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Time: Evening
Location: Mermaid's Fortune Deck
Interactions: [@DreamingFlowers] - Nur, [@MissCapnCrunch] - Winifred

Nur spotted Malek coming towards her, picking up the bottle of the rum the floored sailor had left sitting out. She was about ready to fling herself overboard. The first mate was really the last man on the ship she wanted to see right now. Her expression soured and she looked up at the sky, inwardly cursing the gods and spirits who lived there. 

When he approached she could again smell the rum and she fanned herself with her hand, in an attempt to sweep away the smell. The jasmine oil she had dabbed on her wrists did little to dilute the strong smell of rum. She crossed her arms, hiding her hands and let out a drawn out breath, clearly annoyed. The first mate had not uttered a word yet.

A stroll…..?
What was he up to now? 
Nur followed him reluctantly, arms still folded firmly across her chest, like she was protecting something precious. What did he discover? The young witch didn’t much like his tone of voice. What if he knew about her magic disappearing? He couldn’t know…..right? There wasn’t a soul alive on the Mermaid’s fortune who knew about it.

Winifred startled her. She hadn’t seen the cook approaching her, it almost seemed like she rose from beneath the deck, passing through the wood like a ghost. Nur sucked in her breath and placed a hand to her chest. Her heart was racing. She was already jumpy before, and now Malek with this nonsense. Nur contemplated Winifred’s offer. 

[Color=mediumpurple]“Thank you Win, I’m fine, no need to worry”[/color] She sounded anything but fine. Her body language and her tone showed the complete opposite to what she was saying. Nur needed to find out what Malek knew, or she would toss and turn all night. Nur locked eyes with the cook, nodding slightly, appreciating her kindness. 

Nur turned and slowly walked beside Malek to the spot he’d pointed out earlier. The surgeon did not like her odds at all. This was a scenario she had tried to avoid ever since she boarded the ship. 

[Color=mediumpurple]“Well out with it…”[/color] She said, sounding frustrated. Her nerves and the tension was getting the better of her. 

[Color=silver]“In a hurry are you?”[/color] Malek asked mocking a questioning look to Nur. He noticed something was troubling the witch. The expressions she held reminded him of another time he had found her in distress on this very ship. “Hmm.” Malek furrowed his brows and took another swig from his bottle. His eyes never left Nur’s. Once the bottle left his lips, he sighed. [Color=silver]“I was going to play a joke, but you just look like some sad pup!”[/color] Malek let out. [Color=silver]“And I can’t do that to you… I simply couldn't…”[/color] Malek’s face softened and another sigh escaped him. [Color=silver]“You know, there's something I figured out today… Something worthwhile, and I’m a bit nervous in sharing it… Maybe now’s not the time.”[/color] Malek said as he kept his gaze from hers. 

Nur’s demeanor changed, she let her guard down momentarily. The tension left her body, her frown replaced by a look of curiosity. Her mood changed for the better, realizing that she would have nothing to fear as far as the first mate was concerned. Well at least not tonight. Malek was a difficult man to figure out at times. She hadn’t seen him like this before and she didn’t understand his sudden display of vulnerability. 

There was something he was trying to tell her, but he struggled to find the right words. He avoided her eyes which made her suspicious. A small smirk appeared on her lips, while a devious plan was brewing in her mind. As much as she admired and appreciated his softer side, this was simply too good an opportunity to pass by. There was probably something she could gain here. Nur had a knack for finding out people’s weak spots, especially men’s. Sadly for Malek there had yet to be a time where Nur didn’t take advantage of such a situation. 

The young woman raised her hand and moved her hair over her shoulder seductively, a mischievous glint in her shimmering eyes. She quietly stepped towards Malek, and without his cyan eyes constantly on her she took the opportunity to swipe up his bottle of rum in one swift motion. 

[Color=mediumpurple]“Hah!”[/color] She said victorious. A cheeky smile on her face. [Color=mediumpurple]“Let’s see you try without your liquid courage”[/color] Nur held the bottle behind her back, winking at the first mate. 

[Color=silver]“Hey!”[/color] Malek protested as his hand slightly went for the bottle that had been pulled from it. With a bothered look on his face, he let his arm drop, easily giving up on the rum. Then he noticed he was looking into her eyes... Malek quickly shifted his gaze to his right, only to reflexively find her face again. [Color=silver][i]Careful, Malek.[/i][/color] He let his gaze drop, focusing on her lips rather than her eyes for now. Malek found this to be a way to keep his eyes off of hers while not appearing so timid. Everything about him was just off. 

[Color=silver]“I guess I already cast the line… can’t quit once the fish actually bites.”[/color] Malek grumbled as he seemed to second guess even pulling Nur aside. He let out a low huff before his lips formed a smile. Something nice was on his mind. [Color=silver]“Nur… I believe you may have enchanted me.”[/color] Malek’s eyes finally met hers, a hopeful smile on his face. Hoping she wouldn’t reject his words. [Color=silver]“I don’t know why it was today, but… I found something beautiful this morning. You graced the deck. You...”[/color] Malek appeared to be too flustered to finish. No, it wasn’t that. Malek was too disgusted with how much he was allowing his ability of charm to take hold of him.

Nur bit her lip, not liking where this was going at all. The occasional flirting was all well and good  it was even fun at times, even if she only really did it to get her way. But this was sounding awfully close to someone falling in love and that was a recipe for disaster. It was probably the rum talking and he was probably missing the company of women. Although Nur had to admit she had a hard time picturing Malek sweet-talking a girl. She touched his arm. It was time to talk some sense into him. 

[Color=mediumpurple]“There’s just so much you don’t know about me Malek…”[/color] She started hesitantly. This time she may have bitten off more than she could handle. 

[Color=silver]“Nur…”[/color] Malek seemed to peer wantingly into her eyes, his voice was now a soft whisper that pulled at her. [Color=silver]“I know just enough. I know the thoughts guiding my words are not false. I know my feelings would never betray me, but… Maybe I need to show you.”[/color] The distance between the two almost seemed too far even though they were less than a foot apart now. [Color=silver]“That's if you will allow me.”[/color]

Nur was entranced by the sound of Malek´s voice. The sweet words of the first mate moved her and shivers ran down her skin. She couldn't control her feet, who were slowly stepping forward to close the distance between them. A vague feeling of deja vu came over her but it was outmatched by this sudden desire she didn ́t understand. 

[Color=mediumpurple]“Show me?”[/color] She sounded like she was floating somewhere between dreams and reality. Why couldn’t she think straight? All she could focus on were the shimmering cyan eyes of the first mate, looking deep into hers. It was like her senses muted every sound and movement around her, except for him. Malek inched closer to Nur as his eyes seemed like they were just about to shut. This was it.

It came into view, a hairpin bejeweled with precious stones was held steadily between Nur’s tranced face and Malek’s scowl. He glared into her eyes silently as he let her take everything in. 

Something else aside from Malek’s cyan eyes shimmered in front of her. Slowly she regained some of her senses, recognizing the object. It was a hairpin, and it was…..hers.

Nur began to laugh nervously, trying to pry the pin from between his fingers. Malek was nowhere near the charming man of her dreams and now she realized why. He’d charmed her! AGAIN!

Her brows raised in annoyance. She hated it when he did that. The joke wasn’t at all funny when it was on her. She was usually the one who did the charming. The fact that Malek was better at it than her, irked the young witch. Best not let a sharp object linger between them. 

Malek let the witch take the pin from his hand, but not without a few words.

[Color=silver]“My words were misleading, but I managed to remain truthful! That pin is the beautiful thing I found this morning. Thrown at me… AND MISSED! I figure that if you were going to assault me, you would at least have better aim! For missing your first mate, you are hereby responsible for making sure the deck is spotless tomorrow morning after this night's festivities.”[/color] Malek ordered seriously, before a smirk appeared on his face. [Color=silver]“Maybe I should have let you go on further, so you can feel the way that fisherman’s son does... Or maybe just to see if all you are is just a charmer. Like a toothless siren.”[/color] Malek reached for his bottle of rum that Nur still had in her possession. To him, the game was over. Payback was served.

Nur’s pale eyes widened. She was about to protest to Malek’s orders, but he wouldn’t let her get a word in. She really wanted to wipe that smug smile off his annoying face. The deck was going to be a mess in the morning, not to mention the hangover crew. She didn’t have time to clean the deck! Nur was used to the first mate barking orders which she usually ignored. Only now he said something which she did not appreciate. He was really pushing his luck. 

She returned his scowl with an equal angry frown. 

[Color=mediumpurple]“In case you haven’t noticed…”[/color] Nur began, ready to throw a tantrum. [Color=mediumpurple]“This is all I got going for me.”[/color] She gestured to her face and body. Men had all the power where she came from. Women didn’t exist without them. 

[Color=mediumpurple]“And that’s rich coming from you!”[/color] Without realizing it Malek had just given her motivation to indeed leave the entire deck spotless. She was determined to prove she wasn’t what he made her out to be. The first mate tried to reach for the rum she stole from him, but she wasn’t going to let him have another drop. The anger she’d felt before came back with a vengeance. Her reaction was noticeably out of the ordinary, since the crew was used to the banter of the first mate and the surgeon. Neither party ever went too far, until today. 

Nur forcefully smashed the bottle of rum on the floor. The glass shattered in every direction and the precious liquid trickled over the wooden floors, seeping below deck. Heat rose to her cheeks and she lifted her skirts to keep her hands from trembling. She stepped over the mess and stomped away from Malek. Before she was out of ear shot she glanced over her shoulder for a last venomous remark. 

[Color=mediumpurple]“Don’t worry I’ll clean that up….”[/color] Nur spat at him, full of contempt. 

[Color=silver]"You will."[/color] Malek said matter of factly. He didn't appear to be fazed by her actions. He was aiming to piss her off a bit. Something did tug at him however. Something else was nipping at the woman. He'd have someone else check on it if anything. Malek did not have a shoulder for anyone to cry on.