Of greetings and goodbyes...

[Ryan Norris]

Ryan crouched on the beach, near the dunes where the sea-oats grew. He was holding a small shape to his chest, petting something, and talking softly. The sun was only just beginning to set, and the wind had picked up, tugging at Ryan's hair and clothes, playing with the sea-oats, and stirring up the top layer of sand. The cooling air was just beginning to get to him, but he was hardly aware of it.

With a sigh, he cuddled the small object closer, and then held it out where he could look at it. Said object was an average-sized brown rat, which he'd saved from the cat but been prevented from keeping or re-releasing onto the ship. He sat there for a minute more, stroking the rat's soft fur. "I'm sorry," he murmured softly. "I'd keep you if I could, but the captain won't allow it..." he sighed again, "Besides, I can only keep so many safe from Mango at one time, and we can't have you getting eaten," he paused again, "So I guess this is goodbye... take care of yourself and don't let anything eat you, okay?" The rat just looked back at him, it couldn't do much more than that in response. With another sigh, he lowered the rat to the ground and let it climb off his hand and run off. He remained crouched there, watching the rat disappear into the gently waving sea-oats.

[Chuck Moricz]

Chuck stood on the deck of his ship, swaying a bit. He grasped a bottle of rum in his overly-ringed left hand. His right hand laid limp by his side. His eyes were unmoving, staring out at the see, trying to see what was beyond the horizon. He raised the bottle to his mouth, letting the cold rum run over his lips. Chuck turned some, looking at the few crew members that were on deck. They were muscular men, all very intimidating, while he himself was scrawny, with little visile muscle, yet the large men were cowards compared to himself. Chuck watched them as they sang, dance and drank. Chuck smiled, looking over his crew. They were the roughest bunch around, though they didn't act that way. Any pirate captain would be proud to lead them. Chuck took another swig from the rum bottle, and began looking over the land scape. There was very little. A few patches of vegetation here and there, but it was mostly just sand. But something not far off caught the captain's eye. It was the odd cabin boy of his. He was huddled infront of some sea-oats, clutching something to his chest. "I wonder if the boy would like a drink," Chuck said, in an odd, slightly high-pitched voice. He stepped forward, stumbling. Normally, he was good at holding his alchohol, but he had been drinking all day, so he was a bit off. He stumbled down the gang plank, and onto the beach.

Chuck approached Ryan from behind, listening to what he was saying. "I'm sorry," he murmured softly. "I'd keep you if I could, but the captain won't allow it..." he sighed again, "Besides, I can only keep so many safe from Mango at one time, and we can't have you getting eaten," he paused again, "So I guess this is goodbye... take care of yourself and don't let anything eat you, okay?" "What are you doing boy? Talking to yourself agai.." He stopped as he saw the rat scurrying along the ground. "Good god, that was a big rat," Chuck said, taking another swig of rum, "Did'ja see it boy? Could've bitten your whole hand off, and still been hungry.." Of course, the rat wasn't that large, but Chuck's sight was not at it's best, so the rat looked much larger than it actually was. Chuck put his hand on Ryan's shoulder, and pulled him to his feet, "C'mon boy, let's get back to the ship before anymore of them devil rats show up." Chuck tried to lead Ryan back, but he stumbled so often that he wasn't able to get far.

[Ryan Norris]

"What are you doing boy? Talking to yourself agai.." Ryan nearly jumped, Chuck's voice had taken him by complete surprise. "Good god, that was a big rat," Chuck said, taking another swig of rum, "Did'ja see it boy? Could've bitten your whole hand off, and still been hungry.." Chuck pulled Ryan to his feet "C'mon boy, let's get back to the ship before anymore of them devil rats show up." he tried to lead Ryan back to the ship and stumbled continually.

Ryan sighed yet again that night, though this one was a tired, weary sound. The captain was clearly inebriated. Ryan put an arm around him, supporting him and guiding him back to the ship, up the gangplank, and into the captain's cabin, where he maneuvered him over to the bed to sit.

[Chuck Moricz]

The captain giggled as Ryan close to dragged him to the ship. He began humming a song, then started to sing, but was to intoxicated to be able to remember the words. He grunted, and gave up on his song as he was sat on the bed. He gave a small chuckle, and drained the last bit of rum from the bottle, and let the bottle crash to the floor, and shatter. "Ah.. Nothing like rum to.. Wha'd'ja say, boy?" Chuck looked at Ryan, one eyebrow cocked. He waited a moment, then stood up, moving over to a cabinet, which when opened, revealed a large stash of bottles, filled with various adult beverages. Chuck took one, and popped it open. "C'mon boy, have a drink wif' your cap'n," Chuck said, shaking the bottles. The liquids inside swished around, and a small amount splashed out. The captain didn't wait for Ryan to accept it, instead, he forced the bottle into Ryan's hands, and up to his lips. "Drink, me boy. It'll put chest on yer' 'air... Wait.." Chuck stopped. He knew he said the phrase wrong, but he couldn't figure out what was switched. He shrugged it off and grabbed a rather large bottle from the cabinet, and popped it open as well. He held the bottle up, "May the Gods keep the rum flowing and the booty in our wallets." Chuck took a mighty gulp, then fell with a large thump onto the ground. "Y'know boy.. I never noticed it, but you look like a fish," Chuck said, with a chuckle. "Nighty night, then," He said, curling up, and holding the bottle tight against himself.