@Grade

Nanashi got a sneeze caused by someone who mentioned him. Decided to leave the upper deck as he proceeded to the dinning mess.

At the dinning mess. He sits away from nobles but nearby to the commoners. People will see him as a young foreign looking handsome with an untied straight shoulder length black hair, not as usual appearance from recent time. He is not wearing both of his mino cape and straw hat, not carrying a bedroll bag same goes with a bow and quiver. only carrying a katana that attach on his left hip. But still he is loaded with a pouch of gold coins.

He will be seen eating with an odd looking utensil which is a pair of own made small sticks and the way he is eating is not as a commoner but a foreign proper eating manner.

The girl was utterly stunned by just how much Ember had transformed, her eyes were so busy analyzing she forgot to let her mouth drop at the transformation. And the comment about substance... with practice, would she be able to have fingers again? Even if only for a short time? After an eternal moment she came to her senses, her face shrinking into a more neutral position befitting a maid named Alice. The name was somewhat human, but that was besides the point.

"After you, Madam Lilly," She spoke more softly, yet allowing mischief to sneak its way into a small smirk. Playing the part would be fun, getting to not be herself for some time AND getting to have some fun while doing it? Sounded like a great plan to her. With the care of a maid acting in service, she ambled over to the door and opened it with a bow, gesturing for the other 'woman' to lead the way.

As they stepped out into the sleeping area, that somewhat rude man in a wheelchair addressed them. He seemed quite a bit more palatable now, so she was willing to let earlier comments slide.

"No no, sir, you are mistaken. I am Alice and this is madame Lily," Even in her attempt to obscure her own voice, her own intricacies could not help but to show through. Even her wink, meant to subtly 'reveal' her identity possessed all the subtlety of... Well, Ember.

"I am afraid you are mistaken sir. I was visting Ember to possibly commission a gown. However, They said that they had already begun a project. How infuriating!"

Ember whined, trying to throw the man off. (Don't you wreck my lovely disguise before I even make my move you vexatious man!) he growled internally.

"I shall have to try again some other time-- Come along then Alice-- we should be elsewhere."

Vivian needed more experience at this whole disguise thing, but it WAS clear she was having a lot of fun. That made up for the near miss on being discovered.

Continuing on like a huffy, put-out noble woman was actually beneficial though, as the obvious mark of their little game was clearly visible near the entry between the stairs and the dining room, arguing loudly with the first mate.

"INDISPOSED!?" the man shrieked at the first officer incredulously. "INDISPOSED!!?? WHO DOES YOUR CAPTAIN THINK HE I--"

Carefully, so as not to SEEM like it was on purpose, Ember rounded the corner to the dining area and smacked the man on the butt with the poofy bulk of his gown, sending him forward with a lurch. Gracefully, and with perfect practice, he then presented himself to the angry man with a tone of considerable contrition, embarrassment, and grace.

"Oh, FORGIVE ME my lord..." he oozed while taking a very deep curtsy, while purposefully giving the overbearing man a very prominent view of his "endowments." "That was terribly clumsy of me... Are you alright my lord? I do hope you can forgive me--" he continued, while slowly rising. "I was so eager to take morning tea, that I acted undignified! How ever may I make it up to you my lord?" he cooed, while folding and twisting his hands in fake agitation. "--Oh, how embarrassing..."

"Well, okay then. Take care, you two." There was a hint of amusement in his voice, as was his only way of expressing it other than outright saying it out loud. Lily in particular, no, Ember, looked very tempting... If this black-haired man in a wheelchair was a lesser man, he would have offered to marry her on the spot.

It was a scary thought.

He placed the white pocketbook he was working on on the ground, and a beetle-shaped insignia on top of it, and he watched as the two items slid through the floor, up the inner pillars of the ship, and finally hung themselves on the side of that cloaked person's hammock.

@A5G

@wierdw @Zim0cron

"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GO--" Sir Landon spun around to see the stunning blonde noblewoman, his demeanor immediately shifting from explosive frustration to sudden interest, his eyes dumbfoundedly blinking as they settled on her 'endowments'.

"Errm--well then, I suppose I could consider forgiving a refined young woman like yourself for a simple mistake..." He rested his arms on his hips in a dignified pose, lifting his chin, his lips curling lightly into a magnanimous smile.

"How about you make it up to me by accompanying me for dinner this evening?" he continued in an expectant tone that seemed to bar anything but an eager "yes" in response, evaluating the splendidly dressed noblewoman and her chambermaid with a self-satisfied smile.

"And bring your maidservant," he gestured to the dark-haired Viviana in disguise. "My boy Luca could use some company as well," he shot a winking glance to his page, who looked between his lord and 'Alice' with an embarrassed smile and a slight blush.

"I'm Sir Landon Gaensburg, by the way. You may have heard of me--I'm Duke Gaensburg's nephew," he said with a proud lift of his chin. "Whom do I have the pleasure of... bumping into this morning?"

"Oh-- My Lord--" Ember gasped in well rehearsed mock flattering tones. Thankfully, he had an extensive repertoire of cheap noble clients that had reneged on payment for service that he could throw under the carriage.

"I am Lilly. Lilly de Rochechouart de Mortemart, my lord. I boarded this quaint little barque to visit my dear cousin, Yolande. I heard she was to attend a wedding. I did not receive an invitation, and would never go uninvited, but I wanted to surprise her with a visit after her return."

The notion that this would cause a massive spiral of political intrigue brought color to his cheeks, along with a dirty smile, which he seamlessly incorporated into the performance. Of course, there was no Lilly de Rochechoart de Mortemart. There WAS however, a Yolande de Polastron, a female noble favored by the queen, and a Gabrielle de Rocheoart de Mortemart, who had a younger sister, who was at royal court. The latter of which, had lodged an order for a gown for a ball that then never took place, and had reneged on payment. Ember considered the great deal of consternation this would cause for the woman to be payment for services rendered, long overdue. This pompous ass will assuredly know of these people, being an attache to local royalty, and putting on airs as he was. The story was just believable enough to be true, and royals did visit each other like this with alarming frequency. A lesser known cousin of a prominent lady at court with an affluent family would largely go unnoticed, but what he intended to do to this man would make the inquiries flow like water later. The idea was delicious.

"--But it would be my pleasure to join you for dinner, my lord. I shall have Alice freshen up before then as well, since it pleases you."

Ember really did not want to get Vivian involved this deeply, this quickly. He had really wanted her there as background color, and as a passive participant in the assassination of this man's pride, and nothing else. He would have to discuss the idea with her more fully later. It would be a difficult trick, but he could possibly make an entirely illusory "Alice" that could attend, if Vivian refused. He would think no less of her for doing so.

Just then, another, more wicked thought crossed his mind-- perhaps this later, 'dinner date' could be derailed before it even began.

"--In the mean time, would Sir Gaensburg wish to join me for morning tea?"

Everything and everyone and their goddamn mother were so loud, and another annoyance slithered into Verdant's presence. Dont know what, but the way it stride through the ground was completely unnatural. The serpent sat back up, glared at the new attachment to her hammock, and grabbed it.

It was a tiny lil book.

Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. What's the meaning of this? On one scale, peasants mostly were incapable of reading and Verdant's upbringing were even worse than one. On the other scale, give several decades and even the academically challenged snake could find her way around written words. She glanced at the book again, pondering what to do with it.

Flipped into the front page. Immediately lost interest.

At least the damn thing looked pricy. Perhaps she can find another use for it later. For now, into a spare pocket it went. Aaaand back to her nap. The next person who woke her up will get a knife to the gut, no question asked.

Well, at least she kept the pocketbook. He could only hope that she does visit the Greenes, he did leave his fortunes in their capable hands. Should have some remainders even a hundred years after the fact.

When he was sensing the ship earlier, far earlier when he was aiming where to sink through the floor to, he noticed a cavity further down beyond Ember's room. It's only probably where they keep their raw food and munitions, as there could be little other space for it, and there's even a set of stairs leading access down. Probably off-limits for people that aren't crew.

He had an idea... Wait, no, Ember has put a barrier up to her room, he can't easily in there. Damn it.

He moved to the front of Viviana's room instead. Probably locked, but it didn't matter. He waited until not an eye had its sights set on him, then phased through the front wall of Viviana's room, then phased again down through the floor and into the second lower deck. @spiral origin

@wierdw

"W-well, there's a bit of a situation I have to..."

Sir Landon glanced at the first mate, who had been standing by, listening without a word. The nobleman huffed and gave him a disapproving look, before turning back to 'Lilly'.

"Err, I suppose it can wait. I shall gladly join you for tea, Miss Lilly." The nobleman smiled charmingly at her before taking her arm and heading towards the dining room, his page following after them, shooting a nervous smile at 'Alice'.

"So Yolande is your cousin, then! How quaint! My sister Colette is the bride, whose wedding I'm on my way to attend. 'Tis a small world, isn't it?" Sir Landon showed Lilly to a table, before gesturing at a crewmate to come to their service, the man reluctantly making his way over with a scowl.

"Hello, yes, could you get myself and Miss Lilly here some tea? The best you've got, of course," he addressed the crewmate as if they were a servant, to the man's displeasure.

"Get it yourself, 'Sir'. I ain't no waiter. It's self serve here," the man replied in an annoyed tone, before pacing off.

"Hey! Hey get BACK here!" Landon gestured frustratedly, to no avail, as the other crewmates all shied away from him as well.

"Can you believe the service here!?" he turned to Lilly in offended disbelief. "Outrageous! Luca, please fetch us some tea, will you?"

The page quickly nodded and hurried into the kitchen.

Landon turned back to Lilly, taking a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves from the atrocity he had just been subjected to. "--So where was I?... Ah, yes, my sister's wedding. Surely, you must attend? In fact, you could come with me. That's all the invitation you'd need. What do you say about that?" the nobleman chimed with lofty nonchalance, his eyes shamelessly straying down towards Lilly's 'assets' every so often.

"うーん...タコ、ナシ、新鮮なマグロ、甘い海藻。 わたしわぼく国からのこれらの種類の食べ物が恋しいです。

U ̄ n.. Tako, nashi, shinsen'na maguro, amai kaisō. Watashi wa boku-koku kara no korera no shurui no tabemono ga koishīdesu.", Nanashi told it from his mind.

@Zim0cron@wierdw@spiral origin

The four people entered the dinning room. Those seems to be fresh faces to Nanashi, for avoid making a contact on nobles, he did quick stare on suspected noble for observation, same thing with young boy servant. His attention more focus on the black hair chambered maid, he keeps observing because of here green eyes seems to be familiar.

The new four people in dinning room may seen him skillfully eating in odd way with an own made pair of small stick. Nanashi and the chambered black hair maid who is Vivian in disguise may catch a glance on each other, but look away if the nobles along with her look on his direction.

@wierdw @BSwizzle @A5G @Zim0cron @Grade @Remuri @Frank @Pakde

Meanwhile, outside in the open seas, a horn could be heard at a distance. The first mate hurried on deck to witness a smaller, sleeker ship in the distance that was slowly catching up, the flag of the shipping company hoisted and waving in the wind. As the captain made his way out to investigate, the smaller ship approached close enough for the crew's voices to be heard.

"Additional passenger!" the captain aboard the other ship yelled, as a rope ladder was soon thrown on board, affixed to the railing by the first mate. A red haired woman soon climbed aboard from the ladder, to the captain and first mate's curiosity as they looked to each other and then back to the newcomer.

"Additional passenger, eh? Well that's one way to board the ship! Welcome aboard!" the captain greeted the woman with a cheery smile and a tip of his tricorne as he took a puff of his cigar. "Cap'n Owyn, pleasure to be acquainted!"

@Grade

The ship's hold was dark and damp, filled with cargo and luggage, with little sign of life other than the muffled sounds of the surrounding ocean waves. There was little metal in any of the containers, save for one box which was filled with iron ingots. A job the ship took on transporting commercial goods, perhaps.

Sonia had always imagined her embarkment to be a graceful ascend on a stairway instead of clambering up a rope ladder like a scallywag. She turned to the first mate and wanted to ask if there were a better alternative, but seeing how her luggage was carelessly hooked, hoisted, and bumping the shiphull along the way, a ladder of the same kind seemed to be much more humane.

"A luxurious trip and a rare chance to experience a deckhand's work all in one package! Drink up me hearties, yo ho!" she hummed and trying not to look down as her body dangled left and right. Falling into the ocean wouldn't be pretty, and she had to be mindful of the horn, they were quite sharp, you know, and that wasn't intentional, they had always been grown that way.

"Additional passenger, eh? Well that's one way to board the ship! Welcome aboard!" the captain greeted the woman with a cheery smile and a tip of his tricorne as he took a puff of his cigar. "Cap'n Owyn, pleasure to be acquainted!"

Just hauled herself up from that rope ladder, Sonia, between her ragged breathing managed to gesture a quick wave at the captain. "Thanks for having me, I will be in your care from now on."

Despite everything, she smiled and it was genuine, sometimes It was the Process that Matters, Not the Prize, well, whatever that meant with her current situation, she wasn't so sure. Anyway, boarded the ship, mission accomplished!

"I would like to see my cabin as soon as possible if you don't mind."

@spiral origin

This black-haired man in a wheelchair gently drove towards the chest, making a sound nary as loud as the sea. Thirty-two bars of gold sitting inside this box, it's almost tempting to take all of it, if it didn't take space in his body and weigh him more than they already do. He grabbed the lock of the box, and essentially commanded it to unlock itself, and it did. He lifted its lid and took one iron bar. This should be enough to replace all of his rust sheddings for the rest of the trip. The ingot gradually liquefied and seeped into his hand. Hmm. You know what, let's take another ingot just in case he loses an arm. Okay, let's take two more for a leg. That's enough. He could already feel the added weight, his wheelchair might give out at this point. Unless... He takes out the last 4 ingots of the top layer, and they immediately liquefy and seep through the wheelchair, reinforcing the mostly wooden wheels and frames from inside with metal spires and cores. He nodded. That'll do indeed.

The lid of the box closes and the lock slithers back in place, securing it again as if nothing happened. Quick, before someone stumbles in here. He starts to move towards the wall -- oh, wow, he could really feel the added weight. It's already taking more effort to move. He drives up the wall, phasing through the ceiling, and going back to Viviana's room. Still empty. He's sure there was no coincidence to Ember and Viviana dressing up after that pompous noble had arrived. A honeypot operation? Doesn't matter to him. Doesn't care. However, it'll be risky to go back out through Viviana's room's front wall now. He drove further up, intent to go back to the deck.

---

which might be a shock to nearby people as well as ensuring they steer clear as he climbs up. Another arm appears, and both of them push up, gradually revealing his head, his body, and finally the wheelchair they rode in on. He quickly realizes that barely anyone has witnessed him climb up, thankfully, due to... another ship boarding us? Is this a pirate attack? Oh, no, just another passenger catching up. Another beautiful redhead, huh...

Wait. He stared at her. Are those horns?

@Pakde

"Certainly!" Captain Owyn gestured towards the stairs leading below deck. "Cabins are right below, everything should already be prepared. If there's anything else you need, don't hesitate to ask myself or any of the crewmates." He tipped his hat and proceeded back to his duties, the first mate following suit.

Sonia grabbed her backpack and thanked the captain. The journey to the cabin was uneventful, but somehow Sonia felt she just missed one. There were cracks, and the hardwood floor was crumpled unnaturally in some corners, they looked new and she was actually concerned if the damage could jeopardize the integrity of the vessel. Still, seeing everyone including the crews was not paying them any immediate attention, she decided to do the same and mind her own business.

The key to her cabin had been provided by the quartermaster, who, after a few inquires about the details of the accommodation included in her ticket, seemed agitated and was ready to nail a plaque that reads; "I really wish I weren't here right now!". So Sonia just gave up and decided to find her room by herself.

The door opened, and she immediately noticed the room had been aromatized. There were books and other personal belongings already placed near the second bed. Feeling that any further inspection of the stranger's stuff would be very rude, she stepped back.

Smelled like sweetened talc and flowery fragrance of the old perfume. It was faint initially but felt very lingering the more she remained there. This... this was no ordinary scent, and now there was a funny sensation in her throat. Sonia hurried for the door, gasping for some 'neutral' air before addressing the matter to the nearby crew.

"Excuse me," Despite being polite, there was a hint of frustration in her voice. It should be natural for Sonia to get angry, nothing had gone well so far, her ticket was printed with the wrong schedule, she had to climb to just be aboard, and now she was on the brink of constant sneezing after entering the wrong cabin. She wanted to complain about their terrible service as a paying customer should, but suddenly she remembered home, this day, her journey. Let's not do that.

"Would you mind helping me *sniff* find my cabin?"

She showed the ticket, and no matter how polite she worded her request, the crew looked at her with an equally troubled look. However, he complied, and he ushered her... to the same room she had previously entered.

"I believe there is a mistake. The room has already been occupied." Sonia gestured the crew to see it for himself and after checking, sighing, and rechecking the ticket, he seemed to agree, albeit reluctantly.

"Yes, it seems to be the case. Please stay here, ma'am, I will ask the quartermaster about your room. He will be here shortly!"

Then he dashed to the other side of the aisle.

Feeling tired, Sonia rested on the nearby bench. Looking at the vessel from the inside suddenly made it clear that she might not be getting the room as they advertised; Luxury suite ticket, including two beds, deluxe accommodations, and full privacy.

Yeah, especially the privacy part, not that she minded a company though, however, everything needed to be cleared out first. What she would be getting for what she had paid and how the arrangement would be. Everyone must follow the rules, right?

@spiral origin

Nanashi is done on his meal and there is no reason for him to stay longer. He doesn't want to blow off Viviana's disguise or pry other stuffs matter that include nobles. He tied his hair into ponytail and silently off the room.

@Pakde

As he proceed on sleeping area. He saw another fresh face as he quick glance into them. A tall young woman with a red hair carrying a crossbow along with a crewmate discussing about the cabin. He pass by proceeding into his hammock to do his matter.

He can be seen by having a huge sigh on his expression due to the shortage of arrow on his foreign looking quiver, following up by a skillful disassemble of his katana for the inspection, assemble back and start to clean his blade with his cleaning kit. His appearance goes back with a mino cape and straw hat. Sitting with a two knee on the ground besides his hammock.

"Look, papa! That lady has buggy's antlers!"

"Ssh! It's rude to point at people."

Sonia glanced at the little human girl who enthusiastically walked down the aisle with her father in tow. As they passed, she lets out a friendly smile and waved at the little girl while her father looked the other way and urged them to pick up the pace.

Apparently content to radiate her liveliness to everyone including the lone demon. The little girl turned back at Sonia despite her father's haste. "We are going to the fo-kas-le! Right papa?!" she announced, moving her hand up and down, mimicking the dolphin jumping in the waves.

And look! Sonia couldn't help but to answer the little girl's sheer happiness with a hearty chuckle. "Have a good day!"

"There'll be killer whales too! Wooooo!"

That was... refreshing. She had been traveling for years, and while frontal racism was quite rare, she knew very well people didn't put much stock in trusting a freak like her. It was always tough whenever she arrived at a new place; people talked behind her, suspected her to be a witch, or outright turned her away from their villages.

However, things were also would turn for the better the longer she settled down. More people and parties were starting to require her expertise, and she made quite a lot of acquaintances along the way. She believed if you help people they will help you too, maybe not directly, maybe not the same person at the same time. That was why she always kept that optimistic attitude in mind; no matter how bleak the situation may appear, things would get better eventually.

She touched her horn. Sharp as ever. On a few occasions, she had considered breaking, chipping, cutting, and grinding them down. For a shallow intent to not be alone, to be more like humans and less like her kind... honestly, what kind of creature she was anyway? She had no clue, not even people who feared her in their ignorance knew the answer. For too long she had suppressed the desire to look the answer for that question, so she just embraced it, her unknown ancestry, her identity, everything; she was what she was, the Sarkaz huntress, Sonia Al Hathya, and with her fractured memory she pushed on and said hello to the world.

But there was always a duality in one's heart, the pendulum would swing and she would eventually grow weary of it. She touched her horn again, this time the other one. The last few weeks had been the zenith of her unrelenting desire to know the answer, the truth... oh so intoxicating and maybe very bitter, but she marched on, almost at a frantic pace. She felt The Time wouldn't be so lenient with her anymore.

*cough* *cough*

The black-haired man in a wheelchair turns towards Lady DeVespe. "That woman had horns, right? Hello again, by the way." Shiny, black horns. Reminds him of some kind of insect, like a beetle. Is it fake? He wants to know, but the new redhead has already gone down to the lower deck, out of sight. A mental sigh.

He turned his wheelchair to the sea. The cold and damp surges of wind. If only he could feel it, it'd probably feel good on the skin. instead, he can only 'feel' the process of rust in his 'bones' speeding up, if even slightly. XeVespe seems to be liking it, her face looks quite a lot more mellow now, possibly relieved that the dock and the land it stood on are so far out of reach.

What's a good conversation starter? "So... What are" your abilities? A bit broad... "No, do you ha"ve magic powers? Isn't that a bit ableist towards those who aren't magically inclined? "H-how do you fare in combat?" He realized it just shortly after he said it, who asks a lady how they fare in combat? But no, it's a pressing matter for this woman in particular, she who's so obviously running away from something... Yet, would her having two guards already be a sufficient answer to his question?

He mentally felt the cringe. He's been out of social circles for too damn long.

@spiral origin

"Oh!" gasped ember with false enthusiasm. "How exciting!-- But I mustn't-- I wouldn't want to overextend your invitation, lord Gaensburg. Rules MUST be followed! They're what separate us from 'the beasts'."

He made a coy smile, then fanned a little air at himself. "However, my schedule after visiting my cousin is, open ended."

The subtle slander against the "lower classes" was kind of an artform. You had to do it discretely and innocently in order to pull it off right, damn whoever might be in earshot. You couldn't just pretend to be a noble, you had to BE a noble-- otherwise you would get caught in the act and be too hammy.

The barb was clearly well received by 'Lord Landon', as he made a satisfied snort, and prattled on about how more people should be so observant, before screaming loudly at the kitchen for his man servant, Luca, to hurry things along.

Ember became aware of eyes behind him, and discretely craned his head to look. That dashing foreign boy with the straw hat and the sword was entering, and making eyes at Vivian. Almost as suddenly as his entry however, was his departure. Ember wondered what that was all about...

Moments later, Luca returned with a somewhat dinged up tea service from the kitchen, before carefully setting it on the table. Dry 'ship biscuits' were the only available morsel, and from the look on the boy's face, 'water discipline' had been a topic of discussion while he was preparing the tea. Fabulous. While it would likewise cause consternation for the crew, it would be a nice after-embarasment lecture for Lord Landon. Ember had nearly forgotten about it himself, having pushed it from his mind as a necessity to follow, seeing as he could produce his own water on command, if a bit slowly for his tastes-- but sufficient to not need to utilize the ships stores for his morning toilettes, and the occasional drink. The ship's stores of water were starkly finite, and wasting it was a very serious matter. "Tea", even a very terrible one, such as this, was a radical excess.

"Oh, how dreadful..." he muttered, this time only halfway faking it. The tea service really did look quite horrid. He felt very sorry for the poor manservant, who was sure to get the wrong end of the stick for this. For a moment, he contemplated the propriety of causing that poor chap any further emotional harm-- the accessory to wounding his master's ego-- but pushed it from his mind. He would discretely find some way to make this work out for the boy in the end, he just wasn't sure what that would be just yet.

"but the sea air leaves me so very parched-- "

"It would seem the service on this ship is below second rate!" bellowed Landon. "I should have expected no less! My UNCLE shall hear of this!"

Ember just heaved out a sigh, carrying on with the act. "oh dear... Remember Lilly... Dignity and Poise..." he murmured to himself, half-mocking the kind of liturgical utterance that noble ladies wanting to remain 'true to form' recited to themselves when things were going poorly for them, to avoid appearing 'unladylike', amping up the toxic femininity to match the toxic masculine being thrown off by Landon. ".. Rules must be followed..."

Hamming up the role had a purpose, of course. Landon had taken the seat opposite him at table, and was leering lecherously while continuing to drone on about the inferior service of this ship, careening from 'unsafe' hallways, to 'shoddy, third-rate kitchen service', while Luca poured the tea. Despite appearances, the serving boy did have an eye for attention to detail, ember noted-- the tea itself, while served from such sub-rate service, was quite excellent. It was a shame to waste it, but the plan needed to be carried out.

"Oh, it's quite lovely-- I suppose appearances can be--"

Beneath the table, where nobody could observe the motions or action, ember withdrew his wand, and discretely conjured an illusory rodent. A very large, somewhat grotesque, and misshapen rodent, that appeared to be suffering from some form of mange. The kind of thing that could give a prissy nobleman (or woman) nightmares. The moment had at last come.

"---EEEEEKK!!!" he shreiked, in a shrill cry that could curdle fresh milk, before throwing the hot tea all over lord landon, and jumping away from the table. (while subtly commanding the illusory rodent to pounce from its hiding place beneath the table, up onto the bench, then onto the table, and then toward Landon.)

From the distance, she saw the crew returning with the quartermaster. In his hand was a large ledger, and strapped on his belt were an assortment of keys. He was leading the way like a furious bull, and as soon as he reached the acceptable proximity to Sonia, he spared no intermission.

"What seems to be the problem?"

"I am deeply sorry for taking your time, sir, but I think there is a mistake with my cabin arrangement. I believe the crew has given you the details, has he not?"

There was a brief pause. "Really?" He blurted and shot a look at the crew as if ready to chew him whole. Then he returned, not to Sonia but to his ledger. "Tsk tsk. We are really sorry, I will first ask you to return the key so we can sort this out quickly."

"Certainly, here you go."

He double-checked the key, rewrote the manifest in his ledger, then gave Sonia another key.

"Your cabin will be downstairs. Oi, you! Take this lady to that room in the lower deck."

"Wait a second! Lower deck?" she hesitated, gripping her ticket tightly. "But it's not what I... my ticket is for the first class."

"First class?" The quartermaster mentally rolled his eyes and grumbled. "Ma'am- no, lassie, look again at your ticket, no such thing as first class. It's a Luxury Class and we regret to inform you that the rooms on the upper deck are all full. You are late, and other passengers have already claimed every room, the fault is not at our side."

Sonia was almost at loss for words.

"Good sir, I simply insist that I should be getting the cabin worth the ticket I possess. And there is no way it will be in the lower deck."

The quartermaster sighed, yet somehow enjoying his cornering. "You are a smart girl, aren't you? We advertised it to be having two beds; your room will include two beds, full privacy;your room will be yours for the rest of the journey, and as for the deluxe accommodation," he paused for a smug exchange with the crew. "Ask our staff, your room is a way more deluxe compared to bunks they use to sleep in. So what would it be? It's either that room or the hammocks!"