randomosity | [For Charles Vane] Nights in Nassau

After her first few days in Nassau, Anne stormed out of the pub in a huff, two of Vane's pirates in tow behind her. Guards. Insurance. At least until she could figure out how to properly handle a sword or pistol.

At least with her new wardrobe she didn't look quite so ridiculous as she had when they'd first arrived in Nassau. Charles' clothes were fine but of course they wouldn't be as trendsetting on a lady as Anne would have liked. She'd been able to put together a long skirt, which she'd put a long slit up the front and back so she'd be able to move easier. Pants were something she was still growing accustomed to, but they fit well enough under the long skirt and tucked into a decent pair of black boots. A dark wine-purple shirt covered by a tanned black leather corset finished the outfit she'd so carefully crafted. Hardly the fine silks and velvets she was used to wearing, but still moderately fashionable, and what jewels she'd kept still made her look fair and lovely.

But of course, such a commanding and entitled presence that she brought and maintained had earned her a sharp laugh from the blonde bitch of Nassau, Eleanor Guthrie. A laugh that Anne had answered with a sharp smack to Eleanor's face; but of course, it had only taken a slight curling of her fingers to bring her fine nails to drag over Eleanor's face as she'd struck. Naturally Eleanor's bouncers weren't too keen on that, and the two pirates that had accompanied Anne had urged her to leave before things got too dicey. Reluctantly, Anne had taken their advice.

So they returned, and once back Anne petulantly dropped herself into the first available chair she'd found. Fiddling with her necklace of deep red rubies, Anne pouted. She had hoped to establish some manner of dominance here. In England, in Henry's court, it had been relatively easy; play the part of the obedient young lady for the older nobles who wanted to use her for political gain, play the part of the enchanting seductress and mistress of the night for Henry for her own gain. Manipulating them all - but men were easier to trick than women.

And unfortunately for Anne, it seemed the majority of power here was controlled by women. This would be more difficult than she had anticipated.

Rather than fiddle with her necklace all day and draw attention to one of the few valuables that remained to her, Anne took a dagger that she'd lifted off some poor drunk her first night in Nassau, and turned it over in her hands. Examining her reflection in the blade.

Threaded | Flat

Anne's guards had told their captain the story with a mixture of awe and frustration in their voices. They'd never seen any woman behave that way, not even Eleanor. As a businesswoman, she was inclined to at least keep a civil and guarded sort of attitude with strangers in particular, but Anne had walked into the tavern like she was, for all intents and purposes, the queen. Vane took it all in, scratching at the stubble on his chin before stepping into his cabin.

Door closed and latched, he leaned against it, carefully regarding the raven-haired beauty sitting in his chair and toying with her knife.

"I'm not sure whether to throw you overboard or pour you a drink," he finally said, crossing the room to lean against his desk. "You might have just cost me a lot of money. And it's only the 'might' part that's keeping me from terminating your current employment."

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