The ambient rustle of wet rags upon deck planks provided ambiance beneath the high pitched seagull calls. The late afternoon sun beat down upon the wet planks. They shone in the light and radiated the sun's heat back towards the heavens. Had there not been so much humidity, the cleaning water would have dried up already. Instead, cleaning water mixed with sweat and the occasional trail of drool.
Saehri panted in between snippets of conversation. She, along with several other scrags, were on hands and knees scrubbing the port-side deck and railing. The vessel had been docked in Limsa for nearly four days already, and it already was caked with the litter of city grime. Saehri was scrubbing at a particularly resistant substance that had found its way aboard.
Around the Keeper, the other deckrats engaged in light-hearted banter about such topics as being back in the city, what one would do if they were captain, and the ever-popular measuring contest. Saehri piped in when appropriate, but her focus was held elsewhere truthfully. Through a crack between boards, Saehri could hear snatches of a conversation going on just below her. The first mate and what appeared to be a merchant were arguing in loud whispers. Saehri had to strain to catch mere seconds of the conversation over the den caused by raucous cheering in reference to a missed joke.
Something about a ready shipment of what was likely to be illicit goods and to meet a- YER MUTHER WAS TOO BUSY SCRUBBIN' SOMETHIN' ELSE T'GET THESE FLOORS CLEANED HARHAHRAHAR! Gods, Saehri moaned to herself.
Saehri had been aboard this vessel well over a month by this point. She had put every face with a name and every name to a link with some Lominsan underground agent. What she was missing was the connection. Why did this vessel house the scrappings of so many facets of Limsa's underground. They hardly seemed cohesive. She had noted the distribution of drugs, yes, but hardly enough for that to be the primary gig. No, something else was going on he-
"Oy, scrag!"
"Sirrah!" Saehri yelped, snapping to attention.
"Are I right in thinkin' these decks needin' t'be scrubbed bells ago?!"
"Aye Cap'n! N' they would, 'cept Haerahct et sommat funny n' lay waste ta aft."
The captain and crew guffawed loudly. Saehri smiled at her own joke because, honestly, why not have a little fun and shite jokes are hilarious. The captain roughed Saehri on the shoulder and went on to lay into the next scrag on deck. Saehri went back to her work. Saehri had to find what made this crew tick, quickly. But the days work was done, and the crew was free to go ashore for the night.
Haerahct, Eifakynd, Slettzoeng, and the rest of their crew were probably off to get a quick brew and lay. Saehri was actually in the mood and had half a mind to follow them. She changed her mind once on the docks. She needed space to think. Somehow this all fit together. More importantly, somehow her employer fit into this as well.
Saehri hefted a keg of wine over her right shoulder. She appeared cleaner. It was several days prior to making port. Saehri rounded the corner then redoubled back behind the wall. On the other side, the first mate and another crew member were in each other's faces. Too close though. The first mate's arms were pushing against the wall to either side of the crew member's head. His eyes were wide. The mate's were dilated and focused. The mate leaned in and the crew member whispered into his left ear. "Our asset came through with Aleport," Saehri read from his lips.
"Sajah will be pleased," the first mate said, loud enough for Saehri to catch. Saehri gritted her teeth and went the way she had come.
Saehri searched for details within her memories as she wandered aimlessly through Limsa. She didn't feel like her usual haunts today. She wanted more risk, more adrenaline. She wanted a get-it-in or scrap in the street. She was funny like that. Llymlaen obliged and guided her away from the safer parts of Limsa into the shadows of the underground. The poor district called. Saehri would deposit her stash and make her way back to the ship. What to do about the inevitable betrayal of Sajah could wait until tonight.
Saehri panted in between snippets of conversation. She, along with several other scrags, were on hands and knees scrubbing the port-side deck and railing. The vessel had been docked in Limsa for nearly four days already, and it already was caked with the litter of city grime. Saehri was scrubbing at a particularly resistant substance that had found its way aboard.
Around the Keeper, the other deckrats engaged in light-hearted banter about such topics as being back in the city, what one would do if they were captain, and the ever-popular measuring contest. Saehri piped in when appropriate, but her focus was held elsewhere truthfully. Through a crack between boards, Saehri could hear snatches of a conversation going on just below her. The first mate and what appeared to be a merchant were arguing in loud whispers. Saehri had to strain to catch mere seconds of the conversation over the den caused by raucous cheering in reference to a missed joke.
Something about a ready shipment of what was likely to be illicit goods and to meet a- YER MUTHER WAS TOO BUSY SCRUBBIN' SOMETHIN' ELSE T'GET THESE FLOORS CLEANED HARHAHRAHAR! Gods, Saehri moaned to herself.
Saehri had been aboard this vessel well over a month by this point. She had put every face with a name and every name to a link with some Lominsan underground agent. What she was missing was the connection. Why did this vessel house the scrappings of so many facets of Limsa's underground. They hardly seemed cohesive. She had noted the distribution of drugs, yes, but hardly enough for that to be the primary gig. No, something else was going on he-
"Oy, scrag!"
"Sirrah!" Saehri yelped, snapping to attention.
"Are I right in thinkin' these decks needin' t'be scrubbed bells ago?!"
"Aye Cap'n! N' they would, 'cept Haerahct et sommat funny n' lay waste ta aft."
The captain and crew guffawed loudly. Saehri smiled at her own joke because, honestly, why not have a little fun and shite jokes are hilarious. The captain roughed Saehri on the shoulder and went on to lay into the next scrag on deck. Saehri went back to her work. Saehri had to find what made this crew tick, quickly. But the days work was done, and the crew was free to go ashore for the night.
Haerahct, Eifakynd, Slettzoeng, and the rest of their crew were probably off to get a quick brew and lay. Saehri was actually in the mood and had half a mind to follow them. She changed her mind once on the docks. She needed space to think. Somehow this all fit together. More importantly, somehow her employer fit into this as well.
Saehri hefted a keg of wine over her right shoulder. She appeared cleaner. It was several days prior to making port. Saehri rounded the corner then redoubled back behind the wall. On the other side, the first mate and another crew member were in each other's faces. Too close though. The first mate's arms were pushing against the wall to either side of the crew member's head. His eyes were wide. The mate's were dilated and focused. The mate leaned in and the crew member whispered into his left ear. "Our asset came through with Aleport," Saehri read from his lips.
"Sajah will be pleased," the first mate said, loud enough for Saehri to catch. Saehri gritted her teeth and went the way she had come.
Saehri searched for details within her memories as she wandered aimlessly through Limsa. She didn't feel like her usual haunts today. She wanted more risk, more adrenaline. She wanted a get-it-in or scrap in the street. She was funny like that. Llymlaen obliged and guided her away from the safer parts of Limsa into the shadows of the underground. The poor district called. Saehri would deposit her stash and make her way back to the ship. What to do about the inevitable betrayal of Sajah could wait until tonight.
