She couldn’t really say that she was surprised at the captain’s rejection. She wasn’t even sure that<i>she’d</i>have accepted her if she were in his position. At least he didn’t take her for a whore – that was always a plus. She glanced at the crew again, blushing a little bit at what she could read in some of their eyes. The captain was right, of course; she really ought to leave. This wasn’t a place for some “pretty elven tart.”<br/><br/>But still – Luna felt like she had something to prove, now. If she only revealed her magic to the captain, she wouldn’t be putting herself at too much risk, and if the expedition was as dangerous as he claimed it would be, he wouldn’t be able to afford to turn her away.<span style="color: green"><i>That, and I really want to sail on this ship,</i></span>she thought dreamily.<span style="color: green"><i>And away from Dairsmuid, for that matter.</i></span><br/><br/>Luna smiled sweetly, her emerald eyes burning with an intensity that made the expression look almost frightening.<span style="color: green">“Captain,”</span>she hummed, low enough so that only he could hear.<span style="color: green">“You’ve underestimated me a little, I think. Did you think I’d try to stop a fight with words as my only weapon?”</span>Her voice, still singsong, lowered to a whisper.<span style="color: green">“Not many men would turn away a mage.”</span>She held her hand out before her, palm up, so that it was obscured from the crew by the captain’s body. Her eyes flashed and a sizable ball of flame formed above her palm, growing in size and intensity until vanishing as if it had never been there in the first place.<span style="color: green">“I’d prefer to keep it a secret for now, Captain. People don’t always react too favourably to mages in their midst.”</span><br/><br/>After a moment, she cleared her throat, speaking normally again.<span style="color: green">“Have you reconsidered, or shall I be on my way?”</span>She hoped she hadn’t come on too strong. She hadn’t wanted to frighten him.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>