Fragment IV: Identity

Songbird’s feet shuffled with uncertainty, wings fluttering anxiously behind him. He was standing outside of the captain’s quarters, staring at the wooden door. Unfortunately for the fey, the door held no answers for him. If he wanted to do this, he needed someone to go with him.
He wouldn’t go into Bral alone.
Armitage was busy – Songbird had seen him inspecting and cleaning the two guns he always carried with him – and taking Alexi would defeat the entire purpose of the visit to the markets. The kobolds were nowhere to be found and the fey didn’t feel comfortable with anyone else to ask.
The captain was probably too busy to take a trip into Bral with him. Why was he standing here? About to waste the captain’s precious time. He hesitated. Should he? Should he just go alone?
Songbird knocked.
It was not a loud knock but Fynn was brooding over a map of the local spheres, in his quiet contemplation the noise startled him.
“Yea! Just a minute!” He shouted to the visitor.
Fynn reached for the hat hanging on its hook as he was about to make his way out then hesitated. Instead the searching hand found the door knob and he turned it. Seeing Songbird standing bashful as ever.
“Ah, my humming friend. What can I do for you?”
Songbird shifted his weight back and forth as he hesitated. He had already knocked. If he didn’t ask now, then it would waste even more of the captain’s time. Better at this point to just ask and get the captain’s denial before he went on his way.
“I – I wanted to go into Bral but I didn’t want to go alone. I was going to ask if you had plans to go soon but the captain must be busy.” The fey was already excusing the both of them, taking a step back to retreat.
Fynn’s brow raised in surprise as a smile stretched across his face. Pleased someone would come to him…for anything. Fynn would’ve liked to think he was a busy man, but they were stuck docked while Xix worked her magic on the Razorleaf. Fynn was bored and he never wanted to stay in one spot too long.
“One might think I should be busy but everything is loaded, we just be waitin’. I could do fer a bit a movin’ about, and I did forget to get some things. A few books for my captain's log and one for sketchin’. All captains need a log, right?” Fynn looked uncertainly at Songbird, nodding to himself assuredly.
Fynn had his jacket cradled in an arm which he then slung over his back and slipped his arms through the sleeves. He looked at his sword belt hanging near his hat at the door, which he grabbed and quickly clasped around his waist. Just in case. Then he exited his quarters to join Songbird.
“Shall we?” Fynn said through a smirk.
Songbird nodded, surprise flashing across his face for a mere moment before his features smoothed. He followed the captain after assuring that his purse was tucked safely in his pocket.
Fynn told Chance he was goin’ ashore to ‘pick up a few things.’ as Fynn would say it and that the ship was his while Fynn was away. He led Songbird down the gangplank. The city was a buzz in the light of day, workers carried on around them as they left the dry docks. Fynn did his best to make a path for Songbird as they walked and…he mostly talked to distract the fey from his many troubles. A street corner ahead slowed them down.
“So what brings you out into the big city? Seems…significant.” Fynn asked, putting his hands on his hips to take up more space for the two of them at the busy street corner.
The third time in Bral was still just as overwhelming as the first two times. Frankly, Songbird would have preferred to stay on the ship, finding a quiet place to just…be.
After a few moments, he realized that the captain had asked him a question. He replayed it in his mind. Ah. Curiosity was natural in this case, where Songbird had asked for something.
His response was quiet, barely audible above the crowd. If the captain weren’t right beside him, Songbird wasn’t sure that he would be heard. He wasn’t sure even with their proximity that he would be heard actually.
“Master LaVulpa was very kind to me and I repaid him with a d-disservice. I-I wish to get him a small gift.” Songbird stumbled over his words, hoping that the captain understood.
Luckily Fynn’s ears were sharp and he heard the words as tough as it was. Fynn shrugged and gave Songbird a look, tilting his head puzzling out Songbird's meaning, it must’ve been important to draw the man out in public.
“Well…I guess that depends on the disservice you did him. What kind of gift were you thinkin’?” Fynn thought gifts were a great idea as his smile curled impishly as he turned ahead when the way forward cleared
“I-I don’t k-know,” Songbird stammered, “S-something small. I was h-hoping I would know it when I-I see it.”
“Aright, well lets get to the grand market and stroll through and if nothing speaks to ya we can look for some other shops ‘round Bral. I need some books fer sketchin and captain’s loggin’. A captain's gotta log right, let’s go.” Fynn gave Songbird a reassuring nod and gestured him onward to the market.
Songbird perked up slightly at his words, amber eyes flickering from the road before them to the astral elf next to him.
“You can draw, captain?”
The fey blinked for a moment, as if surprised by his own enthusiasm. He looked away, back to the streets, embarrassed.
“Not as well as I’d like but when I have the passing moment to myself. Lots of anchors, ropes, sailors workin’and ships on the ocean. Stuff like that. If I had my book I’d show ya, but it's at the bottom of a delta soakin’ in salt water as we speak…quite fittin’ I ‘spose.” Fynn shrugged again, trying to chase that silver lining. He took a moment to regard Songbird.
“You don’t always have to call me captain, in these kinds of informal things…. I can just be Fynn, your pal.” Fynn went quiet for a moment.
“Always being ‘the captain’ has been…tougher than I expected. I wanted to party with the crew that night…okay i wanted to party longer but they were gambling and I could’ve played sure…but what if I won. My mom told me a good leader should never put themselves in a position to take from those they lead.”
Songbird tilted his head, looking at the elf next to him. After a few moments, he said quietly, “I think they played to share themselves, so the only way to lose was not to play. But I-I’ve never had a captain before – or a crew. So I d-don’t know.”
Fynn thought hard on what Songbird said.
“I guess it can be a bit tricky to put into words. My experience might bias hard to port since the only captain I willingly followed was my mom. She led without fear and by example, clever and decisive. She said she was born and raised to lead n’ I saw no reason to disagree. Hells, I bet I’m tryin’ too hard to be like her but that's all I got.” Fynn looked back to Songbird, a doubt on his face that he tried to hide.
“I…struggle to be myself,” Songbird said carefully. The fey hesitated, then added, “I think Fynn should be Fynn…because otherwise, Fynn wouldn’t…be my…pal?”
The doubt washed away and a warm smile replaced Fynn's concern. The more of Songbird that came to the surface Fynn knew the world…no the verse needed more of him. Fynn considered him as they walked amidst the people.
“Let's work on that together then. Pal.” Fynn said, smiling wide. In the chaos of the crowd Fynn placed an arm around Songbird. Bringing him in close and giving him a little jostle as friends would.
“Yer a damn good man, Songbird… I think I should get the whole crew a gift and you gave me the idea. Let's work on gifts together too, eh mate?”
Songbird flinched, startled by the sudden contact. He relaxed his shoulders. It was just Fynn.
“Okay.”