Characters: Ramza Beoulve/Ruglia, and whoever wishes to join him.
Content: Ramza, as a new Quartermaster aboard the Silvana, wishes to look through the ship. In his search, he finds the deck.
Setting: The Deck of the Silvana
Time: After the races.
Warning: It's Ramza, so probably not much. Angst, maybe.
(
The deck was his favorite place... )
Ramza let out a sound at the sound of the voice, turning around and taking a glance at the woman, golden eyes soft. Was she one of the crewmembers? He hadn't really gotten to know anyone yet since he had arrived, and when he wandered around the halls, he hadn't truly run into anyone for conversation...
It would at least be good to introduce himself. He probably seemed like a stranger, coming on the vessel and standing there like he had nothing else to do.
He had duties, did he not?
He didn't quite want to seem like a slacker on his first day on the job, though from the looks of it it certainly seemed so.
Ramza gave her a smile, despite the impassive note on her expression, and neutral tone. It was a bit disarming maybe, and it made him look younger, much younger than his normal age of 19 years.
...Sixteen? Yes, that would be about right.
"I'm sorry, Milady. I did not mean to dawdle. I was simply exploring the vessel, and I found my way here."
He scratched his head a bit.
"I assume...you are a crewmember here?"
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Fortunately, his response managed to clarify that very reason. He was new to the ship, presumably.
"Yes," she answered, with a slight nod. "I am Tear Grants, one of the quartermasters. And you are?"
The question wasn't simply in reference to his name, but to his position as well.
Judging from the way he addressed her and his words, he seemed courteous. Hopefully, he was a diligent crew member as well. After all, there were some aboard the Silvana who behaved politely, but in turn, failed to accomplish their duties well. For Tear, it didn't really matter whether or not someone had an attitude. All that mattered was fulfilling the obligations required.
If there was a behavioral problem, so long as it wasn't malicious, then she'd view it as only a negative factor she'd try to amend.
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But people were different, and situations differed. And truly, Ramza wouldn't have minded even if they had met while he was already accustomed to things rather than still learning the ropes.
"I am Ramza Ruglia, Lady Grants." He said, still smiling. "I am a new Quartermaster on this vessel, though from this meeting, I presume I would not seem it."
It was important to be polite and courteous, though truly that was never a problem with Ramza. He had been polite to small children and referred to them as "Miss", "Mister", and other suchlike--his upbringing, yes, but also because he simply...preferred being polite.
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
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Although, she had to admit she was also partially relieved.
With Zhang He formerly as her only colleague, she found that she needed to keep an eye on him every now and then. He wasn't exactly lazy or anything of the sort, and by contrast, he actually maintained pleasant company. The only problem was that he tended to busy himself with other trivial matters. While there was nothing wrong with purchasing make-up or making social arrangements, when they intervened with his work, there was a faint need for concern.
She occasionally found herself with a little more to carry out in his stead, but with Ramza's assistance, perhaps it wouldn't be entirely on her shoulders.
"Likewise," she replied, a polite smile faintly softening her expression for a flicker of a moment. "Do you have any questions so far? I would be glad to provide assistance with anything you may need."
It probably sounded like a typical, courteous statement, but even if she did state it out of good manners, she meant it sincerely as well.
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Too many times he had seen women overcompensating, fighting to state their equality to the men, even when they did not have to. At least, around him they didn't. It didn't matter what gender a person was, so long as they did what they did and did it well...
...And of course, took joy and pride in what they did. That was important, as well.
"I will admit, I am a bit lost." he said, with a boyish chuckle. "I had not imagined that the Silvana would be so large."
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Of course, that same interior now had a few walls of purple and doilies, thanks to Zhang He's efforts, but she had to admit, it brightened up the monochrome silver and black. Some of the decorations were even a little cute -- not that anyone would ever hear her say that plainly.
"That isn't an uncommon sentiment," she agreed, with a slight inclination of her head. "If you like, I can show you around. Was there a particular area you were searching for? Or did you just want a better feel of the Silvana's interior?"
She silent ran through her mental list of duties once more, taking into account the amount of time she had, before she needed to proceed to her next task. She eventually decided there was more than enough time to give Ramza a tour, if needed.
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"Though if you could better show me the interior, it would be more than appreciated, milady."
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"I'll show you to your quarters first." She had noticed the bag resting by his legs, and she assumed he didn't want to carry it everywhere. It wouldn't exactly be convenient, after all.
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Ramza lifted it up with a scratch of his head and a boyish blush, slinging it over his shoulder. He had really hoped that she didn't have to see that, though in hindsight with him carrying it, it was probably inevitable.
"Thank you, Milady." He said. "That would be...most appreciated."
And he was following her. A respectful distance of course, but still following just the same.
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Eventually, she reached their destination, and she swiftly extended a hand to open the door.
"Here are your quarters."
Naturally, it looked nearly identical to hers and Zhang He's rooms.
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He had slept on cargo bay floors after all. If he could sleep on those, then he could sleep anywhere.
"Thank you." He said with a nod, gently placing his bag on the bed.
He didn't bother arranging it, though he did pull out a sword from it, hooking it on a belt around his waist. Just in case, of course.
Returning to the door, he gave Tear a smile.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we go?"
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"Certainly."
With that, Tear turned, starting down the hallways once more. It was easy to see the decorations Zhang He -- and perhaps Cirucci as well -- attached to the corridors. One could nearly assume they came straight from the Winding Way's exterior.
In a few moments, she slowed her pace, gesturing to each doorway lining the walls as she referred to them.
"That's the lounge room." It was towards the right, with its couch and shelves of books easy to see. "Those are storage rooms." It was towards the left, with another right after the aforementioned lounge room.
She fell silent then, glancing over at him to see if was digesting this information or carried any queries.
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Even though he couldn't fly well, he still loved to do it. He had been taught by a good teacher, and even technophobe Ramza could do it under his tutelage.
He gave Tear a nod, with an understanding, rather absorbing look as he took the information in. He didn't say anything, but his eyes spoke for him, asserting his understanding.
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"The infirmary," she clarified, gesturing to its doorway as they neared it. "Our doctors are Ryuuken Ishida, Isshin Kurosaki, and John W. If you have any health inquiries or needs, just call for one of them."
As they rounded a corner of the hallway, she lightly motioned towards the next room with a hand. "The radio operators' room. For now, only Gin Ichimaru holds this position."
It was actually rather troublesome that Ichimaru was the only one with the aforementioned position. He had the aggravating tendency to avoid his work, yet at the same time, as contradicting as it sounded, he knew exactly how to accomplish it competently. She couldn't complain about the latter, but with the former, she could only wonder if his excuses were genuine or not.
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