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“You know, you look like you could go for a swim.”
The merfolk leans their head on their hands, a hopeful smile on their face. Their tail gently wrestles against the water, their bottom half submerged while the rest leans on the warm rock as the sun gazes upon them.
“No,” 007n7 is direct with his words, “You’re not convincing me to give up my legs and join your little underwater cult.”
Noli lets out a dramatic sigh, “calling it a cult is a bit mean don’t you think?”
He stares at them with disappointment, “Whatever you say, as if people don’t kneel to your goddamn throne and whatnot.”
“Oh it’s not like that! You know that!”
The captain sits on the shore. He and his crew were temporarily docking at a safe point for the next day or so, just to keep materials in check and something to break up the constant monotony of the seas. Despite the fact he’d prided himself on causing terror, panic and war whilst on the ship, this current journey had been an oddly quiet one. All the admin ships they’d planned to infiltrate had either not shown up, or were way, way out of their league to even try attacking unless he wanted to die trying.
Currently, 007n7 was more concerned with arguing with a certain merfolk.
“I truly meant it! We should swim together!” they exclaim.
“How do I know you’re not just going to drown me or whatever it is you do.”
“I’m a very caring leader, I wouldn’t drown you! If I wanted to, you’d be dead a long time ago, Seven!” It felt way more intimidating coming out of that oddly theatrical voice of Noli’s then if someone else had threatened him. But 007n7 was impartial to those quotes by now, “you still have much to learn about me, I see.”
He questions whether to actually follow through with Noli’s requests or not. Despite the fact he spent his life on sea, he really didn’t swim much. Probably because most of the water he was surrounded by was the very deep ocean. The ocean that was cold, littered with threats, and overall, not exactly the most fun place to swim.
But the shore here is shallow, the tide is low, and the waves are gentle.
With a sigh, he takes off his boots and socks, leaving them on the shore. Once they’re off, he takes a few steps into the sea. The water isn’t completely freezing, just a pleasant chill.
Noli beckons him deeper, to the point where the water reaches his calves, the fabric on his legs soaked. It’s certainly more awkward as he stands up straight and needs to look down towards the merfolk.
“Come on! Lie down! You can’t do much standing like a statue,” they whine.
“Alright, don’t shout at me, fish,” he flicks the crown atop their hair, a small clink echoing off of it.
He sinks himself into the salty water, where Noli starts to wrap their tail around him, taking his hands into theirs.
He keeps his head above the water, watching as it ripples around him. His body floats in the waves. Noli clasps his hands into theirs and starts swimming backwards, their tail moving with eager.
“I can swim myself, you know,” he says, letting go of their hands to wrap around their waist instead.
“I know, you can consider this then a…safety precaution,” they tease before flirting, “or maybe I just like keeping you close.”
As the water gets deeper, 007n7 releases himself from Noli, choosing to tread the water instead. Noli trills while in his presence, their fins reciprocating that emotion within themself. He could feel their tail brush and pull his legs, desperate to keep him close. The gentle humming of Noli is accompanied by the ever present rings from the small bells on their hat, along with the bangles on their arms.
The sun shone so beautifully on Noli, he noticed. Their warm scales reflecting against the water, and seeming to glow against the bright light and small waves. 007n7 doesn’t mean to stare, but he does. It’s only when a sudden wave crashes against the side of his face and a litre of salt water is pressured against his mouth does he snap out of it and notice something else.
…
“Noli,” he says, “your tail is tightening around my waist again.”
“Oh I can’t resist it. It’s comforting!”
“Noli.”
“Oh ho! Fine oh fine! Have it your way!” they huff, their head turning to the side and releasing him.
By the time 007n7 is back on shore, his clothes are most indubitably soaked, heavy and dripping with water. Certainly not the most pleasant feeling, he thinks as he pulls the strings of his boots together. Noli is gazing at him longingly.
“I suppose this is until next time?” they say, a twinge of sadness leaking into their voice.
“Until next time it is, Noli.”
“Don’t die! It’ll be uncomfortable to find your corpse if it’s already eaten away once I see it!”
“I’ll try not to, alright.”