#wow im in a REAL sappy mood tonight apparently

[nat-20s]

idk what sort of a prompt you're looking for so starry skies and the sea <3

So in the depths of my heart there lives a highly romanticized, completely historically innaccurate pirate story that is probably also a lesbian romance that will almost certainly never see the light of day, so here’s a bit of what that might look like that hopefully give u what u were lookin for

~*~

Captain Mara Marquette is of the rather strong opinion that anyone who would chose to be something other than a sailor is horribly misguided at best and purposefully acting the fool at worst. Sure, there are other lots in life that provide more comforts; the warmth of a bed over the swinging of a hammock, air that never stings with saltwater, labors that leave your hands uncalloused and your backs unbent, but she simply doesn’t see the point of something as fleeting and unnecessary as comfort over the true majesty of the sea. Even when she betrays you, her fury is wonderfully unmatched, no other force of nature could even hope to match her passion. And when she’s still, deciding to be generous to your ship and your crew? There is no kinder lover in all the galaxy, and who could possibly give that up. Who could possibly not bother to seek it out in the first place?

Captain Mara Marquette is also of the rather strong opinion that should you chose to take flight on the glory of the ocean (which is the only chose she can deign to respect), and you chose to be a privateer rather than a pirate, then you’re simply a bastard through and through. Ironically, much more of her crew is made of those born out of wedlock than any of the government’s fleet, but she has significantly more respect for any born to unmarried mothers (and the unmarried mothers themselves) than any pompous ass that so desperately tries to gain the favor of the queen.

No, she’ll take her crows nest underneath the proudly waving jolly roger over any of that crown’s glory nonsense any day of the week. After all, perched up here, slowly sipping at a whiskey and watching the seemingly endless horizon, is the finest place on the whole of Earth. That is, except when the waves decide to settle their stirrings and the night has decided no cloud shall cover its presence. Then, she’s convinced, that she has been transported to the very heavens, if only for the few hours that can last before her home planet gets impatient with her time spent in the celestial realm.

Right now is one such night, the sea mirroring the sky so perfectly that she’s unsure whether her ship is steadfastly moving through water or stars. It’s not a completely unheard of phenomena, and technically speaking, nothing she hasn’t seen before. Yet, she thinks she could see a night like this one a thousand, a million, a countless number of times, and each time it would take her breath away.

Underneath her she feels the motion of someone climbing up the ladder to join her, and she’s knows that unless she made a jump that could only end badly, she’s been caught favoring sight-seeing over sleeping. Luckily, her status as captain means there’s little than can be done to her for such a transgression, so she feels no particular drive to make her presence unknown.

Turns out her instinct to relax was correct, as it’s simply her beloved first mate Nia. Even better, it’s her beloved first mate Nia, carrying a bottle of wine. One of the finest things about their crows nest, other than the view, is that it is built to be able to accommodate two. Mara is fundamentally opposed to the concept that the sea must be a lonely place, even when someone is serving their duty as lookout, and did her best to ensure that her ship was made in such a manner that, if desired, you can always exist with a partner. It’s not something she herself always seeks, knowing the incredible value of time with one’s self, but the option certainly seems to boost morale.

She thinks there is nothing grander than her current view, except for that current view to be shared with another. When her first mate tosses her a lazy smile, waves the bottle by its neck, and greets, “Captain,” she matches the easy affection with a matching smile. “First mate.”

“I knew that when those clouds cleared out this evening that I would find you here moping far past your bed time.”

“Ah, you have me mistaken, my dear, for I am doing the opposite. I’m revelling. How could I not, on a night such as this?”

Nia settles in beside her and pops the cork. There’s a twinkle in her eye as she takes a swig and offers, “My apologies, cap’n. The two often look the same on you.”

Mara nudges her first mate with her shoulder, and takes the proffered wine though she is already more inebriated than advisable. “No apologies necessary, for you’re not the first to tell me as much. They both often result in me getting lost in thought, it’s just the tint of said thoughts that is so starkly different.”

“Well I think you think to much. Hopefully liquor will make quick work of that particular affliction.”

Mara snorts. “Hardly. I wouldn’t have lasted this long if alcohol had any ability to slow my thoughts. One of the advantages of this life, you’re always quicker than most would think.”

“Yeah, okay, whatever. I’ve been on this ship nearly as long as you, and the wine makes my limbs heavy in exactly the way you’d expect, so I think you’re full of it.”

Mara laughs, loud and unapologetic, even though it certainly disrupts the fragile peace of the midnight hour. “You got me there. Let an old salt dog have her little stories though, won’t you?”

“I don’t think someone who’s 37 can properly count as an ‘old salt dog’, but sure. What’s caught your thoughts so throughly now, anyway?”

“It’s going to sound terribly whimsical.”

“I like whimsy.”

“In that case. I was simply, marveling, I suppose. Of all the places in all of the world, there’s no where I’d rather be than right here, right now, seeing all of this. You could offer me countless riches, a thousand marriage proposals, beauty that would rival Aphrodite’s, and I wouldn’t take any of it over this.”

“I know exactly the feeling. Delightful, isn’t it?”

Mara hums her agreement, then manages to tear her gaze away from the stars and over to her first mate. She’s surprised to find that, while her eyes are as reflective of the universe above them as the sea itself, it’s not the sky that Nia is looking at. Instead, she’s looking directly at her captain.