Porcelain Waters

Jump

The tavern is loud with the laughter of its patrons that night, all enjoying their drinks and company. Surprising too was how accepting they were of the little band of pirates that had taken up their spots within the tavern right beside the rest of the usual town's people. Actually, it wasn't too much of a surprise, you thought, considering that even though they were pirates, they were peaceful as well as shockingly young.

You glanced up from where you wiped a few glasses behind the bar, your usual little helper tasks you provided to Meriam. In the back, tending to himself with a half finished glass of whiskey, was their captain. You hadn't had any direct contact with him as of yet, but something about him allured you; ever since he'd caught your eye upon his entrance earlier that evening, the frozen image of him stayed well imprinted in the back of your mind.

'A crush?' You questioned, stealing yet your hundredth fleeting glance of that night. A confused frown pulled the corners of your mouth down. 'Couldn't be. I haven't even spoken to him, plus I know what those feel like. This isn't it. It's something though; I've never felt this way before.'

If not a crush, then perhaps something more intricate than that. While the rest of his crew laughed and cheered with the other patrons, their captain stayed in the back of the room. He kept to himself and seemed lost deep in pensive internal questioning- golden eyes reflecting back the hanging lights that narrowed whenever a sound became too sharp for his ears. Currently they stared off into nothingness, his gaze so far away and long removed from the very reality he sat firmly within.

What was going through his head?

'I want...to meet him.'

"Hey there!"

Your attention is pulled from the boy sitting in the back and, for a fleeting moment, you pray no one noticed you staring. Instead you turn to the voice before you and two familiar faces come into view, both smiling at differing values, but still just as warm as the other.

"We meet again, huh?" Penguin Cap grinned, head tilted just a little.

"Are you allowed to talk this time?" The redhead leaned forward on the bar, eager for the answer he hoped would be yes.

You were thankful to give him the one he wanted. "Part of my job is to be a good hostess so people keep buying drinks." A chuckle left you, smile returned to the two in full.

They both glanced at each other, hidden excitement open and exposed for all to see as they took a seat in front of you. You'd never had pirates act so eager to talk to you like this, not when you were just as much as one of the town's people like anyone else here. So strange, these ones were truly the most unique pirates ever to dock on your shores.

"What can I get you boys?" You waved a glass at them, one hand on your hip. "Something strong, right?"

"Just some ale is fine." The boy in the Penguin cap said. He kept his hands in his lap and you could just barely see him fussing with the cloth of his sleeves. Now that you got a better look, he did seem a little anxious.

Next to him, his friend frowned and stuck his tongue out. "Ugh gross. How can you drink that piss?"

"It's not piss!" 'Penguin' huffed and turned on him. "And cut that out! You're embarrassing me!"

"You don't need any help with that."

"Shut up!"

You laughed at their banter. Sharp, unapologetic, like the clap of thunder or the crashing of waves against the coast; just like your mother's whose own had long since left your ears. It made the boys take pause and together, they smiled once more- youthful laughter joining your own. There weren't many people on the island around your age. Isha was the only one you spent much time around and he never seemed to share your wild sense of humor so this sudden change was...nice. Refreshing and whimsical.