#(Ikkaku is getting out one way or another but she's curious if Drake's a good knight or bad)

[ikkaku-of-heart]

abyssusinvo​:

He’d been wandering almost aimlessly now, straying away from densely populated villages for fear that he would be hunted the moment his curse was known. While his crucibles helmet shielded his eyes from view, it was a rather flimsy means of staying hidden and rather distressing on his body given the weight of his knights armor now chipped and worn from the elements.

The scent of the salty breeze let him know that at the very least he was close to the ocean and perhaps in interest of seeing the tides push and pull with the forces of nature, the banished knight trudges on in the direction with which he had seen gulls fly towards. Somewhere in the back of his mind he thought to himself how much more efficient his travels were if he only gave in and took a steed for himself to ride upon. 

by the time he makes it to the gulf he is met with a curious sight. It appeared to him that there was a scuffle going on upon the ship steered close to shore and rocking gently in the shallow waters. As he steps ever so closer he can make out a wriggling figure caught within a net that men were struggling to pull over the edge of the deck. It is only when a grand tail smacks the face of an assailant and a glimpse of curls through the fishnet that he realizes it is a mermaid was caught and a feisty one at that.

Drake wasn’t well versed in Fishfolk societies nor their culture given how inland his kingdom was but he had heard grand stories that drew countless fishermen to the sea to capture these mystical creatures.

Even if their reputation varied into bloodthirst and maneating, he wasn’t going to just stand around and watch as one was captured to have god knows what done to it.

 Sliding his heavy sword out of it’s sheathe, Drake approached the ship as quietly as his heft armor could manage. Slit eyes narrowed as he took in the scene and hoping to distract the men from potentially harpooning the writhing mermaid he called out.

“ I see you’ve caught something quite rare, mind telling a wandering old knight what you plan on doing with such a creature?”

Ikkaku had been careless. She could admit that. she had spent several months on land, exploring cities and forests and mountains, hearing stories and learning so much it had nearly been overwhelming. Humans were quite fascinating, especially when they thought she was one of them.

They never even realized how close they were to a dangerous ocean predator

But eventually she felt the ocean call to her, so she’d indulged in turning back into her true form. Being a mermaid again had felt almost alien to her at first, powerful grey tail feeling heavy, but soon her body once more was swimming gracefully through the water, and it felt good to be in her natural element again. Perhaps she had missed the ocean more than she’d thought. Perhaps it was time to swim to another island so she could make the most of this familiar joy while preparing for a new and exciting adventure.

Alas, in her eagerness, she’d forgotten that there were some human sailors who dared treat her kind as prey.

“Release me this instant!” she snarled, bearing her sharp teeth at the sailors that laughed and jeered at her. The net was thick, tangling her arms and tail in coarse ropes as she struggled to reach one of the men so she could use him as a hostage, or at least take a bite out of him.

“Not a chance, fish bitch!” the captain chuckled, stepping just out of her reach. “Yer too valuable to just catch an’ release. Yer gonna make us rich!”

Just as she opened her mouth to release her siren song that would drive these disgusting men mad, another figure approached. A knight, by the look of things. But was he the kind who rescued young maidens or the sort who killed what they perceived as monsters? Her mouth shut as she stared at him curiously. His sword His next actions would determine whether or not she’d put him under her spell with the sailors.

“Haha, well met, Sir. Knight! This one’s a rare beauty indeed! Pity we’ll have t’ sully that a bit,” he cackled, the rest of the crew eagerly joining in, sadistic smiles on their faces. “They say mermaids cry pearls more valuable than rubies, but the cold-hearted bitches can’t be coaxed with just a sad tale or two, so we’re gonna have to get more hands-on.�� Eyeing the knight’s sword, he raised an eyebrow. “Hope yer not thinkin’ this be some noble maiden in need’ve saving. Don’t let the pretty smile or heaving bosom fool ye - she’s a monster who’d eat yer heart fer dinner.”

Ikkaku’s dark eyes narrowed at the sailor. She wouldn’t deny her kind did find hearts to be particularly delicious, but his was surely too black and shriveled to taste any good, especially if he was the type to torture her for her tears.

Turning to the knight, she gave him her most frightened expression, making her lower lip tremble and carefully hiding her shark-like teeth. “Please, sir,” she whimpered, gazing at him from behind inky curls. “I’m no monster. I just want to go home.”