Ocean Eyes, Storm Cloud Minds

Chapter Nine

Lancelot took a step forward and immediately felt his legs give out underneath him, gasping and almost letting a small noise of surprise escape his lips as he hit the floor, but forcing himself to stay quiet and avoid the potential torment he might get from others. He tried to pull himself up, Dandé holding out one hand to him that he gladly took, noticing the firm grip of the other and feeling suddenly relieved that he had the man as a friend, knowing that there were many people on board - some stronger and some weaker than Dandé, but almost all of them able (and likely willing) to tear him apart the second they got the chance and/or the reason to. He let the stronger male pull him to his feet and sighed, almost falling again but holding onto the others hand with both of his, looking up at him and getting a sympathetic look, as if Dandé knew what it was like.

The black haired man was first to speak out of the two of them, evidently attempting to say something comforting but it only made Lancelot feel a little worse.

"Cap'n Red isn't too bad once you're used to it. This is probably the worst he's acted toward anyone in a long while." He explained, trying to give the other a bit of optimism that after a while he wouldn't feel as rejected, but instead Lancelot started to wonder if he was being that much of a deadweight to the ship. Nevertheless, he nodded and muttered a thanks to the other for trying to make him feel better, slowly releasing his hand. "I'm alright, now." He said, Dandé nodding and turning, gesturing to the crows nest above them.

"You think you'll be able to make it up there?" He asked, and Lancelot nodded, determined to still be useful whether it meant straining himself or not. Dandé started walking over to the ladder, but let Lancelot go up first, spotting Elric leaving his cabin with a newly opened bottle in one hand.

The brunet didn't need to be told twice, of course, and started up the crows nest, not finding it too difficult until he got a little under half the way up, already feeling his legs aching. He gLancelotd around the deck as he continued to climb, his eyes soon landing on the captain, who was stood at the helm with the bottle to his lips. He brought it away and wiped his mouth with his sleeve, his eyes scanning the upper deck and eventually landing on Lancelot, their gazes meeting for a moment before the brunets hand missed the ladder and he yelped in shock. He almost lost his baLancelot, gripping tightly onto the ladder with his other hand and turning his attention away from the handsome captain, readjusting his grip and starting to climb again. He gLancelotd over at the man again once his grip was adjusted, seeing a smug smirk on the others lips and instantly fixing his attention back onto the ladder once more, huffing irritatedly to himself as he did.

-

It was several long and painful hours of hard work before Lancelot got a break, having helped Dandé cook and done a small amount of cleaning in the dining hall. He'd been to the lower deck back to the upper deck various times, meaning his legs were aching badly and the insides of his hands were red-raw from the ladder and the ropes he'd been using constantly throughout the day. He was on the upper deck, having a bandana (of sorts) wrapped around his forehead to keep the sun off, just finishing a hurriedly tied knot when the crew were called through to the dining quarters. He checked the security of the rope before turning and following everyone else inside, Dandé having been the one to prepare the meal and in doing so, leaving Lancelot outside to do exactly as he was told, when he was told, by near enough anyone. Save, of course, for the people who'd told him to throw himself over the side. He'd save that advice for some other time.

He sighed, standing in the queue for whatever food they'd have, too tired to focus on one thing and instead having various brief thoughts burst into his head, only catching his attention for a second before another did the same. He tried to keep his attention on moving in the queue when he needed to and avoiding being hit by other crew members- whether in a teasing, harmless manner or not. He eventually got given his dinner by Dandé, who flashed him a smile that the brunet wearily returned, wandering to an unoccupied section of a bench and sitting as far away from everyone else as he could, slowly picking at his food and letting his aching muscles rest from such a difficult day. He slowly started eating, his stomach growling for more food after almost every mouthful and he quickly found himself with an empty plate, just sitting there in silence and letting his mind wander.

The first thought that landed in his mind and settled there, was the thought 'Would I even want to go on a ship again?' It was well known to almost everyone who he'd grown up around that Lancelot had wanted to be a sailor. It'd always been his goal- something he'd aspired to do was become the captain of a ship, whether a trading boat or otherwise. It was the only thing he'd ever wanted, but now he wasn't sure if he'd ever want to be on a boat again. He'd definitely quit his job at the port - after demanding they fence off the abandoned docks - but what then? What else would he want to be? Would he even live long enough to need to worry about this...? He forced himself to stop thinking about that, though, as the last thing he wanted to think of was what his life would become after he got off this godforsaken boat, if he got off of this godforsaken boat.

He was snapped from his thoughts by someone sitting next to him, turning his attention to Dandé and muttering a greeting, the larger male gladly returning it with a smile. "You still hungry?" He asked afterward, gesturing to his plate- filled with what wouldn't last another day and hadn't been served yet (save for the captains portion, which was a little larger than most peoples and had been left out for the man). Lancelot almost shook his head but his stomach answered that for him, a loud growl making Lancelot blush in embarrassment and nod sheepishly, Dandé giving him some of what was on his plate.

"If you want more, help yourself." He said, Ivy speaking up from next to Dandé, having been hidden from sight due how short and thin he was.

"I always do." He said with a small grin, starting to eat what was on his plate, Dandé having started doing the same and Lancelot slowly starting to eat again.

The brunet almost spoke up, but immediately let his words die on his tongue as the door was slammed open, a very irritated and a very drunk captain storming inside. Luckily for Lancelot, the only space between people in the entire room that was big enough for the captain, was directly next to him. Just what he needed.