Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 05:24 PM
Finally relieved of his post, Giles' rubbed his aching shoulders and slunk down through the rigging into the ship, stopping only to gulp down some lukewarm water and pour the cool liquid over the iron-burns on his fingers. "Gioia? Gioia!" he called as he stalked through the halls. He found himself intensely grateful that the Puck was gone, and he did not have to eye each and every passer-by suspiciously.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 05:30 PM
Bonet turned the corner, immediately pivoting out of Giles' way, as if he was the larger person of them. He'd cut his hair the minute he'd realized he was him again, but left the beard. The result was a bit of a hacked mess. "The first person who go screaming for is Gioia?" He rumbled happily. "Should I feel insulted?"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 05:32 PM
Giles stopped dead in his tracks, his jaw dropping. "You--you're--you cut your hair?!" he stammered, looking horrified.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 05:34 PM
Bonet started and ran a hand through his hair. "Did I?" He asked startled, before giving the younger man a grin. "I left some. The beard was nice."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 05:38 PM
Giles looked wounded as he reached out and touched what was left of the man's long hair. "It's hideous. You'd better let me or Gioia even it out, or somethin'.... but keep the beard."

He pulled his hands back, twisting the ring on his pinky finger, nervous. "It's...good to see you-you?" he tried, shyly. "Have you seen Gioia?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 05:44 PM
"No, not at all." He grinned. "Why, something you have to tell her?" He asked, starting to walk again. "And you can do whatever you like to it now, Giles." He said, laying his large white hand on the rough homespun of the man's posterior, whenceforth he proceeded to grasp it in a loving way, as if testing it's ripeness like a canteloupe. "I'm all yours. And Gioia's."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 05:50 PM
"How ... generous," Giles tried to sound amused, but did not manage to cover his distraction. For some odd reason, that hand on his ass left him feeling a great deal more fruity than usual.

"Yeah, there is. Auberon was here. He took Neely, she'll... she'll not be happy about it. Are you alright? Aside from the ridiculously terrible haircut?" He did not look at Bonet, instead poking his head around each corner they passed.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 05:54 PM
"Auberon?" Davide asked, his accent showing. "As in.." He muttered, removing his hand and looking concerned. "Gioia's going to be pissed." He said, with a snort. "I'm fine, Hartley." He added, looking in doorways himself.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 05:55 PM
And that barely let Giles not run headfirst into Gioia, who was stalking the corridor, for once dressed entirely for business. Not a dress to be seen.

"Oh!" She halted, giving the two men a look, then blinked. "Giles! Did you cut Bonet's hair off?"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 05:57 PM
"Hey, even a one-eyed bloke could best that," Giles looked offended. Worriedly, he reached as though to embrace her, then caught himself awkwardly and instead balled his hands at his sides, not touching. "He did that all on his lonesome. Gioia, are you alright? Have you heard about Neely?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 06:00 PM
"Auberon took him, whatever that means." Bonet added, running a hand through his hair. "It looks better than when he was wearing it in pigtails!" He retorted.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 06:08 PM
"Yes I know." Gioia's face turned tight and serious. "It is bad, that's what it means. He has both Niabheara and Neely now. Has anybody heard from the Captain what she plans to do about it? I was about to go ask but I was... distracted." She ran a hand over her reddish gold hair, watching the men.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 06:12 PM
"He doesn't have Niabheara," Giles corrected, biting his lip. "Just Neely. I think th'Puck set him up." He glanced furtively at Bonet, then folded his hands behind his back and said rather urgently to Gioia, "You'll go after Neely, won't you? I want to come with you."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 06:16 PM
Bonet leaned against the wall and folded his arms, looking at the other two impassively as possible.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 06:20 PM
"The Puck?" Gioia cursed, a short sharp sentence in Cecilian.

For a moment it looked as if she might have wanted to hit something, anything, but then she forced herself to take a deep breath, unclenching her fists.

"I am not going to do a thing until we know more. And the one that would more is the Captain." She forced a smile, then took another breath and smiled for real.

"There is nothing to be gained from Neely's death, and the Puck is plotting with Auberon and not the Queen. Neely knows how to handle himself around him." She hoped, she hoped she really hoped. Really, there was no need making everyone else upset over this as well.

Instead she gave Bonet a little smile. "We have to fix your hair eventually you know, it's all lopsided."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 06:24 PM
"But when you act, tell me," Giles insisted, looking genuinely worried. "No one else on this ship gives a shit about him. Judith's probably relieved he ain't around, all things considered... I want t'help."

Seeing the way Gioia controlled herself, Giles tried to do the same, turning his attention to Bonet. He folded his arms with a smug I-told-you-so expression creeping across his face. "See? That's what I said. The beard can stay, right?" he asked Gioia hopefully, as though her permission would make it so.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 06:28 PM
"My hair and bodily grooming are the least of our worries." Bonet replied genially. "Who's to say Neely won't be returned or that the Puck won't come back for the Countess and the Cecilian?" He asked. "O'Niall might persaude them to the cause for all we know, or might have planned it before hand with the Puck." He scratched at his beard.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 06:33 PM
"The beard can stay. It makes him look rugged" Gioia agreed with Giles, as if Bonet was the last person to have any say in this matter. But she made no comment about telling Giles. Nothing promised, nothing broken.

"And I know Bonet... you might be right. I hope you are right. Saints that flies and crawls, it would make me furious that he wouldn't tell me, but I wouldn't have wanted to let him do it if he had. So he might have kept this secret even from me. Or this might all be the Puck. I know Neely was friends with it since childhood... but sometimes friends betray you. I still hate it."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 06:40 PM
"He wouldn't," Giles sullenly shoved his hands on his hips. "It doesn't make sense. Neely surrender himself to Auberon? He killed the man once, he can't have much t'bargain with," he protested.

Neely couldn't die. He'd come back once... and Giles wanted to see him survive, see him successful, as though Neely overcoming hurdles meant he could do it as well. It was just important, somehow.

God, how he wanted a drink. He twisted the ring again, mangled expression tight. "I'm guessin' that the fact that you ain't tryin' t'dissuade me means you ain't plannin' on tellin' me when you go. I don't appreciate it. You'll need every bit of help you can get."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 06:44 PM
"You're forgetting you're a vassal to the Countess, and that when she says jump your proper response is 'how high'." Bonet said, reaching out to push lightly at the man's shoulder, giving Gioia a considering glance.

"Puck might have done it on his own. And you were the one bemoaning the idea that no one was treating the Puck nicely, Carpentiere."

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 06:51 PM
"I know. I am too trusting." Gioia sighed, looking between Giles and Bonet. "Giles... if it comes to me going after Neely I will go alone. Not because you couldn't help, but because these things I do best alone. I'd go now if I wasn't thinking it would be rash."

She sighed, shaking her head. "Patience. At least that's something Neely taught me. He's gone through a lot before to get his point across. He can take care of himself for a little. I hope." She looked almost pleading there for a moment.


Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 06:57 PM
Giles rubbed at his shoulder, though Bonet's touch hadn't hurt. Relaxing, he reached up to tug at a curl, forgetting that a) he was in the right body and b) those curls had since been shorn. "Fine, I'll be patient. I ain't above convincin' the countess to let me aid her--that's what vassals do, yeah? An' if I don't go with you I'll just go alone." Here he set his jaw rather defiantly, and tried to stand a bit taller... though Bonet, as usual, dwarfed him.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 07:02 PM
"No, Giles, because then you'll distract me from whatever I'm doing because I'll have to follow you." Bonet said, immediately deciding to lobby the Countess into making sure her vassal's main duty was to run errands. He smiled.

"Gioia, if you say 'I hope' again, I'm going to scream." He rolled his shoulders leaning against the hall more. "Puck wanted a show, wanted us distracted and angry, off balance. Why?"

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 07:09 PM
Gioia took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. "The puck wanted us off balance because that is how it could keep hiding here. Everybody kept acting so odd not even I could pick up on any weirdness. And if it was the Puck, and not ElaineslashNiabheara that appeared on the deck with Neely... it..." She swallowed, then continued in a more quiet voice.

"Either it suspected that Auberon would do something like this, and made sure that the Countess would not be the one taken. Just it and Neely. Or it knew about it, and this was planned from the start, with or without Neely's knowledge. But if it wanted to do true damage it would have stolen the Countess. Neely is my friend, sure, but he is not vital to this cause most people would say. Saints, most would say he was a hindrance."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 07:13 PM
"He's only a hindrance until he starts contacting the Unseelie," Giles pointed out, reaching to rub Gioia's shoulders encouragingly. "So Puck is damaging our cause by placin' him in harm's way--but it is strange that he didn't take the Countess, considerin' how easily it might've been done. He left Elaine as a mouse--he intentionally left her..."

Here his expression went thoughtful, and he scratched at the scar where plate met skin. It felt strange to be in his own body again.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 07:18 PM
"To get us all riled up and not thinking properly." Davide replied, watching the shoulder rubbing with interest. "So. The Puck wanted O'Niall and Auberon together for a talk, or a plot. We've still got the Countess, the Cecilian, and the seawitch." He snorted. "We're still on top. O'Niall knows the politics and limitations of the court, and isin't swept up in tizzy every three minutes when the Cecilian looks at him. He's better to negociate with than the Countess." He said thoughtfully, before frowning.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 07:28 PM
"True enough." Gioia sighed, then relaxed somewhat as if a stone had dropped from her shoulders as Giles touched them. "He would be far better for it. And he cannot go around avoiding Auberon forever." She would have to go ahead and think positively. If she went the worst route their cause was already a lost one. She would have to have some faith. If nothing else in Neely's wiliness.

"Thank you." She smiled at both men, looking a little bit embarrassed with herself.



Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 07:31 PM
Giles smiled at her, working at a knot with his thumb. He had to work a bit gingerly as the back of his hands were still iron-burned. "Let us do what we can, then, and hope it's enough. We'll be in port soon--very soon, Judes is workin' us to the bone upstairs," he complained, flashing Bonet a wry look.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 08:14 PM
Gioia sighed a bit, relaxing more at Giles' touch. "I just hate feeling useless. And Neely as history with Auberon... he did kill him once after all. It's not the sort of thing that is easy to forgive."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 08:26 PM
"You ain't useless," Giles corrected, moving his hands downward. "You're just bein' patient, there's a difference. Besides, if anyone can get away with regicide, it'd sure as hell be Neely... By the way, good neighbor... for takin' such good care of my body."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 08:33 PM
Bonet seemed overly distracted by the display of affection and snapped back to himself, narrowing his eyes slightly. "You aren't useless, Gioia, and you know that. How many problems have you already fixed today?" He asked warmly.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 08:37 PM
"Hopefully one, but I have my doubts." She laughed softly, shaking her head as she stepped away from Giles with a nod of thanks. She stretched a bit, rotating her shoulders. "And no need to thank me Giles, just... don't let it get that bad again, alright? Trust me, you didn't want that hangover." She gave Bonet almost a coy look.

"What's the matter? I thought you'd be glad that Giles could touch people again?"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 08:42 PM
"I'll be careful. Red beer," he sighed happily, "My favorite thing about the Erins. Not that you lot can partake..." Giles grinned, licking his lips rather... showily.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 08:46 PM
Bonet simply adopted a rather hangdog expression. "I'm very glad. I haven't gotten to do anything with the good news, however." He reminded them both, pushing off the wall. "I'm going to go fix my hair then." The man told them, heading for the bunks again.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 08:50 PM
"Oh Bonet..." Gioia's face softened a bit at the look on his face. "Saints man, don't be an idiot. I'd thought you'd be happy to get your body back." She took two quick steps after the man, grabbing his arm. "And if you cut it by yourself, you'll make more of a mess. Arms doesn't bend that way."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 08:53 PM
"Gioia--don't fall for that nonsense! That's one hundred percent show," Giles said, smirking. "He's just tryin' t'tempt you into back into the bunks."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 08:55 PM
Davide turned and fixed Giles with a sad, mournful look. "Do you think I would stoop that far?" He asked, grinning and dropping a kiss on top of Gioia's head. "I think Giles wants me to cut my hair as short as possible." He murmured to her.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 08:58 PM
"Oh you..." Gioia made a face, punching Bonet lightly in the stomach with her fist. "Thank you for the warning Giles, I had forgotten how devious he is." She took a step away looking between the two. "You have curly hair Bonet, if you cut it too short you will look like the little puffball apprentice."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 09:01 PM
"Gioia's on my team," Giles said, cockily. He reached out and pulled Gioia into a hug, setting his head on her shoulder and sticking his tongue out at Bonet. "We are co-conspirators, Mister Lieutenant Commander sir, and don't you forget it."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 09:05 PM
Bonet simply favored them with a wide, open grin. "When do I get to join the team?" He said, interested, before frowning. "You need to not refer to me by my rank the minute we reach port, young sir."

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 09:09 PM
"You know Giles, the thing with a conspiracy is that it's supposed to be secret." She rolled her eyes a bit, but let herself be caught into the hug easily enough. It felt good to be the right size again, it had been a bit distressing.

"And I am so very sorry Bonet, since the conspiracy is sort of aimed at you, you can't join. That would defeat the purpose of this whole experiment." She nodded sagely, looking very serious as she crossed her arms over her chest, incidentally pushing out her breasts though the effect was lessened since she wore a shirt, and not a dress.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 09:15 PM
"Yes ma'am," Giles smirked, pressing a kiss to Gioia's cheek though his expression was fixed elsewhere--watching Bonet watching them, and not being shy about it. He then unwound himself and edged over to Davide, reaching out a hand and pressing it to the redhead's cheek. "Haircut, Mister Beardy McTightpants of No Discernible Rank?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 09:18 PM
"Well, if I can't be in your conspiracy, I suppose I'll take a haircut." Bonet replied, turning his head against the hand at his cheek to mock bite the younger man, keeping his own hands firmly behind his back. "In the bunks?" He said hopefully. "Or the hold?"

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 09:22 PM
"Not the bunks. I'm not sure if the roving Princess is there still..." Gioia rolled her eyes at the thought. "Don't ask. Really. So the hold it is." She tilted her head a bit as she watched Bonet and Giles, a happy little smile on her lips.

"For a haircut" she clarified...

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 09:28 PM
Giles sucked in his breath quietly, and drew his hand away. He fingered the ring again, almost disbelieving. "I'll fetch the scissors?" he suggested, looking sideways at Gioia, as though for permission. It was... surprisingly not that awkward, touching Bonet with her watching. He wasn't sure how he felt about that.

Posted by: Judith ni Dowd Aug 4 2008, 09:33 PM
A short jet of icy water splattered hard enough to the side of Davide's new haircut to bounce back into the faces of the other two.

"For the love of all gods," said Judith, voice rich with disgust, "we are within hours of shore."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 09:36 PM
Davide yelped, jumping flat against the wall and giving Judith a guilty look. "That is precisely the point, Captain!" He spat back, shaking his head to dislodge most of the water.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 09:39 PM
Gioia reached into her pocket, pulling out the iron scissors she had been carrying around. "We are hours from the shore, and our dear Lieutenant Commander decided to cut his own hair with less than stellar results." She had a complete straight face again, no guilt on her.

"I was on my way to speak with you captain. You are aware that the princess is now back in the flesh and thrice as pretty? And have you pondered what to do about Neely?" It wasn't mean, not really... but Neely's plight made all other things pale a bit for her.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 09:42 PM
"I'm pretty sure a haircut ain't against ship's rules," Giles said with surprising ease, stepping in front of Bonet in a transparent effort to hide the look on the man's face. He wiped the water from his plate with the back of one hand.

Posted by: Judith ni Dowd Aug 4 2008, 09:48 PM
"I'll cut your hair," Judith said to Giles in what had to be one of the most bizarrely ominous threats she had ever delivered. She stepped nearer to the circle. "I came to see who was in the Countess's retinue when we made shore. Bonet, I know you're in. Gioia, if you go, I don't want you makin' a play after O'Niall without takin' orders from either the countess or the Queensman, is that plain?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 09:55 PM
"I would say my general air of impatience makes that apparent." Davide muttered, pushing Giles a little. "Off, I don't need you of all people to defend me." He said, annoyed.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 10:01 PM
Gioia rolled her eyes at both of them. "Saints, unruffle the both of you. It's like she says, and we have more important things right now. I plan to leave with the Countess Captain, but..." She sighed, looking thoughtfully at the shorter woman. "I have no intentions of doing something foolish. But neither will I swear to obey the Countess and the Queensman. I work for him, not anybody else. That being said... it doesn't make sense to just take him away and kill him. I think he's safe for the moment. As long as that moment does not become overlong."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 10:03 PM
Giles flashed Bonet an aggravated look. "Fine. Excuse my carin'."

Turning his back squarely on the man he stood a bit straighter, and smoothed his damp hair back. He fixed his good eye on Judith. "As a loyal an' honorable vassal o' th'lady Countess Niabheara, I am plannin' t'join her re-- ... retin... party as well. Uh. If it pleases you, captain."

Posted by: Judith ni Dowd Aug 4 2008, 10:11 PM
"I think he's safe, too," Judith said, sounding more honestly relieved that someone shared her theory than she would have liked to have seemed. "It's fine with me, Hartley, if she'll have you. I'm a bit worried about her havin' stragglers . . . but that's going to be her say-so in the end, not mine. Bonet, you? Mind, the lot of you are going to be pretty much holed in up there for a week 'til we get back from Ushante."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 10:17 PM
"Holed up for a week? On dry land?" Bonet replied, rolling his eyes at Giles. "You know I'm supposed to sit in some room and pretend to be a merchant and make a very large list of supplies, Captain. I can do it in a week." He said calmly, shivering slightly.

Posted by: Gioia Carpentiere Aug 4 2008, 10:22 PM
"A week is fine." Gioia nodded. "I need to familiarize myself with the surroundings anyway." She finally brushed some dripping water from her nose. "Here Giles, can you help Bonet out with the hair?" She handed the scissors to Giles, bowing slightly to all of them.

"I have something I need to take care of before we hit shore. But do not worry Captain, I won't do anything stupid." And with that she turned and headed down the hallway, looking very much like a woman with a purpose.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 10:26 PM
Giles didn't look at Bonet and took the scissors, smiling at Gioia as she turned. "Captain, I ain't spoken with Alex yet. I'd prefer he stay on with you, though if you've no particular preference I'd just as soon leave the choice up to him."

Posted by: Judith ni Dowd Aug 4 2008, 10:30 PM
"Aye, we can keep him if he's willing to that." Judith nodded to Giles, then looked to regard them both. "I know you both got thrown into this, but just as a favour to me--that's still my little girl up there. Look out for her. Do what she says." She frowned. "Unless she says somethin' outright stupid. Then I trust your judgement. Keep close together. North of Erin is thick country for beasties."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 10:35 PM
Davide softened a little, and nodded. "Of course, Captain." He assured her. "You have our word. And I'm sure she won't say anything stupid." The man added, glancing at Giles with his brows raised. "And you'll be back yourself, in a week."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 10:40 PM
Giles' expression went sweet, and he nodded obediently. "We'll mind her. She's in good hands. Likewise, Alex...? He should be alright, maybe moreso than usual without me around, but..."

Posted by: Judith ni Dowd Aug 4 2008, 10:45 PM
"Sooner if I can," she promised Bonet. "Get a feel for what's happenin' up there, you're my eyes and ears. Hopefully we can stir up enough trouble in Ushante to rally some support behind Nialla."

She gave Giles an arch little look. "And maybe without you two snipin' at each other I can get get some work out of your Alex."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 10:51 PM
Davide grinned quickly and suddenly found the ceiling interesting.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 10:52 PM
Giles grinned. "If you're lucky. Be nice t'me, miss, if I die on you you're out a pretty penny," he teased. "Oh--though you might watch Alex, I think he's a bit sweet on Elaine."

Posted by: Judith ni Dowd Aug 4 2008, 10:57 PM
"Him and half the damn world," Judith growled. "I swear, I'm gonner have to find a stick." With a wry little grin, she poked Bonet in the stomach. "Down here," she instructed, pointing to herself. "Any questions from you two?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 11:02 PM
"Oof! Good neighbor." Bonet said politely, looking down at the woman. "How does one say "how much does a room cost?" in Tuatha?" He asked innocently, not looking at Giles.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 11:06 PM
Giles went absolutely scarlet. "That's not why I'm stayin' in Oireachteigh," he told Judith quickly, waving both hands in front of him. "It's nothin' like that!"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 11:07 PM
"Except it's very much like that." Davide retorted.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 11:08 PM
"I... I have business, in Oireachteigh! I do!" Giles sputtered. "Business that--that isn't you!"

Posted by: Judith ni Dowd Aug 4 2008, 11:12 PM
"Do it off my ship, I don't much care if it's exactly like that and more so," said Judith, who seemed amused that there was this much of a debate over what, to her, seemed a very simple matter. "And you, Hartley--we found you in Oireachteigh, is there anyone who might be looking for you? That might be left, I mean."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 11:17 PM
"I don't... I don't think so," Giles admitted, quietly. "It's possible. I left some of my things behind, though, an' I'd like t'retrieve 'em. If the city's... as I left it, they're like to be undisturbed."

His face went peculiar when he spoke of Oireachteigh, tight and closed off.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 11:20 PM
Bonet noticed the look on the younger man's face, and put his hand to the small of Giles' back, frowning. "What do you mean, that might be left?" He asked, serious again.

Posted by: Judith ni Dowd Aug 4 2008, 11:25 PM
"Last time we were here, the time we took on Hartley, whole place was in the middle of a plague, courtesy of our lady the Royal Bitch." She frowned, brow tightening, and nodded to Giles. "Don't know if there's a chance of that, mate. It's been six moons. You might be better off tryin' to replace than tryin' to find the old."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 11:31 PM
"S'not replaceable," Giles informed her, with a shrug. "If it's gone, it's gone. Just figured it couldn't hurt t'look."

He flashed Bonet a weak smile, which withered away after a moment's thought. "Wasn't a pleasant place, then. Mass graves, Direguard runnin' amok... but a lot can change in six months." One hand slid up to tuck his hair behind his tattered ear.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 11:38 PM
"We'll figure it out." Bonet murmured, rubbing the small of his back and giving Judith a nod. "Sounds like a wonderful place, Captain. Is that all you have for us?" He asked, looking worriedly at Giles.

Posted by: Judith ni Dowd Aug 4 2008, 11:47 PM
"That's the bulk of it. You two are excused from deck to get your gear together. We should be movin' in just after high-sun." She gave Davide a wry grin verging on a smirk. "I should hope for his comfort that none of your gear is located in Hartley's arse, Bonet.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 11:51 PM
Giles' face went ruddy all over again. "Yes'm," he said, mortified, and began to slink towards the bunks.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 11:52 PM
"Not yet, Captain." Davide replied cheerily, giving her a wink and turning to follow Giles, grinning madly.

Posted by: Judith ni Dowd Aug 4 2008, 11:53 PM
Judith turned her back to them both, shaking her head and chuckling under her breath. "These boys, I swear . . . "

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 4 2008, 11:55 PM
Once they were a fair distance away from Judith, Giles ducked down below and grumbled over one shoulder, "I can feel you smilin', Davide, an' I don't even wanna know why."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 4 2008, 11:58 PM
"All right, Giles, I won't tell you." The man answered calmly, swinging into the room and kneeling in front of his chest, starting to shift, fold and organize things. "What kind of business do you have in port?"

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 12:00 AM
"Well--well now I want to know," Giles said, caught off-guard. He didn't answer the question at all, but kicked open his chest and turned to face Davide, standing akimbo. "Why were you smilin'?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 5 2008, 12:02 AM
"I'm smiling because for once you blushed and I didn't." Bonet answered, not looking up from putting his things in order. He glanced over his shoulder. "You're as easy as Gioia sometimes, Hartley." The man told him nicely, going back to folding pants.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 12:08 AM
At that, Giles smiled too. "Ah," he said, scratching at his scars, gone shy again. "I suppose that's true. Gioia's prettier, though."

He pulled out his haversack, sucking on his lower lip as he began rolling his clothes--two sets--and single jacket, shoving them into the bottom of the bag.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 5 2008, 12:11 AM
"I meant easy to fool. She's pretty, you're handsome, I'm not complaining." He clarified, glancing over again. "You want to put your things in here, Giles?" Davide asked, pointing to the chest. "I can carry it all out."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 12:17 AM
"I can get it myself," Giles laughed. "There ain't much." That was true. Other than what he wore, just a bag containing a pack of cards and a few dice, along with his single set of boots. "Though you're welcome t'carry it t'my room, if it'll make y'feel all gentlemanly."

He pondered the scissors Gioia had handed him. "Haircut now? Or once we've made port?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 5 2008, 12:20 AM
"Might as well be now, since we don't know what awaits us." Davide replied. "And I'll carry it for you." He offered, closing his chest and sitting atop it. "Snip away. I tried to cut is short enough so I didn't look.. well, well bred."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 12:28 AM
"You'll look well-bred anyway," Giles informed him, amused. "It's in the way you carry yourself an' th'way y'talk." He ran his fingers through the man's hair. "I like your curls, Davide."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 5 2008, 12:32 AM
"As long as I ain't too well bred." Davide replied, mimicking the man's accent. "I can pass, for now." He snorted. "So keep them after you cut them off, Giles."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 12:36 AM
"Near to my heart, with my always, as a favor an' token of love?" Giles teased, trying to sound snooty and failing miserably. "I don't sound like that, do I? Really?"

Then, embarrassed, he leaned in and placed a kiss on the curve of the man's ear. "Now, hold still," he ordered, snipping the scissors in mid-air.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 5 2008, 12:38 AM
Davide grinned again, looking up and to the sides at the shears. "Holding still. You sound much better than I do." He said calmly. "I thought you could use them as bookmarks, but tokens work as well."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 12:49 AM
"Books're expensive," Giles complained, smoothing down his hair before taking the scissors to him. "Given how much coin I owe Judith, I'm not about t'go buy meself a library."

Giles went quiet for a moment. "So... you gonna share a room with Gioia in Oireachteigh, then?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 5 2008, 12:51 AM
"I wasn't planning on it." The man said honestly. "What occured to me, mostly was getting you alone." He sighed. "I'm not about to play you two against each other, since you're both playing me so well."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 12:57 AM
"Oh yeah? Gioia thinks you've something much more nefa... neffyrous up your sleeve," Giles informed him, hands stilling for a moment. He was smiling, though Bonet couldn't see it. "I don't think you could play us... not unless we wanted t'be played. I thought you'd complain that I was stayin'," he added, curiously.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 5 2008, 12:59 AM
"It's only a week." Bonet countered. "No one else is complaining that you're going, and the Countess shows up with a willing supporter from outside the Erins. We can play that." He smiled, tapping his feet. "I've nothing nefarious up my sleeves. Not that I know of, at least."

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 01:06 AM
"You always play everything, don't you," Giles observed, thoughtfully. "Y'know, when I first met you, I thought you were just...well, big an' dumb. Saw the jacket an' figured officer or not, there wasn't much goin' on upstairs."

He brushed the fallen curls from the man's shoulders in lieu of an apology, and kept cutting. "I couldn't've been more wrong, huh?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 5 2008, 01:11 AM
"Yes, I do." Bonet answered. "But for the better of everyone." He added, tensing. "I am very big and dumb as well." He added. "I like it when people think I'm big and dumb and don't catch on. Makes my jobs easier." Davide sighed, biting his lip and looking at the other side of the room, thinking.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 01:15 AM
"Is that why you're doin' all this, for your Empire?" Giles asked, softly. He began cutting again, carefully, in case the man should pull away. "How much of you is you, an' how much is what th' Navy tells you t'be?"

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 5 2008, 01:19 AM
Davide tensed even more, but kept seated. "I am who I say I am, how I act.." He breathed in deeply. "The Navy might like to think it can tell me how to act, but that too, Giles, is a game. I'm my own man, in service to Aquitaine. But not a slave." He growled and then relaxed, crossing his arms.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 01:27 AM
Giles was quiet, nails against the other man's scalp. "I never said you were--but I'm glad t'hear you say that." He trailed off for a moment, then sighed. "Well, for what it's worth, I trust you."

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 5 2008, 01:30 AM
Davide turned and looked up at him, putting his hands to the man's shoulders, sitting up slightly and kissing him.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 01:34 AM
Giles returned the kiss gently, smiling against his mouth. "Just a few hours. This is me bein' patient." That being said, he kissed Davide again.

Posted by: Davide Bonet Aug 5 2008, 01:36 AM
Davide raised his brows. "You've got an odd sense of patience." He remarked, backing up, locking his chest and lifting it easily. "Let's go above decks before we realize being impatient is easier." He said gently, turning to go.

Posted by: Giles Hartley Aug 5 2008, 01:42 AM
Giles grinned, but did not protest. "If you insist," he agreed, trailing after the other man and dusting curls from his sleeves.