caelumaviis

[caelumaviis]

muselexum​.

The owl girl! And she still carried around that guitar!

“It’s you!” She said, throwing an arm over what the Whitebeard Pirates had once decided as their honorary crewmate. “Where’ve you been hiding?”

“Huuuhuhuhu!!!” Asteria laughed as Akane wrapped her healthy arm around her shoulders, hugging her old friend right back. “I've been mappin' the stars above Amazon Lily! What've you been up to?! Tell me all about your adventures!”

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CHIRP CHIRP

[Silva sees another bird. Must communicate.]

CHIRP CHIRPS RIGHT BACK!!!

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“Yoi! You’ve been askin’ for me?” 

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Asteria, watching all my other muses just fucking going through it right now™:

“...Maybe it’s good that I stick to the heavens instead of the sea.” 

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Double Framed Sextant (1810-1860) by Troughton and Simms of London, England. Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney

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BIRD PARTY TIME

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“BIRDS!!!!”

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📷 by doorabl

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guess who's drawing birb

(its me, I'm drawing birb)

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ive evolved a specialized beak that allows me to open any childproof container

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Sextant, owend by E.H. Callaghan who was probably an American seaman (The lapel in the case is inscribed with Samuel Thaxter & Sonof Boston), and likely a Captain, ship owner or Officer of some importance or wealth, c. 1830

These special sextant can be attributed to Janet Taylor (because of the inscription Taylor 103 Minores London on the arc), one of only two women involved in the developing science of celestial navigation in the 19th century. Mrs. Taylor wrote and published some of the groundbreaking books and monographs with extensive tables and instructions on establishing positions at sea using celestial navigation instruments. She also founded a Nautical Academy, next to her store in 103 Minores Street London to teach young seaman aspiring to careers at sea.

[caelumaviis]

𝑺𝑪𝑬𝑵𝑨𝑹𝑰𝑶  𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺.

↬   OF  MERMAIDS,  MASQUERADES  AND  MAGIC.

scenarios  inspired  by  various  settings,  encounters  &  magic  tucked  between  pages,  fashioned  by  the  author.  tw  for  drowning  mentions.

+   feel  free  to  change  pronouns  /  roles  !

MERMAIDS.

‘  beyond  the  winds  and  past  the  shores,  strange  magic  lurks  about.  ’

‘  will  you  go  to  the  lagoon  with  me  ?  it’s  unsafe  to  go  alone.  ’

‘  they  say  a  siren’s  call  alone  can  drown  a  man  before  she  swallows  him.  ’

‘  quick  !  cover  your  ears.  ’

‘  what  did  you  imagine  as  you  heard  the  song  ?  ’

‘  i  can  feel  a  voice  like  claws  sinking  beneath  my  skin.  ’

‘  one  can  pray  to  the  ocean,  but  the  waters  answer  in  strange  tongues.  ’

‘  careful,  or  we’ll  hit  the  reef.  ’

‘  the  sea-folk  are  flighty  as  their  fins,  and  illusive  as  shimmering  scales.  ’

‘  i  should  like  to  find  myself  a  sailor  fit  for  a  feast.  ’

‘  sometimes  i  wish  there  was  more  than  the  endless  waves.  ’

‘  do  you  see  that  ?  there,  beneath  the  surface  ?  ’

‘  that’s  no  fish,  and  no  woman  either.  ’

‘  what  lies  off  the  edge  of  the  map  ?  ’

‘  the  sea  has  monsters,  but  beauties  too.  ’

‘  i’ve  heard  that  merfolk  make  bargains,  and  trade  in  the  ocean’s  magic.  ’

‘  i’ve  never  seen  a  pearl  like  this  one.  ’

‘  the  ship  will  go  down  if  we  don’t  turn  about  !  ’

‘  what  is  that,  out  there  on  the  rocks  ?  ’

‘  won’t  you  listen  to  my  song  ?  ’

‘  mermaids  love  shiny  things.  keep  a  careful  eye  on  yours.  ’

‘  if  we  hide  in  the  kelp,  we  might  see  them  as  they  pass.  ’

‘  i’ve  heard  the  tales.  to  catch  you  means  to  gain  a  granted  wish.  ’

‘   i’ve  never  seen  your  likeness,  only  heard  the  myths.  ’

‘  come  with  me,  beneath  the  sea  and  foam,  and  be  mine.  ’

‘  some  of  us  live  in  the  ocean,  others  in  rivers  and  streams  and  even  trees.  ’

‘  falling  in  love  with  a  human  is  an  old  tale.  tell  me  a  new  one.  ’

‘  so  you  gave  up  your  fin  for  legs  ?  ’

‘  soon  i  will  be  nothing  but  seafoam.  ’

‘  what  is  a  heart,  but  an  ocean  of  secrets  ?  ’

‘  you’d  let  yourself  be  undone  and  remade  for  someone  you’ve  never  known.  that  is  not  love.  ’

‘  let  your  dreams  sink  to  the  depths.  they’ve  done  you  no  good.  ’

MASQUERADES.

‘  i’ve  never  seen  so  many  unfamiliar  faces.  ’

‘  he’s / she’s / they’ve  been  looking  at  me  all  evening.  ’

‘  would  you  do  me  the  honor  of  a  dance  ?  ’

‘  neither  of  us  need  know  the  other  tonight.  i  prefer  the  mystery.  ’

‘  your  choice  of  costume  is  rather  extravagant.  ’

‘  what  fun  would  it  be,  if  i  took  this  off  ?  ’

‘  i’m  certain  we’ve  met  before.  ’

‘  i’ve  always  longed  for  a  night  like  this.  it’s  something  out  of  a  dream.  ’

‘  won’t  you  come  away  with  me  ?  there’s  a  balcony  just  outside.  ’

‘  i’m  inclined  to  think  we’ve  never  met  before,  and  perhaps  will  never  meet  again  after  tonight.  ’

‘  you  look  like  you  know  how  to  waltz.  care  to  ?  ’

‘  i  must  stand  up  with  someone  this  evening,  and  i  don’t  see  why  it  can’t  be  you.  ’

‘  would  you  stop  staring  so  intently  ?  what  do  you  think  to  find  ?  ’

‘  i’ll  stop  bothering  you  if  you  agree  to  dance  with  me.  ’

‘  please  take  it  off.  i  want  to  see  you.  ’

‘  i’ve  never  been  to  a  masque  before.  ’

‘  it  seems  our  attire  makes  opposites  of  us.  ’

‘  i’ve  never  seen  a  more  hideous  costume  than  that  one.  ’  

‘  i  can’t  stay  much  longer.  you  see,  i’m  not  supposed  to  be  here  at  all.  ’

‘  you’ll  never  know  who  i  am.  ’

‘  people  like  you  always  make  a  fool  of  me.  ’

‘  oh.  i  thought  you  were  someone  else.  ’

‘  i’ll  give  you  three  chances  to  guess  who  i  am.  ’

‘  the  next  time  i  offer  you  my  hand,  you’ll  get  more  than  a  dance  from  me.  ’

‘  i’ve  wanted  to  dance  beneath  stars  like  these  for  as  long  as  i  can  remember.  ’

‘  what  do  you  look  like  ?  ’

‘  that  look  in  your  eyes  tells  me  all  i  need  to  know.  ’

‘  you  won’t  like  what  you’ll  see.  ’

‘  i  recognize  your  voice.  ’

‘  you’ll  know  the  truth  before  the  night  is  up.  ’

‘  i’ve  heard  the  darkest  of  dances  are  the  best  for  falling  in  love  to.  ’

‘  you  don’t  know  it  now,  but  we’re  friends  already.  ’

‘  can’t  we  pretend  a  little  while  longer  ?  ’

‘  it’s  when  the  party  is  over  that  we  learn  to  know  each  other  most.  ’

‘  happily  ever  after  can’t  come  so  easily  as  a  single  night  dancing.  ’

MAGIC.

‘  i’ve  caught  you.  you  have  to  undo  the  spell  for  me  now.  ’

‘  think  carefully  before  asking  for  something  well  beyond  the  reach  of  mortal  power.  ’

‘  i  think  i  know  a  spell  for  that.  ’

‘  i  can’t  help  you.  but  there  are  people  in  other  worlds,  in  the  moors  and  hills  and  trees,  that  might.  ’

‘  you  must  gather  the  necessary  ingredients  for  such  a  potion.  ’

‘  true  love  is  never  the  answer  to  the  riddle.  not  when  so  much  as  life  and  death  is  at  stake.  ’

‘  i’ve  found  and  made  my  way  here  by  right.  you  can’t  deny  me  the  answers  i  seek.  ’

‘  be  warned:  monsters  hide  between  the  trees  and  whisper  in  magic  tongues.  ’

‘  it  always  makes  a  fraction  of  sense  to  be  careful  what  you  wish  for.  ’

‘  i’ve  been  turned  into  an  unsightly  creature,  and  i  need  a  way  of  turning  back.  ’

‘  not  all  magical  stories  happen  in  castles,  or  cottages  in  the  wood.  ’

‘  preposterous.  magic  and  sorcery  do  not  exist  but  in  the  minds  of  superstitious  fools.  ’

‘  get  back  from  that  cauldron  !  it’s  dangerous.  ’

‘  i  don’t  mess  with  things  like  candles  and  the  stars  and  the  moon  after  dark.  it  never  ends  well.  ’

‘  i  am  something  ancient.  my  name  has  been  forgotten  by  mortal  mouths  and  is  found  only  in  their  oldest  texts.  ’

‘  not  all  fairy  helpers  are  kind,  and  not  all  villains  are  ugly,  or  even  cruel.  ’

‘  if  you  want  my  help,  you  must  earn  it.  ’

‘  is  this  something  i  could  learn  ?  ’

‘  i  don’t  want  to  be  ordinary,  and  i  don’t  care  what  the  risks  are.  ’

‘  you  think  to  put  a  curse  on  me  ?  i  will  spend  my  life  defying  it.  ’

‘  stay  back,  witch,  and  keep  your  spells  from  sneaking  past  your  lips.  ’

‘  you  must  chain  a  magician  in  more  than  metal  or  rope  if  you  wish  to  stop  them.  ’

‘  that’s  a  parlor  trick.  show  me  real  magic.  ’

‘  only  you  can  break  the  spell.  it  is  something  you  are  meant  for.  ’

‘  fate  is  nothing  but  an  illusion  placed  in  our  heads,  that  we  might  follow  the  words  of others  and  not  our  own  intentions.  ’

‘  whatever  has  brought  me  here,  i  cannot  turn  back  now.  ’

‘  soon  the  clock  will  strike,  and  nothing  more  might  be  done.  ’  

‘  magic  requires  taking  in  order  to  give.  it  will  keep  demanding  parts  of  you.  ’

[caelumaviis]

the terror (2018)  +  scientific and navigational instruments

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i love my ocs i dont care if they have dumb names and are dumb i still love them

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Astronomical clock by Jacopo de' Dondi, 1344, replica built at Torre dell'Orologio, Padua in 1428

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A little puddle of rainwater accumulated in the common area of the Moby Dick, drops lazily dripping down from the soaked fisherman's smock resting on the bench. Right next to it, Asteria gobbled the food on her plate up as fast as she could, having developed quite a considerable appetite after flying for so many hours on end without rest. The lean muscles on her arms were painfully sore, the beaten-up guitar case that was now resting against the long communal table having gotten quite heavy during her journey.

Thankfully, the Whitebeard Pirates had embraced her with open arms when hearing about her plight. As she wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve, she sent the stars a silent thanks for guiding her way to these pirates. Their hospitality was extraordinary, and the warm chatter filling the galley was lively and rowdy and absolutely wonderful. It reminded her of late evenings spent in Baterilla‘s harbor bars, listening to the sailors and fishermen telling drunken tales of maritime splendors.

She looked up from her plate of food as another pirate slid into the bench opposite hers. A bright grin spread out on her face. She gulped down her mouthful of rice and stood up, reaching her hand across the table to shake hers in hearty greeting. “Oh, aye! I imagine ya don’t get hitchhikers droppin‘ from the skies often!“ she laughed, plopping back down on the bench again. “You guys are bein’ too generous — 'm just glad yer Pops didn’t decide to throw me overboard,“ she mumbled between shoveling another spoonful into her mouth, hand already reaching for another plate that got placed down in front of her. “What’s your name, red?“

@caelumaviis​ / akane starters (closed)

It hadn’t been long since the Moby Dick had welcomed a surprise guest. The lone traveler landed on the ship earlier that day, claiming she needed to rest her wings. Luckily for her, the Whitebeard Pirates weren’t exactly known for throwing random women in need overboard, and instead received a rather friendly welcome.

The crew’s strength, and confidence in their strength, played a large part in how they treated strangers on board. There was no need for chains or interrogations when there was almost nothing that could bring them harm. Akane had been on the other side of that not too long ago herself, the ex-marine originally flabbergasted that they would allow her to wander freely.

She slid into the bench across from the wanderer. A large plate of food was in front of the woman and her guitar case rested against the dinner table. “Hey, Asteria right? There’s been a lot of chatter about you.” She greeted, putting a friendly smile on her face. Their conversation was just one of many that filled the large mess hall, everyone’s voices melting into a pleasant ambiance.