This is the only day of Femslash Feb 2021 I never did at the time, but now almost 3 years later - it exists. It's technically Pirate!AU but since Pirates did exist a long time ago it's still Historic!AU
The wood of the ship groaned under the onslaught from the storm. Waves like mountains smashed into the hull and the wind grabbed everything it could and tossed it all into the sea including some of the crew.
Veridia watched as two of the men got thrown overboard and immediately swallowed by the waves.
Rain fells in sheets, drenching everyone on deck and coating the wood in a dangerous puddle.
“Everyone who is not essential up here, get below deck!” She shouted over the wind. She had to stay and steer but maybe, just maybe she could save as many of her crew as possible.
First mate Aquata was gripping the railing on the steps up as the ship pitched and rocked.
“The only way we all live through is to get to shelter!! Aquata yelled. “The storm’s too strong!”
“We just have to get past Mako! Once we’re out of the island’s reach we’ll be fine!”
Mako loomed off their port side. Illuminated by lightning flashes every so often. The island was a sign of death. She never should have come so close.
The next wave slammed so hard she heard wood crack.
“Captain, we're taking on water!” Maya staggered up from below. Amaris, Naia and Cameron at her heels.
“Get to the boats and pray to every God you’ve ever heard of they take mercy and let us pass!” Veridia ordered.
“Who’s they captain?” Aquata asked.
“Mermaids.”
Veridia had seen them out this way before. Mermaids. Half woman, half fish with long golden tails. Mako was a hotspot but somehow she thought she could get past them. The Mermaids had let her before.
They were almost clear of the island when the entire ship moved beneath them. Veridia was thrown to the side, crashing into the very wheel she still gripped beneath gloved hands before smacking into the floor.
“Wave!” Someone yelled.
The ship was slammed again. Veridia’s grip slipped and she found herself skidding across the soaked deck as the ship tipped. She barely had time to scream before the wood beneath her ran out and she plummeted down into the sea.
The water hit hard. It was like smashing into concrete, solid concrete that stung her skin and froze her right to her core. The salt stung her eyes and she couldn’t tell which way was up. It was darkness all around.
So this was how it ended. Burning lungs, freezing water, drowned to death in a magic storm. Even if she could somehow get to the surface the waves would immediately throw her under again. She didn’t even know if there was still a ship to get back too if she somehow survived the wave’s onslaught.
She couldn't hold her breath anymore, nor could she stop the involuntary inhale of sea water. It flooded her lungs. On instinct she coughed only for more water to swarm her. She was drowning. Actually drowning. Notorious pirate captain Veridia Shore and she was drowning. So much for going out guns blazing with her ship like she’d wanted. She was going to die and tides knew what would become of the Ice Bitch, affectionately named for herself after some rotten mouthed pirate had spat in her face and called her just that - “an ice cold bitch” for refusing his advances. The man had been swiftly punched in the face and a bottle smashed on his head.
The water took over, it was too hard to even try and fight now. She was sinking, the ocean taking her for it’s own.
The surge of water coming out her lungs in acrid vomit forced her awake. She was awake. Actually awake. She was soaked through and numb, lying on some sand. Her chest and throat burned like hellfire. If this was the afterlife it sucked.
“You lived,” a woman spoke from her side.
Veridia barely managed to look over, the storm had taken all her strength, she saw golden scales.
Ah so this was it. She’d survived a storm only to be killed by one of the Mermaids. There was many legends of Mermaids eating those they drowned, grinding their bones for potions and using the very Moon itself to cast dangerous spells.
“I thought you were gone, but there was this strong fire about you. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a bit of Mermaid in you.”
“I’m not one of you,” Veridia barely managed to spit out.
The Mermaid laughed.
“I saved your life, I would think you’d have the sense not to insult me. Save I decide to drag you back out into the shallows and hold you down until you drown.”
Veridia just sagged into the cold, gritty sand.
“I’ll give you a do over. Would you like me to get you dry?”
“Yes please.” The cold had reached her bones now. Being dry sounded nice.
Warmth began to envelope her, it was so calming. She could almost close her eyes and just sleep away the rest of her aches…
Something hit her in the leg, hard, jolting her awake.
“You can’t sleep yet. You fall asleep here and someone else will come along and drown you.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I didn’t feel like it. I like watching the boats pass by, you land people are interesting.”
“You saved me because we’re interesting?”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
Veridia slowly sat herself up and wiped dried sand off her face to get her first look at the Mermaid. The Mermaid was sitting on the sand, a long golden tail curled underneath her with a large, strong looking fin at the end. She had dark red hair clinging to her neck and shoulder. Her tail blended seamlessly into a tanned stomach. Her breasts were covered in a smattering of the same gold scales as her tail.
“It’s rude to stare,” the Mermaid said and Veridia looked up and took in her face. She was pretty. Very pretty. No one had said Mermaids were pretty. For all the stories she almost expected fanged teeth, webbed ears and gills.
“Sorry,” Veridia forced out.
The Mermaid smiled and Veridia felt her stomach flutter.
“My name is Rita.”
“Veridia.”
“Veridia,” the Mer - Rita, repeated. Why did she like how much the Mermaid said her name?
“It’s very nice to meet you Veridia.”
“You too.”
Rita tilted her head slightly and Veridia felt her cheeks flush. The Mermaid’s eyes were scanning her the way Veridia had most likely been doing to her.
“Did any of my crew make it?”
“Most. Only those that fell overboard drowned. The storm stopped once you fell.”
“How?”
Rita shrugged, “I stopped it.”
“Why?”
“I’m not part of this pod anymore. Sometimes I interfere with their practices, stop storms, rescue ships, and rescue people.”
“Can you take me back to my ship?”
“I probably can if you really want.”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“It looks like such a dirty life. Do you even get to wash?”
“Is being a Mermaid much cleaner?”
“Yes actually, we’re a very clean species. Unlike you land people - we can smell you from your boats. If you really want to go back I’ll take you.”
Veridia staggered up to her feet.
Rita uncurled her tail and and hauled herself to the incoming wave like a seal. The seemingly tiny wave was enough water for the Mermaid to stretch out and shoot out into the deeper water. Rita surfaced.
“You coming?”
Veridia waded into the water and dove forward far less gracefully than the Mermaid had. She treaded the water best she could while Rita swam around her.
“What now?”
Rita swam right up to her and cupped her face, “just breathe.”
Veridia’s heart literally skipped a beat. Then the Mermaid’s lips were on her’s. Then she was plunged back into the water again.
Any world, any fandom, OCs, however you art or write or whatever!
Do what you can! It’s been a tough one for everyone!
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A lot of colors this year! On the note of the AUs!
If your characters already exist in those settings do either the opposite (ie: superheroes - normal, historic - modern) OR shake it up, reimagine your mermaids, change monster types, have princesses? They’re in the old west now. You do you!
Note on paranormal, I couldn’t decide between saying monsterAU or paranormal. Either count. From sexy vampires to Muppet monsters idaf. Have fun!
Historic can mean anything from western, to fantasy medieval, to ...50s diner or even 90s mall rats! Don’t worry about accuracy... unless you y’know, wanna.
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I’ll be watching the tag #femslashfeb2021 , so make sure to use that in the first 5 tags if you want me to see!
