❀ 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]

I don't think I've ever heard of a lady soldier before!

[givetheslip]

Well, I suppose you wouldn't have. When I first joined up, I pretended to be a boy.

[toyboat]

But wasn't it hard, to pretend and wear their clothes and keep the secret?

[givetheslip]

Sometimes it was. But it turns out a lot of grown men never notice the truth that's right under their noses.

[She leans a little closer, conspiratorially.]

They're a bit silly that way.

[toyboat]

Oh, I know! Mother used to say that, before I was born, Father couldn't even open his eyes to see what was obvious, and that was why he never knew of me until now.

[givetheslip]

[Her small smile threatens to slip away at that.]

Yes...even fathers can miss the obvious. That doesn't mean they can't learn to see.

[Some, anyway.]

[toyboat]

It's all right, he's here now. And Rose, our servant, she said he could hardly stand the wait before he got to meet me. So I think everything is fine.

[givetheslip]

I think you're right. And I think you're very lucky to have a father who cares for you so strongly.

[toyboat]

I am very glad for him, even if we've only just met. But I wish he would hurry along, so we could go home.

[givetheslip]

[She hesitates. This sort of thing definitely isn't her place.]

Well, you should be patient. Sometimes journeys home take a long time.

[toyboat]

Yes, but I've been sitting here all day, and I haven't eaten even once!

[Children focus on the important things.]

[givetheslip]

[Children have the right priorities.]

Not once all day? We can't have that. I know where a kitchen is, if you'd like to try to find something.

[Then again, she might want to stay in one place to make it easier for her father to come across her. This would be easier if Maria had any idea who Jenny's father is.]

[toyboat]

[Jenny considers this, then nods. To her, a kitchen is somewhere there's a cook to take her request, so certainly she shouldn't be gone so long.]

Would they make me a pasty in the kitchens? Then I could bring it back here to wait for Father.

[givetheslip]

I'm not certain. But we could go find out—it's not too far.

[toyboat]

That should be fine then.

[She scoots off the sofa to land on her feet, giving a small curtsey before holding her hand out to be lead.]

I'm Jenny Scott. What's your name?

[givetheslip]

[If the girl wants to hold her hand, she can't be doing too badly.]

I'm Maria Thorpe. That's a pretty name, Jenny.

[toyboat]

[Jenny is a hand-holder, she's spent her entire life being lead around and told what to do. Side effects of being born high class.]

Thank you. It's short for Jennifer, but no one calls me that.

[givetheslip]

Your father—do you know what they call him?

[toyboat]

Yes, of course. His name is Edward Kenway. I have my mother's last name because she raised me.

[givetheslip]

I'm afraid I haven't met him. But I'm sure he'll be along before too long.

[toyboat]

That's all right, no one can know everyone. I just want lunch and for him to come along now. I don't know what errand could be taking him so long.

[givetheslip]

Nor do I, but you'll be able to ask him about it when he returns, and perhaps scold him a bit.

[toyboat]

I think I'll have to, he didn't even say goodbye before he went on his errand.

[givetheslip]

[Oh dear.]

I'm sure he'll make it up to you somehow.

[toyboat]

I'll ask him for sweets, then. Little cakes and fruits!