Sparrow had to take another knock at this ice bridge thing. She had even sent out a call for her favorite splotchy-colored babe to see if she'd be interested in joining. Sparrow had prepared this time and had fruits and some dried fish and some extra fluffy skins. The skins had some holes sliced to put paws through so the garment hung like a cape over the back and flopped over the head just a bit. Sparrow's companions had opted to stay out of it this time and were probably pestering some other pirate. Sparrow held her collected goods in two bundles as she waited to see if her date would appear. The ice bridge hadn't beaten her quite yet, but it was sure to be less terrible with a cute and warm body by her side.

The Armada wasn't somewhere Hanako really wanted to be right now. The two deaths- she didn't like thinking about their names any more- hit the koi harder than she'd ever like to admit. Her mind was plagued with what ifs and why's, questions she'd never find answers too and that bothered her far more than grief ever could. If she'd just done and been better, perhaps things wouldn't have worked out this way. But here she was, meandering away from the Armada for the hundredth time in an attempt to escape the new normal. It just didn't feel like her scene any more, if it ever had been.

It surely didn't help that Sparrow had been more than eager to fill up the space in her mind. Her call was a welcome distraction and despite the chill of the north, Hanako was eager-maybe overly so- to heed her call. It wasn't hard to spot Sparrow amongst all the white, and Hanako was quick to hurry to her side. No doubt eager to leach off some of her warmth. Smushing herself into the dire's side, Hanako buried her face into the floof of her neck

"Hey you." She mumbled in place of greeting. They'd never been a pair for small talk, and Hanako couldn't be asked to start now.

The woman didn't leave Sparrow waiting long, and the pirate king couldn't keep the smile off her face as she ran up. As soon as Hanako was pressed against her side, Sparrow threw one of the furs over her. "Hey yourself." The two hadn't even really gotten to know each other even though they were arguably each other's most intimate other. Sometimes things were weird like that, but it was comfortable and Sparrow wasn't keen to change that unless Hanako wanted to. "Brought us some treats too- for later." While a little alcohol might make them warm right up, Sparrow knew better than to get drunk in this kind of expanse, not to mention the cold. Keeping pressed to Hanako's side, Sparrow began to lead the way. "Who would wanna live in a stupid cold place like this anyways?" Sparrow snarked after a few minutes. She already couldn't feel her nose. There was nothing out here but the long ice bridge and the dark waters that churned on the sides. Falling into that would most definitely kill almost anything. The wind blustered so hard arounf the pair that even snow didn't settle on the sheet of ice. "One old guy from the north told me about ice skating. You ever been?"

There, that was a lot better. Hanako had never really made much effort to provide for herself and she didn't intend to start now, if her Pirate King was happy to give her furs and good food who was she to deny her? It had been a little while since they'd last been together, but the koi-wolf felt no awkwardness as they moved together, side by side. Perhaps this was just the true nature of their relationship, able to slot together whenever they got the chance but it wasn't pressing or urgent. Like they couldn't bare to be apart.

Hanako wrinkled her nose.

"Not me,  I belong in the sun. She sighed a little wistfully, missing the days she'd splay out on the beach, belly in the air as she caught a tan.  "Never been though, sounds fun."

She was usually up for trying something new and if Sparrow seemed interested then she reckoned it'd be worth her while. The Pirate King hadn't led her astray yet, or at least Hananko hadn't quite realised it.

"How's the whole pirarting thing going? Found anymore booty?

Sparrow was happy to move on with the warmth of Hanako to keep her from freezing to absolute death. The smaller woman mentioned how she belonged in the sun and Sparrow could almost already imagine the beach date ahead. But for now they were in icy, slick, dumb cold territory. The wind blew past as if to prove the point and Sparrow shivered a bit while Hanako mentioned that ice skating seemed fun. Sparrow grimaced slightly, "I dunno if after this I'll ever wanna see ice again."

As if to sour the mood further- if ever being with Hanako could be soured- the koi woman asked about the pirates. Sparrow made a big show of huffing and rolling her eyes, "The half of them can't be bothered to show up to anything. I've got two good ones, but who am I gonna raid with two followers, huh?" She gave Hanako a moment to make suggestions, snuggling as close as she could while still managing to walk on the frozen surface. "No one, that's who. Ugh, well I've started recruiting a bit- the others are about to be forced to walk the plank."

Hanako could relate. The winter had stretched on well beyond its welcome and whilst snow was pretty and all it just wasn't worth it in her eyes. Times ought to be changing, the world needed to stop messing around and catch up to where it ought to be. Hopefully soon. Not all was well with Sparrow it seemed. Hanako made a thoughtful sound in the back of her throat, the Armada was kinda like that too at the moment. And though she wouldn't admit it she was part of the problem, drifting away to hang out with her snazzy Pirate King instead of tending to her few responsibilities. No doubt it was a tough time to be a leader, something Hanako didn't envy in the least.

She let out an amused giggle at the thought of a wolf walking a plank, it wobbling and bowing beneath their weight, only for them to plummet into the icy depths below. Maybe that would kick some sense into them, maybe not. As long as Hanako's paws remained mostly dry she was happy, for the most part anyway. The bridge stretched out before them, the sunlight catching on the surface and reflecting the clouds above. Despite the cold it was pretty here, other wordly almost as though they weren't supposed to be here. Quiet with only their voices to cover the rustling of branches.

"Honestly, the Armada isn't what I want it to be either right now.  It's just so...messy. She gestured with a wave of her paw. "It's boring." All because she wasn't getting the right kind of attention.

Sparrow enjoyed just having someone to talk to. No one serious and leadery, no real 'you should do this' or 'you should do that' only the soft acceptance of each others grievances. Hanako mentioned the Armada was messy and Sparrow snorted. Yeah... She was sure she was, but that was only because of her own prejudices. "Messy is probably better than boring. At least you wan watch it all fall apart. Or... maybe give it a little push in the wrong direction is you really wanna laugh." Sparrow took a moment to look at the expanse. They had walked a while and nothing new had popped up, nothing had changed. It was just ice. Ice forever. Ice in all directions. "You can always come hang with the rag tag pirates. Can always use someone to help us plan our attack and recruitment routes... our trading routes... our bedding routes... our route routes... Y'know." Sparrow gave Hanako a little nudge with her shoulder and flashed a toothy grin, "The pirates used to go by one of the big seven sins, yeah?" Sparrow lowered her voice and pulled her head back to lean towards the koi woman's ear. "You could always be my Lust."

Hanako smiled a little at that, were she more chaotic she might have considered doing just that. She always enjoyed a good show but in reality... it wasn't as if she hated the Fatalis family.  They'd drawn her into the fold, offered her a nice cushy life and for that she was grateful. As much as she could be, beyond her sense of more more more. If the Armada was breaking apart then she'd sooner just ghost them all and go her own way than stay on a sinking ship. And now that Sparrow was asking her to jump ship, well it was a tempting offer even before she sweetened the pot. Lust.

There was no denying the sense of lust between them, ever since their first meeting it had been undeniable. And it would no doubt be a title that would serve her well, soft and cushy without the expectation of her having to do any heavy lifting. It was a tempting offer and the little nudge to her shoulder brought a sweet smile to her face. Sparrow wanted her, more than just a temporary companion or fling. Something more real and important, a treasure worth keeping.

"That sounds naughty." She let out a giggle despite herself. "I kinda like it though." She offered Sparrow's muzzle a quick kiss, just because she could.

Sparrow took on an easy, light stance- albeit smushed up against a very pretty girl- as she tried to physically manifest the tone of how she wanted the conversation to go. She wanted to pretend that offering the title of Lust didn't mean much. That the first of her seven sins could be Hanako, but that, y'know, it wasn't a big deal. That's how their relationship was. Even if Hanako straight up told her no... It would hurt, but they'd be fine.

She didn't say no, however. She said it sounded naughty- and it did- but that she kinda liked it. And then she sneaked in a kiss. A. Kiss. Surely that didn't mean anything. Sparrow took a second too long to wipe the infatuated, goofy grin from her face before turning to match gazes with the woman- her Lust. "That's not a no," she said with a mischievous smile. "It's not just about our Lust for each other- although that very much exists- it's about your lust for life and freedom and, I dunno, just everything."

She gave a small, almost nervous laugh, but she was too cool to be nervous ever. "You don't gotta reply today, just think about it, huh?" She returned a kiss to Hanako and nibbled the top of her head warmly. "Now whaddya say we get the heck outta Dodge?"

Hanako smiled like she was the cat who ate the canary. It was just so easy to joke about and flirt with Sparrow, they had little history and weren't held down by any expectations. They were simply free to be themselves and it just worked, laid back and chill in such a way that made Hanako realise she'd ditched the mask long ago. And it felt good, so nice in fact she never wanted to put it back on. If life with the pirates would always be this easy then she could see herself settling in real quick, maybe it was just meant to be. Pressing the bulk of her weight against Sparrow, Hanako quite happily rested upon her shoulder. There was just something so comfortable about dires, just the right size to be the big spoon.

"It's not a yes either." Hanako was quick to correct, teasing Sparrow just because she could, and even threw in a little tongue poke for the sake of it. "Oh I'm sure it does. " She couldn't help but be a little smug about that, she liked how open Sparrow was about her attraction, none of that awkward dancing around the topic like it was taboo. Sparrow was the king around here and she knew how to say what she wanted just like one too. Very sexy of her.

Hanako really did appreciate the sentiment. Though certainly intrigued she recognised it wasn't a choice to be made snap on the spot, there was a lot for her to consider, least of all her standing within the Armada. Whether she even felt like she still had a place there.

"Hmm, I'll think about it and get back to you soon. Won't leave you hanging."