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More on The Pride of Kossalu, and Alburtis of the Not-So-Shining Empire
- The "Pride of Kossalu" is the most current capture of House
St. Genevieve, flying their colors and sporting numerous patches
on her mainmast, sails, and down the planking of one side. She's a
carrack of the sort normally found in the carrying trade; slow, squat,
and round.
It's soon evident that as a first command, the Pride of Kossalu is a cow to the Saucy Mare's cheetah. She is slow and ungainly under the jury-rigged sails, driving Alex almost to distraction when trying to steer a course anything close to the wind. Carroll quietly orders less sail and gives the other ship a little space, and better wind. He won't say anything about how the ship tacks in the wind; not every ship can be the Saucy Mare. Alex stands proudly on the Pride's quarterdeck, the wind ruffling her whiskers -- and filling her ship's sails! -and keeps a stern eye on the crew. She is NOT allowing a single solitary one of them to make her and Mitya look bad in front of Carroll, Horatio, and the Mare! She consoles herself that the Pride may be a cow... but she'll be a cash cow for the St. Genevieve family very soon!
Dimitri looks back to Alex, smiles, and says but a single word. "Moo."
Alex blinks! -then gets a slow, mischievous look and flattens her ears for a moment, concentrating... then makes a grumpy sound and quits trying. She grins ruefully at Dimitri, "'Fraid so," then lifts her chin, smiling, "But a cash cow... so I can forgive her."
Dimitri softly growls, "That is true. And it will be good for us to be sailing a Pravinchandra ship into port. If, of course, nothing happens between there and here."
Alex says with great firmness, "It won't... if I have to toss every single sailor that even thinks about causing trouble overboard myself!"
Dimitri smiles quietly, "I was more thinking about the misfortune about stumbling into another Pravinchandra ship."
Alex nods, "That's what Kammy's for, Mitya... to prevent that."
The journey back takes far longer than the trip out, ten days of tacking back and forth trying to drive the damaged carrack upwind. Alex patiently keeps the crew moving, trying to catch every puff of wind they can to keep the Pride moving along as best she can... although privately Alex soon becomes convinced that if this is the pride of Kossalu then there mustn't be very much there on Kossalu at all! She manages to stay collected even when she's frustrated enough to gnaw the mast down herself -- and she is the first to realize what the creaking noise is late one night when the wind picks up and the repairs start to give way. She and the Pride's bosun work together to keep things intact and in the morning, with some help from a working party from the Mare, they are ready to sail again. Alex sighs tiredly that morning, politely thanking the bosun for his hard work, then gives the commands to continue heading for Maidstone. She reflects ruefully to herself that this is indeed a wonderful thing, to captain a ship of her own... but silently promises herself that for the ship she gets herself -- NOOOO COWS!!!
Horatio himself is doing a presumably passable job of standing in Alex's stead, and has managed to resist the call of his modest library on board. Carroll commends Alex on her observation and finds a private moment to ask her if things are going all right. Alex smiles calmly (if a little tiredly) at Carroll, "They're just fine, captain... just slow. We'll get to Maidstone eventually."
Carroll nods and murrs, "She's a hauler, slow and steady. Don't expect anything else."
Alex laughs! "Oh, definitely not, sir." She grins.
The tall fox steps up behind his sister, looking down at her. He speaks one word before taking up the watch himself. "Sleep."
Carroll nods, and agrees with Dimitri, "Also important. Let's get moving again, too."
Alex blinks up at Dimitri... then sighs and nods, "I think so... make sure the bosun gets some too, would you please, Mitya?"
Dimitri chuckles and smiles, "After you have rested, Alex. Someone has to stay awake who knows how to sail this... uhm... boat."
Alex covers a grin at Dimitri's comment! She'll see Carroll back to his dinghy and returning to the Mare... then she turns and sets the Pride on course for Maidstone once again. Once she's sure everything's progressing (however glacially) she nods to Dimitri, "Deck is yours, Dimitri. I'll be back after some shut-eye."
The change in the wind signals a swing to the north, and the ships make better time now. Soon enough Maidstone Harbor appears on the horizon and the Mare and her prize are tied up alongside the Naval pier. Matthew DuPrei is waiting for the siblings when the preliminaries are out of the way. "Congratulations, milords and lady!"
Alex beams exuberantly at Matthew, "Thank you!" She keeps a private WHEW!! of relief that they made it to herself, of course!
Carroll smiles and murrs, "Thank you. I hope they all go as well." Dimitri sits on the gunwales, looking off the boat. He nods down, and oversees the settlement of their prize. Alex makes sure the crew all disembark after Carroll's given the go-ahead, and sees that the mercs know to talk to Dimitri first before leaving for the Guildhall. Horatio grins softly, from behind Carroll and Alex. That had gone off well, especially with no one killed. A faint dark thought tugs at his mental sleeve, though -- they're not always going to be that way. Carroll send messages to the Queen, thanking her for her support again, and assuring her all are well, and to Duchess White Haven, regarding the disposal of this capture.
Alex waits 'til the crew's gone... pauses to look around thoughtfully... then "WHEEEEEEEEE!!!"s and throws herself on Dimitri, "WE DID IT WE DID IT I captained a ship did you SEE did you SEE and it didn't SINK!!!" Alex giggles and nearly throttles Dimitri again in her exuberance! Dimitri just spins Alex about, part to diffuse her momentum, part just for fun!. he holds her tight and close and just laughs, "That you did, Captain bratling... though next time... chose a faster ship!" Horatio blinks, then laughs, caught up in Alex's exuberance.
Alex laughs delightedly, whirling with Dimitri! then laughs again at his last comment, "Oh my yes! I thought I'd gnaw the darned mast down myself there towards the end!"
Dimitri looks down and taps her teeth with his paws, "No proper incisors for that, bratling. You'd get splinters."
Jared comes over to add his congratulations. "Looks like the Captain gave you the harder job, Sir Alex. Well done."
Alex beams happily at Jared, "Thank you, Jared -- that means a lot to me, coming from you!" She grins and bounces over to give Carroll a quick, exuberant hug as well, "And thanks to you too, Carroll -- for giving me the chance!" The old muskrat hems and then grins to himself as Alex bounces away.
Carroll smiles and murrs, "You doubted I would?" and shakes his head. He murrs, "You did very well, and you can count on doing it again."
Alex giggles over her shoulder at Dimitri, "There was that, yep!" She practically glows at Carroll, "So you think I did an okay job? You liked it?!"
Carroll looks at Alex and murrs, "Yes, Alex, you did a good job. I expected I could depend on you and you have not let me down." Alex turns pink with pleasure around her mouth and eyes!
White Haven sends Baronet deVere to arrange for disposal of the Pride and her cargo. Carroll is summoned when the Baronet deVere arrives. He meets with him and they tour the captured ship, examining it and its cargo, reaching an agreement that satisfies both of them, probably more in favor of the House White Haven than it has to be out of Carroll's gratitude for their support. Alex paces quietly along with them, just listening. She's developed a keen appreciation for the difficulties of Carroll's job in the last week or so! The Duchess sends along a cash advance which more than pays for replenishing the Mare's supplies and which will provide a hefty cash bonus for her crew if Carroll so chooses. Carroll does choose to, rewarding his crew for their performance, including the mercenaries they have aboard. A pleased crew sets out again, prize money waiting for them when they have a chance at shore leave.
This time Horatio plots a course up the eastern side of Lancer Island, past the League cities of Larris and Falkirk. While there is plenty of shipping to be seen, Pravinchandra ships seem to be missing. Horatio frowns slightly, looking over the chart and at the P-free seas around them. "He knows," he murmurs to Carroll. "Pravinchandra knows we're looking for father."
Carroll looks at Horatio and murrs, "What?"
Horatio glances to Carroll. "He knows we're looking around where Father was last seen. So he's pulling his shipping from those areas he knows we're looking in." He looks out at the sea again. "We need to be careful; he'll probably send Starfall's navy into these areas. If he really controls it as much as we fear."
Carroll hmms and murrs, "That's very clever, Horatio. We'll have to watch out for the navy, yes, and hope we're faster than they are." He grins, "Perhaps we can find them some real pirates."
Alex gives Horatio a faintly puzzled look, "How could he know we're hunting for Daddy, Horatio? All he knows is that we're angry and in vendetta with him. It's just as likely that he's having to pull back shipping because we've hurt him financially, after all, yes?" She grins, "I mean, that was the point, right?"
Carroll murrs, "He may have pulled out of areas he's not as well established in to reduce costs." He grins, "I hope so. Either way, we need to be careful."
Horatio shakes his head. "That's possible as well. But he must know that we don't know what happened exactly to Father. And he might be using that to advantage. Either keeping his shipping away from here, or sending the navy after us. Would one grain barge and one merchantman would seriously harm his shipping enterprise?"
Alex chuckles, "Possibly not... but two grain barges, one merchantman, and the Starfall Navy asking him some hard questions about why they're being pulled off the known pirate routes might!" Horatio frets slightly, nodding to Alex, mulling.
Dimitri sits back, quiet. "I still think it was his choice of destinations which was the final straw that sent Pravinchandra after him."
Horatio says, "How do you mean, Dimitri?"
Dimitri softly growls, "He was planning on a mission to Natasha's home. And then Pravinchandra wiped out Tom and Natasha's own, separate venture. Coincidence?"
Horatio frowns slightly. "Has anyone ever been there? I mean, anyone we know, recently?"
Carroll murrs, "What, Dimitri?"
Dimitri looks back to Carroll and nods, "Karaganda. That's where father wanted to go. It's Natasha's home."
Carroll hmms and murrs, "Why would a plan upset Pravinchandra, and how did he hear of it?"
Alex shakes her head, "Dimitri, I still don't see why you link these two incidents. Daddy had just started thinking about that, and was just interested in Natasha going... as I recall it was from her talking with MacKenzie that he got curious about it in fact -- and I don't see how the pirates hitting his ship has anything to do with that possible future route, instead of the one he was on?"
Dimitri softly growls, "Then why, afterwards, did Pravinchandra go after Sam and Natasha?"
Horatio bites his lip, fretting silently. "I think maybe I'm seeing more into this than I should. Or maybe not." He sighs and shakes his head. "All the more reason to get the truth, somehow..." he murmurs.
Alex says, "He didn't, Mitya, that's the point! MacKenzie said it himself -- when that possible trip with Daddy fell through they didn't have a job lined up! If you want someone that rat really has gone after then why not talk to Jared, or Ariel, or Skeee, or any other of the crew that had the misfortune of talking honestly to one of his people?"
Dimitri nods quietly, thinking. "Then I was mistaken."
Alex looks worried, leaning against Dimitri, "That's what bothers me, guys... I keep wondering where Pravin's got his dirty little fingers twirled into... and I forget sometimes that our goal is -- to find Daddy!"
Carroll murrs, "Let's try and find him and ask. The most interesting question is not 'where was he going next,' but 'where was he'?"
Horatio nods, "I agree. Let's find Father and ask him what happened."
Carroll looks at Horatio, and asks, "So, where do we start?"
Horatio purses his lips and pulls a chart from the table on the quarterdeck. "Well... no matter what we'd probably have to go into the vicinity of Lancer."
Alex glances over Horatio's shoulder, "Lancer, yes... and maybe that long peninsula that Liska's on?"
Horatio nods slowly, tracing his finger over the routes. "Either the route between the peninsula and Lancer, or Lancer... and Sanaray."
Alex says, "Um... and guys? Maybe we should hit Alburtis to see if Daddy actually got there?"
Carroll nods, "Yes, let's see if he got there and where he was going from there."
Alex grins, "And we can try grabbing a few more Pravin ships on the way!"
Horatio says, "Carr- I mean Captain, if I may suggest... we should head up to Lancer, then go from there to Alburtis. From there we can backtrack as well."
Carroll looks at Horatio, and asks, "Why Lancer first?"
Alex says, "Sounds good... finish going up Lancer's eastern coast, then strike east for Alburtis?" Carroll nods.
Horatio nods, "I meant the northern part of Lancer, sorry."
Carroll murrs, "To Alburtis then," and gives the order.
The scout-bird doesn't spot any Pravinchandra ships at all until the Mare reaches the main shipping route along the north side of Lancer... at which point he comes back somewhat alarmed. "Not good, Cap'n. Many-many ship-fellers, all together. Six, seven leagues, Navy-fellers too."
Horatio frowns at the bird's report. "Starfall navy? Please tell me I was wrong..."
Alex hmms... then nods, "That's why there were no Pravin ships down the eastern coast of Lancer, I bet -- they won't go anywhere without Navy escort now!"
Carroll murrs, "A convoy with escort, and the navy." He asks, "Were they all Pravinchandra, or others, too?"
Alex grins wickedly, "My, that must be costing him!"
Carroll comments, unhappily, "Either that, or the Navy's footing the bill."
Horatio says, "Costing him... but it'll cost us, as well, if we try to hit them."
Alex says, "No way, Carroll... don't you think the other families would just scream at the increase in taxes that would demand?"
Carroll nods, "We can't challenge that, and must avoid them." He directs the crew, moving the ship out of harm's way.
Jared discusses this with Kamehameha, apparently fluent in the bird's odd pidgin dialect. "Nope, not Starfall Navy. I think he's actually hired some Imperial navy ships, if Kammy's description of their flags is correct."
Horatio looks stunned. "Imperial?"
Alex looks astonished, "He hired WHAT?!"
Dimitri frowns solemnly, "Just keep us from coming to their attention, Captain."
Carroll raises eyebrows and murrs, "Yes, that's costing him." To his black brother he murrs, "I think we need to flee this group."
Dimitri chuckles, "It's not a retreat, Carroll, it's a course change to take advantage of... new strategic information. In other words, it's very bad to be here right now."
Jared snorts. "He's frantic, I think. Imperials are the world's worst sailors, and they're not exactly welcome in League waters. He must have paid through the snout to get them to escort him even this far. Kammy has the impression that there are non-Prav ships there too, getting a free ride with protection against pirates."
Alex says, "Wow... that's gotta be hurting his pocke-" She blinks, then crows exuberantly, "Imperial! Imperial! he can't get our navy to help!"
Carroll murrs, "Costing him is good." He looks at his sister and murrs, "Perhaps not. Perhaps he pushed them too far." He smiles, and adds, "Perhaps our story touched something off at Navy HQ when that fellow we met at Court reported in."
Horatio blinks to Alex. "You may be right...!"
Carroll murrs, "Either way, let's avoid this and head to Alburtis."
Alex laughs delightedly, hugging Horatio exuberantly, "Maybe maybe! Either way -- he's hurting! -both monetarily and reputation-wise!"
Horatio blinks in surprise at the sudden embrace, "Erp!"
Alex giggles at Carroll, "So, captain, want to maybe forment ill feeling and discontent between the Impies and the Pravin ships? Sail by just out of reach -- they'll go nuts trying to decide whether to chase us or no!"
Dimitri holds up his paw for one moment... Carroll asks his brother, "Yes?"
Dimitri softly growls, "Just one ship, for all that escort? Or did I hear wrong?"
Carroll murrs, "There were several ships under that escort, Dimitri, including some possible non-Pravin ships tagging along." He adds, "At least, that's what Jared says; Kammy lost me too."
Horatio says, "How many ship-feller- er, ships?"
Alex giggles at Horatio, then beams happily, "Oooh... he's paying to protect indie ships against his pirates -- HOW that must gall!" She giggles, "That's a positively warming thought!"
Dimitri nods quietly and then turns to Alex. "No, it's actually better if we are just not seen. We shouldn't tempt them to actually decide to come after us."
Alex nods interestedly, "You think so? Okay... then let's head on for Alburtis! We can find out more about Daddy there!"
Carroll agrees, "No reason to tempt fate or their fliers." Horatio nods quietly.
- The Captain's Cabin on the Saucy Mare
The cabin is a marvel of clever usage of too little space. The comfortable bunk is set into the wall, with a sea chest beneath, while the small, enclosed lamp swings slowly overhead with the sway of the ship. A small rollup desk/table faces into the room, and there's the added luxury of a fairly large porthole.
Carroll sits at the desk, contemplating both the chunk of slate, which he has scribbled on and erased many times, and the spot of fading daylight out the porthole. His reverie is interrupted by a gentle tap on his door.
Carroll looks over to the door and murrs, "Come in."
Alex pokes her head in through the open door, a slightly diffident expression on her face, "Hi, um, captain... do you have a moment, maybe?"
Carroll sets the slate aside on the desk, and lays down the chalk, murring, "Of course, Alex. Come in."
Alex slips in, then settles into a chair by the desk. She hesitates, smoothing her tail across her lap, as if she's not sure how to start... finally she looks up and says slowly, "Um... Carroll? Is um... well... do you-? uh... I mean, do you ever doubt yourself when you're captaining? Like... like wonder if you're doing the right thing or not?"
Carroll cocks his head, curiously, before Alex speaks. He answers her question, immediately, and seriously, "Constantly, Alex."
Alex looks suddenly very relieved! -then tilts her head at Carroll, her ears pricked intently forward, "What do you do then? How do you um... not show it to the crew?"
Carroll murrs, "Practice." He leans back in his chair, and adds, "It's sometimes not easy. It's very like the facade you maintain while in Court. No matter how worried and unsure you are you simply must be sure."
Alex sighs, then smiles ruefully, "Yeah, but in court I'm either polite and grumpy about being in a dress and letting you do all the talking... or I'm dancing!"
Carroll nods and murrs, "Being the Captain is difficult. Not only must you be right, you must also listen to your crew and accept their feedback without seeming to be a push-over or weak. You utterly must listen to and respect the advice and opinions of your crew."
Alex sighs again, thinking, "Well yeah, but... um... well, it's like... like the crew of the Pride. I... guess I just don't understand them very well, you know? It seemed like the more coldly nasty I was, the better they behaved! I... don't understand that logic, I guess? I mean, you don't seem to need to be nasty to the crew of the Mare?"
Carroll tries to explain, "First, the two crews are very different; one is a crew of effectively volunteers who have a goal that matches that of their Captain, while the other was captured, basically prisoners, because of the perceived weakness of their Captain. It's also not 'coldly nasty' that's effective. Self assurance and confidence, as well as firmness, are much more important than cold or nasty. The formality of cool distance can help when you begin with a new crew, but you can relax as you get to know them."
Alex nods slowly, "Okay... but... well... well, is this like a dog pack or something? Like if they lost their alpha they're busy squabbling amongst themselves but will resent a new alpha dog being brought in for them? You know, like a pack of fox hounds?"
Carroll hmms, and considers. He murrs, "Not a bad analogy. You can add a new leader successfully. When it's forced, it can be much more difficult."
Alex nods, looking relieved again, "So they were unhappy because they were unhappy... not because I was a bad captain?"
Carroll ahs and murrs, "In the time you were with that ship, Alex, there's no way they could have really decided you were a good or bad Captain. In their minds you're the pirate captain that's going to sell them to the slavers, despite what they may tell you to get you to agree. Not only that, they may have difficulty finding work if Pravinchandra blames them for the surrender, so they may be unhappy. It has little if anything to do with your conduct." He continues, "On the contrary, I believe you did rather well. You noticed the mast before it could break again, and you managed to command a sluggish vessel back with a sullen and unhappy crew without incident."
Alex brightens noticeably, her tail flicking back behind her to its normal position, "Ooh! Okay, then it wasn't me handling things badly?" She beams at Carroll's next comment, her ears tilting back in shy pleasure, "Thank you, Carroll! I... admit, I was worried about sabotage when the make-shift repairs started to go... but I didn't find anything that looked messed-with, so didn't mention it to you?" She looks puzzled, "I wonder why they assume they'll be sold into slav- oh!" She looks up suddenly, "Do you suppose that's also why the merchant captain was so scared? That the mongoose has been telling lies about what we're doing?" She pauses, thinking, then grins ruefully, "Well... more lies than usual, I mean?"
Carroll shakes his head, and comments, "The only thing wrong with the makeshift repairs was just that -- makeshift. We didn't expect them to have to last that long, and it was a heavy cargo." He shrugs and murrs, "Whether or not Pravinchandra tells lies hardly matters; eventually enough crew will have heard the stories to believe them. Being taken by another ship is never pleasant, regardless of who it is." He adds, "Honestly, the Captain did a very good job in my opinion. He took care of his crew as best he could, first trying to get away, then dealing for their safety. Pravinchandra may hand him his head, but he tried very hard to cope with a losing situation."
Alex nods, looking rather pleased, "It was a nice big cargo, true... did you notice how pleased our crew was when they got paid?" She grins happily, "I think that helped them a lot!"
Carroll nods, "It's important to make sure to share what you can with the people who are helping you achieve it."
Alex pauses, thinking a bit and tapping her fingers, then looks up, "I wonder what will happen to the mercs. Didn't that nice cheetah lady at the Maidstone Mercenary's Guild say something about them having to pay their own ransoms if they don't fight?" She grins mischievously, "If that's the case, we shouldn't ask for a ransom from mercenaries that surrender -- that would SO gall the mongoose -- that the mercenaries he hires aren't interested in fighting us!"
Carroll murrs, "I don't remember that. If that is the case, then, yes, we should. Our quarrel is not with the mercenaries, but with Pravinchandra, and it's his money we want. Especially since we do not need every dollar, as we can depend a little upon our minkish patrons."
Alex says, "I wonder too why it was the mercenary that arranged the surrender... and not the captain? Was he that afraid? Or did the mercenaries make him surrender?"
Carroll murrs, "I don't know, Alex. Perhaps he was afraid of crossbows, perhaps he was merely afraid, and perhaps he was listening to the advice of his staff -- talk, we're outnumbered. I don't know, and didn't ask."
Alex nods, "That would be smart, yes, I think, concerning the mercenaries... and yup, I didn't ask either." She looks faintly chagrined, "I didn't think to ask about Daddy's ship on the Pride either... I'm sorry, Carroll."
Carroll murrs, "Nor did I ask the Captain. We will make a point of it in the future, and we will ask who we can find to ask in Alburtis."
Alex sits quietly for a moment, thinking a bit more, then looks up and says quietly, "Carroll... what do you do, to help yourself feel and seem more confident? What stuff or behavior or whatever... makes for a good captain?"
Carroll hms and murrs, "Those are really two different questions. What I do to try and remain confident is to not think about the small things; am I correctly dressed, did I bring a handkerchief, is my fur brushed. I take care of those things ahead of time and whenever I find a moment, so that when I'm depended upon to look and be correct I simply am and can be thinking about what I am doing, not worrying that someone will notice I'm scruffy." He shrugs, and adds, "I find it quite reassuring to be neat and presentable." Alex nods, somewhat self-consciously smoothing her tail down as she listens. Carroll continues, "Everyone's sources of strength will be different. As to what makes a good Captain, the same things that make a good Lord or Lady; honor, integrity, supporting your ship and crew, and doing everything you can to meet the goals for which you are responsible."
Alex nods again, thinking carefully, "So... a good lord, hm?" She frowns thoughtfully, nodding, "Okay... okay, I think I can do that..." She looks up hopefully, "Are there any um... any quick things I can learn or do or whatever to be a better captain?" She grins ruefully, "Or is this another one of those long, slow haul kinds of learning experiences?"
Carroll looks at his little sister and murrs, "I've been a Captain for as long as you've been a First Mate, Alex. I'm largely making it up as I go along and hoping I get it right." He smiles and adds, "I find it reassuring that it isn't blatantly obvious."
Alex grins, shaking her head, "Aww, it's not the same for you, Carroll! Daddy let you be on ships for a while first -- you've seen more of what it's supposed to be like, y'know?"
Carroll murrs, "Maybe so, Alex. I don't have any pearls of wisdom for you though."
Alex looks out the small porthole a little grumpily, "Mitya and you say he was so awfully careful with me 'cause I look like Mother... but I don't remember her ever not getting to do what she wanted to do!"
"As much as you look like her, Alex," murrs Carroll, "-to Father, you'll always be his little girl, and he wants to protect you. He will be proud of you."
"Well..." honesty compels Alex to admit, "I don't remember her much at all, really... I wish I did..." She sighs softly, stroking the fur on her tail smooth again, and says in a small voice, "Sometimes... sometimes I'm scared, Carroll... I'm scared we'll never fi-" She takes a deep breath, rubbing her eyes, then looks up at Carroll with her eyes glimmering slightly in the soft yellow lamplight, "Are you... ever scared, Carroll? What do you do to feel better?"
Carroll smiles a small smile and murrs, "Oh, Alex, I'm scared a lot, and of a lot of things." He sighs and murrs, "Oh yes, there's a lot of them." He looks idly at the slate on the desk, then back at his sister and murrs, "I guess I try not to let the things I can't affect worry me, and to handle the things I can, and to break those in to manageable pieces. 'Find Father and save the family name!' is a huge, terrifying, unmanageable goal, but to get to Ettore, get people's families, find work for everyone, find supplies for the village, follow a single lead, attack a single ship, each of those are something that can be coped with." He adds, "Not only is it a Captain's job to be making sure everyone has some of those manageable things to do, but it's their responsibility to be looking ahead and finding the next manageable things to do that advance you towards your goals."
Alex rubs her face, inadvertently mussing up her fur, and murmurs, "Mitya says he's scared sometimes... but he never looks or acts scared. I... I don't want to embarrass him... or you, or the family... but sometimes at night, when it's calm and I have time to think about it, well..." She sighs, hugging her tail to herself and looking away, "Usually it's when we're sleeping during the day, fortunately, when there's no one that can see, and I can just curl up next to Mitya, and that helps a lot... but I... I worry that I'll... I'll mess up or something, I won't be any good..." She looks back at Carroll, her ears at a forlorn tilt, "Does it ever get any better, Cara? Do you ever get... sure of yourself, for real?" She rubs her nose, looking away again, "Sorry... I meant Carroll..."
Carroll smiles and murrs, "That's all right, Alex. As to feeling sure of yourself, I fear the best I can say is, I hope so." Alex nods, looking down at her tail and smoothing the fur again for a bit.
Alex finally looks up and carefully smiles, "Well... I guess I'll just hang in there and keep acting as calm as I can... even if I sometimes feel like a fraud. I... guess it wouldn't be right, or fair to the crew, to really let them know how... how... so unprepared I feel sometimes, you know?" She adds a little wistfully, "That's not... really lying, is it? To pretend to be good at something so other folks aren't frightened by your lack of skill?"
"I wish I could tell you what to do to make it easy Alex," Carroll murrs, softly, "but I haven't found it yet. If I look confident and sure, it's only because I've had practice." Alex nods silently. Carroll adds, "No, it's not lying. And it's that unpreparedness, that having to decide how to handle a situation as it is happening, right now, that makes the Captain the Captain." He tries to explain, slowly, looking for words to put together, "To bear that uncertainty and the responsibility for the decisions you make is what the rest of the crew depends upon the Captain to do. They can be sure of what they are doing because the Captain is sure, and so they depend upon that person to be confident." Alex looks a bit confused, but is listening intently, her ears tilted towards Carroll as he speaks. Carroll murrs, "If you're not certain of the future, or of the best decision, decide as best you can and then be confident that you have decided, even if that's all you're confident of. Sometimes it's enough to get you through, and sometimes it's not." He adds, "I can think of several times recently where I was obviously unsure and uncomfortable with the choices at hand. No one is always sure. You just decide as best you can."
Alex says, "So... what you're doing is being a leader as best you can... even if you know you're not the best leader, you're still doing your best?"
Carroll murrs, "You're doing your best, yes. You must always strive to be better, but you do your best and then, regardless, you know that you could have done no more."
Alex is silent for a long, long time, thinking... finally she looks up and says softly, "Is everyone doing that, Carroll? Trying to do their best even when they know it might not be good enough? All of them -- good captains and bad, good nobles and bad?"
Carroll murrs, "As far as I know. Everyone from our Father to Queen Arianna and Duchess White Haven. Even Pravinchandra, I expect."
Alex sighs deeply... then smiles a bit ruefully at Carroll, "I don't know if I find that more terrifying... or reassuring..." She's silent a bit more, her ears tilting back and forth a bit in thought, then finally looks back up at Carroll, smiling a little more calmly now, "Well... I guess if they can do it, and they're giving it their best shot... the least I can do is try just as hard as they, yes?"
Carroll nods. He adds, "Don't worry about the things you can't help; do the things you can do instead, and do your best. So far, so good."
Alex nods silently, still hugging her tail to herself. She sits for a moment, gazing at Carroll thoughtfully... then finally rises and patters around his desk, to give him a tight hug, "Thank you, Carroll... for everything."
Carroll smiles and returns the hug, murring, "You're welcome, Alexandra. I'm very proud of you; you know that, don't you?"
Alex grins a little shyly as she straightens, "Well, um... I hope so...? I mean, um..." She giggles suddenly, "Oh dear -- now I sound like Horatio!"
Carroll laughs and murrs, "Maybe for a moment, but never as much so."
Alex grins cheerfully, "True... Horatio's unique!" She smiles, glancing absently at the desk as she says, "I hope... I hope Mitya helps him through this um... nervousness about drawing blood. He seems... well, almost tentative sometimes, if that makes sense?" The desk is mostly empty, save for the slate, which has a couple of lists written on it, and the piece of chalk for writing.
Carroll murrs, "I hope Dimitri can help him cope, yes. I don't know if I want him to lose his distaste for it though."
Alex nods, one small paw still resting on Carroll's shoulder. "True... just as long as he doesn't flinch at some critical moment. Still, Mitya's good for training that out of you." She adds curiously, glancing at the desk, "Whatcha writing, Carroll?"
Carroll nods at Alex's first words, and then ohs and looks, perhaps guiltily, at the slate and murrs, "Oh, nothing really important. Making a list of things I hoped to be able to find in Alburtis." He seems vague.
Alex gives Carroll a curiously amused glance, then -- if he doesn't object! -- she simply sits in his lap like she does with Dimitri sometimes, and pulls the slate over, "Let's see!"
Carroll ohs and smiles, murring, "Oh, er, all right." Alex grins over her shoulder at Carroll, then reads the slate, curious as to what it is her oldest brother wants.
Alex reads aloud, her voice slightly puzzled, "More water barrels, more tar, more sail thread... and in a list next to that a clock, a music box, a chess or backgammon set... not a necklace, I see, you crossed that out... glass or crystal figurines? Um... Carroll? Who're thes- oh!" She sits up suddenly, her ears pricked in startlement... then twists around to stare at her brother with an amused (and maybe a little teasing) grin on her face, "You... you fancy the queen, don't you, Cara? Arianna?"
The insides of Carroll's ears pinken, and he smiles a small, embarrassed smile, murring, "As much as I know her, yes."
Alex giggles delightedly, then gives Carroll a quick hug, "Aww, that's cute, Carroll! I think that's sweet!" She bounces lightly out of his lap and onto the window seat behind and to the side of his desk, some of her normal cheerfulness returning, "She seems nice enough, except that she has the crush on Mitya." She ponders a bit, then smiles and shrugs, "Well... Mitya will take care of that when he wants to, I suppose. Better it take a while than that he offend her again." She tilts her head at Carroll and inquires cheerfully, "So... are you just courting for her pleasure, or interested in more?" It doesn't occur to her that maybe Carroll doesn't want his baby sister prying into his private life, of course.
Carroll smiles some more and murrs, "I... I don't know her really very well, but she is so very," and he gestures weakly with one hand, looking for a word, before he settles on, "-strong, I suppose."
Alex laughs! then smiles and shrugs, "I don't see that, but then I don't fancy her either. Well, good luck then! I hope she realizes what a nice guy you can be!" She giggles delightedly again in spite of herself, "You blushed too -- I can never get you to blush normally!"
Carroll sighs and murrs, "She does seem to be rather attracted to him, doesn't she?" He shrugs and murrs, "I'll be perfectly happy with making her happy, as she seems like she could use something besides the burden of the state, but I wouldn't object to more."
Alex nods thoughtfully, "That's nice, Carroll." She smiles and sighs, shaking her head, "I dunno... I guess I just never met anyone interesting enough." She grins mischievously, "I've got all I can handle just keeping an eye on you guys!" Carroll self-consciously smoothes down his fur and flickflicks his ears and tries, mostly succeeding, not to blush again. Alex giggles softly again, watching Carroll... it's fun realizing her unflappable and imperturbable brother actually does blush on occasion!
Carroll murrs softly, sounding unsure of himself for once, "I was thinking of sending something else." He gestures at the list, adding, "Perhaps several little somethings. I thought it might be nice to be the Captain with exotic things from far places. Maybe that's silly?"
Alex tilts her head, studying her brother... then smiles, the silliness easing away, "That might be nice, Carroll. She is, after all, pretty much stuck there on the island, in Maidstone... she has to defend the crown's rights against the ducal group, or command them all to accompany her on state visits to other League Nations. So yes, things that were interesting or charming, or something that made her life a little easier... I'd think that would be nice, and appreciated."
Carroll murrs, "That's what I was thinking too. Little frivolous things, just because." He murrs quietly, "I don't want to appear the over-hungry courtier either. There are plenty of those at hand."
Alex nods quietly, "I think things that make her life easier or more pleasant would be most appreciated, then. I'm sure she's got far too many knick-knacks that are official representations of this or that embassy or ruler or council or whatever... things that are nice and useful as well as pretty would be better, I'd think?"
Carroll nods, considering, before he murrs, "I hadn't thought of that."
Alex giggles, then tilts her nose up in the air and declares loftily, "It's a girl thing!"
Carroll smiles, nodding some more, then murring, "I know. And, despite all the girls that have seemed to crop up at dances and with Father's friends I've rarely met one who could say more than three sentences on her own in a conversation, so I've not much cared." He smiles and smoothes, probably unconsciously, his clothing, finishing, "All of a sudden I don't know what to do or say, right when I seem to care."
Alex gives her eldest brother a rather startled glance! "You, speechless?" She seems, oddly enough, rather speechless herself at that thought for a few moments... then laughs softly, "Wow... I would never have believed it!"
Carroll blushes again, murring, "I hope I find inspiration in Alburtis." He asks timidly, an unusual tone for Carroll, "If you see anything appropriate, or think of it, will you let me know?"
Alex grins cheerfully at Carroll, "Well... I don't know what to say, Carroll! Um... oh!" She brightens, "I know -- you could use your own advice and behave confident, even if you're not inside!" She pauses at Carroll's query, then grins and nods happily, "Sure! Helping is fun!" She thinks a moment, then adds more cautiously, "Although... I'm not sure what I'd like is necessarily what she'd like?"
Carroll nods and murrs, "I'll keep both of those things in mind," smiling quietly.
Alex giggles, then grins ruefully, "After all, for all we know the queen has a whole heap of matching sword and dagger sets, y'know?"
Carroll smiles and murrs, "Somehow I doubt it."
Alex frowns, thinking, "Hey... d'you suppose maybe she told Mitya things she wanted? Maybe he could help too!"
Carroll actually makes a little eep! noise before he murrs, "Oh, I could never ask him... I just couldn't," before he realizes he's sounding like Horatio this time, and stops.
Alex muses, "I wonder if Horatio could make a spiffier working music box or something...?" She blinks at Carroll's tone -- then giggles softly again in spite of herself! She impulsively bounces up and hugs Carroll tightly, "Okay, no problem -- I'll ask him for you!" She patters off cheerfully, waving over her shoulder, "Gotta run, don't want to be late for watch, talk to you later, thanks, Carroll!" and is gone before he can draw a horrified breath!
Carroll returns Alex's hug and murrs, "Thanks, Alex," to her departing back, then sits there, somewhat dazed as only Alex can arrange.
It is nightwatch, when most are asleep. Sound seems muted under
the Hunter's Moon, with even the rush of the waves, the almost silent
sound of softly pacing footsteps, and the regular creak and slap of
the Saucy Mare Deck
Mare seeming more soothing to sleep than not. Only the soft
flutter of Skeee's wings on regular patrol and her quiet speech to the
first mate interrupt the rhythms of the night, where Alex stands in the
moonlight on the quarterdeck... and only the very sharp-eyed would notice
the gleam of eyes in shadow, where Dimitri walks.
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.
Dimitri slowly walks a long arc, his pace quiet upon the deck. An almost random amble, a dark shadow against the even blacker sky. His path does have direction, for it ends true astern. Carefully setting down his sword, Dimitri leans against the gunwales, looking out to where the Saucy Mare has been. Alex paces over to stand quietly next to her dark brother. She gazes out at the ocean, the wind brushing her fur back smoothly from her face... then after a moment glances up at her brother and says teasingly, "Evening! Think we should stop meeting like this, so people don't talk?" She grins, her teeth and eyes flashing for a moment in the moonlight.
Dimitri blinks twice, letting his muzzle duck, then looks away. After a few long heartbeats however his ear flickers, the rings jingling and sparkling in the moonlight. He teases back, "Or maybe we might as well throw in the towel, admit it's too late and just give them something to talk about..."
Alex giggles! -then grins and leans companionably against him, staring peacefully out at the moonlight shimmering in a path towards the Mare. She murmurs dreamily, "This is my favorite time of the day, oddly enough... it's so quiet... like it's just you and me -- and Skeee -- on the Mare, like she's all ours, drifting through the night..." She smiles lazily, "I know Carroll doesn't care for it, but I find I rather enjoy nightwatch."
The black fox smiles quietly, his answer simple. "Who's Skeee?" His arm loops protectively about Alex, quietly nodding. "Most fights occur while there's still light out. Night tends to bring peace." Alex chuckles softly at his question, then sighs contentedly again.
Alex is silent for a long while, just gazing out at the sea... then she finally says, "Mitya... can you help me with something? I need to know what girls like -- Carroll asked me -- and I'm not sure I'm a good person to ask, y'know?"
Dimitri chokes then, his breath suddenly barked out in a single harsh chuff, "-what girls like? Me? Am I supposed to know?"
Alex grins and slides an arm behind him to pat his back, "You okay?" She waits to be sure he's not really choking, her ears tilted forward a bit concernedly until she sees he's fine... then she nods and goes back to leaning companionably against him, "Well, I'm hoping you know, 'cause it's a particular girl -- Queen Arianna. I was crossing my fingers that maybe she'd said something about what she liked or wanted, y'know?" She glances up hopefully at Dimitri's face, "Did she, by any chance?"
Slowly Dimitri turns, his ears falling flat, his eyes narrowing. Slowly he turns, his fur ruffling a bit. "Ari..." He pauses, correcting himself, "Queen Arianna... Carroll now wants to add her to his small list of daring conquests?"
Alex gives Dimitri a puzzled glance, "What? Oh... sheesh, Mitya, he got over that stage the second year after you left for the marines. He's trying to be nice, now... I wouldn't be helping him if I thought otherwise!" She grins wickedly, tilting her head and inquiring, "And who're you to talk, speaking so familiarly about the queen, mmm?"
Dimitri taps his foot, an odd and disturbing sound. "What do they say... a fox may paint his paws white, but he's still the same fox? That I'll believe... when I see it. And... and..." Dimitri shakes himself, drawing himself up -- his protective stance. "She's just very nice, Alex. She's a very nice girl. She has enough folks trying to kill her to then add a predator of hearts to her circle."
Alex gives Dimitri a long, slow stare as he speaks... the you're trying to bullshit me! stare. She folds her arms and waits, looking disbelieving. Dimitri simply tilts his head. His ears perk forward. Alex says exasperatedly, "C'mon, Mitya, there's more to it than that! Those aren't good enough reasons to act all funny on me -- and you know it!"
Dimitri blinks, quiet. "Does there have to be? We had lunch, we talked, she's very nice, friendly. Bright. I know she likes me kinda, I guess. I've always thought... I wouldn't want to see her hurt."
Alex sighs and shakes her head, "Not her, you great silly! Why're you acting all strange about Carroll again?!"
Dimitri shrugs and slowly crosses his arms. "This, Alex, is not one of Carroll's strong suits. And it's not Carroll. It's Carroll and Queen Arianna. Carroll and anyone else, fine..."
Alex shakes her head firmly, "Mitya, this is simply ridiculous. You insist we all let you be who you want to be, without any hints at who you want to be treated like... but here you are, refusing to let Carroll be who he is. That's simply not fair and you know it." She adds heatedly, "How in the Bright Lady's eyes would you know what Carroll's strong suit is, I ask? You've been gone for the last six years -- and need I say I was NOT thrilled with how abruptly you just walked out after that last argument with Daddy?!" She waves her small paws around, "Letters and the occasional gift -- that was all I got! That was the only way I even knew you were still ALIVE!! And you say Carroll's not responsible enough to give small courtship gifts to a lady?!" Alex scowls up at her favorite brother, "Mitya'schee, please... just be you, okay? My brother? The one I love? -and let the rest of us be who we want to be too?" She sighs, putting an arm around him again and leaning against him to stare out to sea, if he'll let her.
Dimitri just reaches out and lays a single finger atop Alex's nose. "No. It's more than that. One's first love, Alex, should be true and dear. Or so I believe. This is not Carroll's, it would be hers. Are you sure that Carroll is serious and isn't just seeking a sleep-time friendship? How would you feel if... if someone were to seek out that one you cared for, but was just being themselves?" Dimitri lets his head rest next to hers, most certainly letting her stay.
Alex sighs softly, then murmurs, "Mitya... let me tell you just this, before you assume Carroll's being a thief of hearts. You know what he's like usually, right? Smooth, unflappable, always knows the right thing to say... you know what I mean, right?" Dimitri nods quietly. Alex nods, "Okay. Think about this then... when I realized he was... sweet on her, I teased him a little, like always, you know? Didn't think a thing of it... but get this, Mitya... Carroll blushed! Carroll! And he stuttered when I teased him about that!" She gently slides her head under his so she fits neatly under his chin, the way that feels so right to her, and murmurs, "So yes, Mitya, I think Carroll's serious about this lady... he said himself that he's not expecting anything from her -- just that he hopes his small gifts give her a little pleasure." She grins quietly, her usual teasing tone reasserting itself as she adds, "Well, he said that once he stopped stuttering, that is..."
Dimitri rests his head upon hers, slowly wrapping his arms protectively about her. Close, warm, comfortable and just right. She can feel his lips curl, and she knows there's that mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, it would be so tempting just to see Carroll stutter and hem and haw like a moonstruck pup..." He lets out a long breath and speaks quieter. "As I said, it's not Carroll, bratling... can you understand that? It's Carroll and Ari. You know, she wasn't even insulted? She was more worried that something was wrong? She's nice. I like her. And I wouldn't want to see her hurt. Not by Carroll... and not by me either."
Alex answers promptly, "Then if that's what you really want, neither of you should EVER see her again." She smiles, leaning her head back against her brother as she adds mischievously, "-but... that's not really what you want, is it?"
Dimitri lets out a short chuff of breath. "Probably. But that's why I'm being careful, bratling. I... I do like her. But that's why I am going to be nice and protective and her Knight, but not lead her down a path she'd follow blindly. Not to ever hurt her, understand? But because of that of course I'm going to be very concerned when someone might do that. Admit it, bratling..." He nuzzles an ear with his muzzle, "...you'd be disappointed in me if I wasn't."
Alex smiles, her ear flicking lazily across his nose, "Of course, silly. My point is you don't need to do that with Carroll is all." She adds thoughtfully, "You're a knight of her court, yes... but not... not her daddy. You can't make her personal decisions for her. That's all I'm saying."
This time playfully puffing her ear, Dimitri chuckles. "So I should give this Carroll person special dispensation just because he happens to be your brother?"
Alex is silent for a moment, thinking... then says slowly and seriously, "No, that's not... not quite what I'm trying to say here. What I mean is that you should let her decide how she feels about people... and you shouldn't deny her potential pleasure just because it might come from Carroll." Alex's ear flickflickflicks unwittingly -- she's thinking hard enough that she doesn't notice it. She wraps her arms around Dimitri's, wrapped around her, and tilts her head to look up at him behind her, "Um... does that make sense?"
Dimitri doesn't answer her question. Instead he drops his head and for a long set of heartbeats his forehead rests against her cheek. When he raises his head, a slow and soft movement, he just looks out across the waves. "Carroll shouldn't ask you, he shouldn't ask me. He should walk the market streets. If the gift is there he will know it when he sees it. And if his heart is true and earnest and not shallow and false, when he presents it to Arianna her eyes will shine, for it then can't not be the proper gift."
Alex nods silently, listening to Dimitri's heartbeat where her ear rests against his chest... softly, almost dreamily she says, "Is that what it's like, Mitya? The person you love just... glows when you give them the gift you've found for them? It sounds... nice..."
Dimitri smiles quietly, reaching up to gently brush the soft fur of her cheek. "I hope so..."
Alex pauses, then says more quietly and seriously, "What if... what if they don't love you back, Mitya? -if your heart is true, but theirs isn't?"
Dimitri takes a deep and long breath. "That's when you discover if you really do love them, Alex. Because if you do then you'll be happy just being happy for them." Alex nods silently, not saying anything... although for a moment her small paws tighten on her brother's arm. Dimitri lets his head once again rest upon hers, drawing her closer, his sturdy frame a perfect match to her lithe figure. "That wouldn't be a specific concern, would it, Alex?"
Alex says, "I think... I think that would hurt though, even if you really did love them. No matter how hard you tried to please them... it would never be the right gift." She takes a slow, shaky breath, then adds softly, "No... not for us, I guess." She presses back against him for a moment, then continues very quietly, "But... maybe for Carroll, yes... and I think that's why I'm still going to try to help him, Mitya -- because... because he's my brother too, and... and I don't want to see him hurt. Not like that." Alex is silent for a moment, then adds with quiet firmness, "I'm going to try to help him... because it's the right thing to do."
Dimitri takes a deep breath, "Be careful, Alex. If this is true, it's for Carroll to do. Your help could only make the potential hurt worse. Your duty to him, our brother, is to be there for him. Supportive as he takes his steps forward and there when he falls. But not to do for him. Understand? It would be as if I took care of all the big ruffians... and never actually let you use your rapier, no matter how well trained..."
Alex chuckles softly, "Of course, Mitya... that's the help I meant. I may suggest things she might like, but I've already warned him that she may not like the same things I like. But the help I mean, the real help, I think we all should give him -- to be there if he needs us."
Dimitri shrugs quietly, looking out to sea, content as he is. "Always have been, Alex." Alex smiles quietly, still leaning against Dimitri and with her arms wound companionably about his around her... and is silent.
Pravinchandra seems to have rounded up all his ships into one convoy, and no other ones are seen on the rest of the run to Alburtis. Two days later the Mare finally enters the harbor that she was originally scheduled to visit months before. After Maidstone and Starfall, Alburtis is dirty, run-down, and corrupt. The harbor patrol boat doesn't arrive until after you have finally decided to anchor. "Ahoy, the ship!"
Carroll calls back to the harbor boat, "Ahoy there!" and approaches the rail. Alex looks around a little puzzledly from the quarterdeck... this is Alburtis, gateway to the shining Empire? She wonders if it's not shining so much any more... and is suddenly glad she's part of the League... not an empire that's been resting on its laurels so long that it's practically moribund. Horatio frowns slightly beside Alex. He's just as amazed, thinking back to the noble who had accosted him at the levee. This is what he wants?
Dimitri lets out a long, long breath. "This is most certainly not Maidstone nor Starfall, Horatio... and Alex. Dark places, they usually have fangs." Alex nods gravely to Dimitri. She's suddenly also glad her brothers are here with her...
Carroll stands at the rail, his usual dapper self, fur and clothing drifting slightly in the ocean breeze, looking expectantly at the harbormaster's boat. The harbor officer, a weasel in a fancy uniform that is, however, not very clean, clambers up the side of the Mare. "And you are ze Capitan?"
Carroll nods and murrs, "Yes, I am. How may I help you?" to the weasel.
Alex whispers softly to Horatio and Dimitri where they flank her, "I wonder if they expect bribes here? and we should warn the crew too... we don't want to lose anyone to slavers!" Horatio frowns slightly. The concept of bribes is still beyond him.
Dimitri nods quietly as his sister speaks. "Only leave the ship in watches, and the watches stay together." Alex nods worriedly to Dimitri.
The weasel gives a courtly bow and a flourish with a truly amazing hat, the effect spoiled by the ripe whiff he gives off. "We must do ze customs inspection, of course. What cargo are you bringing to ze Empire?" Alex's nose wrinkles in startlement before she regains control of herself and looks impassive again! Horatio's nose twitches only; he's smelled a lot worse in the workshop... though not usually not from anything ambulatory.
Carroll smiles and returns the bow, murring, "We are arriving between cargoes, looking for business to take home with us." He adds, "We carry only our supplies at the moment. You are, of course, welcome to see the hold."
The weasel looks surprised. "Nossing? You are planning to purchase somessing, yes?"
Carroll nods and murrs, "If we can find an appropriate purchase with agreeable terms we certainly shall."
The weasel smiles again, a bit greasily. "Zere are, of course, certain fees and licenses... 'ave you arrange for zese?"
Horatio starts thinking that coming here might have been a bad idea. Alex nods almost imperceptibly... this, she thinks, is when the bribe demand comes up perhaps? Carroll ahs and murrs, "No sir, I fear we are not prepared." He smiles and murrs, "Would you be able to help us overcome this lack of foresight?"
The weasel's smile gets a little more happy. "But of course. Ze expense is, of course, minor for a wealthy merchant of the League, yes?" He starts into the list... anchorage fees, port usage fees, trading license, export license, crew conduct bond... it's quite lengthy and amounts to a few thousand league dollars all told.
Dimitri mutters quietly, "What about the let ze veasel life fee?" Horatio clears his throat loudly and starts having a coughing fit.
Perhaps it's the fact that half of the Imperial forces normally here have been lured away by the House Pravinchandra factor, or the menacing presence of Dimitri over Carroll's shoulder, but in the end the weasel settles for 500 League Dollars, of which 400 seems to be the actual fees judging by the forms, and only 100 is actually his bribe (special handling fee, of course). The harbor officer appears quite happy to be on his way after stamping the Mare's papers. Carroll thanks the officer for his help and tells him how glad he is to have all of this taken care of, politely seeing him off. Alex manages to hold in her emotions 'til the weasel is gone... but once he's away she leans on Dimitri, laughing so hard she almost cries! Carroll turns back to his siblings, and comments, "Amateur."
Dimitri watches the dockmaster wander off with a shrug of his shoulders. "Happy veasel is goot veasel." Alex almost collapses with laughter at her two oldest brothers' departing comments!
Horatio just looks amazed. "Good heavens, Carroll, how did you do that?"
Carroll tries to shake the urge to wash his hands and murrs, "Let's see what information we can dredge up." Looking at Horatio he murrs, "Practice." He asks Dimitri, "Can you go and ask questions in the bars and such again? Do you want to take Alex or Natasha... or both of them... with you?"
Horatio says, "Looking out at that city, I'd recommend at lest a battalion..."
Dimitri nods, "Both would be good... company, aye."
Alex straightens up, still grinning, but says firmly enough, "Both, Mitya, please!" She giggles again at Horatio's comment!
Carroll nods and murrs, "Take Sam too if you like, unless a crowd is difficult." He looks over the city and makes a face, adding, "I don't know if there's many I'll be able to find information from here."
Alex shakes her head, "No, Carroll, take MacKenzie with you, please? And someone else too, at least?"
Dimitri looks to Carroll and shakes his head, "I'd have to leave someone to keep watch over you and Horatio, Carroll." Alex nods firmly at Dimitri's words.
Horatio says, "Somehow, I don't think the alchemist's guild is a place I want to go to in this city. I'd better stay here..."
Carroll murrs, "I've a ship full of mercenaries and the rest of our crew, but I'll leave it to you." He half-frowns and murrs, "You just want to go drinking with two pretty ladies." and then grins.
Dimitri blinks and stops. And then he just shrugs, "Good friends, too." Alex hmfs! at Carroll, folding her arms -- but grins too.
Carroll chuckles and murrs, "True. And I certainly couldn't blame you."
Alex grins mischievously, "How d'you know, Carroll, that it's not me and Natasha arranging to go drinking with a handsome guy, hmm?"
Carroll murrs to Alex, smoothly, "Because you're not asking me." Alex laughs and sticks her tongue out at Carroll!
The tall rugged black fox just looks to Carroll. He considers and then nods, "Better dresser... aye... handsomer... that I would leave up to the ladies." Alex giggles and cheerfully pokes Dimitri in the side with her elbow!
Carroll smiles serenely and murrs, "Off you go then. We'll wait here, and try to stay out of trouble." To his brother he says, "But you've got that rugged strength and those three rings. Tough call." He chuckles.