Victoria

Cyrus looked at Vincent unamused, and I almost couldn’t handle the serious expression on his face. I had to admit, I would feel bad if Vincent died because of me. “Well. You see good sir…” I yelped as Cyrus kicked me under the table.He never kicked me.

“Its getting late, we should probably head back to the ship.” He said, pulling out his wallet. He paid for the dinner, making us help pay for our own meals. We followed him outside, all of us slightly tipsy. We ambled towards the port, the sun had set and the stars shone brightly against the sky. Angelica and I helped Cyrus and Vincent, both who had drunk their entire jug of alcohol.

We luckily got back to the ship in one piece, Cyrus only tried to fight two people on the way, and one horse. “The bloody thing was questioning my leadership, I swear!” He growled.

“Yeah, yeah, Sir Cysalot.” I told him, waving him off. He got weird when he was drunk.

We hobbled back onto the deck of the ship, where Em and two other men were awaiting us. Em and Vincent immediately began speaking to each other in Korean as the two men walked up to Angelica.

“You’re home late,” One of them chuckled, nuzzling Angelica’s head. He sniffed the air around Cyrus, who was squinting at the man. “Are you drunk? I smell alcohol.”

“No!” Cyrus hissed, insulted. I rolled my eyes, why was he upset about the truth? “I’ll have your head if you question I, your captain, again!” He seethed, poking the man in the chest. The man looked at him in surprise, and it was clear Sir Cysalot was not a common sight here.

“Very well Sir, never again Sir.” The man forced out, looking at his crew mate for help.

His mate cleared his throat and smiled, turning his attention to me. “I don’t believe we have formally met. I’m Robert. You just joined the crew? Correct?”

Before I could answer Cyrus launched his fist (thank God it wasn’t his mech one) into the man’s stomach, sending him doubling over. He regained his composure and looked in surprise at Cyrus. Angelica and I were holding him back as he shouted slurs, luckily it wasn’t as bad as the horse incident. The crew mates just stared in shock. When will they learn? Cyrus literally chopped a man’s thing off for me, just, stop!

“I am so sorry, he is very drunk and uh. Well. Slightly overbearing.” I apologized while Angelica lead him to his cabin. I made a mental note of checking on him later. He had a bad habit of disappearing while drunk.

“Oh, well. Yes. Welcome to the crew.” Robert hurried off, probably afraid of getting punched anymore than he had been.

I sighed and headed down to my bedroom, Cyrus was going to ruin all my chances of getting a husband. Most of the crew was already asleep and when I got to my room Em was on her bed waiting. She watched me while I undressed and changed into my nightgown. Let’s be glad Cyrus is terrified of her.

“So,” she spoke softly, it was the first time she had spoken directly to me. “I heard you kissed Vincent?” I froze and turned, terrified. She was grinning. “So are you two a couple now?”

I blinked in surprise. “No! No! It was just a game, it was Angelica's fault reall-”

“Pity.” She interrupted, pouting. “Good night.” She turned over onto her side and closed her eyes, ending the conversation. “I won’t be able to corrupt his children.” Hey! With what she was thinking, they’d be my baby blob things too!

I waited until Angelica came in to go to bed, she looked tired and grumpy. “Cyrus is asleep, he blacked out after I hit him over the head with a lamp.” She sighed.

“I dunno, he’s pretty hard headed.” I advised her. “I should go do that as well, ya know. Make sure.”

She shrugged and climbed into the bed above Ems. She looked down for a moment then back up at me. “I… am sorry. I treated you as a rival and I realize that he never looked at me like that anyways.”

Oh shoot. She is talking about Cyrus, what do I do?! She doesn't know he is gay right? Or does she? What do I do if she does?

Angelica cleared her throat. “Is there a girl he is in love with?”

I looked at her blankly. “No… I don't believe so…” I didn’t know how I was supposed to feel right now.

“So I might still have a chance?” She looked so hopeful and innocent. I couldn't crush her heart like that.

“I don't know…” What do I do?!? “I think, while he loves you as a friend and he hasn’t told me about a female lover, I think he may be in love. And I don’t think you should continue to pursue him. You are a great, amazing, unbelievably loyal person, but I don’t think Cyrus will ever see you as more than a friend.” HE’S GAY! I mentally shout.

Her face was crestfallen, but she didn’t say anything. She nodded quietly and turned her back to me, blowing out the candle. I laid down in bed and stared up at the ceiling until I fell asleep.

I wanted to speak with Cyrus. But it wouldn’t be right for me to tell him about Angelica’s… Feelings.

Morning came quickly, and one glance at Em told me she hated the fact that sleep tended to pass ‘quickly’. The small girl was horrifying. Her beautiful long black hair was knotted and tangled, she had bags under her eyes, and she looked like she could kill you with a single glance. She looked like she wanted to kill you with a single glance at this rate. She brushed her hair out and got dressed after washing her face, she left the room without a word, presumably going to her beloved kitchen. I see it was a family trait.

“Is she always this terrifying?” I ask Angelica, who was back in her ‘I’ve been mauled by a bear’ state. Angelica looked down at me, and I swore I could see drool running down the side of her chin. Well great, I’m roommates with a demon, AND a drug addict.

Angelica flopped back onto her bed and fell back asleep. Well. That ended hat attempt at conversation. I followed Em’s footsteps and headed to the kitchen wear pig meat was roasting over the stove. It smelled delicious. Em smiled at me when I came in, though her eyes checked wherever I stepped for any sign of dirt. I removed my shoes, and she relaxed.

“What can I get you, future sister-in-law?” She asked cheerfully, seeming to forget that not ten minutes ago she had been a demon from the thirteenth pit of hell.

“Eggs and a slice of meat would be appreciated, and I am not your future sister-in-law.” I told her, eyeing the magnificent pork creation.

“Sure.” She said, answering with such a slight use of sarcasm I could tell it was an answer to my last statement. She sent me off with eggs anyways while she waited for the pork to finish.

I had just finished eating my breakfast when it happened. I heard a yell and Cyrus’s body came rolling down the stairs. He cursed and got up, rubbing the side of his head as he cursed continuously.

“Son of a bachelor.” He grumbled as he walked into the kitchen to recieve his breakfast. He walked back, his plate full. I eyed his nub of an arm curiously.

“Where’s your arm?” I ask him. He looked at his stub, and the look of realization crossed his features.

“God damn it!” He shouted, jumping to his feet. He seemed a bit confused as to which way he was going as instead of running up the stairs he ran into the kitchen, knocking over a pile of pans while he was at it. I heard several screams. He walked out with a spatula attached to the metal hook his arm connected too.

Em was screeching on the other side of the door, something about if he ever came into her kitchen again she would set fire to his ship.

“I OWN YOUR KITCHEN!” He snapped back at her through the door. He didn’t seem to care he was going to die.

“YOU BLOODY WHAT?! YOU THINK YOU OWN MY KITCHEN! I WILL ARM WRESTLE YOU FOR MY KITCHEN YOU UNCULTURED SNIVELING-” She proceeded to spout of so many curses it would make a sailor blush.

Cyrus looked into the kitchen, his face that of death. He raised his good arm up, and showed her the golden finger. “Make your own payments for it then.” He said, not caring to go through this process once again. I would bloody murder him myself if he broke his mech arm in an arm wrestle again.

“To cowardly to fight a girl?” She taunted, swaggering out of her kitchen.

Cyrus glared down at her. “Unable to pay?” He taunted as well. She glared up at him as well.

“Cyrus you know she won't give up until you fight her.” Angelica had come down and was watching from the safety of the stairs.

“I’m not going to deal with a butt hurt Vincent, Angelica.” Cyrus told her, ignoring the little puff ball of hate below him.

“You better not touch my little sister you perverted sushi,” Vincent slid past Angelica and leaned against the wall. He to, looked very hung over.

“I can guarantee you,” Cyrus said deadpan, looking at Vincent. “I have absolutely no interest in touching your sister.” I couldn’t tell if Vincent was insulted on Em’s behalf, or relieved.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. Bloody men. “Look Em. As idiotic as Cyrus is, he knows better than to go up against you. So, you go back to your kitchen while I give Cyrus here a stern lecture.” I told her. I put my hand on Cyrus’s mouth before he could say anything in protest. He waited ‘till after Em left the room to bite down on my hand.

I cried out and pulled my hand back, looking down at the bite marks. “You bit me!”

“If Cyrus wasn't so protective you could have guys biting you in more interesting places.” Angelica smirked. Cyrus took a minute to process that remark, but before he could do anything she ran away back onto the deck.

“ANGELICAAAA!!!” He growled as he ran out the door after her. Oh please don’t hit her. You’re still wearing a spatula.

Vincent avoided eye contact with me, still presumably unhappy about the kiss. He wandered into the kitchen and talked with Em. When he walked back, plate in hand, I frowned up at him. “Don’t tell me my kissing skills are that rusty?” I asked him. Cyrus, did not allow me much practice.

Vincent blushed, and gaped down at me. Stuttering unintelligible words. “Wha-I uh, no- um. Ye- I. Eh-”

Shoot I broke him. “Chill Vincent, I was joking.” He stopped stuttering, but didn’t stop blushing. He decided to stare intently at his piece of pork as Cyrus walked back into the room, and I could see a few of Angelica’s hairs in the spatula. Oh dear.

“Don’t tell me she’s dea-” I began, when Angelica walked in the room. Her hair was ruffled, she looked minorly annoyed but unhurt. “Wha- What?” I asked him. His expression didn’t change.

“What's happening today?” Vincent asked, clearly glad to change the subject.

Cyrus smiled and I knew immediately I would regret whatever he was going to say. “This mornin’, my good crew ma’es informed me of a ball going on tonigh’. All the high up, noble families will be there, everyone who will know about Wellington.” His accent was slowly coming back, and I could tell the hangover was wearing off bit by bit.

I crossed my arms. “I doubt we are invited then.”

His grin got even larger. “We are gonna sneak in! I’s a masquerade so it’ll be easy, no one will even know we aren't nobles. I sent a message to Mortiue this mornin’ askin’ if we coul’ borrow some dresses and sui’s.” Cyrus explained. I lowered my eyelids at him.

“You better be the one wearing the suit.” I warn him. He pouted.

“Wha’?! Tha’ was the bes’ paaarrrr’.” He whined, falling to his knees. I looked down at him. Pathetic, I thought.

“No. Dress.” I tell him through gritted teeth. He pouts.

“Fine. I won’ wear a bloody dress.” He sniffled, standing up. He wiped away at an imaginary tear. Vincent sat still for a moment, before something seemed to ‘click’ to him.

“What are we going to do about Cyrus’s accent? There’s no way any nobleman would speak like that.” He pointed out. Cyrus frowned while I grinned. “Not to mention that the noble class isn’t too overly ‘excepting’, of other races.” He added, gesturing to Angelica and himself.

“We can just keep him drugged the entire time.” I told him, referring to the first issue. Cyrus glared at me. “On the second matter...” I trailed off. I couldn’t exactly smack the color out of Vincent and Angelica. Cyrus seemed to realize something himself, and bit down on his lip with a smile.

“Mortieu and I can help you with tha’.” He giggled. Oh no.

“Or instead of doing whatever horrifying thing Cyrus has planned Angelica and I could just pretend to be your maid and manservant.” Vincent pointed out logically. Cyrus frowned at him.

“Then why did you even mention it...” Cyrus grumbled, pouting. He harumphed before standing up. “Come on then! We have to get you two fitted.” He said, gesturing at us. Vincent’s eyes widened in horror.

“You mean...” He trailed off. I nodded solemnly, confirming his fears.

“NOOOOO!!!”

***