[written]

[hollywood_bro]

searching for coral is boring
what do i know about diving and finding things underwater?
it takes forever
my mood is as black as this coral.
i wanted to do things this month
i was gonna recruit some new crew members
set sail
maybe search for treasure
now i can't.
on top of that my only crewmate disappeared
he's usually never gone for more than a few days
but it's been like
weeks now
what kind of captain has no crew?
i guess i'm gonna have to do the jack sparrow thing
i am a captain
it doesn't matter if i have no ship and no crew
i do have a ship though
it's a small one but at least it isn't sinking
i know how to sail it but i don't know how to navigate
who can read these maps anyway?
is anyone willing to take on an extra person to the fortress?
i have two pieces of black coral.

Comments

[maskedtyrant]

Well...on his way back, I hope.

[Codi stays put, watching Dave pace to the ship's edge. Rusty the raptor, sad at having her pets taken away so abruptly, makes a high-pitched whine and stumbles back to her mother for compensation.]

I heard that people who die here come back after a couple of days. [She smiles, toothy and very strained.] It's been...a bit longer than that, but...they have to come back, right? They can't just...

[The ginger trails off, drawing a blank.]

[hollywood_bro]

[The whole thing doesn't sit well with Dave. If he had known about this earlier he would've been here sooner.]

The witch has something against Davy Jones and it seems like she's messing with us just to get to him. Maybe she's interfering with his power and that's why they're not back?

[It's the only thing that makes sense. On the other hand there's no proof. It should be noted that Dave hates the sea witch anyway.]

I'll stay until Dirk gets back.

[maskedtyrant]

[Codi nods, looking a bit numb. She will believe just about anything if it means the people she watched die are not actually dead. That makes her feel a bit better.]

...Thanks. [She smiles more genuinely.] It was getting too quiet around here, anyways.

[hollywood_bro]

[Alpha Dave was totally devastated when he heard younger Dave die. Maybe it's not as bad as losing an entire crew, but it's a pretty shitty feeling nonetheless. He hopes they come back. There's been too much death here already.]

What kind of Captain would I be if I deserted my bro's crew? I'm pretty sure he would've wanted it this way.

[maskedtyrant]

[Ah--here's a good way to change the subject.]

Speaking of that...you're still on your own with that boat, right?

[hollywood_bro]

Yeah, I wasn't doing much with it. It'll have to sit in the harbor, as usual.

[He was still going to fight the witch, but it's better to do it with other people.]

[maskedtyrant]

[A smile lights up Codi's face. It is only a little mischievous.]

Well...why don't you just stay with us? I'm sure Dirk would appreciate your company. Might make him a little less paranoid about things, you know?

[hollywood_bro]

[A bittersweet smile tugs at the edges of Dave's lips.]

He asked me to join his crew shortly after I arrived. I was like, nah. It's cool that he wants to hang out with me, but I'm the Captain. It's me. Not gonna be anyone's crew member or first mate. I sail my own ship.

[Even if he has to sail it alone. He's so stubborn.]

[maskedtyrant]

[Codi agrees. She rolls her eyes and shifts her hips in a melodramatic pout.]

Ugh. You're worse than he is. [The words carry a certain bite to them, but Codi's expression is light, teasing in a critical sort of way.] Look, if I was stuck on a raft by myself out in the middle of the ocean, I would go nuts. I'm just thinking about your own sanity, here.

[hollywood_bro]

The thing you need to understand is, I'm already insane. I come from a world that was taken over by an alien sea witch who ran a baking empire and enlisted the help of two rapping juggalos to help her control and conquer all of humanity. That's pretty fucking crazy.

[And even though it gets lonely on the boat sometimes Dave has plenty of people he can visit when he gets bored. He doesn't feel like giving up yet.]

[maskedtyrant]

[Codi isn't quite sure she believes that--the quirked eyebrow she shoots him should say as much.]

Alien sea witch with a baking empire, huh?

[hollywood_bro]

She also had horns on her head. They were fucking huge like, almost as long as her legs. And she wore a skin tight bodysuit and a bunch of gaudy golden jewelry. I tried to kill her, but her power level was over 9000.

[Dave isn't sure why he's digging himself in deeper, aside from an insatiable need to prove just how batshit his world really was.]

[maskedtyrant]

...Right.

[Sorry Dave, she's not buying it. But given that he's kept a straight face for all of this, she's compelled to tease him a bit more dangerously.]

And I was the leader of an international organization of superheroes along with a genius, a shapeshifter, a doctor, a reporter, and the voices in my head that tell me to save people. We frequently dress up in silly costumes and fight crime together. It's great fun.

[Straight. Face.]

[hollywood_bro]

[Dave buys it. Why not? His first crewmate was a shark and he's heard there are are my little ponies here. Superheroes wouldn't be too shocking.]

Cool. What are your powers like? Do you have super strength? Can you fly? Are you more like Wonder Woman or the Invisible Woman? You don't seem like the Invisible Woman type to me. Do you wear a leotard with a cape?

[maskedtyrant]

[Codi plays along.]

Nothing so outlandish--just a cape and a mask. [She grins mischievously.] My powers are a secret. As is my identity. I can't go around telling every pretty boy what I do, right?

[hollywood_bro]

Right. What kind of asshole would I be if I revealed that the cute girl on the Sinewave was really Wonder Woman? That would be such a dick move.

[He figures it's a Clark Kent/Superman kind of thing, only she isn't as nerdy as Clark Kent.]

[maskedtyrant]

Hmm. [Codi's mouth twists into a playful smirk as she rocks on her feet, slowly pacing a circle around her guest. Why yes, says her complacent expression, I am the cute girl on this ship, thank you for noticing.]

I imagine you have some pretty interesting abilities of your own, what with challenging a crazy alien queen and such.

[hollywood_bro]

I've got some pretty sick skills with my sword. Used to be able to do a bunch of time stuff, but I can't anymore.

[He'd explain why, but he isn't sure himself. Maybe he lost his time powers when he died? Or maybe it's just that two different Daves can't both have them at once. Who knows?]

[maskedtyrant]

Of course Captain Pimpmaster Hustledaddy is skilled with his sword. Why am I not surprised?

[Inquiries about time stuff can wait--obviously shameless flirting takes priority!]

[hollywood_bro]

Because I'm awesome, so it isn't surprising. Couldn't call myself a Strider if I didn't know how to handle a sword. It runs in the family.

[Not that he ever taught Dirk anything, though he'd be more than happy to take credit for it regardless.]