Peek: Passing Ships

Warnd tries to keep his focus on his work, rather than the new hauler in the shipyard. He can hear Lem chuckle and scratch another shallow notch where it'll never be seen, so he knows he's not being nearly as subtle as he thinks he is. He glances up from his work setting the deck planks above the bilge and meets his friend's eyes, and the changeling only grins wider.

"You should talk to her."

"What would I even say? 'How's it like not being a slave?' I doubt that'd make a good first impression."

Lem barks a laugh at that and shakes his head. "Definitely not that! If it were at the tavern, I'd say to compliment her seafoam scales or ivory horns maybe. I dunno what kobolds like hearing."

Warnd sighs and returns his focus to his work. "Neither do I." He's glad Lem shuts up after that, letting him focus on joining the planks instead of how many notches that board is earning. He should have known the changeling was plotting something.

"Hey Marle! Can you drop that load over here? We're just about empty!" The elf looks at his friend, who gives an innocent smile like he didn't just betray him.

"Deck planks, yeah? Gimme a sec!" he hears from far behind him, and he knows he won't have much time before she gets here. He hisses a whisper at his bud.

"What are you doing?!"

"Saving this plank from getting sawed in half from notches. Just talk to her normal."

"I'm throwing you into the spider lair the next delve, Lem!"

"Sounds fun."

Warnd grinds his teeth as he hears Marle behind him, and turns to try to give her a genuine smile. It's a lot easier to be genuine with her there, even if she's hidden behind the large flat of planks she's carrying over her head. "Where do you want it?"

"Oh, uh... here, let me clear the last couple off the flat, and you can put them there?" He scrambles and grabs the armload of lumber from where they were delivered and sets them on the deck, clearing the way for Marle.

"Can you pick that flat up? I'd rather take the empty one back than stack this on top of it."

"Right! Let me just..." he levers it up with a foot before holding it up, giving the lady kobold plenty of room to relieve herself of her burden. Despite how heavy the load is, she sets it down gently. Warnd tries not to stare at her, and soon Lem rescues him with a low impressed whistle.

"How much does a flat weigh, Marle? You handle it like it's empty!"

"It's no problem with my class. I have, uh... a lot of experience with it."

Lem winces and Warnd glares at him before the changeling tries to salvage his misstep. "Have you thought of trying to change it?"

She glances around a few times before forcing herself to calm down and answer. "Sometimes, but I wouldn't know how to do it. And... I don't mind it as much here."

The other two consider that, neither knowing much about class changing either. "Craftsmen advance automatically, pretty much. I started as an apprentice, then journeyman shipwright. I'll become a full shipwright some day, maybe even a master."

"Same, but as a carpenter," adds Lem.

"Haulers don't have a simple advancement like that," Marle sighs and looks away, missing Lem lob a hammer at Warnd's back. He glares at his friend, who mouths 'delve' at him. His eyes widen at the idea and he turns back to Marle before she can turn her eyes back and see the two communicating.

"Have you tried delving?"

She snorts at that idea. "I'm not exactly in a hurry to go back into a dungeon, even after all that one's done."

"He's not bad, and delving is... actually pretty fun. Lem and I delve on the weekends sometimes, if you'd like to join us?"

The kobold doesn't look too convinced as she folds her arms, but she's not rejecting the idea out of hand just yet, so Warnd presses forward. "There's a lot of skills that can help with delving, too. I bet you could walk around in the heaviest armor the shop has, and swing around a weapon bigger than me."

Marle's unhappy demeanor cracks as she giggles at that image. "Probably. I don't know if delving is really for me, though..."

Warnd nods at that. "Trust me, I know how you feel. I was terrified when Lem suggested it to me the first time."

"Hey, don't go keelhauling me for this!"

"But it really is fun, and a good way to get experience."

"I've heard the rumors of him not having any dead delvers, but... he's still a dungeon, and those are rumors..."

"I've talked to adventurers and even the dungeoneers, and they both say he hasn't had a single kill," encourages Warnd. Marle is looking quite tempted now, and looks from one to the other before replying.

"So... do you two experts have room for a third?"

Lem snorts. "The only thing the two of us are experts at is shipwork."

Warnd nods at his assessment. "We're definitely still new to delving, too. We can even help you get some basic gear, if you want? I dunno how much you have saved up, but it can be a bit expensive to get started." Marle's face falls at that, and he quickly continues. "Adventuring pays it back quickly though, don't worry!"

The kobold brightens some, but looks uncertain once more. "Are you sure? I get paid enough to live, but I don't have much in the way of savings right now."

Warnd waves off her concern. "If you want to try it, sure! Parval is pretty good about taking returns if they're still in good shape."

"Parval?"

The elf nods. "The outfitter Lem and I go to. He doesn't sell the expensive enchanted equipment that dedicated adventurers will want, but he'd a great place for beginners like us."

Marle seems pretty interested and soon nods to herself as he decides. "Then when can we get started?"

"Do you have any plans after work?"

"Not really."

"Then you two should grab dinner and go shopping," interjects Lem, and Marle nods.

"That sounds good to me! I'll see you after work then, Warnd!" She holds out her hand to him, and it takes him a few seconds to realize she wants the flat he still has. He hands it over with a nervous smile.

"Yeah, see you then?"

She nods and heads off, and he turns back to look at Lem. The changeling's grin slowly grows and grows before he finally speaks up. "If you need any extra cash for your date, let me know. I don't mind her thinking she only owes you, instead of the both of us."

Warnd sputters and tries to think of something to say to that, but it'd be like complaining about smooth seas and strong winds! Instead, he throws up his hands and returns to work, fitting the deck together. He can still feel his friend's grin as he works, but at least he's not adding any more notches to that board.