Cold. Blows the air around his face. He's walking down the pier, wood creaking under his boots. Scott is tired from the trip. Exhausted from the weeks at sea, cut off from humanity but his crewmates. How he yearned for the smell of leaves or the busy sounds of the city.

Reaching the end of the pier he looked over his shoulder to picture the boat he called his home for one last time.

He was swept back to the memories he made as a wee lad, when his parents took him for a quick trip on the sea. And how quickly the waters turned vicious and black, toppling the boat and then. The silence. As he was almost drowning. The cold grasp, that held him under water and took his family.

But the shriek of a seagull pulled him back to the here and now. Still feeling the cold lingering in his bones. He turned his back on the sea, to warm up at a cozy fire in a nearby tavern.

But not for long. as the sea has his heart. his soul. and his mind.

Scott knew the harbour well and set course directly to the closest tavern “Starboard“. He ordered the usual pint of beer and sat in the more quiet area around the hearth. Lots of other sailors exchanged stories of their latest trip cross the ocean. it was only background noise for scott, glorified seaman’s yarn. But it matters none. They all love the sea and knew of its beauty. Let them tell their tales and have fun.

Scott drifted away with his thoughts when suddenly the barmaid startled him. The other guests had quite a laugh on his behalf. Scott began to laugh too. The surprised barmaid asked if he’d need a refill. he ordered another round and asked if they still have a room available to stay overnight. With a smile she guaranteed him to get the most comfortable room they have. Probably the rehearsed response, but she made it sound sincere.

The other sailors bought him a drink and joined him in the more secluded area, trying to get to know their new friend better. They asked on which ship he sails.

Quite the merry bunch gathered around him now, pestering him about his tales and his ship. Scott was reluctant to reveal the name of the ship. They wouldn’t understand. But the alcohol loosened his tongue and so her name slipped, the pale scarlet.

And then the mood in the whole tavern changed. No more laugher and no more prying. But now murmurs went through the round. Until one of the younger sailors asked what everyone had on their minds.

Are they true? The rumours? The rumours about the pale… the ship.

There we go, thought Scott. Every sailor around these parts heard about the ship he sails on. The infamous pale scarlet. And even if he’d try to explain that there is nothing mystical about this ship, they wouldn’t listen. Cause they’ve heard stories. From a friend that heard it from a friend and so forth.

The pale scarlet is as ordinary as can be. Just the captain is unusual.

After Scott tried to explain to them how normal the pale scarlet is and after a few rather boring stories, the flock dispersed. What a load of rubbish. He can’t truly sail on that ship with those tales. He’s obviously just a show off. He was rather relieved about them leaving, because only moments after the door swung open and Scott’s captain joined him in front of the hearth.

She was very fond of Scott, as he is the only sailor on her ship that doesn’t need to boast with tales of glory and exciting encounters. Her skin was as pale as her ship’s planking, her hair a curly brown mess as if she just emerged from a greasy muddy pit and her dark eyes as clear and deep as the ocean.

He ordered her a drink and after an awkward silence, he told her that people showed interest in the pale scarlet again. But he knew as soon as they’d see its captain, they’d try to hire. That’s one thing Scott never understood, how sailors could just blindly hire onto the ship even after knowing and dreading her name.

She just smiled over her glass. Asking if he tried to enlist them this time. But she already knew the answer, cause he knows she only picks sailors that pique her interest.

Scott retired after a while; he started to feel the cold again. He asked the barmaid to show him his room and crashed onto the bed. Before falling asleep he scouted his surroundings and thought to himself, that it really is a nice room after all.

The morning dawned and he felt more refreshed than ever. Going downstairs he asked where he should turn to get some really good breakfast and after a short description he was already on his way. His mood didn't last too long, because he noticed he wasn’t the only one heading this direction. After a short greeting he was accompanied by his captain again. It’s not that he disliked her company, but after weeks with the same people, he was hoping to spend some time apart from them.

Scott enjoyed his breakfast and lightened up a bit. He even asked his captain if she wanted to join him on a walk through the park, breathing in some fresh not salty air.

But they didn’t walk too far before they were stopped by other members of the crew. Apparently their ship is not welcome in this harbour, as it scares away other ships and more importantly the cargo and money they bring. They got a notice to depart early.

The captain then ordered immediate departure. And even though Scott was hoping to lie down in some leaves, her voice echoed through his skull like waves washing against the hull of a ship. Her commanding tone could not be disobeyed.