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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 13, 2008 22:07:45 GMT -5
Christopher was sad to see his niece set off for school. He had made sure that he went with her part of the way there. The ship was going to be different without her.
Arriving back at the ship, he noticed that the crew had been busy getting the ship underway. Instead of going straight to his quarters, Christopher helped the crew finish getting everything ready. Brody untied the ship from the dock and they set off. He looked out to sea where it met the skyline. There was nothing better than feeling that he was home again.
He headed back to his quarters to make sure that he had his compass sitting on his desk, and he had to feed his owl which he had neglated to do so. The rest of the day passed pretty quickly and Christopher was relieved whenever his head hit the pillow.
The next morning when Christopher awoke, he walked out on deck and the morning air met his face. He had a feeling that this was going to be a great voyage. Once he made sure that things were still in order, he returned to his quarters once again and pulled out a piece of parchment to begin his letter to Christine to ask how she had settled in and tell her about the first day of sailing.
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 14, 2008 8:19:18 GMT -5
Andrea tried to straighten up his cabin and feed his owl before he got there so she could be out of his way for the night, then got settled into her own room next to his.
Her own room. It was heaven. It was security. Truth be told she finally felt as if she could sleep, she could take off the bindings, and sleep freely with her own bunk and such, it was heaven. There was a lock on the door even. Perhaps this cabin boy business wasn't going to be so bad after all.
She woke up early the next morning since she was afraid she'd sleep in, what with getting a good nights rest for once. Getting dressed took a bit of time but she was out the door early enough to get her Captain's breakfast ready and then carried it up to the cabin door before kicking at the door softly with her booted foot.
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 14, 2008 8:26:08 GMT -5
He was almost in the middle of the parchment with his writing when he heard a kick at the door. Putting his quill back into the ink bottle, Christopher stood up and adjusted his shirt before taking a step toward the door.
Opening the door, he saw Andrew on the other side of it. So far, Andrew was doing a great job, not that he had ever doubted him. "Come on in Andrew," he said pleasantly and stepping out of the doorway. "I trust that everything was alright in your new quarters last night?"
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 14, 2008 8:45:37 GMT -5
"Yessir." she said quickly, once the door was opened she nodded to him and made her way inside setting the tray down. There was a light bounce in her step, she was actually rather happy about last nights accommodations and had, had the best night's sleep in a long while. "Was everything to your liking last night Captain?" that came out too proper she realized and blanched. Good thing she was looking away from him but she schooled her features and bit her tongue in reminder to sound more uneducated.
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 14, 2008 9:41:05 GMT -5
"Yes, everything was just fine, thank you," he said not lingering on how proper Andrew's question was. Christopher didn't want to make him uncomfortable. He noticed that Andrew didn't ever really look at him and Christopher was curious as to why. Was he really intimidating or something? He did his best not to be too intimidating to his crew at least.
"Take a seat Andrew and if you wish you are more than welcome to eat what you want off the tray. I probably won't eat all of it." He studied him for a moment. "Andrew, I want you to answer me honestly. Is there something wrong with me?"
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 14, 2008 10:24:40 GMT -5
Andrea was uneasily shifting, but she straightened her posture, she wasn't afraid of him, then realizing how proper she was standing she started to slouch. Being undercover was a full time job. One that she was usually good at but the Captain did indeed intimidate her.
He offered her bits off his tray, and she hadn't eaten so she was tempted but that would mean a longer time in his presence and she couldn't have that, so she moved towards the door shaking her head, "If that's all capt'n" she said but was cut off by his question she paused in her step and her eyes shot up to his revealing a honey hued iris that showed surprise in her almond shaped eyes, eyes too pretty to be a man's, perhaps a boys...but it was doubtful, it was only that direct stare however before she turned and shook her head vigorously.
"No sir.." she said questioningly, wondering why he would ask such a question.
He was beautiful, kind, cunning, brave...what on earth could possibly be wrong with him?
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 14, 2008 12:07:39 GMT -5
Christopher was going to need company from time to time since Christine was now gone from the ship, and he hoped that Andrew would feel comfortable enough to possibly be in his company from time to time. He knew that it was something somewhat odd, but Chris knew that he would need someone to talk to every now and again to keep himself sane.
"I know that's an odd question, but you seem like you try to avoid me if you can or you want to hurry up with your duties around me. I don't know if I intimidate you in anyway, and I'm sorry if I do. I don't mean to honestly."
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 14, 2008 19:58:55 GMT -5
"Oh...well...no sir." she said shaking her head, "I only was thinking you were too busy for the likes of me. Thought I'd leave ya space." she shrugged youthfully, "Would you be needin anythin sir?" she asked still antsy to leave for her own personal ease.
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 14, 2008 20:06:57 GMT -5
"I'm not always too busy," he commented. Christopher rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, Andrew, I have another question to ask of you. Now that Christine is gone to school, things are going to get a lot quieter. I honestly don't want them to go back to that, and I want to figure out why she took a liking in you. I don't mean that in a bad way." He still looked at Andrew. "And since you are my new cabin boy, I thought it best that we sit down and talk seeing as we'll be a little closer."
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 14, 2008 20:32:20 GMT -5
Her palms were sweating, she wanted nothing more than to bolt out the door but she was his cabin boy and that would have been extremely awkward if she just left, so despite the awkwardness that was already there she moved to a chest and sat upon it fiddling with her thumbs, " Christine...er your Niece sir..was a fine lady."
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 14, 2008 20:43:55 GMT -5
"You don't have to be scared of me Andrew. I'm not going to hurt you," Christopher said with reassurance in his voice. He had returned to his chair at his desk and offered Andrew one of the two biscuits that was on his plate. "Take it," he offered.
"And yes, Christine is a fine lady. I'm sure that she has nothing to worry about at school. As long as she remembers to be herself, I think she'll be just fine." Christopher smiled as he thought about what Christine told him she wanted. "You know, before she left, she told me that I should get you to be my cabin boy since Daniel left. And she also told me that she wanted me to find her an aunt. That would be quite amusing, wouldn't you think?"
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 15, 2008 9:26:32 GMT -5
Andrea took the biscuit as one might have taken a snake by the head she was entirely too conscious of this man. So much so she could hardly pay attention to his words. Oh sure... she didn't have to be afraid of him..no...not at all.
She sighed and then with all the resignation in the world slumped to her defeat of conversation.
When he mentioned that Christine had suggested her, she felt at once pride and annoyance, now she knew how to thank for getting her into this mess, on the other hand, even as a lowly cabinboy Christine remembered her.
His next words stopped the biscuit from reaching Andrea's mouth, "A wife sir?" since that's really the only way for her to get an aunt...unless he was planning on adopting a sister.
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 15, 2008 9:57:19 GMT -5
Christopher knew that Andrew was a little uncomfortable around him, and Chris was going to make sure that that issue changed.
"A wife," he confirmed. "Although, that's going to be a hard task in itself. I don't know if there is a woman that would want to marry a sailor. Plus, I'm going to try and find a woman that has never heard of the Montgomerys because I don't a woman that just wants money. The funny thing I think, is that the words settling down, have entered my mind once or twice before Christine ever said anything. I don't know if I'm ready for it Andrew. I don't know if there is a woman out there that doesn't mind the kind of fun I enjoy, and that means being out at sea."
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 15, 2008 10:12:50 GMT -5
She listened to his words and began relaxing as he talked about the woman he wanted. She agreed that it would be best to find someone who had never heard of the Montgomeries, then she sighed, fat chance of that happening. As he went on she began to eat easier and then finally she joined in on the conversation shrugging, "You're a sailor sir. A captain. You belong at sea."
She had to admit that her heart traveled on the waves as well. She didn't know that at thirteen she was shipping off to a world of such adventure, and now the thought of growing old in some house somewhere producing babies to appease her husband and never living life...why...the thought filled her with dread.
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 15, 2008 10:23:05 GMT -5
"I'm glad that you see my point. If the woman will be happy to sail with me and enjoy it, I think it would be alright. Plus, she can't mind getting her hands a little dirty from time to time. After all, if there should be extra help needed on deck, while I'm already out there, she should be willing to help." Christopher sighed. "But I guess that is just a girl from dreams, right? I can't fathom living in a house the rest of my life. There has to be adventure. I know that becoming a father would be an adventure, but I would need something else. The sea has become my home."
Christopher looked directly at Andrew. "If I happen to find a woman, you would give me your honest opinion, wouldn't you? If you didn't think she would be right to sail on a ship and say things behind my back about how she hates the sea, you would tell me, wouldn't you?"
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 15, 2008 16:21:31 GMT -5
A woman couldn't always live on a ship, it may be exciting and all that but there were sometimes when a woman longed for home, to have her things about her and to organize and decorate her own home. He mentioned being a father which included children. When a woman was pregnant or a baby newly born being on a ship would be difficult, and what about the children? Would they come on the ship as well? There were dangers for ordinary people, but children had to be considered.
Why he set himself a fairly difficult task, the only women she knew who would even take him up on that offer were women looking for money. She knew he had different girls in different ports, but none of them would suit this "wifely" position. None of them would care for him, or treat him the way he deserved to be treated, none of them knew him, and she doubted he'd ever let on about his pirating days to anyone but his crew. He hadn't even told his niece. What sort of girl would sail the high seas, have knowledge of sailing and be willing to be with him just because of the man he was?
If Andrea hadn't been thinking of herself as a boy for so long she might have seen how well she fit the description.
"You'll be hard pressed to find a girl like that Capt'n, but 'pon my honor if a woman blackens your name I'll tear 'er 'air out."
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 15, 2008 16:29:46 GMT -5
He knew that finding a woman like that would be hard to do, and because of that he didn't know if he would actually ever settle down. Christopher wasn't a man that stayed at home for years and years. If he ever did find a woman, and she became pregnant, he would stay by her side. It would be hard for him to stay away from the sea, but if he did get married, he knew that he would do anything for someone he loved.
The women that he had a different ports would not do. They were not the marrying type and would only want his money. Christopher didn't want that and he wouldn't settle for it.
At Andrew's comment, he smiled. "Thanks Andrew, and you'll let me know if I'm being stupid and blind, right? I don't care if you have to yell at me about it, you will tell me, right?"
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 16, 2008 2:02:38 GMT -5
Andrea gave him a tentative smile of friendship before nodding. It was strange to see her life hardened captain being so...tender? Or insecure over this new problem. Even more surprising he was asking her for help, asking her to back him...and she would of course, no matter what he was her captain and she...she was obligated to help him at all times.
"Yes sir."
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 16, 2008 9:20:41 GMT -5
"Oh, and one more thing I need you to do for me. Those women at the ports," Christopher said knowing Andrew knew which ones, "steer me away from them if I happen to be going in that direction if I happen to be drunk. I'm going to try to stay away from them any how."
He realized that this was the first time he had ever opened up to anyone other than Christine. Of course, he never did open up about his Pirate days, but that was non-needed information.
"You know Andrew, I'm pleased that you agreed to be my cabin boy. I don't think I could have told anyone else that."
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 16, 2008 13:18:10 GMT -5
Andrea was a little uneased about him being so easy to talk to or feeling that she was easy to talk to...that meant he would want to do it more often...and she could see herself talking to this man for long periods of time. She shook her head to get the notion out of her mind.
"Yessir." she said in response to his request for her. She didn't begrudge him those women, she knew that as a male it was also a matter of pride and reputation how many girls they could bed. Having spent six years as a guy she began to resent and understand the male mind. For how many wenches they seemed to bed however, they were most proud of their wives...or extremely not proud of their wives. Love matches as they were, were rare, but common enough among common people, and a love match was a beautiful thing...she could imagine such a thing for herself...well... barely anyhow. It was becoming such a distant memory.
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