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Post by Jewel on Aug 17, 2006 21:17:16 GMT -5
Out of the swirling wind and rain, a darkened gold form appeared, not so different than the pegasus's own coat. Jewel grasped for the deck with her forelegs, one of her rear ones sticking through the grate which undoubtedly had kept her from sliding straight off.
The pegasus gave a frightened neighing sound, the easiest way in which to express her distress. She would have been strong and brave, had it been anything but the deep, endless sea which threatened to swallow them whole. As Hollow grabbed ahold of her, Jewel clenched her teeth and pulled her leg free, then tumbled along the deck with Hollow.
Opening her frightened eyes, she found herself face to face with the stallion, and for a moment she froze, looking down at him with dark locks plastered to her rain-stricken face. Her body trembled noticeably in the cold and the terror of the situation.
Bracing her legs for balance, she eased away from her rescuer, still staying close to him. Lofty as she was with her large wings, the pegasus was at times nothing more than a toy at the wind's disposal. Narrowing her purple eyes, Jewel was able to identify the other Champions still nearby. She turned to Hollow in a voice stronger than she was just then.
"What should we do?"
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Post by roserebellion on Aug 20, 2006 19:39:11 GMT -5
Not waiting for any sort of protest, the gold mare, unable to really tie a successful knot, shoved the rope into the masculine mare's mouth, briefly brushing her muzzle with her own.
Coon blinked in a taken aback moment, completely unaware that Jewel would allow a simple token such as that to occur in order to save the princess. But Coon allowed little time for it to faze her, rather, the masculine mare grinned cheekily back, her teeth grinning wide while maintaining a hold on the rope. She growled in a playful tone, for emphasis.
But soon as Jewel was being swept away, Coon too reached out to grab her, but thought differently as she realized Rain was left in her charge. For a brief moment of uncertainty, she was unable to decide to lunge after Jewel or to make sure the princess was safe first. One look at Hollow Heart was all the decision she needed, Coon put full attention on the flutter.
With a quick and fluid motion, Coon grabbed the rope in her mouth and pulled Rain up close to her strong frame. Having the flutter close to her gave the thief enough slack to secure the rope around her waste, and the chance to make sure the princess was just as securely tied. Having completed that, the safest place Coon could contrive was one of the masts, at least it yielded something to hold on to. The question was should she risk dragging the flutter out to one? No, probably not.
Instead she kept a strong hold around the railing, keeping her hooves planted best she could, using her body yet again as a shield from the intense winds gusting across the ship. When the wind had conveniently blown the hair from her face, Coon took a quick body count. Jewel had been saved by Hollow, although their position was compromising to say the least. The thief wondered if the peg had exited the relation she had with the jewel pony Coon had encountered a couple times before. It wasn't that Coon was hoping Jewel was fair game, no, she was more or less interested in the gem symbol her former boe had.
A strong force of water slammed into her side, effectively drawing her wandering thoughts. Coon winced, but maintained her position. Chattering teeth asked Rain over the roaring storm, "Rainbow's I need a beer. You don't think we could head under deck, do you?"
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Post by Becka Pone on Aug 24, 2006 18:34:22 GMT -5
"Tell yer friend this ain't a game, lassie!"
"Aye aye," Kail mumbled dejectedly as she grabbed Razz a little tighter. Another wave washed over them and he nearly slipped, but she kept hold, not willing to let go of him even for her own footing. She hooked her wings around the other side of the rail so they wouldn't go slipping down the deck again and tried to hunch her shoulders against the cold sprays and rain. She heard the captain shout, and could only agree wholeheartedly with him - they really aught to be in the cabins below.
"Comon!" she shouted to the other Champions, Jewel safetly rescued from her near-sunk experiance. She made her way slowly across the deck, trying to keep her footing steady, keep a hold of the railing with one forleg and keep a hold of Razzaroo with the other.
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Post by roserebellion on Aug 24, 2006 18:45:55 GMT -5
"Comon!"
Coon grinned thankfully at the command. "Good enough answer for me!" She placed a stern hoof around the rope connecting her with the princess and began to make her way in the direction Kail and Razz had went. Truth was, despite wanting a beer, Coon really had no clue what was safe and secure on the boat. She'd never truly been on a boat in this type of weather, and wondered if being under deck was any safer than on top.
I suppose now it really didn't matter much anyway. At least under deck she could drink something to loosen her up. Things were way too serious for her liking at the moment, anyway.
With squinting eyes, she tried to make out the location of an entryway. It was impossible from her vantage point. Best for her to keep moving, something was bound to be come across.
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Post by Crescent on Aug 25, 2006 9:49:00 GMT -5
"Rainbow's I need a beer. You don't think we could head under deck, do you?"
Rain, who was struggling to keep from being swept off by the wind by any means necessary, smiled weakly as she clung now onto the thief. As a torrent of wind tossed her delicate wings again, she wrapped a hoof around the thief's neck and hid her nose into Coon's hair. She was still under the impression that the thief was a stallion and for what it was worth, Coon seemed like she knew what she was doing, so Rain felt it safest to lay all her trust on her. She might have replied, but a gush of water splashed over the railing and right into her mouth when she tried to open it, so she had to cough it out.
On another part of the deck, Hollow was happy to notice that Jewel seemed to be at least mostly all right. At least enough to still be able to function.
"What should we do?"
"Well..." Hollow's reply was cut short when he heard the Captain's order from the upper deck, and breathed out in thankfulness that the decision was so swiftly made for him. He wholeheartedly agreed and glanced over the deck to spot the other Champions for what they might have been doing. Kail seemed to be herding Razz of the deck and Hollow quickly counted that he should help Jewel first and then make sure the others would get safely inside as well.
"Come on!" he shouted to Jewel - shouted because he wasn't sure anymore how far normal speech would carry in the howling wind and beating rain and the creaking of the ship. "Down below! I'll help you!"
Then he struggled to his feet. The ship lurched to the side again and he slipped, falling on his knees with a yelp. As he tried to get up again he yelped once more because a sharp pain suddenly panged through one of the knees he had hit on the deck.
Oh, brilliant, he thought sarcastically. Broken knee's all I need right now.
Gritting his teeth, Hollow made his way up on his feet again. He felt responsible for helping Jewel down below and besides, this was no time to stop to lick his wounds. Trying his best not to show the hurt Hollow Heart stood firmly on each foot and offered his body for the tan pegasus to take hold.
Rain had coughed out the rest of the water but was now holding on to Coon with both her hooves wrapped around her neck.
"Yes, yes, down below!" she gasped. "Before my wings are torn off by this wind!"
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Post by Jewel on Aug 26, 2006 15:08:59 GMT -5
Cutter's hooves clambered across the deck, muffled out only by the thunder itself. He called out to the champions as he made his way toward them.
"Come on! All the likes of ye, below deck! Captain's orders!"
The large stallion, his bright crimson coat now the color of dried blood, stood near the hatch which led into the bowels of the ship. Raven-black strands of hair whipped around his face, a few gold teeth glinting in his mouth as the Cutter snarled against the wind.
Hunkering low to the deck of the ship so as not to be blown away, Jewel watched through narrow eyes as Coon and Rain made their way toward the entrance to below deck. The pegasus's main concern had been the small flutter, but it seemed she was being led to safety. Or at least, out of the storm.
A sudden crack brought the peg's head whipping toward Hollow, who had just slipped on the slick deck. Scrambling to her feet and keeping her wings tightly against her body, Jewel slipped and slid closer to him.
"Both of us," She replied, not wanting to go without him. Injuries would only be worsened by staying above deck, and though he would likely adamantly deny it, she knew he had been hurt.
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Post by roserebellion on Aug 26, 2006 18:46:56 GMT -5
"Yes, yes, down below!" she gasped. "Before my wings are torn off by this wind!"
"You got it," Coon roared back, grabbing a bit of whatever sloshed up as she spoke. She coughed and sputtered afterward, gripping the railing as she tried to regain her breath. It was of course, followed by a comical expression of distaste, her tongue rolling from her mouth at it's saltiness, "Blech!"
All the more reason to get under the deck and wash the taste from her mouth with whatever liquor Tiger was packing.
It took several more minutes, Coon's strong hooves seeming to have the same trouble as Hollow's, for she slipped back and forth on several occasions, each stirring a minor string of curses under her breath. But eventually she had made it. Her gray hooves took hold of the flutter princess and pried her off her. For a moment, she glanced up about her, spotting another incoming wave.
"Curse it," She grumbled to herself, reaching back for the sheathed dagger she'd come to carry. The blade quickly snapped through the rope holding them together, and without little warning Coon half pushed-half forced Rain bellow deck. Coon quickly gripped the railing, bracing for the next big blow.
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Post by Crescent on Aug 29, 2006 1:11:06 GMT -5
"Both of us."
Hollow's golden eyes met Jewel's purple ones through the beating rain. For a moment it seemed to him that the vision looking at him through the rain blurred to form a golden halo around the peg's face. For a moment he didn't see the approaching death on her features - he only saw the wonderful, golden beauty that she was, like an ethereal vision in a rippling pond.
He wanted to say something. But there was no time.
He could only smile, touched by her words. He pressed himself against her side, so they might take support from one another, and then nodded in silence as he started to make his way toward the entrance.
Rain screamed when Coon pushed her down below, panicking for the sudden loss of the "stallion" she had been relying on to save her life. She fell down the stairs that led below, and landed into a messy bundle of fragile feet and wings.
"You beast!" she shouted back, quite huffed that Coon had resorted to such tactics to get her down below. She was upset and frightened, and clambered on her feet with difficulty, looking behind her with great teary silver eyes. Her eyes widened at once and upset gave way for worry when she could see, from the little stretch of the outside she could see through the entrance, Coon holding on to the railing and a great big wave coming up from the side of the ship, looking as though it was about to swallow them all. She screamed.
Tiger cursed under his breath as wave upon wave crashed on the ship, tossing it this way and that as though it was a leaf in the wind. He fought with the helm, guiding it through wave after wave, his only thought keeping the ship floating.
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Post by Jewel on Aug 29, 2006 21:47:21 GMT -5
The soaked pegasus sighed inaudibly with relief when Hollow appeared to willingly go with her. Standing on deck with four intact legs was difficult enough, but with only three, the danger was exponentially worse.
With careful steps and a few slips across the deck, Jewel gradually made her way down the steep stairs into the bowels of the ship. Amidst the flickering lamplight, her gaze fell upon the prone form of the small flutter, who looked as if she had fallen the flight of stairs instead of climbed.
"Princess.." As Hollow came down behind her, Jewel walked over to the smaller pony, still tripping from side to side with the turbulence of the ship and her own shaky legs. "Are you all right?"
Despite the terror she had felt when her own life was at risk, out on deck at the mercy of the storm, when Jewel considered the life of the younger, more vulnerable Rain, her fears seemed to subside as her concern for the others grew.
The golden mare lowered her elegant head, nudging the flutter softly with her muzzle in an attempt to both comfort her and urge her to stand. "Come with us.. we should find a safe place to stay for a bit."
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Post by roserebellion on Aug 30, 2006 20:20:17 GMT -5
(Rain crackes me up XD)
"You beast!"
On any normal given occasion, Coon would have been delighted and amused to have been called that. This was the exception.
As the wave lurched towards the boat, the thief did the best thing she could do, fill her lungs with air, hold her breath and keep a sturdy grip on the railing. Within moments the wave was upon them, her golden eyes clenching shut right before impact. The force of a sturdy blow seemed to punch out the air from her lungs, gray hooves slipped and stumble beneath her. Finally, she too flopped down as Hollow had, landing hard and proceeding into an ungraceful slide. Her side sharply collided with the railing, it was followed by a splintering sound.
Sputtering and coughing, Coon mumbled, "That doesn't--erf! Sound goo--awck!"
Another groaning sound, and abruptly a piece of the railing she was resting against snapped. Coon rolled through the space, falling off the ship. Her mouth opened to cry out, but whiplash cut her off. Surprised, she spied the rope still tied to her waist, tangled around a leg and thankfully a spoke of the railing.
Not daring to question her fortune, Coon took a deep breath and lifted her upper half (as she was hanging upside down) slowly to reach the leg and rope. With a strained grip on that, she threw a hoof back up on deck, wrapping it around the spoke her rope was tied too. From there she hoisted herself the rest of the way, rolling and flopping down on the deck in relief. She didn't stay that way for long, her experience making her want the shelter below deck all the more. So with the appearance of an over sized, drowned rat Coon slumped her way below, calling out, "It'll all be worth it if there's beer down here..."
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Post by Crescent on Aug 31, 2006 5:25:31 GMT -5
[[Hehehe and Coon is so funny!! XD]]
"Princess.." As Hollow came down behind her, Jewel walked over to the smaller pony, still tripping from side to side with the turbulence of the ship and her own shaky legs. "Are you all right?"
Rain stepped back just slightly when Hollow and Jewel descended the stairs, blocking her view to Coon. She looked at the older pegasus, feeling herself utterly miserable with her beautiful soft hair all wet and pasted to her face and neck and her coat more an ugly damp shade of iron than beautiful silver. Her fragile wings hung useless on her back, too wet to be anything but a drag. She didn't respond - letting her miserable appearance speak for itself. This was not dignified and regal at all, and she was thoroughly bothered.
"Come with us.. we should find a safe place to stay for a bit."
Rain looked up again, past Hollow who had now limped down the last of the stairs, gritting his teeth together so as to keep the grunt of pain inside. Coon was now nowhere to be seen and Rain shifted her feet nervously.
"But... but the others?" she asked anxiously. She was still worried about the thief who had helped her earlier - despite "his" less than gallant behaviour, Rain was still impressed about Coon's utter courage.
Hollow saw the look in the princess's eyes and rolled his golden eyes a little. The last thing they needed was a teenage princess with a crush. He did look behind him, however, frowning. He knew his foot would greatly impede his attempts to help the others above deck, but he still felt that everyone should help everyone else in this situation, and then, he was convinced that Kail could heal his foot even if he made it worse. Still, the cold logic brought him to the conclusion that Jewel was, in the end, right. He wouldn't do any services to anyone on deck with a broken knee and might end up washed off deck.
Then Coon appeared.
"It'll all be worth it if there's beer down here..."
Hollow blew air out of his nose in a little huff - how could the thief think of beer at this kind of moment? He eyed Coon sourly even as Rain smiled brightly and bounded to below the stairs, looking up at Coon with a happy smile.
"Oh, thank the Rainbows, you're all right!" she simpered, then her expression turned more scolding. "But you know, I might have broken my neck, the way you threw me down! Besides, it isn't at all dignified to fall on your face - not fit for a princess at all. I hope you'll be more careful next time."
Next time? was Hollow's incredible thought. He glanced at Rain, then turned to Coon with sharp eyes.
"I don't think this is the right moment to resort to beer," he said. "Best keep your mind clear and sharp at least as long as the storm lasts." He gave Coon a once-over. "As a matter of fact, I'd suggest you keep your nose clear off beer until the mission is completed. The last thing I want in my team is a drunk thief."
On the upper deck, Tiger grit his teeth when he saw the stunt Coon pulled with the rope and the railing. As the thief rescued herself, the Captain shook his head and thought darkly, These land-lubbers'll be the death of my ship.
A suspicious creak sounded from one part of the ship and he threw a worried look around him.
"Hold it together, baby," he muttered under his breath as he forced his "baby" to turn against yet another wave.
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Post by roserebellion on Aug 31, 2006 10:11:43 GMT -5
(Oh my, Coon's wily charm may be the death of her. I'm not sure she can handle a teenager XD, she is 30 after all.)
"Heh heh, a storm can't keep a good 'coon down," Coon simpered out with a triumphant grin, then sorta flinched at the childish scolding she received. Oh boy... this one'll be a doozy.
"I'll try to keep that in mind," Coon reflexively stated, containing the mild annoyance at the task. It was a double edged sword this way. In times like this, you didn't think about how abrasive you were in handling others just to push them from harm. However, when this was all said and done, it was likely she would be the one left in the group to pin any misgivings upon after the pirates hauled out. Then she'd earn another trip to the brig.
"I don't think this is the right moment to resort to beer," he said. "Best keep your mind clear and sharp at least as long as the storm lasts." He gave Coon a once-over. "As a matter of fact, I'd suggest you keep your nose clear off beer until the mission is completed. The last thing I want in my team is a drunk thief."
Coon once upped Hollow with a humored, incredulous face. "Your team?" She scoffed. "Hate to break it to ya, bub, but this 'team' has been doing just fine before the Rainbow switched out it's roster."
"And I'll tell you what," She turned arrogantly, almost cheeky in fashion from him, and in a display of boyish fun, began to shake the access water dripping from her like a soaked dog. "My habits have saved my skin more times than I can count. Takes the edge off. So, I'm guessing if you want that Rainbow back, you'll let me do my job my way." She grinned back in Hollow's direction. "Capishe?"
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Post by Jewel on Aug 31, 2006 14:47:16 GMT -5
"But... but the others?"
Indigo eyes glanced toward the hatch, then back at Rain, "They're coming.. last I saw, they were all nearby. I thi--"
It was then that Coon graced the three of them with her presence, coming down the steep incline to join them below deck. For all the animosity the peg had held for the masculine mare for eluding her capture, Jewel had come to terms with, and now held an ounce of respect for her. She had, after all, put the life of a princess before her own.
"But you know, I might have broken my neck, the way you threw me down! Besides, it isn't at all dignified to fall on your face - not fit for a princess at all. I hope you'll be more careful next time."
"Let's not hope for a next time, huh?" The pegasus wearily glanced at the smaller pony, her large soaked wings drooping at her sides. She continued in a tone which was matter-of-fact, but not condescending, "I hate to tell you, princess, but not a lot of what we've been doing on this mission is terribly dignified." She gave a small, half-sided grin.
As coon rebuked Hollow's point, Jewel gave the mare a stern glance, as if to firmly suggest that angering an already troubled stallion was a poor idea, if anything. She said nothing, however, waiting for the two to sort out their differences, as she stood against the wall shivering from cold.
Just as the next large wave began to appear, Cutter clambered back to Tiger's side, using his bulk against the wheel to keep it in place. The rounded spoke-like handles dug into his back and side, but he held his ground, pushing with all his might to help steady the ship.
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Post by Crescent on Sept 2, 2006 13:53:31 GMT -5
Coon once upped Hollow with a humored, incredulous face. "Your team?" She scoffed. "Hate to break it to ya, bub, but this 'team' has been doing just fine before the Rainbow switched out it's roster."
"And I'll tell you what," She turned arrogantly, almost cheeky in fashion from him, and in a display of boyish fun, began to shake the access water dripping from her like a soaked dog. "My habits have saved my skin more times than I can count. Takes the edge off. So, I'm guessing if you want that Rainbow back, you'll let me do my job my way." She grinned back in Hollow's direction. "Capishe?"
Hollow's ears flattened against his skull almost as though plastered. At that particular moment it occurred to him that Coon was, if nothing else, right about one thing - the team had apparently done quite well without him, and consequently, he didn't really fit in. However, this thought was at once followed by the clear realisation that it didn't matter. He had been chosen, and there was a reason. Frustration swelled in Hollow. Was there no one here who listened? No one but Jewel, he corrected himself, and glanced at the pegasus sideways. She, too, was newly selected, though she obviously knew the others already beforehand. Perhaps that was why he and her connected so well - because they were both new and trying to search out their place?
She just had one other advantage, in addition to the fact that she knew some of the other Champions, and apparently this rogue, beforehand. She had the better power. What was his power? Clearer logic? What good was it even if he used it, when no one would likely listen to him? They all seemed like chaotic little beetles to him, scurrying about their business this way and that, without order and without discipline - both of which Hollow greatly valued. Why did he bother with them in the first place?
His eyes bored into Coon, deep and penetrating.
"Fine," he said snappily. "I won't stand in the way of you and your beer. But neither will I stand by and watch you drink away another moment, another hour, and another day of your short, miserable life."
He hadn't meant to be as sharp - and there was no logical reason for him to even take his feeling of frustration out on Coon, but he was hurting, and the pain of seeing that jovial smile of the young thief turn into a grimace of death, ever so slowly, before his eyes, and the stench of decay that he could feel all around him in the creaking ship was, at that moment of utter frustration, too much for him. He turned, and started to limp away, wanting to find a place somewhere, anywhere, within the ship just to be alone. Alone - like he felt at that moment that he should have been to start with. He knew that if he stayed and watched Coon drink her beer he would only see the poison in that drink degenerate her body further, eating up seconds and minutes, and eventually, perhaps, hours and days and even years - he didn't know how many, since he had never seen Coon drink and didn't know how heavy drinker she was.
He didn't know it, but accepting the Yellow Stripe of the Rainbow of Light would not only strengthen the clarity of his logic - it also made him more vulnerable to his strictly hidden emotions, for the simple reason that the Rainbow of Light, after all, was a force of love and feeling.
[[anyone is of course free to go after him. XD]]
Rain had blushed to what Jewel had said, and had been about to make a response when the conversation between Coon and Hollow erupted. She was thoroughly appalled by what Hollow said - mainly that he would dare try to forbid the thief from drinking. Rain herself had enjoyed several beer parties during her adventures, so she was quite huffed that Hollow would try to tell the thief how to live her life. Rain, then, took immediately Coon's side, thinking Hollow was simply being quite ridiculous, and stepped closer to Coon as though to make her point.
"Oh, don't listen to him," she said to Coon. "He's just probably not had a drink in years and it's making him all grumpy."
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Post by Jewel on Sept 2, 2006 19:34:06 GMT -5
Despite the heated tension, and the hostility between Coon and Hollow, Jewel remained calm, her expression bordered on passive. Inwardly, much as the two might enjoy a brawl over what had begun as an argument on beer, the pegasus knew things would be fine between them in the end. She could not explain it, she simply knew.
Males and their tempers She thought with a hint of amusement, Even if she isn't one.. she might as well be.
It didn't come as a surprise to her when Hollow retreated further into the ship. Jewel looked from him to Rain, then to Coon. The princess didn't seem to be injured, and despite Coon's.. personality quirks.. she could probably look out for the other. And not get her too drunk.
She said nothing to either of them, refusing to either take sides or speak her thoughts aloud at the moment. Despite the chaos which ensued outside, the dry, warmer cabin of the ship had done well to calm her nerves, even just the slightest.
With one last look at the pair, Jewel turned and quietly followed Hollow, her heavy wet wings dragging slightly as she walked. She continued to the doorway she had last seen him enter, the door having swung shut from the turbulence of the waves.
After a moment, a soft gold muzzle pried its way past the door, followed by a pair of concerned indigo eyes. Jewel peeked in through the door, wondering if her company would be appreciated. When Hollow didn't seem to directly object, she pursued, making her way through the door and jumping as it slammed closed behind her.
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Post by roserebellion on Sept 2, 2006 21:19:33 GMT -5
Coon watched in silence as the stallion turned to head off on his own. It was probably for the best, Coon considered with some annoyance. She had, after all, offended him on purpose. Although she wasn't feeling all peaches 'n cream either after that response.
"Oh, don't listen to him," she said to Coon. "He's just probably not had a drink in years and it's making him all grumpy."
Coon gave an acknowledging glance with her eyes at the rain soaked flutter under hoof before lifting her gaze to see Jewel heading off. It meant she didn't have to worry about heading on after him herself. They would either burst out into a full argument, or worse--she might have to apologize.
Not that she wouldn't, just that Coon Skin had a terrible time doing it right out.
"Bah, you're right," Coon finally answered Rain. "But don't hold it against him."
Absently she craned her neck to reach for an itch down her back. She gnawed a moment at the spot, nestling her coat back into place when she was done. After that, she prioritized. Beer first, conversation later.
She began to rummage around in the darkened room, treading carefully, lifting through stored supplies. With the way the ship was rocking, it was a surprise that more of the room wasn't knocked about and in disarray. After a minute, Coon finally spied a barrel in a corner with rope securing it into place. A grin grew. Jackpot.
Naturally, what besides riches would be more valuable to secure on a ship? It had to have been beer, or some other alcoholic variant. The masculine mare sauntered over casually to the keg. Having found nothing to drink with, the thief compromised. Again she twisted her neck, stuck her open mouth under the tap, and turned the knob. A foam stream of warm liquid ran down, and Coon lapped up a few swallows. She shut the tap off momentarily, lifting her head to swallow. Her eyes landed again on the Princes.
"Hey, wanna sip?" Coon offered. Not much, she warned herself. She was the only one allowed to be intoxicated on this trip, or so she thought. And gaging the size of a flutter, not even full grown, it wouldn't take much to tip the Rain off.
(Naughty Coon! Suppling minors!)
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Post by Crescent on Sept 12, 2006 23:10:40 GMT -5
Hollow didn't really care to be too particular in choosing the cabin he entered. Any cabin would do - he needed to calm himself. The pain in his foot made him wince on every step, and so he stoppe as soon as he had got into the cabin. He sat on the floor, deeming it best not to try to stand too much. He'd only fall and hurt himself better. His ears hanging down and his golden eyes staring across the dark floor, he didn't even notice Jewel at first. Shadows danced across the floor in the flickering halo of the lantern that was the only source of light in the dingy room. As the ship moved again and the door slammed shut - the second time - behind him, Hollow raised one ear and glanced behind him from underneath a black soaked mane that hung over his face. Seeing Jewel there made Hollow smile, a cold sort of a smile, as he raised his head.
Hollow's golden eyes examined Jewel for a long, silent moment. She was like pure gold before him. Smooth soft fur and in the light of the lantern there seemed to be a kind of halo about her as she stood there. The depth in those eyes... he felt she might have seen to his very soul.
And yet... all that beauty was slowly fading. He could see a golden hair turn grey here and there, a sinking in her muscles, a flopping on her wings. She showed no signs of aging to others, but it was there... not as strong as in most ponies, but it was there. Soon, if he looked any closer, he could see all that wonderful gold turn to dust, and only her skeleton would remain...
No! Desperate, Hollow squeezed his eyes shut and turned his head away, a pained expression on his face. He mustn't care. Everyone dies. They all will die. Everyone he ever knows will die, and only he will remain...
Eternal like the stars... just like he had wished.
Rain did feel a short moment of hesitation when Jewel went after Hollow, but chose to ignore it all when Coon Skin spoke again. She looked at her and smiled. She waited calmly while Coon found a beer barrel. She giggled when Coon unceremoniously drank straight from the tap - she really was a ruffian; and Rain liked it.
"Hey, wanna sip?"
Rain nodded eagerly and skipped across to Coon. She flopped on her back on the floor - careful of her wings - and inched her way under the tap. Opening her mouth, she waved a hoof to Coon, obviously telling her to turn the tap on.
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Post by Jewel on Sept 13, 2006 13:32:21 GMT -5
((lol, where you been my Nurie?? *snugs* XD ))
Trying to remain graceful as she walked on unsteady legs, the pegasus brought herself to Hollow's side, leaning against the wall for support as she sat down. Jewel said nothing at first, feeling a great uneasiness in the stallion's demeanor. Something was bothering him, and it surely was more than the storm raging all around them.
As well as she could with the up-and-down turbulence of the waves, Jewel remained rather still and quiet, though attentive. After a few moments, she moved her elegant head toward Hollow, gently touching the soft part of her muzzle against the edge of his jaw. Her nostrils flexed slightly as warm air blew against his skin. She pulled back, her eyes still locked on his, her head tilted slightly to one side in perplexion. Overall her expression, though somewhat wise, remained curious and naive. She hoped he might decide to divulge his worries to her, but made no effort to pressure him to do so.
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Post by Crescent on Sept 16, 2006 5:50:49 GMT -5
[[At the university... boy they weren't kidding when they said we'd be busy. >.< But I try to keep up. Hollow's very emotional now so it takes a bit longer to be able to write a post. Don't worry though, I won't disappear! ^-^ *snuggles*]]
Hollow shivered a little from the touch on his face and the warm air against his fur. He squeezed his eyes more shut, then opened them. Gold met indigo as he looked at her. She seemed so innocent at that moment. Had he been a foal, he might have said she was like an angel.
And yet... she had told him she had been through death once. She had faced it, experienced it, and come back. She, too, had won death. The experience had left its marks on her, touched her soul in a way that shone through the degeneration of her flesh to Hollow. Shone like a star. He swallowed as his eyes roamed over her features. She seemed... worried. He looked away for a moment. There was only one pony in the world who knew the weight that pressed on his heart. Only one who knew why he strove to make his heart cold and embrace solitary life. He had not felt the need to tell anyone before. But now...
There was no question asked, but Hollow could feel it hanging in the air. She would have liked to know what weighed on him. He could sense it. Perhaps she would be strong enough, wise enough to understand?
"You've witnessed death once," he said quietly, almost whispering. "Do you remember... how it felt? The life slowly ebbing away, escaping?"
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Post by Jewel on Sept 17, 2006 0:09:02 GMT -5
[[yeah, I hear ya. College classes are getting harder every week >_> *snugs* Just wanted to make sure you didn't forget! XD Where do I have to escape to if I don't have C03? =P ]]
"You've witnessed death once," he said quietly, almost whispering. "Do you remember... how it felt? The life slowly ebbing away, escaping?"
Slowly, the pegasus turned her head away, staring toward what seemed like a faraway place. Though really, it was as near as the depths of her own mind.
"Yes," She whispered, pausing before she continued. Jewel remembered it all too clearly, and did not hold back in recounting her experience, "Once he.. pushed me into the ground.. I left my body behind. I was suspended in this darkness, and all I could sense.. were the sounds of my thoughts," Her gaze remained, fixated on the opposing wall, "Until she came."
The mare's eyes glazed slightly in a bittersweet reminiscence, a small hint of a smile tugging at her lips. It had been long since she had thought of the old mage. "It's been a while since I left that life behind.. but she never left me."
Suddenly, with a hard jolt of the ship, the pegasus came back to reality, shaking her head slightly and looking at Hollow. She wondered if that was what he had wanted to hear, and if not, if she had simply said too much.
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