Saph steps up to Hedy’s side and leans forward, mindful of how this aligns her cleavage with the dwarven stranger’s eyes.
“I’ll give ya one guess what island’s the setting of our exciting tale.”
She’s thinking of Cucumber as she says this, but she doesn’t wink. (A wasted effort.)
Hedy will straighten as Saph takes over the distracting show for the guards and harbormaster alike. The captain is quite confident in her ability to tease and attract, but one cannot contend with the pure abundant curves of her blue beauty here. A playful smile on her lips as she watches and waits, mainly to see if there is a new fee to be levied or if it is the standard bribe.
The dwarf jots down Hedy’s name and the single word ‘business’ in his ledger. He doesn’t smile at all but gives a single nod to the captain and Saph to acknowledge their friendliness. He and his two men follow the women through the hold and return with them to the main deck, apparently satisfied that the Talon is hauling treasure and not Chelaxian soldiers. ”It’s two gold to dock in the harbor,” he informs Hedy, ”Will you be staying in Crescent Harbor or crossing over to the mainland?”
Paddy backs out of the room, squinting the entire time.
--------------
Paddy says "Bedder sell fer de 'ighest price, eh? Me tinks dat be de mainlanders."
"I agree, Padrym. There is a lovely chowder place in the harbor, but the markets if the most important."
The harbormaster holds out his hand awaiting payment. Once the captain ponies up, he makes a final note in his ledger and snaps the book closed. "Pier F, berth 4 is open on the mainland side. There's a mooring fee of one gold a day, but it beats trying to unload by the ship's boat. Enjoy your time in Port Peril." His business concluded, he turns on his heels and walks purposefully back ashore.
The crew sets back out into the harbor and by mid afternoon are moored to pier F and ready to enjoy all that the city has to offer.
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The first night before the ship docks at Port Peril Vadoma goes to each officer and requests their presence for dinner in town, her treat. Once every one has arrived Vadoma makes sure they all have a glass of wine and then stands at the head of the table tapping her glass to get the attention of everyone. "If I may have your attention. I wanted to thank you all for the time we crewed together. Hedy, you were, no, you are a great Captain don't ever doubt that. I also consider you a friend and I hope that never changes.
"Jordana I know it was rough for you, losing your father as you did, it will take time to heal, maybe I should've said something sooner but I know you don't like people intruding into your personal life. Anyway take the time you need, your father wasn't a perfect man but he did what he thought best at the time and often put the needs of others ahead of his own, try to think kindly of him.
"Murillo, in your own way you do quite a bit for the crew. Stay true to who you are, don't let your background and those who would judge you for it, overcome the man you can be.
"Sapphire I don't know you well but I admire you for using your past to help define your future instead of blaming it for your present. You seem a good fit on this ship and I feel confident in everyone's future as long as you are around.
"Paddy I saved you for last because you truly mean the most. I told you once that I only wanted fun, no strings, no attachment. Unfortunately for me it didn't turn out that way. I had fallen in love with you by the very next day and tried to combat those feelings by ignoring you, I'm sorry I did you that disservice.
"As for me I plan on making a quick trip to my hometown, it has been quite some time since I've seen my brothers, then I am not, as usual I will let the cards guide me. Again, thank you for the time we all spent together."
At that she sits down and continues the meal, determined to do her part to make this occasion a happy one, that all will have good memories of. She doesn't leave town for a few days and when she sees them around town she will talk to them if they want.
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Saph never got a chance to say goodbye to her dearest friends in the past, which hits her as Doma makes the announcement.
She gives the woman a hug. It’s awkward and she knows it. “I, uh… don’t think I’ve ever really given a proper goodbye. But since you brought up my past, or how it drives me… there really isn’t a reason to complain. I grew up in a prison, I wanted freedom, and I got it.
“Maybe for you, the idea that you can have lust without love was your prison. If you’re in love, enjoy it. But whatever you do, I’m sorry to see you go, but I’m also happy for you. And for your brothers—I’m sure they’ve missed you.”
Saph raises her glass, then drinks to get herself to stop talking before she overshares.
Hedy has a moment of doubt, a sullen look on her lovely face, as not one but two of her officers decide to leave. She doesn't like doubt, not one bit, having done her best to stamp it with the butt of a rifle and strangle it like a hiccup. So that is what she tries to do her.
"I'll miss you, Vadoma Ondine. Truly. Say hello to your brothers, and send us word on how you are now and again." her hug is warm, tight, and long, but then it is over. "Calm waters, sail-sister."
Jordanna looks like she has something on her mind after Vadoma's announcement. She stands as well. "I've been thinking for some time, and I feel like it is also time for me to part ways with you all. My father rescued me from becoming a monster like my mother. I became part of his crew and sailed with him because I didn't know any other life.
"I don't normally let people in, but I feel like I have found something meaningful with Tugg. I want to see where it will lead. Maybe we can actually settle down and not have to live a life of danger on the seas.
"I'm sure you all will be well. Captain, you have a good crew. Keep doing what you're doing. I'll see you around."
The changeling says her farewells before heading off...
“I always assumed you would come after the captain’s hat one day Jordanna. Leading to one or both of us dead and gone.” Hedy says to the departing woman, lightly like she was talking about the weather, not killing each other.
Hedy knew the rager would have had the upper hand in a straight-up brawl so the alchemist had been on her toes watching for when the time might be approaching, ready with all sorts of exciting plans to tilt it her way. Poison, a misplaced bomb under the pillow, twin barrels of her pistol when the other is eating breakfast, waiting for a moment in the water to drag her down to a dark tomb... you know, fun exercises from Making Friends and Influencing Others.
“Despite being pretty sure we’d be bloody before our time was up, I still thought the world of you, Jordanna Carver, Miss brooding pile of claws and glares. Hell, I woke up all a puddle a time or two from particularly imaginative dreams of what a night together might have been like.” she sighed heavily, a heated twinkle in her eyes at the memory. “But you found love, and are leaving the seas, which is truly Insane. A miserable maggot must have crawled in that brain of yours and hopefully someday you’ll dig it out and be back out her roaring to the sea that I am A CARVER!”
“But not today. Goodbye, Jordanna, I wish you all the peace you can handle.”
Paddy's eyes are wide at Vadoma's confession. He looks from side to side to see his companions looking at him. Awkwardly, he puts a hand behinds his head and says "G'wan! Ye godda tell me like dat? Vadoma, yer a fine lass, but I ain't jumpin' ship fer anyone in dis time o' mine. Not ti'll me beard's turn grey. Oh hen." He hugs Vadoma tightly. "Lang mae yer lum reek hen."
--------------------------
To Jordanna he says "Aye an give it a year or tree, an ye bes backs on de waves I tell ye. Gods be wid ye Jordanna."
After the goodbyes, Hedwig begins a right and proper carousing, pulling the blue master of arms with her. If asked why she will respond with a "You, dear Saphire, are perfect in many many ways. You talk with a loud eager joy, you are a delight to look at, and it is obvious that you can pop a man's head off if he decides to get handsy." she gives a wide smile.
+1 infamy
+2 infamy
+2 infamy
After the goodbyes, Hedwig begins a right and proper carousing, pulling the blue master of arms with her. If asked why she will respond with a "You, dear Saphire, are perfect in many many ways. You talk with a loud eager joy, you are a delight to look at, and it is obvious that you can pop a man's head off if he decides to get handsy." she gives a wide smile.
“Well, since you put it that way…”
Saph gladly follows Hedy to wherever they’re going.
Murillo sulks and nods as the two women give their farewells. "Good luck. If either of you come back to your senses, come back to us as well." We've lost our witch to wanderlust and our first mate to mating. Besmara's bones, it's my fault - I've let ship discipline stray from draconian to docility! We need to put the steel back into the rest of the crew before any get the idea to follow suit.
Money's always a good start.
"Captain, I'll see to starting the sale of our cargoes." The inquisitor brings an assistant with him to the markets and begins spending his days badgering and brow-beating the best prices he can from the island's buyers.
Later, while Sapphire is spending some alone time in town a strange lady comes up to her. Standing a few inches under six feet and having the characteristic build of a half-elf would mark her heritage as quite obvious if it weren't for a few oddities, the most noticeable thing about her is her skin, having a mottled combination of blue and green it takes a moment of staring until you realize that her skin has a pattern of waves on it, her hair a pale blue and her eyes a sea-green leaves you wondering what her story is. "Pardon me, I heard you were looking for someone to craft some items. I have the ability but I have something I need in return, possibly we can reach an accord?"
Saph is about to order a drink for herself and Hedy, when she is approached. Craft some…? Oh!
“Wow, rumors spread fast around here! You kinda heard right. All the clothing I have on me, and this amulet…” She touches her fingers to the blue fist-shaped pendant nestled in her cleavage. “…all have some kinda magic. I can lift over a thousand pounds or run around bare-assed in the snow long as I got my top on. That sorta thing.”
She has this look like she forgot something… Oh, f~*~. I did. Forgot my manners, she chides herself before playing off the social-awkwardness.
“In case the rumors didn’t include my name, I’m Saph. It’s short for the Sapphire Bullet… not like…I don’t shoot people or anything.” Saph stops herself. Nevermind your nickname. Ask her about the accord thing! “Anyway, what can I do for ya?”
Hedy is playing to a sizable group of pirates hanging on her every word, well they might be hanging on other things, like her dark eyes, the cut of the captain's coat against her curves, her perpetual smirk, all leading to the hope she'll end up in one or more of their beds that night,
But still, they are listening and remembering enough to spread their reputation some.
She looks over at one point to see her bodyguard chatting to a simply stunning half-elf of amazing colors, which makes her forget her place for a moment. ask about that later she tells herself before she is back into the wrestling match between a fire breathing zombie captain and her crew!
----
Later that night, she catches Murillo coming back from a day of selling or other things. "A word Chaplin, if you don't mind." not waiting on an answer before leading him to her cabin.
Once there, she pulls out a bottle of something truly horrid. "I've never seen the point of expensive whiskey. I mean it is nice, but more often than not after a bit, you can't taste much, and worse you blink and that hundred gold is drunk up with little recollection." she pours them both a glass and then sits, placing her boots on the table, and leaning back.
She gets to the point quickly "I have a first mate position open and can't think of a better person on the ship to be it, than you. " she's smart enough to know his style is more toward Jordina than her own, but that is what she needs, she feels at least. "I will keep being the Carrot, and you become the Stick."
"Aerin." She says in response, and then she starts talking about her needs. "I need to travel, I'm not in trouble, there won't be anyone coming after me, but I want to get out of Port Peril. I've done some sailing in my life, don't mind working for my passage, and I know a fair bit about magic. As long as it doesn't involve anything too creepy I'm willing to do almost anything for boarding privileges."
There is genuine empathy in Saph’s eyes.
She turns to the bar tender. “I’ll have a pina colada, if ya got ’em, and Aerin here gets a drink on me.” Saph gives Aerin a moment to place her order (and if they don’t have pina coladas, Saph orders some other fruity beverage).
“I can relate to having to get away. I turned on my master—like, both slave owner and martial arts instructor—and got on the kinda ship where they don’t ask questions. When the men saw me lift what some of them could barely drag, they let me have my space.” While Saph won’t be the one to bring up Hedy’s courtesan past, she feels comfortable saying, “You won’t need to do anything creepy.”
"I can't think of anyone better either." The inquisitor remains standing, but takes his glass in hand and raises it in toast. "I accept your offer, Captain. Never let it be said a Murillo is unwilling to serve another so long as it serves him." He knocks back the cheap whiskey then clears his throat.
"Best get to it. Any orders, Captain?"
Hedy gives the man a lovely smile and a tilt of her head, she drinks her own alcoholic piss. "Well, a laundry list, unfortunately. Spreading our reputation and selling our haul is underway. The hull needs repair, we need to replace our stores, and replace our officers." she lifts a finger for each one, then starts lowering them when she assigns "Azadi can take care of the repairs. Our new quartermaster can prop up our stores, and leaving officers on our main list." only one finger still up, which isn't too bad.
Lowering her hand, she bolts the rest of her piss. "Speaking of which, keep an eye on the new ones. We've been through one scrape, seen their mettle, but one can never be too sure until we've seen them gut someone whose done nothing but get in our way."
The captain stands, looking up at her first mate's eyes. She knows the man is dangerous, greedy, and right rotten but in a good way. She's the same so that works. "When the last nail's been sold off, we sail. It is time to be pirates again." blood, fire, and glory fill her dark eyes as she dismisses him.
Paddy does a little bit of shopping with his new wealth, adding on a magical eyepatch and some magic boots, and upgrading his mithral armour with magic as well. The rest of his time is spent in one drinking hole or another, singing, dancing, f!!&ing, getting into bar fights, and who knows what else. Paddy doesn't stop until either Captain Hedy orders to set sail, or his pockets start running dry.
Jerk is right there on Paddy's shoulder pretty much the entire time. He gets into the booze just as happily, and even sings to the best of his ability. He can even dance or play the drums.
She watches ax the tall blue woman orders a drink and offers her one as well, "Saph, short for Sapphire, should be easy to remember." she tells herself. "Killer Bee" she says to the bartender. With drink in hand Aerin follows Saph to a table and sits with her, when she can catch the attention of a serving woman she orders the catch of the day, then she takes a sip of her drink. "Thanks, this hits the spot. I want you to know that I grew up on ships so I understand what needs to be done. I'm not a stranger to hard work and I respect the chain of command." Aerin leans in conscious of invading the other woman's space but not wanting anyone else to hear what she's about to say. "My father is Sir Byrany the White, won the Free Captain's Regatta three years running. That of course was when I was a little girl, I admit he is not so well-known now. I only mention it to impress upon you two things; I know what I'm doing on a ship and I have no problems aligning myself with those that find themselves being on the far side of polite society."
Paddy tries to belch the alphabet
Saph sips her drink, then says of ships, “I’m sure you know ’em better than I do. Luckily, I know fighting and workouts. I’m the Master at Arms, so I gotta run all these exercise routines and training regimens. It’s fun!
“I don’t know if you got a glimpse of the beautiful undine woman telling stories of our adventure on Blue Booby Island.” Saph at this point has simply embraced the unfortunate coincidence. “We didn’t name the place after me.
“Anyway, Cap’n Hedy’s the undine woman. I think I should introduce ya proper. As for the crafting offer… how about you show off your talents? I can pay the material cost. Would that be like the ‘accord’ you had in mind?”
The newly appointed first mate takes an even more boisterous Paddy and sets to selling off the ship's cargo. The two prove an effective team and every day the Night Talon grows lighter while her coffers grow fuller. That fact that the dwarf can keep up with Murillo's vigorous bartering is a testament to his stamina as he seems to spend too little time sleeping and invests every waking moment he's not with the first mate on eating, drinking, and screwing his way through port.
On the third night, you end up spending most of your time at The One-eyed Hag, a tavern by the south end of the docks with the head of a one-eyed sea hag floating in a jar on a shelf behind the bar. The drinks there are strong and cheap, and the scoundrels who frequent the place are more than happy to gamble on everything from drinking and fighting to cards and cock-size. There's a waitress there by the name of Krista who takes a liking to you. She's a short and somewhat stout human woman with copper hair, abundant cleavage, and an ass you could hide a warhammer in. She's happy to provide free companionship that evening for several hours after her shift. After that, the hag becomes your go-to 'end of the night' destination. As often as you show up there, she makes sure your night ends sweaty and satisfied. After a few days, she even warms up to the idea of starting the fun in a dim corner of the common room whenever she has a break.
Not everything is smooth sailing though. About a week in, you're down more than you care to count in game of cards when you get an incredibly lucky hand. You bet big and, Felthas Seablood, an handsome elven corsair is unfortunate enough to call. You take him for everything you'd lost and more. Accusations of cheating fly and brawl quickly follows. It starts with just the two of you and quickly devolves into chaos. Everyone in the bar is bloodied afterwards, but all except the elf eventually settle back into the merriment. Felthas skulks away eyeballing you as he goes.
Whiel Paddy carouses, Murillo will spend his nights scouring the town for the latest piratical scuttlebutt.
Hedy wants a full crew before hunting down fat merchants, so spends the rest of her days in taverns and jails.
She'll also have a chat with Murillo, Saph, and Paddy about armaments. Specifically crossbows. A volley or two of heavy crossbows and ballista bolts would make any enemy softened for the boarding. At least that is her thinking and is curious about their thoughts.
The young man stared across the tavern.
Yeah, that's her. Well, it's probably her. Dark hair, blue coat. Miska said something about an owl, but I don't see an owl. If this isn't her I swear I'm gonna find that weasel and crack him one.
She'd been talking to a steady stream of patrons, mostly in groups, probably recruiting sailors for her ship's next voyage. Aersten timed it out to a point when she was alone, then walked over to her table, hands out where they could be seen.
"So you'd be Captain Bogg, right? The one who made a big name for herself coming in with a small fortune in goods this week. My name's Aersten, may I join you a moment?" He catches the bartender's attention, snapping his fingers incredibly loudly. "Have the girl bring a bottle of the Taldan red, and two glasses, could ya?"
Hedy gives the man an appraising look, tinged with a mischievous glint. "Well, it was a group effort, if truth be told. but Captain's get the greatest share in the reputation department." she smiles slow, leaning forward in her chair. "Now, Aersten, was it, what would such a unique young man like yourself want with me?" her finger dipping into the red to swirl circles as she waits to see what he wants.
Aersten smiles. She hasn't told you to screw off just yet. Just keep talking, and don't say anything too stupid.
"Well, that's just it." He points at Hedy. "Like you said, I'm sure it was a group effort. And putting it straight, I'd like to be part of your next effort." He picks up his wine glass, raises it to the Captain, and knocks back half of it in one go.
"I came into town day before yesterday, on board the Fer-de Lance under Captain Jassen. We did well enough, but it's time for me to find a new ship. Ain't nothing wrong, and if'n you can find Jassen he'll tell you as much the same. Just time for me to make a change." He points again. "Word's been goin' round about you and yours, I figured I'd see if you were taking on officers."
He takes a breath, then continues. "Now I've done damn near everything there is to do on a ship, 'cept for the cooking. I've worked in the rigging, I've piloted a bit, I can use a saw and hammer without taking off my own fingers. I've boarded, and fought off boarders. I'm good with weapons, I ain't afraid of nobody, and I keep to the Queen's Code. I only got two stickin' points," he holds up two fingers on his right hand, before tapping them on the table for emphasis. "I don't deal in slaves, and I don't go in for slaughter. A man has the common sense to lay down his arms, he should get to keep his parts intact for that. I serve the Pirate Queen, not the Rough Beast."
"So, Captain Bogg, have you got a spot for a man like that on your next voyage?" Aersten desperately wants to pour another glass of wine, but he feels it's best to wait for the Captain's answer.
"Ah, That is what you are after." she says with an easy playfulness. Lifting her glass to her lips, she sips, letting the moment drag a bit. Then sets and settles, playfulness slipping away into business. "You look like you can handle yourself, no doubt. The callouses, the smell of the sea, all that. But appearances and words are just that. Tomorrow, if you still be interested, we'll put you through your paces. Do you see that Saphire over there making a play for the half-elf." she nods her head over to the table where the blue master of arms sits with biceps that could pop a man's head off "She'll brawl with you to test the important bits. My first mate is a servant of the Pirate Queen, so will put you back together, no worries."
Turning her eyes back to him, she adds one more bit "As to your code, slavery is an abomination, and slavers get no mercy no matter the throwing down of arms or not. Anyone else gets a pass once they are no longer a threat to me and mine." she sips again, lets the taste linger, then belts the rest back. "Any questions?"
Aersten's eyes almost blaze blue with excitement, the vertical pupils widening for a moment as he slaps the table in triumph. "Skont!" He grins at Captain Bogg. "No questions come to mind, I think we covered the important ones. I look forward to showing you what I am can do. All of you." He looks over his shoulder and notes the blue woman. Damn, you're in it now, Aersten. He shrugs. One way or another she'll know she was in a fight.
After getting the details of where the ship is berthed, he stands, grinning fiercely. Aersten then pours another glass of wine for each of them, and raises his to the Captain. "To opportunity." Assuming she accepts the toast, this time he drains the glass in a single go. For a moment he looks like he wants to throw the empty glass as he looks around the room, but seems to decide against it. Aersten gestures to the tabletop. "Please, accept the rest of the bottle as my thanks for your time. Until tomorrow, Captain, I'll leave you to your own affairs."
Hedy leans back in her chair, watching him go, then drifts her eyes around the room, picking out her crew here and there. Then sighs, no pursuers tonight. So she'll have to hunt one or more than one for the evening. She stands, grabs the bottle, and goes to be interested.
Hedy much like their quartermaster has not spent a night alone in dock. Her preferences are only that they interest her in someway. Rarely does she repeat though.
The next morning the crew not on leave are gathered on the rigging or raised deck to watch the fight. "A lovely morning to you all. Today we have a request of a fine young man to be an officer on your ship. To be rightly considered, he needs to earn the respect of our master of arms. So Aersten of the piercing turquoise gaze meet the Saphire Bullet."
Aersten walks up the gangplank to the main deck of the ship, noting the large number of observers. Well, that's to be expected. They'll get a look at you now, Aersten.
He stops at the top of the gangplank. "Hello again, Captain, permission to come aboard?" he addresses Hedy. Assuming permission granted, he nods and give a smile to the master at arms. "Davs," he greets the blue woman, as he sizes her up. Wherever Jassen was getting his men, he clearly wasn't getting the best the Shackles has to offer. Bearing his boarding pike, Aersten asks her, "So, how are we doing this?"
Saph politely returns the Skald greeting as she sizes up the man. Having overheard the ‘brawl’ comment in the bar, she says, “I grew up in the ring, or rather, in a cage next to a ring. Everything on me—”
Saph is referring to her outfit: a top that bares her abs, a blue fist-shaped amulet in her cleavage, slippers and wrist bands and around a deep blue pair of shorts is a thick belt.
“—I earned.
“I did overhear the word ‘brawl’ last night. There ain’t a need to beat each other senseless, but the Cap’n wants a test.” She unwraps her wrists. “There are to be no weapons, no armor, and like myself…” She unlaces her ribbons to slip out of her footwear. “I’m asking you to remove any magical jewelry—” She removes the amulet. “—or magical accessory—” She removes the belt. “—or magical clothing.” She removes her top.
She stands wearing only a breast-band (borrowed from Ronnie?) and a pair of shorts.
Two chalk lines are spaced twenty feet apart. She stands behind one of them.
“My blows will not be lethal. I expect the same courtesy. Fight ends when I say it does, or when I’m tits-up, in which case I expect to be magically awakened by a healing spell so I can interview our new guy.”
Aersten nods as Saph outlines what she expects from the fight. "These terms, they sound acceptable." You're probably walking right into the manticore's den doing this, but maybe that's part of it. You've never been afraid to take a few lumps, Aersten. Time for a few more.
He walks over to the line opposite the one Saph goes to, lays his pike in a nearby rack, and proceeds to doff his buckler, cloak, and breastplate, after which he lets an assortment of weapons clatter to the deck. He arranges everything in a neat pile, then stands at the line in his boots, breeches and the tunic he wears under his armor.
Fists raised, he meets her gaze unflinchingly, and says, "Ready."
They both stand ready. Their eyes lock, and both seem to acknowledge it's on. Aersten gets the jump on Saph, rushing forward and hammering a fist into her midsection before she can do something similar.
♥️28/40
Saph is exhilarated by the blow. Been a while since…!
She sinks into Dragon Stance.
Saph gives an approving grin… but she didn’t say stop.
It's one thing to know your opponent is going to hit you. But the speed with which Saph lashes out, seemingly from everywhere around him at once, takes Aersten completely by surprise.
Reeling, seeing spots, but unwilling to yield, Aersten unleashes one more terrific blow, feels one of his ribs go, and hits the deck.
Taking a standard action when disabled causes me 1pt actual lethal damage, which coupled with the frightening beating you just administered, knocks me out. :)
Saph bows after the man chooses to fight on while staggered, and knocks himself out.
“Heal him. I was gonna tell him he passed, but… I’ll explain when he’s awake. Aersten deserves to hear what I have to say.”
Sapphire does not yet dress, simply because Aersten cannot. If any crew smirks at the downed man, Saph will flatly command, “Respect him.”
"Bloody borin'." Paddy gripes. Though he walks without stagger, his spirit isn't quite back this morning. He crouches in front of the passed out warrior, and says "You needs a pickmeup, b'y." He pours a little bit of cheap ale into the warrior's mouth, which seems to shock him awake.
Pulling the man onto his feet, Paddy says "Ain't yer fault, b'y. Saph's one of em brawlers, an' fights monsters an' undead wid 'er fists. Gud on ya fer playin' 'er game. Aye wouldn'tof."
"Ain't yer fault, b'y. Saph's one of em brawlers, an' fights monsters an' undead wid 'er fists. Gud on ya fer playin' 'er game. Aye wouldn'tof."
As Aersten awakens, he takes the hand offered by the dwarf, and hears him tell his tale. "My thanks. You didn't, eh? Don't that just make me lucky. Aersten, son of Vidar," he introduces himself. "'Scuse me a minute."
He gets up, and walks over to Saph. Extending a hand, he says, "Here's hoping we never dance that number again! I had about half a ship collapse on me when I was a babe; I'd rather live that moment again than the one we just had," he says with a grin.
Hedy's keeping her own score of the fight, taking off points for example when he agrees to those horrible terms. Any brick with a eye can see Sapphire is made for breaking things. Yes the new guy is a tank and half, but still. Honor... she shakes her head a bit.
The fight though makes her eyebrows raise. Paddy said, bloody boring but still it has a few key points. As in he didn't go down like a wet sack after those crushing kicks, and he even pulled out two right proper punches of his own.
All in all...
At the deck she addresses Murillo first quietly "Excuse the warrior for her order there. I'll talk to her, to make sure she thinks before speaking next time. You can deal with it as you wish if there is another time."
Then loudly "Congratulations, Aesten, son of Vidar. You have passed the second test. Murillo, here..." she nods to the surly man next to her "... the first mate of our Talon, will make sure you are a reasonable example of seaworthy, than we can talk a bit to finalize or have you thrown overboard." she grins, in jest... maybe.
The gathered crew begins cheering as soon as the two fighters start stripping down. There's a flurry of betting as well. Although Saph and Aersten are too preoccupied to hear the specifics, Hedy knows that the majority of it seems to be based not on who will win but on how long the new guy will last against a trained unarmed fighter. Despite the blazing speed with which the fight moves, most of the crew seems impressed with the young man's showing. Only one--a new recruit Hedy just brought aboard the previous afternoon--is subject to the master of arms' correction.
Shockingly, he never removed his clothes. When you explained what you wanted from him, he waited for you to finish undressing then had you lay on your back on the bed. He removed several long narrow needles from inside his robe and, as you drunkenly 'explained' your feelings on pain in the bedroom, began painlessly inserting them into seemingly random points on your body. Once they were in place, he pressed his thumb to your forehead and your whole body seized in an unexpected climax that lasted several full minutes until you passed out.
In the morning you awake to find him, still fully clothed, meditating in the corner of your room. His eyes open as your stir and he greats you with, "good morning, captain."
She accepts the handshake, then puts her right fist to her left palm and bows.
“Cap’n,” Saph says to Hedy, “Aersten, Son of Vidar, is near as tough as our rugged Quartermaster and former first mate. Few others could have stood up to my kicks at full force.
“I agree that that alone passes the test. Where he went above and beyond was removing his gear, surely aware of the value of his possessions, and I gave him the pleasure of retaliating—least I could do—unaware he would harm himself in the off-chance he might knock me out too.
“So, there’s unrelenting bravery.” She looks over the neatly piled gear. “And then there’s that.” She’s referring to the pike. “On Blue Booby Island, we were in plenty of situations where a long pointy stick would have done us good. Couple that with the armor… I’d stand no chance if we fought each other in full gear.”
The nights have been fun. The Port having not disappointed, though it rarely did. That is the beauty of a tradetown, so many different people with so much to offer.
But this night... hmmm...
The raven-haired woman turns on her side contemplating him with a flat stare. After minutes, and without responding to his greeting she gets up, proceeding to get dressed. "Despite the results, I think you misunderstand the nature of intercourse. It is a give and take, a connection between two bodies, even shallow ones night flings share that." she talks like giving a lecture, as she finishes lacing up her boots, then slides up layers of skirts. "Last night, while pleasurable lacked that element that I enjoy. Thank you for the experience but it was not to my liking." Her blouse, and coat, followed lastly by her twin belts of sword and gun. "There one thing I can't quite decide though. Fog of drink, unfortunately. I clearly decided No when the needles came out. The question is did I articulate properly. Well?" the captain is facing him at this point, with her finger tracing the hilt of her pistol as she talks.
"To be sure, you neither said stop, nor went tits up," Aersten says to Saph in a low voice.
Hearing her make some reference to an Island, Blue what? he decides the name she mentioned must be an inside joke among the crew.