Reflecting Elections

"What?" Gil looks up from the steaming red metal. "He actually won?"

"Aye," Harry nods, "so ya were listenin'."

Gil frowns, "I always listen when ya talk. It's the rememberin' that's the problem."

Harry rolls his eyes.

"But," her eyes narrow as she looks up from the glass she was rolling in her hands, "I thought the election was tomorrow?"

"It were s'pose ta be," Harry frowns, "but Queen o' Crazy an' Gov'ner Useless be ah missin'."

Well that wasn't exactly unexpected.

But Gaston making it through that?

Or being the one who organized it?

That was a surprise.

Gil frowns as he stares at the blade, "was really hopin' that wouldn't happen."

"Aye?" Harry tilts his head, "an' why ya be ah hopin' that."

She turns to Gil with a frown.

She knew.

Knew it from the moment Junior and Third showed up and tried to drag him off.

He was afraid of the same thing she was.

Their fathers taking them away.

Gil's cheeks redden dark enough to rival Faustina's as he looks away and rubs the back of his head. "Jus' worried."

"Mate I can'ah be ah helpin' if I don'nah know what be worryin' ya." Harry sighs.

She slips off the table she was sitting on to lean supportively against Gil's side.

"We don't know that Gaston will try to pull you away."

Harry's eyes flash dangerously, "like hell we be ah lettin' yer ol' man be takin' ya, Sweet Boy."

"And I'll fight him if he tries," she offers as she smiles and wraps her arms around his waist.

Gil holds her close as he nods, "I don't want ya ta fight 'im."

"I'm pretty sure he feels the same way."

Harry snorts. "Aye, Baby Girl be ah makin' a point there lad."

"I'm terrifying."

Gil's lips twitch, "-ly adorable."

She shrugs, "to the good ones."

She hated it when he was worried. Hated that there was usually nothing she could do to help.

Gaston wasn't her father.

And Gil still loved his family.

Of course he didn't want them to get hurt.

But like Harry said-

Like hell were they losing Gil.

Gil runs a hand over her head, "guess we're lucky we're good then."

Harry grins, "Aye we be. It be dumb ta be pissin' off ah Princess that be ah made o' fire."

She smiles before she does her best Harry wink, "ya know, hopefully the twins told your dad they didn't want to mess with us anymore."

Harry crosses his arms, "Aye, there also be that."

"Yeah," Gil agrees reluctantly before a smile cracks his lips, "Junior would rather wear a dress."

She snorts, "He'd rather wear a dress than admit you knocked him on his ass?"

He nods. "Yeah."

"Priorities." She rolls her eyes as she lets him go and turns to Harry, "is this going to mess up Faustina's plans for the Spider?"

Harry narrows his eyes thoughtfully, "that be a right good question…"

A surprise.

It had been a long time since T had thought of surprising her.

In fact after they learned of their…

Situation.

She never thought he'd do something to surprise her again.

Which made her feel all the more horrible.

She hadn't meant to go off on him. She really hadn't.

She'd just been waiting for him to say something since she started coming out and-

And she'd lost it.

She knew better. Knew how much T did for her.

Knew how he reacted to her crying.

But she hadn't been able to stop herself.

She grips the potion bottle charm Harry found her tightly, wishing she could shrug the oppressing weight dangling above her.

She'd been spoiled.

The stunning, breathtaking anklet.

Her beautiful new outfit and ever so thoughtful necklace.

All of her upgraded equipment.

More herbs than she knew what to do with.

A spot in the family she'd admired, and secretly envied, for years.

And it was all thanks to him.

Her first friend.

Her brother.

She sighs.

Who she'd scared the shit out of.

At least she was pretty sure it was her tears that had frightened him-

But the possibility he was fearful of their family finding out wasn't out of the mix either. He was always so concerned about his image-

An image that many of those around him had seen passed years ago.

Not that she would ever tell him they were just humoring him. She wasn't sure his ego could take it.

She walks over to lean against the cave wall and watches the waves.

She couldn't blame Uma for banning her from working on any more bombs-

And it wasn't like she didn't have other projects to work on.

-for now, anyway.

She could wait a day or two before she approached Uma-

Hopefully with Yensid at her side.

She shakes the thoughts from her mind.

How had her thoughts strayed so far from her?

A smile tugs at her lips as the melodic metronome of metal pounding against metal that can finally be heard over the wind and leans out the cave to smile up at the forge.

She'd missed it.

Which was weird because she'd never really been there-

At Book Club.

She frowns, but those stories were some of the most distinct.

In fact-

She frowns, all the stories T told her about Carlos had always been-

Shockingly so.

-well weaved.

Had-

Her brow furrows before she shakes the headache inducing thought away.

T had been the one to work with Carlos on all his projects.

Her lip twitches, like the camera-

God, how much she missed the thing.

The pictures.

Her own captured memories of a life she was too afraid to reach for.

Lost to the storm.

She tilts her head to the side.

Had Gil's tattoo gun been lost?

She glances down at her shoulder thoughtfully, frowning at the idea of never getting to take Gil up on his offer.

She hoped it survived the storm, but she hadn't heard him mention it yet.

Not that they'd had much time for such trivial things, still-

If it had been destroyed, she knew if she asked T would hunt one down.

She sighs as her thoughts try to cycle back to guilt before she shoves them away.

There was so much more at stake than her and T's relationship.

Deez and Gil were busy crafting Yensid a new staff, and were dead set on getting it done before they found themselves overwhelmed with other projects.

She smiles, they'd been so thrilled with the crystals she'd collected. Almost instantly sharing ideas about what they could do with them as they tried to discern how to figure out their properties.

Uma, now that her cough was gone, was busy diving for food and delighted with the new flickering necklace Deez and Gil crafted for her.

Knowing their Captain, she was also searching for Gil's flute.

She knew how important the simple instrument was.

The soothing balm that followed the beautiful melody.

She glances up towards the forge.

Deez had made so much for her-

But surely there was still enough sand for a flute.

Had Deez just not thought about creating him a new one?

Or did she simply think that endeavor would be frivolous right now?

Or, wrongly so, find it selfish to desire.

She was going to have to speak to her of it later.

"Hiya, Love."

She nearly falls in the water, startled.

How had she missed the dinghy's return?

"My Prince," she turns with a smile, "was your endea-" She pauses, "task fruitful?"

"Aye, the ship be doin' well under Sam an' Big Murph," Harry winks before gestures over his shoulder with his thumb, "an' look-it who I be findin'."

She smiles as Beam nods to her, "Shydow," he clicks his tongue, "Psycho here said ya needed ta talk?"

Harry snorts at the nickname as he joins her subtly guiding her away from the ledge.

If she had the nerve to negotiate with Senior-

She could do this.

No matter how uncomfortable.

Not to mention it was already done.

He was here.

So, if he had no interest in speaking with her-

She nods, "I wanted to know your thoughts on a couple of plans I've found myself uncertain of."

Beam chuckles as he looks her over before turning to Harry, "ya weren't wrong. She does seem nervous."

Heat blooms on her cheeks.

Harry smiles as he pulls her into a hug, "don'nah be worryin' yer pretty head. I only be sayin' good things." He presses his lips to her head before he continues, "if ya want I can be comin' back quick like. Uma just be wantin' me ta check in with our weapon makers."

She looks up from where she'd hidden in the crook of his shoulder, "It's alright my love," she kisses his cheek. "I'm sure it's going to be difficult enough for you to get them to take a break."

"Oh aye, Uma be ah warnin' me." He grumbles as he pulls back, though the slight grin undermined his frustration.

"Nothing you can't manage," she returns with a smile.

"Ya know his pride is big enough, right?" Beam teases.

"Don'nah be jealous mate."

She turns to Beam with a smile, "I enjoy his preening."

Beam snorts as Harry winks and struts from the room.

"Do you mind speaking with me here?"

"Ya ain't got anything cookin' that goes boom, right?"

News traveled fast apparently.

Or, the bang was loud enough to resonate to the ship.

"Not at the moment."

"Then course not." Beam grins as he leans against the wall.

She nods as she fidgets with her sleeve, "I apologize in advance for this line of questioning- I don't mean to be intrusive. I'm just trying to discern if any of the idea's I've devised for you are feasible."

"I swear, 'tween you an' the old man." Beam grumbles, "english please?"

Heat blooms in her cheeks as T's observation echoes in her head.

"Sorry," she turns away, "I, um, I have several ideas on how to introduce the Spider, but I need to know where you stand before I continue on with how to execute them."

"An' the things ya need ta know where I stand are...?" Beam rolls his hand for her to continue.

"Right," She bites her lip, "It is imperative you answer with complete honesty please, how much do you trust T?"

"I don't trust him ta not run off on me. I don't trust him ta not drop half dead from pushin' himself, or take care of himself period." he ticks his points off on his fingers before he tilts his head, "I guess that's where I don't trust. So, I do trust 'im where it counts." He looks her over, "an', before ya ask, I trust you too."

She blinks.

What?

Why?

She tilts her head.

"I didn't realize you held T in such high esteem that your trust in him would transcend," She pauses, "Sorry. Extend, to me."

Beam folds his arms over his chest, "ain't that. Ya just have dope ideas."

Beam thought her idea's were dope?

Warmth fills her chest as she sits up straighter and smiles brightly.

"An' I mean, someone's clearly kept that lil' shit alive this long," Beam continues, "team effort an' all."

She drops her eyes.

Had she though?

How many reckless things had T done on her behest?

"It really is," she agrees before meeting his gaze, "that being said, would you-" She pauses, "sorry, let me start over, do you trust that T would never let harm befall," she grimaces.

Rude.

"-happen to you."

"Oh that?" He snorts, "don't be dumb."

"Even if there was, let's say, a gun pointed at you?"

Beam hisses through his teeth, "that seems specific."

Her lips twitch despite the gravity of their discussion, "or magic hurled in your direction?"

"Lived that one. Not like him an' Psycho, but, yeah. I trust 'im."

She smiles, "enough to not flinch?"

"This be that plan ya talked about?"

"It's a contingency. There's no way to know if someone will try to crush the Spider once he comes out of his burrow."

"Fair 'nough." Beam nods, "yeah, I can stand firm." He shakes his head, "Shit, Psycho had me going with talk about a huge spider being involved."

"Oh, that leads me to my next question, how do you feel about them? Spiders I mean."

"I ain't had a problem in the past, but I ain't sure how I'll handle the big one."

"Would you be willing to meet with her?"

Beam narrows his eyes before he leans in closer, "does she really talk right inta yer head?" he asks as he taps one finger against his temple.

She nods, "she does."

"Hell yeah I'll meet her."

Her smile widens, "Excellent, because she's going to play a large role."

"Oh?" Beam frowns, "so ah big spider, and do I trust T ta keep my ass alive." He clicks his tongue before he shakes his head and grins, "yeah, yer plans ain't ever dull are they?"

"I do need T to adhere- follow them."

"Now," Beam snorts, "ain't that the fuckin' truth."

"Isn't it just?" She smiles, "oh, just one more thing, can you give me your best death glare, please?"

It seemed like there were less fish every time she went hunting.

Plenty of sharks and eels, but the fish-

Maybe she should try fishing on the other side of the Isle next time.

She looks out in the darkness as the barrier reflected off the turbulent waves.

The other side of the Isle would probably have more fish, but-

She sighs as she hugs herself against a chill.

But-

But she was still hoping to find Gil's flute.

It was the only reason she stuck to these grounds.

She sighs as she looks down at the net hanging at her side.

It would be enough for everyone, Freddie was becoming a wonder at stews.

She just wasn't sure how much longer the majority of them could go without eating their fill.

"Uma?"

She smiles at Harry's obvious concern before she turns to accept the hug she knew he wanted to give her.

"It's fine Pretty Boy, just wrestling with wants and needs."

His arms tighten around her before he cups the back of her head to his shoulder, "aye, ya always be puttin' yer all inta carin' for us."

She looks up and pats the side of his face, "that's my job." She grins before she holds out the net, "now, yer job is ta get these to Freddie. I have a Beauty Girl I need ta talk to."

"Aye," Harry grins as he takes the fish and drops them into the dingy, "ya be catchin' her ina good mood, she were talkin' with Beam 'bout the Spider."

"Oh," She lifts an eyebrow-

She would've given a hefty amount of rusties to be a fly on that wall.

"It went well I'm guessin'?"

"Aye," Harry chuckles, "I be seein' where he be gettin' his moniker. Beam be lookin' pretty damned please with'imself last I be seein' 'im."

She sighs, that was good at least. She still wasn't one hundred percent sure what her Beauty Girl was planning-

Which if she were being honest-

Stung more than it irritated her.

What was it with her twins that they never wanted to divulge anything-

Specifically with her.

She liked to think she was a reasonable person. An understanding leader, yet-

Neither Faustina or T ever wanted to speak to her about their plans.

Well, she takes a deep breath, that was assuming T ever actually had a plan-

Sometimes she was terrified he just winged everything. Faustina though?

She'd be lying if she said it didn't hurt. The girl had a damned check-list for the effects of fucking poisons she had her brother try for Sea God's sake.

Of course she had a damned plan.

So, why?

What made Beam so damned special she'd talk to him before her.

Had he-

She shakes her head as she stomps out the fuse to that cannon.

No.

If Faustina hadn't spoken to her firs-

Yet.

If Faustina hadn't spoken to her yet, there was a reason.

Had to be.

"Isle ta Uma," Harry taps his fist lightly against her head.

"Aye," She looks up at him as heat blossoms in her cheeks.

"I be ah headin' out now, but don'nah be lookin' so glum. Now that me Pirate Princess be knowin' that her plan can be ah workin', I be sure she be ready ta be botherin' ya with it."

Her lip quirks, "thanks Pretty Boy."

Harry smiles as he flips her braids over her shoulder, "an' I know we all be bein' upset o'er the boom, but we did be ah knowin' she were workin' to it."

She sighs, "I know."

She just didn't know how she got to the booms so quickly.

"Good." Harry winks before he settles in the dingy and unties the rope, "be back soon like."

"Row safe Pretty Boy." She smiles as she blows him a kiss, "see you then."

She stands there as he rows off, watching until he passes into the shadows of the rocks hiding the cave they were all starting to call home.

Well, second home.

One where her Baby Girl didn't have to constantly white knuckle her fear.

She turns and walks through the tunnels.

It was also where her Beauty Girl was more unencumbered in her approach.

She doubted Faustina would have ever attempted toxic bombs on her ship.

Or at least, she hoped she would have gone about it differently.

Sea Gods, she hoped so.

She wasn't sure what she would do if her Beauty Girl turned out to be as reckless as her Problem Child.

She grins when she sees something carved on a wooden sign swinging from the ceiling of the entrance.

Please, feel free to enter.

She wasn't sure she'd felt such instant reassurance before.

She pauses.

But if she'd put up a sign to say it was safe-

She steps in the room before she drags a hand down her face.

Please, for the love of any god you pray to:

Do not enter.

At least she would know when her Beauty Girl was doing something she shouldn't be doing alone.

Which was still several steps ahead of T.

She shakes her head, "Faustina?"

"Mhmm."

She snorts. So safe, but still not acknowledged. Harry was going to love that.

She chuckles as she walks over and rips a scrap from a blank corner of an open notebook and scribbles-

Beauty Girl, got a sec?

Before she slides it across the table to cover what Faustina was working on.

"Oh," Faustina smiles as she turns to look at her, "Captain," she greets, "how can I help you?"

"I appreciate the sign." She gestures over her shoulder.

Faustina's face flares red as her gaze shifts to the sign, "yes, well, I thought it for the best." She fidgets with her sleeve as her gaze returns to her, "I really am sorry about earlier."

"Because you were working on something dangerous alone and you won't do that again?" She asks hopefully.

Faustina sighs, "it's better than the alternative."

"What would the alternative be?"

"Someone else stepping into a conceivably dangerous situation blindly. That was incredibly irresponsible of me. Especially since I only have a slight understanding of what will happen. I'm still not used to working with others in this setting, unfortunately." She bows her head, "my sincerest apologies for being so foolish, Captain."

She frowns, she couldn't lie she loved reverence as much as any leader-

Loved being worshiped, something Deez, Harry and Gil could attest to.

Felt special. Worthy. Adored and loved.

With Faustina though?

Her stomach always ended up roiling like an angry sea and left her feeling dirty.

Made her heart heavy.

Hurt.

She crooks her finger under Faustina's chin and tips it so she is looking at her.

"That's understandable," she assures her, "and that-" she points to the sign, "is a good start."

Faustina studies her for a moment before her lips finally shift to a smile, "thank you, Captain." She drops her eyes, "that helps a quite great deal to hear, especially coming from you."

"Oh?" She grins, "especially huh?"

"Very much so," Faustina nods, "I value your opinion greatly, your integrity is something to be admired."

She places a hand over her chest as she shrugs her shoulders, "thank you."

"Of course, Captain." She smiles kindly despite the conflict she could see warring in the depths of her eyes.

She frowns, "what's up?"

Faustina frowns, "sorry, I was just-" A blush crawls up her neck, "thinking. It's really not all that important."

She bites her lip as she toys with the scrap paper she'd written on earlier.

Faustina had a bad habit of dismissing some things that were important because she didn't think anyone else would think so.

She takes a deep breath before she lets it out slowly.

"Not all that important, or you don't think I'll see it as important?"

Faustina shakes her head, "rather it's… an embarrassing errant train of thought."

"Ah."

Those she understood.

"You will tell me when you plan to work on the more dangerous experiments again, right? And have Yensid with you, at the very least?"

Faustina's eyes brighten, "yes abs- of course, Captain, if that would make you feel better."

Her head tilts.

That was fast.

Maybe even, too fast.

But she would feel better with Yensid being part of the process. If nothing else, she knew the Sorcerer had fast reflexes.

Which after experiencing a poisonous smoke bomb first hand?

Yensid would have been faster at getting them out of danger.

She could trust that.

"It would." She finally says.

Faustina nods, "speaking of… Earlier-" she sighs, "I was actually thinking it might be a good idea to make a rainbow of smoke bombs- Mostly unhindered by my concoctions, in case one is scouting and runs into trouble and doesn't have time to use the book…"

She puts one hand on her hip as she rubs one finger over her bottom lip, "I like it. I think it might be a good idea to send some to the Curl and Dye to collect as much of the chemicals that survived. Dizzy mentioned using them to make colored smoke before. Would you be okay with her using your space to make them?"

"Of course, Captain," Faustina smiles, "I really do appreciate you being open to so many of my ideas."

She chuckles, "guess you'll just have to keep 'em comin' then, won't cha?"

Faustina's lips twitch, "I'll do my best, Captain."

"So, if you have a few more answers in you…"

Faustina nods, "what would you like to know?"

Oh.

So many things.

But, something that had been bugging her the most-

"Senior." She struggles to clear her throat, "how did you- I mean, he left the other day. And then you make a deal with him that clearly favors you, us. And he just relented on so much shit when you asked." She drags a hand down her face, "not to mention how many things you got him to count as six items."

"Oh." Faustina turns towards one of the tables with a frown, "it wasn't my intention to seek his favor. It was pure happenstance. I-" She sighs, "you know T better than most. As good as he can be in many areas, he sorely lacks in others. Communication being high on an extensive list, and the rest of you are so busy and, understandably, despise him. So, I thought it best for me to do so."

She'd suspected as much. "Did you mean to tell him who you were?"

Red crawls up Faustina's neck, "I'm apparently gods awful at attempting to be T it would seem."

She quickly claps a hand over her mouth.

Yes. Yes she was.

The few times she'd seen the girl try had been painfully embarrassing.

Though, she snorts, she would love to see T try to imitate Faustina.

Faustina drops her eyes, "yes, well…" She returns to fidgeting with her sleeve, "needless to say he figured it out on his own accord."

Her uncle was nothing if not sharp.

Painfully socially awkward, now that she'd read a lot of their interactions, but always sharp.

And Catty.

She inches closer before she leans over the table, "I ain't mad. Just ta be clear."

Faustina studies her for a moment before she sighs, "if it helps it worries me too."

"It helps me knowing that you aren't taking this lightly. The thought of him-" she shakes her head, "it's just another thing I have to let happen because there's nothing I can do about it."

She looks up when Faustina places her hand over hers, "I don't know if this will help or not, but, T has given him a plethora of reasons to kill him-"

"Yeah, I'm not sure how that can help-"

"But the worst he's done is choke slam him- And," she continues, "you have to have some idea of how much restraint that must be for him."

Didn't mean she had to acknowledge it.

Faustina covers her mouth as she looks away.

She huffs as she dips to rest her forehead against her fists, "so my uncle hasn't killed T, even though he could have just by accident by now. Doesn't mean I like it. If anything," she straightens with a shrug, "I understand it less."

"I suppose it is rather vexing," Faustina agrees, "especially with how unstable he is, but unlike my brother I do find the situation precarious… Even if my actions have shown otherwise."

She shakes her head, "it's not you or even T I'm having a hard time trusting here. Unstable might be a good word for what he is, but I still think it's too kind."

"That is more than fair," She nods, "he's given none of us any true reason to trust him."

"But plenty of reasons to not."

She drops her eyes, "something not easily forgotten, I assure you Captain."

Her breath catches in her throat.

It still haunted her.

The way her uncle watched, emotionlessly and cold, as her mother drowned Deez.

When he carried her Baby Girl away while she was left helpless to wonder if her cousin was even alive.

The news that Deez had been forced to join Mal's gang after being taken by him again.

She startles as she's pulled from her thoughts when arms envelope her.

She returns Fausitna's hug as she takes a deep breath. "Sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for, Captain," Faustina squeezes her, "we've put unnecessary stress on you when you're already juggling so much." She pulls back to kiss her forehead, "I'm just sorry we've done so thoughtlessly."

"That's not-" she hugs Faustina harder, "that's not it. I just, once again-" her voice becomes pitchy, "you are a distraction for him. You and T. You entertain him and honestly-" she shakes her head, "if you weren't, we probably wouldn't have Deez. Which is just, great, because once again-"

Why was it always like this?

One in danger, or one putting themselves in danger to save the other.

"Once again…" Faustina nudges her gently.

"I mean, you and T are always throwing yourselves at danger. In front of danger. Playing distraction to danger." She struggles to breathe deeply, "For once, just one time, I wish I could keep you safe. At least one time."

Faustina's lips purse to the side as she falls silent for a moment, "I suppose I can see where you're coming from, but there's no trapping the wind or moving a mountain. What he chooses to do can't be helped, he rarely even realizes he's started something. And where my stance lies always comes from much deliberation, or as with the Lord of Death, having too little space to stand-"

She opens her mouth to argue only for Faustina to place a finger to her lips with a glare so steely she's taken off guard.

"Does not mean you haven't kept us safe. I know T puts us in a lot of danger, and inadvertently I have too. But you don't punish us for it. You don't throw us in the brigg. You never force us to do anything. You show us love and care, provide us with a safe place to call home. Have patience with us even in the most intolerable of situations. Keep us safe from festering in our own self doubt and loathing."

"It might not be the conventional use of the word, but that doesn't change the fact you do in more ways than I believe you understand at the moment, keep us safe."

They believed she kept them safe?

When so many times she allowed them to do something reckless for her selfish ass?

She wanted to believe that. Wanted to believe they saw it that way.

Faustina seemed earnest enough. So much so she had silenced her.

But still-

"I would never throw you in the brigg, no matter how much I might want to in my anger over a situation." She bites her lip, "we've all put each other in danger from time to time. It's not something we mean to do, it just happens. And, it's gonna be happening a lot more often now. I know I have to just accept it," her vision blurs, "but that doesn't change how much it hurts or scares me."

"Captain," Faustina breathes as she's squeezed again, "I think that might just be a part of loving someone, and you love so deeply I can't imagine the depths of which it affects you. And you're right, it can't be helped-" She pulls back, "but it makes me happy to know your love extends to us just as deeply as it does for the rest of our family."

She clasps hands with Faustina, "you see that, right? That I do love you and T, both, separately, like the family you are."

The taller girl bites her lip, "I'm not going to say I don't struggle with the concept, or that you're love and affection doesn't confuse me at times- But, I feel more accepted than I ever thought possible, and don't doubt any of your sincerity."

She nods firmly, "struggling is okay. And I'm sorry I confuse you sometimes, but I-" she closes her eyes as heat flushes her face, "I sometimes think you believe I only care because of what you can do for me, not because I care about who you are."

Faustina blinks, "I've never believed you've only loved me for my craft, I just- Don't understand how all of you-" Her brow furrows as she struggles, "loved me so, quickly I guess. I really haven't given you much of a reason- And we'd only just met. There was no trust there, no foundation for it- That's what confuses me."

She frowns, "I guess that's fair. Because I can't really explain what it was for me." She bites her lip. "I guess it was such a shock, suddenly there you were and it was like, so much just, made sense. And the more we got to know you, the more, familiar you felt to me. Gil was literally looking for you for years, but, I still felt like I knew you too." She purses her lips as she looks up, "I don't know how else to explain it."

Faustina tilts her head, "I see…" She frowns before she shakes her head, "sorry for the tangent, you had questions and I sorely steered us off course."

She shakes her head, "I'm glad I got a chance to explain, badly as it was. I just hope it helps."

Faustina slowly nods, "it does, quite a bit I believe, thank you for your candor, it's always appreciated."

She smiles, "of course. I'm always so candor with you because I trust you'll be the same with me. Which I also appreciate."

"I do my best to emu-" She pauses as red floods her face, "follow your example, Captain."

Her eyes narrow as she watches Faustina fidget, that wasn't the first time her Beauty Girl had interrupted herself with fluster. "Emu- what?"

Faustina's blush darkens, "I was going to say I do my best to emulate you, Captain."

She closes her mouth..

Yeah, there would have been no breaking down that whale of a word, still-

"Why'd ya stop though?"

Faustina drops her eyes to study the sleeve she was playing with like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. "Because it's rude."

She lifts her eyebrow.

It wasn't the first time she'd heard Faustina admonish herself over a big word either, "why?"

"People shouldn't have to decipher a sentence spoken in english, it's unnecessary, holds back communication, and worse makes people feel inadequate." Faustina sighs heavily, "Which is proving to be more difficult than I initially perceived." She sighs, "I try to catch it and correct myself when I can, but sometimes it just gets away from me if I'm not watching people whilst speaking."

"I think you're being too hard on yourself." She chuckles before she puts a hand to her chest, "I like learning new things. So do Gil and Deez. Ya got Harry reading a dictionary, so-" she claps her hands, "ain't nothin' wrong with knowing big words. If you think it's complicating things, then just use the simplest words when you have something that needs a lot of words to talk about."

A slow smile tugs at Faustina's lips after she lets out a soft sigh, "that helps, and does seem much easier… Thank you for the advice, Captain."

"Just, never stop being you, okay? Big words an' all. And next time T tells you otherwise, tell 'im to fuck off."

"That's-" The other girl's smile brightens. "Thank you." she adds softly.

S'up?

It's been a minute since I had to write these and man I'm a bit fucking rusty.

So…

Let me start off by saying hi.

It's currently 10/10/22, and we're on our final edit of what we've written so far-

We got to chapter 106 and ran out of fully edited chapters so we needed to snake our way back to the front of the book to start editing behind us again-

Which fucking sucks mind you.

As you guys know, this is like our twentieth fucking draft of this damned book because apparently we can't count to six to save our fucking lives-

But, yeah, anyways…

It's been like six months since I've had to do this.

That being said-

Missed you guys. I know we lost a lot of readers between book four and five but-

To those of you sticking it out with us, THANK YOU!

We really appreciate your love and support. It means so fucking much to us. We pour so much of us into these pages for you guys and it's just so awesome you guys like it. It makes all the pain, hurt, and sufferings that happen behind the scenes worth it.

That being said-

What do you guys thinking about Gaston winning the election?

And what do you think happened to The Red Queen and the Governer?

Do you think he'll come for Gil?

Dead.

Everyone is so sus over Faustina-

Can you blame them?

Raise your hand if this is how you saw Faustina blooming as a character?

Cause I didn't.

Like at all.

She was so different in concept than she is on paper… It's fucking crazy.

Are you guys liking it?

Questioning it? (I question it… Like, fucking how woman!? But she has a mind of her own so… )

Are you excited to see what her plan is?

Or, rather, are you excited for the Spiders debut in general?

That bit with Uma was fucking rough. She's forever and a day blaming herself for shit.

It's been months since that fateful day T popped up on her ship and told her his plans to trade places with D in Mal's gang-

And her decision to let T go still haunts her and keeps her torn on matters involving the 'twins'.

What did you think about Faustina and Uma's interaction?

Satisfied with Faustina's answers to Uma's Senior related questions?

OH! Oh! Oh!

Oh.

Humor me?

When it comes to Faustina's vocabulary are you on Team T or Team Uma?

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted