Char watched with rapt attention and horror as he watched his wife-to-be make love to this…this…thing. He had grown outraged when he saw him trying to take advantage of his sweet little Xanthee. With great anxiety he had sent Jarok to go kill this newcomer, but relented as the man collapsed on her with regret. Jarok shrugged his shoulders and stalked off, leaving Char to his own devices. Char, unable to tear himself away, watched as his lovely Xanthee moaned under the caresses of a man he'd never met yet seemed incredibly familiar. Morbid fascination refused to allow him to shut off the display monitoring her room, and in time he began to cry heartfelt tears of loss. All too suddenly he understood what this familiar stranger had felt just moments before. His soul poured down his cheeks and dripped into his palms as he was able to wrench his gaze from the screen when the deed was done. He couldn't bear to see her contentedly tired in the arms of another man.
Feeling miserable beyond belief, he shut off the screen and hid it again within its wall panel. He lay down as the tears subsided and also fell asleep, the image of Xanthee and his adversary replaying cruelly throughout his sleep.
Meanwhile in the other room, Raven had been left alone with Jarok. Raven sat in a chair on the opposite corner of the room practically hidden from him, her usual shyness overcoming her again once the action had passed. Wow, what the hell got into me back there? Since when do I ever talk to weirdoes? Guess I was just really excited. She shook her head and stole a glance at Jarok, who appeared to be doing the exact same thing. They both looked away simultaneously and returned to inspecting every corner of the room from where they sat for seemingly inconceivably small dust motes floating through space and time. Overwhelmingly bored, Raven took out the vial her mother told to keep with her at all times. She wore it around her neck as an amulet, and it held a single black raven feather. Her mother had given it to her when she was very young, proclaiming the bird as her namesake. It had lived in her yard as a young child, and her mother had learned much about life from it. Her mother had said that to give away that feather were like giving away herself. If she were to give it away, she'd better be sure she knew the person well and trusted and loved them completely with all her heart. She plunked the vial back down under her shirt. I'll never find anyone to give the damn thing to. Why don't I just burn it? Nobody will ever love me like that. Guys are stupid pigs. She frowned and in her sudden rage at both Char and Wolf, she glared at Jarok, expecting him to do something totally irrational and unforgivable while at the same time wondering about her friend's safety and state of mind.
Jarok was feeling similarly uncomfortable. He sat for a while and plucked at the sleeves of his elaborate shirt of bright orange. He'd rejoiced in being able to wear the shirt and hoped to be able to remain single, knowing full-well that some insane woman would probably get her paws on him eventually. Thus far he had evaded capture by staying in Char's shadow; after all, nobody wanted Jarok over the prince. This allowed him some freedoms, such as wearing whatever kind of clothing he preferred. But now he was having second thoughts. A random urge told him to jump to his feet, and he found himself walking speedily to his room and digging through his drawers. He looked over and saw the dejected look on Raven's face and felt that he had offended her by leaving. He grabbed the darkest shirt in his wardrobe and returned promptly to the other room. To Raven's evident surprise, he stripped off the hideous orange shirt and revealed decent abs and conditioned torso. He blushed as he saw the surprise on her face and struggled hurriedly into the dark, navy-blue shirt with elaborate, tapering sleeves. Feeling deeply embarrassed, he plopped back in his chair and stuttered, trying to form words and make conversation to break the unending silence as they waited for the resolution of the abrupt power-struggle between Wolf and Char.
Raven began to smile in confusion as Jarok barely managed to exude the word 'Hi' from his struggling vocal chords. She was thinking about if she would like to respond when a door opened with a quiet squeak. She looked up to see Xanthee emerge with tangled hair and rumpled clothing. Oh Lord, what happened in there? She thought, randomly suspicious. Xanthee smiled, and Raven assumed everything had gone well; however, she still wondered just how well. She came over to her and hugged her in greeting, telling her hollowly how much she'd missed her before reclining on the chair next to her with a yawn. Xanthee and Jarok made idle conversation, as it was always easy for Xanthee to make conversation and seemingly steal any guy Raven had ever had the slightest interest in. But what am I thinking? I don't like this guy! …Do I? She shook her head; an odd emotion which she refused to acknowledge as jealously boiled in her gut.
Xanthee leapt to her feet. "I'm hungry!" She proclaimed loudly, leading the way to the kitchen with an ease and grace that she didn't really feel after such strenuous exercise. Jarok and Raven exchanged a glance and both shrugged, getting up to follow her. Xanthee took a seat next to Raven, sitting with their backs to the way they had come, and Jarok sat directly across from them. Jarok, out of habit, made each of them a sandwich, and they sat idly chatting, Xanthee realizing her mistake and trying considerately to keep her mouth shut this round. She turned her head and looked over her shoulder as she heard a crash.
"Wolf?" she said hesitantly. "Sorry I didn't wake you, wanted to say hi to…" she cut herself off and bit her tongue as Char lowered the deep brown-tinted dish from in front of his face.
"I got hungry, too," he grumbled a bit moodily, and began to dig through the cookware again before also settling for a sandwich.
Jarok's jaw dropped. "Char…? What…what happened to your hair?" He said. Char had lopped off most of his silky, wavy long hair. Jarok looked away with disgust as he realized it was around the same length Wolf's. He, too, had thought it Wolf when he originally noticed his friend, and this startled him. He had never misplaced Char; then again, he had had no idea that his curls so naturally fit the same style that Wolf seemed to sport. What kind of man is so willing to please a woman? He thought with distaste, standing up to get Raven a drink as he had neglected to do when making the sandwiches. He himself wasn't thirsty, but force of habit dictated he get her something.
Eventually, Wolf did rise. He licked his lips as he thought over the events of the previous night. He slipped on his boxers and pants and smiled a bit. It'd been more incredible than he could have ever hoped or imagined. He still despised himself for losing control like he had. Had Xan not awakened before him, he was fully intending to check her over completely for any bruises he may have inflicted. He headed out of the room and into the kitchen, where Xanthee sat sandwiched between Raven and Char with her back to him. Jarok sat across the table, eating ravenously as Raven tilted her head a bit. Wolf could just imagine she was rolling her eyes.
As he stood in the doorway watching, he saw Char snake a hand deftly around her waist and pull her closer to him timidly. Xanthee stiffened visibly but then relaxed, resting her head on his shoulder drowsily. Wolf drooped, remembering too late that he was indeed the loser in this situation. Then again, his very presence on this ship was sure to make this other guy's skin crawl with apprehension. He helped himself to some breakfast then walked to the table confidently and took the seat next to Jarok on the bench. He noticed belatedly that he had the most food of everyone there, but then again, he needed it badly.
Char's lip curled with distaste as he saw his foe sit down across from him unconcernedly. As Xan noticed his presence, she cleared her throat and scooted away from him. Char felt his heart drop, but knew that the contract he had with her was very binding, and he still would risk anything to make her happy. Perhaps I could allow him to stay at her side somehow, he paled at the thought. Xan cleared her throat again.
"Wolf, Raven, this is Char, my…affianced." She nearly choked on the word and had to take a pause before continuing. "Char, these are my good…friends, from Earth, Raven and Wolf," motioning to each in turn. A blush flooded her cheeks and she sat quietly for the rest of the meal. She looked up to see Wolf and Char basically measuring each other up, and eyed their profiles intensely. Both pushed their dishes away from themselves, Wolf having barely touched his so far. Xan looked at him down his nose somehow that seemed as though it should be impossible, considering he was taller than her. He pulled his dish closer to himself but couldn't bring himself to eat; instead, the food found itself making laps around his plate. At a nudge, Char began doing the same. Xan couldn't help but see how startlingly alike they seemed in not just appearance but attitude also.
"Char, I've never had a chance to ask…how old are you?" She looked puzzled. "My friends, they're 15," she waved her hand at Wolf, "and 17, like me," she said, waving this time to Raven.
"I'm 19, turn 20 this May. Why I needed to find you, my love," he glared briefly at Wolf, "before I turned 20 and inherited the throne, according to my parents' wishes. Jarok is 18, and he's not nearly as concerned with finding anyone yet." He laughed quietly as Jarok stuck his tongue out.
Wolf stood up suddenly. He couldn't stand it any longer, seeing the love of his life feeling so uncomfortably torn between Char and himself. He couldn't help thinking that Char was probably better for her than he ever could be; hadn't acted so immaturely or hurt her in his grief. He was older and would treat her better in his mind, and he missed her dreadfully already. He put his dish into the sink and practically ran back to his dormitory, wetness trailing silently from his eyes down his cheeks. He threw himself on the now cold bed and curled up in the spot where he had felt so much joy just a few hours before. Feeling somewhat secure at last, he allowed himself to relax and wept loudly, knowing they couldn't hear him in the kitchen. He sobbed harder, clutching the blankets and clinging to a pillow in place of his lover.