41 - Creaks from the Cabin
The next day, outside the cabin. The morning sky over the sea was a bit overcast, with a light drizzle pattering down on the deck. And there stood Tomco, hatless in the rain, glaring at the two women with a utterly deflated look on his face.
Esen stared straight at the captain through her bruised eye, chin lifted in a defiant what're you gonna do about it? And out of sheer pride, Morgan did the same. Her face was even more of a mess, so it didn't look half as impressive.
···Even if they went easy on each other, trading bare-fisted blows with a Tigress and coming out in one piece is impressive in itself. Something no ordinary tough guy could mimic.
We'd all rushed in to break it up, so at least they hadn't ended up too battered. But still.
Tomco's eye twitched as he let out a sigh.
"Someone speak up. What the hell started this clusterfuck?"
The crew just shook their heads uneasily. They didn't know either. Too scared of the curse to go anywhere near the women's cabins. Even the kids who'd been eavesdropping had bolted beforehand.
So Esen declared triumphantly, "I threw the first punch. My fault."
Everyone's eyes went wide—they'd expected the exact opposite. Morgan, who shot Esen a disbelieving glare, puffed out her chest like she couldn't be outdone. "No! I hit first. My fault, Captain Tomco!"
Was it honor among duelists who'd fought fair, or Round Two of their pride battle kicking off? Tomco pinched the bridge of his hooked nose, looking even more headache-y.
"Reason for the fight?"
Both clamped their mouths shut. Tomco sighed heavily.
"Witnesses?"
"Dunno the details, but we saw who swung first. Esen took the first two generously. Tilted her head at the third. And before we could jump in, she countered."
Esen and Morgan whipped betrayed glares at Nidroga. She shrugged. "He asked. What was I supposed to do?"
"So the spark that—nah. Don't wanna know."
Tomco suddenly drew his pistol. Before our party could even flinch and intervene, he aimed skyward and fired three shots.
I nearly threw myself in front of Esen and Morgan, but my legs gave out and I crumpled.
"···That's the gavel. Means the captain's issuing an official ruling. That's how we do it in our party."
Morgan rubbed her bruised cheek, smiling faintly with her eyes in surprise. "Weren't you a non-combatant?"
"If you were a fighter, I wouldn't have worried. I'd have seen the killer instinct in your stance. Maybe my soft-hearted non-combatant ass just lacks the instincts?"
I glanced at our party, eyes wide, struggling not to look embarrassed.
They grinned sheepishly and waved it off. Tomco graciously pretended not to notice, but Morgan, genuinely impressed, pressed on. "And you still thought about jumping in front of bullets? Impressive."
"Tell me about it. Porter boy, quit makin' us worry! Ain't like one or two shots'll kill ya."
"···You're a special breed who might survive, but I'd die, you idiot."
"What're you on about? Butt out. I'm talkin' to the porter."
Esen and Morgan started bickering again. The lingering grudge from their snarling match hadn't faded. Not the most timely move.
Tomco's lip quivered as he holstered his pistol. "Morgan Tomco. You laid hands on a customer—a woman who's not even crew. Tarnished a pirate's honor with filth. Normally, I'd toss you overboard. Hell, I'd love to···but you're my damn 'daughter,' so I'll hold back."
"Daughter?"
Bilena blurted it out blankly, and Tomco fixed her with a terrifying glare that could instill street smarts in anyone. "What else, son?"
Bilena nearly toppled over foaming at the mouth, but Nidroga covered. "She takes after you, but way prettier. Especially that fine nose."
"The nose's from her mother."
Tomco grimaced his hooked nose with a bit, laughing. Less improved mood, more dragon, so I won't touch it. Esen snickered, and the captain whipped his head her way. She nearly leaped up mewling.
"Shit, you scared me!"
"My old man's got a face like a washbasin, yeah—scary as hell."
"You callin' your dad's face a washbasin?"
"Both of you shut it. Guests or not, this ship's mine till you disembark, so you follow my orders. Same punishment for both. Solitary."
"Same room?"
"Do I look stupid? Helmsman's in the galley basement storeroom. You're in the empty cabin next to your party's quarters. Stay put till we dock, or regret it for real."
"Regret wha—"
The captain drew and fired into the air like lightning. Signal the ruling was final. Esen flinched, hands over her ears, suddenly uninterested in asking.
"Won't ask, old man."
"Smart. Dismissed. What're you lot gawking at? That idle?!"
The crew scattered at his growl. They really were that idle—locking up the helmsman proved it. Probably thrilled inside at the rare spectacle. Most had been playing chess or fiddling with fishing rods moments ago.
The crew fretted over Morgan's face as they led her to the storeroom. I pretended to support Esen and whispered, "Hey, you okay?"
"Nose stings. Wow, didn't wanna admit it 'cause pride, but her fists pack a punch."
"Really?"
The sisters slipped in smoothly beside us, and Esen shuddered violently, turning away. "Ah, why. Sis."
"Lemme see the wound. Gotta heal it. Tomco barreled in last night yelling not to touch anything, so I couldn't clear the bruises."
"Nah, it's fine. Gone in a night—"
"A night?"
The smiling sister narrowed her eyes, and Esen twitched, inching behind me. I braced not to budge, swallowing hard.
"Hey, Esen, why use me as a shield?"
"Why resist when I'm tryin' to use the shield? Not scared of guns but scared of sis?"
"Ah, so that's it? I'm hurt, Tan Bantai."
Full name, title and all. Childhood terror gripped me—limbs shaking, knees buckling.
"I said sorry···! Quit scaring me···!"
"···Tan's right, sis. We agreed to share—why get mad···!"
"True."
The sister eyed me straight, licking her lips. "We did agree to share."
——————
At my request to borrow restraints, Bilena eyed us suspiciously. She glanced between Esen and me, then handed over the gadget from her pack with a gloomy look.
Before I could clear the misunderstanding, the sister smiled chillingly first. Terror choked me silent.
But it beat Esen's fate. In the solitary cabin the captain assigned, she couldn't move tongue or limb.
At least she was propped straight against the wall this time—better than dangling from the ceiling like a baby mobile last time.
But···.
"Mngh—!"
"···Still, stripping and binding her feels excessive. Kinda guilty."
"Necessary."
"Then just the gag. Can we loosen the gag?"
"No."
···And in that solitary, it wasn't just Esen. The sister and I sat primly before her, clad only in underwear. Dangerous. This was next to our party's quarters. And if Tomco saw this?
"S-sister. Soundproofing solid, right?"
"Don't trust me, Tan? What's with you?"
"No, I do. I repent and reflect daily···."
"Good boy."
The sister flipped back her habit, planting a slow kiss on my cheek. Warm as it was, chills ran through me.
"Such a good boy."
She took my trembling hand, guiding it firm around what she held. Esen, shackled metal and immobile, shook her head wildly in terror.
"Mngh—!"
"Shh, Esen."
The thing Esen feared so···.
A feather quill. Not even blunt-tipped—harmless on skin normally. But here? Terrifying weapon.
The sister led my hand to Esen's belly, tickling with the feather. Esen jerked, face contorted holding back laughter. As it drifted lower slowly, her eyes widened in panic.
Glossy green fuzz brushed over plain black panties. Esen quivered in horror.
"Mngh—?"
"Not anger—I'm hungry. Imagine dieting at midnight next to someone reeking of instant noodles."
"I see. You were dieting?"
···Doesn't seem like you held back much? Still mood-setting on someone else's belly now···.
"Not saying I was dieting. But if I know a comrade's starving, courtesy to offer a bite, right?"
"Mngh—!"
"I know. I've overlapped with Tan when Esen wasn't there too. Not jealous of that. But Esen, while you were having fun, I was breathless handling party business. Letters there, petitions here, fending off Mitra priests' threats via missives all night. Even if goddess aid was needed for Bilena···at the inn···."
The sister's eyes flushed purple as she licked Esen's cheek. Saliva swallowed at the erotic sight of smooth skin gliding.
"Should've called me. Before my restraint snapped from hunger."
"Mmph···."
"You snuck thrills during duty once. Fair if I do once here. Pure favor—be grateful, Esen."
Esen's face screamed polite refusal. The sister beamed warmly.
"It's fine. I'll make you like it soon."
Fucking scary.
Unsure what to do with the quill, I froze. The sister pressed close, whispering. Her skin burned through clothes like her breath.
"That night, happiness bursting through the wall was so intense, I nearly felt it. Be honest, Tan. If we did it with Esen now, could you send her like that again?"
"Uh, honestly? I barely know how it happened. Felt like lucky coincidence···no confidence."
"That's why we're all here. Hone the skill when the vibe hits, so we three can have more fun. First."
The sister moved the feather bolder. Fibers wiped beading sweat, brushing. Esen, wriggling from tickles, started leaking sweet moans.
"Master the 'stimulation' right."
Too tense, I missed it then—but we weren't alone. Someone in the closet. Mouth clamped, stifling ragged breaths, like witnessing their first lewd tangle.