The windows start shining with an increasingly bright, reddish light, accenting the snow that is whizzing around outside in the cold winter wind. Then the door is pushed open and the as-of-yet festively lit tavern is bathed in a searingly bright white-red light. While the eyes are still adjusting, a wheezing, combined with shuffling footsteps and metallic clinking can be heard, as a figure enters. Just before the fireplace, the figure stops and sets down the light, which the adjusting eyes can start to make out as being four light sources in total.
A rasping voice proclaims: "Merry Christmay ye ol' landlubbers!" The figure chuckles before continuing: "Ya, 'tisn't that a glorious sight? Took me a while to find out what these do, ha!" *chuckles again, emits a wheezing cough, then continues* Broke many o' them torches, and then some... ya know, once lit, they can't be put out until they're done! Glorious stuff, wish we'd had them back in the days! Fire that just keeps burning, even under the seas! That's some real impressive alchemy right there!" *nods to himself, then sighs* "Was saving them up fer a special occasion, but since these guys" *points to the renmants of the posters of the Cursed Crew* splattered me crew, it's gotten real lonely down there! Not a single new recruit, can you believe that? Are the times of naval warfare over? No storms, all reefs charted, lighthouses everywhere?" *shakes his head* "Ah well, times will change, eventually, they always do. Anyway, so they defeated the best of me crew, well and, the rest, 'tis the same." *chuckles* "Just like that. I respect that, 'twas a fine little skirmish, and 't was fun how they shot half the head off my second, ha!" *chuckles* "Was a good man, but still I had a good laugh! Was just like in the old days!" *puts some crusted coins on the counter, picks up a bottle of rum, uncorks it and takes several large gulps before continuing* "That's the good stuff. So, as I said... Merry Christmas!" *he points to the source of the light* "Made that just fer ya!" *chuckles* "Aye, got some time on me hands there!" *grins crookedly* "An' sen' me a couple new recruits, will ye?" *points the bottle at the posters* "Cheers!" He then turns to leave, taking the bottle with him. "Well, 'til another time, ye bilge-drinking, bridge-building scallywags!" *laughs wheezingly while slinking out* With the searing light slowly fading as the magnesium torches start burning out, it becomes apparent that they're set in a Christmas wreath made of seaweed, frozen and sparkling with icicles that are melting away at the heat. The door falls shut, and only a couple of lumps of ice mark the Red Mariners path, then begin to melt.
Post edited December 27, 2025 by Dawnsinger