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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 22, 2008 18:45:12 GMT -5
Andrea thought she would dread her morning meetings with the captain but strangely she had come to look forward to them more than any other time aboard the ship. They talked, about anything and everything in between, she was feeling comfortable around him. Too comfortable. He went over charts with her, and she delighted in showing off her mild expertise, as she remembered fondly being at her father's side and looking over his charts.
She was coming to relate time with him with the fuzzy warm feeling she felt in her stomach but she hadn't a clue what that could mean. To be perfectly honest sometimes he made her so nervous with those feelings she got sick. She could admire him as a woman might, he was lacking in no area physically, and there was a basic prime virility to the man that exuded strength and power, but then she had seen another side to him. A side that she hadn't seen even while working with him for six years. Now as his cabin boy she saw something gentle, something lonely, and she wished more than ever to take away whatever worries he had only she felt so powerless.
They'd be docking at a midway port soon and perhaps there he'd be looking for a wife, since that was his goal. A sudden agony filled her, she didn't want to lose his attention to some pretty girl...he had become her best friend...and really the only person she had in this world. Sighing she continued to fold his laundry and put things away in his cabin tidying up. She knew where he liked his things, how he liked his food, his little quirks, his mannerisms, she knew it all so well though she had only been his cabinboy for a small while, but she watched him, stared at him whenever she thought he wasn't looking.
In fact she knew him well enough to know that in five minutes he'd be coming back into the cabin to go over his charts and she had laid that out for him as well.
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 23, 2008 1:15:47 GMT -5
Christopher started his rounds with checking out the ship and making sure that everything was in order. He helped pulled down the sails and tie them up as a perfect breeze started blowing. Yes, he could have used magic to help with sailing, but there was no fun in that. Doing the work by hand was much better.
Having Andrew as a cabin boy was perfect. Christine made an excellent choice. Christopher didn't have any complaints with Andrew. In fact, he was sure that he liked having Andrew work for him better than he did Daniel. Plus, Andrew was a much easier person to talk to rather than Daniel, or anyone other than his niece.
Just like clockwork, five minutes later Christopher walked into his cabin. He smiled at Andrew. "Thank you," he said seeing his charts out on the desk. Andrew treated him well, and Christopher only saw it fit to treat Andrew the same. "How have you been so far," he asked conversationally.
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 23, 2008 1:45:09 GMT -5
Andrea spun around at his entrance and a smile fell on her face before she could stop herself, "Tip top Capt'n" she said, then more solemnly she coughed, " I finished with my chores." she told him. Usually if she had finished with her chores then she was free to do as she pleased, and these days more often than not, what she pleased, was looking over his charts with him and then if he wasn't busy he'd "help" her with her reading.
Andrea had to admit she had gotten "dumber" if only to spend more time with him of course she could read in several languages so what did it matter?
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 23, 2008 2:36:38 GMT -5
"Excellent, excellent," he replied. "You get done with your chores twice as fast as Daniel did." Christopher took a stand by his desk and pulled out his chair. "Do you want to seat here and map out a chart? I think you can do it now, after all, you've had plenty of practice." He gestured to his seat. After he would finish glancing over his charts, he would help Andrew read. Of course, he enjoyed doing it because he felt like he was helping someone out. Sometimes he felt that Andrew already knew the stuff, however he just let it pass without comment.
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 23, 2008 17:52:52 GMT -5
Andrea moved toward him eagerly and plumped herself into the seat. She was taking better precaution after the other day when she had gracefully walked and then sat down like a proper lady, she had to remember the facade, it shouldn't have been so difficult but then again it was as if some inner part of her wanted to impress him.
"Sure." she announced looking at the map and biting her bottom lip.
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 23, 2008 19:45:33 GMT -5
He grinned as Andrew seemed to be a little confident about mapping out a path on the chart. "Alright, what I want you to do is set a course from our mid port to our final port of the trip." Christopher glanced at his desk and pushed the ink bottle forward a little bit for better reach for Andrew.
"It looks like there is a storm brewing up out there. We might need you in a little bit to help with the sails and things, that is if you don't mind and if the wind really picks up," he added conversationally. "However, we don't have to worry about that for about another twenty to thirty minutes. I think you can finish doing the chart by then."
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 25, 2008 12:46:03 GMT -5
Andrea nodded and eagerly walked towards him then plopped herself into a chair. The other day she had moved about too gracefully, too much like a woman and had to remedy that today. Although once seated all pretenses faded as she simply took in her new task which had her occupied diligently she began to map a course at once hoping to impress and please him simultaneously wonder when that had become one of her primary objectives.
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 25, 2008 17:35:15 GMT -5
He watched as Andrew moved quickly. Christopher had to admire his eagerness. That was one of the reasons why he had agreed to hire Andrew six years ago anyhow, and of course Christine had something to do with it as well, but still. He smiled over Andrew's shoulder as he began to work on the maps. The boy had come a long way from what Christopher had noticed and he was very impressed.
"Great work Andrew," he commented as he watched him. "However, I'm going to leave you for just a second to check on the sails and the weather. If you hear me yelling, come on out, alright?"
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 26, 2008 18:24:20 GMT -5
Andrea knew a moment's panic at the thought of a storm. As a sailor she had faced them, braved them, and won them, as a person however it had been the sea which swallowed her family and destroyed her life. Fitting that she should now sail it's depths fearless as she dared, but there was always that small worry. She did an adequate job of pushing those thoughts behind her although it had been harder as of late.
Resentment clung to the fact that she could never again have a normal life, never be courted and wooed and won the way she was supposed to have been. Perhaps even her father might have arranged an agreement with the bold sailor in front of her since her father was a sailing man himself and she had enough of a dowry to whet any man's appetite to say nothing of herself. Well.. perhaps she lacked in that area.
She knew her mother was a great beauty, refined and full of grace. When Andrea was younger they all said that she would turn heads just like her mother, but that had been before she cut off her hair, trimmed her eyelashes and put on the dowdy clothing. Before hard work had put muscles where soft flesh had been, before the sun had turned her fair skin golden, before rough rope and ship duties toughened her soft hands. She couldn't call herself a beauty the way she looked now.
Smiling up at him she nodded. She was happy with his praise of her work and actually happy of her work itself, happy to be of use to him. She agreed to come out if he needed her though she secretly feared the storm.
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 26, 2008 18:33:24 GMT -5
Christopher gave a final smile to Andrew before he disappeared from his cabin. He trusted Andrew to finish the work, and to be alone in his quarters. He knew that Andrew wouldn't steal anything from in there.
Once on deck, Christopher noticed that they were about to hit the storm. The winds were picking up and the water was choppy. He started to give directions to his men while they prepared the ship for the stormy weather. After six years of being out a sea, Christopher had been through his fair share of storms and more. The wind started to pick up more and things started to fly. The men were running around like crazy trying to make sure that nothing became damaged.
He could see a blanket of rain ahead of them and knew that they were going right toward it. "Andrew," Christoper shouted before they reached the rain.
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 27, 2008 9:04:15 GMT -5
Andrea heard his bellow almost as if she had been straining to hear it only to have it arrive in a clear strong voice. She associated him with that dark timber, and with the chills it sent down her spine. Quickly she stopped what she was doing and stood. She could feel the storm then though the cabin was usually the most steady spot. She had to get above and help.
Quickly she raced atop the deck and searched for him. People surrounded her trying to secure things and set up the ship to keep from being damaged from the storm. She turned to look around but still she couldn't find him yet. Rain was pelting like small rocks against her skin and it stung but she didn't care she needed to find the captain, he called her and she would come running, nevermind that she was so small the tiniest bit of wind or wave could send her nearly over the ship.
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 27, 2008 18:27:09 GMT -5
Christopher was getting hit with hard rain, but he remained standing as the choppy sea rocked the ship. "Andrew," he called again holding onto a rope. All his men were running around securing everything and there wasn't one that could run over and help him. He spotted Andrew looking around. "Over here," he yelled just as the thunder clap was over. He needed him to come and tie a knot in the rope while he had it pulled tight.
A wave of water hit the ship, but Christopher still stood strong. After Andrew helped him tie off the rope, he would let him return to his quarters.
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 27, 2008 19:02:07 GMT -5
Andrea was blinded for only a moment, blinded as she always was when the storms first started. She shook off the fear and ran to help Chris his voice finally penetrating through her fear. She slammed against him slightly with the wave but managed to help finish tying off the rope quickly enough.
Then a wave swung up over the ship and drenched them both causing her to fly flush against his chest. It was a dreadfully curious moment for her as she hadn't worn her bindings this morning. Now with wet clothing she fell against his wet clothing the cloth beneath them barely a barrier from feeling all that there was to feel.
Despite the cold water rushing around them Chris was still hot, his chest against hers scorched her entire frame as she held still for a moment and breathed deep. Thunder struck at that moment and lightning in the distance and she curled protectively against him in whatever weakness fear was to her. She regained her balance soon enough and jumped back, if she could feel him he could feel her and that would be way too much explaining to do.
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Post by Christopher Montgomery on Nov 27, 2008 19:28:28 GMT -5
He was thankful as Andrew came and tied off the rope. For a little thing, he was great at tying knots.
Christopher felt Andrew slam against him, but he didn't think anything of it as Andrew hurried and tied the rope. He didn't care about getting drenched. That was something he was used to already. However, Andrew slammed up against him again and the way the ship was rocking, Andrew was pressed up against him. Christopher felt something odd through Andrew's shirt as he was pressed up against him. He looked down at him curiously. Maybe it was just the way his shirt was gathered or something. Christopher didn't comment as Andrew just jumped back, but he did continue to look at him curiously. "Make sure all the ropes are tied off," he told Andrew as he doubled checked to make sure things were secure.
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Post by Andrea Fairchild on Nov 27, 2008 20:19:12 GMT -5
She was breathing deeply her eyes on him fiercely. She couldn't move for a minute then she was gone as if the devil himself were on her heels. She did what he asked of her quickly tying things down fighting against the wind and rain when she was done she checked with the first mate to make sure it was alright for her to go back inside to get a slicker. She got to her room locked it and set the binding back on her cursing herself a few times over before she put on her other clothes and a slicker over it then she returned to the deck to weather out the storm.
Merlin...what had she just done?
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