Ace liked drawing dragons. Maybe one of the dragon prints? But then he saw it. The perfect vase. Kameo's breath caught as he rushed towards the stall. A Tarakona vase, complete with dragon illustrations and a purple body with gold handles. It costed too much. If he could occupy the stall owner, maybe he could steal it?
“Yeah, I’m just—-“ There it was. Breathless, she ran up to a tree with a strange design carved into it and rummaged around near the roots for a second before coming up with an envelope, which she tucked into her pocket. “Alright.”
"Cielo," Cicada responded, "But I've been all over the place."
"Oh neat! So do you have any family other than Cap?"
(Kam, honey, be careful.)
“Yeah, I’m just—-“ There it was. Breathless, she ran up to a tree with a strange design carved into it and rummaged around near the roots for a second before coming up with an envelope, which she tucked into her pocket. “Alright.”
“What are you doing?” Lucian asked, a brow raised in question. He folded his arms loosely over his chest, glancing at the tree, then her.
"I used to I guess," Cicada looked at the sky. She could once again feel a storm brewing, "They were really close friends of mine that I considered family, but otherwise no."
“Just— it’s a long story. I couldn’t pick this up a year ago when we stopped in Anjou, I almost had a run in with my dad. Let’s go find the others?”
Joanna nodded. "I had a brother."
"What was he like?" Cicada looked back at Joanna.
Kameo narrowed his eyes and walked up to the stall owner, scratching his head.
"Do you know where I can find a vase from Tarakona? I heard they're beautiful."
"I have one right here! How much are you willing to pay?"
"Man, I dunno. I have like 40 dollars (?)."
The stall owner laughed, "Okay, this is selling for 500 dollars(?)." he turned to the back, "But I can lower the price."
"For what?"
"Your piercing. On your ear? Anyone can tell that it's Tarakona-made. And in new condition. I'd be willing to give you the vase for free for the earring."
Kameo nodded, "Sure." and he slipped the earring into a pouch, discreetly switching it with another pouch, filled with coal. He took the vase and headed off, deciding to cover his face of the stall owner found out.
"Goofy, cheerful, wise beyond his age, he was a good artist, too." Joanna zoned out a little, wrapped up in memories.
Lucian bit the inside of his cheek in thought and he nodded slowly. He reached out, taking her hand in his and began to head back down the path.
"He sounds amazing," Cicada looked out into the sea of people. Her own memories of her crew still present in her mind.
"He was." Joanna sighed.
Morrigan took one final look at her brother’s gravestone, then let him lead her down the path. “What’s your family like?”, she aske after a pause.
"Do you have anyone else?" Cicada asked.
Joanna shrugged. "My parents died when I was a baby. I have friends on Divo, and the Andromeda of course."
He arrived at the crematorium, learning that the deed was done. Kameo got down on his knees, exhausted and just done. Ace was dead. Mama was dead. Father was still alive and as infuriating as ever. Could he ever escape from his problems? Maybe he could be a hermit and stay on the Tarakona mountain range forever. He was a drag to the crew anyway.
"Yeah," Cicada looked back, "The crew's pretty great aren't they?"
(No Kam! You are the Chemist! You are great! Don't leave us!)
Joanna nodded. "They are. Cap's good at reading people."
Lucian shrugged his shoulders loosely. “They were nice enough. I was an only child, grew up in a wealthy, well known family,” he said simply. He didn’t want to bring up the bullying he had experienced as a child, and he hoped that the conversation wouldn’t take a turn in that direction. “My father was a doctor, like me, and my mother owned a clothing line.”
"She is?" Cicada looked at her. She noticed Kameo had returned and was out of the shop, "You feeling better now?"
“That sounds nice.. why did you leave? Wait no, ignore that question, that’s too personal.” Morrigan has at least managed to reinstate some of her walls and dry her eyes by now.
Kameo gathered Ace's ashes into the vase, hoping his salty tears wouldn't mix. His feet were heavy as he headed back to the boat and the only colors he could see were the bright, bright colors of the vase that hid Ace's dead remains.