you and me and the devil makes three

[Wesley deGrey]

Yes, Elliot did know more than Helene ever bothered to share with him. It was wrong to feel hurt by it, to feel in any way offended...but it did bother him. If only because this all proved to him that he wasn't enough to earn her trust. All he had wanted that night was to remain a part of her life, to help her overcome that fear. And now, he was finding out that it was possibly her father. Wesley just couldn't fathom how the man could ever be a threat to him, but she would not say. And the more Elliot told him, the more his anger began to boil, and at no one on this ship. “The scar on her arm, the bruised ribs…” he was murmuring to himself mainly, recalling what little he could. She hadn’t just fallen, had she?

Pray he never saw Lord Roquefort's face again...

Fingers curled into his palms, clenching so tight that his nails were close to drawing blood. In a way, he wished he didn't care. He wished he could ignore everything that had even happened and let her handle this on her own since she was so adamant about doing so. At the same time, he still couldn't help because she kept shoving him away. She would draw him in with those eyes, only to shoot him down and make him feel horrible for what he was. He didn't care that she was "protecting him". She didn't have the faith in him to try, and that was what infuriated him.

Suddenly, he was being shoved into that seat and a generous amount of whiskey was set in front of him. Wesley glared at it as if he was going to deny it...but he knew he needed it. He needed something to calm his nerves and just dumb his brain so that maybe he would stop thinking about this. About her. Maybe he could forget her face and that she was literally on the damn ship, and he could drink himself into a stupor and just sleep the day away. Then, he wouldn't have to face any of it.

He'd already taken two generous swigs of the drink, unable to pace himself, when Elliot was talking again. 'What she said is a load of horse shite.' Oh, he knew that. Deep down he knew it, but it didn't change anything. Wes knew the weight of responsibilities, but even still. 'Out of any of the lasses ye coulda picked...' "Don't," he said the one word in warning. He didn't want to hear any of that horse shite. He didn't want anymore hope because he had beaten it to death and buried it weeks ago. He was done.

Then he blinked. "Mari?" He said the woman's name in quiet alarm. Marinette wasn't the type to get into any sort of trouble, from what he knew. And that was just it, he couldn't know, because he wasn't allowed to know, because Helene was keeping everything to herself. So when Elliot fixed him with that look again, he already downed the rest of the whiskey, wincing slightly before he glared at him with his own look, "I. Don't. Know. Haven't you been listening? She wouldn't tell me anythin', so how the fuck am I supposed to know?!"

Well, guess that attitude returned.

[Shane O'Sullivan]

He just sighed softly. Although he didn't know this woman, a part of him already felt like he did, if only because he had heard about her so much from Elliot and then Wesley. He wanted to help her, but he didn't know whose life his advice would truly destroy.

Drifting over to the railing, he casually leaned against it as she began to talk again, his arms crossing over his chest in thought. There was something she wasn't saying, and it was that very thing she wouldn't tell Wesley either, he gathered. It was why the man was on such a short fuse these days when he was often nothing but laughs and smiles. Shane couldn't remember the last time he'd been this way. Perhaps it was when he'd lost his father...but that was a pain you moved on from, because you had no choice. It wasn't the same when the person was still alive to haunt your dreams. Or show up on your ship.

"No doubt," he said, knowing she was also miserable. Any fool could see it. Shane brushed his fingers along the short beard on his chin as he contemplated what to say. "I...agree with you, my lady. I may not know why, exactly, you are doing it, but...somehow, I get it." Sorry, mate...I can't lie about this. "At the same time, though-" A pause, he glanced down to the lower deck as if making sure the sailor wasn't suddenly emerging from Elliot's office. "I know Wesley. When he wants something...he often gets it. Because he doesn't stop. Whatever ails you, if he hears even a tiny whisper of it, he won't let go." So, was he telling her to stand her ground, if she truly believed that would keep him safe? Maybe. It hurt, but he couldn't say that he wouldn't do the same. It was why he became a sailor. It was why he forced himself not to become attached. Eithne died because of love- it was the thought he always went back to.

[Elliot Walsh]

Elliot tilted his head as he looked at Kit. Processing what his hunch might be. There was quiet alarm about her sister, Elliot could only assume Mari knew him as well, and then that attitude returned. Quick as lighting, Elliot reached across the desk and flicked Kit hard in the forehead. “She may not be telling ye with words, so use your damn eyeballs. What ha’v ye seen? And don’t ye be takin tha’ tone with me lad, or I’ll give ye a ripe ole beating on how ta talk ta yer elders.” He growled. He wasn’t going to put up with this attitude for much longer if at all. He didn’t like this side of Kit. He was a mean one and it didn’t suit him.

He sat back in the seat, quietly brooding of his own. He let a sigh out, and tilted his head to the side again. His gaze softening a bit. “I’m sorry lad…” he said very quietly. “I don’ thin’....I don’ think she’d be doin this ta ye if she didn’ care a great deal fer ye.” The sailor didn’t know what much to say after that and puffed a few times on his pipe. Watching Kit before he slowly began to stand. “Ye know….Siren's stubborn, but I thought ye were the stubbornest fool I’ve ever met. Been that way since you were wee laddy. Getting whatever ye set yer mind on.” He began to walk to the door. “Since when did ye let anyone tell ye no, when it was something ye really wanted?”

He looked over his shoulder, arching an eyebrow at him. “Especially when yer gut is tellin’ ye somethin’ is wrong.” He took another puff of the pipe before he started to walk out of office.

[Helene Hewitt]

Helene didn’t know whether to feel worse or better that someone could tell why she was doing it. She had to protect Wesley from her father. He was to much a loose cannon, and if he ever had enough alcohol he might be crazy enough to go after a deGrey. The wrong deGrey. Helene didn’t have to think that hard on it. Davide so much as looked at Wesley maliciously or harmed a hair on his head she would kill him. Before Mari and her had a chance to face him.

Her knuckles turned white from how tightly she was gripping the spokes. She glanced over at Shane, a sad smile appearing on her face. “Why do you think I haven’t told him anything?” She said. She knew Wesley would do whatever it took to help her. She’d seen it when she first met him. He was not the type to back down from a challenge. He would do whatever he could to get what he wanted. There was a small pang in her chest that he hadn’t tried harder. She’d been so close to telling him in that ballroom. If only he’d have bushed her a little further, her walls would have come crumbling down and she’d have confessed what she did. How angry she’d made her father. The danger Marinette and Helene were in if she couldn’t marry and keep the house, and even then….if she did marry Mari would have to go back to him. It was improper for a lady to live with her married sister. That thought had her nearly panicked. Mari would have have to go back to him after Helene had angered him...he was going to kill her. He would kill her if given the chance.

Her breathing slowly began to pick up as these thoughts began to race through her head and could feel the dread setting in. She was getting backed into a corner with no current way out. Time. I have time. She did, albeit a little. But hopefully it would be enough to give her time on how to protect Marinette, or else Helene was putting them both on a boat and sailing away from Tresteria

“He’s not the only one that can be as stubborn as a mule.” She said with a small smirk, thought it didn’t reach her eyes as she pulled herself from those dark thoughts. She wasn’t about to tell Shane that Wesley had already started to crack her.

“So where are we going? All I got was it was a day trip.” She asked changing topics to a much more pleasant topic. Her eyes drifted down towards the stairs wondering where Elliot had gone and if he was going to just make her drive them the entire way there.

[Shane O'Sullivan]

Misery loves company, or however that saying went. He was just thankful that she didn't ask him about why he agreed with her, especially against his friend. Still, her statement had him grinning faintly. Yes, she needed to keep whatever it was from Wesley, but he couldn't help but wonder how long that would last. The man said he had given up and was trying to put it all past him...but Shane knew better than to believe it. He was just waiting for everything to completely boil over, and now there was no escape. They were all trapped on this boat.

Had that been Elliot's plan? Make everyone else suffer so that these two could figure out their issues? Thanks, old man…

"Oh, I've already noticed…" he commented about her being stubborn. His smile spread a little wider across his face, if only to try and lighten the mood. Wesley had vented and complained about the woman's stubbornness, as if the sailor didn't realize just how stubborn he was as well. If it weren't sad underneath, it would have been something to laugh about.

His gaze set ahead of them when she asked where they were going. "There's a smaller port on the other side of the island. We find it easier to drop supplies off this way instead of loading up carts and driving them. Take less time and resources this way."

[Wesley deGrey]

"Ow! Hey!" Wesley flinched with that flick against his forehead, unable to lean back fast enough to avoid it. "I haven't seen much, alright?! I met her father once, briefly...and I could tell he was a lying snake. She claimed she fell against the stairs on Yule, and I just-" Although he stopped saying it, Elliot would know what he was insinuating. But Helene hadn't told him anything. No matter how much he had asked, she avoided telling him the truth. She avoided telling him as much as she possibly could.

'I don’ think she’d be doin this ta ye if she didn’ care a great deal fer ye.' Wes actually rolled his eyes, despite how just hearing that made him feel. No, he couldn't go there again, he couldn't let those emotions resurface because he wouldn't be able to walk away this time. Two weeks later and he had only gotten slightly over it. "Well, it doesn't matter," he replied, trying to keep his tone even in case it betrayed him or he let that attitude slip again. "That damn ship has already sailed. She told me to go. She let me go, Elliot." He was lying, because it did matter a whole lot. And it hurt like a son-of-bitch. Knowing she was above deck wasn't helping any of this either.

He almost didn't realize Elliot was getting up and walking away, perhaps to finally allow him to just wallow in his anger and regret. But he was reminding him of who he was. Yes, he was stubborn. Yes, he often got whatever he set his sights on because he fought until he got it, no matter what it was, no matter the cost. If it was worth it to him, Wesley didn't stop until it was in his grasp.

'Since when did ye let anyone tell ye no, when it was something ye really wanted?'

And he really wanted her. A part of him always knew it from the very moment they met. She was like that missing piece he was always unknowingly searching for, she was the thorn in his side and yet this other half of his soul. Hers was the face he saw when he shut his eyes and the one he wished he could see when he woke up every morning. She was this enigma, this delight to be around. She was just as stubborn and just as insufferable. But he still wanted her. And he'd never wanted anything this badly before.

His expression had sobered, saddened as he watched Elliot leave. Something was wrong...and she couldn't deal with it alone. He couldn't allow her to. Yet, he remained seated there for a long moment, fighting with himself, remembering everything she had said to him. He was a sailor, she said. He would always be leaving her.

But he would always come back, too.

Suddenly, Wesley was shooting up out of that seat and rushing for the door. Boots were heavy upon the wooden boards of the deck as he searched the crew for her face. He was becoming frantic before a sailor pointed towards the helm and he was running up that small set of stairs to the upper deck. Helene was there at the wheel, Shane against the railing who seemed a bit startled at his sudden appearance. And Wesley didn't stop. He barely slowed down as he took her by the arm to pull her from the wheel.

Even if she protested, he didn't stop drawing her away until they were near the railing, as far to the back of the ship as they could go, with as few watching eyes as possible. Then, taking her face into his hands, Wesley kissed her. Hard and drugging and with every emotion he could muster up. Two weeks had been far too long to be mad and upset. It had been too long without her, and damn her pride.

[Elliot Walsh]

Elliot left the office cabin, walking out onto the main deck. Wanting Kit to have some time to himself to think things over about what he’d been told. Helene was a stubborn one, and from what he knew of her she didn’t like to ask for help. Wesley, if he pulled his head out of his arse, was going to have to give her the help she needed whether she asked for it or not. Or...something. He didn’t like this. This...feeling that there was more going on in Siren’s life than he knew about. I need some advice… What sort of advice did she need? And what was this about her husband being dead? I’m not sorry. That just...didn’t sit well with him.

He was going to get to the bottom of things. Now that he knew Kit already knew Siren, maybe he’d get a better understanding of her life. He could finally help her like he’d been wanting to do for years. He just needed a name. He just needed to know her father's name, and then Elliot would do what he used to do best. Make people disappear at the bottom of oceans. Because no one touched those he considered family. Especially a sleazy bastard that was causing problems for his Siren.

He did slow a intake of what everyone was doing on deck and then went over to talk to one of the deck hands. After a few minutes he’d make his way slowly back to where he’d left Helene and Sully.

[Helene Hewitt]

Shane’s wide smile at her being stubborn, only caused a smile to grow on her face while she continued to look out at the ocean. Hearing what they were doing. “That’s actually pretty smart.” She said a bit impressed. And It was both efficient and practical. Why make life harder than you had to if you could do it the easy way?

Because apparently Helene liked to make things difficult and do them the hard way. Correction, she wanted to do them herself. Without help, because that was the only way she was getting through life currently. By handling things on her own. She’d asked for help when she was far younger. Had finally told someone what her father was doing, shortly after her mother died, and the man had laughed at her. Didn’t believe her, and Davide Roquefort had denied every bit of. Painting an elaborate story she was a child who didn’t know what she was talking about and not to be believed.

It was the first beating her father ever gave her for doing such a thing. Going to help had consequences. Sometimes dire. The best way to do anything was doing it yourself. “So what are we-” She was about to ask what they were carrying, when Wesley was suddenly appearing. Her dark eyes went wide for a moment in surprise at seeing him. She had thought he was too busy below being angry at her, or doing whatever important thing needed his attention. He was hurrying towards her then, pulling her away from the wheel. “Wesley what are you doing?!” She asked, a bit alarmed by him pulling her away from the wheel. His hand was hot on her arm, and she tried pulling away from him. Had he gone mad? Insane? What had Elliot told him? What had happened? What was going on?!

He pulled her to the furthest they could get on a boat full of people, and before she could demand what he was doing he was taking her face in his hands and his lips crashed down on hers. Silencing her protest before they could start. A flood of emotion suddenly coursed through her. She felt like sobbing. Not realizing how much she had missed him in the two weeks they hadn’t seen each other. How much he had made her life so much more in the very brief time she knew him. It was as if a piece of her had been found, and then lost, and now was returned. Her body had a mind of its own as she melted into him. The fight instantly left her, and there was a small sigh against his lips as her hands tightened around his shirt. The other emotions she felt were terror. He shouldn't be doing this. He couldn’t. He had let her go. She had let him go, this was not letting each other go. This was holding on for dear life, afraid the other would slip through your fingers. This couldn’t be happening. She had to stick to her guns. She had to stand firm, just like Shane had implied. Wesley wasn’t going to let her go so easily, and that led to the anger that suddenly raged through her body. It was her turn to be angry. She’d tried to be polite, to be nice, to do this in a way that would be easy for them both, but...Wesley.

Wesley. Fucking. deGrey.

He was going to test her, and this was her moment to show just how much she could shove back. She abruptly shoved against him. Pushing him away, and prying her face from his hands. The rage and fire showing in her eyes. Her hand came up as if to slap him, but she’d never struck another individual in anger before aside from Davide, and she would not do it to Wesley. Instead she pointed an angry finger at him. “NO.” She all but shouted at him. Her voice firm, as she pursed her lips. “No, you don’t.” She said, clenching her jaw as her hand at her side clenched. Her knuckles turned white. “You insufferable, impossible man, don’t you get it? How many times do I need to tell you, you have to let me go.” She said angry now. Angry that he couldn’t just do what she wanted. She could feel the beginning of tears beginning to form again, and she angrily shoved them back into their box. She used Shane’s presence as her anchor. He understood. He got it. She was doing this to protect Wesley. It was time Wesley understood that.

[Wesley deGrey]

Oh yes, he had gone mad. He was insane. And he was expecting her to fight him, argue him, maybe even hit him, but none of it mattered. He never let anything get in his way when his sights were set on something. Helene could scream at him, call him whatever names she thought suitable, tell him that running was for his own good, but he was tired of listening. She was being ridiculous, because it wasn’t just himself on this ship that would do anything for her. There were people standing in her corner, and she needed to bloody hell see it.

When he felt her give in, just for that moment as she leaned into him, accepting this, he nearly sighed happily. Yet, he should have known it would not last long. ‘Siren’s stubborn,’ Elliot had said. But no one was as stubborn as Wesley Fucking deGrey, and she was going to swiftly realize it. She was going to accept it, because damn her stupid, unselfish reasons. They weren’t going to hold any more weight.

Helene was prying herself away, shoving him back and he staggered a couple of steps. That should have hurt, should have made that sadness or anger return but neither resurfaced. He was still panting softly from the sprint up there and from that need to steal her breath away...but he watched her calmly, even as she berated him, shouting loud enough for nearly the whole ship to hear. That, and he hadn’t realized that they had all gotten quiet again, becoming aware that there was something going on up at the helm. He noticed Shane stand up straight from his lean against the railing, maybe to urge him to back down, but Wesley would ignore him as well. Everyone could be watching right now and he simply didn’t care, because those bright eyes were only on Helene.

And this was maybe when he pleaded, where he got down onto his knees and begged. Yet that wasn’t the type of man he was, despite how much he wasn’t willing to let her go. He refused. He would fight for this. He would get her to understand that she wasn’t alone. So, he took just a single step closer, his arms held out at his sides as if telling her to strike if that made her feel better. There was no smile on his face, but there was a glint in his gaze- a subtle spark of that chaos that was about to spur forth. “I don’t have to do anythin’. Actually, I flat out refuse to listen to your excuses, Helene.” His tone was surprisingly light, maybe a little mocking or joking albeit its seriousness. Wesley dared another step closer, still holding his arms out even though he just wanted to gather her up in them tightly. “I know that you want me.” There it was, just a hint of that wry, arrogant smile. “I know there are things that I do not know or understand with why you keep trying to push me away...but I will not just forget you.” Another small step closer, his arms began to lower back down to his sides. “You will have to literally tear out my heart and destroy it, Helene...because that is what it feels like to try and leave you.”

Any of the soft amusement drifted away then as he got as close as she would allow at that point; his voice dropping so only she could hear. “I have never wanted something…so badly before. You’re like this crazed obsession, an addiction I can’t quit, and a part of me ached, felt like it would die when I thought about having to let you go.” All of that seriousness had returned and he was clenching his jaws again, trying to keep his composure. “You...don’t have to tell me anythin’ right now. Just think about it, realize that you have people here beside you, that would do anythin’ for you. Just…” Wesley sighed, reaching for one of her hands to hold it against his rapidly beating heart. “Be with me. Right now just be with me. Forget the rest of the world.”

[Helene Hewitt]

Shane hadn’t been kidding. Wesley was merciless. Holding nothing back, as he tried to get it through her skull he wasn’t going anywhere. He wasn’t going to let her go. She made herself take a step back, but her back hit the railing, preventing her from going anywhere as he took that step closer. She shot daggers with her eyes at him. Her jaw clenched harder. “They’re not excuses, it’s the truth you idiot!” She all but screamed at him. Her fear of him getting hurt because of her was coming back tenfold, fueling the anger she felt, Fueling the panic. He wasn’t getting it, and he needed too. He had too. “Please, Wesley. This is serious, you need to let me go.” She tried to tell him.

She could feel herself breaking, and there was a small whimper as he said he knew she wanted him. Throwing that arrogant smile of his at her even if it was brief. Damn him. Damn him! She willed herself to get that iron heart out again. Not allowing him in. She couldn’t let him in, despite how much he was already. She forced her eyes closed, standing there. Not looking at him. She couldn’t. She couldn’t look at him. She forced herself to take deep breaths. Forcing herself to try and block out what he was saying, and her hands clenched down at her sides.

She couldn’t keep her eyes closed and she opened them to find him standing closer, his attention only on her. If he had said this at the ball she would have broken. She would have fallen apart and told him everything. But it’d been two weeks. And in those two weeks she’d forced herself to accept this. She’d made her choice. She had to stick to her guns. She would not break. She couldn’t.

He was really testing her resolve. Throwing the feelings that she shared towards him, putting them into words and saying them to her. She nearly buckled, and as the humor left his voice, and he spoke quietly, she could feel herself crumbling. Clinging to her anger, willing it to stay. Not letting him melt it away. She tried backing up more but the railing just digged more into her back.

Her dark eyes pleaded with him silently. “Wes, stop.” she whispered, so quietly, trying to interrupt him but he continued. Making her chest feel like it was caving in all over again. Being ripped open as he wrapped his hand around her heart, and squeezed it. He was taking her hand and placing it over his heart. She could feel the rapid beating of it, and her fingers curled into his shirt. Gripping it tightly. She wanted to argue. To scream more at him. She was giving him a stern look, shaking her head at him, she couldn’t. This would just make it all the more harder. She couldn’t tell him, but there was that selfish part of her wanting to do as he asked. To just forget everything and spend this time with him. The Hewitts and her father were on the island. They were on the ocean. They weren’t there. She wanted to hide from her problems for once. To hide from them with him. He wasn’t asking her to tell him. Just to think about it. To realize she had people willing to help, even if she didn’t want to accept it. Be with me. Right now, just be with me. Forget the rest of the world.

She raised her other fist, Bringing it up and hit him in the chest, but it landed pathetically against him as the last bit of her anger and fight went out of her. Her night of Yule had been ruined. Not getting what she’d originally wanted from it. To enjoy his company, and his presence. To enjoy him one last time before they couldn’t any more. Well...This day would be her day full of nothing but Wesley. And if she had to rip his heart out later that night she would. As much as it would hurt her, she would. Until then, she was going to be selfish.

“You, stupid, jerk.” She growled, smacking him again. Trying to fight the tears, trying to fight the hope back. She knew this was a bad idea. It was a very bad idea. “You can’t- You can’t tell me such things.” She whispered angrily. Clearly upset with him, as both hands fisted into his shirt. “Or else, I'm going to be selfish.” She hissed at him. “One day.” Her dark eyes looked into his, with the quiet promise she’d made with herself. She’d allow this one day. “Damn you.” Her voice broke then as she couldn’t fight it anymore. The anger she felt towards him disappeared and instead there was that desperation, that need. That ache that had been haunting her for two weeks.

Damn had she missed him.

Helene fisted his shirt with both hands before she was yanking him forward. Giving in just a little. Needing him once more. She was his addiction, and he was hers. She stood up on her tiptoes, slanting her lips against his before her hands were on his face, holding him to her while she kissed him fiercely. Needing him to know how much she had missed him in those weeks they’d been apart.

[Elliot Walsh]

The old sailor had done his best in knocking heads together to get everyone back to work despite the rather heated scene up by the helm. There was work to be done, by everyone. He’d made his way up the steps, seeing Helene whispering angrily at Wesely while the two of them stood by the railing. He looked over to Shane arching an eyebrow before he caught Helene yanking Kit down to her. His bushy brows climbed his forehead in surprise, before he was looking at Shane again. The surprise was clear on his face. He cleared his throat, nearly shouting at the two to get a room, but then realized how terrible of an idea that would be. The two were smooching like a sailor and his lady had just been reunited after being away from each other for six months at sea. Clearly he was going to have to forbid them from going to the captains quarters by themselves.

He cleared his throat a bit louder, and then sighed, rolling his eyes. “Oi! Love birds!” He raised his voice in hoping to break the spell that the two were trapped in. “There’s werk ta be done! Ye didn’ thin’ I’d just let ye stand around lookin’ pretty now did ye?” He asked, walking over, placing a hand on Kits shoulder to pull him back. “Yer about as bad as a bunch o’ teenagers…” He grumbled. “Ye want ta sail lass, we’ll show ye how to sail. Stay above deck and stay away from yer quarters boy.” Elliot looked at Helene, and then gave a pointed look at Kit. “Off ta werk wit ye, scoot! Shoo!” Elliot waved them off. Giving them both a stern, but slightly amused look. Clearly pleased they weren’t at least angry at one another.

[Wesley deGrey]

His heart wouldn't stop pounding, and there was a long moment where he really thought she was going to deny him. He really feared that she would stand her ground and break him all over again. There was slight panic and that heart was beginning to beat erratically, climbing up into his throat. But he stood his ground, even as she hit him, even as she pleaded with him to stop and let her go. Wesley stood strong, knowing he had to, knowing she would eventually have to buckle and give in. Whatever had her so scared was no doubt serious...but so was his affections and desire to keep her in his life. He might have grinned, might have slightly joked, but this was the most serious he had ever been. Wesley intended on fighting this darkness that loomed over her...he just needed time. He needed to coax the truth out of her, prove that he could weather whatever storm she worried would consume him.

'You stupid jerk.' "Aye, I am," he confessed quietly. 'You can't tell me such things.' "But I have to..." he would add just as quietly after. Wesley was trying not to smile as she curled her fingers into his shirt, knowing he was winning this, even if momentarily. "One day," he repeated. Oh, he knew what she meant by that...but to him, he had one day to further persuade her. He was determined more than ever now.

Pulled forward, he managed to still be surprised when she drew him in for a kiss. Arms were instinctively wrapping around her, securing her against him while he returned that kiss with the same desperation from before. He had completely forgotten where they were, that there were probably eyes on them...yet he didn't care. She was there, she was bringing that smile back to his face, that wonderfully warm sensation throughout his entire body even against the chilled air. If she had allowed, he would have remained there like this all day; lost in the warmth of her, in the taste of her lips...

Except, Elliot wasn't going to allow it.

Wesley hadn't heard the obvious clearing of his throat or even the man's words. It wasn't until he was physically being pulled from Helene did he realize there had been a bit too much public display of affection. Apparently. Not that he cared. It'd take him a moment to gather his bearings and his wits before he was grinning like a fool at the old man. He could have made a lot of comments, but he didn't feel like dying today. "Aye, aye, cap'n," he murmured, giving him an exaggerated salute. Well, at least Kit was back to his usual self. Elliot may soon wonder if that was going to be such a good thing or not.

Ready to head down the steps, something on the shore caught his attention. “Wait! Throw the anchor!” he announced. Some of the crew scrambled, confused. Technically, Elliot was the captain. Wesley just owned the company. They always struggled with which one to actually listen to sometimes, and sometimes Wes did it just for fun. This time, however, he actually meant it. “Seriously, I need to make a stop!” He couldn’t suppress the grin creasing his face. “Just for an hour.”

“Really, mate? That’s all?” Shane added in humor, about to insinuate something.

Steps carried Wesley back over to Elliot (jabbing Sully in the arm on the way) so that he could lean in and speak only to him. “Just an hour, I promise. I need...time. I need to convince her.” If he had to beg the old man, well...he would.

[Helene Hewitt]

Like Wesley, Helene hadn’t heard the clearing of Elliots throat, or anything else that wasn’t Wesley. He tasted slightly of whiskey and she wondered how much he’d had to drink, but he didn’t appear drunk and it didn’t make her want to kiss him any less. It wasn’t until Wesley was suddenly getting pulled away that she remembered where they were and her face turned bright red as she stood there. Unable to look Elliot In the eye. She let Wesley go and stood there awkwardly as Elliot gave his orders. Turning redder that they were to stay away from the captains quarters.

She peaked a glance at Wesley who seemed to be in a far better mood than before and she could feel that ache in her chest again. She was going to have to leave him again...but later. Right now, he was hers. For the day. She could be happy with him for the day. She covered her mouth to hide the grin at the way he saluted Elliot. The look on the Old sailors face looked like he didn’t know whether to be amused or swat him. This was the first time she really got to see the two Interact. The first time she was seeing them both in their element, and it made her want to watch more, to see everything. To have her own adventures with them. Like this.

As Wesley moved towards the Stairs, Helene started to follow, but he suddenly changed his mind, and she stopped in her tracks. Her brows furrowing together. Drop anchor? “Don’t we have stuff to deliver?” She found herself asking. What could he want to drop anchor for? The grin on his face told her he was up to something. Trouble. Wesley was up to trouble. She arched a brow and looked at Elliot as Wesley elbowed Shane, and she found herself crossing her arms over her chest, a mild look of amusement on her face, while her eyes drifted over to see what he’d been looking at before his request.

“Throw Anchor!” Elliot bellowed, and she looked surprised, her eyes going to Shane for a quick second before she looked back at Wesley and Elliot. “Ye have one hour, if yer not back, I’ll leave ye, and ye can walk home.” He told him with a pointed look. Helene found herself walking over, placing her hands on Wesley’s shoulders as she leaned into him. “Have no fear, your time keeper is here, I’ll make sure he gets back safe and sound, and on time.” She said sweetly. Elliot began to chuckle then, as if what she’d said amused him greatly. “Lass, your talking about the man whose late fer everythin.” Elliot chuckled more and Helene just scoffed. “Nonsense. He’ll be on time if he knows what’s good for him.” She patted his shoulders and then turned on her heel, walking towards the stairs. “Time’s a ticking deGrey!” She called. “Where are we going?” She asked, throwing a look over her shoulder. If he thought she’d just stay put on the ship, when he’d insisted she be there with him for the day, he was wrong. Where he went, she went.

[Elliot Walsh]

If Elliot wasn’t suddenly routing for Kit to win over Siren and get her to let him help her, he might have said no. He was a man who liked to run a tight schedule, and a missed hour was going to put them home later, but they could handle it.

“Ye better be pretty persuasive wit tha’ mouth o’ yers and talk fast Kit. One hour.” Elliot whispered to him, holding a finger up at him. Helene was coming over then, ensuring they would be on time, and he couldn’t help but laugh. She had no idea what she was getting into with Kit. The Sailor Kit. Not the Lord that he could only assume she’d been used to seeing. “Aye, I’ll hold ye to it lass.” He called after her.

Elliot placed a hand on Kit’s shoulder before he could walk off and leaned in close. “Best of luck ta ye lad. She’s a tough woman to crack with her secrets. She’s gonna giv’ ye a run fer yer money.” He chuckled. Padding his shoulder. “Off wit ye, don’t git yerseves hurt! And Kit,” Elliot put on a look that would put the fear of god into any man. “She better come back in one piece, with a smile on her face.” He ordered. Nodding at him to go then.

He watched them run off then, before he turned to Shane. “I’ll bet ye she cracks before tomorrow.” He said in amusement.

[Wesley deGrey]

He had a day to convince her. Sure, he appeared pretty confident, but Wesley was sure he was going to begin panicking at some point. He just refused to allow the worry to consume him now, and he was sure that even Elliot understood the urgency. He was the one that technically caused this entire mess in the first place by "kidnapping" Helene. Elliot was an accomplice in this mission now, whether the old man liked it or not.

That smile broadened across his face as he heard the telltale sound of the clanking chain when the anchor was lowered, and Elliot was giving him a warning. "One hour," he repeated. "I'll even work overtime to make up for it." Was he drunk? No, and he probably wouldn't do any extra time, but he figured he'd toy with the idea just to make Elliot feel better. 'Ye better be pretty persuasive wit tha' mouth o' yers-' And that was all he heard as that smile curled into something far too devious. The man might suddenly regret those words. "Aye, cap'n," he said again. His arm was reaching back behind him to awkwardly embrace Helene when she was leaning against him, and he was chuckling quietly at their brief conversation.

As she turned away with that mild threat, he was still grinning. Letting his gaze wander back from her to the captain, he slapped the man on the shoulder once, heeding his words. "Do you not know me?" Taking steps backwards, his arms extended out at his sides with a look of mock offense. "C'mon now." Even Elliot’s threatening look couldn’t dampen his own expression. But his tongue pressed to the back of his teeth, like he was trying to keep that smile from widening, like he was attempting to keep his mouth from blurting out any remarks he shouldn’t. But did the captain not hear himself? “Oh...she’ll be smilin’, I assure you.” He was joking, to an extent, but he still feared he’d get hit upside the head for that insinuation so he was practically running away from him now.

As Helene descended the steps, he hopped up onto the railing to slide down the rest of the way; his boots thudding against the deck boards when he landed. He barely paused as he moved his way to one of the rowboats to lower it down. Wesley flicked his chin in the direction of the cliffs where a small waterfall cascaded over the rocks and into the sea. "On an adventure," he finally answered her. "Hope you can swim." Brows waggled slightly as another crewman helped him get the boat into the water. Wesley was climbing over the railing then to climb down the rope ladder and into the rowboat, waiting for her to follow and help her if she needed it.