Nocturna League (Episode 3: The Sunken Breath)
Page 13
Chapter 9: Falling Action, and The Captain’s Glorious Return
They’re quiet for a bit, and then Colette turns to look at Grancis. “So, yeah.”
Grancis glances over for only a second. “Yeah?”
“Do I really seem that… different, to you?” Colette asks.
“Different how?” Grancis asks in a plain, almost disinterested voice.
“Like, now, versus when we started out?”
“I suppose, I just saw you and I as best friends. Well, I suppose we are still, but I thought that… No, honestly I should have guessed— your goal of becoming powerful is more important than anything to you. You’re dead set on… avenging your mom- right?”
Colette looks away hearing this and she takes a deep breath. Slowly, she comes to a nod. “You’re right, I think. It pains me to say it… it sucks, it really does, but I think I want revenge for you, and my mom, and everyone. I’m willing to give up a lot for that, everything, even.”
Grancis nods. “Well, I hope you get what you want Colette. I’ll still be your friend. I’m glad you have something to believe in,” she says, nudging her friend with her elbow.
Colette smiles, and nudges Grancis back. “What do you believe in, Gran?”
“You,” Grancis says, her eyes focused on the water below.
Colette has nothing to say to that. She returns to the awkwardness of staring into the ink-black water of the ocean, and all of a sudden, both lines feel a tug.
“Wh- I got something!” Colette stands up.
“Me too!” Grancis stands with her. They both tug at the lines, but they can’t pull it up.
“This is… heavy!” Colette exclaims through her teeth.
“AM I HEARING SOME DIFFICULTY OF THE REELING?” Boris asks, smashing his head through the kitchen doors.
“Sir, help!” Grancis says, slowly losing her grip.
“I AM OF THE HELPING!” Boris soars over and with a single lift of the arms, secures both rods and tugs up with such force, the catch flies up and does a flip onto the deck. Sopping wet, The Captain pulls himself to his feet, and tears out the two hooks. Grancis and Colette instantly exchange nervous glances and Grancis reaches for Colette’s revolver.
“That’s quite an efficient way to recover drowning sailors, Boris; we should consider replacing life-savers with just a lot of fishing rods— we’ll never lose another shipman.” the fully-clothed Captain remarks.
Boris grunts in thought. “EH, CAPTAIN, I AM THINKING THE MORE MEAT-HAVING SAILORS WOULD NOT BE APPRECIATING OF THAT DECISION. BUT IF YOU’RE PLANNING UPON BEING OF THE USING THEM FOR THE COOKING AFTERWARD, THEN YOU’RE TOTALLY HAVING OF MY SUPPORT.”
“Oh, excellent. Nothing like a good hook injury salted up by the sea to give one some moxie for the sailing life. A few wounds would be good for a couple of the softer-skinned sai-”