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 Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2023 1:58 pm
 "Well, well, look what the tide brought in," said a cheerful voice from behind them.
Stede watched in confusion as he saw Izzy's face break into shock and a flicker of something else in his eyes. He looked behind Izzy as the man turned around to face the woman smiling at them.
"Mary Anne," breathed Izzy.
"Hello Z," replied Mary Anne.
"You know each other?" inquired Stede.
"Something like that," she replied.
"What are you doing here?" asked Izzy.
"I've been hearing some interesting tales lately during my travels. Figured I should come to the source to get the truth behind them. You know how seafaring folk are with their tales."
Izzy let out a faint growl of agreement.
"What sort of tales?" asked Stede.
"Blackbeard get tangled up with a Gentleman Pirate and sells out to the English," shrugged Mary Anne. "Blackbeard being more fearsome than usual. Oh... and something about weddings getting crashed by pirates. Now, that's a tale I would love to learn more about."
"You've heard of the Gentleman Pirate?" perked up Stede hearing his pirate title.
"Oh, yes," smirked Mary Anne, staring Stede down mischveiously. "I've heard all about you."
Stede felt his heart flutter hearing her say those words. He had heard them before and in that exact same tone. Blackbeard had said them to him upon their first meeting. How was it she was able to do that?
"Don't flatter him," said Izzy.
"Jealous?" teased Mary Anne.
Izzy didn't respond but Stede could tell by his shifting of weight, her words affected him. Mary Anne chuckled before gently prodding the wooden horse leg that now replaced Izzy's lost one.
"I see we have a lot to catch up on," said Mary Anne.
"Do we really have to do this?" asked Izzy.
"You know very well we need to. All of these tales may about you lot but their aftereffects will eventually affect me."
"Why would they affect you?" asked Stede.
"Where do you want to go to talk?" said Izzy before she could reply.
"My ship?" suggested Mary Anne, shrugging. "I've already paid my respects to the necessary taverns around here. Don't exactly feel like making a repeat visit at this time."
"Sundown?"
Mary Anne nodded in agreement before looking over at Stede. "Until we meet again, golden boy." She turned and disappeared, her boots making a satisfying thumb upon the wooden planks of the walkway as she left.
"Well," said Stede. "She seemed nice. Pretty cool to catch up with an old friend, isn't it, Izzy?"
Izzy turned to look at Stede and didn't say anything for a moment. Stede was surprised to see that Izzy wasn't giving his usual glare of annoyance whenever Stede spoke.
"You have no idea what you have just got yourself into," Izzy finally stated.
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2023 2:11 pm
"Alright, you lot, listen up!" called out Izzy towards the group of pirates that lingered on the deck. Everyone straightened hearing the First Mate address them. "Stede Bonnet and I will be paying our respects to another captain this evening. I expect the rest of you to keep watch on the ship while we're away. Fang, Jim, and Frenchie... you three are coming with us."
"You want us to come, boss?" asked Fang. "Why?"
"So, you can pay your respects to the captain. I am sure she would be disappointed not being able to see you again while she's in the area."
Fang's eyes widened and a faint smile appeared on his face as if he knew exactly who Izzy was talking about. Jim and Frenchie noticed their crew mate's reaction, looked at each other and then shrugged.
"As you wish, boss," said Fang.
Stede leaned forward over Izzy's shoulder. "I didn't realize she was a captain."
Izzy turned to look at him and an amused smirk appeared on his face. "Oh, yes. Almost as good as Blackbeard."
"Oh! She's that good?"
"You have no idea."
Stede looked upon the ship that dipped in the calm waves at the end of the port. He was amazed by how it appeared both well kept like a British naval ship but presented an imitating presence like a pirate ship.
"She certainly takes good care of her ship," commented Stede.
"One of her pride and joys," replied Izzy.
"Oh?" said Stede, turning to look at Izzy as they continued down the walkway towards the ship but Izzy didn't elaborate further.
"I still can't believe she's here after all this time," said Fang.
"Who exactly are we seeing?" asked Jim.
"Oh, you're going to love her!" replied Fang. "Or she'll love you. Hard to say which."
"And she's the captain of this ship?" inquired Frenchie.
"Oh, yes. She's been captain of it ever since she parted ways with us."
"Parted ways?" said Jim, staring at Fang with shock. "She sailed with Blackbeard?"
Fang nodded before looking back at the ship with a chuckle of delight.
"I think that just changed my perspective of her a bit," admitted Frenchie to Jim.
"You and me both, mate," agreed Jim.
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2023 2:40 pm
Izzy held out a hand stopping Stede from walking up the plank onto the ship. Stede looked at him with confusion.
"Even though she's expecting us, she still prefers to go through the motions," said Izzy, shrugging and turning towards the ship to call out. "Ahoy there!"
An individual appeared at the railing, their features lost in darkness due to the lantern light behind them.
"Ahoy!" called out the individual in response. "State your business."
"Izzy Hands and associates wishing to see your Captain. She should be expecting us," replied Izzy.
"Ah, yes," replied the individual laughing. "She hasn't been able to stop talking about you lot since she got back to the ship this afternoon. Come on up."
"Did we really make that much of an impression on her?" asked Stede as Izzy finally let him continue up the plank.
"I don't know about you," said Izzy. "But I can see her doing it in regards to me."
"Oh!" said Stede, not really sure how to respond further in response to that.
As soon as they reached the deck of the ship, they saw various crew members casually strolling around, watching the visitors with curious looks. Stede noticed there was quite an assortment of individuals among the crew, and while they each had their own unique style, there still seemed to be a cohesive aesthetic among their clothing.
"Welcome aboard the Odyssey!" called out a woman's voice.
They all turned to see the woman Stede and Izzy saw before stepping down the stairs from the helm. Stede was stunned by the new outfit she had changed into.
"I do hope you had no issues finding my ship," said Mary Anne, stopping before them.
"Hard to miss a beauty I'm so used to," replied Izzy.
"Oh, stop," teased Mary Anne, lighting smacking Izzy's shoulder. She then turned to look at the others. "Ooo, love the red!" She fingered the collar of Stede's red coat he had decided to wear. Then her eyes landed on Fang. "Fang? Is that my favorite crewmate?"
"I can't believe you're here!" Fang burst out, as if he couldn't contain his excitement any longer.
Mary Anne laughed and stepped past to pull Fang into a big hug. "I missed you too, sweetie. I didn't realize how much I would miss your hugs."
"You always did appreciate them," agreed Fang.
She pulled partially away from Fang to turn to the two remaining individuals, looking them up and down in assessment. "And who are these two?"
"Two of my... well..." said Stede, floundering on whether they still considered his crew or now Edward's after recent events.
"May I have the honor of introducing you to Jim and Frenchie," said Izzy, stepping in.
"Part of Blackbeard's crew?" asked Mary Anne, looking over at him with a slight frown and raised eyebrow.
"You got a problem with that?" asked Jim.
Mary Anne turned to look at them, letting her arm around Fang drop and stepping forward to tower over them. Jim's brave face faltered slightly realizing the height difference and the sudden change of atmosphere that surrounded the woman.
"Depends," replied Mary Anne. "Z?"
"Yes?" replied Izzy.
"Are these two worthy of being on his crew?"
"They have proved themselves," replied Izzy. "Especially Jim there."
Mary Anne hummed looking Jim up and down before gently fingering the rope that cascaded over their shoulders. "They certainly do seem to have a certain presence about them." She then flashed a smile at Jim. "Well, if Blackbeard and Izzy here consider you worthy of being on his crew, then I will consider you worthy of knowing myself."
"And why would I care about knowing you?"
"Ooo, fiesty," replied Mary Anne, a flicker of flirtation appeared in her eyes.
"Mary Anne," said Izzy.
Mary Anne turned to look at Izzy, a smirk appearing on her face before shrugging. "Fair enough. There's plenty of time for that." She stepped back from Jim and looked over the whole group. "Are you hungry? I've had my cook prepare a lovely meal in honor of the occasion."
"I could eat," replied Frenchie.
"Excellent," she replied. "Come with me. I've set us up in my quarters."
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2023 3:18 pm
"Mmm," said Frenchie, taking another bite of the assortment of food that was laid before them. "This is really good!"
"I'm glad you approve," said Mary Anne. "I got very lucky when I came across my cook."
"Too bad Roach isn't here," continued Frenchie.
"Roach?" inquired Mary Anne.
"My cook," replied Stede.
"Ah," she said. "Well, I'm sure I can arrange for my cook to prepare a little parting gift for you to take to Roach. Some spices and other ingredients we've gotten our hands onto recently. You'll be surprised by how one's meals can be transformed by some of these foreign ones."
"Business has been good for you then?" inquired Izzy.
"Still going strong," nodded Mary Anne.
"The navy hasn't been causing you any trouble?"
"A few close calls here and there but nothing I can't handle," she replied, taking a sip from her goblet. "Though I've heard word that they are starting to kick up their efforts at tracking and capturing our lot. Best you lot keep your wits about you as you proceed from here."
"I will do my best," acknowledged Izzy.
"Is he really giving you that much trouble?" inquired Mary Anne, the corner of her mouth rising.
"Only since..." Izzy glanced over at Stede and then back at her. "Certain events took place."
Stede frowned noticing Izzy's glance.
"Ah, yes," said Mary Anne, looking over at Stede. "The infamous partnership of Blackbeard and The Gentleman Pirate. Made quite the stir among the lesser pirates to hear about such a union."
"You mentioned you sailed with Blackbeard before?" said Stede. "Was he much different from what you know of him now?"
"He's always been passionate," said Mary Anne. "That hasn't changed. But there definitely seems to be something different this time around to make him make such a drastic run of... well... whatever the hell he is trying to do." She glanced over at Izzy and he just looked down at his plate.
"And what exactly did you do for Blackbeard?" asked Jim.
"If you consider Izzy his right-hand man... I would've been Blackbeard's left hand."
"If you were so close, why did you leave?"
Mary Anne smirked, spotting Jim's provoking stance again. Izzy glared at Jim as if warning them to back down, which didn't go unnoticed by Mary Anne.
"Let them have their fun, Izzy," said Mary Anne, patting his hand. She turned back to Jim. "I started making a name for myself and felt it was unfair to try containing both of our legendary presences on the same ship. After all, the Queen Anne is Blackbeard's ship. Luckily, we had captured a ship at that time that suited my needs."
"You seem awfully confident of your skills," said Jim.
"And you seem quite the force yourself, mate," retorted Mary Anne. "Just need to work on the confidence to put yourself out there."
"Maybe we should have our First Mate test your skills," said Jim, leaning forward. "I noticed you kept a sword at your side. You think you can best him?" They nodded towards Izzy.
"Stay in your place," growled Izzy.
"What?" teased Mary Anne, looking over at him. "You think you can't beat me now?"
"That's not..." sputtered Izzy.
Mary Anne laughed as she leaned back in her chair and looked around at all of them.
"I'm starting to see why Ed likes you all so much," said Mary Anne. "And why he's been throwing such a big fit."
"A big fit?" inquired Stede. He stared at her in curiosity as he noticed she had switched from using 'Blackbeard' to 'Ed' when talking about the pirate.
"Blackbeard and Gentleman Pirate at odds with each other after spending so much time together glued to the hip?" said Mary Anne. "That can only mean one thing. His heart was broken."
"s**t," said Jim, looking over at Stede. "Maybe she does know what she's talking about."
"I would hope so after my history with our dear pirate friend."
"And what exactly was your history?" asked Frenchie.
Mary Anne glanced over at Izzy as they shared a look and he shrugged.
"I'm his wife."
Stede coughed as the liquid he was drinking went down the wrong pipe upon hearing the news. Fang patted his back until he was able to maintain composure again.
"Wife?" breathed out Stede staring at her.
"Don't worry, he's all yours," said Mary Anne. "It's just a title these days. Security in case something happens."
"But there had been something between you?" inquired Frenchie.
Jim leaned back in their chair staring at Mary Anne with a newfound respect.
"Just a passing fling," said Mary Anne. "It was for the best to part ways in that respect."
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2023 3:20 pm
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2023 3:23 pm
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2023 10:43 am
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2023 10:46 am
I went to Rose City Comic Con yesterday and had a great time. There was only one thing I planned on doing that I didn't get to but I wasn't too heartbroken about missing it.
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2023 10:51 am
Even though I wasn't able to do anything with the main Critical Role cast (i.e. autograph/photo op or panel) due to timing of determining if I could get the day off from work or not, I still was able to get a Critical Role guest cast member. So, it was still a successful con in that regards.
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2023 10:58 am
And can I just say that Anjali Bhimani is such a lovely person? I had such a great time interacting with her during my autograph/selfie-at-table session. I'm also looking forward to reading her book, which I ended up purchasing at her table since she had it there.
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2023 11:00 am
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2023 11:04 am
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2023 11:06 am
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2023 11:07 am
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2023 11:09 am
And my friend ended up winning her category for the Cosplay Competition! I was so excited when they announced it. heart
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