High Tide

[Nikki]

Happiness is a hard thing to find, especially at sea. For the most part, men's lives are short, and hopes are as low as-

Thunk.

I look up from my ledger in a bit of annoyance, finding myself peering through the empty confines of a rum bottle that Jack has just slammed down on the table.

"Is something the matter?" I say as kindly as I can.

[Jacky]

"Aye." I frown slowly, my gaze directed at the map spread out in front of me. Seconds pass, maybe a minute even, before I realize I was asked a question. I divert my eyes from the fine lines on the map and they travel to Rae. Then they dart to the empty rumbottle that I'm still holding.
"I'm out of rum." I notice.
I knock the rumbottle over as I get up, swaying for a second before finding my balance.

[Nikki]

I slam the book shut, thinking that happiness is overrated. Returning it to one of many shelves and knowing full well that this wouldn't be a time to ask, I question: "Is there anything here that's not a 'happily ever after?'"
My taste has changed greatly through the months.

[Jacky]

"Plenty." For once I'm glad about her distraction. Work was starting to get tiring anyhow, and I could surely use an excuse to turn my back on it. I set the empty rumbottle back on the table before I sway over to Rae, who's standing in front of the bookshelves that reach from floor to ceiling.
I lay an arm around her back, the hand resting lazily on her hip, as my gaze sweeps over the backs of the books.
"I might have something you'd fancy." I say thoughtfully, "But it's hardly anything with an ending at all. Yet." I smirk.

[Nikki]

I look up in his direction. He's come a long way from backing me into bookcases. "Alright, let's hear it, Captain." I roll my eyes before ever having heard what's to come.

[Ans]

I let my hand slide from her hip again and I turn around, heading for the corner of the cabin. There's a bunch of chests there, all wooden and with iron hinges. About three of the five chests have keys sticking out of the locks. The others are locked more securely.
I crouch next to one with a key to it, and I turn it smoothly. It clicks and I lift the lid up, revealing a collection of dusty old books - with yellow pages and rotton corners more often than not.
I fish one of the booklets out of there and get up, turning back to Rae and waiting for her to come see what I've got.

[Nikki]

He's too good at luring me in: there stands the best thing in the world, holding the second best thing in the world in his hand. Too tempting.
Upon taking it from his hand, I resist the urge to sneeze from the dust. I look at the book curiously.

[Jacky]

"A logbook." I clarify, "My logbook. Must be from a few years ago though, judging on its appearance." I smirk.
Aye, I saved my logbooks over the years. They often share information worth saving. And more often still do they tell tales that I wouldn't believe if I wasn't there to relive the vivid memory in person.

[Nikki]

And here it is; the only place I can be certain that he is telling the truth. I tilt my head to the side dramatically. If he is going to share the truth with me, then all's fair I return the favor. Tucking the book in my belt, I take three paces forward and pry open a floorboard, taking out a somewhat newer book, riddled inside with my familiar handwriting. I hand it to Jack somewhat reluctantly.

[Jacky]

I glance down to the cover of the book that doesn't reveal its content. But I'm fairly sure that I know what's inside. I glance back to her, and.. sorta wonder how she found out about a loose floorboard that I didn't know the existance of.