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1999-10-31
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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Piracy on the High Seas
- The Deck of the Saucy Mare
The main deck of the Saucy Mare is clean and neat, kept that way by the dedicated crew. The twin masts tower overhead; aft is the steersman on the quarterdeck.
The Saucy Mare is a day out to sea now, heading north to the straits out of Starfall Bay.
Dimitri looks up to Carroll, catching his arm at the stairs to the deck. "Sure you want to do this first?"
Carroll asks Dimitri, "What else would you suggest?"
Alexandra says, "Mr. Greytail thought we should tell them first, Dimitri, so they don't see us abandoning folks apparently without reason?"
Dimitri says, "True. But then those furrs, whom we don't want to know our plans, will know our plans."
Alexandra says, "That's why we're letting them off about a week's walk from Jarrow... although... it would be nice if we could be sure the undesirables didn't hear? I wonder if there's some way to do that?"
Jared clears his throat. "I suppose we could talk to the crew individually, if you wanted. Tell the ones we can trust the truth, tell the rest something else?"
Alexandra nods slowly, "Mr. Greytail, I think that would be a much better idea, if it's okay with Car- er, the captain?"
Dimitri says, "A handful of days before they know what we are doing versus a handful of days before they have to start guessing what we might be doing? No. Tell them all a false story, let them off, then tell the rest the truth."
Carroll laughs! "We can simply stop for supplies and leave them, I suppose."
Alexandra gives Dimitri a worried look, "But Dimitri... I mean, I don't mean to be rude or anything, but um... well, if we lied to them once, what's to convince them that we're not lying to them the second time too?"
Carroll murrs, "The problem with telling different stories is that there are different stories, and people compare notes. Not workable, I think. Landing in the middle of nowhere, explaining ourselves, and then leaving people is probably the best idea, honestly. We can also tell them that we want to reduce crew to make supplies last, and that we're going to ask, depending on how many choose to stay, some to leave. No matter who leaves, of course, we can ask the same ones to leave."
Jared nods. "And you could let off folks who didn't want to join you as well as ones you don't want. Might work."
Carroll murrs, "No one has to lose face that way."
Alexandra nods again. She still looks worried, but most comfortable with that idea, "We could load up on water, and any hunting we can get done in the area. For our excuse to stop there, I mean."
Dimitri says, "That's a much better plan..."
Carroll murrs, "Water is always a good reason to stop, yes."
Alexandra thinks a bit more, then grins cheerfully, "Okay! So, where are we landing? Let's get going!"
Carroll grins, and murrs, "Where? I was thinking a good point would be the far tip of the peninsula south of Larris, myself."
Jared thinks. "We've got plenty of water...unless it turns out to be spoiled, eh? I'll take care of that." The muskrat grins slyly.
Carroll chuckles, "All we have to do is say it's spoiled, Jared, and perhaps have one ruined cask, isn't it?"
Alexandra nods, "Okay, we can have Horatio set course for there, good. Anything else we need to plan for?"
Carroll murrs, "Yes, I have to figure out what to say." He sighs, and shakes his head.
Dimitri says, "That's the captain's job." Alexandra grins at Carroll, but agrees with Dimitri.
Carroll murrs, "And it's rarely easy."
Carroll murrs, "Another advantage of that point is that it seems to be generally on the course we're 'supposed' to be on. Let's keep that plan."
Alexandra hmfs! "Hey, I'm doing my best to be a good first mate, and make sure there's as little as possible that the captain has to do!"
Carroll grins and murrs, "Keep that up, yes."
Alexandra beams and looks pleased, "Yessir!"
Jared nods. "If you're going to make course for the southern side of Lancer I don't think there are too many on board who'd even notice. And when you do make land they'll just figure you're a lousy navigator. Bright Lady knows House P hires enough of those."
Carroll smirks and murrs, "Anyone watching or who we encounter will think the same." He then nods and murrs, "I should still address the crew, probably before we get to the straits. And then we'll be busy."
Alexandra says, "Okay. Mr. Greytail, would you be so kind as to assemble the crew?"
Carroll nods, "I think that's next, and then to prepare for the straits." He stands and straightens his clothing and runs his fingers through his fur, thinking.
Jared nods and heads out to the deck. A moment later they can hear him bellowing, "All hands on deck!"
Carroll heads out himself. Dimitri walks up the stairs and then up to the quarterdeck, taking a quiet place, a shadow behind the helm. Alexandra stands proudly to Carroll's right as the first mate, at parade rest, just like Dimitri taught her. Alexandra doesn't realize it but does actually look rather young. Still, she's doing her best to look dependable and capable. Carroll notes his sister's stance and inhales, putting his own shoulders back, standing up from the quiet slouch he'd taken up. The familial training for the future Count comes back to him and he looks at the gathering sailors confidently now. Dimitri leans upon his scabbarded sword like one might a staff, head against the pommel, both paws about the un-sharpened length of blade, balanced and relaxed. The crew lines up on deck; some warily, some eager but nervous, a few looking sullen.
Alexandra beams once at her brother/captain, looking pleased as he straightens, then flicks her ears and goes back to gravely attentive as she looks out over the crew. Carroll glances to Jared, wondering if that's everyone? Jared is counting the crew, adding in the lookout and steersmen who have to remain on duty. He nods, turns, and salutes Carroll. "All hands present, sir."
Carroll nods to Jared and says loudly, projecting and not shouting, "Hello, everyone. My name is Carroll St. Genevieve, and I am the captain of this vessel. She is the House Pravinchandra's Saucy Mare, and we are carrying cargo to Alburtis in the Karadan Empire." Dimitri quietly growls as the ship's name is mentioned... One of the crewmen mutters something about 'lousy Impies' under his breath but shuts up when Jared glares at him.
Carroll continues, calling loudly over the ocean and wind, "I hope we have an uneventful and quick trip, and that I can depend upon each of you to do your utmost to make this goal a reality." He continues, "We do try and make it a point to reward those who work hardest, and to replace those who don't." He gestures to his sister, and introduces, "This is the First Mate on board, Alexandra St. Genevieve..." Alexandra raises her chin slightly in a nod at the introduction, but stays properly in parade rest. The fur who gave Alexandra trouble before whispers something to another sullen-looking sailor and they both chuckle nastily. Alexandra stares icily right at that fur. Dimitri doesn't stare, just notes quietly both furs.
Carroll continues calling out to the crew, "Any of her orders, of course, carry the weight of command behind them." He gestures to Horatio and murrs, "This is Horatio St. Genevieve, the second mate and navigator. He is an excellent engineer and may ask for changes to the ship. He helped design this ship, and no one is more qualified to do so."
Carroll finds his other brother on the deck and points him out, explaining, "This is Dimitri St. Genevieve, who will be master of marines for this trip." Dimitri just nods, his campaign rings sparkling in the sun. Carroll adds, "You have probably all already met Jared Graytail, who is the bosun, and your best route to me should you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns. Unlike many I do actually care, and do listen to the experience of my crew, so do bring things to his attention." Alexandra blinks at Carroll but stays silent. Carroll calls out, "As soon as we've navigated the straits ahead we should have an easy sail to Alburtis."
Carroll looks to Alexandra, and then glances to the crew. Did she want to say something? Alexandra murmurs quietly just to Carroll, "We done?"
Carroll looks back to the crew, and finishes, "Good winds for us. That is all."
Alexandra nods sharply, "Captain," then turns and barks out, "Mr. Greytail, you may dismiss the crew back to their usual duties, thank you."
Jared nods and turns back to the crew. "Dismissed to duty stations!"
Dimitri quietly watches as the crew disperses. Carroll walks to the helmsman, and looks out over the ocean quietly. Alexandra watches Carroll silently... then sighs softly and watches the crew disperse. Dimitri takes his greatsword, and slowly traces a circle with it on the quarter deck, with a sharp glare for any sailor caught within the circle... Alexandra watches with a faintly puzzled expression as her brother snares his greatsword and with a feral grace frees it from its scabbard and draws up its deadly length. He slowly starts his morning workout, the greatsword moving steady and purposeful, graceful arcs slashing through the morning light. Alexandra smiles and leans on the railing, watching. Her expression is a touch envious, perhaps.
A couple of the more sullen furs watch Dimitri and look a bit nervous. Dimitri continues his slow drill, every now and then a combination slashing like lightning, until... he takes up his scabbard, and returns his greatsword within.
Alexandra straightens slightly, watching with very alertly pricked ears, almost hopeful looking. Dimitri looks to the deck. "Mister Alexandra. Yourself and two three foot staves please." Alexandra vanishes into her cabin instantly, emerging at a swift trot a moment later, sword belt gone and two 3-ft staves in hand. She looks very pleased, her tail fluffed up with excitement.
Carroll walks along the railing, looking outwards, and back at the crew and ship, learning who does what and where, and watching the sky and sea. The sun passes as close to overhead as it will get at this latitude and starts to drop to the west as the routine of the ship continues. Carroll goes and finds Horatio, "Horatio, will we make the straits before nightfall? Do we want to try to navigate them after dark?"
Horatio looks around, distracted from his assessment of the new rigging. "Umm. We should make the straits about an hour before sunset. We could probably run the Western Passage after dark if we had to... if the tides were right... but I wouldn't advise it as a general thing."
Carroll nods, and asks, "We should stop. Would there be a better place to do that than on the open ocean?"
Horatio looks puzzled. "Why stop? We should be able to get through before full dark, and the tide should be right. This is a fast ship." Carroll discusses with Horatio and the helmsman about what to do about the upcoming night. Simply anchor in open ocean? Divert to one of the islands on either side of the strait?
Dimitri holds out a paw for one of the staves. "Form and accuracy, Alex. I already know you are fast." The darkling fox raises the stave until it touches his nose, his eyes never leaving hers. "En garde..."
Alexandra nods, her eyes getting serious, focusing with the intensity of someone who VERY much wants to do well in the eyes of another, "Form and accuracy, right. En garde." She emulates the salute, then drops gracefully into stance, waiting for the superior fighter to initiate combat. Dimitri takes a half step and drops his right shoulder... the strikes high... waking Alex through her morning paces. familiar, their old lessons, checking for sloppiness and a mite too much comfort first...
Alexandra tends to overreact at first, a little twitchy due to her audience. After a few taps from Dimitri get through her guard she "rrrf!s" slightly in frustration, shakes her head sharply, and tries to loosen up a bit, really shutting out her audience this time. She does better after that, and Dimitri can tell she's true to her word -- she's been practicing. Dimitri smiles quietly and then steps back. "Good. Like to try something new?"
Alexandra brightens, both at the quiet 'good' and the invitation, "Yeah!"
Dimitri sets the stave aside and picks up the greatsword. He tightens the scabbard and the fittings, and then holds it up, in guard stance but still scabbarded. "Now, what are the pros and cons on this challenge, sister?"
Alexandra blinks, then bites her lip, thinking, "Um... your front is covered, but your flanks are vulnerable? And..." she grins, "-your sword is scabbarded?"
Dimitri shakes his head. "No. Try to strike."
Alexandra frowns thoughtfully, then salutes with the stave, drops into stance, and does a general attack -- not an all-out lunge, so she can still defend. Dimitri takes a step back and taps her hard on the shoulder, before she could even get three feet within striking range. He stops and smiles, "Now, what are the pros and cons, sister?"
Alexandra says, "Oh! More reach, right." Jared chuckles. Alexandra says, "Um... heavier sword, as well. I'd have to be careful not to cross my blade with yours."
Dimitri nods, "More reach. This is where you have to be fast. If I set the range, you will... die. You have to close. There is a band where I can hit you and you have to get past before you can strike me. But inside it, you then have the advantage..." Alexandra nods, listening intently. Dimitri nods, "Now try it. And you can be fast..." Alexandra nods, eyes serious, and drops into stance again. A moment's pause, an attack initiated like last time -- a swift dodge to the side, darting around and under as fast as she can, trying to close!
Dimitri smiles and doesn't oblige, by continually backing away from Alex, refusing to hold his ground. Across the deck he lets her chase him, down stairs and along the gunwales... he might be uncooperative, but she's definitely getting practice closing... and chasing... and closing... and chasing... and closing... and chasing... Alexandra flattens her ears in determination, and continues to press, more emphatically as she realizes he's not sticking to the inscribed circle. She keeps her guard up well at first, but if Dimitri keeps backing she'll eventually fall for it, and in her enthusiasm to close she'll forget to keep her guard up quite so strictly... although her attacks continue to press strongly. Alexandra quite obviously has no problem with the "lady's dilemma" of a lack of aggression. Dimitri keeps on providing her with opportunities, letting her strong attacks drive him back. Until... until it starts getting hard to hold the saber up level any more...
Alexandra is panting by now, but continues to attack -- when it suddenly hits her what's happening. She darts in low, feinting an attack to draw attention -- then lightly whips back well out of reach. If that succeeds she'll lean on the stave, panting, a wary eye on her brother. Dimitri stops then and smiles, raising the greatsword in a salute. "Walk it off, Mister Alexandra. That's right, it's a long, hard-driving game. You have to charge, I have to back up. Tomorrow we'll talk about driving me into a corner, and the day after that maybe I'll start fighting back. But you did well. Even in the marines it takes us a few days to teach the cubs to just keep on driving, and take control of the fight. One day maybe we will be able to let you loose, aye, sir?"
Alexandra is still panting strongly -- this is HARD work! -- but her whole demeanor lights up, "You bet, Dimitri!" She heads out at a long-striding walk, her tail flicking happily behind her -- she got public praise from Dimitri! Dimitri quietly walks back to the quarterdeck, not letting Alex see he's not even winded... he then vanishes down the stairs, to silently work his way through the below deck areas, pausing to listen for a long bit first, before entering the next space...
Carroll ahs and understands now. He murrs, "So as long as we use the western strait we can continue?"
Horatio nods. "Yep. We'll be through it with the tide and before dark. After that we set a course of, oh, a point north of east, cut sail to half, and wait until morning."
Carroll nods and murrs, "That sounds like a sound course to me. Make sure the helm understands it." Horatio nods again and goes off to confer with Jared and the steersman. Alexandra waves cheerfully at Carroll as she strides by, stave tucked jauntily under one arm, panting heavily. She's got that exuberant look she gets after work-outs with Dimitri. Carroll gets a slightly mischievous grin and goes off to make sure his first mate understands too... and that she realizes she has the night watch.
Alexandra is still glowing happily -- she just nods cheerfully, "Yessir!" and goes to check with Jared as to who's on duty with her then. Carroll shakes his head at the energy of youth. Or maybe it's just Alex. He wonders quietly where Dimitri has got to, but doesn't say anything.
Jared lists a few of the more nocturnal furs who are on the night watch. "I'm keeping those two creeps off of your watch, Ma'am, for now... but sooner or later you'll have to deal with them yourself."
Alexandra nods, "Of course, Mr. Greytail. Thank you."
Jared finished the list with the comment, "And Skeee, of course." He points to where the bat is hanging fast asleep from the staysail yard. "She's a great night scout. We're lucky to have her along." He pauses. "Or maybe not so lucky, at that. She does have a temper with the usual House P captains who make her stand daywatches."
Alexandra grins, "Keep her for nightwatch then, Mr. Greytail. If that's her specialty, then it would be foolish not to take advantage of that."
Jared grins. "Why do you think I'm along for your ride? That's one of the things I told that durn fool. Oh, and you don't have to call me Mister, Ma'am. Bos'n'll do fine."
Alexandra laughs happily, then adds, "You got it, Bosun."
Jared salutes. "That's better."
Alexandra says, "Um... but who's 'that durn fool'?"
Jared grins. "Mr. P's nephew. The one who almost wrecked his ship and then blamed it on me?"
Alexandra nods, her eyes suddenly grave, "Mi- er, bosun, we can't afford that -- we can't afford to be arguing. It um... well, in a way you and I have to run this ship perfectly, so my brothers can concentrate on other stuff. Please feel free to tell me if you think I'm making a mistake. I'd prefer if you tell me privately instead of in front of the crew, but if it's an emergency go ahead and talk in front of the crew. Okay?"
Jared nods. "Ma'am, as long as you don't make the same mistake too often, I'll just fail to hear any really dumb orders, okay?"
Alexandra grins wryly, "That works. Thanks, m-bosun. I'll be back at watch-start." She continues walking off her panting, and will put the staves neatly away also.
At about 3 in the afternoon, the mountainous tip of Kossalu Island can be seen on the horizon, shortly followed by the highlands of the main island's western spur. Carroll returns to the deck in the afternoon, walking around curiously and somewhat restlessly. Alexandra checks with Carroll to see if he needs anything, but if not she'll just stay out of his way, someplace where she's available to the bosun if he needs anything.
At about four pm the lookout sights the Naval picket ship near the strait. A sloop, designed for fast transits in case an enemy tries to enter the Bay. Dimitri watches the sloop with care, ears up, eyes narrowing... Carroll isn't expecting trouble from the sloop, but also doesn't know how long that will be the case. It doesn't occur to Alex that a Navy sloop might be after them, so she isn't really any more alert towards it. The picket is idling along under minimal sail, beating back and forth inside the bay. She doesn't come particularly close, but her captain does send a flier over to take a look at you. The bird makes one pass, waggles his wings at you, and heads back. Alexandra smiles and waves to it, friendly, as it goes by.
- Kosallu Strait
The northern end of Starfall Bay connects to the open ocean via two straits. The western strait passes between the Windward Cape and Kossalu Island, a narrow rocky island that stretches east-west across most of the entrance to the bay. The currents in and out of the bay through the Western Passage are strong and predictable with the tides, and the Starfall Navy keeps a ship on station here. The Eastern Passage is much shallower, strewn with rock outcrops, and has far more tricky currents as the water passes around them. Both straits are often foggy, as well. In this late afternoon, the straits are a little hazy, but no fog is in evidence.
There is quite a bit of traffic leaving the bay with the tide, which then spreads out in all directions. Ships are also beating back and forth outside the bay, waiting for low tide and a ride back in.
Horatio looks pleased that his calculations were correct. "Yep, here we are. Late afternoon, high tide. The currents will be heading outward soon, should carry us through the straits rapidly."
Carroll nods, murring, "Good planning, Horatio," and continues to loiter on deck.
Alexandra thinks a bit, then goes to the galley and makes sure there'll be plenty of coffee for the night watch. Jared calls the hands to stations as you approach the straits, but the wind holds fairly steady and the current does indeed carry the ship through quickly. You clear the straits just as the sun touches the horizon. Carroll murrs, "Nicely done, indeed."
Dimitri catnaps where he is... or rather fox-naps where he is. Alexandra gives the dozing Dimitri a faintly envious glance -- she's still too excited about being first mate to be able to nod off quickly like that! Carroll actually goes to his cabin to sleep at dusk, so he can be up horridly early. Really, he does this now.
Alexandra offers Dimitri a mug of nice hot coffee when he wakes up. She's got one for herself in the other paw, "Are you on nightwatch too, Dimitri?"
Dimitri takes the offered coffee, warming his paws on the mug. "Usually there's a sergeant to take the later watch. We were up most of the morning. I'll sit here for a bit, then get a few hours' real sleep. This just seems... too... easy..." He sits on the edge of the quarterdeck as night slowly falls, watching out across the ship and sea...
Alexandra looks worried, "What's wrong? The coffee's fresh, I checked."
Dimitri looks to Alex, his eyes narrowed. "There is another possibility concerning both the cargo and the crew, Alex. Think about it. This ship goes down... House Pravin gets rid of us, gets rid of a crew of troublemakers and folks who don't like them... and... and doesn't lose a valuable cargo." He shakes his head, stern, looking out across deck and sea again...
Alexandra nods, "Yes? That's why we're fighting him, Dimitri... like Carroll suggested."
Dimitri shakes her head. "No. Think. There could be a ship out there right now, looking for us."
Alexandra adds with calm assurance, "The mongoose is scum... so... we have to beat him and stop him." At Dimitri's next words she blinks, then looks up and out to sea, her ears perked suspiciously, sniffing the sea breeze... then says slowly, "Uhh... Dimitri? Um." She points, "See that ship there? Wasn't it um... waiting to get into the bay a moment ago? And... isn't it following us now?"
Dimitri looks into the bay... "Sea and stars, there she is. Sharp eyes, bratling. Get our brothers. NOW." Alexandra nods, darting off without a word. Dimitri stands, looking for the bosun.
Alexandra slips into the captain's cabin and shakes Carroll's shoulder gently, "Carroll, Carroll, wake up! There's a ship following us, Dimitri's keeping watch on deck, wake up, I have to go get Horatio!"
Carroll wakes rather startled, manages to untangle what his sister is saying, and says, "Damn him." He rather hurriedly dresses and emerges on deck shortly.
Alex doesn't wait for Carroll to dress, but slips out, looks for Horatio, and darts over to him. Horatio is talking to Jared about how to do half-sails under the new rigging plan. Alexandra says breathlessly, "'Scuse me Horatio, bosun, we're being followed, can you come now please? Over there, where Dimitri is, so we can talk?"
Dimitri quietly pads up to Horatio and Jared. He nods over his shoulders. "Can we outrun that barque there?"
Horatio looks at it. "Not a problem. We might not want to shorten sails though, if you think they are really after us."
Carroll finds the others and asks, "What's happening?"
Alexandra flattens her ears at Horatio, "I watched them, Horatio -- if they're not following us they're hiding it well!" She points, "That one, captain. It's following us."
The following ship is dropping slowly behind and as the sun sets the watchers on the Saucy Mare start to lose sight of it in the dusk. Carroll looks at it. He murrs, "Do we know whose it is?" Looking back he asks, "Can we outrun it?" He frowns and looks at his more military brother and asks, "Do we want to?"
Dimitri says, "Then do it. And don't do it in half measures... uhm... if... that's fine with the Captain." He stops himself, still getting used to Captain Carroll. "Unless you want to test this crew in a deckfight in the dark, sir. Captain, mayhaps we should send Mister Squeeee aloft, to make sure we are not being driven into a bigger ship?"
Carroll murrs, "Not only that, but are we still close enough to reach the Navy's sloop and the help it may represent?"
Alexandra nods, "Good idea, Dimitri. Bosun, is she awake yet? And is she good at dodging, should they try attacking her? Captain, is that okay with you?"
The bat drops down to the deck. "Someone ask for me?"
Alexandra starts, then grins, "You're Squeee? Did you hear what we were talking about?"
Carroll murrs, "Bats have very sensitive hearing." He grins. He asks his brother, "What do you think the best course is, forward or back? Flee or try and get help?"
Dimitri looks to Carroll. "I got cashiered from the naval marines, Carroll. They have their claws in that far. I bet the sloop would just sit back and watch."
Horatio shakes his head. "We'd have to turn about and head straight back to make the tide change. Run right past this pursuer."
"It's Skeee, Ma'am, and -" gesturing at her huge ears with a wingclaw, "I tend to overhear EVERYTHING on board a ship. No offense."
Alexandra looks excited at the thought of a fight -- then looks around at the few crew members she can see and sighs, her ears drooping slightly, "I... think flee, Captain."
Carroll nods. He turns to the bat and murrs, "We're being followed, probably by someone unfriendly. We'd like to try and move away from it. Can you scout forwards and see if there's any surprises lurking ahead, that we should avoid?"
Alexandra smiles at Skeee, "I'm sorry, I'll get it right next time. And it's okay, I understand about hearing."
Carroll frowns at Horatio's words, then says to the bat, "So it's ahead, but hopefully not in to the unknown. Find out if we're being led in to something. All of our lives may depend upon it."
The bat grins. Very toothily. "You've got it. And don't worry too much about the pronunciation, I'm used to it. You folks can't really pronounce it anyway." She takes off into the dusk, gaining altitude rapidly while there is still some light. Alexandra looks a little embarrassed, and can be seen silently mouthing 'skeeeeee!' to herself a couple of times as she watches the bat fly off.
Carroll nods. He turns to Dimitri and murrs, "You said to make best haste. I don't know that I want to if we're heading in to an ambush. Would it be wiser to keep them at a steady, or slightly increasing distance? Also, if we can outpace her without showing our true capabilities, they won't understand them."
Dimitri says, "Your call, Captain..."
Horatio thinks about it. "Well, I'm not the military specialist but wouldn't we want to lose them? If we do have to fight we don't want to fight them AND another shipload of pirates all at once."
Alexandra says, "Stay steady, I think, depending on what Skeee reports. If she says nothing ahead put on sail later, when it's darker and they can't see so well that we're escaping them? and if she says we've got a welcoming committee, then just flee as fast as we can?" She adds a little uncertainly, "Um... does that sound like a plan?"
Carroll nods and murrs, "I was thinking the same thing. And if we are moving in to an attack, stopping and coping with this one ship now buys us time." Alexandra brightens at Carroll's agreement, and straightens a little. Carroll murrs, "Stay as she is at least until Skeee gets back, I think. Keep an eye on them."
Alexandra says, "Yessir!"
Carroll asks Jared, "How's the crew on nocturnals and arboreals?"
Jared grunts. "The usual mix, really. A couple squirrels, Skeee, a few others. About a third of the crew is nocturnal types."
Alexandra sets someone to watch the slowly pursuing ship, someone else to keep an eye out for Skeee, in case she comes in with attackers on her tail. Alexandra makes sure there are crossbows available for use if Skeee does have attacking followers, and that there are crew that know how to use them and can see in the dark available.
Dimitri takes a step closer to Jared, his voice lowering. "The two who were eyeing my sister. Are they on the good list... or are they destined for marooning?"
Carroll murrs quietly to his brother, "I don't know. Ask Jared. My vote would be to do so, but it might be more effective to let one of them try and lay a paw on her. I'll have no sympathy for them when she cuts it off."
Jared lowers his voice to match. "Those two? Bad eggs from day one. I wouldn't have taken them on any crew I had a choice on."
Carroll grabs his other brother and finds a map, asking, "They're expecting us to go to Alburtis, right? That's east then south. What if we veered hard to the west? Could we avoid them?"
Alexandra trots back, her tail flicking a little nervously, "Okay, We've got backup for Skeee if we need it, just like you always say to have, Dimitri. Got someone watching the other ship for any change in course too... anything else you guys can think of that we should do?"
Carroll taps the edge of the map, and asks, "Is this open ocean or a narrow channel?"
Horatio shakes his head. "Standard course to Alburtis would be a little north and a lot east to miss Lancer Isle and then a little south once we're past it. We'll be in open ocean for a couple days now no matter which way we turn unless we go west -- that'll take us back to Andalin."
Carroll drums his fingers on the railing. "What about going westward around the point, then south past Andalin?"
Horatio shakes his head. "Not the best course. First we'd have to go back past our tail, then we'd be heading down a leeward coast. Safer not to do that."
Carroll nods to Horatio, "Okay."
Dimitri frowns quietly, balancing his scabbarded sword in his hands. "We get into a scrap, Mister Jared, those two go in the water.
Carroll looks at Dimitri and murrs, "Pardon me?"
Alexandra says, "Who're you talking about, Dimitri?"
Jared nods to Dimitri. "Might be they'd not be on our side, you're thinkin'?"
Alexandra blinks at Jared, then looks back at Dimitri, "Who?"
Carroll suddenly understands and murrs, "Oh, I see." He frowns, and murrs, "It might be more than those two." He looks at Alexandra and murrs, "Our frisky crewfurs, of course."
Alexandra oh!s then thinks... then says pragmatically, "Dimitri, where are they now?"
Carroll glances around and considers. He murrs to Jared, "All things being perfect, will we have enough crew left?"
Jared nods. "I wouldn't want to have to run through any really rough weather without the full crew on board, but we should be able to manage."
Dimitri says, "Carroll, this is a small crew. If we get into a melee we cannot afford to have two who won't fight with us, or have their minds on other things..."
Carroll nods. He murrs to Dimitri, "I don't honestly think we can afford to get in to a melee."
Alexandra places a light paw on Dimitri's arm, "Dimitri... where are they now? Now's the perfect time to be setting up problems to blow up inside the ship if we're soon to be under attack, right? That's what you always told me, in the stories?"
Dimitri shrugs quietly. "Yes and no. They have good crews, working together. The don't have one of Lady Blackpool's Marines, though.
Carroll hmms, "Horatio, have we got anything that will throw something crate or barrel sized aboard? A catapult or ballista?"
Alexandra gives Carroll an odd look, "Um... captain, I have the weapons locker keys?"
Carroll looks over to Alex and nods. He murrs, "You do. I was hoping for something larger that might be there."
Dimitri looks to Horatio. "How much difference would it make to have an empty hold?"
Carroll hmms, "Aren't we already riding a little high?"
Horatio nods. "We're running with a light cargo as it is. Dumping it wouldn't increase our speed much and it would mess up our stability. Ships need ballast."
Dimitri nods quietly. "Then we outpace and wait for Mister Skeee's return." As he glances around, he notices one of Alex's 'friends' on deck right now near the mainmast stays. He catches a flash of something... possibly a knife at the stays?
Carroll nods, "I think that's the best course. If the way is clear wait for full dark, put on all sail, and get the hell out." Alexandra falls silent, her ears tilted back, looking faintly surprised.
Dimitri whispers sharply... to Jared, "'Ware the main stays..."
About this time the bat flutters in and lands by the officers. Dimitri silently turns quickly padpadpadding down the stairs and across the deck, loosing the greatsword's scabbard on the way... Alexandra watches Skeee's approach silently, her ears still drooping slightly.
Dimitri heads towards the flash of steel... the muskrat looks up and then his eyes narrow. A crewfur is slipping quickly away from the mainmast stays. Dimitri changes his quick pace to intercept...
Carroll takes a deep breath and pauses a moment, calming himself and resuming the attitude of Captain. He turns to Skeee and asks, "What is the word, Ma'am?" He glances, sees Dimitri in chase, and lets him handle whatever it is. He returns his attention to the bat.
The bat shrugs. "Dinna see anything ahead. There's ships, but they're mostly big caravels and such, no way they could catch us, and they're mostly making all sail toward Kossalu, not hanging around waiting on anything. I think 'tis all clear ahead."
Carroll smiles and murrs, "Good. Thank you, for excellent work." Alexandra walks off to relieve the crew that were watching for Skeee.
Skeee shrugs. "No problem." She flits her way back up to the crow's nest. Alexandra makes sure the crossbows are safely locked back up, then heads for the captain's cabin. Once there she drops the ship's keys on the captain's desk, then comes back out on deck.
Carroll turns back to Jared and murrs, "As soon as it's full dark, full sail, get us underway. Inconspicuously if possible, although that's less important."
The crewman that Dimitri is after tries to head below, but is intercepted at the hatch to the crew's berthing spaces. Dimitri stands there, the path barred with five feet of dark polished steel. "Hold, laddie, right there. Mister Jared, inspect the mainmast stays, please."
Carroll tells Horatio, "Can you or someone we can trust -- ask Jared for who -- check the sails and rigging, please? A problem there now would be a disaster." Jared is already looking at the mainmast stays where Dimitri noticed the crewfur.
Jared calls for a lantern and pokes around a bit. "Something's not right here. Looks like a little bit of sabotage, eh?"
Carroll pads up and asks, "How much damage?" Alexandra stays out of the way and watches the goings-on silently. Dimitri watches the furr's reaction at the bosun's words, on stance, balanced.
If he's guilty, he's doing a good job of hiding it. "Wasn't me, sir! I just came up on deck for a breath of air, honest!"
Dimitri narrows his eyes. "I saw.
Jared frowns. "Not bad. Looks like it was supposed to give way if we went to full sails. We can manage for a while, but it's going to be a bit of a pain to replace."
Carroll murrs, "We are still gaining distance on them, correct?"
Skeee calls down from the masthead, "We were the last time I looked, sir."
Carroll looks up and murrs, "Make me happy. Look again, please." Those on deck can hear a faint fluttering of wings and a chittering, high-pitched chuckle as the bat wings away.
Dimitri doesn't looks to Jared as he speaks, "Can the carpenter splice it?" nor to his brother, "Captain, what do you want done with this one?" His attention stays on the sabateur.
Jared nods. "Oh, we can patch it, but these take a lot of stress. We need to actually replace them as soon as we can."
Carroll murrs, dryly, "Now is not the time, I fear." He goes to Jared and asks softly, "Is that one you would have thought it might be?"
Jared nods. "If I'd had to pick a plant, he'd have been on the short list."
Carroll nods. He walks over to the crewfurr and, looking at the sailor, asks his brother, "Do you believe him when he says he didn't do it?"
Dimitri doesn't even shake his head. "I saw the knife in his hands."
The marten swallows nervously. "I was jus' cleaning my claws, guv."
Carroll frowns and turns to look at his brother. He murrs seriously, "That's treason."
Horatio starts in with a pedantic correction. "Well no, technically it's not, since we're not a government..." He stops when folks glare at him.
Carroll gestures Alex over.
Alexandra flicks an ear, coming alert again, and walks over. "Yes?"
Skeee comes fluttering back. "They're still dropping behind us, sir. I did have a little dustup with my opposite number, but he quit after a few tries. Ain't no bird hatched can outfly a bat!" She chuckles. "Especially at night." Alexandra smiles at Skeee, then listens quietly to Carroll.
Carroll murrs to her, "This fellow was there by our suddenly damaged mainstays with a knife. Dimitri saw him, so I believe it. However he claims he was out for air and merely cleaning his claws. Do you believe him?"
Alexandra says pragmatically, "Who? Dimitri? Or someone I don't know?"
Carroll murrs, "The crewfurr."
Alexandra looks at the marten for a long moment... then looks up at her brother, "Captain, may I speak with you privately when you have a moment, please?"
Horatio says, "Why don't you just check and see if his claws are clean?" Alexandra smiles at Horatio, then looks back at Carroll inquiringly.
Carroll murrs, "I was thinking that, too." He gestures for a lantern and perhaps a couple of other sailors. The marten looks very, very nervous all of a sudden. Dimitri's gaze holds still, the point of the greatwsord at the marten's eye level.
Carroll turns and walks away, and whispers to Jared, "Get some sailors you trust and get him tied up so nothing funny happens, please." Alexandra flattens her ears sharply for a moment, her tail bristling as she looks after her departing brother -- then she takes a deep breath, turns, and heads for her brother's cabin.
Carroll murrs, "I'll be right back." Looking over his shoulder, at the crewfur, he murrs, "Don't go anywhere."
Dimitri speaks two words. "Alex. Stay."
Alexandra turns, her ears still flat, "Dimitri, for family's sake I'd rather say this in private... but if you really think I should, I'll say it here."
Carroll halts Alex before she can get all the way back to the cabin and murmurs to her, quietly. Alexandra stares at Carroll, her eyes bright and her voice tight, "You decide. Captain."
Carroll raises an eyebrow and murrs, "We'll talk later." but not harshly, as calmly as possible. Alexandra nods, and continues towards the captain's cabin. Once there she shuts the door quietly behind her. She sits on the window seat, folds her arms, and waits. Out on deck Carroll idly wonders where those sailors are. Dimitri shifts his stance, slightly...
Carroll pads back to the crewfurf, frowning, having picked up a lantern. He turns the wick up, making a little more light, and murrs, "Let's see your claws." The marten holds his paw out nervously. The claws have tar stuck under them, and don't look like they've been recently cleaned. Carroll murrs, "Ah. Other hand, please?" The other hand is even worse. Carroll mms and steps back, frowning. He murrs, "You've committed treason against this ship and placed us all in grave danger." He looks at his brother, and adds, "Kill him. I don't care how." Dimitri doesn't even blink. Swift, fast. Sure. and HARD.
The marten breaks down. "No, please! I'll talk!" Carroll doesn't stop his brother. Dimitri, however, snaps the blade to a halt, the steel cold on the marten's shoulder, against his neck. Dimitri pulls straight back, just a bit, a taste of blood. "Talk." Carroll doesn't argue. He turns and listens, frowning.
The marten does. "We were supposed to stop you so they could catch up. The stuff in the hold is supplies for them. They made me do it! They told me if I didn't they'd... they'd kill my family and lock me up in prison for the rest of my life."
Carroll murrs, "Who wanted you to do this?"
"Some of the Thieves' Guild folks brought the message. They've... got connections, y'know?" His voice drops to a whisper. "Some furs say that the Thieves are part of Mr. P's organization, y'know?"
Carroll nods solemnly. He murrs, "Do you know if there are any others aboard?
The marten shakes his head. "They didn't tell me if there was."
Carroll murrs, "Not a surprise." He frowns and asks, "What's your name?"
Jared says. "We call him Shifty most of the time. I don't think his mother knows his real name any more. If he has one. Don't recall he actually has any family."
Carroll frowns. He murrs, "Tie him up. Take him to the brig and put him on bread and water." Looking at the marten, he murrs, "You get to live, at least through the night. I won't promise you any more. Do anything stupid, and you're dead right away. Do what you're told and you might get out of this alive. Do you understand me clearly?" Shifty nods, still rather nervous.
Dimitri lifts the blade, nodding to Jared. "Call a couple of the crew to bind him and take him down."
Carroll watches them haul the marten away, then finally goes to his cabin. He murrs, "Dimitri, if you'd like to join me for a glass of wine, you're welcome to." Dimitri quietly follows Carroll, with a grim nod. Carroll walks in to his cabin and almost without looking very softly asks his sister, "Would you like a glass of wine, Alex?"
Alexandra looks up, her ears still back and her arms folded, sitting rigidly on the window seat. Her voice is clipped, "No thank you, captain. I fear I must resign the position of first mate. I've returned the ship's keys to you, there on the desk."
Dimitri stands at the door. He sets his greatsword to the side. Carroll pours a glass of wine, and offers it to Dimitri. Dimitri shakes his head. Carroll corks the bottle and settles to a chair across from his sister. He looks at her and asks, "Why?" He sips tiredly from the glass.
Dimitri says, "You don't have that choice, Mister Alexander. Only the captain has that privilege of saying aye or nae."
Alexandra stares at Carroll in astonishment, "What? How can you say that? You've made it painfully clear all day that this is nothing more than nepotism! Well-" she cuts off, staring at Dimitri with the same astonishment, then looks between them, "What is this? A trick the two of you came up with together to keep me out of your hair or something?!"
Carroll murrs, "I'm sorry, Alexandra, I don't understand what's upset you."
Alexandra stares at Carroll, then mutters, "If I find you're humoring me again I swear I'll..." she takes a deep breath, then snaps out, "Fine, be that way, I'll lay it out if you insist. In your speech to the crew you made sure to tell them that if they had problems they should go through Jared to you -- not to the first mate! And tonight, when we realized we were being followed -- you all ignored me! I even asked Dimitri the same question twice before I realized what was going on! And you know something?! I'm your little sister, not your pet, and I won't be patronized by you -- I won't!" She's yelling by the end, her fists clenched and her ears pinned back in fury.
Dimitri looks back quietly. "Patronized. Nepotism. Do you understand what happened just five minutes ago, sister?
Carroll murrs, "Dimitri, be quiet please."
Alexandra snarls at Dimitri, "NO! I wouldn't know because I wasn't WANTED THERE!!"
Carroll murrs a little more forcefully, "Both of you stop, please."
Alexandra stares at Carroll, panting slightly, her ruff still bristled, but shuts up. Dimitri looks back and shakes his head. "Let me continue, Carroll. She needs to hear this."
Carroll murrs, "Dimitri, she does but now is not the time." He looks over and murrs, "Let me cope with this afternoon before we cope with this evening."
Dimitri shakes his head, "I don't think you or she knows what I am going to say."
Alexandra snaps, "Cope? why don't you just come out and SAY it, Carroll -- say that you don't trust me as a first mate -- you're so good at explanations, Carroll!"
Carroll murrs, "Alexandra, if I didn't trust you I wouldn't have gone to bed and left you to the watch -- the difficult watch, where everything goes wrong. If I didn't trust you I wouldn't have given you those keys in the first place."
Alexandra says, "What, the watch Dimitri was staying up on? The one that Jared was there for? How am I supposed to believe that when you had everyone but Horatio there as well?"
Carroll continues, "When I did that I put my life in to your hands. I trust you, sister." He shrugs and murrs, "I didn't ask Dimitri to stand that watch, and Jared's shift was ending soon."
Alexandra snaps, "So you're saying this was just an understanding between the two of you? Nothing official, so you have deniability? Come on, Carroll, I've seen that one before!"
Carroll looks at his brother, and murrs, "You had something to say?"
Dimitri says, "Yes, I was watching your back, sister. As I always do. I'm your big brother, that's where I am supposed to be... and tonight... tonight I was on a dark deck. A saboteur in front of me who could have bolted or run at any moment. And we know he has at least one accomplice. Horatio had walked away. Carroll had walked away. Jared had walked away. And then, last, you walked away, Alex... leaving me with no one watching my back. I needed you out there, Alex, to keep me safe... the only reason I'm standing here now is because we got lucky."
Alexandra says, "NO, Dimitri, that's NOT what happened! I asked you something twice, you ignored me, you didn't even do anything to let me know anything was up-" she sounds on the edge of tears, "YOU walked away, Dimitri!"
Dimitri says, "I don't patronize you. I depend on you.""
Alexandra says, "Watch your back? If you wanted me to watch your back why didn't you even cue me that there was a problem?!"
Dimitri says, "Because you are smarter and faster than I am."
Alexandra stares at Dimitri, trembling... then snarls in sudden frustration, "rrrRRAGH!!" as she grabs up a nearby object and throws it as hard as she can in Dimitri's general direction, "DON'T you keep saying things JUST TO GET ON MY GOOD SIDE, DAMMIT!!" Dimitri lets it hit and bounce off him. Alexandra whirls and darts around the desk, heading for the door.
Carroll murrs, "Please, Alex, wait..."
Alexandra slams off of Dimitri, bouncing back and staggering herself, then tries again, dodging to try sliding under him. Her sobbing sounds odd considering the speed of her movement. Dimitri quietly blocks the door, the immovable object against a sisterly irresistible force.
Carroll repeats, "Alex, please, stop."
Alexandra realizes on the second try she's not getting through the door -- she dashes tears out of her eyes, then in frustration hits him in the chest as hard as she can with a fist, "MOVE, dammit!"
Dimitri says, "No."
Carroll murrs softly, "Alex, please stop. I need your help. I can't do this without you."
Dimitri says, "Alex. You are acting like a kid."
Alexandra looks up at Dimitri, her face tear-streaked. At his last comment she jerks back as if he'd slapped her, with a horrified look. She whispers softly, "So... so it is true... even you don't trust me." She stares at Dimitri for a second, then Carroll... then wanders blindly to the nearest chair and curls up miserably in it, tucking her head into her arms, her shoulders shaking silently.
Dimitri shakes his head. "I do. I trust you to be Alexandra."
Carroll murrs, "I'm sorry you're hurt, Alex. I do trust you, Alex." Alexandra doesn't appear to be listening to much right now. Carroll waits quietly, gathering his own wits again as well.
Alexandra cries silently for a while, but eventually cries herself out. She sniffles a bit, then without looking up mumbles muffledly, "Go 'way. If you won't let me leave, just go away and leave me alone."
Carroll murrs softly, "There's nowhere to go but here, Alex. There are only three people in the world I can depend upon unquestioningly, and you're one of them."
Alexandra mumbles bitterly, "Oh, right... to be 'Alexandra.' Whatever that means..."
Dimitri quietly walks over to her and sits next to her. "I get focused, bratling. Your big brother isn't perfect. That's why he needs you.
Alexandra still sounds disbelieving as she mumbles, "Right, sure... you need me..."
Carroll murrs, "Alex. Listen to me." Alexandra makes a small unhappy grumbling noise, but doesn't go anywhere. Carroll murrs, "Tonight, Alex, I saw you do very well." He pauses, continuing, "I didn't have to tell you what to do. You took care of loose ends and followed through on details and kept the crew moving while I tried to consider what to do." He adds, emphasizing a little, "That is exactly what a first mate is supposed to do." He pauses and murrs, "I tried to keep you both involved and informed. I asked for your opinion. I let you handle things on your own. Not every captain will do that; they don't want to hear it, and they are brutally controlling. I wouldn't be as relaxed as I can be if I didn't trust you."
Alexandra looks up suddenly at Carroll, her face still tear-streaked and unhappy, "Oh yeah? Then why did you say the crew should go through Jared to you this afternoon?"
Carroll murrs, "I'm sorry about that. I hadn't even realized it. They should go through him to talk to either of us, but my sentence wasn't built right for it. It's what I get for talking without a script." Alexandra absently rubs her damp face with one paw, watching Carroll intently. She looks very young after she rumples her fur up. She'd be mortified if she knew. Carroll murrs, "If I didn't trust you I wouldn't have reminded them that you are command and to heed you. I'd simply have glossed it over."
Alexandra says, "So... which did you really mean to say then? Really?" She adds fiercely, "Don't you dare just say what you think I want to hear!" Dimitri reaches up and very calmly, deliberately, begins to straighten out her fur.
Carroll murrs, "I meant the 'royal we,' Alex. We are interested in what crew has to say, but the right way to communicate with us is via the bosun. I fear I was concentrating more on saying something to the crew that wouldn't be a lie in a week when we make landfall, and that I wasn't watching the plurality of my verbs. I am sorry. It was the last thing on my mind."
Alexandra frowns at Carroll, thinking so hard she isn't really paying attention to Dimitri -- her ears flick a bit, but she 'forgets' to object, "So... so why... so... well, yeah, but uh, how's the crew supposed to know that?"
Carroll murrs, "Unless they've been on a ship before and know how things usually work they won't, and I've screwed up. We can make sure Jared understands he can bring things to you, not just me."
Alexandra suddenly deflates, "...oh..." She's silent a moment, staring at the floor... then her ears suddenly flick back up and she looks around sharply at Dimitri, "So what did you mean by that crack about trusting me to be Alexandra?!"
Dimitri says, "They'll know because they will watch. One day isn't enough to learn how the command staff works..."
Alexandra blinks, deflating again some as she thinks about that... then nods, "Good point... but um... what did you mean, please?"
Dimitri shrugs quietly, as he continues to unruffle her fur. "My sister is smarter, faster, quicker. She thinks on her feet. She has a temper. She doesn't look before leaping, but that just means she usually gets there first. She places her heart before her smarts though, which is what makes her brothers love her, but tends to get her into trouble when she can't see past that." Alexandra looks a little puzzled, uncertain... is she being complimented, or is Dimitri subtly scolding her? Dimitri smiles as if that was just the effect he wanted, then nods. "You have never been part of a crew before, have you, Alex?"
Alexandra wavers... then murmurs a bit sheepishly, "I um... sorry I hit you..." She thinks... "Um. Been part of a team, with you? Or do you mean just ship's crew?" She sighs, "Daddy kept promising to let me go with one of the ships but it was always next year, you know?" She wavers again, glancing uncertainly between her brothers... then finally cautiously leans towards Dimitri. She's a little stiff, but if neither of them grin or tease her she'll eventually sigh and slowly relax against Dimitri's side.
Dimitri nods again. "Father and I never saw eye to eye on many things. That was one. But Alex, it takes time for a crew to learn to work together. We have an edge. We know each other. But we still don't know. How to work together, that is. They train us for a year just to learn the basics in Lady Blackpool's marines. Give the job more than a day."
Alexandra smiles tiredly, resting against Dimitri, "Really? That was nice of you, Mitya... to stand up for me to Daddy like that..." She's silent for a moment, then without meeting her brothers' eyes adds softly, "I um... I'm sorry I yelled at you both..."
Carroll nods and murrs, "Apology accepted. I'm sorry I made you feel unwanted or excluded. It was the farthest thing from my mind."
Dimitri nods quietly and though it might sound like a tease his words are deadly serious. "Forgiven. Just don't leave me alone on deck again, Alexandra." Carroll doesn't chide his brother, although he might want to, this not being a good time.
Alexandra says, "I..." she sounds rather embarrassed, "I... I'm really sorry about that, Dimitri, I..." She sits up with a small gasp, "I'm on duty! Oh barnacles, I'm late-" she turns and hugs Dimitri very tight, very quick, then rises and trots over to hug Carroll quickly and tightly too, "Just -- just don't -- uh..." she pauses at the door and grins a little puzzledly, not sure exactly what she's trying to say, "Um... just I can do this, really, you know?"
Carroll stops her, before she gets away from him, and murrs to her, "Will you promise me something, Alex? Will you please try and tell me if I do something stupid again, as soon as possible? I do want to know."
Dimitri looks up, quiet. "Who do you want watching your back, Alexandra?"
Alexandra hesitates, then says loyally, "It -- it wasn't stupid, Carroll, it was -- it was just us learning to work together, right?" She looks puzzledly at Dimitri, "You, of course, Dimitri. And Carroll, and in his own way Horatio too. Who else but family?"
Carroll smiles and nods. He murrs, "You can do it, yes. I believe that."
Alexandra flashes a quick, bright smile at Carroll -- that means a lot to her -- then looks back at Dimitri, still puzzled by his question.
Dimitri quietly stands, following. "Fine. Carroll needs his sleep, and Horatio couldn't lift a sword without writing a treatise. And it's pragmatic. Until we learn who to trust on this ship there should be two of us awake and together at the same time. Pragmatic. Don't worry, I'll stay out of your way."
Carroll finishes his wine, and idly sets the glass in its holder. Alexandra grins again at the image of Horatio lifting a sword -- then gazes levelly at Dimitri, suddenly understanding what he's asking, "Ah. No, Dimitri... please don't stay out of my way. Having you near is nice and- and reassuring... and you're not in my way. Please."
Carroll murrs to Alex, "You should know, Alex, we have a prisoner. If he does anything funny kill him; he has been warned. Keep a guard you trust on him."
Alexandra blinks at Carroll's words, then straightens a bit more, "Oh. Yes. I- yes, I'll be sure, don't worry."
Dimitri nods, reaching for his sword. "So be it. We'll make sure Carroll can sleep well tonight, aye?
Carroll snorts at Dimitri, "If I can sleep at all."
Dimitri looks back, "A good solid right cross would do it, big brother.
Alexandra grins suddenly again up at Dimitri, her eyes shining, "Yeah... we will." There's the faintest happy emphasis on the 'we.' She giggles suddenly at Dimitri's last comment, "Um... maybe we shouldn't hit the captain, Dimitri?"
Carroll murrs, "I find unconsciousness not very restful, Dimitri. You've shown me that already." Alexandra giggles again. Carroll adds to Alex, "I hope not. That would make you Captain, Alex. Are you ready for that?'
Alexandra blinks! then grins at Carroll in mock horror, "Can't have that!" She grabs Dimitri's sleeve, tugging for the door, although he doesn't move much unless he wants to.
Carroll smiles, and leans back against the wall again, closing his eyes. He looks tired. Dimitri shrugs and smiles, "Could be worse..." and follows the first mate out the door...
Carroll calls after his larger younger brother, "Could be Horatio . . ."
Alexandra giggles, "C'mon, Marine Dimitri, or I'll have to uh... um... what happens to bad marines, Dimitri?" She laughs at Carroll's last comment, and slips out the door with Dimitri. Carroll can hear her voice calling quietly to the closest crewfurr on watch for an update before the door closes behind them.
Carroll gives them just a moment after the door closes, then stands up, picks up the keys on his desk, and walks quietly out onto the deck and over to his sister. He quietly offers them and softly asks, "Did you want these back?"
Alexandra blushes hotly, "Uh, yes sir, sorry sir!" and hastily tucks the keys securely away.
Carroll smiles and murrs, "I already forgave you, remember?" then, "Goodnight," and heads back to his cabin where he does indeed sleep.