Requested (Tabbycat)

[ruma]

Ruma wasn't often called out to Pirate's Bay by anyone other than Merik. And especially not by Tabula Rasa, Merik's right hand man...err...woman. Ruma wasn't entirely trusting of Tabby, but she was fiercely loyal to her cousin, and to Ruma that was enough.

Entering Pirate's Bay, she made her way down do the docks, where the ships were kept. Ruma had heard word that a hybrid was given command of a ship, a couple of the guards in the fortress were less than pleased about it. Ruma was not the kind of person who cared about race. Gender was more important, and Tabula Rasa was a female like herself. Of course, this came with implications that Kotone was more than willing to bring up at times.

She examined the docks looking for Tabula Rasa. Given her clothing, she wasn't hard to pick out of a crowd. She approached cautiously.

"I was requested? I can only assume your ship needs modifications. The last captain was a little...short on firepower."

[Tabula Rasa]

x x

People got used to things far too fast. T.R.'s new look had caught many people off guard at first, but then they just sort of accepted it. Then again skin was nothing pirates didn't know. The diabolic hybrid sat on top of a pile of crates, crosslegged, watching as the sailors went about restocking her Dragonflame with supplies. She knew long before the girl approached that Ruma was around, in that way that T.R. knew without showing it. Part of what made her a mystery to most people, though she would only say she was observant.

She turned and looked down at where Ruma stood. A little short and underwhelming for the sister of the great Merik Dragmire. "How do you know I wasn't looking to get to know the dear sister of my king? You are a great influence on his life, and I should make sure that influence won't turn out to be bad. To make sure you aren't the cause for any great mistakes," she cooed, drawing out the last word. The pet wasn't here with her, which was good. T.R. had plans and they did not involve him. Not yet.

"Though I do have some ideas for modifications. You're a tinkerer so I'm sure you'll love some of these. I read long ago of a chemical mixture consisting of naphtha mixed with various resins. Supposed to be quite the beautiful sight, if those ancient texts are to be believed. Fire that is not extinguished by water, and in fact fueled by it. Think you can whip some of that up for me?" T.R. asked, almost dreamily at the thought of it. "And then we have to talk about getting it from my ship to other ships, if you know what I mean."

[ruma]

Ruma didn't like the way Tabula spoke. It burned her ears. It felt cold and dishonest. She didn't say anything to Merik, keeping it all to herself, she was first mate. Actually that was no longer true. She herself was a captain now.

"I know my king very well. My influence is all for the best. Besides, where would we be without my ingenuity? Who do think was responsible for these upgrades?" She never knew what it was that brought out the anger in her whenever Tabula was around. It wasn't healthy. She should be happy that Merik had a loyal crew member, but did it have to be her?

"Yes I've heard of the compound. Incredibly volatile, but if controlled, a dangerous weapon. I suppose you want me to whip up a few thousand batches of it. Well, if you didn't already know, I don't exactly keep naphtha around my lab. If you can procure it, I can produce your fire. Giving it propulsion isn't exactly difficult once it's created, but if you keep it on for too long, you'll risk overheating the pipes. But I know how much you love to burn everything so I'll spare any further cautions." She hoped that was all. Just take some naphtha as make Tabula a primitive flamethrower. Of course, with Tabbycat things were never simple.

[Tabula Rasa]

x x

T.R. giggled. "Your influence is all for whose best, though? You insist upon taking a political prisoner rather than kill a spy, thus putting not just Merik and yourself in danger, but all of the Gerudo and all of the pirates as well?" She shook her head. "All because of what? Not wanting bloodshed? Not wanting to see a man harmed? Both are coming, sweet Ruma, and because of your choice it mightn't be very nice." T.R. simply shrugged off the thought.

"Speaking of your fancies, how is your dear pet Jin doing? Is he adapting well to slavery? Though I doubt you're very efficient as a slave master. You probably have him stand around doing nothing and call him such. Poor, innocent Ruma, so consumed by a laboratory that you have no knowledge of the world." She giggled and fell backward, apparently falling off the stack of crates she had been sitting on, though just a second later she stepped out from behind them just fine.

"As for the naphtha I didn't think you would have any. You're too sweet and innocent to have such a volatile, dangerous chemical handy." She clapped her hand on the side of one of the crates, the clawed fingers digging in. "That's why I've already taking the liberty of procuring some. The sooner my Dragonflame lives up to its name the better, after all. And don't you fret, it won't burn down Pirate Bay. It's stored properly . . . I think," she mused for a moment, drawing her hand away from the crate and tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Guess we could sit them here in the sun for a bit and find out."

[ruma]

Ruma didn't bother to listen to Tabula Rasa when she talked about danger or pirates or Jin. She wasn't sure if she was threatening someone or just rambling half the time anyway. She wasn't putting anyone in danger by taking Jin as a slave instead of killing him. He wasn't going anywhere, she had that covered. She watched Tabula Rasa fall off the crates as she planned to, as Ruma just shook her head and sighed.

"Is it just sitting there? In the crates? Please tell me you put it something a bit more...flame retardant." No one wants to get burned trying to get everything set up. One little misplaced spark and half the bay could be on fire. Of course, that might be Tabula Rasa's angle all along.

"Have your crew get it on the ship. Belowdecks. I'll have the fire propulsion system up next chance I get to it. Shouldn't be too long, but I have to run pressure tests to make sure the naphtha doesn't combust before its told to."

[Tabula Rasa]

x x

T.R. giggled wickedly. "You're such a worry wart, sweet Ruma. There's no gain in burning down Pirate Bay. Not right now anyway, though it would be a sight to behold." There was a twinkle in T.R.'s eyes as she envisioned the sight. Just for a split second. "No doubt Merik would be furious, though, and I certainly don't want that, being forever his most loyal subject." T.R. said flippantly, then gave one of the boxes a good, hard kick. "The crates just make it easier to stack. It's all safe inside for now. You're not the only one with an intelligence above advanced knot tying in Pirate Bay."

T.R. turned and waved to a sailor aboard the Dragonflame, then pointed to the boxes, then back to the ship. Without waiting for acknowledgement of her command, she turned around and walked toward, and then circled, Ruma. "So where is your new play thing, anyway? Certainly he can't be far. Or at least unguarded. What if he attempts some sort of escape? Or are your little fairy tale ideals set on believing he'll be there for you? He'll wait, because he's your very own Prince Charming?" T.R. giggled and stopped her circling. "Poor sweet Ruma has been in the laboratory for too long, perhaps inhaled a few too many chemicals. You certainly aren't like a normal Gerudo, that much is for sure. Are you certain you're Merik's sister?"

[ruma]

Sometimes I can't tell[/color] Ruma thought to herself as T.R. began to discuss the igniting of Pirate's Bay and her own intelligence. She felt as if spontaneity and intelligence were in fact mutually exclusive.

Ruma watched Tabby circling her, wondering what the captain's angle was. Why was she so enticed with Jin? Why did she have to be so cold about him being alive? Who was this Prince Charming?

"Jin isn't going anywhere, your protests ring hollow, Tabula Rasa. I've made sure he can only go so far before he's yanked back to the fortress. I've taken the necessary precautions in case he tries to escape." She left him at the fortress of course. Along with her remote. He didn't need to meet this *****.

When Tabula questioned her Gerudo blood and whether or not she was Merik's sister, she touched a nerve. A big one. Ruma quickly drew her pistol and aimed it right at Tabula Rasa's head. Anyone nearby took a step back as the cousin of their captain drew arms against his most loyal subject. She glared at Tabula Rasa, an itchy trigger finger ready to blow her head clean off the rest of her.

"How dare you mock the bloodline from which I am born. You may be Merik's most loyal subject, but I am his kin. Just because I spend my days in a lab instead of a battlefield doesn't make me any less Gerudo." She itched, wanting to end Tabula right there, even though she knew she couldn't. Not her, not Merik's top non-Gerudo.

[Tabula Rasa]

x x

T.R. stood down the barrel of the pistol without a second thought. A feline grin spread across her face as she stopped and pushed her head forward, putting the barrel of Ruma's gun right between her eyes. "Oh you're definitely his kin. Took him less time to pull his weapons on me, but you're definitely related. Now, to the extent that that relation goes, that's another thing. He didn't do it because I intrigued him. You, however, are happy in your ways, happy where you are. You don't need me to keep things interesting for you.

"But you still won't pull that trigger. You can't. Your king and your brother, your sire, says not to. Let me tell you something about kin, though. Kin means nothing. Brothers betrays sisters, parents smother their children, hell children slay their own parents. This is a twisted age we live in where blood does nothing but hold you down. You may be kin, but loyalty is proven through actions. So far you've directly opposed a law set down by your brother. What're you going to do now? Shoot his loyal right hand? Pull the trigger, I dare you," T.R. said darkly, then giggled.

"Poor sweet Ruma."

[ruma]

Ruma stared her down. She wanted to pull the trigger so badly, end this psychopath's life. But this psychopath was right. Ruma couldn't pull the trigger without consequences. It was highly unfortunate.

She put the gun away and took a deep breath. "Our family has been through everything together. We're not going to betray each other. We've proven we're all loyal to each other before you even knew who Merik was. Why do you think I've done all the upgrades I did for this bay, for him, and now for you, if I wasn't loyal to him." She rolled her eyes and sighed. She needed to hold her cool when Tabby was around.

"So do you have anything else you need to say or should I head back to the fortress?" She just wanted to get back to the fortress. She was such a pain.