Besca barely held back her laughter. Safie didn’t, breaking into a fit of giggles and snorts while Dahlia worriedly scurried onboard. 

“[color=skyblue]Quinn! Are you okay?[/color]” but by the younger girl’s own laughter, it was clear enough that she was. 

“[color=green]She’s just gotta get her sea legs![/color]” Safie chimed. “[color=green]Won’t take so long. I grew up seaside, used to [i]looooove[/i] surfing, and it never takes people too long to figure it out.[/color]”

As if to prove her point—or, Besca figured more likely, to be just a little showy—Safie hopped from the dock onto the narrow rim of the boat’s hull. With impeccable balance, she walked the railing like a tightrope until she had made her way around to Quinn’s side, then hopped gracefully down beside her. 

“[color=green]See? That’ll be you. You’re spindly, like in the good way, you’ll be like a [i]fox[/i].[/color]”

Dahlia eased, and threw open a cooler at the back of the boat. Inside were a wide array of cans and bottles, soda and water and a few plastic pouches of fruit juice. “[color=skyblue]Quinn, you want something to drink?[/color]”

Daz finished with all but one of the moorings. He gave Besca a look, and she stayed put as he approached her, far enough from the boat to keep them out of earshot. 

“[color=darkorange]So who is she?[/color] he asked. He had a voice to match the rest of him, low, steady, gentle. 

“[color=gray]Local apparently—Quinnlash Loughvein. Don’t recognize her?[/color]”

Daz rumbled in thought. “[color=darkorange]Know the Loughveins. Science types, live up on the cliffs. Don’t come down much, but nothing strange otherwise.[/color]” He glanced back at the boat, brief but intently. “[color=darkorange]Didn’t know they had a daughter.[/color]”

“[color=gray]Something’s up with her,[/color]” she said, and shook her head when Daz looked concerned. “[color=gray]Not bad, just…off. She’s strung up, kinda. Needs a few hours of anything but what’s going on back there. That alright with you?[/color]”

“[color=darkorange]Not one of your applicants, is she?[/color]”

Besca gave him a hard look. He conceded. 

“[color=darkorange]Alright,[/color]” he said, turning back for the boat. “[color=darkorange]Good to see you again, Bess, by the way.[/color]”

“[color=gray]You t—[/color]” A buzzing from her pocket. She pulled up her phone and felt her heart sink into her stomach. She answered. “[color=gray]Darroh.[/color]”

Dahlia caught sight of her, watched Besca’s brow sink, tried to parse out what she was saying. Only fragments. 

[i]Now?[/i]

[i]…large?[/i]

[i]not….timeframe.[/i]

[i]Yeah…[/i]

Then she hung up. Dahlia gave Safie a tap on the shoulder, nodded as Besca came over.

“[color=skyblue]What’s up?[/color]”

“[color=gray]Nothing, nothing. No. Just, uhh, Aerie’s got some readings they’re not sure about. Can’t check from down here, so I gotta run back up to the station, make sure it’s all sorted.[/color]

The pilots shared a knowing look.

“[color=skyblue]Should we come with you?[/color]”

“[color=gray]No, really, it’s nothing. Just the universe smiting me down for daring to relax a few minutes. It’s fine. You guys go on out, I’ll try and be back down before the fireworks. Quinn, as the smaller, cooler me, it’s your job to have a good enough time for both of us, got it?[/color]”

Safie put an arm around Quinn’s shoulder, her demeanor not at all withered. “[color=green]We’ll make sure![/color]”

“[color=gray]Alright, good. Good. I’ll see you all later then.[/color]”

And with that Besca left them, marching off towards the outskirts where the elevator was anchored. Daz undid the final mooring line, took the wheel, and with a drowned humming noise the boat shuddered to life. Water splashed up from the turbine, the rocking steadied. They made their way out into the water. 

In the twilight sky, the moon began to shine.