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Post by Carrow on Dec 25, 2010 9:09:10 GMT -5
"Heh, I think you two would get along just fine, now that I think about it," Carrow responded, smiling slightly at Janey. The jill weasel was the only pleasant part of his past that the mouse had to discuss. He really enjoyed talking abot the mustelid, even if doing so left him open to feeling homesick. Such feelings he had tried to ignore over the months he had been at sea, but they were proving harder to escape as the days went by.
"You'd already have a lot in common with her. For instance you're every bit as welcoming and, well, charming as she is. I have to admit that I'm reminded of her when I'm shown kindness from any creature. She was the only one who really cared about me after my parents died. Everything I know, I've learned from her. She gave me a better upbringing than I ever hoped for. We may never have had much but..." There was a catch in his voice when he next spoke. "At least we were happy together..."
Sniffing loudly, he wiped a paw across his eyes. Even so, when Janey next looked into them she could see slight tears glistening in their corners. The mouse missed her terribly, and had been trying not to let those feelings overwhelm him, but it was so hard... Clearing his throat audibly, he applied himself to his food for a moment as he listened to the friendly beech marten's next query. There was quite a number of things he could say in response to THAT.
"Well, where do I begin! It's a long day, make no mistake about that. We're roused usually around eight in the morning - those of us who can actually get a decent night's sleep, that is..." He sighed. That affliction of his... "By that time, I've usually been awake for a bit anyhow. We have breakfast and then we're put on duty for a while. Sometimes I have to keep lookout from the mizzentop, and I enjoy that, even if I'm not really the best with heights.
"Other times we're in training. I'm aiming for Quartermaster, as you know; Selvis has his eye on Ship's Corporal. You might not know it to look at him but he'd be very good in a role like that. Caden's particularly ambitious, hoping to make Lieutenant somewhere down the line... and Elliot is, er, a Sailmaker's Apprentice at the moment I think. Yes... that's it actually. I like learning about such things as that. Granted, I don't really consider myself all that good at them, but even still..."
"Sounds like you lead an interesting life, Jal Dugan, sir," Selvis responded politely, smiling at the playful banter flying across the tables to him. The Ferlusan weasel was quickly learning that to keep your head above water in a sea of talk such as this one, and not be completely swamped, you had to give as good as you got. He listened to their brief exchange, chuckling a little to himself. There was a great atmopshere to this dinner.
The food was simply exquisite, and while he listened to Edgar explain a little more about his occupation, he ate steadily, unaware the next course had already been signalled for. He cleared his plate then looked at Carrow to see how the mouse was faring. He frowned ever-so-slightly as he watched the rodent's meagre progress. He wasn't anywhere near finished, which was a shame. He knew Carrow's appetite was sketchy at times, though, so he told himself he would soon perk up and polish his meal off.
"Chess? Great seasons, no!," he replied, shaking his head. "It's never really something that's appealed to me. Sure, I can watch if somebeasts are playing, but I tend not to take part myself. Board games aren't really my forté. My area of specialty is spectacle! My three companions met me in the streets of Crittenden juggling, and I have dabbled into the role of a magician a few times. There's something about those sorts of activities that fascinate me. I haven't had much chance to perform whilst on the ship just yet, but when I do I should quite enjoy it!"
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Post by Ladorak on Dec 25, 2010 11:30:06 GMT -5
Caden immediately tensed up under Elle's touch, but then relaxed, enjoying the feeling and wanting to simply let her rest her paw there. He was having a much harder time denying his feelings for her now...she was really his first true crush, and he knew what he wanted to say next.
"Thanks Elle...I'll promise I'll write you as soon as I get a new letter. Or write you after we depart Naples. Either way, I don't intend to let that go into lapse again. I know it takes at least around a month and then some for our letters to reach each other...but it's my only mode of contact with you now. I was...overjoyed to hear you were visiting Naples." the albino admitted, swallowing hard in nervousness as his pink gaze met her eyes.
"Elle...I thought I'd love traveling, and leaving behind my past. What was there to miss after all? My mother died at a young age, my father died right after I was born...Ladorak was all I had, and he was heading out to sea. I was so ready to just leave my old life behind. But then...in the party where Ladorak got his commission, I met you. And you...well you began to change me. When Ladorak moved into Muggidrear, I wanted to visit you every chance I got. I put up with your wei...um...your aunt." Caden quickly corrected himself, not wanting to offend Elle. "To spend time with you at your place. And then, only four months later...we sailed off...but I didn't forget you...and in fact...I couldn't forget you."
He swallowed hard again, finding this so very hard to admit to. "And I...the only thing I DON'T like about being at sea...is not being able to explore all these new cities and sites with you. Every time we head to a fancy party or gathering...I'm always alone cause I wouldn't think of dancing if you weren't there. And to be honest...I miss that. I love being at sea...I love my new life...to me it is my new home and way of existence...it gives me purpose...but you're the only thing missing." he stated nervously, his jaw beginning to tremble a little. "I really wish you could go with us, and see all the sights we're seeing. I guess it's the only reason I DO want to return to Welkin someday...to see you again."
He averted his eyes now, looking down at the dessert that was in front of him. Wow...chocolate...his favorite. It looked positively scrumptious, and he picked up his fork to try a sample of it. Divine! It was like silk sliding down his throat, and he closed his eyes briefly in bliss at the smooth taste of it.
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Post by bookity101 on Dec 27, 2010 17:17:18 GMT -5
Elle felt her mouth go dry as she processed all of what Caden had to say. Now she was beginning to feel guilty about her own secrets, hers were friendship changing, possibly breaking. And she didn't know what she would do without his, and Carro's friendship. And now she had to think of a way to keep this new information from changing the way she looked at the pine martin.
"Well," Elle bit her lip, trying to find a way to avoid making this very hard on either of them, finally she gave up and simply smiled as she layered her ice cream and cake, giving up on finding a diplomatic answer and simply said;
"You know what they say, Home is where the heart is..." She smiled lightly and took a bite before speaking again. "Though I've always seen it as Home is where your thoughts lie. And I won't always be in Welkin, Caden." Her full smile returned and she winked at him.
"Who knows, maybe I'll surprise you and simply show up at one of your future ports, after all, I have a spy in your midsts."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Janey frowned slightly at Carrow's self put down. According to Elle, the mouse had a habit of doing such things; and it didn't sit well with Jane. She had never been the type to let others put themselves down, not whiteout finding a way to build them back up again.
"Loving to learn is a talent all in itself mousey. Goodness knows I could barely stand to learn until Elle started showing an intrest in languages." Janey smiled at the young beech martin at the end of the table. "You could say that her, and Elliot's, thirst for knowledge spurred mine." Jane looked at the young mouse, her smile as gentle as ever.
"So tell me, what do you think of the food at sea?" Jane's eyes twinkled, half-way wondering if he would compare what he was eating with his normal fair.
Edgar raised an eyewhisker at the young lad. There was a certain flair about the lad, and he seemed to enjoy entertaining others beasts.
"Well then, perhaps you will be able to show some of your talents later, after I trounce Ellie there in checkers." Both females turned to him, Jane with a longsuffering look, Elle's was simply disbelieving. He sighed and corrected his statement.
"After she finishes trouncing ME in checkers..."
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Post by Carrow on Dec 27, 2010 18:41:45 GMT -5
"It is? Y-you really think so?" Carrow smiled a little now, and this encouragement also helped to bolster his appetite. He began eating with fresh enthusiasm, making appreciative noises every now and then as he ate. "I guess I never really thought of it that way, so thanks. I'm sorry if I've upset you or anything, it's just that..."
He paused, sighing again. "It's just that generally, being told you're not good enough for anything every day for a number of years really takes a toll on a creature's confidence. Such things happened to me, and I've never been able to recover from that. I know it sounds stupid, because it's obviously all in the past, but even still..."
He pounded the table with a clenched paw, exhaling sharply. "I can't give myself credit for anything anymore, and it's all because of what happened to me at school. I don't understand why I'm so fragile. I wish someone knew so they could tell me and let me know what I've been trying to find out for almost eight years... nothing's worked for me..."
He was slightly comforted by Janey's gentle smile, and even if this topic of conversation had spawned some dark and distressing thoughts in his mind, he knew he had to resist giving in to them. So he did, with all his might, and the beech marten's change of subject couldn't have been more welcome. "The food at sea? Well," he said in between bites, "let me just start by saying that it's not at all as terrible as popular opinion suggests."
"We only have the basics: pork, beef, cheese and peas, but it's all perfectly palatable, though I remember the least meal I had on the ship being rather difficult to digest. We needed some fresh meat, and I mean that in the most literal sense possible." He chuckled a little: even though he wasn't known for a sense of humour, the mouse could appreciate a pun like that. "So that was the reason why we stopped here in Naples, to take on fresh supplies. I prefer the fare here, though. It's nice to have a little change, but the food's very good here regardless. What d'you reckon? I know Neapolitans are reknowned for their food."
Selvis's eyes widened. "Talents? What talents? Who said anything about a creature such as me having *talents*, matey?," he asked, a tone of mock incredulity evident in his voice. There was modesty in there too, however. He knew others could be quite complimentary about his abilities (he remembered certain Ferlusanian passers-by as he thought of this), but he was always ready to play such things down.
"All the same, though, I'd be quite happy to put on a performance for you lot. Since you suggested it, Edgar, I feel I'd almost be offending you if I declined. I know you won't see it that way, but well, that's just how I feel about things like that. You'd certainly have a willing entertainer. I earned a sort of living from similar things back home, so I'd love to try it again - I will not accept payment, however," he told the albino beech marten.
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Post by Ladorak on Dec 27, 2010 20:23:44 GMT -5
Caden nodded politely at everything Elle said. Well...that was a bit of a disappointment. He was expecting her to admit she felt the same way...but instead she'd dodged it entirely. She was either avoiding it because she really did like him, which he suspected, or she was avoiding it because she didn't...and he tried not to think about that possibility. He was pretty sure she meant what she said though, about running into him again.
"Well...even so." he mentioned with a chuckle. "That'd be one heck of a coincidence. We don't generally get our orders until we're ready to sail, and then, we normally arrive in a week or two, and by the time a letter from me arrived to you...we'd probably be already sailing to our next destination. Heh...that's how it works...we're constantly on the move. Always sailing...always undertaking missions." he explained.
He was getting a bit tired of the table talk. He really couldn't say anything further to Elle now, because he had already admitted how he felt, but that was the last thing he considered saying. He had hoped she'd say more...and because she hadn't, he once again found himself with the wind figuratively taken out of his sails.
He shifted his attention to his cake, going back to eating that and feeling terrible for the awkwardness of it all, and hoping she wasn't secretly resenting him for admitting to something like he'd just done.
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Post by bookity101 on Dec 28, 2010 22:29:32 GMT -5
Elle's face fell as she realized she had bungled this... Thing between them. He was right, she did like him, but didn't understand how to admit this to him without making it impossible for her to act normal in her more normal life on the ship. It wouldn't do for Elliot to not be able to intract with one of his best friends.
Pensivly, she returned to eating thinking about how to fix things between them, without revealing her secret. Maybe one day she would be able to tell him about her secret, one day she would have to, but for now she wasn't ready for any more beaststo know that she was really two different beasts. Elle glanced over to the vases lining the window. Gardening was Jane's hobby, well more like passion. She has even managed to breed several different varieties of flowers, the best ones being her roses. Elle felt the gears click into place. The ROSES... That's it! A gleam appeared in her eye and her appetite for her favorite dessert returned. Now only to find a way to get Caden alone...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Jane frowned as she heard Carrow's story, and couldn't help but glance at her husband. Their stories were so similar it seemed. When Jane and a five year old Elle had first met Edgar, he had been the stuttering assistant to one of her fathers many merchant friends. First Elle had reached out to the albino, seeing him and his penchant for whittling and willingness to teach as a great way to have fun. Gradually, Elle had brought Jane around to see that Edgar wasn't just a silly albino, but some worth getting to know, and eventually love, but she gladly continued down the new conversation track.
"Well I don't consider myself a food expert just yet young'un." She winked good naturedly at the mouse. "I've only lived here for about three years now you see." Jane glanced down at the end of the table, noticing the two young Martins conversation had become stilted.
"Thiugh Edgar's mother has introduced mento several amazing eateries nearby." Jane used her fork paw to motion towards the many flowers in the room, saying;
"My passion is more in growing things, flowers, tree's, bushes. Though my passion has always being in roses and lilies." Jane looked down at Elle, her eyewhiskers raised in bemusement. She recognized that look. That was the look Elle sported the day she convinced Jane to go down to the dock, where Edgar had proposed to her. She made a mental note to facilitate Elle in whatever was running through her mind, and to keep Edgar off of Caden long enough for Elle to put her plan into action.
Edgar nodded in approval of Selvis' attitude and words, and he was abou ask another question when he felt Jane's paw on his sleeve.
"If you are going to have him throwing things around, why don't we adjurn to the garden?" Jane glanced around, then continued. "It looks like we're all done here, I think a walk in the garden would do us good."
Elle looked up at Jane and smiled. It looked like her plan was already in action... And she didn't have to do anything.
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Post by Carrow on Dec 29, 2010 8:53:54 GMT -5
Selvis, in response to this suggestion, put on a mock pout, looking up at Edgar with 'sorrowful' blue eyes. "I'd like that, but what about dessert?," he asked quietly, pretending he was irritated by how quickly things were moving along. Then he returned to his old self, bursting out laughing as he clapped Edgar on the the shoulder. "Ah, I'm probably too full to manage such stuff at the moment anyhow. P'raps later?"
Smiling mischievously, the weasel, who had brought his required juggling balls along with him, pushed his chair out and stood up, winking at Edgar. "I came prepared, see. Course I was going to try and put something on or the lot of you, knowing you'd be looking for some after-dinner entertainment. I don't think I was the best street juggler in Crittenden - far from it in fact - but I'll certainly give it my best."
The mustelid was certainly in good spirits; everybeast could see that he was greatly looking forward to showing them a little of what he could do. Inwardly, Selvis was just a little worried that he was out of practice. It certainly wouldn't do to be making simple mistakes in front of an audience such as this, but he hadn't done this since he'd met Caden, Carrow and Elle back in June, so he was well aware it could happen.
"I think I need to stretch my paws for a little bit regardless. It's the first time I've sat down for that length of time in a few months. We get what basically amounts to forty minutes for meals on the ship, so having lived with that kind of routine for a while - even though we had dinners similar to this one back home - it's a bit of a change. A welcome one, certainly."
Stretching slightly, the longtail padded out into the garden. Carrow made ready to stand up and follow his companion, but he knew he couldn't just leave the table without properly finishing up the thread of conversation that had been introduced. "Ah, so you're a gardener? It's quite a good thing to be, in my opinion. I have no experience of it myself; city mouse born and bred, after all.
"Even still, I would be quite interested in speaking to you a little more about it later on. I have... unusual interests for a creature my age, at least that's how it seems to me. Ah, but yes, we're heading outside now it seems. I could probably use some fresh air. I haven't been inside for as long at one time as I have now, for a few months. It's the ship life, see - now *that's* something I'm accustomed to."
Smiling at the friendly beech marten, Carrow stood up, nodding politely at her. "Thanks for your company, I really appreciate it," he said gently, before doffing his cap and turning to leave. He had noticed that Caden and Elle were still together, though their conversation had slowed down considerably. He wouldn't hurry either of them; they could come outside at their own pace. He knew that Caden had longed to see her again, after all.
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Post by Ladorak on Dec 29, 2010 16:28:38 GMT -5
Caden ate mostly slow and in silence. He rather did like the cake, but he wasn't sure he could stomach this atmosphere much longer. He needed to get outside to walk and think or just stroll along the ocean side to see what he could work out about how he felt and why and also whether it was worth pursuing or not.
So far, he felt like maybe he had told Elle that way too soon. He was just a confused stripling after all, and couldn't be sure about what true feelings these were. She probably hadn't been ready for him to admit that, and he felt so stupid for having brought it up!
Who was he kidding? She was just a friend after all...a friend. Him saying those things might have shocked her, especially if she only did see him as a friend. This was a fine pot of stew he had jumped into. He needed to find a way to recoup this, or at least make it so it wasn't so awkward. "Uh...so...should I help bring dishes into the kitchen? Oh right...you probably have servants to do that. Um...so should I...uh...head outside?" he asked, completely unsure of himself now as he helped himself to the last of the cake on his plate.
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Post by bookity101 on Jan 8, 2011 8:57:11 GMT -5
Elle smiled slightly as Caden offered to take the dishes to the kitchen, happy that he was willing to help, even after she had so badly pawdled what he had said.
“Yes, Jane and Eddy keep a staff around to do that type of thing. It makes it easier on Eddy when customers or his associates come over.” Elle looked up and noticed both of her other friends were heading out to the garden, and were they in for a treat.
When Janey said she had a ‘passion for growing things’, she wasn’t kidding. Nearly from the moment you stepped through the doors, your nose would begin to pick up the smell of hundreds of flowering plants, but unlike some gardens with that extensive amount of flowers, this one had been designed to not overwhelm the senses. Thusly, as you walked through the different patches, you would smell the flower surrounding you, and only the flower surrounding you. And in truth, that was mostly a very large amount of path ways and hedges that were arranged in a circle, leading to a small clearing with a beast-made pond with fish and water lilies, lazily swimming and floating respectively.
Elle smiled as she watched Edgar stand and escort his wife out, following Selvis and Carrow down the path that led to the clearing. Jane paused by the door for only a moment, but it was enough to turn back and send a wink to Elle, telling her that they older martin would cover for… whatever plan the younger jill had in mind. Elle’s smile widened in gratitude and she nearly sprang to her feet in her excitement. She took hold of Caden again paw, squeezing gently as she tugged lightly on his arm.
“Caden, there’s something I want to show you before going to see Selvis juggle…” Her eyes were begging Caden to understand that this was important, and for him to just come along with her, but then again, maybe he wanted to see Selvis juggle first… Her grip on him relaxed, just a little bit.
“Or I can show you later, after Selvis is finished. Whichever you want…” She bit her lip, hoping she’d be able to gather the courage to tell him later if he choose to watch Selvis first.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Jane and Edgar followed after the departing weasel and mouse, after Jane left instructions for the weasels dessert be saved for later time that night. And Jane couldn’t help but hope that Elle would be able to fix whatever had happened between herself and the younger albino.
“Did you see Caden’s face when he saw me?” Jane glanced at her mate, taking in his twinkling eyes and gentle smile. She leaned over at kissed his cheek, saying;
“I don’t believe he was prepared to meet another albino tonight, in fact I don’t think Elle mentioned that fact to any of them.” He glanced at her, his eyewhisker’s raising in question of her statement. Jane rolled her eyes at his underlying question as she leaned closer to his ear as they were coming up on the other two striplings.
“She forgot silly. She wasn’t ashamed.” Jane squeezed his arm before moving to take a seat on a bench by the pond, watching as the striplings moved about the garden. And as Edgar took a place behind her, his paw resting on her shoulder she beckoned to Carrow, saying;
“Well Mousey, what do you think?”
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Post by Ladorak on Jan 8, 2011 15:12:40 GMT -5
The albino turned to look at her, his large ears flopping on top of his head. "Oh? You have something to show me? Well sure Elle...I don't think there's a rush to see Selvis juggle anyway. I wasn't even aware he was going to be putting on a show!" it was true, as he hadn't been paying very close attention.
"Well OK...lead the way." he looked down at her paws on his arm, smiling a bit dreamily to himself without realizing. He quickly snapped out of it though, and shook his head, looking up at her sheepishly.
"Er...right...feel free to lead the way Elle. I'll be right behind." he reiterated, nodding at her.
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