Post by Joliette Thorne on Jul 17, 2008 7:01:15 GMT -5
--On Deck--
Tenebrae, at mention of the --other-- vampiress, went a slightly greenish shade. Could have been the rocking of the ship, though, trick sea-stomach and all. "Well, thankyou, anyhow." She'd fall silent a long moment, apparently gathering herself, and glanced back to him. "I don't blame you for missing them. They're pretty special."
Shishi raises a brow as she subtly changes color. The vampire frowns slightly, Tenebrae's compliment to them reminding him of how much more enjoyable he would have found this boat ride had his children been along for the trip... but such is being 'kidnapped'. He'll nod slowly, "Yea... it woulda been nice to have them here with me... they would've enjoyed it alot..." He'll quickly shake his head and ask the question he's become less and less hopefull of recieving an answer to, "Do you know when we'll be getting back, Tene?"
Tenebrae forgot her own woes, when she noted Shishi's change of countenence. It was unusual to see the man frown, and that he did so in context of his children worried her. "Is everything alright, Shishi?" She gave him a rather pointed look. "You must tell me, if it isn't. Perhaps I can help.." Her gaze shifted about the ship briefly, her own brow still furrowed. "And to be honest, I can't wait for this trip to be over, too." No doubt she had her own reasons.
Shishi shrugs up his shoulders, bringing his aquatic scarf and the Goatfish swimming contently inside it into view for a brief moment. Tenebrae is provided with a weak smile in an attempt to quell her worries about his worries, "It's nothing really... just normal fatherly concern, I guess. I'm sure they're safe... the Undead that they have following them around is no pushover... and I sent Wakka away with a note on the first day we set sail to get them someone to take care of them and watch them while I was away... I just miss them is all... Heheh, I guess it's more my problem than it is theirs, you know what I mean?..."
Tenebrae was obviously relieved by his assurances. "I'm sure we won't be too much longer at sea. We're headed for an island, a brief stop. The Calico Queen moors there, time to time.. if you're in luck, you could buy passage home on her." She gave him a "cheer up" smile. "Your daughter reminds me of myself, you know, when I was.. human." 'Young' meant nothing much to a vampire.
Shishi 's smile becomes more sincere, brightening noticeably. Tenebrae's methods of lightening his mood seem to have worked, "Ah~ Orange does? How sweet! Mmm... she's quite adventurous" He playfully raises a brow at her, "Got yourself into your share of trouble as a little girl then, did you?"
Tenebrae seemed as though she wasn't listening a moment, as she ferreted in her ever-handy pack for something. A cloth-covered oblong, several inches thick, was removed from the bag's cluttered confines and set to the deck with a thump. The black silk covering abruptly wrinkled, as though something shifted underneath, and then a set of ugly, yellow fangs broke through the fabric, ripping holes in it. Tene snatched at the cloth, grumbling loudly, and there was revealed an ancient tome, covered in what looked to be the preserved face of an orc. And it wasn't wearing a happy expression. "Trouble?" She chuckled. "You couldn't imagine how much. Shishi..." Tene's tone had taken a businesslike turn, with his name. "I have an idea, which might help you feel better about things." She fossicked for a quill, then, which was stabbed to the leathery, warty book-cover, and from the wound oozed a thick, greenish sap. The book gnashed its fangs and grew quiet. Dipping the quill to this fluid, she flipped the tome open --carefully-- to a certain page, where she would scrub the ink-like stuff violently across something written there, to utterly obscure it. "Seems we have an opening in Cabal, suddenly. Fancy joining us?"
Shishi cringes heavily as the preserved orc face stares up at him. Squirming, he'll fall backwards a bit, propping himself up on his hands as he listen's to Tenebrae assure him of her mischievous youth. He's happy to see the book opened and the orc's face pressed against the wooden deck, out of his view. The vampire leans forward again to meet her offer, he'd heard of the Cabal but was never completely certain what it was all about and he doesn't seem to be ashamed of his ignorance, with a blink to the vampiress he'll reply with a simple question, "Cabal?"
Tenebrae nodded. "My clan. We are many, and not all are ... well, sociable. We own Vailkrin and a few other things, but the point is..." Her smile was slightly wry. "We take care of each other. One for all, all for one. Or.. are -supposed- to. Unless somebody's being an idiot, then they can sink or... " green eyes shifted sharply to the railings, and her little smile was suddenly a very white grin. "Swim. So, yes. I thought you might feel comforted, to have the kids grow up among those who will protect them." She shook her head. "We have no children, really, among us, And for good reason, but yours.." She tore her eyes off the rails. That little idea would just have to wait. "... yours are quite extraordinary. Would you like some time to think?"
Shishi 's confusion slowly fades and his smile quickly returns the instant Tenebrae mentions his children's well being. The smile transforms into a proud grin as Arius and Leralynn are complimented again. Tenebrae had nailed her pitch to him and he would have signed up right then and there had she not suggested some time to consider. Shishi supplies her a composed nod, "Yea... it sounds great... I'll think about it!"
Tenebrae's smile was as warm as the breeze was not. "You do that, Shishi. Whatever you decide.." The necromancer's pale features coloured a tiny bit, then. "Know I hold a fondness for your family. I'll see no harm come to them, if I can."
Shishi smiles contently, "Thank you, Tene... This land can be quite dangerous, especially for the little ones. It makes me really happy knowing there are others out there that share my deep desire to keep them safe..." The vampire might be tearing up a bit, realizing his children's absence again, "Heh... I'm very proud of them..."
Tenebrae tucked the book away, for now, stashing her pack close to whatever bit of the ship's cabins they were near. "Family is family. We take care of each other or.... " She looked to the railing. "They'll be safe. And you should be. Proud, I mean."
Shishi 's gaze follows Tenebrae's as she stares at the railing again, "Mmm... Thank you again for the offer, Tene."
Tenebrae's smile was small and chilly, and had nothing to do with Shishi. "Welcome, pet." She sighed, ruffled her fingers through her hair. "Can't wait to see land."
Myrall shouted, "*much thumping and banging is heard accompanied by a string of what can only be dwarven swearing*"
Leoxander would be heard, long before he was seen. Jack was the percussion to his 'piratey' tune. "As we're tumbling..." He sang to the dog. Jack pretended to sing along. "Always down..." Surprising that a man so lean could hit a note so low. Blame his abused vocals, which could manage one hell of a growl. "Go slow." He demanded of Jack, hoisting lines onto his shoulder. "On the torture show. Go slow. Always down..." The dog was thoroughly amused, and ran a few steps ahead of the Captain who never seemed happier, than when he was out at sea. Or maybe drunk. Yes... entirely drunk, judging by the near empty bottle in his hand and a bit of a stumble across the upper deck. No better way to sail, or sing...
Tenebrae stiffened at the sound of the pirate's song, and came to a stand with a fluid motion that continued to a brisk step toward the rigging. As the man appeared, she'd already be clambering ropes, her flat-soled boots that gifted dexterity at the cost of height making the job easier than it might have been. From halfway up a knotted network of ropes, perhaps hidden behind a bit of sail for now, the necromancer slipped a dagger from her bodice, the weapon hefted to a comfortable weight. This was then flipped, as soon as the Cap'n deigned to still his drunken steps, to land point-down in the decking at his feet. Perhaps the rocking of the ship had put her aim off.
Leoxander would be interrupted from his song by all the noise that caused him and Jack both to flee downstairs.
Leoxander halted just in time to jump the weapon on the way, tossing a mixed look at Tenebrae.
Tenebrae shouted, "Damn you!" She clambered back down the rigging, evidently intent on causing her lover some grief.
-- In The Hold--
Myrall swings round at the sound of his voice, eyes steelly, temper barely concealed. "Calm? You want me to be calm?" he voice raises to an almost hysterical pitch. "I'll give you calm, when I smash a hole in the side of this crate big enough for me to get through, and wave good bye to the lot of you."
Tenebrae would appear at the top of the steps, likely in silhouette if the sun wasn't down yet. If so, she'd just be a shadow with one rather pointy extremity.
Myrall 's mouth frames a shocked 'O' as she sees Tenebrae for the first time since the wedding. "You!" she stammers. "Him" she jerks her head towards Leoxander. "Him, I can understand, but you! To think you have had anything to do with this vile crime against my person is beyond comprehension."
Leoxander wasn't too worried, he'd sank in a ship a time or three before. So he'd give a shrug, giving Jack a nod, which told the dog to do what he did best. Console. "Some nice boots you have there, yer magesty. I'd hope they won't be a burden if you gotta bloody swim." This comment give as he crossed the room with a glance over his shoulder at his - for some god forsaken reason - bitter female. This wasn't the best time... "Listen, Priestess..." It was rare for the pirate to use that high rank title, hear him out. "We'll be on land in a day. We need a medic. Now, I happen to know how very dull being a regal, important individual such as yourself can get, so consider this just a minor set back in an opportunity of a lifetime." He'd even sink to a knee (making sure to lay his hands protectively, subtly, over his groin) to be eye level and respectful. "You're a pioneer among the dwarven ... y'know... kingdom now."
Leoxander even added some mild hand gesture, trusting her enough to take the shield of one arm away from vulnerable places.
Myrall screeches furiously. “Swim? I can’t bloody swim, but I’d rather drown out there or be eaten by a passing Kraken or Leviathan than spend another night in this floating torture chamber.”
Tenebrae had the dart ready for Leoxander-- how dare he run away, when she was teaching him a lesson! The --other-- entirely unreasonable woman was eyed instead. A hole in the ship wasn't going to help anyone, and even in her rage, the necromancer realised something needed doing about it. So she sacrificed that first monkey-stunning blowdart to the ship's safety; no blowgun handy, a sharp flick of wrist served to hurl it hard enough to pierce a behemoth's hide, at Myrall's nearest visible body-part, the dart whizzing over the head of the pirate. Unless Leo stood up, suddenly.
Leoxander 's dog was the real criminal with his eyes. Big brown pleading eyes and a lolled tongue as though encouraging her to come along and cause some mischief with them. Jack was the angel on the devil's side of a shoulder, and his tail fanned the air in the Underbelly of the ship, lit with bullseye lanterns here and there.
Leoxander cast a glance over his shoulder when the dart barely missed him, landing his feral eyes on Tenebrae.
Tenebrae cast a look to the mutt that was full of grief and anger, until that expression shifted to wan smile. No time for civility, this, though. She had another candidate for the doghouse to deal with.
Tenebrae looked at Leoxander.
Myrall ’s hand flies up to her neck as she feel something akin to a bite. She stands blinking for a few moments, unable to process what has happened before falling backwards, the next barrage of insults she was about to levy at the pair, dying, unspoken on her lips.
Leoxander said to Tenebrae, "What th'thell, Joli..." He'd flick his attention back at Myrall, already suspicious of what would happen. "She's never gonna trust us, now."
Tenebrae said to Leoxander, "Oh, 'ello Cap'n." She marked Myrall's descent with grim satisfaction, stepping down into the hold with a wary pace. "Didn't recognise you, without your whore draped on you." She hefted another dagger, this one slid from a sheath appending her belt. There were several of them.
Leoxander stood up from his crouched position slowly. Meanwhile Jack wandered back to his side, giving Tenebrae a bewildered look. Was this another one of those crazy moments?
Tenebrae took the opportunity of his standing still to throw the knife at him. Not particularly concerned at this point to where she aimed it, other than his general direction.
Myrall 's crumpled body now lies on the bare floor boards of the cabin, no longer sensible to surroundings, and her previous foul language replaced by the occasional giggle.
Leoxander set a rather serious look down on the Necromancer, his more blue eye squinted behind a few strands of very unserious blond hair. He could only guess she might go so far, and roughed Jack out of the way with a knee, sending him scrambling for the edge of the cabin, while dodging the thrown knife by just an inch or so. Well not only did he dodge it like he was jogging a poorly thrown rock, but he quickly jerked it out of the wood and aimed it to impale a board just above Tenebrae's head. "What. Now...." He'd ask through gritted teeth.
Tenebrae's fury was rising again. Oh, he'd act the innocent. Like the whore would, no doubt. She'd show him. Not at all herself --or perhaps just a little moreso than usual-- she'd simply grasp the nearest available object that wasn't nailed down, not even looking at what it was, and heft the item at the lycan, her hand already reaching for the next. Fortunately, she was too enraged to be bothered fiddling anymore knives from sheaths, for now. "Bastard!" The word was a whipcrack, over dwarvish giggles and the wash of the sea. She turned a little, canted her head up to find the quivering blade and grabbed the handle, trying to tug it free. Nice of him to give it back.
Leoxander took a moment in his mind, as he saw her lift the heavy metal rimmed lockbox, to curse vampiric strength. She wouldn't... she wasn't going to-... his pupils shrunk in his yellow tinted eyes as he saw her chuck the oak-made chest, a little bigger than a breadbox, if you're wondering. Unfortunately, filled with other heavy, valuable, treasured things. He started to dodge, then remembered... Myrall was behind him. So he had no choice but to play catch and because he was in his human form - when the box hit his stomach he dropped hard onto the floor right in front of the giggling dwarf, the wind knocked out of him. Jack cowered and said in a canine language only werewolves might understand: 'Well, this is a good start...'
Myrall struggles to a sit, and looks blinkingly about her, trying to focus on whatever she can. Spotting her own hands and the pulsing blue haze that ever envelops them, the priestess turns them this way and that, giggling childishly at the sight of the strange light, as it swirls through the air in front of her face. Rapidly tiring of the game she tries to dislodge the glow from her fingers. Oblivious to the small sparks, and bubble like orbs of energy that start to ricochet about the cabin as a result of her endeavours, she increases her attempts to rid herself of the light with ever increasingly desperate shakes of her hands.
Tenebrae grunted, and gave up on the knife which had its desired pointy bit buried several inches in a plank. When her eyes flitted back to the Cap'n, she'd find him on the floor... Oh joy. Joliette of the Bloody Wire loved nothing more than the enemy being brought down. So booted feet all but danced across those boards, so light was her hasty step, a bunching of thighs providing impulsion when she leapt -- rather like someone about to divebomb a swimmingpool-- with her knees aimed at that already beat-up stomach. Her fists were bunched hard, and flailing. Hopefully one of them might connect to somewhere that'd prove painful. Right before one of those dwarf-released orbs smacked her upside the head, causing a hiss and the smell of burning hair.
Tenebrae shouted, "Ow!"
Leoxander might crawl up to his feet just in time to duck one of those repelled sparks fired and echoing off every cabin wall. Three cheers for enclosed spaces. A matrix like back bend with a hefty trunk in his arms, and he'd look over his shoulder with a 'what-the-heck' kind of expression on his face. Only hell - Leo didn't believe in 'heck'. He was just ready to toss the trunk to the side when that impact in his ribs made him drop it on his foot. Oh yeah - this was going to be a -great- evening at sea. He almost fell again but instead of losing his balance the rogue just got angry, grabbed the box, and threw it against the side of the ship hard enough that he nearly made Myrall's long lost wish come true. The boards cracked but they did not break, thankfully. His eyes gleamed as they landed on Tenebrae again, and he made a 'bring-it' kind of motion. "Come on, then. You think I can't (censored) deal with you, too?!" Oh yes, this was one of those parenthesis/censored kind of moments.
Tenebrae said, "Like you deal with that half-dressed, simpering bitch sniffing around you? Oh, I have heard all about you two. Traitors!" This last word was choked out as she stood from bruised knees, her anger too great to allow more words, for now. She'd bring it, alright. Traction-heeled footwear had her shove off hard, into a run all too brief in the cabin's confines, those small, hard fists again swinging hard at the pirate. A bubble drifted, a spark flew, to sizzle on exposed skin and leather armour, but she'd not feel it. She wasn't feeling anything right now but... "I'll kill you both!"
Myrall , becoming quite frantic now in her attempts to rid herself of the accursed light, staggered to her feet and proceeded to weave drunkenly about the small cabin, knocking into any and every possible obstacle as she desperately tries to dislodge the glow from her person. The tiny, yet powerful orbs and sparks that are flying every which way, only adding to her ever increasing sense of panic.
Leoxander said, "What the hel-..." He'd been trying to question Tenebrae's motives as politely as a pirate could, but a sudden burn into the back of his head, searing a spot that went half into his scalp, half on his neck, yes - singing hair, interrupted him. He ducked and cursed loudly, and this had him totally unprepared for what Tenebrae was 'bringing'. Leo's tattooed arms went over his head in defense as the first hard swing boxed him upside the ear and sent them ringing, eyes squeezing shut. Okay... things were getting out of hand, quick. He tried to look for the dwarf while pushing Tenebrae against the wall, that was the top of his damage meter, for now: that rough push. Leo didn't want to hurt anyone... but they were quickly trying his patience. "Healer, sit down!" He was trying to shout some sense into them. Would they hear all this above? "Tene' lay off..!"
Tenebrae's arms were not long enough to reach his face, sadly, so she contented herself to pummel away at the air in front of him, that long arm pinning her proving an effective sheild, until she might squirm free. Fists finding no purchase, that razor tongue came at last to its own, though pause was given now and then when she arranged her limbs as best she could out of the way of damaging magic spheres, not all successfully. "The least you could have done is find some dark corner to philander in." Her eyes were pale as tundra ice, ringed in black. If looks could.. "Not flaunt your lust in front of our people." And there lay the salt in the wound. A renewed bout of flailing commenced, and she'd twist hard to find her freedom.
Myrall , in her panic trips over the box that Tenebrae had previously launched at Leoxander, the shock of fining herself once more upended on the cabin floor causing her to momentarily forget her erstwhile problem with her hands, and instead once again burst into fits of hysterical, uncontrollable giggles.
Leoxander was like... an erupting volcano, frankly. He gave his rumbling growl, and his ears practically smoked with warning, but did they get out of town? Apparently not. Leo's eyes widened like someone suddenly wound a wire cable around his throat, and his pupils 'broke' into a shattered, starburst appearance at the very core of moonlit eyes. His mouth fell open to tell them to stop, but it was too late... and his lower jaw would jut forward with canine-corner teeth sharpening, lengthening ... at least an inch. His attention moved to the ceiling as he lost control, and as though he had some terrible case of lockjaw, Leo tried to suffer the pain of moving his transforming maw, bristling with thicker whiskers than a few afternoons' shave, by now. He didn't make much noise, to warn them, to express his anger... nothing. It was just too late, now. Half transformed into some kind of were-beast, with fur-tipped, pointed ears and vicious claws, he shook himself off and focused on the vampire. But that giggling dwarf was quickly an annoyance in his twitching ears.
Myrall rights her self once more and peers over the top of the box at the struggling pair. Seemingly unperturbed by Leo’s transformation, in fact in her bemused state it all appears quite natural, she squeals with delight. “Oh, are we playing with the doggie? Can I join in?” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out one of the silver plated dwarven testicles Tenebrae had given her so many years before. Launching it across the room she shouts gleefully. “Fetch.!”
Tenebrae wasn't riled enough not to feel a slight dismay at the inevitable shift-- but too, she had on some level been aware of what might happen. Really, she was too wounded by the news to see any consequence beyond wanting him to hurt like she did, so the agonising change brought a cold twitch of her lips to serve for a chilly smile. "Beast, your mark means nothing. Did you give her one too?" Her own small jaw was set at a stubborn angle that the Cap'n might recognise, unless he was too feral with anger to keep his human wits. Too late... and she'd goad him further, having nowhere else to go with it. "You and your slut-- I hope you're happy, ever after." While she spoke this, she would realised she was no longer trapped, and make a dash to create distance from his claws. And, of course, tripped over the box, to land in a tangled heap of angry vampiress and drug-fuddled, bearded royalty.
Myrall humphs in a rather jovial fashion as she is wrested to the ground, albeit accidentally by Tenebrae. Seeing it as all part of the game, she rolls over and tries rather unsuccessfully to stand, so that she might leap on the vampiress and continue the fun, but the sea had other ideas, and a sudden lurch of the ship instead sends her sprawling backwards in the other direction.
Tenebrae was also pitched aside with the roll of the ship, and wouldn't notice the dwarfess' sprawling had knocked aside an empty barrel -- rum, go figure -- behind which had hidden a swart, and highly amused Maladroit. The goblin made a show of teeth at his abrupt unveiling, and it wasn't to Tenebrae or Myrall his scarlet, beady eyes turned, but to the Captain. Whereon he'd snicker, triumphantly, one might discern, and shuffle aside quickly, hoping to find a loophole in this mess and make a hasty bid for the upper deck.
Leoxander actually assumed she meant Myrall as that girl! Wasn't that an amusing thought? The lycan pirate having an afternoon rendezvous with the Dwarf Queen? Twitches here and there, but Leo was trying to shake out of it. If only Tenebrae would stop with her taunting. Meanwhile Jack was running after a pair of plated dwarf testicles like they were the catch-of-the-day. He'd even fetch them and bring them back to the Priestess with a proud wag of his plume tail. Chaos ensued, and Leo threw his hands out with a display of vicious claws (no really, look at him. See? Vicious claws) that did more than just make him look intimidating. He wasn't quite knocked over by the tip of the vessel, and maybe that was his strongest point in this little experience. The ground was neutral - for a pirate. But the goblin was the first to make the mistake, as he ran, and before he made it to the stairs the lycan was on the move, shifting even as thick claws swiped him into the wall like a fly. And from there, only violence and greenish blood might ensue. A sight that was far from good and memorable. Leo never really liked, Maladroit. A bloody, furry face might prove that.
Leoxander 's dog would promptly return to business once the trophy was out of the way.
Tenebrae scowled at Jack, who was licking her face, in concern. "Gerroff..."
Tenebrae scowled more when the dog grabbed her sleeve and started tugging. Who knew he'd gather such doggy courage as to play saviour, when Leo went wolf?
Myrall , still laughing, takes the small silver balls from Jack, and without even trying to sit up throws it once more for the dog to chase. Not caring where it went or how far, so heightened was her mirth that all she can do is clutch her sides and laugh.
Teberae maybe had a little sense knocked into her, by the fall-- or maybe it was Jack, who ignored the dwarven goolies in favour of rescuing the vampiress from Leo's ire. In any case, she had the wit to collect Myrall, by the beard if necessary, on her way to the stairs, inching dog, perhaps dwarf, and herself past the slavering lycan who was making a meal of her familiar's hard-won goblinish body. She spared a wince for the hapless creature, whose soul was even now screaming soundlessly, trapped in the lands, in pain. That's what you get for annoying a whole court of drow mages, though. As bad as annoying Tenebrae. No doubt, there were those who'd soon find out. "C'mon!" This to Myrall. "Up the stairs!" After all, there but for the ill grace of Maladroit go them, perhaps.
Myrall allows her stout form to be man handled towards the cabin door, still clutching at her side with one arm whilst pointing at Leo’s Lycan form with the other. “Is the doggy coming?” she giggles childishly
Tenebrae said to Myrall, "Let's bloody hope not... now, hurry!"
Myrall pouts as she stumbles after the vampiress.
-- On Deck--
Tenebrae was breathing hard when they were finally free of the ship's hold. She'd have to let Myrall go, temporarily, while she slammed the doors shut -- and just in time, she could hear claws scraping on timberm coming closer-- and bolted the doors with a stout plank slid to its slot. Sitting heavily against the slightly angled hatch, she looked to the Queen. "Come sit on this, while I grab a barrel or something."
Myrall still pouting plonks her self down obediently where Tenebrae had indicated, much like a sulky five year old.
Tenebrae's eyes desperately searched the deck for something suitable heavily and ... well, inedible... to block the doorway further. Finding several barrels, she would spare a moment to ponder on how to get there roundness to sit on the slanted hatch.
Myrall breathes deeply as the fresh sea air hits her already fuddled senses, though rather than clearing them as she had hoped she finds the pureness of the breeze only serves to heighten the drugs effects, and she collapses backwards, snoring loudly before her head even hits the deck.
Tenebrae let out a little sigh of dismay, turning back only to find Myrall passed out. She had one sealed water-barrel on its side, trying to roll it hatch-ward against the pitching of the deck. A sob rose in her throat, swallowed down hard, and she forced the oaken container to its place beside the slumbering dwarfess, using Myrall's arm brought across its side to wedge it in place. She'd fetch another then, but the thing would wind up rolling over the deck on its own-- there was a crash which shook the timber doors, dwarf, barrel and sent a violent judder through the timber. Apparently Leo wanted out. Frowning, she ran to add her own slight weight to the flotsam collection helping to pin those doors down. "Stop it!" Pale plams slapped the cross-beam, before another slam from the other side that almost sent her and company flying. "Leo, stop, before you hurt Myrall!" Sure, she could just roll the dwarfess out of harm’s way. But her Majesty might prove more useful as ballast, not to mention a bargaining-piece.
Tenebrae, at mention of the --other-- vampiress, went a slightly greenish shade. Could have been the rocking of the ship, though, trick sea-stomach and all. "Well, thankyou, anyhow." She'd fall silent a long moment, apparently gathering herself, and glanced back to him. "I don't blame you for missing them. They're pretty special."
Shishi raises a brow as she subtly changes color. The vampire frowns slightly, Tenebrae's compliment to them reminding him of how much more enjoyable he would have found this boat ride had his children been along for the trip... but such is being 'kidnapped'. He'll nod slowly, "Yea... it woulda been nice to have them here with me... they would've enjoyed it alot..." He'll quickly shake his head and ask the question he's become less and less hopefull of recieving an answer to, "Do you know when we'll be getting back, Tene?"
Tenebrae forgot her own woes, when she noted Shishi's change of countenence. It was unusual to see the man frown, and that he did so in context of his children worried her. "Is everything alright, Shishi?" She gave him a rather pointed look. "You must tell me, if it isn't. Perhaps I can help.." Her gaze shifted about the ship briefly, her own brow still furrowed. "And to be honest, I can't wait for this trip to be over, too." No doubt she had her own reasons.
Shishi shrugs up his shoulders, bringing his aquatic scarf and the Goatfish swimming contently inside it into view for a brief moment. Tenebrae is provided with a weak smile in an attempt to quell her worries about his worries, "It's nothing really... just normal fatherly concern, I guess. I'm sure they're safe... the Undead that they have following them around is no pushover... and I sent Wakka away with a note on the first day we set sail to get them someone to take care of them and watch them while I was away... I just miss them is all... Heheh, I guess it's more my problem than it is theirs, you know what I mean?..."
Tenebrae was obviously relieved by his assurances. "I'm sure we won't be too much longer at sea. We're headed for an island, a brief stop. The Calico Queen moors there, time to time.. if you're in luck, you could buy passage home on her." She gave him a "cheer up" smile. "Your daughter reminds me of myself, you know, when I was.. human." 'Young' meant nothing much to a vampire.
Shishi 's smile becomes more sincere, brightening noticeably. Tenebrae's methods of lightening his mood seem to have worked, "Ah~ Orange does? How sweet! Mmm... she's quite adventurous" He playfully raises a brow at her, "Got yourself into your share of trouble as a little girl then, did you?"
Tenebrae seemed as though she wasn't listening a moment, as she ferreted in her ever-handy pack for something. A cloth-covered oblong, several inches thick, was removed from the bag's cluttered confines and set to the deck with a thump. The black silk covering abruptly wrinkled, as though something shifted underneath, and then a set of ugly, yellow fangs broke through the fabric, ripping holes in it. Tene snatched at the cloth, grumbling loudly, and there was revealed an ancient tome, covered in what looked to be the preserved face of an orc. And it wasn't wearing a happy expression. "Trouble?" She chuckled. "You couldn't imagine how much. Shishi..." Tene's tone had taken a businesslike turn, with his name. "I have an idea, which might help you feel better about things." She fossicked for a quill, then, which was stabbed to the leathery, warty book-cover, and from the wound oozed a thick, greenish sap. The book gnashed its fangs and grew quiet. Dipping the quill to this fluid, she flipped the tome open --carefully-- to a certain page, where she would scrub the ink-like stuff violently across something written there, to utterly obscure it. "Seems we have an opening in Cabal, suddenly. Fancy joining us?"
Shishi cringes heavily as the preserved orc face stares up at him. Squirming, he'll fall backwards a bit, propping himself up on his hands as he listen's to Tenebrae assure him of her mischievous youth. He's happy to see the book opened and the orc's face pressed against the wooden deck, out of his view. The vampire leans forward again to meet her offer, he'd heard of the Cabal but was never completely certain what it was all about and he doesn't seem to be ashamed of his ignorance, with a blink to the vampiress he'll reply with a simple question, "Cabal?"
Tenebrae nodded. "My clan. We are many, and not all are ... well, sociable. We own Vailkrin and a few other things, but the point is..." Her smile was slightly wry. "We take care of each other. One for all, all for one. Or.. are -supposed- to. Unless somebody's being an idiot, then they can sink or... " green eyes shifted sharply to the railings, and her little smile was suddenly a very white grin. "Swim. So, yes. I thought you might feel comforted, to have the kids grow up among those who will protect them." She shook her head. "We have no children, really, among us, And for good reason, but yours.." She tore her eyes off the rails. That little idea would just have to wait. "... yours are quite extraordinary. Would you like some time to think?"
Shishi 's confusion slowly fades and his smile quickly returns the instant Tenebrae mentions his children's well being. The smile transforms into a proud grin as Arius and Leralynn are complimented again. Tenebrae had nailed her pitch to him and he would have signed up right then and there had she not suggested some time to consider. Shishi supplies her a composed nod, "Yea... it sounds great... I'll think about it!"
Tenebrae's smile was as warm as the breeze was not. "You do that, Shishi. Whatever you decide.." The necromancer's pale features coloured a tiny bit, then. "Know I hold a fondness for your family. I'll see no harm come to them, if I can."
Shishi smiles contently, "Thank you, Tene... This land can be quite dangerous, especially for the little ones. It makes me really happy knowing there are others out there that share my deep desire to keep them safe..." The vampire might be tearing up a bit, realizing his children's absence again, "Heh... I'm very proud of them..."
Tenebrae tucked the book away, for now, stashing her pack close to whatever bit of the ship's cabins they were near. "Family is family. We take care of each other or.... " She looked to the railing. "They'll be safe. And you should be. Proud, I mean."
Shishi 's gaze follows Tenebrae's as she stares at the railing again, "Mmm... Thank you again for the offer, Tene."
Tenebrae's smile was small and chilly, and had nothing to do with Shishi. "Welcome, pet." She sighed, ruffled her fingers through her hair. "Can't wait to see land."
Myrall shouted, "*much thumping and banging is heard accompanied by a string of what can only be dwarven swearing*"
Leoxander would be heard, long before he was seen. Jack was the percussion to his 'piratey' tune. "As we're tumbling..." He sang to the dog. Jack pretended to sing along. "Always down..." Surprising that a man so lean could hit a note so low. Blame his abused vocals, which could manage one hell of a growl. "Go slow." He demanded of Jack, hoisting lines onto his shoulder. "On the torture show. Go slow. Always down..." The dog was thoroughly amused, and ran a few steps ahead of the Captain who never seemed happier, than when he was out at sea. Or maybe drunk. Yes... entirely drunk, judging by the near empty bottle in his hand and a bit of a stumble across the upper deck. No better way to sail, or sing...
Tenebrae stiffened at the sound of the pirate's song, and came to a stand with a fluid motion that continued to a brisk step toward the rigging. As the man appeared, she'd already be clambering ropes, her flat-soled boots that gifted dexterity at the cost of height making the job easier than it might have been. From halfway up a knotted network of ropes, perhaps hidden behind a bit of sail for now, the necromancer slipped a dagger from her bodice, the weapon hefted to a comfortable weight. This was then flipped, as soon as the Cap'n deigned to still his drunken steps, to land point-down in the decking at his feet. Perhaps the rocking of the ship had put her aim off.
Leoxander would be interrupted from his song by all the noise that caused him and Jack both to flee downstairs.
Leoxander halted just in time to jump the weapon on the way, tossing a mixed look at Tenebrae.
Tenebrae shouted, "Damn you!" She clambered back down the rigging, evidently intent on causing her lover some grief.
-- In The Hold--
Myrall swings round at the sound of his voice, eyes steelly, temper barely concealed. "Calm? You want me to be calm?" he voice raises to an almost hysterical pitch. "I'll give you calm, when I smash a hole in the side of this crate big enough for me to get through, and wave good bye to the lot of you."
Tenebrae would appear at the top of the steps, likely in silhouette if the sun wasn't down yet. If so, she'd just be a shadow with one rather pointy extremity.
Myrall 's mouth frames a shocked 'O' as she sees Tenebrae for the first time since the wedding. "You!" she stammers. "Him" she jerks her head towards Leoxander. "Him, I can understand, but you! To think you have had anything to do with this vile crime against my person is beyond comprehension."
Leoxander wasn't too worried, he'd sank in a ship a time or three before. So he'd give a shrug, giving Jack a nod, which told the dog to do what he did best. Console. "Some nice boots you have there, yer magesty. I'd hope they won't be a burden if you gotta bloody swim." This comment give as he crossed the room with a glance over his shoulder at his - for some god forsaken reason - bitter female. This wasn't the best time... "Listen, Priestess..." It was rare for the pirate to use that high rank title, hear him out. "We'll be on land in a day. We need a medic. Now, I happen to know how very dull being a regal, important individual such as yourself can get, so consider this just a minor set back in an opportunity of a lifetime." He'd even sink to a knee (making sure to lay his hands protectively, subtly, over his groin) to be eye level and respectful. "You're a pioneer among the dwarven ... y'know... kingdom now."
Leoxander even added some mild hand gesture, trusting her enough to take the shield of one arm away from vulnerable places.
Myrall screeches furiously. “Swim? I can’t bloody swim, but I’d rather drown out there or be eaten by a passing Kraken or Leviathan than spend another night in this floating torture chamber.”
Tenebrae had the dart ready for Leoxander-- how dare he run away, when she was teaching him a lesson! The --other-- entirely unreasonable woman was eyed instead. A hole in the ship wasn't going to help anyone, and even in her rage, the necromancer realised something needed doing about it. So she sacrificed that first monkey-stunning blowdart to the ship's safety; no blowgun handy, a sharp flick of wrist served to hurl it hard enough to pierce a behemoth's hide, at Myrall's nearest visible body-part, the dart whizzing over the head of the pirate. Unless Leo stood up, suddenly.
Leoxander 's dog was the real criminal with his eyes. Big brown pleading eyes and a lolled tongue as though encouraging her to come along and cause some mischief with them. Jack was the angel on the devil's side of a shoulder, and his tail fanned the air in the Underbelly of the ship, lit with bullseye lanterns here and there.
Leoxander cast a glance over his shoulder when the dart barely missed him, landing his feral eyes on Tenebrae.
Tenebrae cast a look to the mutt that was full of grief and anger, until that expression shifted to wan smile. No time for civility, this, though. She had another candidate for the doghouse to deal with.
Tenebrae looked at Leoxander.
Myrall ’s hand flies up to her neck as she feel something akin to a bite. She stands blinking for a few moments, unable to process what has happened before falling backwards, the next barrage of insults she was about to levy at the pair, dying, unspoken on her lips.
Leoxander said to Tenebrae, "What th'thell, Joli..." He'd flick his attention back at Myrall, already suspicious of what would happen. "She's never gonna trust us, now."
Tenebrae said to Leoxander, "Oh, 'ello Cap'n." She marked Myrall's descent with grim satisfaction, stepping down into the hold with a wary pace. "Didn't recognise you, without your whore draped on you." She hefted another dagger, this one slid from a sheath appending her belt. There were several of them.
Leoxander stood up from his crouched position slowly. Meanwhile Jack wandered back to his side, giving Tenebrae a bewildered look. Was this another one of those crazy moments?
Tenebrae took the opportunity of his standing still to throw the knife at him. Not particularly concerned at this point to where she aimed it, other than his general direction.
Myrall 's crumpled body now lies on the bare floor boards of the cabin, no longer sensible to surroundings, and her previous foul language replaced by the occasional giggle.
Leoxander set a rather serious look down on the Necromancer, his more blue eye squinted behind a few strands of very unserious blond hair. He could only guess she might go so far, and roughed Jack out of the way with a knee, sending him scrambling for the edge of the cabin, while dodging the thrown knife by just an inch or so. Well not only did he dodge it like he was jogging a poorly thrown rock, but he quickly jerked it out of the wood and aimed it to impale a board just above Tenebrae's head. "What. Now...." He'd ask through gritted teeth.
Tenebrae's fury was rising again. Oh, he'd act the innocent. Like the whore would, no doubt. She'd show him. Not at all herself --or perhaps just a little moreso than usual-- she'd simply grasp the nearest available object that wasn't nailed down, not even looking at what it was, and heft the item at the lycan, her hand already reaching for the next. Fortunately, she was too enraged to be bothered fiddling anymore knives from sheaths, for now. "Bastard!" The word was a whipcrack, over dwarvish giggles and the wash of the sea. She turned a little, canted her head up to find the quivering blade and grabbed the handle, trying to tug it free. Nice of him to give it back.
Leoxander took a moment in his mind, as he saw her lift the heavy metal rimmed lockbox, to curse vampiric strength. She wouldn't... she wasn't going to-... his pupils shrunk in his yellow tinted eyes as he saw her chuck the oak-made chest, a little bigger than a breadbox, if you're wondering. Unfortunately, filled with other heavy, valuable, treasured things. He started to dodge, then remembered... Myrall was behind him. So he had no choice but to play catch and because he was in his human form - when the box hit his stomach he dropped hard onto the floor right in front of the giggling dwarf, the wind knocked out of him. Jack cowered and said in a canine language only werewolves might understand: 'Well, this is a good start...'
Myrall struggles to a sit, and looks blinkingly about her, trying to focus on whatever she can. Spotting her own hands and the pulsing blue haze that ever envelops them, the priestess turns them this way and that, giggling childishly at the sight of the strange light, as it swirls through the air in front of her face. Rapidly tiring of the game she tries to dislodge the glow from her fingers. Oblivious to the small sparks, and bubble like orbs of energy that start to ricochet about the cabin as a result of her endeavours, she increases her attempts to rid herself of the light with ever increasingly desperate shakes of her hands.
Tenebrae grunted, and gave up on the knife which had its desired pointy bit buried several inches in a plank. When her eyes flitted back to the Cap'n, she'd find him on the floor... Oh joy. Joliette of the Bloody Wire loved nothing more than the enemy being brought down. So booted feet all but danced across those boards, so light was her hasty step, a bunching of thighs providing impulsion when she leapt -- rather like someone about to divebomb a swimmingpool-- with her knees aimed at that already beat-up stomach. Her fists were bunched hard, and flailing. Hopefully one of them might connect to somewhere that'd prove painful. Right before one of those dwarf-released orbs smacked her upside the head, causing a hiss and the smell of burning hair.
Tenebrae shouted, "Ow!"
Leoxander might crawl up to his feet just in time to duck one of those repelled sparks fired and echoing off every cabin wall. Three cheers for enclosed spaces. A matrix like back bend with a hefty trunk in his arms, and he'd look over his shoulder with a 'what-the-heck' kind of expression on his face. Only hell - Leo didn't believe in 'heck'. He was just ready to toss the trunk to the side when that impact in his ribs made him drop it on his foot. Oh yeah - this was going to be a -great- evening at sea. He almost fell again but instead of losing his balance the rogue just got angry, grabbed the box, and threw it against the side of the ship hard enough that he nearly made Myrall's long lost wish come true. The boards cracked but they did not break, thankfully. His eyes gleamed as they landed on Tenebrae again, and he made a 'bring-it' kind of motion. "Come on, then. You think I can't (censored) deal with you, too?!" Oh yes, this was one of those parenthesis/censored kind of moments.
Tenebrae said, "Like you deal with that half-dressed, simpering bitch sniffing around you? Oh, I have heard all about you two. Traitors!" This last word was choked out as she stood from bruised knees, her anger too great to allow more words, for now. She'd bring it, alright. Traction-heeled footwear had her shove off hard, into a run all too brief in the cabin's confines, those small, hard fists again swinging hard at the pirate. A bubble drifted, a spark flew, to sizzle on exposed skin and leather armour, but she'd not feel it. She wasn't feeling anything right now but... "I'll kill you both!"
Myrall , becoming quite frantic now in her attempts to rid herself of the accursed light, staggered to her feet and proceeded to weave drunkenly about the small cabin, knocking into any and every possible obstacle as she desperately tries to dislodge the glow from her person. The tiny, yet powerful orbs and sparks that are flying every which way, only adding to her ever increasing sense of panic.
Leoxander said, "What the hel-..." He'd been trying to question Tenebrae's motives as politely as a pirate could, but a sudden burn into the back of his head, searing a spot that went half into his scalp, half on his neck, yes - singing hair, interrupted him. He ducked and cursed loudly, and this had him totally unprepared for what Tenebrae was 'bringing'. Leo's tattooed arms went over his head in defense as the first hard swing boxed him upside the ear and sent them ringing, eyes squeezing shut. Okay... things were getting out of hand, quick. He tried to look for the dwarf while pushing Tenebrae against the wall, that was the top of his damage meter, for now: that rough push. Leo didn't want to hurt anyone... but they were quickly trying his patience. "Healer, sit down!" He was trying to shout some sense into them. Would they hear all this above? "Tene' lay off..!"
Tenebrae's arms were not long enough to reach his face, sadly, so she contented herself to pummel away at the air in front of him, that long arm pinning her proving an effective sheild, until she might squirm free. Fists finding no purchase, that razor tongue came at last to its own, though pause was given now and then when she arranged her limbs as best she could out of the way of damaging magic spheres, not all successfully. "The least you could have done is find some dark corner to philander in." Her eyes were pale as tundra ice, ringed in black. If looks could.. "Not flaunt your lust in front of our people." And there lay the salt in the wound. A renewed bout of flailing commenced, and she'd twist hard to find her freedom.
Myrall , in her panic trips over the box that Tenebrae had previously launched at Leoxander, the shock of fining herself once more upended on the cabin floor causing her to momentarily forget her erstwhile problem with her hands, and instead once again burst into fits of hysterical, uncontrollable giggles.
Leoxander was like... an erupting volcano, frankly. He gave his rumbling growl, and his ears practically smoked with warning, but did they get out of town? Apparently not. Leo's eyes widened like someone suddenly wound a wire cable around his throat, and his pupils 'broke' into a shattered, starburst appearance at the very core of moonlit eyes. His mouth fell open to tell them to stop, but it was too late... and his lower jaw would jut forward with canine-corner teeth sharpening, lengthening ... at least an inch. His attention moved to the ceiling as he lost control, and as though he had some terrible case of lockjaw, Leo tried to suffer the pain of moving his transforming maw, bristling with thicker whiskers than a few afternoons' shave, by now. He didn't make much noise, to warn them, to express his anger... nothing. It was just too late, now. Half transformed into some kind of were-beast, with fur-tipped, pointed ears and vicious claws, he shook himself off and focused on the vampire. But that giggling dwarf was quickly an annoyance in his twitching ears.
Myrall rights her self once more and peers over the top of the box at the struggling pair. Seemingly unperturbed by Leo’s transformation, in fact in her bemused state it all appears quite natural, she squeals with delight. “Oh, are we playing with the doggie? Can I join in?” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out one of the silver plated dwarven testicles Tenebrae had given her so many years before. Launching it across the room she shouts gleefully. “Fetch.!”
Tenebrae wasn't riled enough not to feel a slight dismay at the inevitable shift-- but too, she had on some level been aware of what might happen. Really, she was too wounded by the news to see any consequence beyond wanting him to hurt like she did, so the agonising change brought a cold twitch of her lips to serve for a chilly smile. "Beast, your mark means nothing. Did you give her one too?" Her own small jaw was set at a stubborn angle that the Cap'n might recognise, unless he was too feral with anger to keep his human wits. Too late... and she'd goad him further, having nowhere else to go with it. "You and your slut-- I hope you're happy, ever after." While she spoke this, she would realised she was no longer trapped, and make a dash to create distance from his claws. And, of course, tripped over the box, to land in a tangled heap of angry vampiress and drug-fuddled, bearded royalty.
Myrall humphs in a rather jovial fashion as she is wrested to the ground, albeit accidentally by Tenebrae. Seeing it as all part of the game, she rolls over and tries rather unsuccessfully to stand, so that she might leap on the vampiress and continue the fun, but the sea had other ideas, and a sudden lurch of the ship instead sends her sprawling backwards in the other direction.
Tenebrae was also pitched aside with the roll of the ship, and wouldn't notice the dwarfess' sprawling had knocked aside an empty barrel -- rum, go figure -- behind which had hidden a swart, and highly amused Maladroit. The goblin made a show of teeth at his abrupt unveiling, and it wasn't to Tenebrae or Myrall his scarlet, beady eyes turned, but to the Captain. Whereon he'd snicker, triumphantly, one might discern, and shuffle aside quickly, hoping to find a loophole in this mess and make a hasty bid for the upper deck.
Leoxander actually assumed she meant Myrall as that girl! Wasn't that an amusing thought? The lycan pirate having an afternoon rendezvous with the Dwarf Queen? Twitches here and there, but Leo was trying to shake out of it. If only Tenebrae would stop with her taunting. Meanwhile Jack was running after a pair of plated dwarf testicles like they were the catch-of-the-day. He'd even fetch them and bring them back to the Priestess with a proud wag of his plume tail. Chaos ensued, and Leo threw his hands out with a display of vicious claws (no really, look at him. See? Vicious claws) that did more than just make him look intimidating. He wasn't quite knocked over by the tip of the vessel, and maybe that was his strongest point in this little experience. The ground was neutral - for a pirate. But the goblin was the first to make the mistake, as he ran, and before he made it to the stairs the lycan was on the move, shifting even as thick claws swiped him into the wall like a fly. And from there, only violence and greenish blood might ensue. A sight that was far from good and memorable. Leo never really liked, Maladroit. A bloody, furry face might prove that.
Leoxander 's dog would promptly return to business once the trophy was out of the way.
Tenebrae scowled at Jack, who was licking her face, in concern. "Gerroff..."
Tenebrae scowled more when the dog grabbed her sleeve and started tugging. Who knew he'd gather such doggy courage as to play saviour, when Leo went wolf?
Myrall , still laughing, takes the small silver balls from Jack, and without even trying to sit up throws it once more for the dog to chase. Not caring where it went or how far, so heightened was her mirth that all she can do is clutch her sides and laugh.
Teberae maybe had a little sense knocked into her, by the fall-- or maybe it was Jack, who ignored the dwarven goolies in favour of rescuing the vampiress from Leo's ire. In any case, she had the wit to collect Myrall, by the beard if necessary, on her way to the stairs, inching dog, perhaps dwarf, and herself past the slavering lycan who was making a meal of her familiar's hard-won goblinish body. She spared a wince for the hapless creature, whose soul was even now screaming soundlessly, trapped in the lands, in pain. That's what you get for annoying a whole court of drow mages, though. As bad as annoying Tenebrae. No doubt, there were those who'd soon find out. "C'mon!" This to Myrall. "Up the stairs!" After all, there but for the ill grace of Maladroit go them, perhaps.
Myrall allows her stout form to be man handled towards the cabin door, still clutching at her side with one arm whilst pointing at Leo’s Lycan form with the other. “Is the doggy coming?” she giggles childishly
Tenebrae said to Myrall, "Let's bloody hope not... now, hurry!"
Myrall pouts as she stumbles after the vampiress.
-- On Deck--
Tenebrae was breathing hard when they were finally free of the ship's hold. She'd have to let Myrall go, temporarily, while she slammed the doors shut -- and just in time, she could hear claws scraping on timberm coming closer-- and bolted the doors with a stout plank slid to its slot. Sitting heavily against the slightly angled hatch, she looked to the Queen. "Come sit on this, while I grab a barrel or something."
Myrall still pouting plonks her self down obediently where Tenebrae had indicated, much like a sulky five year old.
Tenebrae's eyes desperately searched the deck for something suitable heavily and ... well, inedible... to block the doorway further. Finding several barrels, she would spare a moment to ponder on how to get there roundness to sit on the slanted hatch.
Myrall breathes deeply as the fresh sea air hits her already fuddled senses, though rather than clearing them as she had hoped she finds the pureness of the breeze only serves to heighten the drugs effects, and she collapses backwards, snoring loudly before her head even hits the deck.
Tenebrae let out a little sigh of dismay, turning back only to find Myrall passed out. She had one sealed water-barrel on its side, trying to roll it hatch-ward against the pitching of the deck. A sob rose in her throat, swallowed down hard, and she forced the oaken container to its place beside the slumbering dwarfess, using Myrall's arm brought across its side to wedge it in place. She'd fetch another then, but the thing would wind up rolling over the deck on its own-- there was a crash which shook the timber doors, dwarf, barrel and sent a violent judder through the timber. Apparently Leo wanted out. Frowning, she ran to add her own slight weight to the flotsam collection helping to pin those doors down. "Stop it!" Pale plams slapped the cross-beam, before another slam from the other side that almost sent her and company flying. "Leo, stop, before you hurt Myrall!" Sure, she could just roll the dwarfess out of harm’s way. But her Majesty might prove more useful as ballast, not to mention a bargaining-piece.