Sky Pirates: Slaves of the Mind

Ophelia

"So where did we get these again?" White hands held a glass jar with some kind of clear, shimmering gas in it.

"Have you forgotten already?" Amira sighed, her tone indicating disappointment, but Ophelia didn't miss the slight smile that threatened to tug at the corners of her lips. The Captain stood near the entrance to the room, arms folded and an expectant look on her face, while the curly haired vampire sat cross legged atop one of the many boxes cluttering the hold.

"I had more important things to remember."

"Like What?"

"Well... I forgot." The reptile that was sat next to the Captain laughed at this, but quickly silenced herself at the glare from the vampire.It's not my fault I have a bad memory and it's not like-

"-shot Kiarya? Ophelia are you even listening to me?"

"When am I not?" She tossed the jar into the air and caught it again in gloved hands, testing the weight of it as the particles inside seemed to shine and reflect as the light passed through it.

"What did I just say then?"

"That you just got them off the ship that had the silver bullets used to shoot Kiarya with." The vampire used this opportunity to shoot a wink at the reptilian doctor who pretended to swoon behind Amira's back. "Here- think fast!"Amira caught the glass jar with practiced reflexes, and sighed with with exasperation as she handed it over to Eylle. The doctor opened the jar quickly and closed it just as fast once she realised that she didn't want the gas to escape. The Captain looked like she was about to say something else before she was interrupted.

"It almost smells like..." There was a long pause of anticipation. "Buttered toast." The green skinned lady finally decided on. Amira and Ophelia shared a confused glance, eyebrows raised. The woman's lips pursed with a hint of impatience, and the vampire's twitching as she fought down a giggle with as much restraint as she could manage.

"Buttered toast?" Amira repeated, her face stern.

"Buttered toast." Eylle confirmed, passing the jar back to Ophelia, who sniffed it just the same.

"Buttered toast." She agreed, again throwing the jar to the young woman. With a huff of annoyance Amira decided to finally smell the jar.

"Buttered toast!" She exclaimed in disbelief. 

"Buttered toast." They chorused with matching eye rolls.

"Why buttered toast?" The Captain demanded, straightening herself up and trying to bring their attention back to the matter at hand.

"How should we know?" Ophelia mumbled petulantly, in an almost Hanniya-like fashion. Eylle merely shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, looking innocent and apologetic at the same time.

"But it's just so strange..." Amira trailed off, as she began to pace. Vampire and Reptile glanced at each other, and seemed to hold a silent conversation in a second. A slight tilt of the head told Ophelia that she ought to do something.

"Look, Tom. We'll try to figure it out, but maybe we can see if there's a library or something anywhere when we next get to port? I'll do some research for you after Eylle and I pick up some more medical equipment." She murmured, standing up so she could rest a tentative hand on Amira's shoulder. "I understand that you're angry that Kiarya got hurt, but we'll find out who's behind this. Promise." She was met with silence. The Captain stepped away from her quartermaster, face stern and brow creased in deep thought. Embarrassment filled Ophelia's chest, and the vampire was suddenly very grateful that she was incapable of blushing.

"Thank you." Amira passed the jar to her, turned on her heel and walked out of the hold, leaving Eylle and Ophelia alone. The two looked at each other, Eylle's eyes apologetic.

"She's never been very vocal about how she feels, and she's stressed over Kiarya. She'd act the same if you were the one lying injured." Eylle reminded her, voice as soothing as ever.

"She's not lying. I can hear her moving about." Eylle's features immediately shifted into a frown at this. The poor doctor was always in this state when one of the crew was injured, for they never seemed to like being still for more than a few seconds. "And I know. Tom's never been... great at verbalising things. I just..."

"Want to feel appreciated?" Eylle supplied. "It's not a secret that you and Kiarya hate each other, but The Captain is grateful that you're showing concern."

"I would do anything-"

"For the crew? We know."

"I just... I cannot help but think that Tom and the others prefer Kiarya over me, I mean I haven't half her charm-"

"Stop it."

"If I must." Eylle rolled her eyes at Ophelia's response, and gently took the jar from her hands to place delicately on the floor."The crew adores you, and The Captain values you like no one else. Maybe if you stopped comparing yourself to Kiarya you two could be friends."

"Highly unlikely."

"Look, you're both my friends- don't give me that look young lady- and I know it's hard for you two to get along, werewolves and vampires have been at each other's throats since before even Hanniya's time, but I really think that it's time you both at least learnt to respect each other and-" She was was cut off as Ophelia seemingly leapt into her arms, and wrapped herself around her to bury her face in her neck. "Are you getting soft?"

"Please cease talking." Eylle chuckled in response and hugged Ophelia back. 

"If I must."

"You can't say that. That's my line." The vampire wriggled her way out of Eylle's arms and placed a kiss on the doctor's cheek. "What would I do without you?"

"Cry, probably."

"That was a rhetorical question. Now hush."