Starter for @daniellecountessofderby
The truth about piracy, the honest, hard truth about it, is that it is not all supernatural adventures into the great unknown, it's not all piles of gold and silver, and it's not always about free men sailing free waters doing as they please when they please, with no king or law beyond what they've chosen for themselves telling them how to behave. While that is all, indeed, a part of it, the larger part is far more mundane, and far more grim: Pirates, like any other man on the face of the earth, are simply trying to survive. Some might condemn their choices in how they go about it, but the truth of it is, most feel it better to die standing than to live on their knees.
But because things are not always sea goddesses and trips to the afterlife, and not always fantastical amounts of treasure hidden away, more practical pursuits of prey are more often than not the norm. Such is the case this bright, fine morning, where a ship containing not silver or gold, but practical goods, happened to wander into the sights of the Pearl. It's been a bit of a rough spot, with the actual quarry they've been waiting on being delayed, and they're beginning to run low on supplies. Not enough that dolphin and sea turtle is starting to sound appetising, but enough so that hardtack is featuring more often than not in things of a decidely soupy nature, as a filler. So it's voted upon, and decided, that some of the munitions will go to capturing it and relieving it of its more useful things, and if the crew itself doesn't fight too terribly hard, they'll be allowed to go on their way, hobbled without the mainmast.
It's a bloody fair deal.
Hector at least feels that way, as he crosses the gangplank onto the disabled ship, gunpowder still thicker than fog in the air, the smell of cordite heavy around both ships, as the other crew is being secured by his own. Chain shot has taken care of that pesky mast, and the deck itself is littered with splinters as long as his arm. He's pleased, as well, the damage the Pearl has sustained is far less severe, easily repairable while still remaining to sea, even if he's known she wouldn't escape completely unscathed. It typically doesn't happen that she does, and small repairs are a constant aboard a vessel that recieves far less reprieve than a standard merchant ship or ship of the line.
Some of the crew disappears below, to secure what useful cargo they have and start transferring it. It's all very standard, really, there's no need for shouting orders for this bit of it, since every man present as a pirate knows just what to do. It makes things go a bit smoother, in honest estimation.
"You lot know what's happening, I wager, so we'll make this quick." This is addressed to members of the captured ship. "We're taking what be useful to us, and you'll be free to carry on, as long as you behave yourselves. Now, if there be anyone here that disagrees with it, let 'im speak, so we can make an example of you."
