put your money where your mouth is

[James Vaughn]

TAG: Elizabeth Davenport

i have sworn

TO DO VERY FOOLISH THINGS

Vaughn was eager to get back to sea and did not wish to waste a moment longer. They were well through the night, setting sail for wherever the sea would take them and enjoy the spoils from whomever lay in their path to overtake. Enjoying the feeling far too much to find sleep tonight as he was on the main deck, taking in the scent of the water surrounding them with sheer nothingness around. "Captain!" Vaughn did not turn around when he heard footsteps approaching but stopping at a bit of a distance.

There was a bit of an urgency but more . . . excitement than concern. Nothing that needed--"Captain--" "What?!" He snapped irritably, turning his head to half face them. But what he saw . . . prompted him to fully turn around. There, in between two of his crewmen was a woman. Her hands were bound and there was a bag over her head which was removed once Vaughn had turned around to face them. They pulled the small sac off and tossed it to the side, looking rather pleased with themselves but there was no signs of pleasure on the Captain's face. Quite the opposite in fact. "What the fuck is that?" He bluntly questioned, uncaring if there was a lady in their presence. Her presence, was exactly the problem.

[Elizabeth Davenport]

She did not understand how things could happen so quickly. There was too much commotion for Elizabeth to discern what had taken place. Truthfully, she did not care to. All she knew was that one moment she had been heading towards her carriage and the next, someone had grabbed her. Her hands bound and a bag placed over her head, not that she allowed that to make her complacent. If someone was going to try to kidnap her then she was surely going to put up a fight. But one of the hooligans had given her a swift punch to the gut to get her to settle down. Elizabeth had complied for the time being, trying to figure everything out in her mind. If she was going to get out of this, she knew she had to be smarter. From the conversation she could hear them happening, surely that wouldn't be too difficult.

Elizabeth's shoes hit wood and the sound of the ocean made her think she was on a boat. This was not good. If she was transported elsewhere, her chances of getting home were slim. She heard the men call for their captain and finally the bag was pulled from her head. Elizabeth took a moment to look around, taking in her environment before turning her attention on their so-called Captain. "We got ourselves a Noble Lady!" One of them said, sounding quite excited. Elizabeth scoffed and slammed down her foot on his in an attempt to get him to let go. Elizabeth had to toy between the idea of offering money for her release or claiming she was not a Noble. "Let me go! If you return me this instance then I shall not press charges," she said, not that she expected them to let her go. Turning to the Captain, Elizabeth got the indication that he had no clue this was meant to happen. His confusion, or displeasure, were palpable. "What is the meaning of this?" Elizabeth insisted. 

---

Tag: James Vaughn

credit to Laura of Adox

[James Vaughn]

TAG: Elizabeth Davenport

i have sworn

TO DO VERY FOOLISH THINGS

Oone of the crew stated that they got themselves a noblewoman and Vaughn was less than amused or impressed. And to top things all off, she was the typical noble with a mouth on her that made Vaughn wonder why they had not gagged her with a cloth. "What makes you think you are in charge here?" He both stated and asked, clear mockery in his tone for attempting to make a deal that involved not pressing charges.

"You also cannot press charges if you are dead." With that, he pulled out his pistol, aiming it at the noblewoman as he cocked it. "Get on your knees and give me one good reason why I should not shoot you now." She was going to have to do far better than not pressing charges. And the first part . . . well, that was for his own satisfaction over seeing someone who was so elevated in society, be brought to their knees by a pirate.

[Elizabeth Davenport]

It was a rude wake up call, but one Elizabeth likely needed in this situation. She very well could not talk herself out of this one. These men were not the ones she could scare away with a bold statement or a glare. They were dangerous and she knew she had to re-think absolutely everything. They could very well kill her without thinking twice about it. There were no consequences for men like this. They were not people Elizabeth had ever dealt with before and she didn't know how to navigate these waters. Doing what he said went against everything in her body but if she wished to live and see her family another day then she knew she would have to bite back her desire to step on their feet and throw sarcastic remarks their way.

Without wasting time, Elizabeth came face to face with a pistol pointed at her. There was suddenly no doubt in her mind that this man would kill her for the simple pleasure of doing such a thing. Elizabeth knew she should have dropped to her knees in such a situation but she simply could not make herself do such a thing. Instead, she gained her composure and got rid of any insistence in her tone. "I have coin on me now and . . . my father is a Marquess. He will pay for my safe return," she spoke slowly. Gone was the attitude this man seemed to hate so much and Elizabeth had to hope that money was all they wanted. 

---

Tag: James Vaughn

credit to Laura of Adox

[James Vaughn]

TAG: Elizabeth Davenport

i have sworn

TO DO VERY FOOLISH THINGS

Vaughn's finger was on the trigger, ready to squeeze it and be free of this . . . liability, when he paused after revealing that her father was a marquess. Now, contrary to what some may say, James was not a fool. It was quite easy for someone to lie about such a thing, and the elevation in rank that their family held. She was very clearly nobility though and if they would get coin for these troubles, then perhaps it would be worth it after all.

"I"s that so?" He questioned, his tone holding that same mocking tone to it, though he did start to ease his finger from the trigger. "And who is your father that would be so willing to pay for the return of his daughter?" He continued to question, a mischievous smile forming on his lips. "Rather than just be rid of her and all the trouble she causes with that sharp tongue of hers. Not to mention the saving of what I am certain is a hefty dowry." He had been around enough nobles to know that not everyone cherished their daughters. That it was the sons who held value to them. But she seemed to have a father willing to pay. Precious for her; profitable for him.

[Elizabeth Davenport]

The revelation of such information seemed to be the right call and Elizabeth watched as the man before her asked further about who her father was. It was incredibly difficult for Elizabeth to ignore his further poking of how her father would likely be glad to get rid of her. Elizabeth was not from a family that did not care about her. She knew everyone loved her because she loved them. The only person she was unsure of being concerned with her safe concern was perhaps Helen, but that was hardly worth thinking about. There was no question in her mind that her father would pay to have Elizabeth returned safely but she could not say she did not question this man's honor in following through once he received the money. 

"Charles Davenport, Marquess of Winchester," she replied. Elizabeth had to continue to remind herself that she needed to hold her tongue and survive this. There was no telling what this man or any of his men would do. Fighting for her life was all she could focus on. It was so difficult for her to not throw a remark back at him about how even though she could be quite the troublemaker, she would never be such a nuisance that her father would wish to be rid of her. There were, perhaps, families that worked that way, but hers was not one of them. 

---

Tag: James Vaughn

credit to Laura of Adox | Gif

[James Vaughn]

TAG: Elizabeth Davenport

i have sworn

TO DO VERY FOOLISH THINGS

The woman had some semblance of sense after all, for the only words that left her lips, was that of identification and reveal of who her father was. Still, Vaughn remained in his current stance, with his finger still upon the trigger, letting those moments of uncertainty linger. She did not know him, just as he did not know her. That brought an element of unpredictability but in this particular instance, it was he who posed as the greater danger with a potentially threatening outcome. Letting those moments of uncertainty drag on, eyes from his crew mates upon him as if they knew the outcome could go either way . . . Vaughn eventually relaxed his finger from the trigger. Still gripping the gun but easing his arm from it being directly pointed at her. Instead, he just casually waved it as he spoke.

"Better," he said, speaking to her as if she was a dog he was in the process of training. He began to take a few steps towards her, inching closer without any thought of personal space. He did not fail to notice that she had not complied with his demand of submission. He moved to stand behind her, standing so close to her in attempt to cause discomfort as he leaned his head towards her ear. "I will get you on your knees, one way or another," clear suggestiveness and crudeness in his voice as what that would entail. A threat within them, for such a woman among such a group of men. Casually stepping to the side and forward, he began to instruct his men. "Send word to the good Marquess that we have his precious daughter--" He paused, turning his head to look at her with an expectant expression for her to give her name to them.

[Elizabeth Davenport]

The next few moments seemed to take an eternity. He kept the gun aimed at her even though Elizabeth had given him the information he wanted. Was he doing this on purpose or was he going to kill her anyway? Elizabeth kept her gaze straight and her mouth shut, waiting for the moment to arrive. He finally lowered the gun and Elizabeth felt her entire body relax, even if it was just the slightest bit. He still had a gun and she wasn't going to forget that, no matter how relieved she was to not have it pointed directly at her head. Elizabeth knew after this moment, she would hold a great distaste for guns for the rest of her life. 

He walked closed to her and Elizabeth eyed him for a moment before he disappeared around her back. He was circling her like prey and she was all too aware of it. Perhaps he would just tie her up and shove her somewhere until they reached out to her father for money for her safe return. They would try to get money for her, wouldn't they? Then his comment about getting her on her knees made her eyebrows raise and her cheeks flush. It was meant to be inappropriate but Elizabeth would not let it rile her. 

Elizabeth had never thought herself a naive girl but it wasn't until he made a comment that she realized she had not once, considered the fact that these men could take advantage of her in such a way. She'd thought of them beating her black and blue, but not that. He waited for her and she pulled herself from her thoughts to answer him. "Elizabeth," she replied. Again, speaking only when spoken to would perhaps win her life in this moment. 

---

Tag: James Vaughn

credit to Laura of Adox | Gif