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>>982285
"I'm finding myself at a bit of an impasse with one of Lora's - um, your daughter's - captives," you admit. "A being I know only as the Librarian. He makes geargrinders, and maybe is one, but he and his 'Thirdborn' stand between me and the Master that ultimately controls Lora. My relationship with him is...complicated."

"I am listening," the Quell's doubled voice says mildly. Four eyes rest on you with its full attention.

You sigh. "The Librarian is playing both sides of the field," you begin. "He traded evidence leading to the murderers of my people in exchange for his six hundred youngest children being spared. He has made overtures of formal diplomacy, mixed in with sneak attacks and assassination tactics. His geargrinders crippled many of the harpies in the Roost, destroying their wings and preventing them from possibly flying ever again, in order to assassinate my close friend and ally - a friend who was also a beloved leader in the Dungeon. I don't know if he genuinely does not comprehend the atrocity that he's resorting to or if he doesn't care, but at some point I have to deal with him and his people, and I'm wondering what I ought to do with them."

"After the conversation we just had, you're asking me?" the Quell asks.

"After just telling you flat-out that you learned this lesson the hard way and have way more experience than me at this, you're giving me shit for following up on my words?" you rejoin.

The female half of the Quell rubs its chin. "...What drives this Librarian?"

"I believe he's trying to protect, and perhaps find a home for, his children," you admit. "If he knows about the Master's plan, he's banking on having a new world to settle, one where they won't have to deal with their creators."

"And so the pattern repeats. The created, dissatisfied, distances itself from its parents only to discover that it is not yet ready to fly. I am surprised. You say he has claimed your friend's life, and yet you ask, instead of swearing vengeance."

"Someone has to do what needs doing," you say quietly.

"Sue for peace," the Quell suggests. "Justice may be done once Creation is safe. There is no purpose in prosecuting your grudge, no matter how justified, if all others must die for it."

You let out a long breath, then nod. "Thank you, Quell."

"And you as well, Brianna la Croix," the god answers.

You awaken, feeling shockingly rested. Nate and Amy are in the room, playing cards. They look to you when you sit up.

"Get the others," you request. "And something to eat. Not any of the crew."

"You got it," Amy agrees, brightly, moving to gather your compatriots.

The cabin seems a lot smaller with everyone in it.

> Follow River's advice; find somewhere to burn /Pallbearer/ and stash the crew until you can complete ending the curse
> Just discuss the conversation with the Quell and how you can track the /Lonesome Dirge/.
> Ask the others if they agree with River's assessment
> Write-in?

>>982345
>Just discuss the conversation with the Quell and how you can track the /Lonesome Dirge/.

>>982345
>> Just discuss the conversation with the Quell and how you can track the /Lonesome Dirge/.

>>982345
>> Just discuss the conversation with the Quell and how you can track the /Lonesome Dirge/.
Giving up the /Pallbearer/ would take even more time and difficulties than we've already been through. We clear this floor before we burn our best way of traversing it.

Aight, I'ma leave this open and crawl into bed. I've got tomorrow and Thursday off free-and-clear so expect more updates in that timeframe.

As always, questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>982345

Half a billion people. We can't afford to let this ship run itself aground just yet, not least because if we fail to take out the /Dirge/ that's probably going to be more than enough to reach the full billion.

We need the boat, and that's the honest fact of the matter right now.

Afterwards... We'll see.

>> Just discuss the conversation with the Quell and how you can track the /Lonesome Dirge/.

>>982345
>Just discuss the conversation with the Quell and how you can track the /Lonesome Dirge/.

>>982345
> Just discuss the conversation with the Quell and how you can track the /Lonesome Dirge/.

>>982200
I am, and I will sharing with my younger once I am done loving the shit out of it. And a review? I can do that.

>>983002
Jesus, typo. I'll be sharing it with my younger sister.

> Wake up for the first time at 10 AM
> Realize I'm sick
> Immediately engage coma mode

I'm gonna call and write after I get and eat some soup.

>>983575
Get better soon best lich, now I need a pic of a lich in a fluffy robe sitting in an eazy chair eating soup.

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>>983604

>>983896
Close enough.

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>>983604
Please don't die!

...Again.

>>983896
That is waaay too appropriate to be a coincidence.

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>>983988
Over time, I've gotten really good at finding pictures for almost any topic. See this picture? I was the one who found this and showed it to Vox.

And yes, I am indeed a wizard.

>>984615
An oldy, still very good.

I'ma try to update this tomorrow if I'm feeling better. It took me literally all day to get the update for the other thread done and I'm 9001% sure it was forced-out shit that I shouldn't have attempted. Thank you for your patience.

>>986756
I voted like that to hopefully see him squirm before the entire court, most of which I imagine don't like him very much.

>>982345
> Ask the others if they agree with River's assessment

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>>982345
You decide against lighting up with everyone pressed in like this and just sit on the bed with your hat on your knees so you can get your hair straight. The brush provided in the cabin is fucking luxurious. You might just be keeping that bad boy.

The ship purrs its approval into your mind, and you set the brush down with a distinct feeling of unease.

"Alright," you begin, at last. "We have the Quell's...I'm going to say 'approval' because 'blessing' is a bit of a strong word in this context, but we don't have to worry about a massive set of scales dropping out of the sky on us after we take care of business. However," your eyes go to River, "we'll do that once we have Reeve. The former Captain needs to be destroyed as part of this. The curse is as much his as it is the ship's."

"Why do I get the feeling that's why he agreed to hold onto that chain," Nate says with a sigh.

"I'm sure Lora's the reason he was able to abandon it," you agree. "That's immaterial. The point is, we don't need to find the chain if we can tear the former Captain apart and dispose of the ship."

"What happens to the crew?" Scribbles asks, biting her lip.

"I...think...that's between them and Lora," you admit. "Quell said once both Reeves and the ship are gone, the curse is over. I don't know what that means for the crew. Currently including me, actually, but I imagine Lora ought to be able to tidy up...leftovers."

"And if she - nevermind," Amy sighs. "No point in worrying about it now, I guess. You already went and did it."

"Pretty much," you agree softly. "So, how can we track the /Lonesome Dirge/?"

"It's a bit much to just bank on the idea that our enemy awaits us in the storm," Catherine speaks up. "If it were me, I'd hide the chain in the storm and then lurk elsewhere, to prey on any who tried to brave it and then left."

"That's...remarkably underhanded," Nathan says, a bit uncomfortably.

"The Red God is the lord of strife. He appreciates honor. He does not command it."

"Okay, let's not," you speak up. "None of us are really great diviners. The ship can't track the /Dirge/ either, so we need ideas here. What do we know about it?"

"It's running low on food," River says quietly. "Just like /Pallbearer/ is. It's going to start raiding on the saltwater side, if it isn't already."

"There's a thought," you admit.

> Find a high-value target and lurk near it; you can catch the /Dirge/ in an ambush
> Cross the Bar and keep on the lookout for signs of an attack. It'll either be the /Dirge/ or Canopus, and you like those odds
> Brave the storm anyway. If you can find the chain instead your problems are solved. Maybe.
> Write-in?

>>988649
>Cross the Bar and keep on the lookout for signs of an attack. It'll either be the /Dirge/ or Canopus, and you like those odds

>>988649
>> Cross the Bar and keep on the lookout for signs of an attack. It'll either be the /Dirge/ or Canopus, and you like those odds

>>988649
> Cross the Bar and keep on the lookout for signs of an attack. It'll either be the /Dirge/ or Canopus, and you like those odds.
Didn't Lora ask us not to harm the giant sea serpent? I hope we might have a way to calm the beast and stop it from smashing us. Maybe Amy's song?

>>988649
>> Cross the Bar and keep on the lookout for signs of an attack. It'll either be the /Dirge/ or Canopus, and you like those odds

>>988935
If harpy song was that potent, I imagine they'd be rather more prevalent on all the floors; but Amy is modded, so maybe?

can we ask the first mate Cross's opinion?

>>989264
I mean, you could, but Bri excluded Trust from this meeting more or less because it's implicitly also planning the death of the ship.

>>989591
well we can bring her into this now that we've talked about that bit can't we?

>>989591
I still can't see how she thought this was going to end any other way.

Like, Rachael must be purposely walking around with blinders on. Shit.

The bit about how the crew raided a city for one fucking sword still makes me pissed. They're lucky we didn't vote to torch their asses then.

Aight, I'm hittin' bed, followed by dentist in the morning. I'll check in when I can think/see/type straight. Votes remain open, and my thanks for your patience and understanding with the last few days. I chose a fun time to get sick.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>988649
>Brave the storm anyway. If you can find the chain instead your problems are solved. Maybe.

If they lurking for people trying to get to it, that kind of forces their hand. A trap isn't really a trap if you kn ow it's there.

So, pro tip: don't develop a resistance or immunity to anesthesia in your life. It will only worsen affairs.

I'll call and write...when I can.

>>991284
I hear ya man, I hear ya.

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>>988649
>Write in
We know tools for divination exist - we bloody well built one out of the Diviner's bones for hatchet so he could find what he's looking for.

So, could we build a divination tool to find Lora's chains / the enchantment that binds Lora? We've broken several of them at this point, and it wouldn't surprise me if Richard was a lazy fuck and just did the binding enchantment on Lora once and broke the chain primary chain into smaller portions for the enemy commanders to wield.

If Reeve has hidden it somewhere, we find it, break it, and Lora ends him. If Reeve has it, we get lead to him.

If we need rare shit to build it, I'm sure the /Pallbearer/ has it in stock. It thrives on collecting the rare and magical, after all.
Perhaps it already has one, and we just need to find it.

What would we need to build Jack Sparrow's compass - or at least a close approximation?

>>991319
>implying the greatest pirate ship doesn't have an in built Sparrow compass
ftfy

>>991284
Too late for me.

They always have to put me under.

>>992036
It's starting to seem like that's gonna be my life too, and insurance doesn't cover the damn gas.

>>992057
Unless you live in a real country - i.e. not America - they have to make payment arrangements for it if you can't immediately afford it.

Most dental groups and doctors will work with you on payment plans though. After a few years of immunity, the payment plan is better than trying to survive local anesthetic without biting someone's fingers off, believe me.

>>991319
>This

I also advocate getting expertise from Cross in on this. The crew of the Pallbearer would be the ones who would know what the other ship would be most likely to do

Called, writing.

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>>988649
"Alright, I'm going to get Trust's advice on how to execute the plan, but for now? We're going to lurk on the far side of the Bar and wait to see smoke or another sign of an attack. Those guns are loud; they'll draw us readily enough."

Nate lets out an uncomfortable breath, but then nods. "Do you need us for anything in particular?"

"Not at the moment. If you wanna be the doofus who tries to debate theology with a Chosen - that's exactly what you're about to do, isn't it?"

"It is," he and Catherine say at the same time. The two exchange a high-five without looking, then exit your cabin. Your other friends follow suit, except for Flitter, who stays sitting atop the headboard of your bed.

"You're welcome to sleep in here if you need to," you invite, quietly.

"I'll be fine in a bit," the pixie promises. "I just...I need some time to myself."

"You just call if you need us, okay? I'll leave the, um. Window thing open."

"Porthole," Flitter supplies, while you prop it open.

"Yeah, that. I'm glad to have you back, Flit."

"...Call me Belle," she asks, quietly, before she turns away from you and stares out the window. You tip you hat and then leave, gently shutting the door to your cabin behind you.

You almost backhand Rachael with your cane on sheer reflex when it turns out she's right behind you. She ducks - also reflex, if you're any guess - with the biggest.

Grin?

"That was a good fight, Captain. No dead, about eight wounded. The ship fed well, and we even have plunder of a sort. Elemental ice. Hard to spend, harder to forge, but handy. Good job."

"I - you're wel - thanks?"

The First Mate claps you on the shoulder and jabs her thumb towards the helm. "Shall we? You've got that 'I have orders' look on your face."

"I do have orders," you agree, in a mild daze. "Alright, let's do this." You follow the First Mate up to the helm and dig out your pipe so you can clean and pack it. "In short, we're going to lie in wait for the /Lonesome Dirge/. I'd like your advice on where to hide, how to tell their attacks apart from Canopus, and how to intercept them once we know where they are."

Rachael lets out a long breath. "...You won't like my suggestion, Captain."

"I'm gonna ask you to say it anyway," you order, patiently.

"Best place to hide would be the ruins of Sprawl. No one's gonna expect us there."

> Nope. Not doing this. Thank you for your time, Rachael.
> ...Let me guess. Centrally located, no longer a target of value, easy places to weigh anchor? Nice, practical reasons?
> Y'know, this might actually be a good time to hit her with the cane
> Leaving aside all the reasons you knew I wouldn't like that, why the border between the fresh and the salt?
> Write-in?

>>993479
> Leaving aside all the reasons you knew I wouldn't like that, why the border between the fresh and the salt?

>>993479
>> Leaving aside all the reasons you knew I wouldn't like that, why the border between the fresh and the salt?

>>993479
> Raise the cane again, just to show her how tempting it is to hit her. Then, take a deep breath, and put the cane back down.
> "Leaving aside all the reasons you knew I wouldn't like that, why the border between the fresh and the salt."

>>993479
>Leaving aside all the reasons you knew I wouldn't like that, why the border between the fresh and the salt?
Odd.

>>993781
Nah, Nate trained us a little, he would have taught us not to threaten with a weapon unless you mean to actually use it.

Alright folks, I'm hittin' bed. I'll try to update before work tomorrow but if that doesn't work out I'll update around midnight or so. Votes remain open.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>994450
Thanks for running tonight Vox. Take some time to enjoy welcoming the New Year.

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>>993479
Oh my god, Bri is captain Hook and Flitter is Tinker Bell.

>>994772
...Does that mean Amy is Peter Pan?

I am totally okay with this.

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>>994813
Nate is a lost boy too...my god.

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>>994772
>>994813
>>994814
I love you all so much.

I'm gonna leave this vote to cook; I have things to take care of before my shift, and then when I get back home it's gonna be near midnight. Our normal updating schedule of Whenever I Have Time, Literally should resume thereafter.

In a related story, July At Christmas Quest just wrapped up and is open for final feedback. The thread is here >>976880 with an archive link to the previous thread/one-shots if you have a curiosity upon you. Your feedback is most welcome.

>>993479
>> Leaving aside all the reasons you knew I wouldn't like that, why the border between the fresh and the salt?

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>>995067
Hey Vox, I was just going through the CYOA thread in tg when I noticed this VERY interesting name in the waifu section...you might want to have a look. Near the bottom. Any ah...anything you want to comment on?

>>993479
>Write-in: "Well, it'd provide a wonderful opportunity to calm down the angry ghosts you undoubtedly left in your wake before we end up having to do this whole specter song and dance again."

>>995440
FUCKING THIS. I don't think I can stress enough just how much Ms. Trust and the rest of the crew deserve a proper bludgeoning, and worse. Does nobody on this fucking ship have a brain, or a heart?

>>995411
...That just seems like a coincidence, or someone else just liked the sound of La Croix. It'd be something quite different if whoever made it had straight ripped off Brianna or River.

>>995067
We love you too Vox.

Captain Brianna taking Lost Boy Nate hostage and forcing Peter Pan Amy to search for the buried treasure. In his pants.

>>995590
>spoiler
I approve

>>995590
Nice spoiler, now I want Space captain La Croix with her merry band of Peter Pan and Lost Boy Nate. They go and loot space dungeons. And fuck each other senseless in the captains cabin but LOOT!

>>995411
No? What even is this?

>>995693
Apparently you have a fan in space, or Bri has a LONG family line in her future.

>>995710
You do know that 'la Croix' is a super common surname on Earth, right?

>>995725
Nope, didn't know that. But it sure is a cool coincidence. DLQ in space when?

>>995767
Yeah, it's French. It's common in Louisiana in the USA, and just about anywhere else with significant French influence on the language and culture. You'll see it as 'Delacroix' as well.

>>995801
Neat, I learned a thing today.

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>>995411
I always thought he got the idea from pic related

>>997113
Oh yeah, I forgot all about that.

> Get up
> Get morning stuff out of the way
> Sit down to update
> Work calls me in.

I'll see y'all at 8:30 I guess.

>>997866
Wow, I never knew how demanding being a Lord of the Undead could be. Used to be that a master of death, decay, and wordplay was shown some respect! Kids these days.

>>999364
Ended up staying another two hours because of some master-class horse shit with the scheduling. I'll call and write after chai.

>>999678
It was drugged

>>1001240
Wasn't me. This time.

>>1001240
>>1001358
Sorry folks. Last night was not great work-wise and I ended up doing other things to try to wind down.

Called, writing.

Just another anon that just caught up after a few weeks in the archives. This is good stuff, Lich friend.

>>1002070
Welcome to the quest, anon!

SLAKE MY LUST FOR FEEDBACK

>>1002210
the smut could be better.

>>1002210
I think you need an intervention, buddy guy. Your addiction to this "feedback" thing is getting pretty unhealthy.

http://pastebin.com/VesbkDtH

I pastebin'd my shit so there wouldn't be a wall of text to inconvenience anon.

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>>993479
You suppress the flash of anger at the suggestion. Rachael /had/ warned you, and...well, to be frank ('Cold,' corrects your conscience), the damage to Sprawl is already done. It isn't like Rachael is suggesting that you plunder the ruins.

Again.

"Okay," you say patiently, after taking a few deep breaths. "I'm gonna leave alone all the reasons you already knew I wouldn't like it, since you're clearly fucking aware of them. So: why the border between the salt water and the fresh water? I thought you two had the level essentially divided up."

"We did," Rachael agrees. "But it's only a matter of time before the /Lonesome Dirge/ realizes we are not where we ought to be, and comes looking - or for prey. And though Sprawl is not the only crossing through the Bar, it is by far the most suited to either of our vessels. They will use it, if they wish to move between the two seas."

You nod, thoughtfully. "That...is well-reasoned. Alright. We'll go with that."

"Captain, is this going to be a problem?" Rachael asks, frankly. The First Mate folds her arms in front of her chest. "If you feel I need to be disciplined we can get the bosun and the whip and -"

"The /fuck/ is wrong with you?" you interrupt, in vague disbelief. "At what point did you think I was the kind of person who whipped people?"

"That's standard military doctrine, Captain," Rachael says patiently.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I fall into a uniform instead of my fucking clothes this morning?" you take your hat off and shake it at Rachael. "If you haven't noticed, I'm a la Croix, not a soldier, not a general, I'm not even a fucking /mayor/. I don't flog people. I don't even really like hitting them! Generally I either help people, ignore them, or kill them as painlessly as I can manage. Gods. Fuck."

The First Mate blinks at you with wide eyes. She holds up a hand, turns, and starts shouting orders to get the ship on course to Sprawl, and then turns back to you with confusion on her face. "...Captain, what is it you want from me?"

> Say something (what?)
> Just let it go

>>1002267
Can I get you to expand on this? Smut's a relatively new trick for me so I'm quite happy to take advice.

>>1002387
Danke, anon. Bookmark'd.

>>1002558
>What I want from you is to not leave misery and horror in your wake. What I want is for you to show some damn humanity for the grief of your victims. What I want is for you to be a better person.

>but I can't order you to grow a conscious or whip humanity back into you, so you'll just have to try.

>>1002558
Jesus fuck, where to start.
> "For starters, you yourself seem to be completely mystified by what should be a natural reaction to a callous disregard for the lives and well-being of others."
> "I understand that the ship is cursed, and by being either dragged into service or signing on due to desperation, you've been forced to live a life full of violence, cruelty and terror. But not anymore."
> "If you are going to follow me, you and every hand on this ship is going to have to learn how to be fucking human again. To remember what mercy, compassion, and justice are. Or I swear to the Ancestors, I will fucking burn you with this ship when I am done."

THIS FUCKING SHIP AND THIS FUCKING CREW PISS ME OFF!! REEEEE!!!

>>1002584
>>1002597
Some combination of this

>>1002584
>>1002597

> These

>>1002584
>>1002597
these

>>1002584
Playing devil's advocate: they've had to steal and kill to continue for untold centuries. They /have/ to. I doubt most of the crew started without a conscious, but the constant, required stealing and killing would wear anyone down. Even if it didn't, that'd mean they be perpetually sad and mopey for their entire lives; the callousness is a defense against that. What would we have them do? Apologize as they run a sword through your gut? Asking them to feel for their victims will just leave them miserable.

>>1002852
Yeah, I know. And Silence mentioned that she had to serve for a year and a day in order to get into the Iron Lands.

I'm just...Fuck, we all know that pirates, no matter whether they served a crown or were just straight pillagers, were assholes. These guys aren't any different. How in the hell are we supposed to convince them to follow a humane path when they've been stuck living like this for so many untold years?

The most I can think of is just asking Lora or Emily to smite them and send them on to the Sunless Lands. Most of them should have died centuries ago anyway.

>>1002597
We're already planning to torch the ship, aren't we?

>>1003195
yeah but not the crew necessarily. there's a pretty good chance with the curse lifted theyh'll go back to being plain old mortals

>>1003293
>The crew must not be permitted to steal or purchase another ship. It will become /Pallbearer/ and perpetuate the curse."
Implies that the crew's gotta go as well.

>>1003326
they don't have to, we just need to dissuade them from doing it

>>1003363
Depends on the nature of the curse. They might still have their immortality. But if not, that's still a dangerous loose end to leave; it only takes one of them to start anew, and it'd be impossible to track them all over an extended period.

>>1003391
What if Lora locked them in the dungeon, but out of the Sea?

>>1003391
We have to make sure the settle in land-locked areas, where /someone/ can keep some kind of tabs on them. I would suggest the Basement, except they'd end up with a dinghy named the Pallbearer and we'd have to start all over again. Maybe the Lichyard, the Mine, or the Cornucopia?

>>1003559
>And here, children, we have the crew of the dread /Pallbearer/.
>Teacher, is that ship in the bottle a model of it?
>No children, that's the /Pallbearer/ now. We feed it a cricket and a halfpence coin every new moon and it doesn't try to give anybody a splinter.

>>1003583
you know that's actually not a half bad idea. Obviously the spirit of the ship would probably not like the idea of being reduced but perhaps it could be enticed into a steady stream of tribute and blood through something less destructive like fishing or whaling

>>1003583
.....Yes. That is the best plan.

Could we put some sort of curse or something on the crew that would stop them from getting a ship? Like, if the Pallbearer's curse can detect when a crew member gains a ship, can we set a curse that will activate when a crew member gains a ship and set the ship on fire or something?

>>1002558
>Nothing that you are capable of doing or giving intentionally. I mean, if I were to just tell you to dislike hurting people or to grow a conscience you couldn't just /do/ it; the most you might do is think about it and act like you thought a person who was like that would act and maybe change. I can't directly change your mindstuffs, and neither can you. Currently I am considering ordering you to sit in a corner and think about what you did for an undetermined time.

Really hope this makes sense.

>>1003608
Now that I think about it there's nothing stopping the pallbearer from taking plunder and bloodshed from other pirates, hunting monsters. I bet even in the employement of a state it could still do its job. It wouldn't be as easy as raiding merchants and towns, but wouldn't the rewards be sweater?

>>1003734
Sweaters are subpar loot. Unless they're made from the golden fleece or something, anyways.

Called, writing.

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>>1002558
You look at the honest, lost expression on Rachael's face, and you sigh before putting your hat back on your head.

"You can't give me what I want," you tell her, in a tired voice. "Not on purpose. I can't order you to stop taking pleasure in hurting people. I can't ask you to just grow a conscience, because you can't just do that at the drop of a hat. At the moment I'd settle for you not being completely mystified at the idea that I value the lives and well-being of others but I can't just make you do that either."

"I don't get you," Rachael says quietly. "Are you a necromancer or not?"

Your hand tightens on the top of your cane. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that," you answer, in a hard tone. "And you're going to assist me in that delusion. Am I clear?"

The First Mate snaps a salute. "Like sweet water, Captain."

"Look, I get it. This is how you've lived your life for, what, centuries now?"

"Yes."

"Yeah. And you didn't exactly choose this out of a hat with the full right to refuse it and continue living your life," you continue, sympathetically. "You've had to be violent and cruel to survive. You've had to resort to terror and misery to get by and get through, and that's more than a little fucked up. But you asked me to command this ship, and if you and yours are gonna follow me you're going to learn to be fucking human again, and if that means I have to get Scribbles to give literal lessons on mercy, compassion, and justice, I will. Because if you won't, one of the things you need to be afraid of is me."

Rachael's hand strays to her revolver; yours twists the top of your cane slightly, releasing the blade to be drawn. The two of you stand for a long moment, eyes on each other, before Rachael lifts her hand and puts it into the pocket of her coat.

"You aren't threatening me, are you," she murmurs. It isn't exactly a question.

"I'm not," you answer, seriously. "I'm being honest. I have a duty, Rachael. And that duty means I don't just turn you loose to hurt more people. One way or another, when I leave /Pallbearer/, this has to be over. For always and ever, /over/. I want that to be over because this horrible thing that was done to you got undone and you have the chance to live a normal life again, to be free of this curse and find some closure. But if I have to make it be over because you're all ashes on the sea floor, I'll do it. I'll hate it. But I'll do it."

"I don't understand you, Captain," Rachael admits. "...I want our old Captain back. I want things to go back to the way they were."

"Were you happy?" you ask, pointedly.

"No. But I was less afraid." Rachael looks out over the deck. "Will we see you for dinner?"

"I guess you will, if you care to," you agree, carefully. "You could end me right here, you know. Mutiny would be easy."

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>>1004291
"I'm a pirate," Rachael tells you, wounded pride coloring her tone. "I am not a /traitor/. Think of me as a beast if that makes me make more sense to you, but I have rules, just like everyone has rules. And if you're going to condemn me to death, I'd like you to actually get to know me."

"...I don't want to condemn you to anything, Rachael."

"I don't even know how to start doing what you want me to do. What you /want/ is probably immaterial. Captain." The First Mate gives you a bitter salute and walks away.

You let her go. What else is there to do?

You get out your diary for the voyage and spend some time writing in it. It lets you stay on deck without really having to bother anyone, which is nice.

You're probably retreating from your friends and loved ones again, but this godforsaken ship makes it seem so appealing.

The ruins of Sprawl are still smoldering in places when you get there. Some of the buildings are still somewhat intact, but most of the city suffered mightily beneath /Pallbearer/'s guns and those horrible exploding cannonballs. Large chunks of the Bar have holes blown out of them, and their rubble has crushed homes and businesses beneath them.

You can taste the death and fear in the air, thick as blood and just as sharp. You head down onto the deck and tell your companions that you're doing dinner with Rachael tonight. This time period. Before camp, damn it, /fuck/.

"Are you doing alright, Bri?" Nathan asks gently, when you tell him. "You've been a bit..."

"Upset? Distant? Snappish? Falling into old habits?"

"Yes," Nathan agrees.

"I..." you look around, then sigh. "I'm grappling with my choices about this ship. And I'm not sure this is something you or Amy or anyone else can really help me with. I haven't even really been talking to Fetch about it."

"I've noticed, love. He's been spending time with Amy, chatting forlornly in bird."

"...I'll...bring him with me to dinner."

Nathan gives you a hug. "Good plan, Bri," he agrees quietly. "And we're here if you need us. For anything. Everything feels..."

"Like we're getting close?" you prompt, returning Nate's hug.

"Yeah. Like we're getting close. I'm worried, Bri. About you. About me, a little. Amy...she..." Nathan takes a deep breath. "Amy made me promise something before we fought the Lush. She made me promise that I'd put my life before someone else's if it came down to it, that I'd do what I needed to so I could live. I promised her, and I lied. I only lived because he refused to finish me."

"...Yeah, that sounds like you," you admit. Nate rests his forehead against yours and sighs.

"I don't know what I'm doing, Brianna," Nathan admits quietly. "When it all happens, I just...do things. I don't really think about it, and next thing you know I'm missing a leg and the two people I love most are angry at me."

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>>1004446
> Just be you, Nate. Just...be you. I wouldn't ask you to live as someone else. I won't ask you to die as someone else.
> Amy's right, Nate. Why are you so hard up to die for someone you don't know?
> I...I don't know what to say here, Nate.
> Write-in?

>>1004450
>Just be you, Nate. Just...be you. I wouldn't ask you to live as someone else. I won't ask you to die as someone else.
>But that doesn't mean you don't have to answer to Amy, who is ~also~ your loving wife.
This is one of those places where Amy and Bri have to agree to disagree.

>>1004450
> Just be you, Nate. Just...be you. I wouldn't ask you to live as someone else. I won't ask you to die as someone else.
I reeeeeaally hope that the dinner doesn't turn into one of those super awkward affairs, like something out of a Lifetime drama.

Maybe the massive sea serpent will do us the favor of saving us from the farce. I would seriously prefer wrangling a giant monster to playing therapist/ethics consultant to immortal traumatized pirates.

>>1004460
Also we're going to be miffed if he ends up feeding another one of his limbs to the massive serpent that we might have to fight in the near future.

On mobile so i'm not voting just yet.

I feel like Bri would have conflicting feelings here, not wanting to change Nate, but also not wanting to see him hurt. Being heroic is fine and all but no one benefits more from his injuries/death than our enemies. So maybe try to act smarter instead of impulsively.

>>1004541
It's not that he's hard up to die for someone else - he's a Hero, and can't avoid the Heroic Impulse no matter how hard he tries. It's instinctive. It would be like asking Amy not to be Shankbird - violence is part of her instinctive nature. She can try, but if she wasn't who she was, she would have died a long time ago. If Nate wasn't who he was, he wouldn't be where he is now, with Bri and Amy at his side and loving him.

>>1004539
That is a good point. But we can let Amy beat him for us.

>>1004460
>supporting

>>1004450
I'm >>1004541
>Write-in?
>Just be you, Nate. Just...be you. I wouldn't ask you to live as someone else. I won't ask you to die as someone else.
>Write-in?
>But I want to make sure you understand that we cannot save everyone, no matter how hard we try, okay? And please try not to worry your wives to death.

>>1004541
I think Bri should just say she's conflicted. Something like:
>>1004703
And maybe add in that while we love him because of the way he is, because we love him we can't really help but be concerned for his safety.

Love gets complicated like that.

>>1004450
>> Just be you, Nate. Just...be you. I wouldn't ask you to live as someone else. I won't ask you to die as someone else.

>>1004450
>>1004460
>Just be you, Nate. Just...be you. I wouldn't ask you to live as someone else. I won't ask you to die as someone else.
>But that doesn't mean you don't have to answer to Amy, who is ~also~ your loving wife.
Seconding

Called, writing. Thank you for your patience I had shit that needed doing when I woke up.

>"Well the nice part about this arrangement is when one of us get murdered in a horribly gruesome fashion Amy has a spare."

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I'ma write this into a new thread, and I am sorry about the delay.

NEW THREAD:

>>1007795
>>1007795
>>1007795
>>1007795