Stargazing on The Slender Sea

The southwestern Slender Sea, 1438 ATC

The chill of the early winter nights lingered despite the blooming flowers on the islands who were due to wither and die any moment now. Clouds dissipated from the day storm leaving a clear dark sky with a bright moon and thousands of stars. There was better time to enjoy the stars than after a storm. Everything was quite calm as they drifted back towards the nearest port, and Venser, Cierra, and Ruari all sat near the railings, watching the calm waves of the ocean and the sky.

A seagull landed on the railing nearby, a fish clutched in his talons. It squawked before it began to peck and eat it, causing the ship's dog to bark and chase it off, claiming the fish for himself, much to the laughter of a few crewmembers of the Freeman's Paragon. They heard the heavy thuds of boots on the wooden deck and they knew it belonged to the six foot tall Koran warrior woman.

"Enjoying the stargazing? How are you all holding up?" Nodessa Narada asked, the black undercut between her small horns was looking quite unruly.

"Its going good." Ro said, sighing, letting out a yawn and closing her eyes, breathing in the salty air.

The sea is peaceful at night with gentle waves rocking the ship, sometimes breaking audibly on a nearby rock.

Venser only gave a simple nod and kept looking at the many colorful galaxies and stars that dotted the sky. He would never get tired of this view.

"Venser?" Nodessa wrapped his back with her long draconian tail, causing him to jump a bit.

"Uhhh well... Head injury, it's... I'll have to get back to you on that... Fellow mercenary friend."

Nodessa nodded and said, "You did good. It was brave. It was madness that you were so willing to do that but... It paid off being both brave and mad."

"I know these stars... We're near the Alphonse Islands... Near... Home." Ruari mumbled falling onto her back, and Venser and Cierra did the same. Nodessa just chuckled and sat cross legged near them.

"Venser knows a lot about madness..." Cierra commented, her burnt orange eyes looking to him.

Venser Karkaldwin reached out for the islandic elf beside him, his fingers wander over her soft, sun-kissed arms, and she slapped his hand away.

"I got a small cut on my arm and it's your fault... Hmph."

"Hey now... You and Cierra chose to come along on this voyage too."

Ro pushed on his shoulder, and Cierra smiled and silently did the same on Venser's opposite side.

"So, did you find any more clues to try to find out more about this cult and your sister?" Cierra asked and Nodessa noticeably winces at her very high pitched voice.

"I did. And plans for a weapon that I've never thought about before... But these could work."

"The wooden penis cannon?" Venser asked.

"Uh what no you... You really got your head rung like a bell. The plans are for a cannon... But small ones that you can hold in your hand."

Ro spoke up, "They even rarely get used because powder in a long metal tube is too unstable. Like, bombs are enough but a cannon you can fit in your hand? You might as well be asking to see Marilla's tits..."

Venser snorted and sat up.

"Not a problem for me... All I have to do is drop my pants and speak sweetly to the ocean offer to make her some of my famous Pink Footed Booby and the sea goddess herself will rise up and..." The handsome bearded man gestured to his crotch. "Ya know."

"Hand cannons will never catch on. Or cannoks in ships unless you want to blow up your own ship or have them do nothing because of wet powder." Ro said backing up a bit and pushing Venser either her bare foot.

Venser laughs, low and deep, only for a moment staring into the waters again. No. They couldn't get those to work and mass produce firearms. But what could he do? Destroy the plans to keep the planet of Laguna from advancing like this? He enjoyed the simple ways of everything around him, and felt urged to snatch the blueprints from Nodessa and toss them overboard, but he ultimately decided not to.

"Venser, were you listening?" The Koran mercenary woman asked, blinking her acid green hues.

"Errrrr uh. No. Concussion, sorry. And a lot on my mind right now... Little ones at home cigar business tavern work..."

"Right. So, we should dock in the Port of Zeff in a couple of hours. There we will be selling our loot to make end's meet. Along with paying for a dock for the Foul Fury until we figure out what to do with her."

"Didn't you say you've always wanted your own ship, Nodessa?" Venser asked looking back to her.

"Yeah! You could keep it and captain it yourself with your own crew!"

Nodessa looked to them all, before standing up and leaning over the railing, letting out a sigh and trying not to whao anyone with her tail.

"As good as the prospect sounds... Maybe one day when this is all over. For now I just enjoy piloting the ship when I can and being a simple passenger. As I can go off on my own whenever I like at the end of the day."

There was a silence for a few moments as they all nodded, and Ro sat up and reached out for an open a bottle of rum, taking a swig and finishing the precious drink she had helped herself to earlier.

"Can never go wrong with spare money. It looks like we all need it. I need another bottle..."

The tall temptress stretched out her legs and sat up, adjusting her dress and yawning. She said, "I can go get some. Two bottles?"

Cierra Dusk nodded in affirmation as she walked off to explore the Freeman's Paragon and bring back some rum, shaking off her sea legs in the process.

"And why not? Let's drink and celebrate! I mean, get really drunk before we dock. Like..." Venser's voice trailed off before he shook his head.

"What this big pervert was going to say... How often is it we capture a ship like the Fowl Fury? Alphonse Island elves don't get drunk. We absolutely gods be damned smashed!" Ruari jumped to her feet with a wild giggle and began to shake off her sea legs as well, pacing in circles, swaying back and forth in her steps.

Nodessa smoled and crossed her arms with a nod, simply taking the two in and staying quiet for now, enjoying the peace. She noted the infamous dimension hopping man whore mercenary with exceptional magical abilities was enjoying the peace all to well, admiring the beauty of the ocean while lost in thought.

"Are you excited to go home, Ro?"

The tanned islandic elf stopped and looked to the Koran mercenary woman, and then to Venser, and then to the sea before them, and then back to Nodessa, watching Cierra retuen behind them, handing a bottle to Ro and holding up another.

"This is special. This is aome strong smelling mead... Definitely not made with regular honey."

"Actually... I might stay and visit for a few days. And Venser can come teleport back to me then."

Nodessa looked back to Venser, and felt a light wind pass them by. She said with a new raised, "Little ones at home?"

"Hence why... Yeah. A lot of odd jobs and business to make a lot of coin to feed them and my lovers and... I know. Family is everything. And... Well. I am with them when I can and..."

His slitted emerald eyes watched a star shoot across the indigo sky filled with multicolored nebulas and far off galaxies.

"I admit it. Sometimes I cant just help the urge to go out and adventure. To go out and... Do all this. Rather than stay home most of the time with the loves of my life."

"But what... What matters most is in the end I will always go back home to them."

"Always."