[ WP ] Create an individual who hears this statement from someone wearing something red , “ I ’ m not here for Jack , I ’ m here for you . ”

`` Captain Corso.'' 
 
 The voice floats to me on the light breeze, like an Autumn's leaf on the wind, over the noise of my ship being hauled into port. A powerful little thing, not large enough to be classed a Man o' War, but properly outfitted she'd be enough to contend with one. 
 
 I crane my head around. Not willing nor wanting to budge from my position, stood with my elbows rested on an ancient wooden railing overlooking the port. My crew are just finishing up pulling the *Widow's Wail* into the free docking space. Belting out the words to *'The Cruel Wars'* as they work. 
 
 Evelyn Red is flanked by two guards, and all three are wearing more red than a battalion of the King's Army. The two toughs are interchangeable. Same short, stocky frame. Same shorn, knobbled heads. They're all three of them a good ten paces behind me, the toughs with their hands over their cutlasses, Red herself gently tapping a feathered quill with one hand off the large leather-bound ledger she holds in the other. 
 
 `` Ah. Miss Red.'' I throw the words over my shoulder, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of one hand. Damn this heat. `` I'm afraid Ol' Captain Jack is n't back quite yet.'' 
 
 The space in port beside mine lies empty. Jack's ship, the *Lion Rampart*, no longer resting where it has done for so long that we all assumed it was going to be a permanent decoration. 
 
 `` I'm not here for Jack. I'm here for you.'' 
 
 Now, there's not a lot of things I can say set my heart racing. I've braved the ocean in a storm a hundred times over, faced the fury of the sea itself made real. Out on the open ocean, a storm is more danger than any army of armed men. You might think you ’ re fighting against the sheer force of nature. You ’ d be wrong. It's a living, breathing thing after only one thing: your complete and utter destruction. 
 
 But more terror-inducing than that, more fearsome than any sword and more devastating than any cannon, is a summons from Evelyn Red. 
 
 A pretty woman, heart-shaped face and a nice set of emerald eyes peering out at you below a head of luxurious golden locks. A generous bust, wide hips, and a small waist. As lovely as she may look, Red has a natural talent for business and a certain tendency towards violence that's more commonly found in men like me. She'd do well as a pirate, but she's chosen to act as our fence instead. 
 
 Just as well, too, because if she had n't then our little Republic would n't have prospered as much as it has. 
 
 She's also a very close friend of mine, and so I can get away with things other's simply ca n't. 
 
 `` About the Golding twins?'' I ask, and then let out a weary sigh. Red takes a few steps forward, advancing slowly toward me. 
 
 `` Yes about the Golding twins!'' She snaps. `` What were you thinking, attacking them?! They're one of our highest earners!'' 
 
 `` I was thinking of staying alive, Miss Red. Those bastards were hot on my ass, closing quickly. They've not made a secret of their distaste for me and my crew.'' I reply. `` I was thinking I'd arrive safely back here with a crate of fine china for you.'' 
 
 `` And just what do you think I'm going to do with a crate of fine china?!'' 
 
 `` Well, sell it. Snatch up a pretty price somewhere.'' I shrug, turning away from my view of the port and coming around to face her. `` Besides, it's not like I *sunk* those Golding twats. Just put a few holes in'em. Sent them scampering.'' 
 
 `` Sunk or not, Corso, we ca n't go around attacking our own.'' Evelyn Red's pulled an unstable looking wooden chair from somewhere. She's sat behind a cask of some kind of fine spirit. There's a chair opposite her, across her makeshift table, and she offers it to me. `` Sets a bad example. Sends the wrong message.'' 
 
 I take the chair. 
 
 `` Tell that to the Twins.'' I shoot back. `` It's *them* that came after *me*.'' 
 
 Evelyn sighs. `` You're a good pirate, Corso. A high earner and an even better fighter. The takes you've made... well, the other Captain are jealous. And unnerved.'' She waves one of her Toughs over, and he brings a couple of iron tankards filled with spiced wine to us. `` But there's a side of you too reckless for your own good. Too impulsive. Too hot-headed.'' 
 
 The'unnerved' is due to my age. At nineteen, I'm the youngest pirate to be made an elector of Nassau. An elector is to the Republic what an investor is to a business. We buy in, we get a share of the profit. Course, we're the ones making the profit, but it's more for our old age. Y'know, if we make it that far. For those days when we ca n't sail anymore, ca n't grip a cutlass or a pistol. Ensures we'll still be earning coin. Getting something back. 
 
 That is, if the King does n't come knocking with his armies and take Nassau back. That's the latest gossip. The word on the wind. Officially old King Cleon ai n't too happy we've declared ourselves independent, wants to show the world that the Great Empire is n't going to let a band of cut-throats and raiders show it up. Unofficially, he just wants the wealth that comes with the province. 
 
 `` Do n't do this to me, Evenlyn.'' I warn, my eyes narrowing. `` Do n't say what I think you're going to say.'' 
 
 `` But you have to get in line, like the rest of them.'' 
 
 I rise, perhaps a little too sharply as my chair topples backward, and slam my fist down on the top of the cask. It startles a group of common-folk nearby, enjoying an afternoon drink in the high sun at the pub by the port. One of the Toughs moves in, his hand going for his cutlass. 
 
 `` Do n't you take another *fucking* step!'' I snarl, reaching for the overlarge knife strapped to my chest, under my long leather coat. `` Or I'll scoop out one of your bloody eyes and feed it to your friend over there.'' 
 
 He stops in his tracks. Evelyn's holding up a halting hand to him, but she's watching me intently. One brow arched, the other furrowed. She's torn between being angered at my outburst and understanding. 
 
 I meet her eyes, match the intensity in her stare. `` I left the Empire to escape getting in line, Evelyn. You know that better than any. I turned my back on my friends, my family, because I wanted something other than to obey. We've something here in Nassau that they do n't back'ome. We have freedom, and I'll not surrender it so easily.'' 
 
 We stay like that for a while. Staring, silent. Every creak from the wood below our feet as loud as a snare drum, every gentle lapping of the waves against the shore like a foghorn. People are staring, jaws hanging wide. 
 
 `` Do n't push me, Corso.'' Evelyn hisses, almost too quiet to hear. `` My love for you can only be pushed so far, boy.'' 
 
 It's the'boy' that does it. I might be a barrel of gunpowder, this conversation might be a length of rope fed into it, but it's the'boy' that's the lit match touched to the fuse. 
 
 `` You think my recklessness will be my undoing? You think I stand here, too confident in my own abilities? Too prideful?'' I come away from the table, stand straight. I spread my arms wide. `` Well let me prove to you that it wo n't be. Let me prove to you that I'm exactly what Nassau needs to survive.'' 
 
 `` And how do you think you'll achieve this, Corso? What do you think you can possibly do to change my mind?'' 
 
 `` A single take. Unlike anything you've seen before.'' I tell her. `` Millions in coin alone. More in treasures kept in the hold.'' I'd meant to keep this one under my belt. Slip away quietly one night and return weeks later laden down with riches. Evelyn's set the fire burning in me, though. I could n't stop running my mouth if I wanted to. 
 
 It's a fault, I'm sure. My temper rising at every doubt aimed my way. To burn over every refusal, to grow angry so easily. But just because I recognise the fault does n't mean I have to fight it. 
 
 `` And you're sure this is the real deal?'' Asks Evelyn, her brows shooting upward. `` Sure it's not a trap?'' 
 
 `` I'm sure.'' I reply, placing my hands on my hips. Christ, but the sun is really cooking me through today. `` I'm sure.'' 
 
 `` Then off with you, Corso. Off with you, you damned fool of a boy! Come back within the month, or I'll assume you're not coming back at all. And If you're killed out there, if this proves to be too much for you and your little ship alone, then do n't bother cursing me with your last breath.'' Evelyn stands, her fists clenched and her knuckles white-hot. `` You'll have brought it on yourself.'' 
 
 And then she's gone. Her Toughs stay a moment longer. Glower at me. I flash them a wide smile. If they'd like to dance, I'd relish a chance to knock them on their asses. My blood's up, and a fight's what I want. 
 
 They do n't, though. They simply spit at my feet, turn, and fall in step behind Miss Red. 
 
 I'm left alone. Alone except for the common-folk who came to Nassau for a fresh start still gawping at me. I turn my back on them. Turn back to the port below and the sapphire blue waters stretching out as far as the eye can see. 
 
 Out there, somewhere, my mark lumbered through the water. The *Danger*. An Imperial Treasure vessel, transporting a fat lot of gold back to the Capital so as to ensure its safety. 
 
 It wo n't reach the Capital. That, I swear. I'll haul it's spoils back to Nassau. I'll rub Red's nose in it, and I'll kill any man Imperial or otherwise who tries to block my way. I'll fight my way into the Palace itself if I have to. Me, and the forty men that make up my crew. 
 
 I return to leaning against the rail, watching the water. 
 
 `` Run, you gobshite.'' I mutter under my breath. `` I'll catch you up soon enough.'' 
 
 
 

