[sylvanSpider]

The twins, however unironically or ironically, saluted to the captain as she essentially gave them the order to break their rations and get shit-faced. Foreshadowing to their future conditions, the twins each wore shit-eating grins as they watched A'vi make her exit. They each recognized it as the cue that Captain Zet Rayt would be making his appearance rather soon, and he'd stay until the traditional branding of new recruits was finished—at that time revealing himself as none other than his own daughter. Quite strange when dwelled on, but A'vi couldn't keep the schtick up forever in front of her own crew, so when she knew that new recruits literally couldn't betray them without at least giving themselves up is when she came clean.

Besides, a trustworthy crew deserved a trustworthy captain, and that she certainly was.

She, as expected left to make her change leaving the twins to distract the newcomers with a good old-fashioned Hangman's Cry welcome—with ale and merrymaking. They chatted the newbies up, leading them back to the kitchens, the blonde one even going so far as to place his hand on the lower back of the eyepatched quivering creature, while the brown haired one let Tennan move at her own pace, both at once recognizing Tennan as a kindred spirit and knowing she'd join on her own terms, willingly and perhaps even with similar intentions.

The boys had already downed their first drink when A'vi was around, and Damon almost as soon as he was in the kitchen had four mugs by the handle and he began pouring their drinks, “Ye ready t'get drunk in the name o' The Cry? Jes wait an' see, et's th'best decision ye ever made.”

Marco gulped. He couldn't decide if Roek's hand on the small of the back was comforting or terrifying, but his body had evidently reacting to the latter as it was now quivering, a trembling hand latching onto the handle of the mug that Damon now shoved into his bubble. “I...I reckon, reckon so,” he stammered, moving his other hand in to shake the mug which after being in his hand also began to shake. He turned his head to the other newcomer, “Were you drug into this too, or are you here freely?”

“Lookit 'er,” Damon said, his newly freed hand clapping hard on Marco's back, “She's a natural! An' she certn'ly ain't no pansy. 'Course she's 'ere willingly. Dun worry though, we'll make ye a bit less of a bitch yet. Bottom's up! T'the Cry!” This was only one of many times he'd drink to the Cry probably even today, as it was as good of an excuse as any to drink and the twin raised his mug, his brother echoing his sentiments with his own “T'the Cry!” Marco raised his glass, but made little effort to actually make contact with the others, so the twins brought theirs further forward, glad that Tennan was indeed willing to party as hard as they were.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

“Gambling?...Partying?” Qi murmured with a shake of her head, “That happened in the big cities, I think. In the small towns, like the one I lived in before it was destroyed was mostly farming...some herders, too.” She bowed her head knowing both the shepherds and their flocks were all but gone now, the lush green hill sides just outside of the jungle now reduced to little more than black ash, the jungles mere skeletons of what they once were.

Her fingers dug into the armrests as the ship picked up speed, and her eyes widened as she realized she was now seeing space, from space, for the first time in her life. “It's beautiful, she whispered, guilty that neither her parents nor her siblings would ever get the chance to witness this majesty.
They were gone now. They'd never see anything again.