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Post by amberice on Mar 23, 2017 19:55:55 GMT -5
Rebecca gritted her teeth in a forced smile, trying not to let her irritation spill over. It was the cavalier attitude of people like him that would get them all in trouble someday. But now was not the time or place to rip him a new one. Besides, he was close enough with the captain to make any confrontation far more difficult for her. Folding her hands behind her back, Rebecca tilted her head as she stood up tall, "Well, I am a few minutes early, so I suppose I've got time to lend you a hand."
(Sorry, I really meant to reply last night, but work knocked me out)
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Post by Puck on Mar 23, 2017 23:22:08 GMT -5
"No," Harriette responded immediately. "I got on board by myself with my own methods. It was my idea, not-"
"Her country, Marego, is at war with itself, half of it is dying for people like her, the other half is trying to kill her. Our families have known each other for decades, I couldn't just do nothing." Li was terrified of the consequences, but now he had no choice, being fired was the least of his concerns, and he figured at this point that it was almost a guarantee. He was primarily concerned with being sent to prison, or Harriette being sent to her potential death. "She had to take a raft from Marego to Sol just so that I could put her in a crate for days in a cargo hold."
"My husband is a nationalist. That goes against everything I stand for." Harriette added quietly, her voice cracking with almost every other word. "Leaving your husband is illegal, and I couldn't have my daughter grow up in a country in such turmoil." Every word seemed to build up some courage within the woman. "I will not go back." Still quiet, her tone was now laced with deadly determination.
((I know my characters would probably know that christopher knows somethin about marego but im just tryna worldbuild))
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 24, 2017 0:21:02 GMT -5
( amberice can I admit that it took me like two hours to come up with the favour? xD) "I need some stuff from the cargo hold, but the lights are always out. I need you to hold a flashlight," Kennedy replied, standing. "And you can take your pick, Becky. There's plenty to go around." He slapped her shoulder, grinning from ear to ear, and headed for the stairs. There was a reason they were so short on supplies, and that reason had golden blond hair, green eyes, and a dashing smile. Kennedy really wasn't as immune as he thought; if Christopher caught him stealing, that was it. He'd be in the brig. Of course, the captain himself wouldn't bring Kennedy there, which had somehow translated, in his mind, to Christopher not noticing or caring. Kennedy was wrong; he just hadn't been caught yet. -- (No, I love it. Doesn't sound like a place I'd want to visit, though) "Okay." That was it. That was all Christopher Mackenzie had to say about the whole thing. He knew of the political conflict in Marego and sided with the revolutionaries—secretly, of course. He lived in a free country, but it wasn't free of agendas or strong opinions of those who didn't face danger every day of their lives. So it was better to keep silent—until he had a chance, like this one, not to be. "You can stay and work or get off at the next port. If that's what you decide, Godspeed." With every passing moment, Christopher became more aware of the weight that had just fallen upon his shoulders. He could be arrested for a lot less in regards to the war. Helping at all was risky. "Li, since these people are, for lack of a better word, yours, they will be sleeping in your cabin. And let's keep this quiet, shall we?"
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Post by Puck on Mar 24, 2017 0:32:51 GMT -5
Li nodded swiftly. Now was as good a time as any, so he extended a hand and Harriette grabbed it with her one hand that wasn't cradling Phoebe close to her chest. Getting them to his room without being seen was impossible, there was no way. Luckily, he only needed to make sure that no other staff members saw the two refugees, the passengers could see, they could pass judgement, but they wouldn't be able to tell that the woman didn't belong. After Harriette had stepped out of the crate, the waiter quietly closed it back up. "Thank you, sir." He could sense that Christopher felt the weight of this new responsibility on his shoulders, so he cleared his throat a bit, "As far as I'm concerned, you weren't here. You had no idea about Harriette and Phoebe, I'm working completely alone." He stared his captain dead in the eye in order to convey how serious he was about this.
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 24, 2017 1:46:17 GMT -5
"Working completely alone on what?" Christopher asked with mock suspicion. "If you have any trouble, let me know. I'll...take care of it. You three have a nice evening." And then he left Harriette, Phoebe, and Li to themselves, knowing he'd be missed on the bridge. It was the longest anyone aboard his ship had taken to do inventory—or not do inventory, in his case. Lucky he'd found them before anyone else did.
((Where do you think we should go next? The ship could stop at the island, or maybe we could figure out some sort of delay))
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Post by Puck on Mar 24, 2017 12:58:30 GMT -5
((I think a delay would be better because if they stopped then Harriette and Phoebe would be gone and that would make the plot not as juicy?))
Li watched the captain go. This was the first time he'd actually spoken to the man, and he was nothing like Li had expected. Kind, understanding, but most surprising of all, defiant of his position. He thought of the consequences of smuggling human cargo from the war-torn Marego for himself, and then for Christopher. This alone managed to have Li put all of his trust in Christopher, though he doubted he'd call on his help for more than necessary, it was nice to know there was one more friendly face on board. Harriette gripped tightly onto Li's upper arm and he looked at her and nodded in silent understanding, carefully making his way through the halls towards his own small room. He took his measured risks, heading through halls frequented by passengers rather than other staff members.
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 24, 2017 13:40:58 GMT -5
((delay it is o: ))
The next day, short on fuel, food, and water, the airship deviated eastward to avoid an incoming storm. It was unexpected, to say the least, springing up overnight almost directly off the nose. They had been caught in the wind and rain for several hours now, and though he wasn't supposed to be, Christopher was growing so uneasy he demanded to pilot the airship most of the day. The storm was bearing down fast, but they didn't have enough fuel to outrun it. The captain was making the most difficult decisions of his career, and he was doing it without the knowledge of anyone else, save for the rest of the bridge crew. And all the while he couldn't stop thinking about Harriette and Phoebe. The longer they were aboard, the more likely their discovery.
Back on the mainland he'd brought aboard a bottle of wine, and now, sleepless after an eleven-hour watch, Christopher was sitting alone in the dining hall, long after dinner had ended. There was no food, just the wine and the aching in his head.
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Post by Puck on Mar 24, 2017 14:45:59 GMT -5
Harriette had been awake for at least 24 hours, and after a lot of convincing from Li and sheer exhaustion -- the latter running the stronger argument -- she begrudgingly crawled into Li's bed, Phoebe clutched tightly in her arms. The infant had been sleeping on and off for a long time and, to their luck, had been making very little noise, having yet to cry throughout the ordeal.
Li sat on the floor at the foot of the bed for a short while, one hand nervously running through his short hair, pushing it back, the styling gel allowing the changes until his hair was just entirely slicked back. He kept like this for a good fifteen minutes until he was sure Harriette was asleep, and then he near silently left the room, making a beeline towards the bridge to speak to the captain. Not there. A navigator said Christopher left not too long ago, though he didn't head in the direction of his room. Li made his way around the majority of places he'd figure he'd see the captain for the next ten minutes or so before he finally found him sitting alone in the dim dining room. Li silently took the seat across from the captain, crossing his arms, leaning his elbows on the table. "Are you doing okay?" He asked quietly after a beat.
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 24, 2017 16:35:59 GMT -5
It took a moment for Christopher to register who was talking to him and where the source of the voice was, but when he did, relief settled over his face. "Hi, Lee," he replied, watching the waiter seat himself. "I'm fine. It's just been a long trip." And he'd have to make it, against his better judgment, an even longer trip. By now he'd downed about half the bottle, and again, against his better judgment, poured another glass. "Do you want any of this, Li? Probably your last chance." It didn't seem to be calming his nerves any. Normally wine was the cure-all, but wasn't cutting it today. What a strange week.
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Post by Puck on Mar 24, 2017 17:15:12 GMT -5
Li grimaced, that wasn't exactly how he wanted to hear the offering phrased. His last chance, he didn't want to think about that. In his mind, maybe things were going to be fine, maybe they'd get away with it. Harriette and Phoebe could start new lives, Li could get on with his own. "Uh, no. Thank you." He shook his head, looking down briefly at the white tablecloth. "I don't drink that much, plus in this case I don't know if it'd do any good for me." He looked back up, offering a brief, pained grin at Christopher. "I haven't been able to hear much from the bridge but one of the chefs said we're off course, that true?"
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 24, 2017 17:25:37 GMT -5
The captain put his head in his hands, hesitant to answer Li's question. Eventually he decided it wouldn't do any good to keep the change of course a secret, so Christopher nodded slowly. "How astute," he grumbled. "Yes, it's true." He looked to the rain streaming down the windows, staring blankly for a moment, then returned his attention to the waiter. "I think we might be up against a hurricane. The storm is a lot bigger than any of the navigators realized, and there's no point turning our nose into the wind. We have to go back."
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Post by Puck on Mar 24, 2017 17:42:07 GMT -5
Li's heart dropped. He had expected the course to just be new, going to an adjacent land, do anything else. No, "go back? To Sol?" Heading back in the direction of danger for Harriette wasn't ideal. Having her on board for much longer wasn't ideal. This was exactly what they needed not to happen right now. "There's no other option?"
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 24, 2017 18:18:20 GMT -5
"It's the closest port. I don't know what to tell you. We're out of food—" Christopher glance around the room before looking back at Li, his voice lower now. "We're not going to make it anywhere else, and frankly, that tailwind is the only thing keeping us aloft." The ship shuddered in the currents, causing the glass of wine to splash a little on the tablecloth. "While it simultaneously tears us apart. Just keep Harriette hidden. It isn't as though the police will raid our cargo hold. She could have gone anywhere."
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Post by Puck on Mar 24, 2017 19:11:47 GMT -5
Li tensed as the ship shook, and didn't relax all that much afterwards. "How long will we be there, an estimate?"
((Sorry it's short, I'm a lil busy))
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 24, 2017 21:18:46 GMT -5
((I totally get it, broseph))
"Two days, give or take." Christopher bit his lip, looking anywhere but at Li, until a thought struck him. "If you're worried about Harriette being recognized, there is a tailor aboard this ship. You may have met him..." the captain murmured, half to himself. "He could probably prepare a disguise, if you wanted to hide her in plain sight. Never asks questions. I think he likes his job too much." He took a piece of paper from his breast pocket and wrote a cabin number down. "Tell him Captain Mackenzie sent you."
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Post by Puck on Mar 25, 2017 1:52:06 GMT -5
A redder flag could not have crossed Li's path if he had made an effort to associate with horrible people. A tailor that never asks questions, that is a man that has been in or around organized crime for a significant portion of his life. And yet, here Li was, given all the information he needed to call upon this man's assistance. Now a second important thought occurred to him: who was he to judge? Obviously this man was involved with many criminals but was that not what Li now was? A criminal? He grabbed the paper from Christopher's hand, looking at the quickly scrawled number though not necessarily processing what number he was looking at. "You're suggesting hiding them in plain sight?"
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 25, 2017 5:20:15 GMT -5
"If the police on Sol search our ship and find her, that's it. End of the line. If Harriette looks like one of us from the beginning, though..." The plan made perfect sense in Christopher's head, but given that he had downed three quarters of a wine bottle, his opinion was hardly that reliable. Still, they were running out of options because they were running out of resources. "If you think it's a bad idea, don't do it. I just don't know of any place aboard this ship they wouldn't think to look."
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Post by Puck on Mar 25, 2017 11:38:42 GMT -5
The police. The searches of the ship had totally slipped his mind. Li sighed and looked straight down at the table "you're right. I don't really have any other options here." His hands tightened their grips on his arms. Once again, this was becoming overwhelming for the man, and he attempted to ground himself by staring at the white fibers of the tablecloth. His vision danced a bit regardless. "The tailor it is." His words spilled out quickly, like he was going to throw up if he spoke for extended periods of time, "how much will it cost? An estimate."
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 25, 2017 14:06:17 GMT -5
"He gets paid by the company for doing his job. If he complains, five pounds or so will usually shut him up. Just keep in mind—he normally does complain. On the other hand, people people come to him for repairs, so Amadeo will probably work for free this time. Some of his ideas are...creative, to say the least." Christopher cracked a small smile and extended his hand to shake Li's. "Good luck."
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Post by Puck on Mar 25, 2017 17:24:06 GMT -5
((You have 420 posts so your title is dank warrior omg))
((Also ive tried to type out a reply twice and each time my phone reloads the page on its own :// ))
Li sighed, "let's hope he doesn't get too creative that he makes her stand out." Regardless, he clasped Christopher's hand and shook it, "thank you." With that, he pushed himself up and away from the table. As he walked away he looked at the paper briefly, room 103. Li stuffed the crumpled paper in his shirt pocket and made his way towards the room with long strides. He arrived within minutes, looking down, holding his breath, and knocking on the door.
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 25, 2017 17:41:33 GMT -5
(It's the reason I've been so hesitant to post again xD
Ugh, I'm sorry. It's so frustrating when that happens. Like, you have a great reply and then BOOM, gone.)
For a few moments there was no answer, and then there came an irritated groan from behind the door. It opened to reveal a short, thin young man, mid-twenties, his normally bright blue eyes dulled by fatigue. "I know you're not looking for a tailor at midnight," he nearly growled at Li in a slight accent. "The doctor lives three doors down. Look at a map."
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Post by Puck on Mar 25, 2017 19:22:06 GMT -5
((If/when I get to 420 posts I might just have to leave forever so I can always be a dank warrior))
Li grimaced a bit before looking up, "I need help with a pair of pants." He lied. "I need it done by tomorrow morning." He lied again. He looked nervous. "May we uh, speak inside?" His arms were firmly crossed across his chest, and he peered up and down the empty hallway. He oozed guilt.
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 25, 2017 19:32:37 GMT -5
(That's what I should have done...do you think if I delete enough posts I can get back down to 420?)
"About pants?" the tailor asked, unimpressed. He looked Li up and down, rolled his eyes, and went back inside. "Come in, I suppose." The room was dark, clothing spread over one of the beds, the main reason the tailor had requested that cabin in particular. Most of it wasn't his own, or made for him, anyway. Everything was elegant, sometimes to the point of extravagance. Even the tailor's nightclothes were made of silk. "What's this really about, hmm? Clothing repair is hardly an emergency."
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Post by Puck on Mar 25, 2017 19:47:12 GMT -5
((I'm not sure, but idk if it'll feel as special the second time around))
Li slipped past the tailor. Two beds? He looked around, no one else in the room, just a lot of clothes. "I need you to make an outfit for a woman. Something like what the rest of the female passengers are wearing." This alone, he could tell, seemed like an odd demand from a man wearing a waiter's uniform. "Oh, ah, I almost forgot, Captain Mackenzie sent me." On his face a half-grin half-grimace appeared, completely unsure how the tailor would receive this information.
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 25, 2017 19:58:19 GMT -5
"Hmm." The tailor frowned upon hearing Mackenzie's name, then gave Li a tired smile. "The captain sent you. To ask about clothes. For a woman who wants to look like the other passengers, and may or may not exist?" Taking one last look at Li, the tailor scoffed and picked up a notebook from the coffee table, the only clear spot in the whole place. "That's fine. You can bring this imaginary lady here or give me her measurements. Whose name do I put on the tag? Yours, I hope. You seem real."
((I took a screenshot because this only comes around once in a lifetime. xD Definitely not as special on the second account.))
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Post by Puck on Mar 25, 2017 20:49:03 GMT -5
"Ideally I was hoping you'd bring your supplies to her? Her name is Harriette. She's... shy." Li was lying, Li knew the tailor knew he was lying, and frankly he didn't really care. The captain said the tailor wouldn't ask questions, so Li wasn't going to provide answers.
((Kinda short, bc I'm kinda busy, srry))
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 25, 2017 23:09:14 GMT -5
"Oh," said the tailor, head cocked. "Are we asking for house calls now? You know, that isn't a bad idea. So long as you're not the secret police." Biting his lip, the tailor cracked a broad grin. "And now I've said too much. Would you say the client is more of an autumn," he asked, eager to change the subject, "or a teal? Because dressing an autumn in teal or a teal in autumn is a terrible mistake." Sizing up Li, he murmured thoughtfully, "You're an autumn. Definitely." He wouldn't admit it, but the tailor was far too excited by this task—design something from scratch for someone he'd never met before—to contain himself. After stitching buttons and tears, nothing was a more welcome challenge.
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 25, 2017 23:09:41 GMT -5
(Don't even worry about it, dude)
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Post by Puck on Mar 25, 2017 23:43:32 GMT -5
"I'm uh, not the secret police." Li was processing the tailor's words at a slower pace than the tailor was speaking at. "I- I don't really know. She's got uh, curly reddish-brown hair." Li gestured with his hands around his head as if it would paint a vivid picture of Harriette in the tailor's head. "Green eyes. Kind of tan? I guess?" Li furrowed his brows, he found that he definitely was not skilled at describing others' appearances. Suddenly he shook his head, closing his eyes tightly, sure the situation was strange but had he completely forgotten his manners? "I- I'm sorry, what's your name?"
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Post by Cobraheart on Mar 26, 2017 0:01:45 GMT -5
"That's a tricky one...she sounds like a teal, but it could go either way. I'll bring both." He picked up a sketchbook, scissors, a box of pins, and his measuring tape, only to realize he couldn't shake Li's hand now. "My name's Amadeo. Just like the captain not to tell you that. He probably addresses you as 'waiter,' eh? Speaking of, what's your name, waiter?"
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