The two women just stood there looking at each other for what seemed like forever. It was obvious that Lyric had an awesome power. Of course she couldn't hold a candle to shapeshifting. Alexandria was glad to finally have a conversation with a person that wasn't trying to kill her. Their first meeting was at the business end of a cutlass but she was on Lyric's ship. Now she felt bad for calling it a dingy out loud. She shook the cobwebs out of her head and noticed Lyric was inches from her face.

"I know this is your ship but have you ever heard of personal space?" Alexandria ran a hand through her hair. A look of disgust crept across her face.

Lyric tilted her head to the side piercing Alexandria's soul with her dark brown eyes. "Do you realize how gorgeous you are even covered in blood and dirt?"

At that moment her hand got a bit stuck in a knot of her dirty hair. Taking in a deep breath she slowly untangled the hand from the matted mess wiping it on her shirt. She rolled her shoulders and cracked her neck peering into the cabin at the wonderful looking bathtub. A shriek broke the momentary silence as the vulture cocked it's head to the side perched above them in the crows nest.

A giggle escaped Lyrics lips as she spoke, "It would seem you have an admirer. Also, do you still want to take a bath or are you going to stand there eyeballing it all day?"

Alexandria looked up at the vulture, then at the tub, and finally turned to Lyric flaring her nostrils at her. "I am not keeping that bird as a pet. Yes, I would like to take a bath. However, your ability to disappear like that makes me a bit weary."

The vulture shrieked again causing Lyric to follow suit with a giggle. "I am not sure you have much of a choice on that part. You have nothing to fear from me. I have no idea about your ability so who is the one that should feel weary?"

A scoffing sound escaped her lips as she blew a strand of red hair from in front of her face. Lyric had a solid point she had shown her hand. Alexandria rolled her eyes, cracking her neck on both sides. "If you must know I can shapeshift into any animal I see which is how I dispatched those primitive slobs over there."

Nodding her head in approval Lyric gestured for Alexandria to make her way to the bath. Both of their abilities were out in the open now. Of course Lyric was the only one to provide a demonstration. However Alexandria wasn't too keen on shifting on command. That had been her life for far too long. It would seem that had a profound effect on when and how often she could actually shift.

She waved Lyric off, almost stomping into the cabin closing the door behind her. Leaning against it she slid down to the floor pulling her knees close to her chest. Everything was going well so why did she feel so heavy. That bath was something that needed to happen regardless of who or what was waiting outside on deck. A soft knock echoed through the room. "Just so you know the water is still on this side of the door. When you're ready, come on out and get it. I will go for a stroll to give you time to yourself."

Alexandria waited until the footsteps thumping was all but gone. She sprang up from her huddled position, grabbed the pitcher by the tub and swung open the door. The vulture was still perched on the crows nest greeting her with a shriek. It appeared to look as though it was waiting for food rather than company. Of course Alexandria wasn't going to kid herself that she could read the creature's mind. Dumping the pitcher into the barrel she started to fill the tub. It took her almost twenty trips before it was filled enough to her liking.

Stripping off her clothes, piling them in the corner of the small room. She walked back over to the tub dancing her hand across the surface of the water. It wasn't cold but it wasn't hot either. There was no fire to heat the water but that was fine. This bath was for cleaning not for pleasure. She stepped in, slipping inside and under the water for a moment. The slight change in pressure relaxed her. However it was very different from the pressure she endured with each shift. A few bubbles escaped to the surface as she came back up for air. Grabbing the brush that hung from the side along with the small bar of soap she started to wash herself.

There was a lot to think about besides just getting clean. She had transformed twice since deciding to escape. Both times were not really something she wanted to do but had to do. What would it feel like to actually take her time to make a choice? All of her paths had been decided for her. Being able to choose her own path now was almost as refreshing as the bath. Her hair was a different story altogether since there was so much blood. Having to submerge herself three times before finally untangling all the matted knots. Taking a moment to just soak she glanced over at the desk. She wanted more time with the map however this was Lyric's ship. How could she trust someone who just watched her from a concealed position. The fact Lyric was able to live out here so long on her own was obvious. She could disappear on command almost. That would be an awesome ally to have on her side.

She decided another conversation was in order to see if Lyric was a good fit for her crew. Of course the fact that she could supply a ship along with a map. That should be a no-brainer to have her join the crew. Running her hand across her leg trying to remember the last time she was this clean. Of course bathes were a luxury at the facility. There was also the site of all her elctrical burns from the stun batons. The only blemishes on her body. Thankfully they were in places no one could see them. She shook her head. This was a new beginning no more thinking about that damned place.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Grabbing the towel that was folded on the floor next to the tub standing up wrapping it around her body. She walked over to the desk grabbing the clothes and bringing them over to the chest. Now she wasn't sure if wearing them was a good idea. Shugging her shoulders speaking out loud.

"Why the hell should I care? If she wanted to keep them for herself lock them up. Also let someone know this is your ship. Who the hell just watches people break into their things."

"Those are all good points. Maybe when you come back outside we can talk about it. So how about you get dressed and stop talking to yourself."

Lyric's voice made her jump almost right out of the towel. She flipped off the door drying herself off rather quickly.

She put on the clothes that came from the chest. Everything seemed to fit rather well. The boots were her favorite part since she had never worn any type of foot wear before. Slipping them on and looking at herself in a full body mirror she had just noticed was in the room. She walked to the door smiling with each thump of her boots on the floor.

Alexandria opened the door walking out to see Lyric sitting on a barrel near the mast. The vulture shrieked from above which made her eyes roll. Lyric jumped down walking around her with a goofy smile on her face.

"Yeah I would say those clothes suit you. I have no problem with you taking them. I haven't worn those boots since I found them. They aren't my size anyway."

Alexandria was curious as to why Lyric was being so nice. Throat slitting was almost a thing not too long ago. She wanted to figure everything out now. The control of a situation was something she needed right now. Clenching her fists she remembered the bandana was still in her hand. Throwing her head back fitting the bandana underneath, shaking her head so her hair fell neatly past her shoulders.

Lyric gave her a thumbs up with that goofy smile that seemed to be permanently painted on her face. "Do you have any other emotion besides happiness? Also why does it matter if you say I can take them? You were just fine watching me from afar. What is your deal?" Alexandria adjusted a few things on her outfit waiting for a response.

Tilting her head to the side, Lyric raised an eyebrow wondering all those things herself. A soft giggle escaped her lips tapping her chin with her index finger. "Those are all great questions. I have been out here a long time only seeing a few people. I try to steer clear of any large groups of people. So I guess I am like this from being alone for so long."

A chord was struck inside Alexandria from all those responses. She wasn't sure why since Lyric got on her nerves a bit. Even though having someone to start a journey with gave her the best feelings. This gave her a better understanding of Lyric as a person, someone she might have been friends with when the world was still normal.

Lyric walked up to Alexandria getting a little too close again. She started blinking her eyes rapidly until finally Alexandria reacted. "What the hell is your problem?" She pulled back a bit remembering that Lyric wasn't much different from her. Rolling her eyes trying again. "You haven't been around others in a long time. There is such a thing as personal space. So step back."

"Well you were just standing there zoning out. What was I supposed to do? So anymore questions or are we going to get going?"

Alexandria let out an exasperated sigh shaking her head. Why in the world was she so keen on setting sail with someone she just met. Of course the same could be said of herself since that was the question she was trying to answer.

The two woman just looked at each other for a moment. They needed to do something or else they would just stay moored to this place until the end of time. Of course there was the option of fighting to the death. The ship rocked gently from the waves coming from the further of parts of the water. They both smiled at each other with Alexandria about to speak. At that moment the vulture chimed in with a shierk. Lyric doubled over laughing while Alexandria looked up at the bird a pissed off expression on her face.

"Could you be quiet for once. There are more important things going on then you making that annoying sound." Alexandria really needed to ask the important questions to figure out if this was a partnership or passerby.

"You do know that vulture is never going to leave your side now. Animals are pretty rare around here. They say having one brings good fortune. However that was a different bird that I believe died out a long time ago."

Again Alexandria was so happen to have a knowledgeable person around to give her information. She loved books but at the moment the only one she had was her jounral. Of course there was all the information she learned at the factility.

"How do you know so much when your on your own? If we are going to go on a trip together we need to know a good deal about each other. I don't know if I can trust you longterm."

Lyric giggled nodding her head in agreement.

"We can talk about whatever you like. As long as the vulture can stay."

Alexandria couldn't believe she was being bribed into talking by getting a pet. She wasn't too sure about it since now she could shirt into one. Letting out a groan she agreed to the terms nodding her head.

"So what is it you want to know? I have told you all the important things. What is it that makes you weary of me?" There seemed to be a whole lot more questions instead of answers at the moment. However they had plenty of time since the sun was still at the midpoint in the sky.

"Alright I believe I have answered what I find weary of you already. I just want to know if you're willing to do anything to explore this world and fill in that map on your desk." Alexandria felt relieved finally able to ask the question without having a bird make a nose or an annoying giggle. This time Lyric was the one who didn't say a thing.

Alexandria shrugged, shaking her head looking up at the vulture. "Well I guess we have some semblance of a crew. That is if you ever get around to speaking."

Lyric drew her cutlass moving towards the bow of the ship. Acting as a figure head she yelled into the wide world in front of her. "Set sail and away we go!"