The Quartermaster stepped onto the deck. The sun was high, the wind was good and the ship was on its course. He spied the Oracle, standing on top of the figurehead, staring into the sea, her blue cloak flying in the wind. This feat of marvel by her always left the Quartermaster in awe. He turned to the stern and saw the Captain and the First-mate standing side-by-side at the helm. The happy couple was laughing at something. They always do that, the Quartermaster thought fondly. The first-mate was looking fabulous in her ruffled skirt. The Captain was looking cozy in her white shirt and over-sized vest. Over-sized vest. The Quartermaster gasped as the realization dawned on him. He stormed to the main deck.
'CAPTAIN!', the Quartermaster raged as the Captain and the First-mate turned towards him. 'That vest is mine!'
'Is it his?', The First-mate peered at the vest.
'No! It's not!' retaliated the Captain.
'You know, for the Captain of a ship, you are very bad at lying.' said the Quartermaster. 'Your mouth is doing that funny thing it does when you lie.' Sure enough, the Captain's mouth had twisted to the side. Swiftly, she coughed and made her face neutral.
'Why would you want her to lie to you?' the First-mate frowned at the Quartermaster.
'No. That's not the - '
'Exactly,' interrupted the Captain. 'I'm honest and open to all of you, but you don't appreciate it.' She wagged her finger at the Quartermaster.
'THAT IS NOT THE POINT!' yelled the Quartermaster. 'You stole my vest!'
'DO NOT YELL AT YOUR CAPTAIN!', the Captain yelled back. 'And.. No! I did not steal your vest!'
'Sure you did.' the Oracle appeared suddenly next to the Captain.'It is the vest that we gifted the Quartermaster. His name is on the back of the vest.'
'I did not steal this vest. And you,' the Captain turned to the Oracle. 'Weren't you staring at the horizon? Why are you here?'
'I heard that you stole something,' smirked the Oracle. 'Wanted to see what made you so desperate.'
'For the last time', Captain said through clenched teeth. 'I did not steal this vest.'
'Then how come you are wearing this?' asked the Oracle.
'Because he left it with me!'
'ME? When did I leave it with you?' asked the Quartermaster.
'Two days back.'
'That was because you asked me for it!', thundered the Quartermaster. 'You said that you would return it after using.'
'Well... I- I-', stuttered the Captain, 'Well, I'm still using it, aren't I?'
'Sweetheart', the First-mate tried coaxing her wife. 'It's his vest. We got it for him. Won't you feel bad if he isn't wearing something that WE gifted him?'
'Yeah... Well...' the Captain struggled for words. 'I am the Captain of this ship! Everything in this ship belongs to me! I take whatever I want! I give nothing back!', and when she saw everyone's sceptical eyes on her, 'Fine! I'll give it back. It's very cozy and comfortable.' the Captain hugged the vest close to her.
'Yeah! I know! And I want it back!' demanded the Quartermaster.
'You are a horrible man!', the Captain pointed her finger at him.
'Aw! My sweetheart!', the First-mate went to hug the Captain.
'Don't touch me!', the Captain smacked the hand away. 'I am your wife. You should be supporting me! Not him! Don't come near me!'
'Anarchy!' scoffed the Oracle. 'And will you keep your volume down?', she said as she descended the stairs to the quarter deck. 'It's very noisy!'
'NOISY?', yelled the Captain. 'You come back here!', the Captain scampered after the Oracle. 'I'll give you the noise of my sword!'
'I'd like to see you try!', scoffed the Oracle and laughed as she parried the Captain's blow.
The quartermaster sighed at the commotion.
'You do realize that you are not going to get your vest back right?' the First-mate asked the Quartermaster.
'Yes... Yes I do.' he chuckled at the sight of the duel between the Captain and the Oracle. It was another day aboard The Azule Phoenix.
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