Leaving the other Cobalt members to their respective vessels, Zeru returns to the Marlena, where his idling crew welcome his presence.

"We headin' out now?" Cinna says hopefully, while Sunren busies himself reshuffling a deck of cards. Brogan and Curran sit nearby, challenging one another to arm-wrestling matches, while Antov looks out in the distance, chewing his qat and watching that Wavecrest Navy detachment sailing off to the south-southeast. "Think they're headed where we are," he notes, jabbing a thumb at the warships disappearing in the distance.

Meanwhile, Marlena is silent, bound to her figurehead on the prow...

"Aye Cinna we'll be heading out shortly. And yes Antov we are heading in the same direction as those blowhards. Investigating around An-Teng, rumors of heavy Lintha activity." Zeru says brightly although he seems slightly distracted. "Deal me in Sunren, I'll have a round while the Dryad brings her newest members on board, gets them settled and readies for launch.  Then Cinna and I will have a conversation with Marlena at sunset." He smiles and fingers the pouch containing the Onyx stone. "Antov, I've been curious since we parted ways at the market. What did you guys do to that guard?"

Sunren nods pleasantly and starts dealing the cards to Cinna, Zeru and Antov.

Antov chuckles, "Oh, that? Nothin' special. We showed the man a good time. Turned out to be quite a drinking buddy, that one. Passed out after making a right fool of himself, he did. Think he was so shamed by it he just... didn't report anything since!"

Cinna bursts out into laughter, picking up her cards. "That's rich! Shows him right to challenge you boys with the booze." She looks in a bright mood now that the ship is set to depart.

Brogan and Curran, ever dutiful, stand up to double-check the sails and rigging. "We'll make sure she's ready to go, cap'n sir," they chorus to Zeru in unison.

"Good job men" Zeru shouts to the twins. Then settles into a chair and plays a round or two until the Dryad signals she's ready to leave.

Around sunset He goes with Cinna to the Prow to meet with Marlena.

Marlena does not need as much coaxing to show up this time. Zeru has already been attentive to many of her needs, and thus she is inclined to hear him out when summoned.

She appears in a flurry of black feathers, her raven-wing hair settling around her shoulders. Dark red eyes gaze critically at Cinna, but her attention is all for the Captain.

"Yes, what is it?" the spirit starts brusquely. Her expression is eager, impatient, and she fingers the spirit-sword sheathed at her belt. They're finally going somewhere!

"We are heading southeast... towards An-Teng. There are rumors of Lintha activity in the area and we are likely to run into some trouble." He says straight. "I wished to warn you of our course and ask for your help should we run into the Lintha. Your maneuverability will be essential in routing the demons of the sea." He bows reverently as he says this.

"I also come bearing a gift, seek your blessing over my first mate, and would ask your opinion of the crew." He opens the pouch and removes the onyx, bowing low once more sweeping his hat off of his head. Then he gestures to Cinna. "I believe you've met but, please introduce yourself once more."

"The Lintha!" Marlena's eyes glitter. "I can outpace anything they can throw at us," she boasts, preening her feathered hair. "I won't have any demon-spawn touching my vessel if I can help it!"

She would have addressed Cinna, but the glittering gem catches her eye first. The spirit snatches it from Zeru's palm as soon as it's presented, cooing to herself as she examines its facets in the fading sunlight. "It's good enough. I like it," Marlena concludes approvingly. "Bring more. I like dark colors. Red would do as well." Almost immediately she weaves a bit of essence, and the gem appears in a setting of her design, embedded in a choker-like necklace around her neck.

Then she crosses her arms, striding over to Cinna and gazing down at her. "Woman, understand this. You may have this man in any other fashion you wish, but when you are aboard my ship, his loyalty AND yours are MINE first. You have the privilege, not the right, of boarding and managing my affairs. This is my sacred vessel, not your property, so don't take advantage of my generosity!"

Faced with Marlena's overbearing and direct personality, Cinna seems almost... sheepish. "Er... yes ma'am." She does her best to look subservient, though inwardly she feels a little put off by the potential for jealousy and possessiveness in the spirit.

[Private to Peleps Zeru: BTW, I was thinking that it'd be a neat idea to have Marlena become a gradually stronger spirit due to Zeru's attention to her. So the Marlena would survive not because it's got lots of powerful armament (like the Dryad) but because the spirit is strong. I'd have it manifest as the Marlena actually using spirit charms to aid your sailing ability or protect the ship from harm. So it'd be kinda like you earned a spirit ally that's attached to your ship.]

"But of course" Zeru responds to her boasting and her acceptance of the jewel as he bows low again.

He calmly waits for her to finish scaring Cinna and throws her a comforting look. After Cinna responds he quickly steps in. "And the crew? I would of course like to know your opinion of them. I find them to be very capable." He waits for a response before finishing.

"And of course should you need something you have only to ask my lady."

Marlena doesn't answer immediately, staring down at Cinna for a long moment until she feels the redhead is sufficiently cowed.

"The crew? They are... good enough. Noisy sometimes. Except for that Sunden, but he's got no tongue." The ship-spirit wrinkles her nose, though she certainly does not *have* to smell if she doesn't want to. "They should not be allowed too much alcohol. And make sure they keep to a daily cleaning regimen, yes? These things are important. I must be neat and orderly."

Marlena ponders the question of 'needing something,' which naturally brings a sparkle of avarice to her eyes, as she can be rather materialistic and self-serving. "Pray to me more. Especially just before a battle. It strengthens me, if you mean it. Tell everyone not to kill any birds on my deck -- especially black feathered birds. I will be very upset if they do!"

"Of course my lady, as you wish." With that he bows once more and gives the spirit a warm genuine smile.

When she leaves he straightens up and lets the crew know not to shoot any birds, and updates the cleaning regimen. Once finished he laughs. "Well that went well." He says with a smile towards everyone. He hugs Cinna close, "I hope she didn't scare you too bad. She just wants everyone to know that she's here and like I said before this is our home, we should treat her with respect."

The crew gives a general cheer of approval, shrugging at some of the odder rules they're given. No bird killing? Not that they went and shot birds out of the sky for sport or anything like that.

"Everythin's ready to go sir," Antov calls from above.

Cinna looks a touch shaken, but she grins nonetheless, leaning into the hug. "Hey, it's ok. If I didn't piss her off too much, that is. I think I can handle it, long as I'm not treated any worse than the others for being a girl!"

She smiles and kisses Zeru's cheek. "Well, let's get this ship on the move!"

---

OOC: And done!
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:41, Sun 01 Feb 2009.