❀ 01

[toyboat]

Who: Jenny Scott and y o u
What: New arrivals~
When: This evening!
Where: In the lobby
Rating: G for "little girl"

[In the lobby tonight, there is a small girl who looks like she belongs in a castle this grand. Her blue dress matches the decoration style better than most residents' clothing, her long skirts and stay intricate and befitting a higher class daughter.

This girl, however, looks extremely confused, cautiously wandering through the grand entrance and seeming for all the world like she has no idea what's going on.

Because she doesn't.

Last she recalls, she was on a ship, heading home, and this place is like nowhere on The Jackdaw at all, not that she's seen.

She takes a cursory pass around the lobby, then takes a seat on a sofa and clutches her doll to her chest.]

It'll be all right, Dolly. Father is with us now, this must just be part of the adventure.

Comments

[toyboat]

A whale or a pirate! But Father said I won't see any pirates at all.

[She gives a small smile, waving her legs.]

I'm Jenny Scott.

[unmanned]

[Jaysus Christ. James stares at the tiny girl, and he swears he can suddenly see it--the brows, the eyes. It's definitely all Edward Kenway there, and Caroline fills in the gaps. Edward's little girl, suddenly here in Paradisa.

Good. The man will finally have some peace.

After his initial shock, James smiles a little.]

Edward Kenway's girl. I've heard a lot about you, lass.

[Then, with a little flourish, he motions to himself.]

James Kidd. Friend of your father's, as well as a pirate. Guess he was wrong about that.

[toyboat]

[Jenny slides off the sofa to give a curtsey -- she supposes she should still curtsey to a pirate -- then folds her hands in front of her as she looks up at James.]

But why would a pirate be in a castle?

[unmanned]

Kings and queens aren't the only ones that sleep in places like these. Even pirates and thieves get tired of the rocking of a ship and prefer to sleep in a real bed now and then.

[toyboat]

But you don't look like a pirate.

[She takes a few steps closer, smiling up at him.]

Pirates should be scary and have tattered clothes and ragged beards. And smoke! Smoke from their ears!

[unmanned]

[James lifts an eyebrow. Blackbeard set the bar so high.]

I ain't old enough to grow a proper beard. [He scratches his chin, though.] And if my clothes were tattered, I'd catch cold. Wouldn't do any good.

[toyboat]

[Jenny giggles, shoves her doll in her pocket, then puts her hands on her hips.]

I've been to where the pirates live, it's warm! I bet you aren't a proper pirate at all, not even enough to make the right growl.

[unmanned]

[He crosses his arms. A little smartass, just like her father. :') ]

I bet you couldn't do any better.

[toyboat]

I could so!

[She stomps her foot, but then extends her arms and forms her hands into claws. It's with a big step towards James that she howls]

ARRRRRRRRRRR!

[unmanned]

[If James knew better how to entertain children, he'd take a step back, but as it is he just chuckles.

Lord help you, Edward Kenway...]

Very fearsome. Blackbeard himself would cower behind the furniture.

[toyboat]

[Jenny looks extremely proud of herself, if perhaps a bit falsely humble.]

It wasn't that good... but it was quite good!

[unmanned]

Your father know he's raising a pirate-to-be?

[toyboat]

Well, we've only just met, really. But he's taking me back to England, and I think it would be much harder to be a pirate there.

[unmanned]

I see. [He sighs, scratching the side of his neck.] Would you be sad to have that trip delayed?

[toyboat]

What do you mean?

[unmanned]

England is very far from this place. I don't think your father will be able to get you there anytime soon.

[Please don't... cry... or whatever.]

[toyboat]

[Jenny furrows her brow and bites her lip, looking worried, but perhaps more thoughtful than anything else.]

But then where will we go? I should still like to have letters from my grandparents and friends, and they won't know where to find us.

[unmanned]

[In true fashion...]

Your father will know what to do. In the meanwhile, you'll stay here, with him.

[And, so that's not so bleak--]

He'll be the happiest man in this castle to have you with him, Jenny. Know that.

[toyboat]

[Excuse the very long moment of silence. Jenny is only nine, and needs some time to actually process through this.

Finally she peers up at James, brow still knit, her hand tighter around her doll's arm.]

Do you know where Father is? Now, I mean?

[unmanned]

He's around here somewhere. [As well as your brother and nephew. Christ. In an ideal world, Edward would have some warning, but leaving a child alone here doesn't seem like a good idea.]

Shall we look for him?

[toyboat]

Yes, please. I would like that.

[And then she holds her hand out for James's.]

[unmanned]

[He hesitates for half a moment before taking the girl's small hand. It feels too soft for his calloused ones.]

Has your father told you of any of his adventures?

[toyboat]

Not really. But I know that he sailed all over the place, so much that it was hard to ever find him.

[unmanned]

[James leads her to the stairs.]

Aye. He was a busy man, hoping to make a good life for your mother.

[toyboat]

That's what he said. He told me he would have come home if he'd known about me, but I think it was better that he got to finish his work, he was very busy.

[Jenny hesitates at the foot of the stairs.]

What's up there?