"I'll need no warning of that," she said solemnly. "But... it does sound kind of fun." She laughed. "Still, I wasn't expecting pirates, of all people, to have a masked ball. Obviously I have a lot to learn about pirates."

"You have no idea." Lairelosse chortled with glee. "We really do like to pretend not to be social outcasts, and have formed our own little society. Every pirate clan respects the others. Almost like an unwritten law. Unless, however, the clans have reason to attack one another. We are alot like fickle siblings."

"Oh." Falasse's brain was whirling with thoughts. She was still trying to process everything that bad happened and everything that the pirate captain had told her. Suddenly a thought occurred to her.
"What if we get caught by the navy? Will we all go to jail?" she asked, biting her lip nervously.

"We don't get caught. Especially by the navy." was Lairelosse's reply. "Never have. My ship always outruns them."

(Pirates of the Caribbean flashback! "I've heard of one - the Black Pearl" )
"Really?" Falasse's grinned. "So yours is the fastest on these waters? That's interesting." Her tone was genuine.

"Yes. I put great care into this girl." she rubbed the wall lovingly. "My only child."

She grinned. "Why am I not surprised? You really love living life on the high seas, don't you?" She hesitated for a moment. "I think I will too, after all."

"Love it, cherish it, crave it." she nodded. "I believe you will too!"

Falasse mused on this for a moment. "So what did you do before becoming a pirate."

"I was the daughter of a sailor." she gave a wry grin. "Ironic, all things considered." she poured another glass of rum, drinking deeply. "What about you? What did you do before beig a barmaid?"

Falasse shrugged. "Nothing profitable. I've worked in the bar since I was 15 - before then, I lived with my mother, who was a maid. I would play my flute on the streets, and that brought in a few coins."

Lairelosse nodded, pursing her lips in thought. "With this job, you will be able to afford anything and everything you wish. I pay well, the profit is good." she rubbed her chin, deep in thought for a few moments. A knock sounded on the door. "Come in!"

A man walked in. He was tall, bronzed by the sun with sandy blonde hair that was wavy, but clipped shorter. He had a broad chest, which was bare. He wore tan breeches that reache to just below his knees, and his feet were bare as well. He paused, his lively green eyes settling on Falasse and instantly widening. She was gorgeous. He was stunned for a moment, unable to speak.

"Gideon! Speak!" Lairielosse almost laughed, but her tone was demanding.

"My apologies, captain." his voice was rich, smooth, and deliciously deep. "We are having trouble with the main sail...it appears as though there has been much wear on it, and needs reinforced. I was only seeking your permission to go ahead and fix it?" his eyes kept swiveling to Falasse, trying to glimpse her more fully.

"Yes, sailor. Send Geryon up, will you? He's smaller and can climb faster. I want it fixed before the next wind."

"Can I watch?" Falasse asked timidly. The man was eyeing her, but not in a way that spooked her. She made eye contact for a moment, but released it quickly. She wasn't sure where this shyness was coming from - she had been a barmaid, for goodness' sakes! Men were by no means foreign creatures to her. Yet this one in particular seemed different than the others she had served in her previous line of work. There was something about him...

"By all means, you may!" Lairelosse's eyes twinkled. She wasn't oblivious, and Gideon was certainly eye candy.

Gideon made a hasty bow, again glancing at Falasse before hurrying out.

"Shall we?" Lairelosse offered her arm after standing, and waited at the door.

Falasse stood up quickly, lurching as the ship rocked on the waves. "Oh," she stuttered. "I guess it could be a while before I get my sea-legs." She walked cautiously out of the cabin with the captain. The girl watched Gideon as he stood in the bright sunlight, squinting up at the other crew member, Geryon.

Gideon kept stealing glances at Falasse. He couldn't help himself.

"See? Once he gets to the top, he starts reinforcig it with other bits of sails, sewing them over the weakened places in the big one. Now he is working his way down, checking over to see of there are other places that need help."

After quite a while, Geryon looked down and gave a thumbs up.

"Ah! Excellent. The wear on it wasn't that bad!" Lairelosse exclaimed happily.