Chapter Text
Black fabric flutters in the wind against the expanse of the brightening sky, the scant slivers of sun catching on light purple and gold thread. It is not the usual colors one might see flying from a ship. Indeed, it is the first of its kind, yet the second in a series. Jia, Taisa, and Lujayn only finished it a few days ago, and only saw fit to hoist it the evening prior. This is the first time Anthi has seen it in the light.
She stares up at it, trying to keep the pride in her chest from bursting out of her, especially when Shuǐ murmurs, "Anthi, stop moving."
"Oh, sorry."
Her captain—captain no longer, Anthi corrects herself, though it's hard to think of Shuǐ as anything but—carefully draws another petal on Anthi's shoulder blade, her brow likely furrowed with concentration, though Anthi can't see her without turning her head (which Shuǐ would certainly furrow her brow further at). She briefly feels guilt for not choosing an easier flower to illustrate when she chose her ship's namesake, especially since she always knew she was going to ask Shuǐ to tattoo her. But she had fallen in love with the wisteria plant ever since she saw it on the Red Lotus's expedition to Nippon, and it had been the first thing that came to mind when Shuǐ asked. Shuǐ is a skilled enough artist, she knows well, and hardly one to complain when presented with a challenge. Not to mention, Anthi has realized after perusing her many sketchbooks that flowers are one of her favorite things to draw.
Tied with sparrows, at least.
She follows Shuǐ's order, remaining still until Shuǐ pulls away and gives a satisfied little hum that tells Anthi she's finally finished her stencil. She hears her lean back to grab something, and then Shuǐ says, "Alright, now you can look. Tell me if you want anything changed."
Anthi turns her head and gasps when she sees the reflection of the tattoo in the mirror Shuǐ is holding up. It is nothing too extensive, a branch with several sprouts of cascading flowers, each perfectly swooping and intertwining with each other, and some spare petals scattered as though they were drifting down her back in a gentle breeze.
"No," she breathes, "it's lovely."
Shuǐ grins and puts the mirror down. "I'll hold you to that. Now, really, don't move."
Anthi nods and turns back around, catching the glint of a needle in the corner of her eye. She holds her breath at first, but Shuǐ is ever so careful as she pierces the skin. Anthi lets her work in silence, her mind quite equipped at keeping her occupied. She has so many things to think about—where she'll go first, what she'll do. She will, of course, have certain tasks delegated by Shuǐ, and she'll be operating for her cause. But Shuǐ was adamant that the Wisteria is hers to do as she sees fit, the rest of the time. And Anthi has learned that when Shuǐ makes a promise like that, she always keeps it.
It's funny to think that by noon, she could be halfway across the Pacific, or down in the Celebes Sea, when just a few years ago she was sure she'd never be safe anywhere except Mrs. Avakian's place. And not only safe, but…embraced.
A coldness spreads over the back of her shoulder as Shuǐ rubs wet gunpowder into the pinpricks she's created. Once she's wiped away the excess, she says, "Alright, you're free to move. Just be careful not to lean up against anything until it's dried. Once the rest of the crew is up, we'll do the pledges, and then—well—you'll be off."
Anthi looks over her shoulder at her before her gaze drifts to the Wisteria's flag once more. Now that the sun is higher in the sky, she can truly picture how proud it will look against a soon-to-be-blue canvas, currently painted in shades of soft yellows and oranges. Shuǐ follows her eyes, then glances back at her. "Are you nervous?"
"No," Anthi answers readily. She catches herself and turns to Shuǐ. "I mean—well, I'm just not. Maybe it's conceited of me, but I've always known that being captain of a ship was something I could do. I just didn't know if I would ever get the chance to do it. And now that I do, I can't imagine doing anything else."
Shuǐ looks at her for a moment, then smiles at her. "I know that feeling well."
Anthi smiles back. "I didn't really think you were nervous, by the way," Shuǐ notes as she stands and collects her supplies. "You're far more fit to be a captain than I am. Seemed polite to ask, though."
Anthi laughs as she follows her to the hatch, still needing to pack the rest of her things to move over to her ship. Her ship. At the top of the steps, she turns back again, gazing at the Wisteria in the glory of the sunrise.
She's never been more ready for anything in her life.