#mcopau

(Sometime after Tommy Joins- no huge spoilers to his story)

Tommy knew the tune.

It was a familiar comfort mixed with sorrow, something people don't understand until its experienced.

He followed the gentle strumming to the deck and then into the kitchen, quietly peaking in through the door and watching as his fellow crew mate gently strummed the strings of his guitar despite the fact his back was turned towards him. He could just tell what he was doing.

It was soothing in its own way, despite giving Tommy and underlying feeling of dreadful regret. It reminded him of his own mistakes but it also reminded him of the safety he found afterwords.

The strumming stopped after a moment and Tommy grew confused until he saw Wilbur's head tilt up.

"Are you going to come in or not?"

Tommy's shoulder jumped and he choked on his breath, coughing awkwardly as he shuffled into the room. "What- no- you got it all wrong! I mean, I'm coming in and I was gonna anyways! I wasn't- I wasn't listening in!"

Wilbur looked over his shoulder with a shadow of a smile on his lips before he tilted his head in a gesture to the seat besides him. "I never said you were. But, while you're here you might as well listen. I prefer an audience anyways," he said.

Tommy felt himself smile at that and he excitedly hurried to the spot, sitting besides Wilbur with his hands in his lap so he wouldn't impulsively try and grab at the instrument.

"Are you a fan of music?" Wilbur asked as he gently strummed at the strings in piano, keeping it quiet so they could talk.

Tommy shrugged. "I s'pose I coulda been," he glanced over and then grinned. "Though- I hardly a voice to sing and no one bothered playing in my village."

Almost as though he knew the response Tommy was searching for, Wilbur commented; "You don't gave to be good to sing. Its a matter of enjoying yourself."

"Right?!" Tommy exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air. "I kept telling people that but no one listened! It was a bummer," he crossed his arms and sighed lightly.

Wilbur pursed his lips and then nodded. "Sounds like a bummer."

"Oh you have no idea!"

-

Tommy had began to rant and Wilbur couldn't help but join in. The two were so similar in their situations yet they hardly had the time to interact until now.

Phil quietly shut the door to the kitchen and smiled at Techno as they both headed towards the railing to look down at rhe water.

"I'm glad they're finally bonding," he said softly, grabbing his hat off his head and holding it in his hands, gently playing with the stitching on it.

Techno stayed silent, though it was clear he agreed by the gentle smile on his face.

"Feels more domestic than the usual crew," Phil pointed out.

Techno shrugged. "Well... It something to make us different," he said. "We're tired and we're a family. What could be better?"

"The marines suddenly deeming us not a threat."

"As if!' Techno laughed, patting Phil on the shoulder.

Though, he really did enjoy the sound of that, especially as he remembered Tommy and Wilbur's prior situations.