Visit the One-Eyed Captain in the hospital

The shadows fall long inside St. Mara’s. Doctors in white and nurses in stripped pinafores step loud and bold through the endless hallways, but you only ever seem to catch their shadows as they vanish into the half-light. Finally, one pauses long enough to point you towards the One-Eyed Captain before disappearing.

In the distance, some unfortunate soul laments their torment with piercing wails.

She has her own room. Her name in brass above the door, a single bed, white sheets and blue flowers by the open window. You add your meagre bouquet to the other and approach her place of rest. Bandages cover her body and her arms up to the shoulders. Half her face is shrouded, the eyeless socket and bone-deep wound wrapped in gauze. Her legs are cast in plaster.

She stirs at your approach. Her single eye flutters open, and her chapped lips contort into a smile. ”Fuck the Saints.”

You have brought a book. One of the pulpy, borderline illegal romances she likes. The story of a foreign peasant girl learned in some fantastical magicks does not appeal to you, and the world it describes makes you doubt the author’s sanity.

But she listens, her attention focussed on your voice until you finish the chapter and turn the page to the next. ”Not..." Her voice is raspy and she delivers the words haltingly and with her grimace pained. ”Not that one. Skip. Any – any other."

You ask her why.

”It...my.” She coughs. ”Favourite.”

You give her a quizzical look.

”Or,” she swallows. ”Was.”

You scan ahead. The pulpy paper tells of a naive waif lured into debauchery by a group of Fey ruffians, and describes their members in places as rubbery tentacles. Her mind is addled, poisoned by their foul trickery as the monsters turn her to begging for their bestial cocks. You are quick to jump ahead to the next, and she thanks you with a tired smile.

{if Connected: The One-Eyed Captain > 2}

”I,” she says after you finish the chapter, ”I’m...” She coughs. ”Not... Not well. Not since...” A rattling breath escapes her chest, and she closes her eyes to gather strength. Only her fingertips are not bound in white, and she caresses air until you clasp her hand in yours. The One-Eyed Captain smiles.

”Sister!” The door swings open before the Captain can speak. ”And you must be her First Officer! Right? She told me so much ‘bout you. Anyway, sis, you look dreadful and I came as fast as I could. I’m not interrupting or nothin’?”

The One-Eyed Captain groans and her stiff fingers slip from your hand. ”Sister.” She coughs. ”Late.” Her weak voice does not quite reach reproach and a soft smile plays on her lips.

{else}

”I,” she says after you finish the chapter, ”I’m...” She coughs. ”Not... Not well. Not since...” A rattling breath escapes her chest, and she closes her eyes to gather strength. Only her fingertips are not bound in white, and for a moment they caress the lonely air. She smiles a rueful smile, and her lips move to form a voiceless question.

”Sister!” The door swings open before the Captain can speak. ” And you must be her First Officer! Right? She told me so much ‘bout you. Anyway, sis, you look dreadful and I came as fast as I could. I’m not interrupting or nothin’?”

The One-Eyed Captain groans. ”Sister.” She coughs. ”Late.” Her weak voice does not quite reach reproach and a soft smile plays on her lips.

{endif}

”Came as fast as I could,” the Younger Dustwell claims and hides some shopping behind her back. ”An’ besides, you're not lonely now, aren’tcha? And you look fine – well considerin’...” She looks so much like her sister, the same dark hair and amber eyes. Then an itinerant ray of Sundered Sunlight hits her face and illuminates the differences.

She is younger for one, innocent and soft where her sister is worldly and firm. Her cheeks are flushed in a bucolic red and even her linen sundress speaks of verdant contemplation away from the merciless Sea and from callous City life. Then her smile turns crooked and her eyes sparkle with familiar mischief. ”And you look tired... Did your gentleman caller keep you up? ‘Cause I could keep him outta your hair.”

The One-Eyed Captain laughs. ” Unbelief...” Her voice fails her, and the angry, stony rattle of her lungs makes you wince. But her eyes shine bright as she motions the other closer, and her smile widens when her sister’s hand touches hers.

They talk in gestures and squeezes. The Younger Dustwell whispers and each small shake of her sister’s head darkens her expression. She huffs and makes to turn away but is held back by the One-Eyed Captain’s pleading eyes and soft touch. They continue their wordless conversation long enough that you consider leaving.

”Help. Her.” The One-Eyed Captain raises her head, glaring at you and her sister both as she rasps her command. She then falls back to the bed, wheezing and eye closed.

”Come,” says the Younger Dustwell.

You do not feel like you have a choice.