Side Adventure Dab Paws, Daft Tasks

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii looked over at the bent needles, they were telling a story of misuse or at least a misfortune. Thinking for a moment, the marble fox realised however one thing; straight needle gave better linear force, one that would be good to pierce but risked more damage. Curved needle however, would be better at piercing though the thick material like a sail without ripping a hole in it, because of the different force distributions.

"Reasonable to give you the tools. Swift, while you wait for me, do you think you could use this," He pulled out a little ball-peen hammer, one made for precision work. "in order to straighten those needles while keeping them bent? I reckon that an arched needle might be better in piercing through the material. Although, with just one paw, maybe it is for the best to wait till we are down here with the sails."

Then Kaii put down his tool bag and got ready to climb. "Alright, it will take me a moment to get up high enough, and with that mist around you may struggle to see me above. I will yell after I drop the rope, Only once you are secured and ready, yell back. I will hold the position till then."

And just as he walked over to the rigging, he stopped for a second and turned to the platinum fox again, speaking more softly than at any point today. "Stay safe friend. Good luck and keep your cool. I don't want you to get any more hurt."

And then Kaii went up, his body letting him know that he still should be resting, but his willpower was enough to ignore it. Aside from the wish to fulfil the orders he was given, coming from mix of duty and spite against all odds, Kaii primarily just wanted to ensure that nothing went wrong.

That is why he was methodic, slow in his climb, avoiding straining his own wounded body as much as it was possible and making sure he was safe at any time. He did pass two other seabeasts that were busy redoing some rigging, though they didn't bother to question him, they for sure were a bit confused to see someone from engineering this high up.

And after a good while, Kaii reached the top yard and pulled the rope, throwing it around the mast. That was going to be their sole safeguarding but to Kaii it was at least something.

Thus, watching as the rope fell down he yelled. "ROPE IS READY!" Which was followed by a cough that dropped some bloodied spit onto the mast.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail paused mid-step, rubbing the back of his ears sheepishly.
"Mate, I must be tired. I was still thinkin’ we were gonna do all the work up there up until right now. Gates, havin’ the sail on deck to work is the proper way. Give me a forge and hammer any day."

Taking the small ball-peen hammer from Kaii, he retrieved one of the bent needles and studied it a moment.
"Aye, I s’pose I can do that."

He picked a rounded section of timber on the mast that was not covered in copper cladding and held the needle flat, tapping it firmly and evenly along its length until it took on a smooth arc. Then he carried it to the copper railing of the nearby stair, where, using only paw strength so as not to mar the copper's finish, he bent the curve in tighter.

Satisfied, he looked upward again. Kaii was climbing stiffly, his movements deliberate, his jaw set in that stubborn, stoic way that told Swift the other fox was in pain but unwilling to admit it. Poor tod needed a parade and a week’s worth of bed rest, not to be up there dancing with the gulls.

When the rope came snaking down, Swifttail caught it and tied it snugly around his waist.
"K… k’ay mate. ’Ere I come."

He started up, settling into a steady rhythm. Footpaw, footpaw, hook the left arm, reach with the good paw. Over and over.

Halfway up, a snicker drifted across the rigging. A dusty-brown vixen leaned on a rope nearby, smirking at the sight, while a beige ferret perched just above her.

"Oy, Klitch, lookit dese idjits! Can’t climb a riggin’ wit’out dere nappies!"

The ferret, Klitch, flashed a grin full of teeth as he locked eyes with Swifttail.
"Aye, Thura! That there’s the ones always hidin’ in the brig makin’ a smokin’ ruckus. Too afeared ta be up a little ol’ riggin’! Haww haww!"

Swifttail’s tail bristled, his ears pinning back. He glared at them, fire sparking in his chest.
"We jus’ went through ’ell! Ye be judgin’ injured beasts fer performin’ duties? Gates, ye fools are due fer lashings."

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

While Swifttail was going up, Kaii was coming down. He would speed up or slow down to ensure that the rope stayed somewhat tensed but not too much in order to not let them fall down and give freedom of movement they needed. It was a struggle still. After getting pressed between the barrels, the marble fox felt growing pain in his chest with each movement.

And hearing the two seabeasts, who were doing nothing of use but making fun of them, really didn't improve how Kaii had felt.

"Then maybe you two could make yourself useful instead of just sitting there?" He replied sternly, too busy to even spare them a look as he focused on where he was putting his paws. Sadly, Kaii one roused the two and their mockery.

Thura snorted, looking towards Kaii. "We're busy ya know? Sumbeast's ta witness yer screwups an pass 'em to tha bosun."

Klitch in the meanwhile lifted his peg leg with a mocking smile. "Sorry mate. I s'pose am in-jew-reed t' get over there, yer closer 'nyway."

Kaii rolled his eyes, hard enough that he saw blackness for a moment, that resulted in his paw slipping slightly because he didn't look where he was putting it.

The ferret turned to the vixen, speaking loud enough so that the two climbing todds could hear. "Huh, seems dat me peg leg's bettah then 'eir paws. Maybe we shoulda get 'em decklubbers a pair? Fer sure it ain't gonna be worse than whatevah dey be doin'! Haww haww!"

Thura just fell into a long guttural laughter at the idea. Kaii was less then amused but the best he could do was to just ignore the two.

Finally after some time, both foxes, marble and platinum, were by the yard holding the ripped sail.

"Hello again Swift. Good to see nothing happened to you." Kaii spoke, already grabbing the ropes that tied the sail to the wood. "I think we should start from the opposite sides so that when the sail falls, it will drop onto the deck and not to the side, potentially into the water." He offered.

The two beasts at the peanut gallery were in the meanwhile almost rolling from their snickering.

The vixen didn't shy from another jibe at the two. "Awww, look at 'em Klitch. Carin' like sum lovers for 'er tails. Dem Gee-nears must be goin' wild from all dat smoke an heat. Feheheheee..."

Klitch instead pulled out a hip flask and took a long swig. "Jus' look at 'em tho and tha time they be wastin' on talking, gettin 'emselfs rope fer hangin'. If da ship started takin' waduh, dey wouldn't shut 'er muzzles before being fully under. Khaw!"

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail’s ears pinned back as the jeers rose up after him. He kept his focus on Kaii until the marble fox was secure, then nodded shakily and muttered low enough for only him to hear, “Aye mate. I 'ope it cracks two 'eads on the way down, though.”

Shifting his stance on the yard, he crept toward the tie-offs, only to catch movement below. The fox and ferret were climbing after him, still grinning like they’d nothing better to do than make pests of themselves.

"Oi Klitch, I put me dagger on this one fallin' first. 'e's tremblin' more'n a leaf in a gale." the vixen crowed.

"Haww, haww! Yer on, mate! Dat one d'ere is spittin' up blood outta fright."

Swifttail gritted his teeth and hunched over the stubborn knot in front of him, determined to ignore them. But something wasn't right. It was tied completely incorrectly, twisted over itself in a way that made working it loose with one good paw a nightmare. His claws scraped against the wet rope, making little progress.

"Hell's teeth..." he hissed, then straightened to glare down at the peanut gallery. "Oi, shuddap an’ 'elp me!"

Thura’s grin only widened. "Aww, wot is et? Don' know yer ropes? Damn shame, Klitch. Looks loike 'e's daft too. Teeheehee!"

Swifttail’s tail lashed behind him, his voice sharp. "At least I'm tryin' 'ere! Better than deadweight. Now get up ‘ere ‘fore I drag ye by those sorry tails!"

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii was known to be rather a patient beast. He suffered taking such words before, many times in fact, and knew that best way to make them be gone was to ignore those. That way, the offenders would lose interest and go away.

But he really started wishing deep inside within that he could shoot some nails into the thick skulls of those two.

While Kaii had not much experience with ropes and knots, he did practice and learn whatever he could find before getting onto the ship. Thus, even he could say that the ones he was now dealing with were not done properly. Reasoning why this was the case wouldn't take him anywhere, hearing however that Swift had the same issues gave Kaii an idea.

"Swift! You know how we were only told to fix the sail?"

The question did prompt the two other vermin's response.

"Look at 'em lazy arses Klitch! Them boofheads' sooo pathetic they already finkin' how ta 'scape the task!" Thura yelled while sneakily tugging the sail to make it even harder for the two foxes to work the ropes.

The ferret guaffed loudly before adding his own two guilders. "Oy, ya two pale rugs! No cheatin' the job or we gunna tell t' bosun that yer needin' sum whips!"

But Kaii couldn't care for the two, already getting his claws out and ready while speaking to his platinum furred friend again.

"Let's cut the ropes. I am sure after we fix the sail, the more able sailors will put it to work."

That gave a stop to the mocking laughs.