Here Captain, Follow Me to Alcohol (Day 5 Solstice Evening)

She could hardly wait until they arrived at the Cabaret tonight in support of Marisol and to celebrate the long-awaited solstice. Lyen lifted the edge of her solstice robe, an ornately embroidered pine-green garb, trimmed with braided white cuffs around her wrists and hemline. Still, about her shoulders, she wore the brown military jacket she’d found in Marisol’s locker in the engine room. It wasn’t much, but it kept off the bite from the setting suns.

Taking the steps down to the cargo bay, she found Keller leaning against the hull surveying the provisions and passenger’s things strapped to the belly of the Lunar Veil. She thought she could almost see pride in his eyes--the gleam of a job well done. She couldn’t spy a bottle in his hand and he appeared mighty put together, as captains go.

“Amituofo Captain, are you headed into town?” she asked, as she descended the stairs.

Captain Keller looked up and whistled through his teeth. “Weren’t planning on it, but where are you gettin’ off to all gussied up?”

She stifled a grin at the Captain’s wolfish approval. “I’m headed to the Cabaret to see Marisol. She selfishly kept her talents to herself while she was with us.” It stung, still, that she wouldn’t be departing with them tomorrow, but she didn’t blame either party. “Why don’t you come with me? You should really see the show, it’s spectacular.” She arched an eyebrow, “They’ll have alcohol,” the nun tempted.

The captain removed his hat, holding it by the brim as he nodded his head, though he had no idea who Marisol was or what kind of talent she was hiding. He did however have a few ideas on what he hoped it would be. “I’d like that.” He replied. “And I’m glad I ran into you, been meaning to talk to you about something, if you had a minute before we left?”

“Let’s walk and talk,” she invited the captain of the Lunar Veil into the cold, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to say to you, as well.” Lyen adjusted her braided hair down her back. “What was it you wanted to discuss, Duìzhǎng (Captain)?”

Keller grabbed his coat and put his hat back on top of his head as they stepped off the ship. “I wanted to apologize for the other night. I was trying to cut a deal with some people and was a bit on edge. Weren’t right for me to take it out on you, so for that, I’m sorry.”

Lyen was a little shocked at the words coming out of his mouth. “Hmm,” she said in amusement, “It’s just that I’ve never heard you apologize before. It’s nice.” She was doing her best to hide her smile by looking up at the sky. It was early evening yet, no sign of the aurora.

“What are you talking about?” He said with an easy grin. “I apologize all the time..”

“I’ll take you at your word,” she left it at that, in no mind to argue. “I’m glad you brought it up, because I’ve been wanting to say my own apology for how I acted in the saloon. I shouldn’t have pushed you, but I have been worried about you.” She bit her lip before continuing, “Pardon me if it’s not my place, but someone has to be concerned for you.” The nun trained Keller with a knit brow.

“Concerned?” Keller scoffed, moving a low hanging tree branch to the side for Lyen to pass. “What should you be concerned for? We got us a full boat, a new destination, things couldn’t be better.”

“Xiè xiè,” she said as Keller played the gentleman. “Well, that’s all fine and good, Captain, but there’s another sort of concern. I mean to say, I’m more concerned about you. Namely, the bottle.” She could feel a rebuttal coming on, so she raised a hand to stop him, “Again, I know I have no right to tell you how to live, but, Keller, you’re my Captain, and I’ve seen you on the worse end of the bottle more than I can count. I don’t say this lightly, but I fear what might happen if you take that trip one time too many.” The nun pursed her lips and prepared for the onslaught of his response.

Keller waved a hand as if he was swatting away a hornet. “I appreciate the concern, but now don’t get all preachy, Sister. I’m a grown man, Captain of my own ship, I’ve managed just fine so far. Indulging myself is one of the perks. But I tell you what, if it becomes a problem and I need help, you’ll be one of the first I go to.”

“I’m not proud of it, but once I indulged like you. I chose my poison, a ‘perk’ of the job. Except unlike you, I ‘enjoyed’ myself to excess.” She walked a few silent steps in the snow before continuing. “Suffice to say I wouldn’t be here today if a… friend… hadn’t been there in time to pick me up off the floor.” Lyen swallowed, her hands stuffed into her pine-green pockets. “You’re important: you’ve got yourself a ship, a crew, and jobs aplenty. An awfully large group of people who look to you. We need our Captain, is all.” Her eye wandered to the brim of his hat.

“And you got him.” Keller replied. “I’m not going nowhere, you don’t need to worry your pretty head none.” He tipped his hat back on his head. “I’m real glad to hear your friend helped you out, and that you’re with us today, but I’m tellin’ you, Sister, I’m fine.”

“Yes, I expect you are,” she replied with a smirk. “One last question before I relent: will you call me, when or if there’s another reason you find for crawling into a bottle--a deeper, perhaps darker root? Promise not to judge; I found a darker reason of my own, once.”

Keller chuckled. “This conversation’s giving me reason enough. But I promise, if I need to talk, I’ll come find you, how’s that?”

“Shiny.” The pair rounded a corner to the face of the Cabaret de Montagne. Only it wasn’t the charming exterior it once was. Instead, slurs and raucous remarks riddled the edifice in scrawling spray-painted lines. Lyen’s hand rose to her mouth as they approached, “Tiān nǎ (my god),” she gasped.
“Well shit.” Keller remarked, looking up to see what had the nun flustered. “You’d think in this day and age this still wouldn’t be an issue. Some people just got the sense of a jackass and the personalities to match.” He shook his head, pulling a flask from his pocket and taking a long pull.

The light from within glowed warm, in contrast to the harsh words outside. Groups of people in two’s and threes’ were clumped around the exterior, pointing and holding tickets in their hands. They seemed too at ease with the spectacle which covered the cabaret, like it was some great jest: a spectacle for Solstice. Ly watched Keller nurse his flask from the corner of her eye before replying, “I can’t believe someone would do this.” She watched as other onlookers entered the cabaret, “I hope Marisol is alright.” With that she approached the open door to see a throng of people at tables and the bar, all waiting for the show. It seemed that nothing could deter the Solstice spirit from reaching the Cabaret de Montagne.

Still, the nun felt a tug of insecurity in the show of ignorance that marred the Montagne. It was one thing to support others in their journey of self realization, but it was another to meet oppressive adversity while trying. She hoped for the best, her excitement to see Marisol outweighing her fears.

“Dorian said he booked a table for us,” she said turning back to Keller, “Are you ready, Captain?”

The Captain tipped his hat back and opened the door, placing his hand on the small of the nun’s back to usher her inside, and away from the ugliness which came from even uglier people. After you xiǎo mei.” (Small sister).