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((Pwnage of page 69. <3))

"Really?" Baran frowned as he absentmindedly stroked the bird's head. "Strange. The sword sounds like the sort of thing they'd have up, though," he added with a laugh. "But you'd have to haggle the price down to something reasonable. My sister's a b***h of a trader, always willing to put the price up as high as it could possibly get..."

He shook his head, telling himself he'd been around the other Fighters too long. Oh, the pain that would have been dealt to him by the aforementioned sister if he had used that sort of language in her presence...!

"It is nice to be able to visit them," he agreed, taking the oportunity to divert the attention from his previous language. "Although it also means I gotta send them money every time I get a paycheck. Not that I'm complaining, of course!" Baran quickly continued as he realized the Dragon Lord was within hearing range, "'cause, ya know, my salary's really nice and all... But what about you?"

Jumping to another change of conversation, he decided to give the reins to the quieter Celia. She, at least, was less likely to put her foot in her mouth.

"Why were you in Luwa, anyway?"

There had been the option of taking the Darnas down to the beach, but the luggage had already been sent with the helpful drafting of several Dragon Fighters with various broken rules to work off. Sneaking off to the bars, for example, or loitering in the halls.

Aiketh had wanted to walk back, anyway.

The sky above was clear, so blue after the earlier rain, and far smoother than the shifting sea had been.

It would be a cool night, she noted, half expecting to already be able to see her breath on the air. She wondered what that would mean for the travelers out upon the ocean and let her mind return to a listing of the items stowed away on board.

Maybe there was something she had forgotten to send with them. Maybe it would turn out to be the most important thing they would need on their trip. Like rope. Had she made sure someone had packed rope? Yes, it was stashed away below deck, next to the containers of food. What about oil, then, or extra thread?

She sighed. This wasn't going to get her anywhere, and she needed to concentrate on the matters at hand. Missing at least one Knight and Officer and, most importantly, Dragon Lord, the castle was vulnerable. She should be smart enough to realize that. This foolish wondering was merely putting them all in more danger.

"Hey, those books?"

Proving true to his short attention span, Baran leaned over, watching Yoko and the cargo he betrayed hidden away in Celia's bag. "What're they for? We need them for the trip, or something? Aren't you afraid they'll get ruined from all this sea spray?" The question was conveniently timed, as a burst of the salty water spread through the air around them, misting over their forms.

"Nah, I don't think it's a bad habit. Maybe kinda inconvinient," Baran conceeded, turning his gaze back to the fading gray line marking the distant mountains of Dusis.

"What're you planning on doing once you finish those?" He asked her, glancing at her bag once more before straightening up and scanning the deck. He had this unnerving feeling that he was supposed to be working on something. He wasn't used to being able to just stand around and talk in the middle of the day. Well, not while so obviously close to his superiors. Then again, he was speaking with Celia. Maybe providing her with companionship was an excuse against labor!

Baran felt his ego rising to the urge to be able to deal out the specific information in a cool, non-challant manner. With a mental shrug, he let his pride stride to the occasion.

"Oh, maybe a week or so," he said smoothly, turning his face back into the wind. "It depends on a lot of things... current and wind, of course, but also the moon and time of the year. The seasons affect the ocean just as much as the land, but given our start and the current weather, I'd say we'll be dropping anchor in Arinas within ten days."

He hoped desperatly there wasn't something written in one of her books to contradict him.

Baran laughed, the sound coming naturally to him. "Really? Hey, that reminds me. My mother used to tell me this story about how our shop was saved by a couple of treasure hunters way in the past. She was really sketchy on the details, though, so I made my own version."

He stopped himself short. His creative and rather sexually explicit history was not something he felt comfortable going into more depth about. Celia, no matter how she might prove to be in battle, had an innocent air about her. Her timid demeanor and softly hesitant smile did nothing to counter that idea.

"So, uh, you said he liked shiny stuff!" Baran quickly dodged any possible upcoming questioning about his theories. "What else does he like? Crackers... Sparkilies... Sounds like a regular parrot, to me. He can even talk!"

If Jett heard Baran's comment about his paycheck, he didn't acknowledge it. Instead, he stared out at the sea, a small smile brightening his tired features. Something in the back of his mind made him think of stories he was told. Of his grandfather and great-grandfather, and how both of them reguarly escaped from the castle. Now, with the sea breeze tugging eagerly at his hair, Jett could see why.

Jindra sent a glance over her shoulder at the youkai Lady just before she disappeared and teleported down to the lower floor. Smiling, the woman just followed the two youkai with her red eyes. What was the Lady going to do now then? Somewhat disappointed almost that nothing more than a light... what should we call it, flirt? was what Tenjou did, Jindra felt that the interruption was unjustified. But more interesting... what was the little general going to say or do? Would he take up her offer? Or would his current predictament only strengthen? Jindra turned her eyes onto the pale man, her eyes rather serious as she observed him.

Jett's smile quickly evaporated as he caught sight of the forboding clouds. The sailors running two and fro in a rather nervous manner only heightened the sudden feelings of tension. "Everyone," Jett turned his back to the dark sea to address his officers, "I think it would be wise if we went below deck and got out of the way of the crew while they prepare for this squall."

((Now, off to find a new color for Opal.))