once upon a drink [tagged/zen]

[tovaana]

Tomilyn;

“Oi, Tomi, nice ta see yer pretty face.”

It was early for anyone to be drunk, but Braklun was that one customer who seemed to no care what time of the day it was. Tomilyn glanced up from her work, organizing drinks in a way she could remember better – she’d been gone for a couple of Turns, and mostly at sea. Any time she’d been in the Tavern during those turns she’d either been a customer or coming to converse with her family. Her grandfather had a special piece of her heart especially, more of a father than her actual father had been, especially now that her father was so quickly back at sea after the mourning of his son, and Tomilyn’s brother. It’d been couple of seven-days, but Tomilyn had allowed time for her own mourning, exploring their small island and looking for places she could be alone. She got to the point where she realized that the only way to not get lost in her feelings of sadness and anger were to put her hands to work. The best way she knew how to do that was in the Tunnelsnake Tavern.

“Don’t get fresh with me, Brak, not ‘n the mood.” Her eyes had glanced up only briefly to take in the man’s demeanor, though she wasn’t worried too much about him, he’d never been the aggressive type anyways. The ones she really had to worry about were the strangers that passed through, or new crew members on ships that passed through – the people she couldn’t be sure what they’d be like drunk, especially since they weren’t usually favorable sober.

“Ahwww, don’t be that way. Why don’t you come over here and say hi, maybe a kiss on the cheek – like ya used to.”

“I never used to, Brak.” Her tone was flat, but a flicker of a smile played at the corner of her lips. He was all talk, and had a funny imagination and memory. He enjoyed her grandfather’s stories almost as much as she did. 

His face creased in concern, as if trying to remember if she was telling the truth. “No? Ar’ya sure?”

She really wasn’t in the mood, she wanted to finish organizing things by the time the first ships would stop by their small town for respite. Even some of the smaller traders would come through if they were brave enough, but mostly it was the pirates and fishers (because there was plenty of fish and no need to thieve the fisher folk). So just ignored him, letting him slowly drain his large cup and stumble out of the tavern. Soon enough other regulars would trickle in, ordering breakfast and less interested in drinking – though one could hardly pass up the nice drinks that were pirated. The food wasn’t terrible, not when her mother was cooking, but one usually came for the drinking rather than the food.

It was in the afternoon when a crew flooded their tables and bar area and her mother came out front to take their orders. Tomilyn met her gaze gratefully, staying with the drinks and preparing the more popular mixtures that she could count on being ordered.

Zen

[Zen]

Nalyra

The tiny Tunnelsnake Hold was their last stop before settling in at Mavros for a while, the Weyrhold still a few days' travel away depending on the wind. There wasn’t much to stop for, in Nalyra’s opinion, but a decent few meals at the tavern that had apparently lent the place its name were welcome anyway, while they waited for the Sea Dragon to catch up so they could sail all three ships on to Mavros together. Treyjen would arrange for a bit of trade in order to pay for the crew’s meals, but it wasn’t like the place had much else to trade that they wanted. It was all a bit of a waste of time to Nalyra, but plenty of the crew seemed to like stopping over for a day before sailing on home. The tavern was about the only half interesting thing on the island, even if she wasn’t a big drinker. She preferred to have her wits about her lest some idiot think it wise to try to take advantage of her. She was already a small woman, she didn’t need any further disadvantages.

Yelanna met her on the docks, “Nice to see you managed to find your way out of my brother’s bed.”

The other woman simply rolled her eyes, as this sort of greeting was all too commonplace, “That never gets old at all, Nalyra.”

“Perhaps we can find you some better company while we’re here?” she kept walking, heading for the tavern.

Yelanna laughed shortly, following at her side, “I doubt it.”

Nalyra wrinkled her nose in disgust, “I really don’t know why everyone thinks so highly of him.”

Yelanna didn’t waste her breath trying to argue about it. She knew Nalyra loved her brother well enough, even if she got fed up with his overprotectiveness at times, and this constant disdain she showed for him was her own odd sort of affection. Yelanna had no issue poking fun at him either on occasion. “I think that speaks more to the company we’ll find than anything.”

Nalyra laughed, “I’d say.”

The crew of the Storm’s Eye had already invaded the tavern when she and Nalyra arrived, being the first ship to reach the island, but she shooed a couple of the newer members of the crew out of their spot so she and Yelanna could sit there instead. As she sat back and surveyed the place, she noticed a familiar redhead she couldn’t remember seeing in a while and raised her hand in a wave to the girl, “Tomilyn!” When she’d interacted with the girl in the past, she had seemed to have a bite to her that she didn’t see too often in holder girls, particularly holder girls in these tiny, middle of nowhere places they frequented, “Where’ve you been?” She wrinkled her nose as if she’d smelled something foul, “You weren’t off getting married and having babies, were you?” What else was there for girls trapped in these places to do, really?

tovaana

[tovaana]

Tomilyn;

Some of the crew members seemed familiar, but she supposed that was how the next couple of seven-day would go… people would come in, she’d vaguely remember them from two turns ago, and eventually match them with a ship’s name. She’d liked figuring out what ships came in the most frequently, and this one must be one of the ones to come in every few months. The yearly or bi-yearly visitors were harder to remember. She’d stopped making the generic drinks when she heard her name and her eyes darted to the source of the noise. A half-hearted grin slipped subconsciously to her lips. There weren’t a lot of women that frequented their tavern, and she remembered them the most. It was women like Nalyra that had spurred her interest in taking her turn at sea; she liked them far more than the other holder women on their island, they were far more interesting. 

She grabbed a few mugs with beer and started to come over, her smile becoming more stale at her question of her whereabouts. At sea, watching my brother die, she thought bitterly – but she was distracted quickly by the accusational query that followed.

“Are ya’ daft, or d’ya think me daft?” It wasn’t like her father hadn’t tried setting her up with “traders” from the other twin, one had been a cousin – she'd punched him in the face after he'd asked her. The other time that she remembered it had been from another pirating ship, to gain alliance. Mostly Tomilyn hadn't heard of any others, because her mother stood like a wall between her and her father's wishes. Tomilyn just thought it was silly, really. What would a marriage really say to anyone? Now we're bound together? Either her father was purposefully ignorant, or the parties who had shown interest in her didn't see that if they wanted her, she wasn't going to play house-wife, not to anyone telling her what to do. She still dreamed that one day she'd find a man that let her be herself, someone who wouldn't care she was pirate by blood and partly by the two past turns... someone well, someone who clearly could never exist, but it didn't mean she couldn't dream. 

“Nah, been at sea. Not for me though.” It was for her, she actually had loved being on a ship and exploring the ocean, as boring as it was at times. She’d loved the feeling of being free – mostly anyways. She hadn’t really realized it with mourning her brother, but she’d been mourning the fact that if she wasn’t going to be free out at sea, she was going to be stuck at home… and as Nalyra reminded her, possibly marrying and having children. Her own nose wrinkled at that thought, not that she didn’t like the idea of having children one day, but it seemed… mundane. What, would she live her life like her mother? Stuck on an island catering to drunks, having children; half to send out on ships to possibly die, and the other half to be stuck on the island, just to repeat history?

She turned her attention briefly and asked in deeper voice to cut the noise that was starting to crescendo on who wanted a beer. She deposited the four mugs she had strategically carried over and took orders from Nalyra’s table while she was there, remembering them rather than writing them down. Even if it had been two turns, she still had that skill, despite her distracted nature. She came to Nalyra and smiled, “Oi, Nalyra. What will you be havin' today? And how ya been?”

Zen

[Zen]

Nalyra

Tomilyn’s response to her question had Nalyra grinning in return. She was glad to hear the young woman hadn’t given up her freedom yet. She’d seen too much of it, women who married and were forced to swallow their dreams and passions in order to cater to the wants and needs of their husband and children. It was entirely sickening, but any woman that willingly submitted to such a life deserved little more in her opinion. She chuckled, “My apologies. It’s hard not to assume in places like these.” She waved her hand to indicate the little hold in general, “As I’ve noticed, there doesn’t tend to be much opportunity for women in the smaller holds.”

She raised a brow curiously as the girl said she’d been at sea. Not for her? Well that was a shame. There ought to be more women sailing to help debunk that silly superstition some sailors had about having women aboard being bad luck. Sounded like another excuse to limit women’s options in life to her. But, although she couldn’t understand it herself, she supposed life at sea wasn’t for everyone, or there’d be a shell of a lot more sailors on Pern. Still, she couldn’t help herself, “I find it hard to believe you’ve a preference for waiting on drunks, but if that’s what floats your boat, more power to you.” Her gaze shifted over the crowd of men in the tavern. They sure could be obnoxious when they had enough drink in them, and half the time lost the ability to keep their hands to themselves besides.

“Let the men drown in ale, I’ve more interest in a decent meal,” she replied to the woman’s inquiry, waving her hand dismissively at the lot, “Someone on this crew needs to keep a clear head. What a surprise the task falls to women.” She cast a quick look over at Yelanna, eyebrow raised slightly, and the other woman shook her head and laughed. She considered her answer to Tomilyn’s second question for a moment. “Ah!” Nalyra’s hand slapped the table in realization, “Shells I think you must’ve disappeared out to sea right before we took the Bright Wing.” A wide grin spread across her lips, “It’s captain Nalyra now. And if you ever change your mind about the sea, there’s always room on my ship for women that want to claim their freedom. Perhaps sailing under a different captain would suit you better.”

tovaana

[tovaana]

Tomilyn;

She waved a hand dismissively at the apology – and was distracted by orders as she thought about the last thing Nalyra had said. The absence of opportunity for women… it felt like something solid in the pit of her stomach, hard to swallow – but she’d already swallowed it. How could she get rid of it? Rid her self of the hold, yet keep her family with her? Not that keeping family was a sure thing, she reminded herself bitterly at the thought of her brother. His death had seemed needless.

Her eyes glanced sideways at the woman, her lips tight, but she kept her eyes and ears on the men and their orders. “I don’t have any boat to float.” She muttered under her breath, mostly to herself.

When she finally had turned her attention more fully on Nalyra, she felt more apprehension, perhaps at being judged by a woman who was more free than herself. She hadn’t realized she’d held Nalyra in such high regard and it made Tomilyn resent her all the more. Still, she grinned tightly at her and glanced over at the woman that Nalyra had exchanged glances with. Apparently she had found it funny too. Tomilyn tried relaxing, telling herself that Nalyra had done nothing but live her dream for her.

“Captain?” Tomilyn mirrored Nalyra’s grin, but there was more disbelief in her own. Her eyes widened a little and she gawked. Tomilyn didn’t gawk, so she shook herself of it and it wasn’t hard, since she was offering Tomilyn her own freedom. “Really?” She asked too quickly, too excitedly, and shook her head as if realizing what she’d done too late. Her brother’s death replayed vividly in her mind. But she also couldn’t bring herself to deny such an opportunity, either. “Congrats, Captain.” She said, emphasizing the Captain with a more genuine smile.

“I’ll uh, get that order in for ya. I’ll be back with orders and…I’ll think about that freedom.”

She turned and left without a pause, feeling her emotions threaten to get the most of her, as she thought again of her brother, dead. He and her hadn’t been that close, not as close as her brothers closer to her age… but as the oldest brother, he’d had that protectively brotherliness that she’d both resented and secretly loved. Could she be part of a crew again? Especially because she knew what Nalyra’s brother’s crew – and probably herself on her own ship, led a life similar to her father’s. Most did, the kind that passed through their small port.

The woman mulled this over, lost in her thoughts as she did things like mix drinks and take the alcohol out before the food was done. Then she help her mother with the food, and started taking plates out, purposefully serving Nalyra’s table last.

She set the last plate done in front of Nalyra and dragged one of the few empty chairs over near her, dangling her folded arms over the back of it, facing the woman, possible her new idol. The red-head was quiet, the loud buzz of people numbing as she wrestled the answer on the tip of her tongue.

“Not sure I can handle being in a crew ‘gain.” She said, pursing her lips thoughtfully. “But, can I join you for a bit?” See places, be places other than the hole of her home. She’d only been out at sea, never anywhere but her small hold. Not really anyways, only glimpses from the ship during those two turns, her father played overly cautious, especially with her. Even if he allowed her the time on the boat, she could tell he hadn’t treated her like her brothers.

[Zen]

Nalyra

The girl’s disbelief at the news was probably just a fraction of how Nalyra had felt herself when it had happened. She hadn’t truly believed the men would vote for her, that they’d be able to swallow masculine pride and follow a woman, but they had. Tomilyn’s eagerness at her offer had her raising an eyebrow, but then the woman congratulated her and turned, returning to her job for the time being, and Nalyra watched her go curiously. So much for life at sea not being for her. There was something else that had driven her back, but Nalyra couldn’t begin to guess what it was. Perhaps she really did just need to sail under a different captain, a different crew.

“Do you think she’ll really want to join you?” Yelanna asked curiously, “Did you mean it when you made the offer?”

Nalyra snorted derisively, “I don’t make offers I don’t mean. And that girl’s got too much fire in her to let it fizzle and die in a place like this. I hope she joins us. I’d hate to see a good woman tamed. And it’d be nice to have more women in the crew… particularly one that Treyjen hasn’t infected yet.” She eyed Yelanna pointedly at that.

Yelanna rolled her eyes, “Honestly. You’re the one that pushed me to act on my feelings in the first place.”

“Only because you were holding yourself back like some demure little holder girl and it pissed me off,” Nalyra shot back, “If only I’d had my own ship already, maybe I could have saved you, but it was too late so what was the use in denying yourself what you wanted?”

Yelanna waved her hand dismissively, “I swear you’re the most contrary person I’ve ever met.”

Nalyra grinned, “Good, it keeps you on your toes, doesn’t it?”

“Pff,” Yelanna shook her head, “Gives me a near constant headache is what it does.”

“Mm… at least if Tomilyn joins me I can keep her away from Treyjen, though she seems like she has more sense where men are concerned than some people I know,” her grin only broadened as she teased her friend.

“I think you pushed me toward him just so you could make fun of me for it for the rest of my life,” Yelanna rolled her eyes again and Nalyra laughed, not at all denying the accusation, but as Tomilyn was heading back over she let the conversation drop.

She took a thoughtful bite of her food as she watched the girl pull up a chair, looking thoughtful herself, and considered her request with a furrowed brow. “Hm… we’re not exactly accepting passengers, Tomilyn… but if you’re willing to work while you’re aboard I suppose you can come along until you decide just what it is you want.” She didn’t make the offer lightly, but she liked Tomilyn and didn’t want to see her wither away here. “We’ll be sailing on to Mavros tomorrow, so make sure you gather anything you want to take with you tonight.” With a wave of her hand to indicate the mass of drinking men around them, she continued, “It won’t be an early morning with this lot’s plan to drink everything in sight. I imagine we’ll leave about midday. If you’re not on the Bright Wing by then, I’ll take it that you’ve changed your mind.”

tovaana

[tovaana]

Tomilyn;

Tomilyn felt her stomach stir with shame. Of course they weren’t accepting passengers, it hadn’t been the offer Nalyra had put on the table. It had been presumptuous to think otherwise. She managed to keep the embarrassment in her stomach and away from her face, keeping that bit of her pride in tact. She simply nodded with the smallest hint of a frown.

“Uh’course, I just…” She interjected after Nalyra had corrected Tomilyn with the offer, thinking of her brother. She’d never been close to anyone else, but she liked Nalyra, and she also imagined getting close to those in the crew and watching them die. Death was a part of life, she supposed, but was it necessary to put oneself at such risk? Purposefully? 

She listened as she told her about their plans, already thinking of how she’d pack her bag, and the choice things she’d bring with her – the things she wouldn’t want to leave behind… was leaving family as terrible as death? No, she could always find a way back, especially if she joined Nalyra’s crew, they were familiar, they’d been at Tunnelsnake Tavern, which meant they’d return, and in turn – that Tomilyn could see her family again. The main goal of course was freedom. Even at sea her father had not treated her like her brothers, not with the same privileges and with more tedious and boring work, keeping her from wandering the villages as often as she would have liked when they had stopped for trading their goods. 

Her mind was on a distracted course, and her eyes followed the wave of her hand to the crew and smiled distantly, a distracted chuckle faded to a nod. “I’ll come. I’ll join you…” It was a generous offer, and she only wished she could give back. “Address you as Captain and everything.” She smiled, but then pursed her lips. “I’ll work hard, I can do that…but you sure you want me? You don’t really know me an’ all… and I know what it means, adding to your crew and whatnot.” She knew she was an asset, she had that confidence, but how could Nalyra? 

[Zen]

Nalyra

The younger woman hesitated for a moment and Nalyra was figuring she would have to wait until tomorrow to see if she showed up or not, but Tomilyn settled on her decision after all. She grinned as Tomilyn said she’d called her captain and everything. It wasn’t something she needed, but she did quite like being referred to as captain. It was a nice reminder of how far she’d come and the respect she’d earned. Her brow raised as Tomilyn questioned whether she really wanted her to join after all, and then furrowed in mild annoyance at having her decision questioned, “If I hadn’t meant it I wouldn’t have said it. I don’t say things just to be nice.”

Yelanna laughed and Nalyra slapped her friend’s shoulder before she could make some smart comment. “You’ve already been to sea so I imagine you’ll be more useful aboard than some of our new recruits we’ve had,” she shot a pointed look at Yelanna before continuing, “And I’ve been stuck before in a situation I wasn’t happy with. This crew gave me freedom. So I suppose I have a soft spot for wild spirited women wanting something different than whatever future’s been laid out for them. I’m willing to give you a chance, anyway… to figure it out for yourself and not be limited by… this.” She waved her hand again, indicating Tomilyn’s life here in general, “If you decide you want to come back, then at least it will be your decision and not something you’re stuck with.”

A sudden poke on her arm had her turning back to Yelanna, only to see her grinning, “Just trying to figure out where that soft spot of yours is supposed to be.”

Nalyra rolled her eyes and slapped her hand away, turning back to Tomilyn, “Look, I don’t just go around inviting anyone I meet to join my crew. But seeing as I’m giving you the chance to join willingly rather than at the end of a blade, I figure I can trust you a bit more, aye? Don’t gotta worry about you getting stab happy with my crew? As long as you put in the work, you’ll be welcome aboard. You don’t even have to do anything too dangerous, if you don’t want. My brother’s crew takes care of most of that, we’re just cleanup, and some of the crew have to stay back with the ship even then. Anyway it’ll be a while before we head back out to sea once we reach Mavros so you’ll have plenty of time for yourself. There’s a big important vote for the new Lord Holder there at turn’s end and Treyjen wants to make sure the crew’s ashore for it so we’ll be there a couple months. If you find you like it better there, you’re free to stay when we leave, and if not, you’ll be free to come with us. That’s the point right? Freedom to make your own choices. I, for one, will just be glad to have another woman at sea for a while. There’s few enough of us as it is and intelligent conversation is lacking for it.”

Her gaze shifted to a few of the closest men chugging ales, her features giving away her distaste. She cared about the men in her crew like family but that didn’t mean she didn’t think they were idiots half the time, or stop her from wishing for a little female company on occasion. With Yelanna and Reyene on Treyjen’s ship, and Grietta and Kholeeni on Karosh’s, she was the only woman aboard the Bright Wing. But the others were all attached to men on the other ships, and the fact that two of her best friends had chosen men over her was beyond irritating even after all this time. She offered Tomilyn another grin, “So maybe my reasons are a bit selfish too.”

tovaana

[tovaana]

Tomilyn;

An eyebrow rose and she grinned at the woman’s impatient remark. Tomilyn didn’t say things just to be nice either, not usually. She could respect that, but it didn’t quell her curiosity still the same. She supposed she could be okay with just knowing that Nalyra meant what she said, that could be enough… Yelanna’s laugh caught her off guard just as Tomilyn was nodding in an understanding manner.

She glanced between Nalyra and Yelanna, curious at their relationship and what about the small gesture on Yelanna’s part had spurred Nalrya on to speak more. Whatever it was, her gaze lingered gratefully on Yelanna’s before keeping her attention on her new Captain, trying not to think much about being on a pirate’s ship. Already she was fooling her mind into thinking it would not be the same, not like her father’s ship – and already she knew this was true, just by the way Nalyra described her desire for Tomilyn’s freedom. It made her feel a little uneasy and how much Nalyra observed and understood about her predicament, but there was more admiration than unease.

Tomilyn glanced at Yelanna, amusement dancing her in expression at the exchange, but the amusement died as Nalyra spoke of heavier things. Things that reminded her of her brother’s death. She let out an unconscious breath when she said that she didn’t have to do more of the dangerous things. Tomilyn didn’t like the idea of her being thought of as weak, so she would fight… but, maybe she’d have time to mourn her brother, mourn her previous life, before jumping in with a sword again. The idea of ‘time to herself’ seemed… well, she couldn’t right imagine what that entailed. To do… what? She had imagined so many things, listened to so many stories, but for the first time in a long time her imagination came up blank.

“Selfish or not, I’ll be honored to join ya. I ‘pologize for questioning your offer.” She supposed honesty should be paid with honesty, though she wasn’t sure it would matter much to the woman who seemed much more important than her. “I just had me brother die… in battle. T’is why I’ve come home…but…” She shook her head, her curly mess of hair shifting with the motion. “Not what I want…not really. I did enjoy being at sea, I think I’d much rather you as Captain, though. And not sure what I’ll do with all that time to meself.” She grinned with a shake of her head, her fragmenting words reflecting her earlier thoughts. “I better go pack then, and settle loose ends with my family. If you don’t mind me takin’ my leave.”