| Logs |
1999-12-19
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
Safe Harbor
The good ship Alewife heads into her berth at Ettore Village as the sun touches the western horizon. The passengers and crew are quite pleased to have arrived at last... all except the elderly raccoon, whose complaints and comments carry for some distance across the water in the quiet evening...
Horatio hears the complaints almost before the Alewife turns the point into the cove, and is watching the arrival of the fishing boat from the quarterdeck. He has an elated smile on his face, albeit a cautious one, as he watches the approaching ship. Did they get back all in one piece? Were there any problems? Did they get everyone?
Alex wakes up Dimitri so he can see everyone get safely back... she's bouncy with happiness. Rubbing the fur upon his muzzle, Dimitri drags himself awake. Shaking out his dark ruff, he looks up. "Ettore? Ettore and clear... you know, it would be really interesting to see the look on a certain mongoose's face, once he puts together exactly which folks are still in town and which folks are not. Be willing to bet we took a small bit of coin from his pockets, in terms of rent."
Alex grins happily at her tired brother, "I sure hope so, Dimitri, even if it takes us a while to hurt his pocketbook!" She trots up to the bow, taking care to stay out of the way of the sailors, and waves widely to where she can see people waiting. If Horatio has his nifty eye-scope thingie out, he can see the wide grin on her face.
Captain Wavedancer snorts at this. "That sort? He'll have gotten his rents in advance, and he'll rent the places out again straight away. Most likely he'll get double rent for the rest of the month."
Dimitri looks back at Wavedancer and shrugs. "Might take him a bit to notice they are gone though. Beneath notice, like. One can hope for little favors."
Horatio makes his way to a gig, really a small dinghy, made fast alongside the Saucy Mare, and is brought back to shore to meet his siblings, eager for news. Carroll is waiting at the dock, watching the ship come in and trying to see who all is aboard. He's also trying not to look worried.
Wavedancer's crew makes the little ship fast to the dock and sets up the gangplank so their passengers can debark. Alex helps folks disembark... she can wait and be sure everyone's safely ashore. She's in an exceptionally good mood! Miriam stands close by Alex, also trying to help, although she's not much steadier on her feet than many of the others. She's been staying close to Alex ever since her rescue. Alex gets Miriam to help with the kids -- Miriam seems to know how to handle them well, and Alex was always taught to keep folks busy in emergencies. She beams at sight of Horatio and Carroll, and shouts to them, "We got 'em all! Everyone's safe! No one's hurt!" Watching from the other side of the gangplank, Dimitri just leans upon his long sword like a farmer's staff, a quiet shadow at the gunwales.
Horatio lets out a soft breath, smiling as he hears the news. Carroll smiles, and relaxes. He calls back, "I knew you could do it." He looks at Horatio, and murrs, quietly to him, "But I still worried something would go wrong." Horatio looks up to his brother, nodding in understanding.
The unloading takes a couple hours all told, with no serious incidents except for MacKenzie's daughter snapping at Ariel's mother, who seems incapable of being quiet unless she's asleep. The old raccoon, startled, manages to fall off the gangplank into the bay.
The only sound is the clatter of his sword upon the wooden deck, and then a second loud splash. Not a moment's thought before the dark fox comes up behind the goodwife, snaring the collar of her tunic before dragging her towards the dock. Alex glances over the side of the boat, then nods, and patters over to retrieve Dimitri's sword. She waves a hand, "It's okay, Dimitri's got her -- go ahead and keep moving, please, folks!"
Carroll hears the unmistakable sound of a splash, and the silencing of a particular voice, and fears the worst. He looks up, and then over to the gangplank, seeing only the black flash of the other fox going after her. He lets out a long breath, and murrs, "Towels. We're going to need towels." He tries to find someone to get some.
Alex checks for Ariel, "Hey Ariel! You have any blankets on you right now? Your mom and Dimitri could use some?"
Horatio blinks, looking after the incident on the dock. Then at Carroll's words, he's off, getting someone to get towels, someone else some hot water, someone else some hot tea or soup... the reprieve doesn't last long. The old lady is complaining about the behavior of the 'younger generation' before she's even on dry land. Ariel nods and digs through one of her bundles. Snaring a wooden post at the edge of the pier, Dimitri calls out, and then helps lift Goodwife Moulin up onto the dock. He does wait, however, a good handful of heartbeats before he too clambers up.
Alex patters down the gangplank to be sure Dimitri and the raccoon get a hand up onto the dock... then she notes Horatio's got things in hand. She grins up at Dimitri and murmurs just for him, "Thank you... for her, even if she won't think to say it. Why don't you go dry off in the hall, and I'll make sure everyone disembarks here, okay?"
Ariel wraps her mother up in a blanket and leads her up the path to get dried off again. Alex throws a blanket around Dimitri's shoulders, and nudges him gently towards the hall. Horatio comes back to the docks with something of a party, a load of blankets, some kettles of hot water and some tea. Carroll murrs to Horatio, "Horatio, how is everything going at the hall? Is everyone gathering there?" as his youngest brother returns.
Horatio bobs his head. "They are, though some of them came by to bring the blankets..."
Carroll nods, to Horatio, murring, "Good, good. Make sure everyone gets back there, and that anyone who needs it has a hot meal and gets warm." He shoos his brother off to take care of that for a moment, and tries to find a quiet word with Alex. Horatio nods quickly, and heads back to the hall to relay the news.
Alex makes sure Dimitri gets a mug of something hot and a few more blankets. If she sees Hildy, Alex will ask if Dimitri could have a hot bath drawn for him too? Dimitri looks up to Alex and shrugs, then draws the blanket over his head and ruffles it hard, drying himself off. "Think of it this way. Something brand new to complain about..." He smiles, a straggly wet fox now, "We've made her day, yes?" And with a laugh, he pads towards the gig. "I'll get a change of clothes at the Mare. In the meantime talk to the town headmaster. Miz Tina's father is going to need some good work... if'n he's ever going to pull himself back together."
Alex shakes her head in amusement at Dimitri, then continues unloading folks. She'll keep an eye out for Gunther, like Dimitri said to. The youngsters are running around and playing, happy to get off the boat at last. The local kids are already starting to join them. Alex continues with the disembarking until it's all safely done and everyone's ashore. Alex gets folks to herd the exuberant kids to the hall.
Carroll finds Alex and Dimitri, smiling, and murring, "You got everyone. Good work." He asks, "Were there any problems?" Miriam is still hanging near to Alex, unwilling to push herself into the family gathering, but unwilling to get very far away, either.
Alex says, "Nope, not really, Carroll... um, we have a new recruit though, I think? Her name's Miriam..." She gestures politely towards Carroll, "Miriam, this is my oldest brother Carroll -- Carroll, this is Miriam..." she notices the rambunctious kids and grins wryly, "-but um, Miriam, could you help get the kids into the hall, and after that and some hot food for everyone we can get your story too, please?" Alex starts moving towards the hall herself, making sure everyone's headed that way, like Carroll wants.
The filly curtsies, a little shyly. "Milord..." She hurries off to help with the children.
Alex watches Miriam hurry off, and murmurs quietly to Carroll, "She's got no family. A local press gang was trying to recruit her when she almost literally ran into us." She gives Carroll a hopeful, worried look, "Umm... we couldn't exactly leave her, could we, Carroll?"
Carroll smiles, and murrs, "Welcome, Miriam." and, before she can say anything much else, she's fled, herding children. He looks at Alex, and asks, "What happ..." but she's already explaining.
Horatio comes back to his siblings -- the ones on shore, at least -- and listens quietly. Alex is watching Carroll worriedly, waiting for his reaction. Carroll ahs, and murrs, "No, of course not. She'll be safe enough from that sort here, I expect. We'll have to find something she can do, but there's lots of work that needs doing." He looks at his sister and asks, "You don't think that will be a problem, do you?"
Alex sighs in relief -- then beams and gives Carroll a sudden, exuberant hug, "I knew you wouldn't mind!" She lets go and steps back quickly, grinning a little embarrassedly, "Um, sorry... well, at the very least she can help with the kids, Carroll!"
Carroll erfs and smiles at his sister, apparently more pleased by her reaction than she might have expected. He murrs, "We'll have to find things for everyone to do, yes." He looks at Dimitri and adds, "Even those who may think they are useless right now."
Alex grins mischievously at the sopping dark fox in the gig headed for the Mare, "He isn't useless -- he's going to help me get the stink of fish off my fur when we finally get a nice hot bath!" She grins up at Carroll, "So... let's get into the hall -- they're waiting for you, big brother!"
Carroll chuckles, and murrs, "He's far from useless, Alex. I was thinking of what he said about finding something for Tina's father to do, actually."
Carroll sighs and shakes himself a little, straightening his clothing imperceptibly and running idle claws through his fur, to murr, "I guess so, as much as I'd like to put it off." He turns and heads to the village, with Alex.
Horatio grins softly and bobs his head. "I've been unpacking what I managed to gather from my workshop. I'm not sure what I can do with it though, but given a few days I should have something." He trails after Alexandra and Carroll.
Ettore Village
The village meeting hall is impressive
in a rustic way. Rough-hewn planks panel the walls of the building,
and enormous stone fireplaces at each end provide heat during the
winter. Tables and benches fill the space which is used for meetings
and community feasts.
Alex will leave Horatio and Carroll's side to murmur to Gunther when she gets into the hall -- she wants to pass on Dimitri's message about Tina's father to him. Then she looks around for Miriam. The room is even more crowded than it was a few days ago, with the refugees added to the villagers. Miriam spots the foxes arriving and drifts over to be near Alex again. She politely waits for her to finish talking to Gunther, then smiles shyly. Alex grins at Miriam, "Heya, how're you feeling? We need to get some hot food into everyone, and then if you feel up to it I'd love to hear your story?"
The filly smiles shyly again. "Not much to tell, milady. My Da and I were evicted from our farm when the crops failed and we couldn't pay the rent..."
Silently entering the hall, like a shadow Dimitri works through the growing crowd. New clothes, dry clothes, dress blacks he now wears, splashed with a bit of silver trim. He glides quiet, without a word, until he ends up behind Alexandra and Miriam. And just stands there, watching over two.
Dark eyes glitter from beneath the rugged cloak's hood, a
vulpine mask of sable fur criss-crossed in shadow. Perhaps there is a
glitter of gold, jewelry's splash, hidden deeper within, but if so the
hint is lost with the shift of light. The cloak itself wraps about a
rugged frame, tumbling to but a hand above the ground, its tall collar
curled protectively atop sturdy shoulders. The color of dusk wraps
about the darkling fox, all the shades of gray falling in severe loose
folds, as if carven from weatherstained quarry rock. Midnight black is
his accent, the color of his tall polished boots into which his stone
tinted breeches are precisely tucked. A black belt, tight, with silver
fittings bright, complements his dashing tunic, that too the color of
a fell evening fog. Beneath the tunic hides the only splash of color,
where a pristine shirt of white hides, and mayhaps the hint of fine
ruffles. Each movement is simple and professional, betraying a trained
discipline. From beneath a long and rich tail occasionally sneaks, just
as dark, touched hither and yon with a highlight of deep crimson. In one
hand he carries a long and narrow package, wrapped in black leather and
trimmed with pale gray fur. As long as he is tall it is, deadly steel
scabbarded and held safe at bay.
The filly pauses for rather a while. "He... didn't take it well. He just sat in the road, staring at the house... I came to town to find help, but...."
Carroll meanders slowly around the room as people are eating the evening meal, talking to anyone who wants to talk to him, smiling a lot. He seems to spend as much time with the new arrivals as he does with the villagers. Horatio wanders as well, though his is a much less purposeful meander through the crowd. He tried to take his cue from Carroll and Alex and Dimitri, as far as answering to peoples' needs. This isn't exactly studying in the Praxaeum!
Alex looks aghast at the sudden realization that they may have kidnapped Miriam from her father... but she doesn't interrupt, just makes sure Dimitri, she, and Miriam are seated and served food. Dimitri looks down, quiet. "You found help." Alex eats quickly and neatly, listening attentively to Miriam's story... she blinks at Dimitri's comment, wondering how he knew.
The horse doesn't eat much. "Milady... when I got back, he was already gone... I had nowhere to go, and then those... they said they wanted me to... to sell myself... " She breaks down, crying into the vixen's shoulder. Alex blinks again, looking both startled and shocked -- she puts her arms around Miriam and holds her while she cries, making soothing noises. She glances in shock at Dimitri over Miriam... then shakes her head slightly, looking disgusted as she understands just exactly what Miriam had stumbled into.
The older marine looked back to his sister. He is quiet for a long moment, but then he just shrugs. "My sergeant, he once said there is no such thing as a coincidence. In the end the only thing that matters is that mi'lady Miriam is here." Alex nods quietly to Dimitri, and continues to hold the sobbing Miriam, gently brushing her forelock out of her face, and making sure she has a hankie when she wants it.
Carroll tries to find Tina and her family, to get a feel for the father Dimitri mentioned. Tina and her family are sitting by a fireplace. Carroll knows from speaking to his siblings that her father spent half the trip out with a massive hangover, but still wouldn't leave the deck the entire time. When Carroll wanders over, Tina flags him down to introduce her father. She stands up to greet her captain. "Sir, this is my father, Darrell. He was a great sailor before, umm... the accident. Is there anything he can do to help?"
Carroll smiles and murrs, "Hello, Tina." He turns and looks at her father and murrs, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Darrell. You have a very brave daughter. I'm glad you've come here."
The older mouse straightens himself up as much as he can. "Thank'ee, sir. I'm sure I could work as a carpenter or a sailmaker... nobody'd hire me back in Starfall."
Carroll nods, murring, "Everyone will have to work here, if we're to succeed. Either of those things is valuable, and I'm certain there are other things you can help with if the need arises." He smiles and adds thoughtfully, "In fact, you might be able to teach some of the younger folks those skills. That's always important."
Horatio starts to wander over towards Carroll, finding that he's really not as good at the mingling part of this as any of his siblings. Darrell already looks much improved. He's only had one beer this evening, and he seems to be eager for something to do. Carroll nods and murrs, "Tonight, get to know the new people you'll be working with, and this new place you're living. There will be plenty of work to do, tomorrow," to Darrell. He looks back to Tina and then over her whole family, murring, "I'm glad you're all here, safe. That's very important."
Carroll takes his leave from Tina and her family, making sure they're eating and he hasn't interrupted their meal. He looks for Gunther and, less enthusiastically, Ariel and Mrs. Moulin. Goodwife Moulin has actually been quiet for some time...the old lady has an amazing appetite. Ariel's been surreptitiously keeping her beer mug topped off, hoping she'll fall asleep afterwards. Horatio eventually, perhaps with a poor sense of timing for his own safety, makes it to Carroll, stopping on the way to speak with anyone who wishes, and waits quietly for him to finish speaking to Goodwife Moulin and Arial. Carroll decides to let sleeping dragons lie, also resisting the evil idea of setting poor Horatio on her, and makes his way to Gunther, MacKenzie, and Natasha. Gunther is off to one side talking to MacKenzie and Natasha.
Dimitri reaches to his belt, takes out a kerchief, and hands it to Alex. Alex smiles gratefully to Dimitri, and gently presses the hankie into one of Miriam's hands. The filly continues to sob, the grief finally catching up to her as it sinks in that she's safe. She takes the handkerchief with a nod, unable to speak... Alex doesn't say anything, just sits quietly and is there if Miriam needs more reassurance. Dimitri looks to Miriam, his ears perking. "You are an only child?"
Miriam half-shrugs. "Am now... brothers... killed... by bandits... Da couldn't take any more..."
Dimitri shrugs quietly. "Then it won't come to hard then, Miriam."
Alex sighs softly at poor Miriam's story... then bleakly wonders how things got so bad for the people, without their nobility noticing and taking steps to protect them... well, she mentally amends, at least the good nobility. She says gently, "Miriam... you know how to farm then? Who was your landlord?"
The filly looks up, startled. "Of course. Had to help Da with the planting and such after my brothers left." She pauses. "The landlord? I'm not sure... Da would talk about the old days when the Baron still ran the estate, but he died and one of the moneylenders in town took over. He always said they didn't care about their tenants."
Alex looks very pleased, "Excellent! We need someone that knows about farming here, Miriam... I'm so glad you decided to join us!" She hesitates, then gives Dimitri a puzzled look, "Er... what won't come too hard, Mitya?"
Dimitri looks to Miriam and nods. "Getting used to having brothers again. Three of them. And a sister too." Alex gives Dimitri a rather startled look, but doesn't say anything... she has no intentions of taking Miriam on the Mare, but isn't going to argue with Dimitri here.
Miriam looks confused, then embarrassed as this sinks in. "Oh, milord... I'm just a tenant farmer's daughter. You don't need to do anything like that..." She starts sniffling again, but this time it seems more happy than sad.
Alex says firmly, "What we need is folks that are willing to help, Miriam." She adds dryly, "Wait 'til Carroll gives his 'welcome' speech to the newly arrived families... then you'll have a better idea of what we're up against." Alex will, if Miriam seems better, continue eating -- she's very hungry, and she has a bath lined up -- life is looking better already!
Hildy comes bustling up at that moment. "There you are, dear! We've put together a nice dress for you for the meeting tonight. No need for you to dress like a vagabond now!"
Alex gives Hildy a puzzled look, then ah!s as she realizes Hildy must be talking to Miriam. "Thank you, Hildy... I'm sure Miriam will appreciate it." She smiles encouragingly at Miriam and continues eating.
His glance to Alex is firm, quiet and resolute. It softens, however, as it returns to Miriam. "Everyone needs a family, mi'lady Miriam. And what would you think, we take you off the streets of Starfall and then pawn you off to someone else like a stray rag found on the beach? No. That's not right, and I'd face down my father over that point. You're one of us now. It's not a bad thing, at that." Alex gives Dimitri a raised eyebrow... but shrugs and goes back to dinner.
Hildy looks puzzled in turn. "Oh, don't be silly, milady. It wouldn't fit her. It's nice of you to be so concerned, though. We'll find something nice for her, too, don't worry."
Alex pauses with her fork partway to her mouth... was I hit on the head or something, and I can't recall it? -and that's why everyone's acting so strange?! She looks around herself, then shakes her head, and puts her fork down. To Hildy she says politely, "Hildy, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your efforts... but I am supposed to be the second mate of the Saucy Mare. I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate for me to be dressing up, when my siblings don't have the same opportunity. They are, after all, also crew of the Saucy Mare."
Hildy looks terribly disappointed. "I'm sure they won't mind, dear. You don't want to dance in trousers, do you?"
Alex brightens, "Dancing?! Oooh!" She looks excited, then bites her lip, looking irresolute... then reaches out a small paw and takes Hildy's, "Hildy, I would love to dress up to dance... but I don't want to be treated any differently than the other members of the Mare's command crew. Um... how's this? If we can find some nice clothes for them too, then I'll wear the dress, how's that?" Alex leans to glance Carroll's way, then grins enthusiastically up at Hildy, "Well... Carroll always looks dressed up. But maybe for Dimitri and Horatio?"
Hildy looks around, realizes that Carroll is already dressed nicely, and Dimitri will have uniforms...which leaves Horatio. "All right. We'll do that."
Alex beams at Hildy, "Thank you so much!"
Dimitri just gives Alex a look as he raises an arm and dangles the cuff of a sharply cut sable tunic with fine silver trim before her long nose. Alex blinks, then gives Dimitri a startled look, "Why'd you put that on before your bath, silly? You don't want it to smell like fish, do you?!"
Dimitri laughs, quiet. "I had a chance to clean up on the Mare, sister. As for you... you are not just the Saucy Mare's first mate or Alexandra St. Genevieve. You are their Alexandra St. Genevieve."
Alex says, "Maybe so, Dimitri... but I doubt cold salt water cleans as well as a hot soapy bath." She folds her arms and gets a mulish expression -- the 'if I have to go through this crap, you do too!' look Dimitri may know rather well. Then she blinks suddenly, looking up at Hildy, "Oh! By the way... have the manor servants arrived yet?"
Hildy shakes her head. "Not yet. I don't think they could've found a boat yet. Do you really want a boat showing up here while the Mare's in the cove?"
Dimitri levels an even nod to Alex. "Good. Then let's go. A hot bath for both of us and then one of the real nice dresses you have on the ship. Make Miss Hildy proud, yes?"
Carroll reaches Gunther and the two security people, coming up to them but not interrupting. Horatio coughs slightly, behind Carroll. "Ah, Car- er, Captain... I mean, Carroll... I mean... er... that is, is there anything you need for me to do?"
Gunther says, "...and that's about it. I don't want to give you all our best fighters -- we still need to defend ourselves against other pirates now and then."
MacKenzie nods. "Understood. We couldn't carry them all anyway. But a dozen or so would round out our strength nicely."
Carroll smiles and nods, not interrupting. He turns to Horatio and asks him, "Have you eaten dinner? Don't forget to do that. I need to still, too." Horatio blinks. Dinner? OH! Yes, that evening meal he has occasionally! Usually combined with lunch, and the next day's breakfast, if he has... if he HAD an exam, that is. Carroll looks back to Gunther, Natasha and, MacKenzie, still listening. Horatio goes off to find a bit of dinner, roaming through the hall to find a place to sit, hopefully -- looking over at his siblings -- not far away from everyone.
MacKenzie nods to Carroll. "Just going over the roster here, sir. How many fighters do you think we can take on board the Mare?"
Carroll hmms and murrs, "We're somewhat short of crew and won't have to worry too much about cargo. We should be able to manage as many as you feel we need. I'd want to verify that with Jared Greytail too, to make sure I haven't forgotten anything."
Horatio blinkblinks at the waving girls, glancing over at the siblings. Ah... should he? Well... there's not many other seats elsewhere and... well, in all seriousness he can't isolate himself, not anymore, not when, well... the siblings St. Genevieve have just asked all these people to help them against Pravinchandra. Steeling himself a bit, he pads over to the seat. The girls are all about Horatio's age, or a little younger... they all bat their eyes at the young lord, hoping to attract his attention.
Alex sighs, giving Dimitri a wounded look... then capitulates, "All right... but you gotta dance at least three dances with me this time, 'kay, Mitya?" She grins, and adds, "Mrs. Hildy, could I persuade you to help me with the darned thing? The tiny buttons up the back are just maddening!"
Alex grins cheerfully -- almost wickedly? -- at Horatio and waves. She adds to Hildy, "I thought they were coming overland, actually... oh look, there's Horatio!" A few of the village girls wave to Horatio and make a place for him at their table. Alex hastily wolfs down the rest of her dinner while Hildy's hopefully distracted.
Dimitri looks to Alex and smiles, "I can survive three dances in one night, I think."
Alex brightens, "Okay! Then I can survive a dress... let's go get clean, yes?" Dimitri pads after Alex, for a bath and then for fancy clothes.
Carroll murrs to Gunther, "I don't want to interrupt but I did want to make a point that we need to sit down and do some resource allocation and find work for everyone." He points out Darrell, adding, "Darrell in particular." He explains the situation as he knows it, and murrs, "We need to figure out what needs to be done and match people to it, of course."
Horatio appears mildly nervous. Courtly etiquette was something that didn't take terribly well with him, there was always one more experiment to do, one more book to read, and, well... any other excuse he could give. But a glance at his siblings makes it clear to him that this is getting a whole lot bigger than what any one of them might want. So he puts on his best, if still a little nervous, foot forward. Carroll sees that people are finishing eating, even Horatio has sat down, and his other two siblings have vanished someplace. This looks like as good a moment as any.
Carroll finds his way to the speaker's platform and climbs up on it, looking out over the room full of people. The realization that they are all his responsibility right now, that he must make sure they can lead happy productive lives, is only now sinking in. He resists the urge to run in to the night screaming, instead taking a breath and calling across the room, "Hello, everyone? Could I have your attention for a moment or two, please?" Horatio perks his ears and looks up attentively at Carroll as he starts speaking.
The room quiets down quickly, except for a few feminine giggles from the direction of Horatio's would-be harem... Dimitri walks in and stays at the back of the room as Carroll begins his speech. Alex sighs and pads in next to Dimitri... the bath will have to wait.
Carroll murrs, loud and clear, "We have some new families here in the village. They've come here from Starfall, to stay here while their sailors are out helping us with our goal, and to be safe from any repercussions that might cause them." He continues, "They've all left their homes, and many of their possessions, to come to an uncertain place, probably not understanding why." He pauses, looking across the room before continuing, "Until we can get proper homes built for them they will be put up here, in the hall. Building homes will start tomorrow, so they can have that security. Please, make them feel welcome in any way you can." He looks down, then out across the audience he's speaking too, finding the transplanted families with his eyes. He murrs, "I don't know if your loved ones had a chance to explain to you clearly, why we're here and what's going on. I will do that now."
Carroll explains to the whole room again about the assignment, replaced cargo, pirates, seagulls with torches, difficult choices, and the choice that has been made. He pauses when he's done, to see if the crowd has any questions or comments this time. The villagers are actually listening attentively to the story the second time through. The refugees listen (well, Goodwife Moulin is snoring and the kids are outside playing, but the rest are attentive). Alex wanders silently through the crowd to settle quietly next to Miriam while the story's being told.
Carroll nods quietly, murring, "So, now we move forwards with our goals. If we are to succeed, we can't afford to waste any of our resources, so everyone will be asked to work in some way that they can. If you have skills that would be helpful, please make sure that Gunther or I know about it, to be able to do the best planning that we can."
Carroll pauses, still looking over the room and trying not to fidget. He finishes, "You will each earn yourselves a place here, and whatever protection I or the St. Genevieve family can offer you. You also know we're acting to break the grip of a greedy tyrant over innocent people... St. Genevieve depends on each of you, to help us all through this difficult time." He smiles and murrs, "Tonight, we celebrate the rescue of families, the safe return and arrivals here, with dinner and a dance. Tomorrow, we pick up the tools of our trades and work for a difficult goal." He steps down from the raised floor, finished.
Alex waits 'til Carroll's done, then beams happily and takes Miriam's hand, "C'mon! Let's make sure they know what you can do. We don't have any farmers... you're going to be very popular here, Miriam!" She heads for Carroll. Miriam hangs back, overwhelmed, but gets dragged along by the enthusiastic vixen.
Alex taps Carroll's arm to get his attention, as long as he's not already talking to someone, "Carroll, guess what? Miriam's a farmer!"
Carroll turns and looks to his sister. He smiles and murrs, "Hello, Alex, Miriam." He walks towards one end of the room and gestures for them to follow him. Alex follows along with Miriam. Dimitri silently follows along, shadowing Alex, Carroll, and Miriam.
Carroll smiles and nods his way through the room, until he manages to collect for himself a bowl of the dinner stew and a mug. Moving a bit away to a quietish corner he sits and looks at his dinner, then up at his sister. He murrs, "Miriam is a farmer? That's very good, indeed."
Alex nods, "I thought so too. We're going to need some stuff grown here, I'm guessing, now that we have so many folks here. Incidentally, Carroll, why didn't you say you hadn't eaten yet? I'd have made sure you got some food, silly! Anyways... Dimitri 'n I need to take a bath. D'you think I should introduce Miriam to Gunther first? I'm not sure who'd be best to talk to?"
Carroll picks up his spoon and shrugs, murring, "I've been busy. It's all right." He stirs the bowl idly, and says to Miriam, "Alex is right, as usual. We will need to try to be more self-sufficient. It seems it's as good a day for us as for you when you ran in to Alex and Dimitri."
Carroll murrs to Alexandra, "I'll tell him. I'm making a list of the resources we've got -- may have found another carpenter, always good -- and will work with him tomorrow to put that list to use. Tonight, relax." Carroll finally manages to eat some dinner. He hopes he's not appearing rude, but, he's hungry, and he knows they'll likely clear the tables before long.
Alex nods and turns to Miriam, "What do you want to do right now, Miriam?"
The filly is still nervous. "Me? I don't know... you mean right now right now?"
Alex makes a mental note -- got to be sure that Horatio sleeps in a bunk sometimes, not just face down on his desk... and got to be sure Carroll eats. She smiles at Miriam, "Yup. Do you want to just rest and relax? Help out here? Watch the kids? Help Hildy?" Her ears tilt out slightly in amusement as she wonders what dress Hildy's going to try stuffing her into... then she focuses back on Miriam, "If you want you could just sleep a little before the party?"
Miriam looks stunned. "You want me to go to the party?"
Dimitri nods quietly, "Of course, if you wish too."
Carroll blinks, and looks a little surprised himself. He puts his spoon down and, barely pausing to use his napkin, he murrs, "Of course, if you want to."
Alex looks puzzled, "Yes, of course, like my brothers said! It's a party to celebrate us all getting this far safely, Miriam... you're part of the St. Genevieve people now." Then she ohs! -then gives a meaningful look to her brothers, "Maybe Miriam and I should um... go talk to Hildy about dresses first, okay, guys?" Miriam looks like she's on the verge of crying happy tears again.
Carroll nods but asks gently, "Miriam, what did you think we wanted you here for?"
The filly is holding back a fresh set of sniffles by force of will. "I... I thought you were... it was more than enough that you rescued me. I didn't think you'd want me to be part of your family..." She does break down again, briefly, then pulls herself together. "I've never been to a party like this."
Alex looks a little bemused, but smiles at Miriam and puts an arm around her shoulders, "Everyone here is part of St. Genevieve, Miriam... St. Genevieve has always taken care of its people. C'mon... let's go find Hildy before she comes hunting me and Dimitri down for our baths!" She gives her brothers a quizzically confused smile over her shoulder as she gently steers Miriam away -- she's never met anyone so... emotionally squashed flat! It's very strange to her.
Carroll murrs, "You're as much a part of the family as any of the people here are, Miriam." He picks up his spoon and adds, smiling, "Enjoy the party." Carroll takes a quiet moment to finish his dinner, and drink a little of the homebrew, before the party starts, and things get busy for him again.
Alex goes looking for Hildy... she'll even be nice and try intercepting Hildy before Horatio is descended upon and dragged off, kicking and screaming, to be dressed up! Miriam looks a little more enthusiastic, and tags along after Alex.
Dimitri pauses as Alex slips Miriam away. "More than that, brother." He looks to Carroll and shrugs. "We took her from the street, she has no one else. That makes her ours. Our responsibility. Or at least mine." Alex gives Dimitri an amused shake of the head (if she hears that comment) but is busy hunting down Hildy.
Carroll says to his brother, "If you insist on feeling that way, Dimitri, you can." He looks up and adds, "I'm going to do my best for all of them." Alex nods quietly at Carroll's words, still scanning for Hildy... where is she? There's a hot bath with Alex's name on it, and she wants that bath!
Carroll finishes the last bites of his stew and adds quietly, "It's what I've been learning how to do most of my life, isn't it?" He looks up at his black brother and adds, "I hope I've learned the lessons in time."
Dimitri narrows his eyes, quiet. "That's just what Father would say." He turns on his heel with a distinct military snap and then walks into the crowd, eventually following Alex.
Carroll closes his eyes and murrs, "Apparently I missed something, somewhere." He sits there, quiet, until someone finally interrupts him.
Hildy is sitting with her husband not too far from the table where Carroll and Dimitri are still eating. Alex patters over, Miriam in tow, and smiles, "Hi. I don't mean to interrupt your meal... Hildy, when you're finished, could I trouble you for some of your time?"
Hildy is done with her dinner, apparently, and bustles up right away. "Certainly, dear! All ready for your bath? Carroll gave us one of your dresses to spruce up for tonight's dance. Come, come!" She gathers up Alex and Miriam and takes them outside and down the street to where the water is heating...
Alex narrows her eyes at Carroll... hmmm... then smiles and nods to Hildy, "Yes, I think Dimitri and I are ready to take our baths. However, I have a question for you... by any chance is there something we could borrow for Miriam for the party? She ran into us in town while we were getting Tina's family. You could maybe ask Tina for details." She smiles and pats Miriam's hand reassuringly, then adds to Hildy, "She's not got any family, so she chose to come along with us... but she's got nothing to wear to the party. I knew if anyone would know what to do it'd be you, Mrs. Hildy?"
If it's Alex's intent to refocus older lady's enthusiasm, it succeeds a bit. "Oh, you poor thing. We'll have to find something for you. Let's see..." She starts estimating dress sizes in her head. "I think... you go get your baths, right in here. I'll be right back." She leaves the two girls at the bathhouse and hurries down the street...
Carroll finally, after a long moment, picks up his mug and finishes it in one slow drink. He looks around. Gathering his dishes and putting them where they need to go, only then does he try to find the brother he's upset. Unfortunately he realizes he has lost Dimitri. He sighs and doesn't leave the party to look for him. Instead he takes a deep breath and plunges back in to the public role, smiling and talking to everyone, moving about the room again.
Carroll smiles and makes small talk, and tries to assuage the concerns of people, without making promises he can't keep (that is, any at all), and moves slowly among people, listening, smiling, laughing, talking. He's very good at not letting the worries show.
Horatio manages to speak with the people around him without making too much of a fool of himself though, even when all is said and done, he cannot help that he comes off as a bit on the... well, perhaps 'eccentric' side is putting it politely. Again, however, he glances over at his sibli- er, his brother, and takes his cue from him -- and for that matter what happened to Dimitri and Alex? Horatio's audience is actually very forgiving of any social blunders he makes... compared to the local boys, he's both very polite and exotic. He doesn't seem to realize that they're throwing themselves at him, though...
Hildy comes back into the meeting hall and heads straight for Horatio's table. She looks at a couple of the girls, sizing them up in her head apparently, then picks one. "Come with me, Brigit. We're going to fix up that nice girl that Lady Alex brought back with her, and I think you're just about her size." She looks severely at the rest of the crowd. "And the rest of you, leave the poor lad alone. You can dance with him later, let him finish his dinner." Horatio blinks up at Hildy, totally baffled by what just happened. Hildy can be so much like a whirlwind. One moment, everything is fine. Next moment, a swirl of furry fury and activity, then... poof, your entire surroundings have changed.
Alex will ask someone to bring the offending trunk of dresses to whatever room Hildy wants it in, then go to cheerfully and industriously scrub the nasty stink of fish away in a nice hot bath... she feels almost decadently luxurious -- nice-smelling soap AND hot water! Dimitri pragmatically follows Alex's example, not luxurious, no, but taking advantage of the moment's relaxation, before returning to the hall dressed as if he had to meet the Ladyship herself.
Alex will wait 'til they're alone and have gotten the worst of the fish stink out of their fur, then tilt her head curiously at Dimitri, "So... what's wrong between you and Carroll, Mitya?"
Dimitri lays back in the tub, the bottom of his muzzle against the water. "Just like Father.. He forgets the folk for the manor."
Alex says, "Not sure what you mean there, actually... his words didn't seem so inflammatory to me?" She thinks a moment, then adds puzzledly, "How did Daddy forget folks? I never saw that?"
Dimitri shrugs a bit, the water swirling for a long moment. "When you think of everyone, you tend to forget that there's a single person behind each everyone. That's all."
Alex says, "Then maybe we should consider Miriam closely, Mitya... she's a farm girl. I know you and Daddy didn't get along, but is it fair to drag her along someplace completely out of her depth... because you're upset with Daddy? And maybe Carroll could use all the support we could give him right now... instead of snapping at him?" She sighs and slides over to hug Dimitri, "It's just a thought, Mitya... but please, don't be upset with Carroll over this? He really is trying to do what's best?"
Dimitri looks back, eyes sharp. "No choice, Alex. When we asked 'er to come, off the streets, onto our island, into our intrigue, that made us responsible for her. That's more than just handing her off to someone else like she was a pretty toy. She's got no one, and we are the one who took her away. So she's our problem, though I don't think she is a problem now, and to shove her onto someone else, that's not fair or right to her. That's why folks are rich and powerful, Alex. Not to live a good life, but to take care of those who are less fortunate."
Alex nods, "Yup. I don't recall Daddy ever forgetting that though. Or Carroll. Nor would making sure she has a safe place here, and folks that will care for her, and a place to farm, seem to me like treating her like a pretty toy. She's a farmer, Mitya... I'd no more ask her to follow us on the Mare than I'd expect you to ask me to give up sailing."
Dimitri frowns quietly. "But that's exactly what he said... and that's not what I said. I didn't say that she should come with us, unless she wants to and can help. But she's not like the other folks who have families. She's alone. Or was until a couple nights ago."
Alex sighs softly, "Mitya, if Carroll were to die you'd inherit. Is that something you'd like to do? You've no training for it... you're uncomfortable with the very idea, from what I can tell, right?"
Dimitri softly growls, "I'd abdicate it to you."
Alex laughs! "Can't, Mitya... Horatio's next in line. But that's not the point... my point is that it's a position you have no training or feel for, right? Well... making Miriam a sibling is like that -- it might seem like a fun thing at first... but she has notraining for it at all." She frowns, "I get it bad enough for being a tomboy, and I'm willing to get into trouble for fighting back... what do you think it'd be like for Miriam, Mitya? You can't follow her everywhere... you can't stop every snide comment, every malicious whispered dig... is that what you want for her?" She smiles as she hugs her brother and whispers, "'Sides... assuming something awful happened and you became the heir... I bet you'd do better than you think, Mitya."
Dimitri just rests his muzzle upon the hot water. "It just isn't right."
Alex nods quietly, her chin resting on Dimitri's shoulder, "No, it's not... but don't we have to do the best we can with what we've got to hand? You taught me that. If things were right that bull wouldn't have been able to bully her... so we made things a little better, yes?"
Dimitri frowns quietly. "Doesn't mean we just stop and do what's convenient or proper or easy." He looks over. "You taught me that."
Alex says, "I don't think we did, Mitya. We could have just walked away... we didn't. It would be easiest to just drag her along with us... but it wouldn't be right. She should be on the land, farming, with people that will care for her, that we're keeping safe as best we can, 'cause that's our duty... she shouldn't be on a ship, with nothing to do and nothing she knows about. What's she going to do on the ship, Mitya? People will think she's your leman... do you really want to do that to her? And like I said... you can't follow her everywhere, and protect her from every malicious whisper. I wish you could, believe me! -but... I've learned that won't work."
Dimitri pauses. Quiet. "I. Didn't. Say. Take. Her. On. The. Ship."
Alex sighs, "All right... this is obviously something you feel very strongly about. I'm not going to argue with you about it... but please, Mitya, at least give some thought to this? I think Carroll's feelings were hurt... and I'm really unconvinced that this is the best for her. Please, before you go assuring her that she's adopted... talk to the rest of us first?"
Dimitri nods sharply, just very quiet. He lets out a long sigh, including a dry and half-sputtered mumble. Alex just quietly rubs Dimitri's shoulders and doesn't say anything else.