All Aboard

They want what?

Seth

"May I start with how stunningly beautiful you are? Or shall I commend you for that beautiful performance at the last port? I have never seen such a beautiful performance from someone so new. The execution was flawless. The paintwork on Worldly Knowledge is out of this world as well." I rattled off. We chuckled at the fact that I couldn't stop from talking so much. She continued listening while we walked along the beach. "I have always heard about you in the meetings that I was forced to sit in with my father while your parents were present. I never imagined what they were saying would be true." The words just poured out of me like liquid and I couldn't get them to stop. She laughed and replied "Did you think my parents were lying?". I blushed and responded "No, of course not, I should've just asked to see you. Never did I dream that my father's arrangement would come to fruition. I was..." She put her hand up. "Slow down Seth, I am not ready for any marriage talks, no matter how handsome the prospect is. I have just done my first job as Captain with Skylar as my Co-Captain. I have so much I want to do before I think of my future as a wife." I was taken aback. Did I really just talk about marriage? Oh my gods, I wish the ground would swallow me entirely. Also, did she just call me handsome? Hope began to bloom in my chest.

She looks at me with her sparkling eyes and understanding. "I apologize for getting ahead of myself, my brain went straight to protecting you as you probably don't know this yet, but they managed to sketch your face and you now have a warrant out for your arrest." I tell her while rubbing the back of my neck with my free arm. She giggles and says "While I don't mind your attention, I do have to state that I don't need protection. I am a woman who has been able to handle herself." She said while puffing out her chest in pride. "I completely agree, which is why the only way I will get front row seats to see what you come up with next is to offer that we become a two-ship fleet." I offer. "I will need a moment to think about it." she responded. I nodded at her and steered us to a flat boulder on the beach. We sat down and just continued to chat about the things we had in common and what our future plans were. It was sunset before we walked back to where her parents were. When we were about to part, I kissed her hand and bid her goodbye for now. I searched for Rex to fill him in on what was going on.

Angel

I found Skylar and, with a giant smile plastered on my face, grabbed her to take her back to my cabin. She giggled and followed me and as soon as we closed my door she stated "Girl, you had better dish on what is going on with you and Captain hotness."I laughed at how forward she was. "Well, I can tell you he wants to be a fleet." I started "Yes" she interrupted. "Okay well there is also the fact that he even accidently brought up marrage." I cringed. "Oh my gods wow that was fast, I mean you two have known of each other for like ever so it is kinda like a match made in heaven. Remember how you snuck off the ship one time and saw him in that one meeting at the flower convention we were at port moon i believe. You were soooo taken with him." She excitedly declared. "Yeah, that was like ten years ago. He was a teenager at best and definitely not that buff. Plus, I didn't hear him talk. I need his voice in my life." I gushed. Sklyar started dancing around my room saying how it was going to be fun having men follow our every footstep, but then she accidently bumped into my desk, knocking the message in a bottle over. Thankfully, it didn't break so I picked it up and Skylar apologized. I gave her a hug and she excused herself to go find her mom and to let the crew know to get to bed soon.

The next knock was Angel's parents. They had always had a strained relationship, as Angel always wanted to be as free as a bird and they kept her caged to protect her. "Come in." "Hunny, we were just checking on you to see how you are doing." my mom searched my face with concern. Dad loomed over me and stated "Make sure this is what you want" while handing her a piece of folded paper. Angel nodded and her parents gave her a hug and left.

About an hour later, there was another knock on the door. "Who is it?" I questioned. "It's Captain Seth," he replied. I stood up and said "the door is open," while bending to grab another chair out of storage as it was far too early to invite him to sit on my bed. I swear I had felt his eyes on my butt as I bent over, but my fluttering heart wouldn't allow me to comment on it because if I did, I would probably throw up thanks to my nerves. "Feel free to sit on my chair if you would like." Angel gestured to her chair that she has always had the back of it was completely covered in studs while the wood was painted black.

He sat down and looked around the room. His eyes settled on a small familiar small glass bottle.

Seth

I had seen her parents leave the ship, no doubt they gave her the next big idea, and I got so excited I just went to go see her. Now I am sitting in her chair fangirling like a teenager while internally facepalming myself. I just caught sight of one of the bottles I had thrown into the ocean. "Wow it's been ages since I used those bottles. Do you mind if I see which message it is?"I asked. She nodded and I pulled the paper out. Once I read it, I looked at her and she started blushing. "Did I indirectly inspire your first mission?" I asked in my lowest voice so I wouldn't scare her. "Well, it was that bottle that inspired me to do that particular action but I cannot be sure that it was your writing unless I could compare handwritting." Angel responds quietly. She walked over to the desk to pull out a sheet of paper and pen, then set it in front of me. I took the pen and immediately wrote word for word the message on the paper. It was a perfect match.

"Alrighty then, if that isn't proof, I don't know what it is" she declared. Caught up in the moment, I leaned into her space and gave her a quick kiss. Her face blushed even deeper red. She cleared her throat and said "It didn't even have the coordinates, so I asked my parents for help and it turned out they knew exactly where it was. They just didn't have any interest in it". I shook my head in understanding. I remember her parents loved to find information more than treasure, they would scour the world for rare books and scrolls. We sat and talked until morning, when Angel had told me she decided to accept my offer of forming a fleet. I couldn't be happier. This was my chance to earn her heart.