Posted by: Andre Romain Jul 6 2008, 10:09 PM
At first, Andre had considered ringing the all hands bell, but realizing that that meant calling everyone, and everyone was likely too many people for the present discussion at hand. Instead, he whistled across the deck. "Knocks?! If you have a minute? Anyone else who's off-duty and wants to join in?! Little discussion over here!"

Posted by: Jochy Melechen Jul 6 2008, 10:11 PM
Well, Jochy was off duty at the moment... so he had no second thoughts about joining in.

"Plans in the making? Or is this where yer tell us that there ain't no money?" Jochy was joking of course, being closer to land made him in a better mood.

Posted by: Sebastiano Pietri Jul 6 2008, 10:16 PM
Bastian, who was off-duty in that he didn't have anyone who wanted him to do anything at the moment, wandered over, nodding at the Captain.

Posted by: Knocks Guntersson Jul 6 2008, 10:16 PM
"This is when he tells us that Aquitaine has sent the fable back-up at last," Knocks said, with bland if cheerful indifference, to Jochy. He was still hobbling, and he was also still largely ignoring the mage, which was just as well. "Problem, captain?"

Posted by: Andre Romain Jul 6 2008, 10:25 PM
"No problem," Andre assured the dwarf. Then he gave Jochy a dry look. "And you'll get your money. Here's the plan. We're stopping off in Mercer. I talked to Moreau, I'm sending the head back to him with one of his men, we're turning Kullie's men over to the prison here, and sending all Moreau's men to report to the Navy headquarters. Moreau says were through, debt's paid. We're all out of this, and I'm out of my uniform the minute I check in and hand in my letter of resignation in port. Spider and I would like to try to settle down in Mercer," he explained, glancing at Jochy, before addressing Knocks. "Judith's close to Oireachteigh, she's putting in there and then heading down to Ushante. She...I think she'd like the help, if your boys are willing," he said to the dwarf. "And anyone else who'd like to go."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen Jul 6 2008, 10:27 PM
Very uncharacteristically Jochy held his tongue there, scratching the back of his neck as he looked away. He really looked unsure of what was the best path for him to take.



Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 6 2008, 10:32 PM
"Boys!" came a harumph from behind those gathered. "Always the boys! You all wouldn't last a day without the women on board. Not a thing would get done!" Dastinka forced her way to the front, her red hair sprouting wildly from behind her goggles, which were strapped atop her head like a headband. "What the heck is Judith going to help with? Hm? You're a man now, Romain. Can't handle it on your own?"

Posted by: Knocks Guntersson Jul 6 2008, 10:34 PM
"Ah, of course." Knocks nodded, looking entirely unsurprised. "I am not sure who would be interested in becoming part of another damned Tuathailli war." He grinned hard at Dastinka, asking in Dwarven: "What do you say? The pointy-ears are fighting again."

Posted by: Sebastiano Pietri Jul 6 2008, 10:35 PM
It only took Bastian a moment of thinking before he said, "I speak for my brother and myself when I say we'd like to stay on with you if possible, sir. We will also be... resigning when we reach port."

Posted by: Andre Romain Jul 6 2008, 10:38 PM
Andre laughed. "We're not exactly going to be taking anyone on," Andre said. "Spider and I are going to find a little cottage and have a baby. Well, she's going to be doing the having, and--I'm sorry---ah, Miss?" he said, uncomfortable, as he looked over the other dwarf. "I am very sorry. I didn't realize we had any women. Er, apart from the more obvious ones."

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 6 2008, 10:43 PM
"You wouldn't," snorted the squat woman, turning to Knocks with a roll of her eyes. "Leave it to the Captain to not know who's on his fucking ship. I say I miss the mines more every day."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen Jul 6 2008, 10:44 PM
Jochy slapped a hand over his eyes as Andre got his foot and wedged it fully inside his mouth.

Well, he supposed that would speak for Andre's attraction to Spider, never noticing the fact that some of the dwarves DID have boobs.



Posted by: Knocks Guntersson Jul 6 2008, 10:50 PM
"Give him some credit for getting us out alive," Knocks replied nicely, before turning back to Andre. "Most of these men are restless. If you will tell Judith that they are coming, I will see what I can round up for her. Although one would have to be ignorant of most of history to get involved in one of these faerie land wars."

Posted by: Sebastiano Pietri Jul 6 2008, 10:52 PM
Bastian looked uncomfortable. He'd finally found a Captain he really liked and now he was going to lose him this quickly? "Will you be returning to sea, after the baby is born?" He asked.

Posted by: Andre Romain Jul 6 2008, 10:56 PM
"Ahh..." Andre hesitated. "That's up to my wife, really," he answered. "There's still several months to go, and the question of getting a ship."

He smiled sheepishly at the lady-dwarf, not really sure what to say, and looked to Knocks instead. "No, but I'm hoping maybe you can bring her some supplies...and to be honest, a sea war, you might have better luck with. Especially in an iron ship."

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 6 2008, 10:59 PM
Dastinka shrugged at Knocks, somewhat appeased. "Even in an iron ship, there's still the matter of why we're doin' this in the first place. You've got a baby on board, Romain. You ain't exactly thinkin' like a papa."

Posted by: Andre Romain Jul 6 2008, 11:04 PM
"And I'm not going," Andre pointed out. "For someone as uppity about my eyesight, you've misheard every single thing I've said so far," he informed the lady dwarf.

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 6 2008, 11:07 PM
"I have not," answered the lady with a laugh, "You're leaving us to go about your business while we get into the thick of it? Oh fine, just send us away, Captain. That's just fine." Dastinka threw up her hands in resignation. "Let us do the work for you while you're gone. I don't mind at all. Really. It's perfectly okay. Perfectly noble of you, if you ask me..."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen Jul 6 2008, 11:09 PM
Jochy was keeping silent for now, because a lot of what he planned to do depended on what the dwarves would do. And if it was something he didn't want, it was to make them pissed at him again for running his mouth or something.

Because if they decided to go, he might just have to beg to get on that ship.

Posted by: Knocks Guntersson Jul 6 2008, 11:10 PM
"Dasta," Knocks said, in a warning tone. "You volunteered for the job. Now it is done. You can volunteer for next job or choose to go home. No one will think less of you either way."

He dropped back into Common. "There would be matter of the ship. Are you planning to sell or to give it over?"

Posted by: Andre Romain Jul 6 2008, 11:15 PM
"Knocks, it's your ship," Andre answered. "Unless you...unless there's some custom about this sort of thing, and you'd prefer to pay for it, it's yours."

He gave the girl dwarf a pointed look. "Miss. This was decided long before Judith made the request. And she didn't make it of me, she made it of Knocks. In fact, she forbade me to come. You don't like it, you can talk to him about it."

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 6 2008, 11:16 PM
Brilliantly, the lady dwarf blinked. First at Andre, and then at Knocks. And then she proceeded to go off in dwarven to Knocks in a high-pitched whine, none of it particularly intelligible... all of it incredibly irritating.

Posted by: Knocks Guntersson Jul 6 2008, 11:27 PM
"It is not my ship," he pointed out. "Sell it. Cut the profits. You give me enough to find another vessel, I can captain whatever crew is remaining. Most will go back to Drunnandannon." He gave Dastinka a wry look. "And some will repeat themselves until I understand a word of what they are saying."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen Jul 6 2008, 11:31 PM
"Bet Aquitaine would pay a fortune for it. But doesn't that defeat the purpose of keeing it out of their hands? Selling it?"

Jochy fell silent as he realized he had spoke up.

Oh well.

Posted by: Andre Romain Jul 6 2008, 11:34 PM
"I mean sell it to you," Andre answered. "Knocks, this ship either stays with me or stays with you; it's not being sold."

He nodded at Jochy. "For precisely that reason. I was hoping we could get it up to Judith; an iron ship would be a godsend."

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 6 2008, 11:35 PM
"Whatthehellareyouthinking? taketheshipforfreeanddon'tlookback! makeyourfatherproudofyouanddosomethingrightforachangeit'sfreeit'sfreeit'sfree..." she continued, still refusing to switch into common.

Posted by: Knocks Guntersson Jul 6 2008, 11:44 PM
"What?" Knocks replied to Dastinka. "I had to make the offer; it's only polite." He swapped back into Common. "We can get it to her, if that is the case," he said, with another sharp look at his fellow dwarf. "There are not many other options if you intend to break the company."



Posted by: Andre Romain Jul 6 2008, 11:48 PM
"Well, I don't want Aquitaine on my ship any longer than necessary," Andre replied. "If...the tallfolk and Tuatha who are still with us want to stay with you?" he said to the dwarf. "Would you be so kind to keep them on? It would be very generous of you. Spider doesn't want to stay at sea, and I admit, neither do I. But you and your crew have been very good to us. Very patient," Andre added, glancing at Dasta.

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 6 2008, 11:49 PM
Who didn't notice the glare, because she was still waving her arms and shrieking at Knocks about keeping the ship.

Posted by: Jochy Melechen Jul 6 2008, 11:57 PM
Jochy had been looking at Knocks the last while. He didn't really understand what they spoke about, but he knew the man was avoiding him.

Oh hell. He honestly had no idea what to do.

Posted by: Knocks Guntersson Jul 7 2008, 12:02 AM
"The tallfolk will be more difficult," he admitted. "Lang might stay to Drunnandannon or even to the Seelie islands. The others I do not know well enough to reckon, so that will be my first order of business. Do you keep going on?" he said, in an abrupt drop to Dwarven. "What is with you? Do you not hear me? I am taking the damn ship. Will you stay or not?"

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 7 2008, 12:04 AM
"What?" Dasta asked, suddenly stopping when Knocks addressed her. She took her first breath since she started her raving and continued, "Oh, good. Sorry, Captain," she said sincerely, nodding to Knocks. Then to Andre second.

Posted by: Andre Romain Jul 7 2008, 12:10 AM
Andre gave the male dwarf an sympathetic nod. "If there is anything you need from me, just say so," he said to Knocks. "And I will see to it that you get it. Moreau says his reinforcements were sent. I don't know whether to believe him, but he did seem honestly concerned that they never showed."

Posted by: Sebastiano Pietri Jul 7 2008, 12:12 AM
Bastian had been thinking for quite some time. "I'll stay with the ship and help however I can if it is not possible to stay with you, Captain. Both my brother and I will... we go wherever we go together." He said finally.

Posted by: Jochy Melechen Jul 7 2008, 12:14 AM
Jochy spoke up again, voice a bit quiet as he watched Knocks. "I'd like to go with the ship too, but I understand that ain't my call to make. No hard feelings Andre, but quiet townlife ain't much for me."

Posted by: Knocks Guntersson Jul 7 2008, 12:18 AM
"It looks as if you and Alaise may be going on alone," Knocks said quietly to Andre. "Pietri, you and your brother, I would be glad to have on the trip out, if you do not mind Unseelie waters. Jochy . . . " He went quiet, regarding the man. "You come. I am not knowing if Judith will take you back."

Posted by: Andre Romain Jul 7 2008, 12:21 AM
Andre chuckled. "Well, I have a good feeling Ollie is going to stay with me. I'll see what Deck wants to do. He's a good boy; you'll be lucky of him if he goes, but he might want to stay in more familiar territory," he said to the dwarf. "We'll have the mirror; if we need to talk to anyone, it's easy for us to call."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen Jul 7 2008, 12:28 AM
"I... suppose that would be best. Shit. I doubt she wants me there. Had this bloody discussion once already but..." He broke off before he started to rant, stifling his worry and indignation.

Swallowing it down. It didn't do him any good. Really.

"Ask her then. Either of you. If she says no..." The words were so bloody hard to say. "I'll find work elsewhere."

Posted by: Sebastiano Pietri Jul 7 2008, 12:33 AM
"Thank you, sir." Bastian said to Knocks, "I will need to talk to my brother to confirm it, but I don't believe he'll have a problem sailing through Unseelie waters on this ship, and I know I don't.



Posted by: Knocks Guntersson Jul 7 2008, 12:45 AM
Knocks gave Jochy such a passing glance that the man might as well not have spoken. "Then what we have now is a matter of time. There is still the possibility of another conflict before shore, only not so much once we reach the edge of the Mercer patrols."

Posted by: Andre Romain Jul 7 2008, 12:54 AM
"Unless the Mercer patrols have coordinated with them," Andre put in dryly. "I hope they haven't. I'd like to take Moreau at his word, but he says he doesn't know these men well enough to trst them yet. We do have to continue to be on guard. And Kuleliti has her daughter, who may be after us still as well."

Posted by: Knocks Guntersson Jul 7 2008, 01:03 AM
Knocks nodded again. "Ja. I go down to get a count. You would be better to deal with the Aquitaineans."

Posted by: Jochy Melechen Jul 7 2008, 01:09 AM
Jochy listened and then sighed in resignation.

Okay. He'd see where this panned out. There was nothing else to do though he loathed letting his fate lie in the hands of others.

"I'll get back to work then."