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DEAD MAN'S TAVERN II

Started by Captain Jack Wolfe, May 12, 2008, 07:16:06 PM

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lilaney

Duckie stood at the sound of Elinor's voice;
he paused to stretch lazily, and then assisted Elinor to her feet with a hand and a smile.
"Elinor, I agree, it was a fantastic tale. And so much more mirth that matter. Think she'll ever let her gaurd down long enough to actually trust someone with a truth, no matter how small?"

Lil stood goggle-eyed at his back, Elinor gave a small smirk and, out of loyalty took her hand out of his and step over near her friend.
"Maybe so, but, she can spin a great story, don't you think?"
Duckie allowed a dark look to cross his face for the merest second, and then dropped his features back into the passive disinterested look of a doctor who has seen too much of everything to even bother with a surprised expression anymore.
He sighed at her statement and looked over the horizen.

"True, but, not exactly what I asked for."

There was a moan from the deck. All three of them casually looked over at the Helm's man.
He was awake.

"Care to knock him out again before you head to breakfast?"

Lil scowled at Duckie's glib statement and went to help the man to his feet.
"'wah 'it me?"
"Nuthin, just a rough sea last night, better get to breakfast before all the good stuffs gone. You got watch again tonight."

The man stumbled a bit as his vision began to clear, as he faultered as he went down the ladder to the galley.
They could hear him mumbling.
"I ain't coming back on this watch! I'd rather trade 'a for Gordie's watch!"

Duckie gave the ladies a curt bow, and followed the helmsman's path.
"Good morning to you ladies, and let us all hope for fair winds this morning. I have a craving to get gone from this place and get on to finding your ship, that you may be on your way."

Lil heard right throught his shellaced statement and felt the hurt. She ignored it for now.

Elinor nodded at his bow and the two watched his back as he departed.
"He has a fine back." Elinor commented quietly.

Lil nodded her mind on other things, then pulled a double take on her friend who seemed to have just realized what she had said, and blushed a merry shade of pink.

Their laughter woke the two men snoozing near the mast.
"Hey! Whotcah go and be wakin' es up afor time to sail?"
One bellowed in a grouchy voice, just then he was silenced as a red bottle fell from the heavan's and clipped him on the back of the head.
"T'aint the way to be speakin' to a lady!"
They heard from high in the sheets.

Lil laughed and saluted the crow's nest.
"That's the way, Gordie! You keep'em taught up on elocution and we'll have'em all married up to debutantes in no time!"

Elinor and Lil could barely make out a wave from the nest, but, no one could mistake that cackle.
The two waited calmly for the next man on watch to come and take the helm. As soon as he had the watch, they made their way back into the depths of the ship.

"Lil? Why don't you ever talk about your past?"
Elinor's voice was calm, but, slightly nervous. She didn't want to upset her friend.
But, her mind could not resist thinking that, after all this time, hadn't she proved she was a loyal friend? Someone who could be trusted with a secret or two?
Lil sighed as she turned a corner and headed for their berthing.
"Truly, Elinor? It is boring beyond all belief, and that is the truth."
Elinor nodded, but, still didn't feel she had a good answer.
She held open the door their's and Kate's room.
"Everyone's life is boring! What makes yours any more boring than anyone else's?"
Lil smiled as she began searching for clean clothes.
"Before I forget. Julian wants you to meet him topside, when you have the time."
Elinor paused for a moment in her own movements of retrieving clean garb.
She nodded, then pressed on.
"Don't change the subject."
Lil gave a small smile but, remained quiet as she and Elinor got ready for the day.

Today, they were to set sail out of port and find their ship.
"Aside from not changing the subject, exactly when are we suppose to start worrying about Kate and Hibernian?"
Elinor made a small mou of concern.
"Very true, but, you are still trying to change the subject."

The two women were back in the passageway, heading for the wonderful scent of food;
they spied BlackJack Roberts, leaning against the bulkhead near the galley door, draining a tankard of what could be juice, but, probably wasn't.
"Well, truthfully Elinor, my life was boring before this, because I was training to be a nun."

Lil thought she had said this quietly, but, the mead-spattered wall coincidentally across from BlackJack's now empty tankard proved she hadn't.


Ice Mage

The trio were escorted to their cabins.  Dorean and Rose in one, and Daemon in another.
As Daemon entered his room, he was shocked to find a very reminiscent scene.  The room was the size of a cargo hold.  Dressed up like The Royal bed chambers he once lived in.  The room was centered around a great bed, adorned in golden runes.  Slaves were working hard to ensure every detail was perfect.  To his left, a line of of barely dressed concubines stood waiting to fill his every desire.  He strode through the room, wondering if they had met every detail.  Perhaps they were in fact this naive, but possibly not.  It was not long however, when he realized they were in fact that dumb.  His personal armory lay intact, next to his personal throne.  A small contingent of royal guards kneel in before him.  Their leader looks up at his master, and speaks.

(My lord Valkerie!  It is once again our Honor to serve you.  We have guarded your rightful place with our lives, and your men welcome you home!)

Daemon stopped in his tracks, realizing that he not only had the weapons, but the soldiers to make an escape possible.  He begins to wonder what may be lying in Rose's Chamber.

Meanwhile in Rose's Cabin...................

Dorean and Rose enter their cabin to find their very own Royal bed chamber.  Canopy bed, full wardrobe, personal staff, and a hot tub!  The room was covered in white Rose Petals, and a large silver platter of chocolate covered fruit lay on a table next to her bed.  Despite all this, Rose and Dorean had not the least amount of interest in their surroundings.  All they could think about was their daughter, and how they were to live without her.  Rose fell to her knees and started crying.  Dorean bent over to tried and console her.  She continued to lay there, weeping, and begging for her death.  After a few hours, she collected herself and looked at Dorean.  Dorean just looked back in her eye's, seeing a coldness he had never seen before.  As if she had cried her very soul out onto the floor, and left a lifeless shell of hatred behind.  Just as he was about to speak to his beloved, a knock came at the door.  Rose Turned from him to answer, only to find her butler opening it for her.  A guard was standing just outside the room, giving what sounded like orders to the servant.  The butler closed the door and turned to Rose.

(My Queen.  The Commander has requested your presence at his table.  He wishes presence in one hour, Shall i RSVP in the positive?)

Rose sat there for a moment, and then made her response in the most callus of manners.

'We will be there!'
You don't have to be a great man.  Just be a man, and let history make it's judgements.

Captain Jack Wolfe

#92
Jack's head rebounded off the underside of the bed with a loud thud that made Honour jump.  "OWWW!!  DAMN IT!!" he exclaimed in pain.  Her expression alternated between amusement and shock at the torrent of obscenities that flowed from under the bed.  Finally he rolled out into the room, rubbing his sore head.
"Did I hear you say 'spinach pie' somewhere in all that?" she asked.
"A euphemism I picked up in a little town called Covington Glen," he replied.  "Care to guess what it means?"
"No, I got the context, that's enough.  You realise half of what you said under there is physically impossible?"
"I give credit for effort.  Do you mind telling me what your screeching was for?"
Honour sat down on the bed and rubbed her aching temples.  "I didn't feel like being the only one with a crushing headache."
"How thoughtful of you to include me."
"You can thank me later.  For now, just shut the spinach pie up."

Jack poured a glass of rum and took it to her.  "Here.  Some hair of the dog."  She took the glass and sniffed it.  Immediately, her stomach lurched and she pushed the glass back at him.
"Ugh!  Forget it!  I don't want to be sick on top of everything else!"
"You should have thought of that before downing over half a bottle of rum by yourself!" he chided.  "Now, hold your nose and drink fast.  You'll feel much better..."
Honour did as instructed, holding her nose and drinking as fast as she could.
"... if you can hold it down," he finished.
She fought the inevitable wave of nausea, staring daggers at her husband the entire time.  She swore to herself that if she did throw up, one of his boots would be the receptacle.  Finally, the discomfort passed.
"Agh!  That was awful!" she spat with a shudder, then held the glass up for Jack to take it from her.  "More."
He paused for a moment as he took the glass, and laughed softly.  "Why, my darling Honour!  You drink like a pirate!"
"What was it you used to say?" she mused as she accepted the refill.  "Occupational hazard?"
"Still do," he replied as she slugged the rum down.  She held the glass aloft for him to take again.  "Another?" he asked.
"No, that's enough.  If it doesn't work, just give me last rites and be done with it," she said as she lay back and pulled a pillow over her head. 

He sat down at the table and filled the glass for himself.  "How much do you remember of last night, darling?"
A protracted silence, then, "Parts."
"Can you tell me which parts, or shall I prompt you to jog your memory?"
"Which one will make you shut up faster?"
"The one that's most convincing."
She sighed heavily, pulled the pillow off her face and sat up.  "All right, fine, Torquemada.  I remember discussing the fact that rat bastard Cade used me and stole my ship for God knows what.  Are you happy?  I remember, and I believe you!  Is that what you're after?"
Jack took a leisurely sip from the glass.  "I'm glad that you do, Honour.  I honestly am."  He breathed an inward sigh of relief that she had remembered, and that she still saw the truth of what he showed her.  Most of all, he was thankful she hadn't suddenly decided to defend Cade.  "Anything else?"
Her eyes narrowed, and she took the glass back from him.  "Gimme.  All this remembering makes me thirsty."  She took a sip, followed by a deep breath.  "Things are... a little fuzzy after that part.  Why didn't you take me back to my cabin?"
"Because," he said gently, "you insisted that you didn't want to be alone."
"Not again..." she muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing.  This damned headache won't go away."  She swallowed nearly half the glass's contents.  "Please, go on.  You brought me here and took me to bed, and?"
"I brought you here and tucked you in, love.  You were in no condition for anything but sleep.  I would have much rather been sleeping beside you than on the floor."
Honour smiled over the top of her glass at him.  He could have taken advantage and didn't.  That was the Jack Wolfe she remembered.  The one she fell in love with.  "Thank you for taking care of me, Jack.  I'm not used to having that these days."
"My pleasure, muñequita," he replied with a tender smile.  "There is one other thing we talked about..."
"Yes?  What was it?"

A sharp pounding at the door startled Jack and made Honour wince.
"GO AWAY!!" they shouted in unison.  Surprised by their simultaneous reaction, the two looked at each other and burst out laughing.  An anxious and shirtless Briggs burst into the cabin in spite of their order.  His expression of shock and bewilderment gave Honour a fit of the giggles as the quartermaster looked away from her side of the room and tried to use the broad piece of leather to cover himself.  She took the opportunity to retrieve a dressing gown from the armoire.
"I take it there's something urgent you need to discuss, Josiah?" Jack asked sarcastically.
"Aye, mightily important!"
"Well, get to it, man!"
Briggs pointed at the leather he held up in modesty.  "Martin brought this to me!  Jack, it's a map!"
Jack peered at the leather, but saw no discernible markings.  "I ordered that tobacco tossed overboard."
Josiah swallowed his pride and laid the leather out on the table, then took a long draw on his pipe and blew the smoke across its surface.  As if by magic, islands and markings began to appear.
"What is this a map of?" asked Jack in wonderment.
"This here's the map what'll lead us to that thievin' motherless dog Jennings, and maybe even your bonny bride's ship!"
"I'm not sure about people anymore. They're responsible for some pretty nutty stuff. Individuals I'm crazy about, though." ~ Opus

Blackjack Roberts

Blackjack wiped the dripping mead from his chin. Lil studying to be a nun?! The thought beggared description, but it would go a long way to explain many of the nuances that he had noticed about her character. The softer side at any rate. As to what had caused her to become nearly as hard as he was he didn't even wish to hazard a guess. Such things were best kept to one's self.

Lil and Elinor walked up to where he was standing, a sly smile covered Lil's lips. "I trust you will be keeping what you overheard to yourself, Blackjack?" She let one hand rest on one of her prized daggers for emphasis.

"Overheard, Luv?" Roberts raised one eyebrow as he grinned. "Funny thing about that last shot to me noggin, it seemed ta effect me hearin'. You said somethin' about trainin' yer bum? I had always thought ya fairer sex walked like that natural like....didn't know ye had ta train the bloody thing."

Had Lilaney been drinking anything at the moment it would have covered the former highwayman from head to toe. As it was she nearly doubled over laughing loudly. Elinor turned a delightful shade of pink.

"Yer a wicked man, Blackjack Roberts!" Lil playfully punched the pirate on the shoulder and winked, understanding that Jack had, in his own way, promised to keep the information to himself.

"Aye, Luv. That I am." Roberts grinned. "Speaking of wicked, I trust Julian is back to his old self?"

Elinor blushed a second time under Jack's blue green gaze. "I neither know, nor care."

Blackjack lowered his voice so that only the three of them would be able to hear. "Don't be so quick to dismiss him, Luv. The events that led up to your currant feelings about the lad never happened for him. Ye'll only confuse the poor sot and maybe cut your self out of a good friend."

Elinor crossed her arms defiantly across her chest and stared wordlessly back. "Either way, Luv, it's your affair. So to speak." Lil snickered behind her hand as Roberts ducked the swing Elinor took at him.

He swept the caviler hat from his head and bowed low. "Now if M' Ladies will pardon me, I've a pressing matter that I must take up with Jack Wolfe. For my remarks of a moment ago."

"If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream."

As the buccaneer left in the direction of the Captain's quarters Lil looked at Elinor in surprise. "Was that just..."

"Shakespeare." Elinor finished shaking her head and idly wondering just how educated Blackjack really was. "Let's see what Martin has for breakfast. I'm hungry."

Fingering the small pouch that now hung from his belt Blackjack thought back to when he had left Drake's surgery. He had given the physician the impression he wanted concerning Malcolm, so there would be little to change the good doctor's mind. Mad Jack was another story all together.

Barring the man's feelings over any dalliances that may, or may not have occurred with Honour, there was still the matter of the damage to the Lobo to consider. From all that he had heard of Mad Jack Wolfe he had an eye on the bank account at all times and Malcolm's last attempt to take Blackjack dead or alive had certainly cost the man plenty.

Roberts had opened the door to the Knight Hammer crew quarters, smiling to see that either Rubin, or Martin had placed his sea chests under his bunk. None of them were very large, barely a foot long, but the things he had kept in them had come in rather handy from time to time. The one that Lil had brought back from Pew's was the one he had need of now.

To the untrained eye the chest were identical in size and construction, but that was an illusion. The craftsmen of the Lin Qui had made them for him as a personal thank you for saving the lives of several of their children and all three were more than just resistant to tampering.

Blackjack felt carefully around the rim and lock of the chest, his questing fingers soon found what he was searching for and he disarmed the trap. Setting the small chest on it's back he opened the front, which was the true lid instead of the curved top. Quickly he removed the small gray leather pouch that contained what he needed, then shut the lid and relocked the strongbox arming the trap yet again.

Just before he knocked at the door he heard Briggs. "This here's the map what'll lead us to that thievin' motherless dog Jennings, and maybe even your bonny bride's ship!"

A map? Who of all people on La Ville du Traitre would not only have a map of Cade's where about's, but have the gall to smuggle it aboard? Rubin! It had to be. Cade would have needed supplies to continue on this pointless charade to get Honour to follow him. Rubin would have done his usual overseeing of the loading and could have glimpsed a chart showing Cade's heading. The man did have a memory like an elephant.

Roberts grinned and knocked loudly at the door. "We're busy!" three voices called out in unison.

"Beggin' yer collective pardons, but I be thinkin' the captain will have an interest in this." Blackjack half chuckled.

The door opened just enough for both Honour and Mad Jack's faces to be seen. Briggs stood as nonchalantly as he could in the background, one hand behind his back. "What the Hell do you want now, Roberts?!" Mad Jack bellowed. "Haven't you been enough of a nuisance this voyage?!"

"He said the captain, and that would mean me!" Wench interrupted. "My crew, my captain."

"I'm certain he meant the captain of this ship, Dearest." Jack explained. "And that would be me!"

"I'm afraid Captain Wolfe is right this time, M' lady Captain." Blackjack broke in before the argument got even more confusing than it already was. "I've a debt ta pay ta yer better half..."

"I wouldn't say he was my "better half", Blackjack." Wench grinned at the change in color her remark caused in her husband.

"Either way, Mum," Roberts continued, "I've never been one ta let a debt stand ta any man. I've brought ye payment in full fer the damage done yer ship. Any left over ye're welcome to it." With that he tossed the small leather bag to Mad Jack.

Jack opened the drawstrings and poured out some of the contents into his other hand. A cascade of rubies, emeralds and diamonds poured out to Mad Jack's widening eyes. "Where did you get these?!" He demanded.

"A small bit o' shine from well over six years 'a piratin'" Roberts shrugged. "With th' exception 'a what I needed fer me pleasures I'd little use fer the bulk and had it in safe keepin' on du Traitre. I know full well it's mor'n the repairs and restockin' a yer ship, Captain Wolfe. We be square now."

Blackjack gave a two fingered salute to the Lobo's Captain. "One day ye may find that a bit o' shine isn't all they make it out ta be. Good day ta ye both." He winked to Wench and turned to walk back to the ladder leading out onto the main deck.

Captain Jack Wolfe

#94
Within moments of being revealed, the features of the map faded before Jack's eyes like the smoke that caused them to appear.  He grabbed the pipe out of Briggs mouth and took a long draw.  As he slowly exhaled the smoke onto the leather, the features reappeared more vividly than before.  Honour made a face and tried furiously to fan the smoke away with the sleeve of her dressing gown.
"Of course!  The one map we need, and it can only be seen with the aid of that horrid pipe smoke!" she coughed.

Briggs smiled in satisfaction.  "Ain't this an uncanny bit of trickery?  Have ye ever seen the like of it?"
"No.  No, I can honestly say I have not," answered Jack as he tried to get a grasp of what the map had to tell.  "I don't recognise a third of these islands... here!  Here's Castillo de Fuego, then La Ville du Traitre back here near the edge.  If we continue on this route, factoring in our lay over at Sangraal..."
"We end up here," Josiah finished, and he put a finger on the island Cade had chosen for a base just as its image faded from sight.  Whatever was used to draw the map, it would only be revealed by the smoke for a handful of seconds at a time.
Jack leaned back and smiled.  "See, Josiah?  I told you the Feng Shui would change our luck!  Martin!  Please, don't hover out there in the corridor.  Come in!  Where on earth did you find this map?"

Martin stepped inside, clearly uneasy about being in the Captain's quarters.  Or, as it appeared to him this morning, the quarters of the Captains.  He took a moment to clear his throat before speaking.  "Well, Cap'n Wolfe, it was a surprise gift from a merchant here named Rubin.  That map was the wrapper for a pair of new boots."
"You got new boots and haven't shown them to me yet?" interrupted Honour teasingly, causing the large man to blush.
"The fashion show will have to wait.  You were saying, Martin?"
"You see, I asked Rubin if he knew where Cade was headed.  His answer was the map," the ship's chef finished with a look of pride.
"Mister Montgomery, you're earned you pay for the week!  Would you mind terribly if we held on to the map for a while?  At least until we get it transcribed," requested Jack.
"Of course!" the big man replied.  "Keep it as long as you need.  You know where to find me!"
"Well done, Martin!" beamed Honour.
"Thank you, ma'am.  Anything to get the Hammer back."  With that, he turned and left, whistling a merry tune.

Honour's brow furrowed as a torn expression took her face.  "Yes, I suppose so..."
"I'm not sure about people anymore. They're responsible for some pretty nutty stuff. Individuals I'm crazy about, though." ~ Opus

Hibernian

#95
"Brother! The sun is coming up again and I am leaving. I'm dirty, hungry and tired from trying to sleep on this stone floor. How long will you stare at that wall before you admit there is no secret treasure?"

"Tada gan iarracht Kate."

Seeing her blank stare he continued, "it's an old saying my novice master repeated to me every time I was ready to hang up the cowl so to speak, it means "Nothing without effort." Kate, give me just a wee bit more time, I know it's here, I just have to find it."

Returning his attention to the wall, he walk along the shadow cast by the figure in the stain glass window as the rising sun started a new day on the island of traitors. His hands moved gently along the stones feeling every crack, his eyes looking for any hint of an opening.

Behind him Kate just stood and watched, not wishing to abandon her shipmate and knowing nothing she said would make a difference until the monk was ready to leave. Shaking her head and looking toward the altar she spoke silently, "You know I'm not a knee bender, but if you really care for this man who believes so much in you, something better happen soon."

Brother Timothy was standing in front of a carved section of the wall depicting the crucifixion of St. Dimas. The feeling that this was important was as strong now as the first dozen times he had stood and studied this six foot section of wall. "Lord you made the blind to see, now grant your servant sight."

The sun has risen enough so that the top of the cross carved into the wall was illuminated. Kate noticed for the first there was an inscription on the cross but could not read it. "Brother what does that say?"
"Where?"
"On the cross, at the top, I can't read it."
"It's the artist telling us who we see upon this cross, it tells us this is the penitent thief known as Titus."
"But I thought this was the church of St. Dimas, who is Titus?"
"Well, actually Dimas is Titus, in the Arabic Gospels Dimas's name is actually Titus. Not many people other than those with time to read the gospels remember it though, it's a story not often told."

"Oh my, No, it can't be that simple, Kate look at the inscription, ok now look at the name Titus, does that first 'T' look familiar?" Taking the cross from around his neck he held it aloft for Kate to see.

"Brother, your cross looks just like the T on the wall, does that mean..." Slowly Brother Timothy held the cross next to the first letter of the saint's name, they matched perfectly and he pushed the cross into the letter's cutting in the wall.

As he pushed a faint rumbling could be heard, cracks appeared in the wall, cracks in the outline of a door that then opened inward.
"Badges? We don't need no stinkin badges!"

Martin Montgomery

 Martin left the Captains Cabin with a song in his heart and a merry tune on his lips,happy to have been part of a way to track down the first ship that he'd signed on. The "Knight Hammer" was a beautiful ship and even though the "El Lobo Del Mar" was rapidly becoming,if not "Home" at least a home away from home. The "Lobo's crew had just enough people that were,as the one of the carpenter's mates had put it,"Half a bubble off plumb" to be .........Verrrrrrrrrry Interesting!! Making his way to the galley he helped the brothers finish up with the last bit of serving a hearty breakfast of oatmush,scrambled or fried eggs,sausages,bacon,biscuits,hard cheese and coffee or hot tea. As the last people sat at the long tables with their plates the big cook helped himself to a plate of fried eggs,biscuits and several small sausages. Taking his loaded plate back to his slightly more private bunk area he sat on his hammock and took a cautious sip of his piping hot tea."How will Captain Wolfe and Briggs be able to use that map if WW complains at them for smoking?" He mused as he tucked in with gusto. "I am glad that I am out of the loop on that one!" Finishing his meal he had a bright idea,kicking off his worn brown boots he grinned widely as he pulled on the supple black leather of Rubin's gift. The new knee high boots felt wonderful and as he stood he noticed that the low heels didn't add an inch to his normal height. Laughing silently to himself at the thought of WW noticing his new acquisitions,stuck in the crowded cabin probably covering her mouth and nose with one silken sleeve while fanning the other about franticly,sickenend by the pleasant smelling smoke yet too stubborn to leave the room,feeling as if she had to be involved in any and all important (Read "Interesting") decisions!  Taking his cleaned plate back to the washtub he put it in the sudsy water and turned to the Taylor brothers "Boys,I'll need a tray for our trifecta of leaders....." Both the brothers stood there,one held a tray with a flat cover and the other,a silver coffeepot and service with complete with four cups and a bottle of Jamaican Rum!! "I see that you have EXACTLY what they need!!!!  Grasping Tom's covered food tray firmly and nodding for Tim to place the silver service on top of the flat covered tray,the big cook maneuvered his bulk and his load down the companionway to the Captain's Cabin,starting to whistle the same merry tune he had been whistling before leaving the cabin less than half an hour before. " It's going to be a beautiful day!!" He thought to himself "WW will get Muir back,Brother Timothy will get Amber back and Captain Wolfe will get his ship back! Suddenly he stopped short,the tray still steady in his hands,but his mind beginning to whirl "Leave the "Lobo"? "Bid a farewell to the friendships built during battles between the two crews and beside them!?" "What will they do?" Moving slowly down the hallway once more,Martin no longer whistled.  
Half the man I used to be!! 
Landshark#79      
Member of Culloden Moor

Welsh Wench

#97
Briggs grinned, "Getting the Knight Hammer back will be just what you wanted, Captain Bright! Then ye can go rovin' across the deep blue!'
She snapped, "Trying to get rid of us, Josiah? Don't forget--where I go, Martin goes. And if Martin goes, you can kiss those cheese biscuits good-bye!"
Jack continued to blow smoke from the pipe onto the map.
She peered over his shoulder. "Isn't there an easier way to read it? You know how I always said your cheeks look like a blacksmith bellows when you puff away? I apologize. I was wrong."
"Apology accepted."
She took the pipe out of his mouth and dumped the ashes into a vase. "You look like a chipmunk blowing on a blacksmith's bellows. Isn't there any other way to read this map?"

Jack took out a cigar out of his pocket and lit it.
"By the time I get this going, you are going to be sorry you ever dumped the aromatic pipeweed, Honour."
She stuck her tongue out at Jack and then leaned in to peer at the map, holding her nose.
"What is that over there?" She pointed to a crescent-shaped island.
Briggs said smugly, "It appears to be called Cade's Cache."
"You mean....?"
Jack continued to blow smoke on the map. Wench held her nose and said, "You mean to say that is where he is centering his smuggling operation?"
Jack was engrossed in the map. "Uh huh," he said distractedly. "I never saw this island and certainly not with this name. Now how long...."

KNOCK KNOCK!
Wench answered the door. "Martin! Back so soon? Oh, my goodness, look at this!"
Martin came in with the covered trays. "I thought since you and the Captain--well, the co-captain--were going over that map, you might need fortification. Briggs, too. And some liquid fortification too."
Jack looked up and smiled at Martin. "I'm going to miss you, Martin, when you rejoin the Knight Hammer."
Martin's face fell.
Wench caught his look and it tugged at her heart. She knew that Martin took so much pride on turning the kitchen galley of El Lobo around. The man was a genius and that galley certainly was a challenge. And Martin was the only one that Gordie talked to.
And what if Jack offered Martin a better deal? Would the Knight Hammer crew eat lousy food or worse yet, would they expect Wench to cook it?

Briggs took the tray and whipped the cover off with a flourish.
"Ah..them cheesy biscuits! And sausage and eggs...and the coffee with rum."
Jack looked up. "Don't you mean rum with coffee?"
Wench looked at them and shook her head. "Martin, you are spoiling them! This will be know as the Emeril del Mar."
"The what?"
"Never mind. I'll let you go over that map while I get some fresh air. Of all things...smoke!"
She left the cabin with Martin, stepping out into the hallway.
"Wench, I hope you've been happy with my services and..."
"Martin! You aren't going to leave me, are you?"
"I hadn't planned on it but..."
"But nothing!  Martin, you've been my protector and now that Marvos is gone, I'm relying on you."
Martin chuckled, "Remember when you went hysterical when Daemon was killed. I mean, the first time. I had to slap you and then douse you with a fifty-five gallon drum of cold water!"
"And then you bailed me out of that little credit mishap with Captain Daniels."
"That ship is beyond my scope, Wench. You are on your own with that."
"And you gave me the bracers which I just love! And let's not forget your heroic efforts to save those people in the burning brothel in Tortuga."

Martin sighed. "I was doubtful of how it would work out when we joined Captain Jack's crew. But you know it has been an adventure."
He looked up at her. "Being on the Knight Hammer felt like I had come home, Wench. And being with this blended crew, it feels like..."
"Family?"
"Yes. Family."
She touched the big guy on the shoulder and gave him a wistful smile. "It is what it is, Martin. Things happen for a reason. And we don't know which way the wind will blow. The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails."
"Planning to adjust the sails, Wench?"
She smiled slightly and said, "Have I ever complained?"
"No."
"Do I expect it to change?"
"Never."
"So..."
"Adjusting?"
"Let me see what I can do."

Show me your tan lines..and I'll show you mine!

I just want to be Layla.....

Welsh Wench

Briggs and Jack were still poring over the map. Honour looked over Jack's shoulder.
He reached behind him and brushed her hair back. "That tickles my neck, love."
"What do you intend to do now, Jack? Continue to blow hot air?"
"I beg your pardon! We are going to continue to blow smoke and decipher and transcribe. Briggs here can write while I blow."
She took the leather out of Jack's hands as he made a grab for it."
"Ah, ah, ah! It was given to a member of MY crew so technically it belongs to ME!"
"WHAT?"
"I can transcribe it."
"No, you can't!"
"Why not?"
"Honour, you aren't a map decipherer."
"The correct word, oh husband of mine, is cartographer. Want me to spell it?"
"No. I know the word. And what makes you think you are a cartographer?"
"Jack, Daemon taught me many things. One evening he took me into the navigational chart room and we laid out a lot of charts. He had me help him draw them.  Measure distances and depths..."
Briggs broke in with, "Can you box the compass?"
Wench retorted, "Sixteen-point or thirty-two point?"
Josiah's face fell.
She gave him a triumphant grin.
"I say you let me try it, Jack."
"And how can you decipher when you can't even stand the smell of pipe smoke?"
She walked over to an oil lamp and turned it on.
"It's not the smoke, it's the heat. Cade wrote this with invisible ink."

Briggs looked at Jack. Jack shrugged.
"Give it a go, then. But if you make a mistake, Honour, it will result in delays."
"I know that, Jack."
They rolled up the map and handed it to her.
"Come back by later this afternoon, Jack, and I'll have it for you."

Wench poured herself a cup of coffee and threw a bit of rum into it. She had changed into a simple shirt and skirt, barefoot.
Heating her oil lamp, she passed the leather map over it. The islands magically appeared.
Martin's face with his crestfallen expression came into her mind.
The way Jack had looked at her last night when he swept her into his arms and carried her into the cabin.
Elinor and Julian....Black Jack Roberts...
Lil and Doctor Gander. Who would have thought that Lilaney may have found her soulmate on board a pirate ship?
She looked at the map closely and then got out parchments and quills and measuring instruments.
But the melded crews, each one of them, loomed into her space.
She frowned and bit her lip.

'Let's see.....if the '23' becomes a '28'....and this island moves a bit to the east and a lot towards the north...then I move this spit of land to the southwest...looks like this port will be facing the opposite direction...oooh! So nice when they can catch a westerly wind instead of a southern breeze....'
She took a coin out and flipped it.
'Heads that land shows up on the map, tails it becomes Atlantis...'

She looked up from her map and a smile spread across her face.
'So we are delayed a bit....Muir and Amber no doubt are eating like kings! Cade always liked dogs....'
Show me your tan lines..and I'll show you mine!

I just want to be Layla.....

Hibernian

#99
The two of them stood staring into the dark opening, neither moving perhaps in fear of breaking an illusion or better yet in disbelief. "Well, looks like we found something. I imagine the next step would be for someone to enter and see what one can see. Kate, please bring that candle over here and light it." Keeping his feet firmly planted outside the doorway, Timothy probes the darkness with his wooden walking staff.

"Brother, if the door is open why do I still hear rumbling and feel the floor shaking?"

"Probably, stones and whatever opened this doorway just settling into place. After all its been a few years since this was opened. Funny thing is even after all these years I can still smell the incense on the air coming out. This must be it, the treasure must be here"

Kate holds the now lit candle closer to the doorway. "How far do you think this goes?"

"Hard to say, could just be beyond the doorway or there might be an entire catacomb system below the entire church or even the city itself."

"Well let's get going, the sooner we get to the bottom of this the sooner we get back to the ship." Kate started for the door but stopped. "Brother are you coming?"

"Kate, I need you to stay here at the doorway. Whoa! Hold a moment, before you start up, yes, I know you are perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, and yes you have been  here since the start, but, but, let me finish, we don't know exactly what will happen down there and if both of us get in trouble who's going to go for help?

"Fine, that's a plan, but why you and not me? How about you stay here by the door and I'll go look for the treasure ."

"Granted, turnabout is fair play, I could stay by the door and send you into the darkness except keep in mind the people who built this, any more secrets or tricks would be set up by priests, how's your latin or knowledge of church and biblical history? No, I think I need to be the one. Now how would our friend Jack say it, oh yes, savy?"

"I don't like it, but you are probably right, and yes I savy, except it doesn't sound quite the same when a monk say it."

"I'll grant you that, now here give me the candle and you keep my walking stick. Wish me luck."

"Badges? We don't need no stinkin badges!"

Martin Montgomery

 Deciding that he would not get any restful sleep in the time before full daybreak,Martin got out of his hammock and dressed quickly,relishing the feel as he pulled up his new boots. He smiled as he ran his large hand over his head to smooth back his unruly hair. "I still can't get over the fact that Captain Wench and Captain Wolfe shopped all day at the island's bazaar and I end up with the new boots!" Buckling on his heavy belt holding his matched knives and an oversized belt pouch,Martin's hand dropped to the pouch and gave it a shake. "Whew!" He exclaimed "Feels a little short! Better stock up before I go to that Farmers Market down past that old churchyard that was filled with holes. Maybe they had some kind of festival here,I should ask Brother Timothy the next time I see him!"  The big man recrossed the small living space behind the hanging blanket and knelt down to rummage under his hammock he withdrew a battered seachest,that to his surprise,had belonged to the "Lobo's" previous cook,Lucky. Martin had found the chest in the galley turned up on one end ,being used as a stool for the crotchety one legged cook. The Taylor brothers had seen that the new cook didn't have a "Proper place" to stow his gear so they had cleaned and oiled the old chest after finding the key hanging on a peg in the galley. After removing the packets of spices that had been stored inside the new cook found several secrets about the chest that he was sure Lucky hadn't known,the complete chest was made of high quality seasoned wood and thin sheets of steel were sandwiched between the wood and a layer of green felt protecting it's contents. There also was a hidden drawer in the front that slid open once the lid had been raised and the key turned counterclockwise twice. Martin had found the drawer by accident and had then oiled the lock,inner workings and drawer slides so that it's catch now opened with a barely audible "click". The drawer was almost as wide as the two foot chest and was two inches deep,it too was lined but with felt of a much higher quality. Inside the big cook had found seventeen precious stones of very high quality! Obviously Lucky had been lucky enough to buy or find the chest but not lucky enough to find the drawer or stones! Six emeralds,four opals,three saphires,two rubies and two diamonds were tucked away in the drawer and as soon as Martin had found them he had immediately sold three of the larger emeralds and an opal to fund the refurbishing and stocking of the "Lobo's" galley. The big man had been slowly spending the remaining proceeds to help the ship along more comfortably. Taking one opal,one saphire and one ruby from the hidden drawer Martin put them in a cloth bag then,dropped the bag into his pouch. Pushing the drawer closed he smiled when he heard the metallic "click" of the lock engaging,the front of the chest hardly showing the tiny seam. Returning the chest to it's resting place under his hammock,Martin stood and climbed to the main deck. Tossing a casual salute to the "Lobo" crewman that was standing watch he walked jauntily down the gangplank and headed for Rubin's storefront,thinking the ebony giant would know where he could take the precious stones to sell. Martin had been walking for a few minutes and he was enjoying the early morning stroll,noticing the sun just peeking over the rooftops. As he caught sight of the tall church steeple he thought of Brother Timothy. "Where has he been during this adventure?"He wondered aloud "By the by I haven't seen Kate about lately either!" That was the moment that his heard the deep rumble emanating from UNDER the church!!! 
Half the man I used to be!! 
Landshark#79      
Member of Culloden Moor

Hibernian

#101
"I should have gone with him, two is better than one, Daddy always said have someone to watch your back. But no Kate, you don't know Latin Kate, there may be traps Kate, wish me luck Kate, I'll wish that crazy old monk luck if I get my hands around his neck." Sticking her head into the darkness of the open doorway Kate yells, "Brother Timothy!" She listens as the sound echoes downward.

"Oh my, how long has it been, he should be back by now. Damm, why doesn't this church have a clock? No, he can take care of himself. I swear it's been hours, but then the shadow line has only moved two bricks." Pacing back and forth along the wall, her hands gesturing with every comment, Kate continues the two sided conversation with herself.  "So it's come to this, the famous Kiss-Me-Kate, the one who has always had her pick of the lads wherever she went, who wrote her own rules and dared the fellows to keep up, the wench who would be a pirate, is talking to herself worrying about a monk who has disappeared down a hole in the wall of a church chasing who knows, no make that God knows what because I certainly do not!"

"What was that?" Nervously holding her hands against the wall, "ok, the nonstop rumbling is bad enough, but when the floor starts to shake I seriously believe we have a problem here." Once more to the doorway, "Do you hear me? Hello monk, we have a problem here!"

"This is a church for crying out loud, how do I get in trouble in a church, I thought it was against the rules. I remember, I forgot to yell Sanctuary." Kate gazes over toward the altar, "What is it, do I need to belong to the guild or something, do you need to see my membership card? Then remind me next time to wear black and cover my head but stop this shaking."

The intensity of the rumbling increases as another shock wave crosses the floor. Only Brother Timothy's staff keeps her upright and steady enough to take note of the new sound coming from the catacombs. It was the sound of rushing water, like a tide or better yet waves hitting the rocks.

"Water? No, it can't be water, or could it? Then again, I'm in a church, which is built over catacombs, on a island, and I hear rushing water, this can't be good thing. Brother Timothy! Time to go! I'm not ready to be baptize! Damm it, where is that monk!"

"No need to curse Kate. It shows a lack of intelligence."

"Brother is that you?"

Suddenly with the sound of splashing water a figure emerged from the darkness. "You were expecting Lazarus arisen from the grave?" Brother Timothy ran through the doorway and into the light.

Kate's mouth dropped as she ran to hug her brown robed companion. "You're wet."
"Thank you , I hadn't noticed, Oh, Damm it!"
"Don't curse Brother, remember it shows a lack of intelligence, besides you'll dry out soon enough."

"Not soon enough if we stay here Kate. If you wil note the water coming through the doorway, the smart thing for us to do is..."
"Leave?"
"Correct" Grabbing her hand, Brother Timothy and Kate run for the door leading to the outside. Quick on their heels was an incoming tide rushing up from the catacombs and into the church.

Making their way through the double doors to stand on the church portico, they were greeted with a vision worthy of Dante's Inferno. Not only was the water coming up from the catacombs within the church, but every treasure hole ever dug around the Church of St. Dimas was now erupting with water. Dashing forward, running first left then right, the two made their way through the maze of water geysers now surrounding the building. The sound of stone work and ground crumbling under the water's assault filled the air.

Stopping at the edge of what had once been the common area, they were greeted by the sight of the church surrounded by water, and slowly as they watched the church was sinking into the surrounding pool of water. At the current rate, soon only the steeple would be visible.

"Did we do that?"

Seeing that people were started to gather and point, rather than reply to her question, he took her hand and simply said "run for the ship." Brother Timothy took a strong hold of a small plain wooden chest under his left arm and ran after Kate.

"Badges? We don't need no stinkin badges!"

Blackjack Roberts

Blackjack leaned on the rail of the Lobo del Mar idly smoking one of the thin black tobacco cigars he favored. The aroma was more akin to a pipe than the normal reek of a true cigar. Having settled his debt to Mad Jack he longed to check on the condition of Malcolm, but knew that to do so openly would destroy the illusion he felt was needed to keep the man in Jack's good graces, such as they could be given the past Dagget had inadvertently acquired with Honour.

He watched as Martin left the ship, at first concerned for the big man leaving without back up, started to follow, then thought better of it. Martin was well armed, and Rubin would be alerted by his lads the second Martin set foot ashore. Roberts grinned to himself at the sight of the new boots the cook wore. Whether or not he knew it the Zulu had a custom of giving footwear to only those they considered family. In their villages such things were a luxury and never used except for special occasion, hence the rarity of giving such a gift. Blackjack's own boots, though near three years older were a similar gift from the African giant.

He relaxed. Martin would be fine.

Exhaling a cloud of the fragrant blue white smoke Roberts pondered his currant situation. For the first time in over six years he was no longer a hunted man. Though that could not be said for England at the least he doubted the king would expend the amount of capital necessary to track him. The only man who would have done so was now rotting on an island suited to his character. For the first time since the cottage Jack found he could let go of Jenny's memory. Not that he would ever forget her, but now he could remember only the good times they had shared together. He had no desire to return to England anyway.

"How be things with ye, Mate?" The thin figure of Julian leaned on the rail next to him.

"Not bad, Mate. Not bad at all." Blackjack smiled and extended his hand to the Lobo's scribe. The man would never remember the events that had led to their conflict and Jack had no intention of acting as if they had occurred at all. Julian grasped forearms with the former highwayman.

"Wish I could say the same." He sighed heavily.

"Problems, Matey?" Blackjack inquired leaning on one elbow.

"You could say that." The scribe's color changed slightly. "I find Elinor at odds with me and for the life of me I don't know what I did to offend her." Roberts nodded, obviously the scribe had something on his mind and had come to him with it.

"This is hard for me, Blackjack. I don't usually go asking others for favors, but since Elinor seems to be a special friend of yours....." Julian struggled with the rest, the embarrassment he felt choking off the rest of his words.

"Ye want ta know if'n I can find out what ye may have done to turn her feelin's?" Blackjack finished for him.

"Exactly." Julian breathed a sigh of relief.

Blackjack clamped a friendly hand on the smaller man's shoulder. "Ill do what I can fer ye, Mate." He grinned. "But I can't say I know more'n any other man about the ways 'a women. Sometimes it takes the smallest 'a things ta set 'em on a course we've no charts fer."

"Aye." Julian nodded ruefully. "But I have to try. I....like her too much not to. Thank ye, Jack."

"No problem, Mate. I'll........Hells bells, and Hob's bodkins!!!" Blackjack suddenly exclaimed. Julian whirled around to look in the direction Roberts was staring in. Several jets of water shot skyward from what he took to be the courtyard of the church, shooting as high as the steeple its self.

Blackjack jerked his cutlass free from it's scabbard and ran for the gangplank. Brother Timothy and Kate had headed in that direction. Over his shoulder he shouted to Julian. "Go inform our captains what's goin' on. I'm fer the church ta see if'n I can help!"

Roberts sprinted down the wide oak at a record pace, running full bore towards the church.

lilaney

#103
'Ol Edgar and 'Ol Jim were taking the first watch of the day.
"Nice day, Jim" Edgar said in a disinterested voice.
"Ar, it be, matey." Jim replied back.
Jim would have rolled his eyes but, they had caught on something frilly.

The two old tars were sitting aft of the Quarterdeck; they were suppose to be re-taring the stay lines and instead had decided to light their pipes and splice sail lines.
If the Boatswain came by, the'yd claim they miss hear'em; old timers ears and all.
If they weren't the Boatswain's cranky old Uncles on his Mother's side, he woulda pitched'em off the ship by now, but, he promised Momma...

"Ey, getta look at that'un!" Jim nudged his brother.
Edgar turned a wizened eye on a pier Doxie.
"Usual fair, looks like yer sister."
Jim nodded sagely, then froze.
"Hey! That be yer sister too!"
Edgar snorted a laugh and nodded.
"That's why I canna look at her the way ye be..."
If Jim wasn't so old, and he actually cared enough, he'd swat his kin.
But, it was too early, too morning, and life onboard would simply be too boring without him.

The two heard the newest gent to the ship start cursing, push their green scribe aside and run hell-bent down the gangplank.
"Which one be he again?"
Jim shrugged at his brother.
"Dunno, named Jack, I think. Must have seen something worthwhile though."
The two men watched the scribe scurry down the steps to the passageway below.
Jim picked up the neatly splice line. Edgar puffed his pipe wisely and nodded.
"That be done now'un, what next?"
The two searched the decks, had to fill the time with something that looked worthwhile, else they would actually have to get to work.

"Oy! Ye olde reprobates! Best be getting ready for sail'un!"
One of the younger Jack Monkeys swung off the Top sail line and landed neatly in front of them.
"Ah! Jack! What be the gossip this day?"
Jim grinned toothlessly at the youngster.
Edgar rolled his old eyes, Jim had a habit of naming everyone 'Jack', it was easier to remember.
"Words is, we be off today and mebbe getting the Captain's missus her ship back. The Scribe's gots isself a new daliance, the Doc's sick, or 'it on the head. Anyway's he be acting off. And the Brother ain't been back yet."
Jim nodded and saluted the man's back as he turned upon seeing the Boatswain approaching.
"Iffn Mother ain't told me NOT to kill's ye! Ye'd be gone offa this ship faster than blinkin'!"

The roaring of the Boatswain at a couple of old timer's is what hit Lil's ears as she made it topside to watch the retreating back of BlackJack down the pier and out of sight.
Elinor having just helped her up from being knocked down by a frantic Julian, and then Elinor chasing after said scribe as he hurried towards the Captain's Quarters.
"Always in a hurry, that one."
She mused as the portside city began to awaken to a new day on the Island.

Captain Jack Wolfe

#104
Briggs returned to Jack's cabin donning a reasonably fresh shirt and a very self-satisfied smile.  "Quite the favourable turn of events, wouldn't ye say?  A short layover for staples at Sangraal, then it's straight on to puttin' our passengers aboard their own ship and we get back to doin' an honest day's piratin'."
Jack sat slouched in his chair, fiddling aimlessly with a mapmaker's compass.  "I don't know... I thought nearly all of Honour's crew had settled in nicely with ours.  The food's never been better, Duckie has an extra set of hands in the surgery, and Julian has finally taken interest in something other than his work.  Even Brother Timothy has lent an air of respectability to the ship which I've rather come to enjoy."

"And Honour?  What's she brought to the table?"
"That's an incredibly stupid question, Josiah.  She's brought more than you realise.  A second chance, for starters."
"A second chance?  At what?  You bein' lord an' master over a plantation?  Landed gentry?  'Pleased to meet you, Mister Wolfe.'  'That's Captain Wolfe, mum.  Retired.'  Yeah, I can see that happenin'."
"And to think you were ready to toast that possibility at one time."
"Aye, before she nicked those ten chests of guilders and pulled her little disappearin' trick!  Or have ye forgotten that wee larceny?"
"I think I'm beginning to understand her reasons."  Jack tossed the compass on the table and sighed.  "The loss of the money chests never bothered me.  I've still got eleven of the seventeen that were left.  More money than I'll ever be able to spend."  The prize that provided the fortune he and Honour enjoyed had been an entire year's payroll and operating capital for the Dutch East India Company in the Caribbean, to the tune of just over 4 million English pounds.
"But, ye made such a fuss at Castara when ye had to buy out the other's stakes in the smugglin' operation!  Tapped ye out clean, ye said!"
"It was more a matter of pride than price, Josiah.  It was the perfect setup until I was betrayed.  But it's far better to let the average simpleton think me dead broke than give them the truth.  I bought them out for pennies on the pound."
Briggs burst into laughter.  "You mean the likes of Bourne-Fesse, Smithers, and even James Blake got back only a fraction of their stake?  You're a wonder, Jack!  Ye turned a busted smugglin' ring into a swindle!"
"Creative accounting makes the world go round, my friend.  Though I never understood why, out of all of them, Blake didn't so much as blink at the buyout offer."
"James never does nothin' unless there be good reason.  Neither does Jack Wolfe.  What's the really behind yer charitable nature toward Honour and her crew?"
Jack took a sip of rum and smiled as he imagined that dark-haired baby girl in Wales.  His own daughter.  "It's a good reason, Josiah.  Really good.  In fact, it's perfect."
"Ye ain't tellin' me, are ye?" laughed Briggs.
"I'll tell you.  When all the cards have been played."

"Fair enough.  Can't ask for more'n that, I suppose.  But this charitable nature of yer wife enjoys... will the same charity be extended to that whelp Jennings when we run him down?"  The quartermaster swirled his glass of rum and sat it on the table.  Almost immediately, concentric ripples appeared on the surface of the dark liquid.  "Now what in the name of all that's good and givin' in this world is causin' that, do ye think?"

The door of the cabin flew open with a bang.  Jack and Briggs turned to find Julian standing there, looking for all the world as if he'd seen a ghost.  "Cap'n Wolfe!  The chu-- OOF!!!"
The young scribe went sprawling face first to the deck when Elinor plowed into him from behind.
"OWW!  Idiot!" she exclaimed, picking herself up off the deck.  "Warn me next time!"
Julian ignored her for the moment.  "Captain, the church Brother Timothy and Kate went to-- it's SINKING!"
"Sinking?!"  Jack looked out of the gallery windows toward the hill where the church had stood all these years.  All that was visible now amid the geysers of sea water was the steeple.  "Merde," he said softly.
"Either it's the Second Comin', or those two got in a mess of trouble," said Briggs.
"Whichever it is, I don't feel like sticking around for it," Jack replied.  "I want this ship moving in 20 minutes time.  They know the monk is with us.  Getting detained here is the last any of us want."
"I'll get a fire lit under the men!  Twenty, and we're under weigh!" Josiah acknowledged as he left for the weather deck.

"But, Brother Timothy and Kate aren't back yet!  Neither is Martin!" Elinor protested.
"And Roberts went running off to the church," added Julian.
Jack set his jaw.  "Whoever makes it back, we'll get them aboard.  Whoever doesn't... they get to do the explaining for us."



"I'm not sure about people anymore. They're responsible for some pretty nutty stuff. Individuals I'm crazy about, though." ~ Opus