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 Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 11:42 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 11:50 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 11:53 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 12:36 pm
 Mmm! Lunch was delicious today. Loved how moist the turkey was.
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 12:52 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 1:00 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 1:11 pm
"You think it wise to keep her aboard?" asked Izzy, stepping closer to Blackbeard, glancing over his captain's shoulder towards the woman who stood on the other side of the deck.
"Why? You have an issue with her?" challenged Blackbeard.
Izzy watched her for a moment before quietly saying, "No."
"Then why bring it up?"
Izzy tore his gaze away from her to look at his Captain. "Because others may question it. You know how superstitious sailors and pirates get."
"We have Jim," pointed out Blackbeard. "Nothing bad's happened to us."
"They are not exactly on the same level as what we're dealing with her. You know that."
Blackbeard turned to look over at the woman himself. "Trust me, Izzy. There's something about her. We don't want to send her off. It would be like killing an albatross if we did."
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 1:46 pm
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" asked Stede, stepping up to Mary Anne as she smoothed out her skirts as she waited. "It's not too late to back out now."
"It is quite alright," replied Mary Anne, giving him a smile. "We need this to get a step ahead. And aside from you, I'm the only other one who can blend into such society to get the information we need."
"And Izzy," said Stede, not hiding the slight grimace as he said the name.
Mary Anne chuckled as she turned towards him. "I know the two of you have had your differences, especially when it comes to Edward. Some of which is quite warranted, and he deserves it. But I assure you, Izzy is on our side in this case. He knows better to do anything to contradict what I want."
"How can you be so sure?"
Stede and Mary Anne's attention then was captured by Izzy coming up the stairs onto the deck. Replacing the black, worn leather attire he was commonly seen wearing was a freshly pressed, well-cared for navy uniform. Mary Anne couldn't help the warmth that fluttered within her upon the sight.
"He hasn't failed me before."
---
"Forgive me," he said. "I don't believe you've had the honor of being introduced. May I introduce you to my niece - Mary Anne."
"This is Mary Anne?" exclaimed the other gentleman. "The one you took in?"
"The very one," confirmed her uncle.
"I have heard quite a bit about you, young lady," said the gentleman, turning to her. "And I see the tales have lived up to the real thing. You certainly have been blessed with the best of both of your parents."
"That's very kind of you to say, sir," said Mary Anne, doing a slight curtesy.
"And will you be going to London next season?"
"Unfortunately, no. I am hoping to join my Uncle during his business trips during that time," she replied.
She did not miss the slight frown on the man's face and the shared gaze with her Uncle.
---
Mary Anne frowned as her Uncle pushed her roughly into the house after they climbed the steps from the carriage that brought them home. As soon as the staff closed the door behind him, he glared at her.
"Do you know how embarrassing this evening was?" he exclaimed. "I hoped to introduce my colleagues and fellow members of society to a respectable young lady. Instead, they find a silly little girl spouting out ridiculous ideas of traveling the high seas instead of preparing for making her debut to do her duty of finding a husband to continue our family's legacy."
"I do not see how wanting to help you with your business endeavors is considered 'silly'," replied Mary Anne quietly.
"Women do not do business endeavors. That is a man's world," spat her Uncle. "And don't get me started on how I know the real ploy beyond these ideas. Don't think I don't know about you sneaking off to the nearby taverns to interact with the young sailors returning from their voyages. Or playing pirates with whoever is foolish enough to join in your silly games."
---
"Let me make it very clear, Mary Anne," said her Uncle, staring her down. "I am only taking you on this business trip of mine because you have once again failed to make a successful season for yourself and I won't dare leave you behind to make a fool of yourself or - lord have mercy - our family name."
Mary Anne opened her mouth to respond but he held up a hand stopping her.
"Not another word. While you are on this voyage, you are to remain here in this cabin and focus on your studies. Your true studies. Not the ones you so desperately try to cling to. If I even find a hint of you disobeying me, I won't hesitate to leave you with someone who will be more aggressive with their handling of your silly whims than I am."
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 1:59 pm
"Wait," said Stede, staring wide eyed at the documents laying upon the table before him. Edward and the rest of the crew looked just as stunned by this reveal. "You actually got proof? How... How did you ever manage it?"
"I told you," said Mary Anne, smiling. "I know how to blend into such society." She then turned to look over at Izzy. "But it wasn't all me. Izzy did his part too."
Izzy shifted uncomfortably on his feet on the acknowledgement but bowed slightly towards her.
"I can't believe you got this," said Edward, picking up one of the documents to gaze over it.
"We have the documents. Now what?" asked Jim.
"We turn the tables on them," replied Mary Anne. "These are our waters. We will show them why."
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 2:00 pm
  I think I found the perfect actress to represent my Mary Anne Townsend. These are from a Russian drama called Elizaveta.
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 2:03 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 2:25 pm
 Lucius turned upon hearing the sound of boots entering the cabin. He let out a high-pitched squeak of fear at his first glance on who had entered before clutching his chest as he sagged against the bookcase he had stumbled back into.
"At ease, my dear boy," said Mary Anne. "It's only me."
"What... Why are you dressed like that?" breathed out Lucius.
Mary Anne whipped the black coat off, tossing it over the back of a chair and then collapsing onto the couch in front of Lucius. "I had some business to take care of."
"And it required... this look?" inquired Lucius, sinking into the armchair nearby.
"The gentlemen I had to do business with... They aren't too keen about the idea of doing business with a woman," said Mary Anne. She turned her head to give a tired smile. "But they won't hesitate to do business with Blackbeard."
Lucius didn't say a word but tightened his grip on the journal in his hand.
"And I see my disguise is still up to par based on your reaction," continued Mary Anne, noticing his movement. "For someone who has seen the real Blackbeard in person."
"Was... Was it successful? Your business, I mean," asked Lucius.
"Oh, yes," said Mary Anne. "They were stubborn at first. To be expected. Can't come off as a coward to anyone who may be watching our transaction. But they came around in the end. Always do."
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 2:26 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 2:27 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 2:30 pm
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