Cocktail Cruise on the River

[Seraphina]

She had been looking for something to do that evening. Wanting to get out and maybe dance, or maybe meet someone, she wasn’t picky. So when she came across the ad for the Cocktail Cruise, she knew she had to go. And while she didn’t drink, the idea of mingling on a ship with a DJ was totally her.

Activity found, now the next problem was what to wear. She stand in front of her closet pulling dresses out, looking them over, then putting them back. Finally a black dress was settled upon. It was summery, but not overkill. There was see through lace detail here and there, giving it a sexy appeal, but remaining classy. Strappy heels, red lips and her hair long and flowing completed her look.

Walking onto the boat, she didn’t see anyone she recognized, but the night was just getting started! The DJ was already in full swing, music could be heard and dancing had already began. First stop was the bar for a cranberry and sprite before heading out to take in the city. With the sun having set, the sides of the river were lit up from various businesses and whatnot, giving the feel of something magical. Well, at least to her.

Long legs carried her to a railing, where she smiled, breathing in the evening air in as she takes a sip. The wind gently blowing her long hair.

[Seraphina]

Glamour Spent to Harden Mask

[Ingrid]

Ingrid is on the cruise as well, but whereas the Fairest has chosen an attractive black dress, the Darkling has opted for a pair of black leggings and a white shirt of sheer material, hunting at the lacy undergarments beneath. Closed shoes with heals complete her look, along with the sunglasses perched carefully on her head. Ingrid has her back to the railing, staring inward across the deck.

By the smile on her face, one could assume that she is simply enjoying watching the gently moving crowd as they break into clusters, moving as lazily as the ship upon which they stand. From the tilt of her head, Ingrid is probably watching the loud company of college-age people who are making a good time of it.

When Sera moves to the rail, Ingrid shifts her posture.

"Well look at you!" Ingrid purrs.

[Seraphina]

She must have been lost in her own little world to have not seen Ingrid.

But a wide smile appears as she hears her Queen, turning to learn sideways against the rail, “Why thank you.” Replies the Nix, “You are certainly a site for eyes this evening, that shirt is amazing!” it was not only cute, but looked like it would be comfortable.

“How’ve you been?”

[Ingrid]

"Oh getting out and about. Getting noticed." Ingrid snickers.

"Its all part of a plan. If I'm going to be doing what I'll be doing I need to lay down the groundwork first. Suffice to say, I think the interesting part is done. And form now it will all be paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork." She sighed and made a face.

"All totally boring, I assure you."

She takes one last look at the college kids and focusses on the Fairest more fully. "And you? What have you been up to?" Mischief and curiosity gleamed in her eyes. "Anything juicy?"

[Seraphina]

The tiny straw was brought to her lips and a sip was taken as she listened.

“Ah, how’s that gone?” Sera still needed to go out and setup some contacts.

Nodding, “Paperwork, no fun there. But if you need any help or something, give me a call, always ready to help.” Especially when it came to her Queen.

Laughing, “It can’t all be boring!” though she supposed to could be boring if it was something you had to do over and over. That could get old.

Smirking, “Not too juicy I’m afraid, a girl doesn’t kiss and tell. Well, tell too much.” She says with a chuckle and a wink. “Just getting out and trying to setup some local contacts. Been dragging my butt too long on those. But then again, there are other more fun and interesting things to do.” Least she thought so.

“How’s the new job going? Settling into it well enough?” she was Springs new Queen after all.

[Iseult]

Not far from where the Lost were talking, another woman walked over to lean against the rail. Though, unlike the Lost, the woman's demeanor was far from calm. She stood facing the water, with both hands grasping the rail, her grip so tightly that her knuckles bled white and muscle visibly strained beneath the skin of her arms and shoulders. And, though it was clear that her top and shorts had been chosen to show off her athleticism, the words she spoke made it equally clear that aesthetics were the furthest thing from her mind.

"...if I die, while I roam,
box me up, send me home,
tell them all I did my best,
even though I'll never find my rest..."

The poem fell silent, and the woman began to rock back and forth, her long braids swaying with each movement, her momentum seeming to carry her farther and farther forward, but then, just as suddenly, the swaying stopped and the woman relaxed with a strained sigh.

"I shouldn't have come," she muttered, her eyes still fixed out on the water.

"Do you know when we dock again?" she asked, then, abruptly turning to address the two Lost that were with her at the railing.

[Ingrid]

"Well I seem to be. Doesn't seem like a heavy weight at all." Ingrid grinned. "But I got you guys to thank for that."

Whatever the Darkling had intended to say died soon after, as her eyes locked onto the other woman at the rail. Ingrid raised a hand a shielding hand and studied the rocking woman; her smile shrank into a line.

"Oh honey! Hey, you alright? Uh yeah. Ah you best not do that... You'll pitch over the side and..."

But Ingrid hadn't made a move, not yet. She does when the woman with braided hair turns on them abruptly. It was either that or jump from fright.

"Ah. No. Could be soon though? I mean, Old Sacramento is coming up, right?" She nodded in the direction of the east bank. "Hey... Eh. Maybe you should sit down if you're feeling off." A beat. Ingrid's eyes flashed. "Um. Nice rhyme. You a rapper or something?" The last was added with hast - anything to draw the other woman's attention away from her roiling stomach.

"I'm Ingrid. This is Sera. You are...?"

[Seraphina]

She was about to answer Ingrid, when the earthy woman drew her attention. And it wasn’t just her odd way of rocking back and forth, but she had a rhythmic feel to her voice.

Sapphire eyes blink a few times before she hears her Queen speak again, addressing the weird woman.

Shaking her head, “I’m also not sure when we’ll dock again. Are you feeling sick?” concern falling upon the Nix’s face and mixing with her angelic voice, “Maybe some water would help?” she asks as Ingrid instructs her to sit down. Which was for the best, cause if she went over, then the whole night would suck. Cause someone would have to go after her, and then no one wants to party anymore.

Long legs quickly carry the Treasured over to the bar to get some water. Rejoining the two, she smiles and offers the cup, “Here, maybe this will help.” Seemed Ingrid had already introduced them, so she doesn’t repeat her name, just silently waits for the womans name. Or no name, depending on if she was feeling friendly.

[Iseult]

Most people wouldn't consider a grunt to be polite, particularly when it served in place of the words 'thank you', but were those words anything but a noise, and could another noise not take its place? Perhaps it was because the two other women were Lost that they understood, or perhaps it was because the sound Iseult made when she accepted the water was just, somehow, that expressive that her gratitude was still made clear.

She didn't drink it, though, only grasped it between her hands.

"I'm not a rapper, except when I am," she replied, accepting the offer to crouch down and lean her back against the bow of the ship than continue to hold onto it.

"My name is Iseult. I'm sorry for interrupting. There's just not enough room on this boat. I fucking hate boats. Boats and ships. Feels like I've spent years on ships. Hard to find comfort when you can't even count on what's beneath your feet to stay still. Hard to find comfort when you're surrounded by metal and paint, and all the smells that have spent so long seeping into them. I thought it wouldn't matter. I thought the lure of company, and music, would be enough, but I hate it."

She let the rant die for a moment, and took a quick sip of the water, hoping it would help calm the bile in her stomach, though it wasn't bile brought on by seasickness.

"Have you ever tested your courage, only to find that you fail?" she asked then, looking up at the other two. "Have you come across a time when you learn that you're just as weak as you feared you were?"