Chapter 2
Zelda came over one evening, as she held her small bag with her, walking onto my ship. For Baroque Works, it was a small faction, perhaps a little larger than the "Going Merry", but with the proprietorship of none. "Hello, darling". I said, gently as I sat outside with my cigarette. I leaned over the bow, smoking as I brought the cigarette to my lips. Mmm, I love nicotine with a passion, I must add. The taste, the flavor, the essence of it's candy tar. It's like sour candy with a hint of sweetness to it. I love when the tip of a white cigarette, laden with flame, becomes ashen. My wrinkled lips curled around the cigarette, as some of my lipstick got on the cigarette. I still adore smoking, as much as a man enjoys sex. Smoking is a woman's indulgence. Much like smoke coming from an Amtrak locomotive, smoke trailed from the cigarette itself. I also had some sake sitting nearby. My lips curled into a cunning smile. Much like a coral snake when he sees an opportunity to inject his venom on the victim.
"It's good to see you, darling". "You look so beautiful, so heavenly". "But I guess it isn't surprising how beautiful you truly are". I said, gently. "I'm so thrilled you decided to spend the evening with me". "You know how happy I always am to see my favorite young woman".
"I love you, darling…so much". I said, gently. I blew out some cigarette smoke. "I love you too". Zelda said. "So, how is everything going by you?". "Is everything going swimmingly?". I asked, kindly. I raised the cigarette from my lips. "It's going ok…I guess". Zelda said. "I'm kind of….I kind of am reading a new book". "It's a botanical book".
"Mmm, wonderful". I said, gently. "You've acquired some useful knowledge from your research". "I'm happy to know how gifted you are at that".
"I've been perusing some Nietzche, and his methods of philosophy". "He is an abstract thinker in his ponderings". "Some of his abstracts are rather unordered, however". I said, gently. "Nietzche is kind of a wanderer in his thinking style, and optimisms". Zelda said. "But he does have good optimisms".
"Mm hmm". I said, nodding. "Nietzche isn't my favorite, really". "I prefer Descartes over Nietzche". "Descartes is a bit more grounded than Nietzche, and he has reality on his side". "Descartes is a much better philosopher". "Hmm". I smoked my cigarette. "I think it's interesting how Descartes is someone who uses concrete thinking in his methods and writings". Zelda said. "Descartes knows how to be a plentiful philosopher".
"Mm hmm". I agreed, gently. "I love tantric philosophers, myself". I smoked, watching the smoke rise up. "Some men are abstract in their thoughts". "Perchance a little too abstract". "But that's the thing about intelligent women". "The ones with a grounded mind are much more sensible, and have a higher intelligence quotient". "It is measured". I blew out some smoke, running fingers through my bushy, red hair.
"The tantric ones are the fun ones". I said, grinning a sly grin. "I believe that measure, myself". Zelda said. I smiled a gentle smile behind the ashen cloud. "You're such a beautiful girl". "You need some juice, or some Oat Milk to keep you healthy, baby girl". I said, gently. "I guess". Zelda said. I could see Zelda was a bit saddened this evening for some reason. She seemed a bit troubled.
"Zelda". I said, softly with gentleness. My voice, coated in thick rasp comforted her as she sniffled. "Yes?". Zelda asked. "I couldn't help but notice you seem a bit troubled this evening". "You're usually so grounded and helpful". "What's troubling you, darling?". "Tell me and I'll make it easy for you". I promised, gently. I put my cigarette aside, stroking her young, porcelain face with the back of my wrinkly hand. "I don't know". Zelda said. She felt the soft brush of my hand, feeling as if she could trust me enough to sniffle.
"Usually, I'm ok….but…I kind of have been feeling kind of sad, and lost". Zelda said, curmudgeonly. "I understand". I said, gently. "I know it's a hard time, but I assuage you, there's nothing to worry about". "If our friendship, and our love is strong, we can do anything". I smiled a kind smile. "I'll be beside you, always". "My favorite cadaver". I said, gently.
"What's making you feel this way?". I asked, gently. "Zelda, love?".
"I guess it's because I've been having nightmares…and I'm trying to sleep…but I can't sleep any way I try to". "It's making me sad". Zelda said, as she sniffled. "What are these nightmares that are plaguing you?". I asked, gently with kindness. "Are they hard for you?". I was soft and gentle in my speech.
"They are". Zelda said. "They're about sights of lightning, they're about a dark figure wearing a cloak, they're really bad…and there's a woman that looks a lot like me…and she's there….she's holding me…and saying goodbye". "I usually wake up screaming and shaking….I can't…I can't get them to go away". "I don't want to tell anybody". "I want to be strong….for the kingdom".
"I understand". I said, gently. "Those sound like bad nightmares". "Nightmares can be arduous in experience".
"Well, you did mention you were adopted, previously…yes?". I asked, kindly. "I was…I was adopted when I was 6 months". Zelda said. "You mentioned your parents passed away when you were 4 months". "Your birth parents". I said, gently. I rested my head on my hands. "Yes…and…I don't remember the rest". Zelda said. Zelda sniffled. "Perchance the nightmares you've experienced are a result of the trauma you experienced in infancy". I said, gently. "The nightmares are a result of what you encountered early in your young life". "You experienced a lot of trauma early on". "When you lost your birth mother…the mother who gave you milk, nurturing, love, and contact within the first few months, this affected you, emotionally". "You do have a high quotient, but it's not without the endurance of deprivation within the first few months". "You were deprived of contact, love, stimulation, and peace during those times". "That is perhaps why you are so traumatized". I tapped some ash from my cigarette.
"I am kind of traumatized, I guess". Zelda said. "I don't have anyone besides my dad….and Link to talk to about anything". "It's really hard for me to try to do". "But I am curious…why do babies need to be by their birth mothers for stimulation?". "Why do babies even need their mothers?". I could tell my darling Zelda was curious. "Well, when infants come into the world, they are still susceptible, and vulnerable to the world, because they are new". "Infants are still young, and the crucial piece they need to their puzzle is stimulation, and love". "Love heals all wounds". "Love builds development". I said, gently. "When you were still young, your birth mother loved you, dearly". "She knew you were an excellent girl, with a lot of potential, the bond you had between one another was strong, but unfortunately, it was torn apart soon, because of the war that came between the both of you". "The war was traumatic for everyone". "When I was still a young woman, the war happened…and it was the worst I had experienced". "I knew it was something I didn't wish to endure, but I did". "You endured the worst part of it…because you lost someone you loved".
"I'm sure it was traumatic….losing birth mother's touch, her milk, her smile, and her song". "You lost it…and there was no way to regain it". I said, gently as I smoked my cigarette. "Birth mother meant the world to you, too".
"I guess". Zelda said. "I loved my birth mother a lot….I could've been ok….I can't believe she died". "At that early of an age, too".
"I can't believe it either, honey". I said, gently. "You didn't deserve to lose your family". "You didn't deserve to suffer".
"I didn't….but I guess it's just the way the world is….we try and try, but we can't attain our goals". Zelda said. "I'm ok, though". "I have a family who loves me….and friends who love me, too". "I'm ok as of now….I think".
"You deserve all of the good that comes to you, darling". I said, gently. "I know sometimes, it's hard to determine, but in hindsight, if you have a family that loves you, all of the importance that is held, is within you". "You deserve love, and you have the love of your father…and your friend, Link". "I'm sad for you, sweetie". "Because you're having trouble". "I know it's difficult, and when you're sad, I'm sad". I let the cigarette smoke trail upwards. "It is kind of hard". Zelda said. "I don't know who to trust, anymore". "I don't know who wants to be my friend, for who I truly am".
I nodded, smoking my cigarette. "I wish there was some way I could help you, darling". I said, gently. "Perhaps there is, I could indulge you in some luxury…because you are my favorite". I smiled a cunning smile. "But I promise to give you everything you deserve". "Because you deserve love". "Being adopted is fruitful, because in any case, you are chosen to live a sturdy life with those who love you". I said, gently.
"Thanks for the promise". Zelda said. I smiled a kind smile. "Of course, my darling". "I will do unto you, as you have to me". I said, gently. "Because you are a wise, enduring woman".
"Thank you". Zelda said. I smiled a gentle smile, continuing to smoke, as the ash fell from my cigarette. "Men will never know what us women endure, because they are lost in the prisms of abstract thought". I said, gently. "Men are susceptible to failure, entirely, yet not us women". "We tower above men, in the most haughty of ways". "Men seek to be destroyed by their own naivety". I kept smoking my cigarette. "Link is a good person". Zelda said. "Mmm, is he your best friend?". I asked, gently. "He is". Zelda said.
I kept smoking my cigarette, still. "I'm sure you understand just how much your birth mother loved you…she loved you deeply". I said, in a gentle whisper. I tapped the ash from my cigarette. "She did?". Zelda asked. Zelda looked up, as she sniffled. "She did, very much so". I said, kindly. "When you were born, or shortly after you were born to her, she held you close to her body, her chest, it seemed…and she kissed you on your tiny head". "She gave you milk, you gave you stimulation, and she gave you nurturing". "The bond between you both was wondrous". "You were inseparable".
"A bond between a mother and her child is one that cannot be undertaken, or underestimated". I said, gently. "Even in times of tragedy, a mother will keep her child close to her, even when it seems like an impossible task". "When the war came, your birth mother kept you safe…even when it meant sacrificing herself". "Birth moms do that sometimes, when they sense danger".
"I guess". My Zelda said as she glanced around. She stood up, standing alone as she blinked back tears, it seemed. "Are you alright, baby girl?". I asked, gently. "Kind of". Zelda said, quietly. "I'm trying". "I don't know".
"Do you feel sad that your birth mother died?". I asked, gently. "Does it hurt inside?". I smoked the last part of my cigarette, throwing the stub into the ashtray. "Kind of…but not really because I don't remember my birth mom". Zelda said. "I owe a lot of my intelligence to her because she was smart too, I'm guessing?".
"Well, your birth mother was young, with a normal quotient". I said, gently. "You were as well, although you gained yours from a severe amount of emotional trauma and contact deprivation stemming from the death of your birth parents". "Sometimes, that results in an Intelligence Quotient and a higher Perception of wisdom than normal".
"Really?". Zelda asked. "That is true". I said, gently. "Generally a lower quotient is a result of trauma, yet sometimes in a rare instance, Savantism is present with your Autism". I lit another cigarette, as my lipstick stained the cigarette. "I guess it is". Zelda said. "Well, you were a bit deprived….so it was a bit of a result of that". I said, gently. "In any case, you were a bit different at the beginning". "It's nothing bad, you just kind of were a bit smarter than some". "Sometimes, the Quotient scale is pushed the other direction".
"I guess". Zelda said. Zelda seemed hurt as she stood, looking outwards. "I guess it's ok". Zelda said. Zelda seemed a bit depressed as she stood, glancing outwards. I just smoked my cigarette, leaning down over the bow. I saw how hurt Zelda was, as she looked over the side of the ship. "What's troubling you, darling?". I asked, gently. "What happened, love?". I was kind in my endeavors, and my talking. "Do you feel hurt by something?". "Did I say something to bother you?". I asked, gently.
"Does talking about what happened make you sad?". I asked, gently. "Kind of". Zelda said. "I'm just sad about my mom dying".
"I know it's a hard thing to talk about, but it's something we have to contend with". I said, gently. "Talking is the hardest thing, but I promise you things will get better". "I'd just be hopeful that you'll be a good leader, and you'll have a lot of power behind you".
"Why do I feel sad?". Zelda asked as she glanced upwards. Zelda sniffled. "Perhaps you feel temperamental because you were traumatized at such a young age". I said, gently. "You were traumatized at a time when you should've been developing the proper way". "You were in a bad place in your life, losing your nurturers, your love, your guardians, the women whom you latched onto the most". "You have an emotional disturbance, Zelda". "You have something that affected you emotionally that resulted in you being sad, or having nightmares". "You lost the support, the attachment you had". "It was taken from you, and you were left without a mom". "At such a young age, mind you". I spoke softly and gently to my Zelda.
"I guess". Zelda said. Zelda sniffled as she glanced around. Her eyes were welled up with tears. "Does it make you sad, darling?". I asked, gently. "Yes". Zelda said. Zelda sniffled. "Sometimes, I feel bad for you, knowing what you went through". "What plagued you, honey". I said, gently. "I guess". Zelda said. "But I'll be ok….I know I will". "I'm not emotionally disturbed to the point where I can't do anything". "I'm just kind of sad…that's all". "I guess…I don't know". Zelda felt like crying.
"You are, and have always been my strong girl". I said, gently. "You'll prevail". "Just remember that sometimes life can give us hardship, but I know you have the wisdom to overcome anything". "You are someone with so much strength, courage, intellect and love". "You can do anything you wish". "I'm by your side, always". I smiled a kind smile, "I know". Zelda replied. "And, I'm trying". Zelda sniffled.
"You're doing wonderfully, my love". I said, gently. "Remember, you have the tenacity to be anything you wish to be". "Because you are wonderful". I finished my cigarette. "You were born, you were nurtured as an amazing person, and you will grow an amazing person". "I believe in you, so much".
"Thank you". Zelda said. "You're my baby girl, my beautiful love". I said, gently. Zelda nodded. "Let's have some dinner now". I said, gently. Zelda and I went inside to make some Sardines, Sake and leftover spaghetti. Zelda seemed hungry. Though I could tell she was exhausted. I could tell she was emotionally spent. When the spaghetti was heated up, and served in a plastic bowl, I set it down in front of Zelda and I. "This is lovely". "It's a portmanteau of sauce, and noodles at their best". I said, gently.
"I guess it is". Zelda said. "Did it come from a can?".
"It did, actually". I said, gently. "I usually eat the majority of my food from cans". "I grew up during the wartime, and spending crisis of Japan, and Holland". "The majority of things I've spent money on during that time, were canned items". "Canned items were the succinct amount of financial disposition at its entropic level".
"For someone of your generation, it definitely was". Zelda said. "Mm hmm". I nodded, gently. "My generation grew up during the spending crisis, during wartime, during the fallout from the atomic bomb, it was just, horrible what the United States had done". "I found most of my optimism during the 1960's, when Japan was at its highest ratio". "I was married, I had a husband at that time, although he was someone who leveled out piracy alongside me". "We sailed for a long distance, although I grew tired of it once there was the portmanteau of the Grand Line, and all this "optimists" nonsense". I said, gently. "My husband and I separated, we weren't officially divorced, we separated for a time, after we had conflicting opinions". "He died while he was still living in the house, and we were still legally married". "I'm sure to the naked eye, I would be considered a widow".
"To the naked, naive optimist you would be". Zelda said. "Mmm hmm". I nodded, gently as I took a bite of pasta. "He was a kind man, but towards the end, he soured my views on marriage, and commitment". I remarked. "I would never remarry, because of his staunch views on piracy, and optimism". "He was a naive man, kind and loyal to an endless degree". "He had a lower Intelligence Quotient, with such a naive outlook that might seem retarded in thought, and reasoning".
"I was someone who partook in the naivety, and optimism of piracy". I said, gently. "I wanted to save face, and look as if I was supporting the concept wholeheartedly". "If someone with a higher degree of intellect, "feeds", and "supports", the optimist with grandiose, they are certain to save themselves from being ostracized". "In essence, the man is a being with more primal concepts than the woman". "He is less likely to think, and use wisdom". "Mm". I pursed my lips.
It was then that Zelda brought up a rather inspired, gifted viewpoint that seemed intellectually advanced and deviated for a 9 year old child.
"If we think about the wage gap, and how much aggrandizement a man receives, would we liken it to the universe "helping", and "serving", the intellectually inferior, in a composite manner?". Zelda asked. "Usually the intellectually superior, and those with wisdom are left alone and ostracized, while the inferior are helped and fed". "Could the universe be doing that to the optimistic men?".
"Hmm". I nodded, as an excited grin spread across my lips, as I felt giddy with attraction and excitement. It was hard to contain myself in that moment. I'm usually a hyperactive person. "Well, that is an interesting point you bring up". I said, gently. "I would have to agree with that, although you are correct in many ways". "A man is inferior, and while optimists are supported because of their zeal, women are likened to a lesser degree because of their cynicism". I stated. "I've noticed that quite a bit as a woman who has competed with other men in the realms of piracy". "The intellectually inferior are crowned kings". "Women are seen as unwanted aliases".
"But in any degree, men are subject to a lot of pressure to become the head of households". "That has to be discrediting in its own format". I stated. "That has to be a lot of pressure to be inferior, and "smothered". I pursed my lips, eating the rest of my pasta. "I always fed, and smothered, with little concern to how I was treated". "No big dissent". I finished my pasta, as Zelda finished hers as well. She had been a golden child, and finished her Sardines as well.
"You are such a lovely darling to be around, my Zelda". I said, gently. My lips curled into a smile. "I adore you so much, I love how behaved, intelligent, and gifted you are". I said, with a bit of creepy disposition. Zelda didn't feel totally uncomfortable, but she did feel put off. "I usually don't like children, whatsoever but I'm in love with you". "You're my favorite". I said, as I giggled, unable to keep the admiration, and attraction to her harbored. I kissed Zelda's cheek, gently as I stroked it. "Thank you". Zelda said. "You're my favorite woman, the others I've met are pretty bovine in their own way". "Stupid girls". I said, with some marked aggression in my voice.
"Thank you". Zelda stated. I smiled a gentle smile, wiping some food from Zelda's cheek. "I love you, my best friend". I said, gently. "You are welcome to travel with me for as long as you like". "And there are no rules with us". "We can do as we see fit". Zelda and I shared a smile. I smiled, as Zelda nodded along. Zelda felt tired, I could see it in her eyes. Zelda rubbed her eyes, as she glanced off to the side. "I love you, always". I said, gently. Zelda nodded, as she stood up, going to the fridge, to pour herself some Oat Milk. "Can I get you anything, or help you with anything, darling?". I asked, gently. Zelda looked upwards. "Is it ok if I have some of my Oat Milk?". Zelda asked, as she glanced up. "Of course, sweetie". "You can have anything you like". I said, gently. "Ok, thank you". Zelda said, as she opened the fridge, taking out her Oat Milk. "why do you ask if I needed help…other than to be chivalrous?". Zelda asked.
"Well, I usually don't like anyone, men or children going into my refrigerator". I said, gently. "I don't allow anyone to go through my cabinets, or my freezer, or my television box". "I become very anal about that". "But if you are a beautiful, wise, sharp woman with the capacity of a rocket scientist, you can have access to anything you like". "Which, you are a sharp woman, so you, specifically, can have access to anything you wish, my Zelda". "Anything you wish, is yours". I smiled a cunning smile, washing my dish in the sink. As the evening tide came up, the ship rocked a bit, from one side to the other. Well, perchance it didn't do that, but it did feel as if it was moving a bit.
"Well, have as much Oat Milk as you wish, darling". I said, gently. "I have plenty, and I might dock somewhere with a supermarket in the morning, to get some more groceries". "I do need at least something to do it". I put the washed dishes back in the cabinet. "I see you're very tired, love". I said, gently. "You look emotionally taxed". I smiled a gentle smile. "I am kind of tired". Zelda said. "Was it difficult to converse about your birth parents, losing them?". I asked, gently in a soft manner. "Kind of". "I found it hard to do". Zelda said.
"It is a hard thing to converse about, in the usual sense, but I'm glad you were able to share some secrets with me". I said, gently. "Knowing that mom and dad were gone so soon, is a hard thing to contend with". I smiled a kind smile. "It is…but I'm ok…I guess". Zelda said. "I'm happy you are, darling". I said, gently. Zelda and I smiled. Zelda drank her Oat Milk, as she walked away. "Thank you for opening up to me, I appreciate your candor". I said, gently. "Thank you, too". Zelda said. My lips twitched a bit, in some form of attraction, or sensibility. My lips moved to mouth the words, audible enough to hear; "Love you". Zelda heard, but had walked away at this point. I went to my cabin, putting on my black tight, (somewhat loose) negligee, complete with silk, outlined with lace around the top's border. That, and some shorts. I had a skin tight negligee that looked what the commoner would refer to as, "sexy".
Pouring a wine glass of Sake, I sat in the sun deck part of the ship, taking out my cigarette box, as the red sky, with a tint of sunset pink, glowed overhead. Zelda came outside, wearing her nightgown, holding her milk. Her eyes blinked a bit. "Hello, angel". I said, gently. I found a cigarette in my box, taking it out, as I held it against the lighter. The lighter flame illuminated my face. The wrinkles on my face were prominent at this point. "Mm, I'm so glad you could join me". "I've missed you, my Dior". "Jadore". I said, gently. "I…I missed you too". Zelda said. The tip of my cigarette glowed as I smoked. "How is your Oat Milk, darling?". I asked, gently. "It's ok, I guess". Zelda said. "My Oat Milk is something my dad got me to help with nightmares, and with sleep".
"Oat Milk can help with the balance of brain fluids". "It helps with diet regulation, sensory processing, and thinking as well as concentration". I said, gently. "Many children are recommended to have at least some form of Oat Milk in their young lifetime".
"I kind of like Oat Milk". Zelda said. "Oat Milk helps me sleep, also".
"I've been drinking Goat Milk, and brine for some time to help with the regulation of cholesterol, and blood pressure". I said, gently. "Blood pressure has been a big additive for me, as I'm in my late 60's". "I'm almost in my 70's, and while I took my blood pressure the other day at the supermarket, I was surprised at what the machine read". "The machine said it was over, I was perturbed at how inaccurate simple medical technology could read". "I was ready to call the distributor of the blood pressure machine, and complain". "I knew something was off". I stated.
"Blood pressure machines are stupid". Zelda added. "They usually aren't accurate, and when they are, they surprise you with the details of how bad blood pressure is".
"Sometimes, those machines do the witchcraft thing, and state a bunch of inaccuracies to get you hot and bothered with them". "I was hot and bothered when I realized how high my blood pressure was". "I felt perturbed just reading the phonetic signal". I stated. "But with old age, comes high blood pressure, and high cholesterol as well". "The higher the numeric value, the worse off it is, and there's no way to ease it, other than diet, and exercise". "Which I'm not wasting my time with, whatsoever".
"With health comes a caveat of reading the statistics". I said, sighing. "Statistics always mends to take one's eye off the ball". "It's a heavy road to hoe".
"Well, in any case, there's always the way to destroy the blood pressure machine". Zelda stated. She laughed a bit as she said this. "I've thought about that…but I'd have to be drunk, or high to do that". I muttered, as I laughed along with her. "I get high easily these days". I said, gently.
"Wait so you….do drugs?". Zelda asked. A moral, upstanding girl such as her seemed surprised by this. "I have for many years". I replied, gently. "When I was out to sea, I used to smoke reefer, marijuana, crack cocaine, I used to do horrendous things". "I'd smoke the plant itself". "But that was when I was a younger woman". "If I did that now, my arteries would shut down, as well as my kidneys". "I don't need anything stupendous such as that".
"In the 50's, I used to smoke reefer, and cocaine". "That's when I was with my old Crew, The Buggy Carnival Ship". I said, gently. "Wait so….you were with Captain Buggy's crew?". Zelda asked. "I was, and I had a time with the old crew, Hitte, and Sour Jones". I stated, gently.
"Hitte is what came before Buggy, he's now a demon clown that turns others into demons". Zelda said. "Mmm". I mumbled, as I felt a rustle in my negligee. "I may have had a contract with Hitte". "I may have done some business with him….and perhaps a few of them". I said, gently, scandalously as I lifted the cigarette to my lips. "But in essence, my deceased, somewhat ex-husband and I sailed to 23 different places in our lifetime". "We are copesthetic". I smiled a cunning, alluring smile, as I sipped my sake.
"I didn't know Buggy was the captain, I haven't met him, yet". "He seems as if he's foolish, disruptive". I said, as I smoked. "Mmm, I'm surprised you've heard of Hitti". I said, gently as I smoked. "You've heard of him being a captain of my old crew". "How did you know?".
"I kind of heard once when my friend, Link told me". Zelda said. "He tells me a lot of things". "I guess he's learned a lot".
"Mmm". I nodded. "Well, Hitti used to be the captain of our old crew". "He would have an expenditure of different materials to his use in order to find riches, and come up with our circumnavigation statistics". "That was my job, usually". "Was that of the financier, and the statistics ordinator". "Hitti would do various things, in order to remove anyone that stood in our way". I stated. "We were a good crew, that ran on human souls, and possession rather than that of diplomacy and alliance".
"Wow….um….did I hear that correctly?". Zelda asked. Zelda sounded concerned. "Oh…it was nothing…nothing…what I did say, is that we found gold…and treasures". I said, covering my back, nervously. "ok….I believe you". Zelda said, still concerned.
"But I liked my crew, and it was good money". I said, gently. "I made 8,000 a year from it". "My ex-husband and I made a great coalition, when he wasn't spending all of our accumulated wealth on his pipe dreams". I tapped the ash from my cigarette, as my negligee revealed a bit of my old, big breast. "It was a fun time, I enjoyed it". "It was definitely fitting for a woman who had just been married, and was still young". "Mm, it was a lovely time".
"I had my way with the crew, and it was a good monetary amount". "Definitely for the fiscal term". I said, gently. "What did you look like when you were young?". Zelda asked. "Mmm, well I had curly hair, long curly hair that was red, I was a skinny young woman who loved smoking". "I began smoking when I was 10 years old". I said, gently. "I loved being married to the point where I was subservient to the men on my crew". "When I smoked, and drank, I felt freedom".
"I always joined in on various things, and took charge, I was more of a strategist than anything". "In the 50's and 60's, it was just as well". "We had subjects that would help us, it was a fun time". "I loved being a woman, it was an enthralling time". I said, gently. "I'm sure you love being a woman as well". "You're independent, your mind and body is maturing, you're becoming so developed, and dimensional, it's lovely to see". I smiled a gentle smile behind my ashen cloud of cigarette smoke. Some ash fell onto the rim of my wine glass. I drank Sake from a wine glass in order to seem more sophisticated. Much more like a woman.
"You haven't had your period yet, have you, darling?". I asked, gently with cunning. "N..n..no". Zelda replied. "I didn't have my period yet, kind of". "I don't know what a period is".
"Mm, let me know when you do have it, darling". I said, gently. I could tell Zelda was unnerved by this, as she turned her head away. She was a bit put off, some might say, creeped out.
"Well, it is nice to see someone with maturity". "Your generation has a lot of it". I said, gently. "I guess we do". Zelda said. "We have a lot of what we have….it is nice".
"That's why you're my favorite". "Because you have so much tenacity". I said, gently. "You make everyone pleased, and make everyone happy". "I'm happy you're someone I can coalesce with". I chuckled as I smoked my cigarette. "Me too". Zelda said, finishing her oat milk. When the cigarette had become a stub, too small to fit on my lips, and on my blackened tongue, I let it fall into the ashtray, as it put itself out. It just burned to ash, essentially. "Well, it is getting late". "Perhaps we should get some sleep". "Tomorrow, I'll take you to Via Delsoro, Taoito". I said, gently. "It's a fancy restaurant with much proprietorship". "It's very nice on the inside".
"That sounds nice". Zelda said, finishing her Oat Milk. "Well, it is time for me to go in, too". "I have to go to bed…I'm tired".
"So am I". "well, come give your first disciple a kiss, and a hug". "She loves you, so much". "And she will follow you until you love her back". I said, gently chuckling.
Zelda came over, as I kissed her cheek, gently. I rubbed her cheeks gently as well. She did have a porcelain face. "Goodnight, darling". "See you in the morning, now". I said, gently.
"See you tomorrow". Zelda said. "Love you, deeply". I said, kindly. "Love you to the moon and back".
"Love you too". Zelda said. Zelda hugged me as she walked inside the ship, to her cabin. I put out my cigarette, finishing my sake, as I trudged behind, following her, stalking her.
When she went to put on different clothes and underwear in the cabin's bathroom, I stood, watching her become naked. I just watched her undress. Some might call that creepy, but it was alright by me. I love watching the vulnerable become naked. It might be a good business proposition. Young orphans, who were developmentally disabled in infancy are good to take advantage of. I loved my Zelda. Even if I wanted to control her, if I wanted to be the tick that stayed, and sucked the finances, the patience, the comfort, and the energy right out of her. I wanted to be the parasite that burrowed, and sucked, sucked the host species dry. It was good propagation. Even so, I heard from the early clown himself, in the North of Japan. Hitti, had called on the telephone. Forget the stupid "Mushi Den Den", that's not even scandalous.