Franky was beyond himself with the constant pestering and jibber-jabber, both men acting like overzealous fools. "Anyway, who the hell is this kid anyways?'' The white-haired grump yelled, not bothering to ask Emmett himself.
Emmett's eyes flickered back towards Frankie, his excitement momentarily forgotten. "Huh? Oh, I'm Emmett!" He replied, offering a friendly smile in an attempt to dispel any growing tension.
Captain Tory chuckled once more, shaking his head as he leaned against the rail. "He's a researcher. He's joinin' ya for this mission. Said somethin' about it being his life's work or sumthin' like that."
Franky's expression instantly soured at the captain's words. He let out a dry scoff as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "A researcher? You gotta be kidding me."
His gaze shifted to Emmett, his tone dripping with sarcasm and clear distaste. "Great, this ought to be just peachy. Can't wait to have some bookworm slowing us down."
Emmett's face fell at Franky's remark, his excitement giving away to a slight frown. The comment clearly stung, but he tried to maintain his composure.
The white-haired man was more than aware of the challenges they would face, and a clueless researcher would be a hindrance more than a help.
Captain Tory nodded in confirmation, a look of calm assurance on his face. "Aye, but don't underestimate him. He's a smart one, been tracking this target for a while now. Said he got some maps and the like that could prove handy."
Franky's expression didn't change, his doubts unwavering. "A map, how useful. What's he gonna do, bore the target to death with facts about the local wildlife?"
"Actually," Emmett interjected, his voice calm and polite as he spoke, "A map isn't the same thing as a book. A map provides a visual representation of a location, whereas a book provides information in a written format."
Franky let out an exasperated sigh, rolling his eyes at Emmett's interjection. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Maps are for finding places, books are for readin'."
He looked to Emmett with a deadpan expression, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "What's next? You gonna tell me the sky's blue and water's wet?"
Captain Tory's face softened a bit at the bickering between Franky and Emmett. He knew they would have to get along eventually, whether they liked it or not.
"Alright, enough of that!" He called out, his gruff voice cutting through the air. "We don't have time to stand here and bicker like children. We need to get movin'. My second-in-command already got all y'all's crates ready!"
Both men paused, momentarily startled by the rough yet booming voice.
"Now quit yer yappin' and get yer feet movin' on this ship. We got a sea monster to find and ain't got all day to loiter!"
Franky let out a resigned sigh, his expression still laced with annoyance. "Right, yeah, let's get this over with."
Emmett gave a slight nod in agreement, pushing aside his previous disappointment at Franky's remark. He couldn't help but feel a small pang of excitement at the prospect of boarding the schooner, his interest in the mission still burning inside him.
The pair made their way down the dock, the wooden planks creaking under their weight. The salty sea breeze flew past and flickered their messy hair, caressing their faces and ruffling their clothes. Captain Tory's schooner was a thing of beauty, a sturdy vessel that had clearly seen many voyages through her time.
Emmett could feel a mix of excitement and anxiety building in his chest. This is it. He had spent years studying, preparing for this moment. And now, he was about to embark on a journey that would change everything. His mind raced with thoughts of what it will be like to stand on the deck of the schooner, what it will be like to see the unknown up close.
