(Can't reveal my secrets, sorry.)(Omgosh Clouds, how did you even GET HERE so fast)
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
(Can't reveal my secrets, sorry.)(Omgosh Clouds, how did you even GET HERE so fast)
(Unless I'm mistaken...(I'm greatly considering writing another backstory piece while I wait for Lacy)
@_-Captain BRM-_ (NOW you're it, unless Lacy beats you to it)
(Oops... ah, yes, I did edit it. My apologies.(Unless I'm mistaken...
Oh wait! You must of edited it! Nevermind.)
Jintao held his chin up in a half nod. He wouldn't allow her to see that he was concerned about the last moments they were together, despite it still lingering. She was just as on edge as she was when she left, and by the flame in her palm, more so now.Ember inhaled slow, pressing her lips tight.
The door swung open and the firebird stood aside, her face cast in shadow from the torch of her hand.
"Lyra is here, as requested."
The last word dripped with resentment and she cleared her throat quietly.
"When you are done with your business the Captain would like to see you. And be quick about it- she won't like to be left waiting."
She nearly shuddered at the impulse to withdraw, and as Lyra stepped forward, Ember ducked around, veering into the opposing, empty cabin and sliding inside without another word.
Only upon the gentle click of the latch did she finally empty her lungs. The breath was hot with suppressed wrath.
@_-Captain BRM-_ (NOW you're it, unless Lacy beats you to it)
@Lacy Duckwing (I did have fun, actually. Lots of fun)
I had to keep writing something...
The silence around her was imperfect. The ticking of a small clock somewhere in the cabin and the very faint hum of voices in Jintao's cabin ruffled the settling calm.
The Harpy stood, biting her lower lip gently, her hands still pressed behind her against the door.
The feeling of trying this hard was despisable to her. She sought only to induce just enough fear for respect, and that had been easy in any other circumstance before. Some of the crew even fell to it as normal as any other unfortunate soul who crossed paths with her.
But somehow, this pathetic human was beyond immune to it. He disrespected her position, was ignorant of her power, and disgusted at her lack of experience.
And all that aside? An explanation shoved its way through, against her better judgment, rousing the already sensitive flames of hatred within her. Ember exhaled deeply once more, pressing a hand to her forehead.
That's why isn't it? Because I'm mythic, she snarled at the man in her mind. You'd be that kind- the same kind that burns down our nests and hangs our wings as trophies. My bullet would find you long before yours found me, human.
She struck away from the door in her bitterness, the vicious thoughts still hurling themselves silent against the wall toward the humans as she crossed the room to the lone desk. The light collection of babbles rattled loudly as she yanked the drawers open, surprised by how well it opened. The ticking became louder, the source proving to be a small pocket watch hidden inside the desk. With it, three charcoal styluses, a small blade, a handheld mirror, a compass, and a faded silver key.
It was the key she was after, but she gathered some of the other baubles with it, setting the pocket watch and mirror atop the desk as she slid the drawer closed, far more gentle than before.
The key fit the latch on the door as she'd expected, though she was still pleasantly surprised by how easy it'd been to find. The handle clicked and she gave it a quick twist, her wings arching with satisfaction when it remained firm. Whether it inconvenienced the human woman or not, she didn't care. Lyra would have to knock to be let in.
The Harpy set herself to discovering the possessions of the room.
The other drawer in the desk held a decent stack of curled parchment and with it, a folded and well-used map of the island, scrawled over almost unrecognizable with notes of coursed voyage paths, ocean currents, and hidden dangers. Tucked to either side of the desk was a large trunk.
Ember knelt in front of the first hardwood chest, her wing feathers flaring out across the ground as she did. She gently blew at the thin layer of dust settled atop its flat lid, brushing the latch gently before prying it open.
To one side, three heavy coats were folded, stacked from largest to smallest. The largest- definitely far too large for Ember- was a dark brown and seemed well-used, smudged with gunpowder residue and smoke. The second and third were both black. She lifted these out and set them aside, diving back into the trunk to rummage through the other contents.
A pair of large leather boots was pushed against the last coat, lightly used, but once again too big for her. Not that she needed a new pair anyway. Aside from that, there were three holstered flintlocks, unloaded and devoid of powder, a large double-edged dagger, and a long, slender boot knife. Ember collected the latter, setting it on top of the coats to her side.
The sound of the trunk closing echoed loudly against the hollow walls and she jumped, flicking her wings in irritation before she stood.
The second chest held a varied assortment of clothing. She raided these as well, retrieving her first pick of the dark pieces- the ones that fit- and leaving the brightly colored ones for the human to sort later.
First come, first served.
She dumped her armful of clothing into the hammock closest to the stern, furthest from the door, before turning to retrieve the bootknife and coats.
The larger of the two turned out to be, once again, too large for her slender frame. But it offered an interesting discovery. The back of the coat had two long slits in the back, covered by buttoned flaps that disguised the gaps when not used. If it was what Ember suspected...
She undid the button and flung the coat over her back, feeling it smother her feathered wings.
There was a bit of adjusting and an awful lot of twisting, but eventually, despite the coat hanging too loose around the rest of her, her wings fit unrestrained and naturally through the back of the coat.
She figured they weren't specifically modified for Harpies and Phoenix's only- a Wyvern could certainly manage if the largest one had the same concept- but it was a welcome development after the unruly day. The air of universal openness aboard the Quicksilver was more than welcoming.
Ember found the coat came off with surprising easy, and she tossed it back across the trunk it had come from, unfolding and inspecting the last and smallest one before draping it over her hammock, satisfied.
She claimed the pocket watch on the desk as well and dropped it atop the pile of clothing before sending one last searching glance around the cabin.
The hand mirror glinted lantern light at her from its skyward-facing position on the desk. A hesitant moment passed and she stood staring at it, before stepping closer and sliding across the wood toward her.
She scooped a hand behind it and angled it toward her.
It had been years since she had stood before a simple mirror before- how many? She didn't feel like counting. An uninterested glance at a dark window or a silhouetted flash of a puddle had sufficed, not that she cared much about her appearance. The most she needed was to ensure her wings her convicably hidden.
Here, her cheeks and eyes seemed narrower than when she'd last looked clearly. Her hair hung longer, and without the mirror, she wouldn't have noticed how unkempt and wind-blown the raven-black strands were. The feathers in her crest had lengthened and flared more, curving upward sharply from the sides of her head. The blood red in her eyes had faded, leaving a slight sunset tone to them instead, and the auburn-red streaks of hair had darkened.
And against her right cheek, a pale, quite noticeable scar.
She jerked the mirror back to the countertop, spinning away from it and focusing viciously on the collection in her hammock. She balled up the clothes and jacket with the boot knife wrapped in the middle and shoved them into the corner beneath the hanging bed.
The Harpy paused briefly, one hand resting on the hammock as she glanced back toward the desk, snatching the key to the cabin up and tucking it beneath the pillow.
(I saw a few times that the officer's and/or captain's hammocks sometimes had a wood frame at the head and feet, or they had a full wood frame and were more of a hanging bed. I'll leave that one up to you RD)
(Cap, whenever Tay decides to come into the cabin, don't forget Ember locked the door)
"Absolutely." She nodded, sniffing her warming nose and rolling up the tight sleeves of her dress.Jintao held his chin up in a half nod. He wouldn't allow her to see that he was concerned about the last moments they were together, despite it still lingering. She was just as on edge as she was when she left, and by the flame in her palm, more so now.
"Thank you, Ember," he said with a tilt of his hat. He took a step back and laid his arm against his spine. She must have spoken with the Captain, but not about this. She bore too much anger to have any enjoyment of possibly getting him disgraced. She is so poor about this. "Will do," he nearly smiled.
Ember left the cabin to her own and Jintao closed the door with a little too much ease. The Quartermistress was nobody to be feared if she was willing to let even a little offense slip the Captain's notice. More of a fool, he assured himself. His frown returned. If she couldn't demand even a little respect from him, even if he's unwilling to give it, she could never get it from the crew. Once again, she was ruined and she hadn't even begun.
Jintao walked across the room before turning toward Tay. His demeanor changed once he looked at her and he hated himself for it. She stood there, confident of herself, and for a full reason he may never know. She would have made a better Quartermistress than the one we got, his thoughts despised him, but he knew them to be true.
"Thank you for coming," Jintao fidgeting with his blade. He looked over his shoulder to the wall that separated them from Ember's hearing. Things must be kept quiet. He didn't need any word getting out about his shortcoming, especially to the Mythic's ears.
Jintao pulled out the blade, stepping closer to Tay. "We were to build up some skill, yes?" His fingers tightened on the handle. It wasn't about getting the perfect grip now, it was about avoiding the sound of his blade falling free. He readied himself inwardly, keeping his posture calm. "Shall we begin?"
@_-Captain BRM-_ (I beat you to it.)
@-Shade-