Pirates Return IC

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The porter took the coins greedily just as the Captaqin stepped outside and shouted. "There's your man right there." He grinned to the newcomer "Thanks for the coin friend." He winked to rub the mockery in and carried his supplies on onboard.

 

"Thanks, Captain." Jacques took hold of the maps, cradling them in one arm so as not to crease them, and made his way out of the cabin.

Looking under the rolled-up corner of each of the maps in turn, Jacques noticed that he'd only seen maps of one of these areas before, and that an old, damaged copy. Plotting a course would take some work... He'd have to get started.

 

It was nothing but a few coins. Duece had enough. Walking up to the captain. he flashed a quick smile and said "I've heard rumours, that you're looking for a few extra hands on board?"

Waiting for the a reaction the young man eyed up the ship. It was fit, the crew looked decent. If he could stay out of trouble, it might be exactly what he'd had been looking for.

 

The bellow was unmistakable. Matty scrambled out of his hammock, grabbing his smallpipes and shoving his tin whistle into his pocket. There was never any way to know what the captain would want to hear, but those two were a pretty safe bet. Also, they'd cut across the din of arriving crewmen and supplies.

As much as he enjoyed the chance to size up the newcomers - a lot could be told about a man by his walk and the size of his pack, Matty had learned - he hoped that he'd have a chance to take a skin of water and some food down to the hold before he lost the chance to get lost in the hustle and bustle.

 

Alexa strode board the Pale Horse, kit bag loaded with medicines and chemicals needed for her explosives, looking around with an appraising eye. A larger ship than the Maurader, the Pale Horse looked to be a fine ship to serve on.

She watched the other recruits approach Three Swords, and smiled to herself. Too many years ago, she had approached another captain for the first time to join a ship.

Her eyes narrowed as she watched Ricardo stride around the ship. He would be one to keep a close eye on.

Noticing the captain appear on deck, she strode up to him, barely acknowledging the man talking to Three Swords. "Greetings, Captain. You asked me to come sign the articles for the ship. Well, here I am."

 

"Yes, we're looking." Three Swords said, "And you look like the type we're looking for." he added, noting the sailor's tattoos and the graceful sway of his stance that spoke of long days at sea.

By his side, he heard Alexa interupt. "Head into the cabin and sign the Articles and then find an empty hammock. We'll talk again after I've spoken with the surgeon." He turned away from the man to face Alexa. "As you're a surgeon, you don't have to sign the articles unless you want to. You'll still get your equal share, but a surgeon is a rare thing and I'm prepared to let you work on ship without signing them. It's up to you." Abbot said.

 

Zheng had already dumped his things and chosen a hammock. He carried something wrapped in cowhide. He removed the string bounding the bundle together and unwravelled it on the deck of the ship. Inside were several different sized flutes of some sort. They were all made of bamboo and several holes in them. Zheng removed the largest one and blew a few practice notes.

Breathing deeply, he concentrated hard and began playing soft music. The chinese music echoed over the ship and down into the harbour below. He began to lose himself in his own mind as the music brought back old memories but he could see from he corner of his almost closed eyes a few crewmembers taking interest in the chinese music.

[ August 02, 2005, 21:53: Message edited by: Lawless ]

 

Nodding to the captain and flashing a customary grin at Alexa, Duece walked of to find the articles. He had recognized her as the woman who had slapped the noble looking man, he could see on the ship the night before. Signing the articles was easy. Duece, had been on ships before. Going below he found an empty hammock, and threw the small pack he carried underneath it. He eyed some of the other sailors. Nothing to interesting. But at least he didn't have to worry about either Maria or Celeste finding him at sea. Now might be a good time to get some rest, there won't be much when we're on the water. Climbing back up the stairs Duece was greeted by the music that Zheng was playing. Finding a spot he layed back and peeled off his vest, takeing in a few moments of sun.

 

Alexa raised an eyebrow at Three Swords' words. She had forgotten that surgeons didn't have to sign the articles.

"Captain, if it's all the same to you, I think I shall pass on signing the articles. But don't worry, I shall behave myself, as befits a member of the crew."

She hoisted her bag up higher on her shoulder, and glanced around the deck. "If I may, where am I to bunk and where is the surgery? I have some items that should be stored away from the sunlight, and if they are exposed right now, the results could be rather... explosive."

 

Almost unconsciously, Matty changed the tune he was playing to complement the mournful tones of the flute coming from below decks. He had to know more about that strange, wonderful music! It was built on an entirely different scale than his was used to, and his pipes sounded harsh and jarring against the clear sound. He didn't even notice that he had stopped playing and let the pipes fall until Three Swords cuffed him in the ear.

"G'wan, git, ye little rat. Go see what other kind o' show the slant-eye has t' put on."

Matty couldn't scoot down the ladder to the crews' quarters fast enough. He skidded to a stop near Zheng and stood, mesmerized by the music. Completely different from anything he'd heard before, and exceedingly simple, yet it stirred his soul as much as any air that Da had ever played. He couldn't resist reaching out to touch the flute when Zheng paused. The other man had his eyes closed, holding his reverie of home against the alien surroundings, but they snapped open at the sound of Matty's voice.

"Teach me, Sar? I gotta larn that, I jus gotta..."

[ August 03, 2005, 00:03: Message edited by: Rallymama ]

 

Ricardo did not care that he almost bumped into the knife-thrower on his way out of the captain’s cabin. His thoughts were reeling; he had not foreseen the captain’s decision to make him the quartermaster.

It had been a long time since Ricardo had signed a ship’s articles; even longer since he’d held a position other than that of a crewman. He’d never been a captain himself, but he was no stranger to power…

He smirked. Indeed, there were many good things that came out of the Captain’s decision to make Ricardo the quartermaster. The right to dole out punishment as he saw fit was definitely not the least of them.

He did as the captain had bid and began familiarizing himself with the ship and making sure the crew knew that he was the new quartermaster. Nevertheless, he saw the redhead immediately when she boarded the ship.

In the morning sunlight, her red hair seemed to burn. Ricardo could not tear his eyes from her. Not even when she looked at him, her eyes narrowing. He slowly made his way closer to her, not yet knowing what he intended to say. He knew he could not let her impudence the night before go unpunished – no one who laid a hand on him did so without a great cost.

As he approached, he could hear her tell the Captain that she would not be signing the Articles – as was her privilege as the surgeon.

Ricardo cursed – he had completely forgotten about that particular quirk of the Articles. Clearly, he’d have to refresh his memory..

He heard her inquire after the surgery, and say something else he did not quite catch; the tin whistle of the piper jarred against some strange, perhaps oriental music that he had been hearing for a while.

As the Captain turned to admonish the piper, he stepped in. “Good morning, Señora. Would you allow me the honour of escorting you to the surgery?” He inclined his head slightly, a slight smile gracing his lips.

[ August 03, 2005, 00:44: Message edited by: Arabwel ]

 

Bison walked aboard the ship, looking around with his ever-stotic face. Seeing a man who fit the description of the captain, he walked over to him.

"Bison. Sailor. Carpenter. Work?"

 

Alexa turned to Ricardo, eyes cold.

"Thank you, but no. I'm sure that I can find my way on my own, once the Captain tells me where I am to be berthed."

She turned and smiled in welcome at the newcomer who addressed the captain.

[ August 03, 2005, 01:51: Message edited by: Laiwethel ]

 

Ricardo smirked. “Ah, but the Captain is busy, Señora,” he indicated the latest arrival with a small nod, “So please, do follow me. In fact, I insist that you do.” He extended his hand to her, with flourish far more befitting a court than the deck of a pirate ship.

”After all, there is much for us to discuss. Such as your supplies... and your berth.” He eyed the heavy bag she had on her shoulder, and could not help but run his eyes over her slender form again with an appreciative smirk.

[ August 03, 2005, 02:51: Message edited by: Arabwel ]

 

Duece, was getting annoyed with Ricardo, he didn't care about the man being name quatermaster. Ricardo always seemed to be eyeing up Alexa, and she never seemed comfortable with that despite te fact that she handled him well.

Standing from the spot he had been laying. He calmly walked over to Alexa "Perhaps I could help with your bags, it's no big deal. I'm getting a little bored."

 

"Another sunny day."

Alistair glanced up at the sky, wincing slightly from the sun's blinding lights as he strolled down the dock, looking at the ships. He took a match and struck it, lighting the cigar in his mouth before shaking it out.

Now puffing out smoke every so often, he continued walking. People stared at him as he passed, but he was already used to that - how many people do you see holding a musket while not having a matching Navy uniform? Not to mention the various guns and knives hanging in his coat and on his belt. He strolled until he reached a certain one. He studied it up and down and hmmed vaguely.

It was easy to tell when a ship was setting sail, he reflected, as he boarded Three Sword's ship, slinging the musket behind him as a sign that he was not looking for trouble. Looking around, he found somebody and spoke to him.

"Excuse me. I'd like to speak with your captain...I have a deal for him."

(OOC: Feel free to volunteer to be the person I speak to)

 

Olson, after following Three Swords from the Kelp, had been waiting patiently on the opposite side of the dock, watching the new recruits pile onto the Pale Horse. Now was the time.

He tidied up his clothes a little, though not much could be done about the stains and dirt, and walked neatly across to the large ship. He watched the man ahead of him, the one covered in guns and knives, as he walked over to one of the crewmen and began to inquire. Before the rogue had said anything, though, Olson popped up at the bounty hunter's shoulder.
"If you don't mind, I be needing to see your captain too." Olson said, smiling. However, he was feeling very tense and lost. What was he going to say to Three Swords?

 

Zheng looked into the eyes of the youngster. He was scrawny and had an unkempt look in his eyes but Zheng could see the eagerness that lay their.

"It is not as smiple as that. It has taken me years of practice to get where I am now but still I am not a master of it," the youngster eagerness did not waver and Zheng looked back over Freetown for a brief second. "The Dizi is...that is what it is called," he added seeing the youngster strange look, "is very much like the flutes you get around here but tell me. Why should I teach you this?"

He hoped the last question would stump the boy so that he would be left in peace.

 

"Music be meant t' be shared, Sar. Ye canna keep summat so byoot'ful t' yersel, tha's now how music is. Anyone wi' ears heared yer playin', and they all be thinkin' somethin' about that sound. Fer good or fer bad, ye touched ev'ryone aboord wi' tha' flu... dizi, an' ye canna ever take tha' back. Tha' be th' power o' music."

Matty swallowed hard. It could have been his Da speaking those words. He made himself look up at Zheng with a grin.

"Besides, it nae be the same as me own flute, an' if'n ye don' teach me how t' play it, I'll be tryin' t' larn it on me own. I kin tell ye now tha' th Cap'n won' be likin' some o' th' noises he'd be hearin'."

 

Daniel could hear the noises of the ship getting ready to set sail. People had stopped bringing loads down to his section of the hold awhile ago, so he thought it safe to take out what little food he had thought to bring with him, a loaf of bread, a carrot, and a canteen of water. He ate half the carrot and a chunk of bread, then drank some water. He needed to pee, but didn't want to do it on the floor, the stink might make somebody discover him too soon, and all his work would be for naught.

He heard some strange music floating down from above, and wondered if Matty was making it.