Closed Pirates of the Hard Nox [archive]

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QUIRBLES

"Understood."

At the touch to his shoulder, Emryk looked upon the hand that rested there-- and gave a warm smile, nodding once to the gentle doctor. "Well, I believe you've picked the right person for the job, then." He said, giving a playful flex of his arms. Though a weariness still persisted in his muscles that he doubted would go away until he'd gotten his weight back to a proper place, the bitter fatigue of exhaustion had faded. Today, he felt like a new man! "I can carry the burdens of ten men, Emer! We'd be able to lug a whole tank of Wintermint Extract back to the ship, earth willing."
 
FANG

As Caleb and the experienced crew returned from securing the chains for the ship Leo pushed away from the rail and met the One-Eye with a grin and a gleam in his eyes. Exited, manic energy radiated from him, the prospect of going into a real town driving the young man to burst. As Caleb held out his bag Leo took it without hesitation, sliding the strap over his shoulder as he bounced on the balls of his feet.

”You could’ve helped, you know?”Caleb asked as Leo took the bag. Leo only grinned wider before the fairy continued. ”Carry this for me. And don’t leave my side when we get to town-only if I tell you to.” Leo’s grin slipped at bit at the emphasis in Caleb’s words, but it returned quickly.

“Without those shiny little flappers on your back you would understand why I let you birds and pirates handle technical stuff. You know I’m not that bright,” Leo said, echoing a sentiment Caleb had uttered when he thought Leo was out of earshot. Leo had been repeating it to him for a day and half, always with the same grin. “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’ll be right where you can see me at all times. I know how this works by now.” Leo bounced over to the nearest chain, ”Let’s go, let’s go!”

Before Caleb could respond he leapt over the rail, grabbing the links of the chain as he dropped and quickly lowering himself down to the beach. His feet splashed into the cool ocean water and his toes wiggled in the sand beneath the waves with a delighted laugh. As the water receded he looked up to the morning sky with another laugh. One-Eye or not, Leo was going to experience everything the town had to offer!
 
ANNASIEL

Emer raised her eyebrows, biting back a laugh. It was good to see the Baron in good health - there was still a tiredness about him, but his bone-fatigue had given way to a plainly cheerful demeanor that was a welcome sight on the ship. Jokes without sarcasm or innuendo, after all, were often in short supply.

"Well, if we happen to need a tank of it, I will be sure to let you know," Emer replied smoothly, "though I do doubt I will be needing to treat an entire city of throat sores anytime soon."

She gathered some cloth bags she'd set aside and moved for the door.

"There will be plenty to lift, though, I assure you!"
 
QUIRBLES

"You can never be too prepared, dear Emer!" The Baron replied, cheeriness still persisting in his tone long after his display had ended. "You'll never know when an epidemic might hit the ship. But, of course, I kid, I kid." Emryk gave a small clap upon her shoulder-- gentle, hardly forceful. Different than those he'd given to Leo, or Juniper-- supportive, yet with an unspoken softness in the touch and a gentle squeeze of his palm. Then, it was out the clinic door, stepping through the ship alongside the good doctor to move to the top deck.

"As it appears the Hard Nox has little use for my more delicate sensibilities, then lifting I shall do. Oh, by the earth, should you need something hoisted, dear-- look no further." He gave a pat of his chest, head held high. "The finest in all the Empire. Get enough food in me, and I could pull this old vessel right to shore!" He looked down to Emer, now, checking to see if his little boasts were amusing her. Far better to pass the time with laughter, he thought, than with silence or solemnity. "Perhaps I'd need a bit of wind at my back to catch the sails, but... well, did you know that one time, I'd managed to pull..."

And so the stories began, as they walked. Some embellished, some true-- which were which, he would never confess-- though they were told with the same gusto he had possessed since his recovery from near-death.
 
ANNASIEL

This time, the laugh wasn't bit back. It broke out, a short, bright thing, and Emer covered her mouth a second after. He reminded her of her father. That's what it was - that soft-spoken nature, that willingness to make a fool of himself for humor's sake.

The thought made her a little dour, but it was a bittersweet passing, and her smile didn't once falter.

"Oh, I've little doubt of that," she responded, "Why, I daresay in peak of health, a man of your stature could pull two ships, not mere one."

Then he broke into stories. Silly stories - happy ones, of past feats embellished if they'd even been a feat at all. That didn't matter, of course. Emer still listened politely, only speaking to exclaim or ask questions. By the time the tales slowed, she had finished setting the jars back and they were ready to leave for town.

"I must say, Baron Emryk, you've had quite the eventful life."

The air was cool, a healthy breeze coming from the sea. All around, dockhands finished securing rigging, Caleb shouted final orders, and - glancing over the railing - Emer saw Leo splashing in the waves on the beach below.
 
ILLIRICA

Allegria, once more.

They had been there before - or at least, some of the crew had. Sinéad had been there enough times to have a few contacts here and there in the city. It wasn't a place that they raided - pirates they may have been, but running raids on a place like Allegria was a good way to get the entire Navy at your back. No, they wouldn't raid Allegria, and if they pulled their ship up on the rocky shores off to one side, the people of Allegria would pretend they didn't have the faintest idea who the crew of the Hard Nox happened to be, as long as the townspeople ended up with more coin than they lost, when Sinéad's people left port again.

Oh, a few things would no doubt go missing, often in ill-betted card games, but the crew had gold to spend and Allegria had places to spend it. They would get along perfectly well enough. Much of the coin would need to go towards resupply and repair this time - they'd need good timbers to replace what they'd had to use for repairs so far, and wrought iron and nails. Mal had a list, which had twice as many things on it as Sinéad thought it needed to. She would let Mal make a first pass at it, and then argue cost efficacy. Mal had seemed to acquire a little shadow as well, when the little shadow wasn't trailing after Hester, and the shipwright's grumpiness had increased about sixfold in the last three days. Perhaps it was merely the ship, but Sinéad felt that it may have also been due to having someone offer to help every twelve seconds.

Saints and demons forbid that one should ever end up with Leo. Speaking of whom, she'd set Leo on Caleb, figiring that they ought to be able to keep one another out of too much trouble. The rest of the crew could more or less fend for themselves, unless Lucien decided to have a moment in the town - but he'd been brewing his mead and hopefully wouldn't do anything she had to throw him overboard for.

The air here was warmer than she liked, though everyone else found it cool, which was more or less standard. Sinéad vastly preferred the higher altitudes and colder climates. Of course, she couldn't shed heat as well any more after losing her wings, which often left her hot and bothered in entirely wrong way. It was, at least, tolerable. Some beaches were not. Allegria was at least acceptable, and if she'd chose to drop a proper coat and shirt for a halter-style top that left her arms and scars bared, so be it. Better to let the new ones look, and know what they were signing on with.

The ground crunched under her shoes as she landed, tiny rocks scattering out of the way of her steps as the rest of the crew was making their way down as well. They'd leave a skeleton crew back, of course, and take it in shifts, but many of them were eager to get into a town and see something besides the confines of the ship itself.

"I think we may as well start onward, others can catch up later," she stated, to no one in particular and anyone who might care to be listening. "I have to say I'm eager to get into town as well. I want a bath - a real one, with a tub large enough to sit in and fancy soaps that smell like fruit and spices. When I'm done, I want to be clean and smell like a dessert."

She might have adapted to the pirate life well enough, but Sinéad was still a bit of a hedonist, and not at all ashamed of it.

"Let's go."
 
REYN

"King."

There was only one being that could be referring to.

"We were attacked..."

One incomprehensible nightmare of a being, a powerful necromancer who enslaved other powerful necromancers.

"By King."

One who they had as much chance to survive as just about everything else in the world; pretty much dead fucking zero.

"And we survived?"

They snapped off a piece of rotting wood and shoved it into their jacket.

"He must like her."

A sigh.

"Can't be the integrity of this ship. Bloody thing can't even survive being docked, it's been worn so thin."

This was unlike them, criticising their own craftsmanship. But it was true, wasn't it? Surely, if the ship was as well-built as they claimed, it wouldn't be damaged so easily. Had they... had they done a poor job with the Nox?

No, they had that thought two years ago, after that incident with the mage. And the year before that. And two before that. But the ship survived, didn't it? In some way. They had rebuilt it board by board so many times that there likely wasn't even a single nail left over from the original anymore, but it was still here, wasn't it? It was still... whole?

"They are neat, yes."

They muttered absentmindedly, the words coming out before their thoughts could catch up with what was being said.

"They have to be neat."

A smile formed on their face, faint and unsteady.

"That's why I'm here. That's my job. I make things neat."

The smile solidified.

"I hope you find who you're looking for, Pris. I hope she's in one piece."

That was unlikely.

"You don't belong on a ship like this. I suggest you depart when we next port. Just hide in the storeroom for now- and don't you dare go wandering out."

They turned away.

"The captain has already traded the life of one child for this vessel. I don't doubt she'd trade another."
 
DELFI

Caleb felt a sting when Leo brought up something he’d said earlier when he didn’t think the man was listening. Was it guilt? It couldn’t possibly be. He pushed the feeling away upon watching Leo jump down to the beach instead of crossing to the other side, proving his previous comment right.

“Don’t get my stuff wet!” Caleb shouted from the banister, pointing to the treeline. “We’re heading that way, you moron.” He muttered the last part, too quietly for Leo to hear.

At that moment, Sinead stepped out, informing everyone of her plans for the next hour. A bath did sound tempting, but Caleb would rather run errands first, relax later. The quartermaster flapped his wings and crossed to the other side, waiting for Leo to climb up before following Sinead through the path to town.
 
HIGHVOLTAGE

After his brief chat with the fledgeling and the Captain, Lucien had prepared a list of his own. He had visited Mal first, to get his wound stitched up. He seemed to be one of the few people whose company the amalgam did not mind. Perhaps it was their shared nature of being less than alive, or perhaps the occasional scraps he brought them from raids. It could simply be that Mal did not mind him because he had no control over the state of the ship, and thus no way to make their job any harder.

Lucien had scrawled a short list of things to acquire in one of Allegria’s many open-air markets. Spring was slowly turning to summer, and with it came new fruits and spices. While blood itself may have been nectar to him, each person having their own unique taste, most were simply variations of blandness. He could craft something much better given the time and tools. Which meant that night he would have to go looking for a different type of market, one where he could properly source his other ingredients.

The vampire stepped onto the deck, gritting his teeth a bit at the sun beating down upon him, its heat drawn to his dark clothes. His gaze danced across the deck, hearing the familiar shouting of the quartermaster as he yelled at someone in the water, most likely his charge, before taking off towards town, following the Captain. Lucien strode after him, boots silent against the wood of the gangplank. His gaze caught a figure splashing in the water, clad in familiar attire, elegant and black in color. His voice dropped low, his gaze narrowed.

“Why is the new idiot wearing my things, quartermaster?"
 
GOLDEN

Alys was absolutely thrilled to be assigned to kitchen duty with Baron Emryk. As if she didn't have enough to do during the day. She grumbled about it to herself, wondering how on earth they'd been deemed the next best thing after Soren and his breadrolls. But she did it without complaint, biting her tongue and keeping her head down like an obedient crewmate. The first day was rough; she could hardly move from the pain and stiffness she had developed thanks to her injuries. Fortunately, the Baron was absolutely massive, so reaching for ingredients or pots and pans that were above her shoulders became his job. Consequently, there were numerous occasions where'd he move too quickly or bump into something, causing a ruckus - once loud enough to startle her into dropping nearly half a jar of hot red pepper powder into the stew. On the second and third day, Alys began to realize that it wasn't so bad. As Juniper had described, Emryk was respectable, attentive, charismatic... she actually grew to appreciate his many many stories. Plus, as an unforeseen bonus, Alys found it very easy to avoid those who needed to be avoided.

Still, she couldn't help but to look forward to their arrival in Allegria, a vibrant city where she'd spent several marvellous, yet slightly blurring evenings. She hoped for a repeat of all of those activities. Her heavier coin purse, and slightly nicer attire - compared to what she usually wore - would certainly help. Although her leather boots were not an ideal footwear option for sand, she trailed behind the rest of the group, perfectly content with her leisurely pace. The spring breeze felt divine against her bare shoulders; her left remained bruised, the purplish-blue nearly matching the deep indigo colour of her skirt. Knowing she could withstand the chillier mornings and nights, and simply not caring about the presence of her bruise, Alys opted for a classic pairing up top: off the shoulder white shirt, contrasted with a nearly black corset belt.

As Sinead spoke, her gaze met the Captain's back, taking in the scar tissue that had replaced an undoubtedly beautiful set of wings. At the thought, her own seemed to hum in displeasure, sending a chill up her spine. That unpleasantness disappeared quickly though, as she began to imagine the feeling of being in a nice, warm bath, and scrubbing herself with jasmine and orange-scented soaps. What a dream.
 
DELFI

Something like a haunt sneaked behind Caleb, startling the quartermaster.

Of course it had to be Lucien. Being too quiet when he wasn't on a killing spree was one of his most annoying traits.

"Would you rather he walked around naked?" He asked with a sneer.
 
HIGHVOLTAGE

“Is that doubt in your voice, quartermaster? Afraid the new whelp would show you up if left to his previous attire?” Lucien chuckled darkly as they pressed onto the beach, the delicate sand a stark contrast to the deck of the vessel.

“I must admit, it was a rather tactical decision you made back there. Withdrawing the chains when you did.”
 
SHODDYPRODUCT

Three days had passed since their return to the ship, and Juniper was feeling mostly back to themselves. The night of their return, after finishing a frankly needed conversation between theirself and Alys, they finished their assigned task of drying the decks. Once that had been handled, they returned to the women's bunks and promptly fell asleep face down on their bed, and slept. It was a much needed rest, given everything, and they could scarcely think of a place more comfortable than their own bed. They woke that next morning refreshed, but sore and aching from the combat the night prior. A quick visit to Emer patched them up, and with wounds on the mend, they spent the rest of the days as a crewmember of the Hard Nox, as they had for a year and a half now. During this time, it was brought to their attention that there were two more newcomers of note, other than the two that had accompanied them up from the cells. Juniper wondered, during this short three day stint on the water, where they had come from, but decided to confront them later, once everything had settled.

News eventually spread that they were heading to Allegria, a frankly beautiful, and large, city, one they had not been to in quite some time. The changeling was thankful to learn that they were not moving on the city to raid it, and instead to rest, recuperate, and perhaps even enjoy the city just as it was. That morning, as the ship pulled in to rocky shore, they checked their bandages, wrapped around the shoulders, where the nails had dug in so fiercely. Soon, they would be healed enough to no longer warrant them, but one extra day couldn't hurt. The sorceress got dressed quickly, checking their coin as they did so. Enough to buy something, but what? Their blouse could use replacing, after the Truth Teller, and more rings never hurt...

They exited the women's bunk, excited for the day ahead, and noticed Nessa, having a dreadful morning, as mornings often were for her. Juniper was not 100% sure what the affliction she suffered from was, but knew it was something in common with Lucien. This affliction, though, clearly did not affect the personality of a person to a major degree, and as such, they always found Nessa agreeable, if not strange. "Hello, Nessa. Odd to see you up at this hour, but I guess a chance at a day in town not filled with violence is something you just can't afford to pass up, huh?"
 
FANG

By the time Leo corrected his mistake and climbed the chain back up to the deck of the Hard Nox Caleb had begun conversing with one of the many crew Leo had yet to meet. The stranger’s dark clothes looked oddly familiar, similar to what Leo currently wore. The tension between the quartermaster and this black clad newcomer was electric in the air.

Leo fell into pace a few feet behind the pair, carefully brushing sand from Caleb’s bag while the quartermaster was distracted. Leo didn’t think it had gotten wet, but after his antics he wasn’t positive the water had been avoided. As he walked behind his overseer and the pale man in black Leo casually examined oddities, at least to him, that could be found along the way. If Caleb needed him he would be sure to shout, and if not there was no reason preventing Leo from absorbing all of the new experiences along the way to their destination.
 
GOLDEN

As the group trudged through the sand, splitting into pairs and other smaller groups, Alys glanced back and couldn't help but to notice the figure that brought up the rear. Dressed in Lucien's finest black, Leo looked drastically different now compared to the first night she saw him. His demeanor had also changed; from the vicious and animalistic killer, to a naive child, fascinated by the littlest of things.

She slowed her pace, even stooping down to examine a small, glimmering piece of green seaglass. As he grew closer to her crouched figure, Alys picked it up and matched her pace with his, practically sidling up beside him, so that their arms nearly touched.

"Leo, right?" She asked. "My name is Alys." Her fingers twiddled around with her finding, finger tips pressing into the smooth, hardened surface. "I've noticed that the quartermaster has been showing you around - how's he treating you?" The fairy asked casually, and a little more quietly, glancing up at the tall man expectantly.
 
DELFI

"If you have a problem with it, speak to the captain. She was the one who ordered I found him something other than rags to wear." Of course she didn't say 'give him Lucien's clothes', but why would he waste a perfectly good opportunity to mess with the Whore's hound?

Lucien didn't dance around much, asking the question he'd kept meaning to ask since that night. He did wonder what took hin so long.

"I knew you'd make it back in time, and it was thanks to me that we escaped, isn't it?" The answer had been rehersed, and wasn't completely a lie. "I wonder what would have happened if King noticed his map was missing and our ship was still tied to his… I doubt he'd be so kind as to let us leave."

While talking to Lucien, Caleb had to glance back a couple times to make sure Leo didn't get lost. He noticed Alys had approached him, and if their eyes met, she'd caught him smiling. He hadn't bothered the fairy the last couple of days - partially because there was some shame about things that had been said when whiskey was involved, but mostly because it'd be more advantageous for him if she was the one to approach first, once she realized he'd kept her secret.
 
UMBRASIGHT

“I’ll thank you to keep me out of any unnecessary fighting, thanks.” Nessa said, yawning into the back of her hand as Juniper exited the room. ”Don’t know how you’ll deal with it being so blasted bright all the time, but the clothes shops I was planning on hitting would’ve been closed up tight by the time the hour was proper” Nessa moved her hand away as she closed her mouth. She offered Juniper a small grin as she leaned past them to poke her head into the room. Didn’t seem like anyone else would be joining them anytime soon, so time for them to make their exit.

“Was going to swing by a bathhouse and drop something off with the post before going to the markets if you care to join” Nessa said, looking back at Juniper. “Bat’s been slow getting back, so I’ll chance the postmaster, mum’ll want to hear about King.”

She motioned with her head down the hall. “Shall we?
 
SHODDYPRODUCT

Juniper nodded in response, letting Nessa's mood in spite of her not wanting to be up at this time carry over to theirself. They perked up further, however, at the mention of the bathhouses. "Gods, I've been needing a proper bath for weeks now, especially after the last few days. Warm water, nice soaps, all of it," they said, leaning their head back as the two began to walk down the hall, heading for the stairs. So adjusted by this point to the layout of the Nox, they hardly had to look to avoid the chains that held furniture in place, instead free and able to get lost in the prospect of a bath. after a moment, though, they came back, and looked to their companion.

"How is that little guy, by the way? Haven't seen it in a bit. Guess its off sending a letter for you?" Juniper had seen Nessa's pet bat a few times before, hanging from the ceilings or the hammocks. They had even fed it on the rare occasion, on account of them sharing a bunking room. Hard to avoid, not that anyone ever really tried to. And then, to a more sensitive topic, if only for the fact that Nessa was here and not there. "And, uh... How is your mom? Doing well?" they asked, somewhat apprehensively. The two of them had talked before, but after the last few days, and especially after the talk with Alys the night of their return, Juniper felt as if... Well, they were tired, somewhat, of isolating theirself from the crew. The least they could do, they figured, is get to know their bunkmates a little better.
 
FANG

As he trailed behind the rest of the crew Leo had an unexpected surprise in the form of Alys, fingers turning over a shiny piece of green glass that caught Leo’s eye even before she spoke. ”Leo, right?” she asked as she matched her pace next to him, entrancing verdant fidget keeping Leo’s attention. ”My name is Alys. I’ve noticed that the quartermaster has been showing you around,” the fairy lowered her voice a bit, “how’s he been treating you?”

Leo looked away from the girl’s find and met her icy blue gaze. He smiled warmly, nearly a grin. ”Starbird! I remember you. You offered me freedom.” Leo had hoped to find the fairy with starlit wings again to thank her, but after his disastrous meeting with the Captain had decided it best to keep to his duties Caleb ascribed. ”Caleb is very generous. He told me I could have these clothes, and always gives me plenty to do.” Leo plucked at the fabric of the shirt as he looked up wistfully. ”He doesn’t trust me, but I understand why. I mess up a lot.” He looked back to Alys before adding, ”Thank you for giving me freedom, Alys.” It was important to thank people.
 
GOLDEN

First little bird, now starbird - Alys wondered if that was an upgrade. Based on the bright smile on his face, and numerous offers of thanks, she assumed it was. Still, she took the nickname with a grain of salt, especially after hearing the answer to her question. If he thought Caleb was being generous, and she was the one who offered him freedom, simply by showing him how to cross to the Hard Nox, the poor boy was more naive than she thought. Somehow though, Alys found him... refreshing. Certainly different than the rest of the crew, and most people she'd come across in her travels. "You're learning, so it's okay to mess up. Besides, the ship has never been cleaner. I've actually been meaning to thank you, y'know, for cleaning up the girls room. So thank you." She offered him a smile.

Temporarily glancing away, gaze focusing on the sandy footprints ahead, she noticed Caleb looking back in their direction. The faerie didn't meet his gaze, but rather looked back at Leo, who had been eyeing the green glass within her fingers. "It's seaglass. You can find it on most beaches. Here." She placed the rounded object in the palm of her hand and extended it toward him.
 
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