Without a word the Inspector accepted the contract folding it carefully with a practiced ease. Stepping a half step back to avoid Ari as he did so. He turned to Annabelle as she tried following Dolphus and Ari on their way. “Interesting isn’t it? When I arrived the Captain thought to intimidate me with some practiced act. Now he and the rest of his rabble reveal the charade with their lack of resolve. Remember that Annabelle, even the best acts rarely hold up to scrutiny.” With that the inspector walked back down the plank to rejoin his fellows.
Wilhelm watched the flailing body fall into the drink, he waited a moment for them to resurface. When they didn’t he worriedly looked around again, no one watching again. Too ashamed of what he believed he’d done, he didn’t report it. Instead he stepped back in line and pretended to be watching the interaction on deck
Mako grew very still. Forget the new one. Forget all of it. His eyes slid like stones over water, seeking this thing that had attracted his ire, like how carrion flesh attracts vermin.
A wretch dares to question my path? A miserable faithless cretin who deserves nothing but scorn to he and his blood for the suffering they heap upon all others?! THEY DARE?!
“Charade indeed. Only one such a blind dissident such as yourself would feel the need to call others not too dissimilar to your own ways, yes?”
There was no hiding the giddy mania that had slowly oozed into his voice, like an arsonist handed a match, and all the kindling he wanted. For now Mako had no need to restrain himself. Dolphus was below decks, and so was Mariner- so now he could voice his ire, his disgust, and his sheer contempt to make a display of this man- nay, this thing.
“You are blinded by your own self-worth. Bound by your selfishness, and bowed down by your vanity.”
He made a mocking gesture to the ridiculous wings. And if to show he himself would not be so vain- he removed his hood from his face.
To describe Mako’s face is a task most difficult. There is something in that kaleidoscope of scarred tissue that resembles a face- a nose maybe here, part of a lip there- but much of it was marred and rended. Except for the eyes. Before it was a hatred, a hatred born of irritation, and an all too familiar one at that. But now, these jade orbs dripped with a toxic fervency, practically rife with carious zeal.
“But do confess to me. I shall shoulder far more burdens to come on this journey, and I must begin soon, lest my resolve go unchallenged.”
The inspector almost stopped, almost said something about the babblings of the insane, almost threw one last barb at the demented fellow. He was quite certain one last jibe would send the man into a rage, perhaps even stooping to assault. While the image of the small demented man skewered on pikes nearly brought a smile to his face, he realized quickly it’d be too much effort for too little satisfaction. After all he’d already gotten everything he’d needed out of them. Both the official collection purse, and his own were jingling merrily as he made his way down the plank.
By the time his boot hit the stone of the pier, his mind was firmly entrenched in far more important matters. Like his upcoming trip to the pub. Wait. That really made him stop for a second, itching to turn back towards the boat.
As much as he liked needling her, as funny as his joke of inflicting her on the crew was. He was certainly going to miss Annabelle. She’d been the one server at the Tavern not afraid of him. All the others worried he’d tax their family’s fishing boats to bankruptcy if they displeased him, and usually they were so nervous about doing so they spilled half his drink before it even made it to the table. He sighed, snuck a quick look back at Annabelle, then continued on his way.
For the first time in his life he was going to think about work while off duty.
Mako let out a snort, and awkwardly shifted his gaze back to Annabelle. No matter. If no challenge would present itself to this one, then there would be no need to bother that cretin anymore. Pay him no mind, for the confessor has need of no distractions…
“You see, dear physic? They shall not hinder this voyage- for it is we whom are favored by the graces of the greater powers upon this journey!”
His tattered face spread itself into something into a grin, clearly excited for when Annabelle would soon bear witness to the swathes of the honored dead that manned the vessel.
“We bear his blessing—I am sure of it, for else we would not have been granted such egress with such haste. And if not, then perhaps a sacrament be made, yes, a test of our ardence…”
He drifted off, his mind clouding over in the wake of the absence of his words.
Mako stared out at the ocean, the rolling, deep hued waves entrancing him as he slowly departed from himself. It was all happening again, his mind dipping into that deep, dark abyss, slowly slipping down, down, down, into the murky depths.
”Do you hear it…. Like I do? Off somewhere?”
He murmured, his voice so small that he could barely hear it. It sounded like the shrill squeak of some small rodent.
”Sometimes I wonder…. if I’m the only one who thinks they can hear it. The only one…
Sometimes…. I hope I’m wrong….”
And then he was back, his mind snapping back to its body, eyes bright and returning to face the physic once more.
“Regardless, as we were, I dare say the captain is still occupied, so I don’t think it’s a good idea to weigh upon his squabbles at this moment.”
Karl stared at the zombie incredibly scarred guy who appeared to be talking at random to no one in particular. Is this guy cracked in the head?
Seeing as Mako either didn’t hear the question, or had ignored him, Karl merely nodded in agreement. Obviously the Captain knew what was up, and had a plan to retrieve the (increasingly exorbitant) payment just transacted by the tax man.
“Welcome aboard, ma’am,” Karl said to Annabelle, seeing as she was obviously still figuring out everything. “I for one am glad to have someone with an understanding of medical matters on this ship. I’m sure you will be quite indispensable on the voyage.”