The night was everything an evening on ship should be. Clear skies, calm seas, land distant flecks on the horizon close enough that they could faintly hear the cries of seabirds. The sunset had been long and gorgeous, full of oranges and pinks that gave way to darker reds and purples before disappearing into dusk. The western horizon was a glowing purple haze that slowly faded revealing more and more stars above.
The Nivalese had a strong musical tradition full of drums and guitars, and many of the new crew were amusing themselves with ribald songs and energetic tunes. A few of the older crew joined the impromptu band with Imperial instruments like harmonicas and violins. The ship felt alive with the music and dancing. She knew how to quickly integrate large numbers of new crew. Mostly it was about alcohol, and friendly contests. With the threat of pirates about, she'd denied the night's ration of rum, but there was surprisingly little grumbling from the crew. After All Souls Night, most of them were going to need a few days before they wanted to even think about alcohol again. Instead, they were promised games. As soon as the anchor was down and the evening meal was served, she'd announced the terms of the contest. It would be riggers versus swabs, in a Shuffleboard match on the deck. They pulled up the ladder ropes, chalked out a board, and Mister North brought the ship's playset up from below. Every sailor would get one toss of the disk, and they'd talley up the points at the end. Lace and Reeve were the respective team captains, and Mister North wasn't playing but was still in the thick of the action taking bets. Even Colin Strong was up on deck, sitting off to the side with a thick knot of cloth around his neck to remind him not to move his head much. He had a slate and chalk in his hands, ready to mark off points as Mister North called them out.
With the gentle rolling of the ocean spoiling many shots and moving pieces around long after they'd settled, the game was hilariously skill-less. Captain Vex sat on the steps to the aftcastle with her first mate, swirling water in her canteen and vaguely wishing it was rum. She was abstaining also. She wasn't the sort to put a limit on her crew and not follow it herself. She watched her crew roaring with laughter after someone's terrible shot suddenly entered the target circle with the help of an errant wave.
At the prow, Will, Bella, Jack, Friday, and a rather large mirror sat watching the game from the other side. Will lifted his hat, giving the captain a small salute from other side of the ship. She raised her canteen to him.
"How come she doesn't join us?" Bella asked.
"On any other night, she might. Tonight, she's still establishing the ship's pecking order. Part of that is building up her own mystique as Captain," Will explained.
"So she just sits there by herself, watching?" Bella clearly didn't understand.
"Ship's Captains all have a story to maintain. When the tides turn and luck seems down, a good legend can give a crew something to believe. That matters," Will said. He wasn't sure if he was explaining it well, but Bella seemed to accept it.
"So she's creating an illusion," Bella nodded. "That I understand."
"Is it an illusion if it's true?" Janie asked from the mirror. "From what I can tell, Captain Vex really is everything that she pretends to be."
"You might be buying the illusion," Jack smirked. "She's good, but I don't really see the point of all the pageantry."
"She is definitely putting on a show. She has been all day. Janie has a point though," Will said. "Captain Vex is what many captains pretend to be, but she knows that even though she has enough skill that she doesn't have to pretend, the illusion is still important."
"Why?" Jack asked skeptically. "Skill should stand on its own merit."
"Because of the crew," Will gestured to the rowdy crowd.
Janie nodded, understanding. "It doesn't matter what Captain Vex's skills are if the crew doesn't know about them or doesn't believe them."
"Or just doesn't respect her," Will added. "There's nothing more dependent on teamwork and strong leadership than a sailing ship. All her skill is useless without a crew that trusts her when things get bad. The older crew who have been with her a while have learned that she backs up the mystique. Their trust shows in their work and their morale. For the new crew, the illusion is a shortcut to that trust."
"Smart," Bella smiled.
"In the end, we are who we pretend to be," Friday added. Will nodded in agreement. He didn't notice Jack and Janie, who both looked uncomfortable as they thought about Friday's statement.
"That's profound," Bella smiled.
"And a bit ominous," Jack said. "Is it a quote?"
"My people have strong beliefs in the power of masks," Friday said. "From what you say, the Captain's mask is her own face. I would wager it was not always so, but she worked to become the mask she wore."
"I would not bet against that wager," Janie said. She was wearing her veil and heavy black eyeliner, but she'd forgone the lipstick and the rest of the makeup. A shawl was wrapped around her shoulders to protect her modesty, but many of the sailors' eyes were still drawn to the enigmatic beauty who's image moved inside the large mirror next to their Ship's Witch. So far, no one had asked about it, but the curiosity was clear.
"That is why we must all be careful deciding which masks we wear," Friday continued. "If we wear them long enough, we will become them."
Will's eyes were drawn to the fearsome silhouette of Reeve. The big Akula roared with encouragement and laughter, revealing a manic, sharp-toothed grin as he raised his arms in success and clapped one of his swabs on the back after a particularly lucky shot. Will decided not to think about it too hard.
A sailor with a fiddle came closer to the group and played a little more jauntily, beckoning the ladies to come join the dancing. There were other women on the crew, but like most vessels the men vastly outnumbered the women.
"Brave soul, asking a witch to dance," Jack chuckled.
"Shush," Bella said, with a small glare. "I don't get asked to dance very often. It's sweet," she got up and let the fiddle player lead her away. She looked over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out at Jack before skipping happily into the crowd. Jack smiled as she watched the witch's hips swish away.
"She wants you to join her," Will said.
"I'm sober," Jack snorted.
"All those years of dancing lessons, gone to waste," Will sighed with overblown lamentation.
"I never wanted to learn dancing anyway. I wanted to learn fencing," Jack said.
"Like all well behaved young noble women," Will grinned.
Jack waved dismissively in the direction of the dancing crew. "It's not remotely the same kind of dancing anyway. Look at them," Bella was spinning, skipping from one foot to the other rhythmically as she turned and stepped. She held, her multicolored skirts in one hand and swished and spun. Her breasts bounced and swayed beneath her blouse drawing many an eye. She was clearly enjoying the attention. With a wink and a smile she stole a tamborine from a musician and joined the music while she danced.
Jack watched Bella with a pained look on her face. She took a drink. "I wouldn't even know where to start. This is hardly waltz music."
"Teach you, I," Friday said slyly.
Jack shook her head, clearly uncomfortable with the thought. Janie laughed and raised an eyebrow. "Miss Hunter, I never would have expected you to be afraid of dancing."
Will's brows rose and his mouth formed into a silent O, enjoying Janie's polite but impressive barb. Friday looked like she was carefully avoiding having an expression, and Janie smiled slyly. Jack was too busy looking offended toward Janie to notice Will's amused look. "I just don't like dancing!" she huffed.
"It's not about the dancing, Jack," Will chuckled.
Jack turned around and gave him a confrontational look. "Oh really? Do tell."
Will gestured toward Bella. "It's about her."
Jack stared at him for a while, then her eyes narrowed. "Well played, Sterling." She stood up and pulled Friday off the bench. The doctor laughed and followed Jack into the throng of dancers.
Janie gave Will a wink. "Nicely done."
Will tipped his hat to her. "Likewise."
"How are things going with her?" Janie asked.
"Up and down. It's been really good for the most part, but there's this undercurrent to everything," WIll said.
"I've noticed she seems tense tonight. She's trying to pretend she isn't, but she's uncomfortable being around all of us. Especially you and Bella I think," Janie said, sounding a bit sad and worried.
"I agree. Most of what she's said tonight has come out a little..." Will trailed of, struggling to find the right word.
"Testy?" Janie suggested.
"That works," Will agreed. "I think we are both trying not to address the real issues, and just enjoy each other's company again," Will said.
"There's a lot in that undercurrent. Don't let it go for too long," Janie cautioned.
"Have any advice?" he asked.
"Go dance with her," Janie smiled.
Will blanched a bit. "Jack and I feel the same way about dancing."
"And yet, she's out there doing it and you're here with me." Janie's arched eyebrow was full of challenge.
"What is it with all the dirty fighting lately?" Will asked rhetorically. "Fine. if I have to dance, so do you."
"I'm in a mirror, Will," Janie said. There was an edge of panic to the way she said it. Anyone else might have missed it, but Will knew Janie better than nearly anyone.
"When was the last time you went dancing?" Will asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
Janie said nothing, then sighed, knowing she was defeated. "Never."
"Never. Not once, ever?" Will prodded with a smile on his face.
"No. I've never been dancing. I've never been asked to dance. I've never danced," Janie admitted.
"Well, I think it's time." He stood up, and held out his hand toward the mirror. "Miss Castilian, will you dance with me?"
She reached toward the mirror and tapped it. Will could faintly hear her fingernail on the glass. "Taking your hand is going to be difficult."
"Will you dance with me?" Will repeated.
"You're really going to pick up the mirror and dance around with it, aren't you?" she asked rhetorically. She already knew the answer.
"Will you dance with me?" Will asked again.
