Chapter One (Part Three): Big Plans and Bigger Egos
The saloon had settled into a steady rhythm again.
Laughter, music, and the low hum of conversation filled the air as the earlier tension faded into the background. At one of the central tables, Felix the Cat sat comfortably with a drink in hand, swirling it lazily as a few sailors listened in, hoping for more stories.
Felix leaned back in his chair, boots propped up, looking completely at ease.
Like nothing in the world could catch him off guard.
“and that’s when I realized,” he was saying smoothly, “if the treasure’s guarded by somethin’ slimy, it’s probably worth twice as much.”
A few chuckles circled the table.
A chair scraped loudly across the floor.
Felix didn’t even look up.
“…Here it comes,” he muttered under his breath.
Bendy slid into the seat across from him like he owned the place, grin wide, eyes shining with excitement.
“You’re Felix, right? Adventurer, treasure hunter, slime-dodger extraordinaire?”
Felix took a slow sip of his drink.
“Name’s Bendy,” he said proudly, gesturing to himself. “Future legendary adventurer.”
Felix finally glanced at him.
Looked him up and down once.
“Well,” he said, setting his drink down, “I like the confidence.”
Bendy leaned forward immediately, not missing a beat.
“Good! ‘Cause I got a proposition for ya.”
“Oh, this oughta be good.”
Bendy planted his hands on the table.
The nearby sailors went quiet for just a second.
Then leaned back again, folding his arms.
“Dead serious!” Bendy said. “Me and my pal Boris! we’re ready! We can handle danger, monsters, treasure, all of it! Just let us on the Starfall Voyager with you and your crew.”
Felix stared at him for a moment.
Not mockingly, just amused.
“Hey,” he said, pointing at Bendy with a small grin, “I like the confidence, shortstack…”
Bendy’s grin twitched slightly.
“…but sorry,” Felix continued, taking another sip of his drink, “adventurin’ like I do? That stuff’s dangerous.”
There was no harshness in his tone. Just a kind of easy, joking honesty.
Bendy crossed his arms, leaning back.
“Yeah? So?” he shot back. “Danger’s kinda the point, ain’t it?”
“Sure if you know how to deal with it.”
Bendy opened his mouth to argue
“Wow,” a voice cut in smoothly, “turnin’ down eager recruits already? You’re losin’ your charm, Felix.”
Both of them turned. Sheba had stepped up beside the table, arms crossed, a playful grin tugging at her face.
Felix rolled his eyes slightly.
“Oh please, don’t start.”
Sheba tilted her head, glancing at Bendy, then back at Felix. “What? He’s got spirit,” she said lightly. “That’s more than I can say for some of your crew.”
A few nearby sailors snorted into their drinks.
Felix gave her a flat look. “You’re real funny.”
“I try,” she shot back, completely unfazed.
She leaned on the table slightly, looking Bendy over. “…Besides,” she added, “you used to be just like him, remember? All big talk, no plan.”
Felix pointed at her. “Hey, I had a plan.”
“Yeah,Yeah,” Sheba said with a grin, “and it involved runnin’ in headfirst and hopin’ for the best.”
Bendy perked up immediately. “Hey, that’s my strategy!”
Sheba gave him a quick approving nod. “See? You two would get along just fine.”
Felix sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“I’m surrounded by comedians…”
He glanced back at Bendy, his expression softening just a little.
“…Look, kid,” he said, more calmly now, “it ain’t about guts. You’ve clearly got that. But out there?” He jerked his thumb vaguely toward the ocean. “It’s not just monsters and treasure.”
His tone dipped just slightly.
“There are places you don’t come back from.”
For a brief moment, the words hung heavier than the rest.
He leaned forward again, grin returning.
“Good thing I don’t plan on stayin’ gone then.”
That got a small chuckle out of Sheba.
Felix just shook his head, a reluctant smile creeping in.
“…You’re persistent, I’ll give ya that.”
Sheba smirked. “C’mon, Felix. Let him try. Worst case scenario, he annoys the crew to death before anything else gets ‘em.”
Bendy pointed at her. “Hey!”
Felix laughed under his breath, lifting his drink again.
“We’ll see,” he said casually. “No promises.”
Bendy’s grin widened instantly.
“Hey, I’ll take a ‘we’ll see’!”
Across the room, Boris watched from the window, still uneasy.
Outside, the waves crashed harder.
And far beyond the docks…
The laughter around the table slowly picked back up, but something had shifted. Not enough for most to notice, but enough for the air to feel… heavier.
Felix the Cat swirled his drink again, watching the liquid spin for a moment before glancing toward Sheba.
His usual grin had softened just slightly.
“…Hey,” he said, quieter now.
Sheba raised a brow. “That tone usually means you’re about to say somethin’ I don’t like.”
Felix huffed a small laugh. “You wound me.” She didn’t look convinced.
Bendy, meanwhile, was still riding the high of a possible “we’ll see,” completely unaware of the shift in mood.
“Soooo…when do we leave?” he chimed in, leaning forward eagerly.
Felix didn’t answer him right away. Instead, he looked back at Sheba.
“…I’m headin’ out again soon,” he said.
Sheba shrugged lightly. “Yeah, figured. You never stay in one place long.” Felix nodded once.
“…This time, I’m not just chasin’ treasure.” That got her attention real quick, Sheba’s arms uncrossed slightly. “…Oh?” she said.
Felix leaned back in his chair, gaze drifting toward the window the same dark ocean Boris had been watching. “…I’m headin’ for the Devil’s Shoals.”
“…Wait THAT place?” he asked, excitement mixing with surprise.
Sheba didn’t react right away,her eyes narrowed just a little. “…You’re serious.”
“Been hearin’ the same rumors as everyone else,” he said. “Ships goin’ missin’. Waters actin’ strange. Voices in the fog…”
He tapped his fingers lightly against the side of his glass. “…Sounds like more than just stories.”
Sheba’s tail flicked once, slower this time.
“…Felix,” she said carefully, “that place ain’t like the others.”
“Yeah,” he replied simply. “That’s kinda the point.”
Bendy leaned in immediately, eyes practically glowing. “Oh, this just keeps gettin’ better.”
Sheba shot him a quick look before turning back to Felix. “…And you’re just gonna sail in there?” she asked. “No plan? No backup?”
Felix smirked faintly. “Since when do I not have a plan?”
Sheba gave him a flat stare.
Felix ignored them both, though a small grin tugged at his face.
“I’m takin’ the Starfall Voyager,” he continued. “Might even bring a few of the other stars along get a proper crew together.”
Her expression shifted, not fear exactly, but concern.
“…You’re really goin’ all in on this,” she murmured.
Felix’s gaze returned to the ocean. “…Somethin’s out there,” he said. “And if it’s strong enough to scare off seasoned sailors…” His grin came back, sharper this time.
“…then I wanna see it for myself.”
Bendy clapped his hands together. “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!”
He pointed at Felix. “And you’re definitely takin’ us with you now, right?”
Sheba rolled her eyes slightly.
Felix glanced at him, amused. “…Kid,” he said, “you’re either real brave… or you got no idea what you’re gettin’ into.”
Bendy’s grin didn’t falter, but was still a bit cocky. “Why not both?” That earned a quiet chuckle from Felix.
Sheba, however, looked back toward the window. Outside, the waves crashed harder than before.
“…Felix,” she said again, softer this time, “just… be careful.” He didn’t answer right away.
Just took another slow sip of his drink. “…Always am.”
But even as he said it; another wave slammed against the docks, louder than any before. And for the briefest moment…The sound almost felt like something answering back.
Far beyond the shore…In the direction of the Devil’s Shoals…something stirred beneath the dark water.
