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tamingthemuseTitle: Questions
Fandom: None, original
Prompt: 99 – Clamp
Word Count: 988
Warnings: None
Rating: G
Summary: A man embarks on a quest that will land him the ultimate prize: love. Continued from the previous week.
Author’s Notes: Thanks to Mr. Floo! For reading this, offering criticism and praise, and encouraging me.
Previous parts: One --- Two
Derrick made his way through the ship toward the bridge. Like most underwater vessels, the bridge contained a few tactical stations. Navigation, engineering, communications, and defense sat at four corners around a master control panel and captain’s chair.
Trout was leaning over the communications station when Derrick entered, and he looked up at the sound of the door.
“Koston. Good.” He stood tall and crossed the small, cramped space. “We need to discuss a few details. Follow me.”
Derrick nodded and was led into a side room off the bridge. Trout shut the door and went to a table where various papers, maps, and what looked like blueprints were scattered.
“Well be arriving at Oceana II soon, as you know,” Trout began. “Once we dock, I don’t want to spend more than forty-eight hours gathering supplies and preparing the ship. I’m forming three teams to go into the city, each with a different list.” He paused, leaning on the table. “I want you to lead one of those teams.”
Derrick was surprised at the request, but kept his expression impassive. “Why me?”
Trout looked him up and down. “Don’t ask me to explain it, but I trust you. Odd, considering you’re a mage, and people like me generally mistrust people like you. However, I’ve always had a good sense about those I meet, though naturally, I’ve been wrong. I knew right away you’d be perfect for this mission. What do you say?”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll lead a team. What supplies will we be collecting?” Though Derrick knew he would never betray the mission or its captain, he also knew that Trout had looked into his past. It wasn’t spotless, a fact which made most potential employers turn elsewhere.
“Mechanical in nature,” Trout said. “Spare parts for the ship and the shuttles. Nuts, bolts, clamps, wires … That sort of thing. I’ll give you a list when the time comes.”
Derrick nodded. “Sure thing.”
Trout shifted his weight and crossed his arms, now giving Derrick a scrutinizing stare. “I would like to ask about your intentions for this mission. I know there’s the chance for a generous payoff, but it’s also extremely dangerous. Why are you doing this? And I don’t want that blanket statement you gave me the first time either.”
The first time Trout had asked the question was during the interview process for selecting a mage. Derrick had been one of only two who had applied, and he’d been certain that Trout had chosen him not even ten minutes into the interview, well before this question was asked.
“I told you the truth before,” Derrick explained. “Part of it, anyway. As I said before, I’m doing this for the renown that will come from finding the lost city. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, to be part of such a historic mission.” That was where his answer had effectively ended before.
“And the rest of the truth?” Trout pressed.
“Why it is important for you to know, sir?” Derrick asked, well aware that he risked angering the one man who hadn’t shunned him or seemed threatened by him.
“I’ve been doing this a long time, Koston,” Trout began. “Treasure hunting attracts all kinds. I have found that understanding what motivates people helps me ensure that the job gets done.”
He sighed. “About twelve years ago, before I asked this kind of question, I took a crew out in search of sunken pirate ships in the Indian Sea. All the men had agreed that the treasure was to be handed out evenly. However, there was one man who needed the gold to pay off a life debt so large he could never be expected to pay it. This man would stop at nothing to achieve success, and three of my own men were killed as a result.”
Trout clenched his jaw, anger flashing in his eyes. “Since then, I like to know exactly what lies behind every man’s request to work with me.”
“Why did you hire me, if you suspected there was more to my story?” Derrick asked.
“As I said, I had a good feeling about you, and needed to set out as soon as possible. I knew I could always get the full answer at a later date.”
Derrick ran a hand through his dark brown hair, letting his fringe fall in front of his eyes. “I need the money to secure the hand of a woman.”
Trout gaped, then laughed heartily. “Should’ve known,” he said. “Should have known. A man such as yourself, strong, capable, stable, would only go on such an adventure for a woman. Why do you need this much money?”
“Her father demands it,” he replied simply.
Trout nodded. “Is that all? What happens if the mission fails and you end up with nothing?”
“Then I don’t get the girl,” Derrick said, ignoring the stab of pain at the thought. “This is a long shot at best. If we’re unsuccessful, there are other ventures I might try, though, admittedly, they’re far more risky.”
“You love this woman?” asked Trout.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
Derrick sucked in a breath. The captain wasn’t merely asking him to quantify his affections; he wanted to know to what lengths Derrick would go to get the money. “Enough to do what it takes to see this mission through. Not so much that I would compromise my humanity, however. I would never be able to look at her with an honest heart again.”
“Good,” said Trout. “That’s what I suspected. Let’s hope it holds true.”
“It will,” Derrick assured him.
Trout grinned widely and clapped him on the back. “I’ll call for you when the time comes.”
Derrick left the room, crossed through the bridge, and practically ran to his room. He had a few minutes before he was required for duty in the engine room, and he hoped to spend them in quiet thought.
Fandom: None, original
Prompt: 99 – Clamp
Word Count: 988
Warnings: None
Rating: G
Summary: A man embarks on a quest that will land him the ultimate prize: love. Continued from the previous week.
Author’s Notes: Thanks to Mr. Floo! For reading this, offering criticism and praise, and encouraging me.
Previous parts: One --- Two
Derrick made his way through the ship toward the bridge. Like most underwater vessels, the bridge contained a few tactical stations. Navigation, engineering, communications, and defense sat at four corners around a master control panel and captain’s chair.
Trout was leaning over the communications station when Derrick entered, and he looked up at the sound of the door.
“Koston. Good.” He stood tall and crossed the small, cramped space. “We need to discuss a few details. Follow me.”
Derrick nodded and was led into a side room off the bridge. Trout shut the door and went to a table where various papers, maps, and what looked like blueprints were scattered.
“Well be arriving at Oceana II soon, as you know,” Trout began. “Once we dock, I don’t want to spend more than forty-eight hours gathering supplies and preparing the ship. I’m forming three teams to go into the city, each with a different list.” He paused, leaning on the table. “I want you to lead one of those teams.”
Derrick was surprised at the request, but kept his expression impassive. “Why me?”
Trout looked him up and down. “Don’t ask me to explain it, but I trust you. Odd, considering you’re a mage, and people like me generally mistrust people like you. However, I’ve always had a good sense about those I meet, though naturally, I’ve been wrong. I knew right away you’d be perfect for this mission. What do you say?”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll lead a team. What supplies will we be collecting?” Though Derrick knew he would never betray the mission or its captain, he also knew that Trout had looked into his past. It wasn’t spotless, a fact which made most potential employers turn elsewhere.
“Mechanical in nature,” Trout said. “Spare parts for the ship and the shuttles. Nuts, bolts, clamps, wires … That sort of thing. I’ll give you a list when the time comes.”
Derrick nodded. “Sure thing.”
Trout shifted his weight and crossed his arms, now giving Derrick a scrutinizing stare. “I would like to ask about your intentions for this mission. I know there’s the chance for a generous payoff, but it’s also extremely dangerous. Why are you doing this? And I don’t want that blanket statement you gave me the first time either.”
The first time Trout had asked the question was during the interview process for selecting a mage. Derrick had been one of only two who had applied, and he’d been certain that Trout had chosen him not even ten minutes into the interview, well before this question was asked.
“I told you the truth before,” Derrick explained. “Part of it, anyway. As I said before, I’m doing this for the renown that will come from finding the lost city. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, to be part of such a historic mission.” That was where his answer had effectively ended before.
“And the rest of the truth?” Trout pressed.
“Why it is important for you to know, sir?” Derrick asked, well aware that he risked angering the one man who hadn’t shunned him or seemed threatened by him.
“I’ve been doing this a long time, Koston,” Trout began. “Treasure hunting attracts all kinds. I have found that understanding what motivates people helps me ensure that the job gets done.”
He sighed. “About twelve years ago, before I asked this kind of question, I took a crew out in search of sunken pirate ships in the Indian Sea. All the men had agreed that the treasure was to be handed out evenly. However, there was one man who needed the gold to pay off a life debt so large he could never be expected to pay it. This man would stop at nothing to achieve success, and three of my own men were killed as a result.”
Trout clenched his jaw, anger flashing in his eyes. “Since then, I like to know exactly what lies behind every man’s request to work with me.”
“Why did you hire me, if you suspected there was more to my story?” Derrick asked.
“As I said, I had a good feeling about you, and needed to set out as soon as possible. I knew I could always get the full answer at a later date.”
Derrick ran a hand through his dark brown hair, letting his fringe fall in front of his eyes. “I need the money to secure the hand of a woman.”
Trout gaped, then laughed heartily. “Should’ve known,” he said. “Should have known. A man such as yourself, strong, capable, stable, would only go on such an adventure for a woman. Why do you need this much money?”
“Her father demands it,” he replied simply.
Trout nodded. “Is that all? What happens if the mission fails and you end up with nothing?”
“Then I don’t get the girl,” Derrick said, ignoring the stab of pain at the thought. “This is a long shot at best. If we’re unsuccessful, there are other ventures I might try, though, admittedly, they’re far more risky.”
“You love this woman?” asked Trout.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
Derrick sucked in a breath. The captain wasn’t merely asking him to quantify his affections; he wanted to know to what lengths Derrick would go to get the money. “Enough to do what it takes to see this mission through. Not so much that I would compromise my humanity, however. I would never be able to look at her with an honest heart again.”
“Good,” said Trout. “That’s what I suspected. Let’s hope it holds true.”
“It will,” Derrick assured him.
Trout grinned widely and clapped him on the back. “I’ll call for you when the time comes.”
Derrick left the room, crossed through the bridge, and practically ran to his room. He had a few minutes before he was required for duty in the engine room, and he hoped to spend them in quiet thought.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-16 08:54 am (UTC)Derrick actually telling the truth, didn't surprise me so much. He is an honest man, after all.
Trout
Date: 2008-06-16 09:12 am (UTC)--- m.floo