[center][h2]Books, Blankets, Bolts, and Beans - Greenleaf, Day 2 later afternoon/early eveningish[/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/nalNq9e.jpg[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/diF6hFs.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/qEZu58W.jpg[/img][/center] JP/collab from [@Aalakrys] and [@sail3695] [hr] Once Penelope departed Cafe Al-Baz with her captain, they parted ways for Cal to do any last minute preparations for his night out and for her to hum along the way back to the China Doll. Her thoughts never wandered too far from what she saw along the way, taking in the subtle nuances of her homeworld. When the path could divert back to familiar trails, she took the one that led her to her new home and steered her thoughts to present little joys. The party had been nice - fun, even, with the dancing - seeing Hafez again … odd. She’d never been quite sure how she felt about what had brought them close, and wasn’t about to spend time thinking on it now. Instead, she wondered more at how to describe the delicacies at the party to Sam once she returned to the flight deck. Taste was something more challenging without a basis of comparison… but she’d made it work before. When she made it to the ramp and found Abby sitting pretty in the lawn chair, she felt all was just right. Somehow, even when back on the planet she’d longed to step foot back on, there was a comfort in seeing the young girl being dutiful as ever. That scowl she wore naturally faded some when Penelope lifted her hand in greeting as she came up alongside her. “How’s the chair ridin’ treatin’ ya, Abbs?” The deckhand closed ‘er book. “Tolerable…tolerable,” Abby give Pen the sorta smile meant trouble. “Folks is folks. Some good, some? Yew conjure. Heard we got work. How’s tha party? Her mouth’s jest shy ‘o’ goin’ full on cheshire cat with tha pilot. “Brought ya some party back with me,” Penelope said as she reached into her cloth bag to pull out a fancy cloth napkin and handed it over. “There was all sorts of delicious food.” “Thank yew,” the teenager accepted the little bundle. “I might save it fer our new mechanic. That fella Yuri…him as we pulled outta tha ocean? He come back tahday, askin’ ‘bout joinin’ the crew. Still looked powerful beat up, so I got ‘im a passenger bunk tah rest til Cap’n gets back.” “Well, ain’t that serendipitous,” Penelope smiled brightly after a moment of wide-eyed surprise registered. “That’ll be a nice treat for him, for true. The Doll might be in need of a mechanic the way I been havin’ to fly her - an’ our next job might call for some more…” She looked off as she thought on the possibilities, reminding herself that she was trusting that the job was fine reeled her back in though as her smile returned. “Cap’n ain’t got ya on that chair the full stay, does he? There’s some places ya gotta see, ya know.” “He tole me we got a goodly amount ‘o’ cargo.” Abby shifted in ‘er chair. “If I can git us a couple more shipments an a passenger or two he’ll probably let me off tha leash.” The knowin’ smile come creepin’ back. “Mebbe I’ll go daincin’...” “Won’ do no good makin’ your fella jealous by showin’ off your moves for some city boys ‘fore he got to see ‘em.” Penelope returned with a spreading grin of her own. “But your secrets are always safe with me.” So Pen weren’t gon’ just give it up without a fight. “I conjure he wouldn’t mind me practicin’,” Abby could barely hold off laughin’. “How’s ‘bout yew?” she teased. “Ever git some daincin’ practice in?” “Abby, a lady don’t right go practicin’ with just anybody then go yappin’ about it with tha girls,” Penelope attempted to chide, but smiled all the way through it then could barely make it through the rest without laughing between her words as she added: “Ain’t proper, it ain’t.” There were tears in her eyes from the melodical laughter of her words, but she shook her head and said, “Alright, alright - Cap’n went yappin’, I take it. He tell ya that he knows a few steps, too? Surprising man, that Cal.” “He ain’t tha only one!” the younger chortled. “But naw,” Abby give ‘er a grin, “I think that’s right nice! He said you’s a great dancer…what? It’s sorta sweet!” Penelope’s lifted brow smoothed as she tilted her head, toe of her flat kicking thoughtfully at the dock. “Well, there’s all sorts’a partners one could go dancin’ with. Reckon it was ‘bout time I got back on the floor.” Her smile returned near instantly though, as her hazel eyes turned back on the deckhand, a playful little glint in her eye. “But you keep mind what I said ‘bout practicin’, young lady. I got to see about ‘roundin’ up blankets I left all about in our hurry to make it planetside an’ warm up a spell.” It was all kindsa nice havin’ someone lookin’ out fer her, tah say nothin’ ‘o’ gittin’ poked at ever’ now an’ agin tah be a “young lady.” [i]Aunt Lupe’d like that,[/i] Abby mused til the talk moved tah Pen’s blankets. “Got two of ‘em,” she said. “Washed, dried, an’ folded up on tha galley table. One yah loaned me…an’ Rex’s. Thought yah might want that’un double clean afore yah set fingers on it.” At hearing that the blanket she thought gone forever was washed and waiting in the galley, the smile Penelope wore full of amusement shifted to pure warmth. “That’s our Abbs, goin’ above and beyond ‘fore we even know we need somethin’. Thank ya.” She patted Abby’s shoulder as she passed, intending to head on up and collect those two before double-checking all the other places she’d strayed while in the cold to make sure she hadn’t left any behind. The final stop before taking the haul to the little space of her own would be the galley to collect the last bit. A little smile touched her lips as she idly thought of her home away from home - at home. As she visited the engine room and made her way to the nose of the ship, she let her mind wander only so far as to consider how that meeting with Hafez seemed to bring her to terms with her past. That part of her past, anyway. There were no lingering feelings of uncertainty that would’ve plagued her before. Just the opposite, in fact. The year or so away doing routed deliveries on schedule, disconnecting and reassessing had been just what she needed. That, and whatever had snapped her reality into place in the conversation with her current captain. Just as she entered the galley, her pondering was done, and instead she was humming the tune from the party absently and thinking of dancing. When her hazel eyes came to rest on the stranger, she tilted her head in curiosity only just a moment before recalling what Abby had said. This could be the man from the ocean. Or a passenger. Both, even, since he technically wasn’t hired yet. Still, she smiled easily as always. “Findin’ everything ok? Hook, the hand that usually is around the kitchen, must’ve gone off somewhere.” Yuri turned at the sound of a woman’s voice. “Hello.” There was something surprising about her, an easy cordiality that took him unawares while setting his mind at ease. “I thought a cup of coffee might answer while I await the captain. I’m Yuri, by the way,” he said as the pot dispensed a thickening black ooze which smelled every bit as old as it looked. “Penelope.” Penelope’s breezy tone faded as she cast a concerned look at the contents of the cup, skeptical if he should be drinking that, and the easy stride she’d been taking towards the blankets piled on the table was detoured to that cup instead. She held out her hand for it, and prompting poured the liquid out once he handed it over as she shared the news. “Might want a fresh pot for that wait - could be a minute. Cap’n already dealt with one matter of business today, and his plans for the evenin’ could keep him plenty occupied…” While she’d kept the details of what exactly his plans were to herself, her tone not exactly alluding to anything one way or another, Penelope was busy preparing the new pot by collecting the tin of beans to be ground before taking it and the pot to the sink to be dumped and washed. “Abbs said you were lookin’ to join the crew, and seemed optimistic enough to give ya a bunk you were supposed’ta be resting on…” At the friendly teasing, she glanced over to let him know it wasn’t a chiding. “Thank you,” he gestured with his bound arm. “I didn’t conjure that making a pot of coffee would be a two handed job.” He chuckled at the mild taunt, responding with a shrug. “I’ll pass out soon enough…Penelope. Wait,” Yuri looked upon her as a realization took light in his eyes. “Abigail…Abby…does she call you “Pen?” “Yeah, I reckon so.” Penelope said as if it just occurred to her, but went back to placing the beans into the coffee grinder. The mechanic rested a hand upon the counter to steady himself. “So then, you’re the pilot? The one who rescued me?” He knew it the instant the words had left his mouth. He wasn’t a medic, but Yuri conjured enough to know that the surreal fog these past few days served to protect him. The doctor might explain it as a bulwark, a suspension of belief to avoid further shock to a battered mind and body. [i]There would come a time,[/i] he knew, when he’d simply…crash. His mission now was to slow that descent without coming off as completely moon brained. With deliberate pacing, Yuri made his way around the counter toward the pilot. “Penelope,” he offered a hand that trembled despite his fervent rallying. “You found me out there,” Yuri’s voice quavered so slightly. “I can never repay what you…and your shipmates did for me. Thank you…thank you.” Penelope had turned at the question to look at him, a tilt to her head as she regarded him in the approach around the counter. She couldn’t very well say it was Sam that had actually found him, though it had taken restraint not to since she was free to offer up praise where it was due in most cases. Besides, the intensity in the gratitude threw her slightly, enough to still her tongue and think. Setting the grounds now in the tray into place, she dusted her hand off and took the one he offered with that hesitant smile coming out. “Wasn’t thinkin’ it was somethin’ in need of repayment, but if I can hold that bunk rest over your head then I will.” He clasped her hand, gratitude conveyed through a single shake and a smile that rose to his eyes. “Trust me…ten hours adrift in that ocean really makes you appreciate your rescuer.” The mechanic released his grip, allowing the hand to fall free at his side. “And yes, I’m certain your doctor would agree with you on bunk time.” “So..China Doll,” Yuri said. “Abigail…Abby…mentioned she’d been covering since your last mechanic. She said that things seemed pretty normal. What does the pilot think?” “Pretty normal?” That little smile of hers hinted that she found amusement in that opinion from the girl who had gotten shot in the rear, but didn’t disagree. At least aloud. Instead, she flipped the coffee pot on and then turned to look back at him as she leaned back against the counter. “Are you askin’ if I think we’re worth workin’ with? Because I might be a little biased.” “Um, me too?” he laughed. “The best thing I can do for the folk who scooped me up is to tend to this boat’s aches and pains. Is she handling well?” he asked as one eye drifted toward a thin stream of fresh coffee trickling into the pot. “Does everything feel…normal?” “Well, ain’t you forward - askin’ after how the Doll’s performance feels.” Penelope’s smile curled at a corner as she turned to give that mug she’d set aside a rinse then started off towards her originally intended destination: a fresh pile of blankets, the colors all that was needed to know it was hers. Better than having a name on it. As she went though, she did actually answer as was right in the best interest of the ship. “Used to pull to the right, but some passenger had Abbs workin’ down in there. Diagnostics didn’t report nothin’ after we hauled you up on the way here. Was going to run a simulation once all was settled - which is what I’m actually on my way to do once I get these put away.” Penelope lifted the bundle in her arms, turning as if to show him. It was more to assess if he was the sort to invite himself along, but at least she could bar him on grounds that he weren’t officially a crew member yet. Between Sam and his need for sleep, it felt more responsible to send him on his way if he tried. Yuri nodded, his smile bordering on the sheepish as he conjured her telegraphing. “Sorry,” he admitted. “I get pent up in the nuts and bolts, and next thing I know I’m diving head first before you can say “boo.” After beating a tactical retreat to the coffee pot, he poured out an aromatic cup. “It’s a right pleasure meeting you, Penelope.” “I can understand that…” Penelope said, not even close to being consoling. She understood, that distance in her gaze only thoughts of the black for a moment before she smiled back. “Don’t know about nuts and bolts, but that ‘feelin’’ business… So far, Doll’s been plenty providin’.” “If Cap’n is of his right mind and takes ya on, I’ll let ya know how that diagnostic goes. Till then…” She nodded down at the coffee cup in Yuri’s hand, giving a slight shrug since the bundle kept her arms full. “I would say go easy on that, but it’s decaf. Ran out of the good stuff on the way over since we were’a icebox.” “Oh.” he stared down into the cup as the neutrality of his face waged a battle against his lifelong caffeine prejudice. “Well,” Yuri observed as he lifted the mug in a pseudo toast, “wouldn’t kill me to knock off the rocket fuel for awhile. Cheers.,” he offered. As the first limp swallow crossed his lips, the mechanic surveyed the galley space and the uch more comfortable environs of the passenger lounge. “I might as well get comfortable,” the smile returned as he angled for a chair that gave the impression of swallowing him whole. “Good luck with the simulation,” he tossed a friendly wave toward Penelope. She gave a nod before heading her own way with the bundle of blankets. As she walked off, she called back: "Get some shut-eye, potential new guy. Gonna need it."