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Elizabeth didn't like bars. She didn't drink and she didn't approve of others drinking. It was a vile, dangerous habit that led to nothing but heartache. She especially didn't like taking Anne into a bar, even one as clean and well lit as Ten Forward. The baby was too young to internalize bad examples, but Elizabeth worried nonetheless. Her experiences had her convinced that all men had a secret monster inside their heart that only needed an excuse to come out. It was certainly true for her.

Whether she liked the idea of spending time a bar or not, her other options for gathering information and socializing were limited. There would apparently be some kind of medical examination in the future, but she wasn't ready for all that yet. The choice between a cold examination room and a room full of people was a hard one for her, but in the end she decided she was better able to relax around people.

The baby fussed in her sling while Elizabeth contemplated the replicator. She hummed softly to Anne, her left arm wrapped protectively around the baby's head and body. The noise was probably distressing her, along with the lack of motion. The ship had creaked and groaned, swaying with the waves. The Enterprise was too still and the hallways were so quiet.

When she finally decided to ask for eggs and pancakes she was astonished at how quickly her request was granted. The food smelled okay and didn't seem to be fake, but it had appeared very quickly. She paused a moment to examine it further, curious about how the machine worked. With a baby in one arm and a plate in her other hand there wasn't much she could do other than move her head around to try to look at every angle of the machine. Elizabeth never worried about looking like a fool, and she wasn't going to start worrying about appearances just because she was in a new place.

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Elizabeth blushed and giggled. "Oh really? Then maybe we could have dinner together as well." It was almost certainly going to be an enjoyable meal. Samanosuke was a perfect gentleman and he was so tender with Anne. "I'll see if I can get Anne-chan to sleep through the thing so we can enjoy ourselves."

"Truly," Samanosuke replied, nodding once more. "And if you haven't tired of me by then, I suppose that I could be persuaded." His words might have been understated, but his eyes were smiling. It had not escaped his notice when Elizabeth picked up the Japanese honorifics. "I'm sure she will be just fine. Won't you, Anne-chan?"

Anne was conked out again, but Elizabeth answered for the little girl. "She's a devil, but her grandfather can look after her. Do you want to meet in five hours? I suppose we'll take supper here."

Samanosuke smiled down at the sleeping child, then nodded at her mother. "I shall look foward to it," he said. "If you have finished eating, may I escort you to your quarters so that you can tuck her into bed?"

Elizabeth smiled widely and nodded. "That would be lovely. Thank you very much. I'm happy to have find such good company."

"As am I," he replied, tucking Anne securely in his arms as he rose. "If you would be so kind as to lead the way." He would follow her to the suite, and take leave to prepare for the rest of the evening once he had made sure the little one was settled.

Elizabeth led him to her room. They were still in temporary quarters, which meant they had limited privacy. Luckily the room was empty when they arrived. Anne's bassinet stood next to one of the bunks. "Here, I can tuck her in." She turned to Samanosuke and held out her and to receive the baby.

Samanosuke transferred the baby to Elizabeth's arms, stepping back to give her room to maneuver. There was something very appealing to him about watching a mother with her child. Perhaps the idea of family itself spoke to him. Whatever the case, he was loathe to tear his eyes away.

Elizabeth was absorbed in caring for Anne, but not so much so that she didn't notice Samanosuke's interest. It made her feel warm and antsy. The feeling was familiar and not unwelcome. Once the baby was settled and sleeping peacefully Elizabeth ~~stalked her prey~~ made her way over to her companion. "I'm pleased you offered to walk me to my room." She spoke softly so the taller man would have to come closer to hear her.

"Ah," Samanosuke acknowledged, keeping his voice low as he bent slightly toward her. To be fair, there was a sleeping baby nearby, so it might have been entirely innocent. Or he might be flirting just as hard. The gauntlet winked, as it was wont to do, but the timing made it seem like it knew more than anyone was letting on. "It was no trouble, really."

"It seems a shame to part so soon after we met." Elizabeth said, reaching out gently to touch his hand. "I want to know more about you. Supper is such a long time from now."

Oh, there was touching? Well, that was a little more overt. Or maybe it was just a Western thing. He smiled, his brows lifting slightly as he turned his palm toward hers. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to stay and talk a while."

"Wonderful." Elizabeth said, motioning toward her bunk. "There really isn't anywhere else to sit." She led him delicately until they were both close enough to the bunk to sit. "You're so polite. I'm quite impressed."

"Righteousness, courage, benevolence, respect, sincerity, honor, loyalty, and self-control are the Warrior's Way," he said, quoting the tenets of Bushido for her as they sat. "Not that I have perfected such virtues, by any means, but I do my best."

Or perhaps he was just an old romantic. Not that he would have said so in as many words. "Also, I am considerably older than I look."

Elizabeth smiled softly. If only all warriors were trained that way the world would be a better place. "Older than you look, hmm? How much older?"

Alas, not all samurai were faithful the code that made them Samurai. Samanosuke shrugged his shoulders, turning down the corners of his mouth as he tallied up the years since he became Onimusha. "I was twenty-four years of age when I received the Gauntlet of the Ogre clan," he said, gesturing with his right arm, "That was more than two decades ago, and...well...I will let you judge for yourself just how much I have, or have not aged since then."

He was, in fact, pushing half a century.

Elizabeth's eyebrows rose when he said his age. "I wouldn't have guessed that. You've aged well. I assume the gauntlet has something to do with it?" She motioned delicately toward the device. It made her desperately curious, but it was his story to tell in his own time and she tried to make herself be patient.

"Mhm." Samanosuke nodded, and held out his arm for her inspection. Behind the gauntlet's enchanted, metal eyelid, shone an orb of crystallized magic: earth, wind, fire, air, thunder, and light. "The gauntlet grants me long life, and the ability to absorb the souls of genma demons, which once overran the earth."

Of course, he couldn't give her a true demonstration in such an enclosed space.

Elizabeth whistled softly. "That's quite a gauntlet. You must be very dedicated to your task."

"I have to be," he said, nodding. "It wasn't just the fate of Japan that was at stake, but the whole world." Certainly, it had started with Samanosuke fighting for people he cared about, but it had grown into so much more.

"Of course, it seems that I must find a new purpose, now."

Elizabeth nodded sympathetically. She knew what it was like to have to start all over again. "You're a brave man. I think an exploratory space ship might be the perfect place for you, once the strangeness wears off."

The samurai nodded. "I quite enjoyed traveling with my uncle in my youth, and on my sojourn as a new onimusha, while I learned to better understand the powers I was given. And, I can say from experience that travel by starship has thus far been much more pleasant than travel by boat." He could not complain about the company, either.

Elizabeth sighed softly, a smile on her face. "Oh, I adore travel by ship. I used to live on one. Anne's father is a pirate, I think I loved his ship better." She chuckled a little, giving Samanosuke a smile.

"Is that so?" Samanosuke smiled back, pleased to see that Elizabeth was now able to laugh as she spoke of her past. "I suppose there is something about being close to water that can resonate on a very primal level. It's as close as we can get to returning to the womb."

Elizabeth laughed, though the sentiment wasn't terribly laughable. "A lot of men try alternate methods," she noted, to explain her laughter. "Maybe that's why Anne slept better on the ship. I do miss the rocking."

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tried to tag this ages ago but apparently failed

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