forum [I've got title block]

Started May 05, 2019 by @croccin-champagne

tune

Catori released his shirt, nodding as she watched the whale disappear under the surface, returning the stars to their place. "That's good? I've got to insist you stop calling me Lady though."

“My apologies, Miss Catori.” Damian replied swiftly, completely missing her point as he smoothed out his shirt.

Catori sighed, shaking her head as she took a step back. "Just Catori works. Anything more makes me feel like an impostor." She leaned back against the railing, eyes on the stars now.

“Are you married? If so, my deepest apologies. I didn’t mean to offend, I didn’t see a ring so I assumed you were a maiden, but it is understandable that you shouldn’t want to lose sometching so priceless at sea.” Damian, oblivious as always, gazed at her worriedly, his mouth flattened out into a stressed line.

Catori blinked, eyes widening as she looked down at him. "Wha-no no no. I just-" She shook her head, finding herself at a bit of a loss for words suddenly. "I'm not married. It just feels too formal to me."

“Too formal?” Damian paused in the middle of fixing his hair, confused by the concept. “I meant you no discomfort if I overstepped my boundaries Lady—ahem um… Catori.” He narrowed his eyes in confusion, trying to adjust to this. “I was aware that some do not like their titles presented to them.”

"That's just the thing." Catori said with a laugh, raising an eyebrow at his confusion. "I don't really have a title. Unless you've got one for commoner. You didn't overstep anything, don't worry."

Damian bit back a protest with a nod. “If you wish, Catori.” He went back to smoothing out his hair, testing her name out on his tongue.

Catori's smile brightened as he managed to say her name, without an added title. "Thank you." She watched him fiddle with his hair a moment, before speaking back up. "What are you doing?"

“Me?” Damian’s face grew a little flushed as he realized he’d asked a stupid question. “The salt from the ocean water tends to rouse my hair into revolution against me.” He smiled a bit stiffly, giving up on his hair out of embarrassment.

"It looks fine, you know." Catori said, studying his hair for a moment before looking back at the sky. She was smiling, a bit amused. "If it makes you feel better, the salt doesn't do anyone's hair any favors."

Damian pawed at his hair once or twice more before giving up. “It is rather unbearable, I must admit. I miss baths.” He sighed, gazing at the open ocean in front of them.

"Too bad it's not long enough to braid." Catori mused, playing with the pendant of her necklace. "A bath would be absolutely divine right now. They really should figure out how to work that on a ship."

“I sincerely agree.” Damian offered a small smile up in return. “I also don’t think my hair has ever been longer than this.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “I simply hope we land soon, I fear I’ll run out of shaving gel before the week ends.

"That'd be a sight to see." Catori said, looking over at her with a slight teasing undertone to her voice. "The great Damian Marcuse, with stubble."

“Don’t even say it.” Damian teased lightly. “I’ll look like some street ruffian.” He shuddered at the thought. “A figment of my most terrible nightmares.”

"You say, to a 'street ruffian'." Catori shook her head, laughing softly. "Stubble might be a good look on you, you know. Add some edge to the soft wealthy look."

Damian’s jaw dropped. “Absolutely not.” He insisted, touching his face to make sure it was still smooth.

Catori raised an eyebrow, her playful smile growing. "I don't know…if something happens…" She looked up to the sky, faking an innocent expression. "That maybe…causes you to be unable to find your shaving gel…."

“It would be terribly unladylike for you to enter my sleeping quarters for any reason.” Damian deadpanned, his eyes narrowed.

"While I never once claimed to be a lady, I have no intent of stealing anything of yours." Catori said, letting out a definitely un-ladylike snort. "You can rest easy tonight."

“I don’t think I can rest easy as long as we’re at sea.” Damian murmured. “There are lots of voices… all the time.” He muttered to himself, his eyes fixated on the waves. The muffled voices of the millions of fish below kept him up often as of late.

Catori's brows furrowed with a frown, and she stepped away from the railing to dig through one of her pouches. "I might have something for sleep aid…technically works as a sedative, too, but that's beside the point. Ah ha! Valerian root."

“I am perfectly fine without being sedated…” Damian eyed her warily, subtly taking a step back. “I think I ought to return to my cabin anyways.”

Catori looked up, quirking an eyebrow, and then hurried to smooth things over. "It's not a bad thing. I use it fairly often myself, when I've gone too long without sleep." She reached up, tapping the dark shadow under her right eye. "I'm just running a bit low."

“Then it would be cruel of me to take from your supply.” He insisted, still a bit suspicious. “I’m afraid I must bid you goodnight anyhow. Dawn will touch the sky far too soon.” He spun on his heel, his footsteps silent as the gulls soaring overhead.

Catori sighed, placing the small bag back in her pouch. "Try and get some sleep, Damian." She called after him, turning back to the water. Sleep would be evading her for a bit longer, that was for sure.

“I made no promises.” He called back before vanishing under the deck, retreating swiftly to his quarters.