Tudor MercWench Smith

As always, there every weekend. This year the booth is between the millinary and the runery, across from the chess board.

The time had passed quickly since Tudor had come ashore, every moment filled with runnig errands. After spending entirely too much time in the jewlers shop then she was comfortable with, she emerged with a set of pearl and amythist necklaces and bracelets that were exquisite, expensive and entirely unremarkable and impossible to differentiate from any other strands of pearls. Jewelry was to easy to use to recognise, and was best kept generic looking in Tudor's opinion. After use at the planned dinner, this set would not be seen for years to come. She then traced her steps back to collect the gowns and undergarments previously purchased at the tailors. After seeing that some personal dispatches were sent out by dependable courriers, she made her way towards the pier, eager to return to the ship.

*sigh* Oh, to be so talented. *sulk* But at least, though he didn't see fit to grant me the intellect to understand the combustion engine, God deigned to grant me a brother that does!!

Hmmm . . . generally I avoid embroiling myself in anything even remotly political (and really I think that is the main drive to this whole global warming thing) But anyway . . . I'll pitch into this cause I am fairly middle of the road, so no one can hate me, too badly. Here's my take. We need to take care of the environment. We have had a very negative effect on the atmosphere. We need to be responisble. But this whole "We are destroying the earth! The world will be lifeless and destroyed in 20 years. Our children won't have parks to play in! Oh no! The ice caps are melting." Bunch of over dramatic, whingy political manuvering. Scare the masses a bit so they back up an agenda. My reasons for this thinking. The pollution in major cities, specifically London. 100 years ago, London's air was highly polluted - some of the worst in the world. Even up until recently, it wasn't great. But with the world becoming more eco friendly, they have started to be concerned with what they release into the air. And now, it's the cleanest it's ever been. Even the air in LA (otherwise known as Smog City, USA) has improved significantly, especially in the las ten years. I mean, I'm no scientist (failed several years of HS biology/earth science) but this is just gathered from diffrent scattered articals I've read over the years. And really . . . if the ice caps were significantly melting (note, I say significantly, yes, they have shrunk, but hang with me here) we'd be hitting a new mini ice age - not suffering through heat waves. Glacial water hitting the jet stream currents? They are what dictate alot of our tempertues and weather. Anyway. I'm no scientist. I'm no politician. I'm barely even a consevationist. Just know what I see. And despite what they are saying - I have still seen nature thriving and moving on.

just finished a little microwavable thingy of Healthy Choice Homestyle Chicken Noodle soup with a side of Utz' natural potato chips, with organic peach iced tea. mmm .. . . back to my almost healthy eating self. NO more junk food for merc!

seriously, I am considering a career with NASCAR. You should see me on the turn pike.

I would love, repeat LOVE to own a jeep. A green wrangler, sahara edition. But alas, they are el-crapo on gas milage, which is one of my top 3 reasons for new car hunting. Plus, I might end up killing someone (namely myself) with the way I drive. Jeeps turn over crazy mad easy and I thinking breaking around corners is for sissys

I am planning on going for a "new-used" kinda deal-o. Y'know, couple of years old, but to rich snobbies that need a new car every model year is just tragically anchient. So new enough that I don't have to worry about the transmission dropping out or the engine rusting over or any such old car woe. Maybe even new enough to still have some factory warrenty on it. But not new, new. New new is bad. New new is stress. New new is 'don't breath on it, you'll make it go down in value.' new new is "I had to put a kidney and half my liver up on collatiral." And Rogue, I loveloveloveLOVE my little Nissan Sentra. I know that car would die to protect me. But he's just getting waaay to old to be putting on the miles I've been doing. He'll be much happier with my mum, running around town and being safely parked in the drive by 7:30 every night. Lol! As for Toyotas; I have bad juju with Toyatas. Not that I don't believe you Rumba, just personal bad experience, so I would always be waiting for the car to explode on me, even though I know it wouldn't. That and right now my "rival" drives a toyota - childish I know, but I have to be grown up every other way so I reserve the right to be petty about this!! Disgustingly enough, the car I had wanted to purchase was a Ford Focus zx3. I hate fords, but I know the focus's are nice (my best friend has one) and pretty good on gas milage, they are cheap, you can find parts easy, and this one was my color, manual trans. and being sold locally. Alas, e-loan hates me. Now I am eyeing up those early Pontiac Vibes. Just about everything I am looking for .. .. hmmmmm Now I am l

a styrofoam cup of cheap tea and a snack bag of chocolate covered grahm crackers. Yep, definitly have the "healthy lunch nerd" award in the bag.

well, a P-loan would be very handy cause E-loan hates me and decided to not give me the gold. Bastards. The auction was up for 7 days, so it wasn't a "buy before you think" kind of thing, but I needed the approval ASAP so I could actually put a bid in on it. But I still need a new car, so any suggestions are still needed. I have a friend who is going to take me to the car triplex near his place. Apparently they will finance anybody, but still, any input is apprechiated

Southwest Chicken salad by McDonalds, along with a small fry and a vat of Iced Vanilla coffee . .. mmmmm, coffee. . . . Apparently I am feeling better today

Hey gang! Just wanted to get some advice. I need to purchas a car and I found one I want, but I am going to need to get a loan to cover it. Problem is, the car is up for auction so I need the money like NOW. Has anybody used E-loan? are they any good. Any other suggestions?

finished the latest Harry Potter in a record breaking 8 hours!

damn I have to get cracking on this! I have not even started and it seems like there is alot to do

yes, well, unfortunatly there is no ginger ale in the soda machine at my office

yeah, well, I assumed everyone wouold guess that #1 was a lie since I am more then blindling and depressingly single, but I guess the gypsy thing was just a little more obvious

After taking a quick inventory of the contents of the small trunk in her quaters, Tudor made a mental list of items she would need to purchase. She had planned to make do with the accessoires she had, they were kept in good condition, but with the Captian's bequeathment of her portion of the Ilex fortune, her desire to remain frugal after the gold she layed down before coming back to the ship last time, dimmed considerably. As soon as she reached the city, she strode purposefully through the streets, soaking up the late afternoon sun. Having noted it's location and browsing it's wares on her earlier excursions, Tudor had no trouble finding herself in the Tailor's small shop. She looked around the room, taking in all the fabrics and patterns, as she waited for the attention of the shop attendent who was packaging some garments for a previous customer. Just as she was greeted and pleasentries were exchanged, a bold colour caught Tudor's alert eye from behind the counter where a shop girl was folding a garment away. "That dress. . . ." Tudor said immedietly motioning to it. The apprentice that was attending her turned and his expression. "That dress, miss?" He scanned over Tudor's apperence with little subtlety or respect. "Miss, that dress was hand made by my master to the latest fashion for a a gentlewoman recently over from England but then she refused it. Insisted it was meant to have a train and that the hue of purple looked ill on her." He paused from his bragging over the dress's qualities to once again look at Tudor. "It is very expensive." Tudor did not even flinch. "Perfect. I'll have it, although I imagine there will be some small alterations to be made, as God did not deign grant me a fashionable height. I need it to be finished by evening and if you cannot have it done, then I shall take it and do it myself. And as to the other objections, well, as much as I love trains on my gowns it would be too much of a bother to fuss with at the dinner party I am going to," She paused to silently laugh at the mental picture of trying to go aboard a ship with yards of fabric cascading around her feet. "And I am told I look very well in purple, indeed." She smiled at the young man's stunned expression, hearing a posh accent and a gentlewoman's words come out of a woman wearing a sailor's grubby clothes. "Let me see the material." Too stunned to argue, the apprentice motioned for the girl to bring the dress over for Tudor to inspect. "The stitching will do. I have seen better," She had even stitched better herself, but that was extranious information. "But one cannot be too picky when pressed for time. And the silk is indeed of fine quality. Name the price." The boy told her an amount far beyond what it was worth, still an attempt to get her to give up her intentions of it's purchase, to which she scoffed and named a price much nearer the garments true worth, but still higher then the price she was sure was quoted when the gown was comissioned. To punctuate her offer, she scooped out the amount in gold from her bag and laid it down upon the counter. She left half an hour later, after her measurments had been taken, commission paid for the alterations and tip left for the apprentice to speed his stitching, with intentions to return in an hour to collect the dress. "Now, onto the jewlers." She said something between a grimmace and a smirk on her face.

Picked... but can't tell if the truths are gettin' wilder than the lies. I'll go wit' William, three be the lie. alright alright, so I would go willingly. Must learn to lie better. 1) Yes, as a matter of fact I DO have a fiance in England, however I learned quickly to not take drunken nightclub marriage proposals too seriously. I doubt he remembers me. 2) Well, knife fight is a relative term. It was preplanned and the surgeon won. 3) Is only true in my wildest dreams. However I am stuck in suburbia praying for the nearest band of gypsy to come along

pepsi and chees-its. the lunch of champions (well, recent vommit champions anyway. All my poor tummy wants to handle right now)

who's going to be there . . . well, now that you ask . . . I AM GOING TO BE THERE! Granted I will be hawking my guts out. Y'all are coming over to my booth and buying from me, right? RIGHT? lol

Tudor smiled inwardly, apprechiating how the captain thought. Much the same way she would have in the situation. In fact, she planned to excel at the scheme he concocted. "A very excellent idea. And sir, may I have permission to go ashore since I am off duty. I consider it bad luck to wear the same gown two times in a row." She said by way of explination with an impish smile.

She sipped from the glass he handed her, mulling over his words much as she savored the taste of the wine, her senses catagorizing every part. "You make very good sense of the situation sir. But still," She paused to down the last few sips of her glass. "If my opinion were to be asked . . . I would play his own game of disguise. Act as if we trust him implicity, but let no man be without weapon, well hidden though it may be." She looked up at her captain. "Friends can be the worst kind of betrayers, after all." She said with a simple earnestness. "Look at Judas."

The captain's smile and comment made Tudor's face relax ever so slightly. "T'is very true that there has never been a military man that could ever see me as a peer easily. Apparently the form of a woman is too much to look past. Though, the Liuetenant kept up his apperance very well. Maybe that is why I distrust him so. Anyone who can pretend to treat me as an equal so well, when there has never been a soul that accomplished that easily, is obviously good at dissembling. If he can hide his discomfort, what else could he hide?"

3 is a lie. You would willingly run away with gypsies. but my parents would still report it as kidnapping, now wouldn't they?

Tudor had remained on deck even though she had been relieved a while since. There were many things that needed her attention elsewhere, and she was at liberty to go ashore again which was tempting as she had her own buisness matters to attend to, but she did not wish to be far afield when the Captain returned to the Watch Dog. When he did, she was there waiting. After relaying the message that Captain Lasseter had left to her, she hestiated a moment, formulating the best chosen words to relay the events that had passed during her watch. "We also had an ambassador sir. From the ship that is there in the distance." She motioned to where the Narvarra was anchored. "A Lieutenenant De la Cruz came aboard, bearing his Captains compliments and an invitation." Again she paused to make sure she spoke well. "And while nothing outward in his actions made him suspisious, there was something in his very demeanour that I did not quite trust." Not that she ever entirely trusted any strangers, but that was not important. "He seemed to be sizing up the entire ship. Making note of it's every angle . .. and every armorment."