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Post by firouz on Feb 18, 2009 8:08:28 GMT -5
The scientist looked at Doubar and narrowed his eyes. "Oh, I assure you Doubar, no one will get hurt from my demonstration. The actual explosion won't happen here, but somewhere far from the ship once I throw out the exploding stick." He turned back to Sinbad, waiting eagerly for his response. Firouz almost looked like a child, begging *can I, can I.*
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 18, 2009 14:30:25 GMT -5
Sinbad was about to chuckle at the whole situation. What a weird morning, he thought by himself, weird mostly because he seemed tossed from one mood into the next. He rested a hand on his brother´s arm as if to calm him, knowing that Doubar was not exactly on friendly terms with Firouz´ inventions. For a moment he had the horrible image of the Nomad being ripped to shreds but then he thought that Firouz probably knew what he was doing ... that, and he had already made one member of his crew mad at him this morning so there was no reason to continue the trend of the day just because he was in a weird mood.
"If you promise you will throw them far enough you can give it a try." he said with a small chuckle. He did not understand much about science, this was definitely Firouz´ area of expertise and maybe Doubar would not agree there, but right now he just ignored the other man´s blackened face an agreed. Possibly another attempt of giving his mind something to do, but he didn´t notice.
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Post by firouz on Feb 18, 2009 17:14:20 GMT -5
Firouz's smile widened some more. He ran down below and quickly returned with an exploding stick in one hand. It was clearly larger than the ones before. And it had a harder shell, making it easier to throw. He reached down to his belt and took a small devise. "I timed exactly how long it would take for the reaction to start. I also made a devise that makes fire wherever we go I will call it Phoenix." There was a small wheel at the top of the devise which was rubbing against a piece of rock. "When I turn this wheel, it would undergo friction with the rock, creating a spark. This devise is filled with a flammable lubricant that would provide fuel for the flame." Firouz turned the wheel with his thumb, and a flame emerged from the device. He lit the string of his exploding stick and blew out the flame. He then timed himself, threw the stick with all his might, and watched it sail through the air. Suddenly, a few moments later but far enough from the Nomad, it exploded in the air, forming a huge, massive fireball. Firouz was so happy that his demonstration worked out perfectly. He then turned to the captain.
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 19, 2009 7:38:32 GMT -5
As usual, Sinbad viewed Firouz´ inventions with a mix of uncertainty, curiosity and fascination. Despite the smaller ´accidents´ that happened now and then, the things Firouz had developed so far had proven rather useful for all of them on several occasions already. Therefore he did not share Doubar´s scepticism to that exent - but then again Doubar had been less lucky in that respect anyways.
He instantly ducked when the thing exploded, sending sprays of water into the air that, even though it was far enough away, partly rained down on the deck and he could tell that several others on board were doing the same. When he straightened up again, the waves calmed once more and he turned to glance at Firouz who had been beaming like a little kid all the time. "That was... impressive. Good job there, Firouz." he said.
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Post by firouz on Feb 19, 2009 7:48:51 GMT -5
Firouz smiled at his captain's approval and could not be happier. "I think I will go down and make some more just in case we need them when we land." He turned around and quickly went below, so happy about the success of his demonstration. Bryn followed him just in case he needed her help. She did not say anything, but she had partially eased the effects of the explosion down below.
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Post by Doubar on Feb 20, 2009 15:15:13 GMT -5
When the stick exploded with a loud bang that shook everyone to their bones even in the distance they were from it, Doubar unvoluntarily winced. The enormous power the improved sticks held was all too obvious and Doubar couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of both - admiration and fear about what the curly man had invented. "This has been ..." Doubar even didn't know what to call this. The only time he had ever seen something like that before had been when DimDim had thrown one his own fireballs. Firouz, however, didn't seem to be all too impressed by what he had made. Smiling like a kid that was allowed to go out and play he ran downstairs, babbling something about making more of those thingies and before any other word had been spoken, the younger man had already been gone again, leaving an astounded first mate and his little brother stand behind.
Still being affected by what he saw only moments before, Doubar slowly turned back to his captain again. "One day he's for sure gonna sink this ship", he breathed while resting his right hand on the handle of his scimitar and letting his gaze wander to where the stick had exploded.
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 21, 2009 5:06:48 GMT -5
Sometimes, when you unconsciously try to push something back into your mind and away from your attention for the one or other reason, it will not allow you to be pushed back and be forced to forgotten. Sinbad had been thoughtful earlier and this had turned into uneasiness while talking to Bryn only to fade into a sort of merry mood that seemed flawless and natural even to himself but that was shallow and just on the surface in reality. He was distracting himself to not think about what Bryn had wanted to know ealier, because it had always been easiest this way – or so he thought. Less pain, less questions of what if. But sometimes, this sort of strategy does not work. Sometimes thoughts will find their way back out again without the speaker even noticing.
He chuckled lightly, tossing a glance at his brother. “As long as it doesn´t go off onboard the ship we´ll survive.” He said. “We´ve survived a lot of explosions he made and fireballs on deck after all.” It was out before he even noticed, his words making a connection between the potential but controlled danger of Firouz´ exploding sticks and that one time where Maeve had been practising her fire balls and smoldered the ship in the attempt when it backfired. His voice sounded perfectly normal and the words came with the same smile as what he had said before since he only noticed what he had said after his words were out. And when he noticed it made him scowl at himself – and once more, he was trying to hide that when his eyes turned a shade more serious.
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Post by Doubar on Feb 21, 2009 5:40:54 GMT -5
Doubar's gaze was still lingering on that undifined spot in the distance when his brother's words reached his ears. He didn't even bother to concentrade on them too much as the younger man's voice was all so light and without any trace of sorrow. And he answered before even really realizing just what theme it was the brothers were now taking up.
"Aye, she had almost rosted us back then", he half-giggled before the words he had incautiously spoken really sank in.
All of a sudden Doubar felt his senses sharpen and the smile that had started to spread on his face died in an instant.
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 21, 2009 6:00:04 GMT -5
Sinbad noticed his brother´s reaction, the slight tension coming up, the fading smile, and wondered why he reacted like this. He came to the conclusion that it was his own fault. He had not talked about Maeve ever since they had been unable to find her or if he had, mentioning her had been in passing and few between. His crew had taken it the way it was and known that it was not because of a lack in interest or because he was feeling indifferent about her – and his friends and his brother knew best. They had started to tiptoe around the topic just as if they were scared of mentioning her because they were not comfortable with the reaction their captain might show towards the matter. And so, the topic had been avoided. And Doubar´s reaction showed just this.
Sinbad kept silent for a moment. There were rarely any moments when a silence between him and his older brother would become uncomfortable, but this one was on the brink of being so. He placed his hands on the railing, his gaze seemingly fixed on some random waves in a distance, but not really seeing any water at all. More than anything, he hoped that Maeve was all right … and again, he was lying to himself because more than anything he wished that what had happened a year ago had never happened at all. Where was she now? Was she still safe? If Dim Dim had easily been able to get into contact with them, why couldn’t she? Because she couldn´t? Because she didn´t care? He did not allow the last thought to sink in, also because he was rather positive that this was not the case.
“I think I managed to get Bryn mad at me ealier.” he said with half a smirk that did not reach his eyes. For an unaware observer, Doubar´s words and the captains had nothing in common, but Sinbad knew his brother would make the connection. He had been watching them earlier and his own facial expressions and body language had probably spoken a clear enough language. His words were many things, but above all they meant that he was more or less admitting they had been talking about Maeve … and also, that he had felt uncomfortable because of this.
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Post by Doubar on Feb 21, 2009 7:55:12 GMT -5
For only a second Doubar felt the slight tension the falling silence between him and his brother brought along and it made him feel uncomfortable somehow. By Sinbad's reaction he was able to tell that the younger man must have noticed his sudden uneasiness and drifted off into thinking on that account. If Doubar would have been alone he would have scolded himself now for being that obvious but since he wasn't he simply waited for the younger one to response.
The answer he got, however, was not what he had expected but still it revealed his brother's thoughts to him.
He knew that most on deck the Nomad avoided mentioning the Celtic sorceress at all costs and right now for the first time he had shown that even he, his own brother, did so. Bryn was the only one who dared to break this unspoken law and with that was maybe way more courageous than any other up here - the captain's brother himself included - ever had been.
A silent sigh escpaped Doubar's lips as this for the first time really became clear to him.
Feeling his shoulders sink a little he turned back towards his brother again, letting seriousness being shown in his words when he then spoke. "She only tried to help", he said half-apologetically - indirectly acknowledging with it that he already knew what the issue in their talk had been, "But you know her, she's a kind-hearted one. She won't mind it." It was the truth. He thought of Bryn being someone to forgive quite easily and even if he assumed Sinbad being right about thinking she got mad at him earlier, he knew she wouldn't stay in this mood for long.
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 21, 2009 9:23:45 GMT -5
Sinbad did not tear his gaze away from the sea - an unconscious way of self protection to keep up the illusion of Sinbad the captain who always was in control of things. His eyes told a different story and this was why he did not look at Doubar, to not make things obvious. The meeting with Scratch had torn open an old wound and had added a new one: self doubt. On the other hand though he thought sarcastically, he almost had to feel greatful because what had happened had made him realise he had been on a dangerous path. Coming back to his senses had been quick, but letting the realisation sink in was way more painful.
His smirk became a little more evident. "I know." he said, referring to everything his brother had said. Bryn was a friend who cared for those around her. She had been so careful around him earlier that it made him think of himself and how he had dealt with the topic for a year. Badly. And also, he knew that Bryn would very likely not pout in the long run but rather stay calm about it. Which again was something that made him think. She was different from Maeve. Maeve would have snapped at him, glared at him, her temper flaring but calming again quickly. She had spoken up to him. Contradicted him.... Something no one had done in a year. He couldn´t blame them for it, it was his own fault that his crew tiptoed around any conflict in connection with this. But right now he realised something: Maeve had been there to set his head right.She had become his balance and when this balance had been taken from him, he had started to fail. Now he had realised he had to find his own balance again and this was what he had tried to do in the last couple of days.
"Do you think I changed, Doubar?" he asked, coming to a conclusion in thoughts. It was a very personal and very blunt question, one he would only ask someone very close to him, possibly no one else but Doubar who knew him best anyways.
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Post by Doubar on Feb 22, 2009 8:54:24 GMT -5
Doubar listened carefully to what his younger brother said and he did not miss the pause he made before asking what Doubar had never expected him to ask.
Did he change?
Doubar stayed silent for a moment, slowly realizing the reach of this question. It betrayed everything that went on in the captain's mind, betrayed the doubts he had and it told just which old wounds the encounter with the devil had opened.
"You have, Sinbad", he finally truthfully replied what Sinbad had asked him about. While speaking those words Doubar had turned around a little, allowing his gaze to take the same unknown route his brother's was already following.
"Twice."
The first mate did not say anything more. He just leant against the reeling, staring out to the sea and waiting for what his brother would do. He would answer him if the younger man wanted to know, but he would also leave it to this if he wished. Doubar was quite sure his little brother had already come to a similar conclusion anyways so he decided to leave it up to him whether to confirm his own thinking or not.
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 22, 2009 10:55:32 GMT -5
The answer was short. A sign for Sinbad to know that he could get a longer version, but would not be bothered with it if he chose not to ask. And he was not sure if he was ready to be confronted with something he was only beginning to realise himself. That he had almost turned into someone he had never wanted to become. And also: that everyone but him had seemingly noticed to some extent but no one had addressed it.
He nodded shortly, in silent acknowledgement, letting the words sink in. He could always tell when Doubar was serious and this time he was. He would not address him with “Sinbad” but would have called him “little brother” had he meant this in any sort of a joking tone.
“I hope the second change will be for the better.” He said after a moment, his eyes still on the waves. “And I am sorry for the first.”
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Post by Doubar on Feb 25, 2009 7:58:11 GMT -5
"You don't have to." Doubar spoke those words even before he had really thought about them. He tilted his head a little, trying to catch his brother's gaze.
"No one ever blamed you, Sinbad. And no one will." Then, a slight smile formed on the sea-farers face as he reassuringly laid his right hand on the younger man's shoulders.
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Post by Sinbad on Feb 25, 2009 13:49:42 GMT -5
For a moment, a scowl entered Sinbad features when he considered his brother´s words. Doubar was right. But maybe they should have ...Whether from respect towards himself as a friend, brother or captain or because they had been scared of his reaction or scared they might make things worse for him, no one had ever said anything. He turned his had, studying he other man´s features for a moment. "You´ve been looking after me my whole life, big brother." he said, no smile on his face, but his features not irritated either. "but you can´t keep everything away from me. If I ever change again, please tell me."
The fact that it was just the two of them, standing here alone and out of earshot of the rest of the crew was probably the main reason why he said this. Sinbad had never been too intent on insisting on his authority as a captain, he had always seen this task as something that bound him to his crew as their friend and partly their protector never someone who insisted on power and on getting his way. He was not sure any longer though if he had followed that rule too well during the last year. What he said was another step towards dealing with things on his own level. It wasn´t something he would share with everybody, but Doubar he knew best and the same went vice versa.
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