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Post by Ladorak on Nov 26, 2010 23:09:54 GMT -5
"Mmmrph right." Ocean said, sitting up from his slouch in the chair to shake the mouse's paw. It was strange...being friends with a mouse. He wasn't really used to this. Carrow was different, but mice in general were more...food to Ocean, and always had been. They didn't become sentient as often as mustelids or larger mammals did, so it was rare to see some sentient ones. He nonetheless shook Eviros's paw, trying to remember everyone's name.
"I'm Ocean Sleet, shipmate to these three" he said, but didn't offer any further introduction, as he felt that was adequate. "Can't hang out with Spender, so decided to sit here and see what was up." the ermine explained to Elliot, who was closest.
Caden found himself beset upon by Setiva, the eager and rather nice cousin of Carrow. She's not...scared of me? That was so odd to him! He was used to getting odd stares or nervous looks from those around him...or at least whenever he came into port. He couldn't help but suppress that smile that had started as she had gotten closer to him, and soon bombarded him with questions.
"Oh uh...well it's good! I don't...really have a home see...so the ship is really my home. It's a lot of routine, but sometimes we get to fight other ships...Rosferians mostly. We fought one only a week ago in fact, though it was pretty inconclusive, but I'd say we won...just barely. We enforce blockades, and travel on diplomatic missions mostly. We're here because we're trying to get permission to attack the Rosferian warship that's anchored here...the Duquesne." the marten explained, wondering if she'd perhaps seen it in the harbor.
"It's bigger and has more guns than we do, but we don't care. We can fire really fast thanks to our training...three shots every five minutes...whereas most Rosferian vessels can only get off one shot every eight minutes or so. Helps keep us on top." the albino emphasized, looking down at her. "We sleep on hammocks, eat three meals a day, and do a lot of work like repairs after battle, some painting sometimes if the ship needs it. Holystoning the decks every morning too to make them shiny and well polished. Take in sails, set sails, train at the guns, practice paw to paw fighting, those types of things. It's like a small city contained in itself. We have almost everything on board."
Everything that is, except for Elle. Jills were unfortunately slim in the navy, much to Caden's chagrin. But at least he'd got to see her two months ago before they arrived here. "Does that...answer all your questions?" Caden asked, taking a moment to breathe. He barely caught Carrow's comment from across the table, pausing to let it sink in as he listened for Setiva's next words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The civet's medium length, bushy tail flicked a bug that had been noisily buzzing around his footpaws, sending the poor insect flying across the street into the gutter. "Ahahahaha!" he let out a loud laugh, his head rolling back and his mouth opening to utter the sound. "Oh paws down that's gotta be the best joke I think I've heard in a long, long time! Me...team up with you? You're looking to make me your sidekick or something?" the civet rolled his golden eyes over to regard the mink that was standing across from him.
The mink was garbed in the blue uniform of an officer of the Welkin Navy...a Captain to be precise. He was glowering at the civet, who was dressed in plain white robes and had his forepaws clapped in a pair of wooden stocks that held his paws apart from each other. His legs were also chained together, strong manacles preventing the arboreal mammal from doing much running. He was flanked by two barbaric looking ocelots, Tunisian slave traders from the looks of them, led by a fox, who stood off behind the civet, curved scimitar at the vulpine's side.
The mink spoke. "It's your only chance for freedom at this point. You must share my ideals! That's why you killed all those officers wasn't it!? You saw the sort of corruption and barbarity that goes on here! You wanted to send him a message! Come on! Together we'd be unstoppable! We could take down this government and turn the pirates into our own private force!"
"Ahahahah! No...no...you misunderstand. You've got me all wrong." the civet said, struggling not to break out in tears over his laughter. "My motives aren't so sophisticated as revenge or honor or any of that. I killed those beasts because I wanted to kill those beasts. It had nothing to do with altruism or chauvinism or anything of the sort. Sorry pal...but I work alone."
The mink's scowl grew, his briefly hopeful features melting away into a show of anger. "Fine...but you're making a mistake. You'll never get out now. Enjoy the rest of your life as a slave. I offered you a way out...I can't believe you'd choose a life of servitude over the one I'm extending."
"Heheheheheh...and you enjoy prison...oh wait...they DON'T send traitors here to prison...they kill them. So enjoy death! It suits you." the civet burst out laughing again, turning away from the mink into the waiting paws of his captors, who began to roughly lead him off, the arboreal chuckling to himself all the while.
"I gave you a chance Solf...I gave you a chance...fool" the mink muttered, shaking his head and turning to walk off in the opposite direction. The civet called Solf was led into the crowd, a proud look on his face despite the stocks and paw manacles.
All of this occurred within view of Ladorak and company. The stoat furrowed his brow, gazing down the street past his spectacles at the scene. "That civet...and that mink...they seem vaguely familiar to me...Solf?" Ladorak asked under his breath, trying to place the name. A former Welkinite officer? Was that it? That mink wasn't one of the three Captains from Linzee's squadron...so who was he?
He was interrupted by the depositing of a street urchin...or rat in this case, at their paws. "And who is this? You know him Jis Talian?" the Captain asked, looking down at the one called Lowse.
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Post by Carrow on Nov 27, 2010 9:37:19 GMT -5
"Great seasons of sun and showers!," Setiva exclaimed, green eyes lighting up, as she smiled from ear to ear. "You were in a battle?! That must have been something to see! I'm rather fascinated by naval matters myself. Hehe, you and I have rather a lot to discuss," she quipped, ears twitching energetically, a sign of her great pleasure in having such great company. Of course, she had noticed the marten's albinism as soon as she'd set eyes on him, but she had nothing to say about it, assuming (correctly as it turned out) that the mustelid waqs not a fan of discussing that particular physical trait of his. She thought it made him stand out in the best way possible, about as much as his friendly nature did in fact.
She couldn't have been scared of him under any circumstances. She felt drawn to him; there was an almost palpable awrmth coming from Caden that helped her to feel even more at ease in his presence. "The what? Doo-kezz-nee?," she said slowly, "oh, you mean the ship? Well, I wasn't even aware she had a name, but I spotted her when we arrived. Impressive-looking vessel, isn't she? 74-gunner, I believe. So Eviros told me anyways; he knows a little more about that sort of thing than I do. Not that he'd be a Navy buff or anything, but it's definitely an interest of his."
She nodded as Caden mentioned the effect their training had had on the recruits' ability in battle. "Three shots in five minutes? Sounds good. You know, all this interests me but unfortunately I know all I'll ever get to do is read about and it and hear stories from creatures like yourself." She sighed, pounding her thigh with a clenched paw. "Jills can't serve aboard ships. I can't understand that rule... we'd be useful in our own way, of course. Everybeast has their uses, it might just take a little longer for some others to find them.
The cheerful wood mouse let Caden finish with his explanations, and her eyes twinkled as she saw the albino gasping for breath. Between the two of them, they were talking up an absolute storm. "You can take a breather now," she said mischievously. "Indeed, it does, and you certainly answered them well. What about your crewmates? What are they like?," she enquired, wondering what the marten thought of his shipmates in general. She was wondering about his companions too, however: she didn't know Selvis yet, nor Elliot; she hadn't been able to speak all that much to Carrow before his fainting spell, but she was sure she'd have time to catch up with her cousin later. Sitting back and sighing, this time in contentment, she awaited the mustelid's response.
--
"Ocean, eh! Well, I can really see how you'd be suited to sea-faring life," Eviros said gently, smiling at the ermine. The older rodent's curiosity had been aroused by the mention of another creature, however, and he couldn't help but to ask, looking from Ocean back to Selvis as he did so, "Spender? Who might this be, may I ask? Another one of your shipmates, is he?" He was interested in learning as much about these creatures as he possibly could. They seemed to be a really close-knit group, and he liked that.
"Of course," Selvis responded with a small smile. "He's a little bit tempestuous to have on board, but I don't think our crew would be complete without him. Our circle of friends, even less so. Carrow's gentle and caring; Caden's presence is comforting; Elliot's quite reliable; Spender is, shall we say, fun-loving. Even if the fun is sometimes at the expense of other creatures. He can be a bully at times, and that's not really something I can tolerate. He balances out, though." The longtail glanced down at Carrow, noting that the rodent still seemed a little too weak to stand. The weasel would let him sit on his lap until such a time arrived when his footpaws would be able to support him again. "What's he up to anyway? He was off the ship even before we were, if I recall."
--
"A-Artivis," her younger sibling responded to Elliot, stressing the last syllable after had stammered a little on the first. "Don't worry though, you're not the first creature to mispronounce my name," he told the beech marten with a weak chuckle. "Least it didn't catch on, or I would have probably ended up with a nickname like Cerinus over there," he said gently, shooting a smile over to his cousin. Carrow caught the reference, and he smiled back, glad to see he was making an effort with his beech marten friend. Artivis reminded him a lot of himself. It wasn't just family ties and looks that they had in common, it seemed.
"The t-travelling is nice. I like being able to see other places. I think the Apodemuses were more stay-at-home creatures, but then from what we've been told, your lot were always fond of Muggidrear, Cerinus," he said softly, choosing to refer to his cousin by his proper title. "Can I swap places with you on the Agamemnon?," he asked playfully, hazel eyes shining a little. True, he was still quite nervous, but he felt right at home in the company of creatures like his cousin's companions.
Carrow, playing right along with his more diminutive cousin, winked back at him. "Heh, I knew this'd be right up your street, but, well, you have more things waiting for you back in Welkin than I do." It was becoming less difficult for him to admit this. "You're not a scaredy-mouse like I am! Archie often had to really make an effort for me to go anywhere with her," he told Artivis, He wasn't ashamed of admitting this either. "There was something about Muggidrear that unnerved me even then... it was never something I could put my paw on."
Artivis frowned. He had come to know Carrow, through Archie's correspondence with the Sylvaticus family, as a creature prone to self-deprecation every now and then. His cousin seemed to be fine with the self-mockery, gentle though it was. Even so, Artivis couldn't let it go. "Look at how much you've changed, mate!," he told him. "If any of what Archie told us was true, you've changed quite a lot," he said honestly, even though they both realised that the weasel, as was her way, would have left nothing out. "What's she up to anyway? I assume you pair have been keeping in touch."
"She's pursuing a very interesting career," Carrow replied eagerly, his tail swaying in a serpentine manner. "She's a hypnotist! Very good at it as well. Speaking from experience of course," he told Artivis with a knowing look. There was no chance Archie hadn't mentioned how she'd helped him to survive through her abilities. His cousin nodded; he'd pick *that* discussion up later. "What about Eviros? What does he do?"
Artivis shrugged modestly. "H-he's a shopkeeper. It's not the most exciting job in the world - he's said so himself - but just so long as he's able to... put food on the table for us every day..." He trailed off, realising that he'd strayed into slightly difficult territory. Both cousins knew that Archie had struggled to do the same for Carrow at times. He'd been poor all his life, and he knew it.
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Post by spender on Nov 28, 2010 3:53:13 GMT -5
Meanwhile, back on the ship...
As Willard had learned during the Agamemnon's battle, even the strongest hulls can break sometimes.
"One sugar, or two?"
He hadn't slept that first night afterwards. It felt wrong, to rest while she still groaned in pain, He had gone to bed (well, hammock) against his will, and when everybeast was asleep, had snuck out and attempted to do a little extra painting to help out. Of course, he couldn't see anything, and so merely sat huddled between two cannons, shivering in the dark, whispering soothing lullabies to the ship's timbers until morning came and his shift began again.
Some might say that sometimes the strongest hulls only look strong because they're putting up such a show to hide their true weakness.
"Oh, just the one—such a horrible way it is grown and cultivated, after all, but how can I resist? Coffee, sugar and indigo makes even the wisest beast a fool..."
It was a combination of many things. Boredom, perhaps, and fatigue, and the lingering ideals of a long-lost kithood, stirred in with the frustration of their visit, the anger at Ocean, the resentment he held for himself and the rattan that had slapped across his rump the once, and all the sorrows and fears he felt for his beloved's current state, despite the repairs made throughout the week.
"Why thank you, madame. Would you care for another scone?"
He sat between two cannons once more, only this time, on his pillow. His blanket, pulled from his hammock, he had managed to tie up between the cannons, creating a sagging roof to crawl under, providing a little privacy from the taller beasts still aboard. His small collection of treasures he hid between his legs, which were splayed out. Beside him, a stack of books, and a sack, out of which spilled some of Spender's toys.
"Oh, kind sir, I mustn't eat another bite! I must watch my figure."
The urge had been too strong, just as bad, if not moreso, than the urge Ocean might have felt. Without permission, he had gone in search of Spender's chess set. Just to feel the pieces, he told himself, and no more. He would put it away when he was done, or maybe after playing a round with himself.
But one thing had led to another, and now there were three marbles, two jacks, and a ferret pawn added to his collection. These things alone he felt guilty for; the rest had come into his possession through mysterious means, things dropped and forgotten. If anybeast should want one, he decided, he would return it, but without knowledge that they felt their knickknacks missing, what harm was it? He had not stolen, he had merely cleaned up and didn't know where to put what he'd found...
"Your figure, my dear, you are but fur and bones! I can see your ribs from here!"
He had found something else in the ferret's toy sack: a ragged little doll, armless, half a tail, but immediately recognizable as a fox. It reminded him so much of his sister's dolls, that he couldn't resist, and so set up a tea party between the three of them. The Last Number (Willard didn't know this was his name) sat up against the stack of books, his miniature—and as non-existent as his arms—teacup clasped firmly between his footpaws. Drinking was difficult for the poor thing.
"Maybe to a plump fellow like yourself, sir Fox, it would seem such! But I am a weasel, and we are skinny creatures."
Willard had to laugh at this.
"Oh, Ags, you're a ship, not a weasel. And I wouldn't have you any other way. Now come, my dear, please, another scone! Have some more tea... there you are."
The young weasel stared at the imaginary teacup, untouched. His grin slowly faded. Of course. Of course. She was a ship. She couldn't drink tea... she had the whole of the ocean to whet her thirst.
Falling into silence, he meticulously put away the invisible tea set, spat on his sleeve and rubbed the deck clean of any possible spills, and then sat back and took one of Caden's books from the pile next to him.
He had to study.
And then he would return everything before anyone came back.
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Post by spender on Nov 28, 2010 4:29:56 GMT -5
Molly barely noticed Miri's disappearance.
Of course, had she noticed Miri's disappearance, and had she decided to follow the weasel, she would have had a blast helping along with the chase. It was just as well Molly didn't know what she had missed out on.
"Solf?" the jill wrinkled her nose. "Sounds Imperium, almost..."
Her heart beat dangerously fast. Again, she gave Ladorak's arm a little tug.
"Keep me near, don't let me stray," she murmured. Pirates... she knew she heard that word. Something was going on. Something she was likely to want to get involved in.
The news of the Rosferian Revolution a few years ago had left her ears stinging. She had been involved in such a thing some thirteen years ago—not a firm member, for she valued her life too much, but the ideals and methods... had seemed so hopeful back then. All crushed under the massive iron footpaw of the law. And then what did she do to compensate, when hundreds of beasts died to make no change to the impossible lifestyle of the dregs of Imperium society? Turned to piracy. Fates, the Navy had turned to piracy, and she, guest of the bosun, had involved herself only too happily. There was a time she loved life, but could not live it without risk.
Now, of course, she loved life, and had no reason to take the risk. But the risk, in itself... Unlike the revolution that left her dissatisfied and distraught, the risk and adventure of piracy was nothing but good memories. Blood-filled, gorey, gold-laden memories. She would be drawn away by the prospect, she knew. A jack she could stray true to. The release she needed, that total loss of control that left her yet full of control—that had a hold on her that would not let up, was the whole reason for this day's plans, and it drove her wild, the idea that she might pass up such an opportunity...
Distraction! Thank heavens. Miri's return, and Lowse's abrupt introduction churned her mind onto a new path.
"Wherever did you find such a sorry pest?" Molly wondered, grinning up at Miri. "I hope he speaks Common..."
She bent down a little, looking over the rat more closely. "You're no rod, but you're all we've got. Stand up, Jal L...Lowse." Molly had to struggle not to call him 'Louse'. "We're looking for a tavern... someplace with drinks. You know... driiiinks. Alcohol. Strong stuff."
Molly straightened. She hoped she wouldn't have to return to Ladorak's cabin to get her drinks. Not that she was adverse to his cabin, or his beverages, but it was a bar fight she was itching for, and she wasn't sure that would go over very well with the Captain or his officers. Not to mention if she so much as scratched the timber up, that little weasel, Wilbur or Wally or whatever his name was, would probably try to chew her neck off.
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Post by Ladorak on Nov 29, 2010 0:33:37 GMT -5
Caden found Setiva's enthusiasm for naval know-how catching, and he couldn't help but smile as she spoke to him in response to all the things he'd told her. She got to the part about jills not being able to join the navy, and he decided to add in his two pence. "Well a few jills surrounded by a lot of jacks could cause some problems. It would be...distracting." he said, not elaborating further. "I think that's the main reason they do it. There are exceptions, and secret crewbeasts who are really jills in disguise, but it doesn't generally happen."
He sat back, twirling his claw on the tabletop. Ocean was silent for the moment, as Selvis was explaining about Spender. Caden's smile melted away at the mention of the ferret. Things were really seeming to go that ferret's way as of late...he seemed happier...or at least less suppressed than he had been. Caden had heard that even Carrow was starting to make tentative friends with the furo.
He stared blankly off into space, looking across the table at nothing in particular. It was funny...but the albino still bore a grudge against Spender. He wanted to beat him up...kick his tail in a straight up fight. He was confident he could do it...he had something to prove at this rate. Just because he had saved the ferret's life didn't necessarily mean he liked the ferret. He had tried...but found something in the way.
But that was weird. Even Carrow was thinking it OK to befriend Spender now? It seemed the only loser here was Caden, as he had yet to benefit in any positive way from knowing Spender. Selvis was Selvis...he could befriend anybody...and seemed to be drawing rather close to Carrow as well. Maybe even a surrogate brother almost. Which meant Caden (in his mind) was eliminated from that role by default, so that left Elliot...who was with them, though had always been close to Spender from the start...because Spender had liked him first. Well...there it was...even Carrow was a beneficiary of Spender...the only one who wasn't was Caden.
He listened to Selvis speak about the crew. A comforting presence? That's all I am? Can't imagine why... he thought to himself, frowning a bit as his chest moved in and out. Spender...he didn't really care for the ferret...not really. He still held a sore spot for what he'd done back in August. He wanted to exact revenge of some sort. He had gotten nothing positive from Spender since, despite saving his life. Spender was just there...an annoying presence...like a fly buzzing around one's head that you couldn't help but want to squish.
He shook his head, looking over at Setiva in a distracted manner, the frown still on his face. "Huh? My shipmates? Um...well...why don't you ask them?" he counter asked, giving her a wispy smile. "I uh...just remembered that I forgot something back on the ship...I better go get it. I'll be back in a little while...OK?" he asked, still smiling, albeit thinly. He slid out of his chair, patting Setiva on the head.
That was a lie...and he knew it. It felt terrible to lie to her, but he needed to sort himself out...and Caden, being the socially clumsy and inept marten that he was, felt it better to just walk alone in these types of situations to get his thoughts flowing. He liked pacing, or wandering in and out of streets and alleys. He had forgotten Ladorak's warning in his angst, but didn't think he would be a target.
At least everyone (but Ocean that was, who was still sitting quietly, listening and fiddling with a match in his paw) was currently occupied in conversation. "Hey guys...I left something back at the ship...I'm gonna go back and get it, OK? I'll be back soon." he said, speaking a bit loudly so they could hear him, and giving them a small wave before he began heading out of the outdoor dining area of the cafe and into the street.
Caden was compartmentalizing his life as of late. There were groups he fit in with...but right now he wasn't fitting in with this one, so he needed time to himself, time to think and pace and weave his way through the streets. He shoved his paws in his pockets, scrunching his brow and walking forward with a determined look on his face. He felt bad, just leaving their conversation like that, as he really liked Setiva...but he was troubled too, and he knew it. He knew his mother had dark inner thoughts..."an insect clicking across her brain" to borrow someone else's words. He only hoped with all his soul that he hadn't inherited any of that. He cursed his mother in his head as he moved out into the street.
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Post by Carrow on Nov 29, 2010 7:03:00 GMT -5
Carrow immediately started when Caden mentioned that he had to leave. That wasn't a good idea, and the mouse knew it. He was in unfamiliar territory now, and almost anything could happen. The rodent knew he couldn't let his pine marten friend out of his sight... but then he remembered what had just recently happened to him. Could he stand? He wasn't sure if he *could* stand. He looked up at Selvis, and there was something in his eyes that immediately told the weasel he needed to be set down. "Caden's going back to the ship," he told his weasel friend. "What is he doing? Doesn't he know it's dangerous here?"
Selvis could see that his rodent companion was concerned, but his paws were tied. Carrow was still shaken, and he needed someone else he loved and cared for to take care of him at this moment in time. Even so, Selvis wanted to see if his mouse friend could manage a few paces. He didn't seem to be in the right shape for going anywhere at this stage, and even though it deeply unsettled Selvis to let Caden go off on his own like this, he had no other choice. Before any of his friends could say anything in response, the pine marten had gone.
Selvis set Carrow down, patting his shoulder gently. "Go on, Carrow... try and walk a few paces for me, would you?" Headlong sprints such as the one the mouse would need to catch up with Caden at this point were well and truly beyond him in his current condition, and even Selvis would be hard-pressed to pull something like that off in a place as crowded as this. Tailing Caden would be difficult, if not impossible, even if he had been on his own for twenty seconds. This sort of place swallowed a creature up within moments... but he couldn't leave anything to chance. He had to try.
Carrow felt as weak as a newborn, and it was quite literally all he could do to take three, four paces away from Selvis before he swayed, was driven backwards and tripped over his own footpaws. Setiva, who had been disappointed to see her new friend break off their conversation so soon (though she hadn't shown the full extent of her disappointment), saw Carrow go down and was on her paws in an instant. She raced across to her cousin, and soon realised he was terribly close to slipping away into unconsciousness. His side had struck the edge of the table as he'd toppled backward, and he was hissing in pain.
The female wood mouse was concerned. She wished she had something on her that could put Carrow out for a while. The poor creature had been truly hit for six by the revelations that had unfolded, and seeing him pathetically cling onto consciousness like this - knowing his history as she did - distressed her somewhat. He needed sleep now more than ever. She acted on instinct. Taking Carrow up into her arms, she began rocking her fellow rodent slowly, carefully from side to side, smiling down at him.
The field mouse yawned, suddenly feeling incredibly tired. Eviros and Artivis were watching the display curiously, a small smile on the former's face as he watched his daughter expertly soothing his nephew into sleep. "Wait...," Carrow said drowsily, fighting to keep his eyes from closing, "I'm not even tired..." He was, though, and he knew it. Completely drained. Utterly spent. Tuckered out. He could only let his eyes close just a little further as he listened to his cousin's voice in his ears. Selvis, who now had his paws free, knew that his exhausted companion needed a nap. The poor thing. He was suffering... and neither of them knew it yet, but there would soon be worse to come. Something that would test even Selvis's ability to look on the bright side...
Speaking softly into Carrow's ear as his cousin cradled him, he let the sleepy mouse know of his intentions. "I'm going to see if I can catch up with Caden. I don't like this. I know he can take care of himself, but he's not used to anywhere like this. I have to see if I can catch up to him... I don't want him to get lost." Even if he knew in his heart that there was every chance Caden was now long gone out of sight, he couldn't tell Carrow that. If the mouse thought even for a second that Caden had gotten lost... there was no telling what he might do in his present state...
"Thank you, Selvis," Setiva said softly. The mustelid took this as his cue to depart. He left the premises, scooting out into the street and casting around for any immediate sight of an albino pine marten. His albino pine marten, his dear friend. Caden may have had times when he felt unwanted, but Selvis was not one to despair for his friend. Carrow would do anything for Caden if he could, and the longtail would too of course. He might not have been utterly devoted to the marten like Carrow was, but he valued Caden as a wonderful friend nonetheless. Which is why he sighed inwardly, heart sinking as he realised there was neither sight nor sound of his companion.
He didn't let his disappointment show, however. Carrow was in an extremely vulnerable state at that particular point in time, and he didn't want to worry him, so he decided there and then that he was going to keep quiet about what had happened. He padded slowly back inside to find his mouse companion yawning once more as Setiva guided him along the path to slumber. "Ssssh... ssshh...," she murmured softly, still cradling her cousin. "Go to sleep now, Carrow... you're so tired after all... wouldn't it be nice to just rest? Drift away into sleep for me...," she lulled, her heart going out to him.
Carrow was unaware of his weasel friend's return, as well as almost everything around him. Setiva's soft, calming voice and the gentle rocking motions were all he could focus on. He let his eyes slide shut, smiling broadly as he let himself be overcome by deep, refreshing sleep. Setiva smiled as she saw Carrow slip away... then looked up and spotted Selvis. The smile faltered. The weasel was looking... upset about something. It was true. For the first time in forever, Selvis Frenata was unable to feel cheerful. Not only that, but he looked like he'd been hit hard. He shook his head, this gesture telling Setiva everything she needed to know.
In response, she mouthed the words, 'Keep it quiet'. Elliot would be let know, of course, but Carrow looked ready to fall apart at news such as this. Selvis had never been told of the mouse's breakdown on the ship, but he realised that it would be worse - far worse - than almost anything he could think of if he found out what had happened to Caden. He shuffled over to Elliot, suddenly looking... dispirited. "I was going to try and follow Caden, but by the time I went outside I'd already lost him. Do not tell Carrow about this, whatever you do..." He returned to his chair then, knowing that anything could happen to their friend from here, and there would be nothing they'd be able to do about it. Flopping down into it, he put his head in his paws.
As much as he would have liked Carrow to come along with him and find his friend (little guessing that a fate much worse than merely getting lost was soon to befall the pine marten), he realised that the rodent was very fragile. Willard had not left the ship, meaning there was at least one creature back there who would be there for the mouse. Maybe letting him know what had happened after the event would be better. Though there was a chance Caden would resent Carrow for not being there for him. He knew there was a chance he'd gotten back to the ship safely... but it was remote. Caden didn't know Tunis. None of them did.
Selvis was panicking now; he found himself faced with a dilemma. If he took the long-tailed field mouse with him, there would only be so much he could do to keep it quiet, and then when (not 'if') the rodent found out, he'd be devastated, not to put too fine a point on it. However, if Carrow was taken back to the ship, he wouldn't be there to see his friend, and the albino might hold that against him, and this too would no doubt drive him to despair. He thought he'd seen how low Carrow could get... he hadn't. The true depths of despondency the mouse had plumbed were known only to himself. What to do? What to do?
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Post by bookity101 on Nov 29, 2010 14:10:27 GMT -5
Elle smiled distractedly at the little rodent, part of it brought on by the fact that he reminded her of Carrow. She didn’t respond to him as he moved right into conversation with his cousin. Shaking her head, she stood and walked towards the road, contenting herself to watch others come and go.
She sighed, feeling out of place. A little like Caden, but for a diferent reason. Here she was, a female in males clothing, one of the hidden Jills Caden had been referring to in his description of navy life to Setvia… Selvis knew, and he helped her out when it came to hiding. Ocean knew, and he helped too, but it wasn’t the same. Carrow couldn’t be told, keeping a secret would crush the little mouse. She hsook her head again, looking over at the mouse in question. She knew he had the potential to be an amazing quartermaster,
‘If only he would grow a true backbone, then he would be a force to be reckoned with…’ Elle shook her whole body, turning her attention back to beast watching, resolving to do everything in her power to help the timid mouse. She was shaken from her almost-dazed state when she felt Caden brush past her. Frowning, she looked behind her, noting that Carrow was in no way able to follow as he normally would, and Selvis would feel obligated to stay with the mouse…
Hurrying off, she followed behind her albino friend, unconsciously copying his pose, paws in her pockets, shoulders slightly hunched. Finally a clear spot appeared, and she hurried to catch up with him, now matching him stride for stride, which was beginning to become difficult as the pine martin was several inches taller than her and still growing. She didn’t say anything, just walked beside him, comfortable just to be beside him.
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Lowse looked at Molly, sneering as he said;
“Ah’m not stoopid lady.” He spat on the ground in front of them. He grew cocky as he responded. “Ah know where you can go to get some ‘ard stuff… for a price.” All cockiness disappeared as Miri ratcheted his paws up higher on his back.
“Show some respect Lowse.” She said, applying more pressure, which wasn’t much to begin with; this fellow was a wuss in every sense of the word…. “’ey, OW. All ‘ight, all ‘IGHT” She loosened her hold on him, motioning for him to proceed.
“All right then, show us the way.” He blanched.
“Uh, ‘ow ‘bout I tells yous the way an’ Ah jiss goes ‘ome-ELP!” Miri shook her head at him.
“No, last time I followed your directions; I ended up in a psycho ferrets den and nearly got killed. Show.” She pushed him, and he walked forward, if only to avoid more jabs from her hairpin. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fifteen minutes of grumbling, stopping, yelping and starting later, they stood outside an unmarked tavern by the water side built specially for sailors and other louts who wanted to get “hammered” in Molly’s terms. The smell wafting from the building confirmed that it was indeed what they had been searching for and she turned loose the whimpering rat, though not before relieving him of his purse.
“Been cheating at the tables again have you Lowse?” Her eyes took on an icy sheen as she shoved him away.
“Go on, before I decide to take more than your purse as payment for your lies.” The rat scurried away, nursing his bruised wrists, and grumbling about getting even, but he wouldn’t… the coward.
Miri nodded once and tossed the pouch to Molly.
“Lead the way my friend.”
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Post by Ladorak on Nov 30, 2010 0:01:04 GMT -5
Caden was suddenly aware of a presence walking by him. Not Carrow was it? He glanced through his sunglasses to his left, and found that it was in fact Elliot. He was surprised at this. He didn't expect anyone to follow after him. He half expected Carrow...and thus it was a double surprise to see not a mouse but a beech marten, and not Carrow but Elliot by his side.
"Elliot..." he began, unsure of what this meant. "What are you doing here? I...I'm not heading back to the ship. I...I lied." he admitted, flatting his ears against his head in chagrin. "I just needed to take a walk...but figured I wouldn't be followed if I said I was simply heading back to the ship. I...I'm upset with Spender." the albino came out with that.
"Everyone's being nice to him now. You were the first...and I tried...but he hated me. He didn't hate any of the others at first. It was just me...and he only hated them because they were associated with me. I set a bad example by saving him...well...maybe not a bad example, as I didn't want him to die...but I wasn't thinking clearly then either. I'm not even sure what I was thinking. I mean he broke my arm after all! I can't just forget that! I was raised...terribly...but I was raised to get even. To never let someone who hurt me forget that they did hurt me. I've beaten up far worse than him in my time. I mean even two years ago...almost three now, I bullied every kit in the toy room at Whistleminster Palace until I got my way. I've been trying to break those habits...but Spender I can't forget so easily." he shook his head, letting his teeth show as he grimaced.
"I just feel like he's getting all the attention now, and taking things away from me!" he thrust a paw up at his chest. "I wanted my friends to hold grudges against him...I don't know why...probably because I haven't forgiven him for breaking my wrist and hating me. He still must hate me. I haven't gotten anything nice from trying to be friendly toward him. I feel...detached now. I feel like everyone's closer to Spender except myself. I feel like Selvis is more Carrow's best friend than I am, despite Carrow insisting I am. They're ALWAYS together! And they're like brothers...warm and comforting Selvis is always there for Carrow. I'm too...clumsy and awkward in a social way to be warm and comforting...I never had friends like this growing up, so I don't know anything about how to act or behave around them. I try but...what good am I doing?"
He shook his head in a disgusted manner. "I never seem to be there for anyone. I saved Spender's life...Spender...someone I can't stand! I don't know what's wrong with me. I can't be there for my friends but I'm there for someone I despise and who despises me in turn. I don't feel like I fit in anywhere because everything is upside down! I don't know what to do." he threw up his paws in an exasperated manner, shaking his head again and sighing. "I'm just thinking out loud now..." he bit his lower lip, pacing back and forth on the street, going first one way, then the other, before finally resting with his back against a building.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The scimitar's blade ran over a crimson tongue before it shot back into the fox's mouth. He was standing in an alley with a few cohorts, gazing out into the street at the albino. "Don't hurt him." he hissed in his native tongue. "His price will decrease drastically if he's injured. Albino's fetch the highest price on the market because of their pure and white fur and those red eyes...just make sure you take him without any damage. I want him to fetch the highest of prices...now just wait a moment for him to start moving again...and then we'll spring on him!" the vulpine exclaimed in an excited fashion, poking his head out from around the alley again to get a fix on Caden, who hadn't moved yet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ladorak followed after Miri, impressed with her strong armed manner. She wasn't fooling around with this youngster...and it was more than Ladorak figured she'd do. Ah well...they came in all shapes and sizes. Miri was definitely capable of taking care of herself in a dirty city such as this one.
"Perhaps we shouldn't disappear into a place like this in case I'm needed...but then again why not? I already resolved to let the other Captains pawdle negotiations." he said, shrugging and adjusting his pince nez. He wanted to ask Miri if she harbored any feelings for Jal Sylver, but figured that probably wasn't the best thing to ask at the moment.
"Yes...I suppose you'll have to show me what life is like on your side of things Molly. I generally did not participate in bar fights. These sorts of places though...well I only hope I live up to your expectations in there. I fell for you at a fancy gala...not in some seedy tavern. More than anything I wanted to be by your side since that day...I've just never been able to say that until now. You were classy and above the rest...the only thing that restored my night from its dismal start. Restored my life in fact...gave it its spark back. I was wallowing in a pit that was near escape proof until you showed up. I hated being back in that place...the place that had treated me so...abominably. Whatever happens...wherever we go...I just want to be with you. So let's head in there and see what happens."
He was game for this. It wasn't something he'd see himself doing as an Admiral...but fortunately he wasn't an Admiral, and could probably get away with something like this, despite his generally reserved nature. Time to step out of his comfort zone and try this.
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Post by bookity101 on Nov 30, 2010 10:19:06 GMT -5
Elle chewed on her lip as Caden began talking, though she hadn’t known he had said that he was headed back to the ship, she had been too far away to hear him say much of anything. As he started pacing, she stopped and watched, eventually joining him against the wall. As she listened to what he was saying, it sounded like he was… jealous...? …of Spender? That made no sense… Shaking her head a little too brought her attention back to her friend. She waited for him to stop talking before turning to face him saying;
“Well, I don’t know about being nice to Spender… I’m just used to guy’s like that… Crazy cousins…” She shrugged a little, one paw moving to rub her forehead under the floppy hat she wore.
“…but it sounds like, to me at least, as if you’re being the best kind of friend you can be to Carrow.” Her white teeth contrasted sharply with her dark headfur. “I mean, Selvis is… like…Elle or something-” She winced as she referred to herself, but knowing it was true in a way… and grateful that he shouldn’t be able to catch it under brim of the hat “-always in the right place at the right time, ready to help… just the kind of guy you can’t get frustrated with even if you wanted to…”
Shifting so her back rested against the wall, she thought back over what he had said, then something that Sail had told her awhile back, encouraged, she continued;
“And, well you don’t have to like Spender to get along with him... goodness knows I don’t really like him…” She looked at the albino from the corner of her eye. “I mean, if you look at all of us as a family… I guess Captain Fugate would be the grandpa, an’ oh… all the Lieutenants like the grandma or mean old uncles you can’t stand… or something… ‘cause they keep us all in line and make sure we don’t get in trouble. An’ the gun crew… Ocean would be the dad because he’s just like that, Selvis the mom cause he’s always caring for everybeast, You’d be the oldest kit, and Carrow would be youngest as we are all always looking out for him, and then me… I’m stuck as the middle kid.” She wrinkled her nose comically at where she was stuck in the mix.
“And that would leave Spender and Willard* as the annoying cousins that you have to put with because their related, not ‘cause you like them…” She shook her head. “But that’s what family’s all about. Putting up with someone because something would be missing without them…” She shrugged. “You belong in the family because you watch out for us, and you wouldn’t let anything happen to us if you could stop… and there would some serious retribution if something did happen that you couldn’t stop.” She glanced at him, knowing that that would be how her friend reacted if any of them got hurt. And you could always see you diving into the water to save somebeast you didn’t even like as heroic, or as something the Captain would do… At least… I think that’s what Elle would think… eh, scratch that… she’d be here saying that you were definitely some kind of hero for going after the chaos bringer..” Her voice trailed off at the end, wondering if any part of what she had just said made sense to the albino, and hoping that she given herself away by adding the last bit…
*I almost called him Wilbur…
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Post by Carrow on Nov 30, 2010 15:30:20 GMT -5
Selvis gasped when he saw Elle get up and leave. Oh, damn it all, he thought miserably; she'd upped and left before the weasel had had a chance to fully make up his mind. He looked again at his slumbering rodent companion, resting peacefully in his cousin's arms - and realised there and then what he had to do. If Carrow was taken back to the ship, he would eventually come to and realise what had happened. Carrow may not have been the absolute sharpest knife in the drawer, but he would eventually figure out he had been taken back to the ship for a reason.
He would recall that he had seen Caden leave. He would recall that he had been worried about his closest companion going off on his own. He would eventually come to the conclusion that something had happened to the albino marten. He would panic. He would weep. He would finally slide into utter dejection. He would have no other friend with him on the ship save for Willard, and it couldn't be said that the two were close. Selvis realised that without a true companion by his side to help and support him - PARTICULARLY in his present state - there was no telling what he might try...
Tapping Setiva silently on the shoulder, he sighed softly, motioning for her to rise from the table. When the wood mouse looked up at her with a curious expression, he spoke. Four words. "He's coming with us." The mustelid had a look of complete resolution on his face. This would be the lesser of two evils, in his mind. He would let Carrow sleep on in her arms, and wake in his own time... then he'd tell him.
Setiva, still with her exhausted cousin in her grasp, looked behind her at Artivis and Eviros. "You pair coming or not?," she asked in a murmur. The pretty field mouse had made up her mind to accompany Selvis and Elliot already, but she figured that if her brother and father wanted to come she would be powerless to stop them.
Their heads nodded in unison. "We have to try and find Caden," Artivis piped up. "There's no telling what he might have gotten himself into, and I for one want to tag along with you, Selvis." His voice was strangely confident for a creature who had been an absolute bundle of nerves only moments before." This was all quite new for him but he didn't mind it in the slightest.
"As for me," Eviros added, his quavery voice trembling a little as he spoke, despite himself, "I have a duty to be there for my family, so you can count me in as well." None of them were aware that Caden actually hadn't gone too far - and Selvis was unaware that the closeness and affection he was showing for Carrow was making Caden feel a little frozen out.
Carrow... the poor mouse. The weasel didn't know that his rodent friend saw himself as a liability; that he saw himself as lacking in spirit and character, completely non-descript in almost every way. However, he did know that if he left the wood mouse's side, Carrow would be distraught. Carrow was... wait. Carrow?! For the second time in as many moments, he gasped as he watched his friend go limp in Setiva's arms.
It had become too much for him to deal with, it seemed. Carrow's body had decided that simple deep sleep would not be enough to refresh him, and so had gently taken the last vestiges of consciousness from him. He lay limp, his breathing ragged and uneven. Setiva, as surprised by this turn of events as the longtail had been, knew that there was nothing wrong with her cousin, only that he had been in far greater need of rest than she had thought. His body had shut itself down for a little while in response to his distress.
The five of them, all thought of eating abandoned, left the small restaurant and headed out into the street. None of them had the foggiest where the albino pine marten had really gone, but Selvis knew they only had one lead. Slowly, cautiously, the group moved off towards the harbour, back towards the Agamemnon - it was all they had to go on after all...
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