To be completely honest with himself, he was not very reassured to be left alone. Unknown locations had a tendency to feed up his old instincts and, as enchanting the little cabin was, with all the marine-themed artifacts and the reassuring, familiar light of moon passing through the window, it was an unknown location, on a boat far from any coast, the little captain said so herself. Still, her kindness sort of put him at ease. Made him feel… at home, like he was always welcomed, though he never met her before- and probably will never see her again after that adventure. As she turned away, Phantom R so answered:
“Merci, mademoiselle. Thank you.”
And thus, while she was away to command the change of their course- his mind made it sound so easy! He could pass the time watching the cabin’s décor, counting seconds with the waves crashing below. Or at his side, it was hard to tell when the water surrounded one’s boat. One wave, two waves, the kind of sounds that went from peaceful to mildly worrying. Three waves, four waves, a creeping melancholia.
To the sixteenth or seventeenth, he quickly lost a faithful count, he heard the little captain coming back and greeted her with the most serene smile he could conjure up.
“I should be the one to apologize to change your plans so suddenly…” Well, now it seemed like they had a lot of time before them to start a conversation. And introductions. And little words that made Phantom R’s mind click with a mixed feeling of understanding and misunderstanding- though should he really be surprised that a sea witch was inhabiting this world? Probably not, but that still raised a lot of questions for him. And he had an eternity of waves to ask them. But first, answering her own.
“My name? Oh, you can just call me Phantom R… Mere human, I think. It’s nice to meet you, Wadana— Wadanohara? Quite a beautiful sea you’re keeping, if I ever saw one.”
Perhaps it was because of her own habits that she picked up on the hint of worry behind his smile. Experience, passing years during which she did the same, made her more capable at picking up at masked anxiety. There was no need for her to ask why when it was so obvious, and she wouldn't have either way. There was no reason to press on a stranger's concerns. The simplest and best way she could help was by getting him to shore as quickly as possible, and by putting in a good effort to help him stay at ease until they arrived.
⚓↠”You don't need to apologize. It wasn't your intentions, right?"
A serene and reassuring smile stayed firmly in place on Wadanohara's features. No, he had hardly changed her plans, seeing as she had nothing in particular scheduled to begin with. A trip to Rainbow Isle was all she had in mind, but delays could be afforded. The little witch and her familiars had all the time they needed to explore the sea and all it had to show. She was in no rush at all.
⚓↠”It's nice to meet you, Phantom R! Ah-"
⚓↠”... Mere human?"
A curious look was given to 'Phantom R'- an odd alias. The inner corners of her eyebrows turned upwards as she considered his choice of words. What a harsh way to speak about himself, or his species as a whole, really. Wadanohara had never met many of them, but humans were quite capable, from what she had heard. Potentially dangerous at times, although she didn't fear him any. Why would he choose to word his statement in such a way?
⚓↠”That's... a strange way to talk about yourself. But thank you, Phantom R. Some of my friends call me Wada, if that's easier for you."
Her more cheerful expression returned as she pushed her previous thoughts aside. What ever reasons he may have, that's none of her concern. Although, it was good for her to clear up his issue with her name. It was something stumbled over often, and the shorthand was popular for that very reason.
