Work Text:
Virgil had grown up in a town like this; tormented by Nobility and Pirates alike, with parents proud of being goodly plain folk who didn't strive above their lot. Sometimes he missed that simplicity if not the less than appetising repetitive meals of all they could afford.
He didn't regret becoming one of the pirates though, especially once he became captain and could direct their torment better to the larger houses of wealth and nobles. He even believed his father approved of the choice had it be figured out, knowing how many times after a few drinks during a festival his father would describe how he'd run a pirate crew himself.
Virgil's father had been the one to point out there couldn't be much profit from pirates raiding the shops and homes of the wharf. All monies were taken to the bank mid afternoon and any beyond that taken home to houses near the back of the town. Those should be the ones pirates raided, and they'd even be able to stay in town longer if they reach towns as trade ships or privately owned vessels for leisure and paid the docking dues appropriately.
Even now with years of Virgil's raids gone, the nobility thought a large house out of sight of the sea front would reduce the likelihood of pirates raiding their homes and stealing money, valuables and servants tired of their bullying ways.
"Oh good, pirates are back in town. I was wondering when the next raid would be or if I needed to convince Mother that Lady Valerie's sculptures might be ostentatious but hadn't encouraged pirates to raid her so we should get some." The voice interrupted Virgil's thoughts and he found himself facing a person leaning against the wall, sword at their waist. "You're going to kidnap me Captain Pirate."
"Now why would I do that, fair noble? Better to spill noble blood on their carpets than suffer their presence and rescue parties." Virgil countered, raising an eyebrow and his sword.
The noble shimmied, "Raunchy and if that's your choice then do it. I won't argue. Make me a mess of guts and gore to traumatise my family."
"Way to put a guy off violence. Let's do this instead." he sighed before lunging forward to shove the noble through the door they were leant beside, yanking it shut and hurrying as silently as he could away from them through the house.
He did hope that it would deter whatever was going through the mind of someone asking to be kidnapped but doubted it would.
At least for that night Virgil got back to his ship with no unexpected noble tagging along.
*
Even without their flags or unregistered presence giving away the presence of a pirate ship they could only remain in town a few days before the rich started trying the docks to locate them. Virgil knew the signs to spot as well as he knew which houses had guards prone to violence and ordered his crew to prepare to leave as soon as he spotted the first overly well dressed patrician in the bar.
He did have a few errands to run before they could set sail however so hurried to get stocks of bandages brought and additional dried fruit stocks while his crew re-secured everything below deck, or made similar errands for stocks to repair the various parts of the ship.
“Captain! We left the deck empty for like two minutes, I swear!” The 2nd Mate racing up to him just as he finished his errands definitely wasn't what he wanted from leaving day.
Mentally running through all likely issues, Virgil immediately straightened, “Boarded or robbed? Do we know who's done whatever this was?”
“A nobleman boarded, in what seems to be their attempt at scruffy clothes. He's sat on deck still and refusing to move.” She explained with racing words. “When we tried to force them to they tied a guide rope around their wrist and started trying to tie another around themself and the mast.”
At least that didn't sound like immediate trouble, Virgil hoped, mind running back to the noble from the other night. “With a fake moustache and a poor attempt at bleaching the front of their hair?”
“And a tight corset too. I think they're trying to suffocate themself.”
Virgil rolled his eyes. “From the conversation I had refusing to kidnap them the other night, I can believe that. Let's go.”
*
“I don't know whether to call you Princess or Princey, so I'm just going to stick with noble scum.” Virgil stated, sauntering onto his ship and spotting the enthusiastic kidnappee. “So Scum, what'll it take to get you off my ship?”
“I love it! Please do! Although if you want you could call me my name, Remus.” The noble agreed easily.
Virgil raised an eyebrow, leaning close to look at the knot above Remus's hands. “You didn't say what will get you off my ship. Make no mistake you will be leaving it. I won't have some noble family on a quest for vengeance after my crew just because some scum decided they wanted abducting.”
“Captain Virgil!” A booming voice echoed from beside the ship. “I'm of the noble family of Fletcher. Is our errant daughter Alice aboard your ship?”
His eyes narrowed, taking in the immediate frown on Remus's face and turning from them to stand at the edge of his ship. “I have some noble scum who managed to tangle themself in my guide ropes. I've no need for the names of intruders.”
“Our father has sent me to say that either Alice returns home now or never returns and forfeits her inheritance. Is she aboard your vessel?” A nobleman dressed in red stared up at him from the dock.
Virgil hears a hiss from behind him, like a cat trying to scare off an attacker, followed by a sigh. “Never wanted that inheritance anyway and you can't make me leave.” Remus muttered, registering his attention despite Virgil making no move to turn at the noise.
“Lord Fletcher will not chase my ship or swear vengeance should the scum tied to my mast be your sibling? What proof do I have to trust in this?” He yelled back.
“Come to the dock so we can discuss this in person, Captain. Instead of yelling for all the town to hear.” Remus's sibling suggested, gesturing the length of the boarding plank.
*
“Roman does apparently know your name, rather than the stranger your family knows.” Virgil stated, climbing back aboard and moving to untie the ropes around Remus now. “And has provided all your papers, a written letter from himself confirming your removal from the responsibilities as a lord-heir, and another from your father revoking all responsibility towards you and declaring your inheritance revoked.”
Remus laughed now, pulling their hands free from the rope. “He had to put on a show of doing as told, didn't he? Can't just come aboard to say his piece when anything could be said without reports reaching Lord Fletcher to confirm his task properly done.”
“This still isn't a kidnapping.” Virgil added, a glance showing a pout directed at him. “And if you're joining my crew you better be ready for hard work. The First mate is over there, and the second mate was who climbed aboard with me after you first tangled yourself here.”
“I've been waiting my hole life for that. And Hiding down dark holes on vast expanses of water almost describes my dream life and I get to sleep below deck now, right?” Remus agreed easily, jumping up and looking around at the rest of the crew. “Or am I being kept to warm the captain's bed? I'm ever so willing to do that too.”
Virgil didn't reply, walking away to discuss their departure with his first mate and waving the second mate over to Remus. She could start getting them up to speed with the life on his ship.