The Sneak Peek

Horrible feedback whined through the speakers, piercing everyone's eardrums.

“Well, it looks like the entertainment has come to an end. What a shame,” Rien remarked while guests dispersed, covering their ears from the screeches and static.

Secretly the Director hoped Vardan would cause a bit more trouble; he was wanting to tase them for their insolence towards him earlier. Indeed he had hoped they would do something particularly bad to Eli so he could freely punish them in front of everyone to his heart's content. He lamented this before thinking to himself that he'll simply find another excuse later on.

As soon as Audra took the needle off the record, silence filled the room, giving everyone respite from the feedback. He scrambled to diagnose the issue.

The lights were brought back up.

Eli pushed Vardan to the floor, caring not how xe appeared to everyone around xem, and started barreling towards a harried Audra desperately trying to get himself in order.

Dancers quickly caught on; they immediately gave way as the energy in the room grew tense.

“Hey, my bad, folks,” he apologized, tapping into the microphone. “I'm not sure what happened, but we seem to have run into some issues. As soon as Syn comes over, we can fi—”

Audra stopped short. Eli stomped over in a rage and grabbed his shoulder with an iron grasp.

He tried to release himself—but when he gazed upon Eli's visage, he froze.

Though well aware of xyr innate talent, he couldn't tell if his mind played tricks on him, or if he truly was face to face with a demon. Xyr body and wrath overtook Audra.

Was xe always this large?

“How dare you attempt to sabotage what I had with Vardan.”

“What you had?” he squeaked.

Surely xe didn't mean that waltz.

“Uh hey, really sorry about the technical difficulties… But uh, no worries: we'll get things back before you kno—”

“I do not care about your problems, you worthless trash!” xe roared out.

Xyr yell echoed throughout the dance floor. Everyone's gaze was now on Eli and Audra.

At that moment, he realized that his action only served to divert xyr sadism from Vardan towards himself.

“I'm… I'm sorry… I…”

Eli pulled Audra by his necktie and pressed xyr forehead against his, staring him down, mere inches apart from one another. He wasn't sure what was happening and felt like he was on fire from the intense, piercing gaze of xyr eyes. He wanted to look away, but was petrified. Not even Syn at his crankiest matched up to this demonic rage emanating from every fiber of xyr being.

There were a few hushed whispers from the crowd. Vardan stared at all this from the floor in a daze still, unmoved from where Eli tossed them, processing the dance they were subjected to and the ghoulish spectacle now before them.

“You are no one to presume you can talk to me like this. Or could it be that perhaps you too are another thrall of that man?”

“I… I dunno what you're talking about. I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the music I swea—”

With a brisk shove, Audra's world tumbled, causing gasps and panicked shrieks from the crowd. Instinctively he managed to twist his body so that his head was safe, but his lower back crashed into the hardwood floors. He curled up and nursed his left shoulder, which took the brunt of his fall, swearing in shock over the situation foisted upon him.

A few passengers cautiously approached Audra to see if he was okay, making sure to keep their attention focused on Eli, who looked down over what xe had wrought with an indescribable expression. Was xe satisfied? Angry? No one could tell. Audra at least managed to help out Vardan. Though he wasn't sure why he wanted to do so much for someone he just met, he felt an odd sense of accomplishment despite the injury.

He looked up in a daze, wondering what people were shouting about, as he noticed those who approached him suddenly backed away—

His eyes shot open in bewilderment as Eli leapt off the stage and dove towards the fallen Audra.

He braced for impact, now cursing his impulsive act of kindness that he was proud of a few moments prior. Onlookers were shocked and murmured to get security or someone to break up the altercation. A few others remarked how this scene before them was an entertaining substitute for the interrupted music, praising Eli for this wonderful performance.

Trapped beneath xem, with nowhere to turn, Eli gazed into Audra's wide, frightened eyes and calmly whispered in a monotone voice:

“If you cross me again... You will not live to even regret it. Am I clear?”

A black fire burned up in Vardan's inner core at Eli. A cat with a bird trapped under its sharpened claws, yowling at it for daring to chirp.

Just before they could get up to stop them themself, they noticed a tall figure slowly part through the gawking crowd with a lazy saunter towards the enraged actor and cornered musician.

This person wore a stern expression belying their calm demeanor, and appeared nervous as they kept walking forward, like they were not entirely sure if they should butt in, yet decided that no one else would if not them. They didn't dress as extravagantly as other guests on the cruise; their long chartreuse hair was hastily tied back over the last few minutes in an attempt to look professional. That, in turn, made them look even more casual.

Other people soon noticed them. The atmosphere of the room took on a strange turn.

“Don't you think you've had enough fun for a day, Eli?” they spoke out loudly. “I think you should get off Audra and cool off in your cabin. If you aren't sure where it is, I'll gladly lead you back to it.”

Eli raised an eyebrow and searched for whoever dared interrupt xem so casually. Xe turned around to face this person.

“...And what do we have here? What did you say your name was… Something like… Jet?”

Jet gazed into Eli's forest green eyes, searching for a cue or sign of xyr current state, only to have a blank stare reflect back at them. Suddenly Eli's irises changed to a dark brown that shone, at least to Jet, with an impish malice, then shot a bright blood red that must have harbored Eli's true feelings. Jet momentarily felt a bit uncertain, but immediately shook it off, as they knew doing so would only embolden the actor.

“What a dull mimicry of a gemstone. I do wonder about the taste of the person who named you, knowing you'd endure through life with such a pitiable name. Shouldn't you be off somewhere… Oh, pardon my ignorance, but what is it you even do on this ship?” Eli sneered.

Audra looked up at Jet with hopeful eyes, but soon averted his gaze when Eli turned xyr rage filled eyes at him.

“And why, for that matter, must you bother sticking up for him? This has nothing to do with yo—”

With a clean and smooth motion, Jet yanked Eli off of Audra and held xem aloft using one hand. The crowd was set ablaze. They couldn't help but cheer in spite of their loyalty to Eli, who could no longer keep xyr cool expression, livid at being handled like a spoiled child.

“Hey, you let go of Eli right now!” shouted someone from the dance floor.

He barreled his bulky athletic physique past other passengers with little regard for anyone's well being, rushing over to Jet, his sleeves up and arms flexed, ready for a brawl.

“Unhand me you foul brute!” Eli demanded.

Jet was careful to repel xyr blows and, realizing things would soon turn ugly fast, gently placed xem down. They held a hand out to the downed Audra, helping him get back on his feet. He stepped behind them after they made some space.

This man hurried over to Eli's side. In a grand exaggerated motion, he carefully checked xem for injuries.

“Are you okay Eli? Are you hurt?”

He then moved towards Jet, glaring up at them, chest puffed. They could only stare in confusion. It was like a small dog trying to size up a grizzly bear.

“Do you know who you just assaulted? That is Eli Palatna, and it is more important than any vapid musician, dare I say any person on this entire cruise! Don't you dare touch it again or I will crush you.”

He returned back to the actor, trying to make a nursing motion, before xe huffed and skittishly slapped away this person's hand, looking somewhat chagrined at his overbearing nannying.

“Cyrus, please settle yourself. You are an embarrassment, by the gods...”

“My apologies, Eli. I just couldn't help myself after seeing you accosted so brutally by this…”

“This what?” Jet pointedly asked, looming over him.

They sensed an aggressive streak from Cyrus and knew that he was looking for an excuse to seriously hurt someone. Despite his physique, Jet could probably shut him down if it came to that, so they afforded no pleasantries to him. It would only embolden him.

They stared each other down before Eli cleared xyr throat, signaling Cyrus to back down. He still leered at Jet.

“And by the way,” Jet continued, “I chose my name. I quite like it. Also, if we're talking about assault, what Mx. Palatna did to Audra counts far more than what I did to her. If you don't agree, I'm sure we can get an authority to weigh in, won't we? I don't think Paulo would appreciate your actions today Eli and I'll be sure to let them know about it.”

Eli dusted xyrself off, then made some distance between xyrself and Cyrus.

“That will not be necessary. I am quite done here and have no interest in letting this pitiful scene play out any longer. I would like to ask, dear navigator, why you feel it so important to get authorities involved, when you deemed it incumbent upon yourself to resolve this situation, where you had no place in meddling.”

Despite claiming to be finished, xe gave Jet a challenging look.

In contrast to their response to Cyrus, Jet calmly replied with a cordiality that they knew annoyed Eli:

“Regardless of whatever it has to do with me, you're making other passengers uncomfortable. I think you should stop and let these people enjoy their evening. I am sure even our mutual boss Paulo would agree to put an end to this so that we can all enjoy this evening. Wouldn't you, as an entertainer, agree that everyone should have a good time?”

Xe shrugged and gave a dismissive laugh. “I hardly see what is there to enjoy from such shallow, botched performances from everyone except myself and my troupe. The crowd should be thankful I hath offered some excitement to their evening, don't you think?”

With this xe bowed; Cyrus clapped loudly and cheered. A scant few others in the crowd followed suit as well. Eli glared up from xyr bow, keeping xyr eyes on Jet, who sighed deeply at their attempt of reconciliation rebuffed.

So it's gonna be like that.

“Eli, I wasn't kidding when I said what you did was more of an assault than me carrying you. You shoved Audra off the stage. He might have gotten seriously hurt. I may not be security or Officer Nayvie, but I don't think something like that should go unaddressed. If not as an authority, then as a self respecting human, I'm not about to let that go without you apolo—”

“It's okay!” Audra abruptly exclaimed, ignoring the still throbbing pain in his shoulder. “I'm okay, I'm fine, really! Can… Can we all be cool about this? Please? No harm done, we're all good, let's just call it a night and tomorrow we forget about everything here. Please Jet?”

He had been quietly viewing the altercation from a distance and nervously chimed in at this juncture, hoping that things could calm down so some semblance of normalcy could return before the night was up. Eli quickly shifted xyr glare to him.

“You dare to speak after ruining tonight? Hold your tongue whilst we speak.”

He shrank away from xem. This went out a lot better in his head. It felt like things might have gotten worse at his interjection.

Jet watching Audra being tormented because of something he had no control over, knowing that someone would spend their entire voyage in fear and possibly affect the trip for others, brought forth an inner fire in them.

“Eli, we get it. You don't like Audra. I'm sure after tonight he will steer clear and far away from you. Can we just end this?”

The insolence of this glorified sailor! Eli scoffed; xyr stare intensified.

“The nerve—you dare demand I let bygones be bygones when HE should apologize to ME!”

“Yeah Eli, you tell ‘em!” Cyrus, ever the loyal fan, loudly shouted.

“Shut up Cyrus.”

“It was a simple tech issue,” Jet sighed out, their frustration coming to the surface in full.

“Oh, technical difficulties, you're wearing another hat, hm? Get to it, technician. And make sure that damnable musician grovels for me.”

“Don't you switch the topic on me. The feedback was accidental, and he was already working to fix things. I don't understand why you are so bent out of shape about this, Eli.”

“And pray tell how you know this foolish musician accidentally caused that infernal feedback? You barely know him!”

Jet shrugged. “I don't need to know a damned thing about him to know he wouldn't do that! You'd think with your expertise in playing characters, you'd know a thing or two about judging them. Why would someone sabotage their own performance just to spite someone else?”

The air around Eli and Jet froze. Hushed whispers died down as the two sized each other up. Jet's reluctant eyes searched Eli's cold, sharp gaze for any hint of remorse. They had only known Eli for a scant few hours but they grew agitated the more they interacted with xem.

“And you fancy yourself a judge of character? I somehow doubt you would know how to judge the sea from the sky, much less the heart of a soul. You surround yourself with instruments of navigation and think you know the mettle of one's soul? You know not even a fraction of a fraction of the turmoils that drive the envious to ruin someone successful such as I, and before this cruise is done, I'll prove it to you as the dark deeds of my enemies here are brought to light.”

Guests hooted and hollered at xyr retort. This altercation was going to be the highlight of the evening. Cyrus applauded, making others clap and instigate Jet further. Eli raised xyr hands in response to the crowd, taking in all the approval.

“I must say I'm somewhat disappointed in Paulo,” Eli laughed. “When did they allow mediocrity to grace this wondrous ship's presence?”

Jet did not want to escalate things further, but found themself unable to let such flagrant disrespect towards them continue. Not only would it look bad for them, but also set an example of how staff were to be treated by guests—something they could not let happen.

"I wonder about that... But you should be glad Paulo did—I mean, it allows someone like you onboard."

Guests loudly ooh'd at Jet's rebuff.

"Dark deeds? Come on. You cannot be serious, there are no enemies here. Maybe you should try looking in a mirror if you wanna see this darkness you speak so much about."

Cyrus tried to settle them but to no avail. Eli boiled at the clapping of the guests but stared straight ahead at Jet as though they were the only thing in the room. It was a rare moment when Eli was admonished, much less in xyr natural element amidst a crowd, but xe could not, under any circumstance, let that get to xem.

Xyr face took a dark demonic expression that sent a chill down Jet's spine, making them dizzily step back from the sheer malice that exuded from xyr gaze.

Eli spoke softly but in a manner that felt more like a beast's growl:

“I'll warn you once, and only once: cross me again and it's curtains for you, navigator.”

Xe swiftly ran xyr thumb across xyr neck, summoning Cyrus to escort xem back to xyr chamber. They both retreated past the crowd that took the hint to disperse.

With one last look, Eli glared at Vardan, who had been quietly observing all this from the corner.

“And don't think I'm through with you either, magician.”

Syndesmos groggily walked past everyone to troubleshoot the DJ equipment, too little too late. He proclaimed to no one in particular that a wire burnt out and that he had a spare, though not before somehow blaming Audra for this. He could only meekly apologize and take the blame.

At that moment, he felt he would rather swallow his pride and live without ever getting into another altercation ever again.

As the music started playing, Vardan got up and dusted themself off. They searched around for their book, thinking for a moment that they could evade Rien until—

“Vardan.”

A raspy voice called out to them.

They turned around. Rien sat patiently with the book they had been trying to find.

“There has been enough fun for one night, huh Vardan?”

All hopes of having a moment to themself dashed in an instant. They remained quiet, eyes heavy.

“I don't care for this silent treatment, not especially after what I saw what you did to Mx. Palatna out there. Don't think I didn't notice. I know everything that you do, so don't think about doing a stunt like that again or else I will thoroughly punish you again. Am I clear?”

Vardan could only nod, wanting to retire for the night and find refuge in the world of dreams.