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Splintered Light Chapter 9.2: Not His Father's Nation

In the scheme of things the morning had started well. Lee didn't always have a chance to spend any significant amount of time with Mr. Chen and nobody else aboard the ship knew how to properly treat him. It wasn't that the young Tanuki was conceited or demanding otherwise he would never have left home. The simple fact of the matter was that he missed certain parts of his life back in his father's nation and Mr. Chen was just enough of a taste of home that it reinforced his will to maintain his time abroad.

The thought of any Jiuyani citizen willfully choosing a life anywhere but on the isles was almost unheard of, but he was unique: the son of a nobleman rejecting his homeland. That made him feel powerful. It was a good feeling to have, especially when he considered his life aboard the Wave Rider: in reality, he was anything BUT powerful. The title of 'Cabin Boy' often felt more like the decree of a punishment levied on a criminal, but at least Mr. Chen made coping with that easier.

The Cat had spoken to the Foreman on his behalf. While the Goat was anything but accommodating he did have a certain degree of understanding when it came to the needs of the crew and Mr. Chen was part of the crew. The armorer's explanation of needing Lee that morning was all the Foreman needed to hear and the Cabin Boy's tardiness was excused. In all honesty, Lee had difficulty keeping up with the entire conversation since the two spoke in Mehnzilian far faster than the Tanuki could follow, but whatever the cat said seemed to suffice.

Once Mr. Chen took his leave, the Foreman simply looked to Lee and announced "You will be running on deck today. The Captain wants to get to the island with enough light left to set up camp. There are no breaks so you will keep the crew watered."

Lee bowed respectfully; although Mr. Zuider's rank was far lower than the noble's true status, the Tanuki was willing to observe the social structure aboard the Wave Rider. "Yes, my Lord. I will give water to the crew."

Only a short distance away, Mr. Chen spoke up in Jiuyani. "May your day be worthy of you, my Lord."

The Tanuki nodded to the loyal feline. "I will seek you out tonight."

Mr. Zuider interrupted the farewell. "Find a bucket and get a ladle from the galley. I want you back up on deck in five minutes."

Although the Goat spoke slowly he also made several helpful hand gestures that reinforced his words; the large, open handed expression of five fingers thrust into his face to accentuate the timeframe was slightly less appreciated than the rest of it but Lee accepted it all in good form and bowed again. "Yes, my Lord."

Seeing as most of the crew was above deck the trip to and from the galley was a quick and painless process without the usually crowded walkways or busy eatery. Lee got a large bucket and a ladle from Mr. Veektur and returned to the top deck. Rather than waiting for him, Mr. Zuider had already moved on to deal with other crewman. Lee wasn't really surprised since the Cabin Boy wasn't much of a concern for anyone; the Foreman usually just gave him assignments and expected him to keep occupied. Considering the number of sailors who would need water, Lee anticipated staying plenty busy.

He circled the deck starting midship on the port side and planned to make his way toward the bow before circling back along the starboard. The first group of crewmen he came upon were a collection of Lehsunians who had gravitated together to work on the lines going from the sails to the deck; Lee didn't know what the lines were called specifically but he really didn't care; his task was to water the crew. There were three of them in total, speaking together in their own language. Lee was just starting to learn enough Mehnzilian to be able to make his way around the crew but he was lost when it came to the one they were using.

They were all pleasant enough when it came to accepting their turns to drink. Each provided him a basic level of thanks in Mehnzilian then went right back to talking in their own tongue. Although he'd spent a fair amount of time on the same ship with each of the men he didn't particularly know any of them that well. Flax, the Bear Cat, was just another shipmate that preferred chicken dishes in the galley over any other; Grant, the Serval, had his time split almost evenly between deck work and rigging; the Boar, who was referred to as often as not as 'The Boar' was the strangest of them all since he spent less time working than any other crewmen-- and because, as far as Lee knew, the man was also called 'Brown'.

It was an odd situation since there was also a Wolf onboard referred to as 'Brown'. It was strange to think that a Boar and a Wolf might have the same clan name; on the Jiuyani Isles clan names were reserved for family only, and a Wolf and a Pig could not be related. Regardless, the vast majority of the crew still called him 'The Boar' and so Lee's mind was to follow the greater group. Lee thanked each crewman after they thanked him and once he had the ladle back he finished his time with the group with acknowledging that his task was complete. "Mr. Flax, Mr. Grant, Mr. The Boar, thank you for letting me serve you."

They all laughed at his politeness, but that was no reason for Lee to be impolite. He respected himself and had all intention to present himself properly even if they didn't. At least Flax had the courtesy to respond in a mindful way, addressing the Tanuki in Mehnzilian even as the other two returned to talking amongst themselves in their own native language. "You're welcome, Lee. Now run along-- others need water too. The captain wouldn't be too happy if others didn't get to drink."

The other two sailors laughed even more at the comment-- or, most likely, at Lee-- but he ignored both their ignorance and lack of manners; if he'd taken vengeance on every seaman who had slighted him then the Wave Rider would be sorely short on crewmen. Picking up the pail and taking back the ladle, the Tanuki moved to the next group hard at work near the bow of the ship. From what Lee understood of Lord Alistair's methods, the Tiger preferred that all crewmen worked together well but, for the second time that morning he encountered another group of sailors who stuck together based on their home nation.

Mr. Avers, Mr. Vopello, and Mr. Schmidt, a Badger, Fox, and Lemur respectively from Ilyse were working the ropes toward the front of the ship. As with the Lehsunians, the Ilyseans were talking with one another in their native language. They were working quickly and efficiently, so much so that none of them even took notice of his presence. He considered the numerous ways he'd be able to get their attention but the Fox spoke up in Mehnzilian before the Tanuki could follow through with any of his possible options. "Thank you for waiting, Lee. Yes, I would love a drink... just give us a moment, please."

It was a very mannerful way to address him, and the Tanuki was honestly surprised-- not just because someone bothered being polite, but because the Fox hadn't even bothered to turn back around to take note of him. How had he known it was Lee? Moreover, how did he know that Lee had brought water? Perhaps the Captain had already informed to crew to be ready for him? Perhaps the rumors he mostly understood as spoken by the rest of the crew were right: was Salvatore Vopello really a warlock of some kind?

Once the three sailors had finished tying off a collection of ropes the Fox came right over followed by his companions. Rather than accepting the use of the ladle, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a metal disc; with a quick flick of his wrist the object expanded into what looked like a collapsible cup. With a smile, the Fox dipped the drinking vessel into the bucket and scooped up his fill.

Rather than offer confirmation, thanks, or even scorn, Mr. Vopello went an entirely different route and made a statement; it was so casually denoted that it caught Lee by surprise. Although he didn't catch everything the fast-speaking Fox said, the Tanuki was fairly certain it had something to do with his father, and the fact that Lee was missed. How did Mr. Vopello know anything about his father or about how his father would have felt? A trick, most likely; most crewmen didn't trust Salvatore Vopello and it was probably for good reason.

Mr. Avers and Mr. Schmidt were content to keep talking Ilysean. Lee didn't speak more than a word or two of the language but the body language and expressions of the other two sailors gave the Tanuki the impression that they felt the Fox was controlling access to the water. Mr. Vopello quickly and courteously stepped back, motioning forward toward the bucket, which Lee held up at a decent height as Avers and Schmidt took turns having at the ladle. By the time they were finished the Tanuki realized that the bucket was quickly draining and was barely half full.

Once the two had completed their drinking Mr. Vopello had likewise emptied his cup and it had once again returned to disc form and was slid back into the Fox's tunic. Although Avers and Schmidt returned quickly to the ropes Mr. Vopello lingered for just a few moments. The Fox took an appraising glance at Lee and then spoke up, using simple words and enuncinating them with surprising clarity and slow speed so that Lee could understand. "Next time we are at the Jiuyani Isles you should go see your father."

The suggestion made Lee frown. He offered as open and non-specific answer as he could, both to end the conversation and to avoid raising suspicion. "This is my home. This is my family. Lord Alistair is my father. I do not need any other father."

The vupline sailor blinked, his eerie, slitted pupils focused right on the Tanuki. Whatever he said next was unclear once again as Mr. Vopello returned to his previously quick-paced speech, but Lee was almost completely convinced that he heard the Mehnzilian title for his father: Lord Sento. If the Fox meant to hold that knowledge over the Tanuki's head Mr. Vopello held no indication of it and, with little more to be said between them, the Fox joined the rest of his countryment at the ropes, leaving Lee to his own thoughts... and his thoughts were many.

The focus on trying to understand the strange Fox remained through the next group of sailors and he scarcely took note of who they were or how they treated him; if Salvatore Vopello knew who Lee was then that could create issues for him. He resolved to speak to Mr. Chen about it as soon as he could. Further thoughts on the topic were halted when a gruff voice called out a vague hail, but Lee knew it was meant for him. "Hey! Kid!"

Out of everyone Lee expected to call him, the sailor who was flagging him down was not very high up on that list-- in fact, he anticipated that the large Dog was more likely to try and fight him than speak with him. Mr. Lews, the big oaf was waving him over. The Tanuki was not afraid of the seaman but the situation left him feeling both uncomfortable and ill at ease. It was his job to see that all of the crewmen got water and Mr. Lews was a crewman; Lee was not about to fail at his task and so he tightened his grip on the pail and approached the Dog.

Unlike the sailors in the other work groups, Mr. Lews had not banded together with another one of his countrymen; he had elected to haul lines and tie off ropes next to Mr. Jibb, a Bandicoot from Lehsunia. Surprisingly (in part because Mr. Lews seemed to hate people from any nation other than his own... but mostly because Lee was convinced the sailor was stupid) the Dog and the Bandicoot were speaking not just Mehnzilian, but occasionally exchanging a few words in the Lehsunian tongue. Was it possible that Mr. Lews was not beyond hope?

The big Dog called to him again, raising a paw. "Hey! Kid! Commere!"

The Bandicoot next to him tied off a rope then leaned his direction, speaking loud enough that Lee could hear him as he closed the distance with the two. Mr. Jibb said just a few words. "His name's Lee, Archie."

Mr. Lews picked up on that immediately, calling still. "Lee! Commere!"

Remaining on guard, the Tanuki did just that, moving closer to the two with his grip on the pail set firmly with his wrist loose in the event he needed to use it like a club. He wasn't afraid of the Dog except for the knowledge that the big dumb oaf might add more work to Lee's day if he spilled the water while beating the stupid Dog even more senseless than he already was. Lee came to a stop just outside kicking range. "I am here. Do you want drink?"

Mr. Jibb nodded "Yeah."

The Tanuki held out the pail so the Bandicoot could use the ladle to drink his fill. Once the first sailor was done Lee turned to the Dog. He hefted the bucket, still holding it so that he could get a good backswing if Mr. Lews tried anything. The oaf approached but in a non-threatening manner. The Dog's stance was casual enough and his balance was not well suited to strike; Lee was confident that he was in no danger. He gave the pail a little shake in Mr. Lews' direction. "Now you? You drink?"

The big Dog reached down and picked up the ladle. He remained suitably subdued, focused on the water rather than on Lee himself. Mr. Lews took a drink and returned the ladle to the pail, straightening back up and offering a smile to the Tanuki. "Hey, uh, Lee-- I uh... sorry about that one time when I was bein' an ass."

It took a few moments for Lee to be able to understand what the Dog meant. More time passed while the Tanuki assessed whether the Dog was being truthful or if there was some other factor at work. Eventually he resolved to accept the apology at face value. "It is fine."

Mr. Lews, surprisingly, pressed the apology; he had the good sense to know how to show that he knew his manners, which was even more surprising to the Tanuki. "No... it's not fine. Mr. Len said that you people value honor and stuff, and you're a good kid... so... uh... yeah."

Lee flicked an ear. "Honor. Yes."

The Dog's ears flattened slightly in embarrassment. "Well.. anyway... I wanted to say I'm sorry for... y'know... tryin' to beat ya up an' stuff."

The Tanuki shrugged. "You got hurt. Not me."

The response elicited a snort of discontent from Mr. Lews but the Dog recovered quickly and offered up a tense "Yeah... well I'm still sorry."

Lee knew he could continue using his basic understanding of Mehnzilian to repeatedly mess with the Dog but he had too much self respect to constantly pick on such an easy target; there was no benefit to be had for it. The Tanuki set down the bucket and offered a formal bow to the Dog. "I thank you."

Mr. Lews' smile looked more genuine and the oaf actually managed a (rather clumsy) bow of his own. Lee realized in that moment that the Dog wasn't a complete and total loss; perhaps there would be a time when the Dog would be worthwhile. That thought lasted for all of ten seconds, right until the Dog reached up and ruffled the fur atop the Tanuki's head. Lee weathered it in good form despite the fact that he would have gladly taken the Dog's arm off for the transgression, forgiving him for the sake of two things: first, he was willing to be the bigger man and second, as Mr. Lews walked away the Tanuki noticed for the first time that the Dog had a very, very nice ass.

He addressed the sailor in Jiuyani "Perhaps some day I will prove yourself worth my self-restraint. Big men usually groan loudest."

The Dog looked at him, ears up, and then he tilted his head sideways just a little. "What's that mean?"

Lee translated it using his limited Mehnzilian vocabulary and a lot of tact. "I do not NOT like you."

As far as translations went it was an amiable, tactful middle-ground.