[center][h2]Collab[/h2][/center] [center][h3] Scenes from the Voyage [/h3][/center] [center][@AzureKnight], [@Noblebandit], [@Rune_Alchemist][/center] [center] [hider=A Grave Misunderstanding] [color=9e0b0f]"Hinami-chan, my sweet little Hinami-chan. We seem to have a problem here. Can you guess what said problem is, hmm?"[/color] While Atsuha's voice was gentle, one could hear the annoyance combined with a bit of disappointment in her tone. [color=7bcdc8]"A problem, oh my, that doesn't sound good…"[/color] Hinami placed a hand to her cheek while having a cute look of concern on her face. [color=7bcdc8]"Did one of our teammates get seasick and fall overboard?[/color] [color=9e0b0f]"No dearie."[/color] Atsuha said. [color=7bcdc8]"Is there a hole in the ship and we're all in danger of sinking?"[/color] [color=9e0b0f]"I'm sure we would've been made aware of a problem like that by now!"[/color] [color=7bcdc8]"Oh. Do you, perhaps, have the runs sister?"[/color] [color=9e0b0f]"What the fu- *cough* I mean, no little sibling."[/color] Her patience was wearing thin. [color=9e0b0f]"Do you perhaps know where all the food went, dearie?"[/color] [color=7bcdc8]"The food? Well, I'm pretty sure I ate it all."[/color] Hinami said innocently. [color=9e0b0f]"Indeed. With that being said, I don't believe that I've eaten yet."[/color] Atsuha said, eyes closed and arms crossed. [color=7bcdc8]"Goodness sister, then you really shou-"[/color] Hinami paused for a moment with a silly, dumbfounded look on her face. She blinked twice, then her expression changed to that of an embarrassed smile. [color=7bcdc8]"I do believe I see the problem, sister…"[/color] [color=9e0b0f]"Good, very good dearie. Indeed you didn't even leave me a slice of that cake Nyla le-" [/color] [color=7bcdc8]"Ahh, the cake!"[/color] Atsuha was quickly cut off by her sister. [color=7bcdc8]"I need to go find Nyla and ask for more of that delicious cake!"[/color] Without delay, Hinami practically jumped out of the room and began scurrying around the halls of the ship, frantically searching for the Shoggoth maid. Little did she know she was about to crash into a certain Eros angel... [color=9e0b0f]"......"[/color] Atsuha was left speechless at her sister's behavior for a moment. [color=9e0b0f]"Eats up all the food, leaves me with nothing, and she's the one who's hungry?"[/color] Hinami was quite lucky that her sister loved her the world over. All she could do was sigh as she too left the room to search for food. Perhaps she could coax one of the boys into sharing some of their leftover food. There was Shizuka-san, although he seemed like the type to always have a stick up his ass. He was out of the question; he'd probably just tell her to be more responsible and to manage her sister's behavior better, the prick. There was Sam, but that damn rabbit was watching him like a hawk and would likely thwart all of her advances. She had half a mind to eat her, although that would just put her into even more trouble with that silly ponytail ronin. The angel was cute, bit she felt that he was just as bad, if not worse than their task commander She was completely lost in thought as she walked. There were the two other boys, the goblin and what was it? The high orc? Skarsneek seemed like he knew how to have fun, and she had been secretly eyeing that high orc male since he arrived at the port. Maybe just maybe… She decided to see if she could pay them a visit, she could feel their auras nearby as she walked further down the halls. [hr] Cambiel had planned on making this journey a quiet one. There was no need to draw any unwanted attention to himself; he’d done enough of that just by being an angel. Maybe the crew would need some help? Ships always had odd jobs in need of doing, and it would give him an excuse to avoid his monstrous companions if he was hauling ropes or moving boxes instead of just stewing in his quarters. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t even have the chance to make it to his quarters before someone bumped into him – literally. He looked up from his new position on the floor to see what looked like a human standing over him. Only looked like one, sadly. From her aura, her humanity had abandoned her long ago. [colour=gold]”Oh my goodness! Are you okay?”[/colour] the words were out his mouth before he could stop himself. [colour=gold]”I didn't hurt you, did I? I’m so sorry, I should have been looking where I was going!”[/colour] [hr] Hinami unwittingly bumped into someone while daintitly scurrying in the hallways, the other person waa sent tumbling down but she didn't even flinch. She did, however, stop to assist the lad back to his feet. [color=7bcdc8]"Oh no, I'm the one who should be apologizing! My sister would scold me, mowing people over in such a fashion!"[/color] Hinami blinked a few times, having finally realized just who it was she bumped into. Her expression quickly turned from one of concern to one of bewilderment. [color=7bcdc8]"Waah! You're that angel from before! Oh no, oh no, oh no!"[/color] She clumsily backed away in fright, almost falling over in the process. [color=7bcdc8]"Pl-Please don't purify me! I promise I haven't done anything bad! [sub]Well, I did eat all of sister's food...[/sub] But that was an accident I swear![/color] [hr] The girl’s reaction both confused and disturbed Cambiel. What exactly did she think he was going to do to her? And more importantly, [i]why?[/i] [colour=gold]“I’m not going to… ‘purify’ you, miss,”[/colour] the boy said, as he slowly got back on his feet. His voice was quiet and shaky, like he was afraid to speak. [colour=gold]“Do not be afraid…”[/colour] That was something else that threw him off. Why was she so scared of being ‘purified’, as she put it? What lies had she been fed about angels and purity that made her react like this at the mere thought of it? Maybe establishing some familiarity would help her see that he wasn’t going to hurt her. It couldn’t make things any worse, and besides, he didn’t want people to just call him “angel” the whole time he was here. [colour=gold]“My name is Cambiel. It’s very nice to meet you.”[/colour] [hr] If Hinami's undead heart could still beat, it'd burst out of her chest at this point. She saw that the young angel seemed to be getting suspicious of her, contrary to his initial politeness and sincerity. [color=7bcdc8]"Waah! I told I didn't do anything! All I want is more of Nyla's cake. It was sooo delicious, soft, sweet, and full of flavor." [/color] One would wonder if the innuendos were intentional or not. [color=7bcdc8]"B-But I can't have any if you kill me! Well, I mean I'm dead already, but that's beside the point!"[/color] She paused for a moment, as if trying to think of something in spite of her panicked state. [color=7bcdc8]"Oh! I know, if you spare me I'll share some of Nyla's cake with you! It's really tasty and I'm sure you'll like it. So, whaddya say? Pretty please?"[/color] She posed a formal bow with her hands clasped together, though they were still concealed within her long sleeves. Her head was titled and she wore a cute, albeit nervous smile. [hr] "Cake", huh? He had been around enough demons to know what that was a metaphor for. And to think that way about another woman? Truly, the Demon Lord's wickedness ran deep. Still, there was a certain comfort in the knowledge that if the zombie woman was more interested in other women than men, then he didn't have to worry about her attacking him. He let out a sigh of relief. Cross one potential threat off the list. But what she said next caught him completely off guard. The colour drained from his face as she actually offered to, uh, "share" her girlfriend with him in return for sparing her life. Did they know nothing of love? How could she sell her partner out like that? [colour=gold]"H-how could you even suggest such a thing!?"[/colour] he chided her. [colour=gold]"That's supposed to be something special between you and her! If she... if she gives you her "cake", that's supposed to be for you and you alone! You can't just give it out to strangers!"[/colour] If he was going to spend time with these monsters, he could at least teach them about courtly love! [hr] Hinami displayed complete confusion at Cambiel's protest and explanation as to why she shouldn't share Nyla's cake with him, or anyone for that matter. Her confectionery was indeed special and delicious, but why does that mean that she shouldn't share hers with anyone? Isn't sharing a good thing? [color=7bcdc8]"It's really tasty, but I don't mind sharing at all! And I'm sure she'd appreciate everyone enjoying it in any way. Besides, she's already shared it with everyone anyway. She'd said that everyone could have some!"[/color] [hr] Cambiel's skin went almost as pale as Hinami's. He opened his mouth to retort, but the casual way the undead spoke of such debauchery had left him completely speechless. They had barely got on the ship, how could this Nyla figure have been around that many people already? And... oh no. Was he to expect a visit from Nyla later? If so, he had no idea what to say to do. He certainly couldn't "eat her cake" as it were, but at the same time, he couldn't hurt her without jeopardizing the entire mission. A purification ritual? Too much magic. The others would notice. An impromptu marriage? He didn't know how he felt about being married to a monster, let alone one he never met before. Curling up in the corner and crying? Wouldn't work, but it might make him feel better. No, there was only one thing for it. He had to stay as far away from this "Nyla" as possible. [colour=gold]"I don't want it!"[/colour] he yelped, taking an involuntary step back. [colour=gold]"You... you should really save that sort of thing until after you're married, you know..."[/colour] [hr] Nyla was in quite the good mood as she left Kannazuki's cabin. It was always so much fun and gratifying to watch humans eat her cake...well, she was a monster so of course it was. Still, she did think that perhaps she had been a little...overbearing? Looking back a bit she had been a bit forceful, and remembering Kyouko-sama's words of being a little more...noticeable of others actual wants made her question herself, if only a little. Well, it was probably fine. She had to check on the others, too. Even if she had already done so, a maids work was never done- [i]Squish[/i] [color=a187be]"Ah~"[/color] She barely managed to stifle quite a noise as she'd feel someone run into her again, this time from the front. Unfortunately for Cambiel, he had just backed right up into the very person he wanted to avoid, squishing against her body, the back of his head squishing against her chest. [color=a187be]"A-Ahem...apologies I was lost in thought."[/color] She'd look at who was in front of her. [color=a187be]"Oh, Lady Hinami. It's good to see you again."[/color] She'd bow, not bothering to remove Cambiel from in front of her, which consequently mean unless he moved himself he'd find Shoggoth boobs pressing against the top of his head again.[color=a187be] "I was just finishing my rounds. I have time for a break if you want some more of the cake."[/color] She'd look to Cambiel, smiling her usual demurely questionable smile. [color=a187be]"Oh, Sir Cambiel. You're free to join us as well."[/color] [hr] Hinami wasn't having any luck understanding Cambiel's words. Were all angels peculiar like he was? [color=7bcdc8]"Why wouldn't someone eat cake unless they were married? I know that cake is very important at weddings too, but it's not just the newlyweds who partake in it, correct? Isn't it shared among all the guests?"[/color] Before she could ponder further, Nyla had apparently made her way down the hall and accidentally bumped into Cambiel. Making an audible squishing sound upon contact. Hinami's eyes lit up like a child in a candy shop. [color=7bcdc8]"Nyla! There you are, I was looking for you! I was hoping you still had some more of that delicious cake!"[/color] She turned back to Cambiel for a brief moment. [color=7bcdc8]"I offered to share some with Cambiel, but he refused and started saying weird things. Like that the cake was special and should be kept only between you and me, and that I shouldn't be eating it unless we're married…"[/color] [hr] Cambiel had never heard of such a mockery. The monsters knew of marriage, but they profaned it in such a disgusting manner. Was nothing sacred to the Demon Lord? But before he could chide Hinami, he felt something soft push against the back of his head. He turned his head, only to come face to breast with a creature he had not seen before. Instinctively, he flinched away from her and opened his mouth to apologise profusely for his indecency. But before he could stammer out the first “I'm sorry”, he heard Hinami refer to the mysterious woman as “Nyla”. Any words died in his throat. This was Hinami's girlfriend? And to make matters worse, the two were soliciting each other right in front of him! He knew monsters were libertine, but this took the cake, no pun intended. When Nyla asked if Cambiel wanted to join them, Cambiel was as confused as he was horrified. It was bad enough when Hinami offered, but Nyla too? What was their game here? [colour=gold]"I-I'm a novice, so I w-would only get in the way…"[/colour] he stammered out, his normally pale cheeks turning bright red. [hr] Hinami just couldn't figure out this Eros angel guy. [color=7bcdc8]"A novice? You mean...at eating cake? Well goodness, it's just like eating anything else. You just put in your mouth and chew! It's not that difficult..."[/color] She then turned to Nyla [color=7bcdc8]"Nyla, do you have any spare forks so I can show him?"[/color] She was afraid of him at first, but it seemed now she just thought of Cambiel as silly. [/hider] [/center]