There he is...
Standing with vigilance. Sweeping his mighty broom to cleanse these docks from any dirt, soot, or, worst of all, dust bunnies. Foul creatures may they be but invisible to the common mortal eye.
Not his, however. Nay, for this man has trained for years to be able to spot even the most stealthy of dust bunnies! Whether the Blaze be lighting his way or the night try to hide them from his sight. The old warrior is the sole defender of the port. None would be able to live here without him! For he...
...IS THE DUST BARON OF PESINWOK, CONNOVER!!
...
Ahem, sorry I got carried away.
It's been three days since Alix talked to Kent about using his ship.
Kent's interactions with Alix over the past few days have changed slightly but not for the worse. He seems to hold Alix with more respect nowadays, a simple change that Eric and Alisa didn't really pick up on. When the day of the departure finally comes the group, including Ms. Chancey, arrive at Phillip's Dusty Ole Shi yard.
The pirates tried to fix the sign for Phil but it fell off again...nevermind, it doesn't matter!
Alix walks at the head of the group, leading them to the shipyard.
Isabelle grimaces during every step of the journey. "This place is nothing but a pile of driftwood waiting to fall apart at any given moment! Oh! Is that...blood? In broad daylight?!"
Eric casually looks over the older woman's shoulder to investigate the puddle. "Nah, that's just an old tomato." Isabelle breaths a sigh of relief when she catches the sound of Eric clicking his teeth in dissatisfaction. She looks over her shoulder at the boy, slightly disturbed but does not speak up on her feelings.
'Not the time, Isabelle!'
"We're here." Alix calls out from the front. The group looks to the front to see a decently large vessel settled into the water. It is a brig, a two-masted ship for those that don't know ship vernacular(I know I didn't).
From atop the ship, Kent reveals himself. "Ahoy, everyone!" Alisa runs up to the side of the ship with stars in her eyes...well more than normal.
"WOW! This thing looks so cool! I've never been on a pirate ship before! Did you make this on your own, I hear some like to make their own? Or did you steal it? It would be very pirate like if you stole it but I also know that you haven't been on the water for at least the last few months? Unless you got this before then? That way we wouldn't even know that you stole it! You're such a villain big bro!"
"How he acquired the ship does not matter." Alix says as she walks over to the gangway hanging from the ship and grabs hold. "All that matters is that it can get us to our destination."
"I don't see how taking a ship would be any better than taking a carriage to the nearest town then walking the rest of the way." Isabelle comments earning a glare from Alix.
"Because this is how I want to travel. If things had gone exactly as I planned, then you wouldn't be a part of this journey! Now shut up and get onboard!" Isabelle stands in silence for a moment while Alix climbs onto the ship while holding Mo and Trouler tightly. Alisa and Eric are next to climb up with the final one onboard being the chaperone of this journey.
"Alright, is everyone ready?" Kent calls out, mainly looking at Alix. Alix nods and Kent nods back.
"Alright. HEY GUYS!!" From below deck, people begin surging out like lava in a volcano. Rushing around the deck grabbing ropes and oars to get everything ready for the ship to take sail. While Alix takes that in, two members of the crew approach her.
"Why hello again, girlie! It's been quite some time!" Alix looks at the person that approached her with confusion.
"Who are you?"
The sort of beaten looking woman laughs. "You've gone and forgotten me, eh? Ah well, that makes sense. We haven't spoken since ya got into that fight with the Captain!" Alix finally recalls that the woman that is speaking to her. It is none other than Waloe with her good friend or crewmate or maybe even lover, Shyanne.
"Right. I forgot about you two."
"No worries, me and Shyanne won't take no offense to it! Will we, Shyanne?" Shyanne stares hauntingly at Alix as Waloe slaps their back. "O-oh! I guess ya got Shyanne pretty bad there, actually?" Shyanne slowly droops their.
"Hey!" Kent calls out getting the attention the three people. "Shyanne and Waloe, get to yer stations! I only called on ya to help me run the ship!" Waloe gives a half-assed salute, grabs Shyanne and goes to their station.
Across the deck, around thirty people work together to get things ready and within a few minutes the ship sails take to the wind and the ship takes off. The ship cuts through the water sending it spraying through the air. Alisa runs to the edge of the ship and watches as they start moving away from the port. Eric takes this moment to find a place to sit down and rest, while Isabelle can't help but regard all of the pirates with sketchy looks.
Kent, in a moment of nostalgia, takes in a big breath of the salt water air. The smell takes him back. Back to those days when he'd always be at the water with his...crew. Kent stares into the distance for a moment before pulling himself back into reality.
"Not now." He whispers to himself. Kent looks down from the wheel ensuring that everyone is in their places when he sees Alix just standing by herself. Realizing that it may be some time before he is actually needed at the wheel, Kent wanders down to speak with Alix.
"Greetings, mother." He says getting Alix's attention. "What has you standing alone like this?"
"I was thinking about the destination and the events to come within the town." Alix answers.
"Really, is there something concerning ya about our destination?" Alix opens her mouth to respond but holds back. Kent slightly bows his head in understanding. "I understand, mother. You do not have to speak of it if you do not wish it." Alix frowns slightly and looks at Kent.
"Why would I tell you anything in the first place?"
Kent chuckles. "I guess you're right! You never were the sociable type." Kent sighs then looks into Alix's eyes. "I don't want you to feel like I'm doing anything unnecessary, though this is quite unnecessary. I just...want you to understand that if things are bothering you right now and you ever happen to get sick of talking to monsters then...you can vent to me or Holiday or even Alice. You may not notice it but we do care about you."
Alix's eyes widen slowly as Kent starts backing away. "Anyway, I know that you like being alone so, you can sleep in the captain's quarters with all of your monsters."
"That is an...unexpected offer. I will take it, though I am urged to ask why you are offering me something that is rightfully yours?" Kent waves his hand dismissively.
"I told you that I'd treat ya like my mother, didn't I? Well, I always told myself that if my mother was ever on my ship then I'd have her sleep in the captain's quarters!"
"Why?" Alix asked searching for understanding.
Kent answers without even missing a beat. "There's nothing more important in this world than ones parents, or at least that's what I've always been told." Kent walks back over to the wheel leaving Alix sitting on the deck by herself.
'What was that?" Alix questions.
'I think that he was trying to apologize for getting mad at you a few days ago?" Nuka guessed.
'If that's the case then he should have just said so directly."
'Would you have?" Mo asks already knowing his master's answer.
'Of course not. I've never done anything that needs apology!" Mo and Nuka roll their eyes at the girl's lack of self-awareness. Alix picks up Mo and waves for Nuka and Trouler to follow her to the Captain's Quarters.
It's the perfect place to practice magic undisturbed during this long journey.