Dusk Comes (Tiger's Ship)

[Crescent]

Tiger smiled a bit at Bridie's remark, and was just about to start imploring Quicksand to never mind Bridie and come along dance anyway, just for the heck of it, when Gan Ning went over to the filly and gave her the gift. Tiger's eyes widened a little and he drew his ears back. Ohhh! So Gan Ning had indeed a little crush, did he? Tiger had not seen him give that kind of gifts nor say that kind of words to any mare before.

The captain drew the corners of his mouth up a bit. Gotcha. He'd stay clear off Quicksand then, though the filly was a delicious one. He could have practically any mare he wanted, Gan Ning didn't take to many mares that way... Tiger didn't really need to go spoil it all for him just for sport.

"Oh yea, when you get them drunk, Bridie, have them do the tango! That would be a sight worth two hundred gold AND half my pearl stock!"

"Hoy, now, Gan Ning, don't give her any ideas!" Tiger said, but winked at Bridie. He wasn't really afraid.

"I wish ya luck in beatting Bridie, guys. Knowing her, it's NOT gonna be an easy task. Still, my money is on Cutter! NOBODY drinks more than him and not have to worry about poisoning!"

Tiger's face turned a bit sour and he shook his mane, though he got the humour.

"Ach, now, this ain't fair, is it?" he complained for show's sake. "Nobody's on my side, and I'm the captain." A playful glint in his eyes he looked all around. "Does this mean there's a mutiny on board?"

And he flattened his ears back in play-threat.

[[ooh, yeah, this ship has much less... violent games than the "baddie" ship. I guess we really have a "good" crew. Or then our pirates just love each other. ;D]]

[Shadow]

((We're a family! Each comes from a diffrent way of sea fareing life, but that added pool of skill and personality makes this crew all the closer bonded. That, and we steal other pirate's treasure & rely on Gan Ning's dives to REALLY rake in the bounty. When we say Good Pirates, we MEAN Good Pirates.))

Gan Ning laughed at Tiger's reaction. He knew he could handle the stallion's jokes, which gave him the right to exploit doing so at will! "Mutiny? From us? Fat chance, Cap! We like you too much to throw you off! Besides, me and Cutter owe ya for takeing us in; And I make good on my debts to stallions I respect. Not that you have that much..." He fell over that time as he laughed, falling off the boat through one of the railing's openings, and into the water with a huge splash. He floated on his back as he kept laughing, this time at his own mistake. "If you can't laugh at yourself, you aren't happy with who you are!"

A water jet and a graceful flip later, he landed back next to Quicksand, dry as he was before. "And you know I only take control of the ship when you can't." He walked over and gave Tiger a playful punch in the sholder. "Go ahead and get drop dead drunk. I'll move us out first thing in the morning, or the second those guys pull something we might get blamed for." Yet again, Gan Ning was making sure his loyalty and reliability was known as one of the ship's best.

He then returned to Quicksand, and gave her a nod. "Tell ya what. How's about we let those three have their fun, while I help you gain better control of your powers?" He called up a orb of water from the sea, and by spining his hoof under it, made it turn into a small, hovering funnel of water. "Earth and Water are almost like brothers. Teaching you Earth Control should be a snap!"

[WingSong]

((Ooh, I love this crew. ;D *glares at Quicksand* Not that I can say Quicksand's contributing much to it yet...))

"That would be great", Quicksand said with a nod, still smiling. "But...just a warning - my powers aren't exactly as...useful as yours anyway. There's really nothing they're good for, the more I think about it." She frowned slightly at the thought. Really, what could she do? Endanger equipment and crewmembers for one, but she didn't want to think about that at the moment.

[Crescent]

[[*huggles Shadow* Aye!]]

Tiger laughed at Gan Ning's antics. He really loved his first mate, though he wouldn't have admitted to it in a million years. After all, pirates didn't love anyone.

"Ach, I never drink that much," he said with a shrug - lying his guts out, but he didn't like admitting to his weakness with ale. Then he looked over at Cutter. "Where's that ale?" he demanded. "I want to get drunk!"

[Jewel]

((Sorry, guys.. my hard drive crashed last week *sighs over the fatigue of getting everything recovered and organized this weekend* Luckily, it's all back, but I HAVE fallen quite behind in things.. ))

"I bet you five coins I can drink you under the table anytime."

"Aye, is that so?" Cutter grinned, showing a few gold teeth, "Sounds rather like a challenge t' me!"

He opened two pouches on his sack, and tossed Cutter a shark tooth the size of a foal's hoof

Emerald eyes widened for a moment in pleasure at seeing the large shark's tooth, just a bit bigger than any he had collected personally. Holding it up and studying its curves and tapered point, he grinned to Gan Ning, "We ought be callin ye 'Merry Treats o' the Sea' before long!" He laughed, attaching the large tooth to the leather band around his foreleg.

Although she was having trouble trying to stop herself from eyeing Cutter's handsome red body

Cutter too had a fair bit of difficulty in keeping his own eyes from wandering time to time. He had never really felt like more of a stallion than he did around that mare. Much as she tempted him, he was doing his best to play a bit of a game with her, almost hard-to-get. But when push came to shove.. his desire would be easily fulfilled.

"I wish ya luck in beatting Bridie, guys. Knowing her, it's NOT gonna be an easy task. Still, my money is on Cutter! NOBODY drinks more than him and not have to worry about poisoning!"

The large, muscular red stallion who truly resembled more of a draft pony puffed his chest proudly at that statement, offering no more than an agreeing grin.

Where's that ale?" he demanded. "I want to get drunk!"

Cutter calmly turned to Tiger, in every attempt to appear as if his eyes hadn't been wandering over the dark teal mare for the past few moments, and disrupting his attention.

"Comin' right up, Cap'n," He grinned slightly and plodded off below deck.

[Delta]

Bridie cleared her throat for a moment, checked that nobody was watching her, and followed Cutter below deck so she could speak with him.

[Crescent]

Tiger's attention had still been thoughtfully on Gan Ning and Quicksand - he was seeing quite a lovely beginning of a relationship there - when Bridie left after Cutter, so he didn't notice it until the mare was gone. When he turned to say something to Bridie, he found she wasn't there but could just see a lovely tip of the tail vanishing below deck. The disappointment and jealousy on his face was obvious as he dropped one ear backwards and whisked his tail with annoyment.

The moment was soon over, however, and he turned back to Gan Ning and Quicksand, not wanting to be left ignored.

"Ach, Sandy, you're too hard on yourself," he said, recalling her earlier words. "That power of yours gets real handy - as long as you know just on which ship to use it." He winked to her. "On an attack on an enemy ship it just might prove useful."

[WingSong]

Quicksand nodded, not really thinking she'd want to be involved in much attacking of enemy ships, and looked over at the other ship docked. "Do you really think...that other crew is going to be a problem?" The mare wanted to help in any way that she could, but hoped that the crew she was now a part of stayed out of trouble so she wouldn't be put into such a situation.

[Crescent]

Tiger's eyes followed Quicksand's gaze over to the other ship, and his face hardened. As he walked nearer to the railing and looked out at the ship, the wind tugging at his mane and tail, his neck arched and an experienced expression in his eyes, he had the look of a true pirate, weather-worn and dangerous. His hoof lingered on the sabre hilt.

"Aye," he said with a low voice. "I've a feeling they will." He turned his head suddenly, and his sea green eyes bored into Quicksand, deep and hard. "And when we get into real business, lassie, you'd better know how to fend for yourself. There will be no one around saving your neck if you don't know what you're doing." His front hooves hit the deck again and he came closer to Quicksand, pushing his face right into hers, very big and frightening. "Like I said before, this ain't no pleasure cruise. I've no need for lily-livered landlubbers who can't take care of themselves. Either you take on the sea, or the sea is gonna take you."

He wanted to test her guts. He had had his doubts of her stamina since the first time he'd laid eyes on her, but being short on crew, he was willing to give her a chance. But he wanted to make perfectly clear that he wasn't necessarily the teddy-bear he sometimes might have seemed to be.

[Shadow]

Gan Ning nodded at Tiger's testing of her guts. He had faced the same trial before when he first boarded, his reation to draw his sword swift as a rainstorm and ready it right at the back of the Captain's neck. And then he ruined the tough guy moment by popping a wise crack. Then again, he knew full well the dangers of the sea. He turned to the other ship, his eyes narrowed with ice cold spite. "Don't ask me how, but I KNOW that ship will cross blades with us. You'll need to face facts early, Quicksand. You will see blood, you will see us hurt, maybe even killed, and you will have to take another's life to protect your own. You'll have to do it for maybe the rest of your life as you sail with us."

He turned to her then, his kind hearted apperence melted away to show a stallion who had faced the sea since he first learned to swim. "I've got a sea's worth of blood on my hooves, every drop from somebody that wanted my life taken from me. We're more than willing to train you in how to take care of yourself in a fight; But we can't always be there once it begins. By then, your on your own and the primary rule of battle takes over; Kill or be killed. "Personaly, I'd like you to stick around; Not often a mare catches my eye." He grined at her, but knew his former words got his point across firmly.

[WingSong]

The mare felt unable to really respond at first, and hoped she didn't appear pale - she certainly felt as though she did. Managing only another nod at first, she thought over what they both had said.

Knowing enough to avoid the remark 'I don't want to see anyone hurt', she said slowly, "Yes, I know I-I'll try. But...I think I'll definitely need some help before then."

[Crescent]

Tiger listened to Gan Ning's words, pleased that he had sided with him. He had had a slight suspicion that his old friend might have tried protecting the mare. He felt a little ashamed of believing so. He should have known his first mate better.

To Quicksand, he smiled harshly. He didn't see much promise in her, but she had neat powers. Though he rather used an honest blade than magic in battle, he had found that magic, too, had its moments.

"I'll leave you to Gan Ning's care," he said. "Stick close to him. He'll show you the ropes. There's not a swifter blade than his, nor is there truer a warrior than him." He smiled to Gan Ning, truly looking at him for the first time in a long time. "Nor truer a friend."