Ours is the sky;

Xavier Rey, King of Corstorphine. You likely already know who I am, and I likely already know what you think of me. If you take your pretty falsities elsewhere, perhaps I won't let slip something that'll offend you.

[xavierey]

o1. into the blue

Lexi crossed the shore to meet Valerie where the water gently kissed the sand, shoes kicked off to the side. She could sense that the mermaid was promptly interested, but she also had to admit that she wanted to keep her attention – she would ignore any reason for it that wasn’t related to her survival instinct. Sitting down on the soft sand, Lexi threw a fruit for her new friend.

“It’s a starfruit, there are always lots of it in these islands. Try it, it’s sweet,” she encouraged, biting into her own piece. A thought gave her pause, however, and she swallowed quickly with a grimace. “Wait, you can eat the same things that humans do, right? Or rather… what do you eat underwater?”

“I can eat anything,” Valerie replied, though it was true she’d never had anything like the... starfruit. She wasn’t often given the opportunity to try anything sweet either. Or, at least, not the way Lexi was implying this thing was. “Underwater we eat everything. Fish, clams, shellfish, urchins, seaweed... Mostly meats.” She flashed a smile, pointing to her sharp teeth. “It’s what we’re built for.” 

Then she turned her attention to the fruit, bringing it to her lips. She hesitated only a moment before biting down, and the taste--! “Oh,” Valerie sighed, quiet and delighted. “Oh, this is wonderful!”

[xavierey]

o1. into the blue

The pirate had every intention of turning around and braving through the woods, but she felt rooted on the spot as Valerie talked. It was already wild to imagine that they would meet again, even more so that the mermaid would bring her some of the gold back, which would probably go beyond the share she would have received from her peers, but then Valerie went on to complain about the wreckage scene.

Lexi was lost on the idea that there could be different behavior between mers – and whatever it was, she didn’t feel like meeting any of those half-mad drowners. She decided not to ask and hoped that the fear was kept away from her eyes, nodding in response.

“I sure will.”

—

It turned out that the cave with fresh water was real and quite useful, at least to keep her from severe dehydration if for some reason her new friend didn’t help her in leaving the island soon. Lexi didn’t find any indications of living humans, but there were some bright yellow starfruits hanging off a tree that she couldn’t resist picking up after drinking her fill of water, biting into one on her way back to the beach.

“Valerie? Come try this, bet you ne’er had one before!”

Walking must have been exhausting, because it took a very long time. 

Valerie had done a couple laps of the island by the time Lexi’s voice called out, her head above water to catch the sound. She’d been floating on her back, enjoying how much more present the sun’s warmth felt so close to the surface; the call almost startled her, but she collected herself. And if she swam faster than usual, (lured in by interest in that something she’d never had before, a sort of woman she’d never met before,) no one had to know. 

Valerie very much liked to learn things. 

By the time she broke the water’s surface, pushing her dark hair back from her face, she’d gone from calm to cheery again. “What are those?” she asked curiously, swimming closer at a leisurely pace until her hands met the shore, pushing her torso up. 

[xavierey]

o1. into the blue

With the sense of imminent danger slowly fading, Lexi could better appreciate the scenery around her. Her clothes were wet and she could still smell gunpowder and hear the phantom echoes of cannons firing, but she was alive and from what she understood of the situation, she had a real chance of leaving unharmed. It would be one hell of a story, being the sole survivor out of two ships because a mermaid had rescued her.

“So you’re a charmer too, huh?” She commented lightly, wriggling out of her coat. Her shirt clung to her skin, but she wouldn’t risk taking it off, even with Valerie as her only company. “Do you mind if I explore the island first? This is the perfect place for a pirate to have hidden a treasure, if I can find any signs of someone having been here before… after all, you’ve managed to sink my latest loot and I don’t like going home empty-handed.”

"I try,” Valerie replied with a sharp-toothed grin, black eyes glittering as she watched the blonde. Lexi had a graceful figure, and what the coat revealed when it was peeled off made her curious---what would she look like wearing less? Like a mermaid? What were her legs like? Was her skin as smooth and sun-kissed there as at her graceful collar? 

“Feel free,” Valerie said simply, unbothered by the reminder that she sank Lexi’s ship. “I can always visit the wreckage one of these days for you, collect some of that gold. Keep the rest. Though I don’t much like seeing the bodies when I visit fresh wrecks, it’s awfully morbid. Some mers do. I never really understood it, but then again, the real drowners are half-mad.” She swam around on her back with a hum, soaking in the sun and the warm water’s caress. “I’ll be around in the water, Lexi. Call if you need me.”

[xavierey]

o1. into the blue

Lexi barely spared a glance over her shoulder towards the woods, before her gaze returned to the mermaid as if by a spell – and immediately she felt a shiver running up her spine, as there wasn’t any way for her to make sure that she was free of enchantments. For the time being, she was glad that she didn’t feel any impulse to drown in the sea and, odd as it was, Valerie did seem to be helping her, whatever the goal was.

“How convenient,” Lexi commented with a quirk of her lips, finally standing up. Although some muscles ached, she couldn’t notice any injuries that would hinder her movements against an attack – even if that tail looked awfully strong and she doubted she would have a chance to escape if Valerie did decide to hurt her. “Are there humans in this island? Have you ever seen footprints in the sand or anything of the sort?”

“As shocking as it might seem given the circumstances, I generally avoid humans and human-related things. Such as beaches.” Valerie smiled up at Lexi, raising her brows. “I’ve never gone close enough to the shore to notice whether or not there were footsteps. I’ve been in the cave before, though. It’s lovely, and the water’s sweet and cool.” 

With a melodic hum, the mermaid moved back and slid into the water as easily as a fish. She swam away a few yards before appearing above the waves again, pushing her wet, glittering hair back from her face. “I can always take you to an island with humans,” she called, voice carried on the sea-waves. “So you can have your ale and rum. And I promise not to drown you, you’re much too pretty alive.” 

[xavierey]

o1. into the blue

Blinking up at the ominous tail rising out of the water was inevitable, a constant reminder that in spite of their seemingly friendly chatter she was dealing with a creature that didn’t belong to their reality. The sense of oddity didn’t pass with the question, but Lexi once again had to stop herself from thinking that the mermaid’s apparent naivety was cute.

“Ale, maybe, or more rum. Anything with alcohol, which doesn’t solve our problems but can make us forget them,” she said, brushing the sand off of her sleeves as she rearranged herself on the sand with her legs crossed. If they meant to be there for a while, she wanted to be comfortable – immediately, the fact that she was stranded on an island with no ship and no one but a mermaid for company finally sank in.

“Wait, I… can’t stay here for long without fresh water. Saltwater won’t do, it’s bad for humans and it only makes the thirst worse, our lips and skin dry up and crack, it ain’t a pretty sight at all.”

Valerie had no idea what the blonde pirate was talking about. She blinked at the mentions of ale and rum, two different kinds of liquids with alcohol, wondering if one of those was the thing she’d occasionally seen pirates chugging. From her experience it just made them loud and occasionally violent, so she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. But at the sight of the human’s concern, she smiled. 

“Oh, there’s fresh water here!” she chirped, rolling back over onto her front and pointing into the thick trees. “There’s a freshwater cave on the other side of the island, and a lazy little river that flows into the sea. I haven’t visited the lake it’s connected to though, too much of a risk of running into humans. I haven’t seen any near the shore, but then again, I rarely visit above-water, so...” She watched Lexi with her dark eyes. “Do you want me to take you there?”

[xavierey]

o1. into the blue

Lexi couldn’t claim to know about merpeople etiquette – and honestly, those were mythical creatures, their behavior wasn’t supposed to make sense – but Valerie said it plainly enough that the pirate woman could only take it as the truth. Although the earlier apology had been odd at first, there was a point in the comparison to humans.

“Well, it certainly prevents one specific kind of unwanted touch,” she replied with a humorless chuckle. “Some women would wish for more protection, but I doubt that most would be safe even in armor.” She pursed her lips at the thought, then shook her head. “About casual touches, however, I wouldn’t say there are such fixed rules. It depends on occasion, intent and level of intimacy as well. For example, I’d cut someone’s hand off if they put it on my waist when I’m drinking at an inn, but if they were saving me from drowning, I’d say that’s encouraged even.” She offered a knowing smile. “And we choose our clothes for a variety of reasons, mainly to protect from the weather or maybe simply just to look good.”

“Fascinating,” Val said, genuinely curious as she watched the blonde. All those human oddities, vague but interesting at the same time. She smiled back at the acknowledgement that saving the blonde from drowning was appreciated, pleased, and raised her long tail out of the water. It curled over itself in midair, shading Val’s eyes from the sun and dripping welcome salt-water onto her drying skin. “What’s an inn? And what would you be drinking?” That made no sense to Valerie, but then again, there really wasn’t any drinking business going on underwater.

[xavierey]

o1. into the blue

Lord have mercy on her, the slight pout made the creature look cute, although it could be the fact that it momentarily hid the menacing fangs. Valerie was beautiful as dangerous things could be, Lexi was quite aware of that as a woman used to the perils of the sea. As it was, the potential threat seemed more like something to keep in mind rather than an immediate danger, so she allowed herself to relax.

“That’s impressive,” she commented with a hum, the question on the tip of her tongue dying out once Valerie shifted positions in the sand. Lexi raised her eyebrows, breath catching in her throat for a moment before she exhaled slowly, not bothering to hide the way her eyes swept over the mermaid’s figure. “This most certainly isn’t, unless there’s a port hidden somewhere. Not that it matters much, because we were meant to sell our pillage and I can’t do that now that it’s all gone, can I?”

She shook her head, amused in spite of herself. “Why did you say it was rude to touch me?”

It was interesting, the way the human stared at her body as if drinking in the sight. Valerie knew very well that she was beautiful so the appreciation made sense, but there was something about how Lexi looked at her... like she thought she shouldn’t be. Was it because she didn’t want to admire a mermaid? Valerie figured that made sense. She wouldn’t want to look like she was appreciating someone who had personally killed a number of her acquaintances either. 

Still. Odd.

Valerie tilted her head at the question, curious dark eyes watching the human from where she relaxed on the shore. “Well,” she began, thoughtful at the unexpected question, “my people consider it the height of rudeness to touch another against their will. Really, it’s a faux pas even to touch those you know unless they’re family or close friends... or more.” Her gaze dipped to Lexi’s blouse, and she frowned. “Perhaps it’s not as bad since I was gripping you over that cloth, but still. I must have touched your skin at some point.” Then she smiled. “But seeing as I was saving your life, I doubt you mind much. Why, is it not the same for humans?” She swished her tail through the water, nodding to the woman’s clothing. “Is that why you wear all those clothes? To protect yourselves from unwanted touch?”

[xavierey]

o1. into the blue

“You murdered my crew,” Lexi commented in the same matter-of-fact tone. Unlike the mermaid, however, she wasn’t smiling. “Little?” The pirate scoffed, shaking her head. Alright, perhaps she was smiling a little, but it had a sharp edge to it, a mix of wonderment and suspicion on equal measures. “Those fins let you talk big, but you look very… lithe to me.” Her blue eyes flicked over the other’s figure, imagining what she could have been like as a real woman.

“I’m Lexi,” she granted at last, since there wasn’t much reason to withhold information at that point. “And what may I call you? I have to admit I didn’t know that mermaids could speak to humans outside of the singing.”

“Hmph.” Valerie wondered if implying she was small was a drownable offense. Unfortunately she wasn’t quite that capricious, but she couldn’t help the little pout curling her mouth downwards. “Valerie,” she replied, tail flicking through the water. “And it’s true, we don’t speak your language underwater... But we can learn through touch. When I swam you to shore, I learned your language.” She tilted her head. “Usually I wouldn’t ever touch another, I didn’t mean for my hand to slip against your skin. I am sorry for that, it was terribly rude of me.” 

Valerie sighed and rolled onto her back, stretching luxuriously. “Mm, the sun is so warm,” she sighed, tucking her arms behind her head. “No wonder you humans stay out of the water so much.” She watched Lexi thoughtfully, tail swaying lazily through the water. A silent warning in case the human tried to take advantage of her relaxed position. “I took you here because it was the nearest land, but I have no idea if this is where you were headed. I don’t see any other humans around.” 

[xavierey]

o1. into the blue

Oh, damn it all to hell. The mermaid spoke perfectly, with just the faintest hint of something magical – something unnatural – that could unnerve Lexi, but it wasn’t enough to prevent her from the mutual interest sparking up between them. Not just on an attraction level, which she tried to hide as the tales tended to say that only men could be seduced, without accounting for women like herself, but rather because both of them seemed to be curious about the other.

Lexi should have known that a mix of curiosity and bravery would eventually be the death of her.

“Yet I’m both,” she corrected, hoping that it wasn’t the confirmation the creature was waiting for in order to decide whether she should live or die. “But you already suspected that, you hid my weapons.” She looked around the beach, in spite of suspecting that it wouldn’t be so easy to retrieve them. When she turned back to the mermaid, Lexi made sure to focus on all the things that set her apart from a human – it worked somewhat, as the sharp fins didn’t let her be too distracted by… the smooth ivory skin that wasn’t covered by scales.

The statement made Val scoff, amused despite herself at the human’s statement. A female pirate. What an odd concept. “I'm curious, not stupid,” she replied, lips curling into a smile. “Why would I leave you with your weapons? You would try to hurt me.” She tilted her head, the gold strands twined through her hair glittering in the sun. “I’ve never heard of a woman pirate before. You must be quite the fierce little human,” she said, pleased at the thought. “May I have your name, then, lady pirate? I promise not to drown you if you don’t try me.” 

[xavierey]

o1. into the blue

“Are you a fucking idiot? We’re downwind here, there’s no fuckin’ way—”

Her words were drowned out by the sounds of cannons and splitting wood. Why had they opened all their gun ports to fire at once? It could only end in both ships being destroyed and then there would be nothing left to take, whatever prize they were supposed to steal from the other men lost in the sea along with any chances of returning home.

They were mad, that was the only explanation. Some kind of sickness that could eat at their brains or… her blood froze the moment she heard it, an indistinct chant among the explosions. Something worse than any sickness or poison filtered through their ears – Lexi didn’t quite understand why she could still think clearly, but she would take that opportunity to make a run for it.

Slashing through her own crew – they were beyond rationality at this point and she wouldn’t stop at anything – she was able to reach a mostly intact boat and cut the ropes to throw it into the water. She would have to jump, but she was certain that she could get to it in no time, sheathing her sword back in before…

She found herself entangled with someone right as she meant to take the leap, the two bodies thrown overboard and sinking into the cold water. She pushed with all of her strength at him, but he was too heavy and her lungs seemed to be on fire with the effort to breathe. Just before she lost consciousness, she was sure she’d seen a long fin flashing right beside her and red seeping into cold blue… then it all became black.

—

She blinked against the sunlight, trying to find something to focus on. A glint to the side made her tilt her head and… oh. But that was a pretty thing, wavy hair flowing over naked shoulders, teasing her with the sight of firm pale breasts. Lexi felt more awake than ever and moved to sit up, until her eyes traveled lower and the reality of what she was facing crushed whatever fantasies she could have about being stranded on a remote island with the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

Because that was no real woman and those creatures were known for their beauty as much as their cruelty.

Lexi jolted upright and searched for her weapons but came up empty, hissing between gritted teeth. “What’re you starin’ at?” She spat out, fingers digging into the sand. “Never seen a human before?”

Valerie didn’t react to the woman’s scrambling, much more curious as to what she was like when she was awake. Even angry, the blonde’s voice was as pretty as her face---which was much more animated in her consciousness, beguiling even in her fear and shock. Valerie knew, she knew, that it was just her own nature getting the better of her; logically, she was well-aware that letting a human live just because she was pretty was foolish.

But. Her nature was strong, and it whispered that it was such a shame to destroy pretty things.

“Never one like you,” Valerie replied simply, voice light and musical even when she wasn’t singing. She hummed, moving from her sitting position to rest down against the soft sand where the waves lapped, perching an elbow on the ground to support her head in her palm as she watched the woman. The red and gold scales scattered along her forearm where her fins jutted out glinted in the sun. “I drown pirates, not women. I wasn’t going to let that ugly brute of a human drag you down with him.” Valerie tilted her head, watching the blonde with unblinking liquid-black eyes. Her long tail moved lazily through the saltwater even as she stayed still, fins bobbing menacingly just above the waves. “I don’t often find women on pirate ships.” 

[starlets]

[xavierey]

[xavierey]

o1. into the blue

Valerie hummed softly to herself as she smoothed her fingers through her hair, straightening its thick waves. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been out of the water long enough for her hair to begin to dry, but she figured the way that gold and pearls glittered among the near-black strands in the sun wasn’t too awful. Not the same effect as the sun filtering in through saltwater, but pretty nonetheless. 

It wasn’t too often that shipwrecks happened in the middle of the day, but what could Valerie say... she was talented. She’d come across two pirate ships in battle and had let her voice carry across the waves, ensuring ruination for both with honeyed tones urging them to destroy each other. It would have all been in a day’s work, except...

She’d found a woman in the water, a beautiful woman with hair of gold dressed like a man, being dragged down deeper into the water by a man whose legs seemed to be entangled in heavy chains. Curious, Valerie had saved her with a flick of her sharp tailfins to the man’s face. The water had run red with his blood as he’d drowned alone and cannon-fire had still shaken the world above them; somewhere along the line the woman had lost consciousness even as Val pulled the blonde above-water to push the sea from her human lungs. 

And now Valerie waited for her human to awaken, sitting on the shore of a pretty island that hadn’t been too far of a swim. Perhaps it was where their ship had been headed. She wasn’t sure; either way, she’d taken them to an abandoned beach thick with trees. It was peaceful. It was quiet. And there was nothing there that could harm Valerie if the human was afraid of her, no one to save her if Valerie decided to drown her after all. (The gun and sword at the woman’s hip had both been tucked away safely among a coral reef.) 

The minutes passed and Valerie brushed her fingers idly through her hair, watching the woman for any sign of change. She was alive---the pink flush of her lips and cheeks, the slight rise and fall of her chest said as much. 

So Valerie would wait. She was patient. 

[xavierey]

o2. the pricking of my thumbs

[xavierey]

lordcommanderhartell‌:

Alec made a quiet sound, half-protest and half-encouragement. Just a few words from Xavier and desire flared up within him, lips parted as they touched in an off-centered kiss. “That’s not a way to help a guy stay controlled,” he replied, a low growl in his voice. He doubted that the warlock had any plans to make it easy for them to pull apart – which continued to feed the passion that threatened to break loose between them.

He curled his arm around the back of Xavier’s shoulder and pushed close to him once more, taking his lips in a heated kiss. The sweet taste of their dessert along with the bitterness of the drinks they had left behind was slowly licked away until Alec found himself breathless and shivering. Breaking off the kiss, he buried his face against Xavier’s neck, taking in his scent and his heat.

There was nothing Xavier had to say to respond to the low promise in Alec’s voice---because the boogeyman was already pressing back in, hot mouth and strong hands stealing his breath away. Xavier held Alec close as they kissed, broad palms smoothing over his back and cupping the back of his head as he lost himself in the slide of their tongues and the press of their lips. 

He sighed when Alec finally broke their kiss to press into the welcoming circle of his arms, flushed face tucked against his throat. Xavier chuckled a little breathlessly and brushed a kiss to the other’s temple, content to hold him close and melt back into the couch. 

That was more than enough.

[xavierey]

o2. the pricking of my thumbs

[xavierey]

lordcommanderhartell‌:

It wasn’t often that Alec felt as out of control as he did, and much less for something as pleasant as the emotions Xavier brought up in him. If he feared losing his footing, he could trust that Xavier would be the one to catch him and hold his hand along the way. He couldn’t remember when his thoughts started being filled with cheesy poetry, but apparently that was how things would be from then on.

He pulled back under the warlock’s guiding hand – funny how easy it was to follow his commands – and smiled wide, not paying any attention to the light blush coloring his cheeks. “Easier said than done, when I want you so much,” Alec replied, cupping Xavier’s face and kissing him again. When they broke apart, he leaned in to rest their foreheads together, breathing slowly. “But I want you, all of you, and I want to leave you wanting me too.”

Alec’s forehead was a warm point of contact against him, soft blond hair brushing against his skin. All of Alec was warm where they pressed close to one another, palms on either side of his face and the furnace of his body warming the air they shared just as surely as the fire burning in the hearth. Xavier smiled, one hand still cupping the back of Alec’s head while the other toyed with his collar. So much power in that body, so much danger, yet all he was was sweet. 

“I want you already,” Xavier replied, voice low and hot as his hand trailed down Alec’s chest. He smiled, tilting his head to brush their mouths together, just a tease. “And I’ll keep wanting you, I’d wager. You get to choose how much you want to give me.” 

[xavierey]

o2. the pricking of my thumbs

[xavierey]

lordcommanderhartell‌:

Alec smiled, closing his eyes to lose himself into the new sensations, the bliss of sharing unrestrained affection. Being touched by Xavier filled a gap in him that he had ignored for too long, the intensity of it taking his breath away. He looked at the warlock with some bewilderment over the question, wondering if Xavier was somehow unaware of the powerful effect he had on him.

“What, kissing?” He whispered with a little smile, then echoed the words Xavier had said a moment before, “I like it when you do.” Alec kissed him again for good measure, a bit more heated than the previous times, pressing their bodies together. He hummed contently and wrapped an arm around Xavier’s waist, the heat of their embrace prompting to move the kisses down along the other’s jaw. “But I do not…” He started, releasing a sigh. “I don’t want to just be done with it. I’ve always done this, because I’ve never… cared.”

“Hey,” Xavier sighed, eyes fluttering back open. He hadn’t even noticed that they’d fallen shut, probably around when Alec had started kissing down his jaw. He slid a hand to Alec’s chest, pushing him back just enough so that their eyes could meet. Then he smiled. 

“If you think you aren’t going on a second date with me, preferably sometime fairly soon, then there’s been a grave miscommunication here,” he said, sliding his hand back up over Alec’s shoulder. “But we don’t need to do anything more tonight. Just this is fine... I’m not rushing anywhere, you know.”

[xavierey]

o2. the pricking of my thumbs

[xavierey]

lordcommanderhartell‌:

One thing became certain in their short time together – Xavier was incredibly tempting, calling him in to jump headfirst into this new and exciting adventure. Although it was like diving into uncharted waters when he leaned in to accept the kiss, Alec couldn’t help but feel that the touch of their lips was oddly familiar, as if made for that purpose.

He held onto Xavier, hands curled on the back of his neck as he drank him in with soft kisses. His eyes opened just slightly to peer up at the other man once they broke apart and after a shaky breath he pressed a little kiss to Xavier’s thumb. “Is it weird if I say that it feels as though I have been waiting for someone like you? Someone… who isn’t afraid and treats me differently.”

“It’s no less than you deserve,” Xavier murmured into the warm air between them, feeling more at home in his home with Alec there beside him than he had in a long while. The boogeyman looked good framed by his wrists, one hand sliding along his jaw and the other hidden behind his head as it ran through his hair; Xavier luxuriated in the feeling as though it was something he was long used to. Something that was his. It felt like it was. 

He leaned in to press another lingering kiss to Alec’s lips, fingertips running down his cheek when he pulled back slow. “Is this alright?” he asked quietly, needing to check.