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Post by bookity101 on Oct 13, 2010 23:02:31 GMT -5
Elle took hold of the shot, carefully gripping it with both paws. Her paw had just finished completely healing from the last two times it had been smushed by heavy objects, and she didn’t feel like a repeat performance today. Gently, she pawed the heavy thing into Caden’s waiting paws.
“Hm..? Flustered?” She spun around the moment it was well in his paws to grab the wading. “I guess I was, first fight, all the running around, and ya’know…”After he grasped it, she rubbed one claw across her brow, a nervous gesture that hadn’t shown for awhile. “… and then it got hectic and… well we didn’t get a lot of sleep…” She stepped away from the canon, making sure she was out of the way for the Middle Watch.
*~*~*~*
Down below decks, there was a single being that was not running around like an ant. While officers shouted, paws pounded, ropes creaked, and waves crashed… She slept on. Well tried to. With all the nonsense going on above her head, Miri was unable to stay asleep.
With a groan, she pushed herself up and out of her hammock, grateful that she had no official job to do. Sighing, she began to get dressed. Her hammock wasn’t in the way, which is why she hadn’t been booted out of her bead. Slowly she put her things away, and dressed. Ever so slowly, she climbed the steps to the open air. Taking a position by the rail, she fiddled with her knives. She sighed again. This was why she had stayed in bed… Waiting was so BORING!
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Post by spender on Oct 14, 2010 7:14:31 GMT -5
"I remember my first battle," Molly said quietly, leaning next to Miri. Ladorak was off being a busy captain, and she didn't want to go below decks in case she got in the way of anything. There was precious little else to do. Besides. Molly had been wanting to get more chances to talk to Miri and the other passengers. Cooping herself up all the time didn't help, but now she had no other distractions—provided Spender didn't come badger her for another fix...
"Nothing like this... Blazing towards the enemy full-sail, outnumbered. We were sneaks in the Imperium. The Captain had dressed the ship in merchant's colours. We pulled right along side this ship, just chock full of treasure..." The stoat jill grinned. "It was a massacre. And on top of it, I was a guest of the Boatswain's. He was having... difficulties in attendance. I dressed up in his clothes and snuck out to take his place. Heehee! Now that's a battle." She nodded approvingly at Miri's blades. "Not a single shot fired that day. Hah! They didn't even have gunpowder, let alone guns..."
Spender was heading towards them, having finished his job in the rigging. Molly shook her head gently. The ferret stopped, his head dipping down in sadness, and he turned and trudged away.
"This isn't your first time either, I'm assuming, Jis Tallian?"
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Post by Ladorak on Oct 14, 2010 22:31:57 GMT -5
Caden rolled the heavy iron shot into the barrel, and placed his left paw over the opening, as the ship was pitching and rolling, even more so now that her studding sails were set and she was picking up speed. He grabbed the wad from Elliot, and thrust it into the barrel in front of the shot, stepping back to let Ocean have at it.
Ocean pushed the two down into the breech, shoving the rammer back and forth and jamming the shot in between the two wads. Withdrawing the rammer, he pawed it over to Carrow to place back down on the deck. "Thanks Carrow...I really mean it. Needed this...for both of us I think."
He was cut short by "CAPTAIN ON DECK!" The crew immediately came to attention, all eyes turned to glimpse Ladorak Fugate, stoat commander of the Agamemnon standing at the foot of the stairs of the aft companionway.
His angular, hunter face was all business as he strode forward, running an inspection tour of the ship, his paws clasped behind his back. His sharps eyes swept back and forth, and he was checking to make sure the decks had been properly cleared, and that the cannon were all loaded and ready. It was the countdown to the battle...and it began now. Ladorak walked by row after row of the guns, catching the eyes of Caden's gun crew as he moved past, the barest hint of smiles playing over his features as he passed them. Reaching the bow, the stoat whirled, looking out over the assembled gun deck.
"Alright! Well done crew! This is our first time entering combat...and we look sharp! Sharp as a claw!" he flicked a gleaming claw into the light to emphasize his point. "I'm quite pleased with the results. Now then...we're back on a regular schedule. The larboard watch will get back to their duties as we're currently in the Middle Watch...and as for the starboard watch...you can't go back to sleep as we need the crew alert and the decks cleared, so you're on leisure time until the Morning Watch starts, which will be in another..." He checked his pocket watch. "Hour and a half. You're on a down time until either the Morning Watch, or we beat to quarters. The galley will be serving coffee and a small breakfast if you need it. Excellent work crew...we'll show them what the Welkinite Navy is made of!" he said, flashing his canines and letting his incisors glint in the dull light.
He was transformed. He was a hunter now...a sleek, ancestral member of his race almost, yet he was still Captain Fugate. He continued on his tour of inspection, nodding at the crew, before disappearing down the fore companionway to tour the orlop deck (mostly to check to see if Kasal had properly set up the cockpit as his operating theater).
Caden grinned now, and stretched, walking away from the cannon. "We did it Selvis!" he exclaimed happily, eyes lighting up as he walked up to the long tail stripling. "Now we can take it easy for a bit. Can't go back to sleep...so yeah Elliot...I understand you on that one...but at least we get some relaxation time...I don't think I could go back to sleep in all honesty...not knowing we're getting close to a fight." he said, glancing at the open gun port, though he was standing a bit further back and couldn't fully see very far out of it.
Oh right...Spender...would he be heading down here soon? Caden had made him that offer after all...
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Post by bookity101 on Oct 14, 2010 22:51:45 GMT -5
Elle snapped to as the words ‘CAPTAIN ON DECK!’ rang out. She couldn’t help but shiver a little as the captain caught her eye as he passed on inspection. He looked… scary, but a good scary; the type that set her mind to work, thankful that she was NOT on the ship that they were chasing.
After he was done speaking, and they were dismissed to have free time, she followed her friend over to Selvis, she glanced over at Carrow, noticing he seemed to standing a bit delicately. Had he re-injured his back already? Coming to stand by him she tapped his shoulder to get his attention;
“How’s your back holding up Carrow?” She glanced at Ocean, who had taken over Carrow’s job as sponger. Knowing that her friend was prone to downplaying what was happening himself to much, especially when he had something else he thought he had to be doing, she added;
“And please do me the favor of being completely honest with yourself about it. Do you want one of those compresses the Doc sent with me?” Worry furrowed her brow as she looked at him. “Just in case?”
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Miri nodded to Jis Serra as the other femme joined her at the rail, listening semi-passively till she was addressed by name;
“I’ve been in a fair number of fights,” Miri skillfully began to flip one of the knives in her paw, end over end as she thought for a moment.
“I’d say my first big fight, I was oh.” She cocked her head thinking. “I was seventeen.” A grin began form. “I was working a job with an old friend. Bunch of brutes where trying to make life miserable for every beast, stealing grain and the like from a warehouse.” Miri couldn’t help but notice Spender as he walked away, not that she was going to call for him to come over, she didn’t understand kits or striplings very well. Liked them well enough, just had no patience for them.
“Me an’ him had been watching the place for the mayor for two weeks by the time they made their move…” Miri shook her head as her grin grew slightly feral in the memory. “By then I was ready to crack some heads… an’ crack ‘em we did.” Sheathing the knife, she reached back onto her waist where she removed her lead weighted baton. Gently smacking her pawpaw with I, as she said just a little more;
“I’ve always preferred blunt weapons to my knives really, as I see it; any kit can cut somebeast, getting what you want from a blunt… It takes more skill in my book.” Now she turned to look square at Molly, holding out her paw that wasn’t holding the baton. Miri’s eyes gleamed just a little in the lantern light. The mercenary knew what she spoke of. And seeing as she had made a very successful living off that principle, knew it well. And it seemed that this jill might be a little similar, though much more bloodthirsty, to Miri.
“And the name is Miri, Jis Talian is for beasts I work for, or don’t like.” A real smile flitted across her features for just a moment. “An’ I don’t think that you’ll be in either category anytime soon.”
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Post by spender on Oct 15, 2010 7:03:11 GMT -5
Bypassing the mess for now (he really wanted coffee, but he wanted to check something out first), Spender made his way down to where his things were stored.
He found the one bag with his clothes, blocks and the remains of his picture book. He tried to smooth out a page, but it wasn't working. He'd barely looked at his belongings since throwing that fit ages ago, two weeks before Naples... Most of his playtime these days remained in his head. BrainOcean was a lot more fun than RealOcean, besides.
But then something else caught the ferret's eye. His other bag! He'd forgotten all about it. How long had it been? Months, at least! What was in here? Oooh, paddle-ball! A little netted sack full of marbles, ooh, and jacks! He'd forgotten he had these! Oaw, flea shampoo? What was that doing in there? Probably Willard was trying to get rid of it. Hm... Goodness, he hadn't even looked in here since coming aboard the ship, really. He must've misplaced the bag and hadn't remembered it at all since! Here were some paints! But no paper? Who had packed this? Oh, right, he had. There was something else in the bottom...
Spender hauled out the chess set. It was small, made of wood. The board folded up as a lid for the little box full of pieces. It was a special set—it had been his father's, from the Imperium. The Kings were shaped like the Emperor fox, and the Queens were MinoWar stoats; the Bishops were weasels in tophats, the the Knights were sneaky wildcats, and the Rooks were no-nonsense lizards carrying sacks of money over their shoulders. The main differences was the Pawns; the white pieces had rats, and the black pieces had ferrets.
Spender carefully put it back in the bag. He didn't want to play that with Caden. He couldn't trust the marten not to try to steal the really cook pieces, or break them to get revenge... Why had he even brought it? Why had he thought he'd be able to play it with his sister? They hadn't been back to Welkin at all since setting out. He thought it was just a few days at sea and they'd be back and she could come visit at the inn...
The ferret rubbed his eyes, drying them with the back of his paw. Stupid... stupid ship... stupid idea...
Well, the chess set wouldn't fit in the other bag, and he couldn't leave it here, and he couldn't carry the other toys without it. He'd just have to be careful... Now—to go find Caden about that play date... Maybe Selvis, too. And Elliot! And some coffee.
"Molly," Molly said, shifting her rifle around to lean on her shoulder. She reached out and shook Miri's paw, rather impressed by the jill's knife-flipping—and tale.
"Blunts have their place, no doubt about that. Mostly in..." The stoat jill coughed. "I prefer a blend, myself. Maces and flails. Nothing like a good skiwk to go along with your crunch, if you know what I mean. The spikier, the better. But, for a battle, you can't really beat a blade, can you? I mean, for being thorough. Knocking a beast out is well and good if you're just moseying through an alley, but in a full-on mêlée, you don't want to be second-guessing whether or not they're going to stand back up ten minutes later. Take the legs off 'em, I say," she grinned, swiping the air with a claw. "Heads, too, if you can manage. Necks are tougher muscle, though. Plus, nothing beats the spray..."
Oh, dear, she was giggling again. Molly quickly shut her mouth, wondering if she'd opened up too far.
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Post by Carrow on Oct 15, 2010 11:18:42 GMT -5
Carrow took the rammer and gently placed it back down on the timbers, just as the shout of 'CAPTAIN ON DECK!' was heard. Carrow snapped to, standing at attention as best he could - his back had been giving him a little more trouble, though he had managed to hide it very well whilst all the work had been going on. Now, though, his stance seemed slightly unsettled, but he made his best attempt nonetheless.
The rodent took in Ladorak's words with a sort of creeping fear present in the back of his mind. He knew somehow that no matter how much time they had to prepare themselves for combat, being mentally prepared was an entirely different matter, and no matter how he tried, the mouse just couldn't come to terms with the possibility... no, probability of a battle. The stripling had never fought in any way before in his life, and this prospect was still unnerving him.
Hearing the stoat's compliments reassured him, but only slightly. He knew himself that everybeast was doing their best, and he quite liked the fact that they were all working so well together, but he still didn't think much of his own efforts. As far as he was concerned, everybeast he could see working on preparing for action was doing a better job than he was. He just couldn't help it - it was the way he'd been made to feel.
When Ladorak had finished his speech, Carrow padded slowly away from the cannon, fighting the urge to place a paw on the area of his back that was giving him trouble. He didn't want to make his discomfort so obvious, even though he knew he'd be helped in any case. For some reason, there seemed to be a sort of dull throbbing in his lower back that was being stubborn and not going away, so he knew he had to take it easier for the next while.
Oh well. At least they were on downtime now, and this thought brought the faintest of smiles to the wood mouse's features. He met up with Caden and Selvis, giving the pair a cheerful wave. He kept silent as he listened to his Ferlusan companion's lightly-accented voice, practically dripping enthusiasm and approval. He seemed to feel right at home in a situation like this, something Carrow couldn't understand. He was somehow taking it all in his stride, and his friend couldn't quite comprehend just how he was managing to be as nonchalant as all this.
"Yes, we did indeed do it, Caden! I think Ladorak was quite accurate with that assessment of his: we all seem to be doing a great job." The crafty weasel had spotted Carrow before he'd spoken and had purposely raised his voice to make that last statement, as he knew the mouse needed all the help he could get to make it through the next while. So he thought that even indirect compliments would give the rodent some assistance, and just maybe keep him from falling to bits.
"Oh, of course!," the longtail said in response to the albino marten's comment. "I'm with you on that one, matey! I wouldn't be able to sleep at all - wouldn't be able to keep from thinking about the fight! I suppose we all need some time off before then though, for all sorts of different reasons." Again, the weasel's voice had indicated his intentions. As he'd spoken, the longtail had lowered his voice so he was speaking to Caden and Caden only. They both knew very well whom exactly he was alluding to.
Carrow kept silent throughout this whole exchange. He wasn't sure how exactly he'd have been able to reply to any question his two companions put to him. Probably would have just come out as a stammer, he thought sadly, scarcely able to stop his mind from racing at this point. He needed to focus on something else. Just then, a light tap on his shoulder told him he was wanted, and he turned to find himself looking right into the eyes of Elliot.
He heard the beech marten's query, and frowned. "Well, I actually think I'm going to need one. My back's acting up for absolutely no reason. It's not like I've particularly overexerted myself or anything, but it's more than a little sore right now. I just can't put my paw on why..." He sighed, tail scuffing the deck. "I suppose it's better to be safe than sorry, so, well, if you wouldn't mind...?," he asked, smiling at the mustelid, making sure he held his gaze as he spoke.
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Post by Ladorak on Oct 15, 2010 22:03:24 GMT -5
Caden understood right off about whom Selvis was referring to. "Yeah..." the albino said, a bit forlornly, and nodding his head grimly. "But I'm sure we'll make it through this...we have to after all."
He couldn't think of it any other way. He glanced over at Ocean, who was leaning back against the swaying hull, seemingly resting. His eyes were closed and his arms were folded, and he appeared to either be in deep thought or asleep.
Caden began to wander over to the galley, his stomach rumbling a bit as he was drawn in to the smells of boiling coffee and eggs cooking. Eggs before battle...sounded good! Caden quickly back tracked to grab a wooden plate from the racks above the guns. The mess tables would stay up above the floor, as the decks needed to be cleared, but the crew could carry their plates around with them.
Walking up to the galley, Caden held out his plate, the cook scooping up some scrambled eggs for him and laying them out on his square block of wood. Licking his chops, the marten thanked the cook but declined the coffee. He didn't like the taste of it, and hardly needed it to wake up.
Going back to pick up a fork, the albino began to happily dig in. If Spender showed up, so be it. But for now, he was going to enjoy his scrambled delight. Shoveling some in his mouth, he looked over at Selvis. "They're quite good!" he exclaimed, his words garbled from having his mouth full.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ladorak Fugate emerged from the bowels of the ship, stepping out onto the weather deck, a changed stoat. His hunter was gone, and a strained, more haggard appearance had overtaken him. He clutched to the gunwale on the starboard side (Molly was over on the larboard), and craned his neck out to try and get a look at the frigates off in the distance. The waiting was the worst part...but there were other things as well.
He'd taken the time to run some things through his head during his tour of inspection, and had determined that were he ever to die...there were some affairs he'd need to get in order before that happened. He had no plans to depart this world for the next tonight...but it had got him thinking all the same.
He squinted his eyes behind his spectacles, watching the Melpomene intently, like a hawk gazing after its prey. He was a peregrine falcon now, though one that seemed a bit weary at the same time. It was almost as if he were willing the two ships to draw together...and draw together they were...gradually, foot by foot.
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Post by bookity101 on Oct 15, 2010 23:05:16 GMT -5
Elle smiled slightly to her friend, glad that he was willing to let her help him.
"Alright then, I've got them in my bag." She began to trot off, but change her mind. She waited for him to catch up, then slung an arm around his shoulders. Making sure her arm settled gently, she matched her pace to his.
Less than five minutes later, they arrived where she kept her things during the day. Quickly slinging it down she knelt by it and dug through for the compress. Standing, she hung the bag up and turned to Carrow, compress in paw.
"We're going to need some water for this, so I guess we need to head to the galley. You want to lead?"
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((Going to have to add Miri later... sorry Spendy!!))
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Post by Carrow on Oct 16, 2010 8:24:23 GMT -5
"Carrow'll pull through in the end, I'm sure of it," Selvis murmured. "I'm sure he's not just thinking of himself after all. He has you, me and Elliot to think of too, and I'm fairly certain he's going to try and maintain his composure, even if he's not thinking of himself." It was a well-known fact that the mouse put his friends before himself whenever he could.
As it was, the rodent was still quite a distance from being overwhelmed, but with each passing moment the pressure increased ever-so-slightly. He was trying his absolute hardest to think of his friends all the while, as this helped to keep his mind off the impending battle. He was holding himself together rather well under the circumstances, it had to be said.
The weasel followed his pine marten companion over to the galley. The smell of eggs and coffee had much the same effect on the longtail; his stomach didn't rumble so much as growl, as though it were a wild creature. He was, as otter friends of his used to say back home, absolutely starfished - a cross between 'starving' and 'famished'. He couldn't wait to have some grub, to say the absolute least of it.
"Ooooh... this really was very nice of 'em, making an early breakfast for us!," he exclaimed, grinning as he lined up at the galley, taking a plate in his paws and getting in behind Caden. "And coffee, too! How generous! I think I'm going to capitalise on that one. I do like some coffee now and then - not that I'm not wide awake as it is, but y'know, want to make sure I stay on top form for as long as I can!"
He offered his plate to the rat cook, and was rewarded with a helping of scrambled eggs. Scrambled - not his favourite variety of egg (as he much preferred fried ones) but they still looked rather appetising as it was. When asked about the coffee, the weasel nodded readily, smiling at the surly rodent. "Yes please," he said politely, and was pawed a steaming mug soon afterwards. Clearly delighted, he rejoined Caden.
Having added a fork to the array of items on his plate, Selvis followed suit, chuckling as the marten's garbled speech reached his ears. "You think so?," he responded, "well then, let's see..." He scooped up a mouthful and inserted it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing at a leisurely pace. His eyes closed as he savoured the taste, then he swallowed, smacking his lips in relish. "Wow, you're not wrong! Excellent!," he proclaimed.
Meanwhile, Carrow and Elliot were on their way towards the galley. The mouse had been turning the idea of food over in his mind. On one paw, he realised that he needed something to eat. On the other, he wasn't entirely certain of his being able to keep anything down - and there was a real risk that he'd throw up due to his nerves. He was still undecided, but he had a while to make his choice.
There was the matter of his injured back to take care of first. He had smiled at the beech marten as he'd draped his arm around the wood mouse's shoulders, grateful for the gesture of affection. The two had arrived at the mustelid's locker, and the mouse's eyes had brightened considerably when he'd spotted the compress. "There we go...," he'd said softly, patting Elliot's shoulder, "thanks for this."
He'd nodded at the marten's suggestion. "Sure. I might be a little slow getting there though, so let me apologise for that in advance." The field mouse had chuckled ruefully, tail swishing in slight worry as Elliot's arm was removed from around his shoulders. They'd set off again. Moments later, they were almost at their destination. "D'you want to grab something to eat after we're done?," he asked.
"I'm not sure if I can keep anything at all down - far too nervous about what's to come, see...," he murmured. "How about you go up and get some water for this compress of yours, and then we take it from there?," he suggested, a sort of cheerfulness evident in his voice. He was rather pleased about this, that his friend should want to help him and safeguard him against further harm. Better to be safe than sorry...
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Post by bookity101 on Oct 17, 2010 20:56:40 GMT -5
Elle nodded and smiled to her friend.
"Alright then Carrow, I'll be back in a moment." Elle jogged to the water barrels and wet the compress, but made a detour on the way back to grab a cup of coffee. She had just started to develop a taste for the dark brew and found she liked it, though it never made her hyper. Which was odd considering how strong they would make the stuff there. She made it back to her mouse friend, compress in her left paw, coffee in her right.
"All righty then, How about you find a place where you won't mind hiking your shirt up a bit, then we'll get this on you and go join the others. Ok?"
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Miri smirked a little at Molly's obvious love of fighting nodding her agreement to some of what was said; though she still felt as though she would need to defend her preferred tool of the trade.
"I myself don't prefer killing, far too messy and to many things that need to be explained if your in my line of work." Miri grimaced and her eyes darkened at the memory of how ard it was to prove that the killing she was forced to do was simply that, she had no other choice... NOT simply because she could. "...and I only carry so many changes of clothing with me at all times Molly. As for the beast getting up again..." Her mouth quirked slightly as she copied Molly's swipe, though she used her baton, making it whistle in front of her in a blur of movement;
"When I hit them, they don't get back up in ten minutes, or twenty," She spun the baton in her open paw before sheathing it with a shlunk. "They get up the next day, maybe. I've been known to knock them to next week when I'm in a bad mood though..."
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