The new crew's first night.

The walls of the ship were not especially thick, and Riley rolled her eyes at the all-too-familiar sounds of Bone fucking his favorite slut. Being the navigator and second-in-command, Riley was the only crewmember besides the captain with her own cabin, but at times like these, she wondered if it would be better to sleep in the crew quarters. But keeping the Rat at bay was exhausting enough when she didn’t have to sleep next to the man, and Riley was a woman who enjoyed what little privacy she could get.

Stuffing the chart she was studying back into its container, Riley slipped on her jacket and stepped onto the deck. For all the issues she had with her crewmates, Riley still preferred the open ocean to any station on shore. She walked up to the wheel, where Isabella was holding course and fiddling with one of her toys.

“They at it again?” The tinkerer asked, stowing the gadget away in her vast cleavage, “Do those two ever stop?”

“Never for very long,” Riley grumbled, gazing up at the stars and consulting her compass.

Isabella gave a short, knowing chuckle before locking the wheel and approaching the navigator. “You know,” She said, “If you ask nicely, the Captain would probably-”

“Not interested, Izzy,” Riley replied, not bothering to meet the woman’s eyes, “And before you ask, I’m not interested in Oliver or the Rat, either.”

“Oh?” Isabella asked, humming thoughtfully, “I think Ollie’s kind of cute. And Rat Jack, uh…”

Riley gave Isabella a dry look, waiting to see what possible praise she could have for the cowardly cook.

“Rat Jack is very… insistent,” Isabella decided, prompting Riley to roll her eyes and turn back to the stars, “I’m sure he’d be enthusiastic, if nothing else.”

“Well, little pirate,” Riley said, adjusting the wheel a half-degree to the right and turning to head back inside, “Feel free to go find out for yourself. The course should be good for the rest of the night. I’m going back inside.”

Isabella watched Riley go, then turned to head towards her own bunk. Isabella wouldn’t have minded an invitation to share Riley’s bed, truthfully. It wasn’t that Isabella didn’t trust her bunkmates, of course, but she was still nervous about spending her first night on the ship next to two men she barely knew. As she ducked into the room where she and the two other lower crewmen slept, she was greeted by the welcome sound of Oliver’s soft snoring. Sighing her relief, she began unbuttoning her blouse and unlacing her shoes.

“Can be a bit drafty down here,” Jack whispered, causing her to jump, “My bunk’s open if you catch a chill during the night.”

Isabella stepped out of her shoes and composed herself before turning around, “Ratty,” She said, flashing him a smile, “You spooked me half-to-****.”

Rat Jack openly ogled Isabella’s ever-exposed cleavage before grinning up at her, “Don’t you worry, Miss. You have nothing to fear from old Rat Jack.” Looking at the man, it was easy to believe his words. Rat Jack was a thin man with an easy smile and small hands. It was hard for Isabella to imagine him hurting anyone, but then, he had apparently killed two men during Bone’s mutiny.

Isabella feigned a sigh of relief before wiggling into her bunk across from Jack’s. “Well, Ratty, I’ll sleep better knowing I have a gentleman like you down here with me.”

Rat Jack chuckled, before falling back into his bed and closing his eyes. “If you say so, Miss. Offer is still on the table, though."

Isabella closed her eyes when Rat Jack did, but it was hours before she fell asleep.