Private - Who'd Have Believed You'd Come Along | Page 2

"I wouldn't count death as a good thing even in this game. That's mostly because I've done it though." Her words were soft and carefully chosen, her lips moving to take another bite of cake- until she realized he'd just said his banana treat was too much for him. "Would you like to trade? I agree it's a little over the top, but...I don't mind, since you seemed to like the cake lots too."

Slightly red, she laughed as he told her to get that first kiss she'd dreamed of when she was seven. "While it's true I haven't had my first kiss yet, I never thought about it that particularly. Not with a prince anyway. I was never into the idea of being a princess. Plus...Maybe it's just that I've read too much manga but...Shouldn't a kiss be done with someone you love?" Giggling, she mulled it over some more before continuing her 'speech'.

"I have issues trusting people normally. For me, trust is the most important part of any relationship feasible. I'm the type who shows affection as long as I like someone, of course- I grew up sharing my food and drinks without a care in the world if it was a friend, such as now. But...I bet if it were the person I like, even just sharing our food like this would make me nervous, let alone the thought of kissing them."

Grinning, she opted to take the bite of cake she'd been debating. "I wouldn't see you as a criminal the way you would, but I probably wouldn't be happy about it either. Trusting you is one thing, but to really love someone is another. It takes more than an hour for me to feel I trust someone that much. So, I'm glad you're not planning to, since I'd still get mad. You shouldn't think of being someone's prince, though. Just think of someone you love, and save it for them."

 

Ozwin shook his head at the mention of trading and teased, "No, I wouldn't want you getting a cavity from this thing, besides I can just save some for later if I can't handle it all now."

After Harveste began explaining he thoughts on love and such Ozwin raised his hands in front of his face as if a blinding light was shone at him, "It's too cute captain! Too innocent for our corrupted heart to be exposed to." He giggled a bit and nodded, "I figured you for the sort. While I am much more free with my affections I can respect some people are looking for that one... Though I am a bit sad that it sounds like you are against us kidnapping you a prince for a little date. That seemed like an amusing way to spend an afternnon. Also weren't you paying attention earlier? I wasn't referring to myself as a prince. I am no prince or any sort of nobleman, but a scoundrel. Repeat after me, scoun... drel.... Libertine and such will also work." He took another bite of whatever the heck this pastry was called.

"Also a secret between the two of us..." Ozwin looked left and right suspiciously before leaning in to whisper, "I am quite prone to teasing people. Especially those who I know are just in general better people than I. Just one of the many ways I show affection. Though a very different sort of affection than I would love to show a couple of the ladies at that table over there. See? I am a bad bad person, honest about it, and not even sorry for it."

 

"Um, you're just making me like you more, Ozwind." The girl mused, a blank expression on her face as she seemed to merely stare at him after his words. "I think I just said this, but let me reiterate...I have trust issues. By being blunt about it, you actually make me see you as a better person, not a worse one. Besides, why wouldn't you think about such things? They're pretty. Adults still have thoughts like that, I'm no different. I just won't actually do any of them unless I really trust the person enough to love them."

Laughing slightly, she watched him try to talk her back into her cake- which she did soon begin eating again. Her lips curled around her fork with the edges lifting, each bite making her want to swoon over whoever had cooked such a gentle delicacy. "I'm so happy I can eat what I like without worrying about gaining weight here. A perk of being chased by monsters a lot is I get a lot more exercise here...Though it's kind of tiring after a while. I need to work on my spell-casting timing."

After a few more bites, she wiped her lips gently and leaned back in her chair. With his constant speech of scoundrels, along with his taste for the sea, curiosity began to glaze over her fulfilled eyes. "So...Is it possible you're hoping to be a pirate? They're the scoundrels of the sea, after all. It sounds interesting...I might have to get you to take me with you once or twice. I want to add pirates to my next story. Would it be a bother?"

 

Ozwin blinked then sighed a bit. He started shaking his head with a bit of disappointment on his lips. "Harveste I don't mind at all taking you along but let us get something quite clear here. I may be a scoundrel, a reprobate, a man who keeps several relationships on occasion, openly mind you, I may eat a coworker's pudding cup on occasion since he still owes me money, I may drink a bit too much, and a general disappointment to a number of people but I am not a pirate. I don't plan on robbing people, killing innocent folk, or completely disregard the laws of a civil society. If anything I plan to be something more like a whaler, except my focus is on sea monster. I only really plan on letting loose a bit while I am on shore anyway. Now I admit if I see any out there I might kill some pirates if I am able, you can ask a few things of them about your book as well if you wish."

He had unknowingly almost finished his cake thing at some point. He tossed the last bit in his mouth and waved his cup to signal he wanted more coffee. "But as for general life on the sea and actually keeping a ship sailing smoothly, everyone is basically the same so I can definitely help there. By the way do you know if this game has any sort of rating, not official rating of course but I was rather curious if this world has alcohol and such thinking about life at sea."

 

"I'm fairly certain the game has no real 'rating', even internally. I've been to places that sold alcohol, but I didn't bother buying any mostly because I don't want to take my chances of my being a lightweight pulling over to this side too. But, the game has systems I've heard of for having children and such even, so it's quite possible it would be rated for mature adults? I know teenagers play it too, though, most likely. It could be it adjusts based on your input age?"

That said, her only answer was based on rumors more than actual knowledge. Harveste, while an adult who had an interest in such things in general, didn't really bother with them even in a game. Her head hurt if she tried to think too hard about it, leading her to guzzle some tea to stop her mind. With a deep sigh of relief, she placed the empty cup down with a sigh.

"I'm sorry for misinterpreting you before. I'm pretty sure not all pirates actually pillage and murder, though. I've always seen them more as adventurous souls that don't think too much on the social construct. And besides, is it really so bad to have a couple of ladies if you're open about it? I've been in open relationships myself. If you're open about it, it won't hurt you or them, will it? So that's not being a scoundrel, either. That's just being open, in general."

 

"... Did you just say people can have kids in this game. That is a bit too real. Does this fantasy world even have contraception? Ugh, I don't think I want to risk a virtual kid..."

Still... Ozwin was only hoping of being able to try interesting booze, but he could apparently sleep around as well? It was something to look into after he got his nautical adventures underway.

"Anyway stop trying to ruin my street cred, I am a scoundrel." Seeing that they were both done with their food he stood up and pulled Harveste's seat out and helped her up.

"Time to head to the docks... though I am unsure if we can find a ship looking for crew on day one. Most captains like to have an idea who they are hiring and want a crewman to vouch for them... unless they fear their crew planning a mutiny, but that isn't the sort of ship I want to be on obviously."

He held onto Harveste's hand as they went out the door and found the docks after a bit...

Ozwin had underestimated how correct he statement was. Many wouldn't even give him the time of day and when he did find someone who would they turned him down when he said he was a green hand. There were apparently more sailors than there was crew for at the moment and no one was going to take someone completely new it seemed. After a few hours of trying he dejectedly walked into a bar carrying Harveste on his back and sat down at a stool in front of the bar without putting her down, which raised a number of eyebrows.

"Harveste this game is far too real. Barkeep whiskey, neat with a twist and a glass of milk single rock. Much less a hunting ship I can't even get on a trade ship. Shouldn't have told them I haven't worked as a sailor before. How many journeys? I should have said, I have been on more than I could ever hope to count, and told them stories from books." The whiskey placed in front of him didn't last four seconds and he signaled for a second one. Hmm that was scarily real as well.

"Maybe I need to prove myself more or wait a week or two for new ships to cycle through?" He sighed looking into the empty glass and playing with the orange peel. "I just don't know... Actually it occurs to me that I never asked why you came to town yourself Harveste. I just kinda kidnapped you back there. Sorry for dragging you along like that..." He downed his drink again as soon as it was placed in front of him and signaled for another while resting his chin on the counter moping.

 

"There are lots of games like this, Ozwind. I've always been a fan of simulation games myself, like Harvest Moon. It doesn't really show the act, but it implies it happened in some versions when you have a family." A piece of her wondered if it was actually strange or not to talk of other games within a game where they didn't exist. But well, even if it was an old franchise, it was something people knew about...Right?

As he huffed her for ruining his 'street cred', she could only find herself bursting into a real fit of laughter. A full on belly laugh, causing her to curl up a bit to calm it down. "Just being near me probably ruins that! I'm often treated like a pet or something, but doesn't that mean those people seem softer as well when they do that? Being good with kids isn't a bad thing, but that means it probably makes you seem less like a 'scoundrel'...At least, that's just my view. But there are plenty of delinquents that happen to be good with kids. Heck some that are seen as delinquents can end up being true heroes, even in our world."

Keeping a tight grip on his hand as he led her to the docks, it was at least more than twice that she felt her presence wasn't helping his search. It was clear to others, with her giant book of naturamancy, that Harveste wasn't really meant for the seas. Sure, she wanted to join him at least for one trip- but she wasn't nearly as excited as he was.

His suddenly lifting her to carry him on his way to a pity party had startled her- but, his warm back was hard to ignore, and she ended up hugging onto him with a small, sad smile. As he sat down to order a drink, she was rather worried about the fact she was still clinging onto him. Was he really comfortable drinking with her warms clutching around his neck to stay steady, her legs slightly tied around his waist to keep from falling?

"S-Should I get down? The seats might be too high for me to get in though, and I'd kind of like to join you on the next round. Though, for me, I'll have a hard cider on the rocks." The look she got was strangely calm, and they did actually get her her drink- but even when they did, she was hugging the man from behind, her face lightly hidden into his broad back, trying to think of how to cheer him up.

Nothing came to mind. Only words, no actions. But as he apologized to her, she couldn't help hugging him tighter, using one hand to lightly bop his head with a gentle, almost unnoticeable fist. "It's not kidnapping when someone wants to join you. If anything, shouldn't I be apologizing for using you as a human mount all day?" Pouting, she leaned her head on his shoulder. "I liked spending time with you like this today. It was comfortable and fun. Your smile when you talked about the sea was really nice, too. So please don't apologize for making me have a good day. That's just cruel."

 

"Ah this Chibi," Ozwin sighed quite clearly as he moved his hands under her arms picked up her body, swung her around and placed her in his lap with her head being used to prop his chin up while still pouting like she was some sort of teddy. "Kind of a nervous thought watching you drink alcohol with such a face and body, despite your real age... Sorry I ordered you a milk without thinking about it though. Barkeep could you mix this up with some coffee and a whole lot of vodka? Yeah you have the right idea, two glasses will work... rather that is a lot of cream isn't it... yeah make that enough to split over three glasses."

Ozwin sighed patting the head of the small chil- young woman on his lap and took the first drink the bartender put down, "Ack too much cream not enough coffee... Well I am glad you had a good time somehow Harveste but you still haven't said why you were in town to begin with. Rather are you just wandering around trying things for your writing or are you involved in some sort of quest? Just goalless at the moment? No princes to capture, no dragons to befriend, no forest of little pixie creatures to save?" Okay now he was just starting to tease her as he downed his fourth drink in less that ten minutes.

Ozwin was starting to get a bit of a looser expression on his face as he tugged at Harveste's cheek. "Ah you remind me of my little sister before she started getting an attitude, one day she wouldn't leave me alone for two minutes wanting to have a tea party and putting ribbons in my hair or something and the next she didn't want me to take her to the fair because she was going there on a date with her boyfriend! She is barely a teenager she is too young to have a boyfriend at her age dammit. Another glass! I remember being that age and taking pretty girls under the bridge to kiss them, she is too young for that! Boys are bad Harveste. Where did she even get that attitude from, dating those boys willy nilly like that? Don't grow up on me Harveste. I need to watch my baby brother to make sure she isn't a bad influence on him either while I try and get her back to being a good kid. *Hic* But my parents... Ugh... I hate going back to the house though... Who taught her how to curse like that dammit all! *Hic* Another barkeep. I bet it was listening to that damn idiot I am friends with, the bastard curses too *hic* much Harveste. And what is upfh with this game? Can't efen tahste the alcohol anymore. I want to go to the sea and forget my troubles Harvete..." Ozwin drowsily rested his chin on Harveste's noggin, and amazing testament to the level of realism in the game.

 

As she found herself lifted with strong hands, she was a bit on the surprised side. Sure, alcohol did happen to have an effect of loosening the body and easing pain sensors (at least, normally), but was he already that strong naturally? Well, he had been carrying her on his back...Maybe it wasn't actually that surprising? What was a shocker was that, instead of giving her her own seat, he'd plopped her right back against him, just on his lap.

Taking a sip of her drink, she was slow and cautious as the mildest of alcohol burned her throat. Had it always been so strong? No, she'd drank it just the other day for a change of pace, and it hadn't felt very painful. Maybe it was harsher on faerin? No, the harder part was that there was a chin making it difficult to lean back. Embarrassed, she ended up taking the milk after all- with a straw, so she wouldn't have to move much. "Ozzy? You might want to tone it down a notch..."

As he began to babble and ramble about his life, she couldn't decide if this was a good or bad thing for her mentally. With a slight fear of drunks (despite liking the idea of going to a bar once, and enjoying a drink or two herself) she could only think of the relief that this man wasn't the violent kind. If anything, he was the kind she was even worse with: the sad kind. Her lips curled into a frown as she tried to talk the bartender into cutting him off without words, not wanting to be overly noticeable to the man she used as a chair. Instead, she tried to keep his conversation- the best she could, with how fast it moved.

"I don't know what it's like to have siblings, but...If your friend was that bad, you probably wouldn't be friends, right?" She eyed upward, unable to reach his gaze even if she wanted to. "But she's lucky, your sister. I mean, at least to me, she has a good big brother don't you think? I'm kind of jealous even."

It wasn't a total lie, either- she'd always wanted siblings. Though, she probably wouldn't want a brother that was drunk...But saying that was a scary thing even for someone with her usually blunt attitude. After all, he wasn't violent yet. It didn't mean it couldn't change. "You seem tired, Ozwind...Or you just really like my head for some reason. I can't guess which."

 

"Of course I can turn it down a notch *Hic* Emy, big bro is always in control... Er wait... no you are Harveste not Emy... she hasn't called me Ozzy in years... where's my drink at? I thought i put it right here?"

Giving up on figuring out where his booze went off to (after all if you love something, set it free), so he just sort of nestled in to Harveste's noggin. "I rally do try Harveste, not wih' much success, but I try... And no he isn't that bad of a person, be-*Hic* batter than I... I am just reaching for answers. In short supply of those these days. And your hair is quite floofy did you know dat? Barkeep! A drop of Nelson's Blood."

"You have had enough," the barkeep replied looking at the faerin girl in his lap. "Besides I don't even know what that is."

Ozwin, being quite pickled, was taking a minute to process what was said, and when he did he gently put Emy... No Harveste on the stool next to him as he stood up to be eye level with the barkeep. "Hold... Hold on a damn min*hic* what did you just say?"

The barkeep scowled having dealt with this sort of thing a hundred if not a thousand times in his life, as the sailors around them began to take note, some in excitement, but most in annoyance. "I SAID I am cutting you-"

"Not that part!" The drunken Ozwin interrupted causing the barkeep's serious face to slip into a bit of confusion. Then he noticed that the expression on this drunk young man's face wasn't anger but genuine confusion. "... What do you mean you don't know what Nelson's Blood is?"

"Err... Well no, I don't? What is it?" Seeing as this wasn't turning into a fight some sailors became disinterested while others grew more curious. The fact that someone wouldn't know what what sounded like a drink seemed an odd thing to cause much of a fuss for but maybe there was more to it.

Completely into his fantasy world character yet somehow completely forgetting this was a fantasy world at the same time, Ozwin drunkingly stood up on his stool with one foot on the bar for balance he was in short supply of. "You lot sail the seas and don't know of Admiral Lord Nelson? Yes I said Lord but his start was not corrupted by such a title, the son of a preacher and a woman with a small dash of noble blood in her veins, Horatio Nelson stepped onto the third rate captained by his uncle as a seaman like you or I and a coxswain. Despite suffering from seasickness he did his work like any sailor should and showed himself competent aboard a ship at any point, and over the years he had his failures and successes like any man of the sea, I am even proud to say some of my own ancestors faced him in battle." He actually was rather proud of this fact. as he turned his head to nod at Harveste he lost his balance a bit and somehow managed to get both feet on the bar as his stool fell. He looked up at the room who thought he was trying to command more of their attention and decided to roll with it.

"After many years of working hard with a clever mind he rose to be a Vice-Admiral and was made a duke by a king. But the reason he is sung of and celebrated comes down to one battle. He set 27 ships of the line under his command against an enemy coalition of 33 of the same class. He deviated from what you or I might call common sense in the orders he gave his men but in at the end of the day 1 enemy ship sank to the bottom of the sea and 21 were captured, the others retreated as if the mother sea herself was after their blood... and not a single ship under his command was lost that day! Tragically an enemy marksman had managed to deliver Admiral Nelson a fatal blow, bringing him death during one of the greatest naval victories the world had ever conceived. To preserve his body a cask of alcohol was opened and he was placed inside as they were far from home and he deserved to have his death honored and recognized in his homeland. Legends and rumor deviates over what precisely he was placed in, sailors claim the Admiral was placed in grog or rum, while official records state he was placed in brandy mixed with camphor and myrrh. However as we all know when it comes to lords, records tend to pretty things up a bit whereas sailors won't let the truth get in the way of a good story. But as the legend goes the crew drank from that cask for a sip of Nelson's blood either because they hoped to gain even a drop of his courage and valor... or because we will drink about anything if the captains keep us out on the sea too long. So as it goes when you order a drop of Nelson's Blood it is the barkeep's duty to judge you as a sailor. If he thinks you too green or useless he puts grog in your mug, if you look lie you have weathered your fair share of storms he serves you rum, if you look to be of a sort higher, a sailor among sailors or a captain truly deserving of respect, he serves you brandy, and anyone who complains about their drink is to be shown the door by his own mates or crew, be they green hand or captain. The bar is a barkeep's ship and you have no right to be causing a mutiny." He actually completely made this last bit with the barkeep judging the sailor up but he was quite drunk at this point and sailors let nothing get in the way of a good story. "Now if you please dear captain of this bar, a drop of Nelson's Blood!"

The tavern looked expectantly at the barkeep who seemed actually quite amused with the things coming out of the young man's mouth. Nodding he grabbed a mug, filled it up and handed it to the young man. Ozwin graciously took the mug and tossed it and his head back but after a second gulp he took the mug away from his mouth with an extremely confused expression before laughing from the pit of his stomach. He was laughing so hard his drunk ass fell right off the counter next to Harveste and he kept laughing despite the pain. "Water!" he exclaimed, "the smartass gave me water!"

Quite a number of guffaws and cackles and snorts erupted at this point, including the barkeep crying a little from laughing at his own joke, but it was all a bit distant from Ozwin's tired mind. He looked at Harveste from the ground and said, "Sorry I got a bit distracted there little miss Harveste, I will make it up to you by trying to get us on a ship again tomorrow. For *yawn* for now though I think..." And Ozwin decided that moment to pass out on the floor, in the middle of the bar. Didn't even log out, he was actually asleep at the keyboard as it were.

 

Not one who knew much about alcohol or the seas, Harveste's first instinct was to take note of the name 'Admiral Nelson' for future research. However, as that mist settled in her mind, she began to notice how quickly the man was sailing the storm of a story, telling the entire bar of the man who did not exist in this world either way.

She tried to murmur to him carefully about their being in a different world, but with the bar's many strangers, it would likely be bad if they spoke of the outside world so willy-nilly. "I-I'm glad if you remember who I am now, Ozwind, but..."

And then, he fell asleep. Her head a pillow, she could no longer escape the man's grasp. A soft groan left her lips- he'd meant well in his drunken words, she could tell that, but she wasn't a pillow! "For the love of..." She was surprised when the barkeep offered her another drink on the house, with a straw.

"Looks like yer gonna need it, little lass." His rough voice strained her ears, but relieved her mind as she tried to keep somewhat still for the man upon her head.

It was a childish drink that was given to her, but one she would welcome as she let the burning in her throat subside as quickly as she ingested it. "Can someone get a blanket? I don't want him catching a cold like this...Sorry, Keep, but it looks like we'll be staying at this stool for a while."