Joanna's outburst had certainly captured the eyes of the entire cantina, all mouths losing their words as her tone tore into the captain whose eyes narrowed angrily in response.  As the two stormed out of the cafeteria, returning below the deck towards their room, the men watched them disappear, and then every eye slowly turned back to the captain.  Their stares hungered, wondering if the captain would take such an offence sitting down, or if swift retribution would follow.  Any of the men addressing the captain with such insolence would be on the floor, scooping up their teeth, and it was clearly an issue of intense interest to see if the women would receive the same treatment.<br/><br/>The captain took his napkin, brushing his lips briefly and slamming it down on the table, standing and knocking his chair out from under him, sending it toppling over.  His eyes hardened, scanning the room for any of the men who wanted to proffer a suggestion on the proper handling of the situation, yet all of them cast their eyes down as he moved towards the lower deck.  All except one.<br/><br/>Tim stood, moving to intercept the captain before he disappeared below deck.  As the captain reached the stairs, Tim's hand reached out and took the captain by the wrist, causing the captain to whirl on him, eyes hardened in fury, causing a handful of fearful hisses to erupt in the cantina.  The first mate instantly thought better of it, releasing him, but he whispered harshly.<br/><br/>"Captain," he pleaded.  "They don't understand where they are yet."<br/><br/>"They will be<i>made to,</i>" Harrington snarled.  "Keep these men above the cantina deck.  Anyone who comes to observe their punishment will receive it thricefold."<br/><br/>Tim's nostrils flared angrily, but he stood aside, leaving the captain to go and discipline the girls.  He stood watch in the meantime, fidgeting nervously, worry clearly etched in the lines on his face.<br/><br/>The captain stomped down the stairs, reaching the lower deck and heading towards the girl's room.  The sound of his purposeful footfalls made him sound like a monster, marauding for flesh as he approached, cloaked in the darkness of the deepest recesses of the ship.  It was only when he stepped in the range of the flickering lantern light that the girls would see that his eyes didn't hold the same rage his footsteps did.  In fact, he looked weary.  He stood in their doorway for a long moment.<br/><br/>"I think for any of us to survive this, we will need to reach an accord," he muttered, keeping his voice low so that none above could hear him.  He reached deep into the pockets of his jacket, pulling out four savory bread rolls that he'd swiped as he stormed through the cantina, with a little sleight of hand, providing a pair for each of the girls as a peace offering, setting them on top of a barrel next to the lantern.<br/><br/>"Please understand that it has only been my intent to protect the two of you up to this point," he explained, leaning in the doorway.  "I'm sure you're aware of the type of men we inhabit this ship with.  My control over them is largely illusion -- if anything interrupts the facade of command that I have... well, let's just say the captain who replaces me is unlikely to have your best interests at heart."<br/><br/>"This cell is not meant to be your prison.  It is the best protection I can offer you."  He watched both Joanna and Ellen carefully for a long moment.  "But I can't just keep you here as pets.  The men will think I've gone soft.  You'll need to fulfill your promise to get the work done, by any means necessary," he explained.  "I'll do my best to keep the work manageable until we can reach a port city and the two of you can slip away, but until then, I need you both to keep your heads down and try not to stir up any trouble.  That means no mouthing off in front of the men, whether I've got it coming or not.  In private?  I'm not so restrictive."<br/><br/>He straightened his jacket, stepping backwards out of the room.  "If you need anything, please let me know -- again, in private.  And try to act punished for a day or so, so the men don't just think you got a stern talking to.  And I'll see to it that you both have a little more freedom, if I can.  Deal?"