Stolen Ship
moonfallmerchant:
insidious-shadow:
Telma’s expression seemed to mirror his own as Azrael listened quietly to Haeyin’s polite refusal. He said nothing, maintaining his focus on the young woman in front of him; it was hardly difficult to maintain eye contact with her, as her startling red eyes were fascinatingly different. He’d only ever known Haeyin to have so bold a colour… and himself, in a way.
“That was one time,” he insisted, a note of irritation in his voice. “And to be fair, they did not succeed in devouring me, so I hardly think it counts as ‘being eaten’.” With a sigh, he pinched the bridge of his nose, adding in a disgruntled tone, “I was trying to rescue Lori, she’d jumped in and tried to befriend the damn things.”
Leaning on his elbows on the bar counter, Azrael eyed the paper absentmindedly. “If you can manipulate the winds, I’d definitely be inclined to invite you along,” he admitted. “Our crew is competent, but that place is… well, let us say that forces beyond our imagining dwell beneath those waters, and I would rather not be left to their mercy.”
Turning to face Haeyin for the first time since he’d arrived, Azrael smiled crookedly. “You should come along too, my friend,” he offered. “It would be good to have you aboard the Siren again.”
“Well, we can’t let that stop us, now, can we?” Haeyin beamed, leaning back in his seat to reach behind Azrael in order to shake Din’s hand. His grin widened a bit then, eyes crinkling at the corners as he proceeded to teasingly nudge Azrael with his elbow. “It’s one time too many, in my opinion. And for all we know, Lori would have succeeded, being the friendliest drake to ever grace the earth. Or.. ocean, as it were.”
He folded his arms over one another and leaned against the counter, resting his head atop them as he stifled a yawn. Mornings had never quite agreed with him, but it was becoming increasingly difficult as of late to remain alert during the day. His nights were longer now, unable to sleep during the hours he once had. Sighing, he let his eyes drift close for a moment, idly listening as Azrael mulled over the mission notice, and Din’s offer to tag along. Manipulate the winds, she’d said? Haeyin hummed quietly, knowing full well she was capable of far more than just that. Or at least she had been, once.
He opened one eye, glancing up at Azrael as he addressed him now. Sitting up right again, he smiled gently. “I would be glad to. I’ve quite missed the sea, and the crew. It’s been a while since I visited last…”
Haeyin chuckled then, “Besides, I could use a vacation.”
Din laughed as Haeyin leaned back, shaking his hand. “I have to say Haeyin, and I hope it won’t be too out of place, but your hair and eyes? Great color.”
She wasn’t sure who Lori was, and was grateful that the question was answered before she could open her mouth again. A drake? “So were you ‘lightly chewed’?” She said with a grin, hoping that they might have been exaggerating the encounter a little. “If she’s friendly enough to try to make friends with a shark, I can’t wait to meet her.”
It was pleasant to listen to the two of them talk to each other, they clearly had history, and Din didn’t feel too much like an outsider looking in a window. “It’s been awhile since I’ve sailed in a boat, I’ll do everything in my power to help.” She promised, feeling a lump develop in her throat. Arriving at the place would probably trigger a trap but up until that point, it’d just be sailing peacefully on the ocean.
“Well, a vacation until the woman who’s so concerned about this ship pulls a knife out of her bodice and starts swinging.” Din said, glancing towards the paper again. “How do you handle guests aboard your ship who probably aren’t good people?”
