Varian held his arms out as Ruddiger helped him slide a white, linen shirt with large puffy sleeves over his bare shoulders. His upper body and torso were toned and well-defined.
He stood in a large, furnished bedroom with a king-sized bed set against the wall in the middle of the room with light, see-through curtains draped around it. The feel of the room was very neat and elegant, and yet simple.
The raccoon hopped onto a small stool near the captain's feet and pulled a square of fabric out of a pocket from the little sash that was tied around his body. He opened the little square to reveal tiny sewing needles that were the perfect size for him. As he threaded his needle, Varian began working on buttoning up the front of his shirt, glancing up at the floor length mirror in front of him to examine himself.
It was then he noticed a tall, blond stranger standing behind him, grinning while looking him up and down.
He sighed. "Why are you in my room, Hugo?"
"I had to speak with you and well, your security isn't the best, so I let myself in. I'm so glad I did. I wouldn't want to miss this."
"What do you want?" As he asked this, Ruddiger hopped onto his shoulder carrying a teel vest that he helped him poke his arms through. The raccoon examined the golden buttons on the front, seeing that one was hanging barely by a single thread.
"I had a complaint about my sleeping conditions."
He sighed. "This again?" Ruddiger loosed the button from his vest, then tied a knot at the end of his threaded needle and began sewing it back on.
"Is he your tailor or something?" Hugo asked, watching as the raccoon carefully fastened the button securely back into place.
"Ruddiger assists me with most of what I do whether it's mending clothes, helping me with my lab work, or handing me a sword to defeat a certain annoying scoundrel such as yourself during battle."
He laughed. "You may have won that fight back then, but you were so distracted I took that pretty sword of yours right from under your nose."
The raccoon tied a knot and bit off the extra string, giving his master a small pat on the chest to signal he was done. "Thanks, Bud," he whispered. Varian buttoned up the vest the rest of the way, turning to face Hugo. "If you're done pestering me, I must order you to leave."
The furry black and grey critter jumped on his shoulder again, patting the top of his arm. Varian extended it out as the raccoon ran down to his wrist, examining a rip on the cuff of the sleeve.
Hugo walked forward, leaning against the nearby bedframe. "I want my own room."
"You may sleep below deck with the rest of the crew as per usual."
He breathed out. "You must understand, I have an image to upkeep."
"You lost that when your ship went down in flames, and you abandoned your crew to join me," he snapped back.
Varian was surprised to see hurt behind the blond captain's eyes. Hugo looked away; his arms folded.
Ruddiger finished mending the torn sleeve and hopped off his arm. Lowering it, Varian took a step closer, hands on his hips. "You're going to fuddle the navigation if I don't get you your own room, is that it?"
Hugo considered him for a moment, then grinned. "You know me too well."
He rolled his eyes. "Fine. If it means getting you out of my room. Ruddiger—yes, that's it." Anticipating his needs, the raccoon held out a pair of black gloves. Varian pulled them over his hands. "There's a guest room that shoulders this one—"
YOU ARE READING
Varian and the Seven Seas
RomanceVarian's father was killed by an infamous pirate named Ruby Scourge. Seeking revenge, Varian forms his own crew to go and look for her but runs into a snag when a young and flirtatious Captain Hugo and his crew intercept his ship, stealing something...
