Jaehwan spent the rest of the evening helping Aron to clean up the galley, though he did get the distinct feeling that he was in the other man's way. After helping the scrub the stew pot clean and set out Aron's ingredients for making the next day's bread, the cook told him a weighted thank you: it was obviously a dismissal. Jaehwan felt his spirits sag a bit as he realized that no, it was not a perfect fit in the galley, but he bowed to the cook nevertheless and left to go to his cabin.

He settled on the bed, rubbing his bare feet from where they had formed sores on the sanded deck, his toes red from being unused to walking around barefoot. He made a mental note to ask for some of the soft shoes the crew wore, then lay back into the bed. Once again he was the only one in the officer's chambers, and he fell asleep long before the others came in. He slept fitfully, his dreams once again plaguing him, and he woke once in the middle of the night after a particularly vivid dream of drowning.

Pushing back his privacy curtain, he saw that the magical lights were dimmed, casting an almost eerie glow on the room. It seemed that the crew must be sleeping because there was hardly any noise, and he had the momentary urge to wander the ship in the more private moments of the night. He quelled that urge, knowing it might look suspicious to be out when everyone else was sleeping, and so settled back into his bed to sleep.

It didn't come easily, though, not this time. He lay awake for long hours, thoughts of the people he had left behind coursing through his mind. He knew that the sister's had promised to return him when they could, but there was no assurance that his loved ones were even still alive to return to. Besides, with what he had seen during the day, he had to wonder if the crew of the Lion's Heart would be able to keep their word. They were on a mission, it was obvious, and the more he thought about it, the more he could assume it was a dangerous one. That, or he had read the mayor's adventure books too often, and was looking too much into things. But the presence of the magician, the tension amongst the crew, the secrecy with which Krystal had said they traveled in... it was all too much. 

What was that she said? That their actions could start a war if they weren't careful. That turned over in his mind as he tried to descipher the meaning behind it. They weren't from Arisan, surely... not with the way they had spoken of his King. He couldn't even remember the King's name, now, but he figured that was another clue. The sister's had spoken of him as if familiar with the man, and they weren't even from Arisan.

And then there were the cut off words, the things that crew members began to say but changed before they could complete it. He shook his head, trying to piece together the mystery, and it was a long time before sleep captured him.

He woke the next time to muffled sounds beyond his curtain, and he pulled it back to look out with bleary eyes. The ship's officers were out and about, most in states of half dress and looking like they would rather be sleeping. He caught sight of Dara's mostly bare legs, and flushed hotly as he dropped his curtain back in place. Didn't they have any sense of privacy?!?

He waited until the sounds of the officers faded, some heading up the hatch onto the upper deck and others out the door to the main deck, then took the chance to peek out again. This time the room was clear, and he breathed a sigh of relief before pushing his curtain back.

Then he mentally kicked himself for waiting. He had meant to ask for some of the soft shoes! With a sigh he pulled his borrowed white shirt over his head before he put his socks and boots on, deciding they were the better alternative than running around on the rough sand again. His stomach was grumbling as he finished doing up the laces on the boots, securing them around his ankles, then he stood, pushing his necklace back inside of his shirt to lay against his skin.his fingers lingered for a moment, sending up a prayer to whatever was listening that his family was safe. Then he made his way to the galley.

The room was packed with sailors, all once again sitting at their places along the wall-mounted tables, bowls or porridge in front of them. Daniel nodded at him as he passed, though he raised an eyebrow at the tall boots he wore and gave a smile and shake of the head.

"Good morn, Jae," Aron greeted, dropping the latter half of his name. Jaehwan gave a soft laugh as he bowed in greeting.

"Good morn," he returned, taking a bowl from the box nailed to the top of the bread counter and holding it out for Aron's spoon. As the cook dropped porridge in, Jaehwan ventured, "Would you happen to be able to use any help today?"

Aron's face took on an apologetic look that told what his response would be. "No, I'm sorry. I've already got the bread baking and I only need to cut vegetables." He shrugged as he finished. "Maybe Daniel could use you?"

"Maybe," Jaehwan responded, keeping his smile in place though he knew the older man's answer would be no. He took the bowl and turned to find a place to sit, and nearly ran into Sohee. 

Her red lips twisted into a sardonic smile as she looked up at him. "Going to run the Magician over, are you?"

"I'm so sorry," he said quickly, trying to take a step back to bow his apology to her, but his back hit the brick fire pit. He gave a sharp cry at the heat and leaped forward, once again almost knocking her over, and this time the crew began to laugh.

Sohee's cat eyes crinkled in amusement as she covered with one hand. "An assassin!" she teased, then motioned to the side. "Stop bowing and move, yes?"

He did as she asked, his cheeks now heated with embarrassment, and