It was while she was taking a break in a local inn that she heard a couple pieces of interesting news. The first concerned her, the second her bondmate, so she was instantly alert. Someone had been told to keep watch for a fisherman's daughter sailing a small craft. Her description was almost accurate, except for her new appearance, and she was relieved when the man left, apparently overlooking her as a possible candidate because of her obviously siran-touched appearance.

     The second bit of information came not while she sat in the inn, but rather, as she left it and passed by the local mail office. A man's voice was raised, clearly in agitation, and he was chewing out a younger boy for something the other had done, or not done. The entire encounter would have completely escaped her attention, if it hadn't been for the words "Bishen Realm" and "Oku" that the man raged about.

     She entered the building, and the man stopped yelling, letting the boy scamper off to some task. Or maybe just to hide. Either way, Aise eyed the man in charge. "I couldn't help but overhear," she began, her voice accented and harsh, letting him know she did not approve of the boy's treatment, "That you had some parcel for someone named Oku."

     The man nodded, eyeing her cautiously. "Yes, that I do. But there is no such person living here, and..."

     Aise cut him off, since he seemed as though he were about to go into another tirade, and she didn't want to deal with that. "I know Oku. I can deliver the parcel for you." Her clipped speech was an indicator of how upset she was, and apparently the man had enough sense to realize that. However, he wasn't about to part with the mail as easily as that.

     "Look, miss, I can't just give you someone else's mail. Either bring them here, or tell me where they live so that I can have it delivered." He seemed cool and professional now, but Aise could sense that he was just a little afraid of her under his calm façade.

     She smiled faintly "Okushiyovi lives with me aboard the good ship, Succession." She said, and watched the man's eyes widen. Good, the ship was as well known as she had hoped, and now maybe he'd give her the package for Oku.

     Which he did, actually. He'd say it was stolen from him at knifepoint or something later to avoid any punishment for giving mail out to strangers.

     When she returned to the ship, Oku was waiting impatiently. She'd called ahead and told him about both encounters, and he was just as confused and excited about his mail as she herself was, if not moreso. Opening the package was an exercise in paper-shredding, with Oku slitting the strings and cutting the paper with his back spines, and Aise opening the small box once it was unwrapped.

     A small, round item fell out, covered in paper to protect it' surface. It was Aise who noticed that the paper actually had writing on it, and read it, Oku listening in mentally as he studied the shining object closely.

     "It's at poketwatch from your daddies," Aise said aloud finally, and smiled at the warmth in the letter. "They must really love you very much, Oku," she murmured, then bent low to inspect the silver watch, reaching out a small finger to trace the delicate engravings in it's polished surface.

     "Oh it's beautiful, Oku. Would you like me to wind it for you?" she asked, eyeing the watch curiously.

     Oku studied it silently for a moment, then said *I can't tell time.* His voice was quiet and embarrassed, and he didn't look at Aise.

     She couldn't help but laugh, which made him look up, hurt shining in his eyes. "Oh hon," she said and gathered him into her arms, careful not to poke herself with his spines, "No one ever taught you, why should you know something you never had a chance to learn?" It didn't really raise his spirits much, so she tried something else. "How about if I teach you how to use it?"

     At that, the little wyrm perked up and wiggled happily, all sadness forgotten. He let Aise wind the pocket watch, and put his ear to the back, listening to it tick with some degree of awe.

     "It's a good thing it doesn't have a chain, though," she said after a while of teaching him what the little dials meant.

     Oku looked up at her in confusion and asked *Why not? Then I could wear it!* He stroked the shiny, round surface fondly.

     "That's the problem," she said with a giggle, and hurried to settle his confusion. "What do you think would happen if you took it into the water with you? It'd get all wet and salty and it'd rust and stop working and fall apart!"

     She watched her bond's surprise and horror at the thought of his present from his daddies falling apart... getting damaged in any way, even. He shook his head. *You're right, it's a good thing. Now I can keep it safe in my sea chest.*

     Aislin nodded happily and the two settled their things in for the night