It was not a large ship, which made it all the more impressive that Finn had managed to disappear whenever Rissa entered a room. To Finn, Rissa was a whirlwind of colorful silks and loud laughter, a terrifying contrast to the quiet life he had known. Having never been within ten feet of a girl his own age, his survival instinct was currently screaming at him to hide behind a barrel of salted meat.
Rissa, however, was not someone who accepted defeat that easily.
"He's like a crab," Rissa grumbled, pacing the deck. "Every time I say 'Good morning,' he hide into his shell."
She first sought counsel from the crew. The boatswain told her to "offer him help like giving him a sturdy rope, when he is working the sails," which Rissa found unhelpful. The Captain suggested "a hot drink and a map," which seemed even worse. Finally, in desperation, she descended into the cabin of the most intimidating woman she knew, the seasick Queen.
Aeryn was currently draped over a velvet chaise, looking pale and regal even while clutching a bowl.
"My Queen," Rissa whispered, poking her head in. "How do I make someone…a man... stop running away?"
Aeryn opened one eye, looking truly pained. "I am a Queen. If I want someone… a man…to stay, I command it. If he refuses, remove his head. Use power."
Rissa shivered, the image of a headless Finn flashing through her mind. "That's a bit... extreme. I want him to talk to me, not be a decoration."
"Leave me then… I don't know…I have no interest in your romantic games," Aeryn muttered, closing her eyes again.
Rissa's face turned a shade of red that rivaled a sunset. She leaned over and gave Aeryn a light, playful push on the shoulder. "Yaaaa! I'm doing this for us! For the team! Where did 'romance' come from? I just want him to be comfortable!"
Aeryn sat up slowly, her gaze, killing. "Did you... did…just hit me?"
Rissa's eyes went wide. She realized she had just laid hands on the Monarch of the Realm. "No! No, I... I was just... the ship swayed! Yes! A rogue wave!"
"Rissa, " Aeryn began.
"I have to go! Good luck with the nausea!" Rissa squeaked, scrambling out of the cabin and slamming the door behind her.
Fueled by pure adrenaline and embarrassment, Rissa marched straight to Finn's cabin door and without waiting or preparing, she started knocking. She began to chant his name.
"Finn! Finnegan! Master Finn! I know you're in there! I can hear you breathing! Well not exactly breathing…BUT at least I can hear you being very quiet!"
Inside, Finn sat on his bunk, holding his head in his hands. Her voice was like a cheerful hammer against his skull. Every time she shouted his name, his heart did a strange, uncomfortable somersault.
"Finn! If you don't come out, I'll ask the Captain to declare a state of emergency! I will say Master Finnegan has passed out in his cabin. Or I'll say master Finnegan harassed me!!!"
And then as if proud of her idea she chuckled waving her hand with proud, "YEAHHH…. This ones greattt…everyone will willingly gather around, because this is something they can't belive!!! I will say Master Finnegan harassed me!!! But what will I say how he harassed me? Hmmm… master Finnegan you've got any suggestion??"
Finally, the door flew open. Finn stood there, his hair messy, his face flushed with a mix of anger and sheer bashfulness.
"WHAT?" he shouted, though his voice cracked slightly at the end.
Rissa blinked, her bravado momentarily faltering as she looked at him. Up close, his eyes were a startling shade of hazel, and he smelled like sea salt and old parchment. The "butterfly" feeling she had been trying to induce in him suddenly took flight in her own stomach.
"I..." she started, then puffed out her chest. "I brought you an apple. And I wanted to tell you that the clouds look like sheep today. You've been missing the sheep. Finn…"
And then shy of her own informality she added softly, "Master Finnegan."
Finn looked at the apple she held out, then at her beaming, expectant playful face. He felt his ears burning. "I'm busy. I'm... reading. Shooo… Shooo… Go away…"
"You're holding the book upside down," she noted, pointing to the volume tucked under his arm.
Finn looked down, turned even redder, and tried to slam the door. Rissa jammed her foot in it.
"Just five minutes!" she pleaded, her voice dropping to a soft, sweet note. "I promise not to hit you. I already tried that with the Queen and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be executed when we reach land."
Finn paused, his anger melting into a confused, reluctant smile. "You hit the Queen?"
"Lightly!" Rissa defended.
"WHAT???" at this moment finn was already thinking that it was a big mistake to hostage these suspicious looking girls, and now it was proven they were wanted for HITTING THE QUEEN!!! And now it was proved because rissa herself was saying it, and was thinking of ways to throw them off boat.
Suddenly reissa realized what she just said, no one knows aeryn so hitting the queen mean reblelling against her, worthy of her getting killed along with you whole family, she bit her lip and started….
"Master Finnegan!!! I am joking …. Haha you really take anything for real haha…I was just saying ittt" saying this she look down sighing.
Finn let out a long, sigh of relief and stepped back, opening the door just a crack wider. "don't joke like this ever! Five minutes. And keep your voice down. You're giving the ship a headache."
Rissa beamed, slipping into the cabin like a ray of sunlight. Finn watched her, his heart hammering against his ribs, wondering how someone so small could be so incredibly loud, and why, suddenly, the tiny cabin didn't feel quite so cramped anymore.
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