T
The Dapper Mog
Guest
Original poster
The Steady rocking of the ship had grown comforting over the last several months. Sounds of the ocean, the rolling waves crashing into the hull, the occasional cry of a gull when near shores, and the music of the sea that felt as haunting, yet beautiful, as a siren's song. They were now as natural to his ears the sound of his own voice. A heavy mist hung in the air, a grizzled man leaning over the edge of the ship, gazing out into the night. It was cold tonight. The storm this morning had come in suddenly, but it never seemed as harsh as it could have been. All the stories he'd heard about storms at sea, yet each time this vessel encountered a storm, the damage was minimal, or nonexistent.
Yet, this feeling of impending danger just wouldn't go away. An empty jug lay knocked over beside him, an arm hanging lazily over the side of the vessel while the other supported him and held him upright. A low groan escaped his throat as he rose to full height. Why wouldn't this damn feeling go away? He was becoming increasingly irritated by it. The captain had told them keep watching for any authorities, as it was likely with their last visit to port, people wouldn't be happy with them. Of course, that was days ago, and they hadn't encountered more than a couple passing vessels that weren't even worth raiding.
The wind caught the mainsail, a strong gust pulling the ship and his body in an easterly direction. It was strong, almost enough to force the rather well built man to stumble. That was strange. With a grunt, he turned, the sound of the wood being walked upon demanding his attention. He turned, pulling the bandanna from his head to reveal his scarred forehead and close cropped black hair. The source of the sound was a cloaked figure, his face primarily covered in the shadow of his hood. Where the hell had he come from?
"Ey, who the hell are you, and how did you get on this ship?"
The stranger simply glanced at him before lowering the hood of his cloak slightly, just enough to reveal his dark blue eyes, narrowed and clearly lacking patience. After only a couple seconds, the expression softened, almost as if a mask had been pulled over his face.
"Hmm? Oh, I see. I suppose you mean me. Right? Well, I was just looking for someone I used to know. Last I knew she was sailing the world with some unsavory people. You have the look of one of them."
While not the educated type, Goei could still tell when someone was talking over him in an insulting manner. Through gritted teeth, he grunted and drew the broadswords from his hips, twirling them beside him.
"I really don't appreciate being talked down to. Who the hell are you talking about? Answer quickly, before I start slicing."
The figure stifled a chuckle, glancing around him. The deck was empty, the majority of the crew clearly asleep. This man was the only one on watch. Must be reliable.
"I suppose, now that I think about it, she would be using an Alias of some sort. What with this, uhm, line of work. If you can call it that."
The man's reply only served to irritate him further. Clearly, he must have been talking about the captain. After all, she was the only woman on the vessel. Still, whatever his reason for seeing her, it couldn't have been good. What with his strange entrance in the dead of night. While they didn't know much about her, it wouldn't be surprising if people were looking for her.
"What business do you have with the captain? Speak quickly."
Goei's blades twirled in his hands, his feet shifting slightly to prepare to move for an attack, if it were necessary.
"Business? No business. This is just a courtesy call of sorts. A visit with a old friend. Of course, it isn't any of your business, regardless."
With a growl, Goei began to move, only to stop abruptly at the familiar voice of his captain, shouting from behind him.
"Goei, enough!"
He stopped, glancing back at her as he lowered his blades with a sigh.
"Captain, do you know this man?"
The woman shifted her favorite hat, taking a step out of the shadows, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him intently. The memories came back in a flood, and though he looked different, it was certainly him. If he sought her out, it couldn't be good.
"Yes. From a long time ago. Goei, you may go below deck and rest. I will handle this."
Goei didn't like this at all, but, he knew better than to argue. He began walking by her, flashing a sneer at the man before he opened the door leading into the crew quarters.
"Yes, captain. Be wary."
The door close behind him, and the woman took a few steps closer to the cloaked man, removing her hat with a heavy sigh, using her other hand to brush a stray strand of hair from her face.
"Well, well, it's been a long time. What is it that you're calling yourself these days? Captain Scylla? A little on the nose, don't you think?"
The woman smirked at his words, resting a hand on her hip while placing her hat back atop her head.
"Maybe. I think it's rather fitting. Considering what I can do. So, what brings you here? I don't imagine you went through the trouble of seeking me out for a social call."
The man chuckled briefly, lowering his hood completely so his entire face was visible in the dim light of the night. The confident smile was so familiar. He grew into a handsome young man, and now if anyone could attract a crowd, it'd be him. The charisma of a god, the looks of a hero from a fable, and a voice smoother than the softest silks, it wouldn't surprise her in the least if he were here on behalf of some group of warriors or a town she'd ransacked. Yet, his expression certainly didn't seem antagonistic.
"Social, sure. However, to say it's without an additional purpose would be false. We both know full well that I'm not fond of falsehoods or half truths. No, sensei, we have a great deal to discuss..."
Yet, this feeling of impending danger just wouldn't go away. An empty jug lay knocked over beside him, an arm hanging lazily over the side of the vessel while the other supported him and held him upright. A low groan escaped his throat as he rose to full height. Why wouldn't this damn feeling go away? He was becoming increasingly irritated by it. The captain had told them keep watching for any authorities, as it was likely with their last visit to port, people wouldn't be happy with them. Of course, that was days ago, and they hadn't encountered more than a couple passing vessels that weren't even worth raiding.
The wind caught the mainsail, a strong gust pulling the ship and his body in an easterly direction. It was strong, almost enough to force the rather well built man to stumble. That was strange. With a grunt, he turned, the sound of the wood being walked upon demanding his attention. He turned, pulling the bandanna from his head to reveal his scarred forehead and close cropped black hair. The source of the sound was a cloaked figure, his face primarily covered in the shadow of his hood. Where the hell had he come from?
"Ey, who the hell are you, and how did you get on this ship?"
The stranger simply glanced at him before lowering the hood of his cloak slightly, just enough to reveal his dark blue eyes, narrowed and clearly lacking patience. After only a couple seconds, the expression softened, almost as if a mask had been pulled over his face.
"Hmm? Oh, I see. I suppose you mean me. Right? Well, I was just looking for someone I used to know. Last I knew she was sailing the world with some unsavory people. You have the look of one of them."
While not the educated type, Goei could still tell when someone was talking over him in an insulting manner. Through gritted teeth, he grunted and drew the broadswords from his hips, twirling them beside him.
"I really don't appreciate being talked down to. Who the hell are you talking about? Answer quickly, before I start slicing."
The figure stifled a chuckle, glancing around him. The deck was empty, the majority of the crew clearly asleep. This man was the only one on watch. Must be reliable.
"I suppose, now that I think about it, she would be using an Alias of some sort. What with this, uhm, line of work. If you can call it that."
The man's reply only served to irritate him further. Clearly, he must have been talking about the captain. After all, she was the only woman on the vessel. Still, whatever his reason for seeing her, it couldn't have been good. What with his strange entrance in the dead of night. While they didn't know much about her, it wouldn't be surprising if people were looking for her.
"What business do you have with the captain? Speak quickly."
Goei's blades twirled in his hands, his feet shifting slightly to prepare to move for an attack, if it were necessary.
"Business? No business. This is just a courtesy call of sorts. A visit with a old friend. Of course, it isn't any of your business, regardless."
With a growl, Goei began to move, only to stop abruptly at the familiar voice of his captain, shouting from behind him.
"Goei, enough!"
He stopped, glancing back at her as he lowered his blades with a sigh.
"Captain, do you know this man?"
The woman shifted her favorite hat, taking a step out of the shadows, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him intently. The memories came back in a flood, and though he looked different, it was certainly him. If he sought her out, it couldn't be good.
"Yes. From a long time ago. Goei, you may go below deck and rest. I will handle this."
Goei didn't like this at all, but, he knew better than to argue. He began walking by her, flashing a sneer at the man before he opened the door leading into the crew quarters.
"Yes, captain. Be wary."
The door close behind him, and the woman took a few steps closer to the cloaked man, removing her hat with a heavy sigh, using her other hand to brush a stray strand of hair from her face.
"Well, well, it's been a long time. What is it that you're calling yourself these days? Captain Scylla? A little on the nose, don't you think?"
The woman smirked at his words, resting a hand on her hip while placing her hat back atop her head.
"Maybe. I think it's rather fitting. Considering what I can do. So, what brings you here? I don't imagine you went through the trouble of seeking me out for a social call."
The man chuckled briefly, lowering his hood completely so his entire face was visible in the dim light of the night. The confident smile was so familiar. He grew into a handsome young man, and now if anyone could attract a crowd, it'd be him. The charisma of a god, the looks of a hero from a fable, and a voice smoother than the softest silks, it wouldn't surprise her in the least if he were here on behalf of some group of warriors or a town she'd ransacked. Yet, his expression certainly didn't seem antagonistic.
"Social, sure. However, to say it's without an additional purpose would be false. We both know full well that I'm not fond of falsehoods or half truths. No, sensei, we have a great deal to discuss..."