Thread: The Virgin Prize [Prince & LingeringDesire]

It's not death you should be scared of, my lads wouldn't let a nice girl like yourself go to waste in Davy Jones' locker growled Philippe, reaching forward and giving the girl's petite rear a firm slap with his hand to urge her out the door. He let the girl's pathetic attempts at re-tailoring her dress remain intact, the shredded bits of cloth she had tucked into the shortened remains of her dress did little to hide the goods on the display and made her modesty and embarrassment at the situation even more obvious to an onlooker. Her arrival on the maindeck was greeted with a lusty chorus of cheers and cries from Philippe's sweaty and victorious crew of men. Even the sailors from the captured ship couldn't help but ogle the now provocatively clad lady that had no doubt strained their propriety during their voyage from the Carolinas. Thirty men were issuing catcalls and entreaties now, begging Philippe to let the crew have some fun with the lass. Some men even offered up their share of the plunder for a taste! Harr, let's get her to do a dance for the lads! Cap'n, I'll trade my share for a night with her to myself! Why'd you put clothes on her? All the girls on our ship go naked Cap'n! Let the lads break her in for you Cap'n! She'll be no fun as a virgin! Look at the apples she's hiding under that dress... show 'em to us, Cap'n! The litany continued until Philippe raised his hand and motioned for silence with a wry smile. If this lusty reception wasn't enough to make the poor girl aware of her plight, Philippe wondered if there was anything more he could do to crack the protective shell of coddling that seemed to make the girl think she wasn't a captured girl at risk of being turned into a Pirate crew's personal harlot. Enough! cried out Philippe as the cries waned. Back to the looting lads, I want this ship stripped of anything of value with the next turn of the hourglass. The girl is my prisoner until we know what value we can get beyond what is between her legs. Now Captain, if you don't tell me who she is you'll lose your head and one of your crew will gladly supply the same information, said Philippe menacingly, drawing his sword and grabbing the girl by one of her slender arms and holding her tight next to him. The Captain's admission made Philippe's jaw drop and he was speechless for a second. Her Father was the Royal Governor of Trinidad and through that British base of power, most of the Western Caribbean. As the primary enforcer of laws and protector of the peace, he was also Philippe and every other pirate's chief enemy. And Philippe had his daughter. Well, well, well, I see we have a true prize indeed, Philippe said as a grin reappeared on his face. The longhaired pirate looked happy, but his pulse quickened and he felt his heart race. She was a dangerous prize to keep indeed. The Governor would spare no expense in finding her and Philippe would likely find no safe harbor in any country in the world from the wrath of the British Empire if something happened to her. Already a notorious and wanted man, Philippe might find a bounty on his head large enough to make his own crew start to think about double crossing him. Ransoming her was going to be tricky, lucrative, but very tricky. For a second Philippe had a moment of weakness and entertained leaving Emmeline with the Captain and sailing away, hoping the Governor would appreciate the gesture if Philippe ever needed a favor in the future. With as snort, Philippe dismissed that thought. He was a pirate, not a cowardly street thief. The girl was a prize that might make him rich and famous, enough money even for retirement with his legend echoing in these warm waters for generations to come. If he could pull it off that is. Captain, tell the Governor that the Fearless Frenchman has his daughter and if he wants her back alive and in relatively unharmed condition, he'll have to propose a Princess' ransom as befits her status, said Philippe as he crouched low to talk quietly with the injured man. I'll let your ship limp into port and have him pass word through the Drunk Shark's bartender. I'll have an emissary make inquiries in one week's time. Aye, Frenchie, replied the Captain, wincing at the pain just talking caused in his shoulder. He glanced at Emmeline worriedly and gave her a smile of encouragement and then turned to Philippe. But you should know, she's to be married and her fiancee is arriving after her in town for their wedding. The son of an important and wealthy family in the Carolinas. If she is returned unharmed, and still a maiden, her father will be most generous in his ransom I believe. Leaving her unspoiled is very important to him to ensure this lucrative union he has brokered. The Captain's voice dropped so only Philippe could hear. He cares little for the girl beyond his image and her value in marriage. The Governor is a mean bastard and if you damage his brokered betrothal and the trade money it will generate, you'll get a lower price and likely make getting your head in a noose his personal mission. Mark my words, he wants her to seal this marriage and she needs to be a virgin! Understood, mon amis, replied Philippe coolly and he pondered the news for a moment. Perhaps there was a ransom that might be worth more than gold he could extract with this unique opportunity. Pitching his voice low, he whispered back to the Captain so Emmeline or his crew could not hear, Then you tell the Governor if he wants the girl a maiden still, the ransom better be worth a virgin's honor. How about a reward that would restore my own innocence. Tell him I want a full pardon for past crimes. All crimes and irrevocable forever. Tell him to keep this clause quiet when he replies, but let me know in some fashion that he agrees. It would be a sweet reward indeed for Philippe to exit his pirating career with plenty of money and the freedom to spend it without fear of being captured and killed for his past crimes. Though aggressive as an ask, it was not without precedent. Many former pirates had negotiated pardons in return for working for the Crown as privateers, or just for agreeing to go away and stop being a nuisance. Few had the discipline to not slip into their old ways and wind up caught for fresh crimes, but Philippe knew he was smarter than most of his brethren. Philippe rose and turned to address Breezy. Strip the ship. Cut down the mainsail and let them limp home. It should take them at least three days to get to port and we'll be safely hidden awaiting our captive's ransom offer. Philippe turned to Emmeline and gave her a rakish grin. And now, my sweet Mademoiselle Fortner, let's adjourn to my chambers where we will have ample time to get well acquainted.