Are you on the square? Are you on the level?

[theweakhavepurpose]

Who: Deputy Pratt & You
What: A reckoning is upon you (He's storming the halls looking for Sharky)
Where: Everywhere!
When: Mid-October
Warnings: Violence. Cult stuff. Cannibalism. Skinning. Gore. The standard Pratt warning buffet.
Notes: Bracket or prose, live your truth.



1. The World Is Weak - Laundry Room
It's already been well established that the best place to have a breakdown on the ship is in the Laundry Room, so that's where Pratt is. Though he's not crying, he's not yelling or throwing things or freaking out over a jacket like last time. No, he's pacing. Back and forth and back and forth, again and again while staring at the ground. He has his arms folded, clutching across his chest, which is an awkward position while walking but he doesn't move them.

He doesn't know what to do. Well, he knows what he wants to do, but he also knows that he is the master of terrible decisions so maybe he should think about it?

Back and forth. Back and forth.

Enjoying yourself?

"Shut the fuck up."

2. Eviction Notice - Decks

When Deputy Pratt leaves his room in the morning, he's wearing his full uniform, his belt jangling with every step, along with the dog tags around his neck. Idly he trails his fingers along the wall as he goes, dragging through some of those bloody notes left on doors without even seeming to react to it.

"Sharky! Shaaaaarkkkkyyyy..."

For all that people have seen him sobbing into mashed potatoes, enjoying himself in the arcade, or just generally being a morose but kind of endearing dork, there's another side to him that even Clarke hasn't seen. The last time he was walking like this he was losing himself to the conditioning and barely knew what he was doing. This is different. Pratt is in absolute control of himself and that is so much worse.

"It's been a day and we had a deal. A pact even." Pratt normally sounds like a raven with laryngitis, but right now his voice is so low and controlled when he talks that it could probably be used to grind glass. If it's not obvious Pratt is pissed. He's fucking furious. And that cold fury is being bottled up, saving it for later, for when he needs to act.

"It's okay, you can come out. We just need to talk. We're going to have a little chat. That's all."

He gets to the end of the hall of cabins, blood trailing from his fingers across all the doors from the loving notes left to Ebalon. He reaches up to his forehead, using the blood to draw a cross down his nose and across his forehead.

"Did you think you were finally free?"

This is probably fine.

Comments

[theweakhavepurpose]

"I absolutely want to see your awkward family photos. Especially if you had some sort of terrible uniform." He'll even do his best not to laugh if Klaus looks dumb in any of them. He's a bro like that.

"Oh good, yeah good. So uh.. here's ... the thing. Sharky is acting fucking weird. He claims he's just kinda depressed and having an existential crisis but fuck that noise. He's not himself. Ava thinks literally. So .. I'm gonna have a little chat with him later and uh... I think I'm looking forward to it. Which is.. bad. And weird. But also bad."

You shouldn't get all hyped up because you think you might have to kill your best friend.

[busball]

Klaus smiles. "Oh. You can bet you will see our dumb uniform. We didn't get the Sparrow uniform which seems...weird. But also we all fucked off as soon as possible, so..." Klaus wouldn't even be mad about it.

"Oh. Huh." There's a slight frown at that. "Do you want me to like...tell you not to do...whatever you're gonna do or?" Cause they can. Not that they expect to be listened to, but...they can. "Or just like...bring you little treats after? Be on standby for an SOS text? Fire emoji if it's bad." But like...Klaus doesn't think he's really the person to tell people not to do shit after every fucking thing he's done in his entire life.

"I mean...he'd do the same for you if it was...you...right? Would I be the one? I hope someone else is the one, to be honest. Probably Ava."

[theweakhavepurpose]

"Nah. I'm gonna do it anyway no matter what you say and then you'll just be bummed I didn't listen. But it's not you, it's just.. something I gotta do." He huffs, clenching and unclenching his fists anxiously.

"So, the problem. It's uh... I'm kinda stoked I might get to kill someone for a good cause, like without repercussions. Except it's my best friend and I should be horrified, but I'm so fucked in the head that I'm not. It's weird, in movies and shit people who are crazy never know they are, they think they're normal and everyone else is being weird. But I know I am and I think that messes with me more."

[busball]

There's a nod. "That's super fair. Then I guess like...I'll be around after the fact? You can text me after if you need?" That seems the best he can do. But this still seems like something's that's bound to be...an adventure. Whether it's actually going to be good for him or not? Well, Klaus has no idea. But when has he ever done anything that's good for him? Like...never.

"I mean, yeah. I guess it should definitely fuck you up and probably will a little. But I mean...I think I'd want someone to kill me if I was possessed. Unless it was Ben. We've done that once. But it was temporary and then I projectile vomited him out of my body and it was really gross in the end, but...oh well." They look Pratt over for a moment. "But like you can come sit in my room after if you want to. We can just talk about stuff."

[theweakhavepurpose]

"That'd be good. I'll probably be a mess. Or I won't be which might be worse in the long run. I don't think there's a win condition here."

He's gonna end up too depressed to take Klaus up on that offer, but he appreciates it nonetheless. "I would too, but it still sucks on both ends."

At least he chuckles at the thought of Klaus projectile vomiting an entire person out of himself, "That sounds super gross and kinda uh, uncomfortable? To puke up a person?"

[busball]

"No. It doesn't really seem like winning." If Allison was here, she could rumor someone. She could make this...well, he doesn't want to say easier. He's not sure he should encourage that.

"Yeah. I get that. Definitely not stoked about murdering people I like. But like...yeah."

He smiles. "It just got super uncomfortable being two souls in one body, you know? He wanted to talk to this girl he liked in a real body, which...sure. I get it." And they do. Sometimes you wanted to kiss someone you actually liked and feel like a real person. "But it was definitely gross and it felt kind of like the worst hangover you've had in your life. Like when you were really high and really drunk at the same time and waking up the next morning's a real bitch, you know?" Does he know? Klaus squints for a moment at Pratt. "Maybe not, but...anyway. Yeah."

[theweakhavepurpose]

"I just dunno what the alternative might be. But we'll see. I am actually gonna talk to him first not just... throttle him. Even though I kinda want to."

He wrinkles his nose cuz, gross, "Talk about being a third wheel literally. Was he gonna use your body to get with her because that's super uncomfortable and weird. Like are you aware of what he's doing? Just watching him mack on some girl like you're a backseat driver?"

Pratt opens his mouth to say that he absolutely knows that feeling, but maybe he shouldn't admit what a total disaster he was. Klaus probably doesn't need to know how fucking dumb he was going home with random guys in strange towns and doing whatever drugs they handed him.

[busball]

"I get it. I mean not really, but...you know." He's saying that a lot. Does he even know at this point? Doubtful.

"Yeah. I guess I am a lot indebted to him a bit. Also it's like...whatever? Things happen. And they didn't do anything really. He was sixteen when he died, so it's not like he's done that much?" But they understand why it feels super weird. It was more the continued possession when he was ready to be done, but apparently it was planned.

If it makes Pratt feel better, he has probably done just as many bad things in that regard. He's also traded sexual favors for drugs, so...you know. Woops?

[theweakhavepurpose]

"Man you are super casual about being possessed. It's not really like, whatever when there's someone using your body." He shudders, even the thought of it creeps him out. He's pretty sure this 'talk' with Sharky is going to go absolutely terribly because he's just so weirded out by this. Maybe if it wasn't his best friend he could do better wrapping his head around it.

"So when I uh... when I snap, I don't remember what I do - it's basically like being fucking possessed by the version of me Jacob tried to make me into. And waking up after that is fucking miserable. I don't know what I did, I'm usually covered in blood and feel like absolute shit and people are always yelling at me. Fucking blows. I dunno how you can act like its whatever."

[busball]

Klaus considers this. “It’s…the circumstances aren’t the same? So it’s different. Like, sure, there’s some general weirdness and shit’s like…questionable. But I gave him permission. He asked and I said yes.” So that’s not the same with this. No one was asked and…the shit that Pratt is talking about is different. That’s…definitely different. Trauma related. Not great.

“I’m sorry it’s so bad for you. And I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with that and everything else because of some asshole that should have been throat shanked a long time ago.” Their hands itch with the desire to reach out and touch. Assurance with touch is just something that comes naturally, but he crosses his arms over his chest instead. “I wouldn’t be whatever if it was just some random ghost.”

[theweakhavepurpose]

He tries to think about that, right now being rational is hard for him, he's so fucking amped up for murder, but he genuinely tries. "Okay maybe it would be different if they asked. And I you know, trusted them. So yeah. Different."

He'd let Sharky use his body if he needed. Probably Klaus too. With the caveat neither of them do anything too weird with it, he's scarred up enough.

"It is what it is. I can't do anything about it now. And I've only gone ballistic once being here. And I've been here since uh.. right before my birthday so," He counts on his fingers, "five months. That's fucking awesome considering how bad it was back home. But now... I think... I might need to. I dunno. Hope not."

[busball]

"Yeah. Consent is the key to the situation." Klaus isn't necessarily fond of the feeling of being possessed, but there's years of guilt and bad vibes surrounding Ben and that's...just one of those things. He might still let someone possess his body, but he wouldn't even know if they were asking at this point.

"Yeah. Yeah, I get that." He grins a little. "I'm proud of you, buddy. When was your birthday, though? Sucks that I missed it." Not that he has any idea what sort of present Pratt would have liked. Or if he even likes celebrating his birthday. "I mean...it sounds like...something I don't...really know much about on that front. So if you feel like you gotta, then...maybe okay? If it's a bad time, though, just...let me know. Then I can uh...be a bigger pain in the ass next time."

[theweakhavepurpose]

Okay that gets a grin, "Just like anything worth doing yeah?"

"I don't think you were here. It's in June. The twentieth. I got a roommate for my birthday actually, she showed up that morning and we almost killed each other because she woke up in a weird place with a strange dude in her room and then she scared the shit out of me waking me up and I almost stabbed her." It was actually kind of funny looking back on it, but now sorta... depressing. "She uh.. she disappeared though. A few weeks ago."

[busball]

“Fucking right.” He laughs and wishes that he could do a little shoulder bump to show affection.

“Oh. No. I got here around the pirate party for Stede.” He’d been there before the party, but it was only a day or two. “I think that was Augustish?” But that’s wild. “I almost got killed on my twenty-third birthday. Fucking weird experience. Yours sounds more fun, though.” They feel bad that it’s made Pratt sad, though. “Sorry about your roommate. Been a bad time for roommates.”

[theweakhavepurpose]

"Seriously. I guess at least I have the place to myself." Little does he know that's only gonna last a few more days, and he should enjoy it while he can. "Also I'm starting to think I should stop befriending women who's names start with C. So I should probably stop talking to Clarke. My girlfriend back home that I totally fucked up with was Chris. And then here there was: Chrissy, Claudia, Clara, and Caitlyn. Who are all gone now."

[busball]

Klaus tries and fails not to laugh. "The dangers of women with names that start with C." He only knew Clara out of all of those people. "I mean, you're probably fine still being friends with Clarke. Maybe? I dunno. But I hope so anyway." There's too many names for people they've fucked up with, so they are just not going to consider if there's a similarity between them all. "I have the room to myself, too, but you know..." That's also not going to last too much longer.

[theweakhavepurpose]

"I think I'm cursed. Maybe a vengeful wizard when I was like four and I don't remember." He's joking but... is he? He's not sure of anything anymore.

"Yeah, Clarke can probably outsmart a wizard curse. Or just like... stab it."

[busball]

There's no helping the laughing at this point. "I mean...it could have happened?" What does he know about it? Honestly, he's sure that being cursed it probably a thing. "Is she one of the aforementioned murderous teens I've heard so much about?" Cause Lucius told him about them.

"Did I tell you God doesn't like me? Cause I'm pretty sure that's part of being immortal. Cause there was this girl on a bike in my void and she said she didn't like me and she didn't say in so many words that she was God, but she didn't say she wasn't God."

[theweakhavepurpose]

"Yeah, she's probably like eighteen. Already killed me once, and apparently she attacked the Captain at one point? Balls of fucking steel on that woman."

Wait. Wait what? "Like God specifically has it out for you? What the hell did you do to deserve that? I killed probably like... I dunno.. over a hundred people and I didn't wind up in hell when I died. Why would God be pissed at you?"

[busball]

"Huh. I think...I heard something about that. Sounds fucking weird to me even now." But yeah. She seems like someone vaguely terrifying. Eventually they're going to meet her and she's gonna punch an animatronic thing.

"I dunno. I'm kind of a mess. I probably wouldn't like me....nah, that's a lie. I would totally like me even if I wasn't me. I'm awesome." A pause. "Yeah. That sounds accurate." But...."I dunno. I've never fully understood what it's about. We didn't have a real conversation about it."

[theweakhavepurpose]

"Not sure I'd punch the dude who magically dragged me to a ship in a reality he made himself and could probably rip me apart on an atomic level. But she took that risk I guess. I don't wanna be like...immolated or have my bones disintegrated or something." But apparently none of that had happened to Clarke? Maybe the Captain was nice or good natured or something.

"Dude everyone should like you. You're hella cool. I used to believe in God, but then I you know... got tortured a bunch by religious nutjobs, and I died. So if there is one, they're a dickbag for being mean to you."

[busball]

"Yeaaah. Diego would totally do it. Five would go for the axe. Or weirdly make friends with him. It's hard to say, honestly. Five used to be an assassin, so you know...it's hard to be sure." They're still voting for the axe. Especially with the blinking. "I could be ash after I'm dead, but not dying in a fire or...whatever that would be."

There's a brief moment where they have to fight the instinctual urge to insist that they're not actually that cool, which just registers as a sort of blank and confused expression. "God's always going to be a dickbag. Even if it's a little girl on a bike." Yeah. Just ignoring the compliments. Super cool.

[theweakhavepurpose]

"Axe is such a bad idea man. Pretty sure if he tried to slam an axe into the Captain it would bounce off and hit Five right in the face. And then the Captain would probably laugh? He sorta seems the type." Considering the man had quoted Satan at him, Pratt has a pretty good idea of what things the Captain liked.

Pratt is hopped up on the hype of going on a hunt, he's going to do a murder, he's gonna save his friend from being possessed, but he is also not gonna let Klaus get away with that.

"You know you're awesome right? Like... that's a fact that exists in the universe."

[busball]

“Five is Five. It’s his go to.” But Klaus hasn’t actually talked to the Captain. At least they don’t remember talking to the Captain.

There is a very obvious discomfort as he squints up at the general space above himself. “Yeaahh. Totalllyyy.” Cue the nervous laughter because who can actually sound like they mean it. “Super awesome.” It’s the earnest compliments about him as a person that trip him up the most. Couldn’t he just say he was hot and let him off easy? Gosh.

Anyway, just awkwardly gonna rub the back of his neck and try to change the subject. “So what weapon do you think would be better than an axe?”

[theweakhavepurpose]

Squint. Okay that's.. a good start. Says the guy who would never admit to doing anything good or helpful or useful in his life. The self-deprecating leading the self-deprecating. "Close enough. Now just tell yourself that once a day and we're all good."

He nods, like he's just helped Klaus get some self esteem or soemthing.

"Me? I personally wouldn't attack the Captain at all. Maybe if I knew how to use magic? But I can't, and that shit doesn't exist in my world so all I have is guns and knives and if it were that easy there wouldn't be hundreds of years of passengers previously."