I have good eyes. [Not that she knew just how good they were, but he was being intentionally vague.
He'll not enable this woman any further, though. His experience taught him that only led to more trouble. Instead, he'll bow one more time to her.]
If you'll excuse me. [He's kept Alphinaud and the others waiting long enough, but he'll not forget courtesy. He can at least give a proper farewell before taking his leave of her.]
[Rose doesn’t return the bow. Instead, she waits until Takame walks off to make her move. For such a small load, the crew is suitably distracted, and that gives her plenty of time to sneak on board.]
[She shimmies her way into a crate, and waits until the ship leaves port. Once she feels they are suitably at sea, she makes her exit, stretching.]
[What are they going to do, throw her into the ocean?]
[Once they'd set off, as soon as Takame found the smell of the sea to not be as comforting as it normally was, he sought to put himself to work and double check the cargo.
As soon as he'd walked below decks, though, he sensed something off. An unfamiliar presence he didn't notice before, though amidst the talk between Lyse and the twins he wasn't able to be as alert as normal. To say nothing of the weight on his mind that was their destination.
A hand hovered over his blade as he walked further down, fully ready to strike against any bastard who would dare to hijack this operation, he was in absolutely no mood to see the face of another Skull or Imperial lapdog. ... But then. He saw just who said bastard was.]
[Rose crosses her arms and smirks. She told him that she’d sneak on, and she’s true to her word. She has absolutely no idea what she just got herself into, or how much danger she was just in.]
[It’s probably for the best, to be honest.]
Yes, me. I told you I’d find my way on here, didn’t I?
[The hand over his weapon falls and he let out a heavy sigh, mumbling some Hingan phrase or another that sounded like a swear. Kami, she was as bad as Hina could be. If Zhian were here she would lose her temper immediately.
Even Takame's endless patience was fraying at this point, there was a civilian unaware of the gravity of their journey on their bloody ship. Ordinarily he would choose his words more carefully, but...]
[The Hingan swear doesn’t escape Rose, but she doesn’t make any mention of it. Instead, she smiles and winks at Takame. He seems pretty angry, she doesn’t get it.]
[Perhaps, in another universe where their roles were switched, Rose would notice the change in his demeanor. Perhaps she would realize that such stern words coming out of him were a rarity.]
[No such luck here, unfortunately. Rose shrugs her shoulders.]
I never said it was. Rest assured, as soon as we get to Kugane, I’ll leave you and your friends in peace.
That isn't the point... [The point probably didn't matter to her, really. Trying to explain to her the danger of travelling to Kugane for their purpose... travelling there with him mostly, was fruitless. They couldn't very well turn back at this point.
Tataru's blackmail could only get them so far. All he could do was pinch the bridge of his nose and sigh.]
Rose. [Obviously a pseudonym, though her choice to use it was hers. Probably a good idea, but Takame knew her face now. Knew her aether. Just in case something would happen to her.]
... It's because-- [As if on queue, the ship is brought to a dead halt. He's thrown off slightly, but not enough for him to fall and extended an arm forward in case Rose was not so lucky.
Regardless of whether she stumbled or not, his eyes shifted immediately back to the deck and his brow furrowed.]
Please stay here. [Said already making his way above. It'll likely be some time before he returns, he needed to make sure the others were alright as well as apologize for being negligent and allowing this stow away to get away with what she's done.
Though Rose has ignored his suggestions before. Nothing was stopping her from listening in on the muffled chit-chat closer up.]
[She does stumble forward, right into his outstretched arms. Were she more wary about the world, she might realize that his instincts were a tell of just how skilled Takame actually was.]
[But she isn’t, and so it goes by her, completely unnoticed. Surprising nobody, she disregards his warning entirely, and sneaks up the base of the stairs, making sure that she’s just within earshot of whoever is talking.]
[Rose will hear multiple voices from above, five or six different ones stand out, three female, three male including Takame. Their exact words are still slightly muffled through the various chatter among the ship's crew but what can be made out is Takame explaining something about a stow away and some sort of apology.
Other things of note were the fact that the ship was stopped and steering elsewhere for no reason they could discern through the fog that surrounded them. And yet even through said fog, once it seemed they were done talking and Takame was tasked with staying above to combat any threats, his striking gaze could be felt boring right into Rose. As if he knew she wouldn't listen.
It's with a hand once again over his weapon that he approached her again, his tone grim.]
You need to stay below decks. We've been set off course but not by order or whim of this ship's Captain. [A pause to survey their surroundings, eyeing the walls of the ship suspiciously.] It's dangerous to be up here.
[Rose crosses her arms again. She’s stubborn and naive, which really is a dangerous combination. It’s not that she isn’t listening to Takame, it’s that she doesn’t care, and doesn’t have any idea how serious the situation she’s actually in is.]
What? For a little fog?
[She’s not even entertaining the idea of anything else.]
I’m not staying down there. I’ve told you before; I’m a healer, I’m useful.
For what the fog is obscuring. [Said as if it should be obvious even to her, a small indication that his patience has begun to wane. Or rather than his mindset has begun to shift into one ready to fight as he unsheathed his blade.]
We haven't a clue what is in store. You may be a healer, but you are not battle ready. [Another pause as he tentatively moved forward to meet with the others. There's what sounded like a sigh before he spoke again.] We may have use of your skill. You'll be unable to utilize it if you're hurt.
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He'll not enable this woman any further, though. His experience taught him that only led to more trouble. Instead, he'll bow one more time to her.]
If you'll excuse me. [He's kept Alphinaud and the others waiting long enough, but he'll not forget courtesy. He can at least give a proper farewell before taking his leave of her.]
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[She shimmies her way into a crate, and waits until the ship leaves port. Once she feels they are suitably at sea, she makes her exit, stretching.]
[What are they going to do, throw her into the ocean?]
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As soon as he'd walked below decks, though, he sensed something off. An unfamiliar presence he didn't notice before, though amidst the talk between Lyse and the twins he wasn't able to be as alert as normal. To say nothing of the weight on his mind that was their destination.
A hand hovered over his blade as he walked further down, fully ready to strike against any bastard who would dare to hijack this operation, he was in absolutely no mood to see the face of another Skull or Imperial lapdog. ... But then. He saw just who said bastard was.]
What in the hells? You?
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[It’s probably for the best, to be honest.]
Yes, me. I told you I’d find my way on here, didn’t I?
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Even Takame's endless patience was fraying at this point, there was a civilian unaware of the gravity of their journey on their bloody ship. Ordinarily he would choose his words more carefully, but...]
Have you some manner of death wish?
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No, I told you, I can take care of myself.
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[For how normally soft spoken Takame was, there's a noticeable increase in the volume of his voice. Still, he's quiet enough to not raise alarm.
But yes, he isn't thrilled.]
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[No such luck here, unfortunately. Rose shrugs her shoulders.]
I never said it was. Rest assured, as soon as we get to Kugane, I’ll leave you and your friends in peace.
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Tataru's blackmail could only get them so far. All he could do was pinch the bridge of his nose and sigh.]
... What is your name?
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[...Her mother would have an absolute fit.]
Just Rose will do. And I hardly see what’s so dangerous about...
[Before she can finish, the ship abruptly stops, throwing her off balance.]
...This.
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... It's because-- [As if on queue, the ship is brought to a dead halt. He's thrown off slightly, but not enough for him to fall and extended an arm forward in case Rose was not so lucky.
Regardless of whether she stumbled or not, his eyes shifted immediately back to the deck and his brow furrowed.]
Please stay here. [Said already making his way above. It'll likely be some time before he returns, he needed to make sure the others were alright as well as apologize for being negligent and allowing this stow away to get away with what she's done.
Though Rose has ignored his suggestions before. Nothing was stopping her from listening in on the muffled chit-chat closer up.]
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[But she isn’t, and so it goes by her, completely unnoticed. Surprising nobody, she disregards his warning entirely, and sneaks up the base of the stairs, making sure that she’s just within earshot of whoever is talking.]
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Other things of note were the fact that the ship was stopped and steering elsewhere for no reason they could discern through the fog that surrounded them. And yet even through said fog, once it seemed they were done talking and Takame was tasked with staying above to combat any threats, his striking gaze could be felt boring right into Rose. As if he knew she wouldn't listen.
It's with a hand once again over his weapon that he approached her again, his tone grim.]
You need to stay below decks. We've been set off course but not by order or whim of this ship's Captain. [A pause to survey their surroundings, eyeing the walls of the ship suspiciously.] It's dangerous to be up here.
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What? For a little fog?
[She’s not even entertaining the idea of anything else.]
I’m not staying down there. I’ve told you before; I’m a healer, I’m useful.
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We haven't a clue what is in store. You may be a healer, but you are not battle ready. [Another pause as he tentatively moved forward to meet with the others. There's what sounded like a sigh before he spoke again.] We may have use of your skill. You'll be unable to utilize it if you're hurt.