Shipbound for Igan
- Aerianne, Darren and Odyssa (Tristan's ship, heading for Igan)
-- Around midnight to early morning of Day 3
by Ryoko


Aerianne never asked for a lot of things in her life. Enough pay to get her by, one of the Stones (at least), her father's head......these weren't too much, in her opinion. So why, she wonders as she gazes out into the sea, hands folded in front of her on the rail, do all sorts of situations always happen to her?

Maybe her bad luck was worse then she thought, tilting her head back to let some of the light rain fall on her face.

A few feet away, Darren and Odyssa didn't notice the rain. They were too busy arguing.

"It isn't a "stupid" plan." Darren snapped irritably. "If I scout on ahead, I'll be able to find Tristan and Rodan a lot faster."

"And what if you get lost instead?" Odyssa demanded. "We're not going to waste several days looking for you just because you forgot which way was north."

Darren bristled. "I *don't* get lost!"

"Oh yeah? Even in this storm? Like I said, it's a stupid plan!"

"Stupid?! Look here, you -"

"Odyssa, Darren." Aerianne prided herself on keeping her temper. "Your fights aren't helping any. The crew is demoralized as it is, and fighting's just going to increase that." She didn't add that shouting matches, whoever or whatever the cause, always grated on her nerves.

"Sorry." The two muttered in unison, then stopped and glared at each other.

"Kids." Aerianne murmured, allowing herself a small smile. It might have been nice, to tease and argue with friends just for the sake of arguing. But then again, she didn't have much friends to begin with. She gingerly made her way across the deck, stopping in front of one of the crew. "How long will it take us to reach Igan?"

The crewman hesitated, looking at her nervously. Aerianne ignored that. People tend to look at her that way, especially when they see her eyes. He looked a little familiar, too. "Well....." he scratched his head. "If the wind's steady as it is now, and if the storm lessens for a bit, we'll be at the nearest isle in a couple of hours at most."

"Thank you." Aerianne said politely, then blinked as realization hit her. "And I'm sorry for hitting you back then, if it means anything to you. I'm glad you weren't severely injured." Slowly, she made her way back across, wondering why the man looked so surprised.

Darren noticeably brightened when he heard the news. "Well, it's not as long as I expected it to be."

"A lot of things can happen in a few hours' time." Aerianne noted absently. He blanched.

"You're too cynical, Aeri." Odyssa accused.

Since when did Odyssa started calling her Aeri? She decided to let that pass. "If I weren't, I wouldn't be alive at the moment, given my way of life." It was Odyssa's turn to blanch.

The rain continued pouring, though not as heavy. The storm was abating somewhat, though partcularly large waves crashed into the side of the boat time after time. Aerianne resumed her watch at the rail. She'd never been this close to the sea before. In spite of the dangers she could see, as well as the large waves and storms, it was a beautiful thing to look at.

So they were going to Igan. She was coming back to Igan. She hadn't thought of her birth land ever since she left it, of the small village she had spent half her childhood in. If it could still be called a "childhood". Where she was tolerated but never loved, abused and ridiculed but never pitied. What would happen if she came across them in their search? What would they do? Or better yet, what would she do? So far, she had managed to avoid her people since they abandoned her, never stopping long enough in the scant villages and towns Igan had, spending most of her time alone in the mountains, and even then she hadn't explored them all.

What would they do? What would she do?

The hand holding the rail tightened.

Then the ship lurched forward, and Aerianne nearly fell, clinging onto the railing at the last moment. Behind her, she heard a muffled squeal that sounded suspiciously like Odyssa's.

"Watch where you stomp those feet on, you clumsy clod!"

"Me?! *You* stumbled into me, not the other way around!"

"You wish! Stop shifting the blame on other people, willya?!"

"Listen, miss high-and-mighty princess -- "

Aerianne didn't know whether to laugh or jump overboard. < Maybe I could get away with pretending to be seasick....>

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Raye-chan's been really busy with her studies at the moment and can't post (poor Raye ;-;), so Lum-chan, your turn!^^

Hope I got the characters' personalities right?^^;;;; And a somewhat lighter-ish side of Aerianne' nature.....well, not exactly lighter-ish, but she's not as broody in this post as the others^^;;;

Aerianne: *suspiciously* Broody? Broody?!! What the %#&#@ is that?!
Ryoko: We-ell......um, brooding?
Aerianne: *wordlessly hands Ryoko the dictionary*
Ryoko: *reads* contemplative; also moody; also wanting to have a baby; also....er...what did I just say?!
Aerianne: .............
Ryoko: *goes somewhere far, far away and collapses laughing*
Aerianne: .......I think I'm gonna be seasick now.