"...you think that same thing will happen twice? You do not think that is slim chance, ey?"
"No. I mean, Yes?" Cinnamons looks a bit nervous as she tries to wrap her head around the Captains accent laden double speak, "What I mean is that it doesn't hurt to be careful. That's all."
Cinnamon still has an emotionally injured expression from Krysts verbal assault, although she has swung ever so slightly into a guarded posture directed towards Captain Reigns.
The conversation regarding the reliability of the lifters and why we were still waiting for them to resume operation had been a short one between the two of them. Judging by the dismissive shake of the Captains head it had now reached its conclusion. Instead she directs her focus toward Kryst. Watching her with a keen interest.
Annoyed at the delay the fairy has landed on the rounded stone outcrop we have all gathered around. Pacing about like a caged tiger she scuffs her feet and kicks small bits of lose rock from the stone.
"Captain Isabella Ravena Reigns." She says quite formally to Kryst. The airship captain places one hand over a closed fist in front of her chest and, with her back straight, lowers her torso into a slight bow. "I am sorry we did not get introductions sooner."
Kryst pauses in her kicking of a pebble and glances over to the Captain. She narrows her eyes then, lets out a frustrated sigh and turns sharply. In a much more crisp and practiced fashion she duplicates the bow.
"Kryst Thunderfist."
"May I say it is a real pleasure to meet you." Captain Reigns straightens and she shifts back into her relaxed pose. "It is always the blessed day when I find myself fortunate enough to converse with a Gleam." Kryst irritated body language softens with the ego stroking. "It is a shame that there are so few who appreciate just what it means to be in the company of a true world spirit."
"Tell me about it." Kryst all but raises her nose in the air in smug agreement.
"I do hope that you will do me the honor of engaging in some conversation when all of this... circumstances is sorted. Perhaps over a drink ey?" The Captain offers.
"A drink?"
"Yes. Apparently it is this rather delightful new social past time. Often shared between adults looking to get better acquainted." Captain Reigns gives Kryst a mirthful smile. "I've been told that it has become quite popular as of late."
"Ha! You're a bit of smarmy one, aren't you." Kryst laughs, her aggravated attitude all but dissipating.
"Just know that I don't do those weak wines and foofie elf drinks." She makes a thumb toward me to accent the point and I find myself a bit offended. "But, tell you what. If you are plinking up the coin for the rum? Well then you can count on me to be there to drink it, sister." Kryst grins. "We can see how good the conversation is after we knock back a few."
The Captain lets out a laugh and gives Kryst a clear nod of affirmation. I feel my brow involuntarily raise ever so slightly. Was Reigns up to something?
Maybe it was simply my player character paranoia. Unwilling to take things at face value and looking for that sneaky second shoe to drop. I study the smile of the sexy Airship Captain, trying to get a read on her, to detect if anything is amiss...
Insight vs Captain Isabella Ravena Reigns: Fail!
...but, there is nothing that jumps out to me that she isn't being absolutely genuine in her heavy handed compliments toward Kryst. I suppose she is simply being sociable and friendly. I feel a tad guilty for my suspiciousness. After all I am fairly new at this being charming thing myself.
Still smiling the Captain turns to me. She regards my dark shades for a long moment then slowly places a hand on a cocked hip.
"And you. When I see you slip from the rope, I did not imagine that either you or your... rabbit," She smirks, "would live to see the sunset."
"It was a close one." I nod.
"That it was, ey? But I will say that your athletic prowess is impressive. One might go so far as to say it is..." Her tongue darts out quickly to wet her lips, "vigorous."
"Oh? Ahem." I clear my throat and pray I'm not blushing. "Thank you, Captain."
"A Drow who is an apparently very qualified mechtanic. So much he impresses a Goblin Union head like Mr. Plogz. And let us not forget the remarkable company you keep." She gives Cinnamon, but mostly Kryst, a brief glance. "A cool head to go along with the gunslinger swagger."
Swagger? Was I getting some sort of benefit from my class? Well, I mean sure I did put a few extra points into presence. Or it could be a combo Allure and Presence thing. But really? Swagger?! I don't think I've ever had swagger before. That's pretty damn awesome!
She holds my gaze with her own. A bit longer than necessary. "You are very interesting man, Mr. Brantley."
"Easy now, ladyfriend. Mr. Brantley is my father." I chuckle, attempting to capitalize on my newfound 'swagger' and not puff out my chest.
"So what is it you prefer to be called then, eh?"
"How about you call me 'anytime'?" I pause after the words have come out. WHOA! Did I just say that?! Judging by her smile she doesn't mind. Still my heart is hammering in my chest. I continue, treating it like a friendly little joke.
"But seriously, after what we just went through? I think that all of us should be on a first name basis, don't you?" If I had a hat, I'd tip it. Since I don't, I hit her with my smooth, soon to be patented, eye contact over the top of my shades, glance. I drop in just a smidge of extra bass into my voice for added effect.
"Call me, Brian."
Charm vs Captain Isabelle Ravena Reigns: Success!
"I will do so." She smirks, "Then you may call me Isabella, if you'd like."
"Actually would you mind if I called you Raven? With your dark hair and affection for flying..." I motion upward to her docked airship at the sky-pier.
"Ohh, Jess!" Her accent seems to slip a bit more and she lets out sparkly eyed laugh that makes my heartbeat skip. "I like that very much."
Cinnamon sighs and I swear I hear the eye roll in it. Damn! What is with her? I'm just being friendly and... okay, yeah sure, perhaps a bit to flirtatious. I can't really help it. I don't want Cinni to feel I'm being disrespectful to her but it is something about Captain Raven that just drips sexy!
Cinnamon is so sweet and kind. She is the one who pushed me to give Kryst a chance despite our very rocky initial meeting. I just don't get why she has a problem with Captain Reigns.
Is she jealous? It's a possibility I guess, but something about that doesn't hold water for me. When Kryst was bathing both Cinnamon and I were embarrassed by the fairy's lack of modesty. But Cinni wasn't upset in a 'don't look at another woman in my presence' way either. And I really don't think I'm so slick that she, or Kryst for that matter, didn't catch my ogling.
I haven't had a chance to pull Cinni and Kryst aside and suggest to them how having a favor, or better yet, a friend in the Airship captain could prove really, really, useful. Kryst and Isabella seem to be getting along well already, and I would be so bold to say that I am too. I just have to see if I can find some way for Cinnamon and Isabella to sort out whatever the tensions bubbling between them.
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"Oh, right!' I nod toward Cinnamon, "Well, you know Kryst but I don't think you two were ever formally introduced. Isabella, I mean, Captain Raven, this is Cinnamon."
" Ahh. The rabbit. That was a rather interesting and resourceful trick." For the first time Captain Raven gives Cinnamon a, somewhat close to approving, nod.
Cinnamon returns the gesture, though she seems to have retreated a bit into that shy shell of hers again. I doubt being complimented on her curse sits well with her.
"Which reminds me." Raven says addressing me again, "Thank you for the use of your blade. With its magic it made swinging Mr. Plogz and I to the safety much easier."
"Sure. No problem. I'd seen you swinging about up on the pier earlier but with us falling so fast--."
"Is that right, Brian? You have been watching me, eh?" Captain Raven interrupts.
"Yes, well... no, not like that." I stumble over my words, a bit. Damn! I just got 'swagger,' I can't go losing it already! "I had just noticed that you were very athletic and I figured that you could handle Plogz while I got Cinni to safety."
I realize what I say too late and a side-glance to Cinnamon confirms. By the movement of her ears I know I've hurt her feelings.
"It was a group effort really." I try to backpedal, "If it wasn't for Cinnamon's umhhh... and then Kryst did her thing too. All of us working together."
"Yes. You all acted..." The swashbuckler airship captain snaps her fingers loudly, "Like that! The three of you have adventured together for a time to have such synergy, ey?"
"Not as long as you'd think. But, yeah." I'm still off balance from that stupid slip of the tongue, "We are just that tuned into each other. You know? It's how we roll."
General Skill: Deception vs Captain Raven: Fail!
The Captains eyebrows squeeze together and she gives me a odd look. I'm fairly sure that she hasn't bought into my latest line of B.S. so I try and change the conversation quickly.
"So? My sword." I nod toward her shapely hip and she follows my gaze.
"Ah, right. I suppose you would be wanting it returned, ey?" She tugs the sword from one of her talisman adorned hip belts and takes a long covetous look, admiring the light of the sun as it dances along the length of the silvery steel.
"Is a fine weapon. You know, Brian, should you wish to part with it I could make the generous offer." The look she gives me almost has me nodding in complete agreement. However, hanging out for the last few days with Cinni and Kryst; a pair of drop dead gorgeous ladies, has given me just enough of a resistance to avoid falling for her manipulative feminine wiles.
"Thanks, but I think that I'll hold onto it for now." I say.
"Yes, well, let me know if there is anything that can be done to change your mind ey?" She spins the sword deftly then holds it out by the blade, hilt first toward me.
I reach out and Captain Raven sucks her teeth lightly as she looks to my ruined hands.
"Though it does not look like you should be engaging in swordplay anytime soon anyway." She reaches over, takes my wrist and then leans forward to inspect my hands.
"Did not take you for a once swab." She nods appreciatively, "What have you crewed, ey? Sky or sea?"
"Huh? What do you mean? Crew? On a ship?" I shake my head. "I'm afraid not."
"No? But this looks very much like Sailors Balm. Then again, it does smell more... fragrant than I'd would expect." Captain Raven says.
"Yeah, I'm not really sure what it is. You would have to ask Cinni. She's the wonder woman who made it." I smile and thumb toward Cinnamon. Perhaps this is something I can get them talking about! I give myself a congratulatory mental pat on the back for my quick thinking and start devising a way to get them to a bit of common ground.
"So, Sailor's Balm?" I give a bit of an overacted inquiry, "What's that?"
"It's mixture of ground herbs, seaweed, sometimes even tar or animal fat." Captain Raven is quick to answer, "Pretty much anything crews get their hands on in a pinch. Good for rope burns, cuts, abrasions that sort of thing."
"Oh, I see. A sort of all purpose cure all." I nod toward Raven and Cinnamon working the plan to get them to interact.
Captain Raven nods, "Recipes get passed down through generations or between ship crews. Each has their own variant on its making."
Cinnamons demeanor changes, but not in the way I had hoped. Instead she nails a nose in the air humrph that would make a stuck-up anime character jealous. "My salves do more than just seal up the wounds with scars and calluses like, ahem, 'Pirates Balm' does."
Captain Raven narrows her eyes at Cinnamon, who to my surprise edges out of her shy shell and does the same right back. I refrain from pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration.
"Is you making some kind of accusation, ey?" Raven says, raising to the bait.
"Seems you ladies have something in common then." I interrupt before Cinnamon can escalate, "Maybe you two could share recipes or something?" I offer with a smile in an attempt to alleviate the growing tension.
The glare they both shoot toward me forms a knot in my throat.
"Or not."
A pause draws out, punctuated by a quick gust of wind. Smiling, Captain Raven is the first to finally break the uncomfortable silence.
"Here, let me offer you a something, Brian." She reaches to a pouch and pulls out a bottle filled with a shimmering blue liquid. "This will heal any lingering injuries you may still have."
The ache in my side throbs.
"That is alright. I'm sure Cinni's salve here will be more than enough." I lie.
"I would be insulted should you not take it. You let me borrow your blade did you not, ey?"
"I suppose so." I look over at Cinnamon and I can see she is not impressed. I don't like the games these two are playing and I definitely dislike being the emotional basketball they are dribbling up and down the court.
And the truth is I really want that potion. Ever since I arrived in this world I've been getting my butt whooped like an '80's high-school movie nerd with a 'kick-me' sign taped to their back. My body is feeling the strain and there is no telling what will happen next.
"Alright, if you insist. Thank you, Raven." I say. Yeah, Cinni might be a little pissed at me but if there is a chance to get myself healed up fully I have to take it.
Captain Raven smiles, regards my hands for a moment and then shakes her head a little.
"I would usually pour some of the potion directly onto the wounds, to aid with the healing but..." She frowns in puzzlement, "I'm not sure what sort of reaction it might have with... this." She makes a trivializing motion toward the balm that has now been all but absorbed into my skin.
"It is an all natural remedy." Cinnamon grumps, "It should be fine to be used alongside other healing methods. Magical or otherwise."
"Still, I would rather not take the risk." Raven shrugs, "But if you do not care if Brian's hands explode from a potential volatile mixing..."
Explode?! I cough. It's not that I don't trust Cinnamons judgment, but the idea of having my fingers shrapnel off and walking around for the rest of my life with stumps at the ends of my arms makes me feel like I suddenly have to pee.
Cinnamon bites her lip. There is a little look of doubt in her eyes at being questioned. Put on the spot and forced to choose between either validating her skills as a herbalist or displaying a lack of caring toward what could happen to me.
"Well, I guess... I suppose it isn't worth the risk. Just in case." Cinnamon concedes quietly. Her ears droop and my heart aches for her.
As Captain Raven removes the small stopper from the potion bottle there is a hint of a smirk on her lips at her small victory. I feel a flare of annoyance.
"Tilt your head." Captain Raven instructs. Before I can object she lifts the potion to my mouth.
It has a odd taste, an unpleasantly sharp almost medicinal flavor that coats my tongue and throat like a layer of grease. Whatever it is, however, it does the trick. A warmth spreads, starting at my neck and then stomach it quickly works its way through my muscles. I get a weird flash of heat feeling and once more watch amazed as flesh heals before my eyes.
Minor aches and pains I didn't notice before simply wash away. I feel better than I have in days. Almost superhuman. The same as I had felt when I first arrived in this strange world, thrust into this amazing new body.
Brian Status: HP: 12/ 12 Stun: 25 / 22 Mana: 3 / 10
More so even, since I still seem to have a bit of that odd energetic feeling from my Butter Bunny's balm. Ohh! Humm, that is kind of a catchy name. I'll have to suggest it to her.
A stray thought goes through my mind. I wonder, was I suffering penalties from my injuries before? As good as I now feel I most likely had been.
Deduction: Success!
I smile and rub my palms together, working the last of the balm into the now completely undamaged skin on my hands and forearms. It's strange how quickly I have gotten used to my almost indigo colored skin tone. I wonder if I should start using lotion now? I know that's usually what black people do back in the really, real world. Crap! Is that racist?! I mean, I'm kind of black... but, not really. And I'm an elf so does that even count? Then again, I've never seen anyone one with this sort of skin color before, except maybe in comic books. Wolvie did used to call Nightcrawler an elf all the time too... Is Nightcrawler Caucasian? Well he's German that's about as white as you get. Okay, that was definitely racist. Or is it? I mean I'm a white guy, or I was befo--
"So, how is that, ey?" Raven asks, her brow raised. Its then that I realize that I've been standing here like an idiot pondering the nuances of race as it relates to superheroes, and a transmogrified human-Caucasian-Drow.
"I feel fantastic." I nod and smile still rubbing my hands. "That is some good stuff."
From the corner of my eye I see Cinnamon pout a bit from my pleased reaction.
"It definitely won't be winning any taste competitions though, that's for sure." I give a slight frown and make a show of scraping at my tongue with my teeth.
"I would imagine most potion makers figure that they does not need to 'taste' good. It needs simply to do the job. Besides, I do not think it works like that. Adding extraneous ingredients might ruin the potion or cause disastrous side effects." Raven says.
"Oh, I don't know about that. I doubt that a bit of carrot juice for flavor would hurt. Cinna-buns can brew up one delicious potion. After all, there’s no reason that medicine should taste bad if it doesn’t have to, right?" I smile and shoot a wink to Cinnamon. She catches it and gives me a closed-eyed coo nod of approval.
"Again, thanks for the pick me up, Raven." With my body healed and both Cinnamon and Raven appeased and even Kryst settled down from her flare up I let out a mental sigh of relief. We're not sailing smooth yet but I feel that we have at least pulled up the anchor and are starting to make a bit of headway.
"So my sword?" I ask.
Captain Raven looks a bit disappointed when I mention the blade now tucked back at her hip, but she pulls it free and once more makes to hand it over.
My fingers have barely touched the hilt when an angry shout sounds from my right.
"Hey! Just what do you think you're doing!?"