Open Side Adventure Completed If You Teach a Kit a Trick

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Finn let out a minor sound of protest as he was snagged, his reaction times far too diminished to evade capture. He was a light little kit, which... explained why a single mug of grog hit him so hard. Helplessly, Finn laid back in Silvie's arms.

"Shilvie, yer upside down!" he said with a laugh. His head tipped over to look at Swift and Kaii, and a stupid grin spread over his face. "Shee, and you guys are shidewaysh. The capn' will never find ush like dish!"

The fox's ears perked as he heard Swift and Kai discussing... Something pertaining to him. He wasn't sure what they were planning, but he didn't like it. "Noooo, Shilvie, don't let 'em 'gurgitate me!” he pleaded, seeking refuge in his captor.

"Shilvie, what's 'gurgitation mean?"
 
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“I don’t like that last option.”
Silvertongue shook his head. “Mainly because I don’t feel too inclined to clean up any vomit. The bread should work, and maybe some of that coffee stuff. I can probably sneak some of it from the Captain’s office. It’s a very fascinating drink. Smells strange, but a sip of it will give you lots of energy. Maybe it’ll counteract the alcohol in his body.”

Silvertongue sat Finn down at the table. “I’ll go get the coffee. Swift, you go get some bread- or lard… I guess. Kaii… don’t let Finn drink any more grog.”
 
Swifttail listened to the other two foxes ideas. He shook his head in agreement at Silvertongue's words. He also didn't want to see the kit vomit.

"Aye, I'm sure there's some bread floating around here," Swift replied, scanning the other beasts taking their ease across the dimly lit deck.

His eyes rested on a weasel, sharing something edible with two rats from a small burlap satchel. Swifttail padded over, seeing them sniggering quietly amongst themselves as they gnawed at something tan and bread-like.

Swifttail politely cleared his throat and asked, "S...scuse' me? Might ye spare a corner of yer bread? It's for the kit."

"Piss off." Snarled the weasel, clutching the bag closed. "D'hese are my pers'nol rashins."

A female rat in a naval service uniform belted the weasel across the ear. "Shuddap Fangmaw. Let de kit have som."

Begrudgingly, the weasel snapped off a corner and tossed it to Swifttail. He caught it in his paw, but the unexpected weight and hardness of the thing caught him off guard. He looked at it inquisitively.

Oh...hard tack. Not really what he had in mind... Still, getting the kit to swallow a few chunks might cause it to swell in his stomach. It was worth a go.

Letting out a quiet, mumbled "Thank ye," he trotted back to the table.
 
Kaii nodded and moved somewhat to grab the kit from Silvertongue's paws. Taking him and putting onto his lap. "Right Finny. You wanna talk about something before the others come back?" He asked holding Finn upright to not upset his stomach, putting his arm and tail around to support him.

While having no means, will or time for it as of now, Kaii knew that becoming sooner or later he were to become a father to prolong his dynasty. And having a kit, even if quite a grown up, on his lap stirred some of that need up. Certain compassion for the kit was born inside him that called to his instincts.

He thus tried to occupy poor kit while he waited so he pulled out his watch and opened it to check the time and to show it to Finn.
"Or maybe you want to hear some stories from my past? Maybe you have something to share?"
 
Finn whined as he was relocated for a second time. He was almost getting too big to sit in someone's lap -- and by the end of the trip, he'd be on the verge of outgrowing moments like this. Fortunately though -- as Kaii would notice, Finn was still a scrawny thing, malnourished from his time on the streets. Barrett was feeding him some supplemental food to bulk him up a bit, but those things took time.

Between the events of the day, romping with Silv, and his mug of cheer -- he'd hit a sudden wall of exhaustion. The fox kit reluctantly shuffled into Kaii's lap, and leaned against him. "Nnnnoo 'gurgitation?" he asked suspiciously.

Meanwhile, as the other foxes ran about their little side quests, Finn nestled down, and let out a particularly foxish huff. "You'll rebuild your manshun Kaii," he mumbled, gaze transfixed by the pocket watch. The ticking was almost hypnotic!
 
Kaii listened to Finn's mumbling while keeping his watch out. The kit nestled into him made Kaii move to embrace Finn fully. To support him of course... albeit there was some undisputed joy in it too. The declaration Finn made specifically caused Kaii to give a soft smile back. "It is my burden alone... but thank you for your assurance."

He kept his watch open, showing it to Finn still to keep him focused on something else than his state. He didn't bother with trying to teach him anything now. After all, drunk beasts were especially bad at remembering stuff. He just decided to wait for the others, while holding this kit with very gentle purrs.
 
Silvertongue, possessing a key to Talinn's quarters, easily accessed the Captain's office. He went in and out so often as part of his duties, it didn't seem out of place as he slipped in while the Captain slept. He inched his way over to the desk, slowly opening the drawer and taking one packet of coffee grounds. He snuck back out just as quickly as he had come in, before heading below deck and into the galley.

Silvertongue put a pot of water to boil, and he prepared the coffee. He then took a cup of coffee and headed out to the mess hall, sitting down besides Kaii. "It's still hot, so I'll let it cool down a bit before giving it to him."
 
Swifttail slid back into the group, still holding the chunk of hard tack between his claws.

“Alright, Finny,” he said, kneeling down beside Kaii and Finn. “Try gnawin’ on this a while. It’s not bread exactly, but it’ll do.”

He offered the dense ration with a wry smile.

“Takes a while to chew, but that’s part of the charm. Give yer stomach somethin’ to work on while the coffee cools.”

Swifttail looked over to Kaii and gave him a small nod of thanks, then settled down nearby, tail curling loosely around his boots.
 
Finn rested his head against Kaii's shoulder as he gazed down at the watch. His eyes drifted shut for just a second, before blinking open again as Swift wafted the hard tack under his nose.

The fox kit was no stranger to unpleasant foods. Living on the street, you ate what you could get a hold of, and you were thankful for it. Reaching out with both paws, he took the nugget, and began to gnaw on it idly. Goodness this is tough.

"Whaddabout you Swiff? Shilvie? 'r you gonna..." but his mouth over ran his brain, and the kit frowned, before gesturing with his paws, vaguely in the shape of a house.
 
Silvertongue sat in silent contemplation. "A... house." He stared off at nothing in the distance. "I've never had a house. I was born on the sea, raised on the sea. Spent my life constantly moving or running. The thought of settling down never crossed my mind."

He used his paw to wave some steam away from the hot coffee. "I don't know. Unless I could have a house on a boat, I don't think I'd be very interested."
 
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After waiting quietly for Silvertongue to respond, Swifttail signed. He hadn't intended it to sound as frustrated as it did.

"I've been livin' out of cheap rooms at dingy inns."
He said sadly, his ears drooping. "I couldn't afford rental offers on the slim coin I had."

After a moment, he brightened considerably, ears perking and tail wagging softly. "Once we're back in Port, things'll be different. I'm bettin' I'll find a nice place to rent in Bully on me new Navybeast's salary!"
 
"Here, Finny, try some of this." Silvertongue put the cup of partially cooled coffee in front of Finnian. "It's called coffee. It should help you feel better."

He sat back, curious as to how the kit would react to the strange drink.
 
While Finnian was nibbling on Hardtack and given some coffee, Kaii listened to the other Todds and sighed. He still held the kit on his lap, wagging his tail gently. "I sure hope you can Swifttail, If you want to work metal I know also you would be very welcome in Maquisty Cape, definitely more industrial but also much quieter place."

He then gave a long look to Silvertongue, one that was perplexed as much as intrigued. "You know... it doesn't sound too impossible. Putting a house onto a boat... should you get enough guilders, that probably would be very eccentric but surely a nice place to be." Kaii grinned before looking down at the moving Finn who now was reacting to the drink.
 
Finn blinked, and rubbed his eyes. Focusing on the conversation was getting increasingly difficult. What were they talking about again? The foxkit had entirely lost the thread, and was focusing on his biscuit.

Improbably, the young kit had nearly completely ingested the hard tack. More food would never be turned away though. Finn dipped the remainder of the ration into the coffee to soften it, and mindlessly chewed away at it without complaint. Geez, the boy must have been part raccoon.

The kit sniffed at the coffee with mild suspicion, before taking a small sip. The bitter taste spurred a shudder down his spine, and Finn frowned into his mug as if it had just slapped him across the face. "Sho itsha fight you want, eh?"

Steeling his pallate for culinary combat, Finn took a deep breath, and raised the mug to his lips with both paws.

Gulp.

Gulp.

Gulp.


Finn set the mug down on the table with a sound thump. "Shilvie, that tashted horribbible. ...horiffible. Blehh."
 
Swifttail chuckled softly at Finn’s reaction to the coffee, his tail giving a lazy swish behind him.

“Aye, not a fan myself either,” he said with a smirk. “Tastes like burnt rope if you ask me. But it does wake you up.”

He leaned back, glancing over toward Kaii, ears tilting forward with quiet interest.

“I’ve noticed most smiths I’ve met in the Imperium spend their time hammerin’ out helmets or sword hilts. Even in the cities, it's all armor plating and bladed edges. Me?” He shook his head gently. “I always liked the quiet work. Hinges, gates, railings... Stuff that made life smoother, not ended it.”

He paused in contemplation for a moment.

“But now that I’ve seen what steam can do… I dunno. Maybe there’s a future for me at the Ministry of Innovation. If they’d have me, I’d take the chance.”

He shrugged, offering the words as casually as if discussing the weather, though there was a quiet weight of hope in his voice.
 
Kaii nodded along Swifttail's word while observing as the Kit started shivering a bit with energy.

"A dream I share, to work on whatever devices they design that could advance the beasts and easy the burdens of their lives... It is a good one. I hope I can see you there then, maybe even at the same department if you haven't grown yet tired of me." Kaii laughed a bit, his tail wagging more intensely while discussing this topic.

He then took a long whiff of the remaining coffee scent.
"I had once a pleasure to drink a very tasteful blend... but I was very young kit back then. It wasn't the best idea. I couldn't sleep for two days." A pang of nostalgia was present in his words.
 
Silvertongue watched in a mix of concern and fascination as Finnian downed the entire cup of coffee, despite complaining about the taste.

"Yes, I'm aware it tastes bad. I truly didn't think you would drink the whole thing."

He looked up at Kaii and Swifttail with more than just concern in his eyes. A bit of fear, even? Just a small sip was enough to keep him energized for most of the day. What horrors had they unleashed by giving this kit an entire cup of the drink?
 
Finn's body shuddered, and his face scrunched up as if he'd eaten something sour. His tail flagged out and poofed, and the kit slouched a little over the table they were sitting at. The grog, hard tack, and coffee were all fighting in his stomach for who was going to win. The grog wanted him to vomit, but the hard tack was staunchly opposed to this. The coffee wanted an adrenaline dump, yet the other two substances veto'd that option. The only thing they could all agree on was that Finn needed sleep.

With a full (and now warm) belly, Finn let out a large yawn, and plopped his head down on his paw to listen to the older foxes talk. It was always exciting being in the company of older todds -- especially when you weren't shooed off for being a little kit. There was a maturity to their conversations that Finn hoped rubbed off on him... goodness he longed to be older. But his head slumped once, and he shifted with a startle to avoid falling over.

Just needed to close his eyes for a moment.
 
Swifttail blinked in quiet amazement as Finn finished the coffee.

“You absolute madlad,” he muttered, watching the kit’s tail poof out like a struck match.

He caught Silvertongue’s uneasy glance and gave him a slow, knowing nod. Yes. They had definitely made a mistake.

But when he looked back, the chaos wasn’t what he expected. No bouncing. No kit running laps or vibrating through the floorboards.

Finn was… yawning?

“You’ve got t’be kiddin’,” Swifttail said, laughing softly. “We give you grog and coffee and somehow it puts you to sleep?”

He shook his head, still grinning, tail swaying lazily behind him as he watched the sleepy little fox start to drift off again.
 
Silvertongue smiled. "Come on then, Finny. Let's get you to bed."

He picked the kit up in his arms, gently carrying him from the mess hall to the sleeping quarters. There were very few beds, but one had been reserved for Finn. Silvertongue placed Finn into the bed, tucking him in. "Sleep well." He said quietly, before retreating out of the quarters and getting ready for his night duties.
 
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