𝖆𝖞𝖊, 𝖈𝖆𝖕'𝖓

nic found that hard to believe. a pirate stuck on land — not just any land, auradon land, of all places. “right, of course.” he replied with a nod. most bars knew what the vks could handle. if there was one thing they knew, it was good alcohol. none of the fruity, weak drinks they gave the heroes. watching the bartender move farther down and pour him another drink he shook his head. it was definitely obvious that nic was not happy to be in auradon. he made his feelings well known to those around him, and didn’t hold back when he was asked either. “that’s because i’m not.” he said bluntly. “and i’m not a good actor either. this place is worse than actual hell.” 

“I am Cleopatra Olympus and you are?” she asks . Cleopatra loved meeting new people no matter who they were the descendent of .

“Leland Smee.” Anyone that knew of pirates knew his father’s name so introducing himself was a gamble when it came to the people of Auradon. Although, his clothing and the swords hanging off his hips already gave away what he was and he was not ashamed.

taking a long sip of her drink, she put the empty cup on the bar counter before leaning back in her chair. eyes finding the bartender, she pointed at her glass to request another. “just a long year of work over with and i was celebrating by myself,” she explained with a laugh. “what about you? what brought you here?”

hearing the pirates remark, tag chuckled a bit. “is calling me pretty supposed to be an insult?” he questioned lightheartedly before shrugging. “i guess i just don’t really have the need to trade with pirates anymore. my “pretty boy job” takes good care of me.” 

“Indeed. Grandson of the all mighty Zeus, son of Hercules, and all that jazz.” Alexandros really played into the whole demi-god ideal because he never liked the attention. “Both. Back in Greece people had all kinds of questions, but at least here less people know about him. Besides, everyone said I turned out to be more like my mother in the end.” 

“Zeus. Never liked ‘is stories much. More partial to Poseidon if ‘m honest.” It was interesting to hear about the life of a demigod but Leland cared little about his godly status since it seemed he wasn’t a fan of it himself. “And what’s yer ma like? Pretty las fer sure if ye got yer looks from her as well.”

the world gave her leland and so help anyone who tried to take him away from her. they were soulmates, different soulmates but none the less. a lot of people could claim that he simply followed her around but they would never know what he meant to her. they two were a balancing act. she was slow and controlled, she could plot and plan and make someone change their minds, threatening with softness. leland was the opposite but it was just as it needed to be “sometimes i think, how much i want them tae for takin’ us away, but it won’t help non, won’t change the fact they did. i tell myself that with each smile and lie they have. i’m not riskin’ neverland over past actions.” she moved her hands and stood up straighter now, this time more fierce and menacing. “but ya know what I just won’t let stand.” hands curled into fists. “lost boys.” that was all she said.

if harriet hadn’t claimed his as her first mate, he would have succumbed to the madness of the isle. it was inevitable for people that had nothing to hold onto. but he could stand safely at the edge because he had her and the crew to hold him back if ever got too close to falling over. that’s how he knew that he could never stand by the side of any other captain. they simply could never meet his high demands and his loyalty once given never ended. “hm, yer right even if i’d say we could still ‘ave a bit of revenge like that previous king beast’s head on a stick,” he spoke casually before noticing her shift in demeanor. “lost boys,” he repeated before a menacing grin curved onto his lips. “what about ‘em, cap’n?” he failed to hold back a tone of eagerness and bloodlust.

“you got me. that’s the answer.“ she said sarcastically. she raised her eyebrows at his response. “really?“ she read in stories and was always told that fate was a pirate thing. okay, maybe not a pirate thing, but a seafaring thing. (she heard it a lot from her father) “i’m not sure about rigid but please explain.“

“alluring, attractive, cute,” veronica rambled off a few words, small smirk on her lips. confident didn’t describe the girl unless she was in a super suit. but get a little bit of alcohol in her along with an attractive guy and she became a different person. when he leaned in closer, her brows raised and she brought her glass to her lips. “i don’t know. have you?”

“yeah. wouldn’t want to keep her waiting,” maya replied in a cold tone. she could feel herself breaking her walls, wanting to just yell at him. how could you hurt me like that? what did i do to make you want us to end? why couldn’t you let us stay together? but she wouldn’t. maya stared at him for a few more seconds before letting her features go soft. “it was nice to see you, leland.”

“I’m sure people have their reasons. Or more likely just opinions they’ve formed from nothing.” He commented, shrugging his shoulders a bit. “Hercules. Son of Zeus and Hera. He’s someone everybody loves because he’s just a nice guy. Who literally wouldn’t hurt anyone unless it was necessary.” Alexandros explained, letting out a small sigh. 

“Aye,” he agreed, leaving the subject alone. “So what’s that make ye? A demi-god?” he inquired with a small grin. His head tilted in curiosity as he sat back in his seat and crossed his arms. “Not a daddy’s boy or do ye already get asked too many questions about yer father?”

deena looked around the room, she couldn’t hide the slight disgust showing on her face as she walked inside “for a good reason.” she said, she had nothing against pirates it was their ships that made her skin crawl. the tremaine nodded as she stopped closer to him and placed her hands on her hips “very.” she winked at him, her eyes running over the sword in his hand “oh i’m sorry, did i intrude in some alone time games?”

the pirate merely rolled his eyes, finding nothing wrong with his living quarters. it was simple, perhaps needed some more organization, but it was clean thanks to harriet wanting to keep the ship in the best shape possible. “nothin’ to do with this is ah game.” he smirked as he sheathed his sword and placed it with the others by his bedside. “what brought ye ‘ere?”

“and what do you mean by that?“ she asked with a smile.  it seemed he was just chilling, looking at the water. something she also liked to do, though not today. given the choice she would rather go for a swim or just walk the beach. “fate? doubt it. do all pirates believe in that?” 

the pair of them stuck together, it had been that way since they were really born. two pirates destined for greater things. they just had to get through the obstcles. “yer da’ is more then what others think and we both know that. but rumours help in this time of plottin’.” harriet laughed, placing her hands on her hips. the pirate captain was never one to work the way leland but she admired how he manipulated people with that charming smile of his. “a teacher couldn’t believe me da was hook, she said i ‘ad a calmness and composure. as if she knew my father. but i’ll take it. they know what the stories but they don’t know our truth just a sugar coated fabricated mess of words told from the so called heroes mouth. leland” she placed her hand on his shoulder. “ya know I wouldn’t ask ye tae do somethin’ like this when. but i know that the longer we keep this up, the less they’ll suspect us. I don’t want us tae stop bein’ pirates, nevah, and i don’t think we could. i won’t let them change that. i’m not ‘ere tae ruffle feathers, although we should ‘ave fun with while we can. i want tae get us tae our goal and i know we will if we keep up what we ‘ave.”

if leland believed in fate, he would have listened to the people that claimed that he only followed harriet around because his father had done the same for hers. they both knew that their surnames had little to do with the loyalty they shared with each other. fate was inconsequential to pirates that lived by their own rules. “aye, he be more but only by so much.” he shrugged. it might be years, if ever, before leland truly respected his father. calm and composed. tamed is what the teacher had meant. the thought made the male laugh because he could only imagine what they would have to say if they ever got the chance to see his captain’s anger. he settled when she placed a hand on his shoulders and they locked eyes, hanging off each of her words as if they were spoken treasure. “and ye know how i trust ya. i can play the long game fer as long as ye say because i know yer gonna be the one tae get us back home. our real home.”