Careening Out of Control ((Knil & Ivan))

[Knil Recauf]

Knil agreed with a nod, watching as Ivan expertly sliced up the fish. He winced slightly as the fish was de-boned. He glanced down at his own plate of salad and wondered, briefly, if de-boned was a word.

The half-merman turned to Francis with a confused look as he picked at his food. "What do you mean 'reaping the benefits'?" He glanced at Ivan with a suspicious look, "What exectally do you do?"

[Ivan]

Raiden blinked, looking at the boy in slight wonder. He was still suspicious, which was odd, (never mind the fact that Raiden would have done the same and more if he’d been in the others position. More being the fact that he’d have hacked his file,) and Raiden couldn’t keep in the sigh. “A bundle of things actually. If you’re talking about my space job, I play merchant to Mentsiquar, as one of the organizations is doing tests on Daoinis, checking to see its memory capabilities as well as conductivity. A new power source would be very valued, you must realize, especially considering the circumstances surrounding the crystal. If the tests come out positive, then I’ll be required to do a full run of the planets statistics, more than the general, and report to the company Nenq, who will work towards stimulating the effects that the moons generate here on Avaerla on a different planet, maybe succeeding on making numerous mines on abandoned planets.”

He smirked at the look on the other’s face; it was awing, he supposed, but not the most exciting or noteworthy job. He could think of a dozen others who had the same job, basing it off of different materials. Truth be told, it was a rather normal space explorer scientist job. “Of course, in the eyes of the major planets, Avaerla is ‘mine’ through legal process, though law states that no planet with it’s own thriving civilization or exceeds the given core size can be owned. Rather, I’ll be the one that the work is shoved to should the time come that the planets people gain knowledge, through their own means, of space travel and further technologies.”

[Knil Recauf]

Knil blinked. "Oh. I work at a craft shop on Parinenai... That's it. Well, sort of. Mom makes me travel places, because Dad taught me how to pilot a ship, to get stuff for him. I thought my job was kind of interesting before, now it seems boring. What you do seems a lot more interesting," he said nervously, "That seems like a lot of pressure, though. They figure something out then throw the burden of leading everything is put on you? I don't I'd be able to handle that very well... Then again, I'm not you." He could feel his cheeks heating. He always rambles like that when he gets nervous. "Eh... sorry... Rambling again," he muttered into his food.

[Ivan]

Raiden shook his head, “It’s not that much pressure, considering that I won’t actually do anything if that time comes. Y’see, not only will that take centuries, but all I’d have to do is find someone educated enough to lead the planet – or parts, depending on how Avaerla develops – and then introduce them to the billions of files that Zerca’s accumulated throughout the years, point them to the files needing to be read and there you go.”

Francis snickered. The captain had been rambling just as much as the boy, and that was very much amusing. “The other job,” He butted in, “is exciting. There’s nothing like having to trust the crew and captain to steer us in the waters though the lightening. Not that it would kill us if we were hit, Mentisquar, upon the signing of the contract, plated in between the ships boarding and it absorbs most of the shock. At worst, we feel a horrible jolt to our system.” Yeah, that’d annoy the longhaired man; Raiden was proud of his ship, and now it would be a blow to his pride that someone knew he’d allowed another to touch his precious ship.

[Knil Recauf]

"That's sounds neat! If I had a ship I never would have... Gah! There I go again. Sorry," he said meekly before asking, "...How many ships do you have? You have one in space," he counted, holding up a finger, "and another one in the water, here? Do you have more? That's a lot of ships. All I have is one... and it's real small."

He glanced over at Raiden, expecting the man to answer him, but saw a slight brooding look. "Eh.... I'm sorry. Did I say something? I didn't mean to make you mad...."

[Ivan]

Raiden shook his head quickly in assurance, trying to force himself to stop glaring at his second. “Not you, I was just reminiscing. I don’t like people touching things I deign are mine. As for my ships…” He paused, having to actually think on it; it had been a while since he’d visited other planets that he had deeds on. “I have only one actual space traveler, though I have two shot pods for short distances, such as between different ships.”

“Kairyu, the ship on this planet, is my main water ship, though I have four more and a cruiser on different planets. It’s actually easier to gain ships for planets, though some cost more, but also because it’s very easy to just take wood from another, uninhabited planet to build a ship.” Raiden repressed a wince, he’d treaded into dangerous territory with that comment and, from the look on Francis’ face, the other male wouldn’t help dig out.

[Knil Recauf]

Knil blinked. "Wow... That's a lot," he stated childishly. He blushed, mentally calling himself an idiot saying saying something so stupid. "Eh... That is.... Why do have so many? And why would you need to make more? You must like sailing a lot.... I've personally never been. If I'm going to be in on the water, I might as well be in the water... Well, that's what Mother always says, anyway," he stated, laughing lightly.

He remembered when his father had tried to go sailing one day when they went to a beach. Knil's mother had instantly refused, stating that previous line before going into the water and transforming into his mermaid form. The Mentsiquarian hadn't been happy about that, but it wasn't like the man could have done anything about it.

[Ivan]

Francis grinned and answered before his longer haired companion could answer. “Raiden loves sailing; it’s in his genes, you know. His Pa came from a long line of merchants, his maternal just as long, and currently his—” He cut himself off when the man himself cleared his throat and stamped upon his foot, wincing. “Right. Right.” Looking the kid in the eye, he grinned. “He come from a long line on both sides, you know. The only ship he loves more than his two babies though has been idealized so much I doubt it’s half as good as he claims it is.”

Taking a deep breath, Raiden reminded himself that grown men don’t pout, and if that’s so then it’s double that for pirates. Going back onto task, he looked at the young man curiously. “In the water? That’s not very healthy for long distances. Rather the opposite really, in most cases…”

[Knil Recauf]

Knil shrugged lightly. "My family and I don't really travel long distances, especially in the water... Though I guess my being here does count as long distance," he mumbled softly, "But if we did we couldn't go in the water... Dad's from Mentsiquar so he wouldn't be able to come with us," he explained. He stopped short, a thoughtful pout on his face before he turned to Francis. "...When you said 'babies'... You meant ships... right?" He laughed nervously. He felt stupid for asking, but he couldn't tell... Surely Ivan didn't have a mate....... right?

[Ivan]

Francis suppressed his instant reaction for all of six seconds before breaking out into laughter. In contrast, the bland expression on the Kello’s face told it’s own story. “His babies. Yes, I meant his ship. Sorry.” Gripping the napkin and wiping at his face, he cleared his throat before continuing. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you might not make the connection; Zusei and Kairyu are the best of his ships. I don’t blame him for the favoritism, either, what with the amount of work he’s put into them.”

“I can answer for myself you do realize.” Looking at the young man sitting across from him he shrugged. “Technically I’m under a nine page contract saying that I’m not allowed to mate without giving up my claim, but I can’t give up said claim without having met my mate.” He shrugged; thinking about it just made it all the more confusing. “You’re father’s from Mentsiquar? I’m going to take a shot that you’re have Mer blood then?”

[Knil Recauf]

Knil blushed, his face burning. He ducked his head, his face getting hidden by his hair. He pouted softly. It was just an inocent question; how could he laugh like that? It was mean. He blinked and looked up at Ivan.

"Claim?" he asked softly, "The ships or the planets... and stuff?" he clarified, not wanting Francis to laugh at him again. He nodded softly at Ivan's questioning. "Yes. Momma's a Merman. I guess I take after him more than Dad, though I do like to travel a lot like he does."

[Ivan]

“Stuff would probably be most appropriate. The history behind the man I was apprenticed to wanted to make sure that the crafts were continued as they always had been. The idea when the contract was originally set up some hundred years ago was that if the captain mated, then they would have to divide their time between the ship and their mate and any children sired.” He tried his best to keep the resentment out of his voice; knowing the reason behind it didn’t make it any less bitter of a realization.

“There’s a loop in it, of course, but it’s not one that I’d want to take.” Ivan sighed, just thinking of the contract made his bones weary. “Two actually, but all the same, the nomenclature for Zusei is under Raiden Araumi, so I wouldn’t be able to keep him no matter how I fight it. Enough of that though." Looking up from the table, he looked out the window to check the sun while idly wondering how to fix the mistake he'd made by ordering fish. "Would you like to come aboard the Kairyuu? Just to walk aboard, she's not setting sail until tomorrow's dawn."

[Knil Recauf]

Knil stared blankly at Ivan as the man explained everything. He understood the beggining of what the man had said... but he'd become completely lost somewhere within his speech. When Ivan had offered to show him his ship, Knil brightened. The two had been going on and on about it, so of course he wanted to see it!

"Yes, please, if you don't mind!" he exclaimed happily. He'd never been on a ship before... at least, not one on the water; it would be a completely new experience.

[Ivan]

Nodding to himself, Ivan tossed a few coins on the table before standing, motioning the two up as well. “Kairyuu is a beauty, really. Even with her wood having to have been reinforced, you can see her grains really well.” Smiling slightly, he restrained himself from walking to fast, strolling beside the mer. “This planet is mainly known for it’s sea treasures, and whatever is in the waters seems to make way for the bones of the various fish to be more than the usual cartilage ones that you find on planets like Zerca or Earth.”

Glancing down, he amended his statement slightly. “I mean not to offend in any way if I have. I don’t suppose I’m any good at explaining things, as I must have lost you many times before.” Reaching the docks, lead the way through the crowd, sometimes taking the other’s elbow to lead through a larger mass. Finally he stopped at a certain ship, the light brown wood gleaming despite the obviously foreign, rather metallic like, sheen.

Glancing at the sun, Ivan bit back a grin and waited for the other to take notice. Sporadically, or rather, when the sun hit it just right, the sheen fell away to reveal the bright red and amber graining in the wood. It was even more noticeable on deck, but if the other saw them while still on land he’d probably take more note while on board.

[Knil Recauf]

Knil tried to listen as Ivan explained, but he was distracted by trying to get through all the people without getting lost or getting something stollen again. He knew he probably wouldn't get pickpocketed, but once bitten, twice shy. It did help his paranoia, however, when the other man grabbed his arm, despite the blush that seemed to creep up every time he did.

Finally, they stopped in front of a ship. It was beautiful, Knil couldn't (and wouldn't) deny that, but it was hard for him to really describe how it looked. He gaped, blinking with wide eyes for a moment. "W-wow... This is yours?!" he exclaimed, giving Ivan an awed looked. "It's.... it's.... amazing...," he muttered.

After staring at it for a moment, Knil blinked awkwardly, giving the ship an odd look before squinting at it. He looked up at Ivan, then at Francis, then back to the ship, when the weird thing happened again. He didn't want to ask about the ship's sudden changing/going back to normal looking; he didn't want Francis to laugh at him. Knil figured he'd made enough of an idiot of himself for one day.