Prologue: Just another day

Steve comes home in the evening, sees Zelk reading a book on the couch, and says, "Hi Zelk. Did you want some tea?"

"Sure. So what's your next assignment?"

"Escort job out to the Enclave. Should be a milk run if Sonlake is on the money this time. Just have to watch out for the usual," he says, using their code word for pirates and kraken. He heads for the kitchen and leaves the ring box on the table and sets about getting the tea ready. "I got you a gift; it's on the table!"

Steve is too busy with the tea to see Zelk getting up from the couch and enter the kitchen with wary eyes. He hears the ring box open and a gasp escape Zelk's mouth.

He looks back quickly surprised by her reaction. "Are you okay? Everything alright?"

Zelk has her eyes fixed on the box and what it contains. "That's... that's a..."

"A ring like mine. You know, the light one. I thought you might find it useful and it matches mom's necklace. Do you not like it?" He asks in innocent confusion.

She finally looks up and stares at Steve, also confused. "You mean..." This is so shocking it's difficult for her to talk. "You're... not proposing to me?"

"Uh...." He looks up, a look of pure terror and confusion on his face.

Zelk's expression hardens. She glares at Steve in tranquil fury, walks around the counter and stops right in front of him. "Steve," she says with a cold tone.

He looks like he's going to run away like he usually would in this situation but he takes a deep breath in lets it out slowly. "Okay, okay. I know how this looks but please, sit down and don't murder me please."

He still looks scared.

"No," she replies. "There are only two things you can do; you can either go down on one knee and propose to me properly, or you can stand still while I punch you and give you the ring back until you decide to propose to me properly."

Realization dawns on his face as he realizes that she is proposing to him. He stands up taller, readjusts his shirt so it is straight (the Picard maneuver), and walks up to her with all seriousness and takes the ring. Getting down on one knee he says, "Zelk Freeron, I love you, from almost the moment I met you. You've been the smartest, most beautiful woman I've ever met. You've beaten me more often than anyone at everything and I hope you'll do me the very great honor of being my wife. Zelk, will you marry me?"

Her expression softens and silence hangs in the air for a long moment. Zelk then takes the ring from Steve's hand and with an almost imperceptible smile, she says, "I will."

She puts the ring on her finger.

He gets up and says, "I knew it would look good on you." He takes her in his arms and kisses her passionately.

Well, he tries to, but as he leans in towards her, she stops him. "Steve."

"Yeah?"

She then punches him in the face, as hard as she can. Steve goes flying in the kitchen and lands with a loud thump on the floor. "That's for almost making me have a heart attack, you stupid idiot!"

"Ah, fuck! That hurt Zelk!" He's holding his eye.

"Good! You brainless monkey!" She kicks him a few times, but luckily, she's not putting as much effort in this than the punch.

"Ah man, I should press charges. Can you see the headline? 'Couple proposes to each other, police called.'"

She crosses her arms and looks down at Steve. "Does that mean you're calling off the engagement?"

"What? Hell no! I'm going to marry the shit out of you woman. Can I have my kiss now?"

"Make it a good one."

"Come down here and I will."

She sighs, exasperated, and joins Steve on the floor.

Amber is sitting at the table in the kitchen, doing homework. Fedler, who's now cooking dinner, gestures at Mihai that he should talk to Amber about their next job.

Mihai nods, a little sadly. Goes over to Amber. "Hey, kiddo."

"Hey. What's up?" She stops writing and looks up at Mihai.

"We got our orders today for our last job. Gonna have to sail out. We’ll be away for a few days."

"Sail out?" She frowns a little. "Where? What's the job?"

"Just looking after some cargo we're carrying down south to the Enclave. Pretty simple, as jobs go."

"The Enclave? You're going to the Enclave!?" She sounds a little excited.

"Uh, yeah. Why?"

"I've never been to the Enclave! Can I come too?"

Mihai eyes widen a bit and he is left speechless for a moment. It's obvious he'd like the idea, but the complications are just as obvious.

"I.... don't know, Amber. It's a Coins ship; I don't really have any authority there."

"But you just said it was an easy job," she retorts. "Come on, nothing will happen. And even if it does get dangerous, I'll just hide and let Sunny help you."

Mihai sighs, and takes a long moment before he can speak. "Say we get to the harbor tomorrow, and I’m somehow able to sell it to the Captain, whoever he is. If something does get dangerous - and I’m not expecting it to, but if it does..." He searches for the right words. "First time I ever got in a real fight, with the syndicate, after I’d been trained... I felt fear like I’d never felt before in my life. My joints locked, i couldn't think, could barely keep from going into all-out panic. That's just normal. It's what happens to everyone the first time they find themselves in a situation like that. Whatever you think you'd be able to do, that's what you'd have to contend with before anything else. And you probably can't imagine it until it hits you. Do you understand?"

She stays silent for a few seconds. "Yes," she tells him. After some hesitation, she then adds,"...Does that mean I can come?"

Mihai lowers his head in deep thought for a moment. "Well... I mean I’ll try. But it probably won't be up to me. You understand that, right?"

A smile creeps up on her face. "But I can come."

Mihai sighs. "You can finish your homework, then go pack. You're coming with us early morning to the harbor, and we'll see what we can do, but if i can't get you in, you're gonna be in charge of the house for a few days, ok?"

"Thank you!" She gets up and gives Mihai a big hug before running off to her bedroom. "Oh, I know what to take with me already!"

He hugs her back. Doesn't have the heart to put his foot down and tell her to finish her homework.

Once Mihai approaches Fedler, she looks attentively at him. It seems she has something to say. He waits for it.

"You're spoiling her," she tells him.

"She's earned a little spoiling. After all she's been through."

"Uh huh. If you're sure..." She approaches him and puts her arms around his shoulders. With a suggestive smile she asks him, "Do you have time for some practice later?"

"Can always use some." He smiles back.

She kisses him on the nose and leaves his embrace to return to her cooking. "You better go make sure she doesn't bring too much."

"You're ok here?"

"Just remember your promise," she replies with a grin.

He grins back and goes after Amber.

OOC:

Appear whenever you want. Breeze is with Konrad, Steve with Zelk, and Mihai with Fedler and Amber.