Jackson sighed and contemplated on telling her that their master didn’t eat the food. He sighed again and thought that it would be better to tell her half the truth. “. . Nothing. He eats something else than what they give us, and I don’t eat much, so, there will be plenty of food for you.”
"Oh." Amelia smiled a little at the thought of having enough to eat.
"I… Thank you." She smiled brightly as they finished up.
Jackson wiped sweat away from his forehead and smiled at Amelia. “There’s no need to thank me.” He sighed, picked up the supplies and quickly put them away and then walked back to Amelia. “So, what did Captain said? Was she suspicious? Who am I kidding, she probably was suspicious.”
"Oh, very." Amelia giggled.
"But no one really liked my old Master, so she didn't say anything." Amelia had just finished speaking when the dinner bell rang, and Phillips walked over.
"You did good," he noted, glancing at the deck before looking back up.
Jackson chuckled. “Yeah, it sure seems that no one really liked him. He deserved what I did to him. It was just Karma coming to get him.” Jackson looked up and frowned. “You both. Not you, dear master.”
"Ah, I see." Phillips smiled, putting his hand on Jackson's back and Amelia's arm. He led them down to the lower deck to eat.
"Well, it looks really nice," Phillips said again. "Both of you."
“Well, thank you Master. It’s better something looks well done, than well, not well done. It just doesn’t look good and it doesn’t impress people, and when things are done well, they’ll now that person who did it, tried their absolute best.”
Phillips nodded, understanding.
"Wich you obviously did, " he said with soft eyes. They reached the table, Phillips sitting down. He made sure there was room for both Jackson and Amelia, Amelia sitting down happily out of the way.
Jackson happily tapped his fingers on the table as he waited for the food. He decided to make some conversation with Amelia. “So, Amelia . . . do you have places you dream to visit?”
"Mm… Well, I've never actually been farther inland then the port City I was bred in, so I kinda just want to see more of the world." She smiled, not bothered by the fact she just referred to herself like an animal. Phillips said nothing, but he was listening in. Maybe it would be a nice to surprise the two w with a trip inland some day soon. H he knew the boat would be staying at the next docks they were coming to for a while.
“Wowzers. I’ve only seen the island I was born on. It’s pretty big, but I want to see the rest of the world. Meet different kinds of people, maybe even go to a jungle or something like that.”
"Uh…" Amelia blushed in embarrassment. "What's a jungle?" She looked at Jackson with curiosity in her eyes. Phillips took note, taking his plate of food when he received it and handing it over to Jackson and Amelia.
“A jungle is an area of land overgrown with dense forest and tangled vegetation, typically in the tropics.” Jackson said as he grabbed a portion of food.
"Oh wow…" Amelia smiled as she thought of the idea of jungles. She accepted the plate of food from Phillips gratefully, offering to Jackson first since Phillips had owned him longer.
Jackson shook his head and gave the plate back to Amelia. “No, you need to eat first. I don’t care if I eat a little, but you need it more than I do.”
"Oh, I… Thanks." Amelia smiled brightly, beginning to eat. Phillips smiled behind his mask; he was talking to others, but he saw what Jackson did. It was sweet. He patted Jackson's leg lightly, appreciative.
Amelia ate a little over half the food, unable to continue. She handed it over to Jackson.
“You’re welcome.” Jackson said while smiling.
Jackson smiled slightly as Amelia handed him over the plate and began to eat the food that was left on the plate. After, he moved the plate in front and someone collected it.
Phillips talked a bit more before standing, motioning for Jackson and Amelia to come with him. He went up to the crows nest, not trusting the crew to leave Jackson and Amelia behind. He say down, sliding his mask to the top of his head and sighing before pulling out and lighting a cigarette. Amelia sat down at his feet, not bothered by his sharp teeth.
"So, Jackson," Phillips said casually, "how much do you think we should let Amelia in on?"
“Hm, I dunno, half of it? Or maybe the whole thing. . “ Jackson said nonchalantly as he flopped down on the ground. He looked up at the sky and narrowed his eyes at the cloud. “Huh, they almost look like animals.”
Phillips glanced up, nodding.
"They kinda do," he agreed. Amelia looked between the two, confused. Phillips took a drag off his cigarette before speaking.
"Jackson isn't really my pet. When we get to the next safe port, he's skipping town." Amelia tilted her head.
"O-oh…"
“Amelia, is something wrong? You sound. . I dunno how to put it exactly.” He sighed and looked up at the sky once again. “I won’t have to see him ever again. I’ll be so sad. I have to admit, I’m going to miss demon boy and his cute little face.” He stopped as he realized he said that out loud. “Uh. . I mean. .yay?”
Phillips froze, cigarette hanging out of his mouth before falling to the bottom of the crow's nest. Amelia looked between Jackson and Phillips several times, flabbergasted.
"The fuck‽ I do not have a cute face!!" Phillips was less upset at the meaning behind Jackson's words and more with the fact that he had called Phillips cute.
(My school schedule has been changed. ;-;)
“Uh. . I’ll take my leave now. . “ Jackson said as he laughed nervously. He quickly climbed down, squeaked as a big man pushed him to the side, then got up and ran away.
(Mine too)
Phillips watched Jackson, stunned, before stamping his cigarette out.
"Stay here," he told Amelia, who nodded, as he swung out of the crow's nest. "Jackson!" He hissed, giving chase.
(Oof.)
Jackson kept running and running and running. He ended up going around the ship a couple of times. He finally stopped and flopped to the ground in exhaustion. “Why did I say that? Ugh, stupid boy!”
Phillips came to a stop next to Jackson, the only sign he had just run after Jackson being his slightly heavier breath. He'd put his mask back on too. He towered over Jackson a moment, then sat down next to him.
"You know it's dangerous to be running around this ship on your own," he said, not looking at the other.
Jackson didn’t respond, instead he kept his mouth shut and looked somewhere else. He cracked his knuckles sighed, and pretended like Phillips wasn’t next to him.
Phillips finally looked over at Jackson, his expression unreadable thanks to his mask.
"Just… please don't do that again. I'm just trying to keep you safe." There was something behind his tone, but it was hard to tell exactly what.
Nothing. He said nothing. Jackson was either mad at Phillips or he was playing some sort of prank. He crossed his legs and looked at the sun that was disappearing. “Amelia. . shit. .”
Phillips looked away after a moment when Jackson didn't speak. If Jackson wasn't speaking, neither would be.
"Crap," Phillips muttered. She was most likely still up in the crow's nest, and it was getting cold. He stood to go get her, glancing at Jackson. He knew he couldn't leave Jackson here, but he also knew Jackson probably wasn't going to listen to him.
"We need to go get her," he said, emphasis on the we part.