| Saturday |
[07 Jan 2008|07:20pm] |
When: Saturday Night
Where: Onboard the King's Ransom (In The Captain's Cabin)
Who: Glacier and Umbra
Why: Defrosting the thief
Locking his cabin door with one hand, the captain turned and lowered the heavy block of ice to the floor using his other. As he walked over to turn the lights on, he inhaled deeply…and when he exhaled, the cold blue-skinned mutant Glacier had been replaced by a much more human looking Nate. Removing his leather gloves and uniform top, he circled the frozen shadow thief as one would a work of art in any national museum. She was so small. He wondered why she risked stealing from them. He slowly circled the block of ice again trailing his fingertips over the surface of the slick ice… “Are you hungry?”, he whispered, “Homeless?”. Nate had this deep seeded need to help any mutant that seemed to be in trouble…sometimes that was a good thing…sometimes it wasn’t. He stopped again in front of his captive and studied her delicate features…the pale skin, raven-black hair and lashes and red lips…his long arm reached out as his finger tips caressed the ice… “Lovely”, he sighed, “like a porcelain doll”.
The tall man poured himself a cup of tea and stretched out on a finely upholstered loveseat, his leg dangling idly over the arm. He grinned to himself as he addressed the frozen beauty.
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
…innocent…Crikey…she may be, but my innocent days are long past!”.
Gulping down the rest of his tea, Nate stood and stretched and heaved one last sigh, preparing himself for whatever was about to happen. “Time’s a-wastin’, Captain! Might as well open this puppy up!”, he encouraged himself.
Placing one of his own heavy, terrycloth robes near at hand, he closed his eyes and when he opened them they were solid white…he placed his hands flat against the surface of the block of ice and within minutes the entire block had been absorbed and Nate was holding the shaken thief.
The shadow thief was cold, wet and shivering…and still instinctively clutching her garments and stolen goods. Nate wrapped her up in the terrycloth robe and sat down on the loveseat with her cradling her like a small child…and she looked like a small child in his arms; Nate was 6’3” and muscular and this one couldn’t be more than 5’0” and quite delicate. “Shhhhhh”, he soothed as he rocked her, “Everything will be fine". He gently tapped her face until a look that seemed somewhat lucid came into her eyes.
Quickly Nate explained,"Do not shift into your shadow form and try to escape! The airship is miles into the air by now and I'm sure, by one law of science or another...even in your shadow form, the fall would kill you! Also, do not leave this cabin yet. I have not yet talked to my crew about you. While here, you are under my protection...I am the captain". The thief seemed as if she wanted to speak, but Nate put his fingers to her lips.
Crossing the room, he grabbed a mug and poured some strong coffee from a pot that was always ready...then he went to the liquor cabinet and added a few choice ingredients, returning to his guest with a smile.
"Here ye go,..Irish coffee! Just the thing to warm your insides and loosen those pipes, eh?".
He handed the mug over to her and walked over to a very large, ornately carved wooden wardrobe and began to dig through it.
"Ah...this will work...and this!", He exclaimed, returning with a red silk shirt and a red silk necktie. "Until we get you something from one of the other women on board, you could cover up with this and maybe belt it with this?!"
Helping her to her feet, he explained, "Anyway, you will be needing a hot shower or a hot bath...your choice! I have a fantastic bath just through those doors...", he held his hands up, "....I won't invade your privacy. Take your coffee along. When you are through, we can talk. I'd like to offer you a job".
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