<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/8/8e/C25bahk.jpg)</div><br/><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Name:</strong> Lifa Canary (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=300519.msg14696106#msg14696106)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Position:</strong> Seaman</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Location:</strong> Esperanza, Top Deck</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Time &amp; Date</strong>: Day 1| Morning</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Tagging:</strong> Captain Rose, Open</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Content:</strong> Lifa pulls herself together</div><hr/>As the sails of the Esperanza blossomed with the warm Caribbean breeze, Lifa turned her eyes away from the already shrinking Jamaican coastline and toward the yawning horizon ahead. The deep, chestnut hue of her irises caught the sunlight that refracted from the cresting blue waters below, causing them to flash a vibrant amber, just as her gaze fell upon the approaching Captain. Abruptly, Lifa turned away, swiping at the tears searing her cheeks with the palm of her hand. Bleary eyed and sniffling slightly, she spoke in a voice that was melodious but hoarse with emotion.<br/><br/>“Good morning, Captain,” she addressed the woman formally, still obscuring herself from view. Lifa took a few moments more to gather herself before facing, and speaking to, Rose directly.<br/><br/>“I’m honored you would come to greet me like this,” she dipped her head demurely. Raising her head again, her shining eyes sparkled as she took in Rosette’s features. The tattooed adornments of her skin, the regal bearing in her posture, and the steadfast seaworthiness of her stance all combined to portray the confidence and self assuredness that any sailor could appreciate in their captain. Lifa felt an immediate respect for the woman, and was comforted by the thought of being under the command of such a leader. Time would tell, of course, if Lifa’s initial impression of Rosette de Courtenay was at all accurate, but for now she was of the opinion that things were certainly not off to a bad start. At least, not on the Captain’s end. She was aware that her behavior thus far was sub par at best, and downright failing in proper decorum at worst, but could see no alternative. Not until she could rest assured that those individuals who might still seek to do her harm were either definitely not on board the Esperanza, or were dead, would she be able to drop her guard. Lifa noticed that the thought of having to potentially kill a fellow shipmate in order to maintain her anonymity, her secrets or her life did not disturb her as much as she might have guessed. It was as if she had become adrift and was slowly being carried further and further away from her previous self, a mysterious current tugging her out into untested waters. While she mused and soaked in the beatific sight of the open sea before her, the perfect line of the horizon broken intermittently by the white caps of sails in the far distance, she noticed the Captain swagger away invitingly. Lifa followed, head bowed slightly in deference. While Rose chose a more relaxed posture, leaning against the most forward railing, Lifa decided to remain at attention. She kept her arms folded at the small of her back, her feet apart and her knees loose, allowing her to bob easily with the motion of the vessel.<br/><br/>“I am…” she hesitated very briefly, fighting back the habit of introducing herself by her title, “Lifa, at your service, Captain. And I’m here to do just that, ma’am, to serve you in my best capacity and do my duty. There’s the gold, of course, but I know there is much to do yet in order to achieve that end. And,” Lifa treaded carefully here, “I understand there’s some other<em>grim</em>business that needs attending to. It’s my intention to aid you in that endeavor as well.”