Giving a grunt and a noncommittal wave of his hand (which Sky did not see, as she had bolted), Vladimir watched her owlishly as she bolted away- and then suddenly was aware of a presence rushing in. With a startled, half-slurred drunken oath he dropped to a crouch, his hand flying to his machete, to find that it was merely a crewman swinging around and lighting torches like an Essyrian circus dancer. "Bleedin' showoff." He griped under his breath, blowing out a sigh and letting his muscles uncoil. Sudden movements, and especially the unexpected kind, tend to make one nervous in a life of vagrancy.
Still, he had to admit it was damned impressive, and miles above and circus show he had seen, so with a shrug and a last draught of the rum bottle (now disappointingly empty) he was on his way to whatever would occupy his time next. Maybe he would play his guitar! Although, much to his disappointment, several music men were already making merry upon the ship. 'Walp!' he thought to himself, 'problems don't solve 'emselves'.
And so it was that he found himself strumming along to a shanty tried and true, if a trifle overdone, and upon the end of the song caught the leading man round the shoulders, for he had an urge for a bawdier tale.
"We'rr playin' 'Six Clean Lin'uns' next," Vladimir informed the man with eyes slightly unfocused and rum strong on his breath, "An' no sayin' oth'rwise from you, aye?" He added seeing a look of hesitation or confusion (or perhaps distaste) on the man's face. Whether it was his yellowed eyes glinting in the torchlight, his beast-like visage or the subtle hint of violence in his voice that convinced the man remains a mystery, but they at once broke out into a lively fluttering sort of tune, the kind a wench could easily dance atop tables to, for there usually was a buxom, dancing wench or two about the type of places where this song was well-received.
The song, as any who do a good amount of carousing know, was about a woman in the slums trying for a life in the brothels, but with a problem- she had seven potential "suitors", but only six clean sets of undergarments to wear. The rough humor and bawdy appeal of the song was borne of her attempts to entertain all her customers while keeping at least one linen shift clean. A bold, and truth be told somewhat crude tale, but it was often well-applauded among sailors and military men.