A quiet lull of wind dove among the harbor yard, buffeting the looser items with its force, but only slightly cooling the aching workers who pressed upon their tasks repeatedly as they had been for quite a long time. A few of them knew Gerard and greeted him with a grudging respect, such as lifted chins or subtle nods. Gerard would respond in the same ways. He was anything if not a respectful male. Freddy was a meere follower, a cub just trudging at the heels of the icon that was Gerard Fazbear. He didn't mind it any. So what if the dock workers didn't recognize him? The two of them weaved through the internal structure of the yard, breaking through small docks, which bed larger figets, and smaller ones, which held meeger fishing dingies. Oslow's ship, The Moore Runner, was somewhere in the middle. She wasn't a large war-class, but she was neither small. When they reached her aged bed, Oslow awaited them on the dock. The white bear stood with pridefull posture, or as much as he could considering his old bones. He was older than Gerard.
The look upon his muzzle, previously stern and un-emotional, changed to that of surprise when he laid eyes on Freddy. "Well now, if it isn't sour-mouthed-cub. I haven't seen you sinse you cold-cocked one of my crew and left with his teeth. How old were you? Sixteen? I hold nothing against you, cub, but Dickens may still be gumming angerly at the fag." Freddy snorted at that.
"Let him be angry. I'll finish what I started. One good one across the face for every year sinse we last met. Then he'll need his food pre-chewed for him."
"Frederick!" Gerard broke in, his stern bark causing Freddy to jolt. "We're here to calm you down, not play fight club. Get on board and set up your things." Freddy snorted and did as he was told, for once. When Gerard knew he was out of earshop, he released a collected sigh.
"Things been tough?"
"It's Freddy. What do you think? The cub's as stubborn as an old tree, even worse now that Gaia's gone. She always knew how to make him move and now... He's dug himself into a rut of alcohol and bitterness. I thought he'd never end the cycle... Then... just yesterday... He came to me on the vurge of tears, begging me to comfort him in some small way. He said he'd had a break down at work and he wanted to spend some time with me to finally get over what's happened. I don't know if this'll last, but I pray that nothing bad happens."
"That cub is more like Gaia than you'd like to admit," chuckled Oslow. "He's stubborn, determined, hates to be wrong and refuses to admit he is even if he knows it. Sure, he uses those traits in the wrong areas, but she's there, Gerard. Usually people who are exactly the same don't like one another, which made his relationship with Gaia quite strange, but... maybe you can use what made you and Gaia so compatable and... perhaps... win him over. He'll come grudgingly at first, but stone walls can only last so long."
Gerard sighed once more and felt along the side of The Moore Runner. When he looked above him, her sails tugged at the roped that kept them bound. "I was hoping this ship might spur something,' he began, voice quiet. "We never told him the true story of his birth... About the pirates and this ship. He never asked. Maybe if we had told him, he would have held it in more sentimate... Hell, there are a lot of things we should have told that cub... Maybe things would be different..." Oslow gripped Gerards shoulder, his ebony claws just lightly grazing the skin below his thick fur pelt.
"Don't wish to change the past, Gerard. What's done is done. The longer you live in your memories, the more of your life you lose."
"The more you look to the future, the less your memories will mean..." Oslow sighed, turning to stand directly in front of the Ursian, a soft smile curving across his muzzle. He grabbed Gerard's shoulders, looking him dead in the eyes. The softness in them was something the grizzly always found comfort in, something that always soothed him. They'd say it was the look of a father, but he was unsure if he, himself, held the same in his own. What did that say about him?
"Always live in the now for the past has happened and the future is not guarenteed..." his voice was almost a whisper, only slightly above the roar of the water and the general noise of the docks. "Do you remember who told us that?" The Grizzly returned Oslow's smile, a sort of sheen in his gaze.
"Some old fox from lenaus with a kit on the way and a prize to plunder."
"Hrm... When did you speak to him last?" The question rose quite a few feelings, one of which was guilt. After three years after the incident off the coast of Ursius, Gerard had lost touch with Leopold. It was hardly a one-sided occurence as he was sure Leopold was a busy man, but he still felt terrible about it. Last he heard, a year after his son's birth, he'd come to expect another child. Whatever came of it was unknown and Gerard very much wished to change that. Perhaps he'd visit Lenaus at some point and catch up. The old fox wouldn't be hard to track down.
"A little over eighteen years ago, I'd wager."
"Honestly? A pirate, of all creatures, gives up the plunder of an entire ship so that your wife can give birth in peace, escorts you home, and helps pay for your son's future and you lose touch with him for eighteen years?"
"It wasn't my choice, Oslow." The conversation continued as they walked onboard The Moore Runner, dodging the crew as they carried many things on and off the vessel. "He and I had many things to deal with. Gaia was ill for a long time and he was, of course, a pirate and a father of two, last I heard. I also had Frederick. Finding time to write and send letters all the way to Lenaus became more of a hassle than it was worth and I even told him that my letters were going to be getting less frequent. After the response to that, neither of us responded and that was that. I apriciate all he has done for my family and told him time and time again, so it isn't like I was just taking his kindness without agknowledgment."
"Did you ever properly repay him?"
"Money was one of the main reasons I couldn't continue to send letters. How could I have given him anything of value in regards to my wife and son?" The bear began to walk to and from, claws digging into his legs.
"Time would have been enough. Did you ever go to visit at least once?"
"No, I didn't. I couldn't. I'd be gone weeks on the trip alone, leaving Gaia with her condition to care for Frederick." Oslow stopped Gerard's pacing with firm paws on his shoulders.
"Pearl would've helped."
"I could never ask your wife to do that. She had her own problems."
"And grown children to help her with her problems."
"Oslow, I appreciate the thought, but Frederick was always a handful and Gaia couldn't even get out of bed some mornings, in spite of her trying. I mean, she was determined most days, but others she couldn't muster to lift a paw and to ask someone to deal with that for some weeks while I was gone isn't something I'd put on a friend." Realization clicked in Oslow's eyes. He realsed Gerard, but the grizzly didn't move, feeling the weight of something holding him in place.
"So that's what it was about... You were so stubborn that you didn't want anyone to help you with your family. You wanted to do it yourself, in spite of everything. You never got help for Frederick and you never got help for Gaia until it was too late."
Gerard's paws balled into fists and muzzle scrunched as though to make some retort, violent or otherwise, but... after a moment's stillness... it all vanished... His fists dropped to his sides, his body going almost limp, and his muzzle scrunching for another reason entirely. His eye's clenched shut as his back smached into the main-mast and slowly slid down, leaving Gerard but a loose heap on the deck. A single jagged breath escaped his throat. The white bear knelt down before his friend, expression as soft as it could be as though any harsher look would shatter the grizzly.
Gerard looked up at him, whatever force keeping him together almost gone. "I want to fix this... I was too late with Gaia, but... Damn it, Oslow, I am NOT going to lose Frederick, too. I will do ANYTHING. I would give my life if it meant giving my son a chance in this world. I have tried my best all these years, but, Gods, was I misguided... I refused help all those years ago, but... Would you re-extend that kindness? I need it." The expression on Oslow's muzzle shifted back to a soft smile as he reached out a paw to his friend.
"Even if the sky was breaking into the heavens..."
...
Solace was a rather beautiful island. Most of it was taken up by city, but a city that bustled alongside the natural formations of the island to the point of actually being built inside them. A good portion of the island was built normally along the bay, but, as it progressed inland, the structures began to wind into the hills, and even the mountains reaching far into the distance. Solace also had a rather unique style in building. Everything seemed very open and vibrant, flowers and rustic lamps lining the streets. Every home and store had its own garden of pastel flowers. Evening Primroses, asters, and dhalias gave the white-painted civilization life, if the 'colorful' inhabitants weren't enough. Of course, this was South Solace... The farther north one traveled, the higher the elevation and the colder it got. North Solace had crippling blizzards year round.
Luckally, he wasn't going anywhere near the mountains. Though Solace was known for its beauty and security, there were still some lumps of coal in the diamond mine and Foxy didn't have to travel far to find one in particular. Down one of the less opulent streets, he came to an old, but still beautiful home, lined with dhalias to the open porch. The front door was a light cordia wood, accented with iron handles that put a lovely contrast between the house and door. The red fox stopped before it and didn't hesitate to knock.
Short moments passed in patience and calm before it opened. On the other side stood a little puppy. She was well groomed, draped in a little white gown, to compliment the sunny-hue of her fur, and a white bow between her ears. She did not look upon him as though he were unknown, or if he was known or stranged. She looked upon him with a sudden spark of life, a spark of recognition and joy as she lept from the door-way to be caught by the creature and held close.
"Well, ain't ye a sight fer sore eyes, lassie. Yer gettin' prettier ev'ry day," he chimed, smile crooked, but true. The little shepherd in his arms coiled her own around his neck and merely basked in his presence. It wasn't long before they were joined by another of her breed, but a male. His fur was darker than hers and he was much larger, an adult. They had the same brown eyes, though. It was no shock. She WAS the shepherd's daughter, after all.
The male cocked a brow, unsure what to think of Foxy's sudden appearence. Simple visits were close to nonexistant. "Foxy... What're you doing here?" The red canine slowly lowered the little pup onto the wooden floor of the porch and tried to keep his inner emotions in check. He didn't want to blow the surprise before its time.
"Me needs t'talk t'ye 'bout somethin'. Can we go inside? Be rather private matters." The male shepherd stepped aside, allowing the other to enter before beckoning his pup to follow. She skipped along at the fox's heels, paws pattering joyously up the stairs; to tell her mother, no doubt. Foxy and the male stepped from the entry-way to the parlor, settling down on ajacent, brown sofas before the unlit fireplace. It was mid-afternoon and there wasn't a need for an actual fire.
"So, what is it now?" Michael Shmitd didn't mean to sound rude, but this particular appearence happened often and, more often, revolved around the fox needing something of the hound. Foxy didn't take offence to the tone. He knew how the dog must've been feeling.
"Well... Me father has retired."
"Retired? From which occupation?"
"Piracy, leaving his ship'n a majority of her crew t'me."
Michael's eyes wend wide, right paw freezing in the act of grabbing a hard-candy from the bowl on the coffee table. "Really? La Pirata Cala... she's yours? What are you planning on doing with her?"
Now that almost offended him, Mike having no natural incling as to what the son of a pirate was going to do with a Man-a-War. "Aye, 'n me plans on captainin' her. Me's gone use her as me father did 'n as his father did."
"I pirate... you...? You've never been the most law-abiding citizen, always rather mischiefous, but a pirate? Do you have any idea how much of a jump that is? You'd have to manage a crew, know your way around the islands, have a knack for combat. I mean, I'm sure your father taught you a lot, but have you ever actually been in a real fight? Has he ever taken you into combat?"
"Thar be a first time fer everythin'. N', aye, me father did teach me lots. He taught me how t'fight, how t'load a cannon, but all this done haf'ta be on the cap'in 'lone. That's what the crew is fer 'n me needs a good'un if me wants t'do this proper. Now, what be left'a me father's original flock be mostly acceptable, but his first mate retired wit'im. " It didn't take the shepherd a minute. He shook his head vigourously, splaying his paws in a passive gesture.
"Oh no. No, I am not doing that. I have a life here, Foxy. I have a child to care for; a wife. I can't be going off and getting myself into trouble like that. I've settled down."
"N' yer in debt." Mike ticked, setting back in the sofa with a sigh, paws running down his muzzle. "Ye needs this. Yer family needs this. I ain't askin' fer no life commitment, Michael. Me's only askin' fer a few months 'till I can finds someone else. Yer just'a stand-in, savy?"
"A stand-in risking life and limb for a POSSIBLE score. Foxy, piracy is no guarentee. You can't promise me the money to get me out of this."
"Neither can anoyne else... But, unlike ev'ryone else, I can give ye a chance. I can give Lily a chance. This be th' best hope ye's got, Michael. It's th'best hope she's got. If ye done take this little chance, 'n it be jus' fer a few months, then ye may be spendin' th'rest'a yer daughter's life 'n prison."
The shepherd leaned into his paws which were balanced on his knees and proceeded to rub his eyes irritably. He knew it was true. For over a year, the schmitd family had been being jabbed left and right by collectors from Solace, Ursius, Igue, and a small island near Fathren named Saint Aveianne. In years even younger than his current, the hound hadn't been the best with money and traveled all over Paladus until age nineteen. At that point, he met a young female of his own breed named after Solace's signature flower: Dhalia. Shortly after the birth of his daughter, Lily, all the debts of his past began to catch up with him, piling up to near impossible ammounts to pay off.
Mike slowly lifted his head, sighing as he simply glared angerly at the fox. He wasn't angry at Foxy. He was angry at himself and the fact that he knew that the creature before him was probably his only hope at fixing his problems. Collectors didn't care if the money was obtained legally or not.
"How long is a few months?" He asked.
"Three 'er four. Me's got some good spots. Merchant sloops, fishers, a navy grunt 'er two. Tells ye' what: Ev'rythin' we collect goes t'you 'till we've collected 'nuff t'pay off yer debt. Ev'n if we done get 'nuff, we'll at least help."
As two female figures trotted down the stairs behind the captain, Mike licked his muzzle nervously. "Alright... Just... Help me explain it to them."