Sacrifices Must be Made for the Great Greed 11/5 11

Something was muttered into Yana's ear. The realization she never had talked things out with him before his death.

The Ookami's shoulders dropped and so did her calm and well-kept visage. Murtock's name a forbidden word for nearly half an year now, being spoken in order to communicate something this tender, made Yana's gaze glistening.

"Thank you for the messsage, If. I will keep his last words within my soul."

After this, she turned to Maertock once again, demanding his attention. "Captain, we need to talk. Did Bahs leave some note?"
(Yana)
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 Maertock would take a long, considerate drag from his cigar; minty tendrils of smoke progressively rising from his dry, reddened gills as he frowned. The talk of woman was a nice distraction, but the black malaise that hung about the reaver lord was not so easily banished. He had much yet he needed to process emotionally; something he distinctly lacked experience in.

It would take time. Who knew how long.

"I've simple wants. I desire to see all there is to see, take all I want to take, and give nothing back. I want my name to be legend, my wealth to be immeasurable, and my power to be limitless."

The captain would nod sagely at that, dredging his clawed digits into his black cloak of shadows, sighing lightly.

"But I'd settle for a woman who understands me and can kick my ass."

Finally, Maertock would turn his attention to Yana with a tilt of his head.

"We are speaking Yana, yes. I am attentive at this time. I received no note from Bahs, what is it?"
(Maertock Reave)
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 Rachelle says, "There, there."
Rachelle exclaims, "I don't know if any women like that exist, Captain!"
 Syan'eth says, "I'm sorry, but I doubt it. "
 Maertock Reave says, "I do as well."
 Maertock Reave says, "That is why I have rum."
 Maertock Reave says, "Rum understands me."
Maertock Reave says, "And I, it."


Maertock, speaking of his ideal woman? She exchanged gazes with Syane'th.

"Bahs has been gone for a few weeks now. He also left most of his stuff in the lower deck", Yana told him, hoping Maertock would be comprehensive when it came to the hard part of the story. "...I also know Anne has been gone since the thing about Luna's corpse."

Missing or quitting crewmates. What she wanted to say was now obvious, but she made it crystal clear, whether it hurt her or not. "We are not as strong as we once were, Maertock." Though now even her, a mere alchemist between so many legends, had her own importance in history, which would soon be reveled to the Captain.
(Yana)
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 Yana says, "Oh! I am training Syane to be just like that."
 Yana says, "A woman of beauty, honour and strength."
 They withdrew their hand after that was said. And they drifted back a bit, giving some space so their conversation didn't feel so cramped. They glanced up toward Maertock when Yana did.

The alchemist looked back and forth, noting once more whose pipe the ookami held. A third, in such a short span of time? If let out a quiet sigh.
(If Reave)
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 Bitch, you what?! Syane looked at her mentor in a very astonished way as she was talking about herself. Training Syane to be like what!? She doubted it very much, but limited herself to just staring at it with a frown on her face.
She twisted her neck to turn her attention to If and to avoid that extremely uncomfortable and strange issues for her.
"So, my dear friend If, what do you have to do today?"
(Syan'eth)
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 Maertock would remain in his place upon the edge of the pillar, the seven foot Captain of the Deep Company wobbling atop it with surprising balance for the immensity of his alcoholic consumption. It was frankly impressive he hadn't already fallen off the side and faceplanted into the ground.

And yet, his back remained straight, his smile gone with Murtock's soul, and his eyes were cold flecks of ice. He'd turn them down upon Yana with consideration as he took a drag from his cigar; smoke as ever rising in a flowing tide up towards the starlit sky.

"...Ah, I see. Bahs has departed for places unknown? You're certain, did he leave his hat?"

The captain recalled the hat that had adorned Bahs' head, a treasure and reminder of simpler times for the crew. He appeared to be considerate of the notion.

"He was a good man; one of the earliest strays we took in. If his journey has taken him on to places unknown, I wish him good tidings."

Maertock would nod slowly at that.

"I'll be frank considering I told If the same; Anne committed mutiny and tried to start a war with the tribes; her life was ended shortly after. I've welcomed Vesper to the crew in her place to ensure our artificing needs are met."

The captain's tone was cold as ice; as if the statement was matter of fact. It was likely the easiest way for him to deal with these things.

"You are right. We aren't as strong as our former prime; simply means I need to work towards rebuilding the crew, finding new blood, and redetermining our policies in Esshar. It will not be done overnight, but I've faith at least with certainty in Thanatos and If by my side. And of course those of the Reef."
(Maertock Reave)
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 Yana's voice started off as small and comprehensive. Of course Maertock would be like this, he would be living forever in a wake, just like her.

But his concern for a cursed hat, instead of Bahs' well being? She paled. "Yes, I have his hat with me."

She could only wonder where her earliest friend went to. Everyone now is gone already. Murtock, Bahs, Anne. Katja and Ceres hadn't shown up in quite a while as well, so Yana could only hope for the best.

Maertock's words had something of his own brother to it. Of course they had, and that was just what she was hoping for! I have faith at least with certainty in...

"Thanatos and If, yes", the Ookami shifted around, her smile gone. Once again, her beliefs were proving to be true. Despite being around the crew for so long, Yana ended up as being nothing than just the First Mate's wife. That was her role and it ended there. Yana represented something so valueless that even a swabbie could mean more hope than her, always sticking around and taking on their agreements.

...And even going as far as to leaving the Moxtli for good. The Ookami's eyes stared at Maertock, though they don't really fixated anywhere at him, but beyond the sharkman's frame. So this is why even the warehouse over The Reef was locked today. All things clicked together.

But instead of throwing a tantrum, Yana nodded, politely even! With a renewed smile, she exchanged gazes once more with her apprentice. "Oh, I hope things will turn to better, then!"
(Yana)
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 Oh. There was also that little thing. The alchemist drifted a bit higher in the air, finding a place out of the way where they could comfortably converse with the others. They sat mid-air, leaning precariously over the fiery brazier.

Smoke seemed to part around them, thankfully. Else that might've been a fairly uncomfortable place to sit. They lifted a hand and adjusted their hat, two fingers on the brim.

"Today.. I was supposed t'talk to Mochan. He was workin on some designs fer a thing. Sorta needed t'talk t'Anne as well but.. That's outta th'picture." They crossed their arms over their chest, and leant back in the air. Comfortable, relaxed.

They seemed a Hel of a lot calmer than they had been only a little while ago. "Also, when Maertock's got th'time, learnin m'new duties is on th'itinerary."

If glanced down toward Yana at the mention of the hat. It was something they had dearly wanted before, to a point they'd almost been utterly serious about stealing it away. But they made no mention of it for now.
(If Reave)
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 Maertock would take a brief moment to glance down at the clearly dismayed Yana, the black hearted reaver trying to stir some sort of effort to belay her discontent. He wasn't good at speaking on emotions; he was a man that barely understood his own. Perhaps it was the distant coaxing of Murtock on the winds then; a somber beam of moonlight in the endless, lonely sky.

But words did come to the captain as he patted Yana upon the head with his webbed palm.

"That doesn't mean you weren't just as important to the crew as the rest Yana. We all played our parts; that's what makes a good crew. You did something no one before you was capable of, something that even I couldn't achieve in permanence as you did."

The captain would nod slowly as he wobbled on his feet.

"You made Murtock happy. Genuinely, honestly happy. Enough that he of all people would be willing to settle down. You brought joy to his life inevery moment you were a part of, and gave him something to fight for."

The captain would nod coldly, taking another swig from his bottle.

"We all fight on different battlefields. Yours was no less valid than any others."

Maertock would sigh lightly at that once more, rubbing at his tired, bloodshot eyes.

"I'd like to see Bahs' hat if you wouldn't mind; I believe I know an artificer that could do something special with it. So he isn't forgotten either."
(Maertock Reave)
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 Brown ears laid with the proximity of a large, webbed hand, its touching producing a wave of pleasantly disturbing sensations. While still looking somewhere else, Yana forced herself to believe it was Murtock's touch. The feeling wasn't nowhere convincing, but then something lit a single spark of joy within her chest, spark which the Ookami made sure to be short lived.

Her battlefield had been the same as theirs, whenever possible. Was Yana's combat so bad to not even leave an aftertaste? Speaking of Murtock was an easy manner to soft her up, anyway.

"...I will get you the hat once we are back home. But I still need to talk other things over with you."
(Yana)
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Maertock would turn his icy blue, shark's gaze up towards the sky at that, humming softly as he took a drag from his cigar with a sigh. Minty tendrils of smoke weaved up from dry, reddened gills towards the starlit sky. The captain saw it as the wide, open sea in that moment. Two young fools upon the deck of the Pauper's Bride against the world. Just sixteen, and they'd already begun to properly reave.

The seven foot shark looked frankly haunted. A thousand yard stare clung to the sky with the worst sort of nostalgia.

"I appreciate it, a hat of as high quality as that deserves proper attention. It'd be criminal in the unpirated way if I didn't make it even hattier."

The captain would nod lightly at that.

"But yes, we shall discuss what you need to Yana. That is my duty as a captain, amongst other things."
(Maertock Reave)
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If sighed. But they didn't argue. They couldn't wear that hat on top of their helmet- It didn't fit. So they didn't argue over who would get it. Much as they had wanted it before, it'd be useless in the hands of someone who wouldn't wear it.

It was still tempting. But they focused on other things. Namely Syane, and her curiosity after what they were planning. The alchemist shook their head. "Secret until it works, if it works at all. So I ain't able t'explain it. Especially not out n'about with so many people around t'hear."

"It'll be.. Nice, though. I hope. Useful." That said, they would need to dip into the crew storage. That was.. Probably fine. If had personally acquired nearly half of what they had.

The alchemist could ask about it later. For now, they looked up toward Maertock again. "I got somethin t'show ya too, when ya ain't want t'be standin around in a real public place. Ya probably know about it already but eh.."

"Figure it might help."
(If Reave)
 Yaluk Ixtan says, "Maertock, I know how much your brother meant to you."
 Yaluk Ixtan says, "I'd be lost in a world without my siblings."
 Yaluk Ixtan says, "I never got the chance to personally speak to you."
Yaluk Ixtan says, "But I offer you my condolences."
 Yaluk Ixtan says, "On behalf of myself and my family."
 Yaluk dips his head, placing a hand on his heart.
(Yaluk Ixtan)
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 Yaluk Ixtan says, "He's in a better place."
 If Reave says, ".."
Yaluk Ixtan says, "You can expect me at the funeral."

 Maertock would appear to have remained upon the pillar like a flickering shadow, his presence far more muted than it might once have been under brighter circumstances. The Captain of the Deep Company had always been accompanied by his black fog, but it was usually in contrast to his joviality and decadence.

It seemed that ship had sailed in his life for now. A grim, stony visage remained with a frown; icy shark's gaze turned up towards the distant, starlit sky.

"You've my thanks for your condolences. He was my twin, my first mate and best friend. My first crewman, and my most loyal. We grew up together, were swabbies together on my father's crew, and together we came to this continent looking for adventure. All he found was an early tomb."

The captain would appear to grimace at that, taking a slow drag from his cigar as minty smoke rose from his dry, reddened gills.

"I will ever be in his shadow, long after he is dead. And in that, I am perfectly content. It is how I always favored things. So much easier to get work done in the dark."
(Maertock Reave)
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 If shifted to put their back against the temple wall. Their head tilted forward a bit as they listened to the man speak. Their arms crossed over their chest. The alchemist was still floating.

They kept mostly quiet in response, letting Maertock do the talking. But a point in those words stuck with them. He's in a better place.

The temperature started to drop near them. The atmosphere grew a touch heavier, too. They couldn't melt into the shadows the same way Maertock did, but they weren't quiet so noticeable a person either.

They muttered something only loud enough that Maertock could hear.
(If Reave)
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 "It should never have happened. While I've offered you my condolences, my apology would mean nothing. What is done has been done. All I can promise is that such a heinous tragedy will not take place under Moxtli's new leadership."

"I will not stand for it."

Once again, he dips his head in respect. There was no point in speaking any more words. He did notice the discomforted If, but he chose to remain quiet and awaited the letter from Osronan officials instead.
(Yaluk Ixtan)
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Maertock would nod steadily as he stared off towards the distant horizon, the haunted fishman taking a long, considerate drag from his cigar as he sighed lightly in malaise. The funk his brother's death had put him in would take time to be lifted; with certainty not easily at the least. Beyond bonds of blood, a brother made fighting and living and dying free beside was a bond that was not easily replaced, nor the void left in its absence filled.

"You are right. It should never have happened. But dark winds bare black tides, and the world does not deal in what could have been. All that can be assured is that those like Luna that seek to stir strife between allies are dealt with brutally."

The captain would open and close his palm at that, gritting his serrated teeth.

"I have made my own example of such conduct in turn by giving Anne's life away in her misconduct. I sentenced her to death for doing the same Luna had with words insteadof feral might. This bond of understanding is what will preserve Moxtli's alliances."

The captain would dredge his clawed hand into the depths of his inky, black cloak, his icy blue shark's eyes once more hunting the sea of stars in the sky for answers.

"Sacrifices must be made for the greater good."

His; the greatest greed.
(Maertock Reave)