Wedjat peers at Underdog the weasel.
"Screee?"
Are you SURE you're not food?
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Oren blushes as he was dragged in front of the Captain by Nef. He hadn't expected her to take his advice so literally, so soon! "Ah, well, it would take Nef's mind off things, Captain. We have a few hours off, and you know that old jaunty about sailors and rum, don't you? Rum, rum, keep your health, rum, rum, gain you wealth, rum, rum, keep you hearty, rum, rum, life at seas is quite a party!" He grins broadly at his suggestion, waiting for Jacinth to either join in or toss them out of the hold.
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"Maka, a Kamu, huh? Well, pleased to meet you. I'm Oren. I come from the same people as you, but I don't recognize you, so our paths might not have crossed. I suppose I left quite a bit before you were taken. Pleased to meet you nonetheless. We can always use more fisherman in these parts," he laughs patting his rotund belly. Oren wasn't quite sure how he'd react to another Kamu in close proximity, but he actually felt some strange relief. "If you need anything, come talk to me. You can trust the people on this ship, as far as I can tell. I've known some of them for a decent amount of time, and they all seem square to me. Oh, and I think all of us speak Tulitan, in case you were wondering. My Common isn't so good."
Maka nods gratefully at the familiar face and continues the conversation in Tulitan. "Oren? I...my tribe has heard of you. You have settled in Port Shaw, no? I know that must be a tough path you walk, but I am glad for the familiar face."
He jerks athumb toward the helm where Jacinth is currently manning the helm. "You have an...elf woman... as Captain you work for? Have things grown so desperate for you you have sunk to this low?" His gaze grows more unfocused as a look of agitation breaks forth. "I...I...uhhh...I don't know. She...uhhh...talked down ta me!" His fist clenches as he adds, "She...wha-wha--wanted me ta FISH fer her! I think she not be a worthy Captain!"
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Nef raises an eyebrow. She can't resist teasing Oren.
"Opu, are you sure it goes that way? Perhaps it should be, 'Rum, rum, get a girl, rum, rum, make her hurl, rum, rum, need to piss, rum, rum, why'd we do this?'"
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"It is a strange relationship I walk with Port Shaw and with my people. I'm not sure how good of a job I do with walking that line, to be honest. I like some things about both lands, to be honest. Now I haven't known the Captain long, but she's proven herself competent. I'm sure she was trying to give you praise as we have heard you were a very good fisherman. She's not one who's had much experience dealing with our people, though. Give her a chance, and you might like her, or at least, be able to tolerate her.. He pats the man on the shoulder, as he was grabbed by Nef.
"I'm good with my drink, Nef, but you've got to remember to pace yourself. If your head is hurting too much tomorrow, the Captain might scold me if your job suffers!"
Overhearing, Ke' grinned.
"Ha! I figure he's got a good sporting chance! Maybe the sharks will give him professional courtesy!"
"At least as much courtesy as he deserved - that would be enough" - Reknar returns the grin.
She nods sympathetically. "My first month in the Razor was pretty awful too. If I hadn't met Oren..." she points out Oren's solid and heavily tattooed frame, from where the wizard stood on the deck, looking out at the sea. "He was kind. Like a big brother, he went out of his way to help me. He taught me Tulita, guided me around town, got me on my feet... and never hit on me once."
"Then I met..." Zem. She breaks off her story, a look of pain flashing in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm blathering, aren't I?" She takes a deep breath, and says, "To make a long story short, friends made all the difference to me here. This is a good group of people, caring and loyal. You treat them right, and they'll return the favor over and over."
"Having friends is a good thing - I have one, and it has been enough for me" - the man answers with a nod - "Curiously enough, working with others is something I was taught to do a long time ago, and probably the only thing I know how to do well" - he finishes, fiddling with a wooden dragon symbol hanging from a plain cord around his neck.
"Hmmm... I've never been called a bastard, but I am the daughter of a bonded concubine," she admits. "My father never married my mother." She grins back at him. "Maybe we should find a different insult to sling at your former crewmates. Shall we just call them 'scum' and be done with it?"
"I would have gone for something stronger, but scum will do" - he agrees with a surprised look - "I must say you are quite straightforward with your family history. Then again, why not?"
"If you're really interested... I'd be overjoyed to tell you about Horus."
"However, your religious education will come with a price. Are you ready to pay it?" she asks with a smile. "You're going to have to introduce me to your furry friend -- the cute one currently peering at me from inside your pack."
"Also, I'd love to know where you're from. I hail from Katheer in the Satrapy of Qadira."
"I can't say I really want to know, but I would be interested in hearing more about it yes" - Reknar adds to the conversation about religion, then turns to the weasel in his pack - "This here? Name's Dog, short for Underdog" - ruffling the animal playfully, while it tries to bite him - "He's got a temper though" - he laughs.
"We're both from good old Varisia, as common as can be"
"I would love a hand with the cooking," she says with a smile. "I'm no good at it either. I'll tell you what. I badly need distractions today. Someone to talk to, keep my mind off..." she breaks off again, and finally admits, "Victory against your former crewmates aside, I've had a very rough, very emotional morning."
"I just need to keep busy. Afterwards, I can help you scrub that deck. Hey, maybe we can get Oren to help us and make a party of the job."
"Sure, why the hell not?"
"Horus led me here, to the Razor, and to the people of my heart." She tells Reknar about meeting Zem and Elemakule and her vow of service to the Tulita. Though she maintains a cheerful tone, there are pauses every time Zem's name comes into her conversation before she struggles forward once again. "Horus died once before, and was resurrected. I see no reason why he can't fly high here in the Razor, serving a people who desperately need him, and chasing the desert from their shores."
"Wow... I don't think I can offer any sort of comment on that. I can only wish you good luck on your goals" - he replies, falling silently back into his tasks without another word.
When she sees Wedjat diving down towards Recknar's little weasel she screams, "Down, Wedjat! That's a friend, not food!"
This leaves Nef apologizing profusely to Reknar. "I'm sorry! He'll behave now, I promise! I should have thought of this and introduced them before, but I was so preoccupied..."
Reknar reaches for his weapon as the enormous eagle approaches, but understands this is not simply a wild animal - "No need to apologize - animals should act like animals, so things are as they should be. And I am not sure Dog is in the mood for introductions" - he adds with a smile, as the weasel hisses from the protection of the pack.
Nef says, "We'll do this after my storytime for Whale ends, around 1900 hours. You're more than welcome to join us."
--
It is said that everything and everyone eventually washes up at docks of Port Shaw. Perhaps it is something about the water; perhaps it was an ancient charm laid on the land by Turtle, before the first men arrived. Whatever the reason, the city draws people to it who wash up there again and again.
This story is about the day that someone washed up in Port Shaw who would change the Eagle's life forever. Lani was an odd bird by anyone's standards. His beak had been filed to a vicious point, his eyes were wild, and from each of his feathers wafted the scents of gunpowder, smoke and rotten eggs. He flew with an odd rhythm of whiffle-FWAP, whiffle-FWAP, whiffle-FWAP, often turning unexpectedly in the air and sometimes flying upside down.
When Horus first saw him, he wished to be anywhere else. Who was this strange and horrifying bird? But Horus's mate, Makani, ran forward, embracing Lani and calling this bizarre bird, "Brother." Seeing this, Horus swallowed his fear and embraced Lani as well, welcoming him to his family. And though Lani sometimes flew in the wrong direction, and carried a vast collection of vile potions under each wing, Horus grew to love him for Makani's sake.
Horus learned that Lani had a twisted wing and an even more twisted mind, but a heart as straight and true as the horizon where the sky meets the sea. Horus would fly high with them, for together they brought him wind and sky* -- what more could any Eagle need?
Tulita = "Makani a Lani"
_________________________
It was the second time that Eagle washed up in Port Shaw, and Horus had prospects. Along with Makani and Lani and a few other friends, he had a job. The job? A rescue mission, escorting Kalena*, a beautiful and mysterious Princess of the Elves.
"Tale"
_________________________
Kalena had lost all her entourage in a wreck in a haunted isle near the Sammerlock Sails. She said that evil spirits had sunk her ship and stolen her friends away. Frantic to save her friends, she had begged Horus and his companions for help. She offered Horus elvish gold for the deed, but Horus wanted more. "Coin is transient," Horus said. "I will not risk my life, or my companion's lives, for gold alone."
Kalena frowned, confused. "Then what do you want?"
Horus looked at the elvish princess, so tall and strange. "Look around. My people are suffering, Kalena. They need allies. I know that the elves and the people have not always been friends. But... you could have gotten any mercenary you wanted with your coin. Instead, you sought out me, a foreign bird who has adopted the people as my own. You need the Tulita. You need US."
Kalena bowed her head and acknowledged that this was true. So she offered Horus her friendship and protection for the people if he would help her. They sailed across the ocean, until Horus spotted another ship on the Horizon. It was a slaver ship, carrying a full cargo of Tulita and misery. Horus's claws clenched, but he flew in tighter and what he saw amazed him. The slavers were lounging lazily on the ship, and the people were doing their ship chores without a chain in sight.
The slavers hailed Horus as he flew by, asking him to bring his Captain. Now all kinds of curious, Horus flew back to the slave ship with Kalena on his back, and Lani and Makani on either side. As soon as the slaver crew saw Kalena, they were awed. A true elven princess, come to meet them! "My lady," they begged. "Come see our Captain. He is not well!" So the three eagles and the elven princess entered the Captain's cabin, where the Slaver Captain was attended by his valet, Kolohe*.
"Rascal"
__________________________
And there Makani discerned that Kolohe had put the slaver Captain under a spell. Kolohe nodded, and said, "For now, my people walk free. But when the Captain awakes he will surely beat and kill us all. Come fight with us. We will slay them first!"
Makani said, "I will fight to free you, but I will not take the lives of even these worthless slavers. We must find another way."
And then the Elven Princess stood up, and said, "I know what to do." She smiled at the slaver crew, and said, "You are indeed correct. A sickness lies upon your Captain. It affects not the people, but it will surely slay all of you should you stay."
The slavers looked upon her dubiously. Horus said in a panic to Lani, "Her lie needs help! Let us give it details and urgency!" Lani gave Horus a vile concoction that made the Eagle sick. He flew all over the deck, vomiting on slavers and shrieking about the plague, while Lani flew every which way, dropping dead and rotting rats upon their heads. The slavers ran in a panic for their life boats, screaming, and the ship was taken without a drop of blood lost.
But then Kolohe asked the Princess, "What shall we do with the Captain?"
Makani said to free him, and Horus got ready to pick up the slaver Captain and drop him, not too gently, on his men. But then Lani howled, "Walk the plank! They will not stop with their evil trade! They see us as animals! They have no hearts! It makes them too much money! And people like YOU let them GO!"
Horus turned to Lani, seeing his friend and brother howling in pain, and he asked, "Lani, who have you lost?"
And Lani flew at him, raging, "Me! I lost me!"
And Horus asked, "What happened, Lani?"
Lani, seething and spitting, told his story. "There was a slave raid on the people, and like a fool, I flew in again and again, swooping in on slavers, and then dropping them from the heights. I did this until they caught me. I did this until they broke me. They broke my body. Then they broke my mind."
But Makani still pleaded for the Captain's life. "We could have a bloodless victory. We could be better than they are. If we kill him, we become him!"
Both siblings looked to Horus for the decision. Horus loved Makani with all of his heart and soul, but Horus could not ignore Lani's howl for justice. Shooting Makani an apologetic look, he said, "Do what you must, Lani."
And Lani grabbed the Captain, flying straighter than Horus had ever seen, he flew impossibly high, dropping the Captain to the waters below like cracked and broken driftwood.
Makani was silent for a long while, and then said, "I am leaving. You are my family no longer." She flew off, escorting the freed slaves, leaving Horus grieving in the wake of his former victory.
"I see," Jacinth replies. "Perhaps so, but in the interests of avoiding a bloodbath and potentially losing some of my own crew, we opted for a more...roundabout means of getting the crew off the ship. But as for what happens to them now..." she shrugs. "They are no longer my concern. They have the supplies that were already stocked on the longboats, but otherwise they are on their own."
"Very well them, if their wits allow them to survive, so be it" - the man looks into the distance where he had been pointed toward the longboats - "I actually hope at least a certain few do survive, and I get a chance to meet them again"
Jacinth gives Reknar an appraising look, clearly turning things over in her mind. "As a matter of fact, we do. Though we have already hired on a few of Ko'oku'wa's men to accompany us for the rest of our journey, a fifth man would certainly not hurt. And since both Nef and Rata seem to find your words and manner truthful," she nods at the pair, "then I will trust to their judgement. I can offer you the standard pay, the same as we have agreed upon for our other new hires. If that is agreeable to you, then welcome aboard. I am sure you would make a fine addition to the crew." She pauses for a moment, lips twitching slightly. "You and Ke'ahilani have already found something to agree on, so you seem to be off to a good start."
"The payment works for me - I will join you" - he speaks again without hesitation, preparing to move aboard the Rita - "Just let me know where you need me Captain"
Relieved that her stilted attempt at conversation seems to have gone over better this time, Jacinth quickly nods in agreement. "Yes, to still live with both body and wits intact is something to be thankful for indeed. Not all are as fortunate," she replies, her expression grim as her mind returns to Ke'ahilani and his earlier outburst on the Iron Bastion. "As for Dolentla, we journey there on a rescue mission. My previous ship, the Dulcimer was attacked near there by a mad whale and sank. Almost immediately my...former crew and I were beset by strange man-beasts and only I was able to escape. After making my way back to Port Shaw, my uncle hired the others to assist me in rescuing my...friends. They were not just crew, but friends. Sons and daughters of Port Shaw's elite," she sighs. "Needless to say, it is imperative that we return to Dolentla as quickly as possible."
Reknar listens attentively to Jacinth's words - "Like I said, it doesn't matter where you are going, thank you for taking me on board, and count on me to pull my own weight"
He seems ready to leave, but then stops - "Sons and daughters of Port Shaw's elite, like yourself? Is there some sort of reward for bringing them back? Just curious" - he shrugs - "And I would ask, what kind of man beasts are we talking about?"
Horus grabbed chains off the slave ship, and screeched to the waters, "Whale, Whale!"
Tohorara surfaced. "I am here, Eagle."
Horus dropped the chains in the water, saying in a voice of sorrow, "These chains once held your people. Accept them with my love, brother." Then the Eagle sobbed uncontrollably, telling Whale all of his story.
Whale spouted, and said, "Horus, victories are often bought with pain. But from this pain springs a greater joy, once we see all that we have gained. You have given my people a second chance. You... have pleased me, friend."
At the word, friend, Horus looked up in wonderment, tears still in eyes. "What do I do?"
And Whale smiled. "Tomorrow, you will somehow move forward, though everything will remind you of your love. Weeks or months from now, you will heal. But... tonight? Tonight we get drunk."
___________________________________
Nefertiti shimmies back from the bowsprit, as the sun is setting on the still waters of the Razor. All around her is a mad feast of color. She looks peaceful in the rosy light of the sunset, though sad. "Thanks for listening, my brother," she calls out to the Whale she hopes is listening.
She notices the man's tension. Careful, she thinks. This one has been hurt so often that he just expects it. Nef raises an eyebrow. "It was my pleasure," she says. "I don't mean to pry, but... years? That seems a long time for someone who's clearly not afraid of a fight."
"Divinely inspired healing is not found around the corner, so I had to deal with more 'mundane' ways of mending bone and flesh in the meantime. Worked out in the end I guess - no permanent damage, and only a few scars" - he looks at his arms and legs, and you notice the inner part of his left arm sports a tattoo - that of a red rose on a bloody street. He stares at it for a moment, before you proceed with your conversation.
"I would have gone for something stronger, but scum will do" - he agrees with a surprised look - "I must say you are quite straightforward with your family history. Then again, why not?
"I'm straightforward about most things. Perhaps a little too straightforward? Some consider it a failing of mine." Nef shrugs. "I think it is my strength -- people know where they stand with me."
"Divinely inspired healing is not found around the corner, so I had to deal with more 'mundane' ways of mending bone and flesh in the meantime. Worked out in the end I guess - no permanent damage, and only a few scars" - he looks at his arms and legs, and you notice the inner part of his left arm sports a tattoo - that of a red rose on a bloody street. He stares at it for a moment, before you proceed with your conversation.
She raises her eyebrows as she looks at the tattoo. "Milani, right?" She waits for his nod. "A lovely deity, and a greatly under-appreciated one. There is much work that could be done by her, here in the Razor," Nef says softly.
Reknar reaches for his weapon as the enormous eagle approaches, but understands this is not simply a wild animal - "No need to apologize - animals should act like animals, so things are as they should be. And I am not sure Dog is in the mood for introductions" - he adds with a smile, as the weasel hisses from the protection of the pack.
"Perhaps not now," Nef admits, red-faced. "Thank you for being so understanding."
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As Reknar and Nef's conversation turns to the matter of Horus and his guiding principles, Rata silently excuses himself from the dialogue. It is no secret that Rata cares little for gods. Plus, he had work to do.
During their first shift Rata kept to himself, although he kept an eye on their new help. As Kal raised his voice in deep song as he worked, Rata couldn't help but feel the man's words assuage his soul, melting away his anxiety over their hardships at sea. He dropped down from the lines, padding over to the man he spoke to him in his native dialect, "Your song was... comforting to me in some way. What do the words mean? They stirred something inside of me that I can't quite put to words..." He trailed off, quite uncomfortable at the fact that he was speaking about such personal matters with a man he only just recently met.
After their short shift had ended, Rata likewise made his way down below decks to get some sleep. He stopped for a moment just outside of Jacinth's door, silently listening to her rhythmic breathing. He placed a hand upon her door, feeling the grain of the wood beneath his rough palm. Rest easy... My captain. He turned to his own room, gently closing the door behind him before collapsing into bed himself.
Rata's dreams are quite strange during his short rest, and certainly troubling to the Mwangi native…
Floating in the misty air just out of reach, Rata looks on in horror as he watches Usha chained to the center of a pond lilly stranded at sea, rough waves crashing down upon her, a terrible wound at her temple staining the side of her face crimson. Rata pleads to his beloved sister, "Usha, hold on just a little longer. I'll be there as soon as I can, just hold on!" But as hard as he tried, he never got closer, whatever was holding him in place had him held fast. He looked down at her again, and noticed that in place of her chestnut hair and rounded ears, she had long golden hair and pointed ears. Her deep tan had been replaced by alabaster skin. But it was still her face - still his biological twin. He could tell she was getting weary from the blood loss, and the waves slamming into her were taking their toll. "Usha, don’t close your eyes! Look at me!" She raised her eyes to him and they were green instead of brown, and despite the waves, he could tell that those were tears mingled with the blood staining her face. He growled at the futility of it all and strained his arms against whatever invisible bonds held him, and at last, they broke free. His jubilation was short-lived, however, as he looked down in horror to see the huge cast iron weights chained to his ankles. He screamed as he plunged straight past the huge white blossom holding his sister prisoner, slicing through the bone-chilling waters, his bellow cut short as the seas filled his lungs and silenced his protests…
Rata woke with a gasp, drenched in sweat, his rapid fire heartbeat filling his ears. He heard voices outside of his cabin and shot out of bed and threw the door open. Sheet white and slick with sweat, he stared at the three figures in confusion, and a long moment passed before he remember who they were and where he was. ”Oren, Nef, Jacinth… I, uh… Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. Is something wrong?”
He heard voices outside of his cabin and shot out of bed and threw the door open. Sheet white and slick with sweat, he stared at the three figures in confusion, and a long moment passed before he remember who they were and where he was. ”Oren, Nef, Jacinth… I, uh… Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. Is something wrong?”
Nef had seen that expression on Rata's face many times before, when he'd woken up screaming from a bad dream. She glances to Oren and then Jacinth before going over to hug Rata.
"Oh Rata! Always thinking of others! As for what's wrong... Oren and I were going to drink tonight to see if I could forget Zem for a few minutes."
"Yes, I know... Stupid. Poor judgment. But I'm tired of being the responsible one! Maybe I just want to be stupid for a few hours!"
"We were going to start at sunset, but maybe we could do it after your shift ends, and you two both could join us?" She glances sidelong at Jacinth and says, "That way you can make sure that I don't fall off the side, or try to fly Wedjat..."
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"The more the merrier. I'm sure we have enough rum for quite the party. Anyone who wants to join in is welcome for me. No criers, now! The rest of you can make sure we keep Nef's spirits up."
As the new crew of the Rita adjusts to the shift schedules set forth by Nefertiti, the party members settle into their normal routines, their work load lessened by the new crew. This does not lessen the internal burdens in each of your hearts however...
As evening slips away into night time, clear skies start to cloud over obscuring the moon and stars shining overhead. It seems as if Nefertiti's spell did forecast correctly, the arrival of storms the following day. The winds are cooperating however as the Rita is propelled towards her destination...
Just prior to shift change, Nefertiti sets out a light snack for Team One, and wakes them. Then she heads to the Steward's Cabin where Oren is already pouring the rum.
She takes a tentative sip. "Feaugh!" she says, choking. The rum was slightly sweet, overlaid with an alcohol taste so strong that it burned as it went down. "How does anyone drink this stuff? It tastes like coal oil..."
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Oren takes a pull from his mug as well. "Woo, the first drink is always rough. It'll get better from here on out, I promise.". To prove that assertion, he takes yet another drink, and while burning all the way down, it doesn't have such a visceral reaction on him. "See...smooth as can be! Well not smooth exactly," he offers with a grin and a wink.
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Nef slips in the galley to grab some bread and cheese, and then comes back to the Steward's Cabin. "I think I need the taste of something else in my mouth between sips." She takes another sip, and makes a face, and then drinks it. "You're right... It is getting a little better."
She waves to Jacinth and Rata as they come in, and presses mugs into their hands. "Welcome to the Party!"
Nef turns blearily to Oren. "Whaddya mean you said you'd make me forget that fool? You think Zem's a fool? Why's that?"
"Rum rum for this girl
Rum rum mind's awhirl
Rum rum no more guy
Rum rum bye, fool, bye!"
Nef sings the rum song happily, making up new lyrics.
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High above the revelry, Aikane sits in the rigging. He draws his bow across the fiddle's strings, and begins to play a calming song.
it's not great.
Wedjat hops closer to listen to Aikane's fiddling.
When there's no storms, he likes traveling on the Rita. There are places to perch from on high and watch the sea, and sometimes fish. He likes seeing the stars reflected in the water, and watching the people he knows move about on deck and through the tops.
He preens himself, then falls asleep, still listening to the strum of Aikane's bow against the strings.
"Ah, for Him to have thrown away all we've got planned is a fool's mission. We will all be very wealthy people, assuming we make it back successful and alive. Heck, he probably will have a price on his head, even though he's not with us anymore. I hope he's smart enough to lay low. And, if you believe in looooove," Oren says with an exaggerated flourish, "you don't run from it. To me, that means it probably wasn't that. But, if it was, then he was a fool. So twice over then."
Oren takes a long pull, the drink going down better now that before. "But enough about him. Rata, Captain, tell us more about yourselves. I haven't spent much time with you two."
The wizard reaches over and tears off a hunk of Nef's bread and pops it in his mouth, happily chewing and listening to the other's stories.
"I'm straightforward about most things. Perhaps a little too straightforward? Some consider it a failing of mine." Nef shrugs. "I think it is my strength -- people know where they stand with me."
"Fair enough" - Reknar nods.
She raises her eyebrows as she looks at the tattoo. "Milani, right?" She waits for his nod. "A lovely deity, and a greatly under-appreciated one. There is much work that could be done by her, here in the Razor," Nef says softly."Lovely you say?" - the man ponders for a moment - "I have my doubts... But this is a just a memento, nothing else"
"Very good!" Jacinth smiles at the show of enthusiasm. "Nef is my acting steward, so she will help to orient you and the rest of the new men to the ship as well as adjust the work schedule to accommodate you."
"Got it"
He seems ready to leave, but then stops - "Sons and daughters of Port Shaw's elite, like yourself? Is there some sort of reward for bringing them back? Just curious" - he shrugs - "And I would ask, what kind of man beasts are we talking about?"Here, Jacinth shifts uncomfortably. "...Yes, like myself. There is a reward being offered to the rest of the group by my uncle, Viscount Senegar Deepwarder. This...incident has not reflected well on the Deepwarder name and so he wishes to have the matter resolved. The sooner the better," she sighs quietly. "As for the beasts...they seemed humanoid and yet feral, like wild men. Beyond that, I cannot offer any other information about them."
"Check, and check" - he nods, moving off to address his duties.
-------
Reknar stands watch up top, but he can hear the commotion coming from down below - moving away to a more quiet place, he finds a comfortable, elevated spot on top of some crates, and stares at the dark waters, focusing on Aikane's tune.
"Lovely you say?" - the man ponders for a moment - "I have my doubts... But this is a just a memento, nothing else"
Nef raises an eyebrow. "A memento?" Nef ponders whether she wants to pursue this conversation further. Milani is not one of the native gods of the Razor; Nef does not need to honor her. She could just let this go, and let this puzzling crewman of hers deal with his shaky faith on his own.
She could... but wasn't she the closest thing to a Chaplain this boat had? "That's a very interesting phrasing, Reknar." She shows him her own tattoo. "Generally speaking, when someone has a holy symbol inked permanently into their skin, there's a powerful reason for it. You listened to my dreams about Horus. If you would like me to return the favor... about Milani, or anything else, let me know. I'm here to listen."
She eyes Underdog in his pack, and says, "I know you already have one friend. But it never hurts to collect more, does it?"
"And, if you believe in looooove," Oren says with an exaggerated flourish, "you don't run from it. To me, that means it probably wasn't that. But, if it was, then he was a fool. So twice over then."
Oren's words hit hard, a nasty echo of the voices in her own head that were telling her that Zem hadn't really loved her, or how could he have left? "I believe in loooove," she says, devastated. "Am I running, Opu? I am, aren't I?" she stares down at her half empty cup. "I wanna run. Wanna exorcise his ghost outta my heart."
"Run, rum, to the Razor a girl comes..."
She gets up, the world spinning, so she spins with it, arms stretched wide. "I let him go, but he's still... still inside me." Zem had slipped past all her defenses, claimed her heart and left. And it hurt. It hurt so bad. No, she won't give into the sorrow. "I let you go!" she shouts at the Zem in her head.
And then she's stumbling out the door, running to Lani's lab. She knocks on the door. "Hey, Lani! Lani! You're a witchdoctor! How do I get him OUT? You're my guide, right? I'm trying to figure out how to get drunk, and get Zem outta my head. Help me, Lani! Help me figure it out!"
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Oren shakes his head. He'd seen this before...and the only remedy to get Nef back to herself was time. He'd hoped the alcohol would have done the trick, but apparently not. "I'm no witch doctor, but I recommend you drink until you pass out, so you'll get a good night's sleep. Everything is better with a good nights sleep.". Unless you have a raging hangover...but we'll take things one at a time.
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"Ah, yes. Sometimes it is best to forget." He looks down and shuffles his feet for a moment, "Yes, thank you. I believe I will join you."
He looks to Jacinth, nodding along with her approval and wry suggestion, "I'm glad I have your approval, Captain. The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned."
Rata finally finishes his work for the night and drops down to the deck, taking a moment to breathe in the night air and gaze up at the starry skies. Tonight should be... interesting. He eagerly heads below, and returns Nef's wave once he enters the Steward's Cabin, and can't help but chuckle at her joyous greeting.
"Nef, I think you're not the only one that needs this. Pass me a mug!" he pulls up a stool and gladly accepts his full mug of rum. He tosses is back without much reaction, he was quite used to the strong rums sailors preferred and settled himself in for a relaxing night of (hopefully) good-natured revelry.
Rata gives Oren a questioning look as he refills his mug, "Ah, why so interested all of a sudden? There's not much to tell really. I grew up on my father's vessel, hoping one day to captain a ship of my own. Unfortunately, things didn't play out exactly as I had hoped..." he sobers up at that last bit. "But you all are well aware of what drives me. I hope to find out more when we get back to port." He takes a sip from his newly full mug, nursing the dark liquor this go round. "I didn't spend much time in Bloodcove as my father kept us pretty busy on the Concord. My mother... She was not well. So my father was primarily responsible for looking after my sister and I. We didn't get into much trouble, we were good kids."
He turns the question back to Oren, "What about yourself? How did you come to meet Aikane?" He reaches for a crust of bread, chewing slowly as he listened to Oren's yarn.
She looks up at Oren, who'd followed her into this hallway. She stops shouting outside Lani's door, looking thoughtful and a bit deflated as Oren leads her back. "Do you believe in looooove, Opu? How 'bout you two?" she looks at Jacinth and Rata. "You should, you know. Believe in love."
She listens to Rata's story of growing up on the Concord, and smiles. "Never heard you talk like that before. 'Bout the happy times with your sister. I like hearing 'bout that... What 'bout you, Jacinth? Got brothers? Sisters? What brought you here with Sen'gar?"
She grabs a crust of bread, and puts her mug down. If Zem were here, he would have taken the mug from her and said, Aka, you've had enough. She snorts. If Zem were here, he wouldn't have needed to take the mug from her hand because she would have never gotten drunk.
"You guys are my friends, the best friends a girl can ask for. " She looks at Jacinth, and says, "He's cute you know. Y'should grab him, and not let go. Kiss him early. That's what I think."
"I've loved plenty. Usually for short quick bursts," the man says with a evil belly laugh, "but as for the longstanding looooooovve I talked about earlier, that's not really my thing! I'm not one to condemn, but that's never been my experience."
"Short quick bursts?" Nef looks puzzled for a moment, and then suddenly she snorts. "Hahahaha! Short bursts! I get it!" Then she sobers a moment. "Never did it. The burst thing. Know ALL 'bout it... Grew up in harem... but 'spectable girls in Qadira don't. And I haven't. What's it like?"
Nef raises an eyebrow. "A memento?" Nef ponders whether she wants to pursue this conversation further. Milani is not one of the native gods of the Razor; Nef does not need to honor her. She could just let this go, and let this puzzling crewman of hers deal with his shaky faith on his own.
She could... but wasn't she the closest thing to a Chaplain this boat had? "That's a very interesting phrasing, Reknar." She shows him her own tattoo. "Generally speaking, when someone has a holy symbol inked permanently into their skin, there's a powerful reason for it. You listened to my dreams about Horus. If you would like me to return the favor... about Milani, or anything else, let me know. I'm here to listen."
She eyes Underdog in his pack, and says, "I know you already have one friend. But it never hurts to collect more, does it?"
"Definitely not an holy symbol for me" - the man snorts - "Just a reminder, so I don't forget a loss"
Shaking his head, he abruptly stops the conversation - "It matters not, thanks for offering to listen. I'll keep it in mind Nefertiti" - and moves away with a smile - "I'll get to my chores. Hard work and all that"
"Definitely not an holy symbol for me" - the man snorts - "Just a reminder, so I don't forget a loss"
Shaking his head, he abruptly stops the conversation - "It matters not, thanks for offering to listen. I'll keep it in mind Nefertiti" - and moves away with a smile - "I'll get to my chores. Hard work and all that"
She feels that word, 'loss', to the core of her soul. Her mother, her sister, her homeland... her love. And she knows this man has lost something deep and meaningful as well. But she understands the need for privacy, understands that after what this man's been through, he needs to get his bearings before he can trust others again.
"Hard work," she echoes. "Yes, I have chores awaiting me too." And if I run out, I'll find new ones. Work will be always here for me. The thought was comforting, in a way. "Thank you, Reknar."
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"Short quick bursts?" Nef looks puzzled for a moment, and then suddenly she snorts. "Hahahaha! Short bursts! I get it!" Then she sobers a moment. "Never did it. The burst thing. Know ALL 'bout it... Grew up in harem... but 'spectable girls in Qadira don't. And I haven't. What's it like?"
"Well, from my end, it's pretty great. Never figured it to be quite as awesome from the receiving end, so to speak, but I never really thought of it, I don't think," Oren mutters, chewing his bread while pondering the subject. "Ah, who knows? You'll find out one day I'm sure!"
Oren feels the conversation getting heavy again, and tries to lighten it up a bit by responding to Rata's earlier question. "Aikane? Well, I met him once at a bar. Pretty unremarkable evening, to be honest. If you can't tell, he's a bit of a quiet one, kinda guarded. I never know what's going on in his head. Seems a decent enough sort....he taught me to play blackjack. But, he was by himself, as was I, looking for a bit of trouble, I guess. The bar was crowded, ad I got bumped into his table. I had much more rum than I've had with you all so far, so I was in a mood to sit and talk. After apologizing for bumping his table, and offering him a drink, I grabbed a seat at his table. He drank until the end of the bottle plus one more, I think," he snorted as he laughed. "The night got blurry...I don't remember much of what either of us said. Mostly lies, I'd bet," he again laughs, slapping the table as the rum began taking its hold on him. "Now what was I talking about again? Ah, never you mind, I'm pretty sure I'm getting boring!"
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Nef frowns at the unappealing descriptions of sex offered by both Jacinth and Oren. "S'at true, Rata? Thought there more to it. You know, love and open skies and dark carpets of the night."
As she quotes Zem, she realizes that there is a reason she still believes in love, despite the pain and heartache she is feeling.
Hush now Aka. Love is not meant to stay hidden, it is meant to run wild and breathe the fresh air - do not feel embarrassed or ashamed. This love is part of you, part of us.
When she closes her eyes, she can still hear his voice. "Maybe having a ghost in your head... maybe it's not all bad. Maybe, maybe he'll come find me." The thought calms the ache in her heart a little.
She listens to Jacinth's story of why she had to come to the Razor, and hugs Jacinth. "S'okay, Kaiku. We'll make it right."
She then lays her head on Jacinth's shoulder, and promptly passes out.
_____________________
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As the party proceeds in the Stewards cabin to its logical conclusion, with Nefertiti passed out and the others in various stages of drunkeness, those who are on duty maintain their steady vigil as the Rita sails along in the dark of night.
Aikane and Reknar are patrolling the decks on the look out for any ships nearby, while Maka and Stinky Pete man the helm and the tops, respectively. Wedjat dozes in the Crows nest, as he is wont to do. As the sounds of the party die down, an eerie silence falls over the Rita, with the only sounds the creaking of the sails and the whoosh of the waves as the ship plows through them.
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Oren turns in late, grabbing his comfy spot in the hammock. He falls immediately to sleep, with a grin of his face after the fun conversation, snoring like a stampeding herd of aurochs. He was too besotted to dream, but he certainly embraced the wonderful blackness of sleep.
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"Hey, Lani! Lani! You're a witchdoctor! How do I get him OUT? You're my guide, right? I'm trying to figure out how to get drunk, and get Zem outta my head. Help me, Lani! Help me figure it out!"
Ke' stuck his head out the door, weaving a little.
The apparatus in the background quietly percolated away, dripping an amber colored liquid into a gourd."Wha? Oh yesh, mby brrrother." He slurred.
He tried thinking a bit, then gave up.
"Ash your witch doctor, I prescrib thish."
He reached back and pulled a gourd with XXX printed on its side. It has about a quart of the amber liquid.
"Thish should do it." He nodded confidently.
Its a pretty good whiskey (maybe a bit peaty).
He smiled a little as she went back to the wardroom.
"For a little while anyway." He said quietly.
Nefertiti stares at Lani, and stares at the apparatus behind him. "You're drunk.... You miss him too!" She stops pounding on Lani's door and just looks up at him. "Thas not allowed. You gonna get drunk, you get drunk with us. You gonna miss him, you miss him with us." She takes Lani's hand and says, "Come with us, and I tell you all 'bout the story I told Whale 'bout you. It was great!"
She drags him back with her and Oren to the Steward's Cabin. "Hey Everbody I found Lani! He's joining us!" Then she looks at Lani and remembers the conversation they'd had earlier about touching. "Did it again, didn't I? Touched you without per... per... asking. Sorry."
She looks sad for a minute. "Forgot you didn't like it..."
"Oh! The story... Told Whale 'bout you! You went whiffle-FWAP, whiffle-FWAP... Can't 'member the rest. I tell you later!"
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the little Menehune bellows out with all his lungs. Aikane sounds the alarm.
It was at this time that I again reached a familiar conclusion. That it was a terrible mistake to ever purchase this wretched ship.
"INCOMING!!" - Reknar echoes Aikane's alarm, taking the few moments to react by bracing himself, and rolling his arm in the rigs.