a calm morning

[alex]

Bryn's laughter died, but she still had a smile on her face. "You mean me. No, you won't do that to me." She put up innocent eyes but then placed a grin on her face. "And if I refuse, what are you going to do? Throw me in the cargo hold. I am a sorceress. I can zap you any time I want."

[Sinbad]

Sinbad finished his bread. „I guess I will have to live with the risk of that.” He said, half amused. The mood was not as tense as it had been a few moments ago, still there was something weird about the whole situation. Maybe it was because he had simply not joked like that for quite a while and he for a moment wondered what had gotten into him that this had changed at least for this while (Was it because this was yet another step of dealing with things? He didn´t reflect this deeply enough to come to the point that it maybe was, just like the shaving earlier had been a subconscious attempt to try and get back to a point where he once had been before things had startet to go downhill) or that he was not used to a Bryn that acted up against him like that. He wasn´t even sure whether he should be grateful for that or not. Joking was good, but it also brought back memories, therefore: A very double edged sword.

“And the cargo would be too boring. I´ll just get some ropes and have you dangle off the reeling head first.” He said, putting down the rest of his bread and thus deciding that he didn´t have the time for a decent and calm breakfast right now. “but I guess that will have to wait either way.”
He made his way towards the door, calling back as he left. “Take your time with breakfast. There should be enough people on deck.”

[alex]

Bryn was shocked. Sinbad planned to tie her up. Sinbad had a dirty mind. She shook her head in disbelief and sat back down. She took a peice of the bread on the table and broke a little portion. "Sinbad better watch what he says, or I will zap him," she mumbled while eating her bread.

[Doubar]

Doubar had to bite back a chuckle that was forming in his throat. Bryn really seemed to be appalled at what Sinbad had said. And how could she know that this was just the kind of humour the captain of the Nomad had once shown so often? It was his very own way of bantering with his crew and Doubar couldn't help but feel a wave of joy overwhelm him. He hadn't seen that sort of humour with the younger one for over a year, and hearing him now tease the sorceress that way was like ... like seeing the younger Sinbad return. And although Doubar was keenly aware the fact that there was more about that young and light-hearted man the captain had once been than just this bantering, he still couldn't fight back the warm feeling it gave him to see his little brother joke like that again.
Guess, there's still hope, he heard his own thought echo in his head and knew that it did not only refer to the younger one but to all of them.

Smiling broadly he turned back to Bryn. "I bet you would", he stated, letting a hearty laughter mix with his words.

[alex]

Bryn looked at Doubar surprised. At first her eyes were wide, but then she squinted at him. "Why do you say that? But maybe I should. That would show him to have more respect to females. Or at least to me."

[Doubar]

Doubar's laughter died in his throat. For a moment he just watched the young woman, trying to make out whether she was kidding or did really still take Sinbad seriously.
"He", he started - wondering about how he was to react on that now - but left the sentence unfinished. Could it be that she really believed Sinbad to have been honest? In order to play it safe, the first mate finally decided to start another way and smiled warmly at her.
"Oh, you know he respects you, Bryn. Or can you tell me a single event when he didn't?"

[alex]

She raised her eyebrow and looked at the gentle giant. He always stood by his little brother, just like a good older brother should be. She glanced down at the table and thought about how she longed to have a brother or sister. But then she glanced back up at Doubar. At times, he had been like a brother to her. She smiled and chuckled then lightly shook her head. "No, he has never not respected me. Always the noble, kind, and now sarcastic hero."

[Doubar]

At her words Doubar nodded contently. Although he still didn't know whether Bryn had taken Sinbad seriously, he at least had made sure she was aware the fact that the captain had always treated her respectful.
"That I thought", he stated in addition to that and then concentrated on what she continued with.
Sarcastic. Well, the first mate had to admit that in deed could his little brother be like that at times. But while it seemed that to Bryn what Sinbad had shown was sheer sarcasm, to Doubar it was way more than that. It was the resurgence of a humour that the younger one had once shown so often. It was the remainder of a time ... and a person ... that none on board had been able to bring back even if they had so wanted to.

"Well", he half-sighed, "he has a lot of things to deal with." Then, making sure he still wore a friendly smile he added: "you should not take him too seriously".

[alex]

At that her eyes grew wide. She could not hold it back. She laughed out loud. "I don't," she managed to say through her chuckles. She looked at Doubar again and gave out another laugh. "Don't look that way at me," she said still chuckling. "I respect and care about him very much. But you know, he is often moody, so there is little point in taking him too seriously. And I was joking. I would threaten him, but I would never hurt him." She calmed down and smirked. "Unless he hurts me first."

[Doubar]

Now Doubar really had to chuckle along with the young sorceress. So she had indeed been joking, he thought, wondering at the same time if it was just a coincidence that the girl showed this new site he had never seen on her before just at the same time in which Sinbad was obviously changing as well.
"These are strange days, in deed", he let a thought enter his head before he concentrated on answering to what Bryn had said.
"Well, if ever he should try to hurt you then you are free to do whatever you want.", he smiled at her, knowing fully well that this was more a joke than honesty.

[alex]

She grinned evilly. Doubar had given her her pass. "I will tie him to the mast and throw food at him until he begs to be released and appologizes."

[Doubar]

What exactly it was that made him play along with her joking, he didn't know but faking a stern face, he retorted: "But don't you dare and take the good one. You know, I can't take a joke when it comes to that."
Then, half-laughing at himself, he shook his head slightly and chuckled: "Now listen to us Bryn. I guess we really are in need of a good old stay on shore."

[alex]

Bryn was a little surprised by Doubar's stern comment, although she could tell he was joking by the smile on his face. After his last line, she nodded, "Aye, we need a good stay at shore." Then a thought came in her head. She smiled again wickedly. "Maybe I won't throw food at him. I, instead, would roast him over a fire. We'll see who's afraid of fire."

[Doubar]

Roast him over a fire? Somehow Doubar had the feeling that the girl was in a strange mood today. He wasn't used to hear this kind of joking from her, but still smiled good-naturedly while answering: "Well, you might consider though, Bryn, that a living captain is of more use than a roasted one. And besides", the first mate took a short breath before going on, "Sinbad has had his experience with fire. You won't be able to frighten him that easily."

Doubar was keenly aware the double-meaning of his words and wondered if the brunette had noticed as well and would ask him about it. Whether in order to distract himself from that possibility or just out of thirst he was not sure, but right after that grabbed his flask once more and took a good sip out of it.

[alex]

Bryn looked at Doubar. Sinbad had told her that he is not afraid of fire. What did Doubar mean by him having experience with fire. Did Sinbad play with Fire? No, he is not that childish. But what was it then. Looking him in the eye, she asked, "Oh, and why is that?"