Planning for fun

"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."

He blinked surprised then smiled. "Aye, I'll poke you good n'uff ter wake yer ancestors!" He grinned and tucked the shirt under his arm. "Is .. nice up there." He murmured as he scampered along after the marine, mindful of how he walked not to trip him, nor to see him fall.

" You've slept 'nuff these past few days, have ye?"

Thompson shrugged. "Still have to have me hammock tied up to go in the hammock nettin', along of all the others, sick-list or not. Done a fair bit o' sewin' and dozed off on the table enough, aye. It'll be nice to get out into the fresh air for a bit."

He was limping a little, still, though he didn't need the crutch. He led the way topside to a quiet corner of the foc'sle.

(They go here.)