Tagged : Sibyl | Words : 626 | Notes : Rambly and such, but should work!

”Two weeks I’m in Whiterun, and I leave the lot of you with a single task that can be completed in a day,” Senex told the rushed bees that composed his crew as he stood among them, watching them take the crates at the dock back and forth to and from the ship as quickly as they could. Fortunately, they were nearly done, or Senex’s good-natured rant to them would have been anything but. ”Needless to say, I’m impressed by your collective ingenuity. Spending the days with your wenches and drinks must have been so trying.” Despite the fact that Senex sounded nothing close to angry, only sarcastically insulting, the crew never once glanced him with a particularly amused or comfortable gaze. Senex supposed he could understand why. When he’d last discharged them for the month, they’d simply finished their task to find the Dragonstone and left Senex to return it to Dragonsreach. In that time he’d become Thane of Whiterun, and in doing so had acquired the services of an admittedly…alluring housecarl and completed a task for the people of Whiterun. Senex had quite a reputation before, but only on the seas – now the more land-loving citizens of Skyrim had right to know his name. Perhaps Senex’s crew were starting to feel somewhat intimidated. He crossed his arms over his chest and gazed at them, thinking that this intimidation was not necessarily a thing to waste.

For the moment, however, Senex only wanted them to finish loading the supplies for transport and the gear so he could stand atop the Ardent’s deck again, the sea under his feet. Senex often alternated between missing time on land and time at sea, and considering it had been well on to two months since he had last sailed, his eyes were currently turned to the sea. He took a few listless steps towards the ramp that led to his ship of several years, eying the crew that passed him. His housecarl had not chosen to accompany him for this particular trip – he would be gone a day, at most, for this particular job – but he had left her word at the gates of Solitude as to where it was he was sailing if she arrived late and would want to meet him there. He doubted as much. Lydia seemed to favor applying the broad end of a warhammer to a skull far more than anything involving shipments, especially those shipments not specifically contracted by the Imperial governance. Senex was not delivering illegal goods by any means, nor was he making a delivery to the Stormcloaks, but he was indeed getting paid far more for this delivery than the Imperials would pay. Therefore, the work took precedence over whatever contract the Imperials had sent to his crew over the past weeks. Senex was failing to mention to the Imperials that he had returned to Solitude, naturally, so he could perform the work without being pestered by their rules and regulations. Again, not illegal, simply good business.

Hopefully his crew would have them free from port before too many Imperials started to shove their noses in the docks. The guards typically kept themselves nearer to the company warehouse most hours of the day, and Senex occasionally stole a glance towards that warehouse to make sure they remained there. Of course, the average guard had no idea what goods and services Senex would be providing –they were clearly all Cyrodiil and Skyrim’s finest – but he’d rather leave and return quietly if he could help it.

”Let’s be sure we avoid taking another two weeks, men,” he commented to them, taking a seat on an empty crate as he continued to survey the work of the men, his back turned to Solitude.

Sibyl stood by the top of the slope that declined into the docks, watching a sizable fleet of ships wait in the bay, their stainless sails billowing proudly even in the unusually vapid breeze. The afternoon sunlight danced upon the bright surface of the ocean, accompanied only by the steady heartbeat of the waves rising and receding below the dock’s wooden platforms. Very rarely had the twenty-four year old ever come down to this area of Solitude, but there was a reason for her unusual presence. Amongst the white canvases unfurling in the wind was one specific vessel that held her attention.

When she had received word earlier that morning of a package that needed to be delivered, Sibyl had gotten ready to depart within the hour. The camp she had been directed to was quite a distance away from Solitude, and she would need a day or three if she was travelling by horse. Thus, she had assembled everything she would need for the journey and was entirely set to begin riding, had she not been stopped by a few whispers amongst a small company of passersby.

“No, really, it’s true! The Thane of Whiterun’s in Solitude!”

The Imperial girl couldn’t help but listen further. Like many, she’d learnt of Senex Coriolanus through word of mouth, and had become quite fascinated by the stories she’d come to hear. How the group of young adults by the capital’s gates knew of his arrival was beyond her, but Sibyl made a point to slow down as she walked past so she could gather more information.

Yes, it was entirely true that she had never once met the man in question before, but he was a very respected figure among her associates. It became only natural for Sibyl to adopt this admiration towards him, and with every new detail she made out from the strangers at the gateway, the more her eagerness to meet him grew. Sibyl shook her head, unwilling to let something as simple as gossip — if of the rather extraordinary sort — distract her from her job. She quickened her pace and pushed past, but one last sentence reached her ears before the gates closed behind her.

He was heading the same way she was.

A journey by sea would likely decrease the amount of time she would need for travel as compared to her alternatives. It would also give her an opportunity to enjoy the sea again — it wasn’t the same as the one back in Cyrodiil, but she was almost certain that she would feel quite at home in the midst of the rippling waters. Not to mention, actually being able to meet the famed Thane of Whiterun was an exceptionally large bonus.

Drawing in a breath, Sibyl clicked her tongue and furrowed her brow. Did she really think that he would just let her on? She doubted he took passengers on his ship, much less one of such little importance and influence. The courier let out a heavy sigh, then headed purposefully down to the stables. Such impractical thinking wasn’t unusual of her, but she shouldn’t ever let it take over common sense.

The stablehand recognized her as she approached, and Sibyl offered a smile before sauntering over to where Cobalt had been kept. She ran her hand lovingly across the stallion’s neck, then gave it a pat on the muzzle. All the while, her gaze was turned towards what she could see of the docks from where she was. While she did want to meet Senex, she would never dare to dream that he would fulfill her request, and would have left all her ridiculous notions be. But there was a stronger desire within her, one that was willing to take the risk of asking — she wanted the sea, she wanted to sail. What harm would it do if she just tried...?

Resolve hardening her expression, Sibyl gave her horse another pat before reaching into the leather satchel she carried and fishing out a small handful of septims. She gave the stablehand another smile before handing the coins over, explaining quickly that she wanted to leave Cobalt in their care for a few more days. She thought it’d be better to pay now than wait for Senex’s response — if she had already spent the money, perhaps she’d try harder to persuade him into letting her on.

With that, Sibyl found herself walking along the docks, her hands nervously smoothing down the leather of her Imperial armour. She stopped when she reached a man with her back to her, his attention seemingly focused upon the ship in front of him. From what she remembered through the descriptions, this was the esteemed Thane of Whiterun’s vessel. She cleared her throat.

“Hello? Hi.” Sibyl tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear, a tentative smile gracing her lips. She liked to believe she was far more articulate on a regular basis, but at that moment, words seemed to fail her. “Are, um, are you Senex? Senex Coriolanus?”

Tagged : Sibyl | Words : 443 | Notes : I hate this post. 8'D

”That’s the last of ‘em, captain.”

Senex did wonder at times why people were so prone to stating the obvious. He provided his man with a deadpan expression, rubbing at the edges of his eyes. ”How I would have known that without your help, we’ll never know.” With no apology for his sarcasm, he leaned around the crewman and regarded the empty dock and the rest of the crew starting to idle. ”Fair work. We’ll leave when the deck is ready. We haven’t forgotten the typical preparations, have we?” Senex received no words to the contrary as the crew trudged their way back up to the deck, so he assumed the answer was no. He returned to his previous self-appointed duty, that of watching the men impassively as they finished the work, and finally paid some small attention to the charts that he carried in his hands. As was usual, though, Senex’s attention ended up fully paid to the beautiful ship ahead of him, and he tucked away the charts to stand and board the ship ahead of him.

He never budged, though, aside from turning to look at the source of quiet footsteps and the voice that seemed to be greeting him, considering he was the only person close enough to hear it. His eyes settled on a wom- a girl, far younger than the typical female that tended to approach him. In fact, compared to his recent feminine company, the girl’s stature and probable age seemed almost comical to the Imperial thane. He doubted he betrayed any of his thoughts to her as he regarded her for a few moments, trying to decide what it was she could want from him. He answered her with a simple ”Indeed” as she questioned whether or not she had the right man. Her doubt made him doubt that she’d sought him out for some…cavalier reputation, but Senex couldn’t quite ascertain why she would ask for him by name, either.

”And what is my name to you?”, he asked, in simple curiosity, as he stood to his feet. Senex could tell when others wanted something from him, not being a man particularly prone to giving if he could help it. Acquiring things for himself – that, he was talented at. With him preparing to sail off, though, he also couldn’t stand and play a guessing game with her, nor could he pile on the questions. ”My ship is about to set sail.” He hoped she would understand that the grand vessel waiting behind him was the ship he indicated. ”So I’ll have to ask you to wait if your business will restrain me from Skyrim’s waters.”

The sea was a place where Sibyl lost all track of time, where only the soft sighing of the waves and the gentle, infinitesimal beat of her heart mattered. If only she had been allowed to, she could have stayed out for days and never notice the passing of night and noon, blindly moving ever onward without cause, driven by a fire in her heart that had been lit — ironically — by the waters. However, it had been years since she bothered to entertain the notion of returning to it.

When she had come to Skyrim, she had put away her love for the sea, the warmth of salty breezes and boundless skies usurped by chill winds that knifed through even the thickest of her cloaks and tunics. She had pushed back the fond memories and let them disappear like the furrowed, undulating waves of home and did what she could to not let it plague her.

Yet, she had made her journey down to the docks all the same, and with it came a jab of suppressed yearning. The wild scent of the waters rose to meet her, and her head was filled with its sharp, bitter smell. For a moment, it was all she could do to simply stare longingly at the sea before her eyes, but then her reasoning returned, and she cleared her throat in silent apology as the man addressed her. What was his name to her? Sibyl’s hands once more found themselves fiddling with the leather of her armor, and she subconsciously straightened her back in the fruitless hopes that it would make her seem just a little bit less feeble. “I sought to present a request, if you would be kind enough to consider.”

“My ship is about to set sail. So I’ll have to ask you to wait if your business will restrain me from Skyrim’s waters.”

Sibyl’s gaze, which had drifted off to focus on what lay behind the man, snapped back to meet his eyes. Irises the colour of an orange-mottled sky watched him, highly observant yet polite beneath dark brows. He seemed not to pay her much mind at all, which disappointed more than offended. In fair measure, the Imperial girl was more than used to being brushed off by those who had no business with her, but her thirst for the ocean begged her to press on. She drew in a sharp breath and gathered whatever knowledge she knew that could possibly help her. “I don’t wish to cause any delay.”

Again, she had to stop and compose herself, drawing in her next breath quickly so as not to leave an unnecessary lull in the conversation. Sibyl peered at the man and kept her eyes on his, her lips maintaining their hesitant smile, absently drawing circles along the hem of her armour’s torso. It was a habit she developed that told of her nervousness, no matter how she had managed to hide it from her face, tone, or otherwise. A gull or some other seabird — she had never been too familiar with their names — dipped and wheeled overhead, its keening resonant cries echoing in her ears. “Rather, I – I humbly ask for passage on your ship.” She lowered her head in what could be thought of as a clumsy bow, her blonde hair forming a curtain that hid her overwrought expression.

[ OOC: Not my best, but I hope it’s still alright! ]

Tagged : Sibyl | Words : 462 | Notes : IT'S BACK IN ACTION.

She seemed rather uncomfortable, didn’t she? Senex admitted his eyes probably scrutinized her unabashedly, but as he’d noted before, few women of her age would go out of their way to approach him, especially having to go out-of-the-way to reach him as she had in reaching the docks. He had to wonder if she didn’t have a letter or message to deliver to him, as she could have easily been an especially young runner. She didn’t have the…more businesslike aura he would expect should she have some sort of missive or request to hand over to him from a separate party. All in all, she managed to perplex him for a few moments as he sat and looked to her, before she spoke again. A request then, was it? Senex could not say his initial guess had been too far off from the truth. ”I suppose considering costs me nothing,” he said, rather lightly, as he shifted to face her more directly and wait for this “request” of hers. And no delay, either? Either she barely needed him for anything or her business had something to do with his ship. With the way she seemed enamored with something – possibly the ship, possibly the waters – behind him, he would have assumed the latter to be true.

She confirmed his suspicions, leaving him to continue staring at her as she gave him a bow. Naturally, Senex never particularly had problems with providing anyone with passage on his ship – even dangerous individuals or fugitives from time to time. The girl did not seem dangerous, nor did she seem flustered or rushed enough to be a fugitive. She did, however, seem young, wherein lied the concern that first crossed through his mind. Rubbing at the scruff on his chin, he turned his gaze away from her to fixate on a bird flying overhead, squawking as it was. ”What’s your business then, young one?”, he asked, almost absent-mindedly as he kept up his staring. ”Mere passage or something more?” Senex had learned over the years that people rarely needed only passage, but nonetheless, people did surprise him from time to time. He at least wanted her reason for joining a crew of rabble-rousers like the ones working on the deck to be rather clear to him, after all, in the case it turned sour for either of them.

Probably unexpectedly, he stood, the dock creaking underneath his feet as he did so. He took the time to straighten his cuffs and collar, still not completely looking at the girl. ”And might I learn your name? I doubt you would have any appreciation for me simply calling you ‘girl’ regularly.” With that, he finally looked her in the eyes again, prepared to be graced with the girl’s name.

In a profession like Sibyl’s, one should expect having to deal with less... hospitable characters every now and again. As collected as he seemed to be, Senex commanded an air of confident authority that the young Imperial girl was beginning to both admire and fear. For someone who had always been an avid reader, the way Sibyl was, for someone who always prided themselves on being both an eloquent and articulate speaker — for someone who had always been good with words, Sibyl didn’t know where they’d gone, or what to do with the ones she had. Instead, she cleared her throat again after she had submitted her request, head still angled towards the ground beneath her feet.

His following questions came as a significant surprise to her — something more? Well, yes, she supposed her want for the ocean could easily be considered something more than just passage, seeing as she did have other alternatives for travel, but she didn’t need suspicions to tell her that was not exactly what he meant. Perhaps she should’ve explained? “All I appeal for is a temporary place on your ship,” she told him, trying her best to be polite and catch his gaze. It didn’t seem to matter at all, however, seeing as his attention seemed far more fixated on an overhead bird than it was on her. “I’m – ” she paused, considering the wisdom (or possible lack thereof) upon sharing the ensuing information, then pushed on, “ – I’m a courier for the Legion, and I’m told we’re heading the same way.”

Did that sound formal enough to come off as a business deal? She doubted it. Still, she smoothed down the skirt of her armor, then tried again. “It would be of great help to me if the package I carry was delivered as swiftly as possible, and I’ve been led to believe that travelling by sea is my quickest option.” Sibyl drew in a deep breath, then let it out slowly through a tiny gap between her lips. This shouldn’t have been as hard as it was, but her longing to be out at sea and her fear of being turned away was enough to make her feel as though the situation was a desperate one.

Before she could continue — maybe promise she wouldn’t be an inconvenience, maybe make a fool of herself in the process — the esteemed thane stood from where he was seated, and Sibyl backed away slightly so that she could still look at him without craning her head upwards. He was taller than her, that much she could have guessed, but just by how much was a bit of a surprise.

Once she had made her distance, Sibyl addressed his question with another uncertain smile. That was true — neither ‘girl’ nor ‘young one’ were particularly flattering titles. “Sibyl Valencia,” she told him, dipping her head in acknowledgement. It had been a while since she’d stated her name in full, but considering who he was (or at least, who she had heard of him to be), she felt little to no reservations about adding in her family name. In an attempt to seem more self-assured, her voice came out a bit louder than what was necessary — hopefully the din around them was enough to drown it out.

[ OOC: Woot <3 ]

Tagged : Sibyl | Words : 501 | Notes : I apologize for the delay, I had no computer of my own for two weeks. 8'D

Ah, so the business did sound rather mundane, didn't it? A courier for the Legion needing passage to deliver her messages more swiftly, he assumed. Senex returned his attention to her long enough to judge her honesty, though he saw no reason to distrust her, given the light but rather professional armor she wore that would indicate someone linked to a military force or guild in Skyrim. Though Senex did not care particularly for the war outside of the coin it could put in his belt or the prestige it could gain him, he supposed he should consider himself an "Imperial" by allegiance and thus, had no issue with providing assistance to Imperials when they asked or paid well. He doubted the girl would pay well, but she could likely drop a good word about him should she return from her trip unscathed. Still, his ship seemed an odd choice for a young girl simply needing passage, given his reputation for engaging pirates and escorting ships for the coin. But, if the Ardent and this young lady were headed in the same general direction, he decided not to question her as to her reasoning for singling out such a fine ship. In fact, he supposed he should be flattered that a young girl trusted the safety of passage well enough to join him.

Though he'd essentially made his decision to accept her request (though he had to set the ground rules for her, of course, and warn her of the dangers), Senex appeared to be deep in thought as he listened to the young woman's name from where he stood. Well, she had a rather strong name, and though he attempted to recall it, he didn't remember anyone in Cyrodiil with that family name. Of course, Senex hadn't been to Cyrodiil in some years. Taking a few steps towards the plank leading up to the deck of his ship, Senex crossed his arms over his chest and stared past his ship to the expanse of sea beyond, mulling over what he needed to tell the girl. The usual, he supposed. "You realize I cannot guarantee your safety should the Lady Ardent come under attack, nor can I promise that you will not receive the occasional unwanted glance or word from one of the crew members, though I'll ensure they go no further." For some, the threat of either would prove enough to keep them as far away from the Ardent as possible. A courier likely would not have the same fears as the typical citizen, but Senex had to warn her, after all.

"I also expect all on the ship to act with courtesy and follow orders to a certain extent. We do have the occasional emergency to attend to." Such as being boarded...it was quite a good idea for anyone on the ship to follow orders when such a thing happened. "I will grant you passage, but only if you can be expected to listen well and not cause trouble. My crew causes quite enough on their own."