Kidnap

19

Hongjoong needed to address his wayward crew. They thought he did not know the whispers they shared at night? What daft morons. He knew everything that happened on this ship...everything. For them to think they could speak in such ways about him just because he was not there? Questioning his decisions? Trying to figure out his reasons? When was that theirs to know? At least Yeosang was smart enough to know why he was doing what he was, but even then, they should not have been speaking of this to begin with. Hongjoong was going to have to...talk to them about it. Unfortunately he could not very well punish each member in one day...that would leave too many out of commission. They did still need to be taught a lesson, though, and Hongjoong felt a bit of solid fear would do the trick. After all, they all should have known better anyways. 

"Mingi," Hongjoong shouted, "Get the crew together." The tone gave everything they needed to know how serious he was, and that it was an order to do so immediately. Hongjoong felt...well more invigorated than he had in a while. Seonghwa had been a part of the group for a bit now, and he was more than happy to remind the crew who was the boss here. Oh, Seonghwa's kidnapping had been a highlight of things, but this? This was going to be something new. 

"You called," Came Yunho's placid voice, and Hongjoong redirected his attention down, where everyone was gathered, some shifting nervously. It had, after all, been a while since the last time he had commanded everyone get together like this, they had a reason to be worried. The last time he had done so he had told them they were kidnapping a royal. They were lucky that it just had not been that big of a job. Honestly, Hongjoong had expected it to be much more difficult, but it had not been, leaving him still slightly baffled by that. 

"Ah, yes, Yunho, I did, I have...some concerns about the attitude of the crew as of late." He saw how certain members tensed more so than others. Yeosang seemed relatively relaxed, but that was because it was Yeosang. Hongjoong was going to go easier on him just in general, because he had warned the crew against doing what they had done either way. Still, the other had participated in the gossip nonetheless, and would have to be reprimanded as everyone else. "It has come to my attention that, some, of you have decided you seem to know better than me!" Hongjoong placed his hand on his chest, staring at them all, individually, really garnering the severity of what he was dealing with now. "Talking about me behind my back, questioning my decisions, my choices, theorizing," Here he laughed, unable to stop himself. "About what I am doing, now...I am certain you all are more than well aware how this can be taken as mutiny. Yes?" 

"I tried to warn them, Captain," Yeosang said softly, his eyes downcast. Hongjoong hummed softly, nodding.

"Yes, you did, but when that failed, Yeosang, please inform me...what did you do?"

"I wasn't trying to..." 

"What. Did. You. Do?" Hongjoong restated, his fingers toying with the handle of his whip now. "I see, no answer, because you know as well as I do that once you failed in insisting they stop talking about it, because it would get them into trouble, you joined in the gossip." Hongjoong paced in front of the crew slowly, evenly, ensuring that what he was saying got through their thick skulls. "You will all be punished, not all in one day, as I cannot afford to have you all out of commission at once, but over the course of this week, you will each take your individual punishments, and these will be met out by the ones who did the most instigating of rumors and gossip, and plied the most for the conversation, Yeosang...you...Despite the fact that you participated, and then informed the group, and then, had quite a bit of dealings with the rumors, will not be whipped, instead you are charged with cleaning the entire ship top to bottom for the next several days. I want it Spotless." Hongjoong growled, leveling a dark glare onto Yeosang. "Do you understand," 

"Yes, thank you captain." By now it was not just Yeosang who had their eyes politely downcast, but the entire crew. They knew what was coming, because Hongjoong had never entertained gossip before. They should have known and prepared for this, but they had gotten lax and had believed themselves safe. Hongjoong would rend that feeling of safety from their fingertips and rip it apart. 

"The rest of you will take turns, some will be having a longer session with my gorgeous," Hongjoong purposefully fingers the delicate leather of his whip and watched as several of them flinched. "Because you are more at fault, but the rest, make no mistake, will be punished in this matter." 

"Yes, Captain," came the chorus of replies. 

"Since it has already come to your attention, Yeosang was correct-yet another reason why he is not being whipped-I do intend to make Seonghwa a member of this crew. A final middle finger to the face of the King who wronged me. He also is quite a beauty," hongjoong smiled and looked into the eyes of his crew. "I do not want to hear about this sort of thing happening again. We will gather again once all of you have served your penances, to ensure that you are aware of the severity of what you have done. As for the first. Yunho, step up to the post please. Yeosang, tie him in place." The crew shuddered as both moved to do as told. Hongjoong allowed Yunho his shirt, and gave him a quick, but brutal, three lashes. He had not even cried out, something which did-as always-impress Hongjoong. 

"You did not truly become a part of the mutiny, but, you were close enough. Take this as a lesson, yes? You will allow them to heal naturally, no pain medicine or creams." Yunho nodded, his body shivering with how close he had come to a more vicious punishment. He avoided looking at San and Wooyoung, who undoubtedly were going to be having the worst of everyone.