“Alright,” Serge responded cooly. He ignored all her flirting and rashness. He wasn’t particularly attracted to Argonians firstly, unlike Sarel. Also, he felt it a major fowl to bed the captain. Serge placed his newly manicured fingers on the bridge of his nose and thought for a moment. “I’ll relay the information regarding the plans to find a ship to Sarel only, you can tell the other officers when you reach the deck. I’ll warn everyone to stand by and remain aboard until you settle the affairs with the officer. That means you too, darling.” Serge ended his little explanation by referring to Noelle. He pointed his finger at her and grinned playfully. He quickly lifted himself from the table and headed toward the door. “You never said a Quartermaster would have to walk this much.” He said as he left the room. 

“Let me ask you, sera, how are the authorities on the Roost? How do they take to this stuff I’m smoking now?” Sarel said as he blew the blue smoke into the air. It’s sweet pungency wafting into the air. 

“Hmm, Balmora Blue, no? That’s quite fine. I’m not a herbologist, but my father did run a headshop in the market back when I was a kit. I believe Balmora is a Dunmeri tobacco hybrid product, no? And who doesn’t appreciate tobacco?” The Dominion Cat was smooth, intelligent. He impressed Sarel with his knowledge and worldliness. 

“True,” Sarel began responding, “but, as you said, it is a hybrid. I don’t know what you call it, but my people call it [i]Herba Verdi[/i].”

“Ah, yes, [i]Cannabi[/i]. We know it, we allow it, we use it. Only in the Valenwood would you have a problem.” The Khajiit responded, he sipped from the flask, what was probably the fifth time since they descended the ramp. Sarel noticed Serge walking down it toward the docks after speaking with the crew, he seemed to be delivering a message. 

“Well that would answer your earlier question I suppose.” Sarel responded, then he looked to Malakaus. “What do the Orcs call it, Malakaus?” Sarel asked just as Serge walked up. 

“Sorry to interrupt. The Captain said it should be fine, she’ll be down in a moment to pay the fee. Everyone is on standby.” Serge spoke quickly but fluently and clearly. His accent allowed for deep vowel noises and delicate consonants, driving his words home. “And, Sarel,” He added lowly, “I’ll need to speak with you. And you as well, Malakaus.”

The small group excused themselves and moved aboard with the rest of the crew who were either finishing up the docking procedure or attending to their cardinal needs. “The Captain said she’d like us to look out for a skooma smuggling boat to raid offshore. That seems reasonable enough to me. But, boys, what’s the sense of limiting ourselves to that. I say, if we hear of anything else, anything smaller that can be handled by only us three, I say that we bear some responsibility of pursuing that opportunity independently. We are pirates after all, why not act like it? And besides, it’s our free time. Sharee doesn’t own our free time.” Serge used that accent, that voice, and he spoke quietly, in a whisper. Sharee was not above deck yet so he didn’t fear her hearing him. 

Sarel puffed away on his pipe, he looked incredulous. “It sounds like you’re rationalizing, Serge. You know that if we do this it would be an offense to the captain.” He spoke in a whisper as well, his voice was more coarse, however, like grains of sand against a wooden board. “However, while we’re already on the lookout, if an opportunity presents itself, as it tends to on Nirn, and in the fashion you describe, I suppose we would be foolish to ignore it.” Sarel mused over his pipe. 

“You suppose right, friend. And, by the Divine, I’m not suggesting something you wouldn’t do out of sheer serendipity! Only that we agree to stick together, a Brotherhood.” Serge smiled boyishly. 

When Sarel heard the word brotherhood he was struck with a sudden sense of familiarity. A melancholy like no other, one which spans a lifetime and many more and which was like a drug to the Dunmer. “And who says we can’t bring the captain along?” Sarel added, motivated by the momentum of Serge’s acclaim. 

“Well, hold on, I do. She can’t know about it.” Serge demanded, he was suddenly very serious. 

Sarel peered straightly into Serge’s eyes, concentrating. He puffed and puffed and puffed. “I don’t know how I feel about that.” He finally said. 

“I knew it,” Serge started, he sounded hurt, “I knew you shouldn’t have had sex with her.” 

Sarel nearly choked when his friend brought it up. “Shut up! You weren’t even here when that happened. So, damn you for that.”

“I’m sorry, I spoke out of anger.” Serge admitted. 

“Clearly.” Sarel opined relentlessly. “What do you think of this Malakaus?”

“Yes, let’s hear your thoughts, friend, but let’s speak briefly on it. Sharee should be here any moment,” Serge warned silently.