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Summary: As Barlow lays siege to Angora, you and Morgan flee attempt to make your escape on board the Rose. However, when Barlow springs a trap, the two of you finally come face-to-face with the Dread King himself. Morgan refuses to hand you over, and is ready to fight to the death for your freedom, even if it costs him his own life. However, you’re not about to let your captain die for you.

CW: violence, stabbing, threats, innuendo, yandere elements, storms/thunder/lightning, Pirate Tropes Galore

Characters:

• Morgan (M) - Male; pirate; captain of the Black Rose; in debt to the pirate king. Acts ruthless/harsh, but has a soft and gentle side that is emerging more and more as he falls for the Listener.
• Barlow (B) - Male; the pirate king. Ruthless, sly, and domineering; thrives on manipulation and control. Has kept Morgan in indentured servitude for the last decade. Considers the mer-Listener to be the ultimate "treasure", and wants Morgan to hand her over as the final payment for his debt.

Usage:

• OK to record & monetize, as long as you give me credit in the video/audio description as the scriptwriter! I would also love to listen to the recording when it’s done–please send me the link on Reddit! Paywalling is okay; however, if you paywall, you must make it possible for me to listen to the finished product.
• Gender-flipping and small tweaks are okay (e.g., changing pronouns, leaving out/changing curse words), but no large edits are permitted.
• Feel free to use music or insert sound effects if you’d like. Any sound effects given are suggestions–use at your discretion. *Sound effects in bold, set apart by asterisks\*
• Any dialogue or reactions given by the Listener are purely for the benefit of the VA, to help them feel like they have something to respond to while they’re acting. Listener reactions in italics.
• Please let me know if you have any questions!

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\distant sound of cannons firing; background panic/commotion\**

M: (frantic; out of breath) There she is! Come on, Angelfish! We’re almost there!

[...]

M: What does it look like we’re doin!? We’re gettin’ the hell out of here! Don’t be afeared—once we’re on board the Rose, not even he can catch us. If we can just—!

[...]

M: What?! No—to hell with me! We’ve got to get you out of here! If we can just get out to sea, you can throw yourself overboard and—

[...]

M: NO! Don’t you understand!? I’d rather be in debt to him me whole damn life than see him lay a finger on you! He can drag me down to Davy Jones himself if he wants—I don’t care. So long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters. Now stop arguin’! Get yourself up that gangplank; you hear me!? That’s an order!

\running footsteps; grunts as Morgan and the Listener climb aboard, only to be greeted with an empty deck\**

M: What the—? Where is everyone? (calls) Dawson!? Beckworth!? Greaves!? Get yer greasy hides out here, or so help me—!

B: (calls) NOW!

\cries and shouts of a mob\**

M: Aaaargh! Damn it! Angelfish–get behind me!

\more shouts, as Morgan and the Listener are surrounded\**

M: Grrrr…scurvy dogs! Got you doin’ his dirty work for him, does he? Too much of a coward to come and face me himself!?

\footsteps\**

B: \evil chuckle** Mayhap I was just waitin’ for the right moment.

M: Barlow! How the hell did you know where we were!? What do you want!?

B: Well, well…if it isn’t me old friend, the great “No-Mercy” Morgan. Looks like I was right—if you want to catch a rat, you’ve got to track it back to its nest.

M: Answer me question, you bastard! Just what do you want with us!?

B: Methinks you already know the answer to that, don’t ye, lad? (sees the Listener) So this is the creature, eh? Beggin’ your pardon, milady. Captain Romulus Barlow, at your service. Or perhaps ye might know me better as the Dread King. (leers) Mmm…aye. I see Perkins wasn’t exaggeratin’—you truly are the greatest beauty a pirate ever laid eyes on.

M: Perkins!? (rage) Of course…that double-crossin’ little scab! I’ll string him up by his insides!

B: \chuckle** You’re welcome to try…though you might have some trouble findin’ all the pieces. After all, the only thing I hate more than a thief is a turncoat. Still, he had some mighty interesting things to say, before the end.

M: What did he tell you?

B: He said you’d had quite a successful raid the last time around. He also mentioned you’d found something of tremendous value…and he didn’t know if you could be counted on to hand it over, as you should.

M: Don’t tell me you believed him? That rat would say anythin’ to get himself made captain!

B: Aye, so he would. Still…I can’t deny there’s been a change in you, Morgan. I can feel somethin’ shiftin’ in you, like the wind in me sails. I figured it was time we had a little chat, to remind you of where your loyalties lie.

M: Loyalty? Just what have you done to deserve my loyalty, you bilge-suckin’ bastard!? I should’ve been free years ago! We all should’ve!

B: Watch your mouth, lad.

M: NO! I’m through with it; you hear me!? All these years you’ve been bleedin’ us dry, always tellin’ us we’re nearly there. Well, you can take your lies and shove ‘em up your arse!

B: \dark chuckle** Seems you’re still the same hotheaded pup that you were, all those years ago. Very well. You want your freedom, do ye? Then let’s see you prove yourself one last time. Give me the girl, and we’ll call it even.

M: Back off, Barlow. She’s mine.

B: Oh, really? So Perkins was right. Or…is it more than that? Don’t tell me…has the great “No-Mercy” Morgan actually gone soft?

M: Shut up!

B: Don’t lie to me, lad. I can practically see Cupid’s arrow stickin’ out of that pathetic heart o’ yours. I thought I taught you better than this.

M: Shut your damn mouth! She’s nothin’ to me!

B: Then it should be easy to part with her, eh? What’s one small piece o’ treasure, when it's the rest o' yer life at stake?

M: How do I know this isn’t just one more of your lies?

B: I swear it on me name. Hand her over, and you’re a free man, at last. I might even leave this town standin’, if I’m feelin’ generous. (sinister) Otherwise, you know what’ll happen, don’t you? Aye…’twould be a shame if you met the same fate as your dear mother. If only she hadn't tried to shield ye...but no reason for ye both to die a senseless death. Last chance, Morgan. Give her to me.

Pause.

M: …Alright, then. Shake on it?

B: \chuckle** That’s a good lad. Just like I taught you, eh? Show no mercy, no matter wha—

\stabbing noise; cry of pain from Barlow, followed by a scream of rage\**

B: GRAAAH! \blade being drawn\** You filthy rat! I’ll use your skin for a sail!

M: Then so be it! You’ll never touch her, so long as I live!

\clashing of swords; grunts\**

B: Hah—not bad! Still, you forget who you’re dealin’ with. (to his men) Men! Seize him!

\loud shouts from the men\**

M: No! Aaaargh! You cheatin’ bastard!—

\cry of pain from Morgan\**

\blade clatters to the ground\**

B: That’s right, men. Hold him tight! (to Morgan) Have ye any last words, Morgan? Mayhap ye’d like to say a final goodbye for your sweet little mer-lass over—?

Suddenly, the Listener speaks up: “STOP!!!”

B: —Huh? What was that, milady?

M: Angelfish, NO! Get out of here!

B: Well, well. Just what are you tryin’ to do, lass? You don’t really think you can stop me, do you?

[...]

B: Spare him, eh? Why should I? The punishment for mutiny is death. Or…have ye somethin’ to offer in exchange?

[...]

B: Yourself? (laughs) You do realize I could just kill him and take you, don’t you? No bargain necessary. Still…I like ‘em feisty. Very well, then. Come here.

M: No! Angelfish! What the hell are you doin’!?

B: \chuckle** That’s a good girl. It’s been awhile since I had meself a new toy. I’ll warn you, though…I tend to play rough.

\magic sounds\**

B: Gah! The hell was that!?

\Throughout the following dialogue, the faint sounds of a storm begin, growing progressively stronger\**

B: Tryin’ to pull a fast one on me, eh? Unfortunately for you, it’s gonna take more than a bit o’ magic to bring me down. Still, by all means, keep tryin’. I’d be glad for an excuse to punish you later.

M: NO! Let her go!!!

B: (sinister, gleeful) Aye…mayhap I was too hasty before. A traitor like him doesn’t deserve a quick death. No…better to let him live, so he can see just what I’m gonna do to ye. Now, allow me to show you to your new quarters. If you thought the Rose was impressive, I promise ye…she’s nothin’ compared to the Lost Soul.

\thunder\**

B: Hmm? What the—? Where did all these clouds come from!?

[...]

B: What? No—they’re only over us? It’s not possible…how the hell—?

\loud clap of thunder; noises of fear from the crew\**

B: Graah! Silence, ye filthy swabs! You’re really gonna let a little storm intimidate ye!?

[...]

B: (getting desperate) Enough! That be nothin’ but a fairy tale; you hear me!? I’ll hear no talk of so-called “curses”! Now, take the traitor to the brig, or I swear, I’ll send ye to the depths faster than ye can say “Davy—

\even louder clap of thunder\**

\panicked shouting, as the other pirates flee\**

B: Hey! HEY! GET BACK HERE! Yellow-bellied cowards—I’ll have all your hides! (to the Listener; raging) Is this you, then, lass!? Miserable little wretch! Ye forget who I am. I am the Dread King…the master of the seas! Ye think ye can scare me? I’ll show ye what fear really means!

\lightning strike, accompanied by a scream from Barlow\**

\thunder/lightning/storm sounds fade out\**

Silence.

M: (breathing hard) Angelfish?

Morgan sees the Listener lying motionless on the deck.

M: ANGELFISH!

Morgan runs over to the Listener, holding her.

\Morgan’s voice starts to fade out, as the Listener loses consciousness\**

M: (frantic) No! No; stay with me! Stay with me! Come on, Angelfish! It's gonna be alright. You'll be fine; you hear me? Just stay awake! Come on! Stay awake!...Angelfish?...Angelfish!...