Open Madness Or Brilliance

[Corda LaConte / Cordan LeConte]

Cordan's ears flattened slightly at the less-than-prestigious rank, but he at least didn't argue against it or voice his displeasure. He sheathed his blade and stood to sign his name in flowery cursive, the signature overlapping some of the above text. At the question he raised his chin and stated, "I shall swear any oath to empress and country that is asked of me, though my first oath of loyalty shall always be to you and this vessel, sir!" His tone remained strident, eager to prove himself.

 

[LightSeeker]

Friedrich let go of the ferret. Noting that they will get some extra examination when the time comes. And it will be as physical as it gets, just to see them squirm was worth the effort. Gribblo honestly should be thankful for already securing himself the position of Friedrich’s control beast. One that will be kept in best shape for the sake of research.

The other beasts reacted as Friedrich wanted. Good, he wouldn’t want to actually have to already paint the deck red before he was employed to do so. He still kept his warhammer at ready but he was no longer glaring over the others. Instead he focused on what his big ears had gathered. Specifically the fact that the nearby hedgehog was mentioning their medical skills. Competition wasn’t something Friedrich was to accept but if they were his subordinates? He had to also make rapport with them.

So he butted in bluntly. “Friedrich. Var surgeon. You are of medical profession? Vat is your expertise? If we are going to vork together, I would like knoving your skills.”

Elara turned her attention to the hare as he spoke. When he introduced himself as Friedrich, a Var surgeon, she acknowledged his title without any visible reaction. "Var" was a recognized military designation, typically associated with border regiments or foreign auxiliaries. His accent, demeanor, and weapon confirmed this to her. She didn’t question it—she simply filed the information away.

“Apprentice nurse,” she replied, her voice calm and steady. “I trained at the University of Length Hospital. My skills include field stabilization, trauma response, wound care, and infection prevention. I can handle moderate injuries under pressure and support surgical recovery when needed.”

She paused for a moment before adding, “If we’re on the same ship, I’ll work wherever I'm needed. I don’t compete; I assist.” She didn’t smile or soften her tone, but maintained her gaze on him, measuring and assessing without being swayed by his size.

Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she finally asked, “Military?” This was the first hint of emotion she had shown him beyond her calm demeanor.

 

[Jeshal the Ironclaw]

"Glad ter hear it!"

Jeshal slid the roster back to himself to eye the curiously Alkamarianish name. Not that it bothered him. Whatever quarrel he had with Alkamarians or potential ones were any who meant him and his crew harm. He had been out of the Imperium so long that his personal enemies were few or dead.

"Welcome aboard, Mr LeConte. Either meself or Cap'n Keltoi will have your sister sign when she be available. For the medical positions there be a few further questions. If your sister's here now, we'll get that sorted. Elseways, Frogear will point you out a hammock and bedroll and get ye situated."

@Corda & Cordan LeConte ​

 

[Corda LaConte / Cordan LeConte]

Cordan bowed to his new captain, sweeping his hat off his head in a grand gesture of gracious acknowledgement. "I can go retrieve her posthaste," he promised. "Begging your leave, captain!"

The fox hurried out the door, hesitating at the sight of so many gathered about. He hesitated, looking around, before picking up a pack he'd stowed by the door and hastening for the space just under the stairs up to the poop deck, where a few crates had been tucked away. Climbing into the space, Cordan pulled the hat off his head, clutching it to his chest; then, breathing deeply, he closed his eyes.

Corda woke up. She frowned to find herself in such a tight space; Cordan must have been desperate for anything getting toward semi-privacy. It was a challenge to shrug off his fine coat and swap it with the skirts stored in their shared bag, and only slightly easier to pull on the skirts, having to shift them a few times to find the tail slit and then button the fabric strap above her tail to help hold the skirt in place. She didn't bother with doing her own makeup; she didn't want to keep anyone waiting, and, as long as she unmussed her fur from where Cordan had ruffled it to give some extra masculinity, she wouldn't look out of place.

The vixen slipped free of the cubby, leaving their bag there for the moment, then hurriedly walked to the cabin. She caught a bit of conversation indicating that there were a few other medically-inclined beasts, something that filled her with both anticipation and dread. She was hardly an expert in the field; her learning had all been due to necessity. Still, she gook a deep breath and walked into the cabin, giving a curtsy to the captain.

"Captain Ironclaw," she spoke, her voice quiet and demure, a practice her father had (sometimes literally) beat into her. She kept her gaze on the desk before him, not making eye contact. "Thank you for granting my brother a place aboard your vessel. I am certain that he will serve you with everything in his being. For my part," she continued, risking a brief glance up at him, "I would be honored to serve as well. I am hardly a trained surgeon, but I can help tend to wounds in emergencies, and will gladly learn from the more experienced beasts around me."

 

[Jeshal the Ironclaw]

The fact that the rabbit hadn't taken the opportunity to stroll straight in was another hint that his suspicions about this fox were correct. Jeshal wasn't fully certain just yet about what he'd seen in the darkness of the docks. Had he never known Armina, he would have been almost fully in the belief that Corda was a twin. One with her own body anyway. He would confirm it all sooner or later.

Something of the predator in him felt a thrill at her softness. Something of the father in him had to resist offering reassurance. "A ship this size be in need of beasts willing to learn the vital arts o' keeping its crew alive. Should ye have any papers of reference as to your work, I'll be having them if ye please. Otherwise, sign y'self beneath your sibling, and ye'll report ter Doctor Kiptooth."

@Corda LaConte / Cordan LeConte​

 

[Corda LaConte / Cordan LeConte]

Corda hesitated, wishing she could supply a degree, or references, or something to show for her work besides the continued functioning of the body she shared with an overly-daring and accident-prone todd. Her other two primary patients were deceased, after all. Quietly she signed her name, then meekly curtsied to the captain again and murmured her thanks before backing out of the room, ears burning in embarrassment.

Outside she took a moment to breathe and compose herself before catching a snippet of accented conversation between a hare and a hedgehog. Well, it seemed that there were plenty of medical beasts for her to learn from here. She hoped that Cordan would similarly find duelist colleagues among the crew. Clasping her paws meekly in front of her, she approached the gaggle, her eyes falling submissively. "Pardon me," she softly dared to intrude into the conversation, "but are either of you a Doctor Kiptooth? I'm supposed to report to them, I think."