Dancing with the Devil

[thatched]

Who: Thatch and Lea
Where: The Moon, Corsair Kingdom
When: 4/25 Evening [backdated]
What: Things need to be discussed, plans to be made
Warnings: Dark themes
Status: Closed



It was about that time. Thatch leaned back in the chair, crossing his feet at the ankle on the desk and smoked a cigar, looking up at the ceiling. He wasn't sure how this would go over exactly. He wasn't sure of any of it. But the fact was he needed help for an operation like this. His own division would be ideal of course. Would know what to do without being told but-- the closest he had to that here was Lea. Maybe Logan in a pinch but Lea could blend in. People would notice a man easier than a boy.

Letting out a flow of smoke he pulled the journal onto his lap and flipped it open, writing a private message for the kid.

If you've got a moment, come see me.

That done, he waited patiently, watching the smoke swirl toward the ceiling in the flickering lantern light.

Comments

[by_heart]

It didn't take Lea long to arrive, though it rarely did. Unless something was cooking that he didn't trust Roxas to watch, he generally showed up long before he was expected, sometimes even before he was asked. That wasn't exactly the case this time, partly because (as the smear of what appeared to be dough across one cheek would indicate) he was doing some prep work in the galley and partly because he wasn't expecting to be called on at all.

"Something's up." It wasn't a question and Lea didn't invite himself to take a seat as he usually would, choosing instead to find a convenient patch of wall to lean on.

[thatched]

Thatch looked up, sitting up as the lean boy entered, glancing at him with brows raised.

"Aye..." He took the cap off the rum and poured himself and Lea a glass, pushing the glass toward him as an option for him to take it if he chose. He took a moment to finish his cigar before putting it out and looking at Lea through the haze.

"We've learned that the officers who hurt and killed Kairi are going to be at the Navy Ball..." He trailed off, letting this sink in, watching Lea for reaction, trying to judge what it would be.

[by_heart]

"That so?" So that was what Roxas was going on about. "And here I thought we were just party deprived."

He didn't offer any more than that, nor did he move to take the glass. His arms immediately crossed and the look on his face was as blank and unaffected as he could make it, which meant he was making a deliberate effort not to react too strongly. No point in letting anyone know what he thought until he knew it himself. Or ever, for that matter.

[thatched]

Smartass. It was frustrating. He couldn't read Lea as well as he wanted to. As well as he needed to. And at the end of the day, he didn't really know him that well. Not at least where it counted in this kind of situation. He took a sip of the rum and watched Lea's face while at the same time trying not to seem too intent about it.

"Aye. A message needs to be sent... and it's our job to find these men and perhaps even corral them so the message gets through." He watched Lea carefully again. "Do you understand?"

[by_heart]

"I don't think I do. Maybe you oughta spell it out a little clearer."

There were a lot of messages that could be sent and a lot of ways to send them, but as evasive as he himself could be, he was done with cryptic orders. Saïx could talk around things with him and he'd get the picture, but that was Saïx. They were on the same page, even if Lea's half eventually got torn out of that little book. Thatch...as much as he liked him and was starting to trust him, "starting" was the operative word.

[thatched]

"Well..." He sits back stroking his beard. There was what Marco undoubtedly wanted to do and how dark he was feeling at the time. How much Ikki fed off of him. How much Ace wanted to do or not do. The last could be surprising at times--but in the end it was his decision. Thatch frankly wouldn't be surprised if the whole building was razed to the ground... but that was not his concern just at the moment.

"To put it bluntly, we're after revenge. It is our coda... our creed. They hit us and we hit them back harder so they know not to do it again. It may not be permanent but it will likely be brutal. Though not as much as could be."

Since he wouldn't give Marco over to darkness no matter how much he wanted it.

[by_heart]

Lea let out a breath and looked down at his folded arms. There was so much wrong with that statement, but where even to begin? Whenever he'd tried to talk about his world with Thatch before, it was eventually brushed off with a "wow, Lea, that makes my giant pompadoured brain hurt," which, while understandable, made it a little difficult to communicate his perspective on things like this.

"An eye for an eye, huh? Not really sure it's our place, since THIS," he waved one hand vaguely, "isn't our place. Can't really blame them for wanting us out."

The promise that it might be brutal...that was another thing he needed to address, but he left it hanging for a moment before continuing.

"I don't really do revenge. Good thing for the crew, too, because we'd be down a few members if I was. Maybe you hired the wrong guy to make your sandwiches."

[thatched]

"Aye, it isn't our place but it's not as if we had a choice to coexist peacefully here." He kept his voice even, though his temperature boiled at the thought. He didn't know about the conflict between Lea and the people of his world and frankly, that was for them to sort out.

"We can't skip merrily over her death as if it didn't happen. Give reign for them to do more. Do worse, even. Just because it's not our place." He fishes out another cigar and lights it before leaning back, folding his arms behind his head.

"There are too many in my world who believe the same. That some people don't deserve to be born, it's not their place to exist. They are hunted from birth and beyond. When they are hurt, we hurt back. We make sure that people know to stay away from those we call family."

But that was neither here nor there. Well it was-- but a conflict of ideals-- it was not the place for it.

"But I won't ask you to turn your hand to anything you'd be against. I don't even truly know the extent of what will happen since it has to go through A-- our captain." He blew out a stream of smoke and sipped his rum. "It's up to you, though, lad."

[by_heart]

Lea let out a short, humorless laugh.

"Her death didn't happen. She helped me make soup a few days ago. You think doing the same right back is gonna change anything? Listen," Lea pushed off the wall, agitated and not quite sure where to go with it, "Someone took someone I love from me by force, put them somewhere I couldn't find, and destroyed their mind bit by bit to get out a few pieces they needed. There was someone else they needed to help them, who did the actual cutting and pasting, and someone who benefited from the whole thing but got to keep their hands clean the whole time while I suffered. Wanna help me kill them?"

[thatched]

The darkness in him shifted at that question and he could feel it rising in the back of his throat, but carefully. Carefully. It wasn't what it seemed. It never was. Lea was clever and trying to make a point. He held the boy's gaze steadily.

"She still died," he said quietly. "Likely suffered. And how do we know that there isn't a limit? But aye. If you wanted a hand in killing this person, I would."

[by_heart]

"Thanks, Boss. Hold on, I'll give you a list." He fished through the pocket of his vest and pulled out a scrap of paper and a nub of a pencil he'd been using to jot down recipe notes. He set the paper down on the edge of Thatch's desk, scribbled down a quick list and shoved the paper across to Thatch. The paper read:

1. Riku
2. Kairi
3. Sora

"We're gonna have to draw straws for that middle one, though, since, you know, you guys have plans about that."

[thatched]

He thought it might be something like that. Of course he did. Though it was a trap that he'd willingly walked into. He didn't know what went on with them and frankly, he didn't give a damn.

"If you wanted to kill them I'd say too damn late. You don't kill nakama. You don't kill crewmates. But as you said, revenge isn't really your style." He eyed Lea.

"Besides which, they aren't likely to attack you, will they? They aren't likely to lock you up and torture you to death just for the crime of being somewhere you shouldn't. Of existing. This is a rough world, lad. You can go easy on it if you choose, but it will be brutal with you as it will. But in the end it's your choice."

Damn rookies.

[by_heart]

"Maybe you did pick the wrong guy, because I permanently emptied a few seats in the Organization board room, if you catch my meaning."

Lea shoved off the edge of the desk, even less sure now what to do with himself other than heading straight for the door. Thatch could look at him like he was some babe in the woods as much as he wanted, but he wasn't the one with the immature life philosophy here. What was the saying? An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind? Add in "oh but they're friends so they don't count" and wow, gee, totally impressed.

"You want me to take out someone that might actually matter and I'll get to it and be home in time to make dinner. Want me to hit someone because boohoo they hit you first? Forget it. Sounds like you got some issues from home, too, but you're not home. None of us are."

[thatched]

But it was. And that was the truth of it. Ace would make it his home or die in the attempt. Thatch had no other home than this one and he wasn't going to argue. Emptied a few seats could mean anything, but he'd never taken on the entire world on his head. Settling ones place and making sure that others knew it was the way the Whitebeards had survived.

But there was no point in saying so. Lea didn't want to do it, so he didn't want to do it. Thatch would find other ways. He always did.

"As I said it's your choice. Do what you want."

[by_heart]

"And if I say I'm not gonna hang around while you kill people so you can feel better about yourself?"

Because he wasn't stupid. He knew that was where things were going. Why was he so shit at picking jobs?

[thatched]

So high and mighty. The one who had emptied so many seats. Feel better about himself. As if he understood anything. But maybe he'd come to understand or maybe he wouldn't. Either way it wasn't Thatch's concern. He had a captain to look after.

"Then good luck, wind at your back and thank you for all your hard work." Which he meant, because whatever Lea's feelings about vengeance were, he had done a good job.

"But I'd see what the captain has to say first." Ace hadn't said and might not say. And it may be the situation where Ace decides not to act as fiercely. Who knew? Though it was likely to come up again. As long as they existed on these seas as pirates, the chance was always there.

[by_heart]

Yeah, because they could trust the captain not to act like a ten year old.

"I'll give you that long. Not saying you're gonna need a new sandwich boy yet, but you're not really selling the job."

Lea turned to leave. Usually this was when he'd wave goodbye over his shoulder, but his hands were firmly in his pockets.

[thatched]

"Lea," he called out before the boy could leave. "You are crew for as long as you decide." And as long as the captain decides.

"I will fight by your side. I will fight for you. And I will come to your rescue if you should need it. You're a good lad. You have strong convictions and I can't say that I don't admire that.

But I think it would serve both of us better if you were the ship's sandwich boy, aye? Follow your heart. Do what makes you free."

Because he would work in the dark. Alone if need be. And if their ideologies clashed so much, it was better for Lea not to know how dark the world could get.

[by_heart]

Lea paused and looked back over his shoulder. Sure, his official title was "cook," but he could hear the implication on those words and it just made things that much more frustrating. They were his hands and it was on him to decide just how much more dirty he was going to get them.

"Demoting me now? I'm still getting used to having a heart to follow, you know, and if there's one thing I learned from the time I didn't have one, it's that you shouldn't follow someone who only tells you what they want you to know."

[thatched]

"Demoting? Hardly. You're a valuable member of this crew. I'm setting you free. And if that's the case then you definitely shouldn't follow me."

Which was a lie, but what did it matter?

"The captain is a much better man for that kind of thing." If anything he was the heart of the crew. The reason why they did anything. As it should be. As it always should be.

[by_heart]

One day Lea was going to figure out why the hell people were so devoted to Ace. One day. Provided Ace didn't blow anything up, smear anything on his head, or forget what Lea's actual job on the ship was, except that happened more or less every day. Being told not to follow Thatch, though, just added a little twist in his gut. It wasn't like he wasn't completely aware of how he was setting things up for himself, allying himself more closely with Thatch instead of Ace, making the tasks he set him a priority...it was how he was used to operating. Not that it went well the last time, either.

"You know, the easier solution would be to actually tell me things." It was said mostly to himself as he rested one hand on the door frame, ready to leave but not sure where exactly to go afterwards.

[thatched]

He did tell Lea things, though nothing he wanted to hear. The rest of it would turn against him in the end. He knew it. Could see it. If Lea couldn't accept vengeance, he'd never be able to accept what Thatch was. What his true role was always. To keep the peace. To be the poison in the dark.

"There are no easy solutions. And if you want to learn how to use your heart, new that you are, you may want to follow someone who has one." He let the darkness flow from him, curl into life, snake across the windows. He was glad Pops couldn't see him now. See the kind of person he had become.

[by_heart]

That was enough to get Lea to turn around and lean on the door. Was that supposed to scare him? Darkness, true Darkness, was a hell of a lot scarier than that. He'd spent enough time inside it to know.

"You have one. Don't flatter yourself." There was no explaining losing your heart to someone who never had, but to Lea it was no joking matter. Not with his own so newly regained and the possibility facing him upon his inevitable return home that Isa's might be gone for good.

[thatched]

More a warning then anything but he hadn't known what he was thinking other than perhaps making a fool of himself. A faint sting of heat spread over his nose at Lea's comment. Don't tell him what he has and what he doesn't. But he shouldn't be surprised, after all, Lea knew everything.

"Thank you for stopping by," he said, managing to sound civil enough as he pulled out a ledger. He had things to plan and by himself it would be that much harder.

[by_heart]

Lea arched an eyebrow and tapped his chest once over his heart, just to repeat his point before slipping into the darkness of the hall. There was a lot he was going to have to sort out now. Like he needed more, but what was a guy like him to do? Not a villain anymore, not quite a hero yet, always on his shoulders which direction to go. For once, he was pretty confident he picked the right one, no matter what Thatch might think about it.