Duties, Decks and decisions

[rubyrubyruby]

It has been at least a few hours since Merrisol vanished into the rainbow shimer of trump magic. Back to Rebma and duty. While other things were going on, Maggie slipped aft to lean over the railing and stare out into the painfully silent waters. Knowing full well that she should bloody well shake it off and go help, she still lingers long back there.
When she returns to the busier parts of the ship, her expression is clear, pleasant if more closed than is generally the case. Looking around, she slows her pace until she can get her bearings.

Clive does his very best impression of a Dolphin from the water with his voice distorted in his seal form. He is visible for a moment as he leaps up out of the water, then goes back under again. The Selkie dives deep, turns back around, then breaks the plane again at the best speed he can muster so that he lands up on the deck in a belly slide. There in the midst of some crew members, he shakes off as much water as he can before there is a flash of rainbow and he returns to his proper human form.

"Kekekeke!"

Clive does his very best impression of a Dolphin from the water with his voice distorted in his seal form. He is visible for a moment as he leaps up out of the water, then goes back under again. The Selkie dives deep, turns back around, then breaks the plane again at the best speed he can muster so that he lands up on the deck in a belly slide. There in the midst of some crew members, he shakes off as much water as he can before there is a flash of rainbow and he returns to his proper human form.

Sidonie stomps up from belowdecks with a bucket and wearing her scary leather apron. Her hands look... well, they're looking like they should after a day of work for a sawbones'. She whistles softly under her breath and approaches the rig where she can hook up and lower that bucket into the lifeless water. She notices Maggie and pauses her work to give her a wave, but lowers her hand with a start once a Steel Seal flies by.

Maggie returns Sidonie's wave as a smile begins on her lips. The Steel Seal catches part of that wave and smile combo. Turning a bit at the rainbow flash, she nods a more formal greeting to the man, the myth, the soon to be legend. Sliding closer, she lifts her chin a bit, "Find anything new down there? Or in the water?"

Clive looks to Maggie and Sidonie in turn, giving some exceedingly casual salutes and head nods to them both. "Captains." At the question, he cocks his jaw to the one side, he blows out with some frustration, then shakes his head. "It's weird down there. Haven't seen somethin' like it before. Tastes awesome!" Reinforcing that, he shakes his head again and reaches down into his jacket to pull out his flask. Nothing like rum to take that taste away! "How're you both holdin' up? Anything new?"

After her initial surprise, Sidonie acknowledges Clive's arrival with the barest of nods, and goes back to pulling up her bucket and setting it on the deck. She takes a seat on the small barrel set here for this purpose, and goes about washing her hands with the saddest, thinnest sliver of soap she pulls out of her vest pocket. She looks at them both in turn, seeming very interested in what they're talking about, but reserves her smile for Maggie. "Still smells like a newly sharpened knife," she supplements, finding that very strange. She opens her mouth to add more, maybe something about the patient she just treated but... it's likely gross. Very gross. She scrubs well at the creases between her fingers, up to her elbows. "Nothing new on my end," she says evenly.

Maggie's smile fades away as she listens, "Every time that particular description of the sea's taste comes up, I am reminded of ozone. Or lightning. I wonder... But, I don't really know how to tell if the sea has absorbed too much. Maybe this is the result of rampant pollution. Like... Remember how the island kingdom kept belching filth into the sea and air?" She does watch Sidonie for a time, then before adding, "How are Captain Shih and her folks? I promised to take them somewhere safe. Tailor made for them. To do that, I'll need them to be stable."

"Yeah, tastes like it, too. Like ya got punched in the mouth." Clive snorts through his nose and nods in agreement with Maggie, wagging a finger in the air on those points. It takes him a moment to reply as he's now actually tipped the flask up and goes so far as to swish the rum about in his mouth before swallowing. "Maybe we're close by it or something? How can we tell? I wonder when Captain Merrisol will have a look at the water with some proper equipment." The question for Sidonie has him looking toward her and wincing at the thought of what she could have just been doing. Agh, probably sawing off someone's leg and attaching a peg or somesuch!

Sidonie rinses her hands in the water, then dumps it, attaches it to the rig to fill it up another time. She continues to chat as she does so, "I wouldn't mind getting a microscope here. I wonder where we can get one." She glances at Clive, then looks at Merri. "As for Shih's people, they're stable, thanks to the ice Wynter has provided. The ones that were worst off have been patched up, and I've been doing some /very gentle/ testing on the effects of the cooling gas. I'm still not confident enough to inject that stuff straight into their heart muscle, though..." Up comes the bucket, another hand wash! "I'm concerned about what this has done to them mentally, despite their resilience and Captain Shih's leadership," she muses thoughtfully. "If we can get the device right, maybe they can go wherever they please. Though I suppose a frigid Shadow would make their day to day easier."

Maggie listens, a sigh stifled with care. "Kerf has a job to do. I am sure that when he has done whatever is necessary, he will return." Her expression turns thoughtful, "If he gets the chance to bring the Solar Flare, we will have a mobile lab at our disposal." A faintly hopeful flare tugs at her gaze and is stifled fairly quickly, "Anyway. Yes, I think a frigid shadow will do as a start for the Captain's folk. But, I asked her to talk to her people... Captain Shih, I mean. If they can get a strong consensus, I can probably take them to a Shadow that matches most of their requirements. Though it may take a while to find..." She nods once to Sidonie, "I agree... I can't see shoving a needle into their heart unless it is absolutely necessary."

"I mean, I could pop back to Amber or Rebma real quick and see if I can scrounge one up from someone there?" Clive jerks his thumb behind him as if that were the direction he would walk in so that he could go there. He nods again, "Ah, that's good to hear about them. I rather like Captain Shih. My kinda people. Maybe a way to work it into some suits for them or something so they don't need the hoses? Freedom of movement and all that." There's a slow nod given to Maggie's talk of the Solar Flare before he remembers something, "Ah, right. Submersible? Been curious about that thing..."

Her ablutions done for the evening, Sidonie sets the bucket aside and straightens. "It's a good idea, I'd like to have one on the ship either way," she agrees as she unrolls her sleeves and buttons them at the wrist so that they are back in their prim and proper place. "A suit... that might solve that problem and keep us from having to stab a syringe in their chests..." she says, nodding to Clive and Maggie. Her brows dip down into a thoughtful look as she considers this. "I know an inventor back in Amber. I could see if he has any ideas about a suit, if Merrisol is busy with his duties in Rebma."

Maggie leans back a bit as though intending to rest against the railing. Just like one might aboard a differnt ship. Almost any other ship. Then she remembers the tendrils of vine that may, or may not be waiting on an infusion of nutrients. Stepping forward instead, she darts a wary glance that-a-way before nodding to the others, "I do like the idea of a suit. I will be trumping Kerf later and will present the notion. But, asking your friend is not a bad idea, really... I also like the idea of mobility and autonomy. Privacy is also nice..." Considering, she nods, more slowly. Her hands come up to fold across her chest, "I think that I will talk to Captain Shih and see if they have come to a decision as to destination. And to Incarnate about timing."

"You got it, Doc. I guess it's about time I stopped avoiding home." Clive chews at the inside of his mouth for a second as he ponders it, then gives a nod as he settles on it and steels his resolve. "Aye, reminds me of divers or pilots who are dealing with stuff like that." Another nod is given, then repeated to Maggie, "Cap'n Kerf has some experience with the machine, but I'd take any help on it. Hate to take him away from what he's got goin' on. You know, I still wonder if it's like what we saw at that portal thing, but bigger and lighter? Could figuring that thing out help down there?"

Sidonie nods to Maggie, indicating that she would be very interested in what Captain Shih and her people have decided. She picks up her empty bucket, squares her shoulders. "I should get back to my patient. Have a good night, both of you." She flashes a warm smile at Maggie, and when she turns to Clive it... well, it grows hesitant. She then turns on her heel and strides away.

Maggie nods to both Clive and Sidonie. Lingering, she takes note of the faded smile given to the Steel Seal. A brow lifts slightly as she debates prying. Should she? No... probably not. Is that going to stop her? Well... Probably not. A quick, "Luck with your patient," is tossed off to the good doctor. Clive is given a quick look that lingers. It isn't quite a 'what did you do' look, but it is one that she hopes invites confession or consultation. What she says is, "Yes, Merrisol has a lot of experience with machines in general and the Flare specifically. Would you like me to ask him to give you a tour?"

"Luck, Doc." It isn't until after Sidonie has turned to walk away that Clive furrows his brow for a moment. He catches the look from Maggie, and replies with pursed lips, a shrug, and a shake of his head. "I... Yeah. I'll talk to her. No good to have that on a ship, one way or the other." Eager to latch onto the other subject, he nods his head and says, "Noticed that. Yeah, that would be interesting. When things calm down, I imagine. Swam around some in a few shadows and they seemed funky. No eyes for them, so it's all sound, eh?" Play it cool, Clive! Play it cool! Don't let on!

Chase arrives from below decks, a sleepy look in his eyes, travel can be so taxing. He yawns and stretches as he makes his way to the rail. "Any sign of the dolphins?" he asks no one inparticular, "Ships rations do not suite me" he grins.

Maggie's brow lifts slowly as the explaination does not explain. But, it isn't her ship, so not her business unless brought in by one or the other participant. But, she does nod in agreement with the stated plan of action. Leaving it in favor of the more and less tangible topics to follow, she glances over the railing to the ocean swelling and easing about them, "I'll mention it to him." Trying to parse something, she frowns, "All sound? For whom? And no eyes for whom? I am sorry, but that did not make sense." Turning, she waves to Chase, "No eating the dolphins, please. And no. I suspect that they went home. Merrisol has gone on to Rebma, by the way."

Clive straightens up as he hears another voice coming in, signaling that now the more sensitive of subject is a bit in the past. He casts a glance over his shoulder and frowns, "Yeah, ain't nothin' ya can eat in the water here. Completely lifeless like the spot where we hit the stowaways." He looks back to Maggie with some confusion, ponders it, and says, "Oh, right. I meant the submersibles I saw before. All smooth with no windows. Wound up pullin' some books to read up on them. A whole lot going on in there to sail the way they do."

Chase frowns, "Do we have a rudder?" he asks looking about, "How much further to our distination?" the man paces the deck, glancing toward the sky and then to the sea, his fingers flex.

Maggie watches Chase now more than Clive though the Steel Seal is offered a nod and a quiet, "Ah, I am sorry then. I mistook which submersible you meant." Looking back to Chase, she shrugs, "A rudder? No doubt, yes. But as for our destination? I do not know. When you see Incarnate ask her. I expect that we will try a shifting soon. Though she might want me to take Captain Shih and her crew to safety first. I have not seen her in a while so she might be napping. It has been a rough few hours."

Clive waves a hand through the air and shakes his head, "Nah, my head's not on right. Maybe I need a nap, too, or somethin'." A bit confused, he looks to Chase again and gives another nod at the question of the rudder. Maggie handles the rest and he winds up nodding in agreement, "Would be good to drop them off along the way, if we can. Much as I'd love to have more experienced hands about, and they *are* that, they gotta get right first."

Chase nods "I will do that." he says to Maggie, "she has been playing this pretty close to the belt" Chase pulls himself onto the rail, then begins to climb the rigging, "I'm going aloft maybe a change of altitude will better my mood," he makes his way toward the mast.

Maggie nods, waving to Chase as he goes upward, "Might be a good idea..." Not that he seemed more than restless, but... He knows himself best. Turning, she glances toward the stairs leading below decks, "I think that I'm going to try to trump Merrisol, Clive. I am sorry for leaving you up here like this. If you need anything, you know where to find me."

Chase gets a two-finger salute from Clive as he sets to climbing the rigging. A glance is given before he shakes his head and mutters something about bad jokes and eating dolphins. Looking back to Maggie, he gives her a sharp nod and there's the barest twitch of what might have become a smile if it had continued. "Sounds good, Captain. I hope all is-- I mean, if he--." He pauses for a beat and then finally says, "Tell him I said hi and good luck. I'll see you later, Captain." The Selkie moves on over to the railing then, gives it a look to check for any waking vines, then leans against it with his flask in both hands, looking to be giving the horizon more brainpower and consideration than it probably deserves.

Maggie nods slowly. Her smile is quick, if brief, "He's fine, Clive. But thanks. I'll pass that on." While she sincerely hopes that is the truth, believes it is the truth, she means to couble check. With a half-hearted wave, she heads for the way below and vanishes into the comparative darkness.