"Doubar, can I talk to you for a moment?" Sinbad asked, when he found his big brother on deck.
"Sure Sinbad, what's up?" Doubar asked, a little wary because he expected some kind of pay-back for the notes.
"Let's go somewhere we can be alone," Sinbad suggested quietly.
"Is that what you told Maeve?" Doubar sniggered.
Sinbad didn't rise to the bait, though inwardly he rolled his eyes. Was he really going to go through all this for his annoying big brother? Well yes, yes he was.
When they were alone in the hold Sinbad carefully arranged his features to look pained and confused. "So I got this note from Maeve, basically saying she was hot for me…" Sinbad started.
Doubar flinched, he was pretty sure that the note Sinbad had received said no such thing and that his little brother would interpret it as such was disturbing.
"So I met up with her and then she picked a fight with me. Women, right? And THEN, she threw herself right at me, in front of the entire ship. And then she stomped off, like I had done something wrong! Now she won't talk to me," Sinbad said, giving Doubar the story he'd agreed upon with Maeve.
"I don't know what to say little brother," Doubar said. He had some thoughts, mostly variations on the word: idiot! Then he realized he was in the clear about the note set-up and if he was not going to be found out, he had to be surprised about this note-sending thing. "You said you got a note, can I see?"
"I threw it overboard," Sinbad confessed. "I didn't want it to be found by the gossip-brigade."
"That's probably smart," Doubar agreed, relieved that at least half of the evidence that could be used against him had gone. "I guess the only question that really needs an answer is what you want from her. If you only want a one-time thing, you'd better walk away now. You'll fracture the crew if you don't."
"I'm not ready to up and marry her if that's what you're suggesting!" Sinbad protested.
"I'm not suggesting anything, I just need to know what you want," Doubar said gently.
"I don't know what I want. It's just that… when I've done something really good, I want to look at her and see how proud she is, but at the same time I love needling her you know? She's hilarious when she's mad at me, only not when it's for real. And let's be honest, she isn't exactly hard on the eyes," Sinbad said.
Doubar chuckled, genuinely amused at how flustered Sinbad got trying to explain what Maeve meant to him. "Well little brother, it sounds like you're in for it!"
"Doubar! Not funny! What do I do?" Sinbad asked.
Doubar should've smelled a rat right then and there. Sinbad had never asked him for advice on his love-life but the big guy didn't, too pleased that he for once was the one ahead in the races.
"Just give me a little while alright? We can think of something," Doubar chuckled, already resolved to find Bryn and fill her in on how their note-sending prank had had unforeseen consequences.
Meanwhile Maeve had found Bryn in her cabin. Had, in confidence, named every despicable name she could think of to name their captain and then dramatically flopped onto the bed.
"But there was this moment, you know? I'd been knocked into his arms and for a moment we just… We were the only two people in the entire world," Maeve sighed.
"Well he can be a charming man when he chooses to be," Bryn shrugged.
"No, it was more than that, it was like he was as caught up in it as I was," Maeve said dreamily, then shook her head, trying to clear it of her infatuation. "But it doesn't matter, he's still a pig, he just expects me to jump him like every other floozy he comes across. It's almost like he's two people! When he lets his guard down, we really connect and I just get him, you know? But the rest of the time he's smug and annoying!"
"No one can be vulnerable all the time," Bryn offered.
"But he could be considerate!" Maeve complained.
"I guess if you want the good bits, you have to learn to live with the annoying bits," Bryn said.
"You are no help," Maeve complained.
"Because you have no problem. Make up your mind about what you want from him, then we'll talk," Bryn said, getting up and leaving Maeve alone in the cabin.
"It seems like we stirred something up between them!" Doubar grinned, after he and Bryn had filled each other in on their respective conversations.
"Maybe we should just leave them to it, I don't know if getting even more involved is going to turn out well," Bryn said hesitantly.
"You're probably right," Doubar conceded. "It's just that I like being with you so much that I want Sinbad to feel for someone like I do for you."
Bryn flashed him her widest smile. "You make a compelling argument. So how are we going to get those two stubborn fools together? Telling them to be nicer to each other obviously isn't going to work!"
"Maybe we could convince Maeve to fake her own kidnapping? Sinbad always gets very anxious when something happens to her…" Doubar said.
"Too cruel, considering recent events," Bryn pointed out. "Could you convince him to write a letter to Maeve? You know, show his vulnerable side? I can guarantee she'll like that."
"Should I take note that that is something you would like as well?" Doubar asked.
"I hope you don't need the safety of notes to show me your vulnerable side," Bryn answered, her eyes searching his.
"I don't," Doubar said, slowly leaning forward even as her face inched towards his.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" Firouz poked his head around the doorway.
"Firouz!" Doubar and Bryn hollered at the intrusive inventor. The moment was over, that was for sure!
"I'm supposed to write you a love-letter," Sinbad complained to his fellow-conspirator.
"Aww, that's sweet," Maeve grinned at him.
"Really? Girls go for that kind of stuff?" Sinbad asked.
Maeve rolled her eyes but gave him a good-natured answer. "Yes Sinbad, girls go for that kind of stuff."
"Well what do I say?" Sinbad asked.
"You're asking me to help you write your love-letter to me?" Maeve asked.
"Yes!" Sinbad answered.
"You are useless, you know that? Oh just come sit down, you can start by describing how beautiful I looked in the light of the setting sun," Maeve said.
"Please, don't be shy about your looks," Sinbad teased her.
"And definitely add something about how I'm always right and you're always wrong!" Maeve said, ignoring his words except for a nudge with her elbow.
"Sure, you go on believing I will ever say that," Sinbad grinned. This scheming thing was fun!