<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, Weston "Wes" Beauchamp, Nefsonne, Open</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Content:</strong> Lifa takes her leave</div><hr/><br/>At the interruption, the muscles of Lifa’s jaw twitched as she reflexively bit back her irritation. Though the conversation was stilted, due to her inability to disclose the more intimate details of her life, she was pleased to be in the company of the Captain and indeed, through conversing, felt a mild reprieve from her depressed state. Lifa found Rose’s poise and shrewdness admirable, and it dawned on her that this conversation was one of the firsts in some time where she was not the only one talking. There was a pang of guilt at that revelation. She knew she could not fault Nef for his lack in verbal stimulation, the poor man was mute, but still, she missed speaking and being spoken to in return. She also found that she rather missed the company of other women, though in all honesty, Lifa was accustomed to being ostracized by them, especially those of her own station. Of course, being used to her solitude and her outlier status did little to thwart the natural feeling of loneliness that ensued. She now wondered why that same loneliness, which in the past had been a very dull and infrequent ache, suddenly seemed like a cold, sharp pain in her heart. Her conclusion was that Frederick must have acted as a salve against it in the past, and with him gone, she was vulnerable. That would not do. Inwardly, she began to force the memory of his death upon herself, coating that lonesome longing with the cold balm of anger and vengeance. Her jaw clenched further, eliciting a twang of pain, which she also used to shore away any wisps of melancholy.<br/><br/>As the young man rudely interposed, Lifa coldly eyed him. She was used to this kind of self important and dismissive behavior from the men of a certain breeding, just as she was used to being shunned by the women. The difference was, in both cases, she was also used to being able to throw the weight of her rank around. Such was no longer the case. Not until she managed to restore her position and weed out the traitors in her duchy, would she be able to resume her title. Her enemies would rue that day. Until then, she had to continue playing this subservient role, which chafed against her pride so.<br/><br/>Lifa tilted her head, taking a half step back. She spoke, her words light and her voice as mellifluous as ever, despite the dark thoughts in her head.<br/><br/>“Yes, Captain. I shan’t let you down. And,” she allowed a small break in character and looked Rosette de Courtenay directly in the eye, “I look forward to it.”<br/><br/>With that she took a respectful step backwards, before turning and resuming her position alongside her mute brute, who had awaited her patiently. She realized that without her, there was little he could do. Not yet at least. She was his mouth until the crew could grow accustomed to his silence enough for him to get on without her intervention. She faced him, craning her neck to be heard more easily over the noisy open deck, and said, “Let’s be off Nefsonne. I’m sure you are wanting to find the forge.”<br/><br/>She brought a hand up to her jaw, which ached slightly and she noticed for the first time that there was a pain in her mouth. It must have been there for a day or two, but she surmised she must only now be aware of it because the basics of food, water and shelter had finally been covered. She could finally start thinking beyond her belly and her emotional pain and could start to take into account the physical ailments she might be suffering from. She also was keenly aware that she could use with a good wash and that her clothes were probably best retired, but alas until she found new garments, she would have to make do. She made a note to visit with the ship’s surgeon after she assisted Nefsonne in finding his forge and accompanying tools. She also made a point to check the posted Watch, Station and Quarter Bill to verify her watch hours and various duties.