Feb 14 - No One Is Immune To Love

Panel One:
"An' I only 'ad two of these..." Ariah gestured with the almost empty bottle in her hand while Scroop scooped her up into his arms.

He knew from experienced that Ariah was prone to getting into trouble. The fact that this was her first time being complete drunk out of her wits only made him more concerned.

"Yer so nice, Scroopy, y'know that?" Ariah plucked Scroop's toque from his head and managed to pull it over her head without dropping her bottle of alcohol.

Scroop did nothing to stop Ariah, as he was busy carrying her, other than give her a disapproving frown.

"Every one says yer so tough, y'know?" Ariah gave him a wide smile, her eyes bright from the amount of alcohol she had consumed. "But I can see, riiight through you, y'know... I know yer a good guy Scroopy."

Scroop couldn't do anything other than roll his eyes as he made his way to Ariah's sleeping quarters. He wasn't planning on giving her any of his hangover remedies once she sobered up, hoping that she'd learn her lesson.

Panel Two:
"I've been the captain's first mate for several years now..." Gordan Ortona boasted as Ariah mopped the main deck, "It's only a matter of time before I'll be the captain of my own ship."

"Really?" Ariah worked out a particularly stubborn spot from the deck before leaning against her mop to rest. "Would you happen to be hiring then."

The red jacketed man smirked, glancing over his shoulder at the scullery maid. "Perhaps I could use a sailor of your calibre, depending on if I find your work ethic to my pleasing."

Ariah smiled, "You won't be disappointed, sir."

The smirk didn't leave his face, "you may address me as Gordon, if you please Miss Clarke. I think formalities aren't really necessary if you're going to be my first mate sometime in the future..."

Ariah's heart skipped a beat at the sound of the title. She nearly dropped her mop in surprise. "Yes sir, er- Gordon... you can count on me. Oh, and call me Ariah."

Gordon nodded, still smirking, and walked back towards his quarters, ignoring the crimson arachnid that had been watching their exchange.

Panel Three:
“I was so stupid…” Ariah gave the wall of the crew’s quarters a good kick, ignoring the pain that zapped up her leg. Her copper-brown eyes watered a little.

Ariah balled up her fists and began to unleash her rage on the wooden panelling of the crew’s quarters.

“He was- playing me- for a fool- and I couldn’t- even- tell!” She said between punching and kicking the wooden wall.

“Ariah, stop!”

Ariah shook her head, turning from the wall and running towards her hammock. “I was so stupid!” She repeated as she angrily went through her duffel bag, tossing her clothes aside as she searched for something. “I didn’t listen to you or to Silver, an- and you were both right,” she grasped the object that was dear to her, “and I was just so stupid!”

She raised her hand to smash the object, wanting nothing more in her berserk rage to destroy things. Before she could bring down her hand to crush the frail object against the floor of the crew’s quarters, a pincer lightly grasped her wrist.

“Ariah.” Scroop’s voice was calm when compared to that of the emotional wreck.

Ariah looked up at Scroop, meeting his golden eyes.

“You are not stupid,” Scroop said firmly.

Tears formed in Ariah’s copper-brown eyes and she looked away. The hot tears ran down her cheeks and her anger dispersed.

Scroop released Ariah’s wrist, looking down at the young woman.

Ariah gently set the fragile book in her duffel bag as the tears dripped from her cheeks, dotting the fabric of her trousers. She tried to wipe away the tears, only to result in more tears. She finally wrapped her arms around her legs and cried into her lap.

“I’m sorry, Scroop…” Ariah wept. “I should’ve listened to you.” She looked up at the arachnid tearfully. “Y- You were right all along.” She sniffled.

Rather than give the smug ‘I told you so’ lecture that Ariah expected, Scroop crouched down and wrapped his arms around her, holding held her close.


***

My contest entry for the "Love Is In the Air" contest at ...

Featured here are some scenes taken out of my fanfic 'Tell Me What Freedom Truly Means'.

(Watch out if you choose to zoom in, this thing's HUGE!)

Gallery Folder: right here

Rules of the Challenge: The entry in my journal named: "Challenge... Accepted!"