✧ — passionfruit green tea.

[boba]

Comments

[transmit]

[ he did…

he pushes the bowl of trail mix forward. ]

Not sure. Was there anything else the captain wanted to delegate while he was here?

[oversea]

[ hmm...

he peers at him. ]

Have you heard any interesting gossip I should know about?

[transmit]

Oooh. There's a betting pool going on whether anyone aboard the ship can defeat you in a one-on-one. I left a note saying there was no chance in hell, but I think that only invigorated them further.

[ he taps his chin. ]

This was about… two days ago? I think it entirely depends on if the Señora decides to throw in her hat.

[oversea]

Is that so? They might try to mutiny if I lose against the first mate.

[ why follow someone who can't even beat the person who had the job before him...? ]

[transmit]

[ he just peers over. ]

How confident are you? I haven't thrown in my bet yet.

[oversea]

Hm? I'm not going to give insider information.

[ he wants elysium to bet with what he really believes will happen... ]

[transmit]

I should get some perks for being your spy…

[ he wants to nip at him so bad. he settles with kicking his foot. ]

But aside from that, I think people are more impressed that you're managing to fill the Señora's shoes. Depending on how you look at it, them thinking you're unapproachable can be a boon and bane.

… Have you given it any thought whatsoever? What kind of captain you wanted to be?

[oversea]

Not really.

[ ... although he realizes how that might come off as, so he adds on, ]

There is still a lot that I need to learn, so I don't think I can make any decisions like that until I understand everyone and what we are doing better.

[transmit]

You did just jump up a bunch of ranks without intending to. You're higher up than I've ever gone now.

[ they pointedly ignore every rung he's refused to climb since his vice captaincy. it's fine. ]

I think you could be someone like Amiya.

[ it might be strange, comparing themselves to a teenage girl as two adult men. but then again, she's anything but ordinary, incredible in everything she's endured and in how she's carried her responsibility without letting it hollow her out. where hers is a light that illuminates the future for infected; thorns is for iberia. ]

[oversea]

... I'm not sure about that.

[ although he doesn't actually sound dismissive about the idea, but more embarrassed at the comparison. it seems like a leap to be likened to someone who has done an enormous amount of work at such an young age, when he's just... still figuring things out. ]

But I'd like to be.

[transmit]

Where did all your confidence go?

[ a hand finds itself in thorns' hair. it might seem like it's to pat him at first—but then he just starts ruffling at it vigorously. scruffs. ]

If you keep paving the way forward like you always have, you're right on track for it. If you overthink it, you'll end up paralysed and frozen right in place.

As incredible as Amiya is, she hasn't been alone. She's had plenty of support around her, hasn't she? And you do, too. Knowing your mistakes won't be yours alone is a heavy pressure, but that doesn't have to be the only perspective. For better and for worse, it means the burden can be shared as well.

[oversea]

Maybe you should write a book.

[ he goes quiet for a moment, before breathing out a laugh. ]

It just seems a little soon to be saying things like that. There's still a lot of work for me to do.

[transmit]

Should I? A wandering swordsman who goes on to conquering the sea. Now that'd be a story for the big screens.

[ who could play thorns but thorns, though? hmm. he stares at thorns like he's assessing this…

then just laughs. ]

It is a long road ahead. Steps forward, steps back. Every journey is full of them. But what kind of amigo would I be if I let you get discouraged so easily? I won't let you be.

[oversea]

[ ... he wonders, briefly, how did he ever once think that he could manage living life on his own.

but he moves on quickly from the thought. ]

And what will you be doing for yourself during all of this?

[transmit]

Didn't we just talk about how I have a book to write?

[ he

doesn't actually have an answer to that, but it is the truth of it. if he were any over version of himself, chances are he would've left it there. instead, there's a vulnerable, almost sheepish laugh, his gaze drifting, settling on whatever it finds. isn't it enough to join thorns on his journey? a part of him thinks yes. another part yearns to be even half of what the people around him have managed to become, even if he's just reflecting a portion of their lights. ]

Maybe I'll figure that out along the way.

[oversea]

... well, if you need help figuring it out, you know where to find me.

[ and then there's a knock at the door.

thorns sighs before getting up to open it, just enough so the person on the other side can only see him and not whoever else might be inside. they speak quiet for a moment and then thorns shuts the door. ]

I have to go.

[transmit]

[ he gives a small wave from where he's sitting. just in case, he mouths 'take care' back.

… it's undeniably lonely, watching him go. at the same time, it feels like the most freedom he can give himself while still aboard the ship. when thorns disappears from view, he rests his head in his arms. one foot in, one foot out.

is this really what he wants? it's hard to say ]

[oversea]

[ thorns wanders off to mediate a dispute between some crew members; one has accused the other of theft, and they of course are denying doing anything. it was about to come to blows when someone ran off to get thorns to intervene.

he can't help but think that elysium would be useful in situations like this; he was the best at easing tension back at rhodes... ]

[transmit]

[ instead, he is here, doing the most social distancing he's ever done in his life.



at some point, as night begins to fall, he slips out. it's not to do anything in particular, more to listen and get a pulse on what's going on. since thorns had asked about gossip, maybe that's what he’ll focus on tonight… ]

[oversea]

[ the chatter is normal... mostly.

as it turns out, thorns ending up finding the item that was reportedly stolen in the accuser's belongings, simply hidden by other items. it appears as if everything was settled, but the person who was accused is holding a grudge... hm. lots of angry shit talking. ]

[transmit]

[ does the ghost need to stage an intervention…

they are a pirate crew that believes in friendship. the funny thing about his arts is that he can totally use them as some kind of pseudo sleep paralysis demon just by gently channeling them with his flag. everyone involved will not be able to sleep that night, and if they continue to misbehave, they will not be able to forevermore… he contemplates setting up some kind of device for it instead of having to physically haunt them. but first things first is his nightly rendezvous with thorns.

he will not tell him what he's thinking because he thinks thorns will smack him for it (justified). ]

[oversea]

[ he would...

thorns shows up and immediately sits down on the floor. he is... agitated? ]

[transmit]

[ these are just nightly therapy sessions now i see

he peers over, fingers laced behind his back. ]

Long day?

[ like he has zero idea and wasn't just plotting something totally nefarious. ]

[oversea]

Mm. I'm not the best at deescalating.

[ his version of deescalating is to just fight everyone... but he needs to learn to do it with words instead? what is this. ]

[transmit]

What'd you end up doing?

[ his hand finds its way to thorns' upper back and offers it a pack before settling against it. oh, thorns… ]