[Moon 15, Late Evening, Aft Deck] Insomnia

[Kaiu Seiko]

If anything, the grin got wider.

"It makes you feel alive!"

Then the grin slipped, and then faded completely. Seiko turned towards Qulan.

"But I'm not like most people."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"You're pretty unique, Kaiu-san." She paused, smiling still. "But I like that."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko didn't say anything or move for a bit, even to change her facial expression.

Then she turned back to look over the sea.

"Well, that's good." The Kaiu continued to gaze out over the waters for a bit, before looking back at Qulan. "Everyone is unique. What makes you unique?"

[Shinjo Qulan]

"It's hard to define what makes you unique by yourself." Qulan answered bashfully.

"Oh. I have a question... How does one fish in the armory? There's no water..."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko blinked.

Once.

Twice.

"Oh."

She looked back over the railing.

"Shinjo-sama is very sheltered. They aren't talking about fish in the sea."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"... Ship fish?" Qulan was even more confused. "And what do clams taste like? Someone was under the impression that I liked clams, but I've never had one."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko sighed. She turned towards Qulan.

"Don't think about fish. Think about... the Beast with Two Backs."

She doesn't know what that is, either. I just know it.

[Shinjo Qulan]

Qulan was confused a moment, but then something came to mind. "A camel?"

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko shook her head.

"Sometimes, people say one thing because they don't want to say the other. The Beast with Two Backs is like fishing... in the armory."

She looked at Qulan.

"Do you want a further explanation?"

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Well, if you don't mind..." The Shinjo looked a tad bit embarrassed. "Then again, Iuchi-san... She offered to show me what it meant."

[Kaiu Seiko]

"Show?" Seiko blinked. "Oh."

She paused, trying to figure out whether to continue to explain, or let the poor girl find out the hard way.

Maybe not...

The Kaiu held out one hand, palm towards Qulan, fingertips up.

"Man. Not wearing gloves, so he is naked." She turned her hand so that the back of her hand faced the Unicorn now. "Back of man."

Then Seiko held out her other hand, palm towards Qulan, fingertips up.

"Woman. Also, not wearing gloves." Once more, she turned her hand so that back of her other hand now was towards the Shinjo. "Back of woman."

The Crab held that pose for a moment.

"The Beast with Two Backs."

She clapped her hands, several times, quickly, her expression completely calm.

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Oh... OH." Poor Qulan turned many shades of red. "I... Ummm... Wow... I..."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko put her hands down and turned back to look over the railing again. She was silent for a bit as poor Qulan had to made some mental adjustments. There was no need to bring attention to the Unicorn's embarrassment.

Finally...

"Do you need me to explain what fishing in the armory would be, Shinjo-san?"

[Shinjo Qulan]

"W-would it be... That... In the armory?" The poor tall Shinjo asked, half-sure of what the Kaiu was going to say.

"... Oh my... That means... Rinzuki-chan..."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko continued to look away. She didn't need to see Qulan to know how well the Unicorn was taking the news.

"Fraternizing is bad on a ship. But sometimes... two... or more... want to get away. They get on a boat to go... fishing. Take nets, taking fishing rods. Catch a few fish. Then catch a Beast with Two Backs."

The Kaiu half-turned towards the Unicorn.

"So going fishing in the armory though... that's bad."

There was a pause.

"You didn't fish in the armory."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"I d-didn't fish in the armory!" Qulan barked out with embarrassment. "... But someone thought I did... Oh my..."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko turned and looked directly at Qulan, nodding.

"You didn't fish in the armory," she said, calmly, both repeating herself and agreeing with the Unicorn at the same time. "But someone thought you did."

She looked off at the sea again.

"Someone who isn't very bright, that is." It wasn't an insult, just a matter of assessment. Whomever believed that Qulan was capable of that really wasn't that bright at all.

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Thank you, Kaiu-san..." Qulan looked back out at the sea, now less flustered.

"I'm sorry you had to explain."

[Kaiu Seiko]

"Why are you sorry?" Seiko looked back at Qulan, confused. "I got to help someone I like. I am no worse for it than before. In fact, because I helped you, I am better off than I was before."

There was a pause.

"You are sheltered, aren't you?"

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Well... I guess so..." Qulan blushed. "They say I'm a bit naive, Kaiu-san."

A 'bit' was an understatement.