Quoted By:
"You." Benedict steps closer to the captain after managing to finally dry swallow his pill. "You. You. Are just. Trying to convince yourself, huh? It's. It's."
"Obvious." You finish the statement for Benedict. "You're trying way too hard to hype everyone up."
"Cult like, really." Adam chirps in response.
"It's creepy as fuck, man." Lex hisses out.
The crew standing below the stage mutter confused questions to each other. Captain Abraham's three associates tense up at the direction this conversation is going, shaking their heads to signal you to stop.
Captain Abraham narrows his eyes at you and the chef. "CONVINCE MYSELF OF WHAT? NAY. I REJECT THIS IMPLICATION YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO SLANDER ME WITH! I AM CAPTAIN ABRAHAM! THE ONE AND ONLY CAPTAIN WHO CAN LEAD US TO VICTORY!" He turns back to his crew before shouting with an almost obsessive, religious zeal to his voice. "DOUBT IS THE MIND KILLER! THESE LAND LUBBERS DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RULES OF THE SEA. DO NOT BLAME THEM FOR THEIR IGNORANCE, CREW!"
As if his words were law, any doubt the crew had disappears immediately. A fervent, obsessive chant is about to start but is quickly stopped by Benedict slamming a heavy foot against the stage.
"A good captain. A good. Boss." Benedict's jaw struggles to work, teeth grinding against teeth. "Doesn't. Need to talk. About himself so much. Actions would speak. For him."
Captain Abraham stares blankly at Benedict. There's not a hint of expression on the man's face. The crew below and his associates stay silent as well.
"I. I know what. Like to. Not know self. But I don't. Yell what am I to. Others." Benedict forces out each word with discomfort that could only be matched by someone swallowing glass shards. "Why?"
<<span class="mu-b">"Why indeed? Why am I chasing after that damnable thing? Perhaps it's the only thing I know. This salty rain. The infinite blue sea around us. That's all I can think of."</span>>
"Great men do things that other men can not understand. I do not think lesser of you for your ignorance, Benedict. I simply do what I must for my crew." There's a small crack in his emotional armor now. Ashley decides to butt in before he can try patching it up.
"Fair." Ashley keeps her voice low and calm. "That's fair. You're doing your job. We're just here to do a job too. We're not going to deny the rewards but what's your end game here?"
"I told you already." Captain Abraham's smile widens a bit too much. "Did you not listen to my cries? To the story, the song, I tell my men? You five may not be a part of my crew officially, yes. However, my heartfelt cries are meant as much for you as they are meant for my crew after what you did."
"You're dancing around the issue, old man. Look, I don't really give a shit about whatever baggage you have but if you're doing some shit that could put OUR lives into danger, we have to know. Your crew has to know." Ashley points a callused finger towards the crew.
