[i.d: a digital drawing of Jackle, a dark blue crow kenku wearing a red poncho and holding a bottle of alcohol, sitting down at a table next to festo, a fairy with hot pink hair and wings wearing a dark pink crop top folded up jeans, and yellow flip flops. Festo is sitting cross legged on the table next to a pile of shot glasses and using magic to pour their bottle of alcohol in their mouth. Jackle says “don’t you have to do a shift at School tomorrow?” Festo says “Eh, I’ll just show a video.” “THATS why teachers show videos??” “Yeah, I don’t wanna work” “You know the kids probably don’t wanna work either.” “GOOD.” End i.d]
I’m like three days late but hee hoo john mulaney reference
Here’s a prediction or at least my ideal scenario for Argo’s resolution because if I don’t write it out, my mind will plague me. It has what we need. A conclusion to Argo's story! Some closure with Argo and the memory of his mother! A closing talk with Argo and Jackle! What more could you ask for?
Somehow, the Mariah is returned back to the Thundermen. How it happened doesn’t matter as everyone is in awe of the ship’s mighty stance. One would spot out the flags and masts having the emblems of the Commodore and Nua’s naval army or how the various shades of wood planks and paint coatings hide the damage done from those years ago. Argo doesn’t care. He aches to climb aboard to march on the floorboards and climb onto the main mast just like he wanted to when he was young.
Eventually, the Thundermen and others get onto the ship with Argo in the lead. As they explore, Argo tells stories from his youth that might not be accurate but everyone listens anyways. No one is sure what to find on this ship, not even Argo, yet something calls out for him. Most assume whatever past possessions were from Shebrie’s ownership were cleared away.
Regardless, they continue to head down to the storage area of the ship. People wander around in search of interesting items. Argo finds a large rectangular object with fabric draped over it. He pushes away some objects and drags the large object out towards to the crowd and leans it against a barrel. He removes the fabric to reveal a portrait of Shebrie Keene. She exists. Argo is relieved. Scratches and marks lay across the canvas and dust carves into the edges of the frame. That doesn’t worry Argo. Some quick repairs will do it justice. What matters to him is how intact her face is. No cuts or marks cover her radiant smile and welcoming eyes. He kneels down in tears as he realizes how much of his mother’s face he lost in memory. He ponders on what to do with the portrait. He carries up the frame but two pairs of hands come up to grab the frame also. Fitzroy and the Firbolg look at Argo for approval and he nods.
He leads the way back up to the captain’s quarters as the portrait is carried up by the two other Thundermen and the other folks follow. Argo directs the portrait to be hung up over the desk. Shebrie would have wanted to stay with her ship. After that, he turns to Shebrie’s longtime friend, Jackle. The one she trusted enough to hold her unbroken chain coin for Argo to later have. The one she studied with and sailed with.
Argo offers the Mariah to Jackle.
Jackle refuses at first. Argo is her son. He’s the rightful owner! It just makes sense. Argo insists because he wants to move on. He found a family, people who love and appreciate him. He formed relationships and new memories that he needed. He spent his whole life chasing after the Commodore to prove a point. That Shebrie was someone worth remembering and fighting for. He latched onto past memories and a home long gone because he had no one else to rely on. Now, he does.
Argo reminds Jackle of their time on the balcony of Jackle’s classroom. How Jackle told of the Kenku and how they were left with their wings in their dreams. Jackle may not be able to fly with wings but he can soar in the seas. Jackle accepts his offer, although he is not sure about his job with the school. (I don’t know if the school is going to continue after this, most likely not.) Both of them make a compromise for Argo to return to sailing whenever he is ready and comfortable to since Jackle owns the ship now. Argo stays in Nua with his friends. Jackle returns the Mariah back to the sea where Shebrie rests.
Me being completely thrown for a loop by the ending of ep 21 despite Travis literally saying at the start of the episode that the Commodore was talking to Jackle for no stated reason:
[ID: Two pictures of Miss Piggy against a pink background, along with text in large pink letters that reads, "I may be a dumb bitch." End ID.]
I know it might be just Travis playing fast and loose with the kenku voice lore but the fact that Jackle started matching Argo’s accent after meeting him and has consistently used that accent since? Implies that he has an entire working vocabulary in Shebrie’s voice? No wonder he’s so ride-or-die for her kid, they must have been inseparable before she died.
