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Post by bookity101 on Jul 31, 2010 13:00:15 GMT -5
((*Grumbles about timing of posts when on vacations...*))
Ellie reached up and lightly touched the bruise that was forming on the side of her head, grimacing slightly as the pain she had been ignoring came back in a rush.
"Thanks for pointing that out Caden." She glared playfully at her friend, "I was doing a fine job of ignoring it till you said that." She stuck her tongue out at her fellow martin before turning to wave at Selvis and Carrow.
"I um.." Ellie glanced at Caden, knowing he had a temper, and she didn't want him to get into a tizzy about an accident... "I fell... off of the gangplank." Her clawtips traced the outline of the bruise. "I must of hit my head on the way down..." Her voice trailed off as she realized that the ship was only a ten or so minute walk from the stadium where they now stood.
"... And I stopped at the post office, just to check." Eliot pulled a (thankfully not wet) package from her shoulder bag... who knew that her uncle had given her an oilskin bag, not simply a leather one... she would have to thank him for that at some point.
"Grandfather has an estate just outside of Ferlusa, and we always spend this time of year there." She smiled as she explained this to her friends, hoping that it was enough to stall any questions as to why the letters "arrived" back so quickly.
She pawed out the letters, a single sheet to Carrow, mostly written as an encouraging thing as Ellie had seen the troubles the poor mouse was having. The last lines read;
"Now Carrow, I do hope that you took my threat as it was, do you forget that My brother can carry out whatever it is that I can't? (Like cuffing you out of that blue funk of your my friend.) Hoping that this letter finds you in good spirits and good health, Your friend, Ellie.
To Caden she pawed a thicker package, containing a rather lengthy description of the "small" estate, if one could call a seven by seven acre plot of land the sat on the coast small, and all of its various hidden passages and by-ways...
"...You'll have to ask Eliot about the time we were hiding from Aunty and he fell down the back stairs... He looked quite silly in that ridiculous outfit that Aunty was forcing him to wear was quite the sight.... I am outside right now, leaning against an elm tree as I listen to the seagulls argue about who gets whatever crumbs they are fighting over... makes me wonder what trouble you and your lot are getting in trouble over on your ship... Do watch out for Eliot though, he's not a trouble maker, but he is prone to be very clumsy, I recall one time he fell out of this very elm tree, twice in one day..."
Ellie smiled at Selvis as she withdrew the last thing from the package, aside from the blank sheets marked to herself. It really wasn't much more than a hastily written note when she recalled how close to the estate they actually are.
"I've posted several letters to my sister since we've been here, I mentioned you in passing once or twice I guess..." He pawed the note to Selvis. "... so she wrote to you too."
"Hello Selvis, we haven't met yet, but I'm writing to all of my brothers friends, so I figured that I would write you as well... Hope to hear from you when next I receive a package from Eliot, Ellie."
A smile filled her face, then she sank onto the bench, her chin resting on a paw as the other rubbed her forehead as she pretended to watch the fight.
***********
Luxe grimaced as he entered the stadium. Far to many beasts and noise for this blacksmith. But he had said he would like to see some of the more extravagant things here in Ferlusa... and this was as extravagant as things got so here he was... wishing that it was already over.
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Post by Carrow on Jul 31, 2010 16:48:01 GMT -5
"Hmm," Carrow murmured, smiling at Elliot as he took the beech marten's proffered letter from his 'sister', "seems Elle's rather fond of writing letters! Seems she couldn't wait to get back in touch with us. Tell her I said thanks for the letter, alright?" He scanned it, her way with words causing him to chuckle to himself. He smiled as he noticed the jill beech marten's playful mention of her 'threat'. Good old Elle. He was glad to hear she was doing well.
All the same, though, he couldn't help but wonder about Elliot's explanation of his injuries. He must have taken one heck of a fall if that was indeed the case. He didn't give it too much thought, however. The rodent was relieved to see him in one piece, regardless of what happened. It was nice to see his friend back to his usual talkative self as well.
The note had indeed found the mouse in good health. As for good spirits, well... they had been coming and going, and that was honestly the only way the mouse could put it. Ups and downs, peaks and valleys, same old, same old. He'd gotten used to it at this stage, but was quite alright at that particular moment. He placed the received letter in the right pocket of his slacks.
"That reminds me, I think I should actually write to her myself, you know? Would you mind being the middlebeast and making sure my letter gets to her? I'll pass it on to you once I'm done. Please, Elliot... as a favour for me?," the wood mouse queried, a hopeful light shining in his eyes. He'd leave him to ponder his request. Surely it couldn't be that hard to pull off?
He noticed that Selvis had received a short note too. His brown eyes sparkled with mischief as he peeked at what was written on the weasel's note. Selvis noticed the youngster's interest and playfully swept the note out of his companion's line of sight. "It's not highly classified information, Carrow!," he exclaimed good-naturedly. "She hardly even knows me, as Elliot said, so she couldn't say too much.
"You say you want to write her a letter, though? Might you be able to help me out and put in something on my behalf? Welkin isn't my first language, so I find it easier to write in my native tongue. Reckon you could lend a paw with introducing me in this letter of yours?," he asked his long-tailed field mouse friend, winking at him.
Carrow nodded right away, agreeing to the longtail's request readily. "Of course! I'd be delighted to put a word in on your behalf. Elle's certainly going to hear from you when she gets my letter anyway! I'll set some time aside to write it later on, and I'll let you have a look before I give it to Elliot to post on. Sound good?"
Selvis nodded back, smiling at the eagerness of the Dibbun. Carrow swished his tail, signalling that that was all that needed to be said. "Very well... we'll pawdle that later!" Both mustelid and rodent turned back to watch the ongoing fight. Once again, Carrow had to admit to himself that the bravery of the bullfighter was like nothing he'd seen before. He was thinking of Caden too, having seen the package the pine marten had been pawed. She must really miss him, he thought, smiling slightly.
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Post by spender on Aug 1, 2010 9:29:49 GMT -5
Spender wheezed happily. Once these bull fights were over, he would have to challenge Ocean to a duel. Finally, somebeast who remembered what a real fight was like!
"Ugh," he said. "Don't even mention that white freak." He cast a sour eye over at the marten. "Stupid beast is all uppity 'cos his dad's th'Captain."
Spender wasn't much for thinking and piecing things together. But something was whirring in his mind right now. A thought was bubbling up to the surface...
If his dad's mother had married the Captain's dad, and that made the Captain his dad's half-brother, just like Ocean was Spender's half-brother, and if Caden was the Captain's son, then... that meant Ocean and Caden were cousins. Which meant that white fur ran in the family.
Oh, no! If he had kits, they were going to be albino ferrets! How embarrassing.
"Puh. He's my uncle. Don't see why he should get all th'chocolate cake ever..."
Shaking his head, Spender focused on the bull fight. Which... wasn't much of a fight. Where was the blood? Where was the piles of bodies? It was just this stupid beast waving a towel around as the bull pranced around like an idiot. Heck, if that was entertainment, Spender thought, he should just get in the arena and act like he always did.
James.
Oh.
Steep kept her composure for as long as he was still visible in the tunnel, and then sagged again once his tail slipped away.
James.
Just... James.
It could at least have been something exotic. Like... well, like Sebastian. Except not stupid. Wasn't there some composer with that name? Some ferret... Bach! That was it. Boring music. Steep much preferred Beethoven. Now there was a jack who understood the unfairness of life. There was no better cure for a mood than playing a piece of angry music meant for a harpsichord on a bubble-filled fiddle.
Oh, well.
James.
At least she could pronounce it.
She sidled up to the mouth of the tunnel, casting one disinterested eye over the crowd at the arena. She hadn't been to one of these since she was a kit. There was a good reason for that; they were distasteful, loud, stupid, and filled with sticky commoners. The best part was the grasshoppers. She wished it could all be over with so she could get back to the war. Some real fighting, that was the thing. That was her purpose. She'd been a good soldier, once. No, a great one... And she could do that again, if she wasn't being told to sit around at home for a week. Grah.
Somewhere above them was the spot dedicated for them to sit and watch with a view, but Steep stayed. She'd wait for her refill, and empty it one last time before stepping out. She would have to be sozzled before she could think about pretending to enjoy this event. Drunk enough to pretend the smile on her face wasn't from the tasty, tasty bug snacks...
James, really?
Her ears pricked. He was coming back. She collected herself, un-sagged, and from somewhere in the folds of her dress, brought out a cigar and a pack of matches as he came up behind her.
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Post by Ladorak on Aug 1, 2010 11:53:12 GMT -5
Caden tentatively reached for the package. He kept viewing these things as a blessing and a curse. He loved hearing from Elle...but hearing from her reminded him about how much he missed her as well. Opening the package with shaky claw, the marten looked within. Well hey! This was...interesting. "She lives close to here?" he asked, shooting his gaze up at Elliot right as the bull was stabbed in the flank by the marten.
The crowd roared, getting to its feet and waving all sorts of paws in the air. The wounded bull staggered before the marten struck again, withdrawing the blade and jabbing it home for a second time. The bull collapsed in a pool of its own blood.
What was most disturbing to Ladorak, up in the stands, was the way the Ferlusanian jills were going wild over such...bloodshed. It made him inwardly sick just looking at it. Killing another beast was one thing...but this...for sport? The animal seemed to be writhing in intense agony before the marten jabbed the sword down over and over again into the bovine's throat to finish it off.
The stoat felt himself turn green, and he reached inside his pocket. Maybe now was the time to propose? But...his inner doubts of Molly held him back. Could she stay true to him? Was that a possibility for her? Commitment...and his desire for it...it was something he had always kept hidden and locked away deep within him. Something he longed for but had either screwed up on or had been denied. He glanced briefly at her before turning his attention back to the dying bull.
Caden was watching but briefly. The fights weren't terribly interesting to him. Far more so was the fact that Elle was staying close by. "This villa of yours. Is it far? Would we be able to visit?" the thought at seeing Elle made his heart leap into his throat...but today was the last day. He might not have the time to swing up to Elle's estate as it was...
~~~~~~~~~~~
Ocean seemed fascinated by the fact that Spender called Caden Ladorak's son. That made no sense to him whatsoever...nor did the comment about Ladorak being Spender's uncle. But still...had Caden been adopted by Ladorak or taken in somehow? This might be just the ticket he needed.
Looking down at Spender, who seemed utterly distracted by the bull fight, Ocean tapped him on the back. "I'll catch up with you later. Have fun." the ermine glided past the ferret, making his way over to the other striplings/kits. Let's see if they're as important as Spender claims they are...or at least Caden.
Caden could see the ermine approaching them now. It clicked. This WAS someone from the Imperium...but who? The ermine smiled in a slick way. "Well if it isn't Caden Freemont!" Ocean exclaimed, his voice maybe a bit too friendly...but at the same time Caden could detect nothing dangerous about the approaching mustelid, he just seemed very confident of himself.
"I feel as if you're familiar." Caden said, squinting his eyes as he struggled to recall.
"It's Ocean...remember?"
Caden's eyes widened. "Ocean!? Y...yes! I do!" he said, shaking his head in bewilderment. "Only very vaguely but yes! I do remember you!"
"Long story short, I'm Spender's foster brother in a way...though I haven't seen him in years. I was raised outside of his family for most of my life." He explained to the others by way of introduction. "My name's Ocean. Ocean Sleet...or maybe Cielciosk...I've never fully settled on a proper last name. I sort of like Sleet better but...I grew up with Caden and Spender a very long time ago. Caden vanished around the time he was well...four or five...gosh it's hard to recall." he mused aloud. "Saw very little of him since then. Who knew I'd run into him here! As well as Spender."
"It's...yeah...I vaguely do remember you Ocean. Oh! I'm Fugate now. Caden Fugate. Not...Freemont." he said with some hesitation. Yes...he had to discard his old family ties...for his own sake.
"Fugate? You were taken in by Ladorak?"
"I was." the albino said with a nod. "Been living with him for a year and a half now. Joined his vessel, HMS Agamemnon. We're on our way to blockade and service duty in the Cobalt."
"The Cobalt eh? Not bad this time of year. Cooling off with the oncoming autumn...though still hot as the dickens right now." the ermine commented, wiping his brow. "And who are these creatures with you?" he turned to Caden's friends now. Caden figured he'd let them introduce themselves...Carrow needed the practice, Selvis would probably just jump in anyway, and Elliot always liked speaking for himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saumarez located the "saltamontes" without too much trouble. He repeated it to the vendor, who had quickly pawed him a nice bowl of...grasshoppers. Not something he would have pictured for "saltamontes."
Returning to Steep, he held the bowl out for her, noting she was taking out a cigar and matches. He only hoped she wouldn't increase the habit with him through marriage. "Here you are." he said in her native tongue. He lapsed into Common again however, looking out at the crowds.
"Shall we move on up then? I think we're sitting in the box of honor." He held out the wine bottle for her as well, showing her the label as proof that he'd hunted down the same brand she'd been consuming. Darn thing had been a tad expensive...and coupled with the purchase of the ring that she now held, a good third of his pay this month was now gone. Fantastic...outstanding.
He found himself reaching into his pocket and withdrawing his silver cigar case and retrieving one of the big rolled cylinders and clamping it down into his mouth. Perfect...he was taking up the habit!
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Post by Carrow on Aug 1, 2010 13:23:51 GMT -5
Carrow's attention was caught by the movements of the ermine. He could see that the newcomer was beginning to make his way towards the group, and so prepared himself for an introduction. He wasn't good at that sort of thing, and he knew it - far too shy for his own good, that's what Archie had told him back home anyways. He just couldn't help it though.
He sighed. He wouldn't have any of these problems if things hadn't gone so badly for him in school, and to this day he felt resentment towards his former classmates for destroying the self-confidence that he had slowly built up in the four years after his parents' deaths. He'd be much better than he was now if not for a certain incident that, well, had changed his life for the worse.
The rodent didn't want to start ruminating on those kinds of things now. The stoat was close to them now, and he knew that this was an opportunity for him to make a good impression. However, he saw that the stoat had chosen to address Caden first. He listened for a moment, then it finally dawned on him that the pair were closer than he'd thought.
Carrow had to do all he could to make sure he didn't gasp, such was his astonishment at this turn of events. They KNEW each other?! Well, how was that for a surprise? He found himself smiling slightly as he watched the two converse. Then, Ocean turned to look at Selvis, Elliot and himself, and the wood mouse was unable to keep himself from glancing down at his footpaws.
It was clear he didn't want to go first, so that job fell to Selvis. Just as well, too: whereas Carrow was chronically shy and withdrawn, his long-tailed weasel friend was quite outgoing. He stepped forward, blue eyes shining happily as he introduced himself, offering his paw to the equally as cheerful-looking stoat.
"Hi there! I'm Selvis Frenata! Pleased to meet you, Ocean!," he exclaimed, meeting the taller mustelid's gaze as best he could, smiling broadly at the stranger to indicate he was quite pleased with his presence. They knew each other? Well then, what brought him here? This week was turning out to be even more eventful than the HMS Agamemnon's newest recruit had envisaged, and he was quite glad things had gotten off to a good start.
The weasel's enthusiasm was infectious, and Carrow couldn't help but feel buoyed slightly by the bubbly mustelid's mere presence. If he could do it, then why was it so difficult for Carrow? He could try to do this without completely locking up, as had happened certain times in the past. Indeed, there was something about the older stoat that seemed to put the long-tailed field mouse at ease, and so it wasn't long before he too had stepped forward. There was a good foot or so between them in height, so he found himself unable to meet Ocean's gaze no matter how hard he tried.
Regardless of this, he was certainly able to speak, so speak he did, piping up in his high-pitched voice. "Er... hello. Nice to meet you, Ocean. I'm Cerinus Apodemus, though most creatures I know call me Carrow... presumably because it's less of a mouthful." He smiled at Ocean, unable to fathom how that had slipped out. Under any other circumstances he would have blushed to the tip of his tail, but now it... just felt right, so he was perfectly fine with it.
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Post by bookity101 on Aug 2, 2010 0:09:21 GMT -5
Ellie glanced up from her spot on the bench when the crowd roared. Stupid beast, didn't it know that it was dead the moment it entered the stadium? And the guy in the arena wasn't much more than a dancer with good timing.. but if this is what they thought was entertaining...
Carrow and Selvis' conversation drew her attention next, she waved a paw to get the duo's attention, then said;
"Just write it in Ferlusan, Ellie knows the language, just like I do... though she doesn't mess up her pronouns like I do..." A smile that almost looked like a grimace was flashed at the duo as 'his' attention was drawn to Cadens question. After a noticeable pause, which could be said it was because the end of the first bull could have been the reason for the pause. The truthful answer would be she was having trouble thinking of a good answer. The estate was just an hour out of the main town but.... Wait, maybe a joke would work..
She tilted her head to the side and forced a cheeky grin;
"Why do ya want to know Caden, are you that anxious to see my sister again?"
Caden didn't have a chance to respond when Ocean made his way up, so she glanced around Caden and smiled slightly at the newcomer as he introduced himself, and talked with Caden then Selvis then Carrow. Sticking out one paw, she said;
"Hey there, I'm Eliot McNamee nice to meet you Mr Sleet."
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Post by Ladorak on Aug 2, 2010 9:39:00 GMT -5
((Ach! Sorry Book! Forgot to bring Zephyr in! Though I guess...it makes no difference now. )) Ocean met the chipper Selvis, who seemed excited about meeting a new face, and Carrow, whose high voice sounded eager with just a hint of nervousness thrown in, though he was a mouse after all...surrounded by mustelids. Ocean wasn't sure if that had anything to do with it, or perhaps the rodent was just naturally bashful. Elliot called him Mr. Sleet...that was a bit unusual...but Ocean found he liked the ring of it...especially if he was going to be an officer soon. Ocean Sleet...it sounded like a stormy weather condition...and he liked it better than Ocean Cielciosk...which sounded like nothing but a "mouthful" as Carrow called it. The ermine had to admit that Lieutenant, Master or even Captain Sleet had mettle behind it. "Nice to meet all of you." he said politely enough. "Caden...I hate to sound as if I'm cutting right to the point...but you mentioned your guardian is Ladorak Fugate. THE Captain of the Agamemnon right? The same ship Spender serves on yes?" Caden nodded, the next bull being brought out to the ring, accompanied by a rat serving as the bull fighter. "Soooo...would you mind taking me up to meet him? I've wanted to ask him about joining your ship see, but I'm not sure he'd really remember me, and figured if he's looking after you well...you could introduce me and such. Would you mind giving an old mate a helping paw here?" Ocean frowned pitiably, hoping Caden would agree. Sure he was using the albino, but he really did want to join the ship for his own reasons. It would be interesting to see what sort of marten Caden had turned into anyway...Ocean already had Spender pegged for the most part...and it was partially a concern to him to see such little change in his brother the past decade or so. "Oh? You want to meet Ladorak and...ask him to join?" Caden asked excitedly. "Really? Sure! I can take you up there! Oh..." he looked to his companions. "Any others wish to tag along?" he asked, looking from brown marten to mouse to long tail.
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Post by Carrow on Aug 2, 2010 11:10:02 GMT -5
Carrow had never really found the presence of so many mustelids on board the ship to be unnerving in the slightest. It was true, he did stick out like a sore thumb in this group, but he didn't mind that in the slightest. It was much more the fact that he was nervous as the day was long. Bashful was the mouse's middle name.
Well, actually, it wasn't. His middle name was Rivennis, that of his great-great-grandfather, one of the sixteenth-century Apodemuses. The rodent actually knew very little of his ancestors. He'd been told a tad by his parents about a week before Jerris died, but he'd forgotten most of what he'd been told, as soon after that, far more important and distressing thoughts had filled his mind.
The Dibbun listened closely as Caden and Ocean conversed. This stoat was very interesting, it seemed. It just so happened that right around the time the stoat mentioned that he was interested in joining the ship, Carrow's thoughts had been running along those very same lines. This had been a great week for meeting new faces, that was for sure.
When the rodent realised that the ermine was indeed going to be joining them, he broke out into a wide smile. Selvis, too, was very pleased with this unexpected development, and glanced at Carrow. His blue eyes seemed to speak to the wood mouse: Well, well, how's that for a turn? Carrow's eyes brightened in response to this, and his tail swayed happily.
He felt an excited tremor run through him as he gazed up at the tall ermine. It seemed that this newcomer would be a great addition to their creW. Their circle was growing by the day it seemed, and absolutely nothing appeared nicer to the shy youngster at that particular moment than to have another creature around that he could rely on.
So, when Caden offered the mouse the opportunity to come along with him and see what became of the ermine's desire, he nodded readily, smiling. "I'd quite like to, yes. Thanks, Caden!" He smiled, stepping forward to join the two mustelids, looking from one to the other, clearly amazed at how quickly things were coming along.
Selvis, too, was similarly enthusiastic. "Well, look at it this way, matey: I get to see the Captain again if I go along with you, so in that case, count me in!" His long tail softly thumped the ground in approval of the pine marten's proposal, before he, too, went over to stand by the group. "How about you, Elliot?," he enquired, flashing 'him' a quick grin.
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Post by Ladorak on Aug 2, 2010 22:19:58 GMT -5
It was clear that Elliot didn't mind tagging along. "It's a posse then!" Caden exclaimed, smiling. "I'll take you up there Ocean."
"Lead the way." the ermine said smoothly, standing aside for Caden. The eager stripling started off, working his way up past the crowd, who were cheering the rat down below. The rat wasn't fairing as well as his pine marten predecessor. He was instead nearly gored by the bull with only a careful and close step to the side saving him.
Approaching the stoat Captain sitting next to his date, Caden garnered a knowing smile from the Captain. "Ah Caden! And friends! The loyal crew returneth. Oh Caden...by the way...thank you for that model...I mean it. But you really shouldn't have. As nice as it was, it probably cost you a good deal of your pay. I insist on reimbursing you."
"It's quite alright Ladorak...you don't have to do that. I mean I'll get paid again next month! We'll be at sea so nothing to spend my money on then! Really it's OK! It'll just accumulate!" the marten said cheerfully. The stoat chuckled, and shook his head.
"That's a good heart you have with you Caden. Oh...who's this?" he asked, noticing Ocean behind the swelling chest of Caden. The cute little marten was just beaming, proud of himself for having followed what he felt was Ladorak's example.
"Dad..." Caden decided to use the term, still not fully used to it but wanting to try it out all the same. "You remember Ocean right?"
Ladorak was stunned...first by Caden's usage of the term "dad" and then by the revelation that this ermine standing before him was Ocean. "Ocean...Sleet's boy?" he asked thoughtfully, furrowing his brow.
"Aye sir. That I am." Ocean responded.
"I believe I saw you only a few times...once or twice...always in the company of your 'mother'."
"Aye sir...must've been. I've only heard about you...not had the chance to speak to you in person yet."
Ladorak nodded. "You may drop the sir."
"No sir...I want to serve aboard the Agamemnon." Ladorak's eyes narrowed. "May I speak to you in private sir?"
Ladorak looked down at the gathered group, and nodded. "Very well. Caden...what did you say just now?"
"Huh? Oh...I think I said...dad." he said again, smiling as a shiver passed down Ladorak's spine.
"Yes...very good." the stoat said, and ruffled his head fur and large ears. "I'll catch up with the group in a bit. Have fun until then."
"Got it!" Caden exclaimed, turning to his friends and indicating they should head back down. "I guess they just need to talk alone." Caden led the way, speaking up to be heard over the crowd as they marched back down. "So what do you think of Ocean Carrow? What little you've seen of him." the albino asked the mouse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So...what do you wish to discuss?" Ladorak asked.
"Sir...I would like to be promoted above my foster brother Spender, if at all possible."
"Oh...and why's that?"
"Because quite frankly sir...it took me all of five minutes to judge that he hasn't changed." the ermine sneered now. "He's an idiot, and isn't qualified for the job he'll be filling."
"You don't know what job he's trying out for." was the response.
"Whatever it is he's not qualified for it sir."
"What makes you so sure? He's going for Steward."
"With all due respect sir...though they're menial servants, they also need mastery of numbers...if it's still the same Spender, he can't count to save his life. He would NEVER make Purser...at least not without help. I want to be there for him sir...and besides, I'm more qualified than he is. I've served on ships before. I know the ropes."
"Doesn't matter...you would still have to start as Seajack...though granted you would probably be rated as Able Seajack if you have previous experience. What...post are you ultimately shooting for."
"Master...Lieutenant...maybe even Captain someday, so long as I'm above him." Ocean said, almost challenging the Captain to come up with a position for him. Ladorak was taken aback.
"Really? Ambitious aren't you? Well I'll paw you a list...you can look through it and see what you might like to do. Midshipjack or Master's Mate...makes no difference to me, provided you have the qualifications."
Ocean came smartly to attention, confidence bursting from him as he saluted. "Aye sir...I'll be everything that Spender isn't. And just maybe...manage to keep him in line...help him grow."
The stoat nodded silently to this. "Commission is six years...do you accept that?"
"Of course...I plan to stay in far longer than that...I have...something I'm looking for too...but I'll make that known to you later." the ermine stated.
"Fair enough...welcome aboard Mr. Sleet."
The crowd seemed to gasp and start clambering over each other as the rat was gored; impaled by the bull's sharp horn. He was writhing in agony, having been completely run through. He was just a bit too slow of paw it seemed...
Ladorak shifted uncomfortably in his seat, regarding the sight darkly. Wretched sport...
"Thank you sir." Ocean said, never taking his eyes off Ladorak once.
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Post by Carrow on Aug 3, 2010 6:50:46 GMT -5
Carrow felt his chest swell with happiness as the exchange between Caden and Ladorak took place. He found himself a little taken aback at the pine marten referring to the stoat as 'dad', but didn't show his surprise. He was pleased for Caden at this, of course. They made for an unusual pair, but he knew the same could be said for himself and any one of his friends - a rodent, and a group of mustelids. It was certainly unexpected.
The mouse had always known that the albino mustelid had looked upon the Captain as a sort of surrogate father. Seeing how close the two had become, it was the logical explanation that the rodent had since come to, knowing that, just like Carrow himself, he had been orphaned at an early age.
Caden wasn't the only one who thought of the Captain as a father figure, however! Carrow couldn't help but find the stoat's presence reassuring whenever he was around, and the wood mouse was fairly certain that such a generous creature would not mind having the odd private conference with any his crew if the circumstances were correct.
Oftentimes the mouse felt as though there was a lot he had to get off his chest - but he had no problem opening up to anyone he felt he could trust, which of course included Caden, Selvis, Elliot, and even Ocean, to a certain extent. It wasn't like before, when he'd preferred to bottle everything up inside and say scarcely a word about his difficulties - even to Archie.
At those times, he'd been at his absolute worst, but thankfully times like that were becoming much less infrequent. The only time he'd felt even remotely like he just wanted to clam up and not speak to any creature had been around the time of the oatmeal incident, nearly three months ago now.
Credit had to be given where credit was due: Carrow was finding it easier to bounce back after each disappointment or mishap, and he felt as though he was in a good place, here with his companions, knowing that Ladorak was around as well. It helped to strengthen him a considerable amount.
Along with Elliot and Caden, the youngster headed back down to where they had been based, letting Ocean and Ladorak have their private moment. He smiled broadly at Caden, happy to see him in such good form. The pine marten's query was answered with much enthusiasm on the Dibbun's part.
"I quite like him, actually! I can't help but like him anyway, simply because he's a stoat. I've had nothing but good relations with stoats, I have to say! He's very confident and secure in himself, or at the very least he seems that way. I can't wait to have him on board, to tell you the truth!"
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