The 'ol Sea-Devil

Entering the establishment, he smirked to the doorman. Tetch was a newcomer here but the bouncer barely sized him up, eyes glazed and sleepy. He'd thought the business would have more intimidating security, given what he'd heard… Tetch threw a hasty glance around the place.  His expectations weren’t quite lived up to in more ways than one.

If he had assign words to the scene based on just first impressions... The slowly oxidizing environment was salty, damp, and brimming with misery. Men, women, and those neither or in-between gambling their lives away for a chance at something more. Just his kind of haunt. He strutted up to the bar, nimble on his feet even with one terribly more wooden than the other. No one would ever guess it, with how he carried himself, and he preferred it that way. Though the first year losing it had been shit, Tetch considered himself far from handicapped … even with the lackluster replacement. 

“Anything ‘Ah can get fer yer?” barked a stocky tender who looked like she could both shoot bullets from her eyes and squeeze the life out of anyone who happened to stray too close to her meaty grip. 

Tetch considered his answer, what he really wanted was to cut right to the chase and meet with the owner but he knew better than to ask so plainly. He'd be putting a dangerous amount of power in their hands if he gave his reasoning now. Plus he did want a drink. Preferably an untampered one.  

“Old fashioned, your choice mum.” 

Tetch took a spot at the bar, which was fashioned creatively from an old rusted remnant of another ship. He couldn’t imagine it was clean, but nonetheless he leaned an arm over it, surprised to find it held sturdy. His drink was ready in a timely fashion and he smiled sweetly as the tender plopped the glass down before him.  “Keep my tab going, mum, and thank you.” He waggled a finger accentuating his gratitude. 

She grunted and left him to his drink. 

He put a hand gingerly around the glass, and as he did Tetch caught sight of who he’d come for… and he stared back. Russet hair, apparel that just screamed Sea-Captain, and Easterling traits presenting in an impressive pair of fins, framing his face like sideburns. Tetch couldn’t help but smile. Tetch raised his glass, cheersing the man across the room. He drank and refocused his gaze away from his target. 

“Picked well.” Tetch remarked to himself as he studied the drink with an appreciative smirk. He might have to come back if the rest of the outing went favorably. Tetch felt the hairs on his neck stand on end as a presence manifested over his right shoulder. Reeled in this one more quickly than expected.

Playing like he didn’t notice, he waved the tender over once more and tapped on the side of his drink. “Two more of the same.” 

A voice, low and smooth responded 

“You've barely finished that one” 

Tetch raised a brow and turned back only slightly, holding the large man in his periphery. 

“Oh those? They're for a new friend. About your size, but with a touch that could make grown men buckle.” 

Tetch kept his eye on the sailor, wanting to see the weight of his words. The man stiffened, paused… a twitch at his lip.

“You buy me a drink at my own bar? What kind of move is that?” The sailor insisted. 

Immediately critical, Tetch thought. Might not be an easy catch after all.

“Is that not just common courtesy? Would I visit a friend’s house unexpectedly without bringing a gift? You might be right though, I can do better. And I will...”

Neither spoke again right away. They studied each other. Tetch noted the sizeable man’s hardly superficial scars, raked down his cheek.  One ear long and scaled, the other torn and never the same. The fateful asymmetry was honestly charming.  The man had been through it… Tetch felt himself lucky he’d come out of many beatings with mostly bruises a few broken bones, and a slight click in his jaw. Though he’d had his fair share of disfigurement in losing his leg.

 The seaman’s relaxed eyes met his own and Tetch felt his hopes rise. This would go favorably.  Tetch held back a smile, and presented his hand instead.

 “Tetch Sinclair.”

“Nathaniel Clement.”

Tetch made a glance at Nathaniel’s gloved hands as they shook them in greeting. 

After the fact, Nathaniel pulled a pipe from a pocket and the tender responded without falter, a match in her hand. 

Smoker. Well that’s one strike. Tetch’s subsequent discomfort at the cloud puffed by Nathaniel, although slight, was apparent enough. Nathaniel sat down to Tetch’s right. “Surprised you don’t smoke.”

Tetch laughed and sighed. 

“Yeah, well. As a child my father saw to it I had enough secondhand lungfuls of the acrid stuff. Leaving that and finding a place I could actually breathe was one of the best things I’ve ever done.” He looked down under heavy lidded eyes, he hadn’t thought back to his unremarkable family in many years.  

“Mm” Nathaniel nodded and set his pipe to the side, and waved the bit of smoke away as if to clear the air. Strike effectively removed. “What brings you to the ol’ Sea-Devil?” he asked authoritatively. 

The ol’ Sea-Devil? That? Was the name of this place? A little disappointing. Focus…

Tetch squinted up at Nathaniel. “A favor. I would say it wasn't all that important but that'd be a lie and I think you'd appreciate my transparency on the matter. I've been long since derailed due to some debris that's proved harder to remove than I previously thought… Nathaniel, I'm just looking to have my life set back on track.” Tetch presented with a snappy hand gesture. 

Nathaniel leaned back with arms crossed. 

“And you think I can help you with that? You give me a lot of credit.” 

Smart or humble? … no… smart for sure, Tetch decided. “I had a Half friend once. Was hoping to get back in touch, rekindle an old flame if you catch my drift.” 

Under heavy brows, Nathaniel stared for a moment.  “Transparency, eh?” he recalled with a gentle wave then indulged in his drink. Tetch echoed the gesture, finishing off his own glass. 

“This friend’s ghost has haunted me long enough.” Tetch relented. “I need to finish what I started. Just cus a Half gets lucky doesn't mean karma stops counting. But like a ghost, he’s been awful elusive.” 

The sailor squinted and his nose crinkled slightly as some venom found its way into his smooth voice. A harrowing combination. 

“You want me to turn on my own kind, my kin? Betray their secret and safety when we both suffer the ache the void delivered upon us, forsaking us as half dead brothers? Someone like You could never understand… that bond that ties us void-touched together…”  

Something dark passed under his eyes. Tetch fought the urge to shiver.

 From Nath's scarred lip, a smile escaped and then a deep chuckle. 

“And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Tetch, was it? I'd be more than happy to give my assistance, for the right price… hell, if a cutie like yourselfs got a half-convincing reason I'd do it for free. Pay you back for the drink.”

Tetch blinked. He actually felt endangered for a moment there. But he wasn't out of the deep end yet. The man was a shark… if they did work together, he'd have to keep an eye out. 

“Oh you’ll be paid, this help is worth quite a lot to me and I’m no thieving jackal.” 

Nathaniel nodded and held his drink to Tetch. “It's a deal. Let’s meet your friend.”

Tetch smiled, lifting his own. “-And, to our new friendship, ye ol’ Sea-Devil...”

The edges of their glasses met and they drank.

“Care for another?” Tetch smiled, the warmth of the spirits starting to pull at him. 

“You clearly have no idea how to run a business, encouraging the owner to partake so heavily at his own establishment” Nathaniel declined laughingly. 

“Alright well…” he pulled out a coin purse from a coat pocket and waited on the barwoman to close out his tab.  “You’d best be paying your tender well. An artist’s mind.  Never would’ve considered licorice bitters but, might have to make it a staple.”

Nathaniel’s mustache ruffled as he seemed to hold back another laugh. “She got you that too? … Interesting. Well. I think I'd have to agree on both accounts. She's a sharp one...” 

Was it interesting? Tetch counted out some coins with pursed lips, leaving a sizeable tip. 

Nathaniel rubbed his gloved hand casually. “I'm open this evening. And any days into the foreseeable future. You just say the word and I'll be there. We’ll find what you’re looking for.” 

Tetch was surprised. He fully expected this to be harder. But 1 drink and a short time later,  Here the Half was, purportedly waiting on his word. What was he playing at? Was Nath just that willing to help?

“You aren't the only one with an open schedule… But the sooner the better. One thing you’ll learn about me, waiting isn’t my strong suit.” 

Tetch stood. “As you’re free this evening. We could get proactive and leave together?”

A look of sheer amusement crossed Nathaniel’s face. He stood as well, towering over the small statured man. “You lead, and just as long as you’ve got a general idea what you’re doing, I’ll follow.” 

Tetch threw an arm around the tall sailor and the two made their way out of the establishment. “Nath, firstly, a leader’s confidence isn’t everything… Maybe I could teach you a little something about discretion. Second, It’s great and all but, Have you considered renaming the place? The ol’ Sea-Devil…. does it really represent what you’re trying to provide here-?”