What happens now?

[Cordelia de Clare]

The Crimson Rose returns to port and Cordelia and Quinn discuss what happens now that they're on land. Things have changed in the Syndicate and Cordelia needs to rectify who she is now that she's a Duchess. Quinn needs to figure out his place in The Syndicate, but Cordelia doesn't really let him.

ardent idolatry: [ The Syndicate SL - 31/07/16 - 13.25 BST(British Summer Time)

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ardent idolatry: The Crimson Rose had been out at sea for more cycles of the

moon than Cordelia could actually count. They'd been out at sea while her

parents, sisters and brothers had all tragically died and made her the

Duchess of Drowsing, and it

ardent idolatry: was for that very reason that they had come back into port.

Their return to the ports of Westby had been unceremonious, at night, under

the cover of a brewing storm. Cordelia's first port of call had been to The

Red Hood, to use

ardent idolatry: the connecting door to the Bullet and Blade in Drowsing,

and to see her right-hand-woman Lacey, to make sure that her business was

running as well as it could. It had been. Her Duchy had not been running as

well as her brothels

ardent idolatry: were though, so she'd spent a few days with her "Cordelia"

mask on at court, making sure that people knew she was home and ready to

lead. There was so much for her to do! However, right then and there she was

back in Westby, stood

ardent idolatry: beside the Crimson Rose while the men she'd paid to act as

her crew for their maiden voyage were unloading their ill-gotten wares. The

crew and any members of The Syndicate that had travelled with her had been

given the week off,

ardent idolatry: but asked to return upon this very day. Cordy was, at that

moment in time, stood talking to Dex Maxim, her fence but also the biggest

thorn in her side. "What do you mean the warehouse was burned to the ground?

What the hell were

ardent idolatry: you doing?" Thankfully, nothing had been in it; it meant

that she had no where to put her stocks, other than the warehouse Dex had

miraculously cleared to rent to her at an extortionate price. " You're a

dirty rotten thief,

ardent idolatry: Maxim. " And that was why she kept him on the payroll,

there had always been a little back and forth between them, and she knew for

sure he was skimming the books, but generally, she was cheating him in return

too.

ardent idolatry: [d]

edict unwritten: Quinn had stayed with Cord for the majority of the trip

only peeling away to do some side work when they were stationed in town. It

just happened that when he did such things, some small name would wind up

dead and a debt was paid

edict unwritten: in full the morning after. In turn, it filled Cord's pocket

as he had very little value in coin. Still he remained content on the trip

and when they arrived at port and were given the week off, he was beside

himself on what to do.

edict unwritten: For the first few he returned to Kingsley, returning home

for the sake of nostalgia while the rest was spent back in the whore houses

where he spent the coin he earned almost in full. He had changed over this

trip, even more so

edict unwritten: since he had joined the Syndicate. Attachements seemed less

important and he seemed less keen on trying to make whores love him other

than simply realizing that they loved the coin more than they loved him.

Still he kept up his wits

edict unwritten: and his charm but surely, this wasn't the ol' Greenhorn

they once knew.

edict unwritten: The need to come back a week later was a dreadful one. It

was like being given a taste of vacation and then being told to go back to

work. One needed to get over that hump once more and seeing Cord fighting

with Maxim, well,

edict unwritten: it was a nice slap of reality. "You two should really get a

room and hash up all that pent up agression you two have for one another." He

slid past the two of them and found a nice place to sit and lounged, only

giving Maxim a brief

edict unwritten: nod, not of kindness, but more of silent respect. "Surely

you can give the lady some sort of deal."(d)

ardent idolatry: Cordelia being totally human meant that she had no real

extra sensory abilities, so she could feel Quinn coming, nor smell him from a

far like others could. It often served as a disadvantage but generally, being

human meant that she

ardent idolatry: was often underestimated too.The first sign of his being

there was the rustle of the boxes as he lounged on them, and then his voice;

a glance was offered over to him, before she grinned lightly. He wasn't the

only one that had

ardent idolatry: changed on the voyage, she wasn't so rough as she had been

and had become quite the understanding ships captain, she now understood that

while there was an exciting side to being a pirate, there was a difficult

side too. There were

ardent idolatry: not many men that felt safe on a ship with a woman aboard,

let alone being captained by one; by the end of the voyage though, she'd

earned their trust and their respect. Dex had also glanced over to Quinn, and

then snorted down his

ardent idolatry: long nose, "Oh, I would but now I'm not only dealing with

the owner of a poxy little inn... " He ducked before Cordelia could slap him

before letting out a belly laugh. "I'm dealing with the sole beneficiary of

the Drowsing Duchy

ardent idolatry: fortune, she can afford a little bit more." Cordelia rolled

her eyes, and then pointed a finger at him. " Be warned little man, if two

and two ever make four, I'll be coming for you next. " Despite their back and

forth, Cord trusted

ardent idolatry: Dex with her life, and vice versa - they both had so much

to lose, it would be mutual destruction if ever one of them talked. "I'll get

the warehouse ready, Duchess. Tell your men to come my way. " He bowed but to

be funny, rather

ardent idolatry: than anything else before sauntering away with his guards

in tow. Cordelia on the other hand waved him off before moving to sit on the

box nearest to Quinn, "Enjoy your whores, darling?" She asked, a brow arching

while a grin was

ardent idolatry: tugging at the corners of her lips. "I bet they were so

glad to see your coin."

edict unwritten: He eyed Dex and gave a shake of his head, the man had a

point, with Cord's new title it was going to be a lot harder to make cheap

deals with those who knew both faces. He gave the man a shake of his head and

went back to widdling

edict unwritten: which seemed to be the only thing that he enjoyed to do

while there was downtime, at least when he wasn't spending his time in the

brothels. "I assure you, they enjoyed my coin more than I enjoyed them.

Still, they do their job well

edict unwritten: enough, but once you see through the illusion, it's not

much else than a show. Bet you're glad to know you'll be getting my share of

the coin too." He grinned and went back to widdling, which at this point

seemed like nothing more

edict unwritten: than a silly branch. "So I take it you want to investigate

on who burned down your warehouse while we were away?" Quinn was as Human as

she was, at least to his knowledge so it they both were an interesting

surprise when it came to

edict unwritten: battle, "or did you have something else in mind?" He set

his knife and stick down and gave her his full attention.(d)

ardent idolatry: "Often, it seems such a waste to pretend to give you a cut

of the loot, when you're just going to give it back to me anyway." His

estimation of their skill, however, caused a scowl and then a frown, "they

better have given you the

ardent idolatry: ride of your life! That's what I pay, keep and take care of

them for!" She was arguably the best of the bunch when it came to madames,

all of her girls were taken care of to the point that they were collecting

quite the little nest

ardent idolatry: eggs themselves. His question was waved off with a laugh,

"I know exactly who burned down the warehouse." There was a pause, and she

added: " Dex, obviously. Do you think he was going to sit on it and wait for

the Rose to come into

ardent idolatry: port without earning a little bit extra? Nah, there's a

reason I keep him on the payroll, eventually he'll offer to sell me the

warehouse. I'll buy it before we leave again, then that one will burn down

and we'll dance the merry

ardent idolatry: dance again. I don't lose anything because of the levy we

pay to insure that the building remains in tact. " She lifted her shoulders

in a shrug, before leaning back on the box and propping her head up with an

elbow. "I have so much

ardent idolatry: to do that I don't care enough to do it. " Running three

brothels, and a Duchy stacked up. "I should have thought through the entire..

thing. " She meant the poisoning of her family but wasn't going to say it

outloud, just in case

ardent idolatry: there were ears that shouldn't have been there.

edict unwritten: "Oh they put on a good show, but I don't go in there with a

veil over my eyes anymore." He gave her a pat on the leg letting her know it

was fine before he stood up and allowed his body to stretch. He didn't like

sitting in one

edict unwritten: place too long. "One day Dex is going to try to put a ring

on that finger, just so he can inherit all your wealth Madame, I like him,

just be careful not to let him tip the scale too far in his favor." A show of

concern, though not

edict unwritten: much else. With a cross of his arms he listened to her weap

about how hard things had become now that she had all this responsibility, he

was sure he had said something, asking if she was sure while he mixed up the

poison she

edict unwritten: eventually gave to her family, but it seemed so long ago.

"You could deligate some of the power, get someone to run the brothel's for

you." He of course was not suggesting himself as business and politics were

not his thing,

edict unwritten: changing who controlled such, that was more his style.

"Or... just give it time, afterall, you still have you sea legs on."(d)

ardent idolatry: "My Quinny has all grown up. " She sniffed softly, before

she rolled over to face him where he was sat now. He was questioning her

business savvy now and she considered punching him for it. " Exucse me, sir.

I was running my own

ardent idolatry: brothel at 17 years old, what were you doing then?" She

snorted softly, "He can try and out-match me, but he'll have a hard time -

besides, I'm never getting married. " That attitude would change one day

because someone had to carry

ardent idolatry: on the family line, for now though she was content to sleep

with whomever she wanted, whenever she wanted and not have to worry about any

of the finer details. "Lacey looked after everything while I was away, I

guess I could let her

ardent idolatry: keep doing it. " She had a whole criminal empire to run

though, it was very tiring! Still, the worst of it was what was expected of

her by Doxenia. " I need to make sure I'm legitimately earning enough money

to pay the

ardent idolatry: crown.. " She drifted off here, and shook her head. " Man,

this is boring shit. You're right, I'm still Captain Vixen. " The desire to

jump back on the Rose and sail away was growing by the moment. "What happened

to that girl you

ardent idolatry: were just aching to get back to? The one who did our

tatts?" A curious arch of the eyebrow was coupled with the question, and a

tilt of the head to boot.

edict unwritten: Grown up, now who was hurting who's pride? "I was killing

my first king." She asked, he told, there were very little secrets he knew he

had to keep around Cord, it was easier just be truthful because sooner or

later she'd find out

edict unwritten: anyways. "However, I didn't mean to upset your pride, you

do well, I just don't want his ego getting the best of us and upsetting your

numbers." He gave a shrug while she mentioned Lacey. Lacey was one of the few

girls in Cord's

edict unwritten: group he didn't mind looking at, let alone talking to.

"Lacey would do pretty well, she has the look for it and I bet she wouldn't

mind the promotion." He laughed when she go up and began to strap back on

her sea legs, "Talia?" He

edict unwritten: thought about it, "She disappeared a bit before we when out

to sea, not sure where the girl went. Perhaps she moved her station." He

pondered and made a mental note to track her at some point, she was one of

the ones he could simply

edict unwritten: be himself and not some killer. (d)

ardent idolatry: Cordelia rolled her eyes right at him, he was such a

serious person it was hard to take him seriously sometimes. " You really need

to find some joy in your life. I don't think I've seen you ever laugh. " She

hadn't jumped up before

ardent idolatry: but she did now, and brushed off the loose trousers she'd

been wearing to help unload the ship. "Yes, yes - you kill people, don't we

all?" There was a feeling in her stomach, and she rubbed it for a moment

before realizing what it

ardent idolatry: was. " I need alcohol. " She hadn't had a drink for a whole

morning, and her body didn't know how to handle it. "There has to be some rum

left on the ship, eh?" Cord had, had her fill of rum but if that was all that

was avaliable

ardent idolatry: then she wasn't going to complain! She exhaled softly,

before shaking her head a little. " Oh, I saw Georg the other day. Man, I

remember why I took him to my bed. He's so.. rugged, and large. " She mostly

said these things to tease

ardent idolatry: him because he was so serious all the time!

edict unwritten: He wasn't always serious, he had his moments where he was

sarcastic too! Still the need for a joy in his life did not go unheard, "it's

why I took up widdling." He showed her his stick, which at the moment wasn't

all that impressive

edict unwritten: "I imagine it's like Georg," which was by far the closest

thing to a joke he's made all trip. He pocketed it and then took a seat when

she sat up, as if they were playing musical chairs. "I'm sure there is plenty

of rum left, you

edict unwritten: bought nearly two dozen shipments of it," he gazed at her

fully, "your not a pirate unless you have a keg of rum," direct quote. He

leaned back and his eyes drew over her body. He never had a night with the

Madame of Doxenia, not

edict unwritten: once had he'd been invited and yet he seemed content with

that. There was a sense of earn when and if that day came. It had only been

often joked about, but yet he still wondered, even more so since when she

initially teased the

edict unwritten: idea. "So to the ship or do you need to enjoy some of the

other finer things that the port has to offer?"(d)

ardent idolatry: " Aw.. " She leaned over fully, and tickled her finger

under his chin. " There is no need to be jealous, Quinny my darling. " She

grinned before leaning in to press a soft, warm kiss against his cheek. " My

bed sheets are often

ardent idolatry: warm. " She had made it a rule not to sleep with any of the

crew while they were at sea though, lest it become an issue. Standing back up

straight, she pressed her hands to her hips and said, "Well it's true!

Besides, I can't

ardent idolatry: function without at least one drink a day. " That was a

lie, she could she just didn't want to. His question brought her attention

back to him and she considered it. " If I get back on the ship now, I'm

likely never to leave

ardent idolatry: again. I suppose I could go for an actual meal that isn't

made up of slightly stale bread. " While she had made sure their journey was

well stocked, the food that kept well on a ship wasn't generally all that

appetising. " Did you

ardent idolatry: spend all of your coin on loose women, or can you afford to

buy your boss a meal? " She arched a brow slightly, before a grin danced over

her lips. " There might be a good night kiss or two in it, if you are lucky..

"

ardent idolatry: [d]

edict unwritten: "Hardly ever jealous," he remained pretty still when she

touched him, his eyes being the only thing to move as they were still upon.

Even her kiss to his cheek didn't garnish too much or reaction thought it was

likely to protect him

edict unwritten: from getting his hopes up too high. Still, he fancied the

view. "You could go without a drink, but lets be honest, where's the fun in

that?" It was like he was still quoting her, but even he seemed to do better

with booze in him.

edict unwritten: "So we stay in the port and make a day and night of it,

besides I'm sure one of the other faces are bound to turn up and say hi,"

Georg was the only other member left of the orginal crew that he could

recall. They were small and yet

edict unwritten: they still were a group to be reckoned with.

edict unwritten: Finally, he sighed, especially when she mentioned the stale

bread, they both could use a good meal and yet she was the one asking him to

pay. Still, he couldn't say no. He dug into his coat where the threads were

loose and pulled

edict unwritten: free a thin pouch where the coins slid tight and never made

a noise. "Yeah, I can pay your way this time Dutchess." He let her new title

linger over her head though he was sure it really didn't have an impact.

"Perhaps some main

edict unwritten: land food? I've had my fill of fish."(d)

ardent idolatry: "Liar. " She winked, before considering his idea. " Yeah,

though.. I think the Rose needs some time in port for repairs, and the crew

were only brought on for one trip out, so I'm going to need to find a more

permanent

ardent idolatry: solution. " There was a cluck of her tongue while she

considered that, amongst all of the other things she had to think about these

days. His mention of the others made her wrinkle her nose slightly, " I hope

not. " Things had

ardent idolatry: settled now, and she was more than happy with the people

she had in her inner circle. " Maybe Bianca. " The others had disappointed

her in ways she couldn't even talk about, so she didn't. His mention of her

title made her laugh,

ardent idolatry: but all she did was point at him. " You can't hold that

over me for long, assassin. Besides, stop throwing it around - here I'm

Vixen, not Cordelia. " It was a hard life, being two people. "I would kill

for a good slice of

ardent idolatry: steak. " She agreed before patting her tummy again, then

there was a very human rumble of her stomach. " Considering I've been paying

for your meals for the last few years, I think you owe me at least one warm

bowl of stew, or

ardent idolatry: something! " Well, technically it'd been taken out of all

their wages, but no one but Cordelia knew that.

edict unwritten: Quinn wasn't stupid, either way he extended his arm out to

her, "Steak sounds good to me." He had enough to get them two steaks a piece,

some mead and still have enough to do some other things. After all, he didn't

spend all his

edict unwritten: wages on her whores. "So if we're to be in the Port for a

few days maybe we can rebuild our reputation here, set up some trade

agreements to help us while we're out at a sea." He gave a shrug, he knew

there were a few wishing to tie

edict unwritten: themselves with the Syndicate, mainly because it was better

to be a part of the moving waves that fight against them. "But for now, going

to relish in this moment and claim you for myself," if she had taken his arm

he would clasp

edict unwritten: her hand with his own and gave her a look of reassurance

before letting go, "I've heard of an excellent cook, goes by the name of

Tubbs."(d)

ardent idolatry: Cordelia did take his arm, mainly because she was still in

"Duchess" mode as she now called it and it was par-for-the-course. "Well

obviously we have to do that, I want to be the richest pirate the Jade Sea

has ever seen. " She

ardent idolatry: winked his way, before tugging him along, held hand and

all. " You've had me the entire trip! You're so selfish. " She said, her

voice full of the jest and tease that it always was. " You should learn to

share, Quinn. You might have

ardent idolatry: a little bit more fun that way. " She was obviously driving

at something but what it was, wasn't entirely apparent. " As for your girl. "

Yes, she was going back to that topic, because she'd had time to think about

it. " I can use

ardent idolatry: one of my girls to track her down, if you like. Whores

talk. " She nodded, just once before her stomach rumbled again. " Ugh, feed

me, man before I start chewing on you.. " Though, she imagined he'd like

that. [d]

edict unwritten: As he was pulled along he shook his head and gave a soft

chuckle, but when she mentioned that he had her the entire trip he whipped

her around and pinned her to a wall, "not in the way I'd like you." He ran a

hand over her cheek and

edict unwritten: leaned close to her, lips close before he pulled away, "but

you're right I should share some more." He pulled her back into his arms to

continue walking, "but I've never liked to share, and the same could be said

about you Vixen."

edict unwritten: He let that sink in and then when the mention of Talia

arose again he swallowed, "if you want, it save me the trouble, also Talia

might be of use to us, her tattoo's have certainly proven useful," especially

the ones that armored

edict unwritten: him. At that point he felt his own stomach rumble and the

mention of being chewed on made him laugh, "you need to think of better

threats," he offered his arm, "chew away." He was kidding of course and lead

them towards the small

edict unwritten: shack. (d)

ardent idolatry: Cordelia chuckled softly under her breath as she felt the

wall against her back, and the touch of his breath against her lips. "You

don't get what you don't earn, Quinn. " Before he pulled away, she flicked

her tongue against his

ardent idolatry: lips. "I share all the time. Do you think I'm under the

illusion that those I take to my bed are faithful only to me? I am not

foolish, darling. " She pat him on the arm gently, there had only been one

man that had come as close as

ardent idolatry: her swearing off other men for the duration of their

relationship, and she'd run from that in the end. "Who said it was a threat?"

Leaning over, she bit him on the shoulder and actually chewed like she would

a piece of meat, before

ardent idolatry: pulling back. " I'll see what i can find out, purely

because her tattooing skill is ... useful, not because you want her, or

anything. " She snorted softly with amusement, before pulling away from him

and skipping in front, to twirl

ardent idolatry: around on her boot so that she was looking towards him and

walking backwards.

edict unwritten: Cord was always a hard apple to place. He didn't get her

all the time, but she was right. She generally had other motives behind most

of the things she did, didn't she? Still she could see right through him,

like glass, the need to

edict unwritten: find Talia was far more than just for her skills in the

arts, he wondered how much the idea of the woman was to Quinn? It posed the

question as to how much Cordelia knew at all. Still, he was loyal to her and

her cause, and he would

edict unwritten: be until the end. They simply made a good pair. "Behind you

dancing queen." He pointed and there was the small shack. It looked nearly

foreign as it had only a counter and the stools sat on the outside. Steam and

heat rose from it's

edict unwritten: one window and much larger man sang a horrible song inside

as he stired and cooked his way around the small kitchen. "Are you Tubb?" The

larger man answered with a clang, and a jolly laugh "have a seat, have a

seat, what may I get

edict unwritten: for you two?" "Steak," Quinn said as he sat down looking to

her almost questioning if this place was okay.(d)

ardent idolatry: [ Log Paused - 16.38 BST ]