Alabaster pounds his grog, as usual, and then grabs a refill and finds Samms.
Oy Samms, I be thinkin' I'm fer makin' ye mad a' me someway... What I be doin to ye, savior o' mine?
When the duties are assigned, Alabaster smirks and saunters over to Krine and the boat they're going out in.
This outta be fun. At least we ain't gotta hear all tha useless noise from the ole' arsehead while we work today.
Once out, he seems unfazed by Krine's diatribe, and holds the boarding hook confidently. Right before he throws it, he beseeches Besmara for her aid.
Lady o' mine, bless my arm this day!
Alabaster starts out strong, landing his hook with ease and scurrying up the side of the ship. About halfway, he pauses for a second and shouts up to the filth pourers
Hey, why don't ye be makin' it at least a little hard fer me?
He flashes his usual sarcastic grin at his friends climbing with him and resumes his own.
He makes his climb just barely, but dodges the filth dumped toward him with ease, flipping over the rail to stand right beside Arheil and Isaac. He grins at the pourers again, and chuckles.
Eh, maybe ye'll get me next time, see?
He then casually leans against the rail to wait for his comrades.
Hearing Alabaster talk about the upcoming endeavor and the jab at Plugg (and Scourge), Isaac gives a smirk and a chuckle. He elbows the young man in jest. "Easy ther', lad. Don't want to wind up sufferin' later, do we?" He then winks at the young man.
Isaac smiles at the young sorceress. "Well, it helps that I've been raised on ships for most o' my life and hav' piracy and th' Shackles in me blood. Though, I still had troubl' dodgin' th' stuff bein' thrown at me. But, I think I can adapt to it."
When Alabaster gets to the ship, Isaac smiles and nods.
When Krine acknowledges Arihel for her work, Isaac claps her on the shoulder, a grin on his face. He then moves to talk to Samms. "Ahoy ther', Samms. So, did ye enjoy th' show o' our boardin' practice?"
Edward's less than pleased about the way things went.
To keep his mind off from it, he heads over to Conchobar and asks him if he's got any stories of good fights the guy's been in.
Alabaster turns a light shade of red, and his mouth opens and closes a few times before he's finally able to speak. He sighs, and answers her.
Iffen I be tellin' ye true, I ain't never had much in tha way o' speakin' to ye ladies, all me experiences be in tha port towns, where ye gotta pay fer yer time, an they always love ye, see? How could ye tell?
The young pirate harrumphs at Isaac's warning of Scourge. When they are back on deck, he makes to speak with Samms again (supposing the conversation the night previous went well...) but Isaac beats him to it. Instead, he finds Shivikah and talks to her about boarding.
Hey, Shivikah. They were fer havin' me boarding training this mornin'. I heard tale ye knew twice as much as tha best on this ship about it, an' I was wonderin' iffen ye had any tips fer me?
He flashes her his dashing smile after he's done speaking.
Isaac chuckles. "Aye. Should be interestin' show. Swords swingin', spells flyin', an' sailors clamorin' to ge' to th' oth'r ship. And, in th' center o' it, us lot."
Arhiel listens to the others speak after the boarding training, some flouting their skill, others bemoaning their bad luck, knowing her own success was purely luck. She smiles at Samms' wish to share a boarding party with those who did well.
When Isaac talks about an actual fight with another ship, she shivers a little, not relishing the idea. "Aye, spells flying sounds like my kind of combat... I'd be much more comfortable with spellcasting than with actual boarding. I hope my worth on the ship can be measured by my strengths."
Like ye? Yer tha most beautiful lady on tha ship, how couldn't I be liken' ye? I thought maybe ye weren't fer liken' me, after ye saved me and then I couldn't get ye ta talk ta me!
He puts his other hand over the one she has holding his, and smiles.
Mayhaps we both be liken' each other, and was jest fer thinkin' tha other didn't feel tha same?
His cheeks are still tinted red, and his voice is unsure, showing that he does indeed have little experience talking to women.
Alabaster chuckles.
B~$*!+%s. It be lookin' like I best be leavin' tha silver tongued charm o' ladies ta Edward, then. It's jest tha' other than tha day I told ye tha' story o' Besmara, I ain't fer much talkin' with ye or gettin' ta know ye. I like ta make friends wit me fellow crew mates, see? Helps ta know when yer boardin' a ship, tha' a few people got yer back... An' thanks fer tha compliment, though I did have a bit o' experience boardin' from me last ship. Nice ta know I still got it, ha.
After a bit more small talk, he leaves and goes to find Giffer. Once he does, he waits until they are alone and speaks quietly.
Oy Giff, methinks Scourge be gettin' ta have too big a head, an' too many people are fearin' 'im, even Isaac. What say we play a few pranks on 'im, embarrass 'im a bit, an' bring 'im down a few notches?
He holds out a couple of doses of black powder, and speaks again.
I be thinkin' we can use these, an' yer magic, and scare 'im good in front o' tha crew, see?
The sun got to Edward, his head was hurting.
Edward is going to talk to the half-orc quartermaster, to increase his repetoire of stories and pinpoint her disposition towards the group.
"Hello there. I was wondering, do you have any stories of your past ventures? Maybe they involve, or not, a group like us new recruits by chance."
Like Edward, Arhiel has a disastrous day working down below ... not keeping up with her companions in the work itself, and emerging from the bilges at the end of the day exhausted and dripping in sweat...
Jesal looks aghast at Kroop, "Dis one not be drinkin'. Being knowin' that, ya do. Needs to stop drinkin den too.". He says angrily slapping the drink away.
"Destroyin' ya life. Why?". Jesal clears a seat in the galley to sit down.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Isaac comes up to the deck, ready for the day. However, he becomes wary when Plugg decides to chat up Scourge before the assignments. He smirks when he receives the line work and begins his ritual climb up.
Like always, Isaac does his job well.
Isaac decides to talk to someone unfamiliar to him. So, he makes his way to Shivikah. "Ahoy ther', lass. Me name is Isaac Silvermane. What be your's?"
Alabaster takes on a quizzical look when Samms mentions that he's looking for love, and when she gets up to leave he guffaws for a second and then speaks to her.
Methinks ye misunderstand me, Samms. I ain't lookin' fer love. I'm a man o' tha Queen, an' her teachins ain't much fer settlin' in wit a family woman, see? I said I liked ye, an' I meant as a pirate, a woman what's fierce enough ta take what she wants an' ain't fer needin' coddlin' or a man ta' take care o' her every damned day. I ain't fer lookin fer love, I be lookin' fer a friend ta have a bit o' fun with, in between raidin' an' piratin' , an fer her ta have me back in a fight, see?
He smiles at her, but stays seated, seeing what she does next.
Alabaster works as hard as he can, but doesn't quite get his job done, and he's exhausted afterward to boot. At some point during the day, he finds time to speak with Giffer again about knocking Scourge off of his high horse. Once he locates her, he makes sure they're alone before speaking quietly.
Giffs, I been thinkin', if ye have a way to make tha powder blow without bein' near it, he can't never figger out it was you, righ'? We can put it somewhere on tha deck an' set it off when he be walkin' by... Can ye do it without bein' noticed?
"Ya being in debt ta Captain?" How much?"
Arhiel bites her lip to keep it from quivering at Scourge's pronouncement and shivers as the two officers leave...
"I really don't like them and their high handed ways," she says, her voice breaking with emotion as she fights back tears... Finally though the stresses of the day and the fear of the night get the better of her and she breaks down in tears.
Isaac nods at Shivikah. He asks, "So, I haven't ye chattin' with anyon' at yer inititive. Why's that?"
At a point in their conversation, he notices Ahriel breaking down in tears. He politely excuses himself and goes over to the lass. He guides her over to where Shivikah is (knowing they have a slight friendship). When they arrive, he gently asks Arihel, "What's wrong, lass? What be gettin' ye in tears?"
She manages to blubber out between gasps for air and tears, "Maybe it would've been better if you folk hadn't fished me out've the waters... I'm so not suited to this life... I can't .. can't.. seem to keep up with all this work. I'm too weak... It's all just... too much... I don't want to be hit again." She collapses in tears against Isaac, totally humiliated by her breakdown, but unable to stop crying.
Isaac raises his brow. "Really? Ar' ye be truthful abou' tha'?"
He smiles. "Well, I be hopin' ye talk more. Tell me about yerself."
Isaac frowns at Arhiel's words. "Hey, now. Ther' will be none o' tha'. You're not weak. You're mor' than capable' for this lif'. Th' problem is Scourge and Plugg. They be takin' things too far. Don't worry, lass. I'll aid ye anyway I can."
Arhiel struggles to gain control of her emotions and wipes at her eyes and cheeks as Isaac speaks so calmly to her... "I.. I'll try to remember that... It's not me... it's them... I'm so embarrassed." and she looks at both Isaac and Shivikah with humility and chagrin.
She bows her head slightly as she wipes at the last of her tears... "Thank you Isaac.. for your kind words and caring nature. Now don't let me interrupt your chat with Shivikah here..."
Then she slips off to let them talk alone, or as alone as possible on the ship... and looks for someone to talk to who might not notice or care about her red-rimmed eyes or tear-streaked face.
Since she didn't totally fail at the boarding practice like she did in the bilges, she'll seek out Kipper, the gunner's mate and give him a little smile. "Hi... I'm Arhiel... the one they fished out of the drink not long ago... 'Tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I hope I'm not bothering you, I just need someone to talk to. You work for Miz Krine, yes? She's a good teacher, I must say! Boarding practice was hard, but I did it despite my lack of experience. So, how long have you been on this crew and how did you come to be here."
"I didn't know we couldn't have an innocent chat... And I'm the sorrier for it since you seem nice... Maybe someday it'll be alright, but I understand not wanting to get on mr. plugg's bad side... g'night then Kipper."
Isaac nods at Shivikah's words. He then says his goodbyes and leaves.
Edward tries to avoid a beating, or at least, less beatings.
"Merely due to sunshine to the eye sir, i would've beaten it otherwise. You know bards are good for more than just entertaining, sir. I did not fail per se."
"Perhaps i can make due another way."
Arhiel drinks her rum, hoping the stupor will help her survive and tolerate what's to come...
She stands and steps forward reluctantly.
"I'm just a poor sorceress, sir... I could be of good benefit to the ship, but just not at physical tasks I'm afraid.. "
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"Ah, no sir, go ahead."
Stinking swine, you'll get your due someday, and i'll be laughing to my heart's content.
Dreaming revenge....
Isaac scowls at the sight of both Arhiel and Edward being beaten into unconsciousness... after he promised Arhiel that he would help keep her safe. He's so angry that he doesn't care about stealth when ditching his drink. He decides to spare Rosie from his unbridled anger and decides to talk to Sandara. He leans against the rail of the boat, his hands gripping tightly on the rail.
"Sandara... I be needin' yer help. I be barely holdin' onto me anger. I be so frustratin' to see Plugg an' Scourge beatin' on me friends... an' not be able to do a thing 'bout it. I promised Arhiel that I'd help 'er.... an' I feel like I failed already." He looks downcast and forlorn. The anger radiating off of him and the venom in his voice really doesn't help with diplomacy.
Isaac steps forward, arms crossed and a frown on his face. He stays silent as his beating occurs, not giving Scourge and Plugg the satisfaction of hearing his screams. He falls to the ground, unconscious.
Jesal proceeds through the evening a bit morosely, despondent in his predicament and hits his rack early.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Again? What a douche... I hope he dies, she thinks, though she doesn't dare verbalize these thoughts. She simply sighs and nods her head in resignation.
When it's time to go down to the bilges she looks to Edward and Alabaster helplessly and rolls her eyes slightly. When they arrive at the bilges, assuming there is no officer standing over them, she finally voices her complaint. "I hate this work. It's hard and it's hot in there. And there's who knows what in that water... yuck."
Edward didn't mind at all, waking to Sandara sitting next to him.
"Sorry about that.", he says with a faint hint of sheepish smile.
Next morning, Edward gets to his dayjob, but the beating the previous day was noticable in his efforts.
She manages to do the work adequately, keeping up with the boys for a change.
However, working so hard takes its toll on her already stressed frame from the beating the night before. Despite Sandara's welcome ministrations last night, she is in no condition to withstand an entire day in the bilges without consequences. When she emerges, she can barely stand on her own anymore and has to pull herself up the stairs and ladders to the deck to have something welcome to eat and drink.
During the day, whenever they don't have direct supervision, she frees her familiar, Jacko, the little thrush, to fly about the bilges and see what he can find of any value in and among the muck. (her 'daytime action' if allowed to have one).