Milling about (FINISHED)

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik stopped before a large mirror on his way into the party, seemingly to straighten his jacket while in fact he was making sure he had his new appearance firmly in mind.

Straw-colored hair, barest hint of a tan...my eyes are still gold, odd...ah well it's not enough to give me away... he thought as he tightened his mask a little more before walking into the ballroom.

His gaze immediately went to the few guards visibly stationed around the room, knowing their would be more hidden in case of some ill-planned attempt on any of the leaders present. After a few minutes of scanning he had picked out a few members of his crew from the crowd. Grabbing a drink from one of the servants he began to mingle with assembly, there would be time to see to his own plans soon enough for the moment he was just going to enjoy himself.

[hecatia]

Hecatia strode confidently in the room. ((TO THIS SONG Link))

She held in her arms a small sand colored cat, and nothing else. When she had heard there was a masquerade ball she had no idea what to wear. So she wore nothing.

'Well, almost nothing', she thought. She wore a short rouge sarong, and all over her body were playful gold paint swirls that sparkled in the light of the hall. Here eyes were lined with kohl; the only other decoration on her body was some gold jewelry. A golden loop in her left ear, bracelets that circled around her upper right arm, and several anklets.

There weren't too many guests yet, but those there stared. 'Let them,' She smirked self satisfactorily, 'It is the point after all.'

She glided over to the refreshments and waited for someone to serve her. Surely someone would realize it would take her two hands to do so. And there were certain things some people would rather not happen she was sure.

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik couldn't suppress a quiet laugh when he saw many of the guest's staring at the newly arrived Gerudo. After the shock had worn off and the others had resumed their own conversations he made his way over to her.

"I must admit I'm more than a little surprised to see a Gerudo here...much less accompanied by a cat." he said with a still amused smirk. "Would you like some assistance with your cat so you can get some refreshment?"

[hecatia]

"Surprised?" She smiled, "I rescued him when he was just a kitten. He was being attacked by birds. Unfortunately," She smiled suggestively up at the man ,"he is very attached." Ran, the cat, started to purr. He knew when he was the topic of conversation.

'Not more than five minutes and already...' Hecatia laughed inwardly. She couldn't help but notice he was one of the more attractive men in the room as well.

"And what do I call my gentleman who has so kindly offered to assist me?" She did not know yet how she wanted to respond. Allowing him to hold Ran could result in a bit of a cat-tiff. He was very scared of new people. However she thought maybe this one, he seemed gentle enough, might make Ran yield. She was re-thinking bringing the cat.

[Merik Dragmire]

"Well he's quite lucky to have someone who cares so much for him. The world is quite a dangerous place especially for a cat on his own." Merik said as he quickly dredged up what little he knew about dealing with cats.

The crew had kept one for a few months to handle rats and it had been quite full of itself for being the ship's rat catcher. He remembered when dealing with that cat you had to let it come to you, then you had to let it sniff at your hand for a time before it decided whether you could touch it or not. Not sure whether all cats were as haughty or if it had just been that particular instance he slowly moved his hand in front of Ran's face for approval...or possibly a quick bite.

"Merik, nothing more or less for the moment though I'm sure that will change before the night is complete. And may I ask the beautiful young lady's name?"

[hecatia]

"Hecatia. My mother once told me it derives from the name of a Pagan Goddess who is the embodiment of womanhood." She watched, curious, as Ran sniffed the mans hand, and pausing for a moment, decided to allow him to pet him by butting his head against his fingers. "I've also heard cats were once considered extremely lucky to have on board ships."

She saw his eyes light up at the mention of ships. 'Time to ask more questions?' She moved a tiny bit closer to him and farther away from the refreshment table. Ran squirmed in her arms. More guests were starting to fill up the hall and she felt all too quickly how out in the open she was. She felt exposed. In a battle situation she would have absolutely no way to defend herself from that many angles.

"I've also heard that women bring bad luck to sea-faring vessels. Are you superstitious Merik?"

[Merik Dragmire]

"It's been my experience that there are few superstitions worth paying any attention to. Many times over I've seen the superstition about women on ships proven wrong. In fact the first time I took a ship out to sea, with the exception of myself, it was crewed solely by women. Though I'm sure you've probably heard of that particular trip." Merik said with a conspiratorial wink as he continued to pet Ran. Then, as if sensing her discomfort at the sudden influx of people, gave her a reassuring smile as he spoke again, barely loud enough to be heard over the crowd. "Some of my best officers are mingling with the other guests as we speak, and I'm in constant contact with them and it's not as though Gerudo are incapable of defending themselves...we're about as safe as we could ever be Hecatia."

[hecatia]

A little red flag went up in her mind. She knew what he was talking about but he couldn't be..."Merik, Merik Dragmire?" She lowered her voice and smiled up at him, "Pirate Lord? I've heard all about you sir." She winked at him. "I'm sure you had quite the...adventure on that trip." She laughed at her own little innuendo.

"As for the competency of the Gerudo, if they were half as good fighters as my sisters, any enemy of ours is in for a surprise."

She offered him her arm, while still holding Ran with the other, and nodded towards a slightly quieter corner that still offered an advantageous view of the room. There were several such areas scattered around the edges of the ballroom; each with a few cushioned chairs and a low table for guests to set their refreshments on while they conversed. They wouldn't be suspicious in such an environment.

"Tell me more about your adventures 'Captain'."

[Merik Dragmire]

As Hecatia realized who he was and they sat down away from the crowd, the Gerudo King allowed his disguise to blink for just the barest second. To anyone casually looking it would have seemed to have been just a trick of the light, the man walking through a shadowed spot, but for her it would obviously be his true form revealed before the magic shielded him once more.

"In the decade since we first set out we've established a freehold for pirates and a veritable armada of ships loyal to my cause. And it's not just the Gerudo now we've established followers from every race, even a scant few Hylians have joined with us. Most all the Pirates know that the Pirate King and the Gerudo King are the same man, though it's a fact that has managed to stay hidden from the Knights for all this time. Our coffers are full to bursting with captured loot and I'd say our people live better than they ever could in the desert...not that I'd ever be able to convince those who remain to abandon the desert sands for the ocean waves. So every few months we make port on the far side of the desert and unload treasure, goods, and general supplies to help ease the hardships of the others." Merik said quietly, his eyes still darting about the room despite his earlier confidence about their safety.

"That's why I'm here tonight actually, the Defiant will be unloading for a few days more and I decided to have some of the crew see if they could learn anything from the leaders of their respective races. Figured it would be a good way to relax and still get a little work done."

[hecatia]

Hecatia listened with a keen interest. Sounded like fun. "This is all very interesting, but how does one get started on a venture such as your particular company offers?" She'd be dead before she admitted it but Hecatia could never stand to see someone suffer, and if joining a pirate crew 'robin hood' style could help, then why not? She'd never cared for the Knights anyways. "And what are the benefits?" She chuckled and winked at him. Couldn't hurt in her situation.

She wondered what position would be best for her on board The Defiant.

"And I realize I know most of your talents and such through rumor at best, so I've heard of you, but have you heard of me?" She had caused quite the stir in her village when she had decided to study spells instead of spears as the saying would go.

[Merik Dragmire]

"Most often someone will have to prove themself to me before I'll consider allowing them aboard the Defiant, but at the very least I look for combat proficiency or some specialized skill. I waive that when it's a Gerudo requesting to join the crew for two reasons. One, I know the training that our people undergo to ensure our survival in the desert so at the very least I'll have another pair of hands aboard that know how to work a variety of weapons. Two, I've been trying to get as many out of the desert as I can until the day comes that we can completely reclaim what was ours without having to worry about an enemy attack. There are many benefits but the primary ones I like to touch on are lots of adventures, the chance to see new lands, a level of freedom unattainable here in Hyrule, and a lot of treasure." Merik answered her first two questions almost without thought before stopping to consider her third question.

Hecatia was younger than he was, eighteen if he had to guess, and if there were some rumors or stories that had been told across the desert they had probably occurred in her teens and he would have already been at sea by then...

"Not that I can recall unfortunately, when I still lived at the fortress I rarely heard news from outside that didn't involve an attack or a need for support of some kind. And since I've taken to the waves I've rarely found a time to get to a place where I could relax and just listen to the tales. So I suppose the question now becomes: if I asked the right people what might I hear about you Hecatia?"

[hecatia]

"I'm sorry, I seem to have forgotten how busy you must be with as many positions you uphold. One can't be expected to hear and know of everything." She shifted Ran in her arms. He was beginning to get a little boney.

"She has many names, but I was trained by an elder woman called The Crone in my home village. It started out as one Gerudo helping another, cleaning, tending to her animals; mostly cooking. Eventually she began to train me in the archaic ways by having me mix potions and other such studies. Not something that is very typical of a Gerudo child. My sisters were both very accomplished warriors at the time; not that I wasn't of course." Her eyes clouded over with memories. "Something drew me to magic. And The Crone could sense it I guess. She taught me many things, but I was always the best at summoning." She lifted one hand off of the cat to skillfully untie a small bag from her sarong and spilled it's contents on the table. There were four bones shrinking in size from small to miniscule. There was also a sharp looking crystal. "Each bone controls one demon. It takes a lot of energy just to summon a demon, so it can't be done often, but if you add the demons power to the fighting spirit of even one Gerudo and any fight can easily be turned." She paused and looked up at him.

"It's a very valuable skill to have. Even though the crystal can be used by anyone, it's not exclusive, it's not a guaranteed success that they will be able to fully summon and control the demon."

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik listened intently as she told him some of her past. The mention of The Crone caught his attention, the old woman had been called upon to offer aid when a magical attack had come upon many in the Fortress when he was younger. He couldn't remember the exacts of what had caused it but she had managed to weave a protection against it before returning to her own village. He had heard little of her since and had simply assumed that she had gone forth to the Goddess.

"A warrior-witch specialized in the summoning of demons..." the King trailed off as he considered the many ways that skill alone could help out aboard the ship. "As we both know many who take to the seas are highly superstitious, my own crew excluded for the most part, the appearance of a demon in our ranks would surely work as a weapon of fear as well as an actual fighter. I believe you and your various friends would be welcome additions aboard the Defiant."

[hecatia]

Hecatia scooped the bones back into their small pouch and retied it back onto her sarong.

"I would gladly accept the positon~" She couldn't say she wasn't excited; this sounded like a great adventure. Something she could (probably) shove in her sisters face. "Is there any specific positions open? I don't know much about running a ship, so in that area I'm next to useless; something I could learn of course, but over time. I know how to cook and clean and other womanly warrior type of things. I can heal small wounds, and for the tougher stuff I have a demon. Damani can heal most any type of flesh wound, but it takes more energy to heal poisons and other sicknesses. And I have Siren, she can locate hidden rooms and things like that that use noise, but those are my demons abilities. I need something to do on board while were not...working. I go stir crazy quite easily you see."

She leaned forward in her seat and sipped from her drink. Setting it down she looked to her King, newly Captain, for an answer.

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik took her words into consideration as he thought of the recently opened positions aboard the ship.

"We are in need of a cook and a healer though as you're seeking consistent work I'd definitely have to steer you towards cook. There are a lot of people who sail with us and they tend to work up great appetites fairly quickly as the days drag on. You'll have a handful of members on hand to help you at all times as I'm afraid its a job much bigger than any one person could hope to manage alone."

[hecatia]

A cook. For probably more people than lived in her tiny back woods desert village. "I accept. I needed something to spice up my time. And I need to keep in practice or I get rusty. In fact, I think I even know what my first dish will be~" She was really genuinely excited now. She stood up and stretched, and looked out over the crowd. Hecatia turned back to Merik with a huge grin hinting at mischievous doings and asked, "When, and where, do I start?"

A slow waltz was playing in the background. She never did learn how to dance.

[Merik Dragmire]

"A hidden cave on the far eastern edge of the desert but we won't cast off until the end of the week at least. If you have anything that you need to handle on land feel free to do so and then you can wait for me at the Fortress. If you feel like heading to the ship earlier simply ask about transport to the Defiant from the Fortress, within a day the caravan transporting our goods should have arrived and could take you back." Merik replied as he remained seated for another moment, seemingly lost in thought, before realizing that Hecatia had stood and that the music had changed.

"As this is a masquerade ball, and the music seems to dictate it, I don't suppose you'd like to dance would you?"

[hecatia]

Hecatia stored the location in her memory, but turned slightly pink at the mention of dancing. "I would dance, but alas I never learned. If you don't mind teaching me, and a few stepped on toes, I would be glad to join you on the dance floor." She prepared herself for his reaction when she let Ran slip onto the seat. She may have been comfortable with her body, but she did not need the palace guards throwing her out.

Of course she had a top on, carefully concealed behind the cat. It as a small piece of fabric that had been carefully glued onto her skin. When she was done with it she could pour the special solvent she had bought to take it off. It had also been painted gold to blend in with the rest of her decorations. "Shall we?"

[Merik Dragmire]

"Well as we're being honest about this I will warn you, I've only done this once...and it's been nearly twenty years since then so we're just going to take this very easy..." the King said as Hecatia sat Ran down and he got his first look at her sans cat. In that moment he considered himself truly lucky that he had been raised in a tribe of warrior women so it was a fairly easy feat to avoid staring at her body.

As they joined the other dancers he was working at dredging up everything he had been taught and it was plain to see he was a little bit out of his depth.

"Alright so my right hand goes on your waist, your left hand goes on my shoulder...take your right hand with my left...and now we can dance." he said as his hands moved to follow his words. "And now it's pretty much just a matter of you doing the opposite of what I do. So I step forward with my left foot while you step back with your right...I think that was how it went anyway..."

[hecatia]

"Well you know more than I do." She did as he said and followed his lead. It was a little awkward at first getting into the motion, but she soon discovered that she liked dancing. Especially with a dance partner like Merik. Even though she was a confident Gerudo she had never really been around a man before; never this close.

"It comes back to you quickly I see." She started to laugh but then she tripped and stepped on his toe. Even her Gerudo grace couldn't spare her that embarrassment. She blushed and stammered an apology. "I suppose I still have some learning to do..." She took the precaution of staring at her feet for the next few steps until she got back into the rhythm, and eventually she found she could gauge the distance of his steps like an enemy in battle. Her education in the art of battle could bring more than one skill to her understanding she found.