Freelancers W.I.P: Aegis introduction
Aegis rubbed the end of his cigar until the cinder snuffed into the ashtray. He wasn't amused when Harlow disrupted him past his work hours, often trading drinks with his shipmates when off the clock. He shifted his weight under a barrel, waving his crew off.
"Out with it then," He said, patience thin. She knew not to waste his time.
"Captain-" She skipped the formalities-- "Ingot, you've been summoned for a reason. Why didn't you answer?" She was about to peer toward the dozens of bottles scattered around the table, but Aegis's large form blocked her view.
He sighed, his anger subsiding for a moment. "Why bother? Every mission we have, every time we go out on our patrols, I get a sense that we're doing wrong somehow." He reached for a large square bottle, but Harlow didn't let him. He appeared defeated, for once.
"What do you mean?" She subconsciously picked up every bottle and cleared the table, even removing the current one clenched in his fist. He obliged. "We follow the pay grade and we come out with the bounty, I don't understand."
Aegis's anger reignited, shooting up from the barrel but causing him to stagger. "It was never about..the money!" One hand held his forehead whilst the other steadied himself.
Harlow wanted to intervene but he put one palm up and relied on one of the support beams for balance.
Her face softened, staring at a man who was once a matriarch for hope and resilience.
She came to a sudden revelation, "Captain, is this about what happened in Runipier?"
"Do not invoke that name." He said, regaining brief sobriety. "I'm warning you."
Harlow closed the distance from Aegis, tears running across her face. Her knuckles glowing white she backhanded him across the jaw, pulling him down until he knelt on one knee.
"You can grieve all you want," She said. "You can sit here by the shoreline for all you'd like, but know this." She made him look at the clocktower in the distance, only a quarter until it hit ten PM.
"We need someone who won't drown his sorrows behind a bottle. What will it be?"
He looked down at Harlow, dumbfounded that she'd take such drastic measures. His vision cleared, extending her hand.
Both of them clasped their hands together, both knuckles tightening as Aegis regained composure and stood at full height.
"Welcome back, captain." Harlow beamed.
Sobriety regained in Aegis's eyes, breathing in the saline air. "I never left."
titsay
andulkaphoto
annaxmalina
prguitarman
turnnoffyourmind
janainaart
izzy806
