Ava's suns passed in a haze. Small bites of meals she couldn't finish. Periodic walks for fresh air. Her head in a bucket. Theo checking on her. Tuni checking on her. She awoke on the fifth sun of travel feeling better and far more used to the rocking of the ship. She held breakfast and lunch down but it wasn't until right before sunset when Tuni finally gave her the okay to leave. She didn't think she would ever have her freedom back but the moment had come. She was a free woman, free from the shackles of her damned stomach.

She walked outside and stood in the setting sun for just a minute, taking in its light. She had no idea where to go, she didn't want to go to her room and she didn't want to be below the deck either. She supposed she could just sit around the deck for a while. Ava moseyed around the deck, keeping a lookout for a place that no one seemed to need or notice. By the captain's quarters, she found a wooden box that seemed out of the way of the working pirates. She brought her legs up on the box with her and smiled at the feeling. Once again, her pants stole the show and allowed her to cross her legs without hassle.

For the first time, she wasn't bothered by the waves. The soft rocking of the boat was something she had come to expect and rock with. There was a shorter girl in the crow's nest, eyes fixed on the horizon and Ava craned her neck up and watched her for a while. She was unmoving and her arm never seemed to let the spyglass in her hands drop an inch. The girl looked to be about eight and Ava was surprised to have missed her before. Her attention was pulled away when someone passed nearby. She watched them go by and pull some rope she assumed was important. It all looked effortless, how did one even learn to sail? The winds were not predictable and neither were the seas, how did they know when to do what?

She saw someone approach the captain's quarters and knocked. Ava had seen the woman around the ship on her walks and her first time in the mess hall and was mesmerized by how she walked and carried herself. She wore a long blue silk dress that rippled in the wind. She was waiting outside the door with a pouch in her hand when she turned to Ava and extended her free hand, "I'm Navi. You must be the new passenger."

Ava smiled and shook her hand, "Ava. Nice to meet you."

"Heard you've been sick for a while, huh? Looks like you're back to normal then if you're out and about"

"Yes. Just got out a little bit ago. Feeling like a whole new person," Ava admitted.

With that, the door popped open and Navi nodded a goodbye, "Glad to see you up and alive then, Ava. See you around." Navi walked into the room and shut the door, smiling at Theo on the other side, "Well good night, Captain. How are you doing this fine sun?"

Theo chuckled and shrugged, "Eternally damned to boredom. Got anything exciting for me? Slept with anyone that might have stirred the pot. Is there a conflict I need to solve?"

"No, unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity present itself but hope is still out," Navi conceded "but if you're bored, I've brought something for you."

"A mysterious murder to solve?" Theo raised her eyebrows.

"Not quite, something fun you requested some time ago," Navi outstretched her hand that held a small felt pouch.

Theo smiled and took it out of her hand, "Took you long enough. I asked you, like, five suns ago."

"If I recall correctly you told me you'd stop by my place and I have been diligently waiting for you there, captain," Navi contested and reached into Theo's hands and opened the bag for her. A blue wiry grass sat inside the pouch and a knowing smile spread across Theo's face.

"You did not, Navi, you sweet bastard," Theo brought her forward and kissed her head. In Theo's hand was dragon's breath. A rare drug that was only grown in Elox. It was available elsewhere but for outrageous prices. Cooker was usually the go-to person for these kinds of things aboard the Scorned Woman but Navi was known to find a gem every now and then. Theo occasionally partook whenever Cooker or Navi had anything. Dragon's breath, however, she had not had in many lengths and she was excited about it. It was smoked in a tobacco pipe and inspired feelings of joy, laughter, creativity, and other attractive effects. 

"Enjoy, Theo. Don't tell Xyra you got this from me," Navi warned.

Theo nodded and walked over to her desk pulling out her sack of coins, "How much?"

Navi raised her hand and waved off the offer of money, "No need for that. It's a gift."

Theo pushed the drawer closed and slowly made her way over to Navi, "Surely, there is some way to repay you," she said in a lowered voice.

Theo began to unbutton the first few buttons of her shirt, Navi laughed and shoved Theo away from her, "Stuff it, ass. No need to be a tease, I'm doing you a favor."

Theo laughed and backed away, "Your loss."

Navi tilted her head and laughed, "You're not serious, are you? I can never quite tell."

Truth was, Theo wasn't serious at first. Just pulling Navi's leg for being so sure she would get one of the crew members to sleep with her. However, when Navi mentioned it, she considered the options on the table. Navi was not looking for anything serious, a subtle fling to scratch an itch. It would be the noble captain thing to do, to keep her from mingling with the crew for the rest of the trip. Plus, it had been more than a while since Theo had indulged and it hadn't been the first time that she and Navi had... interacted.

"I'm as serious as you want me to be," Theo tested the waters. It was in Navi's court now and Theo wouldn't mind which way it went. Navi raised an eyebrow and walked back over to where she had pushed Theo. She reached up and put a hand on Theo's chest and gently pushed her backward until she hit the desk. Theo's hands went up to Navi's waist and smirked up at her.

"You're sure?" Navi looked down at Theo and Theo nodded.

"'Course, now. Let's get this show on the road." Theo said.

------------------------

Ava had decided to make her way inside after she realized what was going on in Theo's room. She was shocked, to be honest. Not that Theo was a - well, actually Ava did not know the proper term for a woman who liked women. But she was shocked that it was happening with a member of the crew. Was that not a conflict of interest? Then again affairs and sex with people you aren't supposed to are just the way the world worked. If she had learned anything useful growing up, it was that. How much harm could lady pirate sex do?

She still did not want to return to her room, after being surrounded by a somewhat decorated infirmary filled with different people at all times she had gotten used to the bustle of the ship. She reckoned her room would feel too empty, she would feel too alone. Ava remembered something she had heard about a library from Tuni during her stay in the infirmary. Room by room she checked for a library until she finally found it. A cozy room with shelves half-filled with different color books and two big pillowed chairs in the middle of the room. Once she had found the room she went to collect her candle, lit it, then returned to the library.

She picked a random book off of the shelf and began to read it, the dim candlelight proving enough to read. It seemed to be about the history of the first six classifications and she had made it through about 20 pages when someone appeared in the doorway.

"Oh," the person stopped in their tracks and Ava looked up, it was Theo.

Ava tilted her head and took in Theo's appearance. Her hair was a little mussed and her eyes were wide and unblinking. She looked like a dog caught doing something it shouldn't be doing and it caused Ava to laugh a little bit, "Are you drunk?"

Theo shushed her and crept into the room, "Keep your voice down. No one can find me."

Theo shut the door slowly and made her way to the chair. Once she sat down she ran her fingertips into the fabric of the chair for a long time. Ava just watched her in wonder, what had she drank? She made no noise, afraid to startle Theo but all Ava wanted to do was laugh at her. A small noise escaped Ava and Theo's head shot up.

"I'm sorry. You were saying?" Theo asked, now her eyes were blinking normally.

"I was just asking if you're drunk," Ava repeated and Theo shook her head furiously.

"No. No, I have done something far worse than drink. I have smoked a substance that would have me arrested by Eloxian authorities on orders of the great Lord Vaith, noble protector of the realm of Elox." Theo said somewhat bitterly.

Ava ignored the comment about the Lord and raised her eyebrows and leaned forward, "Dragon's breath? I've never seen anyone on it before. How does it feel?"

Theo giggled then covered her mouth. When her laughing fit subsided she removed her hands from her mouth and whispered, "Tingly and fun."

After that, Theo stayed silent for a long time. Ava went back to her book, occasionally looking up to check on Theo. Theo switched from keeping her eyes open and closed, relaxing and taking in the surroundings. Occasionally, a small laugh or snort would emerge from Theo's chair.

Ava was on page 57 when Theo spoke up, "Hey, want to follow me somewhere cool?"

Ava put down her book and nodded, "Sure. Will I die?"

"Er, no. But no promises, anything can end in death," Theo pointed out and Ava gave her that. She stood up and Theo followed her lead. They were both standing in the room for a few moments in silence before Ava urged Theo on, "You're leading the way. I'm not sure where we are going."

"Right!" Theo started forward and opened the door. She hummed as they made their way through the ship. After a quick walk they ended up back inside of Theo's quarters and Ava took stock of the room. The bed was messed up and she saw evidence of dirty clothes on the floor. Theo kept walking and approached a door on the far right of her room. She opened it to reveal a balcony on the other side and Ava gasped a little walking out onto it. The sea was in clear sight down below and the moon cast a beautiful light over the ocean.

"Didn't I promise it would be cool?" Theo asked as she stepped onto the balcony and took a seat on the floor. Ava followed suit and looked out onto the ocean, Theo was staring at Ava though.

"You're already more coherent than before," Ava noted.

"Aye, a little bit less whacked out," Theo laughed, "A lot a bit more relaxed."

She lay back against the wall of the balcony and looked out to the ocean. This time, Ava turned her head and stared at Theo closely. No wrinkle lines or signs of aging, so young. "How old are you?" Ava asked.

"Twenty-four," Theo lied quickly.

"That's a lie. You're seventeen," Ava quipped back just as quickly and Theo sat up affronted.

"How in the world could you possibly know that? Are you a spy?" Theo narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Ava laughed at the sudden paranoia and shook her head, "No. Tuni said you got command of your first ship four lengths ago and that you were thirteen then. Which puts you at about seventeen, am I wrong?"

Theo grumbled a bit and slumped back against the wall, "If you knew, why'd you ask me?"

"To see if you'd lie,"

"And I did,"

"And you did," Ava confirmed with a laugh and then Theo began to laugh with her.

"I like you, Red," Theo pointed at her.

"You've said that before. I'm beginning to think you like just about anyone," Ava slumped back against the wall too and turned her head to look at Theo.

"I'm slow to anger, that much is true. However, I mean it. You're odd, a closed book. Intriguing," Theo philosophized, drawing out each sentence.

Ava laughed at Theo, "Closed book? Coming from a charming mysterious woman pirate in charge of a mysterious woman pirate ship that helps people?"

Theo scoffed and held a hand over her heart, "I am not a closed book! On the contrary, I think I'm quite open, ask me anything I'm here to answer."

Ava wasted no time, not questioning the opportunity, "How long have you been out on the sea?"

"Since I was five so... I can't do numbers right now, you can figure that one out."

Ava was thinking. She should use this time wisely, get as much useful information that she could out of the pirate captain but she felt a little predatory about that. Asking someone questions when they weren't really in a capacity to answer like why did you run away from home and start a life as a pirate? Theo was high and Ava did not want to violate her trust. Ava was a passenger that had been aboard the ship for a total of six suns and she was already sitting on the balcony of the Captain. Theo's hospitality had been unparalleled and Ava's moral compass wasn't broken so she refrained from any serious questions.

She was interested in what she heard earlier in the night. She had been thinking a lot about what Morgana and Cooker had said the night of the attack and she wanted to know more. She wanted to humanize the people she had heard so many negative things about.

"Did you have sex with Navi earlier?" Ava asked quickly, a blush covered her cheeks involuntarily from bringing up the subject.

Theo shuffled away from Ava and narrowed her eyes, "Are you a witch? Do you have visions or something?"

Ava guffawed and stared at Theo, "What? That doesn't exist. I was just sitting close by and saw Navi walk in and then, well, y'know heard the noises."

This time, Theo turned red and stammered a bit before finding her word, "I had no idea. I am so sorry that was- Oh, I'm sorry you had to hear that."

Ava reached over and put a hand on Theo's thigh, "I walked away as soon as it started. Don't worry."

Theo looked down at Ava's hand then back at her. Ava's hand was soft and warm and Theo got a good look at her under the moonlight. Freckles dusted her nose and tops of her cheeks and her curly red hair was falling into her face. Ava pulled her hand away once Theo seemed to stop freaking out and asked another question, "Are you and her, like, together? The way Morgana and Tuni are?"

Theo shook her head, "No. We've only done that once or twice before. I don't make it a habit to sleep with my crew, it becomes too messy. Navi and I go way back and I know she's not in it for anything."

Theo left out of the fact that while she and Navi go way back, so does Navi and Xyra.

Ava nodded and kept pressing, "But, you are right? A-" Ava couldn't find the right word. Now that she knew renouncer was not a good description she was stumped as to how to ask it.

"A nox? Yes, I am, very much so actually." Theo offered, seeing Ava struggle with the word. Morgana had told her about the exchange a few suns ago and was more than happy to help Ava understand these concepts.

"Nox? What's that?" Ava looked confused.

"Noxvila. It means a woman who is a lover of women in Aelizan. Over the lengths, it's been shortened to nox. But yes, I do like women," Theo explained gently.

Ava nodded and stayed quiet for a while. She had a million other questions now but she did not want to bother Theo. She had interrogated her enough for one night and something told her this was not the last conversation she would have with Theo. She sat in silence with Theo for a while, both of them lost in thought.

After a while, Ava decided on a safe enough question, "Is everyone on the ship a nox?"

Theo shook her head, "That would be an absolute disaster, I think. No. Some girls like men, others like girls, others like both, others like none and to some I really think they couldn't care less."

"Unfortunate for the girls that like men," Ava mused and that sent Theo into a fit of laughter.

"That is my philosophy too but why do you say that?"

"Well, pirates are at sea a lot. This is an only woman pirate ship. So the people who only like men can't have sex when they are at sea, which is often. So it's unfortunate for those who enjoy sex and only do it with men," Ava rationalized and Theo nodded along with her logic.

"Aye," Theo simply responded with a laugh then she stood up, "I'm going to go inside and finish off the rest of my special stuff, would you care to join?"

Ava stood up after Theo and thought about the offer. She had only really drunk for the first time a few suns ago. She knew she was on a pirate ship and the rules didn't matter but she had to set boundaries for herself at some point. She shook her head, "No thank you. I think I'm going to head to bed. Um, do you usually partake in things like this?"

Theo walked inside and over to her desk drawer, "Not as often as I should if I'm honest. Helps me wind down but there isn't really a lot of times I can do it and when I do there is always a risk that comes along with it. Anything can happen at any moment and I have to be prepared so on the off chance I do partake in some extra fun it has to be something I could probably fight or man the wheel after taking it."

Ava walked inside, "That makes sense. I'm glad you found a time to relax."

Ava looked around the room and realized she forgot her candle in the library. It would be very hard to find her way back to her room in the dark, especially after not being back there in suns. She looked around the room and counted over five candles, surely Theo would let her take one, "I left my candle in the library. Can I borrow yours? I'll bring it back tomorrow."

Theo jumped into action and grabbed a lit candle and walked it over to Ava, "Need me to walk you back?"

Ava shook her head and took the candle, "No but thank you for the offer. Enjoy the rest of your illegal Eloxian contraband."

Theo laughed and watched her approach the door. Before Ava left, Theo called her attention again and when she turned back, Theo smiled at her, "Come by tomorrow night. Maybe I can ask you some questions."

Ava mirrored Theo's smile and nodded then walked out. She felt good, relaxed. As she walked back to her room she couldn't wipe the smile off her face. She had made yet another friend and it was the captain of a pirate ship. She wished her dad could see her then. Soon enough she was in her own bed, surrounded by the barren walls and the moonlight danced through the window as she fell asleep.