The Ambitious Hunt

[Alzella]

OOC: Aww, really? Alright. *hurries*

Celosia smiled lightly, "He's definitely unusual." She answered, but said no more on the matter. "Have you had the chance to overlook your con--"
Leif glided over with a parchment in hand. "My dearest Witch, would you mind terribly if I stole this young lass? I thought not," Leif led Blake off to the Cabin, not waiting for Celosia's respond. The Witch Pirate simply smiled after the two before turning to reassure Sedna, the ship Doctor, that Blake was not a "ninja out to eat her."
"Now then, we have contract matters to discuss. Read the fine print first. If you agree, sign. If not, get off my ship." Leif began matter-of-factly.

Fine Print: Anything discussed, revealed, overheard, written, foretold, told, spoken, or other knowledge imparted upon Captain Leif's vessel - no matter the name nor the ship - shan't leave the vessel nor reach the ears of any outside of The Crew.

[Rogue of Night]

Blake smirked. "I'm not an idiot, Captain. I know the drill." She took out a knife which was hidden inside her pistol holster, and swiped it across her hand. She then took one of the quills and dipped it in her blood, signing her name at the bottom. "There."

[Alzella]

"Perfect," Leif announced, fanning the parchment to dry the blood. "Now you shall find yourself privy to information that, upon reaching outside ears, will result in your untimely death: I am Leif Ó Nualláin, yes – of the Noble Family. As such, you will receive a proper yearly sum atop your share of whatever treasure we accumulate. Consult the accommodations parchment for our injury quota." Leif vaguely waved at the shelf of parchments nearby. "Crewmembers of the Lady Nightmare never walk the plank: they mysteriously go silent and vanish.” Leif leveled Blake with a pointed autumn orange orb. “Are we in agreement, matey?” He inquired, waving parchment in one hand and holding out the other.

[Rogue of Night]

Blake just nodded, shaking on their agreement. She then went to the shelf, snatching down the parchment, read it over quickly, then returned it to its hold and proceeded back onto the deck. Only then did she feel the familiar twinge of heartache. The Captain's cabin was something she was all too familiar with, but with the untimely disappearance of her prior lover, she had become accustomed, once more, to the crew's cabins. Her gaze became distant as she peered around the deck, and for but a moment, she could've sworn she had seen him; Jack.
"Stop dwelling in the past, sister," Charlie muttered to her as he passed. "It will only lead to your downfall."
Blake's stare hardened, though the emotion still lingered. "What makes you think--"
"You were in the Captain's cabin," said her brother simply. "Jack." And with that, he proceeded on his way.
Blake just frowned.

[Alzella]

Stella waited a moment more. Finally, she crawled out of her hiding space. She hardly minded be covered head to toe in dust and grim. Stella stretched widely, listening with a pleased grin at the pops and cracks her bones made.
Celosia may have left her inland and expected her to stay with the odd smelling old people, but there was no way Celosia could keep Stella from joining in the fun. Besides, Celosia’s little “magic shields” were nothing compared to the determination of Stella D. Zonisti!
Stella posed proudly. A childish giggle and eager clapping acted as her audience. Stella wheeled around dramatically, drawing a pretend sword and waving it at the intruder.
“Who dares to interrupt my show?” She demanded, added a belated, “Argg!” for effect.
Chloelia, still clad in her witch garment, popped straight up to stand on her tippy toes and wave her hand in the air. Stella grinned at the fellow little goat. She pretend to put her invisible sword away and bowed clumsily to the witch-child.
It seems a partnership had formed.

“We leave in half a candle stick hour!” Leif announced, running an unconcerned hand over the helm. “If our First Mate, Levi, and Ivol have not made an appearance by then….” Leif trailed off, slyly letting his autumn brown gaze slide about. “Well, let’s hope they can swim well.”

[Rogue of Night]

Blake just sighed as she once again climbed up to the crows nest. Only when she had sat down, did she feel a warm wind tugging playfully at her hair and clothes. She sighed sadly, feeling melancholy taking over her mind and thoughts. She leaned backwards, and for a single moment, felt arms enclose around her. She smiled a little, closing her eyes to imagine it was Jack, and that his lips were pressed against her temple, while he sat behind her, legs extended on either side of her, and arms holding her close. Oh how she missed him.

Ivel tossed the apple up and down in his bare hand, moving slowly toward the ship. "We shan't be late," he announced, pushing his extensive black hair over his shirtless shoulder.

ooc;; I have to now, and I won't be back till tomorrow around 4pm Pacific (sleep over at a friend's house; she's the one moving away in two weeks!) See ya!

[Alzella]

OOC: Okay! Have fun!

[Alzella]

After Leif’s announcement, the crew dissolved into various activities. Mogen played fetch with the ship’s dog before heading down into the kitchen and preparing lunch. Vyrick decidedly stood guard at the plank, having not been given any specific orders. Nikolai lounged against the railing, sniffing daintily at the sea, while Devon chattered into his ear.
Plopping down next to the stairs that led up to the helm, Russell took out a bottle of rum and downed half of it in one go. If asked where Levi was, he’d answer that he didn’t know: he hadn’t been able to get Levi drunk as he’d run off with Ivel to who-knows-where.
Kyle decidedly climbed the mast with catlike reflexes up to the Crow’s Nest, his usual perch, only to find it preoccupied by Blake. “Oh!” He appeared stumped for a moment, “Ah, um, I’m sorry to interrupt – I think – but,” Kyle frowned his brows: would he share the nest or not? Conspicuously, he glanced over the side down to Celosia. If he didn’t, then Lady Nightmare likely wouldn’t be happy. “Do you mind if I join you? I like keeping lookout.” Kyle finished sheepishly, managing to stay balanced on the edge of the Crow’s Nest and rub the back of his head without holding onto anything.
Leroy buzzed about the deck worriedly, searching everywhere for Chloe. Leif had let him wander off the ship with the rest of the crew, but now Leroy wasn’t so sure if that had been a good idea. He didn’t know where Chloelia was!
On the verge of panicking, Leroy nibbled his lip indecisively. He practically bit it in half when Zekiel abruptly laid a hand on his shoulder.
“Relax, kiddo,” Zekiel soothed, one arm covered with a lady. “How about a card trick, eh? On the house.” Zekiel began shuffling a stack of cards one-handedly.
Leroy did appear the slightest bit eased. The woman, on the other hand, appeared highly intrigued.
“Zekiel!” Leif called abruptly.
“Aye, Captain?”
Leif made a vague motion at the plank. Zekiel understood it to mean ‘no one but the crew’ aboard. Apologetically, Zekiel turned to the woman, kissed her cheek, and led her off the ship. When he came back to finish the card trick for Leroy, he found his audience busy running around silently and pulling his hair out. Ah~ poor Leroy lost Chloe.
Skye had long since disappeared into the ship to find a different outfit to wear.
Sedna chatted with Syri at the bow of the ship. When I say chatted, I mean Sedna did the talking and Syri did very, very, subtly body movements. If one simply looked without looking, they would think Syri tuned everything Sedna said out.
Nyx and Celosia spoke in hushed but argumentative tones. Celosia seemed to be trying to convince Nyx of something.

[Alzella]

Levi nodded, his eyes trained on the apple Ivel tossed while his own hand twirled a knife lazily.
“Yeah, I suppose. Leif wouldn’t be happy if we missed the hour mark; then Russell would hit me with his pole.” Levi sighed long-sufferingly. “But I haven’t even gotten into a good bar fight.”
Caleb came up behind the too, clapping a hand onto each of their bare shoulders.
“And if you don’t hurry, you’ll miss the good one waiting for you aboard Lady Nightmare,” he said, “Right Ivel?” As he spoke, he nudged the two into a faster pace towards the ship. He appeared unbothered by the fact that Levi waltzed around in nothing but shorts and Ivel in nothing but pants.

[Rogue of Night]

Blake, pulled from her memories, glanced at Kyle with a quizzical stare. "Erm, no...I don't mind...I don't even know if I'm supposed to be up here right now...."

Ivel glanced dully at Caleb. "There's going to be a bar fight abroad Lady Nightmare? What the hell sort of name is that for a ship?"

[Alzella]

"Ah~ not a bar fight my fellow matey," Caleb hummed, "Just regular ol' sword practice."
Levi made a face.
"Knife throwing included."
Levi made less of a face.
"As for the name--e"
"It sucks," Levi interrupted. A sudden wicked grin overcame his features, "I bet Celosia already said so." But a mischievous gleam had entered his emerald orbs. Leaning close to Ivel, he whispered in hushed tones so only he could hear, "We should paint of the name."
"Whatever mischief you're thinking of doing," Caleb said, pulling the two back apart, "I suggest you save it for another day." With that, he clapped both of their shoulders and waltzed off to speak with the Captain. Apparently, they'd made it aboard.
"At long last!" Leif announced, "Take off, quick! Before they catch us!"
"Before who catches us?" Sedna inquired, "We haven't even stolen anything... Yet."
Syri made a very faint half shrug of indifference.

[Alzella]

Kyle grinned brightly, revealing oddly sharp canines as he climbed into the Crow’s Nest and took out a miniature telescope.
“You’re supposed to be wherever you’re best suited to be and wherever you want to be,” he answered whilst looking out over the vast sea. He abruptly zoomed in, leaned far over the edge of the Nest – practically falling out of it in doing so, and looked down at the crew. “Why, I’m up here ‘cause I’ve got good balance. Caleb’s down there by the Cap’ain ‘cause he’s the First Mate.” Kyle pointed at said blue-haired individual. “We can’t see Momo, though, ‘cause he’s already inside cooking. He’ll probably eat half of what he cooks, but that’s cause it’s really good food.” Pocketing the telescope, Kyle hopped onto the railing of the nest, stood, shaded his eyes, and assumed a lookout stance. “If you like heights, then you should be here!” He twirled dramatically, ending back in his lookout position.
From down below, a voice, rather stern, floated up; “Kyle! I swear! If you fall, I’ll strangle you!”
Kyle answered amusedly, “Yes Mother~” To Blake, he said, “That would be Celosia.”
“I’m not your Mother!”
Celosia’s response went ignored.

[Rogue of Night]

Blake glanced at each of the people as Kyle pointed them out, her eyes blinking with intrigue. "Well, then, I suppose I belong here."

[Alzella]

"That's the spirit!" Kyle grinned. From one of his pockets, he took out a spare miniature telescope and tossed it over to Blake. Down below, Sedna called up.
"What?!"
"Not you, Spirit!" Kyle answered. He swung out of the Crow's Nest, his motions resembling a cat, and began walking across the mast. He pulled at seemingly random strings, tightening others, and eventually returned to the Crow's Nest. "Boy do I love heights."

[Rogue of Night]

Blake couldn't help but laugh as she shoved the spyglass into her belt. "I quite enjoy them as well. On every other ship I was crew to, I was never allowed up near the flag because they considered it a...er...bad omen."