Aether Shanties RP (PM if interested/Started)

[Floris2123]

Roy grinned as he asked "Oh, so you're an imp then? There seem to be quite a few of you here tonight. But then again, there are quite a few pirates here as well. This is a strange party we've been invited to, don't you think?" George slowly nodded his head. Did this mean Roy was a pirate? Too bad, he had seemed like a nice guy but if he was a pirate.... "I am indeed an imperial, and I am proud to be one in fact. I mean I couldn't care less about who the emperor is and such." George said pausing for a moment to catch his breath.

He then continued "But what I do believe in is protecting the weak and the innocent, and making sure pirates and the like don't kill, rape and plunder wherever and from whoever they please. So Roy how do you know there are pirates here? And why are you at this party? You don't seem like the kind of guy who usually goes to these kind of parties, no offense." He drank some more of his beer, he could feel it slowly taking its effect on him.

Roy seemed shocked by his other question, as he responded with "Yea, I-wait what?! How did you...Yes, though not by choice at first," He looked up at Roy, what did he mean by that? he wondered. "What do you mean not by choice at first? Were you forced into the position?" He asked curious about what he had said before.

 

[blaze96]

Samuel couldn't help but smile and laugh a bit.

"Oh yes silly me. It had been so long I had forgotten. I've been a ship's doctor for far too long. Good to see at least one of us still has an eye to the Earth though." He chuckled.

"I never much faced the effects of the pollution. Once I had left the academy my family had already placed me on a ship. I do apologize for my ignorance however. It is rather unbecoming isn't it? Now if I had a patient with respiration problems I would have to try some therapies and offer them preventative measures to try and lessen the pollutants they were inhaling. If the situation got worse I would probably start to put them on separate oxygen. Try to give them something that the lungs can process more easily. Unfortunately to my knowledge there is little to be done for reversing the damage done by the pollutants sadly. Though with the fact you have more of an ear to the ground on it than I would love to know if you have any advice for me. Or perhaps any other problems that I may have fallen into ignorance on with my time away.

At the very least I should try to find some reading on the subject and study up on it again, thank you for reminding me of it. Abhorrent that I should forget in the first place really. It is sad that we must be on two different sides of this whole political hullabaloo. I get the feeling I would have enjoyed being colleagues in another life." He said to Vasco. He honestly wished that perhaps this whole pirate and empire unpleasantness might pass one day. For now though being a pirate was his best chance at perhaps being able to make a book that would prove helpful for other doctors in time.

 

[Sigma Castell]

[spoiler/]Mkay so I've sent a few messages to GM and received no reply. I am interested in joining, but if you're full then thats fine. An answer would be appreciated though [/spoiler]

 

[hiei82]

[HEADING=2]Adrianna[/HEADING]

Adrianna made her way through the crowds hoping to find more of her crew. Mr. Saint-John still hadn't shown, much to her annoyance, but she let it go in the hopes of finding the others. By the looks of it, Drustan and Annis were gathering the bulk of the crew, which left her with only the stranglers to find.

Garrett was the first of them she encountered. Wasting no time, she hurried over the the merc-turned-lover and began speaking. "Garrett. Sorry to say, but we're going to need to cut the party short. Remember that woman I was speaking with? She's the Pirate... leader of the Mermaid." she explained quickly, refusing to refer to the drunk excuse for a commanding officer as a captain. "In any event, please find our new Engineer and any other crew you encounter to the carriages and make for the ship - we're setting sail tonight."

Not pausing to explain any further, she quickly went about finding the other missing officers - Dr. Roque and Wilhelmena - before anything went terribly awry. She found Dr. Roque first who was having a conversation with a fellow medical professional by the looks of it. "Dr. Roque." she interjected when there was a break in the conversation so as not to draw suspicion. "I'm afraid there's been a bit of an emergency and so I'll need you back at the Invincible post-haste." she said, trying to speed things along.

"Hopefully one of the others can find Wilhelmena" she thought to herself as she waited for the good doctor's response.

[HEADING=2]Ciel[/HEADING]

Ciel and James continued to dance awkwardly for several minutes before the buzz of the crowd alerted them to something going wrong with the Imperial guests. Ciel stopped dancing and raised an eyebrow at the sight, but hesitated to move until she had more information. For once, she had no idea what was going on.

And she didn't like it.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Garrett was busy traversing the crowd, looking for any signs of the other crew members from the Invincible, when he caught sight of Adrianna rushing over to him with a look of desperation on her face. "Garrett. Sorry to say, but we're going to need to cut the party short. Remember that woman I was speaking with? She's the Pirate... leader of the Mermaid." She said quickly, refusing to call the drunken woman she was talking to earlier a Captain. "In any event, please find our new Engineer and any other crew you encounter to the carriages and make for the ship - we're setting sail tonight." Before he could ask a question, Adrianna rushed off to continue her search.

"Well, it looks like we're not the only ones heading up North; seems as though we have some competition on our hands. Best get to finding the others, and fast; don't want the Mermaid getting to whatever relic from the old world before us, it may cause problems for myself and Adrianna. I'll go after George first, since I at least know where he was." Garrett said as he made a heel turn back towards the bar, waited for a break in the conversation George was having to make his move.

"Ah, Mr. Maelstrom, sorry to be interrupting the conversation; but I'm afraid the Admiral requests our presence back at the ship. Certain factors have come into play, and we need to setting sail sooner rather than later. Make your way back to the carriages, and I shall explain more once everyone is on board. Should you happen to find another of our crew, be sure to inform them about the situation and direct them to the exit. I've got to go and find our engineer now, so I shall speak with you later." Garrett then left the bar and headed out into the crowd, keeping a look out for Ciel and anyone else that came his way.

 

[MortifiedPenguin]

"Ugh..." And a few other pained moans were the only replies Sheska got from the befuddled misbegotten as she tried to shake him awake, no luck in that department, whatever the loon had drunk hadn't good for his system. As his eyes squinted open letting the bright lights from the gala tumbling through his eyelashes Hector couldn't help but notice the Skulk-Hound looking a tad different: she was as green as he felt.

"Oi, barkeep. What exactly did this boy have to drink, eh?", she asked.

The barkeep smirked as he polished the glistening glasses, he set the one he was currently cleaning down and replied as the gangly misbegotten threw up on his counter, "Absinthe ma'am, not that it did him any good"

 

[Texas Joker 52]

-Sheska-​

The only thing she managed to get out of Hector as she tried to shake him awake was a few groans of misery, and then a bar covered in puke, which she managed to back away from in time so that none of it hit her. She sighed heavily, then glanced up at the bartender smirking at her.

"Absinthe ma'am, not that it did him any good.".

Her eyes widened at that, and she shook her head slowly as she let out a low whistle. "Well shit, no wonder he was out this whole time. Absinthe'll hit you like a cannonball, and burns nearly as much going in as it does coming up. I won't even touch the stuff.", she murmured, before looking at Hector with a combination of wry humor, and sympathetic pity.

"Boy, you should've started with rum, or even a mild ale. Absinthe is for real heavy drinkers.", she said quietly, hoping she didn't exacerbate the headache he had to have had more than she needed to.

Then she looked back at the bartender. "I don't suppose you'd have some sort of remedy for what he's sufferin from, do you?", she asked with a quirked brow.

 

[Cybele]

Roy listened, or pretended to, as George explained why he was a Imp.

"Well good luck with that. One thing this world never seems to run out of are criminals," Roy said, grinning, "At least you'll never run out of a job, right?"

So Roy how do you know there are pirates here? And why are you at this party? You don't seem like the kind of guy who usually goes to these kind of parties, no offence.


Roy shrugged meaning no offence was taken. "I 'overheard' some of them talking," he lied. "In a way I can hear better than anyone in this room, as long as I can see them talking that is."

He was trying to think of a way to answer (or not answer if possible) George's next question when another Imp walked over to George and told him it was time to go.

"Nap time already?" Roy asked, chuckling.

 

[Terratina.]

"I get the feeling I would have enjoyed being colleagues in another life." He said to Vasco.

Vasco chuckled and turned around in order to disguise a cough, but happened upon the Rear Admiral. "Dr. Roque." she interjected. "I'm afraid there's been a bit of an emergency and so I'll need you back at the Invincible post-haste." she said. This was quite curious, an emergency? No doubt a medical professional was needed. He pivoted on the walking cane and with a bow Vasco said his goodbye to Samuel, "Filtration, my friend... As long as there is a good supply of clean air, the lungs will recover. Now, as you can see, my presence is needed. Goodbye and safe travels." Hopefully the emergency did not involve Annis. If she had imbibed, there was a possibility that the alcohol would upset the delicate chemical balance, but surely she was not so stupid. Then he remembered how stubborn she was. One could say that she was a patient that refused to be cured...

However, that was enough with simple chatter and conjecture. He was needed.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Garrett kept an eye out for any trace of Ciel as he traversed the field of dancers, thinking it was the most likely place to find her. He soon caught a brief glimpse of the tell tale scar that their engineer had, and redirected himself towards her. As he arrived, Garrett saw that both Ciel and James were together, looking like they had just finished dancing, with Ciel looking about all over the place.

"Ah, Miss Kriebel and of course James, good thing I found the pair of you, I bring urgent news from our admiral. She requests our swift return to the Invincible, as certain factors have come into play, and we will need to set sail sooner rather than later; specifically tonight. Make your way back to the carriages; once everyone is on board, the admiral will explain our sudden departure."

 

[blaze96]

"And good luck to you as well Doctor. Hopefully one day we may be able to meet under more amicable circumstances. Also feel free to share anything I've said with those around you. Perhaps it may even change something and freeze hell over. I'm sure the people down there would appreciate it." Samuel replied before standing up and snapping a salute off to the admiral before walking over to the bar and sitting down. He ordered a bottle of whiskey and a glass before he began to drink. It was really the one thing he hadn't done tonight.

 

[deathbydeath]

"This will be quicker if we split up. You recognise the head mechanic and her assitant, start with them. If you find St John send him my or the Rear-Admiral's way, whichever is quickest."
Drustan began to walk away from Annis with a short bob of his head for acknowledgment. "Will do" he murmured as he strode over to where Ciel and James went off to. He skirted the edge of the dance floor, wanting to avoid the fluctuating, spinning throng as much as possible in his quest for the two Imperials. He located the engineering pair after about a minute, and stopped walking so that he could get a good view of the entire scene.

The pattern the dancers were weaving to the music started to look familiar to Drustan, but he wasn't sure where had seen it before. The big man hunched over before checking his copy of A Commoner's Guide to Upper-Class Etiquette and Mannerisms Part IV, because being caught reading a book like that at such an occasion is quite embarrassing. He flipped through two sections before locating a dance that looked similar to the one on the floor. He traced a diagram with his finger, then looked up and mentally traced the route James and Ciel would follow. Once he had a destination in mind, he slipped the book into a pocket and trundled over to his expertly planned rendezvous point.

When Drustan arrived, he looked up to locate the engineering couple, only to find that they had stopped dancing and had been retrieved by Garrett. His jaw dropped down wide as the shock of his unraveled plan sunk in. it was only until after a few raunchy-looking neobeduins started throwing peanuts into his mouth that Drustan recomposed himself and resumed his general mission.

 

[Ruedyn]

The two danced, James moving awkwardly in an attempt to keep up with his partner in these unfamiliar movements. He tried his best, though he had tripped on her feet an innumerable and insufferable amount of times, apologizing as best he could after each and every time. His attempts to be smooth had been thoroughly ruined, he was almost glad when the crowd stopped, dropping her hands with a deeply reddened face.

"Ah, Miss Kriebel and of course James, good thing I found the pair of you, I bring urgent news from our admiral. She requests our swift return to the Invincible, as certain factors have come into play, and we will need to set sail sooner rather than later; specifically tonight. Make your way back to the carriages; once everyone is on board, the admiral will explain our sudden departure."

"'Certain Factors'? We pissed off someone important, didn't we?" James frowned, his blushing subsiding momentarily. He'd keep an eye out, and if need be he'd protect Ciel. He could see it now, several brigands descend upon them only to be quickly (or not) dispatched, one broken nose or arm at a time...

He snapped himself out of his reverie, offering to Ciel his hand, "I believe it is time to leave m'lady. Shall I escort us to the carriage?" He grinned widely, bowing slightly.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Zach didn't want to give Issac time to argue. Concealed from the Snipers gaze behind the chimney stack, Zach stripped off his jacket, shirt, trousers and shoes. A flash of white cloth or the rustling of trouser legs could be all that was needed to give away the game if the gunman happened to glance Zach's way as he made his approach. It also granted him greater agility, more grip, a softer footfall and a quicker draw. Tightly fitted leather holsters crisscrossed Zach's bare skin wherever he could get away with putting them. Rows of slender throwing knives clung to his chest, round his waist, over his shoulders, at his wrists and ankles, and on both the inside and outside of his thighs. A peek round the corner of the stack confirmed the assassin's gaze was still fixed of the streets below. It was time for Zach to make his move.

He went prone, hugging the cold roof tiles with his belly, and moved sideways like a crab, making his profile close to invisible. The roof sloped downward until he reached the opposite edge to the side he climbed up. This was the tricky part. The estate was given a wide berth by all the buildings around it, so as to better show off it's majesty. That meant that the distance to the adjacent rooftop was a long way to jump, and Zach wasn't willing to risk standing and taking a run up. The one advantage on his side was that the rooftop he needed to get to was significantly lower than the one he lay on now. Had it been higher, Zach wouldn't have stood a chance of making it from a stationary jump. Slowly, Zach pushed himself up into a crouch, turning his body to face his immediate target. He placed his right foot in front of his left, its toes curling round the lip of the gutter, his knees bent and tensed. His weight was shifted as far forwards as he dared. If the gutter gave way under him, Zach would be plunging towards the cobbles and spiked iron railings over sixty feet below head first.

There was no more time to waste. Zach channeled all the strength in his body, from his core right down to the balls of his feet, and launched himself forwards. For a second he flew across the gap before gravity snatched at his body greedily. However, he had done enough. His vision tunneled on the lip of the roof before him. His arms stretched out as his world tilted forwards in a graceful arc. He planted his hands on the tiles, with every joint from his fingertips to his shoulders absorbing the impact, and he tucked into a roll that brought him back onto a solid footing with no audible crash or thump to give away his position.

From then on the path was easier, creeping, rolling, sliding and mantling from one chimney stack to another, in a wide arc that kept him well out of the sniper's field of vision, before he came to the building adjacent to the gunman's little nest. From here, he had a clear view of the main entrance to the estate, so he could know the perfect moment to strike, after the Imperial contingent had dispersed, but before the crew of The Mermaid emerged. He also had a clear line of sight to the Ggun agent, as well as the high ground. If by any stroke of bad luck the man's hackles were raised in the way prey can get to let them know a hunter is approaching, Zach could put a knife in his spine before he would have time to turn and shoot.

All he need do now, was wait.

 

[hiei82]

[HEADING=2]Adrianna[/HEADING]

When Dr. Roque finished his conversation, Adrianna lead them toward the carriages. When they were out of earshot with the rest of the party, Adrianna spoke up, her voice low. "Sorry to interrupt your conversation - I know it must be hard to find good conversation on medical matters aboard the Invincible - but I'm afraid the pirate vessel we encountered on route to Helium appears to be headed to the same place we are. As a result, we need to get a head start if we're to accomplish our mission." she explained, hoping to put the good doctor's fears of a medical emergency to rest. She lead them outside and toward the steam-carts, glad to see much of the crew had already gathered - save the officers. "We're setting sail tonight." she finished, letting him know the bottom line.

She turned to await the others, then her face soured - she could see Exeter making his way back toward the party from places unknown. "I need a new First Mate" she thought to herself before making her way toward the missing officer.

[HEADING=2]Ciel[/HEADING]

"Ah, Miss Kriebel and of course James, good thing I found the pair of you, I bring urgent news from our admiral. She requests our swift return to the Invincible, as certain factors have come into play, and we will need to set sail sooner rather than later; specifically tonight. Make your way back to the carriages; once everyone is on board, the admiral will explain our sudden departure." Garrett said, approaching the pair on the dance floor.

Ciel nodded, having quickly taken stock of the situation. James however, took a different approach. "'Certain Factors'? We pissed off someone important, didn't we?" James said, taking a combat stance. Ciel hadn't expected the sudden reaction, much less the effective fighting stance. "Beast Dancer?" she thought to herself, but quickly dismissed the idea - how many beast dancers would be in Helium City, want to fly on a ship, and be willing to fly on an Imperial ship no less. As for his sentiment - that they'd pissed someone off - she couldn't disagree.

Ciel whistled slightly, summoning her lone spider drone. If crawled free from the folds of her dress and down her arm until it sat at attention at on her hand. "Find any missing crew and get them to the Invincible." she said, giving the drone it's orders. The drone saluted with one of its many legs, then jumped from her hand; disappearing into the crowd.

"I believe it is time to leave m'lady. Shall I escort us to the carriage?" James said, offering his hand. Ciel nodded, took his hand, then began leading the way toward the meeting point - it wasn't like she was just going to let him take the lead.

[HEADING=2]Exeter[/HEADING]

Exeter was making his way across the grounds, headed back toward the party, when he spotted two odd things. The first was a small metal spider running around the field as though searching for something. He raised an eyebrow at the sight, but quickly dismissed it in light of the second - the small army of Invincible crew waiting by the exit. He didn't get a chance to make any sense of it before his wonderful commanding officer started marching toward him - no doubt to yell at him for some perceived slight.

"3...2...1... he counted in his head as she approached. She opened her mouth and began to speak. I knew it he thought as the chewing out began. Exeter stood there, ignoring the officer for the most part, but eventually tired of the talk. When a lull came in the one-sided conversation, he quickly spoke up, saying "I understand Admiral. It won't happen again." Then he walked toward the meeting point to await departure.

[HEADING=2]Lt. Com. Ring[/HEADING]

The assassin lay in wait, watching for his prey. He caught glimpse of her briefly, speaking with some of her crew, but the shot wasn't a clean one so he waited. There would be plenty of time. So, he waited in silence, ready for the moment things changed. Eventually, the shot would be aligned and the target would be no more.

He stared through the eyepiece, watching his target, when suddenly his sight went gold. taking his eye off the scope and his target, he looked at the cause - a small automaton with eight legs. It stared back at him for a moment before saying "You're presence has been requested at the carriages." it said, clearly unperturbed by the rifle it sat in front of.

Ring pushed the little creature off the roof, saying "get out of here you damned piece of junk." As he was about to get back to shooting position, he noticed something odd - a sound behind him. Ring immediately turned around, bringing his rifle to bear against the darkness behind him, and fired into the night.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

The knife was already spinning though the night as the Ggun agent brought his rifle to bear on Zach, were it buried itself in the man's shoulder, causing his aim to jerk sideways at the last second. This sent the shot that would have been aimed square for his head whistling a foot past his ear.

'Damn it!' Zach cursed inwardly as he leaped to close the distance between the two of them. Most of the Imperials were in their carriages already, but the slimy officer and his admiral were still on the steps of the estate. Zach had only the few seconds of confusion where people tried to figure out where the sound of the rifle shot had come from to subdue his opponent. If they were seen, this could turn into a bloodbath.

As Zach closed, he drew another blade from the small of his back. This was wasn't like his other throwing knives. It was larger, and curved round in a vicious looking hook. Zach called it 'Talon'. The assassin tried to level the rifle again, but he was sluggish thanks to the knife in his shoulder, Zach had closed the distance too quickly. He caught the barrel of the rifle with Talon, swept it wide, and with a flick of his wrist twisted it out of the Ggun's stiff arms. He then swept low in a wide arc, catching the back of the agent's ankle, the blade biting though his Achilles' Tendon, taking his legs from underneath him and sending him flat on his back. Zach went to ground as well, putting them both out of sight to anyone who might look up from the street. Zach sat on the man's chest, pinning his arms to his sides with his legs. With one hand Zach covered the assassin's mouth tightly, and with the other he flashed Talon an inch away from the man's eye.

"Expecting an easy job?" he hissed. As a rule, Zach took a surgical approach to his prey, killing as efficiently as possible with no gratuitous wastage. Chuno Ggun agents were the exception. "You and I are going to have a little talk, but that part comes later. Right now, you just lie still and shut the fuck up like a good little man. If you try to stuggle, or make a sound, I swear that I will carve out your lungs with this knife and make them into an interesting new instrument so you'll be singing for all eternity! If you want a way to pass the time, how about you have a good long think about how you just got your ass kicked by a brown kid in a loincloth. That sound like fun?"

 

[Ruedyn]

"Find any missing crew and get them to the Invincible."

"Hm-?" James stared at the thing as it scurried off, his face paling considerably. He began to sweat heavily as Ciel led him off the dance floor.

"W-we need to talk about those things. They are really creepy! I'm sure there are several other designs we could use instead of spiders. Like monkeys. Everybody likes monkeys!" James shook his head, clearing his head as he sped up to go in front of Ciel.

"Now, let's please be done emasculating me?" He said, as smiled. With the lead thoroughly his, he looked around and found Garrett. He shrugged, and moved towards the door, speeding up ever so slightly. He made sure to pay attention to his surroundings, in case of combat.

 

[Terratina.]

The doctor nodded, somewhat relieved that his skills would not be required. Pity he couldn't chat with Samuel more, even if he was the other side of the proverbial line. At least Vasco was finally out of that cursed den of verbal barbs and smiling veneers. For a moment there, he was tempted to simply leave, but that would insult the host and the other guests there. That and he encountered a reasonable man in the mists of wolfs and vultures. Vasco replied with a quick, "Yes, Rear Admiral." Well, there was only time for that as she went back to the party, most likely to retrieve the others. It reminded him somewhat of some of the drills the naval officers went through over and over again. However, this one was far more unorganised. And with that thought, he sighed along with a mental note to avoid social gatherings like this in the future.

 

[MortifiedPenguin]

"Boy, you should've started with rum, or even a mild ale. Absinthe is for real heavy drinkers." Hector's head pounded with every word. It sounded like she was trying to save from from any more pain, for once talking softly instead of her usual snarls and growls, evidently it wasn't working.

"But they looked so boring..." He slurred in reply

"I don't suppose you'd have some sort of remedy for what he's sufferin from, do you?" She asked with a quirked brow.

The bartender sighed, it wasn't his job to conjure up hangover cures, he was there to get people drunk, not sober.

"Ma'am, I am a bartender," He said wryly as he leaned over the countertop. "It is not in my business to sober up my customers."

 

[Evrant-Knight]

"'Certain Factors'? We pissed off someone important, didn't we?" James said, as he then took a stance that looked more appropriate for fighting than for anything social. Garrett recognised the way in which James stood, it reminded him of a Beast Dancer he had seen perform in a cultural festival a few years back. Whether or not James was a Neobedouin was of no concern to him at the moment, getting people back on-board the Invincible was, though he made a note to ask James later about his heritage.

"Not exactly, like I said, all would be explained once everyone is back on the ship." Garrett said as he followed James and Ciel, with Drustan following on behind him back to the carriages, where he could see that most of the crew had arrived, with the exception of a couple of the officers, mainly Exeter and Lt. Commander Ring. But not a couple of moments later, he spied Exeter having a quick word with Adrianna. Waiting for the First Mate to return, Garrett approached Adrianna.

"Ah Admiral, by all accounts it appears that everyone has made it back safely, with the exception of Lt. Commander Ring. I can't imagine where he has gotten to, perhaps he overheard one of us talking, and slipped out quietly to head back when no one was looking, I'm sure he'll turn up at some point. Regardless, can I suggest that I go out first and check the surrounding area, in case anyone has set up an ambush of some kind. I know given where we are, the chances of it occurring are low, but it pays to be cautious. After all, you did hire me to keep you safe." Garrett said with a devious looking smirk, suggesting what he actually meant.