Ok, uhm, Grimmy? If I, hypothetically, uhm, found a stray kitten in an allyway and, just as a scenario, took it home with me....what would you say? Hypothetically of course! I'd never do something like that...haha..ha...😬
Oh you’d never do anything like that? And the meows coming from behind your back are purely coincidence I assume? We might as well feed it since you already brought it back with you.
Holy shit you’re actually right about the killer vines in episode 1 cuz like they were moving as well and why would they move and grab specifically Blake/Weiss’ weapons if they weren’t connected to the tree that wanted to reach out to them. And it’d actually make the Penny-Little theory more plausible since Ruby found Little quite close to where the killer vines were.
Yeah!! Like, maybe in the case of an Afteran being dead, it's necessary for some reason for the vines to be used? Or maybe that's an every situation thing and Herb's is an exception?
There's a lot we still don't know about how ascension works in a mechanical sense aside from what we were told (ie: you are called to the tree and reborn).
The vines seems to go somewhere someone who has passed gets taken, if this theory is correct and we can trust that Herb did ascened? Like maybe they go there to plug the hole and keep anyone else from falling in until ithe hole can be fixed???
*I don't know*- but it just really stands out to me that we saw them when Ruby and Little were taken together while the same vines were also in Ep 1?
And Little, is a very new Afteran since she wasn't given a name yet. Penny died just before everyone fell and her body would have fallen as well. So like... it is SO POSSIBLE that those vines were there from the tree ascending Penny and the one weapon just happened to fall there afterwards and get stuck in them.
Virgil didn’t like being on land too much. He preferred the open sea, the rocking of a ship under his feet and the salty air blasting his face as he moved around on deck. Preferred hearing his shipmates laughing and singing and working as they sailed, looking for a rich man’s ship to raid, or a village to plunder.
He supposed land had something to offer though, with its pretty greenery and… shops? Maybe?
Listen, Virgil hated going on supply runs when they couldn’t find another ship to raid and take their stock. Like sure, he was good at figuring out how much they’d need to last for a while but being on the sea was so much better than the unsettling stillness of the earth under his feet.
At least he was done with scouting where they needed to hit. He’d taken a week, only spending money on his Inn room, and he was packing up now to get back to the ship so the rest of the crew could pillage and have their fun while he recovered from being on land for too long.
Virgil was shoving clothes into a burlap sack he carried with him everywhere when he went on land, not really caring about being neat or careful with how he got them in there until he heard a thunk and his heart dropped.
Was that..?
He dropped the sack, getting on his knees to dig around in the clothes still on the floor. There was a frantic search for a moment, Virgil holding his breath until he moved a dark colored shirt and a flash of pale cream caught his eye.
Sagging in relief, he picked up the frog shell, fingers brushing over the brown spots decorating it.
Virgil remembered getting this, remembered the man who had given it to him. He wished he could see him again, wished he could give him the kiss he’d always wanted to.
“I want you to have this.”
Virgil looked up from the shell, more confused than he had been when Dee had handed it to him.
“What? It’s just a shell, Dee.”
Dee frowned at that, shifting on the rock he’d chosen to rest on while Virgil sat cross-legged in the sand of the small island next to it.
“No, it’s… important. In ways I doubt you can understand. I won’t try and explain, but if you really think we won’t be able to see each other again I want you to have it.”
Virgil looked back to the shell, turning it over in his hands and admiring the strength he could clearly feel.
“I do really think that. I wish it wasn’t true, I l-” he stopped, clearing his throat for a second as he closed his eyes, “care, about you. I enjoy your company quite a bit. But my captain grows suspicious of my constant leaving of the ship, especially with my usual hatred of being on land.”
Dee was quiet for a moment, then he slid off the rock, tail curling under him in the sand. He put his webbed hand on Virgil’s jaw, gently directing his head towards him so he could look the mer in the eyes, stark yellow and pupils slitted unnaturally.
“I care about you too.”
“Virgil!”
Virgil jumped, nearly dropping the shell in his hands as he whipped his head in the direction of the door, seeing Patton standing there with a bright grin and heaving chest.
“Are you ready? The captain is getting impatient, he wants to set fire to the town and you’re still here with the information for which shops have the best quality supplies!”
He huffed out a laugh, carefully setting the shell into his sack before shoving the rest of his clothes in on top of it.
“Yeah I’m ready, sick of being on land,” he said, pushing up from the floor so he could follow Patton out of the inn.
They ran through the empty dirt cobblestone streets, the bottoms of their shoes (or feet, in Patton’s case) slapping against the stone as they made their way to the docks.
Virgil’s excitement grew when he saw the sea, and then more as he clambered into the boat that would take them to the Mind Palace, a ship that wasn’t yet recognizable but would be, under Captain Sanders’ command.
When they were next to the ship, Patton got ready to call for being brought up, stopping only when he saw the look on Virgil’s face.
“Sometimes, Virgil, I think you love the sea more than anyone else who has ever chosen life on the water,” he said, smiling as Virgil laughed.
“Quite literally born on the water, Pat, I think my love of the ocean is warranted. Come on, let’s get us up on the ship, I’m ready to share my information and then sleep for a fortnight.”
Patton laughed himself, calling up for the two on the ship waiting for them to raise them up to lower the ropes.
“Two days for every one you were on land, as usual. Honestly, Virge, I’d think you were siren yourself if I wasn’t so thoroughly acquainted with your mother.”
Virgil rolled his eyes, helping Patton get the boat ready to go up. It was still weird for him to think that his friend knew his mother so well, especially since Virgil barely remembered her.
It wasn’t much longer until he was back on the ship, taking a moment to cherish the rocking under his feet, breathing in the sea air and the wind blowing through his hair.
“You belong on the water.”
Virgil jumped, turning towards the unfamiliar voice and yelping when he saw the man on the edge of the boat he was standing in.
It was clear the man wasn’t human, with his webbed fingers and finned ears. What was catching Virgil the most off guard was the glowing yellow eyes, pupils sporting a cats eye slit.
“What?” he asked, confused by the jumble of feelings in chest.
He couldn’t tell if he was afraid or in love, but his heart was pounding in his chest and this mer was beautiful.
The merman smirked, tilting his head to the side as his eyes went from the unnatural purple hues in Virgil’s hair, down to his torso where thin lines he was born with decorated his ribs under his shirt (how he knew to stop there, Virgil was unsure), then down to his legs.
“I suppose I should rephrase. You belong in the water.”
Virgil gave a disbelieving laugh, sitting back down as he stared at the mer.
“Are you a siren after my heart and life? Or simply a mer after my flesh?”
The man scoffed, rolling his eyes.
“I am a siren, but I hold no interest in feeding myself with you.”
“I’m not sure whether to be relieved or offended. Am I not to your tastes, siren?”
The siren lifted an eyebrow, looking over his body again.
“Tell me, pirate, have you ever wondered why you naturally had a shade of color in your hair that other human’s never had?”
Virgil hummed, removing the shiv he had hidden in his boot so he could play with it between his hands. A simultaneous warning and fidget.
“I have, but it’s never been something that’s bothered me. I know how to hide it, whatever it may mean, and it does nothing but look pretty.”
The siren nodded, resting his chin over his arms as he watched Virgil.
“I suppose, if it doesn’t bother you, I won’t push,” he commented, earning a look of befuddlement from Virgil.
“I wasn’t aware there was something to push.”
The siren shrugged, but didn’t give Virgil any more than that.
With a sigh, Virgil let it drop. He was sure he didn’t want to know anyway. Sirens were known for telling men what they wanted to hear to lure them to their deaths, so it was for the best anyway.
“Do you have a name?” he asked, cleaning the dirt from under his nails with the shiv, glancing up only when the silence after his question stretched just a bit too long.
“I do. Are you sure you want to know it, pirate?”
Virgil hummed in thought, pressing the tip of the shiv to the tip of his finger.
“I think I do. You’re a beautiful man, siren or no, it’d be a shame not to at least learn your name.”
The siren lifted his head, staring at Virgil with wide eyes the unnatural glow they were giving off in the dark seeming to get brighter as his face began to glow a soft yellow.
“…My name is… complicated to share, in its entirety in human languages. But you can call me Dee.”
He smiled, looking up at the stars.
“Dee, hm? My name is Virgil.”
“Virgil? Are you okay?” Patton asked, waving a hand in front of Virgil’s face and making him jerk back in surprise.
“Huh?”
Patton’s concerned expression deepened, looking at Thomas who Virgil only just realized was standing in front of him with an equally concerned look.
“You haven’t been responding to us for the last few minutes, and Thomas here has definitely been trying to talk to you.”
Virgil flushed, rubbing at the side of his neck and avoiding looking Thomas in the eye.
“Sorry Captain, just relieved to be back on the water.”
Thomas nodded, though he didn’t look like he believed the lie. Which was fair, Virgil wouldn’t have believed it either.
Dee would be disappointed.
“Alright. I just need the list of locations, Virgil, and you can rest, though you’ll have to stay on deck, Logan played with something that made him sick again and Roman is taking care of him so they can’t keep watch like usual.”
Virgil nodded, listing the places he found that the crew should focus on raiding, already eyeing the railing on the far side of the ship where there was rope coiled for him to sit in.
It took an hour before Virgil was alone again, sitting against railing of the ship and staring up at the stars.
He missed looking at the night sky with Dee. The siren often had something interesting to say about whatever new thing he found that fascinated him. Virgil had fun, misleading him about whatever he’d shown him, laughing when Dee would catch on that he was lying through his teeth about the use of a fork he’d found or a rusty candle holder, likely retrieved from a shipwreck.
“I see you still stare at the stars as if you want to join them,” a familiar voice said, making Virgil straighten from his slouched position, turning towards the voice with wide eyes and-
“Dee!” he shouted, a grin spreading on his face that quickly dropped in concern as he looked around the ship.
Logan and Roman may be below deck, but Virgil still worried about the siren getting caught.
Dee rolled his eyes, heaving himself up until he was sitting on the ship wall, tail leaving a puddle of water on the deck beneath him.
“Oh don’t worry so much Virgil, I can take care of myself.”
Virgil looked back at the siren, letting out a small laugh because yeah, that was true.
“Yes, I remember watching you take on a massive shark for fun. Still, what are you doing here? It’s been years since we’ve last seen each other, I’d figured you’d forgotten me by now.”
Dee went quiet, looking up at the stars- a habit he seemed to pick from Virgil, since he himself did that whenever he needed to think.
“I could never forget you, Virgil. You may be a pirate, but you’re still... I still love you, even if I never told you that to your face.”
Virgil’s breath hitched, unable to respond as he looked at Dee with wide eyes.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why now. Well...” Dee looked down at him, smile soft, “would you like to learn something new about yourself?”
Virgil hesitated, standing from the deck so he could be level with Dee’s eyes as he thought.
“If you’re the one showing me? I suppose that couldn’t be a bad thing.”
Dee snorted, rolling his eyes as Virgil grinned.
“You’re a sap, Virgil.”
“I’m a romantic, Dee. Though don’t tell anyone. My crew mates will get insufferable if they learn that.”
Dee smiled softly, holding out a hand, an offer for Virgil to take.
Why did Virgil feel like if he took it, his entire life would change?
“Kiss me, Virgil. Let me taste you.”
Dee’s voice was soft, and Virgil felt as if his heart would burst from his chest at the request.
He didn’t even think twice, taking Dee’s hand in his own and surging forward, pressing his lips to the siren’s in a passion he wasn’t known to give anything but the sea.
Dee wrapped his free arm around him, his hand shifting to his wrist as they kissed and he held Virgil close.
And then they were free falling to the water, Virgil not even able to hold his breath before he was submerged.
Honestly, he hoped Dee had a reason for this. He hoped he wasn’t being betrayed someone he loved, not again at least.
“Relax, Virgil, I promise if you open your eyes you’ll see that you’re fine.”
How was he able to hear Dee’s voice so clearly?
Why weren’t his lungs burning? Why wasn’t he drowning?
“Open your eyes, love.”
Virgil opened his eyes as Dee asked, first seeing the siren’s apologetic face.
“Sorry for the shock, it needed to happen for the change.”
“Change?”
Virgil had spoken without thinking, and it had taken a moment for him to recover from the shock of water filling his throat. But it hadn’t hurt and it was gone with a bizarre push coming from his ribs.
“Look down, Virgil, really,” Dee teased, laughter ringing in his tone.
He always did find Virgil’s confusion amusing.
Virgil looked down.
At first, he didn’t know what he was supposed to be seeing. There was Dee’s pale yellow tail, swishing lazily in the water, skin shimmering in the moonlight reaching into the sea. It was something Virgil loved to look at.
And then he saw the dark purple sheen underneath him, fear spiking until he realized it was connected to his waist.
send me ELEVATOR PITCH ! and i’ll introduce you to a muse i’ve been feeling lately—on this blog or not—in thirty seconds of reading time; one hundred words or less.
Valerie Clark- I'm not very good at female characters but I do love a badass femalie cop. Woman with a shotgun? yes pls. POC woman with a shotgun? Even better.
