A Noble Rescue (Francis + Arthur, Closed)

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur stops at that, and blinks. He looks at Francis for a moment, before sighing. He starts to speak in a way as though he's reading an imaginary report file before him.

"Francis Bonnefoy. Age, supposedly mid 20s. Meeting face to face I'd garner that's an accurate guess. Nobleman, with Noble roots. Maybe had links to the military in the past. Definitely had a phase of being involved in Piracy for a short spell." His eyes glint. "Generally keeps under the radar. Acts as any other Noble would. Holds balls, dresses lavishly. No signs of purposely cheating people out of their wealth. However, there appears to be signs of an underground network he's connected to. Suspicious."

He sighs.

"But not a sign of corruptness. Nobles know they have the power and the money to be loud and proud about what they do, and nobody else will stop them -- if anyone attempts, they have money to keep them quiet... or force." He shrugs his shoulders. "What's the use of keeping quiet about anything, except for a greater purpose beyond merely showing off your superiority? No, there's something else you do, but I doubt it's anything like the rest of them."

He eyes Francis.

"I'm here because you brought me here. I may go to lengths with my plans, but I certainly wouldn't try to get myself killed in the minute hopes that you were wandering around alleyways in the dead of night, where if in normal clothing one could certainly be assaulted, and happen to find me and even nurse me back to health. No, you've done that. You've never been under my radar so far. If we were going to meet face to face I would've made sure to have had a more impressive entrance rather than wake up covered in blood and ridden with temporary amnesia. It's right to be suspicious, but going after innocent people would make me as corrupt as the Nobles I try to teach a lesson."

And he smirks.

"Me, presumptuous? You're one to talk. You are rather famed for the more exquisite and flashy garments and make it very known how well you treat the ladies of the event."

[Francis Bonnefoy]

It was more than disconcerting for Francis to have his life summed up by someone he only knew for a few days, and even more so when the man seemed to have picked up on Francis' more discreet activities. He silently berated himself for slipping up, but kept his expression pleasant.

"Everyone, especially nobles, have their secrets," was all Francis decided to reveal, neither confirming nor denying the pirate's insinuations. "And right now, you are my greatest secret."

Francis kept their gazes locked. It was strange, but learning that his reputation never merited enough attention from Arthur didn't make him feel relief; Francis felt rather snubbed. So apparently, he wasn't decadent enough to even earn Arthur's disapproval - what did that say about how his fellow nobles viewed him? Francis would have to remedy that.

"A pirate vigilante?" Francis tilted his head, considering the idea. "Who would have known? Pirates are not known for their consciences. How curious."

He moved even closer, nearly closing the distance between them. "But then, you've been the must curious individual since the beginning."

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur watches him, and a moment later, he laughs.

"Bloody hell, you're as flirtatious as people say you are," he pauses, amused, "particularly when Antonio's mentioned you."

Looking at the other again, he waves him off and turns around. "Curious, mate? It wouldn't have been curious if I knew who I was. It would not have taken as long to have figured out who I was, trust me." He remarks, putting his boots on.

"And the fact of the matter that most pirates just leave to pillage is why they never get somewhere and why no one cares about them. Even at least the thieves have a much more respectful authority than most pirates." He shudders involuntary, as though being reminded of something. "Some of them are worse than nobles, believe me. Why are you bringing this up now? Why do you even say that? Trying to keep me?"

Truth was, he was just as curious as Francis was.

[Francis Bonnefoy]

It wasn't until Arthur had said it that Francis realized exactly what he was doing. He was doing everything short of grabbing Arthur or threatening him to make him stay. If Francis was honest with himself, he wasn't quite ready to let the pirate go.

"Is it working?" quipped Francis with a smirk that he did not feel. "I honestly think you're being too hasty - which is not a useful trait for a pirate."

Francis decided not to let the mention of Antonio bait him, since it was obvious now that Arthur would somehow know his friend, given Antonio's connections. He could only watch Arthur ready himself to leave, unable to say or do anything until the last possible moment, when it hit Francis that the man really was going.

"You don't have to go, you know," he said softly. "You can stay. I can help you. You know enough about me to conclude that we want the same thing."

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

"Being too hasty? How am I managing that?!"

As he straightens, he turns towards Francis, looks at him, and sighs.

"Ooh, dear." He remarks. "I could easily say that I just don't want to work with a noble, but think about it realistically. Most of those Nobles know who I am and I am generally some form of threat to them. If they catch any ounce of a whiff then they will be on your back and your own cover will be ruined. You have the one element that I don't have -- surprise. If we work together it'll make us both known, then what's the bloody point in that? And we both have our own benefits from doing this. I don't even know why you'd want to have at them or want to have anything to do with them when you could so easily stay in your own little social group, and you don't know my reasons either. It isn't going to work out. Think these things through, would you?" He speaks the last sentence in an almost patronising tone, actually leaning forward and patting Francis on the head.

"Also, I have a ship and crew to get back to. Trust me, I can already bet most of my rum supply has already gone. If I leave them any long who the bloody hell knows what would have happen. No doubt my right hand woman would have oppressed the rest of the men with a frying pan or some object equally as ridiculous."

He turns to leave, having become more random ramblings to himself than anything.

[Francis Bonnefoy]

Francis narrowed his eyes at the condescending hand on his head and stepped away abruptly. He knew that his near-pleas sounded preposterous and even risky, but at that point, he was saying practically anything just to make Arthur stay.

"Don't lecture me," he warned. "You said it yourself - I have my own reasons. And I've been confined to solitude because of them."

Francis' eyes widened as he watched Arthur turn away. He was close to asking desperately if he was ever going to see Arthur again, but the words that came out were different, more cowardly.

"I can make you stay," he said to the pirate's retreating back. "You know I can. But...I won't do it." He inhaled sharply, trying not to give into the heavy feeling in his chest. "My door is always open to you."

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur looks back one last time before he exits the room, and a laugh escapes his lips. It's a sarcastic, unamused, laugh. Almost pained in a sympathetic sense.

"... You chose this life? That's..." He pauses. "... That's interesting. I never had a choice in the matter."

With that, he turns around and exits, putting Francis' attempts at being welcome as him being stupid and not seeing the purpose of Piracy.

Though when he reaches the Butler at the exit, as opposed to requesting money or food, he shakes his head, and places something in his hand instead.

It's an IOU.

Arthur leaves, and doesn't look back.

((.... Probably the end of this thread. Either way, feel free to respond but then I wouldn't have a reply, so feel free to start the new thread either way~ The new thread would probably be anything to a month to a few months later. Take your pick, as long as it's not like the next week or so. xD))