Fandom The Little Merman || Merilliam AU - Commander Rabbit & CrimsonDawn

[CrimsonDawn]

Flashes of fire and the clashing of swords made a splash in her mind. It was as if the canons were still being loaded and shot, for she could smell gunpowder. She remembered snippets, confusing, chaotic cut-away scenes, brief and violent moments.

Her own hollers: "out of the way, rookie - let me handle this!"

The yells of others. "Stop her, seize that pirate wench -- she's getting - ack!" she was sure she'd cut that pompously dressed navy baffoon down with his own sword, and faintly recalled his body thudding against the wooden deck, now slippery with rainwater. It wasn't long before more came at her, one disarming her, be it with a stroke of luck or genius, but she could see the borrowed sword burying into the teak planks, its hilt - engraved on which was the navy seal - sticking upwards.

With the reminder of something or someone heavy having crashed into her, she could see and feel herself slipping, her ship seemingly tilting. To her surprise, part of the railings were blown off, leaving jagged remains that cut through her legs and arm as she fell, unable to grasp it in time.

Falling,
down,
down,
down,
she went,
breaking the ocean's surface,
dropping into its frigid, salty depths.

She recalled little afterwards slipping out of consciousness before she could get herself back up on the ship. And she couldn't feel -

- she didn't feel wood against her back.

Not the soft cushioning of a proper bed, nor the icy waters she had fallen in. Nor could she feel the sting of the salt in her wounds, the ones she remembered in painful accuracy, even as a hardened warrior. She'd been prepared to grit her teeth for the return of the pain... but as her eyes snapped open...

She sat up, pushing up her body, and digging her hands into coarse pale golden sand, looking down upon her legs, her clothes still ripped in some areas, but the bare flesh hold no wound nor scar at all. 'Just how the hell...?' she narrowed her eyes and furrowed her thick brows in confusion. As some residual exhaustion took over though, she briefly flopped onto her back again, singing into the sand. Tilting her head back, she could see the skies had cleared up since before. Robin's egg blue stretched out as far as the eye could see, the gleaming, blinding, warm sun, feeling pleasant against her skin. Pale and in need of a little sunshine after weeks spent in the freezing seas around Spade, evading the Clover Navy - and for what - it was eager to soak up a little vitamin D.

Briefly closing her eyes, she tried to think if anything-

Hold up.

Those purple eyes.

She remembered, for a moment, slipping back into a state of blurry consciousness, vaguely able to make out the form of someone hovering over her. A soft humming sound seemed to come from them, though she did not recognise the tune whatsoever. However, those lisianthus purple irises were so vivid in her mind. Eyes like that were rare; it would be more difficult to forget such a detail than remember it, she was sure. Intrigued though she was, another part of her was frustrated - and she huffed, expressing such sentiments - with herself for surrendering to the blackness and leaving herself vulnerable near a complete stranger. She should have, at the very least, ascertained whether or not they were a threat.

... and then again...

Had they been a threat, would she not be dead?

... unless, of course, this was part of her saviour's twisted game.

Her eyes snapped open, gleaming with displeasure as she looked around. Behind her, lush green forests stretched out beyond the sandy beaches, and it wasn't too hard to figure out that this must have been Heart Kingdom. Such tropical vegetation would likely do poorly around the coasts of Spade.

But.

How did she get to Heart?

Just why had her lifeguard taken her here? She silently scowled and stood up. Carefully at first - just because the cuts were gone, didn't mean any breakages were healed. When she felt no pain and found herself standing steadily, she brushed the sand and bits of sea shells off of her form and glanced around. She already suspected that her weapons would likely not have washed up ashore with her - and even if they had, perhaps whoever had saved her might have stolen them from her - but it nevertheless wouldn't hurt to try and find something useful. Something... other than the blunt sea glass and pebbles she was seeing. Though she still felt somewhat drowsy, her senses were sharp, and the muscles in her body had tensed up, ready for her fists to shoot out, should she sense a threat in coming, with her hands clenched. Her heart raced with a cautious thrill. She was alive and she could - would, potentially - fight to the death, as long as her freedom stayed intact. She wasn't going to let anyone drag her back into that life.

And in the meantime, perhaps she could find the person who brought her here, so that she could thank them, either with her words or - if they were a threat - her fists.

Not far from her - to her left - a rock formation stood, boulders and rocks scattered and piled up, creating a sort of natural wall. She could not see what lay just behind, and so far, her hearing had yet to pick up anything coming from that direction, besides the squawking seabirds and the swishing of the waters pulling in and out of shore. Beyond those lay a sea cave, sticking above the water's surface, but dipping below too, at its lower points, especially when the tide came in. She was only vaguely aware of such areas and assumed until proven otherwise, that she'd be met with nothing but scuttling crabs and sea snails if she were to look beyond the rocky structure to the rock pool and the cavern.

Basic Roleplay Info | Discussion & Chat​

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Commander Rabbit​

 

[Commander Rabbit]

​

"Don't go!"

"Are you daft??"
​

"What if they catch you?"
​

"You're a liability!"

"Heh, human lover... You think they're better than us?! Don't come crawling to us when they turn you into sashimi..."
​

Many words of hate and vitriol, some attempting to disguise their disdain with worry and concern, flew at the lone merman - scarred and ostracized. Pulled between two worlds from his own interests, while those in these two worlds pushed him away.

It was a question of where he even belonged anymore. He couldn't hide in human society for long. His strange gait and spiky-finned ears were hallmarks of what he was. Yet, his interests in human society and stubborn tenacity to follow this "meaningless" subject made him a pariah. They thought "let him go and see just how terrible the humans were, maybe that would teach him". Trying to keep him away from his interest might only spark resentment in him, and they wanted him to learn that the humans weren't something to concern himself with.

They were wrong.​

Whenever the waters roiled and the vibrations within the waves told of distant cannon fire, it always worried the merman. The other merfolk would just swim away, letting the humans squabble in their own senseless battles. They didn't need to get involved.

It was an "us" versus "them" attitude that William loathed.​

It was clear to him that humans also did this "us" versus "them" behavior and that alone didn't make them any better for it. However, he was just starting to understand them. They weren't all bad. They just couldn't be. He had seen just how many variances there were in the human race, and the merfolk were just as similar.

He'd have gotten cast out for that line, but he didn't. But for too long he had nodded his head and let his own people swim all over him. It was clear that even if he had changed to accept their beliefs, they would still hold some resentment towards him. They would still hate him, be wary of him.

It was too late.​

So when he followed the sounds and vibrations of a fight, he would oftentimes watch to see if anyone would fall into the waters. When he wasn't being followed or be subject to getting killed by either party, he'd try and heal those who fell...

Of course, that was after what happened with him...

But he didn't want to think about that.​

He saw a woman fall, one with fiery red hair and a fiery will to live. He could just feel it from her. It would be a shame, someone so strong, to just die out here in the uncaring ocean.

The merman fought the stormy waves and carried her away, somewhere far from the fight that occurred. From knowing humans, they had a strong reliance on the people closest to them. He figured she'd get upset if she knew she were so far away from the fight and away from her crew, but he was only one merman. He couldn't save them all.

Besides, he was sure they'd be fine. Humans were as hardy as merfolk after all.​

Some ways away, he had slid her onto a sandy shore. Carrying her here, then trying to haul her up where she could breathe something that wasn't water was a strain, but he wasn't just about to let anyone die. Not again, at least.

She had a good hold of her sword, but he had to separate her from it. It was a defensive measure for him, he just hoped she didn't try to kill him for it. He'll give it back to her later once he deemed her as someone who won't just... kill him.

He hovered over her, his purple eyes shining as he went over her wounds with healing water as he hummed a tune to allow the use of his magical properties. It was a shame he couldn't extend the same healing abilities over to himself as much as he could others. Not saying he couldn't heal himself, it just didn't affect him as well as it did others.

Her eyes opened briefly, but she didn't seem to be all there. That was okay. He had done what else he could. Taking her weapon, he slithered off to her left, hiding behind a rock wall as he rest there, letting the sun stare down at him and enjoying the ocean breeze and the fluffy clouds in the sky...

He thought he had fallen asleep, as the clouds weren't in the same spots anymore. But he didn't just wake up from nothing. He heard movement beyond the wall and he clenched the sword tightly to his body. His heartbeat quickened, his breathing quiet as he tried to keep himself from making too much noise. He couldn't tell what she was doing, but he swore he heard her getting up.

He was still merfolk... He had to hide himself.

He gently sat the sword beside him, slowly sat up, and focused on his legs, setting a hand on his fish-scaled lap. Since his last attack from the humans, it was even harder to shift his tail into something human-resembling. He had to pretty much force it, which hurt exceptionally.

He let out a grunt, and his fish tail shifted into scarred legs. Thankfully, his waist held a sort of.... oh... It was a merfolkian skirt, one made of seaweed, fish bones, and shells... These weren't human clothes...

Well, fuck me, I guess.
​

His eyes shifted towards the sea cave, unsure if he should just make a run for it, but given how long it's been since he even used human legs, he didn't think he'd make it so far.

 

[CrimsonDawn]

... She needed to find something...

Didn't matter if it was a stick or some sharp, jagged rock. Mereoleona turned her head around, blue eyes scrutinising the tree line. She was sure there'd be plenty of sticks in the forest - 'obviously' -, but going further inland would be an issue. She was used to fighting on the high seas, not the dense forests. Perhaps she could fight off a monkey, or, with a push some sort of jungle cat. Humans though, were fickle, and social creatures. There was also courage and foolishness. (And she would hope the latter didn't apply to her... in as much her relatives might have thought otherwise.) Nor was she terribly certain that the navy would trespass on another kingdom's territory just to arrest a criminal, but she wasn't going to make bets. Besides, it was entirely possible that should a Heart Kingdom civilian come across her, they might hand her over to the civilians.

No, she was good with staying on the beach for now.

Averting her gaze back to the swashing sea, and then to the rockier parts of the shore, she figured if there was any place she could find a sharp rock or too, it was there.

Her stomach growled at her, unhelpfully. The last thing she needed was for her position to be given away by her insides.

Maybe she'd be able to find some edible crustaceans in potential rockpools, too. She could always cook them up with her own hands (and hopefully not burn them to a crisp), and it was unlikely something like a crab could outrun her. Something like a fish, on the other hand...

Something like a fish -

Had it not been quite the distance to swim? Were the oceans not a violent salt bath, ready to drown her? She could remember struggling for a bit prior to slipping out of consciousness. Of course, she would have done. Mereoleona Vermillion? Die drowning? Such a pitiful death was for land dwellers without a dream! She sought to die a warrior, fighting for her right to be as was. Not another drowned sailor, or civilian.

And she hadn't. Drowned, that was.

But she very clearly didn't get here on her own, and she doubted a human could even swim that far in the freezing waters.

She supposed she pondered, frowning a bit, that it could have been a random neutral party with a boat. Or a sadistic navy person who had trapped her on this bit of land just to mess with her. (If that were the case though, they'd have to be very moronic indeed.) if it were a navy man, she doubted he'd drop her off at Heart. If it were a random neutral party, why leave her like this? On another kingdom's shore. What would a Heart Kingdom civilian be doing in Spade Seas? And why would a Spade civilian go as far south as Heart? An on-coming headache made her clench her teeth.

As insane as she might have sounded for it, her mind kept coming back to "mermaid".

The little ditty from before, so entirely unlike anything she'd heard among sailors or landlings, played in her mind. Maybe she had hallucinated it, willing for it to happen out of frustration over a lack of answers, but it was as if she'd remembered the feeling of scales. It would have taken one heck of a fish to drag her out to Heart Kingdom though. To heal her wounds, and sing.

Mermaids were said to sing. To lure sailors to their watery graves with beautiful sounds and an ethereal facade. They'd lull you in a sense of security, they'd charm you with their feminine wiles, then do as they please.

She had no idea what happened to those who encountered such seemingly wicked creatures. She knew something must have. Just as she knew that there'd be folk who'd simply disappear for no known reason at all. Go for a walk in the harbour, maybe a little drunk, a little curious, wanting to walk things off in fresh air. Then no one would hear of them, no one would find their bodies. Not washed up ashore, nor anywhere on land. They'd simply vanish. Things did not simply vanish. So the seamen and the men of the land made up their "theories".

After all, there were various beasts - she'd fought some herself, with bare fists or with knives and swords - dwelling in the world's oceans. Fascinating, dangerous, and ridiculously exhilarating to take down. Krakens, hippocampi (or was it hippocampuses?), even sea serpents with long, sharp fangs and winding bodies as long as a ship. But those were beasts. After food, not entertainment, nor a bloodbath. And, as described by many, most sea beasts were not of cunning mind.

The elusive mermaid, however...

A creature she had yet to meet, had yet to defeat. A very different kind of peril. She'd searched the seas for many years, yet found not much more than flounders and dolphins. No sign of some half-woman, half-fish anywhere. No songs, either.

Until now.

A grin tugged at the corners of her mouth, a few sharper teeth showing. This, this could be an opportunity. If she was still there - the mermaid -, then she could finally add the demimorph to her list of defeated marine monstrosities.

Having plodded her way through the sand, to the rocky platforms, jagged boulders, and rough rock, she finally peaked over the stone wall. Ready to fight, should there be mermaids in those rockpools. And if not, grilled crab sounded quite nice right now. Eyes gleaming in anticipation, she lowered her gaze, to find something quite different from a mermaid.

Dressed in peculiar clothing of sea flora, bone, and shells, the young man before her stood out quite egregiously. Was the climate of Heart so mild that none had a need for proper clothing regardless of the season?

Her grin faded into something of a frown, partly disappointed that she would not be fighting any mermaids anytime soon, and partly frustrated, as any crabs that might have been in the area seemed to have scuttled away. Quite possibly to avoid getting eaten by the person in front of her. There weren't many suitable rocks there either - dammit -, and she had no idea how this person would react to her. She'd best keep her wits about her around this stranger.

"You there, do you happen to know how I got here?"

 

[Commander Rabbit]

(I wish I had more pictures than this dhaifoahdf)
​

William heard movement. It was getting closer. His breath quickened despite his attempts at keeping himself quiet and calm. Did she hear his grunt? Surely, she didn't. He swore he was being quiet.

Getting his fish body to be legs was an effort and a half, but maintaining it was always a pain, too. He had to get up, at least. Panic rose and he felt his body wanting to get sick. To hurl. He was away from the water, and while that had never been a problem before, he was utterly terrified of being hurt by another human.

She wouldn't after he saved her... Right?

Not like she knew that right now though.​

The now turned merman didn't even notice the red-haired woman was peering at him from over the rock wall, so when she spoke he uttered a small yelp in surprise. His body twisted towards her, the sword he set beside him he had grabbed defensively and held it as if it were some life raft against his chest.

Wait... They didn't do that... This wasn't a human thing they did.

Looking down at the sword, he looked up at her, then gave a sheepish chuckle. "Uh..."

Man, she was intimidating.​

"You drifted here." He said vaguely, technically the truth even if he did help swim her here, messing with his hair to hide his ears. Thankfully, they were still wet to hide his ears.

No... That didn't sound right. His hair shouldn't be wet if he were a human.

But apparently she didn't seem to find his attire any wrong either. Luckily, his legs didn't transform back. He wanted to make a good first impression, so he scrambled up to his feet. It felt incredibly uncomfortable, he even wobbled and landed his shoulder against the rocks with a hiss. With his legs being scarred up, he could probably use that as an excuse that his walk is terrible.

He huffed a bit from exerting so much effort, then handed her sword to her with one hand.

It would be a waste to just not give her the weapon now. He would just have to hope he wasn't a dead mer.

"... Hungry? I can cook something for you." He didn't want to talk too much, lest this human try and cut out his tongue or guess he wasn't human by his strange accent. But after such a fight, surely she must've been hungry. Maybe he could get her to trust him a little with some food before his spell wore off on his legs...

And hope she doesn't just lop his head off when she found out.​

 

[CrimsonDawn]

(I mean, if you wish, I have plenty of pictures of William saved -- on Pinterest.)

The longer she scrutinised him, the stranger the man became. Her gaze trailing down, she'd noted his legs were harshly wounded, with jagged scars - possibly burn scars - covering his limbs. Paying more attention, though, as he twisted around to look at her, something gleamed against his chest. Long, flattened from one dimension, metallic, and with a handle boasting a familiar seal.

She narrowed her eyes as she finally spotted the weapon she was looking for... very conveniently held by the guy in the fish skirt. That sword. Her sword. The sword she'd stolen from the navy. He'd stolen it from her, the imp. Had he any idea whom he'd looted this sharp and gleaming blade from?

"Do you make a habit of stealing as well as lying?" the woman remarked, crossing her arms over her chest, as she listened to him stumble out a response. Even though he had her sword, the way he looked like he would lose his shit - and perhaps his stomach contents too -, pale and tense, she wasn't so certain he could square up to her. Not to mention his clumsy, clingy grip on the sword told her that he would likely be an ineffective swordsman. Heck, judging by his scrawny frame, she could probably fold him with her bare hands alone.

She didn't have time for bullshit. Judging by the fact that she'd somehow managed to find herself hundreds of miles away from her original spot of almost drowning... she couldn't help but think he reeked of it (the bullshit). "I think we both know I didn't just randomly wash up here - just as we both know that isn't your sword," Mereoleona reached out to grab her weapon, only for the strange man to rise to his feet -

wobble -

and thump against one of the rough rocks behind him. She could excuse that on his feet though, or perhaps he was just naturally that clumsy. Moreover, it confirmed her idea that he wasn't a threat. Blinking, she was surprised to find him willingly handing the sword over. To her, a pirate. (Perhaps he was simply naive enough not to know who or what she was, though.) He did look rather fresh-faced.

"... Well, I suppose-" her stomach cut her off with a rumble and she averted her gaze briefly, as she held onto the hilt of the sword "-some sustenance couldn't hurt." Fish skirt man was being awfully hospitable for someone he'd just met. Especially whose intentions he could not have known.

However...

Had he wanted her dead, he would surely have attempted to strike out at her beforehand -- perhaps even while she was unconscious. It would have been much easier now. Granted, it is possible that he had other intentions. He could simply hand her over to the navy, and make a few thousand yul of off capturing her after he knocked her out with whatever food he planned on cooking.

Just in case he was, she would have to be wary.

And, just in case he had any ideas - she brought the sword up to her face, twisted it, and let the sun reflect off it brilliantly, then brought it to the side, swinging it slightly -she could always persuade him to reconsider in the way she knew best. She took a step back from the rocks, allowing him to lead the way, wherever he planned on going. After all, she had no fucking clue where the hell she was exactly nor how and what he planned on cooking up.

 

[Commander Rabbit]

(pretty please? lol)​

William had no idea there was any significance to this sword. Humans always did tack on sentiments to their items that seemed to boast no other reason for doing so except for whatever certain event that sparked it. Then again, William was no different. He put significance on the human race so much that he lost his own people's trust.

But it was going to take a lot more than just giving up the sword as some kind of unspoken truce. If... If she even thought of it that way. William sure did. But she said he had lied.

Okay, maybe he did. He wasn't technically lying, but he guessed he was. He just didn't say anything about it, preferring to just do something for her to hopefully win himself on her good side.

Her stomach spoke for her and William couldn't help but feel the sense of relief wash through him. All he had to do was catch something for her to eat, right? There were no crabs here, his presence made sure of that. But there was something in the sea...

He loathed to use the wildlife in the ocean to quell this beast of a woman's hunger, but he wasn't about to forfeit his life either.

The glint off the sword hit his eyes, making him squint as she held it, then swung it. It was a nonverbal threat, he knew that much. He held up his hands in surrender, giving a sheepish smile. "As to your question... I didn't want to lie. You were taken here..." He then pointed over to the sea cave. "We can hide in there."

He moved a bit gangly. His gait had always been weird when he walked but it never was this bad. Still, he managed to walk his way over to the sea cave, its entrance accessible by foot for right now. He gestured for her, then looked at the ocean.

The call of the sea was very enticing. He could just leave her here. But she was the first one to not hurt him. In fact, she seemed more concerned about her own survival than she was of him being a threat. He looked back at her, scratching the back of his neck. "You might need sticks if you want something warm. It gets cold in here. I'll catch something for you to eat."

He watched her warily, looking like an animal that would be scared off by anything untoward or threatening. But then he finally spoke again, hoping to cement some reassurance that he'll come back. "I don't want anyone to get hurt..."

William hoped he hadn't said too much but he doubted it would allude to his magical healing.​

If she didn't want to speak to him, he'll vanish into the waters, hopping in rather gracefully and disappearing under the water surface. If she did want to speak to him, however... Well, she can try to get a few answers from him before he left.

 

[CrimsonDawn]

Mereoleona quirked a brow at his non-verbal surrender, finding his noncombativeness both relaxing and concerning. She looked in the direction of the sea cave he'd been gesturing to, finding his choice of words curious. Nevertheless, she gave a curt nod. He presumably didn't live there -- it didn't seem like the most habitable place ever, but then again, being around human settlements would only put her at a higher risk of bumping into the authorities.

She followed him, frowning at his gait, catching herself wondering if he was fine walking like that, only to immediately shake it off. The pirate still had no idea what his motives were - she readjusted her grip on the sword - and she couldn't risk getting caught off guard. Besides, for all she knew, it could simply be the uneven terrain. That was certainly quite the switch-up for the decks of ships or the streets of port towns, with the rough and awkwardly angled surfaces, and the slippery algae-covered rocks. Looking to the ocean, then back to the mouth of the cave, Mereoleona couldn't help but wonder if leaving the cave would be so simple once the tide came in fully.

Well, she supposed even if she couldn't, swimming this much shorter distance should be fairly simple. Even so,

"Does the tide go in much higher than this?"

It wouldn't hurt to check.

Looking around, the inside of the cave was much the same. Lots of pointy, rough rocks. Cozy. The occasional algae, hanging off rocky walls, some on the ground too. She was sure she heard scuttling - twisting around to see - but the lighting was a bit primitive and dim... on account of it being, well, a cave. Her gaze flicked to her newly acquired sea cave tour guide. Maybe he had better vision than her?

If he went here frequently enough, maybe he was accustomed to it? He could be a local. Although, he didn't sound like anyone from Heart Kingdom she'd ever heard. If she didn't know any better, she would've assumed he was from Clover.

"There's no need," she responded, amber and gold flames sprouting from her hand as she extended it out. For a while, her fire could last fueled just by her magic. Surely she wouldn't be spending much longer - she had a crew to get back to. She'd definitely need it for the seafood though, and it would do him good to know - in case he planned on drowning her - that if he threatened her, she could threaten him in turn. There was a reluctance within her to head inland to gather wood, too. She supposed she could use driftwood - wait... what was that Fuegoleon nagged her about with regards to stuff from the sea? Something about not burning it, anyway. She huffed in frustration. Nevermind, then...

She noted the expression on his face. Fear? Not exactly a surprising expression to receive when one was a wanted criminal. Did he even know she was one? It didn't seem particularly likely. Then, she raised a brow. Wasn't it a bit late for the "I come in peace" talk? Although - looking at her sword - she supposed he hadn't hurt her thus far. "That won't be necessary as long as I don't perceive someone as a threat." Or a sparring partner, she considered.

Looking at him more intently, she realised that his eyes seemed familiar. Purple. Very distinct. She was sure she'd seen them before... and then again, he had taken her sword off her. If this was the person she had seen, what was the humming for? Why would he bother taking the sword only to give it back, and then offer to feed her? He said he meant no one any harm, but surely that wouldn't leave him obligated to feed anyone... or temporarily confiscate her weapon. The more she thought about it - she frowned - the more he wasn't making sense.

"...I have ask though: if I were taken here, who took me? And who are you, anyway?"

​

 

[Commander Rabbit]

She asked about the tide...​

He blinked a few times, assessing that she was just asking for the tide. He looked back at the stones of the sea cave, seeing the algae lines of the past tides in the dim lighting, then looked out towards the ocean.

It was calling for him.
​

"It can. But we won't stay here long for the tide to cover the cave. We don't want to get stuck in there."

Other merfolk or humans could find them, neither would be good.

It was then that she showed her affinity for fire magic. Just great, his luck couldn't have been any better. Still, he didn't let the thought of becoming burnt sushi a problem, nor did it affect his now stoic gaze as he calmed down more around her. He was starting to realize that this lady was just trying to save herself and just as long as he helped her, he won't get hurt, and her words affirmed this. He couldn't help but believe her word.

Plus... Having a human who actually want to help him would be good for him. But he doubted she would even choose that. So for right now, he focused on helping her and getting her back to her people.

The way she gazed at him however had him growing concerned. She recognized him. She was starting to piece the dots together. His gaze fell to the ocean.

"I will answer your questions... You'll have to forgive me for my earlier deception. It's hard, being what I am while still trying to help those who wish me dead. But when I come back in a few minutes, you will have all your questions answered." He gave her a final look, his gaze fixed on her with his sincerity before he leapt into the water, diving back in and hunting for a fish.

Immediately, his legs snapped back into his regular tail as soon as he was fully submerged.

It didn't take him long to find a fish, but he stayed in the water after having caught it in both hands. He looked back at the deep emptiness, the direction of where his home laid. Then back up at the maw of the sea cave.

The call was beckoning him, growing in strength, but instead of listening to it this time and letting all those who cast him out berate him again, he was going to take this into his own hands.

He looked at the fish, its bulbous eye staring back at him blankly, but he can still understand its thoughts. It succumbed to its fate, so easily. It didn't struggle in his hands. He felt like this fish... Within the hands of the mer...

How poetic.
​

Swimming back to the maw of the cave, he smashed the fish's head against the rock, the water tainting red as he kept it held tight in his hand. Then, with one heave, he pulled himself onto a rock, his tail showing his true self. He watched her, cautious, half-expecting her to draw her sword and smite him. He handed her the fish, his chest rising with expectant breaths. "I was the one who healed you. And saved you from drowning."

 

[CrimsonDawn]

"Hmm..." pondering over the answer, one irregularly sized, sharp tooth digging into her bottom lip as she simply nodded. It seemed he had no more of a wish to stick around in the same place. So, either he had places to be, people to see... or he too was avoiding something. Still, it grew steadily harder to see him as a "potential threat". Something about being around him left her relaxed. There was a warmth to his presence.

Her features scrunched up and she squinted her eyes, looking to where he'd gazed at the water, as he told her to forgive him for deceiving her. He could have been deceiving her about any number of things earlier, perhaps even-

And then he leaped into the sea... leaving her standing there, pointing her blade at nothing in particular, confused. In the darkness, she hadn't seen his legs turn into a tail, her mind flailing to grasp what was going on. Trying to figure out what she was supposed to prepare herself for. If need be, what she was supposed to fight.

As the seconds ticked by - feeling more like hours - her muscles cramped up as she stood in the same position, having that same grip on that same sword, until she sighed and opened up her fist a little. She twisted her hand and shifted her body. Having spent some time staring at the sea cave walls, she couldn't really see anything out of the ordinary, even as her eyes had begun adjusting.

Walking around the cave - slower than she liked, on account of the algae - she thought things over. Go? Stay? Was he a local? Foreigner? Bit of both? Should she trust him? What did he deceive her about...?

She gritted her teeth, and hit one of the rocky walls. Not so hard as to break her own hand (though there would likely be a bruise left over), just hard enough to release some frustration. Mental exercises weren't her thing. Action came to her easier than words and thoughts. Her gaze dropped to the water. Perhaps she could swim out now. Sure, she was starving. But she could catch something of her own - probably -, and her injuries had miraculously disappeared.

'Isn't it odd, how he's the only one you've encountered all this time, how he was so close to where you'd washed up? Isn't it odd how he dresses, and the way he talks? Isn't it odd how he hasn't figured out that you're a pirate, how he can't use a sword - well, perhaps he is a local - but took yours only to give it back without knowing what you would and wouldn't do with it? Isn't it so strange how he may well have been the last person you saw before you woke up? How soothing his presence is, just like... that song he hummed?' Much as she'd tried to convince herself that perhaps it couldn't have been him, it seemed like too much of a coincidence. And if his humming soothed her, could it have done anything else...?

"Mermaids, wicked creatures they are. Sea maidens which lure sailors with a sweet voice into the water..."

It didn't help that she could swear she saw the water rise a little, as she recalled her grandmother's voice. She pulled farther back from the water's edge.

"... then pull them into their hungry embrace and drag them down into the depths of a watery grave."

A silhouette formed within the water, and then a pale, slender body broke the surface. Fish blood tainted the water red, the corpse in question lying lifelessly on a rock. Not that she batted an eye.

Instead, her eyes widened briefly, as the man hauled himself up, revealing that his lower half wasn't human at all. Once more her hand wrapped more firmly around the sword, though the blade stayed pointing down and away from the merman. Of course, he'd catch the damn fish so fast - he was part fish himself, clearly, and perfectly at home in the water. No doubt he wouldn't need to worry about the tide going up either, she thought, scrutinizing him, awaiting his next move, as she pulled back a little.

"A merman..." she breathed out, eyes not quite leaving the piscine lower body, scaly, shimmering even in the dimness of the cave. He looked a bit more battered than what she would've expected -

although, then again, he also looked a bit less like a maiden than she'd expected

- but the ethereal mindfuckery that was a human with the tail of a fish was very much present. This was a mer... person, alright. The very creature she had yet to meet, yet to fight. Her lips twitched in something of a hysterical smile, her frustration with all this peaking. At the same time, her heart raced, finding this all very exciting. She'd yet to defeat a mermaid. She supposed she could make do with a merman... although, she was reminded by his ripped fins and scrawny figure, that he wasn't much of a fighter. The grin slipped, fading into her default "annoyed demon lady" look.

And then he fessed up to the healing, throwing her completely.

... It would explain his soothing aura. The humming, even, perhaps. It would also explain why he avoided specifying who it was that had taken up ashore. After all, it would have been a bit difficult to believe that he could do so in his human form.

Her grip on the hilt loosened again.

"Why would a merman - if that is what you are - save a human from drowning?" Just to play games?

He wasn't supposed to be good. He wasn't supposed to have mercy. He wasn't supposed to care so much.

A small part of her mind nagged at her, warning of deceit. But another reminded her that if he'd wanted her dead, surely healing her would be a bit counterproductive. And, well, he wanted to play, they certainly could.

She walked over to where he was, first standing, regarding him from above. From there, it was hard to believe that he could ever drag her down into the watery depths for whatever reason he might have pleased. So, she settled down beside him, taking the offered fish.

From what she could tell, it seemed to be of the edible sort - no poison spikes, no suspicious colouring -, before she sliced the thing's stomach with a sword, letting the guts slip out into the water. She'd no need for those. With that, she began cooking in moderately warm amber flames, keeping them just an inch from the fish, intending not to burn it, just cook it. Didn't take particularly long though, until she got impatient, and turned the heat up further, charring the outside of the fish. Huffing, she let the flames die down, as the fish sizzled a bit.

About to dive into the meat of the fish, she remembered her host, before using her sword to decapitate the creature, finish splitting it in half, and then dangling one of the sides of the now headless fish in front of the merman. She had absolutely no idea what merfolk could and could not eat, but if he had sufficient experience with fish to be able to catch one as fast as he had... perhaps fish was on the menu for him. Besides, she didn't like debts. She'd quite like to get rid of as many of hers to this... fellow... as she could, as fast as she could.
​

 

[Commander Rabbit]

​

William was too kind to just leave. If he were any other mer, any more selfish, he would have left to save his own skin and let this warrior fend for herself in - what he assumed - was enemy territory. He at least knew that the other kingdoms didn't exactly have a good agreement with each other from past conversations he listened in on with the humans.

He noticed the grip on her sword, and honestly he had resigned himself to his fate at this point. He was tired of running away and while he might not be the best at fighting, he wasn't going to just roll over and die either. He had enough of feeling weak all the time, but weakness was what kept her from killing him. Or it at least felt like it to him.

William studied her gaze. She looked like she was battling many thoughts and ideas in her head about what he had done for her. Why he was doing it probably. He was no psychic, but he'd have thought the same thing. The hysterical smile had sent a shiver down his spine, but he dare not let it avert his gaze from her. The look on his face was still that of terror.

This woman didn't seem sane at all. Was it always like this with these pirates?

But slowly and surely, she took the fish after her state of shock and sat beside him. Of course, after asking him a very good question. Would she even believe what he had to say?

He watched her tear open and burn the fish, charring it after losing her patience. It honestly made him smirk a little. Humans with their patience was always a fickle thing. Some things they can do for hours on end, but there were just some things that left them acting rashly. Some humans had an even worse equanimity, unable to handle even the littlest things before becoming outraged and acting rashly.

The merman was about to explain himself, when she offered the piece of burnt fish to him. He sat there in shock, unsure if he should even take it. He slowly took it from her, purple eyes wide with confusion, trying to discern the meaning of this. Seeing as she was just trying to be nice, well... As nice as she could be given the circumstances, he decided to speak.

"It worries me... Seeing humans come into conflict. The scent of human blood makes me a little sick. Pirates do it all the time, and my people have taken to playing a pretty awful game in guessing how many falling humans it would take before one side stops fighting altogether. If you want, you could either equate my actions in saving humans to my general kindness towards your people or spite against my own kind." He then looked at her, sincerity in his gaze. "I don't think I saw anyone else falling into the water, but humans are pretty resilient. If they did, I'm sure they'll be okay. None of the mer were there. The cannon fire scared them off." He paused, looking off and out of the maw, watching the water ebb and flow. "I came here because my people don't usually like coming here. Lands where humans walk are not our domain to dwell. Yet, I find you all fascinating. Doubly so considering my father..."

He paused, shaking his head. His father, while interesting, William was sure nobody would have heard of him. Not even the humans he managed to have a conversation with seemed to know him. "I've rambled enough." He mumbled, looking back at Mereoleona with some hesitancy. "I'm William." He gave her his name before digging into the meat, not minding the charred bits but he would have preferred eating it raw. Then again, cooked meats that had been seasoned tasted a lot better, but they didn't really have that on hand.

 

[CrimsonDawn]

As the merman continued to show no hostility, Mereoleona ultimately decided to drop the sword beside her.

Picking apart her own charred half, she chewed on the fish as she listened to his response. Hearing him get so sentimental and sappy over death - a natural part of life, for the most part -, and conflict (could anyone have really expected anything else in a world without equality and freedom?), made her physically wave the response off with the hand that wasn't holding onto fish.

'Well, that's reassuring,' she thought, nodding, as he informed her that her crew was likely safe. Or, at the very least, undrowned. She did briefly glower at her fish when she thought back to the navy men though, hoping her own crew hadn't been completely overpowered. The thought of what those sea pigs could do if they got their hands on her women, made her stomachs twist. She knew well enough how they could be, and plenty of her own people knew the extent of the navy's corruption - in particular the Purple Orca's grew, but it pervaded through the entire system really, like rot, or mold in bread, spreading even when you couldn't quite see it just yet.

She twisted around, hearing how fascinated he was with her kind, and then raising a brow. 'Considering his father...?' Had his father crossed paths with humans before? Or...? No, that would be unlikely. She'd yet to hear of a human and mermaid hybrid, and frankly, given his own confirmation of the merfolks' distaste towards mankind, she was sceptical that they could tolerate each other for long enough without wish death to the other side.

... Then again...

This mer didn't.

(He could just be a moron, though.)

She tilted his head slightly. Really, she would have wanted to know the rest of that - it was a bit hard to figure him out with him being so evasive with the facts. Finishing picking out the meat from her half of the fish, she glanced around, debating where the dunk the rest of it, and then deciding the water dwellers would probably make short work of anything she could. So she just let it drop into the water.

"William," she repeated the name, brows furrowing. That was a very... human name. "Not Scale or Blue?" Her bad attempt at deadpan humour - she'd never been a comedian - aside, it was odd that their cultures and language would crossover so that he would have a standard name. It sounded like something from Clover Kingdom, not something from under the sea. Then again, she wasn't really sure what she expected from an underwater being. "The name is Mereoleona-" she paused, frowning, wondering if she even was a Vermillion still. After being disinherited? Probably not.

"I suppose I should thank you for sparing me death as miserable as drowning - so in turn, I will not kill you, for as long as you aren't a threat to myself or my crew," she changed the topic, a little uncomfortable, and unused to thanking people, but the words did make their way out of her mouth eventually. "This promise does not extend to others of your kind, however, and definitely not should they decide to pull any tricks," she warned, as she dipped her hand in the saltwater, in an attempt to at least wash some of the oily fishiness off. "As per your fascination with humans, you've nothing to be fascinated about. But if you wish to ask questions, as long as answering them won't potentially threaten my crew or way of life, feel free to ask them." It wasn't as though telling him about forks would set off a war, and seeing as he'd answered some of her own questions...

She dried her hands off with her flames, grabbing the sword, before getting to her feet. "Though, before I answer them, I'd like to know if you happen to know where my crew is currently."

Regardless of how they were doing, she'd been away from them long enough. Besides, she wasn't sure how much she trusted Vanessa with their crew - especially with her now unlimited access to the wine storage, considering Mereoleona was no longer watching over things like a hawk. 'If that woman is encouraging any of the cubs to drink...' Then again, Noelle and Mimosa getting a little tipsy wasn't half as bad as them winding up imprisoned, executed, or harassed and exploited by the supposed justice system of Clover.

She looked out of the cave. To avoid either such disaster she would need to get from here as soon as possible and back to her crew. Of course, that would require a boat. Directions, too. Good weather, preferably. Luck would also come in handy.​

 

[Commander Rabbit]

​

He finally did it...

He got a human to believe in him. Put some trust in him.​

William couldn't hide the relieved sigh that escaped his lips. Her nonchalant attitude about the state of the world and how everyone treated each other had him raising an eyebrow. Was it always like this? Would it always be like this? Why not find a way to change it?

Then again, he's just a merman. What sway did he hold?
​

The glower to her fish had William wondering if she believed him that her men were safe. Or maybe it was from something else, but it certainly left him nervous. William was still unfamiliar with people's customs and the gender-specific expectations they held, so he didn't know if there was anything wrong or bad about this, or if her crew were even all women or a mixture.

The interest she held of his father left his concern growing. Had he said too much? He didn't want to say too much, for fear it could end up coming back around on him somehow. He just continued to eat, until his half was gone, having eaten it flesh and all considering the scales didn't bother his esophagus. He watched her drop the rest of her fish into the water, a sudden urge to snag and eat it surged through him, but he didn't want to. He was a little hungry still, but he didn't want to be so uncouth that he'd take what a human woman just ate and finished it for her.

She spoke his name, and his eyes widened at the suddenness. He blinked a few times, then chuckled dryly at her attempt at humor. "Ah, yeah..." He didn't elaborate why his name was like that. He didn't want to. Mereoleona...

That was a pretty name. Why did she frown? Did she hate her own name? It spoke of her ferocity and apparent fearlessness. Of course, she had to be fearless picking fights with others of her kind. And the expressions she held earlier against him spoke of her ferocity. She felt like a battle-hardened human, something he never really been around too much.

And then the second hit to cause relief. She was going to spare him because of what he did for her. His eyes widened. It was that easy?

Well, he shouldn't really think that way. Trust was hard to come by and he didn't have the heart to con her. As she continued, he nodded, understanding. He didn't much care about his kind all too much, but if something were to happen to them, he would feel conflicted...

Best not think about it now.

She was willing to even give him information, just as long as she wasn't going to get anyone hurt from divulging anything. "I wouldn't dream of hurting you or your crew." He said with some intense sincerity. It was then she got up and asked where her crew was, and he stared at his fish tail awkwardly. Well, he could help her get back to where she once was, but considering she'd probably prefer to be dry...

"If you want to get back out there to see your crew, I can get you a boat. Uh... Don't ask where I'll get it from." He gave her a cheeky smile. "But I'll need help getting one. I'd rather not get speared trying to get you back to your people." He then looked at his tail and clicked his tongue. "It takes a lot of effort to turn my tail into a pair of legs, so I'll just stay like this for the time being. Which means I can get you a dingy and we can go across the waters. Let's find one with oars. I don't think I can continue to push a small boat with supplies and a fierce woman on board for too long without getting tired. Especially if we're going against the current." He gave her a grin. Now he could just control water, but his expertise was in healing water, not exactly in controlling the currents. He'd have to train in that, and he was too busy people-watching to do that.

He slipped off the rock and laid his back on the surface of the water as he smoothly swam out of the cave, talking to her still. "I appreciate the sparing of my life, by the way. I won't take that for granted. Every human I've met wanted to kill me after figuring out what I was, but for good reason. I couldn't really blame them for the way the mer treat them." He didn't even say 'my people', showing his disinterest of and distance from them. He gave a perturbed scowl before shaking his head. "I wonder how my mother saw them..." He mused to himself before dipping his body into the water then popping above the water's surface again as he exited the maw.

He did remember there being a settlement with a small dock nearby. He waited for Mereoleona to catch up before starting his swim along the shoreline, not wanting to lose sight of her or her sight of him.

 

[CrimsonDawn]

Well, either he took no offense to her assumptions, or he wasn't one to snap back in indignation. Given the lack of importance surrounding knowing about mermaid culture or his past, she chose not to pry.

"Hmmph."​

Whether she could trust his word or not regarding getting her to her crew, she would have yet to see. He might have waxed poetic about his anti-violence views, but words were just that - words -, without actions.

Besides, how many pacifists could possibly exist in such a violent world?​

Still, she decided to leave that conversation topic where it was - after all his threat level was basically non-existent from what she'd seen -, instead making her way out into the light, out of the shadows of the cave. Hearing him offer to get her a boat, she looked to see him sporting a charming, if mischievous grin. Of course, he would. She wondered if he simply acted that way around all women, or if he was just that desperate to impress her in order to stay on her good side. She nodded, at his condition, swinging her sword again, just to prove a point. "That won't be a problem," she assured him, with a not particularly comforting grin. Nevertheless, she planned on making good on protecting him, as long as he didn't betray her. "And you can drop the flattery. It won't change whether or not you end up dead." If this merman intended to butter her up and use his sweet words to manipulate her whichever way he wished, he had another thing coming. That said, she could certainly see where the limitations in his strength lay, looking at his scrawny torso and stickman limbs. Granted, they did add to his overall doll-like look, but she'd be surprised if he could push a boat at all, even an empty one with that build. Had things been different, and had he been a member of her crew, she would have dragged him out to training, to get that skinny ass in ship-shape.

She felt a little less on edge out of the cave, in the open, where she could see clearer. Especially as she stepped back out on the sandy, flatter, smoother, and far less slippery terrain of the beach. As the wind blew through her hair, she looked back in the direction of the cave that the merman swam out of, deciding to circle around the cave and keep to dry land as she followed him. Vaguely she could hear him speak, piecing it together as he appeared in view again.

Hearing the screeching of a seabird, she twisted around for a moment, glad to find the avian creature wading through the rockpools looking for crabs. For a short moment, she'd thought it might have been a human sound, which would have only brought along more problems. They had been fortunate to avoid human confrontation thus far - what with this location being potentially quite pleasant to hang around in when one was not in a rush to get someplace. Had there been tourists perhaps, or locals taking their cubs out to the sea, for a quick dip before the mermaids appeared, it was very possible someone would realise something was off about the two and ring alarms.

Thankfully, that didn't happen.

Turning around, she looked back to William.​

"Good reason? Did they have reason to suppose you could murder them?" Mereoleona frowned at the male with a dose of skepticism.

Perhaps she might have thought so too if he were a more... fearsome specimen.​

As it were, he looked rather frail in comparison to most sea beasts she'd encountered and fought. In general, she'd pictured mermaids to be a lot tougher. Meaner.​

'And then again, he has magic,' she was reminded of his healing by her torn clothes and lack of torn skin to reflect that. Not everyone possessed such abilities, even if those of his she'd seen so far weren't exactly good for killing people. However, he did have a point. As a general rule, humans didn't trust mermaids - she didn't either. Heck, it was possible that the merman himself didn't trust mermaids. After all, he seemed to distance himself from them quite a bit.

Then he mentioned his parents again. His mother? Could he not -

Well - she frowned - it was entirely possible that he could not, she supposed. Had she died? She supposed she could sympathise - empathise, even - with such a loss. At the same time, his mother was supposedly one of the mermaids.

"I don't suppose you are in any sort of rush to get out of here," she quipped, seeing him pausing, and walking right ahead. "If you wish for the landlings to find us both, and report us to the authorities, feel free to take your time. I can take on any number of them." Whether she could defeat them all was an entirely different issue, but one that she could certainly attempt.

 

[Commander Rabbit]

​

With Mereoleona being so stoic - or fierce - in her expressions, William wondered what she thought about. The inner machinations of a human's mind always interested him, even if it ended up getting him into trouble. Or hurt him. But he wondered if she just looked like that and was actually soft on the inside.

Nah, couldn't be.​

That grin as she brandished her sword put a cold chill down his spine. He had to remember she was still extremely dangerous. He wasn't in her good books just yet, but he was getting there. He raised an eyebrow at the 'flattery' comment and looked genuinely confused. Was he trying to flatter her?

Maybe it was best not to tell her he wasn't trying to. She might not believe him. He was just making an observation.

Well, they weren't buddy-buddy yet, so after he got her the boat, he might as well express it then. For now though, they had a dingy to steal.

Seeing as this pirate didn't much care for stealing, that told him she didn't like these particular people or she really was just a pirate and didn't care what she had to steal just as long as she survived. He could admire that, but it left him wondering if she had a code - and if that code was the reason for his head still attached to his shoulders.

The screech of a seabird was a common sound. To him and his perceptive ears, they sounded slightly different to humans. Then again, it wasn't common he heard humans screaming for their lives to sound like a seabird. He wondered just how dangerous her life was to mistake a seabird's screech for the sounds of a human.

As Mereoleona asked why they would have good reason to suspect, William just shrugged his shoulders, continuing on in a languid pace. Her words in reaction to his pause had him smiling, even only in humor before he caught up to her. "As much as I would like to learn about humans, these ones get very aggressive when they see anyone not of this specific kingdom. Or... so I've noticed from my limited time here." He made a derisive scowl at the memory, then answered her previous question about why they saw him as dangerous.

"The merfolk are always fierce. They liked to toy with their prey, saw humans as beneath them, and killed those who fall into their waters." His lip curled in disgust and it echoed in his tone. "They thought I was trying to get close to them so I could kill them easier, or bring information back to the mer so their next trip on the sea would be more treacherous. They're still alive, as I never told the mer about them. Not like they'd have killed them for me anyway. I'm as close to a pariah as you can get among them." He said with some bitterness, disdain in his gaze as he stared at the sky, swimming alongside this fearsome woman before shaking his head. "It's what I get for swimming too close to the flame."

He noticed a dock coming closer into view. It was a small dock, just a wooden, stilted pathway jutting into water. A dingy sat roped up to a peg with the shafts of oars within metal loops, and a small group of humans were nearby, going about their day with building a bonfire, drinking and singing sea shanties merrily, and prepping for lunch. They had quite the amount of supplies on hand, too much to just come from one dingy.

Luckily for them, there were rocks, logs, and bushes that would aid in covering them from view. One of them yelled with joy. "'Eyyy, ya think they'll arrive before we drink all this ale?"

One of others laughed mischievously, already swinging around a half-drunk mug. "I don't mind cleaning the deck again. Who's with me?" Those who were interested in depriving their future group with ale roared in a mixture of incoherent gibberish and laughter.

William couldn't recognize any insignias of a certain pirate group if there were any, but it did look like they grabbed these items from a nearby town based on the insignias of companies stamped on the barrels. He looked at Mereoleona, wondering what she was going to do. He then quietly spoke, sounding almost ashamed. "Um... I don't have my spear..." He gave her a cheeky, ashamed smirk. "I can throw rocks?" Then he thought better of it and he shook his head. "I'll just focus on the boat. Let's see if we can take some of those supplies with us. It might take us a while to get back to your people."