Escapade

[Mary Edwards]

Escapade

A young woman, around the age of twenty, raced through the woods, ducking under the outreached branches, and dodging looming trees. She was dressed quite nicely to be running out in the woods. Her long, blonde hair was streaming behind her; most of it had come out of its bun already but new strands were beginning to get unglued. The woman jumped over a log, and ducked (more like dove) into a bush, fleeing an unknown pursuer. While sitting in the cover, she pressed her hand to her chest, clutching a golden locket. With her hair unbound, face smeared with dirt, and dress soiled and ripped beyond repairing, the shining golden locket looked very out of place. It had fallen in front of her clothes, and she tucked it back to rest against bare chest, beneath the garments. Taking a deep, steadying breath to calm herself, she closed her eyes and waited…

[Captain Max Penn]

"Miss! Miss!" Max called as he charged after a woman with long blonde hair. Why she was running, he had no idea. He had just wanted to give her a bracelet he had found that he thought she had dropped. He ducked a few branches and leaves came off on his frock coat. His long legs carried him fast enough to catch up to the young woman but she had a way of fitting through tight spots that Max could not. He easily stepped over a log and then could not hear the snap of twigs anymore. He paused in the small clearing and listened like an animal. She couldn't be running anymore, he didn't hear her footstpes. But then he noticed he could hear heeavy breathing coming from a nearby bush, slowly he walked over to it, feaful he would scare her into sprinting away again. True there was not enough moonlight to see her by but Max knew she was there. "Miss, I think you dropped this."

[Mary Edwards]

The woman heard the man calling after her. She sighed with relief that he wasn’t the one she was running from yet she didn’t let her guard down all the way. Besides, he knew were she was and running only further might make him more determined to catch her. She slowly stood up from the inside of the bush she was hiding in. Her dark eyes all short of glared at him, they were mistrusting and cold. Who was this man and why was he here? Ah, that question was answered right away. He held out a bracelet that he had indeed dropped. No wonder her arm felt lighter now that the tinkling pieces of metal strung on a piece of cloth were gone.
”Yes, I did indeed drop it. Thank you for returning it. Now… who are you?” she questioned. Her eyes had softened slightly, but were still not trusting. She turned her head and shifted slightly, trying to get a better view of the man.

[Captain Max Penn]

He blinked a few times, his eyes adjusting to the darkness as a young woman emerged from the bush.

“Captain Maxwell Creighton Penn, at your service, Madam,” he said whilst sinking into a deep bow and clutching his tri-corn to his chest. As he rose elegantly back to his normal height, well above an average man’s, his proper English garb was displayed. He wore an outfit similar to the uniform of an upper-class naval officer. He wore tights and breeches, impeccably polished shoes and a scarlet mid-thigh length frock coat. The only thing that betrayed his forays into piracy was the insignia of his ship, The Devil’s Advocate pinned to his lapel.

"And may I dare to ask yours, Madam?"

It seemed as though he was just being polite, but in truth this was what he was like all the time.

[Mary Edwards]

The lady’s eyes twinkled with amusement at his politeness. She rolled them as she wondered if she should answer his request for her name. He had given her his name, so she probably should give him hers. As he bowed, her eyes were drawn to the The Devil’s Advocate insignia on his breast. A pirate? She drew back noticeably, backing up a pace.
”Are you a pirate?” She asked coldly, her eyes wandering up and down him. He was dressed nice enough, he was well trained in politeness, but… She didn’t trust him. Then again, that wasn’t a big surprise, she didn’t trust very easily. He did seem nice, but anyone could pretend. She exhaled quietly, hopeing that he wasn't pretending and was indeed well groomed and polite.

[Captain Max Penn]

"Only in the loosest sense of the word, Madam," he said, with a little flourish of the hand that was still clutching his tri-corn. He replaced it on his head and then clicked his heels together, automatically standing up straight and appearing taller than ever. He could tell that she was examining him and he was determined to make a good impression. He would never let his forays into piracy hold him back in life. Max looked down at her, a warm smile spreading across his face. She did look a right mess and it was obvious that he had given her a scare.

"Would you like me to escort you back to town Miss? You could get cleaned up and then perhaps we can break bread at the Horse's Liver?"

[Mary Edwards]

She noticed him straiten up, almost towering above her. She watched him, but when he didn’t take a move toward her, she let a slight grin pass her lips. Deciding that he wasn’t just putting on a show for her, she let her muscles relax slightly, not being as stiff as a board anymore. This man didn’t seem to want to cause her any harm... Maybe she should let him escort her back.
”I don’t have a place to stay, and I only have a small amount of money.” She said slightly saddened. She had no place to get cleaned up, no money for food, no money for rent. She maybe could buy herself a simple shirt and skirt but that was it.

[Captain Max Penn]

"All the more reason, too. You can stay at my apartment. I have a g*est bedroom and than we'll dine," He said more of a command then a request. Gently, he brushed a few leaves out of her hair in a fatherly manner. He was rather worried for her safety, a woman alone on Tortuga? He had heard horrible stories of rape and murder that single woman on the isle of Tortuga suffered. He offered his left arm to her, willing her to agree and head back to town without a fuss.

"A single woman should not be out and about at night alone," Max reminded her firmly. He was a gentleman and as such had to fufill his duty.

((It automatically changes g*est to scallywag so I put a star))

[Mary Edwards]

The woman ducked slightly as he brushed her off. Annoyance twinkled in her eyes, but she still took his arm. She had also heard of the horrible tales of this town, that was her main reason for running.
"Yes, I have also..." She trailed off, giving him one more warning look to prove she could handle herself, then kept her eyes on the ground so she wouldn't trip as they walked back.
"We weren't properly intruduced, my name is Mary." Mary added. If he was going to be all proper and such, so was she. She started with her name.

[Captain Max Penn]

"Of course it is lovely to meet you Miss Mary." He proclaimed in his grand British accent. He shook his head and stood up straighter as they crunched over the dying leaves, Max in his shin high boots, Mary surely in something more dainty. He was proud to have such a beautiul young woman on his arm. He turned to her, and with an inquistive look asked, "Where are you from Miss Mary?"

((Sorry it's so short. I've got really bad writer's block.))

[Mary Edwards]

Mary smiled up at him. She was enjoying their walk more than she thought she would. She turned her eyes down to the forest floor. Mary had shed her shoes before she began this trek into the woods.
”My father had a rice plantation in the new world, but. . . She trailed off. She was slightly hesitant to reveal her past to this gentleman, or to anyone. She looked up at him, with her eyes she begged him not to ask further.
”About how far away is your apartment, Mr. Penn?” Mary asked.

[Captain Max Penn]

"Captain Penn, if you please," he said politely, it seemed rude, but he worked his way up from a mere swabbie and he had earned his title.
"Ah, the Horse's Liver is just on the edge of town, I'm not exactly a man who enjoys the pleasures of Tortuga to their fullest and as such, hesitate to venture into the belly of the beast that is the Town Square." He hoped this put to rest any fear of him. He knew she had every right to suspect that a pirate on Tortuga didn't have the politest ideas of what to do with an unprotected woman.

[Mary Edwards]

Mary's eyes twinkled with amusement. She looked up at him, smiling in further amusement.
"Captain Pen. My mistake. the woman said. If you couldn't tell by her eyes that she was amused by his speech, then you could tell by her voice. She looked into the woods, the lights of the city were just becoming visable. Mary smiled grimly. The 'pleaseurs of Tortuga', one could only guess. Mary shook away thoughts of those type as they continued to neer the city.
"Uh, Captain, this guest bedroom of yours, it does have a proper door and lock on it?" Mary asked. She wanted him to know that she wasn't trusting him fully, she never would, always on the cautios side. She did however apreciate his hospitality. Never in her life would she have ever thought she would meet a pirate that she didn't mind being in company with. The young woman sighed, becoming more weary as they plodded along in the dark. She all of a sudded stopped. Reaching up behind her head, she undid her now messy bun, letting her dark blonde hair cascade over her shoulders. Shaking her head a little bit to alow the hair to fall naturaly, she took his arm again, and continued walking. She had always liked the feel of her hair down better anyway.

[Captain Max Penn]

"It does indeed Miss," he said with a gentle smile. "Not even a grown man is safe from Tortuga's madness." Sleeping in a unlocked room above a pub was almost certain suicide. Or at least you would wake up to a drunk retching beside your bed. No. Max's door was always kept locked. He carried the key in his left pocket at all times and never set it down anywhere. He looked back at her as she took her hair down. She shook her head and it shined in the moonlight. Max couldn't help but think, beautiful. He straightened his hat with his free hand as she retook his arm gracefully. There was something about her that seemed well-bred like himself. Perhaps the daugther of a nobleman? But then part of her seemed wild, a trait never seen in noble girls. They lapsed into silence, Max with no idea as to what to say next.

[Mary Edwards]

Mary sighed slightly, glad to hear about the locks. She however, had caught him looking at her. Although she was used to men staring at her, he didn't look at her quite the same, It wasn't that same hungry look that she got most of the time. It was more of an admiring look. For the first time in her life, she blushed. Turning her face slightly away so that he wouldn't see her blushing, a sign swinging in the wind caught her eye. Horses Liver. Lovely name.
"I think I see your resort hotel." Mary said sarcasticly. She looked up at him again, hopefully her pink blush had dissapeared.
"Oh well, better than sleeping out in the streets I'm sure. Mary said, smiling even wider. The idea of a warm place to sleep made her step quicker. The woman winced as her cut up feet cought up to her. Spying a log on the edge of the forest, she let go of his arm, hobling over to the fallen tree.
"If you would excuse me a second. Running through the woods isn't very easy on the feet." Mary said. Crossing her legs, Mary inspected the soles of her feet. They were torn, and bleeding slightly. She sighed, and got back up. Taking the captain's arm once again they made for the hotel. She leaned on him a little, a hot bath would be good for her aching feet.
"How much further untill we reach the hotel?" Mary asked, wincing again.