blithely a'sailing seaward

“Oh, right” he nodded, “I remember.” Jasper would make note of it when he got back home to go over to see it. “Birds don’t eat with their fingers. They do not have them” he said, a little confused at Jack’s question. 

~

Jack laughed. “I know that, I just meant that you’re eating in tiny baby bird bites,” he said, reaching over to pinch Jasper’s cheek gently. “Here. Eat like you mean it. You probably eat as much as you sleep and that’s why you’re so damn skinny.” He picked up the other’s plate and lifted a good-sized piece of fish to hold it out toward Jasper’s mouth.

“I know it was a joke, do you not understand sarcasm?” She crossed her arms and stepped up to him as if to challenge him almost. “You didn’t answer the question. Why did you do it? Unless you’re sticking to heroism as your answer. You tell me the truth I might thank you.”

~

Ryan decided to let that one slide. “I did it because I wanted to. Why do I gotta have a reason?” he asked, shrugging uncomfortably but not backing down from her challenging stance. “Didn’t realize thanking someone came with conditions.” He shook his head and took a step back finally. “Fine, don’t thank me. You know, you make it really difficult to be nice to you. Is that one of your coping mechanisms? Push people away with your attitude so you end up with no friends and then nobody can hurt you?”

“Well, we both know that charcoal is incredible for a smoky eye” Finn grinned, taking a moment to listen to the music before finding the beat to dance to. “Were you able to do the trade?” they asked, realizing she hadn’t said whether or not it had been a success. “You should give me a makeover. Make me one of your beautiful muses, Martha.” 

~

“It is incredible for a smokey eye, but we’re so limited as to colors and palettes and glitter. Oh, Finn, I miss glitter,” Martha said with a dramatic sigh, even as she started to dance with them. “I could give you a makeover if you wish. Come to my hut tomorrow and I’ll make you the prettiest resident on this island.”

“Thanks.” She said as she got to her feet before blushing as Cat pointed out she still had sand on her. Brushing herself down Mia gave a heavy sigh. “And here I was hoping for an uneventful evening but I embarrass myself instead.”

~

“Hey, it could’ve been worse. You could’ve broken your heel and fallen over on the red carpet of the Golden Globes in front of hundreds of people and photographers,” Cat said with a faint grin. “Here, who saw you? Me? The fish? That kid over there building a sandcastle? Little harm done. I’m Cat, by the way.” 

“Right. Because the sand is so sharp and dangerous that I would have died on impact.” She replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “I’m pretty sure you destroyed that kids sand castle rushing to my rescue. Which begs the question of why you even bothered. I can’t imagine i’m anywhere on your list of priorities.”

~

“Mm, still not hearing a thank you,” Ryan said still smirking at her and crossing his arms over his chest. “It was a joke, by the way, about you dying, but I still consider it an act of heroism so, you know . . .” He gestured toward her. “A thanks is in order. Maybe a gift too. I could’ve sprained my ankle or something leaping over that sand castle.”

“Did you give it to the temple yet?” he asked looking over, his expression making it obvious that he wanted to see it. Jasper picked up a piece of food, pinching it between his fingers to eat. “Want some?” he asked, getting another pinch and holding it out to him. 

~

“Not yet. My boss has to do the engravings first, remember? Come by tomorrow and see it,” Jack said with a small smile, before reaching to take the pinch of food from him. “You eat like a bird, you know that?” he said with an affectionate grin before placing the bite in his mouth.

“I’m an apothecary, Jack. What people from the old world call a pharmacist. I’m able to diagnose and treat small ailments but I’m not a doctor. You can call me Daivi.” When he asked if she had something to calm a person she frowned a little. “Are you feeling anxious? Could you tell me a little more about when these moments are happening? Is it the party that’s causing it?”

~

“Oh, uh, it’s not for me,” Jack admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. “It’s for my friend. He’s an orphan, and I’ve always kinda looked out for him, you know? Crowds and loud noises and stuff make him anxious, or something, he doesn’t like them, so I thought you might have something that could help him so he could join in the fun of the party. I don’t want him to feel left out.”

━━━━━  &    “i think i’m weird because i know other people perceive me as weird. or strange, not like other people. whatever way you want to put it. i’m not really someone people want to spend time around.” xylie replies, arms crossed as she averts her gaze instead to the islanders enjoying the party. of course, a lot of the attitude she received had to do with how she acted, how she refused to get close to anyone lest they leave like her mother did. “like i said, it’s fine. my ego isn’t bruised or anything.”

“Have you tried spending time with other people?” Melissa asked curiously, watching Xylie closely. “In any case, I’d like to see you participate more. We’re a community, and it’s only with the help and strength of the community that we will survive. People who strike out on their own don’t make it very far. Trust me. I know.”

“I have to finish things. If I don’t finish them then people keep asking when I’m going to be done” Jasper shrugged, responding to the sentiment that he worked too much. “Did you finish your chalice?” 

~

“Yeah, you gotta finish things, but you don’t have to work straight through the night. You gotta take time for yourself too,” Jack said, shaking his head. “Anyway, yeah, I finished the chalice. I slept eight whole hours last night too.” He nudged Jasper playfully with a small grin.

“of course. this wouldn’t work without the group effort” it was the same with the way their village worked in general. it took the group for things to run efficiently. “Oh yes, she mentioned something about wanting to win a prize for someone. I might participate later, what about yourself?” 

~

“I’m fine just watching from the sidelines,” Melissa admitted with a small smile. “Does your daughter have a crush on someone? How old is she again?”

━━━━━  &  “well, i appreciate it anyway.” sunhee responds definitively, with a smile and a nod of her head.  she glances at the other islanders, happy with the activities of the fair. she wonders briefly how anyone could be bored during something like this – then she considers how she typically likes to spend her time, curled up with a nice book and a hot tea. she frowns, thinking, then grins at ryan. “well… we could make one.”

~

“ . . . Make one? What do you mean?” Ryan asked, his interest piqued despite himself. He really should’ve just gone on his way, but something made him linger, and he turned toward her, looking at her curiously.

They smiled as she looped her arm through theirs, and started over to where the music was playing and people were dancing. “It really is hard to imagine isn’t it?” they chuckled. “Have you talked to any of the new people?” they asked curiously. 

~

“I spoke to one of them tonight. A beautiful woman whose makeup was impeccable. I wanted to see if she could trade some of her real makeup because I’ve been using berries and charcoal my whole life,” Martha said with a soft laugh.