Stranded

"I'm just ashamed of being weak. I have always been expected to cope and I always have. I need to be strong now for everyone."

 

"Not weak at all, mademoiselle." Matt tried to gain eye contact with her to assure her. "Not everyone can be perfectly stable all the time. It's normal to be afraid out here. I'd call you a fool if you weren't."

 

"I may be afraid, but I will be there for others. I suppose you still think that I am stuck up and cold? It's alright, you can be honest. I have never been very good at finding the balance between the business me and the social me."

 

"Never too late to start, miss Clarisse." Matt put on an assuring smile. "I've seen the way you took care of the other passengers. You have a perfectly good heart. You just need time to bloom." He looked at the other passengers who where already sleeping under the tarp roof. "Perhaps you should get your rest, mademoiselle. I will tend the fire."

 

"Thank you Matt and please call me Clarisse. I am not your superior in any way, just another lost soul who hopes to be rescued. Please join us if you get tired."

 

Matt nodded but there was no way he was gonna get any sleep on this island. He had been alowed to direct the boat every now and then. He'd seen almost every map known to man, and this island wasn't on any of them.It was completely uncharted.
"Early start, m...Clarisse..."

 

Definitely. It will be a pleasure helping you and discovering what is on this island. Things will look better in the morning, or at least that was what I was taught."

 

Matt nodded. "Good-night, Clarisse. Things may indeed get better." He tred a few feet to the shore and sat down, sticking his feet into the cold water. It was freezing this time of night but it felt oddly refreshing to be so close to the waves at night, so close to his home.

 

Clarisse watched him from under the tarpaulin. She was sad that he seemed so dejected and knew that he longed to be back out on the sea again. As soon as they were back safe she would recommend that he be promoted and serve on the new flagship that they were buying along with the captain and his crew. They all deserved to be rewarded and she would see that they were all recognised for their selflessness and courage.

 

Matt just sat there for a moment, listening with closed eyes when he heard a rough sound behind him. He turned, lookiing into the black trees of the forest. They looked so...dark at night. He stared at them for a moment, wondering if he'd just imagiined the noise. The sound of some sort of animal. One he didn't know.
Silence...
He shook his head. It was probably nothing. The land was making him imagine things. That was all.
He was imagining things...

 

Clarisse woke early in the morning. She started to boil water to make it safe for drinking and went fishing for breakfast. Most of the others were still asleep and there would be no fancy breakfast on silver plates for them when they woke. She waved at the few people that were awake.

 

Matt was still sitting by the shore when he saw Clarisse fishing a little ways down the shore. He stood, dusting off his pants and treading through the anckle deep water towards where she stood.
"Sleep well, miss Dubois?...I mean Clarisse."

 

"Yes thank you, though I sense that all is not well with you. Would you like to talk about it. I have already planned what will happen when I get back. Have you had any thoughts?"

 

Matt shrugged. "Um...I find a new boat and head back out to sea, I guess. That would be my first priority..."

 

"Well being as to how I head this company now how would you like a promotion and to serve with this crew on the flagship of the fleet? The new ship that I mentioned is being delivered this week and one of my jobs is to employ the crew."

 

"A...really?" Matt's jaw dropped. "That's...thank you! But I...I mean...are you sure?...there are probably plenty better crew out there, miss...better than myself..."


ooc: Be back in a few minutes.

 

"Well in my opinion you are the best crew there is and as I am the boss I think you deserve the best ship. She will need a name of course. What do you think would be suitable? I'll let the crew name her."

 

Matt's jaw was slackened. He couldn't beleive it. A new ship...a promotion...It was more than he could possible dream of. "I...don't know what to say, miss Clarisse...This is so...generous of you i mean...wow..." He tried to imagine what it would be like. He didn't mind the work at all, as long as he could stay on the sea. A new ship was simply amazing to him.
"I...we'll think of a name for her. A fine ship deserves a right name."

 

"That's why I want you to name her. You know what will fit the best ship on the water. I'm not a maritime girl so I'd rather ask someone who has the sea in their blood. It would be nice. I hope you don't mind helping me."

 

ooc: recap please