Harbinger Pirates

Nykita Aymen was drinking a nice glass of apple juice, though to anyone that did not know what the content of his glass were, the drink may have very well been whiskey or brandy but he was never a fan of such drinks. Instead, he preferred what little taste he could feel of the natural flavors as he stood by the window behind his desk, looking out at the night life of the Hollow and the ships that were still anchored between him and the open waters, tail swishing from left to right in a slow and methodical manner - he could feel something brewing in all of this.

Jasper Flynn had been ashore and roaming about town. Ever since the devastation of the large and wave and storm, the town had been a very interesting place. Though, not due to it's normal comforts, but it did have a much more 'wild' chaotic feeling to enjoy. However, among that chaos, it was then that the lemur had heard some rather interesting news and stories. A story, a label, a name that had frankly captivated his attention. It seemed like a flash, but he ended up back at the docks, or what was left of them anyway. He'd make his way aboard a part of those stories he had heard, and once aboard didn't even wait to push open the door of the 'captain's cabin' in a bit of a huff and a slam of the creaky old wood. "I heard a bit of a strange rumor!" He'd announce his presence, in a voice that was neither pleasant, nor playful, but even lined with a slight growl. It didn't matter who else was in there, but one fluffy tail type better had be present. "Curious, if you heard the same one!?" He wasn't yelling, but there was a certain intensity and venom to his words.

Nykita Aymen's ears would lift as the door of his cabin slammed open, a most curious happening since there were few that could slam his door open like that and the owner of that voice was not someone he ever expected to do something like that, so he'd turn himself from the window with a slightly furrowed brow and both ears stiff open his head, looking at the unhappy lemur, "What are you talking about? What rumor?" This obviously had to be something serious if it had Jasper up in arms over it, thus the squirrel would set down his drink on the corner of his desk and stepped closer.

Sadie Hawkins hadn't been herself, or perhaps she had been the self that she'd felt like she lost so long ago. The Witch, a whisper in her head and a distant one at that. The ransack of the town had left the Pom sending what wares the witch had, and instead kept her own pack light. Bundled over her shoulder, she'd caught only a glimpse of that Lemur tail, and blue hair to follow. Up onto the ship the Pom dressed down in careful black, had followed after the Lemur, choosing to ghost the captain's door instead of following the hell bent Jasper inside where she had little place to be. Keen ears, however were listening carefully after. The Lemur's tone said it all, something very, very bad.

Jasper Flynn slowed and stopped in the middle of the room, and took a moment to catch his breath. After all, he had hurried here from the other side of the town, and in no time flat. It was rather difficult to remain looking angry while trying to catch one's breath, but he did his best to not loose the effect. He'd cling to narrowed eyes, a slightly offset jaw, and a combative stance, and all the while taking heavy and labored breaths. However, suddenly the lemur broke out into an obviously fake smile. "Oh, ain't you heard? We have a 'pirate' vessel in dock." He'd finish, faking a wince of intimidation at the mention of such a threat to the peace, and a slow nod as if trying to keep the whole thing a secret. Even though, that was far from his intention. "Oh yes!" He'd nod once. "A proper pirate vessel, captained by an oddly military dressed villain with a fluffed tail, no less? Which is funny!" But he clearly was not laughing, and only took a step forward, holding up one finger menacingly as he continued to make the point. "I only see one ship in dock that fits the description."

Nykita Aymen knew the lemur well enough that the aggressive behaviour had little of the intended effect, prompting more curiousity and perplexity than actual concern about what Jasper may do in this emotional state but the topic he was fussing over was not an unfamiliar one either, having dealt with it a few times before, "And..." Crimson eyes would flicker at the one finger that was raised before going back to the features of the lemur, "...you have a problem with this?" Perhaps it was because he never really knew the depth of Jasper's personal life than he did not realize that he'd have an issue with being called a pirate and the girl that followed him, trying to ghost and sneak her way onboard a ship that had a very unique defense, one she may feel right beneath her own feet if no other members of the crew happened by the open door of the captain's quarters.

Sadie Hawkins was here for Jasper. She was always here for Jasper.. even if she knew sometimes it was completely the most stupid thing that she ever did. Still, as the Pom knocked herself back against the wall near the captain quarters, her booted feet wiggled just a little as the very angry Lemur get angry. Then he said it. Pirates Even Sadie had remembered the trigger of the Lemur had with pirates. A small gasp fell from her lips and paw doubled over her mouth to hush herself into silence, ears now intent and listening closer to the idea of the conversation between the two. Her brow furrowed down in obvious concern. The captain didn't know what he was dealing with, not with the Lemur and that term.

Jasper Flynn wasn't aware that he had been followed, being far too determined and on a mission to be so observant. And yet, just outside the door.. Still, he was on a mission, and the squirrel captain with a discarded glass of juice had just confirmed his suspicions, and he'd respond by pointing the finger at Nyk with a hearty. "Ah ha! So, it is true. We are that ship!" Oddly enough, or perhaps not that odd by those who knew Jasper, he'd erupt into a loud fit of laughter, holding his hands to his stomach for effect. "Fancy ourselves pirates now, do we?" The laughing stopped, and so did he. There was a thud, an unexplained sound that caught his attention just outside the door. He'd peer towards the wall, head tilting for a moment, but he seemed to get back to topic pretty quickly. "You dun' even know the meanin' of the word!" He'd step up, pointing that finger in the squirrel's face. "Want to play at pirate, eh Captain? Well, I suppose we should do it properly." The lemur tossed both arms up in the air, shook his head and swiftly spun around to turn his back. "Go on! This town has found itself on a bit o' bad luck lately. We could take whatever we want! Kill whomever we want! Better get at it." He'd cross his arms over chest, only taking brief glaces over his shoulder. "Oh? An' what is your pirate Captain name, I wonder?"

Nykita Aymen's initial expression was of surprised at the way Jasper reacted to the apparent revelation that they were pirates, bushy tail lowering itself down to hang behind his legs instead of curling up against his back in that typical squirrely manner - he was already aware of there being someone there but considering those that made up the crew and the ship itself, that person would be in making a very poor decision if they tried something ill-willed, instead Nykita would focus more on the lemur in front of him, expression softening a more neutral one as he seemingly took the idea of sacking the port into consideration with a thoughtful hum, also turning away to walk back to his drink, "We could indeed go and kill whoever we want and take whatever we want but there are a few minor flaws in that plan that you fail to take into account, Jasper." Grabbing the cup from the corner of the desk, the squirrel would turn to face the lemur again with it in paw, folding the other against the small of his back, "There are two Royal Kasurian frigates a few hundred feet away from us, not to mention we suffered our own damage during that wave and we would have to deal with the remainder of the Hollow Watch." Lifting the cup of apple juice and taking a nice sip, the squirrel would let out an exhale of appreciation for the taste, "That is of course ignoring the fact that neither myself nor most of the crew have any interest in such things, regardless of the rotten foundation that this town has." As amusing as it may be to play along, Nykita would fold his ears back to show his seriousness now, "Yes, we are pirates Jasper and believe me, it will not take long for us to earn that name from a few very powerful and influenciel individuals but you know what?" His muzzle spread in a cold smile, "I would much rather be a pirate than side with those that wish to make slavery a legal practice."

Sadie Hawkins swallowed hard listening to Jasper and remaining where she was. Bottom lip taken between her teeth hard and almost painfully though the Pom didn't move. Ears flattened against her head and her heart started to go haywire. Something very not right in the very apex of her chest and with a quite gloved paw, Sadie reached for the back of her neck. What was that...? Blues shot wide at the mention of slavery, but lips stayed sealed. Pirates over slavers... Neither of them Jasper enjoyed though with the Lemur, the Pom knew it was the lesser of two evils.

Jasper Flynn shot back around, just as quickly as he had turned away. "Allow me to make it simple fer' you, captain." He'd lower his voice, but there was a seriousness, a darker tone, and edge that held no less tension over the subject as before. "I am not pirate! I have not been, I am not one now, and I will never be a bloody pirate. Is that understood? They are vile, murderous, evil, treacherous and I will not play at bein' one either. But if you insist on doin' so yourself, I hope you have been practicin' sleeping with your eyes open. Because most pirate captains, don't stay captains long." He'd take a step back, running a finger slowly along his throat, in that always beloved symbol of someone being killed. "I don't care for slavery either, but never met a pirate in my time that was that much against it. Besides, doesn't yer' intended..." He'd tilt his head, turning back around after taking yet anther step back. "No.." He'd shake his head. "You want to sail under a black flag, Nyk. By all means, I'm sure your Royal Kasurian Navy friends will find that very interestin', indeed. However, I will do no such thing."

Nykita Aymen's expression of seriousness never even wavered as he looked back at the lemur and his throat-slitting warning before stepping back in an obvious sigh of his view about not wishing to be involved with piracy, at that point the squirrel pursed his lips and looked off to the side, "...you are right, Jasper." He'd mutter in a low tone of voice and let his gaze slip down from the wall, gazing at his partially filled cup of apple juice and then set it aside once more, "Pirates are vile, murderous, evil and treacherous." He'd turn himself half-way to look at the window and out at the city again, "At least back then they were, now it is hard to see the difference." Head would turn to look at the lemur with a hard stare, "Call it sailing under a black flag, call me a pirate and whatever other name you want to Jasper, they will do the same, but do not dare to compare me to them." As he said that, one arm would lift with a finger pointing outside his window, shaking his head very slowly, "Look! Look out there! The Royal Kasurian Navy is there... and you see what they are doing? They are helping rebuild that city! Restoring it to the former state that it was in! Did you know that there are legal slaves in the Hollow? And what is being done about it? NOTHING." He'd almost snarl that word out with a venomous tone now, the pointing hand curling into a tight fist, "They are turning a blind eye to it! They refuse to acknowledge it!" Nykita would lower his arm at that point and inhale, lifting himself up with his chest held out with a matter of pride, "This is the world that will call me a pirate and I will embrace it." He'd catch himself from going further, the feeling of the lemur turning into an adversary suddenly being realized and so he'd close his eyes, lower his head and shake his head, calming himself down, "...I do not murder innocents, I do not betray those that put their trust in me and I have no intention of raiding villages and towns for their wealth. I will also not submit myself or this ship to any laws of other rulers, we shall do whatever we wish..." With a sigh, he'd turn to sit back against the edge of the table, "...just happens that most of us wish to conduct ourselves peacefully in most places that we will go but that does not change the fact that that it makes us pirates." Looking over at the lemur, the squirrel would nod his head slowly, "But no one on this ship is bound to stay here against their wishes, you are free to go where you please Jasper, regardless of how much I will miss you."

Sadie Hawkins's ears remained keen and careful. Listening with a furrowing of her brow as Jasper made his case fairly well known. Then again, the Pom knew him. She knew his stance on piracy and why. But when Nyk spoke, when the captain made his claim to ship and crew when he explained all that he would of the situation, the Pom took a very deep breath. Closing her eyes tightly, soft prayers were echoed and the Pom turned fully towards the door, knocking her shoulder into it and entering the room, "I wish to join your crew." Reaching up to uncover her hair, blue eyes immediately when to the Lemur but then the Captain Squirrel, "My name is Sadie Hawkins." The Pom bowed her head and without a glance to the Lemur she only regarded Nyk, "As a member of the Foc Blestem gypsies, I've more than a handful of skills at my hand all of them dangerous magics.. and none of them for sale for the Kasurian Navy, or those that would allow slavery to continue to fester throughout the lands.." Sadie Hawkins's heart was pounding in her chest but she wouldn't look away from Nyk. She knew Jasper already hated her, that the Lemur was already swearing likely a million and one different curses at her, "I don't care for titles from hippocrates and as long as you maintain your word that no laws or rules from their kind will bind us, my skills are your disposal.." Oh god, if Jasper could burn a whole in the ship at her feet now, he surely would.

Jasper Flynn again, was not aware that he had been followed, and was only vaguely aware that there might be someone just outside those doors. Yet, he had no reason to believe that a fully awake, and mostly under control pom was the one lurking aboard the ship. Of course, the last time he had seen that one, she was a bit worse for ware. The lemur was still quite angry, listening to the squirrel, but looking no less happy about the situation. "You see! You dun' know the meanin' o' the word!" He'd once more toss his arms up into the air out of pure frustration. "Ugh!" He might have even said more, but that is when the door opened, swinging quickly upon squeaky hinges. Jasper turned quickly, both eyes narrowing suspiciously over who could be joining... "What are you doin' ere?" He'd say, but once the girl's mouth opened, his might have as well, but only so that his jaw fell in shock. "That was not part of the deal!" He'd point out towards Sadie. "And I see you are using yer' real name again." A thought that almost made his lips curl into a sardonic smile. "But, both o' you, wanna worry bout' slavery. Want to fight those who profit fer' it, eh? Gonna get us all killed, good and and dead. But!" He'd suddenly step up, pointing a finger towards Nyk once again. "You are not pirate. I know what I am talkin' bout'. Pirate is in my blood, an' your foolin' round in things that should not be trifled wit'." Of course, with swift feet, he'd be on the pom very quickly as well. "An' you! Playin' to get back at me, eh? Very well." He'd sneer, but at least he didn't say anything about leaving the crew. Not yet anyway.

Nykita Aymen was feeling a bit of that frustration that Jasper had in him right now since, out of all the people in the world, it was the lemur himself trying to argue about the traditional meaning and view on something when he was guilty of being everything but traditional! He was not even a traditional thief! Turning his head away only to swing it back towards Jasper, the squirrel lifted a finger in a menacing manner this time, "If you want to argue about the meaning of a word, the a pirate is-!" The mysterious evesdropper stepped into the room to reveal herself as Sadie Hawkins! Prompting him to look upon her in a very similar manner that Jasper had, eyes narrowing slightly before softening when she revealed her reasoning for her announcement - he started off on a very good foot with him, enough to make him smile a little as his eyes darted to the lemur that rushed at her, apparently already familiar with the woman and her true name but whatever smile that Sadie got from the squirrel, that faded rather quick when Jasper decided to bring blood ties into the arguement, "...are you going to say that just because you have pirate blood that you know better? You should remember who you are talking with, Jasper." The squirrel himself was a half-blood when it came to blood and was no stranger of others telling him that they knew him better just because there was tainted blood in his veins.

Sadie Hawkins under any other circumstances, enjoyed the Lemur jaw dropped to the floor and completely at a loss for words as she swore her skills and herself to Nyk's crew. Everything that she waited on, hinged upon the Captain's own reactions. Jasper's reaction was an expected one though, and as he lashed out the Pom's ears fell against her head and her head bowed just slightly. Full crystaline blues met his own, "Our deal still stands." Reaching up to the covered back of her neck, the Pom rubbed at the hidden mark there and cleared her throat, "Like you care what name I use anymore? You were just as inclined to leave me there alone after what you did to me." But there was a bitterness in her voice that expressed days of her own chewed over anger at the Lemur. Sadie's gaze turned to the squirrel. Him first, then her private spat with the Lemur, who was claiming she was going to get him killed! Ha! as if he cared about that? If he had, he wouldn't have done to her what he did. Sadie Hawkins's gaze returned to the Squirrel and then to the Lemur with a tip of her head, her arms come to cross over her chest at him, "It's just borrowing outside of everyone else's rules Jasper. Haven't you borrowed more than a handful of things in your life?" That was more than unfair, especially when Sadie's hand strayed to the back of her neck one more, gripping against the very reason why she seemed normal enough, no conflict of self present, "Captain, is there an application process? Where do I sign up?"

Jasper Flynn fell silent, and just glared back and forth. First at the squirrel, and then slowly turning his attention to the pom. He did know 'better'. On this, he knew, and he hated 'pirates'. The squirrel's blood problems had nothing to do with this conversation, but the fact remained. "Goin' to get us killed." He'd sigh and shake his head slowly. The lemur then turned towards Sadie, both eyes narrowing after the words that struck him like a brick, a brick that had been tossed with amazing accuracy. "I helped you. I gave you time. And I took you some place you could rest comfortably. So, you wanna talk about what I did to you?" He'd close his eyes, balling his first at his side and shook for the briefest of moments. This was getting to be too much, too much indeed. "You all do what you want! I don't care!" Of course, Sadie's comment about 'borrowing' would receive one hell of a look, before Jasper started to make his way towards the door. She wanted to join the crew, lovely. The squirrel wanted to wear an eye patch and find himself a talking parrot to sit on his shoulder, he could enjoy that. But the lemur wasn't going to argue anymore.

Nykita Aymen did not wish to argue with the lemur to begin with but having a close friend accuse him of being something he was not had a very strong effect, nevertheless when the fire of confrontation was snuffed out and Jasper made for the door, the squirrel would stand and step forward, "Jasper!" Hopefully he'd heed the call and stop long enough for Nykita to speak, "There are those that are as you describe them but we are not them, nor will we become them." The mutter about them dying was left along since that was a common opinion of their fate when the tsunami struck and those rode that wave inspite of what others thought would happen. If Jasper wanted to leave after that, Nykita would not stop him further and would instead watch him leave, "You already passed the application process..." He'd mutter to Sadie and only afterwards would he turn back to the table, eyeing his drink, "My hope is that he stays." Murmuring as he'd reach to pick up the glass and down the entire drink in one swallow, "...what is it that you want to achieve? What drives you?" That would be a rather abrupt question but one that was obviously legitimate as the squirrel turned to the woman with a straight face, awaiting her response.

Sadie Hawkins had been left to chew on those bricks all by herself. He locked her up leaving her without any of her answers, without any single semblance of some warmth or some care. After all that had happened, all that he demanded of her, of allowing him to help her.. what did he do? Left her, for days on end. Sadie met the Lemur with that same measure of stubbornness in her face "Yes! After you forced me to allow you to put yourself in a stupid amount of danger for my sake. After putting me through more pain than I'd experienced for the second time in my life.. You left me alone.." The pom looked bristled at the Lemur and when he decided to exit, the Pom turned after him, "And now you're walking away!" Sadie turned her back to Nyk and towards the retreating Lemur with her hands that gathered over her chest, brows furrowed down together. Sadie's lips pulled into a frown and her ears fell against her head, "Freedom. I want to be free." Turning her head over her shoulder at Nyk and allowing Sadie Hawkins's blue eyes to catch him, "He'll stay, because I have something he wants." Like it or not, Sadie felt like that was the only reason if any, Jasper would stay now. Keep close to the box.

Nykita Aymen would realy wish that the lemur would not end up leaving in the end, already disliking the idea of him being forced to stay enough to pull a wince across his features but he would relent on that subject - at least the lemur would be around for now, the squirrel would look out at the door again as he spoke, "There is no formal method of joining the crew of the Harbinger, there is no oath to bind you here either - you stay for as long as you wish and you may leave whenever you wish." Crimson eyes would then slide to meet her blue ones as another small smile pulled across his muzzle, bushy tail giving a soft flick as the formally dressed squirrel leaned back against his desk, "You said that you wish to be free and that as long as I keep my word that no laws or rules will bind us, well I intend for both of those conditions to be true. We only follow and obey what we wish to follow and obey. But now I have a question of my own." His eyes would break any contact they had with her own to better examine the features of her face, the way her hair was done before moving lower to her neck and shoulders, looking for markings or spots while trying to memorize the pattern of her fur, sliding even further to her chest, stomach and arms to see what she wore and if there any trinkets to note about her wrists, neck or belt, "What could you possibly have that it would keep him from walking away?" The tone of his voice was that of someone already suspecting a particular answer to his question.

Sadie Hawkins had been swathed, covered and all but hidden away. Short style platinum hair had been spiked and combed through in wicked pixie mohawk to try and change that good girl appearance she'd held before. Fur had been prestine, and rich creme in color. Two tiny scars that were almost completely disappeared with time along her chin. Smooth, fine neck that was wrapped over a couple of times by a long wrap of black silk that had been previously hiked up to cover her hair and ears. Form fitted long sleeve white lace front shit laid beneath a functional black vest that led down to a thin belt at her hips and the flared down layers of a skirt that revealed soft textures a matching snowy white down to her ankles were front laced boots held over her feet. Even her paws had been treated to a very smooth, very sleek glove. The Pom was careful about her details that were left to the eye. Sadie's head tipped, considering the captain for those few long moments before she nodded to his words. Sadie Hawkins wanted nothing but her freedom, no matter what that freedom looked like at the moment. Nyk's question brought the pom a deep intake of breath, "Revenge... I'm the key to his revenge for the Witch killing the girl he loved.." The Pom's shoulders offered half a shrug, "Not to be rude captain, but I'm afraid that I'm not fully recovered from what's happened. Perhaps we can talk about Jasper another night.."

Nykita Aymen would nod his head towards the woman again, gesturing towards the door with a wave of his right hand, "There is a hatch that leads to the lower deck, and another that leads to the lowest one - you will find general quarters there, find a spot that does not have anyone there and it is your own."