𝘈𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘻 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴

OT8 | Pirate AU

The ship swayed from side to side as the ship's captain stared off at the starry sky. It was quiet. Peaceful. Sighing, the captain got up and walked up the flight of stairs that led to the helm. He sat beside the helm, taking in a deep breath. Was his lack of sleep worth the decision he made that night?

The next morning, the cook woke before the others to prepare breakfast. However, he wasn't exactly the first one to wake up. It was the captain, which the cook expected. "Good morning, captain Hongjoong," he smiled, looking up at Hongjoong who was steering the ship.

"Ah, good morning, Wooyoung. What's for breakfast?" Hongjoong smiled back, his eyes showing the lack of sleep clearly.
"Captain, you didn't sleep last night either, did you?" Wooyoung's smile faded as he asked that question. He was looking directly into Hongjoong's eyes.
"I couldn't help it... I was caught up with something."
"Something? And what exactly might that be?" Wooyoung asked, his curiosity getting the best of him. 
"I was thinking I'd talk about it with everyone after breakfast," Hongjoong said, exhaling a chuckle.
"Alright, then."
"Wooyoung? Send Seonghwa to my cabin when he wakes up," Hongjoong said before Wooyoung nodded and went to the galley. 

+++

Knocking on the captain's cabin door, Seonghwa yawned, rubbing his eyes. The sleepy pirate heard a faint 'Come in, Hwa!' he walked inside, closing the door behind him. Seonghwa saw the captain looking at a few maps and sat in the vacant seat in front of his desk. 
"Good morning, Seonghwa. Slept well?"
Seonghwa nodded after processing what Hongjoong said. "I did. Wooyoung said you called?"

"Indeed, I did. And I have something important to say. You're going to be the first one to know so listen up, Seonghwa. You're my second-in-command and one of my best friends. What do you think about... a new crewmate? I've been thinking about this for almost a week now, Seonghwa, and I think it's time to tell the others too. What do you think?" Hongjoong said, looking at Seonghwa.

Seonghwa's sleepy aura vanished as he heard the words 'new crewmate.' "Captain... Are you certain? A hundred percent?"
"A thousand percent, Seonghwa. I have the advantages written down."
Seonghwa knew the captain was fully prepared for every obstacle he would face in this decision. "I... Okay. You're the captain, you have everything planned out. And you have the plan B?"
"I have a plan B for everything, Hwa."

After breakfast, everyone was taken aback by the announcement. Some were okay with it, but San and Jongho were... not taking the news very well.
"We've been eight for five years!" Jongho said to the captain.
"Well, it's time for us to begin now!" Hongjoong said.
"What if he turns us in?" San looks at Hongjoong.
"Keel haul," Hongjoong smiles innocently as if the word wasn't a horrific punishment involving being dragged under the ship.
Judging by those responses, the crew knew there was no way to change the captain's mind. Hongjoong was a man of his word, and he always did what he said. 

"Alright! Everything's been settled. Yunho, my cabin, now," Hongjoong said, walking into his cabin as Yunho followed. "Here," the captain said, handing Yunho a map. "Nearest island is...?"
"Ushio Bay, to the southwest, Captain."
Hongjoong nodded, rushing to the helm. "To Ushio Bay, crew!"

It took two days to arrive at Ushio Bay. They were finally at their destination as Hongjoong let down the accommodation ladder. "One by one, crew!" Hongjoong shouted.
Wooyoung sprinted towards the fruit and vegetable stalls, dragging Mingi along. "I'm going to be back soon, Captain!" 
Hongjoong chuckled at the younger pirate before getting off the ship. "Tell me if you find anyone who looks good to be in the crew, okay?"

Yeosang wasn't exactly...searching for a crewmate. He was searching for the restroom which he successfully found. 

He used the restroom and as soon as he got out, he heard a few noises in a nearby area. It was the cackling of a young boy and a girl. He thought it must've been some children playing around but then he heard the faint noise of swords clinking, he ran back looking at the scenario from afar. There was a girl, fighting a boy with a sword. "Oh, that ring is mine soon!" the girl laughed, defending herself with a blunt blade.