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Post by Toris Lorinaitis on Jan 22, 2010 16:07:33 GMT -5
It was hard on young Toris. He had left everything he'd ever known behind. Riots in his hometown had forced his family to flee, without even leaving the young Lithuanian boy so much as a note. No friends, no family, no means of transportation, only the clothes on his back, the will to live, and the innate feeling that he must travel west.
For many days and many miles he traveled on foot, stopping at any small town he could and scavenged for food and supplies. He was rather good at that. Being put in charge of taking care of not only himself, but his siblings as well (because his cold, oppressive father cared nothing for them) had taught Toris most everything of what he needed to survive in this world. How to hunt small game, how to fight, how you could tell if water was safe to drink, which way is North, South, etc. It was not a pleasant journey, but each day, each step brought him a little closer to his goal...
What was his goal? What did he expect once he reached the Polish-German border? Would all of his problems suddenly disappear? Would he arrive to see his brothers, would it bring his mother back to life?...
He had no way of knowing. "Don't think that way, you're going to get yourself killed." he told himself. Only a feeling in his gut was driving him; West of here was the place he needed to be.
Almost a month into his journey, fate had lent him a helping hand. As Toris was struggling along the road in between two very spread out cities, a man in a shoddy, run down carriage with some livestock in a cart trailing behind it came rattling down the road. The man spotted the brown-haired traveller at the side of the road and slowed his cart down long enough to have a word with him.
"Where ye' headed, child?" The man spoke with a very strange, thick accent. The startled Lithuanian stared at him for a few moments, and registered how he was supposed to respond. He hasn't spoken to a single living soul in days. "W-west, sir" Toris managed. He could tell by the look of the man, he wasn't going to ask questions. "Looks like you 'n me 're goin' the same way. Go on, get in then." The man motioned for Toris to climb in and sit beside him.
They rode in silence most of the journey. Toris liked this guy; he followed the "don't ask, don't tell" rule with strangers. It was a dull ride, not much to see in this barren strip of Poland, or that's where he believed himself to be anyway. But before he knew it, the man said they had just passed the Polish-German border. The lithuanian boy's hear leapt with anticipation. The man could tell that his passenger was eager to get wherever he was going and said "Berlin isn't far from 'ere. 40, maybe 50 kilometers. I'm stopping in a village 15 kilometers away, I trust ye can make it ze rest of ze way on yer own?" Toris blinked a few times, coming off of his adrenaline high. He wasn't sure if berlin was where he wanted to go so badly, but it was a good start. He thanked the man for his kindness and walked the rest of the way to Berlin within a day and a half.
He gazed in wonder at the German capital. This was as alive as he'd felt since... a very long time. He also did something else he hadn't done in a long while; he smiled. Something was stirring within him, something that had been held back by another force long since left behind in his tourney through Poland and his home country.
Now, before he searched for whatever it was he was looking for, he needed a place to rest. He sought refuge in a hostel/tavern on the north side of the overwhelming city. Normally the introverted lithuanian would not have wanted anything to do with another person at a time like this, but he was curious to see what types of people lingered in the tavern. He wondered if any of them were vagabonds like he, searching for their purpose...
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(ooc:Omg I hope I'm doin' it right. Sorry for the mega long post, I felt a sort of introduction was in order, so if it's tl;dr just read the last 2 paragraphs orz Also, I was torn between having him travel to warsaw and berlin, but berlin is closer to the sea so... er, that won out.)
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Post by Georgia on Jan 22, 2010 16:58:38 GMT -5
Arriving in Berlin, after stealing a coat from a passerby, the larger Russia man entered a tavern. He was quite thirsty, and had found some money in the long coat.
His boots were heavy, and he thought that most men could hear him from across the room, so he tried to silently walk to the barkeep. But of course he had to stop and examine a young man of whom he slightly recognized. A friend?
He unknowingly crept up behind him. "Privyet!" He announced to him. "Privyet friend!" An intimidating aura crept around him as he waited for the boy to turn around and acknowledge him.
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Post by Toris Lorinaitis on Jan 22, 2010 17:13:52 GMT -5
As Toris was peeping around at the other guests, a great voice boomed in his ear. Without thinking, he spun around to see who is possible assailant was and ran right into the large man's chest. Toris ricocheted backwards into the post he was lurking behind, shocked and slightly confused at the stranger's sudden appearance.
He looked him over a brief moment before he realized something was wrong. Well, nothing was wrong with the man physically, but... the young lithuanian couldn't help but feel he knew this man, which wasn't at all possible, the only people he knew were his family. But, still... and that aura that made Toris want to run straight to the restroom before he wet himself with fear...
It took a short while for Toris to notice the large man was still standing there, smiling, awaiting a response. "Er, Sveikas, friend... can I help you?"
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ooc:*Sveikas is hello in lithuanian :3
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Post by Georgia on Jan 22, 2010 18:08:58 GMT -5
Nodding at the young man, he stated his name. "My name is Ivan~" He licked his lips "would you like a drink?" moving his head in the direction of the bar. "I will pay! I will pay!" there was a jinlge that resonated from inside his coat pocket. His hand went back to being placed on the boys shoulder, and insisted he moved with him towards the bar.
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Post by Toris Lorinaitis on Jan 22, 2010 18:34:18 GMT -5
Toris didn't have much of a choice but to go with Ivan, but he couldn't turn down a free drink anyway. "Thank you, er, Ivan. My name is Toris Lorinaitis. Vodka, please," he said as they steered toward the bar and took their seats. The barkeeper had an inquisitive, yet bored look on his face and he put down the steins he was polishing to pour their drinks.
"So, mister, uh... Ivan," the barkeeper slid the two men their vodka and Toris downed his glass in two gulps. A wave of relief passed through him as the alcohol warmed his insides. Toris was feeling brave right now. He decided to ask what this russian man was doing here, and try to figure out why he seemed so familiar. "What brings you out here in the dead of winter?" Toris glanced down at the glass in his hand and started to ask himself the same question. He mustn't have heard his question, because there was no change in that disarming smile, nor the threatening aura that presided around him.
A few seats over, two men are arguing quietly about something. Toris strained to listen while the russian beside him was occupied with his own drink. He made out the words "captain's not gonna be 'appy" and "can't afford any more delays", then the words that made his insides clench together with excitement, he knew the reason he was here; "Skyship."
He turned and looked at Ivan, whose expression was unreadable yet he was still smiling at the young lithuanian. He had a feeling Ivan was listening to those men as well. Suddenly everything fell into place in Toris's mind. Somehow he knew Ivan and he were going to have something to do with this "skyship", whatever it was.
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Post by Georgia on Jan 25, 2010 1:25:26 GMT -5
Skyship... The Russian had wanted one, it was true. He had been standing in the harbour, watching men of all sorts scurry around with everything the eye could see. He thought it was marvelous.
"hmmm, Vodka is good...~" Seeming awfully cheery, Ivan withdrew a small strange looking key. "See my friend?" he questioned. "Is a key..." his eyes shifted around and leaned in. "To a ship." His lips drew into a sort of an odd smile, one you would find on a villain from one of those old movies.
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Post by Toris Lorinaitis on Jan 25, 2010 17:30:05 GMT -5
Toris was at a loss for words; he could hardly believe what he was seeing. A man he had met no longer than 10 minutes ago was showing him a key (he had presumably obtained in an unlawful way) to one of these skyships. The lithuanian wondered if it was to the same ship those men were quarreling over on the other side of the tavern.
Had he anything to lose, Toris would have walked away then and there. But... no. He had a feeling about this man. Good or bad, he couldn't tell. But it was definitely strong. He wasn't going to let an opportunity as golden as this slip away. Finally words returned to him, and he managed, "Th-that's... amazing. I... I could be of service to you, if, you know, you need it..." He readied himself to leap out of his chair and sprint to the harbor with this man, he only need to say the word.
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Post by Georgia on Jan 27, 2010 2:21:42 GMT -5
He let out a hiccup of a laugh and dropped the key back into his pocket. "Da, you could! and that is why, I show you." nodding, he took another swig of his vodka. "do you know how I got this key?" He smile kept in place, almost like it was tapped there. "There are men, who wander the streets at night. They have docked they're ship. they are careless fools." the bartender came back and placed another cup of vodka on the table. It was like he'd known he would want another. "careless careless fools. so, do you know what I did, da?" He pointed to the clothes and the pocket. A giggle came out again. He sounded childish, but a tad sadistic. He has stolen everything, and wasnt going to keep it from the Lithuanian.
Continuing to drink, he didn't expect the other man to disagree or turn him down, somehow. "I think... you and me could be best friend, da?" he looked over at him. "you can be my first crew member. Family!"
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Post by Toris Lorinaitis on Jan 27, 2010 10:28:20 GMT -5
Toris felt a wave of relief and excitement when Ivan appeared to accept taking him along, but he tensed again once he started explaining how he had stolen the key. He now started realizing this man might be dangerous... But if one thing was for sure, he'd be much more of a thread to him if he tried to back out now. Besides, Toris noticed how Ivan appeared to have no family or place to go other than on the ship, same as himself.
He steeled his nerves again and got the courage to say, "I.. I'd be honored. We should... probably get going, I mean, by morning they'll probably have forged a new key, or... or something." He didn't necessarily want to rush, but he knew that time was short if they wanted to get away alive. He would worry about what Ivan might do to him later, that wouldn't matter if the ship's original owners somehow gained control of it again or they were caught with all the stolen goods.
It'd be a shame to waste perfectly good vodka though, so Toris finished what was left in his glass in two gulps and rose from his seat.
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Post by Georgia on Jan 28, 2010 0:52:01 GMT -5
The Russian nodded, and stood up with them. "Smart you are, da?" Making a motion for him to go first, he placed a hand on his back and walked outside with him. "The ship, it should be this way." He waved a hand and started walking west towards the harbour.
A ship floated just above the water. It was a graceful vessel, adorned with silver and gold. A ripped flag was waving in the air, almost at them. Ivan pointed to it without a word and zipped behind some crates for a bit of coverage, in case someone just happened to be watching. As soon as they arrived to the front of the boat, Ivan stopped. "Here she is! nice, da?"
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Post by Toris Lorinaitis on Jan 28, 2010 20:52:44 GMT -5
Ivan led Toris through the giant city over to the part of the harbor where he supposed the ship was anchored for the time being. With any luck, they'd be gone within half an hour, along with the ship. The two of them dove behind a stack of crates to avoid detection, and that's when he saw it
Through a crack between two of the boxes he could see the ship; It was the most magnificent and graceful thing he had ever laid eyes on. Toris marveled in it's beauty. The only thing that marred the ship was a ripped flag, whipping around in the wind as if to greet them before their criminal deed. He hadn't even realized the russian had said anything for several moments before he came back to reality. "y-yes, it's..." There were many words that could have sufficed to describe the ship, but none really did it total justice. He looked around to see if anyone was coming. All he saw was a man slouching in a chair, probably asleep. "Ivan, sir. The coast is clear." Toris could still hardly believe he was doing this.
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Post by Georgia on Feb 2, 2010 3:30:27 GMT -5
The Russian nodded. "da, lets go!" He smirked and started towards the ship. Seeing it almost made him stop and admire it, but there was no time to waste. People could pop out any second and snatch his darling. He waved to Toris and took out his key and unlocked the doors to the beast.
"hmm... looks nice, da?" he dragged the younger man inside and took him too the helm. There was bodies scattered around the room, approx four. "discard of them, will you?" he asked with a eerie smile. He then took a hold of the wheel and dug the key inside the slot, making the anchor rise up and be placed inside the ship. " Be quick, before the sun rises, We must leave~" He insisted, gesturing towards the open window.
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Post by Toris Lorinaitis on Feb 3, 2010 1:00:38 GMT -5
The strangely mismatched duo quickly made their way onto the ship, still terribly beautiful in the moonlight. When they climbed aboard, Ivan waved him toward a room on the ship. As they entered, he froze. There were four dead bodies, undoubtedly the ex-crew members, strewn across the room. There were so many things buzzing through the brunette's head at this moment; he wanted to ask how, why they had died, why he was even here. But he knew he couldn't. He had never seen a dead body before, let alone had to dispose of one, but he had better get used to it if he was going to be a-
a what?
Were they criminals now? Fugitives?
It didn't matter. He hadn't come this far to stop now. He wordlessly rolled the bodies out of the room and into the harbor. He looked to his intimidating companion for further instructions. He was right, the sun would be up soon and there wasn't much time for their getaway.
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Post by Georgia on Feb 6, 2010 3:05:31 GMT -5
"that is all?" he nodded and started up the ship. It wirred for a few moments then came to life, almost glowing. You could almost feel the ship rising, and the low rumble that resonated from it. The soon were up in the air and the Russian put on a captains hat. "Toris, look at me~ Im a captain~" He steered the ship farther and farther away froom the harbour. They were going to make i without a hitch. "Toris can be my first mate~" said smiling.
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Post by Denmark on Feb 8, 2010 1:43:45 GMT -5
It was exhilarating. Within moments, the entire ship sprang to life and was sailing away from the city. Men's panicked and angry voices could be heard from the harbor; they'd finally realized what went on. The ship whirred through the air as graceful as any bird would. It was magnificent, yet also had an ominous presence, just like it's new captain. Toris's careful nature crept back up on him, thoughts of fear and doubt trickled into his mind. But he was now a First mate of a pirate ship! This was something he could only dream of when he was younger, he should be ecstatic.
All of those negative thoughts and feelings were quickly swept away as they sailed to the east and towards the brightest, most tremendous sunset Toris had ever seen. A surge of memories flooded into his mind as he gazed into the sun. This gave him hope and confidence in his decisions. This is why he had left home. He was different, he knew that. This is what he was born to do, to become, to remember what he was; a nation. And the dawn of adventure was upon them.
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