Post by Rigel Larrat on Jun 27, 2020 15:40:02 GMT -8
Rigel had hidden away during the entire day for the ferry's travels. The packed boat wasn't a safe place for a known pirate to be crawling about, but he couldn't stand staying stuffed into a claustrophobic room until the boat reached Java island. Even though the night air was brisk and frosty, Rigel didn't mind. He enjoyed the quiet and stillness, it was a welcome break from all the frantic action of Dulan Island. It made him nostalgic for some calm peace he hadn't felt in years and years. Even in the night, Rigel wore dark shades to obscure his distinctive eyes. That wasn't a risk worth taking.
The ferry was a decorative galleon, carrying dozens of eager passengers, now stuffed with their dinner and sleeping in the various cabins deep in the boat. Rigel sat near the bow, watching the dark waves and the passing stars, tracking their progress through the celestial bodies. A few other strangers populated the bow, quietly keeping to themselves. A couple leaned against the wooden rim of the ship on the starboard side, a lone woman peered over the railing much closer to the ship's bow, and a trio of sailors took up idle conversation.
Their gathering was interrupted by a large man with a rough voice, calling out to the group. "Get back to work, you stowaways!" he shouted. The man's appearance threw the men into a frenzy, fleeing from their conversation and presumably back to their posts. The couple felt embarassed having witnessed the seen, and also broke their embrace. "Worthless," the man complained. Despite saying so, he pulled up one of their chairs and chose to take a break for himself. Rigel kept a bit of laughter under his breath.
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jun 27, 2020 16:10:16 GMT -8
"What's so funny?" The captain asked. Rigel frowned, if this guy tried any sort of inspection then Rigel would have to retreat into the boat. The ferry wasn't exactly crawling with law enforcement, but if his identity was discovered, then he'd have marines to deal with in the middle of the water, and no clear way out. Rigel stood up from his spot on the front of the boat, ready to turn away and go, but the captain seemed to understand his actions. "Ah, ah, excuse me," the captain quickly said. "Take your seat, or one with me, if you'd like. It's not my business to pry into my passengers, just my subordinates."
Rigel weighed his words against the risks. He returned to his seat, invited more by the calm of the evening than by the man's words. He looked thankful. When he was satisfied the captain had turned his attention to something else, Rigel tilted his head up to the night sky, tracking the stars again. From his sparse understanding of star charts and the direction they offered, the ferry would reach Java island sometime in the late afternoon of the next day over. Awaiting there was some representative on the island waiting for Rigel and his three Golden Lions. From there, an even more dangerous expedition would require Rigel to find a treasure valuable enough to save his friends.
The woman at the bow of the ship was staring at Rigel and the captain of the ferry. Neither men had noticed until Rigel dropped his eyeline below the stars. Even from behind his dim lenses he could tell she was looking at them intently. The captain noticed a couple of moments after, cocking an eyebrow. "Everything okay?" he shouted across the bow, more curious than concerned. The woman didn't make any sudden moves. "You nighthawks sure are strange..."
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jun 27, 2020 16:21:32 GMT -8
The woman took a deep breath, Rigel expected her to shout a reply back to the captain, but the young woman did not. From the bow of the boat, a gentle, smooth and pretty voice began to sing. The words were drawn out and incomprehensible, something slow and sweet in a foreign language. Rigel didn't grow up with much music, but he didn't need to have any particular appreciation to recognize her skill. The captain drew completely silent and still, Rigel doing the same. They found themselves perfectly unwilling to move, as if a single motion would shatter the delicate atmosphere permitting this voice to reach their ears.
Rigel and the captain were not the only ones to be affected by the girl's voice. From the night sky flew down a small crowd of birds and creatures. Corvids and water fowl gently perched across the railing, listening to the girl sing her strange song. This might've been surprising enough, but from the depths of the water, a large, serpentine neck found its way towards the girl and above the railing of the ship. A monstrous sea creature, glittering cerulean color was calm, making no effort to snap up and eat the various creatures on the deck of the ferry.
Her song attracted creatures from the highest and lowest points in the sea, all in humble appreciation. After some amount of time, Rigel couldn't tell how much, the girl stopped singing. Bowing in silence. That silence was broken first by the birds on the railing of the boat, flapping their wings and escaping the deck of the boat, the captain started clapping, Rigel following suit quickly. The sea monster, whether in applause or disappointment, roared into the night before sinking back under the water harmlessly.
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jun 27, 2020 16:31:20 GMT -8
Sailors and passengers from all over the boat rushed to its bow to investigate the monstrous roaring that had rung across the entire boat. They all looked to see if they had something over which to worry. The captain tried to reassure them, to no avail. The singer was very clearly overwhelmed by the crowd, panicked and anxious as more and more people began to flood the section of the boat where she'd found some kind of isolation. Rigel broke through the crowd, finding his way to her side. "Would you like a way out?"
The singer nodded nervously, and Rigel helped the young woman on to his back, weaving through the crowd and jumping through their oncoming masses. He found the entrance to the cabins of the ship, isolated, safe for the girl again. He let her down gently. "Thanks for your song." The girl only nodded. Rigel expected her to go back to her cabin, but she seemed hesitant. "Does it have a name? What is it?" the girl nodded, but didn't say it. "Do you? What's your name?" the girl nodded again, still not answering. Rigel realized she wouldn't be answering him any time soon.
"Do you need anything else? I could walk you to your room?" she only shook her head, taking a step towards the cabins inside the ferry. Rigel realized his boundary and stepped backwards. "Have a good night. Thank you for the song." She seemed ready to step to her cabin, but turned back to the pirate, tapping her temple. Rigel realized what she meant, and pulled off the shades, revealing his glowing emerald eyes. She gasped a bit, either from their color or her realization. "Good night, now." Rigel walked away from the girl, still trying to hum along to her impossible song.
"I should get a musician," he mused, wandering the boat for another spot of solitude to watch the stars.
