Sounsyy breathed a slow sigh of relief out her nostrils. She still held her firm grip on the curtain fabric almost as if it was holding her steady. She heard Ryanti's voice to one side but she wasn't really making out what he said. She felt muddled, weak. Cwaenlona put her hand on Sounsyy's shoulder and the Captain came back to her senses. She looked at Ryanti who had left a scattered mess of papers on his cot.
"Please see me when you can," he said as he left. He had been blushing or crying. Sounsyy wondered for a moment if it was due to her lack of dress, but the thought was gone before Ryanti had left the room. Marjanie was approaching her to give her report and Sounsyy had to focus her thoughts. She slid Eighty-five's curtain closed and the two women retreated back to the Captain's cot. Sounsyy took up a seat on the edge of the cot, bringing her feet up under her to sit cross-legged. Marjanie, for once, seemed too fatigued for formalities and went into the report without her customary salute.
"The Roehmerl sustained minimal hull damage. For that, we are fortunate. But our crew has all but been exhausted Sounsyy. Syhrelak and Eighty-five remain in critical condition. Five more of our crew are injured to be unfit for duty, Fhruhsunn included, though he's putting on a strong face," Marjanie said quickly in a hushed voice. She didn't want Fhruhsunn to overhear that she thought he was unfit. They were close and the Elezen worried greatly for him. Sounsyy just nodded, spinning over the message within the report.
"Yer worried that the Garleans were not alone," the Captain stated matter-of-factly. Marjanie shifted uncomfortably, saying, "We are ill equipped for a second encounter. I cannot recommend we linger here over long. Even with the fishbacks protection."
A look of confusion spread across the Captain's face before Marjanie clarified, "The Clutch that attacked us protect the Sharlayan's prize. Some Allagan relic, which explains the Garlean involvement."
"We stay fer as long as Seventy-seven needs to complete his mission," Sounsyy said after a moment, "Otherwise, this'll all have been fer nothing. I share yer concerns, but this is the way it must be."
Marjanie nodded respectfully, though her face clearly expressed her disagreement with their orders. Sounsyy regarded her for a moment before asking if there was anything else. Marjanie shook her head, "Nothing of great import. Food and medical supplies were culled from the 'Ganesha' as well as the usual salvage for our engineers in the Ironworks. We're destroying the vessel and its Far Eastern escorts to disguise any evidence of the ships' passing. P'welro is at the helm so I can keep Fhruhsunn in his bed. Stubborn bastard. Will that be all, Captain?"
"Relieved," Sounsyy replied. She had grown distracted again. How close the battle had come. The Sharlayans were all injured, her own crew did not fare much better. And Marjanie's concerns were well founded. Garlean vessels rarely traveled so far south alone. How long could they afford to linger here before more came looking for their lost ship? A day? A week? There was their rendezvous with the Sharlayan vessel to consider as well. This mission was far from over yet.
Sounsyy watched Marjanie return to Fhruhsunn's side. The Elezen walked with a slight limp and Sounsyy found her right ankle and shin was tightly bandaged under her boot. The woman must have bathed and changed into more comfortable clothes when Fhruhsunn hadn't needed her constant tending to. Marjanie was a diligent worker, perhaps the Roehmerl's most, and Sounsyy couldn't help a smile seeing the woman take a breath, even if the Roehmerl needed her full dedication now more than ever.
Sounsyy slipped her legs back over the side of the cot and tested their strength gingerly before standing. She was still feeling rather dizzy after the amount of blood she had donated. Finding herself to be steady, she knelt down to pick up the bundle of clothes laid at the foot of her bed and carried them with her out of the infirmary. She climbed up the stairwell back to her cabin barefoot, keeping an eye on the activity below. So many of those cots filled...
The sea breeze greeted the Captain like an old friend when she crested the deck. She closed her eyes and felt the cool breeze swish the small hairs on her arms and neck. It was her moment alone on the sea - the sounds of her crew at work soon returning her to their situation. Repairs and cleaning were well underway by those few of Sounsyy's crew who had escaped the bloodbath unscathed. She wondered for a moment if P'welro had given them the order or if they had acted on their own, knowing that it was what needed to be done. Either way, a sense of pride filled her lungs, mixing with the salty air. She spotted Ryanti towards the bow, gazing off across the sea. Sounsyy considered going to him then, but he had not yet noticed her, so she retreated into her cabin to change into more suitable clothing.
The first sight she encountered upon entering was the shattered wine bottle littering her floor. She cursed under her breath at the senseless violence of Garlean scrags before gingerly tiptoeing through the debris. The deep red wine was already soaking into the cabin's wooden floorboards, giving one the impression that a murder had occurred here and the Captain had simply moved her wine rack over the site in some poor attempt to obscure the violence.
Fortunately, the wine had not traveled so far as to reach the area rug beneath Sounsyy's desk, and after taking a few tottering steps through the glassy debris, she hopped to the edge of the rug like it was a safe spot. She rubbed her bare feet against the rug a few times each to make sure she had not picked up any glass shards with her feet and hopped over the desk to examine the discrepancy she noticed in her armchair. A hole had appeared in the back cushion. Sounsyy dug her fingers into the hole and with some effort dislodged the slug buried within. Cynthia's.
What had become of the woman's body hadn't even crossed Sounsyy's mind. She scowled at the bullet and set it down on her desk next to the old kobold's helm. Another trophy? Or something to be discarded along with the shattered glass once that had been swept outside?
Once she was satisfied nothing else had been damaged or disturbed from the assault, she moved to her armoire and changed. Tights, thighboots, the same long tanktop she had been wearing. The effort to find a suitable top had been lost on her. Her hair still loosely held Eighty-five's braid from that morning. Sounsyy didn't have the heart to undo it, yet. So without further fuss, she exited the cabin, her boot crunching through the broken glass.
"Yeh wanted to see meh?" She said quietly as she approached. She wasn't sure how deep in his reverie the boy was and didn't wish to startle him. He didn't reply for several seconds, so Sounsyy moved to stand beside him, casting her gaze out in the same direction as he did. The sunset was beautiful. Sounsyy crossed her arms over her chest. She could feel her skin prickling from the cool air.
All by myself.
"...Sometimes Llymlaen takes us unexpected ways, down narrow paths..."
You can feel it. Feel it like I feel it. Feel what they dreamed and… what this mission means.
"...I don't know. I dream because I saw, that's what you said? I don't know that I believe in them - the Allagans..."
I want you to come with me.
Sounsyy turned to look at him in bewilderment. She knew that he was deadly serious, but the thought of her plunging into the deep dark brine petrified her. Color began to drain from her face as she stumbled over her words, her mind racing... for what? She didn't know. An excuse?
"Yeh what?!"
"“I want you to come. You’re the only one besides my unit that has shared these dreams with me. I know they’re calling you along with me. I don’t know why it has to be us, and I never thought this would happen, but… if there is anyone on this planet that I would like to be there with me down there, it’s you. I know how strong you are, and how strong you make me when I’m around you. Not only that, but… I feel like you would be the only one that would understand right now.â€
Sounsyy shook her head vigorously, but could say nothing. She did think she understood. The dreams had featured two... people... Allagans? A man and woman. She began to wonder if Ryanti thought these two were representative of them. A man and woman on a starship to save the world. True, the similarities were uncanny, but that's what dreams were. Dreams, odd fantasies of reality twisted into your worst fears or greatest desires. Sounsyy wanted to tell him - no, she didn't understand - or that he was crazy, but the look on Seventy-seven's face kept Sounsyy quiet.
Will you come with me? He pleaded, his hand outstretched. Sounsyy looked at it, then back up at him. She uncrossed her arms but did not take his hand.
"Yer out yer Twelve-damned mind," she said flatly, her green eyes burrowing into his, "But someone's got to keep yeh on schedule down there. I guess dying at the bottom of the Deep still counts as a death at sea. What do you need me to do?"
Sounsyy sighed and ran her finger-short hand through her hair, messing everything up. Her hair was swept up in the next breeze with Ryanti's and she gave him another hard look before laying her injured hand in his. She opened her fingers and withdrew her hand shortly after, leaving a few bobbypins and hair ties in his outstretched palm. Sounsyy gave him a quizzical look.
"What? Yeh ever tried keepin' a braid underwater?"
"Please see me when you can," he said as he left. He had been blushing or crying. Sounsyy wondered for a moment if it was due to her lack of dress, but the thought was gone before Ryanti had left the room. Marjanie was approaching her to give her report and Sounsyy had to focus her thoughts. She slid Eighty-five's curtain closed and the two women retreated back to the Captain's cot. Sounsyy took up a seat on the edge of the cot, bringing her feet up under her to sit cross-legged. Marjanie, for once, seemed too fatigued for formalities and went into the report without her customary salute.
"The Roehmerl sustained minimal hull damage. For that, we are fortunate. But our crew has all but been exhausted Sounsyy. Syhrelak and Eighty-five remain in critical condition. Five more of our crew are injured to be unfit for duty, Fhruhsunn included, though he's putting on a strong face," Marjanie said quickly in a hushed voice. She didn't want Fhruhsunn to overhear that she thought he was unfit. They were close and the Elezen worried greatly for him. Sounsyy just nodded, spinning over the message within the report.
"Yer worried that the Garleans were not alone," the Captain stated matter-of-factly. Marjanie shifted uncomfortably, saying, "We are ill equipped for a second encounter. I cannot recommend we linger here over long. Even with the fishbacks protection."
A look of confusion spread across the Captain's face before Marjanie clarified, "The Clutch that attacked us protect the Sharlayan's prize. Some Allagan relic, which explains the Garlean involvement."
"We stay fer as long as Seventy-seven needs to complete his mission," Sounsyy said after a moment, "Otherwise, this'll all have been fer nothing. I share yer concerns, but this is the way it must be."
Marjanie nodded respectfully, though her face clearly expressed her disagreement with their orders. Sounsyy regarded her for a moment before asking if there was anything else. Marjanie shook her head, "Nothing of great import. Food and medical supplies were culled from the 'Ganesha' as well as the usual salvage for our engineers in the Ironworks. We're destroying the vessel and its Far Eastern escorts to disguise any evidence of the ships' passing. P'welro is at the helm so I can keep Fhruhsunn in his bed. Stubborn bastard. Will that be all, Captain?"
"Relieved," Sounsyy replied. She had grown distracted again. How close the battle had come. The Sharlayans were all injured, her own crew did not fare much better. And Marjanie's concerns were well founded. Garlean vessels rarely traveled so far south alone. How long could they afford to linger here before more came looking for their lost ship? A day? A week? There was their rendezvous with the Sharlayan vessel to consider as well. This mission was far from over yet.
Sounsyy watched Marjanie return to Fhruhsunn's side. The Elezen walked with a slight limp and Sounsyy found her right ankle and shin was tightly bandaged under her boot. The woman must have bathed and changed into more comfortable clothes when Fhruhsunn hadn't needed her constant tending to. Marjanie was a diligent worker, perhaps the Roehmerl's most, and Sounsyy couldn't help a smile seeing the woman take a breath, even if the Roehmerl needed her full dedication now more than ever.
Sounsyy slipped her legs back over the side of the cot and tested their strength gingerly before standing. She was still feeling rather dizzy after the amount of blood she had donated. Finding herself to be steady, she knelt down to pick up the bundle of clothes laid at the foot of her bed and carried them with her out of the infirmary. She climbed up the stairwell back to her cabin barefoot, keeping an eye on the activity below. So many of those cots filled...
The sea breeze greeted the Captain like an old friend when she crested the deck. She closed her eyes and felt the cool breeze swish the small hairs on her arms and neck. It was her moment alone on the sea - the sounds of her crew at work soon returning her to their situation. Repairs and cleaning were well underway by those few of Sounsyy's crew who had escaped the bloodbath unscathed. She wondered for a moment if P'welro had given them the order or if they had acted on their own, knowing that it was what needed to be done. Either way, a sense of pride filled her lungs, mixing with the salty air. She spotted Ryanti towards the bow, gazing off across the sea. Sounsyy considered going to him then, but he had not yet noticed her, so she retreated into her cabin to change into more suitable clothing.
The first sight she encountered upon entering was the shattered wine bottle littering her floor. She cursed under her breath at the senseless violence of Garlean scrags before gingerly tiptoeing through the debris. The deep red wine was already soaking into the cabin's wooden floorboards, giving one the impression that a murder had occurred here and the Captain had simply moved her wine rack over the site in some poor attempt to obscure the violence.
Fortunately, the wine had not traveled so far as to reach the area rug beneath Sounsyy's desk, and after taking a few tottering steps through the glassy debris, she hopped to the edge of the rug like it was a safe spot. She rubbed her bare feet against the rug a few times each to make sure she had not picked up any glass shards with her feet and hopped over the desk to examine the discrepancy she noticed in her armchair. A hole had appeared in the back cushion. Sounsyy dug her fingers into the hole and with some effort dislodged the slug buried within. Cynthia's.
What had become of the woman's body hadn't even crossed Sounsyy's mind. She scowled at the bullet and set it down on her desk next to the old kobold's helm. Another trophy? Or something to be discarded along with the shattered glass once that had been swept outside?
Once she was satisfied nothing else had been damaged or disturbed from the assault, she moved to her armoire and changed. Tights, thighboots, the same long tanktop she had been wearing. The effort to find a suitable top had been lost on her. Her hair still loosely held Eighty-five's braid from that morning. Sounsyy didn't have the heart to undo it, yet. So without further fuss, she exited the cabin, her boot crunching through the broken glass.
"Yeh wanted to see meh?" She said quietly as she approached. She wasn't sure how deep in his reverie the boy was and didn't wish to startle him. He didn't reply for several seconds, so Sounsyy moved to stand beside him, casting her gaze out in the same direction as he did. The sunset was beautiful. Sounsyy crossed her arms over her chest. She could feel her skin prickling from the cool air.
All by myself.
"...Sometimes Llymlaen takes us unexpected ways, down narrow paths..."
You can feel it. Feel it like I feel it. Feel what they dreamed and… what this mission means.
"...I don't know. I dream because I saw, that's what you said? I don't know that I believe in them - the Allagans..."
I want you to come with me.
Sounsyy turned to look at him in bewilderment. She knew that he was deadly serious, but the thought of her plunging into the deep dark brine petrified her. Color began to drain from her face as she stumbled over her words, her mind racing... for what? She didn't know. An excuse?
"Yeh what?!"
"“I want you to come. You’re the only one besides my unit that has shared these dreams with me. I know they’re calling you along with me. I don’t know why it has to be us, and I never thought this would happen, but… if there is anyone on this planet that I would like to be there with me down there, it’s you. I know how strong you are, and how strong you make me when I’m around you. Not only that, but… I feel like you would be the only one that would understand right now.â€
Sounsyy shook her head vigorously, but could say nothing. She did think she understood. The dreams had featured two... people... Allagans? A man and woman. She began to wonder if Ryanti thought these two were representative of them. A man and woman on a starship to save the world. True, the similarities were uncanny, but that's what dreams were. Dreams, odd fantasies of reality twisted into your worst fears or greatest desires. Sounsyy wanted to tell him - no, she didn't understand - or that he was crazy, but the look on Seventy-seven's face kept Sounsyy quiet.
Will you come with me? He pleaded, his hand outstretched. Sounsyy looked at it, then back up at him. She uncrossed her arms but did not take his hand.
"Yer out yer Twelve-damned mind," she said flatly, her green eyes burrowing into his, "But someone's got to keep yeh on schedule down there. I guess dying at the bottom of the Deep still counts as a death at sea. What do you need me to do?"
Sounsyy sighed and ran her finger-short hand through her hair, messing everything up. Her hair was swept up in the next breeze with Ryanti's and she gave him another hard look before laying her injured hand in his. She opened her fingers and withdrew her hand shortly after, leaving a few bobbypins and hair ties in his outstretched palm. Sounsyy gave him a quizzical look.
"What? Yeh ever tried keepin' a braid underwater?"