Saturn's Rings ~ f. millstone

Hideaway

After clearing out the Back Bays for Junlei, Willow went straight to her quarters. A nap was the first and only thing she needed after being hit with a couple plasma blasts from some mantipillars. She dumped her pockets onto the desk before tossing her jacket onto her chair. A few stray bullet shells fell to the floor. She looked at some of the stuff she collected and counted three tossball cards. There were a few more in her drawer full of junk. She had no use for the cards, but she could think of someone who might.

She dug through her drawers to find a piece of paper and a pen. She hastily scribbled a small note and stuck it on the stack of cards she had gathered over the past few weeks.

"I don't know what cards you do or don't have. I'm assuming every single one, with as big of a fan as you are. Regardless, it made me think of you, so here. -Cap"

He wasn't in his room, so she left it on his bed and went back to her room for her much needed nap.

A few minutes later, Felix opened his door with a fistful of Purpleberry candies. The note on his bed caught his attention and he did a double take. His heart sank at the sight. He assumed he had been booted off the ship and that was his notice. What else would a note on his bed mean? Was it something he did? Did he not pull his weight enough?

When he picked it up, he noticed the cards attached. His eyebrows furrowed. He unfolded the note and scanned over it. He let out a breath of relief and smiled.

The captain was thinking about him.

*~*~*

The crew decided to kick off their last night on the Groundbreaker by going to The Lost Hope. Captain's orders.

The five of them sat around a round table in the back corner, sharing stories and spending more bits than necessary. Even Max seemed to be enjoying himself, despite everyone prying for more information about his time on Tartarus. He wouldn't budge.

"Bull. Shit."

Willow crossed her arms and sat back in her seat. Ellie had been recalling her time in Byzantium as a doctor. She had quite a few tales to tell of her high society patients with ridiculous requests.

"I'm serious. She wanted her nose fixed upwards and her eyebrows pulled up so she could be looking down at people all the time," Ellie insisted with her hands raised in defense.

Everyone either scoffed or chuckled at the complex, yet simple mind of the average Byzantine. Ellie continued on with her cosmetic nightmares while she still had everyone's attention. Well, most everyone. Felix was only half listening. Instead, he was looking at the Captain, trying to think of an excuse to talk to her. Just her. He waited to lean over to his left until Ellie finished a story about someone who wanted their toes cut off so they could have a smaller shoe size.

"Hey, Boss? Can I show you something?" he asked quietly.

"That is a terrifying question considering the things I've seen in this god-forsaken colony."

"It's not bad, promise. But it is a surprise."

Willow was hesitant about leaving, but she also didn't know how many more Brothers Grimm-like cosmetic surgeries she could hear about until her face was permanently stuck in a cringe.

She sighed, "you're lucky I trust you. Lead the way."

He smiled and got up from his seat. Willow let the others know she was leaving and gave them a bit cartridge with enough money to cover them until she got back. Felix guided her from the bar to the waste disposal station. She shot him a questioning look.

"It's not as gross as it seems. I swear," he reassured before looking around and opening the door.

They went up a ladder and down a hallway. Felix slid a door open and led Willow into an open room. He walked over to the corner and ducked into a small cutout in the wall. Cautiously, she followed him out. There he sat on a small ledge, getting himself in a comfortable sitting position. She joined him and pulled the unopened bottle of Zero Gee Brew out of her jacket pocket.