Seeing the sights

[ganuaile]

Grace O'Malley stared up at the huge buildings that towered above her. Made of brick and stone, with slate roofs, they rose three, sometiems four, storeys into the air. Grace shook her head in amazement. This town was even larger than the townin England which bore a similiar name, Liverpool. Grace almost chuckled at the irony. At least here the only opposition she'd have to contend with would be other pirates--instead of invading English troops. Putting a protective hand over the bag of coins she wore at her waist, Grace glanced up and down the cobblestone street. She didn't see anyone about except for a group of merchants standing several feet away. Curiosity got the better of her and she began to walk toward them, humming under her breath.

[Rascal]

Rascal walked down the streets, "Meat for sale! Bones for luck, arrowheads, knifehandles, and whatever else you can make out of 'em! Fine rabbit fur gloves for the cold nights!" Those who knew her, or knew of her, anyway, passed right by her. She only looked at them, knowing full well why, but not really caring. She wasn't going to be mean today, at least not yet. This was one of the few days where she was nice enough to sell any excess goods she collected while hunting. The fourteen year old girl walked down the road, not one fear of drunkes or stupid Pirate men. She kept a careful eye out for the Sirens, though. If she ever found one, she didn't know if she would be able to control her harsh temper. Would she pick a fight? Maybe, but probably not one too physical. She had only a bow and quiver of arrows, and an armfull of things to sell. She would be outmatched by any Pirate. But there would certainly be yelling, oh yes, she could never hold that back.

[ganuaile]

Grace looked up at the girl's cry, confusion etched across her face. 'She's only a weel lass and young to be out on the streets.' Compassion mingled with curiosity and Grace hurried toward her. Besides, she thought, I could use a pair of rabbit-skin gloves. Mentally counting out the change, Grace walked toward the street urchin. 'Aye,' she htought, stepping in front of Rascal, 'Very young indeed.' Clearing her throat, Grace said, "Good morning to you. And what're you selling there?" She indicated the girl's wares with a tilt of her head. "I'd fancy a pair of those gloves," she added, "Keep the old fingers warm when I'm up on deck."

[Rascal]

Rascal looked her over with displeasure. She was a pirate. A Siren? Most likely. There were not many female sea-dwellers around here that weren't. But this one was too kind to be one of the rotten bitches that killed her husband. Alice frowned and looked down at her wedding ring, thinking of him. "You a Siren?" she asked, danger in her voice. If not, then all would be well and she would sell her the gloves. But if she was, then she had a few things to say. She always did.

[ganuaile]

Grace bridled at the disapproval in the other girl's eyes. Who was she, a mere child, to glare so at the Queen of Connacht? "No," Grace said flalty. "I'm not a siren." 'And what's she got against them anyway?' Grace wondered. 'I think they might come in handy.' She drew herself up to her full height. "I'm Captain Grace O'Malley, and I sail for myself." She stared frankly at the girl. "Will you sell me the gloves or should I take my business elsewhere?"

(OOC: hope Grace didn't come out too jerky in this; she's used to everybody knowing who she is.)

[Rascal]

(She doesn't look too jerky)

"Since you are not a Siren, I will sell them to you." Rascal said, holding back her tongue. If she was going to waste her breath on somebody, it better be a Siren that she yelled at. She didn't need her reputation spreading amongst the travelers as well. They were practically her only customers. But she did try and stand taller, even standing tip-toed in a failed attempt to match the woman's height. She didn't like feeling short. "Five copper coins." she said. It was a little low, but it was okay with her. She didn't care. She didn't care about much any more, now that Alexander was dead. He was all that she really cared about, and the Siren's had taken him from her. Artemis slithered out from Rascal's cape, flicking her tongue at Grace to catch her scent.

"She's new here." hissed the snake. "Who is she?"

"A customer." Ally grumbled back, trying not to move her lips as if the Captain wouldn't know that she was talking to a snake. "Get back under the cape, she might be afraid of snakes."

Silver and red scales disappeared back beneath the black cloth, with an angry mumble, something to do with 'everybody is afraid of me'.

[ganuaile]

Grace counted out the coins and took the gloves, slipping them into her pouch. "I see you have a snake. Interesting pet for a girl. How did you aquire it? Might I have a look?" She held out her hand, curious. Grace had always been fascinated by snakes, but she had rarely had the opportunity to see one up close. 'Pity Saint Patrick drove them all out,' she thought ,'Just because himself wasn't fond of the creatures, there's no reason to deprive the rest of us.' She found herslef growing more curious about this strage girl. It appeared as if she was talking to the snake. 'But surely I'm seeing things. Tis the heat I suppose, making me see things.' Grace shook her head to clear the fog. Perhaps a drink would be in order. Thee was ound to be a pub somewhere in this town.

[Rascal]

"My husband gave her to me." she answered. Artemis slithered back out from beneath the cloak at the mentioning of herself. Rascal took the little creature from her shoulders and handed her carefully to the Captain.

Her little black eyes looked at Ally in disbelief, "You're just handing me off to some stranger?!" she hissed.

"She's not a Siren, and she bought gloves." Rascal told her. "Behave yourself. Somebody who actually isn't scared of you, hm?"

Artemis flicked her tongue in annoyance and looked up at the person who held her.

Alice watched them carefully, as she watched everyone. Her hand fiddled with the ring on her finger, her thoughts drifting to their common resting place of Alexander.

[ganuaile]

Grace took the snake carefully. "Well and you're a bonny creature," she said, stroking its scales and admiring the red and black pattern. 'Fascinating creatures, snakes,' Grace thought. She gave the snake a final pet before handing her back. "Your husband, you say?" She felt indignation rising up within her. "And what kind of man has his wife to peddle goods on the street? And herself a young girl?" Grace's hands balled into fists. 'Twould be another matter entirely if she were old enough to defend herself. But she's a child.' Her thoughts strayed to her own two husbands, one killed in batle and one alive but divorced. She'd taken his castle after they were wed for a year. Looking at the girl appraisingly, grace asked, "And can you defend yourself, should you have need of it? the streets are dangerous and you an easy target with all those goods you've got there."

[Rascal]

Artemis slithered back happily under the cloak. "Not a Siren." she whispered in Rascal's ear, and the girl rolled her eyes at the snake.

"I told you that!" she whispered back in annoyance, but Artemis only chuckled. Then Rascal turned back to the Captain. "I didn't ask for you opinion of my husband." she snapped, catching the resentment in the Pirate's voice. But then she frowned and spoke quietly. "My husband is no more alive than the rabbit is." she said, nodding towards the gloves that Grace had bought. But then she straightened up again, "And yes, I can defend myself just fine. I have my bow and arrows, and a hunting knife if I need it. But as you can see, no one really bothers with me anyway." There were plenty of people ignoring her, some of them casting dirty looks. This was normal, and she merely shrugged.

[ganuaile]

Grace chuckled at the last statement. She liked this girl. She was as plucky as the Irish pirate, and Grace respected her for that. "I'm sorry about your husband," she added quietly, deciding to ignore the girl's outburst. "Thank you again for the gloves, and if I can ever do anything for you, just you say the word. I'm off to see the rest of the town." Inclining her h ead in a brief bow to the girl, Grace turned and walked down the street. Now to find a bit of food and something to drink.

[Rascal]

Rascal nodded. "Happy Travels." she said, and turned to walk away.

"She's nice." Artemis said, deciding to crawl from beneath the cape yet again.

"But I won't always be." Ally said. "You know how odd it is for me to be like that."

The snake sighed, though it was barely noticeable because of how small her body was. Her lungs barely moved. "Alice, would it kill you to make just one friend."

"Yes." she grumbled.

"Liar." the snake whispered. "It wouldn't kill you."

"Yes it would. Ever since I met Alex, it's just been me and him against the world. Then he brought you and Marie home, and it was the four of us. But then the Sirens came, and all I have left in my life is a lonely house, my bow, herbs, pet snake and cat."

Artemis scowled. "What's so bad about a pet snake?" she hissed.

"Nothing. I'm just saying that I don't make friends. You're only going to open your heart up to have it broken again."

"Two years! Two years, Stupid Girl! It's been two years since you met that boy, and months since he's died. Do not act as if you have been alone all your life!"

"Love is not bound by time, Artemis. Nor can it be measured in it. To love once is to love forever. So then, it feels as if I've spent my whole life with him. And now he's gone." she frowned a little. It wasn't any different from any other day. Constant frown. "And besides. If you think about it, I practically have lived my life alone. My parents and I never really got along. I was always... the blacksheep, if you will. Always getting into mischief and trouble."

Artemis rammed her tiny forehead against Rascal's cheek in frustration. "Stop making excuses."

"What's your point?"

"My point is that you should make a friend."

"I have you and Marie."

"We don't count."

"Yes you do."

"No we don't." Artemis flicked her tongue out again, slithering down her arm and coiling herself around the remaining things to sell and began to constrict the meat and bones of the animal that Rascal had hunted. It used to be a deer.

"What are you doing?"

"Nobody buys this from you anyway. I'm buying it. I'll trade you a dead mouse that I've been saving when we go home."

Alice, for the first time in a while, laughed. "You can't trade me a dead mouse for this! I don't want your mouse. I gave you that mouse!"

"Well, I'll just take this then." she said, wiggling it out of her grasp and trying to drag it away.

"You're not that strong." Rascal said.

"I know that, but now I've spoiled the meat and broken the bones. You've nothing left to sell." A stupid grin appeared on her face.

"Oh, that's just great! And you're just so happy about this, ain't ya."

The snake nodded. "Absolutely. Now you've nothing left to do today. Go make a friend."

"I'm going home to paint!" Rascal said proudly. "I don't know what you're doing, or how you're getting home, but I'm not carrying you."

Her serpentine eyes glimmered with the same mischief that her master's eyes often had, and slithered away toward the town as fast as her scales would carry her.

"NOW YOU COME BACK HERE!" Rascal shouted at her now, not caring who saw or heard her. She ran after the snake. Artemis wasn't a very fast moving serpent, but you couldn't pick her up unless somebody handed her to you or she just let you. Because every time you'd reach down, she'd twist and turn away from your hand.

Her silver and red scales became tinted by the dust and dirt on the ground as she slithered. Some children ran away from her. Some boys chased after her. But not could catch the tricky Artemis.