Fantasy Kiss of the Sea (Closed)

[Draco]

A light summer breeze drifted over the calm ocean, its water tinged in hues of golds and reds as the sun began to settle down for the night. A pod of dolphins swam north-east, their silvery tails flicking as they dove playfully through the waves, families of them swam close to one another sharing a hunt. These mammals always knew where the meals were, they worked together in tandem to herd the fish to one area before attacking in a feeding frenzy. They were not afraid of the large wooden vessel that floated upon the water's surface, being used to sharing the ocean with those who walked on land.

They were not alone as this strange half fish-half man glided along with them, following them with a promise of food. His muscled torso shimmering in a hint of faint blue scales as he kept up the pace with the pod. Long deep blue tail tipped in frilly flukes, glittering blood red in reflection of the setting sun, daring to inch upwards to the surface. He moved closer to the pod to inspect their fish hoard, smelling the fish, the food. Having traveled countless days away from his former home, he was hungry, he was tired. He wanted one of the many fish trapped in the circle of dolphins. His mind focused on the potential meal before him, he paid no attention to the boat directly above.

Pausing just a few yards from the dolphins, his webbed hands swirling in the water to keep himself stable. He watched and waited patiently, long black hair floating in the shift of the water. And there's the opening as the dolphins began to swim away from the gathering of fish. He thought nothing about the mammals' departure as he darted towards the fish, nothing seemed to be more important than food at that moment. Snagging one of the fish, he immediately took a bite into it before looking back towards the dolphins as they swam away. Strange to see them swimming from him, he meant no harm.

 

[mon]

The net which lowered was like any other. Sturdy and smartly made out of a material akin to pliant metal, the ship's fishing net gave the assurance that it would not easily snag or tear regardless of its catch. This time was no different, but there was greater excitement shown in the men who were hulling their latest catch up. It was heavier than usual, promising a bountiful harvest. They made their delight known in hearty laughs as they heaved the net up using a hook and pulley line, but that same delight soon turned to gasps of shocked horror.

For in the net, despite all the fish caught covering most of the subject of interest, was a merman. A creature so rare that few were blessed (or cursed, depending on how one would view them) to encounter them. The men stared in awe, eyes bulging while one of them, thankfully had enough sense to run towards the Captain's cabin.

They barged in instead of knocking. It was an emergency after all but the sudden intrusion irritated the blonde seated in the Captain's seat. Her displeasure was evident in her sharp glare and the shipmate immediately regretted his actions.

"Sorry, Capt but you have to see this. There's a merman in our nets!"

The news was bewildering to say the least. It had the Captain barking, "What?" She stood from her seat immediately. Her dark trench coat fluttered from her shoulders as she took powerful strides towards the door, but not before she wisely pocketed two bits of cotton which she later jammed into her ears. One could never hurt to be careful.

 

[Draco]

He blinked as a ray of shadows passed down over him in the water. he was slow to register what it was, only when he found himself snagged in strong netting did he realize what it was. He couldn't break free of the ropes, they were just too strong. Feeling the cold air as he was hoisted out of the water, he gave a startled gasp, unused to being exposed to the air. A sharp shiver ran down his naked torso, grabbing at the netting, trying once again to shake himself free. Losing his grip on the net, his dark tail curled in an uncomfortable tight position, falling into a fetal pose at his back. He was powerless in the confines, unable to move properly.

Dangling up on the pulley, fully ensnared in the net, those wide aqua-blue eyes took in his surroundings. Wet hair fell along his powerful jaws, trailing along finned ears. Slits of gills at his ribs, shuddered as he struggled to breathe without water.

Where was he? Who were these creatures? What's going on? Web claws gripped the netting once more as he lowered his gaze to the group of humans, one of them appearing to be the leader. He said nothing, furrowing his brows in a glare at them, a hiss escaping his lips in warning.

 

[mon]

Despite being experienced sailors who have long broken their sea legs by sailing over the Pacific seas for over a decade, they still fell back when the creature hissed in vehement warning. But while the men cowered, finding their catch as more of a bad omen, Isolde smirked, tutting lowly as she approached just a good distance away. It was normal for man to fear the unknown. The stories told on mermaids were a mix of romance and horror with more gruesome endings than happy. Even the Little Mermaid, one of the lighter tales, ended in a tragedy.

But Isolde was no man and she was unafraid. Her arms crossed as she examined the creature with a tilt of her head. The merman's scales glinted beautifully underneath the sun, bringing a deep range of cerulean to shine. His skin was pale ivory. Fair like the well-sought maidens in Edelia, and fairer still when raven locks clung to in contrast. But it was his eyes which captivated her. Blue, darker than the sea, clearer than the sky. Glistening like liquid sapphires bore holes into her soul and she knew at that moment, she was going to make him hers.

Her crew seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. They've seen that look on her face many times. A possessive greed, powerful and all-consuming. They knew that once she has her eyes set on something, there was no stopping their Captain. They hesitated a moment when she gave the command to release the creature onto the deck, but dared not to defy.

When the creature was dropped down, Isolde ordered the men to keep careful watch that he doesn't slip off the ship. They formed a wall between him and the edge of the ship. Ropes and piked sticks were in their hands. There was no way she was going to let him go.

 

[Draco]

A low growl rumbled deep in his throat as this girl approached the dangling net. He studied her carefully. her blonde hair, emerald green eyes, the strange things called clothes she wore, the sound her boots made on the wooden floor. Humans were such fascinating creatures, they were half like him, but those strange limbs that allowed them to walk on land was alien to him.

He reached out through the netting towards the one called Captain, claws extended as he took a swipe at her, though she was well out of his range of motion. His growls turned into a snarl when the men approached, the frills down his spine ruffled up in a pitiful attempt to make himself look larger, tougher. He gave a grunt when he landed to the deck, stunned only for a second.

He had no idea how to move on the deck, he's never been out of the water before. He was at a great disadvantage; He had no legs, it wasn't like he could get up and run either. Every direction he turned in, he was blocked by the men. Each move he tried to make an attack, he was threatened with a sharp staff. Whipping his long, powerful tail, he managed to slap one of the men in the face, throwing the human off balance. There, he tried to make his escape. And failed.

Something snagged at his flukes, preventing him from crawling to his escape. Slipping on the deck, he whirled around to see a rope had been lasso'd to his tail. He reached down to try to remove the rope, only to have another lasso'd to his wrist, pulling his hand away. Hissing like a feral cat, he tried to shake the ropes lose, but to no avail. His eyes narrowed as the captain approached once again, glowering. Unable to move, he was defeated.

 

[mon]

With the merman's hands and tail bound, Isolde's concerns on his escape lessened. Her lips twitched a fraction. The cruel smirk matched the dancing glee in her verdant eyes as long fingers closed on the merman's chin, yanking his face forward for her observation. She took careful mind to keep her grip firm, preventing him from snapping up at her face. She would be pissed if he attacked her, no matter how fond she was of him.

Her eyes studied his face, devouring every detail and committing it to memory. Her grin widened when she was done. Brows raised in satisfaction as she christened him with a single word, "Blue."

She looked pleased with herself as she stood back to full height, having gone down on a knee to inspect him. With a glance she signaled her men to fill up her bathtub. A suitable tank was now on the top of her to-get-list.

 

[Draco]

His lips curled back in a snarl when she grabbed his jaws. Sharp upper and lower canines exposed in warning, those incisors meant for tearing into the flesh of fish. He did try to break free, shaking his head, but she held fast. She was strong. Eyes narrowed as he glared at her, studying her features just as she studied him. Her cruel grin, the darkness in her eyes, he knew he was captured for good with no way to escape. Was she planning on eating him for dinner?

Blue? His finned ears perked slightly at her singular word. What did that mean? He was still learning the language of the humans, but he's quick to pick up on this. He took each word uttered to mind, formulating the meaning of each of them as she and the sailors spoke with each other. Blue. That word had a meaning, and he was not quite sure what it was.

A strange language of an unique pitched frequency shouted from his lips, a tongue that humans cannot understand, perhaps cannot even try to sound out. It was a desperate shout, a pleading tone as the sailors tightened the ropes, dragging him into the captain's cabin. Struggling was useless, he couldn't fight. Instead, he looked out over the ocean, perhaps for the last time, as the doors of the captains cabin closed behind them, blocking his view of the cerulean waters.

Next thing he knew, he was thrown into a container of water. It was small, he couldn't turn around in it, he couldn't fully submerge himself. His oversized flukes did not even fit properly in the tub, his tail dangled out over the edge. The men were smart to keep the ropes tied to wrists and tails, securing the other end to ensure the merman would not try to escape. It did not stop him from trying to pull the ropes free. So this was it.. his end?

 

[mon]

Isolde had always been an efficient woman. Had she been a man, she would've made a fearsome king. In no time at all, she made the necessary arrangements for her new pet, dishing out orders to her men and setting course for a quick detour towards mainland. Between buying a tank and having one installed in the Calypso, the latter seemed much more appealing. Of course, the sum of gold needed for such a thing would be no small price but given their recent plunders and her background, money had never been an issue for the blonde.

Another thing she needed to scout were mermaid specialists. Perhaps a translator or some other lucky fool who has their hands on a merperson like herself. She was certain she couldn't be the first nor would she be the last. And Isolde of all people would know just how strange things can get in the underground market. From demon's blood to imps, a mermaid in the black market would be the least of concerns. Of course, information like such doesn't fall into one's lap simply because they wish it. Fortunately, with wealth came connections and Isolde had a good handful of brokers who were excellent at their jobs.

From her calculations it would take two full days before they reach mainland and until then, she would have a new play thing to entertain herself with. The thought of such made her smirk. Life had been getting dull lately, despite her brother's coronation day being just around the corner.

Returning back to her cabin, she pulled a chair over to her tub and sat a safe distance from the merman. Her legs crossed as did her arms and she wondered briefly if such a human looking creature shared the same intellect as a human being. To test, she pulled out one of the raw fishes they had caught in the net with the merman and held it out towards him. With a tilt of her head, she questioned, "Are you hungry? Do you wish to eat?"

 

[Draco]

During the time he was alone in the room, he forced himself to settle down in that tiny tub. The binds of the rope broke into the skin of his wrists tail, breaking and tearing at the scales at the base of the fluke. Dark red blood dripped down the edge of the tub where his frilly fluke hung over. He knew he couldn't break free, no matter how hard he pulled and tugged. Sighing in defeat, he took that moment to look around within the cabin. The furniture, the decorations, all the strange things human had that meant nothing to him. He couldn't help but be curious about certain items- that polished sword in the corner. The round green and blue orb that showed land and sea on the desk.

Hearing the door open and footsteps approach, he turned those blue eyes to watch her enter. He studied her every move, his nose twitching at the smell of the fish. Shifting his position best as he could within the narrow tub, turning to face her. His eyes narrowing in a glare, though at this point he was too tired to fight back. He gave a brief quiet hiss in warning for her to keep away from him, webbed fingers gripping the edge of the tub.

Turning his gaze to the fish in her outstretched hand, he considered it for a moment. Reaching over, his claws dug into the fish and carefully pulled it from her grip. Instead of eating it or putting it the water for later, he flung it at her. His range of motion was limited with the rope, his throw was not strong. Letting the wet fish smack her where ever it landed, he gave a quiet growl. A sharp word in his language that sounded like "No." His eyes firmly planted on her.

 

[mon]

Isolde's smile was the closest to genuine, if not only for a split second, when the merman accepted the fish. That small smile quickly turned into fury as her handout was thrown back. The cold scaly body brushed against her cheek like a cold slap and she rose so rapidly that her chair flew backwards. Thunder in emerald forests raged war against brilliant seas.

"Insolence!" Her voice carried but it was the sound of her palm meeting the merman's cheek that resounded in the room. So brutal was the force, it sent his face jerking, but Isolde gave him no moment's peace to nurse the pain. Like before, she gripped his face. Her nails like talons against his cheek as she hissed, "I could fillet you right now if I so desire. You do not want to anger me again."

She was furious but her anger doused almost as quickly as it was roused at the broken sounding syllable. No? Could it be that he can understand what she was saying? Were the merfolk capable of language comprehension after all?

The news was shocking, if not fascinating, and had she not remembered her anger, she would've liked to find out more. Still, Isolde was as prideful as she was beautiful and cruel. With a click of her tongue, she shoved the merman's face back, wanting nothing more to do with him.

A punishment, she decided, would do him some good.

Casting one last cold glance at the merman, she sighed softly through her nose. She had noticed the wounds caused by the his bondages. How his scales were chipping and even bleeding due to the sheer tightness of the ropes. Her men had been far too harsh with him. A result from their fear of the merman, no doubt. They too would need a good whipping.

She turned and left without saying a word. The lights to the bathroom were turned off and the door locked. If she was going to keep him, then she'd need to tame him first. She wondered then, sitting in her office with the lamp light illuminating her features, just how long his stubborn will could persist when left abandoned in a dark, cramped space starved and in pain.

It would be three days until she sees him again. On the third day, when the sun was still rising in the sky, Isolde finally opened the bathroom door, letting light creep through at last.

 

[Draco]

Of course, he did expect her to lash back at him after he's thrown the fish. He had already seen she was a cruel human. If she was going to kill him, he wasn't going to go down without a fight. Anything he could do while being restrained, even if it meant slapping this female with a fish with whatever power and dignity he had left. When her hand met his face with a brute force, tears stung his eyes as his cheek burned from the hit. Snarling, he saw her hand coming back to his face, he tried to snap at her fingers with those pointed canines, only to have his jaws grabbed as before. She was quick, too quick. His gaze forced to look at hers, those blues icy cold, challenging her fiery emeralds.

He heard her words, her threats to fillet him, though he had no idea what her language meant. The nightmarish tone of her voice alone sent a chill down his spine, he knew whatever dialog she spoke, it was a clear threat. What did she say exactly? Hidden behind the mask of anger, those finned ears shifted and flayed out like an animal trying to make himself larger than he appeared, trying to become the bigger threat. He was scared. No, petrified. He was trapped with no way to escape.

When she did finally release his face, he gave a quiet growl, just a soft barely audible growl in conjunction with his voice. That strange language difficult for any human to repeat, was it his own threat in turn? Was he begging for release? Perhaps both. His words fell on deaf ears as the next thing he knew, he was thrown into the dark and left alone.

Over the next few days, he experienced panic for being in isolation. For being left in total darkness in that cold tub, he became lonely- mermaids were generally social creatures after all. He became hungry, the fish he's thrown at her was just out of his reach, seemingly laughing at him. Between it all, he could just hear her voice speak to the men whenever they were in her chambers. He listened to those words, picking up what he could, this strange language did not seem complicated after all. There was no other stimulation other than what he was hearing.

He did manage to chew through the bond at his left wrist, breaking its tether, freeing his hand. Though he was unsuccessful at releasing his other wrist, nor could he reach down enough to free his tail. Water both splashed out of the tub as well as evaporated, there was little water left, just about 12 inches. He had managed to turn himself over to his stomach, keeping the gills at his ribs under water, he had to breathe somehow. His flukes split into ribbons due to lack of moisture. He had tried to keep his tail wet by splashing whatever water he could over himself to get comfortable. He had no idea how much longer he could take this.

By the time day three rolled around, he was miserable and exhausted. His once deep blue scales paled with tints of white, its once smooth texture now like sandpaper, painfully dry. Pieces of his scales had fallen to the floor, mostly due to the result of the frayed rope. Even his human like skin was rough, peeling, the blue shimmer dulled and gone.

Just as he was wishing for this human to come to slay him to put him out of his misery, there came a ray of light breaking into the darkness. Momentarily blinded, he cringed, turning his face away from the doorway to burrow into the crook of his elbow. Hiding his face from whomever was at that door, there was no need for this person to see what he was reduced to. There was no need for him to see what else was in store for him.

 

[mon]

It took a hardened heart to stomach the scene before her and years of torturous experience had her reduced to just that. The merman was a pitiful sight and as hard as it was to believe, Isolde did not wish this on anyone undeserving. She was grateful then that the merman's face had been buried from her view. Hardship taught her that showing compassion was a sign of weakness and she had no intention of letting her enemies---or herself---see her falter.

With silent strides she walked over, eyeing the damage done. He was considerably thinner. His coloring had waned and his skin was drying out. The water he soaked in was filthy with dried blood and flaky scales.

Seeing this, she took the risk to pull the plug in the tub, draining the dirty water. A rise of panic at her actions had the merman jerking in alertness and she all but stared down at him to calm. Without making any sudden movements, she spoke, eyes still trained on oceanic irises.

"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you." Her voice isn't soft nor gentle, but it's quiet in the silence. Quiet and stern, with all the authority of a Captain and the sureness of a promise. Her words are contrary to her actions, but she never harms unless she has to. Unless she needs to.

She chooses then not to say anymore, bringing out a bucket of fish and laying it besides the tub, within the merman's reach. She doesn't tell him to eat but the option is there.

When the water finally drains, the plug is set back in and she leans close enough for him to attack her should he wish. Her hand stretches out near his face, but passing just that to turn the facet behind him. The shower overhead drizzles water from above. The water is lukewarm when it fills the tub and as it slowly fills, Isolde busies herself by opening an oilment jar filled with a wet, almost sticky substance. It's clear and scentless and she takes a dollop on her fingers before applying it to the drying areas of the merman's tail.

It cools and soothes at the places its placed, sealing cracks or wounds caused by lack of moisture. Humans like herself use it as medical moisturizer against burns. The expensive balm would seem wasted on the creature if her crew knew. And all the while as Isolde tends to him, she keeps the peace between them thoughtful.

 

[Draco]

His finned ears lowered like a sad puppy as he heard her feet quietly pad into the room. He did not move, he was just too tired to move, though he did lift his head just enough to see her approach the tub. Her hand lowered into the filthy water, and the next thing he knew, the water was going down. He did panic as the last of the water source was taken from him, those gills at his ribs slamming shut as if he took a deep breath of what he could. His free hand trying to stop the water from going down the drain, splaying over the hole in a failed attempt to save the water. His heart sank, this was it. The end.

He finally turned his gaze to her, hearing her words. Not quite comprehending the meaning, her tone gave off no clue to what she meant. His eyes narrowed as she placed the bucket of fish near him, but he paid no attention to it, how could he even think about eating when his fate has been decided? His lips curled back as her hand came close to him, half-heatedly exposing those fangs, though he made no attempt to try to bite her. His growl of warning quiet, dry. He watched her caustically as she turned those knobs.

The water came down suddenly like stinging needles to his raw flesh, startling him more than anything. He cringed with a startled yelp, not expecting the rain to come down indoors. It took a second or two to figure out the water came from those knobs she's turned. If he had known those knobs were the source of water, he would've turned it on days ago and he would not be in such a sorry state. His hand came up to one of the knobs, the hot water one, to try to stop the rain from hitting his sensitive skin, each drop jabbing, but he did not turn the knob. He'd rather deal with it than not have any water at all. As the tub filled, his gills opened up to take a deep breath. Freshwater, it was not ideal for him as he was a saltwater creature, coming from the ocean. It was like a human trekking high in the mountains where the air was much thinner, harder to breathe. He'll survive, but won't thrive in freshwater.

He was grateful to have the water back, freshwater or not. Shifting positions, rolling himself over to his back, he sat up more to push his face into the rain above .His eyes closed allowing the droplets to soak his long black hair, re-energizing the blues. The water trickled down his face, soaking into the scruffy beard he began to sport from not being able to shave- yes, he had the ability to shave in the ocean. Somehow. His mouth opened to catch the water on his tongue, quenching his thirst, relieving the dryness of his mouth and throat. This alone made him feel better.

His eyes then flew open as he felt a touch to his tail. In jerk reaction, he hissed, pulling his tail away from her as best as he could in this crammed tub. His free hand came down to her arm, forcibly pushing her away from him, nearly knocking the jar of balm away from her. He did not like anyone or anything touching his tail, especially now in the state its in. "No!" He said firmly. Even with the one syllable word he uttered in her language, he had a hard time speaking it.

"No." He repeated, quieter this time. He attempted to curl his tail away from her, flopping the fins to the other side of the tub. The ropes still held tight at his flukes, keeping his movements limited still, making sure she did not try to touch his fins again. Turning those blues to her, clearly unhappy by the situation he's in. He looked to the door just behind her before looking back to her. His mind racked over the conversations she's had with her men in the last few days, trying to find the right words- it was difficult as he did not know the human language, but he had to try. He pointed to the door, "O-cin." He tried to sound out, his tongue did not work the syllables correctly, but he hoped she'd get the meaning of his request. Perhaps she had enough compassion to let him go.. he highly doubted it but he had to try.

 

[mon]

His sudden rejection was predicted though Isolde had expected it to come sooner than later. Her response was mild: merely a raise of the brow and quite calmly, she screwed the lid of the oilment back, respecting the merman's wishes. The balm was on and hopefully, he'd see it'll do him more good than harm. If he does, she'll attempt to patch him up again later. If she were to keep him, she'd like him to at least be in decent health, if not in his full glory.

The impressive tank being built on the lower deck of the Calypso was a costly expenditure made to promise just that: a decent environment for her new... companion? Token of interest? Whatever he was to her, she could appreciate that he didn't try to hurt her this time. She would've hate to have to punish him again but it seems three days of isolation and starvation had taught him well.

She smiled dryly at his attempt to speak, already wanting to organize lessons for the merman to grasp the English language. Their mermaid translator had been able to do it and the merman didn't seem anything short on intelligence. That is---until he gestured at the door, asking her for freedom. The smile all but died on her lips. The light faded from her emerald eyes and while she answered him in a gentle, "No."

Her eyes flickered with disappointment, matching the merman's own azure set. Standing from her seat, she placed her open palm on his forehead, just quick enough for a light pat.

"You must never ask this of me again, Blue," she told him, "Anything else you may ask, but not that."

Taking the oilment but leaving the bucket of fish, Isolde turned to leave. The lights to the bathroom were left on and she returned later with a bowl of salt, having read that the merfolk thrived in saltwater conditions. Being out on sea for months, salt was used sparingly in meals, but having finally docked on mainland, Isolde decided to use the rest of their remaining salt on this. At least until the crew restocked on their necessities. She sprinkled the contents into the bathtub and turned the faucet off once it was filled.

While she was polite enough not to blatantly stare at the merman, it was clear that she was mindful of his reactions to her ministrations. Now, if only he'd eat, she could rest in peace.

 

[Draco]

Once again his finned ears lowered like a sad puppy at her denial of his request of freedom. He didn't think she'd grant it, but he had to try. If fighting his way did not work, if asking did not work, he'll have to figure something else out. He cannot live in this tub for the rest of his life, if he had a life anymore.

He flinched as she patted his head, expecting another slap as she had 3 days prior, his eyes shutting in ancipitation of the smack. When it did not come, but her voice, he slowly opened his eyes to peer back to her. Blue? There was that word again, his ears perked curiously. What did it mean? In his little knowledge of the language, he could not figure it out. It did not match up to anything she's said to her crew. "Boo?" He said in just a whisper, his tongue having difficulty forming the letter L.

He felt a small surge of panic when she exited the room. Was he going to be isolated again? Was he being punished for asking? He cannot handle isolation again. When he realized the lights were left on and the door was left open, he settled down a bit, though he did not like to be left alone- after all, merfolks were social creatures.

When she did return with a bowl, his nostrils twitched. He could smell the salt, but it was a different kind of salt. Not the kind he thrived in. From the scent of the salt, he knew it came from lakes, editable for humans and other creatures, not from the ocean. Before he could stop her from tipping the bowl, he could feel the faint pain at his gills as she began to pour. The table salt seared into the wounds at his fins, wincing with a hiss. He quickly reached up with his free hand, his webbed fingers cupped over hers that held the salt, preventing her from pouring any more in. "No. O-cin." His deep voice spoke firmly. Releasing her hand, his fingers dipped into the bowl of salt, touching the crystals. With a slight wince, he turned his hand around so she can see the burn this particular salt caused on his fingertips, the padding became raw and angry.

He couldn't be mad at her for pouring the salt. Just like his knowledge of humans, he was sure she knew little of him. She had an understanding he was a saltwater creature by offering salt, though it was the wrong kind. The gesture of bringing the salt alone told him that she was trying. It told him that she was not set to kill him, though he had no idea what she wanted with him still.

 

[mon]

His third attempt to speak had her impressed if not curious, although this time, it sounded more like he was mimicking her initial words. Perhaps he was trying to figure out the name given to him. The thought that he was had her feeling the slightest twinge of hope and she pointed at herself, repeating her name slowly to him in a tone one would use with a child.

"I-sol-de," she said, before pointing at him, "Blue."

In retrospect, naming him after a primary color was a bad idea. A poor name choice even for Isolde's standards but nothing else seemed to suit him better. His most redeeming features are in fact his eyes and anyone to argue otherwise could fight her.

When her mistake was made apparent, Isolde's cheeks grew warm with deniable shame and horror. She should've researched more thoroughly, she thought, surprisingly harsh in her mental berating at her foolishness. The rest of the salt was smartly withheld and she considered the merman for a silent moment, grateful that he actually "explained" the consequences the best he could.

She wondered now if she'd have to drain and refill the tub again. This time with sea water. Doing so would be a tedious and there was no way in hell she was going to do it, filling bucket by bucket from ocean to tub. No, she had her crew for that.

With a sigh, she called for her men. Her first mate came in at her beckon. A tall, solid looking young man. Broad shouldered, sun-kissed and face hardened from years of service at sea. He was dressed in slightly different garb from the rest of the sailors, setting his position in the crew apart. If one didn't know better, they would easily mistake him as the captain instead of the fair blonde.

"You called, mam?" he asked, entering and stopping just at the bathroom's threshold. His distance was always respectable and despite his built and gender, it was clear that Isolde held full authority.

"Go call the crew to fill the tub with seawater. Instruct the builders to do the same for the tank. Anyone caught using anything but seawater will walk my plank," she answered, draining the tub for the second time.

The first mate, Alec, nodded at the instruction and left to carry it out. Isolde shifted her seat so that she did not get in the way of those who came in to refill the tub, keeping the merman idle company. Her eyes flitted to the bucket of fish beside her before landing back on the merman. With a raised brow she asked as though he could understand her, "Do mermen not eat? Surely you're hungry."

 

[Draco]

Silently, he repeated her name in his mind, watching her gesture to himself with her identity, then to him with Blue. So, she had dubbed him Blue. He was no longer a name-less creature. What did that mean for him, now that he was named? Those icy aquas looked up to her face for the first time getting a better look at her. He studied her features, similar to those of his own kind.. mouth, nose, eyes, hair, they were the same. Ears and skin color was not. Her skin was flat without a shimmer of scales while his own glittered like tiny sparse sapphires against fleshy skin at his upper half.

He found his curiosity of the human species growing the more he looked at her. His gaze traveling down her body to her legs. Such strange things sticking from her torso -he couldn't see much through her clothes, but were there fins in those shoes she wore? Were there scales hidden beneath the fabric? He wasn't sure, though he'd like to know.

His curiosity of her body snapped away when she suddenly called out to the crewmen. When the male came into the bathroom, Blue bristled. His finned ears flared up, his nose scrunched as he gave a warning growl. His sharp canines flashed, lips curling back at the male in his view. His clawed hand gripped the edge of the tub, the frills along his spine shifting to make himself appear larger than he really is. He was slowly coming to accept the female in the room, at least she was trying in her own way.. but the human males? He did not like them. Flashes of their torture few days past went through his mind and he did not want a repeat of it.

He rudely snarled when Isolde gave her orders to the male, almost as if he was a guard-dog protecting what belonged to him- though he was protecting no one but himself. The male was lucky Blue was still had one hand and his fin tied up in the tub. When the male left, his snarls quieted to a quiet growl. It only ceased when she spoke to him once more. He forced his fins down as he glanced to her, then to the bucket of fish.

Realizing he was indeed hungry, forgetting the fish was there. Another glance to her, was it another trick? Too hungry to worry, he reached over with his unbound hand and selected a fish. Sitting up more in the tub, he turned the fish over to inspect it before biting into the belly. He was a rather messy, the blood of the fish smearing at his lips as his sharp canines tore into the morsel. He ate through the bones, the eyes and fins. Nothing was wasted.

 

[mon]

Blue's sudden shift of behavior towards Alec was to be expected, but Isolde was pleasantly surprised to see the difference in how he treated her as opposed to others. Perhaps he was finally warming up to her, but she knew better than to hope for much. Seeing him so frazzled made her annoyed---not at the merman, but at the cause (even though technically, Isolde was the one who called Alec forth).

She quickly ushered Alec out once orders were given and when the tub was drained once again, she turned the knob to refill it halfway. Her body was turned, facing Blue as she spoke.

"I won't let him hurt you," Isolde said, voice stern and full of sincerity. Her eyes bore into his. "As long as you're mine, no one shall ever harm you. Not even a single hair on your head." This was her promise. A conditional promise, but a promise nonetheless.

She smiled when she saw him eat and did not stop him from eating the rest of the fish inside the bucket. Once that was done, there was another knock at her door. A line of her crewmen were standing by with buckets of seawater in their hands. Their faces were stiff and poker, but Isolde could tell they were scared and disgusted at the creature inside their Captain's tank.

Ignoring their hidden feelings, Isolde waved a finger and sat back as they filled the rest of the tub with sea water. They made sure to stand at the furthest end of the tub, away from the merman's sharp claws and teeth. They moved quickly and silently and the whole time they filled it, Isolde kept her gaze on Blue, watching his reaction and silently willing him to calm with her presence. Once they were done, they were done, they quickly departed, not wanting to intrude further.

Alec however, came in to report on the building of the aquarium. "They say it'll be completed by tonight. They need you to sign some documents before we depart though."

At this Isolde sighed. Dealing with legal procedures was annoying.

"Fine," she replied, "Tell them to wait for me at the docks. I'll be down in a moment."

Alec nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait. Has there been any news on a tutor and translator yet?" Isolde suddenly asked. Her question bringing Alec to a halt. The male shook his head and Isolde sighed in disappointment.

"Very well. You may be dismissed," she waved her hand, shooing the man out. Looks like they'd have to travel closer to the Capital, a place which Isolde treated with disdain. The thought had her instantly souring.

 

[Draco]

Blue ate one fish at a time. He chewed through the bones as Isolde made him that promise. His cerulean blues narrowed slightly, not quite understanding what she was telling him, but the gist of it was there. She'll protect him. He wasn't sure if he liked the tone in her voice, but whatever her promise meant, he said nothing. There was nothing he can do anyway.

Half eaten fish in hand as the men came in with buckets of ocean water. He stared at each one carefully as they poured the water into the tub. Each one seemed apprehensive, afraid of him, where Blue felt the same. He was terrified beneath his rough exterior. He pulled his tail away from the men far as he could with it still being restrained by the rope. As the tub filled with ocean water, he could feel the burns from the table salt leave his gills. The water felt much more soothing than fresh water, allowing him to relax slightly more.

When those men has gone and Alec came, Blue's lips sneered back in a feral growl. After the interaction with the captain, Blue flung the half-eaten fish squarely at the back of Alec's head as he walked out. He had quite the arm and aim for being half fish. There was just something about Alec he did not like. Was it the way Alec held himself? Or the fact this human was the first he saw when captured? Maybe it was Alec who jabbed him with the fishing spear. Whatever it was, Blue did not like Alec at all.

Once Alec was gone, leaving Blue and Isolde alone once more, he turned his attention to the water in the tub. He took the moment to splash the water over his tail, over the frayed fins. He trickled the water over his arms and face as well. The tub was just too small for him to submerge himself fully. He was getting quite uncomfortable. His body feeling cramped and tight without the freedom of movement. He was unable to stretch out fully thanks to the ropes.

Turning to his side in the tub to try to get more comfortable, his arms crossed over the edge as he rest his chin a forearm. Those blues looked over to Isolde, watching her with a curious look once again. "Why me? Why Boo?" His voice was deep with a bit of a drawl as he sounded out each word, still struggling with the 'L' sound. He was quick to pick up the human language, listening to every word spoken, putting together the meaning of them.

 

[mon]

Isolde couldn't help but flinch when a half-eaten fish flung in an arc through the air, sailing towards the back of her right hand man's head, hitting him squarely with a resounding smack. There was a pause, lasting for a mere second. Invisible fumes of anger rose from the male, evident in the tenseness of his shaking shoulders. Isolde herself was shaking, for all opposite reasons. Her palm pressed against her lips but the snicker of laughter betrayed her feelings and when Alec stiffly excused himself without turning back once, she burst loudly into a full-belly laughter.

"Oh my god, Blue, you," she choked in-between laughs, a finger wiping a stray tear away. "I don't know if I should be angry or relieved to know now that I'm not the only victim of your fish-throwing aim."

The laughter died and soon what's left was a smile that was all too real, and all too rare. A sight so unseen, it would've been unnatural and that itself was sad. Like her bellowing laughter, when the smile disappeared, all that was left was an echo of something beautiful. A memory seared into those who bore witness.

"You," she said, eyes widening a fraction when the merman initiated his question, the start of a conversation. Those same emeralds soften at his voice and she caressed his cheek with a fleeting touch.

"You are beautiful," The pads of her fingers were soft against the rough hairs growing on his chin and her eyes dipped, staring into liquid sapphires.

"You have the seas in your eyes," Her curly blonde hair tickled his as it brushed against skin, locks loose from the tie which held it.

"And I have always been someone who coveted what I can't have." Said in all but a whisper, there was an unspoken melancholy in her words. A deep, ingrain sadness which veiled her gaze. She was looking at him and yet not at him; and it was a feeling more than a thought.

The spell was broken when she pinched his cheek, laughing as she stood up to leave. At the doorway she turned back, half-lidded and coy, "You learn fast, Blue."

 

[Draco]

So humans can laugh. He's saw anger, he saw greed, and now he's seeing joy, if one could call it that. These humans certainly had a wide range of emotions. He glanced to Isolde as she approached him, tensing with a flinch when her hand moved to his face, expecting another powerful slap. His hand instinctively went up to her wrist, those inhuman claws threatening to dig into her flesh if she did hurt him, but her touch was light and gentle. His eyes narrowed slightly in a glower as she spoke. While he did not quite understand what she said, the tone of her voice told him she has a sad. His grip loosened upon her wrist as curiosity replaced his glare as he peered to her face. He couldn't figure out what, but there was something in her eyes, something.. human.

He blinked when she laughed again, exiting the washroom. This was interesting to say the least..

That evening Blue had been placed within the tank below deck. He did put up a fight when he was transported, but the men managed to keep hold of the ropes, gripping his fins to keep him from flailing. He could not stop them from throwing him in the over sized aquarium. There was no top of sorts to the aquarium, the men ensured he'd stay inside the tank by securing the rope to his tail once again in such a tight knot that Blue could not remove. Only the sea men knew how to untie the rope. It was not like there was any escape for him, the room was well secured, the porthole windows were too small for him to even fit through even if he tried. There was always a sailor standing guard on the outside door. He knew it, he could hear them.

At least the aquarium was large enough for him to pace within. It was not a full swim, he could not move fast, at least he can stretch and move around more comfortably fully submerged. The bottom of the tank had some comforts of home. Sand, rock, seaweed and corals. These were a nice touch, but certainly not home.

He spent the next few weeks settling in the tank, coming to terms that Isolde had no intentions of setting him free. He took every opportunity he can to listen to the men speak, learning the language more. He was doing quite well without the aide of a tutor. By now, he was able to understand and communicate more efficiently, though not without some confusions still. He grew bored. He found himself left alone most of the time as the captain busied herself with tasks of trading at ports or navigating the seas, or whatever she did outside this room. A few men did visit him, getting to know each other. The few brave men taught him how to shave with a human razor, taught him few words and enlightened him on a few other human things, getting him more accustomed to this new way of life. He noticed Alec stayed away.. good. He still did not like that particular human.

He became unsettled after a while, tired of looking at the walls of the cabin with the only entertainment was rearranging the rocks in the aquarium over and over. After stacking the rocks from big to small, he moved to the surface to peer out of the porthole. It seemed they had docked. Through the portholes, he could see buildings, he could see people selling wares, talking among themselves. His arms curled over the rim of the tank as he watched, observing the humans behavior, the things they did. The more he watched, the more he wondered what it was really like to be on land. What did they have to offer? What were some of those things they held in their hands? For now, he just observed, his tail slowly swishing in the water.

 

[mon]

They say money can't buy you happiness. To this, Isolde would scoff.

Money got her an impressive aquarium built in her ship in the course of three days. Money got her a place for Blue and it was the same five lettered word which would later, find her a translator that aided in the quick addition of Blue's vocabulary. In any sense, Isolde was pleased and despite her frequent and loathed trips to the mainland, she was in a good mood.

Sometimes, if her crew was lucky enough, they would catch her humming to herself after a session of chatting with Blue. Naturally, they would never point the fact out loud, for fear of losing their tongue, but Isolde has caught herself a few times and quickly worked to hide the visible merriment she received from the merman's company.

After all, he was merely a pet. Attachment would be... a hindrance.

It was during an idle conversation between her and the translator did Isolde came to discover that the translator was in fact, every bit of mer, as the creature she kept in her tank. It was an eye-opening revelation which had her demanding how the tutor---a petite mermaid, small face and mousy---could walk on two legs.

"A-all merpeople have this a-ability, your Highness. I d-dare not lie to you!" she had pleaded, the edge of Isolde's rapier a mere centimeters from her throat. She has never tolerated liars. Not since---

Nonetheless to say, a full explanation was wrung out of the frightened girl and Isolde, in her fervor excitement, rushed over to Blue's tank.

"Blue," she breathed, voice calm despite the wild gleam in her eyes, "Would you like to walk the surface with me?"

It was a command more than a question. She wouldn't take no as an answer.

 

[Draco]

His gaze was pulled away from the window when Isolde busted into the room. He pushed away from the rim to the other side of the tank to her side, peering down over the rim at her. Water trickling from his hair, down the glass in tiny rivets. He kept his gaze on hers, a surprise look on his face as he heard her question. Has she gone mad? She knows he can't get out of the water. The long term effects of the sun's finally got to her and she's gone insane.

"Walk? No. Can't." He flicked his tail in a reminder, splashing at the surface. No legs. While it may be a fact all merfolk can walk on land if they dried themselves out and temporarily shed their tails, Blue had no idea of this. He lived with a strict, sheltered community before they all perished with divers and humans while he was out on a hunt. No one told him that he could magically gain legs. Perhaps they did not wish him to know, to keep him in the deep for his own safety, lest he'd end up dead or captured by humans. Oh, wait.

"We talk surface, I and you. It only wish." Sure, his English wasn't perfect, but at least he can get his thoughts out for the most part. His brow then rose a bit, glancing out the porthole towards the markets. The humans had a wooden contraption on wheels to cart around wares and food. It was the only thing he could think of to give him a remote chance at dry land. He gave her an apprehensive side glance, "You no mean wheel?"

 

[mon]

His denial was a slap to the face, an insult which had her good mood wheeling. She blinked, almost at a loss for response as a series of nuances ran through her head, all of them mocking and all of them cruel.

Excuses. He doesn't want to go out with you.

And why should he? You're a monster, keeping him all to yourself.

He says he can't because of his tail. He's lying.

Lying.
Blue was lying to her.

And just like that something inside her snapped. A fury which contorted the beautiful features of her face stood in stark juxtaposition to the layer of frost in her eyes. Palms clenched into a fist and with an angry signal, the men which guarded the door from the outside came rushing in. Her hand raised in the air, slicing down to give the order they rehearsed in case of emergencies (in case Blue became too much to handle. In case Blue, too, came to denounce her).

They rushed in with nets and ropes. One stood in the back with a pike in case the merman were to fight back. Violently, they managed to drag him out of the tank and it wasn't long until he was thrown down at Isolde's feet.

Lying.

How could he? He's known all this time, didn't he? Knew that if he only so desired, he could walk the lands with her. Knew that for him, she would give the world and then more. Knew that---

Her face was dark as a storm and in the eye of it all was hurt and betrayal. Her men froze in her presence, not daring to breathe, knowing full-well that the things Isolde does in her black mood would be urban legends in her obituary. Driven by her emotions, she strutted forward and took the pike in her hands, motioned to hurt, motioned to kill before be killed, until a shrill voice rang out.

The mousy mer-translator ran in, catching Blue's distress, screaming a loud, "Wait! Your Highness, please!" and only then did Isolde freeze, weapon raised high ready to strike.

"H-he really didn't know! He's a deep sea merman. Not all of us know that we have this ability. Only those who've been on land before," she pleaded, wanting to save her kinsmen. Maybe she wasn't as mousy as Isolde thought and at her explanation, the blonde relaxed. The weapon in her hands were taken away from her. Only one person was close enough to dare, and lifting her eyes, she saw concern in Alec's face.

She sighed. It seemed she made such a commotion that it even alerted her first mate. Everything dissipated as quickly as it stirred. The anger left her tired and defeated and her sudden jump to conclusions had her ashamed of her actions. She was too proud to admit her wrongdoings so she quickly waved the others out, leaving only Blue and Alec in the room. The mix of emotions in Blue's eyes had guilt stabbing deep and the word "sorry" stayed on quivering lips.

After swallowing dryly, she stepped forward slowly, squatting down to meet Blue at eye level.

"Captain, I don't think---"

"Alec, leave us," she said quietly, facing Blue. With her back to Alec, she failed to catch the look of conflict in his face and how he held back from speaking his mind. Ultimately, he decided to keep quiet and turned to obey Isolde's orders.

"And tell that translator... to watch her mouth. I will not have rumors starting aboard this ship," she added and with a nod, Alec understood and he left.

With only Blue and Isolde in the room, a pregnant silence hanged around them. It would've been almost suffocating if Isolde had not gone through worse.

"Blue," she said, the words a struggle. She couldn't look him in the face. "I'm sorry."

 

[Draco]

Just when he was about to trust her, give in a little more to her, he saw the rage come across her face. The same rage he saw on the first day of the ship, when she punched him. Only this.. was more severe, more grave. "Isolde.." He began, but was interrupted when the men came into the room.

He couldn't escape the net that came over him, the aquarium was just too small for that. He hissed with a snarl, grabbing the netting to try to get it off him. "Hey, no!" He cried out when the pike was jabbed into his shoulder. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to tint the water red. The netting tightened around him and the next thing he knew, he was violently thrown to the floor with a grunt. The netting tangled about him, he couldn't get out of it, the men held him down firmly. The ropes were just too tightly wound about him, he didn't know where to begin to try to get it off him. Blood from the pike trickled down his shoulder, blending with the salt water as it pooled about him.

What did he do? What did he say? Did he mix up the language and offended her? He was confused. He felt.. betrayed.. by Isolde. She promised no harm would come to him, and now? Why should he trust her? Why did he even consider trusting her? He could see the violent blind rage. She's meant to kill him at that moment. He knew it, he saw it. A deep snarl escaped his furled lips, those sharp canines flashing in warning, in defense. His own eyes full of anger, hurt, focused on Isolde, he barely heard the translator speak for him in defense. Did he not know what? What was going on?

And then there was just the two of them alone in the room. The men had left, releasing their hold on the netting allowing Blue to pull the netting off him, at least what he could, his tail was just too wrapped within. He glanced to the aquarium, the rim of it seemed too tall from the floor, how can he get back in now? Maybe he can somehow get out of this room and back into the ocean... Hearing her speak, his tail flicked in anger, he gave a quiet hiss in response. Sorry? Is that all she had to say? Sorry? He spoke through a growl, "You are to kill me. What did I do?" He had no idea something has happened in her life to trigger such a violent reaction from her. He was just too confused to even see that with her. His sharp claws dug into the netting, ripping the last of it off him, Throwing it aside, the ropes cracking like a whip.