"You okay?"

"Why do you care?"

Janus looked back down at his book but didn't continue reading. "Because it's been a couple of days and you're not back to your old, annoying self."

Remus scoffed. "Would've thought you liked the quiet."

"Yeah but now it's kind of worrying." Judging by his voice, Janus really was worried. That was... that was new. But it was according to plan.

Remus crossed his arms and prayed his acting skills were up to scratch. "I just... guess I've never been this far away from familiar waters. I kinda miss home, that's all."

"This is a lot more than just homesickness."

"How would you know?" Remus had to stop himself from snapping at Janus. "You probably couldn't wait to leave your dad after your mum did."

"How did you-?"

"Simple, really." Remus looked at Janus. "The way you sit. Way you talk. Your constant infatuation with books. You're either a scholar or you had a bad childhood. And judging by the fact you are first mate - not treasurer or navigator - of this ship, I'd say it's the latter."

Janus glared at him and didn't say anything.

"There's no point denying it." If Remus had been himself, the tone would've been full of laughter and taunt but it was just monotone and matter-of-fact now. "I'm a mermaid. I pick up on these things."

"Well maybe I don't understand homesickness," Janus said, the malice practically radiating from him, "but I can tell when someone is lying. And you've got to be dumber than you look if you think I'm going to believe that homesickness is the reason for this complete change in character."

"You've said it yourself, you don't understand homesickness. You can't understand the effect of homesickness unless you've been through it. And seeing as you chose to stay on the ship when we docked at your home, I'd say you couldn't care a penny for home."

"You can't care a penny for something you don't have." Janus snapped.

A ghost of what, once upon a time, could've been a smile passed across Remus' face. "And there it is. There's the problem. I think you need to get some serious therapy for your imposter syndrome rather than taking it out on me."

Janus kicked the glass, sending a hairline crack all the way from the bottom of the tank to the hinges connecting it to the lid. It wasn't a large enough crack to start the tank leaking but it was a start. It was a definite start.

"You don't know anything about my life." Janus snapped, glaring at Remus. "So don't talk to me about what sort of illnesses I have."

Remus would've laughed if he'd found the sound inside him. "You can't deny the truth, Janus." He said slyly. "And you're going have to face it sometime. Unless you want to be a galley rat for the rest of your life." He ran his tongue over his fangs and turned away from Janus.

"Shut up!" Janus yelled. He grabbed his book and stormed out of the brig.

"I'm going to do it." Remus thought. "I'm going to get out," the brig door slammed closed, "and that pirate is going to help me. Whether he likes it or not."

This might end up being somewhat close to the length of YNATFILWM. Just a heads up.
Bye,
Blaize