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Post by Carrow on Feb 20, 2011 17:18:21 GMT -5
Carrow nodded. The ferret had indeed been 'at it' again, judging by what the mouse could see. He had only been around to hear a small bit of the conversation, but he was well aware of the kind of things Spender could get up to. There was no point denying it any longer: if Spender wanted to repair his reputation with them - any of them - he and he alone would have to take the first steps in doing so. Carrow feared that any work he did with the ferret would be thrown straight back in his face, and he didn't want to feel rejected like that ever again. The most painful thing about the time he'd spent at school was that nobeast had so much as raised a claw to help him when he was being subjected to abuse. They had ignored him and turned him away, and it would be almost unbearably painful for him if he was subjected to similar treatment from anybeast. He was still of the opinion that Spender could do with some assistance, but as far as he was concerned, the ball was in the ferret's court.
Caden was the first to move after Ladorak had given his order. Carrow followed seconds later. His reflexes had never been all that good anyway, so the only reason that he was even slightly slow to respond was that he couldn't get his legs moving fast enough. Soon, though, he was standing by Caden again... arriving just ahead of Selvis, who had seen what it was his rodent companion was carrying. His blue eyes lit up with curiosity, but of course he didn't broach the point as he needed to listen to Ladorak. Both mouse and weasel threw salutes, looking up at the ermine curiously. What was all this about? Well, they both knew they wouldn't be long in finding out. The mustelid had started to speak, and something about what he was saying had an awe-inspiring effect on Carrow. A hundred vessels or more? He certainly could not picture that, and once again felt a little out of his depth. All this talk of battles and campaigns, and he was a peaceful mouse stripling, far away from home...
He listened intently, finding that he was also hanging on Ladorak's every word, knowing that there must be something important around the corner. He cast his mind back briefly to what the Captain had said before. A convoy bound for Rosferia... hmmm. Now he was speaking about starting their operation to take Bastia, and apparently they were going to begin soon. He trembled, though this time it wasn't from excitement - there was a little of it there, sure, but for the most part the old fear had returned. With everything they did, there was a chance that he'd be injured, or worse, and it wasn't something he felt he'd ever be able to deal with. It was the one thing that stopped him ever feeling enthusiastic about combat and such things as that. He was still paying attention and processing Ladorak's words as best he could, finding himself hard-pressed to keep up. He'd never been too great with this sort of talk... and then the hammer blow came. This time it was the field mouse who had to keep from gasping as the Captain outlined his proposal.
Selvis couldn't help but glance at the rodent as he stood there. Was he trembling? He WAS trembling! That wasn't a good sign. As far as the longtail was concerned, he was all for the idea. It'd be a momentous time in his life, and he'd remember it forever... if he lived to see the end of it. That was always the risk with things like this, but it was one he was prepared to take. He was still concerned about Carrow, though. He didn't seem as though he wanted to do it, and the weasel had decided that if Carrow stayed, then he would too. It wouldn't feel right if the four of them weren't all there, by each other's side like the good friends they were. Either they all went, or he stayed.
He felt so closely connected with his companions now that if he had to be separated from them, he'd be upset - and this was why his heart soared when he heard Caden say he would go. Already, one creature was on board, and Selvis knew in his heart that Carrow would be almost certainly coming along now that the pine marten had declared his intentions. He would wait until his field mouse companion spoke up before saying anything himself. The concern still hadn't gone away, though, and he could see that the mouse had paled more than a little. The proposal frightened him, and it was no wonder. Selvis was scared too but he was going to try and keep it hidden.
The mouse in question had been looking down at his footpaws in quite an unsure manner, but as soon as heard his pine marten friend's affirmative, he raised his head, now looking up at Ladorak again. His eyes were wide, he was still trembling and he felt butterflies fluttering in his stomach, but he eventually recovered his ability to speak (though he did swallow nervously before even attempting to do so, and when he did, he stammered a bit): "I... w-well, I just can't face the p-prospect of b-being away from Caden for that long. Never mind that I'd be heading into the complete unknown, partaking in something that I have little to no knowledge about - and I'll hold my paw up and admit that - but it'd be quite something to experience, and if I ever felt I could survive that, I'd need my friends around me." He looked at Caden, smiling, his tail rising to show his support for the idea. "And I don't ever want to be parted from you again, matey!" He returned his gaze to Ladorak, smiling a little now. "Count me in, sir!"
"Me too." No sooner had Carrow finished speaking than Selvis chipped in. "After all, not bloody likely I'm staying behind when friends of mine are taking part in something like that, right?" His eyes sparkled; unlike Carrow he seemed to be genuinely looking forward to it. "As you two mentioned, it'd be a great experience. Sure, there's a risk involved, but what kind of combat doesn't involve risk? None I've ever heard of, so I'm definitely not going to pass on this opportunity. I'm on board, sir, there's no doubt about that." Hearing this, Carrow felt better still. Selvis felt as strongly about being there with his friends as the mouse did, and that was good enough for him. Now all that remained to be seen was how Elliot responded.
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Post by bookity101 on Feb 21, 2011 16:02:17 GMT -5
Elle made her way down through the lubbers hole, not wanting to risk the possible dangers of the shrouds. She moved a lot slower than her compatriots. While the young jis was more than confidant when it came to scurrying around working on the sails... but then she always had a very sturdy rope attached to her waist...
Elle touched down on the deck just after the Captain finished speaking with Spender and was moving to her friends side when Captain Fugate began to explain the opportunity they had to serve on different ship for a time. Caden agreed almost immediately and Carrow quickly agreed to go, no surprise there. Selvis seemed eager to go soo...
"I'm in too Captain. There is no way I am letting my friends go away with out me to keep them out of trouble Sir." Her smile was joking as she came to stand abreast with her friends.
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Post by Ladorak on Feb 21, 2011 22:12:03 GMT -5
Ladorak broke out into a smile, and gave them a firm nod. "Well then... good on all of you. I'll get in contact with Captain Duckworth tomorrow then... send him a message and see what he thinks. I'm glad you're all stalwart sailors on this. I think it will be an experience you won't soon forget." he said, straightening himself back up, as he had bent down a little to look each of them in the eye when they gave him their answers.
He looked over at Spender now, his face keeping its serious look that it had when he had begun this conversation. "Master at Arms... I will need to see Seajack Spender in my cabin tomorrow morning, at the start of the Morning Watch. Ensure that he gets there." he spoke lowly to the hedgehog, who gave him a nod. "Also, have one of the Corporals keep a distant eye on him for now. I'll let him resume his duties... but the second it looks like he's stepping out, place him under arrest and lock him in irons."
"Aye Captain." the hedgehog nodded, speaking also in a low voice, to avoid Spender picking up on this conversation. Ladorak turned his attention to Caden, speaking loud enough so that both the albino and ferret could hear him. "Well, now that that is settled... Caden... would you perhaps do me a favor, and take Spender with you on patrol? I want someone I can trust with him tonight, to see if he's..." and here he looked right at the ferret. "Capable of doing his work. Plus, since it's not very demanding work, the two of you can talk and basically take it easy until the Middle Watch starts. Think of it as Midshipjack training."
Caden didn't even flinch. More like babysitting. As a son, he was about to say "Dad, what are you thinking!? Are you nuts?" but of course he didn't say that. His pink eyes flicked over to Spender, then back to Ladorak. He knew better than to question an order from his Captain. Ladorak was Captain of this vessel, and what he said went. "Yes Captain Fugate sir." he replied, betraying nothing of his emotions in his voice. Was it an order though? Or a request?
Ladorak gave him a knowing smile, then saluted all of them, Caden coming to attention and returning the salute. "You are dismissed then. Return to your duties. If any of you wish to join Seajack Caden on patrol, then feel free to do so. Dismissed."
"Sir!" Caden snapped his paw down right after Ladorak did, and the ermine Captain began to move back aft, heading for the ship's wheel. The Marines that had gathered started to disperse as well, and Caden took in a breath, holding it as he walked over to Spender.
"Well mate... what do say we get this patrol started?" he asked, raising a paw a bit as part of his suggestion, indicating Spender could take lead if he so wished. His voice was friendly, and maybe even a tad enthusiastic. It was the best Caden could manage under the circumstances, but to him, it didn't sound fake.
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Post by spender on Feb 22, 2011 3:09:46 GMT -5
Willard shook his head.He could speak no ill of Captain Fugate, especially after the stoat so kindly allowed him to take an extra shift. But honestly, if he was Captain of the Agamemnon, that ferret would be swimming for shore right about now...
But that would have to wait. He had to make Captain, first, and that meant making all the ranks in between. His resolve was doubled. He would work twice as hard! And that meant twice as many shifts! Who needed to eat? Who needed sleep? Whiny little wimps, that's who! Not he! He had not time for such idleness. If he needed sleep, he would work below, helping stitch up the cartridges of powder used in the cannons. He could close his eyes there, and that would be good enough. If he needed food, he could eat here and there on patrol. Why sit down and waste time with fiddly forks and plates? Paws and pockets! That was he ticket. Not a moment to lose!
And while Caden and his messmates left to go cavorting, he would remain loyal to his ship; aye, an integral part of her refitting! Willard hiccuped with fervor, and winced at the thought of letting someone else's paws sanding her wood. No! No, no, no! Every last nail and screw would be by his own doing. He had to make sure of that. Ags would come out perfect. He would fix his ship... alone! And he'd be done in half the usual time! All those beasts having breaks and meals and naps and stopping work when it was dark, why, it was simple math! All those breaks added up! Time multiplied by lazy workers equals nothing getting done! Pah!
As he stomped about proudly on his route, he realised there was a speck of dust on his glasses, and so took them off to wipe them clean with his shirt.
He put them back on. Ah, good. No speck of dirt, and there was Peskers, finally. Willard resolved to inform Captain Fugate of her gender. It wasn't right, a female in the navy. He had let it slide until now, because she was a good worker, and losing her would have been as bad as losing anyone else on the crew. But this wouldn't do anymore. No doubt she was late to duty dealing with... the weasel shuddered... jill stuff.
Spender kept silent throughout the proceedings. It was just a matter of time. Any minute now, they'd start tugging his trousers off, whacking him with rods or whips or whatever the tool of the day was. Ladorak's tone was clear: he was mad. When adults got really, really mad, they got quiet. It was a good tactic. When things got quiet, you could really hear yourself think, and what Spender was thinking was:
OhnoohnoI'msorryI'msorryohnoohnobuggerbuggerpleasedon'tpleasepleaseI'msorryohnoohbuggernoplease. Which was a lot worse to deal with than anything the Captain could have screamed at him.
When he found himself mostly out of danger with his trousers and hide still intact, he was more confused than grateful. He still had to see the Captain in the morning. That wasn't good at all. It just meant he had to wait all night for a proper punishment. They were probably putting it off so they didn't wake anyone.
For a brief moment, Spender wondered how he had ever gotten over the embarrassment of his first whipping. Then he realised he hadn't, not really. Then he realised he'd only stopped caring about that since Christmas—yet another thing the drugs had relieved him of.
He wanted another pawful of them, right now. He couldn't deal with all this! He was doing everything wrong, and no one could tell him it was wrong until it was too late to do anything other than publicly humiliate and hurt him, and of course Caden and the others got to go see a new ship and have all that fun, because they were the special ones who always did everything right and everyone liked them, oh yes, they were just so... ugh... perfect. Spender could have spat, if his mouth hadn't dried up out of fear.
He glanced up at Caden as the marten offered the lead in that smarmy, smug tone of his. All nicey-nice now, aren't ye, ye little flea-scab? Seein' me all 'umbled an' cowerin' like this... bet yer jus' grinnin' away inside, y'stupid whitey freak... Spender could have lunged at him, would have lunged at him, yes, with claws spread and teeth ripping—get a good ear off, or a bit of cheek, a real proper fight! See who was smarmy then!
But just as soon as the burst of rage came, it faded, and Spender dropped his gaze back to the deck. "H'okay," he said. He took a few shuffling steps forward before he found a normal stride. His legs were still shaking, his muscles sore from tensing up.
He glanced up again, saw Selvis, Carrow and Elliot, and quickly began in the other direction, almost running into Caden.
"Sorry... this way.."
His eyes were drier now, but still red-hot with the urge to let loose. It was as if the Captain had called these four specifically to give them a good view of Spender getting in trouble. He wanted to throw up. The look on Selvis's face... on Carrow's... on Elliot's...
The faces were the same he'd always imagined they had looked back on Christmas Eve. He'd never gotten a good look what with the darkness and the distance, but now...
His dark ruminations were interrupted by Peskers slapping his nose with a bundle of letters.
"Got your post for ya, ya dumb-face," she sneered. "One from your family, one from Zheep. Want me to hide them in your pillow with the rest of your unopened letters, or d'you wanna just go cross-eyed and throw 'em into the ocean like the last thing you tried to read? Wot, wot's wrong?" Her tone changed a little, and she looked from Spender to Caden, frowning. "Who died?"
It was about then that Willard, coming up behind her, suddenly burst into tears and ran below to the gun deck.
Peskers was now utterly perplexed. "Wot'd I miss?"
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Post by Ladorak on Feb 22, 2011 10:43:40 GMT -5
((Slight auto, hope you don't mind Spendy. Just lemme know if you do in the Cbox or something!))
Caden could see the anger and rage building up on Spender's face. It looked as if any minute the ferret would pounce. So it seems I can't trust you after all. Well go ahead, try it mate. I'll sock you so hard in the stomach that you'll feel my paw striking your spine. Just go on...
He tensed, visibly, but then relaxed upon seeing Spender do so. What was this? Spender too much of a coward to attack? Or was there something else going on here? Fear of Ladorak? Shame over having gotten caught? Something else entirely? Caden had to admit he was confused, and started to follow after Spender, when he suddenly turned around (away from Caden's friends, the marten noted), and started heading aft, in the direction Ladorak was heading. Well that was fine. They could take the aft hatch down to the upper gun deck, and start their patrol that way.
They nearly ran into each other, but the ferret avoided it last minute. He could see the Corporal shadowing them a bit, and figured it was for the best, so long as he didn't stick right on their tails.
Spender soon got whacked in the snout with his mail, courtesy of Peskers. And then... Willard came up behind Peskers, but suddenly ran off, sobbing, below. Uhhh... alright. Caden was now thoroughly lost. "Um." It seemed it was up to Caden to answer, as Spender sure wasn't. He started to head aft of the mainmast, moving for the hatch. "Well... nothing really I guess." he noticed the two ferrets matching his pace, or at least for the most part they were. "Just... some problems that are being sorted out. Hey Spender." Caden looked over at him now, stopping at the top of the companionway down to the upper gun deck.
"You're... lucky you know. Lucky that you get mail from home. I never will, considering my family is mostly dead... or... just don't care enough about me." he said, pausing on relating this to the ferret. "So it must be nice you know, that you can get letters from your family and write back to them. I never will be able to do that." he said, beginning to descend the stairs now to the upper gun deck.
"I wish I could, but since Ladorak's the only 'family' I have, I have no one to write to or read letters from... aside from Elle." he quickly added, remembering to throw that in. "It's different though." Especially now, he didn't say. "So..." they had reached the bottom of the stairs, the wide expanse of the lower gun deck opening up before them, and the wardroom and officers' cabins behind them, guarded by the ever present Marine sentries. "Do ye still... not like me?" he asked, taking the words very slowly. He didn't start walking forward yet, instead gazing down the "corridor" of guns on either side of them, silent and resting, like great black beasts that were nonetheless poised to strike whenever they deemed it fitting to do so. The ship was a different world at night, with barely anyone save for some crew on patrol up here on the upper gun deck. Below them, half the crew was slumbering away in their hammocks on the lower gun deck. Caden's vision terminated at the bulkhead to the Sick Berth, which was a ways forward, at the bow. The great trunk of the mainmast was directly ahead of them, like a tree that had grown into the very bowels of the Agamemnon.
"If ye do... I guess I just wonder why." he concluded. "You get letters from your family, and seem to get on OK sometimes with Selvis and Carrow. Heck, even Peskers doesn't treat you bad all the time. He brought up your mail after all." He looked in the other ferret's direction, giving "him" a nod. "So yeah... am I just... not easy to get along with... or what?" he asked, eyes sweeping the gun deck for anything suspicious. He would walk forward when Spender did, and look in between the guns to see if anything was out of the ordinary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clements, the Corporal not following the ferrets and marten, soon appeared back at Ladorak's side, the Captain now beside the ship's wheel. "Captain sir, located this in Seajack Cielciosk's bag." he pawed over a glass jar of what had been fur shampoo. For fleas. It was filled with some sort of plant.
The ermine frowned, and took it in his paws. "Thank you Corporal. You may return to your patrol now."
"Aye, Captain." the weasel saluted, and moved off. Ladorak looked the bottle over, the plants dimly visible behind the green tinted glass, like some sort of science specimen. Perhaps he should keep this out in the open... but knowing Molly she might take it and do something with it. Perhaps best to conceal it for now. He slid it into his pocket, taking a pen out and opening up the log book, in order to record Spender's infraction and that as of yet, no punishment had been delivered, pending his final judgment and meeting with the ferret tomorrow. Even Spender knew that being called to the Captain's cabin was the worst thing on the ship. It meant you were usually in serious trouble (unless of course you were a Steward, and were in the process of cleaning the cabin, as those were the only other ones with regular access).
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Post by Carrow on Feb 22, 2011 12:26:59 GMT -5
Carrow's whiskers twitched to show how pleased he was. The smile he received from the Captain made him feel all warm and comfortable inside. It was the kind of reassuring smile he was immensely fond of. His trembling was much less visible at this point; evidently, the presence of Ladorak and his three friends was having a calming effect on him. Note to self: need to really start working on my anxiety issues. He had a few months in which to do so, but he knew some work needed to be done. Fleet battle was a different matter entirely to what he'd experienced in comebat beforepaw, and he was easily frightened. The shock of the new would be bad enough, but if the rodent's nerves were shot too, it wouldn't end at all well for him. Then he thought of the package he had received from Archie. Maybe there was a letter within, with some more advice for him?
He felt a gentle paw on his shoulder and glanced up to find himself looking into Selvis's eyes. The weasel was smiling too. He didn't need to say anything. The mouse was sure what his friendly gaze was trying to convey, so he smiled back, even despite the fear that still lurked inside him. The seeds of an idea involving the mouse and his sleeping issues, which had been sown back in Florence, were starting to bloom. The mustelid was quite certain that if Carrow could start getting a regular night's rest, his anxiety and worries would begin to gradually fade. They wouldn't diminish entirely, of course, as they both knew: being a nervous creature was in Carrow's nature. By now, the longtail knew most of the field mouse's 'weak spots', so to speak, what helped him to relax, what made him more tense, and so on. He could certainly try and help his friend. It would take a while, and his work would most likely take a lot longer than the time they had before they went away - the mouse had been carrying his burden for years after all - but he knew he could still be of assistance.
Mouse and weasel saluted smartly when Ladorak dismissed them. Carrow sighed. Figuring out Caden's reaction to the latest orders he had been given wasn't exactly the hardest thing in the world for him to do. He knew that no matter the amount of goodwill with which the pine marten had taken his orders, he was still quite uncomfortable with having to carry them out. Carrow reckoned he could see why. The last time Spender had been taken to task like that, he'd taken his revenge by breaking Caden's arm. He looked at the ferret now, and despite the wild imagination of the disgraced mustelid, the mouse wasn't wearing much, if any, of an expression as he regarded him. His face was about as passive as he could manage under the circumstances. He didn't seem to care all that much, and that was true. There was nothing he could really do, or say for that matter, that wouldn't somehow upset Spender. He was in a volatile state, and Carrow felt his paws were tied. He couldn't even speak for fear of setting the ferret off, and he knew that his rages were a sight to behold.
Neither was Selvis betraying his emotions. Even despite how he viewed the ferret at this point, he found that what had just happened didn't really matter to him; as a result he was finding it hard to justify making him feel any worse. The humiliation he had just suffered, along with the promise of further retribution (he'd caught what Ladorak had said; Carrow, likewise) was enough for him; there was no point pouring fuel on the fire when it was already blazing, after all. Like his mouse companion, Selvis was well aware of the circumstances under which Spender had attacked Caden the previous August. They had been quite similar to the ones in which the ferret now found himself. He wanted to accompany the pine marten on patrol for a number of reasons: to ensure he was there for Caden if it should come to pass that Spender tried anything, and also because he was greatly looking forward to spending some time with him. Carrow felt the same way (even if he was worried that Spender might choose to make him a target, as he was by far the weakest creature in the group), but before he could make a move, he saw Spender turn his back on him and his beech marten and weasel friends. Caden went after the ferret, to keep an eye on him as he had been asked to.
He didn't really want to admit it, but seeing Spender turn away from him, Selvis and Elliot hurt him. He couldn't help but wonder what it was he had done to make the ferret react in that way. Was it merely by being around that he had ruffled him? Cripes, well, a thousand apologies for simply existing!, he thought. Would you rather I just chucked myself off the foremast? You probably would, I suppose; that'd be one of us out of the way, right?! Well, I'm not so hopeless anymore. So sorry to disappoint you, but I haven't felt like doing anything like that for quite a while. Not since you caused me to have a breakdown in front of everybeast last year. Now his head was hurting. He just couldn't understand that beast. What in the name of Hellgates did he expect him to do? Be friendly to him while he still got treated like this? That kind of thing just didn't wash, as far as he was concerned. I'm just a pathetic little mouse in your eyes, after all. It's all you've ever seen me as. I've tried to be nice to you. I was even planning to help you out - not that you would have wanted assistance from a RODENT! Great seasons, I can't imagine how embarrassing that would be for you!
Selvis was still by Carrow's side, and when he heard the field mouse speaking softly to himself he became concerned again. "I can't help it... I'm sorry, Spender. You still don't think I have a place here, and we both know it. You don't want anything to do with us... but I know I'm the problem..." It hurt him terribly to feel rejected like this, to BE rejected like this, even by a creature as unfathomable as Spender, because the reminders that came with it were truly painful. He wasn't sure what he should do with the ferret anymore. All his efforts so far had been passively repelled, and he was close to giving up. Valuable time and energy he could otherwise spend in the company of creatures who DID like him and care about him was being wasted on the ferret, who whose actions could be by turns completely predictable and totally unexpected. He had seen absolutely no signs of reciprocation since their talk in the Sick Berth, and this just wasn't good enough for him. Carrow wasn't the one who needed to change his ways. He wasn't the one due to be punished by Ladorak (and once again he found himself hoping fervently that the ermine came down on Spender like a ton of bricks). There were so many things Spender didn't realise and one of them was that the field mouse didn't take being blatantly ignored very well.
The post he had collected earlier began slipping out of his paw as the mouse felt himself being drained again. The energy he'd felt before was leaving him at an alarming rate. His weasel friend could see this quite clearly, and he responded quickly, putting an arm around the mouse to steady him as he spoke softly into the Welkinite's ear. "Oh, don't mind Spender. He has this annoying habit of thinking we're all the same when we're really not. I know you've been trying to patch things up with him for a while, and this must come as a shock to you, but he's not the kind of beast to take advice. I'm sorry, Carrow, but even if you wanted to there would be nothing you could do to help him. He's set in his ways: he doesn't like me because of the company I keep; he dislikes both you and Caden because of what you are..." Carrow nodded hesistantly, making an attempt to speak and knowing that every word Selvis spoke was true, but his voice failed him. His lower lip started to tremble, so Selvis patted his shoulder, taking his free paw and slowly, gently easing him down into a sitting position, taking a seat next to him on the deck before letting go.
The rodent set the post down beside him, suddenly feeling exhausted. Once more he felt fragile and worn out. He smiled a little when he looked at the small pile again. Quite cleverly, he had placed his package on the top, thus concealing the two letters addressed to his longtail companion. Selvis now saw clearly what his friend had been carrying with him for the last while, and his eyes lit up. This provided the weasel with a perfect opportunity to change the subject, and this was something he appreciated because the last thing he wanted was to see Carrow properly upset, and at this stage it seemed that was where the mouse was headed. Before he could say anything, however, Carrow spoke. "I have a surprise for you, matey," he said gently, suddenly sounding more cheerful. Selvis was immediately intrigued, but Carrow put a paw to his lips to forestall any questions the weasel might have. Carrow slowly lifted the package he had received - and the letters were revealed. The mouse smiled, eyes brightening a little. "I believe these are for you?"
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Post by spender on Feb 23, 2011 2:53:28 GMT -5
"Reisender, bed!"
"Nooooo!"
"Reisender, bed!"
"Noooooooooooo!"
The whispering rose in intensity. A murmur rippled through the nearest hammocks.
Tally was having a difficult time of things. Upon taking Reisender down to help him into the hammock where his father was sound asleep, the little marten began to struggle. It was all she could do to hold her paws around his chest and lift him an inch or two off the ground. His limbs hung like dead weights, and in-between his refusals, he would giggle. Tally did not know what was funny.
Eventually she let go of him to catch her breath, at which point he bolted up the stairs to the upper gun deck. The mousemaid padded after him. Behind her, Keinruf snorted, turned over, and began to snore.
Spender stared at his letters, not the least bit interested in Willard's outburst. One from Zheep? Why would that little weasel want to write to him? Because they'd played together in the nursery in Florence?
"Aye," Peskers said, as Caden finished talking. "Y'got me, Spendy-butts. You're a doof and a klutz, and great fun to kick about, but we're a crew, eh?"
"I... guess," Spender said. "Uhh... Did... did I get a package?" he asked, his voice finding itself at last. Peskers shook her head. Spender drooped. Nothing for Christmas, then. It hadn't come before, but he'd been hoping it was just late...
He was having trouble looking at the letters. They danced around, evading cognition. Was this one from Zheep, or his family? Was it this one?
"Well," he drawled, "it doesn't matter ver' much, gettin' letters, does it, if y'can't even read... or write back... Yer lucky, Caden. Y'hate yer mum an' dad anyway, so wot d'you care if they're alive or dead? 'm jus' sayin'... You've got a da. Th'Cap'n's right 'ere all th'time. Y'don' have t'wait months f'r a package that'll never come. Y'can talk t'him almost any time... Y'got no one t'miss..."
The ferret rubbed his eyes with a fisted paw, and began to try to pocket his letters. This caused his painting from earlier to be dislodged and flutter to the deck. Peskers picked it up and unfolded it. She stuck her tongue out, tilted her head, and rotated the small piece of canvas, trying to suss it out as the three of them walked along.
There was still no sign of Willard.
Spender was feeling a little better about this. Peskers was here; she would help him out if Caden tried anything funny. He had the upper paw in terms of numbers.
Maybe it was the relief of being temporarily let go from punishment. Maybe it was the drugs had loosened his tongue. Maybe it was the aforementioned jill backing him up. Whatever the reason, Spender began to talk, like he had with Carrow in the sick berth months ago. And it was obvious the ferret had this on his mind for some time, for even in his addled state, it was said with a fervent clarity:
"I don'... want t'hate you. But I do. 's cos, 'cos I hate everyone. I 'ate you 'cos y'got friends, an' I don't. I 'ate you 'cos you got th'Cap'n, an' I don't. I 'ate you 'cos you c'n read, an' I don't. Can't. You get t'sleep in that special place with Ocean, an' go up t'that place without askin'! You're special an' always 'ave been, an' me...
"I got porridge fer brains. My da always said. An' it's true. I'm stupid an' dull an' all I want t'do is be funny, but I don't know 'ow. Everyone's scared of me. I tried bein' nice. But 'ow can I? I thought... Carrow wos my friend, 'cos we agreed... but then 'e ran away from me t'night. Elliot's all right, but I see th'way 'e's so careful all th'time. I'm stupid, but I ain't dumb. An' Selvis, I tried t'play with 'im once an' he jus' blew up at me! Wot'd I ever do t'him?! Even Ocean 'ates me, an' I thought we were bestest pals. I been tryin' not to 'urt anyone, an' I haven't! But everyone acts like 's all I ever do. I only did once, an' I said I wos sorry, an' you were nice t'me at first an' we played chess one time an' I liked that, an' you saved me an' I saved you an' now we're even. But 's like... somethin' allus 'appens an', an' 's like, there's never time t'play chess again anymore, an' I know why. 's 'cos I'm borin'. An' mean. But 'm tryin' not t'be, but 's so hard 'cos every time I try t'talk t'anyone, I get scared, 'cos I know you're all scared o' me an' hate me an' put spiders in my 'ammock, an' so I run away an' don't bother anyone 'cos if I do I know you're gonna gang up on me an' beat me up like Ocean did...
"An' I never meant t'throw that rock with a snowball in, see, I wos tryin' t'play nice like everyone agreed, an' I didn' wanna hit Ocean 'cos I wos scared 'e wos gonna beat me up again, an' I didn' wanna hit Carrow 'cos he's delicate, an' I did wanna hit Selvis f'r shoutin' at me last time we played blocks, but, see, I 'ad these snowballs all made up, an' I wos waitin' an' waitin' an' it wos borin', an' there were sparrows in a tree so I tried to wake 'em up, but th'snowballs were too soft so I thought, I'll throw a rock t'hit th'tree, but worrif I miss? I don' wanna hit a sparrow with a rock, so I put snow in th'rock an' I hit it anyway an' then th'snowballs got mixed up an' I didn't know, I thought it wos a normal snowball I made with pee in th'middle, not a rock, 'cos pee is funny, 'cept when you get yer face pushed in it, but I didn' do that, Ocean did that, but then th'sparrow wos hurt an' I'm scared if anyone finds out I hurt th'sparrow they're gonna hate me even more, I tried t'save him an' I brought him t'th'ship an' wrapped him up nice an' cozy an' fed him peas an' he died anyway an' I hate myself so much I don' even wanna breathe anymore!"
Spender gasped for breath, and, realizing he was done talking, stopped walking. He plumped himself down against the rear of one of the cannons and shook all over, rubbing his arms and frowning.
"D'you see 'em now? They're all over my arms, spiders, invisible little ones, tryin' t'eat me... I 'ope yer happy... I'll be bones by mornin'..."
Peskers looked at Caden, her mouth a perfectly shaped "O" of confusion.
"Do you two... need a moment alone, or anything?" she managed to ask.
Reisender skittered on all fours. Escape was crucial. His paints had been taken from him, and he was not the least bit tired—he had to find entertainment! Or he would explode! He had to... had to... had to climb.
It was ingrained in his very being. He was a pine marten of the forest. The ghost memory of skin-of-the-teeth leaps electrified his blood. His tiny claws extended of their own will (pine martens having semi-retractable claws.) Up ahead, the majesty of the ship's main mast loomed; he leapt, and raced up without so much as a blink of doubt, and gave his head a good bop on the top of the closed hatch.
He skittered back down, headfirst, still going full speed. His lust for throttle was sure to get him throttled. Up the stairs again! Main deck! Watch out! Reisender was gonna climb something! Where did that big tree get to now! Hold on! Up ahead! Another marten! A beech marten!
With a squeak, the young creature barreled into Elle's legs.
"HelphelphelpVeaselbaitisgoinktomakemesleep!"
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Post by Ladorak on Feb 23, 2011 21:48:56 GMT -5
Unfortunately Spender touched on the subject of Caden having Ladorak. That was the weakness to the marten's encouragement of Spender. He figured Spender wouldn't acknowledge that Caden had Ladorak, as he certainly hadn't back when he was in the sick berth.
"Thought you didn't put much stock in that." he muttered, but let Spender continue without protest. He listened to him as they slowly moved down the length of the gun deck, walking purposefully, Caden attempting to keep his pawsteps light, as the sleeping crew was right below him. He could relax when they got down to the orlop deck.
He waited until they neared the bow, and Spender collapsed against the back of a gun carriage, rather close to the gun they were working in combat. Caden nervously glanced at the Corporal who was shadowing them, and noticed he was picking up his pace as he took note of Spender slacking. "Spender get up. Come on!" Caden reached down, and yanked him to standing. "Sorry mate... but remember. We're being followed." he muttered to the ferret, in a much lower tone, and nodded in the direction of Corporal Henley. "They're just looking for any excuse to get you in trouble. So let's go, we'll walk down the starboard side now. And no Ralph, it's OK." he responded to the question Peskers threw at him.
He moved around the foremast, and circled around to the starboard side. "Alright... I'll try and address everything you brought up, if I can recall it all. You sure gave me a lot there mate." Caden informed Spender, giving him a smile. "Well... I got friends... because of how I act. I never used to though, if you can believe that. And well, I can sleep in the gun room because I'm an officer candidate, a Volunteer Class I. I'm planning to take a Lieutenant's examination in six years... so I get a few special privileges but hey, let's get one thing straight." the albino's voice was not accusatory, but rather a bit playful. "I have never been special. I was just a street urchin after my mom died. I beat up everybody on the block. I was the meanest, toughest kit in my neighborhood, because that's how I was raised. I was told if I didn't fight, I wouldn't survive. I had nothing... until Ladorak found me and got me out there."
They were walking past the silent rows of guns now on the starboard side, heading amidships. "Heh... you can bet how I took that. I was stubborn, hated Ladorak at first, and him taking me away from my home. I just wanted my mom... but my views came to change. The more stubborn I was, the less I got from Ladorak. He was always nice to me though... even if I was rotten to him. He gave me presents on my Birthday, even though I didn't deserve them. I realized that if I was nice, Ladorak would reciprocate at least two fold, but usually more. Heheh... I came to realize he was the only family I had, the only family I ever knew. So yeah... I don't think I've ever been 'special' Spender, as you put it. Much better than my mom ever was. The only reason I get slightly better privileges now" and better pay, he didn't add, "is through my own choice to shoot for Lieutenant. Sure... Ladorak wants me to follow in his pawsteps and be a Captain someday, but I want to rise through the ranks as well."
"Now let's get a a few things down, for the record." Caden stated, passing the round trunk of the mainmast now. "You won't be bones in the morning. You don't have spiders on you. I don't know why your skin is crawling, but it certainly isn't invisible spiders. You'll be fine mate. Just fine." Caden reassured him, looking up at the stars shining through the grates of the hatch above their heads, before looking back down at the ferret.
"First of all, I think the others view you that way because you started out that way. First impressions mean a lot to other creatures, and believe me, it took Ladorak and myself a few good months to move past the... ice wall I had set up around myself. The jealous little box I contained myself in. I think Ladorak might be losing patience with you because you constantly break rules, and step out of line." he stopped in front of the mainmast, tapping the paper that had been nailed to the thick wooden pillar. "See? The Articles of War, posted for everyone to read. And yes, I know you can't read all that well, but we get them read to us every time we muster for formations, so I mean, maybe you should pay a bit more attention to them, eh? How do you think Ladorak feels? We're all a solid knit crew matey. We all need to look out for each other, because we're the only ones we have to rely on after all. We'll be fighting together... maybe even shedding blood together. You have to keep that in mind mate. Ladorak feeds you, gives you a place to stay and all that, and you just sort of shove it in his face by breaking the rules. I mean even he has his limit." the albino explained.
"So I can easily see him not liking that very much. And before you say anything... yes, I understand the fact that you might be trying to do right. But maybe you need extra help, Spender? Maybe you need someone to work with you to make sure you understand the Articles and rules and maybe help you improve a little bit?"
They had reached the aft companionway now, but here Caden paused, and made a show of looking about the deck to see if anything was "amiss". "Look, Spender. You and I are cousins, right? Ladorak's dad married your dad's mum, so in a way... that makes us family. I wouldn't mind helping you... if you want me to help you that is. Maybe I could help improve your relations with everyone as well. Give you pointers on how to act and get into their good graces."
He paused, not wanting to head to the lower gun deck just yet, as that's where where everyone was asleep, and they wouldn't be able to talk nearly as much until they reached the orlop deck. That was what Caden was planning, before going down to the hold to listen for leaks, but he wanted to hear Spender's response first.
"But before you agree... I need you to be serious about this in return. We're brothers in arms now, and I don't want to waste my effort on someone who isn't going to take my advice. Now with that said... that doesn't mean we can't have fun. Hell, I try and have fun every opportunity I get when I'm not on duty, because I know I won't ever be a stripling again, and I want to enjoy my youth while I can. Yet I also realize I need to be serious when I'm on duty, because everyone on this ship is counting on me... just like I'm counting on them. My life is in their paws... just as theirs is in mine. We all make this ship work, together."
Caden turned to face Spender now, looking at him full on, and keeping a wary pink eye on Henley. "So what do you say? Want to give this a try?" he asked, his pink eyes hopeful, wondering what Spender would say as the ship rocked gently beneath their paws as it plied the seas outside of Bastia.
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Post by bookity101 on Feb 24, 2011 10:04:10 GMT -5
Elle heard Spender dump everything on Caden’s head; the ferret was in no way thinking clearly at this moment. The Spender she knew did not just spill his guts to the guy he considered his greatest enemy… then again if Spender had been taking something… that would explain this sudden outpouring of emotion and thoughts from the older ferret.
Elle gently touched Caden’s shoulder to signal to him that she was breaking away from the group to check the opposite side of the deck, meaning she made her way back around the mainmast and across the main deck, head turning side to side as she watched. Wait, what was…
“Hey!” Then she was on the deck, barreled over by the blur she had seen moments before.
"HelphelphelpVeaselbaitisgoinktomakemesleep!"
Elle looked down at her legs, seeing the small furry beast who had knocked her to the ground. Veaselbait? Weaselbait? Tally!
“You must be Reisender.” She managed to make it to a crouched position in front of him. “She’s gonna make you sleep huh… That is terrible isn’t it.” Elle forced herself to keep a straight face as she stood “Well, we can’t have that, now can we Reisender…” Elle cocked her head, looking contemplative as she tapped her chin.
“How about this, you keep me company on my watch; it gets lonely up here all by myself…” She leaned closer to the youngling as if she was sharing a secret;
“Besides, I need an extra pair of eye’s to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, like maybe a spy?” So she had made up that last bit about the spies... but if he was with her looking for "spies", then at least his scurrying around wouldn't get him into trouble with the Corporals...
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Post by Carrow on Feb 24, 2011 18:03:18 GMT -5
Flabbergasted. If one word could have summed up the look on Selvis's face when he gazed down at one letter and saw the spindly writing which he knew instinctively was his mother's, that would have been it. Flabbergasted. Once again the weasel found himself completely lost for words, and when he could say something, he simply gasped, reaching down and taking it up with a trembling paw. It shook and shivered visibly in his grasp for a moment before he placed it back down on deck. His voice trembled audibly when he recovered his ability to speak. "She remembered... all this time I didn't know whether I'd get anything from home... and she still remembered..."
His eyes glistened with tears. He was both happy and sad: thrilled that Briga had sent him a letter, and saddened by the fact that there was a very real possibility of this one being one of only a few he received. "I c... I can't read that yet," he said quietly, at which point Carrow reached out and clasped his paw, nodding. He understood that his long-tailed friend was still upset about his realisation.
"Don't worry about it, matey," the mouse said reassuringly. "You can deal with that later. If you want one of us to be there for you when you decide to read it, we will be. You can count on us, alright? I understand you must be going through a rough time right now, but we'll help you through it. If you even want one of us to read it to you, we will. I know I'll certainly do anything to lend a paw." It was Selvis's turn to nod, and despite his distressed state, he smiled, still struggling to speak all that much.
Carrow took advantage of the longtail's silence to steer the conversation towards the other letter. He could barely make out the address. "All I can tell about t'other one is that it's definitely addressed to you. Why don't you open it, and let's see who it's from?" Selvis had his own theories about whom he had received a letter from - there was a certain Dibbun least weasel popping into his thoughts at that very moment. He reached over and took the other letter.
He opened it slowly and carefully removed it from its confines. The weasel's written Common was poor enough (by his own admission), but trying to read the words on the paper was made a hundred times more difficult by the fact that the writer had a very basic grasp of spelling, grammar and general presentation. He shook his head in disbelief. "Ah, I know who this is from!," the Ferlusanian exclaimed. "Will need a bit of help reading it, though." Carrow was delighted to be of assistance. He sat close by his weasel companion as they scanned the letter together. The mouse tripped over a few sentences as the appalling writing and construction threw him off as well, but he made his best attempt to decipher the letter, which read as follows:
to: SeLvis fRinatta and fRends fRom: Zeeeep ReGinoLD Zeeep. !! is my name
tHis is a Leter foR Zeeeps, frends
Zeeeep is RitinG in comon foR yoo to ReaD it is HaRDeR foR Zeeep tHen caLGaRian BKoZ Zeeeps, Lessons R not in comon but Zeeep is maKinG PRoGRis Last montH Zeeep is my name KuD not Reed oR Rit at aLL so How R yoo aLL. ?
Zeeep HoPe yoR motHs R HeLPinG yoR sHiP Zeeep
ReGin Has KaPtcHuRD 5 new motHs. !! in a JaR Zeeeep Rit my name on tHe JaR
Zeeep is LivinG in fLoRens stiLL witH nanneRs Ges wot Zeeep Got a ReeL HeLmet. !! foR KRismis it is too BiG tho. anD a new KaP it is ReD. !! Zeeep aZKeD ReeL nice anD Zeeep Got to Hav tHe staR fRom tHe tRee too it is unDeR Zeeeps, PiLLow
eneway Zeeep Has to Go now anD sHoot kanins at MOON KREETCHiRS tHey KeeP tRynG to eat Zeeeps, abikis HeeHeeHee it is ReeLee Zeeep tho sH Dont teLL nanneRs. !! plees Rit bak to Zeeep anD if yoo see cHaR teLL Him fRom Zeeeep He stiLL sTinKs anD Liks muD
time to eet GeLito By. !!
When the mouse was finished, he looked at Selvis with mirth shining in his eyes, and the two of them burst out laughing. Tears were soon rolling down Selvis's cheeks, but for the first time in a while he wasn't crying because he was upset; these were tears of helpless laughter. Carrow had a rather wide smile on his face as well. "Oh, that Zheep! He has possibly the most random sense of humour I've ever come across. I'm glad to know he's getting on well enough, as I'm sure you must be. The pair of you got on really well when we were in Florence after all, right?" Selvis, who by now had ceased his chuckling and regained his composure, nodded, smiling as his tail swished gently behind him.
"Aye, that we did. I'll have to get a letter off to him once I get a spare moment. Y'know, I've found it hard to admit this to anybeast over the last while, but I've really grown fond of the little scamp. There's something about him that makes it really difficult to dislike him in any way. I'm almost automatically drawn to beasts like that, though I've never really been able to explain why."
Carrow chuckled softly. "It's probably because you two are kindred spirits!," he quipped playfully, gently punching the weasel's shoulder. Selvis made a show of rubbing his shoulder, before winking at his mouse companion. "You're both as fun-loving as each other from what I can see," the rodent explained, taking his still-unopened package in paw before standing up and stretching a little. It was then that he noticed something opposite where he was currently standing. "Hmm... that's odd," he murmured. "Back in a tick, alright?," he told his longtail friend before padding off. The thing that had caught the mouse's eye turned out to be a letter, addressed to (as he found out when he checked the front of the envelope) none other than Willard Waters. He pocketed it, his brow furrowing in thought. How had the meticulous least weasel left *that* behind, of all things?
He was by Selvis's side in an instant. "Sorry, matey. Have to go for a little while and return this letter to Willard. He must have forgotten it, somehow, and I'd need to give it back to him. I'll see you soon, alright?" Selvis nodded, frowning slightly as he stood up. He was a bit confused. Willard had made an error like that? Oh dear, this wasn't good. He glanced at the field mouse, looking a tad concerned. "I'll get to the bottom of it, or at least try to. See you later!" He set off down the weather deck stairs, calling the Welkin weasel's name softly every now and then. "Willard? Wiiiillaaaard? Are you about?"
Selvis watched his companion go before returning his gaze to the letter he had received, which was still resting on the deck. His paws trembled again as he bent down to retrieve it. The mustelid picked it up and pocketed it. He went over to the ship railing and leaned against it, trying to gather his thoughts. He knew that his albino marten friend had gone off to keep an eye on Spender. He decided to wait until they were done with all that before doing anything else - he didn't want to interfere with them; he didn't want to see Willard in case the least weasel said anything about what had happened between them over Caden back in Tunis (something that would be made worse by Carrow's presence); and he had no idea where Elle had gotten to. He simply stayed where he was, thinking. Excited, nervous, scared and terribly upset.
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