10 June; Mess Duties

De Guarde observed Thompson. Since the man's promotion, he had grown distant, which was very understandable. But it felt no more certain that it was so, as it did now.

He tugged at his sleeve as he made a final attempt. "Corp'ral." He spoke, as he shoved his way up to Thompson. "...please,..can' yer let Chase off..of this?"

If he had still been a topman, Tide would have happily helped Chase in beating a little sense into Seward. As it was, he was likely to be pulled up for not stopping the fight when it had first broken out.

He watched the two cursing, scowling combatants as they were hauled unceremoniously away - that other big Marine taking the opportunity to deliver a blow or two of his own behind Thompson's back. This was all a damned mess and not the least because the Marines had come sweeping in to make it all worse.

"You ain't done no favours here," the quartermaster said, shaking his head unhappily. Chase may not know the worth in what he'd done, but Tide did, and Thompson's appearance had interrupted what should have been a firm and well deserved lesson.

He glanced at de Guarde and sighed. There was another one who had no clue what he was doing. Hadn't Tide warned him against sticking his nose into things? "Shut it, boy."

"But...." The boy grew quiet, looking back at Tide Evans.

Couldn't he have sorted it so Chase was not taken in irons? He glanced at the crowd and there spotted another familiar face he would rather have forgotten. He took a step back. He did not want to have Chase punished. The man was a good sort, a noble sort and a brave one. He dearly regretted having had him flogged the first time. He gazed at Thompson, wishing the man to reconsider, yet saying nothing any more. Tide Evans's order was quite enough. The tender bottom reminding him why it was wise to follow it too.

"That's as may be," Thompson said. "I know it ain't any more'n he deserved, but it's more than my skin's worth to not step in when I knew summat was goin' on - an' yourn an' all. It ain't for the likes of you an' me to turn a blind eye."

"I half wonder if them stripes is gone to your head," Tide remarked with a shake of his head. "You done your bit, so bully for you. 'Bliged t'you for the help. Corporal."

The quartermaster turned away, biting back a further observation about Marines. Ordinarily he had little issue with the bullocks, but their interference now just was not on.

Thompson sighed. "If they'd shown the slightest hint of breakin' it up prop'ly, I'd've gone away again an' wouldn't have minded what they'd have got up after I'd done me duty. An' now... Well, you jus' see how it is now."

He glanced at Button again. "Wonder what's put him in such a fright, anyhow," he remarked, and felt in his pocket for the key to the irons, which he was carrying as duty NCO while the irons were empty.

Tide heard the corporal's remarks but ignored them, with an effort. It was none of Thompson's damn business who was in a fright or who was scrapping. Bloody bullocks.

"Button," the quartermaster called, thankfully not having to raise his voice too much to be heard over the subdued buzz of chatter as men got back to the business of eating. "G'arn up forrard, lad."

Thompson shrugged and turned to fulfil the rest of his duties. He hadn't joined the Marines to be liked, and he'd known when he accepted the promotion that it wasn't going to help his popularity. He just hoped that he wouldn't end up becoming a hard horse NCO - he'd had enough of those in his time. But cutting everyone slack and not coming up to the scratch when necessary wouldn't do him any favours, either.

Terry blinked and bit his lip before knuckling his forehead to Mister Evans.

"Aye, aye, sir," he said automatically, and darted away, his heart in his mouth. He only realised, halfway up the ladder, that Mister Evans wasn't a 'sir' like the officers were.

De Guarde observed the exchange in silence. It was not fair how Tide Evans spoke to the corporal. But he couldn't exactly say anything. He sighed. And Thompson was a bit in the wrong. He took Chase away!

He glanced at Button then at Evans. "...." He frowned.

By rights, he should include de Guarde in this as well, but then decided to have a separate and rather different conversation with that lad.

Having decided so... the quartermaster sighed. This would all be that much simpler if Seward would just throw himself overboard.

"Here," Tide said, once he was up on the weather deck. "You ain't been stirrin' nothin' up with Seward, have you?"

Terry was dumbfounded and looked up at the quartermaster open-mouthed. "O' course I ain't!" he said, shocked. "Whaddaya take me for? I ain't stupid!"

"If it ain't you, it's your mate, 'cause Cob Chase ain't daft 'nuff to go gettin' into a scrap with the likes of him just 'cause." Tide shook his head. "D'either of you want to get him lookin' for trouble or what?"

Terry shook his head emphatically. "He made me tell him what I fink Seward done, though I made him swear not to tell anyone. An' he near to blurts it out in front of everyone, the... the..."

A few decidedly unpleasant words came quickly to mind on hearing that. Was this boy wanting to go for a swim too?

"He done that, has he." Tide had half a mind to have De Guarde sent to the grating properly right alongside Seward and Chase. This was another matter for the captain, no question.

"He didn't say anyfin'." It was close though. "I dunno how long he's going to keep his mouf shut, though. An' now I know it was Seward..." he trailed off uncertainly. "He's mean but... I don't wanna end up bein' the one to 'ave 'im 'anged," he muttered, looking down at the deck.

It didn't matter if he'd said anything in Button's presence. The fact was, De Guarde now knew and he had proven himself to not have half an ounce of good sense.

"You ain't gonna," Tide said flatly. "I'll string the bastard up me own self, if I gotta."

This was what happened when boys thought they could handle things like men. Inevitably, it got to be a complete foolish mess.

"I din't mean to tell him, only... I was tryin' to keep him away from Seward in case he tried anythin' again, and he got the wrong idea an' fought Seward had freatened me, so I had to tell him..."

He'd never asked for any of this, really, he hadn't. It just wasn't fair.

There was no setting this particular slip to rights, as it was well and truly done, but Tide could see to it that a similar one did not happen.

"Anybody gets after you 'bout that beggar," the quartermaster said, "you send him to me and I'll sort him out."

And that included De Guarde.

Terry nodded fervently. "Aye, aye, sir. I... I... 'm sorry, sir."

He was never going to leave Mister Leat's side, if hanging around the Lieutenant meant he would be safe from Seward and his cronies.

He relented, just slightly. "Least Chase was in a fightin' mood," Tide remarked. "Saved me the trouble of it an' all."

Terry's eyes widened. "You wouldn't've? Just 'cause've... Why?"

"That'n wouldn't have let well 'nuff alone," the quartermaster answered. "He'd have tried somethin' 'ventually."

The boy shivered, despite the heat of the sun. "I wish I'd never said nuffin, I wish I'd never seen nuffin'."

He suppressed a sigh. "If it weren't you, it'd've been some other lad with half so much sense. This'll sort the beggar out though, I'm thinkin'. It's twice in a week he's been seized up - Cap'n can't ignore that!"