Keep Me, Won't You?

Rumi is from a very well to do family with decorated naval careers in the case of her father and godmother. Growing up with a healthy respect for the sea and sailing in general it's really no wonder she ended up so determined to be a shipwright. Even if her overprotective family never let her work on a ship that wasn't dry docked in the harbor she remained stubborn and steadfast that this would be her profession of choice. So when she finally got the chance to work on a ship at sea she was ecstatic... and even when that chance was just a cake job where she was barely needed she remained optimistic.

Until a cursed ship of murderous pirates truly put that determination and optimism to the test, along with all of Rumi's shipwright skills.

Will Rumi be able to survive unlocking the mysteries of the Demon's Soul? Including two prisoners like her, one of which is far more than meets the eye?

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

When Celine casually mentioned over their afternoon tea that she'd found Rumi a job on an actual sea-bound ship Rumi was too excited to be wary. Years by then of study and apprenticeship to local shipwrights down at the docks under the strict understanding that she would stay ashore through all of it had nearly stagnated her hopes. Fighting to have her passion taken seriously. Just for a chance to take a real role as a shipwright on a ship that wasn't dry docked and finally she had it in the palm of her hands.

Hearing her parents even agreed to the arrangement, despite their usual over-protective nature, probably should have raised a few more alarm bells. But no.

She was determined.

She would prove herself.

She would be taken seriously.

She would--

Be relegated to a merchant ship on a route that wouldn't even have the shoreline out of sight for the length of the journey.

“Bright side,” she mumbled to herself optimistically as she hefted her bags and marched aboard. “It's a start. I can get my feet wet. At least the ship will be moving--”

“Oi! M'lady~”

Her eyes scanned the deck to find a few crewmen relaxed back on some spare rigging. Uniforms far from crisp and proper. One had a smug smile and a limp-wristed wave aimed her way as the others hid snickers.

“The leisure liner is two docks over.”

Her blood boiled but she swallowed it back to grin politely and walk nearer to them.

“No need for formality,” she said, hoping not to get any of that from the rest of the crew. “I'm your shipwright for this voyage, you can just call me--”

“Kang-ssi!”

The lazing crewmen scrambled to move along, tucking in their shirts and straightening their collars with grumbles and gripes as a stout gentleman with a bright if nervous smile approached with wide arms.

“So glad to have you aboard with us,” he bowed continuously and rubbed his hands together. “I hope you'll find everything to your comfort… And allow word to reach your family about the quality of our ship and services~”

Of course.

Rumi bit back her frustrations and evened out her tone to approach the matter diplomatically. Like she'd always learned.

“Sir, it's Brigmore, yes?” She got a pleased nod from him and managed a polite grin as she adjusted her bags. “Sir Brigmore, I'm not sure what Celine or my parents might have said while making my recommendation but this formality is truly not necessary. On the contrary, I am the one here to perform a service… I will be working hard at this job and expect no special treatment for the length of the voyage.”

His smile remained plastered in place, mouth opening slightly as he waited for her to finish speaking before letting the words tumble on from his mouth like she'd said nothing at all.

“If you'll follow me then I'll be glad to show you to your cabin! Can't have you bunking with the common crew.”

“... right,” she sighed, tense smile dropping the moment he spun around to hustle along.

Maybe once she actually got to do some maintenance the point would stick.

She hoped…

The cast off went smoothly. Sir Brigmore seeing the ship off from the docks after a stern but hushed conversation with the actual captain of the ship. Rumi had noticed the exchange while idling on deck waiting to leave. By the time they finished she headed off to check the ship over for any points she would need to keep an eye on… and of course found nothing out of place.

Perfect!

That was the ideal for any ship about to begin a journey. That was to be expected. It would be storms or other such hazards popping up along the way that would lead to her having to step in. The first few days stood to be boring for her no matter the ship.

“M'lady~”

“Is it tea time yet?”

“Was dinner to your liking or not enough filet mignon?”

Perhaps boring is not the right word, Rumi thought while massaging the tension from between her eyes. They were only a few days in and not one had passed that didn't include some petulant ‘joke’ aimed her way.

A hoity imitation of politeness. An arrangement of an old chipped tea set filled with vegetable trimmings in boiled water. Oh of course the tea jokes never ended.

Endure it. They'll see… or they'll just get bored.

They had plenty of journey left for at least a few to get there. And she was annoyed with herself for actually craving a good cup of tea--

“Hey, shipwright,” one of the crew came running up to her through the halls below. “There's a leak in cargo.”

She sobered up right away and ran for her tools so he could lead her. All else forgotten to focus on a common cause, the good of the ship.

“How big is it?” She asked.

Checking through her bags as they descended the stairs to the lowest part of the hull. Springing so low could cause them problems if it was too big.

“Big as half my arm,” he shook his head. “Not sure how it got down here.”

If it was too close to the keel they were looking at an emergency dry dock for repairs. And she knew the closest port was a day out. Not even halfway to their destination and would mean a major delay. But safety came first.

They reached the lower cargo bay and started rushing through stacks of crates.

“How much water are we--?”

“Here! Here it is!”

She picked up her pace to come around a collection of barrels, frantically searching by lantern light for the source of the leak.

“Where?”

There was no sign of water coming in as she knelt to search along the floor.

“Right there,” the man snickered. “Can't miss it.”

Her hand bumped something and she stopped dead to pick up the fresh leek from the floorboards. Closing her eyes to school her expression as she stood back up to a sudden chorus of laughter filling the hold around her.

“Oh that was priceless, Tom!”

“Ooooh, lass~” someone elbowed her. “What'll we do about the leek~?”

Rumi bit down to run her teeth against her lip before laughing the whole matter off with them. Waving the vegetable over her head.

“Best return it to the galley, aye?” She joked lightly.

Excusing her way through the six or so crewmen still enjoying their sorely needed entertainment. Putting on a show of being sporting even if she felt like screaming on the inside.

The moment she was out of their sight and heading along to the mess hall the tension of rage built up through her shoulders. Forcing her to resist the urge to snap the leek in half and commit the cardinal seafaring sin of wasting food.

You will endure. You will endure. You will!

She repeated as much until the frustration began to subside. Pushing into the galley and slowing her march to something more casual. This wasn't anything she couldn't handle. No, she'd handled everything perfectly well so far. If she couldn't deal with some stupid hazing how would she be expected to keep her composure in a true emergency?

“This is nothing,” she sighed. “Nothing at all to a professional.”

She flipped her braid over her shoulder and made her way back to put the leek away.

“Even if nothing of note ends up happening on the entirety of the trip,” she adjusted her bag over her shoulder and folded her arms on her way back through the mess hall. “This is still a foot in the door. It may be my first experience but it's far from my last. That I'll see to--”

“You talk to yourself like this often?”

Rumi jumped at the graveled voice and spun around to find the cook watching her with a large pot of water in his hands.

“No I--I was just--”

“Fair enough really, you'll not get much of a pep talk from anyone else on board,” he shrugged and kept heading back to the kitchen she'd just left from. “Might as well give yourself one.”

“... right,” she mumbled. Picking herself up to hurry after and hold the swinging door for him. “Allow me.”

He nodded as he lugged the pot to the stove and set it down with a grunt of effort. Holding his hand out for her to shake, even if his demeanor didn't come off as enthused.

“‘Preciate it. Name's Lucius, ship's cook.”

She gladly shook his hand with a polite smile.

“Rumi… shipwright, in theory.”

“Ah, right… The Kang's girl, recommended highly by admiral Kim Celine,” he nodded, chatting as he went about gathering ingredients needed. “Lemme guess, they threw ya a bone but the marrow is already stripped?”

Rumi folded her hands behind her back and watched what he was doing, completely thrown by the metaphor.

“Beg pardon?”

“This is your first voyage,” he explained slowly, flipping a knife in his hand before beginning to chop vegetables. “They arranged it for you, probably hoping it would placate you… but it's basically a wash as far as actual work experience. Easy gig, no respect from the crew, unfulfilling… Am I right?”

Rumi deflated in the face of someone stating it so blatantly.

“Right… Can I help you with that?” She stepped up to the counter and pointed to the knife.

“Ah ah,” he wagged a finger at her. “A cook's knife is his pride and joy… ever peeled potatoes before?”

She nodded and was given a much smaller knife. Taking a seat in the corner with a large crate of spuds to start peeling to his specification.

“How did you guess all that?” She asked while paying attention to her hands.

“Being a cook puts you in the best spot to learn all the comings and goings on a ship,” he replied. “Where there's food, there's chatter.”

And where the Kang name traveled, there was chatter. Rumi sighed deeply and sat back against the wall to settle in for her task. At least it was something to do. Far more peaceful than listening to the provocations of the rest of the crew, or being flat out ignored by the captain. Literally, he'd walked right past her when she tried to introduce herself.

Amongst the gentle creak of the floorboards and slow list of the ship itself she heard the distant rumble of thunder. Probably farther out to sea.

“Ooooh, don't like the sound ‘a that,” Lucius shuddered.

She looked up as he swiped his cuttings into a pan for the pot or another to be set aside. Everything to be used one way or another.

“Sounds far off though,” she said, standing a bit to peek out the nearest porthole. “Shouldn't give us any trouble at least.”

“You should hope so,” he pointed back over his shoulder with the knife. “Ain't you ever heard… the legend~?”

His voice dipped to be theatrically grave, drawing a grin out of her as she sat back down to keep peeling.

“Which one?”

She'd been on the sea or by the sea for her whole life. Having a decorated commodore father and an even more decorated admiral godmother understandably led to such a life. She'd been around so many sailors from every known sea and heard legends from all of them and likely beyond…

“Oh listen to you~” his voice pitched up enough to tease, but not like the others. “If you'd heard this one you might be a little more wary of a sudden storm on the horizon.”

“Well, tell me then,” she chuckled.

They were just legends at the end of the day, but she knew better than to call a seasoned sailor too superstitious.

“As ya like… Tale goes there’s a pirate captain, just of a modest brigantine. Name unknown, his and the ship both. Just cropped up one day,” he explained. “A few years back, maybe eight or so. Thing is, from the start this ship was… strange.”

“Strange how?” Rumi asked, with just enough interest, even if this sounded like the same drivel she'd heard from a dozen other sailors. “I assume storm related?”

“Precisely. Hard to say what the ship looks like, because it only ever appears in the heaviest of stormy weather,” he set his knife down to gesture wildly and dump the ingredients in the now boiling water. “I'm talkin squalls big enough to churn a ship to tinder an’ make you forget which way's up. Same story every time: storm rolls in, slams an unsuspecting ship, storm rolls out and the ship is destroyed. Nothin more ‘an flotsam in the waves and all valuable cargo absconded with. Crews slaughtered and none left alive~”

Rumi furrowed her eyebrows and paused her knife again to look up at him.

“... if there's never any survivors how did the legend spread?” She asked.

He stopped halfway back to the pot with a tub of spices, face on a journey of consideration before pointing a finger at her.

“Don't sass me or I'll peel them potatoes myself.”

She held her hands up in surrender and tried not to laugh as she diligently went back to peeling.

“Best just be on guard if a storm that heavy comes around,” he nodded as he started seasoning the soup. “Nothin good comes from anyone so beloved by the sea they travel on bad weather.”

“Right… certainly no good for the ship either way,” she mumbled casually.

Storms could be murder on ships. Magical sea blessed pirates or otherwise.

By the time he actually stopped her she'd made her way through a good chunk of potatoes. And helped move them to the counter so he could cut them up into more easily cooked chunks.

“You're not bad at that,” Lucius commented as he got the chunks thrown in the pot. “If yer gonna be bored aboard anyway, why not keep your hands busy in here from time to time?”

Rumi did take him up on the offer.

Keeping her official duties as priority of course. Even if the ship was in top shape, she did the rounds inspecting all crucial elements daily to keep it that way. Jotting down notes on different areas to keep closer watch on, or a tally of their supplies to make sure everything remained accounted for. She'd brought a small, leather bound journal just for that purpose.

Always prepared.

And when the ribbing from the crew got especially grating she would slip off to help Lucius for the next meal or upkeep on the kitchen and galley. There wasn't much else for her to do and he did have a point about how boring that could become.

“Spot suits you far better, m'lady~”

A few of the crew had their usual attitude the first time she'd happened to be helping Lucius serve dinner, but the growls of her new friend kept that from lasting very long.

“Ooooh lookit the little lad thinkin he's funny,” Lucius whipped out a ladle and smacked the back of the crewman's hand with it. “I don't see you doin much more than slackin off, Brian. So if you plan on eating for the rest of this trip I suggest you don't go shootin your mouth off at the ones preparing the food.”

Rumi didn't get much more than a grumbled apology but she appreciated the effort. And didn't offer further comment herself even if she felt a bit of satisfaction over the exchange.

It was actually fun to learn a thing or two from Lucius. It helped the time pass and made the journey feel at least somewhat worthwhile.

Not just a waste, nor placating like he himself had called out.

If nothing else, she could enjoy being treated like any other sailor for a bit.

Until the storm.

The rock of the boat had been a comfortable constant by now. Giving her no trouble after numerous times on one of Celine's navy galleons or even a long trip with her parents bound for farther lands on official business had acclimated her to the unpredictable tumultuous life the sea could bring. Even stormy weather wasn't usually enough to throw her off.

So the sudden violent lurch making the wooden bones of the ship creak around her as it threw her from her bunk to the floor in the middle of the night was an understandable shock. Coming around to proper consciousness to the pounding of rain, she scrambled for balance or at least a handhold as the whole vessel rolled on what must have been a forty foot wave. Throwing her across the floor to slam into the curved wall. She turned to press her face to the nearest porthole.

Rain and gray waves hit in sheets as a storm blocked out most light from the moon and stars. Even the piercing lightning that stabbed into the choppy waters showed little to go off of. No sign of the shore that should have still been visible off to their side. And as she finally got herself back up, dressed, and moving out the door in record time she heard shouting from the hull and above.

“Make way!”

“All hands, get the sails secured!”

“The winds are too strong, they'll tear to ribbons!”

She pressed to one side to stay out from underfoot as she kept making her way above deck. Greeted by a flash of light and crack of thunder so near it stood to deafen. The seas around them acted in no way she'd ever seen. Waters tossed their ship like a child's toy as the rain fell so heavily it blocked not only the sky but the way around them. She couldn't even tell which way the shore should have been--

“Oi!”

A firm hand clapped down on her shoulder and yanked her around by her jacket that was quickly soaking through. Ending with her face to face with the surly captain who'd barely spared her a glance since getting on board. His breath reeked of spirits even now.

“Get back to your cabin,” he growled. “You're in the way.”

“I'm assessing the state of the ship,” she argued. “It's bound to take damage in--”

He shoved her back towards the stairs.

“You wanna keep playing this game, girl?” He shouted over the wiping winds. “Fine then. As your captain I order you to get your useless ass back to your cabin. If we need any repairs I've got four odd amateurs who've got more experience than you. And I don't need to be babysitting in a storm like--hgk!”

Rumi couldn't tell at first what had happened in the chaos of weather and rushing bodies. But it became much more clear when another crack of thunder shined off the business end of a cutlass that was rammed out of the captain's chest. The world went quiet to her ears, save for a dull ringing, as the sword was yanked back out to leave him collapsed to the deck.

The hulking figure behind him stood out as uniquely… wrong in some way. Before she could get her eyes to focus through the rain and panic a hand came up to cover her mouth as she was dragged back down the stairs. Kicking and struggling until a thick arm pinned her arms in and a familiar voice hissed into her ear.

“Hush, lass,” Lucius ordered. “You need to hunker down and stay put.”

His hand came away as he steadied her on her feet and pushed her tool satchel into her arms.

“B-but--”

“No, none of that,” he growled, spinning her around to shove her down behind the stairs. “Sit tight. Take this--”

He slapped down a familiar kitchen knife handle first into her hand and brandished a cleaver as he leaned out to check the halls. Shouts and screams of terror were starting to filter in as boots thundered around the deck.

“No matter what, you stay put. I'll be back once I have a path clear to the lifeboats.”

She grabbed the tale of his shirt in a shaking grip that wasn't likely to hold if he made any attempt to shrug her off.

“Sh-shouldn't we both stay? And move once they--?”

“We need to get off the boat,” he squeezed her hand to get her to let go. Not unkindly, not trying to harm her. As stern as he looked it was clear he was taking care with her. “I've got some supplies ready in the galley. If we take our chances with a lifeboat we'll have a better chance of making it to shore. So, stay put.”

Finally she nodded. Still terrified but not wanting to ruin his plans. He had more experience than she did. So when he took the next chance to run back out through the halls she huddled back in the corner under the stairs to wait.

Breathing as quietly as possible even as boots clattered down the steps above her. As she heard the clash of weapons, cracks of gunfire, and the agonizing screams of crewmen being slain. All mingled with the thunder and rainfall that wasn't quite loud enough to drown the horrors out completely. Just when the sounds of killing began to die down she peeked between the steps to watch unfamiliar figures making trips down to cargo and back up, carrying crates out onto the deck with each pass.

They're robbing the ship.

Hopefully that meant they were leaving soon.

“Gck… please…”

She heard begging above, clamping her hand over her mouth to keep still more quiet. Lucius had told her to stay put. He knew better.

“I'm looking for your shipwright,” a smooth, unnervingly quiet voice cut through the shower of rain. “Hand them over.”

What?

“Th-the girl--girl with the p-purple braid,” the begging voice only became more desperate to answer as quickly as possible.

Sounding like he was having the life squeezed out of him to inspire such panic. Rumi's heart started racing, taking a short breath to press her hands over her ears.

She had to stay put, she had to stay put--

“... a girl?”

The fear constricted her throat as her mouth jawed in a panic.

“Y-yeah, yeah don't… I don't remember her name just--wait! Wait no--!”

A wet crunch and he went quiet… and Rumi could only sit and imagine what had caused such a sound. Shivering as her whole body went numb in the cold.

“You,” the smooth voice spoke again, still completely unbothered as the slow creak of boots crossed the deck. “I certainly hope you know a little more than that one.”

“Ghn, please… please it's just--”

Another crewman whimpered before having his voice strangle in his throat. And tension traveled up Rumi's shoulders as she tried not to listen. Tried to focus on the still pounding rain instead. Lucius would be back soon, they could wait and hide and run when--

“Are you going to try and tell me some girl is your shipwright too?”

“K-Kang!” The man wailed.

If she didn't do something--If she didn't move he could--

“The Kang girl! Pl-please please I'm telling the truth!”

Her boots were moving before she could think more of it. Satchel clutched in one hand and the kitchen knife in the other. Barely hearing the shouts of surprise as she thundered up the stairs and back out into the pouring rain.

“Don't! It's me!” She gasped. “I'm the--!”

It felt like a wooden beam hit her shoulders as she was taken to the deck, arms pinned firmly under meaty, rough hands as her knife clattered from her fingers. Her lungs caught on themselves as she wriggled her shoulders and kicked her boots over the wet wood. Nearly missing the sharp yelp before the crash of someone thrown through piles of cargo… too busy focusing on wrenching her head around to try and see the source of the boot falls approaching her.

A pronounced slam and the wood to either side of her neck cracked as a huge crab claw threatened to close on her…

Wh-what?

A splatter of rain water dumped over her head as the man who'd been speaking before crouched to tilt over and get a closer look. And shaking off to blink at him she was able to get some idea how enormous of a man he was. Broad shouldered. The hand he reached down to grab under her chin was rough and appropriately thick to match. And while most of his body was obscured in a long captain's jacket she felt like a mountain was looming over her as she tried to take him in. The air around him alone felt oppressive.

Worse yet, he grinned a mouthful of razor sharp teeth at her when their eyes met. A strange scar or something ran down the right side of his face she couldn't quite see right.

“I seeeee~” his voice taunted. “Purple braided lady lass… And you're the shipwright on this voyage?”

Rumi took short, rushed gasps of air. Trying to calm the fear and desperation crushing her just as much as whoever had her held down. Maybe more. Made all the worse when another flash of lightning lit up the bloodied body of a crewman on the deck only feet away. Head lumpy and crushed in a way not survivable.

The hand under her chin squeezed to get her attention back, but the large man's face remained as calm as before.

“Ngh, y-yes! Yes yes I'm the shipwright!”

He dropped her face and reached over for her bag, rifling through it for a moment before chuckling softly and scooping up the knife she'd dropped.

“Do you double as kitchen staff?” He asked as he held it near her face.

She swallowed and made sure to answer quickly and clearly this time.

“He-helping… I was helping the cook,” thinking quickly she nodded at the dead crewman behind him. “There. Him. Th-the ship is--was in proper shape… a-and I detest being bored. The knife was a-a gift…”

The man turned to look, pulling the knife away with a soft tsking noise.

“Ah, that's what he was…” he shrugged the matter off and dropped the knife into her satchel. “Said he didn't remember your name…”

“... he wasn't the best to work under.”

She closed her eyes and begged the universe to just take pity on her. The crab claw shifted and left her neck as the man stood back to his full--incredibly large--height to give the carnage on deck another look. Even from so far below she guessed he had to be at least seven feet tall. With a wild mane of reddish hair under a dingy leather tricorn hat.

It was not a comfort when he gave a sharp laugh and marched toward center deck.

“Right boys!” He bellowed over the still raging storm and gave a sharp whistle through his teeth.

All around the deck the invaders perked up from their tasks, some barks and shouting from behind her said any still below were being called back up to muster. With a soft grunt of effort the one holding her down stood off and she could finally take a deeper breath.

Only to be dragged up and crushed in a bear hug to remain restrained. Squirming yet against arms like anchor chains.

“We got what we came for!” The pirate's captain continued to give his orders. “Get as much cargo over as you can, we're casting off!”

“Captain!” The chorus of pirates roared.

“Take our new shipwright on over,” the captain waved. “Won't be long…”

Rumi tried to twist around to get a better view as her captor brought her unbothered to a gangplank hooked over the rails of both ships. There were three total, all in use as the pirate crew worked like a well tuned clock lugging their spoils over to their ship.

A brigantine made of a wood stained with years of soot and salt. Six canons lined the deck to account for the former, the latter was expected of a ship seeing so much use. Though all those Rumi had been on were better maintained to avoid such blemishes. Even the merchant ship wasn't so unkempt. But it wasn't the time to be judging their maintenance routine.

A few shouts as the last couple supplies crossed over and she was turned around to see the pirate captain leisurely making his way over the last plank before his men removed it.

Leaving only a few barrels on the merchant ship's deck.

“Bring us out…” he signaled with his right hand while the other arm remained folded behind his back. Overlooking the scramble of crew stowing things below or running along the deck to get the ship ready to move. “And as for our new recruit--”

Lightning flashed again as he turned to approach. Rumi raised an eyebrow at the strange carapace that was attached to his whole left arm, but had to put her attention up on his face when he came near.

“One of those men said your name is… Kang?” He asked politely.

Rumi gave a hesitant nod before answering properly.

“... Kang Rumi, yes.”

Does he know my--?

“Rumi-ya,” he nodded. “And I'll be your new captain, Gwi-ma.”

The heavy thunk of a cannon being loaded drew her eye behind him as a couple of the crew got one pointed at the merchant ship. Before they could sail out of range and lose sight of it through the rain.

Her eyes widened and she lurched forward against the arms still firmly clutching her in place.

“No!”

The flash of a mussel, a brief scream of the shot… and not a moment later there was a crack followed by a plume of powder keg as the merchant ship was devoured in an explosion. Splintering the deck and snapping the masts to fall like trees. The sails dragged into the surf. A burst of horrid color in the gray and stormy night to light up the deck around her.

Allowing her to see the crew continuing about their tasks, all sporting various unnatural bodily mutations. Scales, shells pocked with barnacles, tentacles braided around each other to form an arm, at least one with long eye stalks like a snail, one or two with almost their full head shaped like some breed of shark. All of them…

And Gwi-ma still poised to greet her with a flourish of his left arm, completely grown over with the spined shell of a crab from the shoulder to end with the claw that'd just recently threatened to crush her wind pipe. One of his eyes was a sharp yellow surrounded by scales and quills.

“Welcome aboard the Demon's Soul. Jinwoo will see you to your accommodations… I recommend you rest up, seeing as we'll be putting you to work at first light.”

Rumi's ‘accommodations’ ended up being a room at the back of the cargo hold, void of any hint of comfort. Dark with no furniture, which might've been a boon considering she was literally shoved inside before the door was shut behind her. Soaked and shivering, still in shock trying to come to terms with her lot.

The fear had settled itself more comfortably at the base of her ribs. A steady pulse that rattled her ribs down to her limbs. She managed to roll onto her back to stare wide-eyed at the ceiling above her. A dim lantern swinging from a bit of rope was her only source of light.

Taken by pirates.

Ship destroyed, crew murdered.

“Lucius…” her voice cracked.

She pressed her palms against her eyes as the sorrow washed in. Not just for Lucius… annoying and disrespectful as they were, all those men were dead.

And only her left.

She sobbed quietly, drawing her satchel to hug to her chest for at least a taste of something familiar. A desperate bid for comfort in this nightmare.

And passed out before she knew it as the last burst of emotion took any energy she had left…

“... completely soaked… glad I brought fresh clothes…”

“... did they hurt her…? Not too rough?”

“Just some bruising looks like. Gwi-ma wouldn't want her unable to work.”

Rumi came around just enough to register two voices. A little more light and the vague feeling of being moved around.

“She's really the new shipwright?”

“S'what everyone's gossiping about... For her own sake she better be good at it.”

Rumi's eyes fluttered open to find the blurred sight of… a beautiful woman above her. Wearing glasses with long pink hair kept up and back, loosely tied with a ribbon as she tended to her with such comfortable focus.

“Help me--oh,” she stopped in the middle of talking to someone else to smirk. “Thought you were out proper… Don't worry, I'm only checking up on you.”

On me? She's talking to me…?

Did the pirates kill me?

“Ah… aaand there she goes--”

Rumi heard as her consciousness faded again.

“No! I wanted to--”

Pulled back into sleep with at least a more pleasant send off this time.

Waking before first light was a well ingrained habit at this point in her life. Another burned into her blood after more than two decades under her parent's roof. It was a rare occurrence for the maids at the manor to need to trouble themselves with a formal wakeup call.

Waking to the weight of another person resting on top of her was new though.

As soon as she registered the light give of a body on her chest all of her muscles locked up. Sucking in a gasp that was tinged with the memory of blood, a flash of the image of the sailor with his head crushed on the rainy deck.

“Wha--?!”

She shoved away, scrambling backwards until she ran into the wall. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes and trying to get her bearings in the still dim lantern light from above her.

Dry. No blood.

“... ooooow,” the person groaned.

Rumi calmed a little when she noticed they were alive. And smaller than her. Her eyes adjusted enough to notice the blanket still tangled around her leg stretched between where she'd been and where she now sat. And the fresh clothes she'd been changed into.

“I… I'm sorry, you…” she sighed and pushed up to her knees. “You surprised me, are you--what are you doing in here?”

The person--a young woman maybe her age in light, billowing clothing--sat up and looked across the room at her with big, brown eyes. Smiling brightly with fathoms of energy about her.

“Oh, you're warm,” she said like that explained everything. Then moved right on to asking questions of her own. “Is it true you're the new shipwright? How long have you been working on ships? Your name is Rumi? They said you cook too, do you like cooking? And--?”

“Wait. Waitwaitwait,” Rumi groaned as she rubbed her hands down her face and composed herself. “Too many questions too quickly. Yes, I am a shipwright. I've worked on many docked ships. It's Rumi, yes. I've only cooked a little… but I do enjoy it.”

She rattled through everything to finally get to her own question, “And who are you?”

The events of the night before were still fresh in her mind. She wasn't foolish enough to let her guard down entirely on a ship full of… strange, murderous pirates. No matter how this woman seemed… Even if she'd hallucinated the fantastical elements of the night, this was not the time to be naive.

She was even starting to think she'd fully imagined the other woman she'd briefly woken up to.

“Oh! Sorry sorry sorry,” the woman chuckled as she stood up and came closer. Holding her hand out to shake. “I'm Zoey!”

Rumi sat her back to the wall, looking between the offered hand and Zoey's face. The pause became just long enough to be awkward before Zoey flexed her fingers lighting and tilted her head.

“You're supposed to shake, no?”

Rumi stood to dust herself off before finally shaking her hand. Just long enough to be polite before pulling back to fold her arms and start exploring the room. Not that there was much to see.

“Right… and who are you?”

“... I'm Zoey.”

“Yes I got that, but I mean more… How did you end up here? Who are you to this band of pirates?” Rumi clarified.

She certainly didn't look like she belonged with them. Rumi couldn't picture her causing the harm she'd witnessed. Not at all like the monsters Rumi had seen the night prior… maybe she should be a little more wary. Not judge a book by--

“Ah, I'm their prisoner,” Zoey nodded, following just behind Rumi.

She must also have been looking around, because when Rumi stopped short she was distracted enough to run face first into her back.

“Are you? That's terrible.”

Zoey rubbed her nose but quickly shrugged the whole thing off, “That's the way of things. I was too trusting and Gwi-ma got hold of my coat, I've been stuck ever since.”

“... your… coat?”

“Mhm. Be wary, Gwi-ma isn't exactly trustworthy. Apparently it's far from a secret,” Zoey explained. “He seemed nice at first… I liked listening to him talk about sailing, and adventures. He invited me on a voyage--years ago now--then stole my coat while I was sleeping. And here I am.”

Rumi jawed at her for a pause, trying to understand what on earth she was talking about.

“... you're stuck… because of your coat…?”

For years? Well, it wasn't exactly a simple matter to escape from a ship full of pirates but what did a coat have to do with--?

“I can't very well leave without it,” Zoey continued to be obtuse.

She lifted her arm up across her chest as the skin crawled to allow scales to grow through to the surface. A tight fin jutting from her elbow as she spread her newly webbed fingers. All with the same big smile.

And Rumi saw flashes of the night before. The crew of monsters who'd killed and left flaming destruction in their wake. Her chest squeezed as she reeled backwards in panic.

“What?! Wha--?” She gasped.

For the first time since meeting her, Zoey's smile fell away. She moved her arm to hide it as she held the perfectly human looking one between them.

“I'm sorry,” she rushed to apologize. “I should've--I'll explain. I'm sorry, I forget not everyone--ugh Mira warned me too.”

“Y-you're--Are you like them?! Whatever they are, you--”

“Oh no, I'm not human--” she held both hands up. The scales gone away again. “Ah, well, they're less so now.”

She set her expression and held her hands down to reset her thoughts.

“I'm a selkie,” she said frankly. “Gwi-ma wanted my magic so he stole my coat to trap me. That's why I'm here.”

“... o-oh… I uh, I see,” Rumi lied.

Selkies were a myth… just a sailor's story made up for entertainment, to make long voyages more interesting.

Like the legend of the storm followed pirate crew who left ships decimated without a trace. Rumi rubbed her eyes and sighed deeply before asking more questions.

“You said the rest of the crew is human, but less so now… is that… your doing?”

Zoey lifted one hand to make a so-so gesture.

“Yes and no… I didn't personally cause it, but I am the root cause,” she tried to explain. “The sea just… doesn't exactly approve of its children being treated poorly. Especially when the slight is continually paraded across its waters. So a curse soaked into the ship, affecting everyone on the crew.”

Rumi nodded slowly. Awkwardly looking around the empty room while her eyes kept drifting back to Zoey. Standing there barefoot, quiet after having to speak about the arrangement but still radiating a personable air. Still so upbeat despite everything…

“I'm sorry to hear that,” Rumi said more sincerely. “It does sound like the result of their own actions, rather than anything you could've done.”

Zoey swelled like she was about to go on another ramble but a knock at the door interrupted before she got the chance.

“... yes?” Rumi answered.

Surprised by the consideration. The latch clicked and Jinwoo pushed in, giving Zoey a double take before nodding for Rumi. Seeing him in the light of day he was as solid as he'd felt the night before.

Not as tall as Gwi-ma, but broad. With deep blue on white markings down the outside of his face and neck, coming out to cover the back of his arms. And manta ray horns curling back from his forehead.

“Gwi-ma wants me tah show you the work he wants done,” his voice was low and rumbling from his chest. “C'mon.”

“Yes, but uh…”

They'd been in the middle of--

“I'll get out of your way,” Zoey pat her on the back with a smile. “You'll do great.”

Right, yes. Couldn't shirk her duties. New duties. Who knew what might happen if she couldn't do the job they needed her for. She was too busy thinking about it she missed her chance to say anything more to Zoey before she excused herself past Jinwoo to take her leave. And a pointed stare from Jinwoo made Rumi hustle to grab her satchel of tools and rush to follow him into the halls.

“This area is the cargo hold… was also the brig but we don't use it fer that so captain says you can consider it yer workshop ‘n quarters,” Jinwoo explained slowly. Which just seemed to be the way he spoke. “Bunks are above…”

They passed several familiar crates and barrels on their way. Then up a set of stairs to the middle deck, where Rumi saw several crewmen leaving a larger room at the other end of a hallway. Presumably lined with bunks and hammocks for the crew to sleep in shifts so the ship stayed manned and running. Some pronounced snores from the door left ajar said some were enjoying their turn for rest as the ship ran at half staff so early in the morning. Before getting that far they stopped at two more doors, and Jinwoo spoke again.

“This level also has the galley and kitchen,” he knocked lightly at a set of double doors, then pointed at one across the hall. “And the med bay. Here…”

His hand came around her back to usher her over as he cracked the door with the other. Giving her a peek at the walls lined with glass front cabinets, clean cots, and a desk built into the wall on one side. A thin door to the back corner beyond the desk was either storage or a private little bunk, if she had to guess.

She was a little too distracted by the beautiful woman with pink hair organizing bottles and making notes while sitting at said desk.

“This is Mira, ship's doctor,” Jinwoo introduced. “Any injury or ailment, see her. Mira, this is our new--”

“The shipwright. I heard,” Mira waved him off without looking up. “Try not to hurt yourself.”

Rumi blinked at the complete change in air from what she remembered… So maybe she'd half hallucinated? Her brain must've really needed a friendly face.

“Of course,” she bowed slightly before stepping back into the hall. “Nice to meet you.”

“Mm,” was all she got in return before Jinwoo closed the door.

“Your main job will be here,” Jinwoo thumbed across to the galley before waving for her to keep following up to the top deck. “It needs a lot of work so we can take advantage of the food stocks we got last night.”

That you stole last night, she rubbed her face and held her tongue. No use picking a fight now.

The damp sea winds passed along the deck as they came up from the stairs. Skies still grey and cloudy with no sun in sight, but no raging storm either. Other crewmen were going about their duties: steering, mopping the deck, checking rigging. A few sat over the railing with fishing poles attempting to catch something.

“So… if your kitchen hasn't been in working order, what have you been--?”

One of the crew fishing reeled in a decently sized catch. Celebrating with the other two around him before sinking his shark teeth in and ripping off a chunk to eat. Rumi quickly looked away and forewent her question to just move things along. Paying close attention to Jinwoo's explanation of other places needing more cosmetic repair or upkeep.

“This is of course secondary to the kitchen,” he finished with a nod. “If you need anything just ask someone.”

“Understood,” Rumi adjusted the strap of her satchel and took a step back toward the stairs. “Uh, thank you for the tour.”

He shrugged it off and went to attend his own duties. Leaving her to get started on hers. She took note on her way back to the stairs of the vast open ocean in all directions as well as the captain's cabin under the steering column at the back of the top deck. Best not think about either.

Resolving to focus on her assignments as she descended and hurried along the hall to push her way through one of the double doors.

“Not… impossible,” she mumbled while moving through.

The galley at least was just in a bit of disarray. With tables and benches thrown to either side of the walls, having had their bands come loose. Nothing too damaged she couldn't hammer back into place.

The floor creaked as she went around lighting the hanging lanterns on her way back into the kitchen… and this was where a majority of the work would need doing.

She pushed in the half door and it dropped right off the swinging hinge to crack against the floor. A fitting welcome to the dilapidated sight of cabinet doors hanging ready to drop, one with a hole punched through it, a counter with broken legs on one side dashed to the floor, and cast iron stove well enough for use but for the exhaust pipes popped loose from the wall. All covered in dust and cobwebs.

They've been… eating raw fish for how long? Rumi shuddered and stepped back from the door shaking her head. No use judging. She found an exposed nail on the wall and hung up her satchel and jacket, cuffing up her sleeves and donning a bandana to keep her hair out of her face.

Ready to work.

It took hours for the main repairs, and hours more to get things cleaned. But what else did she have to do?

Rumi had to venture back out early on to inquire about where they kept their supplies. And while everyone she spoke with or passed by was not inclined to conversation, they were surprisingly cordial about helping her find things. A few even helped move the larger lumber into the galley before heading back to their business.

Rumi had a rough count of 32 crew aboard in total, not including Gwi-ma or Zoey, by the time she'd sequestered away to work.

“That's low for a brig…” she muttered to herself as she sawed down new legs for the counter. “Though estimating… this is a smaller brig. Makes it faster… harder to chase down.”

That and the bad weather that followed it would only make it harder to apprehend.

… is the weather part of the curse?

What were the dimensions of the curse?

She shaved away at the new counter legs until they were smooth and even. Nothing fancy, but sturdy and workable. Then hoisted them over each shoulder to take into the kitchen. The old legs were snapped and rotted, but the counter was salvageable. She got another chunk of wood to lift and prop it up on so she could clear the old legs away. Examining the space and drilling peg holes before lining everything up to attach and anchor them.

Cursed by the sea itself…

Rumi paused to stare at the now level counter as she chewed lightly on the inside of her cheek.

The memory of Zoey's bright smile filtered through her concentration until she shook it off and hurried to remove the loose cabinet doors and any other stray bits left around. Then dragged cleaning supplies in to get the room fit for food preparation.

It wasn't until she was getting the last of the galley tables re-anchored in the main room that she was bothered by anyone. The double doors pushed in as Gwi-ma sauntered through to look around with Jinwoo and another, scrawnier man following behind him sporting scales the color of dull bronze and fingers webbed on one hand.

“How goes it, Rumi-ya?” He asked as he approached. “Tables look good~”

He lifted his boot to brace against one and give it a push. It held strong, thankfully. Rumi nodded and kept working to tie down the last one she was working on.

“And the kitchen?”

“Just finishing up,” Rumi replied. “The kitchen needed the most work so I focused there first.”

She let him head back while she drove the last few nails into the bands then stood back and dusted herself off to follow. Standing back at the door with her arms folded to watch him looking around. Jinwoo and the other man watched from over her shoulders.

“The counter needed new legs, cabinet doors were loose and needed to be re-hanged. Same for the door,” she nudged the half door on its new hinge. Quiet as a door mouse. “Stove pipe popped loose… and everything needed a good clean. But it's all in working order now. I can start on the other--”

“Nicely done. Bailey,” Gwi-ma snapped his fingers and pointed to the scrawny man. “Grab a few and have all the provisions moved in here.”

“Aye!”

The man dashed off out the galley doors in record time. Gwi-ma turned with a smile.

“Jinwoo, all catches are to be brought down here for preparation from now on,” he added. “Starting with tonight's dinner.”

“Aye, sir.”

Jinwoo gave a single nod and trudged out to spread the word as well. Rumi turned to watch and had a hand clap down on her shoulder.

“I'd get on that as soon as they bring everything you need,” Gwi-ma chuckled. “Soon as word gets ‘round the whole crew will be itching for a warm meal.”

Rumi tipped her head back to look up at him, eyes narrowed in confusion. He shifted her out of the doorway to duck through and head across the galley himself. To leave, just like that. She took a few steps to follow before finally speaking up.

“Wait, me? You want me to cook for everyone? What about the repairs?”

Gwi-ma paused and half turned back to her.

“You can handle the rest of the repairs after dinner… or I suppose after breakfast if you need the light,” he shrugged. “We've got the time. Be sure to keep the kitchen in working order though. Two meals a day should hold everyone over.”

Rumi couldn't contain her indignation, but at least managed to dial back the attitude a few notches before confirming.

“I'm the cook and the shipwright then?”

Gwi-ma scoffed, “You said yourself… What was it again? Ah, right: you detest being bored~”

A last smirk and he kept on his way. Leaving her no chance to argue, standing in the new prison she'd fashioned for herself as crewmen started bringing crates of food and spices in one after the other.

The first dinner went well.

Rumi found the gratitude to Lucius for teaching her how to cook for a large number of crewmen to be a bittersweet pill. But she had no real chance to dwell.

Breakfast the next morning took a bit of guesswork, but she managed to get an idea when the shift change happened and time it by her pocket watch to know for the next time.

And the next.

Falling into a solid rhythm over the course of a couple weeks of polish.

“Rumi, are you sure there's nothing I can do to help?” Zoey asked gently.

“I've got things well in hand,” Rumi brushed it off casually.

She had another stew on for dinner, and a little crate packed with hardtack to pass out with it. It was the easiest meal for her to handle with the ingredients they had on hand. Having another person moving around the kitchen would throw off that crucial rhythm, but it was sweet of Zoey to offer.

A soft huff and a smile and she pressed a bowl into Zoey's hands.

“Go on before everyone else files in,” she recommended. “If you like though I found some taffy tucked away when I was doing inventory.”

“... thank you,” Zoey mumbled on her way out. “Maybe later.”

Just as well, the rumble of chatter and boots over floorboards filled the galley as the crew came in to get their meal. Like clockwork. Drawn by the tempting smell of hot food.

Rumi got bowls queued up by the door and ladled serving after serving to hand out to each of them. Any who got a little too rowdy got swiftly elbowed by three others to get back in line.

And at the very least she got a nod to acknowledge her efforts. If not a quick word of thanks…

Except for one.

Mira tended to come through near the end of the line. Usually with an open journal in one hand and a pencil tucked behind her ear. Completely avoiding eye contact as she popped the edge of a square of hardtack in her mouth so she could carry her bowl off to the med bay in her free hand. Not a word. Maybe a grunt if Rumi was lucky.

If that first night wasn't a hallucination it was definitely a fluke, Rumi sighed as soon as she was gone. Or she was playing some kind of joke on me… whichever.

Considering the consistency every other time they'd seen each other she couldn't think of any other explanation. But she had other things to focus on.

She made herself a bowl to quickly eat through while giving out seconds until all of the stew was gone. Then gathered all the dishes to scrub up and set aside to dry. A quick look at her watch and she still had a bit of daylight to work on a few more repairs topside.

She'd found a good rotation during her tenure so far.

Wake up. Breakfast. Clean. Stock and maintenance. Dinner. A bit of work on the cosmetic repairs above deck until sundown (or later if she lost track of time). Bed.

Easy. Always good to have a schedule to follow…

Even if it was becoming tiring.

Nothing she couldn't handle of course!

It was her job. It was what she'd asked for.

And she'd always heard to be careful what you wish for.

She'd wanted something more challenging, she'd wanted to prove herself… and it had gotten a ship punished.

Because she insisted on sailing. Because she hadn't been patient. Because she'd been ungrateful--

Enough.

She slapped both hands to her cheeks and marched up above deck. Feeling sorry for herself would solve nothing. It never did. Instead she could only work her hardest to prove all of her desire had been worth something. With the added bonus of proving her usefulness and thus keeping her alive.

She measured the dimensions for a new railing section in need of replacing, noting them down and already making a rough design for the joinery to meld the new piece with the old. Then over to the next spot to do the same.

“‘Ey!”

She didn't even flinch when the crewmen called for her anymore. Standing with a pencil in her mouth and turning as he jogged over.

“Yes?” She said past the pencil as she rolled up her measuring strip.

“When you get the chance, one of the hammocks in the bunk house came loose,” he explained casually. “Not urgent but--”

“No no,” she tucked her things away and gestured for him to take her there. “Please, show me.”

What little comfort the crew could get was vital on the sea. He hurried down with her hot on his heels. So she could get to work on that too. Learn to account for emergencies in her routine. It was good practice. She had the old anchoring hook hole patched and a new, sturdier one drilled and tied in no time at all.

It only threw her off by fifteen minutes, and that was because she was a perfectionist about it. Then she was back on her way.

If I cut down the main beam for the railing replacement I can still work on it a bit before bed, then get it installed tomorrow after breakfast. She checked her watch again as she was hustling along the hall to the stairs. They'd scrounged up some bedding for her to use in the little room down in cargo. As promised it was hers to use as she liked.

She'd woken up with Zoey curled up beside her a few more times. Always with the excuse that she was warm.

Would it be rude to ask if she ran cold?

She let her mind wander as she was taking the stairs down to cargo. Bouncing on the toes of her boots to go as quickly as possible.

Fish tend to, right? But she never feels cold…

Rumi hadn't taken much time to actually speak with her… she'd just been so busy--

A white blur began encroaching on the edges of her vision when she was halfway to the base of the stairs. A sudden gasp and she reached out to slam her arm then shoulder against the wall to catch herself. Shivering and holding only for a moment before her knees buckled…

And an arm caught firmly around her waist to offer more support.

“I've got you… Thank goodness.”

Rumi knew the nervous chuckle right away. Even before her rescuer hefted her closer.

“... Zoey?”

“Mhm, I'm here. C'mon, I'll help you to the med bay.”

Rumi's arm was brought behind her shoulders, feeling the slight dampness to her wavy black hair. Close enough to smell the ocean clinging to her. Desperate to hold her.

“There's… there's no need for that.”

“Did you even notice me?” Zoey scoffed, ignoring her to turn them back up the stairs. “I've been following you around all day.”

“... oh, well--”

Zoey's other arm came around the back of her waist and held her hip. Snug and firm, leaving no room to decline. She was strong for being smaller. And Rumi was not a slight person. With broader shoulders, and respectable muscle from years training with lumber and heavy tools… yet Zoey hoisted her around without much trouble at all.

“I know you've been busy,” her voice remained soft and warm. “But it's time for a break.”

“... alright.”

She had an easier time walking once they got back up the stairs. Even with the dizzy ache throbbing behind her eyes with every step. Trying to put less of her weight over Zoey's shoulders as they walked the empty hall, she wasn't thinking of much else until they were at the med bay door.

“On second thought,” she mumbled, looking back the way they came. “Maybe I just need to lay down--”

“Oh probably,” Zoey said lightly as she threw the door open without hesitation. “You'll be much more comfortable in here~”

Will I? Rumi cringed, allowing Zoey to drag her across the threshold and holding her breath. Waiting for Mira to brush her off agai--

“Mimi!” Zoey released Rumi's arm briefly to hold her hand up in greeting.

Rumi's jaw dropped at the casualness, further surprised when Mira looked up from her work and had a complete change in demeanor once she saw them.

“What happened?” She nearly knocked her chair over in her hurry to reach them. “What hurts? Are you bleeding anywhere?”

Rumi froze at the actual concern in Mira's eyes as she quickly examined her for injury. It was so strange… Then frustrating.

Then suspicious.

She's messing with me… certainly, she has to be.

“Sit over there,” Mira moved to her other side and put a hand to her back. “Zoey, if you could help her get out of her jacket.”

“Mhm.”

The lock on the door clicked as Rumi staggered along with Zoey's help to the cot nearest Mira's desk.

“This really isn't necessary,” Rumi leaned over her knees and held a hand up to ward Zoey off. “I just need a moment and I can--”

“She almost fainted on the stairs,” Zoey ratted her out.

She gritted her teeth as she kept staring at the floor. Tense through the light-headedness and rubbing her eyes to will the annoyance away.

Are they both…?

“Ah, sounds like fatigue,” Mira's voice got closer and the tension grew. “Here, let me--”

Rumi felt her reaching out and pushed off her knees to get back up so she could avoid her.

“I'm truly fine--”

She tried to insist, but just forcing that much into her voice mixed with the sudden move had her vision flashing completely to white. Her boot hit the corner of the cot and again she was held up from toppling over. This time by Mira.

“Care to try that again?” Mira chuckled. “Don’t be stubborn, I just want to check in before I let you sleep it off.”

Rumi pushed up on the arm holding her as she continued to be as stubborn as she pleased. She'd never liked people who pretended. From the first moment it was used against her by people with ulterior motives to try and ingratiate themselves to her family. She steadied her voice as always and prepared to deal with it as she'd learned to.

“Let go of me and I'll lay down… but you don't need to placate me,” she growled. “I don't need to be coddled. And I certainly don't need you to pretend you care…”

Her vision stopped swimming enough for her to look back to the cot, passing over a metal tray with bloodied tools and scales. None of her business, she looked away before the nausea could take hold, but when she tried to move towards the cot Mira didn't release her.

“What makes you think I'm pretending?”

Rumi lifted her head to find Mira's eyes had narrowed. Catching her head from lulling back too far she swallowed and matched her confusion.

“You… you haven't said more than ten words to me in the weeks I've been here,” she huffed, trying again to just sit down. “You barely even look at me. Which I do understand, we don't need to be friends to be colleagues or what have you but having you fake it is worse…”

Mira had the audacity to roll her eyes but let Rumi sit down. She grabbed her desk chair to drag over and sat in front of her with her hands folded between her knees. It wobbled slightly before she settled in place.

“I apologize for ignoring you, I promise I'm not faking my concern,” she said, voice low and even. “Nor was I the first night you arrived…”

Strike off hallucinations, Rumi rubbed her eyes and Mira waited for her to be able to look again before continuing.

“You may have noticed, but Gwi-ma is not one to be trifled with,” she explained with methodical emphasis. “He's not to be trusted, or taken lightly… If you allow him to find weakness, he will take advantage of it. And care is a weakness to him.”

Rumi sat a little straighter, looking between the two of them. Taking that moment to notice Mira didn't have the same mutations as the other crew members. At least none that were visible.

“... noted,” she finally sighed.

Her eyes started getting heavy as she zoned into the long sleeves Mira was wearing, putting up no fight this time as she stood to help her take off her jacket and lay down. As gentle as the first night… resting her hand against Rumi's forehead to brush her bangs aside.

“Just try to keep all that in mind, okay?” She asked while Rumi was still conscious. “I’m not here to make any friends, but I am a doctor… I'm here to support you as I would any other patient. I never pretend to care.”

Rumi blinked up at her, still unsure what to believe as Mira stood back to step away. Hearing Gwi-ma was untrustworthy wasn't the issue, she'd gathered as much. And the rest of the crew by extension… but that should also include Mira.

Would it include Zoey too?

Less likely, with her being a prisoner… but if she was a prisoner under their control…

She rested her arm over her eyes to linger with her thoughts in the dark. Even if her head was starting to feel packed and fuzzy. It was a lot for her at the moment.

Then the cot sank under added weight. Before she could try to see why she had a blanket pulled up to cover her. And soft humming as Zoey leaned over to hit her with one of her bright grins.

“Just me, don't worry.”

“... thank you.”

If she could trust anyone on the ship, Rumi thought it would be Zoey.

And if Zoey trusted Mira, was close with her already… maybe Rumi could afford her a little grace as well.

She at least thought as much as she drifted off. She could think it over more in the morning.

Rumi felt much better waking up at her usual predawn hours the next day. Med bay empty except for Zoey squeezed into her side again, half hanging over the edge of the cot. The smaller door she'd noticed her first time through, towards the back beyond the desk setup, was where she assumed Mira had tucked away to sleep. It made it easier to avoid disturbing her as she carefully got up. Climbing over Zoey, lifting her more comfortably to take over the whole cot, and covering her to let her keep sleeping.

Another look around as she gathered her things while silently padding over to leave and she noticed the tray by Mira's desk empty of the blood and scales she'd seen. Wondering if she'd imagined that in her fatigued state… but since she hadn't actually imagined any part of the first night aboard she thought she should have more faith in her memory.

Maybe one of the crew was injured, she reasoned as she slipped out into the hall and leaned against the wall to pull her boots on. Knowing better than to venture out through a ship barefoot.

Smiling fondly recalling Zoey did so regularly.

Her jacket hung over her shoulder as she stretched in the fresh morning hush, joints popping with satisfaction before she went right across to the galley. Completely empty and likewise quiet as it was this time every morning. A chance to relax as she hung her jacket on the usual nail and readied for a quick clean before she could start prepping for breakfast.

Wiping down the tables with a damp rag. Lighting the lanterns on low for just a little extra visibility since the usual overcast skies outside the portholes didn't offer her much.

And cleaning the porthole glass to aid that little bit.

Methodical. Familiar now…

Helping keep her mind off--

“Do you always rise so early?” Zoey whined as she came from behind to press against Rumi's side.

Rumi caught them from being pushed over and grinned even after being interrupted from her task.

“Usually yes… I tried not to wake you.”

Zoey shook her head and took the rag before shooing Rumi off to take the task from her entirely.

“It was less comfortable after you'd gone. And Mira is grouchy if I disturb her so close to her wake up time.”

Rumi caught the second bit even though Zoey grumbled it under her breath as she was walking away. Biting back a laugh to be polite as she hesitated to retreat away completely into the kitchen.

“Unfortunately, someone does have to prepare breakfast,” she lamented half-heartedly. “... are you insisting on helping me because of yesterday?”

She paused at the corner to watch Zoey finish up one porthole before moving to the next. The over the top shrug was far from nonchalant in response, but the smirk she flashed was a surprise.

“Are you allowing me to help you because of yesterday~?”

Rumi stood back at attention and about faced to dart into the kitchen. Suddenly less curious about that question in particular. She loosened the collar of her shirt and questioned if she’d really recovered fully. If she'd rushed things.

No help for it, breakfast still needed to be made.

She set out the box of spices and opened a large basket under the counter to scoop several generous helpings of rice into a big pot. Filing through the fish hung from the low rafter left from yesterday. Those needed to be used today. Setting the pot of rice and water to boil on the stove with a heavy wooden lid she took down the first fish to fillet and debone.

Letting the meditative flow take over agai--

“There's cabbage left, shall I chop that up or are you planning to save it?” Zoey came through the swinging door and found another knife.

Rumi paused her own chopping to consider it. Thankful the strange flash of warmth had passed so clearer minds could prevail.

“That should be fine… We'll have to be making landfall soon now, surely.”

Nobody had said anything distinctly about their destination so far, but they did seem to be heading in some direction. And there were the frequent laments for dry land over meals. The supplies they had left, even with the crew fishing daily, would only hold for another week. Maybe two if she tried to stretch it.

“The Cove shouldn't be too far out now,” Zoey confirmed as she rinsed the cabbages necessary and started chopping. “Or we might stop by nowhere first…”

A cove… Nowhere?

Rumi de-boned another fish and cut the fillets into smaller steaks to set aside for baking. Mind wandering the more she worked.

“... does it bother you that we've been eating so much fish?”

They still had some salted meat stored away, but the fish caught saved them having to use it much of the time. Rumi hadn't even stopped to think how Zoey might've felt--

The restrained giggling was answer enough.

“No,” Zoey said, setting the cabbage in a big wooden bowl to toss with pepper.

… right, foolish question, Rumi winced. As if fish don't eat other fish.

“I'm the reason it's been so easy to catch anything,” Zoey winked at her.

“O-oh… wait--” Rumi chuckled in disbelief. “How?”

“Most sea life mellows out considerably while I'm around. Makes fish more likely to give less thought to what they bite on.”

“... That feels like cheating.”

“Eeeh, cheating or uh… mm, a perk?”

“A bit of both maybe,” Rumi hummed.

Zoey lifted her chin defiantly, “Maybe so… I do like the way you prepare it better than raw though. Much better. At least that part takes some effort, hm?”

Rumi's effort. But for certain people who appreciated it, she didn't mind. She let the matter go without further teasing and kept prepping with pride.

“Have you had it prepared before?” she sectioned another fillet. “I'm still a novice compared to trained chefs.”

Like Lucius… She focused on the movements of her knife. Getting distracted would mean injury, which would mean bothering Mira again.

Even if she'd said it was her job.

“Yes. But I like how you do it,” Zoey insisted. “And I think your repairs are amazing. I can hardly tell anything was broken after you've gotten to it.”

“... thank you,” Rumi smiled. “What, um… what part of the ocean are you from? Is it very far?”

Did she ever get to visit? Did they ever sail through that area?

“Farther west than here. I haven't been back since being kept,” Zoey replied easily. “The ship doesn't stray out of Gwi-ma's preferred territory… But the ocean is all connected. I'm luckier than most kept selkies, I can at least be out on the water... Others are doomed to the shore.”

“So… tales of selkies being captured by fishermen are true then?” Rumi asked slowly.

“Or by pirates…”

The resignation in Zoey's voice put a sour taste at the back of Rumi's tongue. She set the knife gently on the counter and wiped her hands off on a rag as she started casually moving through the kitchen. Checking the rice. Readying trays to go into the oven. And tracking down the basket kept under one of the counters that still had some apples left rolling around. Not enough for the whole crew, but a couple set aside to possibly add to other dishes.

She knew another way to prepare them.

“Need me to cut those?” Zoey asked.

“No,” Rumi hummed. “I'm making us a treat.”

Zoey appeared at her side instantly, holding her arm to lean over and see what she was doing.

“What kind of treat?”

Cute.

“You'll see when it's done~”

Zoey pouted and sighed dramatically as she leaned on the counter out of Rumi's way and watched her every move.

Coring each apple with a spoon to leave a nice well in the middle, which she packed with brown sugar and cinnamon (and a pinch of salt). Then topped with a little butter as she set them in a pot on the stove with just enough water to cover the bottom. Lid slightly ajar to bake over a low flame.

It would probably be considered a waste of their resources if anyone else found out. But Rumi was the cook, and she knew what they could spare. And if it was for Zoey, she felt this was worth sparing.

“There. It won't take long for--”

Zoey perked up and turned towards the door as if she'd heard something, drawing Rumi to follow her gaze.

Leaving Mira's apparent attempt to saunter through unnoticed unsuccessful… but she didn't acknowledge it. Instead she hooked a stool from the corner with her foot to swing it nearer the counter, glanced over what they were preparing, and took a seat. Then produced one of her leather bound journals from the back of her belt and opened it across her lap to begin taking notes.

Not a word.

Not a spared glance at either of them.

Zoey didn't seem surprised, “Morning, Mira.”

Rumi was learning not to be.

“... Is there something you need?” she turned from the counter.

Better her than anyone else aboard.

But, no immediate answer. Mira continued scribbling away until Rumi almost began to question their conversation the night before.

“The diet of the crew has made notable changes in the last month,” she finally droned. “I'm taking my usual notes… and making sure it's sustainably balanced.”

“... more balanced than raw fish, no?” Rumi asked in a smooth voice.

Trying for a little humor.

The smirk it got her was well worth the attempt.

“Most definitely.”

A wall passed. Likely one of many, but a start. Rumi turned back to the stove and arranged the fish steaks along the trays after coating them in oil. While Zoey bounced around to gather the bowls to get ready for serving.

“Have you been keeping notes on all the meals I've made?”

“I have.”

“Any preferences?”

“Preference is not afforded while surviving on the sea,” Mira sighed. Pausing an extra moment before adding. “The crew might get spoiled having so many good meals for nearly a month.”

“Tsk tsk,” Rumi clicked her tongue as she popped the trays into the oven and double checked the rice. “Careful… That could've been mistaken for a complement~”

“Eating a balanced diet means a lot in this environment,” Mira fired back quickly. “Less a complement, more objective fact.”

“Rumi,” Zoey sidled back to her side and held her hand up to cover her lowered voice even further. “Don't forget the treat.”

A nod and Rumi checked her pocket watch, making note of the time for the fish bake as well.

“It'll be a bit yet for everything,” she said vaguely. “Did you have any questions about the menu or what stock we have left, Mira?”

“Fish, rice, and salad for the menu,” Mira listed off. “And whatever you have in that pot smells of sugar… And apples. Am I right? Seems awfully small for the whole crew…”

Rumi avoided eye contact this time as she stood back against the counter.

“That is indeed our menu this morning, the fish should finish baking in about half an hour,” she estimated. “Then I can put a second batch in… Everything should be just about ready in time for everyone to come through.”

Mira nodded, propping an elbow on her leg and dropping her chin on her hand to continue smirking at Rumi. Like she already knew more than they were telling her.

“Mhm… That desperate to ward me off?”

“Pardon--?”

“Of course not, Mimi!” Zoey came right over to adamantly deny the accusation. “It's just a treat Rumi made for us… We can share.”

Mira's eyes came away from Rumi and her expression softened as she gave Zoey her attention instead. The difference made something in Rumi's chest feel tighter, but she brushed it off and checked her watch again. Like that might make the time go faster.

“I'm only teasing, Zo,” Mira assured her. She didn't put up any resistance when Zoey ducked in to hug her, looking up to catch Rumi's eye. “There's just a saying about apples and doctors…”

Rumi tried to look very interested in her watch as she fought the warmth back. Blaming it on the oven, or recovering from fatigue, or anything else... Just because they were close already didn't mean she should be reading into things, or getting any ideas. Especially with Mira claiming she had no interest in making friends. Clearly this was just her way of keeping Rumi at arms length to avoid that…

But if she planned to joke and tease, Rumi felt a little of the same turned back on her was fair enough.

“I hadn't considered that saying at all… I just wanted to use up the last of what we had,” she explained. “You're welcome to have some… Unless the saying is true?”

It backfired terribly when Mira actually laughed. Briefly. Catching herself to pass a hand over her face and school her demeanor in an instant. Her ability to control her expression with such precision had Rumi curious, but she felt it better to push her luck another time.

They weren't close enough for it now…

And watching Mira cave to rub Zoey's back until she released her to go on a ramble about what she'd seen Rumi do to prepare the apples and how excited she was to try the finished product… Rumi wondered if that was really a closeness she could ever reach.

She did figure tit-for-tat may at least be acceptable.

“My chair is fine,” Mira said without looking up from her notes.

What there was to take so many notes on constantly Rumi couldn't imagine. Maybe looking after a crew of over 30 with various strange mutations was more work than she'd considered. All the better for Mira's equipment to be in top shape.

“It's uneven, I saw the other night,” she insisted. “If you'll let me take a look I can have it sitting balanced in less than 20 minutes.”

Mira hooked her pen between her fingers so she wouldn't scratch her notes as she rubbed at her face in frustration.

“If this is some form of repayment--”

“Not in so many words.”

“The baked apples were more than enough.”

“Those were meant for Zoey, but I had no problem sharing.”

“I told you I’m not trying to make friends.”

“I understand that, I’m only doing my job.”

“And I'm busy--”

“The galley is clear from breakfast… and better lit frankly,” Rumi glanced at the low candle stuck fast to the corner of Mira's desk. “You run the risk of worsening your eyesight--”

“Oh and here I thought I was the doctor on board,” Mira scoffed.

“You are, but if you're insisting on telling me how to do my job I see no issue commenting on yours,” Rumi fired back. “... Let me fix the chair, I won't take long. You have my word.”

Mira's shoulders sank as she finally looked up. Hesitated another moment for Rumi to question her with just a tilt of her eyebrow, then rolled her eyes to get up from her desk.

“Fine… 20 minutes,” she muttered. “I'll be counting.”

Rumi grinned triumphantly and stood by while Mira gathered her notes and supplies to head out. And the moment the door shut she pushed up her sleeves and set to work. It was the quickest assessment she'd had to do on the ship to find the issue--a weak joint on the back left leg, resulting in a loose support strut--and she immediately started repairs. So simple and small that everything she needed was in her satchel, she wouldn't even need to leave the room.

She reset the leg and strut, added some adhesive and fresh pegs, and sanded down everything including the worn bottoms of all four legs to an even finish. All in record time, with a breezy 5 minutes to spare.

The door opened behind her as she was packing away her things and she took some extra pride in surpassing even Mira's impatience along with the time limit.

“All fixed,” she spoke over her shoulder as she flipped her bag shut and stood up. “Told you it wouldn't…”

Turning to find Gwi-ma stepping through the doorway, having to duck to clear it.

“Rumi-ya…” he greeted, looking her up and down. “I've been looking for you, didn't expect I would find you here… Mira actually asked you for help with something?”

The amusement in his tone did not go unnoticed. Rumi stood and put a hand on the back of the now sturdy chair.

“She didn't,” Rumi told the truth, feeling as always like every word she chose was gravely important. “I had to insist, but it is my job to keep everything in working order.”

He nodded, rubbing his chin while scrutinizing. She wondered if he ever stopped reading into everything… or if he just didn't trust her.

“When were you through the med bay?” He asked with a slow step into the room. “No trouble I hope…”

Rumi let go of the chair and shook her head as she shouldered her bag and stepped passed him. Casual, planning to keep on her way if he allowed it.

“Jinwoo gave me a tour of the whole ship, I only got around to offering after all the other work,” she hummed. “If you've anything similar I could take a look--”

“I do, as a matter of fact,” he turned to follow right behind her. “One of the legs on my desk is buckling.”

He reached from beside her to open the door, and they nearly bumped right into Mira returning from the galley. Rumi caught her eye and grinned.

“Chair's fixed,” she reported briefly. “Sorry to keep you. Give it just a few minutes for the adhesive to set.”

Mira stepped to the side with a usual, noncommittal grunt as she waited for them to leave. Face utterly unreadable, schooled to perfect disinterest. Rumi hoped she'd played everything right as Gwi-ma moved ahead to lead on. Everything seemed fine… but she would just have to do as she'd been doing for the majority of her time trapped on the ship.

Wait and see.

One of the last things Rumi expected to happen during her time on a notorious ship of pirates who probably had bounties high enough to set up anyone for life, was to make port somewhere. But some shouts from above deck only a couple days of waiting later certainly showed her. Mingled with the shrill call of seagulls, it was not something one was likely to hear unless they were nearer to shore.

She jogged up the steps from below and found a bustling mess of slipshod buildings just beyond a worn in collection of docks. Trees and high cliffs encroached upon this strange hidden haven that looked like it had not been expecting to grow so far beyond itself. With rickety planks between rooftops and wide streets filled with stalls curving off in all directions. A maze more than a market…

But looking around the docks to find other shady vessels already moored to partake in the offerings beyond, Rumi quickly put together just what sort of market this was.

“Did you want to go down?” Zoey asked from beside her. “It's always very busy so you'll have to be careful not to get lost.”

She hadn't noticed her arrival, but was used to being surprised by now.

“I doubt I'd be allowed to,” Rumi shrugged. “It's a black market, yes? A thieves' den?”

“That's right,” Gwi-ma came along from across the deck. “Very perceptive, Rumi-ya. We've arrived at The Nowhere. And we'll just be trading some of our cargo to bring on a few more useful things.”

In other words, offloading stolen goods to buy supplies. Rumi glanced past Gwi-ma to find a couple crewmen who were deep in discussions of how many kegs they would be able to swing after everything else was bought.

“I've never heard of a place called The Nowhere,” she commented. “But I assume that's the point.”

Though she did recall Zoey mentioning it offhand.

Gwi-ma tapped the side of his nose with a grin and looked over her out onto the little city. Scratching idly at the cursed half of his face before smirking and turning back to scan the deck of the ship. Just in time to spot Mira coming up from below.

“Perfect timing. Mira!”

She paused checking a satchel resting at her hip to look up at him.

“It's Rumi-ya's first visit to The Nowhere, take her along with you,” Gwi-ma ordered, then looked down to address Rumi more pleasantly. “You'll know best what supplies we could use for the kitchen or repairs. Easier than trying to explain to most of these boneheads.”

Rumi glanced at Mira just in time to catch her rolling her eyes before anyone else would notice. She obviously had not planned on playing tour guide. Maybe if she casually suggested someone else guide her--

“If anyone wants to give you trouble, you show em this,” Gwi-ma held out an emblem stitched to a ratty piece of leather. “If they still want to give you trouble… they'll regret it.”

“... understood,” Rumi nodded slowly while looking over the favor in her hand.

The emblem was of a curling fire, with a slash notched through the middle. Not a crest she was familiar with to be sure. And with Gwi-ma already on his way to order the crew around she'd missed her chance to weasel out of the arrangement.

Well… it's the first taste of dry land and color other than gray I've had in months, she thought with a sigh.

A sudden shove as Mira shouldered by to reach the gangplank and she corrected herself as the bright pink of her hair started disappearing over the edge of the ship. Leaving her to pocket the emblem and hurry to keep up. So much for sparing her the trouble. Zoey at least seemed pleased, waving them both off as she hung back on the ship. Maybe she wasn't able to--

“No dallying,” Mira sighed without slowing down. “I'd rather not take long.”

Rumi gave Zoey a last wave and jogged to catch up.

“Sorry… Do they have medical supplies here for you?”

A brisk march down the dock and they were plunged into the shade of the lopsided buildings teetering above. Long, ratty tarps hung over thinner spaces to keep out heat or rain but only served to leave the packed dirt roads dappled with light. From the second they reached the street it was all shouts of things for sale.

“They have just about everything you could hope to find here,” Mira explained. “Yes, though. I need a few things…”

Her demeanor gradually shifted, not as much as it did when she was away from prying eyes. Just enough for Rumi to take note of. So this city was not a safe space to relax either. Instead Rumi did a quick mental review of the inventory left aboard the ship, and looked around the streets for someone who may be selling foods or materials.

Quickly realizing something, she spoke up without hesitation to ask Mira about it before they could get much farther.

“... Did you bring money?

Mira slowed enough to look back at her, just a glance before returning her focus to their heading.

“The ship has a tab,” she said. “You find what you need, tell them who you're with, and they come to settle up before we cast off.”

“Oh… I see,” Rumi nodded.

“Mm.”

They kept on their march through the twisting streets of shops and stalls. Rumi spotted a smith, where she could stop to ask for nails and other fittings. There was a market with all manner of food from produce to meats, including herbs and spices. But they didn't stray from whatever heading they were on.

All fine, no issue. They could double back after Mira got what she needed, since she seemed so focused on getting there. Rumi was craning around for any sign of a lumber yard when Mira stopped so abruptly she almost slammed right into her.

“Is this--?”

“What I need is down this way,” Mira waved a hand down another alley. “I'm going on ahead… and it will take me a while.”

She turned back to make direct eye contact with Rumi. Emphasizing the point to her words.

Rumi looked around to see they were near an edge of the city. And looking down an alley in the opposite direction she could see a road leading through a small pass in the cliffs. Out… Away.

She's not--

“You've got the gist by now I take it?” Mira began leisurely walking off, much more relaxed than the march that brought them this far.

Rumi watched her. Standing stuck in place but turning just enough to check the pass again.

She could go…

She could take this chance that Mira had made for her. For whatever reason.

Her boots scuffed the ground as she turned that way and started walking. If the landmass was large enough there may be another port. More ships. One she may be able to negotiate passage back home by. Her pace picked up to the march they'd set leaving the dock. She could report the Demon's Soul to the navy, to Celine, and warn them of the…

Her rush was short lived as she staggered to a stop and turned back again. Mira was off down another path and out of sight already, but Rumi thought of her regardless.

How much trouble she would be in if Rumi disappeared under her watch.

And her imagination was no more gentle with the possible punishment than her conscience was about the guilt.

“Help ya find somethin?”

She wheeled around to find a tall man with black hair, carrying a lute across his back. He was strolling between alleys and paused to notice her.

“... actually, yes.”

There was no trouble with shopping after Jinu helped her find the lumber yard. All the way across the city, near a river the fallen logs were floated down to reach the mill built alongside. He and the tall muscular gentleman with pink hair manning the mill had a brief laugh at her expense when she told them which ship she was with. Their tune changed fast when she finally showed them the emblem Gwi-ma had given her.

At that point the next hour became a blur of activity. With Abby, of the mill, getting the planks and other manageable cuts of lumber readied for delivery. Then Jinu glad to take her to each of the other places she needed to make purchases from. To the smith for nails and fittings from another tall gentleman with longer pink hair. To the market to order food stocks from a purple haired man who kept his eyes covered. And finally fresh pens and rolls of parchment from a smaller man with teal hair.

All keen to believe when Jinu warned them of the ship she sailed with.

“Gwi-ma has quite the reputation here,” she commented as they walked up the main street toward the docks.

“That's an understatement,” Jinu gave a soft whistle through his teeth. “Ya don't incur the ire of the sea and go about unnoticed.”

“I suppose not… I appreciate your help.”

“Sure sure,” he chuckled. “... all that said though, ya don't seem like the type to run with pirates.”

“... No, I normally wouldn't.”

“So the usual then? Plucked from another ship to be put on the crew?”

“Correct.”

The ship was in sight down the dock from them. Jinu slowed to a stop and tilted his head at her.

“And yet yer waltzing right back?”

Rumi grinned and could only offer him a helpless shrug.

“Correct.”

He looked her up and down before laughing and taking his leave.

“Not the type to run with pirates, but pretty strange all the same,” he said, lifting his hand to give her a wave. “Hope I see ya again, miss shipwright. Good luck.”

Rumi was surprised, “Don't you need to be compensated? I took up so much of your time.”

He swung the lute off his back and started picking out a melody, spinning to walk backwards with a smirk.

“Don't mention it. The inspiration for a new song will do for today.”

He was already humming a few words as he played, bouncing to the rhythm he set. It sounded pretty good.

“Take care,” she finally called with a wave.

There wasn't much else to do. She lingered around the dock a little more, enjoying the taste of dry land before heading back to the Demon's Soul. Unable to shake Jinu's comment or the way he'd looked at her like she was cracked in the head.

She would've looked the same in his shoes.

If I do escape, she huffed at the bottom of the gangplank. It won't be to Mira's detriment.

“--know how pissed he'll be?”

Greeted with amused taunting coming from the deck just above.

“I'm not a babysitter,” Mira responded.

Rumi picked up her pace to reach the main deck more quickly. Finding Bailey holding Mira by the collar, looking smug while Mira kept her usual poker face.

“Oh I cannot wait for Gwi-ma to take your ass down a peg,” he snickered. “Once he finds out you… you…”

Bailey caught sight of Rumi when the little crowd of other crewmen gathering for the show drew his attention to her arrival. She tilted her head at him and raised an eyebrow.

“Is something the matter?" She asked slowly.

Knowing full well what the altercation was in regards to. Bailey dropped Mira to back away, mumbling something that was probably an excuse as the rest of the crowd laughed and poked at him for being so hasty. So high and mighty.

But Mira's reaction was of more interest to Rumi.

The moment she heard Rumi's voice she whipped around to stare at her in utter shock. A small enough reaction to go unnoticed while the crew had Bailey's to jeer over, but the one Rumi cared about more. Enjoying it only briefly before Mira reset her expression just as quickly to turn and push her way through the group to head for the stairs.

“See? She's fine,” she said as she passed. “Didn't need any hand-holding.”

Jinwoo came over from the bow to discuss what Rumi had purchased, and the moment passed. Even clearly with so much left to say about it.

It was left to fester until they'd reached the turn of the month proper. Back at sea and after days more feeling like they bumped into each other far more often than before. Zoey was ever free to move about the ship how she pleased. Friendly as always.

Mira was the bigger oddity.

Despite her very clear warning she continued to find herself in Rumi's general presence. Coming to work at one of the galley tables before meals, keeping farther from the kitchen and to herself. Occasionally finding herself above deck for a stroll while Rumi was working on some repairs. And Rumi always quietly noticed without acknowledging her, respecting Mira’s wishes for distance.

Such instances never allowed for genuine conversation, but having her choose to be around Rumi was an improvement from pretending she didn't exist, she supposed.

Is it though?

It felt more like waiting for a hammer to drop. Or a blade.

Rumi had her journal open as she ran through the stocks down in cargo one evening after dinner. She had fewer repairs left to worry about after a full month of working on the ship, leaving her to focus on food and planning for however long it may be until they made landfall again. And any time she needed a moment of quiet to herself it was safe to take it down amongst crates and barrels that only creaked and shifted slightly where they were lashed away.

She flipped her pencil between two fingers and massaged her thumb into the space between her eyes. Hoping to alleviate the muddled thoughts at the back of her brain.

How long will this last? How long can it last?

Pirates? Magic?

I can't very well relax… Can I honestly afford to allow myself to be distracted by--?

“You'll give yourself a headache if you don't work with more light down here.”

Rumi's eyes widened as she snapped her attention towards Mira's voice. Finding her approaching through the hold with a hooded lantern like the one currently resting at Rumi's feet.

“Here I thought you already knew that--”

“I won't be much longer,” Rumi shut her journal and stooped to pick her lantern up. “I'm running out of tasks other than meals. And I'd like to make sure we're not missing anything we could look for once we reach this… cove I've heard mentioned.”

It had been the new discussion over meals since they left The Nowhere. She leaned to glance around Mira, expecting Zoey to not be far behind. But she wasn't following this time.

“Right, the cove…” Mira mumbled.

She stood against the nearest crate and rubbed her arm through her sleeve. Rumi tucked her journal into her jacket pocket and folded her arms to stand by likewise. Waiting for whatever more Mira wanted to say. Because why else would she be here?

“What did you say to Gwi-ma? In the med bay, that time you fixed my chair…”

Her eyes narrowed behind her glasses… suspicion.

Did he bother her about it?

“I told him the truth,” Rumi assured quietly. “That I insisted on fixing your chair… because it's my job.”

Well, the second part was a half truth. She also wanted to fix it to be of some help to Mira. But Mira had been the one to warn her about weakness.

“Right, we all do our jobs around here,” Mira scoffed. “Nothing else?”

Rumi raised an eyebrow.

“Just… extended the same offer to him. Is there something else you're looking for from me?”

The silence left between them stretched through the faint fall of rain outside the hull. Rumi instinctively adjusted her balance against the rock of the ship and watched Mira brace herself in place to compensate likewise… Both just adrift in the stilted conversation.

“Hey--”

Zoey approached at a jog to greet them pleasantly, drawn by the combined light of their lanterns flickering in the otherwise dark hold. But was cut off when Mira leaned forward enough to be in Rumi’s face.

“I’m looking for your angle.”

“My angle?”

“Yes. I can’t pin it down,” she leaned back but stepped forward to tower over Rumi. “Y’know, the cove isn't like The Nowhere. No other land near enough to escape to, not big enough to reasonably hide when a search party could fan out and find you in a matter of hours…”

So no chance of escape from there.

“... right,” Rumi mumbled, fretting her thumb against the side of her index finger. “Okay.”

Apparently the weak response annoyed or maybe amused Mira, it was hard to really tell which. But then Rumi couldn’t see the point of this entire conversation. Mira had been the one to keep the distance so cleanly set in place. Yet it was her raising an eyebrow to keep the exchange going.

“Yeah, right…” she threw her hands up. “Seriously, what's your game? I figured you'd be a little more keen to find a way off this damn ship. But you're awfully passive, just going along and doing your job,”

The last few words were put in patronizing air quotations.

Rumi's arms dropped to her sides as she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. All fretting forgotten. Where was this coming from?

“Mimi I'm sure she's not--” Zoey tried to soften things.

“Is this about what you did?” Rumi grinned incredulously. “Did you want me to just--?”

“For someone so prissy about ‘pretending’ you sure seem well versed at it. If you think you can gain something by getting on his good side, you're wrong,” Mira shook her head. “He doesn't actually have one. You kissing his ass won't--”

“Now hold on,” Rumi put a hand to Mira's chest and stepped back from her. “I'm not trying to do anything of the sort. You were the one to warn me about his temperament, I'm just trying not to cross it.”

“By being a suck up.”

“Mira, why are you--?” Zoey tried again.

“Offering to do the job expected of me hardly makes me a suck up,” Rumi's voice started rising despite herself. “I'm just trying to meet the expectations of the people I'm well aware are liable to kill me if I fall short of such expectations.”

“You wouldn't have to if you had just left!”

The air in the hold felt heavier as all of them went quiet.

If Mira was so worried about her, she could've just said so… If that was what this was. If this was just more of her hot and cold game Rumi was sick of it. She preferred when Mira was just ignoring her. What good did this argument do anyone? And if Mira really wasn't lying about whether or not she was pretending to care…

It didn't matter.

She'd had enough of being berated for tonight. Removing her hand and turning to leave them, intending to retire to her room. The lanterns flickered in the shuffle.

“Next time I'll worry less about the consequences of my actions then,” she let her words bite, just a little. “Your advice is, as ever, appreciated. I'll keep it in mind--”

Mira grabbed her arm before she could get out of reach, taking strides to follow her and a sidestep to cut her off from actually leaving.

“Rumi, I…”

She began as if the next words were painful, before stopping to blink at her in the glowing lantern light. Taken aback by her stubbornness no doubt. She really shouldn't have been, but Rumi wondered if Mira cared to remember much about her temperament when she seemed so fixated on Gwi-ma's. In the next moment she had more of Mira's attention than she ever anticipated.

“... Hold still,” she held under Rumi's chin as she leaned closer.

“Wh-what?” Rumi stammered.

All bluster and fire fizzling in the wake of her surprise. Replaced by fluster as she was quickly realizing how close they were. Before she could do the exact opposite of what she was told Mira turned her head and held her lantern higher.

“Mira, what--?”

“Oh no…” Zoey breathed.

“What?” Rumi demanded, trying to push Mira off.

Finally having her let go and reach into Rumi's collar to brush her fingers along her skin. Only it felt different when she got to a space along her collarbone.

“It's started,” Mira clicked her tongue, drawing her hand away and her sleeve dropped back to show Rumi bandages wrapping her arm. “The curse it’s--”

Rumi's hand flew up to where Mira had touched, quickly feeling the patch of rough scales along her collar. Her eyes came back to them. Their expressions full of sympathy and about to say more, but a call from the stairs interrupted them.

“Oi! Shipwright! You down here?!”

Panic overcame all of them. With only a last glance spared they all leapt into motion. Mira dimmed her lantern and pulled Zoey between the stacks of crates to hide while Rumi rushed for the stairs with hers. Slowing with a personable smile to find Bailey standing halfway down the steps trying to peer through the dark for her.

“Yes, you need me?”

“Yeah, Gee pulled the door to the bunks too hard and one of the hinges broke off--”

“I did not! The screws were loose!!” A voice shouted from up the stairs.

They weren't. Rumi had checked.

“Oh, easy fix,” she waved it off. “Come along, show me the damage.”

She could keep up her professional appearance… Behind her were two fairly good reasons to see to that, no matter the games they decided to play.

The repair really was simple…

Mira and Zoey had moved on about their evening by the time she'd finished. Which was for the best.

They don't need to be worrying about me, she hung her bag and jacket by the door after pulling it to. Shuffling towards her bedding and setting her lantern aside to start taking off her boots.

Clearly, at least for Mira, she was more trouble than anything. An annoyance at best. And none of them needed such trouble when they were already in so deep. They didn’t need the headache. She didn't need another couple mistakes on her conscience.

Not that they would be…

Her fingers fiddled with her collar before testing the small patch of scales growing through the skin just beneath it.

A cruel reminder that all of this was horribly real.

There was a light knock at the door, reminding her she didn't have the luxury to sit and dwell here.

“Yes?”

She stood and crossed the room to answer.

And Mira was one of the last people she expected to find standing in the dark. Hand still held shoulder height from knocking and not prepared to be answered so quickly. She turned to squint back down through cargo before walking right in with a finger to her lips as she pulled the door shut behind her.

Rumi was not in the mood for more confrontation tonight.

“Mira, whatever you need to say I'm sure can wait until--”

“I'm sorry,” Mira said. “All of… that, I… I'm sorry…”

Rumi waited, but nothing more was forthcoming. She sighed and offered a shrug.

“Fine… Don't worry, it's not as if this is the best of situations for any of us… You can continue about your business guilt free, I hold no grudge. Nor do I regret my choice to stay.”

Sure, it would be great to know what was part of the act and what wasn't, but Rumi could learn to live with disappointment. She already had long before her first time sailing, she had during that first voyage… What was one more lesson?

She reached for the door and had Mira lift her arm in the way to stop her. Then moved to play her fingers against Rumi's shirt collar with a sympathetic look about her.

“It's not so far along for a full month,” she said calmly. Better bedside manner kicking in. “I've been researching for a while, and slowed mine down in the six months since I've been aboard… but I haven't found a way to stop it. Or reverse it.”

Rumi's hand hovered beside hers, moving along to gesture to the bandages she'd noticed earlier. Without touching her.

“Research?” She asked.

Mira nodded, tilting her arm to put it into Rumi's hand. A light tracing of her fingers and even through Mira's sleeve she could feel the bandages went all the way up her arm to her shoulder. A taste of the progression Rumi could expect in the coming months. She sighed and let her hand fall away.

“Was your dressing down earlier meant to be some sort of warning then?” She asked, made more exhausted by the moment. “Hopeless as this all seems, I assure you I'm not resigned to be here.”

Mira let go of her collar to lean closer.

“If you'd taken the chance and run, you could have avoided this.”

It wasn't a judgemental tone. Just a stated matter of fact, with maybe a hint of a question.

Why?

“I don't need help at your expense…” Rumi folded her arms but didn't back down.

Not again…

She would stand by her choice to make sure Mira knew she meant it.

“Rumi… You aren't the first shipwright Gwi-ma has… commandeered,” Mira murmured. “You're maybe the fourth, and that's only since I've been aboard.”

Four shipwrights in six months?

Rumi doubted Gwi-ma was that picky about the state of his ship. Considering the utter mess it had been when she'd come along. The Demon's Soul was in no position to be finicky or hold high standards.

“Why…?”

What happened to them seemed easily assumed. If Mira was warning her, maybe there was a way to avoid the same end.

“I don't know,” she admitted, painfully. “All I know is that they only visited the cove once… and Gwi-ma didn't let them leave alive…”

Ah, so less a warning of what to avoid… and more a promise of the inevitable. The outburst earlier made a little more sense. That chance to escape back at The Nowhere was beginning to sound like her last chance.

She's secretly a softy then… That must be awful on this ship.

Rumi nodded slowly.

“Thank you for telling me, Mira,” she cleared her throat. “… if you need anything from me before then… you know where to find me.”

She tried to make light of it. Even if she knew it wouldn't be well received. But Mira didn't need another weight to carry.

And Rumi refused to drag her under.

“Right…”

It landed just as Rumi intended. A rough, dismissive blow to a soft heart that made Mira grimace as she turned and went to the door. In one sweeping motion she opened it and stepped back out into the darkness of the hold.

“Goodnight, Mira--”

It closed on Rumi's words unceremoniously and left her alone again. To fret over her lips as she paced back to her bedding. To press her palm over the scales, like she could contain them. Like it made a difference. Like anything she did ever could.

But it didn't change anything. Least of all her resolve… Even if she didn't want to give Mira false hope, she wasn't willing to forego her own completely.

Just when she was starting to think she’d reestablished the status quo, with Mira back to giving her the cold shoulder and her trying to put forth her usual professional air, Rumi had Zoey acting the opposite of her own usual. Making herself entirely scarce.

It’s best for both of them, she sighed, hand wandering through her shirt collar to idly scratch at her scales. No matter how hard she tried not to think about them it kept feeling like they were spreading. She'd already had a nightmare about her head being replaced by a tuna's and suffocating on deck before being dragged down and chopped up for dinner…

Breakfast the next morning involved salted meat rather than fish.

Right, of course. Mira probably spoke with her already… Saves me having to be the one to pull away.

After all, what could she offer? Considering she only learned all this magic business was real a month ago. She had other things to worry about, and so did they. All she could do for the moment was what was asked…

For the best she did that alone.

Zoey hadn't even been in to sleep with--beside her since. For company. Just company. And not the lurid kind!

She groaned and slammed her face into the open spine of her journal. Quitting while she was behind. Back to reviewing her measurements for the next bit of repair she was focusing on.

And immediately distracted seeing Zoey slip quietly through the middle of the galley double doors. Far too early for dinner. Rumi hesitated yet again before giving in to the temptation to follow. Also quietly, just looking to take advantage of a moment alone.

I'll just apologize, she thought as she carefully closed the galley doors and headed back to the kitchen when she didn't spot Zoey amongst the benches and tables. Then leave her be… She doesn’t need my behavior weighing on her conscience either.

She followed the sound of rustling and held the swinging half door open, halfway to speaking before finding Zoey digging through one of the far cabinets. Hanging down as she scrambled to reach something at the back with effort. Rumi almost spoke up but didn't foresee the sudden surprise ending well so she walked over to stand behind her.

“... Zoey?” She tried to make her presence known softly.

Zoey still panicked. Locking up and drawing her knees to her chest to be smaller hanging from her perch. Rumi tried not to laugh, biting her lip as Zoey slowly turned to peek over her shoulder.

“Oh, uh… I-I was just--”

A sudden creak of wood and the bottom of the cabinet cracked down half an inch, barely hanging from the nails by a thread. Rumi stepped forward to bring her arms up from under Zoey so she could lift her out of harm's way.

“I've got you, you can let go.”

“I'm sorry, I was--I was just--” Zoey stammered as she slipped into Rumi's waiting arms. “I didn't mean to break it…”

Rumi pulled her in and shook her head with a grin. Turning so she could more closely examine the damage.

“Don't worry, it's an easy fix. Lucky there wasn't anything heavy inside or it might've given out worse,” she returned her eyes back to Zoey. “You might've gotten hurt.”

“... right.”

“What were you looking for?”

Zoey sheepishly opened her hand to show a few pieces of wrapped taffy. And Rumi remembered the cabinet being where she'd hidden it. All she could do was laugh.

“If you'd asked me, I would've gotten it for you,” she set Zoey down and noted the awkward air between them.

Maybe Zoey didn't feel like she could ask. Rumi's laughter quickly subsided as she composed herself to the reason she'd approached Zoey in the first place.

“You're welcome to have the candy, Zoey,” she assured her. “And I'd like to just… apologize for the other day.”

Zoey finally looked at her, eyes widening as Rumi continued her apology.

“How I spoke, how I behaved,” she sighed. “Mira might’ve already said something, but I don’t want you to worry about what might happen. I’ll take care of--”

“Oh no. No no Rumi it's not because you--or because of what you said,” Zoey stepped closer and held both hands up. Fumbling the taffy in doing so. “Mira did mention but… I'm the one who's sorry about… all this.”

“About what?” Rumi asked, stooping to pick up the candy before it could get lost.

Still listening.

And noticing right away as Zoey dropped to crouch beside her with her forehead resting on Rumi's shoulder. Keeping her from moving away, had she any desire to.

But being honest with herself, there was none.

“About the curse… About you and Mira being cursed,” she whimpered. “And stuck here, in danger. I'm sorry, it's my fault you--”

“No it most certainly isn't,” Rumi scoffed. She quickly brought her hand up to brush over Zoey's hair. “I told you already, from the beginning, it's the result of Gwi-ma's actions. Nothing you did.”

“But you didn't do anything wrong,” Zoey's voice pinched as she lifted her head. “I messed up and you're stuck here and you're being punished when you didn't do anything wrong--!”

Rumi held her cheek and shushed her gently.

“It's not your fault anyone’s stuck here,” she hummed. “It's not your fault you got tricked and it's not your fault there were consequences for Gwi-ma's actions.”

“But--”

“The sea can be an unfair place, I'm sure I don't need to tell you. I know it to be beautiful and wonderful but easily terrifying and unforgiving as well. That's just the nature of it… I wouldn't blame you for its temperament.”

A look of fondness and she took Zoey's hand to press the candy back into her palm. Folding her fingers around it.

“And I can't very well blame it for holding you so dear…”

She could still distance herself while being reassuring. Doing so might even help her believe in it enough to make it come true.

“Don't worry, I’ll figure something--”

A brush of warmth as Zoey leaned in to kiss her cheek left her words forgotten. So close her wild hair tickled Rumi's nose and she could smell the sea on her. Not fish, but brine and waves. It really did cling to her like a desperate embrace.

Someone beloved by something so powerful… to such a degree Rumi wondered how her own wanting could compare.

But before she could attempt to find out there was a loud crack and the ship lurched unnaturally on the water. Throwing the two of them to the floor as frenzied shouts echoed from above. Thundering boots filled the hall and crossed over the deck. Rumi's first immediate thought was on Mira's warning, and to be cautious even in the chaos.

“Stay here,” she insisted, helping Zoey up before standing and bracing herself on the counter. “I'll go first… Give yourself a few moments before you leave.”

“Right… Be careful.”

“You too.”

Rumi crossed the galley to the doors and waited for a cluster of stomping boots outside before slipping into the rushing crowd. Letting herself be swept along and grabbing the nearest crewman as they went.

“What's happening?” She asked.

“Damn navy ship came around the nearest island and shot across the bow,” the man gnashed his teeth. Frustrated or nervous, Rumi couldn't tell. “Now it's chasing us down--”

“Captain's taken the deck to call all hands!”

The ramble was everyone calling stations after that, and all Rumi could do was be carried along to the deck above. Left with some breathing room as the crowd she was with scattered to batten down and get the ship running at full sails. She rushed to the railing and leaned over, squinting across the water at the naval ship in question responsible for denting her handiwork.

It was a fully equipped galleon, heading straight for them from the land mass they'd been passing by. Flying familiar flags, with a design and christened name she quickly recognized.

The Wavecutter.

“No…”

A large hand squeezed her shoulder.

“Not to worry, Rumi-ya,” Gwi-ma's unnervingly soft voice crept around her shoulders like it was reaching for her neck. “This isn't our first run in with the navy.”

“... right,” she just went with it. “Of course I just…”

Turning to look again and swallowing hard to keep up that narrative… rather than let on that she actually knew the ship. Intimately.

“I heard the crack from below,” she continued. “Did it hit us?”

He let her go to shrug the issue off.

“Just across our nose, nothing you can't fix I'm sure,” he turned to look around the deck. “Jinwoo! Get Zoey up here!”

Rumi's hand was starting to shake where she gripped the railing as she watched the galleon following. Too far to broadside for another attempt with their cannons. Too slow to gain on them, but big enough to win on stamina. It could outlast them before they ever lost it on open water.

They outnumber and outgun the Demon's Soul… How does Gwi-ma expect to win this?

If it came to an actual clash they could easily be sunk if the Wavecutter knew who they were chasing… and they must have to be giving chase. Any sort of clash left herself, and Zoey, and Mira in danger. They needed to evade them.

Her eyes turned from the galleon to scan the landmass they were still strafing. A fairly large island with another cluster of islands in close proximity. Easily circumnavigated by the looks of how things were spaced… with a thinner pass that cut between two of the taller landmasses in the archipelago. Sheer cliff face on either side high enough the tip of the Demon's Soul's tallest mast probably wouldn't even reach the top. The perfect shortcut for a smaller brig like theirs.

“C-captain!” She turned as he started to cross the deck. “What about cutting through there?”

He stopped to look at the pass when she pointed it out. Raising an eyebrow and looking back expecting more explanation from her.

“They'll have a harder time following, and even if they try to go around we'll gain more of a lead,” she rattled off. “By the time they're clear we'll be too far ahead for them to catch up…”

Jinwoo was approaching with Zoey in tow just in time for Gwi-ma to bark a laugh. He whistled to the helmsman and pointed his claw to the pass.

“Bring us through there!” He raised his voice to be heard over everyone else. Then spoke to Rumi again at his usual volume. “Shipwright. Cook. Tactician… Regular jack of all trades aren't you?”

“Happy to… help,” Rumi swallowed and turned to look back at the galleon.

The relief was just settling into place when Gwi-ma added a little more.

“Perfect spot to sink em.”

Rumi's heart dropped at that. Watching Gwi-ma lean over Zoey and squeeze her shoulder with a growing smile.

“Kick up a storm cover and dash them against the rocks,” his voice rumbled like thunder. “I don't appreciate them damaging my ship.”

Zoey just nodded. Breathing in slowly as he moved away then letting it out just the same. Scales spread along her arms and up the side of her face as the sky darkened above them. Faint gray clouds rolling and swelling until they were heavy with water as both ships turned towards the pass. A crack of thunder split the air and heralded the sudden downpour that began, but the flowing motion of Zoey's webbed hands kept the waters around them more calm to allow them safe passage.

The galleon would not be afforded the same, Rumi realized.

She held her tongue against the panic constricting her chest as she turned quickly to watch the galleon still stubbornly chasing them. It would reach the pass before long. And all she could imagine was the result: the Wavecutter slammed back and forth between the cliffs until it was a sunken wreck.

And another whole crew dead.

Including--

She saw Gwi-ma strolling off along the deck, and Jinwoo on his way to handle other matters. Leaving Zoey alone to her appointed task and clear for Rumi to share a word. She hurried over and crouched down like she was examining the deck and railing around her.

“Zoey, please don't wreck the ship.”

“Don't worry, I can keep the water calm around us--”

“Not our ship--the galleon,” Rumi's heart was racing as she clarified. Without looking to avoid drawing attention. “Please don't sink it… I-I know that ship. My godmother captains it.”

She swallowed, wondering what Zoey's expression was right now. If she understood what that meant. Rumi hadn't asked what Zoey's family situation was like, who knew if it would hold the same meaning as it did to humans. Or if she had good relations with hers if they were the same. Years trapped and while the sea lamented Zoey's situation no other selkie had tried to help her?

What if family ties meant nothing to her?

“I know we need to escape,” she closed her eyes as the rain soaked her hair and began to seep through her jacket. “But please spare the ship…”

Another crack of thunder had all of her muscles seizing up as she turned to look across the deck at the cliffs closing in on them from either side.

“This person is important to you?” Zoey asked softly.

Just audible over the sheets of rain beating against the deck. Rumi froze but pushed for her words to hurry.

“Y-yes. Very much.”

“... then I'll take care of them.”

Rumi risked looking, unable to assuage her curiosity another moment, but Zoey was already hurrying up the steps to the raised back of the ship. Behind the helm. The storm raged on and Rumi ran to lean out over the railing to try and get a view of the Wavecutter. Still in pursuit, just entering the mouth of the pass and noticeably a more risky fit than their brigantine.

She'd never known Celine to be so reckless, even as tenacious as she was.

Waves crashed high against the walls of the pass before rushing back to the middle in the wake of the Demon's Soul. Rumi held her breath and gripped the railing as she waited and internally begged…

And saw the nose and tail of the galleon spin sharply in the waves before scraping the whole vessel to a creaking halt. Wedged into the pass, but still aloft. And she felt the tension drop just before the low boom of a single cannon shot cracked through the storm.

Her eyes searched the gray as she figured from the muzzle flash it had come from one of the rigs near their nose, which would put the trajectory--

“Pull to port side!” she barked as she jumped back from the railing.

The ship lurched unnaturally quickly as the some hundred pound ball of metal whistled with a crunch along the outer hull before plunking into the sea beside them. And she was quick to right herself so she could lean over and check the hull for damage, noting only a superficial well scraped across a couple planks. Some cracking and splintering. Nothing dire.

A cheer went up around the deck as they continued to sail out of the Wavecutter's range. Vanishing into the rain and emerging on the other side of the pass free and clear. All crises averted. Rumi slumped against the railing in relief--

“Rumi-ya.”

Only to jolt back to attention as Gwi-ma strolled up behind her, eyes trained on the helm.

“... sir?”

“Damage report…”

The lowness of his tone set her skin on end, but she leaned back over the side to point out the cannon ball's path.

“The second shot only skimmed us,” she explained. “Minor dent and splintering on our starboard side. Above waterline. If a couple of the men can lower me I can seal it with some pitch until we make landfall, then patch it properly. Otherwise just the initial bow shot.”

He was still staring up at the helm when she finished. Finally turning to smile at her with a nod.

As usual, it only unnerved her further.

“Find Jinwoo and Hanes for the task,” he jerked his head across the deck where the two were mulling about. “Focus on the hull immediately.”

“R-right… yes.”

“Good work today.” He chuckled.

Like a purr… or a growl.

She watched him for an extra moment, noticing Zoey met him at the base of the stairs before remembering she was supposed to keep her distance. She'd already risked drawing attention twice today, best get moving before she pushed her luck further.

And ran to conscript Jinwoo and Hanes as ordered…

Not noticing Zoey following Gwi-ma below deck as the rain let up but left churning gray skies behind.

Escaping the navy ship was the talk of the crew for the rest of the day. Rumi must've heard more laughter and jeers at Celine's expense than anyone she knew would ever dare back home. And from 30 some odd pirates no less.

Jinwoo and Hanes were able to get some ropes and lower her down the side of the ship to get the temporary patch squared up. Both patting her on the back once they pulled her back up.

“Nice job, Rumi-ya,” Hanes chuckled. “You're probably the best ‘wright we've had in years.”

“Thank you… and for the help,” Rumi gathered up her things to move along. “Don't let me keep you both from the revelry.”

They returned her nod before each going their separate ways. Leaving her to examine the bow damage to work on for the little time before she would need to start on dinner.

Her head filled with measurements and supplies and the celebration of those who'd almost been celebrating the certain death of another ship's worth of people. Her collar itched beneath her shirt as she tried to set her useless misgivings aside and just keep working.

Roll up her sleeves and get through the day.

Another stew felt her speed tonight. Making quick work of the necessary ingredients and letting the work occupy every lingering bit of her focus until she was already scraping the bottom of the pot with a full and satisfied crew filing out of the galley.

Waters choppy, sun resting along the horizon while she cleaned up for the evening…

And finally taking notice that she hadn't seen Zoey come eat.

She furrowed her eyebrows.

Mira definitely came through, back to taking her meal to retreat to the med bay without a word. She'd noticed that much. But Zoey…

She set aside the pot and fretted her lip trying to remember. Zoey wasn't someone she would just forget. She blew out the lanterns on her way to the doors and listened for anyone in the hall before quickly crossing over to the med bay and shutting the door behind her.

Mira glanced up from her notes and rolled her eyes. “Need somethi--?”

“Have you seen Zoey?”

She was already halfway across the room, and didn't stop until she had both hands against the side of Mira's desk.

“... why?” she didn't look up from her notes.

“She didn't come for dinner,” Rumi explained.

The only sound in the room was the persistent scratch of Mira's pen on paper.

“She might be sleeping,” she droned. “Her magic can be taxing… without her coat.”

Right. That would make sense… but the bad feeling wouldn't leave Rumi alone. The way Gwi-ma had been staring at the helm--

“Mira I haven't seen her at all since the chase…” her voice rasped, almost afraid to break the quiet.

The scratch of pen on paper stopped and it was just the two of them in the quiet. Mira set it aside and rubbed her mouth, thinking. Running back her day before grimacing and cursing softly under her breath. Rumi could feel the worry spilling over to settle between them. A tide rising to their chests.

“You're certain she's not in the galley?”

She got to her feet and Rumi started pacing the space.

“No. I would've noticed… Search the ship?”

“Mm,” Mira nodded. “I'll check above. You go below, it'll be less suspicious for you to be spotted down there.”

Rumi agreed and followed Mira to the door. Hesitating when her hand came up to call for her to wait as she checked the hall. She then pulled Rumi out and nudged her towards one set of stairs as she strolled to the other. Expertly playing off any worry she had.

Rumi tried to remain calm and take the stairs down just as casually as she always would. Taking up the lantern hanging at the bottom and lighting it to hold aloft as she began winding her way through the whole cargo hold. Tipping from worry to reassurance that Mira was just as likely to find her somewhere above deck. Sitting amongst a pile of rigging or watching the sunset on the sea. Filled with longing but perfectly fine. Bored for the past few hours Rumi had spent focusing on her job and not checking in.

I couldn't have… with the ship abuzz, she reasoned.

“I could've noticed--” she huffed as she looped around another pile of crates and froze.

Smelling the faint tang of copper in the stagnant bowels of the ship, too low for even the chance of portholes to pretend to allow air flow. She'd become acquainted with the stale air that wreaked of salt and anything that managed to settle from the crates. Even some trace of wood dust from the work she could manage, but none of that matched the smell sinking to the back of her nose.

Too fresh.

She moved through the soft creak and rocking of the ship to follow it. Until she came to the edges of the crates and stepped out into the open area opposite her room. A dark zone her lantern light wouldn't normally touch had she just been going to bed as normal, but tonight she strode right into the dark…

And she didn't like what she found.

Zoey…

Curled over the floorboards, trembling and softly whining like she was afraid of being overheard even left so deep in the ship. Left there presumably for hours.

Awful. I'm awful!

Rumi rushed forward to crouch down beside her.

“Zoey… Zoey, what's wrong?” She asked. “What happ--?”

The moment she touched her she stopped. Zoey flinched and breathed in through her teeth. They flashed sharper for a moment before quickly returning to normal, and Rumi tried to organize the realization of what was happening.

Red. Bad.

Wet and red. Bad.

Warm and red. Bad.

Red like the crewman crushed on the deck of--

Bad. Bad. Bad--

She didn't have time for this.

Not for shaking hands or fear. Zoey couldn't afford for her to freeze up trying to put thoughts to what her brain didn't want to register properly.

“Hold--I've got you,” she stammered. “C-can you--? Here. Here here here…”

Her voice cracked and she just stopped using it. Action was more important. Mira should've been the one to--but she could get Zoey to Mira. She had to.

She pulled Zoey up slowly, whispering an apology when Zoey whimpered as she pulled her to her chest and hooked under her legs. Feeling them shifting to scales under her hand as Zoey pulled at the shoulder of her shirt. Then vanish again as Zoey trembled and gasped for air.

She thought she caught an apology somewhere in the soft whimpering as Zoey clearly put effort into keeping herself as human as possible. And Rumi grimaced as she hefted her up off the floor. One arm hooked behind her knees and the other hand cradling the back of her head.

“You're alright. I've got you,” she swallowed. “Hold tight.”

It was the best way she could think to carry her since the breadth of her injury seemed to be on her back. Rumi closed her eyes tight and pushed that thought away to focus. She fumbled to grab the lantern so they could leave, abandoning it to just stand with Zoey cloying around her back. Hurrying through the hold by memory towards the faint light shining down from the top of the stairs. Her hand held out in front of them as a guide.

Mira…

The smell of blood was overwhelming.

Mira.

Zoey's weight and warmth were still a comfort, even with the fear of failure tightening the noose around her neck.

Mira!

By the time she barged through the med bay door her breathing was stilted and her eyes were wide and desperate to find the one person who could fix this.

“Mira--” her voice broke.

Her eyes found Mira instantly. Either of them had her constant attention whenever they entered a room. She could find either of them in a heartbeat… So why did it take her so long to find Zoey--?

“We've got her,” Mira murmured.

When had she gotten so close? It felt like Rumi had only just stepped through the door. When had she taken her eyes off her that she wouldn't have noticed? It hardly mattered. Mira's ability to remain so calm in the face of terror that nearly had Rumi rendered immobile was amazing. But her presence gave Rumi direction, and more importantly hope.

“Bring her here and hold her.”

Rumi blinked the fear back and just moved. Exactly as Mira said. Leaving her to lock the door and sitting on one of the far cots to cradle Zoey while Mira rolled up her sleeves and gingerly began pulling her shirt free of the blood caking it to her back. She jolted in Rumi's arms and pressed her face against her shoulder.

“Sorry--I'm sorry, Zo,” Mira said. “I'll cut it away. Gentle as I can.”

Her eyes came up to Rumi's for silent reassurance. Rumi took it to stay calm and gathered up Zoey's hair to hold out of Mira's way.

“... we've got you, Zoey.”

She settled down on the cot with Zoey in her lap, propping them both up and acting as a brace to keep Zoey comfortable as Mira rushed around for supplies and set to work.

Cutting her shirt open with sheers to peel aside. Prepping gauze and bandages and bottles of something that would… help the pain? Promote healing? Rumi just trusted it to be something to Zoey's benefit and did her part.

Small as it may be.

She pressed her cheek to the side of Zoey's head as she felt her nails dig into her waist, then back. Clawing and tense. Painful in desperation even through her shirt. Not saying a word even when it hurt, because Zoey was hurting more…

Why would anyone hurt Zoey?

Tears stung her eyes but she closed them against it and focused. Focus, focus, focus.

Zoey arched her spine and smothered pained noises into Rumi's shoulder as Mira started cleaning and dressing the crisscrossed lashes marking up her back.

“Shhhhh… done soon,” Rumi whispered to her. “Not long…”

Hearing the responding sniffles as Zoey slumped into Rumi's shoulder. Getting steadily quieter and less tense as Mira finished tending to her. It all left Rumi without much to do besides gently console her by steadily carding through her hair. Until Mira heaved a sigh and stood to start cleaning up.

“Okay… well done,” she leaned down to kiss Zoey's cheek. “Rest now.”

Again her eyes moved to Rumi, and she finished wiping off her hands before they worked together to get Zoey laid down on her stomach to properly rest. Giving both of them a chance to breathe in the relief. Rumi stood back and exhaled everything in her lungs as she leaned over on her knees to keep her head from swimming. Decidedly not commenting on it when Mira squeezed her shoulder.

“... I'm in awe of your ability to stay calm under pressure,” she sighed, examining herself finally to notice the ends of her sleeves stained with blood.

Mira moved to fetch her shears and cleaned them off before using them to point between Rumi's arms. Offering wordlessly to cut the sleeves off. It would save Rumi a shirt, so she nodded and stood still as she snipped away.

“Wouldn't be a very effective doctor if I let panic slow me down,” she reasoned. “... you did well too. Getting her here. Keeping her comfortable.”

Rumi felt her chest squeeze and brushed down her shoulders after Mira finished cutting her sleeves away. Using the damp rag she offered after to clean her hands and arms.

“... who would do this?” She finally managed to ask.

Mira scoffed, making Rumi flinch before holding up a hand and dialing back her attitude to show Rumi some grace.

“Sorry… that was unfair,” she folded her arms and evened her tone. “Considering Zoey's position, nobody else on the crew would dare lay a figure on her. Gwi-ma would kill them without hesitation… So he's the only person it reasonably could have been.”

“But why? What does he gain from hurting her like this?”

Rumi held her hands out and tossed the rag aside. Eyes drawn to Zoey bandaged and resting beside them. Mira's attention drifted to her as well. Looking her over before brushing her hair back out of her way as she lifted the blanket to halfway cover her for some warmth.

“Control, most likely. Same reason he threatens anyone…” she muttered and put both hands up through her hair as she stood back to consider the cause in frustration. “But she does everything he asks… I'm not sure why he'd see a reason to punish her.”

It took an extra moment.

Maybe the stress of the proceeding events left Rumi's brain too muddled. But the second the words registered it was like the last piece of a puzzle snapped into place.

Gwi-ma staring up at the helm.

Gwi-ma's exact order to Zoey.

And her desperate, thoughtless request…

Oh god…

Her stomach dropped, vision tunneling as her knees buckled and dropped her to the floor between cots.

“Hey--”

Mira tried to catch her and just ended up dragged down beside her with a grip on her arm as Rumi failed to do anything to hold up her own weight. Clutching at her shirt as her breathing came stilted.

“Oh my god… oh my god, it's--I didn't mean for--no no no no…”

Please it couldn't--

“... what?” Mira asked.

She tightened her grip and Rumi was glad for the grounding. Shaking her head and pressing her palm into one eye like she could put her brain in a vice and force the realization to sink in. Make it easier to accept.

Her continuous mistakes.

“The ship--the navy ship, I-I knew--” she swallowed the shame to keep going. “I know the captain--I recognized it and I…”

She doomed Zoey without even realizing… Asked too much without even thinking. Mira's hand came away and she clenched her teeth at the thought of continuing.

“... what did you do?”

The cold fury in her voice made Rumi cringe.

“I asked…” Rumi sat back and dug her nails into her knees. “I begged Zoey not to sink it. I thought as long as we got away--”

“You begged her to go against his direct order?” Mira drove the audacity home. “Christ, Rumi--”

“I didn't know he would--”

“What did you think would happen?”

“Not this! I wouldn't have--”

“Been thoughtless?” Mira pushed up to her feet and gestured in frustration. “And selfish?”

“No I--”

“Why couldn't you have just left? Better me than… Shit!”

“Mira I don't want either of you to--”

“Just because you're resigned to die doesn't mean you get to drag Zoey down with you!”

For the second time tonight, Rumi saw red. Different red. Seeping with the burning heat behind her eyes as her muscles all locked and forced her back to her feet.

“Of course I'm not--! Hell's sake Mira, do you actually think I'm noble enough to walk quietly to my doom?” She scoffed. “That I'm not terrified? You think I'd ever want to drag anyone down again?”

“Noble is far from the word I would use for someone careless enough to not consider--!”

“I didn't want--!”

“Enough!”

The sharp bark cut both of them off just as their voices were becoming an overlapping mess of accusation. Zoey was pushed up on her elbows in bed, shoulders trembling and head tucked down as she gathered herself to look at them.

“That's enough… This was my choice to make.”

“But--” both of them tried to keep arguing.

Zoey twisted her torso enough to point a stern finger at them, lips set thin before she had to relent to the pain and cursed through her teeth. Both Rumi and Mira resisted the immediate urge to reach for her as she composed herself.

“I realize that I come across as foolish… and naive,” she muttered. “But I assure you, I am not stupid… I knew what would happen. I chose not to tell Rumi what that would be. My choice… I get very few opportunities to make those while stuck being kept like this…”

She dropped back into the pillow with a huff and steadied herself. Leaving them to chew on that… and while Mira just deflated with her hand over her eyes Rumi couldn't release the tension. It was the first time Rumi had heard even a hint of such vitriol or frustration from Zoey. Given the position she was in it wasn't a surprise to hear… but she figured the current situation made it all the more prevalent. A situation she had put them all in, knowingly or not.

“... why would you make that choice?”

She dreaded the answer even as she asked. And every extra moment Zoey took to give it made that dread grow. As Mira shuffled back to sit on the side of another cot Zoey finally turned her head to meet Rumi's eyes. Forward in a way she hadn't been just this afternoon in the kitchen… and the memory of the warmth from then grabbed her throat before the answer could properly squeeze.

“I think the answer should be obvious, Rumi.”

Of course.

Rumi pursed her lips and closed her eyes to take a moment to contain the way her insides were shattering. Taking her next movements slowly to avoid jarring all the pieces loose to come crashing down… they didn't need that.

They didn't need her.

Nobody here really did.

“I'll let you rest,” she managed to say as she turned to walk to the door.

Mira didn't stop her. Neither of them objected. To her relief.

She was allowed to step out into the hall, pulling the door shut quietly behind her. There was still some laughter and cheers from the bunk room in the opposite direction, but thankfully nobody to see her leaving. She could just walk down into the dark. Through the crates of materials she'd requisitioned and straight to her door.

Pausing to realize the space around her abandoned light's radius was still stained with blood before fetching it to snuff out. Pushing inside her room and closing the door to everything.

Lesson learned, she thought as she hung up the lantern in the dark and dropped back on her bedding to take her boots off.

Mira had warned her.

She set her boots neatly to the side and laid back to stare up at the ceiling. Rocked by the constant motion of the ship as everything began to spill over.

How many warnings had she been given now?

The sea is dangerous, Rumi.

Being a shipwright is so difficult, Rumi.

Stay put. No matter what, stay put.

Care is weakness.

She grit her teeth to keep from sobbing as she ground the heels of her palms into her eyes. Crying hadn't solved anything for her at any point. It certainly wouldn't do anything now. She just had to learn her lesson.

For once.

Next time, she would listen. Next time she wouldn't get people to care about her then ask too much of them like a selfish fool.

Now she would do what was best for everyone and keep her distance.

And if she was lucky, she wouldn't end up getting anyone else hurt.

The few remaining days it took to reach the cove bled together. Following the same routine so closely Rumi barely noticed they passed at all.

She replaced the superficial damage from the first shot over the bow as soon as she had a free moment, leaving just the usual meals and keeping an eye on the temporary patch job as the only tasks left to focus on.

“Everything holding up, Rumi-ya?” Gwi-ma asked.

He came around the second day of her having a couple crewmen lower her to check how the patch was holding.

“Yes, sir,” she nodded. "Much longer and I'll have to reapply the patching, but it's holding well.”

“Good, good,” he nodded and thumped her on the back. “Keep up the good work… The eye suits you by the by.”

She'd never wanted to hate someone more…

“... Of course. Thank you, sir.”

If this hadn't been such deserved punishment, she might've managed to.

She resisted the urge to reach up and touch the scales running up the left side of her face now. Right over her eye, turning it a sharp yellow rather than the brown it previously was. It felt appropriate if she were honest, and complaining wouldn't fix it.

At least her eyesight remained unaffected.

Her usual evening routine brought her back down to the galley to cook. Setting aside two helpings as soon as she finished and taking them across the hall to leave just inside the door of the med bay without a word exchanged before the rush could begin. If Mira or Zoey spared her a glance she wouldn't know, doing her best to not even look their way before hurrying back to serve everyone else.

Head down, job done.

Her new day to day.

And finally the routine was broken as a call went up to announce that their destination was in sight. Brief celebration rose through the crew as the ship made directly for the island, aiming for the side with higher elevation.

“Raise sail!”

The helmsman brought them around in a wide arc to reduce their speed and Rumi watched as they expertly pulled through a large sea cave to the cove in question within. A large dome of a space with rock outcroppings and vegetation along the walls, all the way up to an opening in the ceiling that let some sunlight in. Accentuated by all of the man made walkways, ladders, and even a pulley system made to swing about for loading and unloading cargo. Rumi watched the top deck crew run through a standard landing complete with anchor and tie down to a wooden dock built on rocky land that was fit enough for it. It was a miss match of wood planks, but considering it handled the thundering stampede of pirates leaving the ship it was sturdy enough to do its job.

She watched from the railing as they all headed into a similarly built structure further back into the cave carrying several kegs from cargo.

“Impressive what years of work can accomplish, hm?,” Gwi-ma stepped up beside her with his arms held behind his back. “Follow me.”

Numbly, she stood back from the railing and did just as he asked. Falling in step with his long stride as he led the way down the ramp to the dock then turned to head a different way than the rest.

It almost made her wonder if this was the part where he killed her like the other shipwrights, but he only brought her to a little open air shack at the edge of the dock. Inside was a drafting table and a shelf full of large rolls of parchment paper and rough kept journals. A little box next to them had charcoal sticks to write with and a chest across the floor was full of all sorts of tools.

It was a workshop, not an execution site.

“You should find everything you need here,” he made a sweeping gesture with his arm and grinned at her. “So I trust the repair will not be a problem…”

Measured as ever, his tone still carried the promise of retaliation for neglecting to meet his expectations. She knew it well by now.

“Of course. I'll start right away,” she stepped in and immediately began poking around the parchment. “How long will we be docked?”

“Oh I'd like for the crew to get their excitement out,” he chuckled. “Stretch their limbs a bit, gather up some of the supplies the island has to offer… a few days I'd say. Three, maybe four at the most. Will that suffice?”

“More than fine,” she mumbled as she began taking down old notes to read over.

“That's what I like to hear. Be sure to rest as well, Rumi-ya~”

He spun around to leave her only the sounds of his boots thumping down the dock. Off to join the rest of the crew or possibly just shut away and enjoy his own revelry. Rumi wasn't actually sure what he did in his free time… and she didn't actually care.

Care was weakness.

All there was left to care about was the job.

A quick trip back aboard for her satchel and she returned to lay out her own journal so she could compare notes. Documentation of repair and modification were extensive among the writings in the workshop, and some worth copying to her own notes for future reference.

She also noticed the change in handwriting as the entries went on, and certain places with pages torn from the bindings.

“Strange…”

The former not so much she supposed since Mira had told her of the previous shipwrights and their fate. She flipped to the last entry of each distinct penmanship and read them one after the other. Each spoke of a different scuffle with another ship or some sailing accident… then the swap over and no more from them.

Always some sort of damage… how severe though?

It began feeling more like her days were numbered, but why--?

She glanced up from the notes to focus elsewhere while she considered. And of course her eyes were drawn to the figure disembarking on unsteady legs from the ship.

And of course she couldn't ignore her.

“Zoey…” she stumbled around the workbench and took long hurried steps down the dock to reach her. “A-are… should you be up? Is Mira coming…?”

Zoey was holding one of the thick poles used for tying the boat down to keep herself on her feet. Taking so long to answer Rumi wasn't sure she'd heard the question, and not looking up at her even when she finally did.

“... I told her I could make it,” she spoke quietly enough Rumi was forced to move closer to hear. “But I'm not sure I… C-can you…?”

She held her hand out, but Rumi was the one to close the distance. In a heartbeat. Lifting her arm over the back of her shoulders and holding low around her hips to avoid as much of her wounds as possible. Even having learned her lesson she couldn't bring herself to be cruel.

“You need help getting back?” She asked.

Turning them towards the gang plank but Zoey pulled her the opposite direction instead.

“No, this way. It'll be better, trust me.”

Implicitly…

Rumi lifted Zoey to take more of her weight as she directed their path. Down from the dock, but turning away from the packed down dirt and stone leading to the larger structure where the rest of the crew was loudly celebrating being on dry land. Along the more overgrown wall of the cavern and through a thinner tunnel requiring them to walk single file before finally coming to a separate grotto hidden away.

It was perfect, with a clear pool connected to the sea and holes around the roof just big enough to let a little of the afternoon sun in. Zoey breathed deeply and spoke up while Rumi was too distracted to take her leave.

“Are you going to avoid me again now?”

Rumi froze.

Standing in this beautiful place, listening to the faint drip of water along the walls and the hush of the tide rolling as she scuffed her boots along the rock beneath their feet. Her best course of action would be to leave, yes.

If she really had learned her lesson.

“Zoey I don't want to…” she swallowed.

She never could.

Her voice echoed along the walls and Zoey turned to blink at her.

“Don't want to…? Avoid me?” She asked. “... or don't want to talk… Was I too forward the last time we spoke? If you don't think of me that way I would understand--”

“No I…” Rumi cut her off. “I'm not--It's not because of anything you did or said.”

“It certainly seems that way,” Zoey took another step closer. “I'm sorry I kept it from you but I knew you wouldn't--”

Rumi held her hands up, “Absolutely not. You have nothing to apologize for… If anyone I'm the one who should be…”

Seeing the sympathy on Zoey's face nearly killed her all over again. She couldn't watch, dropping her gaze to their feet instead.

“Rumi, you don't have to--”

“I do… I really do,” Rumi smiled ruefully then tried to wipe it away. This was far from comical. “I've made what feels like constant mistakes, neglected every warning… and it keeps costing. It was just too much this time, I-I can't bear the thought of my choices hurting you--either of you--again… I can't…”

She swallowed back the lump in her throat and closed her eyes to the heat, intent on not falling apart. This was her penance. What a pathetic atonement if she couldn't even hold a shred of composure. And even with her eyes closed, with barely a sound, Rumi could still feel it when Zoey stepped closer. And when she managed to open her eyes again Rumi found only a couple inches of space left between them.

“What are these mistakes?” Zoey asked.

Rumi tried to retreat but Zoey kept the distance the same without physically trying to stop her. Matching her step for step.

“Zoey I don't--”

Finally having her reach out to scoop her hand under Rumi's. Loosely holding it without breaking eye contact.

“Tell me… What warnings have you disregarded?”

Rumi sighed in defeat.

“... I was always told the ocean was dangerous--that being a shipwright was dangerous, but I insisted regardless… and look where it's brought me. Us. Everyone.”

To people being dead and Zoey being hurt and Mira hating her and--

Zoey's thumb brushed over the back of her hand.

“But you love being a shipwright…”

“I do but--”

“You're so skilled… And you've spoken highly of the sea… And I'm glad you're here. What else?”

Rumi shook her head and moved her free hand to rub her eyes in frustration. Unwilling to pull the other away.

She never learned.

“Just because I… enjoy the profession, doesn't mean my choice to pursue it wasn't a mistake,” her voice cracked. “If I hadn't, then Lucius… They all--my previous crew--they might've survived. If I had stayed put, if I had just stayed put.”

She grit her teeth as a tightness constricted her chest. Her hand squeezed Zoey's as she sucked in an unsteady breath to keep going.

“If I had listened to Mira--if I didn't care--if I just didn't… I'm so tired… I'm tired of getting people hurt…”

It was all her fault. Hers. And there was no way to start making up for it if she kept letting it happen…

Zoey continued to move so quietly and with such care, Rumi didn't even notice her reaching out until she had a hand against her cheek to cradle her. Encouraging her enough to make eye contact again.

“... is the curse my fault?”

The change of subject threw Rumi for a loop and knocked her self-loathing aside.

“What? N-no, of course not.”

“Right. You told me it was a punishment for the actions of others,” Zoey confirmed. If she remembered, then why ask? “You didn't bring about the attack on your previous ship. Gwi-ma would have done that had you been on board or not.”

“But …”

She leaned her face into Zoey's hand without thinking. Chasing the warmth she didn't deserve. The growing smile filled with such fondness that shouldn't have been for Rumi--

“I knew you wouldn't agree with my choice if you knew what would happen… that's why I didn't say anything, and I'm sorry for that,” Zoey explained softly. “But you asking me to spare that ship let me make the choice to do so… Doing that for you made the punishment worth it, and now all of those people are still alive. Someone important to you, and thus important to me… It was worth it.”

Stop… stop smiling at me, Rumi choked back a sob.

“But you're… I don't want you hurting. I hate that you're hurt. I hate that I asked.”

I love you… I don't want you hurt.

“I'm sorry I… that I…”

She covered her eyes and grit her teeth to fight the tears back. This wasn't what she was supposed to be doing. She was supposed to learn her lesson and stay away. But Zoey's hand was warm against her cheek, brushing back to tangle in her braid. Making it that much harder to leave.

“But I'm glad you asked,” she murmured. “It was such a you request… Desperate to spare others, a warmth I've seldom seen in years. And I hate having to do what he asks… I would much rather do for you.”

Rumi tilted to drop against her collar. Burying her face to her neck and gripping her opposite shoulder. Wishing she could hold her completely but not wanting to hurt her more. She gasped a sob and kept close as Zoey continued speaking.

“I wish it was you and Mira keeping me.”

“... I wouldn't want to, not how he does,” Rumi said.

Zoey used her hand wrapped back in Rumi's hair as encouragement to get Rumi to look at her.

“... how you would, then. Please--”

Rumi leaned in that last little bit to meet her. Heart racing as she succumbed to the wanting that'd been attempting to drown her for weeks and kissed her like she meant it.

And would certainly have continued to do so if not for the sudden light clatter of loose stone and dust breaking the moment to alert them to another party coming through the tunnel. Rumi stood back to twist around and found Mira pausing the moment she entered the space. Eyes darting between them before fading into her usual empty mask and turning to leave. Brushing the sight off without even a word.

“Mira, wait…” Rumi moved to stop her.

Her voice was enough for Mira to stop without her having to catch up. And thus she hesitated to do so as a pointed tension moved though Mira's shoulders down to curl her fingers into tight fists at her side. And unfortunately Rumi wasn't actually sure what to say…

“Can we talk?” She started there. “Please?”

“I don't know, Rumi… It depends if you can,” Mira's voice was just loud enough without turning around. Dull and dismissive on the surface. “I don't know that we'll get another chance to spare you. For all I know this is the last good chance we'll get to talk at all, so go ahead.”

She was still thinking of Rumi? Still worried about what might be coming for her?

“Mira, I don't plan to die here.”

“But that's what could happen,” Mira rounded on her, mask wavering as she fought to keep her voice in check. “That's what always happens… If not now, then later. So just tell me…”

“Tell you what?”

“What you want. Why you're still here,” Mira's voice cracked. “Why couldn't you just run?”

“You would have been blamed. You would have been punished for losing track of me.”

“But you would be free.”

The anguish flooding Mira's whole demeanor struck a nerve, jarring something loose at the core of Rumi's chest.

“You had little issue voicing your frustration with me for playing games, but I can't read you at all…” Mira cleared her throat to remain stern. “Fair’s fair, either tell me now what you're playing at… or leave me alone.”

… How on earth had she ever misread someone so clearly full of softness and care? And frankly dense to not understand why Rumi would be acting the way she had been. Though six months trying to hide… having one person amongst an entire crew who she could trust. Rumi considered explaining her actions and feelings entirely to try and clarify. To make it perfectly clear to Mira what her intentions were. But the actual answer to the question was far more straightforward. And came with surprising ease.

“I want you to be free…”

Mira flinched, but the tension remained.

“... What I want right now, more than anything, is for both of you to be safe,” Rumi held her hands out helplessly to just pour everything from her heart.

It was what they deserved. It was everything she wanted to give them.

“Not to drag you down. Not to cause you hardship. For Zoey to have her coat and be whole and free to the sea. For you to go wherever you like and not have to pretend not to care just to keep from having your heart used against you,” she started pacing and put an unsteady hand back through her hair with a petulant laugh. “To get far away from all of this… Preferably all together, but after properly fucking up at every turn I completely understand if you never--”

She managed about half her intended ramble before Mira crossed the space between them in a few long strides to grab either side of her face and kiss her. Desperately enough to make Rumi forget the need to think… releasing her only to catch her breath, then kiss her again with more tenderness. Looking bashful as she kept them close and brushed her fingers along the underside of Rumi's jaw.

“... well,” Rumi rasped, clearing her throat as her face felt flush. “A bit more forward than expected…”

“Honestly?” Mira scoffed before hugging Rumi closer.

Rumi sighed and nodded as she leaned into her. Not able to bring herself to actually return the embrace.

“I thought for sure I'd made you hate me…”

Mira looked wounded by the comment, setting her mouth to hold around Rumi's waist to keep her from going anywhere as she kissed down the side of her face.

“No,” she said. “I don't. I never did.”

Rumi's breath stuttered as she grimaced in confusion. Noting the way Mira's face looked more pink as Zoey happily joined their hug to softly press Rumi in the middle.

“I wouldn't have blamed you, Mira,” Rumi said. “Even if I didn't mean it I--”

Mira shook her head and closed her eyes.

“That's the thing, you're so frustrating…” she kissed Rumi's forehead. “… It's easy to pick out a good person when you've been surrounded by anything but for so long… Watching you neglect yourself is like torture.”

Then leaned over to pull Zoey into a kiss of her own. Holding both of them as she slumped between their shoulders.

“I'm so tired of doing this. Always watching. Calculating how much to care or how close to be,” she shook her head. “I'm so sick of games, I'm tired of having to play…”

“I care for both of you,” Rumi ran her hand through Mira's hair. “I don't take that lightly… The way I feel for either of you is not a game.”

Mira tensed under her touch but only to hold closer.

“I can't leave without you both… But I don't know how much more I can take,” she sighed. “Or how much time we may have.”

Rumi may not even leave the cove…

“I wish I could go,” Zoey nuzzled into them. “If you both need to leave, I can keep trying--

“We'll do it together,” Rumi said firmly.

She set her expression when they leaned back to look at her. Obviously surprised.

“If we leave, Gwi-ma will be on alert for who knows how long. Who knows who he might see fit to punish, if he might seek to chase us down. If you could ever find us again even if he doesn't…” Rumi shook her head. “No, best to make sure everything stays as routine as possible to keep his guard down. Meanwhile we find your coat, and all of us leave together… If that's what it takes, that's what we'll do. I'm certainly in no hurry to leave you behind either.”

They grinned in the face of her conviction. Hugging her between them.

“Your confidence is equal parts baffling and astounding…” Mira dug her fingers into Rumi's shirt. “We should rest before getting any planning underway then. Doctor's orders. Do you need help, Zo?”

Zoey pulled Rumi over to give her a proper kiss too, grinning against her lips with her eyes shining like stars reflected on the sea.

“No, I have it in hand… If you could stay though, to keep me company?”

Another brief kiss before taking a step back from them. Rumi caught herself from leaning after her, helped to retain her balance when Mira's arm hooked around her waist. Any attempt to blink her thoughts back in order was not helped by the contact and even less so by the sight of Zoey carefully removing her clothes.

“Uh…”

Her hands flew up to cover her face, first instinct to spare Zoey's modesty before peeking through her fingers. Mira rested her chin on her shoulder and nudged their heads together.

“Buck up, you'll want to see this~” she chuckled.

Oh… very much, Rumi's eyes darted up and down Zoey's figure before lingering on the bandages still completely wrapping her back. Just as her heart started to break again Zoey stepped to the rocky edge of the pool then over to drop into the water. She sank under instantly without even a splash and Rumi's eyes went wide as she rushed forward with every intention to follow.

Only to find a much larger shape moving about just under the surface. And a few bits of bandaging loose in the water between.

“... Zoey?” She hit her hands and knees to look closer. “Mira, is she--?”

Scaled arms, shimmering black with hints of midnight blue reached up over the stone to either side of her. Pressing down so Zoey could lift her upper body out of the water and put them nose to nose before Rumi could pull away.

But even with the scales now prevalent up the full length of her torso, climbing her throat to paint her face with little flickers of gold where freckles had once been. Even with long frilled ears pointed back from her still wavy hair. Even with prominent spined fins down her back and along the back of her forearms, or pointed teeth and glowing yellow eyes… Zoey's smile was still the same.

Rumi took all of her in, stricken with awe as her eyes traveled down to the water and saw a seven foot tail with the same scales and frill curling out into the pool. Breathtaking was an understatement.

“... wow.”

Mira knelt down beside her to join them as Zoey trilled and leaned into Rumi's collar. Shifting her arms back on either side of Rumi to hem her in as she nuzzled as close as she could. Somehow managing not to just bowl her over in her shock.

“Mhm… Same reaction I had the first time,” Mira ran her fingers up Zoey's arm. “This little hideaway is the best spot for her to relax.”

Rumi settled back and kissed the crown of Zoey's head.

“Well don't hold back on my account,” she sighed. “We'll wait right here.”

Zoey giggled and pushed off to twist back into the water, swimming lazy patterned laps around the pool that was almost too small for her… Leaving Rumi to follow Mira's lead, taking her boots off and cuffing up her pants so they could sit with their legs over the edge into the water. Side by side, just watching.

“She seems much better than before…” she said.

“Mm, sea water has some soothing properties for her,” Mira explained. “Really the only reason I let her out of bed.”

The surface of the water bowed up as Zoey strafed along beneath it. Finally breaking it with a flick of the end of her tail before diving down again.

“... I'd wager your initial care was vital for her to be in such good shape now.”

Mira chuckled, “Flattery will only get you so far.”

Even saying so she nudged their shoulders together.

“It's not just flattery if it's true,” Rumi looked at her. “You've taken such excellent care of her. As you attempted to do with me, had I let you.”

“Stubborness is a double edged sword, yes… I prefer when you're earnest. Much more charming~”

She brushed Rumi's hair behind her ear and Rumi caught her arm before she could take it back.

“You think I'm charming?” She asked incredulously.

“Yes, Rumi,” Mira laughed. “Very.”

Rumi wasn't sure she saw the sense in such a claim, but resolved to try and make it true. She idled her fingers along Mira's wrist to her forearm and felt the bandages beneath her sleeve…

“May I see?” She asked, lightly brushing her lips against the back of her fingers.

Such caring hands.

“See what?”

“Mira…”

A pause before Mira gave up her attempt to feign ignorance.

“It's not a pretty sight.”

Her ability to sit there and say that when Rumi had scales along one side of her face was irony at its finest. And Rumi silently pointed this out by drawing the back of Mira's hand up against her cheek and raising an eyebrow.

“You're beautiful, Rumi,” she insisted anyway.

“Then so are you,” Rumi insisted just as firmly. “One of the most beautiful women I've ever seen… You'll not change my mind.”

Mira took her arm from Rumi's grasp and undid the buttons of her shirt.

“To preface,” she mumbled as she shrugged her arm from the sleeve and found the tied end of her bandaging nearest her wrist. “I had no idea what might work to combat something like a curse… Best theory I could come up with was--”

The wrapping loosened enough to fall away and it was quickly clear what Mira had done.

“If the source was removed, it would have nowhere to spread from.”

All along the outside of her arm was still pink scar tissue. Jagged and unmistakable, impossible to miss. But no scales in sight. It ran all the way up to her shoulder before finally stopping, some higher areas fresher than others.

“It doesn't stop though,” she continued on. “When they start coming in fresh I remove them again… but they always come back.”

Rumi reached out to ghost her hand over the scar, asking with just a glance if she could touch it and getting a relenting nod. She traced it with the tips of her fingers, feeling the breadth of it with her thumb before drawing the arm closer so she could hold it to her chest. Threading their fingers together.

“A testament to your skills that it's so contained, honestly,” she noted. “Not to mention the fact you had the willpower to operate on yourself… Color me impressed.”

Mira scoffed quietly, stooping closer so she could whisper conspiratorially between them.

“It hurt like hell,” she shared. “Had to bite down on a strip of leather to keep from cracking my teeth… Don't tell, Zoey.”

Rumi grimaced just barely and kissed the end of the scar nearest Mira's shoulder.

“Beautiful and tenacious.”

“Alright now,” Mira bemoaned. Turning her face away in an attempt to hide the embarrassment Rumi's flattery was causing. “... I've never seen earnestness become a double edged sword too.”

Rumi leaned closer to kiss her cheek, “It goes hand in hand with the stubbornness.”

The water in front of them rippled as Zoey crested the surface and folded her arms over Rumi's lap to settle down for a rest. Quietly trilling in her comfort that only grew in volume as they both began fawning over her.

“You seem pretty formidable even without your coat…” Rumi kept the train of complements moving.

It was easy with them, to be fair.

“You should see me when I do have it,” Zoey hummed without lifting her head. “I'm a force to be reckoned with~”

“You already are,” Mira said. “So that's quite the feat.”

“Yes, I must agree…” Rumi started thinking while idling stroking Zoey's hair. “It's on the ship, then?”

“It is,” Zoey agreed, her tail curling and swaying beneath the water like a banner in the breeze. “It would have to be for Gwi-ma to have me use my abilities.”

Seeing her so comfortable and at home in the water made her confinement while aboard the ship seem so much more unforgivable. Rumi let her hands idle over her shoulders, her back, through her hair, along her cheek. She grinned and leaned into Mira's shoulder… Still in awe she would be allowed this.

That they would so willingly offer something so precious.

“I've searched the whole ship top to bottom for months,” Mira held behind her back as they sat together. “Even managed to check Gwi-ma's quarters last time we made landfall here… no sign.”

He wasn't likely to leave it unattended so easily…

“Does he keep it on his person, you think?”

Zoey shook her head, “Not likely. I would've noticed… Wherever he has it, it hasn't been moved in a long time.”

On board, out of sight, inconspicuous… Rumi would need to brainstorm. Thankfully she would have the time while working on the repairs over the next few days. Or taking inventory, that would let her mill about in the hold without raising suspicion.

“Rumi…” Zoey whined.

She pushed up to kiss her and nuzzle into her chest, determined to be as close to her as possible. Rumi held around her waist instinctively as Mira took her face and turned her head to give her a stern look.

“We can hear the gears turning up there,” she murmured. “Put it off… just for now. Just while we're here.”

How could she refuse? She nodded and leaned to Mira's lips, kissing her slowly before squeezing Zoey close.

For right this moment, she would enjoy her time with two beautiful women.

The furthest from a mistake she could find herself making. And a different lesson to be taken.

The repairs proceeded on schedule with Gwi-ma's estimation of their departure. The rest of the crew made their beds off the ship, while the three of them settled on board out of habit. And a disconnect from the rest, if they were honest. Rumi took the opportunity to sleep up in the med bay, enjoying more sunlight in the morning than she would ever get down in the depths of the cargo hold. And with the rest of the crew ashore during those hours there was nobody to question her about it.

Or ask why she woke up with one or both of the girls curled up with her. Enjoying them in the predawn hush even more than the rising sun.

But always sure to follow her usual routine of waking to get to work with first light, so she wouldn't draw suspicion.

Leaving no reason for the rest of the crew to badger them about it… not the first day at least.

Some time between midnight and dawn of the second she was woken up by a slamming door and a hand quickly covering her mouth. Eyes darting up to find Mira up and half dressed already with a finger to her lips to shush her.

“Mira!” An impatient voice shouted. “C'mon, hurry up!”

Zoey went tense in Rumi's arms, already practiced in keeping still and quiet in such situations. It broke Rumi's heart.

“Coming,” Mira called back, irritation clear as she finished buttoning her shirt enough and pulled on a pair of pants. “You better have a damn good reason to be waking me up, Bailey.”

Slipping easily back into her usual demeanor that felt so wrong after the last day and evening they'd spent together. But Rumi did as requested and kept silent as she watched Mira throw the little door to her bunk open to burst out and slam it behind her.

“We were just--”

“What the hell did you do?!” Mira's natural care snuck into her voice just a little before she could cover it with more exasperation. Rumi knew it too well to miss now. “Sit him here, I'll take care of it.”

The sound of multiple boots over the wood planks said Bailey wasn't the only one there before another voice started shamefully mumbling an explanation. Some dare gone wrong, with alcohol involved of course. Rumi listened closely while drawing Zoey closer to her chest.

“May have… didn't mean to break it…” the low voice was only loud enough for Rumi to hear half the conversation. “Hurts like hell--”

“Right, right,” Mira dismissed his pathetic excuses. “I'm sure our golden shipwright can take a look after the ship repairs are done. And you'll live to drink another day.”

The treatment continued with only soft clatter and steps as Bailey and maybe one other man idled waiting. Rumi just hoped it wasn't something the man would need to stay in the med bay for. She and Zoey couldn't very well hide in Mira's bunk all day--

“Can't help but notice,” Bailey tutted suddenly. “That you've been treating the little fish…”

Rumi tensed protectively around Zoey and held her breath.

“What of it?”

"She's supposed to be getting punished… Pretty bold--” Bailey continued.

“Last I checked,” Mira cut him off. “We have a vested interest in her remaining able bodied and healthy.”

Bailey clicked his tongue, “She always heals fast--”

“Regardless, I'm sure Gwi-ma wouldn't enjoy having her unable to do as he wishes. Best not take chances… unless you wanna see him angry?”

The effect of disinterest in her voice played the whole thing off. Made it sound patronizing and self serving… to anyone who didn't know better. The uncomfortable mumbling of two other voices said it worked. But Bailey wasn't finished yet.

“You seen her since we docked? Or the shipwright fer that matter?”

Zoey's turn to give Rumi a comforting squeeze.

“Pretty sure I've mentioned before that I am not a babysitter,” Mira said.

“Mhm…” an agonizing pause. “So which is it? You a busy body who tends to every little scrape, or you a frigid bitch?”

Another of the men--presumably the one Mira was treating--let off a grunt of surprised pain.

“Both,” Mira droned. “I'm the bitchiest doctor you'll ever meet. I'd have to be to keep up with you idiots--”

A scuffle broke out.

“Bai--!” One of the crewmen said.

Ineffective in stopping whatever skirmish filled the space with clattering and the pop of glass breaking. Rumi pushed herself up as her first instincts were worry and the urge to help. But Zoey clung to her to keep her weighed down on the bed. Face pressed to her chest and arms tense as she shook her head.

If they got caught--

“Gwi-ma replaces shipwrights often enough,” Bailey growled. “You think he can't find another doctor? You think you're irreplaceable if something goes wrong?”

Rumi grit her teeth and waited in the quiet as the tension bled through the wall. Still in the silence even if it was against every instinct she had. And the faintest rumble of a growl from Zoey straight through to her own chest said she wasn't the only one.

Bailey scoffed, and after a softer thump came shifting boots and light crunch of glass bits being stepped on.

“That's what I thought,” he chuckled. “Better watch that mouth next time, worthless piece of shit.”

Rumi listened to them leave. The groan of wood legs scraping the floor, and finally the door slamming again. Then quiet. She opened her mouth to call for Mira, but caught herself when she heard more shuffling movement.

Quieter. Smaller. More controlled and precise.

Mira…

She and Zoey released each other to climb softly out of the bed, too small for the three of them but not enough to keep them from being stubborn. They barely touched the door before Mira spoke up from the other side.

“There's glass… don't come out.”

Her voice still sounded disengaged. The mask was still firmly in place. Rumi folded her arms to hold her chest together as she leaned her shoulder to the frame.

“You come in then,” she said. “The glass can wait.”

A pause. Rumi's hand found the handle of the door but waited. And Mira's voice was smaller when she spoke again.

“I really should get it…”

Zoey put both hands to the door and aimed her eyes exactly at the height Mira's would be if the barrier wasn't between them.

“Please, Mimi,” she sighed. “Please…”

Rumi felt the handle move under her fingers, letting go to stand by and wait as the door slowly opened. Leaving Mira standing there where they could both reach out and draw her back into the space. Rumi caught her against herself and noted the angry red color of her cheek, the scuff to the corner of her mouth, and the distant emptiness in her eyes.

“Mira,” she cooed. “We've got you.”

Her expression stayed measured, but her eyes came back into focus to blink at them. Quickly filling with tears to spill over as Rumi pulled her down to her shoulder.

“Shhh, we've got you,” she repeated, wrapping Mira up tight in her arms. “We're here.”

“You're not worthless, Mimi,” Zoey kissed her shoulder. Finding her hand to thread their fingers together. “You're everything.”

“Exactly. Nobody could replace you.”

They got a quiet nod of agreement as Mira continued to cling to them and catch her breath through the flow of tears. Holding her longer, as long as they could before Rumi would have to slip out to go work for the day. With plenty of parting kisses and promises of more in the evening to make up for lost time.

It just seemed like everything was a matter of catch up for them. But it wouldn't always be.

Rumi wouldn't let it last forever.

It was three days on, with the repairs finished to leave her cleaning things up in the workshop that afternoon, when Gwi-ma approached her again.

“All finished, Rumi-ya?” He asked while his eyes scanned the side of the ship.

“Yes, sir,” she stepped out along the dock to point out the work for him. “The replacement fits snug and the seal is set. She's ready to shove off as soon as you are.”

She couldn't help thinking of the notes of the past shipwrights. Completing repairs leading to their end… and wondering when the other shoe might drop. Fully prepared to refuse to go down without a fight--

“Excellent,” he chuckled. “We'll see about getting everyone sobered up to start dealing with stock and inventory. Hope you're ready to start cooking again.”

He swung his claw around to thump her on the back before marching off down the dock.

“... Yes, sir.”

So her days weren't numbered just yet. She swallowed back the relief for now to gather a few extra tools from the workshop to bring aboard. Lugging a small wooden box-full up the gang plank and down below. Having the door to the med bay open as she passed it.

“Are you alright?” Mira caught her in her tracks, gently hooking her arm to draw her inside. “I saw him talking to you…”

She was fussing, holding Rumi still to check her over for anything out of place. Rumi held the box to one side so she could lean into her.

“I'm fine,” she said. “I explained the repairs… he mentioned supplies and me getting back to cooking. No sign of any intentions...”

Mira drew her hands down her arms and sighed as some of the worry faded. Just a little. Kissing Rumi's forehead.

“... good… that's good…”

Good for now… the threat still loomed.

“Can I ask… the repairs the last few shipwrights worked on, right before… Do you remember what they were?”

Mira kept rhythmically brushing her thumbs against Rumi's arms. Thinking the matter over. Rumi felt bad asking, but it might prove useful knowledge to have going forward.

“Usually severe damage to the hull,” Mira finally said. “The sort that meant we took on water.”

One more piece to the puzzle. But that wasn't enough.

“Do you remember where?” She asked.

“Near the front, I think... Yes, around the bow. Why?”

“The notes have been tampered with so I didn't see any details mentioned,” Rumi said slowly. “Which is strange…”

Keeping a log of repair was only beneficial to any ship. Especially one with such history, and dealing with so many different hands working on repairs. She stood straighter to kiss Mira's cheek. The corner of her lips, which had been healing nicely.

“I'm sorry to ask.”

Mira turned her head quickly to kiss her properly.

“If it can help you better prepare I'd prefer to tell you. Or be of any other use. You need only ask.”

Rumi smiled and stepped right up against her. Close and held for just a moment before she pulled back again.

“If I think of anything else, I will. Thank you, Mira.”

She caught Mira's hand when she reached out. Lifting it to press her lips to her palm before stepping back out to continue on her way to the hold.

The crew got to work, sober or otherwise, and spent a good part of the evening loading and refreshing the ship. Encouraged by their captain's enthusiasm to get back on the water.

And by next morning light the call was going up around the cove to raise anchor and untie lines. An all clear had been sounded by one crewman rushing down ladders and catwalks from the top of the cavern to get back aboard. Rumi watched from the main deck as lines were run from the ship to allow several of the crew to pull it back from the dock. Then lines of long oars passed out to the crew so they could slowly row the vessel out from the cave and back onto the open grey sea.

Free and clear to continue about their reign of terror.

A glance across the deck found Zoey resting arms folded on the railing, watching the island steadily be left behind. And Rumi understood.

“What's for breakfast, Rumi-ya?!” Hanes shouted from the rigging.

“You'll just have to see,” she called back.

Tearing her eyes away to pretend she hadn't been tempted to comfort her. That this was just another day she was meant to follow her routine. Left to her usual duties like the rest of the crew…

It meant the first opportunity she got to stop pretending was laced with actionable remorse. As soon as Zoey slipped through the door to her room that evening and ran to her she accepted her into her arms.

“Soon…” she promised. “We'll find it.”

Settling into the task of soothing her. Leaving behind the one place the three of them had gotten a taste of freedom was enough to dampen anyone's spirits. But Zoey seemed glad to be with her now.

“Has Gwi-ma bothered you again?” Rumi asked.

Zoey shook her head, “He's back to business as usual… I think your work has him in a better mood now.”

“Good… I'm glad to have placated him then.”

“He doesn't deserve it.”

Rumi grinned, “No. But you do… Will you be joining me tonight?”

It was fairly obvious, but Rumi would like to hear the answer, so she asked. Her heart fluttered when Zoey turned her face up from her chest to give her the most pleading eyes Rumi had seen.

“Can I?” She asked. “You think it's safe?”

She was always free to join her for the night. The only difference now was that Rumi openly craved her company. At least, openly to Zoey.

“Nobody seems to have been quizzical about it in the past,” Rumi reasoned. “And I wake before everyone else anyway… I'd be happy to have you.”

The soft, cloying movements of her hands should've been proof enough of that. Drawing Zoey closer.

“Always…” Zoey sighed, pressing up against her and squeezing her tight. “You can have me.”

Rumi was glad she couldn't see the way her face was turning red. Considering the implications those words could bring. She busied herself combing through Zoey's hair, just turning to lead her to her makeshift bedding without further comment when Zoey refused to move.

“Zo--?”

“You can you know,” she mumbled when their eyes met again. “Have me… However you like.”

Hearing her say that with such a casual smile had Rumi's thoughts stuttering to a dead halt. Restarting rapidfire to question if Zoey knew what she was offering… Rumi moved her hand from her hair to trace along her jaw, watching as Zoey tilted her head at the touch.

“Is that what you want?” She asked quietly.

“... I want you to keep me.”

Rumi bit her lip and took either side of Zoey's jaw to hold her still as she leaned closer. Making sure she had Zoey's full attention. It was easy to command in this moment. In this position.

“I can keep you however you wish… Gladly.”

Zoey's smile went nowhere, navigating the buttons of Rumi's shirt by touch alone to open it down to her waist. Leaving her hands free access to the skin beneath. Zoey always called her warm, but her own hands were just the same. Feather light to begin with fingertips until she could press her palms to Rumi's sides and obviously enjoy every slight twitch it brought.

“Like this then…” she whispered. “Won't you~?”

Rumi found herself closer to her lips than she remembered being. Forcing her wits back about her to nod. She dropped her hands to Zoey's collar the moment she had her lips caught against her own. Kissing her again and again as she undid her shirt and folded it back from her shoulders. Painted with more freckles to match her flushed cheeks. And Rumi suddenly found herself a hundred degrees and still burning when Zoey's hands moved up over her ribs.

This was the opposite of being careful. Strangely she couldn't bring herself to care. Some lessons weren't made to be learned. She mirrored the smile on Zoey's lips as she reached around to pull her close and move her to the ‘bed’ behind them.

Zoey was meant to be learned. To be memorized, inch by inch.

“Have you--have you done this before?” She gasped against Zoey's neck.

Sure to hold her up against her chest as they hit the blankets before letting her down and nuzzling her fondly. Intent on kissing every inch of her sunkissed shoulders while burying a hand in her hair to hold her still. She trailed her lips up from there to the front of her throat until she'd reached her jaw. All bared to her with full confidence. Zoey's arms hooked up the back of Rumi's shirt as she settled right in and hummed.

“I have,” she sighed. “With Mira… But I'd like to with you.”

Some fumbling and she hooked the inside of the shirt to tug it down Rumi's arms. Giggling and pulling at it until Rumi could stand to take her hands away long enough to remove each arm from its sleeve. Sweet and eager in a way that left Rumi swooning for her. Equally eager to do whatever it took to satisfy her excitement, even if the usual nerves of pressure were building at the base of her ribs. This was Zoey, she didn't need to feel that way.

The familiar wanting handily overrode it.

Rumi kissed down the center of her chest. “It would seem we're like minded then… I'll do my best.”

Zoey's hand buried into her hair just as she'd trailed her lips down to the waist of her pants. Her grip light but insisting that Rumi look up at her. Eyes filled with such adoration Rumi didn't think she needed to worry in the least about her performance. She just thought about Zoey.

And how much she wanted to give her everything.

Once given she crawled up to settle in beside her. Stroking through her hair at a gentle rhythm to encourage her to rest. Watching her flushed and happy was more than enough for her tonight.

“Once we're able, you'll have to show us the sea where you're from,” Rumi whispered. “We can find ourselves a little sloop and sail there.”

“Your family will want to know you're safe first,” Zoey yawned, tilting her head to chase Rumi's touch. “After that though, there are plenty of places I would love to show you both on the seas…”

“I'll look forward to it…”

Zoey put forth colossal effort to push herself up from the bedding. Guiding Rumi over onto her back to put both hands flat on either side of her waist as she began kissing along her jaw. It succeeded in getting her to lift her chin to make room as she traced her hands along Zoey's arms without protest. Only a soft sigh, feeling her settle herself along and rest her head against Rumi's collar as the last bit of tension drained from her. Rumi draped her arms around her back to hold her. Already comfortable enough to be tired just having her weight against her chest.

Glad to be right here. Missing Mira being able to join them… And thoughts drifting to the faint scars beneath her hands. To what was keeping them from everything they wanted.

“I'm going to ask you a hard question…” she warned. “but did Gwi-ma say anything in particular while he was punishing you?”

She tightened her hold when she felt Zoey squirm. Knowing the difficulty answering might be, and fine waiting. Kissing gently around the crown of her head to apologize for the question.

“He said I should've learned my lesson by now…” Zoey's voice scratched through the constriction of her throat. “That he uh… a lot about how I'm his, and…”

Rumi took a deep breath and kissed Zoey's forehead.

“You're not his,” she whispered, managing to keep herself from crying by spite alone. “You're ours.”

Zoey held her tighter and nodded, pressing the bridge of her nose into Rumi's neck. Digging her arms beneath her to grasp over her shoulders to curl just that little bit closer.

“He said s-something about me almost costing him another shipwright… but that's all--that's all I remember.”

“Alright… That's enough, Zoey,” Rumi insisted. “That's more than enough. Thank you for telling me.”

She turned to put Zoey's back to the bedding, twice thankful tonight that the stints swimming in the grotto had left her more recovered than she would have been otherwise. Staying propped over her as she carefully brushed her tears away.

“Soon,” she pressed her lips to Zoey's cheek and whispered to her skin. “Nobody will keep you but us… and we'll never let you go.”

“... be careful,” Zoey said. “Focus on that first.”

Rumi brushed her hair back, tracing her hands to the back of Zoey's jaw to tip her head up so she could brush their lips together. Loving the way Zoey melted against her fingers and let her eyes flutter shut. Leaving her to give her a proper kiss, then a generous few more before resting their cheeks together.

“You too… please.”

They settled in together and quickly drifted off to the rock of the ship. With Rumi unable to shake the common denominator in all the strange instances they'd each told her about.

It has to be something to do with the hull.

She marched her way above deck the next morning after breakfast, journal in hand ready to take notes as she went to the bow of the ship and turned smartly to start pacing lengthwise along towards the back of the ship. Making it look like she was just inspecting when in actuality she was counting her steps.

Because calculating for a minor difference to account for the slight tapering to the shape of the hull, there would be a consistent discrepancy… unless.

Once the top deck measure was done she made a few notes to cover her calculations and descended down to the middle deck. And, again, she began a walking measure of that section of the ship next. Of course finding the steady curve of the hull to leave a smaller measurement than above. As expected of a brigantine of their size.

And so, if I measure the hold…

More notes and scribbled calculations as she descended the stairs to do the same thing again. And again, a smaller measurement than previous… but noticeably smaller than it should have been compared to the middle deck. Which shouldn't have been the case going by the shape of the hull exterior. The slope should have been an even, steady decline. And based on the design it should have been consistent overall.

But it wasn't. None of it measured up properly… And she had a feeling as to why.

She snapped her journal shut and collected herself. Tucking the book back into her bag to go about her day. Her mind was already racing but she had to be discreet and smart about all this. She had to be patient.

“Rumi, one of the capstan rods um… snapped,” Bailey called as he shuffled down the stairs. “Not sure how but--”

“Easy fix,” she strolled over to follow him up. “Do you have the broken one?”

He kept babbling about tripping this and pushing that and how he didn't really see what happened then the rod was splintered in two. Rumi just nodded along and didn't say a word about her suspicions that someone was just careless again. About how they should respect her work more, let alone their own damn ship. About how she could break another of the rods over the back of his head considering she hadn't forgotten what he said to Mira.

But it was better not to make waves, now more than ever.

She had to wait.

Until evening, when she could slip into the med bay again unnoticed.

“What do you ne--?” Mira acted as usual until she saw the look on Rumi's face as she locked the door behind her. “What is it?”

At that point her demeanor shifted and she stood from her desk to hurry to her. And Rumi refrained from answering until they were right upon each other.

“I know where the coat is,” Rumi rushed quietly, maybe too eager after holding it in all day. “Well--I’m almost certain--it just makes the most sense so I-I think it has to be…”

Mira held her by the arms to steady her, leaning over to meet her eyes.

“Slow down… What did you find?”

Rumi calmed herself again.

“You and Zoey have said the hull keeps ending up a point of contention,” she said. “With the past shipwrights, and this past attack it seems Gwi-ma was worried about how it was damaged and that meaning I might be disposed of, but it didn't. Because only the side was damaged.”

Mira nodded slowly but didn't seem to understand yet. Rumi blamed herself for explaining poorly. She held her hands up to try and illustrate her point.

“I measured. The ship doesn't measure correctly from the inside,” she said. “The difference from the top deck, to the middle, to the hold doesn't taper the way it's supposed to. The way it clearly does from the outside.”

“... right?” Mira nodded more intently.

Her lips twitched in amusement but she stayed focused.

“Right! There's no reason for that to be the case unless the interior wall is thicker than necessary,” Rumi smiled. “I think there's a false layer added to the hull down in the hold… That could explain why the previous shipwrights were disposed of. Why their notes were tampered with. Why Gwi-ma was so worried about the recent damage--”

“Because the discrepancy would be noticed while making the repairs,” an electric energy started to build within Mira as realization dawned in her eyes. “Rumi, that's brilliant!”

They beamed at each other before embracing, Mira leaning back to lift Rumi off her feet. By the time she was set back down Rumi had wiped her smile away to sober up and talk strategy.

“Of course knowing that doesn't mean reaching it will be easy. If that's really the case,” she continued her ramble. “If I have my bearings right it's near the bow of the ship, in the hold, but that's still so much ground to cover… And prying it open will be a task--”

Mira scooped an arm around her waist and kissed her so hard she tipped backwards. Finally breaking away gasping for air before cradling her cheek to kiss her with more tenderness. Incessant, but tender. As she so often was when her emotions got to be too much.

“We'll figure it out,” she breathed between kisses. “Rumi you did more than I ever could, even in months. Take a little pride in that.”

Rumi's fingers caught against Mira's shirt. Receptive to everything Mira saw fit to give her.

“It's… It's only the first step,” she sighed, her arm quickly moving up behind Mira's shoulders to stay as near as possible. “There's planning left… Mm, w-we're only likely to get one chance…”

They couldn't risk failure… but it was getting harder to focus properly when Mira was being so… Mira. All at once and so close.

“I'm proud of you,” she grinned against Rumi's lips and dipped down to kiss her neck. “You deserve the praise… Have you told Zoey?”

They staggered back to the wall as Rumi continued to melt under Mira. Tugging her shirt as she kept kissing along her neck to the front of her throat.

“... I haven't,” she mumbled. “Tonight… But I-I wanted all of us to have time to… to think…”

Mira came back up to kiss her firmly again. Bracing the back of her head with her hand to keep from pushing it into the wood of the wall. Because she was kissing her with enough force, and Rumi was glad to allow her to.

“I will,” Mira purred. “I'll think it over… While I'm thinking of you two~”

Soon they would be free to be this, always. Rumi grabbed Mira to return her advances with more vigor. Settling between her arms and forgetting where one of them ended and the other began. Soon all three of them could enjoy the feeling without having to take care, without having to worry about getting caught.

Soon.

Ultimately the safest plan they could settle on came with the most risk to others. With the number of crew on board constantly moving around the ship, and their available capabilities, the only real chance to make any sort of escape was…

“During another raid,” Rumi said, voice hollow as she stood at the kitchen counter making breakfast with Zoey. “… It's the best I can come up with.”

Zoey sidestepped to lean into Rumi's hip, conforming to her like she was always meant to be there. And at this point Rumi was certain she had space for two for that very reason. One side for Zoey, the other for Mira.

“... If we're quick enough, I could rescue whatever ship Gwi-ma targets before things get too out of hand,” she reasoned. “Still… I know it's not ideal.”

It was clear Rumi wasn't happy about the idea. Far from it. It was sweet of Zoey to try and soften the blow.

“If you could tell Mira…? Maybe we can get a few things together and sneak them to the lifeboat a little at a time--”

Fingertips brushed along Rumi's waist as Zoey leaned closer so she wouldn't need to speak as loud, “I'll make the thunder as loud as possible. You and Mira can break through the wall in the chaos, get my coat, and I can take things from there… We'll be safe in the storm cover and Gwi-ma's power will be gone.”

Rumi set her knife down and kept watching her hands against the counter or focusing on Zoey's weight pressed against her. Unable to look her in the eye but leaning into her looking for comfort. Her tongue passed against her teeth and nicked the canine that'd gotten sharper recently. On the same side of her face as the rest of the curse. She'd been having more and more trouble ignoring it.

“I know… It's our best chance…”

“You don't have to be happy about it.”

“Good, because I'm not… but I want us to leave.”

Zoey pushed her into turning until she had her back against the counter. Pinning her between her arms to stare intently up at her. She wasn't one to let Rumi shy away and brood anymore.

“If there was a safer time to get to the coat, we would take it,” she assured. “There'll be no better chance unless we wait for another trip to the cove, and there could be triple the raids in that time.”

If I'd figured things out sooner--

Zoey held around her waist and kissed along her jaw. Pressing so close Rumi could feel her heart beating through her shirt, until she couldn't help but rest her arms about her shoulders.

“Please don't dwell over this. You got us closer to ending everything than either of us have been able to get in months and years,” Zoey begged softly. “I love that warmth in you, but I don't like when it hurts you.”

“You keep talking about warmth and me being warm…” she carded her fingers through Zoey's hair. “What do you mean?”

Zoey smiled and tilted her head to follow Rumi's hand. She always seemed plenty warm herself, the curiosity just got the best of her.

“Your heart. Here,” Zoey murmured, pressing a kiss to the left of Rumi's chest. “It's tender, and so full of care and kindness… sometimes it just seems so fragile because of it. Luckily you're a little too tenacious to let it stay broken.”

Rumi sighed, “So you're just calling me soft-hearted… I guess I'll take it as a complement.”

Zoey stood up on the tips of her toes to get closer to Rumi's face. Grinning as she kissed the corner of her mouth then rubbed their cheeks together.

“Good… because it is one.”

So close Rumi was practically buried in the scent of the sea, still--always--clinging to her. But Rumi didn't doubt how much she wanted her anymore. Slowly retracting her arms to trace her hands down her chest to curl about Zoey's hips.

“Have I mentioned before that you smell nice?” She whispered to her.

Stooping just barely as her arms scooped her up from low against her back to lift her into an embrace. Desperate and wanting. Encouraged by Zoey returning it in kind.

“Do I~?” she asked.

The lilt to it put the image of a smile in mind even if Rumi's face was buried away against her where she couldn't see. She'd memorized the way they smiled.

“Yes. Very much…”

Rumi let her voice fade as she found Zoey's lips and claimed them. Leaning off the counter to chase her down and enjoy them again and again. Slowly, softly, utterly. Lost in the uniquely Zoey taste of the sea. And smiling more by the moment.

I'm sorry, she thought with fleeting attention as she slipped her tongue between Zoey's teeth hunting for more. Elated by the encouraging moan as much as the grasp of her hands. I'll be keeping her when this is over… from now on.

The sea may have been desperate to hold her, but Rumi was too. No matter how selfish, no matter the cost… Who knew she'd find not one, but two things to covet so much?

Maybe time with pirates had influenced her after all.

The plan was set in the days that followed.

Before the next raid Rumi would take time in the evenings to examine the false wall for the fastest way to bypass it. Mira would gather as many medical supplies as possible so they would be ready. And Zoey would steadily sneak supplies to the lifeboat.

It all seemed to be coming together…

Until it wasn't.

A ruckus from the middle deck woke Rumi in the middle of the night as boots crossed the boards above. Shouts of Zoey's name and building anticipation seeped through the timber.

Zoey was in the med bay tonight.

Rumi flung her blanket aside and pulled on her boots and jacket as she rushed through the hold. Just familiar enough by now to not need a lantern to find the stairs. And freezing at the bottom as she heard more of what the crew was saying.

“All hands!”

“Ship to starboard! We'll come upon it within a half hour!”

“Zoey! Captain's callin for ya!”

“Maybe the hold?”

Rumi held her breath before Zoey's voice joined theirs. All growing quieter as the crew rushed to gather topside.

“I'm here. I'm here,” she announced. “Sorry, I won't hold us up.”

Not caught… but still--

It's too soon.

Rumi cursed them moving too slowly again. Could they make it work or would they need to wait again? Would they doom another ship? Zoey wouldn't be able to spare another, Rumi wasn't even sure she could bring herself to ask for--

She made to turn back once the hall went quiet and heard a lingering set of footfalls hurrying towards the stairs above. Looking back to find the gleam of lantern light reflecting off Mira's glasses as she came down the stairs. And Rumi met her at the bottom.

“What do we do?” She asked. Calm as usual under pressure, but the strength of her grip gave a glimpse beneath. “We don't have things ready.”

“I know, let me…” Rumi squeezed her hand and thought quickly.

Thunder rumbled loud enough to shake the walls of the ship, lingering long enough the cheers from above were barely audible. Zoey was keeping to the plan.

“We can try, if you feel up to it?” Rumi asked. “You gather what you can, I'll get the coat? Then we meet above to make sure things are clear, and we run.”

Mira nodded. She pulled Rumi in and kissed her.

Be careful.

Rumi pressed her face into Mira's collar for a hug then broke away.

You too.

Leaving them both to run and do their parts. Less than half an hour before things kicked off. Before almost the entire crew was off the ship or otherwise occupied to give them a clear shot to escape.

Rumi grabbed her tool bag and a lantern to set to work.

Instantly glad for the commotion and thunder to buffer, as prying the first board loose let her know this would not be quiet. The old nails groaned against the wood rusted from years on the water. Every pause between distractions had her straining to hear if anyone was coming down the stairs. But she thought of what was at stake and kept going with the very next crack of thunder to dampen her task. Getting her fingers between the gap and yanking the first board away. Met with dust and the smell of mildew as she held the lantern closer and saw nothing else beyond.

Nearer the other side?

Jabbing her chisel between the next set of boards she calmed herself and pried again as the thunder crashed. The ship lurched and her chisel slipped from its purchase as she slammed against the hull. Listening as the sound of boots charging in mass gave way to the raid beginning.

Don't panic.

She grit her teeth and grabbed the chisel from the floor to start again, pulling with all her might when the next bout of thunder rolled through the ship.

They're counting on you.

The board broke away and she held the lantern close to look without setting all the dust ablaze. Still no sign.

Rushing means mistakes, stay calm.

They couldn't risk mishap this close to their goal. With so much on the line. She stood back from the wall and held the lantern high, tracing the whole wall with her eyes. Considering Gwi-ma's height… she needed to look higher.

She set everything aside and ran for the biggest crate she could move by herself, shouldering it across the hold to thump against the wall. Then she grabbed her chisel and clambered up on top of it, gaging the wall to just about where Gwi-ma's eye level would be and stabbing in to force another board loose. Hearing a crack in the wood and yanking it free to peer inside.

Even through the years of dust the light from the lantern caught against a length of material folded longways and pinned along the hull horizontally. She reached right in past cobwebs and her fingers glided over the dappled fabric, softer than anything she'd ever felt before. Drawing it into better light, not even the years being shut away seemed to have affected its quality. It draped waist length, thick enough to be warm about the shoulders.

This was Zoey's. She hugged it to her chest with a relieved sigh.

Jarred from her silent celebration by the avalanche of boots hitting the deck above. Something was wrong. This was far too soon, had they not found much…?

She had to hide the coat and check in before they came looking.

The safest place would be--

She ran straight into Jinwoo as she was fixing her jacket coming up the stairs to the middle deck.

“Sorry--” she grinned.

“Captain's calling all hands,” he thumbed over his shoulder.

“Oh? I didn't think I'd be needed for the raid, was there damage to the--?”

“Ain't for the raid,” he turned and waved for her to follow. “S'for a lesson.”

Rumi's heart dropped as she nodded and hurried to follow. Greeted by the jeers and mutterings of the rest of the crew gathered round to behold Gwi-ma towering over all of them at the center of the deck. A quick glance to the side showed the target of the raid still bobbing haplessly in the sea beside them… and Zoey being held back from the crowd as a whole by Hanes.

“Here I thought everyone was aware of how we deal with sneaks aboard this ship,” Gwi-ma spoke over the heads of the crew.

The rain had let up to a fine mist, but the thunder still loomed above. Light danced among thick black clouds. The crew's laughter rolled over the deck as they all agreed, sounding off in response.

“Bout fucking time~” Bailey snickered from a few feet over.

Rumi started shouldering her way through. Steadily with more force and persistence as the shock gave way to dread thinking of what she would find, but not willing to let that stop her.

“Color me surprised to see you of all people acting shifty~” Gwi-ma continued, turning his gaze to the deck with a smirk. “Always had my doubts… but I took you for smarter than this, Mira.”

Rumi broke to the front of the ring just in time to hear him say her name. Finding Mira forced down to her knees, arms held behind her back, one side of her face an angry red again and her glasses lost somewhere. Half her hair fallen down from the style she usually kept it in to keep it out of her way. She kept her head down and didn't look at anyone or say anything.

Think of something.

Gwi-ma reached his claw down around her shoulder and gave a slow squeeze until she started crying out while thrashing to free herself.

“Playing the long game, were ya?” He chuckled. “And I treated you so well, I thought~”

He'll kill her… He's going to kill her if I don't think of something!

As much as Rumi felt the urgency building in her chest, as fast as it built it just as quickly receded to let a strange calm rush in to take its place.

She knew exactly how to help her.

“I really hate to do this, but I can't very well let such behavior go unpunished,” Gwi-ma hummed.

He hooked his claw from Mira's shoulder up around her neck, lifting her head back just about to squeeze when Rumi spoke up.

“I'm the one in need of punishment then.”

Everyone went quiet as all eyes came to find her. Shifting slowly around the inside of the ring.

Gwi-ma raised an eyebrow, “... is that so, Rumi-ya?”

Mira shook her head slightly, but Rumi kept talking.

“It is,” she admitted freely. “You see, this was all my plan… I thought to take the lifeboat and run. I chose the next raid as the perfect time… I only convinced Mira to help me.”

Mira looked like she would be denying this, if she hadn't had a giant claw still clamped around her throat. Gwi-ma scoffed and tsked his tongue lazily to his teeth.

“Well that's a damn shame. Sit tight there and I'll be sure to get to you next.”

Rumi didn't allow his attention to drift, “I thought between the two of us we would have better odds surviving open water.”

“That so--?” Gwi-ma was not convinced to be deterred.

His claw closed slowly before Rumi went in for the kill.

“Yes, I instructed her to ready the lifeboat. While I was down in the hold… sabotaging the hull.”

A suffocating pressure filled the air as Gwi-ma froze, slowly turning towards her. The crew standing behind her shifted to either side to avoid the piercing gaze their captain leveled her with while she just kept talking.

“But it's the strangest thing,” she said slowly. “The interior hull is so much thicker than necessary… I presume for security but honestly it just unbalances the ship--”

Her little dare had the intended effect. Mira was all but forgotten as Gwi-ma closed in on her in only a couple strides. Continuing to advance as she scrambled backwards until her back hit the ship's railing and left her no more room to run. His claw quickly found its way around her neck to hold her in place, bent back and off balance as he menaced over her.

“Rumi--!” Mira choked out.

Her voice raspy and desperate as she was kept restrained. Held back with the murmuring and restless crew who had no idea what was happening now.

They don't know. He never told--

“Care to guess what happened to the last shipwright who dared to sabotage me?” Gwi-ma hissed through his teeth.

His eyes could've burned a hole through her skull. The mask of amused control had fallen away completely and the murderous air about him wasn't just air anymore. He was furious, and murder was very much on the table.

“... no need, I've heard stories,” she grasped either side of the claw trying to hold it apart as she pushed her foot into his hip. “I assume it's the same thing that happens if someone touches something you believe to be yours as well… didn't stop me but--”

The sharp click of metal and a barrel was jabbed against her chest.

“Where?” He snarled.

Rumi didn't have a chance to refuse him an answer, as Zoey grabbed his arm and threw her weight back to pull it away. He yanked himself free and bashed the butt of his flintlock into her jaw to knock her to the ground. With Rumi kicking the heel of her boot into his hip in retaliation.

“Hold her down!” He barked.

The crew hesitated before Jinwoo jumped to pin Zoey beneath himself as the remaining crew not already occupied keeping Mira pinned face down on the deck started forming a new semicircle around the exchange. With a wide berth that still cut Rumi off from her girls.

“I want both of them watching!” Gwi-ma growled, turning cold eyes to Zoey in particular. “Especially you… This is all on you. So you're going to watch closely what happens next.”

“Stop it! Let go!” Mira screamed. “It's me! All of it was me! Please---!”

“Don't!” Zoey growled. “Don't you dare--!”

Gwi-ma jabbed the pistol to the base of Rumi's ribs and didn't hesitate to pull the trigger this time. A crack split the air and a sharp sting bloomed through the whole left side of Rumi's waist. Front to back.

“I don't think so,” he rumbled. Turning just his torso back to shout over the crowd. “This is my ship! And this is what dirty fucking traitors can expect!”

The crew cheered, as if Gwi-ma's triumph was theirs. Everything burned as Rumi grit her teeth and kept struggling. Only exacerbated as Gwi-ma bent her back to the railing and got his face right up to hers.

“Ngh!”

“If you dare try to steal what's mine, I can assure you a slow, agonizing death…” he growled to her ear. “She is mine to keep.”

It was quickly becoming harder to focus past the pain and lack of air reaching her lungs. She gasped a few more quick breaths, drowning in the noise building around them and fumbling in her bag for the one tool that could help her. Glancing aside as Zoey burst into her full glory to knock Jinwoo away with one sweep of her tail. Already swatting others turning to attempt to restrain her again to the side in her rush to reach Rumi. She could take them all if she were free… and Rumi could let her be.

“She's… she's mine to keep now,” she struggled to sound confident. “As long as she'll have me…”

A crooked grin followed as she watched the dawn of realization filled Gwi-ma's eyes. Before he could act upon it her hand came around the handle of her kitchen knife and she swung it around to stab it up into the hinge joint of his claw. Driving it through to sever the tendon keeping it locked and releasing herself amid his curse filled shouting. She pushed off of him to teeter over the railing… and plummeted over the side towards the churning sea.

“You--!”

“NO!”

Gwi-ma's outrage mixed with Mira's anguish before her back hit the water was the last thing she heard as she was swallowed into dark and quiet. Pressing one hand tight over her nose and mouth while the other held the burning hole in her waist.

Don't breathe.

The sting of salt flooding her wound made her lungs seize as she fought against the instinct pain brought. She didn't have much time. Just a moment of peace before she started thrashing to struggle out of her jacket as she kept sinking down. A large splash tossed her under the waves, pushing her further from the ship as the blurry shape that could only be Zoey swam down and grabbed her.

Lit from above by another flash of lightning, Rumi shoved the jacket into her chest. The coat drifted free from where she'd hidden it in the lining, like it was drawn back to its proper owner. And Zoey's eyes widened as Rumi grabbed her and pulled her into a kiss.

Likely her last.

Worth expending what was left of her strength and air. Her lungs spasmed to lose whatever little bit was still in them and everything started fading just as the water around her burst with sudden heat and pressure. Leaving something to scoop up under her and rapidly lift her to the surface.

Met with cries of terror and another boom of thunder as Rumi coughed up sea water. Getting herself propped on her elbow to look up to the sight of a creature that defied reason. Only vaguely human from what little she could see; far, far too large to be one. Too many limbs and eyes. It slammed a clawed and webbed hand down against the bow of the ship as tendrils wrapped around from below to keep it from going anywhere. With a head more drawn out and predatory, its muzzle snarled back too far to show rows of pointed teeth while black hair fell dripping around its hunched shoulders like kelp from the sea floor. Every eye dark as onyx reflecting the light of the moon and stars.

Zoey…

Rumi collapsed against the palm of her hand, breathing with all her effort as she saw the crew of the Demon's Soul scrambling about the deck trying to fight or run below. Webbed fingers closed just enough to cradle her as she curled in on herself.

“All of you are going to die!” Zoey's jaw split into a roar of fury.

She bore down and the ship dipped under her weight. Sending crewmen overboard into the churning waves to be slammed down under more tendrils while the ‘luckier’ ones went toppling against the deck. Only to be snatched up and torn apart, or crushed against the deck.

Rumi watched while grasping at the side of Zoey's hand… eyes drawn to a flash of pink as Mira rushed up through the carnage to hug the railing and leaned dangerously over the side to scream up at them. The one bit of color in this stormy night.

“Don't sink the ship! I need it to save--!”

Rumi blacked out for a moment. Vision only coming back for brief glimpses of swimming gray, lightning, and movement. Her hearing behaved much the same as snippets of terrified screams and death rattles blended with crashing waves and cracks of thunder over the sea. Couched in muffled ringing between her ears. The warmth of Zoey's hand left her and she found herself grabbed and hoisted from familiar decking to be moved.

“You're mine!” Gwi-ma was shouting himself hoarse. “I'm the lord of these waters! The king of the seas! I will remind yo--!”

A single pop of gunfire was quickly followed by a sickening crunch and a screeching roar as Rumi drifted under again.

“Rumi, stay with me! Rumi! --mi…!!”

And stayed there this time.

Rumi

Everything was so sluggish. Her eyelids felt sealed shut, her limbs weighed down with lead. Never in her life could she remember having such a hard time waking… People would worry--

Rumi… please

Was she sinking in the sea? Was it all over?

Were Mira and Zoey at least alright?

“Please… Rumi, please…”

She wanted to return to them. It was the first thought to stick as the world began to feel more real and solid to weigh over her. As her hearing cleared to quiet with only the soft, familiar voice speaking beside her.

“... Mira?” She mumbled.

Blinking the blur from her eyes as the world faded back into focus. The creak of the ship overtaking the ring in her ears as her eyes drifted across the ceiling and found the woman herself. Leaned over her with a look of distraught framed by her newly cracked glasses. Grimacing into a choked sob when she had Rumi's full attention.

“Rumi?” She cradled her face. “Can you hear me?”

“... I can… You're alright?” Rumi dragged her arm up to ghost her hand beside the still red welt on Mira's cheek. “They didn't…? Is Zoey--?”

Mira dropped her head against her shoulder, sniffling and muttering thanks to whatever higher power may be listening.

“I wasn't sure you'd… I worried you wouldn't make it,” she sobbed. “Don't ever do that again!”

“... which part?” Rumi asked.

Her lips twitched into a grin as she dropped her arm to rest over her stomach. Flinching slightly when just that much disturbed her wound. The lightness was not as well received as she hoped.

“Any of it!” Mira pulled back to shout at her. “No drawing the ire of a ruthless madman! No getting shot! No throwing yourself overboard into the middle of the sea to drown! None of it!”

Rumi knew she should be more remorseful, especially seeing how upset Mira was, but the relief at seeing her mostly unharmed was dizzying. She kept listlessly petting Mira's hair as she was scolded, nodding along. Willing to agree to anything.

“Right… None of that.”

“I'm serious, Rumi.”

“As am I.”

“... I would be more inclined to believe you if you weren't smiling at me,” Mira sighed in defeat. “How do you feel?”

She began checking over Rumi's wound but Rumi caught her hand to hold it. Grin fading so she could be sure Mira knew she was serious.

“Relieved you're well enough to scold me…”

Mira rubbed at her eyes in exasperation and leaned over to kiss her.

“Set the earnestness aside for a moment, please,” she begged. “Physically, how do you feel? You're lucky the bullet passed through so cleanly… and you weren't in the water too long--”

Having her ramble on without answering Rumi's worries about Zoey just made her worry more. Rumi wet her lips and squeezed Mira's hand to interrupt her.

“I’m sluggish and everything feels heavy. My… it stings, but otherwise fine,” she said slowly. “You took good care of me, my love… Where is Zoey?”

Mira glanced at one of the porthole windows and leaned down closer to rest her forehead against Rumi's.

“Outside… She's not hurt, but I think she's upset.”

“... why?”

If it was worry over Rumi, wouldn't she rather be with them? Wouldn't she regardless? Was something wrong?

Mira shook her head, “I went up to tell her when I finished tending to you… She wouldn't come inside. She wouldn't say anything. She hasn't since last night.”

Rumi tipped her head to rest it against Mira and dragged her arm around to hold her again. Thankful to have her close.

“Have you slept?”

“... a bit… but not much.”

Rumi blinked slowly and tried to shift around, testing her muscles gingerly to make sure everything was working right. There was a throb in her waist when she tried to engage her core that made her clench her teeth and take a slow breath in then back out.

“It hurts a little to move, but can you help me?”

“... you really shouldn't get up--”

“I know. I know, Mir… But I'll rest a lot better if I have both of you. If I know you're both alright… Please?”

She waited for Mira to give in. Ready to try harder to convince her, and maybe Mira knew she would keep trying. Because just a few minutes of stalling later she dug her arm behind Rumi's shoulders and held her hand as she helped her sit up. Letting her sit on her own for a moment before loosely closing up her shirt and going through the most gentle process of getting her up out of bed.

Having her there to support a portion of her weight made it easier to adjust to the pounding ache and faint burning left from Mira's expert care. They made their slow way through the deathly quiet ship and up to the main deck.

Noting the faint stains of blood along the decking first before her eyes were drawn beyond the ship itself.

And Rumi was nearly blinded by the bright blue sunny sky. It surprised her to realize how long it had been since she'd seen it so blue, considering she'd gotten used to the overcast gray that'd perpetually followed the Demon's Soul… As the ship rocked in the calm waves she stared out at the beautiful shining sea for miles around them. She'd almost forgotten it could be so lovely.

But that wasn't what they were up here for.

“Zoey?”

There was no sign on deck. Nor over the side. Mira was scanning around as well but she was nowhere to be seen.

“Zoey?” They each called a little louder.

In the midst of stepping closer to the railing the sound of rushing water heralded her return. Rising up the side of the ship and rocking it when she loomed over. Hands against the deck still almost bigger than Rumi. Watching them wordlessly as they waited for the ship to settle with her added weight.

“Zoey…” Rumi smiled. “It's so good to see you, is everything alright? You're not hurt? Your coat wasn't damaged?”

Zoey's lips curled back into a hiss as she menaced closer to them, growling low from the back of her throat. While Rumi's smile faded in confusion she couldn't bring herself to be afraid.

“What's wrong…?” She asked, taking a step closer.

The grimace snarling over Zoey's face deepened as she tensed. Claws digging against the deck and eyes narrowed the nearer they approached. Still Rumi couldn't find an ounce of fear in her heart… remorse felt more apt.

“... are you upset with me?” she asked.

“Yes!” Zoey barked, with a hissing layer beneath her every breath. Wild and inhuman. “How… how could you?”

Still noticeably distraught, full of pain and sorrow. Aching in a different way than Rumi's wound was.

“Zoey, I--”

Her claws scraped along the deck and the ship tipped briefly toward her as she curled forward. Letting off a pitched whine.

“You could have died… Both of you.”

Rumi knew just how close she alone must have been. Never mind Mira, skirting an execution.

“We didn't--”

“You could have,” Zoey growled. “What point would being free have…? They're all dead. But it wouldn't have brought you back…”

“You kept that from happening,” Mira said.

“That's right,” Rumi nodded.

She took her arm from around Mira's shoulders and shuffled closer. Damned if she would let Zoey hurt alone. Wincing at the ache again as Mira followed, ready to catch her if needed.

“You saved me,” she looked up and held her arms out to invite Zoey into them. “I wouldn't be here without the two of you… I'm sorry I worried you.”

Zoey pressed her muzzle into the palms of Rumi's hands and lifted one of her arms to rest behind them. Not quite holding them yet, but at least allowing them to hold her.

“... You'll still keep me?”

Both of them leaned into her.

“Of course we will, my darling,” Rumi sighed. “If you'll let us.”

“Gladly… always,” Mira nodded.

“And I can keep you? Please let me…”

“I'd like that very much. Mir?”

“Please… I've never wanted anything more from anyone else.”

“... step back a moment.”

They did as she asked, backing up a couple steps to give her space. Watching and waiting to see what she would do. Rumi reached back for Mira's hand to hold.

It'll be fine.

Zoey drew her arms in and hunched over them, putting more of her weight over the ship. It creaked and dipped for a moment before her body shifted in an instant from flesh to a crashing wave. Dispersing over the deck to flow past their feet and overboard. And leaving Zoey's human guise behind, wrapped in her coat and nothing else.

The moment Rumi saw her she hurried to get to her.

“Zo--” she breathed.

Thankful to have Zoey rushing to meet her as the ship rocked to right itself from the sudden change. The ache didn't matter, she would hold her as tightly as possible. Turning to reach back for Mira when she came to join them.

“Gently,” Mira warned.

Though she was holding them both just as tightly.

“We can do whatever we like now,” Rumi squeezed them. “Go anywhere…”

“The first place you're going is back to bed,” Mira ordered.

Yet she was the one nuzzling into the both of them so forcefully. With total disregard for her glasses as she knocked them askew. It was clear she wanted to be as close to them as she possibly could be, immediately.

“It's done,” Zoey sobbed, nuzzling up into Rumi's neck. “Finally… I'm…”

“You're free… You can swim whenever you like. Wherever. Do whatever,” Rumi chuckled. “Nobody can stop you now.”

“Wouldn't dream of it,” Mira murmured, bunting each of them. “We'll plan our next moves after some rest.”

“I'll fix us something to eat,” Zoey offered. “If that's alright. It won't be as good as Rumi's cooking, but I've been watching.”

“You'll do wonderfully,” Rumi smiled. “After that we can all rest…”

And from there, anything was possible. Anything was fine. As long as they were the ones doing anything with her.

“Don't strain your stitches,” Mira chided softly on their way above deck. “You're sure you don't want to wait below? If your theory is right they shouldn't fire on us immediately--”

“I'm alright, Mir. I'd rather be there to avoid any risk of misunderstanding,” Rumi sighed.

They were taking the stairs up slowly, to keep Mira from worrying too badly. Even though they'd walked up and down them many times by now.

The sun was shining brightly once again. Cool sea winds passing through their sails and over the deck. As it had been the past few weeks of sailing they'd done. With a lot of help from Zoey to get the ship on track, and Rumi training Mira how to run sails and rigging and the helm since she refused to let Rumi do more than watch while she was recovering.

Things could have been smoother, and faster, but Rumi would never complain about more time with them. Every day they sat down for a meal or curled into bed at night she only felt more lucky.

“They were spotted in this area last,” Zoey announced as she hurried to meet them once they paced out onto the deck. “Should we sail until we find them or weigh anchor to wait for them to find us?”

Her coat was draped about her shoulders, pinned across her lapel with a chain they'd found while rummaging through Gwi-ma's cabin. Loose and comfortable. Right where it belonged as she moved about the deck at complete ease over the seas.

“We can half the sails and list a bit,” Rumi suggested. “No need to rush.”

“And I look okay?” Zoey bounced to a stop at arms reach and held her arms out to turn. “I want to make a good first impression.”

There were plenty of spare clothes once they'd washed and taken in or mended them. Other supplies as well. Rumi reached out to draw her in with a smile.

“You couldn't do otherwise,” she kissed her cheek and straightened the coat on her shoulders. “Just do as they say and stay close to me when they board. I'll explain to Celine quickly… but it may take her a moment to recognize me.”

She tucked a stray lock of hair back over her left ear, brushing against that side of her face.

The curse was gone. Lifted when things had been set right… but where it had touched did not return to how it had been. A jagged pink scar replaced it, down the whole of her face from eyebrow along her neck to her collar. And her eye was still a faint honey brown compared to the other. Better than scales she supposed… just different.

Before she could dwell too long Mira's hands came about her hips.

“It's not such a big change you'd be unrecognizable on sight, Rumi,” she reasoned, leaning over to kiss her shoulder. “While she may worry, I'm sure she'll know you.”

She smiled, trapped between them. Supported on all sides.

“I suppose…”

Her main concern was the inevitable interrogation that came with the recognition. Celine was not likely to let the matter go unexplained… They'd already settled on basics, and agreed to leave Zoey's true nature unmentioned. At least at first.

One shock at a time. Rumi could go into more detail once the panic died down, when there were fewer around to overhear. She never wanted Zoey to be exploited again.

“Oh--!” Zoey perked up.

Just as a high pitched whistle carried along the wind. Mira stepped away from them to hurry up to the helm for a clearer view of the waters around them. Zoey stayed with Rumi as they watched her scan the horizon.

“Is it them?” Rumi called.

Mira stopped at the railing on their port side and took a spyglass from her belt to check.

“Galleon, blue accents?” She sounded off. “I think navy sails… Wavecutter is the name?”

“That's her,” Rumi confirmed. “We're flying the white flag, yes? All cannons pointed skyward?”

“Mhm, I raised everything this morning so we'd be ready,” Zoey hugged her before running off again. “Raise sails?”

Rumi's hand came to rest at her waist instinctually as she walked across the deck to the capstan. Near the bow.

“Aye,” she called. “Weighing anchor. Mira, be ready on the helm.”

“Ready.”

The creak of rigging and wood put Rumi more at ease as she grabbed the metal locking catch on the capstan and shoved the lever to release it. Quickly backing up as the chain rattled from just below to drop their anchor into the sea. The sails slowly folding up along the mast struts to let them slow ahead of the heavy landing. The force of which rocked the ship to a gentle halt on the waves.

“How far out?” She asked as she headed back along the railing to watch.

“Based on their speed… twenty minutes? Fifteen maybe, they're moving pretty fast,” Mira replied. “Must still be sore about the last time they lost us.”

Rumi leaned over the railing and smiled.

“She'll have hated that, yes.”

They finished locking down the ship's gear before coming to stand with her. All watching the Wavecutter make its approach.

Finally standing back as it looped alongside them and dropped gangplanks once they'd reached boarding distance.

“Hands where we can see!” The first few to rush the deck held rifles at the ready. “No sudden--”

“Continue to point your weapon at my goddaughter and I'll have you stripped of rank so fast your head will spin!” Celine marched across the nearest plank shouting orders with a decisive wave of her hand. “Sweep the ship! High alert, not one of those fiends will be given quarter!”

“Ma'am!”

A clutch of men took the stairs down while more filed over to circle the deck. Leaving Celine at ease to rush to Rumi so she could hug her.

“Thank goodness,” she sighed under her breath. “It's such a relief to find you safe… They'll pay for what they've done.”

She frowned as she gently held the scarred side of Rumi's face.

“They already have, Celine,” Rumi said. “We're the only ones aboard.”

“... what?”

“I can explain, maybe in private? It'll be a lot to cover, but none of it would've been possible without Mira and Zoey.”

She reached back to pull the two of them forward. Celine looked between all of them and her confusion turned to a softer relief being given somewhere to point her gratitude. She offered them a salute and a bow before voicing the sentiment.

“If that's so, then all of my thanks is yours,” she said. “After we lost the chase through the Calmare island belt I nearly lost hope… I'm glad Rumi had the both of you to see to her safety where I couldn't.”

“Of course… anything for her,” Mira nodded.

“Rumi saw to her own safety too, ma'am,” Zoey said. “We wouldn't have escaped without her.”

All of the praise would have had Rumi too flustered to pay attention, but what Celine said caught her curiosity.

“Wait… so you did know I was aboard from the start,” Rumi raised an eyebrow. “I suspected when you didn't loose all the cannons on us but… how could you have known that?”

A guess maybe, after the merchant ship didn't complete its route on schedule. Was she chasing down every ship in this league of the sea? Celine stood comfortably with them, sure to remain in reach.

“That was the report we received,” she said. “A few castaways made port near the wreckage. One gentleman insisted I be made aware what ship to look for.”

Rumi's eyes widened as a lift pulled her heart into her throat.

“There were survivors?” She asked. “Who asked for you? Do you remember his name?”

Celine gave it a brief thought before nodding. Mira put a hand to her lower back to remind her not to push herself.

“A mister Lucius. So he signed off… Wasn't sure how much stock to put in his account--”

Rumi crumpled. Burying her face in her hands as tears filled her eyes, and caught when Zoey spun to around to plant herself in front of her.

“Shh, shh… That's wonderful, Rumi,” she smiled.

She knew it was. It was so wonderful. She leaned on Zoey regardless, unable to keep from crying as the relief hit like a boulder dropped on her shoulders.

Lucius was alive! And he wasn't the only one.

“I can't believe… I thought everyone had died.”

“You'll have to tell him all about it,” Mira squeezed her shoulder. “Won't he be surprised when you tell him you've bested a legend~”

“... beg pardon?” Celine tilted her head at them.

“Admiral!”

The men returned from below to form up, guns shouldered as they approached to give their report.

“There's no other soul aboard, ma'am.”

“Excuse me?” She narrowed her eyes. “You checked everywhere? You're certain?”

“Yes, ma'am. We've scoured every inch below… They're the only ones aboard.”

The man nodded at the trio, Mira and Zoey still consoling Rumi through her relief. Celine glanced at them before sweeping a discerning eye over her troops. Like she may be sizing them up for a case of ocean madness to make such a claim.

“It's true,” Rumi sniffled as she tried to compose herself. She was meant to be their liaison. “The former crew and captain Gwi-ma are all gone… dead. It's only us.”

Celine's shock was likely to be an expression Rumi would never allow herself to forget. It was so rarely seen, and thus worth committing to memory. The exasperation to follow was more expected from her.

“And you…? I see… You'll be explaining this later?” She finally asked.

Rumi nodded.

“Alright… In that case,” she turned back to her men and whistled sharply through her teeth. “We'll be escorting these ladies home! I need enough men to stay aboard to help them sail. Those aboard are to report to miss Kang as captain of this vessel. Is that clear?”

“Yes, ma'am!”

“That's not really necess--” Rumi tried to refuse.

But Mira and Zoey leaned against each of her shoulders.

“Congradulations, captain~” Mira snickered.

“You did defeat Gwi-ma,” Zoey reasoned. “Technically you won the ship from him.”

“Yes, there's also the matter of bounty for Gwi-ma as well as key identified members of his crew,” Celine hummed as her men moved to familiarize themselves with the ship. “And the rest of the crew as well. I'll have that sorted once we make next landfall.”

“B-bounty?”

“The ship is also yours to claim, once the proper documentation is arranged.”

Rumi was quickly becoming overwhelmed by the logistics.

“... I think I need to lay down,” she mumbled.

Mira stooped over to lift her off her feet.

“You heard the captain,” she smirked. “And as ships’ doctor I second the motion for rest.”

“Aye aye!” Zoey copied the salute to the very confused troops. “We'll reconvene shortly… Maybe for lunch?”

“I can--” Rumi started to protest.

“Very well,” Celine returned the salute. “I'll see that my men don't disturb you in the meantime, and we'll all make sail following the meal… I'd like to requisition parlay with your captain prior to that at least.”

Rumi had a hand over her face, reddening by the second as they worked all of this out. This was so much more than necessary. Bounties and titles and formalities.

“Mira, I can walk,” she tried again.

“You could, but I would rather carry you~” she hummed.

She pressed her lips to Rumi's temple as they turned to head for the stairs. With Zoey launching herself ahead to open the med bay door for them down the hall.

“I can't accept all of the bounty,” Rumi grumbled. “Nor rights to the ship. Both of you are certainly entitled to equal share in everything.”

Mira seemed to still think it was all funny. Fighting back laughter as they stepped into the private quarters and refusing to set Rumi down.

“How serious, you'd willingly share ownership with us~?” She hefted Rumi closer to press their faces together. “Why not just propose, miss Kang.”

“It was always going to be that way,” Rumi sighed, but didn't fight the closeness.

Why would she ever? If Mira felt like teasing she wouldn't let such behavior go unpunished. She wrapped her arms around her neck and kissed her.

“And the only time I'll be permitting you to call me ‘miss Kang’ is when I can call you the same…” she murmured.

The flash of warmth that filled Mira's whole face said it had the desired effect. Zoey was beside them by then, standing on her tiptoes to hug them.

“Celine seems nice,” she said, pulling the two of them towards the bed they'd been sharing. “I think you'll be alright telling her about me.”

Mira set Rumi down on the side of the bed and sat herself beside her. Ignoring her fluster to pull Zoey into her lap instead. All gentle fondness she'd made no effort to hide since the night they were freed.

“If you think so… I'll explain things like we planned.”

She slipped her boots off and curled up comfortably with a sigh, doubled when both of them joined her. As they'd also done every day since being freed. All warm. All together.

“What should we call the ship?” Zoey asked. “Now that it's ours… I've never liked the Demon's Soul.”

“True, it could do with a better name. Now that we have a say,” Mira nodded.

“It could do with more extensive repairs as well…” Rumi considered, settled into her place with them enjoying the soothing touch of their hands. Or the now familiar feeling of them under her own lingering touch. “As for names… I'd given it a little thought. For what might suit it more.”

Mira wrapped her arms around her waist to pull her in close. Moving just gingerly enough to favor her injury, even if it was almost gone. While Zoey took her hand to hold between them, hugged to her chest as she pressed her face into the crook of her neck. She could feel them smiling as they all exhaled at once.

“And…?” Mira kissed her shoulder.

“What did you come up with?” Zoey whispered.

Despite everything, Rumi thought she'd do it all over a million times just for this.

“The Soul of the Sea had a ring to it.”

Notes:

I combined some mythology for this one, so Zoey isn't one singular thing. Take a selkie, add a little mermaid, and a dash of eldritch horror for good measure. The sea is vast and terrifying so why stop with just one?

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Keep Me, Won't You?

FuneralLord

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