Slacking off in the Sun

So this fellow Chase held some authority amongst the crew. That could be good and bad. Possibly good, if he kept this boy out of trouble and didn't mistreat him, but on the other side of that... it could be nothing more than one group of bullies defending its own from another.

Hales picked at his shirt sleeve, considering what he was being told. Obviously one needed a 'sea daddy', which this Chase was, in order to gain some form of protection. It meant admitting he was doomed to this life, to agree to such a thing.

"I share a table with other unfortunates," he replied carefully. "But I should hardly call them good company."

"Ah that. Aye. Well if you get t' feel displeased about some people in yer group, that is.. if yer feel like you can't really sit with them or mess with them, you can ask ter be transferred... can be a good n' a bad thing though. Especially if you dun' know the other mess an' they ain't willing to do it." He studied Hales.

"... Oh n'... Chase, wot I meant by sea daddy is. He's a teacher o' sorts. Like.. he knows t' trade, knows t' knots n' t' splices n' t' ropes. N' he's got t' responsibility towards ye then. Ter see that you can learn as well. " He shifted uncertainly, dropping his gaze. He was making Chase sound like a grand man. He knew how not too long ago he thought him to be the reason for all evil and the main chap, for when trouble was to be had. How did Hales think of the man, being described to him? Perhaps he should have stopped talking about that. It sounded a bit like asking him to take sides even if he did not mean to. Chase was not one side as opposed to others. He was a free man, without a side but who would be willing to back you up, if need arose and you were not in the wrong.

He decided it was much better to ask Hales again. Learn more about him. "Do ye know t' write n' read?"

Right. As if such a thing would pass unopposed were Hales to try it. So a sea daddy was supposed to teach the sailing trade as well as protect. Hales wanted no part of learning this trade. He wanted out, as soon as he could manage it.

"I can read but a little," he said. "But that is all."

" That's summat useful fer when t' letters come. " He motioned. "..Wot'.. wot' makes it supposely easier is knowin' wot' yer trade is.. n' 'xchangin' it fer summat." He hesitated. He did not sound at all like himself. He was not the sort of boy who gave suggestions, offered something useful to another.

"..do yer...'ate bein' here? I mean.. on t' ship in t' foreign land..places?"

Indeed. Hales plucked at his sleeve again.

"I do. Quite heartily."

" You know... I know I ain't t' best person t' give you any ol' mind of my own.. but I think... if you try bearin' with t' routine here, mebbe.. lettin' them learn you some things. Mebbe even becomin' a seaman, bear it till you're let off, you'd be richer fer t' prize money you get, better fer t' experience and still be able to be at home, nicely retired maybe even better than nice " He sighed. "...But..it's hard that. T' accept it... Because it's not... wot' you like doin' or wanna do, or would like t' live no more n' you're forced to, in doing." He shut up then , frowned and looked up.

"Do ye have sumone waitin' fer you, back 'ome?"

That was undoubtedly good advice, but Hales was hardly of a mood to heed it. He hadn't asked for this. Not any of it. Why should he act like he had?

"No," he said, choosing to answer the last, and tried not to think of his family.

"Oh. M'..sorry." He shuffled his feet and stared at the floor. Curling his toes he studied them and the dirt that was attached to the soles and the sides of his foot. "Well.. ..um.." He was quiet again wondering what he could say, fighting an internal battle in his mind. When he was about to think he made a good choice at what to say next, his mind answered to it finding reasons why the words would be at fault to use. When he wanted asking a question, he answered it himself.

"..Promise you won' come 'playin' t' ship bowel's beast at me again?" He looked up hoping that Hales might see that there was a light hearted tease in that. An attempt at it, at least , though he believed it poor already.

Hales shrugged, managing not to smile. It was a tolerable attempt at humour but he knew enough not to show appreciation for it.

"Not deliberately, surely."

"You know.... " He hesitated, knowing just as well he might have not accepted the offer, if he had been in such a situation. "...If you're ever bored enough, You can come around. Or if you dun' understand summat.. you can ask. I'm still learnin' but if it's possible, I can show or.. teach ye." He shut up. It was hard to offer something like that feeling that Hales would laugh at the offer. He spared himself the humiliation by looking instead out to sea.

Indeed. There was a lot Hales didn't understand, didn't have any clue about, but he was determined to remain in ignorance. Perhaps in so doing he would be dismissed from this ridiculous circumstance

His resentment waned abruptly. It was churlish of him to not acknowledge the boy's offer for what it was. "Thank you."

De Guarde's expression became somewhat more relaxed and he smiled in turn. "Glad t'." He said. He turned about, looking straight at Hales. "Do y' know any crafts...like um' .. wood crafts? You know, carvin' things an' convincing people that they look like somethin' real?" His smile broadened a little.

Crafts. Hales nearly huffed in disdain. Him, a craftsman?

"I know some Welsh. My mother's tongue."

"Welsh?" The boy nodded. "But...you said you was from London." He left the sentence feel as a question as well. He wanted to know more but only if Hales was willing to tell. "Is..it 'ard ter learn?"

The ghost of a smile might have quirked the corner of his mouth. "I was pressed in London," he amended. "But I am from Gloucester, properly."

Then Hales shrugged, his momentary levity gone. "It is something I learned young."

"Oh." His interest was peaked. He did not think he had ever seen the place Hales mentioned and wondered about it, thinking it unknown as an exotic land. "So..." He began. "How does t' place ...what's it like?" He hesitated uncertain if Hales would want to answer another of the questions which were, in a way, rather personal too.

"..Why.... why was you in London then?"

London. Hales let out a quiet breath. "It's crowded. Noisy nearly beyond bearing. Smelling to high heaven almost everywhere. But it... it's nearly home, I suppose." He shrugged again. "I was there with a family. Before they dismissed their staff."

"You talkin' bout London or Gloucester?" He asked leaning against the railing. It was interesting. All of it. Staying with a family, perhaps in a similar station to some of the men he had seen or had worked for his own. "..why'd you get dismissed?" This was the part, more unusual, atleast to the boy.

"London." In some ways, he missed it. In others, not. "It was the end of the Season."

Did any of this questioning have a point?

"Oh. " He mulled on about it in silence. He could not give any more advice, or perhaps he should try? "That's nice then. You good in climbin'?" He asked offhandedly gazing at the mainmast.

Climbing. Did he look like a monkey? "No." He had never tried but was in no hurry to do so now.

"It's.. a better place t' get away from people...n' not everyone can follow you up there." He pointed with his hand. "...s'.. a lot you see from there..real nice." He turned quieter then, glancing up at Hales. He probably thought him a stupid boy, for ever talking about it in such a way. He sighed. He was not a good company, not even to one who had lacked most of it on board the ship.

Maybe. Hales looked skyward at the dizzing maze of black ropes. "I am no climber."

The very idea of trying to leave the deck made his stomach churn.

"Ain't that hard. All y' need t' do is.. trus' yourself, hold on, and don't let t' fear get to you. It's like walking... just usin' all limbs for it." He indicated a Tar, who was giving them a perfect example of such a 'walk'. "Would you want t' try sometime? For fun?"

Like walking. Right. Hales watched the sailor going upwards without interest. This was their trade, not his.

"I should not be so willing to surrender myself to this foul work," Hales stated flatly.