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[Tiruin]

Jesseo let the others speak before realizing a very subtle, very mundane idea.

She spoke quietly to Lucrezia.

"Why didn't you say that you only had a small wardrobe? You could've told me that earlier--I have extras here if you need them."

[GiglameshDespair]

Quietly, Luc "whispered" to Jesseo.
"_{Y-you're larger than I am. I-it didn't come up in conversation a-anyway. I-I've managed, j-just Stheno... I-I c-couldn't say no.}"

Slightly louder, she spoke to Stheno.
"Y-yes, I-I'll p-play cards."

[mastahcheese]

Kalum heard the offer to play cards.

"...Why not. Sure."

[mastahcheese]

Kalum headed over to the person holding the cards.

"...So what card games do you know?"

[SeriousConcentrate]

Beryn looked the new guy over.

"More'n a few. Poker and two or three variants, including Suden Hold 'Em, blackjack, go fish, hearts, solitaire, Zeekonrik slap - that last one's kinda stupid, but I was a youngin' when I learned it and I doubt any of us never did nothing stupid as a kid. Heard of bridge but never played it, sounded complicated."

"So that's me, Elanore, Stheno, Lucrezia, and New Guy. Poker's probably best for five if you ask me. Wanna head below deck and clear off a table?"

[GiglameshDespair]

"O-ok.. if you c-can t-teach me how to p-play."

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Sure can! Here, let me show you the cards."

Beryn went through the deck with Lucrezia.

"There are four suits, with numbers two through ten and four 'face' cards: jack, queen, king, and ace. I'll talk about combinations next, but assuming no one has any, the highest card is the ace. So if no one has any combos, then anyone holding an ace wins. If no one has an ace, then a king, and so on down the line."

"Having two of any number or face card is one pair, the lowest combo in poker. Next is two pair, where you have two sets of two. If, say, you and I both have one pair, then if one of us has a higher number pair like you have aces and I have threes, then you win. Pretty much the same for two pair. Then there's three of a kind, like having three kings or so. Next is the straight, where you have a hand that goes in order. Like having a four-five-six-seven-eight straight. Higher is always better."

"Then there's the flush. With a flush, all you need is for all five cards to be the same suit. So if you have all diamonds, then you have a flush. After that is the full house, which is basically a pair of one number and three of a kind of another number. So, say, a pair of nines and three sevens, like that. Then the last two things are a straight flush - having five sequential cards in the same suit - and the royal flush, which pretty much the same as the straight flush except the cards are ten through ace."

The hunter demonstrated the various hands as he explained them to her.

[Haspen]

Ethan unlocked the steering wheel and the sails were set by his crewmembers. And the voyage east, one that will forever change everything, have truly began...

Next five days came and went in atmosphere of camaderie. Card games made Beryn rich in money before he lost it all again. The seas were calm, but soon they were alone. The seagulls, the messengers of land, have stayed behind, close to the shore. Dolphins, sea creatures aplenty at Pleiades, were absent in this unknown, vast region of the sea as well.

Ethan kept watch of the direction, in the night seeking help at the stars. With Wandered at his lleft hand and the Sisters at his right, he knew that they were managing to hold the truly eastern course quite well.

Fifth night came... and so did the dark clouds.

In the morning, the whole ship was creaking as the tall waves smashed against its hull. The dark, thick clouds lingered at the sky, threatening to pour upon the small caravel...

Ethan kept the wheel steady, eyeing the uneven sea. Barry and Aiesha were at his side; the rest of the crew was under the deck, where Beryn's wyvern and Jesseo's horse were kept safe for now as well.

"You think it will be raining?" Ethan asked, no one in particular, with some annoyance in his voice. The winds were now stronger, and the air had this unpleasant warmth about it.

[Solymr]

: Cap'n, if yer askin' the sky, ya know the answer's gunna be "AYE" just 'cause ye asked for it!

[Blade Master Model 42]

Aiesha was looking straight ahead at the water, looking extremely tense. "...Lightning too. I feel pretty certain."

[Haspen]

"And there's nowhere to hide. I'm not even sure if and where is any land..." Ethan trailed off, looking uncertain.

Aiesha could feel observed from behind.

[Blade Master Model 42]

"There's always land back west. Of course, that'd-" Aiesha suddenly felt a presence behind her, and turned around, hand going to her dagger.

[Haspen]

Nothing was there! All that was behind the ship was the rough seas.

[Swordstar]

Cetus came up to the main deck to check on those up there, just in time to see Aiesha turning with her hand on her dagger.

"Uh, everything ok up here? I just came to make sure nothing was wrong and to report that everything's ok for now down below."

[Haspen]

When Cetus emerged, a big raindrop fell on Aiesha's nose.

And then it began to pour. Wind picked up as well.

"Oh, we're mightily decent, just look around how pleasant it is."

Aiesha felt observed once more, this time from the left hand side.