The Hearts of Men (1x1 with Eternal Chronicler)

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

"And yet...something is missing," Jack frowned before reaching inside of his coat and ahhing. He opened his flask and drank from it before putting it away inside of his coat. "There we go...as if anything more is needed. What more do I need? I have the sea, Tessa, rum, the Duchess..." He grinned and wrapped an arm around Tess, securing her to him after his brief talk to himself.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in fear.

Slowly dying...

Tessa could not help but laugh slightly at Jack's ever-present want of rum, but by now she had gotten far beyond her distaste of his number of desires. It was all she could ask that Jack remain with her through all the pains they were both going through.
"You and your rum, Jack," she said teasingly, "I'll have to show you something finer, when we reach a decent stay."
Seriel glowed at her side for a moment, and with a sigh Tessa gently pushed herself away from Jack and looked him in the eyes again.
"I should probably explain everything that ultimately led up to this, shouldn't I? I thought away from Tessalona the Sisterhood would be safe, so I didn't bring it up and still she came. I don't think there's any avoiding it, but I think you may be in a better position if you knew what had happened."

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.


Jack sighed. "Very well..." He turned though and looked at the crew who was busy with their duties. He turned back to Tessa and lowered his voice significantly. "Although might I suggest more private quarters, such as my own, for said explanation?" He asked quietly, casting a glance at the still sulking Scarlett and tilting his head towards her. "I still don't know how she got on my ship," He said even quieter, to assure that she would not be able to hear.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in fear.

Slowly dying...

Tessa nodded somewhat hurriedly before proceeding as entailed. As soon as she had confidence that she and Jack were in secure privacy she drew Seriel and placed it at her feet. Within moments the same silver droplet marking appeared on her hand and she fainted, where the sword again became the figure of Waeran Seriel.
She looked behind her for a moment at Tessa, sighing in dismay. After returning her gaze to Jack, she took a deep breath to steady herself.
"Nearly two trillion years ago, an ambitious deity by the name of Kesaide Lahares rebelled against the Divine Council of Keiris, of which I and the other sister blades were in. With great fortune, I had clairvoyance enough to foresee and avoid this disaster, but I did not have time to bring word to the entire council, so I sought to save the natural elements from their demise and allow mortality to go unknowing. As it happened, we sealed ourselves into the elemental blades, rendering us all but undetected by those who now hunt us. To our lasting shame though, Kesaide did not intend to disrupt the elements of nature in his hostile takeover of the Council, and we were left nearly powerless by comparison. When it came to light that one of the other goddesses, Mystriel Silverlight and her creation Ilyia Nerian had survived, we called to the pair and had ourselves scattered to the four winds of Tessalona. For the longest time we sat in wait, until times grew too troubling. It was then we decided to reunite in the hands of mortality, to grant them a chance at what they had always dreamed of. In the end, our four chosen banded as the Sisterhood of Slaughter, whom I believe you are familiar with."
She took another breath, a pain crossing the young goddess' face.
"Then it came to light that the majority of the Divine Council lived on, rebirthed in corruption by Kesaide's hand. Illumine never would have wanted this when it began, but now she is among Kesaide's favored partners, far above his small army of terrors... I'm afraid you've caught yourself in a war of divinity, Jack. I can only do so much for you and Tessa, but I promise you I will allow no harm upon either of you so long as I live."

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

Leaning against the wall, Jack sighed and shook his head. "And there I was believing the only trouble I would be finding myself in, of a more divine nature, would be with Calypso herself," He said, closing his eyes. "My promise stills stands. I will help her, no matter what Hell it puts me through," He allowed himself a grin before he fell into thought.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in fear.

Slowly dying...

Waeran nodded with a smile, "And this is why you also were chosen, Jack Cortez. I do hope my trust has been well-placed."
She cast a glance back to Tessa, coming to a knee beside the Half-Elf and running a flow of water over her form, leaving a slight chill over her injuries.
"I should be returning. Fare well."
With that, and the same silver shimmer, Seriel fell back into her own blade.
Tessa slowly brought herself back up to standing and dropped into a lean against the wall behind her.
"I cannnot begin to explain how draining that is..." she said faintly.

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

Jack went to Tessa's side and looked her over. "I can only imagine," He said with a faint grin. "Are you in need of anything? Rum? Food? I am sure even if she had not eaten, the crew would have needed to eat," He said, casting a glance towards the door, still closed, as if he was expecting Scarlett to fall through it.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in fear.

Slowly dying...

Tessa nodded slightly, just noticing the sudden chill in her bones as she looked down to her dampened injuries, quite curiously.
"My my..." she wondered, "I've been struck, and I'm not dead? She must have been holding back for some reason..."
With a shrug, she looked up to Jack, her eyes contemplative for a long moment before becoming completely dismissive.
"It's a matter for later, I guess. I am quite hungry though, and..." She reached into her empty side pocket, "out of supplies as it were. Will I be dining with the captain tonight, then?"

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

"If you'll have the captain, Miss Orinae," Jack said with a grin before he went to the door. "Mr. Porter!" Jack called and was answered. "Prepare the pig for my dinner tonight," He called before retreating within the quarters and turning to Tessa. "Dinner will arrive in a half an hour, I knew the crew was to have the pig tonight. They will be fine settling for fish," He said before stepping to the balcony and watching the sea pass behind them. He breathed in deeply and smiled.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in fear.

Slowly dying...

"Please, Jack." Tessa laughed lightly, "My name is Tessa."
Tessa stepped out and looked on the rearward horizon, curious as to why Jack would insist on the crew having fish on their first day out, particularly after Illumine's attack. Still, he was the captain, and besides that he knew far better than she on how to manage a seagoing vessel and its crew. One thing still bothered the Half-Elf quite plainly though, something that she intended to figure out at the source.
"Your stowaway, Jack..." Tessa said after a long silence, "might I have a word with her alone, sometime?"

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

Jack looked at Tessa, his gaze involuntarily sharpening. "After I am done with her, of course," He said before forcing his gaze soften, and he looked away back towards the sea. "She will be of no trouble to you, of that I am sure," He said, even if his mind troubled the more he thought of Scarlett. Their histories had been long joined, even if Jack had believed her to be dead for three hundred years. He nearly wished that she was dead.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in fear.

Slowly dying...

Tessa shook her head in dismay, stepping directly in front of Jack and frowning at him.
"Your tone alone tells me this isn't good news, hearing that. Let me find the answers, please. I can do it without causing any fights, I promise and even so I can defend myself." She threw her arm out behind her, "I saved your ship, can you not give me a chance to resolve this whole thing peacefully?"

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

"Aye, but she also has sailed under my command before. She will listen more to me than the person whom her jealousy is directed at," Jack countered. "She will not resolve anything peacefully any more than I will sink my own ship," He said, tracing Tessa's jaw with a finger. "Wait until we reach port, and then I will deal with her," He said quietly. He turned and looked over the back of his ship, the triple windows set into the dark ebony wood, and the scarlet drapes within them. He turned back to Tessa and sighed. "You once said that you trusted me. Does that still stand?"

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in fear.

Slowly dying...

Tessa lowered her gaze slightly, sincerely hoping no one would have to come to any harm for this, but she nodded slowly.
"Yes Jack," she said quietly, "I trust you. I'm sorry if I offended you."
She stood over to his side, placing her hand just beside the window and watching with interest the goings-on outside. With a slight smile, she turned again to face him.
"Which general direction is this Isle de Kanta we're heading to? I may be able to help get us there, provided the way."

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

Jack opened his compass and looked up at the sky before back at the compass. "If we are right on course, and I trust Mr. Porter that we are, then I would say due west," Jack said looking up. "Might I ask why?" He moved towards the balcony and laid a hand on the railing.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]