Kitty laid down on Amelia's bed, and she suddenly smiled. She was finding that being a felinid was just great! It was like being blind your entire life, then suddenly being able to see. Like being deaf, then being able to hear. It was utterly fantastic! She didn't move as she snuggled in, even as the door opened. She could hear Amelia's breath, as she came inside the room.
"It´s absolute pure luck that I happen to have a double bed, miss, or you´d be sleeping in a hammock down with Arrow and the others," Amelia informed her. Kitty looked up at her with her new eyes, seeing her nearly as clear in the dark as if it had been the middle of the day.
"Now, do move over, so I may lie down," Amelia instructed, yawning. Kitty smiled and rolled over to the side to let Amelia lie down. Amelia sat down, dragging off her boots.
"Amelia? How can you stand wearing those heels?" Kitty asked sleepily.
Amelia continued her work, dragging off her last boot. "I wear them because they make my legs...er, they make appear taller," Amelia answered, quickly recovering, as she unbuttoned her jacket to lay it upon the nearby chair. Soon she lay down, clad only in her underthings, and nearly fell asleep at once.
Kitty smiled and laid an arm over Amelia as she slept. She figured Amelia might be a bit young to be her new mother, but as an older sister she fit rather nicely. And with a contented smile upon her lips, Kitty fell fast asleep.
The next day broke, and Amelia awoke to see Kitty sleeping beside her, breathing deeply. The young Captain smiled as she remembered everything that had happened just yesterday. She then shook Kitty gently awake. The girl stirred a little before opening her eyes, yawning. "What´s the time?" she asked, muzzily.
"Six o'clock in the morning, sleepyhead," Amelia answered kindly.
Kitty groaned at that and rolled back over, intending to go back to sleep. "Oh, bloody hell..." Amelia heard before Kitty disappered beneath her pillow.
"Oh, I think not, Kitty. If you are ever going to be a proper spacer, you're going to be up ready to work early," Amelia remarked helpfully.
"But, honestly...six o'clock?" Kitty questioned from under her pillow.
Amelia could only sigh, then took a good grip on Kitty's feet and dragged her bodily out of bed. When Kitty still slept on, lying on the floor in a heap, Amelia sighed and then headed outside to her quarters. She came back before too long, only this time with a good-size bucket filled with cold water, which she promptly cast over Kitty's head, soaking her good and proper.
Now, that certainly got Kitty's immediate attention. "Yeow!" she exclaimed, scrambling to her feet.
"Wakey, wakey," Amelia said sweetly, a mischevous grin on her face.
"You are evil," Kitty told her, water dripping down her nose.
"I'm nothing of the sort, Kitty...but, I am the Captain," Amelia said and started putting on her clothes. Kitty scowled, but did dry her head, and put her clothes on.
After a while, Amelia and Kitty went out on deck. Amelia, once assured that all was well, turned to her new spacer-in-training. "Very well then, Kitty. Let us start simply, shall we?" Amelia declared companionably.
Kitty nodded...it wasn't as if she could do anything else, after all. She then looked about, and out into the Etherium. It was so breath-takingly beautiful that she couldn't seem to get out a single word.
Amelia noticed Kitty's rapturous gaze right away, and understood. "Ah, first time gazing out at the Etherium then?" she asked.
Kitty nodded again.
Amelia simply smiled. "Not to worry, dear. You´ll become used to it after a few days. Now, as to your training, I think I could use a little help now, right off." She then whistled sharply twice, and Alexander trotted over to her, and saluted smartly. "Ah, Master Dalley, there you are. I'm afraid that I find myself in need your most capable assistance," Amelia said. She smiled and continued. "A Captain is a busy person, and I have far too much to do aboard ship to adequately train our young Miss Petro here. Do you think I might impose upon you to help?"
Alex smiled, eager to serve the almost legendary Captain Amelia. "Of course I will, Ma'am!" Alex said, while Kitty glared fiercely at Amelia with an icy stare.
"Ah, good man," Amelia said, choosing to not even look Kitty's way. "I suggest you start with with teaching her basic spacer's knots, and then perhaps, should you find the time, see if you can train her to competently climb the shrouds."
"Yes, Ma'am," Alex said again, smiling eagerly.
Kitty knew what Amelia was up to, well enough. Apparently, her bold comments regarding this cabin boy from yesterday had evidently prompted Amelia to begin playing matchmaker between them.
Well, I'll get my revenge, Kitty thought indignantly.
"Very well, Ms. Petro...shall we start then?" Alex asked good-naturedly.
"Sure!" Kitty said, and moved to find a good place to sit down and learn. After a while, and a good many knots later, Alex finished his first lesson with her.
"All right," he said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Feel up to trying to climb the shrouds with me?"
Kitty looked up to the heights of the towering masts and swallowed hard, a bit startled. "Eh, um, Alex?" she said, her voice markedly uneasy.
"Yes, what is it, Ms. Petro?" he answered, giving her a querilous look.
"Um, would this be a bad time then to tell you that I'm desperately afraid of high places?" Kitty wheedled, her face pale.