[kill 02]

[harborbutcher]

[I need to get my bearings here, find out what the crew isn't telling us.]

So was that a rain check on those drinks...?

[...and, more importantly, find out how to get my hands on those files.]

Comments

[shenghuanzhe]

You tell me. I'm doin' paperwork in the casino, so if you wanna drop in that's fine.

[In the background you can hear the faint sounds of the casino as Kage works.]

commentlog ftw

[harborbutcher]

[A casino. An incredibly noisy public place; anyone could walk in, but they wouldn't be able to eavesdrop without being obvious. It's almost ideal.]

[This Kage is no fool; he knows not to meet me anywhere else. If it wasn't so frustrating it would be admirable.]

I'll meet you there.

[Dexter waltzes in, hands in his pockets, pretending to be interested in the various aspects of the ship's casino. To his moderate surprise, it's quite empty. When he spots the man doing paperwork, Dex walks up behind him at a normal pace and leans over his shoulder at a comfortable distance, talking above the ambience.]

Would you be First Mate Kage?

Re: commentlog ftw

[shenghuanzhe]

That's the rumour.

[Kage speaks around his joint, not looking up or turning to face this passenger. Every so often after glancing at tables and figures he signs his name to the bottom of a sheet and flips it over, starting on a new one.

Anyone who leans to see what's on the pages will be a bit disappointed: the writing seems to be in a mixture of a form of Chinese and some sort of text that looks like a cross of Arabic and Hebrew. Kage sucks on the smoke and exhales smoke through his nose, then gestures to the seat beside himself his his free hand.]

Get yourself a drink an' sit down if y'want. Drinks're behind the bar.

[harborbutcher]

[Dexter is disappointed by what he glances from Kage's paperwork; nothing he could exactly use. Letting out a little sigh, pretending to be saddened by Kage's lack of hospitality, Dexter goes behind the bar and pours himself the most non-alcoholic drink possible. Sure, it's a little fruity, but Dexter's not one to care about something like that. He needs to keep his wits about him, here.]

[But he doesn't skimp on the tiny umbrella.]

So.

[Great. More small talk.]

What are you working on?

[shenghuanzhe]

Paperwork. You know how much laundry detergent this boat uses in a month? Lots. Fuckin' tonnes of the shit. Gotta wash serviettes, tablecloths, bedsheets, uniforms, towels, handtowels, facecloths, rags, everything.

[Kage glances at Dexter and flashes him a bit of a grin.]

Dexter, right?

[harborbutcher]

[Dexter feigns interest. This could be an allusion to Dexter's killing streak, but he thinks nothing of it - if Dexter were going to kill somebody, he'd make sure not a drop landed on any surface. Regardless of how much one cleaned, trace elements of blood always remained.]

Oh-- yes. Dexter Morgan.

[He extends his hand, to shake.]

We talked over the phone.

[shenghuanzhe]

[Kage puts the pen down and firmly shakes Dexter's hand, flashing him another easy, lopsided grin before using his now-freed hand to ash his joint in an ashtray.]

Yeah, we did. You were concerned about the files, eh? Don't worry, we keep tabs on all passengers. Just th'way shit works around here.

[Kage eyes the little umbrella in Dexter's drink. This passenger isn't a skinny or slight man, so the drink decoration seems a little... fay.]

[harborbutcher]

[Dex gives a small fake smile and nods, before noticing...]

[...is that?]

[His eyebrows furrow. Dexter motions his head to Kage's joint, keeping an eye on it as he speaks in his casual monotone;]

I see they don't keep tabs on crew.

[shenghuanzhe]

Huh?

[Kage looks as Dexter motions to his... face? Kage swipes his hand over it, trying to figure out what the other man is referring to. Is there something on his face?]

[harborbutcher]

That.

[Dexter points.]

That joint. Last time I checked that was illegal.

[shenghuanzhe]

Illegal? Batata?

[Kage blinks and pulls his pack of marijuana cigarettes out of his pocket and sets it on the counter.]

Batata ain't illegal, man, y'can get packs of this shit in the gift shops.

[Kage shakes out a few and lays them on the counter, then slides a cheap plastic lighter towards Dexter.]

Have some, man, chills you the fuck out.

[harborbutcher]

No thank you.

["Batata". He calls it "batata". From this and the files I can safely assume that this boat is completely foreign owned and we are sailing on foreign waters, and psychological complexes aren't limited to the passengers. After all, frequent use can lead to drug induced psychosis - and from his attitude, I can assume he is a frequent user.]

I don't want to fall off the wagon.

[...This man is a killer. I can sense it in him so deeply, it hurts.]

[shenghuanzhe]

Shit ain't addictive man, ain't gotta worry about forming some new--

[Kage looks at him, catches Dexter's eye and drags on his joint, exhales as he speaks so the smoke rolls down over his chin.]

Habits.

[harborbutcher]

[He's toying with me.]

[Dexter manages to pull his face into a smile and lets out a couple short breaths in lieu of a laugh.]

I'll have to disagree with you on that one.

[shenghuanzhe]

[Of course he's toying with you, Dexter, he's crew. It's what they do. Count yourself lucky you aren't meeting with the masseuse or, God forbid, the Stewardess.

Kage can recognize the mask-like expressions on Dexter's face, and a moment later he turns back to his paperwork.]

Got a test for you, man.

[From the bottom of the pile the First Mate pulls out a file folder. On the front it has a photo of Dexter staring straight into the camera, face calm and blank. Kage tosses it down on the counter.]

This is your file. Open it up, read it to me.

[harborbutcher]

[That's odd.]

[Dexter's brows furrow when he takes a first glance at the file folder. This brought up a number of questions to the back of his mind - predominantly, why was he just handing it over? - but a single aspect of it truly got to him.]

[I've never taken a photo like that before. So calm, so expressionless...]

[...so genuine.]

[Dexter looks back up at First Mate Kage, and he can't hide the curiosity he feels. This is incredibly strange.]