A/N: 3 YEARS LATER...
I know you guys have probably been wondering why it's taken me so long to update. Long story short: LIFE. So much has happened these past three years that I haven't really had time to write new drabbles or even update my other stories. But do not fear, loyal readers: I'm back and I'm not leaving any time soon!
WARNING: SPOILERS!
This is the longest ONE-SHOT I've ever written for any of my stories. I've actually been working on it these past three years in my spare time, polishing it over and over again until it was perfect... well, as perfect as I thought it was going to be. It focuses on Reema, the new character from the two-part OVA "Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet: Far Beyond the Voyage", and what life is like several years after those events. I finally found the episodes and watched them in full, which was also one of the reasons it took me so long to publish this chapter; it took me a while to find the episodes (especially since they're not dubbed and the website I found was shady as hell). I wanted to get a feel of Reema's personality before I started writing, and this is what I came up with.
I've also been re-editing all the chapters. They're mostly grammatical changes, but the most obvious one is "Femme Fatale" which is now "Femme Fatale I". I've decided to make a second part to that chapter, and I revised it based on the OVAs. To any new readers, I highly recommend watching the OVAs before reading this chapter. It's not so important in "Femme Fatale I" because it focuses more on Amy and her inner demons, but for the loyal readers, I recommend watching the OVA then re-reading "Femme Fatale I". Just to reiterate, there are SPOILERS in this chapter.
SPOILERS! (No angry reviews allowed! I've warned you three times already!)
Now enjoy this brand new chapter!
Verdurous Seas, Cerulean Skies
Reunion
The rusty, crimson hull of the Surfing Lobster Yunboro glinted in the sun as the pirate crew sailed towards the approaching fleet. For Reema, it was a haunting reminder of what she had done all those years ago. The friends she made, the place she had once called home—the events that had occurred years prior were still fresh in her mind.
For most of her life, Reema had endured nothing but pain and despair. Land was not a place for ambition or hope, and other fleets were wise to avoid it. No one wanted to be caught in a war, especially not in the middle of the ocean; life was hard enough with slave traders and pirates around. At Land, it was every man for themselves. Reema did everything she could to survive on this hazardous terrain: she learned, fought her way into the ranks, and didn't let anyone get in her way. Soon, her clan had found an ancient relic that would hopefully turn the tide of the war. It was a weaponized Yunboro, and it was the most complicated piece of equipment anyone on Land had ever come across. No one knew how it worked, and the manuals that they found were in an archaic language that was long since dead. The hope that was gained from this discovery seemed to crumble before their eyes… until Reema stepped up to the challenge. Not many could pick up on the intricate facets of engineering as quickly as she had, and her superiors were impressed enough to entrust with their newly acquired secret weapon: Muzzle.
For weeks, Reema did everything she could to get it to operate. She was finally able to turn it on when her clan had decided to temporarily secede from Land and join a fleet led by a man who was said to have descended from the sky. They later discovered the commander owned a more advanced mech that resembled Muzzle, and they had actually come from outer space. Later on, another mech piloted by a young soldier named Ledo joined them, and once again they were plunged into war with none other than Gargantia, a fleet known to be, ironically, peaceful. At the end of the battle, Kugel and his Yunboro Striker perished, as did Ledo's mech, Chamber. When Kugel's fleet united with Gargantia, Reema's clan decided to take this opportunity to get Ledo to join their cause. That was when things started getting hairy.
A girl her age was inconspicuous enough to get close to Ledo and his friends, so assigning her to gather intel and coax the former soldier to join their side was the obvious next step of their mission. It should have been a straightforward task, but once she set foot on Gargantia, Reema was immediately absorbed into their world. She had never known any place like Gargantia. Having been born and raised on Land and then later assimilated into a cult molded from ignorance and fear, Reema had never truly been exposed to anything that remotely resembled the amount of uniformity, freedom, and overall peacefulness that amalgamated into this bestial fleet. The people who walked about the ships were kind, boisterous characters that were very hospitable to the former residents of Kugel's fleet, despite how much strife was brought to them due to their interference. Their lifestyle was so tempting Reema almost contemplated quitting her position, but this just strengthened her resolve; this was exactly what she wanted for her people, and she couldn't do it if she was just loitering about.
It wasn't hard to find a job; with more citizens there was more need for Gargantia to expand and more opportunities for people to work. She became a mail courier, and the one assigned to train her was Amy, Ledo's girlfriend. She eventually met their other friends: Melty, Saaya, Bellows, Pinion, Haru, and Amy's little brother, Bebel. And then she made one of the most foolish blunders of her life: she got attached. She was compromised, and she knew her colleagues were getting suspicious. At this point, things were getting desperate, so she finally told Ledo about their cause and showed him Muzzle. To further persuade him, she offered to take Amy and Bebel with them, even going so far as to offer a cure for Bebel's condition, an offer with no guarantee. Under such ambiguous circumstances, she wasn't surprised they rejected it, but then her clan took matters into their own hands by kidnapping Amy. In an act of redemption, Reema, with the help of Ledo, piloted Muzzle for the first time and saved Amy as well as Gargantia from her former colleagues. Unfortunately, her act of courage came at a cost: Muzzle had sacrificed itself to save her life and end the battle. After her betrayal, Reema knew she couldn't return to Land, and she would be less than forgiven after deceiving her friends. So Reema left behind the life she knew—as a spy and a citizen of Gargantia—and traded it for a new one…
"What's with that mopey look?"
Reema looked over her shoulder to see Lukkage, her captain. They were alone on the bow of the ship; the other crew members were either asleep or on lookout, which was what she was supposed to be doing at the moment until she found herself in deep, reminiscent thought. Lukkage stood akimbo as if she had been watching her for some time. Reema's hands, which had been clutching the guardrail in a vice-like grip, were painfully wrenched away as she turned to address her. She rubbed her throbbing fingers and blushed under the buxom woman's smug gaze. "I wasn't moping."
Lukkage smirked. "Miss your friends?"
"W-Wha—? That's not what I was—"
In a single stride, Lukkage stood in front of her subordinate and bent over until they were nearly nose-to-nose, her signature Cheshire smile curled. "You know better than to try and fool me, Reema. Now talk." The guardrail prevented her from escaping the awkward position, and Lukkage wasn't going to release her unless she told her the truth.
Though part of her was looking forward to this trip, the excitement was dwarfed by the capsizing amount of dread and remorse that spread throughout her body. She could still picture the heartbroken looks Ledo and Amy gave her before she left, and she would never forget the pain she felt when she lost Muzzle. It was all too much.
"I can't go back. After all these years, I still haven't been able to face them. After everything I've done… would they even still consider me their friend?" After painfully voicing her inhibitions, Reema was met with silence. Normally Lukkage would reprimand her for showing such weakness, but the nonchalant countenance of the captain didn't change one bit.
After what felt like an eternity of uncomfortable proximity, the older woman finally stood erect and crossed her arms under her ample breasts. "You'll never know unless you come with us and see for yourself, and you're definitely coming. That's an order."
Reema huffed in disappointment. She had been a pirate on Lukkage's crew for six years now, and she still hadn't seen Ledo and the others in all that time. Even though they were pirates, Lukkage had an obvious nepotism towards Gargantia and made domestic trips whenever their ship found itself in its vicinity. Instead of joining her captain and crewmates onboard the fleet, Reema took the opportunity to work on Lobster without any interference. Having a zealous captain like Lukkage put her skills to the test and required her to go above and beyond when repairing the Yunboro. Though there were other mechanics, engineers, and technicians in the crew, Reema was by far the most gifted and knowledgeable. It was a reasonable excuse to stay behind, but Lukkage wasn't having it this time.
Her coy smirk sobered into an unsmiling veneer. "When you agreed to join this crew, you left your former life behind, including all the regrets you ever shouldered. Reflecting on those mistakes isn't going to change anything. And if you still consider them your friends, then you should know better than to assume they think the worst of you."
Reema wanted to believe that, but she still had her doubts. They had six years to reconsider how they felt about her departure; perhaps they no longer considered her their friend. But if what Lukkage said was true, what then? "What if once we get there… I decide to stay?"
Lukkage closed her eyes in deep thought. Reema knew it was risky asking something so mutinous. No one had ever left the crew, and no one had the guts to try. Although she was a ruthless pirate, Lukkage was a fair leader, and she had never led her men astray (since joining Kugel's fleet, that is). Abandoning her was a betrayal of her trust. However, she didn't seem upset at all by the hypothetical inquiry.
"I'll make you a deal," she finally said. "We're going to stay on Gargantia for three days. That'll give you plenty of time to see your friends again and reflect. After the three days are up, if you still have doubts about what you left behind and decide that a pirate's life is no longer what you wish, you can stay. But"—Her viridian eyes opened suddenly and looked straight into Reema's sky blue orbs, paralyzing her—"if you still want to be part of my crew, then I don't want to hear another word about your regrets or misgivings. Pirates don't regret. What we do isn't for the faint of heart, and I have no room on my crew for someone so fickle."
It was a fair deal. Lukkage ran a tight ship, so if Reema couldn't sort through her feelings within that allotted time, then she really shouldn't be running around with pirates. "Deal."
"If you're lucky, they've probably already forgotten about you, so there's no need to worry about whether or not they hate you."
Reema's cheeks puffed out juvenilely. "Thanks. I feel better."
Lukkage merely smirked before turning and leaving her with her thoughts once more.
Six years at sea with this woman and Reema still couldn't crack the vulpine façade of the infamous pirate queen Lukkage. Machiavellian to the core, there was no question she was the most cunning ruffian Reema had ever met. Lukkage was good at reading people, which made it easy for her to trick them, find their ticks, break their hearts. But as callous and underhanded as she was, Reema knew that Lukkage was also a good person—at least when she wanted to be. This was one of the rare times when she displayed an unusual act of kindness; the pirate captain didn't usually waste her time lending her ear unless it was for business.
So now Reema had three days to decide if she would continue living a life in the open sea or settling back into her first true home.
~VSCS~
Once morning came about, the ship had already arrived at Gargantia. Reema had just come up from the galley when she saw Lukkage leaning against the railing of one of Gargantia's most prominent vessels, the Argonaut, flirting with the blonde donning a pompadour, Pinion. Her female cronies were also there, silent witnesses to the most recent dalliance of their beloved captain. The male crew members were busy preparing to board the vessel so they could either gather supplies or relax. As soon as she surfaced, Reema met her captain's piercing gaze, reminding her of the deal they made last night.
Three days. That didn't seem like enough time now that she was here, but she was prepared to make the best of it. So with a timorous spirit and a hood to hide herself until the time called for it, Reema set foot on the portside docks of Gargantia for the first time in six years.
Once on board, Reema reeled backed. By the name alone anyone could guess it was a hulking fleet, but even after six years she had forgotten how big Gargantia truly was. The Argonaut was a vessel mainly used for substantial labor and was the location of the cargo hold, which was why it was discernibly bigger than most of the other vessels that made up Gargantia. It was still early in the morning, so all of the Yunboros used for work were still attached to their hangars. Below she spotted Bellows' scavenger vessel. The redhead was nowhere in sight, but a few of her crew were preparing for the day. A few yards away, Reema saw some of Pinion's crew also getting ready for work. From what she could recall, Pinion's crew was in charge of Gargantia's maintenance and scrutinizing whatever objects Bellows' crew gathered from their deep-sea excursions. The parts they found were usually recycled to make or repair Yunboros, but others were analyzed by Dr. Oldham, Bebel and Ledo.
Speaking of which, the pale-skinned boy wasn't anywhere in sight. Reema wondered if he had changed jobs since she'd last been here; it'd been six years, after all. So far, nothing on the surface seemed to have changed, but she'd yet to explore the innards of this pulsing flotilla.
Reema's first destination was the marketplace. She was grateful to see that her memory hadn't failed her when she found the stalls consisting of produce, meats, and other edible items, and she watched as the vendors of the marketplace began opening their businesses for the public. There weren't many customers out and about yet, which gave her enough time to purchase breakfast before the area could fill up. There was a crepe vendor whose shop stood on the far side of the marketplace, and the young woman's mouth began to water at the thought of a sugary treat. Being a part of Lukkage's crew allowed for little luxuries, sweets included. On the rare occasion when they acquired such delicacies, Lukkage usually hogged all of it for herself. The last time Reema had something containing sugar was almost two years ago, but they were stale rice crackers. She wanted something more savory, and crepes were her absolute favorite.
As she drifted over to the crepe vendor, someone bumped into her. "Oh, excuse me!"
Turning around, Reema was surprised to see it was Saaya. She didn't expect to see one of her friends so soon. Six years, and the older girl had barely changed. Her glossy black hair was held back by a colorful lemon and mauve bandana, her tube top was replaced with a magenta tank top and covered by a canary yellow cardigan that exposed her shoulders, and her maroon skirt reached just below her knees. Her humble honey-brown eyes were as friendly as ever. When they looked right at Reema, Saaya's expression didn't change at all.
She doesn't recognize me.
"Are you okay?"
It took her another second to realize she had been staring, and Reema immediately apologized before continuing towards the crepe stand. She watched Saaya walk away and memorized the direction she took before following her discreetly (but not before purchasing a banana creme crepe). The trail stopped towards the other end of the marketplace where textiles and fabrics were sold. Saaya walked into one, and then came out with another young woman whom Reema immediately recognized as Melty.
The strawberry blonde was slightly taller than she remembered, but she was just as bubbly as before. Her outfit had also changed: the revealing attire she was accustomed to was replaced by a more mature display of violets and blues; a tasseled royal blue shawl with cut shoulders fell over her breasts and back, fluttering softly as she walked; her dark purple dress was fastened by a plaited belt with a slit midway down both her thighs; and her beautiful, fawn tresses were pulled into a ponytail that fell over her shoulder like a deluge of molten ambrosia. She was positively glowing.
The two friends went about the day going to different shops, and all the while Melty was holding something under her shawl while Saaya did most of the heavy lifting. Reema continued to follow them, contemplating when she would eventually reveal herself. However, as the morning grew brighter, more people began to fill up the marketplace, and the opportunity to greet them started to slip away. They finally stopped by some tables outside of a restaurant, much to Reema's relief, and she settled herself at the table next to theirs.
"Thanks again for helping me, Saaya," she heard Melty say. "I don't think I could've done this all by myself."
"It's no problem. I know it's harder for you now that Haru's back at work."
"Yeah, it's not fair! I miss working! Stupid maternity leave."
"I'm sure your grandparents wouldn't mind watching Nanami if you want to go back to work, too."
"Nah, it's fine. I don't want to burden them further. They're already doing us a huge favor by letting us stay with them until we can find our own place."
"So you guys decided to stay in Gargantia after all."
"Of course! Traveling's fun and all, but we could never leave this place for good; it's our home. And maternity leave's not all bad. At least I have my precious little Nanami to keep me company!" Melty removed her shawl, revealing the bundle in her lap, and Reema was surprised to see a tiny, pudgy infant hand reaching up. "You're so well-behaved today, Nanami! I should take you out more often."
Melty raised the bundle, and Reema was finally able to see a baby girl. From her button nose to her boisterous giggle, she was the spitting image of Melty. That was when Reema noticed the golden band on the young woman's left ring finger, the sunrays glinting off its shiny surface.
What the hell…?
Melty was apparently married, and with a baby! The hyperactive blonde was the last person Reema suspected to settle down, especially so young. She was so rambunctious when they were teenagers, always jumping into things without thinking about it. It was one of the things Reema admired about her, but it also made her skeptical about this new turn of events. While she was a dedicated worker, Melty was hard to keep up with at times. She wondered what kind of guy was bold enough to put a ring on it.
"Are you sure Haru's coming here for lunch?" asked Saaya.
"Yep! He should be here any minute now. He forgot to grab his credits before going to work this morning, but he won't realize it till he gets here. He'll be so excited to see us, especially Nanami. He misses her a lot; he doesn't get to spend as much time with her now that he's working again."
Haru… why does that name sound familiar?
Her answer came in the form of a familiar face. A young man was walking towards their table. He called out to the girls as soon as he noticed them. Though he was taller and tanner, she still recognized him from all those years ago. Reema never actually talked to him while she was on Gargantia. She remembered seeing him a few times while she was working with Amy. From what she could recall, he was Joe's younger brother, and he worked on the excavation team with Ledo and Bellows. He was a bit of a troublemaker and a tremendous flirt. He was just as wild and spirited as Melty; Reema couldn't think of another person who could keep up with the strawberry blonde.
As she continued to watch the scene before her, she realized that these two had matured immensely these past six years. As soon as he reached the table, Haru immediately pulled his wife and child into his strong embrace, kissing them both. Saaya left to grab everyone something to eat and give the family some time alone. Haru held Nanami firmly yet tenderly, making funny faces to get her to laugh. After a while, the baby started fussing, and Melty immediately tended to her needs, her eyes full of love. She seemed to be taking her role as wife and mother very well.
After observing the group a little longer, Reema decided to return to the ship. The last thing she wanted was to disturb their family moment. There would be plenty of other opportunities to see them before she had to make her decision; after all, she had two days left.
~VSCS~
Needless to say, Lukkage wasn't very pleased that Reema had retired so early on her first day. She didn't say anything when she saw her youngest crew member brooding in her room, but Reema could tell that her captain wasn't pleased with her.
The next day she decided to put more effort into finding her friends. This time she decided to see what Bebel was up to. Besides Ledo and Amy, Reema thought of the little boy very often during her travels. He was such a bright kid, and even though he was very sick, his outlook on life was admirable. She felt immensely guilty for using him as a bargaining chip. She wondered if Ledo and Amy had even told him about her bogus offer. She doubted they would have since it was too good to be true, but then again…
The thought made Reema hesitate, but she quickly reprimanded herself. She was just making excuses to avoid confrontation. Regardless of what he might have thought of her, she needed to see this through… but still, if Bebel knew about the shady deal she made with Ledo and Amy, he would no doubt resent her for it, and if that was the case, then perhaps meeting him was a mistake after all, especially if her presence upset him in any way…
Before she knew it, her negative train of thought led her right to Dr. Oldham's office. Whenever he wasn't with his friends, this was usually where Bebel spent most of his time due to his condition. Knowing that he could be on the other side made her hesitate even more…
"Oh, hello."
Reema was startled back into reality by a young woman at Dr. Oldham's door. She hadn't even realized the door was open until the girl addressed her. "Uh… hi."
"Are you here to see the doctor?"
"U-Um, actually, is Bebel here?"
"He's teaching a class right now."
"A class?" Then Reema remembered that in addition to his work with Dr. Oldham, Bebel also liked to teach the community about Earth's history. She found his archaeology lectures very interesting. The fact that humans had lived without Yunboros so many years ago was unfathomable, but according to Bebel, the Earth had been in a state when Yunboros weren't needed. And the way the boy retold their history was so enchanting, it was like listening to tales from a storybook rather than mind-numbing facts from an ancient textbook. He had a real knack for drawing people's attention.
"I was just on my way there!" the girl said in delight. "Just give me a minute and I'll take you."
"O-Okay. Thank you."
"You can wait inside if you want." The girl didn't wait to see if Reema would follow and left the door open out of courtesy.
Reema never had a reason to visit the doctor, so she had never been inside his office. As soon as she was inside, she was welcomed by the refreshing breeze of air conditioning. She spent most of her time outside, so she didn't notice the intensity of the heat until she was inside the doctor's office. The cool air also made it easier for her to calm down, and she was grateful for the reprieve.
As she waited for the young woman to finish whatever she needed to finish, Reema looked around the office. There were shelves full of medical books and several filing cabinets lined the walls of the workspace. They were all encompassing Dr. Oldham's workstation, which, from what she could see through the interstitial spaces between the books and binders, was much more spacious than it initially appeared. The doctor himself had his back to her. He turned slightly as he addressed the young woman, allowing Reema to see a glimpse of his face.
His kind blue eyes seemed to glow in mellow delight as he spoke to the girl. An avuncular smile encircled by a salt-and-pepper beard pulled the wrinkles by his cheekbones. But despite his friendly appearance, Reema couldn't help feeling intimidated.
"Give this to Bebel," he said. "He might need it for his lecture."
"Will do! I'll see you later, Grandpa!" The sprightly girl kissed him on the cheek before trotting over to the door.
As the doctor watched his granddaughter leave, his eyes eventually set their sights on the shelves full of books and the young woman spying through them. Reema ducked, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment. When she turned back around, the doctor had his back to her once more, shuffling through a patient's file.
"Ready to go?"
Reema's heart nearly leapt out of her throat when the younger girl approached her again. "Y-Yes!"
They walked in silence for a few moments. The brunette must've noticed her discomfort because after five minutes, she finally said, "You didn't have to hide, you know. Grandpa is really nice, I promise."
Reema blushed. It seemed her untoward behavior had been obvious. "Sorry. I didn't want to intrude. I'm a stranger, after all."
"Well, let's fix that. I'm Emi." Emi held out her hand.
Reema shook it reluctantly. "R-Reema."
"Nice to meet you, Reema. So, are you thinking of moving here or just visiting?" Reema could barely sputter out an answer before Emi continued, "Sorry if I'm being blunt. It's just that I would've remembered you if you were a permanent resident. My grandfather is one of the resident doctors, and all of his patients reside on this side of the fleet. Unless you're from the other side, then my mistake!"
Reema scratched her cheek reservedly. "I'm just visiting friends. I'm not sure if I should live here, though."
"Why not? Gargantia's great!" Emi blushed sheepishly at her own outburst. "But I guess I'm just being biased. I don't know what it's like on other fleets. Gargantia has been my only home. The whole fleet is like a family: everyone knows everyone, we support each other no matter what, and even after all the things we've been through, we're always welcoming. As far as I'm concerned, Gargantia will always be my home. I can't imagine living anywhere else… But that's just me! What's your fleet like?"
Reema had been so caught up in Emi's passionate spiel it took her a little too long to reply. "… Oh! Um… I don't live on a fleet. I came here with… Lukkage."
"So you're a pirate?" When Reema nodded, Emi's smile nearly became blinding. "That's so cool! I mean, I know you guys go around stealing from people, but that's still really exciting, isn't it?"
"I-I guess so…"
"Sorry if I'm being a bother. I've never left my fleet, so I'm really curious."
"No, no! It's okay. It's… nice, talking with someone… Well, talking with someone who isn't a pirate." The girls shared a laugh.
This was one of the things Reema missed while she was traversing the viridian seas. Her crewmates weren't the best conversationalists, and whenever they were simply adrift, they were almost always drunk, throwing knives, placing bets on those most likely to lose a finger or two, and regaling their most recent conquests. Being the youngest member of the crew, Reema had little interest in joining their drinking games and listening to their lewd stories, so whenever the captain instigated these parties, Reema would go out on deck to look at the stars and just let her mind wonder. She missed talking with people about simple things, exchanging ideas, sharing her down-to-earth musings with her peers. Even talking to this stranger was better than any verbal exchange she'd ever had with her crewmates; this was probably the best conversation she'd had in weeks.
"Well, if you ever decide to settle down, I totally recommend Gargantia. I think you'd fit in perfectly." Once again, Reema was caught off guard by the kindness of this girl. The people of Gargantia really did have the biggest hearts.
Before she could reply to Emi's generous offer, the younger girl took off towards a set of stairs leading to a mezzanine. "Bebel's class is just up here."
Reema took her time as she followed Emi up the stairs. At the top, she was shocked by the large group of people sitting on the mezzanine. They all varied in age—from pre-teens to middle-aged adults. A board stood at the front, taped with papers of ancient photos and supplementary descriptions.
"I think that's a good stopping point for today. Good job, everyone. Enjoy the rest of your day." Reema could only assume that voice came from the lecturer since the crowd of students was blocking her view. They applauded before gradually dispersing.
Emi pouted. "Oh man, it's over. I hope he didn't need the book."
A few lingered in the front to ask questions, but besides them, Reema and Emi were the only ones left.
Emi grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards the teacher and his students. The enthusiastic girl waved as they trudged closer, which caught his attention. He looked up briefly, shooting her a curt smile, before turning his attention back to his students. As they waited, Reema took a moment to observe the teacher. His brown hair was pulled up into a small ponytail, a bright yellow headband keeping his bangs out of his eyes. An olive tunic, beige kakis and turquoise parasol protected his sun-kissed skin from overexposure, but even under the shade of his umbrella, he still had a glow about him, complemented by a dazzling smile. His bright, cerulean eyes reminded her of Amy…
Then she remembered what Emi told her at the office. Bebel was teaching this class, and Emi was bringing the book to Bebel, which meant…
"Emi, you finally made it," the young man joked good-naturedly as he approached the girls.
"Sorry, Bebel. I was busy helping Grandpa at the office."
Reema couldn't help gawking. This was Bebel?! The last time she saw him, he was this scrawny, pale, and, quite frankly, adorable invalid boy suffering from a terminal condition that rendered him to be wheelchair-bound and under the shade of an umbrella almost constantly. Now he was this tan, healthy young man who was taller than her and could stand on his own two feet! Well, he had a crutch to support his left leg, but he didn't need another set of hands to assist him. She barely recognized him at first glance, but looking at him now, there was no doubt that this was Amy's younger brother.
"Oh!" Emi's exclamation once again broke Reema out of her stupor, and she watched the scene silently as the teens conversed. "Grandpa said you might need this for your class."
Bebel's smile seemed to grow tenfold as he took the book from her. "This is perfect for next week's lecture! Thank you, Emi. And give Dr. Oldham my thanks as well."
The younger girl blushed, winding a strand of hair around her finger nervously. "N-No problem."
Reema thought about slipping away quietly; the teens were so immersed with each other they probably wouldn't even notice her absence. But as soon as she shifted, they broke eye contact and looked to the blonde. Bebel's eyes widened so marginally Reema barely caught it. Emi didn't notice and proceeded to introduce her new friend. "This is Reema. She's a member of Lukkage's crew."
Whether or not he recognized her, Bebel smiled warmly and shoved the book under his arm so he could shake her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Reema."
"You, too," she replied tentatively as she took his hand. His grasp was firm, not something she would have expected from someone like Bebel, but Reema had learned long ago never to underestimate the people of Gargantia. "So, you're a teacher?"
"Yes. Mostly archaeology and anthropology. Today I was reviewing the technological advancements of transportation in the twenty-first century. People used to rely on things called 'automobiles', land vehicles that ran on wheels."
"That does sound interesting." That was another thing she missed. She always learned something new from Bebel. He may have appeared weak, but he was strong in so many other ways. And more often than not, he always managed to surprise her.
"If you like, you can join next week's class. I'll be talking about trains then."
Reema thought about accepting his offer, but then she remembered that tomorrow would be her last day before her final decision was made. As much as she wanted to hear Bebel's lectures, there were still a few more people she needed to see. "Unfortunately, I'll be busy tomorrow. I'm visiting friends, and I've yet to find them."
"Oh, really?" Emi sulked. "That's too bad. Maybe I can help you find them. I might know who you're looking for."
"That's okay, really. I should get going."
"Hey, if you have time, you should come to the festival tomorrow!"
Reema wasn't sure that was such a good idea. She might not have been well known throughout Gargantia before her involvement with Land was revealed, but she doubted too many people had forgotten about that incident. If she was recognized by someone who remembered her past sins, there could be a riot, and the last thing Reema wanted was to ruin the festivities just by showing up. But seeing the adorable frown on the younger girl's face made her reconsider her answer. "I'll think about it."
It wasn't a solid promise, but it was enough to make Emi squeal gleefully and crush her into a suffocating hug. "It was great meeting you, Reema!"
In spite of herself, Reema returned the gesture. "It was nice meeting you, too, Emi." Once she was released, she turned to the young man. "And you, Bebel." Without further preamble, Reema made her way to the stairs.
She was one the first step when she suddenly heard, "I'm glad to see you're doing alright." She nearly tripped on the second step and turned back to the teens only to see Bebel's back facing her. She swore she almost imagined it, but the confused look on Emi's face confirmed that she had heard him speak. It seemed Bebel was still full of surprises.
~VSCS~
The last day was the most rigorous of all, mostly due to the fact that everyone on Gargantia was preparing for the festival. Six years ago, Reema hadn't been living on the fleet along enough to partake in the annual festival, but she heard amazing things from her former friends. The festival was a cultural celebration of their fleet, and the entirety of Gargantia went all out every year. From delicious foods to fun games to exotic dances, there was something for each person on Gargantia to enjoy.
Lukkage decided to dress up for the festival, and before she could even set foot on Gargantia, Reema was dragged along with Lukkage and her girls to buy new clothes. For some reason, the pirate captain decided to change Reema's wardrobe for this occasion. The ensemble her boss had picked out for her consisted of a maroon bikini top and bottom with a matching set of golden bangles, a golden necklace with dangling jade and a golden headdress also bejeweled with opalescent jades. There was nothing to hide her face except for a thin veil that was clipped into her hair. It covered a majority of her face, leaving her crystal blue eyes clear for all to see. But even this meager strip of fabric would do little to disguise her; anyone looking at her could tell who she was at first glance.
"Isn't this dress for the performers?"
Someone pushed aside the curtain of her changing stall, and Reema was shocked to see a complete stranger. The woman wore a navy-blue dress with black lace covering her cleavage. On top of that was a white, long-sleeved bolero with a pink ribbon tied at her neck and a collar with a golden border, a matching white hat with a bigger bow tied in the back was adorned on her head, and her feet were strapped in white sandals. But as unfamiliar as she was with this figure, Reema immediately recognized her captain's signature magenta locks and sharp emerald eyes. "Lukkage!?"
The pirate captain put a finger over her mischievous smile and winked. "Not tonight."
Reema couldn't stop staring. It was so weird seeing her boss wearing something so conservative. Even her makeup was completely removed. "Why are you…?"
"It's fun to dress up," was her response, but it didn't satisfy Reema in the least. Lukkage's usual attire would have been more suitable for the occasion than this getup. Her face must have given her thoughts away because Lukkage suddenly made a way over and tugged on the thin strap of the top Reema was sporting. "Thought I'd mix things up since this may be the last night we party together as captain and subordinate."
Reema quickly yanked the frail strap out of her grip and crossed her arms to cover up her chest, though the effort was in vain. "I expected you to dress up little more… flamboyantly for the festival."
"Well tonight, I thought I'd take a break from being the ostentatious pirate captain Lukkage and be a little more… pedestrian. And as ironic as it seems, this outfit makes me feel a bit… freer."
"What do you mean?"
"When I walk out of here, no one's going to see me as the infamous pirate Lukkage. I'll just be… me." To her surprise, the naughty smirk on the older woman's face slowly faded into a demure smile. It almost looked… sad. "I love being a pirate more than anything, but even I have to take a break from it every once and a while."
The smile disappeared as quickly as it came and was once again replaced with a smirk. "I could have been many things, but I chose to be a pirate queen. I don't regret any of the decisions I've made since then. I have the power to do whatever I wish and be whoever I want to be, including an ordinary 'damsel', even if it's just for one night. And when it's time for me to be the captain again, I will take my place at the helm and command my forces with a steady gait and an iron fist. I hope you can say the same when the times comes for you to make your decision."
She walked away after that, leaving Reema to contemplate her words. She was actually shocked to hear that confession from her captain, and it made her look at Lukkage in a new light. The confession was subtle and very personal, and it risked making the ruthless pirate captain look vulnerable in the eyes of her other subordinates. Yet she still shared this with Reema so she would be absolutely sure of whichever path she decided to take and not look back. After all, she only had 24 hours.
Tomorrow, the captain was either leaving with her whole crew, or with one less party member. Reema couldn't waste this opportunity, especially since Lukkage was generous enough to give her three days. She had to make today count.
I'm going to find Ledo and Amy, and then I'll make my choice.
A turquoise poncho came with the outfit to cover it up. Reema took off the headdress and hid it underneath the coverup to avoid calling attention to herself. Afterwards, she left the shop from which Lukkage bought her clothes and took a peek outside to observe the festival.
They had spent more time in the shop than she had anticipated, and from the position of the sun and the waning light, Reema deduced that it was very close to evening. The grounds were already crawling with families, friends, and couples alike. The marketplace was overtaken by many more stalls, most of them offering food, others displaying frivolous trinkets and encouraging people to play games.
One of the game stalls that caught her attention involved bowls of goldfish. As she leaned over to get a better look, several kids ran by, nearly knocking her over, and their swift departure created a mild gust, briefly revealing her skimpy outfit. Two of them, two little girls, stopped to stare at her, and Reema quickly crossed her arms self-consciously over her nearly bare chest. She knew it would be too racy, even for the festival. But then they smiled and the shorter one of the two exclaimed, "So pretty!" before they both ran off to join their friends again. That… wasn't so bad. After securely adjusting the poncho, Reema hesitantly made her way through the festival.
She thought her new clothes would make her feel exposed in the large crowd, but the further she moseyed into the festival, the less awkward she felt. She did catch a few eyes glancing her way, especially from some of the males, but she otherwise felt invisible among the people. The poncho certainly helped; she might have felt half-naked, but the coverup certainly made her feel safeguarded, not to mention she wasn't the only one dressed up for the occasion. There were plenty of other people masquerading in outrageous costumes, some almost as salacious as her own. And without having to worry about her looks, she could finally concentrate on more important things, like finding her friends… or finding something to eat, as her gurgling stomach reminded her she hadn't eaten at all today.
Unfortunately, there was no place for her to keep her money, so she was completely broke.
"Hey, you!" Reema turned to see one of the street vendors waving at her and immediately recognized them as the crepe vendor. She wasn't surprised that she was spotted by the older woman considering she'd been getting breakfast at her stand for the past few days. It looked like she was selling more than just crepes today. Her stand was advertising a variety of sweets, from manjū buns to takoyaki and even chocolate-covered bananas. The display was making Reema's mouth water. "What's it gonna be today?"
Reema was about to reply but paused when she remembered her lack of funds. "Um, I would like some takoyaki, but I'm afraid I don't have any money."
"That's alright, dear. The festival is a free event for all, including visitors. So what is it that you would like?"
Reema could have cried right then and there. It never ceased to amaze her how generous and amicable the people of Gargantia were. This event could have made for a very lucrative venture for the entire fleet, but instead they allowed residents and guests alike to enjoy the festivities without having to pay a single unit. Out of all the fleets she'd visited, Gargantia was truly one of a kind.
After ordering her Takoyaki, along with three sticks of dango and one chocolate-covered banana (with sprinkles!), Reema walked over to the games. As she indulged herself, she watched some kids play the goldfish game. It seemed the objective of the game was to catch the fish with a paper net. If you were able to catch the fish successfully without the net breaking, then you got to keep it. Intrigued, Reema was about to polish off her banana and try her hand at it when a familiar voice called out to her.
"Reema!" Emi ran over and hugged her without warning, almost making her drop what was left of her banana. After she was released, Reema saw that they were wearing matching outfits, except underneath Emi's poncho was a bright blue bikini. "You look great! You gonna perform with us?"
"Perform?"
"Yeah, you're wearing the belly dancer uniform. You have to dance with us!"
"'Us'?"
"Yeah!" Emi turned around and Reema followed her eye into the crowd until she noticed a familiar face. A redhead girl wearing a matching poncho seemed to be in a deep conversation with Bebel, who was limping beside her. "Maddie, this is Emi, the pirate I was telling you about!"
The ginger paused her conversation with the teacher when her name was called and smiled at them. She held out her hand to Reema as soon as she reached them. "Nice to meet you! Emi told me you work for Lukkage."
"Yeah, I do."
Maddie's viridian eyes seemed to sparkle in admiration. "Wow! It's gotta be so exciting to be a pirate! Did you guys stop on Gargantia for the festival?"
"I suppose so."
As the younger girls fawned over her, Reema turned her attention to Bebel. He nodded a greeting to her but said nothing more. He didn't seem upset to see her even though he clearly knew who she was. Perhaps Ledo and Amy hadn't told him about her chicanery, after all. Or perhaps they did and Bebel just didn't care; he didn't seem like the type to hold a grudge. Either way, he smiled at her as if she were his friend, and she wasn't sure how to feel about that.
"This is so cool! We get to dance with a pirate!"
Maddie's outburst brought Reema back into the conversation, and this time she did drop the rest of her banana. "W-What? No, no, no! I-I can't dance!"
"Come on! It'll be fun!" Emi encouraged.
"But I don't want to!"
"Sorry, but once you put on the belly dancer outfit, you have to dance. It's tradition."
There were many things Reema lacked in Land, many things she wouldn't have been able to experience if she hadn't left that warzone and eventually joined Lukkage's crew. But if there was one experience she didn't mind missing out on, it was dancing. Lukkage and her girls had always tried to get her to join their dances whenever the crew had parties on the ship, and Reema refused to join in the reverie every time. She just didn't see the appeal, and she'd rather spare herself the embarrassment having never danced before. She knew Lukkage could always force her to dance, but she never did. Now she knew why.
Sometimes, I really hate Lukkage.
"We're meeting the other dancers here, so how about we play a few games while we wait?" Maddie suggested.
As much as Reema would have loved to play the goldfish game and try winning herself a new aquatic friend, she didn't want to be dragged into one of Gargantia's more humiliating traditions. However, before she could make a hasty retreat, she backed into someone unexpectedly. "Sorry, I—" And when she turned to apologize to that someone, she was left speechless.
"… Reema?"
The former space ensign Ledo had grown much taller since the last she'd seen of him. His hair was still as pristine as ever, and it looked he recently got it cut. He was wearing a button-down shirt, a shirt so dark blue it was practically black, and sandals in place of his regular work clothes. His little squirrel friend Aria was perched on his shoulder, oblivious to the tense atmosphere as she nibbled on a piece of fish. The excavator seemed so much more relaxed compared to six years ago. His heliotrope eyes practically pierced her soul. "Ledo…"
She backed up again, bumping into another figure. "Reema?"
She turned and saw none other than his significant partner. "Amy…" The brunette had also changed. Her russet locks were longer, reaching past her shoulders. Her cerulean eyes sparkled with a combination of curiosity and disbelief. She also wore a poncho to hide her belly dancer guise, but Reema barely noticed it when she saw the ring on Amy's hand, which was clenched against her chest. It seemed Melty wasn't the only one settling down nowadays, except in this case Reema was less surprised by the development. "You're married."
Amy blushed, subconsciously tucking some hair behind her ear with her left hand. "Yeah, for a few months actually." She moved over to Ledo and took his hand, his ring finger adorned with a bigger version of Amy's ring. Both rings weren't as flashy as Melty's wedding band. They were plain silver, but their starkness spoke volumes: Simple yet beautiful, much like the newlywed couple.
A cough from behind reminded Reema that they weren't alone. Emi, Maddie and Bebel were watching them, and sometime during their reunion, Saaya and Melty had also joined them. The former was also wearing the belly dancer coverup while the latter was wearing her outfit from yesterday, sans Nanami. They both looked just as shocked as the couple.
This was not exactly how she thought this reunion would go: her, surrounded by all the friends she left behind, practically half-naked and in the middle of a crowd of festival-goers who, for the most part, were too busy enjoying themselves to be concerned with what was going with their group, but it made Reema uncomfortable nonetheless. All of a sudden, the air started to feel tight. Even though they were outside, Reema felt enclosed, and the claustrophobic feeling worsened as everyone continued to stare. Suddenly, she was back on Land, back with Muzzle and the rebellion, running for her life, plotting their coup, tricking Ledo and Amy—
This was a mistake.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and slapped it away. Amy took her hand back, her deep blue eyes filled with sorrow, reminding her of the day she left with the pirates.
I need to get out of here.
"Reema!"
She ignored the voices as she ran away, pushing through the crowd as she desperately searched for a place to hide from her former friends. The crowd started to decrease in number, leaving more space for her to run until she was outside the vicinity of the festival. She had no idea where she was but continued running anyway, turning so many corners until she was sure she couldn't be found. She finally stopped in a hidden passageway and collapsed on her knees, panting heavily from the exertion of her escapade. After gathering her breath, Reema moved over to the wall, wrapped her arms around her legs and nestled her face into her knees.
She couldn't do this. Facing them was so much harder than she initially thought. Just looking at them brought about thoughts and feelings she'd been suppressing for the past six years, and it was all too much. And yet, when they saw her, it was as if that brief period of history hadn't happened at all. When they saw her, it was as if they were looking at a long-lost comrade rather than a back-stabbing rebel. She didn't know what she expected from them, but it certainly wasn't that.
"Reema."
Lifting her eyes away from her knees, the young pirate saw Ledo crouched in front of her. Somehow, he'd caught up to her, and he hadn't even broken a sweat. Reema quickly stood, but there was nowhere to run. The passage only had one entryway, and clearly Ledo could catch her without even trying. Instead, she backed up a little. Sensing her unease, Ledo backed up as well, giving her the space she needed. The faint scuffing of feet running on pavement reverberated in the background, getting louder as the harried footsteps got closer until, soon enough, Amy appeared in the ingress. She stopped short of the threshold between the outside and the alley, watching Reema as if she were a skittish animal.
Neither one of them seemed upset with her. That should've been a good sign, and yet this did not satisfy Reema at all. Why weren't they mad? Did they already forget what she did to them? Were people on Gargantia really so benevolent as to forgive a wrongdoing from a short-term friend so quickly? It was too good to be true. She wanted to them to yell at her, curse her, slap her—something! It was what she deserved after what she did. If she were back on Land, her commanding officer wouldn't have hesitated to put her in her place after pulling such a stunt.
… But I'm not in Land anymore.
All of a sudden, Reema did the absolute last thing she thought she would do in front of Ledo and Amy: she laughed. It started off slow and light, like a low chuckle, and slowly ascended into full on chortling. The couple looked at her like she was crazy, and it made her laugh even harder. And then the crying started. It could have been due to the excessive laughter, but when she realized why she was laughing, she knew that the tears were purely due to sadness and pity for herself.
Reema tried for many years to forget about Land, but as much as she despised that warzone, she knew it would always be a part of her. Even while traveling with Lukkage and her crew, she never felt truly liberated; if anything, being a pirate brought out some soldierly traits she had acquired during her upbringing on Land. However, being on Gargantia always felt like she was taking a breath of fresh air for the first time. It was freer than any fleet she'd ever come across, and if she did decide to settle down, she couldn't think of a better place. Land was essentially at war because its people craved the sort of peace that prospered on Gargantia, but whenever they were able to grasp the tiniest minutiae of armistice, they always managed to destroy it. Even when Reema and her clan seceded from Land, there was never peace. Their bad luck had followed them all the way to Gargantia, yet after the debacle with Land, the fleet managed to bounce back stronger than ever.
That was why, she realized, she not only expected retribution from her friends, she wanted it because this place—these people she had no right to even call "friends"—was too good for her. She didn't deserve their kindness, and as much as she wanted their forgiveness, she had no right to ask for it.
At this point, Reema was full-on sobbing. She wiped her eyes and nose fruitlessly and slid back down to her knees. But before she could make contact with the ground, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her pathetic form. She removed her hands in astonishment and saw Ledo smiling kindly at her, tears also leaking from the corners of his eyes. Amy, who was currently attached to her, trembled as she sniveled along with her.
"I'm sorry," Reema cried. "I'm so, so sorry…"
Amy faced her, confusion settling on her tear-stained face. "Why are you apologizing?"
"A-After what I did, I never… I thought you wouldn't…"
She needn't say more as Ledo joined them on the ground, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. "Reema, we forgave you a long time ago."
"Right before you left with Lukkage, actually," Amy concurred. "We know you regret what you did, and we also know why you did it. You were just looking out for your people. I can't say I'd do the same thing if I was in your shoes, but I understand the need to protect your family."
"But Bebel… did you tell him?"
"We did," Ledo answered. "And he doesn't hold it against you. He was just disappointed when you left, and so was I." This time, Ledo brought her into his arms. "But I'm glad to know that you're okay."
Reema's tears proceeded to fall as she returned the embrace, and Amy enveloped them both in a group hug. After a few more minutes of hugging and sniffling, the trio broke away from each other.
"Okay, no more tears, everybody!" Amy declared. "Tonight is a night of celebration! Let's get back to the festival!"
"Do I still have to dance?" Reema moaned.
The couple laughed. Amy pulled her up from the ground and hooked an arm around her elbow. "Don't worry. I'll show you how it's done."
Amy continued their conversation as they walked back to the festival, asking about Reema's adventures with Lukkage and her crew, while Ledo seemed content to just follow them and listen, providing his two cents every once and a while. Reema answered her questions with ease and couldn't believe a moment ago she had been afraid to talk to them after all these years. As much as she didn't look forward to embarrassing herself in front of the entire fleet, Reema was happy to finally have faced her fears and reunited with her friends. Tonight would be a celebration, but for a whole different reason, and she was going to make the best of it.
~VSCS~
Early the next morning found the infamous pirate queen Lukkage discreetly leaving the home of a certain pompadoured repairman (though after last night, his pompadour was looking a little less coiffed). As she walked back to her ship, she noticed a neighbor watching her leave the premises from her window, giving her the stink eye. Lukkage merely smirked and waved at the old woman. She refused to let early morning busybodies witnessing her strut of pride degrade it into a walk of shame with their judgmental looks. Just because she was dressed like a proper lady didn't mean she had to act like one (which she also proved thoroughly last night).
The walk ended swiftly as her lover's home was very close to the seaport where her vessel was anchored. Lobster stood prominently at the bow of the ship, the rest of her crew already working around it and preparing the ship to set sail. As she approached, her men greeted her, acknowledging their captain with the respect she deserved, before getting back to work. She ran a tight ship, and she made sure every single one of her crewmen knew it. However, as she looked about the faces of crew members, she saw that one was missing.
So, she made her decision, huh?
Lukkage had a feeling Reema would choose life on the fleet rather than on a pirate ship. The girl wasn't soft by any means, but this nomadic lifestyle wasn't suited for everyone. Lukkage had seen the look on her face as she danced on stage with the other performers, how open and carefree she was as she interacted with her friends. Reema was never that blithe with her crewmates. The only reason she'd accepted Lukkage's offer in the first place was because she didn't think she had any other option. Sooner or later, she would have left them, and now that that Reema knew her friends still loved and accepted her, she no longer had any reason to stick around. It was better she was sure of what she wanted now rather than regret it later. In this line of work, regret made people sloppy and eventually got them killed. Lukkage would know; she'd lost many of her comrades that way during her early privateering days. The last thing she wanted was to lose one of her men to something as pointless as doubt.
But Lukkage would be lying if said she wasn't going to miss that little blonde genius. She was one of the most talented engineers who'd ever joined her crew; Lukkage honestly didn't trust anyone but Reema to maintain her precious Yunboro. Thanks to the former Landlubber, Lobster was equipped with so many new features Lukkage felt like an eager child playing with a toy every time she surfed the perpetual sea. It was a nice perk, but nothing she couldn't live without. She had plenty of other engineers (although they were mediocre compared to Reema), and they had survived long before the girl had joined their crew.
The captain retreated into her quarters and replaced her civilian attire with her regular, lascivious garb. As much as she enjoyed her secret rendezvous with Pinion, her first love would always be the sea. She was the notorious pirate queen Lukkage, after all; she needed to dress the part. Flanked by her two maidens, Lukkage took her place on her throne, overseeing her men at work. "Alright, boys, no more dawdling! Let's set sail!"
"Aye, captain!" Most of the voices were in unison, but a particularly high-pitched voice caught the captain's attention. Up in the cockpit of her Lobster was none other than Reema. Her greasy forehead and the wrench in her hand indicated that she had been hard at work for a couple hours at least, which meant she was probably one of the first to have come back to the ship.
Lukkage hid her disbelief with a careless smirk, casually shifting one leg over the other. "Thought you left for good."
Reema nimbly climbed down from the Yunboro and walked up to the sterncastle deck to stand before the pirate queen's throne. She rubbed her arm sheepishly. "Yeah, about that… I had a lot of fun with my friends, but I've decided I'm not ready to settle down yet. There's still so much I haven't seen, so much I haven't experienced. Right now, I can't really imagine being anywhere else but sailing across the world… if you'll allow me to stay, captain!"
"I see…" Lukkage watched her for a long moment and nearly laughed at Reema's expression as she stewed in the silence. She really loved making this girl squirm.
Standing from her throne, Lukkage walked up to the young woman and rested a hand on her shoulder, forcing Reema to look her in the eye. Her sharp emeralds gazed into bright cerulean, searching for any trace of hesitancy only to be met with bold determination instead. This was a first. Reema hadn't pledged complete allegiance to the captain, and yet Lukkage didn't find herself upset with the younger woman because of it. But whether she settled down today, tomorrow, or even a year from now, Reema was confident in the decision she made, and that was all that mattered to Lukkage.
Releasing her underling from her grip, the pirate queen swiftly turned and swaggered back to her throne before taking a seat and crossing her legs once more. Leaning into her open palm, Lukkage waved Reema off. "Very well. Get back to work, and make sure to give my baby a nice shine once you're done."
Reema happily saluted her captain before running off to finish her maintenance on Lobster. Lukkage observed her and the rest of the crew, the sun shining upon her vessel like a spotlight. Losing Reema wouldn't have been a huge loss, but knowing that she still had a few more years with her and the rest of her crew made Lukkage feel… at peace. So, with a steady gait and an iron fist, the pirate queen led her crew out into the vast waters beyond Gargantia, seeking adventure wherever it took them.
A/N: I really hoped you guys liked it! I worked really hard on this chapter, and I'm very proud of what I've accomplished.
Next week's Valentine's Day, so I've decided to write a special ONE-SHOT for the occasion. I didn't think it would be right to just upload this huge chapter and then leave y'all hanging for another few weeks (or months... most likely years based on my record). After that, I make no promises on how often I plan to update. I've come up with a few new ideas, but they're works in progress. If anyone else has any requests they want to throw at me, I'm all ears!
R&R!
