Chapter Text
Queenie catches sight of the door to the mess hall opening up from the corner of her eye. She turns her head to see who’s coming to dinner late and finds Skrimm stalking in, as per usual. He’s lucky Barnabos hasn’t finished dealing out their stew for the night, hurrying to the short line for a bowl.
Queenie huffs a laugh to herself before turning back to her own food.
Skrimm has been having a tough time with his assigned job, Queenie has noticed. And it seems as though it’s not exactly getting any easier on him. Skrimm hates the climb up, and the climb down from the bucket. He hates being inside the bucket and having to constantly be on watch. Skrimm just hates it.
“Something funny, Queenie?” The rabbit-folk hears beside her.
“Oh, nothin’.” Queenie replies, turning her attention to her companion sitting beside her.
To Queenie’s right is an ape-folk girl; though to be honest, she does look more monkey than ape. Her coloring is incredibly reminiscent of an orangutan however, with orange fur and dark gray, almost black skin. She’s a short creature, only about four inches taller than Queenie herself, though with Queenie’s ears stood straight, she’d be taller on a technicality.
The ape girl, who introduced herself as Scarlet many weeks ago, has become a fairly good companion over the time Queenie and the rest of the group has known her. She was pulled out of prison right along side them, now stuck on this boat the same as the rest.
“I’m sure it must be something.” Scarlet says, her tone almost monotonous as she speaks. Over the time Queenie has come to know the ape, she’s demonstrated a mostly calm and gentle personality. There’s a kindness about Scarlet that Queenie appreciates, though she’s rarely seen her crack a smile or even laugh.
Scarlet is a fairly serious individual, though her emotions don’t seem to be suppressed in the same way Jornir’s are. Jornir is a quiet and deadly sort of seriousness, almost unapproachable in his demeanor. Scarlet on the other hand feels to be the exact opposite.
Scarlet seems to radiate a sort of friendly aura. Despite her lack of smiles or general expressions, her eyes hold a sort of friendliness that could disarm most anyone. The way in which Scarlet holds herself almost always indicates an invitation for conversation or companionship, an openness not many would be too inclined to dismiss.
“Ah, really. It’s nothin’. Just,” She looks back over to Skrimm who’s just gotten his portion of dinner, though it looks as if he’s arguing with Barnabos, “Skrimm just looks like he’s in a mood tonight.” She finishes, again with a little chuckle.
Scarlet follows Queenie’s gaze, her eyes lingering for a few moments before she shakes her head,
“It was a particularly cold day.. I wouldn’t blame Skrimm for not being in the best of moods.” She says before digging her spoon into her bowl of stew.
Queenie can’t help but raise an eyebrow at Scarlet. In the time Queenie has known her, Scarlet has had little patients for Skrimm. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Skrimm kept pestering Scarlet to switch jobs with him in the first few days on the ship and Scarlet lost that collected and composed nature she has.
It had been startling on the fourth day when Scarlet finally snapped at Skrimm. They had been on the upper level of the ship, Skrimm basically following Scarlet in step as he once again begged her to switch jobs.
“Come on Scarlet! I don’t really see the big deal. You’re a monkey, you love climbing-“
“I am an APE!” The girl had snapped, whirling around at Skrimm with her teeth bared, “If you ever so much as deign to call me a FUCKING MONKEY again, I will tear your ears from your head and feed them to you!”
Everyone in the vicinity of this blowup had stopped what they were doing, looking the way of Skrimm and Scarlet. Skrimm shrunk in on himself, hands coming up in a placating manner, eyes darting all around the area as if in search of help. Finding none however, he tried apologizing. Stammering out half hearted apologies and excuses as Scarlet loomed over him, the large mane of hair she sports billowed out behind her, causing her to look larger than she is.
Scarlet heaved a few breaths through her teeth at Skrimm as he apologized, fists clenched at her sides, her tail whipping back and forth in a frenzy, fur poofed out in irritation. Before Skrimm could finish, she turned from him, smacking him hard in the head with her tail, a loud thud sounding from it. Skrimm had yelped and nearly fell backwards in his stumble.
Queenie had watched the whole thing on a break from her duties, and felt slightly bad for the both of them. It was clear in the first few days that Scarlet tried being patient with Skrimm. Her cool and even tone was kind as she declined and declined Skrimms begging to be released from his bucket duties.
As it went on, the kindness began slipping out of her voice as she declined again and again. The annoyance slowly became palpable over the days until she finally exploded.
That night, Skrimm had joined their table at meal time, his demeanor noticeably subdued. He also sported a black eye from where the apes tail had smacked him in the face, unable to look at any of them as he ate in almost silence.
Queenie had looked to Scarlet moments after Skrimm had sat down. The apefolk had a pensive look to her face as she stared at the goblin, her eyes filled with what Queenie could only assume was regret, however anger still lingered there. Her eyes only stayed locked on Skrimm for just a moment before she looked back to the food in front of her.
Their table had grown stiff and mostly quiet then, a strange tension none of them knew what to do with lingering in the air around them. Despite that however, Taishen did try and cut through the tension with light conversation.
Queenie had joined in almost immediately, desperate for the deafening silence to end. Even Jornir joined in as well, a welcome surprise.
Soon enough, Barnabos was also joining in, spurred on to tell a story by a comment made by Jornir. Once the story began, even Scarlet perked up, her eyes rising up from her food to look at Barnabos and capture every word.
To Queenie’s further surprise, even Skrimm gave Barnabos his attention, seeming more interested than he normally would when he wasn’t feeling sorry for himself. Barnabos’ story was light hearted, fun even. The tension surrounding the table lessened and lessened until the atmosphere felt more normal.
At the end of the meal, Queenie rose from her seat with her empty bowl, Jornir, Taishen and Barnabos following suit. As they walked away from the table, Queenie had looked back over her shoulder, hoping to the gods Skrimm and Scarlet don’t end up at each others throats.
Though as she looked, she saw the two engaged in a conversation, their voices low and drowned out by the rest of the men in the mess hall. Queenie’s worry ebbed away as she saw what looked like Skrimm once again apologizing, his hands moving in that rapid and almost anxious way he does. Scarlet, for her part, seems to be accepting the apology this time, nodding along as Skrimm talks.
Queenie left the two to their own devices then, dumping her used bowl into the ever growing pile of dishes she’s going to have to clean up before she can go to bed.
The next day after that, it seemed Skrimm and Scarlet had made peace. Though, ever since then Scarlet has not let any of Skrimm’s more childish and impish behaviors slide past her. Confounding however, is the fact that Scarlet seems to have taken some sort of… liking? Over Skrimm in the several weeks since that incident. It’s really the only way Queenie can explain it.
Queenie is brought out of her revery when a loud thud hits the table. She almost jumps as she looks up, eyes wide as she sees Skrimm finally joining them.
“Stupid Barnabos… How is this a full portion?!” Skrimm complains as he gestures to his bowl. Queenie leans forward a bit, seeing the bowl full of a good helping of stew. She wants to scoff,
“You’ve got plenty, Skrimm.” She says as she sits back in her chair. Skrimms eyes squint down into slits, glaring at the rabbit.
“Who asked you, huh?!” He almost snaps, but Queenie just laughs at the goblins antics, none too phased by him anymore really. When Skrimm sees Queenie isn’t going to engage anymore, he lets out a soft scoff before he grabs hold of his spoon and digs into his stew.
“I take it your day wasn’t the best, Skrimm?” Taishen asks from across the table, his tone kind and gentle as he does. Despite the dragons kindness however, Skrimm sets a glare at him too.
“Were you outside at all today? Did you feel how cold it’s getting? Imagine that, but 30 feet up in the air! Imagine how well my day was, Taishen.” The goblin gripes.
“Oh, yes, it has been getting colder..” Taishen agrees, “But, surely it must be nice to be able to see out from the ship so far. Have you not seen anything interesting while on watch?”
Queenie watches as Skrimms eye twitches a bit. “Interesting..?” The goblin repeats, obviously miffed, “Interes- Taishen! All there is to see is ocean! For miles! What the hell could I see that would be interesting, huh?!”
Taishen flinches ever so slightly at the tone of Skrimms voice. His face falls, eyes downcast at the table.
“You’re in a foul mood.” Scarlet finally speaks up, causing Skrimm to turn to her.
“Of course I’m in a bad mood! You try being stuck up in that stupid bucket all day long in the cold, with nothing to do or even drink.” He complains, arms crossing over his chest.
“Well. I think I have something that could help with some of your problems then.” Scarlet says, moving to reach into the sash she wears around her middle. She pulls her hand back out after a moment, her fist curled around something small.
She turns her hand around and opens it, a silver flask growing from the size of a thimble to its original size. Skrimms eyes go comically wide.
“Is that-?”
“A flask of whiskey.” Scarlet interrupts, causing Skrimms jaw to drop. He reaches for it in an instant, however Scarlet pulls her hand back, closing it into a fist again, the flask shrinking down.
“Where did you get that? Have you been holding out?!” Skrimm accuses, causing Scarlet to shake her head.
“I won it.” She explains. “A few of the seamen began teaching me to play a card game called poker several nights ago. I’ve become quite good at it. However, I don’t exactly have a taste for the alcohol I won in the bet pot. I would give this to you, Skrimm.”
Skrimms eyes light up in excitement, a bright yet impish smile on his face as he grabs at the air towards the flask, “Yes! I’ll take it! Give it here! Give it-” He exclaims.
“Apologize for being rude to Taishen.” She once again cuts him off.
Skrimms excitement falls immediately. His hands stop grabbing for the flask, falling to the table as he stares at Scarlet in disbelief.
“What?”
“Apologize.”
At the mention of his name, Taishen looked up once more, a little shocked at the turn of events.
“Oh, Scarlet, it’s quite alright! No need for an apology.” Taishen says, his hands raising up to wave off the notion. Though Scarlet does not relent.
“He must apologize. Or else I will happily dump out this foul liquid for the fish to enjoy.” She says, her eyes never leaving Skrimm, a seriousness held inside them.
Skrimm looks as if he begins to panic, shaking his head rapidly, “No! No no no, don’t do that!” He begs quickly before he turns to Taishen, “I’m sorry! I was being an asshole!” And then right back to Scarlet expectantly.
Queenie watches as the corners of Scarlets mouth tick upwards into a rare smile. She holds out her hand, Skrimm reaching forward with fervor as she drops the flask, growing it to its regular size once more with her magic.
Skrimm grins like a child on Christmas. He wastes no time in uncapping the flask and pulling a long drink from it. He sighs heartily after he swallows, sitting back in his chair and a smile forming on his face.
“Oh yeah. That’s the real good stuff.” Skrimm says, taking one more drink before capping it off and shoving the flask into his coat pocket.
“If I happen across anymore, I’ll let you know.” Scarlet says as she once again digs into her stew.
“Ah, Scarlet, you’re an angel among men.” Skrimm says.
After Scarlets blow up at Skrimm and their subsequent making up afterwards, their relationship has turned out exactly like this somehow; a push and pull of clashing personalities. It’s interesting to watch at the very least, Queenie thinks. It’s almost funny seeing the way Skrimm behaves and how Scarlet has seemingly taken it upon herself to correct that behavior.
“Was that a flask I saw, Mr. Stabbaskotch?” Barnabos’ booming voice sounds as he finally joins the table after serving the meal. “You wouldn’t happen to mind if I-“
“Go fuck yourself Barnabos.” Skrimm says immediately, more than unwilling to share his prize for apologizing to Taishen.
Queenie isn’t sure how well Scarlet’s efforts are working.