I Am The Sea || Choi San

time

One whole day goes by before the old crone in Crook's Port lets San leave.
Theo would have loved to agree with the healer, would have loved to give San a few more days time to heal in peace.
But if the Royal Navy has found them once, it will again - and it's better not to be stuck on land like a sitting duck when that happens.
Plus, Theo can't help but worry, the ever-present fear of the Pirate King finding them one day.

San's wound is still raw and red, the skin around it sore and sensitive. He seems to emit more warmth than usual, but the healer has promised it's merely his body trying to heal.

The crone folds three bundles of herbs into a cloth and hands them to Theo, who's already packing up the books she has been gifted.
"Brew these into a tea when the pain gets too much for him," the healer instructs, "But no more than three pots a day. And let him chew on the leaves before he goes to bed at night."
Then she ushers San and Theo out of her cottage by the harbor, almost hitting their backs with her door when they step outside.

San and Theo walk over to the Inception side by side, his arm around her shoulder for support.
The Inception's white sails are set, the ship ready for departure.
From afar, the wide gashes in the sail cloth look just like the stitches in San's skin, held together by thick cord. The holes in the bow have been patched over the past day and night, the mizzenmast repaired.
The ship has seen better days, but to Theo it looks more glorious than ever, painted in the victory over their enemies.

The men are bustling about on deck, fixing the last small odds and ends where fixing is needed, carrying food and water and supplies.
When Theo and San walk over the plank, a few men start to clap and whistle when they see their crew mate.
Mingi and Yeosang emerge from behind the rigging where they've been towing in the ropes.
"Ah, look who's back from the dead," Mingi carefully wraps San into his arms, "I'm so glad to have you back here."

The others, coming from everywhere - the kitchen, the captain's cabin, the crow's nest, the cargo bay - welcome San back into their lines.
Wooyoung takes San's hand into his own and curls his entire body into San's chest. Over San's shoulder, he meets Theo's eyes, dark and glassy with tears.
She looks at him and the unspoken words in his stare are clear.
Thank you.
Theo nods and smiles at Woo, before making way to her own chambers.

When she opens her doors, the room is clean. Pristinely so.
"I changed the bedding," a soft voice says behind her, "And I tried to clean everything as well as possible. I even put new candles into the holders for you."
Seonghwa stands behind her, his hands folded in front of his body.
Theo takes a deep breath, the scent of lavender soap and ocean breeze mixing in the air. She turns to Seonghwa and waves him inside as she places the bundles and books onto her desk.

Seonghwa steps next to her as she starts plugging leaves off of the stems, and she says, "The healer gave me these and said we're supposed to brew a tea for San with them," Theo explains, "Would you be so kind to do this for me?"
"Of course," Seonghwa scoops up the leaves, but then he hesitates, "I have some empty glass bottles that I won't need in the kitchen. Maybe it would be nice if you wrote a letter about how you're feeling. I know that always helps you."
Theo smiles and nods, but the skin on her face feels tight.
"That would be very nice," she answers then. "But I think I'll have to talk to the Captain first, I've had an idea last night."

Captain Hongjoong stands with his hands behind his back at the very front of the ship, staring out at sea.
"Captain Hongjoong, may I have a word?"
Hongjoong turns towards Theo with a sly smile on his lips.

"Theo, glad to see you back on board," he says and dips his head towards her, "What can I do for you?"
"I had an idea because of our issue with the map," Theo answers, "I know I am the only one that can read it, but it does not have to be that way. I can draw what I see on the map on a separate piece of paper, so that you and Jongho can use it properly."
"I'll see to it that you get parchment and ink right away, good thinking. I'll let Jongho know you're going to meet him in the crew's cabin then."