Chapter 29-he might sue

Two nights in a row I forgot to post this. So I'm doing it now.

Me, first titling this chapter-Istg if I keep this title I'm going to just-stop posting and disappear forever again. (the original chapter name I put just as a placeholder was "miss ma'am what you doin")

Just so you all know that-I am genuinely, a dumb bitch.
Mk go on :D

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Madison's POV:

I buttoned up my vest and pulled my hair back through my crown. It was probably easier than when it was dry since there wouldn't be any stragglers...I looked in the mirror.

Wow, I looked dead.

Of course you do, Madison. That's what you are. When eyeballs and limbs have decayed to nothing but the fogged black magic of necromancy, you don't pass as human. It's a reminder of what you've done.

I shook my head and looked away from the reflection. It doesn't matter. I grabbed my things and left the bathroom. It's a lot easier to not think about it if I can't see it. My body may be dead but I can surely say my soul is just as alive as anyone else's. Just like that little determined kid of mine-

Wait...

"Hattie?" I looked around the room, and she wasn't anywhere to be found. I went out to the balcony, and she wasn't there either.

This. Child. Is going to kill me. Again. I don't know how, but somehow she will.

I walked back into the room, closed the balcony door, and put on my boots. I started to lace them up.

It would have been nice if she left a note or something...she just left without a word. I bet she did right after I got into the bathroom-I thought I was just hearing things when I heard a door close..!

I finished tying up my shoes, and quickly found my way outside of the room and put to one of the side balconies of the ship. I walked up to the pool deck, thinking she may have come back, but she wasn't anywhere within view.

I walked over to the bar and leaned against it without sitting down.

"Excuse me," I tried to call the seal, but it seemed preoccupied. In my impatience, my fingers began to tap on the counter.

There was the slightest chortle from a few seats down, and my eyes darted to them. It was that god-forbidden "bird" again.

"I see ya lost the kid again," the conductor snickered, "where'd a thing like her run off to this time?"

I looked away from him and leaned further over the counter trying to see exactly what the seal was doing.

"Ya don't talk much do ya? She seems to take after you with that," the bird raddled on, "it would be nice if she could-a actually read ma scripts."

Please. For the love of my contracts. Stop talking.

The seal was cleaning up a mess they made, and I stood up straight again. I turned around to look for a different one to talk to, leaning against the counter still.

"Y'know-I saw the two of yer swimmin...neither of ya all that good, aye?" He jested, adding an aggravating laugh, "maybe she's findin' someone who can actually teach her...!"

I turned my head to him, narrowing my eyes at this pompous owl. "Look, conductor, was it? I am looking for Hattie because she ran off again. And unless you can help me find her," I pointed an accusing finger at him, absolutely fuming, "I think it would be best you go back to drinking your cheap alcohol, ignoring your grandkids, and shutting that thing you call a beak."

He looked, extremely offended, but at the very least he shut up. I was about to leave when the voice of one of the seals squeaked from behind me.

"E-excuse me sirs...is everyting alwright...?"

I twisted round, and looked at the bartender, "no. Everything is fine between us. I just need to know if you've seen my daughter. She's about 3'6", and wears a purple outfit and hat to match."

The seal hummed as it thought, before it shook its head, "no, sowwy! I haven't, but youw could ask da captain...!"

I nodded, It would probably be best to head to Captain Maverick. Maybe he would at least be able to help me search with some of the seals or...more competent crewmen.

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I walked through the same door I'd gone through the first time I came in here. It still had the smog spread throughout, and the grumbled coughs of the captain echoed from above me. I walked further into the room and saw two sets of stairs on either side. I went up one, and Captain Maverick was sitting at the helm.

I cleared my throat to draw his attention, and he looked back before he turned his chair around.

"What is it?" He asked, not even removing the two cigars from his mouth. Nasty in my opinion, I'm sure he has his reasons...

I waved some of the smog away from my face, and tried not to breathe it in, "I'm just looking for my daughter, she left the room while I had my back turned and I don't know where she went."

"Uh, huh..." he grunted, coughing slightly, "what does this have to do about me...?"

...I'm sorry-what.

"Well," I tried to keep calm, even though the absolute disrespect of everyone on this ship was driving me insane, "this is your ship, is it not? And if there is a lost minor on your ship. I think that should raise some sort of alert. If you don't have a safety code put in place for that-I highly recommend you do."

He blinked at me, before sighing, "right. Sure."

I wish I could strangle him but I don't think I'd be able to properly strangle a walrus. At least after some convincing he-

"Why don't you go looking for her yourself...? And what's your obsession with 'safety'"

Oh, I would steal his soul if he wasn't the one maneuvering this ship safely.

"I have been looking for her," I retorted, before putting on my best courtroom smile I hadn't used in what felt like a millennium, "and I, captain, studied law."

What a rare sight to see a white walrus.

"And safety is a very important thing, no matter where you study," I finished. He looked like he wanted to say many things, but stopped himself before he did.

"W-well," Maverick finally blubbered out, "of course. What does your kid look like?"

Finally, "she's about 3'6", wears a purple outfit with a hat to match, and a yellow cape."

The captain seemed to relax and let out a huffed sigh, and pushed his hat up, "just her? She asked about helping around the ship, so I gave her a handful of tasks."

Why...what is this kid doing. Genuinely. W h a t.

"Could you call her back up here then...?" I asked, knowing he had an intercom. He used it the first day we were on this ship I can recall it.

He just half nodded, before clicking the button on a walkie-talkie sort of device on the shoulder of his coat.

He spoke into it, "hey, pup, you can stop now. Come on back up." And he let go of the button.

It took a few awkward minutes before there was the sound of quick footsteps up the metal stairs. I looked over, and Hattie was staring back with wide eyes.

I gave back the state with a worried and fairly angry expression. I didn't think she was hurt, at least there weren't resets that I noticed, but why was she doing tasks for the ship?

"Your uh, dad, was looking for you," Captain Maverick explained, "said you ran off without telling him, wanna say anything about that, pup?"

She had turned her attention to him before her eyes landed on the floor. She hung her head slightly hiding her face in her hair and hat.

"Pup?" The captain repeated.

I watched her as her hands curled up around the bottom of her long shirt, bunching up the fabric.

"Come on," I tried to urge her on too, "speak your mind, Hattie."

"Uhm.." she mumbled out, "I just..."

She whispered too quietly for anyone to hear, and the captain groaned. I shot him a short glare, before walking over to Hattie.

"Come on, kiddo," I tried to soften my tone, "speak up, use your words..."

She looked up at me and shook her head. She was all teary-eyed, and it clicked. She was overwhelmed by being out on the spot.

Which wouldn't have happened if she had just said something, and wasn't running around doing things for this stupid walrus...but it was a remorseful look too, and it is impossible for me to stay mad at her. (Which probably isn't always a good thing.)

I sighed lightly, "well..."

I was about to recommend we just drop it entirely before she made grabby hands. I took a second to pick her up, but she mumbled something to me.

"A...a timepiece," she sniffled, rubbing her face against my shoulder, before resting her head away from me.

A timepiece? Really? I feel like I've been across this whole ship, where in the world could another one be?

"Where?" I asked. The captain had already turned his seat back around.

"Since this has been resolved..." the walrus grunted.

Hattie answered quietly between Maverick's pause, "I-In a lost in found box...they wouldn't let me have it..."

"you two should leave the wheelhouse."

I nodded slightly to Hattie, before looking to the back of the captain's chair, "right, we just need something of ours from the lost and found."

He waved a flipper back, "yeah yeah it's down in the reception just go grab it."

I wanted to call him out on his tone, but it wouldn't make a difference. I turned down the steps instead, and back out the door, I came in.

"I'm sorry..." Hattie mumbled as I was making our way to the reception, "I just wanted to get the timepiece..."

"I'm not upset about that, I'm upset that you didn't tell me you were going to leave," I explained, "I was worried about you."

She went quiet for a minute, before sniffing and lifting her head. I could see out of the corner of my eye her looking at me.

"Why do you get so worried...?"

"Because I care about you."

"Why?"

"Because..." I stopped just before the doors back to the reception. I turned my head to her, but my eyes were unfocused in thought. I knew why, I did. But there was no way she'd understand, and no easy way to describe it.

"I...feel the need to," I settled for, and continued through the automatic doors.

We were about halfway down the steps, when she again asked, "why?"

"Because of all the things I've done and couldn't do," I answered again, hoping this time she'd stop.

"Couldn't do?" She asked, looking at me.

I stopped again in the middle of the reception and looked her dead in the eyes.

"If you're going to keep asking questions, why don't we do it somewhere I can explain it without distractions?"

She hesitated, before nodding, "ok..."

Thank goodn-

"If we do it after eating...cuz I'm hungry."

This kid...










But swear on my soul, I love her to death—well. After it.



This took the life out of me, this chapter. I knew where I wanted to go but this had to be some filler to get there and it literally murdered me...but I got the hang of it near the end.

points to Hattie for being the kid of all kids of always asking "why" bc that's me.

And points to Madison for being afraid of elevators, because that is...also me. (Not joking I'm scared of elevators. I'll ride them but I get really queasy and have to hold onto the handle or wall.)

Anyway, know this one feels a bit out of place, and emotionally all over—bc it is—I'm tryin :')

Till next time, nerds.

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