The Mermaid Sailor

[Aether1]

Captain Ivory
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Dark eyes peered down at the struggling women, her cries for Ivory to help seemed to bounce emptily off the hollow wooden walls. He was motionless, unmoving, legs planted firmly upon the floor with his gaze fixtated on her like a predator hunting it's next meal, why did she care so much for a single mermaid? Dear 'Cyreus' was not who she'd claimed, her Captain's goal was to now find out exactly who--or what--this woman was. Alas that could briefly wait, the captive mermaid... the actions of humanity were unpredictable, even a ruthless murderer and pirate like himself was capable of great compassion and sympathy, something about the bound mermaid and the way Ivory's Master Sailor wailed in her defense moved his cold heart steadily. Ivory crouched down slowly, swllowing deeply as a shaky hand outstretched--running over the injured mermaid's tail--his eyes resolute, but sorrow whirling in his mind. The tail felt extraodinary, like diamonds, like armor. Stronger than any whale hide. Shades of red invaded his face, whilst no tears fell his throat was tight, and coarse. This is why they were hunted so, that tail was worth more than his entire Ship, but mermaids were not fish to be hunted. They were ancient beings, said to be benevolent and kind in nature. Guardians of the sea who'd saved many a sailor's life. Such mercy was repayed by their enslavement and butchery.
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​

There lay the reason Captain Ivory was a pirate; the Crown encouraged the slavery of humans and mermaids alike, it was wrong. Taking an uncertain breath, the Captain unsheathed the cutlass that gripped his waist, before easing the blade below the net, being as cautious as he dared so as not to make contact with the mermaid's flesh.
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Freeing the trapped mythical woman was a long and arduous process, the net that bound her was tight and well crafted, it took slicing and cutting a single rope at a time to free her. Once the mermaid was finally free of her bonds, her tail whipped weakly from side to side. The Captain slowly stood once more, looking to 'Cyreus' with a questioning stare. He'd free'd the mermaid, but how did they get her back into the sea? It seemed neither safe, nor logical for her to be carried like cargo. Perhaps they'd need to fetch a stretcher from the Golden Mermaid, if such a crude device was capable of holding her weight, that is.
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[awriternamedian]

The longer her Captain stood still, the harder she cried. He wasn't going to help. He was going to leave her


here to die. Well she wouldn't allow that. She'd sink this ship if she had to, even if it meant sinking the Golden


Mermaid. Anyone who would leave any being in such a state as this deserved to be sent to the bottom of the


sea. But then he crouched down beside her, and she saw his hand some out to touch Serain's tail. Her tears


stopped for the moment, breath held, eyes fixed on his face to see what he would do. Would he do as many


humans did, realize the human worth of that tail and try to take it for his own? Or would he show mercy?


As he unsheathed his blade, she cried out, and nearly launched herself at him, assuming it to be the first.


But instead of hurting the mermaid, he began cutting through the net that bound her. She could see the care


he took to keep from further injuring her, and gratitude flowed through her body, finally staying the flow of


tears. Her breathing began to steady, and as the mermaid's tail began to shift, she let out a deep breath.


Biting her lip, she ran a soft hand across the mermaid's scales. This would work. If they could get her to


the sea, she would live. Tears of relief began to flood her eyes again, but she pushed them away. Her


kind only cried as they grieved, and as her reason for grief dissipated, so too did her need to cry.


There was a noise beside her, and she looked up to see the Captain standing, his eyes questioning. And


though she desperately didn't want to remove her hand from her injured kin, she forced herself to forced


herself to stand beside the Captain. Right now, the most important thing was to return her to the sea. Her


eyes trailed over the mermaid critically now, before turning up to meet the Captain's.


"She can be carried," she informed him, letting out a shaky breath. "W- They're not as heavy as they may


seem. And she's been starved, so she's lost a lot of weight." That had been close, and she hoped he didn't


notice her slip up. "It'll take three strong men. One holding under her arms," she said, gesturing towards


them. "One here." This time she gestured towards the mermaid's midsection, the place where skin met


scales. "And one at the end of her tail. Don't worry about having to pull on it, it's even tough than it looks."

 

[Aether1]

Captain Ivory
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​

Sighing silently, a part of Ivory cursed himself mfor the missed opportunity. Sometimes he wished he could flip the switch on morals, how far he could advance his fame with that tail... "Wilson!" Ivory called loudly, waiting patiently for the other man to show up below deck. Standing attentively, it seemed already he knew what the Captain was about to say. "Help me carry her up." He stated simply, already rolling up the cuffed-sleeves of his jacket and wrapping both arms tightly around the tail. 'Cyreus' had recommended three strong men, but if Wilson could lift an anchor singlehandedly, he could lift a mermaid alongside Ivory. Whether or not he possessed the strength to do so was another matter, but like he pushed his crew, he also pushed himself.
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Steadily, did Wilson lower himself near the mermaid's face, gently placing his large arms around her shoulders, his face blushed furiously and if Ivory didn't no any better, it appeared 'Cyreus' wasn't the only mermaid sympathiser in the room. Even at the touch of both men, the mermaid remained still and motionless, but in a sense of calm and calamity as opposed to rigid fear. It was an extraodinary gift to bare, the fore knowledge of emotion. She knew they were helping, or did she just have faith? "On three lad, 1... 2... 3!" The two men outstretched their legs shakily, Ivory groaning as the surprising weight of the woman bore down upon his arms. Wilson and himself were now bearing the additional weight of the unsupported midsection... Shoulda listened to the woman, bloody hell...
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One step at a time, they made progress up the short steps of the corvette, murmurs echoed across the deck as they surfaced, shocked gasps and curious whispering had never been louder. The Crew of the Golden Mermaid seemed captivated by the sight, or more, by the mermaid. Ivory and Wilson, walking in-sync, approached the side of the corvette. He wasn't sure how to appropriately lower a mermaid into water, but given the vast lack of recourses they currently had, and how close he was to stopping, he could be forgiven for just releasing her. By the look of fatigue, and ragged breaths that Wilson sported, the two men were of the same mind.
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Gracefully the mermaid's figure spiralled down into the water, sinking slowly below the waves. The corvette tipped slightly due to the weight of the entire crew gazing overboard, examining the mermaid with astute awareness. Then she moved, her tail flapping energetically under the embrace of the ocean. Then Wilson let out a laugh and a cheer.
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Then the crew cheered, many criminals, most drunks, all here for money and power. Cheered as a bounty of endless value swam away into the ocean, it went to show that loyalty and respect stretched far beyond agreement. These men would forever keep these ideals all because their Captain did, morality and compassion, it was a good day.
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[awriternamedian]

He was helping her. He was going to do it. She'd seen the hesitation on his face, and her heart had cried out


momentarily in grief and terror. And then he was calling for one of the crew members, the Boatswain she


believed he'd been called. They were going to save her. She watched with wide eyes as they struggled to


lift the mermaid, and she found to some amusement that they may have regretted not bringing in a third


man. That's what they got for not listening to her. Her amusement didn't last long as she hear the mermaid's


whispers stop. She seemed to be holding her breath, waiting. As the men were busy lifting her, their eyes


connected for a moment. There was a mixture of betrayal and relief, anxiety and adoration, all swirling


around in her eyes, piercing Nerissa's heart. And then she closed her eyes again as the men began to


move, carrying her carefully and slowly up the stairs.


Nerissa followed after them, trying to resist the urge to grab the mermaid's hand, to try and comfort her as


they both so desperately wanted. But her Captain was already suspicious enough. Though, by this point,


she wondered if there were even any need to try and hide things. He already knew she was a woman.


He'd seen the way she'd reacted to the captured mermaid. It wasn't long before he put two and two


together.


The moment the crew came into view, both of their nerves skyrocketed. Her's out of fear of how the crew


would react, and Serain's out of fear of humans in general. And it was no wonder, after what she'd been


through.


And then they were dropping her over. She rushed to the side of the ship and leaned over the edge,


unaware that the crew was doing the same. Golden eyes watched, waited, hoping and praying to the


great sea goddess that Serain was alright. Her prayers were answered as the mermaid twisted around,


flexing her tail. She whispered up to them in thanks before turning and disappearing below the waters,


leaving Nerissa sad that she was unable to whisper back. Serain would spread word of The Golden


Mermaid and it's kindness, but she would also spread word that she was now swimming with the enemy.


That sadness and worry faded almost immediately though, replaced by something akin to fear. It took


everything she had not to dive off the ship and follow the mermaid down into the depths of the sea, to


avoid the confrontation she knew was coming. But no. She was no coward. She was the bravest of the


merpeople, and no human would crush her.


She hoped.


Quietly, she turned towards her Captain, chest heaving as she was wrought with nerves. This was it.

 

[Aether1]

Captain Ivory
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​

Ivory breathed in sharply, his eyes never once moving off the gentle ocean waves that swallowed the mermaid's figure and form whole, embracing her like a lighthouse would embrace a lost sailor. "Captain's Cabin, immediately." He whispered sharply, but with calm a calm voice. "You lot, continue to load loot aboard the ship, the prisoners too!" He called back to the rest of the crew, his orders given. It took no more than a nod in Wilson's direction to solidify the fact that he was in-charge whilst Ivory was absent. Uncertainty seemed to flood his mind, the climb back to the ship stretched on far longer than his limbs carried him. What was a small climb of maybe thirty seconds seemed like hours. The moment both his feet hit the deck of the Golden Mermaid, enlightenment seemed to reveal itself. His mind cleared, and hesitantly he looked to ensure 'Cyreus' was indeed following.
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Realizing that she was, Ivory made his way into the Captain's Cabin--his cabin--an assortment of maps littered the table, trinkets and weaponry decorated the walls, the bed was large and sported velvet covering. "Sit down." The man grumbled, making his own way to the relatively standarc chair positioned over a map of the English Channel. Large hands rested upon the table, Ivory loomed forward momentarily. Not sitting but towering over her intimidatingly, but it was no intimidation tactic; it was an analysis, to see how she reacted. Relaxing somewhat, he took a hesitant seat. Pouring himself a glass of rum, taking a hefty sip whilst spending several long seconds examining his map. Not once did his eyes fall upon her during that period.
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Until he leaned back, raising his head to face her. Any ability to read people she may have possessed was lost, Ivory's face was a mystery, hard as stone and betraying nothing. "Who are you." He asked bluntly, not asking to know, but stating the question in such a way that implied she would tell him.
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[awriternamedian]

She struggled not to flinch as he addressed her, and another shiver of fear went down her spine. What was he


going to do now? None of the things that rolled through her mind were at all reassuring. The only boon she was


granted was how he'd responded to Serain, returning her to the sea instead of selling her for profit. He was a


pirate after all. She took a deep shuddering breath. She wasn't a rogue, lying crew member either. He had no


reason to be angry with her. Nerissa? He had every right to be mad after this whole debacle. She'd gone


against his orders, killed an unarmed man, lied to him about her gender, and like to him about her race,


though he didn't know the last one.


Seeing the way he glanced back at her, ensuring she was following her, she had to wonder about that though. Was


he putting the pieces together? The way the sea seemed to react to her? The ocean's response when she'd lost


herself to rage? He struck her as an intelligent man, despite it having taken him this long to realize she was a girl.


That could be chalked up to the fact that he'd really not seen her up close before. With her lean frame, short hair,


and the bandages that bound her breasts flat, she did look like a young boy to the undiscerning eye. That wasn't


her Captain however.


Her whole body trembled as they entered his cabin, and her eyes briefly darted around it, taking in the maps and


trinkets, only returning to him with his order. She sat, hands curled up in her lap, shirt clenched tight in them. Eyes


wide with fear and nerves met the Captain's as he loomed forward. Desperately did she want to get up, to run, to


slide back into her beloved sea. But not only was she unsure if he'd let her go, it wasn't the right thing to do. She'd


gotten herself into this mess, she had to get herself out. She was, after all, bravest of the merfolk.


When he sat, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. As his eyes roved across the map on the


table, she took the chance to look him over up close. He cut an intimidating figure, even when he wasn't angry. She


wasn't used to men that looked like him, and it did something funny in her stomach.


She nearly jumped at his question. No, not question, that was too soft a word. It was more demand than question.


She wasn't being given a choice. Heart racing in her chest, she struggled to come up with a believable lie. Nothing


came to her head though. Her original lie had taken a while to concoct, so it was no wonder she couldn't do it at


the spur of the moment. And so she simply said, "My name is Nerissa." It wasn't really what he wanted to know,


but it was what she was willing to give him.

 

[Aether1]

Captain Ivory
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​

"That's who you are, is it? "Nerissa"? Tell me, Nerissa. Why are you on my ship?" It was a simple question, but one born of honest curiosity. Why was she on his ship, it's not often a woman goes so far as to disguise her own gender to secure a place amongst pirates. Many women were pirates, Bloody Mary being a very fine example, yet Nerissa wasn't willing to take that chance. It was suspicious, but more than suspicious, it brewed distrust. Ivory needed to trust every member of his crew, especially those of rank. "I'm going to ask you something very simple, but I'm only going to ask you once. Who are you?" The same question she believed she'd already answered, but this time he drew out the words to make a point. A name wasn't enough, he wanted her backstory, her profession, if she had any brothers in the Navy, he wanted to know. If her mother was killed by pirates, he wanted to know. If she wasn't strictly human, that too. Ivory wasn't a man of magic, he could read people well, but nothing stopped her from spinning a convincing lie. He merely hoped his judgement was sound enough to not warrant a mutiny later.
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He'd never kept bad seeds around on his ship, this time he was willing to make an exception. Disobedience was severe, maybe. But she was compassionate--mostly--killing an unarmed man who'd yielded didn't speak in her defense. Whether he kept her or got rid of her, either way was a gamble. A Master Sailor was critical, but was it worth disloyalty? It was pointless to say had she been a man, he'd have been expelled as soon as they docked on solid land. But even under a disguise she was pretty, only a fool would say otherwise. Even Captain Ivory could be influenced by beauty, no matter how well he hid it. The difference between him and other Captain's is he was aware of the fact. If she tried to manipulate him, he'd know. "Why so fond of the merfolk?" He interrigated further, pouring himself even more rum. Absent-mindedly drinking it as she spoke, his face the picture of ambiguity just like when he took seat upon his chair.
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[awriternamedian]

She forced herself to take deep calming breaths, her eyes roving anywhere but at him. For once, the gold had


dimmed, not a hint of a glow behind them. Why hadn't she planned for this? Planned for the chance she would


be discovered as a woman? Because she couldn't have kept up the disguise forever. Eventually someone would


have noticed. And to be honest, the only point of it was to get on the ship in the first place. Her gaze flicked up


to him and then back down, tracing the maps on his table, recognizing the places that they showed. Seeing her


beloved sea in this way was interesting, even if she couldn't pay attention to them at the moment.


Finally, she took a deep, shuddering breath and said, "I wanted to be a pirate." Her voice was soft, but despite


the shaking in her hands, it was steady. "Or any sailor, to be honest. I wanted to be on a ship, on the sea, riding


the waves." She paused, hands trembling in her lap. She wasn't sure how to answer the rest of his questions.


What all could she tell him? Certainly not the truth, not and risk revealing the deepest secret of the merpeople.


There was a long pause as she examined her pale hands. "I don't want to lie to you. I never wanted to lie in the


first place. But I knew where I needed to be, and I knew going about it as a woman would limit my chances."


Meeting his gaze for the first time, she nervously bit the corner of her lip. "There are a lot of things I can't tell you.


A lot of- of secrets, that aren't mine to share. Secrets that could hurt me and the ones I love." Every merperson


beneath the sea would be hurt if she revealed herself. Though of all the humans she'd met so far, if one were to


find out, she imagined he would be least likely to take advantage of the knowledge. Then again, humans had a


habit of not doing what she expected them to do. So who knows. Maybe if she hadn't been there to beg for


Serain's release, he would have taken her and sold her for himself. She didn't want to believe it, but he was


a pirate.


"I never wanted to lie to you," she repeated. "And I still don't. You're a human worthy of honesty." So distracted


she was by her nerves and her need to get her thoughts out there that she didn't even notice her slip. "And I


won't. I can't tell you everything, but I won't lie to you." And then her eyes turned down, hiding the tears that were


forming. She forced them back, forced herself to stop. Merpeople didn't cry except in times of grief. Apparently


her human form was much more liberal with it's tears. "And I- I would understand if you want me off your ship


as soon as possible."

 

[Aether1]

Captain Ivory
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"A human worthy of honesty?" Ivery repeated quickly, eyebrows raised in surprise and knowing. "You're a mermaid." He nodded affirmingly, his face still a mask, but his posture changed quickly at this abrupt realization. Leaning forward with great interest, Ivory's elbows rested calmly upon the desk, his eyes fixtated on her features, as if examining some unknown creature. This was certainly up there in his strangest moments, but the fact was undeniable. Nobody human referred to anyone as such, the right phrasing would have been. 'You are a man worthy of honesty.' But of course, how was a mermaid to know that? It explained her outburst at the ship. In-fact, it actually made sense when the Captain looked back a second time. After a moments hesitation, the Captain took in a deep breath. Mustering the most intimidating look he could possibly manage without looking comical.
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"Well Nerissa..." He started slowly, forcing his voice to sound disapproving and cruel. The silence lingered on for several long moments, before a wide grin broke out across the man's face. In one fluid motion he kicked the chair he sat in back with a rapid standing motion. "Why didn't you say so?!" He inquired a little too happily, "There's a bloody mermaid, on my ship. Who wants to be a pirate, in my crew?" He exclaimed to himself more than anything. "Well lass, may I give you a formal welcome aboard the Goldem Mermaid." The irony of that name was not lost on Ivory, so much so that he burst out into childish chuckles barely before the words had left his lips. So caught up in the revelation of what he'd just discovered, the sincerity of her words were almost completely lost.
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[awriternamedian]

Her entire body froze, eyes widening, heart stopping. He knew. He knew what she was. How could she have


allowed such an idiotic slip of the tongue. Oh by the great sea goddess, what was she going to do? The most


precious secret of her people, and this human pirate knew. Never mind what she was going to do about this,


what was he going to do now? Was he going to take advantage of this knowledge? When her heart started


back up, it raced so fast she thought it might beat straight out of her chest. Her lungs felt like they might


collapse. And then that look he gave her... It took everything she had not to whimper and sink lower in her


chair. She closed her eyes, and then-


She jumped and nearly fell out of her chair as he stood quickly. It took a moment for his words to sink in, but


when they finally did, she frowned, brow furrowing. That... wasn't the response she'd been expecting. Honestly,


she wasn't sure what kind of response she'd been expecting. But it certainly wasn't that one. She had no idea


how to respond, quietly watching his excitement as she tried to process all of this. He was happy to have a


mermaid on his crew? But why?


"What- what do you mean?" She finally asked, brow still furrowed. "Humans aren't supposed to know this. It's


the greatest secret of the merfolk. If it got out..." A shudder rolled down her spine, but the fear was replaced


with confusion once more. Humans were a strange species. They were so unpredictable, which was both


frustrating and amusing. Though more frustrating at the moment. She was sure she'd find this exchange


amusing looking back on it, but right now? "Humans are a strange race," she muttered.

 

[Aether1]

Captain Ivory
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​

Ivory was paying little attention to her own confusion, still thoroughly enveloped in his own happiness. Although her statement did peak interest, "Know what?" He quizzed uncertainly, genuinely unsure of her comments' meaning. The question was lost as soon as it was asked however, with the attention span of a gold fish the Captain threw both arms open. "A mermaid... Here?!" A perplexed grin broke across his face, followed soon by a second bout of merry laughter. Old legends were told of the merfolk, everyone knew they existed. Yet their ability to walk among humanity with legs of their own? That was absurd, a myth, tales of love between merfolk and human, crafted for bedtime stories. Nothing more... Or so he'd thought, or so everyone had thought. The sheer fact that a real mermaid with legs stood before him made him bounce around giffily, hopping about the cabin doing nothing in particular. Moving a map here, folding some scrolls there, examining the ornamental sword hung above the door. None of it had sense, but he was simply ecstatic. In this world, nothing was unbelievable; it was one thing to doubt ancient mythss, but never deny their existence. Here it stood, here she stood, proof!
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On his ship, his ship! Ivory clasped his hands together excitedly, rubbing them vigorously together before rapidly gazing about the room. "Ah! Are you hungry? Thirsty maybe?!" He askedbreathlessly, rooting around in his fruit bowl for something appropriate. The cap that had layed fixed atop his skull was brazenly thrown off, the Captain all-but abandoning his charismatic front. Both hands now swept through his hair, red-faced and panting quickly. Ivory found himself freezing slightly, allowing himself a moment to regain some semblance of composure. "Well ma'am, your secret be safe with me. I may be a pirate, but I have honour. Should a word of a lie part from my lips, then may Davy Jones take me!" Ivory spoke powerfully, nodding frantically as if to assure both her and himself, of the promise that had been made. "Clothes! By Poseidon, we can't have you prancing around in those dirty rags!" The Captain sneered, fingers now tugging at the poor excuse of a tunic she wore. Of course, for a Captain he was awfully oblivious to the other 80 men then some re-boarding the ship, for a man like Ivery to be so single-minded enough to lose logical thought? Now that was a feat only a Mermaid with legs could achieve.
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[awriternamedian]

A very strange race indeed. Just watching him bounce around the cabin was making her tired and a little dizzy.


Her serious and charismatic Captain had been replaced with... she didn't even have a word for it. He reminded


her of one of the creatures she'd seen with the humans. She couldn't quite remember the name of them, but he


seemed as energetic and bouncy as the little ones of those creatures. She let out a long breath, but she couldn't


help but to start smiling with him. He seemed so excited at the knowledge of what she was, and for the first time


since she'd stepped onto land, she relaxed completely. It was almost a little freeing to be talking with a human


who knew her secret. Well, that was a loose definition of the word. He was rambling and she was just kind of


here. That didn't really constitute as talking.


She never got to answer his question about being hungry or thirst before he was off onto the next thought. And


then she sighed in relief. He was going to keep her secret. And despite the fact that he was a pirate, and a human,


she believed him. Once again, she found herself unable to respond before he was bouncing to the next thought.


A slight flush crossed her pale cheeks as he tugged on her tunic, both at the comment and his general nearness.


And then his words sunk in.


Her lips turned down into a scowl. "Why do you humans praise Poseidon for everything? He's nothing but a spoiled


brat, flouncing around the sea and leaving mayhem in his wake. Do you know how often we have to clean up his


messes?" That flush returned, but it felt nice to complain to a human about it for once. It was a long time


aggravation to the merfolk.

 

[Aether1]

Captain Ivory
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Ivory's tangent of rambling mindlessly was shut down at the philosophical question launched his way by Nerissa, he hadn't the slightest clue of how to respond. Poseidon was praised by all pirates as a deity, it was a grave insult to speak-ill of the sea God, any sane pirate would initiate a duel with the offender. That's how zealously they praised him, but the rules changed when it was a mermaid who questioned divninity. Humans used deities as a means of comfort, it was the same everywhere. Poseidon was the God of the sea, thus seafarers worshipped him, it's the way it had always been. Mermaids were ancient, yes. But surely they had deities of their own? "It is how it's always been, a Pirate finds comfort among the waves, but the waves belong to Poseidon. So we believe in something greater than ourselves to guide us, it gives humanity hope." Ivory swallowed nervously, he knew his answer clearly clashed with Nerissa's beliefs based on her own comments on the deity. But then again, this whole situation was... unbelievable. He was discussing religion with a mermaid. Many viewed Poseidon as a symbol, Ivory was among those who believed in the deity's existence; which is why it stuck firmly into his mind that, had she been truthful, Poseidon indeed did exist in the flesh. Nerissa confirmed it, a merrmaid confirmed it.
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Given the long, fleshy legs in-place of a tail, there was little reason to doubt any of the merfolk legends anymore. Tales of mermaids commanding great magical powers, bending the sea to their will. Such power was hard to believe when so often mermaids were felled by mere mortals. How could a being that controlled the waves be bested by a few nets or a harpoon? The thought grew only more disturbing if the stories of mermaids saving countless humans proved to be true, if they were true, the merfolk stopped aiding mankind long ago. Their past benevolence was repayed by vicious hunts and mutilation of their bodies for gold and material, the world was an unjust place. But gratitude to Poseidon in-place of the merfolk? It made men feel more hopeful to believe in something greater than themselves. Everybody knew mermaids inherited the waves, they'd been seen in the flesh, killed too. Mermaids are not worshipped for the same reason lions aren't. To humanity, they are prey
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Not a human soul had ever laid witness to Poseidon however, that made him a target of worship. He was an image of invincibility and power, mermaids were a race, a race that could bleed. "Poseidon is a single being, a deity. Man cannot hunt Poseidon, but man can hunt you merfolk..." He responded grimly, his voice serious but underlined with guilt. He spoke the truth as bluntly as he dared. Ivory had always been a devout follower of the Sea God, but in a mere thirty seconds he found himself questioning anything and everything, a lot changed when one discovered a landed mermaid. His whole belief system had essentially been shattered, it made him giddy; but also thoroughly confused. The Captain didn't know what to believe anymore.
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[awriternamedian]

Nerissa muttered something unflattering about the sea god under her breath. She supposed what he said made


sense. Everybody needed something to believe in. For merfolk it was the great sea goddess. She was the mother


of the merfolk, gentle and kind and protective. And unlike Poseidon, she didn't kick up massive storms whenever


she felt like it. She was also just as elusive to merfolk as Poseidon was to humans. While they all knew she existed,


floating along the endless currents of the ocean, it was rare for them to see her in the flesh, and only a few were


ever able to truly interact with her.


"That does make sense," she said with a sigh, running her fingers through her hair. "Just because we merfolk find


him distasteful doesn't make him any less important to you humans. We just get sore when he takes credit for our


work. Like before we attacked that ship," she pointed out, wondering now if he recognized that as her handiwork.


Much of what merfolk did was communicating with the sea. They could affect it in small bits, but for the most part


they spoke with it, requested it to do what they desired. Usually it agreed, but not always, as the sea had a mind


of it's own. Only Poseidon commanded the waves to do his bidding.


A shudder rolled down her spine at the reminder of men hunting her kind, and what they had found on that ship.


"Thank you, by the way," she said hesitatingly, looking up at him. "It meant... everything, that you saved her life.


Her-" She took a trembling breath. "Her name was Serain. I don't know her well, but our fathers have been


friends since before we were born." The smile she gave him was small, but the glow had started to reappear


behind her eyes. "She'll tell tale of your kindness. You have forever earned the gratitude of the merfolk." That


smile became mischievous, and her eyes became brighter. "And as for Poseidon, we would hunt him ourselves,


if we were anywhere near as violent as you humans."

 

[Aether1]

Captain Ivory
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​

Ivory was struggling to keep up with the whole context of events, it was still hard to believe she was a mermaid. Harder still to aknowledge the fact he was making small-talk with one, scrunching his face nervously at her comments. Ivory grabbed a spare glass from across the table, reaching for the bottle of rum and carefully refilling his own glass alongside the new one. Sliding the glass to Nerissa, the Captain smiled. "To Serain!" He downed his shot of rum effortlessly, before refilling it for more casual purpose. He needed more alcohol, much more to wrap his mind around the fact that some mermaid would be spreading tales of the Golden Mermaid and Ivory among the merfolk. Nerissa's reference to before the attack on the corvette however, was lont on the Captain. Not because he was oblivious, or not hanging off of every word she spoke, but simply because his brain could scarcely take in any more information. It'd take days to adjust to the reality of his situation, maybe weeks. Acting as Captain was an easy task, but inside the Captain's mind was a whirlpool of conflicted beliefs, facts, questions and moral dilemmas. Rum was a good cure for those problems.
​

 
​

"Hah! So you merfolk, none violent, eh?" Ivory raised an eyebrow at that, taking another hefty gulp of his alcoholic beverage. With an eager lick of the lips, the man leaned forward, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Old tales speak of merfolk baring the voice of angels, with beauty unmatched... Gently they would sing songs of love and kindness, luring enthralled sailors to the ships edge, enhtralling them with the promise of a single kiss... Then their lips lock, it would be the last thing the sailor ever tastes as he's dragged below the waves to be drowned." The Captain finished dramatically, as if recounting an old, delicate memory of horror and beauty in equal measure. It was no lie that Ivory had his suspicions that such tales were true, no race could be capable of such purity, as Nerissa claimed the merfolk were. Perhaps themerfolk were a benevolent people, but surely there had to exist some merfolk who weren't so kind. Specifically the kind who drowned desperate sailors.
​

 

[awriternamedian]

Picking up the glass that had been slid towards her, Nerissa eyed the contents distrustfully. She believed this


was alcohol. She'd seen many humans drinking it, especially many of her crew members, and they seemed


unpleasant. Still, her Captain was drinking it, so it couldn't be all bad. Carefully she held the glass in front of


her, smelling it before scrunching her nose up. It was odd, but she couldn't decide if it was in a good way or


a bad way. Well, if she was going to be a pirate, might as well start somewhere. She took the slightest sip


and then set in back down, making a face. Humans drank that?


She turned her attention back to him when he began to whisper, and as he finished her lips turned down into


a deep scowl. "Bloody sirens," she said, using one of the words she'd picked up from the humans. She quite


liked it actually. "I loathe sirens. Self centered, attention grabbing-" The rest of her sentence trailed off into her


native tongue, though the tone was the same. Sirens were one of the few beings that could move a merperson


to swearing. Actually, most of the foul language they spoke was either about or had something to do with sirens.


"Blindly killing innocent men for the joy of it. I can hardly believe we're related to such creatures." This felt like an


appropriate time to try the alcohol again, and she found it tasted a little better this time. "Ruining the reputation


for merfolk everywhere." Another muttered swear and then she finished what was in the glass. Ooh, that burned


a little going down.

 

[Aether1]

Captain Ivory​

​

Ivory's eyebrows arched up at Nerissa's defense, an intelligent smirk crossing his lips. "Sirens, is it?" He questioned rhetorically, "Sirens, Mermaids, Fish-Women, you're all the same to us." He stated whilst locking eyes with Nerissa powerfully, almost as if he was trying to tell her something with little more than a strong facial expression. His normal act of the charismatic Captain had made way for a deceivingly cunning and well-educated man. "When you speak of humanity below the seas, you speak of us all." The Captain accused a little too harshly, his lips pursing into a fine line of irritation. He was slightly irritated, that the legend before him--a mermaid--held the same arrogance and hypocrisy humanity was plaqued by. "You judge my race as a warmongering people, bloodthirsty and cruel..." The silence stretched on, Ivory's voice was calm but held emotion.​

​

"Do the merfolk speak of the wonders of humanity? Great inventors and architects, constructing technological wonders beyond imagination, patrons of entertainment and art, actors, painters, writers, do your merfolk tales of humanity include the philosophers, the teachers, any of the good?" He questioned further, in an eerily interrigative manner. He sighed slightly, leaning back in his chair, taking a further helping of rum to remove the distaste from his now-dry mouth. "They do not, because to you, we're all sirens." He finally finished, eyes lowering as he mentally questioned the purpose of that rant. The truth of it was there, however. Humanity is not made up of sirens. ​

 

[awriternamedian]

Nerissa was quiet for a long time after his rant, trying to figure out how best to respond. It was a complicated matter. "First, you must understand that things are quite different below the sea," she began slowly, eyes tracing the lines of the map below her glass. "We are less..." A long hesitation as she tried to find the words she needed. She shook her head finally, lips tightening into a straight line as she gave up on that train of thought. "There is no race we look down on as much as Sirens. Not even humans. They kill for the sheer thrill of it. It is mindless, needless violence. And we merfolk are as a rule nonviolent. It is simply not part of our nature."

There was another long pause as she shifted in her chair, crossing her arms on the table. "You humans are different than those below the sea. We haven't always hated you, but we have always been wary." Finally her eyes turned up to meet his. There was an intensity behind them that rivaled his own. Though she wasn't sure why, she desperately wanted him to understand her. Perhaps because she'd already judged him to be a good man. There was obviously an intelligence to him that surpassed what she had expected from a pirate. It made her respect him immensely. "You humans are so- so-" She dropped her eyes again, struggling. While fluent in the human language common in this area, it wasn't her native tongue, so it was tough to find the appropriate words. This would be so easy to explain in her language. "Passionate." That was the closest she could find. "It's what makes you capable of such terrible acts of violence, but also the marvels you speak of. "We merfolk do not have that passion. We're calm and quiet and kind. We are not as... varied as you humans. It's something we've long both admired and feared, and it confuses us." Most of them. There were the rare few who superseded the merfolks quiet nature, such as herself.

"But no, we do not consider you on the same level as sirens, because we remember a time before this violence." Finally her eyes turned up to meet his again. They were sad, though her face was blank. "But would you think kindly of a race who hunted your people mercilessly?"

 

[Aether1]

Ivory's head eyes remained locked on the merwoman as she spoke, each word seemed carefully crafted and thought-out, to the point where he felt like he was debating with a philosopher rather than talking with a human. He was hardly surprised, most humans tended to have thick skulls but merfolk intelligence was always understood. Mostly. There were thoseamong his race who saw them as no more than intelligent fish, which made it difficult for him to mutter any sort of counter-argument to her words, they rung loud and true; reverberating off the thin walls of the cabin interior as if to echo endlessly within his mind. With apprehension, did the Captain lazily slump backwards. Hands greedily grabbing at the alcoholic relief placed strategically on the table.

"Aye," He started, taking another drink from the cup. "We're passionate. Ambitious. It's what makes us do such terrible feelings." The man stood, his feet roaming across the cabin aimlessly. "It's what makes me sleep at night after I send 50 men to their deaths beneath the sea." The Captain turned slowly, no scent of regret detectable in his voice; only indifference. "How is man capable of such cruelty?" He asked rhetorically, walking once more but this time towards her. "What kind of man can use steel and gunpowder to end a young boy's life without blinking?" He grew nearer still, the sun positioning so pefectly that it seeped into the cabin in a brilliant stream of transluscent light, the bright orange hues engulfing the room, causing the cutlass on his waist to glisten vibrantly like a star among the moonlit sky.

"The kind of man that grows up hunted by his own race." Ivory finished softly, so close to her that he could smell the blood of the Captain whom she previously killed. When someone benevolent in nature kills, for any reason, are they truly benevolent? She spoke of mermaid traditions and values but seemed to break what she preached. Humans were a brutal race, yes. But cruel to their own as much as the merfolk, if not more so, it's why Ivory was a pirate; better to die a free man than live a slave. Merfolks and humanity alike were nothing more than product to the vast majority of his race.​

 

[awriternamedian]

Her eyes turned down to the table as he began speaking, delicate fingers tracing the lines on his maps. There was a sadness to her form, from the slouch of her shoulders to the way her head hung slightly. Speaking of her kind made her miss them terribly, and she'd only been gone a couple of days. How had she ended up in a conversation such as this with a pirate captain? His words flowed over her, and she wasn't sure how to feel about them. She'd known pirates were violent beings, but to be so firmly presented with evidence of it... Then again, as she said, humans were not sirens. There was purpose to his violence, no matter what purpose that may be.

His final words made her flinch slightly. She couldn't imagine how it must feel, to be hunted by ones own kind. The only time a merperson would turn on another was the rare cases of madness. And when such things happened, and the merperson had to be killed for their own sake, they grieved for months at the loss. For the most part her kind didn't even argue with each other. It was the rare few who had the- what was the word she'd used before? Passion? It was the rare few who had the passion to feel so strongly about something. Their goddess being one, as well as King Triton. And her kind of course.

It was the light glinting off his sword that made her finally look up, and when she did she gasped. He was so close. Close enough she'd barely have to reach out to touch him. Heart thudding loud in her chest, she scrambled backwards, knocking over her chair in her haste to put distance between them. Unfortunately, the clumsiness her new legs curse her with, combined with the chair inconveniently in her path, she found herself stumbling over the legs of it and crashing hard to the ground. An ache formed where her tailbone hit the hard wood, but the pain barely seemed to register as she looked up at her Captain, eyes wide and wild.

 

[Aether1]

"Frighten you, did I?" Ivory asked with modest amusement, lips quirked into a smirk and a single-eyebrow raised at the now-floored merwomen. It never entered his mind that she was yet to be accustomed to the movement of a human body. The thought that walking could be difficult was absurd to him, given how naturally it came. Moving forward lightly, the Captain's face softened as he let out a smile hum, glancing at her apologetically.

"It was not my intent to frighten, apologies." He muttered lightly with a subtle nod, stepping towards her and reaching down with arm outstretched and palm open--yet not so close that she had to take his aid. It was his disregard for personal space that landed her on the cold wooden deck in the first place, curse be it to him were he to not learn from such simple mistakes. Once she remained firmly planted with feet upright, Ivory let out a grimaced sigh, eyes roaming the cabin without purpose. "Come Nerissa, we've dilly-dallied long enough." Ivory stated without room for argument, already pacing towards the cabin door. "The ship needs her Captain, and her Sailing Master."

With a gentle push the door to the main deck etched open, Ivory's form shining in the sun's gaze--catching the awe and ire of most crewmen present--curious eyes bounced around, scanning for sight of 'Cyreus' the mysterious female intruder. "Prisoners in't Cargo Hold, Cap'n." Wilson the Ox proclaimed dutifully, with a bright smile and powerful salute. "Nicely done, man." Ivory complimented without a glance, ignoring the curious stares of the ship in favour of taking position at the Captain's wheel. "Pull yer weight Cyreus, keep us on course West, to Porta Mai!" Ivory ordered with magnanimous charisma, entering his former persona of a wave-surfing Captain, they needed to sell their new acquisitions. A single merchant ship was nothing to rejoice at, it was however, a nice start.​