Patchwork Universe

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 100 Location: HMS Justice

Larkin Quickgrip found himself being led below decks by the formidable yet friendly Michaels. “So, where are you from, lad? Word has it you washed ashore with that other fellow, the French one.” She paused to duck under a low doorway. “Mind your head, now. I’ll tell you, I said you could join us, ‘cause I thought you’d be mighty uncomfortable otherwise, in the great cabin. The Captain’s not so bad, actually, but Old Temper is a stickler for doing things proper like, and you’d likely have insulted someone before the meal was out. Here - ” They were now in a long low room where many hammocks were hanging from the ceiling. In the corner, a few men were dicing, and it was one of these that Michaels addressed. “Oi! Brewer, lend us a shirt and some trews, willya?”

“Why Chas darlin’ if you wanted me to take my shirt off, you only had to say…” Brewer winked in a teasing fashion. “Idiot!” Michaels laughed. “Nay, they’re for Quickgrip here, just until this effects dry.” Larkin found himself being handed a clean but worn and much-mended shirt, and a pair of patched breeches. “Here. Put these on, and hang your things on that line there. Then, come sit with us – it’ll be a little while before they call all hands – and you can tell us where you’re from and the like.”

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 34 Location: The Slums

Larkin grinned and moved to a corner for modesties sakes to undress and change. Michaels noticed the way that the small man never smiled, he only ever seemed to grin a touch cheekily. Stripping off his overcoat with the blade inside he quickly hung this over the line that Michaels had indicated earlier. He then proceeded to remove everything else and throw on the clothes he had just been handed.

"Yeah I guessed, there aint many who could picture us up dere wid all the fourteen forks to a plate an all the rest." Larkin quickly shook his head then continued with "Where Im from aye? Well first of all if yer gunna call me anythin call us Larks alright? Not even me mum calls us Larkin anymore and Quickgrips fer the officers." Larkin grinned and then sat down with the other hands and waited a few seconds while Michaels joined them.

"So how'd you get here then?" asked the hand who Michaels had called Brewer before.

"Well, Im on what you would call a quest." Larkin proudly said then looked around the room for the reaction.

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 100 Location: HMS Justice

This provoked a hearty guffaw from Brewer, as well as from Simpson, the other dice player. “What are ye looking for in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? Mermaids? Pirate treasure? There’s ought out here but salt water and fish.”

“Ah, hush up Simpson!” Even Michaels was smiling at this grandiose pronouncement, but it was good-naturedly. “So go on then, Larks, tell us about your quest. What are you looking for, or is it that you’ve come to get away from something? There’s many that join the Navy for that, present company included.” Michaels settled comfortably back in her hammock, nodded at the others, and looked expectantly at Larkin.

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 34 Location: The Slums

"Ah well yer see," Larkin began "I wasnt expectin to find the passifik was it? wen I left." Larkin shook his head "But I couldnt see where I was goin right, cos of this stupid mist." Larkin scratched at his scar and continued "Anyways I fought it was just this stupid scar playin up again, yer see it got infected and blinded me left eye, so I fought it was jus that again."

Not bothering to wait for any reaction he breathed in and carried on "As fer me quest, well, I aint excactly lookin for somefin real as it were." Larkin paused as if a great secret was about to follow. "Im lookin fer the reason why people aint visitin the city anymore."

Larkin waited impatiently for the laughs to die down before starting again. "Yer see he said Peerblind, the city where I was born an raised practically lives offa visitors so itsa big deal back there."

Larkin sat back and grinned "Hey you wouldnt happen to be playin dice there wouldya? Only I just so appen to be alright at that"

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 100 Location: HMS Justice

Brewer grinned at the other man. “Alright lad, if you’re so eager to give us your money, you can have a go.” But as Simpson moved aside to make room for Larkin and handed him the dicing cup, Michaels looked thoughtful. “So, Larks, this city where you’re from – whereabouts is it, exactly? And how’d you get here? After all, it’s a mite difficult to get anywhere without a ship out here, which would explain why you’ve not got trade a-coming in. That said, though -” she added after a pause “you wouldn’t think it what with all the comings and goings of late, and castaways showing up all the time. Cap’n can’t be pleased about that.”

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 34 Location: The Slums

Larkin wore a face of confusion as he gripped the dice cup and shook it slowly as he thought. "Well" he said "I wouldnt really know much bout yer cap'n but I do know it was a bit funny the way it appened."

Leaning in a little he carried on shaking the cup "It was like I was carried away by sumtin. I ad me eyes closed yer see an I'm sure I only took two or three steps but then all ovva sudden there was no floor an I fell into yer ocean."

Larkin appeared to bite his lip as he thought "It must be sumtin to do wid that mist." Larkin shrugged and then cast the dice out of the cup.

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 100 Location: HMS Justice

At Larkin’s mention of the mist, Simpson frowned darkly, then turned his head and spat over his left shoulder. “Some devilry afoot there, with all that fog and mist” he muttered. “Like as not, the island is cursed, or we’ve wandered into something like the Triangle.” Brewer snorted in response, scooping up the dice cup. “ ’Cept of course that’s in the Caribbean, and we’re in the South Pacific.” Simpson continued to frown. “I said “like the Triangle,” didn’t I? Stands to reason there’d be more than one. And if we’ve blundered into it, God help us all.”

“Oh, nicely done, Larks,” said Michaels, who seemed to be the only one playing attention to the dice. “You’ll have to be lucky to beat that one, Brewer.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “So, this Peerblind, it’s not far from the island, right? No more than a league to the south, if you walked and swam here.” She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s right, somehow. I could’ve sworn I heard Master Baker say there was no land for several leagues around here. But first the boat went away and found a shore, and now this.”

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 34 Location: The Slums

Larkin merely nodded along with the talk of 'The Triangle', he wasnt entirely sure of what it was but he didnt want to see stupid in front of these people.

At the talk about his hometown he piped up "Well yer see, the funny fing is that there aint no seas or oceans for many leagues from Peerblind. Thats why I was a bit surprised when I found meself in one. I'm guna have ter ask yer cap'n bout it later aye."

Pulling a sly grin as Brewer handed him the cup he said "Hey if yer think Im lucky at this you should see me wiv cards. There are places where Im known as Larkin 'The Joker' Quickgrip, an believe me, it aint for me comedy routine."

Thinking for a few seconds he added "Well where I come from Im known as that. Thats anuva thing Im guna ask yer cap'n about. Can she get me back."

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 100 Location: HMS Justice

Brewer was quick with an answer to that. “Well, that don’t make sense now, you with no ocean, and then you here. You sure you’re not touched in the head, lad?” Shaking his own head, Brewer reached for the dice cup when Larkin had finished.

Michaels interrupted before Larkin could answer. “Not to worry Larks, if you’ve not come more than a league, the Cap’n could order a boat to take you out, easy as easy, you and that other gent, the foreign one. Is he from Peerblind, too?” Pausing for a moment, she continued. “Sounds a bit like London, this city of yours – maybe it’d be worth a visit, if’n the Captain would give us shore leave.”

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 34 Location: The Slums

"Touched in the head aye? So yer sayin I either dreamt up me whole childhood, or I dreamt up the ocean?" Shaking his head and grinning he added "But if yer wanna come to Peerblind yer welcome, so long as yer can pay yer way back out again. The Lords dont like no people to leave the city, so they put a high tax on the exit gate yer see. Enterins cheap, its just the leavin thats guna cost you."

Thinking for a few seconds he added "An its a bludy rough place. But if yer have a good sword at yer side or yer with me yer would be alright. Everyone knows me back there ya see."

All of a sudden there was a great commotion from upstairs with lots of heavy footsteps pounding on the hard wooden floors and yells floating around above them. Larkins glance flicked upwards and he said "Hey whats all that about? You guys aint guna be needed are ya?"

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 100 Location: HMS Justice

“Nah, it’s just routine, the observance of noon. They’ll call us soon, though, so we’d best be ready.” As Larkin turned around he could see that Simpson was slicking back his hair, while Michaels had gotten out of the hammock, and Brewer quickly put away the dice and cup. In a moment, there came the cry “All hands, all hands on deck,” and other sailors who had been resting below started trooping up the stairs. “You can stay here if ye like, Larks, as you’re not part of the crew, or you can come up if ye wish.” Michaels nodded in the direction of Brewer and Simpson, who were following the others. “We’re to witness any punishments, then we’ll get our grub and grog – orders are you’re to get a ration, same as us. By the time we’ve finished eating, your slops should be dry” she said, gesturing to the hanging clothes, “and the Cap’n will be wanting to see you, like as not. But, either way, best not be sluggish, aye?” And with that, she was off with the others, headed upstairs.

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 34 Location: The Slums

Larkin briefly looked around the empty cabin, before shrugging and chasing after the crew, leaving upstairs the way they left.

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 100 Location: HMS Justice

Michaels started when Larkin tapped her shoulder, but she quickly spun about. “There ye are, lad – here ye go.” Shoving a wooden plate and spoon into his hands, she waved him in the direction of the stairs. “You’ll join our mess, so find the others, Brewer and Simpson, below deck, they’ll show you where to go. I’ll get your liquor ration and bring it down, as they’ve been told as I’m to take care of ye.” She said, gesturing to the foremast, where a sailor was ladling out what appeared to be brackish water from a wooden barrel. The liquid gave off a strong alcohol smell, which was noticeable even from here.

Larkin was pushed along by the tide of bodies that proceeded below decks. Brewer and Simpson had already seated themselves on sea chests, drawn up to a slatted table in the corner near where they had been dicing. Their plates were before them, and each had a filled wooden mug as well. Shortly another sailor, a woman, came up and set a bucket with a ladle on the table. Leaning over, Simpson sniffed – “Ah, lobscouse, nothing better. Smells like the salt pork aren’t too rancid, either.” Picking up the ladle, he scooped a lump of a mashed, stew-like substance onto his plate. “Will ye have some, Larks?”

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 34 Location: The Slums

Larkin scooped up a lump of the questionable substance and dumped it on his plate before grabbing his spoon and tucking in. After only one spoonful he sat up and licked his lips. Nodding at Brewer he said "Thats some good stuff, reminds me of the week I spent in the guard." Grinning he carried on with " 'parently thats the shortest time anyones eva spent in it."

Larkin stared into his lobscouse for a minute before enquiring "So, what are you guys actually *doing* here? Only I've bin wonderin' an it seems to me that this is some kinda war vessel. You guys aint goin to war wiv no-one are ya, only wars really unprofitable for someone like me."

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 100 Location: HMS Justice

Brewer snorted. “Well, we’re not at war proper, but we don’t like the look ‘o’ them Frogs, if you see what I mean.” Simpson nodded sagely. “They’ll be at war soon enough when we get back, I reckon. Meantime, though, we shore up the colonies, maybe go back the long way. That’d be quite a voyage, wouldn’t it, lad? South China Sea, India, and round the Cape of Good Hope back to English waters, just like an East Indiaman.”

“What’re ye devils on about now?” Michaels set down another two wooden mugs, one in front of her, and one in front of Larkin. Reaching over to the bucket, she ladled out her portion of the food. “There’s your grog, Larks me boy. Two parts water, one part finest West Indies rum. How we drinks it in the Navy.” With that, she nodded at the other two and raised her tankard in salute. “To Justice!”