~~I do not own Slayers, although I wish I owned my darling Chimera Captain
and my sexy-as-hell Monster Captain!!
~*****************************~
"Captain Zelgadis!" Dilgear yelled through the thick door of the captain's cabin.
Zelgadis opened one eye and glared at the yelling door, contemplating the prospect of incinerating it to make it be quiet. In the end he simply rolled over and snuggled back into the sheets, ignoring the door and his first mate. He deserved his rest, damn it! It had been almost a month since Lina Inverse had stolen away his Orb of Glenkirk, his only salvation from this damned curse, and Zelgadis still had no leads to her whereabouts. He had been awake for days at a time, catching only snippets of sleep for over a month. Finally, two days ago he had simply gone into his cabin with strict orders not to be disturbed unless the ship was burning down, not even by Jillas. The chimera had collapsed into his bed and fallen immediately asleep.
Now here was his lame-brained first mate hollering through the door. "Captain," Dilgear yelled again, pounding on the door this time with his heavy fist, "you've received a letter!"
Zelgadis growled into his fluffy warm pillow, gnashing his teeth together. He received letters all the time from his various contacts in the port cities, why should this one be so blamed special? It was most likely a trade route change on some nice fat merchant vessel or another dead end lead about Lina, or. . .
"It's from your father, Captain!"
Zelgadis's eyes snapped open and he leapt from the bed in one fluid motion, stalking across the room in nothing but a pair of short, loose trousers. Yanking the door open, he ignored the started looks from his crew at his state of undress and ripped the letter from Dilgear's extended hand. He inspected the wax seal carefully to assure himself that it was genuine, and that it was unbroken, before he tore it open.
Dilgear watched the dark eyes of his captain as they flew from side to side across the page, and he moved a few steps back as the chimera's face grew darker and darker. Those dark eyes kept narrowing and narrowing as they neared the end of the page, and Dilgear wisely edged the crew back as Zelgadis let out a shocked roar of outrage.
"Come about!" Zelgadis screamed to the helmsman as he bounded up the stairs.
The helmsman stared at him dumbly, not really registering the order. "Sir?"
Zelgadis snarled at the man, actually baring his teeth like a dog. "Come out, you brainless oaf!" he yelled, startling the man again. "What kind of imbecile doesn't understand the simplest nautical orders? Take us back to my father's manor at Grey Island, and I mean NOW!"
The helmsman was already spinning the wheel as fast as it would turn, and the massive ship swung around in a complete about-face. Zelgadis stuffed the letter in the pocket of his short trousers and yelled down to his crew, "I want us at Grey Island in less than a week, you miserable little dogs!"
The captain stomped down the stairs, walking past his first mate. He paused before heading into his cabin, stopping next to Dilgear, but not looking at him. "Dilgear, I don't care how you do it, but make it happen. This is a matter of life and death. The bridge is yours until I can figure this out."
With that, he disappeared into his cabin, slamming the door loudly. The half-troll stared over the ocean for a moment in complete shock, then shook himself as he realized that he was captain until otherwise noted. He turned slowly to see the crew all staring at him in amazement, their eyes as wide as mango fruits.
"You heard the Captain, you lazy worms!" he shouted, sending the men scattering across the deck or into the riggings. "Back to Grey Island, and make it snappy!"
~~~********~~~
*One week later*
The Amelia wasn't even anchored when Dilgear gave the order the longboats readied. The men scurried about tying down sails or boxing up supplies to be restocked in port. Dilgear stood in the center of the deck, surveying the running of the landing, when he heard the Captain's door open behind him.
No one had seen Captain Zelgadis since he received the letter from his father and his meals mostly were sent back barely nibbled on. Dilgear had started to fear for his friend, so his face was relieved when he turned to see his Captain standing there. The bright, proud smile froze on his face when he saw Zelgadis, and he hastily snapped off a sharp salute.
"Captain on deck!" he yelled out, standing at attention.
The men all froze where they were standing, all turning as one to answer the rare order of acknowledging their captain. They all snapped off salutes as he strolled past them, and all turned to watch him walk towards the longboats.
Zelgadis rarely, if ever, dressed in his formal captain's uniform. Only on the burial of a friend at sea had the crew ever seen him in his beige trousers, tunic, and cape. The hood and mask were off his head, allowing his curse to be seen before the entire world, but the crew all knew that no one in this house was a novice to his malady. This was the Captain's home, and had been for as long as they could remember.
The crew all knew that something had been wrong with they were ordered to make the sudden route change to go back to the small island resort, but to see the captain dressed so somehow reminded them that he was not like them. He was nobility, and this current life of danger and risk was one that he himself chose. He was cut from a different mold than they, and was therefore entitled to honor and respect. Moreso, he was a good and fair captain, so no one minded giving him the occasional salute.
He leapt into the longboat and settled himself easily in the front, one foot propped up on the bow, and his arms crossed over his chest. His head was held high as the boat began to lower into the misting sea, and he stood straight and tall, not even swaying with the rocking of the small craft. He did not even jump when Dilgear jumped down from the ship to land behind him. Instead, a small smile played on his lips as he stared forward.
"If someone steals my ship just because you wanted to satisfy your curiosity instead of guarding it, I will personally make sure you regret it, Dilgear."
The half-troll laughed, throwing his head back and giving full throat to the grand spectacle of the two head officers leaving the ship unattended. His laughter echoed across the water as the crewman pulled their rows almost silently though the water, carrying them quickly towards shore.
The Captain and first mate bounded out of the small vessel together, and both charged up the long flight of stairs connecting the beach to the courtyard. They raced across the cool grass and up to the manor house. Zelgadis threw open the heavy doors of the manor as soon as he reached them, charging through the house to the main sitting room, where he knew his quarry would lie.
The door slammed against the wall as he shoved his way into the well lit, quaint sitting room, startling the old man in an old red flannel robe who was reclining on a cushioned couch. The old man blinked at Zelgadis as the chimera advanced on him, his eyes full of fire. Dilgear retreated backwards the lean against the wall as Zelgadis grabbed the old man by the front of his robe, drawing him up to eye level.
"Hello, son," the old man muttered, smiling pleasantly up into the seething face of the chimera.
"Don't you hello son me, you old man!" Zelgadis snarled, shaking the man hard. "What is the meaning of this letter?"
Zelgadis shoved the old man back down on the couch, thrusting the letter in his face. The man took the letter in a calm hand, not even glancing at him, but instead riveting his eyes on Zegladis's face. "What is there to explain, my son?" he asked, reaching for a glass of sherry that was sitting on a low table next to his couch.
"How dare you do this to me!"
The old man glared hard at his son. "How dare I what, Zelly?" he countered, enjoying the wince that came from his son's face at the sound of his old childhood nickname.
"You cannot be serious about this letter, Father," Zelgadis said, pacing around in front of him. "It is an absolute outrage that you would even think of it!"
Dilgear, silent until now, simply could not keep his mouth shut. "What has happened, Captain? What would your father not dare?"
"I will not submit to this, Father! I won't do it!"
Zelgadis, seething with rage, stalked over to the windowsill as Dilgear looked helplessly at Lord Greywords. The old man winked at the half troll, a small, impish smile playing on his lips.
"Zelgadis is getting married."
~*****************************~
~~*grins evilly, not even going to comment on how evil she is planning on being to poor Xellos, Zelgadis, and Lina*
~~Next time, on "Love on the High Seas": Marriage? We won't accept this without a fight! You won't want to miss it!!
~*****************************~
"Captain Zelgadis!" Dilgear yelled through the thick door of the captain's cabin.
Zelgadis opened one eye and glared at the yelling door, contemplating the prospect of incinerating it to make it be quiet. In the end he simply rolled over and snuggled back into the sheets, ignoring the door and his first mate. He deserved his rest, damn it! It had been almost a month since Lina Inverse had stolen away his Orb of Glenkirk, his only salvation from this damned curse, and Zelgadis still had no leads to her whereabouts. He had been awake for days at a time, catching only snippets of sleep for over a month. Finally, two days ago he had simply gone into his cabin with strict orders not to be disturbed unless the ship was burning down, not even by Jillas. The chimera had collapsed into his bed and fallen immediately asleep.
Now here was his lame-brained first mate hollering through the door. "Captain," Dilgear yelled again, pounding on the door this time with his heavy fist, "you've received a letter!"
Zelgadis growled into his fluffy warm pillow, gnashing his teeth together. He received letters all the time from his various contacts in the port cities, why should this one be so blamed special? It was most likely a trade route change on some nice fat merchant vessel or another dead end lead about Lina, or. . .
"It's from your father, Captain!"
Zelgadis's eyes snapped open and he leapt from the bed in one fluid motion, stalking across the room in nothing but a pair of short, loose trousers. Yanking the door open, he ignored the started looks from his crew at his state of undress and ripped the letter from Dilgear's extended hand. He inspected the wax seal carefully to assure himself that it was genuine, and that it was unbroken, before he tore it open.
Dilgear watched the dark eyes of his captain as they flew from side to side across the page, and he moved a few steps back as the chimera's face grew darker and darker. Those dark eyes kept narrowing and narrowing as they neared the end of the page, and Dilgear wisely edged the crew back as Zelgadis let out a shocked roar of outrage.
"Come about!" Zelgadis screamed to the helmsman as he bounded up the stairs.
The helmsman stared at him dumbly, not really registering the order. "Sir?"
Zelgadis snarled at the man, actually baring his teeth like a dog. "Come out, you brainless oaf!" he yelled, startling the man again. "What kind of imbecile doesn't understand the simplest nautical orders? Take us back to my father's manor at Grey Island, and I mean NOW!"
The helmsman was already spinning the wheel as fast as it would turn, and the massive ship swung around in a complete about-face. Zelgadis stuffed the letter in the pocket of his short trousers and yelled down to his crew, "I want us at Grey Island in less than a week, you miserable little dogs!"
The captain stomped down the stairs, walking past his first mate. He paused before heading into his cabin, stopping next to Dilgear, but not looking at him. "Dilgear, I don't care how you do it, but make it happen. This is a matter of life and death. The bridge is yours until I can figure this out."
With that, he disappeared into his cabin, slamming the door loudly. The half-troll stared over the ocean for a moment in complete shock, then shook himself as he realized that he was captain until otherwise noted. He turned slowly to see the crew all staring at him in amazement, their eyes as wide as mango fruits.
"You heard the Captain, you lazy worms!" he shouted, sending the men scattering across the deck or into the riggings. "Back to Grey Island, and make it snappy!"
~~~********~~~
*One week later*
The Amelia wasn't even anchored when Dilgear gave the order the longboats readied. The men scurried about tying down sails or boxing up supplies to be restocked in port. Dilgear stood in the center of the deck, surveying the running of the landing, when he heard the Captain's door open behind him.
No one had seen Captain Zelgadis since he received the letter from his father and his meals mostly were sent back barely nibbled on. Dilgear had started to fear for his friend, so his face was relieved when he turned to see his Captain standing there. The bright, proud smile froze on his face when he saw Zelgadis, and he hastily snapped off a sharp salute.
"Captain on deck!" he yelled out, standing at attention.
The men all froze where they were standing, all turning as one to answer the rare order of acknowledging their captain. They all snapped off salutes as he strolled past them, and all turned to watch him walk towards the longboats.
Zelgadis rarely, if ever, dressed in his formal captain's uniform. Only on the burial of a friend at sea had the crew ever seen him in his beige trousers, tunic, and cape. The hood and mask were off his head, allowing his curse to be seen before the entire world, but the crew all knew that no one in this house was a novice to his malady. This was the Captain's home, and had been for as long as they could remember.
The crew all knew that something had been wrong with they were ordered to make the sudden route change to go back to the small island resort, but to see the captain dressed so somehow reminded them that he was not like them. He was nobility, and this current life of danger and risk was one that he himself chose. He was cut from a different mold than they, and was therefore entitled to honor and respect. Moreso, he was a good and fair captain, so no one minded giving him the occasional salute.
He leapt into the longboat and settled himself easily in the front, one foot propped up on the bow, and his arms crossed over his chest. His head was held high as the boat began to lower into the misting sea, and he stood straight and tall, not even swaying with the rocking of the small craft. He did not even jump when Dilgear jumped down from the ship to land behind him. Instead, a small smile played on his lips as he stared forward.
"If someone steals my ship just because you wanted to satisfy your curiosity instead of guarding it, I will personally make sure you regret it, Dilgear."
The half-troll laughed, throwing his head back and giving full throat to the grand spectacle of the two head officers leaving the ship unattended. His laughter echoed across the water as the crewman pulled their rows almost silently though the water, carrying them quickly towards shore.
The Captain and first mate bounded out of the small vessel together, and both charged up the long flight of stairs connecting the beach to the courtyard. They raced across the cool grass and up to the manor house. Zelgadis threw open the heavy doors of the manor as soon as he reached them, charging through the house to the main sitting room, where he knew his quarry would lie.
The door slammed against the wall as he shoved his way into the well lit, quaint sitting room, startling the old man in an old red flannel robe who was reclining on a cushioned couch. The old man blinked at Zelgadis as the chimera advanced on him, his eyes full of fire. Dilgear retreated backwards the lean against the wall as Zelgadis grabbed the old man by the front of his robe, drawing him up to eye level.
"Hello, son," the old man muttered, smiling pleasantly up into the seething face of the chimera.
"Don't you hello son me, you old man!" Zelgadis snarled, shaking the man hard. "What is the meaning of this letter?"
Zelgadis shoved the old man back down on the couch, thrusting the letter in his face. The man took the letter in a calm hand, not even glancing at him, but instead riveting his eyes on Zegladis's face. "What is there to explain, my son?" he asked, reaching for a glass of sherry that was sitting on a low table next to his couch.
"How dare you do this to me!"
The old man glared hard at his son. "How dare I what, Zelly?" he countered, enjoying the wince that came from his son's face at the sound of his old childhood nickname.
"You cannot be serious about this letter, Father," Zelgadis said, pacing around in front of him. "It is an absolute outrage that you would even think of it!"
Dilgear, silent until now, simply could not keep his mouth shut. "What has happened, Captain? What would your father not dare?"
"I will not submit to this, Father! I won't do it!"
Zelgadis, seething with rage, stalked over to the windowsill as Dilgear looked helplessly at Lord Greywords. The old man winked at the half troll, a small, impish smile playing on his lips.
"Zelgadis is getting married."
~*****************************~
~~*grins evilly, not even going to comment on how evil she is planning on being to poor Xellos, Zelgadis, and Lina*
~~Next time, on "Love on the High Seas": Marriage? We won't accept this without a fight! You won't want to miss it!!