(Untitled)

[thanoodles]

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[uponhiseye]

[Maybe so, but the sky is awfully pretty to look at tonight.]

sorry noodles you are getting all my developing characters

[witchsea]

[a man in a shabby brown coat is likewise inspecting the heavens with rapt devotion but spares a brief moment to flash his fellow stargazer a smile]

Lovely, is it not?

COLLECTS THEM ALL HAPPILY

[uponhiseye]

[Milen looks up and to the side, curling his lips downwards a little comically before he sits up, hands against the floor for support. He finally offers the stranger a proper smile.]

I never saw so many before.

[witchsea]

[he makes a small, happy noise of agreement before tilting his head back up to regard the sky again]

I confess I have seen such a sky before only once - and that was sailing at the very edge of the frozen northern reaches of the Americas. But I warrant there are plenty more stars aloft that both of us are yet to see.

[uponhiseye]

Oh, [there's excitement spiking up his tone, making him shift to take a better look at the man.] A sailor! [His smile broadens.] I've never met one before either.

[witchsea]

Oh, yes! [Nicholas beams, clearly still a little bit pleased with himself about it even if it has been nearly four years since he first set sail. The novelty is yet to wear off but, then again, perhaps it never will.] I have sailed on three ships so far! I should like to transfer to a fourth soon - perhaps bound for the Galapagos if fortune prevails! [a little conspiratorially:] They say there are many curious lizards to be found there.

[uponhiseye]

[Milen is sitting up properly now, crossing his legs, looking up like he's just met a childhood hero.]

What's it like?

[witchsea]

[for a moment he's bewildered by the question]

Sailing or the Galapagos?

[uponhiseye]

Uhm. Sailing! [It... might sound like he's asking. Kinda.]

[witchsea]

Well! [Nicholas takes a breath and grins] There are a great number of people to talk to but they are always invariably busy, and when they are not busy they are drunk! [as Nicholas explains it becomes apparent that he doesn't think any of the things he say are at all bad - just completely novel experiences] Sometimes we go a terribly long time without seeing a single soul other than our own company and then sometimes we shall happen upon four kinds of trouble all in one day! There are battles sometimes, and great opportunity to spread a little mischief amidst the enemy and take some prizes! And before I went sailing I had never slept in a bed that one must hang from a ceiling... but now I am sure I shall never want to sleep in anything else ever again.

[he reflects for a moment before nodding decisively] There are other details besides, but I think that is the main of it.

[uponhiseye]

[All of it seems pretty promising, probably because Milen can't get the full picture out of that description, but one detail does earn a little frown.]

Why are there battles?

[witchsea]

[Nicholas' grin fades a little] Why, because of the war, of course! We have our orders: to seek out French ships and take them as prizes for England!

[uponhiseye]

The war? [alarm!] There's a war?

[witchsea]

With France! Did... you didn't know?

[uponhiseye]

No -- why are they at war?

[witchsea]

[looking really worried now] Well - you have heard of Bonaparte, have you not?