Deck of the Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Sunday afternoon

[betterthanaplan]

So after yesterday's picnic, Duke had seriously considered raising anchor and just getting the hell back out of Fandom while the going was still good. Unfortunately, he still needed supplies and at least a little more socialization before he was ready to hit the seas again, and an island so small it didn't even show up on any maps was the best damn hiding spot he was going to get from the various and sundry people who either wanted to arrest or kill him.

He was definitely not going to teach a class at the high school though. Certainly not one about piracy. That was just -- people hadn't trusted him around kids when he was a kid. It was clearly nonsense.

Having spent the morning on various repairs and maintenance around his ship, he headed into town for groceries around noon, then set up his small grill on deck to make some lamb shashlik and vegetables. After a couple weeks of living on fish and jerky, kebabs were right up his alley.

[open! Duke's boat's deck is visible and easily accessible from land. Think of it like someone's front patio or driveway, only furnished with crates and random thrifted benches and things.]

Comments

[biotic_psychotic]

Jack was out for a walk. She'd had a talk with Atton earlier and now she was taking a walk. Perfectly normal. The boat was new. She blinked a little. "Fuck me, there's actually a boat at one of the docks? Huh."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke looked up from his grill with a raised eyebrow. "Surprised the hell out of the management when I pulled up yesterday too," he said. "Which -- this is an island. I'd've thought boats should be standard."

To be fair, he assumed boats were standard anywhere that wasn't entirely landlocked. And he wasn't really clear why anyone bothered to live in landlocked towns.

[biotic_psychotic]

"Yeah, you'd think," Jack drawled, "but this island's anything but standard all the fuckin' way through. If you haven't met Fjord yet, you will. He's gonna dig on this, there finally being a boat here." Paused a second and then asked curiously, "You arrived yesterday? You a student or a teacher?" He looked too old to be a student but maybe he was a senior. A nod that was more a lift of her chin. "I'm Jack, one of the teachers but I'm takin' this semester off."

[betterthanaplan]

"Met a Magnus who was pretty excited about it," Duke said. "But, uh. No Fjord."

He gave her a Look at the "teacher or student" question. He was in his thirties, thanks. "Yeah? You get press-ganged into it too? I hear that's the school's favorite recruiting tactic."

[biotic_psychotic]

"Ah, Magnus," Jack smiled, "He of the shirtsleeve allergy and the biceps for days. I can appreciate a guy like that. Fjord's great, salt of the earth kind of guy. Works at Caritas on Fridays behind the bar. Big guy, black hair. Not Tino, Tino's a total shithead you should never trust with your drinks. Fjord pours good measure." Which she deeply appreciated.

She met his look and arched a brow but didn't call him on having the babiest of faces. "Nah, I volunteered. I'm a teacher back home too for kids that're different and some might consider dangerous. I get how they might need someone like me here and I got idiot family here someone had to come look after. Lots of people just get dropped into the shit though, that part's true enough. So you got press-ganged, huh? Sorry about your luck."

[betterthanaplan]

Well, in a few years he'd start going gray at the temples and jawline. Maybe that would help.

"Different or dangerous, huh? Ended up in a class or two like that in my time." Or, rather, in juvie. He shook his head. "'Got press-ganged' implies that they've succeeded. I make my own choices, thank you very much."

The moose in the front office was going to eat him alive.

[biotic_psychotic]

The grey might help the look but wouldn't do a thing for Jack giving him shit about it. She was a brat.

"Yeah? Did you get decent teachers or did you get the sorts of assholes who made you feel like you were a waste of everybody's time?" she asked, actually interested in the answer. "I usually get the kids who've had the latter sort in their past. I try to make a point to be the former." She smiled a little, "Anyone told you anything about this island yet? Cuz I'm guessin' not if you don't think your ass won't be plunked into a classroom on whatever day and time you were assigned a spot."

The moose was really gonna eat him alive. Jack almost felt sorry for him. "What'd they assign you to teach anyway?"

[in_sidon_we_trust]

[[easily visible and accessible from land, but what of SEA? AH-HA!!!]]

Sidon did feel that perhaps he should be doing more to meet and get to know some of the newer students so recently arrived, but he had the whole school year to do that! With fall right around the corner, and, after that, dreaded winter!, he felt a much better use of his Sunday would be getting in as much swimming as he possibly can. There weren't very many swimming days left for him, after all, he'd best maket he most of it while he could!

Of course, one of his favorite spots to return to after a good venture out into the ocean was the Port, which provided the best view of the island from the water, but what's this? Something new added to the wonderful panorama of the island! Someone had brought a boat! Marvelous! Of course, he'd have to swim up and say hello!

"Hello, there!" he called out, once he was a bit closer, waving his arm from the water. "Fine day for swimming, wouldn't you say? Or for...are you grilling? Then, yes, it's a fine day for that as well!"

A boat! In the port! Fantastic!

[betterthanaplan]

[IT IS EVEN MORE SO FROM SEA OBVIOUSLY! :D]

"Holy shit, you're a talking shark."

Duke didn't even manage to sound shocked. He was possibly too shocked to sound shocked.

Also, there was that weird creeping feeling of not-quite-deja-vu again, like sapient creatures from the deep had actually shown up in his life before. . . .

". . . You want some? I've made enough to share."

With the talking shark. Thing.

[in_sidon_we_trust]

"A talking Zora, actually!" Sidon corrected, sounding terribly amused. "And not just any talking Zora, either! I am Sidon!" And, of course, he pumped his fist across his chest, sending a winning, shining, toothy smile up toward the boat. "The Zora Prince! What a pleasure it is to make your acquaintance!

"I certainly shouldn't wish to intrude," he continued, "and I do rather appreciate the offer, but I believe I shall pass. I've had quite my fill from my thrilling excursion today; you find only the best fish out there in the very deep! But thank you all the same! Did you just sail in? Are you to be one of our new teachers?"

[betterthanaplan]

Wow, that was a lot of teeth. Or really just a lot of . . . a lot. Duke wondered idly if he'd been slipped something back in Rio. Or if possibly he was just kind of losing his mind.

Well, either way, there was no way out but through.

"Duke Crocker," he said. "Got in yesterday. I know about those fish. Been living on them for awhile. Figured I'd give myself a 'turf' option today instead of 'surf'." But then, he wasn't a giant shark-thing. He didn't suppose giant shark-things got sick of fish. "And -- why exactly does everyone think I'm a teacher?"

Did he screw up somewhere and accidentally start looking reputable?

[in_sidon_we_trust]

"Ah, my apologies, your grace!" Because, of course, Sidon was a prince. Why wouldn't he assume he was talking to an actual duke? His head dipped in the best approximation of a bow as one could manage when half in the water. "A student, then? I thought you looked a bit older, is all, but it is still rather difficult for me to get a good guage on age with humans and human-like people! I suppose...you could also just be visiting, or perhaps attending to business in town? It's just that, with the welcome picnic having just occurred, one's mind rather does tend to lean toward attributing any new faces to the role of either teacher or student. Perhaps you've been gone on a long voyage in your fine vessel here, and you've only just returned? If that is the case, well, then, allow me to wish you a hearty welcome back! You've managed to miss one doozy of a summer, I can assure you of that much!"

[betterthanaplan]

"I'm thirty-three!" He did not look like a student, dammit! "Business, yes. I needed to resupply and this place looked nice. . . . What do you mean 'doozy of a summer'?"

[thatwaslucky]

This wasn't the first boat that had ever been out here in Rey's time, but it had been the first since she was played with regularity started coming around this area more. She'd come out after work to find someplace to practice with her staff, but she maybe had to slow down to check out the boat.

Some things she just liked because she didn't see them much.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke would claim that the Cape Rouge was also a work of art -- but she really did look pretty junky from the outside.

Helped keep people from thinking there was anything of value on the inside.

He waved to the girl looking his boat over and held up a skewer. "Kebab?"

[thatwaslucky]

Rey blinked, and frowned. "What?"

Weirdly, she didn't get offered kebabs often.

[betterthanaplan]

"Kebab," Duke repeated, moving to the edge of the boat to show it to her. "Spiced lamb on a stick. Got veggies too, if meat's not your thing."

[thatwaslucky]

"You know you're offering food to a stranger off the street, right?" Rey checked.

Do not get her wrong, she did not turn down food. She just wasn't used to it.

[betterthanaplan]

"I am," Duke acknowledged. "But I made kind of a lot of it, and I've found food makes for a good universal ice breaker when you're new in town." He shrugged. "If you're worried about stranger danger, I promise not to be offended if you say no."

[what_the_shock]

Miguel was mostly just wandering around a bit, but the new boat was hard to miss.

He waved as he got closer, looking it over.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke waved back. He was just going to have to start hosting parties out here, wasn't he.

He did love hosting a good party.

"Hey man. How's it going?"

[what_the_shock]

Parties were always good!

"Not bad." Miguel came closer. "Haven't seen a boat out here before; you just get here?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Why do these people even have a port?" Duke asked the sky, then looked back at Miguel with a smile and a shrug. "Dropped anchor yesterday morning. Interesting little town you all got here."

By which he meant: mindblowing and faintly terrifying.

[what_the_shock]

"That's one word for it," Miguel said, smirking. "No idea about the port. Because it's an island?" He shrugged.

[betterthanaplan]

"Yeah, but why maintain it if you're not going to use it?" Duke wondered. "What, is it just a tourist trap?"

Haven was a very touristy town, but at least it still managed to have actual fishing and shipping industries.

Duke shook his head. "You know what? Never mind. You want a kebab?"