[h2]”What Comes Up…"[/h2] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/DcCMZZA.jpg[/img][/center] [b]Lucky the Parrot[/b] and [b]Rex Black[/b] are characters created by [@Psych0pomp] “REX!” Abby give a harder knock this time. Rumors was true, ‘parantly. She heard he done got seasick. Abby seen the squeamish type afore. Them as come aboard with weak stomachs was just as like to catch the ‘spaceman’s malady’. “REX!” The ladder hatch jerked open. “What?” His voice sounded powerful rough, an’ she held a quiet sympathy. The smell what come waftin’ up from inside ‘o’ Rex’s quarters was one tah pull the curl right outta her hair. Sweat, an’ stale clothes, an’ the scent of a man closed up doin’ naught but pukin’ hisself empty. “I come fer Lucky,” the girl answered. “Boat’s startin’ to git cold. Gonna keep ‘im in tha engine room tonight.” She heard the man stirrin’ about his place, a flap ‘o’ wings, and tha hollow ring of Lucky’s cage door bein’ closed. A minute later the cage come up. Only part ‘o’ Rex on display was the hand what give it a shove onta tha deck. Lucky flappped his wings, keepin’ balance as his home come slidin’ to a stop. “Rex, I…” Her words was cut off by the hatch slammin shut in her face. Abby’s ‘bout tah pound on it til she heard the sound what muffled up from below. Rex was busy...bent over his commode agin. She give ‘im a minute to collect himself, then swung the hatch open. “Rex,” Abby said quieter this time. “WHAT NOW?” he demanded. At first, Abby’s gonna climb down with her bag, til a glimpse below showed her the leopard print thong unders he’d slung over one ‘o’ the ladder rungs. “Brung yah some things,” she offered. “Towels...pack ‘o’ crackers...coupla bottles ‘o’ Cap’n Bob’s...fer yer stomach.” She held the bag out over tha hatch openin’. The same hand come up an’ snatched it down inta his lair. “Thanks,” Rex said in a tired voice. “No worries,” the deckhand replied. “Doc gimme couple pills fer yah, too. They’s in there. She says take ‘em both, right now.” He balked at that. “How in hell...JAYSUS!” Rex exclaimed. “These are horse pills! How’m I supposed to get these down?” “Doc says yer s’posed tah put ‘em up,” She couldn’t help the smirk what come next. “They’s suppositories.” Silence from below. “Oh,” the First Mate replied. “You wanna give me a hand with these?” Abby rolled her eyes. “Least yah ain’t puked out yer jackass.” Now she knowed Rex weren’t gon’ die, she could be at her chores. “I’m about. Lemme know if ya need more blankets an’ such.” Once his hatch was battened, the girl lifted the cage. “C’mon, Lucky,” she said all friendly like. “Let’s gitcha sitchiated fer tha night.” The bird give ‘er some wary side eye as she took ‘im aft. Hook was busy in the galley, brewin’ up hot drinks an’ tendin’ a big pot ‘o’ somethin’ what already smelt perty fine. Despite tha gatherin’ cold, spirits all over tha China Doll was runnin’ high. Word was that the fella they hauled outta tha drink was alive, an’ the doc conjured he’d be on his feet in two shakes. Cap’n seemed perty positive…’buoyant,’ she’d read in one ‘o’ her books. Tellin’ jokes ‘bout “more mechanics than fish” in tha ocean. Either way, folk felt good ‘bout what they done today. The radion core was spinnin just so when she come inta the engine room. “Here yah go,” Abby said. “Should be right cozy here fer tha night.” She hung Lucky’s cage from a utility hook overhead, right by the mechanic’s workbench. He’d be safe there, with all movin’ parts outta wing’s reach. “Gotta keep yah closed up,” she tole the parrot. “But I’ll keep checkin’ on yah til yer dad’s back on ‘is feet.” Lucky seemed thoroughly unimpressed with his new surroundings and her assurances. He worked at the latch, beak open, miniscule tongue probing the device for any weakness. That morning, Rex had assured Abby that Lucky couldn’t open it. She’d take him at his word...for now. From the engine room, she made the rounds of the boat, checkin’ faucets was runnin jest a trickle to ward off freezin’. She reminded them as had lavs in their quarters tah do the same, afore headin’ back to the galley. “Don’t conjure what that is,” Abby sniffed the air as she joined Hook, “but I’ma want a bowl of it.”