Well... Naolia, sorry that it appears that my story is similar to one of your ideas...coincidence I'm sure. And Raco-You will find out why that guy killed the guy ing the Rolls...mwahahaha! coughcough
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Day 1
For about an hour, the passengers braved the chilly climate to watch the French coastline drift by. Inside, passengers were getting settled into their cabins and warming up. If they thought Le Havre was chilly; Oslo would be freezing, and full of ice. Fortunately for the passengers, one of the three pools was completely enclosed and sheltered, and a second one on the top deck with a sliding glass Magrodome roof, and once the ship reached Miami, the climate would allow for all three pools to be serviceable.
Lunch was already being served in the many restaurants throughout the ship, and after a light lunch, Carmelita was ready to explore the ship. She had found her room rather lavishing, looking as lavishing as the deluxe suites on most other ships, for only the same price for a normal cabin on other ships. But the variety of public rooms aboard was huge. She could write a book just listing them.
Entering the shopping arcade, she failed to notice that she was about to make physical contact with somebody.
BUMP!
"Watch out there," a joking voice said.
"Sorry sir," Carmelita apologized. "Didn't watch where I was going."
"S'okay," the stranger replied. Only then did Carmelita realize that the stranger was a raccoon, and her inner suspicions flared up. "Must be the romance of the sea, I haven't been on a ship without having an accidental run in with somebody awestruck by the luxury. Your first time?"
"How'd you guess?" Carmelita asked.
"Most people on these voyages aren't so distracted enough to run into somebody on the first day," the raccoon said. He then held out his hand. "My name is Conrad Allen."
"Carmelita Fox," Carmelita replied, shaking his hand.
"To be honest, this is my first time on this ship," Conrad said. "Never thought I'd be an officer onboard the Leviathan, no I didn't."
"You're an officer?" Carmelita asked, slightly narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
"Yes, if you had taken the time to notice my garb," Conrad replied with a grin.
Sure enough, Carmelita hadn't noticed that he was wearing a black officers' coat with gold bands on the cuffs, a black tie, white shirt, and a black with gold gilt officers' cap.
"Sorry," Carmelita apologized. "Didn't notice."
"S'okay," Conrad replied. "Fourth officer to be exact, going on to third officer if this voyage goes well."
"I hope you do get promoted," Carmelita grinned.
"Well since I'm a little bit familiar with you," Conrad said. "Perhaps you would care to sit at my table for dinner sometime? It ain't as fancy as the captain's table, but hey."
"Sure, how often does one get an invitation to dine with an officer," Carmelita answered.
"Well it looks I have to take my shift on the bridge," Conrad said, looking at his watch. "It was a real pleasure to meet you Miss Fox."
"Dido here Mister Allen," Carmelita replied.
Conrad briskly walked away, leaving Carmelita standing in the shopping arcade. Almost immediately she turned and walked to the elevators. A few more minutes later, she entered her cabin and pulled a complementary passenger list out of a nightstand drawer. Opening it to the first page, listing the officers by rank, she ran her finger down the list, and sure enough, there was a Fourth Officer Conrad Allen, with the picture of the man she met next to it.
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BURP!
Murray unleashed a belch that attracted the attention of several passengers in the pizzeria.
"Jeez Murray," Bentley scolded. "We're in public, can't you at least save us of any gassy function of your body until after we get back to the cabin?"
Penelope simply gave a muffled giggle at how oddly funny the scene seemed to be.
"What's so funny?" Bentley asked.
"You," Penelope laughed. "Your about as uptight as snobby aristocrat."
Bentley crossed his arms and skulked, while Murray grinned like a moron. Penelope's eyes caught something and she just managed to catch somebody as they left.
"Did you just see�" Penelope asked, slightly flabbergasted.
"Who?" Bentley asked, slightly intrigued.
"Never mind," Penelope replied, putting the image of a ringed tail disappear around a corner out of her mind.
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