private Thread and Needle

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Edward shook his head. This man reminded him far too much of the worst and most unruly soldiers in the army. "I fail to see how getting drunk and punching people is a point of pride. Nor do I really believe that you were knocking people out with a single punch. And any warrior with any sense of pride would never allow the blade to be taken straight from his hands. If any of that had happened to me, I'd hardly be so keen to retell it." 

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"If he were bitten we'd know by now. Werewolves are quiet hairy..." London traced the rim of her cup with her finger.

 

She let Wavebreakers drunken insults slide; it didn't mean much to her anyway "That just sounds like a drunken sod swinging at others. How you managed to bed the barmaid is beyond me. But I imagine she had to be even more sodded than you."

[Torrent505 370]

Anne drank the rum, one cup then another and another; she then took a full plate of the salted pork and a large helping of the still fresh vegetables. She devoured it all well the others talked, she was short on time but still wanted to enjoy this meals. Although the belch she gave was so loud it even surprised her and she actually blushed rather hard. She looked to the eyes on her, "Excuse me... What? It is the first meal at open sea, why do you think we have a feast? Food's all down hill from here." She took another helping of the vegetables.

 

"Well bar fights are all good and fun, and nothing gets me excited like hearing a heroic last stands but something's bugging me." She looked over the crew and let her eyes stop on London, she drank deep from her rum, "You all want a story? I used to be on the Captains old ship, the Needle, before I struck out on my own. It was the best sailing of my life. There's lots of stories from back then. One time when I was just a little cabin girl younger than Delano ever, we were sailing close to investigate this island with this towering cliff wall. Suddenly these things started taking wing off high on the cliffs, human like but wings for arms and big taloned feet, covered in feathers and jutting razor beak for a mouth. They descend on us trying to drop on crew or to sweep by to grab and fly off with them. So the crew's shooting at them and slashing with swords drawn and there's Captain London with her whip catching creatures on the neck to slam into the mast or by the foot to slam two of them together and at the same time she's messing with the ships deck cannons."

 

She took another mouthful chewing slowly and deliberately, "I run to her, I mean it was my job to assist the Captain, so I run to see if I can help and one of the things swoops down and picks me up by my left arm. Suddenly I'm rising up as it spins in circles to get altitude and carry me off. Back then all I had was a tiny knife, so I'm jabbing it and jabbing it." She stabbed the pork on the table a couple of times for emphasis.

 

"Finally it stops flapping and we're tumbling down, boom, land right on the ships edge and I'm tumbling over the side but something stops me. Captain London holding me by a boot strap, she hoists me up and asks if I'm okay, her face a picture of concern, right in the middle of the fight!" Anne chuckled before continuing, "I could only nod cause above us the sky was now filled with these things,there must have been a hundred or more. We were giving them hell and hadn't lost anyone yet but there was no way we could fight them all. At least that's what I thought and what was written across the faces of the entire crew; not the Captain though, she just grinned and mussed my hair before saying one of the many things I'd never forget her saying."

 

She paused for dramatic effect, her eyes distant and watching the memory over in her mind, "she said, 'Way to keep them distracted for me kid, that one's yours and I'll take the rest.' I couldn't believe it, I thought she had snapped but when I opened my mouth she put a finger to it to silence me and said, 'Marry-Anne just you watch.' With that she turned away and turned two of our barrels of the freshest fish overboard. The fish were barely alive from there time in the barrels and just spasmed and thrashes on the surface, churning the ocean. Those carrion feeder all massed on that side of the ship and went for the easier prey. It wouldn't last long but every single one had abandoned us. Meanwhile London lit a long match then casually walked lighting the fuses to all the deck cannons."

 

Anne pounded the table several times in a row, "the cannons go off and it only kills a handful of them and none of the monsters even flinch, still completely focused on the fish. My heart sinks thinking it didn't work, the captain leans up agains the ship rail grips it tightly and yells 'Hold on!' The cannon shots hit the cliff and the whole cliff face shatters all the way up. A giant piece that had to be the cliff edge from above lands feet away from the ship. Smack!" She slammed her hand open palmed on the table.

 

She leaned back in her chair as the story was coming to an end, "The ship rocked back almost tipping us from the wave, we're all soaked in sea water and covered in guts, but everyone is still there and the flock of whatever they were was gone. Every last one of them. Crew's completely silent in shock, Captain London turn to me and says, 'well what did you think of that?' I don't know what possessed me but after a seconds though all I could say was, 'I think we're going to have to pull double shifts fishing...' London started to laugh and I started to laugh, the whole crew just broke out laughing."

 

Anne let the story sink in for a moment and took the time to let the memory fade while she became serious, and then continued. Refocusing her gaze on Captain London, "I've got a hundred stories like that captain, that's what's bugging me now. The Needle and her crew are gone, there's rumors you were the only survivor, whispers that you're cursed, you have a tremendous debit to the Merchant Militia... What happened? Do we get to hear that story?" She hesitated, "I don't mean to spoil the mood or pry captain. If you don't wish to share that's your choice. It just weighs heavy on me and my memories."

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Eleanor and Arellion.

 

"I'm certain that he punches another person in the face every time he tells it..." Eleanor said. "It seems to depend on how much he has had to drink as well, I dread to think about how it might sound in a couple more years, if the sod doesn't drink himself to death in the meantime."

 

"Pah!" Spat the duelist. "I'm the best at three things - three of them!"

 

As if to help them visualise the number three, he held up four fingers.

 

"Drinkin', sailin' and punchin' things in the face! Punched a Wyvern in the face once y'know? Right 'tween the eyes! Knocked it out cold... a Cockatrice too!"

 

Leaning in towards the captain, Eleanor raised a hand to hide her mouth from the blustering man.

 

"I'd try to keep him away from the alcohol... not that anything I've tried has succeeded. If he's half as good at fighting as he is at smuggling booze then I'd be half inclined to believe him."

[Scribblegroove 565]

After the plan had been settled and everyone went to take their positions, Duncan had decided he would make himself comfortable in the crow's nest. After all, it would be a while until dinner would be served, so he had some time to kill. He would've loved to work on the exceptional gun on the ship's nose, but he currently didn't have the materials to fix it. After plundering that pirate ship they would surely have enough gold to fund the reparation of the ship as well as the Gatling. Oh how he admired that beautiful piece of work. Pure craftmanship in it's finest form.

 

Slowly but dexterously he had climbed the ropes and he had made himself at home in his little crib. It wasn't a very comfortable place to sit, but Duncan had his experience with this position. He crouched down and put his elbows on the rim, looking out over the open sea, breathing in the salty smell of the ocean nearing. They weren't really that far in open waters yet. The coast was still pretty close, and there were some birds nearby. Birds that would regret following the Needle out of bay, since Duncan loved to spend his spare time shooting down the little critters. Leaning over the edge of the nest with his musket in his shoulder he slowly adjusted his aim to the sway of the ship and the wind of the ocean. Loud bangs would resonate over the water as his shots quickly become more accurate, and eventually started to fell the seagulls around with pinpoint accuracy.

 

He didn't know what compelled him to keep fireing. It was like an addiction. He just couldn't stop the temptation of taking yet another impossible shot. Of smelling the scent of freshly burnt gunpowder. Of another hearing another ear-searing bang ring across the waves. But eventually he got terribly hungry, and he started to wonder if the others had started eating yet. He stood up and looked down to see that the deck was clear, and he heard voices coming from the cabin. They'd started without him! He quickly looked around to see if anything needed their attention, but there weren't any dangerous waters in his sights so far. That would give them at least half an hour of easy sailing. 'good'

 

He let himself slide down the ropes quickly and dropped down on the deck quite ungracefully and made his way towards the cabin. He never ate much, but he had to eat something. And saying he didn't eat much didn't mean he didn't enjoy a good meal, though he was used to eating the generally awful saint rations. To his amazement he saw that quite a grand dinner had been server, though most of it had already been consumed.

 

"Evening lads." He said as he walked into the cabin. "Sorry for being late to the party. The birds weren't very keen on beig shot down this afternoon. I hope there's still some left for me to feast upon. I'm starving!" he proceeded to sit down at the table next to Arellion and closest to London. Though at first it may have seemed like a careless descision, it was actually quite specifically selected. He wanted to be closest to the ones he found most interesting. And up until now, these two had proven to be the most interesting by far.

 

"So... What were you talking about?" He said jovially, with a genuine smile on his tace. He got a plate and started to fill it with food. "I hope I haven't missed all the good stuff. That would be awful."

[Sekel 696]

@@Scribblegroove, @

Blake waved in Duncan's direction before saying anything. "We've just been talking about stories and how this one's story is barely believable as it is." He said and jabbed a thumb in Arellion's direction. "Speaking of which, your voice sounds like it's cocky and slurred. You sure you've had enough to drink?" Blake asked Arellion curiously.

[Flying Ace 142]

"I WANT TO TELL A STORY!" Rondra shouted jumping on top of the table (Luckily she didn't step on anyone's food...yet) and waved her arms in a dramatic fashion, "So once upon a loooooong time, I joined a ship and went on many fantasmical adventures filled with fire and bombs and romance for bombs."

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Delano quickly snatched some plates out of the path of Rondras feet, climbing over Blake to do so. London stared at Annie for a while; only half-listening to the others. She propped her heels onto the table and snatched a bottle of alcohol for herself, casting her golden eyes down at her lap.

 

"They came in the middle of the night.  Descending through the clouds there was the first airship I've ever seen." she started numbly.

 

"It took me a bit, I was busy in my cabin studying this thing I found...turns out that what they came for. Well, I didn't find it but it was some of the loot off of a privateer ship earlier on that month.  By the time I got my senses about me and got out to the deck...These soldiers came down on cables, spearing my ship and my crew. They had armor and electric sabers, automatic guns and ambush on their side. I managed to take a few of them down, a snapped neck here, sword through the gut there, strangulation with my whip. I thought I had 'em...we were fighting back. Up until an air mage from hell came..." London paused to take a swig from the bottle in her hand.

 

"He took the breath right out of me, had me pinned down and kept my face turned so I could watch them slaughter each and every one of my crew. I was wrong for stealing that thing and even worse for beginning to figure it out; and they made it a point. Everything. They just took everything...and they're forcing me to pay them back on top of it all!" London threw the now empty bottle against the wall, the anger apparent on her face.

 

"That's what happened to The Needle! That's what happened to my crew! But the story of how London became cursed is older than all your sodded lives multiplied! Delano! Clean up!" London kicked off the table, getting up and shoving her chair back against the wall.

 

"Notify me of changes. I'll be in my cabin." she left up the stairs; keeping her back turned.

Edited August 16, 2014 by RunsWithSquirlz

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I finished eating, "My life is not that interesting, I get a contract then kill some bastard, and then wait till I get another and kill some other sorry bastard. The reason I'm here is to find and kill a rogue Assassin the captain's and my own interests some what connect so here I am." I get up and walk away not touching much of the rum.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

Edward got up from the table, shaking his head. There was a lot that had become clear to him now. He approached the door to the captain's cabin and, slowly, shakily, knocked on it.

 

@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

"Captain?" His voice was shaky and his whole body trembled. This was perhaps as nervous as he'd ever been. "I...I'd like to speak with you. Can I... come in?" 

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Arellion and Eleanor.

 

"Reckon 'talkin' isn' the only thin he's wantin' t' do!" Arellion snorted loudly, laughing at his own jibes. "Reckon' he's much more interested in..."

 

"Oh for the love of... shut your face hole!"

 

The Mage snatched for the bottle only for it to be twitched aside by the duelist without concern. She tried again - once more it moved to expertly avoid being lifted from Arellion's grip.

 

"Ugh! Somebody deal with this pillock - I'm going to lay down myself for a minute. Captains got the right idea..."

 

"Hah! This is life at sea dearie!" The drunken sot called after her. "Booze, boasting an' blood! Just waitin' for the last of those to come lookin' for me!"

 

He smirked - looking over the others before taking another drink from the same bottle before flicking it into the air, catching it (more by accident than design, if his fumbling fingers were anything to judge by) and slid it into place beside his rapier.

 

"Ain't nobody lastin' long out 'ere without... without... somethin' to do somesuch..."

[Sekel 696]

@

Blake had managed to eat a couple of slices of salted pork before getting up from his chair. He heard the slurredness in Arellion's voice and anger and exasperation in Eleanor's. The Captain seemed mad and Edward seemed scared? His voice was too wavery for him to gleam an emotion from it. Rondra seemed as crazy as always and both Delano and Mary-Anne seemed silently shocked, judging from the way their bodies were positioned. He grabbed his staff and walked carefully over to Arellion. "I got a question for you. How much have you had to drink? One bottle? Two?" Blake asked, keeping his voice calm and collected.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Arellion.

 

"Bottles? Pah!" Arellion swayed slightly in place. "This mah friend, this is Beronian Family Black Brandy!"

 

His eyes lost focus for a few seconds before returning to the blind man that stood before him. When he spoke again it was with a hand raised as if shielding a great secret being read on his lips... not that it made much if a difference considering his 'whisper' was practically as loud as the thunderous drawl he had already been using. "Made with... uh... whatsitcalled. Bella-thingy berries... belladonnoradon... y'know!"

 

He paused - face contorted as he thought hard.

 

"Nightshade!" Came the sudden shout as the answer floated into his head.

"One swig is enough to knock a man on his arse, my story-disbeleavin' friend! Nah, fuck that... it's enough to kill 'im! Killed me one time - bein' dead's crap!"

[Sekel 696]

@

"Which one is it then? This? Or this?" Blake asked. He turned to the table and put both palms facing down on the table. Concentrating, he felt the wood of the table spring to life and grow two different plant berries. Nightshade and Belladonna. He breathed slowly and held each one carefully in his hands and ripped them from the stem that was in the table. After having done so, he held the berries up for the drunkard to inspect. "One's Belladonna and the other is Nightshade. Know which is which?" Blake asked him, keeping his face neutral and devoid of all emotion. He wanted to see if he got the answer right, "Just make sure not to eat the one you pick. How did you come back from the dead if you drank an alcohol made from Nightshade anyway?"

Edited August 17, 2014 by Dji

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"What ever do you want?" London called from inside. She didn't feel like getting up. But after a while, she trudged over and opened the door; glaring at Edward "I don't think we're there yet. So what is it?"

 

Delano began picking up the plates and sneaking the alcohol away from Arellions reach.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

He was sweating again. Why did the captain have to be a woman? And such a comely one at that? He took a deep breath and pulled himself together. "I just...well, I should tell you why I came here, first. I left the military because they lacked honor, compassion, and any number of other things. I didn't believe they were worth serving. So I've been traveling until I can find someone who is. And now, I think I have. I believe you're a good captain, though I've known you only briefly. And from now, as long as I'm able, I am your man. I will do all that you require, and I will drive you to the peak of your ambitions. I've never served a woman before, but I think I can learn to enjoy it. So please, if you've any need of... anything, allow me to help. I don't know what the story behind this curse is, but I have faith that you can beat it. And I'll help. That's all, I guess. I just want you to know that you can count on me for whatever you need. Or, if you just need someone to talk to, I'll try to do that as well. So there you have it."

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Arellion

 

Arellion squinted at the plants - a little unsure of exactly where they had come from for a few seconds before realising that he didn't care.

 

"I drunk a lot of stuff mate! Some of it... not really meant t' drink, y'know wharra mean?" He declared without really answering any of the blind chap's questions. All of a sudden he stood up, fist raised proudly into the air with his sword drawn - pointing upwards. "A master of the... of the booze, needs... needs to drink everythin'! Good, Bad, Poison, Not poison... What doesn't kill yer makes yer better at... better at fightin'! Or summat like tha'..."

 

Noticing the two plants once more (or rather, six plants, as he currently saw them) the drunkard shrugged with a victorious look on his face.

 

"Pah!" He belched. "Can't fool me! Those are kittens! ... where the bleedin aunt didya find all those kittens?"

[Sekel 696]

@

Blake raised an eyebrow in response to the drunkard comments. "Kittens? You're more drunk than I thought. Okay." Blake got an idea and decided to shock him. "You know that Nightlock and Belladonna are the same plant right? They're just different names. You also know they're poisonous right? Tell me what would happen if I eat them and this time, I actually want a decent answer." Blake said calmly, feeling slightly annoyed at him.

[The Dark Lord 332]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

"Hey, let me get one of those." John whispered to Delano, gesturing to the bottles of liquor she was trying to sneak away from Arellion. "I might need to drink myself to sleep one of these days." He lit up a cigar and grabbed what he thought was a good one. "Ah classic Rum, this'll do. Whaddya say?" 

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Delano took the bottle gently away from John, then after running her fingers along the tops, chose a different one and handed it to him "Much better. Don't give any to drunky." She left taking the rest of the alcohol to the storage closet.

 

London leaned against the door listening to Edward "Darling, thank you. You're very sweet. But my lad, you're a pirate now, soon you'll learn that pain makes a pirate. I must admit...I am...nervous about being in charge of others lives again."

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

He nodded, finding himself loosening up just a little. He was still sweating and a little shaky, but it was something, at least. "N-not to sound too full of myself ma'am, but I think I can live with the pain. And I'll shoulder what I can of your pain, as well. That's my job. Also... If you'll permit me to say so, I don't think it's a bad thing that you're nervous, really. A commander ought to understand the weight of the burden they carry." He stood there in awkward silence for a moment. "I... um, anyway, I just wanted to say that, since there isn't exactly an oath of loyalty for me to swear to you or anything. I-I guess that's all. Unless there's anything I can do for you, ma'am?"

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Arellion.

 

"Psha! Yet no fun at all..." Grumbled the sailor. "Y'eat the Bellawhotsit an' y' snuff it. Deader'n'dead!" to emphasise his point he drew a finger quickly across his throat. "The long snoooooze! At is, 'less yer a truly hardened drinker - a scourge o' the taverns like I... which yer blatherin' is makin' me seriously doubt!"

 

Eyes slightly mad: one open a little more than the other - he grinned. Drunken and delirious, he was still... mostly aware.

 

"Or maybe it's jus' 'cause ah'm such a damn beautiful bastard! Neither the sea nor sweet lady nature wants me to choke on me innards!"

 

---------------

Edited August 18, 2014 by Cinderscribe

[Sekel 696]

@

"You'd be surprised." Blake said, eating one of the berries. He knew that the berries wouldn't harm him one bit as he was naturally immune to poisonous plants thanks to him using plant magick. "See? Doesn't affect me. You're just a mad drunk for now. I'd hate to hear what you're like when your sober." Blake said seriously, popping the other berry into his mouth. "It's actually quite delicious when you think about it. The poisonous plants I mean."

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Arellion.

 

"Psha! No need t'go takin' offe... takin' offen... gerrin arsey!" spas Arellion. "Yer' just another copper-pinchin' brown-nose who doesn' know how to have fun! Wavebreaker knows yer kind brown-nose, wit'cha two-bit tricks an' yer stuck up tone..." He swayed violently towards the man - almost as if attacking him. As suddenly as he did however, he swayed backwards again: cleanly overbalancing and falling flat onto his back... though still talking as if nothing had happened. "T'is fine weather t' puch a chappy in t'face, doncha think brown-nose? Y'should let me show yer how t'dtink sometime, Wavebreaker knows how it's done! Drinkin' an' punchin' an'... an..."

 

Suddenly sitting bolt upright, he thrust the half empty bottle out and onto the table next to Blake.

 

"K'after mah drink pal, kay?"

 

With a thud, he dropped to the ground.

[Sekel 696]

"Phew. At least he's not talking anymore." Blake breathed a sigh of relief and leaned heavily on his staff. "Where are the quarters again?" Blake scratched his head and moved slowly and carefully back to top deck. At least here, he was confident in moving around. The dark didn't bother him much as all he could see was inky blackness anyway.

 

Pluto roosted in the crow's nest and looked out to sea in all directions and tried to spot another ship like this in the dark. He coule barely see anything, so he'll have to wait until morning to spot something, if anything at all.