• Placeholder • [Saoire's Dream] Winston Nin-ferret Miller

[Winston]

There was a few moments pause before a rather abrupt sound came from inside. It was speech, but barked in a way that was quite clearly not an invitation to intrude.

"Wacha want?! Eep!"

"Did they just..?"

Felicity

began as the cabin hatch abruptly burst open and the rat's head, captains cap and all, thrust itself out from below decks.

"Ahh!"

Cried both Winston and Felicity as they leapt back from the looming head and shoulders of the Captain.

"Who? Are you?"

She said, as if these were somehow two seperate questions.

It took Winston a few moment to compose himself as they both picked themselves up off the floor.

"I um... Ehem..."

"Don't stammer, spit it out!"

She demanded, imposing herself upon the tiny colourful intruder to make sure they knew who's boat they were on.

Winston cleared his throat and forced himself to adopt the 'Vega voice', though with a little elss confidence then he had thus far.

"Pull yourself together dammit."

Chivied the Wisp.

"A-up. Me... I have something for ya."

He began, but the rat interrupted again and slammed the cabin door, shouting from within.

"Not! Interested!"

"Damn, she's rude."

"Yeah, bot we knew dat wud be de case. Cmmon..."

The two of them went over a nocked again. This time moving back even further in preparation for the rat-in-a-box.

Sure enough, out came the rat, this time sward in hand.

"Lookin' tuh add some more red to yer costume are yeh?"

It was probably an idle threat. Nothing anyone had said about the Captain had suggested they were violent by nature... Everything they had said had included a propensity to intimidate people when she was irritated.

"Look, fella. I just want to put a proposal to ya and then..."

"Nat! Interes..."

But this time, as the sailor moved to disappear below decks again, Winston blurted out, without any fake voices or pretense.

"Saoire-need-os-mun!"

Calliapy froze. The fur on the back of her neck rose and her whiskers witched.

Winston lifted his hood and lowered his mask, revealing his face to be seen more clearly in the dim light.

"Me name es Winstaaan..."

The captain huffed sharply.

"I know who you are. You'd better come in."

Her tone has changed entirely. It was still a long distance from friendly, but perhaps 'accepting' would have to suffice for now.

As their reluctant host disappeared below, Winston and Felicity followed.

[Winston]

As they entered to little cabin, it became apparent that the captain took great pride in their things, as all tidilly laid out were her belongings and everything was clean and well organised.

The captain sat back in her hammock and gestured to the kettle.

"Tea's there. If yer want."

The words were not unkind, but certainly short and providing the absolute bare minimum to accomodate the concept of 'hospitality'.

"Noh, tanks. Tank yuh far listening tuh me."

He said kindly as he settled opposite the much larger Cadouri.

"Yer haven't said anything of note yet."

Observed the captain objectively.

"I hear yer saved a lot of lives during the pirate raids? Saoire has spoken well of yer."

That Winston's name ever came out of Saoire's mouth with praise attached to it caused him to swell with pride.

"Yer got my attention, but don't test my patience."

She eyed the ferret, weighing his worth in her eyes.

"OK, we need sheps. An' sheps need crews. De pirates are nat gone an' dey will be back. Me 'ave sheps, but me don't 'ave pirates."

"There's plenty of good captains out there, Mr leader of a big and wealthy faction. What do yer need me far."

"We need descreshun an' Saoire needs loyalty. Me tink yuh gat both en spades. Me... De sheps will nat succeed widdout a strang and experience leada and dat es nat meh. Bot me can't jost give de most powaful ships me eve made ova tuh a sell-sward, even a renowned one... Me cun only trust someone dat loves Saoire as me doh wid sometin' like dis."

Neither of them spoke of what the pirates did. Winston certainly did speak of what Saoire nearly did to herself as a result... But these unspoken horrors hung in the air as plain as if they were etched into the foreheads of the two Cadouri.

The silence lasted a while, but neither of them seemed to mind. Felicity could feel the contented feeling Winston had and decided to leave them be as they sat in the presence of each other. A rare occasion to be with another that knew the feelings the other were having, because they were what they had themselves.

Eventually, the rat spoke.

"Let me know what she's docked and I'll see yer there."

She lay back in the hammock and placed her hat over her nose.

"Don't bang yer head on yer way out."

Winston grinned, just about containing his excitement as he hopped down and then clamberred out, he covered his face again as they set off into the night.

[Winston]

The approach of announcing clandestine crewmembers being needed was not the standard practice during Winston's recruitment process. Most of the people there, had no idea why they were there really, but were chosen either because of their reputation, skill or loyalty to Saoire. In the case of the Captain, who stood in the centre of the ship, watching the smaller boat approaching full of new crew members, it was all three.

She tugged on her lapel as the sound of people climbing the rope ladder clattered up to the deck.

Winston had given her the brief already and introduced her to the ship itself. She could hardly belief half the claims he made were true, but even if only half of the claims she thought could be true WERE, the two ships here would be the most sea-worthy vessels she'd ever known.

"Avast with yer lollygagging and get up here already!"

She yelled, causing the 'click-clack' of the wooden struts on the rope ladder to quicken pace.

In short measure, the dec was filled with enough people to man a ship... perhaps two? If they were easy sailing in safe waters.

The people, rats, cats a few others between filed on and lined up. It was certainly not a battle ready crew ready to defend the frontier against marauding pirates and thieves... But there was some talent present and the Captain had been given every single detail about each and every one of them.

"Tighten up that line!"

Yelled the Captain as they stood and ordered themselves according to the randomness of fate.

Calliapy had no intention of making a show or of chewing people out to lead by intimidation... However, anyone not willing to follow orders would not be tolerated and this was their first meet and so it would be by the book.

"Some of yer lucky lot 'ave had the distinct pleasure of learning to sail under my wing. As such I expect yer tuh keep everyone else well informed. There's on voice on this ship that gives orders an' that's me! If yer don't like it? Yer nat slaves. Yer can just sling yer hook!"

She paused for drematic effect, not expecting anyone that even wanted to leave to actually do so right now.

As she continued, her voice was softer, but still firm.

"Anyone that can live with that... Is welcomed aboard."

She looked around the ship as a few members whispered to each other sweet nothings.

[Winston]

Winston had been watching the whole thing via the

Holo-com

and, as agreed with the captain, appeared between she and the crew-to-be in a holographic flash.

They all looked down as Winston began to give a small speech about friendship, loss and comradery. There was a story though they were spared a song.

One of the crew at the back, where they were sure they would not be noticed turned to the sailor beside them, surreptitiously and said.

"You to?"

"Yup."

Came the reply.

"Crazed rainbow ninja recrutement?"

He asked, as if this was run-o-the-mill.

"Yup."

"Everyone knows that's Winston right?"

"Hmmm... Yup."

This time there was a tone of uncertainty to the reply, but certainly they were only there because it was Winston and if Winston needed help, Saoire was almost certainly involved somewhere along the line.

"Should we... You know... TELL him..? Winston... That we know?"

The second sailor looked shocked.

"NOOoooo. It would break his little heart. He's tried so hard."

The other man nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, you're right. He need never know."

Winston 'mystery' nin-ferret Miller held his hands up in the air as he concluded he little welcome speech.

"...and with Captain Clip at the helm, we will see the seas and all in them be free!"

Perhaps everyone was simply happy he was happy. Perhaps it was simply because that's what you did at the end of big speeches... but as he finished, everyone gave a cheer and a round or applause. If nothing else, the ferret was nice and his story not terrible and ships were amazing!

"You SEEN the lacquer on that poop deck?"

"I KNOW, right? Checkout that Flang!"

[Winston]

Rewards Requested

Notes/Warnings: None

Thread: [Saoire's Dream] Winston Nin-ferret Miller
City/Area: Sweetwine Woods

Losses: 2 X glitter bombs

Renown: Winston create a crew for his new magical ships for Saiore.
Wealth Points: None
Collaboration: No
Local Language Thread? No

!	Message from: Kasoria
	Done!

[Kasoria]

Winston

You never aim either small or boring, do you? Probably the longest solo I've read, too, but you do like to build things up meticulously, so it's almost expected. A foot tall ninja is delightful all by itself, but then you bring up The Most English Ferret as well, and the not-really-slacker girl, Captain Iron Petticoats... just so much to enjoy here. Enjoy your crew and your ships, may they kick arse most flamboyantly!

• Renown: 5
• XP: 10
• Knowledges:
  • Intelligence: Gathering information without being known allows better freedom later to use it
  • Intelligence: Use your contacts to get a head start
  • Alchemy: Creating composite explosive effects
  • Stealth: Sneaking through enclosed corridors during an occupied period of time
  • Deception: Misdirection by creating expectations
  • Investigation: Using reliable sources to gather facts and clues
  • Teaching: Understanding that failure is not always as it seems
  • Stealth: Using extra props and explosive to try to disappear from direct sight.
  • Non-skill: Ghosts: Anchoring
  • Deception: Using impressions of other people to hid his own voice from being recognised
• Loot:
  • 10 * Contact explosive glitter bombs that explode when hitting something, emitting a 2 foot square (ish) cloud of rainbow colours glittery smoke.