[ Give God this: he seems to have zero qualms about standing out. ]

I guess 'the guy with the squid books' won't cut it. [ He looks, again, amused. ] I'm more of a titles guy. Makes introductions a bit awkward, but you know what they say about old habits.

[ Before they can unpack that, he adds: ]

You know Paul? [ There is no weight to the way he says it. He says it like a foregone conclusion, the little convenience of a friend in common. ] He's helped me a bit with the boat I've got in harbor. To him, I'm the Captain.

[ This is also a lie. It'll be an interesting one when it trickles back to Paul: there's some slim chance the kid will take it as a kind word, an open door, an offer to recognize navigator instead of Duke. There's a bigger chance he'll take it as advice to get back on his knees.

(Not in a creepy way, yikes, he's like twelve.)

God takes up drumming his fingers on his book again, and says: ]

Kids with an interest in blood magic call me Teacher.