"So tell me Ozzycus what did you manage to get?" asked Izzy quietly as she peered from under the tarpaulin of the covered life boat; 2 indignant looking passengers stormed by followed by a small nerdy looking boy just out of his teens.
"5 fake diamond earrings, a toy parrot named Tourettes and a rainbow feather boa," said Ozzy as he sat next to her while wrapping said boa around his neck.
"Well Bathrobicus the Romanian goddess of Scavenger Hunts has you beat," she said opening a sack she had at her feet. "I got a dragon headed pimp cane, 2 monocles," Izzy stuck a monocle in each eye, "and a top hat from a guy called Lord Percy."
"Did I mention the parrot swears when ya squeeze it?" he said giving the toy a squeeze causing the automated voice box to start swearing.
Izzy blinked a few times in disbelief.
"You win round one," she said pouting while sticking the top hat on.
"If it's any consolation Sir Izzington, I think the dragon pimp cane's absolutely crackin," he said squeezing the parrot again making it swear.
"If I'm Sir Izzington, that makes you Lady Ozma," she said playfully swatting at his boa.
"I can live with that," he said squeezing again.
The parrot screamed with profanity causing Ozzy and Izzy to jump.
"I do believe they're hiding in that lifeboat," said an upper class male voice as it approached Izzy and Ozzy's hiding place.
"Crap it's Lord Percy," said Izzy dropping her loot and looking about panicked.
"My dear boy kindly arrest those ne'er-do-wells," said an upper class female voice.
"Sounds like Lady Percy too," said Ozzy as he removed the boa.
"Excuse me but I must kindly ask you to exit the life boat and return the property you've stolen," said a voice which Ozzy recognised as belonging to the nerdy boy of security.
"Ya got any ideas?" Ozzy asked looking at Izzy.
"Does surrendering and hoping for leniency sound good?" asked Izzy as she shrugged.
"I'm British, not French," he said casting a sidelong glance at her.
"Well what about a Duvet Dive?" she asked grabbing a corner of the tarpaulin.
"Is that when ya grab a blanket by the corners, hold it out in front of ya, and then fall on the bed with it underneath ya because ya can't be bothered puttin it on properly?" he asked following suite and grabbing the opposite corner.
"Yes actually," she said surprised that Ozzy had figured that out so quickly.
"I'm all for it love," he said grinning as he got in a position to jump out of the lifeboat.
"On the count of three," said Izzy as she too got into position.
"How about on the count of one? They'll be expectin a three count," suggested Ozzy.
"Ooh, Izzy likes the way you think," she said grinning. "Okay and one."
Izzy and Ozzy both leapt out of the lifeboat, tarpaulin trailing behind while firmly in hand, and landed on deck.
"Good lord," yelled Lord and Lady Percy in unison as the red sheet covered the both of them and the nerdy security guard.
"Leg it!" yelled Ozzy as he and Izzy ran off at top speed while the 3 people under the tarpaulin struggled to escape.
"Gerald get me out of this dreadful thing," complained Lady Percy as her husband fumbled about to find her.
"Ron's not going to like this," said the nerdy security guard as his head emerged from the tarpaulin only to see no sight of the perpetrators. "He's not going to like this at all."
(A/N. Again foreign language is underlined).
"Your friend is most talented," said Andras as Eva finished tying Zeke to a deck chair with his lead.
"He's not my friend, he's just some runt I have to keep an eye on for someone who is a friend," said Eva dusting off her hands.
"Not runt, Zeke eh," snarled Zeke as he struggled against the tightness.
Eva ignored him and turned back to Andras.
"Still his skills in climbing are to be admired, I do not think I have ever seen anyone make it all the way up the wall without a harness," said Andras smiling at her.
"Dumb luck; emphasis on dumb," said Eva as her face began to soften. "So anyway Andras, you're impressed by skill in climbing?"
"It is a talent of note as I have always dreamed of travelling to far off lands and climbing mountains; to pit myself against the obstacles of nature and overcome them," he said gesturing grandly for emphasis.
Eva went into a small love daze before snapping out of it.
"So tell me Andras; what would I get if I managed to climb this thing without a harness?" she asked while smiling flirtatiously.
"I would not wish to see you attempt such a feat; beauty like yours should always be safe for I do not wish any harm to befall you," he said with a look of concern.
"I appreciate the concern but I'm a tough one; it'll take more than the chance of falling to put me off," she said proudly.
"You are right my raven haired beauty but if you are injured and taken to the Infirmary how may I treat you to the Andras Special tonight?" he said winking at her.
Eva blushed.
"May I ask what the Andras Special is?" she enquired while stretching; trying to display as much muscle and curve for Andras as she could.
"It is where I ask the person who cleans the pool tonight to show up an hour late so I may treat a beautiful raven haired girl to a night time swim under the stars; all the while tending to her aching muscles from the day with my skilled hands and if she wishes my skilled lips," he said raising his eyebrows up and down suggestively.
"I like the sound of that," she said smiling. "Okay I'll make sure to keep my harness secure; but just for the moment why don't you watch how good I am at climbing," she added as she walked over to the base of the wall.
"Hmmm, not the type of girl you usually go for Andras, but she is certainly of novelty value if nothing else," said Andras quietly to himself once Eva was out of earshot.
Zeke growled at his side.
"Quiet runt, I must prepare my hands for tonight they are going to be very busy," said Andras as he joined Eva at the base of the wall.
Zeke glowered at the retreating Andras.
"It's Zeke, not runt, eh," he said eventually.
"So what do you think Leshawna?" asked Harold as he and the large girl where sat in there room surrounded by trolleys stacked with all sorts of elegant food.
"Baby boy you spoiling me with all this room service," said Leshawna as she couldn't decide which to eat first.
"I would have taken you to the spa but its 1 pass, 1 person only and these things are non transferable," he said looking at the gold card in his hand.
"I appreciate that you putting Leshawna's wants first but we've seen the Captain take those passes away; you sure you wanna risk it for me," she asked while picking her cutlery up.
"Gosh Leshawna I'd hope you'd know by know that I'd do anything for you," he said looking a bit surprised.
"Well if you really wanna do something for me, I know what you can do to start," she said grinning.
"What's that?" he asked looking slightly worried.
"Pass Leshawna that Lobster; she's craving some seafood," she said as Harold smiled and complied.
"Thanks Julie," said Ozzy as he took 2 tubs from a tall, lanky brown haired girl with braces who looked about the same age as he was.
"I wish a guy would buy me ice cream," said Julie as she looked wistfully at Izzy who was lounging on a deck chair.
"Ya work at the ice cream stand, don't ya get staff discount?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah I do, but that's not the point; I just want a guy to be all romantic and surprise me by buying a rum raisin and splitting it with me; is that so much to ask?" she said slumping.
"You know, I think Darren might be havin a bad day; maybe ya should try cheerin him up with a free raspberry ripple," suggested Ozzy cheekily.
"You know he never has time for socialising with the schedule Ron has him on," she said sighing. "Besides I don't think he likes me that much."
Ozzy looked at her before he sighed and turned around. 'You'll figure it out eventually,' he thought while walking over to where Izzy was sitting
"You know it's considered impolite to flirt with other girls while you're already on a date," said Izzy as he handed her the strawberry tub.
"Says the girl who tried flirtin with that purple haired Asian girl next to the gift shop," said Ozzy chuckling.
"Hey she was cute; that nose stud was awesome and that tattoo of the flaming skull on her arm was soooooo hot," she said trying not to drool.
"The scar on the back of her neck looked hotter," he said taking a mouthful of his mint.
"You like scars huh? Well check out these bad boys," she said kicking her left leg up to shoulder height. Starting halfway up her calf were 5 small round scars in a row that ended on the back of her heel. "Let this be a lesson to you Ozzycus; never give your 6 year old cousin a nail gun and tell him it's a super soaker."
"Bet those hurt," he said getting a closer look at the discoloured marks.
"On the plus side I was never asked to baby-sit him ever again," she said smiling.
Ozzy looked at her playful grin and couldn't help but smile himself.
Noah let out a long sigh.
"Okay let's try this again," he said rubbing his temples while Katie shrunk into herself.
They were currently on deck watching various crewmembers and passengers as they went about their daily routine.
"What does her body language say?" he asked pointing at a woman wearing sunglasses and a straw hat.
"It says she's way behind on fashion; I mean a straw hat, so last decade," said Katie rolling her eyes.
"Are you even trying or is this just a joke to you?" snapped Noah.
Katie winced.
"Look I'm seriously starting to doubt if you have what it takes to be an assistant," said Noah as his tone softened.
"But I just have to be an assistant, I have to," she said as a hint of tears formed in her eyes.
"Is this really that important to you?" he asked feeling a bit uneasy at having lost his temper.
"It is Noah, it really is," she said clasping her hands together and giving him an imploring look.
"Okay we'll take a 15 minute break and try again," he said pulling up a deck chair and sitting down for a rest.
"I'll go get some juice, you look like you need some," she said turning away as Noah looked at her retreating figure in somewhat awe.
"Finally, she's starting to pick it up," he said collapsing full length on his chair as some of his stress began to disappear.
"Oh Izzy had so much fun Zekey; she got to go on a scavenger hunt and show her scars and eat ice cream and tell Ozzycus about time travel," said Izzy rattling on as she sat at the foot of Eva's bed while Eva was back to lifting dumbbells and Zeke was currently looking at a deck of cards on the floor in front of him.
"Eight eh?" he growled while picking up an eight of diamonds.
"Yes my Zekey it was great and Izzy has plans to travel back in time and enjoy it all over again," she said while picking up a random face down card. "2 of hearts," she said before turning to see it was the 5 of spades. "The psychic powers could still do with some tweaking though."
Ozzy looked at her while sitting on his bed and smiled half heartedly.
He seemed to be at odds with himself.
Turning to look at the piece of paper in his hand he glanced at something near the bottom before sighing.
'She doesn't deserve it,' he thought before folding the paper and putting it back in his pocket. 'Thanks Iz, I really enjoyed today; I'm just sorry it won't happen again cos ya deserve better.'
He stretched across the bed and was out like a light the moment his head touched the pillow.
Eva pretended to be asleep and waited until midnight when everyone else seemed to be out for the night before making her move.
Carefully she slid from under the covers to reveal she had already changed into her swimming suit and had a towel and some spare clothes in her hands.
Holding her breath she slowly but surely started to take steps towards the front door as her roommates slept.
A loud growling could be heard and Eva froze on the spot before turning her head.
'Only Izzy snoring,' she thought as she noticed Zeke was currently preoccupied sucking his thumb to care about any late night noises and Ozzy was, as usual, sleeping deeply.
"Well Andras I hope you're hands are ready," whispered Eva as she reached the door before unlocking it soundlessly. "Cos I know my muscles certainly are," she added giving a grin before shutting it over.
"My raven haired beauty, you made it," exclaimed Andras with joy as Eva slowly slinked into the pool where Andras was currently swimming around.
"You think I'd miss the Andras Special for anything?" said Eva as she adjusted to the chill of the pool. She had been prepared this time instead of jumping straight in.
"I must admit that I have been looking forward to seeing you this fine night; since tending to you in the spa I have found myself eager to revitalise your perfect muscles," he said standing up letting droplets of water cascade down his chest.
"I've been eager as well," she said smiling. Eva would be the first to admit that gawking at guys was something only dumb, giddy, love struck girls did but she couldn't help it. The guys she'd be interested in going after needed to fulfil certain requirements and having a well looked after physique was one of them.
"Well what shall I rub first for you?" he asked wading over to her with a cheeky smirk.
"Surprise me," she said tilting her head to the side with a smirk of her own.
"My masseur senses tell me that you would most benefit from muscles rubs here…" he placed a hand on her arm, "…here…" he put his other hand on her opposing shoulder. "I would then move across to here…" he darted behind Eva dragging his hand from her shoulder, across the top of her chest and grabbing her other shoulder.
Eva almost gasped with pleasure as the tingling went down to her stomach. If it hadn't been for years of training the muscles in her legs she swore they would have turned to jelly.
"I…I must say that those hands of yours certainly know what they're doing," she said, surprising herself at stuttering over her words.
"Years of practice and a good teacher work wonders," he said as he began massaging her shoulders from his position behind her.
"So Andras," she said as her head bobbed from side to side over the sensation, "…I believe you promised me skilled lips before."
Andras smirked once more.
"That I did my raven haired beauty," he said trailing his hands from her shoulders and down her back before resting them on her hips.
Eva's legs felt as though electricity was coursing through them.
"…and I always keep my promises," he said before placing a kiss between her neck and shoulder.
Eva gasped loudly as her entire body shuddered.
Ozzy's eyes darted open as a very familiar sensation woke him from his slumber.
"Oh not again," he slurred as he sat up carefully and clutched his mouth.
Eva could still feel the buzz running through her system as she arrived back at her room.
"I swear this night has been perfect," she said carefully scanning her door card and opening the door quietly so as not to wake up any of the rooms occupants. "All I have to do is get back in bed and they'll be none the wiser," she said dropping her wet towel and swimming suit into the laundry basket by the front door.
Eva felt a sensation as she heard the towel and suit squelch.
"Oh crap," she whispered angrily as the wet sound caused her legs to tighten up. 'Fantastic, you manage to sneak out and back in no problem but you get caught short needing to pee,' she thought chastising herself for having a drunk a lot of water before pretending to go to sleep earlier. 'At least this is cover if anyone wakes up,' she justified turning to face the bathroom door which was open. Slowly she entered and shut the door before switching the light on.
"What the hell!" she exclaimed at the sight before her.
Ozzy was kneeling on the floor next to the toilet bowl while clutching his stomach.
He was as white as a sheet.