Leopold's claws dug into his desk, latching into the wood with deep marks. His nerves couldn't have been more porciline. The reason being for it was that, Leopold had lived a long, fruitful life. He'd done many memorable things, some to be proud of, others not so much. Either way, he'd lived long and done much. His time was coming to close. His old bones couldn't continue to grind down on the deck of this ship which he'd been captain of for over thirty years. All things came to an end, but sometimes there were beginnings which followed suit. This was one of those times. There came a knock on Leopold's cabin door, which he answered with but a loud grunt, beconing whoever it was to enter his space. He who entered was a crimson Fox much like himself, but where Leopold was white, this kit was a pink-like red. For the son of a pirate captain, he wasn't dressed considerably glorious, having but a pair of brown trousers to cover his lower half.

Leopold hadn't known the kit for a long while in his life, seeing as he had been at sea for the first few years. When he returned to a fourteen year old Foxy, he wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms. The kit wanted nothing to do with him and leopold swore that his son tried his best to act as though he wasn't even there. It was slow-going getting that behavior to change, but after some time, Foxy began to show something akin to respect for his father and perhaps some grudging admiration. Now, Foxy was twenty years of age. The kit was still growing in maturity, but was well enough off that Leopold trusted him with many responsibilities. He'd never take his son to battle, but the kit knew his way around a ship and could do many of the crewman tasks even better then the crew themselves.

"Sit Foxy," Leopold comanded sternly, pointing a claw at a posh sofa to the right of his desk. The kit did as he was told and slumped on one of the cushions, more leasurely than his father would have wanted, but he didn't know why he was here, so the seriousness was void to him. "I know this was on short notice... I'm sure you're very buisy with... drinking and such like most youths around your age, but this is something I've been meaning to do for over a year now." He stopped in front of Foxy and glared down at him with his sea-green irises. The younger fox stared back with his golden beams, lightly glazed with curiocity and overall filled with bordom. "What have you considered, career wise?"

Foxy scratched his muzzle. "Nothin' t'all." His accent was thick like his mother's. Leopold wanted to roll his eyes at that, but perhaps it was a good thing.

"Well, I suppose that makes things slightly easier. Foxy, I've been all over the place, traveling on this ship most of my life. This vessel has been in our family sinse my great grandfather stole her from an Ursian Navel yard many years ago. I don't want this to end with me. Seeing as you're my first born, I'd say you're the fittest candidate to inherit her, now." Foxy's eyes went wide. He sat up strait, restraing the urge to jump from his seat.

"Really?" he yipped, almost child-like. Leopold hadn't expected such enthusiasm, considering that his son was widely aware of the challenge being a Captain presented. Maybe he was actually ready for it. Maybe he was just blissfully ignorant. Either way, it was a good start. "Are ye sure?"

"Is there a problem with my decision?"

"Nay, sir, s'jus', we were ne'er on t'best terms..."

"I know... But, Foxy, I thought that our relationship has greatly matured over the past few years and that we could finally advance to a more respectible fetter. You're my son. I have been neglecting my parental role for a long time, now I think it's time for me to make up for many of these lost years by giving you something you rightfully deserve and have earned." Leopold place a paw atop Foxy's head, scratching at the patch of scruff that always stuck out between his ears. "We must do this formally, though, before the crew. They must bare witness."

He took Foxy's wrist and stood him up, walking him to the cabin door with an arm around his shoulder. They stepped out onto the deck of their Man-a-War, now docked off the coast of Meram, an island not far from Ursius. "At Attention, mates!" Leopold barked, drawing the eyes of all on deck. "I have a special announcment for all of you to hear and an event to bare witness." The entire crew dropped their tasks and made a semi circle around the two. "On this day, in view of the entire Crew of this vessel, on the shores of Meram, I relinquish my comand of this ship and hand it down to my heir, Foxworth, first born of my seed." A low murmer escaped the crew before the initial cheer, bewildered muzzles about the crowd.

Foxy was never one for formalities. He usually avoided them, in fact, to save face as he was never a creature of many words. His father was much the opposite, taking pride in his fluency and articulation and finding many an opperotunity to us them. He did not speak much like other Lenans, either, but that was more a matter of him being raised on Ursius by his mother.

Foxy spoke in a thick Lenan accent, however. At times it was hard to understand, even sloppy, but he took to it better and saw that others did as well; especially pirates. Pirates saw any creature who spoke in the manner that Leopold did, with the exception of Leopold, saw themselves of higher importance and nothing erked a pirate more than a self-entitled bloke. Ursian's were the worst offenders.

As his father finished addressing the crew, he took Foxy by his shoulder and led him back into the cabin, a broad grin spread across his muzzle. Foxy shared a similar expression and teetered awkwardly on his hind-paws. As the silence grew suffocating, he chose to speak, something that came easy around his father as of late. Perhaps that was a good thing.

"So, what'll ye do now?"

"I will dedicate myself entirely to my duties on Lenaus. Your mother is a fine leader, but she is just one vixen. With the economic termoil that Lenaus is facing at the moment, having us both home would do our people a great justice. Besides, the Ursian King does not take kindly to female rulers. As I have been told, he's been rather unfair to her during my absense. That aside, there are two matters I would like you to ponder." Foxy nodded wordlessly, allowing his father to continue. "The first is of your sister. Her financial situation is... less than desireable..."

"Me thought Vaha was in well; livin' in the Crown District. "

"Well, it isn't the ammount of money that is the problem. It is the way she earns it. I am sure you could take a guess as to what she does. I was never happy with the arraingment, but in the past few months there was... an incident... I do not wish for this to continue. Make her part of your crew and build her as I have built you."

Foxy's ears drooped and eyes protrayed a look of worry. "Incident? Wot kind'a 'incident'?"

Leopold sighed, turning back towards his cabin window and running the palm of his paw along the right side of the frame in near whistful silence. More was on his mind than just his daughter. The sight of it was sobering. "She was... beaten... savagely... She was such a beautiful vixen... just like her mother..."

Foxy's shoulders rose, fur on their crests spiking up as it always did when he was flusterd. A burning expression of hatred bore into his eyes like the fires of the five-hells, but with a light so bright that the heavens would stand jealous with their own white flames. "By who?" he demanded, teeth clenching. Leopold turned calmly to his son.

"A Gypsie named Mal Bete. He lives in the Charm district. With that information, you will do what?"

Foxy slowly allowed his body to loosen, his eyes soothe, an air of false innocence and true deviance growing to replace the anger. He merely shrugged and gave his father a toothy-smile, his false, golden teeth making the expression somewhat lop-sided.

"An eye fer'n eye 'n a tooth fer a tooth." Leopold gave no expression nor verbal reply. He simply gave a single nod.

"Secondly," he continued after some moments, "My first mate, Cineal Croi, will be stepping down with me. Per custom, you are to chose your own first mate to replace him."

Another smile. "I know jus' th' hound."