Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 01:43 AM
Lang had taken the mirror during her weekly clandestine linen rearranging and sat quietly on the gun decks, letting a tear or two splash onto the surface. She could barely contain her grin, as she concentrated on seeing her favorite Romain twin.

"Sylvie? Sylvie Romain? Show me Sylvie Romain." She asked.

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 01:51 AM
Sylvie was no longer, thankfully, in any dort of compromising position-- but she was still half-naked, and sitting atop Marie's bunk on the Valkyrie, changing her shirts. "Ack!" she squealed. "Doesn't anyone-- Jesus, who is this?" she asked, as she tugged her shirt on. "That's not Spider."

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 7 2008, 01:53 AM
"Babs?" called the redhead as she stepped into the room, "Oi! There's news and... Was that Sylvie I heard?"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 01:56 AM
"Ja, I've taken the mirror, Dasta." Lang answered, before looking down at the girl in the mirror. "Lang, Sylvie! How are you? You made quite a stir, but I don't see what all the fuss is, since you are not covered in love bites." She said, disappointed.

"Dasta, come look, Sylvie isin't whoring herself or anything. What news?"

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 01:58 AM
"What?" Sylvie asked, looking incredibly offended. "What the hell?! Who the hell told you?! How do people know?"

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 7 2008, 02:01 AM
"Goodness! Darling!" cried the woman, who bustled over to Lang's side to look in and wave to the other girl. "You're looking well, dear. Is the boy with you too? Tell him we say hello!"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 02:04 AM
"She cannot see us." Lang explained. "Dasta is waving at you. And Sylvie, we know. We are calling to offer congradulations!" She said happily. "Your Papa finally knows you are fucking someone!"

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 02:06 AM
The girl turned a brilliant shade of red. "No, the boy isn't here right now," she said, sounding horrified. And then she went more sickly pale. "So, is this public knowledge?" she asked uncomfortably. "It's not...Lang, it's not good! He's going to watch me with every man I meet!"

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 7 2008, 02:10 AM
"Not when someone else has the mirror, he won't," the older woman assured her, clasping her hands together. "Oh, young love! Has he asked you to marry him yet? When is the wedding? Is he settling down to buy you a house? Oi! I wish I were there to pinch your cheek!"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 02:14 AM
Lang looked down at the mirror to roll her eyes. "I think they were just fucking, Dasta." She said, before focusing on Sylvie. "That's what papa's do, Sylvie. He just doesn't want you to get knocked up like Spider. I mean, he's happy about Spider. But no one wants to be a grandaddy. Ja? You know all the tricks on how not to get pregnant? And what pox looks like?"

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 02:24 AM
Sylvie let out a groan. "I am-- not! No!" she exclaimed. "What Lang said! We're not getting married! We're not in love! It's just for fun! What did he do, was he worried SPIDER wasn't a bad enough guilt trip, now he sent you, too?!"

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 7 2008, 02:30 AM
"No, silly girl. At least I don't think so." Dasta looked up at Lang and shrugged. "If it were me, I'd just be calling on her to say my congratulations. Isn't that right, Babs?"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 02:37 AM
"Ja, Dasta. Oh, Sylvie, like your father trusts me to do anything." Lang replied. "I stole the mirror so I could talk to you, since I'm sure you'd been yelled at enough." Lang paused and swallowed. "I miss you, too."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 02:39 AM
The girl's face fell. "You know Papa was furious about it, don't you?" she asked Barbara. "Oh, god, what did he do, tell the whole crew?"

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 7 2008, 02:42 AM
Dasta pouted. Though it was hard to see through all her facial hair. "Sylvie, honey... sometimes worry comes across as anger, but you know your father couldn't be mad at you for an instant. But more importantly, have you picked out a name for your children yet? I hope you make me their god-auntie! I would be so proud!"

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 02:44 AM
"WHAT?!" Sylvie shrieked.

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 02:47 AM
Lang looked up sharply at the other woman, and immediately switched to Dwarven. "Dasta, tallfolk cannot mate for life. They were just playing with each other. It is a form of fun. No children! You make her upset!"

Then she looked back at Sylvie, and shrugged. "He's tried to ask some of the other crew's advice." She said. "Why do you care, Sylvie? Aren't you almost to Africa to start princessing? You'll never see any of us again."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 02:59 AM
Sylvie gritted her teeth. "Don't say that!" she snapped.

She rubbed a hand over her eyes. "I don't want Elaine to find out. And Starling's going to have to deal with it. He's not staying here; he can't. Augh, I should have known. Dammit, Andre!"

Posted by: Dastinka Schonersdotter Jul 7 2008, 03:08 AM
"Oops," she said in dwarven.

Dasta placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Now, Si... you know Barbara didn't mean it. We all miss you very much and as long as you're happy, we're happy too," she said, glancing at the other woman briefly. "I don't think either of us think it's best for Elaine to hear anything about this, so you needn't worry about us."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 03:11 AM
"Why would we tell anyone, Si? You're old enough to think before you fuck." Lang said. "And don't think you can just leave without saying goodbye and then get angry at me for thinking we'll never see each other again." She fumed, gripping the mirror tightly.

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 10:09 PM
"Oh, Jesus Christ, Lang!" Sylvie snapped. "I did think. I thought I wanted to see what you could do with a Tuatha dick!" she informed Barbara. "And Starling's kind of cute, even if he's short, and I trust him. And Stop making this about you! I didn't say goodbye because of my Papa!"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 10:12 PM
"Then why are you so concerned with who on the ship..." She paused. "Goddard? Are you worrying about the good doctor finding out? Because I don't think he'll really care, since he's got all those implements. And you running off without a goodbye sort of ended it, didn't it?" She asked. "You can't see it, but I'm rolling my eyes."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 10:16 PM
"No, I don't care about James finding out, Jesus!" Sylvie snapped. "I don't want Elaine to find out, all right? I already told you that. Shut up!" she yelled at the older woman. "You don't understand what's going on! You can't!"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 10:20 PM
"Yes, I'm sure you're in the middle of a complex web of emotions I can't possibly grasp, Sylvie. And if you didn't want Elaine to find out, then it was selfish of you to sleep with him." She added, trying to sound kind.. "You know that. Stop making me have to say things your father should be telling you."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 10:26 PM
"What the hell, Lang?" Sylvie demanded. "Seriously. How many men have you slept with again? You're not somebody who should be talking to anyone about mistakes in that arena. Have you gotten married again recently?" she scoffed. "Nobody here is making you talk to me!"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 10:29 PM
Lang clenched her teeth, swallowed, counted to ten, and then spoke. "Maybe that was mean, Sylvie. I'm sorry. You're right, no one is making me talk to you. I stole the mirror to be able to, because I missed you. I wish you would tell me why I can't understand." She told the younger girl, sounding hurt.

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 10:33 PM
"Look," Sylvie said, rubbing at her eyes. "I have a responsibility here. To the people in my Grandpapa's home. I don't want to do it, but I know I have to. It's what's expected of me. It's where I'm needed. I want a normal life, and nobody's ever let me have one. So here I am, doing something I don't want to do because I know I have an obligation, and I have my Papa, who is a ball of mush, and who'd get so upset he'd never let me leave, or feel so guilty, he'd make promises he couldn't keep so I'd have to stay longer, and he'd only break them again. I couldn't risk him finding out."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 10:37 PM
"Sylvie." The woman said, sympathetically. "You did the best you could to please everyone." She said quietly. "I'm sorry. But I'm also happy that you got some action, whatever your father thinks. At least now he knows you're an adult."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 10:40 PM
Sylvie snorted. "I think he thought I was more of an adult before this."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 10:41 PM
"Yes, but now you don't have to sneak down to the infirmary to do anything. You can have your own proper cabin." She replied with a laugh.

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 10:42 PM
"You say it like he's going to permit it," Sylvie retorted. "And I can't, in Africa. They'll make us move in together and call us husband and wife."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 10:46 PM
"Why not?" Lang replied. "As long as he's not some piece of dreck you picked up. Not that you would." She added. "And I don't see what the problem with having a husband is. If you don't like him, you could exchange him for another. You're a princess, for goodness sakes, isin't your word law?" She asked.

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 10:54 PM
Sylvie blinked. "No?" She answered. "How would you like it if some half-white bitch walked in and changed centuries-old customs just do she could get laid?"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 10:57 PM
Lang leaned forward until she was laying on her stomach, looking into the mirror. "I suppose I wouldn't. That's the problem, getting married in such a small place." She remarked. "But on the other side, anyone who wants to sleep with you does so with the intention of marrying you. That's different. Will they marry you off like they do white princesses?" She asked, curious.

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 11:01 PM
Sylvie shook her head. "I get to pick who I marry," she answered. "The only caveat is, he's got to be of noble blood. He can't just be some nobody off the street. He has to have some kind of respectable lineage. The way it's done there, you agree to a marriage, there's...there's an exchange, a dowry and all that, like there is with white people. But then there's a party, and and the end of the party, you go to your husband's house and you live there instead. Once you've agreed to be married, then you can sleep together. You don't have to wait for the wedding, but it counts as good as being married. The party is just to celebrate."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 11:05 PM
Lang shrugged. "Sylvie, that doesn't sound that bad. Plenty of girls have to do that, get shipped off to live with some stinker their father chose for them to make a good deal. You at least get to pick. And if he's of noble birth, he's probably better than some no one off the streets." She told her, shaking her head. "Plenty of girls would envy you. And marriage isin't the end of anything."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 11:12 PM
"I never said it was bad. I'm just not ready for it yet," Sylvie answered. "And I don't want to be married to Starling."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 11:13 PM
"I wouldn't either." She said with a laugh. "And you will be in a few years. Maybe." She said with a grin. "And you'll be learning whatever magic you need to know. You might not even have time for boys, Sylvie. That's not a bad thing."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 11:16 PM
Now, Sylvie grinned back. "I'll always have time for boys," she retorted. "How do you think I get my mind off my work?"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 11:17 PM
Lang laughed again. "And you'll always have experiments. So. Tuatha dick? Any different from another man's?" She asked.

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 11:30 PM
The girl laughed. "Well, Starling didn't so much know what he was doing with his, but they...they're sort of wrapped up at first, anf then when they pop out, they' longer, and there's no hair, and they're sort of curved to begin with, which is...you know..." She smirked up at the air. "Pretty decent. What? You haven't tried one yet?"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 11:35 PM
"I stick with humans. Sounds.. interesting." She admited. "They're so short, though. That's a turn off. You said he was.. was he a virgin, Si?" She said wickedly. "Did you deflower someone?"

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 11:38 PM
"They are short, but the dicks kind of make up for it," Sylvie assured the woman.

Then she giggled. "Um. Yes. But I didn't know he was when we started! He lied!"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 11:44 PM
"Why would he admit to such a thing?" She asked merrily. "Oh, Sylvie. I suppose I'll find out if we ship out to help in the Erins. We'll have to compare and contrast."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 7 2008, 11:47 PM
Sylvie grinned. "As long as you're not using Starling to compare and contrast," she retorted. "Have a damn ball. Maybe you could bang Spider's pa. I think he needs it pretty bad. Is Gryphon close enough to Kenneth?"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 7 2008, 11:56 PM
"Hardly." She said, making a face. "Why on earth would I sleep with Spider's father? That would ruin any chance of friendship we'd ever have."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 8 2008, 01:25 AM
"She'd probably thank you," Sylvie said dryly.

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 8 2008, 01:27 AM
The woman laughed. "We'll see then, Sylvie. How long do you have until you reach Africa?" She asked. "A few weeks? Is Starling coming with you?"

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 8 2008, 01:30 AM
"He's coming," Sylvie replied. "Um. About a month, a little longer, maybe? Six weeks, at most?"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 8 2008, 01:40 AM
"That's enough time to get used to him, and get bored of him." Lang replied. "We're going to Mercer so Spider and Andre can settle and be domestic." She said with a snort.

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 8 2008, 01:51 AM
"He's my friend," Sylvie said stubbornly. "I won't get bored with him. And there's nothing wrong with being domestic. They're having a baby. I wish my parents had been domestic when I was little."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 8 2008, 02:03 AM
"Of course you do. I'm not saying it's bad, Sylvie. It's just a detour away from the real fight." She said, frustratedly. "We did well, with Kullie. None.. none of the regular crew died. Spider got the killing shot."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 8 2008, 02:18 AM
"I talked to Spider already," Sylvie told Barbara. "I know. I'm surprised Andre let her into the fray. It's...I don't think Andre wants to be in the real fight, to be honest."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 8 2008, 02:20 AM
"I wouldn't either, with a baby on the way. They have a chance.. to be normal, I suppose. They should take it." Lang said, not sounding happy. "I don't think Spider wanted to hide below.. in case something had happened. I am spoiling for a fight. Finally, a war." She said, pleased.

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 8 2008, 04:52 AM
Sylvie laughed, a bit hollowly. "You really want a war?" she asked cautiously. "I don't. I'm glad we're somewhere else, away from all those things."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 8 2008, 04:57 AM
"No one wants a war." Lang replied. "But if we can help Ers, ah, I believe he is Marcello, now? We have an iron ship. In a Tuatha war. It's the right thing to offer ourselves to the fight." She said quietly. "And if this queen of there's is a real mad bitch, then she should be ended."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 8 2008, 05:03 AM
Sylvie shrugged. "I don't know about the queen, but the Puck's an ass," she answered. "What, yo know the Queensman?" she asked. "That's a little odd, isn't it?"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 8 2008, 05:06 AM
"The Queensman and I know each other in the literal sense." Lang replied, furrowing her brow. "It's nothing now, we're just friends. Remember? You asked me if his dick was almost like his breasts?" She reminded the younger woman. "Why is it odd? That we met again?"

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 8 2008, 05:19 AM
Sylvie laughed. "Oh! Right!" she agreed. And then she shook her head. "You know Deck? And Sturges? Who both showed up just as soon as I vanished?" she asked. "That was more than a coincidence. I've known Sturges since I was a little kid; he was practically my grandfather. And Deck...um. Let's just say that if I'd stayed on the ship, I would have had to start keeping a social calendar."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 8 2008, 05:23 AM
The woman grinned wickedly. "I knew there was another reason you wanted to make sure hardly anyone aboard knew. Deck?" She asked with a snort. "I can see it. I like Sturges. Poor man hurt his knee in the fight the other day, and isin't telling anyone about it. I've set Jochy on him to see if he can do anything. He's brought his son with him. Remi. Deck would have had serious compeition, let me tell you." She glanced up, making sure no one was listening. "We got on some weird prisoners of Kullie too, from some Tuatha prison. Another.. coincidence?"

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 8 2008, 05:30 AM
Sylvie frowned. "I don't know. Has anyone told Judith about the prisoners?" she asked. "Somebody ought to check their names with her."

Then she raised an eyebrow. "Remi Sturges? Isn't he still a little kid?"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 8 2008, 05:33 AM
"Well, he's.. what, sixteen? Seventeen? Too young for my tastes, although just right for yours. And in a very serious dark broody state." She said, easing into gossip once again. "Dedicated to his father and all that. You'd have fun with him. And I'm sure Andre's told Judith. If not, I'll remind him. I'm not contacting that woman."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 8 2008, 05:39 AM
"What?" Sylvie teased. "You don't want to compare bedroom stories with her?"

She frowned. "I didn't realize-- Remi always seemed like such a little scrap of a kid. Huh," she said thoughtfully. "I don't like dark and broody, though. They get emotionally attaced."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 8 2008, 05:42 AM
"Oh, that's what makes them so delightful. A little emotional attachment isin't bad, sometimes." Then she frowned. "No, she's just not what I expected. And it wouldn't be right for me.. Andre should talk to her, captain to captain."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 8 2008, 05:47 AM
Sylvie shook her head. "Sorry, but I don't do emotional attachment," she said. "Too messy. Especially when one person has it and the other one doesn't."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 8 2008, 05:50 AM
"And you're the one who doesn't." Lang added, thoughtfully. "Makes the sex better, you know." She told the younger girl, before sitting upright again. "Anything else I should tell Andre or Spider? And make sure you're using a sheep's gut when you're fucking Starling, to make your dad worry less."

Posted by: Sylvie Romain Jul 8 2008, 05:54 AM
"Makes the angry Sturges when I break the kid's heart worse," Sylvie retorted. She shook her head. "No,' she answered. "Just tell them hello from me."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Jul 8 2008, 06:00 AM
"Good thing he's on the other side of the world then. I'll tell them hello for you." She said cheerily. "Enjoy the trip to Africa, I'll check in on you soon!" She called, before shaking the mirror a bit and rising, to take it back to the captain's quarters.