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Post by Steinerman on Jan 24, 2011 3:18:57 GMT -5
The Mercenary Sloop Outcasts' Fire coursed gently through the waters of the The Great Sea, making good time in its voyage to Zailleon, though it was only the first morning of the voyage, it had already covered great distances, and the coast of Allondell was far behind them.
The Outcasts' doctor Vesper Sheridan was currently standing in the bridge of the vessel, which was encased in a metal housed that jutted up from the center of the slim vessel, much like the con-tower of a submarine. The bridge offered a good view of...well, water at the moment. It was also sparsely populated, most of the crew had been up during the night as they set out from port, and had hit their racks as soon as the sun came up.
Currently, the only people in it were Thomas Saint and Vesper. And Vesper did not look pleased. In most cases, her voice would have been raised. But a stairway led from the bridge directly down to the Captain's cabin, in which currently (or at least, last they knew) slept Scept, their hopeful ally.
Instead, Vesper's voice was a low annoyed growl as she gave Thomas a look that clearly said "How could you be so stupid?".
"What were you thinking?" She asked incredulously of Thomas, who was currently manning the helm of the ship. "Scept is nervous as can be already, and you just let Robert walk off the ship before we depart? Blast it all Thomas, he needs to be here."
Thomas nodded his head in agreement, "I agree." He stated simply. Also trying to keep his voice low for the sake of their presumably sleeping passenger. "But he didn't think this Scept, or is it Sceptus? I haven't even met the kid..." Now Thomas trailed off, eying a blinking switch to his right with an expression caught somewhere between concern and annoyance.
He pressed a few buttons, grunted in satisfaction as the light blinked out and then continued. "Anyways...he didn't think Scept would want to leave so early, Robert came here to visit that infernal forest, and he wasn't going to leave until he did. He said he'd catch up with us in Zailleon, he has every intention of aiding this kid on whatever crazy scheme he's got." He ended.
Thomas wasn't exactly in a grumpy mood, oh no. Around Vesper, he found it almost impossible to be grumpy or foul-tempered for long. But he was also frustrated by their leader's actions. He didn't know much about Scept, and honestly didn't think himself very good at dealing with children. He would have much preferred Robert be here himself, but Robert was nothing if not stubborn. He had intended to briefly visit the Rakutan forest, and he was going to do it, no matter what Thomas or Vesper said.
Vesper threw up her hands in a conciliatory manner. "Alright, alright. But be nice to Scept, please? Without Robert here for this trip...things could get iffy. Scept seems really paranoid and suspicious. And Robert leaving in the middle of the night isn't going to help matters..." She trailed off, there were sounds of movement below, perhaps Scept had awoken?
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Post by Ribitta on May 28, 2011 14:02:41 GMT -5
Scept tore his bed-sheets off in haste, the sweat causing them to stick uncomfortably to his skin. He had slept quite poorly throughout the night, the ship's movements making his stomach churn whenever he closed his eyes, and the frustrations of his company fully settling in now. It was a constant battle in his mind as to whether he made the right choice or not, trusting these people. Acknowledging the thought made him cringe. Nevertheless, he was frustrated to a rather irrational point. Something in the corner of his mind alerted him of it, but so easy was it to push aside that good nature was left behind in the drawer as Scept pulled a shirt over his head quickly, wiping off the accumulated grease and sweat from the night off his face. Opening the door, he clambered out of his small, cramped cabin, stumbling through hallways in an attempt to find a way above deck in hopes the fresh air would calm him.
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Post by Steinerman on May 28, 2011 21:05:18 GMT -5
"I think he's up." Thomas said, his voice returning to its normal volume level with the presumed awakening of their guest. "I have to man the bridge for a bit longer. And besides," He pointed dramatically at his mechanical eye. "I doubt the kid wants his first memory of this boat-ride to be my creepy-look'in eye."
Vesper grinned, "I don't think it's creepy." She replied, already on her way to one of the exits. From the sound of it, Scept had exited the cabin below, and she felt it would be best if she found him quickly.
"I'll go find him, maybe get some food in him if he's hungry. Come find us when you're relieved."
Thomas threw a mock salute, and tossed in a formal bow for added emphasis. "Aye-aye, skipper." He said lightly.
Vesper giggled in response, and then ducked out of the hatchway and slid down the stairway railings to the lower level to hunt for Sceptus. She checked the cabin just to make sure she hadn't misheard and he really was up and about, then turned and strolled down the hallway, hands in her pockets. "Scept?" She called out, "Where'd ya get to, lad?"
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Post by Ribitta on May 29, 2011 11:22:22 GMT -5
Fully resolved to find a way onto the surface of the ship now, Scept found himself completely aware of the intoxicating cramped-ness inside the ship's narrow hallways, and his desire for fresh air slipped from a craving to a life threatening need in his mind. Blundering his way through the corridors, he at last found a door with a small window at the top promising a skyline on the outside. A familiar woman's voice was somewhere behind him, and Scept made sure to slam the door extra hard on his way out, partially to showcase his mood but also partially to alert her of his location. As he made it onto the deck, all sense of his surroundings vanished, and he collapsed against the small wall that kept him from falling into the ocean; the toll from his use of magic the previous day catching up to him as well as his sleepless night. Drinking in the fresh but salty air now, Scept closed his eyes to the wind at his face now, ignoring the world and breathing deeply for what felt like the first time in days.
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Post by Steinerman on May 29, 2011 13:04:59 GMT -5
Vesper winced in an almost comical fashion when she heard the door slam up ahead of her, Scept did not seem to be in the greatest of moods this morning. And she doubted very much that it would help his mood to learn that the man who'd done most of the talking last night was no longer aboard the vessel.
She shook her head in vague annoyance with her commander and friend, Robert could be a little clueless at times. Or else, she thought, he was yet again testing Scept, that was always a possibility too. Thomas was unsure of what to do around Scept, whom he thought a child, so it fell to Vesper to try and deal with the fallout.
She popped her head into the galley before heading outside to talk to Scept, "Morning chef!" She called out brightly. The small chef (with a exquisitely trimmed beard) nodded back.
"Good morning to you, lady Sheridan." He called out. "What can I do for you this fine day?"
She grinned goofily, "Our new passenger isn't in a good mood, and I'm worrying he might be seasick. Brew him up a cup of ginger tea, would ya?"
The man nodded, "I can most certainly do that for our lovely doctor and her sick patient." He paused, and in a far less flowery tone of voice asked quickly, "Say, what's the story with the kid?"
Vesper shook her head, "Not sure anyone but Robert knows, definitely not me. I'm off to see if he's okay, send the tea out when it's done."
The man nodded agreeably and set to brewing the tea. Meanwhile, Vesper turned and continued her stroll down the hall, opening the door at the far end to a view of Scept, lying against a wall with his eyes closed and chest heaving.
"Good morning!" She called out cheerfully to the boy, "How're you feeling?"
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Post by Ribitta on May 29, 2011 14:10:25 GMT -5
Her optimistic tone only irritated Scept further, and as his eyes opened to acknowledge her presence, he caught sight of the waves swaying the ship with a slow churn. His stomach bubbled and the boy grimaced, leaning his body over the railing and vomiting into the ocean. There wasn't much food to lose, but what was left was quickly expunged from his stomach. Spitting what remained in his mouth into the water, Scept turned his spiteful look toward Vesper, not particularly caring whether he upset her, though he doubted he could. Replying with words layered with sarcasm, he stood up shakily, "I'm doing great, why do you even need to ask?"
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Post by Steinerman on May 29, 2011 15:38:25 GMT -5
"Are you kidding?" She questioned with a small smile, intentionally oblivious to Scept's sarcastic tone. "I practically have to ask, being an eternally cheerful woman and all that." She sighed dramatically. "It's a hard job."
Her face grew more serious a moment later, "But seriously, I did want to know how you're feeling, and I think I have my answer." She moved a few steps closer, "The cook is making up some ginger tea for you, it should help a bit with the seasickness." She said gently. "Just take deep breaths, get some wind on your face, that will help too."
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Post by Ribitta on May 31, 2011 15:17:32 GMT -5
Scept offered her a withering glance, his face excessively pale now, "Why do you think I'm out here in the first place?" He looked back over the side of the boat, and the water's movements drained his face of any other remaining pigment, "Put a little arsenic into this cup, will you?" Grimacing and standing to his feet, the adolescent sighed resignedly, "Whatever you have to offer, I'm sure it will be better than this salty, damp, atmosphere..." His words stopped short, and he shuddered a little, finally looking her in the eye and extending some sort of civility so as to speed up the process of getting away from the intoxicating nausea of the outdoor smells, "Let's just get back inside, please." Giving her a slight, prompting gesture, the boy prepared to follow her back inside the ship, quite certain that even if their chef poisoned him it would be better than this.
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Post by Steinerman on May 31, 2011 15:33:47 GMT -5
Vesper nodded amiably and led the way back inside to the cramped galley and eating area. Currently the only others in the room were the chef and a pair of guardians sitting in a corner of the room, grabbing a quick bite to eat before heading out to their watch on the deck. Next to the two soldiers was an impressive array of weaponry upon the table.
Vesper eyed the assault rifles and other assorted guns with a worried look, the Outcasts were ever-vigilant for threats, but for the two soldiers to have their weapons with them in the galley was generally a "don't" on the ship. That they had them meant Thomas had most likely ordered them to keep their guns with them at all times, which either meant he was really really REALLY worried about Scept, or there was some other threat he was expecting.
She made a mental note to ask him about it when she could find time, hoping it was just a precaution. And with that, she put it to the back of her mind and focused on getting Scept a little more comfortable. The chef brought out the tea and respectfully handed it to Vesper, who sat down at a table and nodded towards the opposite bench, "Sit." She ordered, albeit kindly. "And drink this." She proffered the cup of steaming tea.
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Post by Ribitta on Jun 1, 2011 0:42:35 GMT -5
Following her closely, Scept kept a hand lightly against the wall for stability, face still nearly a reflective color. As the smells of the kitchen struck him, though, it was indeed much more welcoming than the salty froth of the outdoors. At the order to sit, his nature immediately rebelled, though he fought down the irrationality with the reminding thought of how dangerous standing was. Taking the seat and the cup, he tried not to drink too much of the tea at a time, but the warmth treated his dry throat and stomach to a comfort he had forgotten in his last ten hours of turmoil.
As he calmed down slightly, the images of his walk in returned to him shortly, and his grip on the cup tightened slightly. He had already placed his life in the hands of these people, but the weapons made it that much more real. Death would not be so bad, but getting there was what worried Scept. He drank more of his tea in silence.
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Post by Steinerman on Jun 1, 2011 13:54:24 GMT -5
Vesper smiled reassuringly, trying to calm Scept. He'd seen the guardians and their guns, and if he hadn't been comfortable before. . . Well, he most definitely wasn't now.
"Relax," she said, "those are Outcast Guardians, there's always a few on our ships for protection. Believe me, if you get over their rather dour expressions, they're really quite nice." To prove her point, she waved jovially towards the two brooding soldiers. One of them rolled his eyes, then the man realized that she probably wasn't going to stop waving until he waved back, so with an exasperated sigh he raised one gloved hand and gave her a half-wave, adding in a smile for effect.
"See?" She said, turning back to Scept. "They're just big teddy-bears."
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Post by Ribitta on Jun 1, 2011 19:47:52 GMT -5
Scept scowled into his tea just a little bit more, draining the rest of it before long. "Do you know how far we have progressed, so far?" he finally asked, hardly daring to hope the voyage would be shorter than the average week it took for most vessels to cross from one side of the ocean to the other. Then again, he doubted his body would be able to cope an entire week in this ship. Not only was it a tight fit, but it seemed that this group had packed a small army caravan along with them. Whether it was the sea or the guards, Scept deemed it highly likely he would not survive from one hemisphere of the world to the other. He sighed, attempting in vain to console himself with the notion that it couldn't be helped but succeeding only in reminding himself how helpless he was on this craft.
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Post by Steinerman on Jun 1, 2011 23:27:21 GMT -5
Vesper opened her mouth to explain that if they made good time, they could probably cut it down to about four more days at sea instead of six, but she didn't get a chance as Thomas entered the small galley, fitted in combat gear and his large rifle slung over his back. The tall man answered before she could get over her shock at seeing him armed in such a fashion.
"We're about four days out from a landing zone, but we're going to have to take a small detour, sorry kid." Thomas said, his voice edged with worry.
Vesper shot Thomas a worried glance, clearly unsure what he was doing. Thomas explained in short, quick bursts, "We have a job, hostage rescue at sea." He said quickly. "Some lady's kid was on a pleasure cruise with his friends when pirates nabbed them, they're trying for Rogueport, the lady in question is paying us quite a lot of money to ensure her son comes home safe and sound, rather than in pieces."
Vesper stared aghast at Thomas, unsure why he would take a contract at the moment, especially considering their small vessel didn't have a formidable crew, not to mention Scept on board.
"Why can't the Timberwolf facility send a sloop out? They're better equipped to handle this." She asked softly.
Thomas shook his head in annoyance, "They're busy at the moment, can't send any help. The Order of the Blade has moved a sizable chunk of itself to Teradia with the Emperor, leaving the highways mostly unprotected from their usual convoys, Robert had the Timberwolf facility grab the contract for temporary highway patrols, they won't be able to help us."
Vesper's eyes shot worried daggers at Thomas, glancing repeatedly at Scept, her look clearly said it was a bad idea to do something like this with Scept on board. Thomas shrugged once, "Vesper, I can't very well refuse a contract, no matter who we have on board." He said without much conviction.
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Post by Ribitta on Jun 4, 2011 13:45:11 GMT -5
Scept narrowed his eyes at Thomas, taking him in from head to foot. This certainly was not the man he had met before and who had been clearly in charge. To that note, Robert had not seemed to type to uproot this organization after how much he had pressed Scept to get on board with him. Either Robert worked for this man, or the reigns of leadership had been passed over sometime in the night, and now Scept was stranded in the middle of the ocean under the thumb of a complete stranger. It was bad enough having known these people for such a short time, but now it was quickly beginning to feel like he had taken some candy in exchange for getting into the van. His question was pointedly simple yet insinuating as well, "Where is Robert?"
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Post by Steinerman on Jun 4, 2011 14:50:08 GMT -5
"Robert skipped ship at the last moment, he's to meet up with us in Zailleon, said he had some unfinished business in Allondell before he could join you." Thomas extended a gloved hand towards Scept, "I'm Thomas Saint, second-in-command of the Outcasts, nice to meet'cha." He shrugged once, his tone apologetic, "sorry about dragging you along with us on a mission, but we have a reputation to uphold."
Thomas waited patiently for Scept to either shake the hand or spurn it, already guessing the kid's reaction to be unpleasant. But really, Thomas acknowledged there was no other way to say it, Robert had pulled a . . . well, Thomas wouldn't call it a bone-head maneuver exactly, but it was close. And now Thomas and ever-cheerful Vesper had to deal with the consequences.
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