Black Hearted

Part 16

Mark rolled his eyes in irritation. His crew was quite familiar with the punishment for disturbing him in their drunken haze... All except one. Setting his bottle down, he pushed his chair back and headed casually for the door. He hated dealing with drunks. There was just no reasoning with them. Opening the door, he glared out at... nothing. Mark stepped out of his cabin, glancing around the ship. The moonlight illuminated the ship and the misty fog that hung over the deck. Something was wrong. All the lanterns were out. Stepping out more, he looked around for the night watch. Gone. He suddenly felt like he was on a ghost ship. Mark kept his eyes sharp and his ears open, calling out softly. "Tyler?" The door to his cabin slammed shut, causing Mark to jump. Mark's heart raced in his chest, but he tried to stay calm. Moving back toward his cabin door, he snapped out seriously. "Sean, if they sent you up here to steal my private stock. I'll have you all scraping barnacles off the ship!" 

Mark reached for the handle on his cabin door and froze. Hanging from the door handle were six charm amulets. Mark touched them feeling suddenly sick to his stomach. Had the Merfolk managed to climb aboard? Were they taking out his crew one by one? Had they found Sean yet? He felt like he had to get below deck now and end their little party! Mark turned and was about to run to the stairs, when a form lunged at him from the thick misty fog. The merman let out an aggressive hiss, flashing sharp teeth that were similar to a sharks. It's long fin-like ears shot out from the sides of its head, making the scales and soft membrane glitter in the moonlight. The merman's eyes shined as brightly as moonlight with large dark pupils. Mark stumbled back across the deck, his heart jumping overboard. He was unarmed and vulnerable! Unable to take his eyes off the merman, he panted heavily feeling like this was it for him.

When the form's features melted away like an illusion as the fog drifted away from the man. Standing before him was... Sean? Sean smirked at him, his body becoming more solid and clear from its practically invisible and misty state. Camouflage! Mark had no rational thought as his nails clawed at the deck, shouting out to him angrily. "WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?!" Sean burst into a fit of giggles as a response. Mark gasped for air, trying to calm his shaking limbs. Sean walked around him out of arms reach, chuckling out. "You should have seen your face!" Mark scanned the deck for any hiding crew, but Sean appeared to be alone. Clutching his chest, Mark growled out at him bitterly. "You son of a bitch! You could have killed me!" Sean waved a lazy dismissive hand at him, staggering a bit until he had to clutch the mast for support. Mark slowly sat up, scolding him sourly. "Who put you up to this? Name him!"

Sean hiccupped loudly, leaning his back against the mast as he retorted with a drunken smugness. "Nobody... I think. You know... You're not nice!" Mark raised an eyebrow, calming down a little. Sean was drunk? The thought had never even occurred to him. Did merpeople drink? Sean wrapped an arm around the mast, giddily prancing around it as he stated out happily. "MARK! Come dance with me!" Mark slowly climbed to his feet, asking Sean a little worried. "Sean... Where is the night watch?" Sean stopped prancing around the mast to stop and think for a long moment. It almost looked like he had to think really hard to remember. Then he snorted and tried to whisper, but it came out in a normal voice. "Shhh! Their sleeping. I snuck up on them and sang them a little sleepy sheepy song." Mark rubbed his temples to process that, before grumbling out. "Alright... I think you've had too much. You need to lay down."

Sean jumped away from the mast, shouting out loudly. "NO! I'm not drunk! Shut up! I'm the Captain!" Mark lifted his head to eye Sean with warning eyes. If this had been anyone else, he could try them for drunken mutiny. Sean took a swig from a waterskin, then turned to face him, slurring out with a chuckle. "Heelloo everybody! My naaame isss Markiplier! Get it? Cause you're name is Mark... and your a pirate sailor!" Mark cleared his throat, muttering out dryly. "Ya. So funny. Come on. Get inside before you fall overboard." Sean hiccupped, looking confused as he bellowed out. "I'm not tall, nor have I fallen over a board." Mark groaned loudly, storming over to grab his wrist. When Sean had a reaction that he hadn't expected. Sean planted himself firmly, resisting him. Mark turned to see what was holding him up, when Sean put a hand to his cheek and kissed him.