Captain on deck

[bathymetric]

At the stroke of midnight, amidst the burst of dozens of colorful lights in the sky, the device in your pocket rumbles faintly with a reminder to head down to the theatre. You wouldn't want to leave your captain or first mate hanging, would you?

The doors have finally unlocked, and as you head in, you find... a rather nicely decorated little theater. The red curtains obscuring the big screen draw back, revealing three simple words in huge font.

Have a seat.

As soon as everyone is seated, the lights dim, leaving the group in almost complete darkness until the big screen flares to life. Jaunty music starts to pour in through speakers surrounding the room as the big screen plays clips of grand cruise liners sailing through sunny tropics.

"Atlantic Liners," says a voice, slightly automated to a discerning ear but definitely male. "We look to the future while remembering the past. That's why even our top of the line ships carry that nineties charm while having the best luxuries money can buy."

How charming and debonair. But isn't this commercial trying to... sell you on a cruise you're already on?

"Hey there, passengers! It's me, your lovable captain of the SS Swift. How is everyone doing tonight on this fabulous New Year's day?"

Is the voiceover referring to you? Well, that just raises further questions.

"I'd like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for joining me tonight as we cruise through these lovely Atlantic seas. And to welcome you all, not just to our eventual destination in the Bahamas, but also..."

The screen flashes, switching from soft sunsets to harsh, burning flames.

"To your doom!"

One second passes. Two. Three.

"...Your doom!"

Has it been a minute? Does anyone have a watch?

"Your doo-Okay, that should have been cue for the ceiling-mounted flamethrowers. Why are they not charbroiled by now? Can you tell me that much? No? Fantastic. You're useless."

A sigh, clearly frustrated. Without a speck of that earlier charm. The lights in the theatre rise back to clearly visible levels. 'TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES' pops up on the big screen with a picture of a monkey wearing a hard hat next to a burning television.

"Okay, this is just as awkward for me as it probably is for you, ssssso! Questions? Concerns? Anyone tried the margaritas yet?"

Comments

[sivard]

Yeah. He's a pirate. He's gone on and on about safe sailing and not falling into "Davy Jones' locker" before.

[scythegun]

Ah, of course! A pirate would know to fear Davy Jones, certainly!

[sivard]

Here I thought the sea was fearsome enough all on its own.

[scythegun]

Certainly, but it's easier to blame things on a personification of that danger than it is on the sea itself, ja?

[Though now said personification is very real and that's so cool.]

[sivard]

A personification is one thing, this is... something else.

[scythegun]

Ja, the actual person behind that personification! How fascinating...

[sivard]

It's... a little foreboding, isn't it?

[scythegun]

Certainly. I imagine that's part of why he's here, though - his presence will intimidate us into following the rules the Captain has set for us.

[At least in part, anyway, even though most people probably aren't going to jump to murdering one another immediately.]

[sivard]

Yeah. I imagine he'll be strict about the rules.

[In...cluding the murder thing.]

[scythegun]

Ja, of course.

[That's absolutely going to be fun.]

[sivard]

[....]

Say, do you think the Captain intentionally screwed up?

[Or is he just that incompetent?]

[scythegun]

If you mean with regards to Mr. Jones over there, I doubt that. With regards to us? Well... I think he's playing dumb. It's much better if people underestimate you, wouldn't you say?

[If we feel like we can take him on, then we'll be stupid and rash which will make his job of killing us all the easier.]

But that is just speculation, of course. There's no way to know for sure just yet.

[sivard]

This all feels a little... too planned.

[A botched plan to murder a room full of people, and the ringleader just so happens to have a second-in-command who is a mythical pirate...?]

I'd say I'm just being paranoid, but this is the guy who tried and failed to set us all on fire.

[scythegun]

I think you're on the right track. It sets it up to look like the Captain is an incompetent fool - or at the very least, that he's surrounded by incompetent fools. That makes it easier for us to assume that it'll be easy to overthrow him... but the First Mate is someone terrifying to make us think twice.

It does seem a bit too ridiculous to all happen just like this.

[sivard]

Yeah, exactly.

This is... sure strange.

[scythegun]

We'll just have to see where this goes, ja?

[sivard]

I suppose you're right.