"Looks like we got us our brave volunteers," the captain said, grinning toothily at the three of them. Blake thought he sensed some unease coming from Mallory, which was never good - if she wasn't confident, it meant they were in for something<span style="font-style: italic">really</span>bad. Maybe they'd have to fight some kind of monster, or swim to a sunken ship.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Or maybe we'll have to bathe, again,</span>he thought with a thrill of horror as the blood drained from his face.<span style="font-style: italic">Anything but that.</span><br/><br/>"An' two of you are new ones, eh? Good, good, looks like Margo sent us some chests with heart, then. Better than the cowards behind you," he said as he shot a venomous look over at the trio of boys who'd stepped back. "They'll be spending the day scrubbin' the shit-stains off the old chamber pots. By hand," he added, smiling unpleasantly at Shitsack, who looked very much like he was having trouble staying still as the powerful smell coming off him grew stronger.<br/><br/>The short man jerked his head at one of the crewmen, who walked forward and ushered Blake and the two girls along in the captain's wake as he walked down towards a door opposite them. Blake remembered that a pirate captain's quarters were supposed to be stern, though he didn't understand how a room could be serious. Unless it was magic? He felt nervous as he entered the space, and when the door slammed shut behind him he jumped in spite of himself.<br/><br/>"You, boy," the captain said as he sat down behind the carved wooden table and jerked a finger in the direction of Blake's chest, "what's your name?"<br/><br/>"M-m'name's Blake, sir."<br/><br/>"You a smart kid, Blake?"<br/><br/>"No sir, I's stupid, sir."<br/><br/>"Hmph," the captain replied, shifting his attention to the other two. "You survived this long, so that tells me you're smart enough to follow instructions. You're the only lad here, so you'll be in charge of the two girls. You're to be held responsible, got me?"<br/><br/>"Re…resp…respondable? I don' und-"<br/><br/>"Drab's tits boy, you weren' kidding. But I'll make it easier for you," he said, sitting forward and peering intently at the skinny boy in a way that only heightened his sense of alarm. "You fuck up, either of these two gals fuck up, it's on you. Any questions?"<br/><br/>Blake opened his mouth, then promptly closed it again. When it came to his current level of confusion, he didn't even know where to begin.