[color=lightslategray]
[center][h3][i][b]The Dinner[/b][/i][/h3]
(Aboard The Pinned Seal)[/center]

6:53PM
The Pinned Seal
Day Two of the Festival of the Crescents 



     Ba’ku makes his way down to the party’s quarters below to gather them before dinner. Ba’ku was quite large, but he had grown accustomed to maneuvering the ship's cramped passages and holds.  There had been a slight change in plans for the evening and he hoped that this wouldn't cause a rift with the [i]other big fellow[/i] with which he had give his word to, but this was the path that he had been set forth upon, and Ba’ku did only one thing, [i]follow orders[/i]..
     Nonetheless, the thought of his word being given weighed most heavily on his mind as he made his way towards their quarters, ducking as he went to avoid the very solid joists above. His body shifted from side to side and his thick arms grabbed at them as he passed through, mimicking the movements of an orangutan as it swung through the canopy. There was an air of grace about it… mind you he had had ample time for his sea legs to grow, so he was not without the means. He finally made his way to where Skarsat had found himself a spot to settle in. He sighed slightly before approaching him.

     [color=39b54a]“Pardon my intrusion, but I wanted to come to you first since I had given you my word.”[/color] Ba’ku said, his head lowered but still making eye contact with him respectfully. [color=39b54a]“There’s been a slight change in plans with your friend’s remains. There will be no burial at sea, and that is all I am allowed to say for now, but I wanted you to know that we have prepared his body with the utmost respect and reverence, and have prepared him for burial. I have been good on my word, but there has been a change and I wanted you to hear it from me first. More will be disclosed at the dinner tonight. Forgive me now, but I must go and gather the others.”[/color]

Skarsat had spent his time on board so far on what could be labeled as 'settling in'. It was a process that would not have taken any of the sailors around him more time than maybe a few minutes, but that had consumed hours of the Tork's budget. He was used to space being a serious constraint for his own humble self and not so much for his gear and other luggage as well -- now he had to deal with both and find a solution for an issue twice the usual complexity. Where to put things so they'd neither be tossed around in a storm nor block anyone's way when in a hurry ? There [i]were[/i] pre-made solutions for this such as fixings on the walls and nets, but Skarsat had to be introduced to what felt like everything so he at least started to notice such details. This was a... very specific... environment, indeed!

So Ba'ku's statement hit Skarsat like an ugly reminder about the usual business on land: People not telling him the grand scheme of things, but happily telling them that these existed and he was not allowed to know about them. A change of plans ? So was this Vargas stretching out his long arm even over what little bit of sea they had already left behind them or was that a decision made on board itself ? It would have been very interesting to know and, had it not been for the promise to be told more details at the upcoming dinner, he probably would have started some kind of more robust inquiry immediately. This way however Skarsat found it better to just accept the statement for the moment -- albeit not without a slight bit of grumpiness. Ba'ku, after all, probably was just the messenger being unfortunate enough to carry bad news, so in any way he'd be the wrong person to have to bear his brunt.

Ba’ku bowed and continued across the ship bowels towards the party’s quarters in the very back, giving the door jam a good rapping to announce his presence.  

[color=39b54a]”Pardon my intrusion, but your presence is required for dinner upstairs in a few minutes. Please get yourselves ready and make yourselves as presentable as you can. Jonesy has provided a meal of Cornish hen and scallops, with roasted russets, carrots, and leeks. I believe there is a bit of fresh bread as well as some dates and other fruits from the markets. Please try your best to be punctual. I’ll give you all a few minutes to prepare, I’ll be waiting outside to escort you up.[/color]

His head and broad shoulder then disappeared from the doorway as Ba’ku waited patiently outside. There was little modesty on the ship between its crew, but he figured he’d do his best to afford their new guests with as much of it as he could possibly acquire for them, and giving the women a bit of privacy was the least that he could do.

(INSERT PARTY)
Solange had anticipated their invitation to dinner and had begun readying herself an hour before, otherwise Ba’ku’s offer of a parsley few minutes of preparation would’ve been greeted with a bark of laughter. After running from the law, downdressing her subordinantes, and then discovering that her legs—and her stomach— were built for land and not for sea, Solange firmly felt that she had entered into an unpresentable state of appearance that rivaled Skarsat’s best. Between bouts of dizziness and failed home remedies to ease her motion sickness, she went about the ritual of painting of her face, going a bit heavier on the rogue in an attempt to cover up how green she felt, and performed the dance of denied dresses while using her hammock as a rack for discarded outfits.

When Ba’ku knocked Solange had just finished sticking a hairpin through a tightly wounded bun and slipped her punch dagger into the garter hidden beneath her a new, voluminous evening gown of black chiffon and blue lace frills. She tightened the sash around her waist, carefully securing the vials of liquid hidden into the folds so they would not clink together, and did a final inspection of her eyeliner with her pocket mirror. It was only when she felt satisfied in her appearance that Solange went to the door, took a moment to steady herself and breathe deep, and then stepped out of her quarters accompanied by a fine mist of flowery perfume that vied with the ever present desert musk for dominance. She offered Ba’ku a warm smile and managed to keep it from faltering when she saw that she was the only one ready.
[color=orchid]“Just a moment, love,”[/color] said Solange. She headed over to the other room where she’d left Y’Vanna and Maréngo to sop up the booze. A few years ago she would’ve placed an ear to the door to avoid stepping in on any compromising situations, but her time spent working for Fontaine had dulled Solange to things like spoiled intimacy. Solange didn’t even bother to knock as she barged through the door. 

Maréngo was nowhere to be found and she honestly found herself mildly disappointed to see that Y’Vanna was fast asleep in one of the hammocks—drunk, most likely. Solange scowled knowing that Ba’ku would not see the look, unwilling to admit she was mildly jealous of how someone could be so irresponsible as to require two separate wake-up calls in one day. She slowly took her thumb and forefinger and put them on either side of Y’Vanna nose as Solange began to pinch the woman’s nostril closed, a method she often used to startle her own sister awake in the morning. Solange was sure to remove her hand and pretend to look worried when Y’Vanna started, placing a hand on her shoulder and giving it a squeeze. Y’Vanna’s eyes burst open as she gasped for air, unsure of what was going on. She felt a tickle on her nose and shot upright from her slumber and began swatting at her nose.

[color=orchid]“You had me scared, sweetheart. For a moment I thought you weren’t breathing,”[/color] said Solange, releasing her grip on Y’Vanna’s shoulder. [color=orchid]“It’s time for dinner, honey. Come along.”[/color]

Y’Vanna scowled slightly as she had all but figured out that Solange had been messing with her. [color=f7941d]”Aye.. Aye, I’ll be right out…”[/color] she snarled. She then pulled herself from the hammock and straightened herself up before joining them outside, giving her leathers one last yank to free a nasty wedgie that she had worked up during her slumber before joining with Solange and Ba’ku. 

[color=orchid]“Sorry for the wait, darling,”[/color] said Solange, finnicking with an annoying lock of hair that refused to remain behind her ear as she dragged Y’Vanna out of the room. [color=orchid]“While I am looking forward to meeting the Captain, does this mean that the ceremony for our—”[/color] Solange turned her head and wiped a nonexistent tear away from her cheek with a sniff as she searched for Neh’miah’s name. [color=orchid]“—dear, beloved friend is being delayed?”[/color]

[color=39b54a]“Forgive me, but all I can say is that you will be updated at dinner.”[/color] Ba’ku replied respectfully. [color=39b54a]“Now, if the two of you will follow me please.”[/color]

Ba’ku then escorts the two back towards Skarsat’s corner and collects him along the way. He kept a slow and steady pace, as he was aware that they were probably not yet accustomed to navigating the ship’s tight quarters and walkways, and was careful to point out the low hanging beams along the way. He brought them to the steep stairs and lifted his right arm to herd them all up to the next level and directly into the dining area. The room was a bit cramped but there was enough room for a large rectangular table in the center. Maréngo had already taken a seat for himself before the rest of the party arrived and nodded to them in greeting. Pyka sat perched on his shoulder gnawing away at a piece of fruit his new owner had given him to occupy his little hands. The table had already been mostly set with the main courses as Ba’ku asks for the party to take their seats.  As he does Jonesy brings in the freshly warmed bread from the markets. The room smelled of garlic and rosemary, and a hint of cloves and brown sugar.

“Fresh bread makes a meal, that’s what I always say.” The wiry man said as he set the bread down on the table. “Jonesy, at your service.. I hope you at least find a bit of nourishment from this meal, and I hope it’s to your palettes’ likings.” Y’Vanna noticed that they were the only ones in the room, and the captain was nowhere to be seen. She had just woken up but she was keen enough to notice. She sat down at the table and pulled her chair in.

[color=f7941d]“I see we’re the only ones here.”[/color] she said. [color=f7941d]”Are we to be joined by the captain?[/color]

[color=39b54a]”I’m afraid the captain will be tending to the ship for the evening. There is a storm before us but it doesn't look to be too menacing, though I would expect a bit of rain.”[/color]

[h3][i][b]Vargas Enters…[/b][/i][/h3]
[/color]