Arata was feeling all warm and bubbly inside after that exchange. Giru respected him more and Ayumi was more accepting of their captain. Giru was even making an effort to warm up to everyone! "Yush! I'm feelin' pumped up!" He exclaimed as he sped around the ship, looking for things that needed fixing. He soon found that... he had already made any minor repairs they needed prior to his enthusiasm. He sat in his workshop, pouting. All that motivation, gone to waste.
Well, maybe now he could work on other things! Of course he would need to buy raw materials and welding equipment... Wait, did anyone on the crew have any weapons in need of an upgrade? He knew for sure Giru wouldn't,. "Oh oh! Mist! I can help Mist work on his guns!"
The adolescent boy zipped to the marksman's room, knocking on the door with gusto. Mist soon opened, an eyebrow raised at the shipwright's nature.
"Mist! I wanna help you with your guns! I'm a shipwright so I can-"
Mist put a finger to the boy's mouth before he began talking at supersonic speed. Gesturing to follow him, Mist showed the boy his simple set up with a small workbench, a toolbox, a chest of bullets, and a crate of dials. Grabbing a notebook and a pencil, the marksman wrote 'You know guns?' to show the boy. Arata nodded, zipping away for a split second then appearing back with his own toolbox. "I'm good with most mechanicals! But um, things like gunpowder, I wouldn't know how to improve."
Mist pointed to himself with a thumb. It seemed the marksman had some good ideas for gunpowder upgrades. Huddling around the small workbench, they began collaberating.
Alicia sat on their shared bed, flipping through her spellbook. "Mr. Sin. This was a spur of the moment decision. I never even considered to ask you if this was something you'd want to do, darling." She said after having contemplated the words for a few moments. The huge man turned to her while shining his boots, giving her a thumbs up. It was about the most he could do.
Alicia smiled ever so slightly. "Good, good... Aah, there it is."
Alicia's lavendar hair flared up as if blown by the wind, a purple sparkle enveloping her body as she spoke the words "Non moenibus audiri!"
The sparkles spread out from her body and covered the walls of the room. She closed the spellbook and set it aside on the bed. "Now. I did feel the presence of the unholy in our new captain. Mr. Sin, you know you're more important to me than anything this life has to offer, right?"
Mr. Sin nodded.
"Killing the Celestial Dragons is quite a goal. Sure, many have thought it, but to even say it aloud? That warrants respect. However. We are not devoting our lives to 'Giru' or 'Akuma', Mr. Sin. We are aiding in their cause. Whatever transpires from now until we comeplete that goal, happens. If we end up liking being pirates, fine. If we feel the need to seperate, so be it."
Mr. Sin nodded again, putting down his foot and lifting the other into his lap to shine it. He didn't remove them to polish them.
"Don't feel responsible to make sure this crew succeeds, Mr. Sin. This is a big risk to take, but if things become too much to handle, we look out for ourselves first and foremost. Okay?"
Mr. Sin just nodded again.
Alicia clenched the spellbook in her hands, biting at the inside of her cheek. Nodding and thumbs up. Thats all Mr.Sin could do to communicate. She missed his voice. His laugh. His singing... dear Goddess, his singing...
At the memory of these lost treasures her heart began to ache. Without thinking, Alicia said, "I love you. Jipetto."
The huge man stopped polishing the boot, sat frozen in his chair with his leg on his lap. He clenched the rag he cleaned with, hands trembling. His perfectly white teeth, each one completely visible from his lack of cheeks or lips, framed by black gums, chattered together. His breathing hastened.
Alicia's eyebrows knotted together. "I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said your... I'm sorry."
Mr. Sin shook his head, standing out of his chair and leaving the room. He gave her a thumbs up as he left, heading towards the kitchen.