Whatever the brown bitter thing was that she chewed on ended up hitting her after she was several drinks in. Ava was in the middle of a large group of dancing women when things started to move at half speed. As she spun around to the music, everything went into slow motion. She stopped spinning and just began to fall into a fit of giggles as everyone around her danced. Everyone's movements were hilarious to her and she needed to get out of the slow-motion dance party if she wanted to catch her breath. Whatever she took made her feel like every step she took was an eternity but she eventually managed to find her way out into the open air.

Once free from the grasps of the dancers, she lazily surveyed the deck to find her next activity. She found Navi near the barrels of ale and she walked over.

"Look who it is, the new quartermaster. Congrats, Red. You're movin' up in the world," Navi said and then filled a mug and handed it to Ava.

Ava didn't answer, instead just took the mug and downed it. Ava gasped and her eyes went wide and she looked up at Navi, "I can't taste anything."

Navi pulled the mug away, "Then that will be enough for you."

"I am high."

"Aye, I can tell. Do you need any help?"

"With?"

Navi laughed, "I don't know but I am here if you need it."

"Navi," Ava took a few steps forward and put her hand over Navi's heart, "I am sorry about you and Xyra."

"So am I, mate. So am I."

Ava didn't leave the barrels, instead, she stayed by Navi's side for a while. She was entertained just observing the pirates around the deck. She had been quiet and observing for a while and she probably looked odd just standing and staring off into the distance. Navi might have been concerned because she called Morgana over.

"'Ello, Red," Morgana smiled once she stood in front of Ava, "someone has been drugged."

"Voluntarily," Ava quipped but slurred the words, unable to properly pronounce it at the moment.

"It's her party and she's just been standing here, can you take her around to have some fun," Navi asked and Ava held out her hands to be dragged wherever, she didn't mind.

"Sure," Morgana laughed at Ava's actions and took her wrist, "I know of a few people that have been wondering where you snuck off to."

Morgana skipped over walking Ava to whoever she was talking about and instead scooped Ava up in a bridal carry and walked her over to a group of women sitting around some boxes on the deck. Ava waved as they got closer and they waved back. She was set down in front of Cooker and Iona and Ava sat in between them.

That is how she spent most of her night, sitting and talking among friends. Among her new family. She was elated and the smile never left her face, partly from the joy of the moment and partly because she was heavily intoxicated. As the night grew later and the ale was running low, people began to make their way to bed. The ones with morning duty leaving first.

Ava had gotten up from the boxes she had been on for hours and made her way over to the edge of the ship when no one had their eye on her. There was only about a quarter of the crew left on deck and the girls she had been sitting with were an hour deep into an argument and Ava couldn't remember what it was about. She took the small bit of freedom to make a dash for the ocean, she wanted to see the waves. It was a lot harder than she was expecting but she managed to hoist herself over the edge, her stomach resting on the wood and her head and arms dangling over the ship.

Ava felt a strong pair of hands grab at her waist, hands she would recognize anywhere.

"The thing is, Red, you have to stay alive if you want to keep the quartermaster position," Theo teased and tried to pull her down from where her feet dangled several feet above the floor.

Ava resisted as much as she could but Theo was stronger and less fucked up and managed to get Ava to place her feet on the ground.

"Theo, let me go!" Ava tried to make it back up to her previous position but it didn't work. Ava twisted her head around to tell Theo off, "I want to look at the water."

"You can look at it from my balcony. It is safer that way. The door is open," Theo offered a solution, not wanting to see someone go overboard that night, "you cannot swim and I am not in the mood to go into the ocean after you."

Ava scoffed and turned around, "I cannot leave my own party."

"Why not?"

"It is rude. Did you never learn party etiquette?"

"Aye, but we did not frequent the same parties so the rules were far different. You are encouraged to leave your own party," Theo chuckled.

Ava considered Theo's words. She was not in Elox anymore, having to drag her feet through lengthy parties. She wanted to watch the ocean and dammit that is what she was going to do.

"I will go to your room but you have to come with me," Ava set the terms of her agreement.

"Party etiquette dictates I must do whatever the honoree asks of me," Theo made up, "I suppose I have no choice but to accompany you."

Ava was too out of it to care that Theo was being painfully obvious that she was only following to keep an eye on Ava. If Ava were Theo, she would do the same. There was no guarantee Ava wouldn't jump off the ship just for fun in her state. As payback for making her leave her post and go somewhere else, Ava ran ahead and made it difficult for Theo to catch up. Or that is what Ava thought. In reality, her run was more of a jog and Theo only needed to pick up her pace a bit in order to keep eyes on Ava. Ava walked into Theo's quarters and expertly jumped across littered items and made it to the balcony door, swinging it open.

Ava gasped as her eyes caught sight of the ocean, like she had never seen it before. She stepped out and the cold wind hit her face. Theo's room had provided a temporary haven from the temperature but not anymore. Her freezing fingers were the price she had to pay for the sight of the ocean. Ava took residence on the floor and put her face between the wooden rails, taking in the sight of the dark water with only a sliver of moonlight visible through the clouds.

There had been a time where she was terrified of the ocean. As a little girl, she had accompanied her father to many different noble estates around Baethos and she dreaded anytime a trip over the ocean was mentioned. Staring into sameness all the time was something of nightmares for young Ava but now she felt safe among the neverending blue. She still missed land after many nights at sea but she had grown fond of the ocean.

She felt Theo sit down beside her and she looked over, "I like the ocean."

"I do too," Theo laughed at the comment.

"What if you could have a house but it was like a boat on the water. That way you could live on the water," Ava said, excitement over her new invention evident in her voice,

"Those exist. Surprisingly enough, it's called a houseboat."

Ava laughed and leaned her head over and placed it on Theo's shoulder. Theo made her movements scarce in order to not bother Ava and they sat in silence, the gentle lapping of the waves was all that could be heard. Ava eventually craned her neck up to look at Theo who had her eyes closed. Ava stared at Theo's plump lips, wanting to just reach out and bring her in for a kiss. She stared for a few minutes before realizing she could. Her and Theo were on a casual kissing level by that point and Ava sat up.

"Are you asleep?" Ava whispered.

Theo cracked one eye open and looked over at Ava, "No, just relaxing."

Ava said nothing else just leaned forward a bit with her eyes closed, letting Theo close the rest of the way if she got the hint. She did. Theo leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Ava's lips and pulled away slowly. Ava opened her eyes and a giddy grin took over her face.

"Your face is cold," Theo mentioned.

"My entire body is too," Ava tacked on.

"Let's go inside then," Theo laughed and stood up but Ava stayed planted.

"I don't want to go to bed yet," Ava said stubbornly.

"We don't have to go to bed, we just have to go inside my cabin where there are blankets and it is warm," Theo tried her luck at convincing Ava.

Ava peeked her head up and raised a wandering eyebrow, "I can use your blankets?"

"Aye."

"Maybe later I will go in," Ava turned back to face the ocean and stared at the barely distinguishable horizon.

"Suit yourself. I'm going inside to get warm," Theo said and stepped back into her quarters.

Ava ignored the shuffling inside and tried to focus on the ocean but it was hard, she had forgotten why exactly she had insisted on staying out there. It was cold and she was pretty sure her fingers were gone; looking down she confirmed they were not. She stared back out at the ocean but it had lost its appeal, the wind was brutal and the temperature continued to drop. It was quite silly of her to insist on staying outside, she was considering her options. Her intoxicated brain took a lot longer than it should have to remember she had free will and could just stand up and go inside.

So she did.

Ava appeared in the doorway and searched for Theo. Nowhere to be seen. Ava closed the balcony and then did a more in-depth look of the room but it was dimly lit and difficult to see into the corners. Ava's searching stopped when she found a lump under the covers of Theo's bed. There were two eyes peeking from under the blankets following Ava's movements. The blankets ruffled up into the air, being pulled aside and suddenly there was a bare spot on Theo's bed for Ava to climb into.

"Come on, I've already started the warming process," Theo said from her place under the covers.

Ava laughed as she kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed. The laugh was dangerously close to a giggle which in turn caused Theo to laugh, the sound filling up the bed chamber as Ava tugged some of the blankets over her and settled into the bed. Theo wasn't kidding when she said she had begun to warm up the bed. It was cozy and Ava felt herself begin to thaw out. She hadn't realized how cold she had been all night until she got into bed.

"I have all my clothes on," Ava realized.

"You are very entertaining when you are high," Theo laughed.

"I have not done anything," Ava said and got out of bed and began to undress.

She peeled off the large coat and let it fall to the ground and Theo gasped before sitting up quickly.

"Ava please, hang that up," Theo exclaimed as if Ava had thrown a baby into the ocean.

Actually, Theo would have been less panicked at the baby thrown overboard than at the tossed coat. Ava laughed at the outburst and picked it back up, holding it in front of her.

"I have nothing to hang it with so it will be dropped back on the floor in five...four..."

Theo ripped the sheets off and ran to her wardrobe trying to find a hanger. Once she found one without a coat on it, she plucked it from its rack and ran back over. Ava hadn't dropped it when she got to one and she had no intention of doing so but watching Theo scramble was funny. Theo walked over with the hanger and snatched the coat from Ava's hand with a huff. Once Ava had rid herself of the coat, she climbed back into bed.

"This is a beautiful piece. It is an art that comes to life through fabrics and you must treat it as such," Theo scolded, a pretentious tone and air came out around her, much like her tutors used to have.

Ava found her indignance endearing. She wanted to squish Theo's cheeks and kiss her and lay next to her for hours just admiring the marks on her skin. Ava was stupidly grinning as Theo tried to find the proper place to hang the coat. The drugs were wearing off but not quickly enough, it took her a while to think through anything so when Theo came back and began to crawl into bed is when she remembered she wanted to take her accessories off.

"Theo," Ava pouted and held her hands out, "can you put my rings away?"

Theo didn't seem annoyed but she huffed out a playful sigh and got out of bed, walking over to Ava's side, "Hands please."

Ava willingly offered her hands and Theo began to slip the rings off, holding them in one of her palms. She set them on a small table next to the bed and then motioned for Ava to turn around in bed. Ava did as she was told and put her back to Theo and she began to feel hands at her neck, undoing the clasps to her necklaces and removing it from her neck. Ava heard a soft thud as the necklaces made contact with the wooden side table and Ava turned around to face Theo. Theo's touches had sent shivers down her spine and turning around to see Theo's charming face smiling at her made her want to kiss Theo.

"Gonna get your earrings," Theo said as she bent down and began to try and gently take off Ava's piercings.

Ava reached up and put a hand on Theo's arm and pulled it away from her ears. She reached up and tugged Theo down by the back of her neck and kissed her. Theo was tense at first then relaxed into it. Ava started to lower herself onto the bed without breaking her lips away from Theo's and Theo followed her down. Ava's hands did not hesitate before finding their way to the edge of Theo's shirt. She began to pull up and Theo broke the kiss and allowed her shirt to be removed.

Theo went back in for another kiss but Ava had another idea, she began to tug at the undershirt that Theo had on but Theo's hand shot down to stop Ava.

"Woah, hey," Theo chuckled nervously, "Let's keep our shirts on for tonight."

Ava pouted and laid back on the bed, her own shirt riding up as she was splayed out, "I want to see you without a shirt."

"Aye, I know but not tonight," Theo stated.

"But why? We are supposed to be celebrating," Ava said then provided the best smile she could to somehow convince Theo to join in on the celebrations, "thought we were okay with going forward with..."

Ava tried to find the words to say what she was trying to get across but she was drawing a blank.

"With having sex?" Theo helpfully provided.

"With having sex!"

"Aye, but not tonight," Theo repeated.

"But why?" Ava asked with a pout. She felt herself being pulled back up and Theo went back to taking off her earrings.

"Because you are very very drunk and high right now and you are not in the right state to make decisions," Theo explained calmly as she took the first earring off.

"I have been making decisions all night," Ava defended, "I can make so many choices."

"I know you can," Theo relented and moved onto the next ear, "but this is more than just a question of where you want to sit or if you want another drink. With sex, both people have to present, and right now I am just a little more present than you."

"And you don't like that?" Ava asked.

"I don't like the power imbalance that comes with it. I know I won't do anything to hurt you but I rather be on the same wave when we sleep together for the first time. You are special to me, you are my friend and I don't want you regretting or not remembering," Theo said and then put the earrings with the other jewelry.

"Makes sense," Ava said, even though it didn't. Sober Ava would have probably understood but this Ava was far too gone to listen to logic, "thank you for taking my things off."

"You are very welcome," Theo said and moved away from the side of the bed, "anything else before I get back in?"

Ava shook her head and Theo took the opportunity to get into bed. Ava instinctively scooted closer to Theo who somehow radiated heat as if her body had adapted to the cold weather. Theo must have noticed how cold Ava was and how unable to conserve body heat the poor redhead was because she brought Ava closer. Theo put one arm under Ava's head so that Ava was resting her head on Theo's chest and Theo rubbed Ava's back.

Ava closed her eyes and relished in the warmth and proximity. She felt safe and relaxed in Theo's presence and her body relaxed for the first time that sun. She felt herself falling asleep and knew she had to get going. She gave herself a little bit longer next to Theo and after a few minutes of silence, once Ava was warm enough, her hand peeked out from the covers and tilted Theo's head towards her. Ava placed a gentle peck on Theo's lips.

"Thank you," Ava said, not referencing anything in particular, "goodnight."

Ava began to slip out from under the covers but Theo reached out to stop her, "Where are you going?"

"To my hammock," Ava answered.

"Stay the night," Theo said and Ava looked over to find Theo staring with a hopeful grin.

"Okay," Ava said and suppressed her own grin until she turned back around and Theo could longer see.

She tried not to think about the butterflies in her stomach or the excitement in her chest as she laid back down, still close to Theo but no longer touching. She laid on her side, back facing away from Theo as she bit down on her lip to try and kill the smile that just kept going. Whatever sleepiness she had was now gone as she was hyper-aware of the warm body only a few feet from her. Theo had asked her to stay. Thinking about it brought another round of butterflies to her stomach.

Ava buried her face in the pillow and tried to get rest. Eventually, sleep found her. Her dreams were vivid and wild, probably thanks to her brain going haywire from whatever Theo gave her. There was one where she was on a ship, the crew around her was unrecognizable and the mast bore white sails, not black. She looked over the side of the ship to see ten other ships around her. The one leading the fleet was the Scorned Woman, black sails at full mast. There was someone who came up to her but in her dream state she couldn't make out what the person was saying. Then more people started to crowd around and shout at her, questions and concerns, all unintelligible. She was in charge of running the ship.

She woke up and looked around the dark room, looking to her side she found a sleeping Theo. It was still dark outside. Ava laid back down and let sleep overtake her just to be thrown into another dream. She was in the great hall in the castle at Aubermasse, her family's estate. A small balcony overlooked the entire room. Except she wasn't on the balcony and behind the parapet her family usually sat at for reunions. She was on the ground, a crowd of people on either side of her. She looked up to the parapet and saw her father, the same menacing grin he usually adorned for occasions like this. Ava knew what was happening, she had seen it many times before.

"How do you plead?" Lord Vaith asked, voice booming throughout the room.

"What crimes am I being accused of?" Ava called out, voice small and weak compared to the echoing thunder of her father's.

"Treason and piracy," he spoke again.

Ava knew, either way, she would be executed. This was a trial and no one had ever gone through a Great Hall Trial and been spared. Anyone that committed a crime within the boundaries of Vaith's noble jurisdiction was tried under the courts at Aubermasse. However, Vaith reserved those that had committed the most egregious crimes to be tried at the estate, in front of townspeople and the Vaith family. She had stopped attending these trials, refusing to spend her time watching people be killed. The trials were never fair and she now knew her father was just trying to put on a show. Ava took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, taking in her fate.

"I plead guilty to the charges brought against me of piracy and treason," Ava answered and the crowd around her gasped. She saw up on the balcony as her mother fainted.

Ava stood from where she had been on her knees, hands tied behind her back and she looked around at the horrified faces, "I killed an Eloxian soldier and I would do it again."

Yelling and clamor arose from around her as people began to throw things at her, screaming out things to try and hurt her.

Recluse. Shame to the Vaith name. Renouncer. Murderer.

A maniacal smile came across her face and she began to laugh. Her father raised a hand and pointed at her.

"Seize her!" her father's voice boomed once again.

She felt two large men grab her and a hood was put over her face. She was roughly shoved to her knees and she felt a cold metal ax against her neck. Just as the ax left her skin to come back down on it, she woke up. She felt herself get jostled a bit and she opened her eyes to Theo staring at her. There was only a tiny bit of light pouring in from under the door, the sun was just beginning to rise. She wasn't aware she had to be up that early, she began to rub her eyes and sat up.

"You okay?" Theo asked confusion mixed with concern was apparent on her face.

"Aye, why do you ask?" Ava said sleepily, "am I needed for something?"

"What? No, I'm sorry for waking you, you were just tossing and muttering and thought something might be happening," Theo admitted.

"Oh," Ava said with a yawn and then laid back down, "just some weird dreams."

Theo also laid back down but turned on her side to face Ava, "What about?"

"You had a fleet," Ava turned on her side, her heartbeat still pounding from the dream.

"Tell me more," Theo wiggled her eyebrows.

"Not much to tell," Ava said, the memory of the dream slipping from her thoughts as she stared into deep brown eyes.

"Was I dressed in the finest silks? How old were we? Did I still have both eyes?"

Ava laughed, "I wouldn't know, I was running a different ship than you were on."

"Ah," Theo smiled and reached out to pull Ava in closer, "seems like a logical trajectory for your pirating career."

"Sure, if I knew how to run a boat," Ava allowed herself to be pulled flush with Theo's body.

Theo chuckled at that but didn't deny that Ava was correct, "I'm sorry I woke you. I'll let you get back to bed."

Ava had no intention of going back to bed, wanting to avoid more dreams. She just stared at Theo whose gaze on her was unwavering. Memories of the night before flooded in and she remembered the events of the celebration. While some parts were a bit hazy and muddled together, her time with Theo wasn't. Sober Ava would have never allowed herself to act like such a fool in front of Theo. She was trying to court Theo not drive her away, damn her drug-addled mind.

With the memories from the night before came the realization that Ava had tried to have sex with Theo and Theo stopped that from happening. Intoxicated Ava had been correct in assuming that Sober Ava would have understood Theo's intentions. She was in no shape to be having sex or doing anything of the sort with anyone the night before. Theo had looked out for her, helped her with her jewels, let her stay in bed, and on top of that stopped Ava from making a choice that wasn't reversible. Ava would have kicked herself forever if the first and maybe the only time they ever slept together it was under the circumstances of the night before.

"Thank you," Ava said.

Theo tilted her head the best she could against the pillow, "You keep saying thank you but I am not sure what for."

"For taking care of me at the end of the night. For not taking advantage of me," Ava said and watched as Theo kind of shrunk in on herself sheepishly. For the Captain of the ship, she didn't like to be recognized for the things she did.

"You don't have to thank me for being a decent person," Theo shrugged.

"But I want to. Thank you," Ava said then leaned forward and kissed Theo.

It shut Theo up, her plan had worked. She wanted Theo to just accept the gratitude instead of deflecting it. Theo brought an arm to wrap around Ava and pulled her closer at the same time as Ava was scooting Theo's way. The effect was that Ava was somewhat pulled further than she intended and ending up half laying on Theo. It had broken the kiss and they took a moment to chuckle at the clumsiness until Ava locked in on Theo's lips again. It never got old, kissing Theo. There were sparks that went up and down her body when they were close and it was something she could get used to.

The kiss got deeper, more passionate, and admittedly sloppier and within minutes Ava was completely on top of Theo, legs straddling her on either side. Theo's hands no longer stayed within their known boundaries, Ava's neck and Ava's hips, and they began to wander up her sides and down her thighs. Ava wasn't terribly experienced but she knew this was evolving into more than just a kiss. It was reminiscent of two nights before where they had spent the night lazily kissing and touching.

Ava was sober now and they were at sea, there would be nothing pressing that early in the morning, she was considering proposing sex when she felt hands grab the bottom of her shirt. Theo pulled away from their kiss and licked her lips trying to gather the courage to ask something. It seemed like they were on a similar wavelength.

"Can I?" Theo asked and looked down at where her hands had bunched up the fabric of Ava's shirt.

Ava broke out into a smile, unable to keep that or her pink cheeks at bay, "Are we doing this?"

Theo laughed a bit shakily, she was nervous and Ava couldn't help but feel endeared by it. The great and legendary Captain Theo was practically blushing at the thought of sex with her. Ego boost did not begin to describe it.

"Aye, I think we are," Theo finally answered.

"Then, please, by all means," Ava smirked, "take it off."