6th June; Bored

William had for this night bin chosen to be one of the sentrys at Larboard watch which irritated him, this mean little sleep when they were finally permitted to go to bed, and this was the boring watch according to will, cause peopled tended to be more quiet during this hour.

William shrugged to himself and went to the starboard rail looking over the edge into the distance making a yawn, though trying to coneal it. Right now he just wished he could sleep or read or something else relaxing instead of being on watch.

Terry was on deck. It was a quiet night and the sailors weren't needed to alter the set of the sails or anything, so he was relaxing near the starboard rail.

He looked up when someone came to stand near him. The man leaned on the rail, looking at the horizon, and Terry shrugged, then realised it was a Marine.

"'Scuse me..." he said, slightly nervously. "Ain't you on duty? You'll get in trouble if you ain't at your post when the Corp'ral comes round."

Even if it was Corporal Thompson, he wouldn't be able to overlook a man not being at his post.

He was a bit surprised at someone actually talking to him, he looked to his side and saw a young man relaxing near the starboard rail too, "I'm not actually on duty... Don't you have something to do too?" he asked seeing as this sailor was relaxing too, ofcause he didn't mind this though he felt like asking the same question even if it was obvious that little was to do at this watch, and the captain was most likely asleep in his cabin, which meant little orders were gonna be given.

Terry indicated the sails above them. "Only if the officer of the watch thinks the set of the sails need to be changed. There won't be much to do otherwise. But we're still needed on deck just in case."

He grinned. "I'm only a ship's boy, anyhow. Don't really need to be up here, except I want to learn to be a sailor. Though I'm not big enough to really be much use." He shrugged, still grinning. "I'll grow, though. So folks keep saying, anyway."

Will walked a few steps closer to the boy and look at him seeing that there wasn't that much of an age difference atleast not of what he could see from this point.

"I see... In that case we're both doing what we are supposed to correct?" he shifted to his other foot looking of the rail again into the horizon half thinking that he'd see something although knowing that he most likely wouldn't.

"I don't know what you're supposed to be doing," the boy said, turning to look at the Marine properly. "I've never been a Marine - don't want to be one, neither. I want to be a topman - you know, one of the sailors that goes up aloft to work in the rigging." He pointed up at the spider-work of ropes and rigging that led to the yards high above them. "I'm only down here keeping out of the way because everyone else is."

he nodded understandingly at the young boy "Well thats the spirit i suppose? wanting to learn and become something... i'm sure you'll do good becoming a topman when you get.... bigger?" he said knowing that this kid wasn't large nor strong most likely making him more in the way up there then anything "Although shouldn't you atleast be up there to learn how you do what the topmen do?" he asked curiously not being exactly sure on what a topman did.

Terry shrugged and indicated the men around them. "There isn't anyone up there - there's no need, because we don't need to do anything with the sails and stuff. If the wind was to get up - get stronger, I mean - then they'd have to go up to take in a reef or two. Only I'd be in the way if I went up with them." He shrugged again. "I've been up in the day, skylarking and stuff - playing around - when I'm not on watch. It's fun, when you get used to being all the way up there."

"Pipe the bloody hell down," a voice nearby groaned. With the onset of illness affecting so many of the crew, permission had been granted to allow men to sleep on the deck, nearer the heads if the need might arise.

An awakened neighbor whimpered and hurried forward.