When the Roehmerl skimped a bit along a sandbar, it jolted all four of the members of the Black Label Unit awake from their aether-inspired slumber. After rubbing the back of his head rather painfully due to the bump it took on the side of the wall, Ryanti opened his eyes to the full moon that cascaded down to hover over their side window with its dying light. Dawn was a short time away.
Nothing was said between the members of the group.Their dreams had been utilizing them as a conduit on so many different occasions, on so many different missions that they were used to it. Although there was an extent to how used to it one could get. No one dream was the same, and although some could be similar, they were just never the same. There was always either… something different or something more between each dream they had. They were all linked to that object’s wish, and were set out to fulfill it. Four of them knew what they were getting into, but there was a fifth that didn’t.
“So you’re going up there?†The white haired Hyqo’te asked the Black haired Midlander. With an unreadable expression and a chiseled face, Jonathan was impossible to read while he was focused on something. Like tying his boots as he was doing now. He let out a dark sigh, one that would betray his tiredness as a man awoken perhaps earlier than he would like and worked a bit longer than he wished. Or perhaps it was because he had slept -too- much. Who knew? “I am going up there. I have nothing to do here. I enjoy being out there.†he mentioned.
Jonathan had done an excellent job with the Carpentry the last two days before. He had kept a subtle smile on his face and even mumbled to himself a few tunes while repairing and fortifying parts of the ship, bouncing back and forth on the side of it like a pure natural. It was actually a hobby of his to craft his own sheds and build small, personal rowboats that he would sell to anyone willing to pay. A hobby he would practice while off duty. He enjoyed building things and sculpting things. It allowed him to shed off bad memories and focus on creating things in the world that could benefit people’s lives. In fact, enriching people’s lives is why Jonathan did what he did. Why Ryanti did what he did.
Ryanti watched him dress up and prepare as Eighty-five shrugged them off and went back to bed, not really wanting to wake until she had to. Forty-three had shuffled over to her, on his knees and placing a hand upon her neck to make sure she was doing okay. He had been doing that regularly since she had gotten seasickness – a factor that she did not like admitting. Nevertheless, it had been obvious over the past few days that Forty-three was a very accomplished medic. During the last day, he had told Cwaenlona that he had went to school in Sharlaya to become a Physician, but that situations happened in his life that forced him to erase his dreams and start anew after suffering from a serious ‘accident’ that left his face needing plates. He had never graduated, and had nowhere else to go, and so he found himself here. Despite his moping in cleaning the floors, he had done it as requested, and during his rest time he was sure to look over what they had in the Infirmary, and lend his advice.
“Though I do have a feeling that I have caused more death than prevented, I am afraid.†He had told her once, in a moment of guilt.
Ryanti shifted his focus from him and back to Jonathan as he gathered what he needed to gather and fastened the bandana upon his head. He wondered how he could just get up and go like that, seemingly without being effected by the dream. He cuddled up his knees against his chin and closed his eyes, reflecting upon the last few days. Vivid memories of P’welro’s lecturing and educational tidbits were the first to come to mind. He had found to really enjoy her company. He had tried very hard to keep up with her. She was a sight to see when she was working. Like a reflection of a Captain except… more like a picturebook.
He hadn’t told her that yet still. He remembered, though, how he would tease her by pointing out what proper name she did not pronounce correctly. He smiled to himself, showing his teeth, remembering how the simple teasing turned into an effort by Ryanti to teach P’welro something of his own: proper speech. “So if you want to say something like... Vineyard, it is just all about being patient and waiting for the word to say itself. Because you’re rushing to the end of the word, y’know?†He had said to her.
It was a good memory to him. How did those exchanges go? Vineyard, V’eyard. No, Vin, like Fin but with a V! Vi- Don’t just give up so easily now! How am I going to ever take you to a ball, P’welro! Would you have to be a mute?
He remembered the exchanges being something like that. Twelve, they were constantly talking to one another. Ribbing. He had been caught by P’welro eyes while having his own distracted and focused on Sounsyy wiping the floors below him. Ryanti had looked up and caught her looking up at him. He had coughed a little awkwardly and had to ask her to repeat her last few statements. He made a note to glance only when there was nothing to listen to. He did though, watching the Captain do one of the lowliest jobs on the ship, stealing glances every so often. Wondering if she ever noticed him all the way up there. Probably not.
Every Captain should never make an order that they wouldn't do themselves...
All in all, despite the backbreaking work, he had a great time up there with P’welro. They talked so much. Smiled and even laughed at some points; his throat was so dry by the end of it that her retiring early was the only reason why he did not beg to sleep with a waterskin because of how dry it made his throat. He had learned so much from her, and even a little bit about her.
He had other good memories. He had hummed along with Fruhsuun once, after overhearing him hum so often that he had begun to pick up on the notes of one of his hymns. The next time he began it, Ryanti did it with him. He never questioned his inability to speak.
He was beginning to finally realize that despite how different these people were to him in contrast, he was… beginning to really enjoy himself on this ship. He was beginning to really like these people.
He knew that would only mean more pain later. More hurt. The worst was yet to come, and he knew no matter how hard he tried he was simply not able to prevent Nyemia from seeing her lovely fate through. He knew that they might not all make it out of this, and it already felt like it hurt him so. But he was willing to put up with that hurt. To grin and bear it and to deal with it. Because for Ryanti, he valued keeping his heart on his sleeve more than any kind of pain could make him believe otherwise. But damn it, that still did not mean he would not fight as hard as he can to make sure none of that happens.
It was then that Ryanti took his thoughts off of that matter, and the words of the beautiful Elezen took their place.
"When Azeyma shows her face tomorrow morn, we will have reached the Indigo Deep and you will see the curve of the horizon, and it will look as if the very sea is alight." "It is miracles from the Navigator like these that return sailors to the sea. On these waves we are born, here we die. Though Navigator willing, not soon."
The miracles from the Navigator... He had heard much of this God from the men and women on this journey so far. What Marjanie had described was poetic and beautiful to Ryanti’s ears. He wanted to be there for that moment, and he did not want to take any chances. He was not going to obtain any more sleep that night anyway. His dreams had spoken to him once more, and when they silenced themselves he knew his night of rest was over.
“I am going with you too.†Ryanti said to Jonathan as he too started to dress himself in his meek sailor’s wears that he had become best friends with over the course of days. “It’s not like I am going to ilm myself any more sleep.â€
“Hmm.†Jonathan murmured underneath his breath, watching the young man wardrobe himself while glancing all too many times out the window to make sure it was still dark. “Something tells me it is not because you are aching to get back to work.â€
“Perhaps not.†Ryanti admitted, standing up on one tied boot while tying the other. “But… I do not want to just sit here. I was told that Azeyma will show her face when morning comes. That it is a reason why sailors return to the sea. I don’t want to miss something like that when I have the chance to see it.â€
Jonathan snorted a bit in response to that idea, eyeing him with a raised eyebrow and that same crooked expression he had given to Sounsyy days earlier. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go, go! Get out!â€
Ryanti raised his eyebrows and clutched his teeth in a bit of a strained smile as his response, dressing up a bit faster than one normally would. “Yes sir, heh.†He told him enthusiastically, hopping unnaturally on one foot as he made his way to the door.
They were extra quiet in knocking the door, and informed Berasaem politely that they would start the day early. They were led out the door to the mess, where it was a brief mini-breakfast of La Noscean toast, and some water. Ryanti wanted to eat quickly, and so he did. He did not want to miss that moment on the ocean. It was the first time he would have ever been on open sea in his life. He had remembered how small the mountains in Vylibrand looked from where they were yesterday. What would Hydealyn look like to him now? Would she show another face to him this morning? Azeyma’s?
His slow methodical steps could be heard ascending the aft stairs onto the main deck of the ship. He was relaxed and leisurely in his pace, for this was the first time he could truly enjoy the presence of peace and quiet upon the vessel without trying to get some sleep. A brush of air colder than he remembered yesterday swept underneath the threads of his clothing, and caused a mild feeling of discomfort that lasted for but a moment the gust was at its strongest. It caused his white locks to fly about his face, and he used a hand to try to keep those locks from entering his eyes.
His aquamarine irises sparkled with life and with the reflections of the moonlight bouncing across the water. Twilight was about to approach in a little while. So he had made it. No one in hell would yank him off of this deck until he had seen the sunrise.
And the water. There was so much water! Water as far as the eye could see. Ryanti’s untrained eyes on the ocean could not spot a sliver of land anywhere, though the late shroud of the elderly nightfall kept him from seeing fully. Still, the stars were out as they ever were in the absence of the sun, which had probably awoken at the same time Ryanti himself. It just took a little longer for the sun to emerge from its bedchambers.
Besides the initial gust, the winds were calm. He softly swiped the palm of his hand over the thick foundation of the mainmast, looking at his hand as he swiped the tiny bits of dust off of it, along with the crusty feeling of handling wood. “It’s so nice out here, when it’s quiet and the stars are out as they are. It’s so different too. Beautiful. Endless.â€
He smiled warmly at who he was talking to – the First Mate whom Ryanti was observing from a fair distance as he walked from the mainmast, to the middle of the deck. “Do you need someone to help you with anything, P’welro? I … didn’t want to miss the sunrise. So I’m up early.â€
Nothing was said between the members of the group.Their dreams had been utilizing them as a conduit on so many different occasions, on so many different missions that they were used to it. Although there was an extent to how used to it one could get. No one dream was the same, and although some could be similar, they were just never the same. There was always either… something different or something more between each dream they had. They were all linked to that object’s wish, and were set out to fulfill it. Four of them knew what they were getting into, but there was a fifth that didn’t.
“So you’re going up there?†The white haired Hyqo’te asked the Black haired Midlander. With an unreadable expression and a chiseled face, Jonathan was impossible to read while he was focused on something. Like tying his boots as he was doing now. He let out a dark sigh, one that would betray his tiredness as a man awoken perhaps earlier than he would like and worked a bit longer than he wished. Or perhaps it was because he had slept -too- much. Who knew? “I am going up there. I have nothing to do here. I enjoy being out there.†he mentioned.
Jonathan had done an excellent job with the Carpentry the last two days before. He had kept a subtle smile on his face and even mumbled to himself a few tunes while repairing and fortifying parts of the ship, bouncing back and forth on the side of it like a pure natural. It was actually a hobby of his to craft his own sheds and build small, personal rowboats that he would sell to anyone willing to pay. A hobby he would practice while off duty. He enjoyed building things and sculpting things. It allowed him to shed off bad memories and focus on creating things in the world that could benefit people’s lives. In fact, enriching people’s lives is why Jonathan did what he did. Why Ryanti did what he did.
Ryanti watched him dress up and prepare as Eighty-five shrugged them off and went back to bed, not really wanting to wake until she had to. Forty-three had shuffled over to her, on his knees and placing a hand upon her neck to make sure she was doing okay. He had been doing that regularly since she had gotten seasickness – a factor that she did not like admitting. Nevertheless, it had been obvious over the past few days that Forty-three was a very accomplished medic. During the last day, he had told Cwaenlona that he had went to school in Sharlaya to become a Physician, but that situations happened in his life that forced him to erase his dreams and start anew after suffering from a serious ‘accident’ that left his face needing plates. He had never graduated, and had nowhere else to go, and so he found himself here. Despite his moping in cleaning the floors, he had done it as requested, and during his rest time he was sure to look over what they had in the Infirmary, and lend his advice.
“Though I do have a feeling that I have caused more death than prevented, I am afraid.†He had told her once, in a moment of guilt.
Ryanti shifted his focus from him and back to Jonathan as he gathered what he needed to gather and fastened the bandana upon his head. He wondered how he could just get up and go like that, seemingly without being effected by the dream. He cuddled up his knees against his chin and closed his eyes, reflecting upon the last few days. Vivid memories of P’welro’s lecturing and educational tidbits were the first to come to mind. He had found to really enjoy her company. He had tried very hard to keep up with her. She was a sight to see when she was working. Like a reflection of a Captain except… more like a picturebook.
He hadn’t told her that yet still. He remembered, though, how he would tease her by pointing out what proper name she did not pronounce correctly. He smiled to himself, showing his teeth, remembering how the simple teasing turned into an effort by Ryanti to teach P’welro something of his own: proper speech. “So if you want to say something like... Vineyard, it is just all about being patient and waiting for the word to say itself. Because you’re rushing to the end of the word, y’know?†He had said to her.
It was a good memory to him. How did those exchanges go? Vineyard, V’eyard. No, Vin, like Fin but with a V! Vi- Don’t just give up so easily now! How am I going to ever take you to a ball, P’welro! Would you have to be a mute?
He remembered the exchanges being something like that. Twelve, they were constantly talking to one another. Ribbing. He had been caught by P’welro eyes while having his own distracted and focused on Sounsyy wiping the floors below him. Ryanti had looked up and caught her looking up at him. He had coughed a little awkwardly and had to ask her to repeat her last few statements. He made a note to glance only when there was nothing to listen to. He did though, watching the Captain do one of the lowliest jobs on the ship, stealing glances every so often. Wondering if she ever noticed him all the way up there. Probably not.
Every Captain should never make an order that they wouldn't do themselves...
All in all, despite the backbreaking work, he had a great time up there with P’welro. They talked so much. Smiled and even laughed at some points; his throat was so dry by the end of it that her retiring early was the only reason why he did not beg to sleep with a waterskin because of how dry it made his throat. He had learned so much from her, and even a little bit about her.
He had other good memories. He had hummed along with Fruhsuun once, after overhearing him hum so often that he had begun to pick up on the notes of one of his hymns. The next time he began it, Ryanti did it with him. He never questioned his inability to speak.
He was beginning to finally realize that despite how different these people were to him in contrast, he was… beginning to really enjoy himself on this ship. He was beginning to really like these people.
He knew that would only mean more pain later. More hurt. The worst was yet to come, and he knew no matter how hard he tried he was simply not able to prevent Nyemia from seeing her lovely fate through. He knew that they might not all make it out of this, and it already felt like it hurt him so. But he was willing to put up with that hurt. To grin and bear it and to deal with it. Because for Ryanti, he valued keeping his heart on his sleeve more than any kind of pain could make him believe otherwise. But damn it, that still did not mean he would not fight as hard as he can to make sure none of that happens.
It was then that Ryanti took his thoughts off of that matter, and the words of the beautiful Elezen took their place.
"When Azeyma shows her face tomorrow morn, we will have reached the Indigo Deep and you will see the curve of the horizon, and it will look as if the very sea is alight." "It is miracles from the Navigator like these that return sailors to the sea. On these waves we are born, here we die. Though Navigator willing, not soon."
The miracles from the Navigator... He had heard much of this God from the men and women on this journey so far. What Marjanie had described was poetic and beautiful to Ryanti’s ears. He wanted to be there for that moment, and he did not want to take any chances. He was not going to obtain any more sleep that night anyway. His dreams had spoken to him once more, and when they silenced themselves he knew his night of rest was over.
“I am going with you too.†Ryanti said to Jonathan as he too started to dress himself in his meek sailor’s wears that he had become best friends with over the course of days. “It’s not like I am going to ilm myself any more sleep.â€
“Hmm.†Jonathan murmured underneath his breath, watching the young man wardrobe himself while glancing all too many times out the window to make sure it was still dark. “Something tells me it is not because you are aching to get back to work.â€
“Perhaps not.†Ryanti admitted, standing up on one tied boot while tying the other. “But… I do not want to just sit here. I was told that Azeyma will show her face when morning comes. That it is a reason why sailors return to the sea. I don’t want to miss something like that when I have the chance to see it.â€
Jonathan snorted a bit in response to that idea, eyeing him with a raised eyebrow and that same crooked expression he had given to Sounsyy days earlier. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go, go! Get out!â€
Ryanti raised his eyebrows and clutched his teeth in a bit of a strained smile as his response, dressing up a bit faster than one normally would. “Yes sir, heh.†He told him enthusiastically, hopping unnaturally on one foot as he made his way to the door.
They were extra quiet in knocking the door, and informed Berasaem politely that they would start the day early. They were led out the door to the mess, where it was a brief mini-breakfast of La Noscean toast, and some water. Ryanti wanted to eat quickly, and so he did. He did not want to miss that moment on the ocean. It was the first time he would have ever been on open sea in his life. He had remembered how small the mountains in Vylibrand looked from where they were yesterday. What would Hydealyn look like to him now? Would she show another face to him this morning? Azeyma’s?
His slow methodical steps could be heard ascending the aft stairs onto the main deck of the ship. He was relaxed and leisurely in his pace, for this was the first time he could truly enjoy the presence of peace and quiet upon the vessel without trying to get some sleep. A brush of air colder than he remembered yesterday swept underneath the threads of his clothing, and caused a mild feeling of discomfort that lasted for but a moment the gust was at its strongest. It caused his white locks to fly about his face, and he used a hand to try to keep those locks from entering his eyes.
His aquamarine irises sparkled with life and with the reflections of the moonlight bouncing across the water. Twilight was about to approach in a little while. So he had made it. No one in hell would yank him off of this deck until he had seen the sunrise.
And the water. There was so much water! Water as far as the eye could see. Ryanti’s untrained eyes on the ocean could not spot a sliver of land anywhere, though the late shroud of the elderly nightfall kept him from seeing fully. Still, the stars were out as they ever were in the absence of the sun, which had probably awoken at the same time Ryanti himself. It just took a little longer for the sun to emerge from its bedchambers.
Besides the initial gust, the winds were calm. He softly swiped the palm of his hand over the thick foundation of the mainmast, looking at his hand as he swiped the tiny bits of dust off of it, along with the crusty feeling of handling wood. “It’s so nice out here, when it’s quiet and the stars are out as they are. It’s so different too. Beautiful. Endless.â€
He smiled warmly at who he was talking to – the First Mate whom Ryanti was observing from a fair distance as he walked from the mainmast, to the middle of the deck. “Do you need someone to help you with anything, P’welro? I … didn’t want to miss the sunrise. So I’m up early.â€