This is not Cassian's first overseas trip. He'd been hesitant to hop on a maiden voyage, but he was anxious to get back to the Americas, feeling too out of place in Europe. So here he is, a seaman yet again, grateful for the slightly higher rank than regular crew simply because he already knew how to operate a lifeboat.
He's finished his final rounds just as the sun sets, and he makes a quick stop for some food before he slips back out onto the deck, not quite ready to cram into his quarters for the evening. He can excuse it as doing one last loop around.
He's pacing and staring out, listening more than looking to the sounds of the water. It's chilly enough that there aren't that many people out and about, just a few looking to catch that same bout of fresh air. He nods amicably if he makes eye contact, but otherwise avoids any real conversation - it's not like many people are itching to make conversation with crew members regardless.
The little baby whines draw his attention first, and he notices the woman rocking the infant soon after. He starts to adjust his path to make sure he doesn't cross into hers, but then the baby decides to yank her little bonnet and throw it, where it skids across the deck and lands by his feet.
Without thinking, Cassian leans over and scoops it up, offering it out. "Here you are, ma'am."
"Florence," Jyn sighs when the girl snatches her hat off and hurls it. She knows better than to put a bonnet on Florence and not tie it securely but the crying has her so tired she made a foolish mistake. They're lucky, she supposes, that it didn't fly right off the ship and become a bonnet for the dolphins.
She takes it back automatically, shifting Florence enough to tug it back on over her wisps of hair without putting her down. She won't be able to tie it like this, but Jyn will figure it out.
Except.
"You're older than me." She's just noticed it, looking at him. The trim beard might be covering a baby face, but he looks older than her. Jyn isn't even used to being called Miss -- Mr Van Horn and Edith call her Jyn, sometimes Edith calls her Jynnie, which drives Jyn batty but it's only when Edith is feeling very ill and she has been so weak ever since the baby was born... In any case, Jyn is barely used to being addressed as miss much less ma'am and her confusion seems a lot like offense because she's too baffled.
For one brief second after she looks at him with Full Offense, Cassian's expression essentially boils down to the epitome of Oh shit. Did he use the wrong English word? No, no, he's pretty sure ma'am was correct. Maybe he stepped in too close?
Immediately he takes two steps away, giving her space and folding his arms behind his back. "My apologies."
What is he apologizing for? Who knows! Whatever he offended her with! He avoids the use of ma'am, just in case, taking in the sight of her with her unhappy baby. Her hair is wispy in the wind but tied up neatly, and her dress is fine enough material that he just assumes she is a first class young mother, given she is on the first class deck too.
"If you and your daughter need anything, I will be happy to help, otherwise I will let you carry on."
Well, of course he called her ma'am if he thought she was Florence's mum and not her overworked baby nurse. (Jyn has it better than most, in all honesty; Edith is a kind lady not much older than Jyn herself, Jyn is just very tired right now.
She should apologize, that is what manners dictate, but she is so tired it doesn't occur to her and she is pretty bad at manners. She is a baby nurse, she doesn't spend enough time with adult high society to remember all the stupid rules about politeness.
Surprise then relief filters onto his face next, grateful he hasn't committed some grievous faux pas. It was bad enough learning the American customs, but then he had to put them up against some of the slightly different British ones...
Cassian relaxes, but he does stay at attention after she introduces herself and makes her request known. She might not be the mother, but she's still traveling first class, so he simply nods politely. He steps in quietly, and only after he is closer does he bring his arms back around front, reaching in to neatly tie the little bonnet back on. He manages to keep a decent amount of space between them, but his arm does brush against her as he finishes up the near perfect little bow under the baby's chin. She makes a noise at him, tiny fingers papping at his much larger ones.
"There. Unless she knows how to untie too, it should be safe from frustrated hands."
"She doesn't seem to like the ocean as much as I do," Jyn murmurs, shifting Florence a bit in her arms. The baby weighs next to nothing and Jyn can lift far more than her feather-light weight but holding her constantly is still tiring.
When he was in close, Jyn could smell his cologne and realized with sudden clarity that it has been ages, two months in fact, since she's been this close to someone other than Edith or the baby or the matronly cook at their home in Hampstead. He's a very handsome sailor.
God, she needs to get out.
She turns the baby to face him, waves her little hand. "This is Miss Florence Van Horn, the youngest passenger on the liner."
"We have barely been at sea for day, it may take her some time to get used to it."
The baby is very cute, but it's the scent of baby powder and soap that gets his attention as he pulls back, and he steals a better look at her face. Her eyes are such a pretty shade of green, but they also look very very tired, and if she's essentially a nanny, of course she's tired. She's pretty anyway.
It's only when she waves the baby's hand that he finally cracks the tiniest smile. It's impossible not to with her cute little face. "It is quite lovely to meet you, Miss Florence. I am Cassian." He looks up away from the baby when he says that part, because introductions are definitely more for Jyn's sake.
Pretty name, pretty accent, pretty man. Jyn Erso, stop it. Florence whimpers a little, fussy again, and Jyn sighs, feeling scolded by the infant and returning to the little bouncing motions that seem to keep the baby calm.
"I hope she gets used to it before we reach America or I may leap into the ocean and live amongst the sea life." Probably only hyperbole but also... maybe?
"Nice to meet you, Miss Jyn." It's habit to be polite, even if he and his bunkmate have already spent time complaining about the majority of the first class passengers and their rudeness. Not that Jyn is rude, just that his politeness tends to be more for show, for the sake of his job.
Though it is very nice to meet her.
"The water is much too cold to swim in right now, much less live. You should pick a warmer ocean."
She hates being cold though so he does have a point, even if it is one she is unwilling to admit to. Well, maybe she'll admit to a tiny little parcel of it.
"I've never been to a warm ocean." It's all been frigid and freezing, cold enough to turn your blood to ice and steal the breath from your lungs, but that was how Jyn liked it.
"It is warmer in Mexico, though we are much closer to the equator there."
Not that he has been to his home country in several years, nor did he spend a lot of time at the oceans beyond all his training and learning to work on boats, but even the colors were a lot different than the dreary waters of the English seas.
He pauses, wondering if he should have said anything about where he was from, but his accent has given enough away already. "Europe is far colder, though I am not sure New York will be much better this time of year either."
"Mexico?" Her eyebrows lift in surprise but the expression isn't disgust or concern, it seems more of a happy surprise than anything. She knows there is a good number of Irish on the ship and she met a pair of sisters from Spain, but that's still Europe.
He's from across the world.
And she likes people that don't belong.
"What awful life choice led you to England?" Says the woman with the English accent. Look, she was raised properly, the English are trash.
Cassian hesitates, afraid to admit it further, but she's already assumed, he'd already hinted, she's already not seemed to care about his accent. "I was born there."
He nearly puffs out a laugh, catching himself at the last second, though the muscle movement twitches in his jaw. There are many people who dislike England with English accents, Miss Jyn included.
"I have been sailing in some form for about a decade. I took a job across the ocean about two years ago, and this is the job that gets me back." To America first, but he can sail his way back home eventually.
Florence flaps her arms and Jyn glances down to gift the baby a wide smile that seems to appease her for a moment. Jyn (and Edith) doesn't ascribe to the strict English parenting she has seen on the ship, babies deserve love and affection! Edith dotes on her daughter, kissing her tiny toes when she is fresh out of the bath, watching her sleep when she's tucked into her little bassinet. Jyn knows she is lucky in that respect.
"Are you excited to be going home?" Taking a few steps back, Jyn perches on one of the deck chairs, looking up at Cassian expectantly as she settles Florence to bounce in her lap.
She still wants to carry on this conversation, but she also wants to sit.
He knows nothing of this little girl's mom, but he does know that baby nannies tend to be more affectionate in first class. Florence seems pleased regardless, and a happy baby is what seems to matter most.
When Jyn moves to sit down, Cassian finds himself standing up straighter again, apparently having laxed a little with his posture. "It will still be some time before I can make it back to Mexico proper, Miss."
He wants to ask her where she's going - America, obviously, but where else? Why is her family traveling from England? There's more he could say about Mexico too and he finds he wants to, but Rules and Regulations cut him off.
"He thinks I'm a lady, Florence." The baby wobbles her body, just being a baby, figuring out her body, but Jyn takes it as agreement. "I know, how ridiculous." She looks up at Cassian, ghost of a smile on her tired expression.
"I do. You are a passenger, in first class. I am crew." Not that she seems to care very much about these things personally, which is... nice. But even at this late hour he worries someone might come along. It's everyone else he finds himself worried about, which is odd.
"I am only in first class because this little one is too small for me to be elsewhere in the middle of the night."
Which is true. Edith also needs Jyn's help oftentimes but Jyn is very loyal to Edith and knows better than to mention that in what is technically a public place. Edith comes from old money, but she is young, and Martin simply doesn't care about rich people. He is a builder at heart, an architect by trade, and Jyn knows he would rather spend his time speaking to the Irish shipbuilders than his and Edith's first class dinner companions. They all eat breakfast together, Jyn included, but not on the ship.
"You won't see me in the first class dining room or the church services." First class in name only because of all the other rich society people on board.
He does seem mildly placated, at least as it comes to this Jyn Erso herself. It is most definitely the way she talks to him like a real person, acknowledges his existence rather than placing him as simply part of the backdrop. He's only polite to most of the First Class passengers because his job requires it.
They're rude as shit most of the time. Cassian Andor definitely hates rich people.
But Jyn, despite her lodgings, does not seem to be one of them.
"I believe that of you," he says finally, though his shoulders are still stiff. "But I cannot control what everyone else on board does or sees."
"Everyone else in first class thinks of me like a servant. Two service workers chatting would seem normal to them." A beat, she affects a sort of sarcastic, pitying sigh. "We wouldn't understand the complexities of their class lives."
Complex as a straight line.
"We can go somewhere else if you'd prefer. Florence doesn't seem very tired." Despite Jyn being exhausted.
"They are much easier to figure out than they think," he says lightly, as if he's testing the edge of talking shit with her. He really shouldn't, but Cassian can't remember the last time he had a conversation with someone he didn't work with. And there are good men in his crew, but they're very isolated overall.
"There are few places on deck that do not run the risk of intrusion. Here is quiet, and not far from your cabin."
And Jyn looks exhausted. He doesn't want to make her keep moving around.
It's not bossy (it's a little bossy), because Jyn knows she can't boss anyone about except Florence and Florence doesn't listen, but he's very tall, especially when she is sitting down and he is towering over her. If they're going to carry on this conversation then she would prefer they be on the same level.
Even if he will still be taller than her when sitting.
The idea of sitting beside her makes him a little nervous from a job standpoint, but he also feels ridiculous standing here towering over her. The decks are quiet right now, and the only sounds are the low hum of the ship and the splashes as it cuts through the water. He could theoretically hear someone approaching and stand back to attention swiftly.
Without a verbal agreement, he takes those few steps and sits down in a chair, but it's the one beside her, and he keeps at least two, maybe three, feet of distance between then even seated.
"How long does it usually take her to fall asleep?" Maybe if he just ignores sitting down entirely it'll stop feeling awkward.
Which makes Florence's lack of sleep all the more jarring. Jyn knows it could be any number of things -- teething, hunger, growing pains -- but she is certain it is the rock and sway of the ship keeping Florence awake because of how constantly disgruntled the baby is acting. Any of the other culprits can be fixed, assuaged with food or pain relief, a little whiskey on her gums.
Jyn can't stop the ship from rocking.
"She is normally a very easy baby, rarely fusses, and she's ever so quiet." Except on the ship where her wails keep Jyn awake.
"This is a big ship, and even if the rocking is minimal, it can still be felt - especially someone as unused to it as she is. Seasickness can hit anyone. Have you tried a cool towel?"
Only after the suggestion does he internally berate himself, because Jyn is the baby's carer, her nanny, she's probably run through numerous remedies.
"It is only the first night. Lots of mothers below deck are doing the same for their children too."
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ohnofeelstho2019-12-17 09:43 pm
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He's finished his final rounds just as the sun sets, and he makes a quick stop for some food before he slips back out onto the deck, not quite ready to cram into his quarters for the evening. He can excuse it as doing one last loop around.
He's pacing and staring out, listening more than looking to the sounds of the water. It's chilly enough that there aren't that many people out and about, just a few looking to catch that same bout of fresh air. He nods amicably if he makes eye contact, but otherwise avoids any real conversation - it's not like many people are itching to make conversation with crew members regardless.
The little baby whines draw his attention first, and he notices the woman rocking the infant soon after. He starts to adjust his path to make sure he doesn't cross into hers, but then the baby decides to yank her little bonnet and throw it, where it skids across the deck and lands by his feet.
Without thinking, Cassian leans over and scoops it up, offering it out. "Here you are, ma'am."
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She takes it back automatically, shifting Florence enough to tug it back on over her wisps of hair without putting her down. She won't be able to tie it like this, but Jyn will figure it out.
Except.
"You're older than me." She's just noticed it, looking at him. The trim beard might be covering a baby face, but he looks older than her. Jyn isn't even used to being called Miss -- Mr Van Horn and Edith call her Jyn, sometimes Edith calls her Jynnie, which drives Jyn batty but it's only when Edith is feeling very ill and she has been so weak ever since the baby was born... In any case, Jyn is barely used to being addressed as miss much less ma'am and her confusion seems a lot like offense because she's too baffled.
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Immediately he takes two steps away, giving her space and folding his arms behind his back. "My apologies."
What is he apologizing for? Who knows! Whatever he offended her with! He avoids the use of ma'am, just in case, taking in the sight of her with her unhappy baby. Her hair is wispy in the wind but tied up neatly, and her dress is fine enough material that he just assumes she is a first class young mother, given she is on the first class deck too.
"If you and your daughter need anything, I will be happy to help, otherwise I will let you carry on."
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"She's not mine. I'm her carer."
Well, of course he called her ma'am if he thought she was Florence's mum and not her overworked baby nurse. (Jyn has it better than most, in all honesty; Edith is a kind lady not much older than Jyn herself, Jyn is just very tired right now.
She should apologize, that is what manners dictate, but she is so tired it doesn't occur to her and she is pretty bad at manners. She is a baby nurse, she doesn't spend enough time with adult high society to remember all the stupid rules about politeness.
"I'm called Jyn. Could you tie her bonnet?"
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Cassian relaxes, but he does stay at attention after she introduces herself and makes her request known. She might not be the mother, but she's still traveling first class, so he simply nods politely. He steps in quietly, and only after he is closer does he bring his arms back around front, reaching in to neatly tie the little bonnet back on. He manages to keep a decent amount of space between them, but his arm does brush against her as he finishes up the near perfect little bow under the baby's chin. She makes a noise at him, tiny fingers papping at his much larger ones.
"There. Unless she knows how to untie too, it should be safe from frustrated hands."
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When he was in close, Jyn could smell his cologne and realized with sudden clarity that it has been ages, two months in fact, since she's been this close to someone other than Edith or the baby or the matronly cook at their home in Hampstead. He's a very handsome sailor.
God, she needs to get out.
She turns the baby to face him, waves her little hand. "This is Miss Florence Van Horn, the youngest passenger on the liner."
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The baby is very cute, but it's the scent of baby powder and soap that gets his attention as he pulls back, and he steals a better look at her face. Her eyes are such a pretty shade of green, but they also look very very tired, and if she's essentially a nanny, of course she's tired. She's pretty anyway.
It's only when she waves the baby's hand that he finally cracks the tiniest smile. It's impossible not to with her cute little face. "It is quite lovely to meet you, Miss Florence. I am Cassian." He looks up away from the baby when he says that part, because introductions are definitely more for Jyn's sake.
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Pretty name, pretty accent, pretty man. Jyn Erso, stop it. Florence whimpers a little, fussy again, and Jyn sighs, feeling scolded by the infant and returning to the little bouncing motions that seem to keep the baby calm.
"I hope she gets used to it before we reach America or I may leap into the ocean and live amongst the sea life." Probably only hyperbole but also... maybe?
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Though it is very nice to meet her.
"The water is much too cold to swim in right now, much less live. You should pick a warmer ocean."
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She hates being cold though so he does have a point, even if it is one she is unwilling to admit to. Well, maybe she'll admit to a tiny little parcel of it.
"I've never been to a warm ocean." It's all been frigid and freezing, cold enough to turn your blood to ice and steal the breath from your lungs, but that was how Jyn liked it.
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Not that he has been to his home country in several years, nor did he spend a lot of time at the oceans beyond all his training and learning to work on boats, but even the colors were a lot different than the dreary waters of the English seas.
He pauses, wondering if he should have said anything about where he was from, but his accent has given enough away already. "Europe is far colder, though I am not sure New York will be much better this time of year either."
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He's from across the world.
And she likes people that don't belong.
"What awful life choice led you to England?" Says the woman with the English accent. Look, she was raised properly, the English are trash.
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He nearly puffs out a laugh, catching himself at the last second, though the muscle movement twitches in his jaw. There are many people who dislike England with English accents, Miss Jyn included.
"I have been sailing in some form for about a decade. I took a job across the ocean about two years ago, and this is the job that gets me back." To America first, but he can sail his way back home eventually.
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"Are you excited to be going home?" Taking a few steps back, Jyn perches on one of the deck chairs, looking up at Cassian expectantly as she settles Florence to bounce in her lap.
She still wants to carry on this conversation, but she also wants to sit.
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When Jyn moves to sit down, Cassian finds himself standing up straighter again, apparently having laxed a little with his posture. "It will still be some time before I can make it back to Mexico proper, Miss."
He wants to ask her where she's going - America, obviously, but where else? Why is her family traveling from England? There's more he could say about Mexico too and he finds he wants to, but Rules and Regulations cut him off.
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"He thinks I'm a lady, Florence." The baby wobbles her body, just being a baby, figuring out her body, but Jyn takes it as agreement. "I know, how ridiculous." She looks up at Cassian, ghost of a smile on her tired expression.
"You don't need to call me miss."
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"I do. You are a passenger, in first class. I am crew." Not that she seems to care very much about these things personally, which is... nice. But even at this late hour he worries someone might come along. It's everyone else he finds himself worried about, which is odd.
"It is what we are all supposed to do."
At least he resisted the urge to say Miss again.
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Which is true. Edith also needs Jyn's help oftentimes but Jyn is very loyal to Edith and knows better than to mention that in what is technically a public place. Edith comes from old money, but she is young, and Martin simply doesn't care about rich people. He is a builder at heart, an architect by trade, and Jyn knows he would rather spend his time speaking to the Irish shipbuilders than his and Edith's first class dinner companions. They all eat breakfast together, Jyn included, but not on the ship.
"You won't see me in the first class dining room or the church services." First class in name only because of all the other rich society people on board.
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They're rude as shit most of the time. Cassian Andor definitely hates rich people.
But Jyn, despite her lodgings, does not seem to be one of them.
"I believe that of you," he says finally, though his shoulders are still stiff. "But I cannot control what everyone else on board does or sees."
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Complex as a straight line.
"We can go somewhere else if you'd prefer. Florence doesn't seem very tired." Despite Jyn being exhausted.
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"There are few places on deck that do not run the risk of intrusion. Here is quiet, and not far from your cabin."
And Jyn looks exhausted. He doesn't want to make her keep moving around.
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It's not bossy (it's a little bossy), because Jyn knows she can't boss anyone about except Florence and Florence doesn't listen, but he's very tall, especially when she is sitting down and he is towering over her. If they're going to carry on this conversation then she would prefer they be on the same level.
Even if he will still be taller than her when sitting.
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Without a verbal agreement, he takes those few steps and sits down in a chair, but it's the one beside her, and he keeps at least two, maybe three, feet of distance between then even seated.
"How long does it usually take her to fall asleep?" Maybe if he just ignores sitting down entirely it'll stop feeling awkward.
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Which makes Florence's lack of sleep all the more jarring. Jyn knows it could be any number of things -- teething, hunger, growing pains -- but she is certain it is the rock and sway of the ship keeping Florence awake because of how constantly disgruntled the baby is acting. Any of the other culprits can be fixed, assuaged with food or pain relief, a little whiskey on her gums.
Jyn can't stop the ship from rocking.
"She is normally a very easy baby, rarely fusses, and she's ever so quiet." Except on the ship where her wails keep Jyn awake.
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Only after the suggestion does he internally berate himself, because Jyn is the baby's carer, her nanny, she's probably run through numerous remedies.
"It is only the first night. Lots of mothers below deck are doing the same for their children too."