Hello all! So here it is, my new story Sail away. It's a story about Tintin, Captain Haddock and my additional female character, whose name I will not reveal, you'll find out! I wanted to mention, someone was reading this and thought Tintin did not seem adventurous as he does in the movie, I promise, this is a difficult time in Tintin's life right now, but once the journey begins, it will be good old Tintin once again. I really hope you enjoy it and please let me know in the reviews what you think of it!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Adventures of Tintin
TinTin, his hair a mess and his face covered in sweat, closed the door to his tiny one room apartment flat and slid down to the floor, letting out a long, steady breath. His legs ached and he could say the same about his back, neck and pretty much everywhere else. With his eyes closed, he took several breaths to regain a steady heart rate, for he could feel his heart pressing against his chest, ready to burst.
He had been up since 6 that morning, in the town centre, working, trading, borrowing and begging as he had done the last 4 months. At this point he was getting desperate. If he wanted to sail out at the end of winter/beginning of spring like he and Captain Haddock had planned, he knew he was going to have to work a whole lot harder.
Groaning with effort, Tintin stood up and walked heavily over to the table by the window, right past his little office and red velvet chairs. The fireplace was empty and Tintin had not desire to light it. Snowy, his loyal white little terrier, followed him, snuffling at his legs with a hint of concern in his dark chocolate eyes. Tintin smiled and groaned again as he eased himself into his seat. It was times like this where he really had only one person to blame for all of his struggles and pain.
Captain Haddock.
He had had a hat full of goal, enough to buy a severe ships and crew if he wanted. It had been in his house all along and it was all his. But he had spent it. Haddock had obviously had to spend some of the money when he repurchased Marlinspike Hall and all it's property, but there had still been plenty to spare. Until he'd thrown it away.
Tintin let his head fall with a thud to lean against the wall bordering the window. He had spent it after getting drunk at a celebration party of the opening of Marlinspike Hall, which was once again under the reign of a Haddock. If that wasn't bad enough, he had spent it on rare model ships to decorate his mansion with. Tintin had not known that they could cost the fortune that they did. From what Tintin had heard, Haddock had hardly asked the price, merely throwing all the the majority of the spoils at the seller, not bothering to have him count it.
Tintin, himself had not been able to attend the party due to his mother wanting him to visit for the weekend. When he visited the Captain the Monday following his celebration, he had found the hung over captain asleep in his room, the front entrance of his house littered with boxes of precious ship models. Someone at the party, no doubt drunker than the captain himself, had talked him into the purchase. in a drunken state, as the good captain always was, the idea had seemed superb. The cost was all substantial and now the Captain was nearly as poor as he had been when Tintin first found him two years prior; he had but money left enough for his house payment.
Tintin had been distraught and had instantly gone back to the buyer, desperate to have him buy the boats back. But the pompous, newly rich man refused and left Tintin hopeless. Going back to the caption, Haddock had been remorse and begged for Tintin's forgiveness. Although he was enraged over the turn of events, Tintin knew that he could do nothing to change their fate. He gave the captain his forgiveness, in return that he sustain from drinking until they returned rich with the spoils of the sunken ship. The captain had reluctantly agreed, sullen at the prospect with not being able to taste his favourite wines, which he had saved up for the trip. Tintin promptly made him sell the spirits to build up their funds; there would be no frivolous spending from now on. Haddock was lucky his butler stayed with limited pay, Tintin wouldn't have.
So now here Tintin was, forced to work every day, 10, sometimes 12 torturous hours of any kind of job he could find. He had gone on this way for near on five months, most of the fall and the whole winter. Even still, he had barely reached a quarter of what they needed. Sighing heavily, he looked passively out the window, lolling his head sideways so he could look out. He was in desperate need and he knew his dream of sailing out in mid spring was near impossible at this point.
Snowy, sensing his masters despair, jumped up to pummel Tintin's tired legs, barking his sympathy. Tintin managed a weak smile.
"I'll be fine Snowy," right before he leaned his head on the table and past out from exhaustion.
A pounding on the door jolted Tintin out of his fitful sleep and he hit his head on the window board.
"Oh, that's going to hurt in the morning," groaning, Tintin rubbed his head and dragged himself into a standing position as the pounding continued. "I'm coming, I'm coming, hold on,"
He was still rubbing his head, he probably still looked terrible, as he opened he door and offered a half smile to his visitor. Thankfully, it was only Mrs. Finch, the landlady of the little building. She smiled knowingly at Tintin as he leaned against the doorframe, his body draining of energy.
"Oh hello, Mrs. Finch, can I help you?"
The kindly, however odd, little lady smiled brightly at the tired teen.
"Hello Tintin, I think I am here to help you and by the looks of it, you need some help," She shook her head as Tintin looked to doze off, jolting back as Snowy nudged him roughly. He smiled again at Mrs. Finch.
"Here to help me? With what? You don't happen to have 20 thousand pounds or so laying around, do you?" He laughed weakly as Mrs. Finch laughed loudly.
"Oh dear, no Tintin, if I had that kind of money, I would not be renting out these little flats to people like you," Tintin blinked at her and she shook her head. "Anyway, I have a little job for you that the building mangers are willing to pay you for. It's nothing much, but I know for a fact, it's better than braiding ropes down on the dock," Tintin managed another laugh, his curiosity pricked. The job she was offering, sounded tempted.
"A job here in the building? What would that be?" Energy flooded through him as excitement built and he stood up straighter. Mrs. Finch pointed up over her head to the floor above them.
"The room right above you has been empty for years now, but I had potential tenant in here this afternoon and it's been rented. The young girl is moving in a few days and I need the floor boards and the bed fixed up. The walls could use another coat of paint too. Are you interested?"
Tintin smiled, genuinely this time. The job sounded enticing and if he could do it alone, he knew he could work at his own pace and still be finished before anyone moved in.
"A girl you say? That's rare," His curiosity was peaked more as Mrs. Finch shrugged her shoulders, a small twinkle in her eye.
"May be rare, but it's true. She paid upfront and is looking forward to living here. I got the distinct impression she was making a stand on her independence. I think she'll be a good tenant and probably a good friend," she winked at Tintin and he shrugged, leaning more on the doorframe.
"Maybe, I doubt I'll see much of her, working all day, but I guess we'll see. I'll be happy to fix up the room for her, I'll start tomorrow," Mrs. Finch clasped her hands and smiled at him.
"Oh thank you Tintin, I was afraid they would send some horribly big men to work on it, we would have to do more cleaning with him then his work is worth. I knew I could count on you. I'll make sure you get paid well for this. Have a wonderful evening now Tintin, eat hardy!" With that she was on her way downstairs and back to her office, doubling as her room. Tintin smirked and closed his door, Snowy snuffling him all over, barking and running circles around him. Tintin looked down at him, his dog was probably just as hungry as him. He smirked, walking gingerly over to his tiny kitchen.
"Okay, okay Snowy, dinner's coming,"
Tintin let his mind wander as he prepped his terrier's dinner. A girl tenant? He had never so much as seen a girl living her. All the tenant, well all 4 tenants in the 20 room building, were males. He had never realized a girl would ever need a flat. Girls lived at home until they were married, didn't they?
Tintin found himself getting excited at the prospect of having a girl as a flatmate. Although he knew he shouldn't. He had already told Mrs. Finch that he would rarely have an opportunity to see this girl, working as much as he did. He doubted further that he would ever be able to get to know her as a friend. Still, it would be exciting to maybe meet her in the hall, see her passing in or out. Maybe seeing her out in public after he knew what she looked like, walking back to the apartment together, to his room or hers… Tintin shook his head. He was getting way ahead of himself. It had been so long since he'd seen or talked to girls. Work was the most important thing at the moment to him and Captain Haddock. Even though it was he working for all the money at the moment. He gripped his hands, suddenly self-righteous. Haddock lazed around all day while Tintin worked himself to death. Wasn't he allowed a little free time for having friends? Didn't he deserve a break every once and a while.
Tintin sat down at his table by the window once again, a bowl of warmed chilli and a hunk of wheat bread in front of him. Snowy was chowing down on his food, while Tintin sat looking down at his food, his appetite suddenly gone with his exhaustion. Could it be that this girl could really become his friend?
First chapter is pretty short, I do apologize, it's a start to the story! More is to come in the following weeks or so. I'll have to watch the movie again before I finish, to refresh some details, but I will finish it
