[h3][center][color=00a99d]Maréngo[/color] and [color=orchid]Solange[/color][/center][/h3]

[hr]
Maréngo grinned and gently scratched the monkey on the head which earned a soft hoot of approval.
[color=00a99d]"His name's Pyka and he's my newest friend."[/color]
Pyka bounced happily on his shoulder at the mention of his name and reached out with a grabbing hand toward the bag in his off hand. Maréngo laughed and handed him another plantain.
[color=00a99d]"Hungry lil' bugger, too."[/color]

[color=orchid]“Oh,”[/color] said Solange with a flat expression, clearly uncertain of how to react to the excitement for something that would just eat their food supply, spread disease, and eventually die. She looked down at her book, as if she were completely dismissing Maréngo and his monkey, and then remembered the thought she had earlier. She snapped the book shut, shook her head, and gave the sailor a big, fake smile. She hoped that Maréngo had been too distracted with his monkey to notice that she’d at first clearly not cared.

 [color=orchid]“What an absolute darling, darling!”[/color] she said with a girlish squeal that took years off of her life just to produce. She scooched forward on the cart, intentionally pushing against Neh’miah’s barrel to rock it ever so slightly, and pointed at Maréngo’s bag, [color=orchid]“May I feed it?”[/color]

Maréngo took the bait and smiled, producing a dried fruit from the bag and handing it to Solange. It was then he noticed the black cord around the woman's wrist and the stone attached to it. The pirate had assumed a city-dweller would think herself above the Old Knowings and scoff at the wisdom of things that go bump in the night. He nodded sagely and gestured to the stone.
[color=00a99d]"A spirit stone, eh? Always a good idea to have a bit of protection when the journey moves through uncertain waters."[/color] 

[color=orchid]“Oh, this?”[/color] asked Solange, lifting up her wrist and pulling the dried fruit away from Pyka so she could inspect the stone like she had forgotten about it. What luck! Solange didn’t even have to brooch the subject. [color=orchid]“It was thrown in with my purchases by the apothecary. She is a good friend of mine, and quite superstitious. She wouldn’t let me buy anything without putting it on! Said it would protect us from ghost ships, can you believe it?”[/color] Solange laughed a little too nervously as she motioned as if she were going to remove the bracelet but left it on. The quickness of the following words flooding out of her mouth betrayed her attempt at casual disbelief, [color=orchid]“I mean it’s utter nonsense, right? No such things!”[/color]

Maréngo shook his head with a grave expression. So many people dismissed such things as the ravings of drunken sailors driven mad by months at sea, but he could tell Solange was more clever than most people. He could only hope and pray that she would heed his warning.
[color=00a99d]"They're real as the ocean itself. We should be fine on this journey, but should you stray too far from the shipping routes and you risk them finding you."[/color]

Neh’miah could hear Solange talk from inside his barrel. Of Course he was still alive. However the young thief hoped that these knuckleheads would finish up their shopping spree fast. As a dark, cramped barrel is not exactly the most comfortable place to stay in. In fact, it sucked pretty hard. However, he had to endure it until they had reached the ship. Having Solange intentionally rock his barrel wasn’t helping. 

Solange slid back against the barrel, nudging it yet again. She clasped her hand around the spirit stone, the bit of dried fruit falling from her hand and on to her book. Her eyes were wide, both in worry and in awe, as she asked, [color=orchid]“Have you seen one?”[/color]

[color=00a99d]I haven't and I hope I go to my grave that way. There are fates far worse than death."[/color]
Though he hadn't witnessed many of the supernatural dangers of the sea, he'd taken great care to abide by the hushed warnings told around circles passing rum. And so far, he'd mostly avoided any treacherous spirits so clearly the advice worked.

[color=orchid]“Truer words...”[/color] Solange trailed off, glancing in the direction of the Faded Lantern. Solange bristled at a chill despite the morning sun beginning to transition from a welcoming light to a sweltering bastard. Neither ghosts nor Vargas was something she wanted to consider any longer, although both would certainly be on her mind for the rest of the voyage. She looked back at Maréngo and her stomach knotted, although she couldn’t say why. 

[color=orchid]“Thank you for the wisdom, Mr. Maréngo,”[/color] said Solange. She sniffed. Her throat felt dry as she flicked the fruit off of the opened page and tucked the book away.  [color=orchid]“Well, if you ever find yourself with one foot in the grave, I’ll have you know that I am quite the accomplished healer. Just because there are fates worse doesn’t make death any more acceptable. Do not hesitate to call upon me if anything ever ails you, love.”[/color]

As if on cue, his stomach groaned and he grimaced in pain. He hasn't planned on this being his first impression to the ship's crew but it was quickly becoming unavoidable.
[color=00a99d]"Now that you mention it, I think something I ate last night is having it's revenge. Do you have anything for guts that put up a fight?"[/color]

A wicked little smile appeared on Solange’s face as she pulled open her satchel, [color=orchid]“I’ll see what I can whip up.”[/color]