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windupnamazu · 8 months

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like swords to the pit of my belly

ffxivwrite2023 #05: barbarous savagely cruel; exceedingly brutal.

Lunya & Themis. Pirate AU. 909wc. Content warnings: violence ⮞ More than friends but less than lovers to enemies.

Lunya woke to the swaying of a lantern and the creaking of wood and a pair of flaxen Miqo'te ears pricking up into her bleary view.

"Don't move, you'll tear your stitches," a woman's voice commanded, hands much larger than her own pressing her heavy shoulders down into what must have once been a plush bed before it was dredged in seawater. She was somewhat familiar. "You were rescued off the coast of Vylbrand half-drowned and losing blood seven bells past. This is the Invicta—you are safe until you recover, Lunya of the Convocation."

Oh, great. It figures that the ones to find her were her crew, no, her old crew's mortal enemies. Why did they even bother? What was she to the Invicta now that she'd been thrown out so unceremoniously? What was she without her crew? Without—without—

A bead of saltwater rolled down Lunya's cheek. She didn't think this woman nor anyone, really, would be convinced it was just leftover brine from when she was pulled from the sea, but she couldn't help herself.

Eight bells past she'd been arguing as she trailed behind her captain through the lowest level of their ship, past rows of holding cells and the people, the children, withering away within. They docked in Candlekeep Quay under the pretense of restocking on food before heading back out again in search for the Mothercrystal, but never in her wildest nightmares did she imagine coming back to the Convocation and finding a whole village worth of prisoners below deck.

"This isn't right," she insisted. A hostage or two was normal. She could understand that, but on this scale it could only be trafficking. A pirate she was and with questionable morals to match, sure, but this—her captain knew this was crossing the line for her. He knew, so why—?

"Times change, Lunya," Themis said, not looking back at her as he strode ahead, his destination up on the ship's deck. Wasn't it just yesterday he used to match his strides to her own, ever in time and sync with her? Was that a week ago or moons? This wasn't like him at all; the longer she looked at him the less she recognized the boy who held out his hand and promised her they would keep their eyes on the horizon together and never look back. "The Empire moves swiftly—for the sake of everything we've worked for, we must exhaust all avenues. We don't have even a fraction of their coin, but in the New World—"

"Themis," Lunya pleaded again, grabbing at the side of his palm, yanking his arm back towards her as they drew to the top of the steps and stepped out onto the deck, coating his back in moonglow and starshine. "This isn't what you promised me."

But Themis only drew his arm out of her grasp. "Enough," he said, no trace of her dearest friend anywhere but in his physical appearance. "This is my order as Captain Eldibus of the Convocation. We set sail for Tural at daybreak."

"Venat was right," she realized, horrified by just how late she was, how she willingly blinded herself. "You've gone too far, Themis."

"If you would not stand with me, I cannot allow you to stand at all, my friend," Themis sighed, and before Lunya could blink he drew his sword and stabbed her through the belly. Lunya gagged as blood gushed to her mouth, reaching for her axe but unable to move at all. "Letting Venat leave was a mistake. I would not lose you too."

But you have, she thought wildly, shaking hands reaching for the blade in her stomach. You have, and I lost you too. Perhaps even further back than I realized. What happened to you, Themis?

He ripped his sword back out of her, ichor splattering on the deck and pooling in rivulets between the boards. The motion had her stumbling back, friction lost with the blood beneath her boots and Themis stepping towards her, eyes flashing violet and expression unreadable as he raised his sword above her head.

Lunya hit the railing. Or she would have if she were taller.

Keep your eyes on me and only me, she teased him once. Perhaps it really was moons and moons ago when they last laughed together. I won't forgive you if you look away.

Those eyes, clearer than the endless sky over the sea's horizon, watched her as she fell. There was a time when she felt safe in their sight, when if there was a single sea she could willingly drown in it was his. Now there was nothing but apathy there. No recognition. No shine. Just as their line of sight was cut, he turned away.

(Violet. Themis would never turn his back on her. Not as he once was. But in thrall to another..?)

Without the strength to even scream, Lunya clenched her eyes shut before her back hit the waves.

"You should have let me drown," she told the woman, maybe minutes or a bell or more later. In the rocking of the waves the wood around them groaned and the lantern squeaked as it swayed overhead. The Invicta was impossibly familiar and foreign all at once. She didn't belong here or anywhere.

"Don't be ridiculous," her healer huffed, jabbing her cheek with a wet cloth. "If you really wanted to die we wouldn't have been able to bring you aboard, merfolks' daughter."

#ffxiv #ffxivwrite #ffxivwrite2023 #oc: lunya #themis #tales from the warriors of light #v: the wheel of fortune turns #also y'shtola is there :)#im unhappy with this n my gpose but like. moving. yknow how it be #i managed to write something anywayyy #title is from 'the moon will sing' crane wives #accidentally a little literal #pirate au lunya backstory! a bit!

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