“Doesn’t mean you can’t ever spoil us.†The young man said back.
Ryanti remembered the first time they had stumbled into the mess hall all of those days ago. It was different back then. He remembered feeling the same feeling one would feel if they were on stage for the first time. It was frightening, and he remembered being so nervous. Nervous over being accepted, nervous over looking the part. Nervous over winning everyone’s trust. He wasn’t sure how far they have gone within this week of sailing, but it was nice to not feel those bad feelings anymore. He felt normal now. Comfortable. So did the rest of the crew. Jonathan was always walking around like he owned the place, though. Ryanti believed that man only had one mode; hard work and hard working.
Eighty-five tried to shake off her emotions with a light sigh, burying the thoughts by distracting herself with a sudden ambush hug. Her target (or victim) was none other than Susuroon. “Susu!†She shouted with excitement as she nearly caught the Qiqirin off balance with the sudden advancement. “Good morning!â€
Young Seventy-Seven smiled lightly when Marjanie passed him. He really needed that acknowledgement, that assurance. Sometimes it was hard to face the situation that you were all alone in this waning and creaking vessel. He had felt terrible, absolutely terrible about P’welro, and the past few days had been quite heavy on him. In the back of his mind, he still wondered how he was able to partake in the vision that she experienced. Being a part of this Unit meant that Ryanti was incredibly used to being taken somewhere else, to witness a story or a memory, or something important. But this was not a dream induced by residual aether, no. This was different. He could not quite pinpoint the reason it happened, but it just made him concerned even more for P’welro and for everyone else.
He had grown close to these people. Already he was thinking about how he could possibly see them after everything was over. However he had already been chastised by Jonathan a night or two ago. Something about keeping his mind in the moment. That was what their entire crew was doing, actually. All of them wore incredibly heavy and focused faces when they were not solemnly distracted by something. They were all deep in thought about the mission they were about to perform. The aura about him foretold that their job was –very- serious and –very- sensitive work, perhaps sensitive unlike any other sensitive mission Sounsyy had been on to date.
It was nice, then. To have slept well for once. “We all received adequate rest.†Jonathan responded to her statement. The blunt man sat himself down on the bar’s end, and began to pick and choose from the food that was available. He was very specific in his choices, making sure to only ingest the healthiest of the mix. He even proportionalized it so that it would create the best situation for his digestive system to absorb. “We’re very thankful of the efforts of this crew to assist us. My men are ready. If all goes according to plan, we should be sailing north by evening’s bell today or tomorrow, with no further incidents. We need time today to focus on chores of our own, which including cleaning our equipment and getting it ready.â€
“Does that mean we can party after we’re done?†Eighty-five mentioned, with a giggle. She had swiftly came back to the bar top and sat herself down. The hug from Susuroon brought a bit of her old self back.
Jonathan smirked a little bit and actually managed to snort. Holy crap, he was showing emotion! Then again, he had enjoyed himself quite a bit that last night. He had actually demonstrated to the crew that he knew how to play a lute. There were other reasons why his fingertips were calloused besides business and building boats. “Not exactly. We would still have ultra-sensitive information on board. We would have to be very vigilant until the cargo is transferred. Then once the Roehmerl returns to friendly water, then they can party.â€
“But we’ll be gone by then...†She said, her words trailing off. She silently took a clean plate of her own and began to pile food on their randomly. While she had briefly became her old self, she was now once again despondent in her facial expression, seemingly consumed by thought as she quietly ate at nowhere near the pace that she used to.
“I see that you got some rest yourself.†Ryanti mentioned at the Captain, his glance examining where the dark bags under her eyes used to be. “You look better without those black lines.†Like he had before, Ryanti had taken a seat next to the Captain. He smiled a little awkwardly and paused for a moment, taking a little bite out of the food he had placed on his plate. He looked equally serious. His eyes were filled with determination, and preparation. It was the very familiar look, a look of someone about to go to work. He was mentally preparing himself from venturing into the darkness, with no idea of what to expect. But something pulled at him, the very same feeling that allowed him to sit next to her. There was a feeling, something that he could not explain. A feeling that their fates were tied together somehow. That there was something he didn’t know. It scared him.
“The only words that we could discern was ‘stand firm’. That was all that happened. I saw nothing else. It was just all black.†He mentioned, in a quiet and empathetic voice. He had no clue that Sounsyy had seen so much more. The will of the artifact did not speak to him anything more than was necessary. For him, he just had to know. For the Captain, however…
“Whatever happens… we’re ready. As ready as we will ever be. Don’t worry for us… we’re in this together. You got pulled into all this, so… the best thing I can do is make you happy you were.†He had nearly looked at her. Nearly smiled. But during Ryanti’s reassurance, something was happening a few seats down.
“There once was a woman I knew who would always sit in the corner of the room during lunch hour at my old school. When anyone approached her to try to talk to her, she would always say something about how she preferred to eat alone. Something about enjoying the flavor in silence being a better experience for her. Of course when you were in the kind of school I was in, you learned to deal with people that may or may share the same cust-“ It looked like Forty-three was rambling again with some story of his, like he always seemed to do. Some individuals loved hearing his tales, but Eighty-five wasn’t really feeling it that day. She had her fist resting on her cheek and her eyes glinted towards the Captain. It was obvious Forty-three was trying to help, but… “Thanks Forty-three. Really. You don’t have to. I know you care.â€
The Lalafell looked at her with a bit of a frown, feeling a little helpless in aiding her. “Ah… I see. I’m sorry, young lady. My thoughts just wander sometimes.â€
Eighty-five sighed a bit, shaking her head. No, it was true that she was suffering on the inside, but… there was something more pressing right now. Something more immediate that she was having a hard time dealing with. She was certainly struggling with it on the inside. “No. It’s okay. Just… just…â€
And so, right when Ryanti finished his words, the entire mess hall stood still in sudden silence as Eighty-five suddenly groaned out loud with a booming “Ugggghhhhh!â€. Ryanti immediately turned around with his hands up for some reason in some sort of protective posture, being caught completely off guard. Jonathan nearly choked on his food.
Eighty-five suddenly stood up, after banging her two fists upon the table in front of her. “I just can’t take it anymore!†She yelled out. Had she finally lost her mind? Was all of this too much for her? She was a new person to this after all. Still green and still a reasonable rookie. It would have been realistic to have thought that.
But no, it wasn’t for any reason any one could have guessed. If they didn’t know her. Within moments, she had stormed out of her seat, walking behind Forty-three… Jonathan… Ryanti… and finally, hitting the brakes when she approached right behind the Captain. “This… THIS.†She viciously commented. What could she possibly be angry about? Just then, her hand had reached out and grabbed the hair band that tied up the Captain’s brunette hair. Within moments, she had yanked it off! The hair had rather sloppily fallen behind the Captain’s head! “We’re gonna fix this!â€
Jonathan just stood still, his food still in his mouth. Perhaps he had forgotten to chew. Ryanti raised his hands up a bit and shook them back and forth. “E-eighty-five, what are y-“ He tried to say, but then was silenced by her whipping out a comb from her pocket. “Sssshhh!†She harshly mentioned to Ryanti. “If she’s a friggin’ Captain then she’s gotta have the hair of one!â€
Ryanti made a slight noise of surprise and leaned a little back from her with wide eyes and clenched teeth. Oh, there was nothing the crew could do about this. The shock had begun to turn into repressed laugher. Her scorn in a matter between two women and fashion issues was so high that one would get ripped to pieces if anyone even came near her. “Miqo’te sailor girls are all the same these days. They don’t give a whoop about ladies fashion!†She exclaimed, combing through Sounsyy’s hair to try to get all of those neglected knots and split ends out. If any time she had tried to look back or protest, she simply said “Just keep eating, ma’am! I’m in the middle of saving your womanhood!â€
Her obscene comments about the state of her hair nearly drove the mess hall mad with laughter. “That perpetual wetness ain’t from water droplets from sailing the seas, honey. That’s from your hair weeping!†She had gripped the woman’s hair a bit and pointed her comb at the Qiririn. “Susuroon! Get the wine opener!â€
She fully combed throughout Sounsyy’s locks a last few times. It had looked much more velvety now. Like a light brown blanket of hair. It had gone from fighting the Captain to serving her. “Twelve’s Graces I need to send you some things after this mission. Susuroon!†She called out again, the Qiririn arriving in time to hand her the wine opener. “Now stand still, -please- stand still.†She begged the Captain.
First, she grabbed a thick bit of hair from one side of her hair. She placed the churchkey of the wine opener through one half of that thick bit, and then layered the other half over the churchkey. With a twist of the wine opener, she had created a braid. Even Ryanti had grown red in the face and laughed under his muffled lips, covered by his hand. Eighty-five was created a thick braid on the side of Sounsyy’s scalp. “We’re halfway there.†She said with a sigh and a swear under her breath, pinning the end of that braid at the back of her head up with a bobby pin.
She repeated the same process on the other side. This labor was taking a lot out of her. Mentally more than physically. “I hope you remember what I’m doing ‘cause I ain’t gonna be around here for long.†She complained, forcing more laughter out of the group. It was a great distraction for her… at least she would be able to fix –this- problem. “This is a crash course girl, because you shoulda learned this at fourteen. No butts!â€
A few twists, a few tugs later, and the young lady grabbed whatever hair remained, and squeezed it –tightly- together. Moments later, she snapped it up into a ponytail, and combed the hair down until she was satisfied. She snapped the comb down upon the table next to her, and unhooked the bobby pins. It stayed! “Clean dish, Susuroon! Get the cleanest one!†She ordered, pointing a finger at him to have him hurry.
Hurridly, the Qiririn went to go find one. He returned moments later, holding up the cleanest dish he could find. It was not as perfect of a reflection as a mirror, but it sufficed. She held it up to the Captain, showing her face by bending herself over her. “Now –that- is what a Captain looks like!†Amid the clapping and the whistling cheers, Ryanti still sat. The little smile on his face lingered, but the sparkle in his eyes were much more evident of a smile than his lips were.
Ryanti remembered the first time they had stumbled into the mess hall all of those days ago. It was different back then. He remembered feeling the same feeling one would feel if they were on stage for the first time. It was frightening, and he remembered being so nervous. Nervous over being accepted, nervous over looking the part. Nervous over winning everyone’s trust. He wasn’t sure how far they have gone within this week of sailing, but it was nice to not feel those bad feelings anymore. He felt normal now. Comfortable. So did the rest of the crew. Jonathan was always walking around like he owned the place, though. Ryanti believed that man only had one mode; hard work and hard working.
Eighty-five tried to shake off her emotions with a light sigh, burying the thoughts by distracting herself with a sudden ambush hug. Her target (or victim) was none other than Susuroon. “Susu!†She shouted with excitement as she nearly caught the Qiqirin off balance with the sudden advancement. “Good morning!â€
Young Seventy-Seven smiled lightly when Marjanie passed him. He really needed that acknowledgement, that assurance. Sometimes it was hard to face the situation that you were all alone in this waning and creaking vessel. He had felt terrible, absolutely terrible about P’welro, and the past few days had been quite heavy on him. In the back of his mind, he still wondered how he was able to partake in the vision that she experienced. Being a part of this Unit meant that Ryanti was incredibly used to being taken somewhere else, to witness a story or a memory, or something important. But this was not a dream induced by residual aether, no. This was different. He could not quite pinpoint the reason it happened, but it just made him concerned even more for P’welro and for everyone else.
He had grown close to these people. Already he was thinking about how he could possibly see them after everything was over. However he had already been chastised by Jonathan a night or two ago. Something about keeping his mind in the moment. That was what their entire crew was doing, actually. All of them wore incredibly heavy and focused faces when they were not solemnly distracted by something. They were all deep in thought about the mission they were about to perform. The aura about him foretold that their job was –very- serious and –very- sensitive work, perhaps sensitive unlike any other sensitive mission Sounsyy had been on to date.
It was nice, then. To have slept well for once. “We all received adequate rest.†Jonathan responded to her statement. The blunt man sat himself down on the bar’s end, and began to pick and choose from the food that was available. He was very specific in his choices, making sure to only ingest the healthiest of the mix. He even proportionalized it so that it would create the best situation for his digestive system to absorb. “We’re very thankful of the efforts of this crew to assist us. My men are ready. If all goes according to plan, we should be sailing north by evening’s bell today or tomorrow, with no further incidents. We need time today to focus on chores of our own, which including cleaning our equipment and getting it ready.â€
“Does that mean we can party after we’re done?†Eighty-five mentioned, with a giggle. She had swiftly came back to the bar top and sat herself down. The hug from Susuroon brought a bit of her old self back.
Jonathan smirked a little bit and actually managed to snort. Holy crap, he was showing emotion! Then again, he had enjoyed himself quite a bit that last night. He had actually demonstrated to the crew that he knew how to play a lute. There were other reasons why his fingertips were calloused besides business and building boats. “Not exactly. We would still have ultra-sensitive information on board. We would have to be very vigilant until the cargo is transferred. Then once the Roehmerl returns to friendly water, then they can party.â€
“But we’ll be gone by then...†She said, her words trailing off. She silently took a clean plate of her own and began to pile food on their randomly. While she had briefly became her old self, she was now once again despondent in her facial expression, seemingly consumed by thought as she quietly ate at nowhere near the pace that she used to.
“I see that you got some rest yourself.†Ryanti mentioned at the Captain, his glance examining where the dark bags under her eyes used to be. “You look better without those black lines.†Like he had before, Ryanti had taken a seat next to the Captain. He smiled a little awkwardly and paused for a moment, taking a little bite out of the food he had placed on his plate. He looked equally serious. His eyes were filled with determination, and preparation. It was the very familiar look, a look of someone about to go to work. He was mentally preparing himself from venturing into the darkness, with no idea of what to expect. But something pulled at him, the very same feeling that allowed him to sit next to her. There was a feeling, something that he could not explain. A feeling that their fates were tied together somehow. That there was something he didn’t know. It scared him.
“The only words that we could discern was ‘stand firm’. That was all that happened. I saw nothing else. It was just all black.†He mentioned, in a quiet and empathetic voice. He had no clue that Sounsyy had seen so much more. The will of the artifact did not speak to him anything more than was necessary. For him, he just had to know. For the Captain, however…
“Whatever happens… we’re ready. As ready as we will ever be. Don’t worry for us… we’re in this together. You got pulled into all this, so… the best thing I can do is make you happy you were.†He had nearly looked at her. Nearly smiled. But during Ryanti’s reassurance, something was happening a few seats down.
“There once was a woman I knew who would always sit in the corner of the room during lunch hour at my old school. When anyone approached her to try to talk to her, she would always say something about how she preferred to eat alone. Something about enjoying the flavor in silence being a better experience for her. Of course when you were in the kind of school I was in, you learned to deal with people that may or may share the same cust-“ It looked like Forty-three was rambling again with some story of his, like he always seemed to do. Some individuals loved hearing his tales, but Eighty-five wasn’t really feeling it that day. She had her fist resting on her cheek and her eyes glinted towards the Captain. It was obvious Forty-three was trying to help, but… “Thanks Forty-three. Really. You don’t have to. I know you care.â€
The Lalafell looked at her with a bit of a frown, feeling a little helpless in aiding her. “Ah… I see. I’m sorry, young lady. My thoughts just wander sometimes.â€
Eighty-five sighed a bit, shaking her head. No, it was true that she was suffering on the inside, but… there was something more pressing right now. Something more immediate that she was having a hard time dealing with. She was certainly struggling with it on the inside. “No. It’s okay. Just… just…â€
And so, right when Ryanti finished his words, the entire mess hall stood still in sudden silence as Eighty-five suddenly groaned out loud with a booming “Ugggghhhhh!â€. Ryanti immediately turned around with his hands up for some reason in some sort of protective posture, being caught completely off guard. Jonathan nearly choked on his food.
Eighty-five suddenly stood up, after banging her two fists upon the table in front of her. “I just can’t take it anymore!†She yelled out. Had she finally lost her mind? Was all of this too much for her? She was a new person to this after all. Still green and still a reasonable rookie. It would have been realistic to have thought that.
But no, it wasn’t for any reason any one could have guessed. If they didn’t know her. Within moments, she had stormed out of her seat, walking behind Forty-three… Jonathan… Ryanti… and finally, hitting the brakes when she approached right behind the Captain. “This… THIS.†She viciously commented. What could she possibly be angry about? Just then, her hand had reached out and grabbed the hair band that tied up the Captain’s brunette hair. Within moments, she had yanked it off! The hair had rather sloppily fallen behind the Captain’s head! “We’re gonna fix this!â€
Jonathan just stood still, his food still in his mouth. Perhaps he had forgotten to chew. Ryanti raised his hands up a bit and shook them back and forth. “E-eighty-five, what are y-“ He tried to say, but then was silenced by her whipping out a comb from her pocket. “Sssshhh!†She harshly mentioned to Ryanti. “If she’s a friggin’ Captain then she’s gotta have the hair of one!â€
Ryanti made a slight noise of surprise and leaned a little back from her with wide eyes and clenched teeth. Oh, there was nothing the crew could do about this. The shock had begun to turn into repressed laugher. Her scorn in a matter between two women and fashion issues was so high that one would get ripped to pieces if anyone even came near her. “Miqo’te sailor girls are all the same these days. They don’t give a whoop about ladies fashion!†She exclaimed, combing through Sounsyy’s hair to try to get all of those neglected knots and split ends out. If any time she had tried to look back or protest, she simply said “Just keep eating, ma’am! I’m in the middle of saving your womanhood!â€
Her obscene comments about the state of her hair nearly drove the mess hall mad with laughter. “That perpetual wetness ain’t from water droplets from sailing the seas, honey. That’s from your hair weeping!†She had gripped the woman’s hair a bit and pointed her comb at the Qiririn. “Susuroon! Get the wine opener!â€
She fully combed throughout Sounsyy’s locks a last few times. It had looked much more velvety now. Like a light brown blanket of hair. It had gone from fighting the Captain to serving her. “Twelve’s Graces I need to send you some things after this mission. Susuroon!†She called out again, the Qiririn arriving in time to hand her the wine opener. “Now stand still, -please- stand still.†She begged the Captain.
First, she grabbed a thick bit of hair from one side of her hair. She placed the churchkey of the wine opener through one half of that thick bit, and then layered the other half over the churchkey. With a twist of the wine opener, she had created a braid. Even Ryanti had grown red in the face and laughed under his muffled lips, covered by his hand. Eighty-five was created a thick braid on the side of Sounsyy’s scalp. “We’re halfway there.†She said with a sigh and a swear under her breath, pinning the end of that braid at the back of her head up with a bobby pin.
She repeated the same process on the other side. This labor was taking a lot out of her. Mentally more than physically. “I hope you remember what I’m doing ‘cause I ain’t gonna be around here for long.†She complained, forcing more laughter out of the group. It was a great distraction for her… at least she would be able to fix –this- problem. “This is a crash course girl, because you shoulda learned this at fourteen. No butts!â€
A few twists, a few tugs later, and the young lady grabbed whatever hair remained, and squeezed it –tightly- together. Moments later, she snapped it up into a ponytail, and combed the hair down until she was satisfied. She snapped the comb down upon the table next to her, and unhooked the bobby pins. It stayed! “Clean dish, Susuroon! Get the cleanest one!†She ordered, pointing a finger at him to have him hurry.
Hurridly, the Qiririn went to go find one. He returned moments later, holding up the cleanest dish he could find. It was not as perfect of a reflection as a mirror, but it sufficed. She held it up to the Captain, showing her face by bending herself over her. “Now –that- is what a Captain looks like!†Amid the clapping and the whistling cheers, Ryanti still sat. The little smile on his face lingered, but the sparkle in his eyes were much more evident of a smile than his lips were.