Ava was walking back to the ship alone, the group she had gone to The Pinnacle with had left. She didn't blame them, Ava had been preoccupied for a very long time. There was a grin that wouldn't go away plastered to her face and anyone that saw her probably thought she was high out of her mind. Her night had been more than she could have ever imagined. She understood now, she got the big deal around sex. She got the reason songs were written about it. Ava could finally see why most people were obsessed with it. She had never felt the way she had felt during her time with the girls, no drugs she had taken or adventure she had been on had given her the same feeling. It wasn't necessarily that sex was better, it was just different.

There were three things she learned from her experience with her three new friends. First, holy fuck was sex the greatest. Two, holy fuck was sex with women was the greatest, and finally, branching out of her comfort zone was the greatest decision she ever made. Specs and Angeli were not lying when they said that the more people involved the better it was. They all had a great time and Ava felt not an ounce of pressure the whole time. They answered her questions, more so with actions rather than words, not that Ava was complaining. She hadn't kept track of how long she had stayed in their room but it was more than a few hours. It had been easy and effortless with the girls, their natural banter keeping the mood light throughout Ava's time with them.

The only thing that Ava was missing was a kiss. She hadn't kissed any of the three women, she wasn't sure why. Was it too intimate? Was she afraid? Was she saving that for someone specific? The irony was not lost on Ava, she would not kiss a girl but she would have sex with three of them at the same time, a fact she had not wrapped her head fully around. Most people probably went their whole life not having sex with more than one person and Ava just did it with three on her first night. Ava had been informed that she was not half bad at it either which had boosted her confidence astronomically. She was sure that she would not have been nearly as skilled had it not been for the careful instruction she was given.

She had been so exhausted after that she took a small nap, waking up naked and squished in between two other girls. Kit had been the only one left awake and she helped Ava get dressed and go. If Ava hadn't been so worn out she would have been brave enough to ask Kit for a small one on one round. At least, that is what she liked to think would have happened. She was letting her imagination wander when she spotted a crowd up ahead.

As she approached the crowd, it started to dissipate. Whatever the fuss was about, Ava only saw the aftermath. There was a middle-aged man's body lying in the middle of the street, his throat had been punctured. She looked around to try and figure out what happened but collected no clues, the man's broken crossbow not doing much to shed light on what occurred. Ava continued to walk, looking back at the body until she could no longer see it. What had happened to that poor man? As she walked up the plank and onto the ship she heard a commotion coming from Tuni's infirmary. It sounded like yelling was coming from inside and Ava sprung into action. She didn't know why given she was largely untrained and barely knew how to use her dagger.

She marched up to the door and opened it, the dagger wielded in her right hand. What she found wasn't danger though, it was Theo being restrained on a medical bed. She was shirtless and face down, screaming out muffled obscenities, Cooker was holding her legs down and Morgana was keeping her right shoulder put by just applying a little bit of weight. Tuni was bending down and examining Theo's left shoulder and Ava's eyes were drawn to the arrow sticking out from it. The dead man with the crossbow in the street had been fighting with Theo. Although there was an arrow protruding from her body, Theo seemed to be the winner in that fight.

"Ava!" Tuni exclaimed when her attention was drawn Ava's way, "Please come help. I need all the hands I can get. Fetch me some pondeas."

Ava stared at Tuni blankly, not understanding what it was Tuni needed. Morgana, who was watching the exchange beckoned Ava over and Ava knew how to follow that command.

"Hold her down. If she curses at you, don't take it personally," Morgana patted Ava on the shoulder and headed to get what Tuni needed. Morgana looked a lot better than she had before, being mobile without any complaints of pain was a big step.

Ava held Theo down as best she could but Theo thrashing about made it difficult. It was then that Ava noticed Theo's tattoos. They were hard to miss but the shock of the situation hadn't allowed her to focus on anything but helping. Theo's entire back was covered in different symbols, drawings, and designs. The tattoos ran from the base of her spine up past her shoulders and into the backs of her arms. Ava had only ever seen Theo's arms, fully tattooed as well. Ava would have been able to stare at the designs for hours but a jolt under her drew her out of her reverie.

"Just fucking rip it out Tuni! Get it the fuck out of me!" Theo yelled and Tuni moved the shaft just a little and Theo wailed.

"That was my finger moving it a touch, imagine it being ripped out. Now shut up and let me examine it or we'll be here all night," Tuni scolded and went back to observing.

Theo had finally managed to stop trying to resist the restraint but Cooker didn't remove her hands from Theo so Ava didn't either. Tuni was silent for a few minutes and then listed off a bunch of items for Morgan to fetch her.

"The materials you need to rip out an arrow are your hands," Theo stated, "What do you need all that for?"

"I can't rip it out, Theo. It has barbs and they made it into your shoulder, he probably shot you from close range. If I rip it out there is no telling the permanent damage it will do to your shoulder. Your fighting shoulder. I need to cut into you," Tuni explained.

Theo made a noise that Ava couldn't quite pinpoint but it seemed like a mix of fear and despair.

"Lift your head and I will give you some pondeas to drink," Tuni instructed, holding a cup to Theo's lips and Theo stubbornly shifted her head away from it.

"Theo, you need to take a sedative for this. Tuni's going to be cutting into you with a knife and then digging around in there before removing the arrowhead," Cooker said sternly but even that couldn't convince Theo.

"I'm not taking a sedative. I want to be awake for this," Theo gave her reason.

"Always trying to prove something, huh?" Morgana said, "Ava, you're going to have to hold on tight."

Ava did as she was told and prepared to keep Theo as still as possible, Cooker did the same and when Tuni was ready, she began. Theo was trying to keep the screams in, Ava could tell. Her muscles were taut and clenched under Ava's hands but Theo couldn't keep them all in. Occasionally a loud yell or a jolt from Theo escaped. Ava had to look away but she assumed Tuni got to a nasty part when the strain under her hands went away. Theo was limp on the table and Ava's heart dropped.

"Is she dead?!" Ava asked, panicked.

"She passed out from the pain," Cooker said, keeping her grip on Theo tight, "Don't let go, she might wake up."

Theo didn't. She was out cold for the rest of the procedure. Once Tuni was done she thanked everyone and then shooed them away. Cooker walked out and put an arm around Ava.

"You did good back there," Cooker complimented with a smile.

"You killed someone," Ava got straight to the point.

"Word sure does travel fast in Niveal, shit," Cooker chuckled.

"I saw the body with a crossbow. Saw Theo with an arrow. The dots just connected themselves," Ava refuted, she had figured it out by herself and she would get the credit for it.

"Aye," Cooker shrugged and took her arm off of Ava, "Theo killed him. Fun fact, Theo is also now the owner of a brand new all-woman operated theatre and tavern. A thravern if you will. Just a typical day in Niveal"

"I step away for one day and I miss everything," Ava complained, "Does the sudden acquisition of assets have anything to do with the dead body?"

"If you keep using big words like that I'm going to fall in love with you," Cooker joked, "and yes. Very observant, as always. One owner dies, another takes his place. Although it didn't quite happen in that order. Long story and I am too tired to tell it. Ask Theo and maybe she'll tell you. What did you do?"

"Got books, went to the market, had sex with three people. Y'know, a typical day in Niveal," Ava said as nonchalantly as Cooker had.

Cooker laughed and slapped Ava on the back, "You are a funny one. Anyway, I promised a large group of women that I would be protecting them for the night so I will be off to do my protecting."

Ava laughed along and decided not to tell Cooker she wasn't joking. She waved goodbye to the short-haired girl and walked back to her hammock, deciding to sleep in the lower decks after a few nights of being away. Ava had no idea what the last sun in Niveal had in store for her but she would be surprised if it topped that sun.

----------

Theo was forced to spend her night in Tuni's infirmary, lying face down and struggling to sleep. Tuni kept checking on Theo every few hours, that made two of them that had gotten little sleep. Her wound would be checked and redressed and Tuni would make sure Theo was okay. It hurt, the throb of the pain never going away. Theo caved in the third hour of the morning and allowed Tuni to give her a painkiller that let Theo peacefully sleep. She was awoken only four hours later when Xyra rushed into the infirmary.

"Theo?!" Xyra barged into the room looking around looking for her friend. Once she spotted Theo on her stomach she rushed forward and examined the captain. She traced her hand around Theo's bandage. concern was set in her features.

Theo shifted at the intrusion and fully woke up at the touch near her wound. It was tender and she drew in a sharp breath.

"No one told me," Xyra said, exasperated, "Why didn't anyone tell me? I should have been there, Theo."

"Morning to you too," Theo turned her head to the side and looked up at Xyra. Theo flashed her a reassuring smile trying to calm her friend down, "I'm fine, Xy. All in one piece. You were sick as a dog, we didn't want to worry you. Navi came last night and I told her to keep it from you until you had rested."

Theo began to slowly sit up, avoiding the use of her bad shoulder.

"Are you sure you should be doing that?" Xyra asked, looking over at Tuni's closed bedroom door as if she could magically appear and give the seal of approval.

"I've been on my stomach for half a sun. My ribs are killing me," Theo said and used her good arm to cover herself, "Hand me a blanket would you?"

Xyra grabbed a blanket and draped it over Theo's naked torso, "Navi says you killed Wolf."

"Aye but not before the fucker shot me with a crossbow,"

"Never pegged him as a physical threat," Xyra commented, disappointed she hadn't advised Theo to be more careful or something. She took a sun to herself and ended up putting her captain in danger. "I didn't even know he could wield a weapon."

"He can't," Theo said with a short laugh, "which is why I'm not dead."

"Theo this isn't funny. You need to be careful," Xyra reminded her as if Theo didn't hear that every day.

"I know but before you rip into me for that I have some news," Theo said and watched Xyra switch tracks from scolding mode to intrigue mode.

"Bigger than 'I got shot with an arrow?'" Xyra asked and Theo nodded her head.

"I am a Nivealan business owner," Theo revealed and Xyra's mouth dropped.

"Shut the fuck up. Stop trying to get out of trouble," Xyra said after closing her mouth. She rolled her eyes and refrained from shoving her captain. Theo usually played silly games with Xyra so the likelihood that Xyra believed her was slim.

"I'm not lying," Theo laughed a little, "you are looking at the proud owner of a nameless establishment. Cooker has been calling it a thravern."

"Excuse me? A what?"

"Thravern. Theatre in a tavern," Theo elaborated. As much as she wanted to fight Cooker on the nickname for the place, she knew it was useless to resist. The name would probably stick if she knew her crew.

"And please tell where you got a thravern from?" Xyra asked but realization dawned as the words left her mouth.

"Wolf," they said at the same time.

"You killed him to get the tavern?" Xyra assumed the worst but Theo didn't take it personally, Xyra was a pessimist.

"Aye," Theo admitted solemnly, wanting to pull Xyra's leg, "I did. My greed, it was just too much. I've always dreamed of an empire of shops and it starts here, Xyra. You must understand what I did was for the best."

"Theo."

"He was giving the girls ugali, Xy. I took the shop from him, legally and with a lawyer. He lost it and shot at me when we were leaving," Theo explained and Xyra's concern came back.

"Theo. You could've been killed," Xyra pointed out quite obviously.

"Aye, as I can in any other part of the job. People die every day. Since when are you afraid of dying?" Theo asked.

"I'm not afraid of dying. I am afraid of you dying. You need to shake this attitude of being ready to die at any minute. There is a difference between not being afraid to die and being reckless. You and Cooker should have been more alert given that you had just robbed a man of his whole life's work," Xyra lectured and Theo wanted to be angry but she couldn't. Her first mate was right, they should've been more careful. Her and Cooker were joking around when they left, they should've had their weapons drawn.

"You're right," Theo conceded.

Xyra had been expecting more back and forth before Theo saw Xyra's side so she was at a loss when Theo gave in so easily. She fish-mouthed for a few seconds, fast-forwarding through her argument until she got to her closing remarks, "And we need to train with your other arm. We need to be prepared in case we get raided or attacked while your fighting arm heals."

Theo got off the bed she was on, blanket secured around her, "What are we waiting for?"

"Now?!"

"Aye, you have a point. If someone raids us, they won't give a shit if I'm injured, I need to learn how to work with it. Plus, we've got the meeting at two in the aftermorning and we set sail right after and I need you to do some things for me between now and then. I'd rather get a training session in before we set sail. There's never a good time to start, might as well do it now," Theo reasoned.

"I disagree," Xyra said, "a good time to start would be a few suns after you've been shot with an arrow."

"We're going to train, Captain's orders. Now quick, come help me get dressed before Tuni realizes what's up. I'll catch you up on everything you missed. "

Xyra found a plain white shirt in a cabinet. Tuni kept extra clothes in there since everyone that came by her infirmary seemed to require them. She helped Theo as best as she could to put on the shirt pain-free and Theo did the best she could to catch Xyra up. Once Theo had clothes on, they walked to her quarters. Theo told her about their job, transporting ugali. Xyra was less than thrilled about it but she had the same outlook on it as Cooker, it was a job and someone was going to do it. Theo went over the details of the discovery of what Wolf was doing, the contract, the women, what they had agreed upon as a group.

"So who's going to get ownership of it?" Xyra asked.

"Have you not been paying attention?" Theo asked as she rummaged through her chest of swords and weapons to find one she wanted. It proved to be difficult one-handed but she didn't want help.

"Aye," Xyra said, "you had a meeting with the girls about decisions for the thravern. They are taking over and they are going to get the girls sober before they share management. That's not what I'm asking. Who are you giving the deed to?"

"The deed is mine," Theo explained.

"Theo, obviously it's yours. Who are you going to sign it over to?" Xyra repeated, getting frustrated with Theo's lack of understanding.

"Xyrabellis. I am the owner. I am keeping it," Theo stopped looking for a sword and looked at Xyra.

Xyra was once again at a loss for words. She just stared at Theo with a blank expression, blinking slowly. There was a mental wall Xyra couldn't seem to get around, "You weren't messing with me before?"

"No. I have been saying this whole time I own it. I told the girls to give me ten percent of the profit and they can keep the rest," Theo reiterated and Xyra snapped out of the daze she was in.

"Theo, we have gotten into screaming matches over this. You said you would never be in business with any land dwellers. You called them all weak and untrustworthy. What's changed? Did you get poisoned?" Xyra asked and jokingly put a hand over Theo's forehead.

"Cooker made me see it was time to take a risk with it. Give land-dwellers a try" Theo pushed Xyra's hand away and retrieved the weapon she wanted, "We've got big plans, Xy. Now let's get to training."