The billowing black smokestacks of the liner was the only thing I could see. It is the only sight of importance that I want to see, especially with the ocean all around me, and will continue to be around me until I reach my destination.
I only sat down and contemplated, the thought of the mission that I was assigned towards swirling around my head. Why did I take this mission in the first place? It seemed quite the foolish choice now, with the information of the place I'm going all the more apparent to me, but considering the reward I would get, I... ugh, it seemed like an offer too good to pass up back then, still is really.
I eventually grabbed a seat, looking at the scenery to pass the time, almost falling into an afternoon nap when someone woke me up.
I shook my head and turned my head. Seeing a man with the most dapper of outfits looking at me.
"My oh my, what do we have here?" He said. "A woman of African Descent I suppose?"
I only ignored him and started walking away. The last thing I want right now is a confrontation with a white man, fighting a white person when I'm about to arrive on my destination is not a recipe that would resonate well with the authorities there. Well, assuming that the authorities themselves aren't already clouded by their perception of me.
"Please, madam! I mean no ill will!" The dapper looking man said. "It is just quite unusual seeing a woman of your... phenotype, I suppose? going into the place we're going to."
"Good Sir." I responded, turning my face towards him. "If you have no ill will, then do not mention anything about phenotypes or race. I did not come to this boat just to be gawked at."
I then turned my head around and walked, leaving the man behind. Being gawked at by white people, while it was fun the first couple of times, it got old, tiring, and really annoying once the years go by and the need to explain to them to stop gawking at me was becoming more routine. This is without mentioning the racists who run the place that I call home for a while now, disgusting bunch of people.
Nonetheless, I went back to my room, opened the window, and decided that I have enough for today. I had some breakfast, played some games with the ladies, much to their chagrin, but I couldn't care less of what they thought of me, and stared at the smoke stacks of the ship. Not much to do when you're traveling as far as I am.
I changed my clothes to my night gown, and, with the sea air billowing through the window. I feel asleep.
.
.
.
.
.
I woke up.
I dreamt of adventures that long past by, times when I fought soldiers, creatures, beasts of legends, helped people improve their lives. All of that in the past for now, in a past that I wish I only had a bigger hand playing.
Ah, what the hell, I'm always a runner anyway. Whenever I felt that the people had had enough of me, I ran away. Even if they still wanted my leadership. I always ran away, taking my husband with me whenever I go. I always, always ran away.
And god, fucking gods to demons do I hate it. We came, we saw, we helped, and then we flee. It's... disgusting cycle, a cycle I hope will break sometime soon. But It's a cycle that I seem to keep repeating over and over and over.
And now, it seems that I'm doing the same thing. Running away again, just when my husband needed me the most.
I changed to my night clothes, the time is around 4:45 AM. It is quite late, but it'll do, do some early morning exercises and hopefully, I'll arrive at the city, recover the object, and leave the city with no one the wiser.
I looked at my luggages, a bunch of stuff stored inside the closet of the ship. Mostly just clothing and other items I bought with me for my memories' sake. I am not sure at how I will proceed with the mission, I don't know any points of contacts within the place I'm going to, and it seems that recovering the objective seems to require some form of networking with the locals, locals that may or may not be too bigoted to even talk to me.
But, a mission's a mission. So I changed into my exercise clothing, did some early running jogs within the bow of the ship, took a short shower, and waited for the sun to rise. I'm going to need all the energy and all the vitality I have in order to recover it.
Hmm, now that I thought about it. What should I do? I don't think the man who gave me that mission even hopes for a recovery, especially from someone of... my background.
"So, Madam. I'm sorry for the provocation yesterday. I am just not very aware of the special... circumstances your people encountered."
Oh, this man again. Turning my head towards him, I only stared at him blankly, hoping, sincerely hoping that he would disappear and not bother me forever. Seriously, what are his intentions bothering me out of all people?
Well, I guess I must return the favour at least, maybe chalking up a conversation with him may get him to walk away.
"Yes, special would be underestimating it." I replied. "Good sir, just what is your name anyway?"
"I am Killinger, Peter Killinger madam." He replied. "And what about you?"
"Eve, just call me Eve." I replied.
"Oh, just like in the bible I see. Did... your parents name you because of the bible?"
"Well, I haven't asked my parent for a long time. But I suppose. Now, dear sir, just what motivates you to keep bothering me from yesterday? does having someone of my background really fascinates you to such an extent?"
"Oh dear madam, of course!" He replied. "I am interested in learning many things! particularly with people, I am just absolutely fascinated with how people interact, the different cultures, norms, and traditions! ugh, and meeting someone as exotic as you! well. How could I not indulge myself?"
I only gave a laugh as the man finished explaining the whole thing. "Well, I suppose there is some wisdom in learning from other cultures. I... doubt that those cultures would reciprocate."
"Oh, of course! Isn't it obvious, I understand the many, many difficulties your people encounter during these last few decades, and I am more than willing to do my part to help you get on your feet! well, at least for your case. You seem rather well to do yourself madam."
"Yes, yes I am."
Oh by the gods, this man is so unnerving. I wouldn't mind a conversation with him, but his 'fascination' with those other people groups seemed to veer almost too far. But, perhaps I might have some use for him.
"Mister Killinger. If I may, would you be interested in learning more about the people I came from?"
"Oh, of course madam! I would move heaven and earth to do it!" He replied. Smiling at the opportunity.
"Then would you help me pass immigration then? give me your recommendation and make sure the immigration officer does not commit any grave crimes against me, oh, and also, some lodgings while I get myself acquainted to this new land."
A slight pause from Killinger's voice suggested some hesitancy, but he came through. "But of course! I do have a house in the city where we are arriving. And with my recommendation, I am sure the officer would pass you through, easily!"
"Good, because I think that."
A blaring horn from the ship gave me the cue.
"That we are arriving at our destination. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."
"Ah, the Americas! the land of opportunity! opportunities to learn new cultures! to sample the cuisine, to understand their norms! oh, such a wonderful place!"
I only rolled my eyes as the ship slowly makes It's way towards the port. The mission begins now.
I only sat down and contemplated, the thought of the mission that I was assigned towards swirling around my head. Why did I take this mission in the first place? It seemed quite the foolish choice now, with the information of the place I'm going all the more apparent to me, but considering the reward I would get, I... ugh, it seemed like an offer too good to pass up back then, still is really.
I eventually grabbed a seat, looking at the scenery to pass the time, almost falling into an afternoon nap when someone woke me up.
I shook my head and turned my head. Seeing a man with the most dapper of outfits looking at me.
"My oh my, what do we have here?" He said. "A woman of African Descent I suppose?"
I only ignored him and started walking away. The last thing I want right now is a confrontation with a white man, fighting a white person when I'm about to arrive on my destination is not a recipe that would resonate well with the authorities there. Well, assuming that the authorities themselves aren't already clouded by their perception of me.
"Please, madam! I mean no ill will!" The dapper looking man said. "It is just quite unusual seeing a woman of your... phenotype, I suppose? going into the place we're going to."
"Good Sir." I responded, turning my face towards him. "If you have no ill will, then do not mention anything about phenotypes or race. I did not come to this boat just to be gawked at."
I then turned my head around and walked, leaving the man behind. Being gawked at by white people, while it was fun the first couple of times, it got old, tiring, and really annoying once the years go by and the need to explain to them to stop gawking at me was becoming more routine. This is without mentioning the racists who run the place that I call home for a while now, disgusting bunch of people.
Nonetheless, I went back to my room, opened the window, and decided that I have enough for today. I had some breakfast, played some games with the ladies, much to their chagrin, but I couldn't care less of what they thought of me, and stared at the smoke stacks of the ship. Not much to do when you're traveling as far as I am.
I changed my clothes to my night gown, and, with the sea air billowing through the window. I feel asleep.
.
.
.
.
.
I woke up.
I dreamt of adventures that long past by, times when I fought soldiers, creatures, beasts of legends, helped people improve their lives. All of that in the past for now, in a past that I wish I only had a bigger hand playing.
Ah, what the hell, I'm always a runner anyway. Whenever I felt that the people had had enough of me, I ran away. Even if they still wanted my leadership. I always ran away, taking my husband with me whenever I go. I always, always ran away.
And god, fucking gods to demons do I hate it. We came, we saw, we helped, and then we flee. It's... disgusting cycle, a cycle I hope will break sometime soon. But It's a cycle that I seem to keep repeating over and over and over.
And now, it seems that I'm doing the same thing. Running away again, just when my husband needed me the most.
I changed to my night clothes, the time is around 4:45 AM. It is quite late, but it'll do, do some early morning exercises and hopefully, I'll arrive at the city, recover the object, and leave the city with no one the wiser.
I looked at my luggages, a bunch of stuff stored inside the closet of the ship. Mostly just clothing and other items I bought with me for my memories' sake. I am not sure at how I will proceed with the mission, I don't know any points of contacts within the place I'm going to, and it seems that recovering the objective seems to require some form of networking with the locals, locals that may or may not be too bigoted to even talk to me.
But, a mission's a mission. So I changed into my exercise clothing, did some early running jogs within the bow of the ship, took a short shower, and waited for the sun to rise. I'm going to need all the energy and all the vitality I have in order to recover it.
Hmm, now that I thought about it. What should I do? I don't think the man who gave me that mission even hopes for a recovery, especially from someone of... my background.
"So, Madam. I'm sorry for the provocation yesterday. I am just not very aware of the special... circumstances your people encountered."
Oh, this man again. Turning my head towards him, I only stared at him blankly, hoping, sincerely hoping that he would disappear and not bother me forever. Seriously, what are his intentions bothering me out of all people?
Well, I guess I must return the favour at least, maybe chalking up a conversation with him may get him to walk away.
"Yes, special would be underestimating it." I replied. "Good sir, just what is your name anyway?"
"I am Killinger, Peter Killinger madam." He replied. "And what about you?"
"Eve, just call me Eve." I replied.
"Oh, just like in the bible I see. Did... your parents name you because of the bible?"
"Well, I haven't asked my parent for a long time. But I suppose. Now, dear sir, just what motivates you to keep bothering me from yesterday? does having someone of my background really fascinates you to such an extent?"
"Oh dear madam, of course!" He replied. "I am interested in learning many things! particularly with people, I am just absolutely fascinated with how people interact, the different cultures, norms, and traditions! ugh, and meeting someone as exotic as you! well. How could I not indulge myself?"
I only gave a laugh as the man finished explaining the whole thing. "Well, I suppose there is some wisdom in learning from other cultures. I... doubt that those cultures would reciprocate."
"Oh, of course! Isn't it obvious, I understand the many, many difficulties your people encounter during these last few decades, and I am more than willing to do my part to help you get on your feet! well, at least for your case. You seem rather well to do yourself madam."
"Yes, yes I am."
Oh by the gods, this man is so unnerving. I wouldn't mind a conversation with him, but his 'fascination' with those other people groups seemed to veer almost too far. But, perhaps I might have some use for him.
"Mister Killinger. If I may, would you be interested in learning more about the people I came from?"
"Oh, of course madam! I would move heaven and earth to do it!" He replied. Smiling at the opportunity.
"Then would you help me pass immigration then? give me your recommendation and make sure the immigration officer does not commit any grave crimes against me, oh, and also, some lodgings while I get myself acquainted to this new land."
A slight pause from Killinger's voice suggested some hesitancy, but he came through. "But of course! I do have a house in the city where we are arriving. And with my recommendation, I am sure the officer would pass you through, easily!"
"Good, because I think that."
A blaring horn from the ship gave me the cue.
"That we are arriving at our destination. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."
"Ah, the Americas! the land of opportunity! opportunities to learn new cultures! to sample the cuisine, to understand their norms! oh, such a wonderful place!"
I only rolled my eyes as the ship slowly makes It's way towards the port. The mission begins now.