May the Father of Understanding Guide Us (Open)

"I'm afraid Inagua will never be the same, Damian. Heard that the Assassins were starting to set up there, so I'll likely be put down if I ever go back. At least I managed to get Sentinel out of there. The only reason I'll ever dare go there again is to see Sam." Elizabeth looked at one of the older paintings, and sighed. It was a painting of her and her parents. "At least I am able to go to home to Nassau without being blown out of the water. Finally got dad's galleon too." Elizabeth hung her head, and ran her fingers through her hair. She didn't want to drag Stodd into the conversation, and she didn't want to make him any more of a target in the eyes of the Assassins.  "Damian, what are you doing so close to England? You're going to get yourself killed."

Sighing, he said, "There isn't anything for us there, anymore. Assassins have nearly no where to go, and, well... We're just sailing to where ever. I'd rather be somewhere where I have a chance for excitement, than for nothing at all.", as he finished off the drink. "Y'know," he said, "The plain life is not one for I. I am making sure I live to return back, since Arabella's been pregnant for two months, now. Don' wanna die 'fore I can see my child.", as he then moved the mug to the side. Finally, he asked, "So... is Roger here, or y'still lookin' for the man?"

Elizabeth let out a hearty laugh before she sipped at her drink. "Aye, he's here" Elizabeth chuckled as she pointed to the pile of Stodd's old clothes lying on the messed up bed. It was evident that someone had just used the bed for more than sleeping. "Don't judge me. I can't explain how exactly things ended up like this, or why I..." Elizabeth dared not mention that she had fallen in love with Stodd. She leaned back in her chair, and sighed as she wiped her face. "We've all been through a lot, Damian" Elizabeth said sadly as she pulled up both sleeves; the inside of her left arm was covered with tattoos of swallows, while the inside of her right arm was covered with scars and fresh wounds that seemed to be self-inflicted. "I overdosed on a drug of my own design last month... I thought I could escape all of my troubles... I almost died" Elizabeth said softly. She was ashamed of what she had become: a wreck, a ghost, and behind closed doors, she was only a shell of the Demon she once was.

Damian nodded, and said, "'greed on that. Nice t'know we can still talk.", as he relaxed in the chair. There hadn't been much to life in a very long time - simply hiding from the enemy. Not a word of the sage, Roberts, either. Last he had seen, he had a large crew. "Y'wan' bring 'im in, or y'think you'd want a round two?", he said out of silence, smiling. He then reached into his pocket, and, while rummaging through it, said, "I've also held ont' this. Just t'mind me of the past," as he pulled out a small necklace ofa familiar figure - a Succubus (Like the fogurehead from AC - Rogue). He smiled, and, sliding it on the table towards her, said, "Just in case y'figure you'd want more than my skull t'remember me by."

"Damian, you may be an Assassin, but you are also my oldest living friend. I would never, no, I could never kill you and put your skull on display." Elizabeth looked at the pendant, and a tear rolled down her cheek as she smiled. She shakily put the pendant on, and smiled sadly as the pendant hung beside the one that Samuel had once given her.  "I don't remember if I ever thanked you for saving me back at Kingston. Thank you, Ent. Thank you for everything. For helping Sam and me at Havana, and for helping me at Kingston." Elizabeth sat for a moment in thought as she considered inviting Stodd inside. There would most likely be a fight between the two men, but that could easily be taken care. "Just play nice" Elizabeth said with a laugh before she stood up, and made for the door.

"Roger, why don't you come inside" Elizabeth asked as she stepped out of her cabin. She was fairly certain that he would decline the offer, but it was worth a shot. She smiled warmly when she realized that he was standing guard. Her crew were prepared for a fight, but that was just a precaution for should Damian's crew attack. Elizabeth noticed the shameful sword that Stodd was holding, and made a mental note to equip the crew with better weapons when they reached the next port: Ponta Delgada. "Of course, you don't have to come in, but it would be nice."

Roger looked at the door when it opened, ready to slice straight through the neck of the Assassin bastard that would have even dared t-

"Oh."

He felt his entire body relax, his muscles losing their tension and his mind clearing for a moment when he saw her. He smiled, not even really listening to her. Only when he did come back into focus did he realise what she was asking him. In an odd way he did want to come in, but in another way he didn't want to cause a scene. He wasn't sure. He supposed that, if anything could make her happy, it'd be him getting along well with her oldest living friends. He sucked up what little was left of his pride, and nodded.

"If yoo 'ink it'd be nice."

He smirked, and followed behind her, into her cabin. He almost froze when he saw the man, clutching the handle of his rifle and holding it close to his chest. In any other occasion he'd leave it by the door, but the day he let a weapon go in the same room as an Assassin was... well, actually, that day had come and gone a few times now, but he still didn't trust them. Even if he was no longer a Templar. Really, the more he thought about it, he realised this room was occupied by his enemies; Templars, people who had broken him, and Assassins, people who wanted to break what was left. He grabbed a chair, and moved it next to Elizabeth's, staring at Damien the entire time. He hated that he recognised the mans face; couldn't have been one of the friends of Liz's he hadn't nearly fought to the death with.

"Awright."

Elizabeth returned to her seat, and set a bottle of whiskey on the desk. Everyone she loved, aside from Tiago, was in that room. Elizabeth looked between the two men, and laughed quietly.
"I just realised that this is the first time we've ever been in the same room as each other without one of us trying to kill the other. Just a shame Jono's not here." She remembered those encounters well. Stodd had once tried to kill her, succeeded, therfore was almost killed by the Butchers. She had intended to kill Stodd at the battle off the coast of Inagua, and almost drowned in the process. And Stodd would have most likely killed Damian back at the brig of the HMS Queen's Night. "Look, aside from Jonathon out there, and Tiago... You two are all I have left, and it would be nice for us to finally share a drink. No killing, or maiming. Just a civil conversation."

Turning his head to face the man who had entered the room, he smiled lightly when he saw the man clutch the rifle he held. Wise choice, the voice in his head said, A man can never be too cautious of one of greater strength.. Finally, putting his feet on a empty chair, he said, "Nice t' see ya 'gain. Still holdin' a tad of a grudge, or are we 'ight? Well, fine as we could, but... eh."

Damian figured that, if this man was to hold his weapon out, he should be careful with his words. Knowing this man, he wouldn't be surprised if it was loaded, too. "So," he said, putting his hands on the back of his head, "We gon' be able tah be on even grounds, actually be friends?", ane, uppon the mention of Jon, Damian said, "If y'wan', I can get 'im over 'ere. Jus' gon' need ya tah tell yer women to hold off an' not scalp 'im."

"Aye, it'd be nice to see him again." Elizabeth thought about what Damian had said about her crew, and she couldn't help but laugh. "They don't scalp people. I don't even do that. Then again, I just take the whole head. Panther gets a good meal out of it." The ocelot looked up at her from the crate he had been sleeping on, yawned, and returned to his sleeping. "The Irish rite has been trying to get me to see them. But until Morgana's gone, I'm not going to Ireland."

(I just realised how similar Elizabeth Shay is to lady Elizabeth Bathory)

Damian nodded, and, smiling lightly, said, "Jus' 'xageratin'. But, yeah, no doubt the man is worryin'.", as he stood up from his seat. He motioned towards the door with his hand, and said, "I'd follow ofter you. Don' wan' 'em to think I'm fleein'.", as he stood over towards the exit.

Elizabeth gave Stodd a look that seemed to say that she would be alright.
"Alright, but let's move quickly" Elizabeth said as she stood up, and made for the door. As soon as she opened the door, Panther raced out the room and made straight for the lower decks. She stepped out before Damian, and waved to Jonathon on Butcher's ship.

As Elizabeth waved, Damian stood close by, and said, "Jon, c'mon over. We havin' us a chat.", and, upon hearing his brother say so, Jonathon nodded, and said to a man behind him, "You're in charge, while we're over there, 'ight?", and, upon seeing the man nod, Jonathon ran to the side, and grabbing onto a rope, swung over, landing near the others, and began walking towards them, smiling.

"Jaysus! You're a sight for sore eyes." Elizabeth was overjoyed to finally see the other Butcher. "Damnation seize my soul, you've shrunk" Elizabeth said jokingly. Having the two of them there, it made her feel as if nothing had ever changed. She half expected the others to sail past, but they were all gone, and she knew it. Still, they brought a smile to her face. "Well don't just stand there like a barrel of wet fish, let's head inside, away from this bloody cold."

Roger was stood, his arms folded as he waited in the cabin. He knew he'd ought to let bygones be bygones; it's not as if they'd shot his friend or been drawn into a war by their hunting. He'd thought about it a lot in London, what ge'd done and whom he'd hurt, and he realised that, were this a story, he'd be the bad guy. He sighed and set the rifle down by his chair, before sitting back into it.

He wasn't overly fond of the idea of this little meeting, if not for the sake of fear then for the sake of the hopefully not inevitable discussion of he and Liz's relationship. All thins considered, it wasn't likely pirates and Assassins would enjoy the tale. Maybe they'd prefer he talk about the battles around Gibraltar, they'd enjoy that.

As they smiled, Damian went back towarde the room the others previously were in, and, opening the door, said, "After you two - Jono, watch ya head.", as he smiled. It had been forever since they were with each as so - all of the others were either deadmor unable to travel. Especially his wife. If she were to go through what elizabeth did... no. He would not think of it,

Once inside, Elizabeth returned to her seat at Stodd's side. She looked at the three men around her, and smiled. Everyone she cared about, with the exception of Tiago, was finally in the same room.
"It's wonderful to finally have you all here. Granted, there may be some differences between us, but I'm sure we can put those aside for a few minutes." She was fairly certain that Stodd would lose his temper, or that there would be some sort of a fight. However, she was more than ready to put an end to any dispute by whatever means possible. She did find it odd; two former Templars, two Templars, one Assassin, one former Assassin, and a man with no allegeance all gathered in one room. "So, Jonathon, how are you doing?" Elizabeth suddenly remembered young Tiago. She had grown to see the young boy as a brother. "And how is my little brother, Tiago? Hopefully he's not suffering at the hands of the Assassins as I once did" Elizabeth asked as she felt the scars on her back. All those years that they beat and flayed her because they thought she would join the Templars, and she did. Perhaps it had some small role in her betrayal. But Tiago was born to Templar parents, and he would surely suffer the same as she did.

Jonathon smiled as the subject of Tiago and Him was brought up. Finally, afterma moment of grinning, Jonathon said, "I'm fine - been helping the others, same old.", and, afterwards, he said, "As for Tiago, I-" "We.", Damian interrupted. Jonathon sighed, and said, "Right. Damian and I both... 'convinced'... the others to not do the same to you, mainly by... ah, as my brother said, 'Individually force each of their internal organs out, then feed itmtowards them, only to feed it back to them when they shit it out, and keep doing so until they choke on it.'.", and, facing his smiling brother to make sure, Damian nodded in confirmation. "Right.", Damian said after anoher moment. Continuing, he said, "Had to make sure he didn' grow up hatin' Assassins."

"Thank you both so much. That boy has gone through enough in his life, he doesn't need that pain. In my mother's language, we have a saying: 'My haart se punt', 'my heart's point'. If I remember correctly, it is the person closest to your heart. Well, Tiago is my haart se punt." Elizabeth sipped at her rum quietly before a devilish grin appeared on her face. "Soon he'll be discovering the joys of women, and that's only if he hasn't done so already" Elizabeth said with a laugh. She knew Tiago used to spend most of his time with his nose buried in a book, but now that things had changed, he might have changed his habits. But how much trouble could a thirteen year old boy get into? "Always knew that boy would be a heartbreaker."

Roger simply sat and stared, looking over to Elizabeth every now and then as she spoke to her old friends. He didn't feel too out of the situation, he simply felt removed from it, which was mostly his intent. He wanted her to do all she needed to do to feel good, and talking with these brothers seemed like it was making her feel well. When a lull presented itself, he took his opportunity, standing up and clearing his throat.

"Ah'll be reit back, just going ta talk tae some of th' boys, check coorse, basic stuff."

He placed a soft kiss on Elizabeths head, before heading out past the three of them, opening and shutting the door to the cabin behind him. He took a long, deep breath, rubbing his face before making his way out onto the deck, groaning. When he was free of them, he felt the weight of being in that room. He was starting to feel that looming sense again, that for all the love he shared for her, the ties of what he'd been to her still held on tight. He needed a breather.

Elizabeth watched with a heavy heart as Stodd left. Every moment without him reminded her of what would happen when they finally reached Nassau: he would leave on his own ship. She hung her head, and downed her drink before she decided to drink straight from the bottle. Loss was something she didn't handle well. God alone knew what they would go through before they met again. As strange as it may have seemed, she loved him with every fiber of her being.
"Jaysus, sometimes I wish it was possible for me to get drunk." Elizabeth took a sip of her rum, and sighed. It took a lot to get her drunk, and she hated it. "So what will you two be doing when we part ways?"

Shrugging, Damian said, "'Dunno. Thinkin'  on headin' back from my trip 'ere, watch of Arabella, and, well... I dunno. Wait for my child, I guess. If y'want, y'can tell me... ah, we...", as he looked lightly over to Jonathon, who was silent, "...where we can drop off letters to send ya messages, if y're to ever drop by down there. Don' worry - y'can bet I'll kill anyone who tries t'camp out there and find ya. 'Cause, well, don' want ya to die 'fore me, now, would I?"

Roger frowned, as he stood at the bow of the ship, looking out over the waters. He saw another ship not far off, sitting perfectly still, facing them. It made him uneasy; he didn't now what the brothers did, or their crew, but if they'd managed to keep up their pirate ways, he was certain the British would be on their tail. If they struck now, they'd see privateers conversing with pirates, an Admiral onboard, and the whole thing would turn into a run from the law. He looked around and grumbled, ushering over one of the women of the crew.

"Anyain here have a spyglass?"

She rushed off, when she noticed too the ship far away. She returned and handed him a rusted copper spyglass, and with it he peered over the ocean to the ship not too far off. He groaned when he saw the white flag, bearings its red cross. The British were indeed on the watch.

"Feck."

"Well, after Samuel and I got married, I had some men rebuild my family's mansion on the hill back at Nassau, so if you ever wish to send any letters, that's where you can send them." Elizabeth helped De Payens onto her lap, and smiled as she stroked his crest. She took a sip of her drink before she looked back to the brothers. "If things go wrong, and they most likely will, I'll probably head down to Libertallia. Then there's the whole issue with the Irish rite, but if I ever leave the West-indies, I'll write to you."
Stevens burst into the room, "Captain Shay! British have been sighted!"
"Shit!"

Damian nodded, and said, "Alright. C'mon, Jon. Can't trust a ship full of men tk try and not to break into the more... ah, exquisite, ya could say, stashes.", and, in agreement, Jonathon nodded. As they stood and stepped out, they were shoved asides by Stevens, who had yelled the four terrible words. British had been sighted. Muttering a curse, Damian said, "...God, what now? If y'don' try 'n' help 'em, they might get mihty suspicous, and if y'do, some of my men might even die."

"You two need to get out of here, now!" Elizabeth's eyes were tearing up, and it looked like she was about to burst into tears at any second. She quickly drew both brothers into a warm hug. "Safe travels, old friends" Elizabeth whispered sadly. She handed them an old British flag. "Fly these colours, and you may yet escape. Good luck."