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Post by Ladorak on Jan 12, 2010 19:15:37 GMT -5
Ladorak listened silently, his eyes softening now at the lad's story. "Well....I know what that's like. My parents are gone too. Or at least...well interesting story really." the ermine said, reaching a paw out to the mouse's shoulder again. "I know what that can be like. But be thankful they died when you can still remember trace snippets of them. My mother died right when I was born. I never knew her at all, or what type of beast she was." he said slowly, almost regretfully as he thought about what that meant, and how it had impacted his life.
"Was she sweet? Kind? Nothing but a typical 'vermin maid?' I don't know." he shook his head. "And I never will. All I know is her name, Catherine Suckling. When I was born you see, my mother was shipwrecked on a distant island, Sampetra, not a good place to grow up if you've heard of it." he said, shaking his head and studying Cerinus again to see if he was familiar with it. "I was raised there by someone who wasn't a parent. For the longest time I thought my father had died in the wreck as well, but it turns out he didn't. I named myself Fugate, gave myself a last name and everything. I'm not sure why I suggested it...I guess I just saw myself as one for some reason." He said with a shrug now.
"So anyways, I wasn't able to leave Sampetra until I was in my later stripling years, and when I did I wandered about to so many places, but I'm not here to talk about myself. Only relate to you. The life I lived growing up helped reinforce that very same thought that you claimed now runs through your mind. That everything will turn out wrong. Well....here I am now, but that's neither here nor there. I did eventually meet my father...my real father. His name is Edmund Nelson, and though I should probably be calling myself Ladorak Nelson, I still keep Fugate....because in reality I didn't know my father growing up and I've always been Ladorak Fugate in my own mind.....it's sort of stuck you see." He said, smiling now in remembrance of things past.
"So believe me, I know what it's like growing up without parents. It can be very rough. You don't bond with anyone....you don't have a real family. But you're still young too...you look to be about my ward's age. In fact...his parents died too. His father died when he was about a year old or so, and his mother was killed when he was your age. Maybe you and he should meet. He's at this party you know. He'll be joining me at sea as soon as I get a ship...which should be tonight in all honesty." the ermine admitted, a shiver traveling down his spine when he thought about the ceremony that was taking place in a bit.
"Which...I suppose brings me to my next question for you. What are you doing here Cerinus? This is mostly a Naval Officers' Party, so are you connected in some with His Majesty's Royal Navy?" Ladorak wasn't sure if this mouse's late parents were involved with the Admiralty or not, but he was taking a stab at it, seeing if he was right.
**************
Caden was suddenly pulling by his wrist and yanked along by this mysterious beech marten because she was running from a....voice? Her touching him was enough, but he barely had time to think on it as he was pulled off the floor, struggling to move his hind paws to keep up.
The female moved to an area where the columns supported either side of the giant room. It was darker back here, with next to no beasts back in this direction. He looked around, his pink eyes scanning the room, trying to see who it was she was hiding from. There was another type of marten right where they had been standing before....was she the one?
It was then that Caden still felt Elle's paw in his own. "Huh...." He looked down, and she seemed to realize it the same time he did, and she pulled away, much to his regret. Her grip had been a soft sort of velvet, her pawpads well groomed....not like his, which were rough and calloused from years of practicing with mock blades. He felt a bit self-conscious now and even though he longed to feel those pawpads again he kept his arms to his sides, only hoping she hadn't noticed the gritty texture of his pads.
Lady Elle McNamee? Lady? She had a title to her name? Gulping visibly, Caden knew this wasn't good. What should he say? He had no title to his name, he wasn't a Lord by any means! Ladorak didn't either, and it was clear that this female was above his social station. "Um....Caden, Caden Freemont....I mean Fugate!" he corrected himself, deciding to use Ladorak's name. Nobody would know who Freemont was here. The name meant nothing in Welkin. But Fugate might. No title to the name but at least he was associated with a Naval Officer. She still probably wouldn't know him, but he figured he'd explain.
"I'm uh....not a real Fugate, just being taken care of by them. Commander Ladorak Fugate's my guardian." he put forth, hoping this would at least elevate him a bit in her eyes, as he really wasn't sure if she liked hanging around beasts with titles or not. Brushing himself off to smooth out some ruffles in his clothing, he gave her a small smile now, unsure if he'd made the right call or not with Fugate but he'd soon find out.
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Post by spender on Jan 13, 2010 7:10:27 GMT -5
"Spoiling for a fight" was not a phrase Spender liked. There was something about the word "spoiling" that rubbed him wrong. Hints of decay. It was like "rotting away for a fight", and that wasn't right. He didn't sit there and wither away and grow mold and attract flies when he was pining for some good ol' fisticuffs! The urge to punch something made him feel alive!
He hadn't gotten into a decent scrap since he'd bitten his sister over a week ago.
"Alright, this is the place."
They stopped walking. Spender stared up, momentarily lost in the awe of Whistleminster Palace. His father, Seige, tousled his head.
"Fancy, innit. I think the King's in there. Probably a whole slew of other hob-nobs. Too fancy-pants for me." The elder ferret sighed. "I'm going to get drunk in town. Don't do anything the authorities will need to talk to me about afterwards. You're signed up with His Majesty's Finest now, remember. There's going to be some ceremony or whatnot, I heard. You'll be assigned to a ship or something. Play it polite. No biting."
Spender grunted. Seige nudged him towards the palace.
"You can get your trunk from the hotel later tonight, or tomorrow. Whenever. Stay up as late as you like. Meet some jills. I'll be out 'til noon. Don't shout when you get back. Your mother loves you."
"Do you?"
Spender turned to look at his father, who was walking away. Seige paused and looked back.
"No. You're temporarily disowned. Feel free to change your name." Smiling and waving, he vanished down the lane. Some two-hundred feet away, Seige's casual stride turned into a flat-out run. Spender could have sworn he heard a cackle.
The young ferret trudged inside the palace, stopping only briefly to contemplate kicking a redcoat in the shins. Thank the fates his father hadn't gone into a long drawn-out "I love you smoochie-pums oaw we'll misses oooo be good and don't forget to brush!" speech in front of all those stoic-faced creatures. Being temporarily disowned was much more preferable.
He scanned the crowd. He tried not to show it, but he was somewhat impressed. Everyone here was easily more fancy than his mother when she put on her dish-washing dress. He felt under-dressed in his matching tunic and flat-cap - he didn't know when he would be getting his navy uniform, and he had nothing else to put on. He'd half-eaten the last formal shirt he'd been given for the holidays, and used the remaining sleeves as headbands. Being in the presence of so many well-dressed creatures just made him angry.
He headed for the refreshments.
"Cheese, please be cheese, please be cheese," he murmured. Yes! Score! Cheese galore!
His paws grabbed at the cheesy cubed goodness speared on little toothpicks, and began filling his pockets. This would come in handy later. Oho, maybe the Queen would find a surprise in her skirts by the end of the night...
"Oh, cor."
And there was wine, too! And that bowl of punched smelled like it had alc - ewww, someone had bled on the carpet right there. Gross. Brilliantly gross. This party was going to be grand.
As the stripling ferret giggled and filled himself a cup, he came to a conclusion. "Spoiling" for a fight wasn't right. But these nobs were definitely "spoiled" enough for one!
Now, who to trip up and spill this punch on first...?
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Post by Carrow on Jan 13, 2010 11:41:47 GMT -5
Cerinus listened, spellbound, as the ermine's soft voice calmed him and eased his mind. It had a very soothing, lilting quality to it, and the mouse smiled slightly more than once as he listened to the mustelid speak. When he had finished telling him a little of his own experiences, the mouse brightened.
The reason was immediately clear to Ladorak, it seemed, and the look on the rodent's face seemed to convey exactly what he was thinking: that he had picked up on the mention of his ward. "Before I tell you why I'm here, sir, I must ask you a little about your ward. I cen certainly say I would like to meet him here tonight, so if you would be so kind as to introduce him to me, that would be wonderful."
His whiskers twitched now in slight anticipation, and his eyes brightened just a tad as he wondered. Would he come away from here tonight having not only earned a father figure in his life, but having made a new friend?
It seemed that the two, though there were years between them, could relate to each other's experiences quite well. This chat was doing more than a little to lift the young mouse's despondent mood. He had to find out a little more about this other creature before he finally came clean, so to speak, about his reasons for being here.
His parents had not been connected with the Navy in the slightest, but he took a little comfort from knowing that he didn't seem so out of place here anymore.
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Post by Ladorak on Jan 13, 2010 15:00:07 GMT -5
Ladorak brightened a bit at this. Finally, some progress. "Oh? You'd like to meet Caden? Well I'm sure that could be arranged. He's here right now at the party, drifting about. An albino pine marten he is, difficult to miss." Standing up and looking out the window at the quiet gardens, the ermine contemplated what it would mean if he decided to watch out for this mouse and even....invite him aboard whatever ship he would be receiving.
And then an odd thought occurred to the ermine. What about getting Caden to the rank of Lieutenant? He would have to spend at least 3 years at sea in order to make Midshipjack, and then another one or two after that before he would take the single most daunting exam a young stripling could ever face. The dreaded Lieutenant's examination, which would be administered to him by thee Captains. The three would of course be Ladorak and two others, but out of all the Captains he knew, who would suffice? Troubridge? Calder? Saumarez?
But why was he thinking about this now? Maybe he was just so eager to get back out to sea he was already dreaming up scenarios in his mind. What about this fellow? If he had no experience at sea then both he and Caden would have to be commissioned as Landjacks for a year. The goal of every new recruit was to pass his Lieutenant's examination around the age of 17 or 18. It was supposed to mark his passage from stripling to adult.
"Here let's get you back to the party, and I'll point you in the direction of Caden." Ladorak said finally, coming out of his reverie. Moving over to the door and cracking it open, he looked over his shoulder with a smile. "Don't worry, you'll be fine out there. These aren't the streets of Muggidrear after all." opening the door fully, the ermine led the way out, walking the short distance back to the gathering hall.
Poking his head around the corner, Ladorak could see that things were much as they were. But now where was his ward? Where was Caden? He looked for any signs of white, hard to do as the tablecloths were said color. Hmm...maybe he wasn't in the middle of things. Wait....that ferret standing by the punch table....he looked very vaguely familiar to Ladorak, and soon the mustelid's eyes were scanning the room, his pupils darting back and forth and looking for a certain Seige Cielciosk. But no...that was just silly. He couldn't possibly be here....could he?
Violins played a very screechy melody in his ears as he struggled to pick out Caden. His heart rate quickened a bit as he initially failed to find either his ward or Seige, but then finally, over where the columns were, off in the dark, was Caden and....was that a female beech marten? Ladorak wasn't able to see her too well from here, as Caden was mostly blocking the way.
Grinning now and turning around, Ladorak pointed down the row of columns to where Caden could be seen. "That's him off in the distance there. Seems he's met a new friend, heheh." the ermine chuckled slightly, wondering exactly what that was all about.
"If you go up and introduce yourself just tell him you met me earlier. He doesn't mind meeting new beasts, and I'll be close by if you need anything." Out of the corner of his eye Ladorak shifted his gaze from Cerinus just a tad as he noticed a rather old but very spry looking opossum chatting it up with a group of Captains. Aha! There he was! Good! "Hey see that opossum over there?" Ladorak indicated Samuel Hood, not too far from the punch tables. "I'll just be over there talking with him if you need anything. Are you going to be OK then?" He asked the youngster, looking down at him with those bright eyes of his. His look said that everything would be alright, that he didn't have to worry about things here.
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Post by Carrow on Jan 13, 2010 15:53:27 GMT -5
Cerinus smiled broadly, something that felt unfamiliar to him, at Ladorak's words. Caden Fugate, eh? He seemed like a friendly enough mustelid from what the mouse had been told of him. He was about to leave Ladorak's side and go to meet him, when a thought occurred to him.
"Thanks for your time, sir. You really have no idea how much I appreciate it. Is there anything else I would need to ask you? No, I don't think there is. Oh... wait a second..." His brown eyes brightened as he remembered just why he had even come to Whistleminster Palace in the first place. He wondered how Ladorak would take his proposal.
"I do have something I would like to discuss with you," the rodent told the ermine, "but from your expression, sir, it seems that you've some urgent matters to attend to, so what I'll do is leave you to it, then if you don't mind I'll have a word with you later. How's that suit, sir?"
Cerinus' long tail swayed gently from side to side as the softly-spoken young creature addressed mister Fugate. His eyes had brightened considerably now a sign of just how much of an effect the presence of this creature was having on him.
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Post by Ladorak on Jan 13, 2010 17:01:58 GMT -5
"Very well then Master Cerinus." Ladorak said, addressing the mouse by his first name. "I shall speak with you at some point during this night. I won't be leaving until after the ceremony, so look for me any time up until that point." He said, hesitating a moment before giving a pat on the rodent's shoulder. "Have at it then." he said, standing up to his full height, giving the youth a nod, and turning to make his way across the floor to where he saw Admiral Hood.
On the way, he stole a glance in his peripheral vision at what he thought looked like Spender. How old had that lad been when he'd last saw him? Four? Five? Was that really him there? Green eyes studied the stripling from behind, as the ermine was moving across the floor behind Spender, though the ferret was looking about from time to time as well. Well....he probably wouldn't recognize the ermine even if he did see him.
But Ladorak's eye was soon drawn to a rather brawny figure ahead of him, floating about the floor. Wait...was that Luxe Calone? And what was he doing in such a....ostentatious outfit?
Quirking a brow, the ermine wandered over to his fellow mustelid, noting it wasn't too far off from where Hood was talking. "Luxe Calone? I half-expected to see you here." Ladorak said as he approached the blacksmith. "Brings back memories of last year in all honesty. I just managed to locate my superior, but then saw you on the way over to see him. How are you? How are you?" he offered his paw now. He had recommended Luxe's name to the Admiralty Board, and as far as he knew they were fine so far with him making Armorer, though he had yet to tell Luxe that. But that too would be another thing he would be tackling tonight. Just one of many before the night ended....
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Post by Carrow on Jan 13, 2010 18:27:00 GMT -5
Cerinus raised his head and stared into Ladorak's eyes all the while the ermine was speaking. There was something within the mustelid's warm gaze that gave him confidence and boosted his self-esteem. He smiled when he received a pat on the shoulder from the kind creature. "I'll be sure to speak to you later," he murmured, before turning, now in much better spirits.
The mouse began hesitantly making his way towards the albino pine marten, wondering what kind of a reception he would receive from him. He didn't wish to intrude, but he just had to try and make some new friends here tonight, and with this in mind, a certain spring entered his step.
Soon, the rodent had almost reached Caden. He gulped, taking a deep breath as he padded over to the young marten. He seemed not to be occupied with much of anything, evidently comfortable enough in presence of the other marten that Cerinus could see. Haltingly, for he couldn't hide his nerves no matter how hard he tried, the mouse trembled a little as he spoke.
"Er... h-hello..." He smiled broadly at the martens, his tail swishing anxiously to and fro as he spoke. "Couldn't help but notice the two of you here. M-must admit I'm surprised to even see two other creatures around my age here, so I just thought I'd... introduce myself. M-my n-name's Cerinus."
There was a stammer evident in his voice. The mouse was quite new to this kind of thing, but he had been given a confidence boost by Ladorak, and so just decided to go for it regardless of how it came out.
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Post by Ladorak on Jan 13, 2010 23:45:20 GMT -5
Caden turned at the voice behind him. He regarded the newcomer with his pink eyes. Frowning a bit, but only in speculation, the albino sized up Cerinus. Seemed to be a bit nervous about something. Boy, could Caden have a field day with this one....if he was still the Caden of a year ago. But he wasn't.
As much as Caden was actually tempted to bully this rodent, he held back. This guy left himself open though, that was for sure, but Caden wasn't going to take advantage of that. He was still insecure about himself after all, and would have picked this dibbun apart a year ago. But that was then.
Ladorak had said to treat others with respect, and this mouse had technically done nothing wrong. Caden just wasn't used to dealing with others his age, since he'd grown up sequestered by Helandria. There weren't any kits in Burnham Thorpe either. However, the gentleness of this mouse actually did stir something in Caden too, though it was rather deep down and buried. Caden was used to Ladorak, but little else. He felt comfortable around the mustelid now, as there had been time to grow on him.
But this fellow well, he did seem nice. "Yeah. I don't think there was anyone my age here the last time. A lot of younger kits. But now there's two. Cerinus you say?" Caden asked, smirking now, but in a friendly manner. He liked to still play the tough guy when he could.
"I'm Caden." he put his paw to his chest. "And this here is" a very beautiful creature, he didn't add "Lady" he used her title "Elle McNamee." he said, motioning to the pretty beech marten behind him. "I'm here with Commander Ladorak Fugate, and um....Elle" he hoped she didn't mind him calling her by her first name, but he wasn't sure WHAT she liked. "Is here for..um....actually I don't think I caught that part. I'm here because I might get to go to sea with Ladorak!" he said excitedly, his eyes lighting up. "How about the two of you?" he asked, stepping back and looking between the two of them.
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Post by bookity101 on Jan 14, 2010 23:23:55 GMT -5
Luxe turned towards Ladorak, caught trying to loosen his collar.
"Hello Commander," He said, grinning broadly. He had heard about Ladoraks promotion, and couldn't think of a beast more deserving He shook Ladorak's paw.
"I was just thinking of last year to tell the truth.." He rubbed his head, still feeling slightly bad about that incident. He smiled again, “You should be happy to know I seen hide nor hair of him tonight.” Luxe stepped back and looked over the crowd.
“Just who is your superior Commander?” ***** Elle felt her eye’s spark at the mention of the sea, she was just about to ask when Cerinus walked up. The poor thing, apparently he wasn’t very confident about something. He seemed a lot like one of the kids she had to take care of during her aunt’s parties. Then he had become a spoiled brat, of course… Ell looked at him again; he seemed the nice enough sort. She was just about to speak when Caden interrupted. With her?! Wait a sec, she had just met him and… well it was better than being with her aunt, that’s for sure. She cast a side ways look at the albino, he was a lot nicer too. Elle smiled slightly again, of course he didn’t know why she was here, she hadn’t told him!
She stepped forward slightly, drawing their gaze so they’d listen. “I can answer that Caden,” giving him unspoken permission to use her name instead of a title or anything else silly, though she would have to warn the both of them about her Aunt…
“I’m her with my Aunt and Uncle,” Against my will… she didn’t add, but she did reach up to clawdle an ear. If either boy could see under her fur, they would see the marks on it from where her aunt had grabbed her. She held out a paw to Cerinus to shake his. She had put Caden on edge when she curtsied, and she didn’t think that either boy had gone through the same etiquette classes she did, so they wouldn’t know the more formal way of greeting someone of the fairer sex.
“As for me…” she sighed “I won’t be doing anything exciting in the coming year, if my aunt has anything to do with it.” Elle’s eye’s widened, she had just said that comment, not in her thoughts… but out LOUD… in front of two BOYS to top it off…. Maybe they wouldn’t ask about the slip up…
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Post by Carrow on Jan 15, 2010 13:27:36 GMT -5
Cerinus shook both their paws (first Caden, and then Elle). "Pleased to meet you both, Caden and, erm, Miss Elle." Smiling at them, the mouse picked up on the albino's question. He did seem rather a nice sort of creature, and the beach marten was quite mannerly too - though thankfully not a frosty and distant, stereotypical 'prim-and-proper' youngster.
"Fancy that!," he exclaimed. "You're hoping to go to sea with Ladorak, eh? Well, it just so happens that I am too. It's why I came here after all; I'm with my carer, Archie. Something about seafaring has always fascinated me, I'll be honest."
Upon hearing Elle's words, the rodent smiled. He was about to comment, but then saw the look of shock in her eyes, and, realising that she hadn't really meant to say that, that it had slipped out, completely unintended, stopped himself at the last moment. Instead, he spoke to Caden, the albino pine marten having already impressed him.
"I spoke to Ladorak earlier, actually, though I didn't really have time to mention my intentions. He's about the friendliest creature I've ever met, I have to say." ...though I've known so few others that something like that wouldn't be all that hard, he thought, finishing the sentence in his head. He couldn't give in to those dark thoughts around these potential new friends. He just couldn't.
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