Welcome to Gaia! ::

Although she had headed for the tavern after benig accepted by the captain, she had changed her mind as she had walked. Tucking her first dubloon into an inner pocket, she altered her course. Humming a merry tune softly, she aimed for a house on the edge of town.

"Milady" Beatrice was a seamstress. She once had tried to be a pirate, having run away from a pampered prison of a marriage. Unfortunately the sea had not agreed with her, but she took a srong liking to the brave and daring sailors. So she had settled on the isle and become well known for making clothes for those successful enough to afford them. The woman had once been a great beauty, but now as she aged she had become plump. Long brown curls cascaded around her rounded shoulders, and she liked to wear flouncy dresses with sensible shoes. The weight she had gained with her age somehow sat well upon her, making her seem merry and curvacous. Even so, she was old engh to be most captain's mother, and grandmother to many of the young ones.

Milady had taken in Maya while she had been waiting for a ship to come into port that would take her on. The girl nearly danced into the house, calling for her. "Milady Bea! I've come to bid you farewell!"

The matronly woman came sweeping out of her sewing room in an emerald gown with a fimly skirt and poofy airy sleeves. Somehow the fairyish look suited her. "Maya darling! You've found a ship! Wonderful! When do you leave?" She swept the slender girl into an all-enveloping embrace.

Amused, Maya hugged her back. "I will head out to the ship after leaving here." She slipped the dubloon out of her pocket and held it up. "I've even gotten advance payment." She grinned, her eyes glittering through the bit of hair that had fallen across her face. "I can hardly wait to earn more, doing what I love best." There was an intensity to her voice that had nothing to do with the gold. Oh, how she longed to be out on the ocean again!

Milady Beatrice listned and nodded, then laughed and shook her head. "I never understand how some of you rascals can get along so well with that roiling monster. Be that as it may, I wish you the best, Maya darling." The woman gave the girl another hug and then waved her hands in a shooing motion. "Now git. I've got a vest to sew, and they wanted seed pearls in an intricate pattern and I've only just begun it! Go on now, git!"

Maya turned away and began for the door. Stopping, she turned with a grin and darted back to plant a kiss on Milady's round cheek before scurrying out the doorand down towards the docks. Milady's laughter followed her like a benediction.

Reaching the docks, she was only momentarily dismayed to see two ships there instead of one. Taking a breath, she examined visible faces on the decks. Yes, there was a few she recognized on the one. Without any further hesitation, she plunged in and scrambled up onto the deck agilely. Shaking the worst of the water from her hair, she looked about for someone to report to.

Alright. It was a swim out. That wasn't too bad, now was it? She could easily handle that- swimming was one of those things it was acceptable for a young lady to learn, if only to save herself from drowning on a later voyage. Swimming while carrying a quiver full of arrows on her back and a bow in one hand- that was where the challenge resided. But if she gave Tracey the smallest satisfaction of seeing her fail, her pride would be forfeit to the contempous man, a fate that seemed worse than death to Elizabeth.

Standing on the edge of the dock, looking out at the ships, Elizabeth shook her head. She could have sworn they had little boats to take people back and forth... but fine. It was fine. Leaning over the edge, she swished the water with one hand, her hesitance not showing. It was warm water, at least, not as cold as she had thought it would be.

Taking off her boots, Elizabeth stuck them in her quiver as best she could- she had a feeling they would fall off or get dirty, but that was the price she had to pay. Slinging her bow over her shoulder, she took a deep breath... and in she plunged.

At first Elizabeth found herself sinking rapidly, but with two kicks of her legs, she rose to the surface. All the horseback riding and archery she had done paid off, and she found her muscles eager for the challenge. Fine. She could do this easily. With broad strokes, she began to make her way to the ship she could only surmise was the one she had been told to swim to. Halfway there, she stopped to rest, then started again. It was not an easy swim, and her whole body burned with the exertion, but she eventually found herself tugging at one of the ropes that seemed to be mooring the boat to the bottom of the ocean. "Hello?" Her voice sounded a bit phlegmy, as it was clogged with salt water. "Is this the Aurarious?" Elizabeth wasn't sure if she had said the name correctly. "I was told to swim out here if I wanted to join the crew!" Her voice sounded rather forlorn.

"Apologise for nothing." The captain spoke clearly in Penelope's direction. His expression was not one of anger, but of relief as he was not quite certain how to properly bandage the woman's hand, himself. Smiling, he listened carefully to all she had said and then thought deeply of this. As of yet, the ship had never had a surgeon or surgeon apprentice to properly care fo his pirates and though they had done fairly as of yet, there were occassionally a man or two who would lose a leg, finger or ear. Looking to Penelope as he spoke, the man questioned, "Have you any experience with treating much larger wounds than that? I believe there may be a position I may offer if you wish to stay aboard my ship. My tone below was not something I wished to show you, but your actions were both uncalled for and disrespectful." He hoped what he said sounded more like an apology and less like repremanding her. "Now if not a time to discuss this matter, but please remain aboard my ship and we shall discuss your rank at a later time."

Spotting Maya aboard the ship, the captain waved a hand in welcome, though he was clearly busy with conversation at the moment. Looking in Tia's direction, the man smiled, glad to see her hand was bandaged so quickly because already he needed her to act in his place. "Tia, before you go off to tend to the cannons, I believe many of the Aurarius crew members are coming aboard. Can you take it upon yourself to speak with them and ensure that they get to cleaning and assisting in the care for the ship?" With so many new pirates coming aboard the ship, it would be much easier to have the current pirates each branch out and assist in one thing or another. And before Tia could leave, the captain quickly added, "I will have my assistant return to the isla to gather some barrels of clean water so you may effeciently clean your wound tonight. I do not wish for you to gather any infections aboard my ship. I will have Penelope bandage you once you are cleaned."

Looking to Penelope, the man smiled, though it was diffficult considering their last conversation. "Tonight you will be tending to Tia's wound, but at this moment in time, I will need you to throw the longer rope ladders from the edge of the ship. When my assistant returns to the island, he can tie them to a tree to allow a more dry arrival to my ship to any other pirates.. Once you have finished with that, please follow Tia and assist her in whatever she may be doing. I do not wish for her to use her hand much."

Spotting a woman clinging to one of the long ropes within the water, the captain felt a bit guilty for his means of testing his crew. Laughing lightly, the man excused himself from the conversation with Penelope and stretched out his wings. Like Annabelle, this female would experience flight with the aid of the captain in his attempt to apologise for having her swim so far. Swooping down, the man hovered slightly above the soaked woman. From what he could tell, this woman was not one he had seen before. It must have been a newly recruited pirate from Tracey. With a grin, he extended his thick, muscled arms and pulled her up as comfortbly as possible. Returning into the air and slowly lowering the two of them to the deck, the man only smiled. It was certainly something to have wings. He almost felt bad for the surplus of humans aboard his ship. Stepping back to give Elizabeth her space, the captain bowed and spoke respectfully, "I apologise for my awful means of testing you. I understand the swim in itself is difficult.. especially with.." The dragon-kin inspected the woman's quiver and grinned. He had not seen one of those since his life in Ireland. "It is a pleasure to have you aboard my ship. Please go one deck below, choose a cabin for yourself and feel free to get dry."

While looking about the ship, the dragon-kin spotted a familiar pair of small wings and beautiful red colored hair. Quickly excusing himself from Elizabeth, the man made his way in Alexis' direction. Unlike his other meetings with her, this time the man was desperate. By the unamused expression on her face, the man could sense she was not pleased. Silently, the captain prayed Tracey said what he had told him to. As the captain approached with a cool walk he hoped might impress Alexis, he noticed her delicate flutter of her wings. His cheeks instantly took on a pink color as he repressed an even more foolish grin. How pleasing was it to simply look upon another of his own kind. Once he had reached her, he took a very deep, polite bow and then took the woman's hand into his, offering it a polite kiss. Once he had finished, he stood before her and spoke, "It is pleasing to no end to see you upon my ship, lass. I only hope this is your choice of ship and that you will stay."

((As a note, I wrote "teh" instead of "the" when Mariko's talking on purpose.))

"Back to teh ship! Back to teh ship!" Mariko yelled to herself as she flung herself through the streets, scattering clouds of the native birds and sending mud on the streets flying. The people around her looked on in quiet but obvious distaste as the revealing clothes and scruffily-cut hair tied up in the red bandana.

Her tanned skin flashed in the bright sun as she kicked over a pile of mud, sending speckles up her large boots and a nearby woman, who scowled at the running pirate.

"Teh SHIP!" she yelled in relief and charged up the ramp. "Aww tank heavens, the ship-"

Those feet that charge effortlessly and without the slightest fall through mud puddles, chicken dung, and whatever weather could throw at her slid through a puddle of water-

"Aaaaak!"

Just like in one of those plays, for dramatic effect, the actor would slowly backflip while suspended by pulleys in midair, Mariko slid over on her buttocks and a few feet across the deck.

She looked up at the captain, smiled, and adjusted her headband.

"Back to teh ship! Yessir, I'm here and in order, sah, wot now?"

Mariko lifted her legs and paddled her way over with her arms towards Caden, leaving a trail of water behind.

She grinned up at him and extended a rough, calloused hand upwards.

"Mariko Epona Lapina, Resident Klutz," she declared. "I like food."

Tia stopped on a dime turning to look at everyone that had arrived on board at first she was abit shocked by the sudden responsiblity she had been given but then was a deep breath and a nod of her head she was ready to go agian. It already seemed things were getting abit crazy but Tia felt she could handle it.
"Alright Everyone listen up. If we run around crazy we wont get anything done. The captain has left me to make sure everyone has a job to do. So no time for introductions we'll get to that once we're at sea.
"Please anyone good with ropes and rigging come to me first to get a job, then Ill need someone whom knows cannons well enough to clean them to help me with that. Then whos ever left come to me and Ill find you something to do." The captain had not said they could go below deck yet so she would have to wait till he returned to check inventory.

Tia nodded and pointed to the cannon she had left off at.
"No need fo a saluted Im same rank as you, just left in charge for the moment. That cannon over there is where I left off. Im sure as you know how to clean it you know the dangers of it so dont go blowing your arm off. Also that particular cannon has a sharp edge on the inside so careful not to cut yourself. Another thing I need to adress to everyone whom just arrived the below decks are off limits till the Captain gives further notice, so no going down there or Ill personaly make sure the captain hears about it. " Tia wanted to get everyone moving quickly so she could also get to work. She looked to the over ship and it only reminded her of what state they were in.
"Another thing we are trying to do this a quitly and quickly as possible, I hope if we all work hard enough that by the time everyone is on board we can set sail as soon as the captain gives the word."