"I have spent my life on the sea, Jiro. My kin are seafarers. I understand the need to return to its arms after days spent on land. It is unusual that you have such a bond to it being your family is removed from the sea trade but it means you have been called and that is important."
A different kind of emotion passes in Rain's eyes. The blue/greens swirl and reform. Her eyes mirror the heart of the sea.
"We do what we must in life. Time passes slower for my kind and we are tested in many different ways each day. A certain level of hardness hones one's senses, opens one's eyes. I accept its challenges and will meet them head on, my friend."
Once Dhaavan has looked at the contract and made the necessary changes, it was nearly time for dinner. Variel grabs a light meal of bread cheese and ale. Not quite sure how to approach Flynn, Variel sits at a table by himself watching the crowd. Seeing Rain, Flynn, and Jiro talking, Variel nods his head in their direction to acknowledge he saw them. Not wanting to interrupt their conversation with the business he has with Flynn, Variel sites quietly and listens to Jiro’s music fill the area.
Once their conversation is concluded, Rain turns to Jiro and excuses herself politely, having spied Variel sitting alone at a table across from them.
"Excuse me for a moment, Jiro. I see Variel over there and I should speak to him about joining you on the next sea voyage. I will return shortly."
Rain stands and moves toward the seated Variel. She is unafraid yet anxious in what he will say once she broaches her plan on joining them at sea.
When she is close enough, she will nod her head and smile,
"Variel, may I join you? I wish to speak to you regarding a matter of some import."
She waits to be invited to sit down and begin a conversation.
Jiro nods to Rain as she goes to talk to Variel and smiles at her with a little wink. While the two of them talk, he'll play with Tomo, kind of wishing he could be a fly on the wall during their conversation. And while, if she truly wanted it to be private, she would take him to a separate room, that too, could be misconstrued by some and taken for ill.
Still, despite his curiosity on how this will play out, he overcomes his desire to overhear this conversation and keeps his attention on Tomo while the monkey scavanges from abandoned plates, since Jiro is now sitting alone. Seeing no harm in the small 'thefts' from those abandoned meals, Seijiro lets Tomo have his fun, occasionally tossing him a nut or a date as well.
I sit at the bar and order a drink. I down a shot hard, then another.
I turn on the stool a moment and look toward Rain and Seijiro, my eyes somewhat lidded.
Hearing their comments, I eventually decide to come back for a bit, and as I do, I hear Rain’s words about she was frustrated that people would fight over her as if she was some sort of a prize, and I shake my head as my face twists to a frown, thinking that people may believe that is the source of my frustration.
”Listen lady, you got it all wrong on that count,” I say with an annoyed tone, deciding to clear this up now, and quickly.
”Yeah, there was a time I felt inclined to you, and maybe eager to know you more canral-like, but that’s not an issue with me anymore.”
”You got your business on this Plane, and I got mine – I figured it might be nice to be with you in a deeper way than just a mate, but life's like a bloody game of poker; sometimes you look at your cards and you realize that it ain’t worth it, because you just can’t make the ante, so you put the cards down and head on, because no matter what you do, you’re going to lose.”
"I'm not an idiot - with you I know I'll always be playing second fiddle to something else, so don't worry - I'm done with that, and sorry to have tried to pursue it, on account of all the troubles that came of it."
”Point is – I ain’t planning on fighting over you no more. You want to be with Nightstorm, or anyone, or no one – hell, it’s none of my business. You do what you want to do, eh?”
”My only beef is all this jaw about him being “captain” – that’s the only thing,” I say, adding a hard glance toward Seijiro.
”He ain’t my captain, and I sure as hell don’t plan on following orders just because of his say-so. If you want to kowtow to that sort of living, that’s your bloody affair, but I sure as hell ain’t interested,” I add, turning back to Rain.
A cold gleam is in my eye at this point, now. My voice hardens and I continue.
”We sail together, that’s it. When we took this ship from the Rhahadoum folk, we all spilled blood to make it happen – none more than any. And when we faced Plugg, I bloody drew first blood on the basterd; and all I hear from him is crap that I shot before waiting for the plan to go the way he wanted it, even though we won, and Plugg died. Piss on that!”
I help myself to another drink.
”And then what happens after all of the hash we been through?”
”When it comes time to claim the loot – he helps himself to first pick each time; he claims Plugg’s sword. He claims Sandy’s hat – and it’s not even as much a help to him as it would be to you,” I add to Rain with a wave of my hand ”as you’re a bloody better helmsmen than he is – I even said no one should claim the poxing hat – that whoever is on the helm should have it, and if that changes, if the person who has the con is piloting the ship needs to be another person, than that person gets the hat – but oh no, he wanted it, so he kept it.”
”Then he decides we need a captain – and he takes the position himself. I’m not stupid enough to ask for it, on account of the fact I got no one in this company who would back me for it, but I sure as hell didn’t want him – but Dhaavan gave no vote, Sko said nothing, Valeros said nothing – only person who backed him was Seijirio – and so he took that, too.”
I stare hard at Rain a moment.
”So by virtue of the fact that he happens to want it – he gets it. The first cut of the loot – the first picking of treasure, the “captaincy” of the bloody ship - the ship we all took, by the by, he gets that, too," I say beginning to get really angry, then check myself and calm down a bit.
"Well, I’ll tell you something – he ain’t my captain, and I know enough on the law to tell you that we got no poxing legal officers on our ship, just a bunch of lads with blood on their hands who took the poxing ship for our own."
"It’s our poxing ship equally, no one has a right to dictate to another what they can or want to do – none of us is better than the other; no one is superior to another. This ain’t the poxing Imperial Fleet – this sure as hell ain’t the bloody Royal Navy. Gods damn, we're just a bunch of lads who took a ship, and now one of them wants to tell the others what to do?”
"Hell no," I growl.
”And of all the folk who want to follow that kind of thing – you’re happy to sit there and talk to me about “orders”? You’ll follow orders from him, simply because you claim he’s captain on account that he want’s it, and that’s good enough for you? What the hell, eh?” I shaking my head in baffled confusion.
Then I calm down a bit, and try to marshal my patience with all of this.
”So I’ll be as clear as crystal, if it matters – there ain’t a poxing “boss” here. This is more like a bloody business company and we all own stock; and the stock we own is shares of the ship. We’re all equal in earning and holding the same value in the stock for the ship – none more than the other. We can tell the crew who comes in to share the ship what to do, on account of the fact that they don't own "stock" in the ship – but not one of us has more of a “holding” on the ship, nor any lad or lass on this vessel; that ain’t right – and I ain’t having it, either.”
I pause, angry at the entire event, my face flushed and annoyed with myself for talking at length, but not for the fact that I said what I believed.
I look at Rain, curious to know what she will do next – then I see her walk over to the other elf, and shake my head.
”Figures,” I mutter.
I take a breath and try to calm down a bit.
Then I turn back to Seijiro –
”You wanted him as your bloody daimyo – well, he’s your lord now – I remember real clear your opinions on that call,” I say, thinking back clearly on Seijiro's very emphatic decision to leave if I was somehow made a "captain", and how he had backed Variel so completely.
I watch him for a bit, then let out an expulsion of air from my lungs, thinking over the snippets of the conversation I had just overheard between him and Rain.
"But at least you were decent enough to say something fair... My thanks for that, you know, when you stuck up for me earlier against Nightstorm. Yeah, I heard that when I was getting the drink from over there," I add, waving at the bar, recalling Seijiro's suggestion that the arguments between me and the elf weren't all my fault.
"Anyway, thanks for that - it's nice to have some backing once and a while."
My eyes turn back to Variel, and I frown.
”But I said it before – he ain’t my captain, and I don’t obey any man’s “orders” simply because they slap on a title just so they can act like they’re superior to me.”
I take another drink, my eyes hard.
”As of now we’re in the poxing Shackles – and despite my best bloody intentions, things are different here."
"Out here, no man’s another man's master unless they let themselves be a slave. And I'll tell you something else, I sure as hell didn’t sail so far from my life to learn that lesson only to have to suddenly turn around and bow and scrape to another on account that he wants to be my master,” I add with a raw voice.
I turn back to Seijiro, my eyes gleaming with a strange light, and I lift my glass to him in a rough toast.
"So, Jiro-san - Yo ho ho and piss on any that don't let a man live free," I say with a sudden dark smile.
Seijiro sighs, then shrugs. "Like you said, Flynn, I figure we're all equal when it comes to owning the ship, and shares of the loot. Its sure not like a normal captain and crew, where the captain gets the lion's share. But we need a united captain for the sake of the crew and a normal pecking order for the seeming of things and in tight spots, someone's got have the helm to make the hard decisions when we don't have the time to meet as a committee and make them. That's what I figure this is. As for him keeping the sword, well, far as I know, he's the only one who uses a cutlass, so it seemed natural to me. The hat, well, hopefully if someone else is at the helm and needs it, he'll pass it around... if not, well, it's not like he's taken anything else... there's plenty of loot to go around still. But someone's got to be captain, and we've got to at least seem like we have a normal order of things for the rank and file to go through."
He shrugs again. "He's not my lord and master, as you're saying, and I don't want one, thank you very much. Had enough of that with Harrigan and his bloody lot. But he's got my respect, but then so do all of my fellow officers... you, Rain, Variel, Valeros, Dhavaan... all of you have equal respect from me, but someone had to be Captain of the vessel."
"Doesn't make someone a slave to have a captain... I think you're a bit oversensitive on the subject of authority. I'm no one's slave because I serve under a captain and a first officer. Of course, like we all agreed, outside of the hearing of the crew, we're all equals in the company that owns and operates the Dread Lady."
"No one ever said you weren't a free man, my friend."
|
Variel watches Rain leave Jiro and head his way.. Standing as she approached, Variel indicated towards the empty seat that she should join him. Once Rain takes a seat, Variel will do likewise. This is a pleasant surprise. I have been busy lately but should still have inquired as to your well being. I apologize for any unintended slight to you. I would have spoken earlier and join you at the table but did not want to interrupt your conversation with Flynn and Jiro. Enough of that though, how have you been the last few days and what may I do for you this evening?
Variel is trying to be polite as is apparent from his tone and words. He is intrigued by what she may have to say after the long week of silence from her after her announcement to leave the ship.
"Fair enough, mate," I add with a growl.
"You said it decent enough - 'cepting for that hat - I already said it would be best to be "ship's gear" - but that wasn't heard, so we'll see how it plays out," I add with a shrug.
I watch out of the corner of my eye for a moment.
"Maybe," I add about the "lord and master" bit "but you sure as hell backed him hard enough, though," I add with another drink.
"Now as for a captain? I don't give a damn - I'm not having one over me, and that's pretty much it. I ain't speaking for the rest of anyone, though. You all do as you like," I say with a shrug.
I look at Seijiro a moment, my face neutral.
"You know, there was a time when I was damn eager for a captain, and order, or organization and decency and rule - but that time's poxing passed."
"We don't need a captain as I see it - I don't give a rat's ass what other folk think of us if we don't have a captain, and if another lad on the ship thinks that without a formal "captain" to tell them what to do, that somehow makes room for a mutiny from any lad we hire on?"
My eyes go hard.
"I'll put 'em down fast, or have them hanging from the yardarm; but I won't blame them for trying - we did the same," I turn to spit into the spittoon.
I nod at Seijiro's last comment about being a "free man" and lift my glass to him.
"Cheers to that, mate, Milani be praised," I add with grin.
"As for the rest, I guess we'll just have to play it by ear," I add as I down my drink.
Variel watches Rain leave Jiro and head his way.. Standing as she approached, Variel indicated towards the empty seat that she should join him. Once Rain takes a seat, Variel will do likewise. This is a pleasant surprise. I have been busy lately but should still have inquired as to your well being. I apologize for any unintended slight to you. I would have spoken earlier and join you at the table but did not want to interrupt your conversation with Flynn and Jiro. Enough of that though, how have you been the last few days and what may I do for you this evening?
Variel is trying to be polite as is apparent from his tone and words. He is intrigued by what she may have to say after the long week of silence from her after her announcement to leave the ship.
With Flynn's words still echoing in her mind and a new set of frustration swirling at his tangled way of seeing certain things, Rain shakes off the stressors and gives Variel her full attention. This discussion was important and had to occur before plans could be made and implemented.
Rain liked that Variel stood before she took a seat. Such manners were not always practised here on the islands. Her words would be in their native Elvish tongue and softly spoken.
"I understand you have many responsibilities and I do not fault your lack of interaction. I too have drawn aside to contemplate my ideals and future and now I can come to you and speak of them with a greater clarity."
Rain swallows and looks down at her hands briefly before returning her turquoise gaze to the Elven male. "Before we docked, I spoke of my intention to leave the ship and go my separate way. The hardships encountered so far have plagued me and I could not reconcile my part or where my true path lay. These past days I have reflected upon my concerns and I have resolved my heart and mind. I would travel with you, Captain. Not as an Officer or a formal crewman but as passenger, as ally who seeks to aid you and learn more of the sea - her beauty and her terror. I would see wisdom prevail over might -- bloodshed is not easy for me. I held such hatred for Plugg and it grew inside me like a disease. I do not want to be a pirate such as him but find my own path. I could attempt it on my own, travel to another isle, find a different crew. Yet, I find myself drawn to the one I have been part of to this point, and, know my place is with them, beside them."
Rain's eyes probe Variel's, attempting to discern his thoughts or feelings on what she is saying to him.
"I will respect your authority as Captain and leader for you are my friend. However, I seek to choose which missions I would accept and base those decisions on my will and skill and not on another's orders. My actions will be subtle in front of the crew, I would not give them any reason to believe I aspire to mutiny and privilege. Nay. I seek to be my own person and pay for passage aboard your vessel. If I work and fight beside you, then I shall be recompensed, and, if I do not, then I seek no coin. This is what I desire. Adventure, liberty, stability, integrity and honour. The feel of the air and sea coating my skin. My people are Freebooters - I learned the sway of a ship beneath me before I could walk. I do not know how long I will be with you; I may even become one of the crew in time -- only the gods know my destiny. For now, I would travel at sea with you yet remain my own person, separate to the greater will of the Captain or First Mate."
She dares another look at Variel; hoping he understands her intentions and not misunderstanding them for lack of faith or a slight. Rain believes in Variel but she believes in her will and wisdom moreso. She waits to hear any words issued by him before speaking more.
Seijiro watches Rain and Variel for a moment but intentionally turns his attention away when they actually begin to talk, averting not only his eyes, but his ears as well, turning back to talk to Flynn. He speaks very quietly so as not to be overheard by any of the sailors from their own ship.
"I don't know how to explain this exactly, why I think of myself as free, but gladly accept Variel as Captain at the same time. I guess I look at it as that we are all equally 'captains' of the Dread Lady, but for the purposes of the rank and file sailors and dealing with outsiders, we need to fill roles... like actors in a play. We should have equal say in important decisions, but someone has to fill each role when we're 'on stage'. That's kind of how I see it. Let Variel strut a bit I say, as long as it doesn't go to his head. For now, at least, he's got the lead role and proud of himself, and that's fine with me. He's also got to take the heat for any decisions we make. I don't envy him that, nor do I want to quibble over every little order... I doubt he'll make any that really impact the officers much, as with a united voice, we can always choose someone else to fill the role, and he knows that."
Seijiro shrugs and speaks softly, "Anyway, that's kind of how I see things. Maybe I've got it all wrong and others see things differently. I'm sure if issues come up, well, that's why we can all meet as equals in private."
Seijiro watches Rain and Variel for a moment but intentionally turns his attention away when they actually begin to talk, averting not only his eyes, but his ears as well, turning back to talk to Flynn. He speaks very quietly so as not to be overheard by any of the sailors from their own ship.
"I don't know how to explain this exactly, why I think of myself as free, but gladly accept Variel as Captain at the same time. I guess I look at it as that we are all equally 'captains' of the Dread Lady, but for the purposes of the rank and file sailors and dealing with outsiders, we need to fill roles... like actors in a play. We should have equal say in important decisions, but someone has to fill each role when we're 'on stage'. That's kind of how I see it. Let Variel strut a bit I say, as long as it doesn't go to his head. For now, at least, he's got the lead role and proud of himself, and that's fine with me. He's also got to take the heat for any decisions we make. I don't envy him that, nor do I want to quibble over every little order... I doubt he'll make any that really impact the officers much, as with a united voice, we can always choose someone else to fill the role, and he knows that."
Seijiro shrugs and speaks softly, "Anyway, that's kind of how I see things. Maybe I've got it all wrong and others see things differently. I'm sure if issues come up, well, that's why we can all meet as equals in private."
I nod a moment at your words and absently begin to roll a crude cheroot, then light it.
”Aye, you speak a fair bit, I’ll allow,” I add easily as I inhale.
I consider offering the easterner a smoke himself, but he recall he does not enjoy it, so I keep the tobacco to myself, though of course, if he shows interest, I will not hesitate.
”But the way I figure it is; if our chief concern is that a bunch of hired sailors may try to upstage us… I don’t know. There was a time when I believed in well organized companies; a formal captain, laws of the sea, laws of the ship written and posted so that all involved would know what they were signing on for, and know – if they failed to obey – what punishment would follow. Not out of some capricious whim, but because the rule was “so and so” and they broke the rule and that’s why they’d get such a punishment.”
I exhale briskly, then continue.
”I mean, hell – my whole life I’ve watched Royal Navy and I’ve heard tales about the Imperial Fleet of Cheliax. Now I hate Cheliax as you know, but all the lads at the academy at least respected the discipline of their sodding marines and sailors. It was the discipline, the order, the poxing code which gave them naval superiority over so many other nations that only had goods ships and good crews, but they did things like drink on duty and brawl on duty.”
I frown in recollection.
”Hell, remember under our former captain? Drinking each night to “calm our nerves”? What the hell is that? What if we got piss drunk and passed out and during the night were attacked? Then what, eh? We all get chopped because we’re drunk – no Imperial Navy or Royal Navy man would tolerate it, so I figured that’s a damn fine way to con a ship.”
My eyes grow a bit distant, and I ponder something.
”You know, my mum, gods rest her soul, she followed Milani and Milani hates them that hold slaves and dominion over others. I kept telling myself if I had a formal captain and contract with one, it’d be fine – because I wouldn’t be a poxing slave, I’d be a man who hired himself out to a good leader.”
I tap some ash off the cheroot then proceed.
”I even said – And if the leader of your group orders you to do something that is evil or wrong? – well, I told myself that if I signed a contract I was sort of bound to it, and had to obey it, and sometimes a leader does things like that, and it’s rum luck for me because that’s the deal I struck, so I got to be true to my word.”
I take another pull from the smoke.
”But you and Dhaavan both prevailed on me to ignore that thinking – you know, your talk of freedom, of living free, of doing my own thing with no bleeding “master” over me… So then I thought – Hell, they make a fair point, why have a master? And anyhow, a ship’s captain has had years of education in certain fields in both Royal Navy and the Imperial Fleets; navigation, tactics, strategy, leadership, even poxing skills on how to deal best with officers and crew so he don’t piss off his own folk to the point that they want to kill him. – Yeah, I remember thinking that.”
”Then I thought – As it stands, there ain’t none of us that’s had that training. We’re all of us wet behind the ears as a captain – weak in piloting, navigation, tactics and strategy, and we argue with each other more than we should if we’re going to be leading folks in general. Hell, what makes one of us a better formal leader than the others? Is it training, title, skills – what makes one of “deserve” that position? – but I couldn’t think of an answer to that question, gods help me.”
I take another puff and exhale away from Seijiro and Tomo-chan, so as not to bother them with the smoke.
”Meantime I’ve been talking to Rain a piece, and I like her plans on being an “independent contractor” – as it were. You know, a lad that does work for pay and skill set, and I thought Okay, that I can do – I can work a job and just let me do my job well without barking at me, or telling me what to do, and you’ll have no trouble from me.”
I glance at Rain with Variel.
”Anyhow, I liked that idea a lot, and figured I’d take a swing at doing what she’s looking to do, but then after hearing you and her talk about following this “order” and that “order” – I thought that now I’m trying to be all free on the seas and run like ya’ll do, and now folks are suddenly swapping over to “following orders” and “obeying officers” and all that sort of hash.”
I laugh shortly.
”Damnation, that’s what I argued for from the start – and now I’m just as mixed up as before. Oh hell – what’s a lad to do? Maybe I’m just reading Rain wrong – maybe it’s just her way of being polite, I don’t know. She’s her own lass and don’t suffer no one to lead her by the nose, I know that much about her, just watching her eyes when she talks… so I’m thinking all this talk is just being polite.”
”Though I got to admit, it sure is confusing to me. But I guess we’ll just see what happens next,” I add with another pull from the cheroot and grin around it with a sort of shrug.
|
|
Variel listens to Rain quietly until she has finished. For a long while he sits back and thinks, his finger tracing the grain in the wood of the table like they were some complex spell form. Opening his mouth to speak, Variel closes it once again. In an attempt to get started Variel speaks slowly in elven. when you started talking my first inclination was 'yes we have Rain back'. However, as soon as that thought passed through my mind, it was followed with a quick curt 'No' as well. Before I give you an answer let us talk abit more so you can see the position I am in and where I stand in regards to you, the crew, and the rest of the officers.
Taking a deep breath and scanning the room quickly for any signs of someone eavesdropping, Variel continues on. Personally speaking, I, myself, would love to have you on board in whatever capacity it would take. It would gladden my heart to have you back.. Seeing Rain's eyes turn in, Variel proceeds a bit quicker to explain before she jumps to the wrong conclusion. By this I mean the companionship you bring. Not the romantic kind don't get me wrong, although I am open for all ssibilities. But rather as I have explained to you briefly before, I have not had many people in my life I could call a true friend and companion. Those few that I had have passed on due to their short years. Their lifespans were a splash I the pond compared to our lifespans. That is what I meant by companionship. The hope that the two of us would form that bond, and barring accidents, be able to have a friendship that lasts for more than a brief thirty years.
Taking a drink to wet his throat before continuing on. This time while Variel speaks, it is almost more business like. You can tell the last week has already changed Variel's view and mannerisms. This is a new side to him that tries to see both sides of the argument and keep emotions and whim out of the debate. As to the crew, for the most part I do not think it would be an issue as long as a few things are apparent. First, that you are separate from all of us, as a passenger not as crew or officer. In essence, like you said, you would be paying to be aboard the ship. The payment of course is the work done to help the ship or in an advisory capacity to the officers. The crew does not need to know what the cost of your transit is so that is easy enough to get around. Thus, in some ways you are beyond the needs of the ship yet tied to them as well. Not being a member of the ship or an officer for that matter, you and the crew must understand that no orders are going to be issued by you. I hope you understand this as I do not wish to slight you, but for you to be independent this is the way it has to be.
Variel finishes the last part and stops for a while again thinking. You see his eyebrows furrow and his finger again tracing the whirls and intracacies in the wood grain. With a sigh he starts talking again. Here is the hardest part of which you ask though. The first two are easy enough as being the captain I ca say you are coming with us and the crew will have to accept that. The crux of the matter is another officer has already indicated in more words, that he or she does not wish me the captain and wants to be independent as well. At the same time, this person is an officer and enjoys the benefits of being in such a position.
I ask you this, how am I to make this offer to you and accommodate your wishes and not this others? I had an answer but would like to hear your reasoning before we continue further.
Seijiro grins back at Flynn, nods, "I get what you're saying, and you're right, none of us has had training as a ship's captain, which makes us all poor choices when it comes down to it, but the crew don't know that, and they need someone to look to. I have a feeling Variel isn't going to be telling us what to do minute by minute... he's not that sort. He'll let us manage our own affairs and learn our roles on our own, just like he's learning his. I expect for us officers there will be few orders except maybe in times of crisis like a storm or combat. The rest should be easy, with only the crew having to follow orders and those easy, not like under our last set o' officers." Seijiro is careful not to mention the name of their previous captain here.
"If I'm wrong, then I suppose we'll have to revisit this whole thing again, but we're a company of equals behind closed doors and we can do that, I think."
"Anyway, it's good to hear you talk without all the expletives again. Since we arrived here, you've been sodding-this and poxing-that. Was it just boredom and lack of action? Or the whole thing with Variel? I just know you've been anxious and angry. Suddenly you're talking like you again. I like it."
He flashes Flynn another grin and holds up a date for Tomo, who takes it and nibbles on it.
"As you say, we will see what happens next... I'm sure if we all try to make it work, it all will be fine in the fullness of time."
Flynn and Jiro
While you two are chatting, you can see Jack flitting about tables adn landing near you, and flying off again. Dhaavan's not really present even if you go looking for him, you're likely to miss him as he's lacking his usual garish and bright regalia. But the bird is chirping quietly, and when Dhaavan arrives at the table as Jiro finishes speaking he responds to both of you without missing a beat, "Here's what i'm seeing happenin. Ta run a ship orders need be followed and authority respected. Otherwise there's no discipline in the crew. But there's the disconnect i'm comin' ta realize."
Dhaavan sets down a drink, and spins his chair around backwards with a kick, to have a seat, "Flynn, yer on as an officer, not a deck-hand. While we gotta present a united front for the crew nad not going mouthing off and such, and follow a cohesive plan when we need to, but in the end we're the officers of the ship. Nobody holds ultimate power o'er any o' us save the gods, as it were. Ours is more o' an understanding what we, as officers are charged wit' protecting the interests o' the ship, crew, and eachother. We're each responsible to them what we have authority o'er as well as each other."
Considering for a moment Dhaavan ends "Yea can embrace seemingly contr'dict'ry ideas like bein in service o' them who yer in charge of, and choosin ta bind and constrain yerself ta folks ta protect and ensure yer ultimate freedom. It's not about Laws and Rules, but an understandin o' how things work and actin in the way what gets yea what yea need easiest."
Sighing, she stretches and re-clasps her fingers in her lap. She had a fair idea who the other officer was and this whole deliberation was taking a turn for the worse.
Rain continues the conversation in Elven.
"This other officer is Flynn, correct? The two of you cannot seem to work past your differences and come together." Rain makes a matter-of-fact statement. Her voice is level and neutral and her tone is not accusatory. She has been witness to the majority of their dealings and could read between the lines.
"I did not expect to give orders to the crew. I do expect them to be mindful of my presence and give me respect as a paid, useful passenger. For you see, if they were to disrespect or harm me in any manner, I would defend myself, and it could get bad." Her turquoise eyes are levelled on Variel's.
"I cannot give you an answer regarding the apathy between you and Flynn and the obstinacy which exists. He seeks to be his own man, you seek to prove yourself. Both passionate men. I understand that any arrangement with me will be construed as preferential treatment and a Captain cannot entertain such actions. I am aware." Another almost inaudible sigh and Rain takes a few deep breaths before continuing.
"I have viewed you as friend from the very first, Variel, and that has not changed for all that has happened. I can follow your orders but do I want to follow orders? Nay. For I have determined that there will always be clash of wills and ideals and this will prove dangerous in the long run. You have differences of opinion with Flynn, I can say the same of Dhaavan and me -- I do not like the small man, I do not respect him for all his magicks. He is your First Mate, so how am I supposed to concede to that? I would sooner punch the smug grin from his face."
"If you must give me an official role or title onboard to appease the others, then perhaps we can find something that works for the both of us. But I must be forthcoming and say that if an order goes against my beliefs, I will not join in or be made to. I would fight to uphold my wisdom and will. I realise I am not making my plea to join you any more palatable, with my individual assertions. I am trying to determine what is best for me without compromising the most crucial of factors."
"How would you see my presence on the ship? What capacity would I fill? I am capable of compromise and have shown it in the past."
Rain sits back silently now, waiting to hear how her future will look onboard The Dread Lady.
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Variel sighs and gives a slight smile when she mentions Flynn's name. Of course you are correct on all accounts. It is he who I am concerned with. I was hoping to avoid names so others wouldn't understand, but perhaps speaking in our native tongue, we are safe. To be quite honest with you, I wish this animosity would end, but how to do so without losing face in front of the crew baffles me. Between us officers, it is easy to come to an agreement behind closed doors. It is when there is no time for deliberation and actual orders must be given and carried out that presents a problem to me. It is this problem that I have with Flynn as he does not wish to follow orders yet still be a part of the officers. A few days ago I gave Dhaavan a contract to review as asked for by Flynn. I have not seen the result of the contract yet but hope to have it finished before we leave here. I bring this up to you now as I do not wish the same thing done of you. I would let you have your independence aboard The Dread Lady immediately if I knew that there would be no repercussions with him.
The answer I believe lies in the grey area of you not being a member of the crew or officers. Being a paying passenger, your actions are your own as long as they do not interfer with the workings of the ship. This way, if you do not wish to participate in any actions we take, you simply stay in your room until the event is over. If you feel inclined to help, then you join us and can take part in the spoils afterwards. As long as the crew understands this, and you said it yourself that you would not issue orders, then I think we can make this work.
The business done of deciding if Rain could have a berth on The Dread Lady decided, Variel relaxes a bit. There are 2 things that I would ask of you though. I know that you would never do anything at this time to undermine myself or the officers. The first thing I ask, would you be upfront and honest with your opinions when we are in private? I know in front of the crew we may have to act a certain way to prevent any disloyalty, but when the officers are together, treat me as Variel and not as a captain? you can tell that the last week, although good for Variel and his character, has weighed heavily on him. Sometimes it is nice not to have to worry about orders, or positions, or politics and just talk freely. We have been through the same experiences in the last few weeks and would ask this of all of the officers when we are alone.
Second, and I hate to admit this, but will you teach me what you can of this area. I had hoped to purchase some maps and charts before we leave, but your assistance with the forces of nature and The surrounding are exceeds my own.
Not sure how to comment on her opinion of Dhaavan, Variel leaes that subject alone for the meantime.
A little sparrow, none other than Jack flits around the tables where crewmen and officers are sitting. Pausing with the captain, Jack pecks at some leftovers in a crevice of the table, then looks at the other two, back and forth between then, and chirps as if to ask for a bite of something? Cocking his head to the side he continues hopping about as the elves converse.
Flynn and Jiro
While you two are chatting, you can see Jack flitting about tables adn landing near you, and flying off again. Dhaavan's not really present even if you go looking for him, you're likely to miss him as he's lacking his usual garish and bright regalia. But the bird is chirping quietly, and when Dhaavan arrives at the table as Jiro finishes speaking he responds to both of you without missing a beat, "Here's what i'm seeing happenin. Ta run a ship orders need be followed and authority respected. Otherwise there's no discipline in the crew. But there's the disconnect i'm comin' ta realize."
Dhaavan sets down a drink, and spins his chair around backwards with a kick, to have a seat, "Flynn, yer on as an officer, not a deck-hand. While we gotta present a united front for the crew nad not going mouthing off and such, and follow a cohesive plan when we need to, but in the end we're the officers of the ship. Nobody holds ultimate power o'er any o' us save the gods, as it were. Ours is more o' an understanding what we, as officers are charged wit' protecting the interests o' the ship, crew, and eachother. We're each responsible to them what we have authority o'er as well as each other."
Considering for a moment Dhaavan ends "Yea can embrace seemingly contr'dict'ry ideas like bein in service o' them who yer in charge of, and choosin ta bind and constrain yerself ta folks ta protect and ensure yer ultimate freedom. It's not about Laws and Rules, but an understandin o' how things work and actin in the way what gets yea what yea need easiest."
"Yep, you're abso-flogging-lutely right, mate," I respond with a neutral voice.
"No doubt about it," I add as I spit once into the spittoon, and offer you a "thumbs-up" sign to boot.
"Anyhow, on to other matters - you mentioned you were thinking about crafting me some gear, eh? What's the status on that, any chance it'll get done soon? Sure am curious, as I reckon that it will be useful sooner, rather than later."
"Other than that gear? Well, if you don't mind me - I'll be about my business. There's quite a bit of learning to do if I want to figure out the how and why to squib a ship, plus I'd like to check the lay of the trees - wasps that big are likely to have crashed through the branches at some point, unless they flew straight over the treetops - it'd be nice to have a sense where they came from."
"Anyhow - lots of stuff to do, but I appreciate your words. Let me know about the gear, and I'll see you lads later," I say standing with a cheerful wave and head out whistling a tune.
Rain spies Dhaavan's bird flitting about the tables and turns her face away from Jack and lowers her voice again, continuing in the Elvish tongue,
"Thank you for giving me berth on The Dread Lady. I will not get in your way or that of your crew. I mean to be of assistance not hindrance.
In relation to speaking my true thoughts in private and not before the crew, that I can accomplish. I have a temper but it can be reined in and I am getting better by the day at maintaining a neutral stance. You will always be Variel in my eyes, so I shall call you by your name and not by your title in unofficial moments."
Rain cocks her head slightly and observes Variel with a sidelong glance at his mention of teaching him the lay of the land in the Isles.
"You may have access to my knowledge of the Isles, tides, and alike. If you require my navigational skill, I can supply it. I have a nautical chart in my backpack, if it can be of assistance. Let me know when you require my services, and I shall guide you." Rain gives the Elven male a smile.
Jack notes Rain's subtlety suddenly is perched on Variel's shoulder! He hops delicately to the table and preens, trying to look cute for a few moments, vying for attention. He stares at the elves with the expression of, well, of a bird, but if he had more emotive features he could almost be confused.
He then flits off due to their hushed tones which are apparently of little to no interest to him.
Dhaavan lets Flynn know about the grear he requested, "Well this place is rather low on supplies and had very little to trade, so most o' what we had we couldn't liquidate anyway, so the pricy gear went to the boat, and there really ain't much raw coin left. So once we manage another job and find a port where we can actually unload gear and stock up, I'll be able to get to work for yea, soon as I ken."
Rain
At some point after speakign with Flynn and Jiro, Dhaavan strolls up to Rain with what looks to be a wrapped up staff on his shoulder. He smiles and waves to her, "So the gents indicated yea'd be joinin' us. Now I've picked up a few tricks what'll be handy in a pinch, and some gear i needed, and I'm rather tired o' lugging this thing around." The sorcerer chuckles and hands her the package, "Here Yea'll do better with it than I e'er could. Thanks fer lettin' me use it last time my magic ran dry. I appreciate it." Dhaavan speaks quietly and lacks his usual bravado, even when trying to light and up-beat. Rain can see a strange look in his eye, as he knows she has seen a side of him which he tries to keep hidden, that night he was plagued by nightmare on the Isle of the Dead.
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Havingthe bird land on his shoulder, Variel shrugs and dislodges the winged menace before concluding with Rain. Everything sounds agreeable then. Let us take a drink and celebrate this occasion again that we are united as a group again. Variel gets an ale and toasts Rain and the rest of the officers even though they are not present to commemorate the occasion. Not only do we have an able helmsmen if we need, but her fighting is a boon to us all. Surely Besmara is with me today.
Rain
At some point after speaking with Flynn and Jiro, Dhaavan strolls up to Rain with what looks to be a wrapped up staff on his shoulder. He smiles and waves to her, "So the gents indicated yea'd be joinin' us. Now I've picked up a few tricks what'll be handy in a pinch, and some gear I needed, and I'm rather tired o' lugging this thing around." The sorcerer chuckles and hands her the package, "Here, Yea'll do better with it than I e'er could. Thanks fer lettin' me use it last time my magic ran dry. I appreciate it." Dhaavan speaks quietly and lacks his usual bravado, even when trying to be light and up-beat. Rain can see a strange look in his eye, as he knows she has seen a side of him which he tries to keep hidden, that night he was plagued by nightmare on the Isle of the Dead.
Rain looks up from her seated position. It had been some time since Dhaavan had spoken to her and his approach and commentary caught her by surprise.
She looked at the package and surmised it contained the Boarding Pike of Repelling. "Aye, Dhaavan, I have been given berth on The Dread Lady." She turns the package in her hands and then levels her turquoise gaze on his. His voice lacked the usual lustre, the happy-go-lucky timbre. His eyes were muted too and she wondered at this change but did not press the sorcerer to explain the source of it. She had been present during his nightmare awhile ago and this seemed similar to that. She wondered if this was a game. Her thoughts troubled her.
Lifting the package higher, gesturing to it, Rain enquires, "Are you certain you want to relinquish this to me? I have not asked for it, if that is your concern. If you no longer have a use for it, I may be able to benefit from this weapon." Rain waits to hear from Dhaavan, still puzzled by his gesture.
Having the bird land on his shoulder, Variel shrugs and dislodges the winged menace before concluding with Rain. Everything sounds agreeable then. Let us take a drink and celebrate this occasion again that we are united as a group again. Variel gets an ale and toasts Rain and the rest of the officers even though they are not present to commemorate the occasion. Not only do we have an able helmsmen if we need, but her fighting is a boon to us all. Surely Besmara is with me today.
Rain had watched the strutting bird and wondered what Jack was about. His interruption was slightly amusing and annoying in the same breath. She looked on as Variel shrugged Jack off his shoulder and she could not help but chuckle at the gesture. He will not like that much, she muses privately.
At Variel's toast, Rain lifts her watered-down ale, extends it toward the Elven male and then brings it to her lips and drinks. After a quick sip, she responds, "Here's to our successful journey on the sea." Rain smiles, yet her eyes remain slightly veiled. So many thoughts flit in her mind and none are voiced aloud.
"It's not that it's of no use to me," Dhaavan says with a bit of a shrug, "But more, I know yea'd make better use o' it than I. We can better watch each other's backs, same as the rest o' the crew. It'd be selfish and stupid o' me ta want ta keep the pike, even though it's the best weapon I could get my hands on. See, you got the best hands ta wield it, and yea'll be able ta keep yerself safer when yer better equipped."
his smile at her acceptance is resigned, and he makes no effort to hide his feelings to Rain. For her to be puzzled so, by such a gesture, speaks of her opinion of the sorcerer more than anything else. I guess Rain doesn't think she can take me at face value. Oh well, time'll hopefully fix that.
"It's good to have you on board. Yea are one of the most nautically skilled o' us too, which is all the better." he adds trying to make some kind of conversation with the elf
Rain listened intently to the sorcerer. Dhaavan seemed earnest enough in his overture, and, she could certainly use a finer weapon, especially now she was an independent ally.
"Thank you, Dhaavan. I shall make very good use of this weapon." A courteous smile lights her face. She places the package to the side of the table and gestures to the sorcerer to join her.
"The good Captain Variel, too, has welcomed my nautical expertise. One of the advantages of being brought up in The Shackles; one becomes quite familiar with the Isles and surrounding waters."
Her turquoise gaze never leaves his face.
"How go your First Mate duties? It has been a while since we've exchanged pleasantries."
Flynn:
"Oye, Flynn, afore yea go, i got this for yea ta take a look at," the sorcerer says after telling him about the lack of magical suplies and his intent to get more. "Here's a draft Variel wrote up o' a contract, so when yea get a chance to read it over we can try work out the details yea need looked at. THen I'll give him the final version so he can sign it and be settled right nice?"
Rain:
After a brief moment of surprise, at the notion of exchanging pleasantries, the sorcer shows his age, brightening up and saying with a shrug and a smile, "Well, things with most of the crew are going pretty well, we got a few new recruits what I gotta get to know better, been hanging aorund, and all in all I'm happy with the family. The only real issues have been with FLynn and Variel, but yea've already gotten more than enough of that, I'm sure. They'll figure something out, and I ain't gonna try to interfear too much and over-step to try to get Flynn in line or something idiotic like that. Don't want to go forcing nothin on nobody as it were."
"I am excited ta get underway, see what's next, grow the crew," He smiles again and with a laugh adds, "More the merrier?"
Flynn:
"Oye, Flynn, afore yea go, i got this for yea ta take a look at," the sorcerer says after telling him about the lack of magical suplies and his intent to get more. "Here's a draft Variel wrote up o' a contract, so when yea get a chance to read it over we can try work out the details yea need looked at. THen I'll give him the final version so he can sign it and be settled right nice?"Rain:
After a brief moment of surprise, at the notion of exchanging pleasantries, the sorcer shows his age, brightening up and saying with a shrug and a smile, "Well, things with most of the crew are going pretty well, we got a few new recruits what I gotta get to know better, been hanging aorund, and all in all I'm happy with the family. The only real issues have been with FLynn and Variel, but yea've already gotten more than enough of that, I'm sure. They'll figure something out, and I ain't gonna try to interfear too much and over-step to try to get Flynn in line or something idiotic like that. Don't want to go forcing nothin on nobody as it were.""I am excited ta get underway, see what's next, grow the crew," He smiles again and with a laugh adds, "More the merrier?"
I accept the contract from Dhaavan and scan its contents.
My face remains neutral as I read it.
I blink a few times, than fold it up neatly.
”Thank you for the delivery.” I say politely.
”Please excuse me,” I add, then leave for other errands.
Rain listened intently to the sorcerer. Dhaavan seemed earnest enough in his overture, and, she could certainly use a finer weapon, especially now she was an independent ally.
"Thank you, Dhaavan. I shall make very good use of this weapon." A courteous smile lights her face. She places the package to the side of the table and gestures to the sorcerer to join her.
"The good Captain Variel, too, has welcomed my nautical expertise. One of the advantages of being brought up in The Shackles; one becomes quite familiar with the Isles and surrounding waters."
Her turquoise gaze never leaves his face.
"How go your First Mate duties? It has been a while since we've exchanged pleasantries."
I’ll find you on the second day – as suggested. I will wait for a private time when there is no one else around, and then I’ll talk to you.
My intention is to outline a suggestion to you. Specifically, that you formally take on the mantel of the ship’s Pilot.
According to the laws of the Royal Navy (at least where I came from) – Article 742 of the Merchant Shipping Act defines a pilot as "any person not belonging to a ship who has the conduct thereof".
In other words someone, other than a member of the crew, who has control over the speed, direction and movement of the ship.
My point?
There is already plenty of precedence for an “Independent Contractor” to sail on a ship to do a duty; not specifically beholden to the captain, but formally only in needs of piloting the ship (as in – the captain orders the pilot to push ahead into dangerous waters, a pilot could theoretically overrule the captain if the pilot knows the waters are dangerous and the captain doesn’t; but that power is only with regards to coning a ship, the rest is the captain's jurisdiction).
I figure that’s right up your alley, as it gives you the flexibility and freedom to be independent while allowing Variel to run the ship the way he feels like, even as you are free to do what you prefer.
I will continue in my observations about this –
Formally your level of experience as a "Professional Sailor", on strictly mathematical scale already exceeds Variel – and indeed, anyone else on the ship currently. You are already suited for the position, and no doubt have been training for the task since before we confronted Plugg and we talked about options as we worked on honing various fields of expertise. No doubt as your skills improved, you focused on those principles more intently than the rest of us, and the results show.
I will also add that having you as the Pilot-Major is also tactically sound.
Currently Variel’s chief asset in combat is a melee fighter, not a helmsmen. Even if he equaled you in piloting; when the ships were in range to throw grapples and board the enemy vessel – someone would need to hold the con. Now, if Variel decided to remain at the helm to keep the ship steady – I feel that would waste an excellent melee fighter. His skills are better suited for fighting in the thick of battle.
I will also add, though it seems to pain me to mention it, if Variel is actually going to style himself as some sort of leader, it will do the crew good to see him in the thick of the fight, rather than holding back by the helm to keep the ship from drifting into rocks or reefs or other potential damage.
I point out somewhat delicately that I sense you would rather not be mired in the stress of a prolonged combat. And I will add that while I know you are a skilled fighter and I believe you wouldn't ever back away from a fight unless you had a very good reason, I believe that you, like many elven folk I have met and studied with, are not as interested in combat as you are interested in the simple camaraderie and good conversation that you can share with your friends.
I add that these are only opinions, of course – but if you held the helm and we missed you at battle, it would seem reasonable to suspect that we would not necessarily see you on the front lines because you held the con.
After all – someone needed to maintain the course and keep the ships from drifting hard into each other, or other dangers at sea. Why should that person be Variel, if you can do the job better, and he can be in the middle of the fight, as his own passions suggest?
That said, I encourage you again to formally put yourself forward as pilot. I remind you that before you elected to take a sabbatical from the crew; you had desired that position. I also add that, again – under most naval laws (in my experience) a captain is not adverse to having a skilled pilot as an “independent contractor” on the ship, and often welcomes such person – as it would allow the captain more freedom to pursue his own desires while the pilot is responsible for getting the ship where it needs.
Once I have laid out my suggestion, I lean back and await your thoughts and ideas.
"Yup, take yer time, and come ta me whenever yer ready. we got a few days left afore we head out again anyway."
"Yup, take yer time, and come ta me whenever yer ready. we got a few days left afore we head out again anyway."
I pause in my tracks at Dhaavan's words, and turn to him a moment.
"Oh indeed, yes - that is so."
I look like I'm about to say something potentially nasty, with a hint of smug condescending nuances mixed within my words, then I check myself and sigh deeply.
My face relaxes and it looks like I've decided to say something else...
"To be honest, it's not bad. But there's a few things that could use work. I'll go over it soon and I'll not be too harsh with it. When he sees my opinions on it, hopefully he won't mind much and we can be equally happy."
"But I suppose that's up to the gods, eh?" I say, giving Dhaavan a dry grin, then wave and go about my business on waling the grounds and helping the lads on the shipyard.
"You are correct that prolonged combat is not favoured by me, yet I will fight if it is necessary and right. Variel has requested I aid him in navigation, so your recommendation that I become helmsmen of The Dread Lady is not foolishly founded. Yet, he is Captain, and his word is law on the ship. He has requested that I issue no order to his crew and I have struck a deal with him that I will not. If I am contracted to take the helm, then I foresee some issue with my prior arrangement with Variel. This matter requires discussion with Variel and the other officers. It must be agreed upon by all in position to cast a vote. I am content with my current arrangement yet I am amiable to piloting the ship if that is the will of the gods and the majority."
Having heard Flynn mention she should formally put herself forward for the position, Rain shakes her head, perplexed.
"The positions have been allocated, Flynn. Variel is Captain and Pilot. I cannot walk up to him and demand one of his posts, not after his recent approval of my berth on The Dread Lady." Could she campaign Variel to grant her the helmsman position? Her mind turned over the idea and the ramifications. This may cause trouble among the group. Or it may not, the little voice in the back of her head added.
"You have given me something to consider, and, I shall think long and hard on it, Flynn."
** spoiler omitted **
Dhaavan raises an eyebrow to Flynn as the man heaves his heavy sigh. "I'd ask what you have to say, but with you giving me a look like that, I'd bet it'd leave me regretting wasting my time trying to mediate for you too before I even get started." Loosing all masks of emotion and decorum, Dhaavan stops trying to be nice, friendly, but rather simply says his words flat detatched and business-like.
"So when you finish your version of the contract, please give it to me to look over, and we'll proceed from there.". With that Dhaavan briskly turns heel and walks away. At least he's fighting his impulse to be an ass and showing some respect for the way I'm trying to get those two to come to an accord. I wonder how long it'd take for them to kill eachother if left to their own devices
”Evening Nightstorm, I hope your day has been well,” I say solicitously as I hold what looks like your contract before me, and another page with some notes on it next to it.
”Dhaavan gave this to me earlier – said it was from you. I read it over – appreciate the time it took you to write it – but I reckon there was a few things about it I wanted to say before we get anything signed.”
I wait for him to sit down and get comfortable so we can “talk shop”, then I go from there.
”First thing – the terms of what’s to be acted on during the ship. Right now you mentioned… no taking of slaves, murdering of surrendered foes, killing of those that pose no physical harm, or the raping of women..”
I glance up.
”So I amended that to – no rape whatsoever. I know it’s a habit of a lot of sailors to bugger young boys when they can’t find a lady, but I’d not want some lads to rough up a boy anymore than a female. I know, seems like a technicality – but it doesn’t hurt to put it out there.”
I look back at the contract.
”Next, you don’t really have any definitions on “severe punishments”. I don’t really know what that means – lashes, keelhauling, locked in irons with bread and water for a year, I don’t know. I figured it’d be nice to codify that though, if possible. That way there’s no way for someone to play games later. I mean to say – if Dhaavan decides to murder a person and he gets a slap on the wrist, and if Rain decides to murder a person and she gets forty lashes – that don’t seem fair.”
”My personal preference is just toss a person in iron’s until we get to the next free port and dump them off – unless its really over the top, in which case we just hang ‘em as there’s no need to be torturing folk to death – but I don’t know how to codify that. Well – that’s not fair – I do know how to – but I know that folks don’t like too much writing so I figured I’d leave that up in the air.”
I lean back a bit, twirling my finger absently in my hair as I think.
”You’re likely asking why I even bother mentioning putting folks in irons and all – well, my thinking is – if these are really the “rules” you want us to live by, I say keep the rules open to the men we hire on. Let them know it too, first hand. That way, if we get anyone on board who thinks we have no issue with rape or murder – they’ll know up front that ain’t the case.”
”Also, they’ll know up front what the punishment is, and when it happens – if it happens – they won’t be surprised or upset. I figure that’s reasonable, keeps the wrong sorts from being tempted to sign on with us – and it lets people know that we’re fair – that we keep things fair.”
I look at the page a moment, and I say –
”If I might add… No one may be drunk on duty, asleep on duty, and there will be no fighting on the ship – excepting duels; which have to be approved by the officer cadre.”
I glance up.
”I mean, I don’t want to have the lookout asleep at his post, or have lads drunk when we might get attacked, or have good men fighting each other over little troubles and cause us to lose good crew members over stupid arguments. If we have two groups of sailors getting into a brawl after a bad dice game, then we can end up being understaffed and possibly dead in the water if it comes to men killing each other and we may not have enough to sail the ship.”
”I’m not talking about a friendly sparring match, I just don’t want lads who come on to think that we’ll put up with them fighting over hash.”
”Does that sound reasonable?”
I wait for an answer on that point, than I continue.
”You also are pretty vague on some issues regarding loot. You mention a “portion”. But what is that size of that portion? In other words – what’s the cut? I assume it’s equal among the officers, none getting more or less. But that is something to consider.”
I shrug absently.
”If it was me – the way I’d do portions is that we divide plunder in a fixed way – all equal. But the equal portions are: two equal cuts for the ship, one equal cut for the sailors who come and one equal cut for the officers who come.’
”So in other words, if we had five officers all told – which includes you, by the way, and we pirated a ship so that everyone was fighting – the plunder we got would be split eight ways. Five equal portions between the five officers. One equal portion to divide among all the rank and file crew and two equal portions for the ship – to repair it, and fix it and upgrade it as needed.”
”Meantime, if we decide to go on mission to some island and only three officers go on the mission and four sailors and we find 6,000 gold pieces; then we have six equal cuts of 1,000 gold. So when we get back the ship would get two equal cuts – that’s 2,000 gold for the ship – the officers would get an equal cut – 1,000 gold per officer – and the remaining cut – the last 1,000 gold would be given to be split among the sailors who came to back us – roughly 250 a piece; which is worth it if they came with us.”
”That way if an officer don’t want to participate in a little side action – then they got no right on a claim of loot. It will reward only the sailors who want to come and back us, which will motivate sailors to want to come with us – and those who want to stay on the ship can, but they know they won’t get anything if they do. Of course, we don’t have to allow them to come, but if we take them, that’s a fair deal for any that tag along, at least – as I see it.”
I put up my hands quickly, to forestall any protest.
”I’m not married to the idea – but it seemed reasonable. Our first priority has to be the ship – if she fails, we all die – so keeping her afloat is a good thing. Giving equal cuts to the officers – none getting more than the others – also seems reasonable, and if folks don’t want to go on a little action on the side – no worries; they can say on the ship, but they aren’t going to get a cut of the loot. This’ll likely encourage the lads to want to assist us in side quests as auxiliaries – if we need some; which means we get the pick of the most enterprising to help us on any little away teams.”
”If you’re agreeable to it; I’d also put those same terms on the general sheet that tells all crewmates about the rape, murder, slavery part. That way it’s all nice and tidy and everyone is happy with things who signs up – that is to say – they know what’s up and no one can say they’re being cheated or getting a raw deal.”
”Does that sound reasonable?” I ask.
I’ll wait to hear what's up – than I’ll continue.
”Now this last clause made little sense to me – it’s not actually a suggestion or whatever, I was hoping you might explain it – you said… as a member of the officer caste, Horatio Flynn will be required to maintain his abilities as a vital member of the officer caste. Failure to do so will result in demotion from the ranks of officers.…”
”I’m not trying to be rude here, I honestly don’t know what you mean. You suggest that if I “fail to remain my abilities” that – what, I’m not an officer? That don’t make sense to me, as it’s pretty vague and I have no idea what you’re looking to figure out or solve. I mean to say – I just don’t understand what your asking about? Could you explain that a bit better?”
After the explanation – I continue.
”By now you’ve likely picked up on the fact that I’ve not dealt with the whole issue of you being “captain”. The reason is, well – to be fair, you’re not my captain, nor are you anyone’s captain, not really.”
I do my best to forestall any protest and try to get to my point. My tone is not rude, I am honestly trying to be polite.
”Let me put it another way: when we took the ship as our own we all agreed that certain jobs on a ship need getting done. To do those jobs need certain skills. All of us have our own skill sets which – for better or worse – lend themselves to specific tasks or purposes.”
”For example – Seijiro-san is pretty smart, and handy with a knife and a tune – but it would foolish to me to have him be the Ship’s Mage when Dhaavan can do that job much better as he’s better qualified for it.”
”We were all happy to have Rain as pilot – she has the skills for it, better than anyone on the ship. But she figured she’d leave us – so someone had to take over that duty. We gave the job to you – but as she came back, it’d only make sense to give her the pilot job, as she’s better suited for it than anyone on the ship, if she wants it, that is.”
”You personally are good with a blade – not a finesse fighter, but I’ve seen you cleave through things pretty well. That’s good – you’re good at leading the charge, and good at killing those who threaten the ship. All things considered, I’d easily have you as our Master Chief with regards to leading boarding parties and such – but we don’t need a Master Chief as much as a “captain”.”
”Now – me personally – I only see one reason to have a captain; because that person is the most skilled at leading the crew and getting the ship out and home safe.”
”I’ve seen men who train at naval academies – they have to learn a whole heap of hash to be a Royal Navy captain. Not just simple things like latitude, longitude, navigation, languages – stuff that makes sense – but they make those buggers learn things like bloody table manners, and dancing, and languages. That way, when they meet with another nation, as the captain the ship looks damn shinny.”
”With respect, none of us are qualified as a graduate of a naval academy – and further, none of us are superior at running a ship. We all got talents, but we aren’t experts in that field. Logic might suggest instead of a captain, we have a “ship’s council” in which officers are all equal and vote about ideas and decide things as a unit. After all – we all bled to take the ship, and we all worked to earn the ship. We can argue who did more than others – but as for the nuances on who earned what and who did what – in the end, in seems reasonable to say that we’re all equal in terms of the fact that we took the ship.”
”That means when we make decisions on what effect the ship, it seems reasonable that the people who control it listen to each and other are reasonable with each other.”
I let out a sigh.
”Now, that’s the reasonable thing – but I’m no fool. Whenever a company or a business or group of people are a unit, when a threat comes against them – that threat looks for division. When the threat sees division, it can try to divide and conquer.”
”So what we do behind closed doors is one thing. We need to have a good front in front of the regular sailors and any other ship’s crew – because if we don’t we seem weak and can be in trouble.”
”We also need to have a “captain” to stand on the quarter deck and barking out orders – whether we like or not, if we don’t have that, we end up confusing the crew as to who’s really in charge.”
”So we need a captain, at the least, as a figurehead, to dissuade the crew from thinking that we’re weak.”
I take a drink than I continue.
”Right now we’re all folk who don’t want to be bossed around by bad or unfair orders – at least, that’s me. I don’t trust you on that point, but that’s because I don’t really like you – we haven’t gotten along since we’ve met and that’s a problem but a reality.”
”But even though we two may hate each other’s guts – the thing is, if we argue in front of the crew, we end up showing a weak link that potential threat can exploit.”
”Dhaavan refused the position of captain – you wanted it, and Seijiro-san said he’d flat out leave if I had it, Rain wasn’t saying anything, so you got it.”
”Well, that’s that – you’re recognized as the lad who’s got captaincy on the ship, whether or not I like it,” I said with a shrug.
”Then we had issues. The issues was that you’d be on the quarterdeck and look off the bow and see a ship and say something like Lads, there’s a ship – let’s pirate her! – and everyone moves to do it, and I say Yeah – I’m not really interested in pirating that particular ship for whatever reason… so I ain’t going to do it.”
”That kind of erodes the whole point of having a lad barking orders from the quarterdeck.”
”But I felt like I was in a tough spot.”
”Not only do I not want to have someone over me telling me what to do – but as I don’t trust you much, no offense, I didn’t want you to be that lad. And on top of it – whenever you get an idea on how things are going to go – you say Well, this is how it is.”
”You say it like you’re the boss, and you say it like we got to listen to it. You don’t consult us, or ask us what we think, or seem to remember that we’re all equal here, and we got just as much right to veto things or give opinions on what will happen on our ship, or won’t.”
”Maybe that’s me misreading it, but you say you don’t want slavery – which I find to be fair, but you didn’t ask, you just said it and that’s it. You didn’t ask anyone what they thought – you didn’t ask me at any rate – and you’re telling me what is as if you’re the boss.”
I sigh.
”It’s one thing if you’re on the quarterdeck and we need a solid front not to argue with the lad or lass who’s captain – but to dictate terms on what we do or don’t without asking input – that’s another thing. I think that all decisions need to be made by the officers behind closed doors, and when we decide on them – we stick with it and we’re good.”
I laugh a little at seeming hypocrisy of my statement, but attempt to hurry to my explanation.
”It’s true – we did all agree to certain points. One of them was that we make you the “captain” to the crew so when you’re on the quarterdeck we all know that when you say something, we don’t argue in front of the crew.”
”So you’re chief when we’re in front of the crew and on the quarterdeck, aye – that’s what we all agreed on, eventually.”
”But when we all talked about what we’d do or not do – I said, for example – I don’t want to attack ships from my homeland – everyone told me, basically Too bad – we attack every ship because we’re pirates, we have no national loyalties. That riled me, but what could I do?”
”So I said – maybe instead of spending all of our time as exclusive pirates we could do lots of things – we have our own ship now, we could do lots. Why, we could smuggle ancient artifacts out of Orsirion, we could run guns to the rebels in Cheliax, we could do lots of things with our own ship – but everyone said, basically No – we have a pirate ship, we are pirates – we pirate ships – that’s what we do.”
”I said, that’s not really my thing, I just wanted a ship to get into adventures, but this is how it is. Well, okay – I can be a pirate, I can be a bloody handed pirate who kills and murders anyone from any country if you want. Then I hear…Look, we’re pirates and we pirate things, but we’re not too bloody, just a little bloody. or something…”
”That was getting too hard for me, so I said to just put things down on paper and I’ll know where we stand on what I can do without the rest of you thinking I’m too cruel, or too weak, or whatever.”
”This brings us to this contract.”
”The reason I wanted the things spelled out is so I knew what was what.”
”But anyway, I also had issues with attacking ships from my homeland; but you guys prevailed against me. Meantime you talked about attacking towns and villages – that bothered me, too. So I figured maybe I’d educate myself on the matter a bit.”
I sigh a moment.
”I realize now that I needn’t worry about attacking ships from my homeland. Because no ships from my homeland would sail through these poxing waters without expecting piracy, and chances are, they’d be dishonest folk anyhow… besides, it’s absolutely impossible to tell the homeland of a ship, you know – you simply can’t tell her nationality,” I add somewhat pointedly.
”I’m pretty surprised no one pointed this out to me when I kept up with all my hash about the use of squbbing, but luckily I got it settled.”
”The lads at the squibbing line told me all about it. They said you can’t tell the difference because no ship on the ocean looks the same – that my assumptions about ships of the line having similar builds and makes was wrong – because they all look different – which is why ships have to be squibbed, because they’re all so different you can spot the differences at a hundred leagues.”
"And that's a great thing to me - because even if everyone agrees - Oh yeah, that ship is from Horatio's homeland for sure, but we still want to pirate her - well, since no ship in the world looks like another," I say with a somewhat exaggerated way, as if I may not be serious - but I'm willing to accept this chance as it seems the best way to placate my own concerns "there's no possible way to tell where any ship can come from, except by her flags."
”And of course," I say quickly "If we even see a ship with flags from my home – it can be “false colors”. So who the hell knows what’s what, no matter what flags she wears or what we think she looks like?”
I hurry on, the motivation clear. It seems very clear that I'll go along with "being in denial" simply for the ease of the ship - and that all my talk of "squbbing" and arguing against its needs eventually led me to the knowledge that I could never tell a ship's nationality anyway, as no ship has any distinct markings on her - they all look unique and you can spot the differences so far away that it would be impossible to know a ship's nationality until after the fact.
”My only real beef now is attacking villages for loot – I won’t do that, unless I know that the folk in the village deserve it – you know, if they’re evil folk or something. But what the hell? That’s a fairly easy dodge – we scout the village out first before attacking, because if we didn’t scout, that’d be stupid."
"Now, if you all were really intent on attacking helpless villagers for loot - not saying you are, just "if" - Well – then I’d not come with you, I’d stay on the ship – and not take my cut of the loot. Which seems fair enough to me and already agrees with the terms mentioned earlier.”
”But I reckon that you’d need to ask the rest of the officers on what they think on that point – you know – what they think about attacking villages for loot.”
"I've been under a lot of stress - I'm willing to listen to where I'm wrong, if someone can show me the way on it. Hell, I won't say yes or no until I hear more details on that point."
I shrug casually.
”I guess we’ll see what happens, though.”
”Anyhow – that’s my thoughts on the contract.”
”What do you think?” I say, curious to know what will be said.
To Flynn's first point, Dhaavan agrees, "Sounds fair enough, seems to me yea could say we're aim to be a less savage sort, we'll be rakes rather than rapists, and may pilfer but not pillage we'll rob not ravage, eh?" playing with the words.
About Punishments and reasoning.
"SInce we're talking about it, I would like to add a piece about the law of the ship. I'll give it to yea all straight, here. I really do rather like ya all, think yer god company to keep. Now what i hated most about the wormwood weren't so much the day to day, or even the rum. More, it weren't safe. Plugg ordered yea killed, Flynn, and i'll bet it were as much luck o' the draw as anythin else an' could ha' been any o us. Most important thing here's that our ship aught be home, safe for us, as far as our profession can be. I expect it'll be hard to find a tough enough crew among free men what aren't at least a bit rough an' tumble, so a brawl may happen, and that we can deal with. Punishment bein fit wit' the crime, an' all."
Getting serious, Dhaavan says"But again, our boat's our home, least it's all I got left, so it's the closest i'm gonna get ta home. There may be disagreements, fights, but at the end of the day, yea gotta sleep some time, and yea can sleep easy if yea feel at home. We may ha' mutinied ourselves, but we did it ta make our home, an even forgave them what were against us in the beginning, welcomed them. It's our duty to protect the ship and the crew, as officers, and fer any what violate the law what protects our home, I say, their lives'r forfeit. Nothin savage, slow or showy, but severe enough to show we protect our own."
Lightening a bit, he finishes his statement saying, "If we're gonna survive here, an' succeed, then we hafta be thick as thieves, thieves thick as blood not water, not ta mix metaphors or anything." with a smile. =P Dhaavan cares less about rules of law, as such but rather the spirit of the law, which is that the boat is home
On Loot:
"Yer right on a portion bein an equal cut, and it's a good point about cuttin two slices worth for the boat. She's expensive ta maintain, but we do need some personal cash set for us without everythign going into the ship. defeats the whole purpose yeah?"
Captain:
while discussing having a captain, Dhaavan suggests, "Like i mentioned ta Jiro and yea earlier, We're the officers o' the ship. We make the decisions, as a party and Captain acts as the guide and representative so to speak. And as far as that goes, were we ta get dead-locked we'd be sunk if there weren't a tie-breaker, and there's a job for the captain. so one vote a piece, and Cap'n gets one in case o' a tie for whate'r reason."
"At the time, Variel had the most support, and at this point, most o' us got a consensus about the direction we want the ship to go, and Variel represents it well enough, hence we 'ave a cap'n."
Who we attack:
while generally silent on attacking settelments and such, as far as nautical enterprises are concerned, Dhaavan considers what he wants to say, and his expression reveals thorough calculation while weighing options. to the party as a whole, DHaavan asks"The first thing about comin ta a compromise is, well compromise, am-I-right? So I think that if Flynn is a part of the crew, and we come to our accord we can afford 'im some consideration in considerin his homeland. There are more ways ta make money than stealin' it. These are dangerous waters, and investing in protection ain't unreasonable. So if one of Flynn's countrymen agrees to it, we can sail on in range of their boat, and give support and protection, safe passage, for a reasonable fee and compensation for any losses assessed in performance of our contract of course, and loot from any attackers we fend-off? We'll still be making money off o' the transaction, and hell, we can even take ourselves a territory where other pirates don't pirate if we're paid for passage?" so we can run a protection racket built from actually providing protection early on, making money mostly by raiding attackers, plus our fee.
Seijiro listens quietly to Flynn talking about some kind of contract and just silently absorbs what he thinks is going on. When Flynn talks about rape and mentioning boys he frowns slightly but just shrugs. The discussion of punishments brings a soft sigh and a nod of his head slightly.
"I have to agree with Flynn, that whatever punishments might be meted out should be known in advance as consequences of behavior. I'm all for a certain amount of leniency such as using irons rather than lashes or the cat for most things, though I see no harm with a rope bash for minor things. Whatever we decide though, as long as it's consistent, it should be clear that we have rules of behavior and consequences for breaking them."
"Not sleeping or drunk on duty, do we even need to say those things? And what about Fishguts? Do we make an exception for him or find a new cook?"
"I agree about fighting, but men are gonna be prone to fighting from time to time, like you said, friendly-like sparring matches should be exempted."
He pauses to listen to Flynn's further words and nods in agreement with the division of loot.
"It all sounds a bit complicated to me, but I'm sure we'll make it work with two shares for the ship, one for the men, and equal shares for the officers. We are all equal behind the scenes and the men don't need to know how much of a share each officer is getting. Seems like a lot of what you're sayin' is just common sense regarding shares for those that contribute and none for those that don't when it comes to shore parties."
He just sighs as Flynn addresses the subject of who's captain yet again and says nothing. As long as the men recognize that there IS an acting captain - someone to as Flynn says, bark orders and play the role. He does chuckle at even the idea of him as ship's mage, as it's such a ludicrous idea.
He just shrugs at the rest of what Flynn has to say. The idea of exempting targets doesn't sit well with him, but whatever the group decides as a whole, he'll go along with, as he's got no real choice once a decision's been made. If we exempted ships from everyone's homeland, we'll end up with no targets at all, but that's just my opinion...
When Dhaavan chimes in, he listens intently as he did with Flynn. He nods some, especially when the mage talks of the ship being home and all. He shrugs when Dhaavan talks about offering protection for money.
"Not what I think of when I think of pirates, but money is money I guess. But that means we hafta actually provide the protection we're being paid for, which means patrolling certain waters and coming up against other free captains and their crews from time to time. Sounds a lot more dangerous than preying on merchant ships. Just an observation."
He grows quiet and looks to the others for their opinions.
I glance at the others a moment and nod after each.
”Well, we decided to put two sides apart for the ship earlier, when we were divvying up the loot to begin with – I reckoned it would be good to keep it consistent in the future,” I say with a shrug.
”Now, as for the leg iron parts? That’s just to keep trouble makers out of the way during a fight. Personally, I’ve heard of many independent captains who’s main policy is “beaching” a sailor. I’m not talking marooning them – but as soon as we get to the next port we tell the troublemaker – That’s it, you’re off the ship, here’s they money you’ve earned, now you’re done sailing with us and have to find your next passage on some other ship.”
”All told that’s a pretty fair punishment, and if we’re not ruthless like the other lot we sailed with – and if we’re decent to our crew and fair up front, I think a lot of lads won’t want to be beached. They’ll see us as a ship they want to sail on, and that punishment – no longer sailing with a group of lads who have reasonable ways and don’t mistreat folks none – I think it’s fair to say that they’ll probably stay in line rather than wanting to be kicked off. Unless it’s really serious offenders – if they need getting dead – we just hang ‘em though. No reason to be cruel in it, or torture folks to death, if it has to happen at all, that is.”
”Well, the fighting and drunk part? Again – I don’t mind if the lads want a sparring match at the end of the day – but you and I all had different takes on the matter,” I add dryly.
’If you recall, I was asked to scrub the bilges and when I went down there I had two lads with knives try to bloody kill me – I killed one and saved the other – with only my bare hands, then they were going to kill me for that. That’s what I’m trying to prevent again.”
”You know – we get a few lads who dislike another set – and maybe we come downstairs and find three of our lads dead because two groups were fighting – and things “just got out of hand” – then we don’t enough lads to sail the ship, or to protect ourselves – because they were fighting. What do we do with that?”
”If we say “Look, you got a problem with someone and want to settle it – fine; do it fair, man to man – with witnesses right after dinner” – but something like first blood, or knocking the lad out – or something. I just don’t want another lad to go down in the bilges and find a few mates with knives and vendetta… of course, I may be a bit prejudiced on that point,” I add with a dry grin.
”Like I said, I’m not married to all the rules – but I want to know ‘em up front. I don’t want people to do something and then hear later “you can’t do that” – and get the noose. We don’t need a huge tome of laws – but just something fair and decent up front. And as for the drinking – well, we all know it effected our wits – a cook is one thing, but if we let him drink, why not others – and if we let them drink and they’re wits are dull… I dunno – I’ll say you all decide it. But sleeping on duty, fighting without letting us know what’s going on – I say we don’t need that sort on the ship and the next port we come to – we just kick ‘em off and replace ‘em.”
”Oh – unless maybe we give ‘em a chance to prove themselves between then and then – if they want to try to keep sailing with us – hell, I don’t know.”
I look at Dhaavan in thanks.
”I do appreciate that lad – of course, I’ll allow it will be damn tricky to do – what with the things the squibbing guys told me, but that sounds great.”
”My only real beef is pillaging villages. I’m not against attacking a temple to an evil god – or attacking a pirate town like the one that had us “rolled” so we could be pressed – but I mean, if we sail up to a village with some innocent fisherman and just attack it for a few extra casks of water and fresh fish – when we could pay fisherman, or make some arrangement – that’s pretty hard, and I don’t want any part of that.”
I glance at the others, somewhat uncomfortable, and look a little embarrassed that this point is going on a bit, then shrug.
”Well – here’s my bottom line. When Nightstorm is on the quarterdeck, he’s the bloody “Master and Commander” – I’ll agree to that. But if he decides to make orders or laws on that quarterdeck that we haven’t all decided on as a group – like, uh – We shall burn the orphanage, it may have good coin! – or something,” I add, giving Variel a wink to let him know I’m sure he wouldn’t do that specifically ”Well, that’s a bit unfair to me.”
”To be honest, I like most of his policies anyhow – they’re fair, but I wanted to put them up front so we all know what’s what, hence the idea of a “contract” – and I also figured if we had other things to add on to it, now’s a good time for it – which is why I’m glad we’re all here.”
”Once we all agree to these terms formal-like, hell… I’ll even be calling ol’ Nightstorm “sir” in front of any others outside closed doors,” I add, lifting my glass to Variel, with a resigned, but agreeable smile.
I take a drink, and continue.
”I also said from the beginning – if we have the terms and ideas we sail by posted for the whole crew – well, maybe it won’t matter, maybe you won’t agree with me – but having a deal upfront – posted, so everyone knows it – I think that’s good for moral, and I think, if we stick by our word, it will help our reputation as being tough types who – one you make a deal with, we stick by it, which is good for business – and it will encourage volunteers who we want – we don’t want volunteers who will torture or kill prisoners for fun, or start knife-fights in the bilges – we just don’t want it, I say put it out there. And when we stick by it – I think that it’s fair to say that the crew will take comfort that we may be “pirates” – but not like Plugg or our old boss, even – but we’ll be true to what word we have.”
”I got just a few more things I want to toss out there – just recommendations, but I figured it may be a good idea to say them now…”
”First is – when and if we got some hard choice on some hard matter – I’m not talking about in the middle of a firefight – but I’m saying a choice on how to proceed on something we don’t have covered – we all meet private like in the captain’s quarters and talk about it as a group of officers would first.”
”That way, if something comes up later – like what we do if a lad got chopped – bury him, raise him, that sort of thing – or whatever – we decide those things as needed, but as a group and in private away from the crew. I reckon that’s fair – and probably not needed to be said, but I figured I’d toss it out there.”
I take another drink.
”Next thing – we all got our own duties. I know for form’s sake the captain needs to be the boss on the ship – especially on the quarterdeck – but we all got our own strengths. If someone gives me an order on how to use guns – I’ll most likely listen – but as gunner, I may be knowing something they don't – I do have that training, and in that field – maybe, not likely, but maybe – I may need to override his order – but only in my field, see?”
”Now – my final thing is; we thought it’d be sweet if Rain was Pilot Major – and she started training hard for the task. Then she figured she’s split ways with us – then after relaxing at the island and taking some time, she reckoned on continuing to sail with us,” I said nodding to Rain
”When she reckoned on leaving the ship – Nightstorm took over the pilot position – but I think Rain is a better pilot all around, no offense meant to Nightstorm,” I add to Variel ”and anyhow, he’s much better fighting in the middle of things than standing at the helm.”
”I’m recommending we switch that position back to Rain – give her back the pilot’s job. Nightstorm can still make orders from the quarterdeck – but when we board another ship – he’ll want to lead the charge, and she can still hold the con, if she wants, or if she wants to come, she can do that, too. What do you all think of that?” I ask.
”Well – what do you all have to say on those ideas?” I ask the group.