Sefu observes his three and a half companions on the road, silently gaining an understanding of each.

Savon is the half, small in stature and making up for it by their boisterous personality. They move quickly, always quickly, and weave their way seamlessly through both conversation and life. A pickpocket and a thief, Sefu has an eye for their talents. They’re someone who would have been both an asset and a liability on the seas. They’ve always got a quip or a jab and seem to have a hobby for getting under people’s skin. This seems to work best on the only one worse than them: Charlie.

Charlie is an East Istrian noble, and that usually says enough about a man, but this one is more than smooth insults and underhanded means. This one is petty and angry and contentious, eager to separate from them and make his way back into what was likely the lap of luxury. He does pay mind to the woman who brought them together, though, as her persistent nature has managed to drill through his thick skull.

Her name is Thandi and she is poisonously cheerful. This is the sort of person he and Fadir would never allow on a ship— her personality and optimism extends into the ridiculous. Her strangeness also makes it infinitely more difficult to understand her motives. Sefu accepted his role, yes, in the interest of the power it could afford him. He let himself get whisked away after telling Fadir to take care of the ship.

He sighs as he pulls out his pipe. A small fire sparks to life, hovering over the finger of a young teen Outsider girl. Hinata. Sefu leans forward to accept the light, puffing a touch as his pipe tobacco begins to glow red. “Mister Sefu sir,” she says, “Are you hungry?”

“Hmmm.” He takes a long draw on his pipe, a gift from Fadir. He does miss the man at times, and this would be one. “I could eat.”

Hinata smiles at him and bobs slightly, politely, before moving to Thandi’s side to get a bowl of soup for him. She is a good girl from the frozen part of Hokuto, off edgewise of the Disc. Her family taught her well, though she’s prone to being a teenager at times, she has a good head on her shoulders. She returns to give him a bowl and he nods his thanks. 

Hinata bows once more before returning for her share. Sefu takes another long pull. Savon is eating heartily. Charlie is refusing to touch the dish. And Thandi seems to have forgotten to count herself among those needing food. He watches Savon laugh and Hinata offers to split hers, until Charlie butts in to simply give her his bowl.

Hmm. It will take more time to understand.

The soup, at least, is good.

At this, Anahera lets a smile curve on her lips. He is an Istrian noble, after all, and men like this always want to be demeaned or humiliated— at least in her experience. She chuckles, though. Charles Vanderbee is a tish outside of the norm from what she’s observed and she knows better than to trust what’s on the surface. “Let’s make this interesting. I’ll bet you five hundred gold that he’s an absolute top.”

“Where in all the disc are ya gonna be pullin five hundred gold? Last I checked, you have forty silver and a shaker’s wortha copper.”

“I told you if you go through my bag one more time…!”

“Well, it weren’t once. I’ll take it. Five hunderd.”

“Better be ready to pay up.”

“Like we’ll ever get to find out.”

five years later

“Aren’t you a good girl? You work so very hard, dearest…”

Savon stands, pale-faced in front of the door at the end of the hall. Anahera smirks at them, a spark in her eye that says I haven’t forgotten. Both of them have to be careful not to make any noise and risk alerting the couple in their inn room of eavesdroppers. Whoever gets caught gets the ire of Briar and no one wants to shit on the honeymoon phase of the newly reunited couple.

So Savon can’t even argue with Ana on it.

“Oh! F-feels! So good! Yes! Briaaar!!“

“You can’t come yet, beloved. I’m not done with you yet.” It’s not fair that the virgin couple get to have wild monkey sex right now while Savon has to come up with five hundred gold!!