Where the sea sleeps [HoonHao] ✔

22

"We've arrived!" It's the loudest he's heard Minghao, who he's decided can be very soft-spoken majority of the time. Of course, when he needed to break past that, he could do it with ease. He and Scoups are already preparing to leave.

They gesture for everyone to make their way to the deck where they join hands. This time, Joshua is included in their little 'return' ceremony. As they pull their hands apart, a chorus of 'return safely' echoes through the ship. The words continue lingering even as they're long gone from the ship.

"They will be alright, correct?" he asks with a murmur.

Vernon casts him a glance. "You don't trust them?"

"I do," he insists quickly, spinning around to face him.

"Then why..." Vernon trails off, head tilting up slightly as realization settles in his eyes and a wide grin takes over his face. It's the smile that shows off his gums; it makes him seem so much younger as his eyes light up. "You're worried?" He turns back, looking in the direction the two disappeared off to before looking at him again. "You don't have to worry, you know?"

"I do not?"

"We pirates can take care of ourselves after all." The others have dispersed and now it's just the two of them on deck. Everyone else went with Mingyu to the kitchen, claiming they needed to be fed. The response itself has him questioning. As much as he never really thought about it, he failed in trying not to think about it. It crossed his mind every now and again. Pirates had a name to them, that much was clear. All of them were considered bad people, and while this crew in particular were not those of sort, he wondered if they fought. Sure they didn't carry around swords like the guards, but once in Minghao's little room, he caught sight of one by the bed. It had been his first time here. At the time, he probably had a similar view on pirates. He thought it was expected of them to have these swords in the loop of their belt or that they carried them around. Now, he knows they hardly carry it around as to avoid drawing any more attention to themselves than they already do. That doesn't mean they won't carry anything around. For all he knew, they had weapons on them in the event they would need it.

All of this runs through his mind once he's processed Vernon's words. It runs through his mind the way it always has, but once he chooses not to ask.

He takes a seat beside Vernon. "How long do you propose we will be in the town for?" he murmurs, seeming to effectively shift the focus of their topic. Vernon seems to note it too, but rather than pointing it out, he just smiles.

"Hopefully long enough."

There's something in his words; something that goes unspoken. He knows better than to ask so they sit there, in silence, until Vernon brings up another topic. Like Hoshi, they seem to cover various topics in the time that Scoups and Minghao are gone. Except he was used to Hoshi talking to him. What he wasn't used to was Vernon willingly sitting by him and talking to him let alone starting the conversation himself. A little burst of excitement formulates a smile on his face. He knows all too well that had it been days ago when he was first on the ship, this wouldn't be happening. Somehow, between then and him being captured, something changed and he definitely was not complaining.

It's almost an hour later when Minghao shows up. He doesn't climb aboard, but hangs along the side of the ship as he speaks to them. Vernon's already standing, looking at him expectantly which elicits a chuckle out of Minghao.

"I have to go back to Seungcheol. He's sorting out some paperwork." His gaze shifts over to Vernon. "We'll be here for the whole day, so you guys can have a look around town if need be. Just make sure there are at least two people who stay here." He starts to descend when something pops into his head.

"Don't let anyone be captured this time." He catches sight of a teasing smile before he disappears from their sight.

He would be staring longer had it not been for Vernon who, in all his abrupt excitement, clutches both of his hands. He cast his eyes on him and there's a momentary shock. If he thought Vernon seemed happy before, he seems even happier now. His smile has somehow widened and there's an ear splitting grin across his face.

"Please, will you go with Dino and myself?"

"I'm going somewhere?" Dino asks, as if he'd been waiting for this exact moment. Though his expression shows that he already knows the answer. He's looking at Woozi the same way Vernon had been looking at Minghao; with all this expectation he wasn't sure where it was originating from.

He looks back at Vernon when he feels his hands being shaken lightly. There's a silent plea in his eye. Not desperation but a pure, genuine plea. Woozi agrees easily.

As they're making their way off the ship, the rest of the crew wish him good luck and soft cheers. Halfway up to the town, he looks at Dino.

"I have never seen him this excited," he murmurs. Vernon hasn't stopped smiling.

Dino joins him in smiling, a gentle look cast Vernon's way. "I don't blame him."