Pirates. Nuff Said.

[Mr Lock]

The man, Captain Jonathon Cor Leonis, had a sharper wit than Louie would have granted such a large individual, as those he had met prior to him with a similar stature were the usually burly dockworkers with more dirt on their faces than brain in their skulls. Perhaps that was why he hadn't excused himself from his presence sooner when the Captain had first begun steering him away from the relatively safe surroundings of his usual hangout to the unfamiliar, and cleaner, part of town that was home to the richer and more influential folk who held the strings and made the dockyards dance. Well maybe it was just where the company bosses liked to frequent, Louie had never really bothered with the goings on behind the locked doors of power so who actually pulled the strings was beyond him.

"Well right now it was Leonis" he thought unhappily

His mother had always warned him of strangers bearing silver platers, and the compliments and fine alcohol he was being served now certainly counted as that. It also seemed strange that the Captain had asked him many questions since he first began talking but never left a large enough gap for Louie to respond. The fast talkers who tried to con you into becoming a Haze addict used similar tactics, and while Leonis seemed much too sophisticated for such meagre dealings it was unsettling to notice the similarities to their methods. However after he had bought and paid for their drinks there was a large enough gap in the conversation for Louie to finally interject, but having suddenly found an opening he was unsure of how to fill it. So he began answering the questions that had been put to him while attempting to ignore the subtle sidelong glances of the wealthy inhabiting the tavern, he was suddenly very glad of the captains presence.

"Well sir, I have to thank you for bringin me here. Its not usual that a docker like me gets to visit such a fancy place" A docker was, of course, a dock worker. But it didn't occur to him that the Captain might not know the local terminology until after he had said it. If he wasn't so nervous he might have thought of it sooner, so he took a large gulp of the fiery liquor in front of him in an attempt to stave off his twitching "Oh and me names Hao Luen, sir, but folks just call me Louie. You were right in sayin I know a thing or two about this and that around here though, you'd be surprised what you hear when you're a skinny, bottom class, twitchy lizard. People tend not to want to associate with you, so they do their best to ignore you. Eventually you become invisible. You pick up a lot of interesting stuff when you're invisible" He took another series of gulps and the tankard in his hand was empty, Leonis motioned to the bartender who quickly refilled it. Louie's body, being so used to the weaker beverages served at his usual hangouts, was quickly becoming inebriated by the strong liquid being poured into his glass almost as quickly as his inhibitions vanished. Soon he was spilling his life story to a man he barely knew, but unable to help himself as he was so unaccustomed to a sympathetic ear, which through the foggy eyes of alcohol Leonis appeared.

"...so Im looking for an escape to the see you sea, or the sea you saw? So as soon as I find me a decent captain on a decent boat Im off. I dont even care if they're pirate or Odd Pass" Part of him, the small part still sober, was kicking him for being so careless as to talk of piracy so openly. And to then disrespect ODAPAS with such careless pronunciation! Well lets just say a sober Louie was much to cautious. But instead of correcting himself he flopped himself forward onto the bar, arms tucked under his head as a cushion. "I think I may be drunk your honourship"

[WittyReference]

Leonis' broad shoulders tensed as he now sat beside the young man uneasily. His claws tapped disjointedly upon his mug, the resounding clinks drowned in the murky depths of his untouched brew. Raising a mighty paw, he rested it firmly upon the lithe youth's shoulder absentmindedly. Awash in emotions, Leonis thoughts fluttered beneath his tricorn, his gaze sullen as it fell over Hao. When... when had the power balance shifted? When had Leonis allowed this pitiful lad to elicit such sympathy with his tale of woe? The mighty lion grasped tighter to his walking stick, memories of his tribe's admonishing attacks trickling in from deep within his mind.

"An escape." The words left Leonis' lips before he knew he was even speaking, falling heavy into the drink before him. They words sank slowly to the bottom, resting haphazardly on the bottom of the pristine glass mug. Clearing his throat, Leonis turned his gaze back to Hao, as he would come to call the youth. A mixture of pity, sincerity, and authoritative warmth filled his voice as he addressed the familiarity with which the lad had spoken.

"Lad, I'll only say this once so pray your sober enough to remember it: Your past is behind you for a reason. You're a smart lad for looking to make your own fortune. That being said, do it because you want better for yourself than the lot life gave you, not because you're running from that lot."

Hao raised his head from the bar gazing foggily at Leonis, prompting the lion speak again. "And another thing: This sort of friendly tone may be acceptable in the comfort of a tavern, but on the ship you'll address me formally or not at all." The lion smiled at this, hoping the implication rang through Hao's drunken state. "Can't have the others thinking their Captain plays favourites."

With a low chuckle, he downed the contents of his mug, haphazard words and all.

[Duke Agent 17]

April watched as the two men looked over in her direction, talked, then walked away. She stopped singing.

"Mr *hic* Dingy, I'm afraid this is where we part ways. Can't let possible crew members run off can I?" She hopped out of the dingy and staggered off in the direction they went.

Despite her drunkenness, April remained hidden and quiet as she staggered after her targets. They walked into a high end tavern, in the classier part of town. April attempted to follow them, but was stopped short of her goal by a tall, rich man.

"Excuse me miss, I think you have the wrong place. This isn't a bar for the riff raff." April pouted.

"Riff raff!? How *hic* dare you! I may be drunk, but riff raff I am not. I am the March Hare, I'll have you *hic* know, an' I can walk into any booze house I want!" With that she burst through the doors and headed for the lion and the lizard.

"Hello there. It looks like you two are looking for water. To sail on I *hic* mean. I know 'cause you don't look happy on land, an' when that’s the case *hic* the water is an escape. Am I right?" She gave her nose a knowing tap and sat down next to the lizard.

"I'll have a drink of what there havin', but stronger!”

[Mr Lock]

Hao was drunk yes, Hao was close to passing out yes, but after a lifetime of being trodden on and brushed aside Leonis' words of kindness and his hint at being part of his crew seemed like new life being poured into him. This man who had so casually disavowed one tavern and spat in the eye of another by bringing him into it, this powerful captain no less, was being kind to him. The little lizard from the docks. His entire life he was scarcely more than dirt to anyone of standing and an easy target for most everyone else, even when he had found employment no one saw him differently. It was hit lot and he had made peace with that, but now Captain Leonis was giving him another path. It was an a amazing moment for Hao. His shoulders straightened, his eyes cleared a little and he nodded solemnly. Little did Leonis know but from that point on Hao began to see him like a father, he wasn't aware of it himself but deep down his loyalty to the man was unbreakable and undeniable. He would, given the chance, serve him till the day he died.

The moment between the two men was suddenly broken as a mad, drunken hare with no sense of curtesy bumbled into both the bar and their conversation, ordering a drink even though she was sloshed beyond belief. Hao was about to tell her such for interrupting his new captain, but suddenly his eyes crossed and he slumped to the table unconscious. The hare had accidentally breathed in his face and that had been the tipping point for the lightweight lizard. He was snoring before he hit the bar with a thunk.

[WittyReference]

Leonis noted the change in Hao, the stiffening of his back, the straightening of his shoulders, pride replaced drunken cloudiness, as least to a degree. Good, this lizard might just be worth the booze I've pumped into him. Leonis thought with a low chuckle, Now to drag his scaly hide back to the dingy...

The lion's thoughts were interrupted by the welling of his eyes. From across the room he caught sight, or rather smell, of a walking tankard. Heavy fumes of cheap booze sauntered and stumbled up behind the two men, hiccuping a greeting. Wincing eyes blinked away tears as a coughing fit ripped forth from Leonis. Her breath smelled of kerosene and sent poor Hao to slumber before his horned head hit the bar.

"I-*ahem*-I see you decided-*cough* decided to follow." The lion choked on his words for several seconds before regaining his composure. "*Ahem* Yes, glad to have you join us. I'd say I'm surprised they let you in, but the guards no doubt blacked out at the sight of you." Leonis playfully nudged the woman beside him, an action he had wholeheartedly expected to topple the wobbling drunk, only to have her right herself before ordering a stronger variant of what he had used to ply Hao.

Swaying beneath the force of Leonis' gargantuan paw, the woman adjusted her antennae-like ears to compensate her equilibrium, effectively teetering dangerously at a nigh impossible angle before naturally righting herself. Impressive, I wonder if she can do that trick on her back... With a pleased growl, the captain called after the barkeep. "Yeah! A double for the Lady and another for myshelf." So, tell me Mish...I'm afraid I didn't catch your name. Allow me to introduce myshelf, I am Jonathan, Captain Johnathon Cor Leonish...the Firsht! Of many if you play your cards right...

"B-but yeah, tell me, Mish Shtranger, would you happen to be in posech-possesh-poseschion of that fine dingy I saw in the way over? I've yet to determine how we'd all fit in such a tiny spache, but you sheem to be my ticket out of this town." Besides, closhe proximity to a woman such ash yourself wouldn't be entirely unbearable. Not like I haven't had practice fitting in tight spaces before heh heh...


Looking back, anyone could tell Leonis was drunk off the woman's presence but that thought would occur to the Captain far too late.

[Duke Agent 17]

The March Hare giggled as she tipped over and sat back up again. She gulped down the strong liquor and patted the lizard on the back. Hmm. If only I could get them back to the dingy...

"B-but yeah, tell me, Mish Shtranger, would you happen to be in posech-possesh-poseschion of that fine dingy I saw in the way over? I've yet to determine how we'd all fit in such a tiny spache, but you sheem to be my ticket out of this town." The lion said.

"Well Mr *hic* Lion, if we drag this lizard back to the dingy, I'm *hic* sure we'll figure something out. Now lets get out of this fancy place, the alcohol is *hic* getting to you." She smirked and stood up, offering her hand to the lion.

"By the way, call me The March Hare. I don't much care for *hic* mish shtranger."