Jaded Skull Tavern

[JD Black]

[shadow=red,left,300] [glow=blue,2,300]The Pirate and the Bounty Hunter[/glow] [/shadow]

[shadow=black,left,300] SSDD[/shadow]

She'd look at him as if he just suddenly grew a horn out of the center of his head. "Like it? You have got to be kidding me!" The bottle still had Scotch in it. She was an alcoholic, not an alcohol abuser! "Just to let you ken, we'll be sleeping in separate quarters!" That ought to get him, a smirk to now form. Glass refilled, the bottle would thud as it resettled upon the bar's surface.

And he's snatch that bottle up and refill his glass, giving her a stern look. "Like hell we will. Can't fool anyone like that. Same quarters dove." His own drink was tossed back immediately, then Raine stood up and towered over her, daring her with his look to defy this.

Defy? Did he forget whom she was. Her own glass of whiskey was lifted and the contents drained in one tilt back of the head. Glass to slam upon the bar as she'd stand up to him; of course, looking up. "Like anyone's going to check my cabin. That's a death wish if they try!"

He bent down, coming nose to nose with her. "We're sleeping in the same cabin, JD. There's no room for discussion here. Everyone will know by morning if we don't." Now he was growling under his breath. "Hell, I'll sleep on the floor. Does that suit you?" You'd think the blasted woman was a virgin or something.

Nose to nose they stood. It would look as if a battle was about to erupt between the two. Fists at her side would clench and unclench. "Fine!" Never had anyone unnerved the swashbuckler as much as the bounty hunter did. He knew too much and she had to protect her interests, and at what a cost it was. "But if you try to weasel your way into me bunk, I'll eviscerate you on the spot!" Lowly stated for his hearing alone. She had a secret and she was going to protect it at all costs.

Score. He smiled. He gloated. He poured them both another drink. "Whatever you say." He'd agree for now. But in time....well, who knew? Lifting his glass, he turned to toast with her. "To the bride." He smiled, wickedly.

Oh how she wanted just punch that smile off his face. Fist to curl tightly, but she'd not even attempt to do so. The drink snagged, she really needed this one. To his toast? A growl to sound, and the whiskey downed. She was going to get soused tonight!

Okay, best to swallow that grin back. As Raine turned back around and leaned on the bar, he slowly slid a glance over to her. She was fuming. Wasn't she just precious like this? A blood thirsty pirate that could slit his throat in a raging moment. He was pushing it and he knew it. "Stop fuming." He finally said under a lowered voice. "You know this is for the best, JD." Reaching his hand out, his fingers trailed over the top of hers, lightly tracing over those scars and calluses on her hands.

"It doesn't mean I have to like it!" Drawing her hand away from his touch. "In a sense, it's like being imprisoned." Her voice low, her words meant for his hearing alone. If anyone chimed in, they may be the one to get the brunt end of that temper that was flared. "I have others I have to think of!" Don't have a heart attack, she did just say that. She'd go along with the ruse to protect her men and the women whom she sheltered.

"I already am." He whispered underneath his breath, to soft to really be heard. Raine picked up the drink and took a healthy swallow. "Sorry, I really am. But it's for the best. You'll see...in the long run." His gaze trailed away from her, staring out over the crowded tavern.

That hard gaze of hers would light upon him. "What do you mean you already are?" He wasn't getting off that easily, she'd demand an explanation. Bottle snagged to refill her glass, and then his before it was replaced upon the bar. Don't take that as being a moment of softness, for it was anything but.

The bounty hunter just shook his head, watching as she refilled both of their drinks again. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, nor understand." And he wasn't about to reveal this to her now, it'd blow the whole deal. So instead of elaborating, he drained his voice with more scotch whiskey.

"I'm nae a simpleton Raine. You know who I am and what I've done, that should be enough to know I'd probably understand better than anyone else." A bit insulted by his comment, which wasn't hard to do. A glance her way could be considered an insult and have her ready to fight to the death ... usually the lookers.

d**n she was pushy. It was that pirate in her. Raine slowly stood up and turned to face her. "You really want the truth, JD?" His gaze leveling on her features, though hers eased up, his would grow a bit harder. "I don't think you could take hearing it." He challenged. He wasn't blackmailing her before, but if she demanded the truth from his now, he'd have to use that leverage.

Ahh, she got him riled. This did gain him a slow formation of a smirk upon her lips. "What's the matter bounty hunter? Am I getting under your skin?" Rise of a brow. "Just think, in a few days, I'll be like a plague in your life!" Now the tables had turned and she was enjoying it fully.

Challenge for challenge. He took a step closer and leaned down. "Yes, you are JD. Plague?" He laughed, very amused. "Why do you think I'm doing this? Because you have been a plague to me since the day I first met you." He was still holding that drink in his hand, but he paused long enough to set it down with a firm deposit where the liquid sloshed out.

"I have that effect on most." Bragging rights, and she'd lay claim to it. What pirate didn't boast of their darker effects on life. Standing fully to face him off once more. "You wanted this Raine, you remember that. You better be prepared for what you got yourself into." Those cold dark blues would meet that gaze of steel fully.

He was prepared, even to fight to the death for this. His hand reached up, lifting her chin up to his gaze. "No JD. I didn't want this." He spoke with a wealth of calm. "I wanted you." The pad of his thumb brushed at the corner of her mouth, then dropped away. "I'll be waiting for you on the deck of the Black Swan, Saturday morning. Wear something pretty." He left his bottle on the counter and stepped past her, working his way across the room.

[JD Black]

[shadow=red,left,300] [glow=blue,2,300]The Pirate and the Bounty Hunter[/glow] [/shadow]

[shadow=black,left,300] SSDD[/shadow]

Floored? Your d**n right she was. Never had she been left speechless, as she had at that very moment. As close to gawking as she possibly get, as she watched him move away. Stunned! She's gained many a fist in the face, and clubs to the back of her head, even those phased her not as much as those three words he just spoke.

Victory? It was too early to call that. But he'd managed to leave her speechless and thinking. With his back to her now, Raine slowly felt a tiny smile turn up at the corner of his mouth. One way or another, he'd get that bloody pirate to come around to his way of thinking. But until that time, what a merry chase the cat and mouse would lead. Raine opened the door to the tavern and stepped out onto the porch. He looked to his left and headed over to the railing, settling himself on it. A cherry root was plucked out of a pocket and lit with a flint. Inhaling until it ignited, the bounty hunter tipped his head and to exhale and enjoy the rest of the night.

For quite awhile she stood there just staring at that closed door. It was then she'd draw herself back to the here and now. A quick glance around, if any looked her way or even grinned, she'd give them a death look in return. The bottle would be snagged, suddenly she felt suffocated and needed some fresh air. A tight grip on the neck, she'd bully her way back through the crowd. An elbow or shoulder to meet any who got too close. d**n him, he upstaged her, and good. Once the door was reached, a boot would lift to kick it open as she stepped out onto the porch. She was the reaper of the seven seas, Blood Bath Black. No ship could stand against hers, nor a man to her rapier or flint lock. Yet this man just did what no other ever had. He unsettled the swashbuckler fully!

The bounty hunter sat with his back against a column connected to the porch railing. He looked out over the street, watching as the patrons filed their way up the steps and headed into the tavern. Several pretty lasses were working their way closer. He kept a watch, lifting the cigarillo for another drag. When the tavern door burst open he turned to see what the commotion was. Raine grinned, then quickly schooled his expressions to something unreadable. The bottle was noted in her hands. d**n. He'd forgotten it, but here she was. "So kind of you to remember I was thirsty, dove." Speaking up loud enough, to reveal himself in the shadows of the porch.

The raging storm that was the swashbuckler exiting, would come to a pause when she heard that familiar voice. It would be more of a snap that had her turning to face him. Lips pressed tightly, muscles of her jaw twitching with the clench of teeth. "Don't you ever do that to me again, Raine." A low warning given as steps were taken his way. Moving close enough that the bottle could be passed between them, as they stood in the shadow encased area of the porch. Bottle lifted to take a much needed drink before it'd be thrust in his direction to be claimed.

He raised a brow, quietly staring at her. He didn't smile, since he preferred not to feel her fist slammed into his face at the moment. "Do what to you again, dove?" Reaching for that bottle, he took it from her grasp and tipped it back for a drink. Keeping his gaze on her, he patted the railing beside him, where she could comfortable sit.

"Make a comment like that and then walk away before I can retort. I won't be made a fool of, you best get that into your head now. Any who have tried in the past has felt my wrath, and you will too. Let's get that straight. I'll be d**ned if I'll let some man humiliate me again!" Reaching to snag the bottle once he took that drink. She needed something to drink before due to thirst, now it was to steel those nerves that he touched.

He actually sat there in silence and blinked at her. Then Raine leaned forward and pulled JD over to the railing to sit beside him. "You seem to be confused over something, dove." He shifted his weight about so he was facing her. "My words were not meant to humiliate you. Why would they?"

A drink taken, then a trade, the cigarillo for the bottle swapped. It would be placed between lips and a deep inhale taken of the sweet smelling tobacco. When it was withdrawn, her head would tilt back slightly as tendrils of smoke would exit through nostrils and lips alike. Head tipped forward once more as those oceanic depths trained upon him. A brow rose ever so slightly. "So you decided, knowing that I would reject any advances, to black mail me to get what you wanted? Bravo Raine. You ensnared me in a trap I couldn't have set better myself." The cigarillo would be lifted to take another deep inhalation, then withdrawn to exchange it back for the bottle of Scotch.

First he needed another drink before that switch would take place. His gaze shifted away for a second, then he gave her a half hearted smile. "Yeah. That's what I did. Though I really do want to protect you too, JD." He inhaled on the cherry root again, then slowly exhaled the smoke. He turned to look at her, slowly leaning in. The bounty hunter brushed his lips close beside her ear. "I'm sorry it had to came to this...but.." His voice lowering further. Whispering warmly against her ear. "This guy's in love with you." Raine brushed his lips below her earlobe before leaning back again. "I know, I'm a real bastard, aren't I?"

Once the bottle was gained, it was lifted to take a drink, and thankfully it was swallowed before those whispered words were shared between them. That had her gaze snap to focus directly upon his face. The look upon hers was that of being stunned, again. "Ay, that you are! What I want to know is how long? How long have you known?"

He smiled some, looking down at the porch flooring. "I really didn't know. I just took a wild guess last night." Craning his head to the side, he glanced over to see her reaction. He dared to give her a wink too.

"You guessed!?!" Surprised even more, she truly took the bait, and in more ways than one. That was a cause for another deep drink to be taken. "I'm losing my edge, or my mind. Perhaps both!" The bottle would be handed back to him. "Maybe I'm just getting too d**n old for all of this!" A bit of a grumble. She had never been bested, though there were those whom came close. Raine ought to pat himself on the back for this one.

He slipped it from her fingers. d**n, he just couldn't help it, Raine was laughing. This made it difficult to manage that next drink too. "Nah, I'm just as good at this game as you are JD." He pushed himself back, settling up against that column, watching her and looking over those pretty features that could easily get so enraged. "So. Do you hate me for it?"

[JD Black]

[shadow=red,left,300] [glow=blue,2,300]The Pirate and the Bounty Hunter[/glow] [/shadow]

[shadow=black,left,300] SSDD[/shadow]

"Ay, that I do, and admire you at the same time. You've managed what no other has. I'm sure there's a medal for that somewhere in some land." She was beginning to relax a bit. She'd blame it on the Scotch. "I'm telling you now Raine and you best take this to heart. I'm too old to change my ways. I've worked hard to gain the trust and respect of my men. If they think me soft, I'll lose more than I already have to that d**nable red ghost ship. I can't afford that. It's what I do, it's who I am." A deep inhale of the cheroot would have it down to a glowing butt. This would be tossed to the ground and put out with the heel of her boot.

Red ghost ship? That had a brow shoot up. He'd ask about that at a later point though. "Hell, JD. I don't want a d**n medal, or your admiration. Not for this." He inched himself over closer to her, passing that bottle over once more. He reached up and brushed some errant strands of hair back over her shoulder. "Nor do I want to change you. It's what you are that first caught my eye. A fiery spirit to be reckoned with. People like us, we belong to ourselves. We're meant to be alone and I'm breaking all the rules now. I know this." Reaching up he pushed those unruly strands of dirty blonde hair from his eyes. "I have no plans to change what I am or do. So why should I expect that of you?" His gaze would soften some, daring to lean in closer to her. "There is one thing that I do want in time. But I can't take that. You have to give it up yourself." His finger would trace above her left breast for several seconds, then drop away. Raine slowly settled back against the column, staring.

"My father once told me, never get involved with anything you couldn't up and leave behind without a second thought. Attachments are things that will cause ruination." Her reaction to his touch would be like way she drew back. Her gaze would meet his fully, then shift purposely to that bottle that she'd reach to instantly claim. No reply given, she couldn't .. more wouldn't at the moment. "It'll take some adjustments. One thing I've got to figure out, is the story to tell the crew. They're going to ask plenty of questions over this one." Once the bottle was in hand, it would be instantly lifted to take a long, deep, drink.

Silent observation would be broken as he nodded his head over her words. "You're father's correct, too. Jasper always told me the same thing." The bounty hunter folded his arms across his chest, watching her consume the fire. "Tell them the truth. That I blackmailed you into this." It was what he'd done after all. Even Raine was surprised at his own actions. But here it was, the biggest ruse either of them had pulled off in their lives.

Now that gained him a throaty chuckle. "If I was to tell them that, they'd hunt you down to string you up from the crows nest." Stated once the bottle was lowered and handed back. Another shock, she was actually thinking of his welfare? "Unless you're ready to tempt fate, I'd suggest another story be told." Once again her gaze would meet his. "I think your fabrication of changing my name because someone's close to finding me out..." A pause as she thought for a moment. "...and there's a good possibility someone has." Suddenly a chance meeting came back to mind and it hit her like a ton of bricks.

Oh, he'd caught that too, lightly laughing. Raine crept over closer to JD, slipping an arm behind her back. "See, I'm already growing on you." Yes, they could go with the original plan. He'd have to poke a bit of fun at her though. "Or you could tell them you're smitten with me." That grin would linger for a second then quickly fade as he leaned in to see her face. "What is it JD?" His brows suddenly furrowing.

She'd look at him fully. "Do you have that wanted poster on you still?" She wouldn't say until she knew for sure her suspicion. Why it didn't dawn on her before was unclear, perhaps it was her state of inebriation at the time. It was more a gut feeling than anything.

Or it could be she was growing soft on him? Raine had the paybill, slipping his hand into the inside pocket of his coat he pulled it out and handed it to her. "Here. What's on your mind?" Still holding a questioning gaze.

Taking the playbill, offering him the bottle in exchange. he'd unfold it, then hold it to where the light would illuminate the depiction of the face etched upon it. For a long moment she didn't say a word as she stared at it.

He took the bottle from her, but didn't drink. Instead his own gaze turned upon the opened playbill, looking at the wanted picture of Captain JD 'Blood Bath' Black. The man he'd been hunting for six months now. Ha. And here she sat right beside him. The bounty hunter turned to JD. "You're going to set him up as bait?"

"Bloody 'ell." Brows furrowed deeply, it was then she looked back up at him. "I've met the man who's picture is on this playbill. In fact, we spent the evening dancing." Handing it back to him. "He knows who I am."

"Well, I'll be d**ned." He reached for the playbill, refolded it and tucked it back into the pocket of his coat. "Wait, what's you're plan here then, if this guy knows who you really are?"

"He's a captain of a ship. I'm sure he's being hunted for the crimes listed. I can't say if he's guilty of them or not, but I'm sure if he's anything like I am, he's not going to be happy to be sought after for my actions. If it was me, I'd hunt down the one who's responsible." Perhaps that would be enough to draw a clear picture of what might take place. "It's not like I can marry him to shut him up." A wry twist to her lips.

No, that was Raine's specialty. She got him to laugh over that fact, too. "Okay, so he knows who you are, and he'd being hunted for your crimes. So why not take the advantage. Hate to string up a bloke that might be innocent. But.." Rationalizing this. "We've gotta protect our interests, dove." Which meant her.

"This is something I need to think over. I could be wrong, but somehow I don't think so." Shaking her head. "When it rains, it storms." Speaking of all she's having to deal with. "I'll just have to figure out something, someway to find out where this man is." She'd look him dead in the eye. "Innocent or nae, if his body is delivered to the crown, they'll think they've got their man and stop looking." A hand lifted as fingers began to rub her temple, that pain was forming again.

"You just spoke my name." He jested and stood up. "Remember, two heads are better than one." He held a hand out to her. "C'mon, I'll escort you back to the dockside, dove."

It took a moment for it to sink in as to what he meant, and then a chuckle as she looked up at him. "Don't flatter yourself so." A deep breath taken. She needed to get back before the headache became full blown, something that was becoming too common place as of late. She'd not accept that hand, she had to still show that bit of defiance. Instead she stood of her own accord, though the porch felt like the deck of a ship out to sea. "Ay, I need to get back so I can clear my mind to think." Which meant passing out and falling into a drunken sleep; snoring included!

Well, she was about to marry a bounty hunter. What better man for the job? Raine just gave her a bragging grin and slipped his arm around her waist. He could see the flicker of pain in her eyes, so he'd let her lean on him. Make that blackmailed into marrying a bounty hunter! He still was the best man for the job.

A glance up at him, and the defiance only pertained to accepting his hand. She'd accept that support, for when the headaches came, so did the weakness of limbs. Of course, she'd blame it on the liquor come morning. "It's been a long day." Murmured excuse for the actions now taken.

"And trying." He quietly replied. Raine escorted her off the porch and took her back down to her Inn, near the docks. There were a lot of plans and details to cover over the next few days. First priority was to figure out how to protect her identity, the second...was staged to take place
on the deck of her ship this weekend.