Chapter Text
Anyone could tell you how dangerous the sea was, where high storms and polluted monsters lay. It’s what Jabber loves most, fighting the rough agitated currents gave him such a thrill. It’s the main reason why he joined the Raiders in the first place, to seek thrill.
He was getting his thrill all right. The big boss man, Zodyl, wanted to reach the Sphere. A place most called paradise, but none lived to see it with their own eyes. It was a far away island that seemed to move on its own. No explorer could find it, or any idea on where it might be. Honestly, Jabber thought the boss man was crazy for his ridiculous plan, but he still went along with it. The only thing people could theorize about the Sphere is that it’s practically guarded by heaps of polluted zones. This meant a battle for Jabber, the thought of trying to fight off gigantic monsters while also maneuvering a boat sent chills down his spine. Granted, he liked feeling those chills.
Jabber hops onto the deck, one of the golden rings hanging around his brown locks fly into his face. For the new adventure he’s wearing his Raiders uniform, baggy pants colored a dusty periwinkle, a darker purple fabric is wrapped around his waist and hangs down to the floor is a tail-shapped knot, a similar purple cropped hoodie is mostly covered by a white long-sleeved button up.
After a not-so-long peaceful period after the Raider group had set sail, a giant storm whirled in with no exact warning. The navigator, Cthoni, was the first to step in and began shouting orders to the crew.
“Momoa check the under deck for any leaks or the cargo bursting around” Cthoni barked as Momoa sprinted through the door leading down.
“Jabber you-” As Cthoni whipped around to look for Jabber she saw him dangling out of the corner of her eye.
“AHAHAHA- Little lady I reckon you don’t need to tell lil’ ol’ Jabber to put his life at risk.” Bundus howled as Jabber swung onto ropes to reel in the sails.
“Less laughing and more doing. We’re down crew members which means more work for us.” Cthoni grumbled her way over to help ready the boat for the worst of it. Bundus followed suit after a quick shrug.
Jabber was having the time of his life fighting through the rough winds. It was like they were trying to pull him into their sharp claws. But who cares about that! He’s got this, it’s not his first time reeling up the sails in a tough storm like this one. Just then he saw a blue shimmer ripple through the rough waters
ploop
Just as everyone had finally been able to tune out Jabber’s maniatic laughs, there were none to tune out.
Awee shit, the boss man will not be pleased when he realized I fell off, Jabber was quickly sinking deeper into the water before his descent had slowed. Why did he fall off? It wasn’t like him to lose his drip nor did the wind speeds change in any way. Eh no point in bluffing over it, he must’ve gotten a tinsy bit distracted and got carried away. Hell if he knows.
Jabber turned his body to start swimming back to the surface, he’s strong enough to be able to fight the waves back onto the ship. But not strong enough to outswim a hurling trident, wait a what!? He narrowly avoids the sharp spikes surrounding the thrown weapon. Jabber whips around to see a figure in the murky water.
From what he can make out it’s a mermaid! A long dark blue tail swirls the water around causing the piece of fabric tied around their waist to flow with the ripples, there’s also a strap tied around their chest. Blonde hair covering bits of brown poke out from the mask covering their face. Ahhh it’s a gas mask, why do they have a gas mask under water? The top is blue and bulky with a white horn piercing the front top of it, whilst the bottom holds the actual gas mask. Surrounding the horn are lighter spots that almost look like eyebrows with multi-splits, it's kinda hard for Jabber to see and he also doesn’t care all that much. However, he does take note of the bright piercing blue eyes staring at him through the eye slits.
Wait, I know those eyes! A wide smile starts to take on Jabber’s face.
“YOU” a deep voice rumbles the water all the way to Jabbers, it sounds like a perfect melody.
“Bad Attitude!" Jabber tries to yell back but the only response the figure gets is a bunch of water bubbles muffling his voice. Oops! That wasn’t very smart. Jabber can feel water filling his lungs. shit shit shit!! Got all excited and lost focus again, damn second time in less than 30 seconds. Jabber’s vision started to fade in and out, he noticed the figure raise their hand. Just then Jabber felt a powerful blow hit his lower back up to his head, WHAT THE FUCK!? All Jabber could get out before eventually losing his consciousness to the darkness.
…
Jabber slowly opens his eyes and he quickly feels the sting from the sea water earlier. “Tch, salts a bitch.” he mutters out while he slowly sits up to observe his surroundings. Ok, definitely not on the ship, so where the heck am I? Last thing he could remember properly was being flung toward the familiar figure. Problem with that familiar figure is he doesn’t remember their name, nor gender, nor anything except they pack a heavy punch and were part of the group with the sphereite. Right the sphereite! The boss man wanted his help on leading the way to the sphere. Maybe I can make this little side quest into something useful. But in all honesty, he just wanted an excuse to fight Mr./Ms. Bad Attitude. (gotta figure out their gender first)
The room is of decent size, looks to be made out of wood, along with all the furniture inside. Hm probably a hut. There’s a bed with a desk and chair next to it, a bear skin rug lying in the middle of the room, a fireplace, and two ‘doors’. One is an actual wooden door and the other is just an open space in the wall with animal skin blocking most of it. Obviously one door leads outside, so where does the other go? Jabber heads to the one with animal skin blocking it, hoping it to be a bathroom. It seems he's right because there's a big bucket that looks to fit about two people, it would be a tight squeeze but still. Is the hole in the ground supposed to be a toilet? Ugh gross. Maybe Jabber won’t stay as long as he thought.
Creeeeeeeek
Jabber whips around and starts to back up to the supposed tub.
“I know you're still here.” The voice comes from the main hut. Shit. What to do, what to do… Before he could finish his thought the animal skin whips open and staring at him were the bright blue eyes again.
“Awww, did the one with a Bad Attitude actually save little old me~” To his dismay, Jabber’s taunts didn't faze the more overly exposed person. No tail huh.
“How are ya feelin’” The less scaly person stepped closer. Face looks kinda feminine, muscular body, broad shoulders, Jabbers eyes travel down skinny waist, and uhh-
“Did cha’ hear me or not.” The androgynous person snaps Jabber back into reality.
“Ya I heard CHA’” the man mocks "I' m feelin’ just fine. But what happened to your, uhh, flippers?”
Blue eyes narrow as they glare at Jabber, which only pleases him more. Without replying Mr./Ms. Bad Attitude turns around and walks out of the bathroom. (Jabber really needs to figure out their gender)
“Damn! Not even gonna respond?” Jabber steps to follow the former. Once in the main room he sees the chair from the desk is pulled out and a new face sits, Mr./Ms. Bad Attitude is standing next to the wall leaning on it.
One thing Jabber is grateful for is how obvious his gender is. The new face is blonde, a bit more prudent then the other with multi-colored hair, really broad shoulders with tattoos lining them all the way down to his wrists, he’s wearing fabric along with waist down to above his knees. A stern look rests upon his face as he glances at Jabber.
“Zanka.” The man finally says.
“Ah, yes Enjin?” ‘Zanka’ perks up from his leaning stance.
“You said he was doing better, right?”
“He said he did and is already moving around as you can see.”
“Yea.. Let’s let him stretch his legs, give him a tour around the island Zanka.”
A different voice intrudes the conversation, “Are we sure that's a good idea? He appears to be wearing Raiders clothing.” It’s a short girl with red hair in a funky hairstyle. She’s also rocking the piece of fabric hanging by her waist, but also has fabric strapped to her chest, kinda like the one with a Bad Attitude. She’s sitting along the curved wall with her legs criss-crossed staring at the dude sitting down with her big green eyes.
“Yea I’m sure. I mean, our buddy Zanka saved him from that storm!” The man squawked.
Ima take a guess and go with Mr. Bad Attitude, I could always call him by his name but where's the fun in that. Ohh zan-zan doesn’t sound too bad either! Jabber's thoughts are short-lived as the conversation diverts to him.
“So whatcha’ say Mr. Pirate? Wanna go for a walk?”
“Sure! I would love to, oh and call me Jabber.” He cheerfully responds as he glances over to the now-identified man still standing by the wall.
“Ugh fine, follow me Jabber” He walks across the room and opens the door, “The island isn’t too big but it’s better than staying in a hut”
…
After walking for a bit, Jabber notices there’s only one beach leading to the island. On the beach there’s people sitting around. An older man with a bandana around his head and really long hair, like every other person he’s seen so far, there's a thicker piece of fabric that rests on his waist. Next to him is a smaller looking child with a funky hair-do, this one actually has clothes on! (for the most part) Overalls that rest below his knees, kinda looks like a dress Jabber notes for whatever reason. The last kid is bouncing around chasing crabs near the water, she has shorter green hair with white strips in it, making an illusion of teeth, and she's wearing… a onesie? It’s big, floppy, and overly wet. It hangs down to her mid-thighs where it just ends on an open cut, and right above the cutting point is a giant tail that has sand and kelp mixed onto the bottom.
“Guita! Be careful not to touch the water. This is supposed to be a break for you and Dear.” The older man yells while making a concerned face.
“Ok Bro!!” The bouncing girl yelps as she hops over to the other child's side, pushing something in his face. This earns a disgusted look from the younger of the two.
“What’s with the lack of clothes around here?” Jabber asks, jestering to the fabric around Zanka’s waist.
“We’re in the water a lot and fabric slows us down” Zanka replies earning an approving nod from Jabber.
From what Jabber can guess, on the island there's a tiny village with about 8-10 huts about the same size as the one he was in. There’s another larger hut in the middle of the others. Dirt paths etched throughout all the trees around the islands and one branches off to the beach. On the eastern side there’s a farm with wheat, and next to that is a fenced area of trees. Maybe it’s a fruit farm.
…
After touring the island they make their way back to the mini hut village. While passing by the now empty beach area Jabber notices two row boats heading up to the shore. One boat holds 3 people while the other holds 4. Hey these people are fully clothed! The boat with 3 people is easier for Jabber to make out. One is a tall man with light blond hair, there's a scar that runs across his eye, he’s big and bulky with muscle, he’s rowing the boat all by himself. Another is a girl, she has her dark brown hair tied, she’s huddled up and appears to be writing. That’s about all Jabber can see for her, but the final person is way easier to see. He’s a boy with short black hair that rests in front of his face, he has goggles that rest right above his forehead. He’s standing at the front of the small boat and waving to the shore. They’re all wearing the same outfit, long brown pants with bandanas tied around their waist (kinda like the fabric the more naked people wear), white long sleeves with puffy wrists and a brown vest to go over it. They kinda look like pirates.
“Hey!! Zanka! Can you help pull us in?” The boy standing in the front of the boat yells to the two on the land. Zanka sighs before he yells back,
“Yea, I can help!”
With that, the man who was standing next to Jabber is walking toward the water.
The waves crashing against the beach rush Zanka’s feet and Jabber is partially blinded from a sudden light. What in the magical girl is this? Before Jabber can fully process what happened Zanka dives into the water, with a tail following him instead of his just present legs.
“Holy shit…” Jabber mumbles as he watches the mermaid help one of the boats fight the current to the shore. Once close enough, the 3 on the boat jump out to finish dragging it to the beach, while the blue tail splashes to the next boat.
“Uhh, Gris?” The dark haired man asks, turning to look at Jabber.
“Yea?” The bigger blonde replies, still pulling the boat.
“There’s someone on the beach, like I don't recognize them.”
The man stops pulling the boat and turns to see what the other is talking about, “Weird I don’t know them either. Maybe a new member?”
The last of the three, the girl, stops writing in her book to see what her partners are talking about. Now three people are questionably eyeing Jabber, who’s just standing awkwardly.
Zanka finishes helping the other row boat and drags himself onto the beach past the waves,
“This is Jabber, I found him in the water during a storm” The mermaid informs the other. Weird how he doesn’t include our previous encounter. I know he remembers me. But he chooses to stay silent.
“Yup! I’m super grateful that Zan-zan saved me!” Jabber says as he makes his way over to the group of people + mermaid.
“Zan-zan?” The darker haired boy raises an eyebrow and looks at Zanka, who looks just as confused.
“What? Not a fan of nicknames?” Jabber asks.
“It just sounds kind of kiddish.” The mermaid replies while standing up. Standing? How does he have legs again? Jabber stares bewildered at the reappearance of Zanka's legs.
“AHAHA! Look at his face! What? Never seen a mermaid switching legs before?!” The darker haired boy mocks Jabber before receiving a slap on the head.
“Follo, we all acted the same way the first time.” The muscular man, Gris, says while patting the other. Follo huh, Jabber now looks at the two, taking his eyes off Zanka.
“Don’t fret too much on it Jabber. Come on, I’ll show you where to get dinner.” The blue eyed man now starts to walk back on the path, hair flowing behind him. It makes sense how he’s a mermaid so majestic. Majestic? That’s a new word for Jabber, especially to describe someone.
…
After eating dinner, Jabber walks back into the hut and plops on the bed. Talk about an eventful day, most people don’t know anything about mermaids. So a lot of the things he saw came as quite a shock, especially that mermaids can switch between having a tail or a pair of legs willingly. He thought it just kinda happened, or well, he never thought about it much in the first place.
He lays down and stares at the straw roof that's angled in a cone shape. The boss man is probably looking for me, or not. He didn’t seem to care a whole lot about Fu or Noerde. Two members of the Raiders that were labeled as missing on documents, but Jabber knows the truth. Fu was left behind after being deemed useless and Noerde had fallen off the ship, in a similar way Jabber did. Yea, they probably aren’t looking for me. Oh well! Jabber ultimately decides that he’ll figure out what to do in the morning and lets the darkness take him into unconsciousness.