A smirk played at his lips as she told him she thought he had been scared, but he kept his gaze away from her, simply letting out a quiet hum of acknowledgemnt. The only tell of his true feelings with the small flinch of tightness in his slender jaw. "Hmm," Was all he gave in response to her answer to his question. She can certainly ride out something in here. He added sarcastically in his mind, deciding to stay silent on it as she approached him further. His golden gaze flickered to her as she bent down, placing a soft finger beneath his chin, guiding his face to look into hers. He followed her eyes as she did to him, their gazes trapped together in silent tension.

Pritchard felt the quickening of his heart, something he couldn't despise more, and yet...he couldn't help but turn the corner of his lip into a soft and small smirk at her words. He remained motionless, even his fingers that had been toying with the map remained stilled, as if he didn't want to make her move away sooner than she had to. As she flicked her finger from his skin, he lifted his chin up and away, although his eyes watched her walk. His smirk grew into that of a grin before a soft scoff of amusement hit the air. She matched his energy well, he had to give her that.

"We can certainly make that happen for you if that's what you'd rather do." He said slyly, a teasing and flirtatious tone lining his words. He breathed deeply and out, releasing the tension that had built upon his chest, lightly adjusting the waistband of his pants before silence fell between them.

His gaze followed her as she began to speak again, answering his question. Her very movements were enticing, more so now that she'd pulled that stunt and left him wanting. He slowly rose to his feet, setting the near empty bottle down and advancing breezily over to where she stood. "That's a little funny," He commented quietly, watching as she set the book back down. "Because I seem to care a lot about what happens after this little deal of ours is brought to fruiton..." He momentarily slipped his tall frame between her and her destination, resting his arm upon one of the wooden railings that lined the ceiling of the room. "Because part of that deal requires allowing my men to keep you out of harms way...meaning you won't be hunted." He crooned, his voice dropping lowly. His eyes lidded, their molten color popping distinctly against the dark shadows that lined his slender face.

He lowered his arm, stepping slightly aside and watching her walk away and sink to the floor, resting her head against the wall. He walked back to his desk in silence, letting her rest.

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Thunder rumbled overhead, rain still falling heavily down. Night had fully fallen, darkness covering the vast sea. Pritchard had remained awake, emptying two bottles of rum during the time in which he spent studying his maps. He'd left Caeliana alone, allowing her to rest as he charted their journey, occasionally leaving the cabin to check on his men.

He'd doused most of the lights within the small cabin space, leaving only two still burning. He was more than tired, but didn't want to take the bed in case she wished for somewhere more comfortable to sleep. He sat leaned back with his legs propped up once more on the desk, his arms gently resting across his midsection with his head leaned against the back of the chair. His gaze was focused nowhere in particular, staring up at the ceiling in silence. He didn't want to bother her, but would speak if spoken to.

Pritchard had noticed Cael as she approached the desk, taking the water and drinking it. He did not react to her, however, figuring it was best to have just let her be. As the time passed by, he could hear her adjusting herself against the wooden floor and wall every so often, bringing it to his attention that she must be uncomfortable.

"You can use the bed you know," He rumbled quietly after a few moments, his gaze still staring up at the ceiling, his fingers lightly messing with the rings that adorned his fingers. "It's sitting there empty for a reason." He finally shifted his eyes to her, slightly turning his head to look in her direction. He was tired, but he knew she had been through significantly worse things than himself the past several weeks, if not longer. No matter how he truly felt over her, he was not a man to purposefully leave her to discomfort, especially after having been through so much already. Their trip into town today had given the crew plenty of new things and restock, even the bed itself had new linens now, fresh and undirtied. If she was ever to use it, now would be the most optimal time, for it would be a few days before they could make port again, and he wasn't sure if they would have enough funds to replace the linens again so soon.

"It wouldn't be the first time I've slept at this desk, and I don't intend on it being my last, so if you'd like a place of more comfort I'm offering it to you." He extended a hand towards the bed, trying to encourage her. He would do her no harm, and despite his teases from earlier he had no true ill intentions. If he had, he would have done so already. He was fairly relaxed at the moment anyway, not as uncomfortable as he could be, and certainly not as restless or uncomfortable as she was. He slowly rose to his feet, twisting to crack his back before walking steadily over to one of the cabinets, sifting nonchalantly through the supplies within.

After a moment, he pulled out a small container of medicinal salve, popping the cork to briefly sniff the contents. He was remembering her small cuts and wounds from earlier, and had forgotten about the medicinal mixture. He walked back to the desk, setting it down lightly. "I have salve too, if you'd allow me." He told her, gesturing to it.

Note: Any mods/people following, character control was discussed and permitted for previous post^^

Pritchard extended a hand, gently taking hers into it as she relented. Her skin was smooth and cool, chilling to the touch; a sharp contrast to his warm and rough hands. His rings glittered in the dim light as he dipped his fingers into the salve, softly brushing it over the rawed skin on her wrists. He tightened his grip on her as she attempted to pull back from the sensation, but said nothing until he'd finished covering the wounds on her arms. "Your back," He rumbled, his expression one of determined command. She turned, to which he lifted up her shirt. "This will soothe it and help it to heal, it will only take a moment." Her hair was soft, shockingly so, as he brushed it aside to lift the shirt, exposing the nasty burn. It wasn't long before he'd finished, replacing the cork and turning away silently, walking to put the salve back in the cabinet.

"Thank you," Her voice rang softly from across the room. He felt a slight pang in his chest at her thanks, reminded that he hadn't given her the kindess of thanking her for her actions in the storm. He said nothing about it or in return for a moment, his back still to her as he spoke again. "Now will you just take the damned bed and rest?" She refused again, finally prompting him to turn to look back at her. A glimmer of frustration was evident in his gaze as he grabbed another cup of water, this time for himself. He downed it before setting the cup down and walking towards her, determined purpose in his steps.

"Mine or not it's yours for the night." He spoke, his voice kind yet stern, as if he was tired of her refusals and wanted no more of it. "This is my ship, my crew, my cabin, and what I say goes here whether you like it or not." He looked down at her, his eyes skimming over her body for a brief moment. "I will not offer so kindly a third time." He outstretched an arm towards the bed, a look of expectancy in his features. "As with the salve, I promise you will feel better. Now please, don't make me say again."

Thunder clapped loudly overhead, rattling the items within the cabin and knocking over the empty bottles he'd left on his desk. Lightning flashed, brightly illuminating the small room and briefly encapsulating the young pirate in a god-like glow before returning to darkness. The sound of rain pattered heavily, the soft groaning of the ship accompanying it. All else was silent. Still.

Pritchard furrowed his brow at her reply, a soft smirk playing at the corners of his lips as her finger lightly poked at his chest. Her chuckle had only indicated to him that she thought he wasn't serious. Perhaps...perhaps he wasn't as serious as he'd made it seem, it was just a bed afterall, but he still was insistent on her getting well rested. Her body was in need of a good night's rest, her wounds would heal faster that way, and he doubted she'd get the rest she needed properly on the hard wooden floor.

He reached out a hand, gripping her arm as she started to walk away, stopping her in her tracks. "Oh I don't intend to say anything a third time," He rumbled lowly, lighting flashing again. This time it illuminated her features, granting another skip of his heart to which he forcefully pushed down. "I don't do well when my orders aren't taken...and as long as you are on my ship you are part of my crew." He tugged, pulling her closer to himself, tilting his chin down to peer into her face. A stubborn and haughty smirk lined his lips, but a charming and flirtatious look flickered in his amber eyes. "Now..." He said taking a few confident strides forward, in turn pushing her closer and closer to the bed.

"You can either take my offer...and have the bed all to yourself," He forcefully let go of her arm, sending her stumbling backwards onto it. The pirate loomed over her, giving her little to no room to move past him as he leaned down, his face mere inches from hers.

The necklace around his chest dangled, the shimmering blue pendent glinting in the dim light. "Or...you can share it with me, and deal with whatever consequences may follow." He grinned, a playful and charming look on his shadowed face despite the dangerous lilt in his voice. "The choice is yours love...now tell me...what will it be?"

Thunder rumbled lowly, lightning flickering as wind whistled through the smallest of cracks in the wooden walls and window. He was not a man to mess around with in such a way, for he was as stubborn and resilient as the waves and as slippery as the tide. For the first time in years, he felt a small flicker of kinship. He'd met his match in that regard, and he didn't intend to lose it anytime soon.

"Mmmm," He hummed narrowing his eyes at her smirk and reply, his own grin only growing. "And what's it to you if I do wish it?" He questioned, standing back upright as she settled into the sheets. He reached a hand up, running it smoothly through his ebony waves, before softly blowing out both remaining candles, enveloping the cabin in comforting darkness. His boots creaked softly on the wooden floor as he made his way back to his desk, once again resting his legs upon it as he reclined in his chair, letting his eyes flutter closed.

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The skies were dark, shadows and smoke covering the vast expanse of sea and land, the only light a red-orange glow from the fires that burned relentlessly. Loud, booming sounds of canon fire echoed, sending the water rippling. Screams reverberated in his already ringing ears, his legs weak and body trembling. Freezing water closed over his head, the waves pulling him completely under.

Bodies of other fallen men littered the water, blood staining the sea crimson. His lungs burned with the cold, his limbs going numb as he desperately clawed his way to the surface, his hands finally clasping onto large planks of wood, previously belonging to the sides of a ship. He weakly hauled himself as far as he could out from the water's freezing depths, his front half laying weakly over the plank. His chest rose and fell as he gasped for hair, his dark hair soaked and clinging to his body.

His mother, father, and several other members of his crew were gone, blown to bits by canon fire of a rival crew, everything he'd known and loved gone in an instant. The waves carried him, drifting him further from the scene of choas, his home ship slowly sinking as loud calls and yells erupted from the rival ship. Young, inexperienced, and alone...drifting along the vast sea of darkness, bleeding and weak....

Pritchard awoke suddenly, freezing cold gripping his chest, lingering from the dream. A dream...simply replayed events from many years ago. It had been so long since he'd dreamed of that day and the trauma he'd faced. Why now had it appeared so vividly in his sleep? The icy depths of the ocean lingering on his skin despite being safe and warm within his own cabin. His chest rose and fell, his breathing echoing in the otherwise silent room. Thunder rumbled softly from above, rain still steadily falling from the skies, although it had significantly lightened since the beginning of that night.

His amber eyes stayed trained on the ceiling above, sweat beginning to form along his body as he tried to steady his mind. His heart thrummed steadily within his chest, rattling his ribcage. The fear he'd faced for days, struggling and barely clinging to life upon that driftwood. Truly a miracle he'd survived so long without sinking into the crushing oblivion of Davy Jones' Locker.

A single hand traveled up his body, resting gently on his chest as he tried to steady his heart. He was confused and shook by the suddeness of the nightmare, reliving the terror he'd pushed from his mind so long ago. Only thirteen he'd been that fateful day...just a boy. Judas was so focused in his thoughts that he was completely unaware of the trembling in his arms, and the shakiness of his breath, his eyes staring emptily at the roof above.