A Morbid Sense of Mischief - Part 1
December, 1997
A young man was sitting at a table, slouching slightly, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He was on the tall side and solidly built, a trait that was that much accentuated by the confident way in which he carried himself even when so obviously resting. He was a midshipman third class at the United States Naval Academy. And he was watching someone with a calculated eye. If one were a biologist and the look had belonged to a wolf or a great cat instead of a young man not yet twenty, one would surmise that he was stalking his prey.
The person he was watching, a fellow midshipman though one in his first year, was light haired like him, but did not possess his height or his obvious confidence. As a matter of fact, this midshipman, staring almost forlornly out the window across the room, was as blatantly unconfident as the observer was confident. The midshipman happened to not be someone who could hide their emotions easily, and his loneliness and despair was clear in his bright blue eyes.
It has been said that the best way to attract a predator is to seem vulnerable. This statement is probably true. It was unfortunately true in this particular case.
“Hey.” The observer had come to stand beside the other young man, a soft, friendly smile on his face.
The younger midshipman blinked but returned the smile with hesitant warmth. “Hey,” he echoed.
“Jon Stinton,” he quickly introduced himself, thrusting out his hand and speaking with rapid friendliness. “Mid’man, third class, and no offense, but I’ll have to guess you’re a plebe.” A small grin. “Welcome aboard, if I’m allowed to use the phrase.”
Something resembling relief spread across the other’s face as it broke into a broad smile. “Alex Kennedy, and I’m afraid you’re right.” He shook the offered hand.
Jon grinned and chuckled, though a dark smirk was just detectable underneath the supposed warmth, at least if a person knew to look for it. “Don’t look so surprised,” he exclaimed with a laugh, “or has the hazing gotten to you so badly that you think there isn’t a man left with an ounce of common courtesy in this entire damn place.”
This got a weak smile and a shrug out of Alex. “Have to admit, Annapolis hasn’t come across to me as the most friendly of place…”
“Of course we’re friendly,” Jon objected, still grinning. “You’ve just got to be, you know, initiated. Happens to everyone. But hey, you’ve been here a couple months, you’re over that now. Time for the real fun to begin.”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “Real fun? Care to explain.”
“Yeah, real fun. Camaraderie. Friendship. All the rest of that bullshit they’re always telling you about.”
Alex chuckles. “What, and you’ve been designated the one to introduce me to all this?
An oh-so-nonchelant shrug. “Not in so many words, but me and a couple of guys were gonna go somewhere tonight, but we’ve got room for one more. I’ve seen you around. Thought you might want to come with.”
It would have been difficult to hide the way that Alex’s eyes lit up. Perhaps he was not someone who was usually social, perhaps he was insecure, or perhaps he had just given up hope of finding his place at the Naval Academy. “Sure, why not?” But his voice nearly glowed.
“Great. See you later, then, Kennedy.” Jon grinned again and turned to go, leaving his prey markedly more cheerful than he had been before the conversation.
On his way out, Jon passed by another student, smirking coolly. “Piece of cake,” he said to him, barely stopping. “This one I’m taking care of on my own.”