Addison takes her hand and pulls Angelina toward the celebrating crew. The crew members repeatedly raise their mugs in the air as they sing their theme happily. Esme never stopped singing, looking so gleeful whenever she sang a higher tune, especially when she glances at—Robert?

Angelina scowls, feeling a bit funny as well. She slightly tugs Addison's arm and beckons to Esme. Addison gives her a questioning look, and Angelina rolls her eyes. "Esme fancies Robert."

Addison's eyes glow in amusement. She whispers, "Does she?"

"'Tis obvious from the way she looks at him, Addie!" Angelina hisses in a low, careful voice. She shoots Addie an irritated glance, "She fancies my first mate! I am fuming!"

"Shut ye'r mouth, pirate," Addison winks and smiles. She glances at Esme and then at Robert. She nods slowly upon seeing how the teenager looked so pink and joyful whenever she casts her gaze upon Angelina's first mate. 

Addison puts her hands on her hips and smiles at Angelina. "Let the lass have a crush on someone, love. Besides, Robert might fancy her too."

"As if," mumbles Angelina. "If Esme had a twin, he would pick the sea."

"Ye'r too negative," chuckles Addison. "I'm pretty sure Esme looks splendid even with that attitude of hers. Chances are, ye'r first mate will fancy her, too."

"Esme's a kid."

"She's twenty-one," says Addie. "But she does look like a kid—oh, look!"

The two women's gazes remain fixed on Robert. He walks toward the table to grab a bottle of rum and takes a seat beside Esme. The girl's cheeks start to blush in a light, red color. She halts her singing and shoots Robert a questioning look. 

With a slight glare. Robert looks away for a moment, then sips some of his rum. He manages to initiate a talk with Esme, despite how scary the young woman looked, "How long have you been part of the crew?"

Esme rolls her eyes and chuckles sarcastically. "Are you seriously talking to me?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Robert sips rum. "Do you see me talking to anyone else?"

"Oh no he didn't," Addison covers her mouth in shock. "Heaven forbid, he did not!"

Esme's mouth hangs in bewilderment. She looks down with a shocked expression, which was suddenly replaced with an irritated one. Esme was about to rebuke when she noticed Addison and Angelina watching her. She shoots them a glare, sending the two away from the scene. 

Esme glances at Robert, "You sure have a thick skin, huh?"

"Oh, yes I do," smiles Robert. "And you have beautiful skin, Esme."

"Are you flirting with me?"

"No," he answers in a calm tone. "Just saying."

"Have you any intentions why you came here to talk to me?"

"I suppose I—" Robert was cut off shortly after seeing the Captain looking at him from the upper deck. Edward looked stern, and he beckons for Robert to join him upstairs. 

Robert returns his attention back at Esme and smiles at her. "Would you join me for a talk later in the night?"

"The Captain needs to have a conversation with me," reasons Robert. "So?"

Esme doesn't budge. She only gives him an irritated look and turns her gaze away from him. She crosses her arms after a few moments, simultaneously tapping her feet. 

Esme glares at Robert when he doesn't budge from his standing position beside her. "What are you doing, standing there like some lost fool?"

"I suppose I'm waiting for your answer," he smiles. "So, Esme?"

The crew turns their attention to the two pirates. Robert winks at them and stares at Esme even more. The young woman was about to throw a fit when Stanley taps her shoulder, "Say yes to the lad, you lass! No one's ever going to like you than he does!"

The crew laughs, and Esme slaps Stanley's hand. "Isn't the Captain waiting for you, Robert?"

"I'm waiting for you, too," he pouts. "Please, Esme?"

The crew lay in silence, the scene in front of them delaying the extravagant dinner the ship's holding. Angelina stares at Robert in disgust, "All these years he never got himself a girl. He never even talks about girls. I feel betrayed, Addie!" she hisses, crossing her arms. 

Addison snickers and beckons at the waiting game. "Well isn't he in love with our Esme over there..." the crew kept on staring. And waiting, and waiting...until Esme growls in defeat. A cute, irritated growl, to be specific, followed by a sigh that sounded like it came from a woman who felt butterflies deep down. 

"Fine, fine! Fine, Robert. Go away! Just...meet me later! Or whatever!"

Robert wears a massive smile, showcasing a teeth not-so-perfect but still gorgeous to look at. He double-taps Esme's head and rushes to the Captain on the upper deck. Esme scowls at the action, but a tiny smile could be noticed at the edge of her lips. Her eyes twinkled, too. Stanley ruffles her hair, teasing the young woman. 

On the other hand, Robert rushing to Edward piqued Angelina's attention. She mutters to Addison, "What does Edward need from my first mate?" Addison shrugs. "I've no idea. Ye want me to ask him, love?"

"No, but thanks," Angelina grimaces. "Just curious." Really, really curious, because what could Edward possibly want from Robert? she says at the back of her mind. She slightly and repeatedly stomps her foot due to nervousness, thinking of all the possibilities that could occur. 

From years ago, a trusted friend, her former quartermaster, set her into a trap with a nobleman and caused a mutiny as well. Her heart stings at the memory. Angelina slowly dips her hand on her side pocket, taking hold of a rare, expensive stone. She opens her palm to herself, the sight of a glimmering, blood-red ruby. 

She mumbles, "...all for a ruby."

"Doing alright there, sweet?" asks Addison with a worried look on her face. Angelina swiftly puts the ruby back in her pocket. 

She was quick enough for Addison not to notice. She walks towards Addison and rests her arm around the quartermaster's shoulders, "I'm well. Any new events tonight?"

Addison smiles too much; Angelina wonders why her mouth hasn't broken yet. "I was about to ask if ye would like to join our game! Two truths and a lie, hope ye'r familiar with that," she winks. 

She grabs a bottle of rum from the table and sips, then turning her focus to Angelina. "'Tis one way of discovering one's secrets. Ooh, I love this."

"Oh?" smirks Angelina. "Any relevant experiences I should know of?"

"Don't make me talk, love," Addison grins, tugging Angelina towards the circular wooden table, where the whole crew is gathered, "Or else I'd spill everyone's darkest secrets." She winks, but her eyes grow wide when she doesn't see any bottle of rum anywhere. "Oi! You scallywags! Did you just drink all the rum?"

"Oh, that! Captain asked to return the other two crates of rum. He mentioned, uh, a certain anomaly, from last year's celebration..." says Robert, scratching the back of his neck. 

The crew goes silent, and Addison cringes at the memory of last year's festivity. She buries her face in her palms. Confused, Angelina raises an eyebrow. She's also astonished when she sees Robert already back on the main deck. Wasn't he just conversing with Edward? 

The former pirate captain raises a query to the crew. "What happened last year?"

"Oh, uh, I suppose we, uh..." Stanley stutters, shooting Addison a sharp stare. Addison shakes her head and offers Angelina a quick recap of what had happened from a year ago. 

She went with it fast and specific, "I pushed Maggie to the sea after spinning her body five times. I mean, it was a game! I was too drunk. We were all standing by the edge of the ship, looking for her. I realized I've done something so horrible and I jumped, too..."

"You did what—"

"And I was still too drunk, and if Edward and Filip hadn't been quick and smart, we would've drowned," she finishes, her face red from embarrassment. Addison realizes the whole crew was staring at her, mouths agape. "End of story. Now, what are ye all staring at?"

"No idea, Addie," says Angelina. She gives the woman across her a questioning look, "So, who's Filip?" Everyone seemed to go quiet, even Addison. Angelina somehow realizes that whoever Filip was, he must've been someone who brought unpleasant memories. Her eyes grew wide in bewilderment when Esme gave her a response. 

"Captain's former first mate. Started a mutiny. We've no idea if he's dead or alive...we left him all alone on a deserted island. With a pistol with one remaining bullet, as usual. So he could kill himself if he yearned a quick death."

It was no surprise for the former Captain. That is the most common thing to do to crew members who cause mutinies or people who wronged the ship and its Captain. That's what Angelina did to her former quartermaster. Apparently, he drowned trying to chase El Cazador. She might seem well, but her quartermaster's death still haunts her up to the present day. 

She ponders Esme's answer; she wondered how traumatic it must have been for Edward since Filip was his first mate. She clears her throat and rests her hands on her hips. "That's an act of mercy to those who choose to betray the ship and its captain."

Upon hearing Angelina, the crew nods in agreement, even Esme. Silence didn't win this time, for Edward called from the upper deck, face light as day. He seemed relaxed and joyous. 

Finally, he gushes to the main deck, joining the crew. Everyone's faces light up as Edward grabs a bottle of rum. 

 "Is it time for two truths and a lie?"