She took the tie from him because there was no reason not to. She needed a tie, he had one. And if when she took the tie from him her fingers found their way to brush along his, the contact hidden from all eyes by the shield of his body, it was surely an accident. Just an incidental touch not a caress and certainly not one that made her heart race. Still keeping her eyes from his distracting chest she held his gaze as she caught the tie in her teeth, the rough brown twine pressing into the soft rose of her lips. She lifted her hands, combing her fingers with practiced ease through her dark-gold locks, the gesture more like a dance than a casual bit of toilette. Once the heavy mass, including the bold lock which had done what she had dared not, was contained in a tail at the back of her head and the twine employed much the same as his was she nodded ready to speak when he beat her too it, talking of stars and clear skies and babbles and she lost all train of thought as something akin to panic but not quite that emotion filled her. She pulled her eyes away, looking out to the night and catching more than a few eyes cast their way, a few but not all. That was a relief. She did not want their attention for this. 

Lacking any real plan she found herself reaching forward and taking his boots from him. She then pivoted and put them inside her cabin, just to the left of her door. They would be safe there, she told herself. He could come and get them after the contest was decided. An excuse, but that was fine, she had been the one to set it up. She had been the one holding the reins so she could tell herself the act wasn’t nearly as transparent as it was. 

“There.” She said simply to him. “Your boots are safe so that you may concentrate on whatever it is you and the captain have planned. You may think only of clear skies and victory and afterwards you may come fetch them.”

She closed the door, stepping out beside him, still avoiding looking at his chest, scanning the faces on the deck, trying to read faces, eyes for signs of the disregard she worried she would find there. Most were more interested in the contest and milled about joking and talking and placing bets. She saw a small form off in the shadows and it took her a moment to recall the boy they had taken on without her having been informed. She frowned a little and wondered if her place on the ship wasn’t as secure as she had thought. 

No, she told herself remembering the conversation with the Captain. He wouldn’t do that to her, if she hadn’t been informed she was sure there was a good reason other than oversight. She realized she was scowling at the small boy chided herself. He would be frightened enough without her scowling at him. She schooled her expression into something less dire and nodded his way then turned her attention back to Jax as further wagers were cast into the wind.

“You said contest. What is the prize for this?” She asked under her breath.