Shift in Perceptions: Chapter Nine

The Queen opened the doors to the Captain quarters, finding it absent of Reaver and any other. Sighing to herself, she made her way to a vanity that was near a wardrobe closet, just as extravagant as the room all together. Deciding to "freshen herself up," she pulled a metal box and glazed wooden brush from a drawer, as well as the tube of lipstick and mascara. Evelynn wasn't a vicious fan of cosmetics, but seeing she had the spare time to apply it, a few details here and there couldn't hurt.

Reaver has been rather kind to me lately. Two days ago he kissed me- though not unusual, in a way, I did return the kiss. I hope that has not gotten to his head for it was nothing more than a drunken action from my part!... Damn these sailors can be reckless! The Queen powdered her face lightly, as banging from above her on the deck could be heard. It must have been a barrel- they should all be secured tightly by ropes! Reaver could surely invest in more roping and lining; he knows better.

Evelynn set the box and brush down, retrieving the tube of hearty red lipstick, and began applying it generously. I hope we will come to dock at a port in the next week. This seafaring deal isn't completely uncomfortable, but it does cause you to have a greater desire and respect for land. I should look upon the maps when I am finished. Now, once satisfied with the coating of her lips, she began putting on the mascara, ebony and sleek.

Oh, and I must meet with the doctor; my wound is healing fine, though it was a bit inflamed and was weeping yesterday. A few more doses of antibiotics and there will be nothing left but a scar! Ah, I already have a decent one along my leg from fighting bandits... and a small one on my neck from when I was young and crashed into an armored guard while chasing Logan... My skin heals better than most but it surely is not as perfect as I would like! Her trail of thoughts ended briskly while the door opened to the exuberant cabin, and she straightened her ivory corset and pulled the black blouse beneath it to make her more presentable. "Yes, Reaver? What is it?"

"Madam Evelynn?" came the voice of Oliver, as he peeked around the ajar door. Relieved to see it was only her newly found companion, she called him in and set out to finish the other set of eyelashes, who she secretly thanked her mother for their natural curl. "I have b-brought your breakfast. I stole a muffin f-from the cook for you- they are generally o-o-only for Master Reaver."

"Why thank you, Oliver! Set the platter on the desk beneath the window; I am almost finished," she smiled as she saw his back in the reflection of the mirror, striding to the desk. There, all done. The Queen returned the make-up to the top drawer, completely satisfied with her appearance, and made her way to the chair pulled out in front of the desk. She hadn't eaten breakfast the past few days, and with only dinner, she was content with what was before her: a muffin, some pieces of salted pork, an orange, and glass of water. "I wish the ship could hold enough milk without it souring- a glass of milk would make this outstanding."

"Here, Madam, l-let me peel the orange f-for you," he insisted, taking the orange from the side of the decorated, silver platter. Evelynn wiped some mascara on her leggings, and then looked up from her glass of water in the other hand, and saw the most nastiest bruise she had ever witnessed upon the cheek of the young man.

"Oh my, Oliver! What happened to your cheek! How did this happen?" The words she harshly whispered caused his eyes to trail along the floor, and he peeled the orange with anxiety as he was placed on the spot. Her hand hovered over the discolored area- a swirl of dark purplish-blue and sepia tinted on the outlining. It sprawled a few centimeters from his hair and nose, and about half an inch under his eyes and above the jaw. "Did you get into a fight with one of the crew members? You think they would have some restraint to their anger, those burly fellows!"

"...Well... n-no, they are nice people- they d-didn't slap me," he sniffled, putting the peeled orange near her plate, and she gently pulled him to the vanity where she grabbed the powder and brush. "It was M-Master Reaver. I just... I don't know Miss. He would have c-came after you; I told h-him I told you about his s-secret with the treasury."

Evelynn paused for a moment with the brush dowsed in powder near Oliver's face, as she held her emotions in place and regained her senses in consideration for his current fragile state. In reality, she wished to shed a few tears, pained that this young friend of hers was beaten for her own protection, as if she couldn't handle herself. That man is such a coward striking a boy! But Oliver should know that he is not responsible for me- how could he feel that way? I haven't done much for him, but he looks to me as saint...

"If he kn-knew you were digging through his th-things, then who knows what w-would happen to you, and I rather like having ya around." She took a breath, and began covering the bruise in powder, and though it did not completely conceal it, hopefully it made him feel better and kept the sailors from questioning him. "Pl-please don't go after Master Reaver- he means well and I-I don't get beat often. And he saved me f-from my uncaring parents not long a-ago. Gosh, I owe him a lot..."

"I never asked how you two came to meet. Honestly, I thought he kidnapped you after blowing up an orphanage or pillaging a village without anyone's knowledge," the Queen mumbled, the remark lightly holding a humorous tone that Oliver seemed to catch as he laughed with a quaint smile, though in such a bleak time. "Hmmm, well, I tried my best, and it is a bit more unnoticeable. Please, stay and share my lunch with me! You deserve the muffin at least after all you have been through for me."

The boy attempted to refuse in that airy, British accent of his, but soon gave up and Evelynn guided him back to where she was seated before, and he leaned against the desk on the floor. Once he was settled with his muffin, and she began picking at her meat, he told her of how he was found.

His parents were "foul" and they lived on a farm in Barrow Fields together, him being a single child. He hadn't attended school and was never allowed to play with the other children down the road; Oliver could only clean, harvest, and care for the animals. Reaver was passing by with his group of men, traveling to Wraithmarsh, when the young man caught Reaver's eye. "Long story short" as Oliver put it, Reaver had rescued him from a terrible life, and was now granted as his main servant.

"Oliver, I am in your debt, you do realize... You have done more than enough for me, and we have only just met a few weeks ago," Evelynn noted, pulling him into a tight hug while their conversation was coming to an end.

"Y-you have helped me- you are now a f-friend of mine, a dear one. Friends l-look out for one another, d-don't they? That is all I have done," he assured. Noticing that he had spent more time in the Captain quarters than he should have, he grabbed the empty platter that held only crumbs, and began his way to the deck and most likely the kitchen downstairs. Evelynn trailed behind him eager to see how things were progressing on deck, a newly found confidence as she had a friend looking over her, as well as being on good terms with Reaver. But would she be able to make it last?