A Group Consensus

Ava had woken up in the lower decks for the first time in a long time. She had moved her stuff out of Oceane's room and moved into her corner once again. Oceane had also moved down there but she was not there the night they were in Piril. In fact, only two other people were in the lower decks and they were both asleep when she arrived. She had stayed up late with Theo, chatting amongst other things. The night did not take them where she had originally thought it would be she did not mind. They never actually got around to having slept together but there was definitely much more action than just kissing.

They had kissed, gotten handsy, talked, moved to the bed, talked, grabbed snacks, smoked, ate, cuddled, kissed, gotten handsy. It had been a long night and they needed to get sleep before setting sail in the morning. So, their time together was cut short but Ava left with a skip in her step, quite literally.

She fell asleep fairly quickly, a long sun wearing her out, but she woke up even quicker. It felt like she had blinked before she was being woken up by Navi, probably there to inform her that they were ready to set sail.

"Has anyone ever told you that you look cute when you sleep," Navi commented from above, arms crossed and head tilted slightly, her hand came out to mimic a paw, "like a cat."

"No?" Ava said as she pushed herself up into a sitting position on the hammock.

"Well, you do. Not many people do. It's a good trait to have," Navi elaborated then jerked her head towards the stairs, beckoning Ava to follow.

Ava got up and grabbed her coat then Navi began to walk towards the deck. Ava silently followed, "how is it a good trait to have?"

"I dunno. When there is a midnight raid and you are asleep and they come into the lower decks to kill us all, maybe you would be spared," Navi explained, flawed logic if Ava had ever heard it.

She had pulled on her new warm coat just as the wind from outside began to bite, her cheeks almost immediately going red from the cold. The farther they traveled north the colder it got. Ava had lived in Aubermasse but she never really stayed there during the winter months. Her father would drag the whole family along to The Center when he was due for his five cycle council reunions. Only one year did one of the reunions not occur during the winter months and she was too young to remember it. It had taken some getting used to and she still wasn't fully accustomed to it yet.

She felt pinpricks behind her eyes as she tried to blink away the sleep. Theo was out on deck giving orders and Navi was waiting by the wheel. Xyra and Cooker weren't anywhere, they were the lucky bastards that got the morning off. Xyra had explained the way shifts with the officers worked. Like regular crew members, they took time off and weren't asked to work all the time. If Theo was working sailing shifts, Xyra was not. If Cooker was working sailing shifts, the quartermaster was not. In that case, she was the quartermaster and Cooker was not working so that forced her to be on deck.

She wasn't much help, she just walked the length of the deck over and over and stopped for a quick chat with the working women as they carried on their duties. She and Theo exchanged a few glances, getting caught up in each other's gaze quite a lot of time before their shifts were over. By the time they were far enough that the coast wasn't visible, the sun was high in the air. She was allowed to leave and retreat into the lower decks to prepare for the election. Ava was trying not to think too much about it, the votes were already counted and her fate was sealed.

By the rules, she was allowed to speak at the beginning and then answer questions but she had been told by Xyra that elections were rarely decided on the spot. She had her speech prepared, it had been going through her head on a loop since the first night she had found out about the election. She would appeal to them, draw similarities between her and them, give them a promise that she was the ideal candidate, and then give assurances. She tried to stick as close as she could to the speech template her tutor had taught her lengths before.

Time passed with alarming speed and before she knew it, she was in Tuni's room preparing for her big night. Oceane and Tuni had encouraged her to pick out an outfit and to come by Tuni's room so they could help her get ready. When Ava arrived, Skins, Iona and Navi had also joined. Ava hadn't been expecting such a large group but she was somewhat thankful for it, there was less attention on her and they helped take off the pressure.

Ava had actually bought an outfit for the election in Piril and the girls provided the rest of the accessories. Apparently, Oceane had spread the news about the outfit choice so everyone brought their own things that matched. She was a little apprehensive about it all at first, nervous about the outfit even though she had bought it for herself and they did not allow her to look into the small mirror on Tuni's vanity until the very end which made it all the more nerve-wracking.

Rings slipped onto her fingers, earrings were swapped out, her hair was tugged at for a bit and she was helped with her clothes. The room was packed with people and they each took turns helping, except for Navi and Skins who sat on the bed watching.

"Most exciting thing about the election is the afterparty," Oceane sing-songed behind Ava as she fussed with Ava's pant leg.

"Who is getting laid tonight?" Navi crudely put.

"Well," Tuni said as she poured a cup of tea for Ava, "I am hoping to spend a nice evening with Morgana if you understand what I am getting at."

"I think we get it," Oceane chuckled, "unfortunately for me, I have no prospects tonight but I am telling you when we land in Gossem I am going to the first brothel I see."

"Didn't you just have sex in Piril?" Iona asked.

"Your point?" Oceane combatted.

"So, the koldi has no options. Fortune is getting granted good Fortune," Navi pointed across the room, "Iona will be sadly awaiting her love's return, and you Red?"

"Me? Aye, I have plans with Cooker later," she casually dropped, keeping the laugh bubbling inside suppressed.

The entire room went silent. Tuni's hand that was slipping a ring onto Ava's finger froze and Ava could hear the ocean outside. Ava looked around to see shocked faces and mouths agape. She cracked a smile after a few moments.

"I'm not sleeping with Cooker," Ava clarified and the whole room broke out into laughter and Ava let out the one she was holding in. She waited for them to calm down before she pointed a finger back at Navi, "What about you?"

"Aye, you are always prying but never letting anyone pry back. Do you and Xyra have plans tonight?" Tuni asked.

"No, we don't," Navi said, "Xyra and I will not be having plans again, according to her."

The room was quiet for a bit and Ava regretted bringing it up.

"Is that something you want to talk about?" Oceane offered.

"No, not really so if we could move along," Navi pleaded.

It was something Ava wanted to talk about. She knew it was none of her business but she had become invested in their relationship. Ava just thought they fit so well with each other and she would often watch them interact. It was silly but she was sad for them. Respecting Navi's wishes though, Ava drew the attention back to herself.

"Can I see myself now?" Ava asked.

"Wait!" Oceane snatched something from the bed and then began to pull and push on Ava's head.

She was then turned around far back enough so she could catch a glimpse of her whole body in the looking glass. She had long black pants that fit her comfortably, the pants getting slimmer as it went down and ended with a cinch around her ankles. She was wearing loafers with a slight heel in the back, the wide kind she had seen diplomats walk around her estate with, they felt official. Her torso was adorned with a black linen shirt tucked into her pants and a mid-thigh length, golden coat. The coat was open and fell straight down, giving no curves or edges to her body but making her appear regal. It had lines of black detailing the golden color; it made her look powerful.

Ava stepped closer to examine herself. The top of her head had been covered by a golden silk bandana, curly red hair peeking out from the back of her head. Her earrings were black pearls and there was a gold ring on her nose. Touching it, she realized it was not a real nose piercing, as she would have felt that happening, it was a ring with some sort of odd contraption that made it seem like it was real. She reached up to touch it and chuckled, it looked cool. Upon bringing up her face to touch it she saw many rings. She could see now why Theo liked them, they made her look mature, and like she knew what was going on.

She also looked a lot stronger than she was. The way the coat framed her made it seem like she was less lanky than Ava was, which is why she bought the coat in the first place. The slight lift in her loafers gave her a bit of height, surpassing Oceane who was the same height as her. Her outfit came together nicely with all the accessories the girls had lent her. She turned around to the women in the room and was met with a round of applause.

"Gold is your color, Red," Skins complimented.

Navi crawled off the bed and then over to Ava and grabbed her hands, inspecting the rings, "Who provided these?"

"Iona," Tuni said.

"Shit, I need to buy some of these off you, Iona, they are gorgeous," Navi said, then dropped Ava's hands and Iona scoffed out a 'not a chance.'

Ava brought her hands closer to examine the rings. They were beautiful and shiny and large. They looked a bit comical up close, compared to Ava's shorter, thin fingers, "Thank you to everyone that helped."

"The sun is setting!" Oceane relayed excitingly from the window, "we have to go get good seats. Front row to seeing our darling Ava win an election."

Navi was already getting up, "We've got 26 new people to fight against. Oceane, flank my right and Iona go to my left. Leave no survivors and push them off of their chairs if it comes to that."

They began to scurry out, Skins following behind them. Oceane and Skins shouted out some good luck messages as Navi pushed them out, itching to get a good seat. Ava laughed at their chaotic antics. One thing that was guaranteed on the ship was there was always bound to be a ruckus when more than three of them congregated. She was left with just Tuni who brought a hand up to hold Ava's cheek.

"I am so proud of you," Tuni said with a huge smile.

"I haven't even gotten the job yet," Ava said.

"Even if you don't get it. I will still be so proud. I remember all those cycles ago when you came to my room for a rinse and now you're up for quartermaster. I would have never guessed," Tuni was looking at Ava with pride.

Ava felt tears spring to her eyes. In her entire 16 lengths of life, she had never heard someone say they were proud of her with that level of genuineness. She had heard it from her tutors or sarcastically from family members but never like that. She brought Tuni into a tight hug and whispered a thank you. Ava had found a family on the ship, the way they all came together to help her get ready and give her their things just further illustrated that fact. Even if tonight went to shit, she could confidently say she had a place on the ship.

That nagging thought of her past came up to bother her again. She had found a family but only because she had lied. The guilt came creeping in and it settled like a black pit in her stomach. She closed her eyes tightly as they hugged and pushed those thoughts away. She would come clean eventually when the time was right. The crew would be understanding, she was not her father and was not responsible for her father's actions. They would see she hated him just like they did.

"You okay?" Tuni pulled away and held her at an arm's distance.

"Just nervous," Ava offered her a small smile to reassure her she was fine.

The door creaked open and Ava turned to see Theo on the other side of the doorway. She was dressed in a velvet purple swallow-tailed coat. Cinched at the waist and wide at the shoulders, the buttons were silver and large and it looked expensive. Her captain's hat adorned a purple-dyed feather and her jewelry echoed notes of purples and silvers. If there was an occasion for dressing up, Theo could be counted on to don the best outfit.

"We've finished preparing the room, people have already begun to make their way inside. Mor has a seat for you Tuni," Theo informed them and Tuni released her hold on Ava's arms.

"I will be right up front rooting for you. Let me give you a moment alone with the Captain," Tuni reached up to give Ava one last pat on the cheek then walked out.

Theo and Tuni kissed each other on the cheek and muttered a few things to each other before Theo walked into Tuni's room, leaving just the two of them.

"How are you feeling about tonight?" Theo asked.

"About how good you'd feel if it was your first time giving a speech and then add 50 pairs of eyes to the mix," Ava let out a shaky laugh.

"Just between you and I, half of the women show up drunk already. They think I don't know but I do," Theo tried to reassure her, "I can assure you they aren't paying too much attention."

"I'm sure I'll give them a good show," Ava joked.

Theo shook her head and stepped closer to Ava, "Do you have any questions about the process?"

"Can you just go over it with me one more time?" Ava asked and twisted one of the rings on her hand.

"I'll walk us over there but you have to stay in the hallway. I will go in and give a small speech welcoming them and explaining the voting process, since it is two elections in one night I have to explain to them how it will work. First, you will have to be confirmed as a pirate. You are not allowed to be present so all discussion and voting will happen without you present."

Ava nodded and crossed her arms over her chest, listening intently.

"If you are confirmed, one of them will come out to tell you while Xyra starts the quartermaster election process. She will introduce the position description and the candidates, only you this time around. Then you will be brought into the room to give your speech, you will be allowed to answer questions, and then discussion will occur after you leave the room. Voting happens and you will be asked to come in and I will announce the results," Theo explained, slowly to not overwhelm Ava.

Theo's words were soft and calming, even though she was simply reciting the process. She went into detail and it helped Ava relax. Between that and Theo's presence, she believed she had nothing to worry about. It was true, if she didn't get the quartermaster position it didn't matter. She still had a job on the ship. Theo was a grounding presence.

"How many votes do I need to win?"

"To get confirmed as a pirate, 26. To get quartermaster, 23," Theo said.

"The new girls don't vote?"

"Recruits cannot vote," Theo said, "but I do not doubt that you will be able to reach that number of votes. I would not have allowed you to go this far with your training if the mood on the ship was against your appointment to quartermaster."

"I think I will be fine," Ava said, letting Theo know that she had done her job as Captain and helped Ava.

"I know it may not always seem like it but I believe that you belong on our ship, regardless of your background. You have consistently made choices that have shown that you are more than what you were taught," Theo noted and Ava ducked her head down, "I have underestimated you at every turn and you have proven me wrong."

She could spill her guts right then, tell Theo everything now before it was too late. Theo made it seem like she would be understanding if Ava came clean but something was stopping her. Fear that something that was within her grasp could so easily be taken away. Theo could call off the election right then or tell everyone the truth and have it cost Ava a spot on the ship as a pirate.

"Thank you," Ava decided to say instead, "for allowing me the opportunity to find a home."

Theo smiled at the comment and offered her arm to Ava and Ava linked their arms together, "Good news is that all of this will be rewarded with a huge party. Win or lose you get to get drunk."

"If I win will you get me something fun?" Ava asked as they walked out of the infirmary.

"What do you mean?"

"From your stash of things... You know, something fun," Ava added suggestively.

"Ava Ableworth are you asking me for drugs?" Theo put a hand to her chest and feigned shock then laughed, "What are you looking for?"

"Nothing too intense, just surprise me," Ava said and then went quiet for the rest of the walk, looking over and staring at Theo.

Her profile always stunned Ava, it was like her face was chiseled from stone. A strong jaw and sharp features could be admired from the side and her nose was adorned with a silver ring, that one was real. Theo caught her stare once they arrived in the hallway and she slipped away from Ava's grasp.

"Good luck tonight," She gave a reassuring thumbs-up, "I've got to get this thing started but someone should be out shortly to let you know how it went."

Theo gave her one last wave before retreating into the mess hall turned election space. Ava was left alone in the dark hallway, the only light coming from inside the room. She heard Theo's voice and could make out one or two words but nothing to tip her off as to what was happening. Then a couple of new voices could be heard here or there but they only spoke a few sentences. Then complete silence. Had they moved into a vote already? Ava became restless the longer the silence went on and she began to pace up and down the hallway. She was looking down at her own feet and tugging nervously at her lip, she couldn't see the figure that had emerged until it called out her name.

"You're in!" Cooker exclaimed and ran over to where Ava had made it a distance down the hallway, "Congrats, pirate."

At the news, Ava barreled toward Cooker and wrapped her tightly in a hug and then let go. The excitement was replaced with dread as she remembered what came next, a speech.

"We've got to get moving. No time to waste, Xy has already started on introducing the next election," Cooker said and grabbed Ava's hand and practically dragged her inside.

"...be given two options. In favor of the candidate or opposed. There is no third option as there is not another candidate. Now that you have been reminded of the position and the process of elections, we will move into a speech from the candidate. Ava, would you please join us?"

Ava, who had been guided to the front of the room began to walk into the middle of the clearing that had been made for the speakers that night. She dropped her hands from in front of her and brought them to rest behind her back, something her tutors had instructed her to do many times while practicing her speeches. She stopped in her spot and looked up to see over 50 people staring right at her.

"Whenever you are ready," Theo prompted.

Ava looked back at Theo and then at the audience. She caught a few familiar faces in the crowd but seeing that made her more nervous. She could feel her knees begin to quake under her weight and she tried to gain her composure. Her hands began to sweat and when she opened her mouth to say something, she had forgotten all the words to the speech she had memorized. It had been a little too long since she had been prompted to speak and she couldn't wait any longer.

"Hello," she managed to get out with a slight crack to her voice, she cleared her throat and then began, "I am Ava."

She looked around the room to blank stares. She was mortified, she glanced around the room and locked eyes with Oceane who gave her a secret thumbs up and a huge smile. Oceane's smiles were always infectious and Ava couldn't help herself from smiling too.

"I know I haven't been a pirate for long, two minutes to be exact," she said and it earned her a round of soft laughter, "but it didn't take long for me at all to figure out that this was where I was meant to be. I originally came onto this ship seeking passage to get off of Elox but I soon realized that I didn't need to be on land to settle down and find a new family. I would like to have the honor of being your quartermaster so I can continue to help others the way you have helped me."

Ava glanced around the room again and was met with slightly more interested faces, no longer expecting stares. She twisted her rings behind her back and out of sight as she collected her thoughts.

"I know it is a lot to ask, trusting someone you don't know very well with such an important position, but I will work morning and night to make sure you are all getting the support you need. I will have an open-door policy, you can knock and ask for help at any point. Much like the policy Captain Theo has. If you know me or have had conversations with me, you know I may be a little lost on certain nuances but I also promise to never stop learning and trying to understand the world we live in. The world you all have had to navigate through for much longer than I have."

Ava looked around the room and by this time her nerves had been shaken. Her knees were still trembling and her hands were still too wet for comfort but she felt better about her speech. She needed to finish off strong but she didn't remember the hook she had memorized before but she had improvised that much of the speech she could do the rest.

"Quartermaster also comes with the responsibility of a vote during the Captain's officer meetings. I promise to use this vote as a reflection of your voices and not a reflection of my own thoughts and opinions. This is easier said than done but that is why as quartermaster I want to form meaningful and trustworthy connections with all of you so I can know what you need from me. I will cut the talking now so we can get to the real star of tonight, the afterparty..." A round of laughs, " but I hope you accept my bid to become your new quartermaster."

Ava gave a bow, one hand coming up to rest on her stomach as she did. She received a round of applause and then Xyra launched into another procedural speech about questions but when Xyra prompted people for questions the room was silent. Not one hand was raised. Ava looked between Cooker and the audience in panic and Cooker simply shrugged her shoulders.

"Seeing no questions, we'll move into a discussion. Cooker, please escort Ava out of the room," Xyra said after the third time asking for questions.

Cooker and Ava walked out, Cooker's hand on the small of Ava's back.

"Has that ever happened before?" Ava asked, worry laced in her voice.

"No," Cooker said, a bit wary of how she approached Ava with the answer, "but these pirates are weird. You can't take it as a bad thing."

Ava was not comforted by Cooker's words and the nerves that had dissipated were back. She didn't understand why it went the way it did. She thought she had done well with her speech, maybe even excelled at it. The only thing she could do was to wait. Cooker dropped her off outside and then made her way back inside the mess hall.

There was no silence this time and she heard many people speak. There was no screaming or loud debate like there was when she was sitting in on the discussion for Theo's election but that wasn't assuring either. Some familiar voices came through, a few standing out more than others. She clearly heard Morgana, Skins, Evana, and Oceane. The discussion seemed to go on longer than the whole night had been up until that point and she was filled with relief once Cooker came out to get her. It would all be over soon, regardless of the outcome.

The room was silent like a mouse could scurry in and they would all hear its squeaks. Everyone's head was focused on her as she moved across the room. Theo was standing in the middle of the clearing and following her as well. Once Ava was escorted to the front, Xyra came up and whispered something in Theo's ear. Theo tried to keep her face neutral but Ava could see she was holding back a smile and her chest momentarily filled up with butterflies, there was hope.

"Please join me in welcoming your new Quartermaster, Ava!" Theo motioned over to the girl next to her and the room erupted in cheers.

Oceane ran off the bench she was on and came to hug Ava, squeezing her so tightly that Ava was unable to move. Oceane was only the first of many that came and added themselves to the mass. Ava couldn't catch who had come over, her vision obscured by heads and hair but she was laughing along with those around her. Some of the women had broken out into a shanty and it could be heard out in the halls as some of the women disbursed to get the party started.

The hugging mass of people eventually dissipated and she was left with a flurry of others coming up and offering her their congrats. She kept looking around to find Theo but she was nowhere to be seen. As more and more congrats were given to her, it felt more and more surreal. It was as if Ava was walking on clouds, too good to be true. She felt light and airy and happy and wanted to break out into hysterical laughter. It was all a bit much but she kept herself grounded.

A quarter of a length ago she was making her way through the muddy streets of Southern Elox in search of a ship that would grant her passage and now she was the elected quartermaster of one of the most notorious pirate crews in Baethos. She had a seat at the table and she had risen in the ranks. She didn't know if she attributed her rise as luck or talent but for that night it didn't matter. Ava was going to enjoy the win. As people finished congratulating her, they made their way out to the deck where some of the women had already broken out their instruments and it could be heard from the lower decks.

Xyra, who had been leaning against the wall since the announcement, made her way over and put a hand on Ava's shoulder, "Congrats, mate. Get ready to have me knock on your door at all times. You having an open door and all."

Xyra just laughed to herself and slapped Ava on the back before walking out. Ava was alone but not for long, Theo came into the room. She had slipped out sometime between all the commotion.

"Quartermaster Ava," Theo said as she walked over and stopped to give a bow.

"Captain Theo," Ava replied and met Theo halfway.

"I've brought you a congratulatory gift, as requested," Theo held up a small leather satchel, "No hassle with smoking required. You eat this."

Ava took it from Theo and opened it. She wasn't sure what it was. It looked to be some sort of plant. Three brown stems were inside the bag and Ava took one out to examine it.

"It's a bit bitter but it guarantees a fun time and you can mix it with ale," Theo informed Ava, "It's not too intense but it won't wear off for a while."

Ava put one in her mouth and bit down. She had to resist the urge of spitting it out onto the floor and she kept chewing, mouth contouring in disgust. Theo laughed but Ava was not amused. She pushed past the unpleasantness and swallowed the stem.

"A bit bitter?" Ava coughed out.

"I might have misled you there," Theo said, "but you only need to eat one for it to work so the worst part is over."

"Always the optimist," Ava said then began to walk out but Theo walked after her and grabbed her hand to pull her back.

"I just wanted to give my congrats on the position," Theo said and looked down at their hands but didn't let go like she usually did, "enjoy your night and party hard. The women will start to make you own up to your promises starting tomorrow."

"Thank you, Theo. For everything. And for the drugs, can't forget about the drugs."

They both chuckled and Ava leaned forward and kissed Theo on the cheek before leaving the room and joining the party. The party in her honor.