A Pirate's Word: Stormy Seas (Cont. Ship at Ready)

[Shadow]

((The othere thread was getting too long, guys, so I'm getting things started from page one again.))

While the Captain didn't buy Jewel's warning in full, Gan Ning knew she was right. It was handy haveing a pot of water in every room of the ship, the azure sea dog mused, for he could keep track of everything and not really bother anyone. What convinced him of a storm was how the largest of his bells, the one near his waist on his chest strap, seemed to chime violently in warning. "Dad, I'm still thankful to this day for you getting these bells of mine blessed. If a storm is to come, then I'm ready to do what I can for my mates."

He turned to a large metal table then, and grined at the roaring blaze contained in a firebox under the sheet. "But now be time to keep my word of that feast!" With extreme skill and the talented use of blades and spices, the young pirate cooked, cleaned and seasoned the foods he had fished up with the care of a master cook. It wasn't his skills and loyalty along that made him first mate, he always mused; It was his skill as a cook and a diver that he felt earned him a place next to the captain.

In just a short time, the ship started to fill with the aroma of the cooking bounty from the sea; Just for that alone, Gan Ning had a giant metal spatula to fend off those who'd try and sneak some of the food away. The arouma even reached the lower floors with the cargo, no doubt reaching the two hitch hikers. Graping a voice tube from the wall, Gan Ning turned the dial so the transmision would reach Tiger's room. "Dinner is under way, Cap! Say, did you or Cutter want any Sea Rolls tonight?"

Gan Ning's Sea Rollls were his own twist on egg rolls, packed with a flavorful mix of the sea's flavors; A real treat with any meal.

[Jewel]

Heavy hoofbeats sounded on the steep stairs as Cutter climbed down to the area which resembled a small mess hall. The large stallion whistled innocently, as if a pony of his size and reputation would be inconspicous, nearing a table full of tempting food.

"Aye, what's cookin', Gan'ing?"

Cutter's nostrils flared as he leaned to take in the scent of all the delicious fresh sea food. His stomach rumbled as loud as the occaisional grunting and creaking of the large wooden vessel.

[Orivy Assassin]

Roxanne followed her nose down into the room. She caught a glimpse of Cutter's tail and hung back, unusually shy in the presence of the pirates; but her nostrils flared and her stomach began to grumble easily as loudly as the stallion's.

[Shadow]

"Ah, so I'm not alone am I? I'm warning you right now buster, if you try and steal anything again, I'll smake you out the porthole with my biggest spatuala!" To make his point, Gan ning hefted a large metal spatula the size of Cutter; He used it to manage the entire table before him, so everything would be fliped at once. And Durring a few raids, it proved to be a sturdy weapon, not a trace of blood or anything on the cast iron suface; It was Gan Ning's prized cooking tool, given to him by his own Mother when he took over for her as a stallion of the waves.

She bid him not once, not twice, but three times to follow his heart and sail the vast ocean, much as it broke her heart. Then again, his dad was quick to ease that. 'He'll be a great pirate one day, dear. One greater than the both of us.' Gan Ning sighed with a mix of pride and sadness as he thought of his parents. First mate under a fine captain... They would be prouder than words could find. "You know Cutter, it's been a while since I last visted my folks. Maybe after this is over I'll ask for a leave to tell them how I've been. But that's what my Mom said makes food great! Putting your heart and feelings into it!"

With that said, he spun the giant cooking tool above him, throwing the food into the air. With a few thrusts of the spatula, the food was engulfedin a cloud of seasonings and spices, before falling into his skillful swings of River Master, his sword, to have it land on the table in perfect portions for everyone. "Now as it cooks..." He slamed the orbbed end of his tool down; When Gan Ning was useing that impliment, he was just as frightening as Cutter to many. After all, few wanted to be beamed in the head by two inches of cast iron. "For tonights guests and crew, we have lobster, crab, clams, many fish, seaweeds for fending off scurvy, with fresh fruit to help too, shrimp, and my famous Sea Rolls, which EVERYONE on this ship loves!"

With a flip and a toss, all the food landed on the plates lined up behind him, in a equal amount. "Dinner, my sea dog brother, is served pipeing hot!" With a graceful bow, Gan Ning awaited any praise he knew was coming.

[WingSong]

((I'm still a little in the dark, but I'll try to catch up a bit.))

Quicksand could tell from the delicious smells coming from the kitchen area that someone was hard at work on their dinner, and she'd decided to trot on down and see if she could make herself useful. "Did you need any help...?"

The mare came around the corner just in time to see that the food was already on the table. Apparently not. "Oh. Well, ok then, should I just call the others, or-" She saw Roxanne out of the corner of her eye, and the other mare seemed to be waiting for something. Turning to face her properly, she asked quietly, "Did you need anything, miss?"

[Orivy Assassin]

"Whew - " Roxanne looked relieved at the sight of a friendlyish face. "I'm pretty dang hungry, yaknow, and... it smells great down here... but I'm new to the ship, yaknow? I don't know the drill."

[Crescent]

[[cont. from Ship at the ready]]

Hollow walked into the mess room slightly cautiously. He was hungry, but he was also still rather wary of the pirate company they had; especially the large red stallion. He tried to push his disturbing thoughts away from his mind as he paused at the doorway, hesitant to step in. He still appeared high-strung as a violin string as he stood there, looking over the ponies inside, waiting for Jewel to decide what she wanted to do.



Up on the deck, Tiger had decided that he was hungry. He handed over the steering of the ship to a trusted crewmember and then clomped down to the mess hall. He came in right after Hollow and Jewel, trotting past them without takin much notice of them. He had already crossed the golden pegasus off from his list of possible interesting mares. The seer unnerved him too much. As soon as his eyes settled upon Roxanne, he smiled. He never remained cowed very long, and the yellow mare had quite caught his eye - especially since she seemed rather more receptive than Kail, for instance.

"I see most of us are here," he said at a light tone, sniffing the air. "Well cooked, Gan Ning! It smells delicious." He smiled to Roxanne and bobbed his head to her and offered out a hoof. "May I help you to the table, my fair lady? Quicksand, make yourself useful and get us something to drink! A few barrels of the best ale ought to serve well!"

[[ya know I have no idea how people eat at pirate ships. I'm assuming there's a table though. *grin*]]

[Orivy Assassin]

Roxanne perked up her ears gratefully at the sight of the captain's hoof. She didn't trust him any further than she could throw him, but danged if she was going to let a good meal pass right now!

She nodded and gave him a half-grin, not taking his hoof but stepping to the table next to him. "Great, thanks Captain. Smells d**n good. Mind if I call the others?" She hoped she was treading the right line to keep him happy but not too close.

[Jewel]

"Ah, so I'm not alone am I? I'm warning you right now buster, if you try and steal anything again, I'll smake you out the porthole with my biggest spatuala!"

Cutter's lip raised in a sideways grin, taking a short sideways glance to the small porthole. Knowing he couldn't possibly in a thousand years fit through the small window, he snorted and laughed, walking round the other side of the large dinner table.

"...but I'm new to the ship, yaknow? I don't know the drill."

Cutter's emerald eyes drifted to the gold mare who was speaking to Quicksand. The large crimson stallion decided to step in, as Quicky herself wasn't terribly familiar with the way things went as well, or so Cutter assumed.

"..Quicksand, make yourself useful and get us something to drink! A few barrels of the best ale ought to serve well!"

"Starin' at the food won't get it any closer t'yer stomachs," The large stallion said, turning to face the accumulating group. "Find a seat, and you'll soon have food on yer plates.. if Gan Ning's in the mood to feed anyone tonight, that is." Cutter grinned briefly to his friend by the kitchen area.

As the ponies began to file into the dining hall, Jewel realized that Hollow stood still before her. Unsure if he was waiting for a cue from her, the pegasus softly nudged the stallion's flank, encouraging him to follow suit after the others.

[roserebellion]

Coon was slow to follow the others below deck. She had unintentionally fallen into the background whilst Jewel managed to hold her own against Tiger. Though, Coon could see no different from the peg. Jewel was the first to apprehend her in a long time....some mutual respect was there somewhere.

Whilst the others began to gather below, Coon used the time to take a long look at the wide expanse of sea with her golden eyes. Usually darting in an almost paranoid fashion, they were for once stationary as she took in the view. The sea, though beautiful, left an over bearing chill in her spine. She was facing something immensely larger than herself, and she felt small in it's wake.

A brief shudder. Then a snort.

"Bah...," she mumbled to it in dismissing irritation, turning and heading below to join the others.

Unsurprisingly, Coon practically leapt for the Sea Rolls. "Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssss!!!" Half the roll was in her mouth before another second passed. "Whof mave vephse?" A large gulp. "Whoever made these, you're my new best friend! Through in some ale and I may just call you my soul brother too!"

[Shadow]

"Ale, eh? Well, I got the tap I only pour from when I've had a good hunt at sea, and this counts!" Tapping the wall, a few boards fell ope to expose a number of mugs and a sprikot. "This, as the rest of the crew can tell you, is the best on ship; This stock has been aged since I joined, and keeps getting better!" He slid Coon a full mug then, as he started on everyone elses. "I'd share the secret, but then Cutter would have to kill you. He's the only stallion I've trusted with my secret."

Soon, he had slid every plate and mug to each space on the table, so every one on board would get a full mug and plate to eat their fill from. "Don't just stand around waiting for a invitation, eat your fill!"

[Crescent]

Tiger grinned to Gan Ning when the First Mate dealt out the full mugs and plates. He settled on a spot at the table, helping Roxanne into the table first in the most gentlemanly manner. He pounded a large hoof on the table.

"Aye!" he roared. "It's 'bout time for some food! Eat! That's the Captain's word!" And then he laughed heartily and took his mug, gulping down a long sip. Several plates near his clinked when he slammed the mug down on the table again. He grinned to Roxanne and threw a nonchalant hoof round her shoulders. "Come now, my pretty, have a taste. I'll warrant you won't get better seafood than old Gan Ning's Sea Rolls!" Coon Skin received a goodly grin as well as the thief stuck her face full of food. Tiger laughed and nudged Roxanne to look at the thief. "And Coonie sure proves it!"



Hollow Heart was like woken from a moment's dream when Jewel's muzzle touched him. He shook his mane and looked at the pegasus, smiling a bit sheepishly.

"I don't feel myself entirely at home here," he said to her with a rather low tone, to assure no one else heard him but her. He flicked his ears round a couple of times, then looked at the pirates again. "But I guess this will all sort itself out. We're in this together, after all."

[Orivy Assassin]

Roxanne dipped her shoulders from under Tiger's hoof, under the pretense of digging into her food. Her eyebrows went up with the first bite. "Shweet Shakeshpeare," she exclaimed with her mouth full, "thish ish great!"

She swallowed and grinned at Coon Skin too. "Aye Captain, landlubbers can eat with the best of 'em!"

She piled her plate with food.

[Jewel]

"I'd share the secret, but then Cutter would have to kill you. He's the only stallion I've trusted with my secret."

As if to add to the statement, Cutter showed a few gold caps in a broad grin.

The red stallion assumed his normal place across from Gan Ning, at the end of the table, to accomodate his large size. Cutter licked his lips, and didn't hesitate to indulge in the fine food and ale. The delicious food was more than welcome, and the stallion felt a wonderful warmth fill his veins as he continued to eat his fill.

After a bit of ale, the large stallion raised a hoof, "I've an announcement t'make!" And then, a pause, and a large belch, after which he laughed, "My compliments to th' chef!"


"I don't feel myself entirely at home here," he said to her with a rather low tone, to assure no one else heard him but her. He flicked his ears round a couple of times, then looked at the pirates again. "But I guess this will all sort itself out. We're in this together, after all."

"Neither do I," Jewel replied as softly, "Just remember the big picture, and why we're here."

The golden pegasus offered a smile to the group as she joined the others at the table, sitting next to Roxanne. Something about the mare's confidence and charisma soothed the peg's illness-at-ease, and beside the fact, Roxy was just a fun and entertaining pony to be around.

In an attempt not to seem a stick in the mud, Jewel turned to the fellow gold mare with a joking expression, "Really, Roxy, I don't think you're eating nearly fast enough."

[roserebellion]

Coon took up her mug with smile in full, c0cked her head back and vertically flipped the mug up to her lips. A resounding glug later and Coon came up for air, a frothy collect of bubbles on her lips. Heartily she wiped them away with an arm.

"Woooooo--!," Coon made a well attempted at a whistle, one that came out wrong as the force of the drink initial hit her. She staggered two steps before managing her bearing and getting used to its effects. Dopily she grinned back to Roxanne, Cutter, and Gan ning.

"Mighty potent stuff you stock here," Coon couldn't grin wider.