[h2]Meals, Mahjong, Meeting Up[/h2]

[h3]The China Doll Galley [/h3]

Joint post with [@Gunther], [@MK Blitzen], [@Winters], [@Yule]

[table]
[row][cell][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5281577][img] https://i.imgur.com/1CPW58D.png [/img][/url] [/cell]
[cell] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5281574][img] https://i.imgur.com/T64wNiT.png [/img][/url] [/cell]
[cell] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5281589][img] https://i.imgur.com/66r372Q.png [/img][/url] [/cell] [/row][/table]

Hook was almost finished with the meal when the three young people entered the Galley. He nodded to them as they entered and took seats at the table. There was space at one end for their game.

“Heya,” Cyd greeted with a bright smile, taking a seat next to her brother as she placed her cortex on the table. The oldest of the three, Mathias - set up the mahjong tiles. At least he [i]claimed[/i] to be the oldest, but Cyd had her doubts. He was definitely the tallest if that counted for anything, and in his own eyes it counted for everything. The crewman in the galley was about her Yobo’s height, 6 feet and a bit of change. 

Mathias, gave a wave to the man cooking in response. He was going to be a bother while the man was working and figured there would be plenty of time for introductions. He was quickly making a subtle bop to Isaac’s idle drumming, slipped out a baggie of Mahjong tiles flipping them character side down as he mixed them on the table. He couldn’t help but clack the tiles to the rhythm as well while dealing and stacking them out. “Eldest or youngest first?”

“Shoot for it,” Cyd said with indignity, tapping Mathias’ chair with her foot. “Give the middle kid a chance.” 

"Yeah, how come you never choose middle, Mat? Isaac said, not making eye contact with either sibling as he drummed on the table without even thinking about it. He was engrossed with the shiny little combination lock Mathias picked up for him not too long ago. Only he neglected to save the verdomde paper with the combination. 

“Or the youngest could go last from now on ... “ Mathias said with a nonchalant shrug and a sly smile. He waited to see how quick that tune was going to change now as he moved the tiles into place neatly in front of Isaac, Cyd and himself. 

"Muukhai." Isaac grumbled with a stink eye to his brother. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "26, 14 33!!" He immediately stopped drumming and picked up the lock, taking his time to enter the numbers. He pulled on the shackle...no good. He put the lock back in it's place on the table and reflexively began drumming again.

“Not an answer …” Mathias saing leaning back in his chair as he rolled a tile between his fingers. “ … what say you Cyd?” He offered since the youngest was dodging any responsibility.

“I’m all for LoLo always going last,” she giggled. “My chances just went from 33 to 50.” 

"High score on a run of 5 goes first?" the youngest asked.

“Sorry LoLo it’s between me and Cyd now!” Mathias said in a merry tone putting his tile back in place.

"You just gonna let him go first like that?" Isaac goaded his sister as he lightly padded the table. He didn't need to get grief for knocking the tiles out of position.

Mathias eyes flashed to his hand thinking. “Speed round, first to three plums?” He challenged his sister.

“First to three plums!” She agreed happily. Mathias would be first to three plums. 

He was always first to three plums. 

The twin vied for the win in a rapid fire game. It was honestly through sheer luck when Mathias face of concentration broke out into a smile. "Sik." He announced showing his hand.

“You Chitlins’ want some grub? Hep yerself,” Hook offered as he flipped some burgers off the grill and onto a plate. He added dogs as well.

Isaac trembled with excitement as he looked to Mathias, then Cyd, then the plate of freshly cooked meats at the far end of the table. This repeated a few more times: Mathias, Cyd, food as the teen did his best impression of a pathetic puppy. Manners weren't exactly his strong suit, especially when it came to 'grub', but the boy held position until he got the blessing from one of the killjoys sitting next to him.

Cyd ticked her head towards the food, [i]releasing the hound[/i] she snickered to herself. “Shot, mate,” she told the man she assumed was the cook. “Thanks, this looks lekker, smells great too. Oh, I’m Cyd, this is my brother, Mathias, and my other brother, Isaac. “

"Shot mate ... And for the love of … remember your manners you weren't raised [I]entirely[/I] in a barn." Mathias chided at Isaac.

Isaac let out a playful whinny as he gave a grateful nod to the founder of the feast. "Shot, mate!" he concurred with his sibs before making a beeline to the other end of the table, pausing for only a moment to point menacingly at the combination lock that was still stubbornly closed on the table. "I'll deal with you later." he said with all the menace of an archenemy.

“You know where about on New Melbourne we’ll be touching down?” Cyd asked the shipmate. 

“Nice to meet you folks,” Joe answered the trio. “The name’s Joe. Joe Hooker, but most folks call me Hook. I just hired onto the [i]China Doll[/i] t’day. All I knows is that’s where we headin’ Should be just over a three day trip, but where on that fish bowl we’s landin’? No clue.”

Cyd nodded as the man spoke. Two people just hired. [i]Maiden voyage, or revolving door of crewmates? [/i] “Bon Bagay, congrats on the new job, Hook,” she toasted. 

"Congwaduwafums." Isaac added to his sister's good wishes through a mouthful of hot dog.

"I swear we tried to teach him good manners, he was unfortunately raised mostly by [I]wolves[/I] so we're just happy he's house broken." Mathais snarked. "And yes, Bon Bagay, Congrats on the job. You play?" He offered. "We can deal you in."

“No thanks,” Hook retorted softly with a smile. “I need to clean the place up and check in with Miss Abby. Sounds like some more freight arrived down in the cargo bay.”

"Don't let us get in your way then." Mathais said agreeably. Work first, play later, he understood and the last thing he wanted to do was prevent the man from doing his job.

“Nice to meetcha, Hook!” Cyd called. Hook the cook, that would be easy to remember. She rolled one of the tiles to the back of her hand. “Middle goes first? Yes?” Hopefully they were in for smooth sailing. There would be plenty of work on New Melbourne - she had a good feeling.