#oceansmadeflesh

[therunawayscamp]

The reason for their late arrival became apparent as they came into view from the tavern, with Eirin in tow. They giggled and laughed among themselves, and as they got closer it would be possible for the Scamps to overhear parts of their conversation. Most of it was unintelligible, but a few words stood out - chiefly the names of a few of the Dunmer further ahead. What made matters worse, at least for those who couldn’t hear the entire context, was the giggles and laughs that followed.

“No you didn’t,” Eirin practically gasped in disbelief, and judging from the triumphant grin on Carina’s face, she sure as fuck did.

“I did, and I would happily do it again,” she countered with a hearty laugh.

Willa was the first to set foot on the stairs leading up to the door, followed by Eirin and Carina. In her eagerness, she hadn’t even noticed the Dunmer huddled together in either side of the door when she arrived at the patio outside the tavern.

Hearing their own names caused some consternation among the would-be ambushers and the sneak attack was almost ruined. Vilayn, who had been holding the mistletoe last by dint of being the tallest, let his grip on it slacken as he strained to hear what was said, either to protect his own reputation or to hear the gossip about somebody else. Nobody bothered to take it from him, too busy doing the same thing, until the women were on the steps.

Natural instinct kicked in at that point. Braskan elbowed his way past Oran, snatched at the sprig and held it over his head. Willa was met at the door by a crooked, gap-toothed leer, all too familiar, under heavily lidded eyes.

‘Evenin’, ladies. Yer celebratin’ Saturalia, righ’?’ He shook the sprig of mistletoe expectantly. ‘Ya knows about the tradition wi’ this stuff, don’ ya?’

[therunawayscamp]

[Carina, Ethysil]

Not much could keep the crew of the Runaway Scamp from shore leave. As soon as the anchor was dropped and the boat readied, the sailors on board began inching towards the rails, gazing longingly at the land -- and, more specifically, the dockside taverns -- while they waited for permission to go ashore. Everything was in place, the sails were stowed, and all that remained was the captain’s word.

A strange sound rippled through the crew when they saw Ethysil mounting the quarterdeck beside the captain and the first mate. It wasn’t quite a groan, because the Dunmer, for all their failings, rarely made light of their religious duties, but a muffled sigh and tensing of shoulders as they realised they were in for at least another few minutes on board. This was confirmed when Vilayn demanded silence and R’khan leaned forwards, over the side of the quarterdeck, to address his assembled sailors.

‘For those as don’t know--’ he glanced at Willa and Carina, the most recent newcomers to the brig ‘--or who might’ve lost track while we’ve been at sea, today is Sin am Saint Seryn, the Day of Saint Seryn. Before you take yourselves off to the taverns to drink mazte and eat bread, you’ll pay your proper respects to the Saint of Brewers and Bakers with a short sermon from Mister Ethysil.’

The priest stepped forwards. He was in full liturgical garb, and holding a dish of burning incense brought up from the Waiting Door. As he rattled off a short speech giving thanks for the work of the saint, he coaxed the smoke from the dish into twisting clouds, guiding and shaping them, letting them pulse in time with the rhythm of his words. Soon the rest of the crew joined in as usual with the low, musical chant.

[therunawayscamp]

♤ 4 (onto something soft or into water maybe?) - Ethysil/Carina

4. push my muse violently enough away to make them stumble and fall

All Ethysil had time to think, as he tumbled into the water, was that Carina’s insistence he not wear his new robes out on this occasion suddenly made sense. He landed in the pond with a crash, shattering the calm surface and disturbing the scribs which had been poking around at its edge, and surfaced a few moments later with a less than amused expression. A tangle of duckweed trailed down the middle of his forehead.

‘That was... unnecessary, muthsera.’

[therunawayscamp]

“Do you want some tea? Would that help?” Carina

‘Tea?’

Braskan’s eyes, which had been roving over the selection of bottles, only fixed on Carina for a moment before resuming their former perusal. He did at least grace her with an answer, albeit one laced with sarcasm.

‘Oh, aye, tea’ll solve all me problems. I was thinkin’ a’ summat wet, sure enough, but ya’ll have ta guess again if ya’s thinkin’ a’ tea.’

[therunawayscamp]

❝ You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here. What do you have to say for yourself? ❞ [Carina]

‘Um...’

The group of sailors shuffled their feet, cast their eyes to the floor and elbowed each other, a process which was repeated several times before Drasonval was finally shuffled to the front. Still not looking up, he muttered into his chest,

‘We’re sorry we broke into your estate and filled the pond with frogs, Mistress Carina.’

[therunawayscamp]

❝ You really don’t remember stealing a goat and selling her to a Giant? Are you thick? ❞ [Jocelyn]

‘Aye, prob’ly.’ Braskan grinned cheerfully, in spite of the pounding inside his skull. ‘Least, tha’s wha’ I bin called, so ‘s prob’ly true. The way I sees it, if I don’ remember it, I don’ got ta care about it, righ’? Makes sense ta me.’

[therunawayscamp]

❝ You’re always trying to scheme yourself out of responsibility. ❞ [Carina]

‘I wouldn’t call it scheming. Scheming’d mean I’d thought it through.’ Sham twirled her carpenter’s hammer in her hand. Her attention was divided between Carina and Vilayn’s attempts to discipline Braskan, who had been caught -- at Sham’s instigation -- sawing through the ropes of Eddis’s hammock until only a few frayed threads held it together. ‘Think of it more like... making sure I get lucky.’

[therunawayscamp]

♡ 7 - Ethysil/Carina

7. kiss my muse’s forehead

Such a simple gesture, full of so many connotations. It took Ethysil back to safer times, easier times, when he had a community, friends outside of his work. Family. His smile was wistful when Carina moved away, and he couldn’t find the words to do the long-forgotten feelings she had awoken in him justice.