That’s where Martyn was. And that’s where everyone was. Hell. In hell doing a competition trying to get the kids back from wherever the watchers held them. Yeah, weren’t the circumstances great? 

So great that you could just drive yourself insane trying to find some fucking exit. So great that you could just mess up every positive relationship. So great that you could just kill even those you care about for an advantage. Martyn surely would know. 

Now here in hell he sat in his team’s camp on some uncomfortable cot, just exhausted. It was rare for Martyn to truly be exhausted. He remembered times back out on the seven seas in which he had stayed up nights out in open waters, he remembered back on the archipelago he hadn’t slept stressing out about turning his ship into a suitable home for a child, the aftermath of neither compared to the tiredness he felt here. There was just something so exhausting about this situation, being trapped in this inescapable hell, the constant stress about his every move in relation to his daughter’s safety, every single detail about this place was just exhausting. 

Suddenly he heard a faint buzz on from behind him. He sighed before rolling to the other side of the bed to see his communicator there buzzing. He grabbed it and turned it on the bright light of the communicator stunning him for a second. After a second his eyes readjusted to see what was there.

Just something going on in world chat.

Martyn rolled his eyes. Nothing good came out of world chat, still though it could be mildly entertaining. He opened it up to see Some messages from Mr Scott Sylfaur himself, ugh.

Scott was an interesting case. When he was bounded to his soulmate it was just two versions of himself, it was funny, almost like the universe wanted him to go fuck himself just as much Martyn did, then when he was given a child the kid ran away instantly which if that wasn’t just a banger start then who fucking knows what is. From what Martyn could read of him he was intelligent, skilled, charismatic, and just a filthy liar.

Something was just pathetic about him. Martyn was sure he wouldn’t live a day as a pirate, that silver tongue of his getting him killed instantly. Pirating required a certain strength behind you, you could talk all you wanted, but that wouldn’t do anything against the navy against you. 

Ugh people like him infuriated him. They always just chum up with strong people, and they lie, and they always fuck around and they always get their dues paid, he would know. He took a deep breath and took out his… well not diary. He wrote things, some of which one would write down in a diary, but also more than just that. He wrote to do lists, reminders, doodles, it really was just a notebook or something along those lines.

“Things I hate about Scott Sylfaur”

He stared at that title for a miniute before scribbling it out.

“Mr Scott Sylfaur”

That was better. He then thought about what he was writing. Was he going to list his grievances? Things this idiot did that just annoyed him? He then began writing.

“Who the hell is this man?

What the hell is this man?

How do you just talk to the watchers like that?

How do you both give them what they want and lose nothing?

Why is he so damn-”

He stopped himself. Yeah no this page was a waste. He was tired and angry, he wasn’t going to be letting this ramble stay in here. He ripped it out and crumbled it up. He stared at the garbage can that was across the room. He absolutely wasn’t going to be getting up to throw it away. He sighed, he would just throw it away when he woke up.

-

Scott woke up with a plan for the day. What was the plan you may ask? Well, currently when it came to territory retribution unfortunately was lacking and he was determined to change that. And he was going to change it by going out exploring. 

Now that idea may seem fun to your average person, but Scott certainly wasn’t the exploration type. Now that didn’t mean he wasn’t going out, in fact that didn’t even really put any real halt on things, he just needed to get someone to go with him. 

He quickly pulled out his communicator and pulled up the retribution chat and began to type out his message.

“Hey, I’m going out to claim territory. Anyone free to join?”

He then put his communicator down and went to get ready for the day. Believe it or not he still managed to have a decent morning routine despite… this. No, being at the mercy of a sadistic host certainly didn’t stop him from doing anything. 

First he got dressed, not that Scott exactly had many choices to wear here, nothing compared to where he was from at least, then again this entire situation was nothing like where he was from. Still though he got dressed in something that he deemed appropriate for adventure. 

Next he did the basic hygiene, again it was definitely easier back at home but he managed. His morning routine included, of course, styling his hair. He couldn’t help but frown at the sight of his roots growing back in. If… no when he got back home he was definitely redying it, but that was a future Scott’s problem. He then brushed his teeth, splashed some water in his face to really wake himself up and stared in the mirror. He then quickly felt his head for his horns, not yet. 

Next he got up and prepared himself something to eat, again- you get the point. It wasn’t anything special, really, barely considered it breakfast food, just anything their team had in their food reserves cooked in a furnace. Just enough to do the job.

He then grabbed his communicator and turned it on. Nothing. Wasn’t that great. He sighed and began to type.

“Hey guys?”

He then waited for a response. Took around 5 minutes but finally some Joel responded.

“Can’t, busy right now,”

He frowns. That really wasn’t the response he wanted all things considered. He sighed and began typing.

He stared at the communicator for a minute with no responses coming in before sighing putting it down. The thought of exploring alone was unfortunate. He was decently self sufficient of course, but that was on like normal things. His skill set was good for normal situations. 

This, this place, this everything, was completely abnormal. In your average day to day life you wouldn’t need to fight to the death, explore some post-apocalyptic hellscape, none of this was normal. At best this was something they would put you threw during STARR and he absolutely-

This was fine actually. He could manage. If worse came to worst, respawning was an option, not one he really wanted to do, but it was an option. That was a somewhat positive difference between this and his world, death isn't permanent, less risk.

He would figure something out. He looked at his communicator one last time to see nothing there. He then typed.

“Never mind, I’m going out alone,”

A part of him hoped someone was going to reply with something, they didn’t. Expected. He sighed and began to walk out of camp alone, which was… something, that’s for sure, but… it was fine.

-

Martyn was fine exploring alone. Nothing he wasn’t already used to from quests and such. As the witch Cleo said, their team needed territory and he was somewhat happy to deliver on that request. Most of the areas he had been to were definitely more… lively then this one. Felt as though with one touch these trees would turn to dust. 

He looked around, sword in hand. Nothing really impressive in all honesty.

Then he heard the sound of footsteps. With that sound adrenaline filled his body as he put his sword up for the attack and froze while surveying the area. After a minute he begins to think whatever was there disappeared. Then he hears footsteps behind him and he immediately turns to see… Scott walked up to him.

Not his Scott, not even what was deemed as the single good Scott, nope. Scott Syfaur. He immediately frowns and holds up his sword to the man. Scott immediately then holds his arms up in defense. 

“Hey, um I don’t mean you any harm,” Scott said in an oddly unpanicked tone which surprised him. Martyn then looked at Scott unimpressed. Oh if he really wanted to he could destroy this man. He puts his sword down

“Obviously,” He said in a very derogatory tone. He then took a deep breath.  “I’m claiming this territory for hearth, leave,” Scott looked for even a split second annoyed with the instant hostility before turning back to his sorta blank cheery “negotiation face” which Martyn liked.

“Oh, all alone?” Scott asked.

“Yeah,” Martyn answered. Then he looked Scott in the eyes. “Don’t see why you would have a problem with that considering you’re alone, always alone,” Scott Took a deep breath and met his gaze.

“Yeah, well, it’s quite dangerous exploring by yourself,” Scott said, a slight bit of irritation could be heard.

“You also went out alone so I guess that makes two of us,” Martyn quickly retorts, matching Scott’s tone. 

“Well it seems to me that we both need someone to explore with,” Scott retorts. Martyn then huffs, crosses his arms, and rolls his eyes. With that Scott somewhat gained his composure.

“I don’t need anyone to explore with,” Martyn said, rejecting the idea. “I’ve explored plenty of places alone,” Scott crossed his arms.

“Do you really hate me enough to reject free help?” Scott asked in a much more serious tone.

“I don’t hate you, I just don’t trust you enough to accept your help,” Martyn explained.

“What do I have to gain from backstabbing you? Also you don’t see me as a threat physically, I mean I don’t even have a sword on me right now,” Scott explained back.

“Yeah, but also what do you have to gain from helping me?” Martyn asked suspiciously.

“Resources, obviously,” Scott said as if it were something Martyn should’ve just known. 

“Yeah, but what about the territory, I want this for Hearth,” Martyn asked firmly.

“Well after we get the resources we can split it evenly, then we can both leave and come back later to claim the territory,” Scott offered. Martyn looked down almost considering it before looking up at Scott.

“Or… and hear me out here, I kill you, get all the resources and claim the territory for hearth now?” Martyn said as if he was offering it. He came closer to Scott sword in hand then something fell out of his pocket, a crumpled up piece of paper. Scott instantly grabbed it.

“What’s this?” Scott asked while slowly opening it up.

“Give that back Scott!” Martyn yelled while instantly reaching out for it. Scott finally opens it up.

“Mr Scott Syfaur,” He reads out, before looking back at Martyn. He then looks up at the now setting sun. “I can answer these questions if you let me stay here the night with you,”

-

Scott had no idea how he wasn’t dead. Then again apparently he didn’t know a lot about Martyn. The idea that the other man was fascinated by him enough to write a list of questions was an interesting thing to know. Either way with this change, the plan was still the same, claiming this land for retribution. And the plan was simple: wait till Martyn falls asleep then get rid of him somehow.

For now though it was simple, play along. He helped the other build a shelter which admittedly was just him listening to Martyn tell him what to do building a quick starter shelter. Not that he didn’t know how to, just that apparently Martyn was just sorta taking the lead on that one. 

After setting up, they sat there with a campfire, shelter, everything. Scott pulls out the paper, list, whatever. And looks at Martyn. “So,” Scott says expectantly. Martyn looks at Scott.

“Who the hell is this man,” Scott reads out before meeting Martyn’s graze again. ‘Well that’s easy, I’m Scott Sylfaur, I’m 28, I host a popular show where I’m from,” Martyn looked at Scott blankly for a moment.

“Hmm… I mean I don’t think that’s really the answer I had in mind, but I guess that answers the question,” Martyn responds. Scott then looks down at the paper.

“What the hell is this man,” Scott reads out, again meeting back at Martyn's gaze. “Again pretty simple, I’m half demon,”

“Half demon?” Martyn asked.

“Yeah, where I’m from there’s four main races, demons, angels, humans, and satyrs. I’m half demon, half human,” Scott explained and Martyn nodded. Scott looked down at the paper. “How do you just talk to the watchers like that,” Scott read out loud. That question made him laugh softly.

“What’s so funny?” Martyn asked.

“Well, I don’t know. The tone of this reads as you saying they are some sacred thing, like how dare you talk to them like that,” Scott explained. “Are you some kind of watcher supporter?”

“No, I just… I guess it sorta seems like you are considering how chummy you are with them,” Martyn explained. Scott raised an eyebrow.

“I mean I think we’ve all negotiated with the watchers to try and gain things, I’ve seen you and Ren do that,” Scott said. Martyn noticeably tensed up at Ren’s name being said. Scott silently noted that.

“Well… that was more like them offering him something,” Martyn explained

“You still negotiated for them to give you something, that’s something,” Scott explained. 

“I feel like your negotiation and my negotiation are very different,” Martyn said

“And how do they think?” Martyn asked

“Well, they think in terms of entertainment, what’s entertaining to the general masses,” Scott explained

“So like bloodshed and such?” Martyn asked

“Well that’s a part of it, high stakes make the views, audience retention, and ratings go through the roof. Also other things too, I’m sure when you and that dog boy have cute moments it affects the rating somehow,” Scott explained. Martin tensed up again. Scott tried to hide the curiosity on his face at that. “How are you two doing anyway?” Martyn immediately clearly felt some type of way about the question.

“We’re… fine. Yeah. How’s it been by yourself?” Martyn asked back and Scott tensed up at that question. What’s with him and always mentioning that?

“Funny you’re assuming I’m alone,” Scott answered, slightly offended.

“Oh please, even if you get friends here, you’re always going to be alone. I know your type,” Martyn rolls his eyes. “Liars, your crown built with the silver of your tongue, and the walls built with the bones of all those who you’ve crushed to get here. You never have people you depend on, you never have people you can trust, because there’s so many snakes in the world and with every knife you put in someone’s back it makes the target on yours get larger, I imagine it’s quite lonely,” Scott was just stunned. Way too stunned to speak. So he looked down at the paper.

“Why is he so damn…” Scott read out loud. He then flipped the paper around to try to find the rest of the question, just to find nothing. “Where’s the rest of the question?”

“I didn’t finish writing that one,” Martyn said. “But are you seriously going to ignore what I said?” Scott tensed up. He absolutely wasn’t going to be acknowledging any of that.

“What was the rest of the question?” Scott asked blankly.

“You’re lonely too, aren’t you? I saw how you looked when I mentioned Ren,” Scott accused. Martyn then looked down and sighed, tears began to form in his eyes.

“Yeah, I’m fucking lonely, but at least I can fucking embrace it you coward,” Martyn responded. Yeah no this was a conversation he wasn’t having right now or ever. Relationships just weigh you down, attachments can just be abused. Scott already said too much.

“I’m leaving, you can have the territory,” Scott said in a monotone voice and stood up. Martyn then pulled out his sword.

“No! You aren’t leaving,” Martyn said in a threatening tone. Scott looked up, shocked.

“What the fuck do you mean?!” He asked, shocked. Was he threatening him?

“It’s dark outside, mobs are spawning so you’re going to die out there, so if you’re really going to leave, it’s going to be leaving i’ll put you out of your misery,” Martyn explained. Scott sighed and sat down.

“...Ok...” Scott said and Martyn put down the sword.

“How come you’re so much better than me and yet you’re a fucking coward,” Martyn yelled. And as he said that Scott just stared at him confused. That was a fucking loaded sentence.

“...What?” Scott said, confused. Martyn sat there with tear filled eyes before sighing and looking down.

“I’m sorry for threatening you,” Martyn said with his head in his hands. Scott just looked confused.

“I… It’s okay? But um, I’m better than you?” Scott asked.

“Scott you’re one of the smartest people on the server and sure retribution is in last place, but you’re doing great. And somehow you just fucking act so tough, and I just… fuck,” Martyn said. This entire conversation was just a lot.

-

Martyn eventually calmed down from that emotional outburst. Which was an embarrassing thing to do in front of someone, moreso someone who he wasn’t even friends with. Though Scott was being nice about it. Currently he was leaning on Scott’s shoulder while Scott was patting his head, which considering his knowledge on Scotts from his Scott was that they generally weren’t touchy people so yeah that was something. 

“Sorry,” Martyn said again.

“It’s fine, what are friends for?” Scott said in a very sweet tone that felt out of character. Martyn at first wanted to protest calling them friends but considering that entire scene that happened he would allow it.

“I guess,” Martyn muttered, letting out a yawn. His breathing slowed and he could feel himself slowly falling asleep.

-

Inthelittlewood was slain by Smajor1995