All that glitters is gold!

“Oh! Okay, sure!” It was probably nicer to not have to search through that water - it was way not as clean (or pretty blue) as the water in the rivers or the sea, by the looks of it. “That sounds like a great reason for a holiday! Something along the lines of using the day for breaking out of routines, seeing new things, daring something - is it like that?” It sounded possible enough, and so Starlight saw no reason to doubt that Eugene was speaking the truth about this holiday.

Starlight followed along, until he stopped and let her take the lead. Right… her place. “Uh… yes, of course.” They got out of the sewers again at the next chance she saw, and she looked around a few times before starting to move. “I’m pretty sure it’s that way.” Cities were still a little confusing sometimes when she was on the ground. Too many streets looked similar to another - but Starlight wasn’t that bad at navigation. She led them into the right way indeed, and soon they neared the park, into which she moved. Her tree didn’t really need to be pointed out. It was overly colorful, with many garlands and decorations and glittery stuff hung around the branches and the likes, and a bit further up a makeshift “roof” (made of some form of plastic foil simply stretched across the upper branches) was “protecting” one of the branches and two pairs of shoes and some clothes were thrown over one of the upper branches too. “Isn’t it amazing?” Admittedly, Starlight had hesitated for a moment to start talking about it. She knew that a tree wasn’t exactly what anyone would consider a place to stay, but, she did love her home and there wasn’t really any use in pretending to aim to bring them somewhere else, anyway. “That’s my place! I collected a good bunch of things to really make it mine, and, and I’m just really glad I got it.” Not that there really was competition in getting her tree, but, it was still a thing to be thankful for that she could just choose it as her home and make it work.

Just a minute later he regretted his decision to not go looking for his priced possession. Phones got more expensive each year and he didn’t want to get a new one so soon. Then again how likely was he to recover it fine from the sewers? He frowned, completely emerged in his own, personal tragedy.

“Yeah, new things. Whatever.” He muttered, still distracted. “That excludes, sewers, stealing especially and anything else that leads to smelling unpleasant.” Children were so bothersome. You were likely to leave an impression on them and then they took it from there and, knowing himself, got themselves into trouble. He side-eyed her, absently wondering how old she was. Maybe she was just asking so many questions because she was new around here. That had to be the reason.

It was about time he finally came to realization of his whereabouts. “And you’re still a pest who can’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” A puff of air blew out of her nostrils as she came closer to him. Well, perhaps he wasn’t exactly the same. Somehow, he had grown some sort of caring bone in his body. “You didn’t seem to like me very much last time. What makes you interested in a mortals life?”

“Hope so too” Lily nodded, before quickly joking “As for me growing up. More mature maybe… taller. Not so much, pretty sure that stopped about 4ish years ago”

Hiding the sadness that she knew her wish would never come true with a joke, something she’d become quite good at, or at least she’d like to think so. Another birthday meant another year gone and as much as she loved them, it also meant another year and being trapped and lonely and unable to even attempt the things she truly wanted.

“We could discuss with your mother about getting you plateau boots, if you’re worried about your height.” Eugene negotiated with a little smile. Rapunzel wasn’t a whole lot taller than Lily and vice versa. That was probably where she got that from.

Lily did entertain the thought of running off or rather swimming off with a beautiful mermaid to spite her family, but knew deep down she could never do that to them. 

“This better be an actual attempt to find me someone to jam with and not another blind date with some prince set up by the grandparents again.” She jokes as she got to her feet, pointing the headstock of the guitar at her father in a somewhat accusatory manner, before sliding the strap so she could carry the instrument on her back, back to the palace as she had left the case for it up in her room.

“Oh no no, I would never do that. When have I ever deceived you?” When Lily was still younger it was so much easier to tell her little lies, such as about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and other things. At least until he thought she was ready to heat the truth. “Well, except for that time, or that other one.” He admitted with a playful eye roll.

Well, that was quick. He didn’t care much for his life here, did he? Or maybe he just was one of the more spontaneous earthlings - or of course, Blackfire simply impressed him enough. Whatever it was, this was promising to stay entertaining, and she considered an answer to his question when he already answered it himself and she chuckled. “It would be useful if you keep something on you to keep track of earthen time with, then. I don’t really care for keeping track when time is different on mostly any planet I come to.” But yes, she did start moving a little - for now mostly just away from the restaurant they had left not too long ago. “Hmm. We’re in China right now, give me a moment to think where I have my backups parked.” Usually, she did one ship per planet where it was needed, but given her experiences so far on Earth and her not being all too choosy which part of it to land on, it was better to have multiple spaceships hidden here. “Yes, right, I remember. That shouldn’t be far. I’m pretty sure we crossed the wall when we came here, it should be into that direction.” Yes, that wall, it didn’t need specifying. “You wanna walk to there, or take the faster way?” She’d have to take to the air briefly anyway, once they reached the wall, to find the exact spot that her ship was at, but they could totally just go their through the air already.

With his arms crossed he summoned all the patience he could while he let her think about where they could be going. He gave his breast pocket a reassuring pat. “I’ve got an old-fashioned watch. Bet that can’t be compromised by whatever it is we’re about to see?” He was sure of that and required no confirmation for his assumption. The sad truth was he still had to keep track of time, somewhat. Eventually he had to go back to work and make a living. Just in case this little trip didn’t turn out to be profitable.

He was strong no doubt, but that yank caused her to release her grip accidentally and allowing him to retrieve the necklace. Esmeralda wasn’t aware of his intentions in case they were to get caught and it was something she actually appreciated. In all of her life, her safety was never put ahead in front of someone else’s.

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Esmeralda shook her head at his false assumption. “I’m a dancer. I dance in the street for coins and as you can see, there are other ways to make a living other than stealing.”

At least they could quickly drop all pretenses that he wanted to hurt her. They did stick to the topic of justifying themselves though. “Well, I don’t dance, guess I’ll have to keep doing what I do!” He said and performed the most dramatic eye roll of his entire career. “You do what you do, lady. I’m not interested in living in poverty if I don’t have to.”

Eugene couldn’t be mad with Rapunzel for very long at a time. “You know I’m not a carpenter or something. I don’t know how to repair things.” Hook Hand likely hadn’t requested his assistance and she had offered to get him instead. They should know that he was not a craftsman! Did they want him to embarrass himself or something?

Koriand’r was unable to hide her relief to the Captain believing her words. Thankfully, that could also simply be assumed her reaction to that bond still staying in existence, and it did not seem to give the Captain any further doubts. It was wonderful to be taken out of his cabin, or more importantly far away from that intimdating man. She smiled widely at Eugene when he thanked her. “But of course! I had to try some thing to protect you!” Just as he had done for her during the talk with the Captain, too - even if it didn’t exactly assure either of them true freedom. Surviving was a good enough option for now.

After Eugene brought the barrel and helped her inside, Koriand’r immediately could feel her body relax due to being in water again. “I am happy that he believed my words. It is good that you are not knowing much about our kind!” Only that really allowed her to bring this forth, and have him buy her story. Her smile turned into a little bit of a frown as she looked around where they were within the ship now, and she realized that there might be a lot more she was going to see, eventually. “I… have often dreamed of seeing the surface world. But I would certainly not have imagined it to happen like this…”

Eugene walked out of the cabin without another word. A few minutes later he returned with an empty barrel which had been surprisingly easy to get now that the whole crew was convinced that Koriand’r meant bad luck if she was treated poorly. He absently tested the water’s temperature and wondered if that mattered to merfolk, before he let her take her bath, or something.