Ahiru had gone to bed hours earlier last night to be able to rise before the crack of dawn to hurry over to the Laughing Carp and meet Kasumi. And she had spent most of yesterday making several more cursed little mini-Hirame-dolls.

The process in the early hours of the morning required stealth and a delicate hand, so as to not awake their victim... but soon everything was in place. Hirame was successfully surrounded by a mob of the little dolls, there was one next to his face (it was even wielding a tiny knife, though it was made of paper and painted to look like a knife), some between his legs, and several on each side of him were holding onto strings in attempts to tie the young Mantis down.

It was a good thing sailors didn't toss much in their sleep as their sleeping conditions didn't allow room for it.

Kasumi really wanted to throw a comradely arm over Ahiru's shoulder.

She settled for a broad smile and a deeply respectful bow.

"Truly, Kakita-san, you are one I am glad to have met."

And someone she never wanted to piss off. If she'd do this for a laugh, just imagine what she'd do to an enemy...

Ahiru was practically beaming with excitement to see the results of their efforts, but she did give Kasumi a solid nod of her head.

"You are... good company, Kasumi-san," she murmured in return to keep quiet.

It was time to hide outside the door of Hirame's room to wait for him to wake up... and peek inside through the opening between the sliding doors of course.

(Special dispensation to make a single post here)

Slowly, Hirame blinked, as wakefulness came to him. He did not stretch upon waking, as many people did. After all, you couldn't do that on a ship, so he was out of the habit. Instead, he gained significant awareness of his surroundings before he moved.

Which meant the dolls were undisturbed.

He became aware of the one by his head first. A widening of the eyes, a sharp intake of breath, and he reached out and grabbed it. "Got you, you devil!" He exclaimed loudly, giving it a good shake. His hands tensed, ready to snap it in half...

And then he saw the others. All the others... wait, why were those between his legs? Just what were they threatening?!?!

"Aughhhhhh!" His wordless yell was even more audible than his Hirame was nimble. He sprang quickly to his feet, pulling a few of the dolls with him, tangled in strings. He flailed, dislodging them, casting them to the futon. Instinct took over, and he reached out for his oar... when he realized just how absurd this all was. These were not some sort of supernatural murder dolls. Someone made these. And the most likely person would be...

He slid open the door to the common room. He was a bit of a sight, still dressed in his sleeping clothes, fists clenched, chest and broad shoulders rising and falling visibly as adrenaline still coursed through his athletic form. "Kasumi-chan, you're gonna-" Hirame blinked, brought to a sudden halt by the appearance of not just one, but two conspirators. One of whom he was engaged to...."

"Ahiru-san...?" Hirame stared at her a few moments, jaw definitely dropped. And then, slowly, the grin returned, even as he slid the door shut.

Moments later, laughter, loud and deep, could be heard behind his door.

"Well. Reckon that went pretty well."

She gave a regretful sigh and glanced at the Crane with the ghost of a truly evil grin.

"Wish he'd thrashed around a bit more, though..."

Ahiru was holding a hand over her mouth... or rather, holding one and pressing over it with the other, to contain her own laughter. Judging by the way her shoulders were shaking she was really entertained by what just happened.

"Oh goodness," she said as she gasped for her, still chuckling and her face all red from the laughter. "... That look on his face."

"You're gonna have to top it someday."


But if these two can laugh together- play together- then their marriage is gonna be off to a strong start.

"Perhaps," she giggled, wiping the corners of her eyes with the edges of her sleeve. "Not sure how I would do that, but... I am certain there would be some point I would have to play another elaborate prank. Maybe if he finds himself disturbed by some other art he attempts, I'll have to think of something."

The Mantis girl was given a grin. "Thank you for bringing up the idea in the first place though."

"Ah, hell, you were th' one t'come up with makin' more."

She winked.

"'Sides, th' look on his face was more thanks'n I could ever want. Hoo."

Kasumi shook her head, stifling laughter.

"Funegao no Hirame, all calm an' collected 'til some ugly little dolls turn up..."

"Well, they are - and particularly the one he made - is rather ugly." She tilted her chin slightly, but still had an amused smile on her face. "If I didn't know he had actually made it, I would've thought it was some possessed little thing too."

"I still got it with m'tea set. So ugly I had ta keep it."

"You're keeping it?" she asked with a laugh, thinking that Kasumi was joking. Mostly.

"'Less you want it! Little reminder'a Tsuma. Maybe I'll send it t'you two when th'first baby comes along..."

The thought of keeping that ugly little thing... "No. No, you keep it. You seem so fond of it after all."

She did her best to ignore the remark of 'first baby'.

She grinned.

"I'll call it Hirame th' Second. Maybe his old cap'n could find a use for it..."

"Why... would his captain have a use for it? Is it some sailor-joke?" she asked, not quite seeing the humor in what Kasumi was saying.

"Oh, y'know, nail it t' th'mast, an' when new crew come aboard, threaten to make 'em bunk with it if they don't step lively... or tell 'em it's what happens t'sailors who slack off. Honestly, th' poss'bilities're endless."

Her eyes widened a little. "Goodness, are such... threats, for lack of a better word, common aboard ships?"

She winked

"Nah, they're usually worse, not cute'n cuddly like these'uns. S'how y'motivate a crew..."

"I'm not sure that sounds much better..." Ahiru shook her head with some concern. Goodness, would Hirame do that if he was placed on a Crane ship?

It was a worrying thought.