Chapter Text
Life was peaceful on this island you called home. It was inhabited by mostly humans and some Monster-kind. You didn't really care for either. You? You were half human and part sea serpent; those lurking underneath the depths, causing trouble and chaos wherever they slithered to. Death and turmoil. That was in your hay-day. Now you have grown… rather mellow.
Must be your human side. Your days of sinking ships and fighting other sea serpents were behind you. For the most part. You had earned a few proud scars from successfully fighting off creatures living in the deep sea. You did get the instinctive urge to sink a ship or two. But you rather not. Might have been a supply ship coming to this island to provide wares after all.
You liked buying human and monster-kind knick knacks. Your den was full of them. But buying meant you needed their shiny little circles made of metal. Currency. Gold, silver and bronze. It was difficult to learn in the beginning, even frustrating but now you know the currency's value. Bronze, less valuable, silver, more valuable than bronze, and gold; the most sought after. And to earn those, you had to work a job. A human and monster-kind construct. Inside the watery depths, you didn't have such a thing. You hunted, ate, fought and sunk ships for fun when things got boring. That was living for a sea serpent. Humans worked to live.
Which is why you had a job. To earn those round metal circles. You were a barmaid at the island's local tavern. You served drinks and kicked out drunkards that sought to fight for whatever stupid reason. Made your sea serpent within you immensely happy and satisfied enough not to seek them out yourself in the sea. Today, however, you felt the urge to submerge into it. A calling. A reminder you had been up on land for too long. You had taken off from work and went to a secluded beach. Somewhere no one would see you undress before you transformed into your truest form. A sea serpent. Unfortunately, only your half was completely snake as your upper body still retained your human heritage. Other serpents saw that as a weakness. All of them had fallen to your claws and fangs.
You might be part human but you were raised in the sea by your father. Your human mother unfortunately died when you were a young guppy; hence you were raised in the sea instead of on land. Your father unfortunately died in a fight. A fight you finished for him. You bore a scar across your cheeks and nose. A mark of victory as you had gotten close enough to rip their throat out. The gurgling and blood on your tongue had been… exhilarating. Liberating. Your first kill.
You shook your head. No. You were just fueling the urge to seek out trouble. You liked fighting but you also liked this peaceful world. Mostly peaceful. Some human and monster-kind fought each other but it wasn't a guarantee. Unlike your kin. You slithered into the water, enjoying how the water embraced your scales before you forced your way down under. Finally, it felt as if you could breathe again. The air on land was… too dry. Almost suffocating, it made your throat itchy at times. But down here, you used your gills on the side of your neck to get the air that you needed.
You spun and twirled, pushing through the water, causing a familiar and pleasant pressure onto your skin and scales. You couldn't help the trill coming from your throat and gills as you rode the underwater waves. Following wherever the current took you...
…
..
But you stopped when you got a scent of something… An odd scent. It wasn't another sea serpent. Curiosity got the better of you. You carefully followed the trail, in case it was a tactic to ambush an unsuspecting creature, like yourself. Cowardly tactic but anything goes in the eyes of survival. It didn't take long to see… were those ships in the distance? Wooden planks drifted above you. Were the ships fighting each other? Certainly sounded like it with all of the vibrations coming off of them. What a commotion. You had half a mind to just sink them both for interrupting your leisurely swim. That's when you noticed an object sinking slowly towards you. It didn't seem to be wood? It looked more like cloth. Blue and black. Wait. Was that a…? You swam upwards towards the sinking form. You grabbed the black cloth in your hand to see…?
A skeleton? It didn't smell like decay nor did it look quite human to you. The skull was all too round to be human. And it had a visible stomach hidden by fabric. A Monster-kind? It was small. Yet stout. Was it a child? From one of the ships? You spun it upright again as you had grabbed its leg, holding it up-side down accidentally. But… what do you do now? Leave it be? Let natural selection take its course? You sighed, causing bubbles to come from your gills. You brought the child into your hold, their skull resting against your chest. Your human nature taking over your serpentine one. Save the child. It told you.
You swam as quickly as you could towards your island, making it in record time as you didn't know how long a Monster-kind could hold their breath for. Especially a child. You hastefully beached yourself, slithering up the sand banks. You gently put the child onto dry sand. It wasn't breathing. Had it swallowed too much water? You gave its chest a nudge. Gentle. Or so you thought as it sputtered and coughed for a moment. Dragging air greedily into its lungs. Well, now it was breathing. Its survival chance was at an advantage which meant you had done what you needed to. You swiftly slithered back into the water, looking back to see it sit upright before you dove back down into the sea depths once more.
Completely forgetting you left your clothes behind.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
Water invaded his lungs as he tried to breathe, sinking towards the bottom of the sea. How did this happen? To Sans? The blue Menace of the sea! Captain of the Jolly Scourge! Curses! He should have listened to his brother, Papyrus. There had been rumors about a possible traitor amongst them but who betrayed their own Monster-kind!? A rare occurrence. So rare in fact, he hadn't seen this coming. The traitorous cur had pushed him overboard during an ambush with another pirate ship, knowing fully well he couldn't swim. A weakness that had slipped from his teeth when he went drinking one night. He felt idiotic. Like he deserved this cruel fate. At least he would die in the arms of his true love; the sea.
His vision turned blurry as the remaining air in his lungs escaped him, filling his lungs entirely with water instead. A few bubbles going up towards the surface of the vast sea. He had lived a good and boisterous life. If only he could say goodbye to his baby brother…
…
..
Abruptly, he felt something grabbing onto him, specifically his leg. His diminishing vision caught a face. It was up-side down. Until he got spun around, like he was simply just a rag doll. The face… he could see it more clearly now that it wasn't upside down. Even with his blurry vision. A scar marred their human-like face. They were… beautiful. Was this an angel of the sea? Sent by Calypso, herself? Had they come to collect him? Even though he wasn't a sailor but a pirate? He felt himself get dragged into their embrace, his skull resting into their very soft breasts. His eye lights finally extinguished. Casting him in darkness. But he felt the sea angel’s soft embrace… and very soft breasts.
Oh… what a lovely send off…
…
..
He hacked and sputtered as water got forcefully pushed out from him. Like something had just punched him! His body by instinct began to gulp up air like he was starving for oxygen. And he was! He sat himself up, heaving out the rest of the remaining water. Some of it leaked through his eye sockets. Such an unpleasant sensation. When he looked up from the sand, towards the vast ocean he had found himself drowning in moments ago, he suddenly caught a glimpse of… a tail? Fins? It had shimmering scales. It quickly vanished from his sights. Was that… his sea angel? Or had it all just been a fever dream as he drifted towards this beach? It felt so… real. He looked around, to get his bearings. A forest behind him. But what he noticed the most was a pile of clothing on a small boulder nearby. Was someone… swimming naked? In the sea? He didn't see anyone. But more importantly…
Where… was he? An island? He got up from the sand, dusting himself off. Well, tried to, he was soaking wet. Pesky course sand. The grains always lodged themselves inside his joints. He walked towards the boulder, where the clothes lay. He wasn't a pervert. Unlike some of his crew. However, these fabrics stood out. He gingerly picked it up and… These articles belonged to a lady, most definitely.
He looked around once more but… no lady to be seen. Not that he would want to see a naked lady… unprompted. He shook his skull. Not the time to think of those things right now. He was somewhere unfamiliar and he had to get back to his dear brother and crew. He put the clothing back down-...? Something golden slipped from the boulder. A… necklace? No, a locket. His curiosity was piqued. He picked it up and clicked the latch open, revealing a picture of… a woman? With a baby? That woman… She looked like his sea angel. Except… the woman in the picture didn't have that magnificent scar. This was a mystery. Waiting to be solved. He did love a good puzzle.
But first… he was going to find his way back to his brother. Then, he'll come back to this island when he has dealt with the traitorous cur who pushed him off the ship. He pocketed the locket. He didn't usually steal sentimental items such as this but…
He is a pirate after all.
🐚------------------------------------🐚
You were in a bad mood. It had been a month or so after you had saved that kid and what did it do? Steal your fucking locket. A picture of your mother inside. Your only keep-sake from both your mother and father. Ugh. You should have left the kid for dead. You hadn't even seen them around amongst the village folks. Like they had just vanished. Weird. But whatever. You couldn't care less about what happened to fuckers who stole from you. Child or not.
"Ey, have ya heard? The Jolly Scourge is comin’ into our harbor" You heard one of the local patrons gossip. Nothing new there. You put their drinks down onto their table, silently so as to not disturb their conversation. Ladies should be seen and not heard. Only speak when spoken to. Or whatever. You didn't mind. You rather not interact either way.
"The Jolly Scourge? Didn't they have a fight with the Vicious Plunder Bunch close to our waters a few days back?" You tuned them out. Human and Monster-kind gossip didn't interest you in the slightest. Didn't involve you, shouldn't bother you. Were those the ships you had seen in the distance? Fighting? Maybe they were coming back for the kid. Eh. You had orders to mind.
If you had listened, you would have known a certain skeleton Captain would be coming back into port, looking for his supposed sea angel.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
Sans had gotten back to his brother as the island he was stranded on was inhabited by village folks. A kind Monster who was a fisherman took his request to sail him back to his ship. They were rewarded handsomely, of course. He was a pirate but even he knew how to show gratitude. It's been about a month and a half and he couldn't get you out of his mind. Which is why he was steering his ship towards the tiny little island his sea angel had taken him to. The early morning breeze felt nice and salty.
"Ya keep gazing at that picture" His brother, Papyrus had caught him looking at your locket. Or what was inside. A woman with a baby. Yours? Maybe. It could have been a picture before you got that scar upon your face. The scar suited you. Made you look strong. Not easily messed with. But he loved messing with people, mwheh.
"Ya know, that lady might be married and all" Huh!? That didn't matter! Did it? Why would that matter? Oh! Well… If you were… He could just steal you away-! No! He wasn't… Maybe a little bit but not enough to actually do it. Right? Right.
"I'm Not-! I Want To Find The One Who Saved Me That Day! And This Is The Only Clue I Have" It was that simple. He wanted to speak to you. He wanted to hear your voice. To see you once more. With total clarity this time. "I don't know, brother… We were pretty far out when ya… fell over" Yes. That's why this was proving his point even further; you were indeed a sea angel.
"And How Would You Explain Me Appearing On That Beach?" There wasn't any other explanation. It had been you. It must have been you. He felt it in his very bones. "A strong current?" His brother shrugged. Even if it had been, he would have been at the bottom of the ocean floor by now. "Unlikely. I Was Sinking To My Death" He remembers it vividly. It had been no dream. You were real. His sea angel is real and he would find you.
"Alright, alright" Papyrus held up his only arm in surrender. The other? Bitten off by a sea serpent. Along with his leg. Only had one eye light in his sockets as well. Made their enemies underestimate his little brother… an opportunity he took full advantage of. "What will ya do when ya find her?" That was a question even he didn't know. He just wanted to meet you. Face to face.
"Give This Locket Back" He didn't have a need for someone else's sentimental items. A shame though. He did like this picture. "Without any strings attached? You've gone soft" Oh. His brother thought he would simply just give it back to you? Nope. A little fun wouldn't hurt, would it? "I Didn't Say There Wouldn't Be Any, Mwheh" He didn't know what he would be asking for in return quite yet but…
He's sure you would be grateful to get your precious locket back regardless.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
The sun was setting, your time to go home to your den where your nest would be awaiting you was soon upon you. You cleaned a few tables that had empty glasses on them, walking into the kitchen to put them away for cleaning. The chef gave you a weak acknowledgement huff, their fire swirling gently. You had no strong opinions about that Monster-kind made of fire but their food was good. You even got the left overs that had been charred a bit too much. It wasn't good to waste food and you were the only one willing to eat it. Oh well, more for you.
"Oh, could you stay for a few hours more, dear? It's about to be crowded here and I need your strength for any rowdyness" Marne, another Monster-kind, one of the furry ones, spoke before you could leave the bar. She is the owner of the tavern. You stopped walking, looking at her with a stoic expression like you usually would. You weren't a very expressive person. Or so you've been told.
"Coin?" You asked. If you were going to work more, you wanted more shiny circles. "Yes, dear, I'll give you extra coin" Then you would stay, no problem. Your nest could wait. You nodded. Agreeing to stay longer.
"Thank you, dear" She gave you a warm smile. She always did. Her eyes always held warmth to them. They hadn't always. You remember her giving you looks of scrutiny. Especially the scar on your face. You didn't know what changed but it was a pleasant one.
"Here, on the house. Can't have you working all day without something to keep you going" She pushed a plate of meat towards you. It smelled delicious. You always liked the food they had here. You could go down underneath the ocean waves and catch your meal yourself but… this food was simply superior.
"Water?" Your throat was rather dry. It hurts to speak even with short words. Marne filled a glass for you and scooted it towards you. You quickly took a few gulps. Your throat dampened and you could finally feel comfortable again.
"Thanks" You replied. You've been taught politeness was important by your mother as a young guppy. Speaking didn't hurt as much anymore. She gave you a kind smile and continued her work.
You should too after you've eaten.
…
..
Marne had been correct in her assumption as multiple Monster-kind came sauntering in. All different kinds. They were all rather loud but a calm bunch. You silently brought their drinks alongside other barmaids. A few dishes here and there but mostly drinks. All was going well until…
"’Ey there, gorgeous" You heard a gruff voice from behind you. There must be another barmaid tending to-
"Ay, I'm talkin' to ya" You felt yourself getting dragged by your arm. Oh. They had spoken to you. A little too rough to be friendly…. but you didn't want to cause a scene… for now. "Yes?" You asked as you turned around to face the one who was speaking; a grey wolf Monster. They were grinning with sharp fangs at you. "Actin’ all clueless, are ya? Cute" Cute? Clueless? Um. What? You were confused. Did you miss what they had said entirely?
"Okay…?" You didn't know what they wanted from you. They hadn't said what kind of drinks they wanted. Did they want food? They just had to tell you what they wanted and you'd ask the fire Monster in the kitchen for it.
"Tch, is it because I'm a Monster?" What… is happening? They sounded hostile. Have you done something? "No…?" Why would them being a Monster make them angry with you? You didn't understand this. Not at all.
"Ya think yer better than us even with that scar across yer ugly face?" Ugly? You knew you were. No one seemed to see the honor and pride your scars contained. The victories they sung about. Every single one. You were confused about this wolf-like Monster-kind. They were being hostile, you could sense and smell the agitation. Why? Did they just want to fight? You could do that. Actually, you would be thrilled to do so.
"Wolfgang, just stop ‘an let her go" A cat Monster-kind gruffed. Their feline-like eyes turned sharp. Those eyes reminded you of your own. "Whatever, irritating bitch, go get me a drink. That's what you humans are good at" They let your wrist go, claw marks left on your skin. Huh. You hadn't even felt it. Weak. "Okay" You didn't care to fight weak creatures. Lest they attacked you head on first. You started to walk away to get them a drink.
"Who pissed in yer bed tis’ mornin’?" Another Monster-kind spoke up. A bunny one. They were rather large for a bunny Monster. You ignored their bickering. You didn't want to get involved in whatever they were discussing. You went to focus on serving. The other barmaids took the orders for the table that you had been at. Your fellow barmaids gave you looks of pity. You didn't need pity.
You were proud of your battle scars.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
Sans was looking for you amongst the village folks but he couldn't spot you and it was beginning to get dark. He could continue his search tomorrow but… He wanted to find you today. He didn't know why this was so important to him. But it just was.
"Have You Seen This Woman?" His last ditch effort; asking people, showing the picture inside the locket he had stolen.
"Huh? Oh? That's one of the local barmaids. Didn't know they had a child though. Is that an old picture? A shame. They look pretty without that awful scar" Scar? Could it be? Finally, he had a more concrete clue! However, this human man’s words irked him. He had to stay calm. He needed more info. He just grinned and bore it. Was this how the towns-folk treated others? Shame? Pity? Just because of a scar?
"Where Is This Tavern?" He clicked the locket shut. He didn't want this human’s eyes on it any longer. "A little further up, a sign that says Hodgepot Gobble Gullet" Excellent! That's where he would go next.
"You should be careful with that barmaid though. Got some hidden strength that one. Broke my son’s arm last week" That so? It made you infinitely more of a mystery. A puzzle he wanted to figure out. This instant.
"I Shall Have That In Mind. Thank You. And For Your Helpful Tip" He gave a few bronze coins to the old human. Not as much as he would for a helpful tip, due to that little comment of theirs. The man smiled happily anyway and Sans left towards the tavern where his sea angel might be…
…
..
"Ah! Cap’n! Yer here! Come and sit down" One of his fellow shipmates gestured him over when he walked inside the tavern. Wolfgang. He always made his way towards taverns whenever he could. He was joined by Feli and Rabs. Not too unusual. They were friends.
"Enjoying Yourselves?" He said as he sat himself down. Taking a seat somewhere he had view of the other tables around. He wasn't here for drinks. Not mainly anyhow. One should be fine.
"Oh, yes, good booze and many fine ladies around" Yes. He could see that. However, he didn't see his sea angel anywhere in sight. He'll sit here for a moment, drink some and leave if he couldn't find you in here.
"Well, most of them" Wolfgang sneered at no one in particular. "Quit it. They didn't understand yer intentions. Or can't ya take a hint?" Rabs gruffed at Wolfgang. What was this? A story perchance?
"Do Tell Me What Happened In My Absence" He was curious. He did like a bit of gossip. Especially his brother. A trait they had gotten from their father. "A human bitch thought they could act cute and dumb to my advances just because I'm a Monster" Hmm. Not too uncommon now with the tension between Monsters and humans. Though, the shipmate who had stood up for the “human bitch” seemed adamant that they didn't know what Wolfgang wanted. Looks to him that Wolfgang had just misunderstood the situation. Unfortunately, Wolfgang didn't seem to accept that.
"I think ya had enough to drink, Wolfgang" Rabs commented, not impressed. Abruptly, a slam of a mug sounded out. "Enough!? I've barely started!" He barked and snarled. Hostile. A few patrons gave them a look of apprehension and disgust. The word of their arrival had caught the village folks ears and pirates weren't very liked around any part. Except for ports that dealt with… more nefarious deals. All of a sudden, in his peripheral vision, he glanced at a familiar face. He quickly snapped his skull towards the person. It… was his sea angel's face. You were holding multiple mugs of drinks in your hands with ease before you brought them to a table. Your attention caught by the slam of Wolfgang's mug. Your eyes locked with the Wolf Monster.
"There they are. Look at that scar" Yes. It was as beautiful as the first time he had laid his eye lights on it. Even more so now that he could see properly without the distortion of the water. He couldn't take them off of you. And when your eyes shifted towards him, your stoic face scrunched up, brows raised. Did you… remember him? You looked rather confused. Did you not expect him to come find you? Mwheh.
"An ugly fuck right there" He could feel himself freeze at Wolfgang's harsh words. His eye lights turned to pin pricks as he teared his eyes away from you towards the wolf Monster. The barkeep suddenly slammed their hand into the counter, demanding their attention. The timid looking goat Monster gave Wolfgang quite the sneer. Not so timid anymore. "Say that again and I'm throwing you out of my establishment" The barkeep snarled. It was as if everything froze for a moment before he spoke up, reigning in the situation.
"No Need. Wolfgang. Get Back To The Ship. Rabs Is Right. You've Had Enough Alcohol" How dare he call you ugly? Because of what? A scar? He hadn't expected this from any of his crewmates. All of them had scars. Him and his brother included. His behaviour was making the other patrons wary and uncomfortable as well. Not a good thing unless they wanted trouble with the island folk. Which he wholeheartedly didn't. He had no squabbles to be settled here.
"What? But cap’n-" Wolfgang looked genuinely surprised that he would take the barkeep’s side. Wolfgang shouldn't be as he was the one causing a ruckus. "That's An Order" He cut Wolfgang off, his voice stern. No one went against captain's orders unless they outed themselves as a traitor.
"Tch" Wolfgang made his anger known before getting up. He gave the wolf a glare and with that, the Monster began to move towards the exit. But not before having to brush past you. However, he turned to face you. His stature bigger than yours. Was Wolfgang trying to scare you? Intimidate you? It didn't seem effective as you met his gaze head on with a neutral expression.
"Think fast, bitch" Wolfgang, abruptly wound up a swing and before he could even act or shout out a command, the swing had already been set in motion. If you got hit by one of his men, you wouldn't even consider to-...!? What the…!
…
..
Had you caught Wolfgang’s fist with your own hand? All of the patrons stared at you in shock. You didn't even seem to struggle against Wolfgang's strength. And Sans knew Wolfgang was strong as he always did the heavy lifting on the ship. How… is that-
"Okay" That was… your voice. A bit hoarse and cracked. One would say it was emotionless, just like your stoic face but just like your eyes, underneath that monotone sound, he could sense it. Mischief. He couldn't help but watch as the palm of your other hand smacked Wolfgang's down turned muzzle. The thwack rang out through the tavern as his fellow Monster-kind fell onto the floor with a shameless yelp. Just like a misbehaving pup.
"Fast enough?" He caught a glimpse of satisfaction flash in those eyes of yours as you gazed down at the beaten down dog whimpering on the floor. Wolfgang got up, giving you a snarl but his tail tucked behind him as he left. You didn't even react. Those eyes of yours just followed the wounded dog in glee…
"Let that serve as a warning to everyone. Unless you want to get a smack or a possible broken bone" The barkeep threatened with a smile. Giving him a weary glance. A silent threat to him directly. They were fellow Monster-kind but it didn't change the fact they were bloodthirsty pirates. Eh. Not always. But he understood the bad reputation. He liked to believe his crew was more well mannered. Obviously there were still a few rowdy members of his crew. Couldn't be helped.
"Fucking hell, consider me warned" One of his crewmates spoke, Feli, looking at you in horror. You were… strong. Unusually so. That old man did say you broke someone's arm… but now that he had seen you just smack a Monster-kind twice as big as you… He shouldn't do hand to hand combat with you. Not that he would… or maybe. If it was playful while you went easy on him, mwheh.
Your eyes once again met his. Those sharp predatory eyes shifted to something softer but it was simmering with so much heat. Anger, at the foreground. You do remember him, don't you? He felt a shiver going down his spine. As a Captain of an infamous pirate crew, he had nerves of steel but that gaze… He felt as if he took one wrong step, he would be dead.
And you wanted your locket back. The one he had brazenly stolen from you.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
You couldn't help but stare at that skeleton Monster-kind before you went into the kitchen. You felt anger, confusion and a little bit of curiosity. But mostly anger. Why?
- Because they hadn't been a child but an adult. You felt tricked.
- They stole your precious locket. A keepsake from your dead family.
You could have forgiven the theft if the skeleton Monster-kind had actually been a child who didn't know any better but they were a full fledged adult! You couldn't help but lowly hiss to yourself in the kitchen. You felt your human pupils start to shrink into slits the more you thought about that skeleton. You were agitated to the point you felt yourself transform unwillingly. You had to calm yourself. As much as it would be fun to terrorise the village folks…
You liked your life here. Boring, sure but peaceful. Most of the time. A sudden hand touched your shoulder, which made you whip your head towards whoever dared to attack, hissing at them in warning. Only to come face to face with a familiar fire Monster-kind. The tavern chef. Your snarl instantly dropped. They hadn't done anything to deserve your wrath. Your hostility was misled. Their hand was still firmly on your shoulder. Warm. But not scorching hot. It felt like when you sun bathed in your serpent form. Warm and comfortable.
"Sorry" You apologized. Your serpentine nature screamed at you for your weak submission. Your human one however, felt justified. You would listen to your human nature when on land. For the most part. The fire Monster-kind suddenly handed you something. You looked at it. It smelled like… food.
"Thank… you?" The fire Monster-kind crackled in response before leaving you alone to cook a few more dishes. You held the cookie in your hand. Um. You felt your anger simmer away. You took a nibble and… that sweet taste… you couldn't find this taste anywhere in the ocean depths. You loved the sweets. You devoured the cookie in a bite or two before you walked out of the kitchen to continue your work…
…
..
You didn't get too far out from the kitchen when the skeleton came sauntering over to you. Now that they had stood up, you could see they were wearing more cloth than when you had found them sinking in. They had on a black coat, with blue accents, black boots and a black hat with blue feathers to match. A blue cloth around their neck. Something hooked at their hip. A knife? A big one. They were more imposing now that they weren't drowning. Their steps confident. Yet they were still small.
"My Lady, I Would Like To Apologize For My Crewmates Crude Comments. The Monster Who Slighted You Will Be Dutifully Handled For His Behaviour" You blinked down at him. What was he saying? You understood only a few parts of that sentence.
"Okay…?" You were confuddled by whatever language they were speaking to you. You thought this Monster-kind couldn't get any more annoying and infuriating but they proved you wrong. Couldn't you just ignore this skeleton? Even if it would be rude… If he felt offended enough to attack you, you'd be sure to snap their bones. Like Marne had warned about.
"Oh dear. Sir Captain, I suggest using more… understandable words" Marne spoke up. You agreed with her. Whatever he was saying sounded like another language entirely. You had barely gotten the hang of the one the land dwellers used. No one here spoke serpent tongue. "I See. Very Well. Let Me Try Again" They gave you a smile before speaking once more.
"If Any Of My Crew Pisses You Off, Please Feel Free To Smack Them" Oh. You could understand that sentence. You didn't need anyone's permission to do so. Especially this thief. You wanted to smack this skeleton the most. Why couldn't they leave you alone already.
"You too?" You humored the Monster-kind. Provoking their ire. Starting a fight. You wanted it. Even if they brought out that knife they had around their hips, you would have no trouble defeating them. Their smile, it widened just a bit.
"If You'd Like To… But Do Be Gentle If You Wouldn't Mind" Uh… What? They were being rather submissive. Had you sensed their nature wrong? Too confused, your anger diminished. It was still there, threatening to penetrate the tension of your raging emotions. You could hear quiet laughter coming from the Monster-kinds that had sat with the skeleton.
"I won't" You wouldn't be gentle with a thief who stole from you. The giggling and chortles immediately stopped as the air tensed. Had you said something that could aggravate this skeleton in front of you? Good. However, that playful smile was still present. "How Bold… I Like That" Okay. Whatever. You didn't care what they liked. You could sense the tense atmosphere instantly vanish. You felt a bit disappointed at that.
"Would You Be Interested In A Little Stroll- Walk With Me?" A walk? With that skeleton? You would have hissed at them if it wasn't for the fact that humans didn't hiss like you did to convey displeasure. You were about to say no until they brought something out from the inner pockets of their coat. A golden locket. Your golden locket. You felt your pupils constrict into slits. You tried to keep the shape human enough. Are they mocking you!? The skeleton slipped it back into their coat with a grin. That runt was taunting you with your locket.
"I Will Of Course Compensate For Stealing Away A Barmaid Of Yours" They put those bright eye lights of theirs onto Marne, the barkeep. They wanted to fight you somewhere secluded? Alright. You didn't mind that one bit. Meant you could tear them to shreds without any inhibitions. You felt your inner scales vibrate in exhilaration at that image.
"You won't be stealing away anything until you've heard their answer. Dear, do you want to go with the Captain?" Did you want to? No. Did they have your locket? "Yes" You gazed down at the skeleton with such malice. You couldn't wait to tear their little stubbly legs off of their body. They however, simply smiled with such innocence, like a child. You knew better now.
"Excellent" They brought something else out from their coat pocket. A silver coin. The skeleton put it onto the counter, in front of Marne. She looked shocked but quietly accepted it. She gave you a worried expression. She shouldn't be. The one she should be worried about was the one next to you. The skeleton offered you his arm. You had seen a few humans and Monster-kind walk besides each other while one held the arm of the other. You didn't want to touch them. Unless it was to claw at their fragile bones. You just stared at them until they dropped their arm, a strained smile on their skull. They hadn't liked that. You couldn't care less as you started to walk towards the tavern doors.
The only thing you wanted from them was your locket.
…
..
As they led you… somewhere, you gave them hostile glances. Their body told you they were unaffected. Their scent? Told you another story. Anxious. Wary. And… excited? Weird. This Monster-kind was odd. Too unpredictable. Too arrogant. You didn't like it.
"Brother! I haven't found the wo-..." A voice boomed behind you, making you turn around to face whoever that was. The area was dimly lit but your eyes picked up the figure well enough. Another skeleton Monster-kind. This one missed an arm and a leg on the same side. And they only had one yellow light inside their eye sockets as the other one was pitch black, and slightly chipped at the edge. Their coat tied at where the other arm would go and at the end of their leg, there was some intricate wood attached. Wait, did they say brother? The skeleton next to you was male? But… he was so small. Did skeleton Monster-kind differ? Were females bigger? Did that mean the skeleton in front of you was…?
"What the fuck? The lady's real?" The yellow skeleton looked at you like you shouldn't be here. Why not? You've been here for a few years. "Yes, Papyrus, The Lady Certainly Is" The skeleton next to you sounded proud to point that out.
"Ah, uh… Nice to meet you…m’Lady?" They held out a skeletal hand to you. A friendly greeting amongst the land-dwellers. This skeleton hadn't stolen anything from you. You took their hand into yours. They started to squeeze as they shook your hand. A little bit too strong to be friendly. A challenge? A show of dominance? Certainly. You squeezed harder. They suddenly buckled as they tried to tug their hand away from yours. You squeezed once more to prove a point before you let their hand go.
"Ah-!? Ey, ey! Ya got a strong grip, Lady" The tall skeleton flicked their hand in pain with a hiss. They shouldn't have challenged you. "I'm Sure You Instigated It, My Dear Brother" Ah. They were both male then? It was harder to tell with Monster-kind than humans and sea serpents. You were considered female. A woman. You didn't care what they called you. You were you. Nothing else. It didn't matter to you what manner they referred to you as.
"Can ya blame me? Just wanna impress a lady is all" He wanted to impress you? His grip had been strong, yes but not strong enough to impress you. "Not impressed" You didn't hesitate with that answer. Both of the skeletons froze at your voice. Before the tall skeleton began to laugh rather loudly. You hadn't said anything funny. Had you? Humans and Monster-kind were confusing. When the tall skeleton glanced towards you and saw you weren't laughing alongside him, his laughter simmered down to a chuckle.
"Nyheh ehe… Welp, I'm gonna go drink m’sorrows of my failed attempt away at the tavern" He didn't seem sad. Not at all. And he was smiling. He gave you another glance, a once over. Was he sizing you up? Did he want to fight? You wouldn't back down if he did. But he just gave you a smile before he put his attention back onto the skeleton next to you. "See ya in the ‘morn, brother" He waved before he hobbled off, an obvious limp in his gait. "Keep Away From The Mead!" Sans yelled after his brother, only getting a dismissive hand wave back.
"Excuse My Brother, He Is…" The small skeleton didn't continue speaking. Pausing to find the right word. "Strong" You finished his sentence for him. He was taking too long to find a word. That Monster-kind did have strength to him. Perhaps not as much as you in physicality but It was understandable. With his injuries, you had to be strong to survive. You could respect that. Abruptly, you sensed something touch your arm. You immediately snapped your eyes down to see-
"You Think So!?" He was looking up at you with big blue eye lights as he held onto you. You could scent excitement and pride off of him in droves. He treasured his brother. If you killed him… His brother would be sad. Like you were when you-
"He's The Best-" You nudged him away. He was too close. You didn't want him to touch you. "Give back my locket" You huffed. You wanted this to be over. Even if that meant you wouldn't get to snap his neck.
"Don't Be So Hasty! I'll Give It Back In Due Time" You quietly hissed. This fucking skeleton. Your claws were itching to break his bones in two. You should have pushed him right down. You still could… Tch.
He better enjoy this as much as he can before you strike.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
Sans reached the beach you had taken him to before he could have drowned to his death. And as much as he didn't like sand, it was the most poetic setting! It was dark but the full moon cascading down the waves and beach made it easier to see. Not that he had much trouble but you might have. Human eyes didn't see well in the dark and all.
"You Were The One Who Saved Me From Drowning, Aren't You?" He finally confronted you directly as he stepped in front of you. Stopping your gait entirely. Your face scrunched up in a scowl. You were not happy with him, that was as clear as day.
"My locket, you stole it" You didn't deny you had in fact saved him. Which meant it must have been you. "Yes, I Know. It Wasn't Very Nice Of Me, Was It?" He had wanted to seek out the one who so graciously saved him. Without expecting something in exchange. You had just… vanished after. Without a clue. Except that locket.
"Give it" You held your hand out. Palm of your hand upwards. He brought his own skeletal hand inside his coat and retrieved the golden locket from it. He hovered it above your hand by its chain and for a moment he could tell you were getting more and more angry. You tried to snatch it. But even in his age, he still had those quick reflexes. "Ah-ah!" He yanked it back to himself in a playful manner before pocketing it again. He loved doing small little pranks. Especially ones that are provoking.
"I'll Give It Back… But Only If You Join My Crew" He didn't know how you got him to this beach that fast but… with such strength and skill, having you a part of his crew would certainly put him on the advantage. And… Well, gracing his ship with such beauty was simply a must. He felt as if he left without out… frankly, he would regret it.
"Or I Could Depart From Port With The Locket Safely In My-" He started but quickly stopped when he heard an inhuman hiss coming from you. Your eyes, turning more animalistic. Your gritted teeth, sharp. You even had two very prominent fangs sticking out. He felt himself take a step back. Did you always have those? The air suddenly felt… oppressive. His bones shivered. Like it was sensing danger. From you.
"You won't" You snarled as your nail suddenly elongated into sharp claws and scales started to form on your skin. Mostly your legs and arms. Before he knew it, your legs had turned into a rather large tail as you began to shed your dress over your torso and head. Letting it fall onto the sand. Your slitted eyes locking onto him with such murderous intent. He should have run when you were shedding your dress but he stood there, all stunned as if those very eyes paralyzed him. "You're-!" He couldn't believe his own eye sockets! You weren't just a human! You were-!
"A Sea Angel" He couldn't help but whisper out, his cheeks flushing blue. You were ethereal. A creature of the sea. Beautiful like the ocean itself. He had never seen something like this in his entire life on sea.
"What?" You hissed out angrily but the confusion had dimmed your wrath somewhat. However, agitation was clear as day with the way your tail stirred around, the fins tensing as you gave out threatening yet inhuman noises. It almost sounded crocodile-like. "You're Truly A Sea Angel" He spoke loud and clear for you. He could see he had agitated you a bit too much. You were poised to strike any moment.
"No. A sea serpent" He had seen sea serpents before and they didn't look like you. No, you resembled a sea angel more than those vicious beasts. "You're Beautiful" He couldn't help but mutter in his trance. Your scarred body was fully exposed to him. His gaze had strayed from your face multiple times… towards somewhere they shouldn't. They were all on display, after all.
"You dead" Huh-!? You lurched towards him, your tail threatening to coil themselves around him, trapping him within thick and sharp scales! Uh oh! You were definitely pissed! This had been a slight miscalculation on his part!
"Wait-!?" You didn't wait as you pounced, your claws about to strike. He managed to dodge and crawl himself out of your coil before your claws struck the sand. Just where he had been moments ago. You raised your torso up high, readying another strike!
"Fast little runt" You snarled an insult before pouncing again and this time he rolled away, barely escaping you once more. His hat fell off. Well, shit. You were trying to actually kill him. Should he draw his blade? Would it even do anything? Your scales felt dauntingly hard to slash through. It would just end up angering you even more. No, he needed distance, not proximity, so he could try and talk this one out. It was the only true option he had if he wanted to get out of this alive. He abandoned his hat as he started to trudge through the pesky sand. His footing was not as good without even ground that didn't move under his weight. He didn't dare to look behind him as he ran. But he could hear the sand violently shift behind him. You were definitely planning to catch up to him! His assumption was right the moment he heard your hiss come closer and rapidly as you lunged towards him from behind. He had to dodge-
"Ack-!" He felt his throat seize up as you grabbed him by the neck. Lifting him up from the sandy banks. Your eyes wild and sharp but your face… held a cruel smile, dangerous protruding fangs as you held him above you. It was obvious to him this fight would be futile. You had bested him. He had to admit defeat. He shouldn't have incurred your wrath. The only thing he could do now would be to plead. If only it was to let him live temporarily.
"Wait… Let Me… Say…. Goodbye To… My Brother" He wheezed out as your grip tightened around his neck. It was getting harder and harder to breathe. Until he rasped the last word. You stopped. Different emotions flashed in your slitted eyes. He could see the humanity inside start to swirl. Your grip loosened, allowing him to breathe comfortably again. As comfortably as one could when someone was being held up by their fragile neck. Abruptly you let go of him and he fell onto the rough sand with an audible groan. Suppose that was better than to choke to death.
"Give my locket back" You growled as you pinned him down into the sand, your hand back onto his neck. Not tight as before but definitely not gentle either. The rumbling coming from you warned him to listen and he quickly brought the locket out from his inner coat pockets. You took it from him, harshly, not caring that your hands now have claws as he felt them scrape against one of his phalanges. He could feel just a tiny bit of dust coming from it.
"Leave" You hissed in his face, teeth snapping before you let your grip on his neck go. You righted yourself up, allowing him to get up from the pesky sand. You kept an eye on him while he did. You put the locket around your neck, your eyes still glaring into him. He should leave. Really, he should…
"You Can Have Anything You Want If You Join My Ship" Was he cocky to bargain with you like this? Absolutely. But he felt if he just left now… he would regret it for the rest of his life. He knew this feeling was illogical. He should run, leave and be glad you weren't killing him this instant. But something about you just… drew him in. The very first time he laid his eye lights onto you, he had gotten captivated. If not an angel then perhaps a siren?
"Don't want-..." You hissed but then you stopped speaking. Like you had just realized something. All of a sudden, your serpentine half began to slither around him. Cageing him in once more. He could try and escape but it would only agitate you further. "You a pirate?" You suddenly asked. Yes. He was a pirate with quite the influence. He had sailed the ocean for at least 2 decades and accumulated quite the fame… or infamy depending on who you asked.
"Yes, A Pirate Captain" He answered. Straightforward. He shouldn't aggravate you anymore. "Your ship? It have treasures?" Treasure? Gold? He supposed he did have a lot of gold. Why would you want gold? An instinctive inclination? Or did you simply like shiny things?
"A Fortune" You hissed into his face, which made him flinch but you backed off, if only slightly as you kept circling him. Oh, right. He remembers what that tavern owner told him. No fancy wording. You wouldn't understand their meaning.
"Yes-! It Has A Lot Of Treasures" He reconstructed his sentence so you could understand it better. You hummed. A more pleasant noise than your hissing. "Why want me on ship? I can sink it" You could do that…
"And You Could Sink Other Ships Just As Easily… Ships We Could Be Fighting Against Together And Steal Their Treasures For Our Selves" You gave off a rather pleasant chuff at that. Another positive sound. Did he have your attention?
"Does That Excite You, My Angel?" He couldn't help the wicked smile that appeared when he thought about his enemy's ships all sinking towards the bottom of the ocean. You would be a force to be reckoned with. A formidable foe. A powerful ally.
"It does" You said, your voice coming from behind him as you kept coiling yourself slowly against him. Until you appeared in front of him again. Those sharp eyes pierced right through him. Pupils in slits, and a vicious grin on your lips as your fangs almost glinted in the moon’s shine. You didn't have to verbalise it as he could clearly tell, you were indeed very enthusiastic about the prospect.
"I'll Provide-... Give You Food And Shelter On My Ship" He added, to convince you further. "A den?" He supposed that his ship cabins could be considered as such. "Yes, A Den" He confirmed, using your own words to make you understand. It was obvious your knowledge of his language was… not complete. You understood enough to get the gist of it.
"Unluckily, You Will Have To Conceal- Hide Your… Serpentine Beauty. Pirates Have A Natural Fear Of Your Kind" He wasn't sure how his brother would react if he found out you were a sea serpent. His brother's arm and leg got bitten off by one, after all. You were more merciful than the ones they had seen in their lives as pirates. You blinked, your extra translucent eyelid blinking just before your human ones. "They should" True. Sailors and pirates alike should fear the creatures of the sea. It was their territory and all.
"You don't. You challenge" Yep. Here he was, provoking your deadly ire. He was swimming in dangerous waters, he was fully aware by now. "Aha… Yes, I Apologize. I Didn't Know I Was Out Of My Depths" If he had known he was dealing with something as dangerous as you, he would have kept his mischief to a minimum. Or none at all.
"Hmm…" You hummed again. It sounded less human, he noted. He also noticed you spoke more when in this serpentine form of yours… Your human voice was hoarse and almost strained. Did it hurt to talk in your human form? Before he could even ask, you gave an answer. "Okay" Your coils stopped inching closer to him as you stopped right in front of him. Did you just accept his suggestion!? You wanted to board his ship!? Really!? Honestly, he hadn't expected you to.
"But won't listen to you" Ah, did you mean you wouldn't take his orders as a captain? Eh, that could become a problem… At least you were honest and forthcoming about it. It was clear who held the power here. And it wasn't him. Something he wasn't quite used to. He thought he would have hated that but why did it feel so… exhilarating. At least with you, it did.
"So You'll Join My Ship!?" He bounced from leg to leg. Usually he would contain his tendency to… show happiness so expressively. But he only did it to maintain an intimidating factor. Something that wouldn't really be in his favour to do right at this moment anyway. You seemed less hostile at his happy disposition and more confused than anything. Perhaps a bit intrigued? "Yes" You answered after a moment watching him bounce between his feet. Oh jolly! Really!?
"Excellent!" He couldn't believe it! He had managed to get you to agree and join his crew! Kind of. Maybe now, he didn't have to be scared of falling overboard… If you would be oh so inclined enough to save him a second time, that is. He knew he had burned away your patience with him. But perhaps he could mend that while you were on his ship? During his inner thoughts, he realized you hadn't moved. You kept your coils around him, trapping him inside. Yet, they weren't moving. Just keeping him in place. Uh… you weren't thinking of killing him anymore, were you?
"Um… Would You Kindly Remove Your Coils?" You were just staring. At him. In silence. It left him a bit nervous and self conscious. He must look disheveled after that… short chase. Then again, you had seen him when he had gotten thrown overboard. You just lazily blinked at him. He was mesmerized by your translucent eyelids. Is that how you could see under water with your eyes?
"No. Like your face, showing fear" Huh? Were you watching him just to admire him? Mwheh heh! He might be older than most but if a beauty like yourself was equally captivated by him, it was a good sign he still had his charm!
"So You Find Me Good Looking?" He couldn't help the little sly grin that appeared on his skull. That sharp gaze turned fiery before you lurched your human half into his face. He stood still, fighting his instincts to take a step back from the obvious danger in front of him. He knew predators got thrilled at prey trying to run away after all… and right now, he was the prey.
"Didn't say that!" You hissed, snapping your fangs into his face in a threatening manner. Like you could bite his skull off. Which you probably could if you wanted to. Hm. But those teeth… He mentally shook his skull. Nope. Not the right time for those thoughts.
"Okay, Okay! Understood!" He should tone it down. Just a bit. You hadn't denied his words. It was flattering. Even his bone cheeks were glowing blue. You retreated with a threatening hiss. Your tail moving back to your side completely. No longer confining him. You were letting him go once again. He couldn't take his eye lights off of you as you did. He had a slight temptation to run his phalanges across those sharp looking scales of yours. Perhaps when he had gotten your forgiveness and approval, he could. But before then…
"Meet Me Back Here In The Morning, Let's Say Around 8?" You looked at him, confusion swirling in those eyes. Why? You weren't aware of time? It was a human and Monster-kind conception. And you weren't entirely human. Perhaps you truly did not know. "You Don't Know How To Tell Time?" He asked carefully. He didn't want to accidentally insult you. That could be deadly. You looked towards the waves.
"Sun" Oh. The sun. Yes, sundials were a thing. Old but still reliable. Unless there were clouds in the sky blocking the sun’s beams that is. His father had used those until the invention of clocks. Far more reliable. Unless they broke. He himself had a few small sundials laying around just in case.
"Right, Yes… Hmm" Well this was a conundrum wasn't it? You didn't know where the sun would be around 8o’clock tomorrow morning. A solution would be if he… gave you something that could tell you the time. Like his precious pocket watch. The one his deceased father had given him. It was the only clock he had on him right now. He slipped it out of his inner coat pocket. He looked at it before he turned it towards you, holding it above himself. Your slitted eyes turned rounder. More human.
"A Pocket Watch. It Lets You Know Where The Sun Is In The Sky, Even When You Can't See It" You inched yourself closer, to look at his watch. "You Know Numbers?" He didn't want to assume you didn't know. "Yes, some" Only some? Did that mean you wouldn't know higher numbers like triple digits? "You Know 8 And 12?" 12 was on the higher side since it had two numbers as one. "Yes" Oh good! Saves him the trouble of showing you which ones which. He clicked the pocket watch open. You watched as the front opened up to reveal the clock with inquisitive eyes.
"When The Short Line Starting From The Middle Hits 8 When The Long Line Is On 12, It Is Exactly 8 In The Morning" He said as he watched you reach for the watch. Carefully. As if he would suddenly attack you when your guard was down. Even if he did, he's sure he would only do minimal damage and then that would be it for him. Besides, he wasn't ungrateful for the rescue you did. Oh no. He was beyond grateful. Attacking you would be… disrespectful. More so than what he has already been towards you. It would also be quite the bad idea to do so. You grabbed the golden chain attached to the pocket watch, looking at him closely before it slid out of his grasp and into yours. You took your eyes off of him to look at the clock instead.
"10 but no sun" You said as you examined his watch. Hmmm. It was rather late. He usually would round up his work by now before he went to bed. Papyrus would have been worried by this time if he didn't know Sans was with a lady. A pretty lady. Who held a secret. A secret he now knew.
"10 At Night And It's Soon To Be 11" It would be too complicated to explain right this moment. It might make you more confused and frustrated. "Let’s Stick To 8 And 12 For Tomorrow And I'll Teach You More About Clocks On Our Travels" You didn't say anything but he saw the spark of curiosity in those eyes. You wanted to know more. Hungry for knowledge. Then, you held his pocket watch out to him, waiting for him to grab it from you.
"You Can Borrow My Pocket Watch" He appreciated you were willing to give it back to him. You knew to be careful with precious items. That locket had been taken good care of. The photo inside is as crisp as when it was taken. "Borrow…?" You asked, inquisitive instead of annoyed. Was he finally in your “good” graces?
"It's When You Take An Item And You Give It Back" He explained which made your head tilt. The sharp edge in your round eyes gone. "Didn't steal my locket, you borrow?" A correct way to use the word but technically wrong in this case. He wouldn't admit that to you though.
"Um… Yes! Exactly!" That was a little bit of a white lie on his part. It had been theft with the intention of coercion. It wasn't anything too nefarious! He just wanted you on his ship so he could get to know you better. He and his crew couldn't stay on this tiny island for too long. It would attract trouble for him and the island folk. A bout of silence occurred as you once again just gazed at him. Your pupils were more round. Does that mean you didn't want to kill him any more?
"You odd" Huh? He supposed he was to you. In a normal setting, If anyone else had told him that, his sabre would be at their necks. With you, you were just being brazenly honest. He knows you're not trying to insult him on purpose. "As odd as you're beautiful?" He gave you a cheeky grin. Would you stammer? Flush? Hiss? Click your fangs towards him?
"No" Oh. You rejected his compliment entirely. No reaction whatsoever. Not even a facial expression. "You're Right. You're Far More Beautiful Than That, My Angel" He tried again. Your eyes once again blinked at him. Your expressionless face not moving an inch at his obvious flirting. That just makes him wonder how you would actually look when you were blushing while embarrassed.
"See you tomorrow, Monster-kind" You said as you started to slither away from him. Monster-kind!? Did you not know his name? Or even his moniker? Right. You might not. Sure he was an infamous pirate Captain but… you didn't seem to care who he was. Or know for that matter.
"Wait! My Name's Sans. What's Yours?" You might have not caught his name so he introduced himself. It was long overdue after all. And he really wanted to know yours. You turned your human body around to look at him. It was followed by odd whistling noises. He doesn't think those were “cat-calls”. Although… Those noises were pretty cute, mwheh.
"That's Your Name…?" Your stoic face scowled. He didn't have the capacity to sound that out! He could try but he would sound and look stupid. Especially to you. "Could I… Just Call You Angel?" He had already done so already but it would be great having your consent. You stared into him for a moment. He couldn't tell what you were thinking as you just flatly gazed at him.
"Okay" Oh! You liked that nickname? At least tolerated it to some degree. He couldn't help the smile he sent you. "Well Then, Have A Good Night, Angel!" You chuffed out a sound before you slithered and vanished into the forest. To your home? Probably. He turned around and saw his hat that had been left in the sand. He supposed he should go back to his home as well. His ship.
The ship his beautiful sea angel would soon be boarding.
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