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Naples
Sept 8, 2010 6:03:14 GMT -5
Post by spender on Sept 8, 2010 6:03:14 GMT -5
"I--"
Willard stuttered, his paws opening and closing in fists at his sides. Outnumbered! He could barely get a word in edgewise with everything going on. It was a little much for the little weasel. He could deal with crowds while working--he felt his bravest when he imagined himself shouting orders at them. But off-duty, no weight to throw around, no job to get done... he was lost.
His resolve was fading, though. It was well that Carrow recognised him as an intelligent creature, for the mouse himself, in Willard's opinion, needed a bit less running about after his friends and a bit more time spent cooped up with a book himself. Will glanced darkly at him. He was sure he'd seen Carrow sneak into the gun room... but then again, he was sure he'd seen a merry-go-round with polar bears where the ship's mast was, and Caden and Ocean going around with pink-dyed fur.* So he wasn't sure what to make of what he'd experienced that day.
"I--"
And now Elliot was here with the armourer, and his resolve faded further. The beech marten might've needed to slow down at times, but ever since he'd comforted Willard a few days ago, Willard had taken a liking to him. Elliot was a good sort.
"I--"
And now Captain Fugate was here, and Willard simply froze up entirely, his brain going into overdrive at the amount of awe he felt.
"I-- I-- I-- I-- I--"
They were all looking at him!
"Is'pose."
His paws tugged at his shirt, claws twirling around in the striped fabric.
So much for actually reading some of Caden's books, instead of simply sitting there and pretending he could understand the blurry scribbles because somebeast wouldn't leave the gun room long enough to let him slip his glasses on...
* His dreams had been rather interesting since his accident. A good, hard cannon to the head can do that to you.
Spender had almost been in a good mood.
No more head-cleaning. Caden's wrist had healed, apparently. The ferret had taken to jamming bits of makeshift cork up his nose for the better part of the day, so he wouldn't have to smell himself. It helped that his "cork" was made out of dried cheese and oatmeal, with a crumbling of mint all 'round for flavour. He was almost out of it, however--whatever his father had packed him would soon run out entirely. It only went quicker, once Spender found he could avoid extraneous bathing by simply rubbing mint leaves over his face and arms. That appealed to most of the crewbeasts who gave him the scrunchy-nose look.
On top of this news, they were going into port. Port meant freedom. Freedom meant beer. Whereas before he had cashed in all his pay on chocolate, Spender had a new goal now.
First: Get rid of Peskers, who was tailing him again.
Second: Find a tavern that allowed sailors his age.
Third: Wake up tomorrow in a gutter with a hangover and a vague notion that his name was actually Lefty McPeterson, Esquire.
All his cheer vanished when he cleared the crowd on the deck and spotted the group up ahead. It wouldn't have been so bad, except he saw them right at the moment Ladorak was hugging Caden.
All the memories of that day flooded back at once. Every whip crack, every rattan smack, every stern word from the stoat's mouth, all sounds overlapping the single image of Caden's expression just before he'd shouted Spender out of the sick berth.
Snarling, Spender turned about and stomped off back the way he'd come--immediately running into Peskers, who tried to shove him.
"Hey--" she began.
Spender, barely registering the paws pushing against his chest, shoved back, knocking the other ferret over.
"Shut up an' die," he hissed, stepping over Peskers. (Who, it should be noted, only looked astonished for a few seconds before a dreamy smile crept across her muzzle.)
Spender went down a deck or two, found his favourite spot between two familiar cannons, and leaned against the wall with his forehead. The first few days after his whipping had been almost too painful to curl up on the deck and nap during his hour of free time; he had learned to sleep standing up like this, or draped over a cannon. This time, the ferret kept his eyes open, thinking.
Caden... Today will be the first day of the end of your life. I'm going to hurt you again... because you deserve it... because it's not fair... it's not fair he hugs you and has me whipped... I'm going to make you pay for that, Caden Freemont. I'm going to kill Carrow... I'm going to take your best friend away. Maybe that will make it fair between us. You turned Ocean against me... this is what you deserve...
And so thinking this, Spender smiled and chuckled to himself. Too caught up in his revenge fantasies, he failed to hear someone sneaking up behind him.
Molly frowned. What an odd ferret. Having been studying him since his punishment, she found his way of coping unpleasantly interesting. Rather than appear remorseful for his actions, Spender's expressions grew darker, his movements fiercer; he walked less in smooth arcs as others did, and more in short, swift bursts of anger, as if lurching. And he never, ever sat.
But at last she had him alone, with almost everyone else up top, waiting to get off the ship. There were only a few beasts left passing by. Waiting for a quiet moment, Molly crept forward, paws outstretched...
"Coochie-coochie!"
She tickled him. And, as prepared for, if not expected, he whirled around all bottle-brushed, and bit her nose.
Immediately, the stripling slunk down, pressing himself into the corner of the cannon and the wall of the ship, cringing with closed eyes and ears laid back, paws over his head, elbows and knees tucked together.
Molly rubbed her nose.
"I'm not going to hit you back."
"...liar..."
She reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"Your name is Spender, right?"
He flinched again, almost squirming himself into the space between the cannon and the wall.
"Spender, I want to bring you into Naples with me."
She stopped, glancing over her shoulder--she thought she'd heard somebeast behind them...
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Naples
Sept 8, 2010 22:35:05 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Sept 8, 2010 22:35:05 GMT -5
"Grand. It'll be good to have you along Willard. You'll have a good time I'm sure." Ladorak said. He motioned to the gangplank, the crew already tearing down and eager to search for wine, jills and gambling. He placed his paw on Caden's back, and began leading the group forward, stopping to wait for a bit as the press of the crew was quite tremendous.
Over four hundred beasts pushing and shoving to get off the ship, so Ladorak felt it prudent to wait. Caden had spotted Spender, though the ferret had quickly vanished. There had been a look of pure rage on the furo's features, and it made Caden go tense, feeling as if his stomach was being clamped in a vice. His movements were slowed, and it was no secret to Ladorak that his ward was feeling a little less than his usual self today.
"Caden...I've been wanting to talk to you about certain things. I know everything that goes on in my ship...and I know that you tried something about a week ago...didn't you?" Caden felt his throat closing up and his pawpads going sweaty. They both watched the crowd moving like a slow river in front of them, and the marten only nodded, his eyes wide.
"I'm sorry Caden...I'm sorry you felt so upset. It's a terrible thing to feel...I was there a few times myself...and I know what it's like. You shouldn't be feeling that low at your age though...I'm sorry I wasn't there for you in your time of pain...I'm sorry I couldn't have shared it with you. If you ever...I mean ever...feel that way again...I want you to come and see me. It won't matter what I'm doing, alright? I'll give you permission. I don't want you feeling that desperate again...OK?"
The stoat's soft spoken words drifted down to the nervous marten, and he lowered his pink gaze to the deck, Ladorak patting him on the back. "Hey bud...look at me alright? I want you to promise that you'll come to me first." Caden lifted his gaze up to meet the spectacles of the stoat, his bottom lip trembling. He felt so guilty for having given in and attempting something so...drastic.
He hugged Ladorak tightly, feeling as if he could keep nothing from him, not even this secret. "I'm sorry..." he breathed, trying to hold his tears back. "I just..." he sniffed hard, inhaling roughly through his nose.
"It's OK...it's alright. We'll talk about this later..." The Captain patted the marten's back reassuringly. "You've grown up with a rough life...I know. You can tell me anything though...and I encourage that. Let's go...let's go have a good time." the stoat started forward now that the crowd had washed ashore. "Have you traveled much Willard?" Ladorak asked the weasel. "Ever been to Calgary...or anywhere on the continent for that matter?"
They were on the gangplank heading down. Caden glanced briefly behind him at Carrow, moving closer to the mouse with apologetic eyes. They said I'm sorry friend...but I gave in. Please forgive me... The albino wasn't even sure he could bring himself to meet Elliot's gaze. He was terrified of what Elle's brother would think of this if "he" even got wind of it.
Ladorak, though he was speaking to Willard, had his mind on Molly. He hoped desperately that she wasn't going to jump ship here. It was an opportunity for her...an opportunity to escape. The sensitive jack could admit it was his greatest fear now...for he knew his heart would shatter if that scenario came to pass...
Shaking his head, the stoat shifted his ears to Willard to hear whatever it was the weasel had to say.
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Naples
Sept 8, 2010 22:56:51 GMT -5
Post by spender on Sept 8, 2010 22:56:51 GMT -5
"Ever been to Calgary...or anywhere on the continent for that matter?"
"Er, n-n-no, sir. I was born in Muggidrear. I've... never left until..."
Willard's footpaws were dragging. The only thing stopping him from still clinging to the railings of the ship was the surge of beasts still behind them. His claws still had bits of splinter clinging to them.
"S-s-stop pushing!" he whined at the beasts behind him as he tried dig himself into the gangplank with his heels. Halfway was far enough for him. He'd seen enough of Naples. He wanted to go back. Why had it been so easy to go on the ship? He would have thought he'd have this problem leaving Welkin!
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Naples
Sept 9, 2010 2:46:04 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Sept 9, 2010 2:46:04 GMT -5
Carrow had been listening as well - passively, that is, as he knew that Ladorak had not been speaking directly to him. However, the mouse's hearing was quite good, and he managed to pick up what it was that the kind stoat was saying to his ward. Wait, what was this? Caden had... tried something? What could that... oh... oh no, he thought, his heart sinking.
He hid this from me... he actually went out of his way to hide this from me... he didn't want me to know... In this case, Carrow was hardly disappointed that his pine marten companion had decided not to confide in him. Just the opposite: he was quite relieved. He had been going through a relatively rough time himself when this would have taken place, and he realised that Caden hadn't told him for his own good, because in that state, if he'd known, he'd probably have blamed himself and had another breakdown.
He was reassured by Caden's continuing presence, and knew that there had been certain things that had helped him to hold on. That a scenario like this should arise had been the the rodent's greatest fear after all, and there had been times when he hadn't been able to stop thinking about the possibility of Caden... going through with it, but now he was a little taken aback nonetheless. He couldn't imagine what life would be like if Caden wasn't there with him. A life without Caden was barely even worth living.
Yes, that's exactly it, he thought. I'm scared of losing him, so much so that I'd probably follow him if he ever did anything like that. I wouldn't be able to go on without him. Not after everything else that I've lost... alright, best to stop thinking about this kind of stuff, mate, he told himself, not wanting to get bogged down with depressing thoughts again. You need to be strong... for your friend.
The wood mouse now heard the shuffling of paws on deck close by, and he glanced over at Caden, who had moved closer to him. The mouse did likewise until he was by his friend's side, and he gently clasped the mustelid's paw in a clear gesture of friendship - but also to remind himself, as the marten's fur brushed against his own, that the albino had survived, and that he was still there.
The youngster kept his voice soft, speaking up into Caden's large ears as best as he could manage. "No need to apologise... I know what it's like after all. I've been there at times myself. It's never a pretty sight, to stare into that abyss and think of throwing everything away. I sympathise with you, but Ladorak's right. Anytime you feel you need to get something off your chest, talk to him. Talk to me if you want, even, because I want you to know I'll be here for you."
He sniffled a little, removing his paw as they began heading down the gangplank. "Tell me though, mate... I'm curious. What kept you going? We all have things that we cling onto for dear life at our lowest moments. I should know, of course. I'd like you to tell me, though... what were yours? What did you think of that lifted you out of your hopelessness? You're still here, and there must be a reason for that. You may have given into your despondent thoughts, but you were stopped from letting them overwhelm you. What made you feel as though you wanted to carry on?"
Carrow was interested in hearing this, very much so in fact. It must have been truly terrifying for Caden to reach that point, and the Dibbun knew it. Even though he saw the pine marten as a creature much stronger than he, there had been a possibility of him ceasing to exist, overwhelmed by his troubles. This left the mouse feeling slightly perturbed, but Caden had survived nonetheless, and that comforted the rodent more than his friend could ever know.
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Naples
Sept 9, 2010 23:35:11 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Sept 9, 2010 23:35:11 GMT -5
Ladorak took note of the jostling going on behind the slower Willard. Poor weasel seemed almost harried and too reluctant to leave the gangplank. But his stopping in a sea of beasts did nothing to help him, and Ladorak had to react quickly, snapping his arm forward and pulling the hapless weasel out of the way. "Careful Willard...best to keep moving in crowds like that...telling them to stop shoving well...that's like telling the ocean to stop pounding against the shore." Ladorak knew his crew's motivations...and there was simply no quenching of those fires.
"Right well...use this as an experience to learn about how another nation views us...and how we interact with them as well. Naples of course has nowhere near the naval strength of Welkin...but garnering their land support in this instance is worth quite a lot." the stoat said, almost under his breath as the crowd moved past them. "Just try and relax...diplomacy is sometimes part of a Captain's responsibility after all...and you are aiming for Captain aren't you?" the slightly molting stoat asked.
They were now on the dock, and slowly starting to make their way into town. Caden shook his head, offering a weak smile. He had been shocked senseless when Carrow had grabbed his paw. Caden wasn't the touchy-feely type, and he would be the last to admit that Carrow's show of reassurance felt good, and he nearly jerked away at the touch, but Carrow didn't hold his paw long thankfully.
"I'll...talk about it later OK? More privately. I..." he stopped now, replaying the event in his mind. It must have been fear...and not knowing what would happen to the others...and wanting answers...he couldn't think about his main reason right now. He would have to sit down and stop his mind from racing whenever someone mentioned it. Right now...his thoughts were flying. "I would have to think about it. Really think about it. I'd rather not relive it right now...but thanks all the same...for the support I mean." he said, his voice a bit strained but not out of despair. Mostly just from his unease about dwelling on it. He did intend to discuss it though...with both Ladorak and Carrow, if the latter wanted to hear it.
His motivations were derived from a genuine honesty to share his feelings about his life...his feelings about his mother...and about his being a "freak"...at least in Spender's eyes. What the marten did manage was a smile, directed at the mouse. "I am sorry though...sorry I hid it...sorry I even tried it in the first place..." his voice was lower now, as if he was embarrassed...which he was. "I hope to not put you through it if I can help it." he said, this time a bit more determination leaking into his tone. He really hoped Elliot wouldn't think less of him for this...and perhaps write to his sister saying that Caden had...issues.
The marten really was trying to better himself...and rebound from his experience. To just move on and accept it...similar to how they were moving towards the stacked building blocks of structures and houses that lined the waterfront...Naples was beckoning.
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Naples
Sept 9, 2010 23:36:36 GMT -5
Post by bookity101 on Sept 9, 2010 23:36:36 GMT -5
Ellie was actively taking in everything that was going on around her, so when she heard that Caden had nearly... Nearly... She couldn't even imagine that. Here she was entertaining a cru-... She shook her head, trying to wipe that thought from her mind. Then she looked at him again. Ok, yes she liked him, but she was his friend and she hadn't even noticed that he was thinking about... that! She would talk with him a little later maybe. It would depend on how he was feeling after his talk with Cer and the Captain. After another moment, she realized that she couldn't see Willard anymore...
Turning around, she saw him. And looked again. What was he doing? The Captain was talking to him, and when Ladorak was with him now... it wouldn't hurt to head over and give Willard some support that was close to his age... and that he could talk to. She had seen how much awe the least weasel held for their Captain. Ellie stopped in her tracks, and was nearly bowled over by the large stoat who had been following close behind her. Luckily, Luxe was lighter on his feet than the average beast of his size.
"Sorry about that Jal Calone, umm." The small martin peered through the crowd to Willard. "Would you mind helping me get to Willard?" The big stoat looked over at the young weasel, then back to the martin that he knew as Eliot.
"Sure thing lad, just a moment." Luxe raised an arm, forcing the beasts to flow around him to his right, instead of left, leaving a clear path for Ellie to approach the scared weasel.
Ellie came to stand by Willard, deciding to stay silent for the moment and offer some moral support. She would ask him about helping her find the post office after he was done talking to the Captain.
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Naples
Sept 10, 2010 4:26:57 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Sept 10, 2010 4:26:57 GMT -5
Carrow nodded at the pine marten's acknowledgement of his presence, and swished his tail in a gesture of acceptance. "It's no problem, Caden. No problem at all. As said, I'll be here for you if you ever want to discuss anything with me. I really do mean anything, mate. That's what friends are for, right?" He chuckled. The truth was that the mouse didn't really know if what he was doing was the right thing. He was still getting used to having company of this kind, but he knew for certain that he valued it highly. In an odd way, Caden had become like a brother to him. His presence was that reassuring to the mouse. He could never recall feeling the same way about any other creature besides Archie, but the emotions that Caden's companionship brought out in him made him feel good.
Yes, he thought, that must be it. I never thought anything would be alright for me again until I met you, Caden - and even though I still don't have much hope for the future, I know that having you here is going to make it better. You really light me up, you know. Selvis and Elliot will be here for me too, of course, but somehow they could never mean as much to me as you do. Some might say that we make for a curious-looking pair of friends, sure, but it's wonderful that our friendship's grown to the extent that it has. I know that you value my support, too, and that's enough for me. With thoughts like this in his head, the rodent addressed his companion, whose voice had lowered perceptibly since he'd last been speaking, and he realised how bad Caden felt about the whole affair.
"You don't need to apologise, Caden, honestly. The thing about creatures like us is that we've been fighting to survive all our lives. It's alright to feel as though things are too much from time to time. I must admit that I'd have been much more concerned if you'd been keeping it all pent up. There's no shame in displaying emotion, no shame in crying to let everything out. I'm glad that you decided to speak up, and I guess this now means that you can try your best to move on from this. Believe me, if I know anybeast that can get past something like this, you can. I mean, look around you!" The mouse indicated the cloudless September sky with a twirl of his paw. "The sun is shining, keeping us warm and dry; there's a whole town just waiting to be explored; discoveries to be made; who knows, we might even meet somebeast!
The wood mouse patted the albino mustelid's paw, eyes twinkling. "So you can talk about what happened a little later on if you would like. For now, though, you should really stop worrying and just enjoy the moment. I don't need to forgive you for what's happened. If anything, I appreciate you keeping it hidden from me more than anything else. Thanks for not putting me through it... and hopefully I will never do the same to you. I would have hated to see you that way - and I'm sure you'd feel the same about me - but I'm glad you managed to get through it yourself. That's all in the past now though, Caden, and Naples is calling to us!" He grinned, whiskers twitching in anticipation. "Put all this behind you and enjoy yourself here. I know I'm going to try and do the same."
Selvis had been left on his own because Elle had gone on ahead to catch up with Willard. The longtail was in no hurry to to do likewise. Granted, he did enjoy Willard's company, but he figured that the idea of being knocked into the water if he should make a wrong move on the gangplank didn't really appeal to him all that much. He would catch up with the pair of mustelids when everybeast had disembarked, hoping that Caden and Carrow would be able to do likewise. Selvis was adamant that he should not go anywhere without all four of his companions with him. He was growing more fond of Willard by the day, even despite the least weasel's skittish nature, and as for Elliot - well! Things were going great between the two of them - effort having of course been made not to mention her secret - and he was spending as much time as he could with the Ferlusan copy of 'Gulliver's Travels' she'd given him. What a book!, he thought.
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Naples
Sept 10, 2010 5:41:24 GMT -5
Post by spender on Sept 10, 2010 5:41:24 GMT -5
"Just try and relax...diplomacy is sometimes part of a Captain's responsibility after all...and you are aiming for Captain aren't you?"
"No, sir!" Willard said, rather too quickly. His heart was thumping a thousand times a minute, after his near-trampling; and the Captain saving him like that!
Relax, relax, relax... Breathe in, breathe out. Phew. It felt so weird; the dock was too still. He found himself swaying a little, still trying to compensate for the rock and roll of the ship, despite there being no need to.
"No, sir," he said again, a little quieter. "I'm aiming for Admiral, sir." His little chest puffed out with pride. "I'm going to do even better than my step-father. Captain Waters, sir! The bravest, most heroic weasel ever to fight for Welkin, sir! The King sent him on a special mission across the world. It's so special they had to pretend he never existed--that's why you can't find his name in any of the history books or Navy records, sir!"
As he spoke, Willard's confidence unfolded like a battle map, obscuring the cracked table of his nervousness. He seemed to forget the ship was growing more and more distant with each step--it as now as if each step was towards his goal of becoming Admiral.
The little weasel's voice lowered even further, into conspiratorial tones. "When he's done his mission, he's going to come back and help us defeat Rosferia." He glanced warily at Selvis. "And if those Ferlusanians try anything, he'll put them down, too."
Seeing Selvis glance back at him, Willard smiled and waved. The longtailed weasel was a good, fine sort. It was the rest of them he didn't trust. As a true patriot of Welkin, he couldn't just shake off hundreds of years of hostility so easily.
Willard focused his attention back to Ladorak, to see what the Captain thought of this information. In doing so, he caught Elliot out of the corner of his eye, and squeaked. Blindspot! What was the marten doing there? Had he heard everything? Oh no, what if Captain Waters' mission was compromised now? Him and his big mouth!
"It's a secret," he whispered, leaning over to the beech marten. "Don't tell anyone, not even Caden and Carrow!"
Spender tugged his tunic on. "Are you watchin' me?"
"No," Molly replied. She wasn't; she was looking out the porthole, watching the crew spill off the gangplank onto the docks.
Spender jammed his flatcap back on his head and stretched his legs. It was wonderful to get his uniform slops off. No more trousers! Just as he was meant to be. It wasn't like he was indecent, anyway. His tunic was quite long enough, provided he didn't start walking on all fours, or wardancing all over the place.
"Ah," Molly said. "I see them. They're gone."
"Good."
"And I think I see Ocean moving away... Come on."
Taking the ferret's paw, Molly led the way back topside. They joined the queue, filing off into the dock in good time. Molly kept them behind long enough to make certain that neither Ladorak, nor Caden or any of his little friends, would be able to spot them. The last thing she needed was Caden seeing her with Spender, or Ladorak trying to talk to her... She was working on it! She just needed a little more time...
Well, a lot more time.
A few years would be nice.
Say, a dozen. Perhaps fifty.
Anyway.
"What would you like first?" Molly asked.
Spender stared at the buildings and shrugged. "Beer."
"Beer will be last. How about some food? Or would you like to look for a book store? You striplings like books, right?"
"Booooriiiing." Spender yawned. "Unless it's got nice pictures in."
"How about a toy store, then?"
"Coooor. You're gonna buy me toys?"
Molly looked up at the sky, sighing and smiling a little. "One toy. Two, if you're lucky. Now here's the deal... these toys won't be for you to keep."
"Oaw."
"But if you do what I say... you may get to play with them still."
"Ooh."
"Now, can you think of who might like a toy? Ocean? Maybe Selvis? Elliot? Or even Caden or Carrow?"
Spender stopped dead in his tracks and stared at her. She had got to be kidding...
A pair of beady eyes stared at the swarm of beasts emerging from the Agamemnon. The pair suddenly turned into one--one long one. A spyglass, in fact, poised on the edge of a roof, where the creature lie on his belly, tail erect like a flagpole.
"Hhhhmmmmmm..." he said, swinging the spyglass left and right. "Interesting."
"Wot's in'restin'?" his companion asked, standing down in the street below. The scungy, smelly, sticky little rat had one paw shoved in his mouth and was picking away at a rotten tooth as he stared up at the side of the building.
"Newcomers. I suppose..." Standing up, the mystery beast folded his spyglass away. He was revealed to be wearing a cape, quite majestic, that flapped in the breeze off the ocean. "I suppose it is my duty to welcome them. Interrogate them, if you will. Aye, my solemn duty..."
Grabbing the edge of his cape, he flicked it with an impressive snap of fabric.
And then he leapt off the roof.
The rat watched, impassive, for a minute or two. Finally, a voice came from the back of the cart.
"This isn't hay."
"Nope."
"This is manure."
"Yep."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Thought y'knew."
"Of course! ... of course. I know everything. Yes. I meant to land in manure. Ahaha. Yes. This way I will be more like the newcomers! I'm brilliant. I'm absolutely smashingly brilliant, I am. Putting myself at their level! Putting them at ease. Lessening the horror, as it were. The awe. They can now look upon my splendor without going blind from the majesty that is... me."
The rat scuffed his footpaws for another minute before asking.
"Y'comin' out of there, guv?"
"In good time! ... er, actually, could you give me a paw? It's slippery."
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Naples
Sept 10, 2010 23:40:21 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Sept 10, 2010 23:40:21 GMT -5
Ladorak wrinkled his snout, scrunching the brow of his eyes down even more, as if he were afraid his pince nez were going to fall off. "Captain Waters?" Ladorak asked, turning the name over in his mind. Couldn't be...could it? Waters? That was too coincidental...and as far as Ladorak knew, Castrigg had never served Welkin. On top of that, Ladorak had never known the bloke. He'd been killed before Ladorak had ever arrived on the scene.
He quickly changed the subject. "Heading for Admiral eh? Well that's quite the path you're on. You seem confident enough though...and that's heading in the right direction." Castrigg Waters...if it was him...wouldn't be returning at all. He was dead. He was never affiliated with Welkin either as far as Ladorak knew.
"I'll be keeping an eye on your progress. Heheh, I'm going for Admiral myself some day...still a ways off though I'm sure." the stoat admitted. Even he had the same goal as a stripling. He only wondered if Caden intended to travel so far.
Caden was listening to Carrow's long winded speech. He walked silently, only interjecting from time to time. "Actually Ladorak brought it up...I didn't." he said, in response to Carrow's thoughts on Caden being open about it. He had tried to conceal it, but Ladorak had found out...as the marten had suspected. So...it was Elliot next to Willard, who was close to Ladorak. Caden had been trailing a bit the closer they got to the city, sticking close to Carrow as it were.
"Let's get some ice cream...what does everyone say?" Ladorak asked, his voice carrying over to his group gathered around him. "I'll buy. There's plenty of places to stop along the water front. Would taste rather good in this weather I'd think."
Caden looked up, his big ears flopping a bit as he did so. That weak smile was back on his face. "Sure...sounds good." He responded. He appreciated the fact that everyone was trying to cheer him up. His spirits were gradually lifting with their increasing proximity to the city, and Caden was eager to have a look around.
Ladorak, for his part, had already spotted some cafes they could stop at. "What's everyone's flavor preferences?"
"Chocolate." Caden said. This had nothing to do with his fur color...for once. It just happened to be his favorite flavor.
"No more expensive presents for me this time Caden, I want you to save your money." the stoat exclaimed with a laugh as he kept his ears peeled for orders.
"Yeah...will do." the marten said tamely. He looked over at Carrow. "Thanks...I know you're doing your hardest to help me and in addition help yourself. It does mean a lot. I just wanted to apologize for even thinking it. I guess I'll make it up to you sometime if I can...but yes...may as well enjoy this huh?" he asked, the party reaching the seaside road that branched off in both directions. Cafes lined the waterfront, and Ladorak had already picked out one for their ice cream break.
Luxe was suddenly struck on his arm by a solid punch. "And what are you doing running off without me sir?" the voice was from what appeared to be an irate Zephyr, though she was partly feigning it. "So no more invites? Crittenden was the be all and end all huh? Give up easily do ya?" the Assistant Armorer asked, shaking her head and scowling at her boss.
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Naples
Sept 11, 2010 0:29:57 GMT -5
Post by spender on Sept 11, 2010 0:29:57 GMT -5
Captain Fugate's reassurances did not last very long for poor Willard. There was not a lot more he could say regarding Captain Waters' secret mission, and he could only nod and murmur a "Thank you" for the rest. And then, just as quickly as it had passed, his became twitchy again. The ship was so far away...
Gulping, Willard looked up and down the street. So many buildings... it was not unlike Muggidrear, except it was in every way exactly not like Muggidrear.
He paused to wonder how that made sense.
He jammed his jittery paws in his pockets and shivered. Not from cold, but something else. A rush up his spine. Here he was, in a foreign land, talking with Captain Fugate... How could one little weasel be so horrified and be so lucky at the same time?
Ooh, wait, what was that? Ice cream? At this time of year? Wait--Flavours? Ice cream had flavours?
He tried to think. What flavours did he like? He liked cheese. Meat was his favourite. But those were... well. It was flavoured like that because that was the flavour of the food. He couldn't imagine cheese-flavoured peas. Although Spender seemed to manage to make them...
But wait! Didn't cheese have different flavours? Hmmm...
"Um," he said, entirely lost. "Is there pork flavour, sir?" It was worth a shot. "Or maybe cheese... what flavour is the cheese on the Agamemnon? I like that flavour... Oh." The weasel's face fell. "Nevermind, sir... it's too expensive, isn't it..."
There was certainly no way the Captain had enough money to treat them all. It was just for Caden, he was sure. There was no way Ladorak had enough to buy something like ice cream for himself and five striplings.
"Sorry..." He glanced wretchedly at Elliot, as if warning the beech marten not to speak up, unless he too made a fool of himself.
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