Ramone stomped his hooves towards the cabin door, and much to Chloe's relief, Abacab let them be. As annoying as he was, she knew he had a sailor's code to not butt in.
Once they arrived inside Abacab's Yo-Ho stocked cabin, Ramone turned around. Normally, he was a mild mannered goat-man of wealth and taste, but now, he looked like he was ready to charge Chloe down with his satyr horns.
Chloe smirked playfully and tried to play off his anger. "C'mon, Rammy," she said, her hands behind her back. "This has been lotsa fun. We're getting in a ton of exercise! Why I don't think you need to run around the Mainland Square at 5AM in your neon pink tracksuit anymore!"
Ramone crossed his hooves. "Bah," he said with a dead stop. "I'm no goat kid! I'm running so fast I could get a conniption!"
"And come on," Chloe said, a catlike smirk on her face. "You're meeting so many new friends! Friendship is the greatest treasure when you're a pirate! It helps compensate when you don't find gold and dubloons!"
"Many of these so-called friends!" Ramone hissed. "Wish to run me through with a sword. When I was a fashionista, the only thing aimed at me were hostile barbs from snooty clients!"
"But think of all the different places you're seeing..." Chloe said, spreading her arms far and wide. "The four ocean kingdoms are a marvelous place! Think of all the sights we've seen..."
"Like down the barrel of a loaded gun..." the satyr exclaimed. "Face it, my queen. This journey has been the absolute pits for me...and worst of all..."
Ramone seized the air dramatically. "There's no more martinis to be had!"
"But..." Chloe started and she thought deep down in her surely pirate heart. "At least, we're still living." she said with a crooked smile "And if we're still living, there might be better things ahead...like more martinis."
Ramone sensed the earnestness in Chloe's eyes and it lead him to pause. He closed his eyes. Time slowed itself down like Chloe had used her demonic reflexes. Her fingers trembled over his response.
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At last, his eyes opened again and they were informed with his answer. "My queen..." he said with resignation. "I know that this has always been your dream since you were a babe..."
Chloe's eyes shimmered with hope.
"But..." he answered. "It has not been mine...nor will it ever be. I prefer the high life. Drinking fine wine, going to matinees and designing my very own runway fashion line to be worn across the globe. So far, the only model I've seen is Monica and she is constantly getting herself beaten up, injected with syringes and electrocuted. Hardly the kind you'd want on the runway."
Chloe wanted to giggle, but she could see the writing on the wall that it kept her smile at bay.
"Let's get this straight, Annabell," Ramone said haughtily. "I've always cared for you, but I cannot put myself in harm's way every waking hour of my life. I would like to retire from this scurvy life on the next island we visit."
"No..." Chloe said softly to herself. "You can't..."
"Deary deary deary," Rosemary laughed from inside of her head. "Dear, if you're the captain, you have to do what's right for your crew..."
"I hate you, you wretchy witch," Chloe growled. "But...I hate it that you're right."
"As always," Rosemary sang. "Even my end game is delightful, but you won't hear it now with a fractured crew!"
"Umm..." Ramone asked. "What was that, Annabell?"
Chloe stopped conversing with herself. "Fine...you can leave..." the young pirate queen said with tears in her eyes.
Ramone's eyes widened over Chloe's rare display of tears. "Thank you, mistress," he said politely.
As Chloe's lips wobbled into a pout, the suave satyr added. "And though I intend to serve under no other scurvy pirate..." he said with a bow, "I'm happy that I spent my days serving under you..."
Chloe managed a weak smile, but inside, she was feeling the most emotion since Fienmond had slaughter her parents. Ramone, as much as she didn't want to admit it, was like a father to her-- a father she never had.
"The next time you see me," Chloe said with a growl in her voice. "I'm gonna rule myself over these scurvy scoundrels and give them the rogue queen they've always deserved."
Ramone happily pumped a hoof in the air. "That's my queen always ruling over something...but I'm happy you've really understood and respected my d..."
Suddenly the door to the cabin burst open, Abacab was drenched in sweat and that was especially apparent in his glistening beard. "Thar he blows!" he cried.
"Who?!" Ramone exclaimed. "Who exactly is doing the blowing?"
"That gangster rouge! Abacab cried at the top of his lungs. "He's awoken and he's threatening to strike our boat with lightning!"