#some Tyr and Skuld fluff because I care them so much

[hel-phoenyx]

Kaizarz (mentioned) and Skuld belong to @corneille-but-not-the-author

We went past the first island of Paxaikon yesterday, and still haven't thrown the anchor for good. Some halts, to buy food and signal our presence, of course (and I have to admit we were better met than in the Shabbatai piers) but never a full stop.

I wonder what our captain and king has in mind, but hey, never had the occasion to ask him the question.

Won't do so today either. Because I have company of the fleeting kind, and I intend to enjoy every last second of it.

Skuld is sitting on the edge of the boat, looking at the sea. One of her hands is playing with a braid, turning it around and around like pulling on it would help her concentrate.

I'll never stop enjoying her presence, just looking at her in silence, but there is a question I wanted to ask since a long time.

"Hey, Skuld. Have you ever predicted your own death ?"

She jumps from the edge almost immediatly. Looks like I've startled her. Yet, her face still doesn't show anything.

"... Weird question."

"Sorry for the morbid curiosity. Your're not obligated to answer, I was just wondering."

She shrugs.

"Well, yeah, actually. That's the first thing a Norn looks at. Also, I have so many visions I basically saw everyone dying. In wildly different ways. But it's just visions. Possible futures."

You're taking that quite lightly for a woman that once told me I saved her life, without me even remembering what I did. But I know better than digging deeper. She gives the answers she wants to gives, to whoever she wants. The fact I got more than most is not indicative.

I don't feel entitled to her words. I just want to set her free.

"So you saw me dead.

"Don't need a vision for that, mister I almost drowned after an assassination attempt."

"Good point. But well, I'm alive."

"And I intend to keep it that way."

I smile.

"Yeah, me too. I still owe you a training session."

Since two years we haven't had time to do so. Even though I promised. The only time we saw each other after that, the Tyrant was just dead, and I only had time to talk about the boat journey with you, and give you one of my training axes.

It's been two years since that promised yet if you resented me once, it's nowhere on your face when you start laughing.

"Right. Even years late you don't forget things like these, do you ?"

"Well, I promised."

"Just say you want to get beaten up, it's not shameful."

She winks at me and gods even in the middle of sassing my person she looks so pretty. It is no wonder Kaizarz loves her so much.

It is no wonder I do.

I give her back her wink, with a smile albeit a little softer.

"We'll see about that."

Another laugh. I am quite lucky today.

"You wouldn't even dare to activate your electromagnetic protection force field in fear to electrocute me. Or because you want to be touched so badly. Don't think I have forgotten how you react when I'm sat on your lap~"

"You did that on purpose and I know it. Also remember I can still throw you in the ocean..."

"Oh, I'm terrified."

Sure you aaaare. Especially with those mischevious grey eyes, I am sure you're shivering in fear, and certainly not in anticipation. Tss. The moment I can find training weapons, some time for ourselves and a moment when Kaizarz won't see us and spark guilt in all three of us, I'll show you.

Until the moment when we can just fight. Spar in the open like nothing else matters, other than winning and having fun. In the Coast's tradition of proving your strenght to your beloved, right ?