"Is this really okay?" Shine whispers.
"So hard!" Soku whines, rolling on a wooden bed with Horu.
"Boo!" His brother adds.
"I'm not too certain what we were expecting from our big brother but it certainly wasn't this." Tair hushes.
While their little siblings were busy testing every pillow and blanket they were huddled outside the door with concerned looks.
"How does he know this man? I doubt he's related to Kier either." Shine questions without being too loud.
"I'm not sure, neither of them are pleasant to be around long term, besides, he's been locked away all this time, when would he ever get the chance to make this kind of connection." Tair huffs out, never allowing his voice to rise above whisper volume.
"Never heard of him either, there's no denying he looks scuffed up, perhaps a beggar? An ability?"
"An ability.." Tair mumbles to himself.
"You don't believe that, do you?" His shoulders sink.
"We should trust him, yes, but this doesn't add up." Shine's horn flickers faintly.
"Are you using your magic?" Tair unfurls his wings, using them to cloak them both.
"Ah, no. It's just that not all of it has returned yet."
"Don't do something stupid." He threatens, voice barely reaching above a whisper.
"I won't."
—
Since it's bright out there are barely any crewmates awake if any at all. Kemal, our first sleep deprived contender may have been awake but kept comfortable in Kier's bed without budging a limb.
Mike on the other hand was already outside admiring their soundings. The ship is clean despite yesterday's celebrations, which surprised him plenty since this wasn't something he's used to.
'A ship? No way!'
He chuckles. Amused by snippets of his old memories revealing themselves bit by bit. His laugh, smile, glare, it's all coming back to him.
It was rather empty so Mike decided to go back, first leaving for the kitchen before finding Kemal.
"What do you want.." He yawns, walking out his bedroom and accepting a lovely yellow liquid.
"I'm lonely." Mike smiles with glee.
"I've got a whole ship and you're still bothering me? You have four brothers." He groans with an exaggerated stretch.
"Where are we going?"
He was already on the move, stealing a sip here and there with Mike following close by.
"Probably the deck, or maybe climb one of those posts and just stuff." He sounds tired, confused even.
"I can carry you up, I've done plenty of training!" Mike grins proudly, holding the door open for them.
"With who?" Kemal yawns, deciding to sit down on a little staircase without much afterthought.
"I had this super awesome knight! He taught me a few things! Like this." Suddenly a little flame burns on the tips of his fingers.
"Cool right?"
"Maybe if I had a candle." Kemal responds lackluster, using his free hand to wave through Mike's flames he chuckles to himself.
"Got a light? Fwoosh."
"Haha!" Mike grins, shaking his flame fingers and ending up extinguishing them.
"I do! Although it was bigger before I turned into an alicorn."
"Thought you'd be stronger, beat up some men for me. Bam bam." He punches the air in front with enthusiastic movements.
"I know! And I will! I'm supposed to come out as this big being but then…" Mike's voice trails off.
"Then?" His eyebrow raises, fists lower.
"Hey?" He suddenly looks up, eyes brimming with hurt.
"Is it lying if I just don't wanna tell you?"
"Ah, me? You don't wanna tell me?" Kemal straightens up.
"I do! I really do! But maybe not now?" He offers vaguely, voice wavering.
"Yeah well it's not. Not to me at least, whenever you're ready man." Kemal raises his fist, his lips subtly curving upward.
"Alright! When I'm ready!" Mike's entire demeanor switches, happily connecting their fists.
"Now tell me."
"No!"
"Darn." Kemal sighs.
"Did telling me you're keeping something make you feel better?"
"Definitely." He shrugs casually.
"So you'll tell me now?"
"No!"
"Darn."
"How about this? If I get super good at magic we're gonna create all sorts of weapons and stuff for us to play with!" Mike waves his hands enthusiastically.
"What about your wings?" Kemal tugs at his clothing.
"My wings? Right.." Mike taps his chin.
"You think I can fly?"
"I hope so." Kemal shrugs nonchalantly.
"Let me see."
After carefully getting on his feet he removes just enough clothing for his wings to comfortably poke out. After giving them a few warm up stretches Mike decides to try flapping his wings as fast as he could.
"Wow…" Kemal gasps in mock awe.
"You really reached a new low with something that helps you soar."
Mike is too exhausted to pay attention to Kemal's jabs, he's hunched over in utter defeat after draining most if not all his energy on this.
"Alicorns do not fly…" He breathes out, only to freeze up when something grabs him from behind.
"I wouldn't say that, maybe you just did it wrong, you did only flap around." Kemal comments.
His hands were busy pulling on a few feathers and stretching Mike's wings.
"These are pretty cool. Makes me envious."
"You think?!"
"Yeah. They're big, long, and look healthy too, maybe you could dye them since they're white, although It makes me wonder why they look so bland." He adds.
"Bland?" Mike spins around, trying to catch a better look without much success.
Kemal grabs him still, carefully moving a wing for him to see.
"Oh!"
"They look unfinished. Like you just gave up halfway through." He explains.
"Ah? What's that?"
"What?"
Mike suddenly grabs his own wing and spreads it apart, revealing multiple faint coloured feathers hidden beneath a thick cloak of white.
"How did you spot that?" Kemal is taken aback, not even he noticed.
"Kinda when you were rubbing against them." He explains while combing through more.
"You're supposed to have colourful wings? That's pretty sick."
"You're telling me I'll have this many colours if I awaken fully?!" Mike's feet begin tapping around restlessly.
"Oh I like this blue, even if it's unfinished." Kemal comments on a particular patch of feathers.
"I can't wait to see what it looks like fully! It looks super rainbow!" Mike is clearly occupied with fawning over his new looks.
"I think so too, although there's some colours missing." He points at a few white patches in between.
"Don't say that! Yellow is totally gonna be visible once I awaken! And orange! It's already showing!"
"Hah? Then how about learning to fly? Put those colours to use, fancy swan."
"I will! If you teach me."
"Uh.."
Kemal falls silent, taking a few looks left and right before continuing to speak.
"I don't know how to tell you this…" He mumbles after some thought.
"But I don't have wings."
Without warning Mike throws himself against Kemal, keeping him pinned down with his superior weight.
"Like I couldn't tell that!!" He whines dramatically, his wings proudly flapping around behind him.
"How am I gonna teach you to fly?! I'm not a bird!" He rolls his eyes.
"Can't you read about it then tell me?"
"Well if you know reading is an option." Kemal eyebrow shoots up.
"Noo!" Mike sobs pitifully, embracing his friend much more securely with betrayed eyes.
"Alright alright! Let me go already, I'll help you."
After some brief hesitation Mike releases him without making any space.
"So? What can we do on your ship?"
Kemal lowers his head in thought. After giving it a few seconds he shakes his head.
"Not much you can do here if I'm honest. I also have no idea what I could be doing to change that."
His answer was lackluster, something Mike learned to recognize as disinterest.
"Uh! Okay. How about the crew? Which ones are friendly and who should I stay clear of?" Mike smiles, eyes lighting up despite the tone of their conversation.
"Uh…"
That is a difficult question for sure, since Kemal wasn't exactly starting anything with anyone other than Azul.
"Fire Dog is good, you'd get along."
"I don't wanna befriend him. Who else?" Mike humphs with disappointment.
His wings fold onto his back, arms crossing afterwards.
"Honestly that's all I got, maybe get to know them yourself while you can." Kemal casually leans back, eyes squinting once he faces the clouds.
"While I can? Why?" Mike questions, voice filled with curiosity.
Kemal glances left then right, finally leaning towards Mike after ensuring no one is in plain sight.
"It happened too fast." He whispers while explaining.
"You may not realise but I barely know him, despite those rumors. I don't think a creature of his status would swoon over someone like me this easily. So you have to learn to fly quickly so we can ditch. He's all fun and games until he refuses to let us leave."
Mike's ears twitch, only then does he lean away in thought.
"I think I was supposed to marry him or some other men but then you took me away." He leans closer, voice dropping low.
"Don't you like him?"
"Not until I'm certain of his motives. That brother of his doesn't like me, despite that dragon two is still hanging around. I haven't figured out if it's worth staying yet but now we're forced to wait for Mikel to return nonetheless." Kemal answers slowly and clearly.
"This is great!" Mike suddenly cheers.
"What is." He sighs.
"We can finally spend some time together! And I can make you all sorts of drinks, meals, anything you want!"
"Anything?" Kemal repeats after a brief pause without facing him.
"Yes, what do you want?" Mike eagerly leans closer to him.
"Does this feel right to you?" He tilts away, taking another quick look at their surroundings.
Their conversation comes to a screeching halt, completely caught off guard by his question Mike pauses.
"What?"
"I'm just saying, something isn't adding up, I know it's not, but I can't think about it without getting a headache." The atmosphere surrounding him shifted into something much more serious.
It was never easy to tell what he's feeling at any given situation unless he chose to show it. Although if you've been with him as long as Mike has it was less of a skill and more of a reality check.
"You'll figure it out, you always do." Mike gets back on his feet, limbs stretching from side to side with his wings following suit.
"I'll figure you out, I always do." Kemal gets up as well, not fooled by his friend's subtle attempt at hiding their face.
"Me? I mean!" He laughs nervously.
"Hey, I'm not stupid." He gives Mike's back a rough slap before walking past him.
"And I know you aren't either. Although I won't push it any more, I still trust you to tell me the truth eventually, more than him at least."
"Do you really mean that..?" Mike turns with tear filled eyes, swallowing an incoming flood without realising.
"Wouldn't have said it if I didn't." Kemal shrugs, giving his right eye one quick wipe before leaving.
"Where are you going?" He sobs pitifully, struggling to hold onto the warmth he left behind.
"Uh, to bed I guess. Gotta seduce my dragon so he loves me for real." His laugh was casual.
Neither failure nor success are capable of changing the outcome of his plans.
"Wait! Don't do that! Come back!!"