Pirates (For Dare)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Blackhart had captured the Lorelei finally. It hadn't been the easiest of battles, but there he was, with the crew and all lined up on the deck. Hard, cold eyes scanned the line as his own crew dealt with the things from the ship. The pirate's life was a good one. He had his hands clasped behind his back and deep red hair tied at the back of his neck blew in the salty wind.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

The Captain of the Lorelei stood tall and proud even with his hands tied firmly behind his back. Booted feet were spread on the deck and his chin was up, his position carried with him even in defeat. The cargo was lost and his passengers had been taken away, leaving him alone to deal with the fiend who had intercepted them. He refused to acknowledge defeat.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Once the passengers and cargo were being properly taken care of, Blackheart settled in front of the captured captain. His hands came loose, one coming forward to rest on the intricate hilt of his sword as the other settled by his side. "Your passengers and your cargo are locked away, with you soon to follow," he mused. "Will you give me the information I want, or do you intend to make me force it from you?"

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"I suppose you will have to force it from me," the captain said, insolent words spoken in such a casual voice that one might think he was at tea rather than facing death embodied. "As you have yet to declare what information you want, I have none to provide you." He was in the employ of Queen Hells herself, and neither storm nor wind nor pirate would fell him.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

A corner of Blackheart's lips quirked humorlessly. "You can start with a name, your destination, and for whom you sail." Basic questions, but ones that would easily tell him just what he had gotten by taking the ship now sinking into the murky water. He wasn't worried about the possibility of getting something out of his range, he could take anything that was thrown at him.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"Captain Alasdair Blackwood," the man said. His eyes lowered to gaze down the length of his nose at the man who had destroyed the product of a life's work. "And your name?" The other questions were by-the-by and he would withhold them for the bit of power that left in his control. His blood pulsed with adrenaline, and he used it to straighten his spine and stand tall.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Blackheart." Simple, one word. One word that brought a rowdy cheer from his own crew gathered 'round the captured one of the Lorelei. He didn't need more than one name, not with such a notable one. Everyone knew the name, it had spread far in the years since he had taken captaincy of the Death Eater. Still, he had the distinct impression he wouldn't get an answer from Blackwood.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

The Captain knew that name well. Blackheart was infamous on the seas, as infamous as the ship he sailed. It was said that nary a man had escaped the Death Eater alive, though how the tale had spread if this was true seemed a mystery. "And where are you sailing?" he asked. One corner of his lips twitched with private humor at the switch he had managed.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Blackheart stared at the captain in silence before waving his hand to the two crew members behind Blackwood. "I suppose you'll see when we get there, take him to my office," he said. "Make sure he won't be getting away." This man wasn't going to get to him. He gave Blackwood another look before turning dismissively. He would talk to the man later and get everything he wanted.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Captain Blackwood's moss-green eyes laughed in challenge, and his lips only just repressed a triumphant smirk as he was bustled away. He was cooperative enough as they sat him on a hard wooden chair and gave no response to the taunts he received as they tied his hands firmly. He only kept his fists clenched so that the binding would not restrict blood flow. He would prefer to retain the use of his hands if he survived.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

It was dusk before the captain returned to his quarters, pleased to find Blackwood bound to a chair in his office and his bedchamber door tightly locked. The captain of the now-sinking Lorelei watched him, those green eyes piercing as though peering into whatever was left of his soul. Blackheart didn't speak immediately. He put his weapons on his heavy desk before settling himself against it to examine the man tied up in his office. "For whom do you sail?"

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"To what good purpose will that information serve?" Captain Blackwood returned. He knew that his ship was lost, but as long as the flag held above the water, he was her captain and would hold firm. The pirate was intimidating, yes, but also a man and men were fallible.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"A better one than you withholding it from me," Blackheart returned, pushing away from the desk and pulling out a fine dagger as he rounded his prisoner. It was curved, with a highly decorated, shining hilt. He brought the tip to the bundle of ropes holding the captain's wrists behind his back. "Would it help to be told none of your passengers are being mistreated?" He pulled the dagger up, slicing easily through the coarse ropes.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

The prayers that Captain Blackwood had run through in his mind paused at that. His heart still beat heavily, but now he breathed again as he brought his hands forward to rub at his irritated wrists. "That does improve the situation a bit," he assented, "if I am to believe the word of a pirate. Now, if you would be so kind, would you share your name with me?"

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"I have given you my name," Blackheart said as he came around to lean back against the desk again. He slid his dagger away before he looked up at Blackwood. Blackheart was his name now, no matter what name he had once had. Any other name was rarely, if ever, heard. His deep brown eyes hovered on his captive's, momentarily caught by the stunning green color, before shifting away.