Tazrae’s hands were warm, he noticed as he guided her fingers around the line. They were also smaller than his which made it easier to guide them so long as he was gentle. When the line was secured, he smiled, giving her hand a brief squeeze before stepping back to admire their handiwork. “I don’t know, but I like to think it was some servant of Zulrav that took kindness on the Svefra long ago.” Watching her touch the line, he was taken back the first time his mother had taught him about it. How proud of himself he had felt that day.
Hearing her speak of his people, he couldn’t help but to smile again. Not for the praise of Svefra ingenuity, but that she cared enough to think about it deeply. It made him feel good that he could share his culture with her. “We have a remarkable father in Laviku. He has taught the Svefra innumerable things about the sea.” He said thoughtfully before brightening. “I am very fortunate. Every morning on the sea is a marvel.”
His smile sobered up at her change of tone, and he listened to her story carefully. He knew the courage it took to share something like this, though he hadn’t had someone confide in him like this before. With the pod, people had a tendency to speak things plainly as they happened so the feelings didn’t have time to fester. Things were different elsewhere though he’d learned from his mother. In the cities where people could separate themselves in little boxes away from others, they could keep such things bottled up. An this was the result, he suspected. His heart went out to her, for this was a heavy thing to carry for so long, alone.
Searching for the words to say to her, something that might comfort her, he instinctively took a step forward as she stepped back. Marino hesitated though, and stayed where he was for a long moment before speaking, eyes never leaving her. “I can’t begin to imagine what that was like, but it is as you said. James was right. This is just a start here, and there is a wonderful journey ahead.” He gave a slight smile after that, and gave her some space as they worked on the sails.
In no time they were smiling and laughing again as Tazrae did a little dance. “Perfect. I don’t mind caves much, there are some really pretty ones underwater I hear from my brother, but I haven’t been down in one yet.” He wasn’t that good at diving as he’d spending a lot of time on deck lately. One of these day though, he’d see about it.
As they moved on to piloting the ship, Marino was also thinking of how to make things more comfortable when Twist started in with his antics. Now there was an idea. Starting in on setting the sails up, he said. “Yes, our heading is good for this wind.” Soon the leech had stopped fluttering as the ship responded to his touch, leaning over on the port side as the sail filled with wind. For a moment, he stood still absorbing the feeling of the wind running through the lines. Out on the sea, the Seasilk came truly alive, and he loved every moment up it. Looking up at Tazrae he gave her a big smile as he ran up to her.
“Isn’t it great when we get some speed?” He stood close beside her for a moment, looking out over the water spread before them, enjoying the wind blowing through his hair. Then he remembered he was supposed to be instructing and glanced at the sails before meeting her eyes. Tazrae took it all in stride, responding to his gestures as he moved her hand gently to take advantage of how the sea was moving. “Now we are going to tack with the wind here to get around the island” He said as he helped her steer the bow through the wind, and watched as the sails caught the wind on the other side and filled to pull them starboard side.
Then after they had made it around island he started slowing them down, before finally coming to a stop. Looking off to the port side now they could see the island with its dense jungle, and cliffs. To the starboard, there was open sea. “Ready to see below deck? I need to put this up.” He said as he unraveled the scarf from his neck, and as he turned his back to her she could see his the animated waves that swirled and foamed across the back of his neck. The bright blues and greens looked sheer against his tan skin.
When they entered the cabin, she could see that it was large enough to fit more than just them comfortably. Against the port side wall, she’d see some fishing equipment neatly stacked together, and on the starboard sigh, a half spear lay on the floor against the wall, slightly dusty. Underneath the bed, a folded up hammock peeked out, not quite stowed or having come out during their sailing. Tossing the scarf on the bed he bent low to open the spice box he kept by the foot board, and quickly stowed away his pipe. “So what do you think?” He asked as he hooked his thumbs into the sides of his breeches. Marino started to bring them down before he hesitated and pulled them up again. “Sorry, habit” He said suddenly, offering a nervous grin as he remembered her response last time. If she didn’t mind he’d go without, but he was okay with keeping them on in the other case. He had an extra pair of breeches stowed away anyways so he would haven’t to walk around in wet breeches after their swim.
Once they were back on deck, Marino would walk over to the port side, and look down at Twist waiting them eagerly below. After tossing down a rope to plop into the water, he looked over at her and grinned. “You can go the slow way down, or you can jump right in, your pick. I’ll go down first.” Then placing a hand on her shoulder, he added. “Don’t worry, me and Twist will watch out for you.” After making sure she was comfortable with it, he would leap off the side into the water, plunging into it feet first.
WC: 1,079
Hearing her speak of his people, he couldn’t help but to smile again. Not for the praise of Svefra ingenuity, but that she cared enough to think about it deeply. It made him feel good that he could share his culture with her. “We have a remarkable father in Laviku. He has taught the Svefra innumerable things about the sea.” He said thoughtfully before brightening. “I am very fortunate. Every morning on the sea is a marvel.”
His smile sobered up at her change of tone, and he listened to her story carefully. He knew the courage it took to share something like this, though he hadn’t had someone confide in him like this before. With the pod, people had a tendency to speak things plainly as they happened so the feelings didn’t have time to fester. Things were different elsewhere though he’d learned from his mother. In the cities where people could separate themselves in little boxes away from others, they could keep such things bottled up. An this was the result, he suspected. His heart went out to her, for this was a heavy thing to carry for so long, alone.
Searching for the words to say to her, something that might comfort her, he instinctively took a step forward as she stepped back. Marino hesitated though, and stayed where he was for a long moment before speaking, eyes never leaving her. “I can’t begin to imagine what that was like, but it is as you said. James was right. This is just a start here, and there is a wonderful journey ahead.” He gave a slight smile after that, and gave her some space as they worked on the sails.
In no time they were smiling and laughing again as Tazrae did a little dance. “Perfect. I don’t mind caves much, there are some really pretty ones underwater I hear from my brother, but I haven’t been down in one yet.” He wasn’t that good at diving as he’d spending a lot of time on deck lately. One of these day though, he’d see about it.
As they moved on to piloting the ship, Marino was also thinking of how to make things more comfortable when Twist started in with his antics. Now there was an idea. Starting in on setting the sails up, he said. “Yes, our heading is good for this wind.” Soon the leech had stopped fluttering as the ship responded to his touch, leaning over on the port side as the sail filled with wind. For a moment, he stood still absorbing the feeling of the wind running through the lines. Out on the sea, the Seasilk came truly alive, and he loved every moment up it. Looking up at Tazrae he gave her a big smile as he ran up to her.
“Isn’t it great when we get some speed?” He stood close beside her for a moment, looking out over the water spread before them, enjoying the wind blowing through his hair. Then he remembered he was supposed to be instructing and glanced at the sails before meeting her eyes. Tazrae took it all in stride, responding to his gestures as he moved her hand gently to take advantage of how the sea was moving. “Now we are going to tack with the wind here to get around the island” He said as he helped her steer the bow through the wind, and watched as the sails caught the wind on the other side and filled to pull them starboard side.
Then after they had made it around island he started slowing them down, before finally coming to a stop. Looking off to the port side now they could see the island with its dense jungle, and cliffs. To the starboard, there was open sea. “Ready to see below deck? I need to put this up.” He said as he unraveled the scarf from his neck, and as he turned his back to her she could see his the animated waves that swirled and foamed across the back of his neck. The bright blues and greens looked sheer against his tan skin.
When they entered the cabin, she could see that it was large enough to fit more than just them comfortably. Against the port side wall, she’d see some fishing equipment neatly stacked together, and on the starboard sigh, a half spear lay on the floor against the wall, slightly dusty. Underneath the bed, a folded up hammock peeked out, not quite stowed or having come out during their sailing. Tossing the scarf on the bed he bent low to open the spice box he kept by the foot board, and quickly stowed away his pipe. “So what do you think?” He asked as he hooked his thumbs into the sides of his breeches. Marino started to bring them down before he hesitated and pulled them up again. “Sorry, habit” He said suddenly, offering a nervous grin as he remembered her response last time. If she didn’t mind he’d go without, but he was okay with keeping them on in the other case. He had an extra pair of breeches stowed away anyways so he would haven’t to walk around in wet breeches after their swim.
Once they were back on deck, Marino would walk over to the port side, and look down at Twist waiting them eagerly below. After tossing down a rope to plop into the water, he looked over at her and grinned. “You can go the slow way down, or you can jump right in, your pick. I’ll go down first.” Then placing a hand on her shoulder, he added. “Don’t worry, me and Twist will watch out for you.” After making sure she was comfortable with it, he would leap off the side into the water, plunging into it feet first.
WC: 1,079