The Crown Prince, The Pigs and The Haystack

Faced with an archer pressuring him with food, an intimidating man with an eye patch, and a random sailor who can talk to them with brutality that could pierce the heavens, Catrice had better hopes sticking with facing their Captain head on.

The fluttering waves of the flag casted upon Catrice a shadow as a voice called from atop the mast of the ship. "Well, look what we have here. A guest, perchance?"

Unsettled by those choice of words, Fin heaved a heavy sigh at the appearance of their captain, "You can't just say perchance!"

With the grace of a fluttering feather, Elijah held on to a nearby rope and slid down to the floor right in front of the gathering men whose faces turned with question at their uninvited guest.

Bright blue eyes startled at the blonde man before him. He hadn't expected this stranger to follow him all the way here. He's got guts, is what Elijah is willing to admit.

"Hey," Elijah said, as if noticing something for the first time, "You're Selt's boytoy. What are you doing cruising in my ship? " He hadn't expected this man to follow him after that short interaction. The look of devastation on Selt's face when he saw a glimps of Elijah was enough to make the captain of Senfleur laugh until his ship sinks. Yet here was Selt's new sailor, dragging his tail on his ship. Selt has been cruising the oceans longer than Elijah ever has to the point that anyone who has been at sea longer than two weeks will come to know of the name Selt. Selt was... well, how could Elijah explain it. A man who swam in pleasure. He showered in the luxury he frauded off his customers, he even took in both men and women for his own pleasure.

Assuming anyone on Selt's ship was in a relationship with him was easier than counting toothpicks.

Boytoy? Once Catrice is through dealing with this forthcoming disaster, he will surely come back to lock up these criminals. Staring at the man atop the mast, Catrice knew exactly who he'd come for first. The poor crown prince has never heard of something more ridiculous in his entire life before!

"I'm not. I merely wished to sail to Gerevous, Selt promised me that at the cost of 3,000,000 gold merit—" Elijah froze at those words. In fact, everyone within hearing range stopped to stare at the man who looked back at them with confusion.

Is he serious?... Elijah thought to himself in pure disbelief. What he earned as a pirate in ten years was easily discarded for a mere commute fee. A one time commute fee! How could anyone spend a grand total of a lifetime salary for a trip to Gerevous?

And who in hell would think to travel to Gerevous at this time of the year when sirens crawled out of their rocky caves to hang out at seas?

Elijah would. In fact, they were heading to Gerevous when they encountered Selt, and that was when he got the great idea to charge Selt the fee of crossing his territory.

But this fancy man didn't need to know all that.

Mouth agape and jaws on the floor, the crew felt their entire existence shatter before this mysterious, rich man.

Oh I see, Catrice gained a moment of clarity from their reactions alone. Embarrassed to admit, it seems he had been scammed. Now with a red face, he stepped towards the Captain. He had already paid Selt the money he promised, with the budget he had now, he couldn't afford to spend any more for the next few weeks.

"You're the Captain of this ship, aren't you?" Building up all his confidence and authority, the same spitting image he portrayed in front of all the nobles he met, Catrice only had one solution left to get to Gerevous. And that answer relied on one thieving pirate in front of him.

"I have a proposition just for you but I request a one on one meeting. I would prefer it if I didn't have a constant knife pressed against my neck," Catrice said, and Elijah turned to Riven. The referred blade. Seeing the momentary hesitation cross within blue eyes, Catrice spoke again. "I promise you will gain more than your wildest imagination. All I ask is you hear me out."

Elijah scoffed, "Alright, I'll hear you out. I will have nothing to lose either way, but you have nothing to gain. If I don't like what I hear, I'll have you sleep with the pigs until we get to land. I am merciful, aren't I?"

Teeth barely cracked at how hard he had gritted them, Catrice found himself clenching his fists at this infuriating man. He has never met someone so...so...impossible!

Somewhere back at the palace, a certain butler would beg otherwise has he heard the crown prince's thoughts.

"Alright. Let him go, Riven. Let's hear what he has to say." Catrice felt the pressure on his body fade as he was released. Elijah didn't even wait to see if he was following close behind before he walked away to his office. Stumbling behind, Catrice pulled himself together before following the captain of Senfleur closely.

And that's how they ended up in Elijah's office, with a mere giant, blue treasure box for a table separating them in the middle.

"So you're telling me that the disease which spread years ago has suddenly appeared once more, and that you're trying to investigate to create a cure?" Elijah popped a grape into his mouth as he sat back into his chair, tilting it all the way back on two of it's feet. Ocean blue eyes stared mindlessly at the ceiling of the his office.

For the first time since he was born, Catrice felt as though he wasn't one with the highest authority in this entire ship. Admittedly, he felt somewhat small and insignificant begging help from this pirate but what choice did he have?

He was being forced to choose between being locked in the basement with the pigs or being thrown off the ship, he had no choice but to reveal his identity on the spot. This was the first time Catrice had encountered a real life pirate, not one from the fairy tales his nanny used to read to him. And boy did those stories not lie. If Catrice had to describe Elijah from their first meeting, it was akin to petting a wide eyed cat. One second, you're having a fun time and the next thing you know it scratches your hand for fun. In fact, dealing with such a cunning man reminded Catrice of his fiance's cat whom would push a vase off the royal palace.

"I hear what you're saying but I have one question...How exactly do you know all this?" There it is. This secret has been kept away from all the public since the first case in years. Catrice took a deep breath. "I'm the Crown Prince. The Empire is trying to hide the return of the disease from the public until we find a solution for this mess. This information can never leave this room,"

From the looks of Elijah's reaction, Catrice can tell he's taken aback. Who wouldn't, honestly? The crown prince is suddenly in front of you asking for your help. It's only natural to be surprised.

"I need you to take me to Gerevous. In exchange, I'll have the Empire send you compensation for the troubles—" A laugh erupted in the room caught Catrice off guard as he stared with wide eyes at the pirate in front of him.

As if the room had been drowned in salt water, Catrice froze on the spot as he watched in disbelief. Elijah continued to laugh until his lungs erupted. "Ahaha! And I'm Lady Liezel Greitch. Oh woe is me, my prince!" Elijah mocked.

This was a mistake. Catrice couldn't believe he had made a fool of himself twice because of two evil sailors. Perhaps he'd have better chances at making it to Gerevous if he just jumped out the water and swam.

"You don't believe me?" Catrice raised a brow at the Captain, arms crossed, he ran sacked his brain for an idea as he let Elijah laugh his heart out. With tears brimming in his eyes, Elijah nodded his head, unable to speak.

"Alright, you don't have to believe me but before you decide if you want to throw me off the ship or make me sleep with the pigs, know that I can move even mountains with a single word. I can offer you treasures, titles, anything. So, do you really want to throw this opportunity away?" With those words, Elijah fell into silence. By the way Catrice spoke, and that tone, it seemed this man who claims to be the crown prince was serious.

Elijah gave it a moment to think. What could he lose if he declined this offer? And what would he gain if he agreed?

As Elijah thought about it for a minute, Catrice on the other hand waited with bated breath. Even if Elijah doesn't gain anything from him, Catrice had everything to lose if this man declined him now. Catrice clutched on to his satchel where the incantation remained safe in it's pocket. He could feel his heart about to leap from his throat.

Make up your mind already!

"I'll help you." Elijah finally decided, waving his hand in a dismissive manner as if those few seconds didn't kill a few years off of Catrice life. Those words practically saved Catrice life as he released a sigh of relief. There's hope to this after all!

"But!" Elijah interrupted Catrice's silent celebration. "I want something in return."

Catrice had already expected this as he nodded his head. Understandable, transactions were necessary when negotiating business. Whatever Elijah would ask for, it's nothing the Empire wouldn't be able to compensate.

"What I want, however, are neither riches nor titles," Elijah said. Ah... Catrice sees how it is. If it's neither material wants then it can only be that Elijah wants a partner! Is what Catrice assumes. Life at sea can be time consuming, and when you're a pirate, you wouldn't have time to dilly dally with ladies. What honest relationship could you even get out of being a sea criminal like Elijah?

"Oh, I get it," Catrice said. Elijah stared at the man in surprise. He gets it?

"You're looking for a special someone in your life, aren't you?" It seems even the cruellest of hearts desire to be loved.

"Wait, what?" Elijah was struck with confusion. What exactly did this man mean when he said he gets it? "It doesn't seem like you get it at all, though?"

"If it's not riches and titles, doesn't that leave it only one thing? You're looking for a lady, aren't you?" Catrice raised a brow in question.

That was right, in a sense. Elijah thought to himself. But not in the way Catrice was implying at all!

"You're right but not like that!" Elijah protested, much to add to Catrice's confusion.

"So you want a man?" Catrice asked. "We're deep in big XXXX, I won't judge your preferences, you know. I might know a few people too—" Elijah cut him off before he could speak any more nonsense. It seems this conversation wasn't moving well at all.

"Just listen to me, damn it!" Elijah heaved a hevay breath. This interaction had him worked up more than he ever works out. He was practically chasing after his own breath.

"You're not far off, but I'm not looking for a partner. What I want is my sister." Elijah buried his hand into the pocket of his tricorne and a piece of paper fell out. "This is my sister," He placed the paper on the table for Catrice to see. In the paper was an image of two people in it. A young girl, no older than 13, and right beside her stood an old priest.

Unsure of what to say, Catrice waited for Elijah to finish his thoughts.

"She went missing during the last outbreak of the disaster. I'm looking for her..." Elijah stared with much fixation at the young girl in the photo. This was the photo he retrieved from the priest when he returned home only to receive the terrible news.

Now it was all he had left of his sister. The only thing which helped him know what she came to look like after all those years of being apart. Catrice stared at the picture.

"You want me to help you look for your sister?" If his sister disappeared during the first outbreak, wouldn't it be safe to assume she's already...

"Before you say anything, no, I don't think the outbreak got her. The reason for that being we never found her corpse, so don't go saying anything that will get you thrown off this ship. Do you think you can help me?" Elijah crossed his arms. Blue eyes glaring daggers at Catrice. Good thing the crown prince waited before he said anything. Had he opened his mouth a second earlier he may already be trying to swim to shore.

Pleased with this negotiation, Catrice couldn't help but smile. He was finally back on track, and with this he'll be headed to Gerevous in no time. He stretched out his hand for Elijah to take. "You got yourself a deal."

Elijah, on the other hand, merely gave the open hand a look and grimaced before giving a snarky smile, "Sorry I don't touch strangers. I don't know where that hand has been with you being Selt's person, you know? No offense. Like, at all!"

The hand that Catrice held out for Elijah to shake clenched itself in frustration, seeing this, Elijah's smirk only grew wider. Catrice tried to gather himself as he took in deep breaths, and he raised his hands to show he wasn't about to pick a fight with the obvious mischief driven captain.

"Alright, you've had your fun. You can stop calling me that. If you'll excuse me, I'll be outside with everyone else," Catrice began to walk to the door. His hand barely grazed the knob before Elijah spoke once more.

"I didn't say you could go back up there." Elijah said, hand propped on the table as he rests his face on his palm. A scheming smile made it's way on his handsome face.

"Is there anything more you'd like to add?" Catrice asked in confusion. Unbeknownst to him of the horrors Elijah was about to put him through. Seeing that face made Catrice reconsider every decision heade that lead up to this day. Did he really make the right decision this time?

With a rake gripped in between his hands, Catrice struck the hay piled on the dirty cell floor. Who would come to think the crown prince of the empire would be cleaning haystacks with pigs for an evil pirate?

That damned pirate. Just when Catrice thought he was out in the clear, Elijah had pulled the carpet right under his foot.

"Everyone is doing their part here," Catrice mimicked Elijah's exact words. "Since we're passing through sirens because of your request, it's only natural you help out around here, don't you think? It's the least you could do while you're here!"

That asshole! Even after Catrice offered to do anything else. In between cleaning off the bird's nest atop the mast, mopping the floor, and scraping off barnicles from barrels, Catrice would not have minded doing all three at once but no! Elijah insists he clean the hays for the pigs instead!

How humiliating!