- Dec 18 (Winter Solstice): - Dec 18 (Winter Solstice)

Captain Squinted his eye, frowning and staring forward. He was brought out on this ridiculous task. Sighing heavily, he'd rather be anywhere else than helping build a stage. Pursing his mouth into a scowl, staring at Dalgo up ahead. Dalgo seemed to be enjoying himself. At least someone was.

“Your lagging behind, Cap'! C'mon, we've got to get this stage up and built!” Dalgo lightly pushed Captain to get his tail in gear.

Captain scanned the area, there were many other dragons bustling around. Turning his attention back to the task at hand, he prepared to lift a heavy looking piece of driftwood. Tucking his head under the wood -

“Heya, Captain!” A girly, loud voice shouted from behind him.

Startled Captain flung the piece of driftwood, narrowly missing a poor unsuspecting Phin Singer.

“EIEN!” He barked, glaring down at the small female Phin. Out of all the dragons, of course it had been her to find him. His good eye drinking in her beauty. Never had she looked more radiant, not like she didn't always look radiant. Was it him or did her shockingly bright orange seem to look even more stunning suddenly?

“Captain? Did you hear me?” Eien asked lightly.

Oh no, what had she said? She had asked him a question! Swallowing, Captain opened and closed his mouth. “What – no, I- go away, I'm busy!” He turned back to his now gone driftwood, wincing as he had recalled he'd flung it off into some direction.

“I asked if you needed help,” She obviously wasn't going to listen and leave. He breathed in relief, he hadn't want her to leave at all, glad that she stuck around. Eien clicked her tongue, “Here, I can help you do the heavy lifting!”

“You don't have to do that..” Captain started to protest. Tensing as Dalgo started to swim his way over, great.

“Oh, Eien!” Dalgo greeted friendly, “You're just in time to give us a helping flipper, there's a pile of driftwood with both your names on it!” He eyed Captain critically, a 'don't argue with me' look on his face.

“Great, lets go!” Eien nudged into Captain playfully, ushering him along, even as he dwarfed her in size. It was a comical sight to behold.

Captain looked down at her attempting to nudge him along, rolling his eyes, the least he could do is indulge in her antics, he supposed..

They spent a few hours moving and hauling driftwood, taking breaks to surface between. They mostly worked in silence. Captain enjoyed the peaceful solitude, he was sure by time the day was done, he would crash.

“Hey Captain?”

“Hm?” He wondered what weird and wonderful things would come out of her mouth.

“You never talk about yourself.” Eien blinked at him, she hadn't spent a great deal of time around him, she had asked him before about his time spent adrift. From what she recalled, he never answered or always dodged the questions she tossed his way.

“Like how did you get that scar?”

Captain Swallowed thickly.

“Or how your eye was damage – well, I assume its from the scar of course.”

Captain felt his breathing hitch.

“Was it a fight?”

Captain suddenly felt like the sand below them was going to engulf him.

“What about your horn? Every Royal needs a horn, don't they?” Eien continued to prattle along, unaware of Captain's inner torment.

Suddenly too aware of the the sounds around them, splashing, chattering, laughter.

“Stop.” he rasped. Squeezing his eyes tightly shut.

“Captain?” He heard the concern in her tone.

He blinked his eyes open, he stared down at Eien. “I-..”

Without hesitation, Eien threw herself against him, an awkward, but soft and warm hug. She wasn't sure what had possessed her to do it, something was niggling inside her that said he had needed it.

“It's alright, Captain.”

And for once, he believed it. He let himself get lost in the embrace, if only for a few moments.

A throat being cleared behind them pulled Captain's attention. Looking down he slowly untangled himself from Eien's sudden affection. He turned to face Dalgo, glaring.

Dalgo looked smug. “The stage is coming along great, thanks to you both! Why don't you take the rest of the day off?”

“really!?” Eien looked more than happy to gallivant somewhere else, and most likely stir up trouble.

Captain hardly reacted.

Dalgo waved them both off, “go and enjoy the rest of whats left of the day to yourselves, or together – either way, have fun.”

Captain felt his cheeks flush a hot red. That -

“Captain, do ya wanna see how far the stage has gotten together?” Eien looked hopeful.

He nodded, “sure,” and why not? After all he was secretly helplessly in love with her, broken, but utterly in love.