[center][h2]Curiouser and Curiouser[/h2][/center]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/lECs9U6.jpg[/img]
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[i]“This is your Captain speaking. I’d ‘preciate our passengers stayin’ in their quarters for a spell as the crew convene in the galley. See you there in fifteen.”[/i]

Word of the crew’s impending arrival set Edina into motion.  First was a pot of fresh coffee, preferred by the Captain and Yuri.  She put the kettle on to boil, as Imani and Sister Lyen would choose tea.  For Elias, China Doll’s newest galley hand had lucked into the discovery of ginger beer, whose strong flavor registered positive on the mechanic’s remaining taste buds.  Abby was the easiest to please, with either Boom-Boom Lemon or Capt. Bob’s Cola.  

As to the giant who’d been shown forward, she’d just have to find out.  Edina chalked him up as just one more curiosity added to a growing list of questions that swirled around their current doings.  Captain was being more cagey than usual with his orders. Though word had come down that whatever they were up to was amply provisioned by their client, Cal Strand had made it clear that he wanted the most bare bones of galley supplies.  “We gotta buy scads of protein paste,” he’d told her.  “And energy bars…same as any colony ship or mining camp.”  Though he had relented on the beverages and seasonings, Captain had made it clear without saying that he didn’t want any shopping sprees to draw attention.

Yuri was equally circumspect.  “Sounds right,” he agreed.  “You can get Sister and Abby to make some runs.  Help mix it up.”

She remembered lifting her head from his chest to ask, “What about peanut butter and jelly?  Your deckhand lives on those, you know.”

“Only buy what Captain says.  Gotta play our cards close to the vest while we’re at the skyplex,” Yuri’s gaze met hers as he caressed her cheek.  “After this job pays out, I’ll personally spring for a case of each.  But for now,” he added, “you’ll have to keep impressing us with your protein paste genius.”

“Cards,” she’d muttered as she nestled onto his shoulder.  “Maybe if I knew what those cards were…”

She felt his fingers work gently into her hair.  Yuri wasn’t alone in his fascination with the hair of Afro descended folk like herself.  At first, the sensation had been off putting…a warning sign that a drunken Andres was about to grab a handful by which to hurl her around their flat.  But Yuri had only ever been gentle.  Edina couldn’t say that she was completely relaxed in these moments, but there was growing proof that these incremental tendernesses were chipping away at the years spent on edge.   “I promise, Eddie,” he’d whispered, “once we’re clear of the skyplex, Captain will fill in all the blanks.”

“I’m gonna hold you to that, Mr. Antonov.”

He rolled onto his side, arms pulling her close as he smiled, “And I’m gonna hold you, Ms. Wyman.  Every chance I get.”

Now, as Edina laid out the beverages for her shipmates, she pondered the coming crew meeting.  [i]Maybe Captain’ll give us a few more hints,[/i] she mused as the sound of approaching footfalls grew louder.