Collab between Theyra and InfamousGuy101
Itzi leaned over the control panel, her eyes scanning the gauges for helium levels, fuel reserves, and ballast readings. She made small adjustments here and there, ensuring everything remained in top shape. The steady hum of the airship’s engines filled the bridge, a sound she found both calming and nerve-wracking. This vessel was their lifeline, and every moment that passed made her anxious, not knowing what was happening down at the castle was perhaps the worst part of it.
Her mind wandered briefly to the rolling hills and warm waters of the Main, her home. She longed to return there, but not empty-handed. Promises and dreams wouldn’t pay for her father’s fishing boat repairs or her sister’s school fees. She needed something tangible, something that would make all this worth it. A sack of gold, perhaps, or even just enough to start fresh.
Her thoughts shifted to that circus man, Puskurunuwa Petrides or simply Nuwa, as he’d introduced himself. The memory of him falling through her ceiling made her smile faintly, despite herself. “Nuwa,” she murmured, the name lingering on her lips. Maybe his sudden, chaotic arrival had been some kind of sign, though what it could mean, she couldn’t quite tell. She quickly shook the thought away, focusing back on the controls.
It was then she noticed the Sakhian man sitting quietly in the corner of the bridge, sipping his coffee with an air of unbothered detachment. Itzi straightened, slightly startled. How long had he been there?
She cleared her throat, feeling a bit awkward. “Uh, hey there,” she began, turning toward him. “I’m Itzi Ku—uh, the Vice-Pilot, I guess.” She gave a lopsided smile and gestured vaguely to the controls. “I don’t think we’ve had much chance to talk… You, uh, been here long?”
Zano was mid-sip and was zoned out when Itzi spoke to him and he snapped out of it. Looking up at the Hunyunaki with a surprised expression. Putting his coffee down, he spoke. "We have not and I have not been in long." Taking another sip of his coffee. "Just here to relax and wait for the others since I am not much help right now." He sighed, "that and being able to see out a window is nice and before I forget my manners. My name is Zano Mirazdar and please to meet you Itzi."
Itzi extended her hand and shook Zano's with a cool, firm grip. “Nice to meet you, Zano,” she said with a faint smile. Turning her gaze out the wide windows of the bridge, she nodded toward the horizon. “The view is something, isn’t it? Not quite like home, but... it’s got its charm.”
She leaned out of the window slightly, letting her eyes wander over the endless expanse of sky and land below. The shimmering reflection of a distant river caught her attention, its surface glinting like liquid silver under the sunlight.
Itzi glanced back at Zano, one hand resting on her hip, “You know, I never thought I’d find myself in one of these things, let alone piloting it,” she said, her tone tinged with disbelief. “Back home, flying always seemed like something other people did. Rich folk, soldiers... not someone like me. And now here I am, practically the 'Vice-Pilot,' keeping this beast in the air.”
She chuckled softly, shaking her head as she gazed out the window. “It’s not quite like home, though. The Main is all wide-open spaces, hard soil, and the kind of sun that burns you through your shirt. Flying like this... it’s a different kind of freedom. Beautiful, sure, but it doesn’t feel as solid, you know? Like any moment, the whole thing could just... drift away.” She paused, then smirked. “Still, I can’t deny it’s spectacular.”
Her expression softened as she leaned against the console, her eyes distant. “I just hope the crew down at the castle isn’t getting themselves into too much trouble. Gold or not, I’d rather we all make it out of this intact. Getting back in one piece? That’s already worth more than any treasure.”
Zano had a somewhat firm grip when shaking hands with Itzi's. He stood up and walked over to what Itzl was and looked out the window with soft smile. "It does have a charm and a view that not many get to see and appreciate."
He took a sip of his coffee and his voice perk up, "I have a interest in these flying machines. Even learned how these airship work and operate if I ever have a chance to work on or with one." Zano sighed, "It is strange how things work out how both of us are here on this airship and get to experience flying and being in one."
Zano chuckled with her as home was brought up. "Well for me, I come from Mina-Sakh and that city was all I knew growing up. The busy streets, narrow alleyways and people everywhere. I admit I sometimes miss it but at times it is nice to feel freedom and this airship does have certain kind of one." Zano took another sip from his coffee and sighed. 'Like you said and I just wished we would have gotten here under better circumstances."
He chuckled again only with more vigor. "I feel the same though having gold is more like a bonus right now and I just wonder how long we will be here. Gold is heavy, so we might be here awhile as they get the gold. I just wished I could be useful right now but, at it stands. It is better for me if I stay here and wait. But, at least I can wait with company." Zano gave Itzl a smile as he took another sip from his coffee.
Itzi raised an eyebrow at Zano her arms crossed. She couldn’t help but smile at his comment about waiting with company, “Well, if you’re feeling useless sitting here sipping coffee, I might have a solution,” she said, a playful glint in her eye.
She gestured broadly to the controls surrounding her, “Only having two capable pilots on this ship, with one of them currently risking their neck for some shiny rocks, isn’t exactly ideal. So, how about this—I teach you how to pilot it?” Her tone was light but carried a note of seriousness. “I’ve mostly flown smaller airships back home, sure, but the basics are the same. It’s just… well, imagine the same principles, but multiplied by about ten.” She smirked. “Or twenty, depending on how temperamental this beast decides to be.”
Zano was about to sip what was left of his coffee but, stopped as he heard Itzi's offer with a eyebrow raised. "Hmm, learning how to pilot a airship... that is certainly a offer and.... Zano thought for a bit. "I think I will take you up on that, I have learned how a airship work but, learning how pilot a airship would certainly be a step up. That and it would be nice to have a backup pilot is anything were to happened you or the other pilot."
He looked around and found a place put down his coffee and with a smile, he looked back at Itzi. "I realize how hard it may be to learn but, you have yourself a eager student." He kept smiling while eyeing up the controls and took a deep breath.
"Well, I am ready when you are," sounding a bit nervous.
Itzi’s face lit up with a mixture of enthusiasm and determination as she clapped her hands together. “Alright, Zano, let’s get started! No better time than now to make yourself useful, huh?” She gestured for him to step closer to the console.
“This,” she began, her hand hovering over the throttle lever, “is your throttle. Controls our speed, forward and back. Smooth and steady wins the race here—yank it too fast, and you’ll have everyone onboard sliding into the walls.” She tapped the lever lightly and then pointed to the wheel. “And here’s your yoke. Steering’s just like turning a ship or even a car. Except instead of ground, we’ve got wind currents, and instead of brakes, we’ve got… well, nothing immediate.” She chuckled. “Takes a little finesse.”
She moved her hand over a row of toggles and gauges, her expression turning thoughtful for a moment. “These are for ballast adjustments. Keeps us balanced in the air. And the altimeter here tells you how high we are. Pretty straightforward, though the rest of these…” She hesitated briefly, her fingers brushing over unfamiliar dials. “Some of them are for finer adjustments I don’t usually mess with. They’re… more advanced.” She quickly moved on, her tone confident again. “But you won’t need to worry about those. Not yet, anyway.”
Zano walked over to the console and paid attention to what she said. Making a mental note of everything being said. Learning how a airship works should help with learning how to pilot one right? He sole thought as he listened to Itzi.
"Okay, I see Itzi and I think I understand what these things do." Sounding confidant, despite some lingering nervousness. "I might get the hang of this but, I have some questions."
Itzi smiled, "Shoot away."
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