"Not really, I'm more or less resigned to my fate. No one escapes the Wormwood unless you're keelhauled."
Opal looks down at the goblin.
"Hiya Chubwart. How are you doing today?"
Chubwart smiles at Opal. Chubwart have difficulty cooking pig. Maybe Opal help Chubwart tomorrow?!
Opal gives Chubwart a little pat on the head. "It's okay Chubwart. I'm sure it was just the type of food they asked you to cook. If it was gnome I'm sure you would have cooked it perfectly. I'd be glad to help though since they expect more normal food."
Bjorkus snorted in disgust at the gnome's lack of spirit.
Maybe I can change your mind...
"Let me talk to this woman of yours. Maybe I can find out what it is she finds attractive in a mate. I believe its called a 'wingman'."
"You would do that for me? I didn't think anyone on this ship would be so kind. I got the feeling everyone wanted to throw me overboard. I don't know what to say."
"We'll just say you owe me one.",
Bjorkus parts with the gnome to find his lady love.
Kal makes a face at Opal. "Don't encourage him." he admonishes.
Bjorkus approaches boldly.
"That was a nice tune you played during our little scrap", he offers.
Gobwart leave uncooked meat for Kal in Kitchen.
"Yea, fights always need good music to go with it. Helps the flow. So why'd you beat up Kal? I thought you were friends."
Kal groans and shakes his head. "You could've told me that before I tried to force down that charcoal everyone else was having, you little..."
With a grin, he looks at the others. "I hope you'll excuse me. I'm going to go enjoy some real food for the first time in two days. Where'd you leave it, Chubwart?"
Bjorkus looked around suspiciously.
"Don't tell anybody but that was just a show. I had to get rid of his rum ration. The boy can't handle his liquor and it was making him sick."
Kal groans and shakes his head. "You could've told me that before I tried to force down that charcoal everyone else was having, you little..."
With a grin, he looks at the others. "I hope you'll excuse me. I'm going to go enjoy some real food for the first time in two days. Where'd you leave it, Chubwart?"
He heads off to the kitchen.
Chubwart have bad day. You no be ugly to Chubwart!
"Aww, I didn't mean anything by it... just giving you a hard time."
"Have fun with that. So what's your story greenie?"
"Oh okay. Method acting, us halflings know all about that. He does know he can water it down, that's how you make grog. Unless you're playing Heave or you want to get thrashed, most of us drink it like that."
"That's a good idea", Bjorkus rumbled. "Thanks."
The bull minotaur considered the situation and the best way to approach the question but eventually decided to just be straight with it.
"What do you think of the gnome with the funny hat, facial hair, and... everything else. Seems to me he's looking for a tumble."
"He's just so annoying. Like I would ever have anything to do with that creep."
"Have you been aboard the ship long Luthor?"
She's playing a game... Why are women so complicated?
"That's unfortunate", Bjorkus snorted.
"I'll tell him to leave you alone. It may be for the best. I think that new Besmaran priestess was getting an eyefull..."
"Not that long I suppose. About three days. You?"
"Wait, what do you mean by that?" Her expression changes, a slight sign of concern on her face.
"This is the end of our second full day here. Guess you haven't been here much longer than us then.."
"Nothing. Just that if you weren't interested that he'd be better off pursuing one of the other women aboard the Wormwood. Don't worry, he won't be your problem anymore."
"Naw. I'm just as green as the rest of you. Pop said there'd be days like this.."
"Well.. it's not so bad. That eyepatch does make him look dashing.. I mean maybe if he didn't come on so strong I might like to be around him..."
"Well, i don't think any of us are as green as Chubwart here."
"Is that so?" Bjorkus said with mock surprise.
The bull minotaur spun about to leave.
"Enjoy your evening Rosie."
"Haha.. That's very true. I like your sense of humor." "She's funny too.. Maybe she's a kitsune like mom warned me about." Luthor seems to study Opal for a few moments.
"Eh, well, you either develop a sense of humor about things or the next thing you know you're on your knees screaming to the sky about the unfairness of life."
"I can assure you that the sky has no interest in your perceptions of fairness or unfairness." says Kal in a dry voice.
Still waiting to be told where my (good) dinner is!
"You're really smart, you know that? Kal's right too, the sky and the water don't care about our problems."
The young man tilts his head. "I said nothing of the water."
"I know, I was just adding in my two coppers."
Opal shrugs with a slight frown. "Sometimes I kinda hope something up there does care about my problems, but I guess not."
Does my mother ever try to check on me and see how I'm doing? Probably not, if she cared she woulda taken me with her. Guess I was just another anchor to this plane for her.
Kal's eyebrows contract slightly, but he remains silent. Does he not feel the water's care? Does the water not care about his troubles? Perhaps he does not care for the water, and so thinks it does not care for him...
Bjorkus returns to the gnome.
"Just tone it down a little and she'll be all over you", he explains. "Give her some space. She'll come around."
"Well that's why there are people around."
"Oh really? I thought she'd be impressed by my attempts at woo. I mean I took the initiative and I didn't give up." The gnome wrinkles his nose and twirls his mustache in contemplation. "Thank you. If you need anything from Conchobhar Turlach Shortstone, dread pirate of the seven seas, it is yours." He will make his way back to his bunk.
Kal scans the people who're 'around' and turns back to Opal. "... actually, you might be better off 'screaming to the sky', as you put it."
Bjorkus shakes his head as the bizarre gnome departs.
Luthor just chuckles. "Well, non-pirate people."