Careening Out of Control ((Knil & Ivan))

[Ivan]

Raiden snorted at the offer, not out of impoliteness, but rather in realization that there wasn’t much. “It’s not needed. Just consider this being the good deed you can expect from this backwards galaxy.”

He turned to look at the shorter male, watching as he fidgeted before sighing and grasping the other’s. “Just,” He paused, thinking of something that would placate the young man in front of him, who looked rather scandalized at the thought of not being able to do anything in return. “If people ask who helped out don’t give out that it was me as captain. You can say ‘Someone from the Zusei’ or even mention Francis over there, but if you have to name me do so by-” Ancestors given, he needed a name, as Raiden wouldn’t do, so… “-Ivan, because if word gets out the that captain left the ship and the idiots were loyal enough to stay put then things would be assumed, namely former association.”

[Knil Recauf]

Knil blinked.... then blinked again. "...What?... Why would I get asked who helped me? ...." His eyes widened. "Is someone after you?..... I-Ivan, right? Well...." He sighed softly and smiled an unsure smile. "I'm not so great at lieing, even if it is mostly the truth... But, if something like that comes up, I'll try to do my best!"

He grinned like a kid, remembering when his father had asked him keep a "hush-hush" attitude about a broken vase. He'd promised with determination that their mother would never find out the old man had accidentally knocked it off while "cleaning". Alas, the moment Knil had set eyes on his mother, who still had no clue that the vase was even broken, he was over-come with guilt and ran to hug his mother, on the verge of tears and begging forgiveness.

He chuckled nervously, hopefully, this time it wouldn't be so bad. He waved to the men and smiled widely. "Thanks again!" he repeated excitedly. Once the men were clear, he shut the docking doors, watching them leave through the window by the door.

[Ivan]

Pausing before entering the pod, he turned to look at the other. “After us? Why would someone be after my beautiful ship?” It came out slightly sarcastically – mostly because he knew that people were after whoever had stolen countless artifacts.

Yet, it seemed as though the other didn’t really understand. “It’s not so much as why would you get asked, but it’s in the off chance that, if you get asked, tell the truth other than my name. In a crew like mine, not registered under any military or known merchant law, it’s odd for the entire crew to be loyal because free lance merchants are known for looking for better opportunities. Myself, as captain, leaving the ship and being able to get back onto said ship without hassle signals either loyalty to myself, which the patrol’s will doubt just for the sake of caution. Another scenario would be that my ship and your own had previous meetings and that it was a regular thing that the crew knew about, probably underhanded and some other complicated stuff that I know that I don’t want brought upon my ship, and I doubt you want on your families name.”

This was one of the reasons why Raiden hated space, unspoken rules and the like. Sighing, he got into the transporter, quickly thinking before it closed to give one final piece of advice. “And you wouldn’t be lying about my name, as Ivan is part of it.” And that, he finished in his mind as the door closed and sealed, shooting out of the hanger, was vague enough to symbolize that he just might have given a middle name or nickname.

[Knil Recauf]

Knil nodded, though he didn't know why, the Cap-Rai-... Ivan had already left. He sighed, almost sadly. He'd known Ivan and ( his.... second, did he say?) Francis for all of about twenty minutes, and here he missed them already, or at least their company. It'd been awhile since he'd talked to anybody besides Naevii.

Speaking of which, he turned and went back to lounge in the pilot's seat. He flipped a few swtiches and pushed a few buttons, sighing happily when the blasted engine started up again. Naevii appeared on the screen and glared at him.

"Psh. And you were acting like it was my fault," the computer hissed. Knil shook his head; finally, things were starting to look up.

"Lighten up Naevii! Come on! Let's get going to where we need to be! I told Mama I'd bring back those.... bead.... thingies...." Naevii sighed and shook his head. Knil pouted. "Let's just go!" he whined impatiently. Finally, the ship sprung forward and Knil flew off.

******
Knil sighed, sitting up on the hotel bed. He'd been jolted out of his memories by the sudden thought of why he had even left home in the first place. His mother had wanted him to buy something or other that was made on this planet. He sighed again, putting his memories aside for now. He'd have plenty of time to mull things over on the long way back home.

Knil slipped on a pair of boots before heading out of the hotel and going out to the market- looking around for those whatevers his mother had wanted. The faster he found them, the faster he could leave.

[Ivan]

Raiden looked over as the three assigned crew members dropped the remaining crates with a resounding ‘thump’ and took the scroll that the merchant distributor held out to him. “Yes, this is correct. A Laev’s worth of Rhaemun, all accounted for.”

The Captain signed the document with a flourish and rolled it up with an expert thumb before holding out his hand for the candle. Gently taking his main signet ring off the adjoining finger, he quickly poured the crude wax onto the seam before adding his seal and handing both items – the candle and parchment – back to the other.
“I expect payment for the last and this’ initial shipment to be on dock by dawn tomorrow at the latest, and will collect the next at the given time.” Nodding to the other, he did and about face and walked swiftly back towards the harbor, where his crew were most likely lounging just in case he decided to put them to work. Not likely but…

A hint of a smile came to his lips, and he turned towards the hunched figure sitting on the cobble. “Boy, stand up and relay this message to the crew of the Kairyu. They are to be back aboard with the usual necessities by dawn, and that one is to stay awake on ship at all times in shifts of four hours.”

Reaching into his normal ‘spending’ pouch, he withdrew a kinva and flipped it at the boy. Raiden smirked as the other eyed the gold coin before running off towards the docks. Well, that took care of that; he was looking forward to some frivolous needs.

[Knil Recauf]

Knil looked around the market with a bit of awe. The planet was some what medieval with it's open markets and such. He liked it much better than his home planet. Everyone there was working so hard to have everything a step up from the person next to them, like a constant competition of technology. Now that he'd had a better look around, he didn't quite want to leave.

He walked down one side of the busy street, looking at what all the booths had to offer and taking his sweet time about it. Knil stopped at a booth selling fruits and bought something to munch on while he shopped. He stopped again a ways down to look at a booth. He remembered how his life-giver had described what it was he'd wanted, but he couldn't quite remember what the things were called. He knew this far off planet was known for it... but that didn't really help him any.

Deciding that the mysterious item was not there, he smiled at the man behind the booth and walked on. After walking for quite awhile, he reached the end of the street and ended up at the docks. Knil let out a weary sigh. He still hadn't found what he was looking for, and all he'd gained was a souvenir- a small, nicely decorated comb for his mother. He carefully tucked the comb into his pocket and started off down the other side of the street, slowly heading back the way he'd come.

He had only passed by a few booths when he felt someone fall into him. He stumbled backwards, the other's weight resting on him before the boy jumped away from him and ran off. He blinked for a moment before checking his pocket... The comb was gone! He'd been pickpocketed! He doubted that "pickpocketed" was a word, but really, who thinks about that just after being robbed?

"Hey! Come back here! Give that back!" he yelled, running after the scruffy boy as fast as his legs, and the crowded street, would let him.

[Ivan]

Hearing the distressed voice, and seeing the person that it was directed at, Francis couldn’t hold in the scowl, even as he reached out and grasped the thief by his collar. “Really boy, you must have a death wish.”

The brunet ignored the pants of the person who had been robbed, instead glaring at the kid in his hands. “The Captain gives you enough to last you a good month for a simple errand, but then you couldn’t keep your filthy paws off and the minute you thought we turned our backs you steal from some lad. Just go out and dig your own grave kid, because once the Captain finds out that you somehow abused the sympathy that he has for scums like you, you will live in regret.”

The man hated being so harsh, but Francis also knew that he was completely justified in his fury. Curse both his and Raiden’s good hearts, but every time they were on this planet they couldn’t help but try something; even the simplest of things; to get rid of the thieve population. Francis just didn’t understand why it backfired so many times though, and he was sure that Raiden didn’t either.

They were pirates, sure, but as pirates they knew how to store their money and gold in certain places to gain profits, how to trade things that they got cheaply for more expensive prices, and reap the sows of their hard work. Where as when they tried to do something for the street population, they just turned around and continued with bad habits.

If Francis were the kid, he would have melted down the gold coin and turned it into a ring or a clip that would be appreciated by the richer population, and get more money off of it. Yet the child just turned around and stole something from someone the moment their back was turned.

He sighed silently and shifted his grip so that he had the street kid by the wrists and shifted his wait. Raiden should be found by Vewi by now, and was probably on his way here to take the kid on ship and give him the lecture of a lifetime. A smirk came to his lips; he knew enough of it to start it.

“And Captain Araumi will find out, not to mention we are less than twenty feet away from his ship, and the rule of thumb always has and always will be that once on deck, the Captain’s order is rule. In fact, I am half tempted to drag you on ship right now, as second I do have almost as much power in the absence of the head.”

He was full of amusement and satisfaction as with each word he spoke, the boy’s face got paler and paler, starting with Raiden’s well-known name. He smirked as the man himself was striding towards them, hair billowing and silver eyes narrow in anger.

“Francis.” Raiden acknowledged his second in command before taking in the boy. It was the same boy; he hadn’t a doubt when he was told of what happened, but it was a good confirmation. “I should slice your head from your shoulders boy, but lucky for you that would be too bloody.” The redhead turned to Vewi, who was standing just a short distance away, and gave him the signal to strip their struggling guest of his treasures.

While Raiden and Vewi were doing that, Francis turned to the shocked young man standing just a few feet behind them all and was amused even more so as he recognized him from their brief foray months prior. “Sorry about that, but I truly doubt they will ever learn. T’snice to see you again, though I’m sure the Captain can attest and reimburse anything still missing.”

[Knil Recauf]

When Knil saw that someone had grabbed the thief, he slowed a bit, though he was still running. He came to a stop when he reached the two, huffing ever-so-slightly. He stood wide-eyed and blinked a few times, trying to clear his vision. Was that seriously who he thought it was?! He remembered the man before him as the man that had accompanied Ivan to fix his stupid ship a few months prior. What was his.... oh! Francis!

He watched as Francis reprimanded the scruffy boy. The man seemed so... harsh. Which, the boy was a thief, so Knil guessed it was justifiable. His heart beat quickened just a bit at the mention of the Captain. The Captain was coming here?

Knil's eyes swept quickly through the crowded streets before he shook his head. He was acting like a love-sick puppy. He kept his eyes on the scruffy boy and Francis. He couldn't see the stolen comb on the boy, so he figured it was in a pocket or something like that. He still couldn't believe someone would try to take it, though.

"Francis." Knil jumped at the voice and looked up to see Ivan. He hadn't seen the man in months, but he had, for some reason, thought about him more often than he'd like to admit. The image of the man, red hair and all, was like a, not wholly unpleasant, splinter in his mind. "I should slice your head from your shoulders boy, but lucky for you that would be too bloody.” Knil blinked at that. The statement wasn't even directed at him and yet he still had to fit the urge to lightly carress his neck in reverance. Now he felt sorry for the theif.

Knil stood silently to the side while some other person searched the boy. He wasn't sure what to watch, the struggling thief or his mind splinter, so his wide eyes just wander between them.

“Sorry about that, but I truly doubt they will ever learn." Knil jumped at the voice, turning a bit so he was facing Franic, the one that had spoken. "T’snice to see you again, though I’m sure the Captain can attest and reimburse anything still missing.”

Knil smiled shakily. "It... It was just a comb," he explained, "I got it for my mom... a souvenir... but I doubt that really interests you..." He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Eh... Thank you for stopping him. I wouldn't have been able to catch him myself." He turned his head to watch as the man he didn't recognize kept searching the thief as the boy fought to get away. "It is nice to see you again, as well. I haven't seen a familiar face since i left home last month." He sighed and shook his head, berating himself. He really needed to stop talking. He really needed to make some more friends, too, he was getting too lonely if he was talking so openly with this man he'd met once.

[Ivan]

“Well, I have no doubt it will be found then.” Francis glanced back at what was happening and couldn’t resist a smirk seeing the various items being pulled off the boy. It ranged from lock picks, to bottles, and other various stolen items, though when Raiden got to the kinva he had given the boy, the other man pocketed it.

“Anyway, since I doubt you’ve had much of an introduction to this planet, welcome to Avaerla, Planet of the Petrified Moon.” He could see the curious look in the others eyes and smiled. Everybody was curious at that statement for some reason, though he could attest to it. Petrified Moon? An odd combination.

“Avaerla has two moons, but the thing is that the planets atmosphere is so big that with the pull of the moon tide – the time of ‘month’ when the moon’s rotation and the planets rotation are closer, though our days are longer than the standard Zerca (and Earth) as well as the months, being 29 hours and 57 days respectively – comes the time of storms on this planet.”

As Francis spoke, he gently guided the boy back into the open market, heading for a rather open inn diner that had really good food. The boy looked like he needed it, and Raiden would no doubt stop there once he was done. “The moon gets much closer to the planet, and in turn causes lightening storms that run from the habitable moon to the planet itself. However, the monthly position is in a mountainous region that mostly consists of gigantic trees, and when the lightening strikes, it petrifies the wood. After a while the whether build up buries the petrified wood underground, as the mountain range grows several feet per year, and crystallizes.”

It was an amazing explanation, one he hadn’t believed when Raiden had first told it to him. Of course, it was in much more detail, as the younger man had actually witnessed the process on numerous occasions and made several theories and excursions, but he knew it well enough to give the basic storyline. “Part of Raiden’s main trade is the crystals. He has numerous names for the stuff, one of which is Rhaemun and another Daoinis. Personally I think he never meant to name it, but the merchants he sold it to eventually came up with catchy names so he went along with it.”

By this time they were seated in a side chamber and Francis finished his explanation just as Raiden slid the door closed behind him and took a seat on the side of the table between the two. He put the cloth-incased comb gently on the table in front of Knil. “I must say, when I heard the case I was not expecting it to have been you whom had been robbed, but I suppose you have a natural disposition for trouble.”

[Knil Recauf]

Knil listened quietly to the explanation, nodding every once in awhile to show he understood. He walked along with Franis, not really wanting to leave but not really wanting to miss out on the explanation, either. It seemed rather far-fetched, what Francis was saying, but Knil wasn't about to call the man on it and listened anyway.

While they... well, while Francis talked, they entered an inn and went into a side room of the eating area. They sat on opposite sides of the table, though Knil didn't really notice as he listened.

He did, however, notice obtrusive red hair as a body entered the side room and closed the door. He turned his head and saw Ivan take a seat at the table inbetween himself and Francis. He blinked silently when Raiden set a cloth-covered something on the table while silently wondering how many names Ivan had and many were actually necessary. He unwrapped the clothe and found the stolen comb.

“I must say, when I heard the case I was not expecting it to have been you whom had been robbed, but I suppose you have a natural disposition for trouble.” Knil blushed.

"Eh... Well, it's not like it's my fault.... this time." He coughed into his hand before looking up at Ivan. "Maybe you're just my bad luck charm? I've been fine before and between our meetings, but everytime you're near something bad happens to me and you end up helping me out. Though, that means I owe you twice now... and I still haven't thought of a way to repay you!"

[Ivan]

The redhead immediately shook his head in total resolution. “People do not have anything to give me that I cannot get myself, on my own or not. As for me being a bad luck charm, well, you’ve always come out of these little run ins in better circumstances than when you started did you not?”

It was amusing to be thought of as a bad luck charm. He was a Pirate, and while that generally did not entice good luck, it was never true bad luck either. Besides, he had a strict honor code, though more than a bit different than most pirate’s code.

Raiden looked up when a server entered the small room and quietly proceeded to give his own order as well as Francis, knowing the other man well enough. He looked at their nervous looking companion and smirked, “Order anything, it’s not like money’s an issue. That and your bound to be hungry, what with the fact that you don’t have the native coin and have to haggle by trade.”

Giving a thoughtful frown, Raiden reached across the table and plucked the bejeweled comb out of the lighter redhead’s hands. It was a good comb, the bright green moldavite and imported fiery orange sapphire blending in with the burnished silver. “This is a nice comb; you could sell it for a fortune on the right planets. Moldavite, the green gem, is home to most asteroids and some chance planets, this being one of them. The orange Sapphire, however, is known to be almost priceless, because the mines are hard to find and most have already been carved out; I’m surprised it’s on here because I know it’s not native to Avaerla.” He suppressed a smile at Knil’s surprised look and the new, speculative look that Francis gave the comb.

“The silver is a regular quality metal, melted down for impurities, solidified, and then heat worked into the comb shape, though the fire marks are still on. Beautiful. I’d keep your hands on it;” He paused, rewrapping it in the clothe and putting it back into Knil’s hand, folding the other’s fingers around it. “keep it under wrap, and I’d put it in the safe on your ship or else it might just get stolen. The merchant who gave it to you obviously had no idea what he was giving up, but all the better for you.”

[Knil Recauf]

Knil blinked at the server as Ivan ordered for himself and Francis. "Order anything, it’s not like money’s an issue. That and your bound to be hungry, what with the fact that you don’t have the native coin and have to haggle by trade." Knil blushed lightly, knowing that to be the case, and nodded. He quickly scanned the menu for something to eat, sputtering out his order nervously. He hated being put on the spot.

Knil jumped a bit when Ivan took the comb from him. He listened, wide eyed, as the man described the different things that made up the gift. He was surprised that he had been able to get the comb for the price he did. Knil blushed when Ivan placed it back in his hands, wrapping the half-merman's hands around it. "I-... I had no idea! That's amazing that you know so much about those kinds of things... I had no idea it was so valuable! I just wanted to get something nice for Mother because I know he'll be mad when I can't find the... whatever it was he wanted me to get. I figured that if I got him something nice, then he wouldn't be as mad," he chuckled nervously.

[Ivan]

Ivan chuckled, noting that he’d never be able to make a pirate out of the boy even if he was inclined to try. Knil was just too open, and even after his description of the comb, he was still looking to giving it to his family. Ivan knew that should any of his crew see it, they would have horded it for a long while until they let go of it’s worth. “Well, I think he’d definitely appreciate it. It’s worth more on some planets; really, it’s some of the minor planets that it won’t be of as much worth. Though I’d advise your life giver not to go to a few choice planets with that in public, some of the more technological ones that don’t know of the space system would believe that to belong in a museum.”

He let go of the other’s hands, looking up just as the food arrived. “So, anything you’ve seen that you particularly like about here yet?”

[Knil Recauf]

Knil smiled up at the server politely when a plate of food was set infront of him. "Well..." He thought for a second, his face scrunching up as he bit his lip. "Well, it's got a lot of water. That's always nice," he said with a shrug, "I can't really say there's one particular thing I like about this place... But it's nice," he stated lamely. He trully liked the place, he just didn't know how, exactly, he was supposed to explain it without sounding like an idiot.

[Ivan]

Francis let out a snort when the boy mentioned all the water. “That there is one of the Captain’s main loves about here. He can ride the winds on his ship for as long of a time as he wants, reaping the benefits is just extra. He just loves the waters.” He grinned at Raiden’s glare, knowing that the Captain wouldn’t have revealed that himself unless asked.

Running a hand through his hair briefly, he nodded to his second’s assessment. “True enough. But Avaerla has many things that I like, not just the water.” He gently tore off the fins to the bass before sliding the knife between the fish’s ribs, cleanly halving it. A moment later he had the tailbone and smaller bones on a separate plate, handing it to the server before digging into his own meal, dipping it into the citrus juice with a small smile. “Anyway, I have to say that this is my favorite minor planet in the system. Favorite planet period I suppose actually. Because while it’s not as technologically advanced as many planets, it’s nicer than some planets out there.”