Quote Originally Posted by chksng19
Nick strode out on the deck to check the contest results to this point, and nearly tripped over a pale blonde woman, stretched out next to her clothes on the teakwood decking.

"Well, hello, Miss!" he said, surprised. He pushed the panic button hidden in his belt buckle, which sent an alarm belowdecks. Seconds later he heard the familiar tread of Amy hustling up the stairs, and privately hoped the alarm hadn't disturbed Ruby and the Skipper.

The woman picked up her head and looked around, obviously somewhat panicy. She jumped to her feet, and her arms reflexively moved to cover herself.... then she noticed Nick had a pair of barely-decent speedos on, while all Amy was wearing was a floury apron. Amy moved next to her, and put an arm around her shoulders. "Welcome to the 'Sailing Master', miss. I'm Amy, second officer, this is Nick, first officer, and Captain SirChuck will be joining us shortly, I'm sure."

"Go ahead and tan if you wish for a while, miss. There's a stock of sunblock lotion on the shelf next to the wheelhouse; feel free to use it as needed. Er, the Captain will punish you if you DON'T use it regularly, as the sun gets awfully bright hereabouts." Amy took a breath. "Also, there's a cooler of iced waters over near the mainmast there; you MUST drink one an hour if you're tanning or exercising. Again, The Captain is concerned about that."

Nick said, "Ok, then, miss. I would recommend you stay here until the Captain arrives; I'm sure he'll want to meet you. If you have any other needs, there's a Head at the portside of the Wheelhouse there.... I mean, a bathroom next to the steering wheel room back near the tail-end of the ship. Anything else, just call out; someone will be here to help you out."

The pretty blonde thanked both politely, and went to apply sunblock. Nick looked at Amy, both shrugged. Amy mumbled, sotto voce, "Never know what's going to happen on one of these cruises. Good grief!" She headed back belowdecks to finish what she was doing. Nick went to survey the shore, and noticed there were still three missing. No WB, sari, or myya. Hmm.

He looked at the compass, and at the sky, computing local time. Unlike ashore, sunset here was like switching out a light. He sincerely hoped he didn't have to go out searching in the dark; strange places had a way of turning around and biting you on the heel. Literally. Especially in the dark.

She applied the sunblock quickly, rubbing it up and down her body with great care, rushing over to the water she took a drink and sighed.

"Nice people." She muttered to herself quietly and watched them as she lay back down. Now carefull that she did not go to sleep and miss the hour mark when she should apply and sunblock or drink. She hoped the sun would not set too soon, she wanted ot atleast get a slight tan if her pale body allowed it that was.

'Hope I meet some more nice people.' She though as she lay her head back.

[thanks for the welcome chksng19 ^_^]