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Post by Shark a' Pult on Nov 12, 2014 1:04:41 GMT -5
Akki made a gamble based on Alcantra's own words. If they were indeed just pirates, then she hoped they wouldn't recognize the finer details of orchestral structure.
"These? I'm a musician on board... I play the harp. I was doing so until not long ago, but you probably saw what happened up on deck. Rather than getting off of the ship with everyone else, I tried to take care of my injuries first."
If she was lucky, it really was only Harry whom knew anything about her. As long as he was unconscious, or even just not present, she might be able to act with impunity. Now the trick was, to see how far she could get with this act, because she wasn't intent on just surrendering without putting up a fight.
"I was caught up in the attack, with all the commotion I didn't get to see much but I could help you look. Nothing keeping me here now, anyway. I still think they probably would have just jumped ship though, I'd be surprised if there was anyone here besides you and your friends, me and the captain."
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Post by Kyubey on Nov 15, 2014 21:32:07 GMT -5
Alcantra bought into her act completely, and yet was still intent on getting some answers from her. Even if she couldn't help him, however, the pirate felt as though he couldn't leave her alone. As the sounds of his mates violently turning the boat apart rung through the air, he paused only for a second to imagine what one of them might do if they found her. Certainly he couldn't trust them to act in a gentlemanly fashion. While Alcantra was always a pirate, he could not in good conscience allow a lady to remain unprotected, especially not while there was an enemy afoot.
"Ah, so you were playing that lovely music we heard earlier? Then, I'm glad to have met you, even if under these circumstances. But, you should not have remained aboard. I'm afraid this good ship has become no place for decent folk."
He leaned against the doorframe, sticking his head outside into the hallway for a quick moment, before darting back in. The area was clear, for the moment. He had no way of telling how long that would last.
"Our opponent, leave? Before our fight is finished? No, no, a coward he may be, but there'd be no use in doing that. Already one of our own has been defeated, and I'm certain he intends to finish the job. Could you direct me to the captain, please? Perhaps he may know a thing or two."
In truth, there were more questions Alcantra wanted to ask of Akki, but in her state, the last thing he wanted to do was make her feel interrogated, so he kept the inquiry to simple matters. His voice was low, and his manner hushed. If the enemy hadn't left the ship yet, then every moment he wasted was one in which they could escape.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Nov 19, 2014 13:16:33 GMT -5
"Oh the captain? Sure, I guess. I don't think he'd have anything to do with it though..."
Akki wasn't sure what he was after, but she obliged anyway. She was more curious though as to what he kept looking out for. Probably whatever it was that she could hear messing around about the ship. It was a simple matter to traverse the few flights of stairs to the top deck, though along the way, the pair would probably run into more pirates tearing the place up since they had to move around the exterior of the ship to reach the bridge.
---
"Ola! Trust everything finds the passengers alright this day! Tuukul?"
Sliding open the door to the bridge, Akki gestured inside to Alcantra before moving in herself, though he didn't have to follow her but she left the door open anyway.
"Hello Captain, just looking around."
"He'le! Don't worry not a bit tuucha! Everything I have under control! Just only enjoy the trip!"
The captain, or the person Akki was referring to as the captain and who was referring back, appeared to be an oversized monitor lizard. Not so big, shorter than her and not more than four feet tall, but seemingly bipedal and dressed like a regular old salt with the addition of a pair of goggles. Steering the ship seemed to be the primary concern, though the captain was at least polite enough to respond, even if the passengers were not afforded a sideways glance.
Akki at least, did not seem to find it at all strange, and waited patiently for Alcantra to find whatever he was looking for.
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Post by Kyubey on Nov 23, 2014 13:39:19 GMT -5
As Akki held the door open, Alcantra tipped his hat to her before stepping inside himself. Normally, he would feel wrong to have a door opened for him by a lady, as opposed to the other way around, but she had made it to the door before him, and he wasn't going to reject her kindness. Already she had done more than he was asking her to do by accompanying him to the Captain's room instead of just pointing him in its direction. In any case, it was better that he go in first, in case there was danger.
"You'll want to be standing back, miss," he said to Akki, before facing the captain, who he was half sure was the one he was supposed to be fighting. After all, the captain is always the strongest one aboard, isn't he?
He nearly fell over in shock when he saw that the captain was not even a human at all, but a talking lizard. He questioned the intelligence of appointing such a creature for that job, right after he wondered how it was even possible to begin with, but there wasn't much room for protest. There was a lizard, the lizard was steering the ship, and Alcantra would just have to adjust. Fair enough. Although, due to his shock, he couldn't come in quite as threateningly as he had wanted. He settled for keeping one hand on the hilt of his blade, not yet showing steel. His mannerisms were firm but wary. What if the captain tried to bite him?
"If I may trouble you for a moment, captain," he said in a low tone, "I do believe there is someone on this ship I should be fighting right about now. If you are hiding this individual, tell me now."
He hoped that the lizard got the point of what he was trying to say. Did he even understand what was happening at all? Alcantra was rather confused.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Nov 24, 2014 17:47:30 GMT -5
Akki did as she was bidden and moved to a corner of the cabin. She didn't know what Alcantra was up to but she had an idea, though didn't feel the need to speak up about it.
"He'le? A fighting? No fighting on in ship! Ha' no good place for fighting!"
The captain turned his head to the side a bit to look at Alcantra with one eye and a flick of his tongue. It seemed in the process he picked something up and slowly turned to look at Akki, before turning his attention to the wheel. A slight panic when it seemed the ship had deviated off course a bit, and with a sound of annoyance quickly jerked the wheel to one side to accommodate, causing the ship to violently lurch to one side for a moment. Akki lost her balance and fell over, but the captain just climbed up onto the wheel until the ship was stable again.
"Ma' make trouble more, hard enough in aktun to find way!"
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Post by Kyubey on Nov 27, 2014 23:18:32 GMT -5
When the ship lurched, Alcantra showed a remarkable ability to stay on his feet. From the second something seemed off about his footing, he shifted his balance so that he kept standing upright, his vision still firmly transfixed on the lizard captain. Not every pirate on board had his keen sense of balance, however, and from all different directions Akki and the captain would hear frustrated shouts and curses from pirates in different parts of the boat.
Though they had not spoken very long, Alcantra was already beginning to get annoyed. It was hard enough understanding what the creature was trying to say at all, much less get a good answer out of it. To begin with, it would become increasingly clear that the pirate was less willing to be as polite to the lizard as he had been to Akki. With his thumb, he exposed part of his sword's blade, while still not drawing it.
"Perhaps," he said, "It would have been good of you to tell that to whatever scoundrel invited us aboard under the guise of a challenge, put us to sleep, and then broke the legs of the youngest and weakest of us. If it's a smooth voyage you want, then the best thing to do would be to tell us who and where this villain is so we can stop searching. I will ask peacefully but this one time, understand."
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Dec 7, 2014 1:16:08 GMT -5
"Invite? Didn't invite no one I did. Just only walk aktun, and get pay. Company is who invites... scoundrel you say?"
The little lizard turned his head to the side again when Alcantra addressed him in such a manner, and his eyes narrowed when he caught a glance of the blade. Before long though he returned his gaze to the darkness ahead, the ship nearly clipping a very large stalactite. Depending on how perceptive Alcantra was though, he might notice that the captain was steering with only one hand now.
Of course it was possible that he might notice Akki instead, whom seemed to be rather on edge, and looked very nervous when the other pirates were heard being loud at the earlier lurch of the ship. Erratically she tapped her foot, and seemed to want to leave very much but without actually saying so.
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Post by Kyubey on Dec 14, 2014 3:32:56 GMT -5
Alcantra did indeed sense Akki's discomfort, but, as usual, incorrectly guessed the source. Rather than suspecting his pirate shipmates, he came to the conclusion that she was scared of the talking lizard, and moved to step in front of her, effectively shielding her from the captain. The thumb that had exposed part of his sword was now a full hand, gripping the hilt tightly. He was in no mood for nonsense, he wanted information quickly.
While Alcantra understood that the lizard's grasp of the common language was fairly limited, it was clear to him that the captain was being rather evasive in his answer. This made the pirate all the more certain that something was being hidden from him. If he wasn't in such haste, he would have taken some interest in what the captain had meant by "company," but he ignored it for the moment.
"Yes, a scoundrel. You should know by now what I'm talking about, sir. Someone has attacked my crew, and I think you know where that person is. Tell me. Now."
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Dec 29, 2014 1:04:53 GMT -5
"Don't know any the sort! If Scoundrel is aboard, not in here. Faith to find him, I pray for you."
With a lizard snort that lizards probably do since the have noses too, the captain spat back an answer before turning his focus to the wheel fully this time, using his tail to help steer with his one hand. Clearly annoyed by the persistence of the pirate, he could be heard muttering things to himself in whatever native language he seemed to be fluent in.
With Alcantra moving as he had though, Akki instead began to inch towards the door. She didn't think she could just break free and run away from him, but maybe if she could get outside while he continued to badger the captain, she could sneak off to where she needed to get to. That is, assuming she'd be able to avoid the other pirates as well.
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Post by Kyubey on Dec 30, 2014 20:10:58 GMT -5
For a few intense moments, Alcantra remained staring at the lizard with a cautious intensity. For a second, he was certain he had finally found his enemy, but wasn't sure enough to act, and the more he thought the more he doubted the possibility. More likely, if the lizard was the true opponent, he would have attacked the second he was confronted, or at least put Alcantra to sleep again, but clearly that didn't happen. Now, things had gotten tricky. If he were alone, he would have just kept searching like he had been doing before, but now Akki was with him. He couldn't just abandon her, or put her in a potentially dangerous situation with such dangerous people aboard.
"I see, then," he said, politely bowing. "Thank you for cooperating so kindly. Apologies for taking you time. Please, continue your fine work, cap'n." With that, he turned around sharply, his coat swooshing back behind him. "Come, Miss," he said to Akki, "Since my search is a failed one, let us go up to the deck. I believe that must be the safest place."
He figured that if none of this shipmates found who they were looking for, they would eventually go back up there as well, though he thought to himself that Bardsey would tear the ship apart before he admitted defeat. For all he knew, they were already up there waiting for him, with new orders. Whatever the situation may have been, at the moment he had no idea what he was doing, and was just looking for somewhere he could find some direction.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Jan 5, 2015 2:11:35 GMT -5
"Ma' problem! Enjoy the rest of trip!"
When it looked that Alcantra was content with leaving, the lizard fellow drew his spare hand from his coat and returned it to the wheel after giving an easy salute. Akki meanwhile, when she knew Alcantra was leaving, waited for him to go first so that she could follow him as she was bidden. Thankful that the situation with the captain had seemed to have diffused, she was glad when the idea seemed to be that they were returning to the main deck. She just had to go along with things for a little longer.
"Do you think your crewmates found anything? It's a big ship, but if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know."
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Post by Kyubey on Jan 15, 2015 20:31:42 GMT -5
Seeing Akki letting him go first, Alcantra duly strode ahead, at a pace she would be comfortable with following. While his posture and walk showed unquestionable confidence, he was also moving cautiously, stopping at any uncertain sound, checking corners before turning, and constantly turning to see if Akki was alright, if she was still there at all. It was the clear behavior of someone who still suspected an enemy might be afoot, but he was also looking out for his shipmates. The more time went on, the louder and faster the sounds of their destructive search went. They weren't moving to the deck quickly, but they were moving steadily.
"You've done quite enough to help us already, Miss," he replied, speaking quietly so as to not alert others to their approach, "Unless you know of any hiding spots around here my shipmates may not have found yet. Though I suppose if you knew anything further, you would have told me by now, yes?"
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Jan 26, 2015 21:45:29 GMT -5
"Well I just thought I'd ask."
She frowned a bit to herself, considering Alcantra had more things to do than focus on her. The way he was treating her wasn't really that endearing, but she also didn't mind so much. If he kept looking further and further past her, then it would make the conclusion to this that much easier.
"Sorry, your knowledge of the ship is probably better than mine by now. I was only hired for this voyage, and I didn't get time to look around before the departure. If I remember anything though, I'll be sure to say."
By now she was just counting the seconds till they reached the main deck again.
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Post by Kyubey on Feb 9, 2015 2:51:09 GMT -5
At a steady pace, Alcantra and Akki drew closer to the deck, avoiding any unpleasant encounters with the other pirates, and eventually were just before the entrance to their destination. Before actually stepping onto the deck, Alcantra briefly stopped, and motioned for Akki to cease as well. His movements were stiff, and he was taking deep breaths, as though he was preparing himself for something. Then, still leading the way, he took a single step onto the deck, and immediately retreated back into the hallway. Not a moment too soon, either, as just when he came into the entrance, a gunshot rang and a bullet flew right past his face.
"Easy, Benjamin," Alcantra said, speaking loud enough for anyone on deck to hear him. "'tis only me."
"And one other," said a slow, old, scratchy, but still cold and deliberate voice, coming from the direction of the deck. "I did not hear any orders to cease searching, Mr. Alcantra. Who are you with? Those footsteps are not any of ours."
"No one. She's harmless. An injured lady I found aboard."
"And why is she here?"
"I couldn't very well leave her alone in all this bedlam, could I?"
"You could, and should have. We've no reason to help anyone besides our own selves. Your kindness addles your mind, boy."
"Don't call me boy. The lady is safe as a calm sea, Benjamin. There's no danger in giving her shelter. I cannot leave her be, things being as they are."
There was a long pause in the dialogue between these two men, and Akki would notice that Alcantra was still as tense as he was before first being shot at. All while the two were talking, he didn't venture back onto the deck a second time.
"Even a calm sea hides death. This is no place to be fooling yourself into thinking there's good to be done."
"For all we know? She might yet help us, I'm sure of that."
"I shall decide," said the unseen voice from the deck. "Well, miss? Have you anything to say for yourself? Or are you content with this swab of a gentleman speaking for ye?"
Alcantra looked at Akki expectantly. As it was, it seemed that this Benjamin was not about to let either of them simply waltz onto the deck, without some concrete reasoning. It would be more than clear, at least, that Benjamin was of a vastly different class of pirate than Alcantra, though they were on the same crew, and would not be as accommodating or chivalrous.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Feb 27, 2015 0:49:53 GMT -5
"I..."
Akki didn't like being put on the spot, drawing back a bit in hesitation when Alcantra looked to her for a response. Blinking and taking a deep breath though, she thought about what to say for a moment before giving voice to her situation.
"...if you will forgive us, Mr. Benjamin. I find myself very out of place in this situation, especially considering something dangerous seems to be going on. Alcantra here simply offered a helping hand, and given the circumstances I accepted. I hope to help all of us if I can, yourselves as much as myself."
She hoped that her words could help in some way towards defusing the situation, but she knew how some pirates (or even just people) were. She wasn't so naive as to assume she could get away with playing the damsel in distress, but a person in the wrong place at the wrong time yet willing to help, wasn't beyond her reach.
"I'm unarmed if that matters, feel free to see for yourself. Alcantra already has- err..." even as she spoke she realized how her words could be misconstrued, given what had actually happened earlier, but they had been said nonetheless.
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