9th Wave

[tentacruelest]

[Spam, taking place before he's abruptly rescued by his warden]

[Down on the pier in the seedier part of town lies the carnival part of the fair, locally known as the freakshow. Here lie bearded women and conjoined twins and all sights horrifying to the general public of the late 19th century.

And in one tent, shoddily constructed and guarded by a red-faced barker charging a nickel a head, sits what's being billed as the Crustaceous Man.

And inside sits an ill-tempered cursed Captain, waiting out this irritating turn of events in sour silence]

Comments

[myironeyes]

[There's a slightly undignified squeak, followed by some sputtering, followed by silence from outside the tent. Then Marsh glides in, glances around with small, birdlike tilts of his neck. Then he sits down beside Jones without a word.]

[tentacruelest]

[Observing Marsh from the stool upon which he sits, Jones raises an eyebrow at the man as he sits beside him]

And what do yeh think you're doing?

[myironeyes]

I considered a flying escape, but that seemed likely to draw even more attention.

[Definitely not checking on you.]

[tentacruelest]

[With a snort, Jones reaches out his massive claw and deigns to push Marsh over from his sitting position]

Get out, boy. You're not wanted here.

[myironeyes]

[Mildly, letting the claw bump him, blank spike-heads turning toward Jones in a way that might be described as askance.]

I'm not wanted out there, either.

[tentacruelest]

You are not wanted here more strongly than out there. D'yeh think our differences unite us? Away with you; find your own hovel. I prefer silence.

[myironeyes]

Not really.

...I was silent.

[Until Jones asked him questions.]

[tentacruelest]

[Technicalities will not stop Jones from complaining, Marsh]

This is my tent. You have no purpose here. I do not want yeh here.

[myironeyes]

I'm baffled that you have any attachment to it.

[tentacruelest]

The only attachment I claim is to solitude.

[Slowly, he steps off his stool to reach down and grab Marsh by the upper arm, hauling him to his feet]

[myironeyes]

[He stands, smoothly, then carefully and deliberately pries the claw open with his other hand. It's slightly awkward - not a lot of leverage - but he has more than enough strength to do it.]

This qualifies? With the gawpers swishing in and out?

[tentacruelest]

[More than enough, clearly; Jones' claw is only as strong as a man's hand now, thanks to his warden sapping the strength from it some time ago. It's a hurt that still runs deep; once he could cleave a person's arm clean off with it, and had. Now, it was nothing better than dead weight]

It qualifies. At least I am not forced into ridiculous, idle conversation.

[myironeyes]

[It's a little difficult to give Meaningful Looks without eyes. Marsh settles for a long, blank stare, then a silent nod. He releases Davy's claw and sits down again. He promised Nathan he'd meet him on the Midway later, but he wants to hide away for a little longer.]

[tentacruelest]

[Bringing his claw back to his body, Jones gives a deep scowl and sets himself back down on his stool]


And you? I can't imagine you like to be stared at.

[myironeyes]

[He lifts one shoulder in a slow shrug. He doesn't care, at least not here, where he is merely a curiosity. At home, everyone knows too much about what the spikes mean - or what they meant.]

[tentacruelest]

...Feh. Go sit up on someone's mantle if yeh enjoy being looked at so much.

[myironeyes]

[He keeps his silence. He isn't actually trying to sleep sitting up, but it would be an easy mistake to make.]

[tentacruelest]

[With a grunt of annoyance and after his words go unanswered, Jones reaches over to push Mash off the chair, in order to check whether he's dead]

[myironeyes]

[Marsh bristles and huffs defensively like a very put-upon bird.]

...do you want me to talk or not?

[tentacruelest]

[Marsh's demeanor amuses Jones, but he dares not to smile just yet. Instead, he snorts and sets his claw back on his lap]

I want yeh to either speak your peace and leave, or leave without speaking.

[myironeyes]

[A small scowl, a pause, and then a nod.]

I will. In a little while.

[tentacruelest]

Good. Wake me when yeh decide to leave.

On second hand, don't.

[myironeyes]

[A twitch of a half-smile, which he mostly hides while bowing his head, silently acquiescing.]