[Action]

[tower_bound]

Who: A lonely mermaid and you
What: Dost though hear that fine tune? Go forth, seek out the source.
When: On a particularly sunny but still day
Where: The furthest part of the docks
Warnings: Vocals to die for



My heart is pierced by cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold.

[Do you hear that singing, down beneath the furthest end of the pier?

Should anyone be curious or foolish enough to venture down and investigate, they will find a lovely little mermaid, seemingly alone, sunning herself on one of the rocks protruding from the water.

Be careful, brave traveler; mermaids have a particular reputation for drowning sailors, luring them in with their siren's song. Typically, their sisters are never far, waiting and watching should opportunity arise.

Though... not everything is as it seems, and not every individual can be generalized by their particular race.

Dare you take the risk?]

Go forth you pretty fair maids, whoever ye may be
Who love a jolly sailor bold who ploughs the raging sea
While up aloft, in storm or gale, from me his absence mourn,
And firmly pray, arrive the day, he'll never more to roam.

Comments

[trytryagain]

[One moment she's not there; the next she is, standing twenty feet back and listening, a blunderbuss slung over one shoulder.]

[tower_bound]

[Rapunzel takes no notice, far too occupied with her own tune and solemnly watching the horizon.]

[rule_britannia]

[Indeed, he hears it, and he's drawn to it as any sailor might be to such a siren song. It even takes the edge off the bitterness he's been feeling since the loss of his ship.

He knows what to expect, but there's still a faint expression of surprise as he falters to a stop at the end of the peer and gently brings his hands together in a soft applause at the end of her song.]

[tower_bound]

[Though the sound of his applause isn't jarring in itself, Rapunzel jerks in surprise, spinning her torso around to look up at the peer.]

I'm sorry, I didn't realize anyone was listening.

[However, it was expected that someone would show; someone always does.]

[rule_britannia]

I could hardly keep from hearing you.

[The pirate removes his hat in a sweeping gesture and crouches down at the end of the peer, watching her with barely disguised interest. What little he knows of mermaids tells him that getting close to one is a bad idea, but he's not so close yet that he feels she can threaten him.]

Your voice is enchanting.

[tower_bound]

I wasn't too loud, was I?

[She idly leans against the supporting beam of the pier, looking up at him with equal interest.]

O-oh! Thank you very much.

[rule_britannia]

Not in the least.

[He seats himself on the edge of the pier, resting his chin against one hand.]

I wouldn't object to hearing more, if you'd indulge me.

[tower_bound]

That's a relief. I don't want humans getting the wrong idea.

[After all, even Rapunzel knows that some humans realize the song is sometimes used to lure men beneath the waves.

However, at his interest, a pleasantly surprised smile pulls on her lips.]

I'd love to.

[She pauses for a moment, thinking of another song to sing. Perhaps a folk song about the sea that a sailor might hear while traversing the sea. Yes, that would work well.]

A brisk young sailor came courting me
Until he gained my liberty.
He stole my heart with free good will
And he's got it now, but I love him still.

There is an ale house in yonder town
Where my love goes and he sits him down.
He takes some strange girl on his knees
And he tells her what he won't tell me.

Hard grief for me and I'll tell you why,
Because that she has more gold than I.
Her gold will waste, her beauty pass,
And she'll come like me, a poor girl, at last.

There is a bird all in yonder tree;
Some say he's blind and he cannot see.
I wish it'd been the same by me
Before I'd gain'd my love's company.

The greenest field it shall be my bed.
A flow'ry pillow shall rest my head,
The leaves which blow from tree to tree,
They shall be the coverlets over me.

[rule_britannia]

[Again, there's a round of applause, soft and slow in appreciation of her voice. Though he knows what a mermaid might do, it's that knowledge (so he thinks) that will keep him safe.

What he does next might surprise her - he clears his throat, and sings in return.]

I dreamed a dream the other night,
Lowlands, Lowlands, away, my John,
I dreamed a dream the other night,
My Lowlands, away.

I dreamed I saw my own true love,
Lowlands, Lowlands, away, my John,
I dreamed I saw my own true love,
My Lowlands, away.

She came to me all in my sleep,
Lowlands, Lowlands, away, my John,
I dreamed I saw my own true love,
My Lowlands, away.

And then I knew my love was dead.
Lowlands, Lowlands, away, my John,
I dreamed I saw my own true love,
My Lowlands, away.

[tower_bound]

[Though she practically basks in the applause, his song jerks her out of that mindset with pleasant surprise.

It's rare when someone dares to sing back to a mermaid, much less with a voice so enjoyable and with such fine musicality. She holds onto the wooden support pillar, resting her cheek against it, as she watches him with utmost interest, and even a bit of flattered gratefulness.]

That was beautiful. I'm guessing you sing fairly often?

[rule_britannia]

When I'm at sea, it passes the time.

[Many sailors would sing, though not all of them were very good at it. Still, a rousing chorus from midship would often lift the spirits on even the worst of nights.

Perhaps it was boredom that prompted him to brave what few would dare, but it was worth the risk for the delighted expression on her face.]

You're putting yourself in some danger, lingering so close to the port.

[tower_bound]

That makes sense.

[Her smile turns smug, self-confident, though it's made in naivety.]

No one has bothered me yet. No one bothered me yesterday either. I think I can handle myself.

[Granted, she stayed below the surface and simply watched the people go about their lives.]

[rule_britannia]

Perhaps no one saw you.

[His own smirk is wry and somewhat predatory.]

But a beautiful woman drawing attention to herself is a risk in any situation.

[tower_bound]

Perhaps.

[While she does find the smile slightly unsettling, she decides to think little of it. He seems harmless enough, and who would be foolish enough to go toe to toe with a mermaid? Sure, there were the stories Mother had told her about mermaids being captured, killed or sold, and ultimately kept from ever returning to the ocean, but thus far, Mother had been wrong about the human world; Rapunzel simply assumes the other dangers -real dangers- had been exaggerated.]

Is that so? Why do you say that?

[rule_britannia]

This is a harsh world for those who are unprepared.

[Arthur is bold but not stupid, and he's not going to be jumping off the docks at any point in this conversation, but that doesn't mean he'll pass up the opportunity to speak to a mermaid.]

Do you know what to expect of it?

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

A pretty song, if somewhat ominous. [Dressed all in black, Koizumi approached the end of the pier, expression carefully neutral.]

[tower_bound]

[Rapunzel turns to look up at the strange man; it's not often she sees a human in complete black. Then again, in comparison to her sisters, she hadn't seen too many humans.]

Thank you; though I don't think it really means anything beyond heartache and waiting.

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

That's one interpretation, and it's reassuring that's the one you were going for.

[He crouches down on the pier, to be more on a level with her - though he's still careful to stay a couple feet from the end or either of the sides.] Might I ask, does the song speak of someone in particular? Or are you here for another reason?

[tower_bound]

It is?

[She turns on the rock to better face him, her heavy, braided hair now resting behind her on the wave-worn stone.]

The song is one we all know, so I'm not sure if it's looking for someone in particular. But most of us are looking for someone, we just don't know who until we see them. But I'm here because this rock is a nice place for sunning.

[That's when a mermaid makes her move and drowns the poor bloke. At least... that's what most mermaids do.]

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

I think so. [Koizumi seems aware of what most mermaids would do in this situation as well - he was tensed, ready to spring backwards from her at a moment's notice.] And what would you do if you found this someone?

[tower_bound]

That's... actually the part I don't really know about. Mother never told me.

[Her tone is genuine; she honestly doesn't know what happens when that difficult-to-predict occurance happens. She knows that not all sailors lured in by the song are drowned --not that she has actually done that herself yet; that's been through observance. However, finding a mermaid's true "jolly sailor bold" is something of a unique occurance, one that doesn't usually end in the death of the sailor.]

All I know is that something special is supposed to happen, but it's dangerous for us. [The mermaids.]

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

[He stills a moment, simply looking at her. Then he gives her a tight-lipped smile.] You're new at this, aren't you. [It's not really a question.]

[tower_bound]

Is it really that obvious?

[She laughs, the tone leaning towards embarrassed.]

It's my first time out on my own, above the water. Mother wouldn't teach me what I wanted -needed- to know, so I ventured out to discover things for myself.

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

Well, you haven't tried to drown me yet. That was a clue.

[tower_bound]

Mermaids don't always drown sailors, you know.

[She flops her tail idly against the stone she's seated on.]

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

[His lips curls up in amusement.] Not always, perhaps. But you have to admit there is a certain trend...

[tower_bound]

It depends on which queen the mermaid belongs to. Different clans have different quotas and morals... and then it depends on the individual too.

[Or so she had come to understand. She never much got to be around her sisters in the clan she technically belonged to.]

[coimiceoir]

[Aisling's wandering the docks when she hears the song and, dressed as a boy, no one pays her any heed when she goes to investigate. It's not long before she's sitting on the edge, humming a soft counterpoint to the mermaid's melody. When the song finishes, she smiles and laughs, applauding.]

[tower_bound]

[Her song doesn't falter, even as the harmony reaches her ears. However, she waits for the tune to finish before she looks to investigate who exactly sang with her.]

Hello there; you have a nice voice.

[freezespirited]

[The wind brings her song to where he glides, high enough so no one sees him, or bothers to look. He's dropped down rather sharply, already dancing between people and precious cargo, leaping on posts and that looks shiny. He grabs the trinket, pocketing it in the hood of his cloak. Fleetingly, he forgets what he was doing, but he hears her continue her song, and runs the rest of the way.

Stopping close enough to where she's easily visible, he freezes as he listens, mesmerized. His toes give an involuntary twitch, but he remains in place, never straying close to the edge. The song finishes, and it's like snapping out of a daze.]

How many times have you sang that pretty song today?

[tower_bound]

Three, actually.

[She answers without hesitation, turning to look directly at him.

Perks of being a mermaid; other supernatural beings do not escape her notice. It's an adaptation that allows the mermaid to better thrive in the dangerous and heavily hunted waters of the ocean.]

But this is the first time anyone has come to listen today.

[freezespirited]

If the third time isn't a charm, the fourth time might somehow yield a completely different result. I can't see anything wrong with that.

[He hops on another post, tiny crystals of ice carving down the ridges of wood, a few glistening in the sun. A small, cold breeze picks up and drops. He sighs with false nostalgia, slipping down to sit facing her.]

They're all too busy with their own lives to notice what's right in front of them. This place makes them complacent. They forget the true nature of the ocean.

[tower_bound]

Nothing at all!

[She watches the icy pattern form with awe, though her fascination doesn't distract her from his words.]

They forget the true nature of everything... a simply melody, a longing heart, nature's wonders, not just of the sea. The ocean is a dangerous place, but they know that... though I'm not sure if they understand the danger at all.

I guess we're all trying to find our paths in life, and sometimes they can't really coexist.

[freezespirited]

How can they understand? It's something that's beyond them. It's beyond all of us--maybe not you. [He points at her, not accusingly.] It is your home, after all. But you're right. It's all changing, and faster than ever, now.

...And what happens if they can't?

[tower_bound]

Then they kill.

[Mermaids kill sailors as trophies, as gifts to their Queen, and some do it to prove how talented they are. Sailors kill mermaids because of the reputation of some clans of the sea creatures, sometimes for their own glory, and more and more, to sell the parts in market. Keeping the mermaids alive to sell in the underground market as exotic pets isn't a much brighter prospect.]