[015] OOM - Finding Port, Last Night on Perdita

[tristranthorn]

Life on the Perdita, Tristran finds, is very different from anything he's ever experienced in his life. For one, they are above the ground, many miles up, where the only thing they see is cloud. This is nothing like his stable-life in Wall, where everything is very much grounded -- literally.

The folk aboard the Perdita is also another thing. Every last one of Alberic's crew has their own unique quality or quirk. He's never met a bunch of men (and woman: Meggot) more colourful than them. Each one of them has a story to tell and throughout the two weeks of their journey with them, he's learned a lot -- about things he never could have imagined, about places he's never even dreamed of, and people he could never hope to meet.

Wall, Tristran decides, is a very closed, rather self-indulgent little place in comparison (not to say he doesn't love his home). Even with the likes of the fair as some pathetic attempt at being open-minded, it couldn't even begin to scratch the surface of the worlds upon worlds surrounding it.

In any case, Tristran has been enjoying his time on the pirate ship, but as a fortnight quickly passes (bar-time included), he expects this part of the journey is about to come to a close.

That evening during dinner, Alberic announces to his crew and the couple, that in less than twelve hours, they should be near a harbour tree -- a convenient enough landing port for Tristran and Yvaine to get off and continue their travels on foot back to Wall.

"We'll be needin' to replenish our supplies," Alberic booms, swishing his glass of wine around. "So we can let you off at the same time."

"Thank you," Tristran responds, politely. "We are very grateful for all you've done for us."

"Not to worry m'boy." Alberic grins. "You've but one thing to promise me though."

"What's that?"

"Keep practicin' with that sword of yours. You've a lot to learn yet, but you'll do fine."

Comments

[an_evening_star]

'You kissed me,' she's very sorely tempted to reply. 'You kissed me and then I woke up in my room and my sisters thought that I was crazy. Humming stupid songs for weeks.'

He messes her up something awful.

Her mouth is halfway open, answer on the very tip of her tongue, before there's a clambering wild sound of footsteps of far too many pirates at once and she's stifling a laugh into his shoulder.

"Ah, the cavalry has arrived."

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

And arrive they do, armed with metal rods and great boxes and with the Captain parading grandly in front of the lot of them, booming out orders in his loud, storytelling voice - Tobias shouting out a quick something about Yvaine's virtue that makes her snort quietly as they pass.

The Captain just grins and continues marching forward.

[tristranthorn]

Well, that is rather ... festive.

The last time they went lightning-hunting, Tristran was right there, helping them (as best he could, considering he had no prior experience whatsoever), and seeing how it was done. He held one of he boxes and saw the captain hook one of those bolts, trapping it.

It had been an exciting event.

Now, however, Tristran doesn't quite feel up to another lightning hunt. He's actually more inclined to staying with the star, just to keep her company. Or something.

[an_evening_star]

The star jumps slightly as lightning strikes once more, dangerously close this time, and her tolerance level is somewhere about completely gone. A deep, steadying breath and she lifts her chin toward some semblance of her usual grandiosity.

"I think," she swallows, keeping her voice steady with some effort. "That I will be retiring for the night."

This is, it might be noted, in no way a tactical retreat. Really.

[tristranthorn]

Tristran turns his attention from the group of rowdy, excited pirates (all cheering and shouting about the storm) to the star.

"Do you want me to ... come with you?" he offers, feeling that incredible hotness return to his face. "I mean, in case more lightning flashes -- or something like that. You could always use me as a shield."

[an_evening_star]

"Just what I've always wanted," she laughs, though she's walking in the right direction anyhow. "My very own human shield."

She feels shy and utterly ridiculous - as if it is in any way strange for him to be continuously in the same place as her. They were chained to one another for quite some time, she can't quite reason why such an offer only seems to make her want to turn spectacular colors now.

[tristranthorn]

He'll take that as a 'yes', so he follows her too, no longer paying any attention to the pirates and their lightning questing.

He is feeling rather ridiculous himself, actually, and on the one hand, things are clearer; but on the other, everything feels like it's just tumbled into a ball of more confusion.

[an_evening_star]

They arrive there quickly enough and the doorknob turns, door opening easily under the slightest pressure from her fingers.

"Lightning isn't so bad," she admits, releasing his arm and seating herself with a slight flop onto the edge of the bed. "It's really just the thunder. I'm not that much pathetic, Tristran."

[tristranthorn]

He smiles, standing somewhere near the bed, but pretty much out of her way.

He's only been in this cabin one other time, and that was before they found the door to Milliways.

"I never said you were," he says good-naturedly.

[an_evening_star]

Yvaine fidgets a bit with the sleeve of her borrowed gown before tilting her head up once more.

She doesn't like feeling this uncomfortable in her own skin - she isn't certain precisely what happened, but something did and it's odd.

"You can still sit, Tristran. The offer did not expire during your time away from the cabin," she says then smiles crookedly, raising an eyebrow. "You can hardly be a proper human shield from all the way over there, anyway."

[tristranthorn]

Yes. Something did happen -- perhaps to the both of them. It was all that confounded dancing, and lightning and pirates giving hints, and making it all very confusing to be devoted to a certain lady in Wall.

In any case, Tristran walks forward and finds a spot to perch upon her bed, by the end.

"So tomorrow we leave all this behind," he starts, looking around the room. It's going to feel odd, having become accustomed to the pirates way of life.

[an_evening_star]

"It is going to be very quiet," she replies. "Well, unless we do manage to find ourselves an assortment of new worries."

She sits a bit straighter than she usually bothers to, rigid and strangely nervous.

"Not that we will," she adds hastily. "Getting back quickly and all that. Only me to worry about - as I cannot be slacking in my duties to make your life a living hell. Would hardly be proper."

[tristranthorn]

"I wouldn't expect anything less," he says, folding his hands together in his lap. He leans forward a bit, looking down at the floor.

He smiles, more to himself, really, than anything.

"I must admit, I am going to miss the food here. Especially the times you've helped out." Is he teasing? There's a possibility.

[an_evening_star]

That gets a laugh - one of those bright, slightly silly ones that she doesn't usually bother with - and her shoulders relax, slanting her gaze at him from the corner of her eye.

"Liar," she grins. "I am ashamed, Tristran Thorn. Absolutely ashamed. What would your mother say?"

[tristranthorn]

He turns to look at her and returns the grin with one of his own.

"She would likely give me a strange look and pretend I didn't even exist," he answers, sounding light-hearted about it. It's the truth though, sad as it may be, and it is her likely reaction to nearly everything he does.

[an_evening_star]

"It is better, I suppose, than turning you over her knee," the star offers pragmatically - then scrutinizes him for a moment. "Though I do suppose you would have grown out of that by now."

She tilts her head, still grinning.

"Or at least one would hope, Prince Charming."

[tristranthorn]

He has half a mind to roll his eyes, but he isn't the sort to do that anyway, so he merely laughs.

"I have," he says amusedly. "I'm eighteen, after all."

[an_evening_star]

She arcs an eyebrow, flopping back comfortably and propping herself up on her elbows.

"Am I supposed to be impressed?"

Liking him, unfortunately, doesn't make her any less herself.

[tristranthorn]

"I did not intend to impress you," Tristran says, unfolding his hands, watching her.

"Merely to state that I've definitely grown out of that sort of discipline."

[an_evening_star]

"Eighteen is still very young when your mother is the sort of mother that has very nearly seen the beginning of all things," she wriggles a bit then sighs, looking decidedly put out.

A heavy sigh.

"We are going to be lacking in beds again, Tristran."

[tristranthorn]

"Yes, I suppose that's true," Tristran says with a knowledgeable nod. Flashes of images from his dreams -- about the moon, and falling -- appear in his mind.

He pauses. "Are we?"

[an_evening_star]

"Well, unless we are planning on finding them?"

She tilts her head inquisitively, "Because I am not exactly certain if I have a very good history of finding terribly safe places to sleep. Or stay in general."

Unless one enjoys potential death threats.

[tristranthorn]

Well -- yes. This is very true. The last time she'd found a place to sleep, his hand suffered as a result. It still doesn't look very normal, and it will likely never be 'normal' again.

Oh, well. It's strange, but he doesn't mind so much. The things he'll do for the star.

"Ah," he says with a nod. "I see what you mean. Well, I'm sure we'll manage, either way."

[an_evening_star]

Normal, she finds, is incredibly overrated - and, honestly, a lot more relative than anyone bothers to realize. It might not be precisely 'normal' to anyone else for a star to be a girl, but she's rather used to it.

Besides, she hardly notices his hand at all.

Or at least not any more than she notices the rest of him.

"Don't sit so straight then," she instructs. "Enjoy your final moments of comfort while they last, Tristran."

[tristranthorn]

His excuse for sitting so rigidly and at the edge of her bed is the sudden (out of nowhere, really!) awkwardness he feels being around her.

But he smiles and tries to relax a bit, shifting a little closer towards the centre of the bed -- and thus, towards her.

"Better?"