Sun, bulls and...engagements? (Adults)

[Ladorak]

((This thread is for the adults of the ship, just because it'll make my posts shorter that way instead of bunching all my characters into one post XD))

Stunning...Ladorak always found Ferlusan ships breathtaking. They were a league above Welkin vessels that was for sure. They were elegant and built for comfort...not spartan like the Welkin Navy. And they packed a PUNCH. 112 guns...and that 140 gunner...it already had Ladorak drooling. Or maybe it was that ravishing getup that Jis Molly Serra had decked herself out in for their little excursion into town. Fishnet on the tail...got him every time.

They were dining tonight aboard Admiral Juan de Langara's flagship, the Immaculate Concepcion, for what they were told was to be an "incredibly important occasion." What this occasion was Langara had failed to mention. All he knew was that they were to rendezvous with Princess Priscilla Steep at the dock...and then she'd take them on a tour of sorts of the town, ending eventually at the flagship. Oddly enough, Captain James Saumarez was requested to be there as well.

Frigate captains and dinners? Well...he'd seen stranger...or had he? Adjusting his bicorn on his head, the stoat shrugged, and finally ended up removing it, revealing the small white patch of fur just above his right ear...his birthmark in all due respects. "No sense wearing my hat ashore. I won't need it...not at dinner either." He placed it on the chair in his cabin, and straightened the Midlight Hammer's scabbard. The mirror he had purchased before setting sail...it was part of his own personal touch.

Giving Molly a smile, he nodded at the door. "Ready my dear? I have a few things in mind I'd like to buy you while here..." One of those things might just be a ring...if I can't resist you for the duration of our stay that is he added silently. Time to go meet up with this Princess and get this tour started.

Saumarez was already waiting for them down on the dock, having to shove his way past the jills. Not that he wasn't interested...but he had a secret love back home and well...wouldn't fool around on this particular outing. It wasn't in his nature anyway. He was a gentlejack as much as he tried. They had tried...oh they had tried, but he had fought them off, and was standing well past them now, and here the weasel was, tapping his foot and glancing at his pocket watch. What time did they say Steep was supposed to be here again?

He was the only buffoon on this dock dressed in Welkin garb, and she'd know he was the contact just by that little fact. His cowlick drifted a bit in the wind, and he glanced up at it briefly. Oh well...can't have perfect fur can we? He looked back out at the town, wondering if any of these jills that sort of looked liked they were heading this way was Steep. Why was he here? He was a frigate captain...not a ship of the line officer. He shook his head, sighing again. Fugate would be here soon, then they could get this bloody thing underway.

[bookity101]

etched, pleasantly warm from her excursion up and down the ropes that morning. She had found no better way on the ship to stay lose than to have some fun on the ratlines... of course the sailors all thought she was nuts... but during the month since they had set out, they had become used to her presence. Some of them even joined her for her daily "race" up and down the lines.

Now she was standing by the dock, waiting for her boss to appear... hopefully she wouldn't be waiting to long...
******

Luxe was wandering below decks, looking Zephyr and Jasper, hoping that either of them would be as curious as he about their new surroundings. Poking his head into their shared workspace, he called out slightly playfully;

"All ashore who's going ashore!"

[Ladorak]

Monty was in fact already waiting, though he was staying a good ways back, not wanting to make the trek down the plank just yet, as there were so many jills down there. Luckily for the jack, he was immune to the charms of jills, save for of course one. Those down there interested him not. He would be able to pluck his way through...it was just the actual maneuvering that was the hard part. They'd most likely be grasping at him as he moved by...he was a dashing sort after all.

"Ahhh Jis Talian...excuse me Miri." he corrected himself. "Good to see you again. I thought we might head into town, do some digging. I'm willing to bet Sveltlana stopped here after all. Richest port on the continent....I doubt if even she could resist such a lure." he snorted. "You all ready then?" he asked, hoping she was in fact looking to head into town.

***********

Jasper had already gotten himself ashore the minute the boat touched. The Assistant Armorer who had remained was of course Zephyr. She regarded her boss with an air of disdain, but it was just her natural look. Nothing personal really.

She had been busy cleaning the salt off of some swords the Marines had been practicing with, but carefully set them back into the locker, her paw running delicately down the length of the final blade before closing the doors and locking the weapons in. She also kicked the lid of a sea chest closed, which had contained some tomahawks she had also been working on. The lid thudded with a resounding noise that echoed in the enclosed chamber.

She took a mere moment to consider, then finally rolled her eyes and shrugged. "Fine, I'll head with you." then, on a lighter note, almost as if she were trying to make conversation. "You have something in particular you're looking for in town sir?" She asked as she moved out of the room and stood by his side.

[spender]

"Ready my dear? I have a few things in mind I'd like to buy you while here..."

Molly tittered. "You share my ideas, Captain. I've never been to Ferlusan before; I expect I may go broke at the first shop!"

She clung to his arm, almost hanging off it. Her entire countenance was that of a kit being taken to their first market, all smiles and tail-wagging (stoats don't usually wag their tails, but Molly was making an exception. All the better to show off her fishnet!) Her summer coat had fully come in, and she was feeling more energetic than ever before with that tiresome process over with.

She cast a wary eye at the horde of females trying to mob everybeast coming off the Agamemnon. What a distasteful display. She had to resist marching over to give them tips. Why sit around with a big dumb grin and a parasol, when you could lean seductively just outside an alley off the main street? A little eye-whisker waggling, a pinch of dress in the right spot, and a half-spent cigar to flick away once you spotted your catch (a display that said, "As much as I enjoy semi-unhealthy but great-tasting things, I think I've just found something a hundred times more worth my time: you.) Drove them wild every time. These jills were just... saddening.

"Can we visit a weapons shop, first? If I'm going to spend it all in one place, I want to make it worthwhile."

~ ~ ~

There was a good reason Priscilla Steep was not at the docks to welcome the Welkinites. This reason was that she was currently in a bathtub. She was not having a bath, however.

Instead, the weasel simply lay in the tub. She'd filled it with bubble soap and warm water, and then filled it further with a collection of throw pillows and a thick, silken comforter. Wrapped up in a frilly pink nightgown, she lay with her footpaws sticking out over the edge of the tub. Her head was fully immersed in the water, only her nose and the tip of her mouth breaking the surface; one to breath, and one to smoke the half-sodden cigar that rose like a sunken ship's mast out of the water. In her paws she held a fiddle and bow to her midriff, as if it were a tiny cello; obviously not the right position. Water had filled the priceless instrument, but still she lazily stroked the strings. There was no effort to play a melody; her left paw clutched at the neck, knuckles white, muting half the strings.

At least three empty bottles of wine were spread on the ground outside the tub. One more floated around behind her head.

All at once her reverie was broken as a paw reached into the water and grabbed her gown, lifting her, spluttering, into a sitting position. She blinked her eyes, snorting out soap. Her cigar tumbled into the water.

"Buhfble?"

Another paw reached out and slapped her across the face.

"Snap out of it!"

Steep focused. She knew this weasel glaring at her... oh, yes. Wossname. Roland. Daddy.

"H'come?" she drawled.

"We've been talking about this, Priscilla, for weeks." Roland said. He did his best to keep his voice level. "The Welkin Fleet has arrived. You wanted a job, and I've pulled as many strings as I could grasp. You're supposed to be out there, right now, welcoming them."

"That was... this week? T'day? Err... what month is it..."

Roland closed his eyes, shaking a little. In a few seconds, he had composed himself, although his eyes were moist.

"Please get up, Priscilla. This is more important than you know." He glanced at the fiddle. "Blast, did you have to ruin it...?"

Steep's neck lolled limply forwards, stopping when her forehead bumped into Roland's face. He gently lifted her head up and shook her awake once more. He laid her back in the tub, kneeling now in the puddle around it. He stroked the scab across the bridge of his daughter's nose.

"Wainscott," he called. The butler shuffled in, arms outstretched. Over one arm was a towel, and over the other was a folded military uniform.

"Priscilla, look."

Roland tilted her head to see. Steep's eyes took a few seconds to focus, and then a few seconds more to comprehend.

"Oh," she said.

"Yes. You'll be re-instated... if you can do this."

He helped her out of the tub, steadied his paws around her shoulders. She wobbled for a minute or two. Wainscott waited patiently, towel arm held out. Finally, Steep reached out to take it.

"Give me ten minutes?"

[Ladorak]

Ladorak suppressed a grin. "A weapons shop? My dear...it just so happens..." he pulled her in close now, standing at the top of that gangplank in order to show all those flustered jills that Molly Serra was in fact his...and he was hers for that matter. His whiskers brushed hers, and he only hoped she wouldn't mind. It was a statement as much as a show of passion.

"That one of the stops on our little itinerary is the Isla de Leon. A charming little island that is home to the Ferlusanian arsenal here." he said, knowing this would probably excite her beyond any kiss he could give her at that moment. Pulling back, he kept his eyes on hers, knowing she would probably want to make that their first stop now.

Giving her a wink, he started off down the gangplank. Now just get past thees leeches to Saumarez...shouldn't be too hard, especially with Molly hanging off his arm. She'd stick a knife into the guts of any jill that would so much as brush her claws on his biceps.

As it was, Saumarez was still on the docks, tapping his paw impatiently. So those jills weren't Priscilla was it? Priscilla Steep. They were all either late arrivals to the scene, or simply not heading to the dock at all. Letting out a bored sigh that ended up flapping his lips and sounding a bit like a purr, the weasel glanced at his watch again. OK...the Ferlusanian emissary had told him 11:45. It was 12:10. Where in the hell was this Princess? It was just past high noon, and Saumarez had a hankering to do a bit of exploring on his own, or tell Ladorak to forget this dame and just strike out for the city. After all, they still had their dinner appointments. That wouldn't be changing.

There was some lively music floating over across the water like the incoming tide and swirling about his ears now. It sounded like some sort of guitar being strummed at a pace that made his head turn. He began bobbing it to the beat a bit, drums also audible in the distance. One of his forepaws invariably beat the rhythm out on his thigh as well. Saumarez couldn't say he wasn't an aficionado for good music. He went to more concerts than he could care to count this past half year before they'd set sail.

Rolling his eyes and still bobbing his head as Ladorak approached, the weasel gave the larger stoat a bit of a smile. "Sounds like you got the tune down there Captain Saumarez." Ladorak commented with a chuckle.

Saumarez, clearly bored, began rocking his upper body now and swinging his forepaws forward and back, snapping along with the music. "Yeah, it's the best part eh?" he asked, his smile turning into a grin. "So where is this" he stopped himself from saying "broad" in front of Molly, though little did he know it most likely wouldn't have offended her "Jill" he finished, still snapping and bobbing to the music.

Snap Snap Snap

Shaking his head, Ladorak pursed his lips and looked around. "I wouldn't know. Can't say I've ever been royalty before. Molly and I were thinking of heading into town...I guess her lateness gives us that excuse."

"Fortunate! I think I shall accompany you then." the weasel chimed in.

"Uh...er...no James. Actually I think it would be better if you waited here." Still dancing in place, the weasel regarded the stoat with a raised brow.

"Oh?"

Poor mustelid...he was the only one who wasn't privy to the little...."surprise" awaiting him tonight. Ladorak had been clued in, as had most of the Captains and Admirals dining with them tonight. But it was to be a surprise for those it directly involved, namely Saumarez and Steep. "Yes...Somebody has to represent us to Ferlusan after all, and you were specifically requested to be that one." A scowl on the weasel's face as he considered this.

"Me? Bloody weird request. I've never represented anything in my life!" he exclaimed, shaking his head and still dancing. "But if you two are going to go off and leave me rotting here." he stopped now, standing still and giving Ladorak a serious look. "You may as well stick around a few more minutes. Could do with some company. What's our itinerary like?"

Ladorak pulled out a sheaf of paper that had been sent to him by Langara. Glaring down at it through his pince nez, the stoat read it off for the weasel. "Well let's see here....tour of the fleet, including some interviews with fellow Captains. Inspection of the port defenses, including the arsenal at Isla de Leon and the fort at Cortadura as well as the dockyards. I hear they're building a new three decker that's being designed as regional flagship. After that, dinner with Admiral Langara and Admiral Hood as well as others aboard the Immaculate Conception." he pointed with a claw out across the harbor to a prominent three decker with a rakish bowsprit sitting at anchor.

Saumarez regarded it with indifference. He wasn't as into beautiful ships as Ladorak was, and shrugged. "Sounds busy enough. Now if we could just get this Princess Steep to show up, we could be on our way." He had completely forgotten about that little message stating he was being considered for marriage. It had lain in a crumpled pile in a drawer in his desk, not to re-emerge for the entire trip. After all, they hadn't sent any further word, so Saumarez assumed they had moved on. If he only knew how wrong that assumption was...

[bookity101]

Miri watched as Monty joined her, and then nodded along with what he said.
Waving a paw in front of her, she motioned for him to go first;

“Been ready Boss, lead the way.” Miri fell in step behind him, close enough to not lose him, and it should be close enough to not trip over any of the many crazy jills on the docks. Speaking over the noise, she asked;

“Where do we start Boss?”
********

Luxe smiled slightly at her attempt at conversation, then frowned a bit.

“I really don’t care where we go Jis Zephyr, you can choose.” He turned her towards him with a gentle paw so she was looking him in the eye.

“…but while we’re off the ship, I would appreciate it if you would simply call me Luxe.” He noticed that he still had his paw was still on her shoulder. So he dropped his paw from her shoulder and jammed into his pocket.
Over the past month he had come to appreciate the jills ability, and he wanted to treat her to a day on shore, but he didn’t think that she would appreciate that if he told her that.

“So, shall we go?”

[Ladorak]

"Some of the richer families I would think...though admittedly interviewing them would be difficult. I think Customs a better place to start...as she may be shipping things and if so, would have to pay dues on them. Though of course I may be entirely off. I'm not certain. We'll just have to find out...but please Jis Talian..."

He was being polite again, as certain thoughts had come to him over the course of the voyage. He paid the jills on the dock no mind whatsoever as he moved past them, shoving here and there when necessary and keeping his cane slightly ahead of him as a "guide" of sort. They were absolutely all over him, trying to seduce this handsome jack of a weasel and his undoubted riches, but Monty wasn't interested. He had eyes for very few jills after all...it was few and far between for him to fall thunderstruck, though it had happened, just rarely.

They were on the docks now, moving towards town. Sighing in relief, the weasel shook his head. "Glad that that's over. Now as I was going to say...I was curious as to how you were finding this switch in life so far. It is rather big after all...I know that. I uh...wanted to ask you a few questions too. Mostly about yourself...but of course feel free to say no. I'm only paying you to assist me after all, not get too personal on the job." he reminded her, hoping she wouldn't feel threatened by this.

~~~~~~~~~~

Zephyr gave a "pfft" to his statement about her choosing. "How the devil should I know?" she muttered. She'd been here a few times before, so wasn't any stranger to the city, but rich and fancy didn't really appeal to her.

But then she felt a paw on her shoulder...turning her around. Her first reaction was to lash out and backpaw this assuming jack...but stopped. Striking an officer resulted in death...even if he was an Idler and not a Duty Officer. She nearly recoiled though, but something stayed her reaction. It was gentle...which didn't surprise her...but the fact that Luxe was being gentle with her in the first place surprised her.

She glowered at him, looking up into his eyes with suspicion but also very slim curiosity. "Oh? But that's your title." she had to stop herself from saying "sir" after that. It was his title after all, and he was her superior...as usual. A jack always above a jill out here. He asked if they were ready to go though, and Zephyr frowned. "I...guess?" she tried, shrugging as he dropped his paw from her shoulder.

If he wasn't her superior that would've cost him...but as it was she couldn't strike him. That and well...what good would it do? He didn't seem like he had any ulterior motives or anything like that. But she would stay on her guard regardless. So much for staying here and working quietly...

Upon arriving on the weather deck and distastefully spying those jills, Zephyr snorted. "Let's take the cutter. We can avoid the dock that way and have them drop us off wherever we want. Personally...I say take the cutter over to that three decker way over yonder." she pointed to the far side of the harbor, to the aging Lightning. "Get aboard her or close to her and just step ashore there. It's as far away from this dock as we can get. Gonna need your help though...I can't ask the Coxswain for permission to use the ship's boats. THAT is up to a warrant officer like yourself." The Coxswain was in charge of the small boats on the ship, and as usual was standing around where they were stowed toward the bow.

The Purser was stepping back aboard now, and pawing her her monthly earnings. Two pounds, five shillings, and sixpence. It was crap compared to what the Purser gave Luxe. Thirty-one pounds and six shillings were his monthly earnings, a comfortable sum for his profession. Zephyr stuffed her wages into her pockets and sighed, waiting for Luxe to complete his business with the Coxswain.

[bookity101]

"Switch? What switch Boos?" Miri shrugged as she fell in step by her boss, rubbing a paw across her throat as she did so.

"I'm a roving mercenary boss... Travel is what I do..." She smirked at him. "But now I have a steady paycheck.. and my paws don't feel like little nubs because I walked all day." Miri felt her smile grow warm, one of the few real ones she had ever given anybeast.

"And I have to thank for that... so thanks Boss." She smiled at him for just a moment more, then reverted to all business. "Lead the way, I'll be ther if anything gets hairy boss." She rubbed her throat again. Stupid perfume... always made her throat hurt.

********

Luxe looked over at the Coxswain. He had had a slight run in with the chap not all that long ago... no big deal really, Luxe had been struggling with a heavy chest of knives when the Coxswain had walked, well run, into his way... Luxe maintened it was not his fault if the guy couldn't be bothered to remember to watch where he was going....

"I'd rather swim..." then started, not knowing if he said that out loud, he stammered out

"Um, oh... right... I'll be back in just a moment then Jis Zephyr." He walked over to the Coxswain.. intent on swallowing his pride and doing as she asked, because he was a gentlemammel... or at least that was what his masters wife had beat into his skull "Always do as a lady asks Luxe, life will be easier that way." Of course, how can you say no to a lady brandishing a fire poker as she's telling you this?

Just as he was about to call out to the Coxswain, he heard. "Coxswain, ready the ships boat if you would." Luxe looked over to the side. The second lieutenant had just saved his ego from taking a major hit.. for that he was thankful.. but now...

"Sir, would you mind if I and the Armorer's Mate hitch a ride to shore with you?" The Lietenant looked over at him, then smiled.

"Of course you can Mr. Calone! I still haven't thanked you for helping with my saber two weeks ago, so by all means, both of you hope in." Luxe smiled, then turned and motioned for Zephyr to join him. The ferret looked over at who was joining them, and he smirked.

"Mr Calone, don't tell me that you are avoiding all the jills on the docks... for her?" Luxe stiffened Zephyr drew near, he had no way of knowing if she had heard him. He got into the ships boat, then offered to help Zephyr in as well, still not sure of how she would react. About half way to the docks, he figured that he could speak without landing himself in the brig.

"Sir, I am avoiding the jills on the docks because I can name off five jills back home who would be severely disappointed in me if I took up one of those ladies on their offers. NOT for what you are implying." Luxe could feel his face becoming stiff and formal as he spoke. Though he may find Jis Zephyr very attractive, and not like any other jill he had ever met. He would not be accused of using her.

By the time Luxe had finished his little speech, they more halfway to land, leaving the arrogant ferret time to say one last dumb thing.

"I don't know why they allow women in the Navy anyway... it is no place for the gentler sex." Luxe was glad for the bump of the boat that forced him to reach out and steady himself, then draw himself out of the boat, turning round on the dock, he looked down at the ferret.

"Sir, even though I treat jills with respect, that does not mean I find them incompetent in the least." He reached down a paw and hauled his superior out of the boat. "I'll tell you sir, that I was not the one who fixed that notch in your saber." He shook his head, remembering the look he had gotten for not knowing how to fix it without his forge.

"Jis Zephyr has been at sea for six years, this is my first time. She fixed your saber... I simply delivered it." He nodded to the beast whom he was speaking to, then turned and knelt by the dock, holding out a paw in a wordless gesture of help to Zephyr, hoping she had heard at least some of what he had said...

[spender]

There were a number of things that could send shivers up Molly's back. The most usual was a chill breeze. Far more rare but far more effective, was the boom and crunch of cannonfire hitting its mark. The third, slightly less rare (and unfortunately, slightly less effective - but not by much!) was a simple brushing of the whiskers. If stoats could purr, Molly would have. He knew just what she liked!

Of course, she would have far preferred it out of sight, but... Oh, well. It wasn't like she could slap him for offending her, out here in the open, with his fellow Captains and his crew watching.

"Isla de Leon... Island of the Lion?" she guessed. "Sounds fierce!"

Further excitement was quelled somewhat by meeting Saumarez. Molly held her tongue politely, unless directly spoken to by the weasel. Glancing around while the two Captains talked, she caught sight of Luxe and Zephyr, and sighed a little. They would have made a cute couple... Sadly, she didn't get to know much of the other passengers and crew as she would have liked, save for a simple understanding of their most basic personalities. Someday, Molly decided, she would sit that Zephyr jill down and find what made her tick. And then make the ticking bit drink a whole lot of tea until it smiled for once.

She wouldn't mind tea with Luxe, either. She had a little thing for younger stoats... and he was a very handsome fellow, by her standards.

Molly turned her attention back to the conversation at paw.

Ahh... so the Isle de Leon was later on in their plans? Well, she could deal with that, she supposed. Take in some other sights until then... if she had to...

"...After that, dinner with Admiral Langara and Admiral Hood as well as others aboard the Immaculate Conception."

Molly covered her paw with her mouth, but not before some spittle flew out from the giggle she gave.

"Sorry," she said, curtsying to Saumarez. "Bit of a sneeze there!" She wrinkled her nose and crinkled her eyes in an embarrassed smile.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Steep's progress was slow-going. Her uniform, not worn since ... that one evening, a few months ago... was still stiff from its cleaning. That wasn't all that was keeping her limbs from moving properly. She was still tipsy from the wine, and weakened from lying around the manor. She only ever left to buy more alcohol and check the mail - the letters were all that kept her going these days, and... they were taking longer and longer in-between.

She passed the post office this time. She'd gone last week. There would be nothing new for a while.

And now her pace slowed further, despite the driving music nearby. She hadn't gone passed the post office since she'd come home. She hadn't so much as thought about the city of her kithood. Why had she been chosen for this, again? She barely knew her own way around her own bloody town!

Ah, there was the dock.

And then, striding into view of the two stoats and weasel Captain, came Priscilla Steep.

She should have made Saumarez's jaw drop. There should have been trumpets, and some celestial breeze to make her skirt swirl around her legs as she fluttered her stunning eye-whiskers at them. She should have twirled her dandelion-yellow parasol and curtsied. It would have been amazing.

Instead she spat the cigar stub out of her mouth, leaned heavily on her walking cane, let her parasol slide down against her shoulder so her paws were free, tipped her dusty straw hat out of her eyes, and glared at them. Her fur was still damp all around. Her tail drooped. There was a scab down her nose that looked like a puss-filled gash. She'd stumbled along the way, getting dust all over her uniform skirt and tearing a hole in her parasol. Her face was sunken and eyes red-rimmed, and she wavered as though she were drunk. Which she was.

"'m supposed t' meet someone... you lot hear anything about this? M'name's Steep."

She fumbled for another cigar from her pocket.

[Ladorak]

Monty took note of the smile, something his attache rarely did. "Well I'll be....uh yes! Well let's head into town! Shouldn't take but a few minutes to locate Customs!" the sleuth cried, and headed into the crowded city streets, already having picked out the Customs House in the distance.

((I'll pick this up when you get back Book )

~~~~~~~~~

Zephyr refused Luxe's offer of help to board the cutter. She still thanked him, but brushed by his paw all the same. Listening to the conversation between the Second Lieutenant and the Armorer was like watching a boxing match. One, Luxe, had clearly placed his bets and honor on her. The other seemed to be fighting simply for the glory of the win.

She rolled her eyes. Great...why did this jack feel the need to defend her? Or his own actions? He was a jack after all...he should have naturally been drawn to that dock...and yet he wasn't. He had gone with her plan. So he could name five jills back home? Did that mean he was seeing one or more of them?

Zephyr listened in silence, leaning back a bit in the very small boat. Sighing inwardly, she continued to listen. Luxe was a gentlemammal, but she wasn't sure if she found that incredibly alluring about him. He was bending over backwards for her it seemed, but why? Surely she couldn't be that fascinating to him was she? She had treated him coldly at best, or very professionally with little to nothing personal thrown in this past month.

She felt sick to her stomach when he brought up the fact that she had repaired that saber. Come on boss...did you really have to? But it was odd too...here was a jack who actually gave her credit for her work. Unusual...and a tad intriguing. She shook her head. "Thanks sir, but no thanks." she told him, using sir in front of the Second Lieutenant as she stepped onto the dock without Luxe's assistance. She regretted it right off, but felt that subconscious need to prove she needed no jack when she was in front of others. "Well we made it. That was interesting. I feel like getting a bite at a tavern. There's a couple along the way on the waterfront, though they're the most expensive. Best bet would be to work our way in a bit, get closer to the city center." she informed him.

((Once again pick this up when you get back Book))

~~~~~~~~~~

"Island of the Lion...you are correct." Ladorak confirmed on the way down. But now they were in front of Saumarez, who eyed Molly curiously at her little...sneeze? Was that really a sneeze?

But there was a sorry state of a jill approaching them now. Ripped parasol, dusty uniform, and in a few seconds Saumarez found himself looking into the reddest eyes he'd ever seen. Bleary and sunken, with fur looking as if it had been left out in the rain, Saumarez wasn't able to breathe at first. Who was this? Surely it wasn't...

Steep!? THIS was Princess Steep!? This vagrant off the street? Who looked like she had dove into a gutter to retrieve this trodden on parasol? The stench of alcohol made him a bit queasy, and now he knew why he was holding his breath. What sort of joke was this? "You're Priscilla Steep? I'm sorry I was expecting..."

But Ladorak stepped forward, kicking Saumarez's tail to indicate he should shut up. "A pleasure to meet you Princess." the tall stoat declared. "I am Captain Ladorak Fugate. This is my...Molly Serra." he finally decided. He wanted to lie and call her his fiancee but...how would she take that? "She's a long time friend you might say. And this here is Captain James Saumarez, of HMS Crescent."

"How do you do." Saumarez said tersely, giving her a slight bow at the waist, though not lowering himself much. She was repulsive...and yet...given a few minutes, Saumarez couldn't help but to wonder in the smallest of ways just why Priscilla was like this. Why had she shown up smelling like a vat of liquor? Why were her eyes red? Was she suffering from gout? She used a cane after all. What made it seem like there was some heavy weight threatening to crush her into the stones on this dock? Was there truly a beautiful, vivacious jill under this facade? Could she stand at the top of a staircase, throw a hat down into the crowd below and strut gracefully down? Why was he wondering about all this?

Cursed empathy! It had picked the worst time to make itself known, that was for sure! "Why not show us around a bit, and then we can start making preparations for our dinner yes?" Ladorak suggested, hoping to move things along a bit. Poor James...you got cheated buddy, Ladorak thought to himself. At least he had Molly...ravishing Molly. Steep...MIGHT be able to make herself look ravishing, but it would take hours of work, at least in Ladorak's estimation. So this was their deal was it? Marry off what could only be described as a leper Princess and obtain our nation's help in return? Sly little ones, these Ferlusanians. But Ladorak wasn't fully complaining. They in return got the use of 112 gunners...always invaluable in the stoat's opinion.