Planning for fun

"Looks more like Sticks' hat than his sticks," Thompson said as Fingers ducked into view, grinning and holding Andrew's hat off his face with one hand. Sticks himself narrowly avoided colliding with Everett, who was rolling out of his hammock. He grinned at the lad beside him. "You Tars are more trouble then you're worth sometimes. Why d'you think they need us Marines aboard ship too?"

(OK - see you later!)

"We do need marines! So we have sumone ter give a run to!" He grinned and pushed up, so that he could stand in Andrew's way when Fingers would pass. "A hat! What a fine idea!" He exclaimed with a grin as he glanced towards Oxley. There was someting to take another time.

"Go, Fingers!" He cheered for the boy, not even noticing that it could well wake someone up, or more.

"Keep it down, lad, there's folks tryin' to sleep," Thompson admonished, grinning. He wondered what Fingers was planning on doing with the Shepherd boy's hat, and why he'd run aft rather than for'rard.

It was about time he slung his own hammock, really. Tomorrow they'd have Divisions, then rig Church. He wondered whether his ankle would hold up if he fell in with the others for Divisions. He hoped so; with the ex-middy's shirt finished, he didn't really have much else to do with his time, and he didn't think anyone would appreciate his falling in with the others on the sicklist, not when they had properly wounded men in the sickbay.

" Sleep on a ship? they mus' be right mad." He said a lot more quietly and grinned at Thompson. He could've looked apologetic if not for his grin and the fact he was not exactly so. Mischief rather than innocence, and one that wasn't even attempted to be hidden under the pretence.

He looked at the two boys, Andrew and Fingers. This was fun, it started of rather without waraning, but ended - or well, not yet - in laughter and amusement. The poor sailors and marines of the old had to suffer through it though. Though, mind, it was the booted feet that made the most sound, so surely the Tars were in the less guilty in that!

"You's stayed up all till now? " He asked as he glanced from the boys right back at Thompson. " N' how's that leg of yours now? Sure better, I hope!" He said in earnest.

"You'd find it real hard to stay awake an' do your job if'n you didn't catch some shut-eye at times on a ship, y'know," Thompson returned. "I'm goin' to sling me own hammock in a bit. Though I ain't spent all hours workin' on that there shirt. Bein' on the sick-list means I ain't been able to do me usual duties, so's I've been doin' that instead. And me ankle's much better now, thanks for askin'. Still got a bit of a limp, though, but I reckon I'll be fine come Monday. Hope I will, anyway."

He grinned at the lad. "You goin' to try it on, then? Or just hold onto it like it's a lifeline in a storm?"

"Oh, I will!" He looked around as if looking for a spot where he could change. "Um, right 'ere?" He asked, shuffling his feet. Below decks privacy was a luxury and non existant too, and he was only learning that too. Or atleast only getting used to it.

He grinned though a little: "Good t' hear your legs near fine. Don't you go tumbling down no companionways though, promise?" He added , still looking about for a good spot. He was certainly eager to see it on.

"You don't have to, an' there ain't anywheres else than right here. Folks ain't goin' to look, though, if that's what you'm worried about. We've seen it all before, after all. And I didn't mean to go tumblin' down the companionway in the first place! It just happened. Too many things happened at once, what with the lantern goin' out just at the same time as she snubbed at the cable, and both of them happenin' right when I was in the middle of takin' a step. Could've happened to anyone, though. It was just bad luck, that's all."

Thompson had never known any real privacy in his life, and found it a little strange that de Guarde wanted to change without anyone else around, though he supposed that was just another difference between himself and the Quality.

He nodded and then, deciding to take Thompson's word after all, even if he still felt rather self conscious, he slipped his shirt off, placing it down to be quickly replaced by the new one. He'd adleast learnt to do that well, and not hop about silly, with his head under the cloth, and himself fighting a battle with a shirt of his own. No, he'd done it rather quick and efficient like.

He looked at himself, beamed at Thompson and tucked the shirt neatly into the waistband of his slops.

" Jus' don't have t' bad luck on you again." He said with a grin, and as he hadn't accused Thompson of recklesness before - why, he would've done that gladly just a little while ago, accuse anyone he could even! - he accepted his explanation all fully. Just thought it was a bit funny even if the end result was quite painful.

"Is fittin' good!" He said, not sure what else he could, his cheeks still a bit red from embarrassement.

(and now I have to run again, to be home soon, I hope! Adieu till soon!!)

Thompson looked away as he saw the lad preparing to change shirts, to give him at least the illusion of privacy. He smiled as de Guarde pulled it over his head, tucking it in.

"Well, it does fit you, which is summat." He'd been a little worried that he'd misjudged the size, but it did fit. There was even a bit of room to grow, so he could wear it until he was at least the same size as Oxley - supposing it didn't wear out completely first.

"Don't intend to go falling down any more ladders ever if I can help it. It hurts too much when you reach the bottom," Thompson said, and leaned forward to rub at his ankle under the bandage. Why on earth did things itch so much?

"I'm... sort of glad you were on t' injured list... though only so you had time. " He was surprised he was for once not accusing one on feigning injury but nearly saying he was glad for it. And not in a way that he'd meant he was glad the man was in pain either. Before he'd have said it, for Chase, when he had still been a middie, he'd have said he was glad he was in pain and hoped he would learn his lesson and that perhaps he even did not get enough of it. Right then though, he did not think so.

"Sure hurts, but that's so people wouldn't do it fer fun." He smiled and looked to the running pair, then plopped himself down beside the elder marine. "Is hurtin' or itchin' ye there?" He asked, following Thompson's hand.

Thompson grinned. "Aye, it's nice to have time to do summat without knowin' you'll get called away to stand sentry or anythin' like that, though it can get fair tiresome just stuck on the messdeck 'cause you can't go anywheres else. And it aches, a little. It's sorta itchy as well, but I ain't sure if that's the bandage or 'cause it's gettin' better."

The lad looked fair proud of the shirt, which made Thompson smile. He looked down at the lad. "You need to watch out, young'un," he said, still smiling. "You'm in a fair way to becomin' a proper Terpsy, you are. An' I'm real pleased you like the shirt."

He nodded and looked at the leg. It looked fairly better, though since he could really see nothing but the cloth and the outline of a bandage his knowledge of it was based more on Thompson's own description than any actual evidence. But he was satisfied with what he heared, and itching did mean that things were on the mend. The pain growing less was a telltale sign of it too.

"Maybe both. Ye'um had it changed any?" He shuffled a bit on his seat. He looked worried when Thompson began. Be carefull, watch out? He thought there was something serious that might happen, a danger that changed into a good natured compliment just the next moment.

He blinked, unsure if he heard right. Was Thompson warning him of something, but that something wasn't even a warning, if he thought more of it. "Ah!" He uttered and smiled, relieved. No, wasn't a warning.

"I'um real glad I got it, jus' need ter decide. Ye know.. lots of things to decide." When to wear it, all the time or for special occasions or both? Well he did mean to wear it for tomorrow and then see. But either way the shirt was special and would be treated so.

He yawned then, and rubbed his eyes. He had some alcohol on his breath, but rather faint. He blinked. "Yer think..Terpsy'll be safe ter be?" He murmured in a whisper just loud enough for Thompson to hear.

"No, I ain't had it changed yet. Well, not after what happened yesterday I ain't, what with Mister Crozier gettin' kicked by that horse, anyway. An' that was only 'cause I ended up kneelin' in all that muck and the bandage was all dirty with it. So's me other trousers."

He frowned a little as the lad carried on talking. Decide? Decide what? When to wear the shirt, maybe - keep it for best, or have it as a favourite shirt worn all the time.

He bent his head a little as de Guarde dropped his voice. "I think... I think bein' a Terpsy, a real, proper Terpsy, is a good thing to be. Don't you?"

"..I think... it is. I'um not sure, yer know but..I guess it must be." It felt nice at least. Being included in the games, in the skylarking no less! He ought to have told that to Thompson.

"Wasn't nice that t' doctor got... kicked n'all." He murmured and kept his voice low. "But thanks for helpin'..you'um done a really good job ter save him." He smiled, unused to give compliments but hoping he hadn't done half a bad job about that.

"..so....you know." He started, uncertainly. "Tomorrow... tomorrow we are havin' a skylarkin." He looked at Thompson as if to see if the man thought there was a trick in that done by the boys, or if he thought it was to be just as it had been promised. After all, in that the marine did know better, and he found with grave surprise, that he was counting on the other man's judgement , placing his trust in him. Wasn't right that, well it wouldn't have been on his old ship.

"Well, I tried me best to help, anyway. I'm glad you think I done all right." Mention of a skylarking had him frown for a second. "A skylarkin', eh? And who's the 'we', then? 'Cause I ain't heard nothin' about it. But then, us Marines don't always hear 'bout things like that."

"Alright? Think he survived cos' of you doin' wot' ye did. That's more than alright."

He caught the frown and looked more worried than anything then. Perhaps the boys weren't as innocent after all? He was right glad he brought it up then, for he could be warned far before it could all have started.

"...Um.. we is.. t' ship's boys and t' drummer boys." He shifted at his seat.
"We wos' talking about it earlier... agreein' on havin' it tomorrow." Perhaps they planned to do something else? He looked more nervous then. "Don't think t other Tars know 'bout it.. no.. jus' us.."

"Ah. If the other lads have planned it all, it'll be all right. They usu'lly have a good time skylarkin' around in the riggin' an' all. And if Oxley and Sticks is in on it, it'll be a real good skylarkin'." He grinned. "An' if they've asked you to join in, seems to me you must be doin' summat right, even if you dunno quite what."

"..Ah, so it's going ter be alright? It isn't no.. trick like you , looked it a moment ago." He asked and was more confused than ever. A moment ago and Thompson looked like he was frowning and now he was grinning.

"So, it should be alright?" And again he found himself asking the man, a marine who was of the ship he'd joined much later than he. But he trusted him and felt vulnerable because of that.

(and Bye, sweet dreams!)

"I reckon it'll be more'n all right. 'Specially if you was asked without anyone makin 'em ask. Who was it asked you, anyhow? And I only frowned a bit 'cause I hadn't heard 'bout any skylarkin', which I wouldn't have if it's the boys gettin' it sorted out an' all."

"I was woken by Tom, um, Oxley there, I think. I've been rather tired too. But got down then, well up if we're sayin' it right... down from me hammock, n' up to where t' other boys were." He smiled and was quiet for a few moments, to gather his thoughts and not sound like some silly sod.

" I ...had ter apologise though. First, for how I.. did things at t' dinner as'a one." He nodded, remembering how important that was. Should he not have done it, he would not speak of a skylarking now. Not atleast, of one in which he was permitted to participate. "So.. wos' not exactly them being made into doin' it..if yer know wot' I mean."

"I hope you'm grateful he come to find you, lad," Thompson said, and grinned. "Made you apologise, did they? Well, if you did, they'll treat you right. Ain't any better friends to have than the young lads on a ship, after all."

"..I'm glad he did, though not quite sure if I should be. Is' .." He looked at Thompson with a slight frown. He was honest with the man, and sometimes he told him much that he'd have preferred to keep hidden or thought if he was in his sane mind he should've. But it was nice to confide and the burden often felt lighter when one did.

"..well it's different that way, complicated, what if... though, I can't explain why I'm thinking I shouldn't really." He shrugged with a sigh. Confusing himself, he did too.

"Yes, I did apologise. Couldn't do different if I wanted to be part of it. Though, I.." He shrugged again. "I guess I should've. 'twasnt the boy's fault, but the doctor's anyhow." He looked up at Thompson and was still whispering.

" Um, I'm not exchangin' friends,.. I aint." He said quickly, a bit dejectively as if thinking that Thompson has meant, he was to have the boys as friends instead of what he had now.

Thompson grinned. "Here, d'you want to go somewheres else so us can have a proper chat, jus' you an' me? It's nice up on deck, this time of day, after all. And, a body can have more than one friend. I'm happy you're startin' to get on with the lads, if that's what you're worried about. I ain't jealous, I promise."

He looked to where Andrew was and Fingers and then slowly nodded. "Better so." And Oxley was there possibly making himself at ease to go to sleep soon.

"But, you'll be a'right?" Again the concern he'd wondered about. Usually, and he knew that for certain, he'd have demanded it to be his way and not cared if anybody had to be awake for two days, to do it.

He chuckled and picked his old shirt folding it neatly, edges all in the right places, and wrinkles out of it, on his lap. "I meant, since yer wanted to go sleep n'all. Wouldn't want t' be blamed for a marine snorin' on sunday!" He smiled.

"I'll be all right. Ain't anythin' I haven't done afore. And prob'ly will do again. You miss sleep when you go on cuttin'-out expeditions, an' things, see. An' if I fall asleep on you, jus' poke me." He ruffled the lad's hair a little. "Up on the foc'sle, we'll be out of the way there. Be good to see summat else than just 'tween-decks an' all."