Chapter Text
The sun rose over the eastern horizon as Sebastian emerged from the waves, shaking the water from his hair before lifting himself onto the rocks. He could hear the faint sounds of seagulls in the distance, and he could smell the salt air.
“Tow it in slowly,” came a voice from afar. “Slowly now.”
A long, thin ship with three masts cut through the water, its sails billowing out in the wind. It drifted towards the harbor as the sailors on its deck worked the ropes and pulled in the main sail.
Sebastian admired from the shore, his eyes fixed on the ship as he lay on his stomach, listening to sailors shouting over the creaking of the ship's rudder as they eased to a halt at the docks.
His tail thrashed in the shallow waters, creating a froth that bubbled up and around his body. He could feel the warm sand beneath his hands, and the cool water lapping at his sides. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the sun soak into his scales.
“Port side!” another voice shouted from the ship. "Lowering ramp!"
As the ramp lowered, Sebastian watched the sailors begin to bustle about, tuning out the conversations that carried over the water.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆟 𓆝
He heard one man on the ship speak.
“I don't trust him, captain.”
“Nor do I, but what can we do?” the captain replied. "We need to collect the next shipment and keep to schedule."
Sebastian's tail lifted to splash water against his back. His skin was warm from the sun, yet his eyes remained closed while he listened to the humans talk in the distance.
“What if he crosses us?” the first man asked. “He is a pirate after all.”
“Then we make the bastard walk plank.”
The pair burst into laughter, and Sebastian paused his thrashing to focus on the clamor surrounding them. Barrels rumbled down the lowered ramps onto the dock. Sailors' footsteps hurried back and forth as they unloaded cargo.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆟 𓆝
Late evening arrived.
The sun dipped below the horizon and cast an orange gleam across the ocean.
The crew finished unloading the barrels, then gathered below deck, drinking and celebrating their success.
Sebastian stretched his arms outward. He let the water rise to his chest before allowing the waves to pull him in. He swam along the bottom of the bay, savoring the rush of water against webbed fingers as he pulled himself forward. When he approached the hull of the ship, he reached out to grasp the rim of a porthole. The wood was rough against his palm, and he could feel barnacles shift beneath his grip.
He gripped the porthole's edge and peered in.
The sound of slurred song and raucous cheers were deafened by the water’s pressure.Through the window, he saw men with mugs in hand, their faces red with drink, lips moving to the rhythm of a maiden playing a fiddle.
“Come on, let's have another!” one sailor shouted, “One more go, fair lady!”
The maiden obliged.
She strummed the taut strings and began to sing. The sailors cheered before joining her in a chorus of drunken joy. Sebastian watched in awe as the men sang and then danced on sturdy legs.
As the song reached its crescendo, a man stumbled away from the crowd to make way towards the deck.
“Aye!" called a crewman. "Where's the brute going?"
“Hah, likely off to the head. Too much ale is what it is,” another replied. “Now, who wants a pint?”
Sebastian pushed away from the porthole and pulled himself up towards the surface. His body broke the water in a cascade of bubbles. As he neared the ship's stern, he listened to feet shuffling along the deck, followed by a man's mumbling.
“Alone at seas again, I am” the man drawled into a tune. “Me girl’s got a face that’s like a ram. And me job ain’t one that’s any fun. But the coin in me pocket weighs more than a ton..”
Sebastian held onto the rudder. His head poked just above the water's surface as he waited. The man stopped and leaned against the railing with his back to the sea as he gazed up at the sky.
The sailor wore a long, patched coat and a pair of starched britches that were frayed around the ankles. A thick, dark beard covered his chin and neck while a black bandana hid his hair.
Sebastian waded in the water and fixed his stare, cringing as the man let out a loud burp before continuing to sing. The merman could smell the stench wafting off the sailor. He could also hear the man's breathing, heavy and uneven.
“Alone at sea again, I am,” the man slurred. “Me girl's got a face that's like a lamb, makes a fella wanna cry and damn. But the coin in me pocket weighs a thousand tons, and the sea's my home till the day I'm done.”
Sebastian studied the sailor, then thrashed his tail.
“Lovely hymn.” he cooed, voice carrying over the water. "Care for an audience?"
The man whipped around, startled. His eyes widened as he stared out at the dark waters.
“The sea don’t talk, aye? ‘Specially not with a voice as fine as that. What deviltry be this?”
Panic crossed his features as he leaned over the railing. He saw nothing but the endless black of the night, and the soft lapping of the waves against the ship.
Sebastian snickered as he began to circle the boat. His tail thrashed again behind him, creating a gentle wake that rippled outward. As he circled the ship, he watched the man's silhouette follow him around the vessel. The sailor's hands clapped against the rail in an attempt to keep pace.
“I'm no devil,” Sebastian giggled as he led the man around in a spiral. “I can assure you, I'm quite mortal.”
The sailor shook his head.
His eyes narrowed as he tried to focus on the voice. His grip on the rail tightened, knuckles whitening as he leaned over the edge. Cold, sea air sprayed his face as the salt stung his eyes.
“Show yourself, then,” he demanded, “Mortal or no, I haven't got time to waste on tricks.”
Sebastian chuckled before swimming another lap around the ship, his tail splashing water against the hull. The sailor heaved, then slowed as he became dizzy from the circling.
Sebastian paused at the bow of the ship. He waited for the man to catch up. When the sailor approached, Sebastian rose from the waters to rest his arms atop the calm waves. He grinned at the sailor, his sharp teeth flashing in the moonlight.
“Oh, my. A shame to be alone with the sea. Don't you think?”
The sailor's eyes widened, and his head began to spin at the sight. His face paled. He stumbled back from the railing before falling to the deck as the image of the creature swam behind clenched eyelids.