come_sailaway | a man has only one thing on his mind [OPEN]

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a man has only one thing on his mind [OPEN]

Who: Siffleur and you
When: Mid-January
What: Catch-all
Where: Tommy Bahamas
Warnings: Violence, gore, cannibalism, suicidal ideation, aggressive flirtations
Notes: Cannibalism opt-in

1. I only want to hear you purr and hear you moan (Tommy Bahamas)

One day around mid-January, two new signs appear in place of the previous one that Siffleur occasionally set out to lure folks in to eat, along with a new box of armbands and a fresh sign-up sheet. In careful block print, the first sign says:

CAN YOU SURVIVE THE TOMMY BAHAMAS CHALLENGE?
SURVIVE 1 HOUR IN TOMMY BAHAMAS
MUST WRITE DOWN NAME AND TIME STARTED AND WEAR ARMBAND TO PARTICIPATE
WINNERS MAY CHOOSE FROM PRIZE BOX OF RESTRAINTS & HANDCUFFS
LOSERS AGREE TO BE EATEN

The other sign beside it is much simpler. It says:

HIGH SCORES TO BEAT

MOST BRUTAL
BIG BLACK DOG

MOST STEALTHY
EDDIE

MOST DELICIOUS
JACK

The invitation waits for anyone to take it, either for a prize, or to see their name on the board.

2. I don't believe you go to heaven when you're good (Tommy Bahamas)

Of course, the challenge isn't always running. In fact, anyone venturing into the store right now will not see the signs or the armbands. But they will see what Siffleur's been up to.

Near the front of the Tommy Bahamas, to the right of the check-outs, Siffleur has been hard at work. He's cleared a chunk of the store, rolling racks away and taking shelves apart. There's masking tape marking a large square of the store that he's cleared out, and where he's now using some of those same shelves and display units to build.

It's slow going without any tools, but he's slowly picking away at putting together what seems to be an obstacle course with some crude walls. And for anyone popping into the store, he's quick to glance over at them, looking to see if he knows them - and if they might have any suggestions. Though if someone looks particularly lost, he may take this as an invitation to pause on his building to offer help.

3. everything goes to hell, anyway (various)

He's not always in the Tommy Bahamas either. Siffleur can be often spotted around the ship, usually late at night.

Perhaps he can be found in Fate's Design, smoking while playing solitaire. As usual, he's sitting cross legged up on one of the tables, an ashtray to his right, and his cards in front of him. If you were to see you looking, he would likely gesture for you to take one of the stools by the table, an invitation to watch or to join him in playing.

Or one might find him at his usual seat in the Tauva with a glass of whiskey in one hand and occasionally a smoke in the other). There's nothing stopping a person from taking the seat across from him - especially if they might have something to confront the resident werecougar cannibal on.

But if he can't be found there, then he most certainly will be found on his usual stool at Mikabo, taking all the salmon and tuna that passes him by.

4. there are few things I never could believe - Adult Pool

Rarely, very very rarely, someone going to use the hot tubs and adult pool during high noon may find a large cougar sprawled out on the deck, sound asleep and soaking up the sun in only the way a large cat can. His large, fuzzy pale belly is on full display.

Anyone with any experience in pets knows an exposed belly is a trap. But knowing it's a trap doesn't exactly make it any less tempting to bury one's face in that beautiful fluffy fur.

5. Wildcard

Dealer's choice, knock yourself out!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ava stares at the first sign, reading it over again carefully. And then turns her attention to the second, a tilt of her head when she gets to the 'most delicious' category. "Hm."

There is a soft thump from nearby and then a swift bounding as Siffleur runs to the entrance, ears perked up and clearly delighted to see Ava. He comes to a quick stop by her feet, already purring. "Hello Ava!"

She doesn't bother turning at the sound of his landing, doesn't move to defend herself as he quickly approaches. Just extends her hand slightly, fingers wiggling welcomingly out toward Siffleur.

"Most delicious, huh? Is that really a category anyone is competing for?"

Her fingers wiggle. The temptation is too much. He reaches up to bump his head into them for a scratch.

"Not deliberately, but if anyone is able to be more delicious than Jack, then I will update it." He tips his head up and says in a conspiratorial voice. "It will be very difficult to beat him though because I am very biased towards Jack."

Aw yes, going to take full advantage of scritching behind his ears.

She can't imagine what anyone would do to make themselves more appetizing, other than rubbing themselves down with seasoning. "Ah. I probably shouldn't think that's cute... is that why the two of you...? Your literal taste in men?" Giggles.

His purring picks up even more, his eyes closing with delight and his tongue sticking out just slightly, just for a little while. Nothing beats a good ear scratch from a mother.

The tongue slides back in to answer, though his eyes stay closed as he chuckles. "Yes, that is a good way to say it. My literal taste in men. Jack has tried me once too, but I do not taste as good as he does. I am very gamey. But he likes me anyway, so that is nice."

Ava's so tempted to flick that little hint of pink tongue poking from his mouth, but refrains. She doesn't want scratching privileges revoked.

She's heard meat described as gamey before, but she really has no concept of what that actually tastes like. But she trusts him as the expert. "Well I haven't heard any complaints from Peter..." Ava says rather innocently, moving her hand to rub up under his chin.

"So have you had an uptick in business or a decrease, since the... ah, Vile incident?"

That gets a laugh from Siffleur, a loud lilting giggle at Ava's dirty joke. He tips his head up to accept those chin scratches. "I am very glad he enjoys devouring you. The key to a long relationship is to be eaten often and thoroughly."

It takes him a moment to realize that Ava's using the name Vile, not the descriptor vile. "An uptick. Not the first week. Everyone was very sad then. But after that, people have been coming in to challenge me, or maybe to die. I was surprised. I thought it might be like after the Halloween event when no one came around for a long time."

He opens his eyes as he looks up at her. "The trial was very strange. Jack was upset for much of it, so I stayed by his side to help him stay composed. There was a lot of shouting and screaming and threats, and then Nobunaga turned into a sword that was also a gun and that was especially silly."

Even though she started it, there's a small flush to Ava's cheeks the way Siffleur so suggestively describes it. "I always do enjoy breakfast in bed."

Curious that there's such a different response between the two massacres... "Hm. My own amateur psychological opinion... is that they're attempting to desensitize to the inevitability of their own deaths, and take control of it. Conquering their fears and mortality..." Ava frowns. "At least that's why I was considering it, that or the very tempting prizes," she tries to lighten the statement.

There's a long suffering sigh at the mention of Nobunaga, though. Maybe that would sound absurd enough for her to typically be amused, but she shakes her head. "Yeah, he annoyed me about it all after the trial."

"For you Ava, the prize is always free." He says and means sincerely. "But you are welcome to come kill me anytime you wish. You are a fierce fighter, and I would be pleased to face you and die."

He gives her hand a little lick as they get into more serious things, the taste strange and a little like static on his tongue. "I thought he might, and the others too. I am aware my own feelings do not match up most people's, but I did not understand the fuss from those who lost nothing. They did not die, and they were not among those who were dating or mothers to the dead, and some were barely friends. It was all very selfish, and annoying."

"That's a sweet offer," Ava responds gently, and then lowers herself to sit, back up against the wall, her legs stretched out in front of her. "But I... I don't think I have it in me to kill somebody I like," an affectionate little smile. "Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the whole... chase," Ava tells him, it is one of her techniques for luring 6 in by challenging him to come after her. She never really thought she'd actually enjoy being caught, especially by another spy.

"And obviously I'm a capable killer, when necessary." And Halloween was, but Christmas she hadn't been able to put up any fight at all. She closes her eyes. "But I think I'm too soft, sometimes. I don't think I was meant for the sort of life I ended up in." And she continues petting, fingernails dragging along fur, a small giggle at the lick.

"The way I see it," she says with a tone that completely acknowledges the fact that she wasn't there for it but has heard plenty of second-hand accounts. "There was a problem that had an immediate and specific solution. And some found it appropriate to interrupt and take a stance that provided not solution at all. For reasons that... honestly, I can't figure out. But selfish and annoying sounds right."

Siffleur settles beside her, setting his head on one knee as they chat. Ideal scratching and petting position for them both. He lets out a soft chuffing sound in agreement. "We are who we are. The world shapes us, but the core remains. ... I have been reflecting on chases as of late. There are a few people who say they don't mind the chase, they just don't like the death at the end. I may try to do something with that, and if I do, then you are invited. You do not need to kill me, and I do not need to kill you."

And it's a little relieving for Siffleur to say as much. He would not mind dying for Ava's sake, but he also knows he would not find the same thrill in killing her as he does in others. Even he has a little softness in him.

"Yes, they were attempting to argue for a way to kill only the half of Skullduggery they did not like, and to spare the half they did like. Very annoying. There is no other half. As he said, all of it was him." Siffleur grumbles and lets out a sigh. "And it was all very stupid anyway. Mothers deserve a killing spree now and then. He had earned his."

It's a comfortable position to settle into, humming in quiet agreement as he speaks. "I really hoped in a new environment, that I could learn to be different. That I wouldn't have to rely so much on violence and subterfuge to survive. But..." she sighs out softly. "The core remains." It's far too ingrained into her now, and asking for cooperation and understanding have failed.

"Could be fun. Keep my skills sharp," Ava agrees with a playful boop to his nose, because she does like having an outlet for her taste for danger... without further upsetting the people that care for her after her recent death. She's pretty sure 6 wouldn't appreciate her being so careless with her life when he's been working so hard on helping her value herself more. And she's unwilling to keep such a thing secret from him either. Especially when he's the sort that will find out anyway. Even the idea of disappointing 6 in such a way hurts.

There's a roll of her eyes in response to that reasoning, doesn't understand why anyone would question Skulduggery's own statement to his nature. But then Siffleur makes such a comment and the scratching pauses as she considers. Mother? She doesn't believe he misspoke, it sounds intentionally worded, and she turns it over in her mind. "Do you call him that because... ah, forgive me if this is a weird assumption. Many animals, the father leaves their young? And Skulduggery stays around with his?" And yes it feels very strange to refer to Fio and Darcy that way.

His whiskers twitch as he's booped and his tongue slooooowly starts to slide out again. The more he speaks about it, the more appealing he finds it. Building has been an interesting experiment, but it hasn't felt quite right. But... a chase would be good. There are so many hunters here, so many prey. It would be good for them all.

"Mm? Not weird at all. Half of that is right, yes. The natural order is for mothers to stay and protect, and fathers to leave. But it is more too. Mothers provide care, but mothers also suffer. They sacrifice, they struggle, they put themselves last. They look out for the young at a great cost to themselves, but it is a cost they would not let you take from them, not for a moment. And sometimes, they lose themselves in rage or sorrow. But they find their way back." He licks his lips a few times, thinking back to his own mother - to her own rages and sorrows, and to the softness of her arms, the comfort of her scent in the worst of times...

"Fathers are selfish. A father is meant to spend time with the mother and to protect her and care for her, and then to leave when the young arrive so she doesn't need to spend her energy caring for him and the children. But many fathers do not do this. They stay, and they are like another child, stealing from the real children. They drain the mother of energy, they grow jealous of the children, they compete for attention, they take. It is in their nature. And so their presence weakens their own offspring, but they do not care." He lifts his head just a little. "I am a father. I wish it were not so, but it is my nature. I admire those who are mothers, even though I do not envy their suffering."

It's a slightly different twist on gender roles than she's used to, and Ava listens and thinks of Skulduggery in the description that Siffleur gives of mothers. It seems... unfair to be defined by suffering and sacrifice, but she knows well enough that the both of them have an agreement that Fio comes before all else. Ava sighs out sadly. She's not sure she's fulfilling the role very well, wishes she was a better example of strength and stability.

But she's not quite sure what to make of the description Siffleur has of fathers, though she tries to keep in mind that he is coming from another perspective. Certainly a less favorable one. She doubts he has a good relationship with his own, and frowns as she softly strokes down the back of his neck. "I don't think it has to be like that. I've had... two fathers. And both of them were very good to me. And to my mother." You know, before her father got them killed.

"I think you are right - it does not have to be like that. Fathers could become mothers. Can become mothers, if they have it in them. If they can fight the selfish feelings and keep them at bay. But I think they are far and few between." Perhaps it is different in other worlds. It would be nice if it was. But the longer he is here, the more he speaks to others, the more he is certain that all worlds are the same.

Still... he tips his head slightly, exposing his chin for deep scratching. "You and Skullduggery are like birds. They are mostly all mothers. They take turns caring for the nest. If one stays, the other brings things to feed the one left behind. It is one of the things I admire about birds."

"Bill was my father's friend, they worked together. And after my... parents died. He wanted to take me in. Protect me," Ava tells Siffleur, wanting to illustrate the concept of a good father figure. "But it wasn't allowed. I was removed from his custody and care, and... instead raised with no parents at all." She glances down, sometimes likes to think how differently her life might have been if she got to stay with somebody that actually cared what happened to her.

"But even twenty years later, he took me back in. Exhausted his resources in trying to find me a cure, hide me away from the people that... wanted to keep me captive. He's the best father I could have asked for." And she misses him so much, even now. Even if she knows wishing him here would be selfish.

She does look slightly curious about the description of birds though, the different parenting style than Siffleur was used to. And then giggles. "Well, Skulduggery did help me learn to fly."

Bill sounds like a good mother - the best kind - and the kind most punished by humans because they do not believe men can be mothers. Only fathers. He lets out a low sound. "I am sorry. It was unfair of them to take you away from him. I am glad he was able to find you again, to care for you the way he should have been allowed to from the start."

And he chuckles to hear she can fly. "Then you are even more of a bird than I thought. But also, how funny to learn to fly from a skeleton. I would not have thought he would know much about the matter. But before the ship, I had not met any bones who could speak at all."

"It was unfair," Ava agrees, it's the most unfair thing that happened to her. Preventing her from having a family, from getting to grow up with care and love. "But. He advocated on my behalf, which interfered with their plans of raising me as an operative. They didn't want me to be... soft." And yet she still is, and she's never quite sure what to do about that.

"Hah, yes. Skulduggery tried to teach me his form of magic, but it didn't work. I ended up with my own, and he... helped me out until I got the hang of it. Instead of crashing into the water below," Ava grins in the memory of her jumping off the ship, that moment of hovering, before he had to catch her as she started to plummet.

"He's a great friend. Done so much for me. The... murder doesn't invalidate that."

Siffleur gives her hand a soft lick. They cannot help the softness in them. It is who they are. Just as they cannot help the hardness either.

"He is a very good friend to you, and a good mother, and I am told that he has been very helpful to others. Murder does not change the man he is, and I also do not think murder matters at all here, so if he wanted to kill people every two months for fun, I would say he has earned it." Siffleur's moral code is different than most, so he doesn't expect Ava to agree with the last half. But he says it anyway, because he thinks it's important to be said. "But he is not like me. He did not kill for fun or food. He broke, and the inside part of him killed, and now he is regretful. There is no point in being angry at him when you are just angry at the part that was not there for the killing."

She smiles softly at Siffleur's perspective, and then rests her chin atop his head, folding her body over his. "He never would have hurt me otherwise," Ava says, and there's no doubt in her tone. "But the others... they don't trust him anymore. Because of his relationship. Because of the loss of control of his rage. And I don't know what to do. They're all talking about mutiny, and destroying here. And this... is the only place where I'm safe."

He purrs for her as she folds over him, knowing that's what she needs right now - something soft and friendly and reassuring.

"I will not let them." Siffleur promises her. He means it from the bottom of his heart. If he has to tear each mutineer limb from limb every single morning to keep them from acting, he will do it. "I feel the same as you. I am safe here. I am happy here. I have friends. I change when I wish, and sleep in warmth, and I am always full. It is paradise here, and I do not mind the price we pay to be in this place. You have your Peter, and your friends, and your daughter, and you are safe. I will not let them take that from us. And the Captain will not let them take his Skullduggery."

Enjoying Siffleur's warmth and the low rumbling purr, Ava wonders how much easier it would have been to get through her most painful days if she had such comforts of a pet, although she knows that she could barely care for herself much less another creature. And Siffleur isn't a pet, but he sure has those same advantages of being nice to cuddle. With the added bonus of actually being able to listen and reassure.

"I... I know they're unhappy, feeling trapped and without a sense of control over their own lives. I've been through that before. Bitter and wanting to hurt everyone responsible. I don't... blame them. But I can't change their minds either. But if they threaten my home and my friends..." she has no real choice but to stop them.

"If they become a real threat, we will deal with them." He promises. Siffleur also tries to offer a reassurance of another kind, one beyond simply threatening to kill. "The Captain can lock them all in a room and make an animal to eat their eyes, and that will keep them too busy to destroy our homes."

"That would probably reinforce their stance that this place is run off our suffering, huh." A sigh!

"Are eyes even tasty? I can't imagine what biting into one is even like. Do they ooze? Eugh."

a man has only one thing on his mind [OPEN]

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