Was It The Blonde In The Alley With A Spider

Posted on Fri May 1st, 2020 @ 6:46am by Captain Rueben Gregnol & Chief Helmsman Eden Bowers

Mission: Mission 11 - Prospecting
Location: New Laurium - Market
Timeline: MD 02 13:00
873 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Gregnol stood watching the crowds weave in and out of stools, bars and what he hoped were just gambling dens but suspiciously he thought were something a little more. He stopped dead as he saw someone familiar in the wrong part of the colony. What was she doing there?

“Oyi!” Gregnol found himself calling along the street as he saw the young woman weaving between people that were going against her. Why did she not just move to the side instead of going straight down the middle of the out coming miners? “Oyi… Bower.” He called again but this time managed to get close enough to lean out and grab her shoulder.

Eden jumped at first when she felt a hand on her and someone tugging her out of the way of oncoming people. She stiffened as if ready to defend herself but then looked at the person. "Oh hello Captain! How are you?"

"I am fine. But what are you doing? Did you know see you were a fish against the tide?" The man asked as a miner made a rude gesture at the pair pushed in front of him to the edge of the path. Eden was always a little unusual but he was sure she was just oblivious to everything.

"A fish?" She said looking confused for a second. "Oh yes, I guess I must have been going the wrong way. Wasn't paying too close of attention to where I was headed either. Where are we?" Eden glanced around her as if this was the first time she'd looked up in hours.

The man did not want to agree with her but she was completely going the wrong way. "Somewhere called Lisbon road I think. Somewhere I am pretty sure Jake would not like you being." Gregnol was not any of his crews keeper but he generally knew what was for the best of them.

"Oh?" Eden said glancing around. "Well I bought him something and I guess I was sort of looking for him in a roundabout way," She pulled out the knife to show Gregnol. "Think he'll like it?" It was a short double edged dagger blade, a light silver in color with a black wood handle. "It kind of reminds me of both good and bad for some reason."

The man quickly leant out and covered his hand over the knife so no one else would spot it. They did not need the bother of someone trying to steal it. To the Captain, it felt like that type of place and Gregnol did not like it and the thought of Eden being there. "I am sure he will." The man assured.

"Good, I thought so." Eden said as if his words had assured her. "So what are you up to? Anything I Can help with?" He seemed tense and it didn't dawn on her why but ever the helper she wanted to see if there was anything she could do to make it better.

"I was actually tracking something down here." He said honesty. "I was looking into the rumours around our friends who stole that ship." He had been hearing chatter around a Yeagar having come through New Laurium a week or two before them.

"And . . .," Eden looked at him very seriously. "Did you want help, or should I just find my way back somewhere? I don't want to bug you but if you need another set of eyes I'd be happy to lend them."

"Have not caught the person yet." The man shrugged. They would stumble across each other eventually. "I do not mind the company but you might not like the things you see down here." Gregnol knew he was an old hack at all of this now after his time being held by slavers but Eden was still pretty innocent and 150 years behind the times.

"Ah," Eden said indecisively. "Well . . . if you're sure you're okay I can go find something for Stan. I saw this wonderful protein mix I'm sure he'd love, probably full of other insects maybe even spiders but they're already dead and I didn't have to kill them. If I don't tell Stan he won't know right?" She replied cheerfully. "Can I leave this with you for a few minutes?" She turned to leave without waiting for an answer on her bag. "Captain," Eden said having turned around. "I wouldn't tell you this in front of the crew because you have a reputation to maintain. But, you're a big softie," she smiled at him and wandered off.

Gregnol just stared at her blankly as she started to talk about the damned spider, like he cared about it but it was adorable of her if he was honest. It was refreshing for her lack of filter but he really did not want to hear around the spider, he regretted every time it was mentioned letting it onboard. "Perhaps. Maybe you should discuss that with Jea." he mused watching as she wandered off. By the time the woman turned to come back the man was no stood where he had been only moments before.

OFF::

Eden Bowers
Chief Helmsmen
SS Mary Rose

Rueben Gregnol
Captain
SS Mary Rose