2021.1.05 Sign on the Dotted Line

Sign on the Dotted Line
Three Kithain take Tabin up to join the crew of the Journeyman
IC Date	2020.01.05
IC Time	2:00 PM PST
Players	Conn Clover Tabin Timand
Location	Snow Fang Peak - Icepeak Tavern
Prp/Tp	Privateer
Spheres	Changeling
Theme Song	A theme song for the log

This log begins en media res...

Setting

Snow Fang Peak - Icepeak Tavern

Standing out in contrast to the rest of the castle, the tavern is one composed mostly of warm wood, heated by a large open hearth. The only thing sealing it off from the room is a metal grate popped out around it. Upon entering, there is a bar with a half dozen seats. The area for the bartender has a few large kegs behind them and an assortment of bottles below and above the bar. There are glasses and mugs that hang above the bar for the one working back there to pull them down for easy use. Past the bar, the room opens up even more into a wide area, scattered with circular tables and a few booths against the walls. Those set in the corner, rounded a bit, tend to shadow those who sit there.

Servers move to and from through the swinging doors, into the kitchen, fetching food from the full kitchen and cart off dishes and glasses to be cleaned and washed. It is a room usually filled with a dull rumble of conversation as it all floods through the tavern. Pillars worked with the same incredible craftsmanship as the rest of it, show intricate designs and give the place some added flare to show off the skills of those that dwell within. A glimpse of the little pygmy chimera that take care of the freehold can be seen here and there, keeping things clean. Spaced out through the tavern are chandeliers, giving off dim lighting throughout the entire room, each table lit more brightly by a candle upon each of them.

Scene

Timand grins over to Clover and nods "Yeah, I've been spendin' a bit o' time here, than an th' hot springs they got here. Nice ta unwind an soak after a few hours fallin' off cliffs into snow. Th' reindeer stew they got here is pretty good, I think thats what ya were sniffin'." He mmms a bit to her second question and says "This guy Tabin I've meet once or twice is lookin' fer a crew to go sailin' around an' needs some muscle. I'm game fer that, as long as i learn ta not puke all over th' place." He gives her a wink at that. "Did ya hear about it? He might need someone wit' a good setta eyes." He glances back towards Conn and says "No harm, no foul." That seems to have put whatever issue that was to bed.

---

As Clover glances between Conn and Timand where they sit before the hearth, her ears give another little flick and the gold of her eyes begins to swirl slowly. "Really? Adventure?" She perks, sitting a smidge taller in her chair, legs giving a little swinging kick beneath. "And sailing? Like.. a ship? A real ship?" She gasps and grins wider, giving a little giggle as she says, "That sounds so fun! Like pirates. Argghhhh," she says as she then turns towards Timand to poke him in the side with a finger, and as she does she says in her best gruff voice, "Ye needs ta get that under control. No pukin' on tha ship!"

---

Conn nods sagely "I can't see you lasting long at sea if you don't get some sea legs, sea sickness will leave you unable to walk. I vaguely remember a trick from the 17th century to deal with it, but it's in there somewhere," he says, tapping the back of his skull, "Maybe more like the lost boys than pirates? The difference being we're the good guys," he says with a wink to clover, "but I can buckle a swash with the best of them."

---

Erin steps in taking off her fur coat and hanging it on the rack. Kringer comes in beside her. She turns seeing people and grumbles a little bit before heading over to a table and raising her hand to greet "Sup"

---

The server comes out again and places a mug of hot mead in front of Clover, giving Timand a bit of a look before starting to walk away. Timand takes a swig of his mug, then says to Clover "Yeah, not so sure 'bout th' job, but i'm startin' ta remember times I was on sailin' ships, doin' somethin' like that. If i see Tabin, want me ta put in a good word for ya and see if he needs a lookout or somethin'?" He nods towards Conn "Yeah, i got a little floopy th' last..well...first an' only time this go around that I was on a boat, but I expect I'll be fine after a few days. Jus' gotta remember ta be leeward when gettin' sick." Leeward, thats not really a word that _should_ be in his vocabulary. Perhaps he is remembering things after all. As the server starts walking away, Timand turns to him and calls out "Oh, can ya get a few bowls of th' Reindeer stew fer th' table? Thanks bud." The server starts to mutter under his breath as he walks again into the kitchen.

---

Best not speak of an Eshu! They just might show up and make everything suuuuper awkard! Thankfully it can't be too awkward, but Tabin DOES come into the tavern with his travelling gear, meaning his trusty backpack complete with a day's findings. He comes into the tavern and heads to the bar, getting himself some of that siiiiick fresh ice water. Cuz refreshing! "Hey everyone." He says in greeting as he gets to the bar. "Whats shaking?"

---

Clover looks from Timand to Conn and she grins wide once more, brows lifting with her excitement. "Ohh! Oh! Can you teach me to buckle a swash? That sounds exciting!" She giggles again and then perks once more when the mead is brought over, which gets her doing a happy little wiggle of her hips. She tugs her mittens off and puts them on the table so she can take her mug and lift it for a sniff. "Mmmm.." In doing so she catches sight of Erin, then Tabin, and she smiles to both. "Hi, Erin! Hey, Tabin! We're talking about you!" she says to the latter, helpful as always!

---

Erin grumbles about something and then goes back to get her coat, puts it on and walks back out with Kringer.

---

Conn nods "Yeah, I can teach you which end is the pointy one and where the best places to stick it in the other guy are. The key to sword fighting is to kill the other person while making sure they don't get to kill you. Seriously, though, if you want to learn to wield a sword, there's a training school that I can book some time in and school you at, the Pendragon's Dance. Have you got yourself a reasonable weapon?" He nods sympathetically to Timand, "Yeah, I remember at least one lifetime where I was all thumbs and couldn't use an anvil and hammer to straighten a nail, let alone make a sword, here's hoping it's just the natural trend towards expert seamanship." He shoots Tabin a wave "If it isn't the Dashing Tabin, we were just talking about you and the pending job you have going."

---

Timand looks up at Erin, and then Tabin enter, and he gives them all a wave "Hey there. Doin' just fine, thanks fer askin'. I was just tellin' Clover here about ya needin' a crew for that trip, and she's all ears." He glances back to her and coughs "Er...sorry, came out wrong." He turns back to Tabin and clarifies "She's interested in comin' if you need a lookout. She's spry enough ta be able to handle the ratlines up to th' topgallant shrouds." What the _hell_ is he saying? The server comes out _Again_ with a few bowls of stew, which he places on the table. Timand looks up to him and then motions to Tabin "Captain needs a drink." The server looks like he's going to say something snarky, but keeps his trap shut when he remembers Timand is a troll, so he just goes yet again back into the kitchen for yet another mug. He looks at Conn and grins at what he says "Stick him with the pointy end." Turning back to Tabin, he says "So care ta fill us in on what th' job is all about?"

---

Tabin looks over at Clover, then Conn, then Timand...and then heads over to the table to take a seat. Damn right the Captain is thirsty. "Does she now?" He looks over at Clover. He gives her a penetrating stare! Burning eyes giving her the once over. Checking out, or sizing up? Difficult which is which, but then again...it's Tabin. "If you think your up for it, sure." He pulls out a vellum of parchment and hands it over to Clover. "Sign on the dotted line, Miss Clover!" He says. The parchment is the ship charter. The regs that bind the crew together. "What's the job? Someone from Emerald Dale needs a ferret to transport a shipment from here to Panama. Need to keep it low profile so they hired out instead of making it some internal noble job." He shrugs. "They're loading the Journeyman up now as we speak, complete with their promise of munitions."

---

Clover is perking up even more (if that's really somehow possible), but when Erin leaves she blinks, watching after the woman. Clover turns her face to give herself a little sniff, and then she shrugs, glancing back towards Conn to hear how to buckle a swash. "Ohh, sounds super fun! And yes! I'd love to learn.." and her eyes narrow slightly, staying on Conn as she reaches out to lower her mead and instead take her stew bowl. "Ahh.. describe 'reasonable'.." The girl looks like she fights with a balloon sword, after all. She gives a nervous giggle and quickly looks away, back towards Timand and Tabin. The things Timand says makes her go, "Awwwwww," and she grins wide, but what gets the best grin is that parchment with an official dotted line! Clover about drops her bowl, but luckily it makes its way to the table without being spilled. She takes the parchment and looks it over, looks at Tabin, looks it over.. back and forth several times, and then with an excited squeak she just.. well, pokes her finger on the parchment like it was a pen and scribbles her name there.

---

Conn tilts his head at the Contract "Do you need me to sign it too?" and nods at Clover "I can clear some of my time and give you the basics. I have a back log of faerie crafting, I'm still not done with Timand's stuff, but I can ask the Viscount about checking out a sword from his arsenal to tide you over on adventures until them."

---

Timand nods to Tabin and says "An i'm not gonna ask what th' cargo is, ain't none of my business." He drains his mug and sets it down, looking for the server. Once Clover is done with the parchment he takes it, reads it over and makes a messy scrawl of a signature, signing on himself. "Equal share fer equal work, seems fair." The server comes back with the mug for Tabin, sets it in front of the Eshu and is about to turn away when Timand says "Oh, I'm empty, can I get another?" The server throws up his hands and stomps into the kitchen. "Huh, whats wrong wit' him?" Timand muses, then shrugs. Looking back to Tabin he says "Conn is busy workin' on a weapon fer me, I don't know if it will be ready in time b'fore we ship out. Conn, ya mind checkin' out a axe fer me too?" He looks back to Clover, appraising her arms, then says "She'd probably do well wit' a rapier, not too heavy an she's quick so she can get jabs in."

---

Tabin nods. "If push comes to shove I can get you a rapier, or a cutlass." Cuz you can always buy one. "I have my trusty cutlass. Got one and never looked back." *pat pat* on his baskethilt at the sword at his side. "Yeah I didn't poke about the cargo either. They got Kingdom stamps all over that thing and shit. I wouldn't be surprised if they laced it with some sort of early warning F off spell. You know how it is." He shrugs, thanking the barmaid kindly and taking a swig of his mug. "That's fine. No worries. They'll be other opportunities I'm sure, and it isn't like we're going to be out on the ocean the whole time. Some peeps got jobs to take care of back here. Ain't gonna ruin stuff for them." Conn has the Murder, Tabin has the Artists Guild, Wick has County stuff...also Conn, he has County stuff. Timand needs to at least bounce once every three months? Others have their jobs. Then there's Clover......Right. "So if it ain't ready I'm sure we'll be fine."

---

Tearing her gaze away from the contract to look at Conn, Clover gives a little bounce in her chair and says, "That would be so nice if you could! Thank you!" And then it's a quick stare at Timand. Her eyes narrow and she smirks, hands turning to fists and moving to rest on her hips. "Have you been spying on me.. Ya know, if ya keep doin' it, I'm going to have to string up cans in the yard or somethin'. Maybe a trap. Some snares.." She gives him a good glare for a second, but she can't hold it for long. Soon enough she's grinning wide and turning to start on eating her stew while listening to Tabin. She's all smiles when hearing about the cutlass, and after quickly swallowing her bite she says, "Yeah! That's be great! I'm sure I could find a really cool cutlass at like.. ah.. an antique place or something! Maybe.. Or something. I'll start looking just in case," she adds, looking too excited once again. Will she even sleep after this? We'll see!

---

Conn nods "Yeah, probably a Soothsay or some variant of Contract. At least that's how I'd do it, if I were to smuggle things. Hypothetically... wait no, allegedly, that's the word. I'd allegedly do it that way." He looks between Timand and Clover and chuckles with the "Oh, I get it" face, but doesn't say anything. It's none of his business, he waits for the Contract to pass his way before signing it, "I'm pretty good with duct tape and a hammer and nails, if you're still looking for a midshipman."

---

Timand gives a little nod towards Tabin "Alright, fair enough. Do ya think we'll run into any trouble?" From the kitchen comes a loud *squeek squeek squeek* sound as the server pushes a cart with a large oak cast sitting on it. The cart is left at the table for the group, and the server stalks off into the kitchen, muttering angrily under his breath. Timand however grins and twists the spigot, filling up his mug again. "They got good service here." He looks back to Clover and innocently says "I would never snoop on you without your permission. And why string up cans, you have nice cans." He grins over to Conn and says "Are ya going to sign up too? Would be great ta have ya aboard."

---

"Yeah I can use a Midshipman. You know your way around waaaay too much stuff. I think it'd be good fit for you." Tabin says to Conn, getting his refilled mug and taking a swig. "Potentially. The affair was all very third-tier friend of a friend. Makes me think someone in the Court is trying to smuggle something. Why? And for what? No clue. But it definately smells of that good ripe 'plausible deniability' deal. Three crates, moderate size, stamped with Kingdom of Pacifica logos and locked closed." He shrugs. "We'll be heading to Panama City so...potentially. The South Pacific has a lot of Kithain traffic to it so piracy might be an issue. Or someone tryin' to gum up the run. All we need to do, according to the writ, is get to the city marina. They should have an escort ready for the pickup."

---

Cover's happily enjoying the meal, wiggling slightly as she takes a few bites and chews, looks around, stares at people, stares at the ceiling.. just where ever her gaze wants to flit. She's always watching.. Spooky. She's in the process of taking another bite when Timand comments on cans, so she lets the bite drop into the bowl, and after a quick lick to the spoon she's using it to smack at his shoulder with. Vicious. Spoon then goes back to bowl as Clover listens to the information, and she coos, "That's so exciting! I wonder what is in the crates.. Could be exotic animals.. Or.. Lots of gold.." Her eyes narrow as she thinks on it, nodding to herself, and suddenly she's back to reality with a jolt. "What's your ship like!?" she has to ask.

---

Conn nods "I have several life times of memory to draw on, not to mention a plethora of resources that being a in a Noble House, even one as far on the outside as Scathach, provides. As long as there's a formal manifest that you have some Noble's name to, and we're not transporting anything super dodge like, y'know, cold Iron or vampires, I expect it won't matter what we're ferrying. There's a limit to how much I can do about gumming up the works, but we should be able to repel any piracy attempts." He signs the dotted line and nods "I guess we never know what's in the crates, Clover. Probably as part of the deal."

---

Timand nods towards Tabin, and says over his mug before he takes a drink "Honestly, I don't care what th' cargo is as long as we get paid. Ain't none of my business, an' a tight lip gets more jobs. If we run into any truble well..." He starts to take a drink when he gets swatted, blurblbing mead down into his beard. "Hey! What was that fer? Ya had all these nice painted cans in yer house, didn't ya? Old soup cans recycled an painted wit' these floral patterns and thing. I would hate ta seem 'em ruined." He gives her a slightly injured look as he rubs his shoulder "Or am i thinkin' of someone else's place."

---

Tabin firmly believes that Timand, was flirting. But as a proper wingman (and wordsmithing Eshu), he does not elaborate through facial expression when Clover hits Timand with the Spoon of Punishment +1. Instead, he just watches the exchange a drinks. Then puts the mug on the table. "All I know is that it's 'sensitive'." He says. "Beyond that? No idea." Like Timand, Tabin is amicable toward the parcels. "What's the Journeyman like? It's my house for one." Check. "It's a yacht. Not too big, but not too small. A good caravel-sized ship. Plenty of space in the House deck and plenty of bunks. Conn's been on it." He gestures to Conn. "It's a smooth little ship, now with GUNS." He laughs.

---

Conn nods "I don't know how to effect a TARDIS yet, or a bag of holding for that matter, but as soon as I do, you'll be the first person I tell. But. It's getting to be a time," when is it ever not, "and I've spent enough in the Dreaming for one day, so as much as I like hanging with you fine folks, I'm going to head Autumnside and and finish up a sword I have on the go."

---

"That would be someone else's place," Clover says to Timand with a little 'hmph' as she lifts her chin at him and turns her face away, pouting it up for just a second before she's getting back to the food. Yum. She's back to quietly listening as the cargo and ship is described, and after she hears it's Tabin's home and there are -guns-, she sits up taller again and asks, "Does it have a nest!?" Her eyes widen with that look of 'oh please oh please!' and she only glances away for a second to wave to Conn, saying, "See you!" and then it's back to puppy-eyeing Tabin.

---

Timand looks away from the Wrathful Clover back towards Tabin and he nods appreciatively "Nice. What sorta guns? I don't know anythin' about operatin' guns so I might need a crash course in that." He looks up to Conn and gives the man a wave as he departs "Pleasure as always ta see ya Conn." He steals a little glance at Clover, adopts a 'McKayla Maroney' facial expression and lets out a soft "Sorry" to her before turning his attention back to Tabin.

---

"Course it has a nest!" Tabin says with a 'you kiddin' me' sort of look. "Any good ship has a nest. I ain't one of those Sidhe who makes their ships look like a fucking swan or duck or whatever." He sniffs. "Standard cannon fare. It'll take like 3 days to get to Panama, so there will be plenty of time to go over the basics. Everyone will need a crash course anyway cuz if we need 'em, we need hands to blow up the opposition to smithereens." He says.

---

The expression upon Clover's face when she hears there is indeed a nest.. well, it's like a kid who just saw Santa. The -real- one. Her eyes widen and she squeals, hands going up to clap and then shake with her excitement as she says, "That's great! Oh! I can climb up and watch and keep an eye out and feel the breeze and watch the clouds and climb down and back and.. yeah!!" She laughs, soooo excited she can barely sit still now. She wiggles side to side, and then laughs hard at what Tabin says the Sidhe make their ships look like. She's grinning far too wide, and an excited gaze is tossed Timand's way, followed by a tight hug as if to say it's alright. "This will be so much fun! Ohhh I gotta get ready! Things to pack and plans to make and.. yep!"

---

Timand lets out a snort as well to the comment about swan ships "Good. I think nest duty is all 'er." The 'blowing up to smithereens' comment gets a thumbs up "That sounds like fun. Big booms." He looks over his shoulder towards Clover and lightly rests his head against hers as she gives him a hug, then says "Thats a good point. What sorta things do we need to pack? Well..I mean I ain't got much so that won't take long but..whats th' food an' drink options like?"

---

"Master of the Tops it is." Tabin says to Clover. If she wants to climb all over creation, best give her the job that mandates she climb up and down the ship. "Your in charge of the sails and peeping for threats. Basically the eyes and ears for the ship." Tabin answers Timand question by saying. "I got a full kitchenette in the house deck and I'm stacking special. This is a short run so we should be set on food. I got a few packs of beer and liquour for everyone else," Tabin doesn't drink often you see, "So best pack like your going on a camping trip."

---

Clover looks between the two, back and forth several times. She looks like she just may explode at any moment, but she somehow manages to keep it together. "Perfect!" she finally cries. "Okay! Gotta pack and think and plan and.. Ohhh yes!" She laughs to herself. Clover stands up suddenly and grabs her mead, then proceeds to chug most of it down and give a swipe of forearm across mouth as the mug is lowered. A bright smile is shown to both and she says, "Gotta run! Things to do!! I'll see ya both soon, mateys!" And with that she's cackling, grabbing her mittens, and hopping off to the door to run on off.

---

Timand lets out a loud laugh at the comment about packing for a camping trip. For some reason that seems amusing to him. "Well alright then. I'm ready to go whenever, since well...I live in a cave in th' middle of th' woods." He picks up his mug again and has another pull "An I'll be in charga making sure no one tries to sneak on board, an if we need to board anyone else I'll be in th' front thunkin' 'em." He watches Clover hop up, and dryly says "I think she's excited." He gives her a wave "See ya around Clover!" he calls after her.

---

"No kiddin'." Tabin says about Clover, watching as the girl seems to try REALLLLLY hard to imitate the Flash and his Super Speed. It's the thought that counts. "We're looking to ship off thursday. Once we clear the US line everything's up in the air. Feathered Snake is as hot of a mess as usual so if we're gonna encounter anything it'll be on the Mexican coast. I charted a course to have us loop and come into Panama from the straight south, give us some breathing room in case someone tries anything funny. Last thing we need is some coast guard crap on our case if they see us blowing each other up off the coastline." Apparently this is an Autumn run, not a Dreaming one.

---

"Okaaayyyy!" Clover can be heard calling back in response as to when they leave, and then the door thunks closed.

---

Timand lets out a little snort of amusement, then turns serious "Oh, so this is gonna be done down in meatspace, not up here? Alright. Where do I meet ya Thursday?" He lifts his mug to drain it, then considers filling it up again. Naah. "I don't know much about any of any kingdom, ours or this feathered snake or anythin' else. Jus' tell me who's bad, an point me at 'em." Simple. Direct. Troll.

---

Tabin nods. "Yup." In regards to not doing it in the Dreaming. "Marina off the Boardwalk, Harbor District. Can't miss it. Only chimerical ship in the harbor." He offers as directions. The lack of knowledge about the Kingdoms, their names and other things doesn't seem to phase Tabin at all, or make him think less. He just nods. "Well. We'll put some Wayfarer miles on those Troll legs of yours. You'll learn 'em." He smirks.

---

Timand grunts in amusement, then realizes something. He says "If uhh...we are comin' from th' south into Panama won't the coast guard or th' navy think we might be smugglin' powder in from Columbia? An when we sail _back_ from Panama ya better bet we are gonna get stopped an' searched." He hesitates, then says "I've only know about me troll side fer three an a half weeks now. I'm a baby in this world."

---

Tabin shakes his head. "Nah." He waves a hand. "Not -that- deep of a bend. And if we get stopped and searched don't worry. They won't find anything. AND we won't have to worry about their immigration dogs either." Tabin nods. "As someone who has smuggled themselves into basically every country along the Pacific? I know a thing or two about avoiding any feds, corrupt or otherwise." He's probably gonna illusion the ship. Nah. He's definately gonna illusion the ship.

---

Timand gives a little nod to that, then pushes himself up from his seat "Alright, Thursday it is. I'll see ya then if I don't see ya sooner."

---

End

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