The Heart of the Astral Line
By: Nightelfcrawler & Amai
Author's note: We're insane
Chapter Two: Flying
snifff sniff
His nose twitched a bit. What was that smell...smelled there were odd noises coming from under his bed..... Chrno sat up, rubbing his eyes. The sun was barely up, and....yes there it was again.... what on earth?
"EHEHEHEHEH!!" There was a shrill old laugh from below his room, and then a massive thumping on his floor.
"Ahh!" He sat up, grabbing the bed wide eyed. They had a monster down there?!! What if it got out?! His heart pounded, and he stared down at the floor in terror, but gulped. He had to protect them! If they didn't know there was a monster.... He slipped out of bed, and grabbed the sword that he'd taken with him, now clean since of course he'd made sure to take proper care of it, and slowly crept out into the hall, looking around, and spotted the stairs down into the lower belly of the ship, and slipped down them.
The smell of smoke grew stronger and the heat along with it as strange shadows were cast out in the hall along with the sound of very alien music that pumped down the hallway as the shadows danced to it and the eerie cackling.
"Eep...!" He squeaked, wide eyed. No... he'd been wrong... it WASN'T a monster.. it was a demon! His foot hit the creaky step and he froze in terror. Ahhhh his soul would be raped!!
The music kept going, but the dancing shadows stopped as the sound of the cackling died down in favor of a curious mumbling as the shadow moved out of the hallway and onto the floor of the room to his right, as the sound of the record player was turned off and the shadow grew again, heading towards him.
Ahh.... run run run...!! He turned and started to scramble up the steps, but fell flat on his face and whimpered as the wood met his nose. The shadow past him as footsteps came up just behind him. "Ehh? What do we have here? Captain picked up another stray I see?"
He froze. Oh god... the demon was gonna eat him.... noooo he was too young to dieeeeee. He peered up slowly, eyes wide expecting to see a horrendous monster with cloven hoofs and red goatee. Instead before him stood a squat old man with be-goggled eyes and a white goatee, although his feet looked maybe a bit cloven with the shoes he wore, he was no demon that was to be sure.
blinkblink Oh....wow...ok...heart slowing..... "Um....s…sorry I didn't mean to interrupt." The creepy music and flames still were spooky.....
He leaned over and peered at him, before a grin spread over his features. "You're the young blacksmith the captain promised me aren't you? This old heart rejoices!"
He blinked up at him, curious suddenly. "Um... yes?"
"Ah then my boy, I will be your new master." He grinned, "An apprentice for these old bones are greatly appreciated." He offered a hand to him.
He blinked up at him then slowly reached a hand out tentatively and took his hand. A new master...? "Are you a blacksmith?"
He grinned, "Something like that. More of an inventor, I'd say. Did you see those wings the Captain used? And this ships' system?" He puffed himself up, "My own."
His eyes widened in interest and curiosity, obviously impressed. "Wow.... You're an inventor?" He looked around curiously at the crowded bowls of the ship. "Wow..."
He nodded, grinning even more as his ego exploded. "Ah yes young man...Chrno was it not? Come come, I'll show you where you'll be working." He motioned towards where the fire was glinting warm shadows on the walls.
Chrno scrambled up, sword going back in it's sheath quickly as he tried to calm his jostled nerves. Wow.... "How...how on earth can you risk having a fire on a wooden ship?!"
"Ah ah." he grinned stepping backwards and picked up a poker, boiling red hot, and shoved it into the wood, a golden pattern-work spreading out on the ground and sparking against the poker, before he pulled the metal back and slowly the gold lines pulled back and disappeared. "Fire resistant. Another one of my inventions."
He stared wide-eyed. "Wow..." He was VERY impressed...oh yes... "I'll bet you could make a fortune with that..."
"Um. We are." He grinned widely, reminding him that they WERE on a pirate ship, and if the ship was invincible, then their trade was that much better. "The Captain gives me all my old heart desires...that is...except a good grope or two…" His hands made twitchy sounds as he looked forlorn.
Chrno blinked and looked a bit taken aback by that, but didn't say anything, as he knelt down touching the deck with his fingertips. Fire resistant, it was a blacksmith's dream....
"Hey, Elder..." A slightly low, feminine voice yawned, her boots clicking on the wood as the ship's engineer stepped within the workshop, waving her hand in front of her mouth and closing one eye before licking her lips and giving the old man a sleepy look. "Think you can keep it down? Some of us are trying to sleep."
Chrno turned, looking up the stairs at the beautiful, scantily clad female, and nearly melted right there. She blinked and looked down, seeing the young man and then a very cattish smile came over her face as she kneeled down and tipped the boys chin. "Hmm? So this is the Capitan's new boy eh? So CUTE!"
The elder laughed a bit, his goggles glittering. "Careful there boy, Stella'll drag you off to her bedroom without a second glance if you're not careful."
Chrno could just feel his cheeks turning bright red, as he looked up at her, blinking innocently up at her, and glancing sideways at the Elder at his warning. "E...eh?"
"Elderrr..." Stella drawled out, hugging the young boy to her chest. "Don't scare him away!" He blinked, staring wide eyed, and feeling a bit crushed. This was the first time a woman had ever... urk. "Hey, boy, how would you like Auntie Stella to give you a tour of the engine room?" She asked, her large 'proportions' nearly smothering.
He gulped a bit, feeling VERY uncomfortable with his face pressed between her large soft... "Um...I...uh..t...the Elder was... going to show me around here first!" He squeaked.
"And I'll gladly take his...eheheh...place..." His hands twitched as he stepped forward.
Gah! What kind of people were they!? Chrno's eyes widened more.
Stella just gave him an odd stare, before standing up and dropping Chrno, spreading her hands out. "Sure go right ahead if you want to die." Her eyes glittered evilly along with the jewel in the glove on her right hand. "We're just cruising now, the engine can take me drawing from it to smash a little old man..." At that, the elder seemed to weigh his options. "YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT!!" The red-head snapped at his pondering.
Eh? Chrno glanced back and forth, back and forth between them as he rubbed his neck on that particular spot that always seemed to itch, right at the base of his skull.
Stella finally sighed, turning before the Elder made the wrong choice and she was forced to smash him, thusly pissing off the Captain, which was no fun ordeal. "Well Chrno... I'll see you later...in town maybe." She gave him a wink before swaggering out.
He nodded, still staring. "Uhn.. It was nice meeting you, miss...." He fumbled for her name, knowing that she'd given one.
"Stella, Stella Harvenheit." She smiled, blowing a kiss. "Chrno right?"
He stared, cheeks turning pink again. "Y…yes, Miss Harvenheit."
The elder watched her booty sway around the corner with a dejected sigh. "Oh to have your woman appeal young man...I would give anything."
He blinked up at him, curious and confused. "E...eh? She's ...the first one who I've really met...that's been like that anyway." He flushed. "I'm not sure I like it."
"She likes under aged boys." He grinned a bit before leading him around. "I've gotten a good look at your work boy and I must say I am surprised. Great talent, and having you do all the metal work for me will be most helpful…"
He turned a bit pale at the underage boy comment, but he then turned pink again at the compliment. "Ah... really? I mean... it's nothing special really.... My master before always said that the skill was more in how much effort you put into it..."
"Hm Hm Hm.. Then my boy, you'll be doing a lot of effort around here." His goggles glinted, as he set down a hand on the table, were a huge star globe rotated showing the exact position of the ship that was heading right to port about a green star.
He walked over, and peered at it, wide eyed. "Wow... is that the navigation...? How do you control it? How did you make it?"
The Elder shook his head but nodded afterwards as an afterthought. "The actual navigation is in the Captain's room, this is the back up, I keep and eye on it and I can over ride the controls if I have to if something goes wrong."
"Ohh." He nodded at that, catching on quickly, and being distracted by the rows of guns to the side, and walking over curiously.
"Careful with those son, if they discharge you won't be feeling to good." He waved a contraption at him.
He blinked but peered at them, not touching. "What are they? I've never seen pistols like this..."
"Umnn hum hum." He leaned over him and then pointed around at each one. "Gospel and Sacred, used against Demons. Spirit and the Testament are against Apostles and the fleet, shoot those little buggers right out of the air...heheeheh...and the Commandments bullets are what you saw the Captain use today, on those rats that kidnapped you. Perfect for humans." He looked completely proud of himself.
He stared at them impressed. "Wow.... you make all these? To fight everyone?"
"You have to be prepared with a variety as a Pirate." He spread his hands, "After all, we rob sack and plunder everyone equally. Although the Captain has a personal agenda with the Apostle ships."
He lifted his eyes blinking up at him curiously. "Aren't they the 'good' guys though?"
"They took her brother." He pointed out, looking a bit sad. "I wont break her trust by telling you everything, if she wants you to know she'll tell you herself...but I do say, pirates are the 'bad' guys are they not? How do we seem to you?" His goggles glittered a bit.
He blinked then smiled brightly at him. "Not that bad actually... you're a lot nicer than the drunkards in town, anyway."
"Ah yes. So not everything is what it seems to be my young boy..." He peered out the window at the brightening nebula. "Ah yes...Almost there are we, better clean up boy, we'll be on solid ground in about an hour I judge."
He peered out and nodded bowing a bit to him. "Thanks, Elder.... This really is a great place..." He dashed up the stairs then, and entered his room, and straightened his hair a little bit, straightened out his hair, and then slipped upstairs onto the deck.
Rosette stood out on the very front of the boat, holding onto a rope as she peered at the upcoming city, red bandana flapping in the wind as the pushed into the atmosphere of the air dock, seeming not to notice anything around her. The crew left her be, knowing their place when she was thinking, and just prepared to dock, chattering amongst themselves about where they were going and how much their companion stunk.
Chrno made his way over to the edge of the railing, and peered over, eyes wide watching the birds and clouds beneath them as they soared in.
"Oi boy. Watch where yer sittin'." A very large pirate stated, hopping up on the ledge right next to Chrno's hand and climbing up the rope ladder, giving him a ugly look. There was no place for an idle body on the ship, lest everything go into disarray.
"All hands staaaation!" Bellowed Remi from the quarter deck.
Chrno gasped, and backed off, going to the side where no one was, trying to stay out of the way. Wow… it took a lot of work to run a ship.
Finally Rosette turned around walking down that thin point of wood that came off the front of the ship without a wobble or a hand hold, hopping down and walking to mid deck. "Alright Men! I want this to be clean, don't get your asses put in Jail, hear me!? I wont be bailing you out! Other then that, enjoy yourself and be back here by sunrise tomorrow!"
"Yaaah!" All the men bellowed, slinging ropes over the edge as they slid smoothly into the city port.
The city was huge.... Chrno had heard tales of it, but the towering white stone walls just amazed him. She laughed cheerfully, watching as the clamps fit around the ship smoothly, and stepped up to the helm, pulling out a cross from the center and slinging it about her neck as the sails dulled and everything went into stand by. No way anyone could pirate her own pirate ship. She glanced over at Chrno and smiled a bit, coming up behind him and leaning over his shoulder. "You really haven't gone out of your town HAVE you?"
He looked up at her smiling brightly with a look of wonder in his eyes. "No…. The farthest I went was outside in the fields... or to the cliffs..."
She smiled at him, before huffing and folding her arms. "Naa, you better be appreciative. I'm giving up my birthday to take you back to that little town." She said sounding annoyed, but only to those who didn't know her.
He flushed a bit. "Sorry... thanks......." He looked up at her rather shyly.
She just sighed and patted his head, before stepping off onto the rail far above the ground level of the dock. "Come on."
He gasped and stared up at her. "W...what?! You can't just.... jump."
She rolled her eyes. "Just give me your hand." He gulped, but lifted his hand. She smiled, and squeezed it reassuringly as she tipped backwards off the edge, pulling him along with her. "Just pray that there's a good amount of Astral out here."
He gasped and yelped, closing his eyes strongly, and tensing, as they fell, his whole body freezing in place, as his stomach dropped out from beneath him. Flip! flip! The metal expansions uncurled, drawing out that pale material that as soon as the metal lengths fully extended turned gold patterned with those pentagons, glowing warmly as the held the two of them up and glided them safely to the ground, much to the surprise of the people who were standing in her way. "See! You gotta learn to trust me." She grinned cutely patting his head with her other hand.
He shivered, shaking, clinging to her tightly, gasping for breath…Dear god... was that was falling was like.... his face was deathly white. With a small laugh at his pathetic expression, she cuddled him while patting his violet hair warmly. "Breathe, Chrno, you're ok. Come on, I'll get you some hot chocolate for the trip back to your town."
He shivered and stood up, glancing around and gulped again. "W...warn me next time ok? I d.... don't like heights."
She nodded, stroking his hair a bit. "Yeah yeah. Jeeze." She tugged at his hand that was still firmly clasped in his, heading towards a small vender that was selling sweets. "A hot chocolate and a strawberry crepe please." She held out some odd money, that was inspected by the vender before she was handed her treats, and she waved the hot chocolate under his nose. "Here."
He teetered after her, and took it with wide eyes, sniffing a little bit, and sipped it looking all tingly. "Wow.... it's good...."
She bit into her crepe as they walked towards the road that would lead to his small town. "Yeah. It normally is, that guy has carts all over the universe, where ever I go, I swear he follows me."
He smiled cheerfully, color returning to his cheeks, and giggled a bit. "Maybe he does... they say some merchants use magicks."
She rolled her eyes, looking back at the vender warily. "Hmnnn....maybe..." She gave him a warm smile. "Who ever said that should be given a metal then." She stuck her tongue out at him a bit. To anyone watching, the thought that she might be a pirate would never even cross their mind.
He just giggled more, and nodded, sipping the hot chocolate that seemed to warm him from within. He gazed around wide eyed at the city, staring at the banners and the people like a kid in a candy store. She watched him interestedly, like he was a new pet that one wanted to know everything about. How a demon could be so unaware of anything...wow...she tugged him along though, and soon they were on the very outskirts of the city, peering down the long dirt path that lead to his old home. "Stay here a moment, I'm going to rent a board."
He blinked but nodded, standing there, peering around curiously. Wow... how could everything be so big... he'd really been missing out... he'd never questioned it before.... he was happy at home, but then...well now that he'd SEEN what was out there, suddenly he wanted to see MORE. She came back with what looked like a windsurfer, strung up with the same material that her dragonfly wings had been made out of. "Come on, step on, we'll get there within a half an hour this way." She motioned to the contraption as she let it stand up, sail limp but floating about two feet above the ground.
He stared at it oddly. "Is that..." His breath held. A sailboard.....?
"Top of the line, sailboard. great condition to." She mused, maybe she won't return this one...
He reached out and grabbed a hold lightly, staring at it with wonder. "Wow... I've seen people using these but...." He gulped. Ooh… it was going to go fast wasn't it? But yet something deep inside.... wow....
She stepped on, putting her arms about his so that he was leaning against her, keeping him enclosed in the cage of her arms for safety measures as she clicked her boots onto the gas and break petals. "Hold on Chrno, this is going to be very, very fast."
He held tight, and gasped as she encircled him.... oh what had he gotten himself into...? He prepared himself, his stomach clenching inside with excitement and fear. She stepped down hard on the back petal, the sail glowing brightly almost blinding as the contraption rocketed forward, spiraling up high so that they could ride on the clouds of astral that filled the sky, the wind whipping past them, and she laughed merrily. Oh yes, she was DEFINATLY not returning this one. He gasped and his breath nearly was torn from his lungs as they shot forward, his eyes shutting closed suddenly but as the world reeled around him he decided that was a bad idea.... and opened them again only to see the ground spinning beneath him...oh wow...his heart was pounding hard in his chest, his blood pumping...this was amazing.....
She leaned the board so that the prow was just skimming the top of the clouds, leaving pink waves off around them as she glanced down at him, her heart pounding with the excitement that came every time she was able to sky surf like this. "What do you think Chrno, still afraid of heights?"
His eyes darted across the tops of the clouds staring in wonder at what it looked like from up here. "Oh wow...." He breathed lightly, unable to tear his gaze away. How could he be afraid of heights like this....... It was gorgeous.
She giggled again, crinkling her eyes up a bit. God he was adorable. "Dang," She yawned, the contraption wobbling as she closed her eyes in the motion. "Half an hour, I wonder if I can stay awake that long...I might have to have you take the controls."
He gasped a bit, and looked back at her with wide eyes. "M...me?" But...he'd never even driven a cart...
She nodded sweetly. "Yeah, it's not that hard, here, put your hands on these." She let go of one of the hand-twists on the bar, motioning for him to put his hand there.
He blinked, but moved his hands quickly over there, afraid of no one steering, and gripped them tightly. She closed her hands over his, not that much bigger then his own, just enough to make sure he didn't kill them both, and directed them to a balanced point. "See, your doing great!" He grabbed onto them, and gulped, feeling the adjustments under the least little move that he made, and feeling the thrust and power. She smiled, humming lightly as he got a good grip on the idea, looking ahead at a long cloud that piled up high in the sky. "Ok now when we come up to this twist the right forward and the left towards you." She commanded in his ear, grinning lightly, "And don't panic when we tip, if you do, we'll fall ok?"
He gulped a bit and nodded, eyes intent on the cloud. Don't panic... don't panic.....right forward...left back...no wait...left forward right back...? She seemed to sense his confusion, and with a muffled laugh helped him take the first move as they reached the cloud, hitting the brake hard, and then slammed on the gas so the cut completely horizontal to the ground before going up in a tight spiral directly into the center, the astral cloud twisting along around them until the came out of the very top with a Pop! He yelped, and almost closed his eyes, but forced them open, feeling his whole body shivering as they whirled around and around and around and poof appeared in the top, the astral cloud humming around him, making him feel slightly lightheaded.
Wah..... His whole body felt tingly...and his heart felt ready to pop......but wow....... he didn't want it to end. She moved his hands so that they went vertical again, slicing down the side of the cloud like one would ski down a mountain. "See, not that bad."
He giggled nervously, beginning to get the hang of this... It wasn't that bad really... it felt really good.... really free... as if nothing in the world could stop them....but still... he'd rather her steer. "Y…yeah.....It's...great!"
She pointed down at the town in the distance. "Which one is it?"
He gulped a bit, but pointed down at the single rickety old house at the top of the hill. "There."
She nodded, hitting the brake lightly and tipping the nose up so that the wind broke their decent, landing lightly at the doorstop, letting go of his hands and hopping off. "Rinki dinki place. Wow."
He breathed and as soon as they hit the ground, he collapsed shakily to his knees. Wow...what a rush. The billows were pumping inside, and a sweaty bald man with a thick scar over his pate was hammering away at the forge, whistling over the roar of the bellows. She folded down the sail as it dulled down and leaned it against the wall before knocking readily on the door. "Helloooo!! Mr. Chrno's X master!!"
The man looked up. and coughed a little spitting some tobacco out and peering out at her. "Who dat? Whozzare? Kurono me boy that you? Where ya been, I bin wooried boutcha."
"Ah sorry sir." He jogged in, still a bit shaky, but cheeks flushed. "I um... had an interesting day."
Rosette followed him in, wrinkling her nose at the smell of the place, but watched them interestedly, not really wanting to break the news that she was taking him.
"Eh?" The man set the half-forged sword down and trundled over. He was a biiiig big man, and blind in one eye, probably from some shrapnel from a broken blade way back when...which explained why he made Chrno do a lot of the work. "Eh? Wazzat, didja deliver th' goods?"
"Um... yes sir but..." He rubbed the back of his head suddenly flushing. "They didn't pay... and kidnapped me...."
The man blinked and guffawed. "Ya don't say... bloody rotten luck... so yer don't got nothin' ta show for it eh?"
"Sorry sir... no." He looked down shuffling his foot. "But...." He glanced over at Rosette with a shy smile. "Her ship rescued me... and… well as payment I kind of am...."
He peered curiously at her. "Eh? Takin' im are ye?"
She gave him a nice smile. "Yes. His work is the best I've seen in a few years. You trained him well."
"Aye..." He beamed at that. "Bloody best apprentice I've 'ever 'ad. Quick ter learn...boy's got a magic touch I tell ya...." He shook his head. "Twill be sad losin ya, but since I ad ya ere boy, business boomed... got me more thn' anout ta get buy till I find me anot'her."
"Sorry about leaving sir..." He looked a bit ashamed. "But."
"Ah doncher worry yer head about cha... knew yer too good ta stay in this rathole. Go getcher stuff whilez I have a word wid da lady."
"Yessir." He smiled up at her and dashed off towards the ladder, shimmying up it swiftly almost like a monkey, obviously used to getting up there in a hurry.
She looked a bit surprised at this, before sighing. It was bound to happen, after all, she had just come out of no where and took him... "Ah yes?" She directed her eyes to the large man, leaning against the wall and fingering with the cross about her neck.
He gestured, and drew her outside, and plopped down on the bench there, wiping his head with a dirty cloth and squinted up at her. "Yer a bonnie lass... but ah wager ye ain't jus' any girl...." He glanced down to her belt lightly then back up with a grin. "Am ah right?"
She gave him a sheepish look and rested her gloved hand on it. "Ah yes. You found me out." She smiled, brushing some of the stray locks out of her eyes, while looking him over once or twice. "Keen eye you have for an old man, been a black smith all your life?" She doubted it.
He laughed at that and winked a bit, grinning wide at her. "Ah ye got me too lass....was a mercenary pirate meself fer mos' o me life. Found a good woman though, settled down... ah..." He sighed a bit. "She died jus' for th' boy came ter me.... bonnie lass she were....but." He clapped a hand on his knee. "If yer gonna take th' boy, ther summ things ya should know bout im ...."
She looked off to the right and left before sighing and sitting down next to the old man. "I have some questions for you also." Her blue eyes glittered a bit. "How in all worlds did a demon of that persona get into your hands?"
He guffawed. "Ah know, ain't 'e a riot? Innocent as the da' e was born...hatched...whatever."
She smiled at that, holding back laughter. "Yeah, but really. How did you find him?"
He sobered a little. "Ain't much ta tell 'm afraid missy. Found em on me way back from a tradin' mission...floatin in th's abandoned pod in space... near dead 'e was....poor bugger had no memory at all. Took i'm in, felt sorry fer im ya know...." He glanced at her intently. "But I'm gonna warn ye.... there's a might fin mystery bout im...."
She cocked her head to the side, leaning back on the bench a bit, pondering that. Out in the middle of space...how odd. A mystery indeed, but she was quite sure that wasn't all the man had to say about him. "Has he...ever regained those memories, of being a demon that is? He acts as if he doesn't even know."
He shook his head. "Nope... ne'r... and 'e doesn't know, I didn' have the heart ta ever tell him.... no sense ruinin' the poor boy's life....people ere' ate demons with a passion... ate em angels too.... 'es got no such prejudice in 'im. If I let him know...well who knows what'd happen...." He sighed a bit. "So careful missy. I ne'r figured out just who exactly he is.... jus' his name's all he knew. And...." He looked around warily suddenly. "One o'er thin... come on." He rose standing and gestured for her to follow him into the house portion of the building.
She blinked and stood, beads clinking against her earrings and her skirt ruffling as a wind picked up around her, and she followed him within, interested. The simple choice to return a sword was getting her into something deep. she knew it.
He opened the door and walked in. The room was tiny, it was clear now why Chrno slept out in the barn, which was always warm from the forge, since the house was barely big enough to fit the large man. He rummaged around for something under his bed, and then yanked a floorboard up and pulled out an old iron locked box. He pulled a key from around his neck, and unlocked it, then pulled out a few things, obviously his precious items, and finally a small fabric wrapped item and held it out to her. "Ere... 'e had this round 'is neck.... betcher know what it is, too."
She took it lightly, blinking as she unwrapped it before gasping, her eyes widening. "My God.." She ran a hand across the clock's face, her heart pounding wildly. It was every thief's dream, every pirate's most prized aim...The Key. "Man… I definitely got myself into something deep...Yuan's going to kill me..." She murmured a bit, before locking eyes with the old man. "You sure you're out of the business, you got mighty good luck that could be useful."
He grinned wider at that. "Har...girlie...ye don't say eh?" He looked thoughtful and sorely tempted, but... he shook his head. "If ye need me skills lass, I'd be glad ter join up....but I think th' traveling life is done fer me, I'm gettin old... can't see properly so I'm not a good fighter anymore."
She smiled and then clasped his shoulder, snagging out a communicator and folding it into his hand. "If you ever are down on your luck my friend. We'll be proud to have such a man on board."
He took it and grinned at her clapping her on the back firmly. "Aye. I'd be me pleasure. Good luck… bring em back to visit when ye can, I'll miss th' brat."
She smiled, nearly toppling over as he clapped her back, jolting her breath. "Ah...I'll do that.."
He grinned and nodded, just as the door opened and Chrno's head poked in with a satchel over his back. "Ah here you are."
"Aye lad!" He stood up and walked over, bear hugging him. "Now ya be careful got it? Wouldn't want ya ter go missin an arm er leg."
"Ack...ye...yes sir!"
Rosette stretched, turning around and hooked an arm about his shoulders. "I'll take care of him sir, promise." She pocketed the clock in the mist of her skirt, leading him out. "Lets go Chrno."
He nodded, shouldering the bag and waving at his old master as the man came to watch him leave. "Take care sir!"
She flipped open the board, and let the sail come out, ushering Chrno into it and hopping on, raising up into the air. "Be safe old man!"
He hopped on waving back, less scared of the bloody thing now, and looked a bit sad back at the old man waving below. This was his life...and he couldn't help but feel sad he was leaving it....but think of the possibilities.....
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Dear god she was embarrassed, sitting here in this chair while her crew surrounded her shouting up 'happy birthday to you'. WHEN the hell did they plan this out? Chrno giggled off to the side watching as he sat beneath the rigging. They were a hearty bunch... they all loved her, he could see that clearly....
"And!" Remi announced as the song finished, turning to her and presenting a very finely wrapped box. "This is on behalf of all the crew, m'lady."
She blinked and turned pink, accepting the box after a bunch of half hearted grumbling, and began to unwrap it. "This isn't going to get any of you a raise you know that?!" She added, before pulling the box open and pulling out a beautiful, but not gaudy set of jewelry, cuffs and a thin necklace, blinking up at Remington. "Didn't I tell you guys no stealing?" Dear god these must have cost a fortune...
He just grinned widely at her, and held out a hand. "Ah, but that's not all.... I have my own present to give."
She set the box aside and gave him a little wrinkling of the nose. "You got me enough.." But she took his hand anyway.
He took her hand and pulled her up, then in a whirl, twirled her around, and had her in a scooped dip, and promptly kissed her...one of those deep passionate, sweet kisses that make your toes tingle and your head swell. The entire crew roared out their agreement with the present, some looking very jealous, but others trying to wipe the tears from their eyes inconspicuously. She blinked stunned for a moment before she closed her eyes, her lips twitching up a bit in a smile. Oh god, he was going to die for this. Remi simply smiled, pulling back and lifting her back up, a saucy grin on his face. Oh yes... he KNEW he was in for it...but ohhh was it worth it. "Happy birthday."
"Happy birthday my ass you pedophile." She exclaimed pushing his chest so that he stumbled back a bit, but her eyes glittered playfully as she picked up one of her darts, twisting it around in her hand. "How about we play a bit of pin the tail on Remington?" The point glinted dangerously.
He just laughed and protested a bit as his men all cheered and grabbed him, tying him up to the mainsail, butt poking out. "Ahh! Rosette.... this is too much even for you!" He laughed though.
"I don't know about that." She said coyly, cutting out a donkey tail from a piece of paper and then motioning for her to be blindfolded.
Chrno giggled and nearly fell off the pole he was sitting strattled on, part of the mast that was tied back. Oh my... this was amusing. The men laughed and one grabbed a piece of silk and pulled it around her eyes, some others twirling her playfully. She wobbled on her feet a bit, laughing all the while as she took a step forward, true to her aim which was second to none, "Look out Yuan, your ass is mine!" poke
"Ahh!" He yelped as literally, his ass was hers. "Careful where you shove that!"
She pulled off the eye-wrapping only to double over with laughter, almost convulsing. "Oh...oh…Someone get the camera...ahahaha." He just sighed dramatically, as someone put a pair of donkey ears that'd been in the fetish pile on his head.
Then with a click, the moment was immortalized forever.
And poor Remi would never forget it... the night he looked literally, like an ass.