Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Oct 15, 2015 18:29:32 GMT
Caitlin's face burned a shade of red, similar to his own. Their steps slowed as realization dawned on him and he truned to look at her with wide eye embarrassment.
She sighed, and pat him on the back. "Not that I'm invincible, but I'm a hard person to hurt. A few persons here and there get their licks in..."She rolled her shoulder and winced a bit, remembering the dagger that wedged in-between the joint during Thrak's trial not so long ago. "But I think I'm a little safer than most when it comes to anything more than a split second foul, something as time consuming as rape would be hard to commit against me. That being said... I share your sentiments and would rather we didn't afford our enemies the opportunity to take advantage of the rest of our women." Hopefully she'd never be proven wrong on the subject.
The concept of rape was such an unknown to her before, sure she knew it existed and that it was wrong, unpleasant, etc. But until she finally submitted to intimacy with Levi Küper the knowledge of what sex actually entails was abstract to her. With her new-found knowledge she had a new-found appreciation for the anger it incited, and anyone taking such liberties with a woman's body would pay the ultimate price, and she'd be happy to collect on that terrif. Speaking of protecting their own, the topic did give her an idea.
"I think I know exactly what mission to send you and Lorraine on, for her trial..."
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Post by Thadeus "Thrakazog" Stevenson on Oct 16, 2015 16:17:02 GMT
There was a certain maternal quality to Caitlin's pat on Thrakazog's back - a simple gesture perhaps, but a sign of caring that he wasn't accustomed to. Outsiders might muse that the Queen of Rogues was comforting her pet Leviathan - and they probably wouldn't be too far off - but up until now, Thrakazog was merely a nickname, while her moniker carried the weight of ocean-borne legend. Maybe some day he might be a legend himself - infamous across all of Lodan - but for the moment, he was new, wide-eyed, and in complete adoration of his new boss. Chances were good that if she merely asked him to leap off the pier, that he'd be in the water before she finished her sentence.
So when she suggested he go on some mission with Lorraine, he merely nodded enthusiastically, only seeking to please. There was a little discussion after that, as she explained some of what she wanted them to do. But that task wouldn't be needed for another couple of weeks - some time after the Queen's Masquerade Ball. There were some matters that needed to fall into place before Caitlin would have her Thrakazog and Lorraine make their move.
Thrakazog had a little trouble falling asleep that night - the excitement from anticipating a mission was the culprit, and even though he was tired from a full workday, it took a while before fatigue defeated enthusiasm. When it did, he slept very, very soundly, and snored happily until the next day.
But he woke with the excitement still fresh in his mind, and he had a spring in his step as he collected his simple 'lunch' of bread and cheese from the ship's cook. Thrakazog was smart this time though - or at least, he thought so - as he took a little bit more than the day before, in order to have more to share with Lorri. The cook didn't even raise an eyebrow, figuring the big man was more than capable of eating the amount he took. Then, Thrakazog collected his tools, and went back out to the docks where he'd met Lorri the day before. There was another ship there that he had to work on anyway, but he wasn't going to break his promise to her - to meet her. With the sun still fairly low in the morning sky, he squinted as he peered about, looking for her.
Post by Lorraine Blackmoore on Oct 17, 2015 8:24:17 GMT
After leaving the ship, Lorraine scrounged up what spare coin she had left to her name since escaping EIRAL with Ex-commander Skye. She had been careful to ration things up until this point so that she could survive but now she could not afford to be as frugal. Her mission had been to find cheap enough but dependent cloth in which she could fashion herself decent articles of clothing. When that had been obtained, she had returned back to the ship and restricted herself to the small confines while she labored away the rest of the evening and well into the night into making something. The rest of the woman's night was filled with tossing and turning as events replayed in her mind. When she awoke it was with much regret for having not slept sooner but there was nothing she could do now.
Rising, she made her bed, cleaned her hair and face, then threw on her clothe. They were nothing extravagant but they suited her form much better than the billowing rags she had worn the previous days. Of course, she could always show in her military blues but only if she had been an idiot. After she was considered presentable, she left the ship with some coin and went into the market to fetch some food for her and Thrakazog's lunch, unaware that the man had been preparing something for her as well. Upon returning with a basket in hand, she was greeted by the sight of the large man's outline in the distance and so she lifted a hand to wave in greeting as she drew closer.
"Good morning, Thrakazog! I hope you are well?" Good news or not, his company had been wonderful the previous day and would not stop her from showing her appreciation.
Post by Thadeus "Thrakazog" Stevenson on Oct 17, 2015 12:43:02 GMT
Spotting the waving Lorri approaching him, Thrakazog brightened and returned the wave, bellowing, "Ug dere, Lorri!" His voice was so loud that a nearby dockworker startled, and fell over into the water. Thrakazog heard the splash and turned to look, but didn't see anybody there, so he shrugged and bounced his merry way over to his new associate.
When he got closer, he bellowed again, "How are..." At that point, he realized she could probably hear him just fine, so he lowered his bass voice to a less alarming, more social volume. "How youz doin?"
He had a wide smile on his face, what with the news he was bearing, and after the pleasantries were exchanged, he narrowed his eyes and leaned down a little towards her. "Youz nub tell me da boss knew youz all ready. Dat was a funny joke, yub."
As soon as he said, 'yeah', or in his vernacular, 'yub', he stood back up straight and grinned. "Da boss said she knew youz... youz is Lorraine. Me recalled you said dat. So me told her me met youz... and dat youz wanted ta work wit me. She said me wuz a little too trusting too, dat nub all people are nice as youz. Den she said dat youz wuz new like Thrak, dat youz work on one ob her ships down here. Me told her youz wuz tinkin ob maybe learnin engines, and she said dat's okie dokie. Den she said..."
He prattled on and on like that for a little bit, but didn't stay still very much past telling her he remembered her full first name. Instead, he clapped a huge, meaty hand onto her shoulder, and guided her along with him towards the ship he was going to work on this morning, and continued chatting amicably until they were on board. "... and den she said dat me should help youz wit a mission. A MISSION. Can youz believe dat? She tinks me mebee will be good to help youz out with sumting! Is dat nub excit... eggs-cite... iz dat nub GREAT?"
Whether it was great to Lorri or not, it apparently meant quite a bit to the big man - or he was the best actor anyone had ever seen - because not only did his excited chatter hint at the feelings inside him, but his face clearly showed vibrancy and enthusiasm. He'd only been on the Dauntless for a week, and already, Captain Caitlin trusted him enough to send him on something important! Either that, or she had deemed him hopeless after his own trial mission, and this was his second (last?) chance to prove himself worthy of being part of her crew. His positive attitude couldn't quite see that possibility though, and so he only looked forward to the possibilities.
He resisted the urge to pick Lorri up and hug her out of excitement - people generally didn't like that very much - but he grinned and turned to her, finishing with, "She said it be a couple weeks yet... but me figger dat we can work on da engines til den. Youz really like engines, or youz mebe want or hab to do other tings?"
Post by Lorraine Blackmoore on Oct 18, 2015 9:11:01 GMT
Lorraine's eyes widened and her lips formed a small 'O' as she watched the startled worker fall into the water. Despite that Thrakazog did not seem to be aware, the man appeared to be making his way back to the surface and onto the dock so there was nothing for her to fret over. "Hello, Thrakazog," she greeted the man once more and offered him a warm smile. "I have been well. What of you? I see you are smiling so you must be quite chipper, correct?"
A single brow lifted as she looked on the man with a preplexed expression as he claimed she already knew his boss. Did she...? Who was his boss and how did she know her name? The hand on her shoulder caused her form to dip a little though she regained her composure. Many questions were forming in her mind but she would not dare to interrupt Thrakazog yet. After following him aboard she was told of their assignment to a mission though not of what exactly. "Great, yes," she agreed with a small smile as she studied the large man's features, craning her head to do so. "Ah, Thrakazog, what was the name of your captain? I do not think I heard it because I did not know I knew them already. And do you know what sort of mission we will be going on?"
Post by Thadeus "Thrakazog" Stevenson on Oct 18, 2015 15:13:54 GMT
"Capn' Cait!" Thrakazog replied honestly and quickly. Knowing the answer to pop-questions was rather fun for him. He grinned and opened the hatcch to the hull's engine room, and then began to climb down into it.
More seriously, he answered her, "Me nub sure. She said she wuz waitin for her ducks to be in a row, and den she would let us know. Sumting about youz getting in doctrine... in-doctrina... sumting bout youz needing ta be tested in a trial to be part ob sumting biggur. Den she said Thrak would be a good choice to help youz. Kin youz believe dat? Thrak... ME... me kin be a good help to youz!"
He was smiling widely as his head disappeared below the lip of the hatch, but then it popped up again, and his face had taken on a much, much darker tone. "Capn's trials ain't easy tho. In mine, da dead wuz walkin, yub."
That hung in the air for a second, before the smile broke back out on his face, and he said, "Mebee yours will be more fun?" Then his head disappeared down the hatch again.
A few seconds later, his voice called up, "Youz comin?"
Post by Lorraine Blackmoore on Oct 20, 2015 2:23:05 GMT
Captain Caitlin. The realization was both surprising and not. Lorraine had figured the moment when she accompanied Caitlin as her guard that when the woman asked for a weapon she either did not wish to be unprotected or had learned to fight through similar means as herself with noble heritage. No, Caitlin was a captain. Just a captain? How did she manage to be one and nobility without people knowing? Come to think of it, why was Caitlin at the rescue and who were those people with her? There were so many questions left unanswered and she could not possibly impose them upon Thrakazog. Would he even know? Likely not, she thought to herself. He said he was relatively new to the work. What bothered her most, however, was how she had not questioned anything all this time.
Dead things walking? Thrakazog's words had interrupted her thoughts and she remained standing there absolutely perplexed until he called to her. "Yes, sorry, I am coming." With her answer she was already moving to climb down the hatch and join him below the deck. "Thrakazog, you said walking dead things? How... what else happened in your trial? Where did it take place if you do not mind me asking?" Where had he seen dead things walking? What exactly happened, she wanted to know to prepare herself for whatever it was they would face together.
Post by Thadeus "Thrakazog" Stevenson on Oct 20, 2015 16:52:41 GMT
At first, Thrakazog didn't answer Lorraine's question. He was unpacking his tools when she joined him in the engine room, and was looking around the area to assess what needed to be done. This was one of the worst ships he'd been on so far, in terms of the state of the engine room, and that topic covered his initial answers to Lorri.
He declared, "Hoo, boy! Wouldja look at dis? Me nub seen such a messy engine room in a long time. Dis iz gonna take a while."
It was true. It appeared that there was some kind of oil or grease leaking down the side of the piston chambers, condensation had started to create rust on the expansion tank, and where it had built up and dripped, it was corroding the bolts that held it together. Beyond that, the floor was filthy - a buildup of grime and soot from the furnace, combined with the salty air to coat the flooring, and in one corner near the furnace and coal pile was evidence of at least one rat's nest - complete with droppings and the smells that accompanied those creatures.
Thrakazog placed his hands on his hips and opened his eyes a little wider, stating, "Dis iz nub gonna be a fun day, Miss Lorri. But dere sure is a lot of oppor... oppurt... dere's a lot youz can learn here, yub."
He bent again and shuffled through some of his tools, eventually pulling out a wire brush, a couple of oily rags, and an oil can. "Okiez... first ting's first. C'mere." He led her over to the boiler tank, and sat down beside it, indicating she should too. Then he used the oil can to drip a bit of the stuff onto a corroding bolt before vigorously taking the wire brush to it. The oil penetrated the rust and corrosion, the wires cleaned the heads, and then Thrakazog used the rag to wipe off the excess.
"Now youz do dat," he encouraged her, handing over the cleaning instruments. He got up, retrieved that overlarge wrench she'd seen him using the day before - the one that had nearly hit him on the noggin, hefting it in one meaty hand as if it was nothing more than a rolling pin, even though it was almost the length of one of his legs. He secured it onto the bolt he'd cleaned - loosened it, applied another kind of oil to it, and then he tightened it back down again.
They went on like that, and while working, Thrakazog started to chatter more casually - as if he'd had to work up the courage or willpower to openly discuss the matter of his trial. "It was a bery strange day, yub, dat trial ting. See - me got up dat morning, and me nub had a job, so me went down to da docks lookin for work. Dat's when me came across dis ship - da Dauntless - it's a purty boat, yub... strong like Thrak, but fast too. And da Cap'n saw me and she said 'Thrak, youz wanna work for me?' and me said, 'Yub, dat be okie dokie'. Cuz me gotta eat, youz know. Me can eat a lot, yub... youz might have guessed dat by now. Haha! And me want a place to sleep, and mebee some new boots some day soon, and..."
He went on like that for a little while, cleaning up the bolts that Lorri prepared, and talking on and on about the day he was accepted into Captain Caitlin's crew. Every detail seemed important to him - whether it actually was or not - and by the time he got to the meat of the story, they already finished with the bolts and begun to clean the rust off the tank itself. That task required scouring pads made of woven metal strands, and a white, powdery cleaning agent. Thrakazog paused only long enough to go up top and retrieve a bucket of water to aid them - and while he was up there, he asked Lorri to open the porthole windows so they could get some more air in the engine room (and a way to dump out dirty water!)
"So den me and dis other new guy, Uriah, wez get taken on board and he goes up to da crow's nest to work wit da lookout - dis blue-haired gurl with a real purty voice. She wuz singin as me went below deck and met John - him is da engineer. Him is bery nice, and he wuz showin me da ropes like me is showin youz now. I mean - Thrak knows some stuff bout engines, yub, but John... him is a smart guy. Me like him. And den Cap'n tells us we iz goin out to sea, to go find dese bad guys wut been givin her ships troubles. And we gonna give em wut for." Thrak went on to describe John and the engine room - the rowing machine attached to the engine and how it worked, all while pointing out similar parts on the engine he and Lorri were working on.
After a while of that, the boiler was clean, the bolts checked and maintained, and they had moved on to the piston. Using the massive wrench, Thrakazog worked the bolts loose that held it, and withdrew a rubbery material that almost disintegrated in his hands. He interrupted his story long enough to describe it, "See - dis is gasket material. Dere's some ob dis between da metal parts - it makes a tight seal when dey are bolted toge... togeth... when dey are joined up to each other. When dey get old, dey gotta be replaced, yub." In his toolbox, he had a scraper tool that he used where the old gasket partially adhered to the metal surface, and then he retrieved another canister that held a tar-like substance. He applied that to the mating metal surfaces with a grungy-looking brush, and then began to fit the pieces back together, bolting them on.
"So den we wuz engaged wit dis other ship. Dere was some canon fire, and da gal in da crow's nest was yellin and Uriah wuz shoutin... and den we wuz bein boarded! Dat started gettin scary! Me tried holdin da door shut, but dese bad men came into da engine room. Dey wuz punchin John, and den dey wuz punchin me, and den dey was stickin my butt wit their swords and stuff. We tried fightin back, but dey was tough, and mean - yub. Tings were lookin real, real bad. Me tink dere wuz like six ob dem, but nub sure. Me nub know nuttin bout fightin much. Me iz nub great warr... warri... me nub fight. Ma always said dat it wuz nub good for me to fight, cuz me iz kinda big and people kin get hurt bad. So dey wuz hurtin me, and I wuz on da ground. And... and..." He paused to look Lorri straight in the face, his own was very, very serious. "Me nub gonna lie to youz, Miss Lorri... me wuz scared me wuz gonna die. Dese men - dey were so... mean. And den, me wuz sure we wuz done for, when all ob a sudden, dey wuz nub stabbin me any more... dey wuz nub yellin at me any more. Me turned around, and dere wuz dis... ting... dis... it wuz like a big man, but turned inside out. Me saw his bonez... his skull. Him had no eyes, no face... him was puttin a hurtin on da bad guyz, and I tink I wet myself."
Thrakazog shuddered and bent back to work, but he managed to keep talking. "So dis ting... it scared da bad guys too, and John got in a good punch, and he and me chased dem out ob da engine room. But just before we left, me turned and saw da dead ting fall down in a heap.
Outside - tings wuz jsut as scary tho. Dere wuz people all over da place - shootin and stabbin each other. Dere was angels fallin from da sky, and smoke in da air. Da ships wuz almost connected, and da Cap'n wuz in a bad way. Den John took a shot from a gun and went down... and da Cap'n screamed, and den..." He paused, and blushed a little, tucking his head as if not being able to see Lorri meant that she couldn't see him. "Den me got mad."
The tone of his voice possibly suggested how not-proud of that he was. But he followed up with more words, "Ma would nub be happy wit Thrak for dat."
He didn't tell any more details about what happened after he got mad, and instead described some of the 'falling angels' - the Anders - who fought on the side of Captain Caitlin. Right about then, he looked up, and seemed to spy something above them. "Sun's up high - we kin go eat lunch now, yub."
He reached a dirty hand out to Lorri to offer assistance.
Post by Lorraine Blackmoore on Oct 21, 2015 7:25:51 GMT
Lorraine was not upset that Thrakazog had not immediately answered her plethora of questions. Either he did not wish to, needed time to think, or simply could not leaving her to understand whichever possibility it could be. Upon entering the engine room, the woman's nose crinkled at the smell and she eyed everything around her. Perhaps she should have left the basket on the deck, she thought to herself and then sought out a clean space to set her belongings before following the man deeper into their project. Yesterday had been so tame and she had hoped this was the worst of most scenarios they would be enduring because it was downright filthy. Although, filth was not something she minded this was simply out of her knowledge of expertise and that made her uncomfortable. Luckily Thrakazog was there to guide her every step of the way.
As he began to speak, she listened and did not interrupt to remind him about her questions. "Yes, this certainly does seem like quite the work cut out for us," agreed the ex-soldier as she ambled over to the large man upon his request then sat with him to watch what it was he was doing. When given the items herself, she followed his example in pouring the oil over the bolts then cleaned them with the wire brush all while listening as her working companion went on to describe his adventure and effectively answering her questions. The whole while she cleaned her brows were knitted in concentration as she tried to soak in every bit of detail he told her about his experience.
When Thrakazog interrupted his tale the first time to go above and left her with instructions to open the port holes, Lorraine was all too quick to jump up and do just that then returned back to her previous task of now cleaning the tank. The story continued not long after Thadeus returned and throughout parts of his story Lorraine's expression changed to surprise, amusement, and awe. All of these things she had never been aware of before. These were adventures. Adventures she only read about and dreamed of as a child and they actually were happening to people. Again the story was interrupted but for important information that Lorraine again did not mind listening to and nodded to his words. "Understood," came her reply while she watched him work to see how it was done. "Would you like me to help you there?" Should he have accepted her aid she would have gladly done so, otherwise would have continued elsewhere on her projects.
"I do not think you were in the wrong to protect yourself when your life and others' lives around you are in danger. Your adventure truly sounds like something written out of a story--mind you, a frightening one, but still. How truly intriguing," she commented. When he said angels, did he mean winged anders? He must have. "And truly, Thrakazog, I do not think your mother would be upset at you for getting mad given the scenario. Anyone would be reasonably mad. I certainly would have been." All of their talk and work had made time fly and Lorraine had not even noticed that noon was upon them until the other had claimed so. After snagging her basket, she followed him then took his hand gratefully. "Thank you, Thrakazog. You are quite the proper gentleman."
Post by Thadeus "Thrakazog" Stevenson on Oct 21, 2015 16:58:15 GMT
Thrakazog blushed profusely at Lorri's compliment, and almost lifted her onto the ladder that led up to the hatch with ease. He made a sound deep in his throat that sounded like 'dawww...' and then followed her up with his own rucksack containing foodstuffs. As they emerged into the bright light of the noonday sun, Thrak commented, "Me dunno bout dat, Miss Lorri. Ma can be tough when it comes to fightin. She nub like it at all."
That was true. While Thrak's father wanted his son to be able to defend himself - especially from local bullies - Thrak's mother feared that her 'little boy', with his size and strength, would do much more severe harm to people if he ever got into fights in the first place. She worried that a punch from him could kill a man, and didn't want authorities locking him away because he was 'defending himself'. In her mind, better he not fight at all.
But then again - she'd never seen the dead walk. Or if she had, she certainly never mentioned it.
Thrak led them both down to the water where they washed the worst of the dirt and grime from their hands before they tried to eat food. He noticed Lorri had a smudge of grease or oil on her cheek, and offered to wipe it away with his big thumb. Then they went back up to the deck where sea gulls flew overhead - pretty, yes, but none-too-gentle reminders of why it wasn't a good idea to keep foodstuffs on deck instead of in engine room. Thrakazog worked his boots off - aged things that looked like they'd been worn far past their normal expectancy, and then sat on the part of the decking that allowed him to dangle his feet over the side of the ship. He opened his sack to reveal the bread and cheese, like he had the day before, and offered some to Lorri. This time, it was readily apparent that he'd brought additional food for just such a situation. He pointed it out, "Me gots more food today, yub. Dere's plenty for youz and me both."
He sat quietly munching for a moment or two, thinking about what Lorri had said just a few moments before. Then he swallowed and spoke, "Me dunno bout advench... advent... me dunno bout any 'venture, but you is right - it was a story. Speakin of... whut's youz story, Miss Lorri? Youz used to fight, but nub any more. And youz seem purty smart too. So why youz wanna do all dis... dis shippin stuff? How'd you get here, yub? "
Post by Lorraine Blackmoore on Oct 22, 2015 7:48:31 GMT
"My mother was that way as well. She was a fierce fencer but disliked fighting altogether." There was a difference between her mother and Thrakazog's though. Where Thrakazog's mother had merit for not wanting the man to fight, her mother simply thought it was unbecoming of ladies and barbaric of men to do so. Outside on the deck Lorraine took in the sky with a small smile. How incredible it was that although the sky was not the same it felt different this day than from only a month or two ago.
There was no time to dally as they both made their way down to the water to wash. Conversation between them seemed scarce though she could not complain as she was quite taken with her own thoughts of bewilderment at how the little things suddenly became so important in life. The thumb at her cheek brought her from her reverie and she looked up at Thrakazog with raised brows that quickly sank back down as her lips tugged upward in a warm smile. "Thank you. I didn't notice I had gotten dirt on my face." She must have done that earlier when they had been working earlier and she had wiped her face with the back of her hand. After washing they returned back to the deck and as the day before a peaceful sight greeted them. Lorraine took her seat beside the large man then watched as he removed his boots while quietly musing to herself about what his shoe size must have been and if there was an affordable cobbler to commission a new pair for him.
"Me gots more food today, yub. Dere's plenty for youz and me both."
Indeed he had packed more than the previous day as she could see when she peered into the sack. "Oh, you did not have to do that. Thank you. Here, I brought some things as well. It isn't much, but I hope you like it." Opening the basket revealed fruits and a smaller container. In the smaller container was dried beef since fresh meat would have gotten sickly with the pause of time between work and lunch from when she purchased it. Occupying the basket as well were a couple hard boiled eggs and a loaf of bread. "Maybe we can mix a bit? I hope you like some of these things, I was not sure what preferences of food you would have."
Lorri ate part of Thrakazog's cheese, her own bread, and part of an apple as the other spoke up this time asking about her story. She paused mid bite of her apple and lowered the fruit to think on how she should answer him. Truthfully? That would be foolish of her given she had only met the man though he seemed quite honest and kind. "My family used to be noble. My father was a military man but got wounded so had to be discharged. When you go into the military you denounce your titles, but when he got out his parents had no heirs and they restored him though whether it was acknowledged or not I am unsure. He taught myself and my brothers to fight. My older brother William was going to join the military and then he lost his arm so that did not work out well. I wanted to feel free and get away from my mother so I joined in place of my brother. I wish I could tell you everything, but I cannot. I am sorry, Thrakazog. The circumstances for my leaving was not on good terms. I want to learn this stuff because I feel as though I have never really learned anything and I find this to be interesting--exciting even. I guess I am here because Caitlin brought me. She must have felt this is where I need to be so that is that. Thrakazog, have you seen much of the world? On your other adventures, have you gone to other places away from Lodan?"
Post by Thadeus "Thrakazog" Stevenson on Oct 22, 2015 13:01:10 GMT
Lorraine seemed to notice Thrakazog's attention to detail, even if he wasn't aware of her noticing. Not one to disappoint, Thrak continued to notice things, like how soft her skin was when he rubbed the smudge of dirt from her cheek, or the curve of her lips when she smiled at him. That curve was infectious too, because it made Thrakazog smile in spite of himself, even though his expression wasn't nearly as refined as Lorri's.
Her clothing was nicer too. It wasn't that she was wearing fancy, expensive garments, but rather that hers seemed more new... less worn. The stitching was intact, the colors were fresher, and they appeared to be made a little better. Her hands had calluses, but not from hard labor like Thrak's. Hers bore signs of use, and if her tales of being a fighter were true, then it was likely those rough spots were from the grip of a sword.
But one detail Thrakazog paid particular attention to was Lorri's facial expression when she looked upwards. It was hard to describe - relief, comfort, relaxation, peace. All of those words described how her features softened when she looked towards the sky and saw the gulls flying there. And again, Thrakazog smiled. She had an idea of how he felt when he was at sea. Lodan wasn't exactly known for its sunny weather, but the past two days had been nice enough - that was certain. And they'd been even nicer with his newfound companion. He might have felt grubby or oafish next to her, but she never intentionally made him feel that way.
In fact, when she revealed that she'd brought foodstuffs too, Thrakazog's face lit up, and he leaned over to see what she had. DRIED MEAT! FRUITS! EGGS! Thrak's eyes grew wide in surprise, and he almost grinned in excitement. He couldn't afford such things on a regular basis - the only fruits he had access to were the citrus ones that ship Captains provided to keep their men from getting scurvy - yet here was a bounty of them! "Do me LIKE it? Yub, YUB!" He declared.
He had to work hard not to dive in and try to eat everything, but he managed it somehow, grabbing only a little piece of the jerky and one egg. He enthusiastically thanked Lorri, but the words might have been muffled a bit as he began to feed his face. The flavors were amazing to him! The meat was salty, and spiced with something he didn't recognize - maybe pepper. And the egg was creamy, going perfectly with the meat. Thrakazog was just able to not talk with his mouth full, but he couldn't suppress the grin he had as he looked out to the sea. The job they were doing wasn't optimal, but this lunch certainly was!
The better food made sense as Lorri explained how she'd been a noble. Then everything else became more clear - how her clothing was nicer, how her foodstuffs were better. She simply had more wealth than he did, though he noted how she said nobility was stripped when one joined the military. Thrakazog found that to be an interesting choice - although maybe it was no choice at all, but a requirement?
He went back to his usual bread-and-cheese fare, and after hearing all that Lorri told him, he had new questions for her. He wasn't sure she'd answer any of them, but his excitement prevented him from stopping himself.
"Dat's terrib... turib... dat's awful wut youz brother lost his arm. And youz pa wuz wounded! And youz said dat youz parents wuz restored - so dem wuz noble again, so youz are da heir... dat makes youz noble, yub? But den youz wuz in da milit... da milita... da army, so youz give up youz noble thing. but now youz nub dere no more, so now youz is noble again? But youz nub like youz ma... wuz she in da army too? And youz nub wanna say why youz left da army - dat's okie dokie wit Thrak yub. Me nub mean ta pry. Mebee dat's wut da Cap'n meant when she said me too trusting - she prolly nub want me to talk so much eidder. But youz MUST have learned SOMEting! Youz know how to fight! Youz know noble stuff! Youz know da army, and prolly how to read... what dey make youz do in da army? Youz have to know how to guard and to fight and to do tings... dat must have been excit... excite... youz know wut I mean. Miss Lorri! Why youz are bery, bery inter... intrest..." He took a deep breath, concentrated, and then managed, "... intrestin!"
He finally stopped barraging with questions, and hesitantly accepted an apple. It was so sweet - a special treat - to have an apple, and his first bite had his eyes wide again in excited delight - even if he almost ate half the apple in one shot.
"Youz nub worry none, Miss Lorri. Me will teach youz wut me can ob da engines, if dat's whut youz wanna learn. But nub sell youself short," he tried to explain around the mouthful. "Youz purty, and special, and me bet youz tough, and stuff. And youz bery nice."
He finished the apple with gusto, and then broke up the end piece of his bread to throw to the gulls and fish. While he did that, he tried his best to answer Lorri's last question.
"Thrak's been on ships for a while, yub. Not like da Dauntless... nub under a Cap'n like Cait neither. But da ships sail here and dere, we bringed cargo south and we bringed... brought cargo back. It's shippin, yub. But youz would tink we visit all dese places and really... da crew, we is so busy we nub have time to visit. We move da cargo, we stay on da ship, and den come back and do it all again. Maybe if me had more time to see tings, den me would say is bery fun. So nub know much bout ventures, but maybe under Cap'n Cait, dat will be diff-rent."
He added a question of his own. "How'd da Cap'n find youz?"
Post by Lorraine Blackmoore on Oct 24, 2015 0:55:04 GMT
Unentirely certain what Thrakazog had said when he went for the food, Lorraine simply assumed it was a thank you of sorts. After all, the man had proved to be quite kind and courteous to which she appreciated. He was odd, really. To her he did not seem unintelligent or simple but quite the opposite. However, he was also humble, kind, gracious... it was a shame many people were not like him, she reflected, perhaps then the world might be better off. Again she was pulled from her thoughts as their conversation progressed forward while she now watched the fish circling in the water just below them.
"He lost his arm a long time ago and so he does not mind it much anymore. He is still quite stubborn and himself, believe me," she laughed lightly. William was always an interesting person. He was mopey at times and often the pessimist between them, but he was still her brother and reliable. "And my father is fine now. He has a bit of a limp but the wound is old and he says he is glad he got hurt because then it gave him a chance to have us and be there with us. Oh, hm, noble matters are a touch complicated, Thrakazog. See, my father was in the military before we were born. When he joined, he denounced his nobility because that is what we all must do when we join--denounce any titles and such to make us equal. However, when he was hurt they had no choice but to release him and if my father's parents had another child, that child would have been their heir. They did not, though so they took my father back in and I believe had him restored as their heir. I am not quite so sure about all that. All I know is he still inherited their belongings. I am no longer a noble, no. My older brother is my father's heir. As for my mother, she was never military, no. As a noble man's daughter she learned fencing as a hobby or sport." She took a pause to breathe then smiled up at Thrakazog before shaking her head. "You did not pry, Thrakazog. Nor do you seem as though you are. I will tell you one day, I promise. The simplest thing I can explain right now is that I helped someone who was wrongfully convicted of a crime and that makes me a bad person now. At least in the eyes of the government."
All of the man's questions were interesting but she enjoyed that he was rather engaging. Her smile only brightened as she bit into her apple then chewed. When she was done swallowing, she continued her answers, "I was recon. It was my job to scout out areas on missions and bring back information or take out necessary targets--that did not happen often since my service was so short... Interesting? You do me justice by that," she laughed. "Thank you." And then something else was on her mind. Reading. "Thrakazog, do you not know how to read," she asked softly. "I can teach you if you would like." She watched him eat the apple and how his eyes lit at the taste. This was something she would try to do as often as possible she told herself.
Once more her companion complimented her though this time she couldn't help the way her cheeks turned a shade of red. "You are far too sweet, Thrakazog. I would love to keep learning from you, and please, do the same. Never sell yourself short. There is much to you that I enjoy and find too little of in people. Your kindness, honesty, and your very nature. I am glad I met you." She listened to him while he answered her question then 'hm'ed when he posed his own.
"I know of her before as the Baroness. I was assigned a mission to escort her last year and that led into trouble. After that, I met her again some weeks ago to help a friend. How is she with you? Does she treat you well? You seem to speak highly of her which is good." Caitlin seemed like a good woman from the moment she and Lorraine met.
Post by Thadeus "Thrakazog" Stevenson on Oct 24, 2015 14:57:05 GMT
Now it was Thrakazog's turn to blush. Lorri's compliment of his attitude and demeanor, along with her own flushed-cheek smile, had him tucking his chin and looking down - afraid to meet her eyes. Emotions were a powerful thing - that much he knew - and eyes were supposedly windows to the soul. If he looked at her just then, and saw honest and real intent behind her eyes, he felt like he might actually faint and fall off the side of the ship.
He did manage his usual erudite response, however, "Dawwww... Miss Lorri. Youz say such nice tings. Ma would be happy, metinks."
After he had a second or two to recover while Lorri went on to talk about the Baroness, he managed to look back up to her, and continue their conversation. "Da Baroness, huh? She prolly have many names, yub." He figured that if Lorri was working for Caitlin, then it was probably safe to talk about their new leader with each other. "When she was intro... interd... when me met her, dey called her da Queen ob Rogues. You eber heard of her? She's like... dere's stories bout her... legends! Sailors say she is a sea-dragon in disguize... dat she is a sea witch who controls da weather... dat she can grow fins and a tail like a mermaid. Den dere's some other storiez... me nub so sure about now. Dat she eats baby sacri... sacrif... dat people offer her their babiez so she nub attack da village dey live in. She nub seem as mean as all dat... but when we wuz on dat Dauntless last week, yub... she fought dose bad guys real hard, real good. Me could see how she gets dat repu... repute... me can see where dose stories come from."
There was a ton of awe and respect in his deep voice as he talked about Captain Caitlin. To him, she was a legend-come-true, and now he was on her crew - or at least, he thought he was. Again, if she was sending him on another test mission with Lorri, then maybe his first one hadn't gone so well. But he would try all the harder this time - that was for sure. If nothing else, the chance to work for a living legend was incentive - and being on the Captain's good side was even more of one. He didn't want to imagine what it'd be like to have Caitlin mad at him.
He finished eating what he wanted - which wasn't insignificant, but mostly came from his own sack and only respectfully dipped into Lorri's - and then he revisited some other things Lorri had said. "Thrak can read... some. But some of it is bery, bery hard. Da big words, mostly. Dey nub stick in my head like da smaller ones do. Me CAN read dem, but is hard."
Apparently, the topic had been broached with Thrakazog before, so he didn't have trouble explaining his symptoms. But explaining the reason for those issues was simply beyond him - and likely beyond most people, especially in the lower and middle classes of society. Thrakazog's speech impediment was twofold - part of it came from a lack of education common among the poor. He'd learned the basics of how to read from his mother, who was middle-class and educated. But their social place in the city had required Thrak to work from an early age, and not go to formal school to learn harder, more advanced words. Plus, his family didn't make enough money to afford many books. There were a few - a book of fairy tales, and another that was read around the holidays, but that usually entailed his mother reading to him - not him reading them himself. So developmentally, Thrakazog had learned to read and write at a very elementary level. But then, misfortune had struck him too...
In his early teen years, he'd taken a bad fall and a similarly bad beating. His good nature had made him the target for neighborhood bullies, and one such encounter had involved a dare and a terrible fall, resulting in a head injury. The doctors available at the time - the affordable doctors, that is - had kept a bad situation from turning him into a vegetable. But there had been some minor brain damage that had resulted in a mental processing disorder. Thrak could hear longer, more complicated words. He usually knew what they meant. But saying them required a level of concentration he had trouble utilizing, and reading or writing them was similarly difficult. Perhaps, with dedication and a persistent teacher, he might develop more - but at his age, if they had been available to him, experts would have likely dismissed him as a 'lost cause'.
Thrakazog didn't really understand all of that - he simply knew that 'big words gave him trouble'. But for some reason, when working with machines, he was able to focus with an intensity that bordered on being a prodigy. For Thrak, machines were simple. Given more of an education that centered less on vocabulary, he could probably draw out engineering diagrams and eventually build teslas. But that remained to be seen.
Right now, Thrakazog was merely sitting, having a good time, on a full belly, and discussing the Captain. "She is nice enough to Thrak, yub... me nub know her bery well tho. Nub bery long. Me only been wit her for bout a week. But bein on her crew, me gotz a place to stay, da cook gives me food, and me gets a small wage for workin on da ships. It nub a lot, but it good, yub?"
He was kicking his feet over the side, and looking out at the water again. He was thinking about Lorri's issue - how she'd been seen as a bad person by the government. He suggested, "Me nub tink youz a bad person, Miss Lorri. Dere's bad people out dere... mean ones, and evil ones. You nub seem like neider, tho youz could be bery, bery sneaky." He turned to her and grinned, teasingly. He didn't think she was very sneaky, but then, he'd only met her yesterday. "Wut youz tink - we go back and finish? We still gotz ta clean da deck down dere, and we's have to get rid ob dat rat nest."
That would probably take the afternoon to accomplish, given the amount of grime coating the room, but Thrakazog had to admit that it was more enjoyable to work alongside someone than to work alone.
Post by Lorraine Blackmoore on Oct 26, 2015 8:07:52 GMT
Queen of rogues? Somehow, that was not a connection Lorraine made. She knew the woman had connections given the turn of events that had occurred but given the noble's rank among the nobility of the city one would figure that such an alternative persona would not be possible. How was it that someone like Caitlin found time to both be such a revered pirate and a nobleman's daughter? Wasn't she expected to attend many galas and the like? Then again, Lorraine only did ever see Lorraine in moments that were important and required and never heard of the baroness partaking in simple parties--that being said, she did not hear much about the baroness save for that she existed. Did Skye know this when he sent her to protect the blonde woman? Perhaps not or else he may have informed her--unless he had been trying to protect her as well?
"She probably does have many names yes. Though, I am unsure about some of those stories. I think she is only a normal woman, Thrakazog. I would be honored to see what sort of fighter she is though if what you say is true." And it was more thank likely true, Lorraine could not deny. For someone to be Queen of Rogues you would have to be a skilled fighter or highly intelligent with wit, though both is what Lorraine was certain was the truth. Suddenly, she had a new found respect for the woman who had helped rescue her ex-high commander and ally.
"That is quite alright, Thrakazog. I can still teach you to maybe read the bigger words easier?" Although she was unaware to the cause of why he had such a hard time reading, she had picked up on his speech patterns and how he struggled to say the larger word. His mannerisms were not bothersome, though. Everyone struggled with something and in a way the large man reminded her of her youngest brother who had many misfortunes with bad teachers. In fact, Alex had not learned to read properly until he was nearly ten and even then he stuttered plenty when he read aloud and often felt embarrassed. Remembering her brothers tugged at her heart strings. When she would be able to see them again she was uncertain.
Looking down, Lorraine saw that there was still some food left in her basket--not much. Perhaps an orange and a single piece of jerky to witch she gestured to them both. "Would you like what is left, Thrakazog? I am quite full." And then she listened to the rest of her companions words. "That sounds quite nice, actually. Very few employers offer such accommodations sadly." And that was true she had found from what she heard among many others. Pay was the most they were given though from what Thrak had described it was not far from how the military was. "And thank you, Thrakazog. I try not to be. There is much bad as is and to only add to that would be awful I think. You're a very good person." Sneaky? She was unsure of that. Was she? That was something she had no answer to. Could she be? Possibly. "I think going back to finish would be a good idea. It is best to get done with our work as soon as possible." After cleaning up her belongings and helping Thrakazog with his own, she stood and looked out over the sea. Never did it cease to amaze her how beautiful it all was. "After you?" She turned to the other and said.
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