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A few days pass. There was an apparent
series of incidents aboard the Yamato. There is a rumor that someone from the
Brisbane attempted to kill Yuki, Susumu or both. The ship suddenly went to
Condition Zebra—no light other than battle lanterns, inside or outside the skin
of the ship. It was hot, dark and quiet, and somewhere in that darkness,
Captain Tetsuya Kitano got the drop on the would-be assassin.
He strangled the man to death.
Susumu saw the mess himself; understood
that Kitano had to take the necessary action, but thought to himself it was a
little extreme. Yuki came out, cleaned up the urine mess from the spy's rather
sudden death, and got to work doing an autopsy on the body since Dr. Kayu was
involved with other matters. Doing the autopsy under emergency lights in Sickbay
was not easy, but she soon had a report. Cause of death; strangulation, with
shattered hyoid bone and many petachiae in the man's eyes, which looked red.
Kitano? Acting like it never happened, slid
back into his work and brought the lighting back.
"Aboard the Yamato, Condition Zebra
now secured. Commence normal operations." His smooth voice over the 1MC
was as calm and pleasant as ever.
Sebastian was in the temple, praying
silently to whoever and whatever would listen, for the safety of his loved ones
back in the United Americas. He was, as ever, the non-action guy, though he had
tried to keep abreast of the rumors and keep track of who was who, what was
going on, and other such essential information. Having no physical training
aside from having learned to shoot a pistol in his youth, he always thought it
was best to stay out of the way; when he did leave his designated space, it was
usually to pray, eat, or service the odd (always male) crew member.
Susumu Kodai combed his messy hair (to the
best of his ability-was it any wonder his wife called him 'mophead'?) and he
was back at his post at Gunnery. "Captain. Do we have any idea who was
directing that guy? I smell Serizawa all over this, sir."
"We're not going to discuss that,
especially not on the bridge, Ensign." Kitano smiled and went back to
directing a routine diagnostic. "Perhaps in strict private, but we do need
to slow down the rumor mill."
"Of course, sir," Kodai said, as
calm as ever as he went back to running his own diagnostics.
Sky looked up from where they were sitting
but would turn their attention back to their current task figuring it was not
their place to say anything.
Down below, Yuki was finished autopsying
the spy, and she said, "Doctor Kayu, My report is ready per protocol. Like
to review it before we forward it to the Captain?"
At knock-off, Kitano opted to hit the
beach. Although he said nothing, the quick glance he gave to Sky was
significant. He smiled at them just a little, brushing the unruly raven
forelock back from one eye.
Sky fights hard not to blush. They would
finish their work before going to their quarters in board and change.
"Sir." They say as they approach him, smiling a bit.
“Yeah.” Kayu gives the report a once over
before returning it to Yuki. “quite the nasty way to go but I’m not that
surprised after seeing the captain kill that animal so easily. The report looks
good, send it up to the captain, I’ll clean up.”
"Roger that," Yuki said. She
e-mailed the autopsy report to the Captain. "Need me in here for anything
else, Doctor, or can I knock off for the night?"
"There are some people from Twin Star
Bay here tonight," he said. "It looks like there might be a bit of
fun starting up. Do you feel social?"
Sky nibbles their lip. "It would be
good to meet new people."
Kitano also went up and changed, returning
in a shirt that was cut somewhat like a nehru jacket would be, with its
Mandarin collar and clasps at the side. It was, however, sleeveless. With this,
he wore close-fitting black trousers and boots that came to the knee.
“Your all good for the night ensign.” Kayu
waved good bye and started to clean the room after the autopsy as well as
preparing for any possible injuries that might happen.
After having dozed off in child's pose,
Sebastian decided to hit the beach as well. He dressed himself in some linen
shorts that would allow him freedom of movement; however, due to the fact that
they were a very light color... everything would also be fairly visible if one
looked hard enough, once he came out of the water, anyway
Paying that no mind, he walked across the
soft sand and dived fluidly into the waves, then broke the surface with a soft
sigh. He hadn't been swimming in years, not since his love had almost drowned
when they were children. He had been so focused, so intent on protecting him,
that he had not indulged in one of the few athletic endeavors he truly enjoyed
and was good at. He was out of practice, but still reasonably talented, and he
flipped onto his back and let the waves carry him back to shore before diving in
again, a peaceful smile on his face. He thought about writing back home when he
got out... could he do that? Would a letter be deliverable from here?
Sky was wearing their tunic but decided not
to wear their binder. It was good to take a break from time to time from
wearing it.
Kitano led the way down the gangway, and
once off the ship, caught Sky's hand in his own. Touching sand, some PDA was to
be accepted.
"You look wonderful," he purred
in their ear. "And I have something for you." He came out with a
bracelet of jade green silk cord, interwoven around itself in a familiar
pattern. He slipped it onto Sky's wrist and then adjusted it. It allowed for it
to move around and not be uncomfortable, but they would not be able to slide it
over their hand. "This remains on you at all times, save for a dire
emergency. You are not to remove it. Do you understand, Nezumi?"
Yuki returned to the Kodai treehouse, found
Susumu there, not in much of a mood to talk about what had happened aboard
ship. Yuki had picked up Miyuki from Goran and Msiba, and the child was asleep.
The couple had a few moments (well, more
than a few) of stolen romance and then they changed into beachwear; a bikini
top and bottom and sarong for Yuki, swimtrunks for Susumu. Miyuki woke up,
saying she was hungry. Both Kodais looked at each other, sighed, and Yuki made
up some gyoza in their little kitchenette.
With a fed Miyuki, they got her into a
swimsuit and decided to let her stay up. They walked out onto the beach to see
what the hell was goiing on.
As the waves carried him to shore again,
Sebastian saw some others approaching. He grinned and waved at them.
"Water's great!" he called out
cheerfully.
"I understand Sir." Sky was
smiling, their fingers on their other hand touching the bracelet. "It is
lovely."
He leaned in and murmured something to Sky,
smiling.
Sky blushes some, nodding in understanding
about what he just said. "It suits me quite nicely. I will be sure to
cherish it dearly." They understood completely what the bracelet means and
that was all that mattered.
Across at the lanai, there was a sound of
drumming. Uh-uh... drum circle around the fire! Things were promised to get
weird. There was also a tall hookah at one of the tables with multiple
mouthpieces on it.
Lily would be there, swaying to the music
with a smile on her lips. She had insisted on going seeing this as a chance to
meet some of the others.
Hearing the faint sound of drumming brought
another, more serene, smile to Sebastian's delicate face. He loved music. He
stood upright, as well as he could with the waves cresting round his waist, and
did a sort of little dance, oblivious to anything other than the beauty of the
music and the peacefulness being in the water brought him.
The Kodais were drawn to the drum circle
like moths to a flame. The three of them took their places, with Yuki praying
she didn't have to explain to Miyuki what the hookah was for. Yet.
Kharzon spotted Lily—beeline. "And you
here too, pretty thing? My night is made!"
Kitano led Sky to one of the comfortable
seats near the fire. "The drums get people fired up. Oh, look... the
Emperors are here."
Susumu and Yuki exchanged glances. The
thought was simultaneous: uh-ohh...should we leave?
Miyuki made up their minds for them, by
saying, "I wanna see the Royals! Uncle Desslar is funny! Even Uncle
Zworder makes me laugh!"
"Okay...dear," Susumu said.
"Keep calm, dear," Yuki said.
"Your blood pressure..."
"Right."
Lily smiles brightly. "And tonight
just got better!" She hugs him, not realizing he would be there.
Angelle was with Zworder, their daughter in
her arms. She would not say anything about the Kodais being there.
Meanwhile Sky stiffened up some suddenly
wishing they had their binder on for the comfort it brought them.
Susumu chuckled to himself, Oh,
Miyuki...Uncle Zworder? Kiddo, you're a trip.
No sooner had Ati's ass hit one of the
chairs than she uncased her guitar and began to play. However it was clear that
she had eyes only for Abelt Dessler. The song she played was for him.
Kitano, however, drew Sky close. "Are
you alright?" he murmured. He had caught the worry on their face.
At the sound of the guitar, Sebastian
opened his eyes once more and headed towards the chairs. He smiled at Atirangi
and sat, enjoying the music she played, glad to be in a social situation for
once.
The song seemed to hit Dessler hard. He had
one hand resting on the body of the guitar, turned to his woman and allowing
the music to cascade. Come here, I think you're beautiful/I think you're
beautiful, beautiful... Tears slid from beneath his closed eyelids.
And Kitano leaned close to Sky, whispering
that refrain softly to them.
Miyuki heard the music and came over,
pretty much dragging her parents with her. Oh, the irrepressible child, now
developed to the equivalent age of five! She made her Mom and Dad sit down, and
she sat in her father's lap, swinging her legs while her mother played with her
hair and gave her kisses. The perfect image of a happy family, their calm
belying all of the hell they had been through in the past few months.
As the song played, Susumu whispered the
same thing in Yuki's ear...the same refrain. Miyuki whispered, "you two
gonna get mushy again?"
"Shh....yes, dear, just cuddle
up," Yuki whispered.
"I wish I had worn my binder. I wasn't
expecting either Emperor to be here." They say softly.
"Neither one is likely to see you in
any way that would be outside what you wish. But if you want to go back aboard
to get it, I will come with you." He brushed their cheek with the backs of
his fingers. "No one here is going to do what the idiots at your previous
command did, mouse."
They seemed a bit hesitant. "No...I'm
going to be brave." Sky decided, leaning slightly against him as if
seeking reassurance.
8:00 PM
Sebastian's ears had perked slightly at the
mention of a binder. He didn't wear one, himself, having no need of it, but he
had had associates back home who had. The thought that this person wore one was
endearing; Sebastian felt an odd affinity to them in that moment. He gave a
small smile of understanding, a fluid person to a nonbinary one.
"You are brave. We shared the
kinoga-poko's heart. And you survived me after that... you know what the
adrenaline did to me." A dark chuckle and he traced lazy circles on the
inside of their knee.
Which was a thing that the captain knew. He
smiled. "You should come over, Sebastian."
Sebastian went over and slid into the captain's
lap.
"Good evening~" he said
flirtatiously.
Sky blinks, absolutely surprised when
Sebastian sat on Kitano's lap. "H...hi...." They managed to get out
feeling painfully shy all of a sudden.
In the meantime, Yuki had worn a small
improvised sporran with her sarong. She gave Miyuki a gummy or two; normal
candy. They were red. The green ones were a different shape; small pointed
leaves. They were edibles, which she and Susumu shared, one each, being careful
not to give any to Miyuki.
"Sorry, is this seat taken?"
asked Sebastian.
As the song ended, Dessler pulled Atirangi
close. He was shaking with tears—something about that song had really hit him.
"It started with me wanting the ship and this system. When I met you, my
love, my goddess, I didn't have honorable intentions. It's different now. It's
not just the baby; it's you. And I realize now that it's been you from the
beginning, There's no magic, no life, no light without you, Atirangi... "
Atirangi's answer was to just draw her man
close. She was in tears as well. "Babe, I knew all of that. And I also
know that you were the one who was there the night Étienne died. You were all
that kept me together than night, that horrible night. It was always you for
me, too, Abelt."
It was as though the last threads of
something deceptive and dark fell away.
Lily simply smiled, her hand on Kharzon
having allowed her to see what just happened.
"Wow," Kharzon murmured.
"Music really does tame the savage beast. He's a kinoga-poko
himself."
Sebastian softened his smartass demeanor
somewhat as he looked at Kitano's partner.
"Hi," he said, gently. "I
know who Kitano is, but I can't remember if we've met. I'm Sebastian. Sometimes
I'm Serena. And you?"
"There's magic here, Mommy?"
Miyuki said as she saw what had happened.
"Yes, it is magic," Yuki said.
"It's love. It's where you came from..."
"Utter joy and love," Susumu
said, mussing his daughter's hair.
"Love," Miyuki said.
"Like we have for you," Yuki
said. "And what I feel for your Daddy." Yuki kissed Susumu on the
nose, then Miyuki, so she wouldn't feel left out.
"Commander Sky Thorne. I'm the
navigation specialist aboard the Yamato. My transfer was rather sudden."
They explain while fidgeting with their bracelet.
Across the fire, as far away from them as
he could sit and still be near the Nightfire, Zworder had little Malié in his
arms. He had this way of holding the baby close to his mighty chest and curving
around her protectively. He was sitting there, just staring into the eyes of
his daughter and smiling. The baby was smiling back.
Angelle was slightly leaning against him, a
smile on her lips seeing their sweet little one smiling so happily for her
father. "Such a happy little one." She coos.
Sebastian nodded. "Pleasure to meet
you, Commander," he said with a respectful salute, sliding off Kitano's
lap and sitting in an empty chair instead. "Don't mind me, I just like the
odd tease every so often," he said airily. He leaned forward. "If you
ever need spare garments, I'm a dab hand with a sewing machine and a knitting loom,"
he said quietly. "I'll be happy to supply you, free of charge."
"Thank you. I
actually....well....." They blush and speak so that only Kitano and
Sebastian would hear. "I've been debating about trying to wear a packer
from time to time...for the days I'm feeling more masculine.... Do you think
you could make one?"
"She is. She seems to only cry if
she's wet or hungry." And that might be because as often as he could,
Zworder would hold the little Princess Royal. The baby was the right sort of
spoiled: she would never have a single doubt that her parents loved her.
"They can replicate an actual silicone
packer aboard the Mariah. I'm cleared to go up there. If you ever want to do
it, we can," Kitano said.
Sebastian thought for a moment, then nodded
slowly. "I could probably knit one," he said, "if you can
provide me with specs. Should I make it adjustable to account for weight loss
or gain?"
"I think a knit one would be good to
try it out first. Doesn't need to be anything fancy." Sky seemed near
tears of happiness thanks to the support they were getting at the moment.
"Do you have a color preference?"
Sebastian asked. His own favorite color was pink, but he didn't think that
would be appreciated.
"And yes, it's approved for you to
wear one any time you choose. If anyone says a word about it, they will need to
have a talk with me."
"I am fond of the color green."
They smile, feeling so relieved. "This really means a lot to me."
Yuki overheard, and she said, quietly,
"Would you mind if I knitted one for you, as well, Sky?"
Sebastian nodded. He had green yarn, for
sure. "Hey, it's no problem," he said. "Any particular shade of
green? My default is winter."
Susumu had nothing to say, since Yuki
had told him a little about Sky's
situation, but he kissed Yuki on the nose in support.
"I want you to be you, mouse." He
threaded his fingers with theirs. "This doesn't have a bearing on your
work save for one: making you feel more self assured, stronger within
yourself—that's going to lead you to making faster, better decisions and not
being afraid to implement them. Not to mention... fluid and nonbinary are valid
and beautiful. Diversity has always been the way of things aboard the
Yamato."
"Not to mention, we should stick
together. Or at least, that's my habit," Sebastian said with a wink.
Sky shakes their head. "Thanks for the
offer. But I think starting with one for now is the best." They squeeze
Kitano's hand. "Honestly, the Yamato is the first place I have truly felt
where I belong. And a large part of that is thanks to you Sir."
"Okay," Yuki said. "All the
best to you...the Captain is so good to you."
"A good captain knows how to make his
crew feel comfortable and welcome. I'm starting to like it aboard the Yamato,
myself," Sebastian affirmed. "It's hell being away from loved ones,
but making new friends, belonging and not having to hide... ehh. Maybe it'll be
worth it after all."
Their expression softens a bit. "It's
just...it is a very intimate item. Knowing that Sebastian is fluid makes it
less awkward. Your intentions are kind and well placed but I don't know you
well enough to accept such offers." It was hard, asserting themselves in
such a manner. Especially since they don't want to hurt her feelings!
Miyuki yawned. "Whatcha talkin'
about?"
"Something we'll tell you about later,"
Yuki said softly.
Susumu agreed. "Maybe we'd better head
back to the treehouse?"
"Agreed. Someone seems sleepy,"
Yuki said.
Susumu helped Yuki up and the family
vanished off to the treehouse, not to be seen again until the next day, saying
a few quiet goodbyes to their friends, such as Cody, Msiba, Goran, and Raymond
and Sandi, who had been sitting near them.
Raymond chuckled, eating an edible.
"Well, now that the kids are away, we grownups can play."
"Play what?" Sandi said.
"Stuff."
"What kind of stuff?"
"Stuff not suitable for the family
hour," chuckled Raymond.
"I knew you were right for my ship
from the start. And I also knew you were right for me." Those eyes were
intense. "And then the way things were when we found that
kinoga-poko..."
"Speaking of that," Atirangi
said, "guess what I have in the Gargoyle. I'll be right back." She
gave Abelt a kiss and laughed, swatting his hand, as he pawed at her breast.
She ran to the crouching menace of the shuttle, entered it, and came back with
the black and silver beauty of the hide. There was also a small basket of woven
leaves. "There you go."
Kitano set the rolled upon his knees and
opened the basket. Inside it were two necklaces and a wristlet. They were made
from sinew dyed teal, blue and deep green. One necklace held most of the teeth
and claws of the great predator. The other simply had two claws and one of the
teeth, and the wristlet had two teeth and a single claw. They were mounted on a
soft, brain-tanned leather of deep green.
Kitano captured Sky's other hand, pressing
a kiss to their temple. And he tied on the tooth wristlet to that wrist. He
then graced their neck with the pendant. "The spoils of the hunt... "
Did he mean the kinoga-poko or Sky themselves?
"Gosh, those are beautiful,"
Sebastian breathed, leaning forward to get a better look.
"Wow!" Sandi whispered on her way
to the hookah. She had on a black bikini. "Those are gorgeous!"
Sky did burst into tears this time.
"They are so beautiful!" In a way they didn't feel they deserve such
things. And yet....it felt amazing being accepted, no, being embraced for who
they are.
Kitano drew them close. And then draped the
hide about their shoulders. "Also for you. And I would face an army of
them for you."
"And drop them, one by one,"
Zworder said. "The only question would be... chain or blade."
"Chain. Blade. Teeth or my bare
hands." That smile was back. The one that chilled people to the core.
Watching them made Sebastian wistful and
slightly misty-eyed. Thinking of loved ones....
"Hey-- Kitano," he said,
"not to ruin the mood or anything, but if I wanted to get a letter to
someone back home... how would I go about that? He's an American.
Institutionalized, which was why we-- we weren't drafted together...."
Sky shivers seeing him smile like that.
They pull the fur close about themselves, embracing how it felt about them.
"I can probably push something
through. We have comms capability to reach Terra thanks to Atirangi and Dessler
giving us the tech. And I can be persuasive."
No, Kitano, what you actually are is
intimidating.
Sebastian smiled angelically at Kitano's
use of the word 'persuasive'; he hadn't missed that sharkish smile of the
captain's a moment ago, either.
"That would be so wonderful, thank
you," he enthused. Then he sighed. "You're all so lucky to have found
each other. It's heartwarming, but also.... Well, anyway, thank you."
Sky squeezed his leg. "If you ever
want somebody to talk to, I'm happy to listen."
"All of this emotion and sweetness,
ridiculous amounts of love. It's rather appalling," Zworder said. He had a
way of scowling ferociously while the amber eyes danced with mirth. As he
spoke, he snuggled Angel closer and cuddled a little Malié... who actually let
out her first baby giggle! "Did she laugh? I think she laughed!"
"Her first laugh!" Angelle was
all smiles.
Sebastian nodded thoughtfully. "I
appreciate that, thank you," he said. He put on another winsome smile and
said, "I guess it's lucky for me he's not the jealous type, what with some
of my other proclivities. Anyway, though, you're all real good people. I'm
proud to be part of the crew."
Yeah... that was when Zworder settled the
baby into Angelle's arms and then scooped her into his lap, baby and all, and
just sat there holding them.
Sandi overheard the baby giggle, and she
came over and shyly said, "Your Majesties...she is so beautiful!"
Angelle sighs happily. "Baby cuddles
are the best." She breathes in Malié's scent.
Sandi smiled at her and the Emperor, bowed
slightly in respect, and then took off to be at Raymond's side.
9:00 PM
That hookah had been set up at one side. A
few people moved over there to enjoy a bit of the devil's lettuce—there was no
alcohol onworld, so this was the recreational of choice. After watching them a
bit, Kitano got the most dastardly smile. He lifted a hand.
"Never have I ever... eaten
crayons." And he laughed as Kharzon went 'Arrgh' and had to take a hit!
Sebastian was among those who went to enjoy
the hookah, but he froze at the game opening. "I don't remember if I
have," he said, "but I was a dumbass as a kid, so let's say yes just
to be safe." And he took a hit too!
Lily bursts out laughing at that.
"Really, of all people....you ate crayons?"
Sandi laughed. "I ate glue when I was
little!"
"I did. I remember my father asking me
'Why do you have pink teeth?!"
"I would have lied and said it was
that weird gum they give out that tells if you brush your teeth
correctly," said Sebastian, forgetting for the moment that he'd been a
"dumbass kid" at the time.
Raymond slapped the sand and laughed.
Lily giggle snorts at that. "Oh! I
have one! Never have I ever seen a penis!" Oh, she sure as fuck was going
to use being blind to her advantage!
Sebastian laughed and took a mighty hit.
"That's unfair," he chided between chokes
And Dessler lifted one hand. "Never
have I ever... puked when drunk!"
"I am not going over there or getting
high while I take care of my princess, but guilty..." Zworder said,
laughing. Kitano also had to take a hit!
"That was the first and last time, and
I felt so horrendous that I never drank again."
"Oh, luckily not that! I hold my
liquor well, if I say so myself."
"I never puked while drinking liquor.
I know someone who DID," Raymond said, "But I can't say much without
said person being here."
Angelle and Sky both had to take a hit due
to Lily. And Angelle took a hit for Dessler's, a chagrined expression on her
face.
"It was a really sweet sparkling...
well, I think you would call it a wine. I have never been so sick."
Yeah, everyone's taking a hit..
"Sounds delicious," said
Sebastian. "Do you remember what it was called?"
Raymond ran over and took a hit. A BIG one.
When he sat down, his eyes crossed. Sandi
saw and laughed uproariously.
Angelle was laughing rather hard from
Lily's. "I can't believe that popped out of your mouth!"
Ati grinned. "Never have I ever...
streaked the beach!"
Holy shit. Dessler had to take a hit!
"Makes me wonder if what she mentioned
has also popped out of her mouth," Sebastian muttered, playfully and yet spitefully.
"Oh god DAMN it, Atirangi," he
grumbled, taking a hit. He had been ten, and it had been a dare, but still.
Angelle blinks then laughs even harder!
"What in Arishna's name... you did
what?" Zworder looked to his colleague, actually laughing.
"Truth or Dare. Thunderclap. Need I
say more?"
"Goran is why half of us are more
stoned. Dammit." Kharzon snickered. "He just randomly drops
trou!"
"Actually, I was meaning to ask-- does
it count if it's your own?" Sebastian quipped. "Penis, I mean."
Angelle has a twinkle in her eyes.
"Never have I ever seen Goran's dick!"
Lily thinks for a moment. "Yep.
Totally counts!"
"Goran... Goran... have I slept with
him?" Sebastian muttered to himself. "I don't remember... hmm... I
don't think so?"
"Oh, for the love of... I hope someone
brought enough weed!" Zworder laughed.
Yeah, pretty much all of mine need to
smoke...
"You'd remember," Ati said.
"Huge Gatlantean with one eye and scars, loud as hell."
"Hey, Kharzon gave me the idea!"
Angelle snickers
Raymond and Sandi took off and had two hits
each. Both them had eyes that crossed as they smoked. They looked at each other
and began to laugh their heads off. Then, they turned to Angelle.
Sebastian shrugged. "Guess not, then.
But he sounds interesting." He winked salaciously.
"He's now very, very married. He just
likes randomly showing off the wedding tackle."
Raymond said, "Never, have I ever,
been so stoned in my life!"
And shockingly....Sky takes a hit at that
one.
Sebastian tilted his head. "Is there a
difference between being very married and sort of married?" he asked, just
to be a smartass.
Then he had to take a hit. "Dammit. I
got so high on acid just before I took the Bar-- never mind." He grinned.
"Did you pass?" said Raymond.
"I had a friend of mine who drank lots of coffee before he took the Bar
once. Failed by five points."
Dessler had to take a hit there. "I've
actually been so stoned that it scared me. My beautiful one grounded me,
though."
"I passed. Barely. But the first time
Trent and I were separated-- when he dropped out of grad school to chase some
pipe dream of his-- I got off my face every single day. Everything in the book
and some things that weren't. Golly, I miss those days... but I had to get
clean when we reconnected, and then the draft...." Sebastian grimaced.
"So this is the highest I've gotten in a good long while."
Sky thinks for a moment. "Never have I
ever played a musical instrument."
Sebastian threw up his hands and took
another hit. "If a baby piano counts."
Lily had Kharzon help her take a hit, her
first one actually.
"I haven't been so stoned since the
night my first wife Cara died," Raymond said. "Might as well let out
how I feel...it sucked. One guy had the chutzpah to ask if I was okay at his
own wedding. I was drunk. Didn't appreciate the fuckin' question. Kicked his
butt before the bride pulled me off him."
Man, there is a snatch-grab for that pipe
by so many hands...
"Another one where I'd have to smoke
if I didn't have the baby," Zworder said.
"Seriously?" Kharzon looked
surprised. "What do you play?"
"Only Angelle is ever going to hear it
or know what it is," Zworder said.
"That's valid," Sebastian said to
Raymond with a respectful nod.
"Worst thing is, I serve with the
kid," he said as he nodded towards a certain treehouse.
"Capische?"
"Sure you only want to take one
hit?"
"I might as well take some more,"
Raymond said. And he did.
"Oh. That one." This scowl was
the real deal. "He always was a fool."
"A fool, married to a loon,"
Raymond said after he took another hit.
"If you didn't have actually competent
people to clean up the mess, you would have lost that ship. He was enabled,
cosseted and spoiled, and then broke under pressure and took the coward's way
out. Suicide because the enemy is approaching and that death would be worse,
fine. Terminal and intractable illness, understandable. But... because you said
or did something stupid? Pardon the language, but get the fuck out with
that."
Sebastian was completely lost as to who
they might be talking about, but he ventured instead, "Never have I
ever... gone down on a woman."
"Yeah...he needs to learn to live with
his shit, and I agree with you, Majesty," Raymond said. "At least
he's keeping his nose clean. For now."
"I would have to smoke so much that I
would be completely impaired for days, because I will do that until I sprain my
tongue." Zworder got a drrty ol grin.
"That's far, far more than I ever
wanted to know." Bud Dessler had to take a smoke as well.
Kitano had to take three. "I'm with
His Majesty. I will do that until I can't."
"Same!" Kharzon was at the 'laugh
at everything' stage!
Sandi came over and took another hit, and
she began to dance around Raymond, her main squeeze. "Am I silly, or
what?"
"You're having fun; it's
allowed," he said.
Sebastian facepalmed. "I brought that
on myself," he admitted.
"Anyone want to play Truth or
Dare?" said Sandi.
"I'm up for anything," Sebastian
replied.
"Sebastian" she said, up on
tiptoe in the sand. "Truth or dare?"
"Hmm... let's say truth at
first."
"Okay...truth...who is the first
person ya...(yawn) kissed...?" As she said that, she fell asleep.
Raymond picked her up and said, "I
think milady has overindulged somewhat. She needs to sleep it off.
G'night!"
Sebastian chuckled. It was just as well.
There was only one person he had ever truly kissed, and he'd said more than
enough about that for one night. He shrugged and went back to the water to
play.
