Uncharted Waters

Power of Seduction

As they walked through the tavern, the smell of alcohol, tobacco and opium wafted through the air like incense. People sat at different areas whispering and plotting future adventures, deals and shenanigans. Moving to the centre table, Willow sat and took out a piece of paper and a quill. 

They were lucky to get ten to fifteen signatures in a night so Willow knew this would be enough. Looking around, not much had changed. The bar looked grubby with dusty shelves holding different coloured shapes and bottles. The bar man, John, looked like he hadn't bathed that day and forgot to change his clothes again. Tables and chairs surrounded them with a lantern placed in the middle to light up the space. Ring stains decorated the tables from old glasses leaving their marks. The walls were filled with glass containers, holding every species of snake. Coloured reptiles seemed to observe their surrounding with some flicking their tongues, taking in the new scents and others slept, uninterested. 

As Willow was just about ready to look for her Captain, who had disappeared at some stage to talk to the owner, a young man came up to her and grinned. He looked to be in his late teens, standing about 6'0 ft tall. He was scrawnier that what they were used to but looked like he could handle himself. He ran his hand through his brown hair as his blue eyes settled on her cleavage. "Here there cutie." he said, the smell of booze stinking the space between them. 

"What brings you here?" he waggles his eye brows, trying to act cool and seductive but actually looking pretty messy. "Oh, hello there good sir," Willows voice was forced up an octave, giving a fake girly tone. "I'm just here looking for big, strong men to help me out. I work for the Ruby Rose and we are hoping... to find new crew members." Willow fluttered her lashes as she smiled at the boy. He was hooked, flexing his arms at her to show off his muscle definition. "Look at these, little Miss. Do you think they would work?" a smug smile decorating his lips. "Oh wow!" Willow continued, standing up to touch. "Those are perfect." she giggled as she looked at him smiling. "Would you care to join us then?" Willow flashed a winning smile to seal the deal. "Sure would, sure would! Where do I sign?" his body came closer as he took the quill and signed his name in the first slot. "I'll see you on the harbour at noon tomorrow then." Willows eyes gleamed, giving him a kiss on the cheek as the man smiled and moved away. Willow smile faded when he was out of sight. "What a sucker," she whispered to herself before looking for her next prey. 

"You know what you are going ey?" she heard a familiar voice call from behind her. Turning, she saw Sebastian in a white shirt and black pants. His hair was tousled as he proceeded to lean against a pillar next to the table, a smile plastered on his face. "What can I say?" she giggled, "Every bodies got to make a living!" 

Sebastian laughed as he moved to the chair next to hers. "When will he see the real you then?" he asked, curious to find out how long her charade lasts. "The moment we take off." Willow gives a wicked grin as she takes in his appearance better. She had recently been wondering about Sebastian and how he came to be on their ship. Each passing day seems to give her more of a reason to trust him but at the same time, who was she to think otherwise. They didn't talk much but unlike the other crew, she felt this connection to him. He made her stomach flip when he looked at her a certain way and she noticed that her cheeks would flush if their skin met. She wasn't sure why he gave her such a reaction but she wasn't opposed to it. 

"Came here alone?" Willow asked as she breathed out the breath she didn't know she was holding in. "Nah," Sebastian responded, pointing to the two couples sucking the face off each other. It was clear they were on the brink of taking their encounter somewhere more private so a third wheel was out of the question. "Liam and Logan brought me here but it seems they got a better offer for company." He smiled as he looked back at Willow. "How about you?" his voice sounded like music in her ears. "I'm working," she responded pointing to the sheet. Her senses muted as she focused on him, leaning in closer to breach the gap. Sebastian smiled and followed suit. 

They were centimetres apart when a loud booming voice broke the connection they had. "WELL, a signature already Willow! You have been busy!" Charles smiled at Willow before shooting a disapproving look at Sebastian. "Don't want to distract a w**********l now do we?"  Sebastian shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. "No Captain, I'm sorry, my mistake." He stood up and smiled at Willow once more before exiting bar. "See you back at the ship then." he said, leaving Willow in a state of confusion. 

What had just happened?