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Post by Ladorak on May 15, 2010 12:58:56 GMT -5
((woohoo! Short post! FINALLY XD))
"Do these lids have....huh?" she caught it just as soon as he had. An ermine moment eh? Yes...the molting process could sometimes scramble them up...though admittedly Ladorak himself rarely committed slips of the tongue when he was molting. He always tried to keep a grasp on it...and speaking was essential to being a Captain as one needed to dish out orders that were comprehensible.
"Ahhh the tubs have lids. Yes....because they serve various functions, one of which is storage. Of course...if you REALLY want to have a tub in my cabin....I could purchase one in our next port." he informed her, eyes glowing a bit.
He couldn't help but to chuckle at her question of the "pantry" as she called it. "Ahh you would THINK that wouldn't you? And actually I misspoke. But I'll get into that in a second. I suppose we're both having ermine moments today eh?" he gave her a wink behind his spectacles.
"The hold and the orlop deck are completely below the waterline, and thus they're completely sealed and water tight. Those two decks are the driest on the ships because there are no gun ports to open up and let in moisture from the outside. That's also why we store the powder down there as well. Keep it away from the elements. So yes....my slip of the tongue. What I meant to say was, the food is kept in the holds, and then the Stewards go down there every morning, take out the rations for the day as specified by the Purser, and carry them up to a room on the orlop deck called the Steward's storeroom. It's a bigger version of the shelves and racks you see here. They set it all up for breakfast, dinner, and supper, and then carry each meal up here to the lower gun deck for mess times."
He went over it again in his mind, just to make sure he had gotten it straight. "Yeah...that's it. I'm surprised Spender wants to try out for such a post. But then again....his dad was in food preparation so maybe...has something to do with that?" he shrugged, though doubted Spender was so....logical in his choice of Steward.
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Post by Carrow on May 16, 2010 7:14:22 GMT -5
The truly inconsolable young wood mouse continued pacing the deck, just one level up from his pine marten companion, desperately searching for a creature he could speak to. He needed to tell somebeast what had happened, for a number of different reasons. One: he absolutely had to get both himself and that mess back there cleaned up, and he hadn't the foggiest where to start. He really did feel like a fish out of water now, and when his existential crisis was taken into account, suddenly simply throwing himself over the side and letting the open sea have its way with him started becoming a real option...
Cerinus continued on his way with the air of a creature in a sort of trance - he certainly appeared to be sleepwalking, at least to an extent. The rodent had little idea where he was going, both literally and figuratively, and it was all he could do to keep himself under control a little longer. All sorts of painful memories had been evoked by Spender's actions. It wouldn't have made any difference if the ferret had known about my past, he thought, tail dragging along the deck as he searched in vain for a friendly face or helping paw.
He felt quite removed from everything now, but could hear distant sounds coming to him from below. His large ears picked up something about wearing. The youngster would have been lying if he'd said he knew what that was, so, his fragile frame all a-tremble as a consequence of the deep depression he had been plunged into, the mouse listened silently. He said nothing in response to what he could catch from down below. What he did glean from the calls, however, told him he wouldn't have to do much to make himself secure. Like Caden, his mustelid companion - his only real friend in the world - below him, the Dibbun was already on starboard side anyway, so he trudged over to the hull, leaned back against it and braced himself.
It was lucky for him that he wasn't seasick, or he would have found himself in the same predicament that Spender had earlier. He certainly wasn't used to the motion (though that was of course to be expected), but it was the unexpectedness of it all that surprised him, more than the sensation itself. It wasn't particularly violent, and things were soon calm again, with the rodent resuming his tired trek a short while later.
From what he could gather about the number of voices that had been audible below him, most other creatures were on the lower gun deck. That would explain why there's nobeast around, he thought. His facial fur was damp from where his tears had fallen, and that weight had come upon him once more. For that brief, fleeting moment, he had been able to turn his mind to other things, but now it had passed, and he was alone with his thoughts again.
Moments later, it happened. Carrow had been hoping he'd have been able to hold out for longer, but with everything pressing down on him it had only been a matter of time. He felt his legs tremble, then it was as though he was forced into a sitting position. He wasn't certain, but he could have sworn he felt something break inside him. Overwhelmed by sheer hopelessness, he slumped, back against the hull, burying his head in his paws, the tears now coursing openly down his face as, for the second time in his life, Cerinus Apodemus broke down.
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Post by bookity101 on May 17, 2010 9:04:33 GMT -5
El’s felt her eyes widening as they began the process of wearing. It was a situation that would take some getting used to. She copied Caden and leaned up against the wall, bracing herself during the wear. Then she felt her eyes grow wide.
“Wait, upper gun deck?” El ran for the steps. “Spender’s up there… alone… with Carrow!” Els ran up to the deck and noticed the striped ferret in a jumble on the floor, but choose to ignore him. Figuring Caden would have followed, she called over her shoulder.
“Caden, could you help him up? I’m gonna find Carrow.” El ran to the end of the row, looking for Carrow. It didn’t take her very long to find sobbing mouse against hull.
“Carrow, Carrow…” She put a hand on his shoulder, shaking him gently. “Carrow, are you ok buddy?” ********
Luxe nodded his thanks to the weasel, then made his way up the steps, missing the growing drama on the upper gun deck as he focused on the beast he assumed was the Master-At-Arms. Though he was talking… Luxe stood back deciding that he could wait for the hedgehog to be done.
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Post by spender on May 17, 2010 9:36:20 GMT -5
Molly continued to inspect the tub, running her paws along inside of it as she listened. A steeping tub, hmm... could be a lot of uses for this. A bathtub-- going to need one of those in a few weeks. A crib, even... or...
"This could hold a lot of pudding," she mused aloud. She blinked and straightened up again. "Sorry, Spender? Which one is he? Was that the little..." She was blushing. "Ferret without any...?"
She had to hide a grin as Ladorak confirmed her suspicions. The little scamp from that party! Of course, with the, erm... interesting father. Ahhh, right, that was his brother. So his nephew was here? Interesting.
"You know," she said, as they walked back out of the galley, "I think I'll come back here and see what I can do to help for supper. 'Til then, I think I'd like to rest for a bit. I've still got some luggage to organize..."
~ ~ ~
Spender picked himself up. He picked up his cap and stuck it on his head (which was still sticky from oatmeal on his fur; it was a wonder the cap had come off at all, really.) He picked up his sack of blocks, and followed after Elliot - what was the marten doing up here? What was that noise, it sounded like...
Oh.
The ferret stopped, staring askance at Carrow's shuddering form. He recalled a time not many weeks ago, when those shaking shoulders and pool of tears had been his own. But... this was different, surely? I mean, it was just some oatmeal. Can't he take a joke? Did he get hit when I wasn't looking, maybe?
He crept nearer, but then caught sight of Caden. Caught between the two martens, and the two friends at either end of the lineup, Spender did the first smart thing he'd done all day, and backed against the hull to let Caden past. He slipped around the cannon and hurried on, further and further away, before either marten could call him out.
What had he done? Carrow was acting like somebeast had beaten him up, but he'd never laid a paw on him. What if the others didn't believe him-- what if the mouse made something up? It was just oatmeal! ... okay, oatmeal and a bit of shredded cheese mixed in! And a little cold and stiff from being trapped in his cap for the past little while, but it's not like Spender stabbed him. Not like that one squirrel at school. No...
Not like that at all.
Even so, Spender did the only thing he could think of to do in situations like these: he hid, heading down below into the orlop deck.
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Post by Carrow on May 17, 2010 11:08:52 GMT -5
Cerinus had known that with a disposition and a past like his, it would have had to happen eventually, but he had known that whenever he was hit like this again, he would be hit hard. Everything was rapidly closing in on the young mouse, and his paws became soaked as he wept. He wiped them across his face briefly (and removing a good deal of the oatmeal on his bewhiskered features - though he was oblivious to its presence in his current state), before bursting out afresh again.
I'm hopeless, he thought. An utter waste of space who never really meant anything to any creature. Only a pawful of beasts would care if I vanished off the face of the earth. Oh... I know Archie wouldn't take it well, but I'm not sure she could be surprised in such a case. She knows how brittle I am... how many times she's had to pick me up when I've fallen and put me together again. I'm not sure if the thought of even possibly seeing her again is enough anymore. I have to admit that to myself now. I'm... not sure how much more of this I can take...
With dark, unsettling thoughts running through his mind, the rodent was lost in his despair. He was shaking like a leaf, completely overcome by sorrow. He scarcely heard the sound of soft paws jogging along the deck, nor felt a comforting paw upon his shoulder, nor heard a familiar, soothing voice in his ears. He sensed the shaking, but remained entirely unresponsive. The youngster was clearly not all there. He simply sat where he'd slumped, tears coursing rivulets down his cheeks, a few even splattering onto his heretofore clean white shirt.
He felt almost numb, but little by little the Dibbun could feel his sensations returning. It was like he had been frozen for those few moments, and was now beginning a kind of thaw. Gradually, gradually, he noticed the warmth of that paw on his shoulder. Still shaking violently, Carrow raised his head, and found himself looking into - at last! - a kind face: Elliot's. The wood mouse's large brown eyes merely regarded the beech marten for a moment, then he lowered his gaze slightly, shaking his head at length - and even at that if was difficult for him to accomplish the gesture.
The young mouse felt that he had been rendered mute by his complete collapse. It was as if he had lost the power of speech entirely. The only sounds he felt like making were sobs. Said outbursts continued sporadically, as his large, tearful eyes came to rest on the mustelid's again. He'd decided that he wanted his gaze to be held by another creature's for now. Certain beasts on board knew that eye contact was comforting to him. He had entered a kind of spellbound state now, that was for sure. He didn't feel as though he were willing nor able to snap out of it any time soon, either...
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Post by Ladorak on May 17, 2010 11:13:33 GMT -5
Ladorak could only muse at what Molly was turning over in her mind in regards the crib. She was a pensive stoat when she wanted to be, and often had deep thoughts about some way to amuse them...but lately she seemed to have other things on her mind...commitment for one of them. The jack only hoped she could consider it as seriously as he was. He couldn't propose to her until he was sure.
He smiled, nodding with his eyes closed as he thought of Spender. "Yes...though he's got them on now...as he bloody well should have. Can't walk around here without them after all." he clicked his teeth and briefly though of the ferret who was sort of his nephew. Ladorak hadn't seen Seige in years, a decade really, and wasn't sure if he still considered that pack of ferrets his in laws (if that's what they were) or not. It was on his father's second marriage...which only made the matter terribly confusing.
He'd have to possibly speak to Seige when he got back...whenever that would be. "But yes...I too have unloading to do. We'll finish setting up my cabin, or our cabin I think I should call it, and then see about supper. After that, back to work for a bit, and then sleep." he spoke as he moved around the walls and out of the galley, heading aft and towards the stairs. Day one hadn't been too bad...and though it wasn't over yet, the routine was setting in, but Ladorak intended to give the crew vigorous training in gunnery and paw to paw combat over the next month before they reached Crittenden.
He wanted his ship to be the best, and only training could ensure that that happened. It made a world of difference when your ship was the best. You could fire broadsides at a faster rate, and pawdle the ship better in tricky wind conditions. He wanted his ship to be that ship. Agamemnon would have the finest service record in the fleet...they would give the rest of the Welkin Navy something to look at when they returned at the conclusion of this conflict.
~~~~~~~~~
Caden gulped down another bite, and tried to stop Elliot to no avail. "Hey Elliot! Where the...we can't take the forks off the lower gun deck! Hey! What's the big deal! I'm sure he'd be fine!" What was the problem? Was Spender seriously that grave a threat to the mouse? Caden glanced at the wooden fork in his paw, then down at the cake. Ugh...what was the rush?
Running forward and not immediately following after Elle, the albino hurriedly dropped the fork down into the wash tub, setting his cake aside to rapidly rub his pawpads over the chocolate covered utensil and get it clean again before he could replace it in the racks overhead, remembering to place it in the furthest one aft, where he'd gotten it.
Still holding his cake, the marten moved up to the upper gun deck a few minutes after Elle had gotten up there, huffing a bit at the sudden need to run. Help Spender up? Whatever for? Where was the ferret anyway? Aside from the Master-at-Arms walking up and down the deck, and crew beasts here and there on or off duty, Caden didn't immediately pick out the ferret.
He thought he saw him ducking in between two cannon, but then heard and saw the mouse at roughly the same time. "C...Carrow!?" Caden stammered, heading over to where the mouse was crying. "What...what happened?! I thought you were sleeping." his attention now on the mouse, the stripling failed to notice Spender moving behind him and toward the companionway down. Spender blended in well with the other crew moving about, but Caden's primary concern at the moment was the mouse.
A sinking feeling settled over the albino now. Oh blast...was this his fault? Had leaving him alone done something dreadful to the mouse? What could have possibly happened? Had Spender done something? And if so...was it serious enough to get the ferret flogged?
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Post by Carrow on May 17, 2010 14:39:14 GMT -5
Cerinus felt a little more comforted when he recognised another voice. It sounded panicked, and rightly so, but the wood mouse at least knew that Caden was nearby. Having Elliot with him had helped him, albeit only slightly, and so too did the albino stripling's presence. The rodent caught the worried look on his pine marten companion's face, and knew he had to speak. It pained him to do so, and his speech was slow, soft and laboured when he finally did open his mouth.
The rodent was all over the place, that much was for certain. His head was throbbing and he felt nausea begin to manifest itself in his stomach, but he rapidly suppressed the urge to retch. Not that I even have much of anything left inside me, he thought sadly.
Looking up into Caden's eyes, or at least trying to as he could hardly see for tears, he finally responded. The concerned look on the mustelid's face was too troubling not to take heed of, so, while it was very difficult for him to say anything, he did so.
"Everything's... come back... Spender... woke me... earlier... with that... oatmeal... of his... and now... I recall everything... that happened... at school... even... what I'd been... trying... to forget... it's all too much, Caden... too much...," he repeated in tremulous tones, shaking all over, his tail whipping all about him in a distressed fashion.
The marten's absence had had no adverse effect on him. Of course, the long-tailed field mouse couldn't tell that this was worrying his friend, but, well, he'd accepted that they wouldn't always be together while aboard. The same went with Elliot: the three were pursuing different paths.
The youngster looked as though he were about to speak more, but instead he trailed off, beginning to whimper fitfully instead. He wiped his eyes with a paw again, but even as the tears started to flow afresh, he could glimpse that his brown eyes were meeting Caden's pink ones, and this was enough for him. It could be seen that the Dibbun looked extremely pale, his normally rosy complexion having taken on an off-white tinge.
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Post by Ladorak on May 17, 2010 15:25:28 GMT -5
Caden listened attentively, frowning now as he thought about the simple words the mouse was using. So...Spender had done something...with the oatmeal? Woke him up with it? Like what? Thrown it on him? He was getting upset about something like that? If Spender had tried that with him....well he'd probably gotten a punch in the snout.
This concerned Caden for several reasons. First off, if Ladorak found out about this...he might very well toss Carrow off the ship and send him home, and that was something the marten didn't want. Life at sea was strenuous, especially in combat, and if the mouse was crying over something like this...he definitely wasn't cut out for life aboard ship. That was the dark fact that Caden was struggling with. The frailty of his companion was quite worrisome.
Caden shook his head, trying to think of what to do. "Hey....Carrow..." Caden knelt down now, trying to keep his attention. "Carrow I don't think you should be doing this here. If Ladorak finds out...well you wouldn't be keeping your word to him remember? You're going to have to put on a tough face mate...I'd rather not see your resolve brought into question here. I mean we all have bad pasts here...but I don't think it's worth crying over."
He shook his head again, closing his eyes briefly and thinking a moment before reopening them. "If you want me to, I could go over and talk to the Master-at-Arms about Spender. I mean I think I saw Spender when I came up here, and there aren't any real places to hide on a ship, so catching him would be a matter of seconds. If you want him disciplined it won't be a problem...but I really wouldn't be doing this right now...Ladorak's off duty, so he'll be wandering about, and I don't want him to see you like this. I mean come on...you're on a ship now...being taken to a new place. No point in looking back right? Only forward...got a whole new life ahead of us."
He glanced over his shoulder quickly, noting the Master-at-Arms was still around. He must have been walking the beat on the upper gun deck today. "It's your call mate. I could go over and tell the Master-at-Arms if you want. Good discipline would get him in line pretty quickly I'm sure...." Though it could also make him bitter he didn't add. That ferret would learn quick or never progress. "But either way, I think you should try and stop if you can. Don't want to be seen like this after all."
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Post by Carrow on May 17, 2010 18:11:55 GMT -5
Cerinus listened just as attentively to Caden's words. Well, there was rather a lot of sense in what the pine marten was advising him to do; the rodent was just unsure if he could actually do that. This whole event had opened up the floodgates, both literally and figuratively, and he was having a hard time trying to shut them again.
He knew he'd promised Ladorak about his, well, episodes, but he had always been a creature who had struggled to keep himself together. I've always been... delicate, he thought. The mouse sighed, still looking into Caden's eyes, finding his gaze comforting as always.
He sniffed slightly, and tried to stand. Slowly, slowly, the youngster eased himself from his position, hopping from paw to paw for a moment to get the circulation going again. He seemed worn out once more, but this was mainly because of the emotional strain he was under. Once he'd put such thoughts out of his head, he was sure he'd be fine again.
The Dibbun wiped a paw across his eyes. He couldn't hide his shaken appearance; his brown eyes were red-rimmed and bleary-looking, but he managed to put on a slight smile nevertheless. He responded to his friend's wise words, voice shaking still, but it was far less noticeable. However, he wasn't sure if he'd be back to his more cheerful self before the day was through.
He knew that displays like this weren't exactly the best indication of his being able to survive on a ship. He felt himself begin to rise slowly out of his despondent mood at the words, 'If Ladorak finds out...well you wouldn't be keeping your word to him remember?' Of course, he did recall that. He'd really been trying his hardest, but then again it had all happened so fast.
With shaky paws, he took a step towards the kind mustelid, reaching out and placing a paw on his friend's shoulder to steady himself. "You're right...", he said in a soft voice. Caden's words had set him thinking, and one idea in particular the marten had brought up was sounding rather good to him at that point, so he made sure to keep his voice low in case certain ferrets were eavesdropping. He was quickly learning that trying to keep track of Spender was at the least extremely difficult. At least now he could put a little perspective on things. "Of course, you're right. I couldn't help it - everything just welled up so quickly within me - and I apologise if I worried you. I'll have to keep a lid on this in future. I know that, and I'll do my best to, well, keep it out of sight at the very least.
"I have to admit though, much as I'd like to see that contemptible creature put in his place, I'm not sure it'd be good for either of us. I have a hunch that he only took his chance earlier when he realised you weren't around. I heard you, one deck below me, earlier on - and that's what it must have been. The opportunistic beast that he is, it couldn't have been anything else.
"He seems to think of me as a creature who needs protection. I do. I always have, I'll readily admit that - but that creature will never miss a chance to take advantage of that. And, well, I can see things going badly for me if he's allowed free rein on board. So if you don't mind, I'd like us to go and do that whenever we have the chance - together. I won't be able to stand him anyway at this rate, but I'm not going to stand idly by and let him have his way. So we should do something, that's what I say."
His friend's last words struck a responsive chord with him, and he brightened visibly. "As for what you say about moving on, well, I've been thinking about this all day in all honesty. The bad old days are behind me, so why shouldn't I recall just the few good memories I have of that time? I really will try to put it out of my mind, Please trust me on that, Caden. I know I've difficulty getting a pawdle on my emotions, but let's not talk about me getting thrown off ship just yet, matey," he murmured, already beginning to make light of the situation. "This means so much to me, being here, on board a ship, with endless possibilities stretching out before, and I'll do all I an not to throw it away. I can make this work. I don't plan to let any of you down. Neither you, nor Captain Fugate... nor myself. Not anymore."
His whiskers twitched, and his tail rose slowly to assume its usual position. He'd needed to get all that emotion out of his system. The trouble with Carrow was that such things came in short bursts. However, he felt quite a lot better for it all now. After all these false starts, he thought, I really feel like I can make it this time. He'd learn to control his emotions over time - hopefully sooner than expected, with a little assistance from various quarters of course.
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Post by Ladorak on May 17, 2010 22:55:28 GMT -5
Caden felt a great tension being lifted, and breathed an inward sigh of relief. "You don't know how glad I am to see you back on your paws. You're looking a tad better already." he said, smiling. On second thought...telling the Master-at-Arms might not be such a good idea, as Carrow brought up. Sure Spender would be forced to clean up the mess again...and possibly disciplined for it, but the Master-at-Arms might also say Carrow should learn to stand up for himself and get thicker skin.
So best let this one go. If Spender screwed up enough he'd get worse and worse punishments...so the ferret would take care of himself, for better or for worse. "Well come on then. Supper's going to be on soon, and I'm looking forward to it." he put his arm about the mouse, guiding him in a way back to the stairs. "Hey Elliot...good call. I guess I shouldn't underestimate Spender next time. If we stick together though, we should be able to make it." Mostly for Carrow's sake. I should be fine on my own...I hope.
He found himself thinking about Elle though. It happened whenever Elliot was brought up. And why? Did he...like her like her or just...like her? But she was a girl and girls were...well at least had the potential to be more than friends. He understood that now thanks to Ladorak, and it unnerved him a bit. Did he feel that way about Elle? He'd have to think on it....long and deep. But maybe he could ask Elliot more about her in the meantime over the next few weeks.
The next few weeks they'd be getting their sea legs...and then...Ferlusan! They'd be docking there, where new adventures awaited! Caden could hardly wait, and it was just the start of their journey after all. A journey with good friends. He hoped to be a better sailor and still learning by then, but showing any improvement was better than nothing.
To the open ocean now.....and Ferlusan.
END
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