Syd walked to the main deck with a skip in his step. He could very clearly hear the voices of his fellow partners in skullduggery, and the idle blend of music that usually came on a calm day. The creature in his hands wriggled and squeaked, and Syd shushed it and scratched the top of its head.
"Will you stop it already?" he growled at the animal, pausing to glare at it. Once it calmed down slightly, he continued walking.
At the main deck, he found the pirates in the midst of one of their favourite shanties. Lingering by the far side of the deck, he watched the band for a moment, bobbing his head to the too-familiar tune and lyrics. At just the right point, he threw his head back and, at the top of his lungs, belted out,
"Yo ho, yo ho! A pirate's life for me!"
This concluded the song, and Syd strolled over to the group.
"Sockhead," Jean called out as he neared. "Where have you been?"
"Around," Syd answered. He shifted the creature around and held it up for the shipmates to see. "Look what I found in the bilge."
Tim recoiled, taking shelter behind Olan as he cried out, "What is that thing?"
"It's a rat, of course."
"Are y' sure?" questioned Stringfellow. "It's as big as a cat."
"I know," Syd said gleefully, stroking its grey back. Yuri reached hesitantly out to touch it, and he pulled away quickly as it snapped at his fingers.
Vivi moved back a few feet, eying the creature with caution. "Why are you carrying it around?"
He shrugged, looking between her and the rat. "I dunno." He came a few steps closer, holding it out to the lady pirate. "Y' want it?"
"No, no," she squeaked, hiding behind Olan as well. The merchant shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest.
"That thing could be loaded with diseases." He kept a hard glare on the rat, and it squeaked, as if it knew it was the subject at hand. "Get it out of here."
"Please," added Grieving Tim, who was crouching and using his accordion as a sort of shield.
Syd gave another shrug. "Sure, alright. See you later." He then turned and started for the lower decks. Slowly, the music started back up with the first notes of "Muineira."
"That's alright," Syd muttered. "We'll go down to the kitchen. The chef will be glad to see you, especially since he hasn't started dinner yet."