Above the Troposphere (EAGLE CREW PLEASE!)

[StarshaSestra]

Yekaterina was restless. Ni, more than restless; the Ukrainian was agitated, anxious, even exasperated. Above all things, the Ukrainian was bored. This was, in part, due to a lack of tasks to occupy her time.

The pantry was stocked, every morsel, spice, and crumb safely stacked and accounted. The kitchen was in tip-top shape, every pot, pan, and plate in its proper place. The men were at work, well-fed and well-prepared for another day of traverse above the troposphere. The next meal wasn't for a good few hours, and needed no immediate preparation.

If Katushya didn't find something else to do during that time, she was going to go stir-crazy. "Khto koly-nebudʹ dumav, shcho odna mozhe buty nudno na bortu nebo pirat·sʹkiy korabelʹ?" The Eastern European woman lamented, sniffling into a frown.

Right now, the buxom young cook was sitting at a spare table, sighing slightly as she set to work cleaning the parts of her disassembled cannon, piecing it back together in movements so practiced it almost didn't require thought. Which did nothing to help in distracting her.

"Meni bude potribno bude prosyty Kapitana dlya bil'she boyepripasiv, nastupnoho razu vin robyt' port." Yekaterina thought aloud, reconnecting her gun with a loud '-click-'. Picking up a nearby cloth, the Ukrainian idly began to polish the metal, quietly humming an old folk-song under her breath, just slightly off key.

"Who ever thought one could be bored on board a sky pirate ship?"
"I will need to ask Kapitan for more ammunition, next time he makes port."

[Switzerland]

Truth be told, working on this ship probably wasn't worth the money for Vash. Were he approached with another offer, he would have gladly taken it. He was sure the skills he had learned throughout his life would be enough to make it somewhere else. Surely someone besides Captain Beilschmidt could use the services of someone like him. Problem was, he didn't know where to start. So, here he was. Not to mention, he couldn't just pack his stuff up and go anywhere. He had made an agreement not to make those kinds of decision without consulting his current company.

”We should be able to talk in here,” he assured his adopted sister. He knew it was more his fault than hers that they still hadn't come to much of an understanding. It was difficult for him to fully express why he did the things he had done. It kept all of their conversations at a basic level. Eventually, he'd have to open up and try. He hoped he knew what to say when that time came.

As the two of them made their way into the kitchen, Vash noted they weren't alone in the mess hall. It wasn't a real surprise. This was the head cook, hard to tell her she had no place in the mess hall. Honestly, something had told him not mess with her much since he had met her.

”Ah, looks like it was a slow day for more than just the two of us. Hallo, Frau Braginskya,” he greeted, expecting to take a seat at a different table after Lily had greeted their pseudo-host. Always time for a moment of manners for a woman who deserved them.

[Liechtenstein]

The Imperial Eagle was still a ship that confused Lily quite a bit. There were so many twists and turns, she often found herself getting lost. She had become so accustomed to the Grim, knowing that ship like the back of her hand. At times she wondered if it had been a smart move to leave it for a different ship...

Of course, she smiled to herself as she glanced at her adopted brother, someone she had been searching for for who knows how long, she knew she had made the right decision.

Though, at times Vash was nothing but confusing. She was incredibly grateful therefore that they were taking the time to speak to one another today. Maybe they could finally straighten out some of the confusion? She hoped at least as she held onto her brothers hand, trying to memorize the route to the mess hall so she didn't have to rely fully on him to get there.

They were not alone however. Of course she shouldn't be surprised. Miss Braginskya was the cook, it was only natural that she would be there. Shyly peeking out from behind Vash, Lily gave a polite nod. "Hallo..."

[StarshaSestra]

Jumping just slightly in surprise, Yekaterina looked up from her cannon, the folk tune quietly dying on her lips. “Ah? Oh, privet, Pan Zwingli.” She smiled shyly, a bit nervously, for even though she was lonesome, the Swiss man wasn’t very sociable, and Katya did not want to bother him, having the feeling he took his work seriously.

As she looked to his side, however, she spotted the newest crew member, and smiled warmly, nodding, “And Mis Lili.” For the cook, there was something simply heartwarming about the young girl, something that made her want to protect and coddle her, and give her sweets and pretty things. It was similar to how Katyusha used to feel towards her own little sister, before…

‘Ah, zachekay—they are reunited siblings, tak?’ With a small ‘oh’ of realization, Yekaterina stood up from the table, cradling the gun loosely in her arms, and bustled over to the kitchen to set it on a nearby counter, talking over her shoulder, “If you would like, I can prepare something warm? Is no trouble.” The last thing the Ukrainian wanted was to be a disruption;;

Zachekay = Wait

[Switzerland]

The relief of having Lily with him was astounding. If she was with him, he was sure he could protect her. Vash was just one man, but that was all anyone else was. There was no way they could be more dedicated to harming her than he was to defending her. And on this ship everyone knew who the man with the most weapons was. Or the guy who could make their own backfire when they needed it most. If they didn't realize either of those things, he would teach them.

But those types of thoughts were for another time. Frau Braginskya wasn't a threat and there was no one else in sight. The entrances and exits were easy to see. There probably wasn't anywhere safer. He could more easily focus on bridging the gap between him and his sister.

Vash was distracting by that goal when Yekaterina jumped up. He watched as she quickly moved away from where she had been sitting, fire arm in her clutches. Vash just stared at her question, a little confused by the speed that it had all taken place at. While he wouldn't be shy about getting his share of things, he didn't particularly want to mess with her down time. Still, he looked down at Lily before he answered, not wanting to deprive her of food. ”Are you hungry?” he asked.

[Liechtenstein]

She was surprised by the sudden offer. Blinking owlishly almost at the cook, before looking at her brother as he spoke. It was true, she was a little hungry. But it wasn't fair to disturb Miss Braginskya during her obvious break time. Hesitantly she came out fully from behind Vash,taking a step towards the Ukrainian woman. "Ah, I can help!"

She had after all, helped Jun Shi cook meals from time to time. And before she had left to look for Vash she'd cooked for herself. Besides, this way she could also show Vash that she had indeed grown up just a little.

[StarshaSestra]

Katya set the cannon against the wall, looking up in surprise at Lily’s offer. She bit the inside of her cheek, about to shake her head and insist that she spend time with her sibling instead, but in the end relented, unable to turn down help, “T-Tak, spasybi.”

She sighed, smiling lightly as she unhooked the spare apron, handing it to the smaller girl. The Ukrainian looked to Vash, nibbling her lip slightly, and tapped her fingers together, “Ah, we make something for you and your bratya, tak? What would be good?”

She directed the question towards Lily, but also left it open for Vash to answer as well, not wanting to be rude. The buxom woman bustled to the pantry, opening the cabinets quietly and beginning to browse through.

[Switzerland]

Vash knew that Lily had been keeping herself alive since they were parted, but he was still thrown for a bit of a loop when she offered to help. It wasn't like she burst out, full of confidence, but she had still done it. She had still come out from behind him, engaged a virtual stranger to help them. It wasn't a huge step from what he remembered of her, but it was a solid one.

He felt a twinge of anxiety before Braginskya said his sister could help. He didn't want to see her get turned down and he couldn't exactly glare at the woman to make her oblige her. While he overlooked his manners when he needed to reign in another man, doing that to a woman would be too much. Luckily she accepted Lily's help.

”I'd like to watch,” He said. Vash couldn't be expected to not go with her. Besides, they came in here together, right? He just wanted to watch. Shouldn't be too disagreeable.