|
|
Post by Eric on Mar 31, 2008 4:06:46 GMT 9.5
Bradley leaned over the rail of the ship and stared out across the sea at the shore coming closer and the town situated on the coast. He sighed sadly, thinking of his father and wishing he could share this beautiful sight with him. "Hey kid!" called the gruff voice of a sailor. "Give us a hand here!"
Bradley looked back and saw sailors busily moving mast lines around and moving the sails. He quickly ran to help the sailor who called to him and his group. He'd never sailed before, but this trip had showed him how. Unable to get enough money to pay for a passage on a passenger ship, he instead had to travel on a merchant ship with the promise of paying with work.
So now he tugged the rope with the other sailors, though not adding much strength but helping nonetheless. He moved about with the other sailors, checking the cargo, adjusting sails and even taking the wheel for a couple minutes. Although it was sunny and the breeze fair, dark clouds loomed on the horizon with the promise of rain, or possibly snow considering the dropping temperature. He pulled his cloak tight around him and shivered before continuing to help.
They were pulling into the harbour now and everyone was hurrying around, trying to help the ship dock. Finally anchoring the gangplank was put into place and Bradley helped carry some crates and barrels off before finally bidding the sailors good-bye and thanking them for their help.
Cold wind whipped his hair around his face as he walked through the town, looking for an inn or tavern where he could stay for the night. He found an inn just as a few flakes of snow began to fall and moved to sit in a chair near the fire.
|
|
|
|
Post by laurabeth on Apr 11, 2008 11:34:25 GMT 9.5
He pulled his hood over his head, looking across the room as the child entered the building. A brisk wind came in through the opening of the door, making the fire burning in the hearth crackle and pop. Drake reached for his mug of warm liquid, letting the contents warm his fingers. He lifted it to his mouth and sipped, his stubbly mustache holding onto droplets even after he pulled the glass away. He brushed them away with his sleeve. Pushing back his chair, he stood. He plopped a few coins on the table for the curt waitress. Weaving between tables, he found his way to a dark corner to lean in. His hood continued to hide his face as he waited to eaves-drop on the boy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Eric on May 7, 2008 14:59:42 GMT 9.5
Bradley sighed as the warmth flowed through him and he felt tired now as the adrenaline drained away and exhaustion took over. He scarcely noticed the man watching him from a corner. His drowsiness was interrupted abruptly by a tap on the shoulder. He looked up into the red face of the innkeeper. "Excuse me kid, but are you going to buy something. Room or drink?"
Bradley shook his head. "Uh no sir I don't have any money."
"No money!? You thought I'd let you just wander in here and get everything free?"
"No no, I was just-"
"If you got no money, than get out."
Bradley tried to protest, but the innkeeper didn't seem like someone to argue with, so he got up and moved sadly towards the door.
|
|
|
|
Post by laurabeth on May 9, 2008 5:33:06 GMT 9.5
Having overheard the conversation, Drake was moved to assist the child. He walked across the room casually, getting closer to the door. Grabbing the boys arm as he walked past, he then looked solemnly out of his hood and said, "We'll share a room, kid." Drake's voice sounded much too young for the way he was dressed. One hand still on Bradley, the other fished through a deep pocket for some coins. He dug out two and handed them to the boy. "Go get something to eat. Find a table and I'll meet you soon, alright?" His hand released the kid's arm, waiting for him to react.
|
|
|
|
Post by Eric on May 22, 2008 7:50:58 GMT 9.5
Bradley was shocked by this sudden show of kindness from this stranger, but he seemed sincere or Bradley hoped he was. He followed the given instructions and moved over to a table near the fire for he was still chilly. He looked over to the man who was paying, but he was too nervous to order anything. He let himself warm up while he waited for the man to come back.
|
|
|
|
Post by laurabeth on May 24, 2008 4:21:09 GMT 9.5
He smiled stiffly, not because he felt at all awkward, but because his face was still sore from a fight he had been in just a few days previous. He watched the boy find a table, and then walked briskly across the room to the bar. The man had a cloth tucked into an apron around his waist, both rather dirty looking. He was polishing a glass and talking with a thick man sitting a few stools to his right. The man behind the counter looked up and nodded, his dark eyes studying Drake's face.
"What can I get you, sir?" He asked. His voice was much different than what Drake had been expecting. For such a stout man, he sure sounded like a kid.
"A room, two beds or at least a bed and a cot. Can you do that for me?" Drake pulled his hand from his pocket and let several large, shining gold pieces twinkle on the counter. "I'd also like something to eat," he nodded vaguely to the other side of the room, "for two."
The man looked over Drake's shoulder. In the table next to where Bradley was sitting was a lone woman, or rather, a girl. The man smiled wryly, nodding, and motioned that Drake was to go sit down. In turn, he smiled and went to take a place next to the boy.
Taking off his coat, pulling back the chair, and sitting down seemed a much more formidable foe than merely walking across the room. His muscles were in knots and his bones felt bruised. He crossed his arms in front of him on the table, elbows parallel to each other, and looked at the child sitting across from him. "My name is Drake, the last name isn't important. I'm going to be staying here for a little while." He stopped and looked across the room, wishing for a drink. He licked his lips and continued, "You looked in a bit of a fix, young man. I hope you don't mind that I interfered?"
He ended his question by looking up to a plump woman dressed oddly in a brightly colored dress, frills and ruffles abounding in the worst-accentuating areas. She smiled, revealing the loss of two front teeth, and whistle-asked, "What can I get you thoo boyths?"
"A soup for me," Drake said, massaging his jaw absent mindedly, "And probably for my friend, as well. Water to drink, please." He smiled and winked at the woman, who returned the favor less cunningly. She waddled away, looking back twice in Drake's direction before disappearing behind a door.
He looked back at the boy, "And what's your name? Why are you here by yourself?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Eric on Jul 4, 2008 11:28:53 GMT 9.5
"I'm Bradley, sir. Thank you for helping me sir." Bradley got up and bowed awkwardly, but almost fell. He didn't realize how exhausted he was until just now. He wasn't sure he could trust him with why he was alone though. There was alot he could say, but he didn't know what to. "Mr. Drake sir, how come you have so much money? Are you rich?"
|
|
|
|
Post by laurabeth on Nov 25, 2008 14:27:27 GMT 9.5
The man chuckled, "Rich? Hardly, but I've got many coins I don't need. Sometimes my gut tells me to use them on other people. When I saw you, well," He lifted his glass to his lips and tilted his head towards the boy. "Obviously, I experienced that same feeling." That, he thought, and I truly do have a heart. The boy looked desparate, and Drake wouldn't be any less off with a parcel of his monetary blessings gone.
"Oh my..." he muttered softly, the floor creaking softly as the larger woman returned. She held a tray above her head, propped on thick, trunk-like arms. She smiled again at Drake, the gap between her teeth appearing especially unattractive at that moment. "They have good service here," he said to Bradley, sitting up in his chair rather painfully, "But the waitress is only so-so." He cringed, from mingled pain bodily or visually.
"Here is the thoop you thoo asthed foh." She said, dropping the tray ungracefully in front of the two men, one only slightly younger than the other. "I hope yous enjoy yourthelves, if yous need anything justh asth." She laid a hand on Drake's shoulder and let is slide off as she walked away.
Drake shuddered again. He looked at the boy and smiled grimly, then picked up the spoon and brought some of the warm, chunky soup to his lips. Oh, this is pretty good, he thought, then looked up at the boy. "What brings you here, lad?" He asked, spooning more of the soup into his mouth. He chewed on it very slightly before swallowing. "I've been in this inn more times than I care for, and yet I've never seen someone as young as you in a town as old as this. Might I ask for what reason you've shown up here?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Eric on Feb 14, 2009 20:40:42 GMT 9.5
Bradley gulped down his soup so fast he might've been drinking it. For the past several days he'd only been eating dried fish and water. The water here was quite good though, much better than the weedy stuff from the ship with that ever present hint of fishiness. "Thank you very much sir. I'd rather not discuss what I'm doing out here while we're in this room. And I'm still hungry."
He blushed with embarassment at the remark, not wanting anymore of this stranger's money spent on him. "I was working as a deckhand on one of the ships that just came in. Sailor food is gross." He wasn't ready to divulge much information beyond that and instead turned the question around by asking "What do you do Mr. Drake sir?"
|
|
