#gbf v.

[toestalucia]

"How can we cuddle? With this shark keeps getting between our love? Why? I want to make you sore tonight, tonight, oh yes~" Yes he is singing to Gran.

   …Can they just ignore him? They're definitely going to ignore him. And maybe make sure to not see him for a while. Yeah, that's what they'll do.

[toestalucia]

"Danchou..." Seox says, struggling to find the right words. After all that they've done for him, no amount of words could express how grateful he feels towards them.

"I feel a simple 'thank you' isn't enough...for everything."

   It was always like that, wasn't it? They help someone by doing something they simply feel is natural, and people have trouble expressing their gratitude. Really, 'thank you' was enough. Besides, it was Gran who was jealous of the time Seox had spent with their dad, and it was Gran who was willing to break laws to keep Seox free. In the grand schemes of things, wasn't everything they had done just what friends do?

   But, well, since he was offering...

   Hands reach up, and fingers pinch his ears (the mask was in the way again). " Never do that again ", expression stern this time. " I don't wanna fight Lecia another time 'cuz we have to get someone out of there ", unofficially their standing with the Enforcer's was good, officially however...

   Then they let go, a wide grin now on their face as they take a few steps back; " Is that better ? "

[toestalucia]

@fairxtrick ( x )

   Oh. Well, that was boring. And not true, because, really, when was the last time someone actually stopped them? All's well that ends well, after all. At first there's the disappointment, formed into an expression of 'please change your mind', puppy eyes included. That, however, doesn't last long, because eventually Gran has mulled over it enough to decide that Drang was wrong and that no one was actually going to stop them. Because the crew didn't know, and Drang didn't seem too intent on doing it, and that basically meant Gran was free to do whatever they wanted, right?! Even if said thing was to explore a seemingly haunted and off-limits place outside of the city boundaries.

           " I'll be back for dinner ! " and as such, they turn around and start walking. As if Drang had been postive about the entire endeavor.

[toestalucia]

"How do you even survive the harsh winter against Coc-whatever he is?" -Djeeta, without a Lyria and her own crew

           " You bring clothes. A lot of it ", and said with absolute genuineness. Sure, movement was harder when there was multiple layers (especially considering Gran's usual attire), but it sure was better than being cold.

[toestalucia]

"Danchou why don't you sing the first song to start off karoke night you're the captain after all."He smiled and handed him the mic while the crew waited for him to get on stage that rackam set up.

           " Ah——me ? " taken off-guard when they had planned to only support the others tonight and make sure things went smoothly (because things, rarely, stayed non-chaotic on the Grandcypher). If there had been more time they would've said as much, but Lucio brought attention, and the mention of Gran brought even more attention, and all too soon there was multiple people looking expectantly at them. A fake sigh and badly hidden laughter; " Just one song. "

   But not alone, because when passing Lyria they grab onto her wrist and pull her with, and an overly-excited Andira quickly follows at the realization it's not a solo. They'd just have to announce Lucio as the next singer to get back at him.

[toestalucia]

"Would you like one?" There's an absent gesture to a plate of sandwiches - one of several plates, methodically arranged, opposite their various components (still being arranged, with fresh-baked and hand-sliced bread). "I've been trying to think of ways to both thank the others and - do something useful, for when I'm feeling unwell. Too unwell too go out. Everyone is kind and accommodates me, even at my worst, so the least I could do is feed them. Ah - and, Kazann helped me pick ingredients."

   They're listening to him, but they're not looking at him. Instead amazed at the sight before them and the hard work behind it, having been lured in by the scent of something baked and receiving something far better than a simple treat. There is a nod to showcase they're hearing what he's saying, even though they're busy admiring the many plates before them again and again. This wasn't things that was made fast, Gran knew that (growing up in an isolated village gave a certain kind of appreciation for the time that went into cooking). But there's also the warmth growing in their chest, and the wide smile as a result of it, pride and affection at the notion of doing this for everyone else. It was alright to simply thank others in words, Gran not only genuinely believed so but also knew the rest of the crew to be kind souls with similar thoughts. But wanting to help others, wanting to give back to them, was values that Gran knew and harbored — and they were far from the only one to do so.

   How wonderful everyone on the crew were.

        “ It looks amazing ”, said with all the warmth a proud captain could muster, knowing full well they'd be bragging about this to anyone who came within talking distance the next two weeks. “ They'll love it. Guess I’ll have to hire you for lunch-bags in the future ”, the last words are said in their usual mischievous tone, but maybe they'll have to seriously consider it if this keeps up. “ Have you tried them already ? Wanna eat with me until the others finds out ? ” something that shouldn't take too long knowing the curiosity of a lot of the crewmembers, but the offers there as a 'thank you' regardless.

[toestalucia]

"What was it like, in the place where you grew up?" He's quiet, but he always is - if anything, his sleeves make more noise than he does overall, including by speaking (but he's doing his best: outside the bounds of his own norms to try and be a little more approachable). "I apologize for not having asked much before - I've never been good at that sort of thing, but even if it's something I'm bad at, I may as well try just a little more."

   There’s a moment of silence (there always is when personal questions are asked), gaze on his face to try to see what else there is, but a small smile on their lips all the same. Gran doesn’t mind, they might not approach the topic on their own (or any personal topic for that matter), but they would never turn down a question. And so a humming sound is made while they lean back in the chair and look toward the ceiling of the room instead.

           “ D’you know Zinkenstill’s other name ? ——It’s Hermit Island ”, they start after half a minute of pondering, wondering how to most effectively convey the island they know as home. “ Not a lot of people visit, so we make do on our own ! The most harmless island you’ll ever see ”, or so people said. The people who didn’t know of the shrine in the woods, the people who didn’t know of the people with ties to it; people like Gran. Twice had the empire been there, thrice if the time when they were simply passing above counted. How strange that such a tiny island held such big meaning for some people. There’s a grin on their face, and no spoken words of everything that had happened in-between — because this wasn’t a question of that.

           “ It’s quiet, and there’s not a lot of things going on, so—basically the opposite to the Grandcypher ”, because that, too, was home. “ But the people there are just as nice. I owe a lot to them. It’s kinda like...a big family ”, there’s some hesitation before saying the last words, a mixture of embarrassment over the honesty and conflicted feelings of the times when the villagers had told Gran the same thing whenever Gran had asked about their own family. “ It’s not the most exciting place, but the food is great, promise ! Hehe, there was a time when we didn’t have a lot of flour and we didn’t know the next time a merchant ship would pass by, so one of the townspeople... ”, trailing off on a story from long ago, finding it increasingly easier to talk about what Zinkenstill was like. There’s some mindfulness regarding the length of it as per usual, but since he had asked something like this should be fine, shouldn’t it? Zinkenstill didn’t seem like a lot to most people, especially not compared to the Grandcypher where things were constantly changing, but despite everything, it was the first place Gran would call home.

[toestalucia]

" that's because you don't know who you are. "

meme.

   At first there’s silence. The surprised kind, with eyes wide and looking at him rather than the endless skies. Hands still on the railing, sitting on it in what most people would consider the wrong way (beneath Gran’s feet there’s nothing but dark blue), just finished with an off-hand comment about Estalucia and singularity (to chase an island you more and more realize you knew less about than you thought, to have a title you don’t understand, the feeling of following along the fate you don’t like). Really, it hadn’t been more than a bad joke, having more people not question your role as captain but feeling less like one for each day that passed. It wouldn’t be the first distasteful joke that left Gran’s lips, the scar on their body an awful reminder what a miracle it was they even were there right now, but maybe it was the first for him.

   And then — there’s laughter. Heartfelt, genuine, relieved, ah, it was Gran’s bad, they hadn’t considered the possibility of him replying in such a manner. It really was that simple, wasn’t it? There’s no easy solution, nor is there a simple one, but to point at an issue and potential problem so easily... “ You’re amazing “, words that could be teasing, but Gran means them whole-heartedly. Regardless if it’s a suggestion, or advice, or distaste, or anything of the like, it still came from a place of concern, didn’t it? Far from the response they had expected, but appreciative of it all the same.