brief steampunk au ramble
Rythian and Smith - common shadows
Rythian trying to read in the canteen late in the night, unable to sleep due to the... shadow that's lingered on the corners of his vision being particularly annoying. Whispering to him. actively trying to convince him to do it's bidding. As it always had.
He's visibly uncomfortable, staring intently at his book as Smith enters the canteen. He's in to lock it up for the night, when he peers in and sees Rythian, "I'm locking up mate, time to head out." he calls out.
Rythian visibly startles, practically flying upwards on feet. He whips around, staring at Smith with wide eyes.
Smith mimics his wide eyed, startled look. he puts both his hands up "Sorry, didn't mean to spook you." He speaks in a gentle tone.
Rythian bristles, but drops his shoulders. He glances over to the looming figure, before beginning to collect his book and notepad. Smith followed his gaze to where he'd glanced, seeing the shadowed form.
"Oh Lord. it bothers you too." Smith says coldly.
Rythian feels the hair on the back of his neck stand up. "What?" his voice gruff, but his word wobbles.
"You looked right- the creepy bitch." Smith speaks cautiously, but widly gestures in it's direction. "I- maybe I was mistaken? It's late- im not to creep you out." They stand in silence for a moment, before Smith looks embarrassed "i- it's late, maybe im seeing shit-"
"No, I see it." Rythain admits. "How did you-?"
"I saw you look right at it."
"Right..."
Silence falls again, and smith begins twisting the key in the door lock while rythian gathers his things. As rythian goes to pass Smith out the door,
"Annoying fuck, ain't it?" Smith asks as he holds the door open. "Sometimes it fucks off if you throw stuff at it." Smith chuckles.
Rythian waits until they are both outside of the canteen, and Smith had locked the door.
"Why do you... See it?" Rythian asks in a quite voice.
"I have a weird fey bloodline. It doesn't really physically present on me, obviously, since I'm so far removed. But I can sense weird shit usually only fey can." Smith pauses, turning to Rythian to look him up and down. "Similar situation for you, then? suppose your parents didnt know, probably farther removed than i am." The pair walked down the hall together towards the stairs down to bunks. "My family knows about the fey ancestor. Was a great great grandma for me, she was a fey. She actually lived until around when i was born. I know she met me, there's an old photo of her holding me. But she was old as dust at that point. she even did the thing feys do, where they literally crumble too dust at death."
"I... if my mom knew, she never told me about us having a fey ancestor."
"you always seen shadows with eyes? or just since you boarded?"
"... Always" Rythian admits.
"Then it's defiantly genetic. we pick up shadows sometimes, all ships do. but most of the time they are going from place to place and keep to themselves. Cause no problems." Smith wrinkled his nose. "i don't think that one likes you much. Shouldn't be able to hurt you. I have no clue what it says, but i can hear this one murmur when i get near it."
"That's why i cant sleep."
Smith nods understandingly. "i'd recommend a brew for sleep, but if it speaks and follows you, sleeping meds will just probably lead to night terrors featuring the fucker." Rythian nods. As they pass, and Rythian stops at his small room door, Smith snaps his fingers. "Wait, I'd recommend speaking to Zoey! It's an open secret, but she's a nature fey. Don't tell her i told you, she'll probably kill me." Smith laughed "Just pretend you figured it out on your own. She can probably give you a trinket or something that'll ward the thing from being able to get close enough for you to hear it."
Rythian laid on his back in the nearly to short bed, his knees bent awkwardly. But it was still a mattress, clean sheets. a pillow that didnt reek and wasn't yellow tinted.
There's hope yet, then.
