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Post by Carrow on Jan 26, 2010 16:38:31 GMT -5
In truth, Archie had been drawn to Ladorak earlier because of two things: one was his size - he was quite hard to miss - and also the fact that the creature had a real 'presence' about him). Archie really liked creatures like that. She'd figured that the ermine was an important creature at the gathering, and, as she had said herself, by happy coincidence their paths had crossed.
"Well, yes, we do live in Muggidrear. The poorer side, Poppyvile. We're content with our lot I think." Cerinus knows he's lucky to be alive, she thought. "We do alright in our own way, I suppose you could say. 11 Fairgrove Street, Poppyvile," the weasel told her."Training sessions eh? Cerinus is in sore need of those, I think, and I'm sure he'll agree."
"Yep, that I would, Archie," the mouse piped up. "Obviously it's best to be as prepared as can be before setting sail." The young rodent looked up and into Ladorak's eyes again. "In all honesty sir... d-do you think I can survive out there with the training I'll be getting?"
The young creature clearly doubted himself worthy for the task even with the proper instruction, but he'd already made up his mind to go for it. This kind of thing was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity after all. It seemed the mouse had the enthusiasm, but determination and self-confidence, while they were beginning to build now since he had set paw inside Whistleminster Place, weren't exactly his strongest assets.
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Post by Ladorak on Jan 26, 2010 18:43:05 GMT -5
The ermine nodded as he listened to Archie. Looking down at Cerinus, the jack clicked his teeth, and then gave a small chuckle at his nervous comment. "Well that's the thing. Most of the training you get will be paws on training at sea. I'm offering some training beforepaw only because I would like each of you to make seajack by the time you get aboard, and not be labeled as landjack, the lowest possible rank. You get better pay and better jobs as a seajack, take my word for it." he said, winking at the mouse.
"You see, my training beforepaw will just give you brief rundowns and prepare you in a general way for what sort of life you'll be facing. The real training will be conducted at sea, as we slowly make our way towards our destination. We're sailing for the Cobalt Sea, and that's well....a good three months at sea, so you'll have plenty of opportunity to get training in before we arrive at our destination. Just pay close attention to your instructors...namely the Boatswain and his mates, the Gunner and his mates, and the Master at Arms. You'll have plenty of instruction and drill in your time aboard. Repetitive routines help to drive the lessons home."
He explained all of this like it was his second nature, which indeed it was in all honesty. "Won't have a thing to worry about so long as you follow orders and pay attention. I plan to get good jacks under me, ones who I won't have to think twice about guiding the recruits." the ermine smoothed his headfur back a bit now, feeling it sticking up a tad. Blasted puffy fur. His winter coat was especially fluffy thanks to his genetics and Ladorak found it a bit of an annoyance from time to time. "Anything else you need to know?" he asked, making note of the address. Poppyville...right. He had an excellent memory, but would need to write it down shortly as he was sure his night was only just beginning.
************
"Ah Jal Calone. How are you?" Monty asked, acknowledging the blacksmith with a nod. "Not too much....I'm just amusing myself by speculating on hobbies and talents of each individual as they pass me by. I did run into a bit of a whelp of a ferret earlier I must admit. Trying to get Caden and two other young ones in trouble by biting himself, and then blaming it on them. Fortunately I cleared that right up." He said, snorting a bit.
"I'm thinking of shipping out with Fugate. No chance am I about to let all of my favorite jacks go off and join the navy while I sit here on land. Scruff, Maudlin, Ladorak, they're all leaving. So I figure I'll enlist. I'm thinking of asking Jis Talian if she'll come with me if she wants....my personal guest, and might even be able to get work for her. Besides....someone I'm keeping track of is heading to the area that Fugate's been assigned to.....I just can't sit around knowing one of my nemeses may be up to something." he said, shifting his gaze back and forth now.
"And how about yourself? I heard from Fugate you should be going as well." crossing his arms over his chest and giving the blacksmith a smirk, though a good natured one. Everyone was joining up it seemed....
***************
Caden went wide eyed, his pink eyes opening up like saucers as she asked him about his life. His life!? He wasn't expecting that one! Shifting his footpaws, Caden looked from her, over to Ladorak, and then down at the floor before he finally moved his eyes back up to her. What did she think of him? A freak? A white, unnaturally colored marten with pink eyes?
Swallowing, he began. "Um....well my dad was killed right after I was born...I don't know the details.....I was never told. I knew he used to be the Mayor of the place I'm from....a fox dominated Imperium to the west of here. Uh....I was with my mother until I was four....but I can barely remember her. Just...some small things. She was normal....not like my fur." he said, a twinge of possible remorse flecking his voice as he explained.
"So...she was killed when I was four....by a bad cat....from what I've been told. Ever since then I was raised by this rat nurse....Helandria. She told me my mom died trying to protect the throne of the Imperium. She was the Minister of War, in command of the army and such. I was raised...but not very well. I was taught to hurt others to protect myself....to lie, cheat and basically always use physical force to get my way." he stuck his paws in his pockets, looking at her in profile now. He was facing Ladorak, but his eyes were on Elle.
"Needless to say....it wasn't the best upbringing to have. Fight real dirty...that's what she always told me. Well then one night last year.....Ladorak came. He came because he had heard about my mom's death and he was worried. He used to work with her after all. So...Helandria almost killed Ladorak, but then some naval fight happened off the harbor...and stray cannon balls were landing in the town itself. One hit the house I was staying in....and the collapsing roof killed Helandria. Ladorak had no choice...he took me with him.....I was bitter at first but...he's not a real bad jack at all. He taught me how to really live...not that stuff Helandria showed me." He shook his head, sniffling, but he didn't cry. He didn't let his eyes well up either. He kept all that suppressed, even though he was shuddering on the inside.
"So yeah...he's been looking after me this past year. I'm his ward now....and I think I like it better than having had to constantly live in hiding." he turned to face her now, moving away from that profile view.
"Say...Lady....well Elle I guess." he used her first name here. "You remember what Spender said? Yeah...he was talking about my mom. Recently....I've heard that maybe she wasn't such a good beast after all...and I don't really know how to address that. I haven't asked Ladorak because it's been something I've been avoiding." his bushy tail started swishing behind him now.
"But Ladorak told me she saved his life once.....he had been hurt really bad....and she took care of his wounds....so I don't know what the full truth is. Was she a bad beast, or a good beast, or somewhere in between? I still don't know." he shook his head, and suddenly, his tail tip brushed up against her tail. He stiffened, aware of what had just happened, and he quickly pulled back. "I...I'm sorry." he said, blushing crimson under his white fur. "That was an accident...."
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Post by Carrow on Jan 26, 2010 19:06:00 GMT -5
Mouse and weasel listened as closely as each other as Ladorak explained to them what would need to be done by Cerinus. The mouse's eyes grew just that little bit brighter at the mention of paws-on training. He would be learning on the job! Fantastic! This was all sounding very good to him so far, and he knew from the way that Ladorak was speaking of the whole affair that the drawbacks to such a venture (peril, possible death, et cetera) would be far, far outweighed by the benefits. In fact, he thought that it would be worth it alone just for Ladorak and Caden's company. Little did he know that a creature he had heard a lot about but had never come whisker-to-whisker with was attempting to join up as well...
"I think that just about covers it... oh, wait, hold on a moment, sir. I have to tell you something else you wouldn't know about me - I've learned to hide any signs of my, erm, affliction well - and I think it'd be best to get it out into the open now, rather than in a couple of months, out at sea with so many other things to bother me." Cerinus' voice dropped, and Archie turned away, knowing what he was going to say and not feeling the need to be privy to their conversation. It was something that the rodent covered up very well, but both knew that it would be unavoidable on deck.
"Well, erm, it's like this. I'm not sure if we'll be able to sort it out before I ship out, but I figure I may as well let you know. I... I've had difficulty sleeping on and off for the last two years. It often comes in cycles of every couple of months or so. I've been sleeping soundly for two weeks of nights without much interruption, but I know it's not just gone away. I'm affected especially by it when new challenges are presented to me. It comes upon me unexpectedly, but I can predict that my periodic insomnia is going to return in the next couple of weeks, and then most likely again very soon after we've set out. Like I said, cycles, and rather regular ones at that. Just thought you should know, sir."
Cerinus had intermittent nightmares too. There were thoughts inside his head that he knew he must never think of, but even when he lay subsceptible to them in bed at night, he didn't give himself over to them. He... he was stronger than that now. These weren't the reasons he couldn't sleep for weeks on end at times, though. Sometimes his head filled to the brim with thoughts. Thoughts of nearly everything that had happened to him in his life. Good thoughts, and much more prevalent unhappy ones. His head then seemed to sound as though it was buzzing, and this inability to shut his mind off was what kept the poor Dibbun awake. He could hide it well, as has already been said, but he wondered whether he should burden Ladorak and the crew with his presence in light of this.
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Post by Ladorak on Jan 27, 2010 2:14:50 GMT -5
The ermine couldn't help but to smile at this. "Insomia? Is that all then? Why there's an easy solution for that. If you ever can't sleep....well first off, let me explain the sleeping situation. You'll be slinging your hammock on the gun deck, along with everyone else who's not an officer, so you'll be sleeping amongst many of the crew. If at any time you feel an episodic insomniac moment well....here's my advice. You have two solutions."
He looked at Archie, who had turned her back. Very well...the jill was obviously letting them have their privacy. "One, is to let the Lieutenant in charge of the watches know, and he'll put you on the larboard watch, if you're not on it already. That watch only gets four hours of sleep at night before they switch to being the starboard watch the day after, which gets eight. So you'll be up most of the night on the larboard watch helping out with the First and Middle or graveyard watches, which basically last from 8 PM to 4 AM, so you'll have something to occupy yourself. Basically all that entails is assisting the Lieutenant on duty and keeping a watch on the ship in the night hours to ensure nothing is amiss."
Pausing, he let the mouse digest that before moving on. "Or, conversely, if you're unable to sleep on a night when you're on the starboard watch, just head up to the main deck and let the officer of the watch know, namely the Lieutenant, and offer to help with the larboard watch. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to take another helping paw for the night. That way you can at least make yourself useful if you can't sleep. Treading the decks at night can be lonely, but you'll have the other beasts on the larboard watch to keep you company, and can easily run errands for the Lieutenant on duty if you so choose. Then you'll be sent to bed at 4 AM and get to at least get four hours of sleep and rise at 8."
"Does this suffice Master Cerinus?" Ladorak asked, bringing his gaze to rest on the mouse's eyes, as per his custom. "You'll be on the larboard watch every other day, so that should at least partly help things I think. If you can time your body's internal clock with the watches, and get those insomniac episodes on the nights you have larboard watch, you'll be all set I think." the ermine offered, wondering what the rodent's thoughts on this were.
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Post by Carrow on Jan 27, 2010 6:58:11 GMT -5
Archie turned back around to face Ladorak, smiling slightly; she had been listening closely but had refrained from interfering. "That's a rather good solution I think. Putting his sleeping problems to use, that'll be a good thing for him. Seems you're well able to think on your paws, sir. Cerinus is of course willing to help wherever, and quite literally whenever, he can."
The mouse chuckled softly at this. The stoat was as sharp as a tack, it seemed! He met his kind eyes once again, feeling immensely comforted by the Post Captain's presence. "That's more than sufficient, sir. I'm more than willing to make myself useful on deck. That's a rather nice system you've come up with I think, and I'll rather try to keep up with it. There will be nights when I feel exhausted but can't sleep, however - I get them once every so often. I'd need a paw from some creature getting some rest in those cases I think. Just letting you know."
"I'm wondering, actually. Is there anything else I should be let know tonight? I want to be told as much about this as possible before I start training. I've always been a rather curious creatures - so some tell me at least," the rodent told the ermine, winking at Archie.
What an adventure this is going to be, he thought. I really can't wait for this; oh, that we were setting sail tonight! The mouse smiled at this. He wasn't impatient as such, just rather eager to get started on things. He would seize this opportunity with both paws, and do his utmost to help when his assistance was required. A strong creature he certainly wasn't - neither physically or physchologically - but he was often called a 'bright spark' by Muggidrear creatures he met, so at least had more than a little intelligence going for him - something that would of course come in useful.
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Post by Ladorak on Jan 27, 2010 12:44:13 GMT -5
"Well in those instances, I think it better to speak to one of the numerous crew that will be around you. Your hammock will be slung with most of them when you sleep, so maybe head over to Caden's, or at least try and get consecutive numbered hammocks when you go aboard, that way you'll be either right next to each other or in close proximity. You seemed to be getting along OK with him tonight, I'm sure if you asked he could help you."
Ladorak smiled further at this as he looked briefly over at Caden behind him, who seemed to be talking to Elle at the moment. Hmm...a bigger brother for Cerinus perhaps? Caden was at least a few months older, and already was acting more like a young adult than a stripling, which he was about to become...though of course he was sure that once Caden's hormones kicked in, and his body started to develop further, he would notice some changes come over the marten. Any month now really....as he turned thirteen in May.
Nonetheless, Caden was such a mustelid that Ladorak would trust with looking after Cerinus if he could. He would just have to see how Caden felt about it. "As for what else you need to know....well just remember to head down to the Admiralty Offices as soon as you're able and um....change your birthdate around a bit, just in case." he gave the mouse another wink now behind his spectacles. After that, I've got your address down, 11 Fairgrove Street in Poppyville, so I'll be sending you word about where I intend to host the training and when it shall commence."
He looked behind him at Caden again, who this time caught Ladorak's gaze and gave a little wave. Nodding at him with a smile, the ermine turned back to face the mouse. "So are you all square then lad? Jis Archie?" he asked, looking too at his guardian, in case she had anything further to ask.
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Post by Carrow on Jan 27, 2010 13:09:46 GMT -5
"Oh, er, don't you know I was born on February 2nd 1780?," Cerinus replied with a wink of his own. "Just coming up to my own thirteenth birthday, heheh." The mouse noted it down that for all intents and purposes he had been born eight months earlier than he actually had. The mouse rubbed his paws, smiling at Ladorak.
"I'd say that covers both of us," Archie replied. "Carrow looks more than content with how things are turning out, and of course, well, if he's happy, then I'm happy too. You've been remarkably helpful here tonight, sir. Thanks for giving him a lift. You know he needed it," she said gently.
Cerinus nodded, shuffling his paws slightly. He couldn't help a large part of what made him who he was. He just had to do his best with what had been given... what he had left... Smiling, he saluted cheekily, a rare twinkle in his eye. "'Twill be a pleasure serving under you, Mister Fugate, sir!"
The mouse had also been thinking about Caden. He definitely seemed a creature who could hold his own. The two creatures, mustelid and rodent, had shared similar experiences, but Caden was clearly stronger than the mouse, as he had come out better for it. Well, it seemed that way to him at least. There weren't many creatures left in his life for him to look up to, but Ladork was one, and, well, he thought, maybe Caden could be another.
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Post by Ladorak on Jan 27, 2010 15:08:57 GMT -5
Ladorak smiled at Carrow's salute. It was wrong, but that's why the ermine was offering training courses, so that they could throw proper salutes when speaking with a superior officer. He had to of course give his salutes to Commodores and Admirals. "Capital then Mr. Apodemus!" Ladorak responded, giving the lad a nod. It was funny too, both of them using Mister instead of Jal. Ladorak couldn't use it with the mouse because he wasn't a mustelid, and Carrow must have had a slip or simply wished to call Ladorak "Mister" instead of "Jal", as was customary when addressing a jack mustelid.
At sea, they used "Mister" instead of "Jal" because Jal was more of a formal term used on the land. The navy got rid of such things once at sea. Admirals and Post Captains might address each other as such, but it rarely was communicated on board ship. "Now if you will excuse me then, I need to get back to some jacks I was talking with before. I'll be around, and I'm sure I'll see again before the party's end." giving a nod, the ermine turned and was off and back over to where Monty and Luxe had congregated.
Spearing a cheese cube with his claw, Ladorak popped the victual in his mouth and chewed on it some before swallowing. "Sorry about that Jal Calone. I got so excited I had to go off and tell Caden right away. I then got roped into speaking to that mouse's guardian, though it was well worth it I'll say. Seems he's quite interested in joining up with us, and I'm hoping that perhaps Caden can act as a sort of peer for him, being slightly older and all." the Captain explained as he began scanning the table for more edibles, beginning to gather up a little of this and a little of that on a small plate, mostly fruits and cheeses.
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Post by Carrow on Jan 27, 2010 16:23:39 GMT -5
Cerinus smiled, knowing Ladorak would be around to show him the ropes - literally at some point - whenever the young creature was in need of his assistance. Turning to Archie, he asked her what she thought of the Post Captain.
"Well, I have one thing to say, Cerinus," the weasel replied in a soft voice. "And that is that, well, I am left rather speechless at how well you two seem to have taken to each other. It's rather safe to assume that you are in good paws with Jal Fugate, and that means more to me than anything else that's arisen out of these developments."
The mouse nodded. "I'm rather glad you feel that way. He seems to have this awfully kind and compassionate air about him, and I suppose you could say that's what drew me to him. Very accommodating creature. By the way, is it 'Mister' or something else, when addressing one of you mustelids?," the rodent asked now. To tell the truth he had never been entirely clear on this.
"It's 'Jis' for a adult female mustelid - of any species, 's not just weasels and stoats - and 'Jal' for a male," Archie replied. "Thanks," Cerinus said with a smile. "I suppose I should go over and speak to Caden! See you later." The young wood mouse headed off in search of the albino pine marten.
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Post by Ladorak on Jan 28, 2010 0:13:59 GMT -5
((Extremely short post just to bridge the gap so to speak. Thought Bookity was posting next but she has to take a break for a few days))
Caden saw Cerinus wandering around now that Ladorak had gone back over to Luxe and Monty. Waving his paw, he called the mouse over. "Hey Cerinus!"
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