>"How many bits have we got there, lad? Don't stop counting until you've trice-checked me purse." 
> the creaking of sea-battered planks and sharp retort from your captain snap you from your sorry daze, your stare fixed again on the gleaming mound of gold in front of you
"I've got ten thousand and a quarter here, captain!" 
> captain polo, a seasoned mare of many pirating affairs, nodded approvingly at the correct-sounding number and clip-clopped her way over to the far side of the cabin, where her desk groaned in time with the floorboards
> a map of equestria's trade waters lay sprawled across the surface of the roughly-lacquered pine, locked in place by daggerpoint on the left side and a bitpurse on the lower right corner
> "We're roughly a week and half's journey from Baltimare now, if the weather holds--hows the rations?" 
> the captain's coarse accent always made her sound a little angry to you, but you were well aware that the care and safety of her crew was at least one of her top five priorities 
> probably 
"There's enough hay and ale to last us at least that long, captain."
> polo spat in disgust, rubbing her temple with a forehoof and shaking her head
> "I've had enough hay and ale to last the rest of me life..."
> despite her curses, the golden-furred mare levitated a bottle of ale over to the desk from somewhere out of sight and began pouring herself a mug of the stuff
> "D'ya want some? Hard work ought to be rewarded." 
> you reflexively shake your head, tail swishing behind you nervously as you rock a little in your wooden chair
"I wouldn't dare ask for any of your personal stash, captain--don't mind me." 
> a shudder passes through you as she shoots a half-glare your way, drafting up another mug all the same
> "You weren't asking--I were. Knock one back with me or I'll give Cockatiel your job tomorrow." 
> that bastard?
> the one who nearly fell overboard doing a shitty impression of the captain just a few nights ago in a drunken daze?
> no way in tartarus you'd let that happen
> you leave the table and trot over to her, taking the mug from her waiting magical grasp and swishing it around in your hoof
> the captain can't help but smirk knowing she won you over so quickly 
> "Attaboy, Seagull. Cheers!" 
> polo smacks your mug with her own and tosses the drink down her throat; you quickly chug the ale and try not to sputter too much when you breathe a little of it in 
> "Have I ever told you how I got me cutie mark, Seagull?" 
> the question surprised you; captain polo didn't ever talk about her cutie mark, or her past, or really anything unrelated to the trade
"Can't say you have, captain." 
> "Surely isn't a grand tale, but if you'd like to hear it, pull up a chair." 
> the mare gingerly poured herself another mug of ale and fell back into her desk chair, a wooden throne that stood half a head taller than either of you; you pulled one of the shoddy stools from the counting table and sat atop it, slowly nursing the last sips of your drink
> having finished her second mug by the time you settled in, polo stretched her forelegs wide in front of her, as if to set the scene 
> "Weren't no more than a wee filly when I learned me way around a ship..."
>
>
>
> by the time polo had gotten halfway through her fairly confusing explanation of her cutie mark, the mare had already downed another four mugs and was angling to pour a fifth when you finally spoke up
"Captain, forgive me for interrupting but don't you think you might be going a little heavy on the ale tonight?" 
> she'd just finished dumping at least a third of the mug's contents on floor in the process of pouring when she registered that you'd spoken
> "Seagull... Be a good lad and fetch me another bottle."
> it took all but a glance to note that she'd long since emptied the last few drops of her special select
"...I think you drank it all, captain."
> "Oh." 
> ears pinned against her head in sheepish realization, polo slid the mug down the length of the desk, where it teetered on the edge for a moment before thankfully steadying 
> "S'pose that's that, then. Leave me be." 
> the captain struggled to her hooves as she hopped out of her chair a little too quickly and nearly toppled to the ground--you rushed over in the nick of time to steady here, but she withheld her gratitude 
> "I've got it, Seagull--you go see to the others before another of me crew falls off this tub."
> pushing you aside, the mare stumbles to her bed and promptly faceplants right in front of it
> you have a feeling she doesn't got it
> polo tries to right herself after recovering from her fall and you slip your forelegs under her barrel, scooping her up off the floor and cradling the mare as you walk her to her bed on your hind legs
> thankfully, the distance isn't far, and you lay your captain down on top of her bed as her eyes widen and she tries to swat your hooves away
> "W-what do you think you're doing, touching your captain like that? I should have your head, Seagull!" 
> despite the dim fire that flashed in her vivid blue irises, you could guess that polo probably appreciated the help in her weary state
"It's been a while since I've seen you drink so much, captain--are you all right?" 
> "...Am I a good captain, Seagull?" 
> you're taken aback by the startling sincerity in her voice
> the mare looked up at you with a fragile expression very much unlike her usual confidence, so it took you a second to collect yourself before answering 
"Of course you are, captain. What makes you think you aren't?" 
> she shifts uncomfortably in the bed, dusting the edge of the bed with her inky tail 
> you do your best not to stare too hard, lest she catch you admiring her admittedly alluring form in this compromising situation 
> "Sometimes, I just wonder if I've done right by you and the crew, Seagull. I try to be a good captain, and to look out for me stallions, but haven't you ever thought of doing something more? Something less dangerous? You could be anything, Seagull--there's no reason why you've got to waste your life here with me." 
> your response comes instantly 
"There's nothing else I'd rather do, captain. I think I speak for our crew as a whole when I say that rolling this tub down the bay with you at the helm is the most fulfilled we could ever be. It's dangerous sometimes, sure--sea doesn't always hold, after all--but there's nothing else I could see myself doing, and no better captain I could imagine us having." 
> polo's eyes widened and, surprisingly enough, a cherry hue spread across her bronze cheeks 
> "I... Er. Well... that's... good to hear, I s'pose." 
> you nod
> "...Come here for a moment, Seagull."
> another curveball?
> craning your neck curiously, you step closer and suddenly find yourself pulled to polo's golden barrel 
> she's hugging you
> you savor the faint scent of marigold drifting lazily from her fur as she tugs you closer and hugs you tighter
> "Thank you, lad. You're the best right-hoof a mare could ask for." 
> reply muffled by a mouthful of coat, she giggles sheepishly before letting you up 
> it wouldn't surprise you if you were blushing as hard as she was 
"Don't mention it, captain. I'll let you get some rest." 
> as you turn to leave, the strange tingle of magic swelling around you causes your heart to race just a bit in panic; seconds later, you're carried through the air and plopped down on the bed next to polo
"...Uh." 
> on your back, you turn to question your captain but she presses a hoof to your lips and inches closer, throwing all four legs around you
> she doesn't quite meet your gaze, and doesn't say anything either, but it wasn't like the gesture was entirely unpleasant 
> "I'd like it if you were me bunkmate tonight, Seagull. S'that alright with you?" 
> you nod 
> a smile that makes your heart flutter just a bit crosses her lips and she snuggles into your neck, quickly falling into an alcohol-induced slumber 
> you can't help but smile back
"Gnight, captain." 
>
>
>
> a sea of confused and incredibly amused faces greets you as both you and the captain leave her cabin the next morning
> it hadn't occurred to either of you to leave at different times--you're not sure it would have helped cull the embarrassment, though 
> polo clears her throat and musters a surprisingly intimidating bark as she commands the rest of the crew to get back to work 
"Anything else from me, captain?" 
> she still can't quite meet your gaze, but shakes her head anyway
> "Make yourself busy, Seagull--we've got sailing to do." 
"Aye-aye, captain."