Ashley was closely watching the slightest movements of everyone who stood out from the crowd, which was difficult given the colorful and festive nature of many of its members. Her concentration was broken when Mikhail suddenly started pulling her by the hand. [color=#ff39d6][i]How do you expect me to draw my sword like this? Oi![/i][/color] she thought, glaring at him accordingly—but he was focused entirely on getting to that bar. [color=#ff39d6]"Mmh."[/color] Ashley made a half-hearted sound of protest, well beneath the noise level of the crowd. Were she a helpless maiden, she supposed that Mikhail's "man-on-a-mission" face might be really charming, but right now she wasn't feeling it.

She was visibly worried when she couldn't find Tonka or Aleria in the crowd at the bar, and audibly groaned when Troe confirmed that they were missing. [color=#ff39d6]"This is bad. Only a third of us are accounted for, and the captain probably won't leave without Table Hopper."[/color] Ashley tries to leave—stumbling a bit—when she realizes that Mikhail is still holding on to her hand. [color=#ff39d6]"Move it, boys!"[/color] said the boyish mage to the two grown men, wresting her hand free from Mikhail's grip.

Ashley's face and movements became noticeably less tense when she suddenly spotted something. [color=#ff39d6]"There!"[/color] she said, pointing toward Aleria, who was riding on Tonka's shoulders. Aleria seemed to notice Ashley too, as she was waving, seemingly in her direction—or maybe she was still a bit drunk—not that Ashley could tell from this distance.

As it turned out, Ashley was surprisingly easy to spot. It was as if the dark mage's very presence sucked the light and color from the crowd, creating a pale spot of duller hues that drew Aleria's attention—or maybe, she was still a bit drunk. Ashley's hand gestures seemed to indicate that she'd spotted them, and that she wanted to meet up at the boat.

Pushing through the crowd, this time on her own, Ashley made it close to the boat without being trampled. The crowd was thicker here, and angrier—not a good sign. Eventually, she finds herself face to face with the redheaded girl spearheading this "protest," currently arguing with one of Tedrius' crew. [color=#ff39d6]"Peace! Peace, at once, in the name of the law!"[/color] Ashley shouted, projecting her best "knightly" voice further and louder than those standing nearest to her would have ever expected—fruits of her training, one could suppose.

The "peace" Ashley asked for was marred somewhat by the slight din of chaos still going on in the background, but it was serviceable for her needs. [color=#ff39d6]"I've heard the gist, loud and clear. Now, [i]one[/i] of you, please calmly give me the details,"[/color] she says sternly, eyeing the redhead.

"Are you in charge of that black-haired blackheart?" she demands, a bit subdued compared to before, but still furious.

[color=#ff39d6]"That depends on the context. Who is she talking about?"[/color] Ashley asks, turning toward Ted's man. He whispers the name to her.

Ashley's stern face melts, replaced by one of concern. [color=#ff39d6]"You poor girl!"[/color] she suddenly cries out, in a distinctly feminine voice, catching the redhead and many of the other women off guard. [color=#ff39d6]"Did he attack you?! Are you hurt?!"[/color] she breathes, leaning toward the redhead, who was shorter than her for a change. As if suddenly realizing that she'd lost her composure, she takes a step back and clears her throat.

"Uh, n-no, I'm fine—he didn't [i]hurt me[/i], per se... he... he peeped on me in the bath," she says in a low voice, as if suddenly embarrassed.

Ashley softly embraced the girl, comforting her. [color=#ff39d6]"Thank the Goddess,"[/color] she whispers to the motionless redhead. [color=#ff39d6]"That man is more dangerous than you know. I've been tracking him... and once he leads me to his hideout, I'll make him pay. I swear,"[/color] she grits her teeth and tightens her embrace, before suddenly letting go of her. [color=#ff39d6]"Go. You and your friends get somewhere safe—now. Leave him to me, okay?"[/color] she says to the redhead, giving her a determined smile.

"O-Okay!" the redhead blurted out, getting swept up in the moment and taking a few steps away from the boat.

Ashley turns, smirking proudly. [color=#ff39d6][i]The 'gap' always puts them on the back foot,[/i][/color] she thought, satisfied with her performance. [color=#ff39d6][i]Getting her to admit that Kavius didn't attack her probably helped calm her down, too.[/i]

"Hey,"[/color] Ashley calls after the redhead. [color=#ff39d6]"Name's Elizabeth,"[/color] she said, indicating to everyone that knew her that this was an act. [color=#ff39d6]"Let's meet again,"[/color] she said insincerely, waving the back of her hand to the girl.

"Yeah! Go get 'im, Liz!" she shouted.

"You're so cool, miss!" another girl called out to Ashley as she boarded the boat.

"...Maaan. I thought she looked like some lame pushover, before. To think I almost bagged a knight," the tall girl from before groaned.

"If you did, we'd have been in real trouble," her business partner replied, laughing nervously. "The scary pirate lady saved us, there."

The crowd of girls began discussing whether or not this "Elizabeth" character was an undercover knight or a bounty hunter, and which would be cooler, as they walked away.

Ashley, meanwhile, barged below decks, clearly unhappy with Kavius. [color=#ff39d6]"I heard you peeped on some girls in the hot spring—[i]care to explain?[/i]"[/color] she begins, with a false smile. Then, she remembers the more important matter at hand. [color=#ff39d6]"Who's accounted for?"[/color] she demands coolly, looking around. [color=#ff39d6][i]Sam's still here, poor girl. ...No mushroom girl... but she probably flaked out, like I hoped she would. She's too young to die on a suicide mission. Overdosed in an alley is still tragic, but it's a peaceful way to go by comparison. That just leaves...[/i]

"Where's Table Hopper?"[/color] she asks Kavius calmly, as though she hadn't just glared daggers at him over the hot spring incident.