The Minotaur

"Now bidding!" the Market Master calls above the clamoring crowd as they all gawk and stare at the chained monstrosity before them. A few gasp audibly as goalers hold tight to the thick chains curling about the shaggy beasts neck and hips. Their knuckles are white in expectation at it trying to flee or fight. The Market Master walks around the creature as though it doesn't tower over his head, hands roughly display features here and there. Showing the thickness of its powerful thews and the solid muscle unconsciously ticking along its calves.

"Is it true what I've heard of these creatures?" a sultry voice purrs from the gathering moments before a woman in red leathers pushes to the front. She looked upon the chained beast with a smirk as she turns to address the one in charge. Expectantly she waves a hand for the goalers to pull the creature up onto its hind legs as if she were the one running the show.

"Are you looking to buy it for breeding?" the Market Master asks with an arched brow before waving his hand dismissively. The answer isn't any matter to him but he knew now that this woman had asked, others would squabble similar questions. With a single gesture the goalers jerk on the animal's chains, forcing it from a four-legged position to close to bipedal so potential buyers could see it's underbelly and genitalia.

"My my, it certainly does seem that they do favor their beefy relatives." the crimson haired woman states with a bawdy laugh, making several others join in her crude mirth. "I bid one thousand gold."

The bidding war began with a roar as others rushed to get their hands on the chained up creature who looked at them all with baleful eyes and a single derisive snort from it's cold snout. From person to person it looks as the numbers grow higher. In the back of it's head rests a single thought. Humans, how did I get caught by humans"

Inch by inch it began to shift in order to test the strength of the goalers when a shot rocks the market. All eyes look towards the back where a black bearded man stands with a pistol raised to the heavens, smoke billows from it's duck billed barrel. "Oh good, I have your attention."

The newcomer strides forward brusquely with a cruel smile on his lips, shouldering the red haired woman out of the way as though she were an ant beneath his boot. "five thousand gold." He states with a proud grin.

"That's two thousand under the current bid, idiot." The Market Master growls, making others laugh.

"Whom bid the seven thousand?" the man asks politely.

"I did!" huffs the redhead while brushing herself off from where he almost knocked her over.

Without preamble or comment, the new comer turned on his heel, leveled his pistol, and fired. Her head snaps back hard enough to audibly crack before her body crumples to the floor in a bleeding heap. "Five thousand, and I don't kill the next person to bid on the Minotaur?"

"Sold!"

"What's your name?" the gunman asks with a pleased smile as he addresses the Minotaur.

"Vorshk." the behemoth replies as it is led off the stage to be washed down for the fourth time that day. He could taste the uncomfortable powders they throw at him even before the buckets are in sight.

"Be seeing you shortly, Vorshk. You've a debt to repay me now, and I'll collect in full." Putting his pistol away the gunman throws a jingling bag at the Market Master. "Good doing business with you."

"Where do you want us to deliver it?" the Market Master inquires as he makes notes in his ledger.

"The Wind Lass, pier twelve.? replies the mysterious man as he starts back the way he came.

Miskatonic Collusion

"Whore." Shreeve growls out watching Lash emerge from the Minotaur's pen. His drunken stagger pulls him from the bow in a teetering line aided by the steady pitch of the ship.

"Drunken ass." She smiled darkly as she watched the crewman pitch about. "You cannot even keep your feet under you."

"Leas" I don' bed down wif beasts!" the drunken sailor screeches. "Why suckle up to that great carpet, when ye could have anyfin ye's wants by playin nice wif de cap"n?" Shreeve takes another long gulp from the bottle in his hands before eyeing Lash hungrily, his empty hand disappearing into the front of his pats where it thrashes around between his legs to scratch at an uninvited itch.

"Of course you would think I'm sleeping with him. Probably jealous, because I won't sleep with you or anyone else on this tub." She rolled her eyes. "Besides, there are more crabs on this boat than in the sea." She pointed out wirily.

"There be lessa" that iff"n ye'd just play nice wif da rest of us..." Shreeve begins as he starts to swagger closer to Lash, removing his hand from within the crotch of his pants.

"Leas" ya can do is give us a peek. Ya git on yer knees for the cow" Bet that mouth"o yers feels real sweet.." His words take a sharp edge to them as the drunk comes just outside of arms reach, offering her a lewd grin. Not once does he take his eyes off of her while lifting the near empty bottle to his lips to finish it off.

She lifts her left hand with a sinister smile, "And will you bleed for me, Shreeve?"

"Do wha?" he blinks in sudden confusion feeling a tingling along his well won scars.

"You will be dead before I let you touch me, human." She sneered as more wounds opened and start seeping.

Blood gushes from his decaying mouth as Shreeve tries to gurgle for help. Eyes wide in terror he lunges at her as his emotional state quickly switches to furious outrage. But Lash is nowhere to be found as he topples overboard with hardly a splash as his wounds leave him dead before hitting the water. Leaning against the railing she blows a kiss out to sea with a soft laugh. "Bon voyage, Shreeve.?

Her eyes dart around to make sure none have come above deck to investigate the sound before she slips quietly towards her own quarters just off the galley. The trip carries her past the Captain's quarters where inside she can hear him cursing and breaking bottles in a drunken rage at once more not getting his desires spent at the cost of her own dignity. Lash can't help but smile knowing how much ache the man will have in the morning...but then she knows he'll be at her door bright and early. She would need to make sure she was up earlier than the human. This was going to be a very long night indeed.

Sweet Release The heavy clank of the look gets his attention as dull eyes lift to watch the door, seeing his "master" make a rare grand appearance. Painfully, Vorshk pushes to his feet and waits for the human to speak. Inward he wonders if Lash finally fell, or if she still eludes the Captains bed. He hadn't seen her since that first meeting and it came as mild curiosity.

"It's your lucky day." the Captain grins as two crewmen come through the door and take up positions on either side of the Minotaur. "We're going to take you above deck for a bit of fresh air. Let you loosen up some. Play nice and we might get you some yummy wheat grass."

Vorshk narrows his eyes marginally at the bovine joke, but holds himself together seeing the baiting for what it is. The Captain wants him to try and break free. He wouldn't get the satisfaction. With a grunt, the Minotaur pushes to two feet, his horns brushing the ceiling. "So be it, human."

"Oh look at him trying to act all tough. Remember, Vorshk...with a snap of my fingers you become a gelding." The Captain wags his fingers with a tittering tisk as the men undo Vorshk's restraints and prod him forward.

The first few steps are tenuous from having remained in a single position for so long, but slowly the parade of sailors make it above ship. If Vorshk feels any pain in his muscles, he doesn't make it known. His eyes squint painfully at the glaring sun, but the cool sea air feels great for a handful of moments before reminding him of how long he's gone without water.

She watches from the wheelhouse where she has taken up position. It won't be long before the captain starts gloating and making bad jokes. She glanced to the Minotaur and felt a pang of sympathy for the great creature. The stupid human doesn't even know who he is toying with. The wind has her unbound mane of crimson in it's grasp and it waves like that proverbial red flag.

Teetering on deck, Vorshk looks around through his shuttering eyes to adjust to the hot sun as buckets of water are brought forward and flung at him. The shock makes him sputter, but the following wetness is a relief considering he'd been denied a few accoutrements at the onboard stables. Head to toe he shakes off the water like the animal they think him to be before the captain undoes the bindings upon his wrists. They both know he won't do anything. They're in the middle of the sea, and Vorshk can't sail the ship on his own. Of course, Vorshk knows the Captain doesn't know a great deal about his random purchase.

The Minotaur bends its knees and twists to enjoy the new freedom of movement before seeing a flag of crimson on the breeze and looks up. There's Lash keeping herself away from the others, as he figured was her way depending on their last interaction. Still he wonders what made her choose this ship above others. Wasn't really his business but perhaps she'd tell him the story one day.

There was a slight warming to her gaze as their eyes met. She couldn't be obvious, otherwise more of the crew would have to join Shreeve in the drink. Still a hint of a promise, she would be careful the next time she sought him out.

"All right. That's enough sunshine and roses. Time to work, Vorshk." The Captain bellows before a hatch close to the bow opens up. "Not enough wind today for us to use only the sail. So the boys rigged something special in the oars galley, just for you."

Vorshk narrows his gaze for the second time at the Captain before grudgingly heading for the indicated hatch to see what they had in store for him below deck. He casts one last look at Lash before carefully hobbling his way out of sight.

She scaled the rigging to the crow's nest. It was her station, her sanctuary. She would play the dutiful lookup, even though she wanted to bury a dagger in that fool captain's back.

The Captain murmurs softly to himself looking between Lash and Vorshk before scratching his chin and heading for the steering. "Full Sails. We set sail for Rhy'din!" Reaching into a pocket of his coat he takes out a large bean and flings it ahead of the ship. As it hits the water a swirling portal erupts into the air, the ship sails directly into it.

"Hold on your your tights!" he calls out before they hit the tingling barrier and are gone from sight.

Time spent in the void seems like minutes, but only seconds pass before the ship comes out on the other side into smooth waters and a steady wind. THe crew lurches to from the sudden shift in temporal gravity before bustling into place to keep them from going crazy on the waters. Hand on the steering, the Captain swings the wheel wide to bring the bow of the ship around as he takes out his compass to check their heading.

Her eyes narrow in contemplation as she scans the horizon. Those keen eyes keeping a watch for trouble. It was too easy. She could jump ship here and continue her search. Then she thought of Vorshk. She wouldn't leave him behind. She didn't know why she came to that conclusion, only that it felt right. She sighed softly' so close.

Below deck, Vorshk felt the heave and jolt of the ship. Eyes wild he looks up and around himself. There isn't any smoke and he didn't hear a cannon go off. So what the hell had happened? Shaking it off he goes back to his rowing, setting an even pace, Upside he gets to work off the atrophy from being penned up. But they still hadn't fed him.