The officer taking care of the ships register looks the black cloaked rat up and down, watching as he barely makes it aboard ship in time. With a sigh the stuffy looking bulldog officer opens the register again after having just put it away. He places it back upon the makeshift table and pulls out a pen, tapping the open book with a paw digit as his eyes focus on the rat. ?here? always a latecomer!?The bulldog officer mutters under his breath.<br/><br/>?hem!?The officer rudely clears his throat to get his attention as the rat tries to pass him and board the ship unsigned. ?ou can? board the ship until you?e signed up. Now, you here as a passenger, or are you signing up as a working member of the crew??Grumbling, the bulldog allows Decimos to sign his name before once again closing the book and getting out of the way as the ship starts to become crowded.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, James stands on the poop deck conferring with the ship? Captain as members of the crew start climbing the shrouds. Briefly he mentions that Anastasia is aboard and that she is unhappy with her sleeping arrangements. The captain nods and James glances over toward the foxy. Things are a little busy to be worried about her accommodations right now, but he was sure that things would be sorted out in short order.<br/><br/>James makes his way down onto the quarterdeck to stand by the main mast. Already the shouts of men hard at work can be heard as well as the commands from the other officers. Some crew members busy themselves with hefting the heavy gangway up onto the deck before stowing it away. That was it. There would be no more late comers, and nor would anyone be leaving the ship save if they jumped overboard. James watches as the Grosvenor is cleared of her moorings, leaving the ship free to be towed away from the dock.<br/><br/>The young first Lieutenant looks up at the members of the crew high up the mast, busy unfurling the main topsail. He smiles as he thinks back to when he was a young midshipman. How he used to hate having to go out onto the yards. He used to be afraid of heights back then, but he was forced to confront his fear early and conquer it. Reluctantly he allows the smile to fade away as he spies Leonard. He too would have to get used to scaling the masts. Better now than later, when the weather was not as forgiving.<br/><br/>?ou there! Leonard!?James waits for the rodent to pay attention. ?ow? as good a time as any. Climb up the shroud and help the men tend the topsail.?James knew that Leonard might not be keen to do so, but life at sea was hard, and he was not going to sugar-coat that fact. In a quieter tone, James continues. ?rust me, it? better to get used to it now than when we?e in the middle of a storm. Now, hop to it!?r<br/>James watches Leonard for a while before turning to the business of making sure the ship runs efficiently. The other members of the crew would look out for Leonard and make sure he does his job safely. James turns and starts to walk, almost tripping over Decimos in the process. Another unfamiliar face aboard ship. For a moment he just looks at the rat, not sure at the moment if he? a passenger or a new member of the crew. ?an I help you there, mister??<br/><br/>Before long all the topsails billow out as they fill with wind, and the Grosvenor? helmsman steers a course that will take the ship out of Plymouth?r<br/><br/><br/>((The ship has begun her voyage, but that doesn? mean you can? join in this RP if you're interested?ust don? introduce your character on the harbour, or you?l be left behind. Make sense?<img alt=":wink:" src="./images/smilies/wink.gif" title="Wink"/>))