Time and Tide

[Nikki]

I weakly move my hand up to touch the blood on my lip, somehow not being able to open my eyes just yet. "Please tell me this is hell." It hurts too much to be heaven.

[Jacky]

"...This is not the oppertune moment for a rendez-vous with the floor." I tell her, making her sit up, "C'mon, up up up!"
"So who's your new victim Jack?" Cassandra snorts, crossing her arms stubbornly.

[Nikki]

Now that little comment wakes me up. I stand shakily, my knees wobbling, still covering my bleeding lip with one hand. "I am not his victim," I spit. "And what about you, eh? What made you think he couldn't find the door in the morning, when he found the bed so easily in the dark?" I glare at her a little more coldly than necessary. She'd been the cause of my sleepless nights ever since I learned about her.

[Jacky]

"Don't tick 'r off, Rae.." I mumble under my breath, fearing the consequences.
Cassandra narrows her eyes at Rae angrily. "I don't believe THAT is any of your business, you li'll wench." She snaps.
"Ladies!" I speak up, before this can get outta hand, "The way *I* see it it's a li'll late, we're all tired and worn out an' this'll all look a lot brighter in the morning, eh?" I give them a golden smile, "so what do you say we sort this out later and settle for tonight."
Cassandra shoots him a short glare. "There's no turning your back this time, Jack. I'll get my payment." She states firmly, pointing an indexfinger up in his face.
"I'm afraid so, aye." I mumble, backing away a little.

[Nikki]

I decide to stay away, because I'm very much upset. What does this woman think she's doing? We almost had something happy. As we're all walking on the street I see a girl with jungle eyes and wild hair, and I realize it's me reflected in a stained glass window. I turn my head away in shame.

[Jacky]

It's hours later that night when I return to the ship. I talked to Cassandra (talked here having the meaning of her shouting at me) and eventually managed to convince her that we'd talk it over properly the next morning. She retreated and I breathed freely again since first seeing her. I then returned to the Pearl. And with the memory of Rae fainting earlier that night, I decided to go and check on her. So here I am, knocking on the door of her dorm.

[Nikki]

There is nothing for me to do. . .I have been sitting on my bed, staring at the wall for a good two hours, thinking. I know that I was to be strong and to love someone who is strong; I want to meet any gaze, to laugh under the brightest sunlight and never hide. But there is something that is making that just a bit more complicated than that should be; and that's Cassandra. I've figured her out, as much, in two hours. I thought it should have taken me months, but it's amazing what happens when you are left in complete silence for a while.

And now I find it funny that Jack told me not to tick her off. I'd ticked her off before I'd met her, before we'd even exchanged words. I'd ticked her off in my dream awhile ago. Because Cassandra was that mean, nasty part of me that wanted to keep Jack locked up inside me, to keep him for myself forever. I realize that while I am afraid of infinity, Jack is afraid of eternity. Commitment. Maybe so, but you could never be sure with Jack.

A knock on the door shocks me out of my newfound discovery, and I can bet to all hell I know who it is. I can't say no to him, and it scares me as well as angers me. "What?" I say harshly, without getting up to answer. He could let himself in.

[Hannah]

(aw, lovely post This is ans btw )

I walk inside, despite the fact that Rae doesn't tell me to. I look over to her and give her a faint smile, as if acknowladging the fact that she's not unconcious. Or throwing stuff to my head, for that matter. Though I suppose you can't ever be sure of what's to come.

"I thought ye'd be sleepin' by now." I lie, strolling over to the low table near the wall and sitting down on that, rather than close to her on the bed.

[Nikki]

I shake my head, looking at the floor. "Too much to think about." Then I look sadly back at him. "Everything you say is destined to be a lie." I'm scared that Cassandra will take what I almost had.

[Nikki]

(oh, thankies )