ROLEPLAY HQ - sea-king-and-prince

The sky was darker then usual out at sea, the winds howling and thunder rumbled. A tired ship bobbed back and forth among the churning black waters. The crew scrambling to make sure the ship was safe. Below the water a dark figure swam below the ship watching it. 21 year old male swam just below the water, his head barely crowning the surface. His tail flowed in the water, giving him a advantage below the surface. Loki knew he shouldn’t be this far out away from his kingdom, but he couldn’t take it anymore. He needed to get out, to swim into different territories and explore. Humans always seemed to garner his interest as he stalked the ship. Loki stayed just out of sight enough, not daring to get to close. It wasn’t until the storm started to roll in Loki looked back the way he came, wanting to now start heading back lest a group of guards start a hunt for him. It was the glow that was above surface that stopped him. Loki hadn’t noticed the lightning that cracked, hitting the mast of the ship, causing a fire to bloom out, untamed and spreading. @Vox

"Man the lines, cut free the sails!" He shouted, then cried out as the mast further crumbled, casting sparks and shattered wood. The fires spread across the deck, even in the rain, the cured wood soaked in flamable compounds to keep it water resistant. Lifeboats were dropped to the frothing waves as the ship began to split and sink. The wood groaned and protested as the sea invaded the lower hull. Bjōrn jumped as the boat gave a final shudder and sank. He got his arms over the floating debris, desperate to keep his face above water as the breaking ship tugged the current down. He sunk his lungs aching as his breath was crushed out of him, hands slipping from the wood. The sky was a soft breath of light high above him, past his fingertips. A gentle star.... A single man fell through the water that still had a heartbeat, pulsing through the water, calling. @Sad Boi Micha

No one could see Bjōrn as he dipped below the sea. The crew would’ve presumed him dead. Loki saw him though, saw as he started to sink. His black tail pushed him forward as his arms stretched out, grabbing at the man in the water. He pushed himself up. His head broke through the water, and he kept the human close to his chest. The night air damp from the storm, the taste of sea salt and rain on Loki’s tongue. He knew Sirens could keep their head out of water for some time. As long as they went below for a few minutes after hours pass. He started swimming north, where the ship was more the. Lilly to come from. Carefully maneuvering away from the wreckage, trying to be care with the passed out human male he was holding. @Vox

He had a leg wrapped tight to keep his knee straight and it seemed he'd not be able to swim even if he was conscious. He'd gotten struck by debris, blood sticking to his hair. An empty life boat bobbed in the distance, the only occupant a corpse. Thankfully Bjorn was light enough to lift, even with the multitude of layers to his clothes soaked from the sea. He'd started to stir in Loki's arms, coughing up the water in his lungs, chest burning from salt. @Sad Boi Micha

Loki’s head peeked over at Bjōrn, his eyes dark, lightening flashing into them. He wanted to make sure he was at least breathing. Curiosity got the best of him and he reached out, gently touching his cheek. Loki’s skin was cold, smelled like the rain due to being above water, the only water having hit his head and arms being the rain. He was gentle, almost afraid that Bjōrn would wake up and see him. Loki had always been told to not let any humans see him. @Vox

His face twitched from the rain hitting his skin. A thin scar skimmed over one of his eyes from eyebrow to cheek, eventually stirring. He rolled coughing up water, groaning and shivering from the cold. Blinking and confused at finding himself in a boat Bjōrn looked to the remnants of his ship. "No... Gods no..." was lost to the wind. He pushed the corpse out of the lifeboat and sunk down in the boat, knowing the storm was too much for him alone to overcome. How did I get in here.... @Sad Boi Micha

He couldn’t see Loki, who was keeping the boat steady on the water. He had submerged fully when he noticed movement, not wanting to get caught. He watched the corpse float down. He watched the sky from below, it was still dark, clouds clinging to the horizon. His hands touched the bottom of the life boat as he started to push it forward. He knew these seas very well, careful to take it slow. @Vox

He startled when the boat moved suddenly and he held tight to the bench, laying inside. "What....." He blinked softly startled, but was too tired to care. He was exhausted when the boat nudged the shallows, just enough water for Loki. He looked over the edge, holding onto a small knife. "Thank you..." He said it mostly to fate, not seeing the mermaid behind the boat. @Sad Boi Micha

Loki was silent before peeking out the water to the man. He could see the side of the man he saved, the early light dawning on the horizon. His eyes studied Bjōrn, studied his movement, he could understand what he spoke, heard him say thank you. A small smile graced his face. He let go of the boat now, swimming back slightly but wouldn’t completely submerge. The light shone in his eyes now. @Vox

His leg gave out on the sand and he thumped to sit holding his hip. He eventually caught sight of Loki's eyes and his shoulders sunk, breath hitching in his throat. It made more sense. He knew he'd sunk... he couldn't swim. He should be dead.... "My lord!" One of his soldiers called, running across the sand, startling Bjōrn from his staring. He looked over blinking and smiled softly as the man caught his arm. "You're alive." "Yes, I am fine. Have more of the men been found?" He looked back at the waves, his black hair crusted with sand. There was one there.... It helped me. He let the soldier help him from the sand, limping up the coast to horses. He'd come back.... The next time Loki saw him, he was in a smallboat bobbing in the water. It was a pleasure vessel, a gift from his mother though he'd barely learnt to sail. He sat leaning against the back head back. He'd assumed night would be the best time so he had a few hours to float. @Sad Boi Micha

Loki couldn’t help but to come back. He watched the water from below, swimming with the vessel. He had been coming back to the coast he saved that human, a connection he couldn’t quite sever. He wanted to know more about him. From behind Loki there was someone new. A guard. Just to make sure everything was going to be okay, reminding Loki they couldn’t stay out forever. In truth, the guard is the only friend he had in the kingdom, yet couldn’t even stop Loki from yearning for more. The shadow of the boat on moonlight covered Loki, and he found himself swimming in the shadow, up to the surface of the water. Yet not breaking through the calm waves. @Vox

Bored, he sat up, chin on his arm on the edge of the boat. The evening light lit up the flickering waves and he closed his eyes, listening to the boat on the water. He didn't know why that thing saved him... the siren. He wanted to ask questions. He had no basis for comparison. All of them he'd met had immediately attacked him but this one... it didn't. It helped him. Without it he would've drown. He couldn't swim well enough to fight that storm. He trailed his fingers in the water, huffing softly. "This was stupid." He decided, assuming it was gone.... @Sad Boi Micha

That’s when something grazed his fingers. Loki had watched the human for a long time. Debating on what he would do, what he should be doing. But that was when he saw his fingers tread the water. The soft rippling of the surface making the surface reflection distorted. Bjōrn saw a dark movement just below the surface. @Vox

He jerked in surprise, swallowing down a startled cry, peaking over the edge to look. He didn't know what these things wanted or properly were. He just knew they were supposed to be violent.... Gently he sunk his hand to the wrist in the water, holding his breath and praying whatever it was wouldn't bite it off. Or yank him in.... Dark hair spilled in soft waves from behind his ears, dark eyes like black pearls. Licking his lips he swallowed hard, stretching his fingers wide. Open to touch, a permission. "Please be the same one.... please don't eat my hand." @Sad Boi Micha

Loki saw his hand dip lower into the water and gently brushed his own to Bjōrn. Before his head surfaced. In the moonlight. Water dropped from Loki’s silver hair, his pale red eyes glowing in the moonlight. His hand wouldn’t leave Bjōrn, almost afraid of pulling away. He looked so curious of the human male, tilting his head studying him, and the boat. Loki came closer to the boat. Bjōrn could see his tail, the black shimmering among the deep blue mixed with silver light. Strong. Powerful. Loki now reached out to the boat. Gently placing his free hand on the side. @Vox

His breath hitched in his throat, trying to keep himself leveled. He couldn't bring himself to move frozen on his knees gripping the ledge of the boat. "C-can you talk?" He asked softly voice wobbling. "You saved me. Right?" He murmured, swallowing hard as the other drew close. His hand was shaking, terrified. He was alone in his little boat the sail hanging loose without a breeze. Slowly, he reached into his belt and pulled out a thin necklace. It was basic and cheap, but looked nice and pretty; a thin silver chain with a stone strung on. It was something that could survive the sea. He held it out, showing his own necklaces. "To thank you. For saving my life." He smiled close lipped, hesitant and shaky but keeping his hand in Loki's. @Sad Boi Micha

“Thank you.” His voice was soft. Whispy like sea foam that washed up on shore. He gave a soft smile up at Bjōrn. It had took him a while to answer. After all, he still remembered stories that had been told. How his kind was hunted. Was forced to hide in the sea. But this was different, it had to be. Loki slowly untwined his hand from Bjōrn’ sand put the necklace on. Gently touching the stone with one hand. @Vox