wave after wave

@summertidesun | @childlikemermaid

Word Count: 5,917

Well…at least Matai could say he had worse experiences.

He panted, leaning up against a tree in the forest, a long streak of red bleeding into his clothes. He had gotten swiped by a particular monster in the forest, after being not quite as careful as he could have been, and unfortunately, it appears that this body was not handling it quite well. Matai didn’t hurt at all. If he had to, he could push this body along like the puppet it was. But unfortunately, this body was not as young as it once was. After pushing it to the limits over the past ten years, it was bound to run into issues.

He took in several more breaths. Perhaps he could move along. At least attempt to find a healer. Maybe even use the opportunity to scope out potential…candidates for his crew. Unwilling or not.

However, as he began to walk, his legs appeared to give out. He caught himself on a tree, blood dripping down the trunk.

Well this wasn’t the ideal situation to find himself in. But like he said…he’s had worse.

Working all day made Kai a dull boy. He stretched as he walked, arms reaching to the sky, and bent his torso with the movement. Maybe he’d swing by somewhere fun or go see what some of his friends were up to. Or—

@summertidesun;

[ ♥ ] — Felicity sighs contently to herself as she sits on the sun deck of the Frying Pan, enjoy the crisp ocean breeze through her hair as she finishes up what was probably her fifth ordered meal within the last hour alone. 

The waitress had been dining on the ship for the last couple of hours, not in her capacity as a food critic, but rather as an act of leisure. She hadn’t gotten the chance to visit the ship restaurant yet, and since she had some time off of work today, Felicity decided to use this rare free time to come and finally check it out for herself.

And what a wonderful decision it had been. The food here was delicious— so much so that she just couldn’t get enough of it! She wanted to order even more, perhaps maybe move on to the dessert course, but even Felicity knew she needed to exercise restraint. Everything was better in moderation, and she needn’t exceed her limits.

By the time Felicity’s finishing up her current meal, the sun was already starting to set, covering the ocean and boat in a warm, gentle glow. She smiles at the sight, and then pulls up the Frying Pan’s information on her phone. If she was reading the operating hours right, then the employees should be having an hour break around this time. 

Maybe she could stick around, and wait for the evening hours to begin?

Whoever this woman was, she could really pack it in! Kai appreciated people like that. Every time he passed her table, he looked just to see her varying expression as she ate. If he wasn’t working, he’d be more than tempted to sit down with her, but duty called all across the deck. 

Time passed and 4PM began to near. The Frying Pan, docked at Leuda, was seeing the last of its passengers off so the employees could have their break then come back to start prep for the evening. 

[🐎] — Just the mere thought of going there, with the girls in those embarrassing maid dresses, acting all cutesy and subservient and calling her Madam or Mistress or whatever… it made her blush, and Georgia quickly shakes her head to his question. “N-no! No way, I just… well, I had a friend who used to work there, and I would check in on her, but I don’t visit it aside from that. No.”

Upon hearing that this Leudan cafe would be a normal one, however, she lets out a small sigh of relief. She really wasn’t in the mood to explode from embarrassment today. 

“Oh, good. And books, you say? Even better.” She might not have looked the type, but Georgia was rather fond of reading. She wondered if this place would have any good romance novels… the possibility of finding some new reading material excited her. “Alright, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

Kai started to lead the way toward the Leuda cafe. By his reasoning, they could walk there, get some fresh air, something light to settle her stomach, and be back in time for the return trip. 

“Good.”

Iluka took her place at the table and set the last of the drinks and food on the table. After working in her café for many years, she learned that presentation for a business such as hers was important and it bled into different aspects of her life - like dinner at home. There was another reason behind having everything perfect, but that was a story that only her sister knew and possibly for another time should someone else get her to open up.

“It was great! Successful and filled with happy faces. I might have broken a record for how long the line outside of Carosello was.”

She may have sounded like she was bragging, which she was, but she also wanted someone to be proud of her accomplishments. 

“Hey, nice! You’re really rockin’ it!” Kai wasn’t one to hold back praise for accomplishments and he knew how much Carosello meant to Iluka. “It’s kind of like a little slice of home here.”

[🐎] — An hour and a half. An hour and a half until she’d be getting on those damned waters again. An hour and a half of being stuck here, on Leuda. Practically on her lonesome, since Kai wasn’t someone she knew all too well. Sure, he seemed like a nice fella, but for all she knew he could still end up ditching her for some reason or another.

Her heart was telling her that wasn’t at all possible, considering how kind he’s been to even stay with her like this, but her mind kept suggesting the worst possible scenarios. Ugh. She hated it when she felt all conflicted like this!

“…Yeah, I think so.” She would just have to stay on guard, and keep in mind the possibility that he might not be what he seems. At his suggestion though, she can feel herself perking up a bit. Cafes… with chocolate and sweets and coffee? That sounded nice. Oh, but— “It doesn’t have maids running around, does it?”

There is clear distaste on her face as she asks this, the rancher still a little bit bitter that Arcadia’s main – and only – cafe was so embarrassingly… maid-themed.

Reblog this post if you participated in the Harvest Festival chat! This counts for one point of activity. Thanks for taking part, loves!

The last thing Rick had been expecting Kai to look like while he was cleaning was a complete and total beach bum, but he did indeed, and Rick flicked his gaze over him. It was just like Kai to be so effortless and graceful, even just standing unmoving in front of him, like he was better than Rick…

Something clicked lightly in the back of his mind as he stared for a moment at the shape of Kai’s arms as he waited for Rick to speak. How utterly threatened he felt by Kai. How Rick’s cheeks flushed the longer he looked. No, no, absolutely not, this is not a thing, do not. He forced himself to meet Kai’s eyes, aware he already looked like a fool, and forced himself to speak.

“You’re a good guy.” A fantastic start. He looked away with a wince, feeling like he sounded like an idiot. “You…you were…a better brother to Popuri than I ever was, and…I felt threatened by that a lot. Even when I knew you and her weren’t…” He tapped two fingers together, not wanting to put it into words. “…it…it scared me. Because I wasn’t enough to keep my dad around around. And my mom was teetering at the edge of life every second and could be gone in a moment. And me thinking Popuri might want to go and leave with you, and how it would leave me alone with no one who gave a damn about me-”

His voice cracked. Shit. That was the last thing he wanted. “Ignore this, ignore…” He took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes, trying to keep the unexpected tears at bay. Why was he always like this now? Either numb or crying? “I-I’m sorry. I fucked up. It was me, not you, it was all fucking me, and…and you’re the best damn thing that ever happened to Popuri-” That was way harder to admit, but it was true. “-and I know I can’t ask you to forgive me, but I just wanted to say…that I know how I acted was wrong, and I’m not gonna do it again. Ever.”

For everything that Kai might have been prepared for, it was not this. It was Rick yelling at him. It was Rick chasing him off and making him feel unwanted. It was not Rick apologizing in a sincere manner or explaining himself. 

While usually Kai knew what to say to someone in distress, he felt so far removed from Rick, and still somewhat wary of him, that he didn’t know what to say. The apology was nice, much more sincere than before, and he wanted to accept it, but even accepting it wouldn’t erase all that happened.

But, maybe this could be a start of something better? 

“Rick, I...” Goddess, this was a lot harder than he thought it was going to be. And Rick was crying. Kai didn’t think he would accept a hug and didn’t even know if he wanted to offer one. “Hey, man, it’s not you.” He wavered in front of him uncertainly. “And Popuri would never replace you. She loves you.” 

[🐎] — Once they were off the boat and back on dry land, Georgia lets out a sigh of relief. Sure, her feet were still a bit unsteady from having been on the boat for so long, but she manages. As soon as they reach the bench, she plops down onto it, deflated of energy.

“Yeah, a little. Thanks…” She takes a breath, but immediately twists her face in disgust when she notes how… stale it was, compared to Arcadia. And all the noise, too. Was this how all cities were like?

Pushing her disdain for Leuda aside, Georgia glances up at Kai as she remembers she had bigger things to worry about. Namely— “So how long is it until I have to face my doom again?”

Kai took her disgruntled look for her stomach still causing her issues. A man of many travels didn’t mind whether he was in the city or the country.

“It takes the boat about an hour and a half to go to Arcadia and come back. Think that will be enough time for your stomach to settle?”

Sonja blinked. It took a second, but her eyes went wide and her smile grew bigger as she fully processed what he said. 

“Whaaat?” Clasping her hands together, she eagerly nodded. “I would love to, Kai! I cook a lot normally and I did work at a small restaurant before I came to Arcadia, so…” Scratching her head sheepishly, she laughed. “Man, its almost like you read my mind or something. I was just thinking about how much I wanted to cook today…”

"I could feel the chef vibes coming off of you,” he joked. 

Marlin relaxed significantly at the man’s words. He nodded, rubbing his face, then paced away a few steps before he came back. “They said they won’t let me in. Full to capacity right now, family only, that I can come back in an hour, but…” He looked over the man’s shoulder, trying to see Popuri in the darkened tent, and his face fell. No doubt they’d only let the man have time with her because he was the one to bring her in.

But God, Marlin was envious.

He met the man’s eyes at his question, then nodded. “And you must be Kai.” She’d mentioned his name after the Founding Celebration.

Kai nodded. “Yea.”

So, this was him. Kai hadn’t seen him for himself but... huh, somehow, Marlin didn’t look like he expected. He was... well, he was different, but the worry for Popuri was obvious. And really, that was all Kai needed to know: That he cared for her.