Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 07:54 PM
Dragging himself off-watch, Giles yawned tremendously and scrubbed at his eyes. He'd come to prefer working night shifts, as it meant he could roll up his sleeves and enjoy the breeze, instead of sweating it out for the sake of Bonet's stupid pallor.

Cracking his neck and stretching his arms, he crept below to replace his lantern and gear on their pegs and crawl into bed.

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 08:00 PM
Neely...Or Marcello...or whoever it was...was waiting for him.


Or looked like he had been. He was just starting to leave when the younger man stepped.

"There you are," he said, his voice low. "Hartley? Alex is your little brother, yes?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 08:03 PM
Giles jumped. God, it was unnerving to come across that face looming in the shadows. Reminding himself that this wasn't actually Neely, it was just the queensman, and Marcello was harmless... he squinted in the dimness and came in closer. "Well, yeah. Is everything alright?"

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 08:28 PM
"Oh, yes," the man in the Tuatha body said. "Fine. I was just speaking to him earlier today, and I wanted to talk to you. Your mother wouldn't by any chance be Mary Hartley, would it?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 08:31 PM
For a moment Giles did nothing but gape, fish-like, at the shorter man. "Uh… uh, yeah. Mariana--Mary. Of Whitehaven. How do you know that?"

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 08:38 PM
Marcello gave him a meaningful glance. "Really," he replied. "How many ways could I possibly know her?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 08:44 PM
Giles' face went utterly scarlet, and his jaw set. "Real classy, Marcello. So what, are you a customer? Or a business partner?" he growled at the man, folding his arms over his chest.

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 08:48 PM
"I didn't ask you to be familiar with me," the man answered. "Really, does it matter? I was hoping you would give her my regards."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 08:56 PM
"Give 'em yourself. " Giles countered, expression gone tight. "You'll find her at the north side of town... Hull circle public cemetery."

Realizing he was being callous, the man looked away. "Sorry, mate. You're four years too late for niceties."

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 09:10 PM
Marcello frowned. "Oh. I'm very sorry to hear it," he answered. "I'm not sure how to...say anything kind without sounding as if I'm trying to offend you, but you have my sympathies."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 09:14 PM
For a moment it looked as though Giles would snap again, but at length he relaxed, and nodded. "Ah. I… appreciate it. She was a good woman, despite the circumstances..." he looked down, weirded out by Neely’s figure. "I haven’t been back, since. Alex said--"

Then he paused, giving Marcello a long look. "Is that why you’re helpin’ Alex?” he asked, quietly. “On account’ve you knowin’ mum?"

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 09:21 PM
Marcello shook his head. "No, I didn't realize it at first...Hartley isn't an uncommon name. Alex is a nice enough boy," he answered. "Smart. conscientious. You must be proud of him."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 09:24 PM
"I guess," Giles said, a bit awkwardly. "I didn't have much of a hand in makin' him what he is. But he's smart an' ambitious, an' that's good. You don't think he's...over-reachin' his bounds, here?"

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 09:40 PM
"Oh, no, it's a pleasure to help," Marcello answered, nodding at Giles. "So...ah, tell me, how did you...wind up with all this lot?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 09:46 PM
Briefly Giles pondered excusing himself for a much-deserved sleep, but swallowed back the urge and tried to be friendly despite the hour. "Got boarded an' picked off a trader outta London-town by a Tuatha party, who dragged me up to Oireachteigh an’ stranded me high an' dry when the bitch-queen's plague swept through. Judith found me there, an’ bless her, signed me straight on."

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 09:51 PM
Marcello raised both eyebrows. "What was it like, being in Oireachteigh during the plague? Did you see the Queen? The Direguard?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 10:00 PM
"I wouldn't've known her if I did, I'd no idea where I was. Worked out that I was half-faerie pretty quick, considerin' for a time the locals thought halfbloods were the source of the sickness," Giles shrugged. "Saw the direguard, yeah. They took a pair of Judith's crewman."

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 10:02 PM
"I didn't hear about that," said Marcello, eyeing Giles thoughtfully. "Did they-- what happened to you? Were you harmed? Injured?"

He paused a moment. "How long have you known?" he asked. "Did your...did Mary know? Surely growing up in England, being half-blood wasn't particularly common. I though Tuatha were the stuff of legends 'til I got here."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 10:11 PM
Giles' face darkened at the memory. "They were pickin’ off quarantined folk for the slaughter—grim stuff. I’d like as not be dead, but Judith was there, they didn’t seem keen t’fuck with her."

He scratched at his head. "Like I said, worked it out there. Only got truly convinced when Judith had me try th’ red beer an’ I didn’t end up a droolin’ mess," he admitted, with a sharp little laugh. "Mum knew I was different, or special, or whatever it is parents say when they’re tryin’ t’make you feel better after you’ve had the shit beaten outta you for havin’ pointy ears. If she knew I was Tuatha, she never said." He considered that for a moment, and then shrugged. "Course, I may have run off ‘fore she got the chance. Hardly matters, now."

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 10:14 PM
Marcello raised an eyebrow. "You didn't know your father?" he asked. "She never spoke of him? Or did she know?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 10:26 PM
"You knew her," Giles muttered, going red again. "I never wondered back then, really. So many men in an' out it never occurred t'me to care. Now I figure he was glammed up proper, or the ears wouldn't have been quite such a shock," at that he laughed, and felt for the ears--which of course were absent in Bonet's body. "Why all the questions? You an' your lady-countess preppin' for a passel of halfling brats?"

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 10:39 PM
The man's eyes went bright, mischievous. "You want to hear about it, Hartley?" he asked. "They say Tuatha women go wild after Samhain, that she'll be literally begging for me, all the time. I'm a little afraid I won't be able to keep up; she's voracious as it is. I know she seems frigid on the outside, but Niabheara is one hot-blooded little lady, let me tell you." He chuckled at this, eyes bright. "Of course, we'll see what comes of Samhain, won't we?" he asked, then shrugged. "No, I was talking to Alex. I was curious, that's all."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 10:45 PM
"Augh," Giles raised both hands as though to fend off the man. "Stoppitstoppitnonono—ugh. Quit talkin’ like that, you’re trussed up as her bloody father!" he protested, looking ill. Grasping for a change of subject, he clung to the previous topic desperately. "Well, Alex an’ I don’t share a dad. I think mum was maybe engaged to his for a time, but she broke it off when she found out he’d debts up to his ears."

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 10:51 PM
"No, I didn't expect you did, considering the ears and all..." then he looked down at himself. "Ah. I keep forgetting," he replied. "My apologies."

He smiled a bit. "At least it wasn't debt up to your father's ears, eh?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 10:55 PM
Giles gave the man an uneasy look, and tried to laugh. The sound was strained. "Yeah, well. I figure he musta been tall for a faerie, seein' as I got a few inches on most the halflings I've come across."

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 11:03 PM
Marcello raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "A few inchese where?" he asked.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 11:09 PM
Bright red again--fuck Bonet, and his bloody pallor. He could only hope the dim lighting hid the extent of it... "I'm not sure your countess'd be so keen on your knowin' that," he tried, swallowing.

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 11:12 PM
"Oh, for god's sake, Hartley, I'm not asking to see it," Marcello replied. "Believe me, unlike seemingly every other man on this ship, I'm not a deviant. Not that I'm judging, but...no, thank you, very much for the offer, but not interested. The Countess might be interested in knowing. I could ask her," he joked.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 11:14 PM
"That wasn't an offer," Giles informed him, horrified. "Not in the slightest. Not even in that body."

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 11:19 PM
"Do you take everything this seriously?" Marcello asked. "I'm joking, Hartley; you should see the look on your face."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 11:23 PM
Giles took a deep breath, stepped back, and frowned. "Haha," he laughed, a tight little thing. "I'm--sorry. I just don't know you very well. I was a bit surprised you'd bring up such a subject at all, given how straight-laced you seem t'be..."

He swallowed. "So when is Samhain? Or were you jokin' bout that, too?"

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 11:33 PM
"I'm usually in my official capacity as Queensman, Hartley," Marcello reminded him with a smile. "I have to be straight-laced. Samhain's not a joke, though. End of October. It's Tuatha mating season; Niabheara says everyone goes wild. We already have plans for that night," he added wickedly. "Very special plans. Why, Hartley, are you looking forward to finding a Tuatha woman?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 11:38 PM
"I don't know," Giles said, relaxing slightly at the man's reasoning, and folded his arms behind his back. "Could do, I suppose. I more just wanted to know if bein' halfsies is gonna leave me crazed an' howlin' at the moon, or somethin'... though I suppose, I never had an issue with October before." He grinned.

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 11:41 PM
Marcello chuckled. "Maybe it'll treat you differently in the Erins proper," he answered. "Not that it matters; you'll have women tearing at your trousers, from what I hear."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 11:45 PM
"Oh boy," Giles looked less than enthused by this news. "Maybe I'll talk Bonet into spendin' an evenin' with me at the card tables instead. Are there any other, uh, holidays I oughta look out for? Though I suppose you wouldn't know--you weren't there long, were you..."

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 11 2008, 11:53 PM
"No, no, just a few months all told," Marcello answered. "But it's a mad place, Hartley. You'll be shocked by some of the things you see there."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 11 2008, 11:56 PM
"Given that I've just spent a week on someone else's body? I don't think much could shock me at this point." He scratched his head, rather sheepishly. "I hope you an' Niabheara know what you're doin'. I'd like to see Titania's courts... bet they're somethin' else entirely. Speakin' of which--is... is there anything I can do fer you two? Now, or later? 'm not sure what all I'm meant to do now that I've sworn me fealty to the Lady..."

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 12 2008, 12:01 AM
The man raised an eyebrow. "That's very kind of you, but you'll have to ask Niabheara what she expects. I'm new to all this, too." He took a deep breath. "I hope everyone knows what we're doing. You too," he said. "Keep a weather eye out; the Queen is evil incarnate. I mean it."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 12 2008, 12:04 AM
Giles perked up slightly, having expected to have the offer brushed off "I will, I'll do just that. I've heard all sorts of tales of woe about Titania... but with Neely and Judith on our side, I'm not too worried." He grinned. "Figure when all the dust settles, I might be able to win myself a title or somethin'. You never know."

Posted by: Neely O'Niall Jul 12 2008, 12:15 AM
Marcello smiled slightly. "Maybe you will," he agreed, and nodded at the younger man. "You were on your way to sleep? I'd best not keep you up any longer."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Jul 12 2008, 12:22 AM
Giles nodded, wiping sweat from his neck. "Alrighty, then. And, uh... good neighbor. For Alex, I mean. He... we both appreciate it."

He flashed Marcello another smile and started off, grinning. "Sleep well, though I'm sure you will. Would that we were all allowed a lovely, red-headed bed-warmer..." With that, the man backpedaled and disappeared down the hallway, towards the bunks.