Rainblade-Ryalors Private Zann's Alley/Backyard Boys Will Be Boys

[Lorcan Rainclaw]

Lorcan himself was, for now, rather ambivalent about this news save the unwavering sense of having missed something significant. To be related to a serial killer, much less a beast he had only heard of in tales, meant little to his lived experience. He wasn’t one much to concern himself with legacy or history: the present was far more pressing a matter.

What did catch his interest was the way Falun and Alwyn spoke to one another. His ears flicked, noting the way the older todd spoke of…what he presumed, then, would be his uncle? and how his cousin likewise responded to the jibe. It was impossible not to glance to his father at the mention of MinoComm, wondering what he would make of the comment. Similarly, it became difficult, once he had noticed it, not to frown at the cloth-covered cabinet for a beat. It felt out of place in his parents’ cabin.

He did not voice his opinion, attention soon pulled back to the conversation at paw. “Aye,” Lorcan replied. “Pretty much first thing we did, wasn’t it, Kinz? Not sure how I feel about all the engines and whatnot seein’ as I used to make money repairing canvas, but suppose I’ll be paid to do better work’n that.”

 

[Kinza Rainclaw]

It was strange to think how wildly different their family associations were turning out to be. From emotionally constipated to batscat feral. Kinza hoped she would be able to wriggle out from all of these connections if they suited her, perhaps use others to her advantage. She was her father’s daughter after all.

These revelations were far less emotional for her, coaxing her into a grin when Falun played at his teasing; a brief glance also to Jeshal at the MinoComm mention. What surprised her was Alwyn’s next bit of news. Her curiosity about the steam engine was interrupted on finding out he was to be joining them.

“Aye, I’m keen ter see her in action meself!” she said, eyes bright with thoughts of the future. “She’s a good balance fer me, ter be honest. I like to get me paws on both sail and machine. I ain’t much of an expert on the engine itself though Mum taught me a thing or two.”​

 

[Jeshal the Ironclaw]

Jeshal was thankful Falun hadn’t referred to him as a crusty old relic yet, regardless of how his joints felt from his recent ghostly escapades. And other things. Every scrap of conversation filtered new (for him) information and it felt as good as it felt uneasy to dust off his espionage skills the way Falun did his trousers. Vito had adopted Falun since the loss of his parents. There was the temptation to seek out what Alwyn knew of his parents’ secrets, but for now he knew better than to test loyalties. With his emotions so raw at present, his talents for poking around weren’t going to be at their sharpest. What did not go unnoticed, however, was Alwyn’s near slip. Jeshal filed that away for later and focused instead on the information the todd actually wanted to provide. It was strange being called Uncle. Talk of the Hide was only just enough to steer his thoughts from that.

He allowed friendless upon his features to follow the surprise of Alwyn signing up. Time would tell whether he would mean his amiability.

“Looks like it be still a family ship after all, haharr. Though it pains me ter see her with that great smoke belcher on her backside, that it does. Don’t get me wrong, full o’ pride I am at Tox’s contributions ter these advancements, but me poor Golden Hide!” He feigned dramatics, putting the back of his gauntlet to his forehead. “Ain’t what I be wishin’ for when I wish her a big booty.” Golden Hide? More like Old’n’Wide.​

 

[Falun Furotazzi]

Falun's expression turned sour, first at the mention of Vito and his parents, and then nearly into a scowl as the discussion moved to the Golden Hide. "Ya can keep 'at ship, an' 'er fat end as well," he said shortly, leaning himself against the corner of a cabinet and crossing his arms sullenly. "Don' get wha's so grea' abou' it anyway. 'S jus' a buncha wood an' stuff, nah e'en 'at nice. Dunno wha' dolt woul' go an' get e'eryone an' 'emselves killed o'er a bloody boat." The resentment in his voice seemed somewhat misplaced for the tenor of the conversation, the vehemence perhaps aimed more at a different golden hide altogether.

 

[Alwyn Ryalor]

Alwyn, now more in his element about military matters, nodded enthusiastically towards his cousins first, and he picked up a bit of confidence which was sourly needed. He replied with a bit more pep to his talk regarding the Hide, focusing a bit more on Kinza since she seemed the most enthusiastic about it, and as his own little way of making things up to her.

“Oh, she is certainly something to behold, I had the pleasure of seeing her at her combat demonstrations for the Empress. She’s a large vessel, much, much bigger than this ketch if you’ll forgive me Uncle Jeshal, with seventy-four guns that make her a match against many fortresses by herself, and she’s fast when using the engine in addition to the sails, even in the worst weather. Truly state-of-the-art. I’ve heard the admiralty saying they are looking forward to eventually making more of her class in the future or even mounting the engines on larger vessels, it seems they want fast warships, ones that can still move quickly but are still able to go toe-to-toe with the proper warships of Alkamar.”

He paused, catching his breath, though his tail wagged ever so slightly.

“But there are other improvements, too, she can handle the cold weather quite well with the steam pipes throughout the ship, as was mentioned in the report on Urk, the crew was quite comfortable aboard and many lives were saved thanks to them when the wounded were brought back onboard. Copper-sheathed hull under the water line, so she can go faster and longer without needing to be cleaned, and better protection against underwater obstacles, but a captain’ll still have to be careful at higher speeds.”

He stopped, realizing he was going on a bit too much, then nodded at Lorcan.

“Oh, yes, you get a premium for working on the Hide, and good experience too. It’ll be the future, I think, in the long-run, these coal-powered ships."

He smirked a little at “Uncle” Jeshal’s theatrics, chuckling lightly before he replied. “Aye, she’s gotten a bit bigger backside as a result, but I appreciate a rubenesque lady, especially when she can land a punch as hard as the Hide can. You’re right, though, on it being a family ship, I heard the Hide was specifically saved at the intervention of my father and Aunt Tanya, though I confess I do not know much about that. I was at Amarone most of the time those discussions were being held.”

Alwyn settled back into a more comfortable stance, but he did note the bitterness in Falun’s voice. Had he gone a little too far with the comment about Vito? He had only meant to respond in kind.

@Lorcan Rainclaw @Kinza Rainclaw @Dusk Rainblade