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Penny gave Stacey a guilty smile after his correction. She sat silently as he talked, surprised that her attempt to distract him actually worked and even more surprised by how willing he was to open up to her. He even mentioned how his guitar was starting to act weird, but from what Penny knew his weird didn’t sound quite like an Awakening and he definitely wasn’t as much of an oddball as Odessa. She had a few theories but decided to keep them to herself for now. She didn’t want to seem like she was pushing Stacey too hard. 

[color=goldenrod]“Well, whatever it is, I wouldn’t worry about it for now. Once we’re off this ship we’ll figure out what it is together, okay?”[/color] said Penny. [color=goldenrod]“Oh, and I bet your ex is going to feel like an idiot once you become a world famous musician and she’s going through her second divorce. Trust me, as a former shitty first girlfriend, we definitely aren’t worth the worry.”[/color]

[color=goldenrod]“Anyway…”[/color] Penny looked up and caught sight of Lilith stepping through the door. She heaved a sigh of relief, smiled, and returned the wave. However, her smile soon faded into a look of confusion as Lilith began signing at them instead of writing on her pad like usual. Judging by her expression and her body language she didn’t appear distressed, but there was a look of expectation in her eye like she’d asked them a question. 

[color=goldenrod]“Lilith, I don’t mean to be a dick, but I didn’t get any of that. Do you need one of my markers?”[/color] said Penny as she started to get up. She figured it’d be worse to pretend like she understood what the girl meant. Besides, she could spare a few pens. She was armed to the teeth with writing utensils. There was enough ink in her bag to rival a small tattoo parlour. 

However, there was never any chance for clarification. Hell, there wasn’t even a chance to stand up all of the way before the sound of a loud thud and grating metal echoed through the bridge as a wave of force rocked the entire ship as if it had been hit by a torpedo from an enemy submarine. Penny lost her balance and got smashed by Stacey tumbling after her. She heard what sounded like a discordant note echoing from his guitar, and her gut twisted as the thought crossed her mind that she might’ve just gotten his guitar smashed. The worry was quickly jostled out of her head as she thudded against the wall and then hit the floor as the ship righted itself. Everything hurt and her mind was scattered.

The first thought to return to her head was if she was alive, which pretty much answered itself. The second was if everyone else was okay, which seemed to be the case from what she could immediately tell until she noticed Odessa’s arm was broken and also wood. Penny grimaced in horror as the woman snapped it back in place and let it become skin again, promising silently to drop the whole “fern” joke from here on out. The third thought was what the hell had just happened, which she still wasn’t certain of but knew the answer was nothing good. The final thought was an echo of Odessa’s words: they needed to leave.

Penny stood up. Nothing seemed broken but there were definitely going to be some bruises. She helped Stacey to his feet, the concern about his guitar lost in all of the confusion, before going over to give Lilith a hand. She turned to Isla but the girl was already walking past her and out the door. The right idea, but the wrong approach. 

[color=goldenrod]“Wait, stick together!”[/color] The girl was already gone. Penny turned to the others and pointed at the door. [color=goldenrod]“Fuck! Go after her and get to the lifeboats. I’ll be right behind,”[/color] she said, trying to regain her cool. She smacked her hands together for emphasis. [color=goldenrod]“ Now!”[/color] She moved to the mic and grabbed it, dropping the whole captain schtick as her voice crackled over the speaker system for one final message. [color=goldenrod]“We’re abandoning the bridge. Get those lifeboats ready. We’re done here. Mao, if your creepy ass can hear me, get to the boats pronto. If not...”[/color]

Penny let go of the talk button. 

She didn’t even know if Mao was on the cruise ship, but everyone else had been. Maybe there was still time to search for her, but maybe she wasn’t even there. Penny bit down on her lower lip.  Wasn’t it the captain’s responsibility to make sure that everyone was safe in an emergency, like that whole [i]goes down with the ship[/i] thing? She glared down at the seat, and then dropped the mic. [color=goldenrod]“...I’m sorry.”[/color]

Penny walked through the hole in the door after the others, leaving the hat behind in the chair for an actual captain. She pulled out a handful of coins as she hurried after the others, her head on a swivel ready for an Apparition to jump out at them. Penny would go through a lot of shit if it meant helping out someone. If someone was scared, she’d be brave for them. If someone needed saving, she’d rescue them. If something came looking for a fight, she’d beat them. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that she could do it. But to wait around or go searching for someone who might not even be there? To be a captain and go down with her ship? No way. She’d go through a lot of shit for someone, but she wouldn’t die for one. 

Not for a stranger, anyway.