#ill tag this properly later but maybe its trio loving hours for someone else too 👍 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

good-beanswrites · 2 years

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Wrote some context/drabble for my mermay art! This started as legit writing and by the end it devolved into indulgent trio loving hours with minimal editing so I’m sorry asdhfsjdf

The oars slid through the water. Forsyth’s little rowboat moved further into the darkness, away from the looming ship at his back. The strange object floated a fair distance ahead. None of the others had wanted to investigate, so they dumped the new recruit – that peasant from the harbor town who had begged to join just as they departed – into a rowboat to see if it was anything of interest.

Forsyth was glad to go. The past few days had been torture to endure: the other sailors were not terribly friendly to newcomers. It seemed they sought any opportunity they could to be rid of him. He breathed in the peacefulness. The sound of soft waves spread from horizon to horizon with rhythmic pacing. The moon and stars hung above in perfect stillness.

Therefore, Forsyth nearly leapt out of his boots when the voice whispered up from the sea. “Don’t go on.” It must have been just over the side, just out of sight. “There’s danger ahead.”

After taking a moment to regain his composure, he peered around the edge of the boat. His face lit up.

“Python!” He knew he’d recognized the voice. “What are you doing here?”

After marching off to join the crew, Forsyth assumed he’d go months without seeing his friend. The thought made him hesitate, but nothing would keep him from offering his services to those fighting off the vile pirates. He’d never become a knight himself – the least he could do was join this crew to make something of himself. He could still make a difference and fight for the people, even if sacrifices were necessary. He doubted Python would venture too far from the bay. It would have taken days of swimming to reach this part of the sea, and he wasn’t famous for putting in the extra effort. “I cannot believe it!”

“Yeah, well, here I am.” Python gave a mocking gesture to himself, as if it wasn’t much, but Forsyth couldn’t have been happier to see the familiar face. Even in the dim moonlight, his gray eyes and pouted lips looked beautiful.

No matter how unlikely their friendship seemed, it was the truest bond Forsyth had. Despite all the stories of vicious sea monsters and hungry serpents, Python had never been the type to do much more than lazing about the rocks in the quiet bay. In fact, Forsyth often commented that the whole siren thing was some elaborate jest – in all their years, he’d never heard him sing.

“Listen to me, you gotta stop that ship. The pirates up ahead are bad news.”

“They’ll never agree. The whole point of sailing out here was to seek out pirates! This is wonderful!”

“No-oo, not these guys.” Python grimaced, revealing pointed teeth. “There have been four ships ahead of yours, not one has come back in one piece. It isn’t that I don’t believe in ya,” he held up his palms at the other’s intense look, “but even if you guys stood a chance, I doubt your crew is gonna be lookin out for your ass.”

Forsyth should have been angry that he’d been eavesdropping the past few days, but Python wasn’t wrong. He continued. “So I say you turn that little thing around and we’ll head back, yeah?”

“Go back!?” Forsyth recoiled. “And be forever labeled a coward and a deserter? There is no worse reputation for a man!”

He moved to row the oars again, but Python grabbed one of them. “Hold on, hold on. Just hear me out, will ya?”

Shouts erupted from behind. Cries of alarm rang out onto the calm sea. Back on the ship, the crew waved frantically to Forsyth. They’d seen the sea serpent leaning on the edge of the rowboat.

Python cursed. “Alright, what if I told you there was a way to take all the blame off you? Would you come with me?” The crew was gathering together spears and fishing nets. It looked like they were preparing another rowboat.

“You have to go,” Forsyth shoved the siren away, ignoring his questions. “They’ll kill you!”

He only swam back a few feet from the boat. They’re gonna get you killed, Fors. I’m serious. I can’t just sit here and watch you sail to your death. I can fix it. Do you trust me?” He remained in place, eyes darting frantically between the rowboat and the crew’s weapons glinting in the moonlight.

Forsyth looked back at the ship, as well. The sailors screamed for him to stay away from the monster in the water. His own instincts, too, urged him away from the expansive waters. He was no coward. But dying a meaningless death wasn’t his goal. He returned his gaze to Python, including his fins and scales and teeth. This was the very last creature that a sailor so far from home should trust.

He squared his shoulders. “I… I do.”

Python sagged in relief. “Alright.” He closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply.

Then he began to sing.

It took only a few notes and Forsyth was long gone. The music was breathtaking; it was all-consuming. He no longer heard the clambor of the other sailors. He had no desire to look back at them. He didn’t notice the oars slip out of his grasp and into the water, drifting away into the dark.

The only thing existed was the music, and the man singing it. Forsyth leaned against the rim of the boat, spellbound by verses of love and devotion. He’d always been impressed by Python’s way with words, but this was something else entirely. The poetry from his lips has Forsyth needing to be closer, closer. He wanted to dive into those eyes as they shifted through lovely blues and grays, like the ocean itself. He wanted to comb his fingers through that hair which rustled in the breezy air. He wanted to kiss that mouth curved into a lovely, welcoming smile. Python reached up a hand to cradle Forsyth’s cheek, and he sighed heavily at the touch.

His attention was still on the song as Python took his hand gently. He had to lean out of the boat, now, but it didn’t matter. Anything to be closer to him. Forsyth didn’t even notice the cool water around his hand, creeping up to his elbow. The lyrics shifted to peacefulness and rest. He had never felt more at ease in his life. His pulse had stopped racing. He breathed easy, so easy.

He allowed the siren to pull him into a kiss. The song paused as their lips met, and Forsyth’s mind had a moment to clear. Still, he allowed the siren to pull him into the sea.

#i was like ‘oh this will be cool to think about mermaid aus’#and by the end i was just like ‘and guess WHAT he was a MERMAID and he was BEAUTIFUL’#ill tag this properly later but maybe its trio loving hours for someone else too 👍

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good-beanswrites · 2 years

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I wrote some context/drabble for my mermay art! This started as legit drabble and by the end it devolved into indulgent trio loving hours with minimal editing so I’m sorry asdhfsjdf

Python crept through the small house. He peered in rooms and out windows, but there was no one here at this hour of the night. He took out a small key for the door, thanking the goddess that his father still hadn’t questioned the newly installed lock.

“Hey,” he gave a gentle knock, before entering, “I’m back.”

Were the circumstances different, Python would have been thrilled at the romantic atmosphere. The bedroom glowed in dim candlelight. The curtains had been pulled tight to deter anyone from peeking inside. The most gorgeous man Python had ever laid eyes on was lounging in the center, bare-chested and smiling. The only catch: he sat inside a sloshing tub of water and was far from human on closer inspection.

As Python locked the door behind, the merman leaned over the side of the frame, water pooling from him. Reflective scales flickered across his skin. In the daylight, the red could almost be mistaken for a freckled complexion, but the way they glinted in this lighting appeared much more magical.

“How’d you hold up in here?” Python asked. “I promise I’ll get you out in the sun in a day or two, once all this craziness dies down.”

“It is no trouble at all,” Lukas replied. “I have remained occupied all day.” He gestured to the stack of books Python had scrounged up for him. They were placed a distance away, each perfectly dry. He had seemed the careful type.

“You liked ‘em?”

“Very much. We have plays and poems, but I’ve never before read a book.” His smile seemed more genuine than the apprehensive expressions from recent days.

“Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. I’ll grab you some more tomorrow.” Python grabbed a few things off his desk before sitting beside the basin. “For the rest of the night, though, you’re the one who’s gonna be telling stories.”

Lukas shifted in the small space, trying not to splash too much onto the floorboards. He let his rose-red tail hang from the rim. Python felt guilty for the squeeze, but there weren’t many other options. After what had gone down on the beach, the townsfolk had been scouring the water for any sign of other merfolk. They would certainly notice if a massive basin appeared behind Python’s cottage. There had already been a few inquiries about strange happenings in his house, but he could dismiss those easily enough by convincing people it was nothing more than his father’s drunken ramblings. After all, only a man deep in his drink could actually believe there was an actual mermaid in their tub, right…?

“Yes, I suppose I owe you that much.”

“You don’t owe me anything, I’m just a nosy bastard,” Python smirked. He brought out his pencil and started scratching something in his book. Lukas angled his head, but he continued, “and anyway, I think that makes us even now. Seeing as you dragged my poor ass out of the water that time I fell off the pier, and all.”

“Lifting someone effortlessly from danger is different than willingly stepping into a risky confrontation for a stranger.”

The man brushed the compliment away with a wave. He gave another sly look. “Nah, I would’a done the same for any other gorgeous man in need of my assistance.”

Lukas’s eyebrows shot up. He seemed unimpressed (which wasn’t a surprise, given Python’s record of picking up tavern-goers).

After a moment, he nodded to the work in Python’s hands.

“You never told me you were an artist.”

“Huh? Oh, this… nah. Pops is a carpenter, and someday I’ll take over for him. Most things are pretty basic, but I found I’ve got a knack for drawing up some fresh ideas.” He flashed the page, revealing a detailed sketch for a modified wooden cart.

“May I?” Lukas pointed to it, then dried his hands.

Python eyed the merman for a moment. After an awkward moment of contemplation, he handed it over. Lukas was careful to keep it away from the water as he flipped through. There were plans for strengthening stables and chicken coops, reinforcing walls, and even some designs for bows and arrow shafts. On the most recent page he studied a model of a cart. It was the kind typically used to support weakened legs, but built to accommodate a fish tail. There were several different designs, each with its own notes and scribbles.

“These are impressive indeed.” He said at length. “From what I have learned, at least. Do others agree?”

Python rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, uh, I’ve never shown anyone that book, except a friend of mine.” He chuckled. “Although with him, every compliment was paired with a lecture that I haven’t actually built any of my good ideas.”

“Why not?”

“Eh, just don’t feel like it,” he shrugged. “I got enough work each day, why go out of my way to do all that heavy lifting? Now,” he took the book back, unsure if he should have let it go in the first place. “Your turn.”

Lukas settled in the tub once more, leaning his back against the rim of the basin. Python knew he’d drive himself mad cooped up in a small space like that, but the merman seemed content keeping himself nicely tucked together. “Of course.”

He began recounting his tale.

Python leaned his forearms on the far side as he listened. He tried to keep his thoughts on the story, but couldn’t help his eyes from flicking down to the man’s chest. (It wasn’t his fault it was so distracting.)

Lukas told him of his home, and of his life. He talked of his ambitions and interests. He spoke quickly and simply, never giving more than the necessary details about his private life. Python kept quiet despite sensing there was a lot being left out. Lukas explained how his pursuit of human knowledge and culture resulted in his fleeting appearances beneath the pier. In the end, it had landed him in that fishing net, slashing at every sailor who came near.

Python huffed. “Yeah, that’s another reason you don’t owe me. Pretty sure I actually rescued those other guys from you, not the other way around…” It had been the greatest challenge for his smooth tongue to talk himself in and out of that whole mess.

Lukas smiled. “Well, I thank you for intervening regardless.”

Avoiding his sincere gaze, Python muttered a response. The room went silent with Lukas’s story coming to its conclusion.

Python dipped a finger in the tub’s water, swirling it around. “Now let’s see, you should totally tell me more about your family or something.”

Lukas narrowed his eyes. Perhaps his family was a touchy subject.

“Or anything, really. I’m sure there’s some juicy stories you’ve been dying to tell someone.”

“And why would you want to hear that?”

“I wasn’t kidding, I’m nosy as hell! I’ve gotten the dirt on every single thing in this little town, but I’ll never get another chance to know mermaid gossip! There have got to be some jaw-dropping underwater scandals.”

Tipping his head back, the merman let out a gentle laugh. Reclining against the side of the tub, he looked so different from the creature tangled up in the fishing net, lashing out with fiery eyes. At long last, he appeared relaxed.

It took all of Python’s willpower to cool the blush rising to his cheeks. He may have remained on dry ground this whole time, but he was in deep…

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good-beanswrites · 2 years

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I wrote some context/drabble for my mermay art! This started as legit drabble and by the end it devolved into indulgent trio loving hours with minimal editing so I’m sorry asdhfsjdf

Lukas sprinted across the deck, his legs wobbling under him as the ship swayed steeply. He cursed as his footing slipped, and he went tumbling into the rail. He was never supposed to be here. He hated sailing, he hated the vast emptiness of the sea. He should never have followed his brother’s orders and joined the voyage in the first place. He had been hoping for excitement in his life, but not the end of his life at the mercy of the dark ocean.

The storm raged on: rain blinding him, wind yanking him around, the sea trying to smash the ship to bits. It only took a few minutes for it to succeed. Waves leapt up onto the deck. The mast toppled. If that wasn’t bad enough, Lukas recalled the dark shapes he’d seen in the water earlier, fins circling the ship. Even if he made it out of this storm in one piece, he wouldn’t go far with sharks in the water.

He called out to other members of the crew. It wasn’t as if they’d grown very close during the voyage; everyone knew the Baron’s son could handle himself. He had always offered help when he could, and it pained him to be so useless now. The wooden boards shuddered and gave way. With a cry, he was thrown into the violent waters.

There came a rush of sea foam and noise and force. He was thrown against other debris. They tore at him, scraping and tearing. He tried to swim up – what he assumed was up, since it was impossible to tell – and his aching limbs fought against him. Coming up over the surface, he gasped for air. Before he’d gotten a proper breath, huge waves crashed over his head. One brought a hefty piece of the ship with it. The impact made his vision darken; it knocked the wind out of him. Precious air bubbled away as he sank deeper.

He had blacked out by the time the merman reached him. Forsyth had darted in and out of debris, flicking his tail this way and that. He spotted the familiar redhead among chunks of wood and sails. Lukas was unmoving, sinking. He called his name, knowing the bubbly sound would do little for human ears anyway.

Forsyth grabbed him under his arms, immediately looking for a safe opening above. Debris was churning around in the storm; he would need to swim away from the shattering ship. His heart sank, seeing the gashes and tears across the sailor’s body as he swam. Not only was it dangerous for Lukas, but the knights would smell the blood from miles around. The general may have accepted Forsyth as one of their own, but it would be impossible for him to change their minds about humans on such short notice.

Shaking the thoughts away, he pulled Lukas up to the surface. The rain beat down nearly as hard as the waves, but Forsyth got him to cough up some of the water in his lungs.

He clenched his jaw and collected his thoughts. A true knight kept his mind clear.

“If I make the journey back to the mainland, I fear he won’t make it,” he mumbled to himself. “I cannot take him down into the caves, either.” Forsyth shuddered to think what would happen if Lukas ended up deep underwater surrounded by sharktails.

“The island,” he gasped, swimming away from a rising wave. It was still a fair distance to travel, but that’s exactly what Forsyth had been training for. He shifted Lukas in his arms, careful to keep his head above the water. He cut through the ocean as fast as he could swim.

The following hours were a blur to Lukas. He never fully regained his senses, and instead had a vague awareness of his surroundings. His mind started to spin with the need to swim, pick himself up and work – his father’s commands echoed in his ears, telling him that he had to be strong, not to rely on anyone but himself. Yet he could feel himself speeding along without moving his pained body. He could feel strong arms around him, keeping him steady.

A reassuring voice spoke through the rain and wind. He couldn’t quite make out the words, but it was confident and calming. The rushing in his mind slowed. The voice put Lukas at ease. Just as his half-conscious panic began to rise once more, soft sand spread under him. His injuries stung as someone touched them. Lukas tried to raise himself up, he had to fix himself up – but those sturdy hands kept him still. The voice distracted him from the pain. Throughout the night, he had fitful visions of shipwrecks and waves. Each time he was sure he was going to be swept away, the stranger was by his side. In dizzy visions, he caught sight of intense green eyes, and a dazzling smile.

When Lukas finally awoke, it was to the sound of sporadic splashing. He sucked in a breath, lungs aching. Something cool had been laid over his forehead. His eyes focused on bright palm leaves offering him shade from the warm sun. The weather was beautiful. No sign of the storm.

The storm –

He hoisted himself up, wincing at his injuries. Looking down, though, each one had been treated with care. They were clean and bandaged securely with bits of cloth. The splashing returned, and Lukas glanced around. Just beside him, sandy rocks dropped off to the peaceful ocean. If the fact that he was alive hadn’t surprised him enough, he looked up to find a man leaping in and out of the water. He had a sleek, gray tail and a proud back fin. He couldn’t help but gape as the man splashed back into the sea with a shower of sparkling droplets.

As soon as the other caught a glimpse of Lukas, sitting up and staring, he waved heartily. The merman swam through the water at top speed, his fin peeking above the surface. He perched himself on the rocks. He flashed a smile – a familiar, dazzling one.

“You’re alive!” he cheered. “There was a moment I wasn’t sure you would pull through,” he shook his head, strands of green hair clinging to his cheeks, “but you seemed perfectly alright this morning. I couldn’t help but celebrate!” Before Lukas could get a word in, he continued. “Oh dear, where are my manners? I am Forsyth, it is a pleasure to meet you properly! You see, I have been… monitoring your ship as it passed through our territory. I swear I meant no harm!”

An apparent mix of excitement and nerves made him continue to ramble. “I didn’t intend to watch you so closely, I suppose it just happened. You understand, don’t you? I would have let you be as soon as you sailed past the Northern Border. We are not supposed to interfere with human affairs, of course, but when I saw your ship caught in the storm–! Well, I couldn’t sit around and watch you perish! Ah, and now that I think of it, I should check over your wounds again…” He reached out to grab Lukas’s bandaged arm.

Instinctively, he pulled it away. He opened his mouth, protests hanging on his lips. Forsyth froze, his features twisting in surprise. They simply looked at one another for a moment. He took the moment to study his savior in the daylight. Those eyes were even more beautiful when glimmering in the sunshine. Lukas put the pieces together – the gray tail, back fin, and excited leaping from the waves – Forsyth was more dolphin than bloodthirsty shark.

Just as the merman grew restless at the silence, he spoke. “Alright.” He held out his arm. Forsyth took it with more gentleness than one would expect from his strong appearance. “Thank you.” Lukas added. “I… I wouldn’t have made it without your aid.”

“Don’t mention it!” came the easy reply. Forsyth got to work redressing the injuries, immediately launching into another animated conversation.

Lukas accepted the help, soothed by that self-assured voice.

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