Pages | Chapter 10 | Blow the Man Down

[marsgemwrites]

In which topless Vechs and Chad wrestle.

BONUS CONTENT (including world map)
 

This chapter is early because I'm going to a festival tomorrow and wouldn't have time to post it (Queen are playing at said festival).
 

Chapter 10. Blow the Man Down

It was late that evening. Erin was stood with a half full pint glass of beer looking out over the navy abyss that was the ocean. The two pirate musicians, who she'd learned were GenerikB and Bdoubleo - she'd never get her head around the names in this world - known more commonly as Genny and Bdubs, were now playing music again.

This time, however, they were actually making decent music. It seemed that the terrible performance on the dock had been an act and now they proved to be pretty good. The rest of the crew was joining in with the song, it was a call and response. Genny and Bdubs would sing the call, then everyone else took the response.

"I'm a deep water sailor just in from Zopru," the B-Team sang along to an upbeat tune that Genny played on his banjo.

"To my way haye, blow the man down!" The rest of the crew sang, including Vechs and Chad.

"If you'll give me some grog, I'll sing you a song,"

"Give me some time to blow the man down!"

"'Twas on a Black Baller I first served my time,"

"To my way haye, blow the man down!" Erin joined in this time, walking over to the circle the pirates had made.

"And on that Black Baller I wasted my prime,"

"Give me some time to blow the man down!" The song went on for a while, everyone cheerfully singing along to it, merry with beer, whisky and rum.

They played lots of other songs late into the night. Erin listened for a lot of the songs but joined in for the catchiest ones. A man with ginger hair and a lopsided smile - though this could be down the alcohol - sat down next her.

"Hi," Erin said, a little confused.

"Hey," the pirate replied, reaching out a hand for her to shake. Erin shook it warily and the man continued to speak, "What magic did you use to get your hair like that?"

Erin touched her hair self consciously, "Uhm, I had it dyed…"

"Well, yeah, but it's like four different colours, that normally takes magic,"

Vechs sat down next to Erin, seeing she was struggling, "just standard magic, nothing fancy. Went to see a woodling who charmed it."

"Oh cool," the man grinned again then walked off. Erin sat there, not quite understanding what just happened.

"Thanks for saving me from that weird question," Erin said slowly to Vechs.

"No problem, now, how is it so many colours? You don't have magic on earth."

"It's pretty simple, you put gunk on your hair for a while and changes the colour. Although I had to have it bleached for the blue, teal and purple bits-"

Vechs interrupted, "What's bleach?"

"It lightens stuff, hair included," Erin explained, "it's also used for cleaning, but that bleach is different to the stuff used for hair."

"Right," Vechs seemed satisfied with that answer and changed the subject, "So, how're you enjoying being on the ship?"

"It's fun, the beer actually tastes quite nice," Erin said, lifting her glass up.

"Yeah, I think Captain Farrow is one of the richer pirate Captains around here. Seems he can afford the good stuff."

Erin nodded, "I think you're right there. At least some of those riches are legit, too. Zaner and James sell stuff at market."

"Almost law-abiding pirates," Vechs laughed and took a swig of his drink.

---

Erin stumbled away from the side of the boat, the sea sickness was hitting her hard. She'd been surprisingly okay the previous day, but now she was feeling rough. Chad and Vechs were fine, but then again, they had been on ships before.

She sat down on the floor after about three steps, deciding not to try and walk across the deck. The sea was rough, which was likely what contributed to Erin's sickness.

Zaner walked past then looked down at Erin sitting on the floor, her face pale, "Sea sickness?" Erin just nodded. Zaner sat down next to her, "I used to get really sick on ships. You'll find your sea legs soon enough. Likely about five minutes before we dock, but you'll get them."

"You don't happen to have anything to settle it?" Erin asked hopefully.

"Yes, actually. Well, James should," he stood up and reached a hand down to help Erin up, "let's get your stomach settled and then you can be helpful."

They were just walking towards James' cabin when there was a shout from the pirate steering the ship, "Storm ahead!" Erin and several others went to the side of the ship to see. Sure enough in the distance a storm was brewing.

"That's so cliché!" Erin said irritably.

"Come on, better make that sea sickness go away, we're going to need all hands on deck for that storm." Zaner said, leading Erin into James' cabin, he nearly hit James in the face with the door when he opened it as the Captain was leaving his cabin, "Oh sorry, ba- Captain."

James fixed his coat and ran a rough hand through his dark hair, "It's alright, Zaner. What's up?"

"Erin here is feeling sea sick and there's a storm brewing,"

"Ah," James turned around and went back into his cabin. Erin tilted her head to the side, slightly confused. The Captain then reappeared, holding a vial of purple liquid. He handed it to Erin, "Drink this."

Erin looked at it suspiciously then pulled the cork out with her teeth and drank the liquid. "Sit in my cabin for a bit, it'll kick in, in about five to ten minutes," James said, he looked at Zaner, "Sit with her and get me if it doesn't kick in within fifteen minutes." Zaner nodded then the Captain walked off and started barking orders.

The two of them went into the cabin and sat down on a soft and worn sofa, "This sucks," Erin said bitterly, "I want to be out there helping with the storm but I can barely walk without vomiting."

Zaner rubbed her back gently, "The potion should kick in soon, then you can help. James will need all hands on deck, that storm looked nasty."

They sat talking for a good ten minutes and Erin was soon feeling her normal self. They left the cabin to discover that a light rain had begun to fall. James was shouting orders and running up and down the deck, his hair was damp and he kept having to push it out of his face. Erin caught Zaner admiring his boyfriend with a proud expression on his face.

She smiled, it had been a long time since she'd looked at someone like that, but it always made her happy to see the love on the face of other couples.

James looked their way and winked at Zaner before he returned to shouting orders, "Come on you two, we need more people on the sails, this is going to be rough one!"

Erin leapt into action, ready to help in any way she could. She set to work running up the sails, following Zaner's instructions. "We're going to have to just wait this one out!" Yelled James, "The winds look too strong to fight with, get those sails up and get below deck if you don't want to die!"

Given that this ship had three large masts, securing all the sails was a hefty and time consuming task; with each precious minute they got closer and closer to the storm, the waves getting more and more aggressive. The sails were almost all secured when a huge wave crashed up onto the deck, soaking some of the pirates but luckily not washing anyone overboard.

"We're lucky that it looks like we'll be thrown towards Athose," Zaner said loudly. His clothes were stuck to his skin from the wave and now torrential rain.

Just as they got the final sail up another wave hit them, shaking the whole ship, "Everyone below deck, now!" James yelled. They didn't need to be told twice, a small stampede of drenched pirates ran towards the trapdoor. Erin was one the last down due to being across deck from the safety of the trapdoor.

There was a loud hubbub from the pirates, most of them complaining about being soaked. As soon as they got to the sleeping quarters everyone started stripping off and drying themselves with threadbare towels. Erin went to her bunk to find both Vechs and Chad there.

Chad was dripping wet and looked miserable, "Hey Erin," He said, his usual chirpiness dulled a bit.

"That was exciting, wasn't it?" Erin said, unfastening her waist cincher and shirt.

"That's one word for it," Vechs laughed, he'd opted to just put on a dry pair of trousers, his under and over shirts hanging to dry next to Chad's clothes on their bed. He looked around the room at all the pirates, "so many attractive people." He mused.

Erin threw her wet shirt at him, "Keep it on your pants, Casanova."

"What?" Vechs looked at her blankly.

Erin buttoned up her dry shirt, "There was this adventurer guy in my world who was known for having lots of sex. Casanova is now a synonym from being a womaniser."

"That clearly doesn't apply to me then," Vechs said, laying down in his bed nonchalantly. Erin raised her eyebrows urging him to explain, "well I'm checking out the guys. I mean, the women are pretty hot, but have you seen the men?"

"Yes," Erin said slowly, looking around, she shook her head, "Still, keep it in your pants!"

Vechs pouted, "You're no fun."

Chad was busy drying his tabby fur, "Sometimes I think being a human or drerkek would be easier. All this stupid fur takes so long to dry!"

"Want a hand?" Vechs offered, Erin couldn't tell if he was joking or not. Chad did his sweet little ear flicker again and shook his head.

"Vechs, I know we're good friends, but that's a little intimate." Chad actually squeaked a little.

"Oh come on," Vechs grabbed his towel and leapt at Chad, "you'll dry much quicker if I help!" Chad squirmed, laughing as Vechs tried to dry his fur.

"Get off you goofball!" Chad managed through his laughter.

"Make me!" Vechs countered. Chad managed to turn around to face Vechs then pushed him down onto his bed. Vechs looked up at the felin who was now perched above him, a little shocked that he'd managed to take him down, "Wow, you're pretty strong, aren't you?"

"I work out." Chad said, panting a little.

"I have never once seen you work out."

"I don't work out in front of you."

"Get a room." Erin laughed, flopping down on her bed, now wearing dry clothes. She'd put her hair up in her towel while she searched for her hair brush.

Chad stood up, "Shut up," he said and went back to drying off his fur.

"Chad, I think you've dried yourself enough, just put some proper clothes on and stop standing around in your underwear." Erin said.

"Ugh, fine, I'll air dry." Chad pulled on some clothes then sat down on a bench that was situated by the ship's hull wall.

Erin found her hairbrush and started to run it through her hair. Thanks to the lack of hair straighteners on Sunreth her natural hair was free. When Vechs had first seen it one morning he'd been really confused. Erin had then explained that she'd used this thing called a hair straightener which made her hair straight.

However, Erin's natural hair was much more curly. This made it a pain in the arse to brush.

"You alright now, Erin?" Erin looked up to see the Captain.

"Yes, whatever was in that bottle helped, thanks."

"No problem, we often pick up cabin boys and girls and they tend to get very sea sick. I keep a supply of the stuff to settle their stomachs." James then turned to address the other two, "I don't know if either of you have been on a ship in a storm, but even the most seasoned sailors get sick during storms. I can get you something if you need it, just poke Erin to come and get me."

"Hey, I'm not their messenger,"

"Yes, but you can actually talk to me, they go all goo-goo eyed," James gestured to Vechs and Chad.

"Hey!" they both said in protest.

James just laughed and bid them farewell.

"He is so full of himself," Chad said.

"Stop swooning in his presence if you don't want him to tease you." Erin said with a laugh.

"But he's so dreamy!" Said a mocking voice. Erin turned around to see a woman she'd never seen before.

Vechs glared at her, "He isn't that dreamy."

"Sure he is," the woman said, "I heard he was part shil."

Chad raised his eyebrows, "That would explain why we get distracted when he's around."

"I think that's down to something else, Mr Johnson." Erin teased, this earned her a damp towel being thrown at her.

"See you," the woman drawled and left, winking at Erin as she went.

"Did she just wink at me?" Erin said, wide eyed.

"Yes, she did. Maybe she's part shil, too." Vechs laughed.

Erin frowned, "What is a shil?"

"Uh, it's a person who can seduce people using just their voice, they often sing and lead sailors off course. They can nasty creatures."

"Oh, we call those sirens." Erin said simply and returned to brushing her colourful curls.