[ for a moment jing yuan is silent and simply observes the man, watches how he moves and listens to the distinct shift in his voice as he drops the character. he does not get a sense than the man is dangerous, or making use of the situation for his own ends. if he chose to shelter blade and dan heng than he can only assume he is trustworthy to some degree.
his gaze moves towards the captain's cabin, then back to the pirate beside him and he nods. ]
I cannot confess to knowing the in depth details, however I know she means Dan Heng harm which is precisely why they are laying low here.
You're worried about her finding the ship and them in turn, aren't you?
I can give you some of the details, though I’m not privy to all of them. Where do you want me to start?
[There’s a lot of shit to talk about if he’s going to update Jing Yuan on the New And Terrible Bullshit happening.
He nods, crossing his arms, worry written all over his face.]
I’ve done all I can to see this ship protected. I’ve asked my friends to ward her as much as possible, and with her the people sheltering inside. I spend much of my free time here, watching, and the rest following her around town, learning what I can.
But…well. [He gestures to the other ships in the harbor, more modern than the Jackdaw.] The Jackdaw sticks out, as you can see. There’s only so much anyone can do, and there’s no hiding a wooden ship from the eighteenth century.
So I was hoping…would you watch over her, and your friends, whenever I’m away?
No need, if I am to hear the whole story it would be better I hear it from him.
[ besides he doesn't need the whole story in order to agree to what edward is about to propose to him, it is a natural train of thought and one that surprises him that is being offered. perhaps his connection to dan heng and blade makes him immediately trustworthy, or perhaps they are at their limit and have no other choice. ]
What matters is the fact she is a threat not only to Dan Heng and Blade, but to others already on this ship. Although if you have any information on what she is capable of I will take that glady.
[ a beat. ]
That is to say I will watch over the Jackdaw and those aboard her whenever you are away.
It’s a mix of both—Edward knows this man seems to care about these two, and that’s raised his trustworthiness in Edward’s eyes. He’s also desperate, because it’s been months and he feels like he did on Nassau when the Brits had blockaded them—caged in, pacing, waiting for the axe to fall or the noose to tighten. This much he can do.
He relaxes immensely when Jing Yuan tells him that he’ll watch over the ship. Good. That’s good.]
That I don’t have. I know she holds no fondness for us isekais—she believes us responsible for the Spirit Vein’s condition. I know she hates Mikleo and Dan Heng. What I don’t know is what she’s capable of. She’s with the Black Order, so I assume she’s capable of much more than I can do, magically speaking.
[He takes off the hat, one he’d bought from someone who specialized in replicating historical clothing. Pushes his hair back from his face, and lets out a sigh.]
They’ve been hiding from her for months, now. I’m worried, we all are, that she may make her move at any time. And—as I said. The Jackdaw’s obvious.
[ despite knowing next to nothing about the man, jing yuan can see the signs etched across him like words on the page─the tell tale signs of a man waiting for the axe to fall. it brings forth a cluster of memories he can't wholly place, things for another life that threaten to swallow him up if he allows it. but jing yuan stands tall and firm, not allowing the waters to pull him out into the tide. ]
I see.
[ his eyes close mess of sliverwhite hair falling further across one half of his face. she is a threat, that much is for certain, however knowing next to nothing of her combat abilities makes things difficult. best to assume and prepare for the worst, given what he knows about the black order in particular. ]
There is very few ways of preparing without making the Jackdaw even more obvious than it is, my aid may come to very little but I am willing nevertheless. However I cannot promise you miracles, if she were to attack the worse may come the pass and there may be very little we can do to prevent it. Are you prepared for that?
If I knew anyone who could grant miracles, I’d have gone to them already. [Well, he knows gods, but not even Zhongli and Venti can veil a goddamn brig from sight.
He pushes himself up off the cannon, pacing a little aimlessly as he talks.]
I’m prepared for damn near anything at this point, mate. I’ve done everything I can think of. But I can’t shake this feeling that the course we’re on is headed straight into a storm we can’t outrun, and all I’m doing is buying time.
[Borrowing time, more like, until the bill comes due.]
Do whatever you feel you must. Just…be careful. I’ve known others like her in the past, and she’ll not hesitate a jot if there’s a slip-up.
[ jing yuan offers the other man a smile; one that is hard to read, yet almost seems as comforting as it is concerning. ]
If there is no recourse, we must stay as we are. [ distantly jing yuan can hear the rumble of thunder and yet to skies stand clear. ] If we are no longer be able to out mauver or outrun then take the fight to her. Cut the head off the snake before it dares to grow three more.
It easier said than done, I know. Were there only a bloodless way of escaping this predicament.
[ truly he believes edward when he says he has done everything he can think of, that every other avenue has been exhausted. if she does come to the ship and discovers the locations of those she hates the most... there will be no other option. ]
Like a damned hydra. [He lifts up a hand, turns it up to look down at the hidden blade, snug in its housing. It's as sharp as it's going to get, now.] I have a plan, for if she does show up on the ship anyway despite everything I've tried. I imagine so does everyone else who's had to endure her self-righteous shite.
[He's seen just how capable everyone else on the app is. If she pisses off any of them he's sure she'll be unrecognizable when her body turns up, but that's if.]
So far, though, she's been careful. I think she's well aware we want her dead, and she'll not make it so easy for us to do so. [He lets out a breath, lets his hand drop.] Most people I've met here are more than capable of such an act, I'm more than capable, but I've people to protect. I know that's the same for the rest.
The only way for any of us to make it out of this predicament, of watching and waiting, is for her to make a move. And knowing her, that'll spill blood.
[He hesitates.]
...the Jackdaw's decks have seen more than their fair share of blood. I don't want that first move to be made here, on my ship, upon my crew, my friends. I'm the captain—I've a duty to protect them.
[ the motion is not missed, jing yuan's gaze falling to the gauntlet on the other man's wrist, it does not take a genius to recognize the blade and the mechanism that houses it. even so jing yuan makes no comment on it. ]
The less I know of that plan, the better.
[ while his knowledge of the blade order is not nearly as extensive as it could be, he does know for certain that they will not react kindly to one of their guardians turning up dead. the less he knows, the higher the chance edward is able to get away with his plan. ]
I assume some of those you wish to protect aren't here on the ship. [ otherwise why ask for jing yuan to help watch after the ship when edward is unable. ] Rest easy knowing that you have an ally in this, then. You need no longer fret over being in more than one place at a time.
[ jing yuan smiles and places a hand on edward's shoulder. ]
[The less anyone knows, the better, because he wants to give his friends as much plausible deniability as possible. Just in case this goes terribly wrong, and Edward doesn’t make it out of this alive.]
Not everyone is here, yes. I don’t think I could fit them all on the Jackdaw, and at least one is afraid of water. I’ll not put him through that more than I must.
[Oh. Good. He’ll still fret, because he cares so much for these people that his heart leaps into his throat at the very thought of losing any of them, but. It’s good to know he has another ally he can count on.]
Well. Thanks, mate. Captaining comes natural to me. [All bluster and bravado, that, as he puts the hat back on.] Most call me Captain Kenway, shadow of the West Indies. [This is just the start of the spiel he uses for the tour group, but then it veers into a more genuine direction:] But for you, my friend, you can call me Edward.
[ he laughs softly, the smile on his face growing wider at the introduction. there is a good man under all of that bluster and bravado, a man who cares deeply for those around him-- a sentiment that jing yuan understands better than most. there were few people he had felt so deeply for until he arrived in this city. before his past life caught up with him. before the red threads of fate wrapped themselves around him so tightly he no longer knew which way to tread.
now he is caught in those threads, his heart bursting with emotions that are both his and not his. the desire to protect those dear to him gripping his heart in a vice grip. truly, edward could not have picked a better man to ally with. ]
It is a pleasure to meet you, Edward. You may call me Jing Yuan as I am afraid I no longer hold any grandiose titles like Captain or General. [ although he finds he would not be adverse to general. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
his gaze moves towards the captain's cabin, then back to the pirate beside him and he nods. ]
I cannot confess to knowing the in depth details, however I know she means Dan Heng harm which is precisely why they are laying low here.
You're worried about her finding the ship and them in turn, aren't you?
no subject
[There’s a lot of shit to talk about if he’s going to update Jing Yuan on the New And Terrible Bullshit happening.
He nods, crossing his arms, worry written all over his face.]
I’ve done all I can to see this ship protected. I’ve asked my friends to ward her as much as possible, and with her the people sheltering inside. I spend much of my free time here, watching, and the rest following her around town, learning what I can.
But…well. [He gestures to the other ships in the harbor, more modern than the Jackdaw.] The Jackdaw sticks out, as you can see. There’s only so much anyone can do, and there’s no hiding a wooden ship from the eighteenth century.
So I was hoping…would you watch over her, and your friends, whenever I’m away?
no subject
[ besides he doesn't need the whole story in order to agree to what edward is about to propose to him, it is a natural train of thought and one that surprises him that is being offered. perhaps his connection to dan heng and blade makes him immediately trustworthy, or perhaps they are at their limit and have no other choice. ]
What matters is the fact she is a threat not only to Dan Heng and Blade, but to others already on this ship. Although if you have any information on what she is capable of I will take that glady.
[ a beat. ]
That is to say I will watch over the Jackdaw and those aboard her whenever you are away.
no subject
It’s a mix of both—Edward knows this man seems to care about these two, and that’s raised his trustworthiness in Edward’s eyes. He’s also desperate, because it’s been months and he feels like he did on Nassau when the Brits had blockaded them—caged in, pacing, waiting for the axe to fall or the noose to tighten. This much he can do.
He relaxes immensely when Jing Yuan tells him that he’ll watch over the ship. Good. That’s good.]
That I don’t have. I know she holds no fondness for us isekais—she believes us responsible for the Spirit Vein’s condition. I know she hates Mikleo and Dan Heng. What I don’t know is what she’s capable of. She’s with the Black Order, so I assume she’s capable of much more than I can do, magically speaking.
[He takes off the hat, one he’d bought from someone who specialized in replicating historical clothing. Pushes his hair back from his face, and lets out a sigh.]
They’ve been hiding from her for months, now. I’m worried, we all are, that she may make her move at any time. And—as I said. The Jackdaw’s obvious.
no subject
I see.
[ his eyes close mess of sliverwhite hair falling further across one half of his face. she is a threat, that much is for certain, however knowing next to nothing of her combat abilities makes things difficult. best to assume and prepare for the worst, given what he knows about the black order in particular. ]
There is very few ways of preparing without making the Jackdaw even more obvious than it is, my aid may come to very little but I am willing nevertheless. However I cannot promise you miracles, if she were to attack the worse may come the pass and there may be very little we can do to prevent it. Are you prepared for that?
no subject
He pushes himself up off the cannon, pacing a little aimlessly as he talks.]
I’m prepared for damn near anything at this point, mate. I’ve done everything I can think of. But I can’t shake this feeling that the course we’re on is headed straight into a storm we can’t outrun, and all I’m doing is buying time.
[Borrowing time, more like, until the bill comes due.]
Do whatever you feel you must. Just…be careful. I’ve known others like her in the past, and she’ll not hesitate a jot if there’s a slip-up.
no subject
If there is no recourse, we must stay as we are. [ distantly jing yuan can hear the rumble of thunder and yet to skies stand clear. ] If we are no longer be able to out mauver or outrun then take the fight to her. Cut the head off the snake before it dares to grow three more.
It easier said than done, I know. Were there only a bloodless way of escaping this predicament.
[ truly he believes edward when he says he has done everything he can think of, that every other avenue has been exhausted. if she does come to the ship and discovers the locations of those she hates the most... there will be no other option. ]
no subject
[He's seen just how capable everyone else on the app is. If she pisses off any of them he's sure she'll be unrecognizable when her body turns up, but that's if.]
So far, though, she's been careful. I think she's well aware we want her dead, and she'll not make it so easy for us to do so. [He lets out a breath, lets his hand drop.] Most people I've met here are more than capable of such an act, I'm more than capable, but I've people to protect. I know that's the same for the rest.
The only way for any of us to make it out of this predicament, of watching and waiting, is for her to make a move. And knowing her, that'll spill blood.
[He hesitates.]
...the Jackdaw's decks have seen more than their fair share of blood. I don't want that first move to be made here, on my ship, upon my crew, my friends. I'm the captain—I've a duty to protect them.
no subject
The less I know of that plan, the better.
[ while his knowledge of the blade order is not nearly as extensive as it could be, he does know for certain that they will not react kindly to one of their guardians turning up dead. the less he knows, the higher the chance edward is able to get away with his plan. ]
I assume some of those you wish to protect aren't here on the ship. [ otherwise why ask for jing yuan to help watch after the ship when edward is unable. ] Rest easy knowing that you have an ally in this, then. You need no longer fret over being in more than one place at a time.
[ jing yuan smiles and places a hand on edward's shoulder. ]
They are lucky to have such a fine captain.
no subject
Not everyone is here, yes. I don’t think I could fit them all on the Jackdaw, and at least one is afraid of water. I’ll not put him through that more than I must.
[Oh. Good. He’ll still fret, because he cares so much for these people that his heart leaps into his throat at the very thought of losing any of them, but. It’s good to know he has another ally he can count on.]
Well. Thanks, mate. Captaining comes natural to me. [All bluster and bravado, that, as he puts the hat back on.] Most call me Captain Kenway, shadow of the West Indies. [This is just the start of the spiel he uses for the tour group, but then it veers into a more genuine direction:] But for you, my friend, you can call me Edward.
no subject
now he is caught in those threads, his heart bursting with emotions that are both his and not his. the desire to protect those dear to him gripping his heart in a vice grip. truly, edward could not have picked a better man to ally with. ]
It is a pleasure to meet you, Edward. You may call me Jing Yuan as I am afraid I no longer hold any grandiose titles like Captain or General. [ although he finds he would not be adverse to general. ]