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Post by Jewel on Apr 6, 2005 15:08:40 GMT -5
((Angel, dear, people post when they can. Not everyone can always get to the board very often, and some have consistent access. Making all the other players 'wait up' for you isn't too fair. I'm just saying, think about it from everyone else's point of view--it might just be you not posting fast enough. Just an idea))
"Cutter really is stronger than me. But don't forget, I'm the strongest girl in the world!"
The crimson stallion drew his lips back over his teeth at her comment, quite bemused by her claim. He wondered silently how much of that strength actually lay upstairs.
Cutter walked over to the small group of ponies just as Tiger finished his sentence,
"The cargo don't load itself, you know, and Cutter could use some help."
The red stallion turned his head slightly to the side, looking at Tiger with passive, calm attention, "Cargo's all aboard, Cap'n," He stated matter-of-factly in his low, gruff voice, "It's all a matter o' organizin 'n takin' inventory, at present." Anything Cutter tried to say without saying, he said with his eyes. However, he had an equal talent of hiding all emotion and ideas from an onlooker. The only ponies who might be able to see through him were Gan Ning and Bridie, as well as Tiger.
He didn't openly question Tiger's suggestion that Pippi help him. He reasoned that he might as well give her half a chance to prove herself useful on this vessel, and the lightened load on his part wasn't unwelcomed.
"I'll have th' inventory for ye by sunset," Cutter said to Tiger, "an' once the riggin' an' mechanics are checked, I imagine we be ready to sail," he added, a hopeful spark in his eye. While he was more of a second mate, the stallion liked to show the kind of subtle comradery necessary to keep a crew together and functioning as a team. In his experience, it made for the most successful journies. Cutter was a hard worker, and he tended to pull more than his own weight at times. Then again, physical labor was his speciality, and his preference.
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Post by Angel624 on Apr 6, 2005 20:38:39 GMT -5
((Yea, I guess you're right. But I feel when you guys have posted a lot after I posted, it seems to me that when the other pirates(like Gan Ning and Bridie for instance) are making fun of Pippi, or fighting with her, I never feel that Pippi gets a say in anything because then by the time I get on here, there's nothing much for her to say, because things were already said by the other pirates. )) Pippi smiled at Quicksand. "So, what are your talents? Besides making quicksand appear, which I think is a really great talent!" She said, prancing a bit. Her attention then turned towards Tiger. She smiled. "Well, I guess I could help him." She said. "I'll get to work." She trotted over to where they loaded the cargo. But she was stopped when Cutter went over to Tiger and told him that he loaded it all already. Pippi felt a bit embarrassed for trotting over to the loaded cargo, and trotted back to the group. "Well, I..I guess Cutter did already load all the cargo." Her cheeks turned light pink. She turned to Cutter. "Are you sure it's all loaded, and you don't need any help?" She asked sweetly, fluttering her eyes a bit.
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WingSong
'80's Pony
~Quicksand~ ~Tweak~ ~Baby Gadget~ ~Posey~
Posts: 158
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Post by WingSong on Apr 6, 2005 21:26:07 GMT -5
"So, what are your talents?"
Quicksand found herself wishing Pippi hadn't asked that - she couldn't think of any talents she had that wouldn't sound really wimpy. And her ability to make quicksand appear wasn't even really a talent - it was something she was capable of, and she hardly ever used her powers.
The mare thought a moment more before reassuring herself that any talent would sound less wimpy than saying "sorry - I don't have any talents", so she responded a bit slowly.
"Well...I liked to read quite a bit back home, and I'm fairly good at winking now. I can get back pretty close to where I winked out, and I can actually think of what I want to find rather than an exact location." That had turned out sounding pretty wimpy, but it couldn't be helped. And winking back in almost the same place wasn't exactly something to brag about - she'd met foals who were more accurate in return locations than her.
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Post by Crescent on Apr 6, 2005 23:07:40 GMT -5
Tiger nodded to Cutter when he told him that cargo was all ready. He wasn't so sure if he was doing him any favours by having Pippi help him out, but d**n it, the mare ought to do something around here. He smiled to Cutter when he'd finished his sentence. He really hoped that some day, when - and he rather expected it to be when - Gan Ning would find another ship he wanted to be the captain of, Cutter would stay as Tiger's first mate. He really trusted the crimson stallion, in more ways than one. He seemed to have the same idea about a functioning crew as Tiger did.
He smiled to Cutter's mention about setting sail, and duly noted the hopeful spark. Yes, he, too, craved for the sea.
"We'll leave once we've got the course mapped out," he said with a nod, a warm look in his eyes. This stallion was irreplaceable to him. "You see what you can do about the inventory and the rest of it, take whoever you want to help you out. Me and Gan Ning will see to the map."
He hoped his crew would manage a few short moments without him settling their disputes. But then, he trusted Cutter to keep order on board while his back was turned almost as surely as he trusted Gan Ning.
He nodded to Cutter and then went off to Gan Ning and the map he was sure he must have out by now.
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WingSong
'80's Pony
~Quicksand~ ~Tweak~ ~Baby Gadget~ ~Posey~
Posts: 158
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Post by WingSong on Apr 6, 2005 23:15:00 GMT -5
"I'll help", Quicksand said, wanting to feel useful. Then she was irritated when she realized that she'd be working with Cutter, the stallion her friend was crazy about.
"...Or Pippi could help! I'll bet she'd be more helpful than me", she added quickly, grabbing Pippi by the shoulders and shoving her in front of her.
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Post by Jewel on Apr 7, 2005 0:09:10 GMT -5
Cutter nodded in response to the captain, single gold earring swinging slighlty. He was glad the loading part was done, ahead of time as usual thanks to Gan Ning's help. Loading a ship with so much cargo was a tough and laborious job for even the strongest of stallions.
"I'll help...Or Pippi could help! I'll bet she'd be more helpful than me"
Cutter raised an eyebrow at the mare, tilting his head slightly to the side. He looked at her for a moment, catching eye contact. To her, his eyes would yield no emotion, remaining mostly unreadable. In a way, it tested her character--whether she would look back, look down, or look away.. Cutter was familiar with body language, and often employed it when judging character.
"I think I be well aware of what Pipsy here is capable of," He said in reference to the mare who had just challenged him to armwrestle. He wasn't terribly interested by the fact that she challenged his strength, nor impressed by it. Many new better than to challenge Cutter. Quicksand, on the other hoof, he had barely laid eyes on, let alone communicated with at all.
"Aye, Sandy," He said in a low, rather emotionless voice, "Would ye be of some assistance b'low deck?" Cutter's politeness, rough around the edges as it was, wasn't something often found in pirate stallions, and he did receive his fair share of taunting over the matter. Though one look from him was more or less all it took to deter his offender.
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Delta
'97 Pony
~Triniti-Jewel~Bridie-Lee~
Posts: 73
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Post by Delta on Apr 7, 2005 2:34:10 GMT -5
Bridie was suddenly irritated by the fact that Gan Ning had said that Quicksand had looks.
Hold up! Bridie-Lee thought anxiously. I'm the best looking mare on this ship, and that's not about to change!
For a moment Bridie felt like she was going to be replaced, but this feeling left her as she started cooking up a plan to get Quicksand... But something distracted her.
"But don't forget, I'm the strongest girl in the world!"
The white mare stood totally still for a moment, and closed her eyes. After a few seconds of slow breathing, Bridie opened them again, stalked over to Pippi and yelled:
"Do you EVER shut the F*CK UP!?" Bridie's eyes were locked into Pippi's, showing hate and anger like she had never felt before. "Nobody gives a D*MN if your the strongest girl in the world, or if you're the princess of the 'Kura Kura islands' or whatever!," She yelled, getting the name wrong. "Because don't you get it!? YOU AREN'T A REAL PIRATE!!! You NEVER were, and you NEVER will be!"
The mare then strode over to Tiger and said:
"Either she goes, or I go. I can't take being around this happy-happy bullsh*tter any longer. She just isn't pirate material. You know that, and I know that. She can't be a good mare AND a pirate. THEY. DON'T. MIX." Bridie finished, staring at Tiger hard. Deep down, she knew what his choice would be. Bridie and Tiger went back for years, and she knew that he would never run a ship without her, Gan Ning and Cutter...
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Post by Crescent on Apr 7, 2005 3:03:53 GMT -5
Tiger was startled almost out of his feathers by Bridie's sudden explosion. He had realised there had been some tension going on and that the two mares seemed to find the ship simply too small for the both of them, but he had not expected anything of that... level. He turned around and swallowed as he stared at Bridie yelling at Pippi and then cringed as she stomped over to him. Then he realised that cringing was ridiculous for a pirate captain, so he straightened his back and arched his neck royally to meet her flashing eyes.
"Either she goes, or I go. I can't take being around this happy-happy bullsh*tter any longer. She just isn't pirate material. You know that, and I know that. She can't be a good mare AND a pirate. THEY. DON'T. MIX."
Tiger glanced quickly at Pippi. Then he looked at Bridie. And again at Pippi. And once more at Bridie. He felt hot sweat break behind his ears. He had been afraid something like this would happen. Ever since Pippi had got on board he had noticed tension going on. Cutter had made it clear he didn't really appreciate the mare, though he had never expressed much open hostility towards her, but that was probably mainly because she was part of the crew, and he tried to do his best to give her a chance. Tiger didn't really think Gan Ning got along with her any better, especially since Pippi could not take his jokes, and Gan Ning thrived on joking.
And then there was the fact that Bridie was a d**ned dangerous mare, and he had begun to worry of their next fight. With that kind of hatred going on on the ship, how could he trust this crew to work together on a dangerous situation? How could he trust to it that they would all really do what they were told, instead of just bending the rules in order to get one another into trouble, or worse yet, killed?
He read it all in Bridie's eyes. She was not about to let go of this matter. And yes, she was right. Pippi was not much of a pirate, not to Tiger, anyway. He was willing to give the newbie, Quicksand, a chance, since she seemed to have at least the required humility to get along with everyone. And she seemed faithful. But tell the truth, though Bridie was a b*tch, he still trusted her, in every way more than he trusted Pippi.
And they went back a long way. Not only was Tiger rather certain that Cutter would take Bridie's side on this, he also knew that by choosing Pippi he would lose a valuable crewmember and only gain a half-fledged hatchling instead. Bridie was a true pirate, no matter if she was a female, she still could hold a sword and fight with the rest of them. And besides, there was the danger that Cutter would walk out right after her, and Gan Ning with them. Then he would have practically no crew at all.
In the end, the decision was not difficult. He could see he really had no choice. His old principle - rather sacrifice one than many - won again.
Slowly he nodded.
"All right, Bridie, doll," he said gruffly, nudging her on the neck. "I hear you, I hear you." He pushed her aside and walked over to Pippi, in all his stallion-like might. He drew his ears back and made sure she could see his sabres. "Pippi, I've had you on this ship a far shorter time than I've known Bridie. She's proven her worth to me ten times over and saved my neck once. I'm sorry, doll, but you got to go. If I got to choose between my crew and you, you lose. Get off the ship."
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Delta
'97 Pony
~Triniti-Jewel~Bridie-Lee~
Posts: 73
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Post by Delta on Apr 7, 2005 3:31:36 GMT -5
As Tiger nudged her, Bridie felt very compelled to nuzzle him at that moment, but she quickly snapped out of it. A part of Bridie had just come to light, the part of her that fully appreciated the fact that Tiger, Cutter and Gan Ning were not only her ship mates but her closest friends in the world. They were the only three that Bridie would never betray, and that was a big deal for her.
The snow white mare stood there, beside Tiger, as he ordered Pippi off the ship. She said nothing, which was quite out of character for her, but she thought it was best. Sneering or poking fun at Pippi would break the seriousness of the moment, and she would probably argue. But it had been said, the orders had been given; Pippi was no longer a part of the crew.
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WingSong
'80's Pony
~Quicksand~ ~Tweak~ ~Baby Gadget~ ~Posey~
Posts: 158
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Post by WingSong on Apr 7, 2005 17:42:45 GMT -5
Quicksand fidgeted around nervously when Cutter looked her in the eyes. She didn't really know if looking someone straight in the eye was considered defiant with pirates, and the last thing she wanted was a fight...But from all the manners she'd been taught it was respectful to look someone in the eye when talking to someone, so she stared right back, blinking more than normal.
She was about to agree to going on decks when she heard Bridie shouting. The mare looked over, and her eyes widened when she heard the captain tell Pippi to get off the ship. She from Pippi to the captain. "You can't be serious."
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Post by Angel624 on Apr 7, 2005 20:45:42 GMT -5
The purple mare listened to Quicksand talk. "Wow, that's neat that you're an expert winker!" She said with a grin. She was fascinated a bit by Quicksand's talent.
Then when Quicksand shoved her in front of the other two, she smiled. "Heh, heh." She said. "I guess I could help."
But when the captain said she had to leave, tears welled up in her eyes. She didn't want to leave, she WAS a real pirate! More of a pirate than Bridie ever would be! She ran off the ship, crying.
Once she was off the ship. She walked as far away from it as she could, until she was in a small forest. She slowly trotted through it. They can't kick me off the ship! Well, I guess it's the right thing to do, anyway. No wonder I have no friends. I'm just not right for their ship. I knew I should have stayed with my father's crew. I was much better off with them. She thought, crying some more.
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Post by Crescent on Apr 8, 2005 3:42:41 GMT -5
Tiger watched the tears swell up in Pippi's eyes and felt bad for her for a moment. But just for a moment. He was a tough stallion, and he didn't let personal feelings get in the way of what you had to do. She would get over it. Everyone always did. And she would find herself another ship, if she really wanted to sail. Or she could go back to that island of hers and be a princess. What did he care? Besides, a real pirate never cried in any case. He was sure he had done the right decision.
He watched her gallop off and drew in a deep breath. Then he looked around, at the stillness that had suddenly taken over the deck.
"Well, what's there to stare about?" he asked harshly. "Get back to work. There's a lot to do before we can sail off."
Inwardly he wondered what he'd do now that the ship was one crewmember short. He'd need to find another fighter somewhere. Preferrably a real hard-boiled pirate this time. Now he was glad Quicksand had joined the crew. He had a replacement at hand right away.
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Post by Shadow on Apr 8, 2005 11:37:16 GMT -5
Gan Ning had been inside the cabin the entire time, eyeing the map too closely to pay mind to the outside goings on. Steping out, he offered the map to Tiger, all possable routes and the dangers on them clearly noted. "Sorry bout that Tiger, but I went ahead and checked the map for you. All you really gotta do now is pick our course!" He then winked at Bridie. "Hey, relax! Your like a sister to me, Bridie! It's next to impossable to replace you. I'm just saying..." He pulled her to the side for a moment, speaking low enough that only she could hear.
"You know how rare it is for a mare to catch my eye. And this Quicksand lass has it. All I'm wondering is if I help her master her powers, can you help teach her to fight? I think you'd have respect from enemy pirates if she, a student of your blades, is able to kick their arses. Besides, she knows her place and could prove to be a huge help with some time! Watta ya say, Sis?" Gan Ning had a habit of refering to her as his Sister; He had been an only child, and she was just a sister to him as Cutter and Tiger were like brothers. He'd take over a ship someday, but the ship he planed was the one he was standing on.
Only two things would make him take control from Tiger; The captain was bedridden and needed somebody to take over till he got better, or it was his dieing wish. He was loyal to everyone because they were his friends; His family. With Quicksand around, he might have a chance at a girlfriend or even his very only children to carry on his bloodline; And his seafareing skills.
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Post by Crescent on Apr 8, 2005 12:52:38 GMT -5
As Gan Ning gave him the map, Tiger could have hugged him - if he weren't too gruff for such shows of affection in public over such a little matter. He smiled to his first mate in a thankful manner. He was too stressed at the moment to want to think through a map, and Gan Ning had saved him a lot of trouble.
"Thanks," he said to Gan Ning as the other stallion walked over to Bridie. Tiger went to a barrel with the map and bent over it, his brow furrowed. He wasn't quite sure where he wanted to go, and all this arguing had thrown his mind off for a moment there. Tiger was a passionate stallion, and it didn't always fit in with being a captain, when you had to think things through. Thus the situation had left him steaming a bit, and his tail swished back and forth as he forgot himself into the map. Oh, how he missed the sea. Everything got always much the simpler when you got out onto the sea.
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WingSong
'80's Pony
~Quicksand~ ~Tweak~ ~Baby Gadget~ ~Posey~
Posts: 158
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Post by WingSong on Apr 8, 2005 18:54:03 GMT -5
Quicksand stared after Pippi in concern, and was surprised that she had not made any move to defend herself. But then again, from what she'd seen the captain's word was law around here - Pippi probably knew it would do no good to argue. She hoped the other mare was going to be alright, but wasn't about to run off after her - she'd just gotten work here, and didn't know that it would do any good anyway. ((Heh - I just realized something. Pippi ran off the ship immediately. That means all her belongings - including her father's gold - are still on board. Let's hope for her sake that the other pirates haven't noticed that yet. ))
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