<div class="floatleft">(https://41.media.tumblr.com/345814f9fe32c4ee4f26b06aafdbedfe/tumblr_o4q0wuKKVE1tk4029o2_1280.jpg)</div>In truth, she had been awake for some time. At least as she could reckon time in the dimness of hte hold. As well she could remember, with the grinding, pounding pain in her skull from the blow she had taken the night before.<em>Never even had a chance to draw my blade,</em>she thought bitterly. And now where was it? With the rest of her belongings no doubt, in the grasp of some sweaty fool with no idea what his paws were soiling.<br/><br/><strong>"Well this is a fine way to begin a morning," </strong>she snarled below her breath in her native Tien, when the heavy, braided man clumped his way into view. She took a moment to assess him, taking in first him, then the six behind him. Calculating. Thinking. She could die right now, maybe even take one or two with her. Even with the other women, though, she would fall.<br/><br/>And then who would know the name of Hiromi?<br/><br/>She stood, and had to catch herself on one of the ship supports as the world swam, the ricking meeting with the blow to her head.<strong>"If... you needed a... cutter, you need only <em>hire</em>,"</strong>she noted to the men as she settled her footing, and stood straight. She threw a glance down to the shark-faced woman, and made a noise of... amusement?<strong>"if they wanted for our... beauty, it would be... different greeting we have."</strong><br/><br/>Still wobbly, her eyes blurring with unwanted tears from the spiking pain in her head, she strode towards the man with the whip. One arm was folded protectively over her breasts, the other over her stomach, and resting at her waist as if she might find a weapon there.No luck, of course, just pale skin.