Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-24685738-20170731183450/@comment-13615389-20170802052808

"I never liked ships." Robin admitted to Vidic as the pair leaned against the shipwright's office, disheveled hair billowing in the cool breeze of the ocean. Chartering a ship to carry an extra six tons of cargo in Septims alone was a tall order, especially on such short notice. Luckily for the two companions, it wasn't an issue to pay for with their newfound wealth.

"'Cause ye've nae been a good one is why," Vidic pointed out, "When yer livin' paycheck to paycheck, ye cannae exactly expec' quality ships o' the line to be cartin' yer poor, poverty-stricken arse place to place. No, ye've got a slum it with all kinds o' degenerates."

"You mean like back on The Bogart?" Robin asked, prompting a reaction from Vidic that sounded a bit like a distant, raking scream.

"Gods, if there was anythin' worse than that wreck itself, it was the passengers. Men were all cutthroats or charlatans, an' don' get me started on the women.  Bunch o' dirty middens all bangin' like wheelie bin lids durin' a storm. Pro'ly caught crabs on the way over, and I don' mean for snackin' on." Robin snorted in response and the two of them shared a moment of silence for a moment as the sailors prepared the ship for the duo.

"Still, I don't think it's the quality of the ship that gets me. Remember when we met Marshal Abel up in Betony and he took us sailing? Nice ship. Still didn't like it." Vidic nodded wistfully in response. Abel was a friend of his that he'd first met during his time working for the Empire along with Robin's father, Marcus. Abel invited them both to his home in Betony for a job a few years prior, but was disappointed to see Robin in place of his father,

"S'pose it isn' for everyone then." The Imperial shrugged, his eyes still fixed on the brig before them. "Betony sure was a treat, wasn' it? Would've enjoyed it more if we didn' have to be deal with that 'Mirror Knight' while there..."

"I think he was called the 'Glass Knight'."

"He could be called the 'Cock-Fondling Knight' for all I give a shit, Holt, he's dead and I'm rich. Rich people don' have to care 'bout shite." Vidic grinned at the thought of never having to lift a finger again, if he wanted. He was set for a lifetime, possibly several if he played his cards right. As far as either of them were concerned, the best way to avoid being marked for death by a dark God was to relax in a villa somewhere nice. Robin was a little more apprehensive about the whole situation, considering he'd been the one kill the woman who summoned him, but eventually folded to Vidic's prodding. It was more that he convinced himself that it was good idea more than anything. They'd done some dangerous things in their time together, but a task this large seemed bigger than both of their reaches. Besides, they got what they came for.

"What's in store for you next?" The arbalist asked, turning to face his friend for the first time since their conversation started. "Hanging up the old 'Kontonn' alias for good, or what?"

"'Course, I love bein' a spy-for-hire. Gets the blood pumpin', juices flowin'. Why, even with all this wealth ah don' think I'll be able to sit still." Robin's eyes widened in surprise, shooting Vidic an incredulous look. The latter's straight face broke into a hearty laugh after a moment. "Said nae cunt ever. Boy, gimme a few years an' I'll have spent more money on spilt liquor than most men earn in an entire lifetime."

"I don't know." Robin replied, turning as one of the sailors began to load the last sack of gold onto the ship "You've pretty much described me quite nicely."

"What? Yer a cunt who would say tha--" The Imperial cut himself off as the sickly looking sailor who'd been hauling the final sack tripped on the way up to the gangplank, nearly falling into the waters below with the sack slung over his shoulder. The former spy sprung froward in a fury, a vein looking as if it would burst at any moment decorating his forehead. "Ye stupid prick, watch where yer fuckin' goin', man! The contents of that sack are worth more 'an you are!"

"Easy on, lad." One of the sailors on deck said, hurrying down to help his younger friend up and hoist the sack of gold over his shoulder as he turned to face Vidic. "Apologies milord, our friend here is new to the crew."

"Don'chu gimme that 'our friend' shite. You that desperate for manpower that yer recruitin' any ol' beggar and/or bugger who strolls in?" The sailor hesitated to respond, dumbfounded and unsure of how too react. He hastily apologized and hurried back to the cargo hold to load the last bag. Vidic sighed and turned back to Robin. "Might be slummin' it with another incompetent crew again, Holt. Bastards are 'bout as useful as a paintin' of my arse, they are."

"I think he just made a little mistake. You might've been too hard on the poor guy." Robin said, his tone as even as ever while Vidic calmed down.

"Ye think so? Am not so sure." He looked backwards to the ship, now that everything had been loaded. "Gods, takin' forever to ready up the damn thing." Not long afterwards, the sails of the ship unfurled, proudly displaying their ivory colours. "Fuckin' finally, guess we can actually board now." Then the ship began to move, gliding over the water at a pace faster than either of them would like.

"Is that supposed to happen...?"

"Hey. Hey-- Hey! Hey, hey, hey!" Vidic ran forward along the dock at full speed, too slow to intercept the sailors as they raised the gangplank. "You fu-- Hey, what the fuck?!" Of course, his exclamation of confusion and annoyance did nothing to slow the ship as he ran alongside it. All it really served to do was amuse the sailors up on the deck, the young and sickly of which now presenting Vidic with a very rude hand gesture. A long slew of curses followed from both sides until the ship was finally out of earshot of either party. Devastated, all the Imperial could do was watch as they sailed away with an expression of disbelief. Robin eventually strolled along the deck next to him with his lips rolled into his mouth and eyes downcast.

"It never ends, does it?"