I quickly scuffled to the laundry room, taking care to be quiet in case anyone came near the part of the ship we were in. Shuffling through the ratty rags, I threw on some semblance of an outfit before quickly emerging. "You think this'll do?" I asked, glancing at Dorian. by Galadriel

Outfit Not Found

this should do the trick! better hurry and get back to Dorian, no telling what hes up to now.

"Right. Let's try this."

The knife was sharp but inefficiently small. It took Jack less than a minute to grab it and twist her wrists far enough around to bring the blade to bear but then the rest of the hour to saw through the thick rope. The twisted fibres parted slowly in strands and tufts but she worked on it relentlessly until she could finally wrench her way free of the heavy bonds.

Bringing her arms around to the front of her body hurt. Her shoulders and back creaked as if they were made of wood. Jack took a long breath, stretching out the various aches and cramps before turning her attention to the cell door.

To her surprise, the lock broke easily. The knife slipped in with only a little fiddling and when she twisted the hilt, something clicked. The door groaned open reluctantly and Jack slipped out into the dim corridor, swinging the door shut behind her.

When she turned to remove the knife however, it refused to move. She twisted the hilt hard and something audibly snapped. Jack grimaced and drew the blade out, holding it up for Dorian's inspection.

"Knife's broken a bit." The tip of the blade had snapped off in the lock, leaving a straight but still sharp edge. "Still usable I suppose." She glanced at the door of his cell. "Stay there," she deadpanned. "I'll be back as per your delightful idea."

The laundry was larger than she would have thought. Jack rummaged through the piles that looked marginally cleaner and picked out the most inconspicuous items she could find. There was nothing she wanted to touch to cover her face with so she took the next best option and wrapped cloth around her head to obscure as much as possible. No shoes fit and she would be damned if she ruined her new boots in this place. Bare feet it was and hopefully the bundle of her own effects would stay hidden in the general laundry mess.

Outfit Not Found

Outfit Not Found

After getting out of the cell you hastily make your way to the laundry room. You look around in awe. It's pretty fancy for a pirate laundry. You grab some things and quickly get changed.

Outfit Not Found Claire thanks Dorian and frees herself as quickly as she can, making a mad dash for the ship's laundry room. She was expecting grubby sailors' rags, but this laundry room must be reserved for the top brass aboard. "Guess I'll have to hide in plain sight," Claire thinks with a grimace. She'd much rather blend, but that would be difficult as a young woman anyway. She grabs what must be Captain Lucy's clothes and hopes she'll be able to pull them off as her own. At least the voluminous coat is perfect for concealing her own belongings underneath it.

Ok, ok, I can do this. I'm Claire--no, Clara-- erm Morgan. Clara Morgan. If anyone asks I'm Captain Lucy's cousin. I've been holed up sick in my cabin, but I'm feeling better now. If I cross Lucy's path... Well, I'll cross that bridge if I get there... Hopefully we'll have escaped to dry land by the time she notices anything amiss...

Claire rushes back to Dorian's cell and slips him a bobby pin from her plait. "Here, take this. It goes without saying that I'll need your help. Free yourself and let’s figure this out together. Pirates and sharks are not exactly de rigueur at finishing school. Who or what exactly am I dealing with here? Is the grand plan to steal a lifeboat when the time is right?"

she was practicing her pirate speak the whole time as she found herself some clothes to layer over her own. luckily she had taken her sandals off to explore the beach, and even more luckily there was a row of boots freshly polished in the laundry so she wouldn't have to attempt her escape barefoot. having not set eyes on how any of the other pirates on board were outfitted, she hoped she didn't stand out too much. by chookie

Will this work? Kat asked Outfit Not Found

(( Most people in their response to the last prompt went back to see Dorian after getting a disguise. So this promt starts with the assumption that your character has done so. ))

"That's what you're wearing?!" Dorian looks scandalized. You feel annoyed. You did the best you could with rifling through discarded pirate laundry and you feel that given the circumstances MAYBE he shouldn't be too judgmental.

"Okay, okay, I mean it is what it is. We can work on your look after you get me out of here," he sighs, "Since I'm a high-profile prisoner Lucy probably has the keys to my shackles in the captain's cabin. Sneak in there get the keys. She probably has a box of Bitey's favorite treats in there too. Grab them while you're at it. Then we can get out of there and find my shark."

You're still not sure about this whole feud over Bitey. You are sure that you're not really a fan of Dorian's attitude. But you don't have many options right now. There's safety in numbers when you're escaping from a dangerous pirate ship and if worse comes to worst you can always use the human shield.

You walk out of the brig and after going down a hall you realize you forgot to ask where the captain's cabin is. Just as you're about to turn back to see Captain Insufferable again you catch a glimpse of something glowing in the corner of your eye. A fin maybe? You follow it. Every time you think you've gotten lost you catch another sliver of something. A fin, a sharp smile... and soon you find yourself at the captain's cabin. Though you never got a good look at your guide there was something very familiar about them...

There on the nightstand by the bed is a box of 'Chummy Treats'. Those must be Bitey's snacks. Just as you pick it up though you hear a noise behind you. Your heart is thudding in your chest. You're an escaped prisoner rifling through the captain's cabin, this can't possibly go well for you. You turn around and see...

Possibly the oldest pirate you've ever seen. A Feli, wobbling with either age or a few cups of morning rum. He is squinting pretty hard at you.

"Captain Lucy? Sorry to disturb ya Ma'am..."

...Oh sweat sea spirits he can barely see and thinks you're Lucy. Maybe this will work out after all.

"We spoke before. I'm a representative of Keel-Hauliday festivity council. I'm here to record yer entry into this year's sea-shanty contest. Got a lot of other ships to visit so whenever yer ready..."

Oh no.

You are not ready. But this cat thinks you're the captain and you CAN'T blow you cover. Guess it's time to sing... something.

Third Prompt!

Create a sea-shanty! Or a poem, who knows what really qualifies as a shanty. As long as it's about pirates, sailing, the ocean... what have you.

There will be one winner of this prompt decided by whatever entry I like the most. The deadline for this prompt is Saturday September 26th at 8pm Subeta time

WINNERS!

The winner chosen by me is ! I really love the colors, and I really really love the choice of bandanna with that hairstyle. They look like they were made for each other!

The winner chosen by raffle is... !

If you both will just let me know which of the Pirate Queen items you'd like I'll get them over to you!

Also? HAPPY KEELHAULIDAY YOU GUYS!

As rude as it was to be mistaken for a woman, Nero was pleased at how well his disguise was working. Dorian could go suck a fish for doubting him earlier. Though masking his voice to an effeminate tone… Maybe the crusty cat was hard of hearing as well. Nero lifted his goblet in salute and cleared his throat.

“My ship is the Golden Horizon. We pillage for loot as our prizes. I swear to that brat, who made off with my hat. His neck will be wrung when I find him.”

It was a stretch, but the Feli probably didn’t know Dorian was already in Lucy’s custody. Setting down his empty goblet prop, Nero crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently. “That will have to do. I’m a very busy woman.”

(( Oh yay! Thank you :D Perfect timing with the Hauliday too. Thanks for keeping this place entertaining and fun. I would love a pair of the Pirate Queen Boot Laces. Congrats to as well, that outfit was stunning. ))

You could tell Kat MAY have already had a few drinks as she starts singing "Yo ho Yo ho rum is not for me Most pirates will be ta rum is their drink Give me a beer and just let me be! If I drink some rum I’m likely to sink Yo ho yo ho rum is not for me I sail the ocean from sea to sea So much beer I think I will lay under a tree Here comes the enforcement I better flea Yo ho yo ho rum is not for me !"

You clear your throat. Luckily for you you had recently done some binge watching of one of your favorite shows. Just throw in a bunch of shark references and you should be good right?

Title: A Shark walks into a Tavern (To the tune of the Gilligan’s Island theme song)

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful trip That started from this tropic port At Rathskeller Inn.

The shark was a friendly sailing fish, Who had been out all day. He saw the Inn up ahead And thought he’d stop in to play. And get a pint.

The patrons started getting scared, A Shark was in their midst, If not for the courage of a fearless Feli The patrons would bolt, and the shark wouldn’t get his pint.

The Feli walked up to the fearsome looking shark and said hey; Can I help you? The shark smiled big, The Feli felt rather faint, I’d like a pint And a friend to share it with please Here at Rathskeller Inn.

So this is the tale of unlikely friends, They come to the Inn often, They'll laugh and tell tales, While having a pint.

The friendly shark and the Feli too, Will do their very best, To make the patrons comfortable, At Rathskeller Inn.

Big teeth, sharp teeth, so many teeth, Not a single cavity, The smiling shark will be your friend, Just don’t forget his pint.

So join us here each week my friend, You're sure to get a smile, From a friendly shark and Feli, Here at Rathskeller Inn.

I stand there not knowing what to say. Thinking on the spot if hard... lol. I just start saying whatever comes to mind:

"It began on a super fall morning: I was the most brave pirate around, She was the most busty wench.

She was my lover, My busty lover, My wench.

We used to love so well together, Back then. We wanted to drink together, around the world, We wanted it all.

But one morning, one crazy morning, We decided to drink too much. Together we stole a boat. It was grand, so big.

From that moment our relationship changed. She grew so hairy.

And then it happened:

Oh no! Oh no!

She stole a shark. Alas, a shark! My lover stole a shark. It was strong, so strong.

The next day I thought my love had broken, I thought my heart had burst into flames, (But I was actually overreacting a little.)

But still, she is in my thoughts. I think about how it all changed that morning, That crazy fall morning.

My heart... ouch! When I think of that busty wench, That busty wench and me."

I hum for a second before a tune pops into my head and I start to sing along to it, words spinning up in my head only moments before they manage to pass my lips:

Oh sit right back and I'll tell you a tale A tale of a fateful trip It happened on the sea one day When my pet shark decided to jump ship

Baron was a feisty boy But his loyalty was true Until that fateful day weeks back When he jumped into the ocean blue

His tail flicked and he was 'neath the waves I looked near and far and worried with each day When chance and fate intervened And I heard another pirate say

"My pet shark has gone astray But I'm sure I'll find him soon If you might help me, kind stranger I'm sure I can grant you a boon!"

I knew right then and there That Baron hadn't run away Instead this other pirate had instead Stolen him away!

Alas my tale has no happy end My Baron still lost at sea But I hope my shanty will help one day To bring him back to me!

Litha smiled and began to hum a fetching song:

"Oh, I sin' ye a chantey, an epic ballad, about a sweet shark who got lost!

He was like me son only water-bound, I ne'er left ship lackin' 'im around.

One day he was stolen by a lover o' mine, a sexy mean pet whom I can nah forget.

When I find 'im 'n Bitey I be goin' t' rin' his neck or press me lips t' his cheeks whatever first t' me speaks...."

Illuminata gave Dorian a glare. "I'll have you know I'm considered extremely fashionable in Ziara," she sniffed, and then went in to look for the keys.

Where she encountered the elderly Feli.

He was kind of adorable.

And then she began to sing:

"When we pulled into Plunder Port in need of R & R The crew set out investigating every joint and bar We had high expectations of their hospitality But found too late it wasn't geared for pirates such as we

And we're banned from Omen, every one Banned from Omen just for having a little fun We spent a jolly shore leave there for just three days or four But Omen doesn't want us anymore

Our captain's tastes were simple but her methods were complex We found her with three Feli and two sharks of unknown sex The shore police were on the way -- we had no second chance We zapped her out in the nick of time in the remnants of her pants

And we're banned from Omen, every one Banned from Omen just for having a little fun We spent a jolly shore leave there for just three days or four But Omen doesn't want us anymore

Our engineer would yield to none in putting down the brew He outdrank Ziaran space marines and a demolition crew The navigator didn't win but he outdrank almost all And now his tail is flying from the roof of city hall

And we're banned from Omen, every one Banned from Omen just for having a little fun We spent a jolly shore leave there for just three days or four But Omen doesn't want us anymore

Our medic loves Humanity; zir private life is quiet The Shore Police arrested zim for inciting whores to riot We found zim in the city jail, paid bail and got zim free- Intact except for lovebites and a zombie STD

And we're banned from Omen, every one Banned from Omen just for having a little fun We spent a jolly shore leave there for just three days or four But Omen doesn't want us anymore

Some mercenaries came to town and no-one seemed to care They stamped into the nearest bar to announce that they were there Half our crew was busy there, and invited them to play The mercenaries stared at us, and turned and ran away

And we're banned from Omen, every one Banned from Omen just for having a little fun We spent a jolly shore leave there for just three days or four But Omen doesn't want us anymore

Our crew is Delphi's finest, and our record is our pride And when we play we tend to leave a trail a mile wide We're sorry about the wreckage and the riots and the fuss; At least we're sure the islands won't be quick forgetting us!"

Apologies to Leslie Fish, who wrote the original. (Content warning for cheerily-handled but not at all consensual shenanigans. I took those parts out, it's a long enough song without them.)

((Happy birthday Knight!))

Jean was surprised by the elderly Feli, but there was nothing for it. She'd have to sing a song on the spot. Fortunately for her she'd been thinking of simple shanties in preparation for Keelhauliday!

To the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat she sang:

Sail, sail, sail your ship Hither, thither, and yon. Red skies at night are a sailor's delight, but 'ware if they're red at dawn.

Sail, sail, sail your ship Through kraken-infested deeps, Those things can tear a ship in two! Best hope they're all asleep.

Sail, sail, sail your ship To where the treasure lies, Dig down where X marks the spot For a booty-ful surprise.

(and, for the less high-minded pirate) Swab, swab, swab the deck, Gotta keep it clean. Polish up the captain's boots Until the leather gleams~

"You really think a hair accessory would have worked on these shackles? Lucy may not be my favorite, but she didn't become a captain by being a fool. You'll have to get the keys from her cabin,” says Dorian. With a gusty sigh, Claire leaves in search of the captain's cabin.

The old Feli gives Claire hope that maybe she can pass for Lucy's relation after all.

She grins broadly, takes a deep breath, and sings: Got a Tutani of a story to tell you lads A Tutani of a story or two 'Bout the flappin' fish and the girls I've loved On nights like this with the moon above A Tutani of a story and it's all true I swear by my tattoo

There was Fair Merana Met her down in Omen Islands She would kiss me Any time that I would ask her Then one evening, her frame of love blew out Blow me down and pick me up She swapped me for a trout!

after stammering and panicking for a few seconds, i'm suddenly inspired by a few of the lyrics from my favourite song and i do my best to improvise however i can. clearing my throat and trying to sound as piratey as possible i begin:

Staring at the sea Will he come to me? O my Baron Bitey, How I'm missin' ye.

Ocean pulls me close And whispers in me ear "The time is drawing near, for when yer friend appears"

And I descend from woe! In arms of undertow I will hasten me pace, So aye can see yer face!

I can still feel you Even so far away. Ocean pulls me close, I'll see ye'gain one day.

i watch the Feli for any kind of reaction, hoping he didn't notice my many pauses and fumbles, but he has his face scrunched up close to his notes and he's scribbling away busily. i pull the brim of my hat lower and try to look Captain-y, hoping he'll leave me to continue my search...

We sail the sea for hours in search for our one desire a maiden? the treasure? who's to say

We sail the sea for hours for it is our true desire

"Uh--oh! I wasn't expecting you.. so soon!" While relieved, you're absolutely thrown off by the elderly feline's request for a song. You learn more about Lucy with every passing day; you never would've expected her to enter a shanty-writing contest, and it sounds like she's done this before. Or.. is this a trick? One the thought enters your mind you just can't shake it.

You can tell that a bit too much time has passed. The feli shifts uncomfortably and squints at you. You know you have to come up with something before he can scrutinize your disguise any further, but you've never had to do anything.. musical.. before. Eurrgh.. musicals. Sitting through a musical number always makes your skin crawl. To buy yourself some time, and in hopes of calming your nerves, you do a few breathing exercises. Hope this cat hasn't heard Lucy's voice before!

" I'm sure ye've heard the superstition, Water doesn't mix with kittens. Today you'll learn that's not quite true, For I've got quite the story for you.

Born on the coast, our hero's he: A feli raised near waves and sea. Learned to swim before he ran, He dream'd of pirates in distand lands.

One day a ship rolled into the bay, Through the fog and the ocean spray. Its imposing form was a fearful sight, But not to kitty--he saw delight!

Right then he just decided, "Hey! My first ninth life is slipping away! If I don't meet those pirates today, I'll have regrets til my final day!"

So out he swam to the pirates' vessel, And climbed the anchor's chain--what a hassle! Panting, he made it to the top, And fell to the deck with a definite flop.

So these burly pirates, in front of them now: Was a young feli, soaking, and funnily how. They laughed 'til they couldn't, then invited the cat To join in their ventures in their big ship, so grand.

"What do ye say?" asked the captain of him. "We could use someone like you to lighten up things." But the feli was a good kid, and honest at that: "I can't, it's a school night--and I've gotta swim back!" "