---

Melody woke up and looked around her cabin. Everything was in order, last nights thunder storm hadn't seriously dislocated anything in he room. She walked over to the control panel (in her room) and looked to see what the ships power level was at. "98%? I thought that storm would have completely filled our power cells." She let out a sigh and proceeded to get dressed. I didn't matter if the cell wasn't fully charged, as long as it got them to the destination she didn't care. Once she was dressed, she donned her old captain's white coat which she wore as a cloak. She strapped on her sword and gun and walked out of the cabin onto the deck. It was quiet, most of the crew was asleep, she hoped that the lookout in the crow's nest wasn't asleep either. As much as Melody trusted her crew, she knew that certain people would fall asleep on the job when assigned to be the look out. Melody didn't want to know if the look out was asleep, they were safe, and she didn't feel any explosions... so far, therefore all was well.
Seeing that everything on deck was still fine, Melody proceeded to the helm of the ship and took control of the wheel. She always felt comfortable when steering the ship, despite that the wheel was only the turning agent on the miraculous craft. Next to the wheel were 3 levers on each side of the wheel. Each lever controlled 1 of the 6 rotors on the corresponding side of the ship. There were also 2 more switches on the floor that the helmsman stepped on to make the ship go forward or backward. Melody set the ship into forward motion and looked at the displayed map next to her. As long as they held an eastward direction, they would eventually make it to Falis Island.
The wind began to whip through her hair as the Stormsong soared through the clouds. Melody always felt free and relaxed when she was gliding through the clouds, and because she felt relaxed, she began to sing. She started singing a sweet energizing melody that wafted through the ship. She knew that her song would wake up her crew, she also knew that it would give them a little extra spring in their step as they worked. It was a win-win situation for her; she got to sing, and her crew would keep the ship in top shape. All was well, for now.

"Mnn...?"

One green eye slowly opened. Oh... the captain was singing, it must've been morning already. With a yawn, the pale, white-haired girl sat up and rubbed her eyes. There was a slight clanking sound as she shifted, knocking aside the empty containers she used to make bombs. Indeed, there was a pile of them directly next to her hammock, now scattered across the ground. Milly's room on the ship was full of these kinds of things. Shelves were covered in supplies to make explosives, she had several barrels of gunpowder lining the walls. String to ignite it, pressure triggers, wires that allowed her to make traps or ranged explosives, glue for sticky bombs, potassium and magnesium for flashbangs... and that didn't even count all the grenades she had in the pockets lining the interior of her dress. To put it simply, Milly's room was packed with all kinds of dangerous materials. She had a desk as well, for working on explosives and engineering traps. Hopping out of her hammock, she headed for the doorway and pushed it open.

It creaked open, and Milly stepped out of her room. Certainly, it was brighter outside then it was in there, in part because using fire in a room full of gunpowder and explosives was incredibly foolish and attempting to rig up any other form of lighting in the room had been met mostly with failure. She stretched again, feeling the wind whip past her.

Hopefully, she'd get to blow something up today.

~Excerpt from Jonathan’s Notebook - Week 319, Day 2~

...by the skin of our teeth. What a dreadful nightmare. It’s not as if I proposed to her right then and there. I only meant to sweep her off her feet with my irresistible charm and let the moment pass. By the heavens, I swear that husbands are really just petty children with grubby fingers in disguise. Surely, I must be the only reasonable and sensitive man in all of Endalia.

In more recent events, I have found my stay aboard the Stormsong to be quite pleasant. I suppose a week must have passed since we embarked along with the crew, and every day since has been marked by a sort of youthful exuberance that I’ve not felt since my days at the Hartford estate.

Alas, I cannot say that I’ve won the favor of our dear captain. Though she has come of age and is strikingly beautiful, she has dismissed all of my advances without a single hint of consideration. I do wonder why she treats me so. I am honorable and kind - a peerless gentleman among a sea of neanderthalic male drones. Yet all I receive in kind is disdain.

Oh what tragedy! How I long to be the subject of her gentle voice’s angelic strains. In fact - I can hear her singing now, as seems to be her morning habit at the wheel. How can the tune she spins ring so sweetly, when the unrequited affections of my heart cry out in bitter anguish?

In contrast, the cannoneer and I have gotten along quite well, and I’ve found myself quite taken with the girl. Ms. Milly Nobel is her name, though she seems to be called Minnie by the other crew members, much to her chagrin. Quite the excitable lass, and fond of incendiaries, much like myself. I wouldn’t dare touch her now, but I believe that in several years time she will grow to become an exquisite rose that causes all other--

THUNK.

Red stars blurred his vision as Jonathan clutched his head in recoil at the blow, sending both his quill and journal tumbling to the deck below. He moaned in agony, but immediately began to panic. He needed to warn the others. They were under attack. Eyes still shut at the impact blindness, Jonathan reached clumsily at his back, his fingers searching frantically for his blunderbuss. But it was no where to be found. He froze. Opening his eyes slowly, Jonathan’s vision returned just in time for him to find the barrel of his own gun pointed right at his face.

“bang.” Song stated flatly. “now you’re dead, and everyone else is too.” She dropped the gun derisively onto the bottom of the crows nest. It landed with a dull thunk.

“Now Song, I--,” Jonathan stammered, attempting to regain his composure. He stood up, and straightened himself out before continuing. “I was merely performing a mental exercise, training my peripheral vision to perform my look out duty as my direct vision was preoccupied with… other things.”

“that turned out quite well, i think.” Song mused dryly.

Jonathan cringed. “Indeed… Well I suppose you’re here to relieve me and take over my look out shift. Yes? Good. Very Good. I’ll leave you to it. Wouldn’t want to distract you, heavens no. I--”

“just go.” Song rolled her eyes, and gracefully seated herself in the crow’s nest, picking up the spyglass that Jonathan had clearly not been using.

Jonathan sighed in mild dejection, and began the slow climb down to the main deck. As his feet hit the wood, he scanned the surface for his journal and quill. How rude could Song possibly be? Sure, he may have endangered the entire crew by neglecting his lookout duties to write in his log, but was that any reason at all to treat him poorly? He didn’t think so.

Now where was that damned notebook?

"kuru! kuru!"

"kuru! kuru! kuru!"

"kuru! kuru! kuruuuuu!"

"Mmm..." Char woke up after being restlessly poked in her right cheek by Pico. Her first reaction was to roll to her side and cover her head with her pillow, but then Pico started poking her sides, with made Char break out in laughter and before she noticed, she was already wide awake.

"Oh come on, Pico. You could at least let me sleep over once in a while, I spent the last night with my face buried in the ship's logbook, you know?" Char said playfully, not really meaning to scold her clueless pet. However, it was a fact that Char spent the night prowling through the ship's log trying to rig the many holes on the Stormsong's financial balance.

"Lalala..."

It was then that Char heard the Melody's song, which meant that the day outside was a good one, "Let's go, Pico!" Char said excitedly as she jumped down from her bed and tumbled on the floor bellow to cushion her fall. "kuru!" Pico chirped as he flew to his place at Char's shoulder.

When Char opened the door, she heard the sound of many falling objects on the powder room, "Minnie-san! Are you ok?" She asked a few moments before the girl who slept there like it was her own room stepped out of the door, stretched and went to the upper deck with a face that showed all too well what was passing through her mind.

"Have a nice day!" Char waved to the passing girl before turning to Pico and saying, "I guess cooking is on us today again, huh?" With a happy "kuru!" Pico rubbed his face on Char's cheek as they made their way to ship's kitchen.

A few minutes later...

The smell of freshly baked bread, whose dough had been left resting by Char a little before she went to sleep, sunny side up seasoned eggs, bacon and coffee quickly took the ship. And probably most of the crew had their stomachs growling by the time Char stepped at the upper deck and yelled, "Breakfast is ready, people! Come while it's still hot!"

As Milly strolled away from her room, something that she had heard finally caught up to her.

'Minnie'.

A simmering heat built up in the pale girl's heart. Her name wasn't Minnie! It absolutely wasn't! Sure, some people on the ship had decided it was a great idea to start calling her that, but it wasn't her name! She spun on her heel, her dress fluttering as she did, raising one finger.

"My name's not Minnie! Just because it sounds like... sounds... like..." she blinked, confused, looking around. The girl who had referred to her by that name(it was definitely a female voice) was long gone by now. Milly, though she hadn't realized it, was still rather groggy from waking up. It had taken quite a while for the words to catch up to her. For a few moments, the small girl stood there, before folding her arms over her chest in irritation and turning away as she proceeded across the deck. Hmph, calling her Minnie... she was just a late bloomer!

At the very least, it was quite a nice day outside. There was a good wind, it was clear out... Yes, certainly, they'd probably find somewhere where she could blow something up soon!

Melody finished the last verse of her song. She looked around in the sky, it was clear with a few clouds here and there and the sun beat pleasantly upon her face. It was going to be a good day today. She checked the map and compass to make sure they were on track and in the right airstream. Melody locked the wheel in place and made her way to the deck. She had seen Song climb up the crows nest a little while back and now Milly was up and about on deck, no doubt looking for something in the horizon to blow up. Melody said "Good Morning Milly." As she walked on by patting her on the head. She made it to the bow of the ship and sat down near the edge looking down. As usual all she saw were black clouds covering the whole expanse below her. Many sailors, and pirates alike said that was where hell was. It was a rumor of course, but no one who went down there ever returned. It always peaked Melody's curiosity about the world below, if there was one. Legend has it that all people lived below the clouds in a distant past, and after... she couldn't remember the rest of the story. She really didn't care about myth or folklore.
Melody was deep in her thoughts when the pleasant aroma of breakfast snapped her out of it. "Char must be cooking today." As she got up, Melody looked up at the crows nest and wondered what Song was doing to Johnathan up there. She knew Song well enough that whatever it was, it would be a serious matter. However, Melody decided to put the day on a fun note and shouted to the crows nest, "Johnathan! What are you and Song doing up there? The cargo bay has plenty of more space and privacy." Melody smiled as she walked below deck towards the kitchen. She was hungry, and she liked Char's cooking.

Indeed, today was going to be a good day.

"Jonathan! What are you and Song doing up there? The cargo bay has plenty of more space and privacy."

Jonathan, who had just begun his descent, peered over the edge of the crow’s nest to shoot Song a flirtatious smile. “Oh yes indeed. The cargo bay would provide a much better place for a passionate rendezvous, wouldn’t you say, love?”

Song completely ignored him and leaned over to respond to Melody instead, cupping her hands over her mouth to help her soft voice carry over the wind. “I’ll be taking over the look out shift from this incompetently impudent slacker, captain! Just save me a bit of bread and I’ll have it when someone can relieve me.”

Jonathan smirked, then made to continue down the mast. He saw Song rustle around before peering back over the edge of the crows nest. “you forgot this.” she said flatly. “catch.”

Jonathan’s beloved blunderbuss came sailing over the edge, and he nearly plummeted to his death as he reached to catch it. He barely was able to hold on to the gun with his pinky, though he found himself hanging on to the ladder with only one hand. He gulped, cursed, and regained his footing. What an wonderful way to start the day, almost splattering into a bloody mess on the main deck! Blasted woman, that Song.

Up in the crow’s nest, Song smirked to herself bemusedly, extended the spyglass, and scanned the horizon.

When Jonathan reached the deck, he found his notebook and quill not far from where the mast was planted. Sighing in a mixture of agony and relief, he tucked both items into his suit pocket, then strolled towards the kitchen.

On the way, he noticed the ship’s explosives expert milling about on the deck. Immediately, he brightened up, tipped his hat, and stopped a minute to chat. “Ah, Ms. Nobel! Good morning to you, dear,” said Jonathan, who then put his hands on his hips in genuine amazement as his eyes widened. “Is it just me, or have you grown just a little taller since even yesterday? My my, surely you will overtake all the other ladies in no time! Not to mention that your charm continues to multiply by the day.” He chuckled gently, careful to make sure that the girl knew that he wasn't just teasing her. “And I do hope you will be joining us for breakfast this morning,” said Jonathan. “It’s always an excellent way to ensure that you can get a head up over your competition, if you know what I mean.”

He continued his leisurely stroll before catching himself and turning around again. “Oh and if you would be so kind as to humor me, perhaps after breakfast, I can show you something quite interesting.”

Jonathan turned from Milly with an affected air of mystery, then entered the kitchen.

He flashed a hesitant smile at the morning’s cook. “Top of the morning, Ms. Eavesburg. This appears to be quite the lovely spread.”

He paused a moment to study her, however. When he and Song arrived on the Stormsong a week ago, he was shocked to find Charlotte also aboard. Years of memories almost caught up to him, and her very presence onboard made him feel a bit awkward. He had not seen her since his father's funeral many years ago, when she was just a child, and he could imagine that she was heartbroken to hear that he had set off to become a pirate. In his own heart, he had made peace that he would never see her again, so what were the odds, nay, what fate would conspire that they would somehow reunite on a pirate ship? Even so, in the past week, he was not able to chat with Charlotte in private, and he still had many questions to ask her. Why she was here on the Stormsong? Why did she leave the Eavesburg estate? What was Mr. Eavesburg's reaction to all of this?

He shook those questions off for the time being, and turned to greet the captain, though with a bit more of a caustic edge. “And my, captain, has anyone told you that you look absolutely ravishing today?” asked Jonathan with exaggerated aplomb. “It would be nigh impossible not to swoon at your grace at this hour. How you manage to appear so lovely so early in the morning is a mystery fit only for the celestial beings themselves.”

He smiled at himself, then stepped back to let the lady members of the crew take their food first.

@Lvl Down @VitaVitaAR @KoL

Milly, arms still folded across her chest, came to a halt when she heard Johnathan's voice. He was kind of a weird guy(because being an underdeveloped girl with an explosives fetish isn't weird at all, is it?) but he was also pretty nice, and he seemed to also be one of the few people who acknowledged that she was just a late bloomer and her current appearance would probably be long gone even by next year! She had grown taller? Satisfaction swelled inside of the tiny girl as she unfolded her arms and placed one hand against her chest.

"Of course! There's no question about it," she began with a smile, "Just because I look like this now, doesn't mean I'm not still growing! By next year I'll be a bombshell that knocks any other girl on this ship aside!"

Her smile radiated confidence. Of course it would be like that, right? It had to be! And of course she was going to have breakfast... though that last comment intrigued her. Something interesting!? In Milly's mind, that could mean only one thing! She placed her hands against her cheeks, her heart hammering in her chest as the thought of more efficient gunpowder, the heat of explosions, and all kinds of amazing, wonderful, perfect and great things! The thought of new explosives filled her with so much excitement she could barely contain it, even as she approached the ship's kitchen to get her meal, going through the motions of getting her food while her mind was clearly fixated elsewhere.

"Haaah... gunpowder~"

"Jon-sama!" Char shouted as Jonathan got into the kitchen, "Please, have this seat, I've already eaten my breakfast earlier." She said when she noticed that Jonathan had stepped away from the table to allow the girls to have their share before.

After she made sure that Jonathan was comfortable, Char began serving the breakfast to the other members of the crew. First it to Melody, as she was the captain, "Here it's captain, fresh out of the pan. I hope you like it."

Then to Milly, "Here, Minnie-san, be sure to eat as much as you'd like." Char didn't lost the chance to smile at Milly in a way that practically said, "If you don't eat properly you won't never grow." The older girl gave Char the evil eye, but soon began to eat. Char responded by puffing her chest and giving a slightly smug smile that to indicate that despite her age she already was starting to develop a feminine silhouette.

"What? Oh, I see, that harpy is on the place that befits her isn't she? Pico, go deliver her food, please." Char had very haugthy expression as she talked about Song, however she would stoop so low as to wear her foes through famine, so she sent Pico out of the kitchen's window carrying a packed lunch for Song. On it was a very sarcastic message, [Have fun watching the clouds!]

"kuru!' Pico chirped as he flew towards the crow's nest on his errand.

And finally it was Jonathan's turn, after Char placed his breakfast in front of him, she picked up a fork and said, "Here, Jon-sama, let me feed you." She said flirtatiously without a hint of modesty. The reason was simple, never in a hundred years would Char think that she would find one of the main reasons why she ran away from home, meaning her future husband, not even a week after she'd started her travels with Melody, but to actually know that he was the ship's second-in-command was too much for the passionate girl's heart.

"..."

Did the air grow colder? The intensity of the glare that Milly cast Char's way was almost palpable, and certainly it felt as if it had drawn the heat out of the air between them. Interrupting her gunpowder fantasies to call her Minnie again?! And... and thrusting out her chest like that?! Hmph... That didn't mean anything at all! Just because Milly was shorter... and smaller... and much less developed... now didn't mean a thing! The white-haired girl was certain that in a short year's time(or maybe sooner!) she would be much taller and far better endowed then Char! After all, she was even the older of the two! She was just a late bloomer, and since she was older that meant it would happen in no time, right?

"It's not 'Minnie', it's Milly! Hmph," Milly said, shortly after tearing through her meal and leaving only half left in a matter of seconds, and only pausing to speak. Needing to eat was important after all, to keep growing... "Don't go thinking you can just call me whatever you like!"

Milly was beginning to think there would be a flashbang trap with Char's name on it tonight...

~Song~

Now that her dear traveling partner had descended to the kitchen- she could still hear his long winded praises even up in the crow’s nest- Song relaxed a bit. She enjoyed being on lookout, as she could be alone for a precious few moments to watch the clouds and gather her thoughts. The sky above was clear and beautiful, but black clouds rumbled ominously beneath the ship, waiting to swallow up any poor avian that lost its wings. She watched the clouds roar and rumble, swirling around like an agitated sea. Every so often, little sparks of lightning would crackle from within and gnarl their wretched fingers up at the ship.

In an way, watching the violent stormclouds was fascinating. Beneath them was the old world- a strange, fey land of horrible mystery that Song had only heard of in books. But because she had never seen the lands below, the clouds seemed to have an aura of treacherous wisdom about them. Song felt compelled to respect that.

Her quiet musings were interrupted by a welcome chirping. "kuru!'

Her heart fluttered a bit in affection, though not uncontrollably. It was Pico, Charlotte’s pet dragon pup. Her lips curled up into a very slight warm grin (one she would never, ever, show to her traveling partner) as she stretched out her arms to greet the small beast. Pico was very… what was the word? mm… cute.

To her delight, Pico flew right into her arms, and nestled its head against her bosom. Song softly embraced it and now smiled fully, even giggling a bit as he swayed from side with the creature. This was a side of her that Jonathan, or maybe anyone for that matter, would never see in their life unless they were willing to die immediately afterwards.

Her blissful moment however, paused for a bit when her hand brushed across the feeling of cloth.

“Did you bring this for me?” Song asked Pico in a childlike voice. Pico chirped, “kuru!” and let Song take the wrapped box from around its shoulders. Song turned it around, and instantly caught the message written on it, along with the message written in between the lines.

[Have fun watching the clouds!]

Coming from Charlotte, Pico’s owner, this likely meant, [Teehee, I have Jon-Sama here with me and you’re not here to do anything to stop me. :P].

“hm.” Song furrowed her brow slightly as she opened the cloth. In it was an intricately packed bento with everything that she had prepared for the crew. Beautifully seasoned eggs, crisp bacon, freshly baked bread, and a thermos of aromatic coffee. If anything, Charlotte had a firm claim on excellent domestic skills- something Song was not quite as skilled at, to put nicely.

Song had noticed that Charlotte seemed to be a bit infatuated with Jonathan, and that the young girl always made a point to throw in little jabs at her expense. When she asked her traveling mate about it however, he would tersely admit that they knew each other from his father’s meetings, then instantly change the subject. Although Song thought that Jonathan was an unforgivable, disgustingly cloying wretch around women, at least she knew that he wasn’t interested in children.

Not wanting to give the girl too much satisfaction, Song only took the bread out, and repacked the rest of the bento. She pulled out a little quill from a small belt around her thigh and wrote below Charlotte’s note, [thanks. i will.]

Tying it to Pico’s shoulder, she cooed, “take this back to your lovely master, ok?” Pico chirped again, and flew off back towards the kitchen.

Song watched the dragon pup fly off, and wondered if Charlotte would take it as a sign that Song was jealous. That was ludicrous though. Why would Song be jealous? Jonathan was a bumbling, pitiable, womanizer with absolutely no good traits whatsoever.

None.

Song peered back at the kitchen to see Jonathan visible at the window, flirting with the captain.

None.

Melody readily accepted the food prepared by Char, She didn't care whether she was served first, all she cared about was actually getting food. The bread and eggs were really good, (so was the bacon) and she took her time to savor the food. Everyone else also seemed to enjoy their meal as well, except for Milly. Melody only smiled when she saw the interaction between Char and Milly, those two girls fighting over such small things in life. She knew that she easily surpassed both the small girls, but then again, she was older than both of them. Melody took this time to inspect her crew, Johnathan was... well Johnathan. Melody really didn't even converse much with him as he was always flirting and never serious. (At least she hadn't seen his serious side if he has one) She also began to think about what the others thought of putting him in second command. She smiled as she went over the reasons behind it,

1. If there was a mutiny, Johnathan could not guide this ship or lead it well.
2. He was to prideful to let anyone but him be captain.
3. He was very flirtatious and very outgoing when it came to women, meaning that when she sent him to meetings or negotiations with other pirates, there would sure to be many hard feelings giving Melody the chance to have fun once in a while.
4. Song would never let him try such an action as Mutiny.

Melody was smart, and very keen when it came to tactics. That was what allowed her to elude and beat so many people despite having a relatively small crew. Moving on to the next person, Char. The haughty girl with a knack for money and future investments. Also an amazing cook. She was kind and nice (most of the time) but she could be very mean or sarcastic at other times. Melody considered Char as a double edged sword. Quick to be friends, or quick to be enemies.

She then gave Milly a quick look down. Surely the poor girl was growing, (in some way Melody hoped) because her attitude about being a late bloomer and Char always teasing her made for most of the trouble on this ship. Why did Char have to go and make the explosives expert annoyed. Granted it always kept Melody on her toes due to the possible explosions and other things that could happen. Milly was hot-headed and incredibly smart.

She then began to think about Song, the strange foreign girl that boarded along with Johnathan. She was the only member on this ship (aside from Melody) that was mature. Although Melody didn't know much about Song, she did appreciate her quiet personality. She also liked that Song kept Johnathan in check as well. Melody thought she should have put Song as first mate, but Song lacked the communication skills needed for the position. As Melody always sent the first mate for meetings. (She hated them)

After Melody had finished her food, she got out of her chair, (stopping Johnathan from doing it for her) and re-donned the old captain's white trench coat. She made sure to put it on in a way that made her chest bounce slightly, just to remind the two little girls who was boss (and better endowed) on this ship. She went back to the helm of the ship and rechecked her course. She then yelled to Song who was in the crows nest asking if she saw Falis Island. It should be in view now.

Waldemar's eyes opened at the end of a song coming from deck. He heard some sound moving downstairs, and then the chirps of a baby dragon. Can anyone respect people sleeping over from night-shift? I mean, sometimes the ladies act like I don't even exist on this damn ship and spend all their hours fawning over that Johnathan guy. They do realize someone has to make sure that they aren't blown up at two in the morning?

After failing to fall asleep again, the nobleman headed down to the mess room wearing only his underwear and a robe. He was too damn tired to care.

Waldemar grabbed a plate, plopped some breakfast on it, moved across from Melody and started eating wordlessly. Four hours of sleep and a language barrier did that to a person.

Saying he rolled out of bed, ready for the day would have been a blatant lie. More accurately, Simone crumpled in a heap out of bed and was ready to crumple right back into it. He had fallen asleep in the kitchen late last night, again. This time he had passed out spread across the kitchen table before he woke up. He had woken up in the dead of night before anyone noticed, so he made himself a quick early meal and headed off to his hammock, in his quarters.the area around his hammock was actually fairly clean. A shirt here or there on the floor and a spare knife or two laying about (which is totally safe), nothing was too messy really. Now he supposed it was time to stop staring at his room and to get up for real.

He yawned as he changed into his day clothes, which consisted of a plain white shirt, black pants, boots, and his nice green jacket. The jacket itself was as warm and cozy as always. He stumbled his way out of his quarters and across the deck of the ship. The air was nice and filled his lungs with a feeling that was indescribably happy. Simone yawned again before realizing he could already smell food in the air; someone else had taken care of breakfast since he had slept in. He shrugged it off and decided to head to the mess room where everyone else was sure to be. He realized that assumption was right as he entered the room and saw the crew there.

"Morning, food..." Simone mumbled as he grabbed a plate of breakfast, sat at the table and started digging in. It was delicious, he picked up the pace eating it with a happy look on his face. "Thank you so much." He said, far more energetically than before as he continued.

~Jonathan~

Charlotte’s voice chirped over the steady, sleepy murmur in the kitchen.

"Jon-sama! Please, have this seat, I've already eaten my breakfast earlier."

Jonathan laughed uncomfortably at the special treatment, but let the girl lead him to the chair. “Why, thank you dear,” he managed to say with a pained smile. He sat down. Hopefully, this would be the extent of her coddling toda--

"Here, Jon-sama, let me feed you!"

Oh dear. He flushed a bit, embarrassed at the attention, and the odd stares that he was sure everyone would send his way.

”Haha, no, that’s quite alright, Charlotte,” he said, addressing the girl by her first name without any formality. ’I’m perfectly capable of eating like any normal adult. However, I appreciate the offer.” The strained expression he had put on started to crack as he glanced around the room to try and defuse the odd sort of tension he felt. The air was made doubly tense because of the layered verbal scuffle between Milly and Charlotte, so no one came to his rescue.

He ate his breakfast in careful silence. It was delicious, but Jonathan wasn’t sure how to tell Charlotte that without causing anymore embarrassment to himself. It was clear and apparent that the girl still hung on to old arrangements and promises made between grizzled old men.

To his chagrin, the atmosphere grew even more suffocating to Jonathan when Waldemar walked into the kitchen, wearing nothing but a bathrobe. Ever since he got onto the ship, he couldn’t stand the fellow, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on the reason why.

The ship’s usual cook, Simone also sauntered in and grabbed a plate of food. He rather seemed to enjoy Charlotte’s cooking.

Finally, Melody pulled herself out of her chair and called out to where Song was perched in the crow’s nest.

~Song~

Song turned her spyglass forward into the horizon, and caught the form of land floating among the clouds.

She turned to Melody and called down, “Falis Island in view Captain!” She didn’t feel quite right saying "Land Ho."

“Falis Island in view Captain!”

Melody smiled as the island now came into view. Falis island was a special place, one that always kept her on her toes. It was a rouge island, controlled and ruled by pirates. The island its self could move around in the air or put up a deceptive cloud cover to hide itself from the Sky Enforcers. Melody knew the island was going be there, because despite the fact that the island moved regularly, it had 15 usual spots all across the sky that it sat at for a few days before moving onto the next. It routinely went to each spot depending on the day and season. Of course the course itself for the island was created so complex that the Enforcers would never find a pattern, but not for Melody. She eventually figured out the pattern and so she never had a hard time finding the usually difficult island. The only problem with that island, was that all its inhabitants were pirates. Many a ship had been stolen from there so had crew and treasure. There would need to be guards while the others relaxed. No one liked that job though, because you could do whatever you wanted in that town. No fear of law.

Melody let out a tremendous roar of her voice, calling everyone to come on deck. Once everyone had come to the deck, she began to give orders to prepare the ship for landing. She also asked for volunteers to guard the ship this time. Who would take the job?

Char scoffed as Pico returned carrying the harpy's reply, [Thanks, I will.], how could three words bring her so much displeasure. It's not like the silent woman had any chance of steal Jon-sama from Char, it still made her sick just to think what kind of dirty tricks she could use to seduce him.

"Just wait until an year or two, and you'll see who gets Jon-sama's love first, you old hag!" Char thought.

After the breakfast, Melody called everyone to the deck and so Char as well as Pico went all the way up there. When Char got to the deck the Stormsong's crew was almost all there, not that it mattered to Char, really.

She quickly found a place besides her beloved Jon-sama, using her small build to her advantage when slipping through the others, on the way there, she used took a detour to play a little prank, by groping Milly from behind and leaving fast before the bomb maniac noticed who did it. Despite what it might look like, Char liked Milly a lot, but since it was just too good poking fun out of her like this, Char couldn't bring herself to stop, in fact, if Jon ever refused her for real (Not that something like this was even possible... right?), Milly would be Char's next target. "It's good to be flexible" her father ever said, though it certainly wasn't this kind of flexibility that he had in mind, sure.

Anyway, when Char finally found Jonathan she pounced like a wild cat ambushing an unsuspecting prey and clung to his arm, "What's going to happen, captain? Are you finally going to pass the ship's command to Jon-sama?" Char said with a playful grin on her lips, she wasn't being serious now, but sooner or later Melody would see the glory of her Jon-sama and retire from her position of captain, giving the title to who deserved it best.

---

.@Lvl Down@Strafe@VitaVitaAR

Simone finished off his breakfast without another word, not a scrap left on the plate. He could never waste food, it was too valuable. He even went back for seconds, but that was more because he was simply starving. He leaned back in his chair after he finished and let out a content sigh, letting his meal settle. Now that the "most important meal of the day" was over with, he wondered what was on the agenda for today.

Soon, the captain called the crew up to deck for debriefing or something. Simone shrugged and kicked himself away from the table and got out of his seat. He stretched a bit, getting a bit of stiffness out and sauntered out of the mess room. He made his way to deck and fell in with the rest of them who were already there. Simone watched Char with slight interest, seeing her scurry throughout the crew was interesting to say the least; it kind of reminded him of a mouse. He found great amusement in watching her pounce onto Jon, and even more in what she said after.

"God help us if Jon is ever captain, he'd sell us out for a chance to finally have his first kiss." Simone joked with a snicker, before turning to face the captain. "I can't stay back. I was planning on getting some food supplies we were starting to run low on." Plus he knew he would pass out if left here with nothing much to do. He was literally always ready to sleep, his body just needed an excuse to do it. He ran his hand through his hair to get some odd stands off his face as he took in the island ahead. What was it like there? More importantly, what inevitable trouble would the crew get up to there?

Her meal was rather rapidly vanishing. For someone with such a small body, it certainly couldn't be said that Milly had a small appetite. This was yet another example she used to say she was still growing. After all, surely she wouldn't eat this much if she wasn't still growing, right? Right? That had to be it. Of course. Also, even if Charlotte had been messing with her a bit... this still came out pretty good. Maybe she wouldn't rig a flashbang to the other girl's door...

... And then, as she headed out with the others, she felt hands on her(depressingly flat) chest, squeezing what little was actually there.

"K-kyah!"

Almost instantly her cheeks flushed, growing red-hot with embarrassment. They... they were definitely female hands too... which narrowed down the suspects and also meant she would not be shoving a grenade down their pants. It obviously wasn't the harpy, she didn't have hands... before Milly could turn around, the perpetrator was already gone, and inside, the small girl felt rather conflicted.

Yes, it was an embarrassing intrusion, but... it meant someone already appreciated her chest! Yes, someone saw what would soon be born there! Embarrassed anger, or embarrassed pride?! Gah, this was so difficult to figure out.

"... Well... well, obviously... th-they had to think it was worth it..."

~Jonathan and Song~

Jonathan leisurely strolled out onto the deck, and stood by the captain. Hmm. Falis Island! Surely it must be swarming with exotic lady pirates from all corners of the world. There was no way he was staying behind on the ship.

No way.

He felt Charlotte squirrelishly pounce on him like he was a tree of some sort, though he pretended to pay it no mind. But then she happily chirped:

"What's going to happen, captain? Are you finally going to pass the ship's command to Jon-sama?"

Eh wot?

Jonathan hadn’t heard of this before.

"God help us if Jon is ever captain, he'd sell us out for a chance to finally have his first kiss," Simone called out.

Well that certainly was not nice. He smirked. “No, no, I’d only sell you and Waldemar out. The rest of the lovely ladies can stay with me.“ He laughed to himself contentedly for a moment. But then froze when it hit him. “Ahhh wait! That’s not to say that I haven’t had my first kiss! Certainly I’ve kissed many a beautiful dame! In fact I recently just--”

“unwelcome kisses on the hand that nearly get you killed by vengeful husbands don’t count.” Song interjected flatly as she jumped from the last rung from the crow’s nest ladder to join the crew. She demonstratively flicked back her hair and smoothly walked towards the group.

Jonathan bristled a bit, but then put his hands back on his hips with a reinvigorated smirk “Hmph. You’re one to talk. Still pretending that we haven--”

SHRRRANNGG--

Faster than he could see, a violent shriek of metal rang out, and Jonathan found a sword pressed dangerously strong against his throat.

“whatever could you possibly be referring to?” Song asked, smiling sweetly as she held her wu jian at his neck.

Jonathan closed his mouth.

Melody continued barking orders at the crew, though everyone seemed to look the other way or offer an excuse when she asked who would be willing to stay behind.

Song peered over at Jonathan’s elbow. Quickly, before Jonathan himself could notice, Song grabbed it, and raised his arm. She fake coughed, to draw attention to it, then in her best fake Jonathan voice, grunted, “I’ll stay behind, Captain.”

Jonathan, wondering why people were suddenly looking at him, turned to see that his arm was raised. He realized what had just happened.

“Wait nononononoo I didn’t say that, I mean I really need to go out to the city to take care of business because ladies-- I mean, the financial-- I mean the components I need to--”