Here there be pirates

Chapter 3

Alfred and Matthew spent the next 7 hours hiding in the kitchen with Roderich and Feliciano, learning of the rest of the crew. Other than the pirates they had already seen, there was Ludwig, who was Gilbert’s little brother and the navigator. He was stocky, unscarred and stubborn as an ox. Often found in a black best top and black pants, the German navigator was always an intimidating presence but Feliciano assured them that he was a soft touch at heart. Roderich had been a true pirate once, Gilbert told them when he came back to affectionately annoy the cook, had his own ship and all but things happened and it all became too much for him. However, he hated not being at sea so when he met the young Captain and his rag-tag band, he offered to join them. Gilbert and Ludwig joined soon after, broke and hungry, looking for work. Feliciano had a more complex story. His brother and himself were born on Roderich’s ship and grew up there. When Roderich’s first mate mutinied, Lovino (the older of the Italian brothers) stood with the mutineers. Roderich was thrown off the ship and Feliciano followed him.

“Who was the mutinous first mate?” asked Alfred and he watched as Roderich’s violet eyes hardened.

“His name is Antonio Carriedo. He is the Captain of the ‘Bloody Isabella’, our rival ship.” Then, a rather flamboyant pirate waltzed in who was unknown to the American and the Canadian. He wore a foppish hat with a red feather embedded in fit; his overcoat was embroidered with pearls and his thigh-high boots shone with polish.

“Ah, bonjour. Roderich, sweetheart, who are these fine-looking boys?”

“Hands away, you lecher. This is Alfred and Matthew. They’re fishermen. Boys, this is Francis, our negotiator.” The Frenchman shot Matthew a disarmingly charming grin and Alfred felt the need to stand in front of his furiously blushing brother until Roderich rolled his eyes and shooed the other pirate away.

“Francis isn’t so bad,” confided Feliciano as the Austrian tried to get said man out of the kitchen. “He just smiles and tries to get girls a lot…”

“What about the Scottish dude?” asked Alfred and Gilbert replied from the box he was sat on.

“Alistair? Eh, he’s a bit rough, bit rugged around ze edges, even for a pirate. Ze Kep’n’s Großer bruder. He’s a gute fighter zhough.”

“And the Welshman and the Irishman are the Captain’s brothers too?” asked Matthew in his soft voice.

“Ja, zhey vere adopted at birzh like Luddy und I. Alistair, Will, Arthur und Finnigan Kirkland.”

“All good men,” confirmed Roderich as he walked back over. Alfred found his mind wandering back to the glimpse of the Captain he had seen. Black eye patch, rough sea-worn cheeks and one vivid acid green eye. He didn’t quite know what to think of the man but he fascinated him.

“We should get you two something more suitable to wear…” mused Roderich as he eyed up the two brothers’ light sailor’s clothing. “Gilbert, is there some old clothes in the store cupboard?”

“Um, ja, I zhink so. I’ll go get them.” The albino nodded and disappeared out of the room as Francis snuck back inside, however the flamboyant Frenchman merely perched quietly on a box. A few minutes later, the Prussian stumbled back in with an armful of clothes, dumping them on the floor.

“Here. You can change in ze back.” Waving a hand, the albino showed the two boys a back room where they could get changed. After ten minutes, Alfred hoped out, looking very dashing in a blue shirt, long black jacket and blue stripy bandana. His black pants clung to his legs and Gilbert wolf-whistled playfully before kissing Roderich’s cheek as if to prove who he really liked. Then Matthew came out. The little Canadian seemed to have gotten confused because he had managed to put on a rather attractive white dress. The minute he stepped out, Francis squealed and began fussing over him, complimenting him in excitable French. Alfred could have died from embarrassment, especially when his little brother began flushing and accepting the compliments. When Matthew had struggled out of the lacy death-trap and remerged dressed in sharp black pants and a tight-fitting green and white striped shirt with a matching bandana, Alfred grinned and Francis swooned.

“You both look excellent,” chuckled Roderich and Feliciano grinned.

“Welcome to the crew, ve!”