The Oshun Oxtra swayed with the calmness of the ocean waves, a nice change from the roughness it had been experiencing the week before. The crew had docked at a town for supplies, Hodgkins and Moomin going on ahead to get the shopping list done, leaving the other two crew members behind.
Joxter had been taking a nap, curled up in a sunspot amongst the rope on deck to quell the seasickness he sometimes suffered from the constant rocking, it was times like these he wished Hodgkins would hurry up and figure out how to make the ship fly so he wouldn’t have to deal with the never ending movement the waves seemed to create.
But now he was hungry, so he stretched, realizing they were docked and not out in a world of endless blue. He itched to explore, but truthfully, he didn’t want to go to town alone, far too tired to deal with the glares and suspicious looks Mumriks always got no matter where he was in the world.
He scratched his head, popping his neck and grimacing when a loud snap sounded. He wasn’t old, hardly at the end of his twenties, but his body felt like it was aging without him leaving Joxter in a constant state of fatigue that didn’t translate well with his crew.
Well, everyone but one person.
That had Joxter moving, walking to the coffee tin that sat on the deck near his preferred napping spot, the lid was closed, so Joxter lightly rapped his knuckles against the metal, waiting for a sign that his favorite person was inside. He was met with a small squeak, followed by shuffling and a hesitant hello, queuing Joxter that something was bothering his friend.
A pause, and then the lid popped, leaving a crack that Joxter could pear through. It was a silent invitation, one that meant that Muddler didn’t feel like speaking at the moment, and Joxter could decide if he wanted to stay.
He chose to stay, just like every time he was allowed it. Joxter eased the lid open, knowing just how far he had to move it back to climb in without it causing a loud creak, he had done this so many times it was like a dance, one foot near the toaster, the other at the old box of nuts and bolts, leaving his entrance nearly silent.
He closed the lid back, keeping everything dark but the small night light Muddler had found. His friend was curled up in the center of his collection, three blankets, and an old pillow the only thing he was using, his scarf and overcoat neatly folded amongst the clutter.
Joxter settled with his back against a giant plush bear they had picked up a while ago, the stuffing sunken into Joxter’s shape, giving away how often he found himself here. Muddler still hadn’t spoken, and Joxter wasn’t going to make him, he brought his hands out in front of himself, signing that they had docked and the other two members had gone into town for the day.
Muddler nodded at the information, sitting up much to Joxter’s surprise and wiping his eyes from the tears that seemed to gather.
“I… I don’t feel g…good.”
Joxter had guessed as much, Muddler usually insisted on taking him everywhere when they made it to a new town, but today wasn’t a good day, and Joxter planned to spend as much of it with his friend as possible.
“Are you anxious? Or is it something else?”
“Anxious, and s… something else.”
Joxter tilted his head as he watched Muddler go over what he wanted to say, he never pushed the issue, letting Muddler work out what he wanted to share and what he didn’t.
“I’m in a lot of pain… I t…think I’m sick again…”
Joxter knew that was hard on his friend, Muddler seemed to have issues with his body like he did, they understood each other in that sense, and never blamed it on laziness, or irrational fear like others had.
“Do you need me to get you anything?”
Muddler shook his head no, moving the blankets for Joxter to join him like he had countless times before.
“You being h…here is e..enough.”
Joxter was happy to oblige Muddler’s request, taking his hat off and sitting it to the side, he curled up in the small nest with his friend. He was purring within minutes, running his hand up and down Muddler’s back, trying to alleviate some of the stress and pain.
Joxter chuckled at that, knowing Muddler had a particular liking to how he smelled after taking a nap in the sun. He kissed the top of Muddler’s head, letting him settle further into his arms.
“I took a nap there just for you, mouse.”
That earned him a giggle, and Joxter could feel Muddler smiling against his chest.