SEPTEMBER EVENT: SKULLY'S ANGELS

[sailmods]

[around 10:30PM, after Friday has returned from bringing all the other guests back to the ship, she parks the tender just off the shore, idling. she sticks her head out of the door.]

Good luck! Just come get me if you need anything! [beat] But, only if it’s something I can do without stepping outside! [beat] Have fun!

[she then pops back inside. they’re on their own, for now.

the salamander villagers have returned to their homes for the night, it seems… all but one, a smaller one, bedecked in leather armor and carrying a spear. they watch the group as they leave the beach, eyes fixed… and then, slowly but distinctly, they toss their head in the direction of inland, and turn away from them to begin a sort of watch.

perhaps that was salamander for good luck. you’ll need it.]

Comments

[sictransitgloriamundi]

... Well. You know. I do have to keep the lights on, still.

[pause]

And I can't risk word getting out. One lone lunatic raving about a haunted cruise ship isn't going to attract much attention. "Here's where to find a masterless jinn," however... That will bring the wolves.

[light_mischief]

[the moment he tells the others what the Captain is, they're going to look into trying to control him. and that would be -- unconscionable.

his grip tightens faintly.]

I'm technically the only passenger who knows that part.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[a long pause.

and then... a snort. and he's looking over at him with a half-grin.]

Come, now. You mean to tell me you won't tell a single soul that you solved the great mystery? You know that if you tell Ava, you're telling the entire ship.

[light_mischief]

Ava is more than capable of keeping a secret. She's almost as good at it as I am, and she has a face.

[it's a funny idea, keeping something so monumental a secret. he knows he can't do it, but it's a funny thought.]

The funny thing about every "great mystery" is that behind each one is an even grander mystery to solve. You are a masterless jinn. But that doesn't mean you're the only one, or that whoever you escaped from isn't still out there. You have a memory of people telling you about your history, but that doesn't mean they were telling you the truth. Or at least, the full truth.

[...]

You could probably take the information from me, couldn't you? Maybe not a memory charm, but you're enterprising enough with magic. You could just... stop me from telling anyone.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

That would be the only way to be sure, wouldn't it.

[so, he leans over until his head is resting on Skulduggery's shoulder.]

[light_mischief]

[he sits, carefully unmoving even for a skeleton, and is silent.

eventually, his thumb begins to move again.]

...Do I need to wait for Jenny to murder me for another movie date?

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Not necessarily, though that wouldn't be much of a wait. I can invite anyone I want inside. [pause] Is this you asking for one.

[light_mischief]

[the others are all recuperating; Darcy will be by bright and early, but he'll be lucky to see Ava or Max before they're ready to talk to him. the rest of the ship is asleep, and nobody will be expecting him for hours.

he chuckles.]

Yes. I am asking if you would take me back to yours for a movie.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

... [okay if he just completely hides his face in his arm nobody can see his face and thus nothing is happening there at all, shut up.]

A few hours of mortal peril wasn't enough to tire you out? [aiming for droll, landing somewhere more along the lines of slowly dying.]

[light_mischief]

It takes a little more than five minutes of uninterrupted screaming to wear me out. Unless you're worried I have some other intentions in my request...

[delivered with the smooth, low confidence of a man who knows exactly what he's doing.]

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[NOPE just. fully ducked into his side, grip tight enough it would have left bruises on flesh.]

... I am trying... very hard. To not hide in the nearest shadow. [he demands recognition of his struggle he has never made an effort towards anything in his life ever.]

[light_mischief]

[he lifts their tightly intertwined hands up, pressing them against the Captain's shoulder. ok, ok, he should really not push his luck.]

There's no need to hide. I promise to play nice.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

... Well. Can't be that terrible, can it.

[and, sure, pulling his head back now means the blush on his face is an undeniable observable reality, but also, shut up, no it isn't.]

"Come into my parlor," said the spider to the fly...

[light_mischief]

[the good thing about being a skeleton is that he can't be caught out staring. the other good thing is he doesn't have a face to blush with. and here he thought the Faceless Ones were madness-inducing...]

It is the coziest parlor I ever did spy...

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[insert incredibly awkward night here subscribe to a higher patreon tier to unlock it]