A full two weeks went by before the crew was certain they’d cataloged everything that was missing. 

“Take it easy!” Cohen exclaimed in the final meeting, pulling their hair out as Hakeem slammed his fist against the table, bent over with laughter.

The engineer didn’t seem to share his amusement, face red with anger while the assorted crew groaned, frowning as they all read over the list of stolen items.

“I’ll say they did! Like taking candy from a goddamn baby!”

Pearl had no idea what the process of recuperating what was lost would be. There had been some spare parts of importance and items of semi-significant monetary value stolen but nothing that would be missed immediately or impede the ship’s ability to function. Several crew members had had things taken from their rooms and though Pearl had checked her own to be thorough, she’d found nothing amiss.

She supposed she was the only one who’d gained something from the Teretiwelligan’s visit.

In the canteen, Pearl and Hakeem sat at a corner table, eating lunch together. She had discovered that eating with someone else put her more at ease and Olaan had remained scarce and uncharacteristically laconic - it was beginning to worry her. 

“Carrot cake for breakfast?” Hakeem asked, breaking Pearl from her thoughts as he jabbed his fork in her direction. “You’re a brave woman.”

Pearl picked the pastry up for closer inspection. “I am only considering it.”

“Even considering it’s kinda crazy.”

Pearl set the pastry down and turned towards Hakeem. “Do Humans not typically eat cake in the morning? I have seen it…panned cakes.”

Hakeem snorted and mumbled the words “I have seen it…panned cakes…” under his breath rather than answer.

Pearl looked down at her meal. Other than the dubious pastry, she had selected soup, plain rice, and bread. She’d typically eat without reserve but worry stilled her hand and leadened her appetite. 

“Hakeem.”

“Yeah?” 

From the corner of her eye, Pearl could see the man eating his own meal voraciously. She thought of Olaan - when did co eat? Had co found anyone to talk to? 

She pressed her hands together, feeling the even pressure. Slowly, she intertwined her fingers as she geared up to ask what she most wanted the answer to - or a version of it.

“I am concerned I may be too naive for space travel,” she said, thinking; Was it a mistake to come here?

Hakeem paused his feasting to regard her incredulously. “Because of the terwhirlagig thing?”

“...Yes,” Pearl decided.

“That’s nothing! Don’t let it get you down,” Hakeem said, hitting her shoulder then laughingly apologizing when she flinched and slid under the table to escape the attack. “I’d rather ride around with a bunch of open hearted morons than people who don’t stop to help anyone ‘cause they’re too scared.”

Pearl gazed up at Hakeem from her position, crouched beneath the table. He had ducked his head so he could meet her eye and in the brief silence, his smile grew into a grin. 

“Besides, it was funny, wasn’t it?”

“...Yes,” Pearl said, something other than unease bubbling up in her chest. It was a bright pressure she hadn’t felt in a long time. “I suppose it was.”

“Right?” Hakeem exclaimed, getting loud and flailing his hands as he began to recount the story. While he did so, Pearl emerged from beneath the table and followed the motion of his hands. “Cohen was about to strangle me, I swear to God. If they didn’t I would’a died of laughter. Oh and everyone trying to pronounce that name all serious; The Teriwallagers? The Tertitwhamers? Christ!”

Hakeem laughed and Pearl’s attention was drawn from his hands to his teeth, so visible at all times due to his cheerful demeanor. Once again, she was reminded of the sun, its warmth, and she tilted her head towards him as if she might feel it even in the midst of space.

“Hey, hey, what’re you doing?” Hakeem asked, his tone more amused than accusatory.

Pearl blinked, her cheekbone pressed against his own. She tilted her head further away so she could see his expression - then she forced her mouth into a similar shape. 

“Ha ha,” she exhaled, attempting to recreate the noise. “Ha ha ha!”

Hakeem’s laughter in response to Pearl’s attempt at mimicry was beautiful, as always, and though she again felt that bright bubbling sensation, it was never strong enough to boil over and allow for her to see precisely what it was.