ITT: We Are All Pirates' Revenge

Ezekiel, I think you got interrupted earlier.

Melvin looks at Duane worriedly.

Gabrielle hopes no one notices her.

Don'tlookatmedon'tlookatme Ohell don't look at me...

Sven nonchalantly raises his hand in response to "who hasn't gone," though his facial expression doesn't exactly say "eager to go anytime soon."

Slowly and carefully, Kauri tries to scoot himself out of view and dries his face up. Afterwards, he lies down on his side and curls up again, letting out a nearly inaudible yawn.

(Sven's raised hand catches Ira's eye and he looks over.) Did you want to go next, Sven?

I mean, not really, but I'll go if nobody else speaks up. Sven dryly replies.

A short pause passes by, during which time Sven realizes he's come off as kind of rude and decides to go anyway.

...sorry. I'll... yeah.

He takes a deep breath. Sven's nervousness is almost tangible around him, and it takes him a few more seconds before he speaks up.

I've lived in Bouldaris all my life. My parents both died when I was young, so my great-uncle Alan— his mind briefly flashes back to the cave he basically abandoned Alan at, before he goes back to narrating with a swift cough.

My great-uncle Alan took me in. Now, uncle Alan was a pirate himself. Not a very famous one, mind you. I think compared to Pollock, nobody's famous. But he lived a very storied life. Like... if you wanted a more dramatic backstory, he'd be the one you wanted to talk to. ...not certain how accurate most of them would be though.

At this point, Sven's nervousness has all but disappeared, replaced by nostalgic reflection of the time spent with him.

He taught me most of what I know. How to fish, how to cook fish you've caught, sea shanties, the whole nine yards. He had a little harmonica he'd bust out to play whatever song he thought appropriate, and he used to bring that sucker damn near everywhere. Even the town library! Got us kicked out more times than anyone else there! Sven laughs at this memory. ...he also had like, a hundred different metaphors he'd use whenever he thought them appropriate. Things like "a soul that isn't mourned never lives on," "know your revenge before you swear it," "gold corrodes people," and the like.

And yeah, he was my only family there. It was a boring town. Ever since the gold deposits in Bouldaris dried up, the town's been a quiet one. And from this point, it basically turns into his backstory... (he points at Melvin) ...without the abusive captain part. Isolation, bullies, mistrustful locals... you get the point.

And then I noticed you folks, offered to help, and decided to tag along.

At this point, Kauri has fallen asleep. It seems that all that crying and sniffling has tuckered him out…

Seems like your uncle's a pretty cool guy. (Ira remarks to Sven.) Makes me wish I had had one...

"Damn, that's pretty heavy, Sven", said Nephenee, scratching the back of her head, "Yeah, your uncle sounds pretty cool. Sounds like he was to you what my old master was to me."

Ezekiel furrows his brow. All of this talk of important relatives and mentors has enlightened him to another reason he feels uncomfortable telling his full story to the crew. He's lucky he's got more people willing to speak than him, but at this point, he isn't sure how much more he can take. Is it really worth it clamming up like this?

Melvin goes up close to Ezekiel. "Listen," he whispers. "If you want to tell your story now, I think you should go ahead. I don't think you'll meet any opposition now, but I would back you up if you did."

Looking back away from Mevlin, Ezekiel weakly lets out a sigh. Perhaps Melvin's right...maybe he's overblowing this. Melvin is on his side here after all, would they really mutiny so easily against someone like him? Besides, a couple of the others do already know, and they're not giving him any aches over it.

He realizes now how childish he's been. Trying to create some elaborate fib just to ensure he'll have both feet on the deck by the time he's finished speaking...someone his age shouldn't be worried about what others think of him! He sets the rules here, not a bunch of freshfooters with no direction!

Not that he was going to tell all. Hearing the others' stories made him dwell on those more regretful moments of his enough already.

"Pardon if I'm interrupting this outpouring of symapthies," he proclaims, "one which I shall share in if only by meager mention of it, but I believe I should say my piece before we all end up rotting in our clothes. I've seen the derelict stares of some individuals pointed my way, and I fear they'll continue until I reveal myself in some capacity."

Enough stalling. "I am a local privateer. I was on holiday when I came across Melvin, and I decided it was a good idea to try and take him in. I did not expect Duane, and he managed to tip the scales in our little brawl. I was captured and offered a position in the crew, and now, I'm here with you."

Tom takes in Ezekiel's story, and produces a simple reply in return.

"If we run into your crew, please let them know I only planned to sail, not pirate."

Victor remains quiet, but he feels relieved that Ezekiel decided to tell the rest of the crew his story. Their earlier conversation below deck had somewhat unnerved him, but this at least meant that he would not have to keep any secrets from the others.

Nephenee stroked her chin and commented, "So, a captured foe who became an ally. Those are always real interesting, had a few of those in the past."

Kauri is too occupied being asleep to respond to Ezekiel's story. Or to even hear it.

Some vacation, eh? (Ira remarks to Ezekiel.)

(" If we run into his crew, eh?" Ira thinks to himself. " Hope they don't know Cleo's looking for me or I'm in trouble if we DO run into them...")

Melvin is slightly embarrassed remembering the story. "Indeed. I actually hadn't had much experience with one-on-one combat, but at that time, I was furiously trying to disarm him so I could just throw his furry behind as far off the ship as I could. But Duane came in and finished the duel, before suggesting a more peaceful way of dealing with him, and, well, here we are."

Edited by DrNoPuma on May 2nd 2019 at 4:26:55 AM

Duane lets out an earthy laugh in rememberance of the event. Yeah, it was quite the melee.

Ezekiel joins in with the laughter, though tucking his face in a little to hide it, and failing in that regard.

"And it isn't as if I have anything better to do, so I might as well have 'offered my assistance. Nothin' like an old grave robbin' to keep you spry in old age." Not that he's had to really worry about that as far as he was aware, besides his vision...he's not even gotten a gray hair, but the raccoon still feels it a necessary matter of worry.

"Priva... teer..?" Parada seems a bit confused by this word.

(Two people, who are Half-Identical Twins, suddenly fall out from the sky, their names were Samuel and Samantha)

Edited by AutisticAlivia on May 3rd 2019 at 11:44:34 AM

Sven hears Parada's confusion and decides to help define the word.

It means he was a pirate working for someone's military, royal family, or company, basically.

He starts to turn back to Ezekiel, hoping to ask a question. The moment he tries to open his mouth, however, one of the twins lands right on his head.

Exc— OW! FUCK!

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to!"

"Sorry about what she did, by the way, I'm Samuel, that's Samantha."