The blue-haired young woman had been a last minute addition. While the ship (better known as the Sotally Tober) usually fulfilled its purpose as a vessel for underwater exploration, sometimes Captain Skyler Dross used it for transport of goods when the League asked it of her - for a price, of course.

Transport of people, however, had never been its goal, at least not while in Skyler's hands. But the ship had been headed to Slateport anyway, and the captain had no qualms about letting another person on board.

At least as long as they didn't do anything to damage the ship, that is. Then Skyler would drown them. Possibly.

Wind ruffled Skyler's wild mane of blond curls as she left the helm for the time being, the ship's course already set - and far enough away from treacherous waters for the captain to relax. 

"Anchoring soon? It'll take us at least another hour to reach Slateport." Silver eyes sparkled with amusement. It wasn't all that difficult for Skyler to pick up on the other passenger's discomfort, seasickness being a common enough reaction when first stepping on a ship. "Here, take this." A small package of what appeared to be sweets landed in the woman's lap, Skyler's gaze already flitting away to peer at the ocean. "They'll help."

Rose Soleil

"Evening visitors? I take it you aren't talking about pirates?" A wry smile curled the captain's lips as she turned her head just enough to peer at the blue-haired woman, lazily taking in the skin tight clothes and the proud set of her chin. Skyler's hand hovered hovered her belt, where a collection of pokéballs could be seen. "We might find a few wild pokémon if that's what you're looking for. I have a few of mine patroling around the ship, just in case." 

Case in point when a small geyser of water broke the relative peace of the ship's starboard side, the soft evening breeze sending some of the water droplets their way.  Captain Dross didn't seem overly bothered by it. "That'll be Nautilus, my Wailord." There was something playful in the tone of her voice, mingled with her casual posture. "And you're welcome, I always carry some of those sweets, just in case."

It wasn't long before Skyler's attention shifted away, silver eyes catching the last of the day's sunlight over calm ocean waters. Her wide steps took her away from Rose, the captain leaning over the ship's railing to look at something below. "Blackwood, right? I think you might be interested in that one." She pointed at something in the water below with a slight tilt of her chin. 

PASS

Rose Soleil

A short bark of laughter escaped the captain's mouth, eyes crinkling at the corners with  amusement. "I'm glad you have such faith in me. I'll try to be worthy of it." Hilariously enough, Skyler had fought pirates before, although it had been before she'd become a captain. At the time she'd been the owner of a humble fishing vessel, hardly worth being boarded by pirates.

"Rose, then." The captain barely paid the wild pokemon any attention, being used to these sort of things. She'd fished her fair share of injured pokemon out of the ocean, left behind to flounder in merciless sea currents either by careless trainers or due to boating accidents. Usually, with a few exceptions, a trip to the nearest pokemon center did the trick.

Her own First Mate, Clarabelle, was one such exception. To this day, Captain Dross thought that the Lopunny's survival had been as close to a miracle as she'd ever witnessed. 

"Plenty of space on the ship, I don't see why not." Silver eyes peered down at the small Brionne, a small smile curling her lips at the honk that escaped, like a teary whine, from the water type's mouth. "I think I might have a few Potions on hand. Otherwise, it might not be a bad idea to capture them." 

Her silver eyes shifted away from the endearing scene to find Clarabelle close to the helm, signalling to her. Gossamer thin membranes fluttered atop the Lopunny's head, prompting an amused snort from the captain.

"Making friends, Clarabelle? Didn't take you for the type!" 

The scarred Lopunny just shook her head, her eyepatch falling slightly as the Venomoth made itself comfortable between her large ears. 

CAPTURING/BEFRIENDING VENOMOTH

Rose Soleil

The Venomoth was swiftly caught with a subtle flick of the captain's wrist. It didn't appear to be hurt, but the disgruntled huff Clarabelle let out widened Skyler's grin, confirming her suspicions. The Lopunny had never been the most affectionate pokemon, and certainly never with strangers - be them humans or pokemon. The moth pokemon had probably attached itself to the Lopunny's fur in an attempt to resist the harsh oceanic breezes.

"You looked pretty cute Clarabelle, not gonna lie. Maybe I should get you a hat." The teasing felt natural as it tumbled from her lips, and the way her First Mate just huffed in annoyance spoke of a well-worn familiarity.

The Lopunny ignored the Brionne's hopeful stare and honking with practised ease, quickly vanishing into the cabin and out of sight.

"You'll have to excuse her," Captain Dross told Rose, a somewhat apologetic grin raising the corners of her mouth. "She's a bit rough around the edges." That was a bit of an understatement; the last time someone had tried to pet the bunny pokemon, she'd nearly kicked the person overboard.

"A moment." The captain squinted at the darkening ocean, brows furrowing. She soon moved away, following after her First Mate and vanishing into the growing shadows. A couple of minutes later, lights flooded the deck and the ocean ahead. Skyler reappeared soon after. "Don't want to be surprised by anything in the water." She had a radar aboard, of course, but one could never know. 

PASS

Rose Soleil

"I can assure you, Rose, everything that can be accounted for, is. Of course, the ocean has its whims and moods and will not heel for anyone." It was a reality every sailor had to content with. Make peace with. Because when one rose at dawn to throw themselves into the seafoam and the surf not knowing what awaited them, one had to accept that coming back to shore wasn't a guarantee.

The idea, however, didn't seem to bother Captain Dross. When she looked at Rose from the corner of her eyes, a wild grin stretched her lips. "But that's part of the charm, isn't it?" It was hard to miss the breathless intensity in her words, betraying how much of the captain's heart belonged to the sea.

There was a period of silence that settled over them then, punctuated by the staccato of Captain Dross' steps once in a while when she moved to check on something or the other. Fortunately, the short journey seemed to be - in most aspects - unremarkable, the ocean waters easily parting in the wake of the Sotally Tober's passage. 

"Feeling better?" The captain appeared by Rose's side, looking down at her with a curious light in her eyes. Clarabelle wasn't far off, coiling some rope close to the ship's railing. Farther away, on the bow of the ship, was a Grapploct, its tentacle-like appendages moving crates from one place to another. "Seeing as you haven't retched the contents of your stomach yet, I say you're doing pretty well." A playful glimmer brightened silver eyes, though the captain was quick to look away at the sound of a far-away crash.

PASS

Rose Soleil