"You're going to be particularly busy," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "You're the one connection we have between you and your father, so you'll have to be playing double-agent quite a lot. Are you prepared for that?"
"It'll probably make family reunions a bit uncomfortable, though," she teased. "And don't even get me started on Father's Day."
"It'll probably make family reunions a bit uncomfortable, though," she teased. "And don't even get me started on Father's Day."
"On the bright side, I won't have to worry about what to get him for Father's Day anymore." He said, with a chuckle.
"Yeah, I find the whole 'aloof, constantly disapproving father figure' a tough archetype to shop for," she agreed. "That's the real purpose of this plan. The money and the secret revealing is just a bonus."
Cobiah faked a gasp. "You figured me out! The real reason I became a pirate was to make seasonal gift shopping easier!"
(Actually lol'ing here.) Jade laughed, almost as if she was surprised by the action. "You're funny," she said, shaking her head. "I forget that people on this ship can be funny." She lowered her voice confidentially. "I love her dearly, but Natalia is a bummer. She's so..." Jade searched for the word. "...serious all the time."
"You're totally right. She could lighten up a bit. Maybe you could tell her a joke?" He suggested, jokingly.
Jade's face turned deadly serious. "Uh uh. I tried to once. She just stared at me for the longest minute in my life, and then changed the subject. It was terrifying."
(Oh my god. I thought I posted my message. So sorry!) Jared eyed the bag. He was unsure whether the contents inside were true to Natalia's word. He considered her proposition closely. "And then what? We go our separate ways? We no longer speak of this again?" He asked. After what she knew about his motives, could he really trust her? Although, she hadn't even touched him once during this whole adventure... Jared nodded. "Okay then... I accept." He said, expecting Natalia to put the bag in his possession.
Natalia nodded and returned the bag into her cloak instead of into his hand. "Excellent. In that case, when we return to the surface, we will plan on more depth. I will pay you your share of the treasure as soon as it is distributed, and you will stay on as our cook while we figure out our next move. Does that work for you?"
Jared narrowed his eyes at Natalia's decision not to pay him then. He took a deep breath. "Now wait a minute. I expect some pay now that I accepted your little proposition." He said, expectantly.
She frowned at him, an eyebrow raised. "You will get your share of the treasure like everyone else who helped to get it," she said sternly. "However, my only reason to be helping you in this is so my debt will not have to be paid."
Jared growled but stopped, keeping his composure. "You just want to keep your money to yourself... Fine." He said. "But if I feel like I'm being screwed over then this deal's off, capiche?" He said, crossing his arms.
She raised an eyebrow, seeming to be more amused than offended. "I am a woman of my word, Mr. Rayne, and I would never try to cheat you. I'm glad we could come to this compromise."
"Ugh... Glad to be of service... I guess." Jared said, reluctantly, accepting his position, using his hand to wave off the captain. He took a swig of rum from a bottle under the table.
Natalia nodded and left the room, her footsteps sharp as she went up the stairs. (Y'all ready for a time skip?)
