Salma decidedly ascended the stairs back to the upperdeck. She shrugged Richmond's uncaring attitude off. After all these people hadn't asked for her presence.. but did this keep them from just acting nice? Remembering that it was not necessarily in the nature of humans to be nice, a smile appeared on her self-assured face. She brushed back her raven black hair as she appeared on the deck.
The dice game was still going and the other pirate, who claimed to know her, was still fervently smoking her pipe.

Realising that most crewmembers minded their own business anyway she strolled around the deck, searching a bucket. She would not be so stupid to drink the salty water but to cleanse the blood off her face would be nice. Hopefully then people would stop staring at her.

The lowered the bucket by a rope and let it fill with water. Walking over to a place where no unwanted eyes could follow her, Salma sat down and started to wash her face. The salt literally burnt the wound clean, but she hardly noticed. She washed her face, her hands and arms and for the first time in a long time Salma felt clean again.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

_________________


Illuminate the way to my heart,
It's twisting on a thread
+ COME RAISE THE DEAD +

Salma walked with waving skirts over to the game of Liar's Dice. She set herself next to Dante, her low-cut corset brushed past his arm as she swung her slim arm around his shoulder. "Are you winning, handsome?" she whispered in his ear. Then, upon catching Andrea's gaze, she raised her eyebrows. "Where are you staring at?" Her tone was not unfriendly but it did pronounce her irritation of being stared at. The girl then gripped the bottle of booze so tightly that the glass almost splintered. Salma decided that she had some problems, of which jealousy was not the least.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

_________________


~~Siggy by Lembas~~

[[I will definitely get my post up tomorrow - sorry to get your hopes up when you saw that I had posted in the Non-LotR RP section. Tomorrow afternoon which will be more like 9PM to all of you Brits, I'll recap the entire RP and then most likely have something posted that same night. I'm really excited to throw Soren into the action and maybe Robyn will come along too. ]]

[[Pan - I figured you could have Linny call Vari out on this one as the rum is starting to affect her xD Yay for Varied! I really missed this pairing. ]]

Vari’s world was beginning to blur as she watched new people entering the cabin - or perhaps it was that they had been there all along, but her senses were far too clouded by the alcohol flowing through her veins and the tension of the game. Oh yes, it was her turn… Lifting the cup slowly, she squinted her eyes as she tried to watch the moving spots painted on the dice and decipher exactly what they read. “Uh… I’ll wager eight sixes,” she said, brow furrowed in attempted concentration, which was broken as she let out a loud hiccup.

Edward rolled his eyes; it was beyond obvious that she was going to lose with a wager like that, and of course the rum wasn’t making anything much better. He swiftly snatched it from her grasp and took a long swig of it himself. Vari lunged for the glass bottle but Ed only moved it further away from her. “Ah-ah-ah… I think ye’ve had enough.” He lifted the bottle to his lips and drank again, her eyes glued to his Adam’s apple bobbing tauntingly as he drank. Green eyes watched her carefully, his body prepared to dodge at any moment.

“Oi, Ed, what’s that?” Vari asked, pointing just behind Edward’s chair. Like a gullible fool, he fell for the bait and turned sharply, his body becoming pinned underneath Vari’s as both fell onto the wet wooden floor with a loud <i>thud!</i> As she reached for the bottle, Edward thought fast and pressed his lips against Vari’s. Whimpering softly, hazel eyes were swallowed by dark lashes and her arms latched firmly around his neck as the bottle of rum smashed against the floor.

As Soren entered the room, small red apple in hand from the galley, he took one look at Ed and Vari and made a face of ‘I’m not even going to ask.’ Taking a bite of the apple, his blue eyes scanned over all of the occupants of the small cabin. But it was when his eyes settled on Dante and the woman next to him did the browning apple slip from Soren’s grasp and roll across the wooden planks. A gasp was caught in his throat and he choked at the sight. Something beyond his control willed him to move, closing the distance between him and Dante, and the… the <i>prostitute</i>. “Dante,” Soren breathed in the raven-haired pirate’s ear, “I need to speak with you,” his voice had cracked something fierce and he quickly added while glaring at Salma, “in private.”

------------------------

Robyn Blackhaven stood on the deck of the <i>Pearl</i>, oblivious to the events taking place below deck. Her short hair whipped about her face as she stared out into the night, the moon above glistening on the water below. It was a beautiful night to be sure; a peaceful reminder of the nights she and her brother had spent gazing at the stars and dreaming of the high seas before he died. <i>Would he be proud of me now? If he knew that I was trying to make our dreams come true?</i> She was so hopelessly lost in those old memories that she hardly noticed the footsteps approaching behind her.

[[Ha ha, no one likes Salma… In all honesty she makes me want to jump through the screen and punch her in the face. >.< That means you’re doing a fabulous job, Will. Anyone can be above-deck with Robyn - I think Goldy wanted to bring Eve in though? Brain hurts… will post for Jack when I get a chance… agh headaches!!!]]

Dante was watching the scene unfold with amusement. He wasn't sure what any of the three ladies had but he knew that someone was lying. They had to be. His attention though was soon thwarted when a warm body brushed against his shoulder. Dark eyes turned to look at a buxom woman who was standing just a bit too close for even his comfort.

"As you can clearly see by my distance from the game. I am not even playing, savvy?" A brow arched but he made no immediate move to step away from the woman named Salma.

Dante knew better than to start anything so he tried to just ignore her shameless flirting. She was barking up the wrong tree anyways and eventually she would soon learn that.

Back at the table Loraline was eyeing Vari quite suspiciously. The woman had placed her bet and didn't look too convincing doing it either. Just as she was going to call out the older pirate the woman had her rum stolen away from her.

"Oh, not smart Edward..." Aurora prompted with a gleam in her eyes. You never messed with a woman and her liquor... Edward found that out soon enough as he was tackled but a slightly inebriated and very upset Varianna.

"I think it is safe to say that Vari is lying..." Reaching across the table Linny pulled up the small cup and saw that there were in fact not eight sixes all together meaning Linny had won the pot.

"Damn, girl. I shall never know how you do it." Aurora sighed, passing over the coins she had thrown in over to her friend and stood up, swiftly taking the apple from the middle of the table.

"It's a secret..." Was all Linny said, placing the coins and other trinkets in a small pouch and tying it to the side of her waist.

"Oi, looky here..." Linny tugged on Aurora's arm, pointing over to Dante.

"Seems like someone is in trouble... tsk tsk." A-Rose giggled watching Soren walk over, not too pleased at the dark-haired man.

Dante had been enjoying the game when he both heard and felt the whisper against his neck and in his ear. The warm breath caused his form to shiver and he turned his head to see the blond.

"Alright." What the other man wanted to talk about he wasn't too sure, but from the look in those blue eyes he wasn't sure it was going to be good.

Elijah hopped down from the barrels and joined Linny and A-Rose as the taunted Dante.

Ignoring the immaturity of his fellow pirates he followed Soren down to the lower decks of the ship where they would be far away from the ears of the crew.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

_________________

The waves that C R A S H E D upon
The R O C K S that you were trying to step along

And in my head I heard them play a S O N G

Salma was not quite impressed by Dante's dejecting remark. Her hazel eyes rested on Soren for a moment but then turned back to Dante and whispered softly in his ear so only he could hear: "No, but do you play a whole other kind of game do you?" The look in the blond man's eyes and his behaviour had given him away: he was marking his territory. But Salma did not mind. She didn't believe in love or relationships. In all her life she'd never found the proof that both could last.
"Make sure you introduce me to your.. friend when you come back," she winked as Dante left. She turned back to the other pirates. The game had ended and at least one of them was properly drunk. Salma unconsciously touched her bruised cheek, which stung less than before, and sighed. Although she'd left Tortuga, she could not get rid of these pirates, yet.

[Ah.. poor Salma. She's not that bad, just a little flirty. And thanks Ara it was not my purpose though to make her so annoying ]

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

_________________


~~Siggy by Lembas~~

The moment they were out of earshot on the stairs, Soren grabbed Dante by the vest and slammed him up against the hard wall. He was fighting back angry tears and a broken heart beating in his chest, hurting not only because Salma had tried to make some sort of move on Dante, but because the aforementioned had done nothing to prevent it; at least in Soren’s eyes. The same eyes that were now searching Dante’s for some sort of answer. When he could find none, the blonde settled his forehead into the crook of Dante’s neck and let out a shuddering gasp he’d been choking back. The tears came rushing out, his every wall of defense broken down. “I… I thought I could trust you… don’t make me regret it…” He hated to cry and appear as a broken man.

---------------

“Not at all,” Robyn murmured, her eyes still fixed on the sea even as she spoke to Eve. “It’s probably best if I stop thinking anyway… wishin’ my brother was still alive won’t do no good anyhow.” She turned around to face her newfound friend with a soft smile. “Never learned how to play Liar’s Dice, so I’m sure I’d be no good at. Ed will have to teach me sometime.” At the mention of his name, Robyn noticed how Eve’s expression changed; a slight pink tingeing her cheeks. “So it’s true then, yeah? You’ve got a little crush on him, don’t ye?” Oh yes, Robyn had seen all of the times Eve had shied away when in his presence - it was sweet to see her so uncomfortable around him.

[[Modded Eve a little bit - hope it’s all right with you, Goldy ]]

""Make sure you introduce me to your.. friend when you come back" These words continually flitted through his mind the entire time he followed Soren silently down to the lower decks. So she had caught on... It wasn't that much of a secret; his relationship with Soren. They didn't flaunt it but they didn't deny it either, but it was more the tone she spoke it in that had his skin crawling in a most undesirable way.

It almost felt like he needed to bathe, her words sliding down his neck and along his skin.

They had just reached the bottom of the stairs when he felt his vest being grabbed and suddenly his body was pressed against a wall. Dante gasped, staring at the man in front of him. Soren was crying, the man never cried.

Those pained blue eyes searching through his own, but what for. What was Soren looking for.

It was then that those creeping words came to him again in addition to Soren's own. A bit of anger bubbled inside of Dante. Did Soren not trust him enough to know that he would never go for another? That stupid wench, he would throttle her when he got the chance. The reason that Dante had not reacted was because he was in a way, a pacifist. As much as he could be as a pirate. Why start conflict if it wasn't necessary and he knew if he were to start pushing Salma away from him she would only try harder.

"How can you not trust me... You know where my loyalty lies, you know how and for who my heart beats. Or do you not?" It was hard to be angry at the man as his head was resting in the crook of his neck. One hand raised to brush through blond strands.

His words though, held a slight sting to them. "You have so little faith in me... after everything you still cannot fully trust me." Tears began to sting the corners of his own eyes but he did not allow them to fall, he would not.

------

"What do you think is going to happen to Dante?" Eli asked while bouncing back over to the barrel that he had been lounging on earlier, only this time reaching over to grab a small bottle of Rum.

"Whatever it is I am sure we won't be seeing them for some time. Soren looked downright peeved." Linny stole the bottle from Elijah and quickly took a sip with a large grin on her face.

"Loraline! You are much too young to drink." Eli scoffed and stole the bottle back though the smile on his face gave him away.

Aurora watched her two friends battle over the bottle of rum and rolled her eyes. Reaching between Linny and Elijah she stole the bottle one final time, pressed it to her lips and downed the drink in one go. "Now will you two shut up!" Tipping her hat with a wink she tossed the bottle to the two stunned pirates and went off to nowhere in particular.

_________________

The waves that C R A S H E D upon
The R O C K S that you were trying to step along

And in my head I heard them play a S O N G

[[Perhaps I should put a man!love warning on this... don't like, don't read! Nothing too hardcore though, just to keep the rating PG-13.]]

“I’ve <i>always</i> trusted you,” Soren growled, staring Dante straight in the eye. It was the honest truth, and he could only hope that Dante realized that. “But if I ever lost you… and to her, no less…” His voice cracked as he traced his lover’s soft, gentle lips. Soren tipped his head, leaning in to connect their mouths together in a heated kiss, but pulled back as more tears came. “I want you to be mine, <i>only</i> mine.” He knew full well that his dominant side was showing, but he had to make sure Dante saw that he wasn’t joking around. “You mean everything to me…” His pulse racing, adrenaline filling his veins, Soren finally smashed their lips together, merging two bodies together as one. Hands ran through dark ebony locks, running down Dante’s form to finally settle on his hips, pushing the pair further against the wall as they kissed.

_________________


~~Siggy by Lembas~~

Salma wrinkled her nose. The smell of rum was quite overwhelming and either that or the rocking of the ship made her feel sick. Deciding to get a sniff of fresh air she made way for the upper deck. As the other pirates had ignored her ever since her entrance, she just turned her back on them and walked out.
But even before the raven-haired woman had reached the stairs, she came across another scene: the two men, who'd just left a few minutes ealier, were now sharing a passionate kiss.
Slowly Salma walked over to the pair, a seductive smile lay on her lips. "Well, that's more how I like it.." As she passed by she brushed with her hand past Dante's and then Soren's waist. She ascended the stairs with a light pace and rustling skirts. On the upper step she turned and glanced at Dante. "Oh, do please introduce me when you're finished." And with a last wink the Mexican woman disappeared to the upper deck.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

_________________


Illuminate the way to my heart,
It's twisting on a thread
+ COME RAISE THE DEAD +

[PG-13 Warning ]

"How could you ever believe she... that she would..." His words were cut off but the soft brush of lips against his own. His own eyes now began to search Soren's own, to see what lay beneath the pained depths. It broke his heart to see Soren in such a vulnerable state, but it quickly changed the moment that Soren claimed him with both his words and his body. Lips crashed into his own and it took Dante a moment to get over his shock at the sudden dominance and meet the hasty kiss with his own.

A sharp pain shot through his back as he was pushed against something but the pain was quickly numbed as he gave himself willingly to the blond. Fingers grasping broad shoulders to find some purchase.

Dante felt his heart pounding in his chest and hoped that Soren would not stop... though it seemed someone had other plans. A hand much to soft and cruel passed over his waist and Dante broke away from the kiss to look over Soren's shoulders.

It was Salma. What the hell was she doing to them. Could she be any more venomous with her words or the way she flaunted herself. It made him sick and if Soren had not had him pinned to the wall with his body then Dante would have reacted as he had not done earlier, as he should have done the first time.

"You wench... I swear..." He stammered over the words in his anger and lust. Thankfully he would have to say no more because Andrea came barging past him and Soren and straight to the Mexican woman, the fire in her eyes almost rivaling the fire in his veins.

Salma would soon learn her place and not to mess with the Andrea.

Now that he no longer had the primal urge to throttle the woman he returned his gaze to Soren and brushed his fingers across swollen lips. "Do you believe me now? Do you understand that you are mine as I am yours?" Dante did not wait for an answer, instead he lifted his head once more and this time kissed Soren with a soft passion.

[Eli, Linny, and A-Rose are just going to be milling around the deck for now xP]

_________________

The waves that C R A S H E D upon
The R O C K S that you were trying to step along

And in my head I heard them play a S O N G