1 June; Stargazing

"Hey! He's jus' trying t' find his sea legs. Once he knows 'em he'll be a'right as rain an a real help!" De Guarde was listening quietly, and decided it was time he made himself heard. "Jus' lay off o' him. He's new 'ere. Got noone n' don't want t' be here... but jus'.. jus' some time n he'll be a'right."

Terry nodded, then scowled as de Guarde spoke up. "He mightn't 'ave 'is sea-legs yet, but 'e shoved me deliberate-like." He shrugged. He'd had worse treatment than that in his short life, and the man hadn't meant for Terry to go scraping his arm.

"I ain't got anyone either... 'ad to make friends wiv everyone, start from the bottom," he added, slightly sulkily. "I never went shovin' folks around."

If he had gone shoving anyone around, he would probably have received a good beating for it.

"He don't know wot' he doing. You do. He prolly wos' too scared o' doing something n' didn't even notice shovin'n you till it wos' too late." He scowled."He's jus' very.. unlearned." He looked at Danver, wishing he would say he agreed, though harbouring no hope he actually would.

"'E din't even pol... polly... say sorry," Terry muttered. He shrugged. "Though... 'e said as 'e'd swap duties wiv me - go an' work for Mister Foxley so's I'd end up doin' watch-an'-watch on deck."

Although, really, once the lubber started learning the ropes, he would be more likely to be useful than Terry, even with the boy's knowledge. Terry just didn't have the physical strength and size that the man did, lubber or not.

"Well," Tobias said, nodding at the two boys. "we'll jist have ter weyt an' see 'ow 'e does." He took out his pipe, looking at it contemplatively. "S'pose most o' us was new once."

Sighing, he shook the pipe out and put it back in his pocket. He'd already had a smoke this evening, and who knew when he'd next be able to get tobacco.

"Still doan' lahk 'im pushin' lads aboout, aye?" he said. "'E'll have ter learn queck."

"...Well you ain't t' type then. See that man there." He indicated Cattling with his finger. "...he'll be pushin' lads about no matter how long he's been here. He'll jus' do it...an he's a real bastard too!"

Cattling's words during the punishment were not forgotten. "Um...." He studied the pipe that Danver was putting away:"... could we um'.......um'...try that?" Honest, that laudanum he was having was doing wonders for his confidence and lack of sense.

The complete switch in topic took Tobias by surprise. He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement.

"Still efter a smoake?" he asked. Tamping a but more tobacco into the bowl of the pipe, he stood to light it off one of the lanterns. Danver puffed slightly on the pipe, then sat back down an offered it to De Guarde.

"Jist doan' le' Boyle see ye wiv tha'." he said, chuckling. "'E'll tan me 'ide."

De Guarde did not want to admit that he had never smoked in his life, though it was probably obvious. He eagerly accepted the pipe, having taken good care to observe Danver when he puffed his turn.

"Thank you." He was a bit awkward ad lying on his belly with the pipe and so shifted all the way to his side. Perched up in a near sitting position, but for the fact he was actually avoiding putting any pressure on his bum, he put the mouth of his newly acquired pipe between his lips.

He hoped he would not choke and turn all green from it. But surely only those too daft, did it? "...will 'ide it.. promise." And then he made his first attempt, and for a few moments it looked as if he would not choke. Untill he could no longer hold his breath propper.

Terry's eyes widened as de Guarde requested a smoke. He was willing to bet that the other boy hadn't ever tried it either, and couldn't wait to see his reactions.

He pressed his hand to the scrape on is arm and watched as de Guarde took a pull at the pipe. From the look of it, he was going to have a worse coughing fit that Terry himself had had, earlier.

He giggled a little at the thought.

Ow. It was hot. The air he'd just inhaled was terribly hot! His eyes watered a little. He may have taken it in too quick, but he'd never really tried before and did not know how it was suppose to feel. It was irritating his mouth and making him want to cough, which he did the moment he wanted to properly inhale. He held his finger up as if to say he wanted to go get something. He did get half way up, got a several steps away from the group.

But then he simply could not hold his breath any longer and the irritant made him finally inhale as he ought to have, and then he started coughing. He held the pipe at a distance from himself still careful not to drop it.

He wheezed and looked indignant. Still, hoping that nobody saw that, even when he was turned away, was just being too naive. He began to straighten out, breathing shallowly trying to ease his throat and chest. With a stubborn resolve he placed the pipe back into his mouth. Another attempt at a puff.

Danver let out a small laugh at de Guarde's determined attempts. Lad was bound and determined to seem like he knew what he was doing. He'd end up scorching his wind pipe if he kept up like that.

"Easy, ther, lad," Tobias said. "Breyth et in slow lahk, an' le' et set. Doan' wan' t' burn, aye?"

Terry snickered at Buckles' valiant attempt. You didn't suck on a pipe like that, even he knew that! But it was funny to watch, though. Sucking like that would give you a coughing fit... And right on cue, the other boy started coughing.

That'd teach him!

Or maybe not; he was taking a second puff.

"Don't you go smokin' all his bacca," Terry whispered loudly, elbowing de Guarde in the ribs to get his attention.

The boy quickly attempted to remedy his puffing with the quiet advice of the man. His cheeks were burning from the effort and some from the embarrassement. He pursed his lips then tried it slow and light.

Better. He still felt like his eyes were watering and probably tearing up, but he managed to keep himself from coughing his lungs out.

Only, then suddenly an elbow was thrust at his side and he inhaled sharply in protest. He hacked and then the poor thing had tears in his eyes and and it was burning and feeling quite awful.

"Buh.." He tried, and thereabouts squeaked the word. "...Buhtn'.. you daf' thing." He coughed again. " You don' try t' elbow m' when smokin'!" He looked at Danver, hoping the man would not be upset with him for this. And he hoped to have another go.. maybe. Though smoking felt awful burnin' at the moment!

"S'alreight, lad," Danver said to Button with a smile. "I got moare."

He raised his eyebrows at De Gaurde, trying not to let too much of his amusement show, lest he hurt the lad's pride further. He knew well what it meant to be treated like one of the men at that age. Still, being startled into gulping smoke like that was not pleasant.

"Tha'll be feine," he said. "Jist taake a deep breyth awa' from th' pipe a momen'."

Thompson had come up on deck after being relieved from sentry, and was fishing for his own pipe as he passed the group of sailors, heading for the rail. He paused.

"You ain't teachin' the younkers to smoke?" he asked, amused, then frowned. "I ain't sure it's the sort of thing a young gentleman oughta be doin', though, an' chances are Buckles'll get to be a young gentleman again one o' these days. Don't want him pickin' up bad habits, do we?" He shrugged a shoulder. "Well, no more'n he has, anyhow."

De Guarde made his mind up and decided he liked that seaman. He was friendly, generous and he did not mock him for nearly hacking his lung out through his nose and mouth. He nodded and lowered his pipe in nick of time, but perhaps not fast enough.

Thompson did see it, and gave them - him still easing his breathing and the burning sensation in his throat - a good talking to.

"..m' is perfectly fine. "He scowled and kept his pipe at a safe distance. "m' a grown lad now. Ain't needin' ter be babied!" He nodded towards Danver to show some of his appreciation for his earlier words and 'guidance' through the process of starting and continuing to smoke.

"You ain't grown yet, lad. You'm still growin'," Thompson said equably. "I certainly ain't babyin' you - though I ain't never seen a gennelman puffin' on a pipe like us poor folks, neither."

He pulled his own tobacco pouch out and began to fill the bowl of his own pipe.

"If I'm going t' sleep with t' lot' of ya, I may as well enjoy t' perks like t' res' of ya." Which only stood to reason in his book. That, and he was a young one, wanting to do what adults did. Nothing unusual in that. "Even Button's got to smoke." He shifted somewhat closer to Danver as if expecting that the elder Tar would back him up.

"So's you." He indicated the pipe that Thompson was just preparing, and into which he was already placing some of the tobacco. "You smoke." It was not an accusation perse, more like a good reasoning for his own actions. He looked at Danver then and smiled. "Thank you fer lettin' me be tryin' this. You'um a'right." A compliment from a former middie who preferred to give insults was not half bad.

And then his attention was back on Thompson, just in case the man decided to snatch his pipe from him. There was a benefit to the marine starting his smoke. It was something he could try mimic, and with the guidance he had already gotten from the other Tar, he might well prove himself a good smoker! Doing no worse than the adults!

Terry looked up when Buckles said his name, and gave a shrug. "Dunno why folks like it, though. Tastes... real strange," he said, speaking softly - he didn't want to hurt the feelings of the sailor who'd let him try it. "It's better chewin' it, really."

It did seem strange, though; the Marine trying to tell Buckles not to smoke when he was filling his own pipe ready for a smoke of his own.

"..Dunno how's t' chewin' taste. 'aven't tried it yet. I do know smokin's interestin' if done right." He smiled and then gazed straight at Thompson, as if challenging him to stop him, and then placed the pipe into his mouth. Now, if he did this right, he could maybe even puff out some smoke and look right grown up about it.

There. Slow inhale, wasn't it? Not too hard, or he'd get burnt. He paused and decided to do it. His eyes paid attention to the marine, ready to have the boy jerk his pipe out of range, should the marine decide he wanted to snatch it from him.

"You's mad, you is," Terry declared in a loud whisper, watching the other boy try a second time. "I never seen the like afore." How de Guarde had brought himself to have another go at smoking, Terry had no idea. He was very sure he didn't want to try it again himself, though; the first attempt had been quite bad enough.

" Ain't mad...you're jus' too young ter appreciate it." He placed the pipe into his mouth. Did it again and this time managed to let some of the smoke out as well. He looked ready to burst with pride, trying very hard to conceal that he might well need time to consider smoking an enjoyable past time. It still wasn't just how he expected it to be.

It did not dishearten him however from trying again. "..You jus' didn' do it right Terry. 's all!" Ha, and Thompson had no say in the matter of smoking either. Though, he did feel a bit guilty now, because he had disobeyed the man.

"He ain't that much younger'n you, Buckles," Thompson said, returning his tobacco pouch to its home and borrowing a light from one of the other men. "An' it ain't such a good habit - I dunno what your folks'll think we've bin learnin' you, time you get home. They won't recognise you, they won't."

He took a couple of puffs to make sure it was alight before holding the other man's pipe back out to him. "I on'y do it 'cause I started young, else I'd be chewin' the stuff like Mister Evans does, an' others."

"Won't smoke n' I come home." Though at the mention of his family, his smile seemed to waver. There would be other reasons for which they would not recognise him, if he did not become a young gentleman and then rise in rank, if he was nothing but a mere Tar, that might certainly put a damper to that relationship.

Lying was not that hard when from such a distance. Even then he worried that the captain had sent word and that he had already or would be soon, found out. "..Don't matter." He said more tersely than he meant to. "...I'll smoke if I want t'." His gaze averted to the pipe then. Didn't matter and Thompson had to have been aware how the situation was just now too!

"Tha's learnin' t' be a reight prahper sailor," Tobias said with a shrug, hoping to alleviate a bit of the tension. The cause for the lad's discomfort was not hard to pinpoint - but it was not necessarily the time to bring up mistakes and worries.

"Doan' worry 'bout owt differen' jist naow," he added with a small smile that he hoped was reassuring.