(no subject)

[curries]

Okay. You got me.

So if it's not some kind of monster, then what is a "scal-ee-wag" anyway? And this better be good!

Comments

[lucentpalisade]

Is it a kind of dog?

[curries]

No, that can't be it... It sounds too weird to be a dog. It's probably some type of super-powered cryas arte or something they use at the knight academy.

But nice try, Sophie!

[Don't be fooled. He still doesn't know the answer himself. Gee, mun, sometime today?]

[lucentpalisade]

But it might be a scaly dog.

...

Asbel, are there scaly dogs?

[ Hrmmm. It -could- be a cryas arte! She's willing to believe Asbel knows better than her - he knows everything after all! He could say it was a delicious flavor of ice cream and she'd believe him. ]

[curries]

[Asbel laughs a little at this - but it's all in fun.]

Well, I've sure never seen one, have you? All the dogs I know are covered in fur, not scales.

[Or maybe it's something even better than a cryas arte! Either way, the suspense is killing him, but it doesn't look like the mun's ready to tell yet.]

[lucentpalisade]

No, I haven't.

What kind of a cryas arte do you think it will be?

[ Gasp! Maybe you GROW scales! ]

[curries]

Right. And I'll bet you've never seen a hairy lizard, either!

[Oh. Um. Good question, Sophie! Asbel scrunches up his face, arms crossed in DEEP THOUGHT.] Hmmm... Now let me think...

[Scal-ee-wag...]

[Scal-ee-wag...]

[Scale... Wag...?]

Hey, I know! I'll bet it turns an enemy's legs into a fish tail so they can't move around easily on land. Or you could use it on yourself and swim to safety. It'd be a great escape tactic! Don't you think so?

[lucentpalisade]

[ YEAH! She knew he'd know the answer! ]

Yes!

[ Gosh it'd look funny with a man that was half fish. She can't imagine Asbel with fishy parts, actually. ]

Are you learning how to do it? Will you show me?

[princepetit]

Perhaps the pronunciation is different. It may be 'scale' for a kind of reptile.

[He hasn't gotten to pirate comic books yet.]

[curries]

Hey, Richard! I thought you'd gone back to the capital already.

[Not that he's complaining. Actually, this is great! It means they can hang out some more without his dad getting in the way.]

So, "scale-a-wag" maybe?

Man, if they were going to make it so hard to say, they should have just shortened it to "swag" or something.

[They should have just asked Hubert. He'd know.]

[princepetit]

This isn't exactly Lhant either, Asbel.

[He's more amused than anything. Asbel's enthusiasm just makes him happy. ....He may or may not definitely be having thoughts along the lines of HANGING OUT TIME as well.]

A swag wouldn't have a clear meaning at all. It sounds more like how children talk about things before they learn the names for them.

[He says in all of his wisdom of twelve years, as if this entire discussion is not about them not knowing the name for something.]

[curries]

Yeah, I know. It's better!

[He's not grounded, he can go explore wherever he wants, he gets to see all his friends. Definitely not complaining.]

Does it really have to? There are plenty of words out there that don't make any sense at all. Like... [um.] like highroad! It gives people the wrong idea, you know? Since it's not high at all.

[...Wait. Richard did you just call him a child? It sure sounded an awful lot like it. Almost.]

... [Okay, have the look. B|]

[princepetit]

[today in Richard pretending to know things he doesn't] That one makes sense because the highroads are the more important roads, so they're higher in the hierarchy of roads. [IT'S LEGIT

wait Asbel's giving him a look. What did he do? D:] What is it?

[curries]

...Oh. [Well it sounds right.]

Then how about something like "treaty" or "dogwood"? [He's pretty sure there was some kind of a plant like that in Hubert's books once.]

[Asbel's still giving him a look, but he's not actually mad. At least not mad-mad.]

And I think you just compared me to a child. [He's eleven, you know. He's not a little kid anymore.]

[princepetit]

Hm... [Let him think about this. One of these is actually his vocabulary.] A treaty is like that because you treat with people. It's the same with treatises, too. It's a matter of discussion. I'm not very familiar with dogwood. [He admits this to Asbel mostly because admitting he isn't sure of things is okay with friends. Right?] It's at least a type of plant, though, isn't it?

[It's good Asbel isn't mad, but. Er.] That wasn't my intention.

[But you are a child, Asbel.]

[calamityrondo]

A scallawag is a dangerous creature of the seas, said to roam the brigs of pirate ships and other ocean liners. They bring misfortune wherever they go and can even cause ships to sink, that's why you'll hear some folks say things like "why, you dastardly scallawag!"

To keep them away, you have to keep a healthy amount of sea bream porridge with you at all times.

[ The things you say with a straight face, Malik. ]

[curries]

[Malik sounds so sure about it all that Asbel-- totally buys into it. Even though his own mun's already told him it wasn't a monster at all.]

Whoa, they can take out entire ships all by themselves?! Just by being onboard? It almost sounds like they're cursed or something...

[His nose wrinkles at the sea bream porridge bit. Ew. It must taste terrible. He'll stick to curry, thanks.]

What's so special about the sea bream porridge, though? Are scaleewags allergic to the stuff? [He still isn't pronouncing it right. Oops.]

[calamityrondo]

[ Shhh, Malik knows all. ]

They are very, very large. And can shapeshift! So you have to be careful. But they're not common, so you shouldn't worry too much.

[ Here comes a ridiculous explanation. He's just gonna keep going... ]

Sea bream are the natural enemies of scallawags. Sometimes ships will enlist special sea bream wranglers who can corral the fish alongside a boat to keep it safe. These people are trained professionals though, and are very expensive to hire, so for a cheaper alternative, simply carrying lots of sea bream porridge will keep a crew safe.

Of course, that's as long as it's just one scallawag. If there's several, well...

[curries]

[Captain plz.]

[Asbel's pretty caught up in Malik's tall tale by now, leaning forward, wide-eyed.]

Big... Shape-shifting... [Maybe he should be a little worried. But he's not. Not too much. ...Ha! He could totally defeat a scaleewag if one ever showed up! Probably.]

And they live in the ocean, right? Then there's no way one could ever make it to land and survive!

[Unless...it shape-shifted? Huh. Maybe he should keep some sea bream handy, just in case. He wouldn't want Hubert or Cheria to get scared or anything...]

Uh. So what happens if there're more than one?

[calamityrondo]

As long as they're in their usual form, you've nothing to fear. They can shape-sift however, so it might be best to stay on your guard.

[ Captain... ]

If there's more than one then you need to bring out something special! Something so vile that even a dozen scallawags couldn't handle it! And that is...!!

[ Dramatic pause!!! ]

[calamityrondo]

Natto.

1/2

[curries]

((Whoever you are, ilu. That's a compliment.))

On my guard. Right! [This guy's obviously pretty strong, and he knows what he's talking about, so Asbel should listen up. Even though there aren't any sea monsters around, he straightens, hands fisted, and tries to look confident and tough. It's not very effective...]

[He waits, eyes locked on Malik's face for the key to defeating a dozen scaleewags at once. If he can master it, he could probably handle just about anything!]

2/2

[curries]

...!!

[Oh man, it's even worse than he imagined! Asbel stumbles backwards from the force of Malik's words. None of the substance even needs to be present for Asbel to grasp what a SERIOUS AND DEADLY WEAPON it is.]

N-nooo! N-not...natto!!

That stuff is lethal! If you use it, what'll happen to everyone else?!

[They'll all die - the scaleewags and the crew, too!]

[calamityrondo]

[ I aim to please. :'D ]

I know, I know. It's very dangerous. I've seen it take out scallawags and crews alike-- the casualties are always numerous. [ Sighing. Ah yes, the price to pay for safety. Gross, fermented soybeans. ]

That's why you must only use it as a last resort. Why, the stench alone is strong enough to hold back five or six scallawags. As long as you've got natto, you have nothing to fear.

[ Malik, you're getting a little carried away... ]

...Except natto, of course.

[ailing]

It's scallywag, Asbel. [ Get with it, Asbel! You should know at least this much!

...Okay, maybe not. ]

<3

[curries]

Scallywag, scaleewag... They both practically sound the same anyway!

[Asbel's totally with it. If "with it" means getting into trouble all the time. He really should know this word, though, considering he is one.]