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[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220927/23fb834f443fddf069b302a80ffae13a.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220927/713c9ea7f90a3bccf2680492bc93671a.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220928/bcf4c8fb894d886cf1f86d12d903935e.png[/img]
[color=1E90FF][b]Time[/b]:[/color] Evening
[color=1E90FF][b]Location[/b]:[/color] Banquet Hall
[color=1E90FF][b]Interactions[/b]:[/color] Charlotte [@princess]; Kalliope [@Tae]
[color=1E90FF][b]Mentions[/b]:[/color] 
[color=1E90FF][b]Appearance:[/b][/color] [url=https://i.postimg.cc/Fzw1wZ8n/alkalinestingray-Portrait-of-a-South-east-Asian-Chinese-sailor-52c337e9-3211-44db-8828-5fdc1044bd39.png]Sjan-dehk[/url]
[color=1E90FF][b]Attire[/b]:[/color] [url=https://i.postimg.cc/0QCZ6rQj/alkalinestingray-Watercolour-painting-of-an-outfit-for-a-male-s-312f5cf8-c1fd-4b90-8f64-d292f9b1da7f.png]Sjan-dehk[/url]
[color=1E90FF][b]Equipment:[/b][/color] 
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Sjan-dehk:
[color=1E90FF]Sword and pistol hanging down his right thigh[/color]
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A familiar, soothing sense of comfort warmed Sjan-dehk as he listened to Charlotte. There was something about the girl, something about her gentle air, her kind words, that stilled all those confusing emotions that had been swirling in his mind; that eased all the heaviness that had been squeezing on his heart, and that pushed away all the melancholy that had been dampening his mood. It helped that they were talking about his darling youngest sister, Shi, he supposed. Thinking of her, so far away at home in Viserjanta, did plenty to lift his spirits, as it always did. 

That Charlotte was remarkably similar to Shi—almost uncannily so—also helped, more likely than not. 

He’d noticed a resemblance before, of course, when he’d first seen her at the beach, and again when they met at that garishly yellow place. In her flowing black hair, dark as a starless, midnight sky, and in her pale complexion that spoke less of illness and more of daintiness, he had seen shades of Shi. And if he were to be perfectly honest, that went a long way in Charlotte leaving a fond first impression upon him. 

But now that he had a chance to talk to her beyond a few, fleeting words, or a mere greeting, it dawned on him that her similarities with Shi, perhaps, went beyond just their appearances. For one, Charlotte seemed to be sweet in the same way his sister was. Not cloying like white sugar, but a more subtle sweetness, like that of a lychee. For two, the pleasant aura about Charlotte, and her gentleness, were reminiscent of Shi’s good nature. And while Charlotte was a lot more chattier than Shi, Sjan-dehk felt quite certain that he saw a hint of shyness. An endearing sort of shyness, he would add. The sort that tempted one to keep her safe from all the world’s dangers. 

Sjan-dehk couldn’t help but smile. Amidst the chaos of the banquet—a chaos that was only getting worse, by the sound of things—Charlotte was an island of calm, repose, and familiarity. Just what he needed after the maelstrom he’d only just put his heart and mind through with thoughts of Kalliope.

[color=D0B4EC]“And if I could’ve chosen a brother, I think…He would’ve been just like you.”[/color] 

A chuckle, mirthless and wistful, was Sjan-dehk’s first response. [color=1E90FF]“Then I think you should think harder,”[/color]  he said with a shake of his head. Leaning forward, he rested his arms on his knees, and tapped his fingertips against each other. [color=1E90FF]“What I mean is, you should wish for a brother who is around you more often. Not only just around for some days every month. Or some weeks every year. My work, you see, it keeps me at sea for many, many weeks at a time. Sometimes months. And if it is long campaign, or we sail far, can be even longer than that.”[/color] 

Sjan-dehk’s lips pressed into a thin line. His eyes gazed blankly at the floor. As much as he loved the sea, and as much as he loved sailing, he still couldn’t help but feel a sting whenever he thought about just how little time he actually spent with his family. He was close with them, and he’d made a good number of fond memories with them—such as beating up Shi’s bullies alongside his brothers; getting into trouble with Idah and then getting scolded by their mother together, or taking Shi out on a late night cruise—but there were times when he wondered if they could’ve been closer, or if they could’ve made more memories together, if he wasn’t the sailor that he was. 

He shook his head slightly. No point thinking about that. What’s done is done. Such was the Way. 

[color=1E90FF]“You are right, my sisters are, well, Shi is, as you say, lovely. Idah is…Different.”[/color]  He raised his head to look at Charlotte with a wry smirk on his lips. [color=1E90FF]“But whether they are lucky or not, that is not for me to say. I think they can be luckier, sometimes. I mean, Shi can be. Idah, I think she makes her own luck. But even if they are unlucky, they have three other brothers to, as you say, watch out for them. Or for them to watch. Still, I think they deserve more.”[/color] 

He sighed, then laughed softly. [color=1E90FF]“Or maybe that is just how brothers are. Nothing ever good enough for our sisters, yes? Sometimes not even ourselves.”[/color] 

Then, her fingers brushed against his, their touch feather-soft. Sjan-dehk bristled at the unexpected touch, but didn’t pull away. Instead, he absent-mindedly turned his hand, unfurling his fingers to take hers into his palm. Slender and pale, they contrasted starkly with his heavily calloused and tanned ones. 

[color=D0B4EC]“You’re doing wonderfully, you know,”[/color]  she said, her voice as gentle as a breeze over calm waters. 

Sjan-dehk listened to Charlotte tell him about her visit to Kimoon. Once again, he found himself wondering about that place, a place that more than a few Caesonians had mistaken him as being a native of. Maybe, if the opportunity arose, he could ask Charlotte about it. 

[color=1E90FF]“Thank you for your kind words,”[/color]  he said after she finished. [color=1E90FF]“But I think you are too kind. You are right, this sort of thing, it is not easy. But it is also not something that is…Very new. I mean, yes, this is the first time I sail beyond Viserjanta, across the ocean, but it is not the first time I go somewhere I do not know well. For me to be, as you say, doing wonderfully, that should be normal, no?”[/color]  He flashed her a mischievous grin, at the same time gently pulling his hands back and resting them on his knees. [color=1E90FF]“I am only doing my job. What I am supposed to do.”[/color] 

[color=1E90FF]“But you,”[/color]  he continued. [color=1E90FF]“Like you say, you were little girl when you went to Kimoon. And like you say, you were frightened. That means afraid, yes? But still you enjoy yourself.”[/color]  That was what he thought she said, at least. Nevertheless, he gave her a quick pat on her shoulder. [color=1E90FF]“You still did, as you say, wonderfully. That makes you better than me, I think. I did not come to these new lands as a little boy, after all.”[/color] 

Charlotte’s eyes then lit up, widening in childlike wonder. [color=D0B4EC]“Oh, and sailing?”[/color]  she gasped, leaning in slightly with hands clasped together in front of her chest. [color=D0B4EC]“I’m turning positively green with envy. I’ve read so many swashbuckling pirate tales that it’s become a bit of a ridiculous fantasy of mine. Sailing across the open sea, wind in my hair, and, you know…”[/color]  She lowered her voice dramatically, eyes sparkling. [color=D0B4EC]“...fighting off a kraken or two. Strictly for heroics, of course.”[/color] 

She paused, then laughed at herself with a soft shake of her head. [color=D0B4EC]“Though in reality, I’d probably trip over a rope and get eaten first. Very inspiring.”[/color] 

Sjan-dehk’s quiet laugh joined hers. Calling Charlotte endearing would be putting it lightly, he was starting to realise. The fascination in her voice, and her actions, were simply too heartwarming. [color=1E90FF]“Well, if you want, I can take you next time Sada Kurau sets sail,”[/color]  he offered with an inviting smile. [color=1E90FF]“It will be good. Let you feel wind and waves for yourself. But maybe not as pirates, yes?”[/color]  He grinned playfully. [color=1E90FF]“Might get in trouble, to do that. And fighting…Well, I do not know what is this kraken thing, but…”[/color]  For a moment, his face fell, and his face scrunched up in deep thought. He quickly caught and composed himself, however, and continued as if nothing had happened. [color=1E90FF]“Maybe not the first time we sail, yes? But we will see. Sometimes, it is not up to us whether there will be a fight or not. But do not worry. Sada Kurau will take care of you.”[/color] 

Then, he leaned in, and lowered his voice as she had, as if he were sharing a secret. [color=1E90FF]“And also, it is not a shameful thing to trip over ropes. All of us, we do it. Even the best sailors, it happens to them.”[/color]  He smirked and chuckled quietly. [color=1E90FF]“And me also. It is normal. After all, ships have many ropes. Not possible to avoid all of them. Not all the time. Just be careful when the waves are rough, and you will be fine.”[/color] 

Something from the other table, the one with all the royals, put an abrupt end to their conversation. What it was, Sjan-dehk didn’t know, and hadn’t caught, but Charlotte certainly did. Her gaze snapped towards that table with urgency, and he followed suit, albeit with nonchalance. “What in heavens…” He heard her say in a voice laden with disbelief. 

And he supposed he could see why.

For that table, despite hosting what seemed to be the entire royal family—Sjan-dehk could only recognise the King, and had only a vague recollection of the Queen—was the very picture of chaos. There was a lot of shouting, a lot of aggression, and even from this far away, he could feel no small amount of tension taut in the air. Words were thrown around like knives, and while the actual knives were still being used to eat, it felt like a matter of time before they too would be thrown. 

Well, it wasn’t any of his concern, and he didn’t want it to be. Matters involving royalty and the upper ranks of nobility were always trouble. Sjan-dehk avoided them like the plague in the Commonwealth, and he was going to do the same here. It wasn’t as if he understood a lick of what was going on, anyway. Granted, he knew what they were saying, but devoid of context, they may as well be spouting gibberish. 

He turned back around. And he saw it.

A shimmer of green fabric. A flash of red hair.

Kalliope.

His body acted before his mind, and he looked up at her. Their eyes met. Briefly, for maybe only a fraction of a second, at most, their gazes held.

And in that fleeting moment, he saw something in her eyes. He didn’t know what it was, but it was there. A glimmer, a flicker of…Something. It seemed sad. It seemed confused. Shaken. But whatever it was, it was on her face as well, for she wasn’t smiling, not anymore. Was she upset? Disappointed? Sjan-dehk wasn’t sure, and he couldn’t imagine why she would feel either of those things. But it didn’t matter. Just to see her in such a state was enough to make his heart ache, and his throat feel tight. There were words forming on his tongue, but his mouth refused to let them leave. 

For deep in his heart, he knew that there was nothing for him to say. He couldn’t even put a name to what it was he felt for her. It was a form of affection, but what kind? With Charlotte, it was clear. The affection he held towards her was the same as what he held towards his sisters. But with Kalliope? He didn’t know. 

He wasn’t even sure if it mattered, anymore. She was with Cassius. That much was abundantly clear. The answer to his question would be an answer that he didn’t need.

And so, even though Sjan-dehk wasn’t sure what expression he was wearing, he knew that his eyes were clouded with sadness. Not the sorrowful kind, the kind that invited tears. But rather, it was a resigned sort of sadness. The sort that came with a flicker of regret, a shimmer of discontent at how things were. Almost as if he were mourning something that had never been his to begin with. 

Mourning. Had he the mood, he would’ve laughed. He didn’t even know what it was he mourned over. 

Kalliope walked past wordlessly, and he let her go wordlessly. 

[color=1E90FF][i]This is for the best.[/i][/color]  He told himself.

But his heart knew better. [color=1E90FF][i]Coward.[/i][/color] 

With a shake of his head, he returned his attention to Charlotte. An apology for his inattentiveness was on its way out of his mouth when he realised that she had wandered off to greet her friends. Without thinking, he followed her with his eyes, watching her hug them one-by-one. He arched a brow when he saw her hug Cassius, but otherwise did nothing. Something about how she was going about things, however, felt wrong to him. She wasn’t saying much—or at least, he didn’t see her say much—to the people she greeted, and it seemed as if she was just trying to hug them as quickly as possible.

As if there was a time limit, or something.

[color=1E90FF]“Charlotte,”[/color]  he greeted as she returned, and stood up. 

And as she got closer, Sjan-dehk noticed something about her eyes, something about how they didn’t look as focused as he remembered them. Almost as if she were in a daze. [color=1E90FF]“Charlotte?”[/color]  He asked, worry now in his voice, his arms outstretched, ready to catch her if she were to suddenly collapse. Thankfully, she took her seat without trouble. Sjan-dehk sat back down opposite her, and leaned forward. This time, there was no grin on his face, no mischievous smirk. There was only concern. 

[color=1E90FF]“Charlotte, I think…”[/color]  He began, and bit on his lip as he examined her face closely. There was only a slight tinge of redness to her cheeks. Not enough to suggest a case of drunkenness enough to put her in such a daze. His heart sank as he considered the other possibilities, and for a moment, his eyes flitted over to the glass of wine she’d placed on the table. Surely, nobody would want to harm her? He couldn’t imagine what motive anyone would have to do such a thing. 

But better to be safe than sorry.

[color=1E90FF]“Charlotte, you should go find doctor,”[/color]  he said in a hushed voice, just loud enough for her to hear. [color=1E90FF]“It is…It is possible that you are sick, or maybe…You drink something you should not. But either way, I do not think you look well. You should get help.”[/color]