Needles In A Haystack
| Needles In A Haystack | |
|---|---|
| Date of Scene: | 30 November 2012 |
| Location: | Faris' ship, between Costa del Sol and Bevelle |
| Synopsis: | Jasmine and Faris discuss three princesses. |
| Cast of Characters: | Faris Scherwiz, Jasmine |
Jasmine has posed:
It is, as Jasmine might put it, a truly glorious day.
Sunlight dances on ocean waves, transforming their deep blues to dazzling crystal. A breeze, cool but not cold, tugs at clothes, pulls hair and fills the sails, like a thousand invisible, playful hands. Spirits are high, and perhaps none higher than that of the princess, who has conquered her crushing seasickness at last and emerged onto the deck.
Tears spring to her eyes from the difference in brightness -- it was dark, down in her cabin for two days straight. And perhaps they're elicited by the beauty surrounding her as well. She blinks them back stubbornly, and walks, somewhat unsteadily but with marked improvement, across the sea-tossed deck to lean out over the rail. Along the way, she brightly greets any sailors she crosses paths with, bidding them a good morning.
Her smile intensifies brilliantly as she finally enjoys the wind and the speed, the pure expression of freedom that a ship on the open sea represents to a girl from a desert palace.
Faris Scherwiz has posed:
Faris has been a courteous enough pirate captain - he has made sure that the guests on the ship get what they need to be comfortable, even if it's a bit cramped, on top of water being limited, as it always is when one is out at sea.
Therefore, it is with some surprise when she sees Jasmine up on deck. She gestures imperiously to her second mate, and he takes over the wheel as they continue on their way.
Making her way quietly down the deck, she steps up next to Jasmine as they lean on the rail. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Jasmine has posed:
Keeping one hand gripped to the rail to hold her steady, Jasmine shifts sideways to beam up at Faris. The wind promptly tears her hair straight out of its two lesser ties to flow behind her like a raven banner; the pale blue ribbons go flying over the side, never to be seen again. In her current state of rapture, she hardly even notices. "It's exquisite," she breathes, aglow with a blend of reverence and enthusiasm. "Thank you so very much for giving me this opportunity. It's even better than I'd dreamed." That's one way to take 'had to flee an army of Heartless by any means necessary' in stride, at least.
She has trouble tearing her gaze away from the sea for long, but does her best, her warm gaze settling on the pirate lord's eyes. "Have you always known you'd want to spend your life at sea?"
Faris Scherwiz has posed:
"I've been on the sea since I can remember." Faris comments, voice distant.
"I started out a young cabinboy and assistant when I was but a child; the ship I served on taught me everything I know. My magic, my swordsmanship... I eventually turned into a right regular sailor."
"I was built for the sea, though, I suppose. I had a friend, once. A water dragon, her name was Syldra. We were bonded; because of the bond, when the captain who took me in retired, I was voted to lead the ship." She smiles crookedly.
"But ... then our world started to fall into darkness, and I lost both Syldra, and my original ship. The crew is still the same, though."
"I have never been happier than I am right now, back on the sea. Yes, I did a bad thing, but.."
Jasmine has posed:
Jasmine has no trouble paying attention, once Faris begins her story; she turns her back to the railing, now, and gazes up at the pirate lord. Hers is a very warm, intent sort of listening, as though Faris' words comprise her entire world, and she bows her head with understanding, admiration, or, as the story goes on, with sorrow, in all the right places.
"I'm sorry your friend is lost," she murmurs, with the pained tones of someone who knows the feeling very well. One hand unconsciously drifts up to rest over her heart, and her quiet, gentle convictions are no less strong for their mode of delivery: "I know you'll find her again someday, though. Nothing and no one who's loved, is ever truly gone... Faris." It's the first time she's called him by name, rather than as Captain.
Faris Scherwiz has posed:
"You sound like Lenna." Faris says, tilting her head slightly. "She was always very warm-hearted, and the like. I don't know where she is... trying to find a princess around here is a needle in a haystack situation."
Faris does not realize how funny that statement that actually is. Princesses around these worlds are too good at hiding, right, Jasmine?
"Thank you, Jasmine, for your kind words and your warm heart. It means a lot."
Jasmine has posed:
Jasmine does realize it, of course, and an ounce of wry humor infects her smile, tucked into the corners of her mouth. It's something of a giveaway. But then things get very serious, and so does she, bowing fluidly in return.
"No, thank you, Faris. If you hadn't given me passage, Costa del Sol might well be a ruin by now. I warned you that my company could be very dangerous, but you didn't hesitate... your kind actions speak louder than any words."
She tilts her head to the same side as the Captain did, matching her motion unconsciously. "Perhaps there is something I can help you with in return. I've met many people in my travels... please, can you describe Princess Lenna to me? In appearance, I mean."
Faris Scherwiz has posed:
Faris is a perceptive sort, and she notes that smile. Faris' own widens slightly, and she shakes her head. "I'm a pirate, my dear. Danger isw my life."
"Lenna has blonde - sometimes pink - hair, green-blue eyes. She's shorter than I am - " Faris roughly gestures it by holding her hand up to her shoulders. The captain then hesitates.
After a few long moments...
She pulls a pendant out from underneath her shirt, holding it up for Jasmine to see. "She'll have a exact replica of this. It marks her as one of the *two* princesses of the land of Tycoon."
Jasmine has posed:
"I don't think I'd make a very good pirate, other than maybe the sailing part," Jasmine admits, "But danger seems to be my life anyway." Her eyes narrow very thoughtfully, almost to slits, as Lenna's described, then widen with recognition when Faris pulls out the pendant; very quick on the uptake, she gets it immediately. There's surprise, certainly, but more than that, humbled pleasure for being trusted with such a private thing. "Your secret's safe with me," she promises instantly but solemnly. She'd die before she tells.
There's really only one thing to do. She unbinds her curtain of hair from the last of its ties by pulling off her headband for Faris to examine, which is revealed to actually be more of a circlet, set with a lovely blue jewel. "This stone is worn by the heir to the throne of Agrabah," she explains softly. Her nose twitches with sudden amusement, and her laughter, clear as a silvery bell, joins the rush of the wind and the roar of the waves. "So much for needles and haystacks... you couldn't swing a cat on this ship without hitting one of us."
She nudges her increasingly windswept hair back behind her ears, and her voice fills with joy. "As for Lenna... I believe I /have/ seen her. There was always something familiar about you... now I understand why."
Faris Scherwiz has posed:
"Piratry is a lot harder than it looks. It's not all 'ho ho ho and a bottle of rum', although at times, the rum figures more than one would figure. As you can see, in my case, we got ruined at the loss of a ship; or you could not be in a profitible area, or there might be too many of us!"
"But, I don't think I'd care, no matter what."
Faris blinks and peers closer at the circlet and the jewel. "Oh dear." She says, almost wryly. "I guess we're more common than a needle in the haystack." The crew isn't surprised - it's very likely they've known for awhile.
"But... ah, that's wonderful. The fact that she's alive is great news to me."
Jasmine has posed:
Jasmine's smile is openly admiring of Faris' passion for her pirate's life, her contentment with her place in the world. "I don't think you would either," she agrees. "I wish..."
She trails off, leaving that particular yearning unspoken, for now, and enthusiastically shares her news of Lenna, instead. "Very much alive. She was at Castle Baron, and held off a fiery monster, all by herself. She escaped with the rest of us, afterwards... I don't know where she is now, but that's where her trail begins. It was only a few weeks ago." It feels like a lifetime.
Faris Scherwiz has posed:
Faris leans over, gently touching Jasmines' shoulder.
"We all wish." The captain says, the compassion in her voice somewhat new to her. "I wish I could be at Lenna's side right now, when she needs me most to keep the light, the heart of our world burning. But..."
"As long as we keep hoping and wishing, that light of chance will not pass. I know it, here." She touches her shirt, over her own heart.
Faris sounds strangely-more princess like than normal. "But uh... hmm. I will go back around that way, then."
Jasmine has posed:
Jasmine opens to Faris' compassion like a rosebud in the sun; lines of tension fade out of her face, her back, that she hadn't even realized were there. Her stance relaxes, as though a great weariness has been eased, and, mirroring the taller woman, her arm reaches out to touch the pirate's shoulder, in turn, before turning it into a warm embrace.
"Yes," she agrees, simply, fiercely. "I know it too."
After she pulls back, a gust of wind makes the sails crack. Her eyes are immediately drawn to the rigging, then back down to the Captain. "Actually... I have a smaller wish," she admits with an impish grin. "I hate feeling useless. Would you teach me the ropes?" Literally, in this case. "I want to do my share, while I'm on board."
Faris Scherwiz has posed:
Most of the crew has averted their eyes, idly letting the Pirate King do her(his) thing. They're good like that. Thus, in the embrace, it is less awkward than Faris normally is with people watching.
"Teach you the... oh!" Faris laughs.
"I think we can arrange that, yes." She gives the woman a amused grin.
Jasmine has posed:
If they aren't careful, the crew will be hug beneficiaries, too. In fact, in a few days, after a terrible calamity, that's essentially guaranteed. They /might/ be safe... for now.
Jasmine is fairly oblivious to the nuance of Faris' crew's polite turn away; she cuts through social awkwardness like a hot knife through butter, as easily as breathing, and as for the Pirate Lord's secret, well... girls hug boys sometimes! It hadn't really occurred to her that it could even be an issue.
"Really?" She sounds totally thrilled, like someone who's spent her whole life asking to be taught how to do useful things, and is accustomed to being brutally denied. Some princesses actually have to grow up in palaces, even if they'd rather be on pirate ships, alas. "/Thank you/! I'll make you proud to be my teacher." It's less sublime confidence as it is a sworn oath; she obviously intends to work hard.
