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It was a beautiful, quiet night. The seas were calm, the starry night brighter than ever, the soft cold breeze chilled the Argo crew and they were all sitting in a circle on the deck. Even the newcomers joined in. The brunette pointedly ignored Phil and sat near Niki and Eret, his companion was never five meters away from him.
Tommy watched as the brunette shared a few words with Eret. He narrowed his eyes. The past day or two, he was so desperate to talk to the stranger to figure out what was going on between him and Phil but the stranger always shrugged him off or left him to talk to his companion.
The crew were eating in near silence, the only two speaking were Eret and the stranger. Although, Niki seemed to constantly want to add something but stopped herself after hearing another thing that interested her. Tommy nudged Tubbo, his voice below a whisper, “How about we impress that fella with the siren story?”
Tubbo grinned from ear to ear. He quickly told Ranboo, shoving food in his mouth between breaths wanting to quickly finish. And when Techno noticed, he reprimanded him. Ranboo ate a bit quicker but still slow enough to not get a stomachache in the middle of the night. When Tubbo finished he got up and coughed loudly into his fist catching the crew’s attention. Jack and Niki shared a look, before grinning brightly.
Tommy glared at them, daring them to interfere. Then Tubbo turned to the strangers and told them the tale of the sirens. Tommy and Ranboo interjected multiple times to add to the drama and flare of what actually happened. They told the strangers a tale of giant sirens who nearly killed the crew, but the three boys were the heroes as they were the ones who had slayed the sirens.
“And, I slayed the biggest siren!” Tommy exclaimed, pointing his thumb at himself.
The brunette’s companion snorted, “Yea right.”
“What?” Tommy challenged, sending a quick glare to Tubbo and Ranboo who were snickering. “You think I’m lying?”
“Yes,” the man said as he drank more of his ale.
“And how would you know?” Tommy shot back. Standing i ntimidatingly, if he said so himself, in front of the newcomer.
“Plenty,” The companion shot back, also standing up. This was a terrible time for Tommy to be shorter than someone.
“Really?” Tommy challenged. Glaring at the man, teeth bared. “Impossible!”
“Oh please, my mother was a siren!” He glared back at Tommy. Oh, this fella was choosing the wrong person to challenge. Tommy was getting ready to kick him right then and there.
Niki interrefered though, “Your mother was what?”
The man seemed to realise what he said. He looked at the brunette, who sported a grave expression, with a look of fear. The brunette slowly stood up, putting his hand on his companion’s shoulder. Tommy really hated being shorter.
“As fun as this is,” the brunette said. “I’m starting to wonder if this ship has a clarsach or not?”
At that, the brunette turned to Phil with a raised curious brow. Tommy didn’t fail to notice the way Phil tensed.
“Yea, I think we do,” Phil said. He nodded at Jack who ran off below deck and came back moments later, the clarsach in hand.
“Are we just going to ignore what Fundy said?” Niki exclaimed, looking between the brunette, his companion (Fundy), Techno and Phil.
“Yes, we are,” The brunette answered. A harsh look on his face. He sat down, Fundy sitting beside him looking down with an unreadable expression. “So, how many of you know the tale of the Wellerman?”
The crew looked at him. Tommy turned to Tubbo and Ranboo but they also seemed confused at that. The tale of the Wellerman was a secret to them all, if the crew had looked in the direction of Phil they would’ve noticed the soft smile on his face. The brunette smiled as if expecting this, then he started singing.
His voice was equivalent to that of a songbird. He wove a colorfully boring tale of a Wellerman, a ship, who travelled the seas and helped the navy with replenishing supplies until, one day, a pirate ship took them down and stole off with the goods. When he finished, he looked at the crew and pouted. “Well, it’s a shame that only Fundy and I were singing.”
Niki laughed humorlessly, “Well, sorry Wilbur, I was wondering about what Fundy said.”
The stranger, Wilbur’s, jaw clenched. “I said , forget it.”
Niki turned to Fundy, “How is it possible that your mother is a siren? Who would-”
“A fool ,” Wilbur replied harshly. Fundy looked at him sadly, then stared at the ground. Wilbur sighed, ruffling Fundy’s hair. “Doesn’t matter. What happened, happened. And the world moved on.”
Niki narrowed her eyes at the two, “So what exactly are you two to each other?”
Wilbur knelt down and hugged Fundy close to him, “Fundy was my first mate!”
Fundy smirked looking quite prideful. Tubbo looked at Wilbur with a confused, thoughtful expression, Tubbo never looked like that before, “But, aren’t you a bard ?”
“I am a bard,” Wilbur smiled, a small chuckle emitting from him. Then he bowed deeply as he said, “But, I am also Captain Wilbur Soot of L’manberg.”
“L’manberg is a port city,” Ranboo deadpanned.
Wilbur nodded, “It’s where Fundy and I are from.”
“ Right. You know only navy captains and crew introduce themselves like that. What? Another navy member joining pirates?” Jack questioned. The crew laughed quietly at the quip and at the look of disdain on their Captain.
“No, I am a pirate through and through. Although, circumstances forced me to join the navy for a while. But, I left since on their ships there are no instruments. It’s awful. Something out of a nightmare,” Wilbur shuddered for dramatic effect. “Besides, I didn’t get to name my last vessel. So, who knows the story about the navy Captain Squidkid?”
Techno opened his mouth, but Wilbur shot him down, “Other than the previous navy Captain.”
“I hate this,” Techno said.
Later that night, when nearly everyone was asleep, Wilbur caught Phil at the crow’s nest.
“Hello,” Wilbur said as he hopped in near Phil.
“Hey,” Phil said. Shaking his head at Wilbur, “So, what was that about you being from L’manberg?”
Wilbur hesitated, pulling his knees to his chest, “It’s- it’s where Fundy was born.”
“Right,” Phil nodded. “You two seem close.”
Wilbur shut his eyes tight and blurted, “He’s my son.”
Phil smiled, “So you adopted-”
“No, Fundy is my son .”
Phil’s eyes widened at the revelation, “What? But- how? He said-”
“I know,” Wilbur sighed.
“Wilbur,” Phil’s voice was cold and seeking an explanation.
“I- I met her at a bar in L’manberg. We talked then drank and we sang… I think that’s when I fell for her or she made me fall for her. Whichever that happened.”
“And you sired a child with her?” Phil asked incredulously.
Wilbur had the decency of looking abashed, “I- Phil- I regret my actions. I shouldn’t have left you-”
“Is it because of Fundy that you left me behind?” Phil wasn’t mad or disappointed. He simply wanted answers.
“Yes, because I thought you’d never understand. And I don’t regret it. I don’t regret Sally or Fundy,” Wilbur said quickly. His eyes brimmed with tears. “I don’t regret having a family.”
Phil sighed, sitting by his son’s side, “I can’t say that what you did was wise. Never leave me behind again or I will throw you off and leave you to the sea’s mercy . But, you need to know that I would have supported you. Maybe, I don't fully understand it, I mean by the gods Wilbur, a siren ? But you were my son and I would have been there.”
Wilbur looked at the older man, “I’m sorry. I- I just needed Fundy safe.”
“Yea, I understand that,” Phil said. “I need the kids of the Argo to be safe as well. A long time ago, I needed you to be safe.”
Wilbur smiled at that.