On Deck

[Yuki]

Yuki leaned on the railing, leaning slightly as he looked behind the ship, watching Girasole getting smaller and smaller. So this was it, he was a pirate and he was watching his home drift off into the distance. The incubus couldn't hide the grin from his face, good riddance. Sure he had doubts about his new life. But anything had to be better than what he just came from.

His small figure turned away from the rail and he looked up at the sky for just a moment. No, this was no time to dicking around, but he wasn't sure exactly what he was supposed to be doing anyways. There was no one to shoot and the sails were all set, or whatever the term was. Chores. He probably had some sort of chores he should be doing.

It was then he started to feel a little nervous and out of place. Everyone else knew their place so well, he felt like a sore thumb. Biting the very edge of his lip a tad harder than he meant to he began to look around. He just needed to find some one and ask them what the hell he should be doing. That sounded easy enough.

[Ciath]

Far ahead, nestled in the extending oblivion of unbroken sky, more attention should have been paid toward the task assigned to the young pirate. Balanced precariously outward, nearly beyond the protective net of the ship, Ciath's mind was far too lost on adventures to come, his imagination polluted with the tales of piracy and conquest that had become the bread and butter of his childhood. Now that he was here, in the first step of his dreams however, he should have become a bit more grounded. It may have helped him notice that the rope around his waist was loosened. Or that the sails were beginning to flutter as a sharp gust of wind picked up.

Either way, with one fell swoop from nature, Ciath found the horizon twisting, and the sharp snatch of gravity as he plummeted toward the deck. Screaming, limbs flailing and grasping for some kind of hold, he could almost picture his life flashing before his eyes. Instead, he got a sudden jerk as the rope tightened around him, bringing his descent to a rib bruising halt.

Drawing in a shaky breath, hovering a mere three feet above the deck, the world slowly steadied. With Yuki the only one around, voice strained from stress, Ciath offered a slightly embarrassed smile. "Umm, gotta a minute?"

[Yuki]

Yuki inhaled as he felt and smelled the wind. Fresh air, so sweet. Wait, focusing on finding some one and finding things out. It was a good resolve until he heard some one screaming. Wide red eyes shot up to the source, half expecting to see some sort of horrible thing of of the gruesome pirate tales he heard at home. But he found quite the opposite.

His first reaction was to run as fast as he could and save the poor sap from splattering all over the deck. Half his mind was worried that being so new it would be his job to clean up that sap. Right, that's why he was trying to save the guy. But he wasn't quick enough, squinting he turned his head away, not really wanting to see the splat. But that splat never came and he slowly looked down to see his dangling ship mate.

Yuki couldn't help returning the smile. "Yeah.. no problem." He looked at the rope and followed it up, obviously he couldn't see where it went up to, even when covering his eyes and squinting. Looking over he saw where ropes were tied off and one was rather taught, so he began unfastening it. "Uhm.. is this right..?" God he sounded like an idiot. They were going to rape him and then throw him into the mist, he knew it. He especially thought that when the rope came loose and Ciath probably went that last three feet to the ground.

[Ciath]

The deck was no more comforting from this height, though he did appreciate that the contact wouldn't shatter bones and snap his neck from this height. Instead, he just felt the swim of stars as blood rushed to his skull as he landed head first as the rope came loose, his body following after him to create a toppled heap of boy.

Frozen in place, body functions remained in stasis until a thorough diagnostic check was done. Vision check, breathing check, pounding headache check. Assured that most parts of him, other than his obviously missing intelligence and grace, were in tact, Ciath tried to get to his feet with the most dignity one could have after his little accident.

Straightening himself out, mused hair in worse shape thanks to the styling of gravity, the freckled elf made tentative eye contact with the man standing in front of him. "So...newbie...don't go telling people you saw me do that. The last thing I need is to have Capt. on my back for scaring him out of ten years again. It's just better for all of us if he gets a few more grey hairs."

Cracking into a contagious grin, Ciath leaned in, his boyish enthusiasm taking over as if he hadn't just plummeted from the sails. "I'd hate to see what would happen if it got harder for him to pick up a guy or gal."

[Yuki]

"Oh shit shit shit!"
Yuki's boots slapped against the deck as he ran towards Ciath. The guy hadn't just hit the deck.. he'd landed head first. As he stood up Yuki skidded to a halt, damn near colliding with him. He was usually full of a lot more tact. Having enough grace to catch a guy with the sway of his hips. But he was nervous. He wanted to inspect the other for himself, see if he was bleeding or anything like that. But instead he just kept his hands to himself, the pair of them fidgeting in front of his chest.

"Right! uhm.. shit.. are you okay..?"
Yuki wasn't about to tell anyone about it. First of all the guy fell and then Yuki dropped him on his head. But that grin was damn contagious. Yuki rubbed a hand through his dark hair and let out a small laugh that slowly melted into just a warm smile.
"Well.. come here.. at least let me look at your head.. Make sure you didn't crack your skull open.."

[Ciath]

Holding a hand up, defiant look on his face, the grin melted away as he took a step away. "No way, man. Look, I'll be fine. Heads like a rock." Emphasizing his words, knuckles wrapped against his spine to prove his point, as well as give himself a bit of a headache. "I've fallen like, a million times before. Besides, I'm not bleedin' or anything."

It was bad enough he'd taken that fall, the last thing he needed was to be babied after his own stupidity. It would go over well if the kid was being tended too, having his pride crushed as he was inspected. "Yep, tip top. In fact, I may be smarter. So don't worry, sailor...what's your name?"

Tripping slightly on the rope still tied around his ankle, Ciath stepped around his witness, trying to get a good look at the man he hadn't seen before. Probably some guy Dynast had slept with and told he was looking for a crew afterwards. Man, hopefully he wasn't looking for a relationship with the captain. Those ones always left crying...or worse.

[Yuki]

"Ok, ok!" Yuki waved his hands up in the air. He didn't want to offend the guy too bad. He smiled and put a hand on his hip as he looked over the other. "I'll trust you on that bit then.." He wasn't stumbling around or slurring or anything. He was probably okay. Hopefully he wouldn't drop over dead in the next ten seconds.

The mention of him actually being smarter.. Yuki was grinning again. Maybe he was. Sailor? Oh right, he scrubbed a hand through his loose bangs. He wasn't used to being called a sailor, usually he was the one asking 'sailors' their names. "I'm Yuki.. and.. you are?"

He managed not to giggle as the other half tripped on the rope on his foot. At least Yuki figured he wouldn't embarrass himself more than this guy probably did. But then he was standing a little straighter, clearing his throat at the obvious inspection. "Hey man.. I'm not a piece of meat."

[Ciath]

"I'm somebody....but you are new...probably a pick up from the last town. I've been here since Dynast got this ship into the air, so I know everyone who's set foot in here...even the like, hundreds that Dynast has had in his room for an hour or two." It was barely there, under the air of faked authority, but there was a slight spark of jealousy at the thought of the men and women that had been used for sex, even though he knew his father would rather it was just him.

"Now...are you one of us, or are you one of us that's going to be dropped off at the next port?"

Ciath was hardly an imposing man. Still a child in the eyes of many, even though he was circling Yuki, trying to memorize the new 'meat', he looked like a curious puppy rather than a serious inspection. But god how he was trying to prove himself as a crucial member of the crew.

[Yuki]

Yuki couldn't help the twist of his lips when the other guy just introduced himself as 'somebody.' Oh well, not like pirates were known for their courtesy and manners. The next part though, that's really what caught his attention. The Captain only taking people in his quarters only for an hour or two. It worried him a bit but he was trying damn hard not to show it. Show weakness and people pounce on it. He was so worried about his own facade that he wasn't paying enough attention to pick up on anything Ciath might be showing.

"Oh no.. I'm not.." Yuki cleared his throat and started over, sounding more sure of himself. "I'm part of the crew now. I don't just hop on boats for quick rides." And yes, he meant that both ways it could be taken. He was on this boat to get out of that life.

"Would you stop that--" Yuki spun around to face the taller man. He did feel like a piece of meat. And puppy or not the little incubus was still nervous being on the ship. As far as he knew he was the only new member and the rest could be waiting to rip him apart the first chance they got. He looked over the side of the ship. Not a place he could just jump off and run. Oh Gods what had he gotten himself into this time?

[Ciath]

"Good. We really don't need any more of those around. My father just gets angry, and then you'd probably be rather ready to leave before we make next port." Stopping his curious pacing, finally focusing on Yuki's face now that he was sure he'd given the subject the kind of attention that the self titled welcome crew should, his pose relaxed.

"Well, I'm Ciath. I fix the ship." It was a casual introduction, but, he really didn't want to get into much more. No one needed to know that his father was the first mate, or that Dynast had spent quite the amount of time watching him grow up. People tended to get tense when they thought you were some kind of spoiled brat.

[Yuki]

"Your father?" Well that eliminated his Dynast from being his father. But now Yuki was curious. It was a terrible habit of his, being curious. He looked up as the other stopped, finally. The incubus rubbed a hand over his face against the heart shaped scar under his eyes. His hand flicked some black locks out of his face. Lips held in a straight line, looking a little too serious seeing as how the other relaxed.

"Nice to meet you.. I shoot people and take what I want." Perfect little pirate recruit. Though he was starting to think his recruitment had more to with his nice ass than his shooting or stealing skills.

[Ciath]

He didn't really look like the kinda pirate Ciath was expecting. Most of the people he saw slumming around, waiting for their chance to board a ship looked as worn down as their morals. But this guy seemed more, reserved. The idea of this guy shooting and stealing was kinda hard to imagine. Not that he should be one to judge. Enough people had pushed him aside due to his size.

"All right then. I guess we'll get you to work then. Know anything about how to run a ship? Or are we going to need to get someone to train you and make sure you don't get us all killed." Grinning, Ciath was kinda joking. If this guy couldn't handle things, they could all suffer. And in a ship this temperamental, and with a crew almost like family, the last thing they needed was someone to come in and throw a wedge in their plans.

[Yuki]

Yuki could feel it, the doubt in the other guy's eyes. He knew he didn't look like the typical pirate, a little too pretty and a little too clean. But that didn't mean he wasn't good at his job. He was just a bit more shy around people he wasn't working and was going to have to spend a lot of time with.

"Uh.." He groaned a little, he hadn't worked on a ship before. "I'm a fast learner." The words were spoken quickly and confidently. He honestly figured he wouldn't be doing anything too complicated to the ship because hey, he could mess something up. And who knew what was at the bottom of the world. "Give me something to do, tell me how to do it and it'll get done." He grinned a little, hands on his hips as he looked up at Ciath. "Don't worry, I'm not totally useless."

[Ciath]

Good, he had some confidence. That would make it easier. If he'd gotten all shy or something, Ciath would have had to go have a word with the Captain. No one wanted to be paired up with someone that could possibly end up leaving them with a bullet in the head. If we was going to give it a try, then why the hell not.

"All right. Well, the cooks got his hands full peeling potatoes. Buuuuuttt.... we could have you scrubbing the decks, checking the ropes to make sure they're sturdy, or check oil the pulleys. Take your pick."

Grin on his face, he looked more like his father every day. He had come here because of him, and, well, Dynast. It was his dream to make his mark here like they did. And, maybe getting this pirate under his thumb may put him that much closer to being the kind of man he wanted to be. He wouldn't tell him that though.

[Yuki]

Yuki was so glad to hear that the cook already was peeling potatoes. He hated potatoes and peeling them, his hands getting all wrinkled and more often than not cutting one of his fingers in the process. Not that the other options sounded all that appealing. But everyone had to pull their own weight on a ship. The incubus knew that much at least.

"Scrubbing deck is fine." Not the most appealing, but the one he knew how to do. After all, it wasn't that long ago that he had tried to use a rope pulley and ended up almost killing the kid giving him orders now. He straightened up a bit, confidence, lose that and he was gonna get shanked. Or thrown over board. "Where are the supplies? I don't want to spend all day scrubbing."