13741/Birthdays on a Boat part III: The Capri Caper

Birthdays on a Boat part III: The Capri Caper
Date of Scene:	20 August 2021
Location:	M/Y Surprise, Bay of Naples, Capri.
Synopsis:	Capricious Capri capers collectively confound. A boat race, good food, good friends, an unexpected encounter. But who keeps sending these letters?
Cast of Characters:	Jax Miller, Nightingale, Kit Killovarras, Cannonball

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Jax Miller has posed:
    There is always time for some fun between culture, and some culture amid all the fun. As Motor Yacht Surprise departs the moorings of Sorrento, there is a brief interlude that betrays a naval custom about as old as the sea itself. Barely has the yacht gotten underway, when there is a call from the bridge over the speakers for the crew to 'man the side' and 'render honors'. Not that it needed saying, as the crew had already gathered on the port side gangway by the main saloon, and stood there waiting expectantly, peering outboard and upwards to the jutting headland of the promontory known as Piano di Sorrento. With a grin, Jax had invited his friends up to the sun deck, above the bridge, and pointed to an inconspicuous building perched at the top of the promontory, just above a serpentining coastal road that leads down to a sheltered beach. In the same effort, he hands a pair of ear defenders to Kit, and dons one himself (marked 'Jaximal!', of course).

    As the yacht rounds the cape, there is a sudden blast of sound that rolls across the bay, a ship horn that comes from the building, sounding what may be a greeting or a challenge. A few seconds later, every ship in the bay, from the smallest fishing boat to the largest cruise ship, respond in kind.

    For its part, Motor Yacht 'Surprise' responds with the extremely familiar theme of 'Seven Nation Army', repeating it four times while sailing around the headland, while down on the gangway on the main deck the crew salutes the land.

Nightingale has posed:
     It was a slightly puzzling custom to Shannon, but with a chance to learn, well, why not? She's dressed in a pair of airy white cotton, wide-legged capri pants, with fanciful floral stitchery around the cuffs, a similarly embroidered white cotton top with a low scoop neckline, and her favorite daisy-toe flip flops. The ear protectors are well-timed, for just about as soon as she has them settled atop her head and over hear ears, she can feel the thrumming of what must surely have been truly thunderous noise.

     Some customs were inscrutable, but she could always ask later.

     Challenges called and answered, music rolling like Poseidon's quakes through the air, honors truly rendered, she simply smiles. It was a glorious, sunny day, with friends near and dear, and in one of the most beautiful locations in the world. Could it get any better than this?

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Ear protection offered? Kit takes them and gets them on quickly, giving a little nod to Jax. Even with them on though, the fur along the back of his neck and spine fluffs up a bit. At the moment, the man is in just a pair of shorts and a tank top, so the response isn't exactly easy to miss either.

There's a questioning glance to Jax as the noises are going off, but he just chuckles quietly and shakes his head a little before going back to looking around and when the vibrations from the sounds have ended, he'll wind up taking the ear defenders off again after a bit of a wait.

Jax Miller has posed:
    It is, indeed, a truly glorious day, one of those days for which the Mediterranean is rightly famous during summer. There's hardly a wisp of cloud in the sky, and the sea glitters a deep azure all around the yacht. Fishing boats are out, most of them heading in and out of the sheltered harbor of Sorrento, to sell their catch to the many fish restaurants along the coast. The fish on your plate in these places was most certainly caught that same day, and possibly even while you were walking in. The crew of these small boats hoot and call over to the ships they pass, either greeting them and wishing them well or cursing them for getting in their way, as per temperament, all in a rapid fire Italian that would take a native speaker to truly understand.

    And as he doffs the ear defenders, Jax grins at his friends. "Was that awesome or what?" Is he going to end up being a bit more informative? It seems he is, sitting down on the padded seating of the sun deck sofa to take in the sight of the bay in general, and that of Ischia falling astern on the Starboard quarter and Capri beginning to loom up over the horizon in particular.

    "So, way I heard it told, there was an old captain that lived in that house. Knew every single fishing boat and merchant captain that came through here. And when he got too old to still go to sea, he had a horn installed on the top of his house so he could still call a greeting to the other captains in the bay, every day at noon. You'd think the locals would hate that, but no... and then when he died, the tradition kinda never went away. 'cause when you're a captain, you're a captain forever. They say the sea always remembers, and so do the families of the fishing boats, and the junior officers that became captains after. And now their children, and the officers of those new captains are being told, and..." A smile then, as if all is well with the world. "The sea remembers, they say around here."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon just smiles, dipping her head as she drinks in the tale that Jax weaves. It's a tale rich in history and tradition, one worthy of the honors shown. "Indeed," she murmurs in reply. "The sea remembers. That is one captain that will not be forgotten, it seems, for his love of the sea and the people who ply the waves to make their living." For the moment, she falls silent, turning slowly to take in every bit of the magnificence of the bay, the boats, and the vision of Capri beginning to loom larger and larger on the horizon.

     "It makes you wonder, you know, just how we'll be remembered, when we're gone. What stories will be told of us? Will there be traditions like this?"

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Kit listens to the little tale and tilts his head slightly to one side, then nods ever so slightly before he continues to look around the bay from where he's standing. "It's an interesting thought and a nice tradition." he says with a smile and the slightest hint of a chuckle. He gives a little stretch, enjoying the sun for a moment, but when Shannon mentions how the world would remember them? He twitches ever so slightly, "Personally, I'd rather not think of how the world might remember me. More a fan of just living in the moment, I guess."

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Man, if there's ever a tradition in my memory, you just bet it's going to be sleeping in 'till noon and being annoyingly loud cheering a football game." Because yeah, Jax is never going to take himself seriously. And he nods to Kit, even grinning a bit. "I mean, you gotta enjoy where you are when you're there. Especially here... did that make sense?" He looks like he'd say more, but just then there's another call over the speakers.

    "Mister Miller to the bridge, please."

    The smile stays, but his ears flatten a bit, and almost like an automaton the cat mutant stands up, stretches out and heads for the staircase amidships that leads back down to the upper deck. "Back in a bit. Enjoy the view, it's amazing around here." Which, it must be said, it truly is. As the promontory of Sorrento is left behind, Capri can be seen more clearly. It might come as a surprise to some people how small it appears at this distance, and yet fully half of all the shipping in these waters seems to be heading straight for it. An isle famous and infamous for its mad Roman emperors, and the waste of an entire navy so one could walk from the island to Naples... now there's a legacy that most people won't forget in a hurry either.

    At which point the muffled sounds of what may be a heated argument can be heard from the bridge...

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon gives Jax a quick hug as he passes by on his way to the bridge, and does indeed take his advice to simply enjoy the view for the moment. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense, too. I hope, though, if I were to leave a tradition behind, it would be healing and helping others."

     As she reaches out to give Kit a brief hug, the sounds of a rather intense argument from the bridge floats down towards their ears on an otherwise balmy breeze, and she actually flinches. Taking one look at Kit, she just nods, flattening her wings in against her back and slinking as quietly as she can up towards the bridge--or at least just close enough to be able to catch the gist of the argument.

     After all, friends backed each other up.

Kit Killovarras has posed:
There is no effort made to reject the hug, nope! Just the opposite, Kit sort of leans into it with a smile. Then Jax gets called over the loud speaker, second time this trip and while Kit normally isn't one to pry, this time it seems a little louder and a little closer. He doesn't need to get close, but his ears adjust, swiveling forward and perking up. His ears are keen enough to pick up the sound of insects burrowing through soil and sand, he'll likely have very little trouble picking up voices, especially loud ones.

Jax Miller has posed:
    It's an odd scene that greets Shannon as she comes down the staircase and into the hallway that leads forward to the bridge and aft to the upper deck sun lounge. The door to the bridge is half open, and Captain Tala is seated at the helm, keeping one eye on the sea, and half turned to Jax who's holding something in his hands... something that looks like a bit of paper, over which he seems to be fairly dismissive. But the debate is ... spirited to say the least, even if both of them are keeping their voices mostly down to avoid being overheard.

    Which is when Captain Tala spots Shannon and pointedly stops talking, turning to face forward. Taking her cue, Jax crumples up the paper and stuffs it in a pocket, adopting a casual leaning posture against the starboard bulkhead, just by the fly bridge doors.

    "Miss Lance, we should make Capri in about an hour. Could get there faster, but..."

    "There's a lot of traffic around." Jax supplies, pleasantly. "And I'm technically, kinda, the commissioning agent for the ships, so..."

    "So the /safety/ of the ship and /everyone aboard/ is /both/ our responsibilities." Captain Tala rejoins, with a very, very pointed look at Jax.

    Who just smiles in return, and then turns to Shannon, starting to leave the bridge. "It's always kinda supposed to be the main guest that's the commissioning agent, but, y'know. Paperwork. Didn't wanna put that on your shoulders."

Nightingale has posed:
     First one brow, then the other lofts, Shannon crossing her arms over her chest. Tala and Jax both get a look. You know, one of those that are a cross between stern, soul-searching, and the kind that make you just plain go 'oh crap, I've really screwed up now.'. Finally, she just nods, and simply smiles. "Safety first, of course."

     If there was a bullshit detector, hers would be on red alert right about now....

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Kits movements have gone from normal to stalker silent as he comes down the stairs and into the hallway. He stops a bit back, watching the scene unfold and when Jax goes to leave? He'll be standing there, about half way between the stairs and the bridge. He's been smiling this whole trip, but now? Now he's strait-faced and studying Jax with those mismatched eyes of his, tail flicking every so often.

There are no crossed arms, but there is a moment where he licks at the teeth on the right side of his maw, a quiet 'click' from the suction sounding before his ears fold back in an ever so slight, disapproving way. "Another what has arrived, now?" he asks bluntly.

Jax Miller has posed:
    And he would have gotten away with it, if it hadn't been for that meddling... well... no. Not really. Jax is in no way stupid enough to think that his shenanigans would fool his friends. For all their own reasons, they're too familiar with his body language, and there's no way he can put on enough of a plausible poker face. The eyebrows is bad enough. The licking chops? Yeah, no, time for abject surrender.

    With a sigh, Jax motions over to the Sun Lounge, just aft on this deck, and heads inside, taking a seat on the top of the bar. Yes, there's a bar in here. And couches. And another large TV. It is, in fact, a lounge that's more informal than the main saloon on the main deck below, for when the guests aboard want to be informally informal, or watch a movie when other guests are doing something else in the saloon.

    "So, cards on the table..." he begins, looking out through the glass doors which lead to yet another sun-drenched deck right aft, where a pair of jet skis currently reside on temporary skids next to a small coffee table with matching chairs. "... there's this creep who keeps sending me anonymous letters. Started about two years ago. Was just annoying at first, but..."

    And here he takes the crumpled paper out of his pocket and hands it over to Shannon, somewhat reluctantly. "It got bad. Police can't figure out who, so... when they started showing up at my grand parent's places, and at the homes of my friends, y'know... everyone figured it was best if I went somewhere safe. Xavier safe, know what I mean?"

    Because that letter? It's bad, as he said. Truly bad.

    Psychopath level bad.

    Almost theatrically, it's composed of cut-out letters from newspapers and magazines, but more frighteningly...

    It's addressed to Jake Alexander Miller, M/Y Surprise, Napels, Italy

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon took a hold of the letter first, reading through it to get a gist of the contents. She's dead silent the entire time, only the deepening lines between her brows indicating any sign of life from the young healer. Her eyes move back and forth as she glances over the letter, reading through it before passing it on to Kit with a single word.

     "Fuck."

     She runs her fingers through her hair, waiting for her compatriot to get a good look at the letter, before speaking again. This was definitely not good.

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Kit reads through the letter, then gives a sigh and a weird little smile. "I love people like this..." he says with a sigh, though to a trained ear, there's a hint of a growl starting. "It's fun tearing them apart.." Well, there's always been something the Aardwolf seemed to keep hidden, maybe it's the dark thought that led to those words coming out of him? Or the fact that he doesn't seem phased in the least that he just subtly implied what some might consider murder.

After a moment, he hands the letter back to Jax and sighs, "You're right though.. Shouldn't let one psycho ruin a good thing, if anyone tries to make good on these threats? Well..." He gives a playful little smile, tilting his head ever so slightly as he finishes the thought. "I could use a good chew toy."

Jax Miller has posed:
    With the letter back in hand, Jax crumples it up again and dumps it in the trash. He looks like he would have preferred to throw it overboard, but... yeah, littering. Not something he wants to contemplate in a part of the world this beautiful, and especially not if there is, as seems likely, an ancient sea god looking over their shoulders.

    "Look, I didn't want to scare anyone. Haven't had any of these letters at Xavier's, there weren't any over the holidays, didn't started happening again until I booked the cruise. So, y'know, narrows it down a bit I suppose." And he does give a momentary smile at the use of that f-bomb.

    "Whoever this is, is just trying to scare me. Anyone can look up where the ship's docked, that stuff is public knowledge. And the boat's a bit big..." he grins, motioning around "... kinda stands out a bit. So I'm sure it's nothing. But the Captain is literally paid to look after me, all of us, an' I've known her for literally years, okay? Since I was a kitten. She probably still sees me like that, same as Gregor an' all the others. They don't know by the way, an' I'm not telling 'em. Captain isn't either. So... please keep this quiet, guys?"

    As for chew toys? He looks like he wouldn't mind using Mister Anonymous Writer as a scratching post himself. "B'sides, we're gonna be on Capri in less than an hour. Just to be on the safe side, we'll anchor outside the mole, take the tender in. It'll be fun, that thing can fly! I mean, not like literally, but, y'know..."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon sighs deeply, pinning Jax with one of those 'looks' for a very, very long moment. "I don't like keeping silent about this," she finally replies. "But I can see the wisdom of keeping the circle of who knows about this a small one. Still, I would very, -very- strongly suggest we at least tell Sam about it. He's supposed to be looking after us, too."

     For her part, she actually retrieves the letter from the trash bin, carefully unfurling it from its crumpled state and folding it up to put in her little brown leather bag, that remains perpetually at her side. "If there's anyone who has our backs, it'd be him."

     With all that said, the mention of the tender boat's speed does actually elicit a smile from the young woman, and she chuckles softly. "It might not fly, but I do. What's the top speed of that thing? It might be fun to have a race."

Jax Miller has posed:
    There's an odd frown when Shannon retrieves the piece of vile diatribe from the trash and then even keeps it, but... eh, Jax is distracted almost immediately by the question of speed. A question... which he can't really answer. He scratches behind his left ear and seems to dredge up the information with some effort.

    "About forty, forty-five knots. I dunno what that is in real numbers. Gregor could tell you, he's the one in charge of the tender." Which looked like it was going at a slightly sedate pace last time it was unstowed from the garage in the transom, but that was for a fishing trip. The thirty foot boat, technically a center console rib, looked like everything else about the ship; pristine, comfortable and somehow sleek. "It's got a diesel jet engine, that's all I really know."

    As for telling Sam? Well... he doesn't go into that. Probably just distracted.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Sounds like it might be a fun race," Shannon replies, actually grinning for a moment. She uncrosses her arms, and gives her wings a little bit of a flick, taking a few moments to preen her feathers. The mysterious letter and telling Sam would be dealt with in due time. Today was supposed to be fun. "Think maybe we could get a little bit of fishing in on our way back from Capri? I don't know about you, but I've gotten really spoiled by having the freshest fish I've ever tasted pretty much for just dipping a line over the side."

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Flying, fun and fishing." Jax intones with a grin, hopping down from his perch on the top of the bar. "Now you're getting into the spirit!"

    And, full of that spirit, he heads out of the doors aft, to the railing at the edge of the deck, and leans over, calling down. "Gregor! Gregor, prepare the tender, we've got ourselves a race!"

    And when the ship anchors up to a buoy outside of Capri, to the North and West of the harbor mole (well outside of the ferry lanes to Naples and Sorrento), the tender is ready to go. Not just the tender, but Jax with it, as well as Gregor. If ever where was a pair who understood one another, it's Jax and Gregor, both of them seemingly refusing to grow up, and sharing a passion for all things fast, somewhat dangerous, and spectacularly exhilarating.

    But still, safety first, so Jax sits next to Gregor wearing a life jacket over the t-shirt he wore to Pompeii (the one with the latin "Eremum transii vectus sine nomine equo" and the picture of a goofy cartoon horse, because why waste a good joke?), and wearing only shorts otherwise since this... yeah, this is going to involve getting wet.

    "Okay, here's the challenge..." he shouts from his position in the tender, with Gregor visibly tensing to open the throttle up to the forward stop and keeping it there "... when the Captain sounds the horn, we set off for the beach to the west of the harbor, see it?" It's... really very obvious. Mostly because it has a restaurant just abutting the beach, and people were starting to look at the odd spectacle about a mile out to sea. "Straight line, no short cuts over the harbor. Deal?"

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon was perched on the railing of the yacht, within earshot of Jax, and grinning. She was doing a few warm-up stretches, her wings outspread to their full span, and just relishing the chance to simply get out and -fly-. "Loser buys lunch at that little restaurant."

     Oh, yes.

     Target acquired.

     Game on.

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Deal!"

    With some ceremony, Jax and Gregor look to one another, nod, and then slowly lower goggles over their eyes, as if they're a pair of fighter pilots about to blast off. They must have done this before, because their movements are literal mirrors of one another, the timing absurdly perfect. And there, behind the controls of the tender, they both sit, leaning ever so slightly forwards, as if frozen in motion, waiting for-

    *BLAAAAAAAAAAT*

    And they're off! The Williams Sport Jet accelerates away like an arrow, hitting top speed in a matter of moments, throwing a wake several feet high around them as the rib furrows the almost mirror flat surface of the sea this close to the island.

    A blistering 51 mph...

    ... well, it looks impressive, at least.

Nightingale has posed:
     Despite being soaked through with the spray from the wake of the tender, Shannon's leap into the air is not hampered in the least. Within moments, she too shoots off like an arrow towards the beach, following the path of the boat easily. But, she only follows it for so long, before it is soon she who is the one blazing the trail instead! Even above the roar of the engines below her, one can almost hear her peals of laughter, the angel-winged girl doing a barrel roll in the air above the tender, just to show off a bit.

     And this wasn't even her top speed, for she seems to be -taunting- them by keeping just barely ahead.

Jax Miller has posed:
    There was probably very little doubt in anyone's mind how this was going to play out. Even the Captain is standing at the starboard wing station, laughing at the shenanigans. But the boat tries, oh my, does it try. The tender skips over even the slightest waves, literally flying for moments as the shallow hull lifts out of the water, but alas, never as long as something that can /actually/ fly.

    The beach is coming up fast, the race passing through a series of buoys that zip by in an instant, then another...

    And the boat slams to nearly a full halt, slewing left and right to shed momentum...

    ... before sedately passing through another set of buoys, at little more than idling speed, as they cross into the controlled zone by the beach.

    Jax and Gregor might like speed and exhilaration, but they know a speed limit when they see one.

Nightingale has posed:
     Jax and Gregor might know a speed limit when they see one, this is true. They might even honor it. But, there was one undeniable fact that nobody could really ignore.

     Those speed limits did not extend to the sky.

     Even with Shannon describing a wide circle in the air to try and buy her compatriots below a few precious moments, it's not enough to salvage the race for them. She zips right past boat and buoys alike, only slowing down when she reaches the restaurant in question to backwing to a swift, if somewhat graceful landing.

     Victory, thy taste is as wondrous as the fresh fish cooking in this fine dining establishment.

Jax Miller has posed:
    Will Jax and Gregor let losing a race get into the way of making an entrance? Hah!

    The boat approaches the beach, in practically a straight line, weaving ever so slightly to steer clear of swimmers... with Gregor and Jax still tensed and bent forward as if still at full speed, peering fixedly forwards. At just a hair over idle speed, the bow kisses the sand of the surf and grounds. And even as Gregor reaches up to kill the engine, both of them are still perched in those poses of perfect concentration, drenched and soaked through.

    It's Gregor who breaks first, the look of utter concentration on his face suddenly split by a loud guffaw, and that's it for the sham of concentration as both of them break out in a loud laugh. Jax turns and high-fives Gregor, then gets out, taking off his life jacket and tossing it back in the boat. "See you back on board, Gregmeister!"

    His fur dripping, and shaking himself dry as he walks, Jax bows to Shannon. "Shall we dine, madam?"

    Around them, the whispers begin, the ones that have begun to sound so very familiar every time they go on shore. 'Angelino!' some whisper, glancing at Shannon, while others (mostly kids) look at Jax with almost slack jawed wonder and exclaim 'Gattino!'.

    Yeah. That was an entrance and a half.

Nightingale has posed:
     Some kids were genuinely curious about the pair. Shannon did not mind indulging these one bit. She'd crouch down with a few of them, spreading out her wings so they could touch the feathers and see for themselves that yes, she was quite real.

     "Not angelo. La donna."

     She was quite gentle and forgiving with the littles, even if one or two did tug on her feathers a bit. Even those got a tolerant smile from her, and a slight ruffling of hair here and there as she rose to her feet, tucking her wings in neatly behind her. "So, what would you recommend from this place, Jax?"

Jax Miller has posed:
    For Jax, it's pretty much the same as always when he steps off the ship. There's kids swarming around to have their pictures taken with the 'big kitten', and he obligingly poses for the tourists as if he's some attraction. Mercifully this time it's over in about ten minutes, and then he's free to recommend sea food in a place known for its excellent sea food.

    With a flamboyant swish of his tail and spread of his arms, he simply declaims "Calamari!" and then flourishes into another bow, motioning for Shannon to precede him onto the terrace. Unsurprisingly, a table is already being set, as if someone had called ahead. As if the restaurant has seen this kind of scene before.

    It's all very jolly, until a voice calls from nearby.

    "Jake. Alexander. Miller."

    Uh oh.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Calamari it is," Shannon agrees, needing to dab at the corners of her mouth at the mere mention of such a treat. "I -love- calamari. Nothing like it when it's as fresh as everything else we've had so far on this trip. And, just as she's joining Jax on the terrace....

     There is that voice.

     A great, booming voice fit to send shivers down one's spine.

     It's enough to have Shannon freeze in place, her head at once on a swivel as it has been many a time out in the field. Immediately, she's scanning entrances and exits, looking for places of cover and concealment--and for the source of that voice.

     But where could they be?

Jax Miller has posed:
    There is a moment where Jax looks up from that ridiculous bow, looks straight at Shannon with his ears folded back, and intoning deadpan "I'm dead."

    "Of all the bone headed, irresponsible..." the voice continues, soon revealed to be a man in his mid sixties, dressed as if he is aware of the existence of the sun, but isn't going to let it stop him from wearing a proper button down shirt and sensible business slacks with highly polished shoes. The kind of man, greying at the temples and with a flinty eyed gaze, that will grudgingly allow that shirts come in short sleeved varieties, and will wear them if he /absolutely/ must, but will insist on wearing a tie. This man has now appeared.

    Accompanied by a far more pleasant looking woman of his own age, with a face that is wrinkled only with laugh lines and small crow's feet betraying a tendency to smile and laugh. Her grey hair in fact goes well with her sun dress and wide straw hat, the attire of someone who remembers what beaches and summers are for, and go hang the expectations of graceful old age. Someone, in fact, very much like Jax. Someone who just screams 'grandma'. And she slaps the man she's with playfully on the shoulder.

    "Oh don't embarrass him in front of his friends, Charles. You know it's Jax, not Jake."

    And Jax straightens up, giving the pair a goofy smile. "Hi Grandpa! Hi Grandma... didn't ehmm... expect to see you here."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon tries not to smile -too- much at the expression and tone that poor Jax is displaying right at the moment. One would think he'd just been sent to the principal's office or worse, the gallows. But these were his grandparents! Instead, she turns her smile towards them, sketching a rather theatrical bow, with a little flourish and a flick of her wings. "Sir. Ma'am. It's an honor and pleasure to meet you both."

     No mention of the race, none whatsoever.

     No harm, no foul, right?

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Well, it may have taken Kit a little longer than everyone else to pick himself up off the floor of the small but mildly speedy boat, it may have taken him a little longer than others because for some reason, he wound up having to wring out his cloths, but when he walks up it's behind the feline, his footsteps silent as death, trying to use the fact that the feline is already a little shaken to play with the poor man a bit.

"I was wondering when or if I'd get to meet your Grandpa." he says with his 'normal' volume and not the 'normal' he typically speaks at. Nope, not just above a whisper, but a normal human speaking volume. He gives the two a look and a warm smile, bowing his head ever so slightly, the next words out of his mouth somehow sounding both practiced and yet natural. "Salaam aleikum." he says politely. He extends his right hand to 'grandpa' as well with the greeting, despite him being left handed.

He may be dressed informally, but at least the aardwolf knows how to be polite, even if it may not be the right kind of polite for the location, but oh well.

Jax Miller has posed:
    There is a very quiet 'eep' from Jax when Kit suddenly seems to appear behind him. It's only fair, he supposes, normally the one to sneak up on people. And how do Jax' grandparents take all this?

    Well, 'Grandpa' doesn't seem to think much of it at all. The arched eyebrow is likely a testament to that, as he looks over his grandson and his... friends? Is that a tinge of an eye twitch there?

    'Grandma' can't contain a smile when Kit makes Jax jump, and she beams a smile at Shannon, seemingly impressed by those wings. A soft 'ahem' from 'Grandpa' seems to jolt Jax out of his sudden dread-induced torpor, as two of his worlds until then securely separate begin to collide.

    To his credit, the man does take Kit's hand and shakes it, with a very sincere "Aleikum, Salaam". Oooh.

    "So, everyone, this is my Grandp- grand father, Charles DeWitt. And grandma, Anna." Jax introduces the two, laying a subtle but very distinct emphasis on the surname. /Not/ Miller, DeWitt. And then he reverses the introductions. "And these are my friends from school. Shannon." An indication to his left. "And Kit" An indication to his right.

    "From... school?" Charles asks, slowly, again taking in the general mien and, let's face it, /shape/ of these friends. "That private school you've been going to? The one your father doesn't want to talk to me about or consulted me in?"

    *Slap* another slap of the women to her husband's shoulder, as if to remind him to mind his manners. "So glad to meet you all, if we'd known you'd be in Capri, oh, we'd have sent the boat over."

    And Charles latches onto that. "Yes. Here in old 'Surprise', I take it?"

Nightingale has posed:
     Uh-oh. Shannon was not blind to that eye twitch, however subtle, that seemed to be plaguing Jax's grandfather since meeting them. Nor was she deaf to the undertones of hostility, however veiled, that seemed to linger like a slow-healing wound between Jax's grandfather and his progeny. This was one she would have to keep her eye on, and perhaps make a little extra effort towards civility.

     Turning her smile towards Jax's grandmother, she laughs softly and shakes her head. "Ma'am, until the last minute, I think most of us were in the dark as to our ports of call. Jax planned this as a rather pleasant surprise for my eighteenth birthday. I should have known when he started asking questions about where I'd travel if given the chance."

     With a little flick of her wings, she settles them in tightly against her back, aware of the discomfiture that their appearance seemed to cause Jax's grandfather. "And it's been just magical. Beautiful places to see, the company of friends and family to share it all with... what more could anybody ask?"

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Yeah, no, Kit hasn't missed any of the fairly obvious red flags either, but weirdly enough, with his greeting responded to in kind and with the introduction given by Jax, he simply nods and smiles. "An honor to meet you and your lovely wife, Mr. DeWitt."

Anyone who knows this aardwolf well enough would likely realize that this is fairly out of the ordinary for him. He's standing nearly at his full height, he's talking at a more noticeably normal volume than normal and so on.

Shannon's comment gets a little nod, "He has indeed been keeping us mostly in the dark in some cases, though it's made the trip quite interesting, to say the least."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie let the kids earlier have their race, as he had to make some phone calls. The young man, finds out where the kids are and is now. He came into town under his own power, but once on the port, walked around like normal folks. Sam's Italian has a bit of an odd accent with his own and a bit of the older generations thrown into it. He will find the kids walking up to them. Sam is wearing a white light button up shirt, blue shorts and a yankee's basball hat.

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Keeping people in the dark is a family trait, it seems." And it certainly doesn't seem like Charles is relenting on that, but the combined squeeze of his wife's hand on his arm and the sudden fairly serious look that crosses Jax's face seems to make him soften up just slightly. "But so is surprising friends, I've found."

    "/And/ knowing when to ask the right questions to make sure everyone has a good time." Anna continues with the selfsame sweet smile, but with the promise of words to be had later in an unsubtle undertone. "Anyway, it's a shame we didn't know, we could have had lunch together."

    "Yes, on board 'Magnificent'. I seem to remember old 'Surprise' doesn't have that much space in the dining area..."

    With a fixed smile, Jax puts his hands on the shoulders of Shannon and Kit, squeezing /ever so slightly/ as if to warn them that this could go on for a while.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon scratches the back of her head, silent for a moment as she glances between Jax and his grandparents. "I suppose if it's a more formal setting one wished, that might be true," she begins, cautiously. "But the sun deck would be perfect if one wanted to dine al fresco, with room to spare." This was beginning to reek of a spitting contest between the older generation versus the younger, and it was quite literally beginning to ruffle her feathers.

     At the touch felt upon her shoulder, she wisely falls silent, peering at Jax, Kit, and Sam each in turn with a slight nod. Oh yes, perhaps this was a good time to preen her feathers, and just keep her mouth closed.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to the couple and raises a brow. The young man, does not look the most refined, but he stands quietly getting the feel of what's going on. He has met quite a few parents and grandparents since he took over looking over the students. He came in late and not knowing fully whats going on yet, will wait to say or add anything.

Kit Killovarras has posed:
There is typically a reason you don't pet an uncomfortable animal, especially when the uncomfortable animal is mostly naked. Why? Because it's really, REALLY hard to hide the sudden fluff of his fur - especially along the back, neck and spine - when Jax touches him suddenly.

There's a moment taken in silence on Kit's part, allowing his fur to settle before he gives a little smile and a simple, "Personally I enjoy closer quarters. Call me strange, but if a dining area is too big or too secluded, it doesn't feel right."

Then Kit gets a thought in mind and decides: paybacks a bitch! He gives the poor feline a sidelong glance, then with a weird little smile, gives Jax' paw and wrist a nuzzle before straitening himself back up to a more proper stance.

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Shame we can't, Grandpa." Jax interjects when Charles is in full wax, making the main arch his eyebrow at being interrupted, but just right then a well suited man steps off the terrace of the restaurant and motions to a table. "Vuestra tavola para quattro, Signore Miller." the man intones, and Jax gives him a nod. "Grazie, Vincenzo." Followed by a sudden 'eep' when Kit decides to nuzzle his wrist. Argh! No, not in front of...!!

    Charles looks on. The side of his mouth twitches in what may or may be a sign of distaste. Or the beginnings of a smile. "Hard to get a table here. Seems you've got good taste, Jak- Jax."

    "Yeah..." Jax clears his throat for a moment, and waits until his own fur lies flat again. "Got that from my mother. She likes it here, but she's got great taste."

    Two things happen incredibly quickly then. Anna seems to find something behind her incredibly interesting, shoulders shaking with silent laughter. And Charles? Charles keeps up the stoic look for a bit longer, and then that corner of his mouth curls up in an amused smile. "Well played. I hear that school is teaching you more than just football then. Calamari?"

    "Calamari" Jax nods, and then spots Sam, hurrying to make the introduction. "Woops, sorry Mister Guthrie. May I introduce my grandfather, Charles DeWitt and my grandmother..." who is still laughing, wiping her eyes at something that must have been supremely funny. "Anna DeWitt. Grandpa, this is Sam Guthrie, a teacher at the school. And here to make sure we don't get into trouble."

    "Too much trouble, you mean?" Charles half grins, as if a solid layer of ice has just melted off his demeanor. "A pleasure to meet you, Mister Guthrie. My commiserations for having to attempt to reign in my grandson. But from what I can see, you raise some very impressive students."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will shake the hand and give the man a greeting in Italian, before switching to English. "Well than can be a handful, but were not all of us at some point in our lives?" He asks "You grandson is a good kid, reminds me a bit of a close friend of mine, and while, he too was a bit much growing up, he is a fine man now, and a man I trust totally. " He looks to the couple and says "Do you live near here or on vacation?" He will ask of the grandparents.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon beams with pride as she listens to the praises heaped upon Sam, her wings flaring out like a peacock's tail. However, when she sees that Jax got them tables at what seems to be a fairly exclusive restaurant, she purses her lips, looking down at herself. "If you'll pardon me for a few minutes, I doubt this is suitable attire to dine here." With that, she steps back, bowing deeply to the group, and wings her way skywards, back towards the yacht--and something better to dine in than a one-piece swimsuit!

Kit Killovarras has posed:
"Well, at least one of us looks good with their fur on end." Kit says, then sticks his tongue out at poor Jax for a moment, then he gives a little chuckle and finally lets himself relax a bit. Anna's sudden turn-about and silent giggle-fits don't go unnoticed by the Aardwolf, but he doesn't mention it, yet.

When Shannon flies off though, he watches her for a moment, then has a moment of, "Huh.." then looks down at his utter lack of form attire and shrugs before simply musing, "Probably should have brought some more formal cloths on this trip." with a little chuckle before adding, "Meh, I get funny looks regardless. Think the only thing that'd make that fact worse is if I were nude.." Thoughts that should not be vocalized publicly for 500? In his defense, that also wasn't said at his full volume, more of a vocalized thought, but it's still loud enough to be heard.

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Okay, see you in a bit!" Jax calls after Shannon, and then shrugs at Kit. "They're used to me here." Or otherwise he'd never have invited his friends here, most likely.

    Sam gets a very firm handshake, but his greeting in Italian isn't returned. Not at first anyway, until Anna by her husband's side responds in the proper form. "Forgive Charles, Mister Guthrie, his Italian is only slightly better than my Swahili." "Perhaps not quite /that/ bad, m'dear..."

    Another easy laugh from Anna, and then she shakes her head at Sam. "Oh no, dear me, no. Just on holiday, while we have the time. And speaking of time..." And at that, Charles nods. "Yes about time we returned to the ship. But do call if the school needs anything, Mister Guthrie. I take the education of my grandson very seriously. Very seriously indeed."

    But before that can devolve into something less jocular, Anna steps forwards and pulls Jax into a hug, in the way of fond grandmothers throughout the multiverse. "So good seeing you again. Let us know how you get on, okay? I get worried when I don't hear from you."

Nightingale has posed:
     It doesn't take very long for Shannon to rejoin her friends, this time more suitably attired for dining al fresco in public. She's dressed in a calf-length white linen dress with lace worked throughout, brown leather wedge heels, a wide brown leather belt, and her hair somewhat mussed up from the speed of her flight. Thankfully, her wings blend in a bit better with this dress as she tucks them in behind her post-landing, just in time to witness what seems to be leave-taking by Jax's grandparents. "Must you go so soon?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods his head, and says "We are generally good, but I will keep it in mine, and am glad you had time to at least get a quick visit in with Jax. Family is an important thing." He offers and give another firm shake before they leave. He looks over to Jax and Kitt "Sure we could find some tailors here in town or shops to grab some stuff."

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Kit gives Jax a glance and laughs a little, "Being used to a feline pretty-boy in designer cloths is a bit different than being used to a dusty-furred Aardwolf in thrift shop beach attire." he says with a little grin, then shrugs and turns his attention back to the grandparents. "Again, it was a pleasure to meet you both." Then Samuel makes a statement about tailors and Kit just sort of makes a face and adds, "Think I'd be better off finding a thrift shop honestly, I really don't like fancy cloths."

When Shannon comes back in that dress of hers, Kit's ears droop a bit and he gives a laugh for a moment before he grins and states, "Well, now I'm the one who's under dressed." playfully. "Seriously though, love the look."

Jax Miller has posed:
    "There is nothing more important than family." Charles intones, shaking Sam's hand again in parting. "Take good care of of my grandson if you would, Mister Guthrie?" And with that, he offers his hand for Kit to shake as well. "A pleasure to have met you. It's good to know my grandson isn't quite as lonely as I feared he would be." Wait, what? And he adds to that, with a knowing smile. "They say clothes maketh man... I always thought it was manners maketh man. Either way, you seem to have that covered."

    That leaves it up to Anna to answer Shannon, after she finally can be persuaded to stop making a fuss of Jax (leaving the cat mutant to hurriedly brush his fur back down while trying hard not to purr) and taking both of Shannon's hands in her own. "I'm afraid so, my dear. We're on our way to Saint Tropez and back home. There's no need for us old folk to get in the way of young people enjoying the world." And she gives Shannon a wink at that, with a very, very worldly smile. "But call when you get back home yourself, so we can talk a bit more. It's so rare to meet one of Jax's friends who are as... unique... as him."

    And with a final smile (and a very unexpected ear ruffle for Jax from Charles), the elderly couple makes their way back to the marina, where a larger private launch is already waiting for them by the pier.

    And cue the relieved sigh from a very sheepish looking Jax. "Lunch? How 'bout lunch? I'm starving, let's go, table's waiting..." yup, he'll be leading the way to the table, which has been laid for four, on the terrace of the rather exclusive looking restaurant.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Perhaps we'll have tales of our travels to trade over tea, ma'am," Shannon replies, sketching a bow to Anna and Charles before stepping back and watching their departure. She turns then to Jax, with both a smile and a querying flick of her brows. "I'm amazed you've never really spoken of them before. They're quite lovely, if perhaps a touch protective. I have to agree with your grandfather on one point," she says, reaching out to draw Sam, Jax, and Kit all into a group hug.

     "There is nothing more important than family. Even if that isn't always by blood."

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Kit accepts the hand shake with a smile. "Well, truth be told he's done as much for me as I have for him in that regard, if not more." he admits with a chuckle, then bows his head ever so slightly and gives a simple, "Thank you." Then he watches the two depart.

Shannon's attempt to draw everyone in doesn't get any resistance from the Aardwolf and whoever winds up in the hug will get a pair of soft-furred, lanky arms wrapped around them as he chuckles quietly. "Agreed." he says with a warm smile.

When they are out of ear-shot and Jax has given his sigh and started leading the way, Kit just gives a little sigh himself. He'll wait till everyone else is seated before he sits down himself, but shortly after he does he'll give Jax a glance and, in the near-whisper of a voice he typically uses, he'll muse, "By the way. If you make me fluff up in front of people like that again, I'm going to do more than just nuzzle your paw and pick on you."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie watches them go, and looks over to the group and says "So, what all do we have planned for today?" He asks the group letting the kids run the show most of the time.

Jax Miller has posed:
    Group hug! Yeah, no way is Jax going to turn that down, agreeing wholeheartedly with the sentiment. "Family, no matter where you find them."

    The table has been set with the usual Italian style, and staff stands around to pull out chairs, set down glasses and give Sam a wine chart. The kids? They get San Pellegrino in whatever flavor they so desire, but whoever made the booking made it clear that there is to be no alcohol for them. "But you look adorable when you're all fluffed up." Jax mentions innocently as he sits down, threading his tail through the lower slats of the chair with practiced ease. "So... cards on the table, Shannon. I may sort of, kind of, have booked this table a little while ago." And just who had proposed that the loser of the race was going to buy lunch?

    "Plans? Eat, go on a tour of the island, visit Caligula's villa, loaf around, go back to the ship? That's been kind of the plan for today."

Nightingale has posed:
     "And maybe a little bit of fishing for our supper," Shannon adds, chortling softly. "As I was saying to Jax earlier, I've gotten a little spoiled for having the freshest, tastiest fish ever, simply for dipping a hook and line over the side." San Pellegrino it is, with no arguments from the group's healer in training. And, as she listens to the interplay between Jax and Kit, her brows quirk, and she can't help a little smile.

     But does she say anything? Nope. Not yet.

     What will be, will be.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie hmms and says "Well I am sure we can catch something nice, and if not I wager the cook has a few alternate plans." He offers them a bit of a smile "We should hit a few shops while we are out, I am sure Shannon would love to get her parents something." He looks to her

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Kit just eyes Jax for a moment, opens his mouth to say something, but then just closes it again before waggling a finger at him. Then he turns his attention to Shannon when she mentions fishing and tilts his head a little. "Never really been fishing before, I'm actually sort of looking forward to it." he admits with a smile, probably deciding a different topic to focus on is in order.

Then Sam has to go and say the word 'parents' and Kit just sort of has a very mild moment of panic before he shakes his head and sighs, "Remind me that I have a letter to write when we get back to the ship, by the way?" he asks with a slight tilt of his head. "Last thing I want at this point is to forget and have one of my parents show up.."

Jax Miller has posed:
    The plates begin to arrive, with a selection of starters, while Sam's choice of wine is delivered to the table and his glass charged. Despite his garb, despite looking like he'd be much more at home in a Burger Prince or something like that, Jax deploys his napkin and nods to the staff serving them before starting to eat as if he was under the eyes of royalty. "Speaking of, sorry about my grandparents guys. I honestly didn't know they were around, but I should have guessed. Grandpa's still very attached to Surprise, even after he got his new Yacht, he's always keeping an eye out on the tracker info to see where it's at."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over to the younger man and says "Well it seemed to go ok, no real reason Ah saw you needed to apologize. Sam is very polite to the staff as drink and food is brought out. Family is important, and it looked like it could have been a lot worse."

Jax Miller has posed:
    "It's just that Grandpa Charles doesn't really get along with my dad. He's ehm... he's not a fan of football players." And there seems to be a whole lot left unsaid there while Jax eats and makes comments when he can, enjoying the food and the fresh air. Food which, considering how near the restaurant is to the bay of naples, may have been caught either that selfsame day or even that very hour. "It's not so bad now, but I don't think he took it well when I went to Xavier's. He wants me to go to one of the Ivy League universities, and dad wants me to try for NYU because they've got a good college football team."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to the other and says "Trust me, I am getting to know what that can be like, My grandfather and grandmother and even mother in law are ok with me, but my father in law... well he would not like any of us, his own daughter included." He frowns a bit as he tells this tale.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon, at this point, is more inclined to listen quietly, her brows furrowing as she hears Sam's tale. Reaching over, she gives his shoulder a squeeze, offering a sympathetic look. She keeps her voice soft when she finally does speak, or rather, sings, so as not to disturb other diners in the midst of their repast.

"I, I believe you and me are sisters and brothers
And I, I believe we're made to be here for each other
And we'll never fall if we walk hand in hand
Put a world that seems broken together again
Yeah I, I believe in the end love wins
Oh, yeah, love wins...."

Jax Miller has posed:
    Jax adds nothing, his ears half folded over, and falling almost gratefully onto the calamari when it is served. Served in... peculiarly uneven portions and consistency. Both Sam and Shannon get calamari that isn't simply looking delicious, but is looking to be near perfection. If the squid were still alive, it would probably be proud to be part of such a good looking dish.

    Jax and Kit, on the other hand, get slightly different things, on slightly different shaped plates to make it easier for the kitchen staff to know which special order went on which plate. Kit's calamari has a very peculiar garnish with a very familiar texture to the aardwolf. Someone, it seems, has made sure that special dietary requirements were taken care of.

    "He looks that part, but... he's not." Jax feels the sudden urge to clarify. "I mean, he probably got a bit of a shock when I was born, an' knowing him he probably had a few things to say about which side of the family the genes run in, but... he's been there for me. When he's not working, when he's not ... not trying to impress, he's an awesome grandpa. He was one of the biggest donor to my 'just be you' campaign last year. His company could have made that so called cure and made a fortune, but he refused, lost millions over it. What he says about family? He really means that."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles and nods his head a bit to this as he eats and chats. "That is good to hear, well Ah plan on looking out for you and the rest, Ah was telling the truth when I made a quick trip home I had to talk to Berto and was talking about how you remind me some of him.

Nightingale has posed:
     "I'm surprised you didn't talk to Mr. DaCosta when he was out here a few days ago," Shannon mused. "When we were sailing up the Cote D'Azur, in between ports of call." She shrugs lightly, listening and nibbling on her calamari. Well, 'nibbling' might be a polite way of saying 'devouring and God help anybody who gets in her way'.

     "Oh, yeah! I remember that campaign, right around the time a few of us got hit with the Cure. I had no idea your grandpa had gotten involved with that. And that he refused to make the Cure... that speaks a lot of good about him. Now I really do wish he and your grandmother could at least have stayed through lunch."

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Because he's also witty, good looking and an awesome friend?" Jax asks with a grin. He doesn't know who this 'Berto' is, but hey... compliment from a teacher? He'll take it. Shannon gets a fond smile when she seems to really like the calamari. Mission accomplished!

    "He's the polar opposite of Gramps. He's the one with the farm, over in California. Totally gotta introduce you guys to him too, you'll love him."

    "I really hope we haven't been moving too fast down the coast guys, I know we only had a day in Rome, a day in Firenze and a day in Napels, but... Med's big. And when we leave, next stop is Malta before we say hello to the Barbary coast, then head north to Venice. That sound alright?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over to him and says "Both brought up with money, and while ya may show it off your not doing it for like me cause of my money, your doing it cause you want to do things for your friends. You both are decent fellows who look out for their friends. And your both sports guys both into football, just different football.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie adds "And I am not calling you a show off Jax, I am saying you want your friends to experience the neat things you have gotten to along the way.

Jax Miller has posed:
    "What, he plays competitive ballet?" Oof. Some good natured ribbing from a sports buff to another one, but still. Oof. Jax winks at Sam to make it clear he wasn't being serious. "Gotta introduce me some time." But yeah, the money bit... he goes quiet. That must have been something he's heard before. "I'm honestly not trying to show off guys, it's just..." A shrug, and a generous helping of calamari. It's just that he has access to a yacht for the summer. No matter which way he turns that phrase over in his head, he can't make it sound any better.

    "Maybe I should talk to him about my idea for sports camps for mutant kids? NBA's really hot on it, could be the next big thing." And how much is he actually sounding like Roberto now?

    But before he knows it, there is no more calamari. Another plate of good food eaten and gone before he even properly noticed. "As long as I don't end up a promoter or a talent agent, my dad would disown me."

    Did someone say Gellato for a good dessert? Because it looks like that's very much being lined up now, while staff discreetly take away plates that have been emptied.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie chuckles and nods "Trust me, may have took me a bit to understand it when Ah was younger, but Ah do. And nothing wrong with ballet, All the original New Mutants took it, maybe I should have it back as a required class." He offers with a smirk, and says "He taught me to play soccer, Ah was more a baseball guy myself." He admits. "He would be the one to talk to he owns the Club back home. Ah remember the first trip we went on, was down into brazil where his mother was leading an dig, where we ended up finding Nova Roma, and Amara." He smiles a bit and says "Sometimes, Ah have wondered if we need to figure out a mutant ball game."

Nightingale has posed:
     As the gentlemen have their tete a tete, Shannon just smiles, listening intently. And devouring the calamari on her plate. Oh yes. It seems someone's found a new favorite seafood dish. "I could see Mr. DaCosta getting behind something like a sports camp for mutants. And what kind of ball game would suit mutants best?" She pauses, thinking for a moment, and just grinning. "Though I could say basketball might fill that role... the Avengers might still disagree."

     The talk turning temporarily to the trip and upcoming ports of call, she smiles, and nods. "That sounds good. I wasn't kidding when I told your grandmother this has all been just magical. Thank you for all this, Jax, seriously."

Jax Miller has posed:
    "I thought about that for a while, actually." Jax admits, when the topic of 'mutant ball' comes up. "But I hate things being out of reach of people, being exclusive." Irony, oh irony. "So having a game that only allows mutants to play, or that requires you to be a mutant? Kind of against what the major franchises are going for right now."

    He actually grins over towards Shannon. "Remember when I told you about my idea for you to learn how to use a professional camera? So much better than drone shots, and what a way to integrate mutants in the game, right?" As a large bowl of gellato is put before him, Jax shrugs. "MLB is going to be dead set against a new mutants only franchise. They had that problem in the past, they don't want reminding, and that's why they're pretty big on integrating mutant players. It's just a PR problem right now, but we're turning that around. I mean, look around you. How many people are glaring daggers at us, for daring to set foot in a human only restaurant? A grand total off zero. That kind of nonsense just... doesn't happen as much over here. Not anymore." As evidenced by the fact that Kit, Jax and Shannon get mobbed by kids to have their pictures taken pretty much every time they come ashore.

    But the sight of dessert reminds him of the major sin he's committing, and the cardinal rule he's been taught. "Sorry guys. Grandpa always says, no business at the table. My bad. So, yeah, Malta next, unless you all want to stop over in Palermo for a bit of Sicily?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie ooks to him and says "Yea, but sports, it is a different thing that like normal jobs." He shrugs a bit and lets the subject drop for now. "Any specific things your wanting to show up ? I am looking forward to my stop." He admits.

Nightingale has posed:
     "No, that all sounds good," Shannon replies, falling silent for a moment as plates are cleared, and gelato is served. She smiles lightly at the wait staff, and dips her head. "Grazie," is all she says, with a sheepish grin back at Jax, Kit, and Sam. "Only polite Italian I know outside of musical terms. But, a good word in any language."

     Her gelato appears to be lemon, served with a few little delicate curls of lemon zest as a garnish. A few moments are taken to enjoy the treat before it melts away. "I wasn't sure if we were going to be seeing any sights in Greece or no. No complaints, mind you! This is an utterly fantastic trip!"

     She can't help but grin at Sam, leaning over to shoulder-nudge him ever so slightly. "Well, you don't really think you were just here to keep us all out of trouble, do you? I know how it is, missing someone you really care about..." For a brief moment, there is a hint of mist in her eyes. Just a tiny bit.

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Food, drink, Mount Etna..." Jax shrugs, sampling the gellato and grinning when he finds out that they made his favorite... mint! "Honestly, I was kind of wanting to go around Sicily just so we can have a quick look at the coast of Tunisia. Y'know, the coast of High Barbary? And from there it'd be logical to pull into Malta for a day or so. But we could go through the Straits of Messina, have a look at Mount Etna from the sea as we go past, it's big enough you can't miss it. And, if we don't backtrack to Malta, we could round Calabria and be heading up to towards Abruzzi and Venice the day after."

    Shannon gets a wink when Greece is brought up. "Athens, Crete, Mikonos just because I feel like we should have at least one party, and and then Delphi. Say hello to a few people while we're there? We'll have the time for it. But I want to end the trip in Alexandria, all the way over in Egypt." He glances over to Kit when he says that, smiling.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "Ah gotta admit it is hard not to give you guys a day on your own and fly on ahead for a bit." He eats his dessert. Yo know we may have to set up a trip once a year for students, letting them see the world a bit."

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Kit has, since doing silent earlier simply been being quiet, a somewhat zoned-out, thoughtful look in his eyes. He did smile a bit when his food came and he noticed the slight difference to it, nibbling at his food quietly like he normally does. Him being quiet like this isn't abnormal for the aardwolf, since he does occasionally just become the quiet type out of nowhere.

Shannon singing gets his full attention when it happens and a keen ear might even hear him humming along a little bit.

The mention of Alexandria causes a slight twitch of the Aardwolf's ears though and a glance is given to Jax for a moment before offering everyone at the table a warm smile and when he finally speaks again? It's with a nod and a simple, "From what I've heard, Alexandria's a beautiful place."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Athens will be awesome, and one place I've always wanted to see is Delphi." Shannon rubs her hands together, the mist in her eyes faded and forgotten for the moment. "I've always wondered how much of the myth of the naming of Athens was for real and how much was bunk. You know, the one about the competition between Athena and Poseidon, with her coming up with an olive tree, and him with a spring." Dipping her spoon into her gelato for a particularly large bite, she muses, "I should ask them sometime..."

     There is a tell-tale expression on her face as she takes that bite, and her spoon is dropped into the dish. Her hands fly to the sides of her head.

     Oh, yes.

     Brain freeze!