Fragment V: Good Intentions

Fragment V: Good Intentions
 
The crew's quarters felt stifling despite being empty. Maybe because it was below deck, away from the open air. Or maybe because it housed crewmates that he did not know well.
Songbird took a steadying breath and entered. He kept his wings tight against his back to avoid touching anything. Bare feet padded across the wooden planks as the fey peeked at the different bunks, searching.
Finally, he found the one he was looking for. Taking the precounted silver from his pocket, Songbird tucked it under the pillow on Alexi’s bed. Making sure that the currency was hidden from prying eyes that might want to take it for themselves but still in a place that it wouldn’t come into contact with the lycan’s skin. Next to the marks, Songbird left the pendant he had gotten with the captain earlier in the evening. His fingers twitched, wanting to straighten the mess of blankets, but he left it be.
He wasn’t entirely sure what a reading was worth, but he hoped it was enough.
Songbird slipped out of the crew’s quarters just as quietly as he came.
 
***
 
Pluck climbed up onto Alexi’s bunk, and crouched. His tail swished back and forth before he leaped, landing in the hammock a few hands above.
“You could have the lower bed, my scaled friend.” said Alexi. He ran his hands across his straw mattress a few times, trying to smooth out the three-toed claw marks indentions.
“No can do, Fleabag. I’m higher rank, so I get the higher bed.”
Alexi looked to Swing for help in the next cot over, but he had already pulled up his blanket. The flat-faced kobold said nothing, only looking sadly at the empty hammock hanging over him.
Alexi stretched and circled in place a time or two. His cot was calling him after a hard fought day avoiding chores and responsibilities.
There were still intermittent bootfalls above deck, but he had learned to drown out noise and sleep anywhere long ago out of necessity, both from his cursed hearing and spelljamming racket in equal measure.
He slipped into his bottom bunk, closed his eyes, and scratched at his back. He groaned as the itch only intensified.
It burns!
Alexi shot up and howled.
His ears twitched at the light clink of two Bralian marks hitting the floor.
He frowned down at them as he tried to reach the spot on his back, with little success.
Silver.
“Pluck!” he roared.
“Don't look at me!” the kobold blasted from the hammock above. “You still owe me money, and I'm not giving you another chit ‘til you pay up!”
Alexi whimpered as the burning sensation dulled to a pulsing ache. Two red welts sizzled between his shoulder blades.
Pluck poked his head over the edge of his bedding. Then his tail swept down and snatched up the two rectangular pieces of silver.
“I'll take those off your hands though” Pluck purred. He flipped his plush mask back over his eyes. “You're welcome.”
Alexi tried to lay back down and sleep, but the irritation on his back was slow to fade. The quiet “mimimi” sounds of Pluck snoring failed to lull him.
He rolled over, burying his head under his pillow when he felt a metallic point with his hand. Fearing for the worst, Alexi recoiled, but a cord had tangled itself around his wrist. No no no!
He sat up, hitting his head into Pluck’s tail, who snored forcefully in retort. Looking down at his entrapped hand, a small charm caught his eyes. A moon.
Alexi held it up, tilting his head, and watching the light of Selune reflect off of it from a porthole in the wall. He sniffed, picking up Pluck’s foul breath. But from the necklace, nothing. There was only one person on this ship that had such little scent: Songbird.
Alexi looped it around his wrist a few times and sunk himself into his mattress. He watched the moonlight dance upon the trinket as it slowly twirled back and forth. Until sleep took him in.