[RL w/Norrington: An Awkward Reunion]

[shovel_sick]

There was something painfully familiar and yet foreign about this, seeing Port Royal for the first time in nearly four months -- Shuraiya gazed at the island from a distance, his little, colorful boat bobbing in the waves, having appeared there from the port at Navarone

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[commodore_jln]

It seemed as though there were hundreds of reports which had come in, needing the Commodore's signature, since last he'd left, and after snapping his computer shut and placing it in its carefully locked drawer, James returned to them with something uncharacteristically like relief. As a general rule, he loathed paperwork of this variety- tedious, needless, and mind-numbingly dull, but it provided a welcome distraction

[shovel_sick]

He hesitated only a moment before grasping the brass knob and pushed the door open, only mentally prepared for what he would see. It was as it had been before, of course, with its books and maps and -- James. For a moment, all the worry, the empty nights, the anger of being left -- it all faded from his young face and he smiled, that familiar feeling of adoration, of trust, of friendship welled up in his chest and he nearly launched himself across the room to wrap James up in a tight embrace.

But, as quickly as the smile crossed his face, it faded -- he coughed awkwardly and shut the door behind him, turning away just slightly, revealing a bandage taped to his left cheek. Once the door clicked shut, he headed across the room, a sheathed sword slapping his thigh as he walked, almost as if rebuking him for the mistaken identity. Idiot.

"I'm Shuraiya Bascùd," he stopped in front of the desk, offering a slightly trembling hand, "It's... a pleasure."

[commodore_jln]

James rose smoothly as the door opened, straightening his jacket with a practised, familiar motion, all the long lines of brocade straightening themselves to Commodorial perfection. His mouth curled in a small, subdued smile of welcome as the other man- well, boy, really- entered. The smile hitched as Shuriaya's face lit up with something like joy, and James swallowed. He felt almost guilty for not knowing the boy.

However, his expression revealed nothing, and he smiled as he took Shuraiya's hand in a firm shake.

'Mr. Bascud. The sentiment is mutual, I'm sure.'

He paused faintly, awkwardly.

'Ah. Would you like to take a seat?'

[shovel_sick]

His heart skipped a beat as they shook hands, despite the gesture itself being as formal and strained as the 'Mr. Bascùd' was. Just Shuraiya, he wanted to say, but he remained silent, afraid of what else he might say by accident -- no, I don't want to sit, I want to know what the hell happened, why you're so goddamned distant now, why why why?Instead, Shuraiya sat, dropping the bag he'd slung over his shoulders beside the chair and sighed, arms crossing defensively over his chest