"Is he missing a nose?" 

Derek asked

~

Cuthbert hesitated a little as he looked ahead of him, however, with a sharp inhale and a protrude of the chest, he stood taller and moved forth.

"My daughter is about to be five years of age, she's having headaches, just like myself, headaches so bad they drive her to slumber, where she has dreams of beasts, demons, just as I do"

Cuthbert relayed as he stepped closer

"And it just so happens, I've seen you before. In these dreams"

he added as he harshly jabbed the hosts chestplate with his index finger, thoughts scowling features soon morphed into that of surprise, as his finger easily sunk into the hosts fairly firm, gelatinous flesh

Cuthbert gazed at this odd sight, soon, the soft cotton between the two bodies was no longer able to serve as a barrier to the biting cold temperature of the hosts torso, cold and wet. Cuthbert swiftly withdrew his digit and looked up to the host in disgust.

The host chuckled a little, relaxing his smug expression.

Cuthbert looked on, unnerved.

"What are you?"

he asked 

"What am I?"

Louve asked with an innocence some may be convinced by

An awkward silence ensued as as Cuthbert waited on the host to add something.

"An ancient warlock that left humanity, a devil, pixie, what!?"

Cuthbert asked 

"Well, I'm but you're host. A sea loving saloon owner"

Louve offered, maintaining an oblivious demeanour 

"Please, you're some demonic jester.."

Cuthbert was interrupted by the host abruptly snapping..

"I'M NO JESTER!"

his human skin taking on a flush of blue speckles in conjunction 

~

"And another thing.."

"Hush a moment"

Derek asked Lottie as he held up an index finger in her direction whilst moving towards their open door

"I heard shouting, that bizarre, Louve guy"

"Is he not still conversing with Cuthbert?" 

Lottie asked

"I hear him talking too"

Derek answered as he squinted in focus

"They may be arguing?"

"Well the two of you aren't the most polite of men, I'm sure you have tested the patience of saints in your time"

~

"And we are a vital part of our system..."

"Listen, listen, sorry, I doesn't matter" 

Cuthbert yelled whilst waving his hands, interrupted the now completely mottled blue host mid rant

"I don't care who or what you are"

"You should good sir"

the host said,  in an increasingly  composed manner, he continued 

"For I am your replacement deity"

Cuthbert looked on in surprise.

Then horror.

"Or my sister" 

Louve added frantically 

"Please don't be frightened of me, she's dreadful you know! She doesn't believe in free will"

the host added as he put his hands together in a begging gesture

"So, does  this mean, I'm stuck, bound, here" 

Cuthbert slowly managed as he looked bewildered towards the blush ground

"Well, essentially,  as you accepted an invite onto my boat"

Louve answered, still seemingly begging 

"Yet you have a range of choices, I offer options, you may occupy another boat if you wish. Or you could, go on shore, my sister AntBee's territory"

he offered with reluctance 

"And going home?"

Cuthbert hesitantly enquired 

"You're not leaving, fot that would spoil our plans"

the host answered as he straighten up 

"You are not to play the one that got away"

"What?"

Cuthbert questioned 

"You're friend Derek is leaving here, with sea fever and an epic, perilous monster tale to tell"

Louve whimsically explained as he looked about in adoration 

"We worked on your family line years ago, your lot have as good as served their purpose, we need fresh meat, and you do know young Derek isn't all ge claims to be?"

"He's a toff pretending, I know, I hear the accent and he's bailed me out of a few bumps in the road these past few months"

Cuthbert relayed with a huff

"So you're just greedy then? You invest in me, but he holds a higher status?"

"Absolutely! People will listen to him, and a prognosis of mad man won't hinder his progress"

the host laughed 

"Following his trauma, he will return home, and give it a couple of years, he will be sat at a desk in a role he loathes, begrudging his betrothed and rife with seafever, and just maybe, inherited seafever will allow him to know which of the offspring are his. Trust me, he shall itch to return to me!"

"Well, I'm, speechless"

Cuthbert sadly said

"All I ever wanted to do was help my daughter"

he claimed 

"And find my wife"

"You're wife, now that's some story"

Louve began to laugh 

"Why? You know all about that!?"

Cuthbert questioned, growing irate 

"Certainly! How is that pink cardigan?"

Louve mocked 

"You need to tell me everything"

Cuthbert demanded 

"Not until you tell me about your daughter"

Louve teased

Cuthbert regained his stoic stance before he eventually answered 

"I hear her speech is slowing"