argyle sits in silence for a moment, “Oh yeah, maybe you did, I was distracted I think.”
“Do you think Mike will want to go with her?” Robin asks.
The three of them sit quietly. Robin doesn’t entirely think he would. Especially when he told her they’re his people, that he never fit into high society, despite the fact he still very much acts like the child of nobility. Though, Nancy seems like she might not take his word for it and force him back, or even force herself to stay. ‘Please try to stay’ the evil little voice in Robin’s head squeaks out.
“She’s kinda badass, Lady Wheeler.” Robin says and the door pushes open, no knock, which means it’s Eddie.
“Don’t start Buckley, I know what that means.” Eddie tsks and sits in his chair at the desk. “If you're getting lonely go lie with Vickie.”
Vickie. She was Robin’s reason for joining the crew. She followed her around like a lost puppy till Vickie told her she wanted to work, and not just be a woman in low society. A ‘baby machine’ she called it. Robin just followed her to Hellfire and quickly got accepted despite the rumors of women bringing bad luck to ships. Again lonely nights breed interesting situations. Robin always knew she was a lesbian. She also knew she had a crush on Vickie. The day Vickie asked her if she was attracted to any of the guys on crew she sputtered and shrugged.
“I don’t think of them like that.”
“Not even when we’re on sea for 3 months? No one else but their company?” Vickie passes her a bottle of rum to sip. Eddie allowed them to share a cabin since they came together, but that was a year ago.
“The only crew member I think of is you.” It slipped. She knew pirates didn’t care about homosexuality, Jonathan and Argyle were openly dating, but that didn’t mean it was accepted by a girl who lived on land without any previous sailing to be hit on.
Vickie just kissed her lips raw after that. Her brain slippage caused something good for a change. Though, Vickie made it clear it was only when she was lonely and craved female attention. Robin was heartbroken at first but got over it after a while. Vickie wasn’t hers and only hers, she was fine with that. She still was able to be with her when she needed, which wasn’t often, and Vickie was good at what they did.
“I don’t-” Robin starts and stops, “she took an iron door off its hinges, disarmed Gareth and shot at both me and nicked Dustin. All graceful while doing so, she's a badass.”
“She hit Dustin?” Eddie looks worried.
“Not bad Cap, skimmed his arm. Just a little cut and bruised.” Argyle leans from where he’s sitting on the desk to pat Eddie’s head.
Eddie just shakes his head. Taking a deep breath he starts, “Our Prince is dark. He’s gloomy about being kidnapped because apparently he’s worth nothing.” Eddie clasps his hands together, “Told me that his parents wouldn’t notice he was gone till we asked for money and that they’d probably just say to keep him.”
“That’s just cruel.” Jonathan sighs. He’s at least sitting in a chair and not on the desk like Argyle.
“I think he’s bluffing.” Eddie says, “he wants us to not even try, just bring him back.”
“I don’t know Eddie, he literally laid down to sleep after you threw him in there. Obviously Nancy got to work right away.” Robin adds.
“He was sleeping when I got down there.” Eddie sighs out. “So now we have to send our own message out? ‘We have your Prince give us money?’.”
“No you need to go with, ‘We have your Future King, pay our fine or the Harrington line ends now.’.” Jonathan says, “It needs a ring.”
“Oh that’s good and scary, Matey.” Argyle smiles at Jonathan.
“That’s what we’ll do, have Young Lord Wheeler scribe the message and get El to get her little messenger birds to send our message out.” Eddie slaps his desk and the three of them get up to leave Eddie.
“Buckley.”
“Yes Captain?”
“Do not beg for Lady Wheeler to stay. I won’t allow it this time.”
Robin simply nods and salutes Eddie on her way out. He lets out a breathy laugh as she closes the door. Maybe she should seek Vickie out, but she’s on bird nest duties tonight instead of Robin. Rare, but Eddie gave her the night off. Robin simply slips below deck to approach her cabin and stares at the lock on the door next to her.
Lady Wheeler, soon to be Queen Nancy. Oh that sounds so lovely. Queen Nancy the badass how I wish to hold your gun powder stained hands.
March 23, 1716 - Captain Munson
He released Robin, Argyle, and Jonathan from their duties for the night to sink into his cabin. It’s been a long day, long week, fuck maybe even a long month. They needed money badly.
Eddie did the bookings thinking the Wheeler boy deal would go through by December, in time for holidays. Sadly, he got shot in the heart with an arrow because his Brimstone Boys came crying asking for their friend to stay. Eddie hates saying no, hates letting someone who needs a place to stay leave, and he hates disappointing Dustin, Lucas, and Will.
He didn’t think they’d like Mike, he certainly didn’t at first. He was crass and rude and snooty. Repeatedly disobeyed his demands, and laughed when he did. Eddie made him a cabin boy at first, but god that only lasted a couple days. Mike would do things wrong, salt his food too much, spike his coffee, burn holes in his shirts, and allow his candles to burn till the wax dripped to the floor.
When he made him take kitchen duty the whole crew got sick. No one even knows if he really did it on purpose. Mike’s never even been in a kitchen before, but it was enough to kick him to swabbie. Which he was actually good at. He was thorough and efficient, but he quickly grew bored and would make it a game. Dancing with his broom and mop making El and Max laugh from where they would work on the rigging amongst the sails.
Then, one day, Mike asked the girls to teach him rigging and knots. He quickly learned and was extremely good at it, and became better than them. Max was beyond pissed when Eddie made her and El switch with Mike. She protested and yelled how a silly rich boy learns something she’s been doing for years and he takes her job. El just told her it’s okay that they can just take it back once he leaves.
Sadly for them, Mike never leaves, and he stays working in rigging. The girls have general maintenance jobs now and still scowl from below Mike while he climbs mast to mast retying or reroping. El even makes her birds attack him sometimes, but no one knows how she could possibly convey them to do that. Eddie thinks she has mind powers.
Taking Steve’s deal of him just paying for his safe return home could be good, but rich parents, nobility, no royalty , would pay an ungodly amount for their only heir’s safe return. Eddie racks his hand through his hair, he needs a bath soon. Usually when they make port he’ll take one but they had no time. Tomorrow he’ll order whoever is on cooking duty to warm pots of water for him so he can relax and wash.
He hopes sending out a note for money will work and the Princey is wrong. That his parents do care about him and he’s just insecure, but Eddie knows, rich people don’t have insecurities. Steve might just be right, and then Eddie’s really fucked.
Fucked to the point he’ll have to sell things, which he doesn’t have much. Maps maybe. Will’s cartography skills are good enough, maybe someone will buy their maps and they’ll just have to start over again. Maybe he’ll really just sell Mike back to teach him a lesson, the little shit. Mike would come back though. Oh that’s a good idea actually. Get Mike home, take the money, and Mike runs away on his own volition. Tell his parents he ‘fell in love with the lifestyle, sorry bye!’.
That’s Plan C. After parents ransom, and safe passage payment. This could work.
Eddie huffs a sigh of relief. He’s semi-figured this out and the crew can be happy. No need to worry about starving a boat full of teenagers to death. At least not for a couple months.
His cabin is dark, all he can see is the moonbeams coming through the window. He tosses his clothes off, morning Eddie’s problems, and climbs into bed.
He tosses an idea back and forth. Does he release Prince Steve from his cage? Nancy’s already out, why not Steve. The guy probably could even roam free and not be a concern unlike Lady Wheeler. She is badass but Eddie wouldn’t give Robin that win. Won’t plant any ideas in that head of hers.
Steve made Eddie angry. He gave up quickly, he had no will for anything. When you’re rich you have so much to live for so why did Steve relinquish so quickly? He’s foolish, demanding things, like every rich person does in situations they have no right to demand for shit in. He can poke at the guy more tomorrow. Bring him above deck and see what he does.
If he’s any better than Mike was he might get a decent worker out of him. Maybe he’ll make Steve his cabin boy. He has experience of being waited on, just from the other end. He can follow whatever shit he had people do for him for his whole life.
Oh what a good idea. Prince Steve will be his cabin boy. It’s a delicious thought that makes Eddie laugh to himself. Sleep comes easily now that the money and what to do with Steve issues have some resolution.