Time and Tide

[Nikki]

I feel as though I'm a child again, following him through a place where I don't belong. There must be a thousand Toms here, slithering in alleyways and storefronts. I try to stay out of Jack's way, but it's impossible; every sneering man intimidates me and I shrink into his shadow, almost treading on him twice.

[Jacky]

At some point, I stop abruptly so she walks right into me. Moreover, I turn around which causes her to nearly drop onto the street. "If you're gonna be treadin' on me heels, luv, then for cryin' out loud walk next to me instead!" Aye, she's annoying me. Like hell.

[Nikki]

I'm officially starting to feel like a complete dumb@ss. Why can I not get over anything? I reach up for a dart and find its abscence less than comforting, remembering I'd left them on Jack's bedside table hours before. "Godd@mmit." He's write about me being a nervous wreck, and it needs to stop soon.

[Jacky]

I sigh, looking at her as if contemplating what to do with her. Like someone who finds a young and starving puppy along the side of the road. Take it home or leave it to die? I eventually chose for the first, though it takes me quite some selfrestrained not to take the easy way out. "Fine." I say, "I'll buy you a few drinks, bring you back to the ship safe and sound and that's that. Fair enough t' ye?" I ask.

[Nikki]

I think about maybe wanting to use the darts safely later on and decide a drink isn't the best idea. "I'll pass on the drinks," I say hesitantly, a bit fearful that it's not in my best interest to be picky when he's already annoyed. "I don't want a repeat of last night."

[Jacky]

I shrug. "More for me then." I conclude. I lead her down to the taverns, and we soon find our way inside the Faithfull Bride.

[Nikki]

It's even worse in here. I can feel the onset of a headache amongst other things, and I'm starting to feel a little for Jack. "Oh, screw it. I'll wait outside."

And now I'm just glad to be sitting against the side of this building where it's just a little more quiet.

[Jacky]

After Rae decided to wait outside, I gave it a mental shrug. Whatever suited her fancy, I figured. So I ordered myself a mug of rum, said hello to the various familiar faces (got slapped twice), and started the evening out good. By now it's almost three hours later already. I didn't see a sign of Rae anymore. But that might be no wonder, considering my sight is pretty much blocked by the blonde on my lap and the mug of ale in my right hand.. I might've, as you could put it, forgotten 'bout the girl outside on the whole.

[Nikki]

"I'll buy you a few drinks, bring you back to the ship safe and sound, and that's that," I mock, chucking a pebble into the street. It's some hours later, and it's gone quiet enough for a moment that I can think. . .which is not necessarily a good thing. He never cared. He's the same as every other scoundrel. He's nothing special, and there's nothing fairy tale like in the least about him. "So why do I still care?" I say to the chilly night air.

[Jacky]

"Talking to yourself in the dark of the night is a first sign of insanity." A girl with a very thick Spanish accent appears from the shadows. She stands in front of Rae, looking down at her with those golden eyes narrowed dangerously. "And you might wanna move. You're in my way, lass."