*Disclaimer* Not mine, don't sue. You won't get any money, 'cause I ain't got none!
A/N: I know it's short, but I can't help it! Don't immasculate my creative integrity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will tossed a small rock into the slimy green water of the docks. It made a disgusting slurping sound as it went under the moss and film made by who-knew-what. The groaning of ships as they swayed with the motion of the water made a strangely melodious song, and he hummed along with it agreeably. His bid for repair supplies for the ship's carpenters had gone well. The lumberyard should return with a wagonload of the best wood within a few hours. A few spools of heavy twine had been purchased, and their barrels of pitch had been restocked. The repairs could be done easily enough while the ship was underway, if necessary. Most of his sailors were out on shore leave, and he was thoroughly impressed with their conduct. Aside from a few barroom brawls, there had been no run-ins with the local authorities. He was considering doubling the rum ration for a day as a reward.
He wasn't exactly sure why he had offered to meet with this boy. Perhaps it was the way his sister had leaned forward wide-eyed when he mentioned he was a ship's captain. She had looked so bedraggled that Will thought maybe she had been depending on her brother's wages. It would make sense, come to think of it, if she had been out looking for work that day. In any case, he really did need another sailor, even an inexperienced one.
"Excuse me, sir...do you happen to know a Captain Turner, of the 'Portal'?" A voice interrupted his thoughts. Will looked up to see a dark-headed young boy, dressed in shabby work clothes.
"I happen to be a Captain Turner of the 'Portal.' What can I do for you?"
"John Bloodworth, Captain. I think you spoke with my sister last night." Will had already guessed as much. He truly was the spitting image of his older sister. Same muddy-brown hair, same direct gaze, same restrained, almost cultured way of speaking. Will nodded, and the boy bowed.
"Of course, John. Your sister tells me that you want to train as a sailor."
"Yes sir, I do." The boy was soft-voiced and slightly built. It was hard for Will to imagine he would be much use for the heavy work. Still, he might be useful for scrambling about in the rigging or mending sails.
"Can you read or write?"
"Yes, Captain. And cipher." He could take care of inventory, once he earned trust. Perhaps the ship's carpenters could even enlist his help in the repairs. It would be good experience for him, and more hands meant faster work.
"Can you be ready to depart tomorrow morning?" Will stared nonchalantly at the horizon. There was no sign of ill weather incoming, and if the sun and wind held, tomorrow would be an ideal day to set sail.
"Oh, yes captain!" His face split in a grin, a more enthusiastic version of his sister's soft smile. "What time would you like me here?"
"Be on the docks by sunup. Are you staying with your sister at the Cavorting Mule?"
"Yes sir! Will you be there again tonight?"
"I will."
"Right, then. See you tomorrow, Captain Turner!"
"Don't be late, John Bloodworth."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Julie watched Captain Turner turn and walk away across the moss-stained docks. "Portal" was not so very big, as ships go, but it dwarfed him as he walked closer and finally boarded. He had taken the bait. Julie heaved a deep sigh of relief and turned on her booted heel. For some reason, he had seemed like one of the smarter ones, the ones that looked at her incredulously from the moment she said "hello." Then again, he always had that distracted look, as though he were listening for something just out of his range of hearing. Perhaps he just didn't have his mind on his work. She supposed every captain had their quirks, but you never could tell. Perhaps this was something that ran deeper.
Not that it had much effect on her. She was setting sail again tomorrow, fleeing this place with its unwashed masses, people that were nothing more than tumors on the posteriors of society. She had but a few errands to run. The bits of shell and calcified rock crunched under her feet as she made her way back to main street.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will peeled his boiled egg with infinite care, dropping the shell on the table and carefully inspecting the shining white surface for hideaway shards. He was famished from the day's work, and Mr. York had been quite obliging as always. The world didn't seem so cruel when one was facing it over two boiled eggs, toasted bread, a small wheel of cheese, and a pint of ale next to a roaring fire. Will stretched his feet out comfortably and bit into his egg. Bliss ensued.
"Well, Captain...is there room for two by the fire again tonight?" The voice came from somewhere to his left. Will did a passable imitation of a seagull as he tilted his head back to swallow quickly, then turned. It was John Bloodworth's sister, looking considerably drier than he had seen her last night. Her hair was neatly upswept and pinned back, and her attire was simple and clean. She carried in one hand a half-pint of something that was steaming, in the other hand a bowl filled with cooked fish laid on top of roasted potatoes. Will smiled and rose.
"Always, Miss Bloodworth. Will John be joining us tonight?"
"Hardly. He's retired for the night. It seems that he must rise before dawn tomorrow. Any idea why he might need to do that?"
"As heaven is my witness, I have not the slightest inkling." Will pulled out a chair for the girl. She placed her vessels down on the tabletop and allowed herself to be seated.
"Thank you, sir. And thank you, too, for taking my brother into your service." Will sat back down and began with his boiled egg anew.
"If he works as hard as you say he does, I shall be the one thanking you." He had intended to ask her a question, but this egg business was overtaking all his senses, and he lost concentration. The peeling of his next morsel required immense silence on his part. By the time he was finished and had devoured the egg, the girl was staring at him. A crooked smile of amusement lit her face.
"Forgive me, sir...I was afraid for a moment that you were choking," She said. Will covered his mouth with his hand and swallowed.
"Such concern from a woman who, only last night, looked ready to have a swim in her grog. Have you never peeled a boiled egg before?" She shrugged.
"Never been overly fond of eggs, sir."
"Aha, that's because you've never had a real, fresh egg. By that I mean, the hen laid the egg directly into the boiling water." Will gesticulated firmly with a half-slice of bread before laying slices of cheese on it. The girl leaned back in her chair and began sipping from her mug with the same abandon of the night before. Her eyes drifted closed, and for a moment Will actually wondered whether she had gone to sleep. Then she swallowed and blew out a long breath. One eye opened, and she regarded him unfavorably.
"Lovely. Couldn't enjoy my tea for the image of a chicken squatting over a boiling cauldron."
"So sorry about that." He grinned, unrepentant. She shook her head and buried her face in her mug again.
Will chewed his bread and cheese thoughtfully, scrutinizing Miss Bloodworth. Her demeanor tonight was in sharp contrast when compared with the night before. Indeed, the lady that he had spoken with previously looked more like a drowned rat than a girl, and improved considerably upon evaporation. Her eyes were a deep, soft brown that reminded him of the loose earth under an old tree. She was well-built with a bright smile, leading him to wonder why she was evidently still single.
Ah yes, now he remembered what he was going to ask her. An all-purpose question that he was rather proud of.
"I am curious, how do you occupy yourself while your brother is away at sea?" She seemed startled by the question, and actually put her tea down and looked at him wide-eyed. Will felt a pang of embarrassment. Somehow, he had said something to offend her. "I'm sorry, I didn't intend to pry," he said quickly. She gulped the tea in her mouth, then shook her head.
"No...that's all right. Nobody has every asked me that question before, is all. I am...I am a thespian." Aha. No wonder she had looked so threatened. Female actors were not regarded favorably in England.
Actually, any type of actor was not regarded favorably in England. Must be the tights.
A/N: I know it's short, but I can't help it! Don't immasculate my creative integrity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will tossed a small rock into the slimy green water of the docks. It made a disgusting slurping sound as it went under the moss and film made by who-knew-what. The groaning of ships as they swayed with the motion of the water made a strangely melodious song, and he hummed along with it agreeably. His bid for repair supplies for the ship's carpenters had gone well. The lumberyard should return with a wagonload of the best wood within a few hours. A few spools of heavy twine had been purchased, and their barrels of pitch had been restocked. The repairs could be done easily enough while the ship was underway, if necessary. Most of his sailors were out on shore leave, and he was thoroughly impressed with their conduct. Aside from a few barroom brawls, there had been no run-ins with the local authorities. He was considering doubling the rum ration for a day as a reward.
He wasn't exactly sure why he had offered to meet with this boy. Perhaps it was the way his sister had leaned forward wide-eyed when he mentioned he was a ship's captain. She had looked so bedraggled that Will thought maybe she had been depending on her brother's wages. It would make sense, come to think of it, if she had been out looking for work that day. In any case, he really did need another sailor, even an inexperienced one.
"Excuse me, sir...do you happen to know a Captain Turner, of the 'Portal'?" A voice interrupted his thoughts. Will looked up to see a dark-headed young boy, dressed in shabby work clothes.
"I happen to be a Captain Turner of the 'Portal.' What can I do for you?"
"John Bloodworth, Captain. I think you spoke with my sister last night." Will had already guessed as much. He truly was the spitting image of his older sister. Same muddy-brown hair, same direct gaze, same restrained, almost cultured way of speaking. Will nodded, and the boy bowed.
"Of course, John. Your sister tells me that you want to train as a sailor."
"Yes sir, I do." The boy was soft-voiced and slightly built. It was hard for Will to imagine he would be much use for the heavy work. Still, he might be useful for scrambling about in the rigging or mending sails.
"Can you read or write?"
"Yes, Captain. And cipher." He could take care of inventory, once he earned trust. Perhaps the ship's carpenters could even enlist his help in the repairs. It would be good experience for him, and more hands meant faster work.
"Can you be ready to depart tomorrow morning?" Will stared nonchalantly at the horizon. There was no sign of ill weather incoming, and if the sun and wind held, tomorrow would be an ideal day to set sail.
"Oh, yes captain!" His face split in a grin, a more enthusiastic version of his sister's soft smile. "What time would you like me here?"
"Be on the docks by sunup. Are you staying with your sister at the Cavorting Mule?"
"Yes sir! Will you be there again tonight?"
"I will."
"Right, then. See you tomorrow, Captain Turner!"
"Don't be late, John Bloodworth."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Julie watched Captain Turner turn and walk away across the moss-stained docks. "Portal" was not so very big, as ships go, but it dwarfed him as he walked closer and finally boarded. He had taken the bait. Julie heaved a deep sigh of relief and turned on her booted heel. For some reason, he had seemed like one of the smarter ones, the ones that looked at her incredulously from the moment she said "hello." Then again, he always had that distracted look, as though he were listening for something just out of his range of hearing. Perhaps he just didn't have his mind on his work. She supposed every captain had their quirks, but you never could tell. Perhaps this was something that ran deeper.
Not that it had much effect on her. She was setting sail again tomorrow, fleeing this place with its unwashed masses, people that were nothing more than tumors on the posteriors of society. She had but a few errands to run. The bits of shell and calcified rock crunched under her feet as she made her way back to main street.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will peeled his boiled egg with infinite care, dropping the shell on the table and carefully inspecting the shining white surface for hideaway shards. He was famished from the day's work, and Mr. York had been quite obliging as always. The world didn't seem so cruel when one was facing it over two boiled eggs, toasted bread, a small wheel of cheese, and a pint of ale next to a roaring fire. Will stretched his feet out comfortably and bit into his egg. Bliss ensued.
"Well, Captain...is there room for two by the fire again tonight?" The voice came from somewhere to his left. Will did a passable imitation of a seagull as he tilted his head back to swallow quickly, then turned. It was John Bloodworth's sister, looking considerably drier than he had seen her last night. Her hair was neatly upswept and pinned back, and her attire was simple and clean. She carried in one hand a half-pint of something that was steaming, in the other hand a bowl filled with cooked fish laid on top of roasted potatoes. Will smiled and rose.
"Always, Miss Bloodworth. Will John be joining us tonight?"
"Hardly. He's retired for the night. It seems that he must rise before dawn tomorrow. Any idea why he might need to do that?"
"As heaven is my witness, I have not the slightest inkling." Will pulled out a chair for the girl. She placed her vessels down on the tabletop and allowed herself to be seated.
"Thank you, sir. And thank you, too, for taking my brother into your service." Will sat back down and began with his boiled egg anew.
"If he works as hard as you say he does, I shall be the one thanking you." He had intended to ask her a question, but this egg business was overtaking all his senses, and he lost concentration. The peeling of his next morsel required immense silence on his part. By the time he was finished and had devoured the egg, the girl was staring at him. A crooked smile of amusement lit her face.
"Forgive me, sir...I was afraid for a moment that you were choking," She said. Will covered his mouth with his hand and swallowed.
"Such concern from a woman who, only last night, looked ready to have a swim in her grog. Have you never peeled a boiled egg before?" She shrugged.
"Never been overly fond of eggs, sir."
"Aha, that's because you've never had a real, fresh egg. By that I mean, the hen laid the egg directly into the boiling water." Will gesticulated firmly with a half-slice of bread before laying slices of cheese on it. The girl leaned back in her chair and began sipping from her mug with the same abandon of the night before. Her eyes drifted closed, and for a moment Will actually wondered whether she had gone to sleep. Then she swallowed and blew out a long breath. One eye opened, and she regarded him unfavorably.
"Lovely. Couldn't enjoy my tea for the image of a chicken squatting over a boiling cauldron."
"So sorry about that." He grinned, unrepentant. She shook her head and buried her face in her mug again.
Will chewed his bread and cheese thoughtfully, scrutinizing Miss Bloodworth. Her demeanor tonight was in sharp contrast when compared with the night before. Indeed, the lady that he had spoken with previously looked more like a drowned rat than a girl, and improved considerably upon evaporation. Her eyes were a deep, soft brown that reminded him of the loose earth under an old tree. She was well-built with a bright smile, leading him to wonder why she was evidently still single.
Ah yes, now he remembered what he was going to ask her. An all-purpose question that he was rather proud of.
"I am curious, how do you occupy yourself while your brother is away at sea?" She seemed startled by the question, and actually put her tea down and looked at him wide-eyed. Will felt a pang of embarrassment. Somehow, he had said something to offend her. "I'm sorry, I didn't intend to pry," he said quickly. She gulped the tea in her mouth, then shook her head.
"No...that's all right. Nobody has every asked me that question before, is all. I am...I am a thespian." Aha. No wonder she had looked so threatened. Female actors were not regarded favorably in England.
Actually, any type of actor was not regarded favorably in England. Must be the tights.
