[Crestshot]

Well....it's still Thursday in California, right? Sorry if you're finding this a little later than usual...I've had computer, timing, and writing issues. But this chapter is here now, so I present to you...

Persuasion



Lawrence finished his story in the rowdiness of the King’s Arm, but to him and Kat, there was a bubble of silence. Kat was still absorbing the story while Lawrence sat and downed his rum, still stewing over the memories that had been brought up. They both just sat, ignoring the pirate town surrounding them.

Finally, Kat spoke up. “Lawrence…” she began hesitantly. “I honestly don’t know what to say. I mean, what they did to you…it’s unforgivable.”

“Yes, Kat,” he responded softly. “Betrayal tends to be unforgivable.” He guzzled down some more rum, his eyes cold and dark as they stared at the wall. Kat almost shuddered. She was glad those looks were not directed at her. With those eyes, his face was completely different. She could see where he had gotten the name Mcrage.

Kat reached over and put her hand on his arm, trying to be comforting. “But look now, Lawrence. Now you are free to do what you want to do, not listen to some stuffy, conceited captain! Think about it Lawrence- Freedom.”

Lawrence pulled his hand away gruffly. “What freedom? I have nothing. You can’t be free if you have no way to stay that way.”

Kat grimaced, hesitant about continuing. “There’s another route, Lawrence,” she said delicately. “There’s pirating. That…that is freedom.”

Lawrence snorted. “There is no freedom in ruthless destruction, Kat. Only death,” he said harshly. He stared angrily at the wall, as if it had done these wrongs to him, as if it had given him no other choice.

“Lawrence, look at me,” Kat said softly. He continued to glare at the wall. Kat felt her own flame of annoyance. “Look at me!” she all but shouted. The people surrounding them fell silent and stared at the pair. Lawrence snapped his head towards Kat crossly. They didn’t even notice the crowd staring at them; they were so absorbed in their own world. At the look on his face, though, the crowd moved to different corners of the tavern, not wanting to get in the middle of the tension between the two scathed. They knew a rager when they saw one.

Lawrence’s eyes shot to hers and Kat saw the fire burning behind them. Rather than backing away from the heat, Kat moved closer to him, knowing that she could get burned.

“That’s only what you think you know, Lawrence. Change what you know! Change how you are! Change how people all over the world see pirates as nothing more than nuisance!” she said venomously.

Lawrence just grimaced. “Being a merchant is all I’ve ever known in these waters Kat. How do you expect me to change that?” he said mockingly.

Kat sighed. “Lawrence, just because you’ve only known one thing doesn’t mean you can’t change. I mean, look at me!” she said encouragingly. “I was a Lady before coming here, and now I’m one of the best pirates in these waters!”

Lawrence was silent, but then Kat heard a faint chuckle coming from his chest. “You were a Lady, Kat,” he said softly, with a small, sad smile of his own. Much of the fire had disappeared from his eyes, but there was still a steady burn under the surface, one that would likely stay for a long time.

“You had it all,” he murmured. “I ask you the same question then; what happened to you?”

“I ran out of options,” she replied shortly. “It seems to me that the same has happened to you.”

“Pirating isn’t all about destruction and treasure you know,” she said lightly. Lawrence looked up curiously at this. Kat noticed the interest and continued with fervor. “We’re fighting a battle, mate. Every single pirate needs to fight for their freedom. The people of the Caribbean need to stay free from the Navy, the EITC…from Jolly Roger and those bloody skeletons in Wildwoods. The gold,” she smirked, “is just a perk.”

At stared at his features. Even with all that he had been through in the past few months, he was still light. There was still innocence to him that Kat felt she was breaking with her words, and the actions that he would partake in if he did join the cause.

“I witnessed corruption and greed of a high kind while still in England. Nothing was done though, because 'that’s the way things were,'” she spat. “Well, the way things are is wrong,” she spoke with venom. “Think about it Lawrence-our actions here will affect everyone in the Caribbean, which affects England, which affects their colonies all over the world. The world, Lawrence,” she emphasized. “We can free the entire world.”

“So, Lawrence Mcrage, are you willing to be a pawn that’s easily replaced in this game of power, or are you willing to be your own person, and make sure everyone else is able to be what they want as well?” she asked him. “Are you willing to be a pirate for the freedom? Are you willing to join our ranks and make it so everyone has the right to be free?”

Lawrence thought for a moment. It was like the pirates were fighters-freedom fighters. He had never thought of the pirates as warriors with something to lose. To him, they had always been villains and knaves that haunted waters all over the world. They were evil creatures, with grimy clothes and greedy minds. He looked at Kat. She fit none of the criteria that he expected. She was beautiful, smart, resourceful, brave…he could continue his list until the end of time. To top it all off, she was fighting for freedom, not greed. He could join what she believed in, not all of his misconstrued facts.

“Aye,” he finally said in a whisper. Then stronger, “Yes, I will join the fight. I will join for my freedom and for the freedom of the world.” And yours, he thought longingly. Neither of them were ready to act on their flutters.”

Kat smiled at him, but her eyes were hard. She had thought he would join after her persuading words, but something in her was wrenched at his agreement. He was going to become so different because of this, but she knew it was necessary. Jolly Roger was growing stronger and had taken many of their pirates for his own. Many others were taken to privateering for the Navy and the EITC, killing and capturing pirates they had once plundered and drank rum with on the shores of the Caribbean.

She sighed, as if resigning herself to his fate. “Very well then,” she said. “If you’re to turn to pirating, there are a few things I’ll have to explain to you…”

She continued to explain Jolly Roger (“He’s a dangerous bloke, not one to be messed with, and he holds a grudge. He’s been after Jack Sparrow for years, but somehow the wiley git gets away time after time.”), The Code (“Don’t shoot any living person, not even a pirate that gets on your last nerve. Skeletons and animals are fine, but if you’re to go after a Navy or EITC like blundering idiot and shooting them up, someone will find out and someone will come after you.”), and all other aspects of pirating, like the profit.

Lawrence was a patient and attentive listener, wanting to do the best he could. This may not be the path he had initially chosen for himself, but he was going to make the best he could for himself from it. He would not make a foolish mistake by tangling with the wrong person or perform an action that could not be taken back. Freedom was his gift, even if he didn’t quite see it like that right now. He would keep this and make sure he was good.

Finally, Kat finished with her explanations. The party that was the King’s Arm had wound down some. Kat glanced down at her empty bottle of rum and yawned. “It’s time for bed,” she said sleepily. She tossed some coins down on the bar for Johnny and then made her way up the stairs. Lawrence followed, his limp having receded even more.

Kat threw open the door to the room, expecting to be able to just throw herself in bed like she usually did. Then Lawrence came and followed her into the room and she remembered why she couldn’t do that-there was only one bed. Suddenly, Kat was much more conscious.

“Um…I’ll just stay down in the bar for the night,” she said quickly and tried to rush out of the room. Lawrence grabbed her arm as she passed by him, pulling her back into the quarters.

“Kat, I’m not kicking you out of your own rooms,” he said. “You go lie down in that bed and get some rest. My nap earlier covered my sleep for the day.” He pushed her gently towards the bed and she moved to it uncertainly.

“You’re sure Lawrence?” she asked. She felt a little guilty. After all, it had been she that had pressed for him to share the room with her.

“I’m sure, Kat,” he responded with a smile. “I’ll just rest myself in this chair here. Don’t worry.” He plopped down into the wooden chair and rested his head back as if it were the most comfortable thing in the world. Kat took this as a sign to crawl into her own sleep space. She closed her eyes and tried to relax, and Lawrence blew out the candle lighting the room.

Not more than ten minutes later, she heard a “Woh!” and a thump come from the dark room. She sat up quickly, immediately becoming more attentive. “Lawrence?” she called into the darkness.

“Down here,” he groaned. His words came from the cold wooden floor. Kat looked over the side of the bed at Lawrence in the white moonlight shining through the tiny window. He was crumpled on the floor, rubbing the top of his head where he had hit it on the drawers.

Kat sighed. “Lawrence, get up here,” she ordered irritably.

“What? No, Kat, I’m fi-”

“You are not fine,” she interrupted. “Trust me, I know how uncomfortable that chair is. You’re not going to get any rest of any sort. So get on this bed.”

“But Kat, I-”

“Now,” Kat insisted. Lawrence resigned himself to the fact that Kat would not give up and picked himself up off the floor. If he was being honest, he didn’t mind sharing the space, but he didn’t want to make Kat uncomfortable. She seemed to have no qualms about it though, so he crawled in next to her.

Kat shifted more towards the wall, further away from him. She may have cared for his well being, but the Katherine that still resided was screaming at her.

“Goodnight Lawrence,” she murmured away from him, at the wall.

“Goodnight Kat,” Lawrence replied. Goodnight my Angel.



So....yah. You all can make your own little assumptions and what not. To be quite honest, I don't really like this chapter myself...but I couldn't figure out any other way to write it. Ah well, I'm happier with the upcoming chapters anyway.

To answer BBX's question- Yes, Lawrence Mcrage is the name of one of my in-game characters. I also want to thank you for being honest about not liking my first chapter of this story.

So, anyways mates, again, I'm sorry about this being out a bit late. Thank you for all of the reviews though! It warms me little mixed up pirate heart...along with the rum, haha! Next chapter is Thursday the 11th! Thanks for reading!

-Kat Crestshot