You were an impeccable worker, it only took a few weeks for your presence to make a significant change in the approach.
The new renovations were created specifically for your work, the kitchen had become larger, not excessively of course, but it had more updates for the preparation of different meals that they could not afford before.
The screens no longer had such saturated colors and the landscapes were updated with more distinctive and modern ones so as not to give a feeling of suffocation in that ship full of labyrinths.
A new freezing capsule had been implemented which indirectly stated that you were not just passing through, you were there to stay as a permanent member.
When they arrived at the main room you took the time to explain that from now on you would be in charge of the meals and cleaning, your only function was to support the workers and secure the load, and that in itself, they should not worry because there would be no big problems. Changes in their routine that could overwhelm them.
You were there to help.
It was suspicious and strange, why would the company send you? Why such a surprising change? Were all the other cargo ships undergoing the new reforms?...
You didn't answer the questions, you just acted ignorant and shook your head with a shrug.
At first Captain Curly was reluctant to leave his responsibilities in your hands, although he couldn't do much for the group he still felt he could do more for them, they were his responsibility and like a good captain he should be there to catch them if they fell.
Even if he had to drown in the attempt.
But then there was you, doing all the work that he failed so poorly at.
They had hot food on the table that didn't taste artificial because of the preserved products, it was a joy they hadn't been able to enjoy before you arrived, having the halls free of dust was a sight unknown before as they were tasks that no one remembered to do until that was accumulating.
The captain felt insufficient when he realized the situation, the less stressed looks or the healthier complexion of the three people who were under his responsibility served as a tortuous reminder that he had failed.
Before it was a matter of resisting every day, Curly had stuck to his thought that he had to endure, endure, endure so that no one else would have to, but in his stubbornness he did not realice that he was only repressing the inevitable.
How can he help others if he cannot help himself?
The man with curls was taken aback when you offered him a cup of tea with a simple sandwich from time to time, although you tended to run away from him the vast majority of the time for reasons he didn't know, the small details let him know that you really cared.
Anya got used to your presence over time, when she was alone in the infirmary waiting for emails from the company for the next check-up, she was reassured by the harsh sound of the broom in the hallway and the constant humming of your voice.
She felt protected and curiously accompanied, she had noticed how you felt more perceptive to her presence and that made her feel special.
Remember taking courage and wondering why you always wore a mask.
You took some time to answer while cleaning some cups in the kitchen.
-…I'm a little allergic to dust. "It's just a precaution…" you said slowly, drying your hands with a kitchen towel.
Anya will never understand why she gets the feeling that you are never completely honest.
…~•~…
Swansea enjoyed his time alone, having you hanging around the hallways was an inconvenience that made him extremely uncomfortable, and it wasn't just that, all the mysterious air that surrounded you did nothing to calm him down, you weren't expressive like the others and the I knew that that silence you gave was for a reason.
I don't know how to trust you.
You may have cooked well and cleaned up everyone else's messes but it wasn't enough to make your presence more comfortable at all.
The man ran into you one afternoon when he was trying to open a ceiling grate that was stuck, the ladder he was sitting on felt unsafe and the older man knew that the probability of him falling was high, but he refused to ask for your help. .
He remained silent and waited when he heard your footsteps stop near him and the ladder stay still and without shaking, Swansea looked down and saw you holding and securing the ladder with your hands as support.
The grumpy man refused to thank you, but this behavior was repeated many more times than he would like to accept.
If something got stuck or was too difficult to move, you always got there before the captain or Jimmy.
First you stared at the intrigued cat and when Swansea got tired of trying and accepted that he couldn't do it himself you approached him without saying a word and helped him.
-..how do you know how to do this?....I haven't even explained it to you yet…- he saw how you became petrified, stopping the movement of your fingers on the cables, Swansea narrowed his eyes at your reaction and stared at you.
You were going to lie or dodge the question, I was sure of that.
Contrary to his expectations, your gaze seemed to get lost in nothingness-….in my old ship I used to do it…the…mechanic was good but…-you connected the cables and looked at the one in the yellow shirt-….he was very scary. So I used to do things that required electricity….counterproductive right?..- you said, letting out a happy laugh.
It wasn't mocking like the ones you used to give to Jimmy, it wasn't fake like when you were around the captain, it was sincere, Swansea saw how after that you got distracted and electrified your finger, you jumped back, swearing and moving your arm like if you wanted to get the electricity out of your hand.
Swansea laughed at your ridiculous move
-..aren't you very expert boy?...it seems that you still have a long way to go to reach the mastery of old Swansea!..-His laughter increased when he saw your face turn red under the mask and your brow furrow.
Your hand with the cable that had electrocuted you rose quickly and ended up right on the arm of the man who was laughing at you, making him flinch and escape the vibrating and painfully sharp sensation.
-…brat!...that's dangerous!...- the man exclaimed, taking the cable from you and putting it back in its place-…you're lucky this isn't connected to the ship or we'd be toast!...-accusingly I point out, seeing you look away in a dignified manner.
-…don't worry, I'm sure your mastery could help you…- you said vengefully, taking your gloves decisively when you saw that the man next to you, annoyed, took your broom ready to hit you with it.
Swansea saw a more human side of you, concluding that it was not that you were suspicious, just many things tormented you, the experienced man now knew that he could ask you and you would answer him honestly and openly.