APRIL OPEN LOG: PIRATE JENNY

[sailmods]

[early risers with odd-numbered rooms might notice that the morning sun doesn't quite come through the curtains as much as it usually does; they can peer out the portholes to see their views blocked by black-painted wood. everyone else won't realize something's off until the morning announcements. there's the chime, and Friday speaks, but...]

Passengers, I'd like for you all to join me in the atrium at your earliest possible convenience! We have a… situation!

[there is no bind on their legs; going is their choice. but, who wouldn't? something interesting is happening, at least. for once.

when they arrive, they will find Friday, and find that she is not alone. a woman - tall, dark, with a flowing coat and a lit cigar hanging from the side of her mouth like an old movie gangster - is standing on the raised area by the stairs; they are having a conversation that's too quiet to hear, and the woman's face is nearly as inscrutable. when enough have gathered, Friday steps forward, her empty hands clasped together in front of her, as the woman puts out the cigar on the heel of her boot and tosses it thoughtlessly to the ground.]

Good morning, everyone! I.. I'd like, I'd like to, well, I'd -

[the woman places a firm hand on Friday's shoulder - spins her, grabs her, dips her low to the ground, and kisses her soundly. at the first touch, Friday freezes; but, at the dip, she squeaks, and throws her arms up to hold herself up. the woman returns her to a normal position, and grins widely.]

Let me handle this, Dajutia. Hm? [Friday nods, and the woman turns to face the passengers.] Tau, everyone! My name is Jenny Storm, but all my friends call me Pirate Jenny! And I'd like to think we're all friends, sí? You could call me an... alumnus of the Serena Eterna; I spent a good five years being a thorn in the side of our good Captain! So, when I heard that he was getting up to his old tricks again, I decided to come around and see the fresh meat! And maybe have a bit of a vacation myself!

[she looks at each of them in turn. her grin widens, showing sharp canines.]

Now, I am sure you are thinking, "Señora Storm? You are a pirate! Are you here to rob us of our valuables?" [she barks out a laugh, then shakes her head.] No, no. First off, we're friends; it's Pirate Jenny! And Pirate Jenny is not interested in such things. In fact, I have valuables for you!

[she makes a quick movement: she sticks her pointer finger in her mouth, and then immediately uses that same finger to make some sort of sketch on her palm. seconds later, that same palm closes around a single white rose, which she extends to Friday. she pauses... then takes it, careful, holding it gentle as a bird.]

I may not be the Captain, but I happen to have a little bit of magic of my own! And, for a very, very low price, I can grant you a few small wishes! Trifles from home, maybe - do you like rocket launchers? I am getting very good at rocket launchers!

Jenny...

Okay, okay, no rocket launchers... Machine guns are as big as I'll go, promise!

[Friday just audibly sighs and shakes her head, but there's a clear sort of fondness in it, and Jenny laughs again.]

So, be sure to chat me up, sí? After breakfast! I may not miss much about this damned ship, but I do miss those little omelets!

[she salutes the audience, and then immediately leaves, taking the stairs down three at a time and needlessly pushing her way through the small crowd on her way to the elevators. Friday merely watches her go; her fingers have worried the rose to shreds that fall at her feet.

the rest of the month, until the 13th, is very much the same, with one exception: Jenny's ship remains at the Serena Eterna's side, a sailing ship somehow keeping pace with a modern engine craft. and Jenny doesn't seem to be keeping an especially close eye on it.]

Comments

[lightconductor]

"What sixteen-year-old is truly wise?" Watson points out. "I can't say if he might come around, but for now... well, you can't put your entire happiness into the hands of one person, a child who isn't even here."

He reaches for César's hand and squeezes it. "You should probably get out of those clothes," he observes.

[pineapplesalmon]

"I know, I know...." César doesn't specify to what, but probably everything about Rex, squeezing Watson's hand back and placing his bandaged one on one of Johnny's as he gives him a squeeze.

Then he drops the subject of Rex entirely, because their statements are entirely too close to the mark.

"I should get out of these clothes and maybe take a quick shower. I can use a plastic bag and rubber band to keep the bandage clean." He smiles weakly, not opening his eyes. "But this is also nice."

[businessorlibation]

"You can have more of this after you're clean, I promise. All night long, even. Feel free to use the towel hanging above the toilet, I washed it when I did laundry last night."

He gently nudges at César, arms unraveling from around him.

[lightconductor]

Watson gives César a warm squeeze on the shoulder. "Yes, go on. Don't hesitate to give us a shout if you feel unwell, but get yourself cleaned up. You'll feel much better afterwards, I suspect."

[pineapplesalmon]

All night long. That does sound rather nice. Just as nice as getting clean.

"I suspect you're right." César replies to Watson, lowly standing with his shirt hanging over his arm again.

He turns and leans over to kiss Johnny very tenderly on the cheek. "Certainly need to be clean if I'm to spend all night in your bed." He lingers there, to give Johnny a chance to take a moment of his own.

[businessorlibation]

Johnny relaxes into the kiss, blushing warmly, his smile soft and almost goofy. He feels floaty and warm and all sorts of nice, like this.

"Go, go. I'll lay out something for you to change into when you get back."

[lightconductor]

Watson smiles indulgently, turning back to his bag to pack it up again. He's rather glad that it showed up, unexpected and unexplained as it is. "I would almost feel like I'm intruding," he says mildly.

[pineapplesalmon]

"Thank you." Then, Watson interjects, and César's laughter puffs against Johnny's cheek before César straightens up.

"If you think that's bad," he turns and starts walking towards the bathroom, carrying his shirt and the wash cloth; he stops at the door and leans back, grinning conspiratorially to Johnny. "Wait until I can safely confirm my nanites won't infect him."

He's mildly surprised that he can deliver that threat so cheerfully, but it most certainly feels good.

[businessorlibation]

"We're not going to do anything too untoward around Watson. That'd be poor roommate etiquette." He laughs, though, leaning in to nudge his dear roommate lightly. "I tell you, I didn't expect this from the start of the cruise. Even in the midst of fear and panic, we can still have joy."

[lightconductor]

"However will I stand the scandal," Watson says flatly, with a roll of his eyes, then chuckles despite himself. More seriously, he adds, "It is my experience that people tend to find one another in even the darkest circumstances. Human nature, I suppose."

[pineapplesalmon]

César takes the moment to just smile at then both. Just simply smile at them both, bright, fond, in a way that hasn't happened much in the last six months before he arrived here. It feels like he could almost cry, his heart nearly bursting with contentment. He feels his smile says it all. In this place, if even for just a moment... they have joy and happiness.

Then he straightens up from leaning to the side and walks into the bathroom fully to shut the door.

[businessorlibation]

"You don't understand why I want you here tonight, do you?" Johnny's voice is quiet, trying not to be heard through the bathroom door.

[lightconductor]

"Not really," Watson says, his voice equally low. "I could venture a guess, but it's not the sort of thing I'd want to be wrong about."

He tilts his head, expectant.

[businessorlibation]

"I don't want him to fall into something too romantic tonight as a sort of emotional rebound after what he's done. I don't want whatever comes next between him and me to feel like a result of him murdering Jenny. Tonight is for comfort and reassurance, and absolutely not for coupling up." He gestures, bringing both his hands together to show the idea of 'coupling'.

"And besides, he definitely finds you a comforting figure. He didn't just come to this room because I'm here."

[lightconductor]

Watson's expression softens a little.

"That is very good of you," he says, "and very right, too. Tonight should not be a time for great leaps forward. Though I'm not sure you overestimate my influence. I'm a doctor, and this is what I do." He shrugs modestly.

[businessorlibation]

“Not all doctors I’ve known have seen the whole patient instead of merely the physical.” Johnny shrugs. “I think you are special, no matter how humble you are.”

[lightconductor]

Watson waves off the compliment modestly, in fact even looking away, a little uncomfortably. Still, he's smiling. It's a compliment, after all, and one he appreciates. "Thank you. It does, in fact, mean a lot that you think that of me."

[businessorlibation]

Johnny notices the discomfort, and reaches out to rest a hand on Watson's shoulder, leaning in. "What just happened in your head? I saw that, but I don't understand."

[lightconductor]

"Oh, well."

Watson shrugs, trying to think how to explain it. "I know too well why some doctors behave that way, and I know the pitfalls to taking the route I prefer. Sometimes trying to keep that distance is safer. I've never been particularly good at that."

[businessorlibation]

"I don't know that I'd consider it a flaw, Watson, to be treated to a warm bedside manner and sincere kindness."

He shakes his head. "But I imagine it can make it harder when you go home at the end of the day."

[lightconductor]

"It can, at that." Watson sighs and shakes his head. "If 'caring too much' is a flaw I must carry with me, well, at least it weighs heavier on me than on my patients. And if my patients are also friends, all the better."

He shrugs.

[businessorlibation]

"Hopefully, most of the familiar faces on this ship are starting to be friends. It seems to me that if the Captain delights in discord and pain, indulging him before he really starts working at it would be a shame."

[pineapplesalmon]

Speaking of friends, César does eventually finish his shower. The shower can be heard being turned off and then the sink being turned on a short while later. He has to get the blood out of the rest of his clothes. But eventually that finishes, too.

César emerges with floppy, wet hair much longer in the front than in the back. He's only wearing a pair of green boxers, carrying his socks and boots under an arm.

"... I, ah, hung the towel back up." He smiles softly to them, his earlier cheer gone again (the red eyes might be a clue as to why).

He doesn't wait for them to reply back, going to put his boots in their place by the door, turning his back to them for a moment. Yes, they have a place. César's been here enough.

"Thank you." There's a lot more he wishes he could say, but that... encompasses all of it, in a way.

[lightconductor]

"Not at all, my dear fellow."

Watson looks at César with a doctor's gaze, sees those red eyes and he knows. He has too much sense to comment on it, of course. There is a considerable amount of emotion that has to be dealt with, the first time you kill someone, even if you do know they'll come back in the morning. He knows.

"Well, come sit down, anyway."

[businessorlibation]

"Sweatpants are in the lower drawer in that dresser, if you need some." Johnny points helpfully, as he moves to make space between himself and Watson, just enough to fit one whole César.