Nedrassian Trench (Tranquility)

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

“I like fine wine, strong whiskey, and long walks through the Mist in the moonlight. As for the rest, can’t a girl have some secrets?” She tossed her hair and just smiled cryptically as she licked her lips and helped herself to more drink.

[Konrad of Wolfhaven]

"It seems we share at least two out of three things in common," Konrad replied, while a strange portion in the back of his mind noted that he was flirting with the woman's delusion, almost without even meaning to. "I'm very glad you've joined us on this journey, I hope you're finding it pleasant enough?" He added, hoping to get a sense of what this "Juliette" knew about her present location and how she'd gotten there.

[Ceutinde]

Ceutinde observed the exchange quietly. So far Konrad was doing well; best not to interrupt. She'd seen this sort of thing once or twice before, but had no idea of a cure.

[Silvia Raizer]

Silvia had been listening to Juliette/Justine in confused fascination but now she grew bored. She downed her whisky and poured another glass before leaning close to Zavier and whispering to him.

"Looks like you've had a lucky escape after all, though I don't think she meant to do it. Perhaps we should leave the rest of them to...whatever that is, and take a turn about the deck."

[The Forgotten God]

Zavier nodded and rose as quickly as he could. “That sounds like a good idea. I think she might be really crazy,” he whispered back. He took another drink of his apple brandy and headed toward the bow.

[Silvia Raizer]

Silvia carried her glass of whisky as she walked with him. "Yes, it does seem that way. That or she's very good at pretending, but I don't know why she'd do that." After a ship of whisky she said "We should laugh at each other's comments, make it seem like we haven't a care in the world."

[The Forgotten God]

Zavier didn’t seem to grasp the point initially, but after a moment he laughed. “Who has a care?” He said with a grin. “We’ve got murder shrimp and a voyage to god knows where and a lady whose working with us who is clearly insane. What’s not to enjoy?” A spray of water splashed on them from a rogue wave. It didn’t get past their hips but it was fairly well timed. “So what brought you here?” He asked.

[Silvia Raizer]

She laughed as the waved splashed her.

"I wanted to see new things, write the song that will make me famous forever. I wasn't expecting shrimp and madwomen. but it's a start. I want strange things to happen, and I intend to tell the tale, afterwards."

[The Forgotten God]

The lad kicked the water off his boots. “Strange things seem likely,” he said. “Where’d you learn to fight like you do? That move with your pistol was amazing!”

[Silvia Raizer]

"Of course it was. I'm good with weapons." She grinned at him. "I learned some of the swordplay from my father, and the rest from various other places, during my travels." She wasn't going to tell him about the thieves, of course. "Father said that every new opponent is a lesson, even in the training yard. Because people don't always fight alike. When you train, it's mostly with just one or two people, especially in the beginning, so you learn their moves, their stances, the combinations they favour. So you can't improve forever if you only fight against the same two people. A real fight will be unpredictable, and you have to be faster and smarter than the other person. And luckier too."

[The Forgotten God]

“That makes sense,” Zavier said. “So you trained a ton and then went out to make your name. What did you say your nickname is? The Skylark? I like that. You should really be the Eagle or something though because you’re super dangerous. What’s the best fight you ever got in?”

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

Jul 6, 2020 17:23:50 GMT Konrad of Wolfhaven said:

"It seems we share at least two out of three things in common," Konrad replied, while a strange portion in the back of his mind noted that he was flirting with the woman's delusion, almost without even meaning to. "I'm very glad you've joined us on this journey, I hope you're finding it pleasant enough?" He added, hoping to get a sense of what this "Juliette" knew about her present location and how she'd gotten there.

Juliette looked up as Silvia and the sailor boy fled. Yes, she had that effect on people. She knew that much.

“Mostly. I’d rather solid ground beneath my feet than rolling waves but you can’t have everything. Can damn well try, though,” she added with a pointed grin toward Konrad. “I like that this party’s got a little cozier. Maybe you’ll tell me a little about yourself now?”

[Konrad of Wolfhaven]

He noted that she evaded his question skillfully,

"I'm quite with you there," Konrad agreed regarding the rolling deck although she might assume he meant the reduced company, "and of course. I should be glad to." he was curious to see how much this personality knew that Justine had also known. "Of course I'm Konrad of Wolfhaven, but I assume you knew that? My family's estate is not at all far from..." Don't say asylum, don't say asylum, his brain urged, "From where you and Justine spent some time..." he said instead. 

[Kjell Ó Raghallaigh]

A while after it got dark, Kjell came down from the crow's nest and sent another spotter up. By now, it was too dark to see anything for it to make a real difference. She raised an eyebrow when she passed the table as if to say 'wow, you guys are still drinking here?', and trolled past it, rubbing her neck.

She stopped by Herneiros, leaned her elbows on the railing and likewise looked at the stars. "So, I've been meaning to ask you something," she said in Elvish. "All your time in the mist... have you ever happened upon one of the big ones?"

[Silvia Raizer]

Jul 6, 2020 19:13:20 GMT The Forgotten God said:

“That makes sense,” Zavier said. “So you trained a ton and then went out to make your name. What did you say your nickname is? The Skylark? I like that. You should really be the Eagle or something though because you’re super dangerous. What’s the best fight you ever got in?”

"They call me the skylark for my voice.  Eagles can't sing as well as I can," Silvia retorted, but she smiled anyway.  As she walked along the deck, she considered.  "There have been so many.  How shall I choose just one?"  

After a couple more sips of whisky she turned to face Zavier, leaning on the rail as she did so.  

"There was this one particular incident.  I had got into a quarrel with a fellow swashbuckler, an arrogant fellow who thought he was the gods' gift to the world.  The best sword, the best shot, the best singer...and, oh, yes, the best lover as well.  I challenged him to prove his skill on all four counts.  He was a better shot than me, but I was a better sword, and a better singer too.  As for the other part...." 

She downed her whisky and grinned.  "We could never agree on that point, so we had to find a third party to make the decision for us, a rather handsome fellow with coal-black hair.  I won.  Obviously.  But Cocky Carlton - that's what his detractors called him - wasn't happy about that.  He accused me of paying the other fellow for my victory.  A lie, of course, but Carlton wouldn't have it and a dozen people heard him call me a cheat.  I had no choice but to challenge him to a duel.  He chose swords, because he wanted to beat me with my best weapon."

She sighed before her eyes lit up again.  "I almost miss him, you know.  He wasn't a bad lover, just not as good as me.  We  fought in the inn yard, with everyone drinking around us, and placing bets on the outcome.  We swore it would be to first blood only, but Carlton was half-drunk by that point and his temper was up.  He could never stand to lose.  He swung at me, wild swings that would have cleaved me near in half if he'd been sober.  He gave me quite the run around, in the end, despite his drunkenness.  We were sweaty and angry and I almost lost my hand at one point, but Carlton began to lose his focus as the brandy took hold of him, and I was able to tease him.  And then I found my opening when he swung wide.  I spun around him and cut his belt, then sliced across his right buttock when his trousers fell down.  The crowd fell about laughing and Carlton was mad as fire but he had to yield and admit my superiority as both a lover and a fighter."

She paused to take a breath and smile at the memory.  "I left town that night but we met up a few months later and Carlton had a fine old scar, and he'd even learned a few new tricks in bed.  The fool died fighting a year later, in a tavern brawl of all things."