Payment for Silence (Andy Z and Subtle Trouble)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Subtle Trouble on 29-04-2011, 02:50:44</h2>
		<dl id="posts">
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Payment for Silence (Andy Z and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 02:50:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Mckenna sat before the polished mirror in her bedroom, waist length tresses the colour of straw strewn about the floor around the small stool she sat upon. Pale, blue eyes stared from dark lashes, and a heart-shaped face. She had been pretty with her hair, but the ragged thatch he'd left on the top of her hair made her look exactly what she wanted to look like - a young, pale boy whose voice had not yet broken. Sweeping a hand across her freshly shorn hair, to dislodge any remaining strands, she stood, and carefully dropped the chemise she wore. She'd practiced binding her modest, but never tiny breasts for weeks as her Father lay dying. Her step mother had already made it clear, all though not with so many words, that the company her father owned would go to the child in her womb, whether it was a boy or girl, and that McKenna would be married to the first old bastard she could find who would take the recalcitrant girl.<br><br>Instead, she'd decided to run. As far away as she could, avoiding a fate that was, to her, worse than death. She dressed quickley in the clothing she'd filched from one of the boys that worked for her father, and set a worn cap over her unevenly shorn hair. And then, Without a glance back, snatched the locket that held a cameo of both her parents, slipped out of the window into the dawn.<br><br>According to Callum, her cousin, it wasn't very difficult to sign on with a merchant's vessel as a cabin boy. The task seemed harder than recounted, however, she realized, as she was laughed off of yet another ship. She need some sort of proof of her knowledge of ships, and they would not take a demonstration. Finally, Mckenna sat on a barrel, and sighed, unsure of what to do. She knew ships, and she could be useful, but nobody would give an unknown boy the chance to prove his worth, apparently. She had nobody to vouch for her.<br><br>She was fine boned, tall enough to be mistaken, and her features, if fine boned and pretty, were at least androgynous enough for her to pass. She cupped her chin in a hand, and cast her eyes about the wharf, wondering what she was going to do? She doubted she would have long before the watch began to look for her. She needed to ship out today.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 03:01:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Captain Merin walked along the pier, savoring and yet dreading one of the few times he got to spend upon firm land.&nbsp; It always felt like such a waste of time, time he could be spending on the sea, but his men had needs that couldn't be fulfilled on the ship.&nbsp; Truth be told, so did he, but he didn't want to appear weak in front of his subordinates by revealing he was just as full of desires as the rest of them.&nbsp; He'd hoped to convince them that if he could hold out and was beyond such base needs, they could spend more time out at sea and collecting treasure.<br><br>As he wandered along, he couldn't help but feel disdain for this wharf's choice of able-bodied crewmen.&nbsp; There seemed none at all, only this boy that looked too young even to have hungered for a woman's warmth.&nbsp; He sauntered his way over to the lad, stroking his dark beard.&nbsp; "Another wide-eyed lad looking for the life of a cabin boy?" he ventured, not seeming exceptionally patient but willing to wait for an answer.&nbsp; Perhaps the boy would at least grow up to be useful, once he'd learned the trade.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 03:20:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As the man sauntered before her, Mckenna perked up, jaw dropping open as he addressed her. "Oh... Aye." She said, adopting Callum's scottish lilt. "I've no references, though, sir. I wasnae aware I'd be needin' 'em. I do know ships, sir. Spent a lot of time when I was a barin up in th' riggings." She added, hopping down from the barrel to address him properly, head tilting back for her eyes to meet his. There wasn't a word of a lie in what she said. She'd only adopted the brogue to make her seem further than what she was, but she doubted she would outwardly lie. She likely wouldn't have to.<br><br>She'd spent gleeful years as a child in the riggings of her father's ships, learning the ways of sailing, apprenticed alongside Callum. Her father hadn't known what to do with a young girl, and for lack of a better option had put her along her cousin (Or more likely illegitimate brother) in the apprenticeship to learn the business. Callum was set to be a Captain for the company, or perhaps a naval officer, and she would be best to know the workings as well, considring her father hadn't planned to remarry after his wife died in childbirth. The only reason he had remarried was a merger between two shipping businesses.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 03:29:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Riggings, eh?"&nbsp; He slipped a hand into his pocket, pulling forth a length of rope maybe a foot and a half long which he tossed in the potential recruit's directive.&nbsp; "Means you know your ropes, know your knots."&nbsp; He peered down at the kid.&nbsp; "My current riggings sailor's a half of a fool, and I can only hope some day he'll graduate to be a complete fool.&nbsp; Show me what you can do, boy, and let's see if you can teach him a thing or two."&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 03:37:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Mckenna caught rthe rope deftly, snatching it from the air with relief, and easily began to knot one, then unatngle the rope, two, three... She ran through as many knots as she knew easily. She and Callum had spent rainy days knotting and untangling ropes, trying to stump one another. He had been better than she was, but any time they'd played their game against another sailor, hey were often the winners. They'd even devised a few knots of their own, and improved on certain knots. The rope was well worn, but still rather serviceable. Likely a length cut from a rope that was overly worn to be of any use. She traced the weave with her eyes or a moment, as she finished, counting the strands and assessing it. It wasn't the finest rope money could buy, she much preferred braided rope to woven, or worse, twisted, but it seemed to be an altogether strong blend. She worked silently, unwilling to open her mouth and risk having her voice recognized as feminine instead of boyish.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 03:46:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"A-yup."&nbsp; He simply nodded, naming off various types of knots and seeing them all done.&nbsp; "Come on, then.&nbsp; My ship is called the Second Chance.&nbsp; It be called that because for many of the men here, this is their second chance.&nbsp; Not all my men are very wise, or got in trouble with blokes what they shouldn't have.&nbsp; I'll warn you, though," he stopped dead, looking dead into the eyes of the child.&nbsp; "There be no third chances, understand?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 04:17:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Relief washed over her, as he nodded his assent, and she trotted behind him, taking two steps for each of his. "Aye, Sir." Sh replied. "I'm on me first chance as it is." She murmured, more to herself than to him, as she flowed behind him, and toward freedom. "Where are we shippin' out, may I ask?" She inquired, hoping that it was soon. If they were to be moored for more than a day, there would likely be searches on the ships, and she'd be easily spotted. She couldn't know if her disguise was good enough to fool people who were looking for her, as opposed o keeping her looking simply like a lad.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 04:21:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Ye got somewhere ye need to be?&nbsp; People ye need to say goodbye to?"&nbsp; He looked more mocking than anything else, emphasizing his sailor's accent to remind the boy just where he was..&nbsp; "Should have done that before ye came to the pier.&nbsp; We set sail within the hour," he pointed out the schooner, "whether ye be on board or not."&nbsp; So having said, he started to march his way back towards the ship, expecting the boy to either cry and run away or to follow after him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 04:28:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She didn't even break stride. "Nay, Sir. I've said my goodbyes days ago." She replied simply, Her father had only been buried for two days before she'd made her escape. She silently followed behind him, then, up, onto the ship as they reached it. "Where d'ya wan me, Sir?" She asked promptly, unsure what post needed to be filled,. Men worked about the deck, preparing the ship for sail, and she wated nothing more than to busy herself, with her head down, and feel the sway of the ocean cradling the vessel. The boat was called Second Chance. aybe it was an apt name given her intentions.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 04:38:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Check the riggings."&nbsp; He gestured up the ropes.&nbsp; "I taught that half-fool three times now how te make a proper sheepshank."&nbsp; Some of the sailors were already coming back, very drunk and some still with some of the ladies on their arms, waving them off and other doing a lot more than just waving.&nbsp; "Ye do it better and ye get his rations and his bunk."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 04:45:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Mckenna nodded silently, and walked away, taking two running stps to launch herself up, and then began climbing as far as the riggings went, checking methodically, and stopping very few feet to correct or strengthen a knot. The riggings were a mess, and che could barely understand how they held her weight, let alone did any use. She supposed it was half luck, half the tar that soon stained her fingers from the ropes. It was slow work, and her fingers ached withn minutes, nails becoming encrusted with the old adhesive, but she'd gotten most of it corrected by the time the ship was set to sail.<br><br>She worked with one leg woven through the ropes, and the other locked around it, keeping herself upright by muscles that had long since fell out of use. Her back and stomach ached by the time she'd managed to do a well enough job that there wasn't much risk let, but it would take her day to properly correct every mistake she'd found.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 12:50:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Roberts!" the captain bellowed.&nbsp; "Get yer hand out of that garter for five minutes and listen to me.&nbsp; The rest of ye, we set sail when the clock chimes, so say yer goodbyes."<br><br>One of the men with a few missing teeth and a not too bright look on his face slipped away from a girl who was either near-blind or very well paid, strutting away to head up to the captain.&nbsp; "Aye, cap'n?" he said, though his eyes kept going back to the whore.<br><br>"Pay attention fer two minutes, fool."&nbsp; He grabbed the man, dragging him onboard to give him a closer look at the riggings and pointing up to the cabin boy still busy with the ropes.&nbsp; "I told ye I'd find someone else who could more capably tie the riggings if ye couldn't teach yer fool self to learn what I taught ye.&nbsp; Ye know what that means?"<br><br>"Aw..."&nbsp; Roberts stepped back.&nbsp; "Aw, naw, cap'n...not having to hold the boards still fer the carpenter!&nbsp; He can't hit the broad side of a barn with that hammer, let alone a nail, and last time he hit me poor noggin three times!"<br><br>"Ye should've thought of that before ye slacked off yer duties&nbsp; If ye..."&nbsp; Suddenly the distant clock chimed, signalling the hour.&nbsp; "Set sail!"&nbsp; He moved up towards the wheel.&nbsp; "Once more upon the high seas, to adventure and glory, and more treasure than ye can carry with a thousand wagons."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 16:58:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Mckenna heard the bellows from below, a man's voice raised in protest, and the clock's chimes, followed by the two most glorious words she'd heard since her father had remarried. A smile curled too-full lips, on a boy, and she set to work, scrambling through the ropes like a monkey, and with no trouble whatsoever. It was hard work, but it suited her, and she worked for as long as she dared, until she felt too tired to see straight, and nearly fell, only saving herself by reaching out and grabbing a rope that shouldn't have been touched, s it was in use. After her heart stopped thundering, she sighed, and slowly climbed down, stretching as her feet touched deck.<br><br>She sighed softly, and rolled her shoulders back, casing her eyes about for the captain, as she worked to establish her balance. Seasickness was a malady that she'd never been privy to, part because she'd never been on a ship further out than a harbour, and part because she'd spent half her childhood on ships either way. Her Father had often promised to dress her as a boy, or find a crew that wasn't privy to the ld superstitions, but it hadn't happened before he'd rewed, and ships had become off-limits to her. <br><br>As her eyes finally located him, she began her staggering walk to the captain, and brought herself to a still before him. "Where should I be reportin' Captain?" She asked, realizing she didn't even knowing his name, and deciding that for the moment it didn't matter. she would meet those she needed to know eventually, and would like as much keep to herself for the time being.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 17:11:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The crew worked with a degree of practiced ease, not everyone working optimally but enough earning his scorn and strict tutelage that they always fought to perform better.&nbsp; He was a hard man, but he prided himself on being fair, even if some of those at the end of his stern glare would mutter their disagreements.&nbsp; He didn't seem to care about their murmurings.<br><br>"You get Roberts' old hammock," he told her, "below deck, third one down in the line, fifth row from the stern of the ship.&nbsp; It'll be the only empty one, and if Roberts tries to tell you it's still his, he'll get a taste of the brine below."&nbsp; He treated the new cabin boy as just another recruit, though not below his notice any more than the rest of his crew.&nbsp; Even though he'd already shown some approval to the newcomer, any true respect would have to be earned through age and experience.<br><br>Most of the crew curled up in their bunks, whispering jokes about "Mad Dog Marin" and chuckling to themselves, joking that they doubt he would even know what to do with a woman and that that's why he was always so strict.&nbsp; A few gave stern stares, unhappy about how the new cabin boy could so easily show up the rest of them with skill and practice.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 17:19:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She departed with a nod, and found her way down to her 'bunk'. She ached everywhere, and waited only long enough to give her muscles another stretch, before clamboring clumsily into the hammock. She'd fallen three times before finally managing the feat, having never slept this way before, and closed her eyes, trying to ignore the sniggers and jeers that emitted from her bunk-fellows. There was to be no privacy on the ship, then. What was she to do when her monthly flux began Pretending to be fast asleep, she pondered the question. She'd brought with her a few essentials, that she'd hidden outside the home, and as such wouldn't be completely unprepared. A smll, thin dagger lay nestled in her boot alongside her calf, as well. As many things as she could be called, stupid was not one of them. Eventually, the creak of the hull, and the swaying of the hammock eventually lulled her into true sleep, despite the expostulations of her fellow bunkmates, and she drifted off easily.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Payment for Silence (Arkytz and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 17:33:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The next morning, dawn was broken by the sound of a sharp pang of a bell, the usual mark of the time for the changing of the shifts.&nbsp; The men shifted up from the hammock with groans and sighs, some still hung over or otherwise exhausted from their vacation at the port.&nbsp; Yet the needs of the ship were constant and perpetual, and if the day crew did not take over once again for the night crew, the ship could end up in any terrible state of disrepair.<br><br>One of the men came up to McKenna, clearly her nocturnal replacement.&nbsp; He was a young man with ratty blonde hair, giving a nod of approval.&nbsp; "Nice work on the knots."&nbsp; Yet he kept his voice down, likely unheard amidst the rowdy din of the others, not wanting to take sides amidst a popularity struggle.&nbsp; "Maybe when we're in port next, you can teach me how do get that double-spinning one?"&nbsp; He crawled up into the hammock, using his leg to steady it and only letting go once it stopped spinning.<br><br>The morning sky had a reddish tinge, the clouds looking a bit unusual, and it seemed to set people on edge.&nbsp; However, no one actually came out to say what the problem was.&nbsp; Perhaps it was simply a superstition.
			</dd>
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