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-I'm here to adopt!-
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Previous Owner:
Okamorei
Slot:
Adult
Physical Information:
Normal Fur - Normal Ears - Normal Tail - Common Dark Blue Paint
(All bubble and stripe markings are solid white and is on the overlay setting (100%))
Username:
booklover789
Why do I Want Him?
The first time I ever adopted from here, I saw this little dude sitting in the kennels. I liked him, but my heart was set on two other RPWs. I was very miserly with my slots, as well, so I knew that if I adopted too many, I'd run out of slots. With the new rule about not having slots anymore, well, that opened me up to be able to adopt more RPWs that I'd always wanted to, but was unable to do so because of the slot rule!
Now, that's not to say I'm greedy - I just pick the RPWs I feel a connection with and leave the rest to go to someone better, who will love and adore them just as much as I love each and every one of my RPWs.
This little guy called to me the minute I saw him in the kennels, but because I had neither slots nor ideas for him at that time, I decided to pass him by and perhaps try later.
It is now "later."
I love this little guy! His design is pure awesomeness - the gorgeous dark grey base with the swirling blues atop it really shine and give the illusion of being under the water. He is amazing, honestly. His lovely pale eyes also really spoke to me, and gave me a really interesting idea for his characterization.
I wanted to make him blind. His very pale eyes almost looked cloudy, much like certain animals' eyes do when they are born blind. I weighed my options, and decided I wanted to make him a cook. I thought at first that I wouldn't be able to make him a cook - after all, cooking is generally thought to be something that you need sight to do well. But...that's when I remembered a TV show I love, Master Chef. One of the most amazing winners of the TV show was a blind woman named Christine Ha. Drawing from my love and appreciation of her, I decided I'd go ahead and make Crusher blind, and also a cook...though he isn't anywhere NEAR the level of amazingness that Christine is. 
I looked into his past before I really started this form. Crusher was adopted on September 26, 2014, and was put up for adoption here shortly before April 17, 2015, as that was when the first form for Crusher was posted on this thread. The first really well-done form for Crusher was posted on October 16, 2015 by viixen...but oddly, he wasn't adopted out. I looked at the form, and I personally thought it was cool and neat - but for whatever reason, he wasn't adopted out during that round. After that point, no real interest was shown for him until January 8, 2016. After that point, there was a little bit of interest in him every month or so, and then there was interest at the end of March 2016 and beginning of April 2016, bringing this up-to-date.
For awhile, Crusher didn't have any interest at all, and no one was even looking at him. The poor baby has been here for a long time! I adore this little one, and I really think it is high time he's adopted. He's waited for so long to be picked up by someone, and after looking into just how long he's been without a home, I feel compassion for him and want to help him out.
I don't want him to be lonely anymore, and I know with absolute certainty he'd be welcomed with open arms into my RPW family.
What Will I do With Him?
Well, I've FINALLY completed my RPW Website, so he'll definitely get a spot on there.
He'll be a beloved character of mine, as I will sketch and draw him whenever I can (I sketch once a week). If I can't draw him personally, I will probably order art of him every so often, when I can spare the CS pets as payment - I know several people in the RPW community who offer art of other's RPWs, and I'd definitely PM them about art of this lovely babe. I love writing, as well, so I'll be writing stories about him and her family and friends, which I hope to do frequently. If there are ever any RPW events, I could probably use him in them as well, as long as he fits into the storyline properly. 

Design by SnowStar

Name:
Crusher
Gender:
Male
Body Type:
Height: Average.
Build: Muscular.
Size: Average.
Skinny or Fat? Toned.
Romantic and Sexual Orientation:
Recipromantic Cupiosexual

Theme Songs:
Vocal - Ancient Cry (Celtic Female Vocal) - EPIC and Nightsong - Neal Acree and Laurie Ann Haus
Instrumental - Human Legacy - Ivan Torrent
Favorite Soundscape:
Healing Water - booklover789's Custom Preset
Favorite Videos:
Favorite Quote:
"Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day." - Dalai Lama
Hobby:
Caring for His Cat
Crusher loves his pet kitten, Murray. Murray is a female, but when Crusher first adopted her, he thought the kit was a boy! When she got older it was clear she was a girl, but with months behind him calling her Murray, the name just stuck. Murray is a lovey female cat with a pale cream coat, light pale tan stripes, tipped ears, and pale green-grey eyes. Crusher adores her, and loves to cuddle and play with her.
Occupation:
Domestic Worker - Cook
Crusher adores cooking. He'd rather spend his days in the kitchen than out and about, dealing with other rude RPWs. He'd rather use his hours to bake, cook meals, and clean dishes than to flirt with danger. His passion has always lain in food, so the perfect job for him has always been cooking.
Medical Issue(s):
Blindness. Born blind, Crusher is used to his world of darkness. He can see some shapes, but most look blobby and dark. He can tell when there's sunlight and when there's not - his world is just the slightest bit brighter and more defined when the orb in the sky shines down upon him, but besides that, he relies upon his paws and his good sense of smell to get him around from day to day. He doesn't need a lot to get by - some food and a place to sleep are all he really needs, and finding that doesn't take too much work for him, so his blindness really doesn't get in his way at all. He's learned to cope with it - after all, if darkness is all you're exposed to, you won't know what you can't see. You can't understand what you aren't seeing without experiencing sight at some point in time. Thus, Crusher is happy to be blind, and doesn't count it as a bad thing at all.
Alignment:
Lawful Neutral

Short Personality:
Caring
Kind
Quiet
Hard worker
Loyal
Long Personality:
Quiet by nature, Crusher doesn't just chat up somebody. For one thing, it's not in his job description. For another, Crusher just isn't all that social, and prefers to be by himself most of the time, reading braille or listening to the other members of the ship squabble or chat. Crusher has found that anyone will say anything around you if you're quiet enough, as you seem to disappear from existence when you're calm and peaceful, never making a ruckus. Crusher takes advantage of this, and often has inside intel on what's going on in the ship before even the Captain knows.
Kind, Crusher really doesn't wish to harm anyone. Very peaceful by nature, he'd rather talk something out than fight about it. He's never thrown a punch at someone, and never wishes to hurt anyone. He's never threatened someone's life, and has never really blown up at anyone. Most members of the ship can't help but wonder if Crusher ever even gets angry, as none of them have ever seen him lash out at others. The truth is, while Crusher doesn't get angry often, when he does get angry, he'll retreat from the world, going to his quarters on the ship. He'll then cry for a few hours until the anger leaves his system. Even in anger, he has never been one to lash out and harm others.
Caring and kind, Crusher is a sweetheart that wouldn't dream of hurting a fly...unless, of course, that fly tried to harm any of his masters. If that were the case, he'd attack in an instant, losing every bit of his sweet, meek personality. The head master of his household would be Captain Caspian, whom he takes direct orders from. He respects and appreciates Caspian for taking him in, even though the Captain has been known to make himself scarce from time to time. His other master - or mistress, as he calls her - would be Azlyn, the head chef of the ship. He not only respects her, but counts her as one of his few friends. Crusher would follow his masters and do whatever they ordered him to do - but sometimes, he does not appreciate what they ask him to do. If something like that happens, he'll do whatever they tell him to do, but he'll do it in his own way. For instance, if Caspian tells Crusher to go down below deck and he's busy, he'll go down below deck, but only when he's good and ready to. If Azlyn tells him to go and buy some squash, he'll politely remind her that he can't see and doesn't know where the store is located, to which she'll respond, "We'll both go later today, then." Crusher is intelligent enough to figure out how to do something when asked, but not necessarily right away or how the speaker intended him to do the action.
Relationships:
Azlyn
Best Friend
Crusher gets along very well with Azlyn. The two are very similar, and have the same interests - cooking and caring for others...though the latter is mainly Crusher, as Azlyn prefers to cook over anything else, and sometimes doesn't think about how her actions would affect others. Crusher enjoys her company, and has often wondered if Azlyn's got a crush on him. Azlyn is never far away from Crusher, and shows him such kindness that Crusher can't help but believe that Azlyn is really, truly looking out for him. Crusher and Azlyn get along like two peas in a pod, and will usually be found in the kitchen together, hard at work making food. Azlyn is the head chef, and Crusher her sous chef, so while she does get paid more than him, she'll often pitch in to help pay for whatever medical expenses he has. She has always had a soft spot for Crusher, and pity soon turned to friendship and a duty of care. Azlyn leads Crusher around the ship and is nearly always with him...except when the two go to sleep. They work well together, and that is something Crusher will be forever grateful for.
Extra Art:

By me - booklover789.

Made by me - booklover789 - using this anime creator.

Made by me - booklover789 using this anime couple creator.

Made by me - booklover789 using this anime couple creator.
Short Story:
Caspian trotted briskly across the top deck of the ship. He reached his location, ordered his first mate to take the wheel, and yelled out loud enough for the whole upper ship to hear. "Gather! We're having a meeting - top deck!"
Soon, all the crew was lined up in front of him, other than the essential individuals who ran the engine, navigation system, and the first mate who was manning the wheel. "Please, pass on the words spoken here to your fellow shipmates who are unable to make it to this meeting." He paused, looked at the crew with a smile, and then continued. "Tonight is the anniversary of my taking ownership of this magnificent vessel. In honor and celebration, we will be hosting a small party aboard the ship. I will dock at sunset, and will start inviting my land-loving friends to come aboard to see all that I - and you, as a crew - have accomplished. I expect everyone to be on their best behavior." He paused again, looking at the anxious faces of his crew. "Your orders are as follows:
Akay, you need to check every rope and sheet aboard this ship. Fix what needs tending to, and do so quickly. You are dismissed."
Akay looked up, saluted her captain, and raced off to the lower levels.
"Année, you need to check and make sure we have enough rowboats in good condition, should something catastrophic happen. Mend the wood on the rowboats that are too sunken with water to be any good, and make sure the ropes are strong. Take one member of the crew to go with you - you decide whom you will take."
"I will take my my daughter, Thackary, the able seaman, sir."
"Good choice. Thackary, you will do and say as my boatswain instructs you. You both are dismissed."
They both left, Thackary with a flick of her tail and Année with a nod of respect.
"Now then, for my second mate. Thalassa - are you present?"
"Present and accounted for, sir."
"You need to navigate this ship to dry land as quickly as possible. Please give the first mate instructions on how to proceed."
"Yes, sir. I will navigate and get back to Fiado as soon as possible, sir."
"Do so accurately, and you will be rewarded. You are dismissed."
Thalassa smiled, nodded, and did a back flip into the waters below.
"Someone needs to inform Oyster of what I am about to say. He is to check that all internal mechanisms are operating at peak performance. Whom may I call upon to relay the information to him?"
"Me, Father," said a small RPW.
"Excellent, my daughter. Once finished with your task, come and see me - I will have another task for you at that time. Iwalani, you are dismissed."
With a happy gleam in her eyes, she raced to the nearest door and flew down the stairs.
"Bellinda, you will assist Fiado and Thalassa with navigation. If needed, you will also assist Année and Thackary with the boats. Go where you are most needed. You are dismissed."
Bellinda nodded, saluted, and trotted off to find Fiado.
"Clarissa, you will need to take a message to Fiado and then start on your own work. You are both to look over the weaponry aboard this ship and make sure nothing has rusted or has broken beyond repair. Fix what needs tending to. You are dismissed."
Clarissa nodded and trotted off in the same direction Bellinda had gone.
"And last but not least, my chef and baker. Azlyn, you will be cooking for approximately 500 guests, as well as every crew-member aboard the ship, including yourself and your sous chef. You will be cooking a traditional meal: mashed potatoes with beef gravy and smoked salmon for the entree, and cherry cheesecake and vanilla cake with buttercream frosting for dessert. I don't care how the food looks - just make it taste good, and be certain to have enough portions. Please keep in mind we do not live in a pigsty, so while I do not care how it looks, it should not be sloppy or less-than your personal high standards for how any plate of food should look. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Azlyn said, nudging Crusher so he'd pay attention. "Sir, I will be baking the dessert and taking care of the mashed potatoes and smoked salmon - my sous chef, Crusher, will be in charge of the gravy and buttercream frosting. We will be cooking for approximately 525 people tonight, sir, and portions should not be a problem. The flavors will be spectacular, and the food will not be sloppy upon arrival. I do have one question, sir."
"Proceed."
"What is the attire for this evening?" Azlyn asked, looking up at the Captain.
"Did you arrive late to this meeting, chef?" Caspian's stare was cold.
"it was my fault, sir," said Crusher as he swiftly stepped forward. "I needed assistance getting to the upper deck, what with my cane being confiscated, sir, and I personally asked Azlyn for assistance. Because of this, we were both late to your meeting, sir."
Caspian thought for a moment, and then responded. "Your cane will be given back to you tonight before service begins so you may serve my guests appropriately."
"Thank you, sir."
"I apologize about Fiado confiscating it - I will have a chat with her later."
"Thank you for your generosity, sir."
Caspian nodded. "To answer your question, Azlyn, attire is professional. Your chef's outfit should be fine as you cook - after that, during the actual service, you and your sous chef should look professional and dress in business attire as is common for events aboard this ship. I am referring to the outfits given to you by myself upon your first day of employment aboard this ship."
"Yes, sir, I know the garments of which you speak."
"Excellent. Any other questions?"
"No, sir," they both answered in unison.
"Excellent. Dinner is to be served in 6 hours exactly. Dismissed." Caspian leapt down and trotted off to take control of the wheel once again.
Azlyn put a paw atop Crusher's shoulder, and the two made their way to the lower levels. "There are 152 stairs - count them so you don't trip."
Crusher nodded, counting in his head as they went down.
When they reached the bottom, Azlyn lead him through many corridors. During this time, they were able to speak freely - very few individuals lived and worked this far removed from the rest of the crew on the ship. "How are you today?"
Crusher shrugged. "Fine. How are you, Azlyn?"
"Excellent. I am looking forward to tonight's service."
"It will be challenging."
"You have never shown worry at a challenge before - why start now?"
Crusher smiled. "You're right. Thanks for reminding me."
"Not a problem, Crusher."
Crusher suddenly tripped over something - a knot of wood in the floor. He went sprawling, bringing Azlyn down with him. "Ow," he muttered as he tried to stand up. He realized everything under his paws was fluffy...like...fur...? He suddenly turned every shade of red that existed. "Sorry!" he yelped, jumping off of Azlyn. "How did you even get under me?"
"I have no idea," she muttered, standing up and dusting herself off. "You sort of pulled me down after you."
"Sorry," he said, hanging his head.
"Not your fault," she said with a flick of her tail. "I should have warned you about the knot. I saw it and thought you'd just miss it by walking over it - but I should have warned you nonetheless."
Crusher was a bit frustrated. "This wouldn't have even happened if Fiado hadn't taken my cane away."
"Why did she take that, anyway? You sort of need that to function, right?" Akay began walking again, placing a paw on Crusher's shoulder.
Crusher nodded. "Yeah, I do. That's basically the only way I can tell what's in front of me. If I didn't have you, I'd be dead right now."
"Oh, stop exaggerating."
"I'm not." He looked over at her, and for a split second, Azlyn could swear he could see, what with the intensity in his gaze. "Azlyn, I'm not exaggerating," he continued. "If I didn't know how many steps there were, I could have easily fallen down them. If I didn't know where I was going in the ship, I would've gotten lost and possibly walked overboard. Without you here, I wouldn't even be able to cook for tonight's service."
Azlyn shrugged. "Happy to help, I suppose, but the fact remains that Fiado should not have taken your cane from you."
Crusher agreed. "Honestly, I think she just had a bee in her bonnet when she took it. She hasn't really liked me since I joined the crew - she calls me names."
Azlyn immediately stopped walking. She put both paws on Crusher's shoulders, and looked him in the eyes. "What did you say?"
"She calls me names and doesn't like me."
"What names has she called you?"
"Oh, nothing."
Azlyn's eyes narrowed, and her grip became stronger. "You WILL tell me. That's an order, subordinate."
Crusher sighed. "I hate it when you use rank on me. Okay, okay, okay...I'll tell you. Fiado calls me all sorts of names - she seems think I'm deaf, half the time, but I can hear just fine. She calls me 'dumb as a doorknob,' usually. Rarely it's anything other than that, but when she gets goin', she'll call me an 'idiot,' a 'stupid little dog,' and a 'disgraceful excuse for a chef.'"
"Fiado? She's usually mean, but not THAT mean," Azlyn muttered. "Have you done anything to anger her?"
"Well, before all this started, my first week aboard the ship I kept running into her. She didn't realize that I was blind, and she'd stand so close to me that when I'd turn or take a step forward, I'd run straight into her or step on her paws. Could she be angry at that?"
Azlyn thought for a moment and let go of one of Crusher's shoulders. "Yeah, she could be. I'll talk with Caspian about it tonight after dinner, when he'll be in a more accepting and less stressed-out mood."
"We should get cooking, shouldn't we?"
Azlyn smiled. "We should. C'mon - let's get to the kitchen."
After they'd prepped and cooked all the meals and put them under iron lids to keep from getting cold, Azlyn alerted the other staff to come down and move everything to the top deck. Normally, Azlyn and Crusher would have taken care of it themselves, but with the "formal attire" mandate from the captain, they had to spend time looking good. Azlyn told the staff, "If Caspian has a problem with this, you can remind him that he was the one who told us to look nice. Understood?"
The staff sounded off in understanding and then took the food up the stairs.
"All right," Azlyn said as she took off her hat and apron and chef's jacket, hanging each on a peg on the door to the kitchen. "I will drop you off in your room and then get dressed. I'll come to check on you when I'm done - please stay put after getting dressed. We'll walk up together and start service. Sound good?"
Crusher smiled. "Sure. Would you please help me out of my jacket?"
Azlyn nodded as she took his cap and apron and then helped him out of his sous chef's jacket, hanging them on a hook near the door. She then lead him to his room, where another crew-member had already lain out the clothing on his bed. "You have black pants, black socks, black shoes, grey gloves, a dark blue shirt, a light blue vest, and a black bowtie. You need to get them on in the order I just told you, all right?"
Crusher nodded and felt his way to the bed. "Got it. I'll hear from you soon - be sure to knock before entering."
Azlyn smiled and nodded. "Sure thing. I'll go and get dressed myself. See you soon." She then trotted out and closed the door behind her, making sure it latched. She then went to her own room a few doors down.
On her bed were a few articles of clothing: a white undershirt with a collar, a light blue blazer with white buttons and a blue pin denoting her as the head chef, a light blue skirt, and a pair of white gloves. She got dressed quickly, checked her self in the mirror, combed her hair, and took off her earrings and necklace, knowing that Caspian wouldn't approve of her wearing them to the formal dinner. She then closed and latched her door and trotted over to Crusher's room. She knocked roughly on the wooden door.
"Come in," Crusher said.
Azlyn trotted in with a smile on her face, but that smile disappeared when she looked at Crusher. "Oh dear," she muttered.
Crusher had the gloves on his back paws, the socks on his front paws, the bowtie on crooked, and the vest wrinkled from struggling to get it over his head.
Azlyn was very quiet, trying to think of something to say. "Um...Crusher?"
"Yes, Azlyn?"
"I believe you need assistance getting dressed. Would you mind if I helped you?"
"Oh, did I get something on wrong?" he asked, a confused look on his face.
"You've gotten almost everything on wrong."
He hung his head. "Oh. Sure, then. Help me out."
She trotted over and instructed him to lay on his back. She pulled off the socks and gloves and swapped them. "There's no need to be ashamed - you tried your best. You're blind - you're not expected by anyone to know what goes where and what looks good if you can't see."
He flipped onto his paws and felt Azlyn roughly straightening the vest and bowtie. "I know that...it's just...I had really hoped I'd done everything right this time."
"It was my fault for not explaining the textures to you. The gloves and socks feel different. And I should have told you the vest was a button-up, not a pull-over."
"I should have realized that on my own," he protested, "at least the vest, anyway."
Azlyn smiled. "It's okay. There - you look great." She stepped away from him.
He smiled sadly. "Thanks, Azzy. You're the best friend I could ever ask for."
"Why the long face, then?"
"Hm?" he asked, suddenly looking a bit more chipper. "Don't know what you're talking about."
Azlyn was concerned, but let the moment pass. "All right, if you're fine, then let's go start service!"
After the event was over and Azlyn and Crusher were cleaning the dishes, back in their chef's garb, Crusher said something that made Azlyn pause. "I wish I were more independent."
"What makes you say that?"
"I mean, I have my cane now, which is great, but...I still have to rely on someone to be my eyes. I don't really care that I'm blind - I care that I'm dependent on everyone else."
Azlyn nodded in thought. "Well..."
"No, wait a minute - I'm not finished yet."
"Sorry," Azlyn said, scrubbing at a white plate. "Continue, please."
"Thanks," he said with a smile. "So, I want to find a girlfriend, Azzy, but...if I can't take care of her, what kind of guy am I? If I can't protect her, what kind of potential boyfriend material am I?"
Silence stretched for awhile. Only the clanking of dishes could be heard.
Azlyn broke the silence a moment later. "I don't think you're helpless, Crusher. I think you're sweet, kind, and caring - perfect boyfriend material."
Crusher practically rolled his eyes. "Yeah? For whom?"
Azlyn was quiet.
"For WHOM, Azzy? Do you know ANYONE who would want to date someone who's blind? What a wretched love life that would be. No romantic dates because, oh, I might just knock a candle down and burn the tablecloth. No other romantic activities, because I wouldn't be able to see-"
"I thought you were the one who told me you LIKED being blind, Crusher."
Crusher now had a moment of silence. "I do. I'm not unhappy at all. It's just...in the romance department, no one is really interested in a blind RPW, that's all."
"I am."
"What?"
"Nothing - I was muttering about the dishes."
"Oh, well, there's the other thing of...well...I don't want to be alone forever, Azzy."
"You won't be."
"What?"
She spoke a little louder. "You won't be alone forever."
"Why's that? You know somebody interested?"
"Yes, I do."
Crusher was dumbfounded. "Wait, what? Is it someone in the crew?"
"Yes."
"Someone both you and I know?"
"Yes."
"Who is it?" Crusher asked, suddenly filled with glee. "I'd love to meet her. Oh, could you tell me who it is, Azzy?"
"No. I promised her I wouldn't."
Crusher's face fell.
"But don't worry - when she says I can tell you, I'll tell you."
Crusher looked a little happier. "Well, just knowing someone out there likes me helps. Thanks, Azzy. You're the best friend a blind guy could ask for."
"You're my best friend, too," Azlyn said with a smile. "Now, should we race to see who can get done the fastest? Winner buys ice cream."
"You're on!"
The clanking got louder as the two of them laughed, racing against one another to get the dishes as clean as they could as fast as they could.
One month later, Crusher awoke early in the morning - it was pitch black. He frowned. "There should be SOME light coming in here," he muttered, realizing that it was either a cloudy, rainy day, or it was too early for him to be awake. He didn't want to chance it, however, and rolled out of bed. He grabbed his cane, felt his way to the door, and opened it. He'd since memorized where Azlyn slept, and counted the doors as he passed them by. He then knocked quietly on Azlyn's door.
Azlyn rolled over, and creaked open her eyes. "What in all of tarnation," she muttered, looking at the clock beside her bed. "It's 4am!" She yawned and called out, "Who's there?"
Crusher spoke quietly through the door, "It's me, Crusher."
Azlyn freaked for a moment, realizing she was still in her PJs, until she remembered he couldn't see, anyway. "One minute," she muttered as she crawled to the door sleepily. She opened it, and Crusher walked in. "Crusher, you ARE aware that it's 4am, right?"
"Wait, what?" he asked in bewilderment. "Oh. That would explain why it's so dark out."
Azlyn rolled her eyes. "I need to buy you a braille alarm clock."
"They make those?"
"Yes. They're not cheap."
"Well, I'll save up and buy one, then."
Azlyn shook her head. "What are you even doing up this early?"
"I just woke up. I thought perhaps I'd heard something."
Azlyn turned on the lamp and looked closer at him. "Yeah, you DID just wake up. Your fur's a mess."
He chuckled. "I can't see it, so I don't care."
Azlyn smiled. "True that."
Crusher smiled as well, and stared at the floor. "So, uh...I wanted to tell you something."
"What's up?"
"Well, we're both awake, so I thought I'd ask now, since we're both here and all."
"Sure. What do you want to tell me, Crusher?"
Crusher gulped. "So, I wanted to ask something, first. Has that girl friend of yours told you to tell me anything yet?"
"No. She's not saying anything and doesn't want me to state things, either."
"Well, you'll have to tell her I'm taken."
"What?!" Azlyn practically shrieked. She quickly realized she'd probably woken up every member of the ship, and spoke quietly after that point. "What are you talking about? You found a girlfriend?"
"Well, I found a girl I really like. Whether she likes me or not is unknown to me."
"Oh, well, you COULD like the girl I know then. There's no need to crush her dreams now."
"I can guarantee that it's not her."
"Why's that?"
"Because I'm sitting next to the girl I like right now."
Azlyn's face and mind went blank. "Wait, what?"
He turned his head. "I like YOU, Azlyn."
Azlyn blinked. "Wh-wh-what?"
"Um...I really like you. I don't really know how to put it any other way..." Crusher was a little concerned. "Are your ears working all right? Is it too early, and you can't hear well, or something?"
"Wh-wh-wh-wh-" Azlyn sputtered, her eyes scanning the room to focus on something, ANYTHING that made sense. "You...you can't be serious. You're just p-p-p-pulling my leg."
"No, I am serious. I really do like you. I'd really love it if we could be together, but...if you don't want to..."
"Wait, what? No, no, I just..." Azlyn trailed off, coughing as she tried to think of a good response. "I just...this is so sudden. I didn't expect this out of you at all. I'm...I'm shocked."
Crusher smiled. "So, you need some time to think?"
"Yeah. Yeah...that's putting it mildly, actually."
"Okay, well, I'm 4 doors down. I'll go and get some sleep - you do the same. My alarm will wake me when it's time to get up - it's rather loud, so you might hear it."
"I hear it every morning."
"Oh, good, then. I'll run into you later - bye!" He smiled, used his cane to navigate to the door, and exited.
She heard his door close a few moments later. Azlyn sighed, her brain reeling. She couldn't form a cohesive thought if she'd wanted to. She tried her best to get some sleep...
But she didn't get any.
The next morning, she lead Crusher to where he needed to go and ditched him. She had an important favor to ask of the Captain. "Captain Caspian," she said, watching him scale the rope ladder. "We will be docked for two more hours here, correct?"
"Yes, Head Chef. Why?"
"Well, sir, I would really like to visit a friend. I lived with her for several years - she's like a sister to me."
"You may go ashore for one hour. Do as you please."
"Thank you, sir!" Azlyn darted off, intent on finding Lola.
Azlyn met with Lola a few minutes later.
Lola smiled as she hugged her friend. "Azzy! What a surprise!"
"Lola, I have a problem."
Lola continued to smile. "Nothing I can't help you with! What's up?"
One hour later, Azlyn returned to the ship. She thanked Caspian and then went straight into the kitchen. There, she found Crusher, hard at work peeling carrots. "Captain wants a carrot cake for the crew to thank them for their hard work. We're to have it done by sundown."
Azlyn nodded, slipped on her gear, and started prepping the pans with oil. "I forgot to tell you, I have new paint now. Recently paid for new paint. You can't see it, but it looks different now."
"What's different about it?"
"Same color with a bit more shine - it's not paint. It's now icing. So, now, I can make cakes a lot easier. Just splash on the icing from my tail - saves a TON of time."
Crusher smirked. "That's a pretty SWEET upgrade."
"Hah. Good one."
Crusher smiled. "You disappeared for a bit this morning."
"Forgot to tel you - I went out to see a friend."
"Did she help you with your decision?"
"That she did."
"What did you decide, then?"
Azlyn took a deep breath, and let the silence draw out. She answered slowly. "I've decided to move forward."
"With what?"
"With you."
Crusher nearly dropped the carrot. "R-r-r-really? I didn't think you'd say 'yes.'"
"I didn't say 'yes.' I said I'd move forward - SLOWLY."
He smiled. "So, no dates?"
"Not yet. Slowly, Crusher. You'll do well to remember I don't trust others easily."
He nodded. "Yeah, I remember. No worries - I won't pressure you to move quickly. I'm just...I'm really happy you agreed."
Azlyn smiled. "I am too."
Credits:
Lyrics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBkt8Z4vnXc
Images - Tumblr


-I'm here to adopt!-
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬


Previous Owner:
Okamorei
Slot:
Adult
Physical Information:
Normal Fur - Normal Ears - Normal Tail - Common Dark Blue Paint
(All bubble and stripe markings are solid white and is on the overlay setting (100%))
Username:
booklover789
Why do I Want Him?
The first time I ever adopted from here, I saw this little dude sitting in the kennels. I liked him, but my heart was set on two other RPWs. I was very miserly with my slots, as well, so I knew that if I adopted too many, I'd run out of slots. With the new rule about not having slots anymore, well, that opened me up to be able to adopt more RPWs that I'd always wanted to, but was unable to do so because of the slot rule!


It is now "later."

I love this little guy! His design is pure awesomeness - the gorgeous dark grey base with the swirling blues atop it really shine and give the illusion of being under the water. He is amazing, honestly. His lovely pale eyes also really spoke to me, and gave me a really interesting idea for his characterization.


I looked into his past before I really started this form. Crusher was adopted on September 26, 2014, and was put up for adoption here shortly before April 17, 2015, as that was when the first form for Crusher was posted on this thread. The first really well-done form for Crusher was posted on October 16, 2015 by viixen...but oddly, he wasn't adopted out. I looked at the form, and I personally thought it was cool and neat - but for whatever reason, he wasn't adopted out during that round. After that point, no real interest was shown for him until January 8, 2016. After that point, there was a little bit of interest in him every month or so, and then there was interest at the end of March 2016 and beginning of April 2016, bringing this up-to-date.


What Will I do With Him?
Well, I've FINALLY completed my RPW Website, so he'll definitely get a spot on there.


Design by SnowStar

Nightsong wrote:Nordrassil
Zin Azshari
Quel'dorei
Nordrassil
Elune-adore
Elune
Adore
Nordrassil
Elune
Zin
Azshari
Zin
Azshari
Adore
Name:
Crusher
Gender:
Male
Body Type:
Height: Average.
Build: Muscular.
Size: Average.
Skinny or Fat? Toned.
Romantic and Sexual Orientation:
Recipromantic Cupiosexual


Theme Songs:
Vocal - Ancient Cry (Celtic Female Vocal) - EPIC and Nightsong - Neal Acree and Laurie Ann Haus
Instrumental - Human Legacy - Ivan Torrent
Favorite Soundscape:
Healing Water - booklover789's Custom Preset
Favorite Videos:
Favorite Quote:
"Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day." - Dalai Lama
Hobby:
Caring for His Cat
Crusher loves his pet kitten, Murray. Murray is a female, but when Crusher first adopted her, he thought the kit was a boy! When she got older it was clear she was a girl, but with months behind him calling her Murray, the name just stuck. Murray is a lovey female cat with a pale cream coat, light pale tan stripes, tipped ears, and pale green-grey eyes. Crusher adores her, and loves to cuddle and play with her.
Occupation:
Domestic Worker - Cook
Crusher adores cooking. He'd rather spend his days in the kitchen than out and about, dealing with other rude RPWs. He'd rather use his hours to bake, cook meals, and clean dishes than to flirt with danger. His passion has always lain in food, so the perfect job for him has always been cooking.
Medical Issue(s):
Blindness. Born blind, Crusher is used to his world of darkness. He can see some shapes, but most look blobby and dark. He can tell when there's sunlight and when there's not - his world is just the slightest bit brighter and more defined when the orb in the sky shines down upon him, but besides that, he relies upon his paws and his good sense of smell to get him around from day to day. He doesn't need a lot to get by - some food and a place to sleep are all he really needs, and finding that doesn't take too much work for him, so his blindness really doesn't get in his way at all. He's learned to cope with it - after all, if darkness is all you're exposed to, you won't know what you can't see. You can't understand what you aren't seeing without experiencing sight at some point in time. Thus, Crusher is happy to be blind, and doesn't count it as a bad thing at all.
Alignment:
Lawful Neutral

Short Personality:
Caring
Kind
Quiet
Hard worker
Loyal
Long Personality:
Quiet by nature, Crusher doesn't just chat up somebody. For one thing, it's not in his job description. For another, Crusher just isn't all that social, and prefers to be by himself most of the time, reading braille or listening to the other members of the ship squabble or chat. Crusher has found that anyone will say anything around you if you're quiet enough, as you seem to disappear from existence when you're calm and peaceful, never making a ruckus. Crusher takes advantage of this, and often has inside intel on what's going on in the ship before even the Captain knows.
Kind, Crusher really doesn't wish to harm anyone. Very peaceful by nature, he'd rather talk something out than fight about it. He's never thrown a punch at someone, and never wishes to hurt anyone. He's never threatened someone's life, and has never really blown up at anyone. Most members of the ship can't help but wonder if Crusher ever even gets angry, as none of them have ever seen him lash out at others. The truth is, while Crusher doesn't get angry often, when he does get angry, he'll retreat from the world, going to his quarters on the ship. He'll then cry for a few hours until the anger leaves his system. Even in anger, he has never been one to lash out and harm others.
Caring and kind, Crusher is a sweetheart that wouldn't dream of hurting a fly...unless, of course, that fly tried to harm any of his masters. If that were the case, he'd attack in an instant, losing every bit of his sweet, meek personality. The head master of his household would be Captain Caspian, whom he takes direct orders from. He respects and appreciates Caspian for taking him in, even though the Captain has been known to make himself scarce from time to time. His other master - or mistress, as he calls her - would be Azlyn, the head chef of the ship. He not only respects her, but counts her as one of his few friends. Crusher would follow his masters and do whatever they ordered him to do - but sometimes, he does not appreciate what they ask him to do. If something like that happens, he'll do whatever they tell him to do, but he'll do it in his own way. For instance, if Caspian tells Crusher to go down below deck and he's busy, he'll go down below deck, but only when he's good and ready to. If Azlyn tells him to go and buy some squash, he'll politely remind her that he can't see and doesn't know where the store is located, to which she'll respond, "We'll both go later today, then." Crusher is intelligent enough to figure out how to do something when asked, but not necessarily right away or how the speaker intended him to do the action.
Relationships:
Azlyn
Best Friend
Azlyn is SUPER energetic. She does her best to slow down when around her less-bouncy friends, but true to a pup her age, her energy is endless and she can literally go the entire day without drinking one drop of coffee, but by looking at her, you'd guess she'd downed five cups....She can often be seen cooking or stuffing her face full of food - it's one of the few things in life she doesn't have any negative feelings towards. She adores being able to take simple ingredients and combine them to make something amazing and delicious that can be enjoyed by most everyone. Azlyn also likes to sing, but does so only when she is truly content and happy, so...she doesn't make music with her voice all that often....While Azlyn tries her best to not care about what others think of her, harsh words always seem to affect her horribly. She spirals down into an even deeper depression if she's hurt emotionally than she would if she was hurt physically. After all, bruises heal, but words can never be taken back....Most of the time, Azlyn does her best to keep her very few friends happy with her cooking and baking skills - and that's not a very hard feat to accomplish, seeing as she's an excellent chef. She is honestly happier in the kitchen, helping the older RPWs cook...or cooking herself! This little one can handle things all by herself that a lot of the adults she's friends with don't even know how to do. She can cook a steak perfectly, and pair strawberries with anything you can imagine and yet still make them taste good. In fact, one of her younger friends (older than she is, but not quite an adult yet) Bellinda adores hanging out with the pup, in the kitchen or not. Bellinda is currently taking baking lessons from Azlyn, and even though she has to admit that it's a little odd taking baking lessons from someone far younger than you, she has to agree that Azlyn knows what she's doing, and it's best to learn from someone than to not learn at all. So, while Azlyn has had her share of rough days and tough times, she tries her hardest to not get her down. If all else fails to lighten her mood, you'll probably find her in the kitchen, cooking and baking her problems away.
Crusher gets along very well with Azlyn. The two are very similar, and have the same interests - cooking and caring for others...though the latter is mainly Crusher, as Azlyn prefers to cook over anything else, and sometimes doesn't think about how her actions would affect others. Crusher enjoys her company, and has often wondered if Azlyn's got a crush on him. Azlyn is never far away from Crusher, and shows him such kindness that Crusher can't help but believe that Azlyn is really, truly looking out for him. Crusher and Azlyn get along like two peas in a pod, and will usually be found in the kitchen together, hard at work making food. Azlyn is the head chef, and Crusher her sous chef, so while she does get paid more than him, she'll often pitch in to help pay for whatever medical expenses he has. She has always had a soft spot for Crusher, and pity soon turned to friendship and a duty of care. Azlyn leads Crusher around the ship and is nearly always with him...except when the two go to sleep. They work well together, and that is something Crusher will be forever grateful for.
Extra Art:
By me - booklover789.

Made by me - booklover789 - using this anime creator.

Made by me - booklover789 using this anime couple creator.

Made by me - booklover789 using this anime couple creator.
Short Story:
Caspian trotted briskly across the top deck of the ship. He reached his location, ordered his first mate to take the wheel, and yelled out loud enough for the whole upper ship to hear. "Gather! We're having a meeting - top deck!"
Soon, all the crew was lined up in front of him, other than the essential individuals who ran the engine, navigation system, and the first mate who was manning the wheel. "Please, pass on the words spoken here to your fellow shipmates who are unable to make it to this meeting." He paused, looked at the crew with a smile, and then continued. "Tonight is the anniversary of my taking ownership of this magnificent vessel. In honor and celebration, we will be hosting a small party aboard the ship. I will dock at sunset, and will start inviting my land-loving friends to come aboard to see all that I - and you, as a crew - have accomplished. I expect everyone to be on their best behavior." He paused again, looking at the anxious faces of his crew. "Your orders are as follows:
Akay, you need to check every rope and sheet aboard this ship. Fix what needs tending to, and do so quickly. You are dismissed."
Akay looked up, saluted her captain, and raced off to the lower levels.
"Année, you need to check and make sure we have enough rowboats in good condition, should something catastrophic happen. Mend the wood on the rowboats that are too sunken with water to be any good, and make sure the ropes are strong. Take one member of the crew to go with you - you decide whom you will take."
"I will take my my daughter, Thackary, the able seaman, sir."
"Good choice. Thackary, you will do and say as my boatswain instructs you. You both are dismissed."
They both left, Thackary with a flick of her tail and Année with a nod of respect.
"Now then, for my second mate. Thalassa - are you present?"
"Present and accounted for, sir."
"You need to navigate this ship to dry land as quickly as possible. Please give the first mate instructions on how to proceed."
"Yes, sir. I will navigate and get back to Fiado as soon as possible, sir."
"Do so accurately, and you will be rewarded. You are dismissed."
Thalassa smiled, nodded, and did a back flip into the waters below.
"Someone needs to inform Oyster of what I am about to say. He is to check that all internal mechanisms are operating at peak performance. Whom may I call upon to relay the information to him?"
"Me, Father," said a small RPW.
"Excellent, my daughter. Once finished with your task, come and see me - I will have another task for you at that time. Iwalani, you are dismissed."
With a happy gleam in her eyes, she raced to the nearest door and flew down the stairs.
"Bellinda, you will assist Fiado and Thalassa with navigation. If needed, you will also assist Année and Thackary with the boats. Go where you are most needed. You are dismissed."
Bellinda nodded, saluted, and trotted off to find Fiado.
"Clarissa, you will need to take a message to Fiado and then start on your own work. You are both to look over the weaponry aboard this ship and make sure nothing has rusted or has broken beyond repair. Fix what needs tending to. You are dismissed."
Clarissa nodded and trotted off in the same direction Bellinda had gone.
"And last but not least, my chef and baker. Azlyn, you will be cooking for approximately 500 guests, as well as every crew-member aboard the ship, including yourself and your sous chef. You will be cooking a traditional meal: mashed potatoes with beef gravy and smoked salmon for the entree, and cherry cheesecake and vanilla cake with buttercream frosting for dessert. I don't care how the food looks - just make it taste good, and be certain to have enough portions. Please keep in mind we do not live in a pigsty, so while I do not care how it looks, it should not be sloppy or less-than your personal high standards for how any plate of food should look. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Azlyn said, nudging Crusher so he'd pay attention. "Sir, I will be baking the dessert and taking care of the mashed potatoes and smoked salmon - my sous chef, Crusher, will be in charge of the gravy and buttercream frosting. We will be cooking for approximately 525 people tonight, sir, and portions should not be a problem. The flavors will be spectacular, and the food will not be sloppy upon arrival. I do have one question, sir."
"Proceed."
"What is the attire for this evening?" Azlyn asked, looking up at the Captain.
"Did you arrive late to this meeting, chef?" Caspian's stare was cold.
"it was my fault, sir," said Crusher as he swiftly stepped forward. "I needed assistance getting to the upper deck, what with my cane being confiscated, sir, and I personally asked Azlyn for assistance. Because of this, we were both late to your meeting, sir."
Caspian thought for a moment, and then responded. "Your cane will be given back to you tonight before service begins so you may serve my guests appropriately."
"Thank you, sir."
"I apologize about Fiado confiscating it - I will have a chat with her later."
"Thank you for your generosity, sir."
Caspian nodded. "To answer your question, Azlyn, attire is professional. Your chef's outfit should be fine as you cook - after that, during the actual service, you and your sous chef should look professional and dress in business attire as is common for events aboard this ship. I am referring to the outfits given to you by myself upon your first day of employment aboard this ship."
"Yes, sir, I know the garments of which you speak."
"Excellent. Any other questions?"
"No, sir," they both answered in unison.
"Excellent. Dinner is to be served in 6 hours exactly. Dismissed." Caspian leapt down and trotted off to take control of the wheel once again.
Azlyn put a paw atop Crusher's shoulder, and the two made their way to the lower levels. "There are 152 stairs - count them so you don't trip."
Crusher nodded, counting in his head as they went down.
When they reached the bottom, Azlyn lead him through many corridors. During this time, they were able to speak freely - very few individuals lived and worked this far removed from the rest of the crew on the ship. "How are you today?"
Crusher shrugged. "Fine. How are you, Azlyn?"
"Excellent. I am looking forward to tonight's service."
"It will be challenging."
"You have never shown worry at a challenge before - why start now?"
Crusher smiled. "You're right. Thanks for reminding me."
"Not a problem, Crusher."
Crusher suddenly tripped over something - a knot of wood in the floor. He went sprawling, bringing Azlyn down with him. "Ow," he muttered as he tried to stand up. He realized everything under his paws was fluffy...like...fur...? He suddenly turned every shade of red that existed. "Sorry!" he yelped, jumping off of Azlyn. "How did you even get under me?"
"I have no idea," she muttered, standing up and dusting herself off. "You sort of pulled me down after you."
"Sorry," he said, hanging his head.
"Not your fault," she said with a flick of her tail. "I should have warned you about the knot. I saw it and thought you'd just miss it by walking over it - but I should have warned you nonetheless."
Crusher was a bit frustrated. "This wouldn't have even happened if Fiado hadn't taken my cane away."
"Why did she take that, anyway? You sort of need that to function, right?" Akay began walking again, placing a paw on Crusher's shoulder.
Crusher nodded. "Yeah, I do. That's basically the only way I can tell what's in front of me. If I didn't have you, I'd be dead right now."
"Oh, stop exaggerating."
"I'm not." He looked over at her, and for a split second, Azlyn could swear he could see, what with the intensity in his gaze. "Azlyn, I'm not exaggerating," he continued. "If I didn't know how many steps there were, I could have easily fallen down them. If I didn't know where I was going in the ship, I would've gotten lost and possibly walked overboard. Without you here, I wouldn't even be able to cook for tonight's service."
Azlyn shrugged. "Happy to help, I suppose, but the fact remains that Fiado should not have taken your cane from you."
Crusher agreed. "Honestly, I think she just had a bee in her bonnet when she took it. She hasn't really liked me since I joined the crew - she calls me names."
Azlyn immediately stopped walking. She put both paws on Crusher's shoulders, and looked him in the eyes. "What did you say?"
"She calls me names and doesn't like me."
"What names has she called you?"
"Oh, nothing."
Azlyn's eyes narrowed, and her grip became stronger. "You WILL tell me. That's an order, subordinate."
Crusher sighed. "I hate it when you use rank on me. Okay, okay, okay...I'll tell you. Fiado calls me all sorts of names - she seems think I'm deaf, half the time, but I can hear just fine. She calls me 'dumb as a doorknob,' usually. Rarely it's anything other than that, but when she gets goin', she'll call me an 'idiot,' a 'stupid little dog,' and a 'disgraceful excuse for a chef.'"
"Fiado? She's usually mean, but not THAT mean," Azlyn muttered. "Have you done anything to anger her?"
"Well, before all this started, my first week aboard the ship I kept running into her. She didn't realize that I was blind, and she'd stand so close to me that when I'd turn or take a step forward, I'd run straight into her or step on her paws. Could she be angry at that?"
Azlyn thought for a moment and let go of one of Crusher's shoulders. "Yeah, she could be. I'll talk with Caspian about it tonight after dinner, when he'll be in a more accepting and less stressed-out mood."
"We should get cooking, shouldn't we?"
Azlyn smiled. "We should. C'mon - let's get to the kitchen."
After they'd prepped and cooked all the meals and put them under iron lids to keep from getting cold, Azlyn alerted the other staff to come down and move everything to the top deck. Normally, Azlyn and Crusher would have taken care of it themselves, but with the "formal attire" mandate from the captain, they had to spend time looking good. Azlyn told the staff, "If Caspian has a problem with this, you can remind him that he was the one who told us to look nice. Understood?"
The staff sounded off in understanding and then took the food up the stairs.
"All right," Azlyn said as she took off her hat and apron and chef's jacket, hanging each on a peg on the door to the kitchen. "I will drop you off in your room and then get dressed. I'll come to check on you when I'm done - please stay put after getting dressed. We'll walk up together and start service. Sound good?"
Crusher smiled. "Sure. Would you please help me out of my jacket?"
Azlyn nodded as she took his cap and apron and then helped him out of his sous chef's jacket, hanging them on a hook near the door. She then lead him to his room, where another crew-member had already lain out the clothing on his bed. "You have black pants, black socks, black shoes, grey gloves, a dark blue shirt, a light blue vest, and a black bowtie. You need to get them on in the order I just told you, all right?"
Crusher nodded and felt his way to the bed. "Got it. I'll hear from you soon - be sure to knock before entering."
Azlyn smiled and nodded. "Sure thing. I'll go and get dressed myself. See you soon." She then trotted out and closed the door behind her, making sure it latched. She then went to her own room a few doors down.
On her bed were a few articles of clothing: a white undershirt with a collar, a light blue blazer with white buttons and a blue pin denoting her as the head chef, a light blue skirt, and a pair of white gloves. She got dressed quickly, checked her self in the mirror, combed her hair, and took off her earrings and necklace, knowing that Caspian wouldn't approve of her wearing them to the formal dinner. She then closed and latched her door and trotted over to Crusher's room. She knocked roughly on the wooden door.
"Come in," Crusher said.
Azlyn trotted in with a smile on her face, but that smile disappeared when she looked at Crusher. "Oh dear," she muttered.
Crusher had the gloves on his back paws, the socks on his front paws, the bowtie on crooked, and the vest wrinkled from struggling to get it over his head.
Azlyn was very quiet, trying to think of something to say. "Um...Crusher?"
"Yes, Azlyn?"
"I believe you need assistance getting dressed. Would you mind if I helped you?"
"Oh, did I get something on wrong?" he asked, a confused look on his face.
"You've gotten almost everything on wrong."
He hung his head. "Oh. Sure, then. Help me out."
She trotted over and instructed him to lay on his back. She pulled off the socks and gloves and swapped them. "There's no need to be ashamed - you tried your best. You're blind - you're not expected by anyone to know what goes where and what looks good if you can't see."
He flipped onto his paws and felt Azlyn roughly straightening the vest and bowtie. "I know that...it's just...I had really hoped I'd done everything right this time."
"It was my fault for not explaining the textures to you. The gloves and socks feel different. And I should have told you the vest was a button-up, not a pull-over."
"I should have realized that on my own," he protested, "at least the vest, anyway."
Azlyn smiled. "It's okay. There - you look great." She stepped away from him.
He smiled sadly. "Thanks, Azzy. You're the best friend I could ever ask for."
"Why the long face, then?"
"Hm?" he asked, suddenly looking a bit more chipper. "Don't know what you're talking about."
Azlyn was concerned, but let the moment pass. "All right, if you're fine, then let's go start service!"
After the event was over and Azlyn and Crusher were cleaning the dishes, back in their chef's garb, Crusher said something that made Azlyn pause. "I wish I were more independent."
"What makes you say that?"
"I mean, I have my cane now, which is great, but...I still have to rely on someone to be my eyes. I don't really care that I'm blind - I care that I'm dependent on everyone else."
Azlyn nodded in thought. "Well..."
"No, wait a minute - I'm not finished yet."
"Sorry," Azlyn said, scrubbing at a white plate. "Continue, please."
"Thanks," he said with a smile. "So, I want to find a girlfriend, Azzy, but...if I can't take care of her, what kind of guy am I? If I can't protect her, what kind of potential boyfriend material am I?"
Silence stretched for awhile. Only the clanking of dishes could be heard.
Azlyn broke the silence a moment later. "I don't think you're helpless, Crusher. I think you're sweet, kind, and caring - perfect boyfriend material."
Crusher practically rolled his eyes. "Yeah? For whom?"
Azlyn was quiet.
"For WHOM, Azzy? Do you know ANYONE who would want to date someone who's blind? What a wretched love life that would be. No romantic dates because, oh, I might just knock a candle down and burn the tablecloth. No other romantic activities, because I wouldn't be able to see-"
"I thought you were the one who told me you LIKED being blind, Crusher."
Crusher now had a moment of silence. "I do. I'm not unhappy at all. It's just...in the romance department, no one is really interested in a blind RPW, that's all."
"I am."
"What?"
"Nothing - I was muttering about the dishes."
"Oh, well, there's the other thing of...well...I don't want to be alone forever, Azzy."
"You won't be."
"What?"
She spoke a little louder. "You won't be alone forever."
"Why's that? You know somebody interested?"
"Yes, I do."
Crusher was dumbfounded. "Wait, what? Is it someone in the crew?"
"Yes."
"Someone both you and I know?"
"Yes."
"Who is it?" Crusher asked, suddenly filled with glee. "I'd love to meet her. Oh, could you tell me who it is, Azzy?"
"No. I promised her I wouldn't."
Crusher's face fell.
"But don't worry - when she says I can tell you, I'll tell you."
Crusher looked a little happier. "Well, just knowing someone out there likes me helps. Thanks, Azzy. You're the best friend a blind guy could ask for."
"You're my best friend, too," Azlyn said with a smile. "Now, should we race to see who can get done the fastest? Winner buys ice cream."
"You're on!"
The clanking got louder as the two of them laughed, racing against one another to get the dishes as clean as they could as fast as they could.
One month later, Crusher awoke early in the morning - it was pitch black. He frowned. "There should be SOME light coming in here," he muttered, realizing that it was either a cloudy, rainy day, or it was too early for him to be awake. He didn't want to chance it, however, and rolled out of bed. He grabbed his cane, felt his way to the door, and opened it. He'd since memorized where Azlyn slept, and counted the doors as he passed them by. He then knocked quietly on Azlyn's door.
Azlyn rolled over, and creaked open her eyes. "What in all of tarnation," she muttered, looking at the clock beside her bed. "It's 4am!" She yawned and called out, "Who's there?"
Crusher spoke quietly through the door, "It's me, Crusher."
Azlyn freaked for a moment, realizing she was still in her PJs, until she remembered he couldn't see, anyway. "One minute," she muttered as she crawled to the door sleepily. She opened it, and Crusher walked in. "Crusher, you ARE aware that it's 4am, right?"
"Wait, what?" he asked in bewilderment. "Oh. That would explain why it's so dark out."
Azlyn rolled her eyes. "I need to buy you a braille alarm clock."
"They make those?"
"Yes. They're not cheap."
"Well, I'll save up and buy one, then."
Azlyn shook her head. "What are you even doing up this early?"
"I just woke up. I thought perhaps I'd heard something."
Azlyn turned on the lamp and looked closer at him. "Yeah, you DID just wake up. Your fur's a mess."
He chuckled. "I can't see it, so I don't care."
Azlyn smiled. "True that."
Crusher smiled as well, and stared at the floor. "So, uh...I wanted to tell you something."
"What's up?"
"Well, we're both awake, so I thought I'd ask now, since we're both here and all."
"Sure. What do you want to tell me, Crusher?"
Crusher gulped. "So, I wanted to ask something, first. Has that girl friend of yours told you to tell me anything yet?"
"No. She's not saying anything and doesn't want me to state things, either."
"Well, you'll have to tell her I'm taken."
"What?!" Azlyn practically shrieked. She quickly realized she'd probably woken up every member of the ship, and spoke quietly after that point. "What are you talking about? You found a girlfriend?"
"Well, I found a girl I really like. Whether she likes me or not is unknown to me."
"Oh, well, you COULD like the girl I know then. There's no need to crush her dreams now."
"I can guarantee that it's not her."
"Why's that?"
"Because I'm sitting next to the girl I like right now."
Azlyn's face and mind went blank. "Wait, what?"
He turned his head. "I like YOU, Azlyn."
Azlyn blinked. "Wh-wh-what?"
"Um...I really like you. I don't really know how to put it any other way..." Crusher was a little concerned. "Are your ears working all right? Is it too early, and you can't hear well, or something?"
"Wh-wh-wh-wh-" Azlyn sputtered, her eyes scanning the room to focus on something, ANYTHING that made sense. "You...you can't be serious. You're just p-p-p-pulling my leg."
"No, I am serious. I really do like you. I'd really love it if we could be together, but...if you don't want to..."
"Wait, what? No, no, I just..." Azlyn trailed off, coughing as she tried to think of a good response. "I just...this is so sudden. I didn't expect this out of you at all. I'm...I'm shocked."
Crusher smiled. "So, you need some time to think?"
"Yeah. Yeah...that's putting it mildly, actually."
"Okay, well, I'm 4 doors down. I'll go and get some sleep - you do the same. My alarm will wake me when it's time to get up - it's rather loud, so you might hear it."
"I hear it every morning."
"Oh, good, then. I'll run into you later - bye!" He smiled, used his cane to navigate to the door, and exited.
She heard his door close a few moments later. Azlyn sighed, her brain reeling. She couldn't form a cohesive thought if she'd wanted to. She tried her best to get some sleep...
But she didn't get any.
The next morning, she lead Crusher to where he needed to go and ditched him. She had an important favor to ask of the Captain. "Captain Caspian," she said, watching him scale the rope ladder. "We will be docked for two more hours here, correct?"
"Yes, Head Chef. Why?"
"Well, sir, I would really like to visit a friend. I lived with her for several years - she's like a sister to me."
"You may go ashore for one hour. Do as you please."
"Thank you, sir!" Azlyn darted off, intent on finding Lola.
Azlyn met with Lola a few minutes later.
Lola smiled as she hugged her friend. "Azzy! What a surprise!"
"Lola, I have a problem."
Lola continued to smile. "Nothing I can't help you with! What's up?"
One hour later, Azlyn returned to the ship. She thanked Caspian and then went straight into the kitchen. There, she found Crusher, hard at work peeling carrots. "Captain wants a carrot cake for the crew to thank them for their hard work. We're to have it done by sundown."
Azlyn nodded, slipped on her gear, and started prepping the pans with oil. "I forgot to tell you, I have new paint now. Recently paid for new paint. You can't see it, but it looks different now."
"What's different about it?"
"Same color with a bit more shine - it's not paint. It's now icing. So, now, I can make cakes a lot easier. Just splash on the icing from my tail - saves a TON of time."
Crusher smirked. "That's a pretty SWEET upgrade."
"Hah. Good one."
Crusher smiled. "You disappeared for a bit this morning."
"Forgot to tel you - I went out to see a friend."
"Did she help you with your decision?"
"That she did."
"What did you decide, then?"
Azlyn took a deep breath, and let the silence draw out. She answered slowly. "I've decided to move forward."
"With what?"
"With you."
Crusher nearly dropped the carrot. "R-r-r-really? I didn't think you'd say 'yes.'"
"I didn't say 'yes.' I said I'd move forward - SLOWLY."
He smiled. "So, no dates?"
"Not yet. Slowly, Crusher. You'll do well to remember I don't trust others easily."
He nodded. "Yeah, I remember. No worries - I won't pressure you to move quickly. I'm just...I'm really happy you agreed."
Azlyn smiled. "I am too."
Credits:
Lyrics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBkt8Z4vnXc
Images - Tumblr

