Rise and Shine, Mister Governor!

When he came to, he was lying on the bed with Adanita sitting next to him. She was waving what he correctly identified as his cravat around his face, looking concerned.

He frowned at her. She just confessed to his own murder. She doesn't get to behave like this!
He pushed her away, highly offended by her antics, and sat up. He leaned on his knees and hid his face in his hands.

She didn't cover him with that filthy blanket. Small blessings. Unfortunately, the bed was as uncomfortable as it seemed at the first glance.

"Are you alright? You were out for a few minutes," she said.
"Quite."
"You know I won't kill you the second time, right?" she asked.
Oh, this woman wore her heart on her sleeve. Yes, he was reasonably safe for the time being. She was comically easy to read. She'll kill him later if she feels like it, certainly. But not at this time. "I don't remember asking," he snarled.
"I am trying to be nice! You fainted!"
Here comes his migraine. "I am begging you to shut up."
"Hah!" She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms again. "Fine!"

Finally.

Some peace. Some quiet.


He got his answers. It was time to regret asking for the rest of his life. He thought he was reasonably safe as a hostage, that he'll likely make it out alive and maybe only get somewhat maimed.
But no.
Everything hurts...


But unfortunately, the pirate couldn't stay quiet for long. "Are you crying?" she asked.
He sighed and moved his hands away to look at her properly. "No. I am not." And no. He wasn't.
"Oh. Alright then."

How dare she look so uncomfortable around someone she killed before?!

"Should I take it that you believe what I told you?" she asked.
Don't be sarcastic. DO NOT. "Yes, I do."
"I... I'm sorry," she tried.
"Please don't start. I am very tired, and I'd like to discuss this further when I feel better. Just tell me why, for now." She doesn't get to beat him up in a duel multiple times, and then apologize for killing him all in the same day!
"You challenged me to a duel," she said. "I didn't want to duel someone I'd just rescued from the sea. You were a pretentious posh prick about it, too, you know. You implied I was a coward, so I accepted your challenge."
"And killed me."
"And killed you, yes. If it means anything, you died very quickly."
Why, thank you. "So, up to that point, everything was the same?"
"Well, you acted a bit differently when I fished you out this time. The conversation went similarly, but still."
Well, it all certainly sounded like something he would do. His reasoning for the challenge must've been the same, but with the temper this woman had, he signed his own death warrant the first time around.
Except, originally she probably didn't know anything about the people he was on the ship with. Her own behavior changed the way he acted. And her knowing whatever it is that's to come stayed her hand this time around. He sighed.

Just a bit longer. He can keep it together for a few more minutes.

"So, how did this... when did you come back to?"
"To last month," she said.
"And when from?" he asked.
"Uhh... about... three years from now, maybe?" she said.
"So you just..." How to say this? He waved his hands about. "Poof. And you're in your own body, with all your memories, but it's last month?"
"Well. Yes. More or less."

Well well well. Somebody wasn't telling him everything again. He wasn't about to play the same song and dance around the issue with her again. He just stared at her tiredly, waiting.

She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.


"I died first," she said.

Aha. "My condolences."
"There's no need to mock me!" she said furiously.
"I wasn't. I'm serious. I assume you remember that part too. I'm sorry to hear that," he said. It was easy to make it sound heartfelt when he did feel bad for her. Somewhat. He could relate to the feeling, at least, despite the fact he was talking to his ex-murderer.
She stared at him. For the first time, he couldn't quite read her expression. "You're unbelievable."
Whatever that meant. "I'll take that as a compliment. I can't take another duel." He waited for a few moments to see if she would accept his joke. She stared at him in complete shock. Then, very slowly, her lips turned into a weak, shaken smile.

"Hah."

There we go. He allowed himself a small smile in return. Just a few more minutes. He can make it. Just a bit longer. "I assume the reason you want me alive has something to do with the future," he said. He wasn't about to openly agree to help her. But, if he could give off that impression at least somewhat, she'll be more likely to tell him everything he needed to know before he sets any plans into motion. "You'll tell me everything when I wake up."

She looked away again.
Come now, how bad could it be? Did she go and slaughter his entire family or something?

"What a mess," he said. "At least tell me, why'd you jump into the sea the first time?"

"Well, you were drowning," she said. "That's just what I do when I see a man in the sea."



Oh.


Well, then. Alright. "I see." Hm. Yes. Interesting. "Goodnight." What?
"Uh, here." She put his cravat next to him. "I'll let you be now, aye." She got up and went to sit back at the table.

Well, in a storm, it's not like she could tell who's drowning. He could've been one of her men, perhaps. Or it could've been an enemy who'd get recruited into piracy when the Queen saves their life.
Yes.
Or it could be the naval camaraderie. After all, who wouldn't want to be saved from drowning?
Perfectly logical.
Yes.

Finally, he could rest his very tired and deeply confused mind. By the time his head hit the pillow, the exhausted Governor was already asleep.




~~~


Rosamund woke up to the gentle rocking and a comfortable bed. He opened his eyes. A ship. Not his ship.
And a man. A pirate with a shimmering diadem, standing right over him. Next to his face.

"Hi!" he brightly said.

Rosamund sat up so suddenly that his head hit him straight in the jaw.

Together, they began to curse in pain. Rosamund's eyes were watering. His headache was back with a vengeance as his mind raced to catch up to everything that happened. Holding his hands on the newfound injury was not helping the ringing.
Or the thinking.

Looking at the whining pirate next to him, he came to a horrifying realization.


They were, in fact, saved.