Sizing Up [Open]

[fangofjustice]

Characters: Leo, Ffamran, anyone who would like to join
Content: A chance to meet the new helmsman!
Setting: Deck of the Victoria II
Time: Shortly after sunset
Warnings: Scotch might be involved. Nevermind, just tea~

Comments

[bunansajr]

Ffamran hadn't specifically gone looking for Major de Alkirk, but he had recently gotten off the journal with the man, so he supposed that was on the brain. He'd just finished spending most of his free time doing some hacking for the Commander and he needed to stretch.

They hadn't been in Bellcius that long, but he hadn't had much to do other than spy on his coworkers and that had become something of a strain. He knew it was necessary but that didn't mean he had to enjoy it.

He headed up to the top deck to get a little air where he found a ... blue haired, one horned gentleman who seemed to have the same idea he did.

"... Good day for it?" That was one strange looking demihuman ... and he couldn't say he was familiar with the man either. Unfamiliar people on the Admiral's ship were definitely a sign of trouble.

[fangofjustice]

"... perhaps she will not," Leo said, and a smirk crept onto his lips at this. "Her companions were certainly convinced she was no Destroyer. However, given the circumstances... one could certainly question their judgment. The two men, in particular, I would guess were simply drawn in by her beauty."

Leo laughed. "Not a religious man, I take it?" Fortunately, Leo was willing to give him the short version: "Althena is the all-powerful goddess of light. She, her four Dragons, and her champion the Dragonmaster have protected and guided humanity through our darkest hours."

[bunansajr]

"Time will tell, I suppose." It sounded like Leo had gotten to know the woman and her companions, at least a little. That sort of fraternization could be dangerous though. He remembered the crew's - and his own if he was honest - reaction to going up against the 4423 a second time. He didn't think it was his place to chastize a Major though.

"Cannot say I am." Dragons...? That sounded preposurous. Everyone knew there were no such things as dragons and frankly he found the whole idea a little crazy. On the other hand, his father seemed completely caught up with some .. Enat? Actually ...

"I suppose a man like you might be more up on these things. Have you ever heard of of a god or goddess called Enat?"

[ooc: unless you're going to make up something unrelated, no, Enat's not a god or goddess]

[fangofjustice]

Leo shook his head. "A pity. However, if you ever feel in need of spiritual guidance, do let me know."

"'Enat'? ... I am not familiar with such a deity..." He scowled and tapped his chin, ears twitching, as he thought it over carefully. Enat? What kind of name was that? It sounded old, whatever it was. "... no... no, it is certainly not in Althena's scriptures... and it does not ring a bell otherwise. Why do you ask?"

[bunansajr]

Well, Ffamran certainly wasn't going to tell the man why he was asking. His father had been babbling to that 'Enat' for months now. At least knowing it was a deity or something would have made his father's ramblings more bearable.

He'd made some inquiries of his own, and not found anything, but further confirmation was just disheartening. His father was truly descending into madness it seemed.

"No reason. I'd thought I'd heard one of the crew talking about them and hadn't had the chance to inquire before."

The two of them finally arrived at the mess and Ffamran headed in to beg some tea off one of the cooks.

[fangofjustice]

"Well, perhaps you misheard." Leo certainly didn't trust a human's puny ears half as well as his own, but he wasn't about to mention that outright. "But I will let you know if I hear anything about it in the future."

He followed Ffamran into the mess, and paused a moment, taking in the scent of food. It had a cruel way of reminding him that he had not eaten since that morning, before he had boarded the ship. However, that was something easily overlooked; it wasn't as though he had much appetite these past few days, after being forced to part with the Destiny. Tea would more than suffice for now.

[bunansajr]

"Entirely possible." Ffamran knew he had not. He'd heard his father say the name dozens of times, he might have gotten it a little wrong, but he definitely knew the sound of it.

He returned with a teapot and two cups, sugar and cream enough to down the whole pot if they so chose. He then settled into one of the corners and one of his favorite chairs, and then finally poured up two cups of tea.

"I would appreciate that. I suppose it was just curiosity, however." It was definitely time to deflect the subject off of himself. "Care to tell me a little more about this ship, then, Major?"

[fangofjustice]

"There is nothing wrong in being curious. It shows attentiveness."

Leo took his cup of tea, but he had not even brought it to his lips when the question came. "Ah, you mean the Destiny?" He grinned, and set his cup down.

"The Destiny is a beautiful ship, first of her kind: a 'Dragonship', designed to not only sail in the sky, but across the ground with a series of steam-powered legs. Very small, very fast... she likely would not have stood a chance against most other ships, but she never needed to. Most airships were too busy watching the skies around them to ever notice us crawling underneath."

[bunansajr]

Again more dragons... Ffamran dropped a sugar cube into his tea and stirred it slightly.

"I suppose she'd have a few more difficulties with the railroads coming into fashion. Airships will be looking at the ground a little more often." Still it was an intriguing idea. He wondered if the innovation had come out of Draklor, actually.

"An intriguing thought, though. She wasn't decommissioned, was she?"

[fangofjustice]

Leo didn't add anything to his tea, and took a slow sip of it as it was before continuing.

"No, not decommissioned. But she will likely be repurposed, particularly if..." He didn't want to finish that sentence, as if saying 'war' would make it more likely to happen. "She's still a perfectly good ship, but until this matter in the Badlands is settled, we cannot return to hunting down criminals attempting to flee through the area. If we did, it would likely be construed as an act of aggression against the area from Ivona."

Leo frowned, and added, "You know, I was the one who named her, before her maiden voyage. I thought it was rather clever at the time... being able to say, 'I am the Captain of my Destiny'." He sighed and shook his head. "I would have named her something else if I had recalled that she ultimately belonged to the government, not to me. And now that she has been taken from me... well, the implications are a little troubling."

Leo had loved that ship, and he could already tell he was going to miss it.

[bunansajr]

The Badlands and Joseph Falls again. The man had made a few more speeches that He'd heard over the radio and journals, nothing as rousing as his first call to arms, but it had been particularly nerve-wracking lately, though.

"Captain of your Destiny? That truly is freedom. I must admit that is one of the reasons I joined the military in the first place." Although most of the reason was because he was trying to avoid University.

"I think we will have to wait to see. It is likely best to let this Falls fellow say his piece and see where the cities and towns fall." Leo at least seemed up on the politics of the situation, or more interested to discuss them, and Ffamran was curious for some other thoughts. "I think the key will be Claiborne, honestly. They've been a part of the Badlands for years, but we've been garrisoned there. Something will have to give if the Badlands is uniting."

[fangofjustice]

"Is that not why we all join? The promise of freedom and adventure, and the opportunity for heroism..." He took another long sip of his tea, and smiled. "It is never quite as romantic as promised, but it still beats the alternative." Which, for Leo, would have been 'become a farmer' or 'join the clergy'.

He set down his tea again. "There is little we can do besides wait and see. If we risked action, it would likely be used by Falls to build support towards his cause

[bunansajr]

"I would never say it does not beat the alternative." Ffamran knew he was a little spoiled in that sense. The alternative for him was a cushy job at Draklor doing whatever projects he wanted and partying with the other researchers. The Victoria II was not nearly as fun, but he was flying and that was the important part.

"Well, there is still a sizable civilian population, and despite the large military presence there, I do not think it could be held against the entirety of the Badlands." Truth be told, he'd always felt a little wary of the situation there, but with rabble rousing on the rise it felt exceptionally bad.

He took a sip of tea. He honestly didn't like thinking about it. At least Leo seemed like an upstanding guy -- he hoped the impression was a reality.

[fangofjustice]

"That is true. And if the entire Badlands mobilizes to drive out Ivona's influence..." He leaned on his hand in thought.

"... if Falls gains the support of Claiborne, and they are truly willing to go that far to be independent from us... it will come down to whether Ivona would rather withdraw peacefully or risk conflict. And I sincerely doubt the former."

Leo sighed heavily, and took another sip of his tea. Dancing around the word 'war' was starting to get tiresome and depressing. He decided to try changing the subject.

First, he glanced around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, particularly not the Admiral of the ship. When he was satisfied that the coast was clear, he asked, "So, what was the last helmsman on board like? It has been bothering since you first mentioned it on my journal."

[bunansajr]

Ffamran jumped very slightly. He was definitely glad for the change of subject, and he'd been thinking about Gumshoe off and on since the new helmsman had arrived. It was easy to associate the two, although less easy as he got to know Leo a little better.

"He was..." He turned and looked to make sure they weren't near anyone who might be listening in as well. He wasn't sure how much to share, but he had to admit he'd set himself up for it with his offhanded comment. He could blow off the question, or make up some half-truth, but then Leo make go asking others and that wouldn't be good for anyone, especially if it was anywhere near the Admiral or someone else likely to blow up over it.

"A Lieutenant. He seemed like an upstanding officer, at least at first. I suppose you could say he made a bit of a fool of himself in the romance department." There was so much more, but Ffamran was having an obviously hard time spitting it out.

[fangofjustice]

Leo quirked his brow and audibly restrained a laugh at that last sentence. "Well, that is hardly surprising. You could also say romance makes fools of most men."

He considered himself fortunate to have never felt himself particularly drawn towards other people in that way. Even if it did lead from incessant nagging from his relatives: 'You really ought to find yourself a girlfriend, Leo. People are starting to talk...'

"That cannot be all there was to it." He paused to sip his tea, and then inquired further. "Dare I ask who was he pursuing? ... not a superior officer, I hope?"