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[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220927/23fb834f443fddf069b302a80ffae13a.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220927/713c9ea7f90a3bccf2680492bc93671a.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220928/bcf4c8fb894d886cf1f86d12d903935e.png[/img]

[b]Featuring:[/b] [color=DC143C][b][s]Cynwaer Fiachin[/s] Cynric Fletcher[/b][/color]

[color=1E90FF][b]Time[/b]: Early Evening[/color]
[color=1E90FF][b]Location[/b]: Outside the Tough Tavern >> Inside the Tough Tavern[/color]
[color=1E90FF][b]Interactions[/b]: [/color]
[color=1E90FF][b]Mentions[/b]: [/color]
[color=1E90FF][b]Attire[/b]: [hider]
[url=https://i.postimg.cc/8z5xjhFf/b73aac48-9c15-4c53-9289-37731ac8aace.png](Placeholder until I get a better reference image)[/url]
Roughspun, blue trousers
A shoulder belt and waist belt carrying his equipment
Two swords and two pistols, one on either side
A woven, conical hat wide enough to shade his entire face (in his hands)[/hider][/color]
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[color=1E90FF]“Night’s barely started and you’ve already had this much fun? I’m honestly impressed.”[/color]

The man sitting on the mud-streaked ground was barely sensate, his eyes half-lidded and mouth open like a fish. His shoulders rose and fell with shallow breaths. Even with a passing glance, it was clear to anyone that this man had just been in a vicious brawl. Spittle, bloody and stringy, hung from lips that were swelling where they had been split. A line of angry red welts traced his left cheekbone, and would surely turn into a painful bruise by the following morning. Mud and street grime caked his black hair and dishevelled clothes.

With great effort, he tried to say something. Most of it came out as slurred and garbled gibberish, save for a weak, “There was this girl, Captain.”

Standing over him, Sjan-dehk sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. To be quite honest, he wasn’t as annoyed as he knew he likely appeared. True, he had been expecting far worse when the panicked runner had burst into his quarters whilst he was in the midst of writing his report for Lady Adiyan, and an ordinary tavern brawl was hardly the sort of thing that required his presence, but any excuse to get away from desk work was good in his books. If he felt any true annoyance, it was directed at the runner. The boy’s rushed and scant description of the incident had made Sjan-dehk believe that he was walking into a fight, and he had thus prepared accordingly. 

Pistols and swords clattered against lamellar plates as Sjan-dehk squatted. Pushing the brim of his hat up, he looked at the man – one of his crew – in the eyes. [color=1E90FF]“Really? Fighting over a woman?”[/color] There was a faint hint of a rebuke hidden beneath Sjan-dehk’s jocular tone. He sighed. [color=1E90FF]“Thought [i]Sada Kurau[/i] taught us all to be better than that, Yehn-tai.”[/color] He looked across the injured man at the adolescent boy kneeling by his side and asked nonchalantly, [color=1E90FF]“What’s the damage, Sazarin?”[/color]

Sazarin was one of Dai-sehk’s subordinates. At just shy of sixteen, the dark-skinned youth was considered to be amongst the better Surgeon’s Assistants aboard both [i]Sada Kurau[/i] and [i]Sudah[/i]. He was, however, not as skilled as to have his absence felt too severely by [i]Sada Kurau[/i]. That made him a perfect addition to the impromptu shore party Sjan-dehk had put together. After all, Sjan-dehk had expected a proper fight. To not bring along a physician – even one in training – would have been folly. 

The youth placed two fingers on Yehn-tai’s neck. Then, he waved a hand in front of the man’s eyes. “Quick pulse, slow reactions,” Sazarin muttered to himself before clearing his throat. He looked at his Captain and bowed his head slightly in a simple salute. “The wounds we see are mostly superficial. Just the usual cuts and bruises, but I’ll know for sure once we’re back aboard [i]Sada Kurau[/i], Captain. The rest of his symptoms aren’t anything to worry over. Speech impairment, dilated pupils, general slowness in mind and body, they all point towards alcohol intoxication, Captain. A night of bedrest would be enough as a start.”

Sjan-dehk nodded slowly. [color=1E90FF]“Glad to know you’ve been studying properly, Sazarin,”[/color] he replied with a chuckle and looked at the boy with a knowing grin. [color=1E90FF]“Would’ve been a lot simpler if you just told me that he’s drunk out of his mind and he got his arse kicked, though. I know Master Dai-sehk makes you memorise all those textbooks and scrolls, but you don’t have to sound like you’ve eaten them for lunch.”[/color]

“Yes, Captain. Understood, Captain.” Sazarin said quickly and averted his gaze, a light flush creeping over his cheeks. “Sorry, Captain. I’ll keep your words in mind.”

[color=1E90FF]“Don’t worry about it. Master Dai-sehk was like you when he first started. Couldn’t understand anything he was saying. Took years for him to get better.”[/color] Sjan-dehk gave the youth a reassuring smile before turning his attention back to Yehn-tai. With yet another sigh, he placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. [color=1E90FF]“And as for you, our impetuous Sharpshooter,”[/color] Sjan-dehk began. [color=1E90FF]“You heard what Sazarin said. Once you’ve returned to [i]Sada Kurau[/i], you’ll have your injuries seen to, after which you’re to get the bedrest you need. We’ll deal with the consequences of your actions tomorrow. Though I think Master Mursi will likely want to talk to you as soon as possible once he knows what’s happened to one of his Sharpshooters.”[/color]

Yehn-tai started to protest. “But Captain, I–”

[color=1E90FF]“I’ll stay here and investigate further. If your actions were justified, I’ll find out,”[/color] Sjan-dehk assured him, but then went on to say, [color=1E90FF]“I’m not going to lie to you, Yehn-tai. There’s going to be consequences of some sort you’ll have to face eventually. We did warn all of you that brawling’s not going to be–”[/color]

[color=DC143C][i]“Yer ta’ Cap’n o’ the big’un that fecked my lads?”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk understood less than half of what he heard, which was quite impressive, considering the brevity of the sentence. Still, he gathered enough to know that it was he whom the voice’s owner was looking for, and so he stood up and turned to face whoever had called for him. 

[color=DC143C][i]“Cap’n Cynric Fletcher, o’ ta’[/i] Recompense[i],”[/i][/color] a red-haired, rugged-looking man greeted. The smell of brine hung about him like a heavy coat, almost as heavy as the over-patched, bark-brown, knee-length frock he wore over an off-white shirt and a pair of mossy green trousers. Sweat and the earlier rain matted strands of frayed and fiery hair to his cheeks and forehead. He tilted his chin towards Yehn-tai. [color=DC143C][i]“I was told yer man o’er there tanned ta’ ‘ides o’ three o’ mine well an’ proper-like.”[/i][/color] Cyrinc rested his hands on his hips, directly above the two pistols and single cutlass hanging from his waistbelt. The slightly furrowed brows and scowl didn’t speak of anger, however, merely of slight frustration.

[color=1E90FF][i]“Captain Wasun Sjan-dehk.[/i] Of Sada Kurau[i],”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk replied cautiously, his eyes surreptitiously tracking every move of Cynric’s hands, and his own hovering by his weapons. At the same time, he wasn’t certain if Cynric had actually introduced himself, or if he had said something that had gotten utterly lost within his thick accent. [color=1E90FF][i]“Yes. Our men, they fight. I apologise for Yehn-tai. He cannot speak now. He is very drunk.”[/i][/color]

Cynric waved his hand dismissively. [color=DC143C][i]“Nae bother, Cap’n. I got ta’ ‘ole story frae my lads. Yer man was’nae wrong ta’ gee’s ‘em a beatin’. I’d ‘ave tanned their ‘ides mysel’ if I’d been there, aye.”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk looked at him with confusion all about his face, and Cynric took that as a sign to continue with an explanation. [color=DC143C][i]“They ‘ad a bit too much drink, an’ got a wee bit too friendly wi’ a servin’ lass. She did’nae like that, yer man o’er there did’nae like that, an’ one thing led tae another. I think yer can fill in ta’ blanks yersel’, Cap’n.”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk nodded slowly. He felt he had a rough idea as to what had happened. [color=1E90FF][i]“Thank you, Captain. It is fortunate that your crew is so honest.”[/i][/color]

Cynric laughed and shook his head. [color=DC143C][i]“They’d bet’er feckin’ be, if they know what’s good fae ‘em.”[/i][/color] Then, he jerked his head towards the tavern’s doors. [color=DC143C][i]“Anyway, ‘tis aw’ just a misunderstandin’, but what say yer an’ I ‘ave a drink? My lads started e’rythin’, sae I’ll treat yer, then we can say we settled things proper-like.”[/i][/color]

Now that, Sjan-dehk could understand even with the accent. He nodded. There wasn’t any reason for him to turn down Cynric’s goodwill and besides, a drink at the end of a confusing day was more than welcome, and it was all that better that Sjan-dehk didn’t have to pay for it. 

“Captain?” Sazarin cut in before he could say anything to Cynric. “Do you have orders?”

[color=1E90FF][i]“Excuse me a while,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk said to Cynric, who responded with a simple shrug. Turning to the young Surgeon’s Assistant and the rest of the shore party, Sjan-dehk quickly issued his instructions. [color=1E90FF]“We’re done here, so the lot of you can take Yehn-tai home. Sazarin, he’s your responsibility. Tend to his wounds, then make sure he gets the rest he needs. If Master Mursi comes looking for him, tell him that whatever he has can wait until tomorrow.”[/color] He started to dismiss them, but then remembered something. [color=1E90FF]“Oh, and someone check on Master Dai-sehk. Haven’t seen the mad bastard since the afternoon. At least make sure that we still have a surgeon and that I don’t have to arrange a funeral.”[/color]

The shore party nodded their acknowledgements and snapped to a quick salute. Two of them, with the aid of Sazarin, hauled an unsteady Yehn-tai to his feet. Sjan-dehk watched just long enough to make sure that everything was fine before gesturing for Cynric to lead the way. [color=DC143C][i]“Right this way, Cap’n,”[/i][/color] the redhead said with a grin.

As he stepped through the tavern’s doors, Sjan-dehk pushed his hat further up and back until it rested on his back, hanging by its chinstraps looped around his neck. Immediately, the sour stench of cheap alcohol and sweat assaulted his nose. Such smells weren’t new to him, but they were still unpleasant. The tavern was dimly-lit, and furnished with tables and chairs that had likely seen better days several years ago. Dark corners played host to the tavern’s few patrons; mostly tough-looking people nursing drinks and regarding Sjan-dehk and Cynric with suspicious gazes. If Cynric cared, or even noticed, he didn’t show it at all as he led Sjan-dehk to the bar. 

[color=DC143C][i]“Oi, barkeep, gee’s us couple o’ ales, aye?”[/i][/color] Cynric called out to the man behind the bar as he sat down on a stool. [color=DC143C][i]“An’ none o’ that shite that’ll make us feckin’ shite oursels aw’ night!”[/i][/color]

[i]“Shut your gob,”[/i] came the cantankerous response from the barkeep. He was an imposing man, wearing a short-sleeved shirt that placed his muscular arms on display. [i]“We’ve only got the one drink. If you’re after something else, you can leave!”[/i]

Sjan-dehk took his seat beside Cynric. [color=1E90FF][i]“So, you are Captain also?”[/i][/color]

[color=DC143C][i]“Aye, of the [/i]Recompense[i],”[/i][/color] Cynric replied. [color=DC143C][i]“Just pulled intae Sorian ta’day, in fact. And uh, Captain Wasun, is it? Yer ship’s[/i] called Sada Kurau[i]? Which one’s that? The big fecker in ‘arbour or the wee’un at ta’ docks?”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“Captain Sjan-dehk,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk corrected. [color=1E90FF][i]“And yes. Sada Kurau is smaller. Big one is Sudah.”[/i][/color]

Cynric chuckled and shook his head. [color=DC143C][i]“I’ll nae e’en try ta’ pronounce yer name, Cap’n,”[/i][/color] he said. [color=DC143C][i]“But ‘tis a beautiful ship yer command, Cap’n. From ‘er looks, she’s a quick ane, aye?”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk grinned and nodded. That Cynric could identify his Sada Kurau’s greatest boon from just a look meant that he had to be a capable seafarer. And that was enough for Sjan-dehk to decide that he couldn’t be too wrong of a person to know. [color=1E90FF][i]“You are correct. [/i]Sada Kurau [i]is fast. Very fast.”[/i][/color]

[color=DC143C][i]“[/i]Recompense[i]’s probably nae e’en half as fast, but I’d bet that she’s tougher.”[/i][/color] Cynric returned the grin, and Sjan-dehk looked at him with raised brows. [color=DC143C][i]“Just sayin’, Cap’n. Nae ship can ‘ave e’erythin’. I’ll be ta’ first tae admit that Recompense moves slow, but she gets where she needs ta’ be.”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“Every ship has gifts,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk said and nodded. 

[color=DC143C][i]“I’ll drink ta’ that,”[/i][/color] Cynric replied, and as if on cue, the barkeep arrived with two heavy, misshapen mugs of pungent ale. He placed them on the counter, and folded his arms, glaring at Cynric until he produced two coins from his coat pocket and placed them on the bar. The barkeep took the coins and walked away. [color=DC143C][i]“An’ it’s just on time,”[/i][/color] Cynric said and picked up a mug. He raised it. [color=DC143C][i]“Sae, Cap’n. Tae good ships an' peaceful night?”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk nodded, picking up the other mug and raising it to meet Cynric’s. [color=1E90FF][i]“To ships and peace.”[/i][/color]