A blustery cold had settled over the harbor, chasing most of the men indoors. What Nehemiah Fethington didn't know, was that he'd been watched for some time. This time in particular, the man had watched him retreat into the pub and not a half hour later, he too stepped into the bar with his eyes prowling the sea of people until they landed on him and he dropped into the bar stool next to him while it's previous occupant had stumbled off to find a loo.
Fethington ordered a simple mead as he'd look straight ahead. His eyes landing upon the rows and rows of kegs and liquor bottles that were held behind the bar. He pushed across the few copper and just sat there with a depressed look on his face. His thoughts were astir of the woman he'd only met briefly but his mind couldn't let go. His mind couldn't let go of her fiery red curls that had caught his eye and that he didn't wish to let go.
The new bloke beside him had turned his head, giving him a one-over with a iniquitous smirk and giving him a nudge, "Aye there, ya look a bit like you could use more'n one drink, mate?" He said, shifting in his seat. He raised a three-fingered hand and waved the bartender down with the crook of the two remaining and gestured at something called 'Untamed Fowl', "For me friend 'ere. Eh?"
Fethington shook his head and spoke quietly, "Oh no, sir. I couldn't possibly do such a thing. I've got what I need right now." The boy looked the man over for a moment before he'd sigh softly and ran his fingers through his greasy hair, "Just trying to figure some things out, sir. No need with the hospitalities." He'd reach for his mug of mead and took two long gulps as he'd look back towards the back wall. Almost as if he was staring off into space for a moment.
"Nah, boy, ye got that look," he insisted, gesturing the drink towards him with a push of one of his knuckles towards him. "Like yer heart been torn from your chest."
Fethington shook his head, "Oh no. Nothing like that sir. Just dreaming too big is all." He'd nod his head and looked the drink over before he'd tip it back. It immediately elicited a hacking cough from the boy, "Gods that's paint thinner."
"Aye. It'll put some hair on your chest," he commented idly. He took his shot too, shaking his head and pulling a similar face. "Ya know I been seein' you around these parts. You come off that big ship, don't ye?"
Fethington arched an eyebrow towards the man, "Yeah. I work on it. Why do you ask?" He seemed suspicious, but not too hesitant to ask the question.
The corner of his mustachioed mouth quirked at that, only a smidge. "S'a impressive ship, is all. Bet ye pull all sorts of pussy workin' on something like tha." He chortled, the envy soaking his voice.
"Some of the other guys maybe. But not me. Not really." Fethington seemed a little bit uncomfortable but he didn't move away, just kept drinking his mead. His eyes looking forward and only glancing over when the man talked, "It is quite impressive though. Whoever made it did wonderful work on it."
"Aye," he said, nodding slowly. He lapsed into silence, the thumb of his other hand gently twisted the gold ring that circled his third finger. He gave his own beer a few long sips.
Fethington ordered another mead once he finished his and looked over to the man's ring. The boy's right hand reached towards the man, “Nehemiah Fethington. Most just call me Fethington."
He glanced his way again, raising the hand that had all it's fingers to clasp his palm with his own large, rough one and gave it a crushing, firm hand shake. "Jack Sault," he said, "Pleasure."
Fethington's handshake was firm but nothing like this man's handshake. Fethington nearly felt his hand crumble under the man's handshake. He looked the man over before he'd pull his hand back, "So what brings you to Boralus, Mr. Sault?"
"I'm from here," He says, his heavy shoulder shrugging at that. "What I really can't figure out is why I keep coming back." His thumb redoubled it's efforts again; spinning the ring on the finger.
Fethington arched an eyebrow towards Jack. He'd continue to sip on his mead before he'd look Jack over, "In truth I don't know why I stay. You were kinda right earlier. I'm in love with a woman who will never love me back. And just seeing her every time is just more heartache."
He tilted his head, "A'roit. How do ya know?"
"How do I know she'll never love me back? She has someone else in her life. Someone she's already with. But she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. And she has to be about my age."
"Ain't nothin' permanent kid," he said, nudging him slightly. "You could always do something about it. Show her you're the better man for her."
"And how do you think I should go about doing that, hmm?" Fethington looked towards Jack as he'd arch his right eyebrow.
Jack gave him a shrug, "You must know what she likes, eh?"
"I don't really know much about her. I just have only seen her a few times and she's absolutely beautiful and her smile does some things to me."
"How can ye love a woman ya know nothin' about?" He said, sitting back on his stool. His hands came to slap the top of the bar, "Were it the boat ye see 'er on?"
He'd shake his head, "Have you ever met a woman where you just -know- she's the best thing ever? You just see it from the first time you meet her? That's Lorraine for me. And yes. I met her on The Sudden Storm."
He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. "Aye," he said wistfully, "I had that with my wife. Helen." He shook his head, "Maybe that's the ticket. The boat?"
He offered a slow upward shrug of his shoulder, "Surely you've thought about it. Being the bigger man. Winning her?"
"I don't know if I could be bigger man than the Commander. He's...pretty scary." Fethington shuddered for a moment as he thought of some of the things Alex had done to the horde during their fights.
He turned slightly now, making a 'pfft' sound with his mouth. "Surely he isn't."
"No. He surely is. The Commander is a man I don't think many men would wish to cross. Not that he would do anything to us on purpose. Just some of the things we've seen...The anger he exudes."
Jack gave an all-too-knowing nod. "He likes what he does," he says.
"Are you saying he likes killing the horde in the manner he does?"
Jack only shrugged, "It's a war, boy, no one likes being at war. No one is that angry unless they got something to prove."
Fethington just growled to himself, "How could she be with such a monster." He'd point towards the barkeep and spoke in a rougher than normal voice, "Bring me something harder. Mead isn't working right now."
Jack's suggestion came easily. "Maybe she doesn't know. Or... maybe, he's keeping her there somehow..."
"What do you mean? She leaves the ship all of the time."
Jack gave him a look. "Does he go with her?" He asked.
"Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. I don't know where they go because I'm not gonna stalk them, but I think the Commander has an apartment or a house in Boralus somewhere."
A bushy brow was quirked and a smile played at the corner of his mouth. He brought his drink against his lips then, having a small sip and licking the foam from his mustache, he said, "A man like that doesn't know how to turn it off, boy.
"Doesn't know how to turn what off? What are you trying to get at?" Fethington looked Jack over before he'd slink down on the stool slightly, "I mean...do you think he could be hurting her?"
Jack shrugged, "I only know how it were for me mum," he commented. "If he got blood lust, it ain't gonna go away. It changes a man, it does."
The boy looked away as he'd slam his fist onto the bartop. He stumbled his way from the stool and tried to make for the door, "We gotta stop him!"
Jack dropped a few silver on the counter and followed him out quickly, hot on his heels. "I'd be happy ta help if ya let me. I spent years watchin a man like 'im hurt me mum... If I can stop someone else like tha' I'm in!" He said, quickly, excitably.
"Of course!" Fethington quickly stumbled through the upper terrace of the trade area. However, it wasn't long before he was leaning against a railing and throwing up the contents of his stomach into the sea. Clearly not in any condition to do anything.
Jack grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and sighed, "A'ight boy, let's find ya the inn," he said, "Ya can tell me all bout yer ship and we'll figure it out, eh?"
He'd groaned slightly and nodded his head. Ultimately Fethington go the cheapest room they had. Essentially a broom closet with a bed. But he sent most of his earnings back home to his family. Fethington proceeded to collapse onto the bed with his eyes on Jack for for a moment, "He doesn't deserve her."
"Yer right," Jack said, "An' I'mma help ya save 'er."
"How should we do it?" Fethington looked Jack over as he just stay on his side on the bed.
"We'll catch 'im by surprise on 'is ship," he suggests, "I'd bet ya know all the in's an' out's o' it?"
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