City of Cresthall

Gasp thinks about it for a moment and then mimics Hatt "Professional discussion?"

"Perhaps, Bird Person." Crispy nods to Gasp. "Personally, I would like to find out..from Bennett..what is going on." She pauses for a moment. "Unless anyone thinks that's a bad idea. I'm going to find out. When the opportunity arises. Bennett hasn't done me any wrong. Yet. So i'm hoping a few simple questions will..satisfy me."

She remembers the times she had to interrogate criminal scum. The times she gained pleasure from it, feeling the power of her position, inflicting pain on others. She remembered the times she went completely overboard in her anger. Like the time she was travelling down the road, looking for a new home, and she was jumped by a gang of bandits and they stole her wooden toy horse, among other things. They left her to die on the side of the road, but they were sloppy. They left an obvious trail. At night, she snuck into the camp and murdered them all. Even the women and children. And she enjoyed it. Savored it. 

Nobody takes her horse.

But now things were different, and she was trying to bury that anger, that programming. It wasn't easy. So, she was hoping Bennett would tell her what she wanted to know.

Gasp will approach Crispy and shake his head "Thirty Thousand Gold for Discretion" He mimics Ominak again. "Thirty Thousand Gold!"

If we pry too far, we will be breaking our word, says Hatt.  We took this mission on the understanding that only Bennett would know the details.  We could have walked away back in Cresthall; saying the city's name makes Hatt think of his family there, and the knowledge that it might be many weeks before he saw them again.  I want to talk to Bennett, but I only want to be reassured of two things: that he has control of his own mind, and that he judges this task to be nothing that serves the cause of evil.  

Not for the first time, Hatt found himself wishing that Aurelia were still with them, and that she was in that room with Ominak in Bennett's place; she had shone with virtue and Hatt had trusted her immediately.  Bennett is a good man too, he told himself, or at least, he is trying to be.  I pray that's enough.  

Hatts right, Ashley replied We elected Bennett as our leader and representative for this mission. I think we should trust him. He hasn't done anything to betray that trust.  

They all had a point. Crispy deflated and soured a little too obviously at the points they all made, and they were right - and she did not fight it any further. She said nothing more. Nothing more needed to be said. She stood there for a moment and grew frustrated that she wouldnt get a chance to do something she liked, and did best, but it was probably FOR the best, as she would not have done it nicely or with patience. Her programming and her life taught her most people are scum and cannot be trusted. She was also sick of losing friends, and people she cared for.

But she would be there if Bennett betrayed their trust, that she promised to herself and the others silently. Hells save him from her should that happen. She nodded in obvious agreement to everyone and huffed away towards the galley.

She was starving, and was annoyed, like a beast wanting to come out, but kept restraint, growing angrier and frustrated. As if a heat yearning for release. Not wanting to appear that way, she walked off, hoping no one would notice.

Bennett leaves Ominak's cabin, shuts the door behind him and shakes his head. Upon seeing the others he smiles and starts to head toward the group.

As Crispy walks away Ashley's seasickness begins creeping back to her. Addressing her teammate she says You guys hold down the for up here. I'm going to go make sure Crispy doesn't stab something...or someone. Ashley knew Crispy had more control than that and hoped her jest was understood. Still, she could tell her steadfast Crispy was frustrated. She quickly catches up to her and hugs her from behind. Hey, I'm proud of you today.

Crispy went down to the Galley. Luckily, no one was there.

She looked around quickly, and found an orange, ironically, and threw it against the wall of the ship as hard as she could. With a loud SPLAT, it made a huge mess on the wall. She squeezed her hands tightly until her knuckles were white, and closed her eyes and stood there, trying to get herself to calm down. She didn't want to act like this in front of the others, and especially in front of Ashley. It was always a huge effort, despite all of her military and spiritual training, to get the beast inside to purr instead of roar, and she cursed her life, her personality, and many other things for being this way. It was silly, too. But remaining in the dark frustrated her, because it deviated from years of other behavior she knew how to do, and it was what she was used to. 

She was so distracted with her thoughts she didn't even hear Ashley come in, but she felt her arms around her, and she instinctively twitched at the motion, almost immediately the fire inside her began to soften, to dissipate, until it was no longer there. She took a deep breath, and knew it was her, she could tell. The force of the hug, how she smelled, what her skin felt like. She loved it all, and most of all, she didn't want to lose her. 

"I have no idea why. But..I'm just glad you're ok. I don't want anything to happen to you."

I'm proud of you, because as much as you wanted to, as much as it frustrated you, you showed restraint. You could have easily killed the pirates, and I'm sure you wanted to. But you let them go when my spell took effect. Ashley comes around d to Crispy's front. Perhaps, even if just a little, we have seen the first steps of a new you.  Ashley looks deep and longingly into Crispy's eyes....then quickly turns to find a bucket and throws up as her stomach reminds her of its discomfort on the sea.

"Only if it mean you'll be.." Crispy says, but pauses as Ash throws up into a bucket. "..happy with me, and stay with me." She laughs and feels so bad for Ashley, Crispy was used to the sea, but she clearly wasn't. "Do you want me to make you some food, or i'm sure that's the last thing on your mind haha!"

She pauses and also looks into Ashley's eyes, which were a bit watered because of her throwing up. She wanted to kiss her right there and then. To show her, in her own way, one of the few ways she knew how, to express how much she liked Ashley, and wanted her. "Thanks. I uh..I think i'm really, really falling for you. Hard. I'd kiss you, but..you know.." She jokingly says the last part, nodding to the bucket. "We gotta get you off this ship."

She did something very impulsive, but at that moment, she didn't care. She took her arm and pulled her in as close as she could, they were literally skin to skin close, and Cora whispered something in her ear no one in the whole multiverse could hear. It was the one thing in her whole life she never regretted saying.

"I love you."

Hold it in, hold it in. This is important. Dont screw it up by barfing all over her.  You're the most incredible person I have ever known. All i want to do is make you happy and bring you come peace and comfort.I...I love y*bleehhhh*  Oh God no!  is all she could think. A prayer of prayers that her aim was true and Crispy is not covered in the remnants of Ashley's stomach.

Roll to twist: 16

Crispy managed to twist out of the way of Ashley's vomit attack while still embraced with her, and could do nothing but laugh. Not AT her, but because in the moment, she was relieved that Ashley felt the same way, but the nausea made the timing humorous. The nausea would eventually pass, but Crispy's love for her lasted an eternity.

"Come on." She said softly, running her finger along the tip of one of her ears, knowing Ashley was probably miserable. She didn't care about the smell, or that she was sick. "Let's go topside and take it easy until we get the Hells off this boat. Then we'll have a good time, hopefully, one of these nights. I miss being alone with you." 

Hatt smiles up as Bennett approaches; how are your wounds feeling?

Bennett chuckles, "I feel great! Thank you, Hatt. You fought bravely, as did everyone else. Great job, everyone."

((About what time is it?))

Ashley only nods as she is afraid she might be sick again at the worst moment. She finds a handkerchief to clean her mouth as Crispy leads her back upstairs. 

(About 6 in the evening. Everyone ready to go?)

Yes

(Yes, I think so.  How many days to our destination?)

(9 more days till you get to Savasst.)