Maurice (Centaur AU) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
horseproblems) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
theattic2016-01-04 07:09 pm
horseproblems) wrote in theattic2016-01-04 07:09 pm
The little chain of islands was called The Snag and wise sailors steered clear of it. At first glance, it was innocent enough. Sandy, overgrown with swaying palm trees on every shore, and crowned dead center with a dark and long dead volcano.
But it was what lay in the shallows that people feared. Jagged lava rock and gnarly reef spread at the very least a mile in all directions. If the hidden formations didn't catch and flip your ship, they would rip the bottom clean out and plunge hapless seamen straight down.
Maurice was not a wise sailor. He only had a few years' worth of ocean under his hooves before the gale caught the Hurricane and hurled it against the rocks like a playful cat. The ship was raked back and forth and the mast was the first thing to snap.
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[The centaur heaves himself against the door of the little fishing shack he only managed to find because the lightning was merciful enough to reveal it to him. The shack is far older than him and the door gives easily, dumping him into the darkness and out of the rain. Ugly red gashes cover his white sides and it's impossible to tell where the mud from the shore ended and his pinto spots began.]
But it was what lay in the shallows that people feared. Jagged lava rock and gnarly reef spread at the very least a mile in all directions. If the hidden formations didn't catch and flip your ship, they would rip the bottom clean out and plunge hapless seamen straight down.
Maurice was not a wise sailor. He only had a few years' worth of ocean under his hooves before the gale caught the Hurricane and hurled it against the rocks like a playful cat. The ship was raked back and forth and the mast was the first thing to snap.
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[The centaur heaves himself against the door of the little fishing shack he only managed to find because the lightning was merciful enough to reveal it to him. The shack is far older than him and the door gives easily, dumping him into the darkness and out of the rain. Ugly red gashes cover his white sides and it's impossible to tell where the mud from the shore ended and his pinto spots began.]
[Envy doesn't know what happened to the ship, or to any of the others. He can't find them when he hauls himself ashore, strength all but spent from fighting the waves to reach it. He hurts everywhere, he doesn't want to pay attention to how badly. He can deal with that once he finds shelter.]
[The rest of the crew, he can look for once the storm passes. If they're even here. He pointedly doesn't think about the fact that he barely made it and he's a kelpie.]
[He shifts into his human form when he finds the shack, just to get through the door easier, and stumbles in.]
Hello?
[Just in case one of the others found it first. He can't see a damn thing.]
[The rest of the crew, he can look for once the storm passes. If they're even here. He pointedly doesn't think about the fact that he barely made it and he's a kelpie.]
[He shifts into his human form when he finds the shack, just to get through the door easier, and stumbles in.]
Hello?
[Just in case one of the others found it first. He can't see a damn thing.]
[Maurice nearly trips over himself in the darkness. He's been carefully, oh so carefully, picking his way around the old weathered furniture trying to find a space big enough for his ass to lay down.]
[BUT THEN THE BOOGERMAN SHOWS UP.]
[Or not.]
Is this your house?
[He asks the darkness.]
[BUT THEN THE BOOGERMAN SHOWS UP.]
[Or not.]
Is this your house?
[He asks the darkness.]
[Yeah THAT is not a familiar voice.]
[But at least it doesn't sound like a threatening one. At all. Envy makes his way further inside, trying to find a place to sit.]
No, I just washed up here. I'm guessing it's not your house, either.
[But at least it doesn't sound like a threatening one. At all. Envy makes his way further inside, trying to find a place to sit.]
No, I just washed up here. I'm guessing it's not your house, either.
I just washed up here. So I guess we have that in common.
[In the darkness, Maurice can make out only the vaugest shapes of Envy moving around. If he were a ghost he would be glowing and moaning about treasure so the Sagittarian allows himself to calm down for the moment.]
[In the darkness, Maurice can make out only the vaugest shapes of Envy moving around. If he were a ghost he would be glowing and moaning about treasure so the Sagittarian allows himself to calm down for the moment.]
Yeah, I guess we do.
[Envy thinks he heard hooves on the floor when he'd first come in the little shack, but he can't be sure in the dark. He decides not to mention it for now.]
And it's just you? I got knocked overboard, I don't know if anyone else in my crew might have been too.
[He doubts it, but he has to at least ask. He finds what seems to be a wooden crate, and sits down on it carefully. The wood holds, even if it creaks.]
[Envy thinks he heard hooves on the floor when he'd first come in the little shack, but he can't be sure in the dark. He decides not to mention it for now.]
And it's just you? I got knocked overboard, I don't know if anyone else in my crew might have been too.
[He doubts it, but he has to at least ask. He finds what seems to be a wooden crate, and sits down on it carefully. The wood holds, even if it creaks.]
[His ears tilt backward suspiciously. This stranger doesn't sound dangerous. But if he finds out he's alone...he could attack him! Sell his organs on the market because he was a Fantastic Beast!]
[But. As he listened, carefully turning his fuzzy ears, this fellow(?) doesn't sound too big. He can stop him.]
Just me.
[Thunder rolls overhead and makes him jump but he doesn't fall or sit. His knees lock up and he grits his teeth.]
Where were you going?
[But. As he listened, carefully turning his fuzzy ears, this fellow(?) doesn't sound too big. He can stop him.]
Just me.
[Thunder rolls overhead and makes him jump but he doesn't fall or sit. His knees lock up and he grits his teeth.]
Where were you going?
[The thunder makes Envy twitch, but he manages not to actually jump. He tries not to be too disappointed that the answer is no, but...it's also good for him if whoever this is doesn't have any friends of his own around to potentially overpower Envy.]
Oh...we were on our way to Jamaica, to drop off a shipment.
[Of STOLEN PIRATE BOOTY.]
I don't know if the others got through the storm or not, I went over and wound up here. What about you?
Oh...we were on our way to Jamaica, to drop off a shipment.
[Of STOLEN PIRATE BOOTY.]
I don't know if the others got through the storm or not, I went over and wound up here. What about you?
[The horse man lets out a sympathetic humming sound.]
A wave threw me onto the reef and it gutted my ship.
A wave threw me onto the reef and it gutted my ship.
[Envy's wince is almost AUDIBLE. Although if it's not, the sympathetic little hiss definitely is.]
You're lucky to be alive, after that.
[...]
Well, maybe. Depending on where exactly this is and what's here to survive with. Ever been stranded before?
You're lucky to be alive, after that.
[...]
Well, maybe. Depending on where exactly this is and what's here to survive with. Ever been stranded before?
[Maurice's tail sways noisily by his heels and flings around some of the sand on the floor of the little shack.]
Never like this...but we may not even be really stranded. This could be the edge of the mainland.
[He sounds more like he's trying to convince himself than Envy.]
Never like this...but we may not even be really stranded. This could be the edge of the mainland.
[He sounds more like he's trying to convince himself than Envy.]
[That's...a weird sound. It sounds like a horse's tail...is this guy carrying a broom?]
[The idea that he might, in fact, be another horse seems farfetched. What would be the odds of that? He lets out a little, sort of amused snort.]
I don't think I swam that far.
I haven't been stranded this badly before either, but I DID once spend a week on a deserted island while we waited for the people we were supposed to meet there to show up. THAT was interesting.
[The idea that he might, in fact, be another horse seems farfetched. What would be the odds of that? He lets out a little, sort of amused snort.]
I don't think I swam that far.
I haven't been stranded this badly before either, but I DID once spend a week on a deserted island while we waited for the people we were supposed to meet there to show up. THAT was interesting.
[MAYBE HE JUST REALLY LIKES CLEANING.]
Hah, that sounds fun. They have a good excuse for takin' so long?
Hah, that sounds fun. They have a good excuse for takin' so long?
[PERHAPS.]
[Although now, Envy can get into his story.]
Of course they didn't. Oh, they had a mile long list of excuses, but not one of them was any good. We would've left THEM on that island and taken their ship with us if they hadn't paid so well.
There were so many centipedes on that island, you wouldn't believe. On EVERYTHING.
[Although now, Envy can get into his story.]
Of course they didn't. Oh, they had a mile long list of excuses, but not one of them was any good. We would've left THEM on that island and taken their ship with us if they hadn't paid so well.
There were so many centipedes on that island, you wouldn't believe. On EVERYTHING.
[The fur along his spine stands on end and he lets out an alarmed snort.]
Eugh! How did ya'll survive? Dont' tell me you ate them!
Eugh! How did ya'll survive? Dont' tell me you ate them!
[There is the very distinct sound of someone screaming through their hands.]
[OH FUCK THIS GUY IS A HARDCORE SEAMAN MAURICE DOESN'T EVEN FEEL FIT TO BE HIDING IN THE SAME SHACK.]
[OH FUCK THIS GUY IS A HARDCORE SEAMAN MAURICE DOESN'T EVEN FEEL FIT TO BE HIDING IN THE SAME SHACK.]
[He hears that all right, and lets out a laugh.]
You see why we thought about leaving those late bastards in our place?
What about you? Even if you don't have any stories about being stranded then surely you've got some about other things.
You see why we thought about leaving those late bastards in our place?
What about you? Even if you don't have any stories about being stranded then surely you've got some about other things.
[Even though he's still making distressed noises, he's laughing into his hands too. Once he calms down, Maurice thinks.]
Well...before I hit the water I used t' work as a taxi on the coast. You meet a lot of people from a lot of places and nearly all of them are wasted so they'll tell you anything.
Well...before I hit the water I used t' work as a taxi on the coast. You meet a lot of people from a lot of places and nearly all of them are wasted so they'll tell you anything.
Oh?
[Envy's been a pirate for as long as he can remember, so JOBS ON LAND stories are something new and interesting.]
[And it doesn't sound like this one's been at sea long, for that matter.]
What's the best you got out of one of them, then?
[Envy's been a pirate for as long as he can remember, so JOBS ON LAND stories are something new and interesting.]
[And it doesn't sound like this one's been at sea long, for that matter.]
What's the best you got out of one of them, then?
Well...hmm.
[His ears swivel as he thinks.]
It's kind of a weird story. But there's a medical college on the bay, right? It's supposed to be turning out the best doctors anyone's seen in the last fifty years and through givin' folks rides, I found out why.
[Thunder rolls overhead and Maurice finds his knees locking up again. HE JUST WANTS TO TAKE A NAP.]
This guy, I would usually be the one he flagged down when he was ready to go from the bars to the college housing. He'd tell me about how they were so lucky to have so many cadavers for the students to work on. It didn't used t' be that way because of th' faith, y'know? You can learn a lot of weird shit from med students. Anyway, one night he calls me over to pick him up and he's got this drunk guy with him--and I mean drunk. Non verbal. I take 'em to the school, no big deal. He hauls the guy on in like a good friend.
But then it happens again. Same guy, different friend--stone drunk. Can't even sit upright...
[He pointedly leaves off to let Envy have a think about that.]
[His ears swivel as he thinks.]
It's kind of a weird story. But there's a medical college on the bay, right? It's supposed to be turning out the best doctors anyone's seen in the last fifty years and through givin' folks rides, I found out why.
[Thunder rolls overhead and Maurice finds his knees locking up again. HE JUST WANTS TO TAKE A NAP.]
This guy, I would usually be the one he flagged down when he was ready to go from the bars to the college housing. He'd tell me about how they were so lucky to have so many cadavers for the students to work on. It didn't used t' be that way because of th' faith, y'know? You can learn a lot of weird shit from med students. Anyway, one night he calls me over to pick him up and he's got this drunk guy with him--and I mean drunk. Non verbal. I take 'em to the school, no big deal. He hauls the guy on in like a good friend.
But then it happens again. Same guy, different friend--stone drunk. Can't even sit upright...
[He pointedly leaves off to let Envy have a think about that.]
[Envy listens to the story with rapt attention. YEAH, he's pretty sure he knows where this one is going. He lets out a low whistle through his teeth, to show that he's impressed with the story so far.]
And isn't it lucky that they have all those cadavers, huh?
And isn't it lucky that they have all those cadavers, huh?
Mhmmmm, and how odd for so many people suddenly up and become donors.
[He taps his chin.] I forgot t'mention that it was almost always night when I was cartin' this fella around too.
Then there came one night I was cartin' him home and he was alone. Blasted drunk. He was ranting my ear off about how they were closin' down the Swan, the bar I always found him at. I asked him why because sure they were good but there are other bars even closer to th' college housing like Two Tails and The Frisky Mermaid but he was all naw naw naw the Swan had the correct facilities for his needs. And was payin' his way through school.
Eventually he let slip that he'd been poisoning people and using me as his mule to get 'em to the coolers. I wasn't a real popular taxi so nobody paid me much attention. It was the perfect crime.
[He taps his chin.] I forgot t'mention that it was almost always night when I was cartin' this fella around too.
Then there came one night I was cartin' him home and he was alone. Blasted drunk. He was ranting my ear off about how they were closin' down the Swan, the bar I always found him at. I asked him why because sure they were good but there are other bars even closer to th' college housing like Two Tails and The Frisky Mermaid but he was all naw naw naw the Swan had the correct facilities for his needs. And was payin' his way through school.
Eventually he let slip that he'd been poisoning people and using me as his mule to get 'em to the coolers. I wasn't a real popular taxi so nobody paid me much attention. It was the perfect crime.
What did you do?
[Hopefully something smart! Like make the guy pay him to keep quiet! But that's something Envy knows better than to say out loud unless this guy says it first.]
[Hopefully something smart! Like make the guy pay him to keep quiet! But that's something Envy knows better than to say out loud unless this guy says it first.]
Well, after I saw 'em off for the night, I saw that I had a few options. I could tell the police...but I didn't think they'd listen to my kind. Like I said, I'm not too popular. Or I could have demanded him pay me extra--but who knows. What if he had buddies looking to break some legs?
[He felt said legs finally unlock and he took his chance to lower himself down and finally REST. Maurice folds his arms on top of a low crate.]
So. I continue carting him and his drunk friends back to school. One night, one of them didn't turn out to be quite as much dead weight as Mr. Bodysnatcher thought. When he woke up, a fight happened when they were getting off. His victim got away and wouldn't you know it, the guy happened to hit his head when he fell.
[He felt said legs finally unlock and he took his chance to lower himself down and finally REST. Maurice folds his arms on top of a low crate.]
So. I continue carting him and his drunk friends back to school. One night, one of them didn't turn out to be quite as much dead weight as Mr. Bodysnatcher thought. When he woke up, a fight happened when they were getting off. His victim got away and wouldn't you know it, the guy happened to hit his head when he fell.
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