"That's why I'm the smart one," Dara shot back, rolling her eyes. "Can't you at least appreciate the fact that I bothered to talk to you? You abandoned me, ran off with some pirates," she paused, glaring at the captain with a sneer, "apparently killed people on your illegal streak, and finally, just to add more, you're the reason our mom's dead. Not that I care, because she was a bitch."
Daso found himself subconsciously reaching for his pistol. He stopped himself, his teeth grating together as he regarded Dara. For someone whose features were so like his, she looked nothing like him. She wasn't even angry, not as she pretended to be. She almost looked…bored. Indifferent. "What do you mean?" he snarled.
"She never stopped looking for you," she replied, studying her nails. "She neglected her own health for you. And of course, she cursed your name with every breath she took. You sent her to an early grave. I guess I should thank you."
He couldn't find any words to say. He tried to speak and faltered. Finally, he managed, "How dare you?" his hands clenching so tightly his nails drew blood from his palms. "How dare you? I –I loved her, unlike you. You never even pretended to love her. You…you never even…" but he couldn't say anymore. Deep down, he knew it was his fault. Just another life stolen by his hands coated in red.
Dara looked smug.
Leah released a small, angry breathe as she listened to what Dara said, an almost churning anger beginning to grow in her chest. She felt her fingers brush against the hilt of her sword, but immediately stopped herself before she would do anything that she would regret, instead clutching the cold metal in a way to calm herself down. What was wrong with Dara? How could she speak like that about her own mother…playing their death off as if it were fine? Leah would give anything just to see her mother before she had passed away.
"Daso had every right to run off with us. It almost seems that we gave him more of a family than you did," she shot back, not bearing to see Daso at such a loss for words at Dara's comments. "You practically tried to kill him."
Dara's gaze snapped to the captain's face before dropping back to her hands. "I didn't practically try to kill him. I did try." Then she tapped the side of her mouth. "Well, actually, I didn't think he'd be killed. Just imprisoned. My dad's mental state wasn't the best at the time. Still isn't. Which is why I'm running away." She smiled. "What's your name again?"
(I am low-key scared of Dara.)
"That's it. You can't forgive someone like this, Daso," Leah answered, still glaring at Dara for a few moments and brushing off their question before she glanced back towards Daso, her gaze softening faintly. She couldn't let someone like Dara come onto their ship.
(Yeah same. I just went and read through her profile to see if I'm keeping her in character, and I am…kinda scary that she could actually get to this point. Fun fact: in the book I'm writing, she's not this underdeveloped, because she and Daso leave home at the same time.)
(She's honestly a really unique and thought out character…so it's interesting to have a character like this in a roleplay. Someone who may not be liked by all at first.)
Daso crossed his arms, his jaw clenching. "I…I don't know," he admitted after a long pause. "She's…I think it's my fault. All of it. If Dad's in a bad state, and if mom's dead, she doesn't have anyone but me. I've made so many stupid mistakes that cost way too much. I don't want to make another."
(thanks! I'm glad she's interesting, since she's becoming more of a major player in my book.)
Daso crossed his arms, his jaw clenching. "I…I don't know," he admitted after a long pause. "She's…I think it's my fault. All of it. If Dad's in a bad state, and if mom's dead, she doesn't have anyone but me. I've made so many stupid mistakes that cost way too much. I don't want to make another."
Leah closed her eyes for a few moments, pressing her fingers to her forehead as if she were in thought. "Your mom dying and your dad being in a bad state isn't your fault, but I'm going to let you choose. If you want to take her aboard the ship, then I'll trust you," she finally answered, looking towards Daso until she resumed her gaze on Dara once again.
Dara smiled again. "Oh, so you are the captain. The lack of hat had me, uh, confused." She turned her attention back to Daso, her brows twitching slightly. "Listen. I'm still," she hastily held her arm in the air, "wearing that bracelet you made me. We're still twins. And I know I'm not the gentlest person in the world, but I missed you, you bastard. Let me come with you."
Daso glanced at Leah, noting the concern on her freckled face, and then back to his sister. "I'm not even wearing the bracelet anymore," he mumbled, knowing full well that it was still in his pocket. "Can I have some time to think about it? Maybe visit Mom's grave?"
"Don't see why you'd want to, but sure, I've got time," she said, beaming.
"I wasn't even talking to you." He looked at Leah again. "Can we spend a day or so in Sole?"
(I like the relationship between Dara and Daso.)
"Yes, we can. A day couldn't hurt," Leah answered, nodding subconsciously as she glanced around the docks for a few moments. There were still some chances that the Crygs' other ships would catch up to them, but she would let Daso spend some time in his old home. Turning back towards Dara, she pursed her lips as she studied them, seemingly debating whether or not she could trust them as well.
"Thanks, cap," Daso sighed. Pulling his coat higher to shield himself from the bitter Sole winds, he headed off down the street.
Dara called after him, "Wait, don't you need me to show you where she's buried?"
"No," he replied flatly. "I'm guessing the family plot. If I'm wrong, I'll find it myself. I need time, Squirrelly." Then he disappeared down the stretch of road.
She smiled again, even more smug, and looked at the captain. "Can I ask your name, or is it off limits? Should I call you captain? Your majesty? Ma'am?"
"Captain is just fine," Leah answered, turning towards Dara once she watched Daso walk off down the docks. Usually, she told most crew members her first name, but she wasn't in the mood to tell the other. "And you? Do you prefer Dara or Squirrelly?" She asked, tilting her head to the side as she repeated the nickname that Daso had used.
Dara cocked her head to the side. "I mean, if you want to call me Squirrelly I won't complain. After all, it'd be rude to make demands since I'm trying to join your crew. I can be polite if I really put my mind to it. But to answer your question, I'd prefer Dara. I'm mostly only called Squirrelly by Daso, and by my friend. It was meant to be mean, because I eat all the time and I talk fast, but whatever."
"Dara it is then," Leah replied with a small sigh as she listened to the little fact that Dara had provided about their past. She tapped a finger against her side out of habit, brushing a few strands of ginger hair out of her face as she seemed to be lost in thought once again. "If you'd like, I can introduce you to a few people that you'll get to know if Daso chooses to let you stay with the crew."
She made a face similar to both a grimace and a smile. "I'm not a huge fan of other people. I mean, getting to know people. Like, small talk and introductions. I usually say the wrong thing, or nothing at all." She shrugged and took a deep, readying breath. "But I guess I've got to make a concerted effort to be friendly."
“Yep,” Zanna threw her arm around Cicada, “Cause we are stuck on a little, okay big, ship!”
Cicada didn’t bother to tell Zanna off as she looked to the captain, “This is my dead, not dead, friend Zanna. And she wants to join the crew. Can she?”
"It's alright, I've never been the best at conversations either. Just tell them your name and that's all you'll need to say for now," Leah answered, giving Dara the faintest smile in order to ensure them a bit. She turned towards the newest voice, recognizing it as her sister. "Zanna, as in from your old crew? She could tag along, though we'll be staying in Sole for a day."
Zanna cheered at her clearance, “Thank you captain.”
Cicada groaned and grabbed Zanna’s non prosthetic arm, “Yep, and we need to talk about what happened.”
Dara looked around at the rest of the crew. There was Zanna, Cicada, the captain, two dudes who looked kinda clueless, and others behind them. She made assessments of each of them, and concluded that most of them were probably idiots. They needed someone smart, like her, to join the crew and keep them from doing stupid things. Now, if only she could summon the courage to introduce herself. She stayed quiet, nearly hiding behind the captain.
(I think a few are still on the ship, but idk)
