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"I voted to throw you overboard, just so you know."
Izzy is leaning against the bars of the brig when Lucius brings his meal.
"Smart." The former first mate comments. "I would have, in your place."
Lucius slides the tray through the slot at the bottom of the door, but doesn't immediately leave. "This is better, though."
Another of Roach's meals - stew, but fresh bread to accompany it, not hardtack. A ration of fresh water and a ration of rum, and even . . . "Is this cake?"
"Yes. Captain's orders. You get fed the same as the crew."
Izzy physically recoils. "Why?"
Lucius giggles, and Izzy boggles, "because he said you'd hate it."
Izzy has a suspicion. "Which captain?"
Lucius smirks, and doesn't answer.
"Spriggs, which captain?" Izzy asks again, more urgently.
Lucius' smirk grows as he turns to head up to the deck.
Izzy has no choice but to eat his meal and wait.
Izzy figures it's been about a week since Bonnet and his losers came back. The Revenge was due for a port stop, to resupply, but Neptune only knows what Bonnet brought with him.
More marmalade, probably.
There is some sort of action happening on deck, though, he can hear it.
Ed is out there, and it's Ed, not Blackbeard, Izzy can hear the difference in tone, even if he can't hear the words.
Bonnet's higher pitch is ringing out over the deck, now. And someone is moving a cannon.
A raid?
Izzy paces. They need him. They'll let him out. Edward might not like it, but he can't do this without Israel Hands.
Blackbeard was never just Edward Teach. No, he was Edward Teach with Israel Hands backing him up, making him the legend he is.
Izzy could have backed Sam, or Jack, and they'd be the most feared pirate on the seven seas.
Edward should be grateful.
Izzy doesn't realize he's shaking and snarling until "You know, you aren't going to make the crew less convinced you're a demon from hell that way."
"I'm not from hell, I'm in hell." Izzy responds to Lucius. "What are you doing here?"
Lucius takes a seat, carefully out of and reach of the bars. "I'm your protection detail this raid. They've raised the white flag, but Buttons has a bad feeling."
Izzy hmphs, "They're giving you weapons?"
"Captain insisted we all learn to defend ourselves. Most of them forced the crews they defeated to teach them."
Izzy snorts, "forced or bribed?"
"Does it matter?" Lucius asks, pointedly.
Izzy is silent, because really, it doesn't. "So what else has been going on up there?"
Lucius grins, nastily. "Oh, orgies. Storytime at tea and bedtime, now. Crafting parties. The usual pirate activities."
"Eurgh, forget I asked, you're making me sick."
Lucius laughs. "Nothing that happens on this ship is your responsibility or business, anymore."
Izzy gives up, and sits on the bench that makes up his bed. He can follow along with what's going on, sort of, by the sounds.
There's a lot of activity. Heavy items coming on board. New voices. Yelling.
Screaming, not Bonnet's, unfortunately, and not Edward's, either. Then a sudden silence so thick it was almost louder than the scream.
Bonnet's voice again, two words, sharp, ending with a clap, and Izzy can feel the wind catch the sails as the ship begins to move.
So can Lucius, "that's my cue. Enjoy your solitude, Jizzy!"