Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ah, hells! Pel groaned as she raced through the streets of a port city in Belrea. The Wailing Wraith had stopped to do some trades, the ones that you took to the other side of town and didn’t speak much about with others in the open, and she had taken the chance to get away from the crew so that she could take care of obtaining some personal necessities that she much preferred the others not worry about. “Three coppers was ridiculous.” She sneered at the small pouch for its cost, tucking the medicine and cloth wrappings into the sash around her waist for safe keeping. She couldn’t even keep such items in her actual travel bags, the bloody scavengers in the crew always trying their luck by placing sticky fingers in the belongings of the lesser help where they wouldn’t lose a hand to the captain for trying his patience. Very few realized Pel’s own connection to the captain and just considered her like some sort of algae caught on the ship’s hull, sometimes useful but more of just the bottom of the barrel type of beggar who got nabbed by the crew. Still, she was important enough to miss and she knew that if she didn’t return by morning that there would be some form of punishment. It just wasn’t in her favor that hail and the like decided to come out of the blue as storm clouds took over the sky and forced her into a small shelter in the alleys. Great, now I really do look like one of those low-lifes. Not that she looked much better considering the conditions on the Wailing Wraith, but she did try to at least keep some sort of appearance as much as the others taunted her for it.

[Pelagia 1]

So much for a moment of peace. Even though the winds were wailing around them, the rain flying sideways through the city streets, Pel was enjoying a moment without the crew. Not that she could linger, her uncle wouldn’t consider this an excuse to delay her return so that she could get to work on helping with the riggings and such for tomorrow’s departure. Even if the storm didn’t cease, she doubted the captain would keep her docked in this particular port for long. He’d find a way to sail out somehow, exchanging the neutral sails for her normal dark flags as soon as they ventured away from the city. Others rarely waved their flags, but he preferred to frighten those that crossed their path with the outline of a screaming skull waving about in the ocean breeze. Bloody hassle, just like this guy. Her violet gaze narrowed in disdain as she looked over the pretty boy with his nice clothes and fancy bag. That was a boy, right? Not some sort of girl poorly trying to pass as one? Either way it didn’t matter, that material was expensive regardless of gender. Maybe she could have the sticky fingers for once, if there was some good pickings that was. “Ye have five minutes ‘ere before findin’ another spot.” She finally managed, her voice low as she snarled at him. Honestly if he wasn't here then it was even tempting to take a rest here, napping more feasible in the storm threatened alley than it would be on the ship.

[Pel 2]

Pel snorted at the thought. “What? Can’t endure a bit of hail?” She glanced up towards the sky, her kohl rimmed eyes actually enjoying the sight of the spiraling clouds. At least this time they were docked and not fighting the waves as they threatened to topple over the Wraith. Not that they easily could, the ship was her uncle’s life and the one thing he actually seemed to take care of other than himself. Her chapped lips pressed together into a tight line, Pel considering her options once she realized the boy was from another ship. If he was some local she could have tried to cozy up to him, as slight as she seemed maybe there could have been some sort of connection so that she could wiggle her fingers into that bag and gain some extra coins, but if he was going to a nearby ship then chances were he could expose her to someone from the crew along the way. Dammit. She could just stab him and run with the bag, but then there would be a mess and she couldn’t risk getting caught with her current supplies either. So for now she endured, taking the time to calculate her options since the storm was keeping them here for the moment. “I think it’s relaxin’. Just listen to that bouncin’ noise.” She offered with a cheeky grin, her gaze still bright like some sort of predator accessing its prey even as her lips curled upwards.

[Pel 3]

“What? Are ya carryin’ some important docs or somethin’?” Pel asked, her head tilting with interest as she tried to play things off. Now if it was important routes or some sort of currency, well maybe she would be willing to take the risk of the kid somehow causing her trouble if she stabbed and ran. “Never seen someone so worried about paper, thought you were carryin’ gold or somethin’ with that type of grip.” She acknowledged finally, her gaze studying how his arm had tightened around the bag. If he was determined to stay then she’d at least try to get a better idea of what he had on him, if not for stealing then at least for curiosity’s sake.

[Pel 4]

Just parchment? Pel’s expression fell as she studied the other teen, thinking about her options. Was he just misleading her? Still, she had to respect the fact that he wasn’t willing to waste things like that. Some rich sod would probably have just tossed it and ran home crying about the rain. “Why’d ya waste so much money on paper?” She questioned, listening as the hail transitioned back into something more akin to rain as the thunder rumbled around them. It’d probably be a typhoon soon enough, they’d have to make a break for it when there was some sort of lull in the storm else she would be in danger of a good punishment if she missed her chance to return.

[Pel 5]

“Cartography.” Pel blinked and then let out a laugh. “I see! Didn’t expect ta find a cartographer out ‘ere of all places. What are ya trying to be a ship’s navigator?” Despite her laughter there was a gleam of interest, the teen thinking about the usefulness of someone like that instead of the potential coin in his purse. “Still, once the rain lets up ye better run.” There was still a hint of decency in her spirit, she wasn’t completely corrupted nor did she want to recruit someone to her uncle’s crew. Why benefit that damned b*****d? A cartographer would be helpful, but she wouldn't want to give him to her uncle. Maybe one day…if she could ever find her own way on the ocean…well, Pel didn’t even want to let the thought continue, especially as lightning flashed across the sky above them like some sort of warning. “Still, should be careful spoutin’ that. You may attract interest to those lookin’ for crewmates fer the less pleasant ships.” She warned, not liking the idea of some dainty looking pretty boy getting roughed up by some of the ships that she knew. “Tell ya what though…if yer so focused on protectin’ those papers then I ‘spose I can share this space. Just keep an eye out fer any other stragglers, I wanna take a moment ta rest until we can run fer it.” She had the feeling the dainty boy wouldn’t harm her, if he even tried then she’d break his fingers for daring to do so. That much she was confident of, especially as she gave him a once over again without even caring if he noticed.

[Pel 6]

“I see. Still, keep it to yerself. There’s too many fighters, not enough cartographers which makes it a useful skill more so than ya think.” Pel let out a sigh as if confused by the fact she had actually warned the boy, running a hand through her damp hair that was sticking all over the place in tangles thanks to the sudden winds. Not like it mattered, she kept it short enough to easily fight with, but it was still annoying in the moment. Though if it was annoyance at her hair or the stranger…that much she didn’t want to even think about. Still, her gaze was thoughtful as she pondered the proposal despite her annoyance. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to have someone, just in case she needed a decoy or something. Pel nodded at the thought. “Once the rains calm down we can do that, but I ain’t goin’ any closer together. No one wants to be near my ship, not if they can help it.” She shrugged, leaving it at that as she settled against him by the wall to wait out the worst of the storm together.

[Pel 7]