Seijiro wrinkles his nose in response to the offered cigarette, though he doesn't take it away from Tomo... He doesn't light it either, letting the monkey play with it, probably eventually tearing it open and eating the contents.
"Don't get into the habit, Tomo-chan, it stinks and makes your breath smell bad." He ruffles Tomo's fur and engages in some idle mutual grooming with his new friend while he enjoys his rest in the shade.
When Tomo is done with the cigarette and its contents, Seijiro does a quick prestidigitation on the monkey and its mouth and teeth to get rid of the smell and taste of tobacco. He offers the monkey a date to eat and play with.
Barzazal follows along not saying much at times and running away at the mouth others. Getting a feel for his new travelling companions, he seems to be finding where he most fits in. At hearing Horatio voice his concern of the heat, the gnome smirks a little thinking of his power to shrug of such effects. "I'll surprise him with that gift later.", he thinks to himself
At the Watch tower, a tiny blue parrot head pokes itself over the side to look at you as you come up the rope ladder. *SQUAWK* SONS OF SQUID FILTH! *SQUAWK*
Reaching the top, you look over onto the platform. Laying sprawled half in and half out of a hammock is a slovenly dressed man in a drunken stupor. He has a tangled beard and is surrounded by empty bottles of rum and what look like trail rations strewn about him. The blue parrot hops up onto the rail and looks at you for a moment before turning and looking out at the sea.
The snores are quite loud.
I glance back and Barzazal was we trudge up to the watchtower.
"So, you been in Mwangi lands, eh? And you got the gift of some kind of magic's, too?" I say somewhat conversationally as we walk, though my eyes are open for possible threats.
"I knew a lad once out of the Mwangi tribes - he was a kobold, though - some witch doctor or some such bought his egg from a wandering merchant and raised him in their culture; the kobold was inducted into their rites and lore - learned their magic.... their black magic, eh?" I add the last with an almost grim shudder, almost as if speaking to myself.
"They say he learned the Ju Ju ways - the ways of the zombie and the zuvembie - he was taught not only the ways of the true gods, but the ways of the "old gods" - the gods before gods in dark times before men..." I say, my voice dropping a bit.
"Scary little basterd - but trusty, in his own way. Had a bad leg, and this nasty habbit of speaking in riddles that came true, on account of the fact that he had the "Second Sight", it was said."
I glance around us, to make sure we're none of us overheard - though of course in the middle of the jungle, we wouldn't be - and even if we were, what would matter?
Even so, I lean in to the group in an almost conspiratorial way.
"Little bugger was a cheeky one, I'll grant you - but no one messed with him, even though he was only a kobold - they say his patron was Ydersius, on account of him being a kobold, but he'd always laugh and tell us he had another calling - that he followed another god, but never gave the name."
"And the strangest thing was - his skin was silver - like a poxing silver dragon... so we all figured it'd be best to leave him be and not offend his weirding ways," I add, making a quick sign to ward of the "evil eye".
"In the end the lad went north, I hear - said he had a high destiny to follow and a kingdom to shape..." I shrug.
"I wonder what happened to that little bugger... Oh well; I reckon I'll never see him again. Even so - it was an interesting tale."
"So tell me, lad - you got any similar tales with the Mwangi folk?" I ask politely.
At the Watch tower, a tiny blue parrot head pokes itself over the side to look at you as you come up the rope ladder. *SQUAWK* SONS OF SQUID FILTH! *SQUAWK*
Reaching the top, you look over onto the platform. Laying sprawled half in and half out of a hammock is a slovenly dressed man in a drunken stupor. He has a tangled beard and is surrounded by empty bottles of rum and what look like trail rations strewn about him. The blue parrot hops up onto the rail and looks at you for a moment before turning and looking out at the sea.
The snores are quite loud.
I will pick the rum bottles up and smash them over the side, and do what I can to wake this basterd.
I will also take a piece of hardtack cracker to feed to the parrot.
Once the cur gets out of his drunken stupor, I'll lay into him proper - and make sure that the "guard" isn't napping. If he had been awake to begin with, he may have seen the naga approaching (doubtful, I know - but I like playing the percentages).
Meantime, I ponder the structural design of the tower, and re-read the details via my Knowledge Check - which I didn't see yet ;p
While shopping at the market, Seijiro commissions a new kimono and pants. Of course he'll have to give the maker his old kimono to use as a pattern. "I'd like these to be of extra nice quality, something smooth and silky in texture that will flow like water when worn." He picks out a fabric in dark grey or black.
Waaaaah! Who goes there?! The man drunkenly says as he falls off his hammock and to the floor. Looking at you through bloodshot eyes he says And just who the hell might you be?
The bird squawks again and says WHO THE HELL?! *SQUAWK!*
Seijiro, you find a seamstress who is familiar with Tien designs and begins measuring you. If you have never been fitted for clothes before it is quite...personal to say the least.
I had a man from Tian Xia come in and order a replacement for something similar several years ago. I can use a similar design if you wish. It should give you excellent mobility and keep you quite cool.
"Really? Someone from Tian Xia was here before? Oh... that tickles... That's very interesting, I have rarely seen someone from home here in the west. I really appreciate you making this for me. He must have made quite an impression for you to recall the style and fit of the clothing he ordered. Oooh.. you have to measure there?!!?" He laughs nervously a little. "How long will this take to make this?.. it will be ready before the ship is, I hope?"
Waaaaah! Who goes there?! The man drunkenly says as he falls off his hammock and to the floor. Looking at you through bloodshot eyes he says And just who the hell might you be?
The bird squawks again and says WHO THE HELL?! *SQUAWK!*
”I’m the guy telling you who it is, you drunken sot!”
”Old man Squibs just sent me and another batch of new lads to check on this miserable excuse for a guard post because the folk yonder got hit hard with some crawling nasty from the jungles. Like as not we’d have been better off if you had your piss-assed eyes peeled and warned us of the filth, instead of napping in this hammock like some kind of corpse.”
”Now you get your bloody ass out of the hammock, get your bloody eyes on the poxing jungle, and make sure you don’t be falling asleep on duty again; if you do you ain’t going to just taste the back of my hand, like as not you’ll be dancing Danny Deever by sundown, savvy,” I add with a bellow.
The guy gets angry and says Well that ain't my bloody job and Rickety damn well knows it. I watch the sea for signs of incoming ships and send up a flag when they do. I was napping because I done trained Rotgut there to watch and alert me when he sees something. Now why don't you get out of my face and crawl back into whatever damn hole you crawled out of!
Barzazal sneers at the mentioning of kobolds. "Filthy little buggers. Doesn't surprise me at all that he messed about with the foul arts. Who to be around stinking dead things??
The guy gets angry and says Well that ain't my bloody job and Rickety damn well knows it. I watch the sea for signs of incoming ships and send up a flag when they do. I was napping because I done trained Rotgut there to watch and alert me when he sees something. Now why don't you get out of my face and crawl back into whatever damn hole you crawled out of!
As the tower looks like it is in fair condition, I’ll head back to the village. It seems there’s nothing else to be done today. So I take my kit and head back to the village.
Barzazal sneers at the mentioning of kobolds. "Filthy little buggers. Doesn't surprise me at all that he messed about with the foul arts. Who to be around stinking dead things??
I glance at Barzazal out of the corner of my eye and shrug.
”Yep, you’re probably right,” I answer easily, not really in the mood to debate the issue at this point.
”Anyhow, thanks for coming with me, damn right decent of you,” I add sincerely.
”So it looks like the gear’s been bought, lad’s have been hired but they ain’t around to talk to yet, despite the fact that they’re shipping out with us at the end of the week, so there ain’t nothing else to do now, I guess, except sit around and wait for something to happen.”
”Well – I guess I’ll go have a drink. Thanks again,” I say with a wave, than wander off to the tavern.
With little to do, I continue to chat with Rain, and take out my weapons and begin to break down my pistols and clean them. Then I check the edge to my blades; sharpening them if necessary.
Not comfortable with the seemingly lackadaisical approach to the town's watch, I ask to move my quarters to one of the rooms that is on the second floor (or higher) in the tavern.
Essentially my plan is to make sure that I can have a room with a window or (preferably) a balcony or a method for getting to the top floor from my room so I can keep an eye on things from the bay or (possibly) the jungle.
I don't want to be surprised by another naga. If we killed a young one, it seems likely that an adult may come looking for it.
At any time during this process, I'll chat with whoever wants to chat.
Seijiro finishes his shopping and slips into the taproom as much for relief from the incessant heat as from the bright sun. Unfortunately, the taproom, while shaded, is probably no cooler than outside.
He settles down not far from Rain and Flynn and takes a pair of dates from the bag at his belt. He offers one to Tomo and munches on the second himself. As he does so, he calls out to Flynn..
"Yo, Flynn. Find any adventure out there on the way to the watchtower? It's been dead quiet here, except for the sound of the carpenters working on the ship."
Seijiro finishes his shopping and slips into the taproom as much for relief from the incessant heat as from the bright sun. Unfortunately, the taproom, while shaded, is probably no cooler than outside.
He settles down not far from Rain and Flynn and takes a pair of dates from the bag at his belt. He offers one to Tomo and munches on the second himself. As he does so, he calls out to Flynn..
"Yo, Flynn. Find any adventure out there on the way to the watchtower? It's been dead quiet here, except for the sound of the carpenters working on the ship."
I check the sites on my pistol for a moment and put it down on the rag as I continue to clean them.
”Nothing of note,” I say, as I squint, examining the flint to make sure it’s not pitted or damaged.
”Seems pretty quiet out there – but a little too quite, if you’ll pardon the euphemism,” I add, adding a fine sheen of oil to the locking mechanism, then rubbing it in gently.
”See, I reckoned we just killed a young naga; don’t know why it rushed out of the waters to attack – figured it was after food or maybe pissed at the heat or something, hell, I don’t know.”
”And even though old man Squibbs is going to be conferring with its clan to smooth things out – well… If that was my kin that was killed, maybe I’d not be so understanding, eh? Maybe – especially given the heat and the poxing weather, I might come to do some mischief on my own account. If I was a bloody naga that just lost close kin...”
”Now that’s just me – who’s to say what an actual naga would do. But I figured it would be better to prepared for anything, and as there’s nothing to do – I figured also, why not do something to play the percentages, rather than goofing off playing nine pins or quoits, darts, cards, or whatever else passes as “amusing diversion” in this joint.”
I frown a bit, then take out my late mother’s dagger and check the edge to it with the ball of my thumb; pressing gently against it to feel it.
”Don’t get me wrong – it makes no difference to me what the rest of these folks want to do; but this place is pretty useless on guard duty. Hell, that one lad was in the watchtower passed out drunk and sleeping in his hammock for gods’s sake – can you beat that?”
”Anyhow, my own personal plan is to be ready for anything. If nothing happens – oh well; then nothing happens. But if something does… well; if another naga comes roaring in here to see why we killed its kin - I’d rather be prepared than not, eh?”
”So – how about you? What have you been up to?” I add, pulling out my whip and laying it on the table, and checking the leather braiding to make sure its not frayed or worn, rubbing some oil into the leather to make sure it isn’t drying out or wearing down in the heat.
"Well I hope you're wrong about the naga's relations coming for revenge. I'd hate to have to deal with a full grown one. I'm not sure we could handle that. Hopefully Rickety can talk to them and make sure there are no repercussions for the young one's death. Perhaps you're right it was just crazed by the heat."
Seijiro catches another date in his teeth and munches it slowly. "Inattentive guards don't seem very useful, perhaps Rickety needs to know his guard was sleeping on duty."
"As for me, I did a little shopping and ordered some new clothes made. I also shopped for ships stores. I didn't buy any of them yet because we don't want the fresher items going bad... but I placed orders if you know what I mean. Just told the vendors what we wanted and and when I needed it by - dictated by Rickety's schedule with the boat of course. As you requested, I told them we'd want citrus and other fresh fruits... and I ordered some of that pineapple as well, because that was SO good."
"There's still a lot of items that we need like the carpentry tools and healer's kits and so forth - I figure I need to take Dhaavan with me for those as he might be able to arrange a lower price for us on them."
"Other than that, it's been really quiet here... I think everyone's got a case of ennui what with this heat and all. No one's got much energy or enthusiasm for much of anything. Even Rain here's been quiet. What was that you asked her about coming with us? I thought she'd decided she was leaving our company... did I misunderstand? Not that that's all that uncommon... I still have problems with some of the finer nuances of your language from time to time."
He looks from Flynn to Rain pointedly...
"Rain, we'd love to have you continue to sail with us, even if you don't want to be captain. I hope that isn't why you said you weren't coming was it? Because I kind of pushed for that and I'd feel terrible if something I said was behind your decision to leave. That wasn't my intent at all. We want you to stay with us if you will."
He looks genuinely shocked and dismayed that he might have been at least in part for Rain deciding not to stay with the company.
Rain quietly sits and listens to the exchange between Jiro and Flynn. Her eyes occasionally roam to Jiro's monkey companion, and a bemused smile plays across her lips.
She nods her head toward the easterner and speaks, "How goes it, Jiro? It seems as though an age has passed since we have last spoken."
Rain notes Flynn's assessment of a lax guard detail.
"Flynn, I concur with your assessment on poor security. It pays to be prepared rather than chasing our tails."
Rain takes in Jiro's anxiety over her previous decision to part company with her crew and attempts to reassure him.
"Nay, Jiro. Please do not believe you or any others are at fault here. I was struggling with my own concerns and realisations and believed I had to take a step back or lose my identity. I can see now that I have no desire to lead but to aid where I am able and best suited. This is where my strengths lie."
"Well, I would consider it a great honor to have you with us, though I can't speak for Variel. I hope he thinks the same though. Your skills and company both are things of great value and we'd be the better for you staying with us in any capacity."
"You haven't met Tomo-chan yet have you?" He scratches the monkey behind one ear. "He's my new little friend and companion. He'll be sailing with us, too!"
Rain nods in regard to whether or not Variel will be pleased with her revised decision. "I am aware that Variel and some of the others may not agree with how I would proceed in this and I will abide by his decision as Captain. I can only do what I feel is right for myself and be true to my heart and mind."
Rain leans over the table, closer to Jiro and his monkey, Tomo. "Hello, Tomo." Turning to Jiro, "Does he understand the Common tongue?"
"I just got him, and I'm not sure how much he understands yet, though I think he's starting to learn his name, which means 'friend' in my native language. I hope in time he comes to understand more Common."
At the mention of his name, Tomo looks over at Rain and chitters softly, then holds out his hand, as if waiting for something from her.
Seijiro slips Rain a date and nods his head toward Tomo... "I think he wants another date... silly little thing is gonna get fat if he keeps eating like this." He chuckles softly.
Rain takes the date from Jiro and slowly extends it to the monkey, giving Tomo time to get used to her presence.
"Here, you go. Is this what you are after, Tomo?" Rain's voice is soft and cajoling.
Tomo reaches forward and takes the date daintily from Rain's fingers and hoots softly before biting into the morsel.. He eyes her while he eats... occasionally grabbing a handful of Seijiro's hair and tugging gently with one hand while eating with the other...
When he finishes eating he runs down Seijiro's arm and across the table towards Rain, though he seems hesitant when he gets close to her...
Seijiro grabs for the end of Tomo's leash, grabbing ahold of it just before it gets out of his reach... He hangs onto it, keeping Tomo from getting too far away.
Tomo stops at the end of the leash, grabs the leash and tries to pull it loose, but Seijiro hangs onto it tightly, so Tomo does a backflip and lands on the table, still in front of Rain... he holds out a hand again for another treat.... or perhaps just the contact?
"I think he's trying to make a new friend, Rain." Seijiro smiles happily at Tomo's antics, though he still hangs onto the leash, just in case.
"So tell me, Rain, we all have grown in our abilities since we last fought together, but you weren't with us when we fought the Naga. And were keeping mostly to yourself after Plugg and Scourge. Mind sharing what new things you've learned? I think it's a good idea if we all keep up to date on what each other can do, so we can work... and fight... better as a united force."
Rain looks at the monkey's outstretched hand. The little creature reminded her of the mischievous monkeys on her home island and she lays her fingers tentatively on Tomo's open hand, touching his palm.
Softly she extends an apology,"Sorry, Tomo. I have no more dates at present."
At Jiro's question regarding her abilities, she gives him her full attention but does not take her fingers away from Tomo's hand. Her voice is steady but low (aware of the need for prudence),
"I have mingled with the locals and have found myself growing quite familiar with their dialect. I believe it is necessary to know the inhabitant's tongue, especially if we are to trade or to make use of their knowledge and labour. During my quiet, reflective moments I have grown in my understanding of the nature and mechanics of magic. I have still much to learn but I am no longer inexperienced in the ways of magic."
Rain pauses to gently touch Tomo's hand again before continuing. She keeps her manner easy so as to not make the monkey anxious.
"My abilities to track and move unnoticed have grown, as I have been honing my talents in this regard. I have explored some of the caves in the local area and can manage to navigate them without losing my way. I have been observing others in this tavern and outside its walls. I am beginning to understand the fine art of communication, of what is said and unsaid and how to disguise one's true intent. In the past I have been rather good around animals -- and so I have been watching the experienced handlers teach tricks and turn a creature's manner to another's will. I have attempted to calm and tame in a similar manner with some success."
Rain suddenly chuckles as if self-conscious in the next disclosure, "I have also been singing a lot more, here in this tavern, and my voice is improving -- the patrons seem to cheer and are pleased with my performances. If they're comfortable around a person, then it makes life easier. They begin to trust you instead of view you with suspicion."
Wanting to know more about her eastern friend, she asks of him, "What skills have you developed, Jiro? You seem more at ease since our first meeting and I am pleased by it."
Rain takes in Jiro's anxiety over her previous decision to part company with her crew and attempts to reassure him.
"Nay, Jiro. Please do not believe you or any others are at fault here. I was struggling with my own concerns and realisations and believed I had to take a step back or lose my identity. I can see now that I have no desire to lead but to aid where I am able and best suited. This is where my strengths lie."
”Well, as for me – you already know what I think about having you sail with us, and a pox on them that don’t like it,” I add, spitting a stream of the tobacco juice into a metal spittoon nearby.
Pting!
”And as for the security?” I glance up at both of my companions –
”What’s for it, eh? The lad in the watchtower had his bloody parrot doing the watch, he damn well admitted it – and when I asked him about it, his response was that Squibb’s knows all about it, and doesn’t seem to give a rat’s ass.”
I shrug somewhat laconically, and pull out another dagger. This one definitely needs work, and I spit deftly on the whetstone and begin to sharpen the edge to the blade.
”Right now we’re stuck here until the damn ship is finished – and that’s pretty much that. But after today’s attack, I’d rather be prepared for any little nasty surprises.”
”Hey, that reminds me…” I say, pausing from my work and looking up at the two of you.
”This is just something I’m going to lay on the table, er – metaphorically, that is…” I say, glancing at the table for a moment, then continuing.
”This,” I say with a somewhat obvious and slightly condescending tone ”is a pistol, a black powder weapon,” I add as I pick one up and hold it in my hand.
”Its purpose is to let me shoot a projectile at high velocity at a target at a distance to do great damage,” I add in the same somewhat obnoxious tone.
”Now that would seem pretty obvious to most folks – but not everyone, hence me spelling it out,” I add, putting the pistol down and going back to work with the dagger.
”Oh yeah, my poxing point… Here’s the bloody thing; the next time we go dancing with some piss-poor bugger which done come charging us from a swamp, or a jungle, or the water – or wherever you like – why not do yourself and me a favor and not run between me and my pistols so you can get in the basterd’s face and try poking him with a pointy thing, or smash him with a blunt thing.”
”Because,” I add, my voice growing somewhat more annoyed now as I continue to explain this ”when someone gets between me and the bloody target, I got to take time to aim, and with all that dancing around between the target and one of my mates, it effects my chances of hitting – and not in a good way – savvy?”
I finish sharpening the dagger and then give it a good rub down with the oiled rag.
”Hell, if you got a lad with ranged weapons on your flank why not let him fire a salvo before you get between him and the target… bloody tactics, for the sake of every god living, dead and yet to be,” I add the last with a grunt and a shake of my head.
Then I spit again, and shrug and turn a lopsided grin to the two of you.
”Well, anyhow,” I add with a more positive tone in my voice ”not saying either of you two fine folk would do that – but it’s happened before, and I figured I’d just toss that out there, just in case another naga comes back.”
I carefully sheathe that dagger, than move on to the next one.
”That reminds me – if another naga does attack us – maybe instead of getting into the water with it – which, by the by – is a pretty pain in the ass thing to do as I see it. That is; fighting in the water, gods damn do I hate doing that. Hell, I think we can all agree that's a pain in the ass... But anyhow, if we get another one of those water creatures attacking us, why not try leading him out of the poxing water, eh? Hell, I mean – why let the enemy pick the battleground?”
”Hunh! I’ve had enough of that on this poxing trip to last me a bloody lifetime. First the poxing dire rats, then we get hit with those sodding reefclaws - then that whole bloody business as we track the grindy's in their piss-mucked caves as we all stumbled in the water,” I add, grumbling a bit to myself as start going to work on this last dagger.
Hearing Seijiro's words, my mood brightens a bit as I glance at Tomo-chan.
”Oye, Rain – you like the monkey? I had some armor made for the little guy special. Monkey sized, and it’ll give him some protection against some trouble, if he gets in it,” I say, not clarifying if I mean the armor, or trouble.
I ponder Rain’s words on being the captain and shrug.
”Hell, I’m with you now, lass. Just sailing on the ship and going from port to port is good enough for me."
"Yeah, "Free Agent" - sounds damn good to me right about now. Hell yeah! I like it, I like it a lot,” I add, nodding as if considering saying one more thing on the matter.
But then I stop myself, shrug, and turn to Seijiro.
”And you, Jiro-san, you crafty little fox-kami – you like those pineapples, eh? Aye – me too. But while we’re waiting to pick up the new gear, maybe we can figure out a way to dry them. You know, kind of like dried meats – only we do it with fruit.”
”We got the time, it seems – and dried figs and dates are pretty good – dried pineapple’s got to be just as good, or at least – better, maybe, because it’ll last a lot longer, which is damn handy.”
”The lad running the supplies; did he suggest that dried fruits were a possibility to buy outright, or would we have to do it ourselves? If we got to do it ourselves, I’ll lend you a hand – and maybe we rustle up the cook, what’s his name? You know – the lad who sailed with us after leaving his last berth? Anyhow – we ask him, he may know a trick or two to drying fruits and vegetables for keeping long terms.”
”Hell,” I say absently, considering something ”I know lads out of Sargova that done dried hot peppers – they had strings of the bloody things all dried up like a shriveled… well, you get the idea – but anyhow, they put the pepper in a clay oven and slow cook on a low, low heat – until it is dried up and then they can use it to crumble on their food and drink to make it damn spicy. And they don’t need to worry about the pepper going bad or rotting… pretty good trick,” I add with a nod to myself.
”Anyhow – chances are that if lads can there do those tricks, so can the lads here. And if they can’t – no worries; we can do it ourselves as we’re pretty much marooned on this little paradise until the ship is done.”
I hum a little folksong from a Mwangi tribe which I had learned in my youth, then I pause and glance over at Rain –
”Well lass, what’s your plans now – and speaking of plans; you reckon on buying new gear at this joint? As I recall – seems as if you never did pick up your cut of the loot from the last haul. I reckon we owe it to you, but I can’t for the life of me recall how much it is,” I add.
”But I’m sure we’ll get it figured out – just ask the ol’ quartermaster,” I add with a friendly nod to Seijiro.
”But I ain’t going to have it said that any lad or lass that sails with me don’t get their fair cut. You sail with me, you’ll get the cut you earned – no worries,” I add with a grin and a wink, then wait for Rain to share her plans with us, and what she's interested in and been up to.
Rain looks at the monkey's outstretched hand. The little creature reminded her of the mischievous monkeys on her home island and she lays her fingers tentatively on Tomo's open hand, touching his palm.
Softly she extends an apology,"Sorry, Tomo. I have no more dates at present."
At Jiro's question regarding her abilities, she gives him her full attention but does not take her fingers away from Tomo's hand. Her voice is steady but low (aware of the need for prudence),
"I have mingled with the locals and have found myself growing quite familiar with their dialect. I believe it is necessary to know the inhabitant's tongue, especially if we are to trade or to make use of their knowledge and labour. During my quiet, reflective moments I have grown in my understanding of the nature and mechanics of magic. I have still much to learn but I am no longer inexperienced in the ways of magic."
Rain pauses to gently touch Tomo's hand again before continuing. She keeps her manner easy so as to not make the monkey anxious.
"My abilities to track and move unnoticed have grown, as I have been honing my talents in this regard. I have explored some of the caves in the local area and can manage to navigate them without losing my way. I have been observing others in this tavern and outside its walls. I am beginning to understand the fine art of communication, of what is said and unsaid and how to disguise one's true intent. In the past I have been rather good around animals -- and so I have been watching the experienced handlers teach tricks and turn a creature's manner to another's will. I have attempted to calm and tame in a similar manner with some success."
Rain suddenly chuckles as if self-conscious in the next disclosure, "I have also been singing a lot more, here in this tavern, and my voice is improving -- the patrons seem to cheer and are pleased with my performances."
Wanting to know more about her eastern friend, she asks of him, "What skills have you developed,...
I open my pouch and absently toss Tomo-chan a date.
"There you go, lad - enjoy!"
I glance at Rain.
"I tried to teach him how to smoke, but Jiro-san didn't like the smell," I add with a grin.
"Eh - to each their own, I reckon."
I listen to Rain regale us with her experiences, and nod at her studying.
"Singing, eh? Well, everyone's got a preference, I reckon. As for me? Singing ain't my style much, but I have learned a trick or two in the kitchen."
"Made these lads here a fine stew after our we ended up trouncing Plugg and his lot - I wish you had a chance to sample it Rain - something tell's me you would have liked the dish quite a bit. Or at least, well... there's nothing like the right meal after you work up a good appetite for certain things, eh?" I add with a strange smile.
"But that's all old news. New news is that you picked up some new skills, which is handy," I add.
I glance her over, my head cocking to the side as my eyes roam over her a bit.
"You look a bit different; tougher, too. Something about it I can't put my finger on - I think that last fight sort of dried up the gentler piece out of you a bit, if you don't mind me saying so. Looks like you're a little harder now; lean and mean, as it were."
"I like that," I add, nodding somewhat "means you're able to deal with things easier, which is a damn good thing," I add almost to myself, as if able to sense Rain's ability to Endure things with somewhat greater ease.
"You say you work with animals? Like what kind? Any monkey's?" I ask almost eagerly.
"Hell, after I fixed up ol' Tomo-chan with that armor, I recommend that we train up a whole set of monkey marines for our attacks. Give 'em gear and weapons and have 'em rush the enemy in a bout of monkey madness," I say with a grin, but even so - a somewhat wistful look is in my eye as I seem to actually imagine a legion of "monkey marines".
"Sadly that plan was squashed as impractical - which I said was a shame, because monkey's would probably prefer banana's to gold - in a pinch, and that could save us lots of coin," I add with a wink, and now it's clear that I'm teasing Seijiro just a bit, but it's also clear it's only meant as light-hearted fun, I'm not trying to be harsh on him, or Tomo-chan, who I seem to really like.
"Oh well - maybe one day in the future we'll have monkey marines, but for now, Tomo-chan is good enough for me," I finish with with a flourish.
"But oh yeah, if not monkey's - what kind of animals are you looking to train?" I ask curiously.
Seijiro lets Tomo have free range of the table as long as he stays clear of others' drink and food... The little fellow gladly accepts a date from Flynn though, and squats on the table happily eating it, his bright eyes seemingly following the conversation.
"Ah, Rain, thank you for sharing that. I can definitely see you have a way with Tomo, here... I'm not surprised you have grown in your affinity for animals. As for me," he shrugs and sighs, "I have learned several new things! You know how Plugg and Scourge overworked folks until they were nigh unto dropping asleep on duty? Well, not that Dhaavan or Valeros would do anything like that, but it could happen during a storm or something. Anyway, I've learnt to relieve such tiredness with a song or two to brighten the spirits and wake folks up a bit. It also helps cure sea-sickness too!" Seijiro gives a big grin and a little laugh. "Not that I'd expect much o' that from those what serve on a ship by choice. I can make folks fight better too!"
"I've learnt a bit more about the areas we're sailing in too. I pretty much honed what skills I already knew well, but I did pick up a new lingo too. I guess the most interesting thing is that, well, like Flynn said, my people are fox-kami and magical by nature, but I can use more magic than before. I can even go invisible if I need to!" He grins excitedly at that admission.
He chuckles at Flynn's suggestion again of a squad of monkey marines and simply shakes his head with a smirk.
"I should get some hardy armor. Perhaps a new weapon. I have not thought about it overly much. I only recently made up my mind to rejoin the ship. If you have suggestions, Flynn, I am willing to hear them."
Giving her attention to Jiro in his role as Quartermaster, "I am unsure how much gold I have owing to me. I would like to best protect myself and those I aid, however."
Addressing Flynn's observations pertaining to her physique, "Aye, I am hardier now. Some of the escapades in The Shackles have honed by body, mind and spirit. For good or bad, it is of no import. It is done and I have adjusted."
When Flynn brings up working with monkeys, Rain chuckles before speaking again. "I have not had the pleasure of working with monkeys, although they are familiar to me from my life on Tempest Cay. I have worked with birds, mainly homing birds, parrots, gulls. I would like to see if I could train dolphins. They are intelligent and friendly -- a good combination. I believe I could apply my ability to any animal I set my mind to. Tricks are handy but if we can teach them to follow simple commands, then we can use them to perform tasks we are unable to or have no time for."
At Flynn's interesting and unusual suggestion of creating an army of monkeys, Rain shakes her head bemusedly, "I have heard of stranger things, Flynn. Monkeys holding vantage point high in tree canopies or top masts can be useful. They are nimble and can move swiftly, deftly. I cannot say I could do this in the short term, but I could attempt to train some animals with a semblance of intelligence in simple tasks." Rain leans over and gently scratches the top of Tomo's head as the monkey happily contends himself with eating his date.
Fixing Jiro with her turquoise gaze, Rain adds, "To relieve tiredness and sickness is a fine ability, Jiro, especially long days and nights out at sea. And invisibility is a handy tool. Gives one an advantage in battle, whether in scouting or movement across a ship or on land. I will remember those skills of yours most assuredly."
"I should get some hardy armor. Perhaps a new weapon. I have not thought about it overly much. I only recently made up my mind to rejoin the ship. If you have suggestions, Flynn, I am willing to hear them."
Giving her attention to Jiro in his role as Quartermaster, "I am unsure how much gold I have owing to me. I would like to best protect myself and those I aid, however."
Addressing Flynn's observations pertaining to her physique, "Aye, I am hardier now. Some of the escapades in The Shackles have honed by body, mind and spirit. For good or bad, it is of no import. It is done and I have adjusted."
When Flynn brings up working with monkeys, Rain chuckles before speaking again. "I have not had the pleasure of working with monkeys, although they are familiar to me from my life on Tempest Cay. I have worked with birds, mainly homing birds, parrots, gulls. I would like to see if I could train dolphins. They are intelligent and friendly -- a good combination. I believe I could apply my ability to any animal I set my mind to. Tricks are handy but if we can teach them to follow simple commands, then we can use them to perform tasks we are unable to or have no time for."
At Flynn's interesting and unusual suggestion of creating an army of monkeys, Rain shakes her head bemusedly, "I have heard of stranger things, Flynn. Monkeys holding vantage point high in tree canopies or top masts can be useful. They are nimble and can move swiftly, deftly. I cannot say I could do this in the short term, but I could attempt to train some animals with a semblance of intelligence in simple tasks." Rain leans over and gently scratches the top of Tomo's head as the monkey happily contends himself with eating his date.
Fixing Jiro with her turquoise gaze, Rain adds, "To relieve tiredness and sickness is a fine ability, Jiro, especially long days and nights out at sea. And invisibility is a handy tool. Gives one an advantage in battle, whether in scouting or movement across a ship...
"First thing for it, check the stores - we may have magical gear you want a piece of that ain't unclaimed, and as for the stuff that is claimed - you took none, seems to me that you got a chance to get a piece of it; I don't think no one will complain if you get your share of magical gear - especially as you are handy in a fight, better than some, though not casting bad words at none, but you're more handy up front - you need some protection up front - that's all."
I listen to her comment and shake my head and wave my hand with a bit of a frustrated gesture.
"Don't know if that's meant as poetry or literal - but I say stow that kind of talk. You're a damn site tougher - there is no "For better or worse" - that's better, only better. Out here, if you're weak, you're dead. You're sick - you're dead."
"You need every poxing advantage you can get in the wilderness - don't think that having a tougher body is a bad thing in any way - it's good; only good. You need to be strong out here, or you die. It's that simple," I add, seeming to be agitated about the idea of having less strength or endurance as an admirable thing. But it also seems that I am defending the point to more than just Rain... it's also possible that I'm talking to myself as well...
I continue to chew for a moment in silence - then I repack my weapons, satisfied that they are clean and seem to brighten.
"Heh - yeah; well - monkey marines - that lad Dhaavan goes on about having a rough and tough reputation - can you think of anything more frightening then seeing a group of monkey's charging you with little swords and knives. Hell, if it happened to me - I don't know if I'd piss myself or fall over laughing - either way, the monkey's probably get to attack me first, on account of I wouldn't attack them first - I mean, really, who attacks monkey's?" I add with a wide grin.
Then I spit in the spittoon and think a bit for a while.
"You know, I've heard a story once about monkey-like creatures, but they weren't monkeys but larger - like apes, or apemen really," I say slowly, thinking about something.
"A lad told a tale to me and some others about how once he and his crew were doing deep tracking in the jungles and their whole merceneary company was wiped out - excepting the one lad to tell the tale, you know - usual hash... Anyhow, he says his company was wiped out by apes."
"We all asked if they were some kind of dire chimps or something - but he kept saying "No, no - they had armor and gear - spears with flint tips, cudgels made of wood and stone; and armor made out of animal hides" - and other such nonsense.
I scratch my chin, my eyes frosting and continue talking, my voice seeming to be more quiet, as if pondering the implications.
"Bloody hell, eh? An ape is faster and stronger than a man is, that's for damn sure - and they can climb and jump farther too - easily. If they got smarter, if they had the brains of men... Damnation - that'd be a hard thing, damn had," I mutter to myself.
"Oh well, that was the deep jungles - some old ruined temples and so on, and anyhow, you can't always trust sailors tales when they're telling the bloody stories on account of a free drink, eh? On the other hand... if those sort of apemen exist - with the smarts of men and the learning to make weapons and armor and, gods forbid, sorcery to boot - damnation... that'd be hard to handle for sure," I add with a nervous grin.
"Of course, I never saw an ape swim, so it's a good thing we're on a ship far from them. On the other hand, that only means more fighting in the poxing water," I add with a growl, and look up at my comrades.
"I hate fighting in the water," I add with a sheepish grin.
I glance at Rain at her thought of a dolphin.
"Dolphin's not a bad animal to have on the high seas - and I hear tell they're pretty chummy with sea elves and every sailor hear's stories about how helpful dolphins are... My only fear is how we can keep a dolphin safe if the ship is attacked or if we need to be closer to dry land an it's dangerous..."
"Tell you what, if you ever get a dolphin as a companion like Jiro-san with his better half," I add with a wink at Tomo-chan "Or Dhaavan and his bird - maybe I'll see about rigging up some tackle and see if we can't fix a way for your dolphin to get into the ship and be safe inside - if we run into hard storms or something."
I glance at Seijiro a moment and put up my hands, as if warding off a comment.
"Now, don't mistake me - that's not something I'm planning on doing overnight - but just a possibility, that's all."
I keep thinking a moment, as my eyes fixate on the window and the lines of our ship outside in the distance.
"Lot of good stuff we can do, once we're at sea again, aye. Hell of a lot of good ideas, by the gods."
"We need to find a bigger port, though - that's for damn sure. We got a lot of stuff we need offloading for goods - sooner rather than later, and I'd rather get to it, eh? Bigger port means better stores and more coin to trade hands. That's always a good thing, too."
"That remind me - I got to ask Dhaavan about some gear he said he'd craft me. We got nothing to do in this berg - if he can craft me the gear I need, I'll see what I can do to owe him a solid. But I'd rather him make some gear for me sooner, rather than later, eh? Besides, we have nothing to do anyhow, except just sit back and relax, I guess," I add with a shake of my head.
"Oh yeah, that reminds me too - we got no watchtowers of our own so I moved my own gear to one of the upper floors," I say, pointing a blunt thumb at the celing.
"Figure if I'm bored I can go to my window and watch the terrain - see if no more naga's come out... Naga's... Dhaavan... hmm..."
I ponder only a moment and my eyes light up.
"Hey - Dhaavan, where the hell are you?" I call out, looking for the sorcerer, then shrugging.
"You know, ol Jiro-san here has been over the port a bit - he's said they don't have much to sell in the way of gear, not even spare parts. Well - Dhaavan lad needs parts to tinker out magical gear, eh? So now I'm thinking - if he takes the corpse of that naga and renders it down - you know, scales, eyes, tongue - or whatever the hell else is useful from the corpse - then maybe he can gleen a bunch of raw magical supplies from the body? Hell, worth a shot, right?"
Seijiro thinks for a moment, scowling deeply as he tries to remember all the party has found to date. "Rain, it seems to me that I recall we didn't actually find any nice armor, either of special make or magic. The best protection we found was a pair of magical bracers that give the most minimal of protection. However, perhaps we have something you can use to trade for at least armor of masterwork quality. They don't have a lot to sell here, but they do have some things, it can't hurt to try."
"As to how much of a share you're entitled to, I'm sure it's a healthy one, but I don't know how much offhand. I'll have to figure it out."
I shrug at Seijiro's assessment, confident that now that the wheels are in motion, things will be figured out soon.
"Any thoughts about getting some of the fruit dried for storage?" I ask absently as I gather my equipment.
"It packs better as well as last longer... besides, as we got nothing to do for the next couple of days, I reckon drying out fruit would be a happy diversion," I add with a flat smile as I finish stowing my gear on my person.
"Unless anyone else's got a plan on what to do? I'm flush out of ideas at this point."
"I hate fighting in the water," I add with a sheepish grin.
I glance at Rain at her thought of a dolphin.
"Dolphin's not a bad animal to have on the high seas - and I hear tell they're pretty chummy with sea elves and every sailor hear's stories about how helpful dolphins are... My only fear is how we can keep a dolphin safe if the ship is attacked or if we need to be closer to dry land an it's dangerous..."
"Tell you what, if you ever get a dolphin as a companion like Jiro-san with his better half," I add with a wink at Tomo-chan "Or Dhaavan and his bird - maybe I'll see about rigging up some tackle and see if we can't fix a way for your dolphin to get into the ship and be safe inside - if we run into hard storms or something."
I glance at Seijiro a moment and put up my hands, as if warding off a comment.
"Now, don't mistake me - that's not something I'm planning on doing overnight - but just a possibility, that's all."
"Fighting in water is a precarious and perilous venture for a land dweller, so I can understand why you would hate fighting in it. Did you swim much back in your homeland, Flynn?"
"Back home, the dolphins would come close to shore when we were out swimming or fishing. They are curious creatures. I always felt safe around them. I would not mind having them as companions and allies. Now, a mighty ally would be a whale... aye. To hear their whale song across the waters at twilight is indeed something quite beautiful." Rain's voice trails off as memories swamp her and take her back to a more innocent time.
Returning to the present and focusing on Flynn's and Jiro's voices, Rain nods her head when the doctor speaks of surviving in the wilderness and on the sea. "I am not regretful that my body can better survive the stresses of this kind of life. My mind is harder, too, in many ways. I have lost some of the innocence I brought with me from Tempest Cay. I am grown now and the world is not handing out guaranteed promises."
Rain listens as Flynn talks of storage. "Dried fruits are useful in sparse times when there is little to eat. If you like I will assist you in collecting and drying the fruit. In terms of magical gear, I can make do for the time being. Dhavvan now holds the Boarding Pike of Repelling. He is the First Mate afterall and can do as he pleases. I shall look in the stores for something useful."
At mention of watchtowers, Rain taps her finger against her mouth and then speaks, "We can set up watch here. All our people have the ability to see and discern danger. We can take shifts. We do not have to rely on drunken watchmen or their parrots."
"Unless anyone else's got a plan on what to do? I'm flush out of ideas at this point."
"Has Variel given any order since we came to port? I admit I have been absent from conversations between you all and I have not heard what has been said or discussed. He would have a good idea as Captain, or Dhaavan may, as his First Mate."
Rain always counted Variel as a friend and was comfortable around him, irrespective of his new title of captain. But the sorcerer Dhaavan and she had always had a troubled relationship. There was no closeness or familiarity there and she had to rely on others who got along with him better.
"I hate fighting in the water," I add with a sheepish grin.
I glance at Rain at her thought of a dolphin.
"Dolphin's not a bad animal to have on the high seas - and I hear tell they're pretty chummy with sea elves and every sailor hear's stories about how helpful dolphins are... My only fear is how we can keep a dolphin safe if the ship is attacked or if we need to be closer to dry land an it's dangerous..."
"Tell you what, if you ever get a dolphin as a companion like Jiro-san with his better half," I add with a wink at Tomo-chan "Or Dhaavan and his bird - maybe I'll see about rigging up some tackle and see if we can't fix a way for your dolphin to get into the ship and be safe inside - if we run into hard storms or something."
I glance at Seijiro a moment and put up my hands, as if warding off a comment.
"Now, don't mistake me - that's not something I'm planning on doing overnight - but just a possibility, that's all."
"Fighting in water is a precarious and perilous venture for a land dweller, so I can understand why you would hate fighting in it. Did you swim much back in your homeland, Flynn?"
"Back home, the dolphins would come close to shore when we were out swimming or fishing. They are curious creatures. I always felt safe around them. I would not mind having them as companions and allies. Now, a mighty ally would be a whale... aye. To hear their whale song across the waters at twilight is indeed something quite beautiful." Rain's voice trails off as memories swamp her and take her back to a more innocent time.
Returning to the present and focusing on Flynn's and Jiro's voices, Rain nods her head when the doctor speaks of surviving in the wilderness and on the sea. "I am not regretful that my body can better survive the stresses of this kind of life. My mind is harder, too, in many ways. I have lost some of the innocence I brought with me from Tempest Cay. I am grown now and the world is...
"Dolphins are fair beasts, aye - but I've seen whales before, and I've known enough whalers to tell stories on them; their tails can crush a longboat to matchwood when they dive... but I reckon I can't blame them too much... when they do their killing; the whole damn ocean turns into a bloody mess," I say, my voice dropping and my eyes growing distant and somewhat frosty, as if thinking of some dark memory.
I lift my gaze to Rain a moment, and shake my head, after hearing one of the thoughts on Dhaavan.
"Well, we'll see about Dhaavan doing as he pleases," I add with a uncertain smile, as if unsure at what you are really talking about, but I say nothing for a moment.
"Uh, yeah - sure we can work on drying out fruit and so on... whatever you want to do," I say uncertainly, watching with a confused expression.
Seijiro shrugs, says to Flynn "I'm sure we can either get some of the fruit dried or get it early and dry it ourselves. I'm all for just buying it dried though, less work for us in the damnable heat. I'll talk with the vendors about what is available tomorrow."
He listens quietly to Rain and nods at her assessment of having grown both in power and wisdom during their recent trials. She's got the right of it, we all have grown in our own way. He glances around at Flynn, and any others who happen to be in the taproom at the time and sighs softly. ... some not so much for the better, but in time, hopefully it will all turn out alright.
"Variel gave me a list of things to purchase for the ship or for the officers' use, but other than that, he's left us pretty much to our own devices. Not really much to do here in this small town. But that's fine with me... After being overworked either by force or necessity, it's nice to have a bit of rest."
"Unless anyone else's got a plan on what to do? I'm flush out of ideas at this point.""Has Variel given any order since we came to port? I admit I have been absent from conversations between you all and I have not heard what has been said or discussed. He would have a good idea as Captain, or Dhaavan may, as his First Mate."
Rain always counted Variel as a friend and was comfortable around him, irrespective of his new title of captain. But the sorcerer Dhaavan and she had always had a troubled relationship. There was no closeness or familiarity there and she had to rely on others who got along with him better.
I shrug.
"Hell lass, you're free to your own opinions on that count, I reckon. As for me, I got no bloody idea if he's handing out "orders" on what we do with our own time," I add, my voice seeming neutral, even as my eyes narrow suspiciously.
I look at you for a moment, my gaze suddenly cool, as if appraising you.
"But you know what? If you want to know what his orders are for you, maybe you ought to ask him yourself, eh?" I add with a flat voice then I turn and leave to you it.
"I'm getting a drink - talk to you later," I add over my shoulder with a testy growl.
Seijiro sighs at Flynn's surly departure. He turns to Rain and blinks at her wide-eyed then shrugs. He speaks softly to Rain, "I think he's not comfortable with Variel as captain. He's been at odds with him since they first tangled egos over your affections. It's only gotten worse over time. I think he's even more uncomfortable now because you're going to ask Variel for an arrangement that he wants himself... one that gives him an out in case he doesn't like the captain's orders. I'm not sure that's a good idea to be honest. It's like an invitation to mutiny if the sailors see the officers ignoring orders they don't like. Not that we don't want you with us on your terms, but it's a bad precedent to set, I think, if it spreads to others besides yourself. But bringing up Variel to Flynn is bad business... still rancor between them, and to be honest, I don't think it's all on Flynn's side. Those two share a lot of bad blood, and it'll need to be settled soon, I think, one way or another. Otherwise, one or both of them are bound to leave us. Of course all this is just my opinion."
He gulps down a swig of his watered down ale, and bites his lip, then blushes. "Sorry, didn't mean to go on like that."
He looks sadly over at Flynn's back as the physician walks away from them.
Rain's eyes take on a steely glint, like a turbulent sea. As she watches Flynn walk away from her and misunderstand her once again, she calls out in firm voice to his entreating back, "Flynn, do not walk away from me. If you misunderstand my words then ask their meaning. It does no one any good if one turns and leaves in anger. This needs to stop here."
She stands with her hands on her hips, body bristling with unspoken emotion, tension. She waits to see if Flynn turns around and sets aside his suspicion and anger to actually hear what she is saying.
Jiro's soft spoken words filter to her.
She turns her head, relaxing her arms a little lest Jiro believe her frustration is directed at him.
"I have known of this quarrel between them for some time." She pauses and looks sideways at Flynn to see if he has stopped and is returning to their table.
She swallows a few times, measuring her words in her mind. "From what I have observed, I would say they will never be friends. But that does not mean they cannot work together as comrades, allies. They must check ego at the door. There is no room for such pride on a ship."
Rain's words are also softly spoken but she does not hide her words from Flynn's ears if he chooses to listen in.
"I brought up Variel because I am uninformed. He is Captain of The Dread Lady. Not all captains are liked. I asked because I required information as to the thoughts of the man running the ship. Flynn's reaction and response were too hot for my intentions. I do not care to see them fighting but they are grown men who should put the well being of the ship above their needs and petty squabbles. I have sought neither man's affections. I am here to do a job, I have a purpose. If I travel as passenger aboard the ship, it by no means signifies that I am courting mutiny. I will be respectful of Captain Variel's authority but I will not set my course to it if it goes against my heart, mind and soul. The crew need not know my business or that I am not a formal crew member. They will not see my free will as a precedent to ignore their duty or the authority of the Captain. I speak to you plainly not harshly for I respect you, Jiro. I have grown tired of being the pretty bauble men squabble over. My affections are my own and I shall gift them or not. It does mean that Flynn has the right to walk from me as though I have dishonoured him or mistreated his hospitality and good nature." Some of the wind in Rain's sails diminishes during her speech to Jiro and she capitulates to the dilemma, running a hand through her wild midnight blue tresses.
Turning to Flynn, "You need to find a way to work together. Good, bad, it does not matter. You have a purpose as does he. Work toward it." Rain sits down and scratches the monkey Tomo's head, attempting to calm her heightened emotions.
"Jiro, have you got your harmonica handy? How about some music?" Rain's turquoise eyes quietly plead with the red-haired, eastern kitsune.
"Sorry about what I said.. I didn't mean you... I meant if Flynn joined you in being not under captain's orders but still sailing with us, since he is already established as an officer, that it would set a bad precedent."
Seijiro smiles at Rain and pulls out his harmonica and plays something light but soft for a bit, then something a bit mournful in a minor key, then back to something lighthearted. He can't add the words while he plays of course, since the harmonica is requires the lips and mouth on the instrument. If anyone joins in on these popular shanties with words, he will play the whole songs, otherwise he will play snippets of songs and segue from one to the next effortlessly.
After a few songs, he pauses for a moment to give Rain a little grin, then goes back to playing, he plays a few bars that sound almost out of tune and dissonant, though he seems to enjoy them, before he changes to a popular sea battle ballad.
Rain, having gained clarity, nods her understanding. "I am sorry I did not understand your full meaning. That is why I must speak with Variel but alas he has been otherwise occupied. I do not want to see new troubles arising on the ship." Rain bows her head and begins to shake it back and forth as if silently debating her purpose in all this. Lifting her head, her voice seems faraway, softer than before, "I do not mean to add to the existing tension." Rain attempts a smile.
She calls to Flynn, "Come and sit awhile; listen to Jiro's fine music." Her voice and offer are meant to be conciliatory. She does not like tension and does not want to precipitate it.
Rain listens as Jiro moves seamlessly from one tune to another on his shiny harmonica; slow, upbeat, deep and meaningful, melancholy. She closes her eyes and allows the melodies to coat her skin like a cool ocean breeze. She pushes all troubling thoughts away. There is time for such things later.
When she opens her eyes, she notices Jiro's little grin and grins in reply. "Thank you" she soundlessly mouths to her kitsune comrade.